The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

In the next place, What makes division or faction? ¹And

1. 1What it is that goes to the making of division or faction

1. That is, when men promote any false or wicked way against truth and godliness. We see all parties brand one another with divisions and factions. The Papist calls the Protestant a Sectary, and that though a Metropolitan; and saith, The leaving of their Church, that had so much Antiquity and Universality, was a schism. The Metropolitan he maketh all those guilty of schism, whether Bishops or Presbyters, that recede from obedience to him, as appeareth in a late Book. (Hammond of Schism.) But it's not the calling, or the branding of any with the name of schism, that makes the thing so; but you must consider the cause and the matter. If Elijah, and some few with him, will not bow their knees to Baal, nor will not go with the multitude of Idolaters, this is no sinful division or faction. When Arianism like a deluge did overflow the Church, the Orthodox, who were called Eustathiani, from Eustathius (the President in the Council of Nice, and a valiant Champion for the Truth) had their private and secret meetings, not daring to communicate in the public worship with the Arians, yet no sound man in judgement will brand these with schism. If the people of God come out from Babylon, and separate from their uncleannesses, this is no schism or faction, but a duty, God commanded them. So that before we charge any with this crime, we must always consider, the Cause and the Matter, who hath the truth, who hath Gods Cause, otherwise men are heretics and schismatics to one another, and so they judge by partiality, not by the Rule. Neither is it enough for men to say, they have Scripture, or to allege Scripture, for that may be wrested to their destruction, but the true sense and meaning of it, which is attained by those that walk humbly in Gods way, and use those means God hath appointed in his Church. If therefore a man plead against the Idolatries, the impieties and falsehoods of other men; This is no faction; if so, Paul himself, who condemneth these, had been the most factious man in the world; For who more zealous than he in Christs way against the superstitious Pharisees, and those who pleaded the Law for Justification?