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George Fox
39 quotes
“Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone; whereby in them you may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1656 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Exhortation to ministers (1656), from The Works of George Fox (1831)
“I saw that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness. And in that also I saw the infinite love of God; and I had great openings.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle of God to turn thy mind to the Lord God, whereby thou wilt receive his strength and power from whence life comes, to allay all tempests, against blusterings and storms… There the wisdom of God will be received, which is Christ, by which all things were made and created, in wisdom to be preserved and ordered to God's glory. There thou wilt come to receive and feel the physician of value, which clothes people in their right mind, whereby they may serve God and do his will.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1658 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle to Lady Claypole (1658)
“Your teacher is within you; look not forth; it will teach you lying in bed, going abroad, to shun all occasion of sin and evil.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Now the Lord God hath opened to me by his invisible power how that every man was enlightened by the divine light of Christ; and I saw it shine through all, and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation and came to the light of life and became the children of it, but they that hated it, and did not believe in it, were condemned by it, though they made a profession of Christ. This I saw in the pure openings of the Light without the help of any man, neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures; though afterwards, searching the Scriptures, I found it.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Now, when the Lord God and his son, Jesus Christ, did send me forth into the world, to preach his everlasting gospel and kingdom, I was glad that I was commanded to turn people to that inward light, spirit, and grace, by which all might know their salvation, and their way to God; even that divine Spirit which would lead them into all Truth and which I infallibly knew would never deceive any.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I saw that the grace of God, which brings salvation, had appeared to all men, and that the manifestation of the Spirit of God was given to every man to profit withal. I saw that Christ had died for all men, and was a propitiation for all, and had enlightened all men and women with his divine and saving light, and that none could be a true believer but who believed in it.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I declared to the people the Gospel, the Truth, the light of Jesus Christ in their own hearts, which he had enlightened them that they might all come to, that let them see all that ever they had done, and said, and acted, and that would be their teacher when they were about their labours.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Stand still in that which is pure, after ye see yourselves; and then mercy comes in. After thou seest thy thoughts, and the temptations, do not think, but submit; and then power comes. Stand still in that which shows and discovers; and then doth strength immediately come. And stand still in the Light, and submit to it, and the other will be hushed and gone; and then content comes.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1652 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle (1652)
“Keep your Meetings, waiting in the Light, which from the Lord Jesus Christ doth come; so will ye receive Power from him, and have the refreshing Springs of Life opened to your Souls, and be kept sensible of the tender Mercies of the Lord.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1655 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 105 (1655)
“Friends, meet together and know one another in that which is eternal, which was before the world was.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1657 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 149 (1657)
“Such as are tender, if they should be moved to bubble forth a few words, and speak in the Seed and Lamb's power, suffer and bear that, that is, the tender. And if they should go beyond their measure, bear it in the meeting for peace sake, and order, and that the spirits of the world be not moved against you. But when the meeting is done, then if anything should be moved of anyone to speak to them between yourselves or one or two of you that feel it in the life, do it in the love and wisdom that is pure and gentle from above.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“The sprinkling of infants I deny, and there is no Scripture that speaketh of a sacrament; but the baptism that is in Christ with one spirit into one body, that I confess; and the bread that the saints break is the body of Christ and the cup that they drink is the blood of Jesus Christ, this I witness. (Gal. 3:27; John 5:13-58; 2 Cor. 10.16.)”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I said, ' Nay', but if he meant the one baptism with the spirit into one body, that we owned, but to throw a little water in a child's face and say it was baptised (or christened) there was no Scripture for that.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“For I saw in that Light and Spirit, which was before Scripture was given forth and which led the holy men of God to give them forth, that all must come to that Spirit, if they would know God, or Christ, or the Scriptures aright, which they that gave them forth were led and taught by.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I was to direct people to the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures, by which they might be led into all Truth, and so up to Christ and God, as they had been who gave them forth… Yet I had no slight esteem of the Holy Scriptures, but they were very precious to me, for I was in that spirit by which they were given forth, and what the Lord opened in me I afterwards found was agreeable to them.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“What had any to do with the Scriptures, but as they came to the Spirit that gave them forth. You will say, Christ saith this, and the apostles say this; but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light and hast walked in the Light, and what thou speakest is it inwardly from God?”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1652 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted by Margaret Fell in her account of Fox's 1652 sermon in St Mary's Church in Ulverston.
