A02990:238
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.
And of particular private persons it hath ever been most true, that a partial, rigid, irregular adhering to some branches of holy doctrine hath been no ⟨p. 180⟩less pernicious to themselves then troublesome to others: For the fond admiration of their zeal and forwardness in this one particular breedeth neglect of Christian watchfulness and constant uniform walking with God, disregard of Gods ordinances and of the good which may be gotten thereby,1 disesteem (if not contempt) of others who will not comply with them in the same way: and what can follow hereupon but contentions and jars, surmises, censurings and uncharitableness, rents and divisions in the church? This danger is the greater, because it stoppeth the ear against advise and counsel: For being once persuaded that they and they only do maintain the truth and rightly affect it, no reason will enter, no persuasion take place to the contrary, be it never so evident and apparent. And this is most preposterous, when the truths wherewith they are so enamoured and which they zealously affect be matters of small or least importance: for then the great and weighty truths, concerning the very life and soul of religion, and the substantial means of grace, are undervalued in comparison of the other. We must therefore labour and watch so to keep our selves from the infection of superstition as not to foster indiscreet and partial zeal, which admiring that which is of less importance thrusteth into over-vehement contentions, and lesseneth the due esteem of the great mercy the Lord hath showed unto his church.
And of particular private persons it hath ever been most true, that a partiall, rigid, irregular adhering to some branches of holy doctrine hath been no ⟨p. 180⟩lesse pernicious to themselves then troublesome to others: For the fond admiration of their zeal and forwardnesse in this one particular breedeth neglect of Christian watchfulnesse and constant uniform walking with God, disregard of Gods ordinances and of the good which may be gotten thereby,1 disesteem (if not contempt) of others who will not comply with them in the same way: and what can follow hereupon but contentions and jarres, surmises, censurings and uncharitablenesse, rents and divisions in the church? This danger is the greater, because it stoppeth the eare against advise and counsel: For being once perswaded that they and they onely do maintein the truth and rightly affect it, no reason will enter, no perswasion take place to the contrary, be it never so evident and apparent. And this is most preposterous, when the truths wherewith they are so enamoured and which they zealously affect be matters of small or least importance: for then the great and weighty truths, concerning the very life and soul of religion, and the substantiall means of grace, are undervalued in comparison of the other. We must therefore labour and watch so to keep our selves from the infection of superstition as not to foster indiscreet and partiall zeal, which admiring that which is of lesse importance thrusteth into over-vehement contentions, and lesseneth the due esteem of the great mercy the Lord hath shewed unto his church.