The Genealogy of Christianity and Christians, Sermon
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, foreign.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,) foreign. Act. 8.39. Let him that readeth underſtand.wherein, when they read and understand, they may know in many particulars, how 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. foreignto 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, foreign.(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, foreign, Faedum in modum verber… bus lacero, faedum in modum tracco. foreign, 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 onelyonly. 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. foreign to foreignAntioch 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 onelyonly 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, foreign, Planto in foreign 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 onelyonly 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 from the preſent Hiſtory, Eſt nominum impoſitio alia foreign.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 onelyonly 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, foreign.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, foreign, 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; foreign, and foreign,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, its 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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly, 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 *foreign., 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, foreign.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 foreign magna obſeuritatis, ſaepe etiam erroris cauſait is an foreign, 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 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. foreign,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 choiſeſ…, 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, foreign 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. foreign 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 Proteſt…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, foreign, 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. foreign 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 onelyonly 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, foreign.but onelyonly in o foreign. Gal 6.12.appearance, or face, or word, or letter *2 Tim. 3.5. Theſe diſtinctions …e of great importance. qui nene diſtinguit, bene docet. Phil. 3.20., where Chriſt is at Gods right hand, but theſe men have not their converſation there, it is true they have not their converſarion in hell, (as it were) like the Demoniake, among the graves, or apud inferos, as he alludes in the Comedy, nor have they their converſation in the world, upon ſo bad an account, in ſome ſence, as thoſe formerly mentioned, but they have their converſation betwixt heaven and earth; betwixt heaven and hell, as it were, as they paint Eraſmus, hanging betwixt both, for he was half a Papiſt, and half a proteſtant, ſo all formal profeſſours they are but painted ſepulchres, they may be painted and pictured and drawn to the life (as meteors in the middle region of the air) hanging, living, converſing, foreign luc. 12.30. live not in ſuſpence, be not as meteo…s.tween Law and Goſpell, between works and grace, between Chriſt, & Antichriſt, between Moſes and Chriſt, or upon a ſuch like account, as this; they are like the Angel of the Church of Laodicea, they are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, partaking of both heat and cold, whom the Lord (as ſuch) will ſpew out of his mouth.
Now leſt this diſtinction ſhould be offenſive to the formaliſts The Scribes and Pharſees, * the formaliſts of thoſe times, were moſt offended at Chriſt and his diſtinguiſhing doct. See Luc. 16.13, 14, 15.(who do importunely aſsume to themſelves this honourable title, Chriſtians) as not being grounded upon ſcripture ſufficiently, I ſhall clear it from the language of the holy-Ghoſt, concerning the Iews in the old teſtament.
For they were called Iews or Iſraelites, firſt in a contradiſtinction to the heathen nations, in all the world. A *Rom. 3.30.Jew was fully and plainly diſtinguiſhed, from a Gentile, but now ſecondly among themſelves, there was alſo a diſtinction; there were falſe Jews, lying Jews, as in the 2d. and 3d. of the Revelations, the Lord there ſpeaks of thoſe that ſay they are Jews, and are not, but do lie, and there were the true Iſraelites in whom is no guile; for all are not Iſrael that are of Iſrael, all are not the ſeed that are counted for the ſeed; 1 ſam 2.12.13, &c.therefore as you may ſee in the old teſtament among the Jews, ſome were ſo…s of Belial, as the ſons of Eli, they were Jews, and in the Prieſts office, they drew near to the Lord, to the tabernacle of the Lord in Shiloh, yet were ſome of the moſt vile of the children of men, *And Iſaiah, c. 1. called the Rulers of the Jews, Rulers of sodom: now the men of …odom were wic…ed, and ſinners before the Lord exceedingly, Gen. 13.13.