upon Religious Subjeck. 38 rule fhould be attended to, and applied in SERM. proportion. One is the divided Bate of pro- XIV. feffed Chriftians, when they have formed themfelves into different parties, fiercely op- poling one another : which is juft now the cafe in fart, as it has been very often almoft in every age of the Chriftian church. How fhould thefe parties fo directly oppofite carry it towards each other, and particularly the belt to the word, the moft violent and ob- ftinate gainfayers of the truth ? Juft, I think, in the main the fame way as towards unbelievers ; that is, upon the foot of hu- manity, bringing the affairs of religion as little into queflion as may be. For in pro- portion the methods which recommend the gofpel itfelf to the world, and preferve peace, in the cafe of a different reception given to it, will contribute to the promoting fome of its parts, its particular doftrines and inftitutions, which may be oppofed by fome who are not avowed adverfaries to the whole. And the fame prudent conduit which foftens infidels, and difpofes them to peace, may allay ani- mofities among Chriffians, which are re- proachful to their common profeffion,andpre- vent their being devoured one of another. The
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