The nets of salvation. A brief essay, upon the glorious designs & methods of…

III. In the winning of Souls is there Wisdom? Let us Get the wisdom; and Use the wisdom.

Indeed, There is one particular winning of Souls, that some have thought more particularly intended, in that Proverb of Israel, which is now instructing of us; and it were well, if there were more of that wisdom found among us. That is to say, The Winning of People under Animosities against one another, to lay aside their Animosities: To win Souls, is to Reconcile the minds of People, that are at Variance, and Conquer and Subdue the Prejudices, that are in their Souls against one another. Good men do Lose one another, & Lose that Good which they might have by one another, when they are Embroiled in Contentions. Tale-bearers are therefore Diametrically Opposite unto winners of Souls. To win Souls, is to bring Divided Spirits over unto one another; and it is Wisdom to do such Thing; Tis that wisdom which is from above, […] be so Peaceable. They are wise men, who […] in the methods of true Wisdom, affect & merit that Motto, Mat. 5. 9. Blessed are the Peace-makers. Sometimes the sincere Servants ⟨p. 34⟩of God, may like Paul and Barnab• have their Paroxysms. Uncomfortable Al•• nations may happen between those that and Men of God, because they may have too much of the Old Man in them, and Satan may not a little Damnify the Cause & Work of God by these Infirmities. It would be a wisdom to Unite the Jarring Servants of God. The Garland of wisdom shall be placed on the Heart of him that brings them into an Union with one another. And the Attempt is here more hopeful, than when you have to do with soul as are themselves destitute of wisdom. The Children of God, tho, they may have then Froward and Fretful Pangs, yet they will not be those Thorns, which cannot be taken wide bands. A wise Man will not count himself so sent with Iron and the staff of a Spear, as to […] where he can hope for nothing but—