forth and explaining to his
old friend the doctrine held by the Quakers. He spoke to him of the
unity of the Godhead. "We believe," he added, "that their light is one,
their life one, their wisdom one, their power one; and that he that
knoweth and seeth any one of them knoweth and seeth them all, as our
blessed Lord says, `He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' We
believe, too, though most wrongfully accused of the contrary, that God
the Son is both God and man in wonderful union; that He suffered for our
salvation, was raised again for our justification, and ever liveth to
make intercession for us. He is that Divine Word that lighteth the
souls of all men that come into the world with a spiritual and saving
light, as none but the Creator of souls can do. With regard to our
worship, we hold that `God is a Spirit, and desires to be worshipped in
spirit and in truth,' not only on one day, but on all days of the week;
not only when meeting together, but in the daily concerns of life; and
the man who worships not then, will render poor worship when he
assembles with his fellow-men at the time he may think fit to set apart
for that purpose. As we acknowledge no other Mediator than the Son of
God, who came on earth and died for our sins, and, having risen from the
grave and ascended into heaven, is now seated at the right hand of God;
so we require no person to pray for us, or allow that it is according to
God's will that persons should receive payment for praying, exhorting,
or preaching, or in any other way spreading God's truth. We believe,
too, that the water-baptism, so generally administered, is not according
to God's mind; that the baptism spoken of in the Scriptures is that of
the Spirit,--the answer of a good conscience towards God by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ; that by one Spirit we are all baptised
into one body; while, with regard to the Lord's Supper as it is spoken
of, we do indeed deem that the supper of the Lord is needful, but that
it is altogether of a spiritual nature. We object altogether to oaths,
because our Lord says, `Swear not at all.' We hold war to be an
abomination to God, and contrary to that new commandment given us by
Christ, `That ye love one another, even as I have loved you.' We hold,
too, that a civil magistrate has no right to interfere in religious
matters, and that though `Friends' may admonish such members as fall
into error, it must be done by the spiritual sword; and