Quaker Bible Index

(Mat 17:1-8 | Mar 9:2-8 | Luk 9:28-36)

SIW 72 (Catherine Payton Phillips, 1753): The parson, observing that in our ministry, we spoke extempore, told me that he could preach extempore, and we should hear him if we pleased the next Sunday. Accordingly when the day came, we were all seated in the great cabin, and he preached without notes. His subject was the transfiguration of Christ [Mat 17:1-8], which he found a wonder–expatiated upon it as a wonder–and left it a wonder; without entering into the spirituality of the text: indeed I doubt he did not understand it.

(Mat 17:2f | Mar 9:3f | Luk 9:29f)

IP3:264 (1672): [the sure word of prophecy, 2 Pet 1:19] was undoubtedly from God, and that in a very extraordinary manner, even in Christ's presence, when Moses and Elias were with him, and God bestowing upon him honor and glory, transfiguring him before his disciples, causing his face to shine as the sun, and making his raiment white as light [Mat 17:2f ||]. And the intent of it was to give the disciples full evidence and satisfaction (for the voice was not for his sake, but for theirs), or rather that they might have a full ground, after his death and resurrection, to testify for the satisfaction and confirmation of others; for till then they were to keep it secret, v.9.

(Mat 17:5 | Mar 9:7 | Luk 9:34f)

[Other texts citing Mat 17:5: GFJN 35 (John 14:6), IP4: 243 (Heb 1:2)]

GF usually associates with Mat 11:29, e.g.:

GF4:145 (1657): And did not God say when he had raised up the prophet which Moses spoke of, that God would raise up, that the people should hear? doth not God say, this is my beloved son, hear you him in all things [Mat 17:5/Acts 3:22]? and doth not Christ say, learn of me [Mat 11:29], I am the way, the truth, and the life [John 14:6]?

GF5:114 (1675): "And," as God saith, "this is my beloved son, hear ye him [Mat 17:5]"; and as Christ saith, "learn of me [Mat 11:29]"; which is every believer's duty.

WPR 349 (1673): ...we are turned unto God's minister, Christ Jesus, who says Learn of me [Mat 11:29]: of whom God said, this is my beloved Son, hear him [Mat 17:15 ||]; & reject the ministry of man.

(Mat 17:9 | Mar 9:9)

IP3:264: [Mat 17:9, see under Mat 17:2f]

(Mat 17:20 | Luk 17:6)

GF3:338 (1659): Christ saith, "He that hath faith as a grain of mustard seed, shall remove mountains" [Mat 17:20], and is not that perfect?

JN1:156 (1653): ...thou dost profess a thing without thee, and thy heart is full of deceit, and no faith at all, no not so much as a grain of mustard seed [Mat 17:20], and a grain of mustard seed is but a little thing to the outward eye; but thou art proud Lucifer who art mounted up with thy knowledge; when thou art thrown down thou shalt see that thou hast no faith [Isa 14:12-15; margin: Gal 3:7].

IP3:446f (1670): Oh! that thou wert acquainted with the pure, eternal power of the Lord, and mightest feel his outstretched arm [Deut 26:8] revealed in thee, and witness the faith which stands in that power [1 Cor 2:5]; and, in that faith, believe and wait for what God is doing, and willing to do, in and for his children. [quotes Luk 17:6] Indeed, the true faith, the pure faith, the living faith, which stands in the power, doth remove all the mountains that are in the way [Mat 17:20], and makes the crooked ways straight, and the rough ways plain [Isa 40:4].

(Mat 17:21 | Mar 9:29)

JWJM 248: "This kind goeth not out but by prayer" [Mat 17:21, Epigraph to chap 7 of A Plea for the Poor]

(Mar 9:22f)

JN2:283 (1655): As to thy telling of demonstrating the Spirit to a natural capacity, I say, to them that can believe we can; for such only are capable, and to them only it is possible [margin: Mar 9:22f]. But ... Christ himself could not demonstrate himself to be the light of the world [John 8:12], to such as thee, who would not believe aught in them above nature....

