fjgnifies to (leal private^, not ture About which fee Edto rob; nor is it credible that nuard Pocock on rhe Specimen they would take upon them- of the Hillory of the ^rafelves fuch an infamous Name; biatis in th« Beginning, Le not to mention that this was C/en.) more antient than Maham^t, Sed:. 7. the Chrijiimi Religion, 273 Chrifl:, but of his Difciples and their Succefibrs; and alio to their patientl/ enduring of Hardfhips and Torments. But the Teachers q{ Mahomet anifmy did not work any Miracles, did not endure any grievous Troubles, nor any fevere kinds of Death, for that Profelfion. [a) But that Religion follows, where Arms lead the Way; it is the Companion of Arms -, {h) nor do its Teachers bring any other Arguments for it, but the Succcfs of War, and the Greatnefs of its Power; than which nothing is more fallacious. They themfelves condemn the Pagan Rites, and yet we know how great the Victories of the Perfians^ Macedonians, and Romans were, and how far their Enemies extended themfelves. Nei- ther was the Event of War, always profperous to the Mahometans ', {c) there are remarkable Slaugh- ters which they have received in very many Places, both by Land and Sea. They are driven out of all Spain. That Thing cannot be a certain Mark of true Religion, which has fuch uncertain Turns, and and {a) But t hat Religion follo^vji nvbere Arms Id a J the fi'uy^ ScQ ] Jz9ura X. XVIII, XXVI.
ib) Nor do its Teachers bring any other Arguments^ &c ] A- %3ara XXXfll. XLVII.
[i] There are remarkable Slaughters, &c,] And greater fince the Time of Grotius. For they were diiveii, after many Slaughters, from the Auftrian Dominions, from Hungary^ Tranfilvanlay and Peloponnefus, not many Years fuice. And fince that Time, the Turkijb Empire fceins to decreafe. In the Year 1 7 1 5, after thefe fhort Notes were firil publillied, the Turks re- covered the More a, which was poorly defended by ihtVer.ctiJiH Governors; but in the follow- ing Year 17 16. when they at- tempted to invade Hungary and the Iiland o^Carfica -, they were lirftv overthrown m a great Fight by the Germans under the Command of Prince £'/«;^.V;^ oiSa-voyy; and loll T^wi/zu^^jr, which was forced to yield after a itout Siege; then being re- pulfed by the V;dour of Count Si hulembourg, not without Lois, they retired to tJieir Fleet. While I was wridna thi?, A- pril 1717, they threatned they would attempt the lame agiiri- with new Forces, bat the Gir- inans did not item to be much afFcc^ed with it. Le Q'erc, 1' ^74 ^f ^^^^ Truth of Book VI.
and which may be common both to good and bad: And fo much the lefs, becaufe their Arms were unjuft, {a) and often taken up, againfl a People who no Ways difturbed them, nor were diftin- guifhed for any Injury they had done; fo that they could have no Pretence for their Arms, but Religion, which is the moft profane Thing that can be -, {b) fot there is no Worfhip of God, but fuch as proceeds from a willing Mind. Now the "Will is inclined only by Inflrudion and Perfwafion, not by Threats and Force. He that is compelled to beUeve a Thing, does not believe it; but only pretends to believe it, that he may avoid fome Evil. He that would extort AfTent, from a Scnfe of Evil or from Fear j fhows by that very Thing, that he diftrufts Arguments. And again, they themfelves deftroy this very Pretence of Religion, when they fuffer thofe who are reduced to their Obedience, to be of what Religion they pleafe; nay, {c) and fometimes they openly acknowledge, that Chriftians may be faved by their own Law. \ Sect. VIII. And of their Precepts compared with Let u$ alfo compare their Precepts together.
The one commands Patience, nay,Kindnefs, towards thofe who wifh ill to us: The other. Revenge.
The one commands that the Bonds of Matrimony ihould be perpetual, that they fhould bear with each ' {aj'^^nd often taken up againj} fleer goes contrary r it is taken a People, &c.] /ix,oara XIX. a^dcay; there remains none.
\h} For there is no If orjhip of (/ ) And fometimes openly ac- X ch. 20. ¥or there is nothing XII. The Book of the Docfo ^voluntary as Religion i in irine of Mahomet; fee Enthynvhicb if the Mind of the Sacri^ mius.
