A Message from Long Ago

A MESSAGE FROM LONG AGO

Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, under a pretence of honouring Him: Luke xxii. 48, 'Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? Antichrist is a true adversary of Christ, though he pretend to adore him; as those that murdered the present prophets would by all means beautify the tombs of the prophets deceased, and bear a respect to their memories, Matt. xxiii. 30. He pretendeth to be his servant, yea, a servant of servants, but is really his enemy. The apostle telleth us of some that were 'enemies to the cross of Christ,' Phil. iii. 18. Who to appearances such friends to the cross as the rabble of nominal Christians? But they are opposers of His spiritual kingdom, the virtue and power of the cross. You have crucifixes everywhere, painted, carved, gilded; they are ready to worship the cross with a holy worship; they set it up in their temples, altars, wear it in their bosoms, and wherever they meet it show it reverence, adorn it with gold, silver, and precious stones. Their popes and prelates have it carried before them; and are not these friends of the cross? No; they live a worldly, sensual life, and all their religion tendeth thereunto; therefore enemies of the cross of Christ, because they mind earthly things. This is right antichrist-like, to betray Christ under a colour of adoration.