A good man making a good end the life and death of the Reverend Mr. John Baily, comprised and expressed in a sermon on the day of his funeral, Thursday, 16. d. 10. m. 1697 / by Cotton Mather.

What is a CHRISTIAN?

Two Preliminaries are to be Considered.

First; Many a man is not Really a Christian, that yet is Visibly so. As the Scripture sayes, in Rom. 2.28. He is not a Jew, that is one outwardly: Thus we may say, He is not a Christian, that is no more than outwardly so. Tis true, A mans being Visibly a Christian, is that which Entitles him to the External Priviledges of Christianity, in the Churches of God; Non Judicat Ecclesia de Oc∣cultis. But a man must be Really a Christian, if he would not perish among Infidels at the last.

Secondly; A man that is Really a Christian, may have many Ʋnchristian Disorders in his Heart & Walk. Alas, my Friends, All is not Christianity, that is done by every Real Christian! He was a Real and a First-rate Christian, who said, in Rom. 7.22, 23. I Delight in the Law of God after the Inward man, but I see another

Law in my Members. Thus it may be said of a Good man; He Delights in every Good Thing, so far as he is a Christian man: but you may see such a man do many Things, that are far from Christian.

Prepared with these Two Consideration, Let us now pass on to Consider, What a Christian is? What are the points of Real Christianity, which every Christian, as far as he is a Christian, does come up unto.

Give your Attention, Sirs; Your Condition for Eternity, is going to be determined.

I A CHRISTIAN, is one, who Adores the Lord JESUS CHRIST, as very GOD, and who Accepts that Lord, as His own GOD. The man, who does not Look upon our Lord Jesus Christ, as more than a man, is no Christian. The Old Arians were but Pseudo Christians. A Chri∣stian sees that our Lord Jesus Christ is a man, but he sees this man to be personally United unto the Second Person in God. This is menti∣oned as the First, and Grand, Article of Chri∣stianitie, which is the Mystery of Godliness, in 1 Tim. 3.16. That our Lord Jesus Christ is no other than God manifest in the Flesh. A man may be a notable Preacher of Christ, and write whole Books, about, The Knowledge of Christ, and yet not be a Christian. Mighty Numbers of those Hereticks, which are called Socinians, do at this day cover the face of Christendome, as the Frogs did Egypt of old: They hold, that our Lord Jesus Christ, is God, not by Nature, but only by Office; and not from Eternity, but only

since His Resurrection. The Mahometans are as Good Christians, as these miserable Hereticks; for the Mahometans grant our Blessed Jesus, to be a Glorious Prophet of God. Yea, there are better Christians than these, among the Mahome∣tans; for there is a Potent Sect lately risen a∣mong the Mahometans, called, The Good Followers of the Messiah, who hold that our Christ is God, and the Redeemer of the World. No, A Christian, is one, who counts himself Robb'd, of all his Hope, and all his Joy, and all his Life, if the God-Head of his Lord Jesus Christ, should be questi∣oned. A Christian expects from his Lord, such a Righteousness as will Entitle him to Life, and such a Sacrifice as to Expiate all his Guilt, and such a Spirit, as will Sanctify him throughout, and at last Raise him out of the Dust, unto Heavenly and Eternal Glory. Now the Foun∣dation of all this Expectation in the Christian, is, My Christ is God as well as Man! When the A∣postolical Writings have called our Lord Jesus Christ, The True God, and, The Great God, and God over all; the Christian is one that Heartily Subscribes unto it. The Christian thinks of the Lord Jesus Christ, That this His Lord, Is every where, and, Knows every thing, and, That His Lord is, The Lord God Omnipotent, and, That all Things were made by Him, and, That He Upholds all Things.

There were Christians in the Dayes of the

Old Testament; All the Faithful People of the God of Abraham, were Christians, tho' that Name were not yet Formally put upon them. Now those old Christians, did Worship the Messiah as God: Joshua did so. Jacob was one of those old Christians; and he said of the Messiah, This is the God that fed me all my Life Long. Job was another of them; and he said, In my Flesh, I shall see God: From whence, even a Jewish Rabbi, who was no Christian, infers, The Word of God will take Flesh in a Woman on Earth. David was a Christian; and he said of the Anointed One, our Christ, in Psal. 45.7. Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Isaiah was a Christian; and he said, of the Christ, who is the Child born, the Son given unto us, in Isa. 9.6. His Name shall be, God, The Mighty.

