John Wilbur
Source: Wilbur, John. Letters to a Friend, on Some of the Primitive Doctrines of Christianity.
Philadelphia: Tract Association of Friends, 1995.
This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.
LETTER VI: ON PLAINNESS AND SELF DENIAL.
MY DEAR FRIEND:
My mind has often been brought into much painful exercise on account of the many departures
from the wholesome Christian testimonies of simplicity and plainness; testimonies faithfully upheld
by the Society of Friends in its early days, and times of its greater purity; leading to humility and
meekness, and to the avoiding of pride and high-mindedness. There is no difficulty in ascertaining
from whence these testimonies were drawn by our early Friends, even from Jesus Christ himself,
that great example of meekness and self-denial; and the source too from whence every wholesome
admonition, and good and perfect gift are received; and if through all good conscience we will
"observe whatsoever he commandeth us, even to follow him;" and what the apostles preached and
observed also, we shall find it needful to make a stand against the insidious pursuits of vanity, and
a worldly spirit, and a nurturing of the will of the flesh. The apostle declared that "the grace of
God which bringeth salvation" teacheth (also) the "denying of ungodliness and the world's lusts,"
and this truth with the declarations of Christ himself, to wit, "if any man will be my disciple, let
him deny himself and take up his daily cross and follow me," and "take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me, for I am meek and low of heart," and that coming to be a disciple of Christ and
wearing his yoke brings us to the denying of what another apostle calls "the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eye, and the pride of life;" and it is by this practical self-denial that the followers of
Christ are distinguished from other people; it is not what men say, or profess, that makes the true
distinctive character, for a man may think much, and believe much, and rely much upon the
sufferings of Christ upon the cross, and at the same time be an utter enemy to the cross of Christ,
as it regards his own practical endurance of it, a thing indispensable to a disciple of Christ; and it
is very evident, that there can be no true follower, without possessing so much of the spirit and
power of the cross, as will work in him to the mortifying of the deeds of the body; to the
sanctifying of the spirit, and to the subjugation of the will of the flesh.
And a good degree of this experience is undoubtedly witnessed by individuals under different
denominations; but the Society of Friends from the first, found it needful to adhere to greater
purity of manners than other professors had done, in order to be more perfect followers of his
example, as well as of his doctrine of the straight and narrow way which leads to life; believing
indeed the verity and truth of his sayings; and that his doctrines of the cross are unequivocal; and
finding by practice too, that the bearing of his cross patiently and honestly did in very deed work
to the mortifying of the deeds of the flesh; hence as a people we have seen more clearly than
others the necessity of "always bearing about in the body, the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." "For we which live, are always delivered unto
death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2
Cor. 4:10,11.
Whatever then may be the practices and sayings of others, we feel bound faithfully to adhere to
the commands and doctrines of Christ and his apostles as recorded in holy writ, as well as to the
word of God's grace in our hearts, to the denying of all desires after the maxims and manners,
fashions and customs, of this vain world. And as this was a subject not unworthy of the Son of
God, and his apostles, in his and their preaching and personal simplicity, none will do well in
charging his more scrupulous followers with narrow-mindedness, because of their conformity to
the doctrine and practice of Christ and his apostles; seeing that every one of his disciples should
conscientiously keep his commandments, and follow his example of meekness and humility. Nor
let any one be deterred from the practice of a self-denying life because he may sometimes see
traditional or hypocritical professors trusting in a form of godliness without the power; for there is
not one of the Christian virtues, but attempts have been made to counterfeit it; and they also who
make such attempts are enemies to the cross of Christ and him crucified, which is the power of
God, and wisdom of God, and which also the apostle told one of the churches, he was resolved
only to know amongst them.
There was I think more than one reason why the peculiar and primitive testimonies of plainness
were given to, and upheld by the Society of Friends; and first, because they are congenial to the
very nature of Christianity in its purest form, and agree better with its other testimonies. And
secondly, because if conscientiously maintained, they would serve to exhibit this constant
acknowledgment to the world, "I am the Lord's!" And thirdly, because it would be an enclosure
round about the tender plants of a rising generation; for by observing these peculiarities in
language, manners, and appearance, there would not be that inclination to mix familiarly with
others; and this has proved to our beloved youth a great preservation from the corruptions and
vanities of the world. In this point of view, the benefit to our Society has been incalculable; for
though it is not these peculiarities of plainness that cause us to be fruitful, yet by them as an
enclosure, the fruit may be kept from being devoured. It is the good soil of the garden, well
cultivated, that bringeth forth the fruit, but it is the fenced wall of God's providence round about
that keepeth it from being devoured by the creatures without.
