Three Apostles of Quakerism: Popular Sketches of Fox, Penn and BarclayRhodes, Benjamin
History
Three Apostles of Quakerism: Popular Sketches of Fox, Penn and Barclay
Rhodes, Benjamin
Barclay, Robert, 1648-1690; Fox, George, 1624-1691; Penn, William, 1644-1718; Society of Friends
During the remaining years of his life, Robert Barclay published
little. Probably he was too busy to write much. Of his employments
unfortunately we know little. His writings, his learning, his great
ability, his rank, his aristocratic friends and connections, and his
influence at court, made him a man of mark. In his own society, he
was a recognised leader. His ministry evidently was of a high order.
Possibly not so popular as that of Fox or Penn, it must have been
solid, earnest, and impressive. He is known to us almost solely as an
author, but his own generation knew him as a capable man of affairs.
He was not a popular leader like Fox, or a man consumed by large
humanitarian schemes like Penn. But he had a broad and liberal mind,
sound judgment, and an insinuating address. The dedication of the
Apology shows with what skill he could walk on delicate ground.
About this time, the divisions which troubled Friends in England found
their way to Aberdeen. Rogers and Bugg sent their slanderous letters
everywhere, and as Barclay was mistakenly supposed to have written
the "Anarchy of Ranters" against the former, it was not likely that
the peace of Aberdeen would be undisturbed. Several members had to
be expelled and then harmony was restored. It is to this that the
following extract from a letter of George Fox refers.
"London, 31st of 4th mo. (June), 1680.
"DEAR ROBERT BARCLAY,
With my love to thee and thy Father and all the rest of the
faithful friends in the holy peaceable truth, that is over
all and changes not. I am sorry to hear that there should
be any difference or distance amongst any Friends in your
parts, and that they should not keep in the power of the
Lord to the spreading of the truth abroad, and such great
want and need as there is in your country. For all should
be in the Gospel of peace, in the power of God in which
enmity cannot come, and in the peaceable wisdom which is
easy to be entreated. And therefore you that are ministers
in that nation should meet together sometimes, and keep in
unity, and that you might treat of things that tend for
peace, as the Apostles and Elders did in their day, to the
establishing, settling, and preserving of the churches in
Christ Jesus."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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