The Evil and Danger of SISM Part 1 by Thomas Boston This audio was created with an artificial voice for the audiobook initiative on Sermon Audio. The Evil and Danger of SISM A sermon preached at Etrec in the year 1708 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 10, Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The church of Corinth was now lying bleeding of her wounds, given her not by open and avowed enemies, but by her own children, some saying they were of Paul, others that they were of Apollos, etc. The Apostle applies himself to the curing of this rent and broken church in the words of the text, which is a most pathetical exhortation to unity. In the words we have three things. 1. The compilation, brethren, it is a kindly compilation, whereby he insinuates himself into their affections or endeavours so to do, for it is hard for faithful ministers to get people's affections kept where once divisions enter. In this compilation there is an argument for unity. He minds them that they are brethren, and it is a shameful thing for brethren to fall out by the ears. Genesis chapter 13 verse 8. Let there be no strife, I pray thee, says Abraham to Lot, betwixt me and thee, etc. For we be brethren, and Genesis chapter 45 verse 24 Joseph says to his brethren, See that ye fall not out by the way. 2. There is a most pithy obsequation, I beseech you, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul turns a petitioner to them for the church's peace, and begs of them, as he did of the jailer, Acts chapter 16 verse 28, that they would do themselves no harm, but lay by the sword of contention. And that it might have them all wait with their consciences, he interposed the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech you, says he, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, etc. It implies two things, 1. It is as much as if he had said, as ye have any regard to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath so often enjoined peace, unity, and brotherly love to his followers, beware of divisions. It is not I, as if he had said, but Christ, the Prince of Peace, that requires this of you. 2. It is as much as if He had said, As ye love the Lord Jesus, as ye tender His honour and glory, speak the same thing, and let there be no divisions among you. For the name of Christ sadly suffers by your contentions, factions, and divisions. The Apostle's beseeching of them notes his gentleness, but withal his vehemency of spirit, entreating with them for the peace and unity of the Church. He handles their wounds tenderly, yet so as they might see he was in good earnest to have them healed. It imports also how heavy their contentions were to him, how grateful it would be to him if they would unite, and how grevious, if they should continue their divisions still. Therefore he obtests them, and after a short adjures them by the name of the Lord, that they would all speak the same thing, and let no divisions be among them. If I cannot obtain this of you, says he, for my own sake, yet let me obtain it of you for Christ's sake. This is the manner of his exhortation. Three we have the matter of his exhortation, which lies in three things. First he exhorts them to unity of principles, that ye all speak the same thing, he beseecheth them, that they would not vent principles contrary to the truth and to one another. For now, instead of unity, some were crying one thing, some another, like that confused multitude. Acts 21.34. There was nothing but contention and contradiction among them, till some of them came at length to deny the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15. To N-D-L-Y he dehorts them from divisions. The word in the Greek is scisms, as you may see in the margins of some of your Bibles. The word properly signifies a cutting or section in a solid body, as in the cleaving of wood, when the parts of it before united are rent asunder. Thus the one Church of Corinth was rent asunder into divers parties and factions, some following one minister, some following another. Therefore says the Apostle, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 13, is Christ divided. As if he should say, why, seeing there is but one Christ, are there so many bodies? Where will you get a Christ to head your different and divided party? through these divisions among them, it would seem, from 1 Corinthians 11.33, they had separate communions, they would not tarry for one another. The apostle also taxeth their divisions, 1 Corinthians 3.3, for whereas there is among you envying, strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal? where the word translated divisions properly signifies separate standing where one party stand upon one side and another party on or the side. It denotes such dissension wherein men separate one from another. 3DLY he exhorts them to amend what was amiss already among them in that matter to be perfectly joined together in opposition to their contentions and divisions. The word in the original is very emphatic and signifies two things, one. To restore disjointed members into their proper places again, Galatians chapter 6 verse 1, restore such and one. It is a metaphor from Chirurgian's setting members or joints again, as if he had said, set such and one in joint again, so it aims at healing the church of her rents, restoring such as had separated and withdrawn. 