29. Furthermore, we must form a conclusion
why it is that the words cited above, Therefore thus saith the
Lord, are followed by But the Lord shall slay you, and as to
the meaning of the next sentence, But my servants shall be called by
a new name, which shall be blessed upon earth. There can be
no doubt that both Therefore thus saith the Lord, and afterwards But the
Lord shall slay you, prove that it was the Lord Who both spoke, and
also purposed to slay, Who meant to reward His servants with that new
name, Who was well known to have spoken through the prophets and was to
be the judge of the righteous and of the wicked. And thus the
remainder of this revelation of the mystery of the Gospel removes all
doubt concerning the Lord as Speaker and as Slayer. It
continues:—But My servants shall be called by a new name,
which shall be blessed upon earth. Here everything is in the
future. What then is this new name of a religion; a name which
shall be blessed upon earth? If ever in past ages there were a
blessing upon the name Christian, it is not a new name.
But if this hallowed name of our devotion towards God be new, then this
new title of Christian, awarded to our faith, is that heavenly
blessing which is our reward upon earth.