(Mat 18:3 | cf Mar 10:15 | Luk 18:17)

[other texts citing Mat 18:3: GF4:167 (under Mat 13:44-46), MFU 198 (Gen 2:17), IP3:178 (Luk 19:17), WPR 639 (Mat 5:5)]

WDS 265f (1688): there is a life hid with Christ in God [Col 3:3], but I can never have it, till I be slain into the will of God, and become as a little child [Mat 18:3], and be stripped of all my own excellency that I have attained.... [more]

IP2:327 (1663): Where the power ariseth in any heart; what becomes of man, with all that springs from him? Where is his wisdom? Where is his former worship? What becomes of all his forms of religion? Do they not all moulder and come to nothing, and he become as a little child [Mat 18:3], to be formed again in the power of life, and born of the Spirit of life [John 3:5-8], that he may enter into God's kingdom?

WTG 374 (Ann Moore, 1778): it arose in my mind to desire [a family mourning death of children] to consider their happy state, and that we must be converted and become as little children before we can enter the kingdom of heaven [Mat 18:3].

(Mat 18:6 | Mar 9:42 | Luk 17:2)

JN2:54 (1655): I say to such a magistrate, ... that it had been better for thee that a millstone had been hanged about thy neck and thou cast into the sea, than to have been one of the number that has risen to oppose the kingdom of Christ and to offend his little ones [Mat 18:6 ||], though all thou canst do shall not hinder his work.

EQ 523 (Robert Barclay, 1676): If it be reckoned so great a crime to offend one of the little ones, that it were better for him that so did, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea [Mat 18:6], without question to offend and gainsay the whole flock, must be more criminal, and must draw after it a far deeper judgment.

(Mat 18:7 | Luk 17:1)

[Other texts citing Mat 18:7: GF8:62 (Mat 5:9), MFU 166f (Rom 4:7), IP3:503 (Mat 11:6)]

GF7:60(1653): Take heed that none of you walk by imitation of others only. For though the way they walk in be good to them who are in the light, yet thou art in darkness, and knowest not whither thou goest [John 12:35], nor canst ever receive any strength from God to carry thee on in the way, nor reward for it; and thy fellowship is not with God in that way, but with men, and in this way thou canst not be cleansed, but in the end thy labour will be lost. And of this sort are they that turn back, and speak evil of the way of God [Acts 19:9], when the way of God they never came into, nor his life, peace, and power; that is a way they never knew [Isa 59:9]. By these the offence comes, and the stumbling block, whereby many are offended: but wo to such by whom the offence comes [Mat 18:7]!

(Mat 18:9 | Mar 9:47)

IP2:304 (1662): O my friends, my friends! that that eye might once be blinded in you which hinders the sight of God; and the eye opened which beholds his glory, and also taketh pleasure in his lowest appearance.... Your right eye must be put out (which will never cease offending you [Mat 18:9], and causing you to stumble, as long as it is able to see) and all your knowledge which ye hold out of the life become as dross and dung [Phil 3:8] to you, if ever ye taste and enjoy the excellency and glory of this appearance of God in his eternal spirit....

(Mar 9:34)

JN1:122 (1653): It is above sixteen hundred years since those [deceivers and hypocrites] were foretold, and they have had so long a time since to broach their deceits and strengthen themselves in the earth, that the deceit is now grown a monster and hath got many heads and horns [Rev 13:1]; religions and forms one at war with another, striving with words and weapons, who should be greatest [Mar 9:34].

(Mar 9:44, 46, 48) [cf Isa 66:24]

JWJM 252f: ...if we consider that such who are finally possessed with this selfish spirit not only afflict others but are afflicted themselves and have no real quietness in this life nor in futurity, but according to the saying of Christ have their portion in that uneasy condition "where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" [Mar 9:44,46, 48]; under all these circumstances how terrible does this selfishness appear?

(Mar 9:49)

[Other texts citing Mar 9:49: GF2:317 (1 Pet 2:5)].

