XVII. Since then, natural chastity is not
meritorious, I demand something else from the eunuchs. Do not go
a whoring in respect of the Godhead. Having been wedded to
Christ, do not dishonour Christ. Being perfected by the spirit,
do not make the Spirit your own equal. If I yet pleased men, says
Paul, I should not be the
servant of Christ. Galat. i. 10. If I
worshipped a creature, I should not be called a Christian. For
why is Christianity precious? Is it not that Christ is God,
unless my mingling with Him in love is a mere human passion? And
yet I honour Peter, but I am not called a Petrine; and Paul, but have
never been called a Pauline. I cannot allow myself to be named
after a man, who am born of God. So then, if it is because you
believe Him to be God that you are called a Christian, may you ever be
so called, and may you remain in both the name and the thing; but if
you are called from Christ only because you have an affection for Him,
you attribute no more to him than other names which are given from some
practice or fact.