and David my Servant shall be King over them and they all shal have one Shepherd so Zech. 14.9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one But more particularly 1. This glorious union of Gods Church would renew its strength that though now in its divided shattered state it shews it self like Israel scattered abroad throughout all the Land of Egypt to gather stubble Exod. 5.12 in which state every Petty task-master of Pharcah can exercise Tyranny over them veâ—s 14. but if once united they would then be in the sight of their enemies as Israel gathered together was in the plains of Moab terrible for their enemies to look upon Numb 22.3 their beholders then instead of cursing of them would say How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel Numbers 24.5 He hath as it were the strength of an Vnicorn he shall eat up the Nations his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows verse 8. The Church in its united State is like a City with walls and bulwarks Isa 26.1 In that day shall this song be sung in the Land of Judah We have a strong City Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks Beautifull as Tirzah comly as Jerusalem Terrible as an Army with Baxners Cant. 6.4 10. 2. The renewing of the Churches unity would renew its purity when there shall be One Lord and his Name One Zach. 14.9 Every Pot in Judah and Jerusalem shall be holy unto the Lord verse 21. The way of the Lord shall then be called the way of holiness Isay 35.8 compared with the 9th The Gates of the holy City might then be shut that there should no more pass through the uncircumcised and unclean 3. The Churches unity would repair its reputation and esteem the precious sons of Sion more precious then fine gold how are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers in their scattered divided State Lam. 4.2 The Church may then truly complain how is the gold become dim the most fine gold changed the stones of the Sanctuary are poured out on the top of every street verse 1. they are despised as the Common pibbles of the Brook every vile abject every mean base vile-spirited man can look uppon precious Saints if but branded with a nicknamed Religion as a meaner creature then himself of which the Church complains Psal 44.11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat and hast scattered us among the heathen and from thence in the 13th verse complains thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours and a scorn and derision to them that are round about us thou makest us a by-word among the heathen and a shaking of the head among the people But when Sion comes to be a City with Walls and Towers Psal 48.12 13. then Beautifull for stituation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion verse 2. then the abjects and base people shall be so far from scorning her and shaking the head at her That loe Kings when assembled and pass by together shall see her they shall marvel and be troubled and haste away fear shall take hold upon them and pain as on a woman in travel verses 4 5 6. 4. The renewing the unity of the Church will renew the growth and increase of the Church it is a sad and just complaint of many of the godly in these dayes that converting work ceaseth we are spending all upon the old Stock Why what hinders as a second cause so much as our divisions I am perswaded that never since the ascention of him that ascended up on high to give gifts unto men and the cessation of extraordinary gifts there hath been such a measure of spiritual gifts given forth as this day affoords never more painfull Labourers sent into Gods harvest nor more able faithfull Pastors and Teachers given to his Churches of all perswasions for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephes 4.11 12. But this overflowing spirit of Division like a sweeping rain in harvest carries all the fruit away or like the frosts in spring nips all in the bud This spirit may well be reckoned as the chief of those little foxes that spoils the vines for our vines have tender grapes as Cant. 2.15 for no sooner is a soul brought to a sense of his lost estate by nature and begins to enquire after Christ to say with the Jaylor What shall I do but forthwith it meets with from this spirit such a multitude of needless or at lest unseasonable questions and doubts in its minde about some of the points in controversie that dissolves all its beginnings of heart-work into head-work that most of Christs new born babes at this day instead of desiring the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 will at first begin to drink wine and feed on strong meat which they being not able to digest fall into spiritual surfeits from whence proceed spiritual loathings of heavenly things spiritual sicknesses and diseases of all sorts which so many poor Professors at this day lie languishing under whereas if once the Lord should unite his people upon the principles of visible grace all would then be joyntly concerned chiefly to propagate those principles of grace and godliness upon which they were united and though most of the points in controversie might remain of weight upon the hearts of all that sincerely hold them to be faithfull to their consciences in walking up in the practice of them yet there would be an holy tenderness of troubling the heads of young Converts or weak Christians with unreasonable scruples but each sober mind would take the Apostles advice Rom. 14.1 Him that is weak in the