An
EPISTLE
TO THE
QUARTERLY and MONTHLY
MEETINGS
OF
FRIENDS.
By JOHN WOOLMAN
LONDON:
Re-printed by Mary Hinde
An Epistle
to the
Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of Friends.
1772.
This "Epistle" is John Woolman's farewell to his friends in America, just before he sailed for England. The manuscript is found at the end of the chapter "On Serving the Lord in our Outward Employments," which is in quarto form at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.
The following extract is from a letter written near the time of his departure; it is one of the last of his farewell notes which exist.1 "... If thou and Such in this Citty, who are careful {Page 475} to look over writings propos4 to be printed and to amend, what may be imperfect, would employ a little time in correcting that piece, and after ward let me see the propos'd alterations, it would be acceptable to me to look over them.
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| Seventh Day Morning | John Woolman |
| For | (4mo. 1772) |
| Israel Pemberton. |
Feeling at this time a renewed concern that the pure Principle of Light and Life, (and the righteous fruits thereof) may {Page 476} spread and prevail amongst mankind, there is an engagement in my heart to labour with my brethren in religious profession, that none of us may be a stumbling-block in the way of others, but may so walk that our conduct may reach the pure witness in the hearts of such who are not in profession with us.
And dear Friends, while we publicly own that the Holy Spirit is our leader our conduct on this principle being charge able on Christ, the profession in itself is weighty ; and the weightiness thereof increaseth in proportion as we are noted among the professors of the Truth, and active in dealing with such who walk disorderly.
Many under our professions for want of a due attention & a perfect resignation to this Divine Teacher, have in some things manifested a deviation from the purity of our religious principles, and these deviations having crept in amongst us by little & little, & increasing from less to greater, have been so far unnoticed that some living in them, have been active in putting discipline in practice, with relation to others, whose conduct hath appeared more dishonourable in the world.
Now as my mind has been exercised before the Lord, I have seen that the discipline of the church of Christ standeth in that which is pure. That it is the wisdom from above which gives authority to discipline, and that the weightiness thereof standeth not in any outward circumstances, but in the authority of Christ who is the author of it. And where any walk after the flesh, and live against the purity of Truth, and at the same time are active in putting discipline in practice, a veil is gradually drawn over the purity of discipline, & over that holiness of life which Christ leads those into "in whom the love of God is verily perfected." 1 John ii. 5.
When we labour in true love with offenders, & they remain obstinate, it sometimes is necessary to proceed as far as our blessed Lord directed: "Let him be to thee as an heathen man, or a publican." [Mat. xviii. 17.]
Now when such are disowned and they who act therein feel Christ made unto them wisdom, and are preserved in the meek, restoring spirit, there is no just cause of offence ministered to them. But when they who are active in dealing with offenders, indulge in that which is against the purity of Truth, and yet judge others whose conduct appears more dishonourable than theirs, here the pure authority of discipline ceaseth as to such offenders, and a temptation is laid in their way to wrangle and contend.
XR4384 "Judge not," said our Blessed Lord, "that ye be not judged." Now this forbidding alludes to man's judgment, and points out the necessity of our humbly attending to that sanctifying power, under which the faithful experience the Lord to be "a spirit of judgment to them." Isa. xxviii. 6. And as we feel his Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body in us, we can say, "it is no more I that live, but Christ that liveth in me"; here right judgment is known.
And while Divine love prevails in our hearts, & self in us is brought under judgment, a preparation is felt to labour in a right manner with offenders; but if we abide not in this love, our outward performance in dealing with others & in imitation of worshipers, degenerates into formality. For "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." 1 John v. 3.
How weighty are those instructions of our Redeemer concerning religious duties, when he points out that those who pray, should be so obedient to the teachings of the holy Spirit, that, humbly confiding in his help, they may say, Thy name, O Father, be hallowed! "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In this awful state of mind people feel that worship which stands in doing the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven, and keeping the holy Name sacred. To take a holy profession upon us is awful; nor can we keep this holy Name sacred, but by humbly abiding under the power of the cross of Christ. Against some who prophaned his holy Name by their living the apostle made heavy complaint. "Through you, the name of God is blasphemed amongst the Gentiles." Rom. ii. 24.
