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

And indeed where are there any sects or factions, but there are Ministers that head them, and that caused them at first, and keep them up? Is it not the Bishops that have caused the long division, between the Greek and Latin Churches? Was it not principally a contention for their interests, which of them should be the greatest (so little doth Christs own decision of that controversy among his Apostles, signify with those men, who are contending about a successive infallible Judge.) Is it not their Councils and their contentious writings and practises, which have been the grand causes of this woeful schism? And are not the dividing snares, which cause most of the rest of the schisms of Christendom, the mere usurpations, and impositions of the Roman Prelates? It was the Bishops of each party, with their Presbyters, who headed the divi•i•• in the second Council of Ephesus, and in the Council of Ariminum, and many others: And ⟨p. 317⟩by them the Heresies of the Arians, the Nestorians, the Eutychians, &c. with the schisms of the Novatians, Donatists and most others, have been maintained. And among our selves, most parties have their Leaders, who first made the breach, and still keep it open. It is therefore but reasonable that we all suspect and search our selves: And perhaps the lot may find out that Achan who is thought most innocent, and Jonah who is not the worst in the ship, may be the man; and he may be the Judas who is last in asking, Master is it I? And it is ten to one but the leaders of every party will be found blame-worthy in part, though not in equality.

And indeed where are there any sects or factions, but there are Ministers that head them, and that caused them at first, and keep them up? Is it not the Bishops that have caused the long division, between the Greek and Latin Churches? Was it not principally a contention for their interests, which of them should be the greatest (so little doth C•rists own decision of that controversie among his Apostles, signifie with those men, who are contending about a successive infallible Judge.) Is it not their Councils and their contentious writings and practises, which have been the grand causes of this woful schism? And are not the dividing snares, which cause most of the rest of the schisms of Christendome, the meer usurpations, and impositions of the Roman Prelates? It was the Bishops of each party, with their Presbyters, who headed the divii in the second Council of Ephesus, and in the Council of Ariminum, and many others: And