Community-Building Advices

from the letters of George Fox

And know the life of God in one another... – from Ep. 48 (1653). Works, vii, 62.

nd Friends, meet together, and know one another in that which is         eternal, which was before the world was. For knowing one another only in the letter and the flesh differs you little from the beasts of the field, for what they know, they know naturally. – from Epistle 149 (1657), To Friends, to know one another in the light. Works, v. vii, pp. 141-142.

nd do not strive about outward things, but dwell in the love of God, for that will unite you together; and make you kind and gentle one towards another; and to seek one another’s good and welfare; and to see that nothing be lacking among you; and then all will be well. – from Epistle 340 (from Swarthmore, 1/4/1676), To Friends in New Jersey in America. Works, v. viii, p. 131.

his is a warning to you all from the Lord God and Jesus Christ, that all that ye speak, it may be in plainness of speech, and that it may proceed from that of God in you, that the light of Christ in all consciences, which he hath enlightened every one withal, may witness your words to be the words of life.

... And if any among you do speak of former experiences, and not dwell in the Light, but in hypocrisy and presumption and envy, without the fear of God, ye are to be thrown down.... Therefore in the Light dwell and walk every one in particular; then ye will have unity with one another, and grow up to be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.  – from Epistle 111 (1655), A warning from the Lord for plainness of speech to be used. (To go among Friends.) Works, v. vii,  p. 110-112.

nd all that are in the image of God are of one mind. – from Epistle 397 (1684), Works, v. viii, p. 256.

n the love and life and power of God ye are kept above all outward things that have been set up in the Fall, which causeth pride and contention, and strife. So all in that live, which brings you up to God, out of the state of Adam and Eve and his sons and daughters in the Fall. In that power ye have an everlasting fellowship with God, and one with another, which power of God was before the Fall was. In that power ye shall ever be together, and know your election, before the world began. So farewell. – from Epistle 61 (1654), as reprinted in Cecil W. Sharman,  No more but my love: Letters of George Fox 1624-91 (London: Quaker Home Service, 1980) Cf. a variant reading in Works, vii,  p. 75.