the hand of the Lord and that is cause of rejoycing As in the Body Natural Health is the Salt of all Mercies so in Bodies Politick and Ecclesiastical the Salt of all Mercies is Peace and Union without which no good can be long preserved or comfortably enjoyed And therefore our Lord hath put them together Mark 9. ult Have salt in your selves and have peace one with another The desirableness of Peace and Union cannot be better set out then by reflecting upon the direful Mischiefs of Discord and Division One says Numerus binarius est infamis quia primo ausus est ab unitate discedere It is an accursed number as first departing from Unity I am sure the departing from that Unity which we are called of God to keep Eph. 4.3 viz. The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace is a very cursed thing Jerom calls Divisions Amicorum dispendia inimicorum compendia divinae irae incendia So that we may say of them what Austin says of Original Sin Peccatum causa peccati poena peccati They are not only sin and the cause of sin but the punishment of sin too so that they are nothing but a heap of sin Divisions in a Kingdom in a City in a Family are very sad and have sad effects Christ says they can't stand where these are Mat. 12.25 but no Divisions so sad as they that happen among the People of God For the divisions of Reuben there were sad thoughts of heart Judg. 5.15 When Brethren are divided and the Fire is kindled in our own Bowels rising from our selves this is sad indeed As the Prophet says Ezek. 19.14 Fire is gone out of a rod of her branches which hath devoured her fruit so that she hath no strong rod to be a scepter to rule this is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation And this was the very case of the People in the Text a long and sad division had been among them from the time of Jeroboam not only as they were a State but as they were a Church too Civil division brought in Ecclesiastical they could not agree in one Government nor in one way of Worship Two Tribes cleave to the Worship of the Temple but the rest of them must have their Calves at Dan and Bethel So that they were not only divided as a State but which is more sad they were divided as a Church of God Now hear God promises to heal their Divisions and to make them one they shall be one in my hand In the whole Chapter you have two Prophecies in which are contained two great Promises excellently suited to two great Evils this People were now under viz. Division and Desolation Their Desolation is set out in the former part of the Chapter under the Type of a Valley of dry Bones vers 1 2. The Thing God promises is Redemption under the Type of making dry Bones live This you have from the third verse to the fourteenth Their Division is set out by the Type of two Sticks the Promise God makes is to cure their Divisions and unite them again and this under the Type of making two Sticks one and not only so but to bring them into a firmer Union then ever They shall be united to be one People vers 22. They shall be no more two Nations I will make them one upon the Mountains of Israel They shall be united in one God vers 23. They shall be my People and I will be their God They shall be united under one King vers 24. David my Servant shall be King over them and they shall have one Shepherd They shall be united in one way of Repentance vers 23. They shall not defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable Things nor with any of their Transgressions They shall be united in one way of Reformation vers 24. They shall walk in my Judgments and observe my Statutes and do them They shall be united in one Covenant vers 26. I will make a Covenant of Peace with them it shall be an everlasting Covenant They shall be united in one way of Worship vers 26 27. I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for ever my Tabernacle also shall be with them Now such a Union as this for a People to be made one in One God under one King in one way of Repentance and Reformation in one Covenant and in one way of Worship what a firm what a spiritual what a compleat and consequently what a blessed Union must this be Concerning which in the whole of this Prophecy wherein it is contained you may observe four things 1. Here is the Subject Matter of this Union described and that both in the Type as I may call it and in the Antitype In the Type it is two Sticks In the Antitype it is the Church of God in two parts This is in the sixteenth verse 2. Here is a Writing to be inscribed which is not only commanded but the words of the Writing dictated Write upon one Stick for Judah and for the House of Israel his Companions i. e. the Tribe of Benjamin and all the rest that joyned with them in their way of worship And write upon the other Stick for Joseph the Stick of Ephraim and all the House of Israel his Companions That is the the other Ten Tribes who were joyned under Jeroboam in his way of Worship 3. Here is the Way and Manner of this Union directed Joyn them one to another into one Stick vers 17. 4. Here is the meaning of all unridled and explained in the words of the Text Behold I will take the Stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the Tribes of Israel his Fellows and will put them with him even with the Stick of Judah and make them one Stick and they shall be one in my hand To attempt the explaining the Nature or Kind or Meaning of these Sticks when the thing intended by them is so fully expressed would be but trifling with the Text which I shall indeavour to improve to more useful purposes There is only one thing that I shall remark upon in the words before I come to what I intend And that is the Form of the Promise in which this Union is wrapped up I will make them one Stick and they shall be one in my hand 1. What Oneness is this that is here promised 2. What is intended by this doubling the Promise 3. What is implyed by being one in God's hand 1. What Oneness is this that is here promised and pointed at Wherein doth it especially consist There are several sorts of Oneness in Scripture There is an Oneness of divers Persons in one Nature There is an Oneness of differing Natures in One Person And there is an Oneness of sundry Natures and Persons in one Quality In the first is One God Deut. 6.4 In the second is One Christ 1 Cor. 8.6 In the third is one Church
