The Dying Mans Testament to the Church of Scotland, Part 4 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. The causes why Division usually cometh to so great an height.
WE may now enquire what be the causes why Divisions usually come to such a height, and are so difficulty removed, even amongst men that are affectioned in the work of Christ, and otherwayes sound, zealous, and sober; which is indeed strange, especially considering, that they do often see the evil, regrate it, and professe their desire of a remedy themselves? In answering to this, we are to look, 1. to the Lords soveraign hand even in this. 2. To what accession there is to it from those that differ. 3. To some occasionall accidentall causes that concur therein. 4. We may consider the strength of the tentation in respect of some other circumstances.
1. That the Lord hath a Soveraign hand therein, cannot be denied, and that in these two respects, notThe severaign…y of Godtrying good and bad. to insist in all, 1. As it is a triall whereby both mens soundnesse and unsoundnesse have occasion to be manifested; This is asserted, 1 Cor. 11. as a reason of the necessity of schisms and divisions, as may be gathered by comparing, ver. 18, with 19. But this we insist not on▪ 2. The Lord hath a judiciall handChastizing also and punishing. in it, that is, as He ordereth divisions for the just chastisement and punishment of some, even as was formerly said of heresies and delusions; and to this purpose, we may consider that wo which floweth from offences unto the world, to relate especially unto divisions amongst Church-officers, as the subjoyning thereof to the contention amongst the Apostles doth evince; and in the nature of it, and in respect of the consequents that follow thereon, It is indeed a wo, and a very great wo unto the world, and an evidence of the Lords displeasure; when thus in His anger, divisions come amongst Ministers or People, as it is, Lam. 4. 16. Which we will find true in these respects. 1. It looketh angry like against Ministers; for, thereby they become despicable, the Lords countenance and presence seemeth to be withdrawn, and much carnalnesse of frame, and many other evils steal in; which do both eat up much of that inward livelinesse which other wayes they might have, and also discompose that tranquillity and composednesse of mind, which love and unity entertain, and doth propose Ministers unto people, as men destitute of that badge, whereby they may be known to be the Lords Disciples, to wit. love to one another. 2. It is often aYea plaguing the world. great snare to many carnall Professors; for, thereby some are hardened in profanity, and become Atheists, as if all that is spoken by Ministers concerning Religion, were not to be believed; Therefore the Lord prayeth for unity, and against differences amongst His Disciples, for this cause, That the world might believe that Christ was sent by God, and that these are loved of him, Joh. 17. 21, 23. which importeth, that this plague of Atheism followeth in the world upon such divisions. Again, others are stumbled so, as they cast at the Truth preached by them, and thereby become a prey to be carried about with every wind of doctrine; for preventing of which, Ministers, and union among Ministers are required, Eph. Division burdens the godly.4. 1, 2, 3. with 11, 12, 13, 14. 3. It becometh an burden, grief and offence to the weak, such division being a main stumbling-block to the little ones that believe, Matth. 18. 1, and 6. 4. It proveth aHardeneth the adversaries of the truth. great confirmation and ground of hardening to the adversaries of the truth, who are thereby exceedingly hardened, and brought to applaud themselves in their own way, as if such divided instruments could not be of the one body, the Church, which is guided by one Spirit; And this was cast up by heathens in the primitive times, as we may find by the apologies of many of the Fathers; and the same way hath been followed by Antichrist and his followers unto this day; they insult in nothing more than the divisions of the Orthodox▪ and are more proud of nothing than their pretended unity, which they make a mark of the true Church. And when all these are considered, we suppose, it may be evident that such divisions are, when they are, a great plague unto the Church, and may justly be called a wo unto the world.
We need not insist upon characters of a judicialllike division, seing hardly there is division in a Church, but it is judiciall in some part; Yet these things may be considered to this purpose, 1. WhenCharacters of judiciall division. the division is amongst the more eminent and godly men, as amongst the Disciples. 2. If the matter be light comparatively for which the difference is keeped up, as Augustine calleth that with some Donatists, parva dissentio, as to the matter or occasion, which was yet great in its effects, Epist. 203. 3. If it be for dominion, or preheminence, or such things as may look carnall like before men, like that, Matth. 18. 1, &c. Or, 4. if the manner of following it be carnall, or irrationall-like without that respective tendernesse of edification and offence, which rationally might be expected from such men. 5. When there are many palpable convincing reasons, and that in respect of the particular time and case, which might draw men from such divisions. Or, 6. when sometimes healing is essayed, and beyond probable reasons and expectation, it doth break off and turn worse, when it appeared to be near a close. 7. When it spreadeth, and cometh to occupy and take up Professors, it may be, beyond many more concerning things. This especially is discernable, when the division ariseth suddenly upon the back of a great calm, and after such sins as may procure the interrupting thereof, and when it cometh, in an unexpected way, from such persons, and upon such an occasion, as, it may be, none could have looked-for, or thought of; when it is under afflictions, and other cases and reproaches, as the Jews divisions were, even when besieged by the Romans, and when under them, as Iosephus writeth. These and such like may evidence somewhat to be judiciall therein. Because, 1. It doth so further what is penall the more in all the former respects, and it cannot but have such effects. 2. Because there being no other probable reason how ordinarily such a thing may come to passe, the Lords hand is to be acknowledged therein so much the more, when even His Servants are drunken but not with wine, and He hath powred upon them the spirit of deep sleep, and covered even the Prophets and Seers therewith, as the word is, Isa. 29. 9, 10. and when they are as so many wild bulls caught in a net, full of the fury of the Lord, and of the rebuke of their God, as it is, Isa. 51. ver. 20. Whereby it cometh to passe, that neither one sort or other can particularly understand the duty called-for in reference to their healing, more than if all visions, and directions concerning the same were sealed up, as, Isa. 29. ver. 10, 11. and Isa. 59. 10. And none of all Zions sons are in capacity to take her by the hand, Isa. 51. 18. 3. Besides these two, the Lord sometimes hath a wise design for promoving of His work, even by occasion of such divisions, as thereby to make the Gospel to be spread further than otherwayes it had been; for, by discontents and differences, sometimes men have been put to go elswhere and preach the Gospel; and in that instance of Paul and Barnabas their separating, this is brought about; the Gospel is preached by both in their severall journeys, which had not been so extended had they been together; but this, and others of this kind being only proper to the Lords soveraign wisdom, we will not insist on them,
