(a) Now this is one of the Precepts of Christ and his Apostles, that we should profess ourselves the Disciples of Christ before Men, if we would have him own us for his, when he shall pass Sentence on the Quick and Dead at the last Day; and if we do not, as we have denied him to be our Master before Men, so he also, in that last Assembly of Mankind, will deny us to be his Disciples before God. (b) For Christ would not have those that believe on him to be his Disciples privately; as if they were ashamed of his Doctrine, or as if they valued the Kindnesses, Threats, or Punishments of Men, more than his Precepts, and the Promises of eternal Life; but be Christians openly and before all the World, that they may invite other Men to embrace the true Religion, and render back to God (c) that Life which they received from him, in the most exquisite Torments, if it

(a) Now this is one of the Precepts of Christ, &c.] Thus Christ saith, Matt. x. 32. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me (to "be his Master) before Men, him will I confess also (to be my Disciple) before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me (to be his Master) before Men, him will "I also deny (to be my Disciple) before my Father which is in "Heaven." See also 2 Tim. ii. 12. Rev. iii. 5.

(b) For Christ would not have, &c.] Therefore he says, Matt. v. 14. "That his Disciples are the Light of the World; "That a City set on a Hill cannot be hid; neither is a Can"dle lighted to be put under a Bushel, but set in a Candle"stick, that it may give Light to all that are in the House, &c."

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(c) That Life which they received from him, &c.] Luke xii. 4. Christ bids us not to be afraid of them that kill the Body, "and after that have no more that they can do ;" and commands us to fear him, which after we are killed, can cast us into Hell Fire." And inoreover, he foretells all Manner of Evils to his Disciples, Matt. x. 29, and following; and says, "that he who shall lose his Life for his Sake, shall find it (again) &c." which Precepts were particularly observed by the primitive Christians; who, for the Testimony -they gave to the Doctrine of the Gospel, are called Martyrs, that is, Witnesses.

so seem good to him; whilst they openly profess that they prefer his Precepts above all Things. And thus St. Paul teaches us; that if we confess (a) with our Mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead, we shall be saved; For, says he, with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with thy Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation; for the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed. Which being thus, it is his Duty, who thinks the Christian Religion to be pure, to discover and profess boldly and without Fear, this his sincere Opinion, upon all Occasions that offer themselves.

AND it is further necessary for him to inquire; if there be any of the same Opinion with himself, and (b) to maintain a particular Peace and Friendship with them; for Christ tells us, this is one Mark his Disciples are to be known by, if they love one another, and perform all Acts of Love and Kindness towards each other. Moreover he exhorts them (c) to have Congregations in his Name, that is, such as should be called Christians; and promises that he would be present there, where two or three are met together upon that Account; by this Means, beside the mutual Love and strict Friendship of Christians united into one Society, there is also a Provision made (d) for pre

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(a) Confess with our Mouth, &c.] Rom. x. 9, 10, 11.

(b) To maintain a particular Peace, &c.] John xiii. 35. "A new Commandment give I unto you, that ye love one "another, that as I have loved you, so ye love one another "by this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye have Love one towards another." See 1 John ii. 7. iii. 11, 16, 23.

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(c) To have Congregations, &c.] Matt. xviii. 19, 20. (d) For preserving their Doctrines, &c.] Thus likewise all the Philosophers transmitted their Doctrine to Posterity, by

serving their Doctrines; which can hardly continue, if every one has a private Opinion to himself, and does not declare the Sense of his Mind to another, unless for his own Advantage; for those Things that are concealed, are by Degrees forgotten, and come in Time to be quite extinguished; but Christ would have his Doctrine, and the Churches which profess it, be perpetual, that it may not cease to be beneficial to Mankind.

