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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85175	The genealogie of Christianity and of Christians. Declared in a sermon at Mercers Chappel before the Right Honourable the Lord Maior of the City of London, April 28. 1650 and now thus published for the undeceiving of those, who say they are Christians, and are not, but do lie; and for the establishment and encouragement of those, who having named the name of Christ, do indeed depart (even in this hour of apostacy) from all iniquity, by C.F. one of the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in the ministery of the new Testament.	Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.	1650 (1650)	Wing F570; Thomason E599_2; ESTC R202091	31,190	41

observe (a) Luc. 12.13 When one said unto Jesus Christ Speak to my Brother that he divide the inheritance with me he would not intermeddle in the matter which belonged not to him but answered Man who made me a Iudge or a Divider among you He would not be a Busie-body (b) He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Bishop of souls 1 Pet. 2. ult but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A busie body Bishop The ambitious Clergy of all ages have been notorious for the contrary witness the Histories of the several Kingdomes round about in other mens matters In this thing all true Christians should approve themselves his Disciples treading in this very foot-step Oh take heed of stretching your selves beyond your line keep within your compasse shine as bright as you may within your own Orbs move with as much advantage to the world in your proper Sphears as is possible so many as interpose and intrude into anothers Province are utterly unlike to Jesus Christ And then Thirdly in point of Suffering when Christ was brought before Authority he did not reproach and vilifie them but with meeknesse of wisdome or mock wisdome spake to Pilate concerning truth and other matters that passed between them when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatened not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously and saith the Apostle he hath left us an (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leaving a written copy And Disciples ought to write after their Masters copy Example that we should tread in his steps And truly in all Ages Genuine Christians have made it a principal part of their care to approve themselves the diciples of the Lord Jesus in this particular Now in the Third place Christians are denominated from Christ because they promote his Interest consider therefore what is the great Interest of Jesus Christ in its several parts First of all the glorifying the Father in the Son Secondly the glorifying himself with the Father And Thirdly the convincing the world of Sin and Righteousnesse and Judgement by the Spirit This is part of the great Interest of Jesus Christ that the world through him might be saved Now if you are Christians upon the account mentioned in the Text you will as Disciples of Christ 1 Cor. 10.31 carry on his Interest then whether you eat or drink or what ever you do you will aim at the glory of God 1 Pet. 4.11 that God in all things may be glorifyed through Jesus Christ And again if you are christians Joh. 5.23 you will indeavour that the name of Christ may be magnifyed and exalted also as you desire the Father may be magnified Joh. 17.5 and exalted Joh. 13.31 32. So likewise It concerns christ nearly and it is a great part of his Interest Ioh. 17.23 That the world might know that the Father hath sent him and that they might know the errandupon which he is sent the saving of sinners Now every one of you who are the Disciples of christ of a truth should according to his Talent received say and do as the Apostle Iohn of himself and others 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 That which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the wo●d of life That will we declare unto others that they may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ It is the property of Disciples true to their Master to multiply their number and gain in others The Disciples of Christ christians have greater cause than any other to pursue this part of their Masters Interest and an obligation lies upon them accordingly Again another part of christs Interest which is very conducible to this honour so far as it is advanced● is the * Psa 110.1 Heb. 10.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 henceforth expecting till his foes be made his ●oot stool making all his foes his foot-stool the bringing them all down even under his feet The present Interest of Christ is the Revealing and destroying of his Grand Enemy The Autichrist and the subduing the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication with the Whore of Babylon who having one mind give their power and strength unto the beast and make war with the Lamb. * Rev. 13.2 The Dragon gave him his powet or army his seat and great authority Vide Med. in loc The interest of the beast is to maintain his power authority given by the Dragon even beyond the two and forty moneths allotted to him by divine appointment The Man of sin the Son of perdition assumeth to himself and accepteth from others names and titles of honour and glory Nay exalteth himself above all that is called God or worshipped c. Openeth his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name at the same time gratifieth the Kings of the earth with magnificent titles giving to the King of Spain the title of the most Catholick King to the King of France the most Christian King to the King * Henty 8th Vid. Fox Acts and Mon. of England for helping the Papacy against Luther Defendor of the faith c. Now consider it is the interest of Christ in this age to obscure and stain all this splendor and glory by his shining forth in the greatest glory of that mosthonourable title Lord of Lords King of Kings intended purposely for these times wherein we live Now therefore O all ye Christians that are indeed disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ awake awake the enemies of Christ are now to be made his foot-stool pursue this interest to the utmost in your several places and callings see to it that you beleeve and rceive a compleat victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his mark and over the number of his name see to it that you have not his mark either in your fore-heads or in your right hands for the Lamb shall overcome and they that are with him called and chosen and faithfull And this shall suffice for the 3 reason why the Disciples of Christ are called Christians because after the manner of true disciples they promote the proper and severall interests of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ and those who are otherwise minded cannot in good congruity of reason be properly called or accounted christians look whose interest you most promote his disciples indeed you are It s a Noble Study seriously to enquire what is the present great interest of Jesus Christ and a great honour to all true Christians to carry it on effectually And then fourthly and chiefly though lastly Christians were and are so called from Christ in respect of the Similitude nay I may say Identity of their Principles For what though men profess to entertain and receive the truths of Christ the pure Evangelical doctrine distinguished from all other doctrines truths in

