The “Golden Thread” is a name I have given to my list of writers who have written from a true New Covenant perspective. These men and women wrote (or are still writing) about a life lived by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, a life of union with the Triune God and continual, conscious, conversational communion with Him. This series of posts is intended to introduce the reader to a treasure trove of true disciples of Christ, men and women who walked by the indwelling life of Christ and exhibited in word and deed true union with Him.

These writers, some of whom spent time or even died in prison for their New Covenant faith, wrote well of this life of abiding in Christ and walking only by His Spirit in them. Some are famous – Brother Lawrence, Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, George Fox, George McDonald, Watchman Nee, W. Ian Thomas, and Juan Carlos Ortiz. Some are little known today – Henry Scougal, Gerhard Tersteegen, William Boardman, James McConkey, T. Austin Sparks, Roy Hession, and Malcom Smith. In all, I have explored the writings of over 70 authors who have written of this New Covenant life of the indwelling life of Christ in us.

Enjoy snacking on the stories of these men and women, and then find one of their books and enjoy the feast.

Miguel de Molinos, known as a “Quietist.”

From “The Christian History Institute:” ”After the Reformation, there was a reaction in Catholic lands, commonly known as the Counter-Reformation. One strand of that was a mystical movement known as Quietism. Its influence was felt not only in Catholic countries but in Protestant circles.

Quietists had something of the Stoic about them, a passivity and silence in the face of outward events. They declared that nothing of spiritual value can originate in man. Religious life must therefore be a divine movement within the soul.

Three leading Quietists, in order of appearance, were: Miguel de Molinos (1627-1696); Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Mothe Guyon (1648-1717); and François de la Mothe Fenelon (1651-1715). There were other significant Quietists, but these are the best-known in English-speaking lands.

Molinos, a Spaniard, originated the movement with his Spiritual Guide. For years he was acclaimed for this book, received the approbation even of the Inquisition, and gathered numerous followers. However, the tendency of Quietists to dispense with formal religion made Molinos’ teaching suspect. Also, there were many, especially among the Jesuits, who envied his success. He was imprisoned, tortured, and tried, but (because of his own teachings) refused to say a word in his own defense during the proceedings….”

Molinos was at first accepted and honored by the Catholic Church on the basis of his teachings. He was invited to Rome and was the guest of the Pope at that time. He taught the principles from his book freely. These teachings influenced many to go deep into communion with their God on a daily basis. In one region of Italy alone there were more than 20,000 known followers of the principles of Quietism. The movement spread all across Europe in his lifetime, and his book, “Spiritual Guide,” was translated in all major European languages of that time.

Envy over his success and that of his book led to false charges being brought against him. The charges were eventually dismissed. Free again, Molinos took to teaching the way of communion with God. The movement continued to flourish, which eventually led to more false charges and a closed trial, the proceedings of which are still sealed in the Vatican. He was convicted, sent to a prison at the Vatican, and was never seen again. While in prison, his enemies mounted a campaign to discredit him and to discourage his followers from seeking God directly through communion with Him.

The writings of Molinos were eventually condemned by the Catholic Church because they taught that a person could experience the presence of God on their own, outside of the Catholic Mass.  Though possession of the book is still listed as grounds for excommunication from the Catholic Church, it has never been out of publication. 

While not consistent with the doctrines of Catholicism or the institutional reformed traditions, the teachings of Molinos and other New Covenant influencers echo the New Testament focus on union with our God. They find support in the words of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John. They are echoed by writers spanning the entire era of printed books, including Brother Lawrence, C.S. Lewis, W. Ian Thomas, Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, and many, many others who make up what I call “The Golden Thread” of New Covenant living. 

Molinos and those like him were significant factors in the spread of true New Covenant beliefs and practices despite their being at odds institutional churches of their day. Indeed the people most often persecuted by the institutional churches throughout church history were the non-institutional practitioners of true New Covenant faith and practice, including many Quietists and later, the early Quakers.  

You can find the writings of Molinos most conveniently in the book, “100 Days in the Secret Place” by Gene Edwards, a compilation of writings from the three most important early Quietist writers, Molinos, Madame Guyon, and Francois Fenelon. You can purchase copies of “A Spiritual Guide” in a modern translation, all on Amazon.

Words from the book: ”Mystical knowledge proceeds not from Wit, but from Experience; it is not invented, but proved; not read, but received; and is therefore most secure and efficacious, of great help and plentiful in fruit; it enters not (Matt. II) into the Soul by Ears, nor by the continual Reading of Books, but by the free Infusion of the Holy Ghost, whose Grace with most delightful intimacy, is communicated to the simple and lowly. There are some Learned Men, who have never read these Matters, and some Spiritual Men that hitherto have hardly relished them and therefore both condemn them, the one out of Ignorance, and the other for want of Experience.”