Unless our Lord Jesus Christ, be unto a man, God as well as Man, and the very God, whose Name alone is JEHOVAH, That man cannot be a Christian. The Christian accounts our Lord Jesus Christ, The God, which is, and which was, and which is to come; that is to say, The Eternal JEHOVAH. The Christians of the Old-Testa∣ment, were of this Apprehension; and therefore, in multitudes of passages, concerning the Works of the Messiah, all over the Old Testament, the Name of JEHOVAH is Ascribed unto Him. [Thus in Zech. 12.10. Thus in Zeph. 3.9. Thus, in Jer. 33.16.] The Jews themselves are so

sensible of This, that tho' they Deny our Jesus to be the Messiah, yet several of their own Rabbi's, do confess, That when the Messiah comes, he shall be called, The Eternal JEHOVAH; and, that the Messiah, is intended when 'tis said, Je∣hovah shall build up Jerusalem. There was a man, whom the Jews did Stab with a Sword. But the Old Christians among the Jews, look'd upon that man, to be Assum'd by the Wisdom of God, into one person with Himself; Hence, they reckoned, the Messiah, to be the Wisdom of God; and as in Zech. 13.7. that Stab'd man, they saw, was a Fellow, an Aequal, unto Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts.

But when the Christian sees the Demonstration of this Mystery, That his Lord Jesus Christ, is very God, and by an ineffable Generation from all Eternity, The Son of God, he does there on, and there fore, make choice of this Lord, for his own God. The Language of the Christian, is that which Thomas used when he saw our Christ, af∣ter His Resurrection from the Dead, in Joh. 20.28. My Lord, and my God! That famous Roman Pagan Governour, Pliny, gave this Description of the Christians, in his Time, That they Sang Hymns unto one CHRIST, as unto a GOD. Sirs, If we are Christians, We offer up our Praises and our Prayers, unto our CHRIST, as our God; and as unto God, we devote our selves unto Him. It was usual with the ancient Idolaters, to Brand

themselves, in token of their Devotion to the Idols, whose Brands they wore, with such Cha∣racters, as are forbidden in Leviticus. With a Golden, or an Iron Stamp, they sometimes Branded themselves, with the Mark of their Idol; as a Thunderbolt was the Mark of Jupiter, an Helmet of Mars, an Ivy of Bacchus. They some∣times Branded themselves, with the Name of their Idol at large; as Jupiter, or, Mercurius, and the like. And they some times Branded themselves, with the Number of his Name; that is, with o∣ther Letters privately agreed by the Fraternity, which together would amount unto the same Number, with the Known Letters of his Name. I will not Report what some zealous Christians in the Primitive Times, did in opposition to this Idolatry. But this I will say; Every Christian does brand himself, with a certain Stamp, in to∣ken, That CHRIST is the God, whom he devotes himself unto; Now, the Name of, A CHRISTI∣AN, is that Stamp: As long as he wears the Name of, A CHRISTIAN, he thinks, CHRIST is my God; I am to Trust Him, Fear Him, Love Him, as my God forever.

There is no Christian, who does not Receive the Doctrine of the Trinity, as an Article of his Creed. Now, a Jew lately Turn'd Christian, re∣cieved it with this peculiar Emphasis. It is said, [for so he Read it, and we may Read it so,] in Deut. 6.4. Hear O Israel, The Lord, our God, the

Lord, are One. Behold, sayes he, Here are Three; and yet it is added, These Three are but one. But it is the Second Person, that here more Emi∣nently chooses to be called, Our God, because He would more especially be Ours by Taking Our Flesh and Blood upon Himself; and it is in Him, that God becomes Ours. Truly, A Christian be∣holds the Lord Jesus God, as that Person of God, wherein God becomes eminently Ours, and he cryes out, Oh! my God, my God, forevermore!

II. A CHRISTIAN, is one well satisfyed in JESUS of Nazareth, as the Messiah promised of God, unto the World.

The world was through all Ages Entertained with Promises, of a Messiah, to Redeem us from the Curses, which the Wrath of God for Sin hath brought upon us, and from the Mischiefs done to us, by that Old Serpent, the Devil, in our Hear∣kening unto him. These Promises are every where Scattered up and down, in the Scriptures of the Old Testament even from the Third of Genesis, to the Fourth of Malachi. Now, tis Es∣sential unto a CHRISTIAN, to entertain the Blessed JESUS of Nazareth, as the Messiah Ex∣hibited in all of these Very Great and Precious Pro∣mises. And there are espicially Two Things, that Convince a Christian of it.

