Recently Arthur Roberts recommended to the Friends Theology email list a quote from a prayer by Charles Marshall, given at the close of a meeting in Grace-Church Street on March 11, 1693. The prayer is found in the Quaker Homiletics Online Anthology, a division of Quaker Pages, edited by Peter Sippel. Can we be as serious as this early Quaker about following Christ? I want it to be so. Here’s the quote Arthur Roberts sent to us.

And let not any content themselves with a bare profession of Christ, and the name of Christians, but make us Christians indeed, true Israelites, in whom there is no guile. We pray Thee, let the power of godliness shine forth in our hearts and lives. Let none be found among us that crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to open shame; and trample upon the blood of the Covenant, and do despite to the Spirit of grace.

Bring such, we beseech Thee, to true repentance, as have made light of Christ and salvation, that they may seek Thee while Thou mayest be found, and call upon Thee while Thou art near. Glorious God of life and love! thine eye is over all thy people at this time, and their condition is known to Thee; and the living sense which Thou hast given thy servants of the state and condition of thy people, makes them humble mourners before Thee, and doth bow down their spirits in thy sight.