An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Thirdly, An uniting principle is to take heed of self-will and self-conceit, to make our wills and humours, or apprehensions, the Law and Rule of truth. The Apostle amongst other qualifications in an Elder requireth, Tit. 1. 7. That he be not self-willed, [Greek or Hebrew], one that pleaseth himself, or is self-conceited of his own abilities. For all heresies and divisions are bred in the womb of this self-conceit: and commonly the more ignorant, and the less knowing, the more obstinate and self-conceited. For the more knowledge any man hath, the more he apprehends his own weakness and ignorance; he also seeth the strength of such arguments, which one of a shallow capacity can no more reach unto, than a Pygmy can the Pyramids. More principles might be offered unto you, but I have spoken to this at large from John 17. where our Saviour prayeth over and over again for unity amongst believers, as if it were the only pillar of all sound Doctrine, and true holiness. Only the usefulness of this agreement is seen in the good influence that it will have upon the body of believers; a divided Ministry, will also make a divided people. If those bright luminaries of Heaven, should oppose one another, as the Moon doth sometimes the Sun, what sad Eclipses doth it produce? We read 1 Cor. 3. that amongst these Corinthians there were heavy divisions, though that seemed to be the peoples sin most, who made such a difference, one saying, I am for Paul, another, I am for Apollo.

Thirdly, An uniting principle is to take heed of self-will and self-conceit, to make our wils and humours, or apprehensions, the Law and Rule of truth. The Apostle amongst other qualifications in an Elder requireth, Tit. 1. 7. That he be not self-willed, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, one that pleaseth himself, or is self-conceited of his own abilities. For all herefies and divisions are bred in the womb of this self-conceit: and commonly the more ignorant, and the less knowing, the more obstinate and self-conceited. For the more knowledge any man hath, the more he apprehends his own weakness and ignorance; he also seeth the strength of such arguments, which one of a shallow capacity can no more reach unto, than a Pigmy can the Pyramides. More principles might be offered unto you, but I have spoken to this at large from