TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.
No. XXI.
THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.
St. Cyprian on the Unity of the Church, (concluded.)
10.
False prophets have been foretold.
They profess themselves Christians after the manner in which the Devil puts on Christ: as the Lord Himself forewarns us, and says, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ." As he is not Christ, though he deceives men with His name, so neither can that man be called a Christian, who does not stand in the truth of Christ's Gospel and in faith. To prophesy, to cast out devils, to show great signs on earth, is a high and wonderful thing: yet the man that does these things, possesses not the kingdom of heaven, unless he walk in observance of the strait and right way. The Lord hath uttered this denunciation. "Many shall say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name cast out Devils, and in Thy name done great wonders: and then will I say unto them, I never knew you: Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Righteousness is the thing needful, before we can gain the favour of God our Judge. We must obey His commands and warnings, that we may be found meet for our reward. When the Lord in the Gospel would point out with a compendious brevity the path of our hope and faith, He says, "the Lord thy God is One: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength:
