Christs Forgiveness of True Christians is a Preceptive Pattern

DOCTRINE.

Christ's forgiving of true Christians, should have the force of an Argument to persuade, and of a Rule to Direct them to forgive others.

They that are wronged by others, must forgive their wrongs. As it is the Duty of them that have wronged others to submit to them in the acknowledgment of it; so they that are wronged, ought to forgive and receive them in that submission. We must forgive, as we took to be forgiven, Mat. 6.12. We cann • Pray believingly, That God would forgive us the guilt of our Iniquity committed against Himself, or others, unless we forgive others the injury which they have done us.

The USE is of EXHORTATION. Let us all apply to CHRIST for Pardon and Forgiveness; and then let us forgive One another, as Christ hath forgiven us.

II. USE is a Word of Consolation to yourselves, Dear Brethren! that have a • cording to CHRIST's Pattern & Precep • forgiven one another those offenses that in an hour of Temptation have been given and taken by you. As we have desired to Mourn for, & to be bumbled under the due sense of the Sins that have been committed in this time of Division, amongst you; so we rejoice with you, & give thanks to God for you, and for the Grace of God in you & with you, whereby you have been ina • bled from the heart to forgive one another as Christ hath forgiven you: Our dear Savior now Seal to your Souls the Scripture. Evidence of his forgiving of you, in this Mark of it, [ viz. your forgiveness of you • Brethren,] according to his good Promi • Oh! Remember His Words, in Mat. 6.14, 15. For if ye forgive men their Trespasses, you • Heavenly Father will also forgive you; But 〈◊〉 ye forgive not men their Trespasses, neither wi • your Father forgive your Trespasses.

DOCTRINE.

Sinful STRIFE of Godly Brethren is a very Odious Thing, and the Saints have and ought to have an extreme Dread of it, and Antipathy to it, and to be holily striving against it.

Three things we shall here endeavor as the Lord shall help us, viz.

1. To show what Sinful Strife is.

2. To Open and Demonstrate the Odiousness of it, on the account whereof it ought to be dreaded by the Children of God. And,

3. How they may and ought to be striving against it in an holy manner.

I. To show what Sinful. Strife is. And forasmuch as there is an Holy Strife and Contention; see Jude v. 3. Where we are Commanded to Contend earnestly for the Faith; and for • smuch as Rectum est index sui et Obliqui: That which is strait is the Ind •• whereby we discover what is Straight, and 〈◊〉 is Crooked 〈◊〉 and forasmuch as whatsoever is Sinful, is morally Defective, Know therefore, that Strife is Sinful, if it be defective, if it want any of the choice Ingredients that go to the making of Godly Strife; and there are no less than Eight of them, viz. Good Principles, Good Ends, Good Frames, a Good Cause, a Good Call, a Good Time, a Good Manner and Degree, and Good Instruments, When all these are Good, then Strife is Good, but if any one is Evil, the Strife is Depraved thereby and made Evil.

I. Strife in an Evil Cause is Sinful. How Good soever it is to be zealously affected always (even unto an holy striving) in a thing that is Good, Gal. 4.18. It is as wicked to stand in an Evil Thing, and much more with both hands to strive for it, Eccles. 8.3. Mic. 7.3. Thus to have a man's Bow bent for lies, (to strive for Errors, Will worship, Idolatry) and not to be valiant for the Truth (but against the Truth, and against God's Holy Ways and Ordinances) is very sinful, Jer. 9.3. Thus also to strive for an Office & Employment which God has (by with-holding due Qualifications and Abilities to Capacitate a man for it) forbidden a man to meddle with, is Sinful, and an unlawful Tempting of God, Mat. 4. Rom. 12.3. 'It is also sinful and directly against our Lord's Direction, in Luk 14.8, 9. to affect a Superior Seat, and to Contend for it; and yet how many Congregations and Assemblies of Zion have been in Convulsions for this Cause! 'It is also a Sinful Strife, when a man contends to have his Will & Humour, in the Management of Affairs, against Order, Rule and Counsel. 'It is a Wilfulness and Headiness of an horrid Character and Heinousness, 1 Tim. 3.4.1 Cor. 6.3, 4. Acts 15.1—6.23,—29.2 Sam. 20.18. And inasmuch as the Glory of God, and Good of Mankind make it necessary, that Convicted Criminals should not escape without meet Discipline and Punishment, Exod. 21.24, 27. Lev. 24.20. Deut. 19.21. Josh. 6.13.—15. Therefore' tis a Sinful Strife when men, thro' Partiality and forbidden Pity, strive to rescue either themselves or others, when scandalous Offenders, from due Domestical, Ecclesiastical or Civil Discipline; nor is it the less flagicious, because frequent and common, to the great obstruction of Good Government and Reformation. Also when a man is lawfully under Government in Family, School, Church, Province or Kingdom, then against right to strive to cast off the Yoke, tis a sinful Strife for Liberty & an atrocious Rebellion, Rom. 13.2.

It's also very Sinful to strive against the Payment of Just Taxes & Tributes, Rom. 13.6, 7. Mat. 22.21.

Strife to Get or to Hold what belongs to another, and to with hold from the Right Owner his Goods & Possessions is sinful and unrighteous Strife, Judge. 11.23.1 Joh. 5.17.

Sinful also is a Strife of Tenaciousness of what is a man's own; when a man will struggle and contend to the last, before he will part with, or relinquish his private legal Claim & Right in anything, although his holding of it hazard the Peace and Safety of the Community, wound the Spirits of Godly Brethren, and directly expose some Neighbors to commit Sin, and to ruin their Souls. See Rom. 14.15, 20, 22. Rom. 15.2.1 Cor. 8.13. And forasmuch as our Lord has shewn us, that a blow or two ought to be patiently born and put up, and a Suit at Law, (Commenced against us) also overlook'd, and a Coat and Cloak too be readily Resign'd and Sacrificed for the prevention and remedy of grievous Strife, Mat. 5.39. Therefore for a man (when in little things his proper demands and demonstrations of his Right prove unsuccessful) to pursue and vex his Neighbor with hot Strife for small Trifles unto the Contracting to himself, and inflicting on his. Neighbor great vexation of Spirit, and to the hazarding of the committing of much Sin, is wickedly to violate the Laws and Rules of Holiness and Charity: That man is not only a Transgressor, but also a lover of Transgression, who so far love Strife, Prov. 17.19.

Strife is also Sinful when a man fears that perhaps his Neighbor is in the right, and he himself in the wrong: His Strife then not being of Faith, (but waged with a doubting, fearing Conscience) is Sin, Rom. 14.23.

II. Strife is Sinful, when its Principle and End are not Gracious, but Carnal. A Godly man is two men; he has two contrary Principles in him, viz. Grace and Sin, continually at War, one with another. Now if a man's Strife is, in a Good Cause from an Evil Principle, and for Vicious Ends: His Strife is Ungodly, and makes work for Repentance.

