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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77507	The sacred and soveraigne church-remedie: or, The primitive and apostolicall way of composing ecclesiasticall differences, and establishing the churches of Christ. Wherein the authority and utility of lawfull councels and synods is asserted and vindicated, and divers of the sad controversies of the times modestly debated; first preached in the parish church of great Yarmouth, and now published for a preservative against the poyson of anti-synodall suggestions, and a preparative to the receiving of what mercy God shall please to convey unto his Church in this kingdome, through the hands of the present reverend Assembly of Divines. / By John Brinsley.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1645 (1645)	Wing B4725; Thomason E269_27; ESTC R212361	64,670	94

d●ughters unto God by the incorruptible seed of the Word that so we may every of us be able to say at that great day as the Prophet I●●iah once did Behold Lord here am I and the children whom them hast given me Magistrates in their places shewing themselves nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the Church so as upon their k●●es the Churches may beare children as Rachel once said of her self and her maid Bilhah Gen. 30. Parents and Masters of families in their places endeavouring to bring up their children and servants in the knowledge and feare of God that so they may be true living members of the Church not only like wooden legs or armes tyed on to the body having only an outward visible communion with the Church but like naturall members they may be knit both to the head and body by joints and ligaments so as the Church may be increased with the increase of God Private persons in their places not only joyning themselves to the true Churches of God bnt endeavouring what in them lyeth to winne and gain others specially by their holy and exemplary conversation and demeanour Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your heavenly father Glorifie him as by other waies so by comming in and putting themselves under his government to which purpose there is scarce any one means more effectually availeable then for Christians to thrive and growe in grace So much Master Calvin collects out of the Text from the connexion of these two together the Churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily The growth and proficiency of those which were first called to the faith in these Churches was a speciall meanes to bring in others Old members in a Church it is a comparison which Ca●on giveth me the hint of they are like old stands in a Coppice or like old Vines or P●●tars or the like trees which being once throughly rooted themselves they put forth many imps and young shootes from their roots So was it here in these Churches The first members of chose Churches being rooted and established in the faith the Churches were daily increased in number A● s● propagi●e fides latius ad alios serperet saith my Author As if their faith being spread abroad had been a means to propagate itself unto others so it often commeth to passe It is that which Paul telleth his C●rinthi●ns concerning their forwardnesse in works of charity and mercy Your zeale saith he hath provoked ver● many And so is it with faith and holinesse To be zealous in profession and cons●ientious in practice it is a most effectuall incitement to provoke to draw to win others and in this way let all private Christians be active and forward that so they may do what in them lyeth to help forward this blessed Augmentation and Increase of the Churches And thus have I looked upon these two fruits of the Apostles endeavours severally and simply It remaines now that we put them together considering them joyntly and relatively as they stand in joint reference to that first particle in the Text So were the Churches established and So were the Churches increased So What meerly by the delivery of these Decrees Was this the proper and immediate cause of the Churches confirmation and multiplication Answ. Not so The Decrees here delivered were not matters of Faith but of Order and consequently not apt to produce such noble effects as these were to work such an establishment such an increase being but Decrees touching meates Now as the Apostle saith The heart must be established with grace not with meates The proper and immediate instrumentall cause of both these was Pauls preaching of the Gospel to the Churches Quest What influence then had these Decrees hereupon Answ. I answer they were though not properly Causa efficiens yet removens and promovens though not the immediate Efficient cause of both these yet the promoting and furthering cause facilitating the work and making way for it and that by removing obstacles and impediments and putting the Churches into such a posture such a state as they might be fit to be wrought upon by the preaching of the Word Even as it is with Physick however it self be not Nutritive yet by removing obstructions it putteth the body into such a state and temper as it may be apt to receive nourishment from such meanes as shall be applyed unto it proper for that purpose Even so was it here The