A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…

2.—A Sect every where spoken against, and we will grant that to be true, that it is generally spoken against tho' tis most unreasonable and unjust it should be so.

First, ¹The Christian Religion is here called (but miscalled) a Sect, [Greek or Hebrew], a Heresy, After the way which they call Heresy, (saith St. Paul, Acts 24. 14.) so worship I the God of my Fathers,—The Sect of the Nazarenes, so Tertullus calls it in his opening of the Indictment against Paul, Acts 24. 5. it's called this way, Acts. 9. 2. and that way, Acts 19. 9. as if it were a By-path out of the common Road. The Practice of serious Godliness is still looked upon by many as a Sect that is a Party-business, and a piece of affected singularity in Opinion and Practice tending to promote some carnal Design, by creating and supporting invidious Distinctions among Men. This is the proper notion of a Sect, and therefore the Masters and Maintainers of Sects are justly in an ill Name, as Enemies to the great Corporation of Mankind; but there is not the least colour of Reason to put this invidious and scandalous Character upon the Christian Religion. However, it may be mistaken and misrepresented, it is very far from being really a Sect. There were Sects of Religion among the ⟨p. 5⟩Jews; we read of the Sect of the Sadducees, Acts 5. 17. which was built upon peculiar notions, such as overturned the foundation of Natural Religion, by denying a future state of Rewards and Punishments: There was also the Sect of the Pharisees,