Sedl. 8, 9. the Chrijllan Religion, 27^ cacji other's Behaviour; {a) the other gives a Liberty of fcparatihg: Here, the Hufband does the fame himfelF, which he requires of his Wife-, and (l^iows by his own Example, that Love is to be fixed on one. [h) There, Women upon Women are allowed, as being always new Incitements to Luft. Here, Religion is reduced inwardly to the Mind -, that be- ing well cultivated there, it may bring forth Fruits, profitable to Mankind \ there, almoil the whole Force of it is fpent (c) in Circumcifion, id) and Things indifferent in themfelves. Here, a mode- rate IJfe of Wine and Meat is allowed; {e) There, the eating Swines Flefh, (f) and drinking Wine, is forbidden; which is the great Gift of God, for the Good of the Mind and Body, if taken moderately. i^nd indeed it is no Wonder, that childifli Rudi- ments fhould precede the mofl perfedl Law, fuch as thatof Chrift is -, but iris very prepoftcrous after the Publication thereof, to return to Figures and Types. Nor can any Reafon be given, why any other Religion ought to be publifhed, after the Chriflian Religion, which is far the bell.
Sect. IX. A Solution of the Mahometans Ohjec-- i-r: tion concerning the Son of God.
" '-The Mahometans fay, they are offended becaufe we afcribe a Son to God, who makes no Ufe of a {a) The other gi<ves a Liberty {d) And Things indifferent in offrparatingf &c.] See Enthy- themfelves. Sec ] As WcHimiusy and others who have ings. Azoar^z IX. See alfb wrote of the Turkijh Affairs. Enthymius.
{b) There Women upon iVo-, {e) There the eating Sivif-'et IX. XXX. LII..'^'^^''.r::,(/) J»d dnvking U'ive, alio Barfholomenv Georgi^jitiui who have wrote of the Aifairs of the Rites of the Turks, of the Saracens, 276 Of the Truth of Book VI.
Wife; as if the Word Son, as it refers to God> could not have a more Divine Signification. Bu^ Mahcmet himfelf afcribes many Things to God, no lefs unworthy of him, than if it were faid he had a Wife •, for Inffance, {a) that he has a cold Hand, and that himfelf experienced it by a Touch; {h) that he is carried about in a Chair, and the like. Now we, when we call Jefus the Son of God, mean the fame Thing that He did, {c) when he calls him the Word of God; for the Word is in a peculiar Manner {d) produced from the Mind: To which we may add •, that he was born of a Virgin, by the Help of God alone, who fupplied the Power of a Father; that he was taken up into Heaven by the Power of God; which Things, andthofe thatMz- i'i?»2f/confeires, fhow {e) that Jefus may, and ought to be called the Son of God, by a pecuhar Right.
Sect. X. There are many ah fur d Things in the Mahometan ^<?^/^j.
B u'T on the other Hand, it would be tedious to relate how many Things there are in the Mahome- tan \a\ Vhathe %as a cold Hand, Tliat of Leo Hehrtsus. See &c.] See the Place in i?/<:;^/2r- ii«//^j«7/W concerning this Matdus againft the Mahometans, ter, in the forementioned Difch. I. and XIV. and in Canta- pute, where he fays. In like j cuz.enus in the lid Oration a- Manner as our Word proceeds ; gaiiift Mahomet, Sed. XVHI. from the Mind, &c. And Carand in the IVth Oration, not dinai Cujan, Book I. ch. XIII.
far from tJie Beginning l^c. againtt the Mahometans; {b)1hat he is carried about and jR/VZ^-ar^w/jCh. IX.andXV. in €1 Chair ^ &c ] In the fame (e) 'That Jefus may, and Place. ought to he called, &c.] huh (r) V/he.n he calls him the I. 35. John X. 36. Aat III.
\d) Produced from the Mind, 5. V. 5. In the foremen- &c.] See?lato in his Banquet, tioned Book of the Dodrine of and /fi'^r^^/?f/ in his Dialogue, Maho?net, Jefus is brought in, which IS commonly called calling God his Father.
