The religion of the Society is the religion of Christ as set forth in the Scriptures, and results from yielding to the light of Christ in the heart, for "The Light of Christ is God's gift for man's salvation."(1)It is the universal saving Light, not intended merely for the Society, but for everybody, for, "The Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, etc.," [Titus 2:11] and yielding unto it would mean the reformation of the world. Nothing can be successful unless occupied, and the failure of the Society to fully occupy all these years has meant great loss to the world.
Then the prospect before them is measured by their attention and application, for in this they have an Almighty One who promises to be with them and enable to so cooperate that His Kingdom will come, in His will being done.
We are not a society, but an association of those whose purpose was to do the will of God, and in this there are items that cannot be safely discounted such as purity, honesty, morality, the Golden Rule, and sincerity, and what is more far reaching than sincerity, for it tests everything, it is of the heart.
The Religious Society of Friends have had a great responsibility placed upon them, in that as they were raised up in the beginning by attention to their convictions, were led into a life in keeping with Christ's teachings, as well as the Apostles, experiencing something of the baptism of the day of Pentecost, which is the last and lasting dispensation, really "Primitive Christianity revived in its ancient simplicity," and were called to promulgate it before the world, and through their efforts many were called and convinced, and walked in it traveling far and near teaching and preaching in the demonstration of the spirit and with power. This all was not intended for naught, but should have grown to the honor of God and the extension of His kingdom in the earth, the overcoming of evil, and the establishment of the peaceable kingdom of Christ, as well as the fulfillment of the prophecies, Habbukuk 2:14, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." And Rev. 11:15, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign forever and ever."
The Apostles of Christ were chosen and delegated, and on that memorable Pentecostal day baptized to usher in the last and lasting dispensation, and now the Friends were chosen to revive this which had declined, and now as we cannot but all admit that even their revival has declined, that which so evidently confronts them is to return to the faithfulness of the children of the Light, of those who freshly found that "Christ could speak to their condition," and by their obedience and faithfulness, again feel the call and by the anointing of His Holy Spirit call all unto Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
Naught confronts them but to regain through faithfulness what they may have lost through unfaithfulness, and so in the language of the Apostle can say, Phil. 3:4, Brethren, "I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
1. 1... Probably taken from Isaiah 49:6 and Acts 13:47. -pds