A52476:118
Three choice and profitable sermons upon several texts of Scripture viz. Jer. 30. 17,…Three choice and profitable sermons upon severall texts of Scripture viz. Jer. 30. 17,…
Three choice and profitable sermons upon several texts of Scripture viz. Jer. 30. 17, John 14. 3, Heb. 8. 5 : the first of them being the last sermon which he preached at the court of election at Boston, the second was the last which he preached on the Lords-Day, the third was the last which he preached on his weekly-lecture-day : wherein (beside many other excellent and seasonable truths) is showed, the Lords sovereignty over, and care for his church and people, in order to both their militant and triumphant condition, and their fidelity and good affection towards himself / by that reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Norton ...Three choice and profitable sermons upon severall texts of Scripture viz. Jer. 30. 17, John 14. 3, Heb. 8. 5 : the first of them being the last sermon which he preached at the court of election at Boston, the second was the last which he preached on the Lords-Day, the third was the last which he preached on his weekly-lecture-day : wherein (beside many other excellent and seasonable truths) is shewed, the Lords soveraignty over, and care for his church and people, in order to both their militant and triumphant condition, and their fidelity and good affection towards himself / by that reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Norton ...
printed by S.G. and M.I. for Hezekiah Usher of Boston, 1664
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But yet notwithstanding, we are not unmindful of that so known Oracle, [Love the Truth and Peace:] we neither strive for Truth without making reckoning of Peace, neither do we pursue Peace with the loss of Truth: the former defaceth, this latter teareth the seamless Coat of the Church. It is as necessary to avoid the Rock of Schism on the right hand, as the Quicksands of Confusion on the left. We renounce Samaritanism, that deadly sink of false Doctrine, as much as we fly from Donatism, the sore ⟨p. 3⟩enemy of Evangelical Temperament, and devourer (if we may speak after Tertullian) of Christian Society; but admire and embrace the Concord, and Agreement of the Gospel. We are no whit pleased with Cassanders shaking hands with Papists at the furthest distance, erring from the Truth; Nor yet with the Romanist renouncing Communion with them that are otherwise minded in lesser differences: but in special manner we ought to labour, that we may walk with an even foot, and not to turn aside an hairs breadth from the Truth: in the mean time, it is better to be a Cyprian then a Steven. It is much more grievous to think aright, and be found a Schismatic, then to think amiss in things not fundamental, and be of a peaceable spirit. The spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is a spirit of Truth, of peace and Communion: so desirous of Peace, that it requireth Communion in a true Church, although not pure; and so desirous of Truth, that it forbids impurity in any Church whatsoever. That, that is the Mark at which we aim, and which we endeavour and breath after, in him who is the Way, the Truth and Life.
But yet notwithstanding, we are not unmindful of that so known Oracle, [Love the Truth and Peace:] we neither strive for Truth without making reckoning of Peace, neither do we pursue Peace with the loss of Truth: the former defaceth, this latter teareth the seamless Coat of the Church. It is as necessary to avoid the Rock of Schism on the right hand, as the Quicksands of Confusion on the left. We renounce Samaratanism, that deadly sink of false Doctrine, as much as we fly from Donatism, the sore ⟨p. 3⟩enemy of Evangelical Temperament, and devourer (if we may speak after Teriullian) of Christian Society; but admire and embrace the Concord, and Agreemeent of the Gospel. We are no whit pleased with Cassanders shaking hands with Papists at the furthest distance, erring from the Truth; Nor yet with the Romanist renouncing Communion with them that are otherwise minded in lesser differences: but in special manner we ought to labour, that we may walk with an even foot, and not to turn aside an haires breadth from the Truth: in the mean time, it is better to be a Cyprian then a Steven. It is much more grievous to think aright, and be found a Scismatick, then to think amiss in things not fundamental, and be of a peaceable spirit. The spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is a spirit of Truth, of peace and Communion: so desirous of Peace, that it requireth Communion in a true Church, although not pure; and so desirous of Truth, that it forbids impurity in any Church whatsoever. That, that is the Mark at which we aim, and which we endeavour and breath after, in him who is the Way, the Truth and Life.