Enquirer.-Is there any important meaning to the name CHRISTIAN? Christian.-Yes. Christ signifies God's anointed. It is said in Acts iv. 26, 27, "The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ, for, of a truth, against thy holy Child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles." God anointed his Son to be a prophet to teach, a priest to intercede, and a king to rule; and a CHRISTIAN signifies one taught by Christ, prayed for by Christ, and ruled by him; and one who believes and hears him in all things. Enquirer-Are there any prophecies which mention that professors of religion should be called by this new name? Christian.-Yes. I remember two, Isa. Ixii. 2, " And thou shalt be called by a new NAME which the mouth of the Lord shall name." Chap. lxv. 15, "For the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another NAME. -> Enquirer. How do you know that the name Christian was given by the Lord and not by his enemies? Christian.-I know by this, that the name agrees with the prophecies, with the new testament, and with Christ's new name; had it been given by Christ's enemies they would not have given them the right name; but would lied in calling them wrong. Moses says, Deut. xxxiii. 29, "And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee." Enquirer.-What will you do with all the different names by which professors of religion are called, in the present day, such as Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Methodist, Baptist, Freewiller, Quaker, Universalist, Lutheran, Calvinist, Hopkinsian, Arminian, &c. &c. Christian.-I will leave them to those who love such antichristian names more than the name of Christ, and consider them the name of the beast, instead of the Lamb; according to what is said in Rev. xiii. 17, 18, "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is the B number of a man, and his number is six hundred three score and six." Enquirer.-Your answers concerning your name are so scriptural and reasonable, that I am fully convinced of the propriety of rejecting all other names for the name of Christ only. Christian.-Blessed be the Lord who has shewed you and me a name which will do to name, to trust in, to bow in, to ask in, to gather in; which will endure forever, and be continued so long as the sun. Amen and amen. تم SECOND ENQUIRY. CONCERNING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST CALLED CHRISTIANS. Enquirer.-SIR, though I am satisfied concerning your name, yet there are several things more which I wish to enquire after. The first is your belief concerning the church of Christ? Christian.-I am ready to answer you from the same book where the name is recorded, which you have asked after. Enquirer.-What is the meaning of the word church, in the New Testament ? Christian. The word signifies a company of believers in Christ, whether male or female, who are born again of the spirit. Enquirer. What is the foundation of Christ's church? Christian.-Jesus Christ is the only foundation, Paul says, 1 Cor. iii. 11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Christ says, Matth. xviii. 18, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Enquirer. I have observed in the New Testament, the words church, house, household, family, general assembly, body and kingdom, I wish to know if these words all mean one thing? Christian.-These different words all mean one company of people. I will } here place them together, that you may see how they agree in one. The first word you mentioned is CHURCH. The first time this word is mentioned in the "And bible, is in Matth. xvi. 18. |