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diff --git a/old/expcu10.txt b/old/expcu10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..014cffe --- /dev/null +++ b/old/expcu10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1512 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of An Exhortation to Peace and Unity +#1 in our series of works attributed (incorrectly) to John Bunyan + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.05/20/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk, +from the "Works of the Puritan Divines (Bunyan)", 1845 Thomas Nelson +edition. + + + + + +AN EXHORTATION TO PEACE AND UNITY. + +Attributed (incorrectly) to John Bunyan + + + + +[We deem it proper to state, that, though the following Treatise of +Christian Union appears in nearly all the collected editions of +BUNYAN'S WORKS, yet its genuineness has been called in question by +the Rev Mr Philip in his admirable work, "The Life and Times of +Bunyan." Without here entering into this question, we have +separately appended it to the works of Bunyan in this volume, and +trust that it will not prove unacceptable to our readers, especially +considering the efforts that are now being made to promote the +living union of all true Christians who hold the one Lord, the one +faith, and the one baptism.] + +Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.-- +Ephesians iv. 3. + +Beloved, religion is the great bond of human society; and it were +well if itself were kept within the bond of unity; and that it may +so be, let us, according to the text, use our utmost endeavours "to +keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." + +These words contain a counsel and a caution: the counsel is, That +we endeavour the unity of the Spirit; the caution is, That we do it +in the bond of peace; as if I should say, I would have you live in +unity, but yet I would have you to be careful that you do not +purchase unity with the breach of charity. + +Let us therefore be cautious that we do not so press after unity in +practice and opinion as to break the bond of peace and affection. + +In the handling of these words, I shall observe this method. + +I. I shall open the sense of the text. + +II. I shall shew wherein this unity and peace consist. + +III. I shall shew you the fruits and benefits of it, together with +nine inconveniences and mischiefs that attend those churches where +unity and peace is wanting. + +IV. And, lastly, I shall give you twelve directions and motives for +the obtaining of it. + +1. As touching the sense of the text, when ye are counselled to +keep the unity of the Spirit, we are not to understand the Spirit of +God, as personally so considered; because the Spirit of God, in that +sense, is not capable of being divided, and so there would be no +need for us to endeavour to keep the unity of it. + +By the unity of the spirit then, we are to understand that unity of +mind which the Spirit of God calls for, and requires Christians to +endeavour after; hence it is that we are exhorted, by one spirit, +with one mind, to strive together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. +i. 27. + +But farther, the apostle in these words alludes to the state and +composition of a natural body, and doth thereby inform us, that the +mystical body of Christ holds an analogy with the natural body of +man: as, 1. In the natural body there must be a spirit to animate +it; for the body without the spirit is dead; James ii. 26. So it is +in the mystical body of Christ; the apostle no sooner tells of that +one body, but he minds us of that one Spirit; Eph. iv. 4. + +2. The body hath joints and hands to unite all the parts; so hath +the mystical body of Christ; Col. ii. 19. This is that bond of +peace mentioned in the text, as also in the 16th verse of the same +chapter, where the whole body is said to be fitly joined together, +and compacted, by that which every joint supplieth. + +3. The natural body receives counsel and nourishment from the head; +so doth the mystical body of Christ; he is their counsellor, and him +they must hear; he is their head, and him they must hold: hence it +is that the apostle complaineth, Col. ii. 19, of some that did not +hold the head from which the whole body by joints and hands hath +nourishment. + +4. The natural body cannot well subsist, if either the spirit be +wounded or the joints broken or dislocated; the body cannot bear a +wounded or broken spirit--"A broken spirit drieth the bones;" Prov. +xvii. 22, and "A wounded spirit who can bear?" Prov. xviii. 14. +And, on the other hand, how often have the disjointing of the body, +and the breakings thereof, occasioned the expiration of the spirit? +In like manner it fares with the mystical body of Christ; how do +divided spirits break the bonds of peace, which are the joints of +this body? And how do the breakings of the body and church of +Christ wound the spirit of Christians, and oftentimes occasion the +spirit and life of Christianity to languish, if not to expire. How +needful is it then that we endeavour the unity of the spirit in the +bond of peace! + +II. I now come to shew you wherein this unity and peace consists; +and this I shall demonstrate in five particulars. + +1. This unity and peace may consist with the ignorance of many +truths, and in the holding of some errors; or else this duty of +peace and unity could not be practicable by any on this side +perfection: but we must now endeavour the unity of the spirit, till +we come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son +of God; Eph. iv. 13. Because now, as the apostle saith, "We know in +part, and we prophesy in part," and "Now we see through a glass +darkly;" 1 Cor. xiii. 9, 12. And as this is true in general, so we +may find it true if we descend to particular instances. The +disciples seem to be ignorant of that great truth which they had +often, and in much plainness, been taught by their Master once and +again, viz., that his kingdom was not of this world, and that in the +world they should suffer and be persecuted; yet in the 1st of the +Acts, ver. 6, we read, that they asked of him if he would at this +time restore the kingdom to Israel? thereby discovering that +Christ's kingdom (as they thought) should consist in his temporal +jurisdiction over Israel, which they expected should now commence +and take place amongst them. Again, our Lord tells them, that he +had many things to say (and these were many important truths) which +they could not now bear; John xvi. 12. And that these were +important truths, appear by the 10th and 11th verses, where he is +discoursing of righteousness and judgment, and then adds, that he +had yet many things to say which they could not bear; and thereupon +promises the Comforter to lead them into ALL TRUTH; which implies, +that they were yet ignorant of many truths, and consequently held +divers errors; and yet for all this, he prays for, and presses them +to, their great duty of peace and unity; John xiv. 27; xvii. 21. To +this may be added that of Heb. v. 11, where the author saith, he had +many things to say of the priestly office of Christ, which by reason +of their dulness they were not capable to receive; as also that in +the 10th of the Acts, where Peter seems to be ignorant of the truth, +viz., that the gospel was to be preached to all nations; and +contrary hereunto, he erred in thinking it unlawful to preach +amongst the Gentiles. I shall add two texts more, one in Acts xix., +where we read that those disciples which had been discipled and +baptized by John were yet ignorant of the Holy Ghost, and knew not +(as the text tells us) whether there were any holy Ghost or no; +though John did teach constantly, that he that should come after him +should baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. From hence we may +easily and plainly infer, that Christians may be ignorant of many +truths, by reason of weak and dull capacities, and other such like +impediments, even while those truths are with much plainness +delivered to them. Again, we read, Heb. v. 13, of some that were +unskilful in the word of righteousness, who nevertheless are called +babes in Christ, and with whom unity and peace is to be inviolably +kept and maintained. + +2. As this unity and peace may consist with the ignorance of many +truths, and with the holding