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THE

TRUE CHRISTIAN.

I am the Vine, Ye are the branches.
By their Fruits Ye shall know them.

Matt. 15. 5.

Matt. 7. 20.

WHEN the way of truth is evil spoken of,

and mankind follow their own lusts, forsaking both the doctrine and fellowship of the Apotles of Jesus Christ; it must needs be difficult, amidst the variety of opinions and opposite persuasions of men, all of whom are called by the common name of Christians, to distinguish good from evil, and truth from falsehood. The safest course that can be taken, is to trust neither to the word nor to the example of any man living, but to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who, while men are changing with every blast, is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. The scripture having plainly told us what the Master is, we may thence learn what the disciple ought to be, and collect the qualifications of the true Christian from the

character

character and offices of his Saviour Jesus

Christ,

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1 Hereby the Christian is distinguished from the Arian and the Socinian; from indevout believers; and from idolaters of all denominations.

2 Here the Christian differs from the philosophical tribe of Deists, who discover a pretended law by the Light of reason, and call it the Re ligion of Nature, which is the Gospel of the natural Man ; for whose character see I Cor. 2. 14. Job 11. 12. Jer. 10.

14.

3 By this he is distinguish ed from Heretics of all denominations; and his doctrines are distinct from imagina tions, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowlege of God, and the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10.5

4 In this he differs from the Enthusiast and the Schismatic, who are for receiving the divine grace with

out

ed and planted by him into his Church, which is his House and his Vineyard. Heb. 3. 3, &c. 1 Tim. 3. 15. 1 Cor. 3.9. Psal. 92. 13. Rom.

6.4, 5.

5 As he is the HIGH PRIEST and BISHOP of Souls, the Christian is to partake of his Sacrifice; to rely on his intercession and atonement; and to obey those who are put in authority under him. Heb. 4. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 25. Ephe. 1. 7. Heb. 13. 17.

6 As He is a Bridegroom, the Christian is to give him his affections John 3. 29, and 14. 23. Ephe. 6. 24.

7 As He is a KING, the Christian must submit to his authority, and acknowlege it in the persons of all earthly kings his representatives. Prov. 8. 15. John 18. 37. Dan. 2. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Col. 2. 10. Rom. 13. 1. Tit. 3. 1.

VOL. XII.

out those means of grace which God hath appointed, who has an undoubted right to save mankind in his own way. 1 Cor. 14. 33, and 35.

5 By this the Christian is distinguished from those who' forsake the Holy Communion; from the Socinian, who denies the Christian redemption; and from those who perish in the gainsaying of Korah. Jude 11.

6 This distinguishes him from the carnal believer, who holdeth the truth in unrighteousness, and giveth his affections to the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, which he renounced at his baptism. Rom. 1. 18.

7 Here the Christian differs from those who hold it lawful to depose kings, by virtue either of the Pope's or the People's power: from those who are traitors, heady and highminded: who while they plead for rebellion under the name of liberty, are the servants of corruption, and

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8 As he is an EXAMPLE or pattern, the Christian is to follow his steps, by doing good to the souls and bodies of men; maintaining a spirit of Zeal for the House of God, his truth, and his Religion; and patient suffering of contempt, reproach, and persecution, for righteousness sake. I Pet. 2. 21. John 13. 15. Acts 10. 38. Matt. 21. 12. John 18. 17. and 7.7. 1 Pet. 2. 23. Matt. 5. 10, &c. I Pet. 2. 1, &c. and chap. 4. 12, &c.

obnoxious to the penalty of damnation. Matt. 26. 52. 2 Pet. 2. 10, &c. to ver. 20. 2 Tim. 3. 4. Rom. 13. 2. 8 His practices in these respects distinguish him from all those who are conformed to this world; from the friends. of lukewarmness and latitudinarianism; from the drowsy and the indifferent; the covetous, the impatient, the proud, and the unmerciful. John 8. 23. Luke 23. 12. Acts 18. 17. Rev. 3. 16. Gal. 1. 10. James 2. 13. Luke 16. 14. 1 Cor. 6.9,&c.

Such was the Christianity of Apostles and Martyrs and he who hath thus learned Christ, is a CHRISTIAN, not in word only but in deed and in truth.

BLESSED is He,
OFFENDED in ME. Matt. 11. 6.

whosoever shall not be

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A PREDESTINARIAN.

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