Some of our ancestors through many tribulations were gathered into the state of true worshippers, and had fellowship in that which is pure, and as one was inwardly moved to kneel down in their assemblies, and publicly call on the name of the Lord, those in the harmony of united exercise then present, joined in the prayer. I mention this that we of the present age, may look unto the Rock from whence we were hewn, and remember that to unite in worship is a union in prayer, and that {Page 478} prayer acceptable to the Father is only in a mind truly sanctified where the sacred name taken on us is kept holy, and the heart resigned to do his will on earth as it is done in heaven. "If ye abide in me," saith Christ, "& my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will in my name, and it shall be done unto you." Now we know not what to pray for as we ought, but as the holy Spirit doth open and direct our minds, and as we faithfully yield to it our prayers unite with the will of our heavenly Father, who fail not to grant that which his own spirit through his children asketh Thus preservation from sin is known, and the fruits of righteousness brought forth by such who inwardly unite in prayer.
How weighty are our solemn meetings when the name of Christ taken upon us is kept holy! How precious is that state, in which the children of the Lord are so redeemed from the love of this world, that they are Accepted and Blessed in all that they do. [R. Barclay's Apology, p. 404.]
How necessary is it that we who profess these principles, and are outwardly active in supporting them, should faithfully abide in Divine strength, that as He who hath called us, is holy, so we also may be holy in all manner of conversation. 1 Pet i. 15.
If one professing to be influenced by the Spirit of Christ propose to unite in a labour to promote righteousness in the earth, who in time past hath manifestly deviated from equity, then to act consistently his first work is to make restitution so far as he may be enabled. For if he attempts to contribute toward a work intended to promote righteousness, while it appears he neglecteth, or refuseth to act righteously himself, his conduct herein hath a tendency to entangle the minds of those who are weak in the faith who behold these things, and to draw a veil over the purity of righteousness, by carrying an appearance as though that was righteousness which is not.
Again if I propose to assist in supporting those principles wherein that purity of life is held forth in which customs proceeding from the spirit of this world have no place, and at the same time strengthen others in those customs by my example, then the first step in an orderly proceeding is to cease from those customs myself, and afterwards to labour, as I may be enabled, to promote the like in others.
To be convinced of the pure principle of Truth, and diligently {Page 479} exercised in walking answerable thereto, is necessary before I can consistently recommend this principle to others, and I often feel a labour in spirit, that we who are active members in Society, may experience in ourselves the truth of those expressions of the Holy One, "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me." Lev. x. 3. In this case my mind hath been often exercised when alone, year after year, for many years, and in the renewings of Divine Love, XR3382 a tender care hath been incited in me, that we who profess this inward Light to be our teacher, may be a family united in that purity of worship, which comprehends a holy life, & ministers instruction to others.
My mind is often drawn towards children who have a small share of the things of this life, who, coming to have families, may be inwardly exercised before the Lord to support them in a way agreeable to the purity of Truth, wherein they may feel his blessing upon them in their labours, and the thoughts of such being entangled with customs contrary to pure wisdom conveyed to them through our hands, doth often very tenderly & movingly affect my heart; and while I look towards my own dissolution, and think on a succeeding generation, fervent desires are raised in me, that we yielding to that holy Spirit which leads into all truth, may not do the work of the Lord deceitfully, may not live against the purity of our own principles but as faithful labourers in our age, may be instrumental in removing the stumbling-blocks out of the way of such who may succeed us.
Such was the love of Christ that he gave himself for the Church, that he might so sanctify and cleanse it, that it should be holy and without blemish, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Eph. 5. 25. XR1103 And where any take the name of Christ upon them and profess to be led by his holy Spirit & yet manifestly deviate from the purity of Truth, these acting herein against the gracious design of his giving himself for us, do minister cause for the continuation of his afflictions.
Christ suffered afflictions in a body of flesh received from the virgin Mary, but the afflictions of Christ are yet unfinished, for they who are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death, and as we humbly abide under the sanctifying Power, and come forth in newness of life, we feel Christ to live in us, and he being the same yesterday to-day and forever, and always at unity with {Page 480} himself, his spirit in the hearts of his people leads to an inward exercise for the salvation of mankind. And when, under travel of spirit, we behold a visited people entangled with that which is not of the Father but of the world, & therein fail of being faithful examples to others; under a sense of these things sorrow & heaviness is often experienced, & thus in some measure is filled up that which remains of the afflictions of Christ.
Our blessed Lord, speaking on gifts offered in Divine service, said, If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift; he saith not seek reconciliation before thou bringest a second gift, but commands a full stop. First go and be reconciled to thy brother. Now there is no true unity, but in that wherein the Father and the Son are united; nor can there be a perfect reconciliation, but in ceasing from that which ministers cause for the continuation of the afflictions of Christ. And if any proposing to bring their gift to the Altar, do remember the customary contradiction which some of their fruits bear to a pure Spiritual worship, here it appears necessary to lay to heart this command. Leave thy gift by the altar.
