George Fox (1624-1691)

Epistle 260
1668

"The Way of the Way-faring Men"

(MARK) The unclean shall not pass over it. [Is.35.8.] This Way, which is called the Way of Holiness, was spoken of by the Prophesie; and this Way is Christ, who is the Way of Holiness, who is above the Unclean, and destroys it, and the Ground of it, the Devil; and so the Unclean cannot pass over this way of Holiness. This is our Way, who are in scorn called Quakers, to wit, Christ: And this Way of Holiness shall be for the way-faring Men, though Fools, yet they shall not err therein; where no Lion, nor ravenous Beast, nor Lion's whelp shall go thereon. All the ravenous Beasts are without, in the Way of the World, without Christ and God.

And this Way of Holiness . . . is Christ Jesus, who said of Himself, I am the Way, and he is over all the fallen Ways. . . .

And this is the Way of the way-faring Men, who have been way-faring up and down from Religion to Religion, from Worship to Worship, from one People to another, from one Minister and Teacher to another, and could not sit down in any of their Ways, but way-fared, travelled and sought: And now, Glory be to the Lord for Ever, Thousands of these way-faring Men are come to find their Way, Christ Jesus (and though Fools) yet shall not err therein; . . .

. . . And they see how all the wise Men, in old Adam mixed with the Wisdom of the Serpent, how they are all in their own Ways, Worships and Religions; and all the Sects in it, how they are like Tradesmen, plucking from one Church to another and getting Customers, and drawing People from one another's Church to their own Ways; and tearing one another, to get People from one another's Church to themselves. And so are like Lions, and ravenous Beasts one against another, to get from one another's Church to maintain themselves; and thus they seek the Peoples, not the People; and feed themselves, and not the Flock; for they are out of the Way, Christ, and sit down in their own Ways. . . .