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

But doubtless the Gospel Church was both more large and pure. Let us therefore take a view of it: And I beseech you remember, that what I say is not to make sin less odious, nor the Church or Godly less esteemed: but to show you the frame of the visible Church in all Generations, and how it differeth from the invisible; lest you should take on you to be wiser than God, and to build his house after a better rule than his Gospel, and the primitive pattern, and mar all by being wise in your own conceits, and by being righteous overmuch. Eccles. 7. And I pray you forget not, that the Primitive Church was the most pure, and the pattern of those following; and had inspired Apostles to be its Guides, and inspired ⟨p. 37⟩Prophets to be its Helpers, and abundance of Miracles and extraordinary gifts, to gather and edify it; to silence its enemies, and to terrify and restrain offenders, and to bring up the Church to the highest degree of holiness that could be well expected. And withal, the Members were not driven in by force by Magistrates, nor allured by any worldly commodities, but were a few Volunteers, who in a time of persecution, professed Christ, to their hazard or suffering in the world. Yet see what they were.

But doubtless the Gospel Church was both more large and pure. Let us therefore take a view of it: And I beseech you remember, that what I say is not to make sin less odious, nor the Church or Godly less esteemed: but to shew you the frame of the visible Church in all Generations, and how it differeth from the invisible; lest you should take on you to be wiser than God, and to build his house after a better rule than his Gospel, and the primitive pattern, and marr all by being wise in your own conceits, and by being righteous overmuch. Eccles. 7. And I pray you forget not, that the Primitive Church was the most pure, and the pattern of those following; and had inspired Apostles to be its Guides, and inspired ⟨p. 37⟩Prophets to be its Helpers, and abundance of Miracles and extraordinary gifts, to gather and edifie it; to silence its enemies, and to terrifie and restrain offenders, and to bring up the Church to the highest degree of holiness that could be well expected. And withall, the Members were not driven in by force by Magistrates, nor allured by any worldly commodities, but were a few Volunteers, who in a time of persecution, professed Christ, to their hazard or suffering in the world. Yet see what they were.