the daughter of their people Now to such I have these following directions to propose Though you do not think it convenient to engage your selves in the controversies of the times as they tend to estrange the hearts and alienate the affections of good People one from another yet to engage your selves in a controversy against controversies managing of it with a spirit of love and tenderness which may so much tend in the fruits of it to the endearing and uniting of the hearts of Saints one to another that may be worth your engaging in If you observe what is said page 32 33 34 35 36. you will there see how all the servants of God in all ages contended against the contentions in the Church and laboured to preserve union amongst Saints as the main duty And therefore in the first place I would begg of you to stir up your own hearts with all the Saints near you to be much in prayer for this mercy set special times apart to meet together to wrestle with the Lord about it this is a difficult and a great work and prayer hath done many such all those late great mercies that God hath bestowed upon his People in these Nations which they are now so unable to agree about the dividing of were all by many gracious and eminent instruments received and acknowledged to be the returns of Prayer I shall close this request with Joels exhortation Chap. 2.17 Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy heritage to reproach that the Heathen should use a by-word against them wherefore should they say among the People Where is their God 2. Give up your selves to study and propagate this truth for among the multitude of books that this day hath produced I have found few though I have diligently enquired and sought for them of this subject And had I not been wearied with long delayed expectation I should not durst to have made an Essay upon this work but I hope if it be of no other use it may serve to provoke some of you to lay your hand to this plough least such unskilful ones as my self is should spoile a good cause by badly managing it 3. Set upon some beginnings in Gospel-fellowship upon this Gospel principle I am perswaded the Lord would prosper and blesse it against this Spirit of division as the house of David against Sauls it shal grow stronger and stronger and the other weaker and weaker the Lord seems to be withdrawing his good spirit of his quickening sanctifying comforting grace from the People with whom the spirit of division is most predominate even pouring upon the head of dividers what he threatned to back-sliders Prov. 14.14 even to fill them with their own wayes that they are even wearied with the multitude of their divisions and contentions and such as are sincerely sensible thereof are ready to cry out with David Psal 120.6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace unto whom your feet will be beautiful that bring good tydings that publish peace Esay 52.7 when they shall observe by your Order and spirituall concord how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity as Psal 133.1 If you have already the charge of a particular Church labour to instruct them in this precious truth which when they have received endeavour to manifest it and make it known to all the Godly round about that you are in charity and desire to be in fellowship with them and all the godly or visible Beleevers in the World But if you be not engaged to any particular Church at present then make known your judgment to al that feares God near unto you and press them to their dutys to congregate themselves together and to have fellowship one with another in all Ordinances so farr as the Lord hath enlightned them therein which when obtained proceed as before Object But in case the Churches or at least a great part of them over whom the Lord hath set us be so averse to this truth that the promoting of it among them may hazard a breach betwixt us or at least a division in the Churche show should we then walk in the prosecution of this duty Answ Either such an aversness must proceed from a conscientious godly fear that some other truth of Christ they have received may be prejudiced thereby Otherwise from a contentious unruly frame of spirit not being able to bear the sincere and savory advice and instruction of those the Lord hath set over them If from the former a great deal of tenderness and Christian patience ought to be exercised toward them and endeavours used to satisfie them that your main aim and intendment in promoting this duty is to take away the cause from whence all grievances of that hand come and to provide that an equal provision of Liberty and opportunity may be to all conscientiously professing or practising any controverted point without the least discouragement or restraint which is as much as any sober mind can desire If from the latter lesse weight is to be put upon it saith Paul if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churhes of God 1 Cor. 11.16 And so to Titus There are many unruly and vain talkers whose mouths must be stopped Titus 1.10 11. Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith vers 13. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee Chapter 2.15 when Christians contain not themselves within the bounds of a sober gracious spirit whether the matter they strive about be truth or error their pride passion unruliness ought to be reproved But if in case they all should agree to dissent in this matter and will retain their former rule of separation yet if they be willing to allow that liberty to others that they desire to enjoy themselves separate not from them but the rather abide with them as with a Church of Christ that most needs your help For Christians much more ministers should not somuch consider where they may walk to enjoy most comfort and Christian liberty c. but rather where they may be most serviceable to the Lord and the weak diseased of his People for the whole need not the Physitian But though I do judge you ought to condiscend to the weakness of your Brethren and to walk with all Christian and brotherly affection towards them yet not herein with Peter Gal. 2.12 13. to dissemble the truth or to suffer any of the same society to be imposed on by them but your selves withall like-minded to manifest your charity towards and desire of fellowship with all the Saints on earth and as your occasions give you opportunity to evidence your principle by your practice Object But in case the Church with whom wee walk should be so offended as
