Alas! and to "bewail with the weeping of
Jazer," Isa. xvi. 9, but also to bethink themselves most seriously how to
succour their dear, though distressed mother, in such a calamitous case.
Our best endeavours which we are to employ for this end, next unto praying
earnestly "for the peace of Jerusalem," Psal. cxxii. 6, are these: 1. So
far as we have attained "to walk by the same rule, to mind the same
thing," Phil. iii. 19, and to labour as much as is possible that the
course of the gospel, the doctrine of godliness, the practice of piety lie
not behind, because of our differing one from another about the
ceremonies, lest otherwise {~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH VARIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI AND OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} grow to be {~GREEK SMALL LETTER PI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}. 2. In such things
whereabout we agree not, to make diligent search and inquiry for the
truth. For to have our judgments in our heels, and so blindly to follow
every opinion which is broached, and squarely to conform unto every custom
which is set afoot, becometh not men who are endued with reason for
discerning of things beseeming from things not beseeming, far less
Christians, who should have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil. Heb. v. 14, and who have received a commandment "to prove all
things," 1 Thess. v. 21, before they hold fast anything; and least of all
doth it become us who live in these most dangerous days, wherein error and
defection so much abound. 3. When we have attained to the acknowledging of
the truth, then to give a testimony unto the same, according to our
vocation, contending for the truth of God against the errors of men, for
the purity of Christ against the corruptions of Antichrist: For to
understand the truth, and yet not contend for it, argueth cowardliness,
not courage; fainting, not fervour; lukewarmness, not love; weakness, not
valour. Wherefore, since we cannot impetrate from the troublers of our
Israel that true peace which derogateth not from the truth, we may not, we
dare not, leave off to debate with them. Among the laws of Solon, there
was one which pronounced him defamed and unhonest who,