Epistle 90
Dwelling in the light of Jesus Christ leads us away from extremes and passions and into peace and order, and allows us to see Jesus and all that is contrary to it.
George Fox preaches about the importance of dwelling in the light of Jesus Christ, which condemns all that is contrary to it and leads to peace, order, and mercy. He emphasizes the need to let go of carnal wisdom, disobedience, and evil deeds, and to allow the light to burn up what needs to be condemned. Those who act contrary to the light will go empty away, but those who abide in the light will see the true course of nature and avoid defilement.
Text
Friends,--All ye whose minds are turned with the light towards Jesus Christ, from whence it comes, in it wait, that with it ye may all see Jesus, and all that condemned which is contrary to it; that so by that ye may be kept from all extremes, passions, agonies, and hastiness, presumption, and desperation. For dwelling in the light which doth never change [James 1:17], this keeps your minds out of all those things before mentioned, which lead nature out of its true course; and with the light all that is seen and condemned, which is contrary to it.
And that which doth condemn, keeps you in peace and order, and leads to the door of mercy, and nature into its right course, and into the virtue of that word by which the creatures were made, and with it to use them all to his glory [1 Cor 10:31]. Which light is the condemnation of the carnal wisdom and knowledge of the wicked world, and the condemnation of the disobedient, and the condemnation of them whose deeds are evil, who hate <98> the light [John 3:19f]. Which brings to witness the word to be as a fire [Jer 23:29], to burn up that which is to be condemned, and to the purging of the floor, and burning the chaff with unquenchable fire, and to the gathering of the wheat into the garner [Mat 3:12].
Therefore, in this light dwell and wait, from which the true words did proceed, that with it all those words may be opened again, and all they condemned with the light which have the words, and act contrary to it; such must go empty away [Luke 1:53?]. And to you this is the word of the Lord, that ye may come to have savour and salt in yourselves [Mar 9:50]. For dwelling in the light, ye will be manifest to the light in their consciences, (though they hate it,) who have the words declared from the light; such go empty away from God, who is light.
And all they who abide in the light of the Lord, see all such to be out of the true course of nature, who act contrary to the light, which defiles the flesh [Jude 1:8]; and they are such who were of old ordained to condemnation [Jude 1:4] with the light.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Light of Jesus Christ
- A. The source of the light
- B. The purpose of the light
- C. The effect of the light on the mind
- II. The Condemnation of the Carnal Wisdom
- A. The condemnation of the wicked world
- B. The condemnation of the disobedient
- C. The condemnation of those who hate the light
- III. The Word as Fire
- A. The burning of that which is to be condemned
- B. The purging of the floor
- C. The gathering of the wheat into the garner
- IV. The Importance of Dwelling in the Light
- A. The manifestation of the light in the conscience
- B. The condemnation of those who act contrary to the light
Key Quotes
“For dwelling in the light which doth never change [James 1:17], this keeps your minds out of all those things before mentioned, which lead nature out of its true course;” — George Fox
“Which light is the condemnation of the carnal wisdom and knowledge of the wicked world, and the condemnation of the disobedient, and the condemnation of them whose deeds are evil, who hate <98> the light [John 3:19f].” — George Fox
“And to you this is the word of the Lord, that ye may come to have savour and salt in yourselves [Mar 9:50].” — George Fox
Application Points
- Dwell in the light of Jesus Christ to be kept from extremes and passions.
- Act in accordance with the light to avoid condemnation.
- Seek to have savour and salt in yourselves through the word of the Lord.