Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

2. But the weak Christian (though so far as he hath grace, he is of the same mind, and abhorreth discord and division among the flock of Christ, yet) being more dark, and selfish, and distempered, he is much more prone to unwarrantable separations and divisions than the stronger Christian is. He is narrower sighted, and looketh little further than his own acquaintance, and the Country where he liveth; and mindeth not sufficiently the general state of the Churches through the world, nor understandeth well the interest of Christ and Christianity in the earth. His knowledge and experience being small, his charity also is but small; and a little thing tempteth him to condemn another, and aggravate his faults, and think him unworthy ⟨p. 134⟩of the communion of the Saints. He is much more sensible of the judgement, and affections, and concernments of those few with whom he doth converse, and that are of his opinion, than of the judgement and practice, and concernments of the universal Church. He knoweth not how to prefer the judgements and holiness of some that he thinketh more excellent than the rest, without much undervaluing and censuring of all others, that are not of their opinion: He cannot choose the actual local communion of the best society, without some unjust contempt of others, or separation from them. He hath not so much knowledge as may sufficiently acquaint him with his ignorance; And therefore he is apt to be unreasonably confident of his present apprehensions, and to think verily that all his own conceptions are the certain truth; and to think them ignorant or ungodly, or very weak at least that differ from him. For he hath not throughly and impartially studied all that may be said on the other side. The Authority of his chosen Teacher and sect is greater with him (if he fall into that way) than the Authority of all the most wise and holy persons in the world besides. What the Scripture speaketh of the unbelieving world, he is apt to apply to all those of the Church of Christ, that are not of his mind and party: And when Christ commandeth us to come out of the world, he is prone to understand it of coming out from the Church into some stricter and narrower society; and is apt with the Papists, to appropriate the name and privileges of the Church, to his party alone, and to condemn all others.

2. But the weak Christian (though so far as he hath grace, he is of the same mind, and abhorreth discord and division among the flock of Christ, yet) being more dark, and selfish, and distempered, he is much more prone to unwarrantable separations and divisions than the stronger Christian is. He is narrower fighted, and looketh little further than his own acquaintance, and the Country where he liveth; and mindeth not sufficiently the general state of the Churches through the world, nor understandeth well the interest of Christ and Christianity in the earth. His knowledge and experience being small, his charity also is but small; and a little thing tempteth him to condemn another, and aggravate his faults, and think him unworthy