Spread Your Selves Abroad
George Fox emphasizes the importance of speaking the Word of the Lord faithfully, serving one another in love, and humbling ourselves before God.
George Fox preaches to friends in the ministry, urging them to speak the Word of the Lord faithfully without adding their own reasoning or diminishing it with a disobedient mind. He emphasizes that the Word of the Lord is powerful, cutting down deceit, purifying the speaker, and breaking down all that is contrary. Fox encourages humility, service to one another in love, and following the example of Christ to avoid strife and pride. He reminds them to fear the Lord, condescend to the lowly, and spread themselves abroad to be of service to God's Truth.
Text
(To Friends in the Ministry)
ALL Friends, who are moved of the Lord to speak the Word of the Lord, whom the Lord hath made to be his Mouth, speak not your own Words to feed the sensual part of Man, in your own Wills; for there God is not honoured, and Wisdom is not justified. But ye that are moved to speak . . . speak the word of the Lord faithfully, neither add to it with your Reason, nor diminish from it with a disobedient Mind, but speaking the Word of the Lord (faithfully) it is sharper than a Two-edged Sword, to cut down all Deceit, and as a Fire to burn up the Chaff, and it purifies you, that speak it. And so as an Hammer, it will break down all the Contrary. And the Word is but One, which Sanctifies all, and cleanseth the heart, and sanctifies and reconciles to God. And the Light is but One; and all being guided by it, all are subject to One, and are One in the Unity of the Spirit. And if your Minds turn from the Light, and that Mind speak of the Light, there gets up Pride and Presumption,a nd the Will; and then ye begin to strike your Fellow-Servants.
Therefore all Dear Friends and Brethren, Be Servants to the Truth and do not strive for Mastery, but serve one another in Love. Wash one another's Feet, take Christ for your Example that I may hear of no Strife among you. . . . Children would be striving, but that which would have the Mastery, must dye, and shall not enter into the Kingdom of God. Therefore mind not high things, but fear, and condescend to Men of Low Degree; for the Fear of the Lord keeps the Heart clean, and the pure in Heart sees God.
And Friends, spread your selves abroad, that ye may be serviceable for the Lord and his Truth . . . and trample all that which is Contrary to God, under your Feet; that ye may Answer that of God in everyone.
Sermon Outline
- I. Speaking the Word of the Lord
- A. Do not speak your own words, but the Word of the Lord
- B. Speak faithfully, neither adding nor diminishing from the Word
- C. The Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, cutting down deceit and burning up chaff
- II. The Unity of the Spirit
- A. There is but one Word that sanctifies all
- B. All are subject to one, guided by the Light
- III. Serving One Another
- A. Be servants to the truth, not striving for mastery
- B. Serve one another in love, washing each other's feet
- IV. Humility and the Fear of the Lord
- A. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low degree
- B. The fear of the Lord keeps the heart clean
Key Quotes
“The Word is but One, which Sanctifies all, and cleanseth the heart, and sanctifies and reconciles to God.” — George Fox
“The Word is sharper than a two-edged Sword, to cut down all Deceit, and as a Fire to burn up the Chaff,” — George Fox
Application Points
- We should strive to speak the Word of the Lord faithfully, without adding or diminishing from it.
- Humility is essential in serving one another, allowing us to condescend to men of low degree and keep our hearts clean.
- The fear of the Lord keeps our hearts clean and allows us to see God.