Still the evangelical reader will find in Barclay much that he can enjoy and approve. His arguments for the necessity of the Holy Spirit's help in reading the Scriptures to profit, and in gaining a saving knowledge of Christian truth, are most excellent. So with many other points involving spiritual-mindedness. But the present writer heartily agrees with Joseph John Gurney, when, in the midst of the Beacon controversy he wrote, when Barclay's name was brought into special prominence, "I am, however, inclined to the opinion, that were we compelled to select a single writer in order to ascertain the religious principles of the Early Friends, we could scarcely do better than choose George Fox himself."[34] And this choice would be justified, not only by the clearness and fulness of Fox's expositions of Scripture truth, but by the healthy tone and practical power of those expositions. It is significant that Barclay and not Fox was the favourite writer of the Quietistic age of Quakerism.

[34] J. J. Gurney's Memoirs, vol. 2, p. 28.

For a long period Barclay was more than a standard writer amongst the Friends. His Apology had all the authority of a creed, and not to accept it would be sufficient to brand any Friend as unsound.[35] Nobler minds might feel that this was bondage utterly foreign to the spirit of the early Friends; yet a large number of Friends did not. But about the beginning of the present century, a change came over the Society. Religious and philanthropic works led some of its members to associate with evangelical churchmen and others. Controversies also arose, which at least compelled a systematic and critical study of the Bible. Broader sympathies and more enlightened study of the Scriptures undermined Barclay's influence. It was found that his exposition of Scripture texts was sometimes unsatisfactory. The Yearly Meeting ceased to print the Apology for gratuitous distribution, though not without strenuous protest from some, who clung to the old ways of presenting Quaker truth.

[35] "The 'Apology' of Barclay was largely printed and distributed by the Society, and was accepted at the period of which we are treating [1833] (contrary to the principles of the ancient Society) as a distinct creed, which every person bearing the name of a 'Friend' ought to be prepared to accept in all its parts. * * * At this period it was deemed sufficient proof of I. Crewdson's doctrinal 'unsoundness,' to state that he objected to certain portions of the able theological treatise of Barclay." "R. Barclay's 'Inner Life of the Religious Societies of the Commonwealth,'" p. 573.

In the more recent literature of the Society, the doctrine of the Divine seed is scarcely to be found. But its essence is there. The illumination of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of Christ with his church are held by Friends with peculiar distinctness and force. The fact that all men have grace enough to accept the offer of salvation if they will, is stated as clearly now as it was by George Fox. Let there be but the zeal and the faith of George Fox, his urgency in dealing with men, his confidence in pleading with God, and Quakerism has yet a message that the world needs to hear, and that will win its olden triumphs, and bring its divine blessings to man.

Transcriber's Note

Archaic, dialectical and inconsistent spellings have been left in the text. Changes are indicated in the text like this. Obvious misprints have been fixed, as detailed in the following:

On page [13]:botanist, and says Sewel, "one of the most skilful ..."
Originally, the name was spelled Sewell
On page [27]:of representatives from a number of associated
Originally the word "from" was printed "fron"
On page [57]:him to sketch a constitution for it. The Quakers, who
Originally "sketch" was spelled "sketeh"
On page [70]:Henry Gouldney, of London, to Robert Barclay, junr.,
Originally "Gouldney" was spelled "Goulding"
On page [71]:in Nayler's case, Friends clung lovingly to the
Originally: "Nayler" was spelled "Naylor"
On page [76]:about the sufferings of Edinbro' Friends:—"I have ..."
Originally "Edinbro'" was spelled "Edinboro'"
On page [83]:and other places. James Nayler preached in Scotland as
Originally the name was spelled "Naylor"
On page [104]:(See also the Apology, Prop. II., paragraph 26, &c.)
Originally "II." was "ii"
On page [110]:remonstrance to the notorious Ludovic Muggleton. The
Originally the name was spelled "Ludivico"
On page [122]:The news of Robert Barclay's commitment to prison
Originally: "Th enews"
On page [137]:"... to become referees. Persevering through all ..."
Originally "Perservering"
On page [142]:the writings of Schwenkfeld, makes the enquiry less
In this case, "Schwenkfeld" was originally spelled "Schwenkfeldt"
On page [142]:But the followers of Caspar Schwenkfeld were still more
In this case, "Schwenkfeld" was originally spelled "Schwenfeld"