A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers — John Shaqi
A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called QuakersPenn, William
Religion
A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers
Penn, William
Society of Friends
And as without this secret divine power, there is no quickening and
regenerating of dead souls, so the want of this generating and begetting
power and life, is the cause of the little fruit that the many
ministries, that have been and are in the world, bring forth. O that
both ministers and people were sensible of this! My soul is often
troubled for them, and sorrow and mourning compass me about for their
sakes. O that they were wise! O that they would consider, and lay to
heart the things that truly and substantially make for their lasting
peace!
Two things are to be considered; the doctrine they taught, and the
example they led among all people. I have already touched upon their
fundamental principle, which is as the corner-stone of their fabric: and,
indeed, to speak eminently and properly, their characteristic, or main
distinguishing point or principle, viz. the light of Christ within, as
God's gift for man's salvation. This, I say, is as the root of the
goodly tree of doctrines that grew and branched out from it, which I
shall now mention in their natural and experimental order.
First, repentance from dead works to serve the living God. Which
comprehends three operations. First, a sight of sin. Secondly, a sense
and godly sorrow for sin. Thirdly, an amendment for the time to come.
This was the repentance they preached and pressed, and a natural result
from the principle they turned all people unto. For of light came sight;
and of sight came sense and sorrow; and of sense and sorrow came
amendment of life. Which doctrine of repentance leads to justification;
that is, forgiveness of the sins that are past, through Christ the alone
propitiation, and the sanctification or purgation, of the soul from the
defiling nature and habits of sin present, by the Spirit of Christ in the
soul; which is justification in the complete sense of that word:
comprehending both justification from the guilt of the sins that are
past, as if they had never been committed, through the love and mercy of
God in Christ Jesus; and the creature's being made inwardly just, through
the cleansing and sanctifying power and Spirit of Christ revealed in the
soul; which is commonly called sanctification. But none can come to know
Christ to be their sacrifice, that reject him as their sanctifier: the
end of his coming being to save his people from the nature and
defilement, as well as guilt of sin; and, therefore, those that resist
his light and Spirit, make his coming and offering of none effect to
them.
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