(for they lay with the women that aſsembled at the door of the Tabernacle, and they ſent their ſervants to take away the fleſh as it was ſeething, out of the Caldron by force and violence, and ſo abuſed and prophaned the ſacrifice of the Lord:) And others were outwardly, and ſeemingly holy, and unblameable, like the Phariſees and the Apoſtle Paul before his converſion, unreproveable, touching the righteouſneſs which is of the Law, yet they are called hypocrites again and again, woe unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Mat. 23.14Hypocrites, even ſeven times, * in that chapter: So now upon the like account in the times of the new-Teſtament thoſe that are called Chriſtians are to be diſtinguiſhed from thoſe that are ſuch indeed and truth; for though hypocriticall profeſſours aſsume to themſelves that title, which is equivalent to the name of a true Iſraelite, an Iſraelite in whom is no guile, viz. A Chriſtian, yet it is not to be permitted, for a very vaſt difference there is, between the one and the other; inſomuch, that I may with little alteration; apply the words of Chriſt unto theſe, Mat. 23.27, 28.we are now ſpeaking of, * Woe unto ye formall profeſſours, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited ſepulchres, which indeed appear beautifull outwardly, but within are full of dead mens bones, and of all uncleanneſſe, even ſo ye alſo, appear righteous [Chriſtians] unto men, but within ye are full of hypocriſie and iniquity. Thus you ſee to whom the title of Chriſtians may juſtly be denied, they having no interest in this worthy name, whereby the Diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt are dignified and diſtinguiſhed; but if notwithſtanding this that hath been ſpoken, they will account it a kind of robbery to be deprived of what they have ſo long poſseſsed, (for many make a profeſſion of Chriſtianity, richly plauſible) let it be agreed, call them Chriſtians, but with this proviſo that they admit an Epithere ſuitable, and proper for them, falſe, falſe-Chriſtians, and then ſure I am, their honour for which they ſo contend, will nevertheleſſe be laid in the duſt, as of old, 1 Pet. 2.2. 2 Cor. 11.13. Gal. 2.4.* falſe-Prophets, falſe-Apoſtles, falſe, Teachers, falſe-Brethren, ſo now, falſe-Christians, falſe-Diſciples, will not this be a more ſtigmaticall brand upon them, than the ſingle deniall of that forementioned appellation can amount unto? And this may be ſufficient for the firſt viz. The extinguiſhing the title of the ſeverall uſurpers and pretenders, who claim an intereſt in this name of Goſpel honour, as if of the ſame houſe and ſtock, with theſe here ſpoken, of in the text. And the Diſciples were called Chriſtians, &c.
In the next place we come to conſider the notation of the word; Chriſtian is derived from Chriſt; the word is a word of the Greek language, ſignifying anointed ones, Chriſt being the chief anointed one, and they his fellows, with this difference, he is anointed with the oil of gladneſſe above his fellows, that as in the powring the ointment upon Aarons head; the head being the principall part of the body, did firſt of all receive the ointment, and from thence it came down to the skirts of his cloathing, and all his garments ſavoured of the ſweet ointment made by Gods appointment, in the 30. of Exodus and the 23. ſo now, the Goſpel anointing, was powred firſt upon Jeſus Chriſt; as our Head, the Head of all beleevers, and from him, the Head, it did, and doth deſcend and flow down, even to the very skirts of his garments, the meaneſt and loweſt Saint in all the world; and it is his due to have this appellation, this title of dignity and diſtinction from the reſt of the children of men *but ye have an unction from the holy One. 1 Joh. 2.20.the anointed of God, the anointed of God, as Jeſus Chriſt was anointed, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is called the Anointed One, and they may be called from him the anointed ones; for as the two words foreign, and foreign, in Gramaticall derivation do both grow upon the ſelf-ſame root foreign, but with this diſtinction among others, that foreign is a degree nearer the root then foreign, ſo the two 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, foreign from foreign 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, foreign 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.foreign mine anointed. pſalm.foreign 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 …entis intelligentiam refertur, et rem explicat. Keker. in log.reaſon, becauſe they (and they onelyonly) 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 its 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: 7:25:26until 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 i…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 whole religion is a Miſcelany, made up partly, of the Jewiſh Doctrines and practiſes, and partly of the heatheniſh doctrine and practiſes, and partly of the doctrines and practiſes of Chriſtians, but that is the leaſt part, it being compoſed chiefly of Moſaicall and heatheniſh inſtitutions, unwritten traditions, and many ridiculous ceremonies: and the more any ſhall indeavour the introduction of thoſe doctrines which are not taught by the Lord Jeſus and his Apoſtles, the more improbable is it, they ſhould be eſteemed the diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, and conſequently Chriſtians, at the laſt day, for as you ſee he that is a true Chriſtian, underſtands the truth as it is in Ieſus, and receives it and cleaves unto it according to the a foreign. Mary ſate at Jeſus feet to hear his word, Luc. 10.39.meaſure of faith given unto him, and as the righteouſneſs of God is revealed from faith to faith, ſitting at Ieſus his feet to hear his word, as the manner of Diſciples was of old time, b Paul brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught, &c. Acts 22:3.and is unto this day.
