The great necessity of unity and peace among all Protestants, and the bloody principles…

But howsoever God hath thus marshalled his Church in a goodly order, terrible as an Army with Banners: yet, such is the disorder of our nature, that many, for all this, break rank, and the enemy laboureth to breed division in Gods House, that so his Kingdom might not stand. Nay, oftentimes it cometh to pass that the Watchmen themselves, Cant. 5. 7. who were appointed for the safeguarding of the Church, prove, in this kind, to be the smiters and wounders of her: and from among them who were purposely ordained in the Church, for the bringing of men into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, Eph. 4. 13. even from among those, some do arise, that speak perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Act 20. 30.

Thus we find in the Ecclesiastical History, that after the death of Julian the Apostate, Questions and Disputes concerning matters of Doctrine were freshly set afoot by those who were set over the Churches. Whereupon Soz•men maketh this grave Observation: That the Disposition of men is such, that when they are wronged by others, they are at agreement among themselves; but when they are freed of evils from abroad, then they make insurrections one against another. Which as we find to be too true by the late experience of our Neighbour Churches in the Low-Countries: So are we to consider with the Wise man, that What hath been; is now, and that which is to be, hath already been, Eccles. 3. 15. and be not so inquisitive, why the former days were better than these? for we do not enquire wisely concerning this. Ibid. 6. 10. When like troubles were in the Church heretofore, Isidorus Pelusiota, an ancient Father, moveth the question, what a man should do in this case? and maketh answer, That If it be possible we should mend it, but if that may not be, we should hold our peace. Lib. 4. Epist. 133.

Thus we find in the Ecclesiastical History, that after the death of Julian the Apistate, Questions and Disputes concerning matters of Doctrine were freshly set afoot by those who were set over the Churches. Whereupon Sozmen maketh this grave Observation: That the Disposition of men is such, that when they are wronged by others, they are at agreement among themselves; but when they are freed of evils from abroad, then they make insurrections one against another. Which as we find to be too true by the late experience of our Neighbour Churches in the Low-Countries: So are we to consider with the Wiseman, that What hath been; is now, and that which is to be, hath already been,