It is far from the mind of Christ, that no difference should be made between the Holy and the profane, the precious and the vile: O• that serious piety should be suppressed or discouraged; or faithful preachers hindered from promoting it, on ignorant graceless Ministers countenanced, under pretence of Peace or Order. The design of Christ was not like Mahomet's, to get himself an earthly Kingdom, and numerous followers merely to cry up his name: And therefore he will not indulge men in their sin•, nor abate o• alter the conditions of his Covenant, to win disciples: He will have his Ministers deal plainly with all to whom they preach, and let them know that without self-denial and forsaking all (in estimation and resolution) and a willing exchange of earth for heaven, they cannot be his true Disciples: Nor without a Profest consent to thus much, they cannot be his visible profest Disciples▪ But all that will not repent must perish. And therefore in their Baptism they must profess a renunciation of all competitors. His Ministers also must impartially exercise the Keys which he hath committed to their trust, and must not fear the faces of men, who at most are able but to kill the body. Luk. 12. 4. They must discern between the righteous and the wicked; and draw all scandalous sinners to repentance, or else exclude them from the communion of Saints, that the world may see that Christ is no friend to profane persons, or sensual fleshly brutes. As Chrysostom ⟨p. 107⟩commandeth the Presbyters not to give the body and blood of Christ to the unworthy, though he were the greatest Commander or wore a Diadem, and professeth that he would suffer his own blood to be shed, before he would give the blood of Christ to the unworthy: And as blessed Paul would become all things to all men to win them, and commandeth us not to please our selves, but to please our neighbours for their good to edification: And yet when it came to the flattering of men in their sins, he saith that if he should so please men, he should be no longer the servant of Christ. And as to his own interest in mans esteem, he saith, With me it is a small thing to be judged of you, or of mans judgment. Rom. 15. 1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 10. 33. Gal. 1. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 3.
It is far from the mind of Christ, that no difference should be made between the Holy and the profans, the precious and the vile: O• that serious piety should be suppressed or discouraged; or faithful preachers hindered from promoting it, on ignorant graceless Ministers countenanced, under pretence of Peace or Order. The design of Christ was not like Mahomet's, to get himself an earthly Kingdom, and numerous followers meerly to cry up his name: And therefore he will not indulge men in their sin•, nor abate o• alter the conditions of his Covenant, to win disciples: He will have his Ministers deal plainly with all to whom they preach, and let them know that without self-denial and forsaking all (in estimation and resolution) and a willing exchange of earth for heaven, they cannot be his true Disciples: Nor without a Profest consent to thus much, they cannot be his visible profest Disciples▪ But all that will not repent must perish. And therefore in their Baptism they must profess a renunciation of all competitors. His Ministers also must impartially exercise the Keyes which he hath committed to their trust, and must not fear the faces of men, who at most are able but to kill the body. Luk. 12. 4. They must discern between the righteous and the wicked; and draw all scandalous sinners to repentance, or else exclude them from the communion of Saints, that the world may see that Christ is no friend to prophane persons, or sensual •leshly bruits. As Chrysostome ⟨p. 107⟩commandeth the Presbyters not to give the body and blood of Christ to the unworthy, though he were the greatest Commander or wore a Diadem, and professeth that he would suffer his own blood to be shed, before he would give the blood of Christ to the unworthy: And as blessed Paul would become all things to all men to win them, and commandeth us not to please our selves, but to please our neighbours for their good to edification: And yet when it came to the flattering of men in their sins, he saith that if he should so please men, he should be no longer the servant of Christ. And as to his own interest in mans esteem, he saith, With me it is a small thing to be judged of you, or of mans judgment. Rom. 15. 1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 10. 33.
