The True Christian’s Faith and Experience #029 Advice to New Friends (part 1 of 4)

Ohio Yearly Meeting's Podcast

Chapter 20, Session #29 (Part 1 of 4) pertaining to advice, counsel and exhortation to those who have newly turned from darkness within, to the Light of Christ within themselves.

To hear and obey the Word in your mouth and in your heart, you must understand and focus on the goal of that precious appearance of the Light of Christ within, that you should focus your mind on it until the Daystar arises within, the star of the Messiah that will lead you to where the Babe of glory lies.

When the Light within leads you this far, do not think that you have attained the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, i.e., that you now possess and enjoy it. But wait and walk in this same Light within, which will reveal to you that Spirit of Christ that seeks its life to be within you beyond its birth.

Whatever makes something manifest is light. You must trust and continue walking in this Light that you may become a child of it, that you may know its work within yourself from the first day to the seventh day, the sabbath of rest. Have patience. The goal of one’s faith is not immediately attained but wait and see it to be nearer and nearer every day.

To travel on in safety you must walk in the Light and daily learn from the grace of God within, to overcome various temptations within.

Know this: you will meet with many trials and temptations on the way, to turn away from the way, or to sit down short of the goal, and to take up a rest on the way in your earlier experience and revelations and power over devils. If an evil spirit cannot prevail in one way, it may try in another way to deceive you as it did Eve.

The Light within will show you the true nature of these subtle “baits” of satan, whether he appears as a subtle serpent or as an angel of light in the form of godliness, and even confess Christ and talk of the Light within. In vain are his varied appearances, if you are full of Light.

You are safe as you walk in the way, i.e., the Light within, the spirit and grace of God within, which teaches you to reject worldly cravings. Which also teaches you to live righteously and godly in this world. But take great heed and watch against the enemy of your happiness, in all his appearances, especially when he appears under the form of Truth itself with the actual words of Truth in his mouth. For I have seen him there, and he has deceived many in this way in this age, even since we Friends became a people. He has done this by drawing the mind away from being focused on God, and to go after and desire something else which he has made appear lovely to behold. Through this deception he has persuaded many that they would better their condition and increase their glory. So, many have again been subjected to vanity as mankind was in the beginning, by believing the lies of the serpent who told them they would enjoy something better.
References:

• The True Christian’s Faith and Experience Briefly Declared.
• The quote in our introduction was

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