A81213:268
The moderator
The moderator: endeavouring a full composure and quiet settlement of those many differences both in doctrine and discipline, which have so long disturbed the peace and welfare of this common-wealth. Intended (especially at this time) to beget a brotherly love and unity amongst the ministers and people of all the three nations; the Parliament having now appointed a committee for receiving proposals for the propagation of the gospel. Brotherly unity amongst all Christians, especially amongst the ministers of Christ, being in it self so excellent and comely at all times, and (considering the danger and sad consequences of our present divisions) so desirable and necessary at this time: I conceive all overtures and counsels having a true tendency thereunto, worthy the public light, and do therefore approve the publication of this ensuing discourse. Joseph Carly.The moderator: endeavouring a full composure and quiet settlement of those many differences both in doctrine and discipline, which have so long disturbed the peace and welfare of this common-wealth. Intended (especially at this time) to beget a brotherly love and unity amongst the ministers and people of all the three nations; the Parliament having now appointed a committee for receiving proposals for the propagation of the gospel. Brotherly unity amongst all Christians, especially amongst the ministers of Christ, being in it self so excellent and comely at all times, and (considering the danger and sad consequences of our present divisions) so desirable and necessary at this time: I conceive all overtures and counsels having a true tendency thereunto, worthy the publike light, and do therefore approve the publication of this ensuing discourse. Joseph Carly.
London: printed for John Bellamy, 1652
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.
CHAP. XI. Concerning the causes of disaffection and of breaches, how they should be removed by common consent.
CHAP. XI. Concerning the causes of disaffection and of breaches, how they should bee removed by common consent.
The first and original causes of disaffection and of breaches are for the most part not taken notice of, and hardly discerned ⟨p. 68⟩by many, even then when they are discovered, because they lie very close to our nature, for they are commonly nothing else, but the neglect of charitable inclinations and duties; and the unadvised admitting of prejudices, and entertaining of evil surmises, which not being observed and cured, fester in the mind, and first breed a shyness or wariness of him, against whom they are conceived, then a distance from him, afterwards a strangeness to his ways; and lastly a breach of unity with opposition. The causes of prejudice are very many in all sorts of men; those which the ungodly and natural man doth entertain, against a conscionable and religious walking with God, I need not here to meddle withal (* another hath handled that subject profitably at large, and showed the cure thereof) but those which godly and religious men, through humane frailty entertain one against another, are the matter which here is to be considered, to make the way of unity and forbearance plain and easy, and I shall now only name them, and point at the cure thereof in a word or two; because I do intend to speak to men of understanding only, to whom God hath committed the charge of souls, and my aim towards them is, not to dictate any thing, but only to discover the possibility of a cure of this disease; first in themselves, and then in their hearers, by the removal of the chief causes of all our prejudices; which I shall reduce to two heads, whereof the one is openly, the other is secretly offensive.