The Journal of George Fox

by George Fox, Rufus Matthew Jones (Editor)

George Fox's record of his life and ministry is a Christian classic. Its pages chroncile not only Fox's spiritual travial when he heard a voice that said, "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition," but his years of ministry and gathering a people for Christ who became known as the Society of Friends. Includes a glossary of words and phrases most commonly used by Fox.

Genres: Religion, Biography, History, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality

612 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.

The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war. He rebelled against the religious and political authorities by proposing an unusual and uncompromising approach to the Christian faith. He travelled throughout Britain as a dissenting preacher, for which he was often persecuted by the authorities who disapproved of his beliefs.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fox

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that Quakers were the "evangelicals" of their day. After being disillusioned by the priests and educated scholars of the day about his spiritual questions, George Fox studied the Bible and learned as God taught him. He then went around preaching to the masses that they didn't need priests in order to come to God, that the spirit of God could dwell in each one of them and teach them outside of a church building. He was imprisoned multiple times for not taking off his hat to magistrates or swearing allegiance to the king (because of Jesus' words not to swear) or for gathering with other believers who converted to his teaching and became known as Quakers. He met with Oliver Cromwell and several of the kings of England and the Netherlands, traveled to the US and the Caribbean, being met with huge crowds wherever he went. Thousands would gather to hear him speak or have him pray for them. Reading his story was like reading a more modern-day story of an apostle.

[Dara Salley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it came up on the random search on Gutenberg.org and because my mother, although she is a Lutheran, is very interested in Quakerism and has attended a few Quaker services.

It was more interesting than I anticipated. George Fox sounds pretty crazy, but you have to provide a lot of allowance for the difference in the times. As I was reading this book I am also reading “The Witches: Salem, 1692” by Stacy Schiff, which discuss Puritan religion in America at around the same time that George Fox was preaching. Overall, it seems like a very difficult time to be alive in the Western world. Religious debates were contentious and deadly. For a non-religious person, his views on swearing and grammar seem like quibbling. However, it can’t be denied that he suffered very badly for his opinions.

Through this text I learned about the origins of the Quaker religion and I learned about the religious persecution that encouraged the Quakers to migrate to the New World. The report is highly biased and it’s hard to get a picture of what was really occurring from Fox’s description. People are either on his side or going to hell in a hand basket. There seems to be little room for discussion or nuance. It would probably be more instructive to approach this topic first through a more modern history of the Quaker religion, and then read George Fox’s work.

One interesting aspect of the book is the light in which it shows the UK system of justice. It seems pretty hazard at that time. Most places that Fox visits attempt to expel or imprison him for essentially vagrancy and disturbing the peace. He describes the artful arguments he uses to combat these charges and also often turns the priests, soldiers and constables against each other. It seems a little silly to me to continue to refuse to take off your hat in the face of stoning, imprisonment and death threats, but Fox was taking a stand. Considering that he was helping to found a world religion that is still practiced hundreds of years later, he must have been onto something.

[Susan Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, if rather repetitive, record of George Fox's call to see religion differently - no steeple-houses or priests! - which resulted in him starting the Quakers. It was written in old age but he had kept records of his extensive travels. It's interesting to see how Quakers developed, including key testimonies such as not swearing an oath. I hadn't realised he'd been to the Caribbean and the US as well as all round Britain and Ireland. The early Quakers also suffered a lot - imprisonment, harsh punishment, and money problems

[Luigi Santoriello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would not recommend.Repetitive,tedious and overall nothing that you wouldn’t read in a typical Protestant low-church pamphlet or hear in a typical sermon.Basically an Evangelical preacher who says exactly what you would expect…I hoped to see something different,less traditionally Christian and more refreshing,more open minded.I only know that George Fox wouldn’t accept what Quakerism has become and vice versa,he would probably faint if he heard that there are meetings full of “non theistic Quakers” or “Buddhist Quakers”.Definitely not my cup of tea.

[Jared A Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the most readable of books, but it is a journal not a polished autobiography. That being said as a Quaker myself I find Fox's words to be inspiring. As a Christian this gives a good glimpse into what living a life dedicated to your values and faith really looks like. Fox led a life filled with adventure and trials. Yet he stayed focused on the "Light".

[Trevor Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quote from the Journal: "God who made the world does not dwell in temples made with hands, but in people's hearts."

[MICHAEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

George Fox's Journal is inspiring and liberating. It
awakens true spirituality. It reminds us that God will always raise a man, equip him and send him. George Fox was a heavy weight by God's grace.

[Ann Panah]

I'm putting this back on my To-Read shelf since I have to return it to the Meeting's library. I like it so far, but haven't disciplined myself to sit down and get through it.
It is inspiring in some sections, but I get frustrated with his describing the journey part of his history (going from place to place in England), and wading through that to get to the meat of Fox's beliefs.
It's interesting he didn't start out to begin a new denomination - he was just trying to get people in the Anglican church to have an immediate relationship with God through Christ. But it morphed in to a new denomination - maybe because the Anglicans and Puritans rejected Fox's views and persecuted the people called 'Quakers'.
Fox was definitely a trouble-maker in the church at that time, and it makes me respect people more in our present day church that stand up and state their beliefs at the expense of ridicule.
Religous tolerance is a wonderful thing, once you look back on history and see all the destruction intolerance has made. Fox and the early Quakers spent so much time in jail for their beliefs. It's a relief to know I don't have to worry about being thrown in jail now for my religous beliefs - I'm so glad I live in the USA! :)

[Hugolane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have dabbled in Fox's Journal for years, and it was time to finally read it. It certainly was informative, and Rufus Jones's introduction was helpful, as well as the footnotes presumably based on Norman Penney's research. That said, it is not quite the source about the early Friends as I had thought it would be. This is about Fox, his spiritual journey, his travails at the hands of the authorities both under Cromwell's Protectorate and then the Restoration, and about his travels. These are interesting in themselves, but there is scant information about key events in the formation of Quakerism beyond those that led Fox on his journey. Thus, for example, while there are several references to the town of Balby, there is no mention of the 1656 meeting which led to the drafting of the first set of queries or the formation of the Committee on Sufferings. The account of Fox's imprisonments and imprisonments for his beliefs though are all there of course, as is his account of his travels to the American colonies starting in Barbados and Jamaica, before heading North. Knowing that he and his wife Margaret Fell spent much time apart, it is touching to see some correspondence with her that he includes, where he invariably addresses her as My Heart.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marx said it simply: Religion is the opium of the masses. Reading the ecstatic journal of George Fox, the brave,I would agree. The manner of the conviction is manic - without any thought for his safety,he gate-crashes congregations in chapels telling them how they are not doing things right!
Some people responded well to his words of salvation and others kicked the stuffing out of him and threw him out of town for his impertinence!

From my lay scientific view bi-polar is a possible diagnosis for the agony and the ecstacy. The power of the Word of God in the first translations to a growing literate population meant those with brain chemistry susceptible to suggestion and the force of God's words went a bit bonkers.

I contain mine with Lithium. George Fox founded an amazing Religious Society of Friends.

It was great to read from the author's pen, and it doesn't take long to grasp the old spellings. I find it fascinating to see how language has evolved. He must have been a charismatic person and I have become rather affectionate for him and his legacy.

[Fiona Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought I'd better read this, as I'm a Quaker. Some of it was absolutely fascinating. It was written at what must have been one of the most interesting times of Britain's history. Also, interesting to see how Quakerism has changed from its humble beginnings. However, it was really difficult to read so took me quite a long time to plought through. All of the interesting parts were mixed in with long boring tracts where not a lot happened. I especially loved the script like quality of GF's arugments with various priests and judges. I would love to have a time machine so that I could meet him.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journal of the "Founder" of the Society of Friends. A very inspirational, but long, history of his life and dealings with both people and God. I enjoyed Fox's message, and his example is one to live by. Amazing energy, complete humility, and a very bright example to live up to for Quakers everywhere.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

See how a denomination is born from a fellow's inability to relate quite like the rest of us do. The first 20 or so pages are the most interesting.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting...Primary historical documents penned by significant figures in the history of Western Christian development is inherently interesting to me.

[Themis Papaioannou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Journal of George Fox is one of the best books a Christian can read. I recommend it to everybody. The amazing life and teachings of a Servant of the Lord.

[Richard S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am not a Quaker, this book is one of the most interesting things I've ever read, about George Fox's experiences in creating a new form of Christianity. Very personal and stirring.

[Bret Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is hilarious to give a book like this a star rating.

[Chad]

I'll get back to it...kind of like an ongoing journey to read this.