1/04/2008

Judith Zinspenning (17th C.) and Montford Cardwell (20th C.)

I'm reading William Braithwaite's The Beginnings of Quakerism. This particular copy came from the library of the late Montford Cardwell, via the library of San Francisco Friends Meeting. I love seeing his name in it; it reminds me of his deep and mellifluous voice. He was a member of San Francisco Meeting but didn't attend often, because his paid gig was as organist at a Baptist church. His niece has some interesting artwork online, found via the inevitable Google search, and she attributes her re-engagement as a visual artist to Montford's encouragement. It was nice to read her brief tribute to him.

Anyway, I liked this single-sentence quote Braithwaite included from Judith Zinspenning, a Dutch Quaker who died in 1664 (page 413, 1955 edition, emphasis added):
Dear Friends, keep your meetings in the fear of the Lord, and have a care that your minds are not drawn out to hear words outwardly; but stand in the cross to that which desireth refreshment from without: and when at any time ye feel but little refreshment, let it not enter into your hearts that the Lord is not mindful of you, but centre down into yourselves, in the pure light, and stand still therein: then it may be ye will find the cause why the presence of the Lord is departed from you for some time, and ye, putting away the cause, shall enjoy the Lord again to your comfort.

Do I desire refreshment "from without" in meeting for worship, or do I find the Source within? Do I seek and find that Source within other people, too, during meeting, and at other times?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I note with sadness that in unprogrammed worship it seems that we lose talented musicians. Is there a way to keep these artists among us without programming worship?

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