faith receive you but not to doubtfull disputations And with the Apostle Peter would exhort them to add to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindeness and to brotherly kindness charity 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. and to tell them if these things be in them and abound they shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ verse 8. That the unity of Gods people in principles of visible grace and godliness would much tend to the encrease and growth of Gods Church therefore in the glorious day of the Churches Vnion Isa 60. when violence shall no more be heard in the land nor wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy gates praise verse 18. Then shall Kings come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising verse 3. then shall the Abundance of the Sea be Converted unto thee verse 5. It shall be then said who are these that flye like a Cloud and as the Doves to the Windows verse 8. The Sons also
of these two extreams which disownes visible grace and holiness to be required in persons in order to visible membership or Church-state I shall say no more to that point it being already so largely spoken unto and fully cleared by several of the congregational way and especially that late eminent discoverer of the ancient and infallible bounds of Gods true Church Mr Jo. Cotton in that little Treatise of his besides several others intituled The holiness of Church members for I am far from pressing an unity of Church-state with any that make not visible Grace and holiness the main mark of visible Faith and Church-membership but what union is to be desired and endeavoured with the godly of that judgement I shall give my opinion in its place and shall now chiefly insist upon the second general Position That all true beleevers congregated together and separated from the world and mixt worship to serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness ought to own and esteem one another as true Churches and Saints giving the right hand of fellowship to one another and walking together as children of the same Father Jo. 11.52 Members of the same body Rom. 12.4 5. sheep of the same fold Jo. 10.16 in observance of all those joynt duties required by the Lord at their hands without dividing rending or separating from one another Object The Terms of your Position so generally stated may admit of several constructions and thereby give little light to the cases in controversie though you should prove it if not more particularly explained Answ I shall have occasion to explain the terms in answer to several objections that will arise in the ensuing discourse and therefore for brevitie sake shall pass them by here and shall next proceed to the several sorts of Arguments to prove the Position with Arguments I shall chiefly draw from these seven general heads following First From the visible choice and approbation of God the Father proving that such as the Father hath visibly manifested his choice and approbation of to be his children beleevers ought to chuse and approve of to be their brethren Secondly From the visible choice and approbation of God the Son proving that such as the Lord Jesus Christ hath manifested his choice and approbation of to be members of his visible body and Church on earth all his ought to make choice and approve of to be fellow members with him of the same body Third From the evident choice and approbation of God the holy Ghost proving that such as the spirit hath manifested its visible choice of by the holy inspiration of its quickening and sanctifying Grace beleevers ought to make choice and approve of as such who have an equal right with them to a mutual participation in the priviledges gifts and comforts of the same spirit Fourthly From the choice and approbation of the infallible servants of God his holy Prophets and Apostles c. in all ages proving that such as the infallible servants of God in all ages of his Church have made choice of and approved to be their brethren in the Lord and fellow-members with themselves in Gods visible Church ought to be so approved of and chosen by all his servants to the end of the world Fifthly From the several Similes and Metaphors the Church of God is compared unto in the Scriptures whereby their mutual interest in an union with one another is held forth from thence proving that what unity is required and interest is given to members of the same body branches of the same root sheep of the same fold and under the same Shepherd children of the same Father and fellow-heirs of the same inheritance c. that the same interest is given unto and union required in the several members of Gods Church which is so fitly compared thereto and lively set out thereby Sixthly From the evident sad consequences that attend the Church and people of God though their dividings and separatings from one another and uniting together upon other principles then this of visible grace arguing from thence that such principles and practices as open the door and let in upon the Church of God such destructive uncomfortable consequences should be of all evils laboured against and avoided Seventhly From the evident and unspeakable good both to the outward and inward man the union of Gods Church upon such Gospel lasting principles would be attended with arguing from thence that since the unity of Gods Church upon such a binding and abiding principle as this of visible grace would so exceedingly tend