Epistle 351
The Lord requires us to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, and will judge the world according to the gospel and the power of God.
George Fox preaches about the requirements of the Lord for every man and woman to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, emphasizing the need to live godly and holily by the holy light, spirit, truth, and grace given by the Lord. He highlights that the more God gives, the more He requires, and the less He gives, the less He requires, ultimately judging the world in righteousness through Christ Jesus. Those who believe in the gospel and receive the grace of God will be saved, while those who reject it will face condemnation.
Text
Friends,--Know what the Lord doth require of you, and all have a sense of that in yourselves, that he doth require; which is, 'to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God [Mic 6:8].' Now, the Lord who is merciful and just, holy and righteous, pure and perfect, he doth require, that man and woman should do justly and righteously, and live godlily and holily, by the holy light, and spirit, and truth, and grace, that the Lord hath given every man and woman to profit withal [1 Cor 12:7]. And so, to answer the holy, pure, righteous, just God of truth [Psa 31:5], in all their lives, and words, and conversations; and so, to glorify him upon the earth. And the more the Lord gives, the more he requireth [Luke 12:48]; and the less that he giveth, the less he requireth.
But the Lord requireth of every man and woman as he giveth, who will judge the world in righteousness [Psa 96:13], by the man Christ Jesus, according to the gospel, the power of God [Rom 1:16], that is preached to every creature under heaven [Col 1:23]; that is, according to the invisible power; manifesting, that there is something of the invisible power of God in every man and woman.
So, here the Lord Jesus Christ doth not judge according to the hearing of the ear, and to the seeing of the eye [Isa 11:3]; for with righteousness shall he judge you, according to the light, which is the life in the word, Christ, with which he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world [John 1:9], to the salvation of them that believe in it, and the condemnation of them that do hate it [John 3:19f], and that will not receive the gospel, nor the grace, which bringeth salvation, which hath appeared to all men [Tit 2:11], but walk despitefully against the spirit of grace [Heb 10:29], and turn it into wantonness [Jude 1:4].
So, according to his grace, and light, and gospel, will the righteous God judge the world in righteousness, by Christ, the heavenly and spiritual man [1 Cor 15:47], who hath died for the sins of the world [1 Cor 15:3/1Jn 2:2]; though they deny him that bought them [2 Pet 2:1], and tasted death for every man [Heb 2:9]. Such deserve his judgment.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- The Lord's Requirements
- The Lord's Expectations
- The Basis for Judgment
- The Consequences of Disobedience
- Condemnation for those who hate the gospel and its grace
- Judgment for those who deny Christ and turn against the spirit of grace
Key Quotes
“To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God [Mic 6:8].” — George Fox
“The more the Lord gives, the more he requireth [Luke 12:48]; and the less that he giveth, the less he requireth.” — George Fox
“With righteousness shall he judge you, according to the light, which is the life in the word, Christ, with which he doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world [John 1:9].” — George Fox
Application Points
- We must live godly and holy lives, according to the holy light, spirit, and truth given to each person.
- We will be judged according to the gospel and the power of God, and according to the light and life in the word, Christ.
- Those who deny Christ and turn against the spirit of grace deserve judgment and condemnation.