some errors, so it must consist with +(and it cannot consist without) the believing and practising those +things which are necessary to salvation and church-communion; and +they are, 1st, Believing that Christ the Son of God died for the +sins of men. 2d, That whoever believeth ought to be baptized. The +third thing essential to this communion, is a holy and a blameless +conversation. + +(1.) That believing that the Son of God died for the sins of men is +necessary to salvation, I prove by these texts, which tell us, that +he that doth not believe shall be damned, Mark xvi. 16; John iii. +36; Rom. x. 9. + +That it is also necessary to church-communion appears from Matt. +xvi. 16-18. Peter having confessed that Christ was the Son of the +living God, Christ thereupon assures Peter, that upon this rock, +viz., this profession of faith, or this Christ which Peter had +confessed, he would build his church, and the gates of hell should +not prevail against it. And, 1 Cor. iii. 11, the apostle having +told the Corinthians that they were God's building, presently adds, +that they could not be built upon any foundation but upon that which +was laid, which was Jesus Christ. All which proves, that Christian +society is founded upon the profession of Christ; and not only +scripture, but the laws of right reason, dictate this, that some +rules and orders must be observed for the founding all society, +which must be consented to by all that will be of it. Hence it +comes to pass, that to own Christ as the Lord and head of Christians +is essential to the founding of Christian society. + +(2.) The Scriptures have declared, that this faith gives the +professors of it a right to baptism, as in the case of the eunuch, +Acts viii. When he demanded why he might not be baptized, Philip +answered, that if he believed with all his heart, he might. The +eunuch thereupon confessing Christ, was baptized. + +Now, that baptism is essential to church-communion, I prove from 1 +Cor. xii., where we shall find the apostle labouring to prevent an +evil use that might be made of spiritual gifts, as thereby to be +puffed up, and to think that such as wanted them were not of the +body, or to be esteemed members: he thereupon resolves, that +whoever did confess Christ, and own him for his head, did it by the +Spirit, ver. 3, though they might not have such a visible +manifestation of it as others had, and therefore they ought to be +owned as members, as appears, ver. 23. And not only because they +have called him Lord by the Spirit, but because they have, by the +guidance and direction of the same Spirit, been baptized, ver. 13, +"For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body," &c. I need +not go about to confute that notion that some of late have had of +this text., viz., that the baptism here spoken of is the baptism of +the Spirit, because you have not owned and declared that notion as +your judgment, but on the contrary, all of you that I have ever +conversed with, have declared it to be understood of baptism with +water, by the direction of the Spirit: If so, then it follows, that +men and women are declared members of Christ's body by baptism, and +cannot be by scripture reputed and esteemed so without it; which +farther appears from Rom. vi. 5, where men by baptism are said to be +"planted" into the likeness of his death and Col. ii. 12, we are +said to be "buried with him" by baptism. All which, together with +the consent of all Christians (some few in these later times +excepted), do prove that baptism is necessary to the initiating +persons into the Church of Christ. + +(3.) Holiness of life is essential to church-communion, because it +seems to be the reason why Christ founded a church in the world, +viz., that men might thereby be watched over, and kept from falling; +and that if any be overtaken with a fault, he that is spiritual +might restore him, that by this means men and women might be +preserved without blame to the coming of Christ; and the grace of +God teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live +soberly and uprightly in this present evil world; Tit. ii. 11, 12. +"And let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from +iniquity;" 2 Tim. ii. 19. And James tells us (speaking of the +Christian religion), that "pure religion, and undefiled before God, +is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and +to keep ourselves unspotted from the world;" James i. 27. From all +which (together with many more texts that might be produced) it +appears, that an unholy and profane life is inconsistent with +Christian religion and society; and that holiness is essential to +salvation and church-communion. So that these three things, faith, +baptism, and a holy life, as I said before, all churches must agree +and unite in, as those things which, when wanting, will destroy +their being. And let not any think, that when I say, believing the +Son of God died for the sins of men is essential to salvation and +church-communion, that I hereby would exclude all other articles of +the Christian creed as not necessary; as the belief of the +resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, &c., which, for want +of time, I omit to speak particularly to, and the rather, because I +understand this great article of believing the Son of God died for +the sins of men is comprehensive of all others, and is that from +whence all other articles may easily be inferred. + +And here I would not be mistaken, as though I held there was nothing +else for Christians to practise, when I say this is all that is +requisite to church-communion; for I very well know, that Christ +requires many other things of us, after we are members of his body, +which, if we knowingly or maliciously refuse, may be the cause, not +only of excommunication, but damnation. But yet these are such +things as relate to the well-being and not to the being of churches; +as laying on of hands in the primitive times upon believers, by +which they did receive the gifts of the Spirit: This, I say, was +for the increase and edifying of the body, and not that thereby they +might become of the body of Christ, for that they were before. And +do not think that I believe laying on of hands was no apostolical +institution, because I say men are not thereby made members of +Christ's body, or because I say that it is not essential to church- +communion. Why should I be thought to be against a fire in the +chimney, because I say it must not be in the thatch of the house? +Consider, then, how pernicious a thing it is to make every doctrine +(though true) the bond of communion; this is that which destroys +unity, and by this rule all men must be perfect before they can be +in peace: for do we not see daily, that as soon as men come to a +clearer understanding of the mind of God (to say the best of what +they hold), that presently all men are excommunicable, if not +damnable, that do not agree with them. Do not some believe and see +that to be pride and covetousness, which others do not, because (it +may be) they have more narrowly and diligently searched into their +duty of these things than others have? What then? Must all men +that have not so large acquaintance of their duty herein be +excommunicated? Indeed it were to be wished that more moderation in +apparel and secular concernments were found among churches: but God +forbid, that if they should come short herein, that we should say, +as one lately said, that he could not communicate with such a +people, because they were proud and superfluous in their apparel. + +Let me appeal to such, and demand of them, if there was not a time, +since they believed and were baptized, wherein they did not believe +laying on of hands a duty? and did they not then believe, and do +they not still believe, they were members of the body of Christ? +And was not there a time when you did not so well understand the +nature and extent of pride and covetousness as now you do? And did +you not then believe, and do you not still believe, that you were +true members of Christ, though less perfect? Why then should you +not judge of those that differ from you herein, as you judged of +yourselves when you were as they now are? How needful then is it +for Christians to distinguish (if ever they would be at peace and +unity) between those truths which are essential