Once more, 'tis little for the honour of Christ, that his body is crumbled into small bits and portionets; he prayed, Let them be one that the world may know that thou hast sent me, implying that our divisions and breaking into sects, would breed suspicion of the Gospel in the hearts of men, as if that great mystery of redemption by him, were but a well devised fable: Yet again, this running into parties and sects, is our great hindrance and disadvantage: partly in spiritual things, for all duties of spiritual commerce and communion are fore-born; 'tis said here, These separate themselves, but beloved, do ye edify one another in your holy faith, implying that though others withdraw and omit all duty in this kind, those that continue in the body will contribute their mutual help and care to confirm and build up one another; a draught of wine is best preserved in the ⟨p. 493⟩hogshead, and Christians in their societies; coals lying together, keep in the heat, Apostasy began in forsaking the assemblies, Heb. 10. 23, and 25. and 1 John 2. 19. Partly as to our outward peace and welfare; separation sets others against us, and us against them, it exulcerateth mens minds against you, when you give out as if you were more pure and holy then others, Isai. 65. 5. Stand by thy self, come not near me, for I am holier then thou: Gracious singularity is many times envied and hated, but certainly peevish singularity draweth a just scorn upon its self; and it setteth you against others, men seldom separate, but their hearts are much estranged from those from whom they separate, for Religious ties being once broken are hardly made up again; civil ruptures are not carried on with such vehemency, and are sooner closed again; but Religion being the highest bond and ligament, when 'tis once violated, the breach is the more irreconcilable.
Once more, 'tis little for the honour of Christ, that his body is crumbled into small bits and portionets; he prayed, Let them be one that the world may know that thou hast sent me, implying that our divisions and breaking into sects, would breed suspicion of the Gospel in the hearts of men, as if that great mystery of redemption by him, were but a well devised fable: Yet again, this running into parties and sects, is our great hindrance and disadvantage: partly in spiritual things, for all duties of spiritual commerce and communion are fore-born; 'tis said here, These separate themselves, but beloved, do ye edifie one another in your holy faith, implying that though others withdraw and omit all duty in this kind, those that continue in the body will contribute their mutual help and care to confirm and build up one another; a draught of wine is best preserved in the ⟨p. 493⟩hogshead, and Christians in their societies; coals lying together, keep in the heat, Apostacy began in forsaking the assemblies, Heb. 10. 23, and 25. and 1 Iohn 2. 19. Partly as to our outward peace and welfare; separation sets others against us, and us against them, it exulcerateth mens minds against you, when you give out as if you were more pure and holy then others, Isai. 65. 5. Stand by thy self, come not near me, for I am holyer then thou: Gracious singularity is many times envyed and hated, but certainly peevish singularity draweth a just scorn upon its self; and it setteth you against others, men seldom separate, but their hearts are much estranged from those from whom they separate, for Religious ties being once broken are hardly made up again; civil ruptures are not carryed on with such vehemency, and are sooner closed again; but Religion being the highest bond and ligament, when 'tis once violated, the breach is the more irreconcileable.