“They asked me whether the Scripture was the word of God. I said, God was the Word and the Scriptures were writings; and the Word was before writings were, which Word did fulfil them.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1653 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reply to the magistrates of Carlisle at the Old Town Hall in 1653. Recounted in Journal (1694)
“The Lord showed me, so that I did see clearly, that he did not dwell in these temples which men had commanded and set up, but in people's hearts … his people were his temple, and he dwelt in them.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Why should any man have power over any other man's faith, seeing Christ Himself is the author of it?”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Memoir of George Fox", The Friends' Library: comprising journals, doctrinal treatises, and other writings of members of the Religious Society of Friends, edited by William Evans and Thomas Evans (1837) volume…
“These are members of the Church who know the work in the operation and feeling and come to be members one of another. They who come to the Church that is in God and Christ, must come out of the state that Adam is in, in the Fall, to know the state that he was in before he fell.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“There are too many talkers, and few walkers in Christ.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1666 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 244 (1666)
“In fairs also, and in markets, I was made to declare against their deceitful merchandise and cheating and cozening, warning all to deal justly, to speak the truth, to let their 'yea' be 'yea', and their 'nay' be 'nay'; and to do unto others as they would have others do unto them, and forewarning them of the great and terrible day of the Lord which would come upon them all.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“When the Lord sent me forth into the world, he forbade me to put off my hat to any, high or low; and I was required to 'thee' and 'thou' all men and women, without any respect to rich or poor, great or small. And as I travelled up and down, I was not to bid people 'good morrow' or 'good evening,' neither might I bow or scrape with my leg to anyone; and this made the sects and professions to a rage.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I told the Commonwealth Commissioners I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars... I told them I was come into the covenant of peace which was before wars and strife were.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1651 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement of 1651 at Derby Gaol, quoted in Quaker Faith and Practice, Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
“I was moved also to cry against all sorts of music, and against the mountebanks playing tricks on their stages, for they burdened the pure life, and stirred up people's minds to vanity.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“And all such as behold their brother in a transgression, go not in rough, light or upbraiding spirit to reprove or admonish him, but in the power of the Lord, and the spirit of the Lamb, and in the wisdom and love of the Truth, which suffers thereby, to admonish such an offender. So may the soul of such a brother be seasonably and effectually reached unto and overcome, and they may have cause to bless the name of the Lord on their behalf, and so a blessing may be rewarded into the bosom of that faithful and tender brother that so admonished them.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1669 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 264 (1669)
“For the right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests’ or magistrates’; for it is God’s ordinance and not man’s; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together: for we marry none; it is the Lord’s work, and we are but witnesses.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1669 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 264 (1669)
“I am glad I was here. Now I am clear, I am fully clear... All is well; the Seed of God reigns over all and over death itself. And though I am weak in body, yet the power of God is over all, and the Seed reigns over all disorderly spirits.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: George Fox's last recorded words. Quoted in Thomas Ellwood's Conclusion to Journal (1694)
“When all my hopes… in all men were gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could tell what to do, then, oh, then, I heard a voice which said, "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition"; and when I heard it my heart did leap for joy. Then the Lord let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to my condition, namely, that I might give Him all the glory; for all are concluded under sin, and shut up in unbelief as I had been, that Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence who enlightens, and gives grace, and faith, and power. Thus when God doth work, who shall let [hinder] it? and this I knew experimentally [through experience].”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“I brought them all to the spirit of God in themselves, by which they might know God and Christ and the Scriptures and to have heavenly fellowship in the spirit; and showed them how every one that comes into the world was enlightened by Christ the life, with which light they might see their sins and Christ their saviour, who was come to save them from their sin; with which light they might see their priest that died for them, their shepherd to feed them, and their great prophet to open to them. So with the light of Christ they might see Christ always present with them who was the author of their faith and the finisher thereof ().”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1653 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Account of a 1653 sermon in St Bridget's Church at Brigham in Cumberland. In Journal (1694)