2. It signifies to perfect and establish in the state to which a person or thing is restored, and so it denotes a firm union betwixt the members of that church. he would have them compacted together as a body, in which all the parts do fitly cleave together, each of them in its proper place. And withal he adds here the bonds of this union, the same mind, that is, the same heart, will and affections, as the word mind is taken, Romans chapter 7 verse 25, and the same judgment or opinion anent matters, if the last cannot be got, yet the first may. From the words, we draw these following doctrines. Doctrine 1, that schism and division is an evil incident to the churches of Christ while in this world. Doctrine 2, that professors ought to beware of schism and division as they tender the authority and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Doctrine 3. Where schism and division enter into a church, there will be great heats, diversity, yea, contrariety of opinions, people contradicting one another in matters of religion, that ye all speak the same things, etc. Doctrine 4. that however hard it be, yet it is possible to get a rent church healed. Doctrine 5. That it is the duty of all church members to endeavour the unity of the church and the cure of schisms, and particularly, it is the duty of disjointed members to take their own places in the body again. Lastly, that scisms and divisions, as they are grievous to all the sons of peace, so they are in a special manner heavy and afflicting to faithful ministers of the gospel of peace. Here is work shapen out for many days, but I design not to insist. As to the first of these doctrines, to wit, that schism and division is an evil incident to the churches of Christ in this world, 1. I shall illustrate the truth of this doctrine. 2. I shall give you some observations as to the rise and way of carrying on this sad plague in churches. And I challenge your attention and beseech you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that without prejudice you will hear and consider what I am to say, and if I say anything contrary to the word of God, reject it. But what I may say as agreeable to God's word, I require it may have place in and weight with your consciences. I shall endeavour to hold off personal reflections, but must take liberty freely to handle the cause. 1. Then I shall illustrate this sad doctrine. Alas! It is written, I may say, in letters of the blood of our mother, who cries out, She is wounded in the house of her friends. This broken, bleeding church, exposed to the laughter of papists and malignants by her divisions, is a sad instance of it. Now seeing some are apt to stumble at all religion by reason of our divisions, and others are apt to pride themselves in them, I shall, for the sake of both, show, that these things are uncouth, strange, or new things, for which consider, one, these things are foretold in the Scriptures. Our Lord Christ has given us fair warning, Matthew 10, verses 34, 35, and 36, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and so forth. not that this is the kindly and native effect of the gospel of peace, but so it proves, by reason of the corruptions of men. The apostle tells the church of Ephesus, Acts chapter 20 verse 30, Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. I shall only add another Scripture, 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 3 and 4, after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, etc. from all which we may see, that church-renders shall not be wanting, nor shall they want success. 2. Consider the sad experience of the church in several ages. I shall give you two instances out of the Old Testament. The first you have, Numbers 16. Even when the church had a Moses and Aaron in it, there was a violent schism set afoot in it by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. that this business was not so much a sedition in the State as a schism in the Church, though I deny not but there was something of sedition in it, for schism and sedition go often together, is clear from the great cause of the quarrel which was about the priesthood. As is clear from Numbers chapter 16 verses 3 through 9, which you may read at your leisure, but consider especially the 10th and 11th verses, where Moses says, And seek ye the priesthood also. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord? And what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? Compare with this Jude 11, where the seducers, the disturbers of the church, are said to perish in the gainsing of Kor. Many were led aside into this schism, Numbers chapter 16 verse 19, and Korah gathered all the congregation against them, namely against Moses and Aaron. Two of the heads of it, being called to come before Moses, sent him a decliniture, stuffed with scandalous defamations against him, Numbers chapter 16 verses 12, 13 and 14, and Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, which said, We will not come up. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? etc. Yea, when God himself had inflicted the censure on them, the people would not quit their good opinion of them. But as it is in the forty-first verse, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord. Another notable schism was that made by the two tribes, 1 Kings 12, where two things are very remarkable, first, the rise of it, their dissatisfaction with the civil government whereupon they refused to own Rehoboam as their king, and also separated from the Church of Jerusalem, who owned his authority, though he was very far degenerate from the piety and wisdom of David and Solomon. 2D thing remarkable in it is the way how it was maintained, namely by priests that were not of the sons of Levi, verse 31 of that chapter, that is, men who had no right to the priestly office. The New Testament is so full of dismal accounts this way, that there is not almost an epistle written, wherein we have not something of church rents and divisions, exhortations to unity, or some one thing or another of that kind. See Romans chapter 16 verses 17 and 18. