Either we have dealt hypocritically with God and man, or else the Divisions in these poor Churches have lain upon the hearts of the godly in England as an afflicting evil. The Civil Power have seemed to be so sensible of this evil, that more then once it hath been numbered amongst the causes in their Orders for our Solemn and Public Humiliations; if our Fast-days, Prayers, Sermons, Books, &c. may be believed, then the breaches in our Churches have broken our comforts. For my part I have cause to take shame, and to ask pardon of God that this sin which hath wrought so much evil, and brought such dishonour to Christ, have no more affected me; it is for them whose hearts are most divided from self, and united to God, to be indeed affected and afflicted with Divisions in the Church. I look on it as an act of a grown Christian, whose Interest in Christ is well cleared, and his heart walking close with God, to be really taken up with the public Interest of Christ. I will not measure other mens hearts by my own, but I must say for my self, the good Lord pardon my hypocrisy in this point, for to be affected as become Christians for Divisions among Christians, I find it a hard matter, whatever words seem to affirm.
EIther we have dealt hypocritically with God and man, or else the Divisions in these poore Churches have lain upon the hearts of the godly in England as an afflicting evil. The Civil Power have seemed to be so sensible of this evil, that more then once it hath been numbred amongst the causes in their Orders for our Solemn and Publike Humiliations; if our Fast-days, Prayers, Sermons, Books, &c. may be believed, then the breaches in our Churches have broken our comforts. For my part I have cause to take shame, and to ask pardon of God that this sin which hath wrought so much evil, and brought such dishonour to Christ, have no more affected me; it is for them whose hearts are most divided from self, and united to God, to be indeed affected and afflicted with Divisions in the Church. I look on it as an act of a grown Christian, whose Interest in Christ is well cleared, and his heart walking close with God, to be really taken up with the publike Interest of Christ. I will not measure other mens hearts by my own, but I must say for my self, the good Lord pardon my hypocrisie in this point, for to be affected as become Christians for Divisions among Christians, I find it a hard matter, whatever words seem to affirm.