and they all sung as it were a new Song before the Throne Then here is mention of their Oneness in keeping their Consciences pure from all Idolatrous Worship and Antichristian pollutions Ver. 4. These are they which are not defiled with women for they are Virgins To name no more here is their Unity in true Worship These are they which follow the Lamb whither ever he goes Ver. 4. And that which crowns all and puts a Glory upon this blessed Union is 2 Cor. 1.12 that it is done in simplicity and godly sincerity without any antichristian equivocations or mental reservations Therefore it is said ver 5. In their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God My Brethren if our Union be of this kind without guile if it be founded in sincerity and uprightness of heart to God then are we without fault before the Throne and one in the hand of God 4. Such a Union will be an abiding induring Union And so much is implied in the words wherein there seems to be a double promise of it intimated God doth not only say I will make them one which imports a Union for the present but they shall be one which secures this Union for the future it shall abide when once effected for therefore he adds They shall be one in my hand q. d. The same power that hath accomplished and brought it to pass shall also preserve and maintain it That which is made one in the hand of the Lord shall be always one None shall pluck them out of my hand And v. 23. They shall no more defile themselves with any of their transgressions of which their discords and divisions were none of the least and therefore he adds in the same verse So shall they be my people and I will be their God They were his People and he was their God before but here he renews his Covenant with them as brought into a state of union This is implied in this So So shall they be my people and I will be their God His Covenant is renewed with them not only as glorying in their union for now he is not ashamed to be called their God but also as confirming of it 5. Here is also implied the extensiveness of this Union They shall be one in my hand Who are intended by this They It reaches to all at home and abroad in City and Country One stick is to be written upon not only for Judah but for all his Companions And the other stick not only for Ephraim but for all the House of Israel his Companions Ver. 16. These are They of whom God says I will make them one and they shall be one in my hand It shall be an extensive Union So it is explained v. 21. I will gather them on every side And v. 22. One King shall be King to them all And v. 24. They all shall have one Shepherd When God undertakes to unite his People he will make it a compleat Work It shall be a Union in the Truth It shall be a Union in Principle and Practice It shall be a cordial and sincere Union It shall be an extensive Union And it shall be an abiding Union And this may suffice for the opening the Terms Many useful Truths might be deduced from the words but the only thing I shall pitch upon and speak briefly to shall be this That it is God alone who can heal the Divisions Doct. and unite the hearts of his People and whenever he doth do it it is a great mercy I shall speak to the Point under two Heads I. It is God alone who can heal the Divisions which are among his People and make them one II. When God is pleased to heal the Divisions of his People and make the two sticks one it is a great mercy 1. It is God alone that can heal the Divisions that are among his People and make them One. And this will be evident if 1. We do but consider the Source of their Divisions from whence they spring The Roots which produce and nourish them 1. One is from the Malice of Satan He is the envious One that sows these Tares He is the great Incendiary that uses all Arts to divide and separate the People of God He loves to set his cloven foot in the place of God's feet So the Church is call'd Isa 60.15 Now no Power but that of God can bind him and cast him out Rev. 20.2 2. From difference of Apprehension Good men may agree in one Aim and yet not in one way the End may be the same tho the Means vary It is difference of Light that causes difference of Judgment and that works to divide the Affections and then all is on a flame Ye read Revel 15.2 of them that had gotten the Victory over the Beast and over his Image and mark and number of his Name and yet they stand upon a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire And this is such a Fire as none but God can quench 3. They spring from corrupt Principles and Lusts within What the Apostle says of worldly Contentions we may say of spiritual Whence come wars and fightings among you come they not hence even of your Lusts that war in your Members James 4.1 There are some Lusts especially that make good men a burden to each other Such as Pride and Vain glory Love of the World Ambition and desire of Precedency envy at anothers Repute irregular Zeal and such like these make us very touchy and to become Pricking briers and grieving Thorns among our selves There hath been too much experience of this in these Dog-days of the Church wherein so many have been barking and biting at one another Man's Nature is so prone to Discords through the influence of these remaining Lusts that they would no more unite then crumbs of Sand did not God bring it about and make them One in his hand Therefore it is said I will make them One and they shall be One in my hand 2. It is a Prerogative peculiar to God The Text intimates so much they shall be one in my hand No Oneness if God hath not a hand in it Men may use means and contrive methods for Union but it is not the policy or skill of all the Reconcilers in the World can bring it about without God How many have brought their Buckets to quench the Churches Flames Many Antidotes have been prescribed many Rules and pacific Means have been commended by wise and good men for the Cure of our Divisions But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there wants a Divine Power within Men may take two Sticks and tie them together or glue them to each other But nothing will make them one Stick but the hand of God Hence he is called the God of Peace Hebr. 13.20 and he is said to create Peace Isa 45.7 Now you know Creation is making something out of nothing And indeed so is this
Two Sticks made One OR THE EXCELLENCY OF UNITY BEING A SERMON Preached by the Appointment of the Ministers of the Congregational and Presbyterian Perswasion at their Happy UNION On the Sixth Day of April 1691. Which was a Day set apart by them partly to bewail former Divisions and partly as a Thanksgiving to God for their present Agreement And now at their Vnanimous Request made Publick By MATTHEW MEAD Pastor of a Church of Christ at Stepney Psal 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity Si virtutum finis ille sit maximus qui plurimorum spectat profectum moderatio omnium pulcherrima est Ambr. