Of the "Children of the Light," whom Fox gathered round him, and who became the pioneers of the Quaker movement, some had already discovered this direct and personal relation to God before they met him; others through his help became not only Seekers but happy Finders. Some of them were men and women of little learning; others, on the contrary, were already preachers, and versed in the theology of the day.
But they all agreed with Fox that Christianity was not a scheme of doctrine to be believed, but an experience to be entered into, and a life to be lived; and they tended, therefore, to regard Theology as a collection of "notions" of no importance, and possibly even a hindrance, to the religious life. Fox himself appears to have known nothing of Church history; both he and his friends, to whom the Sun of Righteousness had arisen with healing in his wings, regarded the Christian centuries since the first as merely a "dark night of apostasy." In comparison with the Light that they felt shining in their own souls, and the path of obedience which it required of them, the age-long disputes of Churchmen on points of doctrine seemed to them of no account. That would prove to be very true down through the ages
In 1650 Fox was taken before the magistrates at Derby for preaching in a "steeple house" after the regular preacher had closed his sermon, and he writes: "I told them all their preaching, baptism and sacrifices would never sanctify them; and bid them look unto Christ in them, and not unto men; for it is Christ that sanctifies. Then they ran into many words ; but I told them they were not to dispute of God and Christ, but to obey Him."3 This is characteristic and significant. Fox did not compromise for money, he had not sold out, we know of Rosicrucian or the Templars which the others did, for their forms and power.. nor was he engaged the burnings of those spoke the truth, such Tyndale, over a few words that exposed the false hoods added and Servetus by Beza.
I enjoined his deeply tied to the relationship with Christ over the the dramatized systems of theology and conflict corruption of translation's used to shift terms and slant things that was appointed out of the monarchies forms to be ove5 the people but rather as it was for us to be as our master laden in love and care for those who are with us we have left he path way of truth and spirit for long time .
A true Quaker given to truth and spirit led ...I could no agree more.
Narrow way a mission for truth and spirit led life not as institutionalized but as free men all able men and women to serve God as he directs through truth portrayed in the wonderful passages in the Kj3 1 Corinthians 1-4, 2 Corinthians 2-3.
In the end we will be ask did we do what we were ask to do????, question we first need to realize is our personal awareness? are we so? not just the recitation of dogma or formalism which is not personal, getting back to the life he speaks of is one that is aware of his presence in them ..
blessing praying for the street people at night
NW
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