Chapter 2

On the Example of CHRIST

Christ's Example

As my Mind hath been brought into a Brotherly Feeling with the Poor, as to the Things of this Life, who are under Trials in regard to getting a Living in a Way answerable to the Purity of Truth; a Labour of Heart hath attended me, that their Way may not be made difficult through the Love of Money in those who are tried with plentiful Estates, but that they with Tenderness of Heart may sympathize with them.

I have come to feel a brotherly concern for the poor and their material needs. They face trials in earning a living in a way that is true to the purity of truth. This has deeply troubled my heart. I hope that those who are tested by great wealth will not make life harder for the poor through their love of money, but will sympathize with them tenderly.

It was the Saying of our blessed Redeemer, Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. There is a deep Feeling of the Way of Purity, a Way in which the Wisdom of the World hath no Part, but is opened by the Spirit of Truth, and is called the Way of Holiness; a Way in which the Traveller is employed in watching unto Prayer; and the outward Gain we get in this Journey is considered as a Trust committed to us, by him who formed and supports the World; and is the rightful Director of the Use and Application of the Product of it.

Our blessed Redeemer said, You cannot serve God and Mammon. There is a deep sense of the way of purity. The wisdom of the world has no part in this way. Instead, it is opened by the Spirit of Truth and is called the Way of Holiness. Those who travel this way remain watchful and prayerful. They see the material gain they receive on this journey as a trust given to them by God. He formed and sustains the world and has the right to direct how its products are used.

Now except the Mind be preserved chaste, there is no Safety for us; but in an Estrangement from true Resignation, the Spirit of the World casts up a Way, in which Gain is many Times principally attended to, and in which there is a selfish Application of outward Treasures.

Unless the mind is kept pure, we have no safety. But when we turn away from true surrender, the spirit of the world offers another path. On that path, people often focus mainly on gain and use material wealth selfishly.

How agreeable to the true Harmony of Society, is that Exhortation of the Apostle? Look not every Man on his own Things, but every Man also on the Things of others. Let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

How well the Apostle's advice fits with true harmony in society: Let each person look not only to their own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

A Person in outward Prosperity may have the Power of obtaining Riches, but the same Mind being in him which is in Christ Jesus, he may feel a Tenderness of Heart towards those of low Degree; and instead of setting himself above them, may look upon it as an unmerited Favour, that his Way through Life is more easy than the Way of many others; may improve every Opportunity of leading forth out of those Customs which have entangled the Family; employ his Time in looking into the Wants of the poor Members, and hold forth such a perfect Example of Humiliation, that the pure Witness may be reached in many Minds; and the Way opened for a harmonious walking together.

A prosperous person may have the power to acquire wealth. But if the same mind is in him that is in Christ Jesus, he may feel tenderness toward those of low standing. Instead of putting himself above them, he may see his easier path through life as an undeserved favor. He may use every opportunity to lead the family away from customs that have entangled them. He may spend his time looking into the needs of its poor members. He may also set such a perfect example of humility that the pure witness may be reached in many minds. In this way, a path may open for all to walk together in harmony.

Jesus Christ, in promoting the Happiness of others, was not deficient in looking for the Helpless, who lay in Obscurity, nor did he save any Thing to render himself honourable amongst Men, which might have been of more Use to the weak Members in his Father's Family; of whose Compassion towards us I may now speak a little. He who was perfectly happy in himself, moved with infinite Love, took not upon him the Nature of Angels, but our imperfect Natures, and therein wrestled with the Temptations which attend us in this Life; and being the Son of him who is greater than Earthly Princes, yet became a Companion to poor, sincere-hearted Men; and though he gave the clearest Evidence that Divine Power attended him, yet the most unfavourable Constructions were framed by a self-righteous People; those Miracles represented as the Effect of a diabolical Power, and Endeavours used to render him hateful, as having his Mission from the Prince of Darkness; nor did their Envy cease till they took him like a Criminal, and brought him to Trial. Though some may affect to carry the Appearance of being unmoved at the Apprehension of Distress, our dear Redeemer, who was perfectly sincere, having the same human Nature which we have, and feeling, a little before he was apprehended, the Weight of that Work upon him, for which he came into the World, was sorrowful even unto Death; here the human Nature struggled to be excused from a Cup so bitter; but his Prayers centered in Resignation, Not my Will but thine be done. In this Conflict, so great was his Agony, that Sweat like Drops of Blood fell from him to the Ground.

In promoting the happiness of others, Jesus Christ did not neglect to seek out helpless people who lived unnoticed. Nor did he keep anything to gain honor among people when it could have been more useful to the weaker members of his Father's family. I may now say a little about his compassion toward us. He was perfectly happy in himself, yet, moved by infinite love, he did not take on the nature of angels, but our imperfect nature. In that nature, he struggled with the temptations we face in this life. Though he was the Son of one greater than earthly princes, he became a companion to poor, sincere-hearted men. He gave the clearest evidence that divine power was with him. Yet a self-righteous people put the worst possible interpretation on his actions. They claimed that his miracles were the work of a devilish power. They tried to make him hated, saying that the Prince of Darkness had sent him. Their envy did not cease until they seized him like a criminal and brought him to trial. Some may pretend to be unmoved by the prospect of suffering. But our dear Redeemer was perfectly sincere and had the same human nature we have. Shortly before he was seized, he felt the weight of the work he had come into the world to do. He was sorrowful even to death. His human nature struggled to escape so bitter a cup, but his prayers ended in acceptance: Not my will but yours be done. In this struggle, his agony was so great that sweat like drops of blood fell from him to the ground.