So, to strive for Religion, and for the Defense of the Truth, and Confutation and Suppression of Error, from a Principle of Vain Glory; (a man's Aim and End being to make to himself a great Name) it is exceeding loathsome in the sight of God: God requires that we bring no strange Fire for his Holy Altar, but that our strivings for him, and all our actings before him, be fired with the Heavenly Flames of pure Zeal for his Glory, and not our own Vain-glory, 1 Cor. 10.31. Gal. 5.26. Phil 2.3.

To strive for Victory over our Antagonists, for Victories sake, and not for the sake of an higher End, and a better Good than Victory, is culpable of Impiety.

Also because a man is like to be out-shone by his Neighbor, therefore to Wage Strife with him, to prevent or eclipse his envied Felicity or Glory, is to commit Iniquity, & shamefully to violate the Divine Law, that enjoins us to desire, pursue and rejoice in our Neighbors Good, as really and constantly as our own, without Envyings, 1 Pet. 2.1. 1 Cor. 13.4. Jam. 3.14, 16. Gal. 5.26.

And forasmuch as not the misery of the Offender, but his reclaiming, not his shame, but the Glory of God, not his ruin, but the Public Safety, and the warning of, & prevention of the Sin of others, are to be aimed at in the Punishment inflicted upon him, according to the Rules of Christianity, & of Humanity; & for a man to hate his offending and punishable Neighbor in his Heart, is absolutely forbidden: ( Prov. 17 5. & 24.17. Lev. 19.17. Gal 5.20.) therefore to Strive against a man to bring Mischief on him for Mischiefs sake, and to Strive for his Punishment (though' he has injured us) to gratify our Passion, & to manifest and give vent to our own vexation and rage, (a thing too too common among Christians, in their Prosecuting of Offenders in Courts & Churches,) is to strive sinfully, spitefully, barbarously. Verily not to inform against, and prosecute and punish Scandalous Offenders, is a Cruelty to all Societies, & traitorous against the Public Weal, and highly provoking to God; and so also never to inform against them, but when (on account of personal Injuries) a man has a mind to show his anger and resentment, and to vent the same spitefully by revenge, is to commit Iniquity in seeking to punish it, and to testify against Scandal, with a greater Scandal.

Again, To Strive against a Neighbor, from a love to Strife, and because a man delights in Contending, is wicked with a witness; for he loveth Transgression that loveth Strife, Prov. 17.19. And the more delight there is in Strife, there's the more Sin in it.

To strive against a man, without being heartily grieved, that a man has cause, and is necessitated so to do, and without heartily wishing, Oh that it were otherwise! & without endeavoring to put an end to Strife, as soon as may be; and to strive from a lust after, and pleasure in Quarrelling, is not God-like and Saint-like, but Diabolical, Psal, 68.30. Prov. 2.14.

Again, If the lust of inordinate Worldliness be the Principle that animates a man's Strife with his Neighbor; and if his secret end in striving for a temporal supposed Right, be to gratify that Lust, although no illegal course be used in the management of the Strife, yet is the strife vicious; and the Holy GOD, who • looks into the inmost thoughts, abominates the wicked mind (as well as the wicked hand) and Dete • whatsoever is produced from i • 1 King. 8.39. Prov. 21.27.

III. Strife is Sinful when 'tis managed in a sinful manner. And thus a man may strive in a Good Cause, from a good Principle, upon a good Call, and for a good End; and yet his Strife be very Evil, culpable and unjustifiable: An Error in the Manner, once cost the meekest man upon Earth, an Exclusion from the Land of Promise, (though not from Heaven) for he spake unadvisedly with his lips, (Psal. 106 33) at unawares, and said, Hear • e Rebels, Numb 20.10. and struck the Rock that he should have spoken to: giving an Admonition to the best of mere men on earth to fear greatly, when they must engage in Strife, and to fly to Heaven for guardance, where they are in such • tream danger of missing it in the • nner and measure, to the great • ischief both of themselves and of • thers. Now the Manner of Strife is • inful, and the Strife sinful, when in • e strife, near Relations and dear fellow-members miss of, and are robbed of that singular Tenderness • nd Kindness and Respect that is • ue unto them, and which to withdraw from them, is horrible Iniquity, Mic. 7.6. Isa. 9.19 Rom. 1.31.2 Tim. 3.3. Deut. 15.9. As also when, in Strife, Superiors in Family, Town, School, Church, Province and Realm, are any of them treated irreverently, saucily, malapertly, or rebelliously, without due Respect and Obsequiousness, contrary to the Fifth Com • andment, Exod. 20.12. Lev. 19.32. Rom. 13.7.1 Pet. 2.17. Eph. 5.33. So also when Strife is managed in a way of Insolency towards Equals, and of Imperiousness towards Inferiors, with a slighting or despising of them, Luk. 18.9. Contrary to the great Gospel Rules, in 1 Pet. 5.5. Rom. 12.10. Phil. 2.3. of esteeming each other better than ourselves, & of being subject one to another, i • honor, preferring one another; and forasmuch as Christians are commanded to be courteous, 1 Pet. 3.8 therefore to be uncourteous in Carriag • or Language in Strife, incurs guilt and if a defectiveness of Decency & Civility therein are intolerable, wha • shall we think of Scurrility and Reviling? (calling bad Names, &c. These shut a man out of Heaven and run him into Hell-fire, Mat. 5.22.1 Cor. 6.10.

