- Home
- Speakers
- George Fox
- Epistle 133
George Fox
George Fox (1624 - 1691). English Dissenter, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), born in Drayton-in-the-Clay, Leicestershire. Apprenticed as a shoemaker, he left home at 19, seeking spiritual truth amid Puritan and Anglican tensions. In 1647, after visions and direct experiences of God, he began preaching an “inner light” accessible to all, rejecting clergy and formal worship. By 1652, he gathered followers in northern England, forming the Quakers, known for pacifism and simplicity. Fox traveled across England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and America, enduring eight imprisonments for his beliefs, including at Lancaster Castle. He wrote Journal (1694) and numerous letters, shaping Quaker theology with calls for equality and justice. Married to Margaret Fell in 1669, a key Quaker leader, they had no children, but she had eight from her prior marriage. His 1660 Declaration rejected violence, influencing conscientious objection. Fox’s emphasis on personal revelation transformed Protestantism, and his writings remain central to Quaker thought.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
George Fox preaches about the importance of walking in wisdom, gentleness, meekness, thirst for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, mourning, peacemaking, and enduring persecution for righteousness' sake as outlined in the Beatitudes. He emphasizes that love is essential for edification and that living faith, which is a gift from God, brings victory over the world, purifies the heart, and pleases God. Fox reminds the listeners that being in covenant with God through faith and love brings peace, while rejecting the light condemns individuals and puts them out of the covenant.
Epistle 133
Friends,—Towards all men walk in wisdom, and be gentle to all men [2 Tim 2:24]; ‘for the meek inherit the earth ,’ and receive the blessing [Mat 5:5]. ‘And they that thirst after righteousness shall inherit righteousness,’ and the blessing [Mat 5:6]. And the ‘merciful do obtain mercy’ and the blessing [Mat 5:7]. And the <131> ‘pure in heart shall see God,’ and receive the blessing [Mat 5:8]. And ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted [Mat 5:4].’ And ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are the children of God [Mat 5:9].’ And ‘Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God [Mat 5:10].’ And ‘Blessed are ye when men shall revile and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for Christ's sake [Mat 5:11].’ And it is love that edifieth [1 Cor 8:1], and the edifying is in the most holy faith [Jude 1:20, 1 Tim 1:4], which faith is the gift of God [Eph 2:8], which giveth victory over the world [1 Jn 5:4]; and in this is the blessing, which purifieth the heart [Acts 15:9], and this is it which bringeth to please God [Heb 11:6]. And that which edifieth is the living faith, and not the dead faith [James 2:17]; and love rejoiceth in the truth, and not in the iniquity [1 Cor 13:6], for that is not in love. So ye that are the Lord's lot, (mark!) and are his inheritance [Psa 16:5], and are in covenant with God, with him ye have peace; which covenant is given to all the world. But they that hate the light are out of covenant with God, and by the light they are condemned [John 3:19f]; and those which the light doth condemn are out of the covenant. G. F
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
George Fox (1624 - 1691). English Dissenter, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), born in Drayton-in-the-Clay, Leicestershire. Apprenticed as a shoemaker, he left home at 19, seeking spiritual truth amid Puritan and Anglican tensions. In 1647, after visions and direct experiences of God, he began preaching an “inner light” accessible to all, rejecting clergy and formal worship. By 1652, he gathered followers in northern England, forming the Quakers, known for pacifism and simplicity. Fox traveled across England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and America, enduring eight imprisonments for his beliefs, including at Lancaster Castle. He wrote Journal (1694) and numerous letters, shaping Quaker theology with calls for equality and justice. Married to Margaret Fell in 1669, a key Quaker leader, they had no children, but she had eight from her prior marriage. His 1660 Declaration rejected violence, influencing conscientious objection. Fox’s emphasis on personal revelation transformed Protestantism, and his writings remain central to Quaker thought.