Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added,…

2. When the Professors of Christianity are compared among themselves.

1. When the Professors of Christianity are compared with those that live under ⟨p. 160⟩other Institutions. They that submit to Christ's Terms, are said to be perfect, because Christianity it self is a Perfection. For Instance, take that one place, (and the rather, that I may wrest it out of the Hands of the Papists, who distinguish between Evangelical Precepts of necessary Duty, and Counsels of Perfection to establish Monkery and voluntary Poverty, as a more perfect state of Life than that which the common sort of Christians live.) Their most colourable place is, Mat. 19. 21. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast, and give […] the poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, and come and follow me. Is not this a Counsel of Perfection? doth not Christ call it so? Or, is every one bound to give all his Goods to the Poor, and turn Monks or Anchorites? No, the meaning of the word, If thou wilt be perfect, is no more but this; if thou wilt ascend to that higher pitch and rule of living, to which I come to raise Men, if thou wilt be a Christian. The Perfection here spoken of, is Christianity it self, not an Heroic eminent degree of it: And the Condition here required, is Matter of Command, not Counsel, only such as if ⟨p. 161⟩we will not submit to, we are not Christians; for a Man that would have the Privileges of the Gospel, he must submit to the Duties of the Gospel, or the Conditions required by Christ, that is, to be a perfect through Christian. You will say, Must we sell all, and give to the Poor, in contemplation of the Heavenly Reward?

1. When the Professors of Christianity are compared with those that live under ⟨p. 160⟩other Institutions. They that submit to Christ's Terms, are said to be perfect, because Christianity it self is a Perfection. For Instance, take that one place, (and the rather, that I may wrest it out of the Hands of the Papists, who distinguish between Evangelical Precepts of necessary Duty, and Counsels of Perfection to establish Monkery and voluntary Poverty, as a more perfect state of Life than that which the common sort of Christians live.) Their most colourable place is,