Chapter XLVI.—Let Us Cleave to the Righteous:  Your Strife is Pernicious.

Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow;^42444244    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.”^42454245    Not found in Scripture.  And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, “With a harmless man thou shalt prove^42464246    Literally, “be.” thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show^42474247    Or, “thou wilt overthrow.” thyself perverse.”^42484248    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 wars^42494249    Or, “war.”  Comp. James 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?^42504250    Comp. Eph. iv. 4–6.  Why do we divide and tear in 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?”^42514251    Rom. xii. 5.  Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how^42524252    This clause is wanting in the text. He said, “Woe to that man [by whom^42534253    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 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.”^42544254    Comp. Matt. xviii. 6, 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.