(Mar 9:50)

[Other texts citing Mar 9:50: GF7:90 (under Mat 11:29), GF7:177 (John 15:15), GF8:15 (John 6:35), GF8:43 (Rom 5:1), GF8: 213 (Jude 1:6)]

GF7:29 (1652): Have salt in yourselves [Mark 9:50], and let your words be few [Eccl 5:2] and seasoned [Col 4:6], that they may be savoury.

GF8:58 (1674): And have salt in yourselves, that you may savour withal; and that your salt lose not its savour [Mark 9:50], through which you may be kept from under the feet of men, though they that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer [2 Tim 3:12] persecution.

GF8: 213 (1682): And therefore have salt in yourselves [Mark 9:50], and oil in your own lamps [Mat 25:1-10), and keep in your own houses [Jude 1:6] (for it is the whore that abideth not in her own house [Prov 7:11], with the word of life [1 Jn 1:1], and grace, and truth [Jn 1:14] within....

JWJM 40 (found posthumously among writings of JW’s sister Elizabeth): O Lord that I may be acquainted with they presence, that I may be seasoned with thy salt, that thy grace may abound in me [Mar 9:50 / Col 4:6].

(Mat 18:10)

JSS 21f: The natural man, the mere creature, as the work of God, is a created being; he never saw God, cannot know him, nor receive the testimony respecting the mystical union and sonship; but the babe, the begotten, that with a true and living knowledge of its sonship, cries Abba, Father [Gal 4:6], both sees and knows the Father, and receives the heavenly testimony. For Christ, speaking of this mystery says, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you, that in heaven, their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven [Mat 18:10]." And again, calling them sheep, he says, "My sheep hear my voice," etc. [John 10:27]. Thus they receive his testimony, but will not receive that of a stranger [John 10:5].

(Mat 18:12f | Luk 15:4-6)

GF8:11f (1669): And all ye believers in the heavenly light [John 12:36], as Christ hath taught, you seek that which is lost and driven away [Ezek 34:16]; but the false prophets, false ministers, and teachers [2 Pet 2:1], they did not seek that which was lost, and driven away from God; they put no difference between the precious and the vile [Jer 15:19], but mash all together, like the priests and prophets of our times. . . . Therefore seek that which is lost, ye that believe in the light . . . for Jacob was found in a desert land [Deut 32:9f], and you see all the prophets, how they sought that which was lost, and the apostles, and how Christ encouraged to seek that which was lost. And when the lost sheep was found, what joy there was, more than of the ninety and nine [Mat 18:12f].

MFU 447f (1687): I desire the Lord to guide you and direct you how to do, so as to preserve your child to God, that she be not utterly cast away from the Lord and his truth.... Use your endeavour to gain and recover what is lost, and remember him that left the ninety and nine and went to seek that which was lost and brought it home and rejoiced more over it than over all the rest [Mat 18:12f ||]; and consider though she hath done evil she might have done worse...

(Luk 15:7)

JWJM 186 [aftermath of dream, 1772]: ...I lay still for a time, and at length I felt divine power prepare my mouth that I could speak, and then I said, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ that liveth in me, [quotes rest of Gal 2:20]." Then the mystery was opened, and I perceived there was joy in heaven over a sinner who had repented [Luk 15:7] and that that language John Woolman is dead meant no more than the death of my own will.

(Mat 18:15-18)

EQ 523 (Robert Barclay, 1676): [quotes and summarizes Mat 18:15-18] ... The Church, gathering, or assembly of God's people has the power to examine, and call to an account such as, ... owning the same faith with them, do transgress; and in case of their refusing to hear, or repent, to exclude them from their fellowship. And ... God hath a special regard to the judgment and sense of his people, thus orderly proceeding; so as to hold such bound in heaven, whom they bind on earth, and such loosed in heaven, whom they loose on earth....

SBD 72 (1750): ...if thee is at any time informed of ought concerning any Friend that may injure his character, first enquire whether such an informer has given such a one gospel order... [editor’s note: "Gospel order" as here used refers to the steps recommended in Mat 18:15-18 when one Christian disagrees with another.]

