6. They are occasioned by a carnal and factious like1 pleading for, and vindicating even of Truth. Often it is not the matter whereabout godly and learned men debate, that maketh division, (for, there may be difference where there is no division) but it is a carnal manner of prosecuting either side of the ⟨p. 286⟩difference, even that side whereon the truth doth lye, that doth engender the division; and often, we see men differing about greater points than others do, and yet carrying so as it cannot be called Division. It's marked, 1 Cor. 3. that some were for Paul, some for Apollos, some were for none but Christ; and yet this is counted a side of the faction aswell as any of the other; not because being for Christ is wrong, but because that factiously they walked under that pretext: Which we may take up in these respects, 1. When a man too peremptorily presseth his light upon others, or upon a Church, in a matter that is not fundamental, or necessary, which is condemned, Rom. 14. 22. when men in these debates keep not their faith, or light, to themselves, but do trouble and distract others therewith. 2. It is, when men too vehemently press such a thing, as if the contrary thereof, or those who maintain the same, were intolerable; and so in a fiery violent way seek to bear down that which is indeed an error, though of infirmity. It is marked by some that write Church-history, and Augustine is of that same mind, That Stephanus, Bishop of Rome, did more hurt to the Church by his too vehement opposing of Cyprian's error (which was, That those that were baptized by Heretics, or Schismatics, ought again to be baptized) because he did thereby hazard the dividing and renting of the Church, by refusing communion with such as were against him, than Cyprian did in his maintaining of his error; Because, though it was still his opinion, he did meekly and condescendingly carry in it, with respect to the unity of the Church. 3. This is also, when things are followed with Sentences and Censures on2 the opposite opinion, and the abetters thereof, as if it were a matter of Faith. It's known what influence those Sentences of Victor, Bishop of Rome, had upon renting of the Church, and stating that divisive distinction betwixt the East and West Church, and ⟨p. 287⟩that for a matter of nothing, to wit, What day of the month precisely Easter was to be kept;
6. They are occasioned by a carnal and factiouslike1 pleading for, and vindicating even of Truth. Often it is not the matter whereabout godly and learned men debate, that maketh division, (for, there may be difference where there is no division) but it is a carnal manner of prosecuting either side of the ⟨p. 286⟩difference, even that side whereon the truth doth lye, that doth engender the division; and often, we see men differing about greater points than others do, and yet carrying so as it cannot be called Division. It's marked, 1 Cor. 3. that some were for Paul, some for Apollos, some were for none but Christ; and yet this is counted a side of the faction aswell as any of the other; not because being for Christ is wrong, but because that factiously they walked under that pretext: Which we may take up in these respects, 1. When a man too peremptorily presseth his light upon others, or upon a Church, in a matter that is not fundamental, or necessary, which is condemned, Rom. 14. 22. when men in these debates keep not their faith, or light, to themselves, but do trouble and distract others therewith. 2. It is, when men too vehemently presse such a thing, as if the contrary thereof, or those who maintain the same, were intolerable; and so in a fiery violent way seek to bear down that which is indeed an errour, though of infirmity. It is marked by some that write Church-history, and Augustine is of that same mind, That Stephanus, Bishop of Rome, did more hurt to the Church by his too vehement opposing of Cyprian's errour (which was, That those that were baptized by Hereticks, or Schismaticks, ought again to be baptized) because he did therby hazard the dividing and renting of the Church, by refusing communion with such as were against him, than Cyprian did in his maintaining of his errour; Because, though it was still his opinion, he did meekly and condescendingly carry in it, with respect to the unity of the Church. 3. This is also, when things are followed with Sentences and Censures on2 the opposit opinion, and the abbetters thereof, as if it were a matter of Faith. It's known what influence those Sentences of Victor, Bishop of Rome, had upon renting of the Church, and stating that divisive distinction betwixt the East and West Church, and ⟨p. 287⟩that for a matter of nothing, to wit, What day of the moneth precisely Easter was to be keeped;
- 1A factious vindicating of truth.
- 2Undue Censures.
