The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Answ. No doubt but the corrupted mind of man, hath need not only of Love to draw them home to God, and work the cure, but of Threatenings to drive them and to help on the cure! And though it be Love that causeth Love, which is their Holiness, yet Fear removeth many impediments: But still remember that it is Love which ⟨p. 372⟩is predominant, and fear is but subservient; And that the fear which is contrary to Love is a vice, and hindereth the•r salvation: And remember that Fear and Love towards God, will better stand together, than Fear and Love to you will: For men know Gods Sovereignty and Justice; and know that he is not to be questioned or resisted: But if they suffer by you, it will not be so digested, nor will it so consist with love. A patient will not bear to be whipped by his Physician to force him to take his medicines, though a child will bear it from his parents, whose Love and Power are more unquestionable to him. I desire you but to mark your own experience, and let your Love be predominant in all your ministrations, and use no force or hurting course which will really abate their Love to you, and then I shall leave you in the rest to your discretion. Secondly, Yet still we grant that Christs threatenings may be preached by you, and must be; Thirdly, And that the rod of discipline must be used: But this must be done only on the scandalous and such as more dishonour Christ than you: And it must be so done, that it may appear to be Christs own work, and done by you upon his interest and at his command, and not either arbitrarily or for your selves.

Answ. No doubt but the corrupted mind of man, hath need not only of Love to draw them home to God, and work the cure, but of Threatnings to drive them and to help on the cure! And though it be Love that causeth Love, which is their Holiness, yet Fear removeth many impediments: But still remember that it is Love which ⟨p. 372⟩is predominant, and fear is but subservient; And that the fear which is contrary to Love is a vice, and hindereth the•r salvation: And remember that Fear and Love towards God, will better stand together, than Fear and Love to you will: For men know Gods Soveraignty and Iustice; and know that he is not to be questioned or resisted: But if they suffer by you, it will not be so digested, nor will it so consist with love. A patient will not bear to be whipt by his Physician to force him to take his medicnes, though a child will bear it from his parents, whose Love and Power are more unquestionable to him. I desire you but to mark your own experience, and let your Love be predominant in all your ministrations, and use no force or hurting course which will really abate their Love to you, and then I shall leave you in the rest to your discretion. Secondly, Yet still we grant that Christs threatnings may be preached by you, and must be; Thirdly, And that the rod of discipline must be used: But this must be done only on the scandalous and such as more dishonour Christ than you: And it must be so done, that it may appear to be Christs own work, and done by you upon his interest and at his commund, and not either arbitrarily or for your selves.