3. To prevent this open Rupture, there must be all Lenity used, and mutual Forbearance; we must not rigorously obtrude our Conceits upon others, either by Church-Power, or private Censure; it may be done either way: Sometimes by Church-Power, especially when 'tis possessed or invaded by the more self-seeking sort of Christians: as we read in the Revelations, of the Beast that pushed with the Horns of a Lamb; that is, used Church-Power, and under a pretence of Church-Constitution, destroyed them that ⟨p. 188⟩were truly the Church of Christ. And our Lord telleth us, John 16. 2. They shall put you out of the Synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, shall think that he doth God good service. Putting them out of the Synagogues, was an abuse of Ecclesiastical Power; it may be so, the Builders may refuse the Corner-Stone. On the other side; private Censures may as much break the Law of Forbearance, as public Censures. When Inferiors promote their Differences with Turbulency, Heat, and Animosity, and rend and tear all things, yea themselves, from the Body of Christ, and sober Christians, censuring all that dissent from them, as no Christians. There is such a Sin under the Gospel, as the gain-saying of Corah, Jude 11. The Sin of Corah is and may be committed in the New Testament. The Sin of Corah was invading an Office, that no way belonged to him; and censured his Superiors, as if they took too much upon them, because all the Lord's People were Holy, and erected another Ministry in their stead: He being a Levite, would do the Office of a Priest as well as Aaron; and when summoned to appear before Moses, said, We will not ⟨p. 189⟩come, Numb. 16. 11, 12. Now the Apostle saith, in the perishing of Korah, their own Doom was foretold. Again, vers. 19. These are they that separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. Whence 'tis clear, that private Men, in their Sphere, may rend the Church. And the Factions at Corinth proved it, 1 Cor. 1. 12. I am of Paul, and I am of Apollo, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ: As impaling and impropriating the common Salvation to themselves. Much milder was the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 2. Jesus Christ, theirs and ours. Now what Remedy is there, but Lenity and mutual Forbearance? This I shall state,
3. To prevent this open Rupture, there must be all Lenity used, and mutual Forbearance; we must not rigorously obtrude our Conceits upon others, either by Church-Power, or private Censure; it may be done either way: Sometimes by Church-Power, especially when 'tis possessed or invaded by the more self-seeking sort of Christians: as we read in the Revelations, of the Beast that pushed with the Horns of a Lamb; that is, used Church-Power, and under a pretence of Church-Constitution, destroyed them that ⟨p. 188⟩were truly the Church of Christ. And our Lord telleth us, Iohn 16. 2. They shall put you out of the Synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, shall think that he doth God good service. Putting them out of the Synagogues, was an abuse of Ecclesiastical Power; it may be so, the Builders may refuse the Corner-Stone. On the other side; private Censures may as much break the Law of Forbearance, as publick Censures. When Inferiors promote their Differences with Turbulency, Heat, and Animosity, and rend and tear all things, yea themselves, from the Body of Christ, and sober Christians, censuring all that dissent from them, as no Christians. There is such a Sin under the Gospel, as the gain-saying of Corah, Jude 11. The Sin of Corah is and may be committed in the New Testament. The Sin of Corah was invading an Office, that no way belonged to him; and censured his Superiors, as if they took too much upon them, because all the Lord's People were Holy, and erected another Ministry in their stead: He being a Levite, would do the Office of a Priest as well as Aaron; and when summoned to appear before Moses, said, We will not ⟨p. 189⟩come, Numb. 16. 11, 12. Now the Apostle saith, in the perishing of Korah, their own Doom was foretold. Again, vers. 19. These are they that separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. Whence 'tis clear, that private Men, in their Sphere, may rend the Church. And the Factions at Corinth proved it, 1 Cor. 1. 12. I am of Paul, and I am of Apollo, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ: As impailing and impropriating the common Salvation to themselves. Much milder was the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 2. Iesus Christ, theirs and ours. Now what Remedy is there, but Lenity and mutual Forbearance? This I shall state,