Secondly, Chriſtians are ſo called from Christ, in congruity of reaſon in this reſpect, becauſe ſo ſoon as they are Chriſtians, there is ſuch a ſweet ſimilitude between. Chriſt and them, in point of converſation, that they mutually and reciprocally reſemble each other, to the obſervation of the Angels and diſcerning men, where there is a great diſſimilitude betwixt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the children of men, there is wanting a ground in reaſon, to call ſuch men Chriſtians. As it is an utter abſurdity, to call the Jews or Turks or wicked perſons, Christians, becauſe no ſimilitude in them, becauſe utterly unlike to Jeſus Chriſt, ſo on the other ſide where any are found, beleeving as Chriſt teacherh, and walking as he walked, obſerved to be in the world, as he was in the world, it is moſt proper to call and account ſuch as theſe are, Chriſtians and diſciples; and when beleevers grow up to eminency, in faith and practiſe, reflecting much of the glory of Chriſt upon the world in theſe two: Oh then how fitly may they receive this honourable appellation, Chriſtians, Diſciples of the higheſt form, their Profiting appearing unto all. This part of their diſcipleſhip is properly called imitation, or following of the Lord. Be ye followers of me as I am of Chriſt, the words are, *foreign. 1 Cor. 11.1.be ye imitators of me. 1 Cor. 11.1. and ſo 1 Theſ. 1. Ye became followers of us and of the Lord, *foreign.imitators of us, and of the Lord. And ſaith Paul, thou haſt …ully known my doctrine, manner of life. In the margin of ſome of your Bibles, it is *foreign. 1 Tim. 3.12.thou haſt been a diligent follower of my manner of life. Now this imitating and following of Chriſt in the manner of his life, conſiſts in theſe three particulars, firſt in being, ſecond in doing, third in ſuffering; after the manner that Ieſus Chriſt, was, and did do and ſuffer in the world. *A Chriſtians converſation in point of demeanour in the world is like Chriſts demeanour.Firſt of all they are in the world, as Chriſt was in the world, not of it, while they are in it; you may know what was the frame and temper, and as I may ſo ſay, the d…vine Genius of the ſpirit of Jeſus Chriſt, in regard of his father, how he delighted to converſe with God in prayer, and communion with him that way, by meditation and the like. And you know the genius and property, and the frame of the heart of Jeſus Chriſt towards his Diſciples, that had received the ſame ſpirit, how much love and delight in their company, to teach them and to reveal to them the great things of God, that they might grow in grace, &c. You know his demeanour and carriage while he was in the world, to Publicans and ſinners, how he did reveal the love of God to them in the world, and tels them, that *John 3.16.God ſo loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whoſoever beleeveth on him ſhould not periſh but have everlasting life. And I am he that God the father hath appointed, and ſealed; and ſent into the world. He did not lift up his voice in the ſtreets, he was not tumultuous nor turbulent, but there was abundance of ſweetneſſe, meekneſſe, and gentleneſſe; thus he was in the world, and we ſhould be ſo in the world, and by how much the more, Chriſtians are like unto Jeſus Chriſt, by ſo much the leſſe, they are of the world, as it is in the 17th of Iohn, in the midſt of that chapter, twice repeated by Chriſt, to the father. Father (ſaith he) they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
And then ſecondly, 2In reſpect of their doings, their actions and tranſactions in the world, they are followers of Chriſt.For their actings, Jeſus chriſt did not keep al his goodneſſe to himſelf while he lived, and make others the better for him when he died, as the cuſtome of rich men is, they will keep their eſtates cloſe while they live, and do little or no good *That is comparatively or in any proportion to ability and opportunity.in the place of their abode they dy, there is a reſurrection of their eſtates, when they themſelves go down to the grave, then their eſtates ſhall riſe up in their ſtead, but oftentimes, it attains not the end which they propounded. But now from the time that Jeſus chriſt was anointed at his Baptiſm, and the holy Ghoſt came down upon him in the ſhape of a Dove, and a voice was heard, ſaying, This is my wel beloved ſon in whom I am wel pleaſed, which voice we heard ſaith Peter) from that time forth for three years and a half, the whole ſpace of his life, *Acts 10.38.he went up and down doing good, preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdome, healing ſickneſſes, and performing all duties and offices that belonged to him as he was the Son of Man, the Man Chriſt Ieſus, & ſo ought Chriſtians in conformity to him, to have their converſation here in the world, to be willing to diſtribute, ready to communicate, *Chriſtianns popullus per omnia ſanctus eſt, et non in templis tantum et ritibus Eccleſiasticis ſed in omni vita, omnitempore, omnibus in rebus omnibus factis ac studiis, nomins & gloriae Chriſti conſecratus, Muſc.to order their whole converſation aright, doing what the wil of the Lord is as Chriſt ſaid I come to do thy will, O God, and ſo to be imitators or followers of him, not onelyonly in outward demeanour, and behaviour (which yet is exceeding comely and commendable, viz. to be in