“And through their arguing, the thing gets down into their spirits before it is thoroughly examined and understood. And once it gets down there, then it must be maintained” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 421).
Look Before You Leap
“Perhaps you have some ministers or others come to your table, and they tell you a tale of such and such. Your heart is hot presently, but do you understand the matter? You begin to make a stir, but can you give an account of it? Be silent, forbear, and take heed of what you …
Hope Not
“Consider what account we can give to Jesus Christ of all our divisions. When Christ shall come, will you stand before Him with scratched faces, with black and blue eyes?” (Irenicum, Burroughs, p. 401).
Never Act Like God’s Fellowship Standards are Too Low
“Take heed you do not reject any from being your brother whom Jesus Christ, at the great day, will own as His, and whom God the Father will call His child” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 391).
So It’s Division You Want?
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 smiting his fellow servants, …
The Hidden Wellspring of Disputes
“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. This …
War That Aims for Peace
“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 …
Oh, Yeah
“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 endure reproach? Do not reproach others. …
Here. Try This First.
“Let this be a constant rule: Never make use of severity till you have tried what clemency will do” (Burroughs, Irenicum, pp. 371-372).
If the Shoe Pinches, Throw It Away
“But if you look into the church and consider the dissensions there, there is an additional reason for them, for usually many hypocrites 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 to them, hence they fly off. Their …