MATHETΩN

Every year it seems I realize more strongly how much I miss male friends. (I don’t anymore really have female friends, either, but that’s beside the point of this post.) This loss sometimes feels more than the nostalgia it usually feels — you know, one of those nostalgias that remain of our childhood — and this weekend I felt it poignantly to be a loss that really hampers my happiness and abilities. Because the men and boys I was among were in a specially-constrained environment, they could not shock or sadden me as they usually do — and so I opened up, and we seemed to enjoy a wonderful camaraderie. The — casual but high enthusiasm shared by men who are real friends is something no other relationship can offer — all other relationships require a finesse that somewhat drains — Does anything I am saying sound true to anyone else?

I just finished studying Francis of Assisi’s first Rule (he rewrote the Rule years later for confirmation by papal bull) and taking notes, and I think I will sum my interpretation of it:

I. Live the whole gospel of Jesus Christ in its most obvious and simple way, all His teaching, all His footsteps. First, sell your property and give all you possess to the poor. Seek out the conversation of the poor, despised, sick, and beggars and show joy in it. Judge none, but judge your own self severely. Observe the Golden Rule toward everyone; love one another, in works and then words, which is Christ’s Commandment; resist no evil fate but accept violence, even from nature, and expect martyrdom. Never become depressed, never complain, but show forth joy, contentment in the Lord, and merriment. Show chivalry and courtesy.

II. Revere all churches, ordinances, and clerics. Study the gospel and pray in a regular pattern daily; seek repentance in a regular pattern daily; fast regularly and during holy seasons. Yet if it become necessary, to further the work of the Kingdom, fasts or any other constraints may be abandoned. Expel a brother or sister who is proved a heretic. Among unbelievers, or in the countries of unbelievers, do not contend but only freely confess you are a Christian. Then, when there is opportunity, explain the gospel of Christ to who will listen. When God is blasphemed, respond with a word of praise of God. Any may preach, but none may call himself a preacher, make of it a career, or preach in an aggrandizing way. Confess sins and faults to one another. Confess all sins before taking the bread and wine.

III. Wear poor clothes and have very few. Neither own nor use private transportation. Own nothing but food and clothing and perhaps the tools of your trade. Work at an honest, preferably manual, trade you knew before you were converted to support your own needs. Do not become a businessman or a manager; do not take a morally-ambiguous job; do not take a job for the money. Do not borrow, save, or invest money. If you discover money or a money-making opportunity, let it lie as though it were nothing but a stone. Ask boldly for donations for the poor, or for your work or yourself if necessary; remember that insults are a shame only for the insulter; remember that every person’s wealth will perish except the wealth of charity. Never claim a space as home, and always welcome any who comes, even if he is a thief. Never be idle, but always be doing a job, your good work, or your devotions. Travel everywhere doing good work; lodge in pious households as you come to them; accept attacks on the way and give to any who asks. Yet, if you become ill, you may instead seek care from your brothers and sisters, and these constraints may be abandoned. Do not let illness make you morose or angry, but learn from it as from the chastisement of a Father.

IV. Do not ogle the opposite sex and do not dally with them alone. Offer them spiritual counsel and encouragement. Expel immediately a brother or sister who is proved a fornicator; afterward, urge him or her to repent.

V. Establish servants who will arrange the brothers and sisters throughout the country to best effect and others who will visit them often with admonishment and comforting. Remember that such servants are not masters but slaves, for the first shall be last. Never shall any among you be called Prior. Let all watch the servants carefully for any wrongdoing, and, after three private admonishments, let nothing prevent you from reporting them. Also, let all watch each other, and admonish wrongdoing three times, and then report it openly. Yet let no such discovery make you angry or sad but at peace with God and apter to judge yourself. All shall obey all. No one who does any conscious sin is being obedient; no one who follows the gospel is being disobedient; and no one shall obey against his soul. All shall hold all in reverence. No one shall argue, be angry, or accuse others, but shall be silent or offer a humble, ready answer. Everyone in the country shall meet yearly, and everyone in the world shall meet tri-yearly. Wash one another’s feet.

VI. [Francis offers a very short benediction and sermon that a brother or sister may use anytime in any company.]

VII. [Francis concludes with a long and beautiful summation of the gospel of Christ, admonishment for the brothers and sisters' souls, and praise of God.]

I urge you, brothers [and sisters], by God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living holy sacrifice pleasing to God. This is your reasonable service. And do not pattern yourselves after this age, but transform yourselves through a renewal of the mind, to study the nature of the will of God, what is good, and pleasing, and perfect.

For through the grace that has been granted to me I say to every one among you: Do not think thoughts beyond the thoughts you should have, but think to be moderate, according to the measure of faith God has given to each. As in our bodies we have many parts, but the parts do not all have the same function, so we many are one body in Christ, and individually parts of each other. We have different gifts which vary according to the grace that has been given us. If the gift is for prophecy, it should be based on faith. If one is gifted for service, he should serve; the teacher should teach, the comforter should bring comfort; the contributer should show his generosity, the leader his energy, the charitable man his graciousness. Let love be sincere. Hate the bad, hold fast to the good; love each other as brothers, prize each other more than yourselves; be unflagging in energy, seething with enthusiasm, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, steadfast against oppression, devoted to prayer; contribute to the needs of the saints, cultivate hospitality. Bless your persecutors, bless them, do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Agree with each other in your thoughts, and do not be haughty but accommodate yourselves to modest thoughts. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Return no one evil for evil. Have good intentions in regard to all men. If it is possible, be for your part at peace with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give way to God’s anger, since it is written: ‘Mine is the vengeance, mine the retribution, says the Lord.’ Then if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not let yourselves be overcome by evil, but overcome evil through good.

