2. It must be professed and owned, when it is vilified, and in contempt and disgrace in the World. We must stand to Christ and his ways, tho we stand alone; as Elijah, 1 Kings 19. 10. and not be ashamed of Holiness, notwithstanding trouble and contradiction. Christ will be confessed before Men, and will be ashamed before God and Angels, of them who are ashamed of him in the World, and refuse to own Him, and his Ways, and Truths, only because they are despised, and contradicted, and discountenanced in the World. Pleading for Religion is one of the professing Acts, 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: We also believe, and therefore speak. As David when sore afflicted, did confess and avow his confidence in God; so we heartily believing and approving the Gospel, must make a bold profession of it. The Sacraments were ordained for ⟨p. 297⟩this purpose, for badges of Profession. Baptism is a visible entering into Covenant with God; Mark 16. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not, shall be damned. Where not only Belief is required, but open Profession. Baptism is a Badge and a Bond; a Badge to distinguish the worshippers of Christ from others, and a Bond to bind us to open profession of the Name of Christ. The Lord's Supper, it is a profession of Communion; 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? and, vers. 18. Are not they which eat of the Sacrifices, partakers of the Altar? They that did any part of the Sacrifices, did eat and drink with God at the Altar. And, ver. 20, 21.—I would not that ye should have fellowship with Devils. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord, and the Cup of Devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table, and the Table of Devils. Professing communicating with Christ, is not consistent with professing communicating with Devils. So Prayer and Praise is a part of Confessing; Rom. 10. 10. With the Heart Man believeth unto ⟨p. 298⟩Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation. The first is proved vers. 11. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed. The second, vers. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.
2. It must be professed and owned, when it is vilified, and in contempt and disgrace in the World. We must stand to Christ and his ways, tho we stand alone; as Elijah, 1 Kings 19. 10. and not be ashamed of Holiness, notwithstanding trouble and contradiction. Christ will be confessed before Men, and will be ashamed before God and Angels, of them who are ashamed of him in the World, and refuse to own Him, and his Ways, and Truths, only because they are despised, and contradicted, and discountenanced in the World. Pleading for Religion is one of the professing Acts, 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: We also believe, and therefore speak. As David when sore afflicted, did confess and avow his confidence in God; so we heartily believing and approving the Gospel, must make a bold profession of it. The Sacraments were ordained for ⟨p. 297⟩this purpose, for badges of Profession. Baptism is a visible entring into Covenant with God; Mark 16. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not, shall be damned. Where not only Belief is required, but open Profession. Baptism is a Badg and a Bond; a Badg to distinguish the worshippers of Christ from others, and a Bond to bind us to open profession of the Name of Christ. The Lord's Supper, it is a profession of Communion; 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? and, vers. 18. Are not they which eat of the Sacrifices, partakers of the Altar? They that did any part of the Sacrifices, did eat and drink with God at the Altar. And, ver. 20, 21.—I would not that ye should have fellowship with Devils. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord, and the Cup of Devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table, and the Table of Devils. Professing communicating with Christ, is not consistent with professing communicating with Devils. So Prayer and Praise is a part of Confessing; Rom. 10. 10. With the Heart Man beliveth unto ⟨p. 298⟩Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation. The first is proved vers. 11. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed. The second, vers. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.
