the Vine untill that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom And I query if that was not made good on the Day of Pentecost when scoffingly yet truly like Caiaphas in another case several Spectators said of the Disciples They were full of New Wine which was the beginning of the Restauration of that Kingdom of God to Israel that the Disciples a little before so weakly queried after In short The Father's Kingdom is within Luk. 17.20 What was that Fruit then that was to be drunk anew in that Kingdom Certainly it came from himself the true Vine and must be of a Spiritual and Inward Nature like to the Kingdom To conclude If Bread and Wine be but a Sign And if things signified ought to resemble their Signs And if Spiritual Bread and Wine mostly answer those Visible Signs And if they are to be had in the Kingdom of God And if the Kingdom of God be within And that who eat not that Bread and drink not that Wine have no Life in them Then because the Apostles had Life Eternal in them and we a measure of the same in us Christ the Heavenly Bread and Flesh and Wine Blood was then and is now come and consequently the Shadows of those good things as to any Institution were and are at an End And as there is but One Spirit and One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father One Heavenly Kingdom One Holy Body So but One Bread and but One Cup and but One Communion and Fellowship and that is with the Father and the Son by the Holy Ghost But here as in the case of Water-Baptism it will be objected why were they then afterwards used Answ The Practices of good Men though in things temporary are many times to greedily received and too long doted upon by those who desire to be reputed their Followers Any thing once becoming customary is hard to be left Several Jewish Ceremonies the Holy-Ghost thought fit to be dispensed with for a Season that were never to be perpetuated But what has our Adversary and the several sorts of Protestants in the World to do with Baptism and the Supper and deny that Qualification and Commission the Apostles had They will never stand our Enquiry about their Call which they know we have great Cause to scruple indeed to deny For all must or should know that it was either Immediate or Mediate and Successive If Immediate then they must necessarily confess to a Commission upon Inspiration then Quakers If Mediate and Successive then either beside the Church of Rome or through the Church of Rome Not beside the Church of Rome because she cannot prove any regular Ordination or uninterrupted Succession either as to Faith or Discipline If through the Church of Rome then they own the Ordination of a Church they renounce and grant Her the Keyes whom they have writ against for these six score Years under the Name of Whore of Babylon and Mother of Harlots and all Abominations of the Earth Can that which you account a corrupt Fountain bring forth clean Streams Will Men seek Ordination at the hands of that Church they resolve to employ it against Has she forfeited her Religion and not her Power When did ever God make over his Authority by such an Entail If Mens Errors and Vices do not un-minister them It will follow that they may be Ill Christians but very good Ministers For Shame never renounce the Roman Church as False if her Ordination must be True For what has Power to make a Minister must be allowed to have Power both to instruct and conclude him in what he is to minister Wherefore never let any own her to have Heaven's Keyes of Church-Authority and then deny her as Heretical For where-ever any Church or People are truly such that Church or People have thereby forfeited all Right thereunto And as the contrary Opinion has long enricht the Popes Coffers so the Unwary Concessions of some certain Protestants thereto have too evidently given away a great share of that good old Cause I have dwelt longer upon these Particulars then my Adversary's Weakness could deserve at my Hands but their Information hath induced me to it who are assaulted by the envious Endeavours of our several Adversaries that daily seek how to mis-represent us and our most Evangelical Principles CHAP. IV. His third Chapter examined which consists of the Holiness of Times Places Things and Persons under the Gospel §. 