The Cure of Church Divisions, Directions · Direction 19
DIRECT. XIX.
Take heed of engaging your selves too far in any divided Sect, or of espousing the interest of any party of Christians, to the neglect or injury of the common interest of the Universal Church, or cause of Christianity.
I Doubt not but among several ranks of Christians, the soundest and most upright are to be best esteemed, and (caeteris paribus) their Communion to be preferred, before theirs that are more unsound and scandalous. But its one thing to prefer the eye or hand, before the foot; a noble member before a more ignoble; and another thing to own a Sect as such, or a party as they either divide from others, or take up a dividing opposite interest. You are sure that the Universal Church of Christ can never erre against the essentials of Christianity, nor against any truth or duty necessary to their salvation. For then the Church were no Church, and then Christ were not its Head. And then the body of Christ might perish: And then Christ were not the Saviour of his body. But you cannot say of any one part, that you are sure that part shall never fall away and perish. There may fall out a necessity which may warrant the Body to cut off a hand or leg, to save the rest: But no corporal necessity can warrant you to destroy the whole; nor any one member to forsake the Body, before it is forcibly cut off.
He that seeth not how the espousing of parties and divided interests, doth corrupt most Christians in the world, and lacerate and deface the Church of Christ, doth not understand or not observe the condition of mankind. It is somewhat rare to meet with any serious Christians, who are not so deeply engaged into some Sect or Side or party, as to darken their judgements, and pervert their affections as to all the rest, and to corrupt their converse in the world: How blindly do such look on all that is good in those that differ from them? How partially do they judge of the judgements and practises of others? How small a thing will serve the turn, to excuse the faults of any of their party? And how small and common a good seemeth excellent in them? And how perversly do they aggravate the faults of all that are against their way? As if every infirmity were a crime, and had no excuse? yea, they are oft glad to hear of some miscarriage in them, for which they may speak against them. And very readily take up such reports, and are the willing-tongues of slanderous fame: And in all this their faction maketh them impenitent: For they think it tendeth to the disgrace of the other Party, and so of their Cause, which they account an errour; and consequently that God hath use for their malicious Calumnies to his glory.
What company can you come into of forward Christians, but they are talking against those of other parties? (except a few true entire Christians, who are throughly possessed with the loving compassionate spirit of their Lord, and have received the true impression of the Gospel.) And if you mark the cause you will find it as a sectarian spirit, that prevaileth against the Catholick spirit of Christianity. And in no sect more, than in those that pretend to be the only Catholicks, and to do all this against the Sectaries as such! What bitter lies do the Popish sects under the name of Catholicks daily vent not only against Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers, but any that stand against the peculiar interest of their party. And they that can get the upper hand-and by worldly advantages become the domineering sect, do think that thereby, they are exempted from the name and number of sectaries; and that all are sectaries that question their authority, and do not absolutely obey them.
In all their discourse the stigmatizing of dissenters is an ordinary part! One side reproacheth the other as Hereticks and Schismaticks; And the other reproacheth them as hypocrites, formalists, and pharisaical persecutors: And every party think that all this is a part of Christian zeal; and if they did it not they should be guilty of lukewarmness and neutrality, and consenting to the sins of others. And thus the Church of Christ is engaged in a war against it self: And when all men should know them to be Christs disciples by loving one another; most men may perceive that they have too much contrariety to the Christian nature, by their endeavouring to make each other odious. And all because instead of distinguishing the members of the same Body by their several offices and degrees, we are grown to make several Bodies of them, and to set one part against another. How many a Kingdomes conversion from Infidelity hath been hindered? and how many a faithful Minister silenced or reproached? and how many excellent Christians slandered and vilified? and how many blamless customs, forms, and practises accused? and how many infirmities aggravated as mortal crimes, by a siding factious disposition, and to promote the cause and interest of a Sect. Therefore as you love your integrity and peace, keep up an impartial universal love and honour to all Christians as such, and take heed of a dividing spirit.