pp. 100–1027 passages
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What do you hear more ordinary then this, How many Religions have we now? Shall so many Religions be suffered amongst us? we cannot tell now what Religion men are of; upon this apprehension they oppose such as differ from them in some few things, with all the violence they can, as men bringing up new Religions, and would take away their Religion from them; how can they possibly accord with men that are of a different Religion from them?
VVHat do you hear more ordinary then this, How many Religions have we now? Shall so many Religions be suffered amongst us? we cannot tell now what Religion men are of; upon this apprehension they oppose such as differ from them in some few things, with all the violence they can, as men bringing up new Religions, and would take away their Religion from them; how can they possibly accord with men that are of a different Religion from them?
Surely we are more afraid then hurt;1 Though our differences be sad enough, yet they come not up to this, to make us men of different Religions. We agree in the same end, though not in the same means; they are but different ways of opposing the common adversary. The agreeing in the same means in the same way of opposing the common enemy would be very comfortable, it would be our strength, but that cannot be expected in this world.
Surely we are more afraid then hurt;1 Though our differences be sad enough, yet they come not up to this, to make us men of different Religions. We agree in the same end, though not in the same means; they are but different wayes of opposing the common adversary. The agreeing in the same means in the same way of opposing the common enemy would be very comfortable, it would be our strength, but that cannot be expected in this world.
Livy in his story of a great Battle between Hannibal and Scipio, 1says, That at the joining of the Armies, the shouting of Scipio's men was far more terrible then the shouting of Hannibal's, because Scipio's men were all Romans, their shouting had all the same tone: but Hannibal's Army was made up of men of several Countries, so that in their shouting there was variety of the tones of their voice, wch was not accounted so formidable a shout as the other. It is true, our adversaries do not look our opposition to them having so much diversity in it, so formidable as they would if we were all but one in our way of opposing them; But still we are all shouting against the common enemy; although therefore the terror upon our adversary would be greater, if our shout were more uniform; yet we hope the victory may be as sure.
Livie in his story of a great Battail between Hannibal and Scipio, 1sayes, That at the joyning of the Armies, the shouting of Scipio's men was farre more terrible then the shouting of Hannibal's, because Scipio's men were all Romans, their shouting had all the same tone: but Hannibal's Army was made up of men of severall Countries, so that in their shouting there was variety of the tones of their voyce, wch was not accounted so formidable a shout as the other. It is true, our adversaries do not look our opposition to them having so much diversity in it, so formidable as they would if we were all but one in our way of opposing them; But stil we are all shouting against the common enemy; although therefore the terrour upon our adversary would be greater, if our shout were more uniform; yet we hope the victory may be as sure.
Soldiers who march against a common enemy, all under the same Captain, who follow the same Colours in their Ensign, and wear them upon their hats or arms, may get the day, though they be not all clothed alike, though they differ in things of less concernment.
Souldiers who march against a common enemy, all under the same Captain, who follow the same Colours in their Ensign, and wear them upon their hats or arms, may get the day, though they be not all cloathed alike, though they differ in things of lesse concernment.
Revel. 15. 2. we read of the Saints standing upon a sea of glass, which had fire mingled with it. Mr. Brightman interprets this sea of glass, the doctrine of the Gospel, more clear, more transparent then the doctrine of the Law, which, he says, was resembled by the sea of brass that Solomon made; But there is fire mingled in this sea of glass, that is, saith he, There are contentions & divisions in the Church, where this doctrine of the Gospel is taught: But yet mark what follows, They got the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, and had the harps of God in their hands, and sang the song of Moses, &c.
Revel. 15. 2. we read of the Saints standing upon a sea of glasse, which had fire mingled with it. Mr. Brightman interprets this sea of glass, the doctrine of the Gospel, more clear, more transparent then the doctrine of the Law, which, he sayes, was resembled by the sea of brasse that Solomon made; But there is fire mingled in this sea of glasse, that is, saith hee, There are contentions & divisions in the Church, where this doctrine of the Gospel is taught: But yet mark what follows, They got the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his marke, and over the number of his name, and had the harps of God in their hands, and sang the song of Moses, &c.
Men who are in a crowd, tread one upon another, yet they ⟨p. 102⟩all make to the same door, they would all go the same way: Godly people are divided in their opinions and ways, but they are united in Christ; though they may be divided from such a particular society, yet they are not divided from the Church; it is with the Saints here, as with the boughs of trees in time of a storm; you shall see the boughs one beat upon another, as if they would beat one another to pieces, as if Armies were fighting, but this is but while the wind, while the tempest lasts; stay a while and you shall see every bough standing in its own order and comeliness, why? because they are all united in one root; if any bough be rotten, the storm breaks it off, but the sound boughs come into their former place. These times of division may break off men whose spirits were before unsound, they will never come in to join with the Saints again so as they seemed to do in former times: but within a while when this gust is over, others may come in and show themselves to be all united in, and receive sap from the same root.
Men who are in a crowd, tread one upon another, yet they ⟨p. 102⟩all make to the same door, they would all go the same way: Godly people are divided in their opinions and wayes, but they are united in Christ; though they may be divided from such a particular society, yet they are not divided from the Church; it is with the Saints here, as with the boughs of trees in time of a storm; you shall see the boughs one beat upon another, as if they would beat one another to pieces, as if Armies were fighting, but this is but while the wind, while the tempest lasts; stay a while and you shal see every bough standing in its own order and comeliness, why? because they are all united in one root; if any bough be rotten, the storme breaks it off, but the sound boughs come into their former place. These times of division may break off men whose spirits were before unsound, they will never come in to joyne with the Saints again so as they seemed to doe in former times: but within a while when this gust is over, others may come in and shew themselves to be all united in, and receive sap from the same root.
