Chapter XLVI.—Let us cleave to the righteous: your strife is pernicious.

Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow;²⁰¹²⁰¹    Literally, “To such examples it is right that we should cleave.” since it is written, “Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy.”²⁰²²⁰²    Not found in Scripture. And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, “With a harmless man thou shalt prove²⁰³²⁰³    Literally, “be.” thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show²⁰⁴²⁰⁴    Or, “thou wilt overthrow.” thyself perverse.”²⁰⁵²⁰⁵    Ps. xviii. 25, 26. Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars²⁰⁶²⁰⁶    Or, “war.” Comp. Jas. iv. 1. among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ?²⁰⁷²⁰⁷    Comp. Eph. iv. 4–6. Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?”²⁰⁸²⁰⁸    Rom. xii. 5. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how²⁰⁹²⁰⁹    This clause is wanting in the text. He said, “Woe to that man [by whom²¹⁰²¹⁰    This clause is wanting in the text. offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be 18 hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.”²¹¹²¹¹    Comp. Matt. xviii. 6, Matt. xxvi. 24; Mark ix. 42; Luke xvii. 2. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth.