A TREATISE ON FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, IN WHICH ARE ILLUSTRATED THE PROFESSION, MINISTRY, WORSHIP, AND FAITH OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. BY JESSE KERSEY. PRINTED BY JOSEPH PAINTER. WEST CHESTER, PA. ADVERTISEMENT. THE following Treatise on the Fundamental Doctrine of the Christian Religion, after an examination by the Meeting for Sufferings in Philadelphia, was first published in the year 1815. The author, now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, in accordance with the opinions of a number of his friends, has believed that a new edition of the work would be attended with important advantages.He has therefore, been induced to republish the work with a few verbal corrections, and a marginal note. He also adds an essay expressive of his views upon the subject of conscience, which he considers to be of importance to the better understanding of the subject, especially among the rising generation. He offers the present impression to the public, and wishes it distinctly understood, that he alone stands responsible for the new matter introduced into the work, without implicating the society therein. JESSE KERSEY. 12th Mo. 1842. 686 Fri Ruit 18420 ANDOVER-HARVARDY THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY CAMBRIDGE. IS. INTRODUCTION. THE society of Friends, who were in derision called Quakers, because they exhorted their persecutors to fear and tremble at the word of God, appeared in the seventeenth century. At that time there were many in England who were not satisfied with the opinions and forms of worship which were held by the different religious societies then existing. It appeared to them that the life and spirit of Christianity were much wanting, and that many formal ceremonies which were connected with the various systems of worship, had been introduced, and stood in the place of the substance. Hence, they may be considered as waiting and looking for some further and more confident ground of faith, than they conceived was to be met with among the associated professors of Christianity.George Fox was one of this description: and being early in life awakened to see the sinful state of the world, had many serious considerations excited in his mind; these he cherished, and was gradually brought to understand the nature and design of the Gospel dispensation. It would exceed the bounds allotted to this work, were I to give the history of this plain but able advocate of vital religion. The reader may become acquainted with it by recurring to his own account contained in a journal of his life, which he has left behind him. Early after he came forth in the ministry, many embraced the truth to which he bore testimony, and a society was formed in England, who were known to each other by the name of Friends. Many were the persecutions and sufferings to which this community were exposed. An account of them may be read either in Sewel's or Gough's history. A fundamental and primary object in the infancy of the society was, to turn the attention of the people from outward forms and dependencies, to the light of Christ in themselves. This Divine light they confidently maintained was universal; that every man was enlightened by it; and that until mankind should conform to it, their claim to true religion had no solid foundation in Christianity. When they became distinguished as a people, many accusations were raised against them, in order to prejudice their religious profession in the view of others. Such accusations were generally met by them with suitable explanations. In the course of these occurrences and controversies, they occasionally stated the reasons for their dissent from others; but as such reasons were diffused among their controversial writings, no regular system or description of their belief for some time appeared. At length Robert Barclay was impressed with a concern to communicate to the world his opinions and judgment of the true Christian principles and doctrines of the infant society, of which he was a member; and accordingly he published the work usually known by the name of Barclay's Apology. This book the society of Friends approved. In it the reader may find a full and argumentative account of their belief concerning many of the controverted points of the Christian religion and the duties which it enjoins. But the Apology being voluminous and more adapted, in some particulars, to the time in which it was written, and also requiring a very attentive examination of all its relations and dependencies, in order fully to comprehend the views of its author; it is therefore a work which we have reason to believe is at this day not very frequently and deliberately resorted to for information. Not only strangers to the society of Friends, but many of our young people, it is believed, might be benefited by having a work more concise; and, as far as possible, adapted to the same purpose.Under these considerations, I have attempted to give a summary of the profession and belief of Friends. From the nature of the subjects which will be treated upon, some reasonings may be expected; but generally the plan will be to state the belief of the society, and to shew the correspondence of such belief with the meaning and doctrine of the holy Scriptures. The author will also occasionally enter upon controverted points, because he believes it will be unavoidable. The society of Friends are known to differ from others in their profession, as well as belief and practice, in various particulars, and in stating their doctrinal views, he will necessarily have to shew, in some instances, |