Foxian

plural Foxians

1. historicalA follower of George Fox, especially one who believed strictly in the theology of the inward light.

   But to the mystery of Iniquity here insinuated against them, Is it not a proud trick of a Pharisee thus to scorn the poor Heathens and Publicans, as not worthy to know the Foxians high Names, or take up such sacred Names and Mysteries upon their Lips?

   2007, Roger Williams, The Complete Writings of Roger Williams, page 448

   2 more examples

   […] but while they own what G. Fox hath written, and that he writ it with a perfect spirit: I say untill they do make some Recantation or Retractation: or shew the Reasons why they doe not, H. Norton who keeps more plainly to his Principles is to windward of them, and the Foxians do but strip themselves naked to be more derided and scorned as the more notorious Juglers and Dissemblers .

   1872, Publications of the Narragansett Club: George Fox digg'd out of his burrowes, page 257

   Lodowick clarifies that there is a small sect of more learned Quakers including Keith and Robert Barclay, whom he calls "semi-foxians,” which allows for something substantial beyond the mere internal Light of the pure Foxians, who were followers of the English dissenter George Fox (1624-1691) .

   2024, Brian Ogren, Kabbalah and the Founding of America

1. Pertaining to the writings of John Foxe.

   You bid mee take the chiefe Apostles and thir successors with all the old Confessors, and compare them with the Foxian Confessors.

   1635, George Hakewill, An Apologie Or Declaration of the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World., page 174

   2 more examples

   All this by his former woords, my Caualiero is bound to beleeue: for these are Foxian Martyrs, with whom he sayth, he is consenting in ynitie and veritie of Doctrin.

   1608, Henry Fitzsimon, A Catholike Confvtation of M. Iohn Riders Clayme of Antiquitie, page 308

   In so doing, he transforms the Foxian compulsion to distinguish true martyrs from false ones —and thus to differentiate his own saint-making project from medieval hagiography—into a model of textual criticism, directed at detecting and desanctifying the false martyr through the critical medium of marginalia.

   2008, Jennifer Summit, Memory's Library: Medieval Books in Early Modern England, page 170