Creeds and confessions, then, so far from having a tendency to "alienate" and "embitter" those Christian denominations which think nearly alike, and ought to maintain fraternal intercourse, really tend to make them acquainted with each other; to lay a foundation for regular and cordial intercourse; to beget mutual confidence; and thus to promote the harmony of the Church of God.
Samuel Miller
Doctrinal Integrity
When men have orthodox judgements and heterodox hearts, there must needs be little love to truth.
William Gurnall
A Puritan Golden Treasury
...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:14-16
Love to God is armour of proof against error. For want of hearts full of love, men have heads full of error; unholy opinions are for want of holy affections.
Thomas Watson
A Puritan Golden Treasury
Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are called
Calvinists, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation.
John Newton
On Controversy
Should we think ourselves obliged to throw away gold or diamonds, because an impure hand has touched them, or to deny Christ, because the devils confessed Him?
John Howe
A Puritan Golden Treasury
Error...is dangerous; a man may as well go to hell by error as by moral vice; gross sins stab to the heart, error poisons; there is less hopes of an erroneous person than a profane; the profane person sins, and doth not repent; the erroneous sins, and holds it a sin to repent; the one is without tears, the other cries down tears. The upright christian is not tainted with this leprosy; he hath rectitude in his mind.
Thomas Watson
The Sermons of Thomas Watson
...if many of our faithful...brethren are wrong...as I believe they are, what is the scriptural mode of seeking to set them right? Is it to set up unscriptural barriers between us and them? Is it to count them as enemies, however much Christ acknowledges them as good and faithful servants? Is it to call them by opprobrious epithets, to impute mean and wicked motives for their undertaking the holiest services, to rake among the ashes for their hard sayings? I think not. Christ's way is a more excellent way, however unpleasant to the proud, carnal heart.
Robert Murray McCheyne
Memoirs of McCheyne
But let us not forget that this testimony for the "form of sound words which we have heard of" the apostles must be borne "in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Unhallowed is that zeal for the truth which is animated merely by rivalry, or the spirit of party...The apostle here teaches us, in two words, what is that spirit of orthodoxy which God requires. It values revealed truth because it has humbly received it with adoring reverence, as the gift and trust of infinite wisdom and love, and because it sees in those doctrines the instruments of glory to God and endless blessing to blind, erring man; yea, to our enemies and opposers. Let us, then, while we hold fast to the pattern of sound words, ever study to do it in faith and love.
R.L. Dabney
Discussions, Evangelical
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
We stand at better advantage to find truth, and keep it also, when devoutly praying for it, than fiercely wrangling and contending about it. Disputes roil the soul, and raise the dust of passion; prayer sweetly composes the mind, and lays the passions which disputes draw forth; for I am sure a man may see further in a still clear day, than in a windy and cloudy.
William Gurnall
A Puritan Golden Treasury
Truth without love is harsh and bitter and ultimately ceases to be the truth. Love without truth becomes undefined and compromising and ultimately ceases to be love. The human body provides us with a good illustration of this. Truth is like the skeleton. It is hard and unyielding. It provides a structure around which everything else is built. Love is like the flesh which fills out the skeleton. It is tender and gentle, and it brings life. Bones without flesh are dry...and dead. On the other hand, flesh without bones would be an amorphous blob resembling a bean bag chair. Both flesh and bones are necessary for life and health.
Douglas Wilson
Truth and Love
