It might be a question, why there are such differences in religious points, and why these breaches should be more hot and irreconcileable?  All the answer I can give to this, is, that we inquire more concerning the truth of religion, than any other nation in the world; and the anxious concern we have about it, makes us jealous of every opinion, and tenacious of our own; and this is not because we are more furious and rash than other people; but the truth is, we are more concerned about them, and being sensible that the scripture is the great rule of faith, the standard for life and doctrine, we have recourse to it ourselves, without submitting to any pretended infallible judge upon earth.

There is another question, pertinent to the former, and that is, What remedy can we apply to this malady?  And to this I must negatively answer, Not to be less religious, that we may differ the less.  This is striking at the very root of all religious differences; for, certainly, were they to be carried on with a peaceable spirit, willing to be informed, our variety of opinions would not have the name of differences; nor should we separate in communion of charity though we did not agree in several articles of religion.

Nor is there a less useful question to start, namely, Where will our unhappy religious differences end? To which, I hope, I may answer, In Heaven; there we shall unchristian and unbrotherly differences will find a period; there we shall embrace many a sinner, that here we think it a dishonour to converse with; & perceive many a heart we have broken here with censures, reproachings, & revilings, made whole again by the balm of the same Redeemer’s blood.  Here we shall perceive there have been other flocks than those of our fold; that those we have excommunicated have been taken into that superior communion; and, in a word, that those contradicting notions and principles which we thought inconsistent with true religion, we shall then find reconcileable to themselves, to one another, and to the fountain of truth.  If any man ask me, Why our differences cannot be ended on earth?  I answer, Were we all thoroughly convinced, that then they would be reconciled, we would put an end to them before; but this is impossible to be done:  for as men’s certain convictions of truth are not equal to one another, or the weight or significancy of such veracity:  so neither can a general effect of this affair be expected on this side of time.

Before I conclude this chapter, I shall beg leave to discourse a little of the wonderful excellency of negative religion and negative virtue.  The latter sets out, like the Pharisee, with, God, I thank thee; it is a piece of religious pageantry, the hypocrite’s hope:  and, in a word, it is positive vice:  for it is either a mask to deceive others, or a mist to deceive ourselves.  A man that is clothed with negatives, thus argues:  _ I am not such a drunkard as my landlord, such a thief