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1691. THE Excellency of Vnity A SERMON preached by the Appointment of the Ministers of the Congregational and Presbyterian Perswasion at their Happy Union On the Sixth Day of April 1691. By MATTHEW MEAD Pastor of a Church of Christ at Stepney To the Reverend THE Dissenting Ministers OF LONDON Formerly called Congregational and Presbyterian But now known by the Name of United Brethren Reverend and much honoured in the Lord AS this Sermon had not been Preached so nor had it been made publick but in obedience to your Call which I the more willingly complied with that I might thereby give Testimony to my readiness of promoting that good Design abroad which you have made so happy a progress in at home You no sooner had appointed me to this Work but God pointed me to the Text which I found so suitable to the Occasion that I resolved to do the utmost my short Arm could reach to in improving it to the blessed ends of Love and Vnion that I might thereby shew my self to be not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and indeavour with all my might that the Heaven below might be made like the Heaven above a quiet and peaceable Habitation To intermeddle in Matters of Strife is in common Cases deemed a thankless Office and he oft times feels most Fists who steps in to part the Fray Naz. Orat. de Pace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the Goodness of this Vndertaking is such as will richly Recompense for the greatest Inconvenience that can attend the Attempt and if it should not find Success among Men I am satisfied that it will not want a Blessing from God None can with any colour of Reason be prejudiced at this happy Vndertaking of yours which is not in the least intended to countenance any Carnal or Worldly Design but to serve the great Interests of our Lord Jesus and promote that Kingdom of his which is not of this World Many there are who call every kind of Compliance baseness and a betraying of Principles but so long as our Consciences tell us that what we do is in Obedience to the Command of Christ the peace we shall find within will more then pay the Charge of all unjust Censures from without Men of such rough and sowr Spirits are ready to think God to be such a one as themselves As the Lacedaemonians being a Warlike People represented their Gods all in Armour But God is love and he that dwells in love dwells in God and God in him Who doth not desire to see the Church of Christ in a flourishing state It was one of Austin's wishes to see Romam in flore And should it not be every good Man's wish to see Ecclesiam in flore When the Temple is purged and a Separation made between the Sanctuary and the profane Place Ezek. 41.20 then the Glory of the Lord will fill the House Ezek. 43.5 God hath eminently appeared among you hitherto in carrying on this blessed Work therefore it greatly concerns us to hold him fast by Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace lest this Silence in Heaven should be but for the space of half an hour How should the consideration of the Coming of the Lord which now draws very nigh put us all upon promoting this Work Will it not be a very uncomfortable thing to be found in our Divisions in that day Therefore we ought not to stand at a distance but upon such Reasons as will justifie our dissent and be approved of by the impartial Judge The Lord pour out a richer measure of the Spirit of Love upon all that fear his Name and shew to them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which none can find but they who are taught of God The Inquiry after which in order to walking therein was the chief Design of this Discourse Such as it is it is now yours not only by my Act in the Dedication but by your own in the Publication And therefore as it humbly begs your Patronage because it needs it so it earnestly calls for your Observance because of the importance of the Design of it which is to strengthen the Staff of Bands now put into your hands by God and this nothing can do but a constant and conscientious practice of those Principles upon which your Vnion stands And now Brethren as that Rod out of the Stem of Jesse upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests the Girdle of whose Reins is Faithfulness hath so far fulfilled that comfortable Promise as to cause the Wolf to dwell with the Lamb let it also appear that he hath bowed your Spirits to such an intire Resignation to Truth as that a Child may lead you And then the Counsels here given will be as readily imbraced and as carefully practised as they were faithfully tendered by him who greatly rejoyceth to be known by the pleasing Title of one tho the meanest of the united Brethren and Your most faithful Servant Matth Mead. Two Sticks made One. EZEK XXXVII 19. Say unto them Thus saith the Lord God Behold I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the Tribes of Israel his fellows and will put them with him even with the stick of Judah and make them one stick and they shall be one in mine hand WHat our Lord Christ said in Luk. 4.21 upon his reading that of the Prophet Isaiah The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tydings to the meek c. This day says he this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears The same I may say of this Scripture now read to you God hath in a great measure this day fulfilled it among you A Scripture which seems exactly fitted to this Days Design which is partly for humbling in regard of former Divisions and partly for rejoycing with respect to the present Union Accordingly you have in the Text two Sticks Isa 9.21 The stick in the hand of Ephraim and the stick of Judah that is Ephraim against Judah and Judah against Ephraim This is matter of mourning But then you have these two sticks made one in
Cant. 6.9 My Undefiled is but One. Acts 4.32 The multitude of them that believed were of One heart and of One soul This is an Ecclesiastical Oneness and it is that which the Text chiefly points at Bellarmine speaks of a sixfold Oneness in the Church 1. In respect of God who calleth but this makes the Church not so much una as sub uno one as under one 2. In respect of the end the Salvation to which it is called but this makes the Church not so much one as ad unum 3. In respect of the means as Word Faith and Sacraments But thus the Church is rather by one than one 4. In respect of the Spirit as a separated Governour 5. In respect of Christ as a conjoyned Head 6. In respect of the connexion of the members among themselves and in these two last respects says he it is most properly one So that this Oneness is such in the inward principles and outward practice of Religion as concerns the people of God joyntly and reciprocally in their Church State as joynt Members of Christ and one of another And this is the Oneness here promised I will make them one stick and they shall be one in my hand But 2. what is intended in the doubling this promise I will make them one and they shall be one 1. It may point at a twofold Union Passive and Active He makes them one that 's a passive union God is alone in it They shall be one that is more active there is the operation of Man in it As it is in the union betwixt Christ and the Christian it is first passive and then active There is the operation of the spirit uniting and then the act of Faith in closing we are apprehended of Christ before we can apprehend Christ Philip. 