behaviour, as it becommeth Saints) but alſo more eſpecially, in our actions, practiſes, and whole courſe of life. And moreover obſerve, (a)Luc. 12.13When 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 foreign. A Biſhop of ſouls, 1 Pet. 2. ult. but not foreign, 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)foreign. Leaving a written copy. And Diſciples ought to write after their Maſters copyExample, 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, 3That 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. foreign, 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. Its 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 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 …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 P…inciple, as it is an aſſesting Principle, and as it hath been and is in our ſpirits, …cting with Chriſts ſpi…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 l…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 Converſ…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 eſtimate of the number of Chriſtians in the world, how many there may be in the world. Men heretofore (it may well be) have thought there hauehave been more Chriſtians in the world than indeed there were. And now its more than probable that divers here preſent will be more charitable and favourable in their Computation of the number than they ought to be, leſt they ſhould exclude themſelves. This doctrine will help us to take an eſtimate of them, thus: By that time all thoſe whoſe Converſation is in Hell as it were, that make a Hell upon earth, all Divels incarnate you know ſuch there are, the unclean ſpirit worketh effectually in them, the Children of diſobedience, and yet are called Proteſtants, and called Chriſtians by that time I ſay theſe are abſtracted; By that time thoſe whoſe Converſation is upon earth, that are earthly minded men, that mind the world, and the things thereof; By that time I ſay theſe are diſcounted, by that time all thoſe, whoſe Converſation is between Heaven and Earth, as it were between God and Mammon, they are not down-right Altheiſts nor Papiſts, but Proteſtants, but yet carnall, or looſe, o… formall at beſt as being Chriſtians in an outward garb onelyonly, by that time theſe are diſcarded and ſet aſide as utterly Heterogeneal: by that time, this is done, even in this Nation, how many, think you, will be left, concerning whom it may beſpoken, and that in truth, that they are Chriſtians, and Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt.
When Diogenes in his time, (he was a very notable Philoſopher, Alexander the great much admiring him, ſaying, if he had not been Alexander, he woud have been Diogenes) when he ſaw the City in which he lived, falling into ſo much injuſtice and wickedneſs, one day came into the midſt of the City with a Candle in his hand at noon day, and being asked what was his meaning to come with a candle in his hand at Noon-day, Oh! ſaith he, I come to ſearch every corner of the City narrowly, to ſee if I can find an honeſt man, in ſuch a multitude of men and women he could not find an honeſt man. Now by way of alluſion, is it not ſo at this day? when Jeſus Chriſt comes, ſhall he find faith upon the earth? If before Chriſt comes, he ſhould now ſend a Meſsenger with the Candle of the Lord in his hand into this City, into the Markets, amongſt the buyers and ſellers; into your ſhops, amongſt the Tradeſ-men. If a man ſhould come with the Candle of the Lord into the Courr of Aldermen, into the Cuſtom-houſe, amongſt thoſe Officers, to all the Committees of Parliament, to the Councell of State, with the Candle of the Lord; and there be looking and eſpying and ſearching; and being asked who do you look for, might he not anſwer. Why if I can find a Chriſtian among ſo many Chriſtians, if I can find a Diſciple of Jeſus Chriſt amongſt ſuch multitudes of men and women that cal themſelves Beleevers, that call themſelves Diſciples, but ſurely they call themſelves ſuch, falſly, and in much darkneſs of mind. For now bring the Candle of the Lord, and look, and obſerve the difference between the one and the other, and alas! you can hardly find one of an hundred, Vix centeſimus quiſque was the uſual phraſe of Calvin upon ſuch occaſions as this. And aſſuredly, ſcarce one of an hundred of thoſe that are called and accounted Chriſtians are ſuch indeed.that are in deed and in truth Chriſtians and Diſciples. This bringeth to remembrance that of the fifth of Jeremy, and the firſt verſe. Run ye to and fro, through the ſtreets of Jeruſalem, and ſee now and know, and ſeek in the broad places thereof, If ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth Iudgement, that ſeek the truth, and I will ſpare it. Behold here the paucity of true Iſraelites: ſo now My Brethren, ſo many Diſciples of Chriſt in the Parliament, ſo many Chriſtians and no more; and ſo many Diſciples, real Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt in Common-Councel, in the City, as there are, ſo many Chriſtians, and no more, not one more. Therefore you had need look to it, you have poſſibly hitherto, that have leaſt cauſe to do ſo, aſſumed to your ſelves the moſt honorable title of Chriſtians, and Beleevers, & Proteſtants, & Saints & the like, whereas when all thoſe are removed that I ſpake of before, where ſhall you find a man that may be ſo ſtiled?