to church-communion, +and those that are not? + +3. Unity and peace consists in all as with one shoulder practising +and putting in execution the things we do know; Phil. iii. 16. +"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the +same rule, and mind the same thing." How sad is it to see our zeal +consume us and our precious time in things doubtful and disputable, +while we are not concerned nor affected with the practice of those +indisputable things we all agree in! We all know charity to be the +great command, and yet how few agree to practise it? We all know +they that labour in the word and doctrine are worthy of double +honour; and that God hath ordained, that they which preach the +gospel should live of the gospel. These duties, however others have +cavilled at them, I know you agree in them, and are persuaded of +your duty therein: but where is your zeal to practise? O how well +would it be with churches, if they were but half as zealous for the +great, and plain, and indisputable things, and the more chargeable +and costly things of religion, as they are for things doubtful or +less necessary, or for things that are no charge to them, and cost +them nothing but the breath of contention, though that may be too +great a price for the small things they purchase with it! + +But further, Do we not all agree, that men that preach the gospel +should do it like workmen that need not be ashamed? and yet how +little is this considered by many preachers, who never consider +before they speak of what they say, or whereof they affirm! How few +give themselves to study that they may be approved! How few +meditate and give themselves to these things, that their profiting +may appear to all! + +For the Lord's sake let us unite to practise those things we know; +and if we would have more talents, let us all agree to improve those +we have. + +See the spirit that was among the primitive professors, that knowing +and believing how much it concerned them in the propagating of +Christianity, to shew forth love to one another (that so all might +know them to be Christ's disciples), rather than there should be any +complainings among them, they sold all they had. O how zealous were +these to practise, and as with one shoulder to do that that was upon +their hearts for God! I might further add, how often have we agreed +in our judgment? and hath it not been upon our hearts, that this and +the other thing is good to be done, to enlighten the dark world, and +to repair the breaches of churches, and to raise up those churches +that now lie gasping, and among whom the soul of religion is +expiring? But what do we more than talk of them? Do not most +decline these things, when they either call for their purses or +their persons to help in this and such like works as these? Let us +then, in what we know, unite, that we may put it in practice, +remembering, that if we know these things, we shall be happy if we +do them. + +4. This unity and peace consists in our joining and agreeing to +pray for, and to press after, those truths we do not know. The +disciples in the primitive times were conscious of their +imperfections, and therefore they with one accord continued in +prayer and supplications. If we were more in the sense of our +ignorance and imperfections, we should carry it better towards those +that differ from us: then we should abound more in the spirit of +meekness and forbearance, that thereby we might bring others (or be +brought by others) to the knowledge of the truth: this would make +us go to God, and say with Elihu, Job xxxiv. 32, "That which we know +not, teach thou us." Brethren, did we but all agree that we were +erring in many things, we should soon agree to go to God, and pray +for more wisdom and revelation of his mind and will concerning us. + +But here is our misery, that we no sooner receive any thing for +truth, but we presently ascend the chair of infallibility with it, +as though in this we could not err: hence it is we are impatient of +contradiction, and become uncharitable to those that are not of the +same mind; but now a consciousness that we may mistake, or that if +my brother err in one thing, I may err in another; this will unite +us in affection, and engage us to press after perfection, according +to that of the apostle; Phil. iii. 13-15, "Brethren, I count not +myself to have apprehended: But this one thing I do, forgetting +those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things +which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high +calling of God in Christ Jesus. And if in any thing ye be otherwise +minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." O then that we could +but unite and agree to go to God for one another, in confidence that +he will teach us; and that if any one of us want wisdom (as who of +us does not), we might agree to ask of God, who giveth to all men +liberally, and upbraideth no man! Let us, like those people spoken +of in the 2d of Isaiah, say to one another, "Come, let us go to the +Lord, for he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his +paths." + +5. This unity and peace mainly consists in unity of love and +affection: this is the great and indispensable duty of all +Christians; by this they are declared Christ's disciples; And hence +it is that love is called "the great commandment," "the old +commandment," and "the new commandment;" that which was commanded in +the beginning, and will remain to the end, yea, and after the end. 1 +Cor. xiii. 8, "Charity never faileth; but whether there be tongues, +they shall cease; or whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish +away." And ver. 13, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity; but the +greatest of these is charity." And Col. iii. 14, "Above all these +things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness;" because +charity is the end of the commandment, 1 Tim. i. 5. Charity is +therefore called "the royal law;" as though it had a superintendency +over other laws, and doubtless is a law to which other laws must +give place, when they come in competition with it; "above all +things, therefore, have fervent charity among yourselves; for +charity shall cover the multitude of sins;" 1 Pet. iv. 8. Let us +therefore live in unity and peace, and the God of love and peace +will be with us. + +That you may so do, let me remind you (in the words of a learned +man), that the unity of the church is a unity of love and affection, +and not a bare uniformity of practice and opinion. + +III. Having shewn you wherein this unity consists, I now come to +the third general thing propounded: and that is, to shew you the +fruits and benefits of unity and peace, together with the mischiefs +and inconveniences that attend those churches where unity and peace +are wanting. + +1. Unity and peace is a duty well-pleasing to God, who is styled +the author of peace and not of confusion. In all the churches God's +Spirit rejoiceth in the unity of our spirits; but on the other hand, +where strife and divisions are, there the Spirit of God is grieved. +Hence it is that the apostle no sooner calls upon the Ephesians not +to grieve the Spirit of God, but he presently subjoins us a remedy +against that evil, that they put away bitterness and evil-speaking, +and be kind one to another, and tender-hearted, forgiving one +another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven them; Eph. iv. +30, 32. + +2. As unity and peace is pleasing to God, and rejoiceth his Spirit, +so it rejoiceth the hearts and spirits of God's people. Unity and +peace brings heaven down upon earth among us: hence it is that the +apostle tells us, Rom. iv. 17, that "the kingdom of God is not meat +and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." +Where unity and peace is, there is heaven upon earth; by this we +taste the first fruits of that blessed estate we shall one day live +in the fruition of; when we shall come "to the general assembly and +church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, and to +God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect;" +Heb. xii. 23. + +This outward peace of the church (as a learned man observes) distils +into peace of conscience, and turns writings and readings of +controversy into treatises of mortification and devotion. + +And the Psalmist tells us, that it is not only good, but pleasant +for brethren to dwell together in unity, Psalm cxxxiii. But where +unity and peace is wanting, there are storms and troubles; "where +envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work;" James +iii. 16. It is the outward peace of the church that increaseth our +inward joy; and the peace of God's house gives us occasion to eat +our meat with gladness in our own houses, Acts ii. 46. + +3. The unity and peace of the church makes communion of saints +desirable. What is it that embitters church-communion, and makes it +burdensome, but divisions? Have you not heard many complain, that +they are weary of church-communion, because of church-contention? +but now where unity and peace is, there Christians long for +communion. + +David saith, that he was glad when they said unto him, "Let us go to +the house of God;" Psalm cxxii. 