And verily it is a crying Crime t • strive with a Neighbor vexatiously exasperatingly, and with unjust provocations to his Spirit, 1 Sam. 1.6, 7 & 2.3.9. Gal. 5.26. Eph. 6.4. Exo • 22.21. Lev. 19.33. There is also certain excessive stiffness, pertinaciousness and obstinacy that is forbidden, Psal. 75.5. Moreover the Strife forbidden and sinful, that is carry on without due meekness and moderation, and push'd forward without gentleness and Christian forbearance, Gal. 5 23. Col. 3.12. But undue and violent heats, passionateness and furiousness render the strife abominable, Jam. 1.20. Prov. 21.24. and 14.29. & 22.24. & 29.22. So also do D • eg -like uncandid suspiciousnessess, and hard, wrong, & false insinuations in Strife, 1 Sam. 22.8, 9, 10. Psal. 55.3. & 52.1, 2, 5.1 Cor. 13.5. Yet very rarely is there any great strife without them, to the unspeakable prejudice of holy Brethren, not to be recovered again, for many years, if ever in this World. Very faulty also is Strife, by reason of its being managed and carried on by Tatling, Talebearing, Whispering, Reporting, Repeating, Aggravating, what Brotherly Charity binds a man to overlook, & conceal, Rom. 1.29. Prov. 18.8. & 11, 13. & 17.9. & 26.20. & 20.19. Lev. 19.16.2 Cor. 12.20. Deut. 19.15. Thus as frequently, as wickedly, are divu • ged, all the secret faults, that in their whole lives, men have espied, in their Neighbors, to lessen their Reputation, weaken their Interest, and disable them from managing their Cause, to Effect and Success. That Strife also is not free from Sin that runs into Schism; as when a man having Strife with a Brother, will not Sit down with him at the Lord's Table, rending away from the Communion of the Church on that account unduly, Heb 10.25.1 Cor. 11.18 & 12.25. Or in a passion turning over to another Sect. And, that Strife abounds with Transgression, that is managed by undue Party-makings, and Party-taking, Sidings, Divisions, Factions; Effects and Evidences of too far prevailing Carnality in Spiritual men, Hab. 1.3.1 Cor. 3.3, 4. And the bane of Churches. Striving is catching, and it aggravates the Sin of some that they labor to inflame others, (as the little angry Dogs do set on the great Mastiffs) and make themselves guilty of other men's Sins, and Ruines. All injurious striving is sinful because injurious: If a man strive in a very good cause, yet • s his strife sinful if he wrong his Neighbors by striving in a wrong manner, Col. 3, 25. Again, inasmuch as Christians ought to act reasonably and so as to convince and satisfy reasonable men, therefore Strife is sinful when 'tis managed without producing solid arguments and sufficient Reasons, Proofs and Evidences, Mat. 18.16. Deut. 19.15. Also a man's strife is sinful, if in it he act Discomposedly and with too great a ruffling of mind, such as makes him unfit for Prayer, and other Duties, and Ordinances, and for Communion with the LORD in them, Luk. 21.19. As also 〈◊〉 a man has no Patience but act untreatably, 1 Tim. 6.11. Prov. 14.29. Eccl. 7.9.1 Thes. 5.14. And also if he strive with a sinful Alienation of Spirit from his Neighbor, not loving him with a pure heart fervently, nor heartily Praying for him, for his good, nor readily forgiving him, 1 Pet. 1.22. Mat. 5.44. & 6.14. Also Disorderliness and Unruliness and Confusion manifested in the manner of striving render the strife Sinful and Displeasing to the GOD of Order, Jam. 3.8, 16, 1 Cor. 14.33, 40.1 Thes. 5.14.2 Thes. 3.6. So doth also Partiality shewn and acted in strife, Jam. 2 9. & 3.17. Mat. 7.12. Luk. 6.31. And very highly Provoking to GOD is all Subdolousness and Unfairness, all Falsehood, Treachery, and base Under-hand-Dealing, when strife is really and dreadfully continued and acted yet under false shows of Courtesy, Amity, and Peaceableness, Lev. 19.11. Prov. 27.6, & 11, 18. Psal. 51.21. Moreover the strife is sinful that is managed with verbosity, with too many words; For in the Multitude of Words there wants not Sin, Prov. 10.19. It's yet more sinful if managed Brawlingly and with Clamour, Eph. 4.31. Titus. 3.2. It's yet more sinful if managed with such fierce Threatenings as may produce terrible fears and uneasinesses in the hearts of Neighbors, Eph 6.9.1 Pet. 2.23. Or if attended with evil Wishings, and Cursings, Job 31.30. Psal. 40.14 Rom 12.14. And Invocations of the Devil? But how dreadfully sinful is it, when it comes to Blows & Murder! Then 'tis unmerciful indeed & horrible. Rom. 1.30. And yet strife has filled Christendom with not only most bloody Wars, but also most barbarous Massacres.

Again if strife of Neighbors be carried on irreconcilably perpetually, endlessly, it is very sinful and abominable, Prov. 17.14.2 Sam. 20.18. Yet furthermore there is a sportful Strife in Wrestling, Running, handling a Weapon, &c. which grows sinful when too Intensely managed, and when it takes away the heart from it's intenseness in matters of Religion and Virtue; and instead of moderately Recreating of men's spirits, to fit them for serious business, doth really dull them and unfit them, and when it needlessly hazards life or limb, and wastes time, and estate, unprofitably, and perniciously, Eccl. 11.9, 10.1 Cor. 10.7. Hos. 4.11. Eph. 5.16. Col. 4.5. Isa 46.6. And as too great eagerness in Ludicrous-strife is sufficient alone (though' there were not (as there often are) other evil ingredients causes and circumstances,) to make that strife sinful, so too great indifference and carelessness in strife about serious matters, and the using of lightness and slightness in striving for the Truths of GOD, the Ordinances of GOD, the Cause of GOD, the Glory of GOD, and the Kingdom of CHRIST, striving for them in a vain and profane manner, without awful seriousness and heavenly zealousness, will render a man's strife sinful and condemnable, Gal. 4.18.1 Tim. 6.20.2 Tim 2.16.2 Cor. 1.17 Col. 2.18. Such a manner of striving for Religion becomes not GOD's witnesses, and Truths Champions. Thus strife is sinful when 'tis managed in a sinful MANNER.

IV. The strife is sinful if a man want a good Call to an engaging in strife; (if the strife no ways belongs to him, Prov. 26.17. If he has no Divine warrant, to guard and fortify his Conscience, to justify his Action, to encourage him to Pray over his Strife, and to believe and hope in the LORD for the divine acceptance of it, and assistance in it, 1 Tim. 4.5.) Or if he go beyond his call and line in the degree of his strife, whether he be an Aggressor or a Defendant, an Original Party, or a Second, and do contend for Spirituals or Temporals, Public interest, or Particular, (such a going beyond a man's call and warrant, being a sinful presumption and tempting of GOD) Or if his striving be out of season and irregular as to the time, if it be on the Lord's-Day, when men are called to Actions of another nature, if it be at a time when 'tis evident that Satan will be much more gratify'd directly by the strife, than GOD glorified, and apparent that Religion and the Souls of men will lose and suffer much more than there's any likelihood of their gaining thereby, Luk. 6.29. Or if unlawful instruments are made use of in the strife to the profanation of it, and Infidels engaged against Brethren. 1 Chron 12.19. Isa. 8.12.2 Chron. 25.7—9. & 19.2. Thus we have seen what sinful strife is.

II. We are now to open and demonstrate the Odiousness & Horridness of this sinful strife, whence it deserves to be greatly dreaded and abhorred by the Godly Brethren.

1. Strife has most odious Causes. Now that cannot but be itself odious, that is the natural issue of that which is loathsome and odious. Evil strife is from evil lusts, Jam. 4.1.11. Whence come Fightings (Quarrellings) come they not from lusts that war in you. Indwelling sin in the Godly spawns forth many odious lusts, and these lusts spawn forth strife.

1. Pride is an odious Lust, a most loathsome Thing; Prov 6.16. It's an abomination to the LORD. Prov. 8.13. Pride and Arrogancy the Lord hates. Now sinful strife is from pride, Prov. 13 10. Only by pride comes Contention. So that all other causes of contention are beholden unto pride for their Efficacy, for without the prime operation of pride, they could not produce it, Prov. 28.25. He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife: but the wisdom which is from above, which is pure and peaceable, Jam. 3.17. Is with the lowly, Prov. 11.2. Who do in lowliness of mind esteem each other better than themselves, Phil 2.3. And are yielding and submissive to one another, Eph. 5.21. Which prevents strife: but 'tis odious Pride that boils up in the scalding caldron of strife.

