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

Especially if the Church-Governors be carnal and self-seeking or otherwise very culpable, and ⟨p. 135⟩if Discipline be neglected, and if profaneness be not sufficiently discountenanced, and godliness promoted; he thinketh that such a Church is no Church, but a profane society: God hath taught him by repentance to see the mischief of ungodliness; but he yet wanteth that experience which is needful to make him know the mischiefs of Church-divisions: He had too much experience himself of the evil of profaneness before his conversion: but he hath not tried the evil of Schism; and without some sad experience of its fruits, in himself or others, he will hardly know it as it should be known. Because it is the custom of some malignant enemies of godliness, to call the godly Heretics, Schismatics, factious Sectaries, &c. therefore the very names do come into credit with him; and he thinks there are no such persons in the world, or that there is no danger of any such crimes: Till he be taught by sad experience that the professors of sincerity are in as much danger on that side as on the other; and that the Church (as well as Christ) doth suffer between two thieves, the Profane and the Dividers. Paul was unjustly called the ring-leader of a Sect, Acts 24.5. and Christianity called a Heresy and a Sect every where spoken against, Acts 28.22. & 24.14. But for all that, Heresy is a fruit of the flesh, Gal. 5.20. and some of them called damnable, 2 Pet. 2.1. and they are the trial of the Church, to difference the approved members from the chaff, 1 Cor. 11.19. And an obstinate Heretic is to be avoided by true Believers, Titus 3.10. And the Pharisees and Sadducees are well reputed to be several Sects, Acts 5.17