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information on this interesting subject. Gellert was frequent in the perusal of scripture, regular both in his private devotions, and in his daily attendance on public worship. During the last seventeen years of his life he kept a journal, chiefly composed of observations on his spiritual state. It contains lamentations on account of his weakness; resolu

tions of amendment; prayers for the pardon of sin, for divine grace, and for repose of conscience. Hence it was, that to use the words of his biographer, "his thoughts in solitude, his conversation in society, the lessons he gave his scholars, his writings, his letters, his labours, his recreations, all that he said and did, was animated by the spirit of religion."

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

ON THE NAME CHRISTIAN.

Continued from page 507.

HAVING in two former papers considered the meaning and origin of the name Christian; and the character of the persons to whom it was originally applied; we shall now consider

3dly, The improper application of this name to many in the present day. Perhaps no name in the English language, has been more improperly applied than that of Christian. In its original application, it designated persons who were born from above; now it is applied to all born in a nation of this world, called a Christian land. The religion of Jesus Christ is not a national religion, "My kingdom," says he, "is not of this world." Jesus takes out of the nations a people for his name, and makes them a holy nation, a peculiar people, to shew forth the praises of him who calleth them out of darkness, into his marvellous light. Instead of this name, being exclusively ap

plied to such persons as these, it is given to many, merely because they have been baptized in the name of Christ. They have had his name called over them by a minister, and as if there was some charm or incantation in the mere sound of the name, they are called Christians. If baptism makes men Christians, it is evident there are many Christian drunkards, and Christian swearers, and Christian liars, and Christians who practice every kind of iniquity. But, are these persons Christians? Are they followers of the holy Lamb of God? If they are, pray what constitutes an infidel, or heathen? If these are Christians, the difference between heathenism and christianity does not consist in any change of heart or life, but in being washed with water. Is it possible to believe that these persons are born of God? Are they sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be

saints? Have they any resemblance to the holy persons addressed by the apostles, in their epistles to the churches? Such persons would do well to consider the following declarations of God. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. Know yet not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not be deceived neither fornicaters, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."*

Others are called Christians, because they are descended from religious parents. It is of great advantage to have religious parents, Rom. iii. 1-3; but, if like the Jews any say, "We have Abraham to our father" while they walk not in the steps of their father's faith, it will add to their condemnation. Although Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were our fath ers, and Noah, Daniel, and Job, our brethren, mere relationship to them could avail us nothing. No man can go to hell by substitute, nor can he find admittance to heaven by the christianity of others. "Verily, verily," saith Jesus, "I say unto thee except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," John iii. 3.

* Gal. vi. 7, 8. 1Cor. vi. 9, 10. Eph. v. 6.

Every true Christian is born again; but he is not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The natural birth, may entitle a child to his father's name and property; but can impart no right to the name Christian. To have any title to this name, it is absolutely necessary to have the character of a Christian. Even the mother of Jesus, had no claim to his salvation, merely because she was his mother. "Blessed," said one," is the womb that bare thee, and the paps that thou hast sucked:" But Jesus replied, "yea rather blessed is he that heareth the word of God, and keepeth it."

Many are called by this name, because they can talk about the doctrines of Christ. The religion of Jesus to such seems to be a matter of mere speculation; for while the most orthodox doctrine flows from their lips, their hearts seem unimpressed with its importance, and their lives at variance with it. Is it possible that any can believe that mere talking about religion, is well pleasing to God? Is an orthodox creed, all that is necessary to constitute a Christian? Or, do any imagine, that God has given us his word, to see how much we can speak about it, and how little of it we will obey; how orthodoxly we shall speculate, and how wickedly we shall live? You speak against infidels: but why speak against your brethren. The

difference between you and professed infidels, is only in tongue for, while you are at war with them in words, you are in league with them in practice. Consistency requires, that you either renounce your profession of christianity, or your pracof infidelity; and God commands

no less, "either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt for a tree is known by its fruit

Some receive the appellation Christian, because they are what is called morally decent in their conduct among men. Without true morality, no man can be a Christian; but mere morality, is not christianity. Many of the sages of antiquity were what is called moral men, yet were ignorant of Christ, and his salvation. Paul before his conversion to the faith of Christ, was, "touching the righteousness which was in the law. blameless." The young man also, who came to the Saviour, could say concerning the commandments of God, "all these things have I kept from my youth up." But could any of these persons, with any propriety of speech, be called Christians? Their morality was their saviour; for "going about to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God," but despised Christ "the end of the law for righteousness, to every one who believeth." If men hope to be saved by their morality, is it not rather surprising that they are not more moral How many such moral people, count the cross of Christ, the Christian's glory, a thing of nought; the preaching of it foolishness; and salvation by grace, through faith in his name, enthusiasm. such are esteemed good Christians. Salvation by grace through faith in the name of Jesus Christ, enthusiasm! If this be enthu

• Math. xii. 33,

Yet

siasm, the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Christ, were all the greatest enthusiasts. Would Paul, who gloried in the cross of Christ, have called such persons Christians? No; he would have said, "I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge," and would have called them, as none of the least of sinners, to repent and believe the gospel.

