“Now, if any, in Lucifer’s nature, will hearken to that spirit which despiseth God’s church, and rend from it, and think to grow above it, and expect this growth in their high motions and comprehensions about things, in that exalted mind, should be owned by the church, they will be mistaken: for the true Spirit, which knows all things, and guides the church, will not guide the church to own any such spirit or growth; but to judge and condemn it in its greatest spreading and exaltation. View in Source Document
Source: Somewhat Relating to Church Government
Note the extent to which Penington goes to characterize the testimony of being come out of churchly forms to guide relationships and worship. For while it is true there were those who "despise" the churchly forms and who sought to force others out of such churchy worship, there were others who did experience a grow out of identification with churchy practice s worship through the direct experience of the inshining presence of the spirit of Christ in their conscience as complete in itself to role and guide. Being in this experience aid not lead them to aispise those who were in the spirit of the church or the church itself.
ReplyDelete