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Volume 5, The Works of George Fox, Doctrinal Books II, Continued Text in Light Blue or bold Light Blue can be "clicked" for backup in scripture or detail in writings. The Spirit of Man the Candle of the Lord: the Candle of the Wicked often put out. How the Lord enlightens the Spirit of Man, which is the Candle of the Lord; and who are the Candlesticks, and how Christ walks in the midst of his Candlesticks; and how the Candle of the Wicked is often put out. —By G. F. Solomon said, Prov 22:27, ‘the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.’ And David said, Psa 18:28, ‘For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.’ So it was, and is, the Lord God that lights man's spirit, which is his candle [or lamp]. And in Ezek 13:3, said Ezekiel, ‘thus said the Lord, woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.’ These were those [prophets or ministers] who seduced the people, ‘for handfuls of barley, and pieces of bread;’ and daubed the walls with untempered mortar,* that stood not in the counsel of God, to hear his voice, and receive his word. So their spirits were not enlightened, as David's and Ezekiel's were; for their candle was put out, and so they followed their own spirits, and saw nothing; for they forsook the Lord, that should have enlightened their spirits, their candles.
So all people who do not follow the Lord, and do not hear his voice, nor stand in his counsel, that should enlighten them, they follow their own spirits, and see nothing; for the apostle said, ‘the things of God knows no man, but the spirit of God; and the natural man receives not the things of the spirit; for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’ So man's spirit which is the candle of the Lord, it must be enlightened by the spirit and light of the Lord, that he may discern his things, and then his spirit reveals the things of God unto him; for the apostle said, ‘God had revealed unto them the things of God, by his spirit; for the spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.’ So here the apostles' spirits were enlightened; for Christ has enlightened their candle. 1 Cor 2:10-14. Here, Job was in misery. The Lord had allowed the evil to come upon him to try him. He remembers the light, by which he walked through darkness, and by which he saw the secrets of God formerly, which were upon his tabernacle [heart]. This was seen by God's light and candle, with which he had lit his spirit; without which light no man sees God's secrets, nor walks through darkness, as in Job 29:3. These, who had their candles [or lamp], were not to fret because of evil men, nor to be envious of the wicked; for when people go out of the fear of God, and meddle with those who are given to change, then their candle goes out; for they go from the Lord, who lights their candle; and they go from the sparks of God's fire, that should light their candle. So it is by joining to the wicked, going from the spirit of God, and so out of the fear of God, that their candle goes out. And Solomon, speaking of the virtuous woman, and of her diligence, Prov 31, said, ‘her candle goes not out by night:’ and further said ‘strength and honor is her clothing, who opens her mouth in wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.’ Now what wisdom is this, and law of kindness, which brought her not to eat the bread of idleness? And what strength and honor was this, that was her clothing, whose candle did not go out at night? Those who do not love this virtue and the wisdom, and who do not live not in this law of kindness, are not clothed in this strength and honor. For such are the wicked, and such their candle goes out when the night comes. And therefore, those who keep their eyes to the Lord, who enlightens their candle, and then they keeping their eyes to him, their candle will not go out by night, but shine over all darkness; for he and his light was before darkness was, that lights man's spirit, as it did David's. But those who go from the wisdom of God, and from virtue, and so from his strength, they go from God and his light, who enlightens their spirits his candle; and so comes the wicked's candle to be put out, and they go into darkness, and do not know where they go. And the Lord sent his prophets, rising up early, to tell Judah and the king, ‘how that he would bring Nebuchadnezzar upon them,’ because of their transgression of God's law, and forsaking the Lord; and would bring their land into desolation; and that he would take away ‘the light of their candle,’ Jer 25:8-10. And all this was, because of their grieving of the Lord, and turning from the Lord, that the light of their candle should be taken away; the light which lightens their spirits, which is the candle; and then their house becomes full of darkness, and so become natural men, which know not the things of God; and then they may follow their own spirits, like the foolish prophets, and see nothing of the things of God. And David, when he transgressed and grieved the Lord, he desired the Lord, that ‘he would not take from him his holy spirit, nor cast him from his presence;’ for the spirit of God, and light of God was what lighted David's spirit, by which he saw his transgressions, and by which he turned to the Lord, and the Lord did forgive him, and removed his sins as far from him, ‘as the east is from the west,’ as you may see in Psalm 103:12. So it is the Lord who enlightens man's spirit, his candle with his heavenly fire, his light; yes, all those who obey him. And so it is the Lord that opens the eye to see, and the ear to hear; and it is the Lord that opens the lips and the mouth to show forth his praise. And in Ezek 39:29, it is said, ‘I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, said the Lord God.’ And here all may see, that by the spirit of God their spirit, the candle, was enlightened, to know the law and things of God by the spirit of God. But when Israel rebelled against God's good spirit, which he gave them, as in Neh 9, and followed the foolish prophets, that followed their own spirits, and saw nothing, then their candle went out. For they went from the spirit of God that should light their spirits, their candle, and so became wicked in their spirits and minds, and so their candle went out, because they were gone from God, and the light of his spirit, who had enlightened them. Then how could their candle but go out, when they turned their backs from God, who enlightened them by his good spirit. For the Lord had bestowed a multitude of his mercies and kindness upon them, and in his love and pity he redeemed them; and bore, and carried them all the days of old, but they rebelled against him, and vexed his holy spirit; and therefore, he turned to be their enemy, as you may see in Isa 63:9-10. And so they became wicked, and their candle went out from God's light; and how often had the Lord mercy, and called them back again, but they rebelled against him? and so, as it is said, ‘how often does the candle of the wicked go out?’ So here you may see that God poured out of his spirit upon the house of Israel; and the house of Israel could not say, but they had God's good spirit, by which they might come to know God's good things, and do them, their candle being lighted by it though ‘they rebelled against it,’ as in Neh 9:26,20. ‘that he gave them his good spirit, but they rebelled against it.’ And so when Christ Jesus came, the Jews were in rebellion against this good spirit, and resisted Christ Jesus that was conceived by the Holy Ghost; and so resisted Christ Jesus that came to take away their sins; but they cleaved to their sins, and chose a murderer before him, and that brought destruction upon them all; for, turning from the spirit of God, they turned from Christ their Saviour, and so the Lord turned down their city and priesthood, and scattered them over all nations. And it is said, in Joel 2:16-17 and in Acts 2:28-29. ‘that the Lord poured out of his spirit upon all flesh,’ [mark, upon all flesh,] that is upon Jews and Gentiles, (for it is said before), ‘that he had poured his spirit upon the house of Israel, and they rebelled against it;’ but now it is said, ‘the Lord poured out his spirit upon all flesh.’ After Christ was risen that the Holy Ghost fell upon the apostles, which Christ had promised that he would send, which should lead them into all truth; and that in it they should believe; and it should convict the world of their sin, as you may see in Acts 2:2-3 and John 15:26,16:13,8. So no flesh can dare not affirm that the Lord has poured out of his good spirit upon them, unless they think the [Bible and/or] the prophets and the apostles lie, which speaks against the promise of God and Christ, and against the spirit of God in their own consciences, which spirit he has poured upon all flesh. All who rebel against this spirit, and say, that God has not poured out of his spirit upon all flesh, they accuse Christ, and the prophets, and the apostles to be liars, and deny Christ's promise, and speak against what God has spoken and performed, and are the wicked whose candle is put out, and does not shine, by erring from this spirit. So now all flesh, Jews, Gentiles, and christians, who rebel against this spirit, which God has poured out upon all their flesh, are those sons and daughters who do not prophesy; for their candle has gone out, they cannot prophesy. All the old men that rebel against this spirit, which God has given them, do not have the dreams of God; for their candle has gone out by night, which was lit by God's spirit. And all the candle has gone out of all servants and hand-maids, who rebel against God's spirit, which he poured upon their hearts and spirits, so that they have no visions of God. So they have become rebels against God's spirit, in the gospel and christian times, as