A Sermon and Prayer Delivered by JOHN BUTCHER at Grace-Church-Street, March 11, 1693.
Sermons Preached by Several of the People called Quakers, A New Edition. London: Mary Hinde, 1775.
This is The Quaker Homiletics Online Anthology, Section One: The 17th Century
The end of our preaching to you the Principle of the Light within, is, that you might come to the
knowledge of Christ, as He does appear nigh to you. He is come nigh to the children of men in
our Age, by His light, grace, Spirit, and truth, whereby He does appear in the hearts of men and
women. Thus our preaching of Him does agree with His own testimony, I am the light of the
world, and He does exhort all that they should so believe in Him; Believe in the light, says He,
that you may be children of the light: What is a child of light? He is such a one as, by the
operation of the power of Christ, has known a being turned; turned from what? From darkness to
light, and from the power of satan to the power of the living God. And for this we do labor,
according to the ability which the Lord is pleased to give to us, that people may be turned from
darkness to light: And the following words are explanatory, from the power of satan to the power
of the living God. So it does appear, people have been under the power of satan, the evil one, that
is called the prince of the power of the air; he has a rule and a government, but in whom? In the
children of disobedience.
Now, the labor of those ministers that were in the days of old, who were the preachers of the
Gospel and glad tidings of the kingdom, they being such ministers as were of Christ's own
making, was to turn people from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to the power of
the living God: That they might be turned from that evil power and spirit, that rules and works in
the hearts of the children of disobedience, who rebel against the light that shines in their hearts
and consciences. For the man of sin and worker of iniquity has such a power, and we have all
been in captivity to him, we have all been in bondage to sin and satan, which God knew, and the
Apostle takes notice of; he says, God has concluded all under sin:We have all been under the
power of the wicked one. For what end has God concluded all under sin? For what end is it? That
we might be destroyed? No. God, through Christ the dear Son of His love, has extended to you
the day of visitation, that you might come to the knowledge of life and salvation. But wherein may
we come to this knowledge? It is in that way which God has ordained, even by Christ, who is the
way to God; Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God is the blessed Mediator and way to God again.
What is God's end in concluding all under sin? Was it that He might destroy all the children of
men, that are the workmanship of His hands, that He has endued with rational and immortal
souls? Was it that they might be destroyed? No, but that He might have mercy upon all. God's end
in first making and creating of us was that we might live to His honor, and that we might so live in
this world, that when we die we might obtain a life that shall never die, and to attain to the
possession of the inheritance among the Saints in the light, which Christ by His precious blood has
purchased for all them that love Him, and give up themselves to be followers of Him.
Now, my Friends, the mercy of God appears great to all in and through Christ Jesus, who is the
light of the world, and who is the only way; for we have not another way, nor is there any other
name under heaven by which we can be saved, and obtain eternal life. The Apostle refers this to
the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, if so be that it is only by the power of Christ
that we must know salvation, where is it that we must attain it? What shall we do to be made
partakers of it, and be saved from the wrath of God, which shall come upon the workers of
iniquity? For it's said, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
People hope to escape the wrath to come and everlasting misery, by Christ, while they neglect to
improve the present time that is afforded to them to obtain salvation. Christ is come to redeem us,
that we may know redemption by Him; from what? From sin. For pollution and defilement by sin,
is the cause why people, notwithstanding all their names and profession of religion, still lie under a
secret condemnation in their own hearts. If a man should hold such a fair profession that none
could charge him, none condemn him; yet if he meet with a secret condemnation, though all
should speak well of him, if his own conscience condemn him, he would not have any true peace
or satisfaction in his own mind; for the testimony of a good conscience is more to him than all the
favor and friendship of the world. If you incline your minds to obey the light of Christ, what will
be the effect of it? This light or Spirit of grace and truth (which is all one) is sufficient to save and
deliver you out of the temptations and snares of the wicked one; for we may everyday, while we
are here, meet with trials and temptations of one kind or other. What shall a man do that he may
be preserved from the evil of the world? There are many provocations and evils that a man meets
with in the world, what shall he do to be preserved from them? Christ has made provision for us
in His prayer to His Father, John 17:15. I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world,
but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil. Christ will preserve me from the evil of the
world, when a temptation is presented before me, I shall overcome it, if I obey the Light of Christ
which will shine upon me, and show me that this must be done, and that I must leave the other
undone. In my conscience there is something that will tell me that this thing is evil, and I ought
not to do it, when this power of Christ comes to be closed with: for it is an appearance of love,
grace, and mercy; but if I do oppose and withstand this grace and mercy, I may miss of that
power and strength which is sufficient to overcome, and so be overcome by the temptation. The
Apostle John tells us, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of
God, even to them that believe in His name. So that it's they that do receive Christ, and love His
light and Spirit, so as to be led by it, that come to know this power of Christ, and thereby an
overcoming; but if people slight and reject the grace and mercy tendered to them, hereupon
comes that sentence pronounced by the Prophet, Thy destruction is of thyself. A man may destroy
his own soul by giving way to that which is evil, and rejecting that which is good.
