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

Secondly, If Christs flock was little when he spake those words, it is much greater now. And if it be little still (as it is in comparison of the world of Heathens, Infidels, and Hypocrites) will he give them thanks that will make it less, yea a thousand times less than it is indeed? Hath he so few? and will you take from him almost all those few? If you had but a hundred sheep when your neighbour had a thousand, would you thank him that would rob you of all save one?

Thirdly, So far as God hath revealed the fewness of the saved, we reverence his Counsels, and believe his word: But if you will make it so much less a number, while you falsify Gods word, you will tempt your selves at last, not to believe it, because you have made it false and incredible by making it your own. Brethren, I beseech you be not angry with us while we pity you, and would save your souls from your own snares and delusions. You know not how fast you are hastening ⟨p. 268⟩to infidelity, and to the renouncing of Christ himself? you little suspect that your extraordinary strictness, for the purity of the Church doth tend to your turning heathens, and denying the whole Church? But remember, that the nature of God is so infinitely Good, as well as Just, and the Gospel is such glad tidings to all the world, and Christ called, the Saviour of the world, and God is said so to love the world in giving him, Joh. 3. 16. that if you should say God would save but one man in the world, or ten, or a thousand, and damn all the rest, if you did in your bravado believe your selves this year, by the next you might be like enough to believe that the Gospel is but a fable. I have much ado to forbear naming some high Professors (known lately at Worcester, Exeter and other parts) who died Apostate-infidels, deriding Christianity and the immortality of the soul, who once were Separatists. And I must profess to you that for my own part, if I did believe that Christs Church were no more numerous than all the Separatists on earth, it would make the work of faith more difficult: For as he is no King that hath no Kingdom; so he is next to no King, whose Kingdom is next to none: He that would prove that our King is only King of slington, or Hackney and no more, would by deriding him to day, prepare for the deposing him to morrow. They are glorious things that are spoken of the Kingdom of Christ; even that the Kingdoms of the world are become his Kingdoms. And if you will take from him all save two or three Cottages, I mean the separated Churches only, it is but a little addition to your treason to take the