5e(5t, 10. the Chrljlian Religion, 277 tan Writings, {a) that do not agree to the Truth of Hiftory; and how many that are very ridicu- ious. Such as {h) the Story of a beautiful Woman, who learnt a famous Song from Angels overtaken with Wine; by which fhe ufcd to afcend up into Heaven, and to defcend from thence; who when Ihe was afcended very high into the Heavens, was apprehended by God, and fixed there, and that fhe is the Star Venus. Such another {^c) is that of the Moufe in NoaFs Ark, that fprung out of the Dung of an Elephant; and on the contrary, (d) that of a Cat bred out of the Breath of a Lion. And par- ticularly, that {e) of Death's being changed into a Ram, which was to ftand in the middle Space be- twixt Heaven and Hell; and (f) that of getting rid of Banquets in the other Life by Sweat i and (§•) that of a Company of Women's being appoint- ed to every one, for fenfual Pleafure. Vv^hich Things are really all of them inch, that they are defervedly given over to Senfeleifnefs, who can give any Credit to them, efpecially when the Light of the Gofpel fliines upon them.
Sect.
Sect.
[a] That do not agree to the Book of the Doflrlne o^ Maho- 'fruth ofHiJhry, &c j As that jnct.
G^ Alexander the Great, "who [d) Of a Cat, &c.] In the came to a Fountain Where the fan:ie Dook. Sun rtood liill. J^oara [e] Of Death'' s being changed Jz.oa r a X)Oi\'\l. of the forementioncd Hook of [b] The ^tory of a beautiful the Doftrinc of Mahomet. Woman ^ <1'C ] I'his Fable is (f)OfoettingridofBan- in the Book of the Dodrine of quets, ^Ic] In the forc<:itfd Mahomet, taken out of the Book of the Dodlrineot A/^^o- Bock o^ Enarrationj. See alfo 7net.
Cantacuzenusy in his Ild Ora- {gj Of a Cotnpany of IVo* tion againll M^/6ow^/, ch. 15. viens,hz'\ See what was a- [c] Is that of the Moufe, Scz'] bove alledged on the ft'cond This is in the forementioned Book.
T3 278 Of the "truth of Book VL Sect. XI. Hhe Conclufion to the Chriftians; who are admomlhed of their Buty^ upon Qccafion of the foregoing 'Things, Having (iniflied this lad Difpute; I come now to the Conclufion, which regards not Strangers, but Chriftians of all Sorts and Conditions; briefly fhow- ing the Ufe of thofe Things which, have been hi- therto faid; that thofe which are right, may be done, and thofe which are wrong, may be avoided. Firfl, {a) that they hft up undefiled Hands to that God {b) who made all Things, vifible and invifi- ble, out of nothing •, {c) with a firm Perfwafion that" he takes Care of Mankind, [d) fince not a Sparrow falls to the Ground without his Leave: {e) And that they do not fear them, who can only hurt the Body before him, who hath an equal Power over both Body and Soul: (f) That they fhould truft not only on God the Father, but alfo on Jefus j fince there is {g) none other Name on Earth, by which we can be faved •, (i?) which they will righty perform, (aiWat they lift up undefiled Colof. I. t6. Ueh. XI. 3. Aas TV. 8. TertuUian in his Apo- [c] With a finn Perfwafion^; ** Itiatis direft their Eyes, with [d] Since not a Sparroiv^ ^*^rJ *' Hands extended, becaufe Matt. X. zg. ^,.^;>.^,,;^,.,„. ^.^1, •'Innocent; with Head unco- {e) And that they ^0 not/ear^ ** vered, becaufe we are not the»i,Sic.'\ Matt.X. 28. Luh <* athamcd; without any In- XIJ. 4.
** ftrudor, becaufe ffom our (f)Thatthe^fi?ouldtrufl^k.z.'\ *' Heart we pray for all Empe- John XIV. zV Heb. XIV. 15, ** rors, that they may enjoy a 16. Ephef III. 12. and 17.
** long Life, a fecure Govern- {g) None other Name on " ment, a fafe Houfe, coura- Earth, &:c.] ABs IV. 12.
'-'^ oious Armies, a faithful Se- (h) Which they vjHI tightly' *' nate, an honeft People, and perform^ &c.] John VIII. 43.
