Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. Our Differences and Contentions are notorious. Divisions in the Church, Divisions in the Nation; Cities divided, yea Houses divided: Names of Distinction imposed, and no Pacificatory Endeavours, nor Inviting Providences have yet cemented us. Our Enemies smile at it, and our well-wishers mourn.

1. Our Differences and Contentions are notorious. Divisions in the Church, Divisions in the Nation; Cities divided, yea Houses divided: Names of Distinction impos'd, and no Pacificatory Endeavours, nor Inviting Providences have yet cemented us. Our Enemies smile at it, and our well-wishers mourn.

2. We are Uncharitable in these Contentions, we bite and devour one another, we censure, we slander, we rail, we damn, and we are ready to mischieve one another, by force, by fraud; the Press sweats, the Pulpit rings with Invectives and with Reproaches. O Lord, how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear! even cry out to thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! why dost thou show me iniquity and grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention, &c. Habac. 1.2, 3. The Law of Kindness is banished out of mens Mouths, the Law of Love too much out of mens Hearts: Yea, some Preach Christ of envy, strife, and contention, supposing to add affliction to others bands, (as it was Philip. 1.17.) We may take up Optatu's complaint of old, Nullus vestrum est, qui non convitia nostra suis tractatibus misceat: Lectiones Dominicas incipitis, & tractatus vestros ad nostras injurias explicatis. Profertis Evangelium, & facitis absenti fratri convitium. Auditorum animis infigitis odia, inimicitias suadendo, docendo suadetis. This hath been Englished too often in Pulpits, I am loth to do it. In all concourses, instead of kindness, freedom and love, either uncivil clashings, or a fearful reservedness: The worst Interpretations made of one another's actions, words, looks, and behaviour. Certainly the Enemy hath done this, his cloven Foot is evident in these effects; but this is matter of fact, and undeniable.