m 188 AGAINST UNCHARITABLENESS. abroad beyond the clan of his own fraternity : Hermes reads the controversies as they are described oily by one party, and dis- putes them over only in the books that are written on one side. He finds a great appearance of argument and scripture there, and then proclaims it impossible that the adverse party should show equal reason or revelation : And thus he proceeds to cen- sure them as men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, and twisting the scriptures to their ormn damnation. Cicero in his treatise " De natura deorum," marks this humour, and brands it, Vestra solum legitis,.vestra amatis, eeteros causa incog- nita condemnatis's. But let you and I, my friend, who delight in charity, let us converse a little with authors that differ from our present opini- ons, and we shall see their sentiments dressed up so plausibly, and set in so fair a light, that might easily persuade men of sin- cere consciences to embrace them ; and this will prevent us from censorious thoughts concerning our candid adversaries, and their disciples. There is scarce any thing that enlarges the mind more, and more disengages it from narrow and selfish principles, than a free conversewith the virtuous and ingeniousof all parties. There is a memorable story to this purpose, concerning two neighbours in an unsociable town, who were always quarrelling about the private meeting and the parish -church : Both places of worship in that town were well supplied with preachers of good sense and serious religion : but each of them was the subject of unmerciful reproach between these two neighbours, whensoever they met, and their different methods of worship were mutually reviled ; the one as formal and spiritless, the other as enthusias- tical and indecent : At last Pacifico their common friend per- suaded them to hear each others minister, and accompanied them both one day to their different assemblies ; and they were both surprized to hear the gospel preached with a due degree of de- cency and fervour, both at meeting and at church ; And though they continued still to adhere to their own party, as judging it, in some respects, suited best to their edification ; yet they main- tained hearty friendship, with each other, and delightful society in religious conference : Thus the quarrelsome mistake was rec- tified by better acquaintance : They lived many years together in peace ; they composed the animosities of different parties, that dwelt in the town ; they died in perfect charity, and left a sweet influence behind them, and a honourable example. IV. A fourth spring of uncharitableness is, our reading the word of God with a whole set of notions established before-!rand: And yet hów common a method, and how constant is this ? " You rear. only your own books, you love only your own, and you con- demn others before you know snffrcieut reason, for want of knowing their `;oinionS.
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