First, A Christian is Convinced, That in our JESUS, all the ancient Oracles about the Messiah, have their full Accomplishment. You'l easily

bring a Christian, to joyn in a Consort with the Song of Mary, in Luk. 1.55. In Him, God ha's Helped us, as He Spake to our Fathers. A Christian will soon be Convinced, That there did no Con∣siderable Thing befal our JESUS, but what the Ancient Oracles did foretel concerning the Messiah. And, a Christian will soon be Convinced, That whatever the Ancient Oracles did foretel concern∣ing the Messiah, can be evidently found in our JESUS. Yea, any Rational man might be presently Convinced of This! There are especially Two Things in our Illustrious JESUS, at which the miserable Jews, are Scandalized: His Birth, and His Death. But in both of these, the Christian sees an Astonishing Accomplishment, of the Pro∣phecies, in the Ancient Oracles of God. The Messiah was to be Born, before the Tribe of Ju∣dah, should be utterly Stript of Lawgivers; and while the Second Temple was yet standing; and within Four-hundred and Ninety Years, after the Proclamation of Cyrus for the Rebuilding of Jerusalem. Now sayes the Christian, So was my Blessed Jesus! The Messiah was to be Born, at Bethlehem; and, Born of a Virgin; and, Born of Obscure Parentage. Now sayes the Christian, So was my Blessed Jesus! The Messiah was to Ride upon an Ass Colt, when He came to Work out our Salvation. Sayes the Christian, My Jesus did so! The Messiah was to be Despised and Rejected of His own Country-men. If the Messiah be not yet come, then whenever He does come, the

Jews are to deal with Him, just as they did with our Jesus. Upon this the Christian sayes, No, my Jesus was He! The Messiah, after His being a Publick Preacher Three years and an half, was to be made a Sacrifice for the Sins of men, & thereupon the City and the Temple were to fa••l under horrible Desolations. Was it not so with my Jesus? Will the Christian say. The Messiah was to be Betray'd by one of His own Disciples; He was to be Try'd and Judg'd, as a Malefactor; He was to have His Hands, and His Feet Pierced, that is, to be Crucifyed: Vinegar was to be offered unto Him in His Agonies; He was to be Rob'd of His Garments; He was to Suffer with the worst of Criminals; He was to be Buryed in the Tomb of a Rich man; like Jonah. He was to Rise again, and the Gentiles were thereupon to come unto Repentance. All this was predicte•…•… of the Messiuh; Well then, sayes the Christian My Jesus is the Messiah, for in Him is all of this gloriously come to pass!

Again; A Christian is convinced, That th•…•… Miracles wrought by our JESUS, could b•…•… wrought by none but the True Messiah. It i•…•… said of our JESUS, The Son of David, in Rom. 1•…•… 4. He was Declared to be the Son of God with pow¦er. The Miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ar•…•… called, Powers; and they may well be called so inasmuch as they are Expressive of Supernatura•…•… Powers over the Creation of God. Now, wh••

a Christian sees the Miracles done by our Blessed JESUS, he is convinced of our Lords Divinity, and convinced of our Lords Messiah-ship, immedi∣ately; and he cries out, Oh! This my JESUS, is the Son of God! The Christian is very sure, That our JESUS, wrought such Miracles, as are in the Gospel Related of Him: Stupendous Miracles wherein, The Blind Received their Sight, the Lame Walked, the Lepers were Cleansed, the Deaf heard, the Devils that were the Instruments of Inflict∣ing such Calamities were cast out, and the Dead Raised up. The Witnesses of those Miracles are Incontestable. The Obstinate and Enchanted Jews themselves do in their Talmuds own those Miracles. But then the Christian is very sure, That God would never have permitted such Miracles to be wrought by our JESUS, if He had not been the Messiah. Indeed, a False Pro∣phet may have a Sign, accompanying of Him. Yet, such is the Compassion of the Good God unto the World, that something or other always •…•…dhaeres to the Miracles of a Ly, whereby the Delusion may be detected. Whereas the Mira∣cles of our JESUS were such, that the more men Examine them, the more proofs will appear, of their being the Seals of the Great God, unto the Truth of all that He Declared. Our JESUS came, the Christian sees him coming, a man of Universal Holiness, and full of Endeavours to promote all that is Holy and Just and Good. He

