The Cure of Church Divisions, Table
| The way of Division by Violence. I. Depart from the Apostolical primitive simplicity; and make things un-necessary, seem necessary in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Conversation. II. Endure no man that is not of your mind and way; But force all t… concord upo… these terms of yours, what ever it cost. III. …rand all D…. …ters with the … maticks, …ereticks, or …ditious Re…els; that the… … become …teful to high …nd low. IV. When this …ath greatly …ncreased their …isaffection to …ou, accus… …heir Religio… of all the expressions of that disaffection, to make i… odious also. V. Take thos… for your enemies that ar… their friends, …. those for your friends which are their enemies▪ And cherish those be th…y never so bad that will be against them, and help you to roo… them out. But remember that for all this you must come to judgement. And read these following words of Mr. R Hookers, which he useth of some part of the History, which out of Sulpitius I before mentioned▪ Eccles. P…l. Epist. Dedic. | The way of Peace by Love and Humility. I. Adhere to the ancient simple Christianity, and make nothing necessary to your Concord and Communion, which is not necessary. II. Love your neighbors as your selves; Receive those that Christ receiveth, and that hold the necessaries of Communion; be they Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independants, Anabaptists, Arminians, Calvinists, &c. so they be not proved Heretical or wicked. III. Speak evil of no man, and especia…ly of Dignities & Ru…lers: Revile not when you are reviled: speak mo… of the good that is in Dislenters; and do them all the Good you can. IV. If any wrong you, be the more watchful over your passions, & opinions, and tongues: lest Passion carry you into extreams: Love your enemies; …less them that curse you; do good to them …hat hate you: and …ray for them that desp…ghtfully use you and persecute you: And do no… evil, …hat good may come by it. V. Impartially judg of men by Gods in…erest in them, and …ot your own or your parties. Reprove the wayes of Love-killers and Backbiters; and let not the fear of their Wrath or Censures carry you into a compliance with them, or cause you by silence to encourage them: But rejoyce if you should be Martyrs for Love and Peace: For— Blessed are the …eek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake; for theirs is the Kingdome of heaven. | The way of Division by Separation. I. Depart from the Apostolical Primitive simplicity; on pretence of strict observing it; And make New Duties and new sins, which scripture makes not such. II. Account all those ungodly that use set prayers, or worship not God in the same manner as you do. III. Brand all Dissenters with the odious names of gracele…s forma…ists▪ That you may make them all seem unlovely to others. IV. When this hath stirr'd them up to wrath, call them wicked persecutors, and have no communion with them. V. Backbite and reproach all those as Compliers with sin; or such as strengthen the hands of the wicked and the persecutors, who would recal you to Love and Humility: And cherish all sects be they never so erroneous or Passionate that will take your part, and speak against them: But First, when the Wrath which you thus kindled hath consumed you; Secondly, or your Divisions crumbled you all to dust: Thirdly, and your scandals hardened men to scorn Religion to their damnation; remember, Wo to the world because of offences, and wo to him by whom offence cometh. Read Act. 20. 30. 1 Cor. 1. 10. 13. & 3. 3. Rom. 16. 17, 18. Iam. 3. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Study these on your knees. |
I deny not but that our Antagonists in these Con…roversies, may peradventure have met with some not …nlike to Ithacius, who mightily bending himself by …ll means against the Heresie of Priscillian, (the ha…red of which one evil was all the vertue he had☜) became so wise in the end, that every man carefull of vertuous conversation, studious of the Scripture, and given to any abstinence in diet, was set down in his Kalender▪ for suspected Priscillianist… ☜ For whom it should be expedient to approve th…ir soundness of faith, by a more licentious and loose behaviour.☜ Such Pr…ctors and Patrons the truth might …are. Yet is not their grossness▪ so …llerable as on the contrary side, the scurrilous and more than satyrical immodesty of Marrinism; the first published schedules whereof being brought to the hands of a grave and very honourable Knight, with signification given that the Book would refresh his spirits, he took it, saw what the title was, read over an unsavoury sentence or two, and delivered back the Libel with this answer; I am sorry you are of the mind to be solaced with these sports, and sorrier you have herein thought my affection like your own.
FINIS.
Errata.
P R…f p. …. lin. 23. for … read not, pag. …. l. 27. for en…ame…r. enslave.
Contents p. 1. l. 14. dele to be▪ p 2▪ l. 3. for timer. true p. 3. l. 3. for own Church read outward Church, p. 6. l. 28. for Solomons knowledge r. common knowledge, p▪ 7. l. 11▪ for their r. then, p. 17. l. 32. r. christianity, p. 26. l. 11. for moved r. proved, p. … 15. for s…em r. serve, p▪ 9. l. 27 for they read the▪ p. 95 … 26. dele in, p. 132. l. 19. read …word th…m, p. 144. l▪ 11. for ever▪ r. even, p▪ 162. l. 26. for them … p. 165. l. 4. for Historical read Histerical, p. 16…. l. 1. read reveal … p. 16…. l. penultu. for is read in. p. 180. l. 30 dele be, p. 181 l. …. dele time, p. 183. l. 20. read 20 years, p 185. l. 30 read de…ecti…e, p. 21…. l. 15. read …, p. 221. l. …. read … ta… p. 13…. l. …. read Independency, p. 170. l. 13. read appealed▪ p. 298. l. 27. for be, read become.