3.12 Unition as some calls it is in order of nature before union and so it is in this union in the Text between Christian and Christian Believer and Believer Church and Church God is first in it Uniting Graces must precede uniting acts and if God thus make us one then we shall be one For 2. The doubling the promise imports the certainty of the accomplishment As Pharaohs dreams were doubled so the promise is here repeated Gen. 41.32 because the thing is established by God and he will surely bring it to pass I will make them one and they shall be one Isa 43.13 Q. d. None shall be able to hinder it I work and who shall let it Sometimes God divides a people and then none can unite them Judges 9.23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelich and the men of Shechem So when God unites none can divide if he makes the two sticks one Job 34.29 they shall be one When he gives peace who then can make trouble 3. It implys such a union as shall be both inward and outward in principle and practice in affection and action I will make them one that is in Judgment and Principle And they shall be one i. e. in Worship and Practice For it is explained by that in Jer. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever One heart without one way is unfruitful And one way without one heart is hypocritical but one heart and one way is no less then Angelical for thereby his will is done on earth as it is in Heaven So that a full and compleat Union between his People is here pointed at I will make them one that is I will give them one heart And they shall be one that is they shall walk in one way Rom. 15.6 And so with one mind and one mouth they shall glorifie God But thirdly What is intended by being one in his hand I will make them one stick and they shall be one in my hand 1. It points to the influencing power of God in bringing this oneness about The Hand in Scripture is frequently put for Power So Deut. 32.36 The Lord shall repent himself for his servants when he sees that their powers are gone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that their hand is gone Dan. 6.27 He hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Chaldee from the hand of the lions Isa 11.11.25.10 So here the hand of God implys his power and indeed the curing the divisions of his people is a work that calls for a mighty power Odia religionum acerbissima Solomon says The contentions of brethren are like the bars of a castle Prov. 18.19 It is so of such as are brethren by place or race and it is so much more the more is the pity among such as are brethren by grace corruptio optimi pessima It made Strigelius weary of living Melch. Adam in vita and wish to depart out of the world that he might be freed ab immanibus implacabilibus odiis Theologorum Therefore Solomon compares them to the bars of a castle very strong and hardly bowed or broken None can do it but God and when he by the power of the spirit of love and union breaks these bars in sunder then they become one in the hand of the Lord. 2. It implies a union in the Truth every union is not a being one in Gods hand There may be union in sin a union in errour All the world wondered after the beast Rev. 13.3 a union to support the Antichristian Interest It is said of the ten horns these have one mind and shall give their power and strength to the beast Revel 13.12 13. Now this is so far from being a union in the hand of God that it is the quite contrary it is union in the hand of Satan If we are not united in the truth whatever our union may be yet we cannot be said to be one in the hand of the Lord. 3. It implys the reality and cordialness of this union a love without dissimulation you read of an 144000 which stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion Revel 14.1 And here are two things mentioned concerning them to our purpose their unity and their sincerity oneness and uprightness Here is their unity in Doctrine pointed at in their number 144000 which is a number rooted in twelve to shew that they were all built upon that one foundation of the twelve Apostles of which Christ was the corner stone and that their Doctrine and worship is pure and Apostolical Then here is their unity in Profession they have all one name Ver. 1. written in one place they have his fathers name written in their foreheads that is they make the same open and visible profession of their subjection and obedience to the same authority Government Laws and Ordinances of God and our Lord Jesus Christ Then here is their unitedness in blessing and praising God This is intimated by their having the same Instruments and the sameness of their Song Ver. 2. They all harp upon their harps
Look throughout this whole transaction from first to last and you can't find any thing out of which this Union should be formed Either Wisdom or Power or Strength or Policy or any thing else It is a pure Creation for it is out of nothing And this you have in your Preface expressed a due sense of in giving to him the glory of his Power by ascribing the Success of these Attempts to the signal Presence of God 3. If the Breaches and Divisions that at any time fall out among the Lord's People be a Judgment from the Lord then he alone can make them One. For who can remove a Judgment that comes from God but God himself the same hand that wounds must heal He hath smitten and he will bind us up Hos 6.1 Now the Divisions that are among Gods People tho they proceed from sin originally yet there is a Judicial Dispensation in them Hear O ye Mountains the Lord's Controversie Mich. 6.2 All their intestine Divisions are the Lords Controversie This is one way by which God avenges the quarrel of his Covenant Lev. 26.25 When his People break with him then he breaks them one against another Jer. 13.13 14. I will fill all the Inhabitants of the Land the Kings the Priests and the Prophets and all the Inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness and I will dash them one against another So Zech. 11 14. I cut asunder my Staff of Bands that I might break the Brotherhood between Judah and Israel Ye read in Isa 9.21 of Manasseh against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and they together against Judah And this is said to be from the Wrath of the Lord of Hosts vers 19. And what Wisdom or Skill of Men can quench this Wrath of God it must be God himself As fire is said to fetch out fire so nothing can extinguish this fire of God's Anger but the kindling of his own Repentings How shall I give thee up Ephraim Hos 11.8 my heart is turned within me and my repentings are kindled together And he is said to repent himself for his servants when he sees their power is gone Deut. 32.36 When their Wound is incurable for want of healing Medicines then God will plead their Cause and the Wound shall be bound up For he glorieth in this Title I am the Lord that healeth thee Jer. 30.13 Exod. 15.26 4. This will further appear if you consider the Season of this blessed Cure Usually it is when his People are brought very low The virtue of his Medicines is best known when the Wound is desperate and to the eye of Sense past healing God reserves the speaking of this Comfort till the Church is brought into a Wilderness Hos 2.14 How is it that the Bones are brought together bone to his bone but by the Breath of the Lord and when did this breath enter into them but when they were scattered in the open Valley Ezek. 37.2 and