the house of Israel did when God poured out of his spirit upon their house, and so turned their backs upon the Lord, and became wicked, and then their candle went out. All such follow their own spirits and see nothing of the things of God; for the natural men receives them not; for they are foolishness to them. For when their spirits become wicked, either Jews or christians, they go from God's spirit which would keep them in his fear, who lights their spirits, which is the candle of the Lord. For God lit David's candle, his spirit, so that he saw the state of the Jews, and beyond all their figures and shadows, to Christ Jesus, and called him Lord. That made him a prophet, and a seer, because he saw into the future; and so all the prophets of God, whose candles or spirits God has lit by his spirit and light, so that they saw Christ Jesus, who was to come to end their law, with all their types, figures, and shadows. But the foolish prophets followed their own spirits, and saw nothing, but deceived the people for handfuls of barley, and pieces of bread, which the Lord sent his true prophets to cry against, whose candles he had lit by his spirit, with which they saw the false and foolish prophets, and the Jews that followed them, that followed their own spirits, who followed them into wickedness, and so became wicked like them, and so the wicked's candle went out, and though often the Lord brought them back again, and lit their candle, yet they turned from the Lord, and followed the imaginations of their own hearts, and then the candle of the wicked went out, when they rebelled against his spirit, by which he enlightened them. Christ said to his disciples, whom he had enlightened, their spirits, their candles, ‘you are the light of the world a city set on a hill, that cannot be hidden; neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house; let, therefore, your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ Mat 5:14-16. So here Christ calls his disciples, the light of the world, whose spirits he had enlightened, their candle; and so they were as a city set on a hill, in God's power, which light could not be hidden. So men outwardly do not put their candle under a bushel, after they have been lit, so that their works will not be seen; for that will hide it, and will not allow it to give light to the house. When a physical candle is lit by some outward fire, if a man would set that candle under a bushel, and not set it on a candlestick, he would be thought to be mad; for, if he did so, people could not see what is in the outward house, because it does not give light to all that are in the outward house, to work, and do their affairs and business by, or to see what is in the house. So Christ, who is the light, who enlightens every man that comes into the world with his divine light, which is called, the life in the word, which was in the beginning, who is the light of the world; which is not a natural light, or a created light, but a spiritual, heavenly, and a divine light, which enlightens every man's spirit that comes into the world, his candle. For the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, and the candlestick is every man's body, mind, soul, and conscience; so that with this spirit, their candle, being lit and set up in its candlestick, they may see all that is in the house. With this light they may see Christ who died for them, and is risen for them; and so come by this light, which is life in the word, to be grafted into Christ the word, which was in the beginning, which lives and abides, and endures forever. Thus they do the will of God, and to see and believe in the son of God, John 6:40. So this light must shine, that others may see your good works done in the light, and wrought in God, and that they may glorify your Father which is in heaven. And such let their light shine before men. But those who hate the light, and will not come to it, because it reproves them, and do not believe in it, they do not let the light, which is the life in Christ, shine before men, though it is in them to condemn them, and to let them see all their evil deeds, thoughts, and evil words, and is as under a bushel. But they will not come to it, though it is in them shining in their darkness, but love the darkness rather than it, because it will reprove them, namely, the light, which would enlighten their spirits, their candle. So this light of Christ, which enlightens every man that comes into the world, is not natural, but enlightens man's natural spirit, which is the candle; and those who love the light, love what lights their candle, their spirit. And so Christ said, ‘This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but men love darkness rather than light; for everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to it, for fear that his deeds should be reproved,' John 3:19 . So he hates the light, which is the life in Christ, which should enlighten his spirit or candle; so they do hate what should enlighten their candle, and so are like the scribes and Pharisees, and Jews and chief priests, that stopped their ears, and closed their eyes, and would not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, neither Christ without them, nor his light nor spirit within them; neither with their inward eye nor ear, nor outward, as to obey him; for they were like the ancient Jews their forefathers, ‘whom God gave his good spirit unto, but they rebelled against it, and so against his prophets.’ And so their children rebelled against his Son, who enlightened them; and hated his light his life, and did evil; and so the candle of such wicked ones is often put out; for they follow their own spirits and see nothing of God's, nor Christ's things; but they follow their own heart's lusts, so as they come to be drowned, at last, in perdition. And in Mark 4, Christ there speaking in parables, said, ‘how that the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, chokes the word or good seed, and they become unfruitful in whom it was sown,’ and these were such that were called ‘thorny ground, that the word was sown in. And the good ground in which the word was sown, and it took good root in them, are those who hear it, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred-fold in this life.’ And he further said unto them, ‘is a candle brought to be set under a bushel, or under a bed, or to be set on a candlestick; for there is nothing hidden that shall not be manifest; neither is there anything kept secret, but that it shall come abroad; if any man has an ear to hear, let him hear?’ So the ear that hears this must be opened with the light of Christ, that has enlightened his spirit, his candle, by which he sees and hears what Christ has spoken, and is the good ground and brings forth fruit, thirty, sixty, an hundred-fold. So his light does shine before men, and they do see his good works, and glorify their Father which is in heaven. But after they be enlightened, and the word sown in their hearts, if the ‘cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things,’ enter into them, this chokes them, and turns their minds and spirits from the light of Christ, and so they become unfruitful, not bringing forth fruit from this heavenly light and seed; so they follow their own imaginations of their hearts, and not Christ, who enlightens their spirits, their candle, and so their candle goes out, and the secret things of God are not manifest to them. But those who follow Christ, who enlightens their spirits, their candle, with his spiritual and heavenly light, Christ said, ‘they shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ But those who hate the light, and will not come to it, and love darkness rather than light, though they be enlightened with it, they have it to condemn them, who will not let it have a place in their hearts to guide them, and to believe in it. And so this light of Christ, which enlightens their spirits, manifests all secret and hidden things to men and women; so then they must needs come abroad, when they are known and seen. So after this candle is lit, it is not to be put under a bushel or bed. Now this is a parable; for you will say, it is madness for an outward man to put his outward candle, which he has lighted to do his work by, at an outward fire, under a bushel or bed, you will say, he is out of his wits. Then what bushel or what bed might it be placed under, after Christ has enlightened your candle with his divine and spiritual light? What bed or bushel are you thrusting your candle under, after he has enlightened it? Are not you of those who hate the light, and would not have it seen like the Pharisees, that loved not Christ, the light, which shined? Is not this light what you will not let it stand in your candlesticks, up in your house, your hearts, to give light to all that are in the house? Is not this light kept under, which would show you what you are doing in your house, and what evil company you keep in your house, which is your heart; the evil company [pride of life, lust of the flesh, and lust for things], you have kept in your heart for your entire life? For there is nothing secret, but the light will discover it; nor nothing hidden there in your house, your hearts, but the light will manifest it; and there is nothing (to the believers in the light of God), of the things of God, hidden or secret, since the foundation of the world, but that the light will reveal it, or manifest it to them, that they may preach it to others, that they may preach it on the housetop. Luke 8:16. Now, ‘everyone that does evil, he hates the light,’ which has enlightened his candle, ‘and will not come to the light, because the light will reprove him,’ and this light is his condemnation; for he deserves it; and then, it may be, he may say it is not sufficient, that loves darkness rather than light.