THE GENEALOGIE OF CHRISTIANITY AND OF CHRISTIANS DECLARED In a Sermon at Mercers Chappel before the Right Honourable the Lord Maior of the City of LONDON April 28. 1650 And now thus published For the undeceiving of those who say they are Christians and are not but do lie and for the Establishment and Encouragement of those who having named the Name of Christ do indeed depart even in this hour of Apostacy from all Iniquity By C. F. one of the Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Ministery of the new Testament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anonym Christus non quaerit utrum adhaereas huic vel illi nationali Ecclesiae sed utrum a●haereas verae fidaei non utrum sis Romanensis Anglicanus Sco●●cus c. sed utrum sis vere sanctificatus et renovatus Daven in Coloss cap. 3. ver 11. London Printed for Peter Cole at the Printing-Press in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange 1650. To the Right Honourable THOMAS FOOT Lord Major of this famous City of LONDON My Lord HOw far the Great Antichrist and degenerate Church of Rome have eclipsed and thereby obscured the originall glory of true Christianity is best known to that remnant of overcomming Christians in this Age who are worthy in Christ his account to walk with him in white Assuredly Christendome as it is called for distinction sake is sunck into so low a degree of degeneracy as that in respect of Idolatry and Prophannesse of impiety and iniquity the Catholicks and Protestants also for the most part do so walk as if it were their studied design to render themselves utterly unlike to Iesus Christ and unto this kind of Christians he will profess at the last day I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Oh therefore how doth it concern the faithfull Disciples of Iesus Christ to bring forth the Register of the Genealogie of the primitive Christians to emblazon according to the rules of Gospel Heraldry the native honour of this thrice noble Family and that by an ornamental carriage and Conversation But alas how few do make it their holy ambition to display before the world the glorious Excellency of true Christianity by acting in the life and power of this New-Testament unction ●uc 1.17 It was Prophesied of John the Baptist that he should go before the Messiah in the power and spirit of Elias but it is the honour of the Saints now in these times of the Gospell to go in and out to do and to suffer in the power spirit of the Messiah or Christ himself may the number of such Christians be multiplied exceedingly may the great number of those that act walk in the power Spirit of Antichrist of the Dragon of the Beast of the false-Prophet decrease abundantly Rev 16.13 may the Generation of Renegadoes and Back-sliders of self-condemned Hereticks and Apostatized Professours who put the Son of God to an open shame that speak scornfully of the Word the Spirit the ways the Ordnances of Iesus Christ may they every one be snared and taken prevented and frustrated in al their un-Christian Ends and means tending thereunto may they never prosper in any of their Assemblies Teachings Exhortations which are of any tendency to the disparagement of the wholesome words even the words of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Tim 6 3 4. and the doctrine which is according to Godlinesse and let all the Disciples of Christ all sincere Christians say Amen My Lord what thoughts of heart have been occasioned by your Honours Commandement and mine engagement for the printing of the ensuing Sermon is best known to the Author of so impersect and unpolished a Discourse upon such a weighty Theme There was always an utter aversenesse in my naturall Genius to appear on the Stage upon this account John 7.4 And I can say through grace I have never sought to he known openly or to shew my self to the world as being conscious to a great unsitnesse of Ingeny and to the want of Spirituall Dexterity for any work of this nature But since it is your Lordships pleasure that this Sermon should be preached over again in this other form behold after tedious attendance for dispatch upon the proper instruments of this kind of publication I humbly present it before your Honour this second time with some few convenient clauses here and there superadded beseeching God who hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty to command a Blessing upon these weak endeavours wherein I did and do aim at the new-Christianizing of such nominal Christians as are really without God and without Christ dead in trespasses and sins and I would to God that all that heard me that day were both almost and altogether Christians yea Christians upon the best account so as to be found unto great praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ Your Lordships to command in the service of the Gospel CHR. FEAKE Acts 11.26 The last clause And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch HIstory and Prophecy are the Alpha and Omega of the holy Scriptures and these two the Knowledge of things past from the beginning of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the foreknowledge of things to come until the ending of time et adhuc and beyond are the great desire and delight of the intellectual world All the sons of men naturally thirsting after nothing more than this kind of knowledge yea even the excellency and perfection thereof Now there are none other writings extant in the world worthy to be compared with the word of God in respect of these two For first if you take notice of Scripture History it takes the crown of glory from off the head of all other Histories for verity and antiquity all other Records are of a later date and have not the excellency and the glory of Truth infallible stamped on them Then secondly Praedictiones aliae suum gradum habent spiritustamen vaticinia longe supereminent Calv. if you consider Scripture Prophecies all other predictions and prognostications all the divinations that ever were in the world besides cannot be a paralel to these for their certainty and sufficiency Now this book of the new Testament it is an History of divers evangelical transactions undertaken and managed by the Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in the world immediately after his death resurrection and ascention into glory and the Church could not be well without it as ye may clearly discern by its great usefulnesse in a true Gospel reformation Providence I say hath well provided this part of the Scripture for the advantage of the Saints especially of those Disciples that come out of Babylon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 8.39 Let him that readeth understand wherein when they read and understand they may know in many particulars how

