9. Ordinarily the mere Opinionist will Sacrifice the very Ends of the Gospel, and the honour, and success of the great fundamental Truths of God, to the interest of those Opinions, which he hath in a singular manner to his Own. He will rather hinder the propagation of the common Truths, and the Conversion of the ignorant, then he will silence his Opinions, or suffer them to lose any advantages with the world. Hence it is that we cannot prevail with the Papists, to silence a while the differences between us, and them, till we have taught their ignorant (in Ireland, and other barbarous parts) the knowledge of those Truths ⟨p. 342⟩that all are agreed in. Nor can we get many Anabaptists, or any such Sect, that is engaged in a division, to forbear their Opinions, till we have endeavoured •o lay the necessary grounds, on which all must build, that will be saved. But though it be apparent to the world, that their disputes, and contentions do exceedingly harden the ignorant, and ungodly against all Religion, and hinder their Conversion, and Salvation, yet will they go on in the unseasonable, intemperate, bruiting of their conceits, and will not be persuaded to agree on those terms, for the managing of differences, as most tend to secure the interest of Christ, and his Gospel in the main. If an Opinionist be for the Truth, he is usually without much zeal for it, because that Nature doth not befriend the great Spiritual Truths of the Gospel, so much as it doth errors, and private conceits. But if he be of Erroneous Opinions, he is usually very zealous for them: For Corrupted Nature, and Self, and Satan, (and the world oft-times) do more befriend these, and furnish him with a Zeal for them, and blow the coal. The counterfeit Angel of Light, is very ordinarily also a spirit ⟨p. 343⟩of heat, and great activity: not a reviving fire, nor a refining fire, but a consuming fire, devouring Christian Love, and meekness, and patience, and therewith the Church, and Truth of God, so far as it: can prevail. For lesser matters, that minister Questions, such men can say by that which tends to Godly Edifying in Faith, 1 Tim. 1. 4. Yea that Charity, which is the very End of the Commandment, out of a pure Heart, a good Conscience, and Faith unfeigned, vers. 5. From these they swerve, and turn aside to vain jangling:
9. Ordinarily the meer Opinionist will Sacrifice the very Ends of the Gospel, and the honour, and success of the great fundamental Truths of God, to the interest of those Opinions, which he hath in a singular manner to his Own. He will rather hinder the propagation of the common Truths, and the Conversion of the ignorant, then he will silence his Opinions, or suffer them to lose any advantages with the world. Hence it is that we cannot prevaile with the Papists, to silence a while the differences between us, and them, till we have taught their ignorant (in Ireland, and other barbarous parts) the knowledg of those Truths ⟨p. 342⟩that all are agreed in. Nor can we get many Anabaptists, or any such Sect, that is engaged in a division, to forbear their Opinions, till we have endeavoured •o lay the necessary grounds, on which all must build, that will be saved. But though it be apparent to the world, that their disputes, and contentions do exceedingly harden the ignorant, and ungodly against all Religion, and hinder their Conversion, and Salvation, yet will they go on in the unseasonable, intemperate, bruting of their conceits, and will not be perswaded to agree on those terms, for the managing of differences, as most tend to secure the interest of Christ, and his Gospel in the maine. If an Opinionist be for the Truth, he is usually without much zeale for it, because that Nature doth not befriend the great Spirituall Truths of the Gospel, so much as it doth errours, and private conceits. But if he be of Erroneous Opinions, he is usually very zealous for them: For Corrupted Nature, and Self, and Satan, (and the world oft-times) do more befriend these, and furnish him with a Zeale for them, and blow the coale. The counterfeit Angel of Light, is very ordinarily also a spirit ⟨p. 343⟩of heat, and great activity: not a reviving fire, nor a refining fire, but a consuming fire, devouring Christian Love, and meekness, and patience, and therewith the Church, and Truth of God, so far as it: can prevail. For lesser matters, that minister Questions, such men can say by that which tends to Godly Edifying in Faith, 1 Tim. 1. 4. Yea that Charity, which is the very End of the Commandement, out of a pnre Heart, a good Conscience, and Faith unfeigned, vers. 5. From these they swerve, and turn aside to vain jangling:
