Page:A Beacon to the Society of Friends.djvu/24

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EXTRACTS FROM A DECLARATION.

within the hope of glory; but it was not that outward Jesus Christ that was the hope of glory." Quaker, vol. I. p. 164.

"Oh, dearly beloved friends, young and old, may you gather deeper and deeper to that which is within the veil, where we may have access to our God without any mediator." Ibid, vol. II. p. 277.

The preceeding selections have all been taken from the discourses of Elias Hicks.


Edward Hicks, at the Green-street meeting, says, "I ask then the question, how did he [Jesus Christ] leave the bosom of his Father? Can we form no other idea than that of a corporeal being, leaving a located place, somewhere above the clouds, and coming down to this earth? Is this the coming into the world that is meant? I want us to go deeper—to come to the spirituality of these things, and to recognize a spiritual saviour, rather than an outward and corporeal one. Because it is only a spiritual one that can save us from sin. That animal body that appeared at Jerusalem, had its use and day, but the spirit that was clothed upon by the fulness of divine power, this was the Saviour—this is the Saviour to whom I look for salvation, and not by any means to any thing outward or corporeal." Ibid, vol. II. p. 151.

This declaration corresponds with others which we have quoted, and is a virtual denial that Jesus Christ who appeared at Jerusalem, is the Saviour of men. The term animal body, used to designate our Lord, is irreverent and unbecoming a creature dependent upon him for salvation.

The Berean says, "In what manner then, or by