Speaking of Matt. 24:49-51: "That evil servant who began to smite his fellow servants provoked his lord against him so as to come upon him with such severity as to cut him asunder and to appoint his portion with the hypocrites. He will 'dichotomize' him, divide him in two. He, by … [Read more...]

"When Saul had made great breaches between God and his soul and in his own conscience, then he grew to be of a very froward spirit towards every man. Before his apostasy he was a of very meek and quiet spirit, but this soured his spirit and made it grow harsh, rugged, and cruel. … [Read more...]

"I will never meddle with any strife but that which shall have peace to be the end of it. No war is good upon any terms, taken up upon the justest ground, unless it aims at peace. That soldier is a murderer who sheds blood not in reference to peace. The swords and ensigns of … [Read more...]

"Would you receive benefits? Bestow benefits then. Would you have mercy? Be merciful then. Would you be commended? Commend others. Would you be loved? Then love. You be the judge yourself; you be the lawgiver of your own life. That which you hate, do not to another. Cannot you … [Read more...]

"Let this be a constant rule: Never make use of severity till you have tried what clemency will do" (Burroughs, Irenicum, pp. 371-372). … [Read more...]

"But if you look into the church and consider the dissensions there, there is an additional reason for them, for usually many hypocrities are mingled in with the godly there. They take up a profession of religion and so creep into the church; they find spiritual things unsuitable … [Read more...]

"Luther, in one of his epistles, said that there was no wickedness, no cruelty, that Zwingli did not charge him with. And in another epistle he complained that Carlstadtius was more malicious against him than ever any of his enemies had been. And as for Oecolampadius, Luther was … [Read more...]

"They will be on the sunny side wheresoever it is. Cunning heads and corrupt hearts will serve their own turns by all varieties of times. If they were in Diocletian's time, they could be pagans; if in Constantine's, Christians; if in Constantius's, Arians; if in Julian's, … [Read more...]