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

And there is much difference also to be made of the matter in which our joining with them, or going from them doth consist. For there are some things which though they are no sin, yet are so like sin, that our doing them is most like to be a snare, and to hinder mens repentance, and not to further it: And in this we must not come too near them. But there are other things in which our going too far from them is like to hinder their repentance.

And there is much difference also to be made of the matter in which our joyning with them, or going from them doth consist. For there are some things which though they are no sin, yet are so like sin, that our doing them is most like to be a snare, and to hinder mens repentance, and not to further it: And in this we must not come too near them. But there are other things in which our going too far from them is like to hinder their repentance.

The injudicious zeal of many young Christians, doth often carry them into this extreme. Any fashion of apparel which the common people use, they will avoid as far as modesty will permit them. And any lawful recreation which they use, they will fly the further from because they use it: And they think it a scandal, to shoot or bowl or use any such game which bad men use. And any form or manner of speech which is lawful in it self they think they must avoid because such use it. But especially any way of worshipping God, or any controvertible opinion in Religion, which is owned by bad men, they fly as far from as they can; By which means all this evil is committed.

The injudicious zeal of many young Christians, doth often carry them into this extream. Any fashion of apparel which the common people use, they will avoid as far as modesty will permit them. And any lawfull recreation which they use, they will fly the further from because they use it: And they think it a scandal, to shoot or bowl or use any such game which bad men use. And any form or manner of speech which is lawful in it self they think they must avoid because such use it. But especially any way of worshipping God, or any controvertible opinion in Religion, which is owned by bad men, they flye as far from as they can; By which means all this evil is committed.