You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
When I was very young, I read the writings of George Fox for the first time, and I admired how this young seeker gave me permission to seek God for myself. And I did. To me, no one could portray his journey quite like George Fox (1624-1691):
“As I had forsaken all the priests, so I left the separate preachers also, and those called the most experienced people. For I saw there was none among them all that could speak to my condition. And when all my hopes in them and in all men was gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could tell what to do, then, O then, I heard a voice which said, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition,” and when I heard it, my heart did leap for joy. Then the Lord let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to my condition, namely, that I might give Him all the glory.
For all are concluded under sin and shut up in unbelief, as I had been, that Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence, who enlightens and gives grace and faith and power… My desires after the Lord grew stronger, and zeal in the pure knowledge of God and of Christ alone, without the help of any man, book or writing. For though I read the Scriptures that spake of Christ and of God, yet I knew Him not, but by revelations, as He who hath the key did open, and as the Father of Life drew me to His Son by His Spirit. And then the Lord did gently lead me along, and did let me see His love, which was endless and eternal, and surpasseth all the knowledge that men have in the natural state or can get by history or books; and that love did let me see myself as I was without Him…”
From The Journal of George Fox
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Someday, I must find the time to read these. Thanks for the little taste, Olive.
Oh, you will love his poetic style and the sense of his deep searching spirit.
Thanks for being a spiritual brother.
“Sister Olive”