CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

A third Rule is, Love to the public good of the Church, if this did reign in our hearts, it would compose all differences. The true mothers bowels would not suffer her to have the child divided. It must be selfish revenge that shall make two enemies desire to see the ship sink in which they are, rather then they will agree to preserve it. What self-denial was that in Jonah, to give himself up to destruction, rather then have the whole ship endangered: Every one ought to say, If I be the Jonah, cast me out. Among the Romans they had a Temple dedicated Jovi depositorio, because there they would go and lay aside their mutual contentions before they entered into the Senate-house. What a shame is it when many Heathens have laid aside their mutual quarrels for the common good, and shall not the Ministers of the Gospel much more for the Churches safety?

A third Rule is, Love to the publique good of the Church, if this did reign in our hearts, it would compose all differences. The true mothers bowels would not suffer her to have the childe divided. It must be selfish revenge that shall make two enemies desire to see the ship sink in which they are, rather then they will agree to preserve it. What self-denial was that in Jonah, to give himself up to destruction, rather then have the whole ship endangered: Every one ought to say, If I be the Jonah, cast me out. Among the Romans they had a Temple dedicated Jovi depositorio, because there they would go and lay aside their mutual contentions before they entred into the Senate-house. What a shame is it when many Heathens have laid aside their mutual quarrels for the common good, and shall not the Ministers of the Gospel much more for the Churches safety?

A fourth Rule is, Not to charge such consequences upon one another's doctrine, that are not natural, and which they do abhor. This in doctrinal disputes hath been oil to the flame. The Lutherans charge upon the Calvinists Doctrines about Predestination, That they make God the author of sin, that they make him cruel and unjust, worse then Pharaoh, that commanded brick, but gave no straw; yea, cruel like Nero, who, having a mind to put a vestal Virgin to death, caused her to be ravished, and then put her to death, because she was ravished. But the Calvinists detest and abhor all such consequences, and if they did see such conclusions did follow necessarily from their Doctrines, they would publicly abjure them, some gathered from Paul's preaching of free-grace, that therefore men might sin that grace might abound; but Paul crieth, God forbid at this, and saith, The damnation of such Logicians is just,