A55307:34
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.
Our Interest, as well as our Duty, layeth on us the greatest obligations to seek and pursue Peace and Unity. The love of our selves, and our own advantages, as well as the many Precepts, and earnest Exhortations of Jesus Christ, and his Apostles, should make us earnest and zealous in our labours to obtain it. Strife and Contention, Divisions and Factions, destroy and take away all the comforts and pleasures of life, and are great breaches of the Divine Commandments; yea they are a mighty reproach and scandal to the Christian Religion, and huge pleasure and gratification to the Devil, that great Enemy of God and Men.
And surely methinks, if men would but give themselves the liberty of a little sober consideration, they should not with so much earnestness, obstinacy and zeal offend God, mischief and undo themselves in time and eternity; for no other reason than to please the Devil, and gratify some brutish and profane passions, which have him for their Author and Original. But men will not consider, or if they do consider, they advise with their lusts, but not with their reason; with their passions and prejudices, but not with their consciences; and thence 'tis, that the effect of their ⟨p. 13⟩consideration is many times more pernicious and prejudicial to Peace and Union, than if they had totally neglected it. For 'tis impartial Reason, and well informed Judgment and Conscience, that speak in the favour of Union and Peace; but Ambition and Pride, Love of Riches, Empire, Honour and Dominion, are for Faction and Division: They are for setting the Church (and the World too) in a flame, hoping to make some advantage thereby.
And surely methinks, if men would but give themselves the liberty of a little sober consideration, they should not with so much earnestness, obstinacy and zeal offend God, mischief and undo themselves in time and eternity; for no other reason than to please the Devil, and gratifie some brutish and prophane passions, which have him for their Author and Original. But men will not consider, or if they do consider, they advise with their lusts, but not with their reason; with their passions and prejudices, but not with their consciences; and thence 'tis, that the effect of their