Epistle 65
George Fox's Epistle 65 emphasizes the importance of dwelling in the light of Christ to understand truth and achieve salvation.
George Fox preaches about the importance of dwelling in the light of Christ to comprehend the world's ways and bring others to salvation. He emphasizes the need to yoke the oxen, bridle the horses, and tame the wild heifers, symbolizing the need to bring all under Christ's yoke and light. Fox urges believers to wait on the Lord, grow in the light that inspired the scriptures, and love the truth above all, walking in the power of God as soldiers of Christ to lead others to salvation.
Text
This is the word of the Lord to all Friends, and fellow-labourers in the truth, who are subduing the earth [Gen 1:28], and its earthly knowledge, and its carnal wisdom, and beating down and threshing down that, in hope to get forth the wheat, and to be made partakers of your hope [1 Cor 9:10]; I charge you all, dwell in the light, which doth comprehend the world, their evil ways, their will worships [Col 2:23], what they worship, and what is their end in all their actions: so that ye may yoke the oxen, and bridle the horses, and tame the wild heifers [Hos 10:11?], and bring them to Christ's yoke [Mat 11:30], that is, to the light; bring every one unto it, to see their way to salvation, and with it every one may know their condemnation, who act contrary to it. Wait all on the Lord, that ye may be settled and stayed in the Lord, and to grow up in the light, that gave forth the scriptures; that there may be no stumbling about the words which came from the light.
For no creature can read the scriptures to profit thereby [2 Tim 3:16], but who come to the light and spirit that gave them forth.
Love the truth more than all, and go on in the mighty power of God, as good soldiers of Christ [2 Tim 2:3], well fixed in his glorious gospel, and in his <79> word and power; that ye may know him, the life and salvation, and bring up others into it.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the message of the Lord
- The importance of subduing earthly knowledge
- The call to dwell in the light
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II
- Understanding the world's evil ways
- The significance of yoking to Christ
- The path to salvation through light
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III
- The necessity of waiting on the Lord
- Growing in the light that inspired the scriptures
- Avoiding stumbling in understanding
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IV
- The role of truth in the believer's life
- Being soldiers of Christ
- Empowering others through the gospel
Key Quotes
“I charge you all, dwell in the light, which doth comprehend the world, their evil ways, their will worships.” — George Fox
“For no creature can read the scriptures to profit thereby, but who come to the light and spirit that gave them forth.” — George Fox
“Love the truth more than all, and go on in the mighty power of God, as good soldiers of Christ.” — George Fox
Application Points
- Seek to dwell in the light daily to guide your decisions and actions.
- Engage with the scriptures through prayer and reflection to gain deeper understanding.
- Encourage others to embrace the truth of the gospel and grow in their faith.