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

I speak not against the necessary defence of Truth, so be it that it be truth indeed which we defend, and that the defence be indeed necessary; and that the manner be suited to the end, and to the nature and rule of Christianity. But the itch which caused the Churches scab, is of a different description. For fi•st, it proceedeth from a salt acrimonious humour in the blood: Not that there is no blood in our veins which hath better principles and qualities: But alas it is tainted with this corroding salt, which hath bred our leprosy: As if Christ had made us the salt of the earth, not to preserve the world from putrefaction, but to bite and fret all that we have any thing to do with (yea and those that we have nothing to do with) and by the salt Ca•a••hs of our back-bitings and peevish censures and reproaches, to bring the Church of Christ into a consumption. There is in many of us a love and zeal for Truth in the general (and no wonder if we are but men.) But when we meet it we know it not; but •evile it, and scratch it by the face: As the Jews did long ⟨p. 400⟩for the coming of the Messiah, but when he came, they knew him not, but crucified him as a deceiver and blasphemer; their prejudice fixing them in the dungeon of unbelief. Mal. 3. 1, 2, 3. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple; •ven the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in—But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth. For he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap: and he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi—What abundance of the zealous honourers of Truth are daily employed in revising and contradicting it? As they do by Peace, even prosecute it to the death, by the most perverse oppositions, and unpeaceable principles and practises, while they cry up nothing more than Peace? And do they deal any better by Holiness it self. He that is for a Holiness, which consisteth not in Love to God and man, (to God for himself and to Man for his sake) is like the Heathens who are zealous for a God; but he must be made of something unlikest to him that is God indeed: Or like the Mahometans, who are zealous Mussulmans or believers; but it is in the most gross deceiver.