1. The great weakness and error of their judgements, sometimes about the Things in difference, and sometimes about the Persons through unacquaintedness; whereby, either through mistake of the Cause or of the Man, they easily deny or extenuate all the amiable Goodness which is in him, and think that the Love of God, and of Truth and Godliness obligeth them to hate their brother, as a supposed enemy to both. And yet ⟨p. 147⟩while they openly declare to the World, an Aversation and a want of Love, and a desire to make the person seem odious to others, by their obloquy, detraction and backbiting accusations they make themselves believe that all this is indeed no effect of Hatred or Malice, but of Love, because they can still say, that they desire unfeignedly that the man were of their mind and way, which they call a desiring of his Conversion and Conviction, and of his own and the Churches good. And thus not only the heretics of his time, but the very Jews were Lovers of Paul, and of other Apostles: No doubt but they desired that which they thought was their Conversion and their good; And what hatred so great that may not have such a cover; not only a feigned pretence, but a real, though erroneous desire. Gardiner and Bonner expressed the like, and no doubt, did really wish the Martyrs had been of their mind; And no doubt, but many that wished this, thought they wished but the persons and the Churches good. The burning zeal which hath so much depopulated much of the World, was in many a zeal of God, though not according to knowledge. He that can transform himself into an Angel of Light, and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousness and free Grace, no doubt, can teach them to persecute men in Love, and to excommunicate them in Love: To revile others in Love, to hinder the Preaching of the Gospel in Love, to afflict, or to Divide the Church in Love. ⟨p. 148⟩Alas, how much is the Serpent too subtle, for the understanding that trusteth to it self, and is not illuminated and guided by the spirit of Light and Love: How easily can he hide from us, that in our brother which we should Love, and magnify and multiply his faults into odious crimes, and transform his very virtues into vices, and his rightest judgement into errors. In this, brother, I thank God that my principles give me that advantage of you, that I think you not odious, but weak.
1. The great weakness and error of their judgements, sometimes about the Things in difference, and sometimes about the Persons through unacquaintedness; whereby, either through mistake of the Cause or of the Man, they easily deny or extenuate all the amiable Goodness which is in him, and think that the Love of God, and of Truth and Godliness obligeth them to hate their brother, as a supposed enemie to both. And yet ⟨p. 147⟩while they openly declare to the World, an Aversation and a want of Love, and a desire to make the person seem odious to others, by their obloquy, detraction and backbiting accusations they make themselves believe that all this is indeed no effect of Hatred or Malice, but of Love, because they can still say, that they desire unfeignedly that the man were of their mind and way, which they call a desiring of his Conversion and Conviction, and of his own and the Churches good. And thus not only the hereticks of his time, but the very Jews were Lovers of Paul, and of other Apostles: No doubt but they desired that which they thought was their Conversion and their good; And what hatred so great that may not have such a cover; not only a feigned pretence, but a real, though erroneous desire. Gardiner and Bonner exprest the like, and no doubt, did really wish the Martyrs had been of their mind; And no doubt, but many that wish'd this, thought they wish'd but the persons and the Churches good. The burning zeal which hath so much depopulated much of the World, was in many a zeal of God, though not according to knowledge. He that can transform himself into an Angel of Light, and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousness and free Grace, no doubt, can teach them to persecute men in Love, and to excommunicate them in Love: To revile others in Love, to hinder the Preaching of the Gospel in Love, to afflict, or to Divide the Church in Love. ⟨p. 148⟩Alas, how much is the Serpent too subtile, for the understanding that trusteth to it self, and is not illuminated and guided by the spirit of Light and Love: How easily can he hide from us, that in our brother which we should Love, and magnifie and multiply his faults into odious crimes, and transform his very virtues into vices, and his rightest judgement into errors. In this, brother, I thank God that my principles give me that advantage of you, that I think you not odious, but weak.
