Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

3. That these Contentions are Uncharitable, when men bite and devour one another.

3. That these Contentions are Ʋncharitable, when men bite and devour one another.

4. That such Contentions do prepare for Destruction.

Propos. 1. There ever were, are, and will be Differences among God's own People in the matters of Religion: Even amongst the Jews, who had such punctual Rules prescribed before them, yet the School of Hillel went one way, and the School of Shammai went another, and their Contentions sometimes were sprinkled with the Blood one of another. And no sooner was the Gospel planted, but the Professors of it fell at variance about matters of Religion: Plain in the Controversies about Circumcision, for the quieting whereof that famous Council met at Jerusalem, Act. 15. The like Differences arose in the Church at Rome about Meats and Days, the strong Christians despising the weak, and the weak censuring the strong, Rom. 14. The like Dissension in the Church of Corinth, about eating Meats offered to Idols, 1 Cor. 8. and about the exercise of spiritual Gifts, 1 Cor. 14. In the Church of Galatia, you may perceive by this Text, to what height their Differences did rise, that they were in danger to devour one another. At Philippi, Coloss and Thessalonica, matters were much at the same pass: Scarce any single Church in the New Testament was clear of Difference in matters of Religion: And this whilst the Blood of Our Saviour was warm, and divers of the Apostles were yet alive. Shortly after, what dreadful Combustions were kindled in the Church by Novatus, then by Donatus; to say nothing of other Heretics, who not holding the Head, cannot reasonably be reckoned in the Body Mystical of Christ, his Church. The Story is sadly remarkable of Chrysostom and Epiphanius, two Bishops that contended so bitterly with one another, that Epiphanius in his fury wished that Chrysostom might never dye a Bishop, and Chrysostom in his Passion wished that Epiphanius might never go home-alive; and the History tells us, that it fell out to them both accordingly. So that no considering man will admire, or be offended at a Disease, which hath been incident to the true Church of Christ in all ages past.