also, that in the same manner as the spirit of God enlightened the different Gentile nations previously to the time of the apostle, so it continues to enlighten those, which have been discovered since; for no nation has been found so ignorant, as not to make an acknowledgment of superior spirit, and to know the difference between good and evil.  Hence it may be considered as illuminating those nations, where the scriptures have never reached, even at the present day.

With respect to the last case, which includes those who have heard with their outward ears the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Quakers believe, that the spirit of God has continued its office of a spiritual instructor as well to these as to any of the persons who have been described.  For the Gospel is no where said to supersede, any more than the law of Moses did, the assistance of this spirit.  On the other hand, this spirit was deemed necessary, and this by the apostles themselves, even after churches had been established, or men had become Christians.  St. Paul declares,[39] that whatever spiritual gifts some of his followers might then have, and however these gifts might then differ from one another, the spirit of God was given universally to man, and this to profit withal.  He declares again that [40] “as many as were led by this spirit, these, and these only, possessed the knowledge that was requisite to enable them to become the sons of God.”  And in his letter to the Thessalonians, who had become a Christian church, he gave them many particular injunctions, among which one was, that [41] they would not quench or extinguish the spirit.

[Footnote 39:  Cor. 12. 7.]

[Footnote 40:  Rom. 8, 14.]

[Footnote 41:  1 Thess. 5. 19.]

And in the same manner as this spirit was deemed necessary in the days of the apostles, and this to every man individually, and even after he had become a Christian, so the Quakers consider it to have been necessary since, and to continue so, wherever Christianity is professed.  For many persons may read the holy scriptures, and hear them read in churches, and yet not feel the necessary conviction for sin.  Here then the Quakers conceive the spirit of God to be still necessary.  It comes in with its inward monitions and reproofs, where the scripture has been neglected or forgotten.  It attempts to stay the arm of him who is going to offend, and frequently averts the blow.

Neither is this spirit unnecessary, even where men profess an attention to the literal precepts of the Gospel.  For in proportion as men are in the way of attending to the outward scriptures, they are in the way of being inwardly taught of God.  But without this inward teaching no outward teaching can be effectual; for though persons may read the scriptures, yet they cannot spiritually understand them; and though they may admire the Christian religion, yet they cannot enjoy it, according to the opinion of the Quakers, but through the medium of the spirit of God.