(Mat 18:15-17)

GF7:339, GFEJ 249f (1669): Now concerning gospel-order: though the doctrine of Jesus Christ [Mat 18:15-17] requireth his people to admonish a brother or sister twice, before they tell the church, let that limiteth none, so that they shall use no longer forbearance, before they tell the church, but that they shall not less than twice admonish their brother or sister before they tell the church. And it is desired of all, that before they publicly complain, they wait in the power of God to feel, if there is no more required of them to their brother or sister, before they expose him or her to the church: let this be weightily considered.
      And further, when the church is told, and the party admonished by the church again and again, and he or they remain still insensible and unreconciled, let not final judgment go forth against him or her, till every one of the meeting have cleared his or her conscience; that if any thing be upon any further to visit such a transgressor, they may clear themselves, that if possible the party may be reached and saved. And after all are clear of the blood of such an one [Ezek 3:17-21], let the judgment of Friends in the power of God go forth against him or her, as moved, for the Lord's honour and glory's sake, that no reproach may come or rest upon God's holy name, truth, and people.

(Mat 18:15)

[Other texts citing Mat 18:15: GF8:65 (under Mat 13:29), GF8:212f (Gen 3:14), WDS 304 (Mat 7:3-5)]

GF7:114 (1656): Friends, do not judge one another [Rom 14:13] in meetings, ye that do minister in the meetings; for your so doing hath hurt the people, both within and without, and yourselves under their judgment ye have brought. And your judging one another in the meetings hath emboldened others to quarrel, and judge you also in the meetings. And this hath been all out of order, and the church order also. Now, if ye have any thing to say to any, stay till the meeting be done, and then speak to them in private between yourselves [Mat 18:15], and do not lay open one another's weakness; for that is weakness and not wisdom to do so. For your judging one another in meetings hath almost destroyed some Friends, and distracted them. And this is for want of love that beareth all things [1 Cor 13:7]; and therefore let it be amended.

(Mat 18:16)

[Other texts citing Mat 18:16: GF6: 359 (1 Jn 5:7f)]

(Mat 18:17)

GF7:254 (1664): And the apostles, and the true church in the primitive times, before the apostacy, that were in the spirit of Christ [Rom 8:9] Jesus, walked in the doctrine of Christ, and his commands, and did not persecute any about religion, nor imprison among themselves, nor others about religion, though they had ordinances and commands amongst them for the utmost; and if they rejected the churches counsel, they were to be left as heathen, which was the utmost penalty [Mat 18:17]. ... Now here is a distinction betwixt the spirit of Christ, and the spirit of fallen men; for that which man's fallen spirit sets up, which he hath invented, if others will not fall down to it, and worship it, he persecutes them.

IP4:285 (1675?) Christ said concerning that brother that would not hear the church, that he should be looked upon as a heathen or a publican [Mat 18:17]; and are such as will not be reconciled to the church, nor hear it, allowed by God to minister, either to gather into the church, or to build up in it? Ah! surely it cannot be. There can be no true ministering out of the life and Spirit of the body, or church that is in God [1-2 Th 1:1]. And all such as have gone out from God in whom the church is, have ministered against the life, Spirit, and power, but not in it; but in antichrist's spirit and power, and against the truth.

(Mat 18:17f)

IP4:286 (1675?): After Christ had said, "Tell the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man or a publican;" doth he not immediately add, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"? Mat 18:17-18. Is not this power and authority necessary to the true church? What! a church, and not have power over her own members; but every one left to the dictates of what they shall call the light within, and not be subject to the judgment of the true light, Spirit, and power of Christ, the head of the living body? What a church was this? A mere Babel [Gen 11:1-9], and heap of confusion, a body that would never be at unity with itself.

(Mat 18:18)

[Other texts citing Mat 18:18: HPS 177 (under Luk 5:21)]

GF7:70 (1653): Arm yourselves like men of war; the mighty power of God goes along with you, to enable you to stand over all the world, and (spiritually) to chain, to fetter, to bind, and to imprison, and to lead out of prison [Mat 18:18?]; to famish, to feed, and to make fat, and to bring into green pastures.

