they ought to walk and to please God as the Disciples and Churches here mentioned walked and pleased God I think it meet to give you a brief narrative of such passages from the first Chapter unto this present Scripture as will make up a proper and a necessary manuduction unto the ensuing and intended doctrine After the Ascention of the man Christ Iesus into heaven Heb. i. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on high as the Holy Ghost phraseth it there were about an hundred and twenty men and women assembled together with one accord in one place Disciples they are called waiting for the mission of the holy spirit Christ had foretold or told them before that unlesse he went away the Comforter would not come now he being gone to the Father and they by virtue of his command abiding at Jerusalem and waiting for the promise of the Father the sending and descending of the Spirit Behold in the second chapter the Holy Ghost comes down suddenly in a most glorious ministration that the like was never heard of in the world before and sate upon each of the Apostles in the appearance of cloven tongues like as of fire whereby they were enabled on a sudden to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance so that the Jews and Proselites out of every nation there reckoned up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most part of the nations in the world at least under the Roman Empire heard them speak in their own language or proper dialect the wonderfull works of God Peter speaking a few words in the middest of an amazed and mocking multitude the Lord did so prosper and blesse what he and the rest spake that about three thousand souls gladly received the word and were added to that first new Testament-church Afterward the multitude of the Disciples increased exceedingly But now Satan the God of this world who blindeth the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them indeavoured what he could to prevent the progresse of it by raising up a cruel persecution against the Church Hereupon the Church was scattered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faedum in modum verberâ—bus lacero faedum in modum tracco 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haling dragging men and women to prison all except the Apostles so there was the first new-Testament-Church scattered which was but lately gathered but by an over-ruling hand of providence the scattering of that first Church was the gathering of many for some went one way some another way and where ever they came they were instant in preaching the word preaching the Lord Jesus holding forth the doctrine of the Gospel Philip went down to Samaria and there brought in aboundance of people to Jesus Christ In this interim there were planted Churches throughout all Iudaea Galile and Samaria And in this eleventh chapter that we may make haste to the words of the text at ver 19. you have an historical account of the glorious successe of the Gospel in the more remote parts among the Gentiles Now they that were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travailed as far as Phaenice and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the word to none but the Iews onely They thought they alone were the people ro whom the glad tidings of the Messiah should be published and proclaimed but now at this Antioch the hand of the Lord was so with them Vide Calvin in locum that a great number of the Graecians believed and turned to the Lord. This being reported to the Church which was in Jerusalem for the Apostles being at Jerusalem had oportunity of bringing in others to the obedience of the faith in stead of the dispersed Disciples it was matter of great joy and and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch Civitas ab Antiocho magno denominata Lyr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antioch it bare the name of one of the Kings of Syria one of them was a bitter enemie of the Church of the Jews Antiochus Epiphanes and for his rage and madnesse they changed Epiphanes into Epimanes and so instead of Antiochus the Illustrious they called him Antiochus the * furious Or Antiochus the mad In this City Antioch as formerly in Samaria two eminent thrones of Satan the Gospel wonderfully prevailed and was readily imbraced by a great number much people was added to the Lord Paul and Barnabas come hither assemble themselves with the Church a whole year and teach much people And now when Christ had Disciples among the Jews and Disciples among the Gentiles when he had a Church at Ierusalem That is A. Congregation of Saints called out of the world by the word to the fellowship of the Gospel Churches in Iudea Galile and Samaria * a Church at Antioch being a very considerable number of people distinguished from the rest of the children of men having Laws and Ordinances ways of Worship differing from all other they are called by a new distinguishing name they are called Christians And the Disciples were called Christians first at Antioch that was the first place where they received this appellation and from thence the other Churches of Jesus Christ who hitherto were called Saints Distinctio voeis ambiguae primum sit in omni rerum consideratione Kec Who is as the wise man and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing Eccl. 8.1 Disciples and Disciples of the Lord c. Continuance of time hath rendred this word a very ambiguous word I mean the word Christian and therefore this being the time of reformation I speak not of carnal external reformation but of a reformation intended by Christ and his Spirit we must indeavour