A30579:292
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
and that he must be avoided and ⟨p. 109⟩persecuted […] a schismatic? no certainly there's a great mistake in this, and this is merely for want of charity; and that which the holy Ghost is so bitter against is, when men for want of love to their brethren, and for to serve their own base ends make breaches and rents in the Church; judge such now to be guilty of the sin of schism and no other; for that is to break unity, to judge others guilty of schism, merely because they differ from you, and cannot read by your spectacles, these extremes that I have spoken of are ways that are very much unbeseeming the Gospel of Christ, for men our of base ends to break unity, to rend from the Saints; or otherwise because men join not with you in every thing you desire, therefore presently to put such a brand upon them, as to stigmatize them for schismatics, certainly this unchristian like nicknaming the children of God maintains the breach and widens it more and more; whereas the Conversation that becomes the Gospel is to study, to find out the truth. And do I see Learned and Godly men of another judgment? Let me pray more unto the Father of lights for the Spirit of revelation: It may be I may mistake; If I be mistaken, Lord discover it, let me not go on in the ways of darkness, but take away the scales from my understanding, that I may see into the deep things of God and his Gospel; And therefore others that they differ from should tender these as brethren, and look upon them and see, are they not conscientious in all their other ways? Can I be able to find any fault with them in their lives and Conversations? It may be it's their mistake, then let me pray for them and labour to help them, and tender them all I can, it may be God will reveal his mind to them more fully afterward: Now in what we have attained let us walk, and if any be otherwise minded God will reveal his mind to them, and this carriage should be in Christians one towards another, that differ one from another, and this is a Conversation becoming the Gospel: But when one differs from another, for to give reviling speeches, and names of disgrace, and to cast dirt one upon another, this is exceeding unbecoming the Gospel, yea, if the Heathens were amongst us, they would even loath the Gospel of Jesus Christ to see the carriage of Christians that there are at this day amongst us:
and that he must be avoided and ⟨p. 109⟩