We believe that the number of persons who went under the name of Friends, in Great Britain and Ireland, at the close of the 17th century, was at least three times as great as it is at the present time.
It will be in accordance with our object, to endeavour to indicate what may have been the chief causes of the suspension of those active measures which we have called aggressive,—though full of love, and which marked the early periods of our Society. An historian of the church, who was not insensible of what constitutes true religious energy, has stated, that extraordinary revivals of this kind, have rarely been maintained
in their primitive vigour more than about forty years. Rather more than that time elapsed between the commencement of George Fox’s labours and their close, at the time of his death. About eight days previous to that event, he attended a meeting of ministers, in London, and one of those who was present says: “I much minded his exhortation to us, encouraging friends that have gifts to make use of them; mentioning many countries beyond the seas that wanted visiting, instancing the labours and hard travels of friends in the beginning of the spreading of truth in our days, in breaking up of countries, and of the rough ploughing they had in steeple houses, &c., but that now it was more easy; and he complained, that there were many Demases and Cains who embraced the present world, and encumbered themselves with their own business, and neglected the Lord’s, and so were good for nothing; and he said, they that had wives, should be as though they had none; and who goeth a warfare should not entangle himself with the things of this world.”
This characteristic extract will suggest, probably, to many readers, our object in quoting it.
If there was cause for the reproof conveyed in it in that day, in which we know the primitive zeal still burned brightly, what must we say of the subsequent, and of the present state of our little church!
Long after the death of George Fox, there continued to be a large increase to the numbers of friends; many who had been wise and great in this world, were made to rejoice in the laying down of their outward wisdom, and in sitting down in deep humility to learn of Jesus, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the heart. These were prepared boldly to declare God’s controversy with sin, and the means by which it might be subdued, not omitting to proclaim the alone ground of a sinner’s pardon through the propitiatory sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We believe certainly that it has never been permitted to our Society to be without its faithful labourers in the gospel, or without many sincere confessors of its doctrines, who, by life and conversation, have been true preachers to their brethren, and to the world in general. Yet we must confess, that whilst as a Society, we continue to profess the same religious views as were
held and promulgated by our early Friends, we fear we do not come up in practice to that pure standard to which they attained. The door is open to all the world, yet we sit at ease in our ceiled houses. Many around us are hungering and thirsting for the knowledge of God, yet we are occupied with our farms and our merchandise. Let us not be inquiring, “What shall this man do,” or what should the other have done? but remembering the reproof, “What is that to thee, follow thou Me,” submit ourselves to that humbling, but preparing hand, which was so signally displayed in the cause of those who were engaged in the planting and watering of our religious Society. Then might we again hope to witness an increase of spiritual life and vigour in the body, and thus become as “a city set upon a hill, that could not be hid.”
THE ANNUAL MONITOR. OBITUARY.
Age. Time of Decease.