amongst us many Masters, but only Jesus Christ: (a) All Christians were baptized into the same Name, therefore there ought (b) to be no Sects or Divisions amongst them: To which that there may be some Remedy applied, those Words of the Apostle are suggested, (c) to be temperate in our Wisdom, (d) according to the Measure of the Knowledge God has afforded us; (e) if any have not so good an Understanding of all Things, that we bear with their Infirmities, (f) that they may quietly, and without quarrelling, unite with us; (g) if any exceed the Rest in Understanding, it is reasonable he should exceed in Good-will towards them: And as to those (h) who in some Things think otherwise than we do, we are to wait till God shall make the hidden Truth manifest unto them: In the mean Time, (i) we are to hold fast, and fulfil those Things we are agreed in. (k) Now we know

Rom. vi. 3, 4. 1 Cor.
Colos. ii. 12.

(a) All Christians were baptized, &c.] i. 13, 15. Gal. iii. 27. Ephes. iv. 5. (b) To be no Sects or Divisions amongst them, &c.] 1 Cor. i. 10. xi. 18. xii. 25.

(c) To be temperate in our Wisdom, &c.] Rom. xii. 8. 16. 1 Cor. iv. 6.

(d) According to the Measure of the Knowledge, &c.] In the forecited Place to the Romans, and xii. 6. 2 Cor. x. 13. Eph. iv. 7, 15, 16.

(e) If any have not so good an Understanding, &c.] Rom. xiv. xv. 2. 1 Cor. viii. 7.

20.

(f) That they may quietly, &c.] Rom. xiv. 1. 2 Cor. xii. Gal. v. 20. Philip. i. 16. ii. 3, 15. 1 Cor. xi. 16.

(g) If any exceed the Rest, &c.] Rom. viii. 1, 2, 3, 9. xii. 8. xiii. 3, 14, 16. 1 Cor. xiii. 2. 2 Cor. vi. 6. viii. 7. 2 Pet. i. 5, 9.

(h) Who in some Things think otherwise, &c.] Philip. iii. 15. Ephes. iv. 2. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 7. 1 Thes. iv. 14. 2 Cor. vi. 6. Gal. v. 22. Colos. iv. 11. 2 Tim. iv. 2. Luke ix. 54, 55. (i) We are to hold fast, &c.] Philip. iii. 16. 23, 24, 25.

James i. 22,

(k) Now we know in Part, &c.] 1 Cor. xiii. 9, 12.

in

in Part; (a) the Time will come, when all Things shall be most certainly known. But this is required of every one, (b) that they do not unprofitably keep by them the Talent committed to their Charge; (c) but use their utmost Endeavours to gain others unto Christ; (d) in order whereunto, we are not only to give them good and wholesome Advice, but to set before them (e) an Example of Reformation of Life; that Men may judge of the Goodness of the Master by the Servant, and of the Purity of the Law by their Actions. In the last Place, we direct our Discourse, as we did in the Beginning, to common Readers, beseeching them to give God the Glory, (f) if they receive any Good from what has been said; (g) and if there be any Thing they dislike, let them impute it to the Errors all Mankind are prone to fall into; (h) and to the Place and Time in which this was delivered, more according to Truth, than elaborately.

2.

(a) The Time will come, &c.] 1 Cor. v. 10, 12. 1 John iii. Matt. v. 8.

(b) That they do not unprofitably keep, &c.] Matt. xxv. 15, and following.

(c) But use their utmost Endeavours,&c.]1 Cor.ix.19,20,21,22. (d) In order whereunto, &c.] Gal. vi. 6. Ephes. iv. 29. 2 Tim. i. 13. Titus ii. 8.

(e) An Example of Reformation of Life, &c.] 1 Pet. iii. 1. 16. Eph. vi. 6. 2 Tim. ii. 24. 1 Pet. ii. 12. Eph. iv. 1 Phil. i. 27. (f) If they receive any Good, &c.] James i. 17. 2 Thes. i. 3. 1 Cor. i. 4.

(g) And if there be any Thing they dislike, &c.] James iii. Gal. vi. 1, 2.

(h) And to the Place and Time, &c.] Because this very excellent and learned Man was kept in Lipstadt Prison, to which he was condemned for Life; at which Time, and in which Place, he could never have taken so great Pains in accomplishing so many Pieces remarkable for great Learning, accurate Judgment, and singular Brightness, without incredible Firmness and Constancy of Mind, and unshaken Faith in God; for which Endowments bestowed upon him by God, for the Benefit of Christendom, let every one who reads his other Works, or this with a Mind intent upon Truth, give Thanks to God, as I do from the Bottom of my Heart. Le Clerc. TWO

TWO

BOOK S

BY

MONSIEUR LE CLERC.

BOOK I.

Concerning the CHOICE of our OPINION amongst the different Sects of CHRISTIANS.

BOOK II.

Against INDIFFERENCE in the CHOICE of our RELIGION.

BOOK I.

CONCERNING

The CHOICE of our OPINION amongst the different SECTS of CHRISTIANS.

SECT. I.

We must inquire, amongst what Christians the true Doctrine of Christ flourisheth most at this Time. WHOEVER reads over the Books of the

New Testament with a Desire to come at the Knowledge of the Truth, and does not want Judgment; will not be able to deny, but that every one of the Marks of Truth, alledged by Hugo Grotius, in his Second and Third Books, are to be found there. Wherefore, if he has any Concern for a blessed Immortality, he will apprehend it to be his Duty to embrace what is proposed to him in those Books as Matter of Belief; to do what he is commanded, and to expect what he is there taught to hope for. Otherwise, if any one should deny that he doubts of the Truth of the Christian Religion, and at the same Time thinks the Doctrines, Precepts, and Promises of it not fit to be believed or obeyed in every Particular; such an one would be inconsistent with himself, and manifestly shew that he is not a sincere Christian.