Conscience, Conscious, Consciousness, Self-conscious ... toward a deeper understanding of the Early Quakers.

Conscience, Conscious, Consciousness, Self-conscious ... toward a deeper understanding of the Early Quakers.

There was a time when the word “conscience” also expressed conscious, self-conscious, consciousness, and conscience. In the 17th century the two meanings began to split until conscious and conscience took on distinct meanings. An understanding of this nuance is significant to gleaning the depth of the early Quaker experience and those who share that experience today. The very anchor of consciousness, self-conscious, and conscience is changed. Not merely a moral component, but the very foundation of individual self-conscience is changed by being anchored in Presence itself. 

I have begun documenting support materials here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ME36XOI32OZZQLqyG_mJqPKPO4xN2nsv4SYXWLtHI3o/pub

The first Quakers, writing in the 17th century, used the term conscience often and rarely used conscious. Reading the first Quakers mindful that when they used “conscience” also assumed “conscious” or “self-conscious” makes for powerful spiritual edification toward the strengthening of the influence of the Spirit within individual consciousness and conscience. I have begun collecting as many examples of the use of “conscience” and “conscious” as time allows. It is my goal to find and document all.

Here is a sampling from George Fox:

1. From: Source: A collection of many select and Christian epistles, letters and testimonies, written on sundry occasions, by that ancient, eminent, faithful Friend and minister of Jesus Christ, George Fox Vol. 1
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_PqnY9zLhK1TLcsr9BI13ladcM6lQi4vVSOYZV1EOE/pub

2. From: Source: A collection of many select and Christian epistles, letters and testimonies, written on sundry occasions, by that ancient, eminent, faithful Friend and minister of Jesus Christ, George Fox Vol. 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ffoNuRt-oIKiiigq2AvJSFuDsxOXXAo_EnLFIaNut7U/pub

3. From: Gospel of Truth Demonstrated Volume 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cXtzjOUG0LUPXrhdd2ZYUyDj7A4qlKKgooiZzn5NZGo/pub

4. From: Gospel of Truth Demonstrated Volume 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nlcSKwJyftTWjrYzTkrgi_CPau7HsVjYPrKVGKid8Po/pub

 5. From: Gospel of Truth Demonstrated Volume 3

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R2zQVGxAOjaCyyHJcmSAnSZfXnnzbLdZGQZCH1ykelc/pub

6.  From: A journal or historical account of the life, travels, sufferings, Christian experiences, and labour of love in the work of the ministry of that ancient, eminent, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, George Fox Vol. 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P8o5FEm9nTMwy7qi1Fy108OsKDgqe6hwkeGIThZ7mkU/pub

7. From: A journal or historical account of the life, travels, sufferings, Christian experiences, and labour of love in the work of the ministry of that ancient, eminent, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, George Fox Vol. 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rIADHk9ZX_EEDYdUv-inCc8GXSx0RWuAhdJp9sXmorY/pub

 Isaac Penington's use of Conscience

1. From: The Works of Isaac Penington Volume 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lh148BK2fPuJM_eDjcbKuID2HboumIE2BDEULahnj-0/pub

2. From: The Works of Isaac Penington Volume 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TMSpXixvYAxQqRP82W1QqmVSC59Sg4zb7E46aDABgmw/pub

Un-borrowed Life ... In Other Words

Life in the Presence is experienced un-borrowed. Conscious and conscience no longer mirrored in the borrowed experience of institutions and other individuals drawing from the conceptual world.

This filling of conscious and conscience in the Life ... the Presence ...  is conscious no longer dependent on the borrowed reflections that others draw from the conceptual world; but on direct and immediate and un-borrowed ... intuition.

Conscious anchored in the immediacy of the Presence rather than anchored in the borrowed experiences (ideas, theologies, etc.) mirrored through the spoken or written words of others, is Being present and sustained in the Presence resulting in the direct experience of Life free from the icons (mirrors) of the reflected conscious.

Conscience anchored in the immediacy of the Presence is sustained and upheld through intuition of moral and ethical action un-borrowed from the outward dictates and teachings of others. Conscience illuminated by the Presence is free from the borrowed experiences reflected in the outward teachings of men and woman. Conscience illuminated by the immediacy of the Presence is living the Word of God rather than borrowing the outwardly reflected experiences of others.

Conscious and conscience in the Presence is the Spirit of Christ within.

Thankful for the Life and re-turning to the Garden

Therefore O man whose soul is immortal, wait to have it's eye opened in the Light, that thou mayst see God and walk with him in the garden as in the beginning ...

John Whitehead - "A Small Treatise ..."

It is a blessing to know and experience the Spirit Jesus manifested bodily and poured into the conscious and conscience of individual people. It is a blessing that consciousness no longer need be anchored in reflections and that people may know awareness and identity in no-thing but the Spirit once only reflected and experienced in the physical life of Jesus. It is a blessing to know the Spirit of Jesus without the need to reflect on the historic physical Jesus. It is a blessing to walk in the Word and without the need to reflect and depend on the words of scripture to know eternal life.

"And by the Spirit of the Lord have we not been so much directed to shew unto people that which was written by the former Prophets, Evangelists and Apostles for a foundation of faith (that being generally outwardly known and believed where we have traveled ) but rather to shew unto people the eternal life whereof  they writ which we have seen, felt, and handled as they did ..."

John Whitehead - "A Small Treatise ..."

And how do we come to know and experience this transformation of consciousness and conscience? The early Quaker and Primitive Christian answer is ... wait ... be silent ... wait ... watch ... and wait ... and the Spirit will reveal in all things and all moments. In waiting silence is the Presence. We do not need to reflect on, spending hours and hours and decades and decades thinking about and arguing over, the historic Jesus and on the words of scripture ... just wait and watch; and you will know that which was in the historic Jesus and that to which the words of scripture is a mere reflection.

It is a blessing to know and experience, to "handle,"  eternal life as did the Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles so that we are not dependent on their words but know that which they know directly and in immediacy ... personally ... without reflection. 

It is a blessing to walk in the Garden again where the Presence is sufficient, embraced, and affirmed in all things. To know the liberty of conscious and conscience in Presence and Grace ... without reflection and immediately ... to not reach after the fruit of knowledge ... but to know directly without consumption.

Days and nights in the Presence, transforms the mind toward eternity and teaches true (not abstract) love, peace, patience, joy, long-suffering, etc., not as outward principles and doctrine; but manifests them directly just by living present in the Presence ... these are the result of Being in the Presence.

Wait, watch, and know, the Life and walk again in the Garden.