A Christian Directory

§. 2. I know those that would draw you into such a contentious zeal, will tell you that their cause is the cause of God, and that you desert him and betray it, if you be not zealous in it: and that it is but the counsel of flesh and blood which maketh you pretend Moderation and Peace; and that it is a sign that you are hypocrites, that are so lukewarm and carnally comply with error: and that the cause of God is to be followed with the greatest zeal and self denial. And all this is true, if you be but sure that it is indeed the cause of God; and that the greater works of God, be not neglected on such pretences; and that your Zeal be much greater for Faith, and Charity, and Unity, than for your opinions. But upon great experience I must tell you, that of the zealous contenders in the world, that cry up The Cause of ¹God, and Truth, there is not one of very many, that understandeth what he talks of; but some of them cry up the Cause of God, when it is a brat of a proud and ignorant brain, and such as a judicious person would be ashamed of; And some of them are rashly zealous, before they have parts or time to come to any judicious trial; and some of them are mis-guided by some person or party that captivateth their minds; and some of them are hurried away by passion and discontent; and many of the ambitious and worldly are blinded by their carnal interests: and many of them in mere pride, think highly of an Opinion in which they are somewhat singular, and which they can with some glorying call their Own, as either invented by them, or that in which they think they know more than ordinary men do: And abundance after longer experience, confess that to have been their own erroneous cause, which they before entitled the Cause of God: Now when this is the case, and one crieth Here is ⟨p. 53⟩Christ, and another There is Christ; one saith, This is the cause of God, and another saith, That is it; no man that hath any care of his Conscience, or of the honour of God and his profession, will leap before he looketh where he shall alight; or run after every one that will whistle him with the name or pretence of truth or a good cause:

§. 2. I know those that would draw you into such a contentious zeal, will tell you that their cause is the cause of God, and that you desert him and betray it, if you be not zealous in it: and that it is but the counsel of flesh and blood which maketh you pretend Moderation and Peace; and that it is a sign that you are hypocrites, that are so lukewarm and carnally comply with error: and that the cause of God is to be followed with the greatest zeal and self denyal. And all this is true, if you be but sure that it is indeed the cause of God; and that the greater works of God, be not neglected on such pretences; and that your Zeal be much greater for Faith, and Charity, and Unity, than for your opinions. But upon great experience I must tell you, that of the zealous contenders in the world, that cry up The Cause of