A43343:43
A brief enquiry into the true nature of schism
A brief enquiry into the true nature of schism: or a persuasive to Christian love and charity. Humbly submitted to better judgments; by M.H. Licensed Jan. 8. 1689/90
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1690
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. We must enquire into the Corinthians miscarriage which occasioned this caution, which you have, v. 11, 12. there were contentions among them, v. 11. [Greek or Hebrew] So that Schisms and Contentions are one and the same thing, and tis worth nothing that Clemens Romanus in that famous Epistle of his to the Corinthians, still calls Schisms, [Greek or Hebrew], contentions.
2. We must enquire into the Corinthians miscarriage which occasion'd this caution, which you have, v. 11, 12. there were contentions among them, v. 11. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 So that Schisms and Contentions are one and the same thing, and tis worth nothing that Clemens Romanus in that famous Epistle of his to the Corinthians, still calls Schisms, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, contentions.
Now the contention was about their Ministers; I am of Paul, saith one, I am of Apollos, saith another, &c. Now he that was of Apollos was as much a Schismatic as he that was of Paul, because they quarrelled and fell out about so small and indifferent a matter.
Now the contention was about their Ministers; I am of Paul, saith one, I am of Apollos, saith another, &c. Now he that was of Apollos was as much a Schismatick as he that was of Paul, because they quarrel'd and fell out about so small and indifferent a matter.
Observe, It was not so much being of Paul, and being of Apollos that made the Schism, for Paul and Apollos and Cephas ⟨p. 12⟩were all their's, Chap. 3. 22. But saying, I am of Paul, that is, crying him up as the only man for them, so as to despise others. If one went to hear Paul, and another went to hear Apollos, that did not make a Schism, no nor if one communicated with Paul, and another with Apollos, for why might not each go where he could be most edified? but the Schism was, that they sacrificed Christian Love and Charity to this difference of Apprehension. This is evident in that those who said, I am of Christ, so as to despise and censure, and quarrel with them that said, I am of Paul &c. are reproved equally with the rest.