Churches being distempered and out of course by reason of some jarres and differences which no question much obstructed and hindred the course of the Gospel the Apostle by applying and ministring of this Soveraign Remedy a Recipe of Synodicall Decrees he put them into such a temper as that his Ministery might take place with them both for their confirmation and increase And of such use Ecclesiasticall Decrees may be and often are though they be not meat yet they may be medicine making much for the propagation of the Gospel and that especially by composing Church differences which otherwise would be a maine obstruction and hinderance to it Of this latter we have had but too much experience How is the course of the Gospel at the present impedited and interrupted by these sad divisions which are broke in amongst us O that wee might but have the like proofe of the former of the Soveraign vertue of this Church-Remedy for the healing of these breaches and the composing of these differences as the Churches here had Then might we hope and expect the like successe that the Churches amongst us also should be established and increased Otherwise it is but in vaine to flatter our selves In an ordinary course this is the last Remedy Where this availes not there is little hope Where a Colledge of Physitians cannot master a disease it is commonly accounted desperate And therefore take we heed how we sleight much more oppose this way Take but this word of counsell and I have done In other matters I presume we would not be unwilling to be ordered by counsell especially by the counsell of a Councell In the multitude of Counsellors there is safety As in Military affaires by a Councell of warre in Maritime occasions by a Councell of Sea-men in a Law case by a Bench of Lawyers in a case of sicknesse by a Colledge of Physitians And why then shall we so farre leane unto our own understandings in matters of Ecclesiasticall concernment matters of Order as not to hearken to the consultations and determinations of a Religious and judicious Assembly Of all wayes for my owne part I must professe I know none so likely to heale our breaches to compose our differences as this and consequently to procure the Churches establishment Without Counsell purposes are disappointed but in the multitude of Counsellours they are established saith the wise man Thus were the Churches established

answering to the Originall both in sound and sense But leaving them with their affected title savouring too strong of Judaism the word properly signifieth as they themselves with what reason I know not in all other places where it is used in that fifteenth Chapter as also here in the Text render it Auncients a French word which our English renders Elders The word in Scripture is used two wayes properly improperly either for Elders in age or by office Elders in age Ancients Rebuke not an Elder saith the Apostle to Timothy 1 Tim. 5. meaning an Elder in age as the Antithesis in the latter part of the verse explains it Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren Elders in office are of two sorts Civill Ecclesiasticall Civill temporall Rulers and Governours amongst the Jews Thus in the book of Exodus we often read of the Elders of Israel c. and so in the fourth of the Acts we reade of an Assembly of Rulers and Elders c. i. e. lay Elders civill Elders whom for distinction sake we finde sometimes called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the elders of the people Letting them passe Ecclesiasticall Elders Church-officers set over the flock the Church to teach it to govern it Of these our reverend Cartwright as many others make two kinds some Teaching and Governing others onely Governing grounding his distinction upon that knowne place in Timothy 1 Tim. 5. 17. out of which he resolves the Question now propounded who were these Elders which were joyned with the Apostles why either both these or else onely the latter viz. the governing Elders considering saith he that Bishops which were the preaching Elders were supplyed by the Apostles To this last clause of his I cannot subscribe Certainly besides the Apostles here were other preaching Elders Pastors and Teachers who must not be excluded out of this word Elders F●r the former whether there were two such distinct kinds of Elders at that time and whether both of them are to be understood by the word here in the Text I wil not peremptorilydetermine My purpose being to wave decline as much as may be all collaterall controversies disputes which I do not meet with full in the Text Let this be sufficient Church-officers they were Ecclesiasticall Elders Such were the Apostles themselves though in an higher forme having in their function something extraordinary and such were the other Ministers of the Church to whom was committed the charge of the flocke to feede and rule it Both Elders so Saint Peter calleth himself and them both in one verse 1 Pet. 5. 