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. From the first epistle to the Corinthians, read our text and downwards. See the 10, 11, and 12. chapters of the 2D epistle to the Corinthians throughout, where Paul is put to defend himself against the slanderous cast on him by false teachers and to compare himself with them. As to the epistle to the Galatians, I need not cite chapter and verse, the body of that espyssel being against them that troubled the churches of Galatia. Ephesians 4, ye have a pathetical exhortation to unity from verse 1 to 17. Philippians chapter 2 verse 1 and downwards, If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy that ye be like-minded. Colossians chapter 2 verse 18 and downwards, Let no man beguile you of your reward. Wherefore are ye subject to ordinances? Touch not, taste not, handle not, which things have indeed a show of wisdom, etc. The Thessalonians are exhorted, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 14, to warn them that are unruly. In the 2D epistle to the Thessalonians, chapter 2 verse 2, there are some troubling the church, and shaking them in their minds by their doctrine, 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 3 and 4, if any man teach otherwise, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words. etc. and chapter 1 verses 6 and 7, from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. To Timothy chapter 3 verse 6, the apostle speaks of some that creep into houses and lead captive silly women, and that resist the truth, as Jans and Jambers withstood Moses, verse 8. Titus chapter 1 verse 11, he tells him, he must stop the mouths of some that subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not. The epistle to Philemon, a single person, is to unite him and Wonsemus. In the epistle to the Hebrews, the apostle taxeth some that forsook the church assemblies, Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. James chapter 3 verse 14 and downwards, But if ye have bitter envying, in the Greek it is bitter zeal, And strife in your hearts glory not, this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, etc. and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 8, Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind. 2 Peter 2, Read throughout the whole, which treats altogether of false teachers. 1 John chapter 2 verse 19, They went out from us, but they were not of us. In the 2nd epistle of John, 10, If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God's speed. In the 3d epistle of John, 9th and 10th verses, we find a Deiotrephes prating against the Apostle with malicious words. read the whole epistle of Jude, for I need not cite a verse or two of it to our purpose. See also the 2D and 3D chapters of Revelation. The church of Ephesus had tried those that said they were apostles, and were not, Revelation chapter 2 verse 2, Smyrna was troubled with those that said they were Jews, and were not, but were the synagogue of Satan, verse 9, so was Philadelphia, chapter 3 verse 9. The church of Pergamos had them that held the doctrine of Balaam, Revelation chapter 2 verse 14. In Thyatira was Jezebel, teaching and seducing, verse 20. Here is a cloud of witnesses from whom we may clearly learn two lessons, first, that though the apostles themselves were alive to guide and govern the churches, yet they would not be able to prevent schisms, divisions, and rending of churches. A second lesson we may learn from them is that those who had most of the Spirit of God were of the most peaceable temper, most tender of the peace of the church, most careful to preserve it where it was entire, and most careful to restore it where it was lost. If we take a view of after times, we shall find schism and division infecting the Church. When the pagan persecution was over, the fire of contention burnt up the Church. Then was that in the Revelation chapter 8 verse 5, accomplished, fire from the altar was cast into the earth. When Constantine the Great had restored peace unto the Church, she was miserably defaced by the schism of the Donatists, who separated from the Church, at first, to eschew the impurity of promiscuous communion. This schism lasted more than two hundred years. They held that men were defiled with the corruptions of those with whom they kept Church communion, and that there was no other true Church but their own. that which led them to these extravagancies was that the Church kept in ministerial communion with her one Caecilian, whom the Donatists would have had deposed. Because, as they alleged, that when he was a deacon he had hindered some people to assist some that were in prison for the cause of Christ, and that he had been ordained by those that were traitors, that is, who had delivered up the Bible to the persecutors. So thinking the whole church polluted with the fellowship of this man and his fellows, they separated. When the Lord raised up Luther to reform the church from popery, then came in the Anabaptists, who rebelled against the magistrate and taught sedition. And withal pretended that Luther had made but a half-reformation, that he had only cut off the branches of popery, but they would strike at the root. hence complained that holy man thus. It cost us ten years' pains to erect a little church, and then comes one that knows nothing, but to rail on faithful ministers, and he in one moment overturns all. And elsewhere he says, They that received the doctrine of the gospel from us, even they persecute us most bitterly. How Kerr-owned church was thus troubled in the time of former presbytery is evident from the writings of worthy men of that time against separation, so we find an Act of the Assembly 1643 appointing to search for books tending to separation. I cannot but particularly remark an Act of the Assembly, 1641, Session 10, against impiety and schism, wherein they charge all Ministers and Members of this Kirk, to endeavour to suppress all impiety and mocking of religion's exercises. and Yupu the other part, that in the fear of God they be aware that under the pretext of religious exercises, otherwise lawful and necessary, they fall not into error, heresy, schism, scandal, self-conceit and despising of others, pressing above the common calling of Christians, or usurping that which is proper to the pastoral vocation, contempt or disregard of the public means, etc. This I take plainly to be meant of what we call fellowship meetings, which have been so much