The Dying Mans Testament to the Church of Scotland, Part 4 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The height of evil that division bringeth.
HAving now seen a little the rises of this evil▪ we may look to the height it hath come to from such beginnings: which we may consider in these steps. 1. It engendere… heat, strife andHeat and contention. contention; and in that respect, maketh men carnall, 1 Cor. 3. 2. It breedeth alienation in affection, and separateth these in fellowship that have been most intimate,Alienation as if their companying together had lost that sweetnesse and refreshfulnesse that sometimes it had▪ and thereby even their Christian communion is interrupted; both those may be seen in that strange and hot contention, which came to this height betwixt Paul and Barnabas, Act. 15. 3. It breedeth jealousieIealousie. and suspicion of one anothers actions and intentions, yea, it may be, of the sincerity of their state: it breedeth envy at one anothers prosperity and respect, and maketh them lesse weighted with any crosse or adversity that the other falleth into. Paul is suspected, not only by the false teachers, but even by the professors, to be an enemy to them, and not to be single in his designes amongst them: some have counted others hypocrites, as is before marked. 4. It bringeth forth violent and virulent expressions,Virulent expressions. and reflections upon each other, and greater heat almost is not to be found than amongst differing Divines, that yet do aggree in the main. It is a wonder to read some of the expressions that are betwixt Ierome and Ruffin, and betwixt Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria, and Theophilus Bishop of Ierusalem, with many others; or to consider the sad regrates that Basilius, Gregorius Nazeanzenus, and others, have of these differences; something may be seen of it in the instance of Iob and his friends. And what there is for the present amongst Orthodox Divines abroad, and in this Island, I fear, out of honour to the men, to mention them▪ yet I suppose such things may be read in the Prefaces and Writings of the most eminent Divines, as may make the hearts of all to loath such divisions. 5. It hath come to that height, asPersonall reflections. not to spare to publish even personall reflections; yea sometimes, it hath come to that, that men have condem ned deeds in others, after such begun differences, which formerly they did highly commend in them; (thus their estimation & construction of their actions, doth ebb and flow according to their estimation of their persons) It is marked of Demetrius of Alexandria▪ that whiles he and Origen did continue in fellowship▪ he was a great commender of that deed of Origen's, to wit, his gelding of himself while he was young: yet after difference arose betwixt them, upon very mean grounds, (Origen not being come to his grossenesse) he did most vehemently object that to him inImprecations and instigation of the civill Power. his Writings. 6. Often in hath come that length, that they have imprecated evil to one another, as in the instance of Chrysostom and Epiphanius; sometimes they have informed and most vehemently instigated civil Powers against one another, that they might procure their deposition, banishment, and such like, as Ruffinus did against Ierome, the Clergie at Antioch against Flavianus, and some at Constinople, particularly Severianus, did stir up the Emperour against Chrysostom. 7. Also, it hath been followed in Councels and SynodsSharp censures inflicted. by the Sentences of Deposition and Excommunication, as was frequent in the case of that debate about Easter, and in that debate betwixt Stephanus and Cyprian; Tertullian also was Sentenced upon a prejudice, without just ground; so was Chrysostome deposed even by Bishops that were not heterodox; and many others. 8. It hath extended to divide ChurchesRenting of whole Churches. although it began amongst Ministers▪ and hath come to that height, that they have withdrawn from the communion of one another, and have chosen different Bishops and Ministers without communion one with another, or without dependence one upon another, and yet neither of them have been Hereticks, nor professed Schismaticks, but because of some dissatisfaction, it may be, with the person, or ordination of such a Minister; or upon some mistake of a particular act of a Councell, even when both did acknowledge the same, as particularly is marked to have been betwixt Eustachius of Antioch, and Eusebius of Pamphilia; and again at Antioch in the case of Miletus and Paulinus; and again betwixt Flavianus andFurie of their followers. others; which is marked to be in the fourth Century. 9. It hath extended to great heat and furie, even amongst the followers of each other; whereby much jealousie, heat and dissention hath been occasioned.Furious madness of Divines. 10. In both those there hath been such a fervour, and as it were fury, that there hath been no uptaking nor removing of the same: And although we find difference to have arisen from little, even amongst good men, yet often we will find that most difficultly it hath been removed, but for many generations it hath continued, when the first authors have been away, and that with very great heat, as almost in all the instances given, so that, that sweet and moderate Divine Melancthon, did usually call the difference of Divines rabies Theologorum, and at his death did blesse himself, that amongst other sins and miseries he was to be fred from this rabies or furie of Divines, which was evermore sadder to him than any opposition of open adversaries. 11. Usually, it hath divertedDiversion of them from their main work. most serious Divines, both from the pressing of piety, and reproving of vice; as also from maintaining of truth against open adversaries, and the pursuing of their errours. Augustine doth complain of this to Ierome, and doth for this end, as it were, crave a cessation; and it cannot be otherwayes, for …uch debates do not profit these that are occupied therein. Heb. 13. ver. 9. and when mens edge is hot and sharp against others in such particular differences, it cannot but cool and blunt them in more weighty things, and is no little part of the devils subtilty to make way for errour and profanitie, thus to entangle Ministers. Which occasion he hath ever taken to sow tares, which that great Father and Divine Basilius doth condole to this purpose, That while there was concord in every occupation, only in the Church and amongst Ministers there was dissention, and that so hot, that no commiseration of the Flock, which was set upon, and drawn away by perverse men, was prevalent with them, to abstain from such differences. 12. Hence, it hath followed, that thoughBoth schism and heresie following division. there hath been no considerable difference upon the matter at the first, yet notwithstanding it hath grown and come to a height▪ and that in respect both of Schism and heresie; And it is rare to find in History, that a division hath continued long, but it hath turned to separation in communion, and a Schism; and again, Schism hath not continued long, but it hath brought forth heresie, for divided practices lead men to lay down and maintain such principles as may defend them, and the band of unity being broken, there is no stay or hold, because, as that forenamed Father Basilius saith, men take on them then to speak, write, and do as they please. 13. Although sometimes theCommonly both sides faultie, though not equally. fault of division may be more on one side than another, yet seldom is any side free, at least, in the manner of prosecution, and therefore often it turneth in the close to the hurt of both, and the one side becomes more schismaticall and erroneous, at least, in many of their members, as fell out in the case of the Novatians, and Donatists. The other side again, have often become more cold and secure in the practice of holinesse, carnall and formall in pursuing ceremonies and externall things, with lesse affection and life in the main, because the edge of their zeal was bended toward these differences; and generally people have been stumbled and offended by them; and by the miscarriage of some affectionate persons, men more formall and not very zealous in the main thing, have come to have more weight and sway in the Government of the Church; and thus we see that after these hot debates that were in the Church about lesser things, schisms and heresies grew up on the one side; luke warmnesse, formality, and inclination to ceremonies, and a formall lazie way of worship, did grow up and increase in the Church, upon the other side. 14. Though weDivision hardly cured. find men sadly regrate these, yet was there alwayes a difficulty to get them removed; there being often a kind of inconsideratnesse whereby the publick good hath been overlooked, and men have walked too much by particular inclination and affection, and so have come to hate whom formerly they praised, and to praise whom formerly they hated; by which the Ordinances have become weightlesse to all; and the Ministers, who sometimes were counted a gazing, a reproach and the off-scouring of all men because of afflictions, have become much more despicable because of their own intestine divisions, as one of the Fathers doth pathetically expostulate for the dissentions of his time, writing to Nazeanzen.