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…

But now that the large extent of this Holiness of Life, might more fully appear, the Apostle signifies, that it must not only exclude those grosser lusts and works of the flesh, but also such, as because they might seem somewhat more refined, might be reckoned by some less Criminal, he therefore inserts divers of this other kind also: And the state of the Case did equally require it. For it appears (as it might well be supposed) that so far as any were tainted with the false Notions, and with inclinations to the impure practices before mentioned, they were filled ⟨p. 19⟩with animosities, with wrath, envyings and hatred towards them that had not received the taint; and they might have too much place with these back again towards them. Whereupon there could not but be very great and high Ferments in these Churches. Nothing therefore could be more requisite, or seasonable, than that several Instances of this sort of Carnality, should be put into this Catalogue, viz. hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, &c. For they were not to be thought (as was said) more refined, as having less, but a more subtle Energy, or penetrative power of malignity in them. Nor indeed hath Christianity, and the Christian Church suffered more by any sort of Evils, than by those of this sort. Others destroy particular Persons: These, besides their doing so, do more directly hurt the Community, and tend to wast and destroy the Church.

But now that the large extent of this Holiness of Life, might more fully appear, the Apostle signifies, that it must not only exclude those grosser lusts and works of the flesh, but also such, as because they might seem somewhat more refined, might be reckoned by some less Criminal, he therefore inserts divers of this other kind also: And the state of the Case did equally require it. For it appears (as it might well be supposed) that so far as any were tainted with the false Notions, and with inclinations to the impure practices before mentioned, they were filled ⟨p. 19⟩with animosities, with wrath, envyings and hatred towards them that had not received the taint; and they might have too much place with these back again towards them. Whereupon there could not but be very great and high Ferments in these Churches. Nothing therefore could be more requisite, or seasonable, than that several Instances of this sort of Carnality, should be put into this Catalogue, viz. hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strise, &c. For they were not to be thought (as was said) more refined, as having less, but a more subtle Energy, or penetrative power of malignity in them. Nor indeed hath Christianity, and the Christian Church suffered more by any sort of Evils, than by those of this sort. Others destroy particular Persons: These, besides their doing so, do more directly hurt the Community, and tend to wast and destroy the Church.