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

When the Love-killing spirit, either cruel or Dividing is abroad among Christians, be not idle nor discouraged spectators, nor betray the Churches Peace by a few lazy wishes; but make it a great part of your labour and Religion, to revive Love and peace, and to destroy their contraries: And let n• censures or contempt of any Sect or party take you off: But account it an honour to be a Martyr for Love and Peace, as well as for the Faith.

OF all parts of Religion, (I know not how unhappily it comes to pass) men think that Negatives are sufficient for the service of Peace: If a man live not unpeaceably and do no man wrong, nor provoke any to wrath, this is thought a sufficient friend to peace. And therefore it is no wonder that Love and Peace so little prosper. When Satan and his instruments do all that they can by fraud and force against it, and we think it enough to stand by and do no harm. It is the Peace-makers that Christ pronounceth blessed, for ⟨p. 301⟩theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Math. 5. 9. Here he that is not with Christ and the Church is against it. Why should we think that so much actual diligence, in hearing, reading, praying, &c. is necessary to the promoting of other parts of holiness, and nothing necessary to Love and Peace, but to do no hurt, but be quiet patients! Is it not worthy of our labour? And is not our labour as needful here as any where? Judge by the multitude and quality of the adversaries: and by their power and success. Is it a mark of hypocrisy to go no further in duties of Godliness, than the safety of our reputation will give us leave? And is it not so in the duties of Love and Peace? If the Kingdom of God be in Righteousness and Peace, then what we would do to promote Gods Kingdom, we must do for them. Rom. 14. 17. And if dividing Christs Kingdom is the way to destroy it (and Satan himself is wiser than to divide his own Kingdom,