The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SERM6NS.'IJ7tiity, fo miicK rage, fo much fury, which hath oftented to perfecution, to war, and to bloodflied. Thisis the war of i;iarrow-miiidcd theologians •, it rifcs a-mong them, it is condu6led and foughten by them :And this, like other wars, fprings from the lufts ofmen ; it comes not from the calm love of truth. Norcan it be faid that they are the molt enlightened inthe knowledge of the truth who commence profeeutionsabout do6lrincs or opinions. It is commonlythe dull who are the ringleaders, and the dull aUowho are the followers in this fort of war. In tliefethe luft of pride is often very prevalent; they haveformed a fet of fpeculative opinions, and they cannotbear that others fnould differ from them, for this wereto call their underftanding in queilion. Or, this warfprings from the lull of covetoufnefs and ambition.Some perfon is like to be preferred to a lucrative andhonourable place ; his character muft be blown ; it -report mufl be circulated that he is deeply tin6lurcdwith heterodox principles •, a procefs of herefy mulbbe raifed againft him, that fo he may be rejected, andthat his accufer, or fome one of his accufer's friends,may ftep into the place. But to inveftigate the origin,to mark the progrefs, to fiiow the folly, the wickednefs,and the dreadful effedls of this theologicalwar, would require a long difcourfe. I conclude thisfaft-fermon with repeating the text, and fome of thefpiritual exhortations which the apoille fubjolns to it." From whence come wars and fightings amongyou ? come th?y not hence, even from your lufts thatwar in your members ? Ye luft, and have not : ye kill,and defire to have, and cannot obtain : ye fight andwar, yet ye have not, becaufe ye afk not : ye afk, andreceive. not, becaufe ye alk amifs, that ye may confumeit upon your lulls. Ye adulterers and adukv?-refles, know ye not that the friendftiip of the worldis enmity with God ? whofoever, therefore, will be afifiend of tlie world, isthe enemy of God.—God reo