The People Called Quakers

AN EPISTLE TO THE READER.


Reader, this following account of the people called Quakers, &c. was
written in the fear and love of God: first, as a standing testimony to
that ever blessed truth in the inward parts, with which God, in my
youthful time, visited my soul, and for the sense and love of which I was
made willing, in no ordinary way, to relinquish the honours and interests
of the world. Secondly, as a testimony for that despised people, that
God has in his great mercy gathered and united by his own blessed Spirit
in the holy profession of it; whose fellowship I value above all worldly
greatness. Thirdly, in love and honour to the memory of that worthy
servant of God, George Fox, the first instrument thereof, and therefore
styled by me--The great and blessed apostle of our day. As this gave
birth to what is here presented to thy view, in the first edition of it,
by way of preface to George Fox's excellent Journal; so the consideration
of the present usefulness of the following account of the people called
Quakers, by reason of the unjust reflections of some adversaries that
once walked under the profession of Friends, and the exhortations that
conclude it, prevailed with me to consent that it should be republished
in a smaller volume; knowing also full well, that great books, especially
in these days, grow burthensome, both to the pockets and minds of too
many; and that there are not a few that desire, so it be at an easy rate,
to be informed about this people, that have been so much every where
spoken against: but blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, it is upon no worse grounds than it was said of old time of the
primitive Christians, as I hope will appear to every sober and
considerate reader. Our business, after all the ill usage we have met
with, being the realities of religion, an effectual change before our
last and great change: that all may come to an inward, sensible, and
experimental knowledge of God, through the convictions and operations of
the light and spirit of Christ in themselves; the sufficient and blessed
means given to all, that thereby all may come savingly to know the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to enlighten and redeem the
world: which knowledge is indeed eternal life. And that thou, reader,
mayst obtain it, is the earnest desire of him that is ever thine in so
good a work.

WILLIAM PENN.