to the unvaluable good thereof it ought to be sought after and prayed for above all things by every true member thereof next to an interest in Christ and visible grace it self Now from the first head viz the visible choice and approbation of God the Father I argue 1. Those whom the Father hath manifested his visible choice and approbation of to be his children 2. Beleevers ought to manifest their choice and approbation of to be their brethren But the Father hath manifested his choice and approbation of all visible beleevers and grations holy persons to be his children Therefore ought Beleevers to choose and approve of such to be their Brethren 1. The Major or first Proposition is evident from the very light of nature and reason yet since prejudice against truth doth ofttimes put out all light I shall add the light of some Scriptures to the clearing up this truth And first that of our Saviour in Matth. 23. verse 8. compared with the 9th Saith the word in verse 8. All ye are Brethren which he proves in verse 9. For one is your Father which is in Heaven and so Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethen from which Scripture I gather that the Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to own all Saints for Brethren though they were attended with abundance of imperfection and uncomliness unsutatable to his most holy nature and course of life because himself as head and they as members were all of one Father that since his Father was not ashamed to own them all as Sons verse 10. therefore he was not ashamed to own then all as Brethren verse 11. Now it is a sad thing that fellow Brethren who are all subject to like infirmities Jam. 5.17 who do all see but in part and know but in part 1. Cor. 13.9 10 11. should be more high-minded in this case and sooner ashamed of their Brethren upon the account of their infirmities and weakness then their elder Brother who was free from all imperfections and stood in no need of their bearing with him he bore all their sins not onely in the punishment but in the shame of them Heb. 12.2 thereby setting them a pattern to bear the shame of each others infirmities for so argues Paul Rom. 15.1 2 3. We then that are strong ought to bear
in Vnity c. The whole Psalm is a compendium of the blessings and excellencies of the Churches Vnity So observe Solomons discription of a sower of discord among Brethren Prov. 6.12 13 14 15 16. verses compared with the 19th verse and you will judge he loved unity well And so David again in Psal 122.6 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love her verse 7. Peace be within thy walls and verse 8. For my Brethren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Many Examples might be added but I shall end with Paul who was an eminent example both to Ministers and Christians in the Church uniting work If we should consider him no further then the Church of Corinth he approved himself amongst them a skilfull Physitian furnished with healing medicines which he tenderly administred to that sad divided erroneous Church from whom he had received so much hard measure and ungratefull usage and yet it is evident the peace and union of that Church was more upon his heart to preserve then all its other errours and miscarriage was to reform though they were very great ones and were minded by him in their due place too But the whole being under the profession of visible Saints he writes unto them as fuch without distinction Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Called to be Saints c. as in the first chapter and second verse And after he had finished his Preface in the 9th verse begins with that which was most upon his heart verse 10. Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no Divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgment for it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren of them which of are the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you ver 11. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ ver 12. is Christ Divided was Paul crucified for you c. or were you baptized into the name of Paul ver 13. But if you please to observe the main scope and drift of this holy Apostle in the 1 2 3 10 12 13 and 14. Chapter of this first Epistle they all drive at union teaching uniting principles and pressing uniting practices affirming to them that whatsoever pretences or arguments they might have to justifie their Divisions c. yet they must necessarily arise from carnal principles Chap. 3. verse 3. And in the 12th Chapter he commends to their consideration unanswerable uniting Arguments in the 13th Chapter he presseth them to uniting graces in the 14th Chapter directs to uniting Duties videlicet orderly improving their gifts to the Churches Edification So to the Church of Rome Mark them which cause Divisions c. Rom. 16 17. So to the Galatians the 5. and 6. Chapters But if ye bite and devour one another ye shall be consumed one of another Chap. 5.15 So to the Ephesians the 2 3 and 4. Chapters especially Chap. 4. verse 1 2 3 4 5 6. I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meckness with long-suffering forbearing one another in Love endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace there is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all So to the Phil. