So that look how far people obtain victory over those evil dispositions and fleshly lusts, they have been addicted to, so far they are truly saved, and are witnesses of the redemption that comes by Jesus Christ. His name shows his work: "And thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sin." (Matt. i. 21.) "Behold," said John, of Christ, "the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." (John, i. 29.) That is, behold him whom God hath given to enlighten people, and for salvation to as many as receive him, and his light and grace in their hearts, and take up their daily cross and follow him; such as rather deny themselves the pleasure of fulfilling their lusts than sin against the knowledge he has given them of his will, or do that they know they ought not to do. CHAPTER II. 1. By this Christendom may see her lapse, how foul it is, and next, the worse for her pretence to Christianity.--2. But there is mercy with God upon repentance, and propitiation in the blood of Jesus.--3. He is the light of the world that reproves the darkness, that is, the evil of the world; and he is to be known within.--4. Christendom, like the inn of old, is full of other guests: she is advised to believe in, receive, and apply to Christ.--5. Of the nature of true faith; it brings power to overcome every appearance of evil: this leads to consider the Cross of Christ, which has been so much wanted.--6. The apostolic ministry, and end of it; its blessed effect; the character of apostolic times.--7. The glory of the cross, and its triumph over the heathen world. A measure to Christendom, what she is not, and should be.--8. Her declension, and cause of it.--9. The miserable effects that followed.--10. From the consideration of the cause the cure may be more easily known, viz., Not faithfully taking up the daily cross; then, faithfully taking it daily up must be the remedy. I. By all which has been said, O Christendom! and by that better help, if thou wouldst use it, the lamp the Lord has lighted in thee, not utterly extinct, it may evidently appear, first, how great and full thy backsliding has been, who, from the temple of the Lord, art become a cage of unclean birds; and of a house of prayer, a den of thieves, a synagogue of Satan, and the receptacle of every defiled spirit. Next, that under all this manifest defection, thou hast nevertheless valued thy corrupt self upon thy profession of Christianity, and fearfully deluded thyself with the hopes of salvation. The first makes thy disease dangerous, but the last almost incurable.