Chapter 1

CHAP. I.

THE thoughts of the divided state of Christians have brought one of the greatest and constantest sadness to my Soul, that ever it was acquainted with; especially to remember, that while we are quarrelling, and plotting, and writing, and fighting against each other, so many parts of the world (about five of six) remain in the Infidelity of Heathenism, Judaism or Mohammedanism, where millions of poor souls do need our help; and if all our strength were joined together for their Illumination and Salvation, it would be too little. Oh horrible shame to the face ⟨p. 2⟩of Christendom, that the Nations are quietly serving the Devil, and the Turk is in possession of so many Countries, that once were the Inheritance of Christ, and that his Iron yoke is still upon the necks of the persecuted Greeks, and that he stands up at our doors in so formidable a posture, still ready to devour the rest of the Christian world; and yet that instead of combining to resist him, and vindicate the cause and people of the Lord, we are greedily sucking the blood of one another, and tearing in pieces the body of Christ with furious hands, and destroying our selves to save the enemy a labour, and spending that wit, that treasure, that labour and that blood, to dash our selves in pieces on one another, which might be nobly, and honestly, and happily spent in the cause of God.

THE thoughts of the divided state of Christians have brought one of the greatest and constantest sadness to my Soul, that ever it was acquainted with; especially to remember, that while we are quarrelling, and plotting, and writing, and fighting against each other, so many parts of the world (about five of six) remain in the Infidelity of Heathenism, Judaism or Mahometanism, where millions of poor souls do need our help; and if all our strength were joyned together for their Illumination and Salvation, it would be too little. Oh horrible shame to the face ⟨p. 2⟩of Christendom, that the Nations are quietly serving the Devil, and the Turk is in possession of so many Countries, that once were the Inheritance of Christ, and that his Iron yoak is still upon the necks of the persecuted Greeks, and that he stands up at our doors in so formidable a posture, still ready to devour the rest of the Christian world; and yet that instead of combining to resist him, and vindicate the cause and people of the Lord, we are greedily sucking the blood of one another, and tearing in pieces the body of Christ with furious hands, and destroying our selves to save the enemy a labour, and spending that wit, that treasure, that labour and that blood, to dash our selves in pieces on one another, which might be nobly, and honestly, and happily spent in the cause of God.