Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

6. They do greatly hinder the Conversion of the Ungodly, and the progress in Holiness of the Godly. Whereas the great work of God's Ministers should be to instruct the ignorant, to convince and reform the profane, to build up God's Children in their Faith and Holiness; this should be their study in private, this their business in public: Now the ignorant and ungodly are left quiet in their sins, the Sober and Pious are little improved in their Christian course, and mens Talents of Time, Parts and Pains, are laid out in dry and unprofitable Controversies. And then private persons, who should employ their converse together to their mutual edification, they are perpetually irritating one another by these fruitless Contentions.. I have heard of a Monster born in Scotland, in the Reign of James the Fourth, with two Heads and one Body, which two heads would be still arguing and knocking each other in eager disputes, (too fit an Emblem of this disputing Age!) But we that have but one Blessed Head, yet the members are always contending among themselves. Instead of exhorting, we are censuring; instead of reproving, we are reproaching; instead of provoking to Love and good works, we provoke one another to wrath and discontent. And then for the devout use of Prayer, doubtless these wrathful Contentions must needs greatly disturb it. For if Husband and Wife should maintain a constant amity, that their Prayers be not hindered, 1 Pet. 3.7. a continual contesting with our Brethren must greatly clog and damp them. Whereupon Cyprian, citing those words of our Saviour, When two agree on Earth to ask, &c. hath this Observation, Plus impetrari potest paucorum concordi prece, quam discordi oratione multorum. A few in concord shall obtain more than many in discord.

6. They do greatly hinder the Conversion of the Ʋngodly, and the progress in Holiness of the Godly. Whereas the great work of God's Ministers should be to instruct the ignorant, to convince and reform the profane, to build up God's Children in their Faith and Holiness; this should be their study in private, this their business in publick: Now the ignorant and ungodly are left quiet in their sins, the Sober and Pious are little improv'd in their Christian course, and mens Talents of Time, Parts and Pains, are laid out in dry and unprofitable Controversies. And then private persons, who should imploy their converse together to their mutual edification, they are perpetually irritating one another by these fruitless Contentions.. I have heard of a Monster born in Scotland, in the Reign of James the Fourth, with two Heads and one Body, which two heads would be still arguing and knocking each other in eager disputes, (too fit an Emblem of this disputing Age!) But we that have but one Blessed Head, yet the members are alwayes contending among themselves. Instead of exhorting, we are censuring; instead of reproving, we are reproaching; instead of provoking to Love and good works, we provoke one another to wrath and discontent. And then for the devout use of Prayer, doubtless these wrathfull Contentions must needs greatly disturb it. For if Husband and Wife should maintain a constant amity, that their Prayers be not hindred,