Sed. II. the Chrijlian Religion, 279 perform, if they confider that not they, who call one by the Name of Father, and the other by the Name of Lord, fhall live eternally, but they who conform their Lives to his Will. They are more- over exhorted, carefully to preferve {a) the Holy Dodlrine of Chrifb, as a mod valuable Treafure; and to that End, {b) often to read the facred Wri- tings; by which no one can polTibly be deceived, who has not firfl deceived himfelf. {c) For the Authors of them were more faithful,^ and more full of the Divine Influence, than either willingly to deceive us in any necefTary Truth, or to hide ic in Obfcurity; but we mud bring {d) a Mind pre- pared to obey, which if we do, {e) none of thofe Things will efcape us, which we are to believe, hope, or do •, and by this Means, (f) tliat Spirit will be cheriflied and excited in us, which is given us as {g) 2L Pledge of future Happinefs. Further, {a) The Holy DoBrine of ChriJi.Scc] Matt. XIII. 44, [b] Often to read the facred Writings, hz,'\ Colof.lll. \b.
{c) For the Juthors of them nvere more faithful, &c.] Ter- tullian IpeakG thus concerning the Hereticks in his Prefcrip- tion. ** They are wont to *' fay, that the Apollles did •* not know all Things; being " adted by the fame Madnefs, *' by which they again change, *• and fay that the Apollles did *' indeed know all Things, but *' did not deliver all Things to *' all Men; in both of which •* they make Chrift fubjedl to '' Reproach; who fent Apo- *■ files eicher not well inflruft- " ed, or not very honeft '* See what there follows, which is very u'eful.
[d) A Mind prepared to ohes, Matt XI. 25. Phi/ipAW, 15. 2 Pet. III. 16. Hofca XIV.
{e]-^ne of thofe Things ivi/l efcape us, S:c.] 2 Tim. II. 15, 28o Of the Truth of BookVL they are to be deterred from imitating the Hea- then j Firfl:, (^) in the Worfhip of falfe Gods, {h) which are nothing but empty Names ^ {c) which evil Angels make ufe of [d) to turn us from the Worfhip of the true God; wherefore {e) we can- not partake of their Rites, and at the fame Time be profited by the Sacrifice of Chrift. Secondly, (f) in a licentious Way of living, having no other Law but what Lull didates, {g) which Chriflians opght to be the furtheft from \ becaufe they ought not only {b) far to exceed the Heathen ♦, (i) but alfo, the Scribes and Pharifees among the Jews -, -v^bpfe Kighteoufnefs, which confifled in certain €XCc:J-nal.,Afts, was not fufRcient to fecure them a heavenly Kingdom, {k) The Circumcifion ipade with Hands availeth nothing now, but that Oliver, -internal Circumcifion of the Heart, [1) Obedience to the Commands of God, {m) A new Creature, iji) Faith which is eftedual by Love, {o) by (a) In the Worfkit cf falfe Qcds.hz.l I ar.'VIII. 5, (f ) Whkb evil Angels make life of, &C.] I Cor, X; %Op {d) To tur7i us from the War- Jhip of the true God, ScC.']Ephff. iz.
{t) We cannot partake of their kites, Sec'] i Cor. X.20.
(f) In a licentious Way of UnHng, &c.i Ephef II. 3. Tit.
{g) Which CJprifiians ought to he the furtheft frofth' JScd.J 2 [h] Far to exceed the 11 t a- (?) But alfo the Scribes and Pharifees, ^Scc] Matt, V, 20.
XXIii. 23. Rotfullh 20.
[k] The Circumcificn made nvith Hands, &c.] i Cor. VII. Philip. III. 3. EpheJ_ 11. IK Colof II. II. Rom. II. 29.
(/i Obedience to the Commands ofGod,SiC.1 I Gr VII. 19.
[jfi] A new Creature, &C.j Galat VI. IS- {n) Faith nuhich is ejfe^iuai by Lo've, Sec ^ Galat. V. 6.
