Gleanings from the Works of George Fox — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Gleanings from the Works of George Fox
John Stuart Mill · en
When at any time my condition was veiled, my secret belief was stayed
firm, and hope underneath held me, as an anchor in the bottom of the sea
and anchored my immortal soul to its Bishop causing it to swim above the
sea, the world, where all the raging waves, foul weather, tempests and
temptations are. But O! then did I see my troubles trials and
temptations more clearly than ever I had done. As the light appeared,
all appeared that is out of the light; darkness, death, temptations, the
unrighteous, the ungodly; all was manifest and seen in the light.
(_Journal_, 8th ed., Vol. I, p. 14).
PART II.
SPECIAL TESTIMONIES.
I.
Business Life.
Prices.
And is it not more savoury to ask no more than you will have for your
commodity[2]; to keep yea and nay in your communication, and here will
be an equal balancing of things and a consideration before you utter
words and a using of this world as though you used it not; and a
possessing as though you possessed not.
(_Works_, IV., p. 100, slightly condensed.)
Honesty in Business.
But at the first convincement when friends could not put off their hats
to people nor say you to a particular but thee and thou, and could not
bow nor use the world's salutations, nor fashions, nor customs. And many
friends being tradesmen of several sorts, they lost their custom at the
first. For the people would not trade with them nor trust them; and for
a time people that were tradesmen could hardly get money enough to buy
bread. But afterwards when people came to see friends, honesty and
truthfulness and yea and nay at a word in their dealing and their lifes
and conversations did preach and reach to the witness of God in all
people and they knew and saw that they would not cozen and cheat them
for conscience sake toward God; and that at last they might send any
child and be as well used as themselves at any of their shops.
[Footnote 2: Bargaining was, hitherto, the universal practice.]
(C.J., I., p. 138.)
The Reputation of Friends.
Now that Friends are become a good savour in the hearts of all people,
lose it not but rather increase it in the life. For at first ye know
that many could not take so much money in your trade as to buy bread
with. All people stood aloof from you, when you stood upright and gave
them the plain language and were at a word. But now that through the
life you come to answer that of God in all they say that they will trust
you before their own people, knowing that you will not cheat, nor wrong,
nor cozen nor oppress them. For the cry is now where is there a Quaker
of such and such a trade? O, therefore, Friends, who have purchased this
through great sufferings lose not through great favour which God hath
given unto you.