by Robert Barclay
For not a few have come to be convinced of the Truth after this manner, of which I myself, in a part, am a true witness, who not by strength of arguments or by a particular disquisition of each doctrine and convincement of my understanding thereby, came to receive and bear witness of the Truth, but by being secretly reached by this Life: For when I came into the silent assemblies of God’s people I felt a secret power among them which touched my heart. And as I gave way unto it, I found the evil weakening in me and the good raised up, and so I became thus knit and united unto them, hungering more and more after the increase of this Power and Life whereby I might feel myself perfectly redeemed.
And indeed this is the surest way to become a Christian, to whom afterwards the knowledge and understanding of principles will not be wanting but will grow up so much as is needful, as the natural fruit of this good root, and such a knowledge will not be barren nor unfruitful after this manner.
Though thousands should be convinced in their understandings of all the truths we maintain, yet if they were not sensible of this inward Life, and their souls not changed from unrighteousness to righteousness, they could add nothing to us. For this is that cement whereby we are joined “as to the Lord,” so to one another, and without this none can worship with us. Yea if such should come among us and from that understanding and convincement they have of the Truth speak ever so true things, and utter them forth with ever so much excellency of speech, if this Life were wanting it would not edify us at all but be as “sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1).
From his Apology for True Christian Divinity, Proposition 11 (On Worship), Section VII. Retrieved from Quaker Heritage Press. Quoted in the Book of
Christian Discipline of the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Britain.