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

1. There may be, and often are, Differences of Opinion about lesser Things in the Church: Partly, Because of the different degrees of Light. All Barks that sail to Heaven, draw not alike depth of Water. And partly, because of the remainders of Corruption in all. Inordinate Self-love is not in all alike broken and mortified, and so their particular Interests have an influence upon their Opinions. And partly, because of the accidental Prejudices of Education and Converse, &c.

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⟩