Christ graciously calls his people brethren: whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother. [Mark iii. 35.] Now if we walk contrary to the Truth as it is in Jesus while we continue to profess it, we offend against Christ, and if under this offence we bring our gift to the Altar our Redeemer doth not direct us to take back our gift, he doth not discourage us from proceeding in a good work, but graciously points out the neces sary means by which the gift may be rendered acceptable. Leave, saith he, thy gift by the altar, first go and be reconciled to thy brother. Cease from that which grieves the holy Spirit, cease from that which is against the Truth as it is in Jesus, and then come and offer thy gift.
XR1304 I feel while I write a tenderness toward such, who through Divine favour are preserved in a lively feeling of the state of the churches, and who at times may be under discouragements with regard to proceeding in that pure way which Christ by his holy spirit leads into. The depth of disorder and weakness which so much prevails, being opened, doubtings are apt to arise, as to the possibility of proceeding as an assembly of the Lord's {Page 481} people in the pure counsel of Truth. And here I feel care to express in uprightness that which hath been opened in my mind under the power of the cross of Christ, relating to a gathered visible church, the members whereof are guided by the holy Spirit.
This church is called the body of Christ. Col. i. 24.
Christ is called the head of the church. Eph. i. 22.
The church is called the pillar & the ground of Truth. 1 Tim. iii. 15.
XR3475 Thus the church hath a name that is sacred; and the necessity of keeping this name holy, appears evident, for where a number of people unite in a profession of being led by the spirit of Christ, and publish their principles to the world, the acts and proceedings of that people may in some measure be considered as that which Christ is the author of.
Now while we stand in this station, if the pure Light of life is not followed in our proceedings, we are in the way of profaning the holy name, and of going backward towards that wilderness of sufferings and persecution out of which through the tender mercies of God, a church in this nation hath been in a great measure gathered. Christ liveth in sanctified vessels. Gal. ii: 20. and where they behold this holy name profaned, and the pure gospel light eclipsed through the unfaithfulness of such who by their station appear to be standard-bearers under the prince of peace these living members in the body of Christ, in beholding these things do in some degree experience the fellowship of his sufferings: and XR1798 as the wisdom of this world more and more takes place in conducting the affairs of this visible gathered Church, and the pure leadings of the Holy Spirit less waited for & followed, so the true suffering seed is more & more oppressed.
My mind is often affected with the condition of sincere hearted people in some kingdoms where liberty of conscience is not allowed, many of whom being burdened in their minds with prevailing superstition joined with oppressions are often under sorrow. And where such have attended to that pure Light which in some degree hath opened their understandings, and for their faithfulness to Christ have been brought to examination and tryal, how heavy are the persecutions which in divers parts of the world are exercised on them! How mighty as to the outward is that {Page 482} power by which they are borne down & oppressed! How deeply affecting is the condition of many upright-hearted people taken into the papal inquisition! What lamentable cruelties in deep vaults in a private way are exercised on many of them! and how lingering is that death by a small slow fire, which those have frequently endured, who have been faithful to the end.
How many tender-spirited protestants have been sentenced to spend the remainder of their lives in a galley chained to an oar under hard-hearted masters, while their young children were placed out for education amongst strangers, and taught principles so contrary to the consciences of the parents, that in dissenting from them they have hazarded their liberty and all that was dear to them of the things of this world!
There have been in times past severe persecutions under the English government, and many sincere hearted people, in dif ferent ages, suffered death for the testimony of a good conscience, whose faithfulness in their day hath ministered encouragement to others, and been a blessing to many who have succeeded them. Thus from age to age the darkness being more & more removed, a channel at length, through the tender mercies of God hath been opened for the exercise of the pure gift of the gospel ministry, without interruption from outward power. A work, the like of which is rare, and unknown in many parts of the world.
As these things are often fresh in my mind, and this great work of God going on in the world has been open before me. that liberty of conscience with which we are favoured, hath not appeared as a light matter.
A trust is committed to us, a great & weighty trust, to which our diligent attention is necessary. Wherever the active members of this visible gathered church use themselves to that which is against the purity of our principles, it appears to be a breach of this trust, and one step backwards toward the wilderness; one step towards undoing what God, in Infinite Love, hath done through his faithful servants, in a work of several ages, and ap pears like laying the foundation for future sufferings.
