Appendix to the First Edition

If the scandal and cruelty of an uncharitable temper have not been described in characters sufficiently frightful, it must be imputed to a want of skill in the hand that attempted it, for there is no want of formidable features in the vice itself. Perhaps a little and unknown pen has not force enough to wage successful war against this mighty iniquity; and the printer, in two or three vacant pages, permits me to call in the aid of some great and well known names: Names who fought against it in their lives, who being dead, yet speak, and plead heartily that it may be destroyed. They espoused the cause of charity with a warm zeal, being persuaded that it made a considerable part of our religion, and that the contrary humor was destructive to all that is called Christian.

Since this infection is not confined to one party of men, but has spread itself wide through all Christian societies among us, I have taken the liberty in the foregoing leaves to strike at it wheresoever I found it; and those who hide this venom in their heart still, to whatsoever tribe they belong, let them hear the words of their dead fathers: Let them blush at their own folly, and no longer refuse to be healed.

Archbishop Tillotson in his works in folio, page 217, acquaints us that other sects were distinguished by little opinions, or by some external rites and observances in religion; but our Savior pitches upon that which is the most substantial, the most large and extensive, the most useful and beneficial, the most human, and the most divine quality of which we are capable, and that is love. And Page 126. He declares that uncharitableness is as bad an evidence, either of a true Christian or a true church, as a man would wish. Damning of men is a very hard thing, and therefore whenever we do it, the case must be wonderfully plain. And Page 364, We should rather be contented to err a little on the favorable and charitable part, than to be mistaken on the censorious and damning side. Our blessed Savior frames his parables with a remarkable bias to the charitable side, to reprove the uncharitableness of the Jews, who positively excluded all the rest of mankind besides themselves, from all hopes of salvation. An odious temper, which to the infinite scandal of the Christian name and profession has prevailed upon some Christians to a notorious degree.

Doctor Owen in his discourse of the person of Christ, page 222, says, One Christian who is meek, humble, kind, patient and useful unto all, that condescends to the ignorance, weaknesses, and infirmities of others, that passes by provocations, injuries and contempt with patience and with silence, (unless where the glory and truth of God call for a just vindication) that pities all sorts of men in their failings and miscarriages, who is free from jealousies and evil surmises, that loves what is good in all men; and all men, even wherein they are not good, nor do good, does more express the virtues and excellencies of Christ, than thousands can do with the most magnificent works of piety or charity (that is liberality) where this frame is wanting in them. For men to pretend to follow the example of Christ, and in the mean time to be proud, wrathful, envious, bitterly zealous, calling for fire from heaven to destroy men, or fetching it themselves from hell, is to cry, Hail unto him, and to crucify him afresh unto their power.

Mister Baxter in his Christian Directory, Part 1, page 40, writes thus: Surely if the very life of godliness lay not much in unity and love, we should never have had such words spoken of it as you find in scripture. Love is to the soul as our natural heat is to the body; whatever destroys it, destroys life; and therefore cannot be for our good. Be certain, that opinion, course or motion tends to death that tends to abate your love to your brethren, much more, which under pretense of zeal, provokes you to hate and hurt them. And a little after, To limit all the church to your party, and deny all or any of the rest to be Christians and parts of the universal church, is schism by a dangerous breach of charity. And Page 41 he asserts it a most dangerous thing to a young convert to be ensnared in a sect: It will, before you are aware, possess you with a feverish sinful zeal for the opinions and interest of that sect. It will make you bold in bitter invectives and censures against those that differ from them. It will corrupt your church-communion, and fill your very prayers with partiality and human passions: It will secretly bring malice under the name of zeal into your minds and words: In a word, it is a secret but deadly enemy to Christian love and peace. Let them that are wiser and more orthodox and godly than others, show it as the Holy Ghost directs them, James 3:13, et cetera.

The Baptists in their appendix to their confession of faith, 1677, say, The discharge of our own consciences, in point of baptism, does not any ways disoblige or alienate our affections or conversation from any others that fear the Lord; but that we may and do (as we have opportunity) participate of the labors of those whom God has endued with abilities above ourselves, and qualified and called to the ministry of the word; earnestly desiring to approve ourselves to be such as follow after peace with holiness; and therefore we always keep that blessed Irenicum or healing word of the apostle before our eyes, Philippians 3:15, 16. And at the end of the appendix they declare, that in as much as these things (namely) modes of baptism, et cetera, are not of the essence of Christianity, but that we agree in the fundamental doctrines thereof, we do apprehend there is sufficient ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice, and in the spirit of love and meekness to embrace and own each other therein; leaving each other at liberty to perform such other services (wherein we cannot concur) apart unto God, according to the best of our understanding.