A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

But yet some cautions must be here observed: as first, that howsoever we are not to love the world, nor to maintain near and inward familiarity ¹with Gods enemies, yet in respect of our private carriage, we must behave our selves innocently and justly towards them, and as the Apostle speaketh (as much as in us lieth) have peace with all men. Secondly, we must so hate their sins, their worldliness and profaneness, as that in the mean time we love their persons, performing unto them all civill and religious duties, whereby we may gain them to Christ, and be means (as much as in us lieth) of their conversion and salvation. Thirdly, that under colour of hating the world, we do not carry our selves cynically and harshly, peevishly and contentiously with those which remain still professed worldlings, but go forward in the practice of all holy duties, with all meekness of conversation, opposing them in nothing, but when they oppose us in piety and righteousness. For the world is ready to hate us too much already, for our profession and practice of Gods true Religion, though by our perverse behaviour, and rigid stiffness, even about things indifferent, we do not give it any cause to hate our persons. And therefore let us avoid their error, who when they have taken upon them the profession of Christian Religion, think themselves bound to profess open enmity against all those who are contrary minded; and that they best approve their Christianity, when as the fire of dissension, by their tart behaviour, is kindled between them, because Christ came to