I feel a living invitation in my mind to such who are active in our religious society, that we may lay to heart this matter, and consider the station in which we stand. We stand in a place of outward liberty, under the free exercise of our conscience {Page 483} towards God, not obtained but through great and manifold afflictions of those who lived before us. There is gratitude due from us to our heavenly Father. There is justice due to our posterity. Can our hearts endure, or our hands be strong if we desert a cause so precious; if we turn aside from a work under which so many have patiently laboured?
May the deep sufferings of Christ be so dear to us, that we may never trample under foot the Adorable Son of God, nor count the blood of the covenant unholy!
May the faithfulness of the martyrs, when the prospect of death by fire was before them, be remembered. And may the patient, constant sufferings of upright hearted servants of God in later ages, be revived in our minds! And may we so follow on to know the Lord, that neither the faithful in this age, nor those in ages to come, may ever be brought under sufferings through our sliding back from the work of reformation in the world!
While the active members in the visible gathered church stand upright, and the affairs thereof are carried on under the lead ings of the Holy Spirit, altho' disorders may arise amongst us, and cause many exercises to such who feel the care of the churches upon them, yet while these continue under the weight of the work, and labour in the meekness of wisdom for the help of others, the name of Christ in the visible gathered church may be kept sacred, but while they who are active in the visible gathered church, remain & continue in a manifest opposition to the purity of our principles, this, as the prophet Isaiah expresseth it, is like as when a standard-bearer fainteth. Is. 10. 18. And here the way opens to great and prevailing degeneracy, and to sufferings for such who through the power of Divine love, are separated to the gospel of Christ, and cannot unite with that which stands in opposition to the purity of it.
XR3127 The necessity of an inward stillness, hath under these exercises appeared clear to my mind. In true silence strength is renewed, the mind herein is weaned from all things, but as they may be enjoyed in the Divine Will, and a lowliness in outward living, opposite to worldly honour, becomes truly acceptable to us. In the desire of outward gain, the mind is prevented from a perfect attention to the voice of Christ, but in the weaning of {Page 484} the mind from all things but as they may be enjoyed in tbe Divine will, the pure Light shines into the soul. And where the fruits of that spirit which us of this world are brought forth by many who profess to be led by the spirit of Truth, & cloudiness is felt to be gathering over the visible gathered church; the sincere in heart who abide in true stillness, and therein are exercised before the Lord for his name's sake, these have a knowledge of Christ in the fellowship of his sufferings, and inward thankfulness is felt at times that through Divine love our own wisdom is cast out, and that forward active part subjected in us, which would rise up and do something in the visible gathered church without the pure readings of Christ.
While Aught remains in us different from a perfect resignation of our wills, it is like a seal to a book wherein is written that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God concerning us. Rom. 12. 2. But when our minds entirely yield to Christ, that silence is known, which followeth the opening of the last of the seals. Rev. viii. I. In this silence we learn a patient abiding in the Divine Will, and there feel, that we have no cause to promote but that only in which the Light of Life directs us in our proceedings, and that the only way to be useful in the church of Christ, is to abide faithfully under the leadings of his holy spirit in all cases, that therein being preserved in purity of heart and holiness of conversation, a testimony to the purity of his government may be held forth through us to others.
As my mind hath been thus exercised, I have seen that to be active and busy in the visible gathered church, without the leadings of the Holy Spirit, is not only unprofitable, but tends to increase dimness; and where way is not opened to proceed in the light of Truth, a stop is felt by those who humbly attend to the Divine leader: A stop which in relation to good order in the visible gathered church, is of the greatest consequence to be observed. Thus Robert Barclay in his treatise on discipline holds forth, "That the judgment or conclusion of the church or congregation, is no further effectual as to the true end and design thereof, but as such judgment or conclusion proceeds from the Spirit of God operating on their minds who are sanctified in Christ Jesus," pp. 65, 68, 84.1
Now in this stop I have learned the necessity of waiting on the Lord in humility, that the works of all may be brought to the Light, and those brought to judgment which are wrought in the wisdom of this world : and have seen that in a mind thoroughly subjected to the power of the cross, there is a savour of Life which may be felt, and which evidently tends to gather souls to God; while the greatest works in the visible gathered church, brought forth in man's wisdom, remain to be unprofitable.
Where people are divinely gathered into a holy fellowship, and faithfully abide under the influence of that Spirit which leads into all truth, these are they who are the light of the world. Mat. 5. 14. Now, holding this profession, to me hath appeared weighty, even weighty beyond what I can fully express, and what our blessed Lord appears to have had in view when he pro posed the necessity of counting the cost before we begin to build.
