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

But that part which I know not, I know not that it is, or know not what it is: so that seeing one part of things, and not seeing another, (yea perhaps many others,) doth not only cause our error in judging of them, but also maketh it very hard, to question or distrust our judgments: For we must not be Sceptics and doubt of all things: Nor must we deny belief to so much as is revealed to us: And therefore however at the present we apprehend things, just such we are usually confident that they are. And in this difficulty all error and the lamentable consequences of it do come in.

But that part which I know not, I know not that it is, or know not what it is: so that seeing one part of things, and not seeing another, (yea perhaps many others,) doth not only cause our error in judging of them, but also maketh it very hard, to question or distrust our judgments: For we must not be Scepticks and doubt of all things: Nor must we deny belief to so much as is revealed to us: And therefore however at the present we apprehend things, just such we are usually confident that they are. And in this difficulty all error and the lamentable consequences of it do come in.

But what shall a man do in so hard a strait? Why this every humble man must do. He must tread safely, and proceed warily, and try the spirits, and try the doctrines offered him throughly, and this by all the means which God hath appointed him for that use. He must not strive against the light; but he must take heed of taking darkness for light, or hearkening to the deceiver, when he transformeth himself into an angel of light: (which is not unusual) what cometh with evidence of truth must be received as truth, and held fast, and not again let go; however sometimes it may have a second and third trial. And when you see any truth, remember that it is still with a defective sight, and that you see ⟨p. 16⟩but in part: And therefore allow a freedom in your understandings, to receive the rest. You are certain that you see not all that is to be seen, of any Doctrine or Science, any more than of any creature: And you are uncertain what influence the unknown parts, would have upon that part which you know, or what alteration it would make upon your apprehension, if you saw them altogether in their connection. Therefore be sure that in your most confident apprehensions, you never forget that there is still much more unknown to you than you yet know. And this will preserve a humility and modesty in your understandings and a capacity and fitness to receive more knowledge: When the forgetting of this, will make you proud and arrogant and presumptuous, and like the fool that rageth and is confident, even in your ignorance and shame; and will shut up your minds against that knowledge which you want.