The carnality of religious contention in two sermons preached at the merchant's lecture in…The carnality of religious contention in two sermons preach'd at the merchant's lecture in…

Tho' yet the Endeavour of salving Difficulties that occur, by earnest Prayer, diligent Study, and by amicable and placid Collation, among Brethren, or comparing of Sentiments, sincerely designed for a clearer understanding the Frame of the Gospel-truth, or how it may be with most advantage represented to Men for the promoting of the Common Salvation, can be liable to no just Reprehension, being managed with that Reverence that so Sacred things challenge, and with a due sense of our own Ignorance and Imperfection. That only which is blamable in this case, and whereof I reckon no Account can be given, or Defence made, is that when, for the substance, the Gospel propounds and lays before us so plain a way wherein men are to endeavour the saving of their Souls, as ⟨p. 57⟩wherein the wayfaring man, tho' a Fool, needs not err, i. e. That there must be Repentance towards God, Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, a renewed Heart, an Holy Life. One comes and pretends to show that Order of these things one way, so as to compose a Scheme of them that is represented as most necessary to be observed and held to. No, saith another, I'll give you a righter Scheme of Salvation, another way, and mightily presses the Necessity of that, and the dangerous mistakes of the other: And thus they cover a plain way with Thorns and Briars, do not instruct, but perplex and distract whom they should direct, create Distinctions and Oppositions of Scheme to Scheme, not only without necessity, but almost without a difference, and yet insist with Vehemency, and lay Men's Salvation upon their understanding the matter so or so, when it is hoped thousands have been saved, that never heard of the one Scheme or the other, as they are distinguished and opposed to each other. Who can justify this? Again in the ⟨p. 58⟩7. Place: When any do with great Zeal contend for this or that Opinion or Notion, as very Sacred and highly Spiritual, (as they account) with no other Design, than that under that pretence they may indulge their own carnal Inclination with the greater liberty. It was the very Genius of this sort of men against whom this Epistle was meant, whether they were then called Gnostics it matters not. The Name well agreed to them, and they were known by it afterwards. They were Men of much preten•e to Knowledge and sublime Notions, (as they counted them.) And herein lay their Religion;