To All the Nations
Stuart Masters continues his series on early Quaker tracts and pamphlets. This week he considers To All the Nations under the Whole Heavens by George Fox.
The opponents of early Friends often wrote lurid accounts of charismatic behaviour taking place within their Meetings in order to portray the movement as an outrageous and dangerous example of religious enthusiasm. Initially, therefore, the label ‘Quaker’ was given to Friends as a term of abuse. In response to this, early Quaker leaders felt the need to defend the practice of quaking. One example is George Fox’s 1660 tract To All the Nations under the Whole Heavens. Using examples drawn from the Bible, he argues that, throughout history, the true people of God have always quaked and trembled in the power of the Lord and that those who condemn quaking do not truly know God. Below is a simple summary of Fox’s message:
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