Mr. Hales's treatise of schism examined and censured by Thomas Long ... ; to which are added, Mr. Baxter's arguments for conformity, wherein the most material passages of the treatise of schism are answered.

Of Spiritual Pride.

Proud men will not grow in the same field,* 1.1 or Church, where tares do grow, but will transplant them∣selves, because God will not pluck up the tares, especially if any ministe∣rial neglect of discipline be conjoyned; and instead of blaming their own pride, lay the blame on the corrupti∣ons of the Church.—The Pharisees Liturgy is frequent in separate Assem∣blies, God I thank thee, I am not as other men. But this is very remarkable, that it is a pretence of our impurity, and a greater purity with you that is pleaded by such as first turn over to you; and that this height of all im∣pieties should be the usual issue of a way, pretended so exact and clean, doubtless it is not Gods mind, by this to discourage any from purity and

true reformation, but to shew his de∣testation of that spiritual pride, which maketh men to have too high thoughts of themselves, and too much to con∣temn others, and to desire to be fur∣ther separated from them, than God in the day of grace doth allow of. Consider this, it is the judgment of some, that thousands are gone to hell, and ten thousands on their march thi∣ther, that in all probability had never come there, if they had not been tempted from the Parish Churches, for injoyment of communion in a purer Church.

He that causeth differences of judg∣ment and practice,* 1.2 & contendings in the Church, doth cause divisions, though none separate from the Church. If you may not divide in the Church, nor from it, then you may not causelesly divide from it your selves.

And commonly appearance,* 1.3 advan∣tage, interest, and a taking tone and voice do more with the most, than so∣lid evidence of truth. But they who desire to have a party follow them, and are busie in perswading others to

be of their mind, and speak perverse things, &c. are guilty of Church di∣visions.

Do not you condemn a carnal state?* 1.4 Remember they are carnal, who are contentious dividers in the Churches, 1 Cor. 3. 1. You will disallow a fleshly mind and life; Remember then, that the works of the flesh are these, As adul∣tery, fornication, &c. so hatred, or en∣mity, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,* 1.5 seditions, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, dividings into parties.—When once parties are ingaged by their opinions in Anti-Churches, and fierce disputings, the flesh and Satan will be working in them against all that is holy, sweet, and safe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Epistle to Separate Congreg.
• * 1.2

  Christian Direct. p. 733.
• * 1.3

  Cure of Divisions, p. 359.
• * 1.4

  Defence, p. 3.
• * 1.5

  Cure of Divis. p. 77.