Asserted Himself to be rhe Messiah; and for the Evidence of this Assertion, He not only did les∣ser Wonders, but also Raised the Dead, who had been divers Dayes putrifying in their Graves; and this in His own Name too: Yea, He Rais'd Himself also from the Dead, after He had been Stab'd thro' the Heart, and Hung Six Hours on a Cross, and Lay in a Sepulchre for Three Dayes together. If any man should ma∣liciously say, That all this was nothing but an Im∣posture of the Devil; God Almighty would ne∣ver Pardon that man, throughout Eternal Ages! The Christian, upon the sight hereof, says like that Officer, who saw something of it, Certainly this was the Son of God. What says the Christi∣an? O my JESUS, There are no works, like thy works; Thou art the Messiah that was to come.

III. A CHRISTIAN, is one who Acknow∣ledges the matchless JESUS, to be the Priest, the Prophet, and the King, Appointed by God, for the Everlasting Acknowledgments of all His People. The Name of MESSIAH, which is given to our Lord Redeemer, it may be Seven Times in the Old Testament, is the same with CHRIST, which is in the New Testament gi∣ven perhaps, above Two Hundred and Four∣score Times unto Him. The Name signifies, The Anointed. Now there were Three Offices of much Influence, in the Old Church of God;

that of a Priest, that of a Prophet, and that of a King; and it was usual for them, who sustained these Offices, to be Anointed thereunto. These Offices, and the Anointings wherewith persons were set apart for these Offices, were ordered by the God of Heaven to be Typical of our Sacred JESUS. His being, The Anointed, is His being both Commissioned and Qualified, for all the Offices of our Lord-Redeemer. And now, what is a CHRISTIAN, but a Believer on a CHRIST? One who Believes in the Blessed JESUS, as Gloriously Executing all the Offices of a Media∣tor.

Particularly; First, unto a Christian, our Bles∣sed Jesus, is a Priest for ever. 'Tis said, in Heb. 3.1. Consider the High Priest of our Profes∣sion, Christ Jesus: Christ Jesus is the High-Priest of the Christian Profession; A Christian makes Profession of being Reconciled unto God, by no High-Priest, but Jesus Christ. A Christian is one who sees himself utterly unable to make that Reparation unto God for the wrongs done by our Sins unto Him, which His Just Law re∣quires. He therefore flies unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only High Priest, that can Repair those wrongs, and make Atonement for him. What is a Priest? We have the Definition of one, in Heb. 5.1. He is one ordained for men, in Things pertaining to God, that he may offer both Gifts and Sacrifices for Sins. Now says the Chri∣stian,

I know no such Priest, but my Blessed Jesus! The Christian apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Priest Sacrificing for him. He Assents to that in Heb. 9.26. He hath appeared to put away Sin, by the Sacrifice of Himself. He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, yielding both Active and Passive Obedience unto God, on the behalf of His Elect: He sees this Obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, as his Ransome from Eternal Mise∣ries. All the Relief, that a Christian has against the Fears of the Wrath of God is This; Christ hath Loved us, and given Himself for us, an Offer∣ing and a Sacrifice to God, of a sweet smelling Sa∣vour. Ask a Christian, How do you think to find Acceptance with God? He'l tell you, If he be a Christian, he'l tell you, 'Tis thro' the Merits of the Obedience of my Lord Jesus Christ alone. The Christian also apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ as a Priest Interceeding for him. He assents to, That, in Heb. 7.25. He is able to Save to the utter∣most, seeing He ever Lives to make Intercession. He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Legal Surety, and as a Publick Person, gone into the Holy of Holies for us; He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, with our Names on His Breast, there powerfully pleading for our purchased Salvation. A Chri∣stian has nothing to support him under all his Daily Corruptions, and his Daily Temptations, but this, My Jesus is my Advocate! The Soul of the Christian even Lives upon this Cordial, My

Christ Lives in Heaven, to make Intercession for Transgressors.

