An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of…

A good man may so far forget himself, as to speak reproachfully against his Brother: Yea, the reproaches of Professors one against another, have been (as they are the saddest, so) the sharpest and bitterest reproaches. They who agree in most things, take it most unkindly when they differ in any thing; and are more ready to revile one another about the points wherein they differ, then to bless God for those wherein they are agreed. The Papists did not more reproach Luther and Calvin, whose judgements concurred in opposing them, ⟨p. 273⟩then Lutherans and Calvinists have reproached each other, where they are opposite in judgement: The corrupt remains even in good men, tell them that whosoever differs from them stands in their light and obscures their excellency, and therefore that themselves may shine the brighter in what they hold, they little care (when mastered by self and passion) how obscure, yea foul they render them, who hold the contrary.

A good man may so farr forget himselfe, as to speake reproachfully against his Brother: Yea, the reproaches of Professors one against another, have been (as they are the saddest, so) the sharpest and bitterest reproaches. They who agree in most things, take it most unkindely when they differ in any thing; and are more ready to revile one another about the points wherein they differ, then to blesse God for those wherein they are agreed. The Papists did not more reproach Luther and Calvin, whose judgements concurred in opposing them, ⟨p. 273⟩then Lutherans and Calvinists have reproached each other, where they are opposite in judgement: The corrupt remaines even in good men, tell them that whosoever differs from them stands in their light and obscures their excellency, and therefore that themselves may shine the brighter in what they hold, they little care (when master'd by selfe and passion) how obscure, yea foule they render them, who hold the contrary.

While Infidels reproached Christians, it was the glory of Christianity, and while the wicked reproach the godly, it is the glory of godliness; but while one Christian reproaches another, the glory is departed from godliness. Is it not enough that the Servants of God are thus smitten by the world, must they needs smite their fellow-Servants, and revile those who are (upon the main) in the same way of God wherein they are, only because they are not fully in their way? Yea, when possibly, they may be in a higher and more perfect way then they? Is it not enough that the Briars and Thorns, which are among the Lilies, tear and scratch them? Shall the Lilies degenerate into Briars and Thorns one towards another? Or if at any time a Lilly of the one side tear, and be harsh, should not the Lilly on the other side be kind and gentle? If Israel transgress, let not Judah offend too Luther was often at Sharps with Calvin, but Calvin professed (and that was a Noble profession) Though Luther call me Devil, yet I will honour Luther as a Servant of God.