by all means as in 2 Thess 3.16 If thou wouldest have thy soul prosper Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that so love her nay if thou wouldest have Sion prosper say Peace be within thy wals and then prosperitie shall be within her Pallaces and therefore for thy brethren and companions sake say Peace be within thee and because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good as in Psal 122.6 7 8 9. If after you have perused this Discourse you shall observe there are many considerable Objections against the thing prest unspoken to that I admit I do not expect these few weak Lines should answer all Objections in a controversie of this weight neither do I judge my self able to answer them but am assured there are well wishers to this Truth that are able to proceed Therefore if these Lines may but tend to awaken and stir up the people of God to enquire after this Truth and to allow that the laboring after Saints Union is not only a Dutie but a great and weighty Duty and to be numbered in the first Rank of Christian Duties I have my aim for that would prepare the hearts of Saints for Unity and make the work of removing obstructions and resolving particular cases much more easie For many of Gods people do already and more will be daily discerning the inconsistency of the principles they walk by to Gospel-prosperity unity doth as naturally fore-run Glory to Christs Church as health doth strength or light heat Therefore the main design of Satan at this day is to prevent Gospel-Glory by obstructing Gospel-Unity but the more the spirit of strife and division struggles against this work let it provoke you the more to set to all your strength to promote it the Lord doth not onely require that his people should be faithful unto but valiant for the Truth upon earth Shall Quakers and such like rigid censorious dividing principled people compass sea and land and consume their estates to make common purses in order to the promoting and carrying on their ridiculous principles of division and confusion and shall those who pretend the Espousing the universal interest of Saints as such be Ephraim-like a silly Dove without heart as their diligence and painfulness do now upbraid us so I fear it will in the great day rise up in judgment against us It was good Mr. Burroughs complaint in his time when the spirit of division was but in its infancy That there were many would cry Loe the Thief but who stopt him So saints are many at this day will bemoan such divisions and make sad complaints of it one to another when they meet but how few have set themselves to study and propagate uniting principles which I trust the Lord will set upon the hearts of some who he hath so eminently principled and qualified for the work that the friends of this precious Truth may not have cause above all the rest of Truths Favorites to complain with the Prophet in its behalf There is none to guide her among all the Sons whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons which she hath brought up Isa 51.18 Nay is there not rather cause for this Truth to take up the Lords complaint Isa 1.2 I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me This Principle hath been dealt withal by some of its Favourites as Saul dealt with David who honoured and imbraced him in his camp and hated and banished him his Court yet blessed be the Lord there are some Jonathaas to stand up and say What evil hath he done whose souls are knit to this principle as the soul of Jonathan was to David who will not be afraid to answer imposing and dividing principles as Moses answered Pharoah Exod. 10.9 We will go with our young and with our old with our Sons and with our Daughters with our Flocks and with our Herds will we go for we must hold a Feast unto the Lord. Pharoah would have put off Moses with the liberty and freedom of some part of Gods people Go you that are men to serve the Lord saith he ver 11. No saith Moses Church deliverances from bondage opression must be universal deliverances otherwise how should we hold a feast to the Lord can part of us rejoyce in our Liberties as long as other part is under bondage and oppression No we must either all go together or all stay together all rejoyce together or all mourn together therefore we will not leave a hoof behind us ver 26. Now this spirit in Moses is the true nature of this Gospel-principle it will not own any deliverance from oppression and imposition of conscience contrived and proposed by men to answer the design of Gods deliverance to his people untill it include the common Gospel Liberty due to all Saints and that in all their necessary concernments though it may out of tenderness with David 1 Sam. 30.10 leave some of the weak and feeble behind in the work of War and danger yet all must have an equal share of the spoil whether the Sons of