DFR 95: [quotes Mat 18:18] And he was there treating particularly of the discipline of the Church. And it is clearly supposed, in that text, that the Church, in transacting the affairs thereof, do it purely by the direction of Divine Wisdom: otherwise that would not be the consequence, that what they bound on Earth should be bound in Heaven, and so on the contrary.

(Mat 18:20)

[Other texts citing Mat 18:20: GF6:482 (under Rev 1:12f), GF7:173 (Mat 12:30), GF8:15 (John 6:35), GF8:77 (Rev 1:18), GF8:56 (Rev 13:2f), GF8:254f , IP4:290 (Mat 11:29), RBA 323 (Heb 10:24-26), WPR 624 (Heb 10:25)]

GFJN 564 (1670): [the Second Conventicle Act (1670) forbade meetings of more than five persons.] Then the mayor very lovingly said, "... Seeing that Christ hath promised that where two or three are met in his name, he will be in the midst of them [Mat 18:20], ... why will not you be content to partake both of Christ's promise of two or three and the King's indulgence to four?" Unto which I answered that Christ's promise was not to discourage many from meeting together in his name, but to encourage the few, that the fewest might not forbear to meet, because of their fewness.

GF8:193 (to Friends captive in Algiers, 1682): Dear friends,—I understand by a letter from a Friend, a captive amongst you, dated the 20th of the 10th month, 1681, that you have a meeting there in Algiers of about twenty. I am glad to hear you meet; and it is very well, that you have so much liberty from your patrons; and my desire is, that the Lord may preserve you all, that do meet in the name of Jesus [Mat 18:20], that in your lives, and conversations, and words, you may preach righteousness, and holiness, and godliness, and the life of truth; so that you may answer the spirit of God, both in the Turks and Moors, and the rest of the captives; that God's city may be set upon the holy hill there, which cannot be hid [Mat 5:14]; but that all may see it with the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world [John 1:9].

GFT 73f (1674): ... the Serpent who is the head of all mischief, of all false prophets, of all false worship, and churches, and ways, and gatherings which gather together, "but not by me," saith the Lord [Isa 54:15]: those will be scattered. But those that gather in the name of Jesus [Mat 18:20], that is, in his power, in salvation–that is, in joy and comfort; that is, in peace: there Friends can sit in the peace, in the Seed when they sit there, that is, on top of the head of the false seed [Gen 3:15].

JN2:400 (Thomas Biddle, 1655): [Query:] What and where that word is that people should hear behind them saying, This is the way, walk in it, when they turn to the right hand or the left [Isa 30:21]; and where that Teacher is that shall be removed no more into corners [Isa 30:20], but shall be in the midst of them [Mat 18:20]; and whether we may look for that word in these days?

IP4:427 (1679): They gather together in the Son's name (in his living name, oh, wait to understand that!). And there the Son is in the midst of them [Mat 18:20], and his life and Spirit intercedes in them [Rom 8:26]....

WTG 107f (Susanna Morris, 1753): [it] was a cross to some with me that we could not get a convenient time for to sit awhile together for to wait on the Lord for to renew our strength [Isa 40:31], as blessed be his great name for two or three of us are comforted in such opportunities [Mat 18:20], although not a vocal word spoken with any of us.

WTG 213 (Elizabeth Hudson, 1750): after a turn around a pleasant walk we entered a summer house, and sat down even the two or three, as in the presence of the Lord who was pleased to appear in the midst of us [Mat 18:20]....

