Epistle 379
George Fox encourages believers to prioritize their spiritual lives and to share the gospel with others, so that they may make heavenly plantations in the hearts of those around them.
George Fox emphasizes the importance of nurturing one's spiritual life while engaging in outward missions, particularly in America. He encourages his friends to cultivate their hearts with the spirit and power of God, ensuring that their inner plantations remain healthy and vibrant. Fox advocates for building relationships with the Indigenous peoples, inviting them to share in the light and truth of the gospel, thereby creating heavenly plantations in their hearts. He stresses the need for holiness within the community, urging them to keep unclean spirits away and to glorify God in their midst. Ultimately, Fox calls for a collective effort to honor God's name among all nations and peoples.
Text
My friends, that are gone, and are going over to plant, and make outward plantations in America, keep your own plantations in your hearts, with the spirit and power of God, that your own vines and lilies be not hurt [Hos 14:5,7/Rev 6:6?]. And in all places where you do outwardly live and settle, invite all the Indians, and their kings, and have meetings with them, or they with you; so that you may make inward plantations with the light and power of God, (the gospel,) and the grace, and truth, and spirit of Christ; and with it you may answer the light, and truth, and spirit of God, in the Indians, their kings and people; and so by it you may make heavenly plantations in their hearts for the Lord, and so beget them to God, that they may serve and worship him, and spread his truth abroad. And so that you all may be kept warm in God's love, power, and zeal, for the honour of his name. That his name may be great among the heathen, or Gentiles [Mal 1:11]; and ye may see over, or be overseers with the holy ghost [Acts 20:28], which was before the unclean ghost got into man and woman. So with this holy ghost you may see, and oversee, that the unclean ghost and his works may be kept out of the camp of God. So that his camp may be holy, and all the holy may come into it; and he, who is holy, may walk in the midst of you his camp [Deut 23:14], and be glorified in and among you all, who is over all, and worthy of all glory, from everlasting to everlasting, blessed and praised for evermore.
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'From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles. And in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts [Mal 1:11].' Mal. i. 11.
'The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multitudes of the isles be glad [Psa 97:1]; let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord [Psa 150:6], for the Lord taketh pleasure in his people. He will beautify the meek with salvation [Psa 149:4].' Psalm xcvii. xcviii. and cxlix. cl.
G. F.
Sermon Outline
- Keep inward plantations in your hearts
- Make heavenly plantations in the hearts of others
- Be overseers with the holy ghost
- With the spirit and power of God
- To avoid hurting your own vines and lilies
- Through the gospel and the spirit of Christ
- To answer the light and truth of God in others
- To keep the unclean ghost out of God's camp
- To make God's camp holy and pure
Key Quotes
“From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles.” — George Fox
“The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multitudes of the isles be glad” — George Fox
“He will beautify the meek with salvation” — George Fox
Application Points
- Prioritize your spiritual life and relationship with God.
- Share the gospel and the spirit of Christ with others, and help them to understand and respond to God's light and truth.
- Seek to be overseers with the holy ghost, and to keep the unclean ghost out of God's camp.