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. especially the first verse If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies Fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus So to the Colossians Chap. 3.12 13 14 15 verses Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindeness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering for-bearing one another and forgiving one another if any man hath a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankfull And thus we might track him through all his Epistles he hath sometimes more or less of this doctrine as the state of the people to whom he writ required By which exhortations and earnest perswasions you may observe how much the unity of Gods Churches and Saints were upon the heart of this blessed Apostle having doubtless that Maxime of our Saviour much upon his heart that a Church no more then a Kingdom or house divided against it self could not stand Matthew 12.25 From all which I Argue That if the union of Gods Church and preventing divisions and separations amongst his people were upon the hearts of the most holy and faithfull servants of God in all ages and sttates of the Church as a principal and special mercy to labour the attaining of it then ought to be of the same esteem and weight with all his now But that is evident by what hath been said before Ergo the union of Gods Church c. ought to be principally upon the hearts of the servants of God now 5. The fifth general Head from whence we shall argue is from the several Similitudes and Metaphors the Church of God is compared unto in Scripture whereby their mutual interest in union with one another is so lively held forth of which I shall onely mention some few by which the Reader may make use of the rest to the same end First From the Similitude of Beleevers being Gods Children Gal. 3.26 and thereby of his houshsld Gal. 6.10 Ephes 2.1 from whence I Argue That all persons who stand in an equal relation to God as children and are thereby all equally of Gods family of the houshâ—ld of faith Gal. 6.10 have all an equal right unto and interest in the priviledges and provisions of Gods house proportionable to their place therein nay though prodigal children if they will return may encourage themselves so to do from the consideration of that interest they have in the plenty of bread in their Fathers house Luke 15.17 but all visible gracious persons or true beleevers do stand in an equal relation to God as Children and thereby of his houshould Ergo
whence they have taken encouragement from time to time to strengthen themselves in their evil principles concluding that a people thus divided and disunited could not long preserve themselves much less protect them if they should have inclined to a peaceable acquiescence in their present condition under them and from thence they have taken encouragement to attempt what they have done and even to make use of some of our selves to carry on their treacherous and wicked disigns by and to an eye of reason unless the Lord do speedily unite all or most good men joyntly to agree and stand by one another in the promoting of and preserving the common good of the whole it will not be possible long to bear up against such an united and potent adversary with such a miserable divided distracted people as our divisions render us to be that if the glory of God and the good of his people should be of no weight with us yet if we were not stupified with this spirit of Division self-preservation might be sufficient to stir up all sober-minded to labour for union among all good men lest whiles we strive for that we cannot obtain we lose what we do possess I might proceed to mention the loss of all those eminently worthy instruments both military and civil that our divisions hath laid aside even of several judgements and prevented their generation in a great measure of the benefit of their abilities and graces besides a great number of mean-spirited and uncertain-principled persons who are thereby crept into places of power wherein they carry themselves much to the discouragement and grievance of several precious to the Lord the encrease of whom even threatens the return of all those hard measures to Gods people they have been by a mighty hand of his for several years delivered from there wanting nothing but a supream Magistrate to countenance or permit such to oppress and persecute and if any person branded with a nick-name of Religion should discover or speak his sense of this thing or of any person so qualified it would be answered he is not of your opinion and therefore you esteem him not That let any person in power have never so much manifest prejudice in his heart against godliness and a pious life why he hath by our divisions an opportunity to exercise it under the vizzard of opposing errors and heresies c. without being discovered as an enemy to godliness and the same opportunity hath any carnal principled or froward spirited preacher to stigmatize and wound holy persons and principles and incense Authority and the rude multitude against them and to crush the power of Religion in their parishes by exalting some pleasing form of it to the people and by the advantage of the divisions among the Godly can put a plausible vail over all this It is onely against Schismaticks and Hereticks c. they speak Nay further if we take a view of all the hard measure that any gracious tender spirited persons in Authority have met with to the weaking their hands from professors of Religion it proceeds generally from this cause such of them as have endeavoured to bear an even hand towards all