The Truth of the Christian Religion with Jean Le Clerc's Notes and Additions. Hugo Grotius
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[print edition page 17]
a Judgment of Religion for themselves, and to be continually rectifying and improving it; They may be very helpful and assisting to each other in the Means of coming to this Divine Knowledge, but no one can finally determine for another; every Man must judge for himself; and for the Sincerity of his Judgment he is accountable to God only, who knows the Secrets of all Hearts, which are beyond the Reach of humane Power: This must be left till the final Day of Account, when every Man shall be acquitted or condemned according as he has acted by the Dictates of his Conscience or no. Were all Christians to go upon this Principle, we should soon see an End of all the fierce Controversies and unhappy Divisions which now rend and confound the Church of Christ: Were every Man allowed to take the Scripture for his only Guide in Matters of Faith, and, after all the Means of Knowledge and Instruction used, all the Ways of Assurance and Conviction try’d, permitted quietly to enjoy his own Opinion, the Foundation of all Divisions would be taken away at once: And till Christians do arrive at this Temper of Mind, let them not boast that they are endued with that excellent Virtue of Charity which is the distinguishing Mark of their Profession; for if what St. Paul says be true, that Charity is greater than Faith, it is evident no Christian ought to be guilty of the Breach of a greater Duty upon Account of a lesser; They ought not to disturb that Peace and Unity which ought to be amongst all Christians, for the Sake of any Matters of Faith, any Differences of Opinion; because it is contrary to the known Law of Charity: And how the far greatest Part of Christians will clear themselves of transgressing this plain Law, I know not. Wherefore if ever we expect to have our Petitions answered, when we pray that God would make us one Flock under one Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls, Jesus Christ; we must cease to make needless Fences of our own, and to divide ourselves into small separate Flocks, and distinguish them by that whereby Christ has not distinguished them. When this Spirit of Love and Unity, of forbearing one another in Meekness, once becomes the prevailing Principle amongst Christians; then, and not till then, will the Kingdom of Christ in its highest Perfection and Purity flourish upon the Earth, and all the Powers of Darkness fall before it.
JOHN CLARKE.
[print edition page 18]
[print edition page 19]
THE CONTENTS1