CHAPTER XIX 



FOTHERGILL AS A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS 



Faithful Christian ! Seek the truth, hearken to the truth, learn 

 the truth, hold the truth, defend the truth, even unto death ; for the 

 truth will make thee free from sin, and finally from everlasting death. 

 JOHN Hus, about 1410. 



Awake to a sense of the holy principle of light, life and grace to an 

 obedience to it, to a knowledge of its blessed effects : this is the one 

 thing needful. Dr. J. FOTHERGILL, 1776. 



The phenomena which belong to the region of the spirit can be 

 interpreted only through the medium of the spirit. Lord HALDANE. 



JOHN FOTHERGILL was a sober, thoughtful, spiritually- 

 minded Friend from his youth, suspicious of enthusiasm 

 and of a reverent spirit. He would refer sometimes to a 

 " Power whose great name I am not worthy to mention." 

 " Be short in supplication," he writes to his brother, 

 " use no words not in common use. The ineffable 

 majesty of heaven is enough to dazzle all human concep- 

 tions, yet the ' Our Father which art in heaven ' is indeed 

 a complete model. Stray from its simplicity as seldom 

 as possible." " Plain simple truth," he writes again, 

 " needs little decoration : it strikes the mind disposed 

 to receive it more forcibly than the greatest eloquence." 

 His own life was based upon the habit of quiet communion 

 of spirit with the Divine, and close obedience to a tender 

 conscience. His advice to a niece is but a reflex of his 

 own mind. " When the gentle whispers of divine good- 

 will call thee to inward retirement whilst thy hand 

 perhaps is employed in necessary duties, yield to the holy 

 visitation, embrace it, and always keep an eye and ear 

 open to this secret instruction. So wilt thou be led to 



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