to reform not onely persons and things but the names of things and indeed reformation of this nature is nothing else but a Reduction of persons and things and names to their original causes in their first constitution to form them again as it were which cannot be understood without explication and distinction as the rule of the School is yea that maxim in al the Schools of Philosophie and Theologie is most true useful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Planto in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that man which would teach aright must first of all make a diligent enquiry into the names of things whereby they are called lest being miscalled or misnamed there be a misapprehension or a misunderstanding of things themselves so then this is the truth which I shall from these words recommend unto this audience this day and I desire it may take hold upon all your hearts not onely in the explication of it but application also The name or title or appellation CHRISTIANS was given originally unto the Disciples of Iesus Christ. I mean Disciples exclusively and inclusively excluding all others including all such Now it is somewhat dark as
the world what though they should professe to have their conversation in heaven in respect of holy duties unblameable conversation and sweet carriage in doing good and in not being of the world free in outward appearance from covetousness and covetous practises and free from uncleanness filthiness and fordidness of living and what though they should seem to join with the people of God in carrying on the cause of God and interest of Christ against the common enemy yet if they should be and do all this and much more then this if they should not do it from that principle which is proper to Christians but from a principle of violence from without or a principle set on work by virtue of an end that is not suitable and congruous unto the great end that Christ propoundeth then certainly all the glory and honour of these men would lie in the dust notwithstanding all the three former and this is on purpose brought in to spoil the claim and title of the best painted hypocrite or false Christian though acting in the most glorious garb and carriage of himself And therefore mark and consider what was the principle of Jesus Christ Here some were observed to sit and â—eep from which he acted if any of you are sleepy and drowsie rouze up your selves for this is of great importance The principle by which Christ Jesus had his being in the world and acted and suffered and carried on the work that appertained to him it was the spirit of God as you heard before in the 61 of Isaiah the first The spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath anointed me the spirit hath anointed me nay the spirit is that anointing in the book of Exodus a place formerly hinted you There the composition of that holy anointing oil which was to be poured upon the type of Jesus Christ the high Priest Aaron and upon his sons and upon all the holy vessels and utensils of the Tabernacle is at large described it is compounded of the richest spices the most aromatical the most odoriferous spices together with the oil Olive an Hin as it is there expressed in the 30. of Exodus the 23. 24. Thou shalt take to thee principall spices of pure Myrrhe five hundred shekels and of sweet Cinamon half so much two hundred and fifty shekels and of sweet Calamus two hundred and fifty shekels and of Cassia five hundred shekels after the shekel of the Sanctuary and of the oil olive an Hin and this ointment was to be madeafter the Art of the Apothecary the ingredients to be exactly weighed as the textspeaks And thou shaltant ointwith this ointment the Tabernacle and the Ark the vessels and thou shalt sanctifie them that they may be most holy and thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them that they may minister to me in the Priests office Now this was but a Typical representation of that holy anointing of Jesus Christ by the spirit and the anointing of his sons his people his children his disciples after him And in the Canticles when Christ comes to look after his spouse comparing her to a garden my sister my spouse is a Well inclosed a Fountain sealed c. thy plants are an Orchard of Pome-granates with pleasant fruits with Camphire Spicknard Saffron Calamus Crynamon Myrrhe Aloes and the like Now these spices of Arabia foelix those aromaticall spices in those hot countries of the world they are of a most pleasant smell and as Jesus Christ was made pleasant by the anointing of the holy Ghost grace was poured into his lips he spake as never man spake and grace was poured into his whole conversation his whole carriage savoured of the sweetness of the spirit of God So if you are Christians you are anointed with the self same spirit if any here say they are Christians and have not the spirit of Christ they are not Christians they are none of his Disciples For if they were of his Disciples and Christians they have received of this anointing it would run down from him the Head upon the Officers of the church and then upon every one even to the door-keepers of the Churches of the Saints the ointment will run upon these and they should smell of it in their conversation whereever they did walk or speak sweetness should break forth at their lips and it could not be but where ever they came they would smell of that sacred ointment too of that holy anointing and their actions would savour of the spirit of Jesus Christ Now this spirit I should insist upon it as being the Principle indeed as it is an informing Principle