1. Of the Sabbath-Day His Accusation is that these Familists and Quakers put no Difference between one Day and another the Sabbath no more then another Day That many times they follow their usual Trades on a Sunday Answ What the Familists did is nothing to us if they did so But sure I am he has abused the Quakers For 't is well known that in what Country soever they live they follow the Practice of the Apostles in Assembling together on the first Day of the Week They do it constantly and reverently Who most prophane that Day the Quakers or the Sons and Daughters of the Church of England Their Feasts Drunkenness Wantonness Gaming and other Recreations as they call them are so many Demonstrations to help every common Understanding to a Resolution in the Point And to say That we many times follow our usual Trades on that Day is a plain Untruth the whole World knows better though we do not Judaize For Worship was not made for Time but Time for Worship Nor is there any Day Holy of it self though Holy things may be performed upon a Day But he tells us yes For the fourth Commandment being as Moral as the rest and that requiring a Sabbath-Day the Sabbath-Day is perpetual also Answ But this hurts us not since the Jewish Sabbath is not observed by the Church of England But if a Sabbath-Day be Moral because mentioned in the fourth Commandment Then because the Jews seventh-day-Sabbath is there particularly mentioned Their Sabbath must be only Moral and consequently Unalterable But he sayes No For that the Apostles and succeeding Church of God may very reasonably dispose of us in matters of this Nature And it is obligatory from the Ten Commandments every one of which is moral and binds all Christians still and therefore the Church of England though these rebellious Quakers disown their Mother doth make it part of her Liturgy Answ If it be as Moral as all the rest as it must be if it be Moral because of its being there they could no more dispense with it then with any of the other Commandments To call that Day Moral and make it Alterable is Ridiculous 'T is true the Apostles met upon the First Day and not on the Seventh but as that released us from any pretended Morality of the Seventh so neither did it confer any Morality upon the First yea so far were they from it that not one speaks any such thing but Paul much the
being an Illustration of the Baptism intended not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God or as some have it interrogatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inquisition or Enquiry alluding to the Oracle URIM and THUMMIM by which Men have Boldness and Access to God so as to render the Verse Cui etiam ex adverso oppositus nos servat Baptismus non is quo carnis sordes abjiciuntur sed is quo fit ut bona conscientia Deum interroget per resurrectionem Christi i. e. To which the directly Opposite Baptism also now saveth us not That by which the Filth of the Flesh is cast off but That by which it is effected that a good Conscience may ask God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ From all which two things result First that the Verse ought to be thus rendred Answerable to which Figure Baptism now also saveth us not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh but the Account of a good Conscience to God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ And indeed the most disputable part of this Verse is abundantly confirmed on our side by the Simplicity of the Ancient English French Spanish Translators And I wonder that any Man of common Sense not greatly abused by Prejudice or Custom can think that the Baptism mentioned should be that of Water when the middle of the Verse provides this material Distinction not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh the Effect of Outward Water but the Answer of a Good Conscience to God the Fruits of the Holy Ghost alone to that very End that People should not think so I mean that it was a Water-Baptism 2 ly It may not be improper for us to observe That if one Verse hath such Variety of Copies Readings Transpositions Senses as hath been noted beside what we could yet produce that they are at a miserable pass for an Universal Living Constant and Unerring Rule who esteem the present Scriptures such exclusive of the Spirit which Time Variety of Transcribers Translators Interpreters Expositors have rendred so Uncertain But if we had been unprovided of all this to our Defence what has our Adversary to do to charge us with a Discontinuance of Water Baptism till he had first clear'd his own Opinion from Popish Innovation and Invention What Scripture or pure Antiquity has he for INFANT BAPTISM one of the Unscriptural and Senseless Ceremonies of his Religion about which such as he makes more Stir then that of the Holy Ghost A Man may guess what a Christian he is and how well he is versed in Christ's Doctrine who can call a little Water shed by a Priest's Hand the Door into God's Kingdom How much is this short of the Romish Priest's making his God who sayes the Bread is Christ after Consecration since Christ who is God over all Blessed for ever saith He is that Door which H. Hallywell will have his Infant-Water Baptism to be §. 5. Of the Supper But he saith of us and the Familists By the same Diabolical Spirit wherewith they are possessed they lay aside the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper as a thing too Carnal In Opposition to which he produceth Matth. 