Of your father the devil
Do not say, then, in your heart, "I was once baptized, therefore I am now a child of God." Alas, that consequence will by no means hold. How many are the baptized gluttons and drunkards, the baptized liars and common swearers, the baptized railers and evil-speakers, the baptized whoremongers, thieves, and extortioners? What do you think? Are these now the children of God?
Truly I say to you, whoever you are, to whom any one of the preceding characters belongs: "You are of your father the devil, and the works of your father you do" (John 8:44). To you I call, in the name of him whom you crucify afresh (Hebrews 6:6), and in his words to your circumcised predecessors: "You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:33)?"
1771 text
3. Say not then in your heart, I was once baptized, therefore I am now a child of God? Alas, that consequence will by no means hold. How many are the baptized gluttons and drunkards, the baptized liars and common swearers, the baptized railers and evil-speakers, the baptized whoremongers, thieves, extortioners? What think you? Are these now the children of God? Verily I say unto you, whosoever you are, unto whom any one of the preceding characters belong, ye are of your father the devil, and the works of your father ye do. Unto you I call in the name of him whom you crucify afresh, and in his words to your circumcised predecessors, Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?