2. Inordinate self love and love of the World are odious lusts; There's most detestable Idolatry in them, Col. 3.5. And the Lord abhors them, Psal. 10 3. Now sinful Stri • e is from inordinate Self-love, and love of the World. The Times are Quarrelsome and Perilous, and men are dangerous and hurtful one to another, when men are lovers of themselves and of the World, 2 Tim 3.2. when all seek their own things, Phil. 2.21. And when one tries to draw to his own side, what another Strives to draw to his; & none will deny himself. or lay down his Worldly Interest. A Worldly Interest is a dividing Interest: Self and World are Idols where Brethren are set for Cyphers, to be encroached upon, and striven with.

3. Envy is an Odious Lust. It is not of the Spirit, but of the Flesh, of Corruption; Gal. 5.21. And of the Devil, Jam. 3.15, 16. Where Envy is, there is every evil work, Jam. 3.16. Such as are Judicially forsaken and abhorred of God are filled with it, Rom. 1.28, 29. full of Envy, Acts 5.17. & 13.45. Now Sinful Strife is produced by Envy. When the Philistines envied Isaac, they strove with him, Gen. 26.14, 15, 20. They that are full of Envy, are full of strife and debate, Rom. 1.29. Jam. 3.14. Such as grudge and are grieved that a Neighbor is too happy, and out-shines themselves in Honor, Wealth, Wisdom, or any other good thing; their Envy puts them upon a striving against him to deprive him, Mat. 27.18. Acts 7.9. Ecl. 4.4. How odious and contrary to God is this! Mat. 20.15. Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

4. Inordinate Angriness and Wrathfulness is an Odious Thing. 'It is contrary to the Meekness and Mercifulness Commanded in the Gospel; 'tis irrational and brutish, Eccl. 7.9. Prov. 14.29. 'It is Outragious, Cruel, Murderous, and Diabolical, and Accursed, Gen. 49.6, 7. Prov. 27.4. & 21, 24. 'It is contrary to the Spirit of God, and to Holiness, Gal. 5.20.1 Tim. 2.8. Now Sinful Strife is produced by finful Wrathfulness, Prov. 15.18. The wrathful man stirreth up strife, Prov. 30.33. The forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife, even a strife full of Unrighteousness, Jam. 1.20. An odious Daughter of an odious Mother.

5. Hatred is an Odious Evil. It is joined with Witchcraft, as a fruit of the flesh, that is, of Original In • dwelling Sin, Gal. 5.20. 'It is contrary to love, which is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10. and contrary to the new Command of the Gospel, & to the Character of a Christian, Joh. 13.34.35. Now Sinful Strife is produced by Hatred, Prov. 10.12. Hatred stirreth up strifes. They who hate their Neighbors are murderers in their hearts, 1 Joh. 3.15. and will deal hatefully, and strive wickedly, Ezek. 23.29. Isa. 66.5.

6. Impatience, Injuriousness, Implac • bleness, Spitefulness, Revengefulness are Odious Things: (What are the men who are of a spiteful, mischievous, irreconcilable Spirit, that will put up no Injuries, & that have no Conscience of Righteousness, but the very Children of Belial, 2 Sam. 23.6, 7. The man that shall touch them has need to be fenced with Iron) Now those Odious Evils ingender strife; for Injuriousness to others, provokes them, and begins a Quarrel; and the other Evils mentioned, seek & have their first vent in Strife to bring Affliction, and to execute vengeance (yet contrary to the Gospel) upon ones Neighbor, who is mistaken for an Enemy: Thus the Scorpion Maggots of Strife are bred of the Fruit that is forbidden, Rom. 12.19. Prov. 24.17. & 25.21. & 20.22. Gal. 5.26. Prov. 3.29. Luk. 6.37.1 Thes. 5.14.

7. Vain Credulity, Jealousy, & Evilsurmisings, Rashness, Headiness, Disorderliness, and the ungovernable Disposition in Christians especially, are Odious Evils, full of folly, Prov. 14.15.1 Tim. 6.4. full of Uncharitableness, 1 Cor. 13.5. & most contrary to God, who is the God of Order, 1 Cor. 14.33. and contrary to the Weal of human Societies, 2 Tim. 3.1, 4 & tending to their Ruin. Now these Evils beget Strife, and the Peace of Brethren is broken by them. When the Backbiting Slanderous Tongue meets with an over-credulous Ear, and an Uncharitable Mind entertains Evil Jealousies of Neighbors, then all their words, and actions are looked upon with an evil Eye, and taken in the worst sense, and then Men will quickly suppose that they have found ground enough of Displeasure and Debate, and their Spirits will be disposed to fall out with their Neighbors, especially if Rashness, and want of due Consideration be added to their evil Jealousy; and if their Headiness hinder them from hearkening to good Counsel, offered them by the Wise & Peaceable; and if they refuse to observe the Rules of Order; then Peace will certainly fly away; and Discord and Contention will come in its stead. Peace & Quietness are the Genuine Product and Issue of Good Government and Order well observed, 1 Tim. 2.2. Judge. 21.25. & 20.14, and Strife and Broils of the contrary. Thus in Seven particulars we have shewn, that the most Odious and Loathsome Corruptions & Causes have their foul issue & effect in Strife; They spawn forth strife, they have their vile Activity in strife, they smite on the Anvil of strife, the Coals of Sinful strife of Brethren are continually blown up by the loathsome Breath of most Noisome and Noxious Lusts; And Belial Lusts are very Rampant, and have a glorious time of it when they have produced strife among Brethren. But the steams that issue out from a multitude of putrefied carcasses are not more odious and abominable to human nature, than the steams of sinful strife are unto Grace, that fume up from so many most loathsome Carcasses, & horrendous Vulcano's of Lust.

So much for the First Demonstration.