(Mat 18:21f | Luk 17:4)

DFR 97 (1768): [discussion of church discipline] Now it is very likely, that the great part of those who make profession with us are unsound in judgment, and will be more likely to take the part of those who are in error, and plead the cause of the transgressor, than to stand faithful in the cause of Truth. As to forgiving those that trespass against us seven times in a day [Mat 18:21f]; it has no relation to the common transgressions against the Truth: but only to such as use us ill, in some respect or other, either in our person, character, or interest. Our Saviour in that place, set forth, how ready we ought to be to pass by such offenses that are committed against our selves, and not to be of a vindictive temper, but tender hearted, and of a forgiving disposition. But with respect to the common transgressors, we have no right to accept any thing from them, as satisfaction, until we are satisfied the offerer is come to a true sight ofhis misconduct, and to sorrow of heart for his transgressions, to repentance and amendment of life. Then we may expect Divine approbation of our doings.

(Mat 18:23-35)

WPR 469: In short, Protestancy is a restoring to every man his just right of inquiry and choice.... But now let us Protestants examine, if we have not departed from this sobriety, this Christian temperance? how comes it, that we who have been forgiven much, have ourselves fallen upon our fellow servants, who yet owes us nothing? Have we not refused them this reasonable choice? Have we not threatened, beaten, and imprisoned them? [Mat 18:23-35]

(Mat 18:28-30)

JN2:77: [Mat 18:28-30, see under Mat 10:17f]

(Luk 9:54-56)

Other texts citing Luk 9:54-56: IP1:380 (Mat 8:34), WPR 242 (Mat 26:52)

GF4:224 (1660): Christ ... rebuked the blind zeal of such that would have had fire come down from heaven to consume people, and told them he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, and told them they did not know what spirit they were of [Luk 9:54-56]: no more now do they know what spirit they are of, that persecute men about religion, church, and worship, and ministry, that slays and destroy's men's lives, and not saves them; they are not of Christ's mind....

IP1:370 (1660): [Opponent:] That a regular defence of the truth by the godly orthodox magistrate ... is not persecution. Ans. To bring the sword of the magistrate [Rom 13:4] into the work of Christ's spirit and power, this is irregular; and it doth execution irregularly, cutting down the person, and not the sin; whereas, the sword of the Spirit [Eph 6:17] cuts down sin, that the person may be saved. Christ came not to destroy men's lives, but to save; and if any man receive him not, or speak against him, he calls not for fire from heaven [Luk 9:54-56], or for a magistrate's sword, but waits to be gracious [Isa 30:18], and by the power of his Spirit (having once convinced and gathered) doth he defend his truths and people.

RBA 411f (1678, XIV.2): ... it cannot be denied that [Christ] could, if he had seen meet, have called for legions of angels to defend him [Mat 26:53], and have forced the princes and potentates of the earth to be subject unto him, so that it was only because it was contrary to the nature of Christ's gospel and ministry to use any force or violence in the gathering of souls to him. This he abundantly expressed in his reproof to the sons of Zebedee, who would have been calling for fire from heaven to burn those that refused to receive Christ [Luk 9:54-56]. [extensive discussion]

(Luk 9:55)

[Other texts citing Luk 9:55: JN1:297 (Mat 7:4f)]

GF5:204 (1675): ...the blind zeal wrestles with carnal weapons [2 Cor 10:4], against flesh and blood [Eph 6:11], with the beast's mark in their forehead and right hand [Rev 13:16], and with the dark power's strength in a notion and outside profession, without the power and spirit of the prophets, Christ and the apostles, and such do not know what spirit they are of [Luk 9:55], neither have they rule over their own spirits; but are like unto a city whose walls are broken down [Prov 25:28], that is on heaps....

IP1:164f (1659): There are many men, who are very zealous and devout in their ways of worship, who ... have received into their understandings, from the letter of scripture, that God is to be worshipped in spirit [John 4:23f], and that God will give his spirit to them that ask it [Luk 11:13]. They have asked, and they hope that they have the spirit; but poor, deceived hearts! they know not what spirit they are of [Luk 9:55], nor in what spirit they act, nor what spirit they serve; and so perish for lack of knowledge [Hos 4:6], the key whereof hath been hid from them.