Again, The Blessed Jesus is the Prophet of the Christian; the Shepherd and Bishop of his Soul; the Faithful Witness of God unto him; and his perpetual Counsellor. A Christian sees his Blessed Jesus, and saith with that Multitude, in Mat. 21.11. This is Jesus the Prophet. The Christian is one who apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ, as, A Teacher come from God; and, a Teacher, whose Acquaintance with the Counsels of God, infi∣nitely exceeds all that any mortal man can pre∣tend unto: Jesus, a Prophet, (says he) Mighty in Deed, and in Word before God! Hence, the Christian Embraces what the Lord Jesus Christ has Revealed, as being the True and the Whole Will of God; He will Credit nothing, with a Sa∣cred Belief, and Perform nothing, as a Sacred Worship, except what comes from the Lord Je∣sus Christ: In every Difficulty, he will go to the Lord Jesu•• Christ for Direction: and he car∣ries a Dark Soul to the Lord Jesus Christ, with this petition, Lord, that I may Receive my Sight! The Scholars of an Aristole are called, Aristotele∣ans. Thus a Christian, what is he but a Scholar of Christ?

Once more; The Blessed Jesus is the King of the Christian: the Lord of Life, the Lord of Peace, the Lord of Glory, yea, the Lord of All. A Christian sees his Blessed Jesus, and sayes with

that Sincere Soul, in Joh. 1.49. Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. The Christian apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Master of the World, the Lord of Hosts, and of Angels, the Man on the Throne managing all the Wheels of Providence: And as the Ruler of the Church; the Spouse and Head, and Lord of it, and the Law-giver of the Conscience. Hence the Christian seeks unto the Lord Jesus Christ, for to have his own Heart Subdued unto the Will of God, and for Defence from all Interior Adversaries, and Conquest over all. Thus, he Recieves Christ the Lord! The Subjects of an Herod were called He∣rodians. Thus, a Christian is but a Subject of Christ.

IV. A CHRISTIAN is one, who Considers the Profound Humiliation of the Lord Jesus Ch••ist, as no matter of Prejudice; no, but as a mat••er of unspeakable Praise and Joy. The foul-mou••h'd Julian, having Renounced Christianity, would Scoff at our Blessed JESUS, calling Him, The Staked God. But Christianity teaches us, to be infinitely Satisfyed with the Thoughts of what that Man, who is God as well as Man, Suffered on a Stake. The Pagans, would laugh at the Christians of old, saying, Tu adoras Crucifixum; What? You are one of the Fools, that Adore Him that was Crucified. The Christian Thinks, I have still the more cause to Adore Him for That! The Jews do still taunt at the Christians, with such a

Flout as that; What? you Adore Talui, i. e. an Hanged man. The Christian Thinks, I had been a Damned man, if He had not been So! A Christian is, One that is not Asham'd of a Christ on a Cross. And indeed, Why should he? The posture of old Jacobs Hands in Blessing his Children, might intimate unto them, That through a Cross all the Blessing of Heaven is derived unto us. What we translate, in Isa. 52.13. My Servant shall deal pru∣dently, (which the Chaldee Paraphrase Expressly applies to the Messiah,) may have the Messiahs laying Himself on a Cross, intimated in the He∣brew Original. A Christian is not Scandalized at it, That his Lord who is the Everlasting Father, was once an Infant laid in a Manger, where Beasts had their Fodder; but he thinks, This was, that I, with my Infants, who have made our selves worse than Beasts, may come to be Lodg'd and Fed among the Angels of God. A Christian is not Scandalized at it, That his Lord, who is the High Possessor of Heaven and Earth, had not an House where to lay His Head; but he thinks, This was, that I, to whom Hell, the Place of Dragons belonged, may have an House Eternal in the Heavens. He is not Scan∣dalized at it, That his Lord, who is the Creator of all things, did Submit unto the poor Mechanick Employment of a Carpenters; but he thinks, This was, that I, who have made Wickedness my Employ∣ment, may be made a King and a Priest unto my God. He is not Scandalized at it, That his Lord, who

Sitts on the Throne of Eternity, should Wear a Crown of Thorns; but he thinks, This is, that I may obtain a Crown of Life. He is not Scanda∣lized at it, That his Lord, who is the Judge of the World, should be Condemned at the Bar of sinful men; but he thinks, This is, that I, a vile Sinner, may be Acquitted at the Bar of the Holy God. He is not Scandalized at it, That his Lord, whose Hands Wield the Scepter of the Om∣nipotent, should have his Hands nailed unto a Tree of Death; but he thinks. This is to make Atone∣ment for my medling with the Forbidden Tree, and that I may come to Eat of the Tree of Life. The Pains of Hell, he sees getting hold on his Lord, who is the Joy of the whole Heaven: He is not Scandalized at it, but thinks, This is, that I may arrive to pleasures at Gods Right Hand for ever∣more! The Christian is wonderfully pleased, with Reflections, Like those which occurr, in the Writings of the Ancients;

