George Fox to BP

As the Lily, Ye All May Grow

He shall grow as the lily, Hosea, 14:5

Take heed, that with all your mind [you] may be kept up to God, who is pure; that as the lily ye all may grow, and receive wisdom from God how to use the creatures in their places, to the glory of him that created them."

George Fox, from Mind the Heavenly Treasure, p. 38

Amen, George.

George Fox: live in the pure hope

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3:3)

"O! Live in the pure hope, which purifies you as He is pure; which hope is Christ ... and so feel Christ your hope, which anchors your immortal souls, that stays it in all waves, storms, and tempests, and is safe and sure in all weathers; Christ who is the same today as he was yesterday; so no new thing." George Fox, from Mind the Heavenly Treasure

Fox and the early Quakers seem to have often written of "pure" things, such as "pure hope" and "pure peace," and I believe the adjective "pure" had special meaning for them. I wonder, what to them, was the difference between pure peace and peace, pure hope and hope.

Having just learned about the potency of images to the early Friends, I note that Fox contrasts the unchanging "anchor" of Christ to the uncertainties (waves, storms and tempests) of this world and declares Christ as the place of safety. As Fox notes, not a new thing ... or image ... but powerful all the same.

Interestingly, he asks us to "feel" Christ, which moves us from intellectual argument to heart place, from empirical evidence to mystical, possibly ecstatic, union.

Mind the Heavenly Treasure: Out of the Kingdom

"And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost," Acts, 13:15

"Keep in the power of the Lord; for if you lose that, you lose the kingdom that stands in power and peace and righteousness, and joy in the Holy Ghost; for out of the Kingdom is strive, and no peace." George Fox.

From "Mind the Heavenly Treasure: Thoughts for each day from the Scriptures and the eight volumes of the writings of George Fox," compiled by Gary Boswell.

Questions: How would you define "the power of the Lord?"

I grew up with the Holy Spirit called the Holy Ghost. Why do you think Holy Spirit is now the common usage and what differences are there between "spirit" and "ghost?"

Mind the Heavenly Treasure: George Fox speaks

"Those that say they abide in Jesus ought also to walk even as he walked." 1 John 2:6

"Now the practical part is called for. People must not be always talking and hearing, but they must come into obedience to the great power of the great God of heaven and earth." George Fox.

From "Mind the Heavenly Treasure: Thoughts for each day from the Scriptures and the eight volumes of the writings of George Fox," compiled by Gary Boswell.

MInd the Heavenly Treasure: Sing in the Darkness

Entry for Fifth month, day 13 (May 13) from "Mind the Heavenly Treasure," a devotional of quotes from George Fox:

"In the night his song shall be with me." (Psalm 42:8)

Sing and rejoice, ye children of the day, and of the light; for the Lord is at work in this thick night of darkness that may be felt. And truth doth flourish as the rose, and the lilies do grow among the thorns, and the plants atop of the hills, and upon them the lambs do skip and play."

In light of yesterday's discussion of complaining, I think Fox does a good job here of balancing a fact--the darkness of the world-- with "complaint free" uplifting words noting the good in the world. What do you think?

Also, his images here remind me of WIlliam Blake. This probably has everything to do with the sources and themes they're both drawing from rather than Quakerism, but has anyone heard of a Quaker connection to William Blake? Another thing to Google ...

Followers of the Lamb

Entry for Fifth month, day 13 (May 13) from "Mind the Heavenly Treasure," a devotional of quotes from George Fox:

"These are they which follow the Lamb," (Revelation 14:4)

"So be meek and low, then ye follow the example of Christ, and come to bear the image of the Just, who suffered by the unjust ... yet cried, 'Father, forgive them.' Here he kept his dominion, though a sufferer, who had the victory, which the followers of the Lamb do (in measure) attain to."