Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

Obj. Any one is a Disciple that is willing to learn of Christ. Answ. No such matter: In an improper sense you may so call them, but not in Scripture sense; where 1. A Disciple and a Christian are all one, Acts 11.26. But every one that is willing to learn of Christ is not a Christian; therefore not a disciple. 2. A Disciple of Christ is one that will take him for the great Prophet of the Church (which whosoever heareth not shall be cut off from Gods people) and will learn of him as of the Christ. But so will not all that will learn of him: for a man that taketh Christ but for a common wise man as Socrates or Plato, may be willing to learn of him: and so may be his Disciple in another sense, but not in the Christian sense, as a Christian. 3. He that is sincerely a Disciple of Christ in heart, doth take him for one that by redemption also hath Propitiated the offended Majesty, and as King hath authority to rule him; and submitteth to him in his whole office as he is the Christ: For he cannot be truly a Christian that taketh not Christ as Christ, and believeth not in him in all that is essential to his office, and so to the object of our faith. As he that believeth that Christ is God only, or Man only, is no Christian, so he that believeth in him as a Teacher only; for that is no more then to believe in him as in Moses or Elijah: 4. He that is sincerely a Disciple in heart, must take Christ for his only Teacher in the way to everlasting life, renouncing all other except as they stand under him; and must be willing to be taught and guided by him in all things: therefore he that is a professed Disciple, must profess all this: And that is to profess saving Faith. For without saving faith no man can so believe in him, or be heartily willing to be taught by him.

Obj. Any one is a Disciple that is willing to learn of Christ. Answ. No such matter: In an improper sence you may so call them, but not in Scripture sense; where 1. A Disciple and a Christian are all one, Acts 11.26. But every one that is willing to learn of Christ is not a Christian; therefore not a disciple. 2. A Disciple of Christ is one that will take him for the great Prophet of the Church (which whosoever heareth not shall be cut off from Gods people) and will learn of him as of the Christ. But so wil not all that will learn of him: for a man that taketh Christ but for a common wise man as Socrates or Plato, may be willing to learn of him: and so may be his Disciple in another sense, but not in the Christian sense, as a Christian. 3. He that is sincerely a Disciple of Christ in heart, doth take him for one that by redemption also hath Propitiated the offended Majesty, and as King hath authority to rule him; and submitteth to him in his whole office as he is the Christ: For he cannot be truly a Christian that taketh not Christ as Christ, and believeth not in him in all that is essential to his office, and so to the object of our faith. As he that believeth that Christ is God only, or Man only, is no Christian, so he that believeth in him as a Teacher only; for that is no more then to believe in him as in Moses or Elias: 4. He that is sincerely a Disciple in heart, must take Christ for his only Teacher in the way to everlasting life, renouncing all other except as they stand under him; and must be willing to be taught and guided by him in all things: therefore he that is a professed Disciple, must profess all this: And that is to profess saving Faith. For without saving faith no man can so believe in him, or be heartily willing to be taught by him.