The Inward Light

"if ye love the Light, ye love Christ" - George Fox

[theinwardlight]

Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand, if there has been any slip or fall; and waiting till the Lord gives sense and repentance, if sense and repentance in any be wanting. Oh! wait to feel this spirit, and to be guided to walk in this spirit, that ye may enjoy the Lord in sweetness, and walk sweetly, meekly, tenderly, peaceably, and lovingly one with another. 

Isaac Penington, early Quaker, 1667

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it is good to remember in this time of political stress, we are all already citizens of the country of Love, in the democracy of Love, one nation under Love, the Love that was from the beginning; and whoever we may choose in our elections, Love has already chosen us, to heal us, to make us a more perfect union, to make us whole in our hearts, and in our land.

"One Nation Under Love," poem by Ken Jacobsen, Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends, October 2020

[theinwardlight]

Whoever can reconcile this, ‘Resist not evil’, with ‘Resist violence by force’, again, ‘Give also thy other cheek’, with ‘Strike again’; also ‘Love thine enemies’, with ‘Spoil them, make a prey of them, pursue them with fire and the sword’, or, ‘Pray for those that persecute you, and those that calumniate you’, with ‘Persecute them by fines, imprisonments and death itself’, whoever, I say, can find a means to reconcile these things may be supposed also to have found a way to reconcile God with the Devil, Christ with Antichrist, Light with Darkness, and good with evil. But if this be impossible, as indeed it is impossible, so will also the other be impossible, and men do but deceive both themselves and others, while they boldly adventure to establish such absurd and impossible things.

Robert Barclay, early Quaker, 1678

[theinwardlight]

The Prince of peace is Christ Jesus; His kingdom is the kingdom of peace, which is His church. His messengers are the messengers of peace; His Word is the word of peace; His body is the body of peace; His children are the seed of peace; His inheritance and reward are the inheritance and reward of peace. In short, with this King, and in His kingdom and reign, it is nothing but peace. Everything that is seen, heard, and done is peace.

Menno Simons, Anabaptist leader

[theinwardlight]

We declare our faith in those abiding truths taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ – that every individual of every race and nation, is of supreme worth; that love is the highest law of life, and that evil is to be overcome, not by further evil, but by good. The relationship of nation to nation, of race to race, of class to class, must be based on this divine law of love, if peace and progress are to be achieved. We believe in those principles, not as mere ideals for some future time, but as part of the eternal moral order and as a way of life to be lived here and now. War is a colossal violation of this way of life. If we are true to our faith, we can have no part of it.

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1934

[theinwardlight]

Jesus Christ called His disciples, and still calls us to a deep personal commitment to the way of love. It is only by the working of this Spirit through us that the problems of war, hate and strife can be solved and peace brought to a troubled world.

From the Discipline of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends

[theinwardlight]

It is our profound belief that the peoples of the world desire peace, but we do not believe that it can be achieved through a policy of military strength. Peace can only be built when men seek to solve their common problems in a spirit of reconciliation and national humility. We must act with love, forbearance and forgiveness; trusting in God and in His Spirit working in all men. Today when talk about defending ourselves against an enemy is very prevalent, we would encourage our members to keep in mind that the only true shelter is peace.

From the Discipline of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends

[dramoor]

(Via etsy)

[theinwardlight]

Sinking down into this meekness and steadfast lowliness, you will come to feel the plant of God that brings forth this meekness and holiness, and springs of living virtue; and there will you meet the Lord in his kingdom on earth, where he delights to walk as in a garden.

James Nayler, early Quaker

[theinwardlight]

I have been walking in fine valleys with Christ, in heavenly union... Christ is ever with me, both in sitting down and rising up; in going out and coming in. If I walk in groves and valleys, there he is, with me; and I converse with him as one friend converses with another, face to face.

Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers

[theinwardlight]

So dear hearts, mind your Eternal Teacher, which is the Preacher of Righteousness, which speaks to the Spirits in Prison, for you cannot hear without this Preacher, nor any can speak to the Spirits in Prison, but he who is sent of the living God, which is now made manifest [...]. So here is your Teacher, and your Preacher, and your Redeemer, and your Saviour, if you be obedient and faithful to the measure of this gift of God, as it ariseth, and as it teaches, and as it makes the will of God manifest, and as it moves.

Margaret Fell, 1653

[theinwardlight]

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-3

Photo: South Starksboro Friends Meeting House, Vermont, USA

[theinwardlight]

Dost thou seek to love God with all thy heart, soul, strength and mind so that his Love and Power may grow in thee and rule thy life? Dost thou seek to love others as thyself, within whom his Light is also to be found and cherished?

From the Queries of Friends in Christ, Primitive Quakers in Britain

[theinwardlight]

For me, the spirituality of subtraction is the foundation of Quaker simplicity: to order my life so that I have the space and freedom to hear, listen, and respond willingly to the One who speaks to my condition. It goes by different names at different times and places: the via negativa, apophatic spirituality, single-pointed awareness, and others. Always the great goal is to make room for the One who speaks.

Lloyd Lee Wilson, "There is One Who Can Speak to My Condition – And Does"

[theinwardlight]

[theinwardlight]

Every man born into the world, be he who he may, has that within him by which he may come into personal communion with the Spirit of God. He can never be at peace until this relation becomes a reality to him. With Augustine our spirit's cry must surely be: "Thou hast made us unto Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."

From the Epistle of London Yearly Meeting, 1907

[theinwardlight]

Such as talk of Christ, and do not walk in him; such as profess him, and do not possess him; [...] such as profess Christ the way, and walk not in the way, the truth, and the life, all such talkers, and not walkers, are dishonourers of God, and cause his holy name to be blasphemed among such as make no profession.

George Fox, early Quaker, 1675