Some call themselves Christians, who do not follow Christ.  But he doth not acknowledge them to be his.  He ranks them among those who deny him, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and done:  the things which I say?  Then are ye my friends, when ye do all things, whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Christ’s name is blasphemed, when those who call themselves after him live in allowed wickedness.  Sore are the wounds which he hath received in the house of his friends.  No other have been so deep and deadly.

But those who while they call themselves Christ’s friends, live like the wicked world, discover their hypocrisy—­that they are not of Christ’s flock—­“His flock hear his voice and follow him.”  Others may creep in unawares, but they are not of his fold.  The apostle speaks of these false professors in his epistle to Titus. * “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good works reprobate.” +

* Titus i. 16. + Titus i. 16.

Others deny Christ by refusing to confess him:  “For the refusal is in works to deny him.”

Under the former dispensation certain duties were enjoined as tokens of subjection to the divine Sovereign.  To neglect them, was considered as breaking the covenant of God.  “And God said to Abram, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee.  This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you, and thy seed after thee:  Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  The uncircumcised man child shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.” ++ An attendance on the passover was enjoined under the same penalty.  The person who should neglect it, was ordered to be cut off from Israel.  Every rite and ceremony enjoined in the law was obligatory.  To neglect them was to set up the standard of rebellion against God—­deny his sovereignty—­his right to give law.  Those who persevered in neglect, after warnings, were no more to be considered as his people.

++ Genesis xvii. 9-14.

Under the gospel dispensation, duties of like import are enjoined, and under the same penalty.  The tokens of belonging to Christ are commanded.  To neglect them is to reject the Savior, and forfeit the benefits of an interest in him.  Among these an open profession of faith in Christ, is one of the chief.  So it was considered by the apostles, and primitive Christians.  They dared not neglect it when it cost every worldly comfort, and even life.  Neither was it a groundless fear which excited them to so costly a duty.  Their Lord, had expressly declared, that “whoever should be ashamed of him, before an evil and adulterous generation, he would be ashamed of them before his Father, and before his angels.”