392 The Ble /dnefs of the Peace - makers. SE a M. but God's. To betray the caufe of truth, XIV. of pure religion and virtue, or of publick li- ` berty, in compliance with the unreafonable humours and wicked demands of men, is not to make peace, but to defiroy the only foundations on which it ought to fubfift ; and proceedeth not from a generous defire to promote the good of others, which is rather hindered by it, but a bafely felfifh view to provide for our own eafe at any rate, or to ferve our worldly interefl:. No man was ever more devoted to the peace and edification of the chriflian churches than St. Paul; he be- came the fervant of all men for the fake of it; to theYews, he was as a yew, to them that were un- der the law, as under the law, to them that were without law, as without law, i Cor. ix. 20. He abated his jufi: demand of a reward from them to whom he preached the gofpel, nay, he would by a voluntary refolution deny his liberty of eating flefh while the world flood, to prevent offence, and take away all handle of vexatious debate among chriffians; and yet when compliances were required under the pretence of peace, which tended to ,the fubverfion of liberty and truth, and to coun- tenance human additions to the gofpel terms of acceptance with God and of religious com- munion, which Chrifl himfeif bath the foie right
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=