First, this contending about every difference of opinion, & §1urging our Brethren with what we conceive right, in matters of controversy, crosseth the end of Christ in his Administration of differing gifts to his Church, and humane society, and his revealing truths in a different way, some more darkly, some more clearly; Christ could easily have given such gifts to all, or revealed all truths so clearly, that every man should have been able to have seen every truth. Surely Christ did not disperse gifts, and reveal truths so differently, to that end, that there might be continual matter of strife and contention in his Church, and in humane societies; not that there should be provocation to the exercise of cruelty one upon another, but rather that there might be the exercise of love, charity, forbearance, meekness, long-suffering of one towards another; Christ bids us, charges us to be at peace amongst our selves. If we should say, O Lord Jesus, wouldst thou have us be at peace one with another? there are many things in thy Word, that we and our Brethren have different apprehensions of; for though (blessed be thy Name) the great necessary things of salvation be clearly revealed, yet many other things are so dark to us, that through our weakness we cannot all of us see the same thing. Now is it thy mind, O blessed Saviour, that one man, who conceives himself to understand the truth, (and that it may be rightly) compel another to his judgement? And dost thou also require, that we must not bring our judgments to our Brethren's till thy light brings them? How then is it possible that we should be at peace one with another?
First, this contending about every difference of opinion, & §1urging our Brethren with what we conceive right, in matters of controversie, crosseth the end of Christ in his Administration of differing gifts to his Church, and humane society, and his revealing truths in a different way, some more darkely, some more clearly; Christ could easily have given such gifts to all, or revealed all truths so clearly, that every man should have been able to have seen every truth. Surely Christ did not disperse gifts, and reveal truths so differently, to that end, that there might be continual matter of strife and contention in his Church, and in humane societies; not that there should be provocation to the exercise of cruelty one upon another, but rather that there might be the exercise of love, charity, forbearance, meekness, long-suffering of one towards another; Christ bids us, charges us to be at peace amongst our selves. If we should say, O Lord Jesus, wouldst thou have us be at peace one with another? there are many things in thy Word, that we and our Brethren have different apprehensions of; for though (blessed be thy Name) the great necessary things of salvation be clearly revealed, yet many other things are so dark to us, that through our weakness we cannot all of us see the same thing. Now is it thy mind, O blessed Saviour, that one man, who conceives himself to understand the truth, (and that it may be rightly) compell another to his judgement? And dost thou also require, that wee must not bring our judgments to our Brethrens till thy light brings them? How then is it possible that we should be at peace one with another?