II. That which has a most Sinful Nature and most Heinous Aggravations, and is very Contagious, and causes Men to commit a Multitude of vile Transgressions, is an Odious & Horrendous Evil, earnestly & zealously to be Striven against by the Saints of God: But Sinful Strife of Brethren has a most Sinful Nature and most Heinous Aggravations; It is very Contagious, and causes men to commit a Multitude of vile Transgressions: It is therefore an Odious and Horrendous Evil. The sweetness & excellency of the Divine Law of Peaceableness shows the Odiousness of the Nature of the Unpeaceable Lust of strife. Strife is very sinful & vile, if the Will of GOD be very Good & Holy; For 'tis the Will of GOD that we meddle not with Contention; Prov. 17.14. That the Servants of the LORD strive not; 2 Tim. 2.24. That Christians walk not in strife; Rom. 13.13. But that they live Peaceably with all Men, Rom. 12.18. Especially, That they be at Peace among themselves; 1 Thes. 5.13, And that they follow Peace with them that Call upon the LORD; 2 Tim. 2.22. And Follow after the things that make for Peace: Rom. 12.18. Yea that, as much as in them lieth they live Peaceably. We see then that the Vice of Strife and the Will of GOD are contrary. Now to Contradict the Perfect & Acceptable Will of GOD is Odious Again, That's Odious that is most Different from, and Unlike to the most Lovely Nature of GOD; Now Strife is most Unlike to the Nature of GOD; and most Different from the most Pacifick Perfections of GOD, most Different from the Love, Sweetness & Goodness of GOD, from His Radiant Philanthropy, Benignity, Fidelity, Equity, Compassion, Condescention, Clemency, Patience, Forbearance, Long-suffering, and Indulgence, Qualities that demonstrate Him to be the God of Peace, and not of a Contentious Nature. Again, That's Odious that's contrary to a Man's Glorifying GOD, as GOD; now 'tis contrary to a Mans Glorifying GOD, as GOD, by Sinful Strife to be Unchristianly Quarrelling with, and discouraging, Grieving, Vexing & Hurting of the Children of GOD, who bear the Image of their Heavenly Father. Again, that's Odious to a Saint that separates him from the Lord; Now sinful Strife doth so; For as when a Man carries it Litigiously & Abusively to a Neighbors Child, he scarce knows how to look his Father in the Face; so a Christian by reason of his Rebellious, Abusive, Injurious, and very Guilty Strife doth grow Shy & Timorous, and is Staggered in his Hope and Boldness, and has not his wonted Freedom in the Presence of GOD. Again, that's an Odious Evil, and may well strike the Saints with some degree of horror, in which they find themselves Rebels against the Light, and Covenant-Breakers with God & Brethren, and acted by the Devil & Vilest Lusts, and Practically justifying of the Ungodly in their Sins against the Brethren, and hardening them therein; Now in their Sinful Strife with the Brethren they find themselves Rebels against Light, Covenant-breakers, Sinridden, Devil-driven, and on the side of those that Hate the LORD, with blistered & bleeding Consciences, a Tattered & Sullied Livery, and a Blotted Character; Aggravations, (One would think) sufficient to startle them, and to Terrify them from Medling anymore with Strife against the Brethren. Verily the Nearer and more Frequent Communion a man has with GOD, the less he has to do with this Iniquity, and the more he doth and will abhor and eschew it. Again, If an evil be Contagious, Spreading, and Infectious, it is the more Odious & Horrid: Now the Plague of Sinful Strife is Contagious & Infectious: It spreads quickly and over-spreads whole Streets, Towns, Churches, Realms: It ferments like Leaven, Diffuses itself like Volatile Spirits, Runs like the Lightning, and carries all before it like the Devouring Fire. A few Strangers among the Israelites fall a lusting, and strait way all the Congregation of Israel lust also, Numb. 11.4. And Corah strives with Moses and Aaron, and presently the Chieftains, Dathan & Abiram and their Companies take part in the Strife: and that man (Corah) Perished not alone in his Iniquity, Numb. 16.1. Psal. 106.17. One Righteous Man (in his Error) blows the Trumpet of Strife against another Righteous Man, and bids him Defiance; and perhaps at first a Duel only of Words is intended; yet presently great Multitudes take the Alarm, and are Mustered in Strong Parties, into the Partnership of their Error, Engaging in Fierce Battle; and among them, Many that are not Saints but carnal; and though' the Saints are Recovered of their Wounds, by Sovereign Grace; yet Others die and perish forever, Psal. 34.21. filling up the Measure of their Sins, by their Opposition to the Righteous, in which they manifest their Spite & Hatred against them, and against CHRIST in them. Now the irrecoverable Perishing of Carnal Persons thro' the Infection of the Example of Good Men's Strife, it renders the Sinful Strife of Good Men very Odious in the eyes of such as desire Men's Salvation, and abhor to have a Sinful hand in their Eternal Ruin. Again, That's an Odious & Formidable Evil to the Children of GOD, that Seduceth them to Commit, and Involves them in the Guilt & Filth of a Multitude of Great Transgressions; Now Sinful Strife doth thus seduce & involve them: Strife opens the Catarracts & Sluces of Sin to make an Universal Deluge: Prov. 17.14. Where this Strife is, there is Confusion and every evil Work: James 3.16. Therefore he Loveth Transgression that Loveth Strife, Prov. 17.19. Odious Omissions & Neglects of Known Duty, Odious Obstructions of that which is Good, and Oppositions to it, and Odious Perpetrations of Evil are from Sinful Strife. To Exercise Devotion towards GOD, and to Worship GOD inwardly and externally are Great Duties, Sweet & Precious Duties; But this Odious Strife is a Foe, and a Bar to the Well-doing of 'em. The fumes of Adust Choller and the Pest • ferous Vapours that Spring from Crudities & Indigestions do not more Obstruct & Annoy Nature than the feculent & pestiferous Fumes of Strife do Obstruct & Annoy Grace; mightily helping the bad Principle in acting of Evil, & hi • dring the better Principle in a Saint that would be doing of good: For as an Odious Cancer by drawing that which should be for the Nutriment of the Natural Flesh, unto its Self, doth consume the Flesh and weaken the Body; so sinful Strife by Imploying & Spending the very Life and Strength of the Soul in its own Service, it leaves the Soul Listless and Unapt to Acts of Religion; it depauperates it so far, that it becomes too feeble & infirm to Engage in, and Go • thorough with the Exercises of Intense Meditation, Fervent and Importunate Prayer, Seraphic Thanksgiving, Right, Diligent Hearing and Improving of the Holy Word of GOD, and Receiving of Sacraments, and Cuts off all Freedom of Spirit in Communion with GOD; It so cripples the Soul, that it cannot raise itself up Heavenward, as it was wont before, and it causes that the Saint shall have but Little Time and less Heart for Acts of Religion, (that require the whole Heart, and sufficient Time,) and too little Life, Power, and Vigour therein. The Iniquity of Strife must be Suppressed or the Religion of Prayer will be Hindred, 1 Pet. 3.4, 7, 9.

