Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks

by Elias Hicks

Sixth day. Was the parting meeting held for public worship. It was a large crowded meeting, but was somewhat hurt in the forepart, by the appearance of one young in the ministry standing too long, and manifesting too much animation: yet, I believed, he was under the preparing hand, fitting for service in the Church, if he only keeps low and humble, and does not aspire above his gift, into the animation of the creature. For there is great danger, if such are not deeply watchful, of the transformer getting in and raising the mind into too much creaturely zeal, and warmth of the animal spirit, whereby they may be deceived, and attribute that to the divine power, which only arises from a heated imagination, and the natural warmth of their own spirits; and so mar the work of the divine spirit on their minds, run before their gift and lose it, or have it taken away from them. They thereby fall into the condition of some formerly, as mentioned by the prophet, who, in their creaturely zeal, kindle a fire of their own, and walk in the light thereof; but these, in the end, have to lie down in sorrow.

Towards the close of the meeting, as Friends kept quiet and solid, way opened for further communication, which brought a comfortable solemnity over the meeting; and we parted from each other with gladdened hearts, under a grateful sense of the Lord’s mercy to his unworthy creatures.

Seventh day. I turned my hand again to my usual industry in my family affairs, with a peaceful mind.

First day, the 30th. Devoted this day, as usual, to the attendance of our own meeting, in which I had not sat long, silently musing, before my mind was opened into a view of the divine attributes, especially that of God’s unchangeableness, and with which I had to contrast the changeable and unstable state of man. I was led, in the view thereof, to show to the people, that all our infelicity arose out of our unsettled state, and for want of being established, or fixed on some steadfast and invariable principle; and as there is no other but God, consequently all our true felicity and salvation depends on our being entirely settled and fixed in and upon him, by which we are brought to witness an unchangeable state, having the feet of the mind established on the immoveable rock, Christ, the light of the world, and the real spiritual life of all true believers. For nothing short of this experience ought to satisfy, or give rest to any seeking, panting soul after God its redeemer.

The rest of this week I attended to my family avocations with, generally, peace of mind, attending our fifth day meeting, as it came in course; nothing unusual occurring, but having daily and continual cause of thankfulness to the bountiful Author of every blessing, both temporal and spiritual.

First day, the 6th of 8th month. My lot was to suffer the greater part of our meeting to-day, until near the close, when I found it my place to unite in a short testimony with a female fellow labourer, in calling the attention of the people to an inward exercise and faithful improvement of the gift or talent committed to them, while time and opportunity are afforded, that so when called, they might be prepared to render up their accounts with joy.

Spent the remainder of this week as usual, at and about home, feeling no call abroad to any religious service; but felt it my incumbent duty simply to wait, and to watch at the King’s gate.

First day, the 13th. Towards the close of our meeting, my mind was led to view the great and singular advantages which would result to mankind, by a full surrender of their wills to the divine will, not only in religious concerns, but also in things of a temporal nature, and indeed in every thing they do. The subject became very impressive, insomuch that I found it my place to spread it before the auditory; and to set forth the inconsistency of people, in first acknowledging the entire supremacy of the divine Being, and their own dependant state, as tenants at will of the sovereign Lord of the universe; and at the same time presumptuously exercising an independent will and judgment in their temporal, and, mostly so, even in their religious concerns. Therefore, without breach of charity, we may safely conclude, that the generality, even of professed Christians, serve and worship the creature, more than they do the Creator. To this we may refer the source of all the misery and wretchedness of man; and that to rise out of his fallen state, he must come to know a complete sinking down into a state of nothingness of self, and a full surrender of his will to the divine will, and not to move in any thing without being conscientiously satisfied it is in correspondence therewith; then should we move on safely, and peace of mind would be our daily attendant.

In the course of this week I was indisposed, being afflicted with much bodily pain; but was enabled to attend our monthly meeting on fifth day, at which we received extracts from our yearly and quarterly meetings, with the printed epistle from London. They furnished suitable advice on several subjects, particularly relative to a right attendance of our religious meetings. I was impressed also with a similar concern, to call the careful attention of Friends thereto, as that upon which our religious advancement greatly depends.

First day, the 20th. Feeling a draft on my mind to sit with Friends of Bethpage, I yielded thereto. I sat the meeting mostly in silence, it being rather a dull, low time, and but little life discoverable in the meeting; yet near the close, I felt a small motion leading to communication, and as I gave way thereto, a small stream of life arose, and ran through the meeting, and we parted under a sense of its comforting influence, with thankful hearts.