When there was silence in heaven

“When there was silence in heaven for the space of half an hour; when the vocal tributes of holy, holy, holy, and the hallelujahs of sanctified spirits in endless felicity were suspended, their worship continued in awful, holy, solemn, inconceivable silence; it was a rapturous adoration too copious for language to express, a cloud of incense before the throne of immaculate purity and love. 

May our minds be gathered to it, let our name and our profession to religion be what it may, and may we experience this divine communion of saints, and deeply ponder God’s unbounded love in solemn silence, for there is no power of eloquence can sufficiently acknowledge the obligation and reverence we owe his infinite majesty, who fills heaven and earth with his goodness; but let us look up unto him, and wait to be prepared for it, for they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, wherein we may experience constant advancement from grace to grace, until we attain the glorious end proposed by this living, animating salutation, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all always. Amen.””

— Special West, 1847
Quaker farmer

Reader Responses

What do you do in the silence of meeting for worship?
How do you prepare yourself?

I pray for others. I don’t prepare, I wait for the spirit to move me as it will.

Bob M, Coatsville, PA
I center myself, letting go of earthly duties and concerns. I meditate on the Devine showing gratitude for life and for my blessings in the material world, listening in silence for insight or wisdom.

Howard O, Houston, TX

This Week’s Messages

Mon Sep 15

In silence, love can blossom

“What is spiritual silence? It is not just the absence of talk. Silence has substance. It is the presence of something. If we can stay in this place of silence without rushing to fill it up in some way, we are humbled to know even for a little while that we in our own power do not have all the answers. We become more willing to listen. Meanwhile, God has always been communicating. Listening to the Inward Teacher is the foundation of Quaker spirituality.” …
Tue Sep 16

Spirit is more immediate without words

“Seeing the Spirit inwardly nourisheth, when he giveth not to speak words, the inward sense and nourishment is to be waited for, and received as it was given when there are no words. Yea, the ministry of the Spirit and life is more close and immediate when without words, than when with words, as has been often felt, and is faithfully testified by many witnesses.” …
Wed Sep 17

Inner silence is the same as the love of God

“Inner silence, calming the agitations of our hearts and minds, letting go of all that is stubborn and grasping, is essentially an expression of the love of truth. To be dispassionate, not to let one’s own needs or prejudices or emotions color one’s actions, is essentially to put truth before everything else. To love truth in this way is to love God, who is Truth. Thus the practice of inner silence is the same as the love of God.” …
Thu Sep 18

Silence is only one of the tools available

“Quakers say that of God is in everyone and everywhere. Our task is to notice that and act on it, in whatever way works for us.” …
Fri Sep 19

It’s not about getting God’s attention

“God is always talking to us. God is always reaching out to us. Every time I stop to listen, I hear that God has already started. It’s not a case of getting God’s attention, but it’s a case of getting my attention.” …
Fri Sep 19

Doing God’s will as if it were my own

In calm and cool and silence, once again I find my old accustomed place among My brethren, where, perchance, no human tongue Shall utter words; where never hymn is sung, …

Read the source of today’s quote
Banner art by Mark Pratt-Russum

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Author

  • Special West

    Special West (1740-1817) was a son of Friends resident in Southwark, Surrey. In early life he ran away from home, enlisted as a soldier and went abroad. On the conclusion of the war he returned to England. In 1773 he married Hannah Haggar and moved from Barking, Essex, to Hertford, and occupied a farm at Northaw. He had very few advantages of education but became an able Quaker Minister.

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