Many of the Dear Children of God can give evidence to this heavy charge against Strife from their own dear experience. Thus Devotion & Religion may say to wicked Strife; Host thou found me O mine Enemy! and verily Justice and Charity may each of them say so also; for this Strife is an odious Foe to them both. This Strife will not allow a man to be his Brothers Keeper; nor permit him to think worthily of his Brother, or speak peaceably to him, and respectfully of him, much less to act profitably for him; but as to the Admonishing of him for his good, with pity, kindness, meekness, sweetness and wisdom, this cursed Strife most powerfully prevents & obstructs that. And as for the Exercise of the Duty of Brotherly Forgiveness, Strife is like the made Horse in the Chariot that pulls backward, and the sinful Striver must be forced to say the Fifth Petition of the Lord's Prayer backward, or else he will Curse himself; for if God should no otherwise Forgive him then he Forgives his Offending Brother, he were undone. Yea, this Odious Strife will neither do good itself, (and never did good for good's sake) nor will let others do it; hence when one Party proposes and engages in any Enterprize tending to much Public Good, the Evil Spirit of Strife stirs up the other Party to manifest an Antipathy against it; and from Emulation, and through Jealousies and Misprisions, and by Misrepresentations and other ill Practices to be putting of insuperable blocks in the way, so that most excellent attempts, through the malignant influences of Strife are rendered fruitless. Nor is Strife only faulty for neglecting and obstructing that which is Good, but also for positive direct Acts of Evil: For Multifarious and very Nefarious Perpetrations of Iniquity are justly chargeable upon it: To profane God's Ordinances, (such as Praying, Preaching, Fasting, &c. ) is an Odious Iniquity: Yet this is done by Strife: Christ saith, Pray for Enemies much more for Brethren; Strife profanely saith, Pray against them: Christ saith, Bless them; but Strife Curses them: and they that fast for Strife, do Fast to smite with the Fist of Wickedness; and they that Preach Christ of Contention, pollute their Offerings in God's Temple with Sulphur and Wild-fire, which God has forbidden, Phil. 1.15 Such Strange Fire is loathsome to GOD. But though' Strife carries on Religion and Temple Work with odious & provoking Carnality, yet it impudently saith (with Je • u) Come see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts; which is not zeal but a tainted Passion, most abominable to the Lord of Hosts. No man is fit to offer any Gift on God's Altar in Sinful Strife; he had better leave it not offered; Mat. 5.23. Leave thy Gift, &c. Also Strife makes men most scandalous even in their Exercising of Discipline towards the Scandalous. Again, To profane God's Providences, is an Odious Iniquity; yet Strife doth this also: Are Providences prosperous to the Striver, the Spirit of Strife in him impiously proclaims a justication from Heaven, & that Almighty GOD is of its Party, yea, its Patron, when as He abhor • it. Are Providences Calamitous to the Opposite Party; The Spirit of Strife is glad at the Calamities (which yet is a provocation to God, Prov 17.5.) and profanely saith, that its hard thoughts of, & wicked Censures it has passed upon Brethren and Antagonists, are allowed and owned in Heaven. But if the Divine providence work not for the Striver, and against his Opposite, as the Spirit of Strife would have had it, the man is ready to treat Providence itself, & the Lord of Providence, Sacrilegiously and abusively; and to charge the Lord foolishly, and wickedly; Yea, to take grievous offense at Him, so as to fall out with Him, and to fall off from him, and not easily to be Pacified & Reconciled. Again, To profane and abuse God's Saints and Servants, is an Odious Iniquity; for they bear the Divine Image, and they cannot be profaned and abused without scandalous violations of the Great and Glo • ous Commandments, in the Second Table of the Law, and of the precious Precepts of the Gospel, and of the Grace thereof: But this Sinning and Sinful Strife doth profane and abuse God's Saints and Servants, violating both Law and Gospel. But to vilify the Saints, to blacken 'em, discourage 'em, sadden 'em, weaken 'em, tempt 'em to Evil and to treat 'em sordidly and unworthily, and to disown, and deny the Grace that is in them, and the Good that is done by them; & to turn that Light whereby they should shine before men, & Glorify their Heavenly Father, into Darkness, is to profane & abuse God's Holy Ones: Now Sinful Strife is wont to do all this; violating the Divine Precepts, as well as hurting the Brethren, by odious misp ••• ons, suspicions, alienations hatreds, ill-wishings, revilings, jearings, scornings, irreverend carriage, disorderliness, discourteousness, unkindnesses, clamours, affronts, injuries, & acts of Revenge, Slandrous Defamations, Deceits, Over-reachings, (all of them works of the Flesh forbidden) and by manifold unjust provocations of the Brethren; and scandalous Miscarriages, odious to God and man: Not to mention Man-slaughters, sometimes committed in Strife; nor the bloody, barbarous Wars of Christian Nations. Oh thou Odious Strife! how dost thou cause the Name of the Eternal God to be blasphemed, and the Names, and Spirits, and Virtues of his Children to be blasted; and how amazingly dost thou multiply Transgressions among men!

III. A third and last Argument for Demonstration of its horrid Odiousness, (on account whereof the Saints ought to hate and dread it, & strive against it) is to be taken from the Consideration of the dreadful Punishments that it is by the Holy Anger of God Recompensed with; and of the distressing, destroying Woes and Plagues that it is the procuring cause of. That Evil which brings down the Wrath of God, and dreadful Spiritual and Temporal Plagues is Odious & Horrendous: But Sinful Strife is an Evil that brings down the Wrath of God, and dreadful Spiritual and Temporal Plagues: Therefore Sinful Strife is Odious and Horrendous. Sinful Strivers, and men of Contention are often punished for a time, as the Experience of Saints and Churches doth testify, with some degrees of Blindness of Mind, and Hardness of Heart, and Searedness of Conscience, and Withdrawments of the Spirit of God, with sad fears, with want of Restraining Grace, with molestations from Satan, with decay of their Gifts, with disability to near Approaches to God, and to Intimate Communion with Him; with loss of the sense of the Love of God in Christ, with Diminutions of Confidence of being Pardoned, and with Abdication unto vile Lusts; they find want of Joy in God, little success of their Labors in Religion, little progress Heavenward, little light of God's Countenance, no sealings of Divine Acceptance of their Persons and Works; they suffer under Blemishings of their good Name, and Frowns in their Families and Estates; & for this cause many are sick, and some are snatched away by Death. We judge not the Eternal Estate of all that joined with Corah, in striving against M • ses, nor of the whole Congregation that strove with him as well as Aaron and Miriam; yet though' many of them we hope went to Heaven, yet they suffered signally and dreadfully for their strife on Earth, being Condemned as to Men in the Flesh. Fierce Contentions of Brethren have been punished with terrible Persecutions from Heretical and Antichristian Powers; and with the Sword of Barbarous Nations. And when Brethren will not leave off their strife, but keep biting one another; God sometimes gives them over to that fearful Judgment of being consumed one of another, Gal. 5.15. How Odious and Horrendous is this Strife then that runs men into danger of all this.

III. But I pass to the Third Thing that was proposed, viz. To show how the Saints may be striving against this sinful Strife in an holy manner; which may serve for an Use of Direction, and with it I shall Conclude.

And here,

1. They will do well to make sure that they strive for Hol, Peace, and against Sinful Sirife; they being in an Holy and Peaceful State, a state of Union with Christ the Prince of Peace; a state of Peace with God through Jesus Christ; a New-Covenant state, a state wherein they have Right and Title to the Promised and Purchased Blessing of mutual fraternal Peace, as a means of their Edification in Holiness & Comfort in their Communion with God, and one with another.

God may say to the man that strives for this Peace, without a Title, (as Jehu once said, 2 King. 19.22.) What hast thou to do with Peace? Get thee behind me.

Peace with God & Peace with Brethren are to be held by the same Title and Tenure.

We should therefore pursue our Peace with Brethren, by assuring our Peace with God in Christ. Let a man's heart be fervently engaged and employed in clearing up, and renewing and confirming his Peace with God, and he will willingly and easily drop his strife with his Brethren. May he but obtain the sense of the Divine Love to himself, & a good assurance that his Sins are forgiven him, he will with marvelous meekness, calmness, and sweetness, forgive and receive offending Brethren.

