Moderation a Virtue, Treatise · Section 4
SECT. IV.
And since moderate Men have conformed, there is very great Reason why they should retain and exercise this Moderation towards all Men, even towards them that dissent from them, on every side. And I will assign, first, general Reasons, and then more particular, fitted to the several Parties that are among us.
First, the general Reasons are of these many kinds:
1. Because we are Christians, under a particular Obligation to this Duty, Let your Moderation be known to all Men, urged by a mighty Reason, The Lord is at hand.
2. Because we are Christians, we should form our Conversation according to the Pattern of our heavenly Father, and blessed Saviour, who governs and keeps the World and Church together by Moderation.
3. Because over and above the goodness of Nature, we are obliged to put on Christ, and to walk in the Spirit, which is a Spirit of Grace, and whose Fruits are, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance.
4. Because we are under the Government of Christ our King, and his holy Spirit, by his holy and good Laws; and therefore we ought to be the most exactly governed Persons in the World; and being so, we are not only to refrain from the Irregularities and Excesses of our Thoughts and Passions, Words and Actions, but to be and act conformable to the very Image and Example of Christ; and being so governed, we exercise a Temper towards all Men, in all Things.
5. Because we are to save and order our selves, to gain others to what is good, and to keep humane and Christian Society together, in Love, Righteousness and Peace, which will fall to pieces, except kept together by Temper and Moderation.
6. Because the most wise and experienced, the most pious and learned, the best-acquainted with God, his Laws, his Ways; the best-acquainted with the History of the Christian Church, and make the best use of it, with humane Nature, and its Welfare and Government; the most publick Spirits, and best Men, have been the most moderate.
These are some of the general Reasons; the particular Reasons are many, with regard to particular Persons, of differing Persuasions.
1. Because we are but Disciples and Learners, in an imperfect Light, and that Light diffused and communicated to others, as well as to our selves, we cannot enquire and search, nor find out and retain the Truth, without a Temper of Humility in our Enquiries, and of Zeal and Love in our Acquisitions of the Truth; and we must know, that others have their share of Reason and Light, as well as we.
2. Because we must acknowledg any Spark of Light and Truth, shining in the Arguings and Tenets of others, and must be ready to close in with Truth where-ever we find it; and to persuade, or be persuaded, that we may close, or bring others to a Closure with the universal Truth, which can never be without Moderation of judging of our selves and others. Hence we are to shew our Moderation,
(1.) Towards our Enemies (I wish we could give them another Name) of the Popish Church: 1. In a modest Investigation into Matters of Difference. 2. A just State of Questions. 3. A rational divine Proposal of Arguments, both offensive and defensive, drawn from the Light of Nature and Scripture. 4. That we may convince them, that we are not against them out of Opposition and Faction, but because we cannot part with Truth, nor subscribe to, nor entertain their Errors; we will acknowledg any Truth that is professed among them. 5. We would live in the Exercise of Holiness, Love, Peace, and Forbearance, as far as we can with safety to our Souls, and the Souls of others, as far as we can with safety to our Lives, and just Rights.
(2.) Towards other Dissenters we exercise Moderation, 1. Because we agree not only in Fundamentals of Religion and Government, but in the necessary Adjuncts of Worship, and Design of advancing our Christianity in Doctrine, Heart, and Conversation. 2. Because there are among them Men that are strong, and of great Attainments, and they have Reason to satisfy them, as we have to satisfy us. We had rather close, than peremptorily insist upon opposite Reasonings, as knowing it is a great Duty to communicate together, to love, and forbear one another. 3. Because there are also such as are weak, and we can never instruct, convince, and persuade them but by Moderation, allowing them time to think of Things, as well as proposing to them what is fit to be thought upon. In a word, the Matters in Controversy are less and fewer than the Points of Agreement; we had rather close in the greater, than break for the smaller, which are Things in which we ought to shew our Moderation.