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

2. But the weak Christian is too easily tempted to be the divider of the Church, by expecting that it be united upon his impossible or unrighteous terms. ⟨p. 144⟩Sometime he will be Orthodox overmuch, or rather wise in his own conceit, Rom. 12.16. and then none are judged fit for his communion that be not of his opinion, in controverted Doctrinals (e.g. predestination, the manner of the work of grace, freewill, perseverance, and abundance such:) sometime he will be righteous overmuch, or (to speak more properly) superstitious: And then none are fit for his communion, that Worship not God in that method and manner for circumstantials, which he esteemeth best: And his charity is so weak that it freeth him not from thinking evil, 1 Cor. 13. and so narrow that it covereth not either many or great infirmities. The more need he hath of the forbearance and charity of others, the less can he bear or forbear others himself. The strong Christian must bear the infirmities of the weak; but the weak Christian can scarce bear with the weak or strong: Nay he is oft too impatient with some of their virtues and duties, as well as with their infirmities. He is of too private a spirit, and too insensible of the public interest of the Church of Christ. And therefore he must have all the World come over to him, and be conformed to his opinion and party, and unite upon his mistaken narrow terms if they will have Communion with him: I mean, it is thus with him when the temptation on that side prevaileth. And sometime he is overcome with the temptation of Domination, to make his judgement the Rule to others: and then he quite overvalueth his own understanding, and will needs be judge of all the controversies in the Church; and taketh it as unsufferable, if wiser and better men do not take him as infallible and in every thing observe his ⟨p. 145⟩will. And when his brethren give him the reason of their dissent, as his judgement is not clear enough to understand them, so his passion and partiality are too strong to suffer his judgement to do its part. And thus oft-times he is a greater hinderance to the Churches Unity, than the enemies of the Church themselves: For he hath not judgement enough to guide him the right way, and yet he hath so much zeal as will not suffer him to keep his errors to himself.