THE

AGE OF ENQUIRY.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AN ENQUIRER AND A

CHRISTIAN.

Enquirer.-SIR, what name do you bear as a professor of religion? Christian.--My name is recorded in Acts, xi. 26, "And the disciples were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch." Enquirer.-Did the apostles own the followers of Christ by that name in their day?

Christian.-Yes. Peter says, 1 Epistle iv. 19, "Yet if any man suffer as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Enquirer. Did the apostles consider the name of Christ the most worthy and honorable of all names for his followers to be called by ?

Christian. They surely did. James, Chap. iv. 7, "Do not they blaspheme that worthy NAME by the which ye are called? Paul says, Eph. i. 21, “Far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every NAME that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." Phil. ii. 9. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

Enquirer.-Did Christ ever promise to give his name to his followers?

Christian.-Yes. He says, Rev. ii. 17, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new NAME written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it." Chap. iii. 12, And I will write upon him my new name."

Enquirer.-Did Christ authorize his disciples to gather together in his name? Christian.-Yes. He says, Matt. xviii. For, where two or three are gathered together in my NAME, there am I in the midst of them."

20, "

Enquirer.-What is required of those

who name the name of Christ, or are called CHRISTIANS?

Christian.-Paul says, 2 Tim. ii. 19, "Let every one that nameth the NAME of Christ depart from iniquity."

Enquirer.-Why do you prefer that name to all others by which professors are called?

Christian. Because, First, Peter says, Acts iv. 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Second, Because all other names will come to nothing, but this will endure forever. David says, Psalm lxxii. 17, "His NAME shall endure forever, his NAME shall be continued as long as the sun." Third, Because Christ's name is the one I was baptized in, according to what Peter says, Acts ii. 38, "Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Fourth, Because his name is the one through which I have life. John xx. 20, "And that believing ye might have life through his

name."

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 signi fies 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. Ixv. 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

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