An exposition of the prophecy of Hosea begun in divers lectures upon the first…An exposition of the prophesie of Hosea begun in divers lectures vpon the first…

Yea but we see too apparently that those that seem the strictest of all, that would worship God (as they say) in the purest manner in his Ordinances; yet there are woeful divisions and distractions even amongst them. How then is the Gospel a Gospel of peace? But a word in answer to this; To satisfy your consciences, that the Gospel may not be blamed, for indeed where the Gospel comes, there is promised peace. Consider this one reason that may be given for it. Because so long as we are here we are partly flesh and partly spirit. Yet those that have the Gospel prevail with their consciences, they come to be of this temper, that they cannot move any further then they can see light for, and their consciences will give them leave.

Yea but we see too apparently that those that seem the strictest of all, that would worship God (as they say) in the purest manner in his Ordinances; yet there are woefull divisions and distractions even amongst them. How then is the Gospel a Gospel of peace? But a word in answer to this; To satisfie your consciences, that the Gospel may not be blamed, for indeed where the Gospel comes, there is promised peace. Consider this one reason that may be given for it. Because so long as we are here we are partly flesh and partly spirit. Yet those that have the Gospel prevaile with their consciences, they come to be of this temper, that they cannot move any further then they can see light for, and their consciences will give them leave.

But now other men they have more liberty, they indeed quarrel not one with another, why? because they have wide, checker, lither consciences, & having ends of their own they will yield to any thing for the attaining of those ends;¹ so that here they have this advantage, that if they see that the contention will bring them more trouble then they conceive the thing is worth, they will condescend though it be against light of conscience. But other men upon whom the light of the Gospel hath prevailed have that bond upon conscience, that though all the world should differ from them, they must be content to lye down and suffer, they cannot yield, though you would give them all the world they cannot go against that light. But indeed they may search, and it may trouble them that their apprehensions of things should be different from the apprehensions of their brethren, and that they cannot yield to that which their brethren yield too. It is true, they should be humbled, and suspect their hearts, and look to themselves, and fall down before God and pray, and use all means for advice and counsel, and consider of things again and again. Well, but suppose they have done all this, and yet the Lord doth not reveal to them any further light, though it be a sad affliction to them yet they must lye down under it, for they cannot yield, one known truth is more then all the world, therefore unless others will bear with them in their infirmity, they must suffer whatsoever men will lay upon them.