The beatitudes

1. They are a Prognostic of much evil to a Nation; here that Rule in Philosophy holds true, omne divisibile est corruptibile. When the veil of the Temple did rend in pieces, it was a sad omen and fore-runner of the destruction of the Temple; the rending the veil of the Churches peace, betokens the ruin of it. Josephus observes that the City of Jerusalem, when it was besieged by Titus Vespasian, had three great factions in it, which destroyed more than the enemy, and was the occasion of ⟨p. 287⟩the taking it: How fatal intestine divisions have been to this Land? Camden and other learned Writers relate, our discerptions and mutinies have been the scaling ladder by which the Romans and the Normans have formerly gotten into the Nation. How is the bond of peace broken? we have so many Schisms in the body, and are run into so many particular Churches, that God may justly unchurch us, as he did Asia.

1. They are a Prognostick of much evil to a Nation; here that Rule in Philosophy holds true, omne divisibile est corruptibile. When the vail of the Temple did rend in pieces, it was a sad omen and fore-runner of the destruction of the Temple; the rending the vail of the Churches peace, betokens the ruine of it. Josephus observes that the City of Hierusalem, when it was besieged by Titus Vespasian, had three great factions in it, which destroyed more than the enemy, and was the occasion of ⟨p. 287⟩the taking it: How fatal intestine divisions have been to this Land? Cambden and other learned Writers relate, our discerptions and mutinies have been the scaling ladder by which the Romans and the Normans have formerly gotten into the Nation. How is the bond of peace broken? we have so many Schisms in the body, and are run into so many particular Churches, that God may justly unchurch us, as he did Asia.

2. It may afflict us to see the garment of the Churches peace rent, because divisions bring an opprobrium and scandal upon Religion; these make the ways of God evil spoken, as if Religion were the fomenter of strife and sedition. Julian in his invectives against the Christians, said, they lived together as Tigers, rending, and devouring one another; and shall we make good Julians words? 'Tis unseemly to see Christs Doves fighting; to see his lily become a bramble. Alexander Severus seeing two Christians contending, commanded them that they should not take the name of Christians any longer upon them; for (saith he) you dishonour your Master Christ. Let men either lay down their contentions, or lay off the coat of their profession.