‘And he that believes in Christ that does enlighten him,’ his spirit, his candle, ‘shall be saved; and he that does not believe in Christ, the light, is condemned already; and the candle of the wicked is put out.’ And again, Christ said, in Luke 11 where he reproves the Jews, ‘no man when he has lighted a candle puts it in a secret place, nor under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light.’ Now these Jews and Pharisees were erred from the spirit of God, which he had poured upon the house of Israel, which spirit of God would have lit their candles, their spirits; and their light would have shined, being up in their candlesticks, and not under a bushel, or in a secret place. Nevertheless, these priests, scribes, and Pharisees, were erred from the spirit that God had poured upon them, while making a profession of the law and prophets without his spirit; and they had put their light under a bed and bushel, although making a profession of God and Christ to come. They were erred from the spirit that God had poured upon them, and so turned against Christ, who came to enlighten them, and every man; and therefore their eyes were not single, but evil against Christ, who came to enlighten their spirits, their candle; and they blasphemed against him. Therefore, how could their bodies be not full of darkness, and their eyes be not single? And therefore, all you that profess yourselves christians, upon whom God has poured out his spirit, and upon all flesh: and Christ has enlightened every man that comes into the world, namely, their spirits, their candles, with his light, which is the life in the word, by which all things were made. You call his light, which is the life in Christ, the word, ‘a natural, created and dim light, and of the devil and antichrist;’ and some call it, ‘a created and insufficient light.’ Are not here your eyes evil against the light, that should light your spirits, your candle, which light is the life in Christ the word? Then how can your bodies be anything but full of darkness, who have such evil and are without single eyes in you? You, who are found in the same spirit and path that s the Jews were, in your vain arguments and disputes against the light of Christ, as the Jews of old about disputed about the prophet's words, and against Christ. So are you arguing about Christ's and the apostle's words, and are against the light, which is the life in Christ; following your own spirits, and see nothing, natural men, that perceive not the things of God, which to you are foolishness. So what you call light, (how could Christ but say as he does), ‘take heed, therefore, for fear that the light which is in you is darkness,' who reject the light of Christ, Pharisee and Jew-like, which should light your candles, your spirits, that you may see Christ your Saviour, your way, truth, and life. Now the single eye that receives the light of Christ, who lights his spirit with his light, which is the light, which is the life; and the candle being set up in its stick, which gives light to all in the house or body, so that the whole body comes to be full of light, as a bright shining candle shines in an outward house, so his bright shining light and life shines in man's body, whose eye is single, so that his body is full of light, which lights his candle; which light gives him ‘the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus,’ that lights him. 2 Cor 4:6 And Christ said, in his parable to the murmuring scribes and Pharisees, that murmured against him because he received sinners, ‘what woman having ten silver coins, if she has lost one coin, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?’ Luke 15:8. Now this is a parable, but is not God's coin lost in man and woman's foul house, since they fell; and in the Jew's house since they erred from the spirit of God? Must not every man and woman light their candle at God's and Christ's spirit, light, and fire? For God ‘who is a consuming fire to the wicked;’ and ‘who shall sit as a refiner's fire, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’ So must not every man and woman's spirit, which is their candle, have lit by the Spirit of God? After after their candle has been lit by Christ's light and fire, with which he burns up the chaff, must not they forsake the evil and cleave to the good spirit, and believe in the light, as Christ commands, and bring their deeds to the light; and so sweep the house with God's broom, with his power and spirit? Then they find the pearl hidden in their own field, the leaven in the three measures of meal; and the seed of the kingdom like unto a grain of mustard seed. And then they sell all that they have gotten since man was driven into the earth, and fallen from the image of God, to purchase the field; for there is nothing will purchase the field, but parting with all that man and woman have gotten and stored up, since they fell from the image of God in paradise. And so, all your houses are dark and foul, and you cannot find God's coin until your candles are lit, by believing in the light, with which Christ lights your spirits or candles. And then, when your candle is lit by Christ's heavenly light and fire, you will see what a blasphemous spirit you have entertained in your house, and have been married to, that has brought you to call the light, which is the life in Christ, natural and created, Jack with a lantern, the devil, antichrist, the Quakers' idol, etc. And with these blasphemous words have men blasphemed against the heavenly divine light, which is the life in Christ the word; by which all things were made, ‘which lights every man that comes into the world; which light there was a man sent from God to bear witness of, whose name was John, that all men through him might believe.’ John 1-9. And he said, ‘he was not that light,’ though he was the greatest prophet born of a woman: but he said, ‘that was the true light, which lights every man that comes into the world;’ and the world was made by him, though they knew him not, therefore they were dark. ‘And he came to his own,’ namely, the Jews, ‘and they received him not,’ they were so dark also. It is also true that the Jews did not receive him , but persecuted those who received him; and therefore, they were blind, but they thought they were in the light, because they would say, ‘they were of Abraham.’ But well might Christ say to them, ‘if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!?’ Might he say this to those who would not receive Christ the light, who had erred from God's spirit, which he had poured upon their house? And so Christ is the true light, that lights every man's candle, every man's spirit, (which is dark and natural), even though they hate it. And so now, may it not be said of the christians, as it was said of the Jews, who would neither see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, who were self-willed, ‘Christ came to his own, and they would not receive him;’ what of him would they not receive? They would not receive the true light, that lights every man that comes into the world, as do all men whose candle and spirit is dark and natural, and who do not know the things of God; but those spirits and candles that are lighted believe in the light, and they know the things of God that are revealed to them by the spirit, and become children of light.
And so you called christians, who will not receive him,* namely, Christ the light, despite naming yourselves christians, yet you will not receive him that lights every man that comes into the world; you deny Christ's light, and disbelieve in the light, which is the life in the word, following your own spirits by which you see nothing. You are natural men who do not see the things of God, whose candles are put out; but as many as believe in his light, and receive him, ‘to them he gives power to become the sons of God.’