1. Why was this, but because (as +the third verse tells us) Jerusalem was a city compact together, +where the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, to give thanks to +his name? And David, speaking of the man that was once his friend, +doth thereby let us know the benefit of peace and unity; Psalm lv. +14. "We," saith he, "took sweet counsel together, and walked to the +house of God in company." Where unity is strongest, communion is +sweetest and most desirable. You see then that peace and union +fills the people of God with desires after communion: but, on the +other hand, hear how David complains, Psalm cxx., "Wo is me, that I +sojourn in Mesech, and that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." The +Psalmist here is thought to allude to a sort of men that dwelt in +the deserts of Arabia, that got their livings by contention; and +therefore he adds, ver. 6, that his soul had long dwelt with them +that hated peace. This was that which made him long for the courts +of God, and esteem one day in his house better than a thousand. +This made his soul even faint for the house of God, because of the +peace of it; "Blessed are they," saith he, "that dwell in thy house, +they will be still praising thee." There is a certain note of +concord, as appears, Acts ii., where we read of primitive +Christians, meeting with one accord, praising God. + +4. Where unity and peace is, there many mischiefs and +inconveniences are prevented, which attend those people where peace +and unity are wanting: and of those many that might be mentioned, I +shall briefly insist upon these nine. + +1. Where unity and peace is wanting, there is much precious time +spent to no purpose. How many days are spent, and how many +fruitless journeys made to no profit, where the people are not in +peace? how often have many redeemed time (even in seed-time and +harvest) when they could scarce afford it, to go to church, and, by +reason of their divisions, come home worse than they went, repenting +they have spent so much precious time to so little benefit? How sad +is it to see men spend their precious time, in which they should +work out their salvation, in labouring, as in the fire, to prove an +uncertain and doubtful proposition, and to trifle away their time, +in which they should make their calling and election sure, to make +sure of an opinion, which, when they have done all, they are not +infallibly sure whether it be true or no, because all things +necessary to salvation and church-communion are plainly laid down in +scripture, in which we may be infallibly sure of the truth of them; +but for other things that we have no plain texts for, but the truth +of them depends upon our interpretations, here we must be cautioned, +that we do not spend much time in imposing those upon others, or +venting those among others, unless we can assume infallibility, +otherwise we spend time upon uncertainty. And whoever casts their +eyes abroad, and do open their ears to intelligence, shall both see, +and to their sorrow hear, that many churches spend most of their +time in jangling and contending about those things which are neither +essential to salvation nor church-communion; and that which is +worse, about such doubtful questions which they are never able to +give an infallible solution of. But now where unity and peace is, +there our time is spent in praising God; and in those great +questions, What we should do to be saved? and, How we may be more +holy and more humble towards God, and more charitable and more +serviceable to one another? + +2. Where unity and peace is wanting, there is evil surmising and +evil speaking, to the damage and disgrace, if not to the ruining, of +one another; Gal. v. 14, 15. The whole law is fulfilled in one +word, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if you bite +and devour one another, take heed you be not consumed one of +another." No sooner the bond of charity is broken, which is as a +wall about Christians, but soon they begin to make havock and spoil +of one another; then there is raising evil reports, and taking up +evil reports, against each other. Hence it is that whispering and +backbiting proceeds, and going from house to house to blazon the +faults and infirmities of others: hence it is that we watch for the +haltings of one another, and do inwardly rejoice at the miscarriages +of others, saying in our hearts, "ha! ha! so we would have it:" but +now where unity and peace is, there is charity; and where charity +is, there we are willing to hide the faults, and cover the +nakedness, of our brethren. "Charity thinketh no evil;" 1 Cor. +xiii. 5; and therefore it cannot surmise, neither will it speak +evil. + +3. Where unity and peace is wanting, there can be no great matters +enterprised--we cannot do much for God, nor much for one another; +when the devil would hinder the bringing to pass of good in nations +and churches, he divides their counsels (and as one well observes), +he divides their heads, that he may divide their hands; when Jacob +had prophesied of the cruelty of Simon and Levi, who were brethren, +he threatens them with the consequent of it; Gen. xlix. 7, "I will +divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." The devil is not +to learn that maxim he hath taught the Machiavellians of the world, +Divide et impera; divide and rule. It is an united force that is +formidable. Hence the spouse in the Canticles is said to be but +one, and the only one of her mother; Cant. vi. 9. Here upon it is +said of her, ver. 10, "That she is terrible as an army with +banners." What can a divided army do, or a disordered army that +have lost their banners, or for fear or shame thrown them away? In +like manner, what can Christians do for Christ, and the enlarging of +his dominions in the world, in bringing men from darkness to light, +while themselves are divided and disordered? Peace is to Christians +as great rivers are to some cities, which (besides other benefits +and commodities) are natural fortifications by reason whereof those +places are made impregnable; but when, by the subtilty of an +adversary or the folly of the citizens, these waters come to be +divided into little petty rivulets, how soon are they assailed and +taken? Thus it fares with churches, when once the devil or their +own folly divides them, they will be so far from resisting of him, +that they will be soon subjected by him. + +Peace is to churches as walls to a city; nay, unity hath defended +cities that had no walls. It was once demanded of Agesilaus, why +Lacedemon had no walls; he answers (pointing back to the city), That +the concord of the citizens was the strength of the city. In like +manner, Christians are strong when united; then they are more +capable to resist temptation, and to succour such as are tempted. +When unity and peace is among the churches, then are they like a +walled town; and when peace is the church's walls, salvation will be +her bulwarks. + +Plutarch tells us of one Silurus that had eighty sons, whom he calls +to him as he lay upon his death-bed, and gave them a sheaf of +arrows, thereby to signify, that if they lived in unity, they might +do much, but if they divided, they would come to nothing. If +Christians were all of one piece, if they were all but one lump, or +but one sheaf or bundle, how great are the things they might do for +Christ and his people in the world, whereas otherwise they can do +little but dishonour him, and