they judge Godly and to extend an equal encouragement to all that fear God without respect to opinion why presently that spirit of jealousie and emulation this spirit of Division hath begotten will suggest apprehensions of their want of Love to Religion and Gods people and truths such are presently esteemed men of loose uncertain principles favourers of Hereticks and Schismaticks discountenancers of publick worship and obstructers of Reformation c. on the one hand and yet at the same time esteemed lukewarm Laodiceans carnal Politicians and complyers with carnal principles and interests time-servers c. on the other hand when all the matter is they do not give a special or peculiar respect to the private opinion of such persons as finde themselves grieved above other their brethren equally godly by which means the hands of some in chief places have been weakened and their hearts discouraged in the work of their generation and some others who have for a long time professed an equal respect to all the godly have been offended and stumbled and from thence have withdrawn their countenance from some of the godly and thereby strengthened the hands of Dividers and insulting principles and spirits which poor Ireland at this day hath sad experience of I might further minde that general dejection of spirit that seems to be upon many godly Magistrates and people in the work of their generation with that encrease on the other hand of confidence and height of spirit in opposers and malignant Adversaries But to conclude it is hard to name an evil of a publick nature either in Church or Common-wealth that divisions among the Godly hath not had a great hand in if not been the chief cause thereof From all that hath beene said to this head I shall argue That that evill which is the inlet and supporter of such a multitude of other evills must needs be a very great evill and of all other evills to be avoided and laboured against But it is evident such is the evill of Saints Divisions Therefore it ought of all evills to be avoided and laboured against 7. The last general head from which I shall argue is from the evident and unspeakable good both to Church and Commonwealth and Soul and Body the union of Saints upon such Gospel stable principles would be attended with Whatsoever hath been observed before as the evill of Divisions union must necessarily be the remover of which I shall not need again to repeat but shall leave the Reader to observe and satisfie himself in by meditation For the most happy Commonwealth City Nation Family or Society of men it is evident to the very light of nature and reason that union in their communities is the preservation of their happiness nay the perfection of union is part of the Glory and happiness of heaven And therefore of the Church of God on earth Those pretious promises in Scripture foretelling the glorious estate of Gods Church on earth do declare the Excellency of it shall be its union and peace as Isay 11. The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopord shall lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the Young Lyon and the Fatling together and a little Child shall lead them vers 6 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the Aspe c. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountaine c. verses 8 9. The Envy also of Ephraim shall depart c. Ephraim shall not envy Judah nor Judah shall not vex Ephraim verse 13. and so Ezek. 37.22 And I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountaines of Israel And one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more
and be ye kinde one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake forgave you verse 31.32 here was the means then verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace here is the end so the same Apostle to the Philippians Chapter 2.2 that ye be like-minded having the same Love being of one accord of one minde here he expresseth the end then verse 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain janglings but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves so verse 4. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others thus he directs the means so that the great mercy of Gospel union is not to be expected but in the exercise of the great means of suitable Gospel Grace and why Beleevers should be more discouraged in endeavouring the Churches unity then its purity I know no ground for there is no difficulty attending the one but what attends the other even the corruption of our hearts and principles which Paul affirmed to be the cause of the divisions in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 3.3 And therefore they that begin in the work of Saints union to dispute and reason them into the same understanding and practice begin at the wrong end The first step to unity is humility and therein the exercise of the graces of patience meekness charity long-suffering and forbearing one another in love c. The principal and main use of those graces in their exercise would be little needed if all the Saints had once attained to the same understanding in all things And therefore if through the rigid froward contentious disposition of some Christians unity of Church-state in some places could not be obtained but Christians should continue to walk in several distinct societies according to their several perswasions yet therein they might be through the exercise of the foregoing uniting graces and unity of brotherhood