[0) By <^<Jhich the true Ifrael- ites are diftinguifjed, ^C-] Seft. II. the ChriJUcin Religion. 281 by which the true Ifraelites arc diftinguiflied, (a) the Myilical Jews, that is, fuch as praif'e God. (/^) The Difference of Meats, (c) Sabbaths, {d) Feftival Days (e) were the Shadows of Things, which realiy are in Chrift and Chriftians. Mahomet anifin gave Occafion for mentioning the following Admoni- tions; (f) it was foretold by our Lord Jefus, that after his Time there lliouldcomc fome who fhould falfely fay they were fent of God; but though (g) an Angel fliould come from Heaven, we are not to receive any other Dodrine than that of Chrifb, (Jj) confirmed by fo many Teftimonies. In timfrs paft indeed, (/') God fpake in many and various Man- ners, to the pious Men that then were y but laft of all he was pleafed to call us by his Son, {k) the Lord of all Things, {I) the Brightnefs of his Fa- ther's Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Sub- ftance j {m) by whom all Things were made, which were (a) Ihe Myfiicaljenvs, S:c. ] Rom. II. 28. Philo concern- ing Allegories. Judas 'ujas a Symbol of him that ■profejfes (God), {b) The Difference of Meats, (c) Sabbaths, &c.] In the forecited Place of the Colof- Jians.
(d) FeJli-oalDays, &c.] In the fame Place, and Rom» (f) It nvas foretold by our Lord Jefus y &C.] John V. 34.
XXIV. II. Mark XIII. 22. 1 John IV. I.
ig) Ail Angeljhould come from Hea-ven, &c.] Galat I. 8.
(/) God fpake in many and ^various Manners ^ 6<;c.] Heb. I. 2.
{k) The Lord of all Things, (/) The Brightnefs of his Fa- thers Glory, &c.] Heb. I. 3.
{m) By ivhom all Things fweremade, &c.] In the fame ch. Colof I, 16.
282 Of the Truth of > '^^'- Book VI.
were or fhall be •, {a) who a6ls arid tipholds all Things by his Power j and who (b) having made Atonement for our Sins, is advanced to the Rightl^ Hand of God, having obtained {c) a higher Dig-' nity than the Angels; and therefore nothing more noble can be expedted, {d) than fuch a Law- giver. They may alfo take Occafiori from hence to remember, (e) that the Weapons appointed for the Soldiers of Chrift, are not fuch as Mahomet depends upon, but proper to the Spirit, fitted for the pul- ' ling downof ftrong Holds, eredled againft theKnow- ledge of God •, (/) the Shield of Faith, which may repel the fiery Darts of the Devil; the Breaft-plate- of Righteoufnefs, or Holinefs of Life -, for a Hel- met which covers the weakeft Part, the Hope of eternal Salvation •, (g) and for a Sword, the Word delivered %y the Spirit, which can enter into the innermoft Parts of the Mind. Next follows an Ex- hortation (/->) to mutual Agreement, which Chrift: ferioufly commended to his Difciples when he was about [a] Who a£ls and upholds all Tmngs, Sec] Heb. I. 3. Ke- [h) Halving made Atonevient John II. 2. IV. 10. Maff. XXVI 64. Mark XVI. 19. Colo/. III. I. Heh. VIII. I.
X. iz.xir. 5.
{c) A higher Dignity than the Angels^ ic] 2 Pet, ill. 22.
(/) That the Weapons appointed for the Soldiers of Chrift (f) The Shield of Faith, &c.] See befide the aforecited Place to the Ephsfians, i Thef V. 8.
[g) And for a S^v.-ord, &C. j See befide the foreinentioned Place, EphefVl.iy. Heb.lV, (b) To mutual Agreement, 20. and following. XX. 19, 26. \John III. 23. Alfo Ephef III. 14. and following.: Seft. II. the Chrifti an Religion, 283 about to leave them •, {a) We ought not to have amongft us, many Mafters, but o\\\yJejiis Chrift: {b) All Chriftians were baptized into the fame Name, therefore there ought {c) to be no Sedls or Divifions amongft them; To which that there may be fome Remedy applieid, thofe Words of the A- poftle are fuggefted, (d^) to be temperate in our Wifdom, (e) according to the Meafure of the Knowledge God ha$ afforded us; (f) if any have not fo good an Underftandingof all Things; that we bear with their Infirmities, {g) that they may quietly, and without quarrelling, unite with us; (h) if any exceed the reft in Underftanding, it is reafonable he fhould exceed in good Will towards them: And as to thofe ("/■) who in fome Thino-s think otherwife than we do, we are to wait till God fhall make the hidden Truth manifeft unto them-: In the mean Time, {k) wt are to hold faft, and fulfil thofe Things we are agreed in. (/) Now we know in Part j {m) the Time will come, when all all (fl) If'^e ought not fo hawe a- fnongji us many Mafitrs, &c.] ^/^/^XXIII.8. JamesWl. i.
