Epistle 109
George Fox emphasizes the importance of patience, love, and truth in maintaining unity among Friends.
George Fox emphasizes the importance of patience and unity among believers, urging them to refrain from judging and speaking ill of one another, as such actions sow discord and allow worldly influences to disrupt their fellowship. He encourages friends to dwell in the life of God, fostering love and understanding, and to cover each other's shortcomings with grace. Fox warns against the dangers of strife and the worldly spirit, advocating for moderation and temperance as essential virtues that reflect God's truth. He calls for a commitment to love and unity, highlighting that true strength lies in the seed of God that brings healing and reconciliation. Ultimately, he stresses that the weight of truth should be valued above all, as it is the foundation for genuine community and spiritual growth.
Text
Friends, keep to patience: this is the counsel of the Lord to you. Do not judge one another [Rom 14:13] behind one another's backs, nor speak evil one of another [James 4:11], for that is that which soweth the enmity among brethren. Nor judge one another before the world, for that is that which is in the extremes, passion, and hastiness; and there ye let in the world's spirit to rejoice over you, and that is out of the patience, and love, and wisdom, and fear of God and his truth. And every one dwell in the seed and life of God, and in that know one another, and meeting together in that ye may see the Lord Jesus in the midst ofyou [Mat 18:20].
And, friends, go not into the aggravating part to strive with it, lest ye do hurt to yoursouls, and run into the same nature; for patience must get the victory, and answers to that of God in everyone, which will bring every one from the contrary. So let your moderation, and temperance, and patience be known to all [Phil 4:5], for that which joins to the aggravating part, sets up the aggravating part, and breeds confusion, and reaches not to the witness of God in every one.
And Friends, keep out of the worldly wise part, for that will never let people join and unite together (in truth) which enters into the earth, and the apprehensions of words; but let innocency be the garment, and truth and simplicity the covering.Then in the innocency ye will have unity, where there is no evil thought, but love that thinks no evil [1 Cor 13:5].Therefore cover one another's nakedness [Gen 9:23]; let all things be done in love, and that will edify. And let the weight and preciousness of truth be in your eye, and esteemed above all things by you.
For here is my grief, when I hear any thing amongst Friends, that hinders their unity, and makes a breach,(whereby the wrong gets ground,) who should live in the seed, which breaks the bond of iniquity [Acts 8:23], and makes up all breaches [Psa 60:2, Isa 58:12]; in which seed shine,answering the witness of God in everyone [Col 4:6/1 Jn 5:9], which bruises the earthly part under that brings forth briars and thorns [Heb 6:8], and spreads over the world, and all the contrary. . . . <110>
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of patience - Avoiding judgment among brethren - The consequences of speaking evil
- II points: - Dwelling in the seed and life of God - Seeing the Lord Jesus in unity - Striving against the aggravating part
- III points: - The role of moderation and temperance - Keeping out of worldly wisdom - Embracing innocency and truth
- IV points: - Covering one another's weaknesses - The significance of love in unity - Esteeming the truth above all
- V points: - Addressing grievances among Friends - Breaking the bond of iniquity - Shining in the seed of God
Key Quotes
“Friends, keep to patience: this is the counsel of the Lord to you.” — George Fox
“Let your moderation, and temperance, and patience be known to all.” — George Fox
“For here is my grief, when I hear any thing amongst Friends, that hinders their unity.” — George Fox
Application Points
- Practice patience in your interactions with others to foster a spirit of unity.
- Choose to speak positively about others and avoid judgment to strengthen community bonds.
- Value truth and love above personal grievances to promote harmony among Friends.