A27004:1387
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. It is all that are Christians in deed and truth. Christ is so far from owning any other, that he will condemn them the more for abusing his Name to the covering of their sins: All are not Christians who have the name of Christians: in all professions, the vulgar rabble of the ignorant and ungodly, do use to join with the party that is uppermost, and seem to be of the Religion which is most for their worldly ends, be it right or wrong, when indeed they are of none at all. Hypocrites are no true Christians, but the persons that Christ is most displeased with. Judge but by his precepts and example, and you will see who they are that are Christians indeed.
Answ. It is all that are Christians in deed and truth. Christ is so far from owning any other, that he will condemn them the more for abusing his Name to the covering of their sins: All are not Christians who have the name of Christians: in all professions, the vulgar rabble of the ignorant and ungodly, do use to joyn with the party that is uppermost, and seem to be of the Religion which is most for their worldly ends, be it right or wrong, when indeed they are of none at all. Hypocrites are no true Christians, but the persons that Christ is most displeased with. Judge but by his precepts and example, and you will see who they are that are Christians indeed.
Object. But what if the preaching or writings of a Minister do convert and sanctify men, it doth not follow that they are Saviours of the world.
Object. But what if the preaching or writings of a Minister do convert and sanctifie men, it doth not follow that they are Saviours of the world.
Answ. What ever they do, they do it as the Ministers and Messengers of Christ, by his Doctrine, and not by any of their own: by his Commission, and in his Name, and by his Power or Spirit. Therefore it witnesseth to his truth and honour, who is indeed the Saviour, which they never affirmed of themselves.