him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, Rev. 13: 5, 6, 7. Yea, dear reader, this is the proper way and work of the church of anti-Christ, To hate, persecute, and put to the sword those whom she cannot enchant with the golden cup of her abominations.
O Lord! O, dear Lord! grant that the wrathful dragon devour not entirely thy poor, small number; grant that we, by thy grace, may, in patience, conquer by the sword of thy mouth; and may leave an abiding seed, which shall keep thy commandments, preserve thy testimony, and which shall eternally praise thy great and glorious name. Amen, dear Lord, Amen.
Herewith I will abbreviate the doctrine of the churches, and conclude this subject with the following questions and answers, which, I trust, by the grace of God, will enlighten the diligent reader considerably.
Quest. What is the church of Christ?
Ans. A community of saints.
Q. With whom did she originate?
A. With Adam and Eve.
Q. Of whom is she?
A. Of God, through Christ.
Q. Of what kind of servants is she begotten?
A. Of those who are unblamable in doctrine and life.
Q. Whereby do they beget her?
A. By the Spirit and word of God.
Q. For what purpose do they beget her?
A. That she shall serve, thank, and praise God.
Q. Of what mind is she?
A. Of Christ's mind, in weakness.
Q. What kind of fruits does she bring forth?
A. Fruits which are conformable to the word of God.
Q. What is the church of anti-Christ?
A. A community of the unrighteous.
Q. With whom did she originate?
A. With the first ungodly.
Q. Of whom is she?
A. Of the evil one, through anti-Christ.
Q. Of what kind of servants is she begotten?
A. Of such as are blamable in doctrine and life.
Q. Whereby do they beget her?
A. By the spirit and doctrine of anti-Christ.
Q. For what purpose do they beget her?
A. That she may despise, forsake, and hate God.
Q. Of what mind is she?
A. Of an earthly, carnal, and devilish mind.
Q. What fruits does she bring forth?
A. Fruits contrary to the gospel.
THE TRUE SIGNS BY WHICH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN.
- By an unadulterated, pure doctrine, Deut. 4; 6; 5; 12; Isaiah 8: 5; Matt. 28: 20; Mark 16: 15; John Gal. 1.
- By a scriptural use of the sacramental signs, Matt. 28: 19; Mark 16; Rom. 6: 4; Col. 2: 12; 1 Cor. 12: 13; Tit. 3: 5; 1 Pet. 3; Matt. 26: 25; Mark 14: 22; Luke 22: 19; 1 Cor. 11: 22, 23.
- By obedience to the word, Matt. 7; Luke 11: 28; John 7: 18; 15: 10; Jas. 1: 22.
- By unfeigned, brotherly love, John 13: 34; Rom. 13: 8; 1 Cor. 13: 1; 1 John 3: 18; 4: 7, 8.
- An unreserved confession of God and Christ, Matt. 10: 32; Mark 8: 29; Rom. 10: 9; 1 Tim. 6: 13.
- By oppression and tribulation for the sake of the Lord's word, Matt. 5: 10; 10: 39; 16: 24; 24: 9; Luke 6: 28; John 15: 20; 2 Tim. 2: 9; 3: 12; 1 Pet. 1: 6; 3: 14; 4: 13; 5: 10; 1 John 3: 13.
THE TRUE SIGNS BY WHICH THE CHURCH OF ANTI-CHRIST MAY BE KNOWN.
- By a light-minded, easy, and false doctrine, Matt. 7: 16; 15: 9; 16: 4; Rom. 16: 26; 1 Tim. 4: 2; 2 Tim. 2: 16, 17.
- By an unscriptural use of the sacramental signs, as infant baptism and dispensation of the supper to the impenitent, 1 Cor. 11: 19, 20.
- By disobedience to the word, Prov. 1; Tit. 1: 15, 16; Matt. 7: 26; 25: 26.
- By hatred of the brethren, 1 John 3: 15.
- By hypocrisy and denial of the name of God and Christ, Matt. 10: 33; Mark 8: 38; Luke 9: 26.
- By tyranny and persecution against the godly, John 15: 20; 16; Rev. 12: 13.