by giving the right hand of fellowship to each other as Gospel Churches and exercising all Brotherly and Christian affection towards each other and in extraordinary cases where the joynt advice or the assistance of the Eldership or Presbytery of the several societies may be required in things wherein they are all agreed they might make use of and submit unto the help of each other therein which would prepare the way for a more perfect union For as nothing more tends to divide then a frequent controverting of the cases in controversie amongst Saints so nothing would tend more to unite then a frequent partaking of each others gifts and graces in those things wherein they agree for in the one they onely come to discern the unsoundness of judgement and weaknesses of each other by passionate unpleasing expressions which the best of Christians are subject unto in disputes whereas in the other they would come to observe the soundness of judgement and strength of grace in each other which would exceedingly tend to endear and unite for if godly persons were better known to one another in their spiritual excellencies and graces and less in their defects and weaknesses their union would not be so difficult a thing as at present it seems to be and therefore what the Church saith Cant. 1.5 concernning her afflictions might be repeated by different-minded societies of Christians one to another to the weaknesses of their judgement or supposed Errors on each hand Look not upon me because I am black for as a good man observed in a discourse upon Hebr. 12.1 Christians are the exceeding apt to be poring upon the dark side of the cloud prying into each others infirmities and weaknesses judging of one another according to the sight of the eye and the hearing of the ear which he that shall judge righteous Judgement will not do Isa 11.3 for it is the natural disposition of the Churches enemies to be so exercised they say Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Sion Mich. 4.11 which sin in Saints is neer kin to the sin of Ham Gen. 9.22 whose sin did not lie in the seeing of his fathers nakedness but in not covering it and his publishing it to his brethren without and therfore to expect union of Saints whiles we live in the exercise of all dividing practises is to expect it by way of miracle but to expect it as before in the exercise of uniting graces is to expect it in a way of means unto which the promise of blessing is onely annexed Object But although the union of Saints as before be a mercy of that worth and a duty of that waight you press it yet the present sad divided State of Gods People in these Nations seemes to render it so difficult that endeavours to unite may tend further to divide there is such a spirit of prejudice in Christians against the opinions and principles they are contrary unto that not only the opinions of each other but the very persons holding them are ofttimes unacceptable and burthensome to each other for their opinions sake Answ I would I could say there is no ground for this Objection but doubtlesse there is The work is like to be attended with much difficulty and opposition both from good and bad men but especially where this spirit of Division is predominant it will exceedingly rage it will there like those unclean spirits our Saviour cast out Mark 1.26 Chap. 5.2 3 4. teare those it possesseth and cry with a loud voice before it come forth but be not discouraged the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 shall prevaile against this carnal spirit of contention strife and vain iangling which thus begets and increaseth Divisions amongst Gods People but the better to enable thee to employ thy talent and opportunities in this good work consider the following directions In general to all persons of what degree or condition soever labour to inform thy self not only that the unitie of Gods Church is a mercy and the endeavouring of it is a duty but that it is a duty and mercy to be prefered before many others nay most others when they come in competition therewith for the consideration of the worth of a mercy and the weight of a duty doth much enlarge the heart towards it and carryes the heart in earnest prayer for it which is the first and chief duty I shall press thee unto to pray for the peace of Jerusalem 2. Being satisfied of the worth and weight of it and therby seeking frequently the Lord with fervent prayer for it labour to arm thy self against all discouragements and difficulties that may seem to lie in the way of it that though its likely thou mayest come to bear the reproach of a luke-warm Laodicean a person of no setledness in judgment that is filled with notions of unpractiseable things and much worse then this yet heed it not but know this spirit of division is best discerned by
