402 In what things muff we u f e Moderotion, Serm. 16, wherein the Apoil!e's rule for peace and edification ( Rom. 14. 19.) fhould be obferved. God never fufpended his Churches peace upon thefe,for if I thould not love others, till I knew they were of all my opinions, and my pracfice in there, I might perhaps never love a ny. 2.We mu/ moderate our fpeeches,in our difcourfes of ,debates and contefis for, or again ft thefe. Some fpeeches we are too apt to we mutt wholly forbear, others we muff moderate. 1. We mu(I beware of judging and cenfuring others for there. We may in apparent tranfgrefiìons of Gods Law cenfure upon occafion the offenders,though not rafhly,or for hy- pocrites,reprobates,or the like ; but for there we mull not at all, 'Rom. 14. 4, &C. For in theft, through anothers knowledge that may not be a fin in him which would co thee, and thou judgeft fin full therefore in others for want of charity. How much malice, and how little can- dor do we ufe in this I How do we almo(I make it the charaeterifticall note of Chriflianity to be of fuch or fuch a way which none account effential to Religion 1 We are apt ( as thofe in Africa in Tertsrllians time) to account it enough that we or others are of fuch a party ; and to impale the Church, and impropriate Chrift and falvation eery one of us to our own tide. And this many times the moll, by the Vulgar, fo true is that of Seneca, 2ui pauca ref piciunt, facilè pronunciant; Thofe that difcern the leafI, being apt to wage moil. 2. We cnuft take heed of defpiting and contemning others for there, Rom. 14. 3. As the for- mer of nor judging, fo this of not defpifing, is a neceffary duty inter- nally as to our (elves, and in our carriage. and fpeeches efpecially, as they refpca our external duty towards others ; our finning in both ari- fing from uncharitablenefs, in that to others liberty, in this to that we judg: their weaknefs. Our hearts and tongues are too apt to follow our judgmentss,nd break out in there exorbitancies; but,my Brethren, thefe things cu ht net fo to be; judge not, cenfure not according to outward appearance, or inward prejudice, but righteous and charita- ble judgment rather,that we mutually bear with one another in there. And when we have occafion to difcourfe or debate concerning what things are fuch, or their pra&ice ; not meafuring all mens judgments by the modell of our own apprehenfions; or like Dit`lators, thinking our felves intallible,obtrude thofe things for neceffary,which it may be others of as piercing fight account but indifferent, or thofe things for indifferent which they reckon amongft the number of unlawfulls , but modeftly declaring our judgments herein. For as I told you in the en- trance,I take not upon me to determine what are fuch, nor the Magi ({rates duty, ( concerning which, I thitik he faid well and wifely, That it
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