A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…

CAP. 2. The true state as the Controversy, between me, and those whom I call Church-Dividers.

CAP. 2. The true state as the Controversie, between me, and those whom I call Church-Dividers.

Because the Excepter carrieth it all along, as if he understood not what I say, or would not have his Reader understand it, I must state the Case as it standeth between us, for the sake of them that love not to be deceived, nor to be angry at they know not what.

BEcause the Excepter carrieth it all along, as if he understood not what I say, or would not have his Reader understand it, I must state the Case as it standeth between us, for the sake of them that love not to be deceived, nor to be angry at they know not what.

Know therefore that the design of the Writer of that Book was, to restore Love and Unity among Christians, which he saw decaying and almost dying through the temptation of our sufferings from some, and our differences with others, and through the sidings of parties, and through the passions which conquer some mens judgements, and the hy[…]e of others, who place their Religion in their sidings, and in the forms or fashions of the words of their prayers, or the circumstances of outward Worship: And to acquaint Christians with the wiles of Satan, who would kill their Grace, by killing their Love, whilst they think they do but preserve their Purity. And to open to them the secret windings of the Serpent, and the workings of ⟨p. 73⟩Pride, and Wrath, and Selfishness, against the works of Love and Peace: And to show them the great deceitfulness of mans heart, which often fighteth against God as for God, by fighting against Love and Unity; and which oft loseth all, by seeming to overcome, and forsaketh Religion by seeming valiant for it;) And I especially entreat the Reader to note, that I said much more about Principles, than Practices; Because I know that as to Communion with this or that Church, mns practices may vary upon accidental and prudential accounts, of which I pretend not to be a Judge: And therefore I first speak against Love killing Principles, and then against such Practices only, as either proceed from such Principles, or increase them. If I see a man stay from Church, as I know not his reasons, so I judge him not; unless as he doth it upon sinful causes, and especially if he would propagate those Causes to others, and justify them to be of God, when they are against him.