306 Mr. Coliinsis Sermon, m uchdiffer what's the import : thebefi center in this,that we fhould fo contend for the faith , as men that would contend to keep their very lives. The Propofition is this, That it is the duty of the Saints of God to maintain an earneft contention, to Struggle for, and to keep the faith that was betrufled with them: wherein this contention doth config. 1. It is not a carnal contention ; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but fpiritual ; the Saints are not called to contend for the faith with carnal weapons, with carnal power and force : (not by might andpower, but by the Spirit of God:) force and power, and a flefhlyArme, Prifons, Pillories, and Chains, and taking away ofmens Comforts and Elates upon the account of the faithofthe gofpel,hath been theulna( wayof Errors defending it fair : Prayers and tears are the Churches weapons. f is not a contention of uncliaritableneffe : This contention al- lows no rnurthering either of the bodies or fouls of men: Chriflians are fo to contend againft Error and finful pra&ife,as to love their per- fons, andpitty thofe they contendwith. There are fome opinions, that there is no way to thew a holyway ofzeal againft, ror be able to deflroy them, but by a holy feparating from the perfons : there were fuel: to whom it was not lawful to fay, God fpeed, or receive them into their Houfes : but yet this is in order to the faving of the foul Saving fome, plucking them as brands out of the fire. But pofitively this holy Contention confifts in thefe four things. 1. In managing the fwordofthe Spirit, the Word of. God, againfi errors 8a finful pratlifes,tobe able to confute them mightily,as Apollo: did, out of the Scriptures, fhewing the Jews that Jefos is the Chra. 2. By prayer : for to pray down finful opinions and practifes: That we mean when we pray, 7 by Kingdom come, that the gofpel may run on and be glorified : and thefe nights of darkneffe may be difpelled, that Truth may fhine to the perfea day. 3. By holypradifing againft them : by holding forth the word of Life inyour converfations : by firiving together by a mutual provo- cation for the faithof theGofpel in relpea of holy walking, 4. Bybeing able to fuffer for them. 1 he Reafons of the Point I gaveyou. I fhal now film up all in a word of Exhortation, topreffe every one than. bears the name of a Saint, to take up this Exhortation o° the A- pofile Earneftly of contnedfor the faith that was once delivered to tie Jaints. The firm or all is, to beg that -.on would be valiant for the TruthofChrift ; that whatever bath been delivered to confo- Rant to theTruth, 4Lreeable to the faithd edelivered tous that you would
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