TO THE SCHOLARS THAT DISTURB FRIENDS, IN THEIR MEETINGS AT OXFORD

I heard such jeering yesterday, at Being moved by the Spirit of God, as indeed grieved me; because I was and am sensible of the great hurt it doth to those that give scope to themselves therein. Now, I entreat such to consider, doth not Christ say, 'It is the Spirit that quickens?' Is not man dead in trespasses and sins, till the Lord quicken him to life, by his Holy Spirit? And when the soul is in any measure made alive, doth it not feel the want of God's Spirit to keep it alive, and to add life to it? And is not this the great thing, the soul cries to God for, even that <538> Spirit whereby alone it can live to God, and be preserved alive before Him? Did not David pray to God that the Lord would quicken and uphold him by his free Spirit? And again, 'Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me?' And did not Christ say, relating to the similitude of parents, 'If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask Him?' And they that ask the Spirit of Him, when He gives it, will they not gladly receive it? And when it is received, will it not move them unto good, and against evil; and ought not they to wait to be moved by it? Doth not the natural life and spirit move in the natural body; and shall not the spiritual life live and move in the inward man; and they which are truly alive be moved and guided by it? They that have not the Spirit of God, are they his? And they that have his Spirit, is it not a Spirit of light, of life, of righteousness, of holiness, of grace, of truth, &c.; and ought not all the children of the light and of the truth, to wait for its motions, that they may follow its leadings and guidings? Did not the Christians of old live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh? And ought not all the Christians now to do also? 'If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' O! wait, that ye may experience those things; and do not disturb or deride others in their waiting upon God, to experience those things, even now and more: who cannot but mourn and pray for you, while ye are doing towards them that which ye ought not. The Lord give you rightly to wait for true understanding; that ye may receive it from Him in these and all other things that concern your everlasting welfare.

This is in true love and good-will to you, from him who wisheth well to your souls: even that ye may know, partake of, and rejoice in God's salvation.

I. P.

Oxford, 23d of 7th month, 1678