The Sandy Foundation Shaken : or, Those so generally believed and applauded doctrines, of one God, subsisting in three distinct and separate persons ; the impossibility of God's pardoning sinners, without a plenary satisfaction ; the justification of impure persons by an imputative righteousness refuted. From the authority of Scripture testimonies, and right reason.

William Penn

[John Darby], London, 1668

[Early Quaker Theology:  William Penn's Argument against the Trinity, the doctrine of justification, and Christ's atonement.  His writing was deemed blasphemy by Anglicans and Penn to be imprisoned in the Tower of London.  Pennsylvania was founded as an independent colony as a refuge for Quakers from religious oppression, this belief in freedom of conscious and faith through reason resonated with early and contemporary Quaker thought]  First edition.  36 pages ; 20 cm (4to).  Disbound.  A few marginal notes.  A few small holes with restoration to the first 8 leaves.  Held in handsome 1/4 calf, marbled folding case.  Penn uses Biblical verse (Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Cor.8.6., Mic. 7.18, Exod. 23.7, 1 Kings viii 23 Isa xl 25 Isa xlv 5 xlviii 17 Ps lxxi 22 Zec xiv 9, etc.) to argue that the foundation of Christian faith is in the oneness of God.  He argues that the trinity is a later addition by Bishop Athanasian from Athansius (conceived in ignorance and maintained by cruelty) and not consistent with Biblical verse or reason.  Penn goes on to argue that the Trinitarian doctrine is inconsistent with Jesus Christ's sacrifice, the continuing inward work to find redemption, and the righteousness and love of God.  For this work, Penn was imprisoned for 8 months in solitary confinement in the Tower of London and threatened by the Bishop of London with death unless he renounce his beliefs.  Penn's famous response shows the strength of his convictions, "My prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot: for I owe my conscience to no mortal man."  Refs: Bronner & Fraser, Penn's Published Writings, 4A; ESTC R38009; Smith, Friends' Books, page II:283. Controversial Literature. Wing P1356.