But I heartily desire not to appear as an adversary to the holy, reverend, and learned Brethren who are sufferers for the truth, for there be wide marches betwixt striving, and disputing. Why should we strive? for we be Brethren, the Sons of one father, the borne Citizens of one mother Jerusalem. To dispute is not to contend. We strive as we are carnal, we dispute as we are men, we war from our ⟨image 4⟩lusts bwe dispute from diversity of star-light, and day-light. Weakness is not wickedness, a roving of wit must not be deemed a Rebellion of will, a broken engine may part with a dead child, and yet be a Mother of many healthy children. And while our reverend and dear Brethren, fleeing the coast of Egypt, and Babylons wicked borders, aim to shore upon truth, wind may deceive good Sailors, natural land-motions (as when heavy bodies move downward, toward their own (clay Country) are upon a straight line. But Sea-motions of sailing are not by right lines, but rather by Sea-circles. We often argue and dispute, as we sail. Where grace and weight of Scripture make motion, we walk, in a right line, toward God. But where opinion, a messenger only sent to spy the Land of lies, and truth, usurpeth to conduct us, what marvel then we go about truth, rather then lodge with Truth. And Christ his Kingdom, Sceptre, Glory, Babylons fall, be the material object of opinions, on both sides; And yet the word of God hath a right lith, that cannot suffer division. In Gods matters there be not, as in Grammar, the positive and comparative ⟨image 5⟩degrees, there are not here, truth, and more true, and most true. Truth is in an indivisible line, which hath no latitude, and cannot admit of splitting. And therefore we may make use of the Philosophers word, amicus Socrates, amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas. Though Peter and Paul be our beloved friends, yet the truth is a dearer friend: The Sons of Babylon make out-cries of divisions and diversity of Religions amongst us, but every opinion is not a new Religion.
But I heartily desire not to appeare as an adversary to the holy, reverend, and learned Brethren who are sufferers for the truth, for there be wide marches betwixt striving, and disputing. Why should we strive? for we be Brethren, the Sonnes of one father, the borne Citizens of one mother Ierusalem. To dispute is not to contend. We strive as we are carnall, we dispute as we are men, we war from our ⟨image 4⟩lusts bwe dispute from diversity of star-light, and day-light. Weaknesse is not wickednesse, a roving of wit must not be deemed a Rebellion of will, a broken inginne may part with a dead child, and yet be a Mother of many healthy children. And while our reverend and deare Brethren, fleeing the coast of Egypt, and Babylons wicked borders, aym to shore upon truth, wind may deceive good Sailors, naturall land-motions (as when heavy bodies move downward, toward their own (clay Countrey) are upon a straight line. But Seamotions of sailing are not by right lines, but rather by Sea-circles. We often argue and dispute, as we saile. Where grace and weight of Scripture make motion, we walke, in a right line, toward God. But where opinion, a messenger only sent to spie the Land of lies, and truth, usurpeth to conduct us, what marvell then we goe about truth, rather then lodge with Truth. And Christ his Kingdome, Scepter, Glory, Babylons fall, be the materiall object of opinions, on both sides; And yet the word of God hath a right lith, that cannot suffer division. In Gods matters there be not, as in Grammar, the positive and comparative ⟨image 5⟩degrees, there are not here, truth, and more true, and most true. Truth is in an indivisible line, which hath no latitude, and cannot admit of spleeting. And therefore we may make use of the Philosophers word, amicus Socrates, amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas. Though Peter and Paul bee our beloved friends, yet the truth is a dearer friend: The Sonnes of Babylon make out-cries of divisions and diversity of Religions amongst us, but every opinion is not a new Religion.
- bJames 4. 1.
