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

It may be the young unexperienced Schismatic (of what sect soever) will distaste these words, and think I speak like an adversary to Reformation: And so the Devil would make him think, of all other Christians as well as of me, except his party. But if one should give such counsel for the preservation of his own health and bodily comfort, as the Dividing spirit giveth him for the Church and for his soul, he would quickly understand it, according to my present sense. If one should come in kindness to him and bid him, [O take heed of that mouth and belly; for it getteth nothing, but devoureth all that the hands do get by labour: Cut off that hand, for it hath a crooked finger: Cut off that gouty foot that it may not trouble ⟨p. 73⟩the whole body: Rip up those guts which have such filthy excrements, he would not swell against me if I advised him to suspect such kindness.

It may be the young unexperienced Schismatick (of what sect soever) will distast these words, and think I speak like an adversary to Reformation: And so the Devil would make him think, of all other Christians as well as of me, except his party. But if one should give such counsel for the preservation of his own health and bodily comfort, as the Dividing spirit giveth him for the Church and for his soul, he would quickly understand it, according to my present sense. If one should come in kindness to him and bid him, [O take heed of that mouth and belly; for it getteth nothing, but devoureth all that the hands do get by labour: Cut off that hand, for it hath a crooked finger: Cut off that gouty foot that it may not trouble ⟨p. 73⟩the whole body: Rip up those guts which have such filthy excrements, he would not swell against me if I advised him to suspect such kindness.

Fifthly, Remember also, that the Unity of Christians is their peace and ease, as well as their strength and safety. Psal. 133. 1. Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity! As the amity and converse with friends is pleasant, and the concord of families is their quietness and ease; so is it as to the amity and concord which is the bond of Church society. And the divisions and discord of Christians, is their mutual pain and trouble. Do you not feel your minds disturbed by it: Do you not see the Church discomposed by it? The itch of contention, doth ordinarily make it pleasant for the time, to every Sect to scratch by zealous wranglings and disputes, for their several opinions, till the blood be ready to follow: But the smart and scab doth use to convince them of their folly. But if they will go more than Skin-deep, they may need a Surgeon. Children will claw themselves; but it is Madmen that will wound themselves. The hurt which we get in the Christian warfare, by mortifying the flesh, or by the persecution of the malignant enemy is tenderly healed by the hand of Christ, and usually furthereth our inward peace. But if we will hurt and wound and divide our selves, what pity or comfort can we expect.