Epistle 214
The Power of God is opposed by the earthly spirit, leading to darkness, corruption, and a lack of unity, but returning to the truth can bring true fellowship and unity.
George Fox preaches about the power of the Lord God being over those who pray sincerely, contrasting it with those who pray insincerely with an earthly, dark spirit. He warns against setting up idols and stumbling blocks that draw people's focus away from God's truth within themselves. Fox emphasizes that the power of God will break down these false constructs and that those who follow an earthly, dark spirit will be corrupted and hardened in heart, leading to division and lack of unity in truth.
Text
Friends, the power of the Lord God is over all them that keep on their hats in prayer, and they do not keep on their hats in prayer neither by the motion, nor the power of God, nor by the spirit of God, but (by an earthly, dark spirit) against it, and them that are in the power of God. . . . <214> . . .
If they, that are and have been in this dark, earthly spirit, had but had a regard to the power of God and his truth, they would have been tender, and afraid of giving any occasion of offence, both to them that are within, and to them that are without, to draw out their minds to look at that which their earthly spirit has promoted; and so to lay stumbling blocks, and set up an idol [Rev 2:14?], and an image to look at, which draws people's eyes from the witness of God in themselves [1 Jn 5:9f]. But the power of God is gone over it, and will break it down. And so, this Belial's spirit [Deut 13:13], which would be without yoke, cries, (to such as in love exhort them, and judge it,) ye lord over us [Psa 12:4]. And so this earthly, dark spirit, (which is gotten above the witness of God [1 Jn 5:9] in themselves, which is not sensible of the moving spirit and power of God,) it sets up its own earthly form, which the power of God never set up, but judges. . . . And thus many of them are darkened with a cankered, rusty spirit, which will corrupt them [James 5:2f], and hath destroyed many. And this is that that has brought the plague of hardness of heart, through which there has been strangeness, and not unity, nor familiarness, nor nighness in the truth; for how should it, when they are gone from that which first convinced them [2 Pet 2:20]? <215> To that all must come, before they have fellowship and true unity in the power and truth of God; which, if that had been minded, would have led to follow, 'whatsoever things are comely, whatsoever things are decent, whatsoever things are of good report [Phil 4:8],' and such things as make for peace [Rom 14:19]. But this spirit has followed the contrary, and therefore the power of the Lord God, and the life and truth, are against it, and over it are gone, and reign. . . .
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- The Power of God vs. the Earthly Spirit
- Consequences of Following the Earthly Spirit
- The Path to True Fellowship and Unity
- Returning to the truth that first convinced us
- Following the principles of peace and good report
Key Quotes
“The power of God is gone over it, and will break it down.” — George Fox
“This is that that has brought the plague of hardness of heart, through which there has been strangeness, and not unity, nor familiarness, nor nighness in the truth;” — George Fox
“But this spirit has followed the contrary, and therefore the power of the Lord God, and the life and truth, are against it, and over it are gone, and reign.” — George Fox
Application Points
- We must be careful to keep our hearts in prayer and avoid being deceived by the earthly spirit.
- Following the principles of peace and good report is essential for experiencing true fellowship and unity with God.
- Returning to the truth that first convinced us is necessary for spiritual growth and maturity.