Epistle 256
George Fox emphasizes the importance of living in the wisdom of God, bearing one another's burdens, and keeping the law of love to preserve and edify the body.
George Fox emphasizes the importance of living in the wisdom of God, being gentle, and bearing one another's burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. He encourages the congregation to cover weaknesses with love, as love covers a multitude of sins and preserves the body of believers. By dwelling in love, which is not easily provoked, they are dwelling in God, who is love. Keeping the law of love helps to prevent words of condemnation and allows the body to edify itself in love.
Text
My dear friends,--Live in the wisdom of God, which is gentle and pure from above, and easy to be entreated [Jas 3:17]; all 'bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ [Gal 6:2].' And if any weakness should appear in any in your meetings, not for any to lay it open and tell it abroad, that is not wisdom that doth so; for love covereth a multitude of sins [1 Pet 4:8], and love preserves and edifies the body [Eph 4:16]; and he that dwells in love dwells in God; for God is love [1 Jn 4:16], and love is not easily provoked [1 Cor 13:5]; and therefore keep the law of love [James 2:8?], to keep down that which is so provoked; for that which is easily provoked hath words, which are for condemnation.
Therefore, let the law of love be amongst you, which is not easily provoked; and this law of love being amongst you, it will keep down that which is so provoked, and its words; and so the body edifies itself in love.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- Live in the Wisdom of God
- Bear One Another's Burdens
- The Law of Love
- Love preserves and edifies the body
- Love is not easily provoked
Key Quotes
“For love covereth a multitude of sins [1 Pet 4:8], and love preserves and edifies the body [Eph 4:16]; and he that dwells in love dwells in God; for God is love [1 Jn 4:16], and love is not easily provoked [1 Cor 13:5];” — George Fox
Application Points
- Practice living in the wisdom of God, which is gentle and pure from above.
- Bear one another's burdens and love one another to fulfill the law of Christ.
- Keep the law of love to preserve and edify the body and to keep down provoked words.