A26912:479
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and concord of Christians and are delivered in a book called The cure of church-divisions ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
And now that, if perhaps, you may repent, and others be preserved, I shall tell1 you what nature this sinful doctrine and practice is of; 1. It is a cherishing of Pride, which is the first-born of the Devil: Yea of spiritual Pride, even a Pride of mens Knowledge and Judiciousness, which is worse than Pride of wealth or ornaments.
And now that, if perhaps, you may repent, and others be preserved, I shall tell1 you what nature this sinful doctrine and practice is of; 1. It is a cherishing of Pride, which is the first-born of the Devil: Yea of spiritual Pride, even a Pride of mens Knowledge and Iudiciousness, which is worse than Pride of wealth or ornaments.
- 1The greatness of the sin of thus flattering Christians.
2. Hereby it resisteth a great work of the Gospel and Spirit of Christ, which consisteth in the humbling of souls, and making them become as little children, conscious of Ignorance, and teachable.
3. It defendeth that sin which all experienced judicious men complain of, as that common calamity of mankind, which is the grand cause of contentions, and errors in the World. Which is, mens thinking that they know what they do not, and overvaluing their own understandings, & thinking that they are wise when it is otherwise.