Therefore, my Friends, close with that power which inclines you to that which is good: if I mind
it, and make trial of it, I shall find that within me, which will incline me to that which is good.
Though I may find sometimes a corrupt inclination in me to that which is evil, yet there is
something also that will incline me to do what is required of me; why should I reject that which is
good? Try all things, and hold fast that which is good; I have tried many things, but none will do
me so much good, as the grace and mercy, light and appearance of Christ to me, if I mind it and
close with it; He hath showed thee, O Man! what is good, says the Prophet, and what does the
Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? The
Lord has showed you what His will is, be doers of it. Say then to yourself, shall I give way to that
which tends to my ruin, How can I do this wickedness and sin against God? Shall I join with the
enemy of my salvation, and yield to his temptations, and dishonor God, and ruin my immortal
soul? God forbid. What you know to be contrary to the will of God, take heed of. Cease to do
evil, learn to do well; be followers of that which is good; take up the cross of Christ, deny
yourselves and your own will, know a being crucified to the world by the cross of Christ, and the
world to you.
Thus, as I said before, this is the end of our preaching to you that noble Principle of the light
within, that you might come to the knowledge of Christ, as He does appear nigh to you, and will
lead you by His Spirit into all truth, and incline you to that which is good, and preserve you from
that which is evil, when you are tempted to it. Why should I join with the devil, the dark spirit,
that would draw me to that which will destroy my own soul? The Lord Christ is come to turn me
from sin, and save my soul; why should I not close with Him? He has stood knocking at the door
of my heart, till His head is filled with dew, and His locks with the drops of the night. Many have
known these wooings and entreaties of Christ knocking at the door of their hearts, and have let
Him in, and closed with His appearance, by His light, grace, and good Spirit, and found the
benefit and comfort of it; Why should not I do so? Why should not I esteem Him as the chief of
ten thousand, as the beloved of my soul? He will be the chiefest of all to that soul that has chosen
Him for the chiefest good. Though there may be some comfort in the enjoyment of the things of
the world, yet, though they be useful and necessary for my present supply, if I lose them all and
find Christ, and be found in Him, and hold Him fast, I shall count them as nothing, but despise
them in comparison of Him, who is the beloved of my soul.
You that are come to the knowledge of Christ, and have embraced the light of truth in your own
hearts, do know the benefit you have by it, in walking in the light, as the children of light and of
the day, and in obedience to Christ, who is the light and shines in your hearts.
Friends, I would not be mistaken, I do not preach Christ as the Light of the world, in opposition
to His outward appearance, and being manifested in the flesh, in that prepared body wherein He
did His Father's will when He was on earth: All true Christians do esteem and reverence Christ's
appearance in the body, wherein He suffered death, and became a sacrifice for our sins, as the
Apostle says, Ephesians 5:2. Christ has loved us, and has given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savor. If I esteem the appearance of Christ in my own heart,
I shall be so far from having a light esteem of His bodily appearance, and His being manifest in the
flesh, that I shall admire and reverence that great mystery of godliness, and bless God for the
record given thereof in the holy Scriptures, which the light of Christ is a key to open; even the
great mysteries of the kingdom, which men by their parts and acquirements cannot attain to; for
God has not made known these great things to the wise and prudent, as we may gather from
Christ's own prayer, Matthew 11:25, 26. I thank Thee, O Father! Lord of heaven and earth,
because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto
Babes; even so Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.
My Friends, walk in the light more and more, that, by the Spirit of the Lord, you may be
acquainted with the operation of the power of Christ, which will bring you from under the
bondage of sin and corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God; wait to know this
power in your own hearts, that you may be sanctified throughout in spirit, soul, and body, and be
justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:24. Walk in
the light, and in meekness, and humility, and in the truth, 1 John 1:6, 7. If we say we have
fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the
light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanses us from all sin. Many of you have known the beginning; go forward, and continue to
walk in the truth, that you may know the blood cleansing, that as the Apostle says, Romans 6:22.
But now being made free from sin, and become Servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness,
and the end everlasting life.