WHEREFORE Whoever derives his Knowledge of the Christian Religion from the New Testament, and thinks it true; such an one ought to make Profession of it, (a) and to join himself with those of the like Profession. But because there is not at this Time (neither was there formerly) one Sort of Men only, or one Congregation of such as are gathered together in the Name of Christ; we are not therefore presently to believe that he is a true Christian, who desires to be called by that holy Name; neither ought we to join ourselves (b) without Examination, to any Assembly who stile themselves Christians. We must consider, above all Things, whether their Doctrines agree with that Form of sound Words, which we have

the Help of Schools in which it was taught; but the Christian Churches, which are united by a much firmer and stronger Bond, will, with more Certainty and Ease, propagate the Doctrine they receive from their Master, to the End of the World, which can hardly be done without Congregations. Pythagoras would have effected this, but in vain, because his Doctrine had nothing divine in it. See Laërtius and Jamblichus.

(a) And to join himself with those, &c.] See the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, where they are commanded to found Churches. And Heb. x. 25.

(b) Without Examination, &c.] See 1 Thess. v. 21. But more expressly, 1 John iv. 1. "Beloved (says he) believe "not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they be of "God; for many false Prophets are come into the World,

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entertained in our Mind, from an attentive reading of the New Testament; otherwise it may happen that we may esteem that a Christian Congregation, which is no further Christian than in Name. It is therefore the Part of a prudent Man, not to enter himself into any Congregation, at least for a Continuance; unless it be such, in which he perceives that doctrine established, which he truly thinks to be the Christian Doctrine; lest he should put himself under the Necessity of saying or doing something contrary to what he thinks delivered and commanded by Christ.

SECT. II.

We are to join ourselves with those who are most worthy the Name of Christians.

AMONGST Christians that differ from each other, and not only differ, but (to their Shame !) condemn one another, and with cruel Hatred banish them their Society; to agree to any of them without Examination, or, according to their Order, to condemn others without Consideration, shews a Man not only to be imprudent, but very rash and unjust. That Congregation which rejects, though but in Part, the true Religion (a Representation of which he has formed in his Mind) and condemns him that believes it; cannot be thought by such an one, a truly Christian Congregation in all Things; nor can it prevail with him to condemn every Man which that Church shall esteem worthy to be condemned, and cast out of the Society of Christians. Wherefore a wise and honest Man ought above all Things to examine, in these Dissensions amongst Christians, who are they which best deserve the holy Name of Disciples of Christ, and to adhere to them. If any one should ask,

what we are required to do by the Christian Religion, supposing there was no such Christian Society at all, amongst whom the true Doctrine of Christ seems to be taught, and amongst whom there is not a Necessity laid upon us of condemning some Doctrine which we judge to be true: In this Case, he who apprehends these Errors, ought to endeavour to withdraw others from them; in doing of which, he must use (a) the greatest Candour, joined with the highest Prudence and Constancy; lest he offend Men without doing them an Advantage, or lest any Hopes of bringing them to Truth and Moderation, be too suddenly cut off. In the mean Time we are to speak modestly and prudently, what we think to be the Truth; nor should any one be condemned by the Judgment of another, as infected with Error, who seems to think right. God has never forsaken, nor never will forsake the Christian Name so far, as that there shall remain no true Christians; or at least none such as cannot be brought back into the true Way; with whom we may maintain a stricter Society, if others will not return to a more sound Opinion; and openly withdraw ourselves from the Obstinate (which yet we ought not to do without having tried all other Means to no purpose;) (b) if it be not allowed

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(a) The greatest Candour, &c.] Here that Precept of Christ's takes Place, Matt. x. 16. where we are commanded “To be "wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves;" that is, to be so far simple, as not to fall into Imprudence; so wise, as not to be crafty, and offend against Sincerity; in which Matter, there are but few who know how to steer their Course in all Things, between the Rocks of Imprudence and Craftiness.

(b) If it be not allowed, &c.] Whilst it is allowed to have a different Opinion, and to profess our Disagreement, there is no Reason to depart from a public Society, unless the Fundamentals of Christianity be perverted by it; but where