a study of bible-第33章
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the same as in its presence； manifestly it is not essential。 So the experiment can go on until the result becomes different； when it is evident that the last omitted element is an essential one。 But no such process is possible in great historical movements。 The only course open to us is to consider carefully the elements which do appear。
Take three great movements which are easiest to follow in these three centuries。 Whether the spiritual independence of England would have been secured without the Quakers may be debated； but this fact can hardly be debated： certainly it was not so secured； whether or not the Quakers could have been without George Fox； certainly they did not occur without him。 Take the second： whether or not some other movement could have done what Puritanism did is hardly a question for history； Puritanism actually did the work for England and America which gave both their strongest qualities。 There is no testing the period to see whether Puritanism could be left out。 There it stands as a powerful factor； and no analysis of the history can possibly omit it。 Or the third： it is not a question for a historian whether English history could have been the same without Methodism and whether Methodism could have been at all without the Wesleys； certainly nothing took its place； nor did any one else stand at the head of the movement。
Here are these three great movements； not to seek others。 All of them have had tremendous influence in the religious and political history of both the nations where they have moved most freely。 Each of them is a direct and undisputed result of the influence of the Bible。 Much has already been said of the Puritans in England； and there will be occasion to see what was their influence in America。 But think for a moment of the Quakers。 James Freeman Clark calls them the English mystics； certainly they were more than that。＇1＇ George Fox had little learning but the Bible； that he knew well。 He first came to himself out in the fields alone with the Bible。 He was not stirred to the origin of the movement nor to his greatest activity by experiences he had in public places。 He came to those public places profoundly affected by his familiarity with the English Bible。 He came at a time when his protest was needed； a protest against formalism； against mere outward conformity。 A thousand years before； Mohammedanism had really saved the Christian faith by its protest； violent and merciless； against its errors； challenging it to purity in faith and life。 Now Fox and the Quakers saved church life by protest against church life。 The Bible was still the law； but not the Bible which you read for me； but that which you read for you and I for me； each of us guided by an inner light。 The Quaker movement was a distinct protest against church formalism in the interests of freedom of the Bible。
＇1＇ David Gregg； The Quakers in America。
That Quaker influence was far stronger in America than it ever proved to be in England。 George Fox himself visited the colonies and extended its influence。 Three great effects are easily traceable。 The very presence of the Quakers in the New England colonies； notably in Massachusetts； and the persecutions which they endured； did more to purify the Puritans than any other one influence。 One is only loyal to the Puritan character and teaching in declaring that in the manner of the Puritans toward the Quakers they were wrong； they were wrong because they were untrue to their own belief； untrue to their own Bibles； and when the more thoughtful among them found that they were taking the attitude toward the Quakers which they had resented toward themselves； remembering that the Quakers were drawing their teaching from the same Bible as themselves； they were naturally checked。 And； while the Quakers in New England suffered greatly； their suffering proved the purification of the Puritans。 It accented and so it removed the narrowness of Puritan practice。 Further； the Quaker movement gave to American history William Penn and the whole constitution of Pennsylvania。 It was there that a state first lived by the principle which William Penn pronounced： 〃Any government is free where the people are a party to the laws enacted。〃 So it came about that Independence Hall is on Quaker soil。 The Declaration of Independence appeared there； and not on Puritan soil。 It may be there was more freedom of thought in Pennsylvania。 It may be explained on purely geographical ground； Philadelphia being the most convenient center for the colonies。 But it remains significant that not on Cavalier soil in Virginia； not on Dutch soil in New York； not on Puritan soil in Boston； but on Quaker soil in Philadelphia the movement for national independence crystallized around a general principle that 〃any government is free where the people are a party to the laws enacted；〃 but that no government is free whose people have not a voice。 That is not minimizing the power of Puritanism； nor forgetting Fanueil Hall and the Tea Party。 It only accents what should be familiar： that Puritanism drew into itself more of the fighting element of Scripture； while the Quaker movement drew into itself more of the uniting； pacifying element of Scripture。 The third effect of the Quaker movement is John Greenleaf Whittier； with his gentle but never weak demand that national freedom should not mean independence of other people alone； but the independence of all people within the nation。 So that while the Quaker spirit helped the colonies to break loose from foreign control and become a nation； it helped the nation in turn to break loose from internal shackles。 The nation stood free within itself as well as free from others。 Yet the Quaker movementand this is the argumentis itself the result of the English Bible； and the Quaker influence is the influence of the English Bible on history。
There is not need for extended word about the great Wesleyan movement in the midst of this period； which has so profoundly affected both English and American history。 It has not worked out into such visible political forms。 But any movement that makes for larger spiritual life makes for the strengthening of the entire life of the nation。 The mere figures of the early Wesleyan movement are almost appalling。 Here was a man； John Wesley； an Oxford scholar； who spent nearly fifty years traveling up and down and back and forth through England on horseback； covering more than two hundred and fifty thousand miles； preaching everywhere more than forty thousand times； writing； translating； editing two hundred works。 When death ended his busy life there were in his newly formed brotherhood one hundred and thirty…five thousand members； with five hundred and fifty itinerants who were following his example with incessant preaching and Bible exposition。 It was the old Wiclif…Lollard movement over again。 And here was the other Wesley； Charles； teaching England to sing again； teaching the old truths of the Bible in rhyme to many who could not read； so that they became familiar； writing on horseback； in stage…coaches； everywhere； writing with one passion； to help England back to the Bible and its truth。 Such activity could not leave the nation unmoved； all its religious life felt it； and its political life from serf to king was deeply affected by it。 It is a common saying that the Wesleyan movement saved English liberty from European entanglement。 Yet the Wesleyan movement issued from the Bible and led England back to the Bible。
But apart from these wide movements and the great souls who led them； there is time for thought of one typical character on each side of the sea who did not so much make a movement as he proved the point around which a great fluid idea crystallized into strength。 Across the sea the character shall be that man whom Carlyle gave back to us out of obloquy and misunderstanding； Oliver Cromwell。 Choosing him； we pass other names which crowd into memory； names of men who have served the need of England well…Wilberforce； John Howard； Shaftesbury； Gladstonewho drew their strength from this Book。 Yet we choose Cromwell now for argument。 On this side it must be that best known； most beloved； most typical of all Americans； Abraham Lincoln。
An English h