And this light shines in your darkness, and your darkness comprehends it not, who do the evil, and love the darkness rather than the light; and therefore, the light is your condemnation, and you will find it sufficient to condemn you, though you say it is not sufficient, by believing in it to save you. And so you called christians, and Jews, that have spoken so much evil against Christ and his light, the light in the word, by which all things were made; and do neither believe John the greatest prophet born of a woman, what he witnessed, and bore witness to, nor Christ the light; though it may shine in your darkness, yet you loving the darkness more than the light, and hating the light, you cannot comprehend the light with your darkness; and this will be your condemnation, which would have enlightened your candles, your spirits, that you might see your sins, and see your Savior, him who enlightens you. Now Aaron, the high priest, lighted the seven lamps in the candlesticks, that stood in the tabernacle, (a perfect number), as in Num 8:2-3. And the candlesticks were made of pure gold; and Aaron had the charge of these candlesticks, and of the lamps to light them. He was to cause the lamps to burn always in the tabernacle of the congregation, without the veil, as in Exod 26:20. And Aaron, the high priest, who was anointed to that office, was to dress the lamps, which was a type of Christ our high priest, whom God has anointed with the Holy Ghost, who lights with his everlasting light, (not natural; for that they had before), the lamps or spirits of men, with his everlasting light and fire, without the veil, that they see over all veils, and the bright shining of their lights is to to be seen abroad to the election before the world began. So this everlasting light and fire must shine and burn in everyone's tabernacle; and their lamps and spirits being lighted, then the sweet pure incense is offered up to the heavenly God, in his pure heavenly fire from his altar, the pure heart that sees God, which Aaron's incense was a type of, as in Exodus 30. Aaron made the candlesticks of pure beaten gold, a metal wherein is no dross. So man must be moulded and purified, and all the filth in mind, soul, and spirit, must be beaten, tempered, and hammered down, before he is a fit candlestick to stand in the tabernacle of God. And the apostle, in Hebrews, comes to show the end of all those offerings, and candlesticks, and tables, and golden censers, and arks, and all those things that were held up by the law and first covenant, as may be seen in Heb 9 throughout, and other places. And how Christ came as in the volume of the book, to do the will of God, and he said, ‘lo, I come to do your will, oh God, to take away the first covenant, law, and priesthood, that I may establish the second:’ blessed be his name forever, as you may see in Heb 10:9. And so Christ is our high priest, that gives light and fire to the lamps, and lights the candles, the spirits of men, with his heavenly divine light and fire, so that their lamps may burn always in the tabernacle or temples, whose bodies are the temples of God. For Aaron lit the outward lamps and dressed them, and the candlesticks: but Christ lights the inward and dresses them. And Aaron's seven lamps which were outward, were a type of the seven lamps of fire, which burn before the throne of God, which seven lamps are the seven spirits of God. Rev 4:5. And John said, ‘he beheld in the midst of the throne, and in the midst of the elders, .. stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the world.’ A perfect number of lamps, of eyes, of spirits, of stars, and trumpets, and vials; this has Christ our high priest, who ends Aaron's trumpets, candlesticks, lamps, horns, and altars; for here is heavenly lamps to burn, heavenly eyes to see, and heavenly horns to push and throw down all his enemies, and to make them his footstool, and to stand upon them in his glorious power. And they are his enemies that resist his holy spirit, and turn his grace into a license for immorality, and hate his light; so he in his light, grace, and spirit, comes over them, and they go into darkness, and the light of the candle shall shine no more in them, nor the voice of the bridegroom nor bride shall be heard any more in them; for down Babylon is thrown, and judged. And John said, in his revelations, ‘I saw seven golden candlesticks; in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed in a garment down to the foot, girded about his chest with a golden band, his head and his hair were like wool, as white as snow, his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burnt in a furnace,’ ... Now they whose candles are lit by Christ's heavenly divine light and fire, can see where Christ walks, who was dead, and is alive, and lives for evermore. For he walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and the seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches, Christ has lit their candles, their spirit, and their lamps, so that they might burn and shine always. So now, here is an end of all Aaron's lamps and candlesticks, and outward oil and tabernacle, for they were worldly, made with men's hands; his golden candlesticks were a type of these golden candlesticks the churches, which are his people, ‘his living members, the believers born of God, living stones, the household of faith, a holy people elect and precious, built up together a spiritual household.’ And these are the churches, and he that holds the seven stars, which are the seven angels, in his right hand, is Christ that was dead and is alive again, and lives for evermore; and is first and last, and the head of his church. He walks in the midst of his seven golden candlesticks, that is, in the midst of his churches, his people. Those whose candles, whose spirits he has lit with his holy and divine light and fire, see him walk in the midst of his seven golden churches; and there he exercises his offices; as he is a king to rule in their hearts; and as he is a priest, who offered up himself for them, and who offers his people to God without spot or blemish; and as he is a prophet, he opens to his churches, and they hear him the spiritual man, what he said to the churches. Now all the false churches, who will not own him in his light, that lights every man's spirit or candle, (that believe in it), it is their condemnation. Those who do believe in the light which Christ has enlightened them withal, are children of the light, and so members of the true church which Christ is the head of. Now those who do evil and hate the light, which should enlighten their candle, their spirit, (like the Jews, scribes, and Pharisees, and chief priests, christians, or others), and set up churches, and have elders and members like the Pharisees, and they cannot see Christ walk in the midst of their churches; as they can see him, who believe in Christ the light, which lights every man that comes into the world. For, how could they see him, who hate his light, which should enlighten their spirits, their candles; therefore, they cannot be called the golden candlesticks, which are made up of the beaten gold that is tried in the fire.*
And so revelation is a mystery to them, though John had been a fisherman, and one that could not read the letters, but you did not read that the seven golden candlesticks, which were the seven churches did tell John, that what he wrote was mysteries to them, and that they did not understand it; for Christ had enlightened their candles that they might see; and he walked in the midst of these seven churches, and therefore, those who do not see, do not believe in Christ, who lights their spirits, their minds, and hearts, and understandings; so cannot be grafted into Christ the life, but by belief in Christ the light.*
For Christ said, ‘he that has an ear let him hear what the spirit said to the churches;’ and you that have not the same spiritual ear cannot hear what the spirit said to the churches: and you that say you have not the same spirit as the apostles and the churches had; and say, that the spirit does not speak nowadays, as it did in the apostles' days, your ears are stopped, and you are not like to hear what the spirit said to the churches. But Christ who was the beginning and the ending, the first and last, and the same yesterday, today, and forever; who is the heavenly and spiritual man, does walk in the midst of his golden candlesticks, glory to God forever, and he is known and seen to walk now in the midst of his churches, ‘the general assembly written in heaven,’ which are called the heavenly Jerusalem, who are the living members of him the living head; and the living shepherd that feeds with his living bread, his churches, his people in the living pastures of life, who walks in the midst of his sheep, his church, and his sheep hear his voice, and follow him, and will not follow any of the fleeing hirelings, nor climbing thieves, that will not come in at the door by the light that Christ has enlightened every man withal. And also, Christ stands at the door and knocks, and therefore, Christ is nigh, when he stands at the door of your hearts and knocks with his power, light, and grace: for Christ said, ‘behold, (that is to say, take notice, if you will regard, and will not be like the chief priests and Pharisees, that will not regard), behold, (says he), I stand at the door and knock, if any man [mark, it is general,] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me.’ Rev 3:20. Now you say, and teach, (that call Christ the light, that enlightens every man that comes into the world, a natural light), that there is no hearing Christ's voice nowadays, and that is strange. Can you not hear his voice; he stands and knocks at the door of your hearts? What, are you to be just like your forefathers, the Pharisees and Jews, who ‘have ears and hear not, eyes and will not see, and hearts and will not perceive.’ I believe, if a man should knock at your door, and tell you of a salary [of a hundred] thousand a year, you could open your doors soon enough; the doors of your ears, minds, and spirits would be quickly enough open to that, to hear such a man. But Christ knocks at your door, and you say and tell people, there is no hearing his voice nowadays; no hearing of his voice who said, ‘freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.’ Oh! this cuts deep. It is no wonder that if you will not hear his voice, how can you possibly sup with Christ, and he with you, for the heavenly supper; which is impossible unless you hear his voice and open the door of your hearts, and minds, and souls, and let him in, by turning from the darkness to the light, and from the power of Satan unto God? And how can you say, you are ministers of Christ, and yet say, there is no hearing of his voice, when he stands at the door and knocks? But are you not such, as run when God never sent you, and speak when God and Christ never spoke unto you, and yet you talk of faith, and grace, and the spirit? What a strange doctrine is this, that there is no hearing of Christ by his grace, which should teach them, and bring their salvation; and by his spirit, which he has poured upon all flesh; and by his light with which he has enlightened everyone that comes into the world, and tells them to believe in the light! may it not well be said, the candle of you [who are] wicked has been put out, who are dark indeed, and cannot see? And how can any such persons claim to be ministers of Christ, when they do not acknowledge Christ's light, which enlightens every man that comes into the world; who lights their candles, their spirits, by believing in him the light, and so they become children of light; who see the things of Christ the heavenly and spiritual man, and of his kingdom. And we know that the Jews were against John, and said, ‘he had a devil,’ that came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, and said, ‘that was the true light that lights everyone that comes into the world, that through him every man might believe.’ And so it is not strange that such as profess themselves to be preachers of Christ, and christians should say now, that the true light which lights every man that comes into the world, is of the devil, and the Quakers' idol, and natural and a corrupt conscience, and the like; but Christ said, ‘believe in the light while you have it,’ showing that people have the light before they can believe in it. Therefore he exhorts them, ‘to believe in the light, that they may become children of the light.’ Their candle is lit, those who believe in it. These are those who preach Christ's holy kingdom, who see it, and know it, and preach the Lord Jesus Christ, and not themselves. These are those who warn people to repentance, and newness of life, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. So the light enlightens their candles, their spirits, and they come to be children of the light, and of the everlasting day of Christ. And all that will not own Christ and his light, that enlightens every man that comes into the world, but give bad names to his light, which is the life in him, are natural men that know not the things of God, and follow their own spirits, like the foolish prophets, and see nothing;* and lead people after them into death and darkness for means, as they did in the days of the Jews: and do the evil, and hate the light, and will not come to it, because it will reprove them of their evil deeds; such Christ enlightens, but it will be their condemnation; for they put darkness for light, and evil for good, and they are the wicked, whose candle is put out.