Lo they were very dry No Life no expectation no hope of Union Behold they say our Bones are dried Ver. 11. Ver. 7. our hope is lost Then behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone And when doth God command the Prophet to write upon Judah and Ephraim but when they were in a very low and hopeless Condition and therefore he must write upon two Sticks A Stick is a dead thing a dry thing a withered thing a fit Emblem of the low Condition they were in Dan. 5.25 And what is the writing upon your Sticks at this time Not a Mene tekel upharsin No blessed be God but the quite contrary Heads of Agreement united Brethren A blessed Hand-writing and if it be not written upon dry Sticks judge you So that none could have caused this to be written if God had not said to us as he did to the Prophet Son of Man write upon them And therefore what the Apostle says in another case I may say in this Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ 2 Cor. 3.3 written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God 2. When God is pleased thus to heal the divisions of his people and make the two sticks one in his hand it is a great mercy For 1. When God doth this it is to accomplish the promise and every promise travels with mercy there can be nothing but mercy in the promise therefore when ever it brings forth the birth must be mercy Now God hath made great promises concerning the peace and oneness of his people The envy of Ephraim shall depart he shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim Isa 11.13 v. 6. The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid. The Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lie down together The meaning is that all sourness and fierceness and bitterness of spirit shall cease among the subjects of Christ and a spirit of love and sweetness shall take place and heal all Ye have many promises of this kind and some that have a more direct aspect to the last times and therefore look wishly upon us Such is that in Zeph. 3.9 Then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the Lord and serve him with one consent So Zech. 13.19 Deut. 32.4 In that day the Lord shall be one and his Name one But is not his Name one now yea in itself it is He is the God of truth that is his Name But while there are different ways of profession and each party intitles God to his particular way this gives him many Names the differing claims that divided interests make to God give him many Names But in that day his Name shall be one differing ways and modes of Worship shall cease all his people shall be united in the same mind and judgement and shall own God in the same truth and the same way of worship and so his Name shall be one But this day is said to be when Christ shall be King over all the earth Christ shall be King over all the earth and in that day the Lord shall be one and his Name one This is that Christ promises in the New Testament John 10.16 There shall be one fold and one shepard 2. It is a great mercy in that the ruine of their enemies follows upon it You seldom read of any great healing among the Churches and people of God but their enemies have soon felt the effects of it It is no sooner said in Isa 11.13 The envy of Ephraim shall depart but the next words are The adversaries of Judab shall be cut off His work is no sooner performed upon Mount Sion but the next work is the pulling down the Assyrian Is 10.12 and in Is 15.10 No sooner are Gods people one in his hand but his enemies are trod under his feet as straw is trodden down for the
are the fruits of the Flesh The Apostle tells us The fruits of the Spirit are love peace gentleness and meekness Gal. 5.22 but the fruits of the Flesh are hatred variance emulation strife and envyings ver 20. So that a man can't evidence himself to be in the Flesh and destitute of the Spirit of God in any thing more than by a contentious dividing Spirit The Apostle says so 1 Cor. 3.3 If their be envyings and strifes and divisions among you are ye not carnal They are Salamanders that can live only in this Fire And then I may ask but who is their Father For the Wisdom that is from beneath is sensual and devilish the Mother of strife and division Jam. 3.15 Ver. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is pure and peaceable O how sad is it when the Flesh thus reigns in the Children of the Spirit 7. Division naturally runs into Tumult and Confusion It makes Zion to become a Babel It so confounds the Language of Christians that one can't understand another As when a House is on Fire some call for Water some for Ladders some for pulling down the House Such is the confusion where this Fire breaks out in the House of God 8. Nothing more obstructs the flourishing of Religion And how sad is it that the Interest and concerns of Christ should wither under our hands 9. Nothing becomes a greater stumbling block to turn others out of the way of God Division in the Church begets Atheism in the World Men charge all the faults of Professors upon the Religion they profess and thereby contract such prejudices against it as can never be rooted out O what an evil is this 10. Nothing becomes a greater Joy to our Adversaries nor gives them a greater advantage to undermine and destroy us While two Birds are pecking one at another the Kite comes and soops away both Our Contentions make us first a laughing-stock then a prey to our Enemies and therefore they are a sad forerunner of ruine Hoc Ithacus vetit c. When Abraham went to Sacrifies his Isaac he found a Ram intangled in the Briars which God had prepared for a Sacrifice and if we are intangled in these Briars we may justly fear we are prepared to be a Sacrifice These are some of the many Evils which might be reckoned up that are in the divisions of Gods People which may serve to set forth the blessing and advantage of Union And therefore when God binds up the breaches of his People and makes the two sticks one it is a great mercy Shall I not make a little Application of this I know to whom I speak which makes it needless but for Sions sake I will not hold my peace Isa 62.1 This Text affords two Uses that suit the end of this days appointment which you have set apart partly for Humbling and partly for rejoycing Here is matter of Humbling that the people of God should be two sticks Here is matter of Reioycing that God hath made the two sticks one 1. Let us Humble our selves before the Lord for our former Divisions Is their not a Cause when God calls to contend by Fire Hos 7.4 Isa 19.2 it is a Token of his Anger It is in favour to Israel when he sets the Egyptians against the Egyptians but when Ephraim and Manasseh are divided Isa 9.21 there is the Anger of God in it and that should be matter of Mourning And indeed the only way to a firm Union is to lay the foundation of it in shame and tears for past Divisions Even in this sense God lays the beams of his chambers in the waters Psal 104.3 and makes the clouds his chariot There is no building without Mortar to hold the stones together and there it