The Prayer:
Most powerful everlasting God of Life, who art almighty in thy power, and canst do whatsoever pleaseth thee, we have cause to bless thy great name for thy goodness and mercy, which thou hast extended to thy people in this day of thy power: thou halt extended a blessed Day of visitation to many that were strangers unto thee, and unacquainted with the way of life and Salvation. Powerful God, we have great cause to bless thy name for thy goodness, and that great Love, which, in and through thy dear son Jesus Christ, thou haft extended to us. Thou first lovest us before we loved thee; thou it was that through the visitation of thy Love, didst beget and raise desires and breathings in the Souls of many after thee, and the knowledge of thy living way: and, blesssed Father of life, not only so, but thou hast: answered the desires and breathings that thou halt raised in the Souls of many, and brought them to the knowledge of the way of life and salvation. And, powerful God, thou hast been near to all thine unto this day, that have been truly given up in Faithfulness to thy Will, and to answer thy holy and blessed requirings. Living God, they that have waited and depended upon thee, to be made partakers of that help and strength that comes from thee, have been thereby enabled to do thy will; and this is that we wait for, and from time to time draw nigh to thee; for we wait upon thee, that we may come not only to know, but to do thy will, and answer thy requirings. Blessed God of Life, we have great encouragement from time to time to draw nigh to thee, for that comfortable presence of thine, which we have enjoyed in the midst of our assemblies; many a time the hungry have been satisfied with bread, and the fountain of living water hath been opened, and the thirsty have been drinking of it. Praised be thy name for ever, that thou haft appeared with us, and hast: given us some sensible enjoyment of thy living presence. O Lord! go along with thy people, let thy blessing be with us, that we may hold on through the whole course of our lives in this world, and live to the Praise of thy blessed name; thou haft given us to see our own weakness and inability, and that we had need depend on thee every day for fresh supplies of strength, that we may be able to hold on in thy holy way, and lay hold on the hope that thou haft set before us. There are many trials, tribulations, and afflictions that thy children and people meet with, and the grand adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, is going about continually seeking whom he may devour. Thy people have nothing but thyself to depend upon, and there is a secret help and power that thou givest thine, whereby they are enabled to withstand the enemy in all his wiles, and in all his temptations. Living God, what we are is by thee, it is by the assistance of thy grace and good spirit, that we know a preserving and holding on in thy way: Living Father, we pray thee, let us feel every day the conduct of thy grace and good spirit, that we may admire thy love, and praise and glorify thy great and excellent name. O powerful God! thou blessest the assemblies of thy people that meet together in the name of' thy dear Son Jesus Christ for the enjoyment of thy comfortable presence; Lord bless and prosper all the meetings of thy people every where, and the labour of those whose mouths thou hast opened to refresh the sorrowful, and to bring glad tidings to the poor, distressed, needy, and weary souls, that would be glad of rest and deliverance. Lord, bear up the Hearts of those in whom thou raisest desires and breathings, after the knowledge of thee and thy blessed ways; and strengthen all those good desires and breathings which thou hast begotten in any, that they may come to the knowledge of that blessed rest, where thou makest thy Flocks to lie down at noon, and feedest them with living bread, and openest a living fountain to refresh and satisfy their thirsty souls, that they may praise thy great and excellent name, which is pure and precious above every name; thou haft brought many to the knowledge of it. Let thy Truth be exalted, and thy everlasting Gospel be still preached in the land of our nativity, and in other nations; for the day of grace, the time of love, is now come, and the day of thy power is broken out in the midst of us. Arise, O Lord! in thy power more and more, and send forth thy Light and thy Truth, that many may be called and converted, and brought from far, from the utmost ends of the earth, to the knowledge of thyself and thy Son Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal; and let many arise, and praise thy excellent and glorious name, from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. Blessed Father of life, make thy power and the riches of thy grace, in and through thy dear son Christ, more and more known to the world, that they may be no longer enemies, but be reconciled to thee, by Jesus the great mediator of the new covenant. Lord the way is thine, and the work is thine; let truth and righteousness be brought in more and more, and bring down the kingdom and man of sin, and the power of darkness, and make thy Jerusalem the praise of the Earth. We have seen the beginnings of thy glorious heavenly day; thou hast raised and brought in many to walk in the light, to love thy holy ways; blessed Father of life, our eyes are unto thee, and our dependance is upon thee; whom have we in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth that we can desire in comparison of thee; Therefore our cry is, what we do in this world without the Enjoyment of thyself? In thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Lord, thou hast afforded us thy refreshing presence in this solemn Meeting (glory, and honour, and living praises ascend to thy name) which is as a precious ointment poured forth, therefore our Souls do love thee. O! thou that didst open the heart of Lydia, open the hearts of all thy people before thee, that they may go away with a sense of thy love and kindness towards them; blessed Father of mercies, bless this opportunity to us all that are here before thee, and extend thy blessing to the meetings assemblies of all thy people where ever they are. One may plant, and another water, but the increase is from thee; our eyes are towards thee, we wait upon thee, whither can we go but unto thee, who haft the words of eternal life: Lord God of life, go along with us when we are separated one from another, and let the sense of thy mercy remain upon our spirits, and be an obligation upon us to walk in faithfulness, meekness, and humility before thee; that being led by thy spirit, we may, when we have finished our pilgrimage, lay down our heads in peace and know an abundant entrance into that everlasting kingdom, which thou haft prepared for them that love and fear thee. And for thy mercies and favours, benefits and blessings, which thou haft made us partakers of, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy dear Son and our alone mediator, all living praises and glory be rendered to thee, for thou alone art worthy, who art God over all, blessed for ever. Amen.