Church divisions in judgment, affection, practice and for preeminence

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“(4) Division may be considered in all these respects as it is in judgment, or in affection, or in practice. [1] It is in judgment when they are not of the same mind, but have diverse apprehensions concerning truths. [2] It is in affection when upon that difference of judgment alienation follows, whereby that love, and affection, and charity that one owes to another, is somewhat cooled or discomposed. [3] It is in practice when they speak and act differently and oppositely, as if it were an advantage to truth for the one to cross and undermine what the other does. This distinction is clearly insinuated [in] 1 Cor. 1:10, I beseech you brethren, that there be no divisions among you; which is branched out in union in these three, to wit, speaking the same thing, that relates to action; of being perfectly joined together in the same mind, that relates to affection; and of being one in the same judgment, that relates to opinion: which supposes that there were divisions opposite to all these, which also often go together. … (6) Some [divisions] are in doctrine for difference of judgment. Some are in government for precedency: as sometimes was among the disciples a contest who should be greatest; which is not so much for government abstractly, and considered in itself, or about what should be done, as it is for the persons who should be the governors and doers thereof. As among the disciples, it is not the question, ‘What kind of government shall be?,’ but ‘Who should be chief and have the main hand in ruling?’ … (8) Sometimes divisions are between godly and orthodox men upon the one side, and corrupt men upon the other, as were the divisions of the church with the Arian Heretics, and others of that nature. Sometimes again, they are among godly and orthodox men on both sides. This is a main ingredient in, and aggravation of, the scandal of division, when it is among Christ’s own disciples; and this is that which we would especially speak to.”

Durham, Concerning Scandalous Divisions in Concerning Scandal (Naphtali Press, 1990), 230, 231.
 
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