HPS 183 (Katharine Evans and Sarah Chevers, prisoners of the Inquisition, 1662): Upon the first day of the week, we were fasting and waiting upon the Lord until the second hour (after mid-day) and the friars came and commanded us in the name of the Lord to kneel down with them to prayer. We said, we could not pray but as we were moved of the Lord. They commanded us the second time. Then they kneeled down by our bedside, and prayed, and when they had done, they said, they had tried our spirits [1 Jn 4:1], now they knew what spirit we were of [Luk 9:55]. We told them, they could not know our spirit, unless their minds were turned to the Light of Lord Jesus in their consciences.

(Luk 9:56)

[Other texts citing Luk 9:56: GF6:53 (under Mat 12:31f), IP4:32f (Rom 2:4), WPR 139f (John 8:44)]

GFJN 357 (1659): All that pretend to fight for Christ they are deceived, for his kingdom is not of this world, therefore his servants do not fight [John 18:36]. Therefore fighters are not of Christ's kingdom, but are without Christ's kingdom; for his kingdom stands in peace and righteousness [Rom 14:17], but fighters are in the lust [Jas 4:1], and all that would destroy men's lives are not of Christ's mind, who came to save men's lives [Luk 9:56]....

IP4:97 (1671): "As I live, saith the Lord," (and he speaketh his heart) "I desire not the death of the wicked, but rather that they might return and live [Ezek 33:11]. I am not the destroyer, I am the Saviour; and my delight is not to destroy, but to save [Luk 9:56]. O Israel! thy destruction is of thyself; but in me is thy help [Hos 13:9]." And no man's blood will lie at God's door, but at his own.

EQ 125 (John Whitehead et al, 1660): And here we do appeal to the witness of God in you all [1 Jn 5:9f], professors and people, whether the professors in New England have not acted quite contrary to God imprisoning, scourging, banishing and killing those that tremble at his Word [Isa 66:5].... Again we say, let the witness of God in you judge, whether they have not acted directly contrary to Christ in destroying men's lives. seeing he comes not to destroy men's lives but to save men's lives [Luk 9:56]....

(Mat 8:19 | Luk 9:57)

WTG 342 (Ann Moore, 1760): O Lord! If thou wilt be pleased to go with me, I will go when and where thou pleases [Mat 8:19]

(Mat 8:20 | Luk 9:58)

GF2:254 (1682): In him sit down [Eph 2:6], who is above the subtle foxes in their holes, and the fowls of the air in their nests; I say, sit down in Christ, who hath no place among them to lay his head [Mat 8:20 | Luk 9:58]; he is your rest.

JN1:490 (1655): Christ wandered up and down and had not whereon to lay his head [Mat 8:20 | Luk 9:58], and many followed him. And the apostles wandered to and fro and had "no certain dwelling place" [1 Cor 4:11]. Now had you lived in their days you would have reproached them, as you do those that follow them now, and so here I charge you to be acted by a contrary spirit to Christ, the prophets and apostles.

JSS 36 (17–): ...truly the son of man, swaddled and laid in the manger [Luke 2:7], scarce finding where to lay his head [Mat 8:20]

(Mat 8:22 | Luk 9:60)

WPR 133 (1673): Oh, that the cross of Christ may evermore be precious among you. And you, whom the Lord of late hath more particularly extended his loving kindness unto, leave the dead to bury their dead [Mat 8:22 | Luk 9:60]; part with all that you may have eternal life [Mat 19:16,21]....

(Luk 9:62)

[Other texts citing Luke 9:62: GF7:73 (under Jas 4:4), IP3:431 (Mat 13:44-46), EQ 238 (Mat 10:37)

WTG 68 (Susanna Morris, 1745): would willingly have turned back into England again, but when I got to be truly still, found no peace in looking back [Luk 9:62].

SIW 45 (Lydia Rawlinson Lancaster, 1755): [expresses wish] that the ministry, which the bishop of souls [1 Pet 2:25] hath raised among us, may be kept blameless, thriving and truly honorable, and that none who have put their hand to the plough may look from the work whereunto they are called [Luk 9:62] through any creaturely and worldly consultations....