It is to be lamented, that there is so sad a spirit of indifferency among Christians, as we find at this day. Many do so carry it, as if there were nothing in the Gospel of Christ that were worthy the owning by practising, or worthy owning by suffering. This luke-warm indifferent temper hath done the Church of God a great deal of mischief formerly; and if admitted now, will do you as much mischief again. It hath been one of the sins which the Lord at this day is judging and punishing his poor people for, that our zeal hath been so hot against one another for mere circumstances, and so cold when we are like to lose the substance: that our contentions rise so high in matters hardly of any moment, and our spirits work so low when they are to gain the great things for which Christ suffered, & which he delivered to us. It is my work therefore to beg you, that you would put on a holy resolution, that there may be no contention among us (for we are Brethren) but only that contention, who may most retain, & evidently witness the Faith that is delivered to us: It is the trust God hath committed, and he doth expect and look how we will manage it with courage and confidence, to keep the Faith of the Gospel. There are very great oppositions against you, and there ought to be great resolutions of Christians to maintain themselves against such oppositions. It is a very sad thing that Christians should see the Faith and the ways of the Gospel of God, as it were taken from them at any time […] ⟨image 138⟩and they have not one word to speak, nor any thing at all for to venture in suffering for the ways and truths of Jesus Christ: Moses had such a holy zeal, that when Aaron was an example to the people to lead them to Idolatry, he contended with him earnestly to his face. The zeal of Gods servants is so small now, that though Balaam be about the work, we have not a word to speak; Though the small Prophets of Antichrist be about the business, yet no Christian hath courage to speak. The holy Apostle Paul, when Peter walked with an uneven foot, and began to Judaise, he tells us, he did resist him to his face. Shall Paul resist Simon Peter, and shall not the Saints of God resist Simon-Magus? shall they resist Hymenaeus and Philetus, and shall not we contend with Alexander the Copper-smith? 'tis but suitable to what God expects;
It is to be lamented, that there is so sad a spirit of indifferency among Christians, as we find at this day. Many do so carry it, as if there were nothing in the Gospel of Christ that were worthy the owning by practising, or worthy owning by suffering. This luke-warm indifferent temper hath done the Church of God a great deal of mischief formerly; and if admitted now, will do you as much mischief again. It hath been one of the sins which the Lord at this day is judging and punishing his poor people for, that our zeal hath been so hot against one another for meer circumstances, and so cold when we are like to lose the substance: that our contentions rise so high in matters hardly of any moment, and our spirits work so low when they are to gain the great things for which Christ suffered, & which he delivered to us. It is my work therefore to beg you, that you would put on a holy resolution, that there may be no contention among us (for we are Brethren) but only that contention, who may most retain, & evidently witness the Faith that is delivered to us: It is the trust God hath committed, and he doth expect and look how we will manage it with courage and confidence, to keep the Faith of the Gospel. There are very great oppositions against you, and there ought to be great resolutions of Christians to maintain themselves against such oppositions. It is a very sad thing that Christians should see the Faith and the ways of the Gospel of God, as it were taken from them at any time 〈…〉 ⟨image 138⟩and they have not one word to speak, nor any thing at all for to venture in suffering for the wayes and truths of Jesus Christ: Moses had such a holy zeal, that when Aaron was an example to the people to lead them to Idolatry, he contended with him earnestly to his face. The zeal of Gods servants is so small now, that though Balaam be about the work, we have not a word to speak; Though the small Prophets of Antichrist be about the business, yet no Christian hath courage to speak. The holy Apostle Paul, when Peter walked with an uneven foot, and began to Judaise, he tells us, he did resist him to his face. Shall Paul resist Simon Peter, and shall not the Saints of God resist Simon-Magus? shall they resist Hymenaeus and Philetus, and shall not we contend with Alexander the Copper-smith? 'tis but suitable to what God expects;
