Page:Bible testimony, on abstinence from the flesh of animals as food.pdf/31

 for silting down to meat with unwashed hands: in answer to their murmuring  said, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth &c." In other words, not any little soil taken into the mouth by eating with unwashed hands can be said to defile the man; this we apprehend is the plain and obvious meaning of the passage. It is further worthy of remark that these words were spoken about twenty years prior to the Apostolic Decree, to which we have already directed your attention; and it is not probable the Apostles would make a decree, directly in contradiction to the declaration of whose cause they advocated, and by whose authority they had stood forth as the champions of the Gospel Dispensation.

The vision of Peter as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles is often produced by those who would sustain the flesh eating system, as proof indubitable, that man is sanctioned by the Christian Scriptures in eating flesh. The language recorded, as addressed to Peter on that occasion is—"Rise Peter, kill and eat." But before we acquiesce in such an interpretation, let us first enquire,—if Peter was directed by this vision and this language to kill and eat animals and other reptile existences, did he do as he was commanded? He certainly did not; for after being exhibited before him three times in succession, he expressly says, they "were all drawn up again into heaven." Let us again enquire whether there is any thing like reasonableness in concluding that living animals, of flesh and blood, were actually let down from Heaven in a sheet, when we are assured that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven?—Again let us ask, What instruction Peter derive from this vision? "Of a truth" says he "I perceive that is no respecter of persons: but that in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him." Thus as the testimony appears to us, Peter learned not to call any common or unclean. He was