And in Rev 18:23, where John speaks of the fall of Babylon, and said, ‘that the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in her, (namely, Babylon), and the voice of the bridegroom, and of the bride, shall be heard no more at all in her; this is mystery Babylon the mother of all harlots, and all nations have drank of her cup, which sat upon the beast, which all the world have worshipped, and made war with the saints; and all the blood of the martyrs, prophets, and saints is found in her.’ And this mystery Babylon is not seen, but by those whose candle is lit by believing in the light of Christ; for all the persecution of God's people is found in her and the beast, yes, ‘in her was found the blood of all the prophets, and of all the saints that were slain upon the earth;’ mark, in this mystery Babylon, mother of harlots. This is the spirit of the beast and the whore, that is whored from God and Christ, and his faith, and spirit, and grace, and truth; yet will have a profession of the prophets' words, Jew-like, and Christ's and the apostles' words, while out of the power and spirit that the apostles were in, and persecute those who are in the same power and spirit, which the prophets and apostles were in. So all the persecution of the prophets, and saints, and holy men and women of God, and the blood of all the saints is found in her; and though she may reach to heaven, yet she must fall, and when she is fallen, the marriage of the Lamb is known, and the saints sing hallelujah. And it is said, ‘the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in her,’ namely, mystery Babylon, ‘nor the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in her.’ Now, these prophets and saints, who were married to Christ Jesus, have called and warned the whore, beast, and her company; for did not John prophesy to tongues and nations? Is not the gospel preached to all nations, tongues, and people, which have been the waters which the whore sat upon? Christ has called them by his grace, light, power, and spirit to repentance; but they would not repent. Has not the loud voice gone forth, ‘fear God and give glory to him, and worship not the beast, but worship God that made heaven and earth;’ but they repented not: for it is said, ‘when the fourth vial was poured out, men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed, and repented not to give glory to God. And when the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, which the beast and the whore sat upon, mystery Babylon, the beast's kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and sores, and they repented not.’ So they went wilfully on to destruction: the beast, whore, and its worshippers. Rev 16:9-11. Now, if they did not repent, they grieved God's good spirit, which called them to repentance, like the old world, and so the beast that all the world worships, and the whore that drinks the blood of the saints, and all the nations drink of her cup, who sits upon the waters, which are nations, tongues, and people. So this beast, and whore, and their followers are in the unrepented state. These are those who hate the light, with which Christ has enlightened all that come into the world. Christ has enlightened all, including the whore, the beast, and their worshippers, by which light they might see their evil deeds, and the abomination of their filthiness and persecution; but they hate it, and therefore, they are condemned with it, and go into the fire with the devil and his angels, that are out of the truth. The light of the candle shall shine no more in Babylon, which has enlightened their spirits, that they might see their deeds and repent; but they did not repent of their evil deeds. They did not turn to the light, which would have lit their candle, and made it shine; but they hating it, and turning from it, this light of the candle, shall shine no more in Babylon, but is her condemnation, and then the candle of the wicked is put out.*
And then how can they hear the voice of the bridegroom, or the bride, the wife of Christ, his church, that is married to him, when they will not hear the voice of his light, that would let them see their evil deeds and repent. But the saints in light that walk in that light, have fellowship in it, and with the Son, and with the Father, and they shall sing hallelujah, Rev 19:1-6. ‘and they shall say, true and righteous are the judgments of the great God, that has judged the great whore, that has corrupted the earth.’ Christ died for all men, and all men have been and are enlightened by Christ, but they will not believe in the light and repent; and the gospel of peace has been preached to all nations, but they will not receive it. Therefore, the light is their condemnation that hate it, which should enlighten their spirits, and so they grow dark; so the light of a candle shall shine no more in Babylon, but be her condemnation, though it is the just man's path, which is as a ‘shining light, which shines more and more to the perfect day.’
And are there many of these found among christians, besides those is found in the world, who worship such things, that do not repent and turn from them. Neither did they repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornications [sexual immorality]*, nor of their thefts, as too many of those called christians do not now.
