Selection from John Wilbur’s “On Plainness and Self-Denial”

…the Society of Friends from the first, found it needful to adhere to greater purity of manners than other professors had done, in order to be more perfect followers of his example, as well as of his doctrine of the strait and narrow way which leads to life; believing indeed the verity and truth of his sayings; and that his doctrines of the cross are unequivocal; and finding by practice too, that the bearing of his cross patiently and honestly, did in very deed, work to the mortifying of the deeds of the flesh; hence as a people we have seen more clearly than others the necessity of “always bearing about in the body, the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” “For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:10-11).

Whatever then may be the practices or sayings of others, we feel bound faithfully to adhere to the commands and doctrines of Christ and his apostles as recorded in holy writ, as well as to the word of God’s grace in our hearts, to the denying of all desires after the maxims and manners, fashions and customs, of this vain world. And as this was a subject not unworthy of the Son of God, and his apostles, in his and their preaching and personal simplicity, none will do well in charging his more scrupulous followers with narrow-mindedness, because of their conformity to the doctrine and practice of Christ and his apostles; seeing that every one of his disciples should conscientiously keep his commandments, and follow his example of meekness and humility.

Nor let any one be deterred from the practice of a self-denying life because he may sometimes see traditional or hypocritical professors trusting in a form of godliness without the power; for there is not one of the Christian virtues, but attempts have been made to counterfeit it; and they also who make such attempts are enemies to the cross of Christ and him crucified, which is the power of God, and wisdom of God, and which also the apostle told one of the churches, he was resolved only to know amongst them.
There was I think more than one reason why the peculiar and primitive testimonies of plainness were given to, and upheld by the Society of Friends; and first, because they are congenial to the very nature of Christianity in its purest form, and agree better with its other testimonies. And secondly, because if conscientiously maintained, they would serve to exhibit this constant acknowledgment to the world, “I am the Lord’s!” And thirdly, because it would be an enclosure round about the tender plants of a rising generation; for by observing these peculiarities in language, manners, and appearance, there would not be that inclination to mix familiarly with others; and this has proved to our beloved youth a great preservation from the corruptions and vanities of the world. In this point of view, the benefit to our Society has been incalculable; for though it is not these peculiarities of plainness that cause us to be fruitful, yet by them as an enclosure, the fruit may be kept from being devoured. It is the good soil of the garden, well cultivated, that bringeth forth the fruit, but it is the fenced wall of God’s providence round about, that keepeth it from being devoured by the creatures without.

And so far is this testimony from being a burden or a hardship, it is through the gift of Him who helpeth, a choice blessing from his hand, and a blessing too, which if we as a people should begin to despise and lightly esteem, God will in his displeasure perhaps remove from us. Yea, and if the vine which he has planted, when he looked for grapes, should be found bringing forth only wild grapes, he will certainly remove this safe enclosure, and suffer the wild beast to tread it down; and he will also command the clouds that they should rain no rain upon it. And as a small leak, if suffered to continue, will sink a ship, however good and richly laden, and as a small breach in the enclosure of the vineyard, however fruitful, will let in the devourer, so I believe if this testimony, (however small any may deem it,) should be abandoned, it would greatly endanger our safety.

“On Plainness and Self-Denial,” Journal of the Life of John Wilbur (1859),  Appendix, Letter 6.