Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	gain_v	jew_n	weak_a	10,116	5	11.7630	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50460	The cause and cure of strife and divisions being the substance of two sermons preach'd in London, March the 12th and 26th, 1695 / by Richard Mayo ...	Mayo, Richard, 1631?-1695.	1695 (1695)	Wing M1521; ESTC R3763	24,752	40

long-suffering and forbearance so it follows in that Text. Ay these are the Graces we must exercise our selves unto and in if we would keep the Peace amongst Brethren These are uniting and adorning Graces but these Ornaments are laid aside and quite out of fashion in our times 2. You must imbibe such Principles as have an uniting property Let me mention some few of these and I will but mention them 1. The first is That Christians should be one in Affection though they are of different Opinions in the lesser Matters of Religion If they have not altogether the same Mind yet they should have the same Love That is the Apostle's Phrase in Phil. 2.2 2. A second is That Peace is such a precious Commodity that we must purchase it whatsoever we pay for it Whatsoever it costs us provided we don 't part with apparent Truth and true Holiness we have a good Bargain of it 3. A third is That in many cases it is more honourable to yield than to overcome 'T is a greater thing to have power over our selves than to have power over others The Story of two Philosophers Aristippus and Aeschines is very memorable When they were at variance Aristippus came to Aeschines and said Come shall we be Friends Yes says Aeschines with all my heart Now remember says Aristippus that though I am your Senior yet I first sought Peace True says Aeschines and for this I shall always acknowledge you the more worthy person for I began the Strife and you the Peace 4. A fourth is That 't is better to be too mild and gentle than to be too severe and rigorous If lenity be at any time an error 't is an error on the right hand 't is by much the more eligible extream Oh how great a Vertue is Moderation 5. A fifth is That 't is better to suffer the greatest evil than to do the least By the former I may be mischief'd by others but by the latter I mischief my self 6. A sixth is The Weal of the Publick is to be preferr'd to our Personal Welfare The Contentions and Divisions that are amongst Christians proceed from the narrowness of their Spirits Men of Publick Spirits are Men of Peaceable Spirits Oh what Halcion Days should we see if Christians were possess'd of these and such like Principles 3. You must exercise and inure your selves to those Practices that have an uniting property Let me touch also upon some of these 1. Endeavour to take or make up Breaches betimes Contentions that are but sparkles at first if let alone they will quickly grow into a great flame How much have I seen a little Fire kindle When Christians fall out one Person or Patty it may be is faulty at first but by and by such as were faultless are involv'd in the same guilt Solomon says Prov. 17.14 That the beginning of strife is as when one lets out water If it be not presently stopt it will bear down all before it Oh nip Contentions in the bud or you know not to what they will grow or how far they will spread 2. Remember that good old Rule of our Saviour's To do to others what you would have others to do to you This practice would set us all to rights Would not you have others bear with you Then do you bear with others Would not you have others put the best Sence upon your Words and Actions Why then do you put the best Sence upon others Words and Actions Would not you have others to reproach and back-bite you Then don't you reproach and back bite others Do but walk by this Rule and as one says your own Will in a justifiable sence will be your Law 3. Count all them your Brethren in whom you see any thing of the image and likeness of your Father Be of a catholick temper and not wedded to a Party Receive any that are serious in Religion though they would reject you and labour to pull those to you that thrust you from them Speak well of those that speak evil of you Let Luther call me Devil says Calvin yet I will acknowledge him for an eminent Servant of God 4. Accommodate your selves to others as far as lawfully you may Take the Apostle Paul for your Pattern read what he said and did 1 Cor. 9.19 20 21 22. Though I be free from all Men yet have I made my self a servant unto all that I might gain the more Vnto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the law that I might gain them that are under the law to them that are without the law as without law being not without the law to God but under the law to Christ that I might gain them that are without law to the weak I became as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all Men that I might by all means save some All this while the Apostle was not guilty of neutrality and carnal compliance with others Blessed Paul if thou had'st liv'd in our days thou would'st have been counted a Man of a trimming and temporizing Temper Under this Head let me commend one Practice to you and that is to submit and yield to those that are contentious so far as you can do it with a safe Conscience The Apostle Peter's counsel should be follow'd 1 Pet. 5.5 Let the younger submit themselves to the elder yea all of you be subject one to another Many live as if there were no such Text in their Bibles 5. Learn the holy Art of bridling your Tongues That little Member causeth much contention in the World and in the Church What peaceable Times should we see if Christians had the Grace to govern their Passions and refrain from passionate Expressions if they did debate the things wherein they differ with hard Arguments and soft Words Solomon saith Prov. 15.1 That a soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger We have a Proverb That hard to hard never do well How much Strife would be prevented and cur'd if a Law of Kindness did command all our Mouths Sometimes a boisterous Wind is allay'd by a gentle Rain Soft Words are as cheap as hard gentle and courteous Language is as easie as that which is sowre or bitter 6. Never contend about those things which you do not fully understand I might have mention'd Ignorance amongst the Make-bates This is certain That most of our Peace-breakers are persons that are very ignorant that know not what they say nor whereof they affirm This may be truly said That most of our Contentions are meer Logomachies the Strife among us for the most part is about Words and not Things There was a great strife of old between the Eastern and Western Churches The Eastern Churches and Christians said there were three Subsistences in the Trinity but not three Persons The Western said there were three Persons but not three Subsistences Athanasius steps in