A43344:277
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…
A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, showing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon on Acts 28. 22, shewing that the Christian religion is not a sect, and yet that it is every where spoken against / by Matthew Henry ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1699
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. True Christianity hath a direct tendency to the Uniting of the Children of Men, and the gathering of them together in one and therefore is far from being a Sect, 1which is supposed to lead to Division, and to sow Discord among Brethren. The Preaching of the Gospel did indeed prove the occasion […] Contention. Our Saviour foresaw and foretold it would be so, Luke 12. 51, 52, 53. that his Disciples and Follow•• would be Men of strife, in the same sen• that […] Prophet was, Jer. 15. 10. not Men strong, but Men striven with; but the Gospel w•s by no means the Cause of this Contention, for it was intended to be the Cur•• of all Contention. If there be any who under the Cloak and Colour of the Christian Name caus••visions, and propagate Feuds and Quarrels among Men, let them bear their own Burden; but it is certain that the Christian Religion as far as it obtains its just Power and Influence upon the minds of Men will make them Meek and Quiet, Humble and Peaceable, Loving and Useful, Condescending and Forgiving, and every way Easy, and Acceptable and Profitable one to another. Is that a Sect which was introduced with a Proclamation of Peace on Earth? That which beats Swords into Plough-shares, and Spears into Pruning-hooks? Or, was he the Author of a Sect who is the Great Creator of Unity, and who Died to break down partition Walls, 2and to slay all Enmities, that he might gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad? Was he the Author of a Sect who came into the World not to destroy Mens Lives, 3but to save them, and who taught ⟨p. 7⟩his Followers not only to love one anoth•• […] to love their Enemies and to […] every one their Neighbour that they could be any way serviceable to?