An antichristian church
But in a far stronger sense, he does not follow us who is not only of a different church, but of such a church as we account to be in many respects antiscriptural and antichristian: a church which we believe to be utterly false and erroneous in her doctrines, as well as very dangerously wrong in her practice, guilty of gross superstition as well as idolatry. A church that has added many articles to the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3); that has dropped one whole commandment of God and made void several of the rest by her traditions (Matthew 15:6); and that, pretending the highest veneration for and strictest conformity to the ancient church, has nevertheless brought in numberless innovations without any warrant either from antiquity or Scripture. Now most certainly he does not follow us who stands at so great a distance from us.
1771 text
5. But in a far stronger sense, he followeth not us, who is not only of a different church, but of such a church as we account to be in many respects antiscriptural and antichristian: a church which we believe to be utterly false and erroneous in her doctrines, as well as very dangerously wrong in her practice, guilty of gross superstition as well as idolatry. A church that has added many articles to the faith, which was once delivered to the saints: that has dropt one whole commandment of God, and made void several of the rest by her traditions: and that pretending the highest veneration for, and strictest conformity to the antient church, has nevertheless brought in numberless innovations, without any warrant either from antiquity or scripture. Now most certainly he followeth not us, who stands at so great a distance from us.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 38 in the 1771 Works. Mark 9:38-39.
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