Belial will or no as in ver 24. It 's the faithfullest and impartiallest Steward to trust with the Saints common stock that can be found on earth there shall be no cause of complaint so far as its power reacheth every one of Sions children shall have an equal share of those common mercies and priviledges their Heavenly Father appoints for them And therefore whatsoever opinion or way thou art of consisting with sobriety and holiness this principle if thou dost promote it will take equal care and make equal provision for thy Christian liberty and encouragement that if thou beest a favourer of Saints prosperity labor to be acquainted with this common friend of theirs it will teach thee how to observe and own the shining beauty of grace in Saints through the darkest cloud of those common errors and mistakes that the opposite principle renders them so unlovely and deformed one to another by And let not the homely and mean attire this Truth salutes thee in make it less acceptable if the Author had had better it should not have worn so bad but Beauty is Beauty though clothed in rags The ensuing Discourse is rather intended to tell thee there is such a Principle accommodated with such excellent Qualifications and to provoke thee to enquire after it and endeavor acquaintance with it then to give the an exact description of it But I shall submit what follows to thy favorable censure and close with the words of Paul to the Philippians c. 2. v. 1 to 6. If there 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
out and remove the cause and partly to prepare and arme themselves against the necessary and sad consequences that might attend them which Duty the division of our days among Gods people loudly calls for which to speak a word unto I shall make a little digression which is to entreat all who desire in sincerity to set upon this work of heart-searching in order to find out the cause and avoid the cosequences of the sad Divisions amongst us to consider the following directions 1. Search thine own heart and way throughly for this cursed spirit of Division may have hidde it self under such plausible pretences of good that whilst thou seekest for it among thy temptations and corruptions it may be close hid in several of thy best duties and religious qualifications And therefore if thou find him not amongst thy temptations of pride of minde self conceit affecting Singularity a desire to seem some body amongst those with whom thou walkest a loving preheminence over thy Brethren or in a froward rash uncharitable spirit c. If thou searchest thy heart throughly and find him not dwelling there under the Covert of these or the like temptations or corruptions then proceed to a further heart searching as to the tryall of thy graces and religious dutyes for this spirit of darkness knows how to transform it self into an angel of light If thou beest one that hath attained to an eminent knowledge and hath found out the mind of God in some special truths that many other of Gods people are dark in then search whether thy knowledge hath not pufft thee up as in 1 Cor. 4.18.19 4 chap. verse 8. Col. 2.8 and begotten in thee an high esteeme of thine own things Phil. 2.4 and a low esteem of the things of others Phil. 2.3 Whether thy gifts graces and religious endowments have not been more employed by thee in promoting and propagating of disputable points and doubtfull questions Rom. 14.1 tending rather to strife about words 1 Tim. 6.4 and 2 Tim. 2.23 and vaine janglins 1 Tim. 1.7 then to godly edifying 1 Cor. 14.26 Whether by thy knowledge thou hast not laid a stumbling block in thy weak brothers way Rom. 14.13 by pressing upon him more remote dutys while the immediate duties of his present state in grace have been neglected contrary to that of our Saviour who had many things to say but could not say them then because the Disciples could not bear them John 16.12 And to that of Paul who could not speak to the Church of Corinth as spirituall but unto carnal even unto babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3. 1. And therefore fed them with milke and not with strong meat verse 2. I say search and examine whether thy knowledge hath not been employed by this Spirit of Division in some such or the like failings which hath so visibly tended to the promoting the dissentions and divisions among Gods People But secondly Art thou one that hath attained to an extraordinary zeal for God his wayes and truths that thou thinkest thou couldest say with the Psalmist The zeal of thy House hath eaten me up Psal 69.9 then search and try thy zeal for fear this spirit of division hath not hid it self there the Jews misguided zeal mentioned Acts 21.20 provoked them to cry out against Paul verse 28. Men of Israel help this is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place c. It was Paul's misguided zeal before conversion for the tradition of his fathers Gal. 1.14 that provoked him beyond measure to persecute the Church of God and waste it verse 13. and so Phil. 3.6 And therefore when thou art zealous be sure it be in a good thing Gal. 4 18. It is dangerous being exceedingly zealous for points of Doctrine or practice in matters disputable and much controverted betwixt both godly and able Christians least whilest like those Pharisees Luke 11.42 thou be zealous in Tything Mint and Rue and pass over Judgement and the Love of God For as holy zeal rightly managed is the most excellent grace among Christians so misguided is the most dangerous and thus in thy searchings of heart for the divisions among Saints go on by the same rule to search and try every grace and gift in thee lest thou missest of thy care