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

Fourthly, This superstition tendeth to destroy true Religion, by gratifying and increasing aversation and opposition; by making it seem an unlovely tiresome thing. All that is truly of God is Rational and amiable, and wisely contrived for our good: And the enemies of Godliness, have not a word of solid Reason, to say against it: But that which is brought in by corrupters may be confuted: And unnecessary things become a burden, Act. 15. 28. What a toilsome task doth Popery contain? of positives and negatives? ceremonies, and austerities, and useless labours? And then they that take their pilgrimages, and penances, and night-risings, and multiplied formalities to be a burden, and hear them called by the name of Religion, do account Religion it self a burden, as taking this to be a part of it: And when Religion is not loved it is lost. To make it seem bad and unlovely, is the way by which the devil destroyeth it in the world.

Fifthly, Superstition is the great dividing engine, which satan useth to cut the Churches of Christ into Sects and pieces; and consequently to stir up party against party, to the hating and persecuting of one another: For while some take that for Religion which is none; others will see their error and avoid it: And thus the division will lay the foundation of disputes and quarrels, of enmity and opposition. For who can think that all the Churches should ever be so blind and slavish, as to take up that as a part of Religion, and a divine institution, which was forged by the private spirit of some erroneous person of an overheated brain.

Fifthly, Superstition is the great dividing engine, which satan useth to cut the Churches of Christ into Sects and pieces; and consequently to stir up party against party, to the hating and persecuting of one another: For while some take that for Religion which is none; others will see their errour and avoid it: And thus the division will lay the foundation of disputes and quarrels, of enmity and opposition. For who can think that all the Churches should ever be so blind and slavish, as to take up that as a part of Religion, and a divine institution, which was forged by the private spirit of some erroneous person of an overheated brain.