Whittier Friends School
A Quaker School
6726 S. Washington Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601
(562) 945-1654
[Selection taken from he Quaker Reader, edited by Jessamyn West,Viking Press, New York, 1962 pages 207-210] As God's spirit is not Tied to places, so all worship standing therein is truly catholic and public worship, infield or house, whether three or three thousand; convenient places being circumstantial, not essential, to God's worship... We say a measure of divine light is in every transgressor, even at the instant of his committing the vilest sin,yet it consents not to it, but stands a witness for the Lord God against the unrighteous soul... I would have every thing appear in its proper color: I love no apes in religion, and desire that foxes should appear in their won skins, and lambs in theirs... The scriptures we highly value.But we believe not the things we often quote thence to be true only because there, but for that we are witnesses of the same operation, and bring in our experimental testimonies to confirm the truth of theirs. I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility and kindness. Death is a state without theliving experimental knowledge of God and his work in the heart. If you confine Christ's dwelling to a local heaven, you are ignorant of that which is the greatest joy that can be: Christ dwells in the heart. The book of cookery has outgrown the Bible, and I fear is read oftener; to be sure, it is more in use... Nothing reaches the heart but what is from the hear, or pierces the conscience but what comes from a living conscience. For their learning be liberal;spare no cost, for by such parsimony all is lost that is saved; but let it be useful knowledge, such as is consistent with truth and godliness, not cherishing a vain conversation or idle mind, but ingenuity mixed with industry is good for the body and mind too... If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly of any single man, how much a greater sin it is condemn a whole people. As you have intervals from your lawful occasions, delight to step home, within yourselves I mean, and commune with your own hearts, and be still... Liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty id slavery. Force makes hypocrites, 'tis persuasion only that makes converts. |