What do George Fox's more than 400 letters mean?

FOX IS AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN Because of the “many scandalous lies and slanders that have been cast upon Friends, saying that we deny Christ Jesus which all of our books and declarations clearly testify to the contrary,”  Fox wrote a letter to the Governor of Barbados defending them. When Friends talk about this letter today, they will say that it is the “closest thing that Quakers have to a creed” or that it is “sort of a creed.”  But the letter is the Nicene and Apostle’s creed in Fox’s own language. The language is scriptural but the creeds influences what he says. We own and believe in Jesus the beloved and begotten Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost and  born of the Virgin Mary, and who is the express image of the invisible God by whom all things were created. He, who knew no sin, was crucified for us in the flesh, buried, rose again the third day by the power of His Father. He ascended up into h...

FOX’S  CHRISTOLOGY The Old Testament , the New Testament and his experience are Fox’s authority for understanding Christ.       He begins with the primitive church and the apostles for they are the last people – until himself –  who really understood Christ.       He pretty well ignores the sixteen hundred years that intervened.  In this way he doesn’t have to deal with the history of Christianity, the crusades, the inquisition, and Christian participation in wars.      Always orthodox himself, Fox felt compelled to defend the orthodoxy of Friends in the letter written to the Governor of Barbados .       Because of the “many scandalous lies and slanders that have been cast upon Friends, saying that we deny Christ Jesus which all of our books and declarations clearly testify to the contrary.”        When Friends talk about this letter today, they say that it i...

How am I to follow my conscience?  How am I to follow my conscience?  How do I  know what God wants me to do with my life?  One way is to pay attention to the Light in my conscience which leads me to the Truth.   Following my conscience means doing what God wants me to do rather than what most people are doing.  Following my conscience frequently involves doing something when most other people think that I am wrong and are doing just the opposite.  Unfortunately, following my conscience is not necessarily the popular thing to do. **************************************** Every day I follow my conscience Every day I follow my conscience, decide what is right, what is wrong.  Most of the time I don't even think about it. I don't have a deep philosophical discussion with myself about whether I should do the laundry or go to the grocery. These chores are part of my share of the household duties. So without thinking about i...