ReligiousSocietyofFriends
 
   

Free Newsletter
Home

á 

Schedule/Directions
News & Articles
Contact
About the Quakers
Links
Convener Sign up

 

 
A General Epistle     5/22/2004
George Fox (written in 1656)

Friends in the power of life and wisdom and dread of the Lord God...dwell, that in the wisdom of God you may be preserved, answering that of God in... all, spreading the truth abroad, awaking the witness, confounding deceit, gathering out of transgression into... the covenant of light and peace with God. Let all nations hear the sound by word or writing.

Spare no place, spare no tongue or pen, but be obedient to the Lord God; go through the work, be valiant for the truth upon the earth; and tread and trample down what is contrary. Ye have the power, do not abuse it...Keep down and low; and take heed of false joys that will change.

Plough up the fallow ground. Thrash and get out the corn; that the seed, the wheat, may be gathered into the barn; that to the beginning all people may come, to Christ, who was before the world was made...So the ministers of the Spirit must minister to the Spirit that is in prison, which hath been in captivity in every one; that with the Spirit of Christ, people may be led out of captivity up to God [and] do service to him, and have unity with him, with the Scriptures and with one another. This is the word of the Lord God to you all, and a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone ; whereby in them you may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you..

Keep in the life and power of the Lord God...that nothing may rule and reign, but the power of life itself....

This is the word of the Lord God to you all. The call is now out of transgression.... The call is to repentance, to an amendment of life, whereby righteousness may be brought forth; which shall go throughout the earth. Therefore, ye that are chosen and faithful..., go through your work faithfully and in the strength and power of the Lord and be obedient to the power; for that will save you out of the hands of unreasonable men, and preserve you over the world to himself.

Hereby, you may live in the kingdom, that stands in power, which hath no end.


BACK | ARTICLES INDEX