The Cure of Church Divisions, Directions · Direction 54
DIRECT. LIV.
Learn to suffer by Ministers and Good people, and not only by Magistrates, nor only by the ungodly.
I Confess it is a thing most unnatural for one true Christian to afflict another; and especially for a Minister, who is the father of the flock, to be a hurter of them, and to do like an enemy; and to fleece them and devour them. But yet it is a thing which sometimes must be born. I have observed that Religious people when a Magistrate (though a usurper) persecuteth them, they can in some sort undergo it, as no strange thing. And they are not so forward to cast off the office and abhor the persons by whom they suffer. But if they suffer never so little by a Minister, they flye away from him, and are uncapable of comfortable communion with him, and the breach is hardly ever made up. I confess there is some more colour for this impatiency; (to be mentioned in another place.) But yet Gods servants have been tryed by this kind of suffering also, and therefore you must not be so tender of it, nor be driven by it into sinful separations, or into a contempt of the Ministers of the Gospel, as too many sects in these times have been. Read what at large is said of the afflicting Shepherds, Ezek. 34. & Zech. 10. & 11. And you will see that it is not a thing to be wondered at, to have Shepherds which fleece and destroy the flocks, and tread down their pasture and muddy their waters, and feed themselves and not the flocks, and gather not that which goeth …stray: Nay their own Shepherds pitied them not. Zech. 11. 5, I know that it is the Magistrates that are often meant by Shepherds in the Prophets: but the Priests also are usually meant with them, and sometime distinctly by the same word. And their falshood and cruelty oft expressed, as in Ier. 2. 8, 26. & 5. 31. and 26. 7, 8, 11. & 32. 32. Ezek. 22. 26. Hos. 6. 9. Mich. 3. 11. Zeph. 3. 4. Mal. 1. 6, & 2. 1. &c. And remember that all the wickedness of these Priests, and their abuse of the people, did not warrant the people to forsake the Jewish Church: Though the Ark was taken by the Philistines for the wickedness and violence of Eli's sons; and the people tempted to desire a King, by the sins of the sons of Samuel, yet none of their mis-doings did warrant a separation from that Church. Yea Christ who was persecuted by the Priests, did yet bid the cleansed Lepe… go shew himself to the Priest, and offer according to the Law.
Therefore a true Christian must learn (though not to favour any mans sin, nor to be indifferent what Ministery he liveth under, yet) patiently to suffer much abuse and persecution, sometimes from Ministers themselves; and to see that it drive them not in peevish impatiency into any extream, or to any unlawful sect or separation, nor to a disdain of the sacred office which they abuse, nor to lose the benefit of it, or be unthankful for it.
And though it be sad that true Christians should abuse each other, yet this also must be born. Many can bear…th: scorn and cruelties of the openly profane, who can scarce bear to be neglected or set light by, much less to be hardly censured by the Religious. But observe first, that your Pride may notably appear in this: and it is no great sign of humility to suffer only from the worst. For you look on them as persons of no honour, and the … fore not capable of dishonouring you: For a dog to bark at you, you take for no disgrace: Nay you take it for your honour to suffer by such persons, as supposing it a mark of Christs disciples. But the Religious you more reverence, and think their contempt is a great dishonour to you; and fore your pride will not suffer you to bear it patiently.
Secondly, And remember that different opinions and interests may possibly so far exasperate some that are otherwise religious, as to make them afflicters, or more plainly, persec…tors of one another, though Godliness it self be applauded by them all. The experience of England, Scotland and Ireland within these 25 years doth sadly tell us and the world, how far men can go in persecuting each other for different interests and opinions, who all profess a zeal for godliness.
And let it have your special remark, that one reason why all men as Christians and Godly do more easily and commonly love one another, is because a… Christians and Godly, they do not hurt or wrong each other: But as they are of various sects they hate and envy one another, because as they are sectaries they hurt and injure one another. For the spirit and zeal of a sect as such is censorious, hurtful, unpeaceable and dividing: But the spirit and zeal of Godliness and Christianity, is kind and gentle and inclineth to do good to all.
Remember that you have never lear…n the Christian art of suffering aright, till you can suffer not only by bad men, but by men that otherwise are good; nor only by enemies but by friends, nor only by them that bear the sword, but also by some who preach the word; and will not by oppression be made mad, nor driven from your innocency.