“I turned them to the divine light of Christ and his spirit that let them see all their thoughts, words, and actions, that were evil, that they had thought or spoken, or acted; with which light they might see their sins and with the same light they might see their saviour, of Christ Jesus, to save them from their sins, and that there was their first step to peace—to stand still in the light that showed their sin and transgressions and showed them how they were strangers to the covenant of promise, without God in the world, and in the Fall of old Adam, and in the darkness and death; and with the same light they may see Christ that died for them, who is their way to God and their redeemer and saviour.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“The Lord doth show unto man his thoughts, and discovereth all the secret workings in man. A man may be brought to see his evil thoughts and running mind and vain imaginations, and may strive to keep them down, and to keep his mind in, but cannot overcome them nor keep his mind within to the Lord. Now in this state and condition, submit to the spirit of the Lord, that shows them, and that will bring to wait upon the Lord, and he that hath discovered them will destroy them. Therefore stand in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author of the true faith, and mind him; for he will discover the root of lusts, and evil thoughts, and vain imaginations, and how they are begotten, conceived, and bred, and then how they are brought forth, and how every evil member doth work.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Now I was come up in spirit through the flaming sword, into the paradise of God (). All things were new; and all the creation gave another smell unto me than before, beyond what words can utter. I knew nothing but pureness, and innocency, and righteousness, being renewed up into the image of God by Christ Jesus, so that I say I was come up to the state of Adam which he was in before he fell. The creation was opened to me, and it was showed me how all things had their names given them according to their nature and virtue. And I was at a stand in my mind whether I should practise physic for the good of mankind, seeing the nature and virtues of the creatures were so opened to me by the Lord. But I was immediately taken up in spirit, to see into another or more steadfast state than Adam's in innocency, even into a state in Christ Jesus, that should never fall. And the Lord showed me that such as were faithful to him in the power and light of Christ, should come up into that state in which Adam was before he fell, in which the admirable works of the creation, and the virtues thereof, may be known, through the openings of that divine Word of wisdom and power by which they were made. Great things did the Lord lead me into, and wonderful depths were opened unto me, beyond what can by words be declared; but as people come into subjection to the spirit of God, and grow up in the image and power of the Almighty, they may receive the Word of wisdom, that opens all things, and come to know the hidden unity in the Eternal Being.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“Now the Lord's power was so mighty upon me, and so strong in me, that I could not hold, but was made to cry out and say, Oh, no, it is not the Scriptures, and was commanded to tell them God did not dwell in temples made with hands. But I told them what it was, namely, the Holy Spirit, by which the holy men of God gave forth the Scriptures, whereby opinions, religions, and judgements were to be tried; for it led into all Truth, and so gave the knowledge of all Truth. For the Jews had the Scriptures, and yet resisted the Holy Ghost, and rejected Christ the bright morning star, and they persecuted Christ and his apostles, and took upon them to try their doctrines by the Scriptures, but erred in judgement, and did not try them aright, because they tried without the Holy Ghost.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1649 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: An account of a 1649 sermon in St Mary's, Lace-Market in Nottingham recounted in Journal (1694)
“Concerning the Holy Scriptures, we do believe that they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God, through the holy men of God, who (as the Scripture itself declares, 2 Pet. 1:21.) "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." We believe they are to be read, believed, and fulfilled (He that fulfills them, is Christ); and they are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works," 2 Titus 3:16, and are "able to make wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus." We believe that the Holy Scriptures are the words of God; for it is said, in Ex. 20:1, "God spake all these words, saying," etc., meaning the ten commandments given forth upon Mount Sinai. And in Rev. 22:18, saith John, "I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: if any man addeth unto these, and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy" (not the word,) etc. So in Luke 1:20, "Because thou believedst not my words." And in John 5:47; 15:7; 14:23; and 12:47. So that we call the Holy Scriptures, as Christ and the apostles called them, and holy men of God called them, viz., the words of God.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1671 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle to the Governor of Barbados (1671)
“They that offered in the Jews' temple were to wear the holy garments. So are you to do that are the true Christians, and are called a royal priesthood. What! are all true Christians priests? Yes. What! are women priests? Yes, women priests. And can men and women offer sacrifices without they wear the holy garments? No. What are the holy garments men and women must wear? The fine linen and they must go in white. What! is this the priest's surplice? Nay... it is the righteousness of Christ, which is the righteousness of the saints, this is the royal garment of the royal priesthood, which everyone must put on, men and women.”
