A26906:823
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…
The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being dividers or troublers of the church with some directions to the pastors how to deal with such Christians / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Symmons, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But what is my inference from all this? Why first, I would advise you, to look more to the nature of the things themselves, and less to the persons; and regard the honour of humanity, if you regard not the honour of Religion; and make not the Infidel world deride you, while they see ⟨p. 282⟩you alter your opinions and practise in mere opposition to one another; and to take up and lay down as the two ends of the balance move, which must be contrary to each other. Secondly, that you truly understand what interest such zealous persons as your selves had in those opinions, forms and practises at the first, that if you will avoid them for some mens sake, you may think the better of them for other mens: so far as to bring you to some impartiality. Thirdly that you suspect that zeal in your selves, which you think so much miscarried in your ancestors.
But what is my inference from all this? Why first, I would advise you, to look more to the nature of the things themselves, and less to the persons; and regard the honour of humanity, if you regard not the honour of Religion; and make not the Infidel world deride you, while they see ⟨p. 282⟩you alter your opinions and practise in meer opposition to one another; and to take up and lay down as the two ends of the ballance move, which must be contrary to each other. Secondly, that you truly understand what interest such zealous persons as your selves had in those opinions, forms and practises at the first, that if you will avoid them for some mens sake, you may think the better of them for other mens: so far as to bring you to some impartiality. Thirdly that you suspect that zeal in your selves, which you think so much miscarried in your ancestors.
I do not take all that I have mentioned for superstition, but I show you the circulation which zeal, and formality and malignity make, both in things warrantable and unwarrantable.
I do not take all that I have mentioned for superstition, but I shew you the circulation which zeal, and formality and maligniy make, both in things warrantable and unwarrantable.