A Christian Directory

so the effect of his desired Unity, was to bring that one God or Temple into contempt, whereto he would confine all Worship. The differences among Christians are nothing in comparison of the differences among Heathens. The truth is, Religion is such an illustrious noble thing, that dissentions about it, like spots in the Moon, are much more noted by the world, than about any lower common matters. Men may raise Controversies in Philosophy, Physic, Astronomy, Chronology, and yet it maketh no such noise nor causeth much offence or hatred in the World: But the Devil and corrupted nature have such an enmity against Religion, that they are glad to pick any quarrel against it, and blame it for the imperfections of all that learn it and should practise it: As if Grammar should be accused for every error or fault that the Boys are guilty of in learning it: Or the Law were to be accused for all the differences of Lawyers or contentions of the people: or Physic were to be accused for all the differences or errors of Physicians; or meat and drink were culpable because of mens excesses and diseases: There is no doctrine nor practice in the World, by which true Unity and Concord can be maintained, but by seriousness in the true Religion. And when all contention cometh for want of Religion, it's impudence to blame Religion for it, which is the only cure. If Rulers will protect all that agree in that ⟨p. 31⟩which is justly to be called the Christian Religion, both for doctrine and practice, and about their small and tolerable differences, will use no other violence but only to compel them to live in peace, and to suppress the seditious, and those that abuse and injure Government or one another, they will find that Christianity tendeth not to divisions, nor to the hindrance or disturbance of Government or peace. It is passion and pride and selfishness that doth this, and not Religion: Therefore let these and not Religion be restrained.

so the effect of his desired Unity, was to bring that one God or Temple into contempt, whereto he would confine all Worship. The differences among Christians are nothing in comparison of the differences among Heathens. The truth is, Religion is such an illustrious noble thing, that diffentions about it, like spots in the Moon, are much more noted by the world, than about any lower common matters. Men may raise Controversies in Philosophy, Physick, Astronomy, Chronologie, and yet it maketh no such noise nor causeth much offence or hatred in the World: But the Devil and corrupted nature have such an enmity against Religion, that they are glad to pick any quarrel against it, and blame it for the imperfections of all that learn it and should practise it: As if Grammar should be accused for every errour or fault that the Boyes are guilty of in learning it: Or the Law were to be accused for all the differences of Lawyers or contentions of the people: or Physick were to be accused for all the differences or errours of Physicions; or meat and drink were culpable because of mens excesses and diseases: There is no doctrine nor practice in the World, by which true Unity and Concord can be maintained, but by seriousness in the true Religion. And when all contention cometh for want of Religion, it's impudence to blame Religion for it, which is the only cure. If Rulers will protect all that agree in that