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As he is a serpent, so his children are a generation of vipers, doubled-tongued, and deceitful: smooth and flattering on some occasions, but waiting to give a deadly bite when they are offended and provoked. Their way is crooked and uncertain, like the path of a serpent. An honest man, whose path is direct and plain, can never tell what to make of them, because they pretend to be going one way, while they are going another and they often gain their end by it; as the twistings of the serpent carry him to the point he

aims at.

As Lucifer fell from heaven for rebellion, all his chil dren are impatient under authority; and in this capacity they are called sons of Belial; which means, that they can bear no superior. Patience, and obedience, and submission, are essential to the christian character. Christ himself is our pattern, who allowed that the power of Pilate, so unjustly exercised, was given him from above, and submitted to his sentence, when he could have struck him dead upon his bench. But resistance is the Devil's doctrine, and the world's practice. The Gospel teaches us, that the things which are highly esteemed among men are an abomination in the sight of God, and here we see it verified; nothing is more detestable to the God of peace, than the sin of rebellion; and nothing is more magnified and applauded by the children of this world; who have set what they call the power of the people, above the power of God Almighty. He ordains government, and kings are his ministers; but the people are told, that they have power to overthrow his ordinance, and judge his vicegerents.

As the Devil is a tempter, his children act under him in that capacity; most wicked men have a strange de

1

sire to make all others as wicked as themselves.

The

world is full of seducers, who tempt men to false principles, and immorality of life. Some get their livelihood by the corruption of other people; and most infidels and heretics are so diligent in spreading their opinions, that if the friends of truth were equally zealous, the world would not be able to stand against them.

As the Devil is the grand accuser, so doth the world delight itself in evil-speaking. Railing and slandering is their great amusement. Evil words are not pointed against evil things. The world delights to asperse those, who are unlike to themselves. There never was a good man, nor ever will be, who was not evil spoken of, and depreciated in the judgment of the public; and the rule is so universal, that our Saviour saith to all Christians, Woe be unto you, when all men speak well of you. False prophets were well spoken of by the people; and there must be something false and spurious, some evil with the appearance of good*, in every popular character that pleases the world.

As the Devil is the father of lies, so are all they that are of the Devil are liars, who will never make a scruple of a lie to hurt others, or serve themselves. The whole Heathen religion was one great lie, in opposition to the truth of the Divine law. Much evil is threatened to those who put evil for good, and good for evil; who make the heart of the righteous sad, by predicting evil to them, and by promising happiness and prosperity to the wicked. Thus did they speak of old, who were called false Prophets; and it would be happy for us if there were none of them amongst us: but, wherever they are found, they are the mi

* Καλον κακον αντ' αγαθοιο. HESIOD.

nister of Satan: and how fair and fine they may speak on some occasions, it is no proof of their goodness; for Satan is sometimes, as it serves his purpose, transformed into an angel of light, and affects an holy and heavenly character; and then he is most a Devil, because he can most deceive.

CHAPTER II.

OF THE MEANS OF GRACE, AND

THE MARKS BY

WHICH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS TO BE KNOWN.

HAVING explained the nature of these two societies the Holy Church and the wicked World; we must consider the use of the Church, and the marks by which it is to be known. It is promised, that he who believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved. But how shall we have this baptism, unless we have it from those whom God hath appointed to baptize? It is also promised, he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life: and how shall we receive the body and blood of Christ, but from the Church, to whom he said, when he instituted the Lord's Supper, Do this in remembrance of me? This being the commemorative Sacrifice of the New Testament, it can be offered only by a priest: and all the world cannot make a priest. The ministers of the Old Testament were ordained to their office by an immediate commission from God to Moses, the mediator of that time betwixt God and the people. The ministers of the New Testament were ordained by Christ himself; from whom the authority descended to others, and

shall reach through a variety of hands, to the end of the world.

This is the way God hath been pleased to take, to make men holy, and bring them to himself, through this dangerous world, as he brought Noah and his family out of the old world into the new, by means of an ark, which was a figure of his Church. It is therefore of infinite consequence, that we should be able to know, with certainty, whether we are in the Church or out of it. If we are out of it, we are in the world.. If we had been out of the ark, we should have been drowned. It is true, we may be in the Church, and yet be lost; for was not Ham in the ark, who was a reprobate? But if we are out of the Church, how can we be saved?

I would not, for the whole world, unworthy as I am; I say, I would not, for the whole world, and all the kingdoms of it, be in doubt whether I was translated, or not, into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. I would not be in doubt, whether I have the Sacraments, or whether I have them not. But how can I be sure in this case, unless I know what the kingdom of Christ is; where it is to be found; and what are the marks by which it may be known? Many strange abuses in religion have arisen on occasion, and under the specious name of, the Reformation; a very good word; but it hath been applied to a great many bad things, even to madness and blasphemy. We are fallen into times when some say, lo, here is Christ, or, lo, there; in the desert; or in the secret chambers; and are bid to take heed that no man deceive us. What a terrible case should we be in, if we had no sufficient warnings given to us, and no rule to go by! But as the lightning which cometh from the East shineth unto the West, so plain and notorious was the establishment of Christ's king

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