And, my dear Friends, keep your Meetings, and ye will feel the Seed of God among you all, though never a word be spoken among you. And be faithful, that ye may answer that of God in every one. And do not neglect your talents, but be faithful in the power and life of God which ye have received…”
George Fox, Epistle, 1654
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, whereby thou wilt receive his strength and power from whence life comes, to allay all tempests, against blusterings and storms. That is it which moulds up into patience, into innocency, into soberness, into stayedness, into quietness, up to God, with his power.. .
George Fox
“…wait reverently for the coming and opening of the Word of Life, and attend upon it in your ministry and service…And be it little, or be it much, it is well, for much is not too much, and the least is enough, if from the motion of God’s spirit…”
William Penn, preface to Fox’s Journal
For when I came into the silent assemblies of God’s people I felt a secret power among them which touched my heart; and as I gave way unto it I found the evil weakening in me and the good raised up…”
Robert Barclay, Apology, XI, Section 7
Do you sit down in true silence, resting from your own will and workings, and waiting upon the Lord…until the Lord breathes life into you, refresheth you, and prepares you and your spirits for His service?…
William Penn
The place of prayer is a precious habitation;…I saw this habitation to be safe, to be inwardly quiet, when there was great stirrings and commotions in the world…
John Woolman
So great is the hurry in the spirit of this world, that in aiming to do business quickly and to gain wealth, the creation at this day doth loudly groan!…
John Woolman
In the noisy rush of modern life we need periods of quiet when the soul may feed in peace on that which shall nourish it for action…
John Wilhelm Rowntree
If in our pastoral care we are cumbered with much serving, hardly knowing where to find time for all that weighs on us, let us sit at the Lord’s feet. Those who live with Him always seem to have time to love and care for their fellow-men…
Edward Milligan, 1951
“A practicing Christian who asks whether he has time for prayer is like a carpenter asking whether he has time to sharpen his tools.”
Douglas Steere
There is that near you which will guide you. O, wait for it, and be sure to keep to it. . .
Isaac Penington
There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself…
James Nayler
In the mounting din of our world, nothing speaks more eloquently than silence. Nothing will allow God to be heard as fully. In repentant stillness a space is cleared and a way is prepared for the coming of Christ…
Doug Gwyn