in searching the wound Now for the sad effects and evil consequences flowing from Divisions among Christians I may say they are unmentionable for it is very hard to name an evil that at this day the people of God and this Commonwealth groans under that our Divisions hath not had an hand in if not the main cause of Is there cause to complain the much prayed for and expected reformation hath been obstructed and retarded Why consider whether Division hindred it not if the generality of the godly could but agreed on good things to have proposed them or joyntly desired them we have not wanted an Authority to have granted and confirmed them but the several opinions and perswasions in Religion have had every one a Reformation to promote wherein an equal provision of liberty and encouragement for all that are truly godly have been declined and the extreams of each of their different perswasions insisted on like the cruel harlot Solomon gave judgement against they have rather chosen half a dead child then their opposites should enjoy a living one 2. Is there cause to complain of the spreading of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies c. Why Division opens the door for them for every one making their particular opinions a particular different Religion and separating thereupon hath given a kinde of reputation to â—â—â—aration though it be from the most pure Churches and holy people so that if any make shipwrack of Faith and a good conscience and suck in principles inconsistent with grace and godliness And observe they will not be born among the people with whom they then walked why it is but separating and setting up for themselves and they have field-room enough to sowe their tares in Whereas were the people of God who are sound in the Substantials of Religion united together within the bounds before mentioned and exercising that discipline God hath set in his Church it would bear an Authority that as the Apostle saith 2 Thes 3.14 Tit. 2.8 The offending person would be ashamed which now it doth not for now the personmarked Rom. 16.17 or withdrawn from with all others observing him not of the same way or fellowship with them that past the censure do but look at it as a censure past by a few Christians upon the account of opinion and from thence heed it not That I may say the solemn Ordinances of Christ for the healing and recovery of the diseased and infected of his people are become contemptible which nothing but the union of his Church that the censure of one congregation may be the censure of the whole will remedy And then if the walls of our Gospel Jerusalem
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 Chrst Jesus In whom I rest Your Friend and Brother in the Unity and Purity of the Gospel R. LAWRENCE THE CONTENTS TRuth seldom found in extreams p. 1. Searchers after truth must suspect danger of erring on each hand p. 1. 2. As the door of the Church may be opened too wide so it may be shut too close p. 2. That since God hath had a Church on earth its separation from the World and unity in its self have been required by him as an equal duty p. 3. All the Reformed Churches justifie separation p. 4. The General notion of a competent knowledge and suitable conversation are to intricate and uncertain rules to be the visible bounds of Gods visible Church p. 5 6 The Lord hath alwayes preserved to his Church a visible undisputable bound betwixt them and the World p. 6. 7 8. Circumcision and Abrahams seed in the Type and Antitype was foreordained established to be the infallible and everlasting bounds of Gods visible Church on earth p. 8 9. It continued so unquestionable untill Christ came who only changed the Type for the Antitype p. 9 10. Believers ought to make the same use of the Antitype under the Gospel the Type served for under the Law p. 10 11. The Antitype of Circumcision and Abrahams seed is visible Grace and Holiness p. 11. Which Paul affirms to be the visible bound of Gods Church and mark of Gods children to Rome and Galatia c. p. 11 12. Antichrist set up his Kingdom by laying waste these Gospel Bounds and Christians open the door to all division and confusion by not repairing them p. 13. 14. Gods Church must not only be a City of righteousness but a City with Walls p. 15. All Churches of Saints ought to own one another as true Churches of Christ and fellow members of his body p. 16. Seven General Heads from whence the arguments to prove the duty of Saints union as such are drawn p. 17 18. 1. From the choyce and approbation of the Father p. 19. Prooving that such as the Father hath manifested his visible Choyce and approbation of to be his Children beleevers ought to admit and chuse to be their Brethren p 9 Christ and all Saints have but one Father for which cause he was not ashamed of their infirmities p. 20. 21. 2. General head is from the choyce and approbation of God the Son p. 22. Christ a perfect Emblem of union in his person p. 22. Christ had no helper in his work nor no partner in his relations to his Church that Gods designe of union in him might be visible p. 22. Christs chiefe designe in assuming our nature was a work of union p. 23. Christ walked by uniting Principles prest uniting dutyes and commended uniting Graces most to his People p. 23 24. Christ owned all visible gracious persons to be members of his body therefore ought all Saints to own them so p. 25. The 3 sort of Arguments is drawn from the visible choice and approbation of the holy Spirit p. 26. The most infallible rule to chuse Church-members by is to follow the track of the Spirits choyce p. 27. The sanctifying effects of the spirit in Saints ought to be admitted as sufficient