PART III, of gracious Aptlions. 297 Thus it is plain that chriftian Praaice is the belt Sign or Mani fef- tation of the true Godlinefs of a profeffingChriftian, to the Eye of his Neighbours, But then the following Things fhould be well obferved, that this Matter may be rightly underftood. Firfl, It muft be obferved, that when the Scripture fpeaks of chrif- tian Prac`i:ice, as the heft Evidence to others, of Sincerity and Truth of Grace, a Profeon of Chrfianity is not excluded, but fuppofed. The Rules inention'd were Rules given to the Followers of Chrift, to guide them in their Thoughts ofprofeging Chrjiians, and thofe that offered themfelves as fume of their Society, whereby they might judge of the Truth of their Pretences, and theSincerity of the Profe on tboy made ; and not for the Trial of Heathens, or thofe that made no Pretence to Chriftianity, and that Chriftians had nothing to do with. This is as plain as is poffible in that great Rule which Chrift gives in the 7th of Matthew, By their Fruits yeJhall know them. He there gives a Rule how to judge of thofe that profeffed to be Chriftians, yea that made a very high Profeffìon, fable Prophets, who come in Sheep's Cloathing, as Verfe 15. So it is alfo with that of the Apoftle fames, Chap. 2. r 8. Shew me thy Faith without thyWorks, and I willJhew thee my Faith by my Works. 'Tis evident that both thefe Sorts of Perfons, offering to give thefe diverfe Evidences of their Faith, are Profeffors of Faith ; This is implied in their offering each of them to give Evi- dences of the Faith they profeffed. And 'tis evident by the preceed- ing Verfes, that the Apoffle is fpeaking of ProfefFors of Faith in Jefus Chrift. So it is very plain that the Apoftle fohn, in thofe Paffages that have been obferved in his third Epiftle, is (peaking of profefiing Chriftians. Tho' in thefe Rules, the chriftian Praaice of Profeffors be fpoken of as the greateft and moil diftingnifhing Sign of their Sin- cerity in their Profeífton, much more evidential than their Profeflîon it Pelf ; yet a Profeffion of Chriftianity is plainly prefuppofed : It is not the main Thing in the Evidence, nor any Thing diftinguifhing in it ; yet 'tis a Thing requifite and neceffary in it. As the having an animal Body, is not any Thing diftinguifhing of a Man, from other Creatures, and is not the main Thing in the Evidence of human Na- ture ; yet 'tis a Thing requifite and neceffary in the Evidence. So that if any Man fhould fay plainly that he was not a Chriftian, and . did not believe that Jefus was the Son of God, or a Perfon fent of. God ; thefe Rules of Chrift and his Apoftles don't at all oblige us to . look upon him as a fincere Chriftian, let his vifiblerraaice and Ver tues, be what they will. And not only do thefe Rules take no place with Refpea to a Man that explicitly denies Chriftianity, and is a profefs'd Deift, Jew, Heathen, or open Infidel ; but alto with Re® fpet toja Man that only forbears to make a1'r°ofdlon of Chriftianity: Becaufc
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