The Journal of George Fox
1694
The spiritual autobiography of the founder of the Society of Friends—a record of his openings, travels, and sufferings.
Early Years
I was born in the month called July, in the year 1624, at Drayton-in-the-Clay, in Leicestershire. My father's name was Christopher Fox; he was by profession a weaver, an honest man; and there was a Seed of God in him.
The neighbors called him "Righteous Christer." My mother was an upright woman; her maiden name was Mary Lago, of the family of the Lagos, and of the stock of the martyrs.
"In my very young years I had a gravity and stayedness of mind and spirit not usual in children"
Spiritual Searching
When I came to eleven years of age, I knew pureness and righteousness; for while I was a child I was taught how to walk to be kept pure. The Lord taught me to be faithful in all things, and to act faithfully two ways, viz., inwardly to God and outwardly to man.
About the beginning of the year 1646, as I was going to Coventry, and approaching towards the gate, a consideration arose in me, how it was said that "all Christians are believers, both Protestants and Papists."
"And the Lord opened to me that being bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not enough to fit and qualify men to be ministers of Christ"
I was at a stand in my mind. But the Lord opened unto me that to be bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not sufficient to fit a man to be a minister of Christ; and that they who were bred there did not come to the Spirit of Christ.
The Opening
I fasted much, walked abroad in solitary places many days, and often took my Bible, and sat in hollow trees and lonesome places till night came on; and frequently in the night walked mournfully about by myself.
"When all my hopes in them and in all men were gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could tell what to do, then, oh 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, faith, and power.
The Inner Light
"I saw that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness"
And in that also I saw the infinite love of God. And I had great openings.
Now the Lord God opened to me by His invisible power that every man was enlightened by the divine Light of Christ. And I saw it shine through all; and they that believed in it came out of condemnation to the Light of life, and became the children of it.
This I saw in the pure openings of the Light without the help of any man; neither did I then know where to find it in the Scriptures; though afterwards, searching the Scriptures, I found it.
Persecutions and Trials
After this I went to another ancient priest at Mancetter, in Warwickshire, and reasoned with him about the ground of despair and temptations. But he was ignorant of my condition.
"Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle of God to turn thy mind to the Lord God"
I was sent to prison for six months. Here the soldiers would frequently come and bring me before the Governor, who would discourse with me, and at night took me to his chamber.
And his wife would say I was a good man, and that he would sometimes be afraid to come to me because I was so powerful.
The Society of Friends
Now the Truth sprang up first, to us so as to be a people to the Lord, in Leicestershire in 1644, in Warwickshire in 1645, in Nottinghamshire in 1646, in Derbyshire in 1647, and in the adjacent counties in 1648, 1649, and 1650.
"We were called 'Quakers' because we bid them tremble at the word of God"
And many were moved by the Lord to go up and down to sound forth the everlasting Gospel, and the day of the Lord, and the word of life.
And the Lord's power went with them, and many were turned to the Lord by His Spirit, and His truth spread exceedingly.
End of Excerpts
Return to Library