436 A TREATISE AGAINST NOVATIAN. the Lord's precepts,thatthisoffspringof Novatian,following the example of his fatherthe devil,should now endeavour to put in forcethosethingswhich Christwilldo in the time of His judgment ?— when Scripturesays, " Vengeance is mine ; and I willrepay,saiththe Lord."1 8. We willanswer them to that utteranceof the Lord, which theyillunderstand,and illexplaintothemselves.For that He says," Whosoever shalldeny me before men, him willI alsodeny beforemy Father which is in heaven,"its meaning isassuredlywithrespectto futuretime— to thetime at which the Lord shallbegin to judge the secretsof men— to the time at which we must allstandbeforethe judgment- seatof Christ— to the time at which many shallbegin tosay, " Lord, Lord, have we not prophesiedin Thy name, and in Thy name cast out devils,and in Thy name done many wonderful works ? " * and yet shallhear the voice of the Lord saying, " Depart from me, allye that have worked iniquity: I know you not."s Then shallitbe fulfilledthat He says,u 1 alsowilldeny them." But whom willtheLord Christchieflydeny,ifnot allof you heretics,and schismatics, and strangersto His name ? For ye who were some time Christians,but now are Novatians,no longerChristians,have changed your firstfaithby a subsequentperfidyin the call ing of your name. I shouldwish you to replyto your own proposition.Read and teach: whom of thosewho had failed or denied Him, while He was stillwith them, did our Lord deny 1 Yet also to the others of the discipleswho had remained with Him He saith," Will ye alsogo away ?"' Even Peter,whom He had previouslyforetoldas aboutto deny Him, when he had deniedHim, He did not denyr,but sustained; and He Himself soothed him when subsequently bitterlybewailinghisdenial. 9. What sortof follyisthine,Novatian,only to readwhat tends to the destructionof salvation,and to pass by what tends to mercy, when Scripturecries,and says," Repent, ye who err; be convertedin heart;" 5 and when thesame 1 Heb.x.30. * Matt.vii.22,23. 8 Matt.vii.22,23. 4Johnvi.67. «Ezek.xviii.30.