26.26 27. How that Christ took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said take eat this is my Body Then he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it St. Mark Chap. 14. repeats the very same and sayes they all drank of it But St. Luke Chap. 22.19 and St. Paul 1 Cor. 11.24 added these Words do this in Remembrance of me which import both a Commission and Direction to use and continue them Answ 'T is granted that Christ eating the Passover with his Disciples He did familiarly represent that Flesh Blood which he gave for the World that whosoever eat thereof should have Life Eternal abiding in them Nor is this strange For it was his Familiar Way oâ— opening his deepest Mysteries and recommending the most excellent of all his Commandments witness his Discourse concerning the Blessed Unity of Christ his Members by the Similitude of a Vine and its Branches And both his Washing his Disciples Feet requiring them to follow his Example That this Practice was enjoyned his Disciples is not warranâ—ed from Matthew Mark or John Luke indeed has these Words do this in Remembrance of me as our Adversary observes But that they should be Paul's also as he affirms is both an abuse of the Scriptures and them that read them For these are the Apostle's Words as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup c. which amounts to no more then this when ye do eat this Supper do it worthily so that there is no Command to do it though as often as they did do it they were exhorted to do it discerningly As often as you do it and Do it often are differing Sayings And that Luke's Words do not perpetuate it especially as now used I shall prove First If it be but a Sacrament or Sign as saith our Adversary then can it not of right continue longer then till the Thing signified shall come Do this till that is when that is come till the coming of which the Sign was to be used there remains no longer any Institution Now between all Types and Antitypes Shadows and Substances Parables and Morals there must needs be some Resemblance or else the End of their being used will be lost to them for whose sakes they were appointed For instance Christ is called a Door because no Man comes to the Father but through him A Lyon from his Strength Dominion A Lamb because of his Innocency A Vine because of that excellent Fruit he brings forth and lastly he calls himself by the Name of Bread because of that inward Strength Nourishment such receive that feed Spiritually upon him wherefore the Substance shadowed out by this outward Bread Wine is no other then Christ as the Bread that came down from above and that Flesh and Blood which all were to eat and drink of that would have Eternal Life mentioned at large Joh. 6. So that admitting of a Command it must be thus read Do this till I come who am the Heavenly Bread Flesh and Blood that give Eternal Life to them that feed thereon which Bread the Apostle very well understood when in the foregoing Chapter to the Corinthians he thus delivered himself I speak as to wise Men Judge ye what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ For we being many are One BREAD and One Body for we are all PARTAKERS of that ONE BREAD 1 Cor. 10.15 16 17. And this Christ himself intimated in the following Verse to that Passage out of Matthew But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of this Fruit of
Light and Lamb that taketh away the Sins of the World not only to take away Sins past through Remission but Cleanse from the Nature Root and Ground of Sin by His Holy Blood which sprinkles all Consciences that wait and walk in the Light the Just Man's Path from Dead Works to serve the Living Lord God in Uprightness for ever For this Cause are We brought out into the World behold the Vessel we are embark'd in our Lading and the Country we make for The Vessel Truth the Lading Faith and Good Works Our Souls the Passengers and the Country the Land of Everlasting Rest This I could not but present you with that no Endeavours of our Enemies may be able to lodge a False Character of us and our Principles with you Though I must faithfully tell you that I should wrong my own Reason as well as your Judgment and speak against my Conscience too if I should let in one Thought of this Man's Ability to do us any great Mischief with you for out of no Insult but in Real Truth I take Him for a very Unskilfull Pilot on our Coast a Man unacquainted with our Concerns and a most Incompetent Person for an Antagonist Accept for I can ask no Excuse for my Plainness I have not fawned I never could and now much less These Matters not only deserve but require greatest Plainness And Men that believe they shall have to do with God after they have left having to do with Men ought to act with greatest Circumspection and Sincerity Remember your Original remember your End and know assuredly that but Breath is in your Nostrils and for every Deed done in this Mortal Body whether it be good or whether it be evil will God the righteous Judge require an Account