XR1483I trust there are many who at times, under Divine visitation, feel an inward inquiry after God. And when such in the sim plicity of their hearts, mark the lives of a people who profess to walk by the leadings of his Spirit, of what great concernment is it that our lights shine clear, it is that nothing pertaining to us carry a contradiction to the Truth as it is in Jesus, or be a means of profaning his holy Name, and a stumbling block in the way of those sincere inquirers.
When such seekers who are wearied with empty forms, look towards uniting with us as a people, and behold active members amongst us in their customary way of living, depart from that purity of life, which under humbling exercises hath been opened before them as the way of the Lord's people, how mournful and discouraging is the prospect! and how strongly doth such unfaithfulness operate against the spreading of the peaceable, harmonious principle and testimony of Truth amongst mankind?
XR4567 In entering into that life which is hid with Christ in God, we behold the peaceable government of Christ, where the whole family are governed by the same spirit and doing to others as we would they should do unto us groweth up as good fruit from a good tree. The peace the quietness and harmonious walking in this government, is beheld with humble reverence to Him who is the author of it, and in partaking of the Spirit of Christ, we {Page 486} partake of that which labours, and suffers for the increase of this peaceable government amongst the inhabitants of the world. And I have felt a labour of long continuance that we who profess this peaceable principle, may be faithful standard-bearers under the prince of peace, and that nothing of a defiling nature tending to discord and wars, may remain amongst us.
May each of us query with ourselves have the treasures I possess been gathered in that wisdom which is from above as far as hath appeared to me? Have none of my fellow-creatures an equitable right to any part of that which is called mine? Have the gifts and possessions received by me from others, been conveyed in a way free from all unrighteousness so far as I have seen?
The principle of peace, in which our trust is only on the Lord and our minds weaned from a dependance on the strength of armies, to me hath appeared very precious; and I often feel strong desires that we who profess this principle may so walk as to give just cause for none of our fellow-creatures to be of fended at us, and that our lives may evidently manifest that we are redeemed from that spirit in which wars are. Our blessed Saviour in pointing out the danger of so leaning on man as to neglect the leadings of his Holy Spirit said, "Call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your Father which is in heaven." Mat. 23. 9. Where the wisdom from above is faithfully followed, and therein we are entrusted with outward substance, it is a treasure commited to our care in the nature of an inheritance from him who formed & supports the world.
Now in this condition the true enjoyment of the good things of this life is understood, and that blessing felt in which is real safety. This is what our blessed Lord appears to have had in view when he said Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
XR3017 Selfish men may hold lands in the selfish spirit, and depending on outward power be perplexed with secret uneasiness lest the injured should some time overpower them or the measure be meted to them which they are measuring to others. Thus selfish men may possess the earth; but it is the meek who inherit the earth, who enjoy it as an inheritance from their heavenly Father, free from all the defilements and perplexities of unrighteousness.
Where proceedings have been in that wisdom which is from {Page 487} beneath, and unequitable gain been gathered by a man, and left is a gift to his children, who being entangled with the worldly spirit have not attained to that clearness in which the channels of righteousness are opened, and justice done to those who remain silent under injuries, here I have seen under humbling exercises that the sins of the fathers are embraced by the children and become their sins, & thus in the days of tribulation, the iniquities of the fathers are visited upon these children who take hold on the unrighteousness of their fathers, and live in that spirit in which those iniquities were commited. To which agreeth that prophisie of Moses concerning a rebellious people, They that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquities in your enemies land, and in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away. Levit. 26, 39. And our blessed Lord in beholding the hardness of heart in that generation, and feeling in himself that they lived in the same spirit in which the prophets had been persecuted unto death, signified that the blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world should be required of that generation. From the blood of Abel, to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation. Luke 11. 51.
Tender compassion fills my heart toward my fellow-creatures estranged from the harmonious government of the prince of peace, and a labour attends me that many may be gathered to this peace able habitation.
In being inwardly prepared to suffer adversities for Christ's sake, and weaned from a dependence on the arm of flesh, we feel that there is a rest for the people of God, and that this rest stands in a perfect resignation of ourselves to his Will.
This condition where all our wants and desires are bounded by pure wisdom, and our minds wholly attentive to the inward council of Christ, hath appeared to me as a habitation of safety for the Lord's people in time of outward commotion & trouble and desires from the fountain of Love, are opened in me to invite my brethren and fellow-creatures to feel for that which gathers the mind into it.
John Woolman.
Mount Holly New Jersey, 4. 1772.
Source: The Journal and Essays of John Woolman, New York, The Macmillan Company, 1922.
- See "Apology," &c. Proposition XI. "Of Worship"↩
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