testimony of the Spirits choyce p. 27. No beleevers without some visible mark of the Spirits choyce p. 28. Prooved that this choyce of the spirit instates a Beleever in all Gospel relations and Priviledges both in the Kingdom of grace and glory p. 29. The 4 general head from whence arguments are drawn is from the visible choyce and approbation of the infallible servants of God in all ages p. 30. They made the choyce of the Father Son and Spirit their choyce p. 30. They laid more weight upon the duty and mercy of the Churches union then upon most others dutyes and mercyes p. 31. Paul laid more to heart and endeavored more to preserve the Churches union then all other errors to reform p. 32 33 34. The Argument for Saints union from the whole p. 35. The 5 generall Head from whence Arguments are taken is from the several Metaphors and Similitudes the Church is compared unto in Scripture p. 35. 1. From that of Beleevers being Gods Children and thereby of his Family the housholder of faith p. 36 37. 2. From that of the membership of the same body which relation is inconsistent without union p. 38 39. The 6 general Head is from the sad consequences and effects of our present divisions p 40. Division is usually the forerunner of destruction the former preparing the way for the latter p. 40. Directions to be observed in heart searchings for the cause and cure of Saints divisions p. 41 42 43. The spirit of division sometime imployes our graces as well as our Corruptions to divide by p 42. Knowledge and Zeal much imployod at this day by the spirit of division in dividing work p 42. 43. The sad effects and consequences of our divisions p. 44. 1. They have obstructed and hindred reformation p. 44. 2 They have opened the door and let in upon us that overflowing flood of Errors heresies and blasphemies which many Professors among us are carried away with p. 45. And the continuation of them will make that disease uncurable p. 46. They have been the cause of that great decay in the life and power of Religion amongst us p. 46. They have rendered the power and life of godlyness contemptible in the eyes of Formalists and the carnal multitude p. 47. 5. They have rendered the power and purity of Religion and the professors of it unacceptable in the eyes of authority and several persons in eminent place p. 48 49. 6. They have brought scorn and contempt upon the glorious cause of God in these Nations and have stained the glorious presence of God with his People that had once stained the pride of all the Glory of the World p. 50 51. They have been the cause of the removal of many eminent worthy Instruments from their Publick Stations therby made way for others no wayes spirited nor principled for the places they stand in p. 52. 8. They furnish wicked Magistrates and Ministers with plausible excuses in the exercise of their oppressing persecuting principles p. 53. 9. It is from this spirit of division so many eminent gracious persons in Authority are disabled from doing that good in their places they have otherwaies an opportunity for p. 53 54. The argument for union from the whole p. 55. The 7 General head from whence arguments for Saints union is drawn is from the evident and great good it would be attended with to Gods Church p. 55. 56. 1. Vnity would renew its strength and make it terrible to its enemies p. 56. 57. 2. Vnity would
but one spirit so the chief business of this own spirit and tendency of its operation is unity Eph. 4.3 And next to that betwixt head and members Christ and Saints it drives on the designe of the Saints union with one another in all truth Eph. 4.13 It can neither be divided nor deceived but must speak the same thing at all times to all persons Heb. 13.8 Men may have different apprehensions and understandings and from the variety in them may put a various interpretation upon the Spirits teaching 1 Cor. 12.3 but yet the spirit remains the same spirit of truth it leadeth into all truth Jo. 16.13 And though this variety be in the spirits operation in the work of illumination and directing the judgement from the variety which is in the capacities and apprehensions of men yet in the more certain properties of the spirits work upon the hearts of Beleevers as in the works of mortification and sanctification c. there is no such variety for though there may be difference of degree yet the least measure of the spirits work in those things bears a divine stamp that fruit of the Spirit which is in all goodness righteousness and truth Eph. 5.9 is of the same nature and complexion in all Saints from whence I argue That the most infallible Rule Saints can walk by in their choice of gospel brethren or Church-members is to follow the tract of the Spirits choyce to choose where it hath chosen before them But the visible tract or evidence of the Spirits choyce is its manifesting its indwelling through its operation in carrying the Soul out to the exercise of Grace Therefore the visible operation of the Spirit of Grace in persons is the most infallible Rule for Beleevers to make their choyce by Object But may some say how shall we know the Spirits operations and thereby its choyce in such a day of delusion as this is when the spirit of Errour that new reigneth hath transformed it self to so neere a likenesse to the Spirit of Christ Answ Whatsoever is held forth to be the visible fruits and effects of the Spirit of grace in the hearts and conversation of Beleevers by the word of truth ought to be admitted by them as sufficient Testimony of the Spirits choice Acts 11.17 But the effects and fruits of the Spirit are clearly testified to be Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness