Excerpt from The Works of the Long-Mournful and Sorely-Distressed Isaac Penington, Whom the Lord, in His Tender Mercy, at Length Visited and Relieved by the Ministry of That Despised People Call'd Quakers, Vol. 4: And in the Springings of That Light, Life, and Holy Power in Him, Which They Had Truly and Faithfully Testified Of, and Directed His Mind To, Were These Things Written
Now there is fomewhat revealed of God, of his own nature, power, and Spirit, wherein we have met with him. To this we invite, of this we' (peak, con cerning this we teltify, as being that which the Father will honour, and wherein he hath and will appear. It is a poor, weak, low thing to confider of, or behold with the eye and underftanding of man; but there is the riches, the glory, the life, the ri'ghteoufnefs, the peace, the joy, the everlafiing power of the kingdom, wit; and to them that receive it in the demonftration of God's Spirit, and in the love of it, it is'the wifdoni of God and his power to the redemption and falvation of their fouls. Indeed of all the wife builders (out, of the true fenfe and power) it is rejected at this day, ' as it always was old; but to us who are called of, God, taught by him, who have received an tmdera fianding from im, &c. We know the value of that which comes from him, being infirueted by him not, to judge according to the a pearance, but t the righteous judgment}. An in the righteous JU ment, ' in the balance of the fanetuary, w;e.find fl little defpifed light to be elecft and precious, even the foundation-bone, the corner-ftone, and the top-it'one of the building of God. And this we tefiify to men in true ilo'veyand from certain knowledge and expe ricuce which'we have'received frotri'hirn'that is true: and hold in: him that is true.
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Isaac Penington was one of the early members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Penington was the oldest son of Isaac Penington, a Puritan who had served as the Lord Mayor of London. Penington married a widow named Mary Springett and they had five children. Penington's stepdaughter Gulielma Springett married William Penn. Convinced that the Quaker faith was true, Penington and his wife joined the Friends in 1657 or 1658. Penington became an influential promoter and defender of the Quaker movement, writing extensively on many topics. His writings are prized for their insightful and eloquent exploration of spiritual experience. While read in bulk they can seem repetitious, there is much that is eloquent, moving, and deeply insightful. His Letters have been read continuously within Quakerism for their spiritual counsel, and they deserve to be read more widely within Christianity. His complete works were first published in 1681. They are still in print today and can also be read online.
Penington became an influential promoter and defender of the Quaker movement, publishing several books about it. He was imprisoned six times for his beliefs, starting in 1661. Sometimes the charge was refusal to take an oath. Taking an oath was something that Friends were against doing (see Testimony of Integrity). Refusing to take an oath was prohibited by the Quaker Act of 1662. At other times Penington was charged with attending a Quaker meeting, which was forbidden by the Conventicle Act of 1664.
Penington's wife, Mary, was a remarkable woman in her own right. Her daughter Gulielma, from her first marriage, to Sir WIlliam Springett (who died young), became the first wife of WIlliam Penn.
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