And so far is this testimony from being a burden or a hardship, it is through the gift of Him who
helpeth, a choice blessing from his hand, and a blessing too, which if we as a people should begin
to despise and lightly esteem, God will in his displeasure perhaps remove from us. Yea, and if the
vine which he has planted, when he looked for grapes, should be found bringing forth only wild
grapes, he will certainly remove this safe enclosure, and suffer the wild beast to tread it down; and
he will also command the clouds that they should rain no rain upon it.
As a small leak, if suffered to continue, will sink a ship, however good and richly laden, and as a
small breach in the enclosure of the vineyard, however fruitful, will let in the devourer, so I
believe if this testimony, (however small any may deem it,) should be abandoned, it would greatly
endanger our safety. Yea, and if the boundaries of demarcation between this people and others, as
exhibited in our peculiar testimonies were removed, or suffered to go down through the fear of
controversy or singularity; then should we be prepared to go back, and mingle again with others,
and that definite and honorable characteristic by which we have been known and distinguished
from all others, would be seen and known no more. Hence I consider it highly important to be
ourselves faithful, and to train up, and instruct our families in these Christian testimonies, and
other doctrines of Christ, by a constant exhibition of this good and comely order and example, as
well as by clear, plain argument, and open and full declaration of the hope within us.
And if the true ground of the gospel of our Lord and Savior in its primitive purity, as seen by us,
cannot be supported without controversy, then let it be done in the meekness and wisdom of Jesus
by controversy; for the cause of the blessed Truth is worthy both of controversy, and of a warfare
too, under the banners of the Prince of Peace. And to strengthen the minds of any, who might be
wavering, we may well refer them to the steady and unabating exercises and advice of the Yearly
Meeting in London, for upwards of one hundred and fifty years past; a body which has extended
its concern and care over the whole Society, for its preservation in the meekness, simplicity, and
purity of the gospel, and which, in point of religious knowledge, Christian authority, and weight
of character, has never been exceeded in the Christian world, since its establishment.
And now my dear friend, in the conclusion of these letters, I may well say, that they have been written in the feeling of that love which knoweth no bounds; and which hath for its object the true happiness and salvation of all; desiring that, as I have written them in simplicity and tenderness of spirit, thou wouldst permit them to receive a portion of thy consideration. I feel a fervent solicitude that all may stand fast in the Lord, and hold the profession of their faith without wavering, cleaving to the blessed Truth, and submitting to its humbling power; and thankfully receiving every provision of God's providence, which is dispensed to us in common with others, and holding fast too those which have been in a more peculiar manner mercifully committed to us, as the testimonies and statutes of the Lord were to a people formerly. Then might we not all well say, "Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar," even in the land of Midian, for the crown of his pride must be reduced in Jacob; yea, and it must be brought down in Israel: and again, though Esau be thy brother, and the Lord hath planted him upon his high mountain, and given him a place in the earth, yet Israel must not dwell with him, nor abide there, for he must dwell alone. And behold Moab also, his kinsman, for neither shall he join himself unto Moab, however multiplied his burnt-offerings, and exalted his sacrifices upon his high places; for Israel must abide in his tent, yea, even in his lowly tabernacle a little longer, until the indignation be overpast; for the Lord is his tent and his tabernacle, and it was he that first led him forth and allotted to him his possessions in the valleys, and as the trees of lign aloes hath he planted him in his garden enclosed, and made him fruitful as by the river side; and if he will be content to dwell in the land where the Lord his God has planted him, and keep his and he will cause that no enchantment nor divination shall prevail against him, and so shall he abide as a tabernacle that shall not be taken down. And though many may forsake him and despise him, because he is small, and his dwelling is in a low place, and because the glory of this world shineth not upon the ark of his testimonies, yet let him not be dismayed, the Lord is his light and God his glory; and he will encamp round about him; and his righteousness shall "go forth as brightness" and his "salvation as a lamp that burneth!"
THE END