But the Christendom I mean, that neither wants, nor allows of war, is only that where Christ is King, and his holy Spirit the governor of the wills, affections, and designs of all that belong to it.――It is my charge upon all the nations of Christendom, that this necessity of murdering arms, is the dragon’s _monster_, that is equally brought forth by all and every part of fallen Christendom; and that therefore all and every part, as well Popish as Protestant, are at the same distance from the Spirit of their Lord, and therefore all want the same entire reformation. In these last ages of Christendom, many reformations have taken place; but alas! Truth must be forced to say, that they have been in all their variety, little better than so many lesser _Babels_ come out of _Babylon_ the great.――For among all the reformers, the one only true reformation hath never yet been thought of. The wisdom of this world, with its worldly spirit, was the only thing that had overcome the church, and had carried it into captivity. For in captivity it certainly is, as soon as it is turned into a kingdom of this world. Not a false doctrine, not a bad discipline, or corrupt practice ever prevailed in the church, but had its birth from worldly wisdom. This wisdom, was the great evil root, at which the reforming axe should have been laid and must be laid, before the church can be again that virgin spouse of Christ, which it was at the beginning. If therefore you take any thing to be church-reformation, but a full departure from the wisdom of this world, or any thing to be your entrance into a salvation-church, but the _nature_ and _Spirit_ of Christ, in you, then, whether Papist or Protestant, all will be just as much good to you, as when a Sadducee turns Publican, or a Publican a Pharisee.――And here it is well to be observed, that the church of Christ is solely for this end, to make us holy as he is holy. But nothing can do this, but that which hath power to change a sinner into a saint. And he who has not found _that power_ in the church, may be assured, that he is not yet a true son of the church. But this can only be done, just as the change of night into day is done, or as the darkness is lost in the light.――Something as contrary to the whole nature of sin, as light is to darkness, and as powerful over it, as the light is powerful over darkness, can alone do this.――Creeds, canons, articles of religion, stately churches, learned priests, singing, preaching, and praying in the best contrived form of words can no more raise a dead sinner into a living saint, than a _fine system_ of light and colours can change the night into day. On this ground it is that the apostle said, _Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing_; and on the same ground it must be said, that Popery is nothing, and Protestantism is nothing, because all is nothing, as to salvation, but a sinner changed into a saint, or the apostle’s new creature.