Others are called by the name Christian, because it is supposed they have been converted. Without conversion to God, no man is a Christian; for "except a man be converted, and become as a little child, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." But in this we are liable to deception. If the animal passions have been moved, alarm of conscience experienced, and some sudden feeling of joy produced in the mind, these are considered by many, true conversion. All these have been produced in many to a very extreme degree, who continue ignorant of Christ, and walk after the course of this world. The passions may be moved, the conscience alarmed, and the mind made joyful, from a variety of causes unconnected with the gospel of Christ. The peculiar tone, the bodily gesticulation, and furious declamation of a preacher, have produced these things in a whole congregation; while the understanding has not been addressed, nor the gospel preached. Sympathy may produce tender feelings, mere dread of present, or eternal danger may excite alarm of conscience, and joy may be produced in the mind, not from the hope revealed in the gospel, but from the hope that we are

better people. Flatter the pride of the heart, and you will make it joyful; but surely this is not the joy arising from a sense of pardon through the blood of Jesus. If the passions are moved, let it be enquired what has produced this. If the conscience is alarm ed, what has excited this alarm? And if the mind is joyful, what has occasioned the joy? When God converts a sinner from the error of his way, feelings are produced in his mind, never experienced before. His passions are moved, his conscience awakened, and his mind comforted, from beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The new knowledge, which God imparts to the mind, dispels its darkness, quickens its deadness, slays its enmity, humbles its pride, creates fear, produces hope, imparts joy, and turns the person to the Lord. No new revelation is given, but the spirit of God takes of the revelation already given and shews it to the soul. Any conversion without this cannot entitle us to the name Christian; but is a conversion from which we need to be converted. How many in giving an account of their conversion seem to think, that feelings are all that is necessary to prove it genuine. Indeed, to many the knowledge of Jesus Christ is a matter of mere indifference. Such would do well to consider, that ignorance is not the mother of a Christian's devotion. It is life eternal to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

Many moreover receive the name Christian, because they are members of some Christian church. Such ought to be Christians, not in name only, but also

in deed and in truth. But alas! whilst their names are on the list of the living in Jerusalem, they still continue in the congregation of the dead. Although they have a place, and a name among God's sons and daughters, their chief delight is in the pleasures of sin, and their intimate and daily companions, are his enemies. They are to be found at meeting to-day; and at the playhouse to-morrow. At the Lord's table on the first day of the week; and at the card-table the other six. On that day taking the cup of salvation, and calling on the name of the Lord,and on these days blaspheming. With such, rightcousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, God and Mammon, can have communion. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of this world, is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be the friend of the world, is the enemy of God." Joh. iv. 4. Is this conduct like the followers of Jesus Christ? Is this shunning every appearance of evil? Is this keeping yourselves unspotted from the world? Yourselves being judges, say, are you like men waiting for the Lord's coming? Are these the things, in which Jesus requires you to be engaged when he shall come? Would it be suitable that the sound of the trump of God, should end the game at the card-table, interrupt the dance in the ball-room, or drop the curtain in the playhouse? I say not these things to shame you, but to warn you to flee from the wrath to come. Will a name and a place here among the saints, prove a covert from the tempest, and a refuge from the storm, in

the terrible day of the Lord? No, Jesus will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those that do iniquity, and cast them into the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death." If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches."

To conclude; it may be observed, that if any man may be called a Christian, he may also be called by any other name, given to the followers of Christ mentioned in scripture. They are called "saints, holy brethren, sanctified in Christ Jesus, beloved of God, &c." How unseemly to call a drunkard, a profane swearer, or a liar, a saint: And how absurd to address multitudes bearing the Christian name, as holy brethren, sanctified in Christ Jesus, and beloved of God. To address them in this manner wouid rather be to insult, than to confer honour on them.

It may be noticed, further, that in proportion as we daily give evidence of being followers of Jesus Christ, we deserve this name. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. If any man serve me let him follow me." The nature of his doctrine and commandments is such, as to prove the love of his disciples. His doctrine stains the pride of all human glory; and his commandments call to unceasing self-denial. "If any man," says Christ," will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." To fol. low Christ, in opposition to every temptation and inducement to the contrary, proves that we love him above every other object. In these circumstances, Moses proved that he loved Christ more than

all the things of a present world. "He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of reward."

Brethren in Christ Jesus, suffor the word of exhortation. We profess to be followers of Jesus Christ; let us follow him fully, through good report, and through evil report. If we have professed his name, let us be careful to depart from all iniquity. If we love him, let us be careful to keep his commandments. Our comfort and happiness are connected with subjection to him. "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then have we fellowship one with another." But if we walk contrary to him, he will walk contrary to us. It is only he that followeth Jesus, that shall not walk in darkness.

Let us also remember, that his glory in the world, is inseparably connected with our being his followers, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. Our improper conduct may har. den the wicked in sin, prejudice them against his gospel, and finally be the means of their ruin. O how dreadful the thought, that while we may at last be admitted to heaven, we may have been the means of leading others to hell. Instead of this, let us, like Noal, condemn the world, leaving them without excuse in the day of the Lord. If we are the light of the world, let us so "shine, that, others seeing our good works, may glorify our Father who is in heav. en." Let us never forget the love he hath manifested to us; and if constrained by it, we shall count

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