mocked by wicked men on the one hand, and abused on the other hand to schism, etc. but the Assembly, 1647, Session 19, in their directions for secret and private worship, and mutual edification, for cherishing piety, for maintaining unity and avoiding schism and division, which are ordinarily bound in with the confession of faith, towards the latter end of the book. They discharge these meetings altogether, as you may see in the seventh direction, where they say, Whatever hath been the fruits and effects of meetings of persons of divers' families, in the times of corruption and trouble, yet such meetings of persons of divers' families. except in the cases mentioned in the directions, are to be disapproved as tending to the prejudice of the public ministry, to the rending of the families of particular congregations and, in progress of time, of the whole Kirk. I bring not in this to show my own judgment anent these meetings, but to let you see there was a spirit of separation going in these days as well as now, and how the fire of division left not this church till she was cast into the fire of persecution is too well known. O that it had from that time left us! 2. I come now to the second thing proposed, to give you a few observations, as to the rise and way of carrying on this sad plague in churches. And 1. I say, God has His own holy ends in these things. By these he tries his people, 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 18 and 19, and thereby he punisheth men for the contempt of the gospel and not receiving the truth in love, 2 Thessalonians 2.2. We find schisms and divisions raised in the church under the plausible pretext of strictness. This was the way how the churches of Galatia were rent in pieces. the corrupt teachers would needs add the observation of Moses' law to the gospel, as if that were a more perfect and strict way. Thus the corrupt teachers among the Colossians, pretending great strictness, cry, touch not, taste not, handle not. Colossians 2.21 This, in part, seems to have been the rise of the schism in Corinth, which the Apostle points at in the matter of the Lord's Supper while he says, Let a man examine himself. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 28. This was the schism of the novitians and donatists brought in of old, that discipline was not exercised as they would have had against those that fell in time of persecution. 3. There are ordinarily some, I hope I am not speaking to those with whom the very Scripture text will be accounted treason. There are some, I say, who are at great pains going hither and thither to spread the flame, that compass sea and land to make proselytes, thus we find some travelling from Jerusalem to Antioch through Syria and Cilicia, to make disciples, and disturb the churches, Acts chapter 15 verses 23 and 24. Unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, etc. 4. We may always observe that one main thing church renders aim at is to discredit the ministers of the gospel, as if the word were, fight neither with small nor great but the ministers. For Satan knows, if once the ministry be made contemptible and their credit sunk, then they will be useless. And if once they were laid by as useless, his kingdom were in a fair way of thriving. These are the wolves, who, though they be in sheep's clothing, yet discover themselves by barking at the shepherds. So did Cora. Look the epistles to the Corinthians and Galatians, and see how the renders of these churches railed upon and discredited the apostle Paul. They said he was no lawful apostle, hence he is so oft put to clear his call, 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 1 and 2, Galatians 1 and 2. chap, they sought a proof of Christ speaking in him, 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 3. They charged him with levity and inconstancy, as if his words were not to be regarded, 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 17. They charged him with walking after the flesh, 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 2. They held him out to be a vain glorious person, and a very contemptible man. 2 Corinthians 11 9-10. See the four last chapters of 2 Corinthians. 5. We often find they have great pretenses to holiness and attainments above ordinary, so they are said to go in sheep's clothing and to transform themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11.13-14 And it doth not a little favour their design, that men who have suffered for the cause of Christ are sometimes engaged in it, which is clear from what the Apostle says, comparing himself with the renders of the church of Corinth, 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 23, Are they ministers of Christ? I am more in prisons more frequent, which clearly holds forth that they had been sufferers and prisoners for the cause as well as he. Yea, really godly persons may be engaged in it, Revelation chapter 2 verse 20, where we find Jezebel seducing Christ's servants. For sometimes even good men may run the devil's errands, and yet be saved at last. Lastly, we may observe what characters the Scriptures give such, 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 10, presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 4, proud, for only by pride cometh contention, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, etc. Romans chapter 16 verses 17 and 18, they are said to be such as serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, etc. They are entertained by those that have itching ears. 2 Timothy 4.3 See how the Apostle strikes at the root of division. Philippians 2.3 Let nothing be done throng strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Men that are irritated by a church, vain-glorious and conceited, esteeming themselves better than others, are dangerous men, and fit wedges to cleave the church of Christ asunder. The End of the Evil and Danger of Sism, Part 1. 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