The Maker of man, was made a man: He that Rules the Stars of Heaven, did Suck the Breasts of a Wo∣man: The Bread of Life was Hungry; The Spring of Life was Thirsty; The Light of the World saw Nights of Sleep; He that is the Way, was weary with Travelling; He that is the Truth was overwhelmed with false Accusa∣tions; The Judge of the Quick and the Dead, was arraigned before a mortal Judge: Justice it self was Condemned by the Unjust. He

that is Discipline it self, Endured Scourging; The Richest Cluster of Grapes, was Crowned with Thorns: The Foundation of the Church was hang'd on a Tree: Strength it self was weaken∣ed: Health it self was Wounded; Life it self Dyed.

V. A CHRISTIAN is one who values a Baptism, into the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; Obtains it, if have not Enjoy'd it; Improves it, if he has obtain'd it. Christians are the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, all the Disciples of that Lord, in all Nations, are to be own'd such, by being Baptised into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is no Chris∣tian, but what would Gladly be Baptised into the Name of CHRIST, and he would thereby open∣ly take upon himself the Name of a Christian: Tis said, in Mark 16.16. He that Believeth, and is Baptised, shall be Saved. He that is a Believer, will as soon as he can, Express it, by his being a Baptised one. But a Christian having been once Baptised, he doth not altogether Forget the Bap∣tismal Obligations laid upon him, to be the Lords. It is said in Gal. 3.26. As many of you, as have been Baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. A Baptised Christian ha's put on the Livery of Christ; and wearing the Name of CHRISTI∣AN, he is to Remember himself, the Servant of that most Holy Lord. Thousands of Churches, at this Day in the Eastern parts of Europe, when

a Person is Baptised in them, there is this Expres∣sion used, Such an one, A Servant of the Lord Je∣sus Christ, is Baptised. Sirs, when y••u were Bap∣tised, you were Declared the Servants of the Lord Christ; and tho' you were Baptised, yet you are no Right Christians, if you decline the Service of that Heavenly Lord. When some of the Roman Emperours, became Christian, they Subscribed themselves, The Vassals of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ay, That, That it is to be a CHRISTIAN. A Christian, and a Baptised Vassal of Jesus Christ, are of the same Importance. He is one that falls down at the Feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, and affectionately sayes, Ah! Lord, other Lords besides thee have had Dominion over me, but now I will make mention of thy Name alone. The Christian is one that will not Humour the Flesh, one that will not Follow the World, one that will not Gratify the Devil. JESUS, JESUS, That is the Name of His only Lord. He heartily sayes, Lord, I am thy Servant; Thy Vows are upon me, to be so! Yea, come to a Christian, and satisfy him, about any Thing, This Thing will be a Service to the Lord Jesus Christ; you need not any other Argument for to perswade him unto the Thing. Oh! may I Serve my Christ! of this the Christian sayes, Tis all my Salvation, and all my Desire!

VI. A CHRISTIAN is one, who Endeavours to Imitate the Example of the Lord Jesus Christ, in those Things, wherein He ha's required our

Imitation of Him. Indeed, there are Mediatorial performances and preheminencies of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein He is Inimitable. But such was the Ordinary Conversation of our Lord Jesus Christ upon Earth, as that He could say, in Joh. 13.15. I have given you an Exemple, that ye should do as I have done. The Exemple of our Lord Je∣sus Christ, is in this Book of His mightily Incul∣cated on every Christian; yea, our Lord sayes unto us, in Luk. 14.27. Whosoever doth not come after me, cannot be my Disciple; which is to say, He cannot be a Christian! The Images of the Lord JESUS CHRIST on the Wall, are not Agreea∣ble unto a well instructed Christian. But instead of that, the Christian would fain have an Image of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Dispositions of his own Heart & Life. The Christian layes up his chief Happiness, in being made like unto the Lord Jesus Christ; and he dayly aspires to be changed into that Image, from Glory to Glory. What is a Christian? Briefly; He is a Christ like man; and one, who, as He that hath called him is Holy, so, would be Holy in all manner of Conversation. There have been Persons in the world called, Ciceronians; & their Fancy ha's been, that what∣ever Phrase or Word, they could not find in the Works of Cicero, they would hardly make use of it. Thus, if men dislike every Thing, that is contrary to what might in the Walk of Christ be met withal, Why, These are your Christians.

