Elias Hicks on what is required of a Christian

I recently got my own copy of "Elias Hicks: Quaker Liberal," a book I borrowed from my university's library but did not finish before graduating and returning the book.  On page 186, it says that the last page of Hicks' home journal finally answered a question both Friends and non-Friends frequently asked:  what is required of a Christian?  His answer has 3 parts.

  1. a real belief in God and Christ, as one undivided essence, known and believed in, inwardly and spiritually
  2. a complete passive obedience and submission to the divine will and power inwardly and spiritually manifested; which when known, brings to the Christian state, through a crucifixion of the old man, with all his ungodly deeds
  3. in order for the preservation and well-being of a Christian, it is necessary that they often meet and assemble together, for the promotion of love and good works, and as good stewards of the manifold grace of God...and no temporal concern of the greatest magnitude ought to be considered as a sufficient excuse for omitting this great and necessary duty

This was in January 1819.

Views: 198

Comment by Patricia Dallmann on 10th mo. 25, 2015 at 2:36pm

Thanks for this, Mackenzie. The second part of the answer struck me as the one Hicks's spiritual descendants would find most irrelevant: the necessity for "a crucifixion of the old man, with all his ungodly deeds." Yet, without this dying to the self, "the old man"(the first Adam) remains, and the new creation in Christ (the second Adam) goes unrealized, and God unknown.

As Jesus says in Mark 13: "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Comment by Jennifer Winters on 2nd mo. 15, 2016 at 3:33pm

Thanks for sharing this.  I'm going to have to read the book.

Comment

You need to be a member of QuakerQuaker to add comments!

Join QuakerQuaker

Support Us

Did you know that QuakerQuaker is 100% reader supported? Our costs run to about $50/month. If you think this kind of outreach and conversation is important, please support it with a monthly subscription or one-time gift.

Latest Activity

Daniel Hughes updated their profile
4 hours ago
Martin Kelley updated their profile
19 hours ago
Martin Kelley posted a blog post

QuakerQuaker migration starting soon, can you help?

Hi QuakerQuaker fans,It's time to start the migration of QuakerQuaker to a new online platform. It…See More
19 hours ago
Martin Kelley commented on QuakerQuaker's blog post 'QuakerQuaker Resolution for 2023—Can You Help?'
"Hi Christopher, thanks for your ongoing support all this time; I understand needing to slow down…"
2nd day (Mon)
Christopher Hatton posted events
1st day (Sun)
Christopher Hatton commented on QuakerQuaker's blog post 'QuakerQuaker Resolution for 2023—Can You Help?'
"Hi Martin,   I hope other users have been making occasional/regular donations.  I am…"
1st day (Sun)
Christopher Hatton liked David Anthony's profile
1st day (Sun)
Christopher Hatton updated their profile
1st day (Sun)

© 2023   Created by QuakerQuaker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service