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Though Friends, early in their history, in earnest zeal for the promotion and defense of the truth, often gave forth statements issued, yet these are not now available for distribution, so, for the information of our younger members, and the people in general, we isue the following statement of our principles and doctrines, which we wish to commend by consistent Christian living.
We would have people convinced of these principles, not by human authority, but from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, for we believe that it is by the Spirit of Christ only, that the true knowledge of God, and all things spiritual can be revealed, according to the declaration of the Scriptures, "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God;" and we believe that it is this Spirit alone that giveth life, and that can guide into all Truth.
While Friends have strongly emphasized the necessity of the inward work of Christ, by His light and spirit, as a fundamental principle, yet true Friends have always put a right or high value upon His outward work for man's salvation, believing that without His outward work, the inward could not be, as well as without His inward work, none can partake of the benefit of the outward.
Friends, from the beginning, have most firmly believed, both in Humanity, and in the Divinity of Christ,
our Saviour; in His atoning sacrifice through His death; in His resurrection and ascension, and in His
mediation and intercession, and we hereby assert our firm belief of the same, feeling that we could not
consistently claim their name, not to be their successors, if we believed differently.
Last Modified: 5.5.03