as it is an actuating Pâ—inciple as it is an assesting Principle and as it hath been and is in our spirits â—cting with Christs spiâ—rit so that whatsoever we do as Christians we should do going forth in the strength of that anointing In the 1 Joh. 2. and the latter end read it over But that anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lâ—e and even as it hath taugh you ye shall abide in him which is a choice scripture and none understand it though they understand the Grammar of it they understand not the Theologie the Divinity of it but those that have received it For Christ in the fourteenth of Iohn speaking of the Comforter this Anointing saith he which or whom the world cannot receive for they know him not but ye know him for he shall abide or dwell and be in you for ever And this shal suffice now for the doctrinal part shewing you how in congruity of reason the Disciples of Christ are called Christians because they savour and receive the doctrine of Christ they are imitators of the Conversâ—tion of Christ they promote the Interest of Christ the Principles by which he acted they likewise act in the world And indeed a through consideration of these 4 particulars should marvellously induce Christians to be ambitious to hold forth the glory and honour of that honourable title Christians and Christianity as becommeth the Disciples of Jesus Christ Vse 1 Now in the next place for application of this Doctrine the remainder of the time shall be spent that way Is it so that this honourable title and name Christians was given originally unto none but the Disciples of Iesus Christ unto the Churches of Christ of a new Testament form and frame as you may see in the words before the text They assembled themselves with the Church a whole year and taught much people and when they became a great company of people then they had a new name given them the Discriples were called Christians c. then first of all for Information and instruction of all those in this Congregation that are ignorant of this point By this we may take a due
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 aâ—haereas verae fidaei non utrum sis Romanensis Anglicanus Scoâ—â—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 â—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
unworthiest men have assumed to themselves and dignified themselves with the most glorious Titles and Names that have been current among the sons of men The Turks at this day call themselves Musslemans i.e. right beleevers and all the world besides are mistaken in their Faith if you beleeve themselves concerning themselves The Papists they assume to themselves the name of Catholicks Christians and they are the true Apostolick Church and dignifie themselves with all the glorious titles of this nature that are abroad in the world why now on the contrary those that have had most right to this illustrious title of Christians and the like they have been robbed and disrobed of their ornaments and garments in this respect If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more them of of his houshold Mat. 10.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in stead thereof men have put upon them the most odious and hatefull names Christ himself the head of the Christians was called a Samaritan and they said he had a Devil Paul a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens a seditious fellow a very * pest as the word is and so formerly in this nation as in the time of Popery rampant the choisesâ— and most precious of the people of God weie called Hereticks Lollards and of late days in the time of the Prelaetes domination Schismaticks Puritans Sectaries and such like terms of reproach they were branded withal But now consider what is to be said in this first particular the generality of men and women are not to be called Christians for from the beginning it was not so those that are not Christs Disciples are not to be called and accounted Christians This is a time of reformation justice and right must be done to every one by the authority of the word of God I may pronounce sentence against the far greatest part of the people in Christendome Men commonly and generally content themselves with taking Christs part in that which is honourable the name and title not caring for that which is answerable that is to die unto the word and to live unto God Vald. as it is called who walk contrary to the example of Christ the practises of Christians and the principles of Christianity they are degraded by the vertue of the truth in this word The Disciples the Disciples of Iesus Christ are to be called Christians and none other throughout the world But more particularly First Although the Papists or Disciples of Antichrist are called Christians in contradistinction to the Turks the Disciples of Mahomet as you know that are intelligent men in Histories yet notwithstanding at the best they are but Antichristian Christians nay indeed they are Antichristians not Christians for take the choisest of the Papists the most devout and the most holy of the followers of Antichrist why they are not Christians their doctrine is Babilonish doctrine for the most part their devotion is Babilonish devotion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 religious and honest women Act. 13.50 it is Antichristian holiness their worship doctrine tion favours not hath not the spirit no not the tincture of Christianity and if the devoutest disciples of the man of sin the tens and the hundreds of these are not Christians much less their thousand and their millions of * Natural