This great gift was not peculiarly for the Religious Society of Friends, but for all people who will accept Christ in the humble way of His coming, for it was plainly demonstrated in the rise of Friends,--"Whosoever will, may come and drink of the waters of life freely." [Revelation 22:17.] For they gathered from the north, the south, the east and the west out of all religious professions.
It is plainly evident to all who will consider, that if it was needed and accepted then, it surely is as much now and to fill a needy place and is found to be the only way that fully satisfies the hungry soul. The language is need to appear in blazing letters of gold, that everyone may see and read where the Saviour said to His disciples, His chosen companions who were witnesses after His ascension, giving them the endeared name of Friends--"YE ARE MY FRIENDS IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU." [John 15:14.]
That is the keynote of the religion of Christ, THAT WHICH HE COMMANDS, not as is so often entertained, in connection the religion of Christ--"What can I do?" "What am I fitted for?" "What is necessary to be done?" Instead of "What does the Lord require of thee?"
One leads into formal good work, which may be in a way good, but the other leads into life, even the life of Christ, the companion of the Lamb of God, in whom there is virtue that heals, that corrects, that establishes His kingdom, that given any to experience the promise of the prophet, Isaiah 9:6.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor. The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." [Isaiah 9:6.]
Everyone who accepts this way is born of God, and has a personal acquaintance with God, they must have, that they may be led and guided by Him, or how could we know to do His will.
There is no group that is following out that last and lasting commission, fully in this day, the Gospel of Christ committed unto His disciples and fully witnessed to by them as they were baptized on that memorable day of Pentecost, whereby they became His anointed Apostle, and were so inspired by the Lord that they with the prophets of old bore witness to the same things which has been found true and safe. This was accepted by the Friends in the beginning, but as one generation after another passes and becomes distanced from the lively beginning, they are apt to decline more and more.
The trouble mainly lies in rejecting the cross of Christ, and Paul says, 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God."