Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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led them astray, and when I determined not to desist, opposed me
with violence. On this grievous tumults arose, and the contest
blazed and issued in disruption.
“‘With whom the blame rests it is for Thee, O Lord, to decide.
Always, both by word and deed, have I protested how eager I was
for unity. Mine, however, was a unity of the Church, which should
begin with Thee and end in Thee. For as oft as Thou didst
recommend to us peace and concord, Thou, at the same time, didst
show that Thou wert the only bond for preserving it.
“‘But if I desired to be at peace with those who boasted of being
the heads of the Church and pillars of faith, I believed to purchase it
with the denial of Thy truth. I thought that anything was to be
endured sooner than stoop to such nefarious compact. For Thy
Anointed Himself hath declared, that though heaven and earth
should be confounded, yet Thy Word must endure forever (Matt.
24:35).
“‘Nor did I think that I dissented from Thy Church because I was at
war with those leaders; for Thou hast forewarned me, both by Thy
Son, and by the apostles, that that place would be occupied by
persons to whom I ought by no means to consent. Christ had
predicted not of strangers, but of men who should give themselves
out for pastors, that they would be ravenous wolves and false
prophets, and had, at the same time, cautioned me to beware of
them. Where Christ ordered me to beware, was I to lend my aid?
And the apostles declared that there would be no enemies of Thy
Church more pestilential than those from within who should
conceal themselves under the title of pastors (Matt. 7:15; Acts
20:29; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:18).
“‘Why should I have hesitated to separate myself from persons
whom they forewarned me to hold as enemies? I had before my
eyes the examples of Thy prophets, who I saw had a similar contest
with the priests and false prophets of their day, though these were
undoubtedly the rulers of the Church among the Israelitish people.
But Thy prophets are not regarded as schismatics, because, when
they wished to revive religion, which had fallen into decay, they
desisted not, although opposed with the utmost violence. They still
remained in the unity of the Church, though they were doomed to