LISTEN NOW (6 minutes):
Listen as Francis Douglas reads from William Penn’s No Cross, No Crown
In the year 1681, England’s King Charles II provided a large piece of land in North America to William Penn.
This newly gifted land is now known as two states: Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Penn took his first steps onto North American soil in 1682, in an area known today as New Castle, which is now the capital of the state of Delaware. Penn then continued up the Delaware river, and founded the city of Philadelphia.
Before traveling to the America’s, William Penn wrote several books that are now considered classics. One of those books is titled: No Cross, No Crown, and was written when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, due to a faith-based offense.
There is a lot to learn about William Penn, and of course you can find out all you need to know about him on the internet today. For this podcast, I would like to read excerpts to the preface of his book for your listening enjoyment.
As follows:
The great business of man’s life is to answer the end for which he lives; and that is, to glorify God and experience His salvation. This is the decree of heaven, as old as the world. But so it is that man minds nothing less than what he should mind most, and refuses to inquire into his own being, its origin, duty and end; choosing rather to dedicate his days to gratify the pride, greed, and luxury of his heart, as if he had been born for himself, or given himself being, and so not subject to the reckoning and judgment of a superior Power.
To this lamentable predicament poor man has brought himself, by his disobedience to the law of God in his heart, by doing that which he knows he should not do, and leaving undone what he knows he should do. So long as this disease continues upon man, he will make God his enemy, and make himself incapable of the love and salvation which God has manifested by His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world.
Christ’s cross is Christ’s way to Christ’s crown. This is the subject of the following discourse—first written during my confinement in the tower of London in the year 1668 — that you may be won to Christ; or if won already, brought nearer to Him.
It is a path which God, in His everlasting kindness, guided my feet into in the flower of my youth, when about twenty-two years of age. He took me by the hand, and led me out of the pleasures, vanities and hopes of the world. I have tasted of Christ’s judgments and of His mercies, and of the world’s frowns and reproaches.
I rejoice in my experience, and dedicate it to your service in Christ. To my country and to the world of Christians I leave it. May God, if He please, make it effectual to them all, and turn their hearts from that envy, hatred and bitterness they have one against another about worldly things — sacrificing humanity and charity to ambition and covetousness, because of which they fill the earth with trouble and oppression.
May they receive the Spirit of Christ into their hearts, the fruits of which are love, peace, joy, temperance and patience, brotherly kindness and charity, and so on in body, soul and spirit make a triple league against the world, the flesh, and the devil, the only common enemies of mankind. Thus, having conquered their enemies by the power of the cross of Jesus, and through a life of self-denial, they may at last attain to the eternal rest and kingdom of God.
So desires and so prays your fervent Christian friend, William Penn.
So, until we meet again, and for celebratethebible250, this is Francis Douglas.
If you would like me to give a presentation, and also provide a tabletop exhibit, at your church, school, gallery, or organization, let me know.
The topic I cover is the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America.
Not only will your group learn about it, but you’ll also see — on display — pages from the rarest Bibles in the world.
I’ll place contact information below as the 2026 Semiquincentennial America 250 year approaches.
I will be available for Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware.
CONTACT EMAIL (for presentation inquiries only):
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 