offend his! + +It is reported of the leviathan, that his strength is in his scales; +Job xli. 15-17, "His scales are his pride, shut up together as with +a close seal; one is so near to another, that no air can come +between them: they are joined together, they stick together, they +cannot be sundered." If the church of God were united like the +scales of the leviathan, it would not be every brain-sick notion, +nor angry speculation, that would cause its separation. + +Solomon saith, "Two are better than one," because, if one fall, the +other may raise him; then surely twenty are better than two, and an +hundred are better than twenty, for the same reason; because they +are more capable to help one another. If ever Christians would do +any thing to raise up the fallen tabernacles of Jacob, and to +strengthen the weak, and comfort the feeble, and to fetch back those +that have gone astray, it must be by unity. + +We read of the men of Babel, Gen xi. 6, "The Lord said, Behold, the +people are one, &c., and now nothing will be restrained from them +that they have imagined to do." + +We learn by reason, what great things may be done in worldly +achievements where unity is; and shall not reason (assisted with the +motives of religion) teach us, that unity among Christians may +enable them to enterprise greater things for Christ? Would not this +make Satan fall from heaven like lightning? For as unity built +literal Babel, it is unity that must pull down mystical Babel. And, +on the other hand, where divisions are, there is confusion; by this +means a Babel hath been built in every age. It hath been observed +by a learned man--and I wish I could not say truly observed--that +there is most of Babel and confusion among those that cry out most +against it. + +Would we have a hand to destroy Babylon? let us have a heart to +unite one among another. + +Our English histories tell us, that after Austin the monk had been +some time in England, he heard of some of the remains of the British +Christians, which he convened to a place which Cambden in his +Britannia calls "Austin's Oak." Here they met to consult about +matters of religion; but such was their division, by reason of +Austin's imposing spirit, that our stories tell us that synod was +only famous for this, that they only met and did nothing. This is +the mischief of divisions--they hinder the doing of much good; and +if Christians that are divided be ever famous for any thing, it will +be, that they have often met together, and talked of this and the +other thing, but they did nothing. + +4. Where unity and peace is wanting, there the weak are wounded, +and the wicked are hardened. Unity may well be compared to precious +oil, Psalm cxxxiii. 2. It is the nature of oil to heal that which +is wounded, and to soften that which is hard. Those men that have +hardened themselves against God, and his people, when they shall +behold unity and peace among them, will say, God is in them indeed: +and on the other hand, are they not ready to say, when they see you +divided, That the devil is in you that you cannot agree! + +5. Divisions and want of peace keep those out of the church that +would come in; and cause many to go out that are in. + +"The divisions of Christians (as a learned man observes) are a +scandal to the Jews, an opprobrium to the Gentiles, and an inlet to +atheism and infidelity:" insomuch that our controversies about +religion (especially as they have been of late managed) have made +religion itself become a controversy. O then, how good and pleasant +a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in unity! The peace +and unity that was among the primitive Christians drew others to +them. What hinders the conversion of the Jews, but the divisions of +Christians? Must I be a Christian? says the Jew. What Christian +must I be? what sect must I be of? The Jews (as one observes), +glossing upon that text in Isa. xi. 6, where it is prophesied, That +the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and that there shall +be none left to hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain: they +interpreting these sayings to signify the concord and peace that +shall be among the people that shall own the Messiah, do from hence +conclude, that the Messiah is not yet come, because of the +contentions and divisions that are among those that profess him. +And the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xiv. 23, that if an unbeliever should +see their disorders, he would say they were mad; but where unity and +peace is, there the churches are multiplied. We read, Acts ix., +that when the churches had rest, they multiplied; and Acts ii. 46, +47, when the church was serving God with one accord, "the Lord added +to them daily such as should be saved." + +It is unity brings men into the church, and divisions keep them out. +It is reported of an Indian, passing by the house of a Christian, +and hearing them contending, being desired to turn in, he refused, +saying, "Habamach dwells there," meaning that the devil dwelt there: +but where unity and peace is, there God is; and he that dwells in +love, dwells in God. The apostle tells the Corinthians, that if +they walked orderly, even the unbelievers would hereby be enforced +to come and worship, and say, God was in them indeed. And we read, +Zech. viii. 23, of a time when ten men shall take hold of a Jew, and +say, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." + +And hence it is that Christ prays, John xvii. 21, that his disciples +might be one, as the Father and he were one, that the world might +believe the Father sent him: as if he should say, you may preach me +as long as you will, and to little purpose, if you are not at peace +and unity among yourselves. Such was the unity of Christians in +former days, that the intelligent heathen would say of them, that +though they had many bodies, yet they had but one soul. And we read +the same of them, Acts iv. 32, that "the multitude of them that +believed were of one heart and one soul." + +And as the learned Stillingfleet observes in his Irenicum: "The +unity and peace that was then among Christians made religion amiable +in the judgment of impartial heathens: Christians were then known +by the benignity and sweetness of their dispositions, by the candour +and ingenuity of their spirits, by their mutual love, forbearance, +and condescension to one another. But either this is not the +practice of Christianity (viz., a duty that Christians are now bound +to observe), or else it is not calculated for our meridian, where +the spirits of men are of too high an elevation for it; for if pride +and uncharitableness, if divisions and strifes, if wrath and envy, +if animosities and contentions, were but the marks of true +Christians, Diogenes need never light his lamp at noon to find out +such among us; but if a spirit of meekness, gentleness, and +condescension, if a stooping to the weaknesses and infirmities of +one another, if pursuit after peace, when it flies from us, be the +indispensable duties, and characteristical notes of Christians, it +may possibly prove a difficult inquest to find out such among the +crowds of those that shelter themselves under that glorious name." + +It is the unity and peace of churches that brings others to them, +and makes Christianity amiable. What is prophesied of the church of +the Jews may in this case be applied to the Gentile church, Isa. +lxvi. 12, that when once God extends peace to her like a river, the +Gentiles shall come in like a flowing stream; then (and not till +then) the glory of the Lord shall arise upon his churches, and his +glory shall be seen among them; then shall their hearts fear and be +enlarged, because the abundance of the nations shall be converted to +them. + +6. As want of unity and peace keeps those out of the church that +would come in, so it hinders the growth of those that are in. Jars +and divisions, wranglings and prejudices, eat out the growth, if not +the life of religion. These are those waters of Marah, that +embitter our spirits, and quench the Spirit of God. Unity and peace +is said to be like the dew of Hermon, and as a dew that descended +upon Sion, where the Lord commanded his blessing; Psalm cxxxiii. 