In the second place, If we consider mens own accessionFormer guiltinesse. who are engaged in such divisions, that is manifold. 1. Men by former guiltinesse may procure the same, as by abuse of former unity, carnalnesse in it, not improving of it for edification, pride and conceitedness of it as if it could not be interrupted, not being thankfull to God for it, nor praying for continuance of it. These and such like, may draw on such a dreadfull stroke as division; wherefore not only is there a wo to the world because of offences, but also to him by whom they come, Matth. 18. even when notwithstanding, the necessity of them is asserted. 2. Some present sinfull distemper in Ministers frame,Present distempers. or disposition, may have influence upon this, as it were disposing them the sooner to take fire upon any occasion. As▪ 1. distance with God, and coldnesse of love to Him, without which, love cannot be keeped up with others in Him. 2. Pride, conceitinesse, desire of pre…eminencie, respect and applause, which was amongst the Apostles. 3. Which followeth upon this, envy at the respect which is given to others, or the weight that they have in the managing of matters, and carnall emulation at their persons and actions. 4. There is a secret discontentednesse at mens being sleighted by others, or apprehending themselves to be so. 5. There is a credulousnesse and readinesse to receive wrong impressions, a jealousie or suspicion of others in their designs, ends, or particular respects to them; All which proceeding from want of charity, that thinketh not evil. &c. they cannot but some way dispose for division. 6. There is an itching newfangle humour, not after new Doctrines, but after new expressions, formes, or changes in other things. 7. There is sometimes a prejudice at severity and strictnesse, as if it were pride, ambition, or something that is intolerable; which is marked to be the cause of the Clergie of Constantinople, their dissention with Chrysostome their …: Of this kind, to wit, sinfull and disposing causes, are ignorance, imprudence, tenaciousnesse, or self-willedness, and such like; whereby a Minister is the easilier engaged, and the more difficul…ly brought off.
3. There are some acts whereby men have accession to the raising and heightening of division, and oftentimes they are mutuall: As, 1. some mens doingInconsiderat expressions or actings. of some inconsiderate act, or writing some inconsiderate expression upon the one hand; and others, too passionatly and vehemently exaggerating such a fact, and condemning such an expression by a torturing deduction of absurdities therefrom, beyond what was intended; So it was between Ierome and Augustine, &c. 2. When some presse severity in DisciplineSeverity in Discipline. and Censures, somewhat too hotely, others, with no lesse discontent, repelling the same. 3. WhenSleighting of the persons, writings, or actings of others. men sleightingly expresse their mind of the persons, writings or actings of others; and they again are engaged by the like reflections, to vindicate the same. 4. When men study not the instruction of themselves or others affectionedly, but hunt after a kind of creditHunting after credit. to themselves, though with the reproach of others. 5. Little condescending to remove mistakesLittle condescending, &c. and prejudices, abstinence from society, and fellowship with such as they differ from in some particular; hasty preaching, and publishing differences of small moment, as Epiphaneus, and some others, formerly cited, did, no condescending in particular facts that might be condescended on, and such like. 6. EspeciallyActs that state schism such acts as state a schism, and break communion in Government, Worship, and other Ordinances, are exceedingly instrumentall in this. As, 1. to have distinct Bishops or Ministers, Governours or Officers, and so to have opposit Judicatories, and opposit Ordinations, which is often found to be the result and great cherishment of divisions in the primitive times. Whereupon followed, 2. division in administration of Sacraments, when such and such could not acknowledge men so ordained to be Ministers, and so could not communicate with them, if they were ordained in opposition to them, or such as were ordained by them: And this hath a connexion with such an act, because the acknowledging of such to be lawfully ordained, would question their own Ordination. Whence, 3. follow divided Congregations and meetings, according to the opposition amongst Ministers, some meeting in one place, and some in another, and so withdrawing communion one from another, although both do continue in the same Faith and Government; As may be seen in severall of these divisions mentioned at Antioch, Constantinople, &c. Upon which again followed, 4. opposit preaching amongst Ministers, each condemning others as Schismaticks, and not to be keeped commuon with; one calling that a duty which the other called a sin, and matter of humiliation, and contrarily: As also, mutuall railing and reviling amongst the followers of such sides, which often hath come to tumults; whereby it appeareth how great influence such things have upon division. Yea, 5. it hath come to divide families; Often Augustine regrateth in his Epistles, that their division made the man and wife whom one bed did contain, in an incapacity to be contained in the same Church, where the same faith was preached, and so he urgeth it also in reference to parents, and children, and to masters and servants. There are many moe things might be named, as censuring of men upon such difference; for, then often some adhere to them, which maketh a rent, as in these instances of Eustachius and Chrysostome is clear, urging the condemning of some writings and tenents not fundamentall; Thus the pressing of the condemning of Origens writings (which are not supposed by some to have been so grosse as now these which are called his, are) did give much occasion of contention and division amongst men, who otherwayes did acknowledge all the fundamentall truths comprehended in the generall Councels, and it is alike also, did not agree with him in his grossest errours, yet would not judicially condemn him, and others such like.