from the present History Est nominum impositio alia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how this name or appellation was given whether occasionally and accidentally or from deliberation by election and choise as they usually distinguish in this point If upon consideration whether by Paul and Barnabas or whether by the people of Antioch that were without discerning this people in their doctrine and practise to exalt the name and honour of the Lord Jesus Christ onely and altogether Or whether it was given by their enemies by way of reproach As they were called also Nazarens calling them Christians after the name of Christ in a scornfull and ignominious manner Or lastly whether it were imposed by the special direction of the Spirit this is not easily determined here by a negligent Reader although it be a truth most evident that this name was given at the first to the Disciples of Iesus Christ But yet other Scriptures will help us in this thing nay I cannot but bring this verse under trial in order to the finding out of the true ground of the imposition of this name upon the Disciples of Jesus Christ for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereas it is in the translation rendred paslively they were called and so no account is given by whom they were so called or named if you render it actively the text will bear it so a clear account is given of the nomenclators who they were viz. Paul and Barnabas for thus it may be read And it came to passe that they assembled together with the Church a whole year and that they taught much people or a great multitude and that they called or named the Disciples Christians first in Antioch But if the most skilfull in this language will contend for the passive construction of the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kings translators version I shall not further intermeddle though much may be said I perceive pro and con in this dubious case concerning the two first words of this verse in reference to the last clause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but as I said let it suffice that there are other texts of Scripture which do significantly enough expresse the divine approbation of this title as here it s at the first imposed as in 1 Pet. 4.16 he had said in the 14. verse Jf ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye c But let none of you Saints Disciples suffer as a murtherer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busie bodie yet if any suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed neither of the name nor of the sufferings or punishments but let him glorifie God on this behalf So that you see plainly the Holy Ghost owneth this name however it might be given at the first Vox sit propria determinata et adae quata rei significandae brevis canon sed tres vocis magnas virtutes complectitur Keck log lib. 1. cap. 1. Pontificii non parum officiunt doctrinae de Ecclesia et ejus membris cum vocem Clerus quam Ap. Petrus tribuit omnibus fidelibus Christi membris quadam arrogantia temeraria ad turbam Sacerdotum restringuntet sacrificulorum quasi illi soli sint sors illa et hareditas Domini at que idcirco reliquae Christi ●embra quodnm supercilioso respectu vocant Laicos or by whomsoever it being a name or title very proper and very significant a word adaequate to the persons named and intended in that name why therefore it is to be accepted as given of God to the Disciples of Jesus Christ yea and this precious truth this noble appellation is not to be parted with easily by the saints they may safely appropriate it to themselves the whole and the onely family of Jesus Christ to any other sort of men besides how clamourous soever in their claims it doth not appertain As in a like case both in the Catholick Church of Rome and the national Church of England as from custome and by tradition and not from Scripture they do call it the Priests the Prelates and their Curates do assume and arrogate to themselves onely the word Clergy the Lords lot or inheritance calling the ordinary people the Laity and and the best of them lay-Elders themselves Divines the Clergy yea the Church whereas in the word of truth the Saints all of them great and small are the Lords Clergy the Church * 1 pet 5 3.2 Pet. 1.4 partakers of the Divine nature and therefore how necessary is it to reform and rectifie the very names and titles of things and persons lest otherwise the strangers intermeddle with the childrens joy and that worthy name * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby they are of right named and distinguished should through their ignorance filence and negligence come to be more and more blasphemed and abused Now for the managing of this truth for the best advantage I shall first proceed to the removal of all those which walk in any degree of contrariety thereunto from having any part or fellowship in the dignity of this honourable appellation so far as in me is and that is by way of negation peremptorily denying those to be justly or properly called Christians who indeed are not such upon the terms mentioned in the text visibly Disciples Secondly I shall insist upon the true notation of the word Christian and then give by way of affirmation the honour of that title to whom the honour thereof is due Thirdly I shall be ready to give an account what congruity in reason what rational ground there is from Scripture and otherwise to enervate nay to make void the title of meer pretenders and usurpers and in the authority and power of divine truth to put the Disciples of Iesus Christ in possession of that honourable prerogative which of right belongs unto them And these three things I am the more carefull to fix upon because as in all other writings and discourses we must necessarily put a difference between an abusive word or phrase and a proper expression So here we must keep close to the form of sound words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not call or account any man a Christian that is not a Christian in deed and truth that was never yet a Disciple of Jesus Christ no not by night and secretly for fear of the Jews as Nicodemus it is to commit an abuse in speaking Vocabula sunt propria cum his ipsis rebus significandis adhibentur propter quas sunt instituta huic virtuti opponitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 magna obseuritatis saepe etiam erroris causa it is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which hath been of very evil consequence in this matter for many generations as afterward you will well perceive The first of these I shall speak to in the general and in particular therefore in the general consider that the worst and