3. + +Divisions run religion into briars and thorns, contentions and +parties. Divisions are to churches like wars in countries: where +wars are, the ground lieth waste and untilled, none takes care of +it. It is love that edifieth, but division pulleth down. Divisions +are as the north-east wind to the fruits, which causeth them to +dwindle away to nothing; but when the storms are over, every thing +begins to grow. When men are divided, they seldom speak the truth +in love; and then no marvel they grow not up to him in all things, +who is the head. + +It is a sad presage of an approaching famine (as one well observes), +not of bread nor water, but of hearing the word of God, when the +thin ears of corn devour the plump full ones; when the lean kine +devour the fat ones; when our controversies about doubtful things, +and things of less moment, eat up our zeal for the more indisputable +and practical things in religion which may give us cause to fear, +that this will be the character by which our age will be known to +posterity--that it was the age that talked of religion most, and +loved it least. + +Look upon those churches where peace is, and there you shall find +prosperity. When the churches had rest, they were not only +multiplied, but, walking in the fear of the Lord and the comforts of +the Holy Ghost, they were edified; it is when the whole body is knit +together, as with joints and hands, that they increase with the +increase of God. + +We are at a stand sometimes, why there is so little growth among +churches, why men have been so long in learning; and are yet so far +from attaining the knowledge of the truth; some have given one +reason, and some another; some say pride is the cause, and others +say covetousness is the cause. I wish I could say these were no +causes; but I observe, that when God entered his controversy with +his people of old, he mainly insisted upon some one sin, as +idolatry, and shedding innocent blood, &c., as comprehensive of the +rest; not but that they were guilty of other sins, but those that +were the most capital are particularly insisted on: in like manner, +whoever would but take a review of churches that live in contentions +and divisions, may easily find that breach of unity and charity is +their capital sin, and the occasion of all other sins. No marvel +then, that the Scripture saith, the whole law is fulfilled in love: +and if so, then where love is wanting, it needs must follow the +whole law is broken. It is where love grows cold that sin abounds; +and therefore the want of unity and peace is the cause of that +leanness and barrenness that is among us; it is true in spirituals +as well as temporals, that peace brings plenty. + +7. Where unity and peace is wanting, our prayers are hindered; the +promise is, that what we shall agree to ask shall be given us of our +heavenly Father: no marvel we pray and pray, and yet are not +answered; it is because we are not agreed what to have. + +It is reported that the people in Lacedemonia, coming to make +supplication to their idol god, some of them asked for rain, and +others of them asked for fair weather: the oracle returns them this +answer, That they should go first and agree among themselves. Would +a heathen god refuse to answer such prayers in which the supplicants +were not agreed, and shall we think the true God will answer them? + +We see then that divisions hinder our prayers, and lay a prohibition +on our sacrifice: "If thou bring thy gift to the altar," saith +Christ, "and there remember that thy brother hath aught against +thee, leave thy gift, and go, and first be reconciled to thy +brother, and then come and offer it." So that want of unity and +charity hinders even our particular prayers and devotions. + +This hindered the prayers and fastings of the people of old from +finding acceptance; Isa. lviii. 3. The people ask the reason +wherefore they fasted, and God did not see nor take notice of them. +He gives this reason, Because they fasted for strife and debate, and +hid their face from their own flesh. Again, Isa. lix., the Lord +saith, his hand was not shortened, that he could not save; nor his +ear heavy, that he could not hear: but their sins had separated +between their God and them. And among those many sins they stood +chargeable with, this was none of the least, viz., that the way of +peace they had not known. You see where peace was wanting, prayers +were hindered, both under the Old and New Testaments. + +The sacrifice of the people, in the 65th of Isaiah, that said, +"Stand by thyself, I am holier than thou," was a smoke in the +nostrils of the Lord. On the other hand, we read how acceptable +those prayers were that were made with one accord, Acts iv. 24, +compared with verse 31. They prayed with one accord, and they were +all of one heart, and of one soul: And see the benefit of it, "They +were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke the word with all +boldness;" which was the very thing they prayed for, as appears +verse 29. And the apostle exhorts the husband to dwell with his +wife, that their prayers might not be hindered; 1 Pet. iii. 7. We +see then want of unity and peace, either in families or churches, is +a hinderance of prayers. + +8. It is a dishonour and disparagement to Christ that his family +should be divided. When an army falls into mutiny and division, it +reflects disparagement on him that hath the conduct of it. In like +manner, the divisions of families are a dishonour to the heads, and +those that govern them. And if so, then how greatly do we dishonour +our Lord and governor, who gave his body to be broken to keep his +church from breaking, who prayed for their peace and unity, and left +peace at his departing from them for a legacy, even a peace which +the world could not bestow upon them. + +9. Where there is peace and unity, there is a sympathy with each +other; that which is the want of one will be the want of all. "Who +is afflicted," saith the apostle, "and I burn not?" We should then +"remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which +suffer adversity, as being ourselves also of the body;" Heb. xiii. +3. But where the body is broken, or men are not reckoned or +esteemed of the body, no marvel we are so little affected with such +as are afflicted. Where divisions are, that which is the joy of the +one is the grief of another; but where unity and peace and charity +abound, there we shall find Christians in mourning with them that +mourn, and rejoicing with them that rejoice; then they will not envy +the prosperity of others, nor secretly rejoice at the miseries or +miscarriages of any. + +IV. Last of all, I now come to give you twelve directions and +motives for the obtaining peace and unity. + +1. If ever we would live in peace and unity, we must pray for it. +We are required to seek peace: of whom then can we seek it with +expectation to find it, but of him who is a God of peace, and hath +promised to bless his people with peace? It is God that hath +promised to give his people one heart, and one way; yet for all +these things he will be sought unto: O then let us seek peace, and +pray for peace, because God shall prosper them that love it. + +The peace of churches is that which the apostle prays for in all his +epistles; in which his desire is, that grace and peace may be +multiplied and increased among them. + +2. They that would endeavour the peace of the churches, must be +careful who they commit the care and oversight of the churches to; +as (1.)