and Temperance Gal. 5.22.23 Therefore such persons whom the Spirit of the Lotd hath so qualified ought to be admitted and owned by Beleevers as such of whom the Spirit hath manifested its choyce For what may be further objected against this Argument from the various understandings and different minds of several visible gracious persons and from the grosse Errours held by several persons seemingly gracious and spirituall I shall have occasion to speak to when I come to answer to such general Objections as will include many of those particular Objections that might be made against every Argument I might add many Arguments more drawn from the fruits of the Spirits choyce But let all that long for the union of Saints first resolve to make the Spirits choice theirs and then they shall hardly read a Scripture but will afford them some Characters of the Spirits choyce for our heavenly Father hath not a Child nor our chief Shepheard a Sheep that are visibly such but his holy Spirit hath set his seal on them either lesse or more visible 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13 4.30 Therefore I shall conclude this head with one Argument more and leave the remain to the Readers meditation That qualification or State which gives us free access to and acceptance with the Father Eph. 2.18 1.6 by which we are made his adopted Sons Rom. 8.15 unto which he hath annexed the performances of his preitious promises 2 Peter 1.4 wherein he seeks and desires us to worship him Joh. 4.23 by which we are joyned unto the same body of which Jesus Christ is the head 1 Cor. 12.13 and whereby we are made partakers of the same grace 1 Col. 12. heirs with him of the same Kingdom James 2.5 or inheritance Eph. 1.11 14. and partakers with him of the same glory in heaven Col. 1.27 3.4 nay wherein the perfection of shall be their State in glory John 17.23 24 Eph 4.13 when all other qualifications and additional rules of distinction shall cease 1 Cor. 13.8 10. is doubtlesse the most infallible rule and qualification for Gods Church and People to owne and joyn with one another in the worship and service of God by But the qualification that gives us right unto interest in all the former particulars is a participation of a spiritual work of grace upon the heart as the Srciptures annexed with abundance more that might be added do sufficiently evidence Therefore it is the most infallible rule for Gods Churches and People to make choice of Church-members and Gospel Brethren by The fourth General head from which we shall argue is the choice and approbation of the infallible servants of God in all ages whose fellowship and communion with persons as Gods Church and People is recorded for our Example in Scriptures who in their several generations and ages of the Church they lived in made this duty of preserving the Churches union and peace within it self the great and weighty duty unto which most other dutyes when they come in competition must give place unto And they did always make the declared visible choice of God their choice For those whom God had chosen to be his people by his visible Covenant with an especial grace unto they owned to be their brethren and fellow members in his Church excluding none of them nor admiting no other which point I suppose hath been sufficiently proved in my discourse of the true Church-bounds That until I meet with one instance at least out of Gods word of a person or persons visible which in those Church-bounds before mentioned viz. Abrahams seed Circumcision in the type Antitype was kept out or not esteemed one of Gods Church not scandalous or unexcommunicated I shall for bear further speaking to that And shall chiefly from this head insist to observe the weight that the holy servants of God in all ages have laid upon the Churches peace and unity When the Church consisted of Jacobs family how carefull was Joseph to preserve union among his Brethren though they had little deserved it at his hands yet the great and chief charge he layeth upon them is see that you fall not out by the way Gen. 4.5.24 So Moses reproves his Brethren the Hebrewes for striving one with another Exod. 2.13 in in these words as Stephen quotes it Acts 7.26 Sirs ye are Brethren why do ye wrong one another So for the Divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart Judges 5.15 16. So David Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together
this day have been examples to their Flocks in this great duty of a holy tender spirit and humble brotherly carriage towards others differing from them for I know my self many that have so walked but I fear if there was a due search the most have not so done but there have been more hands dividing and rending then have been binding up and healing or else the disease would not have grown so Epidemical as it is this day that the Lord hath just cause to take up the complaint against them he did against his Shepherds of old Ezek. 34.4 5.6 The diseased have ye not strengthened neither have ye healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with Force and with cruelty have ye ruled them And they were scattered because there is no Shepherd and they became meat to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered my sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill yea my Flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth and none did seek or search after them And therefore until the Lord set this great evil upon your hearts that you have troden under your feet and scattered abroad so much of Gods precious wheat by your inordinate and unseasonable striving to be plucking up the tares there is little hopes of your