What sayes the Apostle, in 1 Joh. 2.6. He that saith, he abideth in Christ, (or, is a Christian,) ought himself also to Walk, so as He Walked. Alas, Tis not a Recitation of a Creed, but an Imitation of a Christ, that will make a Christian. Among the Jews, the Reckabites, would plant no Vineyards, and build no Houses, because they would be like old Reckab, their Grand father, from whom they were called so. Thus if we would be Christians, we must live like our Saviour Christ, from whom we are called so. Among the Papists, the Bene∣dictines, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, and the o∣ther Irreligious Orders, ty themselves to Imitate the Lives of these men, from whom they have their Names. In vain have we the Name of Christians from our Lord Jesus Christ, if our Lives be not conformed unto His. When Duties are before us, a Christian is to think, How was th s D••∣ty done by Christ? When Trials are upon us, a Christian is to think, How was this Tryal born by Christ? And then conform accordingly. Christians, we must Walk in Love, as Christ also hath Loved us; we must Learn of Christ in being Meek & Low∣ly; we must have that mind in us, which was in Christ Jesus, who Humbled Himself; we must run with Patience the Race set before us, Looking unto Je∣sus; else there is a Crime in our Name. When Alexander the Great, saw a Souldier, whose Name was Alexander, prove a very Coward, he said, Aut fortiter pugna, aut Nomen de pone: either Fight like

Alexander, or been't called Alexander! Truely, if Christians don't conform themselves, to the Ho∣ly, Prayerful, Watchful, and Fruitful Exemple of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord bestows this Re∣buke from Heaven upon them, Either Live as I show'd you how to Live, or else don't presume to take the Name of Christians any longer!

VII. A CHRISTIAN is one that is willing to suffer any Cross, that the Lord, who Dy'd upon the Cross, may please to lay upon him. It hath been truly said, Omnis Christianus est Crucianus; Every Christian is a Cross-bearer. Syrs, To deal plainly; You cannot be Christians upon easier Terms than those in Mat. 16.24. Then said Jesus to His Dis∣ciples, [Mark it, you cannot be Disciples, except this Hard Saying be complied withal.] If any man will come after me, Let him deny himself, and take up his Cross. Except we can Deny our selves, we shall Deny our Christ; and then, what Chri∣stians are we! A Christian is one, who does not propound unto himself a Freedom from Afflicti∣ons in this Life; but with a profound submission he Leaves unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the order∣ing of all those Afflictions, with which there may be Need for him to be kept in Heaviness. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath Reserved a most Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory for us, in another World. Now, 'tis inseparable from a Christian, to submit unto those Afflictions, by which our Lord Jesus Christ will in this World, prepare us

for that Glory. 'Tis a solemn & an awful word, but it is the word of our Lord Jesus Christ; That if there be any one thing, that we are not wil∣ling to forego, at the Call of Christ, and for the Sake of Christ, we are not thorow Christians to this Hour. He that has the Heart of a Christian, has in some Degree the Heart of a Martyr too! Whatever Comfort of Life our Lord Jesus Christ shall call us to part withal, yea, tho' it be Life it, self, the Christian will say, Well, if my Lord Jesus, Christ will have me to part with This, I have done with it, Let it go! We are told, in Heb. 2.10. The Captain of our Salvation, was made perfect through Sufferings. The Christian is one Listed under that Captain; and he says, I'l follow my Captain! Our Lord Jesus Christ might complain, That He had not where to Lay his Head. Then says the Christi∣an, Shall not I be willing to be poor, if my Lord Je∣sus Christ will have me to be so? Our Lord Jesus Christ, might complain, That Reproach had broken His Heart. Then says the Christian, Shall not I be wil∣ling to be under Disgrace, if my Lord Jesus Christ, will have me so to be? Our Lord Jesus Christ, was forsaken by all His Friends; They all Forsook Him. Then says the Christian, if my Lord Jesus Christ will take away my Friends and Relations, I will not withold them from the Lord!