So these were enlightened by Christ to see their evil deeds, or else how could they have been admonished to repent, or change, or turn from them; and therefore they were warned not to worship such things, nor follow such evils, but to believe in the light, and become children of the light, and so to worship God in the spirit and truth, which the devil is out of, along with the beast and the whore that sits on top of him. And therefore, if they do not repent, God is just in bringing all his woes, judgments, and plagues upon them, and judging them by the man Christ Jesus, according to the gospel, the power of God, which is preached to every creature under heaven; and according to the light which Christ has enlightened them, and every man withal; and according to the grace of God which appeared unto all men, to teach them, and to bring their salvation; but they walked despitefully against the spirit of grace, and turned it into lasciviousness. So the righteous God, king over all the earth, is just in his judgments upon all such rebels. And in Rev 2:20, there you may see how God and Christ gave Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, who was a teacher, and seduced his servants to eat things sacrificed to idols; God gave this Jezebel time to repent of her fornications, and she repented not. Now, this Jezebel might preach the prophets', Christ's, and the apostles' words, from Genesis to the Revelations, and Christ's death and resurrection, but she preached from in the unrepentant state. She was enlightened to see what she was to repent of, and turn from, so she had her space, her time, her visitation, as all men have before God brings his judgments upon them; for their candle is lit by the light of Christ, that they may see what they should do, and what they should not do. Therefore, God rewars everyone according to their works; and those who hate the light, their candle is put out, by joining to the evil, and doing evil, and not coming to the light to light their candle with, but hating it, and erring from God's spirit, which would keep it lit, which light would manifest their evil deeds, and reprove them for it. Therefore, the light is their condemnation, in which light they should have believed, to become children the light, [who are children of God, for God is light, and Christ is the light of all men]. And therefore, said God, concerning Jezebel, who does not repent, ‘behold,’ that is, take notice, ‘I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent; and I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he, who searches the hearts and minds; and I will give to everyone of you according to your works.’ So there is a light in all people, which Christ enlightens them withal, that will let them see whether their works are good, or whether they are evil; so that Christ who is the righteousness of God, and will judge the world in righteousness, he will judge them according to the light which lets them see all they have ever done or spoken; so that every tongue shall confess, that he is true and just in his judgments, and will judge with equity, and not condemn man for what he has not, but for what he has, and has not obeyed, nor been faithful to it. And those who believe in the light, as Christ commands, their spirits, their candle is enlightened, and they become children of the light, and are grafted into Christ, who is the first and last, and see him walk in the midst of his churches, who is the head of them, which the unrepentant and haters of the light, and errers and strayers from the spirit are not like; for the true church is come to ‘Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly, the church of the first born, and to God, the judge of all, and the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel:’ for the blood of Abel cried for vengeance against Cain, but the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, and justifies. And so the saints, the church that are in this new covenant, and come to Jesus, the Mediator of it, between them and God, they see him walk in the midst of his churches, his general assembly, exercising his offices, as a shepherd to feed them, and a counselor to counsel them, and a bishop to oversee them, and as a prophet to open to them, whom they do hear, and as a priest that offered up himself for them; and offers them up to God without spot or wrinkle, and as a king to rule them in their hearts by said. And all those who quench, vex and grieve the spirit of God, and rebel against it, and resist the Holy Ghost, that are erred from the spirit of God; and likewise all those who turn the grace of God, which has appeared unto all men to teach them, and bring their salvation into a license for immorality, and walk despitefully against it. And also, all those who are haters of the light, which is the life in Christ the word, which is the true light, that lights every man that comes into the world; and all those who err from the faith, and make shipwreck of it and a good conscience, are in the unrepented state, unconverted, untranslated, and unregenerated; and Christ stands at the doors of such and knocks, and said unto them, ‘behold (that is to say, take notice), if any man will open unto me, (namely, any man of you all), and hear my voice, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he shall sup with me.’ Now, there is no man who opens to Christ and hears his voice, but that he joins to the spirit, grace, faith, and light, and truth in the inward parts; and turns at the reproof of the Holy Ghost, which Christ has sent; and with the grace, light, truth, and spirit, they let in Christ into their hearts. For Christ is in his saints, and dwells in his saints; they are reprobates [tested, rejected, and abandoned to sin], if Christ does not dwell [and rule] in them. Therefore, examine yourselves, though you may make a profession from Genesis to the Revelations, of Christ's, and his prophets', and apostles' words; yet, if Christ is not in you [ruling your thoughts, words, and deeds], you are reprobates [tested, rejected, and abandoned to sin]. He stands at your doors and knocks; so you cannot say, "if Christ would visit you," because he stands at your doors and knocks, and has promised: "if any man hears his voice, and open the door, he will come in to you, and sup with you," Rev 3:20. So you are all left without excuse in the day that he judges you, and none can plead ignorance, but they have been warned. Yes, none of the house of Adam in the fall may plead that they haven't heard him knocking, for Christ has enlightened them all, and his grace has appeared unto them all, and he has poured out of his spirit upon all flesh. For the first man Adam was made of the earth, earthly, the second man is the Lord from heaven; the first man was made a living soul, the second man is a quickening spirit. Now all being in the fall of Adam, and Adam and his whole house being fallen from the image of God into sin and darkness, Christ the second Adam died for them all, and enlightens them all, and the grace of God which brings salvation, has appeared to them all; and God has poured out his spirit upon all flesh, and Christ is a quickening spirit. All those who believe in the light, their candle (or spirit) is enlightened, and they know Christ a quickening spirit, this spiritual heavenly man: and those who do not believe in the light, but hate it, and grieve the spirit, and turn his grace into wantonness [a license for immorality], and walk despitefully against it, the candles of those wicked are put out. And here Christ is just and true in his judgments upon the world, who judges them in equity, according to the spirit that is poured upon all, and the grace which has appeared unto all, and the light of Christ which has enlightened all. Christ died for all, and what could God have done more, (for the ungodly world), who is just and righteous, and true in all his judgments? All that walk in the spirit, and believe in the light, and in his grace, it teaches them, and brings their salvation, and those who follow Christ, from where the grace comes, in the belief in his light, have everlasting life. Here is God's love to the world: that whosoever believes on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For those who perish, perish for not believing in the Son; the Son whom God has sent in his love, who enlightens them all with a true and saving light, which is the life in him the word; and he tells them to believe in the light, that they may be grafted into him, the root. And so those who are not grafted into Christ, it is because of unbelief; and though christians may say that they believe in Christ, and the Jews may say, they believe in God, and the Messiah to come, yet if they do not believe in the light, as Christ has commanded, which is the life in the word by which all things were made and created, they are not grafted into Christ the life. George Fox The 2nd of the 4th Month, 1677
A Testimony concerning the Blood of the Old Covenant, and the Blood of the New Covenant. Moses took the blood of the oxen and calves that were offered for sacrifices, burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and sprinkled it upon the altar, and upon the people, and said unto them, ‘behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you:’ so the life of the beasts and other creatures (which is blood), was the blood of the old covenant. And after Moses had sprinkled the people, he sprinkled the tabernacle, and the vessels of the ministry, he sprinkled Aaron and his sons, and he sprinkled the books of the Old Testament; so the first testament and covenant was dedicated with the blood of beasts and other creatures, which was the life of beasts and other creatures; and almost all things were by the law of Moses, purged with blood, which was the life of beasts. And without shedding of blood there was no remission of sin. And, (as I said before), when Moses had sprinkled the books of the Old Testament, and the people with the blood, (which was the life of beasts), he said, ‘this is the blood of the covenant and testament which God has enjoined to you.’ So the blood of the old covenant and the Old Testament, was the life of the clean beasts without blemish, (as I said before), for is not the blood, the life? And it is not possible that the blood, the life of bulls, goats, or other creatures in the old covenant could take away sin. But in the new covenant it is written, ‘forasmuch as we are not redeemed with corruptible things, nor with silver, nor gold, from our vain conducts, or tradition of our forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or spot, which Lamb was foreordained, before the foundation of the world,’ and was manifested in the apostles' time and days, which he calls the last times. Silver and gold are corruptible things, which cannot redeem from corruption, nor the blood of bulls, goats, or other creatures, which will corrupt, but the blood of the Lamb, which was ordained before the foundation of the world, and manifested in the last times, in the new covenant; this precious blood of the Lamb, without spot or blemish, Christ Jesus, does not corrupt, for it does redeem from the traditions of our forefathers, the Jews in the old covenant, and the corruptible blood of bulls, goats, and other creatures, that could not take away sin. And so, by the blood of the Lamb Christ Jesus, the saints are redeemed from their vain conduct and corruptible life, to a conduct in heaven, and incorruptible life. And as Moses in the old covenant sprinkled the people with the blood, the life of beasts; so Christ our high priest sprinkles the hearts and consciences of his people in the new covenant with his blood, his life, ‘from their dead works, that they may serve the living God in newness of life’ and as the blood of the old covenant was the life of the beasts, so the blood of the everlasting covenant is the life of Christ the Lamb, ordained before the foundation of the world, who is the great shepherd of his sheep, through the blood of his everlasting covenant ‘he makes his saints perfect in every good work to do his will, working in them what is well pleasing in his sight.’ So it is clear, the blood of the everlasting new covenant is the life of Christ Jesus. The blood of the old covenant was the life of the beasts; the bodies of those beasts in the old covenant were burnt outside of the Jews' camp; and the blood was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest, as an atonement for the sins of the priests and people. Therefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify his people with his own blood, suffered without the gates of Jerusalem: let us go, therefore, unto him, (namely, Christ), without the Jews' camp, bearing Christ's reproach. Christ was reproached, and he sanctifies with his blood, his life, which dedicates the new covenant. So that all may come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and his blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel, or of the blood of bulls and goats, the life of beasts. For Christ, being a high priest, and of a more perfect tabernacle than what was made with hands in the old covenant, did not enter into the holy place made with hands, by the blood of bulls, goats, and calves, as the priests of the old covenant did. But Christ, the Lamb of God, ordained before the foundation of the world, which was manifested in time, by his own blood, his life, entered once into the holy place, into heaven itself, (now to appear in the presence of God for us), having obtained eternal redemption for us. So it is the blood, the life of Christ in the new covenant, that cleanses from all sin, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, ‘to purge our consciences from dead works, to serve the living God: for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament. And so Christ was once offered for sin, who tasted death for every man; so he takes away the first covenant, that he may establish the second, and by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified; so it is by the blood of Christ, by which all his peoples' sins are washed away, who did and do confess, that Christ has redeemed them to God by his blood, and their garments were made white with the blood of the Lamb. So the blood of the old covenant was the life of the beasts and other creatures; and the blood of the new covenant is the life of Christ Jesus, who said, ‘except you eat my flesh, and drink my blood, you have no life in you.’ John 6:53. The blood of the new covenant is not according to the old. To have life, everyone must feel their hearts sprinkled with this blood of the new covenant. In this new covenant they shall all know the Lord, ... And by this blood of Jesus, his life in the new covenant, they are justified, in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Christ has purchased his church with his own blood, his life, and their faith does stand in his blood, which is the life of the Lamb. Therefore, the apostle said, ‘if you walk in the light, as he is in the light, then have you fellowship one with another, and the blood of Christ Jesus, his Son, cleanses from all sin.’ So it is not the blood of bulls, goats, or the blood of other creatures, which was the blood of the old covenant, nor their outward washings in it, that takes away sin; but the blood of the new covenant, which is the blood of the Lamb without blemish, Christ Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, the life of the Lamb, with which Christ, the high priest sanctifies, cleanses and redeems. He washes with his own life, his blood; yes, he sprinkles the altar of the saints' hearts, that they may offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruits of our lips giving thanks to his name. So you are bought and purchased with the blood of Christ, the life of Christ, who has died for you, and risen for your justification, that all might live to him, and not to themselves, and glorify him in body, soul and spirit, which are his, who has purchased you with his blood, his life. So worthy is the Lamb to receive glory and honor, who has redeemed us to God by his blood, and has washed us from our sins by his blood, and our garments are made white by the blood of the Lamb. So the saints do overcome by the blood, the life of the Lamb, who was dead, and is alive again, and lives for evermore. So the blood of the old covenant was the life of lambs and beasts without blemish, by which all things were cleansed and sprinkled; yes, the tabernacle and the vessels, priests and people with the blood, the life of the clean beasts without blemish, in the old covenant, and Old Testament. But the blood of the new covenant, and of the New Testament, his blood is the life of the Lamb, Christ Jesus, the Son of God without blemish, spot, sin, or guile; a Lamb prepared before the foundation of the world. So it is by the life, the blood of this spotless Lamb, that all his people are sanctified and redeemed to God, and sprinkled and washed, their hearts, consciences, tabernacles, vessels and altar in the tabernacle; and the fat or grossness consumed by his fire on the altar, by which they come to be a royal priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. So the blood of the new and everlasting covenant is the life of Christ, which all the believers in the light are to walk in, and to be cleansed by, giving all honor and glory to God, and the Lamb, who has redeemed us to God by his blood. George Fox Swarthmore, the 7th of the 12th month, 1678 And whereas, many lies and false reports have been cast upon us by both priests and professors, that we do slight, deny, and undervalue, the blood of Jesus, when we value and esteem the blood more than any of them. For how can they value or esteem the blood of Christ while pleading for sin a term of life; which gives rise to the popish doctrine of purgatory when they are dead, andwho are not washed, nor their garments made white, nor cleansed from all sin, and not redeemed to God by the blood of the Lamb from their vain conducts and the tradition of their forefathers. Neither do they have so much faith in the blood of Christ the Lamb, ordained before the foundation of the world, that the blood will wash them, cleanse them, and redeem them, or make them as clean as their father Adam and mother Eve were before they fell, much less believe they could come to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, who never fell. And it may be seen, it was the life of the clean beasts from Abel's time, that was offered and accepted of by God to cleanse withal, and therefore, they were not to eat the blood, for the blood, the life of the beasts was offered to God for an atonement upon his altar. So it is clear it was the blood, the life of the beasts which God required to make atonement with upon his altar for their souls. For the Lord said, ‘the life of all flesh is the blood,’ and whosoever ate it was to be cut off; for the life of all flesh, the blood, was to be offered upon his altar to make atonement for their soul, as the Lord required. Thus the first covenant was dedicated with the blood, which was the life of all flesh; but the new and second covenant is dedicated with the blood, the life of Christ Jesus, which is the alone atonement unto God, by which all his people are washed, sanctified, cleansed, and redeemed to God, so that their faith and testimony stands in the blood of the Lamb, the life of Christ Jesus, foreordained before the world was a Lamb without blemish, guile, spot, or sin, which cleanses from all spots and sin, and washes and makes clean the garments. And Christ abolishes both the blood of beasts, and the altar, and all the traditions in the law, and their offerings and sacrifices before the law, by the offering up of himself once in the end of the world, a Lamb ordained before the foundation of the world. Therefore everyone's faith and testimony must stand in him and his blood. And who are the true witnesses of this, but only those who have drunk of the blood of Christ, and eaten of his flesh, which he gives for the life of the world; not those who only talk of it? ‘In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God; the same was in the beginning with God; all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made; and the word was made flesh and dwelled among us, and we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father.’ And Christ said, ‘I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished your work which you gave me to do: and now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.’ John 17:4,24. So Christ, a Lamb, without spot or blemish, who redeems us from our vain conducts and traditions of our forefathers, the Jews, ‘who verily was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times,’ ... 1 Pet 1:18-20. ‘Who has put an end to all the Jews' offerings and sacrifices,’ as the apostle said; for in the end of the world he has appeared, (namely, Christ), to put away sin with the sacrifice of himself. For if the blood of bulls and goats, which is their life, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh in the old covenant, how much more shall the blood of Christ, his life, who has through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, ‘purge your consciences from dead works, to serve the living God.’ F or this cause, he is the Mediator of the New Testament, which is dedicated with his blood, his life. ‘So Jesus Christ was surely of a better testament than that of the Jews.’ Heb 7:22. ‘For he, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man.’ Heb 2:9 and lights every man that comes into the world; and said, ‘I am the light of the world, and he that follows me shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ And the apostle told the Ephesians, that he was ‘to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which since the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.’ Eph 3. ‘And he that has the Son of God, has life, and he that has not the Son of God, has not life.’ Here it is clear Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and ending, and over all in the glory that he had with the Father before the world began; therefore, let your faith stand in Christ, and his blood, his life, by which you are washed, sanctified, purged, cleansed and redeemed to God, that God, through Christ your Mediator, may have the glory in all your hearts. The blood of the clean beasts was the life of the beasts; with their blood, the high priest entered once a year into the holy place made with hands, to make an atonement for himself and the people of the Jews in the old covenant. But Christ, our high priest entered into heaven by his own blood, his own life, to make an atonement for us; he tasted death for every man, and was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, who was dead, and is alive again, and lives for evermore. So he ever lives to make intercession for his people, and so his people have boldness to enter into the holiest, namely, into heaven, by the blood, the life of Jesus, by a new and living way, which is consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; glory to God forever, through Jesus the Saviour, and Christ the anointed of God. George Fox A Demonstration to the Christians in Name, Without the Nature of it. How they hinder the Conversion of the Jews. With an exhortation to them to come into the true nature and life of Christianity, which the Apostles and primitive Christians were in, who converted many of the Jews. Which nature and life of Christianity is herein declared of according to the scriptures, and by which alone the Jews may now be convinced and converted also. —By George Fox The usual saying of the Jews is, ‘when the Messiah is come, he will make all things new,’ according to Isa 43:18-19, which also is testified to in 2 Cor 5:17, Rev 21:5. But the Jews say, ‘most of Christendom (so called), are in the old things, like the heathens, as their life and practice does demonstrate, whose conducts, many of them, are like unto Sodom and Egypt.’ Therefore the Jews say, ‘how could the christians think we would turn to them, many of whose conducts are in cursing, swearing, drunkenness, and uncleanness, which the law of Moses forbids, and the prophets? By the law of God, we Jews are not to swear by any created thing, but only swear by the Lord. Although many of our forefathers swore by the temple and other things, yet it was when they were degenerated from the law of God, and then some of them swore by Baal, and other heathenish gods, all which was forbidden by the law of God and his prophets. Seeing many of those who call themselves christians, swear wickedly, and vainly, and by creatures, and books, the Old and New Testament, which the law of God forbids; and therefore, as our prophets say, when the Messiah is come, he will make all things new in the new covenant, which is not according to the old: and if, therefore, we now should turn to you christians, we should turn again but into the practice of those old things which our law forbids; for the new covenant, which God promised to make, does exceed the old: and therefore, if we should turn to you christians, and practice those things which the heathens do below the old covenant, we should bring ourselves under the judgment of the law of God and the prophets, and beneath what was commanded in our law.’ And therefore, all christians are to lay away all swearing and oaths, as Christ commanded, and cursing, drunkenness, fornication and uncleanness: for all christians' conducts should preach, as well as their tongues, a new life, and a new heart in the new covenant. But, if the christians' unrighteousness and ungodliness, their swearing, cursing, whoring, and profaneness, etc., exceeds the transgressing Jews, and many of the heathens, how can they then think to enter into the kingdom of God, seeing if they do enter into the kingdom of, God their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, the Jews in the old covenant? Therefore, this is a great stumbling block to the Jews, who profess the old covenant, and hold that the Messiah has not come, because they seeing the bad lives and conducts of the christians, who profess the Messiah is come; and they claim to be children of the new covenant, while still living in the old nature and old things, like the heathen. Thus the so-called children of the new covenant exhibit in their lives and conducts, themselves to be below the righteousness required by Jews' law in the old covenant. They should show forth a new life, and a new spirit, according as God has promised, and as the Jews believe, that when the Messiah comes, he will make all things new, as in Jer 31:31-36. And in Ezek 11:19, it is said, ‘I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take away the stony heart.’ But do not we see this stony heart, and old spirit, in most of them called christians? ‘And therefore, if the Messiah has come, as you profess, you are in the transgression of the new covenant, as our forefathers were of the old covenant; and you cannot find fault with us,’ say the Jews. In Ezek 18:31, they were commanded ‘to cast away their transgressions, that they might have a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, said the Lord? for I have no pleasure, said he, in the death of him that dies’ And therefore, if the Jews remain in this old transgressing heart and spirit, in the death, from Christ the life, in which God has no pleasure; should not the christians, which profess the new covenant, cast away their transgressions, swearing, whoring, lying, and drunkenness, theft, murder, and all uncleanness; that they might put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, and so have a new heart and spirit, and a new life, serving God in the new and living way, manifesting that they are children of the new covenant, and not of the old, and so show forth the fruits of the Messiah's having come, and of their being in the new covenant in their lives and conducts. For the apostle said, ‘their conduct was in heaven.’ And now let Christendom see where their conduct is now, and has been these many hundred years. And also, in Ezek 36, he speaks of the blessings of the kingdom of Christ, by way of prophecy, where the Lord said, ‘he will make in them a new heart, and put his spirit within his people, and give them a heart of flesh, and sprinkle clean water upon them, that they may be cleansed from their filthiness, and from their idols, and take away the stony heart,’ ... And now let all those who profess christianity consider: how can they hope tp convert the Jews with their stony heart, from one stony heart to another, and from one old spirit to another old spirit? No, if they are to be converted, it must be from the old to the new, from the old covenant to the new and living way. And do you think the Jews can be converted to images, and idols? They will tell you, ‘the law of God throughout the Old Testament forbids them, and their prophets, and their forefathers; making and worshipping images brought all those dreadful judgments upon them, and upon all their forefathers, because they went a whoring after images.’ And now to see what multitudes of images and idols are set up among christians, who profess the new covenant, and that the Messiah has come, who was supposed to have made all things new. Plus, the righteousness of the owners and receivers of this new covenant was supposed to exceed the righteousness of the professors of the old covenant; and yet they see so many of those called christians making molten images, and idols, which is below the law of Moses, and forbidden. Therefore, do the Jews say, ‘how can you [possibly] think we might be converted to your Christianity.’ Therefore, it is good for all who profess christianity, to lay away all images and idols, and making of them, or bowing before them, and mind the image of God, which Christ in his new covenant renews his people up into, that you may show forth the effects of the new heart and new spirit, being wrought in you. And show that you abhor images and idols, having been cleansed from them, and that your hearts are sprinkled with the pure water by the word. Let it be seen that you are not grievers nor quenchers of the pure spirit of God, nor rebels against this new spirit, nor haters of the light, with which Christ enlightens you and everyone that comes into the world withal. For if you hate the light and quench this spirit, do you desire to convert people to darkness, and the old spirit, and stony heart, that thus grieves the new? Therefore, as the apostle said, ‘abhor the evil, and cleave to the good,’ all you who are called christians. All who profess themselves christians should come to wear the badge or garmets of Christ, the heavenly man, and to have your old filthy garments put off, and to be clothed with the new garment, the righteousness of Christ. For all are clothed with the filthy garments, that are covered with the old spirit, while they are in transgression of the new covenant of light and life. If any in that old spirit, and old heart, and covered with that old filthy garment, seeks to convert or bring people to themselves, they only bring them into the woes, where they themselves are; for the prophet Isaiah said, ‘woe unto those who are covered, but not with my spirit, said the Lord.’ And those who are the true converts to Christ and God, they have the new spirit, new heart, and new mind, and walk in the new way, in the new and everlasting covenant, and their garments are made white with the blood of the life of the spotless Lamb, |
