The Life of Oliver Sansom

by: Oliver Sansom

Oliver Sansom (1636-1710) was an early minister in the Society of Friends, whose heart was first awakened to the Truth while reading a work of Isaac Penington’s entitled, “The Way of Life and Death Made Manifest and Set Before Men.” Feeling it required of him to break off from the national church, with its man-made traditions and obligatory tithes, he became the target of great persecution, and spent many years in jail. Speaking of him after his death, Thomas Ellwood wrote, “I have this testimony to bear of his honest and innocent life; he was a good steward of his Master’s treasures, a faithful dispenser of divine mysteries committed to him, an inward and heavenly-minded man. He was more in substance than in show, greater in power than in expression, a man of a meek and quiet spirit, yet full zeal—who lived and died a servant of the Lord.” (Original title: The Life of Oliver Sansom His Convincement of the Truth, the Exercises, Trials and Sufferings Which Came Upon Him for His Obedience Thereunto: Also Relating Some of His Travels and Labours in the Work of the Ministry for Turning People from Darkness to Light.)