setting your selves to this work of labouring for the unity of Gods Church with such desire and endeavour to accomplish it as may promise much success 2. You having once the sad divided condition of the people of God set upon you hearts with a due sense of what furtherance you have given thereto as aforesaid then begin to study all holy wayes of furthering the work of union then imitate the chief and good Shepherd Ezek. 34.11 12 13 14 15 16. For thus saith the Lord God behold I even I will both search my sheep and seek them out As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the country I will feed them in a good pasture and upon the high mountains of Israel there shall their fold be there shall they lie in a good fold and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel I will feed my flock and cause them to lie down saith the Lord God I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and I will binde up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong I will feed them with judgement For until then you will not be able to bear the contradiction and opposition you must expect to meet withall in this work not onely from bad but from good men till then the meekest Moses will be in danger to lift up himself over his poor deluded murmuring brethren Numb 20.10 and smite the rock oftner then he ought to do in his anger verse 11. but if once the Lord bring your hearts under an holy sense of equal guilt there will then be a spirit of sympathy with your poor weak brethren then you will know how to feed your flocks like a shepherd and to gather the lambs with your arms and carry them in your bosom and gently to lead those that are with young 3. I would propose to you to change your sharp severe censurings and blamings into affectionate beseechings and intreatings that was Paul's way Phil. 2.1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels of mercies fulfill ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde And so Ephes 4.1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation whereto ye are called with all lowliness and meekness with all long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace c. 4. In all your preachings or writings against Errors and Divisions c. labour to distinguish betwixt the chaff and the wheat the dross and the silver do not only condemn what is evil but also commend what is good in the same people or persons that is the method Christ observed to the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 2. and 3. Chap. as to Ephesus Chapter 2.2 I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them that are evil and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them liers and hast born and hast patience and for my Names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted And then he tells them of their faults verse 4. Nevertheless I have somwhat against thee c. And so to Pergamus verse 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans seat is and thou holdest fast my name and hast not denied my faith c. then in verse 14. he tells them of their evils but I have a few things against because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam c. And so he proceeds to Thyatira Sardis and Philadelphia c. Now if this method were observed by you in your preachings and acting against what you judge Error it would tend much to unity and also to the furtherance of the truth you contend for for by the contrary practice you usually prejudice and incense the persons holding the Errors you reprove against the reprover by your so far extending the Error or Errors they hold as to blemish and render undiscernable all the graces and precious truths retained and profest by them 5. In your opposing of Errors lay no more weight upon the Errors reproved then the Scripture doth the contrary extream of all hands tending much to Division such as are rigid against separation they have one sort of general exclamations against all sorts of persons they judge Erroneous separating from them jumbling them all together usually in their Invectives under the odious names of Schismaticks Heriticks c. And such as are rigid for separation answer them in the same extream on the other hand they cry out against them as Idolaters false worshippers superstitions Formalists c. by which unchristian and unreasonable deportments one towards another not onely the godly on both hands are incensed and prejudiced one against another but even carnal wicked people observing these passages and hearing such expressions they are
hardened in their unbelief and impiety they presently stand up with the Pharisee in the Temple and cry out Thanks be to God I am not as other men are not as this false worshipper or Formalist nor that Heretick or Schismatick c. then they think they are religious enough for a great deal of the Religion of this day dissolves into negatives men are better able to tell you what they are not then what they are in Religion 6. In your labouring against Errors take heed of false accusations of charging persons tainted with one or some Errors with many others of a dangerous tendency which they profess a detestation against this evil practice hath much tended to Division and establishing some persons in their Errors they hold for when they have heard that point wherein they are said to be deluded opposed and spoke against by a slanderous tongue and uncharitable spirit they have concluded it to be a truth from the Error and evil of the spirit opposing it and have been so much moved to observe false witnesses to rise up against them who laid to their charge things that they knew not Errors that their souls abhor that they never