[c] To be no SeSls or Di'vijions dmongfl them, &c.] i Cor. I.
[d] To be temperate in our Wifdom, &CC ] Rom. XII. 8.
(e) According to the Meafure of the Knonjcledge, &c.] In the forecited Place to the Romans, (f) ^f ^^y ha've not fo good an Underfianding, &c.] Rom.
{g) That they may qiiietly,&c.'j [h) If any exceed the refi, &c. ] (z) Who in fome Things think otherwife, &c.] Philip. Ilf. 15. Ephef.lW.z. iC^r.XIII.
II. 2 Tim. IV. 2. LukelX.
{/•) We are to holdfafl, &c.] Philip. III. 16. James I. 22, (/) Nonxj iTve hnoiv in Part, {m) The Time nuill come, «S:C.]
284 Of the Truth of, &c. Book VI.
all Things fhall be mod certainly known. But this is required of every one, (a) that they do not unprofitably keep by them the Talent committed to their Charge; (i?) but ufe their utmoft Endea- vours to gain others unto Chrift; (c) in order where- iinto, we are not only to give them good and •wholefome Advice, but to fet before them (d) an Example of Reformation of Life; that Men may- judge of the Goodnefs of the Mailer, by the Ser- vant, and of the Purity of the Law, by their Ac- tions. In the lail Place, we dire6l our Difcourfe, as we did in the Beginning, to common Readers, bcfeeching them to give God the Glory, (e) if they receive any good from what has been faid; (f) and if there be any thing they diilike, let them impute it to the Errors all Mankind are prone to fall into -, (g) and to the Place and Time, in which this was delivered, more according to Truth, than elaborately.
{a) T^at they do not unprofi- tably keep, &c.] Matt. XX V^ 15. and following.
[b] But ufe their uin:c(i En- dearuoursy &c.] i Cor. IX. 19, (d\ An Exat?iple of 'Refor- mation of Life, &c.] I Pet. Eph. IV. I. Philip. I. 27.
{e) If they receive any Good, &C.] James I. 17. zThef (f) And if there he any thing they diflike, &C.J James III. Gal.Sll. J, z.
(g) And to the Place and Timey &c.] Becaufe this very excellent and learned Man, was kept in Lipfiadt Prifon, to which he was condemned for Life; at which Time, and in which Place, he could never have taken fo great Pains in accomplifhing fo many Pieces remarkable for great Learning, accurate Judgment, and Angu- lar Brightnefs; without incre- dible Firmnefs and Conftancy of Mind, and unfhaken Faith in God; for which Endow- ments bcftowed upon him by God, for the Benefit of all Chrifendom, let every one who reads his other Works, or this, with a Mind intent upon Truth, give Thanks to God, as I do from the Bottom of my Heart. Le Clerc.
Againft Indifference in theCHOiCB ^,, of our Reugxon.
// larilo eirf abfisi odvr oib W BOOK I.
CONCRNING.
The Cho I CE of our O P IN I O N amongft the different Sects of Christians.
Sect. I. We mufl enquire^ amongft what Chrijlians the true Bo^rme of Chriji flourifoeth moft at this time.
WHOEVER reads over the Books of the New Teflament, with a Defire to come at the Knowledge of the Truth, and does not want Judgment; will not be able to deny, but that every one of the Marks of Truth, alleged by Hugo Grotius^ in his ild and Hid Books, are to be found there. Wherefore, if he has any Concern for a blelTed Immortality, he will appre- hend it to be his Duty, to embrace what is pro- pofedto him in thofe Books as Matter of Belief; to do what he is commanded, and to exped what he is there taught to hope for. Otherwife, if any one fhould deny that he doubts of the Truth of the Chriftian Religion, and at the fame time thinks the Dodrines, Precepts, and Promifesofit not fie to to ridS TFk^'^Chjpim Church Book t.