bruit-beasts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 pet 2.12 brurish sensual epicures all these are cut off from any interest in this honour 2 There are Vnchristian Christians as well as Antichristian these as they are not against Christ as those aforementioned are against him so neither are they with him and * Mat. 12.30 the words of Christ are he that is not with me is against me and I call them Vnchristian Christians in a contra-distinction to the Antichrist and his disciples unto the Papists known usually by another word occasioned in the convention of some Princes of the Empire in Germany at Smalcaldy where in their writings to the Emperour they begin every head of their Articles with the word Protestamur we protest and from that time those who did come off and separate from the Church of Rome were called protestants and that word and apellation past over the sea into England and so to other parts they were afterwards sub-divided into Lutherans and Calvinists Protestant christians for the most part not real christians in Qu. Eliz. days called Protestâ—nts at large and carnal Gospellers Now the degenerate protestants of these times because they are not Antichristians do esteem and account themselves our Orthodox Christians and yet the generality of them may be reputed Vnchristian Christians that is such as have the title of Christians undeservedly being altogether unlike to Jesus Christ whose name they glory in as if it did de jure belong unto them And of these two sorts there are first all loose lewd protestants Secondly all formal hypocritical professours of Christianity 1 First all licentious protestants we must remove them from having any interest in this title by way of negation Christians they are not though so they call themselves and assume as if worthy thereof the honour of this name for as Chrysostome said of old concerning nominal Christians of dissolute conversation that they are not men in propriety of speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so may I affirm of these Vnchristian protestants their actions and transactions in the world savour not relish not of the spirit of a man they are so brutish in their lusts so filthy in their lives the eldest sons of Belial in their generation and upon this account there will be discarded and set by many thousands of people in this nation men and women high and low rich and poor Priests and people that have the title and name of Christians or protestants baptised as they say into the name of Iesus Christ and yet do live more like unto Devils incarnate in all manner of wickedness and licancsousness committing sin with greedinesse than unto the first or primitive Christians who were indeed the disciples of Jesus Christ * If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sed dicet aliquis etiam de nostris excedere quosdam a regula disciplinae desinunt tum ehristiani haberi penes nos Tert. apo who followed his doctrine and conversation who obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which they were delivered * Rom. 6.17 2 Secondly all formal professours that is such as make a plausible shew and carry it in their outward garb as not onely Christians in name but Christians upon the best account * Acts 9.1 the disciples of the Lord and yet notwithstanding are no way worthy of that worthy name for they are not Christians inwardly in spirit and in power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but onely in o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal 6.12 appearance or face or word or letter * 2 Tim. 3.5
persons signified by these two words viz. Christ and a Christian in the new-Testament sence do both partake of the self same unction with this difference that every Chirstian is more remote from the fountain of unction then Christ is he receiving it * immediates immediately the Christian receives what he receives by * mediante christo means of Iesus Christ first Christ afterwards they that are Christs This word Christ is also expressed in the old-Testament by a word proper to that language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now the self same word that is attributed to christ sgiven to others besides him indeed it belongs unto him eminently and emphatically the Messiah John 1.41 Joh. 4.25 we have found the Messiah which is being interpreted the Christ and the Translators read Daniel 9.25 the Messiah * Although there be no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 emp haticum prefixed to either word the Prince as in the 105. Psal there you shall find plainly the holy Ghost doth not speak of the Messiah yet those there specified are called by that name touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm verse 15. Touch not my Christs Psalm 105. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mine anointed psalm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his anointed my Messiahs the same word that is in the second Psalm his anointed his Christ as it is interpreted by Peter Acts 4. v. 26.27 And before I passe from hence you may understand this anointing is no other thing then the anointing of the Spirit The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach c. as you read in the 61 of Isaiah the first ver so there is the notation of the word Christian gramatically But now thirdly You must observe the word according as it hath congruity of reason in its logical notation Christians so called from Christ they have this denomination in congruity of reason upon a four-fold account or in four respects First in respect of doctrine 2. in respect of conversation 3. in respect of interest 4. in