Or Secondly,1 If we put false Interpretations, we are false; when we shall make our Covenant a mere […] to our Brethren; let us consider how far any of us are guilty of this, and let the Lord judge between us: I say, when we seek to make it a snare even to our Brethren: How have ⟨p. 368⟩those been accused for the breach of this Oath which have not accorded in things that are in Controversy with our Brethren, as if this Oath were put upon all men to determine most abstruse and difficult points of Controversy, to bring men to submit to things as are very abstruse and difficult to understand; this were to make an Oath a Snare, and to take the Name of God in vain in a fearful manner: Certainly the Lord never would have Oaths put to men to this end, that men that are of different ways and opinions in Controversial things, for to be forced by way of an Oath to be of the same judgement, and to do the same things; this is a great abuse of this Oath wheresoever it is urged so far; Certainly there's no man guilty of the breach of this Oath and Covenant, that shall but endeavour what he can to understand what the mind of God is, and then to practice according as he understands, though he should mistake, as in the point of Schism in that point of the Covenant;2 the thing its self being a sin, we may as well swear against it, as David did to keep Gods Commandments: but now, if David did labour to understand Gods Commandments, and do as far as he did understand; suppose he did not understand all things aright, it might be his weakness, but not his perjury. So, let us be in point of Schism, or any other point of the Covenant, if men do endeavour to understand what is Schism by the Scripture, and accordingly do in their several places, by what means their consciences tells them is lawful endeavour to oppose it, though they should not think that to be Schism that their Brethren do think, or perhaps is so, yet they are not forsworn: this is evil, to make a Covenant to be a snare unto us, and our hearts so far are false in it.
Or Secondly,1 If we put false Interpretations, we are false; when we shall make our Covenant a meer 〈…〉 to our Brethren; let us consider how far any of us are guilty of this, and let the Lord judge between us: I say, when we seek to make it a snare even to our Brethren: How have ⟨p. 368⟩those been accused for the breach of this Oath which have not accorded in things that are in Controversie with our Brethren, as if this Oath were put upon all men to determin most abstruse and difficult points of Controversie, to bring men to submit to things as are very abstruse and difficult to understand; this were to make an Oath a Snare, and to take the Name of God in vain in a fearful manner: Certainly the Lord never would have Oaths put to men to this end, that men that are of different waies and opinions in Controversal things, for to be forced by way of an Oath to be of the same judgement, and to do the same things; this is a great abuse of this Oath wheresoever it is urged so far; Certainly there's no man guilty of the breach of this Oath and Covenant, that shall but endeavor what he can to understand what the mind of God is, and then to practice according as he understands, though he should mistake, as in the point of Schism in that point of the Covenant;2 the thing its self being a sin, we may as well swear against it, as David did to keep Gods Commandements: but now, if David did labor to understand Gods Commandements, and do as far as he did understand; suppose he did not understand all things aright, it might be his weakness, but not his perjury. So, let us be in point of Schism, or any other point of the Covenant, if men do endeavor to understand what is Schism by the Scripture, and accordingly do in their several places, by what means their consciences tels them is lawful endeavor to oppose it, though they should not think that to be Schism that their Brethren do think, or perhaps is so, yet they are not forsworn: this is evil, to make a Covenant to be a snare unto us, and our hearts so far are false in it.
- 12. Putting false interpretations on it, to make it a snare.
- 2Psal. 119. 106. David swearing to keep all Gods Commandments explained.Psal. 119. 106. David swearing to keep all Gods Commandements explained.