to be believed or obeyed in every Particular; fuch an one would be inconfjllent with him felf, and ma- riifeftly fhow that he is not a fincere Chriflian. {a) Now this is one ot the Precepts of Chrift and his Apoftles, that we fhould profefs ourfelves the Difciples of Chrift before Men, if \^e would have him own us for his, when he fhall pafs Sentence on the Quick and Dead at the laftDay; and if we do not, as we have denied him to be our Mailer ' before Men, fo he alfo, in that laft Afiembly of Mankind, will deny us to be his Difciples before Godv*^ {b) For Chrift would not have thofe that be- lieve on him be his Difciples privately; as if they v/ere afhamed of his Dodtrine, or as if they valued the Kind neffes. Threats, or Puniftiments of Men, more than his Precepts, and the Promifes of eter- nal Life •, but be Chrift ians openly and before all the World, that they may invite other Men t6 embrace the true Religion, and render back to God {c) that Life which they received from him, in the . {a)Nonvthis is one of^W'^'^'^Shi'^Xt^^e^l^^^^^^ Precepts of Cbyift, &c.] Thas^ *« World i that a City fet bit Chriii faich, Matt. X. 3?,: '•* a Hill canr.QX be hid; neither ** VVhoroev.cr therefore (h.i!! " is a Candle lighted to be put ** corifefs'ine [to be his Majier) *^ under a Bufhel, but fet in a ** before IVJen, him will I con- **.Candleftick, th^at it may give ** fefs alfo (to he my Difciple)- ** Light to all'tiat are in th<;; '* in Heaven. But whofoever ' \c) That tifeMxioich^they re-- ** (hall deny nie (to he his ceivedff'bm hirriiSccT^LukeXll^^ '• wili!'-airo Atwy (to he my frardofthem'that kill the Body, " Difciple) before my Father and after, that haile no more tha^ " vvhich is in Heaven." See they can do; and commands u» alfo 2 Tim il. "1 2. ' ■ Rev. ill. to fearhim^ 'Vjhichafternfje are 5. killed y can cajf us into Hell Fir e.^ '{h) Far Chrijl njuould not. And moreover, he foretels alt /^rtx'f, &e.] Therefore he fays' manner of Evi|s to his Difci-- lowujg Seft I.. ive arc to join loitb, ' 289 moft exquifite Torments, if it fo feem good to him; whilft they openly prolefs that they prefer his Precepts above all things. And thus St Paul teaches us-, that it" we confels (a) with our Mouth the Lord Jelus, and believe in our Heart that God hath raifed him from the Dead, we Ihall be faved; ; Fo7\ fays he, wilb the Heart Man beiieveth unto Right eoufnefsy and with the Mouth Confeffwn is made unto Salvation; for the Scripture faith^ JVhofoever helieveth on him Jhall not be ajhamed, Whicli being thus; it is his Duty, who thinks the Chriftian Re- ligion to be true, to dilcover and profefs boldly and without Fear, this his fincere Opinion, upon all Occafions that offer themfelves.
And it is further neceffary for him to enquire; if there be any of the fame Opinion with him- feJf, and {b) to maintain a particular Peace and Friendfhip with them; for Chrift tells us, this is one Mark his Difciples are to be known by, if they love one another, and perlorm all Adts of Lov^c and Kindnefs towards each other. Moreover he exhorts them (r) to have Congregations /*;; his Name^ that is, fuch as fiiould be called Chriftian; and promifes that he would be prefent there, where two or three are met together upon that Account i lowing; and fays, thaf he nvho 35. *' A new Commandment Jhalllofe his life for his Jake, ** give I unto yoj, tliat ye Jhalt find it (again) &c. which " love one another, that a* I Precepts were particularly ob- *' have loved yoa, fo ye love ferved by the primitive Chri- "one another; by this fliall ftians; who for the Teftimony "' all Men is.novv that ye are they gave to the Doflrine of ** my Diiciples, if ye have theGolpel, are called Martyrs^ *' Love, one towards another " that is. Witneffes See x John II. 7. III. 1 1, 16, [a ) Confefs ivith cur Mouthy 2 5.
[b] To maintain a particular &C.] Matt. XVllI. 19, 20. Pface, &c.] John XIII. 34,