Had I seen, as I have done, the spring, multiplication, growth, and fruits of Dividing. Principles, Dispositions, and Practices in these Kingdoms, not being totally innocent therein my self, in my unexperienced youth; Had I seen so much blood shed, so many Governments overturned, and so many Ministers openly reviled, abused, ejected, silenced, and so many damnable heresies risen up; and all this done in the Name of God; Had I my self been one of them that have been cast out of my public Ministry and maintenance, with about 1800 more at once, and seen the pitiful case of too many Congregations in the land; and all this as the fruit of former Church-Divisions, obstinately continued twenty years, (to look no farther) and the new effect of the ⟨p. 4⟩same spirit still working in both extremes; I say, Had I seen and felt all this, and yet taken the spirit, the principles and practises of Division, in one side or other, for a virtue, or a little sin, I had been guilty of such horrid, wilful blindness, as every Christian's soul should hate: And had I seen what strong temptations are lately given to propagate these evils; and what advantage Satan hath got by the malignity of some, to increase the bitter censoriousness of others, and to pull down the good old principles of Concord, on pretence that now the case is changed? Had I seen the fruits of Gods indignation against a self-destroying people, in London's plague, and dreadful flames, and in our present Church-convulsions? Had I seen what visible dangers are over us, of a condition yet worser than all this? Had I seen how many thousand honest Christians are in danger of being sinners or sufferers by this evil; I say, had I stood by, and seen all this, and held my tongue, and let men sight like Dog and Bear, and not interposed a word of counsel or controlment to the wasting fire? I had been guilty of an obduratious self-saving, and perfidious silence, unbeseeming the Ministry, or the Christian name.
HAd I seen, as I have done, the spring, multiplication, growth, and fruits of Dividing. Principles, Dispositions, and Practices in these Kingdomes, not being totally innocent therein my self, in my unexperienced youth; Had I seen so much bloud shed, so many Governments overturned, and so many Ministers openly reviled, abused, ejected, silenced, and so many damnable heresies risen up; and all this done in the Name of God; Had I my self been one of them that have been cast out of my publick Ministry and maintenance, with about 1800 more at once, and seen the pittiful case of too many Congregations in the land; and all this as the fruit of former Church-Divisions, obstinately continued twenty years, (to look no farther) and the new effect of the ⟨p. 4⟩same spirit still working in both extremes; I say, Had I seen and felt all this, and yet taken the spirit, the principles and practises of Division, in one side or other, for a virtue, or a little sin, I had been guilty of such horrid, wilful blindness, as every Christian's soul should hate: And had I seen what strong temptations are lately given to propagate these evils; and what advantage Satan hath got by the malignity of some, to increase the bitter censoriousness of others, and to pull down the good old principles of Concord, on pretence that now the case is changed? Had I seen the fruits of Gods indignation against a self-destroying people, in Londons plague, and dreadful flames, and in our present Church-convulsions? Had I seen what visible dangers are over us, of a condition yet worser than all this? Had I seen how many thousand honest Christians are in danger of being sinners or sufferers by this evil; I say, had I stood by, and seen all this, and held my tongue, and let men sight like Dog and Bear, and not interposed a word of counsel or controulment to the wasting fire? I had been guilty of an obduratious self-saving, and perfidious silence, unbeseeming the Ministry, or the Christian name.