Vſe 2 Secondly, Hence you may ſee the miſtakes (and the ſad conſequences of thoſe miſtakes) wherein the generality of men in this Nation, and City, and Aſſembly, (for I will keep neer home, and not expatiate abroad) in what miſtakes (and conſequences of ſuch miſtakes) I ſay, are ſuch involved, who confidently aſſume to themſelves, and attribute to each other this honourable Appellation of Chriſtians? Do thou ſooth up me, and I will ſooth up thee; Do thou have a charitable good opinion and eſteem of me, and ſo I will have of thee, ſay theſe men one unto another in effect: But now ſee here your errour, and your danger, and the miſtake, and the conſequence of it. What if you ſhould argue Ex non conceſſis? what if you ſhould beg the Queſtion, and deſire that may be taken for granted, that is not granted, what wofull miſtaking is here? Suppoſe that you ſay thus of your ſelves, and others ſay thus, that are men, that judge as Chriſt ſaith, foreign iohn 7.24. foreign. rom. 2.2.according to outward appearance; yea, but how if the Head of the Chriſtians, Jeſus Chriſt, the great Doctor of the Chair, ſhould not agree with that determination that thou haſt made, that thou art a Chriſtian? for he judgeth according to Truth: What if all the world ſhould call thee ſuch, and at the laſt day Chriſt ſhould before all the world, bid thee depart, thou art no Chriſtian, what is the conſequence of ſuch a miſtake as this is? And therefore Chriſtians you had need go upon ſure grounds, and you that are not Chriſtians, or have cauſe to doubt whether you are ſoor no, you had need make enquiry from this day forward. So thou that art an infamons perſon, an odious wretch, for ſordid Luſts, thy throat an open Sepulcher, evaporating, breathing out Oaths, Curſings, Blaſphemings, thou that haſt thy bones rotting through thine uncleanneſs and filthineſs, wilt thou take upon thee, the famous and honourable title of Chriſtianity and a Beleever, doſt thou think to carry the cauſe thus? Why Angels and intelligent men ſee cleerly thou art no ſuch perſon, much more doth Jeſus Chriſt ſee it cleerly that is the Head of Chriſtians. Thou takeſt the Name of Chriſtian upon thee, even as the Jeſuites take upon them the Name of Jeſus, it is a ſweet Name, an honorable Name, a name of great reſpect: But now the Jeſuites (that are denominated from Jeſus) aſſuming it to themſelves, they are the hatefulleſt men, and the vildeſt perſons in the world, the greateſt ſeducers, So Paul of the unbeleeving lews, Behold thou art called a Jew, and reſteſt in the Law, and mak…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. F…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 are that have any part. No more Chriſtians in this congregation than Diſciples, and ſo many of you as are indeed the Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, ſo many may deſervedly challenge the Title, the Name, and honourable Appellation of Chriſtians, But I muſt draw to a concluſion.