no Mortar without Water When Israel and Judah come out of Babylon and inquire the way to Sion and joyn in a Covenant Union it is all done in Tears Jer. 50.4 5. In those days and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah together going and weeping they shall go and seek the Lord their God They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten They use in Faggotting either to twist the bands with some sap in them or to lay them for a time in water for when dry they 'l snap but they 'l bend and hold the twisting when well soaked So the deeper your Humiliation is the more durable will your Union be Their is much cause of Humbling on this account For the Pride of our hearts only by pride comes contention For the dishonour done to God by these differences For the reproach brought upon his ways For the offences and scandals given to many whereby their Souls have been eternally hazarded And should not the sense of this affect us Some diseases are called opprobria medicorum I am sure these are opprobria Theologorum O let us joyn in this one thing to mourn together till we have dissolved our hearts into tears and see if they 'l cun one into another and let us resolve that nothing shall comfort them but peace with God and peace with one another Vse 2. When we have thus passed through the valley of Baca Psal 84.6 and in this sense made it a well we may then go on to Berachah and sit down there blessing and rejoycing in God who hath made the two sticks one in his hand If any thing should affect us the great appearance of God should wherein he hath put forth so much of his Power Wisdom Love and Mercy Is it not a mercy you have long desired and prayed for And God hath this day returned your prayers like Noah's Dove with an Olive Branch in the mouth How long did our Fathers sow in Tears for this Harvest and God hath reserved the reaping time for us their Children Isa 9.3 And therefore let us joy before him according to the joy in Harvest This day hath the Lord rolled away our reproach Josh 5.9 for what hath been the reproach we have been silled with Is it not that we have been a divided people crumbling into Factions and Parties fill'd with mutual animosities and jarrs envying and hating one another Now God hath brought us to Gilgal for this day is the reproach rolled away and shall not God have the glory of this You have this day made up one great Breach at which Judgment used to enter Ezek. 13.5 Ye have gone up into the gaps and made up the hedge for the house of Israel You have this day recovered your strength Division is a weakening thing A Kingdom a House a Church divided cannot stand Untwist a Cable and it is easily broken Divide the strongest Current into many streams and it becomes shallow and weak You know the story of Scilurus
who had Eighty Sons on his Death-bed he caused a bundle of Arrows to be brought and given to them and bids them break it when they had tried successively they answered that it was not to be done He bids them take them one by one and then the work was easie Thereupon he tells his Sons if ye agree together you will be strong and invincible but if you divide you 'l be weak and easily overcome God hath in this agreement bundled up his Arrows together he hath made the two sticks one and this is your strength in the hand of the Lord. Therefore he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. You have done that in this agreement that promises great advantage and comfort to our brethren abroad it is like the beams of the Sun which diffuse light and heat to thousands at once And what can please and rejoyce you who are by calling by Duty by Affection Men of publick Spirits and Aims more than to be made such a blessing to the whole Interest of Christ through the Nation In this Union you have shewed a high Conformity to Christ He is all for union There is a union between him and the Father a union between him and the Spirit a union between him and the humane Nature a union between him and all Believers And it is such a union as admits of no disunion or dissolution Nothing can untie it not faults and failures not blots or blemishes no sins or swervings Ah how many infirmities neglects omissions how many weaknesses wants and wanderings doth Christ see in us and yet the union remains Now when we are like minded one to another according to Christ Jesus This highly glorifies God This union is an hopeful means to reconcile others to Religion and bring them into the ways of Christ It is said of the Primitive Christians They walked with one accord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and what fruit had it the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2.46 47. How many have estranged themselves from Religion and cast it off because of the feuds and heats of its Professors afraid to touch it lest they burn their Fingers in the fiery contentions that are kindled by reason of it Mr. Cotton on the 2d Cant. 7. I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field that ye stir not up nor awake my love till he please senseth the words thus By the Roes and Hinds are meant young beginners persons under some preparatory work towards Conversion who are as shy and fearful as Roes and Hinds who are affrighted and run at the barking of a Dog so will these at any offences in the Churches of Christ O how many have fallen and been turned out of the way by the fatal stumbling blocks which our divisions have laid in the way of their Conversion Now God hath this day taken away the stumbling block by making the two sticks one in his hand And should we not bless God for this God hath intitled you by this agreement to the many and great blessings that are promised in this Chapter to this work Do but see what promises God makes as a consequent of it 1. It shall be an abiding union When God unites his people who or what can divide them Unions made by the policy and arts of Men for carnal ends and interests may be broken but a union made by God and his Spirit shall not be broken Therefore it is promised ver 22. They shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided any more at all That is one Mercy promised 2. It shall be attended with a peculiar sanctifying work of the Spirit ver 23. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their detestable things for I will cleanse them I know how these detestable things are interpreted But may we not understand them of their divisions too and the sins caused thereby I am sure these are detestable things to God Ezek. 16.61 63. and when his people are made one they shall become so to them working to shame and self-lothing and when they become so they shall be no more defiling For I will cleanse them says God This is another Mercy promised 3. It shall issue in a closer walking in all the ways and appointments of God So ver 24. They shall walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them They shall consult Divine Institutions and frame their Worship and Ways according to them And this is another Mercy promised 4. It shall have its effect in a closer Covenant union to God When his people are made one he will renew his Covenant with them make it more manifest that God and they are one A thing is said to be then done in Scripture when it is made more manifest Therefore it is said ver 23. So shall they be my people and I will be their God q. d. I will make it appear to all the World that these are the people of God and that I am the God of this people That is another Mercy promised 5. It shall issue in a great advantage and advance to the Kingdom of Christ And hath not Christ gained a great point among you in this union I know you can't but see it and say it Division shuts Christ out union lets him in This is a door opened in Heaven Rev. 4.1 Psal 24.7 for so the Church is called The everlasting doors are lifted up for the King of glory to come in You have prepared the way of the Lord to his Throne and given him an abundance entrance into his Kingdom by this thing Then the Lord Christ Reigns indeed when his Church and People serve him with one consent in one way and in one Spirit And therefore when the two sticks are made one it is said ver 24. David my servant shall be king over them i. e. shall reign in the Church more visibly more powerfully more gloriously than ever And therefore brethren lift up your heads and look for great things to result from this great work of making the two sticks one I am well perswaded that God hath a great design in this thing and that it will have a farther extent than you can foresee Heb. 12.27 How far it may reach to hasten the removal of all made things all false Worship all humane devisings who can tell This is plain in Scripture that Zions building Rev. 19.7 20. and Babylons ruine the Lambs Marrying and the Whores Burning do go together The Church Militant and Malignant are like a pair of Ballances or the Buckets of a Well as one goes up the other goes down The Spirit of the Lord can't be quieted till the white horses have fetched his people out of Babylon Zech. 6.6 8. and the black horses have speeded her destruction Rev. 18.4 8. When the voice from Heaven once calls Gods people out of her wrath from
Heaven will quickly fall upon her But whatever the effect of this Dispensation of God be without I am perswaded it will be great within And therefore look for some glorious appearance of Christ both in your Churches and Ministry as the result and blessed fruit of it For 6. It shall be attended with great Church Mercies So it is said ver 26 27. I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them my Tabernacle also shall be with them What is this Sanctuary the Septuagint render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my holy things It imports Purity of Gospel Worship That in Ezek. 43.11 explains it Shew them the form of the house and the fashion thereof and the going out and the comings in thereof and all the ordinances thereof and all the Laws thereof and write it in their sight that they may keep the whole form thereof and all the ordinances thereof and do them This is setting his Sanctuary and Tabernacle in the midst of us And this receives farther light from that of John Rev. 21.2 3. When he saw new Jerusalem coming down from God then he heard a voice out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them Are not these great Mercies 7. Nay it is such a Union as shall have its effect in a great increase Division is a scattering judgment Gen. 49.7 I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel But union and concord are blessed with increase When were the Churches multiplied but when they were at peace and walked together in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost Acts 9.31 Therefore God here doth not only promise to make them one but so to make them out that they shall thereby be many ver 26. I will multiply them And therefore sing O barren thou that didst not bear Isa â—4 1 3. for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seed shall make the desolate Cities to be inhabited And this is another Mercy here promised O the many Mercies that are the birth of this one Mercy And therefore if the two sticks are made one give the glory to him who hath made them one and hath said they shall be one in his hand Psal 118.23 For it the Lords doing and should be marvellous in our eyes And that the wonderful work of God may be to you matter of lasting joy give me leave to direct about it a little 1. Labour to manifest this union If God hath made the two Sticks one let it appear that they are one Make it evident by seeking each others welfare rejoyce in the gifts and graces and successes of others as if they were our own contributing your counsels assistance sympathy and prayers for the common good When we live and act as they that have but one Essence and Interest this makes the union manifest and shews that we are in a sense one as God and Christ are one 2. Use all means to preserve the union God hath made the two sticks one and he looks you should preserve the oneness You come hardly by it Non minor est virtus c. don t let it go it hath cost many prayers to obtain it and therefore we should spare no cost to preserve it What is hardly got should not be easily lost It is as much a Duty to endeavour to keep it as it was to seek it Indeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 Need I use any Motives to press this Motive 1. How many unities doth the Apostle urge as Arguments for the maintaining this Unity All things in Religion are reduced to one that the people of God may be one and abide one Eph. 4 4. There is one body and one spirit 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 How many Ones are here to move the People of God to be one 1. There is one Body As Christ had but one natural Body so he hath but one Mystical Christ hath many Members but he hath but one body and all that believe in Christ are that one body Now how monstrous is it for the Members of the same Body to fight one against another to rend and tare one another for the Hand to pluck out the Eye the Mouth to tear the Hand c. What nearer then Members of the same Body Brethren that have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the same Womb have been divided in Interest and Affections and have defaced all feelings of Nature You have instances of this in Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau 1 Cor. 12.25 But it is not so with Members of the same Body They care one for another and perform their several Offices for the common good Now ye are not only Friends and Brethren but Members of one Body 2. There is one Spirit As all the natural Members of the same Body have but one and the same Soul so all the Members of the Mystical Body of Christ have one and the same Spirit One Spirit to inlighten and teach one Spirit to sanctifie and one Spirit to direct and lead Why then should they not have one heart and one way when they are taught and led by one Spirit Is he not the Spirit of Love and Meekness 3. There is one hope of our Calling i. e. One Heaven our hoped