A55307:21
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must…The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must…
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.
London: printed for Tho. Simmons, 1682
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.
Those that fill the World with Controversies, Quarrels and Contentions, are for the most part men of small understanding, and of raw and undigested notions. 'Tis half-witted people that set the Churches of Christendom together by the Ears, and kindle those flames in the House of God, that are like utterly to waste and consume it. Men of ⟨p. 6⟩great understanding are modest and peaceable; they will not contend for trifles, nor express great Zeal for any thing, but the great Essentials of Faith and Godliness: They will not suspend the Peace of the Church upon uncertain, or unnecessary things. In things of that nature they can permit men to their Liberty, and where Liberty is permitted, there is seldom any Controversy; but where there is unnecessary restraint, there is everlasting quarrels, and will be to all Generations.
Those that fill the World with Controversies, Quarrels and Contentions, are for the most part men of small understanding, and of raw and undigested notions. 'Tis half-witted people that set the Churches of Christendom together by the Ears, and kindle those flames in the House of God, that are like utterly to waste and consume it. Men of ⟨p. 6⟩great understanding are modest and peaceable; they will not contend for trifles, nor express great Zeal for any thing, but the great Essentials of Faith and Godliness: They will not suspend the Peace of the Church upon uncertain, or unnecessary things. In things of that nature they can permit men to their Liberty, and where Liberty is permitted, there is seldom any Controversie; but where there is unnecessary restraint, there is everlasting quarrels, and will be to all Generations.
Let me add further, Union is an effect of great holiness and sanctity of mind and nature. Let mens Knowledge be never so great, if they be not born of God, and partakers of a Spirit of Holiness and Sanctification, they will quarrel and contend everlastingly, not in compliance with their Consciences, but in favour to their Lusts. If enquiry be made, 'twill be found true, that the holiest persons, and such as have most of the Image of God impressed upon their Sou's, are always the most peaceable, quiet, and give least disturbance to the World; and what I have said of Persons, is true of Churches; those Churches whose Members are most holy, most renewed, sanctified and transformed, are the most freest from Divisions, Quarrels and Separations.