A59692:96
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve…
Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances and appointments the best means to preserve our liberty : together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the word ... : with some remarkable passages of His life / by Thomas Shepard ...
London: printed by S.G. for John Rothwell, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. When you see men (professing the fear of God) mutually naturally contentious, and continuing so: I say, contentious with Saints which they say they love, & wch they are by covenant bound to love, either from some conceived wrong, and hence cannot forgive as Christ doth them; or from a prejudicate groundless opinion, they care not for me, nor I for them; or from a spirit of scornful Censoriousness, what are such and such? or because distasted, because of some reproof in their sin; or by some opinion, or by some worldly conveniency, or laying out lots, or restraint of some liberty, &c. or because of some sin: Now can sit and censure; and I say, when this is mutual; for a godly man may be contended with, but he prays and mourns and pities, unless it be at some time; but when it shall continually abide so fierce and implacable Eccles. 7. 9. Anger resteth in the bosom of fools; when a man shall be glad of an occasion of difference, that so he may depart and have something to quiet conscience for breach of Covenant, that there can be no healing, but Bellies of pigs are more dear then bowels of Saints, and when quiet, upon the least occasion apt to p•ck holes ⟨p. 15⟩and quarrel. Now it's time for the Lord to give over to another government. Zach. 11. 14, 15. When Brotherhood is broken, then an Idol-shepherd is set up. Exodus 2. Moses was sent to deliver Israel, but he finds two Hebrews oppressed striving, and must not be checked neither, well then fare-well deliverance if you be of that spirit; you shall love one another better if ever the Lord doth that for you. It hath been the wisdom of some Princes, when their subjects have been at Civill wars, to call them forth to a common enemy, and there they can agree. Oh brethren, there is no sin like this, and yet none so slighted. You shall know what it is either by being yoked under enemies or sins. The first of these breaking bonds of union to Christ, the other with his members.
2. When you see men (professing the fear of God) mutually naturally contentious, and continuing so: I say, contentious with Saints which they say they love, & wch they are by covenant bound to love, either from some conceived wrong, and hence cannot forgive as Christ doth them; or from a prejudicate groundlesse opinion, they care not for me, nor I for them; or from a spirit of scornfull Censoriousnesse, what are such and such? or because distasted, because of some reproof in their sin; or by some opinion, or by some worldly conveniency, or laying out lots, or restraint of some liberty, &c. or because of some sin: Now can sit and censure; and I say, when this is mutual; for a godly man may be contended with, but he prayes and mourns and pitties, unlesse it be at some time; but when it shall continually abide so fierce and implacable