The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 86
Of Contention Discord and Emulation.
DIscord is a Contention in words, whereby men strive, who shall shew most courage, who shall get the victory, and who shall carry away the last word, noProv. 13. 10. respect being had of …quitie or truth: In this respect, crying and lifting up the voice in reasoning is condemned.Ephes. 4. 31.
There are two kinds of Emulation The one Spirituall.
There are two kinds of Emulation The other carnall.
Spirituall When men strive to be like to them that excell in vertue, or to go beyond1 Cor. 4. 12. them; and this God commands.
Carnall When men that excell in any thing grieve and repine that any should be equall unto them.
Contentions are both Lawfull and Sinfull
Lawfull 1. With the enemy forreigne or domesticall in just causes, as also at the barre with an adversarie pleading.
Lawfull 2. Also in disputation with an Hereticks opposing the truth, and in Schollers disputing for exercises in schooles.
Sinfull In respect of Matter 1. When men contend for things for which theyLuk. 22. should not contend, as the Disciples of Christ did for primacie.
Sinfull In respect of 2. When Contention is without forgiving,1 Cor. 6. 7.
Sinfull In respect of and Forbearing or suffering, and that in small and trifling things.
Sinfull In respect of Manner 3. When men wilfully defend their owne private causes, no regard being had whither they be right or wrong, true or false, and by this meanes they often oppugne truth, or justice, or both.
Through Discord and Emulation
Abraham and Lots Herdsmen debating together, caused Abraham and Lot to departGen. 13. one from the other.
Apostles strove, who should be the greatest among them.Luk. 22. Iudg. 9. Act. 19. Gen. 31. Iudg. 12. Act. 6.
Abimelech murthered his brethren to aspire to the Kingdome.
Demetrius complained against St Paul for his teaching.
Esau hated Iac…b, for stealing from him the blessing.
Ephramites termed the Gileadites to be runnagates in Ephraim.
The Grecians grudged against the Hebrewes, their widdowes being neglected.
Iacob hearing the sons of Laban complaine, departed, whereupon he was byGen. 31. Laban pursued.
The Israelittes Made battell against the Benjamites, and slew many of them.Iudg. 20. 2 Sam. 19.
The Israelittes Joyned against David with one Sheba, who therefore lost his head.
The Israelittes Contended against Moses and Aaron, for which the Lord plaguedChap 20. Exodus 16. Numbers 21. Ioh. …. 42. many of them.
The Jewes strove among themselves how Christ should come from Heaven, and how he could give his flesh to be eaten.
Kain was very wrath, and his countenance fell downe.Gen. 4. Num. 12. & 16 Exo. 17. Iosh. 9. Exod. 2. 11.
Korah, Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses.
Kings of the Heathens came to warre against the Israelites.
Moses seeing a man of Israel sl…ine by an Egyptian, slew the said Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Men circumcised, contended with the Apostle Peter for eating with the GentilesAct. 11. Isa. 9. 21 being uncircumcised.
Philistines stopped up the wels that were digged by Isaac.Gē. 26. Act. 14. Act. 15. Act. 23. 9 … King 3 2 Sa. 20. 1. 2 Sam. 3. Cha. 4.
The people of Iconia were by Pauls preaching divided.
Paul and Barnab… were one from the other sundred.
Pharisees and Sadduces at Pauls crying out varied.
One whore accused the other for the child murthered.
Long warre was betwixt the house of Saul and David.
Warres were made by many, where many perished.
Murther have been by divers, divers times committed.Prov. 19. 13.
It is a mans honour to rest from strife, which foolish questions engender: therforePro. 17. 14. & 27. 15. Prov. 13 3. 2 Tim. 2. 23. Prov▪ 26. 21. … Tim. 14▪ T… …. 9. R…man… …. …5, 1 Cor. 1. 10▪Gods servants must not strive.
As coales are to burning c…ales; so is a co…tentio… man to kindle strife.
Give not heed to fables and Genealogies, which breed questions.
The night is past, the day is come, walke not in strife and envying.
Let there be no dissentions among you, speake ye all one thing.
Use.
We ought to doe nothing that evill is by striving and contention, but leave the wrong done to us to the Lord, who will revenge the same; and if we will needs strive, let us follow our Saviours counsell: Strive to enter in at the strait Luk. 13. 24. Matth. 14.gate, for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able to obtain the same.