from You before his great Tribunal where may you all be able to answer with Joy I am Your Faithful Friend William Penn THE CONTENTS CHAPTER I. HIs Epistle considered page 13. CHAP. II. His Comparisons of us with ancient Hereticks considered p. 21. CHAP. III. His Comparison between us and the Familists p. 30. Of Christ's Ministration p. 31. Of Revelation p. 37. Of Miracles p. 40. Of Forms of Prayer p. 43. Of Baptism p. 45. Of the Supper p. 57. CHAP. IV. Of Holy Dayes p. 63. Of Holy Places p. 67. Of Tythes p. 72. Of Gospel-Ministers p. 81. CHAP. V. That Quakery is not Saduceism as charged p. 88. CHAP. VI. The People called Quakers not inconsistent with Government p. 92. Swearing not lawful to true Christians p. 96. CHAP. VII Of the Nature and Sufficiency of the Light within p. 101. CHAP. VIII Of Lyes and Slanders promoted by him against us p. 110. CHAP. IX Of Perfection p. 114. CHAP. X. Our Wayes of Conversion Scriptural and justified p. 117. The Conclusion to the Justices of the Peace p. 131. ERRATA READER SOme Faults have escaped the Press which thou art desired to Excuse and Correct the Book otherwise asks and I hope needs neither Page Line Error Corrected 13 14 he I 35 5 and who 44 26 it be it to be 66 1 I I should 67 9 any any thing 71 28 a House Houses 91 28 object and Faith and blot out and Faith 98 19 to to be  26 their his 100 22 Affirming Affronting 107 25 Jo. 1.1 Jo. 1.1 5. 112 1 was done was not done Wisdom Justified OF HER CHILDREN From the Ignorance Calumny of H. HALLYWELL CHAP. I. His Epistle considered THe Adversary we have to do withal begins his Dedicatory Epistle thus The daily and Numerous Encrease of the Heretical Generation of Quakers in these Parts made me a little more then ordinarily inquisitive into their Doctrines and Perswasions which â—â— found not only Destructive of Civil Government but Religion it self 'T is natural with Ignorance to be Proud and Envy to slander His Enquiry has been at our Adversaries Door not ours They that read him and those Books that lately came out may know his Informers without further Cost But Book-Robbery though to Untruth is an old Priest-trick If his Sort of rendring us Unconsistent with Government could incense the Civil Magistrate to our Destruction we know very well Traducers would not be wanting Truth has never been persecuted under that Name Heresy is an old Blot the Devil has cast upon it that it may become suspected with the Simple And Christians were of old worried in Beast Skins Such Coverings the present Heathen Spirit has provided for us But as we cannot but bless the Name of Almighty God that he has brought us to the Knowledge of his good old Way of Truth in the Inward Parts So do we affirm it to be neither averse from Government nor destructive of Religion right Government being according to it and pure Religion being to keep our selves Unspotted from the World and to do or suffer which we have ever done and God knows to that is the Tendency of our Holy Principle to wit Moderation Justice Industry Temperance and Upright Conversation But the true English of this wicked Suggestion is no more then this The Quakers and their Perswasion are inconsistent with Will-Worshippers Hirelings Men-Pleasers Persecutors Oppressors They give the World an Alarm for these things and Round their Ears with the Necessity of walking in so streight and narrow a Way as gives great Disquiet to the Libertin and brings the Priests Qualification into great Question and his Trade into absolute Danger No wonder then so many hard Names are cast upon us to deter such as are unacquainted with us and beget Scruples in them that are Well disposed to us However this Contentment his Paragraph gives that notwithstanding all this Opposition we daily and numerously encrease for which my Soul is greatly glad and my Knees bow to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would continue to prosper and speed his own great Work of Redemption in the Earth But he goes on For what else can be expected from them who deny the Scripture to be the Word of God and Rule and Guide in matters of Salvation Answ We do not deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and Rule and Guide in matters of Salvation out of any Undervalue of them but from that reverent Regard we have to Chrâ—st the Great and Eminent Word who was with God and was God by whom all things were made Who is the Way Truth and Life the great Prophet Judge Law-giver and Priest to his People whose Lips preserve Knowledge He is the New Covenant Rule and Judge and without him we can neither understand nor believe the Scriptures as we should do Nay so far are they from being a Rule c. that a thousand Cases may happen wherein they cannot be a Direction to us Nay they may be burned drowned torn lost mistranslated added to diminisht Men may be robbed of them imprisoned from them but none of all this can or ought to be said of the Great Gospel-Rule