Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…

28. As the weakness of the people inclineth them to causeless separations and disjunctions, so the doleful Pride and Selfishness of the carnal part of the Clergy, hath in most Ages made them too impatient with the peoples weakness; and make such a noise and stir in the World, if a few do but withdraw from their Communion, as if all that disowned them, disowned Christ. And all, because Pride would make every man a God to the World, on whom all must depend, whom all must honour and obey, and no man must contradict; and all that depart from them, are supposed to accuse and undervalue them. And ⟨p. 24⟩thus as of our own selves, some men arise to draw Disciples after them, so others set the Churches in a flame, for fear of losing any of their Disciples or esteem; and between both, how sadly and for how many Ages, have the people of Christ been torn in pieces. What harm doth it me or any other (if my Pride will let me be quiet) if men that differ from me in some Points of Judgment, do quietly Worship God, by themselves. But it is so rare for Separated Assemblies, not to make it their Religion and work, to make others odious, and factiously to draw Disciples and associates to themselves, that they must also thank themselves, that others are so impatient with them; so certain it is that all sides are too blame.

28. As the weakness of the people inclineth them to causeless separations and disjunctions, so the doleful Pride and Selfishness of the carnal part of the Clergie, hath in most Ages made them too impatient with the peoples weakness; and make such a noise and stir in the World, if a few do but withdraw from their Communion, as if all that disowned them, disowned Christ. And all, because Pride would make every man a God to the World, on whom all must depend, whom all must honour and obey, and no man must contradict; and all that depart from them, are supposed to accuse and undervalue them. And ⟨p. 24⟩thus as of our own selves, some men arise to draw Disciples after them, so others set the Churches in a flame, for fear of losing any of their Disciples or esteem; and between both, how sadly and for how many Ages, have the people of Christ been torn in pieces. What harm doth it me or any other (if my Pride will let me be quiet) if men that differ from me in some Points of Judgment, do quietly Worship God, by themselves. But it is so rare for Separated Assemblies, not to make it their Religion and work, to make others odious, and factiously to draw Disciples and associates to themselves, that they must also thank themselves, that others are so impatient with them; so certain it is that all sides are too blame.