peak the word of the
Lord, he must not flatter them, as they did themselves. Is not this the
Lord's people, his portion and inheritance which he chose out of the
nations? Are not these rulers the princes of Judah, and the Lord's
anointed? Were they not both in covenant with God, and separated from the
nations both in privileges and profession? How then are they "rulers of
Sodom" and "people of Gomorrah" likened to the worst of the nations, and
not likened to them but spoken of as if they were indeed all one. When ye
hear the preface ye would think that the prophet was about to direct his
speech to Sodom and Gomorrah, but when you look upon the preaching ye find
he means Judah and Jerusalem, and these are the rulers and people he
speaks of. Certainly, according as men walk, so shall they be named and
ranked. External privileges and profession may give a name before men, and
separate men from men before the world, but they give no name, make no
difference, before God, if all other things be not suitable to these. "He
is not a Jew, saith Paul, who is one outwardly," but he who hath that
circumcision in the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter. Outward
profession and signs may have praise of men, but it is this that hath
praise of God, Rom. ii. 28, 29. Circumcision and uncircumcision, baptism
or unbaptism, availeth nothing, but a new creature. A baptized Christian
and an unbaptized Turk are alike before God, if their hearts and ways be
one, Gal. vi. 15. All Christians profess faith, and glory in baptism, but
it avails nothing except it work by love, Gal. v. 6.

Now, what name shall we give you? How shall our rulers be called? How
shall ye, the people, be called? If we shall speak the truth, we fear it
will instruct you not, but irritate you, yet the truth we must speak,
whether ye choose or whether ye refuse. You would all be called
Christians, the people of God, but we may not call you so, except we would
flatter you, and deceive you by flattering, and murder you by deceiving.
We would gladly name you Christians in the spirit, saints chosen and
precious. O that we might speak so to rulers and people! but, alas, we may
not call you so except ye were so indeed, we may not call you Christians
lest ye believe yourselves to be so. And yet, alas, ye will think
yourselves such, speak what we can. Would you know your name then? I
perceive you listen to hear what it is. But understand, that it is your
name before God, which b