its uncharitable censoriousness and that 's the air it breaths in and therefore you may observe with what people soever this spirit is predominate they esteem not of any that own the same points with them wherin they differ from others unless they be sticklers for them they dare not lay more weight or place more religion in a controverted truth then their conscience tells them the Scripture doth they do little less then deny it in some mens opinions 3. As thou must expect opposition and discouragements and oughtest to be armed against them so take heed thou dost not imploy any of the carnal weapons of the spirit of division in the spirit of unions cause some men will oppose the spirit of division by a dividing spirit that is exercising the same carnal contention and proud wrath with uncharitable censoriousness c. against divisions as dividing spirits promote them by now this comes under Jobs reproof Chapter 13.7 Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him if we had no better Physicians then these we might tell the Church with Jeremiah Chap. 30.13 thy bruise is incurable and thy wound is grievous thou hast none to plead thy cause that thou mayest be bound up thou hast no healing medicines And therefore Paul being sensible how apt the best Church-healers are to apply the wrong plaister he gives to Timothy a special direction 2 Tim 2.24 The servant of the Lord must not Strive but be Gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth I must say the contrary spirit in healers hath added much inflamation and thereby corruption to our wound 4. Labor to obtain a compassionate tender frame of spirrit even towards those whom thou art least in love with upon the account of their Errors in judgement If Christians would mourn and sigh more in the sense of Saints divisions and delusions and fret and rage less our healing would not seem to be so far of as it doth There is a kinde of religious hard-heartedness and cruelty overspread the hearts of many Christians in these dayes that we have cause to complain with the Church Lam. 4.5 Even the Sea monsters draw out the brest they give suck to their young ones the daughter of my people is become cruel like the Ostriges in the wilderness Christians can as easily and with as little reluctancy hear or speak evil of others that are gracious if they be but judged erroneous by them as carnal malicious persons can do of one another nay some be ready and zealous to stir up the rude carnal multitude against others and even take contentment in each others afflections Oh! where is the bowels of good Jeremiah that lived in a day when he could say of his people They be all Adulterers an Assembly of treacherous men they bend their tongue like a bowe for lies Chap. 9.2 3. and yet he cries out Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people and so Isaiah he mentions the Sins of Gods people to be very great Chapter 22.8 9 10 13. And yet when he considers their suffering verse 4. he cries out Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people But the like bowels and compassion in Gods people towards one another is not found which until the Lord afford thee thou wilt be very unfit for healing work 5. Labour to set thy affections on those things or qualifications in Saints which most lively and evidently demonstrate the powerfull work of Grace in them and the sincerity of their Love to Christ many Christians will more esteem of their own image in their brethren then Christs their closing with them in judgement in some particular controverted opinion will answer the defect of a great deal of more precious grace when much grace in another will not answer the defect of their differing in that opinion it is an easie matter to love them that love us the worst of men can do that Luke 6.32 but Paul sets us a pattern of another manner of Love 2 Cor. 12.15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I am beloved it was this love in Paul that enabled him to bear all those hard measures from the Corinthians to labor for their union and peace whilest they made war against him Now without this Love that will cover a multitude of infirmities thou wilt never be able to receive this truth in the love of it nor to bear with patience all those discouragements thou wilt meet withall in this work 6. Labour to abound in all other uniting graces which the Apostle mentions Col. 3.12 he having spoken of the union of Saints verse 11. he then comes to commend as a means to fit them for it verse 12. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another forgiving one another if any man hath a quarrel or complaint against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts unto which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankfull let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom c. It is the want of putting on and exercising of these graces that hinders Saints from Gospel union more then all their different understanding doth for if all men were of one minde in the things wherein they differ the want of these uniting graces and living in the exercise of the contrary dividing vices would doubtless disunite and divide the people of God from one another for I am afraid there is little of that union among Saints at this day even among those of the same judgement that deserves the name of Gospel union either from the nature grounds or degree of it but generally a kinde of an outside heartless formal union that the very union of carnal people in carnal things seems to be more strongly founded which proceeds clearly from the want of the enjoying and exercising those precious graces for Christians united upon the Account of opinions are onely united in the head but Gospel-union upon the account of visible grace would be an uniting of hearts together such was the union the Saints enjoyed Acts 4.32 And the multitude of them that beleeved were of one heart ane of one soul 7. Labour to preserve a proportionable growth of grace in the soul all grace in the exercise of it must preserve an harmony otherwise it will sound like an Instrument out of tune some Christians seem to be all