A scene capturing the moment of the 1677 signing of the Charter of West New Jersey, with prominent Quaker leaders and settlers gathered around a table, quill pens in hand, symbolizing the establishment of governance and rights.
“Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
~ Anonymous, in First Epistle of Peter 2:6 - 10 (traditionally attributed to Saint Peter); this is one of the passages through which Friends indicate divine sanction of the universal priesthood of all believers.
Here is an Excellent Piece by J. E. Pomfret titled ‘The Proprietors of the Province of West New Jersey, 1674-1702.’ It details how this allotment to the Quakers developed quite differently than those allotments doled out to the Puritans in New England.
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