2. The Saints should strive against Sinful Strife, from holy Principles, and for holy Ends, and with holy Frames and Dispositions of Soul. He that finds in himself that he is two men throughout, may conclude assuredly, that he is a Saint of God; if he is two in his mind, two in his wi • , two in his Conscience, and Affections, &c. If he is still warring with himself, his good principles against his bad principles, his good ends against his bad ends, &c. then is he Renewed in part, in every part, & a partaker of Spiritual Life, Rom. 7.22, 23. Now in his striving for Peace and against Sinful Strife, he must labor to suppress all carnal principles, frames and aims, and awaken up, and strengthen, and actuate, and make use of only those which are Spiritual & Holy; would he strive holily, as a Saint, he must strive against Unbrotherly Fraternal Strife as it is a Sin, a Contrariety to, a Rebellion against the Great Jehovah, against the Father, who is the God of Peace, Love and Unity; against the Son, who is the Prince, Purchaser & Donor of Peace, Love and Unity, and has Interceeded with God for them; & most strictly enjoin'd and Required them in the Saints; and against the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Love and Peace and Comfort, and seals them to the Saints, and is the Band of their Unity together in Christ. Hence he must strive against it from gracious Principles of Faith in God, Love to God, Fear of God, and hatred of Sin, and Holy Self-love, and Love to Saints, with holy aims at the Glorifying and Pleasing of God, and preventing the Dishonor of his Glorious Name, the disparagement of the Gospel, the provocation of his Wrath, and the defeatment of the Saints of their full enjoyment of the sweet fruits of Divine Grace. If a Child of God strive against the strife of Brethren, under the Influence of Carnal Principles and Dispositions; as his strivings will not be very pleasing to the Lord, so they will prove lame, feeble, inconstant, and will carry him but a little way towards the conquering of sinful Strife: but if he act under the influence of holy Principles and Dispositions; his strivings against sinful strife will be most conscientious, & spiritual, lively, vigorous, constant, indefatigable, abundant and mighty through God. (For as a man's Principles, Ends, & Dispositions are, so will his actings be;) The Saint warring against sinful strife, under the power and influence of his best principles, will firmly resolve & say, By the help of God, I will have no strife with my Brethren, but the strife of Love; I will plainly and kindly rebuke 'em, and not suffer Sin upon 'em; but yet I will embrace 'em, and not endure any strife with 'em; I will bear Contradiction from 'em, without making any irritating Retortions upon 'em; I will for peace sake, & on Christ's account, put up many lesser injuries at their hands, since he has put up many greater at mine; I will have no hand in leading them or myself into Temptation & Transgression; I will not injuriously offend & grieve 'em, left I grieve the Holy Spirit of God in them; I will heap coals of kindness to warm their cold Charity; the more they whom my dearest Lord has dearly bought, and dearly loves, are besides themselves, I will pity 'em the more, and not be bitter against 'em; I will not beat up the Drum, nor fire the Beacon of my Soul at the noise of every Pot-gun; I will bear many a Squib, and to him that has struck the one Cheek, I will meekly offer the other, and send the Cloak after the Coat, and deny myself, and blow away the loose corns of a little Money, rather than by waging a wrathful strife with my Brother, to procure the dishonor, and incur the wrath of the Immortal God; I will not repay affronts and injuries with revenge; and I will venture my being called a Coward for it; In the Name of God, I will not be overcome of Evil, but I will overcome Evil with Good; I will even leave my Gift at the Altar, that I may go to quench the unhallowed flames of strife, if they have broken out; my Eyes shall be Water-spouts, and my heart Rivers, to quench those Flames: I will ply the Throne of Grace day and night, and give the Lord no rest, and I will ply mine own heart, and my Brethren's, and give them no rest till the Pestilence of sinful strife be taken away, and the Glory and Favor of God in Christ, and the Edification and comfort of his Children be restored and secured. Hereof holy Paul was an eminent Instance and Example, who labored and strove against strife, under the mighty influence of holy Principles and Ends, invigorated by the Almighty Influences of the Eternal Spirit.

3. In a special manner the Saints should strive against sinful Strife one with another in the Exercise of mutual Holy Love, Meekness, Humility Forbearance, and Condescention. The Holy wise Sovereign Providence of our LORD JESUS CHRIST has so disposed that some Christians shall have more outward Means of light, more abundant Instructions, more enlarged natural capacities and abilities of understanding and conception of things, greater degrees of Knowledge and Wisdom, and more of the divine Illuminations and Irradiations than others; though' all true Saints have sufficient to Bottom them upon the only saving Foundation, viz. Christ Jesus, and God in Him, and 'tis the duty of all to improve their outward helps and their inward abilities, with dependence on the divine Grace and Aids, unto an increase in Wisdom and Knowledge, and unto a guiding of their Thoughts, Affections, Words and Actions in all their duties towards God and Man. But inasmuch as some have less Light and less Capacity of understanding, and more Darkness and Weakness than others, it naturally follows, that they should have a difference in their Apprehensions and Conceptions of things; and their union in main Fundamentals being secured, their diversity of Opinions in other matters may be permitted, nor has GOD promised never to permit the same; only to secure their Peace and Union, he has given special order and charge for their mutual Toleration, and Forbearance, in the things wherein they Differ; and for an uniformity in Practice, so far as they have attained an unity of Apprehension; and for a Patient Waiting 'till GOD shall reveal more to them, in order to their better unanimity in other things, Phil. 3.15, 16. And also for their constant exercise and expression of Honorable Respect, Profound Submission, and Affectionate Love one to another, in the Bowels of CHRIST JESUS, all their difference in Opinions, and in their Practises, concientiously agreeable with their Opinions, notwithstanding, Rom. 12.10. Eph. 5.21. And finally for their setting up of men of Wisdom, by their Advice and Arbitriment to end Disputes, to keep good Order among them, Acts 15.2.1 Cor. 6.4—7. By applying the General Rules, given in the Holy Word of GOD, unto particular Persons, and Cases, according to their best Understanding; and for their Submission to 'em in the LORD; All which by the Blessing of CHRSIT and Influences of the Blessed SPIRIT on such as duly should attend the same, might sufficiently guard 'em against the fatal Eruptions of Strife & Division, and Preserve their Unity & Peace. Therefore among those who own and desire Conscientiously to adhere and conform unto the main Fundamentals of Saving Truths, according to the holy Scriptures, the Prime Rules of Religion and Christian Practice, and of Righteousness and Equity; the grand & main Principles of Prudence, and the Essentials of good Order; Strife is to be kept down, by keeping up good Charity; Which passeth over Transgressions, Prov. 19.11. And Covers a multitude of Sins, Prov. 10.12. & 17.9. And delights not to discover men's Nakedness, (to expose them to shame, and provoke them to indignation, Gen. 9.21. — 25. Mat. 18.5, 15. Prov. 17 9. Which Charity also Watches not for Iniquity, not makes a man an Offender for a Word, ( Isai. 29.21, 22. And takes not up Prejudices rashly, believes not ill reports easily, Hates the Tale-bearer, & Back-biter, & judges not Censoriously, Psal. 101.5. & 15.1, 2. Prov. 11.13. & 16.28. & 18.8. Mat. 7.1. James 4.11, 12. But believes and hopes the best, 1 Cor. 13.4.—7. And is ready and easy to accept of just Apologies, Josh 22.10—20. Defers Anger, Prov. 19.11. James 1.19, 20. And lets not the Sun go down upon Wrath; Puts away all Spite & Malice; Col. 3.8. Works no ill to ones Neighbor, Rom. 13.10. Suffereth long, beareth, and endureth all things. 1 Cor. 13.4—7. Puts on bowels of Mercy and long-Suffering, and Gentleness and Goodness, Gal. 5.15, 22, 23, 26. Eph. 4.1, 2, 32. Col. 3.8, 12, 13. Banishes away all Bitterness, Clamour, and Evil Speaking; Eph. 4.3—6, 31.1 Pet. 2.1. Dreads to give any just cause of offense and provocation; Avoids, (not Evil only, but also) All Appearance of Evil, lest any should be Scandalized thereat. 1 Thes. 5.22. And Renders not Evil for Evil, and Railing for Railing, but contrary-wise, Blessing for Cursing, 1 Pet. 3.9. And if such as do Injury, were by Name never particularly Pray'd for, before they showed their distemperature in Opposing and Persecuting; yet now it Prays for 'em heartily & fervently by Name; Mat. 5.44. And they are according to their folly dealt withal, not by an Acting like unto 'em, but the contrary, Prov. 26.4. Not by being overcome of Evil, but by overcoming of Evil with good, Rom. 12.21. Not by committing Trespasses against them in a way of Retaliation, but by forgiving them their Trespasses, in a way of Liberality, Mat. 6 14, 15. & 18 35. both freely & frequently; and that for CHRIST's Sake only who has deserved it, when men have not deserved that they should be forgiven for their own sakes, Luk. 17.3, 4. Eph 4.1, 2, 32. Col. 3.8, 12, 13.