VIII. A CHRISTIAN, is one studious to pre∣serve the Honour of the Name of CHRIST, with which he is himself Honoured in the Name

of CHRISTIAN. It is the unalterable Statute of Heaven, in 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that Nameth the Name of Christ, [i. e. that is a Christ∣ian] Depart from Iniquity. All Iniquity is a Di∣shonour to the Name of Christ; If they that are called after the Name of Christ, indulge them∣selves in any Iniquity, in any base and ill Thing, the World is ready to say, as they did upon the Scandalous Lives of some Christians long ago, Christiani sancte vixissent si Christus sancta docuisset; If Christ were an Holy Lord, His Christians would be an Holy People. But our Holy Lord Jesus Christ, who came to Redeem us from all Iniquity, exceedingly Resents it, if any Christians give Him cause to say, as in Ezek. 36.20. They profaned my Holy Name, and it was said, These are the people of the Lord. Now, every genuine Christian, is won∣derfully Afraid of doing any Thing, that may Reflect any Reproach upon the Name of his dear Lord Jesus Christ: Oh! thinks he, My dear Lord has Dy'd for me, and I had rather Dy than Dishonour Him. The Apostle has well put a difference be∣tween these Two, in 1 Pet. 4.15, 16. Let none of you suffer as an Evil Doer, yet if any man suffer as a Christian, Let him glorify God. An Evil Doer, and a Christian, are directly contrary, one unto ano∣ther. A Christian and a Swearer, a Christian and a Drunkard, a Christian and a Railer, a Christian and a Debauch, a Christian and a Cheater, a Christ∣ian and a Lyar, a Christian and a Covetous Muck∣worm;

What shall I say? A Christian, and yet a Servant of Antichrist, an Idolater, and a Persecu∣tor! Oh! they are most notorious Inconsisten∣cies. A Christian is in vain called so, if he be not a better Husband, a better Father, a better Master, and a better Neighbour, and the better Correlate of those, than other people, for being so. Truly, Sirs If we Christians, are Wicked, or Worldly Wretches, we shall open the mouths of men, against our Lord Jesus Christ; and as in Jam. 2.7. They'l Blaspheme that worthy Name, by which ye are called. As Averroes, the Arabian Philosopher; he was much taken with the Chri∣stians, till he saw a vile Thing very common a∣mong them; Ah, Now, says he, Let my Soul go among the Philosophers! Alas, Christians, we shall horribly wrong the Souls of dur Neighbours, if we allow our selves to do any thing, but what becomes Chri••tians, or if we do not Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour. I tell you, we forfeit the Name of Christians, if we Live Unholily; a Profane Christian, a Dishonest Christian, or a Dis∣courteous Christian; 'Tis a Contradiction. The Pagans of old, called the Christians by the Name of, Chrestians; they mistook the Name, and it was now taken to signify, Good, Kind, Useful, and Sweet Natured People. Why, if we would be Chri∣stians, we must be Chrestians; we must not be harsh, & fierce and unserviceable, & ill conditioned; we must be all made of Benignity towards all the

World, and count our selves Enriched with any opportunity to Express Goodness, and Kind∣nesses towards all the Children of men. When the Heathen Emperour Severus, did see Two Christians most shamefully Quarrelling with one another, he gave order, Let those two Wretches ne∣ver be called Christians any more; Their Master Christ never taught them to do as they do. Even so, if any of you, Christians, do not lead Godly, Sober & Righteous Lives, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself utters & Thunders that Order from Heaven about you, Let not those People be called Christians, any longer; Tis a Dishonour to me, that they should be called so. In the Primitive Times, if a Christian were asked, Have you kept the Lords day strictly? he would Reply, I am a Christian, and I dare do no other. Thus, if it be asked concerning any of us; Do's that man Pray without ceasing, and bring up his Family in the Fear of God, & deal justly, & fairly, & kindly with all the World? Oh! Let it be Replyed; Yes, He is a Christian; & he dare do no other; he fears, he shall dishonour his Christ, if he do?

Christians, This tis to be a Christian; Thus the Name of our CHRIST is to Endure for ever; Thus men are to Bless themselves in Him: and I hope, you are every one of you, more than Almost Per∣swaded, for to be such a Christian. God make every one of us, Altogether so.