Vſe 4 In the laſt place therefore; Fourthly. It is a word of Exhortation to thoſe that are Chriſtians indeed, as you know there were Iews or Iſraelites indeed, it concerns you, and it concerns your Head, your high Prieſt (as Chriſt is called, the Apoſtle, and the high Prieſt of our profeſſion, in the third of the Hebrews, and the firſt. Wherefore holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, conſider the Apoſtle, and high-Priest of our Profeſſion, Chriſt Ieſus.) Why now it concerns you to be Chriſtians indeed, and to purpoſe, not onelyonly to be ſo, but to be ſo in the ſight of men, as wel as in the ſight of God, that tries the hearts. Art thou a Chriſtian cordially, cordially ingaged into the intereſt of Jeſus Chriſt? Haſt thou received this truth? Deſireſt to be in the world, as Chriſt was in the world, and not to be of the world, any more then Chriſt was of the world? doſt thou act from the ſame principles, from the ſame Spirit in all thy carriage and converſation? …en Christians live like your ſelves? Be in behaviour as it becometh the Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt; for the time is comming that thoſe that are true Chriſtians ſhall lift up their Heads when the reſt of the world ſhal hide theirs, and hang them down.
There were four Monarchies, and all of them are diſtinguiſhed by their ſeverall titles, ending like unto this, Caldeans and Babylonians, Perſians, Grecians, Romans, why now the ſecond extinguiſhed the firſt, and ſwallowed up the very name of it, the third, Daniel a… 34.44.extinguiſhed the ſecond, and the fourth the third, and ſo they have ſupplanted each other. Now comes the fifth Monarch the Lord Ieſus Chriſt with his Chriſtians, his Diſciples, and Followers, and ſets up a new-Government in the world, makes a new Heaven, and a new Earth, reforms all things, and then as the name of the Romans was honourable in their time, ſo ſhall the name of Chriſtians be the honourableſt name that ever was upon earth, ſince the firſt Monarchy & before, and all other Honour ſhal be but Infamy, in reſpect of the Honour that ſhal reſt upon Jeſus Christ & his Chriſtians in the world, & that upon a voluntary acknowledgment & confeſſion of many of the Nations of the Earth, & thoſe that refuſe to ſet up this Kingdom, ſhal be made Tributaries to it at leaſt, Nay, Iſaiah 60.12.that Nation and Kingdome that will not ſerve Chriſt and Christians ſhall periſh, yea thoſe people ſhall be utterly waſted: All the Dominions under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the Saints of the moſt high, and even now the time, Daniel. 7.27and times and half a time is almoſt finiſhed, as it is in the 10th of the Revel: Time ſhal be no longer then the beginning of the ſound of the ſeveneth Angell, Rev. 11.15and then the Kingdomes of the world, ſhall become the Lords and his Chriſts and his Saints, even theirs that are with him choſen and called and faithfull, and they ſhall walk with him in white; for they are worthy, and who then but Chriſt and his people in the world. Now is the beginning of the dawning of that glorious day, and therefore Chriſtians lift up your Heads, fear not all the Invaſions, Inſurrections, and Machinations of Antichriſt againſt Christ, they are as nothing, they are but as ropes of ſand, all their Counſels ſhal come to nought, and whatſoever they agree on in their Councill Chambers, they ſhal never perform in the field, And therefore ye Christians ſtand faſt in that liberty, with which Chriſt hath made you free, cleave cloſe to that glorious truth of the Goſpell; 2 Cor. 5. vlt.He made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him, and walk in holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Remember whatever the Spirit ſaid to any of the Churches, Rev. 2, & 3.he ſaith to all the Saints. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches. To him that overcommeth and holdeth out to the end, ſhal be given a Crown of life, and thus and thus he ſhall be rewarded. And therefore now, upon the defection and Apoſtacy of others, do you approve your ſelves unto Chriſt, and not onelyonly ſo, but approve your ſelves in the world, like the Sons of God, and daughters of God, and like the anointed of the Lord, as having received a great meaſure of that Anointing, the Spirit being poured out richly upon you, even the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt. All other Spirits and Intereſts will be aſhamed, and go out like as the leſſer ſtars go out and hide themſelves from the riſing Sun, and the name of Chriſt and his Diſciples ſhall be famous from the riſing of the Sun to the going down of the ſame, and ſuch honour ſhall Chriſt and all his Saints have, when he comes, Amen come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. But this ſhall ſuffice for this time.
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End of the text · Christopher Feake, The Genealogy of Christianity and Christians (1650)