When a church is divided there may be offenses in questionable new terms and words

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When a church is divided there can be:

Novelty of expressions and notions. “New manner of expressions, or new molds of the doctrine of the gospel, different from what have been formerly delivered, have given occasion to this. That is, when there is either a new form of speaking, and an affectation of novelty in words, different from the form of sound words which ministers ought to hold fast; or when things are so proposed, as if all former molds had been defective, and all other divines in their preaching and writings were nothing to such. It seems that this new-fangledness of speech had no less influence in dividing the Church of Corinth, and begetting factions therein, than the diversity that was in the matter, wherein they are not so generally found guilty, as being carried away with error, as of being itched with a human kind of eloquence in the manner of preaching. This same also may be in writings, and indeed when some cry up one manner or mold, and some others the contrary, it may breed siding [taking sides] and division, even as well as diversity of doctrine may do. And it is not for nought that the Lord has commanded simplicity in the manner, and the holding fast of the form of sound words, even as he has commanded soundness in the matter. Oftentimes there arises no less testiness or itching among people, nor less emulation among ministers, from the one than from the other.” James Durham, Concerning Scandal (1659; Naphtali Press, 1990), 240.
 
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