Epistle 358
The sermon emphasizes the importance of truth, its unchanging nature, and its power to bring justice, equity, and righteousness, and to unite all in oneness.
George Fox emphasizes the unchanging nature of God's truth, which liberates those who embrace it and leads them to serve God and spread His message. He highlights the importance of unity, humility, and the fear of the Lord, which fosters a community that honors God and remains steadfast against disorder. Fox reassures that God's eternal power protects His people, contrasting it with the temporary nature of evil. He encourages patience and adherence to the word of God, which provides strength against worldly temptations. Ultimately, he expresses his love and desire for all to remain in the seed of life that reigns over all.
Text
Dear friends,--With my love to you in the holy peaceable truth that never changes [Heb 13:8], nor admits of evil, but makes all free [John 8:32] that receive it, and that walk in it [3 Jn 1:4], and is over all the clouds without rain, and wells without water, and trees without fruit [Jude 1:12/2 Pet 1:17]. And from the truth floweth justice, equity, righteousness [1 Esd 4:39f], and godliness, mercy, and tenderness, that brings a man's heart, mind, soul, and spirit to the infinite and incomprehensible God, and from it a love flows to all the universal creation, and would have all to come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Tim 2:4]; and it bends every one to their utmost ability to serve God and his truth, and to spread it abroad, and it brings their minds out of the earth, which makes them brittle, and changeable, and uncertain; for it doth not change, neither doth it touch with that which does change. As to unity, it makes all like itself, that do obey it. Universal, to live out of narrowness and self, and deny it. So it brings all into oneness, and answereth the good principle of God in all people, and brings into humility, and the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of his wisdom [Psa 111:10]; and it brings all to have a care of God's glory and his honour; and watches over all the professors of it for their good, to keep within its bounds, and walk within its order; which he that is out of truth, leads into all disorder, in whom there is no truth [John 8:44]; and the truth makes all its children free from him, and in it to reign over him. Thanks, glory, and honour to the Lord God of truth over all for ever. Amen.
The Lord, who is the God of all peace and order [1 Cor 14:33], alone protects and preserves his people with his eternal power; for the devil's power is not eternal, it had a beginning, and must have an ending; for the eternal power limits that devourer and destroyer. And therefore, friends, patience must be exercised in the truth; and keep to the word of patience [Rev 3:10], which word was before the world was [John 1:1], and abides and endures for ever [1 Pet 1:23]; and it will keep Friends over and out of all the snares of the world, and its temptations.
So with my love in the seed of life, that reigns over all, and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all to his glory. Amen.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Nature of Truth
- A. Unchanging and eternal
- B. Makes all free who receive it
- C. Brings all to the knowledge of God
- II. The Effects of Truth
- A. Brings justice, equity, and righteousness
- B. Fosters godliness, mercy, and tenderness
- C. Unites all in oneness
- III. The Importance of Unity
- A. Makes all like itself
- B. Brings all into humility and the fear of the Lord
- C. Watches over all professors of truth
- IV. The Power of Truth
- A. Makes all its children free
- B. Reigns over all evil
- C. Preserves and keeps Friends in the truth
Key Quotes
“Truth makes all its children free from him, and in it to reign over him.” — George Fox
“The eternal power limits that devourer and destroyer.” — George Fox
“The Lord, who is the God of all peace and order, alone protects and preserves his people with his eternal power;” — George Fox
Application Points
- Exercise patience in the truth and keep to the word of patience.
- Let truth bring justice, equity, and righteousness into your life.
- Cultivate unity and humility, and fear the Lord, to be preserved and kept in the truth.