A sealed epistle written by George Fox with the inscription "not to be opened before the time" was found among his belongings soon after his death in the winter of 1690/91. The sealed epistle was read at the ensuing London Yearly Meeting, which printed and distributed it for the edification and comfort of Friends worldwide. The sealed epistle has appeared in print several times throughout its three centuries of existence; while based upon the 1694 version, this version follows much of the editing of the 1965 version (primarily changing to modern spelling), but with no impairment of content. This epistle is of special significance because it appears George Fox wanted these words to be his last written public declaration and testimony. The truth of this message has not been diminished by time but speaks to this and all generations.
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This is for all the Children of God in all places in the world, who are led by His Spirit and walk in His Light, in which they have life, unity, and fellowship with the Father, the Son, and one with another.
Keep all your meetings in the name of the Lord Jesus, and keep them gathered in His name, by His Light, grace, truth, power and spirit; by which you will feel His blessed and refreshing presence among you and in you to your comfort and God's glory.
And now all Friends, all your meetings (whether for worship or business) were set up by the power, spirit and wisdom of God; and in them you know that you have felt His power, spirit, wisdom and blessed refreshing presence among you and in you, to His praise and glory, and to your comfort, so that you have been as a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid.
Although many loose and unruly spirits have arisen to oppose you in print and other ways, you have seen how they have come to naught. The Lord has blasted them and brought their deeds to light: made them manifest to be trees without fruit, wells without water, wandering stars from the firmament of God's power, and like the raging waves of the sea casting up mire and dirt. Many of them are like the dog which turned to his vomit, or the sow that was washed which turned again to the mire. This has been the condition of many; God knows as do His people.
Therefore, let all stand steadfast in Christ Jesus, your Head, in whom you are all one, male and female, and know His government. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, but there will be an end to the rule of the Devil and all who are not in Christ (and oppose His rule and Him). Their judgment does not linger and their damnation does not slumber. Therefore, live and walk in God's and Christ's Light, life, spirit, and power, which is over all (and the seed of it) in love, innocency and simplicity. Dwell in righteousness and holiness, in His power, and in the Holy Ghost (in which God's kingdom stands). Keep your eyes focused on the new and heavenly Jerusalem, which is from above and is free, with all her holy, spiritual children.
As for this spirit of rebellion and opposition that has arisen formerly and lately, it is not part of the kingdom of God and heavenly Jerusalem and is for judgment and condemnation with all its books, words and works. Therefore, Friends, live and walk in the power and spirit of God that is over the world, and in the seed that will bruise and break the rebellious spirit to pieces (in which seed you have joy and peace with God and power and authority to judge this spirit). Your unity is in the power and spirit of God that judges it. All God's witnesses in His tabernacle go out against it, always have, and always will.
Jerusalem was the mother of all true Christians before the apostacy. Since the outward Christians are broken into many sects, they have gotten many mothers; but all they that are come out of the apostacy by the power and spirit of Christ have come to Jerusalem that is above to be their mother (and none below her), who nourishes all her spiritual children.
All the children of new Jerusalem that descends from above - the Holy City - of which the Lord and the Lamb is the Light and the temple - in it they are born again of the Spirit. So Jerusalem, that is above, is the mother of them that are born of the Spirit. Those who are coming and have come to the heavenly Jerusalem are those that receive Christ. He gives them power to become Sons of God, born again of the Spirit. So Jerusalem that is above, is their mother. Such come to the heavenly Mount Zion and the innumerable company of angels and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and have come to the Church of the living God written in heaven, and have the name of God and the city of God written upon them. So here is a new mother that brings forth a heavenly and spiritual generation.
There is no schism, nor division, nor contention, nor strife in heavenly Jerusalem nor in the body of Christ; it is a spiritual house, composed of living stones. Christ is not divided, for in Him there is peace. Christ says, "In Me you have peace;" He is from above and not of this world. But in the world below, and in its spirit, there is trouble. Therefore, keep in Christ and walk in Him.
Let no man live to self, but live to the Lord, as you will die in Him. Seek the peace of the Church of Christ and the peace of all men in Him; blessed are the peace makers. Dwell in the pure, peaceable, heavenly wisdom of God, which is gentle, easy to be entreated, and full of mercy; all striving to be of one mind, heart, soul and judgment in Christ, having His mind and spirit dwelling in you. Build up one another in the love of God which edifies the body of Christ - His Church - of which He is the holy Head.
So glory to God through Christ in this age and all other ages, who is the Rock and Foundation, the Immanuel, God with us, Amen. He is over all, the beginning and the end. In Him live and walk. In Him you have life eternal. In Him you will feel me and I you. Amen.
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George Fox (1624 - 1691)
Was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends. This was a group the Lord started through the ministry of George Fox. God called him apart from all other forms of Christendom in his day because of the lack of Biblical obedience and holiness.The emphasis in George Fox's ministry was firstly prophetic. He called out the people of God to show them that they had the Holy Spirit of God and could be taught of Him and not to solely rely on the teachings of ecclesiastical leaders. Secondly, he spoke directly to many ministers in his day to show them they were hirelings and did not have a true shepherds heart for the people of God rather they were seeking after financial gain.
Founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers). George Fox was born in Drayton-in-the-Clay, Leicestershire, England, the son of Puritan parents. Little is known of his early life, apart from what he wrote in his journal: "In my very young years, I had a gravity and stayedness of mind and spirit not usual in young children. Insomuch that, when I saw old men behave lightly and wantonly toward each other, I had a dislike thereof raise in my heart, and I said within myself, `If ever I come to be a man, surely I shall not do so, nor be so wanton.'"
At the age of 19, he gained deep, personal assurance of his salvation and began to travel as an itinerant preacher, seeking a return to the simple practices of the New Testament. He abhorred technical theology, and preached a faith borne of experience, freshly fed and guided by the immediate presence of the Holy Spirit.
Fox was persecuted almost daily, yet his power of endurance was phenomenal. He was beaten with dogwhips, knocked down with fists and stones, brutally struck with pikestaves, hard beset by mobs, incarcerated eight times in the pestilential jails, prisons, castles and dungeons--yet he went straightforward with his mission as though he had discovered some fresh courage which made him impervious to man's inhumanity.
He undertook as far as possible to let the new life in Christ take its own free course of development in his ministry. He shunned rigid forms and static systems, and for that reason he refused to head a new sect or to start a new denomination, or to begin a new church. He would not build an organization of any kind. His followers at first called themselves "Children of the Light," and later adopted the name "The Society (or Fellowship) of Friends."
Fox preached and traveled for 40 years throughout England, Scotland, Holland, and America. His life demonstrated the truth of his famous saying, "One man raised by God's power to stand and live in the same spirit the apostle and prophets were in, can shake the country for ten miles around."