respect of principles First Christians are so called from Jesus Christ upon this account of * Grammatica nudam vocem non naturam considerat Gr. log Logicus vocem considerat non qua vox sed qua ad â—entis intelligentiam refertur et rem explicat Keker in log reason because they and they onely do understand receive and embrace the truth as it is in Iesus and no other sort of people in the world do the like * Non sonum solum nominis expectes sed et sensum Tert. Receperunt nominari Christiani a Christo sicut Platonici a Platone Lyran in locum this is one distinguishing Character every Master or Rabbi or Teacher hath had his Disciples that hath attained to any eminency in any new and singular kind of learning There were among the heathens of old about Christs time and before the disciples of Plato the disciples of Aristotle Aristotelians and Platonists so distinguished because that the one followed the doctrines and teachings of Plato others followed Aristotle and imbraced for truth what he taught them there were disciples that were called Epicurians of Epicurus the Philosopher others were Stoicks the Disciples of that Doctrine as the Holy-Ghost gives you to understand Acts. 17.18 but it s no way necessary to acquaint this audience with the severall particular doctrines and oplnions of these Masters Only thus to our present purpose every one of these Masters of learning they had their Disciples and their disciple-ship consisted in this in owning and cleaving to the doctrines and opinions of their Teachers as they were doctrines distinct from all other doctrines in the world upon all occasions letting the world know by their disputes and professions by whose name they had chosen to be known and distinguished from other men Now as I said Christians in like manner derive their name as other disciples from their great Doctour the Lord Jesus Christ in respect of the particular distinct doctrine of the Gospel learned from him and that in a singular manner differing from all other doctrines in the world John 9 28. VVe are Moses disciples Mar. 2.18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees distinguished from Christs disciples They cannot be called Moses his Disciples * neither can they be called Iohns Disciples neither can they be called the Disciples of the first Adam considered as in the estate of innocency as they speak in respect of their own righteousness but they are the Disciples of Christ in regard they own and cleave to the pure proper Evangelical truth those divine supernatural truths which are revealed by the Son from the bosome of the Father which neither Adam in his first estate nor the children of men since that time have been able by strength of rational enquiries to find out understand and entertain yea such truths as the holy Angels themselves were not aware of Iuc 1.31 c. John 1.14 1 Tim. 3.16 Ephes 1.4 Rom. 3.28 Gal. 2.20 Rom 8 11 Heb 7 25 26 until revealed viz. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God Joh. 1.1 And the word was made flesh And great is the mystery of godlinesse Christian godlinesse God was manifested in the flesh and the rest of the doctrine of the Incarnation Again Election in Christ before the world began Iustification by faith without the works of the law Living by the faith of the Son of God The iâ—â—dwelling of the Spirit in the hearts of beleevers The sending of the Spirit from the Father and the Son The man Christ Iesus The doctrine of Christs intercession at the right hand of the Majesty on high and that in our nature With many other glorious Gospel truths which the Angels desire to look into thus you may see what I intend by the doctrine of Christ as distinct from all other doctrines And surely those that are ignorant of these and other Gospel truths strangers to this divine learning cannot properly be called Christians Indeed Antichrist and his disciples pretend to be Christians and disciples of Christ as you heard and its true some of these doctrines forementioned they profess to cleave unto but that of 1 Titus is verified in them they professs that they know God but on works they deny him c. And because of the admixture of contrary doctrines summed up in the confession of faith made at the Councell of Trent their doctrine may be called a mungrel doctrine and so their worship like that set up of old by the Jewish-Priest among the several nations 2. Kings 17.33.41 they served the Gods of the lands and of the Countries and they served Iehovah there was a mixture in their doctrine and worship and you know what the learned writers and best schollers that contend against the Papacy say of them their doctrine and worship their
of the unbeleeving lews Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law and makâ—st thy beast of God Rom. 2.17 the most bloody and cruel minded men of all the Sects of the Papists Now it will be a sad case at the last day for thee to be ranked with these men these men they have as good a Name as thou hast and as famous and as honourable a Name as Chrysostome saith of the Name Christian Yea but it is not what thou art called but what thou art that will be enquired into at the last day however thou carriest it now * Behold thou art called a Christian and restest in that Name and makest thy boast of Christ but thou hast eyes full of Adulterie and thy heart is full of coverous practises and thou canst not cease to sin when thou sinnest thou rejoycest and then thou art most merry and jovial when there is the greatest cause that thon shouldest be most sad and disconsolate Now what art thou the better for the Name of a Christian and Beleever