And whereas the objection seemed unanswerable, How can they so agree, who are of several judgements about Good and Evil? Paul often warneth them to hold fast the form of sound words, and summeth up (as 1 Cor. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4.) the Articles of their faith, and chargeth them that so far as they had attained, they should walk by the same rule, and mind the same things, and if in any thing they were otherwise minded, stay till God revealed the matter to them, Phil. 3. He oft chargeth them to be of one mind and judgement (thus far) and to live in Love and Peace, and to do nothing by strife and vain glory, but in honour to prefer others to themselves; and not to strive about words that profit not, nor about unnecessary Questions, seeing such disputings and strivings gender to ungodliness, and fret like a Canker, and pervert the hearers minds: Yea he directeth the Pastors to edify souls, rather by a Teaching than a disputing way, and to convince gainsayers, by meek instructing opposers, to see if thus God will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth: for the Minister or servant of the Lord must not strive; Love is their work to be effected in others, and Love must be their Principle, and Love must be their mode and means, even Loving others as themselves: Oft are they called by Christ and his Apostles from masterly opinions, aspirings and endeavours, and to be as little Children; and the servants of all, and as stewards of Gods mysteries and helpers, not Lords of the Churches faith, and not to domineer over the flock of Christ, but to oversee them not by constraint but voluntarily: And what cannot be done by Light and Love, is not to be done by them at all: The Magistrate and not they, must use the Sword; but not to make men believers (for he cannot.)
And whereas the objection seemed unanswerable, How can they so agree, who are of several judgements about Good and Evil? Paul often warneth them to hold fast the form of sound words, and summeth up (as 1 Cor. 15. 1, 2, 3, 4.) the Articles of their faith, and chargeth them that so far as they had attained, they should walk by the same rule, and mind the same things, and if in any thing they were otherwise minded, stay till God revealed the matter to them, Phil. 3. He oft chargeth them to be of one mind and judgement (thus far) and to live in Love and Peace, and to do nothing by strife and vain glory, but in honour to preferr others to themselves; and not to strive about words that profit not, nor about unnecessary Questions, seeing such disputings and strivings gender to ungodliness, and fret like a Canker, and pervert the hearers minds: Yea he directeth the Pastors to edifie souls, rather by a Teaching than a disputing way, and to convince gainsayers, by meek instructing opposers, to see if thus God will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth: for the Minister or servant of the Lord must not strive; Love is their work to be effected in others, and Love must be their Principle, and Love must be their mode and means, even Loving others as themselves: Oft are they called by Christ and his Apostles from masterly opinions, aspirings and endeavours, and to be as little Children; and the servants of all, and as stewards of Gods mysteries and helpers, not Lords of the Churches faith, and not to domineer over the flock of Christ, but to oversee them not by constraint but voluntarily: And what cannot be done by Light and Love, is not to be done by them at all: The Magistrate and not they, must use the Sword; but not to make men believers (for he cannot.)
