Wesley Corpus

A Letter to a Person Lately Joined with the Quakers Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 10 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- YoU ask me, “Is there any difference between Quakerism and Christianity?” I think there is. What that difference is, I will tell you as plainly as I can. I will, First, set down the account of Quakerism, so called, which is given by Robert Barclay; and, Then, add wherein it agrees with, and wherein it differs from, Christianity. “1. Seeing the height of all happiness is placed in the true knowledge of God, the right understanding of this is what is most necessary to be known in the first place. “2. It is by the Spirit alone that the true knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be, revealed. And these revela tions, which are absolutely necessary for the building up of true faith, neither do, nor can, ever contradict right reason or the testimony of the Scriptures.” Thus far there is no difference between Quakerism and Christianity. “Yet these revelations are not to be subjected to the examination of the Scriptures as to a touchstone.” Here there is a difference. The Scriptures are the touch stone whereby Christians examine all, real or supposed, revelations. In all cases they appeal “to the law and to the testimony,” and try every spirit thereby. “3. From these revelations of the Spirit of God to the saints, have proceeded the Scriptures of truth.” In this there is no difference between Quakerism and Christianity. “Yet the Scriptures are not the principal ground of all truth and knowledge, nor the adequate, primary rule of faith and manners. Nevertheless, they are a secondary rule, subordinate to the Spirit. By Him the saints are led into all truth. Therefore the Spirit is the first and principal leader.” If by these words, “The Scriptures are not the principal ground of truth and knowledge, nor the adequate, primary rule of faith and manners,” be only meant, that “the Spirit is our first and principal leader;” here is no difference between Quakerism and Christianity. But there is great impropriety of expression. For though the Spirit is our principal leader, yet He is not our rule at all; the Scriptures are the rule whereby he leads us into all truth.