A02990:237
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulness of a stinted liturgy and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keys: tending to satisfy the doubtful, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulnesse of a stinted liturgie and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keyes: tending to satisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.
Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the University of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
All sin is to be shunned,1 and that at all times; but the danger of sinning only is to be shunned by watchfulness and circumspection,2 not by omission or neglect of any duty that God calleth us unto or requireth at our hands. In a free state and condition the occasions of sin must be avoided, because no man is safe who is next to danger, and it is no point of wisdom to fish with a golden hook: But when God casteth a man upon the occasions of sin in the duties of religion, justice, or an honest calling, he must not omit the duty because of the occasion, but resist the occasion and watch over his heart that he be not hurt thereby. If a sour herb or two grow in a good pasture, is it not better to heed the flock there then to suffer them to starve? The sheep of Christ are wise to discern betwixt things that differ, and know where to feed, and what to leave. And if superstition be dangerous; partial, indiscreet, ⟨p. 179⟩misguided zeal is sinful, turbulent, and pernicious. Whence have most schisms arisen in the church, but even from hence, that some in place have been over-eager and peremptory to press the members of the church to profess their belief or approbation of some errors, perhaps in themselves small and to be tolerated, which they could not profess with a good conscience, and not allow them communion in the church but upon such condition? Also the frequent drawing out of the sword of excommunication to cut off well-deserving members from visible society with the churches of God for small and trifling matters, is a great occasion and cause of schism. Whatsoever man or church, 3saith one, doth for any error of simple belief deprive any man so qualified as above either of his temporal life, or livelihood, or liberty, or the churches communion and hope of salvation, he is for the first unjust, cruel and tyrannous; schismatical, presumptuous, and uncharitable for the second. Wherefore such as have power in their hands, they are always to remember that this power is given them not for destruction, or to show their own greatness, but for the edification of others, and therefore never to be used but upon special and weighty considerations and occasions.4