Behold now, as foretold by the Prophet, he is in a judicial Manner numbered with the Transgressors! Behold him as some poor Man of no Reputation, standing before the High Priest and Elders, and before Herod and Pilate, where Witnesses appear against him, and he mindful of the most gracious Design of his Coming, declineth to plead in his own Defence, but as a Sheep that is dumb before the Shearer, so under many Accusations, Revilings, and Buffetings, remained silent. And though he signified to Peter, that he had Access to Power sufficient to overthrow all their outward Forces; yet retaining a Resignation to suffer for the Sins of Mankind, he exerted not that Power, but permitted them to go on in their malicious Designs, and pronounce him to be worthy of Death, even him who was perfect in Goodness; thus in his Humiliation his Judgment was taken away, and he, like some vile Criminal, led as a Lamb to the Slaughter. Under these heavy Trials (tho' poor unstable Pilate was convinced of his Innocence, yet) the People generally looked upon him as a Deceiver, a Blasphemer, and the approaching Punishment as a just Judgment upon him; They esteemed him smitten of God and afflicted. So great had been the Surprize of his Disciples, at his being taken by armed Men, that they forsook him, and fled; thus they hid their Faces from him, he was despised, and by their Conduct it appeared as though they esteemed him not.

Look now, as the Prophet foretold, he is officially counted among the transgressors! See him standing like a poor man of no reputation before the High Priest and Elders, and before Herod and Pilate. Witnesses testify against him, but he remembers the deeply gracious purpose of his coming. He chooses not to plead in his own defense. Instead, like a sheep that is silent before the shearer, he remains silent through many accusations, insults, and beatings. He made it clear to Peter that he had access to enough power to overthrow all their earthly forces. Yet he remained willing to suffer for the sins of mankind. He did not use that power, but allowed them to continue their malicious plans. They pronounced him worthy of death, though he was perfect in goodness. So in his humiliation he was denied justice, and, like a vile criminal, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter. During these heavy trials, poor, unstable Pilate was convinced of his innocence. Yet people generally saw him as a deceiver and a blasphemer. They saw his coming punishment as a just judgment against him. They thought he was struck down by God and afflicted. His disciples were so shocked when armed men seized him that they abandoned him and fled. In this way they hid their faces from him. He was despised, and their conduct made it seem that they did not value him.

But contrary to that Opinion, of his being smitten of God and afflicted, it was for our Sakes that he was put to Grief; he was wounded for our Transgressions; he was bruised for our Iniquities; and under the Weight of them manifesting the deepest Compassion for the Instruments of his Misery, laboured as their Advocate, and in the Deeps of Affliction, with an unconquerable Patience, cried out, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!

But contrary to the belief that God had struck and afflicted him, he suffered for our sake. He was wounded for our wrongs and crushed for our sins. Under their weight, he showed the deepest compassion for those who caused his suffering and pleaded for them. In the depths of his suffering, with unconquerable patience, he cried out, Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing!

Now this Mind being in us, which was in Christ Jesus, it removes from our Hearts the Desire of Superiority, Worldly Honour, or Greatness; a deep Attention is felt to the Divine Counsellor, and an ardent Engagement to promote, as far as we may be enabled, the Happiness of Mankind universally: This State, where every Motion from a selfish Spirit yieldeth to pure Love, I may, with Gratitude to the Father of Mercies acknowledge, is often opened before me as a Pearl to dig after; attended with a living Concern, that amongst the many Nations and Families on the Earth, those who believe in the Messiah, that he was manifested to destroy the Works of the Devil, and thus to take away the Sins of the World, may experience the Will of our Heavenly Father, may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Strong are the Desires I often feel, that this Holy Profession may remain unpolluted, and the Believers in Christ may so abide in the pure inward Feeling of his Spirit, that the Wisdom from above may shine forth in their Living, as a Light by which others may be instrumentally helped on their Way, in the true harmonious Walking.

When we have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, it removes our desire for superiority, worldly honor, or greatness. We feel a deep attentiveness to the divine counselor. We are also eager to promote the happiness of all people, as far as we are able. In this state, every impulse from a selfish spirit gives way to pure love. With gratitude to the Father of Mercies, I can acknowledge that this state often appears before me as a pearl worth digging for. Along with this comes a deep concern for believers in the Messiah among the many nations and families of the earth. They believe that he was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and thus to take away the sins of the world. I hope they may experience the will of our heavenly Father being done on earth as it is in heaven. I often feel a strong desire that this holy profession of faith remain unpolluted. I also desire that believers in Christ remain deeply aware of his spirit within them. Then the wisdom from above may shine through in their lives. It may be a light that helps others on their way as they walk in true harmony.