And lest you should say, that he will not own those little ones, that (whether for Truths sake, or for their infirmities) do bear disgraceful titles in the world; Remember that at the day of judgement he will say, Inasmuch as you did it not, or did it, to one of the least of these my Brethren, you did it not, or did it unto me, Mat. 25. 40. 45. If his Elect cry to him day and night, though he bear long, he will avenge them, and that speedily, Luke 18. 7, 8. Bear with us while we add this terrible passage, which we once before made mention of, Mat. 18. 5, 6. [Who so shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me; but whose shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a Millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea.] Undoubtedly if you consider duly by such passages, how Christ will take it to have his servants not only not visited, not-relieved, but to be afflicted, not only in body, but in soul, with that great affliction to be cast out of the Ministry, or Church, for an unavoidable dissent in things indifferent, you will never join with those that shall stretch forth a hand against them for such a cause as this. If yet the old pretence be made, that they suffer as Schismatics, and disobedient; we must say again, if any shall make men disobedient by imposing things unnecessary, which they know are by learned, pious, peaceable men, esteemed sins against the Lord, and then shall thus heavily afflict them for the disobedience which they may easily cure by the forbearance of those impositions; let not our souls come into their secret, nor our honour be united to their Assembly: If they shall smite or cast out a supposed Schismatic, and Christ shall find an able, holy, peaceable Minister, or other Christian, wounded, or mourning, out of doors, let us not be found among the Actors, nor stand among them in the day of their accounts, when tribulation shall be recompensed to the Troublers of believers, 2 Thes. 1. 6.
And lest you should say, that hee will not own those little ones, that (whether for Truths sake, or for their infirmities) do bear disgraceful titles in the world; Remember that at the day of udgement hee will say, Inasmuch as you did it not, or did it, to one of the least of these my Brethren, you did it not, or did it unto mee, Mat. 25. 40. 45. If his Elect cry to him day and night, though hee bear long, hee will avenge them, and that speedily, Luke 18. 7, 8. Bear with us while wee add this terrible passage, which wee once before made mention of, Mat. 18. 5, 6. [Who so shall receive one such little childe in my name, receiveth mee; but whose shall offend one of these little ones that beleeve in mee, it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck, and that hee were drowned in the depth of the Sea.] Undoubtedly if you consider duly by such passages, how Christ will take it to have his servants not onely notvisited, not-relieved, but to bee afflicted, not onely in body, but in soul, with that great affliction to be cast out of the Ministry, or Church, for an unavoidable dissent in things indifferent, you will never joyn with those that shall stretch forth a hand against them for such a cause as this. If yet the old pretence be made, that they suffer as Schismaticks, and disobedient; wee must say again, if any shall make men disobedient by imposing things unnecessary, which they know are by learned, pious, peaceable men, esteemed sins against the Lord, and then shall thus heavily afflict them for the disobedience which they may easily cure by the forbearance of those impositions; let not our souls come into their secret, nor our honour be united to their Assembly: If they shall smite or cast out a supposed Schismatick, and Christ shall finde an able, holy, peaceable Minister, or other Christian, wounded, or mourning, out of doors, let us not be found among the Actors, nor stand among them in the day of their accounts, when tribulation shall be recompenced to the Troublers of beleevers, 2 Thes. 1. 6.