--Over and besides those qualifications that should be in all +Christians, they that rule the church of God should be men of +counsel and understanding. Where there is an ignorant ministry, +there is commonly an ignorant people, according as it was of old-- +Like priest like people. + +How sad is it to see the church of God committed to the care of such +that pretend to be teachers of others, that understand not what they +say, or whereof they affirm. No marvel the peace of churches is +broken, when their watchmen want skill to preserve their unity, +which of all other things is as the church's walls; when they are +divided, no wonder they crumble to atoms, if there is no skilful +physician to heal them. It is sad when there is no balm in Gilead, +and when there is no physician there. Hence it is, that the wounds +of churches become incurable, like the wounds of God's people of +old, either not healed at all, or else slightly healed, and to no +purpose. May it not be said of many churches this day, as God said +of the church of Israel, That he sought for a man among them that +should stand in the gap, and make up the breach; but he found none? + +Remember what was said of old, Mal. ii. 7, The priest's lips +preserve knowledge: and the people should seek the law at his +mouth. But when this is wanting, the people will be stumbling, and +departing from God and one another; therefore God complains, Hos. +iv. 6, That his people were destroyed for want of knowledge; that +is, for want of knowing guides; for if the light that is in them +that teach be darkness, how great is that darkness! and if the blind +lead the blind, no marvel both fall into the ditch. + +How many are there that take upon them to teach others, that had +need be taught in the beginning of religion; that instead of +multiplying knowledge, multiply words without knowledge; and instead +of making known God's counsel, darken counsel by words without +knowledge? The apostle speaks of some that did more than darken +counsel; for they wrested the counsel of God; 2 Pet. iii. 16. In +Paul's epistles, saith he, "are some things hard to be understood, +which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also +the other scriptures, to their own destruction." Some things in the +Scriptures are hard to be known, and they are made harder by such +unlearned teachers as utter their own notions by words without +knowledge. + +None are more bold and adventurous to take upon them to expound the +dark mysteries and sayings of the prophets and Revelations, and the +9th of the Romans, which I believe contains some of those many +things which, in Paul's epistles, Peter saith, were "hard to be +understood;" I say none are more forward to dig in these mines than +those that can hardly give a sound reason for the first principles +of religion; and such as are ignorant of many more weighty things +that are easily to be seen in the face and superficies of the +Scripture; nothing will serve these but swimming in the deeps, when +they have not yet learned to wade through the shallows of the +Scriptures: like the Gnosticks of old, who thought they knew all +things, though they knew nothing as they ought to know. And as +those Gnosticks did of old, so do such teachers of late break the +unity and peace of churches. + +How needful then is it, that if we desire the peace of churches, +that we choose out men of knowledge, who may be able to keep them +from being shattered and scattered with every wind of doctrine: and +who may be able to convince and stop the mouths of gainsayers. + +(2.) You must not only choose men of counsel, but if you would +design the unity and peace of the churches, you must choose men of +courage to govern them; for as there must be wisdom to hear with +some, so there must be courage to correct others: as some must be +instructed meekly, so others must be rebuked sharply, that they may +be sound in the faith; there must be wisdom to rebuke some within +long-suffering, and there must be courage to suppress and stop the +mouths of others. The apostle tells Titus of some whose mouths must +be stopped, or else they would subvert whole houses, Titus i. 11. +Where this courage hath been wanting, not only whole houses, but +whole churches have been subverted. And Paul tells the Galatians, +that when he saw some endeavour to bring the churches into bondage, +that he did not give place to them, no not for an hour, &c, Gal. ii. +5. If this course had been taken by the rulers of churches, their +peace had not been so often invaded by unruly and vain talkers. + +3. In choosing men to rule (if you would endeavour to keep the +unity of the Spirit, and the bond of peace thereby), be careful you +choose men of peaceable dispositions. That which hath much annoyed +the peace of churches hath been the froward and perverse spirits of +the rulers thereof. Solomon therefore adviseth, That with a furious +man we should not go, lest we learn his ways, and get a snare to our +souls, Prov. xxii. 24, 25, and with the froward we learn +frowardness. How do some men's words eat like a canker; who instead +of lifting up their voices like a trumpet to sound a parley for +peace, have rather sounded an alarm to war and contention. If ever +we would live in peace, let us reverence the feet of them that bring +the glad tidings of it. + +O how have some men made it their business to preach contentions, +and upon their entertainment of every novel opinion to preach +separation! How hath God's word been stretched and torn to furnish +these men with arguments to tear churches! Have not our ears heard +those texts that say, "Come out from among them, and be separate," +&c., and "Withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly?" I +say, have we not heard these texts that were written to prevent +disorder brought to countenance the greatest disorder that ever was +in the church of God, even schism and division? whereas one of these +exhortations was written to the church of Corinth to separate +themselves from the idol's temple, and the idol's table, in which +many of them lived in the participation of, notwithstanding their +profession of the true God; as appears, 2 Cor. vi. 1.6, 17, compared +with 1 Cor. viii. 7, and as 1 Cor. x. 14, 20, 22, recites; and not +for some few or more members, who shall make themselves both judges +and parties to make separation, when and as often as they please, +from the whole congregation and church of God, where they stood +related; for by the same rule, and upon the same ground, may others +start some new question among these new separatists, and become +their own judges of the communicableness of them, and thereupon make +another separation from these, till at last two be not left to walk +together. And for that other text mentioned, 2 Thess. iii. 6, where +Paul exhorts the church of Thessalonica to withdraw themselves from +every brother that walks disorderly; I cannot but wonder that any +should bring this to justify their separation or withdrawal from the +communion of a true (though a disorderly) church. For, + +(1.) Consider, that this was not writ for a few members to withdraw +from the church, but for the church to withdraw from disorderly +members. + +(2.) Consider, that if any offended members, upon pretence of +error, either in doctrine or practice, should by this text become +judges (as well as parties) of the grounds and lawfulness of their +separation; then it will follow, that half a score notorious +heretics, or scandalous livers (when they have walked so as they +forsee the church are ready to deal with them, and withdraw from +them), shall anticipate the church, and pretend somewhat against +them, of which themselves must be judges, and so withdraw from the +church, pretending either heresy or disorder; and so condemn the +church, to prevent the disgrace of being condemned by the church. +How needful then is it, that men of peaceable dispositions, and not +of froward and fractious and dividing spirits, be chosen to rule the +church of God, for fear lest the whole church be leavened and soured +by them! + +4. As there must be care used in choosing men to rule the church of +God, so there must be a consideration had, that there are many +things darkly laid down in scripture; this will temper our spirits, +and make us live in peace and unity the more firmly in things in +which we agree; this will help us to bear one another's burdens, and +so fulfil the law of Christ, inasmuch as all things necessary to +salvation and church communion are plainly laid down in scripture. +And where things are more darkly laid down, we should consider that +God intended hereby to stir up our diligence, that thereby we might +increase our knowledge, and not our divisions, for it may be said of +all discoveries of truth we have made in the Scriptures, as it is +said of the globe of the earth, that though men have made great +searches, and thereupon great discoveries, yet there is still a +terra incognita, an unknown land; so there is in the Scriptures: +for after men have travelled over them, one age after another, yet +still there is, as it were, a terra incognita, an unknown track to +put us upon farther search and inquiry, and to keep us from +censuring and falling out with those who have not yet made