CONFIRMED CHRISTIAN. 577 fession of the same religion doth not alter it, but rather enrage the enmity of ,hypocrites against all that are serious and sincere in the religion which they themselves profess; These are things that no good account can be 'riven of, save only from the predictions and verities of the word of God. 5. Also you may hence perceive how exceedingly injurious hypocrites, and scandalous Christians are to the name of Christ, and cause of Christianity and godliness in the world. The blind, malicious enemies of faith and godliness, instead of judging them by the sacred rule, do look only to the professors, and think of religion as they think of them. If they see the professors of Christianity to be covetous, proud, usurpers, time-servers, self - exalters, cruel, schismatical, rebellious, they presently charge all this upon their religion ; and godliness must bear the blame, when all comes but for want of godliness and religion. And all the world hath not done so much against these and all other sins as Christ hath done. What if Christ's disciples strive who shall be the greatest, is it long of him who girdeth himself to wash and wipe their feet ? and telleth them, that " except they be converted, and become as little children, they shall not enter into the kingdom of God ?" (Matt. xviii. 3.) and telleth them, that though " the kings of the Gentiles do exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors, yet ye shall not be so ? " Luke xxii. 25, 26. Is it long of him that bath said to the elders, " Feed the flock of.God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock? Who hath set the elders, such a lesson as you find in Acts xx. 2 Tim. iv. 1-3 1 Tim. v. 17? If any called Christians should be truly schismat- ical, factious, or turbulent, is it long of him that bath prayed thé Fatherthat they may all be one ? (John xvii. 21 -23.) and hath so vehemently entreated them " that they speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions Among them, and, that they be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment ?" (1 Cor. vii. 10.) and bath charged them to "mark them that cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which they had learned, and to avoid them?" Rom. xvi. 16, 17.. If any called Christians shall be seditious, or rebellious, or (as the Papists) be- lieve, that the clergy are from under the jurisdiction of kings, and that the pope hath power to excommunicate princes, and absolve their subjects from their allegiance, and give their dominions to others, as it is decreed in the general council at the Lateran under Innocent the Third, (Can. 3.) is all this long of Christ, who hath VOL. I. 73 0
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