2. In all differences about Religion to drive them to their rise and spring, 1and to consider them as stated originally, will ease us of much trouble and labour. Perhaps many of them will not appear so formidable, as they are represented. He that sees a great River, is not instantly to conclude that all the water in it comes from its first rise & spring; the addition of many brooks showers and landfloods, have perhaps swelled it to the condition wherein it is: every difference in Religion is not to be thought to be as big at its rise, as it appears to be when it hath passed through many Generations, and hath received additions and aggravations from the disputings and contendings of men, on the one hand, and the other, engaged. What a flood of Abominations doth this business of Schism seem to be, as rolling down to us through the writings of Cyprian, Austin, and Optatus of old: the Schoolmen, decrees of Popish Councils with the contrivances of some, among our selves, concerned to keep up the swelled notion of it! Go to its rise, and you will find it to be, though bad enough, yet quite ⟨p. 276⟩another thing, then what by the prejudices accruing by the addition of so many generations, it is now generally represented to be. The great maxim, To the Law and to the Testimony, truly improved, would quickly cure all our distempers: in the mean time, let us bless God, that though our outward man may possibly be disposed of, according to the apprehension that others have of what we do, or are, our Consciences are concerned only in what he hath appointed. How some men may prevail against us, before whom we must stand or fall according to their corrupt notion of Schism, we know not: the Rule of our Consciences, in this, as in all other things, is eternal and unchangeable. Whilst I have an uncontrollable faithful witness, that I transgress no limits prescribed to me in the Word, that I do not willingly break, or dissolve any Unity of the Institution of Jesus Christ, my mind as to this thing is filled with perfect peace.
2. In all differences about Religion to drive them to their rise and spring, 1and to consider them as stated originally, will ease us of much trouble and labour. Perhaps many of them will not appeare so formidable, as they are represented. He that sees a great River, is not instantly to conclude that all the water in it comes from its first rise & spring; the addition of many brookes showers and landfloods, have perhaps swelled it to the condition wherein it is: every difference in Religion is not to be thought to be as big at its rise, as it appeares to be when it hath passed through many Generations, and hath received additions and aggravations from the disputings and contendings of men, on the one hand, and the other, ingaged. What a flood of Abominations doth this businesse of Schisme seem to be, as rolling down tous through the writings of Cyprian, Austin, and Optatus of old: the Schoolemen, decrees of Popish Councells with the contrivances of some, among our selves, concerned to keep up the swelled notion of it! Goe to its rise, and you will find it to be, though bad enough, yet quite ⟨p. 276⟩another thing, then what by the pre•udices accrewing by the addition of so many generations, it is now generally represented to be. The great maxime, To the Law and to the Testimonie, truly improved, would quickly cure all our distempers: in the meane time, let us blesse God, that though our outward man may possibly be disposed of, according to the apprehension that others have of what we doe, or are, our Consciences are concerned only in what he hath appointed. How some men may prevaile against us, before whom we must stand or fall according to their corrupt notion of Schisme, we know not: the Rule of our Consciences, in this, as in all other things, is eternall and unchangable. Whilst I have an uncontrolable faithfull witnesse, that I transgresse no limits prescribed to me in the Word, that I doe not willingly break, or dissolve any Ʋnity of the Institution of Jesus Christ, my minde as to this thing is filled with perfect peace.
- 1§. 66.
