But now these Hypocrites, obscure it to themselves and other unbelievers, and tempt men to say, Are not Christians as bad as Heathens? and Mahometans. Are they not as fleshly, and worldly, and false, and perjured, and malicious, and hurtful, and pernicious to others and themselves? But I answer, No, They are not: These are no more Christians, than Images are men: They are the Enemies of Christians, that under Christs banner, and in his livery and name, do the most perfidiously hate him and fight against him: Who will tell them, Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. They betray him for money, as Judas, by Hail-master and a Kiss. I challenge any Infidel to find me One that seriously believeth the Gospel of Christ, as perceiving the certain Evidence of its truth, who is not a person of a holy and obedient heavenly life: How can a man sincerely believe that God sent his Son from Heaven in flesh, to Redeem man, and to bring us to Glory, and that he sealed his Doctrine by all his miracles, resurrection and ascension, and the Holy Ghost, and that he is our Head in Heaven, with whom we shall live in joy for ever; and is the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, I say: How can a man ⟨image 60⟩believe this seriously, and not esteem, and choose and seek it, before all the shadows and vanity to this world. It is not Christians, but false hypocrites, whose lives represent Christianity, blasphemously as no better than Heathenism or Mohammedanism; It is but for worldly Interest, and Reputation, or because it is the Religion of the King, Country, or Ancestors, that they take up so much as the name and badge of Christianity. And will you judg of our Religion by its enemies? Do you not see in their drunkenness, sensuality, covetousness, ungodliness, how unlike their lives are to the baptismal Vow; and that they hate, and seek to destroy them that are serious in keeping that Vow, and living as Christians?
But now these Hypocrites, obscure it to themselves and other unbelievers, and tempt men to say, Are not Christans as bad as Heathens? and Mahometans. Are they not as fleshly, and worldly, and false, and perjured, and malicious, and hurtful, and pernicious to others and themselves? But I answer, No, They are not: These are no more Christians, than Images are men: They are the Enemies of Christians, that under Christs banner, and in his livery and name, do the most perfideously hate him and fight against him: Who will tell them, Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. They betray him for money, as Judas, by Hail-master and a Kiss. I challenge any Infidel to find me One that seriously believeth the Gospel of Christ, as perceiving the certain Evidence of its truth, who is not a person of a holy and obedient heavenly life: How can a man sincerely believe that God sent his Son from Heaven in flesh, to Redeem man, and to bring us to Glory, and that he sealed his Doctrine by all his miracles, resurrection and ascensi•n, and the Holy Ghost, and that he is our Head in Heaven, with whom we shall live in joy for ever; and is the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, I say: How can a man ⟨image 60⟩believe this seriously, and not esteem, and choose and seek it, before all the shadows and vanitie to this world. It is not Christians, but false hypocrites, whose lives represent Christianity, blasphemously as no better than Heathenism or Mahometanism; It is but for worldly Interest, and Reputation, or because it is the Religion of the King, Countrey, or Ancestors, that they take up so much as the name and badg of Christianity. And will you judg of our Religion by its enemies? Do you not see in their drunkenness, sensuality, covetousness, ungodliness, how unlike their lives are to the baptismal Vow; and that they hate, and seek to destroy them that are serious in keeping that Vow, and living as Christians?
