If it was a transgression of Old, for a man to wear a Womans Apparel, surely it is a transgression now for a sinner to wear a Christian Profession for a Cloak. Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing swarm in England this day: Wolves both as to Doctrine, and as to Practice too. Some men make a Profession, I doubt, on purpose that they may twist themselves into a Trade; and thence into an Estate; yea, and if need be, into an Estate Knavishly, by the ruins of their Neighbour: let such take heed, for those that do such things have the greater damnation.
Christian, make thy Profession shine by a Conversation according to the Gospel: Or else thou wilt damnifie Religion, bring scandal to thy Brethren, and give offence to the Enemies; and ’twould be better that a Millstone was hanged about thy neck, and that thou, as so adorned, wast cast into the bottom of the Sea, than so to do.
Christian, a Profession according to the Gospel, is, in these dayes, a rare thing; seek then after it, put it on, and keep it without spot; and (as becomes thee) white, and clean, and thou shalt be a rare Christian.
The Prophecy of the last times is, that professing men (for so I understand the Text) s[h]all be, many of them, base; (2 Tim. 3.) but continue thou in the things that thou hast learned, not of wanton men, not of licentious times, but of the Word and Doctrine of God, that is according to Godliness; and thou shalt walk with Christ in white.
Now God Almighty give his people Grace, not to hate or malign Sinners nor yet to choose any of their wayes, but to keep themselves pure from the blood of all men, by speaking and doing according to that Name and those Rules that they profess to know, and love; for Jesus Christs sake.
John Bunyan.
Books lately Printed for and Sold by Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey, neer the Church.
Biblia Sacra, sive Testamentum Vetus, ab Im. Tremellio & Fr. Junio ex Hebræo Latinè redditum. Et Testamentum Novum à Theod. Beza è Græco in Latinum versum. Argumentis Capitum additis versibúsque singulis distinctis, & seorsum expressis. 12°.
Χριστολογία, Or, A Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of the Person of Christ, God and Man. With the Infinite Wisdom, Love and Power of God in the contrivance and constitution thereof. As also of the Grounds and Reasons of his Incarnation, the nature of his Ministry in Heaven, the present State of the Church above thereon, and the Use of his Person in Religion. With an Account and Vindication of the Honour, Worship, Faith, Love, and Obedience due unto him, in and from the Church. By John Owen, D.D.
Divine Breathings: or a Manual of practical Contemplations, in one Century: Tending to promote Gospel-Principles, and a good Conversation in Christ. Comprizing in brief many of those great Truths that are to be known and practised by a Christian. By T.S.