Isaac Pennington (Quaker)

Isaac Penington (1616–1679) was one of the early members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in England. He wrote about the Quaker movement and was an influential promoter and defender of it. The Universal Light Give over thine own willing, give over thy own running, give over thine own desiring to know or be anything and sink down to the seed which God sows in the heart, and let that grow in thee and be in thee and breathe in thee and act in thee; and thou shalt find by sweet experience that the Lord knows that and loves and owns that, and will lead it to the inheritance of Life, which is its portion. Isaac Penington, 1661 O Silent Meeting . O Silent Meeting, starting with a sigh Of helpless awaiting for God's Presence there, Each one alone, together sit, and I Of my own breathing in and out aware. The breath of God doth move within my heart As surely in, and out, as that of me. The Seed there needs to breathe if it's to start To grow, to act within my life, to be As breathing can't in life be hurried much, So, too, the Seed will take its breathing space. And, giving over will, desire, and such I wait, expectant, bound to time and place. Our mingled breathings fertilize the Seed, And help us grow from Inward Light to deed. Our life Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand.Isaac Penington, Aylesbury, 4th of Third Month, 1667 to Friends in Amersham On the Breaking of Peace “It is not the different practice from one another that breaks the Peace and Unity, but judging of one another because of differing practices.”― Isaac PeningtonOn the Leadership of God "Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life." Advices and Queries no. 1On Truth All Truth is a shadow except the last, except the utmost; yet every Truth is true in its kind. It is substance in its own place, though it be but a shadow in another place (for it is but a reflection from an intenser substance); and the shadow is a true shadow, as the substance is a true substance.Isaac Penington, 1653''