/4 70 A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. and resurrection of Christ was not fundamental in Christ's own life-time ; for when he spake of his own death, Peter replied, far be itfrom thee,. Lord ; Mat. xvi. 22. This shall not be unto thee: Aed the rest of the apostles knew not certainly that Christ should risefrom the dead, for some doubted even after his resurrection ; Mat. xxviii. 17. Yet they were the chief of the church of Christ upon earth at that time. So in the very first promulgation of the gospel, before judaismwas quite destroyed, the apostles themselves had not so full a knowledge of christia- nity asthey afterwards, by degrees, received from the instruc- tions of the blessed Spirit. Many passages of scripture dis- cover this, as Acts x. 14-17. and xv. 7-30. and Gal. ii. 2-14. At this time there was scarce any thing of the New Testament written ; And though the evidences of the christian religion were great, et the opportunities of a large and extern sive knowledge-were exceeding few and smallainong thecommon converts, if compared with our age : Therefore the Messiah- ship of Christ, his death, and resurrection; and exaltation, with a very few alterations from natural or Jewish religion, seem to be thechief things then necessary to believe in order to salva- tion, or to profess in order to communion. But when in process of time the Jewish economy was di vinely destroyed, christianity grown tó its full perfection, the canon of scripture completed, and several christian truths and duties more plainly and expressly revealed, it may be well sup- posed that where this canon -of scripture is freely published, God may require something more of christian knowledge in order to salvation, than in thevery first years of the gospel. I speak this last proposition but modestly, and as a probable opinion ; but if this be true; then it clearly fellows that there are more things necessary to make a profession of christianity credible at this day in most places'of England, than were necessary even in Judea in the first-years of christianity.' ANSw. IV. If the essentials of any doctrine were perfectly the same in all ages, yet the credibility of its profession is ex- ceeding .different., according to different eircuinstances of time, place and persons. Where hardslips and sufferings attend the professors of Any religion; a very slight profession of it will per- suademe that a man understands it, and is very sincere in it ; because he exposes himself to suffering by this means: But where there is full liberty given, or especially if external advan- tages attendit, there every one will be ready to profess, though he has little knowledge or sincerity. Those first times of the gospel, were time of reproach and persecution : the sect of chriatíans was every where spoken against, and ideath and dan- gers attended it on all sides. Now to confess the name of Christ, atuidst the reproaches of the world, against the opposition of
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