Epistle 340
George Fox emphasizes the importance of living in the fear of God, exercising virtue and humility, and dwelling in the love of God to adorn the truth and honour the Lord.
George Fox addresses the community in New Jersey, urging them to remain in the fear of God and to keep the Lord at the forefront of their lives and actions. He emphasizes the importance of living in a manner that reflects the gospel, as their conduct will be observed by others, including the local Indians. Fox encourages the establishment of worship meetings and the cultivation of love and unity among the members, advising against disputes over material matters. He highlights the necessity of virtues such as temperance, patience, and brotherly love, which will foster a strong, supportive community under Christ's guidance. Ultimately, he reassures them that by adhering to these principles, they will experience God's blessings in all aspects of their lives.
Text
My dear friends, in New Jersey, and you that go to New Jersey, my desire is, that you may all be kept in the fear of God, and that you may have the Lord in your eye, in all your undertakings. For many eyes of other governments or colonies will be upon you; yea, the Indians, to see how you order your lives and conversations. And therefore, let your lives, and words, and conversations be as becomes the gospel [Phil 1:27], that you may adorn the truth, and honour the Lord in all your undertakings. Let that only be in your eye, and then you will have the Lord's blessing and increase, both in basket, and field, and store-house [Deut 28:5]; and at your lyings down you will feel him, and at your goings forth, and comings in [Psa 139:3?]. So that you may answer the light, and the truth, in all people, both by your godly lives and conversations. Serving the Lord, and with a joyful heart, being valiant for his truth, upon the earth [Jer 9:3], and the glorious name, in whom you have salvation.
And keep up your meetings for worship, and your men and women's meetings for the affairs of truth, both Monthly and Quarterly. And, after you are settled, you may join together and build a meeting-house. And do not strive about outward things; but dwell in the love of God, for that will unite you together, and make you kind and gentle one towards another; and to seek one another's good and welfare, and to be helpful one to another; and see that nothing be lacking among you [1 Th 4:12], then all will be well. And let temperance, and patience, and kindness, and brotherly love be exercised among you [2 Pet 1:6f], so that you may abound in virtue, and the true humility; living in peace, showing forth the nature of christianity, that you may all live as a family, and the church of God, holding Christ your heavenly head, and he exercising his offices among you, and in you; and hold him, the head, by his light, power, <132> and spirit; and that will keep your minds over the earthly spirit, up to God; for the earth, and the sea, and all things therein, are his [Psa 24:1], and he gives the increase thereof [1 Cor 3:7]. . . .
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- Fear of God and the Lord's Blessing
- Godly Lives and Conversations
- Unity and Love
- Virtue and Humility
- Exercise temperance, patience, and kindness
- Abound in virtue and true humility
Key Quotes
“Let your lives, and words, and conversations be as becomes the gospel [Phil 1:27], that you may adorn the truth, and honour the Lord in all your undertakings.” — George Fox
“Serving the Lord, and with a joyful heart, being valiant for his truth, upon the earth [Jer 9:3], and the glorious name, in whom you have salvation.” — George Fox
“And let temperance, and patience, and kindness, and brotherly love be exercised among you [2 Pet 1:6f], so that you may abound in virtue, and the true humility;” — George Fox
Application Points
- Live in the fear of God in all your undertakings to adorn the truth and honour the Lord.
- Dwell in the love of God to seek one another's good and welfare and to be helpful one to another.
- Exercise temperance, patience, and kindness to abound in virtue and true humility.