First, The Christian Religion is here called (but miscalled) a Sect, 1[Greek or Hebrew], a Heresy. After the way which they call Heresy, (saith St. Paul, Acts 24.14.) so worship I the God of my Fathers, —The Sect of the Nazarenes, so Tertullus calls it in his opening of the Indictment against Paul, Acts 24.5. it's called this way, Acts 9.2. and that way, Acts 19.9. as if it were a By-path out of the common Road. The Practice of serious Godliness is still looked upon by many as a Sect that is a Party-business, and a piece of affected singularity in Opinion and Practice tending to promote some carnal Design, by creating and supporting invidious Distinctions among Men. This is the proper notion of a Sect, and therefore the Masters and Maintainers of Sects are justly in an ill Name, as Enemies to the great Corporation of Mankind; but there is not the least colour of Reason to put this invidious and scandalous Character upon the Christian Religion. However, it may be mistaken and misrepresented, it is very far from being really a Sect. There were Sects of Religion among the ⟨p. 5⟩Jews; we read of the Sect of the Sadducees, Acts 5.17. which was built upon peculiar notions, such as overturned the foundation of Natural Religion, by denying a future state of Rewards and Punishments: There was also the Sect of the Pharisees, Acts 15.5. the straitest Sect of their Religion, Acts 26.5. which was founded in the observance and imposition of singular Rites and Customs, with an affected separation from, and contempt of all Mankind: These were Sects: But there is nothing of the Spirit and Genius of these in the Christian Religion, as it was instituted by its great Author.
First, The Christian Religion is here called (but miscalled) a Sect, 1〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a Heresy. After the way which they call Heresy, (saith St. Paul, Acts 24.14.) so worship I the God of my Fathers, —The Sect of the Nazarenes, so Tertullus calls it in his opening of the Indictment against Paul, Acts 24.5. it's call'd this way, Acts 9.2. and that way, Acts 19.9. as if it were a By-path out of the common Road. The Practice of serious Godliness is still look'd upon by many as a Sect that is a Party-business, and a piece of affected singularity in Opinion and Practice tending to promote some carnal Design, by creating and supporting invidious Distinctions among Men. This is the proper notion of a Sect, and therefore the Masters and Maintainers of Sects are justly in an ill Name, as Enemies to the great Corporation of Mankind; but there is not the least colour of Reason to put this invidious and scandalous Character upon the Christian Religion. However, it may be mistaken and misrepresented, it is very far from being really a Sect. There were Sects of Religion among the ⟨p. 5⟩Jews; we read of the Sect of the Sadducees, Acts 5.17. which was built upon peculiar notions, such as overturn'd the foundation of Natural Religion, by denying a future state of Rewards and Punishments: There was also the Sect of the Pharisees, Acts 15.5. the straitest Sect of their Religion, Acts 26.5. which was founded in the observance and imposition of singular Rites and Customs, with an affected separation from, and contempt of all Mankind: These were Sects: But there is nothing of the Spirit and Genius of these in the Christian Religion, as it was instituted by its great Author.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew], Electio optio, An Opinion not forced upon us by the Evidences of Truth, but chosen by us with some foreign Design.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Electio optio, An Opinion not forced upon us by the Evidences of Truth, but chosen by us with some forreign Design.
