Isaac Penington: Waiting for Breathings from His Spirit

Welcome to a new semester
with VINTAGE! ALL ARE WELCOME to participate.

Isaac Penington (1617-1680) was an early English Quaker so zealous in his faith that he was jailed six times for his convictions and lost all of his property when he refused to take an oath in court, believing that oaths are forbidden by Scripture.

The excerpts in Devotional Classics (pages 207-210) are taken from Isaac Penington's letters. Though these were written more than 300 years ago, I invite you to read Penington's letters as if they were written to you personally. Consider what he offers as spiritual direction for your own life today.

Please respond to any of the reflection questions here if you like--or offer any comments you may have. The questions are intended to spark the conversation, not to limit it in any way. If you are new to the Horizons Online Group and need assistance with posting your comment, simply email me at karen@theologicalhorizons.org.

• What particular phrases, sentences or passages spoke clearly to you?
• What will you remember about this reading tomorrow?
• Isaac Penington counsels us to "wait diligently for the leadings of the Holy Spirit." Describe an experience you've had of being led by the Holy Spirit. Have you sensed any influence or work of the Holy Spirit recently?
• From where does "true prayer"come (section 7)? How, according to Penington, can we learn to pray in this manner?
• We see images of food and eating in the passages from Penington & in John 6:52-59. In daily life, how does one feed on the life and power of Jesus?

The reading for January 25:
William Temple on the church's impact upon Society
Vintage Online is an offering of Theological Horizons