for Glory to which all are called There is one Inheritance for all the Saints and why should theer not be one Heart in them that have one Inheritance 4. There 's one Lord and that is the Lord Christ whom we all worship and serve And shall fellow Servants differ that have the same Lord Is Christ divided 1 Cor. 1.13 5. There is one Faith One Systeme of Christian Doctrine and if their be but one Faith why should we not be united therein in one judgment 6. There is one Baptism This is that Sacrament whereby we are distinguished from the unbelieving World and incorporated into the Body of Christ As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And shall we by our discords unbaptize our selves by dividing from that Body into which we were baptized 7. There is one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in all All these are to be restrained to the Church Father of all by Regeneration above all by his Dominion through all by his Presence and special Providence in all by his Spirit and Grace And shall not we be one that have one God Shall he be over us and through us and in us and should not this be an Argument to preserve Union among us Motive 2. This is one great end of all Christs undertakings It was one end of his coming into the World That in the fulness of time
contempt of another One was for Paul against Apollo another for Apollo against Paul a third for Peter against them both a fourth was neither for one nor the other but for Christ against them all i. e. they cryed down all Humane Ministry and were for the immediate teachings of Christ without any means or instruments Now thus to say I am of Christ is a sin For as we must not make a Christ of Means by resting upon them so nor may we lay aside Means expecting Christ should do all without them Be so for Christ as not to despise Ministry Be so for the Ministry of one as not to despise another Do not impropriate Christ to any party It is a dividing Spirit to say Lo here is Christ or lo there is Christ Matth. 24.23 It is to unfaint the whole World to Consecrate our own way And this is a provoking thing and must needs stir up strife and envy for every man is concerned when his right and title is called in question The Apostle discovers another Spirit and more truly Catholick when he writes to this Church 1 Cor. 1.2 To the saints at Corinth and to all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both yours and ours He seems to check that proud and envious humour which would so inclose Christ to a party as to deny and defeat all other claims Jesus Christ both theirs and ours Like that of Christ My father and your father my God and your God John 20.17 4. See that your Union be laid in Truth and Holiness Zech. 3.19 1. In Truth That must have the first place love the truth and peace Union in Errours in false Principles is no better than a confederacy against Christ Isa 8.12 And say not a confederacy That is a cursed accommodation that is made to the disservice of Religion because while we thus make peace with Men we make a breach with God 2. Let your Union be founded in Holiness It will not stand if it be not upon this bottom Loose Zeal is not unity but compliance Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. A Man may see God without Peace but he can't see God without Holiness Peace is a sort of provision that will not keep if it be not well salted Therefore our Lord Christ hath taught you how to preserve it Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves and have peace one with another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3.14 5. Keep Love in constant exercise This is a true principle of Union It is not only the knot that ties it but the bond that holds it It is the cement that holds the stones of Christs Spiritual Temple together This was the sacred sodder which united the Primitive Christians so firmly of old that they were of one heart Acts 4.32 and one soul We are united to Christ by Faith but to one another by Love And we should be careful to strengthen both the bands that neither of them be broken The true Mother would rather lose the Child then see it divided Among the Romans they had a Temple dedicated Jovi depositorio because there they laid aside their quarrels and differences before they enter'd into the Senate Shall Heathens lay aside their mutual jars for common good and shall not the Ministers of the Gospel do it much more for the Churches safety 6. Pray much for that wisdom that is from above which is pure peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated Jam. 3.17 3. Indeavour what in you lies to perfect this Union Nothing less then this will fully answer the Prayer of Christ He doth not only pray that his people may be made one but that they may be made perfect in one John 17.23 And if Christ prays for it ought not we to indeavour it that we may be perfectly joined together in the same mind 1 Cor. 1.10 and in the same judgment And because the oneness can never be fully perfected here therefore let us long for Heaven where this Blessing shall be compleat Here we injoy it by way of initiation their it will be in consummation All partition Walls shall then be destroyed There all contrary Opinions and differing Sentiments shall cease Their Luther and Zuinglius Hooper and Ridley shall be all of a mind Many Spiritual Gifts and Graces shall cease there whether there be prophecies they shall fail or whether there be tongues they shall cease Nay Faith Hope Repentance c. they shall cease too but Charity never fails 1 Cor. 13.8 Love and Union shall go with you to Heaven and shall be a part of the Saints felicity for ever It shall no more be said I am of Paul and I of Apollo but God shall be all in all I will conclude all with a short Exhortation and a Prayer as short The Exhortation is in Philip. 2. five first Verses If their be therefore 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 mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind 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 mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus That is the Exhortation The Prayer is in Rom. 15.5 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards 〈…〉 according to Christ Jesus that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then will the Two Sticks be One in the hand of the Lord. Eph. 3.21 To him be glory in all the Churches by Christ Jesus throughout all ages AMEN FINIS These four Books are Published by Mr. Matthew Mead and sold by Tho. Parkhurst in Cheapside viz. Spiritual wisdom Improved against Temptation in a Sermon at Stepney September 16th 1660. The Almost Christian Discovered or the false Professor try'd and Cast in seven Sermons The Good of Early Obedience or the Advantage of Bearing the Yoak of Christ betimes The Vision of the Wheel seen by the Prophet Ezekiel opened and Applyed partly at the Merchants Lecture in Broad-street and partly at Stepney on January 31th 168◠being the day of thanksgiving to God for the great Deliverance of the Kingdom from Popery and Slavery