heeded the Arguments against the chief point in controversie but are hereby further prejudiced against the truth prest upon them by the falsehood and slanderousness of the mouth pleading for it concluding the same fountain cannot send forth both sweet water and bitter and hereby this erroneous way of opposing Error doth serve some of the main designs of the father of Error and Lyes for next to the corrupting of the judgement he endeavours in order to lock them up in Error to incense their hearts and prejudice them in their affections against the truth and the professors of it which this untruth-like spirit and carriage of the pretended friends of truth doth exceedingly promote 7. In your opposing Errors controversal and of lesser moment take heed you thereby give not countenance and encouragement to Errors more weighty and fundamental least whiles you are pulling a mote out of the eyes of some you do thereby put a beam into the eyes of others some on the one hand so rigidly opposing Error in those of the separation that they harden and confirm others erring against the main truths of the new birth and regeneration setling poor carnal people upon the Lees of their formal profession and outward priviledges in the neglect of sanctifying grace and spiritual qualifications whereby thousands of poor souls are led blindfold to perdition yet made beleeve they are the onely Orthodox true Christians because they are free from some lesser controversal Errors some holy persons may be infected with when in the mean time they are ignorant of the main points of salvation and void of the very power and life of godliness yet by this sinfull daubing of some Preachers with untempered morter are perswaded of themselves Laodicean like that they are rich and have need of nothing and knows not that they are wretched and miserable poor blinde and naked the blood of whose souls will be required at such Preachers hands by the Lord Ezek. 33.8 9. Solomon saith Him that saith to the wicked thou art righteous him shall the people curse and if so then surely him will not the righteous God bless he who would not have his childrens bread cast to Dogs would much less have Dogs accounted Children whilst his Children are accounted Dogs which is a crying sin at this day amongst some such as would be loth not to be accounted godly Ministers who ye shall observe carry themselves towards some poor Christians in their Parishes who differ from them as towards the worst of men and in their Pulpits are more vehement and harsh against them then against the most prophane impious persons and practices and in the mean while administer the precious sealing Ordinances of the Gospel to a mixt multitude many if not most of which being ignorant scandalous and prophane persons common scoffers at Religion common swearers drunkards Sabbath-breakers c. yet all those saving some general admonitions against sin and general exhortations to duty shall be spoke of and to and walked towards as the Church of Christ and people of God and if there be some more sober person or persons who are free from the fore-mentioned scandals and have attained to some Historical knowledge of Religion and close but with them in the way of worship they are for especially if by their estate or interest they be able to serve their designs why such men must be esteemed of and cried up for eminent godly men when as to any inward sanctifying work of grace in their hearts there is no more appearance of it then there was of Gospel in Paul when he was Saul the persecutor or of the work of regeneration in Nicodemus when he came to Christ by night Now what is this less then justifying the wicked for a reward and taking away the righteousness of the righteous from him Isa 5.23 And the same sort of evil is to be discerned though not in so great a measure in them that are rigidly for separation and particular opinions many of them will be ready to have a huge good opinion and shew a singular respect to persons that favour them in their particular perswasions though otherwise loose notional frothy persons void of any savour or power of Godliness and in the mean time have a slight esteem of persons both sober and gratious that differ from them against whom they will be ready to take up an evil report and joyn with carnal loose people in reproaching them whereby the mindes of such carnal Incendiaries are setled in a loose frothy notional frame against the gravity and purity of Religion now these practises of all hands though they may be vailed under pretences of zeal for Truth against Error or for purity of worship against the Traditions and customs of men yet they are impious and evil in themselves besides exceeding prejudicial and destructive both to the purity and unity of Gods people and ought to be avoided and witnessed against as the worst sort of ungodliness in godly persons But though I could not omit the giving these cautions to all that pretend a Love to Jerusalem's Peace yet little is my expectation as to the furtherance of this blessed work from such as have engaged themselves far in these carnal contendings for spiritual things for evils clothed with good and plausible pretences are not easily reclaimed therefore I shall direct my self chiefly in what I have further to say to Gospel Ministers to those few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments with these contentious dividing practices for many there are I hope that for the Divisions of Reuben have great thoughts of heart whose souls long for Sions Peace who with Jeremiah could wish their heads were waters and their eyes fountains of tears that they might weep day and night for the slain of