THOU HOU mayft know, that in this part of the world, called Christendom, the name of Christian is very famous, and that there are few therein but defire to be called by that name; and a high and great profeffion of Christianity abounds amongst the divers fects: therein, all coveting the name of Christian; but the Chriftian life, the nature of Chriftianity, the fruits and effects of the Holy Spirit, are much wanting; and the contrary much abounds, whereby an evil favour is fent forth to the nations round about, called Heathens and Infidels. There is fcarcely any fort of wickednefs to be found upon the face of the whole earth, which is not done and com mitted in this part of the world, called Chrif tendom; whereby the Jews and Heathen, inftead of being converted, are ftrengthened and confirmed in their infidelity, ignorance, blindnefs, and idolatry: for, where this nominal or titular Chriftian hath prevailed, as among the Americans, he hath fent forth fuch a ftink and ill favour, by his abominable inhuman practices, that the name of Chrift is blafphemed, and the Chriftian religion hated, by many that have heard the fame and report thereof. Had the life of Chrift, and the nature of Christianity, been known and lived in by all that profefs the name, Christendom had been as a fruitful field, as a pleasant garden inclosed, as a vineyard walled about full of trees of righteousness, and plants of God's own righthand planting; and the tree of life would have flourished among them in the midst thereof; and the leaves of the fame would have healed the nations round about; it would have been as a city fet upon an hill, which cannot be hid; and as a lamp that burneth, being fed with fweet oil; as a glorious light that shineth; and many would have fled unto it, as unto a city of refuge, and have walked in the light thereof, have feen and beheld their good works, and have glorified their Father which is in heaven; they would have lain down as a flock of harmlefs lambs together, folacing themselves in the green pastures of life and falvation, in the low valley, and a-top of that holy mountain, where no destroyer is, nor none can make afraid; where the lion eats straw like the ox, and where the fucking child plays on the hole of the afp, and the weaned child puts his hand on the cockatrice's den without hurt." The earth would have been full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters.cover the fea and this fong would have been in Christendom, as in the land of Judah, We have a ftrong city; falvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks: the gates thereof would have been open to them, as a righteous nation, that keepeth the truth, that they might have entered in, and dwelt b fafely; this would have been the state of Chrif tendom. But, alas! alas! the quite contrary appears. Inftead of being as a fruitful field, as a pleafant garden inclofed, and as a vineyard planted and walled about, bearing fruit unto God, and flourishing with trees and plants of his own right-hand planting; it is like a defert howling wilderness, full of briars and thorns, and hurtful weeds, whereby the good feed that was fown is choaked, and the noble plant degenerated, and become the plant of a strange vine, which brings forth the four grapes, which makes the wine of Sodom, which fills the whore's cup, whereby nations are made drunk. 1 And instead of being like a flock of harm lefs lambs, lying down together in love and unity, feeding in the green paftures of life and. falvation, in the low valley, and a-top of the holy mountain, where no destroyer is; they are like unto a herd of fwine, that is poffeffed, and runs violently into the fea, or that walloweth in the mire; and like the wolf, bear, lion, afp, and cockatrice, which the little child |