The First Edition, edited by Thomas Ellwood
From the text published London: Thomas Northcott, 1694 (unless otherwise noted.)
QuakerPages--|--Branch Office
AN EPISTLE TO THE READER, by WILLIAM PENN(1)
Reader, this following account of the people called Quakers, &c. was writ in the fear and love of
God: first, as a standing testimony to that ever blessed truth, in the inward parts, with which God,
in my youthful time, visited my soul, and for the sense and love of which I was made willing, in no
ordinary way, to relinquish the honors and interests of the world. Secondly, as a testimony for that
despised people, that God has in his great mercy gathered and united by his own blessed Spirit in
the holy profession of it; whose fellowship I value above all worldly greatness. Thirdly, in love
and honour to the memory of that worthy servant of God, G. Fox, the first instrument thereof,
and therefore styled by me the great and blessed Apostle of our day. As this gave birth to what is
here presented to thy view, in the first edition of it, by way of preface to G. F.'s excellent journal;
so the consideration of the present usefulness of the following account of the people called
Quakers, (by reason of the unjust reflections of some adversaries that once walked under the
profession of Friends) and the exhortations that conclude it, prevailed with me to consent that it
should be republished in a smaller volume; knowing also full well that great books, especially in
these days, grow burdensome, both to the pockets and minds of too many; and that there are not
a few that desire (so it be at an easy rate) to be informed about this people, that have been so
much every where spoken against: but, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, it
is upon no worse grounds than it was said of old time, of the primitive Christians; as I hope will
appear to every sober and considerate reader. Our business, after all the ill usage we have met
with, being the realities of religion, an effectual change before our last and great change: that all
may come to an inward, sensible and experimental knowledge of God, through the convictions
and operations of the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves; the sufficient and blessed means
given to all, that thereby all may come savingly to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom he hath sent to enlighten and redeem the world: which knowledge is indeed eternal life.
And that thou, reader, mayst obtain it, is the earnest desire of him that is ever
Thine in so good a work,
WILLIAM PENN.
NOTES.
1.
Not included in the 1694 Journal, but taken from A Collection of the Works of William Penn.
In Two Volumes. To Which Is Prefixed A Journal of His Life With Many Original Letters and
Papers, Not Before Published. London: J. Sowle, 1726. Vol. I, pages 858-859.