A faith I have come to greatly admire is that of Mr. George Fox. This is the man accredited with starting "The Society of Friends" or otherwise know as "Quakers". Quaker was a deragotory term used to describe the Society of Friends because men would quake when they would preach or Friends would quake themselves in meetings.
George Fox live in 17th century England (1624-1691). This was a time of great political turmoil. Governments switched from being Republics to Monarchies. One thing to be said about the man was that he was greatly loved or hated. Oliver Cromwell himself knew Fox was peaceful and godly, and gave him space to minister.
George Fox never took oaths to names of kings in court. This got him in big trouble. He was thrown in prison because of it. He was convicted by the command of Christ.
Matt. 5:34-36
"But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. "
His boldness and conviction for Truth (note with capital T) is certainly to be noted. His testimony has impacted me personally. A man I greatly admire said of Fox that he was one of the few Christians since the first few centuries of Christendom to live like an actual apostle. I would concur.
This quote is a staple to Foxe's conviction. The quote came at a time when Cromwell had died in England, and the uncertainty of the times made men fear new political arenas. Fox was resolute with his office and calling regardless of the ruling pontiffs.
"Stand in fear and dread of the Lord God; His power, life, light, seed and wisdom, by which ye may take away the occasion of wars, and so know a kingdom which hath no end, and fight for that with spirtual weapons, which takes away the occasion of the carnal; and there gather men to war,as many as ye can, and set up as many as ye can with these weapons."
Foxe's weapon was the Word of God. He had no need for gun powder. This generation will do best to take note.