2. When these Differences arise, we should take care they come not to a Rupture and open Breach. This is the course the Apostle taketh here, he doth not by and by despair of the Dissenters, and reject ⟨p. 185⟩them as Heretics, but beareth with them, hoping in charity God will at length reveal their Error to them by the ministry of his Servants, through the powerful Operation of his Spirit, and not suffer them to run on in dividing Courses from the rest of his People: So should we do in like cases; partly, because when these Differences of Opinion breed Divisions and Separations, the Church is destroyed: Gal. 5. 15. For if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another. Backbitings, Revilings, and Reproaches, make way for a total Vastation of the whole Church, a ruin to both Parties: Partly, because the whole is scandalized; John 17. 21. That they may all be one, that the World may believe that thou hast sent me. Divisions in the Church, breed Atheism in the World; Partly, because there are Enemies which watch for our halting, and by our Divisions we are laid open to them. Our Lord and Master hath told us with his own Mouth, That a Kingdom divided against it self, cannot stand, Mat. 12. 35. Never was it so well with the People of God, but besides their Divisions among themselves, they had common Enemies: and ⟨p. 186⟩Nazianzen calls them, Common Reconcilers, because they should engage God's People to an unanimous opposition to the Kingdom of Satan in the World. And partly, because then mutual Means of Edification are hindered. As long as Charity and mutual Forbearance remaineth, there is hope of doing good to one another; but when Men break out into opposite Parties, they are prejudiced against all that Light that they should receive one from another, suspecting every Point as counsel from an Enemy: Gal. 4. 16. Am I therefore become your Enemy, because I tell you the Truth? When Men are once engaged in a way of Error, whosoever is an Enemy to their Error, is counted an Enemy to themselves. Y•a, they can hardly bear that sound Doctrine which doth directly cross their Opinions, but are apt to cavil at all that's said by a Dissenter.
2. When these Differences arise, we should take care they come not to a Rupture and open Breach. This is the course the Apostle taketh here, he doth not by and by despair of the Dissenters, and reject ⟨p. 185⟩them as Hereticks, but beareth with them, hoping in charity God will at length reveal their Error to them by the ministry of his Servants, through the powerful Operation of his Spirit, and not suffer them to run on in dividing Courses from the rest of his People: So should we do in like cases; partly, because when these Differences of Opinion breed Divisions and Separations, the Church is destroyed: Gal. 5. 15. For if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another. Backbitings, Revilings, and Reproaches, make way for a total Vastation of the whole Church, a ruin to both Parties: Partly, because the whole is scandalized; John 17. 21. That they may all be one, that the World may believe that thou hast sent me. Divisions in the Church, breed Atheism in the World; Partly, because there are Enemies which watch for our halting, and by our Divisions we are laid open to them. Our Lord and Master hath told us with his own Mouth, That a Kingdom divided against it self, cannot stand, Mat. 12. 35. Never was it so well with the People of God, but besides their Divisions among themselves, they had common Enemies: and ⟨p. 186⟩Nazianzen calls them, Common Reconcilers, because they should ingage God's People to an unanimous opposition to the Kingdom of Satan in the World. And partly, because then mutual Means of Edification are hindred. As long as Charity and mutual Forbearance remaineth, there is hope of doing good to one another; but when Men break out into opposite Parties, they are prejudiced against all that Light that they should receive one from another, suspecting every Point as counsel from an Enemy: Gal. 4. 16. Am I therefore become your Enemy, because I tell you the Truth? When Men are once ingaged in a way of Error, whosoever is an Enemy to their Error, is counted an Enemy to themselves. Y•a, they can hardly bear that sound Doctrine which doth directly cross their Opinions, but are apt to cavil at all that's said by a Dissenter.