and a Protestant no Papist and the like if thou be such a base wretch and so continuest to the end And therefore you had need seriously to consider this mistake and the sad consequences of that mistake when you stile your selves Christians and are not so when you are accounted so by others and are not so indeed But especially I would speak to those that have professed themselves Christians and so have been taken to be upon a better account than others in regard of a form of Godliness and now are fallen off what a sad condition are these men in who have rejected the word of Christ despised the Spirit of Christ speak evil of the Wayes of Christ account the Ordinances of christ vain things in a word have renounced the whole new Testament Unction and being possessed by an unclean blasphemous Spirit account it and call it their Glory and their perfection to perpetrate the vilest abominations without the reluctancy of their own Spirit what will be the end of these men the Apostle declares in Heb. 10.26 Fâ—r if we sin willingly after that we have received the know edge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sin but a certain fearfull looking for and expectation of judgement fiery indignation which shal devour the adversaries Give them a portion with Hypocrites noting to us that Hypocrites they are the first born of Hell they have the right of Primo-geniture a double portion as it were give him his portion with Hypocrites Vse 3 Now thirdly Here all men may discern as in a Glasse how to judge of themselves and what to set down by way of account concerning their estate if so be that the question be thus put among you from the greatest to the least in this Assembly Art thou a Christian Yes But art thou assured of it in the power and light of truth How knowest thou thou art a christian Why now here is a glasse whereby thou maiest discern whereby thou art enabled to enquire and examine out the truth Why you see plainly that originally those were called christians who were indeed Disciples The Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch So that now if thou art indeed and in truth a Disciple of Jesus Christ thou art a christian But if thou art none of christs Disciples but either Moses Disciple or Mammons Disciple if thou art a servant to the God of this world thon art an enemy to christ instead of being a Disciple an enemy to his Interest secretly wishing and desiring that this Interest that is now setting up in the world might be undermined and brought to Inought And if thou hast not the self-same Spirit dweling in thee that dwelt in Jesus Christ If thon art acted by a Spirit of self-love a Spirit of vain Glory thou art none of Christs his glorious unction is not yet poured upon thee Hast thou learned and walked in the way of the Lord for he that saith he abideth in him ought so to walk even as he walked if not with what face canst thou challenge to thy self the the name of his Disciple Oh consider I say again what little cause thou hast to assume to thy self the name of a christian If so be that you should see a man with his face and his feet contrary each to other his face looking upward forward and upward unto Heaven and his feet directly turned backward carrying him backward downward toward a steep precipice under which is a pit of destruction First you would say this is a Monster this is a Monster his face one way and his feet walking another and leading him backward And then secondly you would pity him he is going to destruction and sees it not sees not the precipice he sees not the pit the Gulf of destruction underneath at the bottom of that precipice you would say he is a Monster and you would pity him My Brethren this is directly the Description of a Counterfeit Christian here is a Character now of abundance of persons in the world and I fear of many here present It is true your faces are fixed upwards and toward heaven towards Christ towards God happiness salvation you look that way you profess that way look in your face it is a beautifull face and it is set the right way towards Heaven and salvation towards God and his Glory this is your pretence but look down now upon your feet and observe your walking your fect are turned clean contrary to your face and these feet carrying the body face and pretence and all to Hell and utter ruine and destruction such a man is a Monster amongst men and not a kindly Christian that is rightly born rightly begotten of the immortal seed of the Word born of God and not of man he is not such a man but a Monster amongst Christians And ah poor Monster whither art thou going walking carrying and drawing thy very face thy presence and pretence and demeanour together with thee down that precipice to eternall destruction Now although it is true I cannot determine which are these in this Assembly yet he that sits in heaven and observes all your down-lyings and uprisings and understands your thoughts a farre off he sees how many monstrous Christians there are in the world and here with their faces towards Heaven and their feet turned and distorted directly contrary to them And therefore it is that in the Ministery of the word this day he calls out to those Monsters of Christianity that have a beautifull face a fair pretence and their actions contrary Take heed whither are you going and look after the Precipice the downfall the gulf of ruine that is behind you and that you are going to and therefore now remember this truth this glass shews to you who are Christians who are not who are Monsters who have neither the face nor any thing no not any proportion of a Christian and who they