To Suffering Friends in Prison at Bristol
The sermon emphasizes the importance of keeping the word of patience and faithfulness to Christ in the face of suffering and temptation.
The preacher delves into the significance of the term 'petra' in the Bible, highlighting its representation of a massive, unmovable rock, contrasting it with 'petros' which signifies a smaller, movable stone. Jesus uses 'petra' to symbolize a solid foundation in Luke 8:6, 13. The sermon explores various biblical references to 'petra,' emphasizing its role as a symbol of firmness, hard-heartedness, and the foundation of faith. It draws parallels between 'petra' in the Old Testament and its representation of Christ as the unshakable Rock in the New Testament, urging believers to anchor their lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.
Text
To Suffering Friends In Prison At Bristol (1683)
Dear Friends, - With my love to all the prisoners and the faithful, as though I names them. It is the time now for all the faithful to keep in Christ their sanctuary, in whom you have all peace, rest, life, and salvation, and by the testimony of Jesus, and the blood of the Lamb, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, before the foundations of the world they were they that did overcome, and did eat of the hidden manna, and had the new name. And therefore now is the time to keep the word of patience, and the testimony of Jesus; for they that keep the word of patience, the Lord will keep them in the hour of temptation, which will come upon the whole world, to try them which dwell upon the earth; for the word was before the world was, and the tempter; for all things were made by the word. And it is also the word of reconciliation, the word of power, the word of wisdom. and the word of life, and the word of salvation, by which people are reconciled to God, that are born again of the incorruptible seed by the word of God; and they feed and grow by the milk of the work, which lives, and abides, and endures for ever, which strengthens all the faithful, in all ages, in their afflictions, imprisonments, and sufferings; and it is the same to God's people now in this day of trial, to preserve all his people every where, in his spirit and power, faithful to himself; for, he that endures faithful to the end shall be saved. and Christ saith, "He that is ashamed of me before men, him will I be ashamed of before my Father, and his angels which are in heaven." And therefore it is good to confess Christ before men, to be your priest, prophet, your shepherd, your bishop. you way, your mediator, that makes peace betwixt God and you; and be valiant for his glorious name and truth upon the earth. And so with my love in the seed, in which you and all nations are blessed.
G.F.
From Dolston, the 6th of the 10th month, 1683
Sermon Outline
- The Sanctuary in Christ
- The Word of Patience and Reconciliation
- The Power of the Word
- Faithfulness to Christ
- Confessing Christ before men
- Being valiant for Christ's name and truth
Key Quotes
“He that endures faithful to the end shall be saved.” — George Fox
“He that is ashamed of me before men, him will I be ashamed of before my Father, and his angels which are in heaven.” — George Fox
Application Points
- We must be faithful to Christ and His truth, even in the face of adversity.
- The word of God is our source of strength and spiritual growth in times of affliction.
- Confessing Christ before men demonstrates our commitment to Him and His glory.