Sin is of one nature all the world over; for though a liar is not a drunkard, nor a swearer a whoremonger, nor are either properly a murderer, yet they are all of one church, all branches of the one wicked root, all of one family. They have but one father, the devil, as Christ said to the professing Jews, the visible church of that age. He slighted their pretensions to Abraham and Moses, and plainly told them, “He that committed sin, was the servant of sin.”
They did the devil’s works, and therefore were the devil’s children. This argument will always hold upon the same reasons, and therefore is good still. “His servants you are,” says Paul, “whom you obey.” And John says to the church of old, “Let no man deceive you, he that commits sin is of the devil.” Was Judas a better Christian for crying, “Hail, master!” and kissing Christ? By no means!
These words were the signal of his treachery, the token given by which the bloody Jews should know and take Him. He called Him Master, but betrayed Him. He kissed, but sold Him to be killed. This is the substance of the false Christian’s religion. If a man ask them, “Is Christ your Lord?” They will cry, “God forbid anything else! Yes, He is our Lord!” “Very well, but do you keep His commandments?” “No, how should we?” “How then are you His disciples?” “It is impossible,” they say, “What! Would you have us keep His commandments? No man can!” But is it impossible to do that, without which Christ has made it impossible to be a Christian? Is Christ unreasonable? Does He reap where He has not sown, or require where He has not enabled? Thus it is, that, with Judas, they call Him Master, but take part with the evil of the world to betray Him. They kiss and embrace Him, as far as their profession goes; and then sell Him to gratify the passions they most indulge.
Excerpted from No Cross, No Crown by William Penn. Public domain.
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