8. Another piece of vain-glory to be denied, is, The Reputation of being Orthodox, or of the right religion. The thing it self is in the Essentials of absolute necessity to salvation: But the Reputation of it, is a thing that we must much deny our selves in. For it commonly falls out in most of the world, that the thing it self, and the Reputation of it, are inconsistent: and no man can be Orthodox and of the right Religion, but he must be taken to be heterodox and of the wrong Religion: For the wrong is in most places taken for the right. But through the great Mercy of God, it is not commonly so in England, nor in the Reformed Churches abroad, in any great and necessary points. Among us Truth hath the advantage of Reputation! and so may it continue while the Sun endureth! But yet there is use for this part of self-denial even with us. We converse among many Sects and Parties of various Opinions; and all of them are Confident that they are in the right, and that we are Erroneous and against the Truth: so say the Papists; and so say the Libertines, and many others▪ And there is no way to gain the Reputation of being sound and Orthodox with any of these men but by turning to them, and forsaking the truth, and ceasing to be Orthodox indeed. In Spain, or Italy, or with English Papists, you must be accounted Heretics, or yield to heresy, you must either cease to be true Catholics, or be content to be esteemed no Catholics: You have your choice whether you will re•lly be Schismatics, or be esteemed and called Schismatics. And so you will be used among most Sects, ⟨p. 307⟩who judge of Truth and Error according to their own deluded apprehensions. Yea, and among the Orthodox ••deed, because they also have their errors, and are not Orthodox in all things, you must look for the same measure in those particulars wherein they are mistaken. For thinking themselves in the right, they will too often take it for their duty to let fly at others, as erroneous or dangerous persons that are not of their mind: And in this mistake, they think they do God service to defame dissenters, and raise jealousies and suspicions of them, and bid men take heed of them, as of men that hold some dangerous opinions; when it is themselves that are deceived, and should turn those jealousies and cautions homewards. In such Cases as these it is a hard strait that a servant of Christ is put to;
8. ANother piece of vain-glory to be denied, is, The Reputation of being Orthodox, or of the right religion. The thing it self is in the Essentials of absolute necessity to salvation: But the Reputation of it, is a thing that we must much deny our selves in. For it commonly falls out in most of the world, that the thing it self, and the Reputation of it, are inconsistent: and no man can be Orthodox and of the right Religion, but he must be taken to be heterodox and of the wrong Religion: For the wrong is in most places taken for the right. But through the great Mercy of God, it is not commonly so in England, nor in the Reformed Churches abroad, in any great and necessary points. Among us Truth hath the advantage of Reputation! and so may it continue while the Sun endureth! But yet there is use for this part of self-denial even with us. We converse among many Sects and Parties of various Opinions; and all of them are Confident that they are in the right, and that we are Erroneous and against the Truth: so say the Papists; and so say the Libertines, and many others▪ And there is no way to gain the Reputation of being sound and Orthodox with any of these men but by turning to them, and forsaking the truth, and ceasing to be Orthodox indeed. In Spain, or Italy, or with English Papists, you must be accounted Hereticks, or yield to heresie, you must either cease to be true Catholicks, or be content to be esteemed no Catholicks: You have your choice whether you will re•lly be Schismaticks, or be esteemed and called Schismaticks. And so you will be used among most Sects, ⟨p. 307⟩who judge of Truth and Error according to their own deluded apprehensions. Yea, and among the Orthrdox ••deed, because they also have their errors, and are not Orthodox in all things, you must look for the same measure in those particulars wherein they are mistaken. For thinking themselves in the right, they will too often take it for their duty to let fly at others, as erroneous or dangerous persons that are not of their mind: And in this mistake, they think they do God service to defame dissenters, and raise jealousies and suspicions of them, and bid men take heed of them, as of men that hold some dangerous opinions; when it is themselves that are deceived, and should turn those jealousies and cautions homewards. In such Cases as these it is a hard strait that a servant of Christ is put to;
