Epistle 273
True riches and eternal life can only be found in God, not in the fleeting and deceitful things of the world.
George Fox preaches about the importance of being strangers and pilgrims to the world and all visible things, emphasizing the need to focus on the Creator, the Lord God Almighty, rather than temporary earthly possessions. He highlights the deceitfulness of outward riches and possessions that can easily vanish, urging believers to seek durable and true riches found in God's grace and everlasting life. By being above worldly attachments and rooted in the invisible life and power of God, one can experience the enduring birth of the immortal seed and inherit the heavenly riches and possessions that come from knowing the Lord God Almighty.
Text
All Friends, be ye as strangers to all things visible and created, but be acquainted with the Creator, your maker [Job 22:21], the Lord God Almighty; for outward things are not durable riches [Prov 8:18], nor durable substance, nor durable habitations, nor durable possessions, for they have wings and will fly away [Prov 23:5]; and so therefore be as pilgrims and strangers to the world, and all worldly, created and visible things, and witness redemption from the earth, that you may reign upon the earth, as kings and priests to God [Rev 1:6], that you may know a habitation in God, and the riches of his grace and life, that is everlasting, and a substance that fadeth not away, the riches which hath not wings, and the riches that is not deceitful, that is durable and true.
For men trusting in outward riches, and outward things, they will deceive and fail them, and have wings and flee away from them. And so man in that state is deceived, and riches are deceitful to him. Therefore, as I said before, be as strangers and pilgrims to the world [Heb 11:13], and all things therein, possess, as though you did not possess them, and what you enjoy, as though you did not; be above all such things, and loose to them in the invisible life and power, which is over all things; for the birth that is born again of the immortal seed by the word of God, that lives and abides, and endures for ever [1 Pet 1:23], and is above all things; for all things are upheld by his word and power [Heb 1:3].
And so be acquainted with the heavenly and certain riches, the durable substance, and the everlasting possession and inheritance of life, through which you may be acquainted with your maker and creator, the Lord God Almighty.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- Be Strangers to the World
- Find True Riches in God
- Live Above the World
- Possess things as though not possessing them
- Find life and power in the invisible realm
Key Quotes
“For men trusting in outward riches, and outward things, they will deceive and fail them, and have wings and flee away from them.” — George Fox
“For the birth that is born again of the immortal seed by the word of God, that lives and abides, and endures for ever.” — George Fox
“Be as strangers and pilgrims to the world, and all things therein, possess, as though you did not possess them, and what you enjoy, as though you did not;” — George Fox
Application Points
- Recognize the transience and deceitfulness of worldly things and seek true riches in God.
- Experience the power of the immortal seed through the word of God and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
- Live above the world by possessing things as though not possessing them and finding life and power in the invisible realm.