Thus to keep up good Charity according to the Divine Commandments is the Way to keep down Sinful Strife. Be not then over-rigid & severe in your Resentments of the Actions or Words of fellow Christians that are grievous to you; but make the best Construction of them, that a reasonable Charity can Allow; Impute much to their Ignorance, Mistaken Apprehensions, Misinformations, Temptations and mere human Infirmities; Damn 'em not prefently as Persons of Profligate Consciences; but treat 'em rather with meekness & gentleness, patience & compassion as Persons hopefully Reclaimable; and suffer not the Exercise of Private Spiritual Fraternal. Communion in Praying together & conferring about the things of God to Cool or Fail by any means; Be often with them, and Express your most hearty Love to them, in the bowels of CHRIST. All Disposition in you & them unto Sinful Strife will be proportionably Weakned, as your Mutual Love is Strengthned, and your Spirits sweetened by your Conjoyned Exercises of Religion & Communion with God. Make Conscience then of Approving yourselves one to another as most Sincere in Brotherly Love, as well as most Upright & Steady in the Essentials of true Godliness, Righteousness, Prudence, & Order, that you may get an Heart-Interest One in Another; and then though' your Minds are invincibly possessed with different Opinions leading to some diversity in Practice, Yet considering that the things wherein you agree are vastly more and greater than the things wherein you differ, and that under Variety of Apprehension you Retain Unity of Affection, It is not impossible for you, by the Gift and Help of the Holy SPIRIT, so to manage Matters with Wisdom, Forbearance and Condescention, as not to Contract the Guilt of being disturbers of Mutual Peace: Those Incendiaries, Pride & Self Conceitedness, Magisterial Impositions on one another, Impatience of Contradiction, Envy, Self-Interest, Intrusions of New Opinions against fundamental Truths, Invasions of Long Possessed Rights, Blind and Furious Zeal for lesser Points of Truth, Order or Right, and all Gravaminous Mutual Reflections, being utterly Abandoned and Abhorred by you. For then will you Discourse & Argue all things with Sedate Minds; then will you be able to Hear Scripture & found Reason, as well as Speak it; and to give Soft Words, & Sweet Arguments; then you will take to heart your Neighbors Cases & Interests as well as your Own; & where Conscience will suffer it, You will be ready to meet 'em half way; Yea, so great will your Self Denial be, that you will be Inclined to say as Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. 19.26. Even let 'em Take all: Yea, you will not Assume to be your own judges, but will willingly Submit to the Arbitration, Advice, or Judgment of Others; and Ask at Abel, that so you may End your Matters? 2 Sam. 20 18. And you will not grudge to part with a little inconsiderable Pelf, to purchase the very precious & invaluable Jewel of Peace: Then you will humbly Resolve that that shall never be gotten by strife that can be gotten by Peace: Then also 'twil do your hearts good to behold the Good and Prosperity & Comforts of other men, and more good to be the Instruments to procurethem: Then you will carefully avoid all undue siding and Party-taking; but if you belong to • strong and difficult Party, and have a Party strong and difficult against you and the Matter of Right contended about, be very considerable, and Arbitrators and Judges are • ivided in their Opinions, and other • rdinary means of issuing fail of • uccess, then after much Prayer to • even; you will submit to a sacred • ot, and by that Ordinance be De • rmined, Prov. 18.18, 19. & 16.32, 33. • 17.1. Moreover you will count eve • y new injury done unto you to be a • ew Probation that you are put upon • y the Divine Permissive and Overruling Providence, and will be more concerned to acquit yourselves well in Piety & Meekness & Charity under the Trial, than to bring trouble on him that did you the injury; and you will account every new injury to be a new call to some new act of Beneficence to the injurious person. You will count that when you provoke any Fellow Christians and Fellow Members, and hurt them, that you hurt yourselves, and you will yourselves feel and be in pain for every stroke and hurt that you inflict on others, which will make you wary of dealing sharply with 'em; you will offer anything for Peace, but to Sin against God; you will not put by any really good motion out of prejudice to him that makes it, thro' Indignation that he complies not with your Sentiments o • outward Interest: You will speak of others, as you would be spoken of yourselves, and speak to them as you yourselves would be spoken to, & will do as you would be done by; you will sanctify the Name of God, when he permits your Brethren's falls, (when they sinfully fall upon you) and be more heartily concerned in deep pity to them to obtain their Pardon and Recovery, than to get any Revenge upon them for yourselves; and praising God, that you yet stand, you will be warned thereby to take heed lest you fall also. If any one be overtaken in a Fault, you will endeavor to restore him in the Spirit of meekness; considering yourselves, lest you also be Tempted, Gal. 6.1. Also knowing that Fructus liberat arborem, the Husbandman will not fell the Tree that is loaden with choice Fruit; you will labor that your Fraternal Peace be not exposed to be cut down for its Laodicean barrenness; you will see that it be fruitfully improved, as the Primitive Church's was; who having peace and rest, were edified in the Comforts of the Holy Ghost, and multiplied, Acts 9.31. You will walk in, and work by the light of it, and not forfeit it by Security, Sensuality, Worldliness, neglect of Ordinances, and Disobedience to the Commands of Redeeming the Time, and working out your Salvation with fear, and watching and preparing for the Coming of your Lord, and Exhorting one another daily, while it is called today, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin.

And you will dread to dance after the Devil in the Inchanted Ring of Sinful Strife, to the fatal hazard of all your best Interests for Time and Eternity. Now the God of Peace help you to follow these Directions of His Holy Word, in an Holy Striving against Sinful Strife; and give you Peace always by all means, through Christ Josus, by His Holy Spirit; to whom be Glory forever. Amen.