the same +discoveries; that so we may say with the Psalmist, when we reflect +upon our short apprehensions of the mind of God, that we have seen +an end of all perfection, but God's commands are exceeding broad; +and as one observes, speaking of the Scriptures, that there is a +path in them leading to the mind of God, which lieth a great +distance from the thoughts and apprehensions of men. And on the +other hand, in many other places, God sits, as it were, on the +superficies, and the face of the letter, where he that runs may +discern him speaking plainly, and no parable at all. How should the +consideration of this induce us to a peaceable deportment towards +those that differ! + +5. If we would endeavour peace and unity, we must consider how God +hath tempered the body, that so the comely parts should not separate +from the uncomely, as having no need of them; 1 Cor. xii. 23-25. +There is in Christ's body and house some members and vessels less +honourable; 2 Tim. ii. 20. And therefore we should not, as some +now-a-days do, pour the more abundant disgrace, instead of putting +the more abundant honour upon them. Did we but consider this, we +should be covering the weakness, and hiding the miscarriages of one +another, because we are all members one of another, and the most +useless member in his place is useful. + +6. If we would live in peace, let us remember our relations to God, +as children to a father, and to each other as brethren. Will not +the thoughts that we have one Father, quiet us; and the thoughts +that we are brethren, unite us? It was this that made Abraham +propose terms of peace to Lot; Gen. xiii, "Let there be no strife," +saith he, "between us, for we are brethren." And we read of Moses, +in Acts vii. 26, using this argument to reconcile those that strove +together, and to set them at one again: "Sirs," saith he, "you are +brethren, why do you wrong one another?" A deep sense of this +relation, that we are brethren, would keep us from dividing. + +7. If we would preserve peace, let us mind the gifts and graces and +virtues that are in each other; let these be more in our eye than +their failings and imperfections. When the apostle exhorted the +Philippians to peace, as a means hereunto, that so the peace of God +might rule in their hearts, he tells them, iv. 8, "That if there +were any virtue, or any praise, they should think of these things." +While we are always talking and blazoning the faults of one another, +and spreading their infirmities, no marvel we are so little in peace +and charity; for as charity covereth a multitude of sins, so malice +covereth a multitude of virtues, and makes us deal by one another, +as the heathen persecutors dealt with Christians, viz., put them in +bears' skins, that they might the more readily become a prey to +those dogs that were designed to devour them. + +8. If we would keep unity and peace, let us lay aside provoking and +dividing language, and forgive those that use it. Remember that old +saying, "Evil words corrupt good manners." When men think to carry +all before them, with speaking uncharitably and disgracefully of +their brethren or their opinions, may not such be answered as Job +answered his unfriendly visitants, Job vi. 25, "How forcible are +right words; but what doth your arguing reprove?" How healing are +words fitly spoken? A word in season, how good is it? If we would +seek peace, let us clothe all our treaties for peace with acceptable +words; and where one word may better accommodate than another, let +that be used to express persons or things by; and let us not, as +some do, call the different practices of our brethren, will-worship, +and their different opinions, doctrines of devils, and the doctrine +of Balaam, who taught fornication, &c., unless we can plainly, and +in expressness of terms, prove it so. Such language as this hath +strangely divided our spirits, and hardened our hearts one towards +another. + +9. If we would live in peace, let us make the best constructions of +one another's words and actions. Charity judgeth the best, and it +thinks no evil; if words and actions may be construed to a good +sense, let us never put a bad construction upon them. How much hath +the peace of Christians been broken by an uncharitable +interpretation of words and actions? As some lay to the charge of +others that which they never said, so, by straining men's words, +others lay to their charge that they never thought. + +10. Be willing to hear, and learn, and obey those that God by his +providence hath set over you; this is a great means to preserve the +unity and peace of churches: but when men (yea, and sometimes +women) shall usurp authority, and think themselves wiser than their +teachers, no wonder if these people run into contentions and +parties, when any shall say they are not free to hear those whom the +church thinks fit to speak to them. This is the first step to +schism, and is usually attended, if not timely prevented, with a +sinful separation. + +11. If you would keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, +be mindful, that the God whom you serve is a God of peace, and your +Saviour is a Prince of peace, and that "his ways are ways of +pleasantness, and all his paths are peace;" and that Christ was sent +into the world "to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in +the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace." + +12. Consider the oneness of spirit that is among the enemies of +religion; though they differ about other things, yet to persecute +religion, and extirpate religion out of the earth, here they will +agree; the devils in the air, and the devils in the earth, all the +devils in hell, and in the world, make one at this turn. Shall the +devil's kingdom be united; and shall Christ's be divided? Shall the +devils make one shoulder to drive on the design of damning men, and +shall not Christians unite to carry on the great design of saving of +them? Shall the papists agree and unite to carry on their interest, +notwithstanding the multitudes of orders, degrees, and differences, +that are among them; and shall not those that call themselves +reformed churches, unite to carry on the common interest of Christ +in the world, notwithstanding some petty and disputable differences +that are among them? Quarrels about religion (as one observes) were +sins not named among the Gentiles. What a shame is it then for +Christians to abound in them, especially considering the nature of +the Christian religion, and what large provisions the Author of it +hath made, to keep the profession's of it in peace! insomuch (as one +well observes), it is next to a miracle that ever any (especially +the professors of it) should fall out about it. + +13. Consider and remember, that the Judge stands at the door. Let +this moderate your spirits, that the Lord is at hand. What a sad +account will they have to make when he comes, that shall be found to +smite their fellow-servants, and to make the way to his kingdom more +narrow than ever he made it! Let me close all in the words of that +great apostle, 2 Cor. xiii. 11, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be +perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the +God of love and peace shall be with you." + +Postscript.--Reader, I thought good to advertise thee, that I have +delivered this to thy hand in the same order and method in which it +was preached, and almost in the same words, without any diminishings +or considerable enlargings, unless it be in the thirteen last +particulars; upon some of which I have made some enlargements, which +I could not then do for want of time; but the substance of every one +of them was then laid down in the same particular order as here thou +hast them. And now I have done, I make no other account (to use the +words of a moderate man upon the like occasion) but it will fall out +with me, as doth commonly with him that parts a fray, both parties +may perhaps drive at me for wishing them no worse than peace. My +ambition of the public tranquillity of the church of God, I hope, +will carry me through these hazards; let both beat me, so their +quarrels may cease, I shall rejoice in those blows and scars I shall +take for the church's safety. + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg eText An Exhortation to Peace and Unity |