Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Use 2. If Uncharitable Contentions do prepare for utter Destruction, Then Woe be to the Instruments and Bellows of our Contentions: If the Evil of them be so great, if the Danger from them be so dreadful, then most wicked and wretched are the promoters of them. Woe to the World because of offences, for it must needs be that offences come; but Woe to that Man by whom the offence cometh, Matth. 18.7. If those that set an House or Town on Fire, be justly reckoned and treated as Enemies to humane Society, certainly they who inflame the Souls of Christians against one another, to the ruin of a Church and Nation, deserve the worst Character, and the worst Punishment. But as Ahasuerus once said to Esther, c. 7. v. 5. Who is he? and where is he that dare presume in his heart to do so? And as she answered, The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman; so I may answer,

Ʋse 2. If Uncharitable Contentions do prepare for utter Destruction, Then Woe be to the Instruments and Bellows of our Contentions: If the Evil of them be so great, if the Danger from them be so dreadful, then most wicked and wretched are the promoters of them. Wo to the World because of offences, for it must needs be that offences come; but Woe to that Man by whom the offence cometh, Matth. 18.7. If those that set an House or Town on Fire, be justly reckon'd and treated as Enemies to humane Society, certainly they who inflame the Souls of Christians against one another, to the ruine of a Church and Nation, deserve the worst Character, and the worst Punishment. But as Ahasuerus once said to Esther, c. 7. v. 5. Who is he? and where is he that dare presume in his heart to do so? And as she answer'd, The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman; so I may answer,

1. Our common Adversary and Enemy in this matter is Satan. Our Contentions do plainly smell of fire and brimstone. Legions of Devils, though we cannot see them, are employed herein: He is the Old Accuser of the Brethren, both to God and to one another; that wicked Spirit is the truest Salamander, that lives in the fire of Contention. Divisions are the Devil's Music, but that which makes the Devil laugh should make us weep. How often have there been Essays and Endeavours to reconcile our unhappy Differences, and this cunning and malicious Enemy hath defeated them all? I have somewhere read of a Treaty between a former King of England, and another of France, which was held and concluded in an old Chapel, while their several Armies stood ready expecting the issue: The Kings agreed, and coming out of the Chapel, a Snake or Viper crept out of the old Wall, which they seeing, drew their Swords to defend themselves; which being discerned by their Servants who attended at the door, they drew likewise, and the Armies seeing this did the like, and slaughtered one another a long time before they understood the mistake. And just so hath it often fared with God's Church abroad and at home. Wise and good Men have been ready for a Reconciliation, and in effect agreed, when that Old Serpent the Devil, being ready to burst with Malice at it, hath spoiled so good an enterprise, and renewed the flames of Discord again.