George Fox (1624–1691) first seen 1667 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Epistle 249 (1667)
“I was moved of the Lord to write a paper to the Protector, Oliver Cromwell; wherein I did, in the presence of the Lord God, declare that I denied the wearing or drawing of a carnal sword, or any other outward weapon, against him or any man; and that I was sent of God to stand a witness against all violence, and against the works of darkness; and to turn people from darkness to light; and to bring them from the causes of war and fighting, to the peaceable gospel. When I had written what the Lord had given me to write, I set my name to it, and gave it to Captain Drury to hand to Oliver Cromwell, which he did.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Journal (1694)
“When I came in I was moved to say, "Peace be in this house"; and I exhorted him to keep in the fear of God, that he might receive wisdom from Him, that by it he might be directed, and order all things under his hand to God's glory. l spoke much to him of Truth, and much discourse I had with him about religion; wherein he carried himself very moderately. But he said we quarrelled with priests, whom he called ministers. I told him I did not quarrel with them, but that they quarrelled with me and my friends. "But," said I, "if we own the prophets, Christ, and the apostles, we cannot hold up such teachers, prophets, and shepherds, as the prophets, Christ, and the apostles declared against; but we must declare against them by the same power and Spirit." Then I showed him that the prophets, Christ, and the apostles declared freely, and against them that did not declare freely; such as preached for filthy lucre, and divined for money, and preached for hire, and were covetous and greedy, that could never have enough; and that they that have the same spirit that Christ, and the prophets, and the apostles had, could not but declare against all such now, as they did then. As I spoke, he several times said, it was very good, and it was truth. I told him that all Christendom (so called) had the Scriptures, but they wanted the power and Spirit that those had who gave forth the Scriptures; and that was the reason they were not in fellowship with the Son, nor with the Father, nor with the Scriptures, nor one with another. Many more words I had with him; but people coming in, I drew a little back. As I was turning, he caught me by the hand, and with tears in his eyes said, "Come again to my house; for if thou and I were but an hour of a day together, we should be nearer one to the other"; adding that he wished me no more ill than he did to his own soul. I told him if he did he wronged his own soul; and admonished him to hearken to God's voice, that he might stand in his counsel, and obey it; and if he did so, that would keep him from hardness of heart; but if he did not hear God's voice, his heart would be hardened. He said it was true. Then I went out; and when Captain Drury came out after me he told me the Lord Protector had said I was at liberty, and might go whither I would. Then I was brought into a great hall, where the Protector's gentlemen were to dine. I asked them what they brought me thither for. They said it was by the Protector's order, that I might dine with them. I bid them let the Protector know that I would not eat of his bread, nor drink of his drink. When he heard this he said, "Now I see there is a people risen that I cannot win with gifts or honours, offices or places; but all other sects and people I can." It was told him again that we had forsaken our own possessions; and were not like to look for such things from him.”
George Fox (1624–1691) said by 1691 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On his meeting with Oliver Cromwell, in Journal (1694)