And Thomas Lawson priest of Rampside Chapel hearing that G.F. had been at Auldenham steeplehouse, the first day aforesaid in the morning said to his congregation when their forenoon sermon was ended that he was credibly informed that G.F. purposed to be at their Chapel the afternoon unto whom he purposed to resign his place; the said Thomas Lawson went a mile to meet the said G.F. and conducted him to his chapel at Rampside aforesaid and offered him his pulpit to preach in, which the said G.F. refused, but stood upon a form, and livingly declared and held forth the way of salvation to the people for about three hours’ space; and when he came forth into the yard, some of the people would have laid violent hands upon him, but the said Thos. Lawson forbade them, saying he was greatly satisfied with G.F.’s preaching; and said if our worship and doctrine cannot be maintained without fear and violence, ’tis time to leave it. So the people were quieted and an old woman aged 80 years said she never heard such good doctrine out of any black coat all the days of her life. And the said Thos. Lawson soon after laid down his public ministry, being satisfied that the call of man made not a minister of Christ.

* * *

G.F. after he had preached the Gospel at Ulverston steeplehouse as aforesaid at which time he was only haled out the second time when he came upon a lecture day, one John Sawrey, then called a justice of peace, called to the officers and rude multitude to have him out, and after they had pulled him out into the yard the said Jo. Sawrey cried “away with him,” whereupon the rude multitude fell upon him, and beat him with forks and staffs and threw stones at him, thrusting, pulling and pushing him till they had haled him to the common or moss side and then they knocked him down with clubs and staffs. But the said G.F. soon got up again and held forth his hands to the people exhorting them to more sobriety and one of the rude multitude struck him over the back of the hand with a long cut staff and wounded and bruised him so sorely that his fingers felt as if they were broken, and his arms and other parts of his body remained black with the blows, knocks and bruises for many days after. And several other Friends that were with G.F. and accompanied him were beaten also. And Thos. Salthouse had his head broken and one William Pool’s head was broken; and James Lancaster’s coat was pulled off his back and torn in pieces; and several other Friends were beaten and bruised at the same time. And in their fury and madness they threw Judge Fell’s only son George Fell into the water, who only stood by the Friends that were so abused. And when some Friends would have had G.F. to have gone away to Swarthmoor on the back side of the town aforesaid, the said G.F. refused to do, but came back again through the town and market then held. And when the rude multitude saw him, they cried, “A fox, a fox,” and began to be rude again; but there was a soldier, one Leonard Pearson, who having seen or heard these former barbarous usages of him, drew his sword and said “let me see whether any dog in the market dare catch this Fox,” whereupon G.F. passed quietly through the market, none daring then to lay violent hands on him, and so he went up to Swarthmoor.

* * *

And sometime after, G.F., with James Nayler, went to the Island of Walney to preach the Gospel. And then James Lancaster fetched them out in a boat, and they had no sooner landed upon the island but the inhabitants came with clubs and staffs of purpose to have destroyed G.F., and fell upon him and knocked him down. And the said James Lancaster, seeing their cruelty and wicked intentions, lay along upon G.F. to save him from their blows, crying out bitterly, “What, will you kill this good man that came in love to your souls?” And they pushed at him with pitchforks and poles and the women threw stones at him when they could find or spy a place bare to hit him and miss the aforesaid Ja. Lancaster that lay upon him to defend him from their blows and stones. And at last they pulled James Lancaster by the leg to get him off him, and so sprained one of his thighs in pulling of him, as he felt the strain and hurts thereof a long time after. And then the said James Lancaster desired to let them go with their lives, and they should take all he had amongst them. And then G.F. got up, and they thrust him towards the sea with intent to have drowned him. And the boat which brought them over, being near, James Lancaster put G.F. into it and then threw it off into the water and they took up a fishing pole of the said James Lancaster about 6 or 7 yards long, and struck again at G.F. but missed him. And when they were got out of the reach of the pole, they again threw stones at them; and the said James Lancaster stood up betwixt G.F. and them to defend him from the stones, and some of the stones lit on James Lancaster’s cheek and made it bleed; and then they rowed off by the seaside to seek for James Nayler, who had walked off into the island whilst they were beating G.F. as aforesaid, being unknown to them. But they after perceiving he was a Quaker also, they hunted him out, and fell upon him, and with clubs and staffs beat him sorely also.

Know you not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Lord, make me coy and tender to offend.

In friendship, first I think if that agree
which I intend
unto my friend’s intent and end.

I would not use a friend as I use Thee.

If any touch my friend or his good name,
it is my honor and my love to free
his blasted fame
from the least spot or thought of blame.
I could not use a friend as I use Thee.

My friend may spit upon my curious floor.
Would he have gold? I lend it instantly:
but let the poor,
and Thou within them, starve at door.
I cannot use a friend as I use Thee.

When that my friend pretendeth to a place,
I quit my interest and leave it free.
But when Thy grace
sues for my heart, I Thee displace –
nor would I use a friend as I use Thee.

Yet can a friend what Thou hast done fulfill?
Oh write in brass “My God upon a tree
His blood did spill
only to purchase my good will”!
Yet use I not my foes as I use Thee.

— George Herbert