LETTERS

Concerning the

ENGLISH NATION.

I

LETTER I.

ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε

QUAKER S

WAS of opinion, that the doctrine and hiftory of fo extraordinary a people, were worthy the attention of the curious. To acquaint myself with them, I made a vifit to one of the moft eminent Quakers in England, who after having traded thirty years, had the wifdom to prescribe limits to his fortune and

to his defires, and was fettled in a little folitude not far from London. Being come into it, I perceiv'd a small, but regularly built house, vaftly neat, but without the leaft pomp of furniture. The Quaker who own'd it, was a hale ruddy complexion'd old man, who had never been afflicted with fickness, because he had always been infenfible to paffions, and a perfect stranger to intemperance. I never in my life faw a more noble or a more engaging afpect than his. He was drefs'd like thofe of his perfuafion, in a plain coat, without pleats in the fides, or buttons on the pockets and fleeves; and had on a beaver, the brims of which were horizontal, like thofe of our clergy. He did not uncover himself when I appear'd, and advanc'd towards me without once ftooping his body; but there appear'd more politenefs in the open, humane air of his countenance, than in the custom of drawing one leg behind the other, and taking that from the head, which is made to cover it. Friend, fays he to me, I perceive thou art a ftranger, but if I can do any thing for thee, only tell me. Sir,

fays

fays I to him, bending forwards, and advancing as is ufual with us, one leg towards him, I flatter myself that my just curiofity will not give you the least offence, and that you'll do me the honour to inform me of the particulars of your religion. The people of thy country, replied the Quaker, are too full of their bows and compliments, but I never yet met with one of them who had fo much curiofity as thy felf. Come in, and let us first dine together. I ftill continued to make fome very unfeasonable ceremonies, it not being eafy to difengage one's self at once from habits we have been long us'd and after taking part of a frugal meal, which began and ended with a prayer to God, I began to question my courteous hoft. I open'd with that which good Catholicks have more than once made to Huguenots. My dear fir, fays I, were you ever baptiz'd? I never was, replied the Quaker, nor any of my brethren. Zouns, fays I to him, you are not Christians then. Friend, replies the old man in a foft tone of voice, fwear not; we are Christians, and endeavour to be good B 2 Chriftians,

to;

Christians, but we are not of opinion, that the fprinkling water on a child's head makes him a Chriftian. Heavens! fays I, fhock'd at his impiety, you have then forgot that Christ was baptiz'à by St. John. Friend, replies the mild Quaker once again, fwear not. Chrift indeed was baptiz'd by John, but he himself never baptiz'd any one. We are the disciples of Chrift, not of John. I pitied very much the fincerity of my worthy Quaker, and was absolutely for forcing him to get himfelf christned. Were that all, replied he very gravely, we would fubmit chearfully to baptifm, purely in compliance with thy weakness, for we don't condemn any person who uses it; but then we think, that those who profess a religion of fo holy, so spiritual a nature as that of Christ, ought to abstain to the utmost of their power from the Jewish ceremonies. O unaccountable! fays I, what! baptism a Jewish ceremony? Yes, my friend fays he, fo truly Jewish, that a great many Jews use the baptifm of John to this day. Look into ancient authors, and thou wilt find that John only reviv❜d this practice;

practice; and that it had been us'd by the Hebrews, long before his time, in like manner as the Mahometans imitated the Ishmaelites in their pilgrimages to Mecca. Jefus indeed fubmitted to the baptism of John, as he had fuffer'd himself to be circumcis'd; but circumcifion and the washing with water ought to be abolish'd by the baptism of Christ, that baptifm of the fpirit, that ablution of the foul, which is the falvation of mankind. Thus the forerunner faid, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whofe fhoes I am not worthy to bear: he Shall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft and with fire. Likewife Paul the great apoftle of the Gentiles, writes as follows to the Corinthians; Chrift fent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and indeed Paul never baptiz'd but two perfons with water, and that very much against his inclinations. He circumcis'd his difciple Timothy, and the other difciples likewife circumcis'd all who were willing

St. Matth. iii. 11.

+ 1 Cor. i. 17.