1. The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder c. Feed the flocke of God taking the oversight thereof And these Elders we here finde meeting together in this Synod this Councell this Assembly call it as you will And who so fit to meet upon such an occasion as persons of that Quality Who so fit to debate determine state regulate Church-affairs as Church-Officers persons devoted and set apart to the service of the Church Such were the Members of this first Synod which without question was intended for a pattern to all succeeding Ages so all Expositours till some few within the last fifty years have looked upon it Apostles and Elders such Church-Officers as the times then afforded To them Saint Luke in the Chapter foregoing refers the negotiating and handling of this Synodicall consutation They were they which convened So you have it vers. 6. The Apostles and Elders came together to consider of this matter The Apostles and Elders Non d●ci●●●ca● tota● Eccl●sia● saith Calvin upon it The Evangelist doth not say the whole Church met together but the Apostles and Elders And by them was the businesse debated decided determined So you have it expresly in the Text They delivered them the Decrees which were ordained of the Apostles and Elders nor of the whole Church but of the Church-Officers in the name of God convened together And who so fit to deal in businesse of that nature as persons of that Quality Who so sit to consult debate determine Church-differences and so to settle the affairs of the Church as Church-Officers viz. The Elders which rule well as the Apostle speaks specially they which labour in the Word and Doctrine Those Texts alledged by the Rhemists in their Annotations upon the place last cited how ever they are by them drawn beyond the staple and pressed beyond their intention yet are they not wholly to be slighted there being enough in them to bear out this cause and to give some Reason for it Under the Law the Ordinance was expresse Hard and difficult Controversies were to be determined by the Priests c. Deut. 17. 8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee c. Thou shalt come to the Priests the Levites i. e. Priests of the Leviticall● stock A like word was that which came to the Prophet Haggai from the Lord Haggai 2. Thus saith the Lord of hostes Ask now the Priests concerning the Law saying c. To the same purpose is that known place of the Prophet Malachie Chap. 1 v. 7. The Priests lips shall preserve knowledge and they shall seek the Law at his mouth Custodient requirent so the Originall hath it They shall keep and they shall seek or as our Translation renders it They should keep they should seek This is Gods Ordinance that the Priests lips should be a Promptuarium a Cellar a Buttery a Pantery a Store-house of all kinde of learning and knowledge What ever it is oftimes De Facto De Jure thus it should be And in that respect First They should be the most fit to be imployed in businesses of this nature in Church-differences Church-affairs being such as do Doctrina judicio pollere to use Calvins words Excell and go beyond the ordinary sort of people in Divine learning and solid Judgement Such they either are or ought to be Their lips should preserve knowledge Secondly This is more proper for them Church-Officers then any others and that in respect of their Office Upon this ground did the Church at Antioch here refer their differences to the Apostles and Elders And upon this ground did they undertake the hearing and determining of them This they did Non tantum ex Charitate sedex Officio not meerly out of Charity but out of Duty in as much as this properly appertained to their Office Ratione Officii saith Calvin bujus causae legitimi erant Judices In regard of their Office they were the proper Judges in this cause And so must Church-Officers in all succeeding ages of the Church be allowed to be in Ecclesiasticall matters Church-differences or affairs Judges not chief and principall for that is the Word it self but Ministeriall Interpreters of the Law declaring the minde and meaning of God

Acts I will not contend but certainly take it how we will it imports an exceeding great number well nigh innumerable so I finde the word in two places translated Luk. 12. 1. it is said that there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people the word is the same {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} So againe Heb. 12. 22. we reade of an innumerable company of Angells {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} And such was the number of the believing Jewes which had joyned themselves to the Church of Jerusalem almost an innumerable company so as they could not possibly meet all together in one place to partake of the Ordinances To me it is no question they had severall Congregations Quest But were not these then severall Churches Answ. No Severall Congregations but one Church the Church of Jerusalem even as it is in a great City there may be severall Societies and companies according to severall trades and mysteries and those so many petty corporations who may have their severall Halls and their severall meetings and yet all making up but one Incorporation to which they are all subordinate because all under one and the same Government and Governours even thus may it be in the Church and in the Primitive state of it I conceive so it was In one City and the adjacent territories there may be many Congregations and yet but one Church inasmuch as they may be united by the same Lawes have communion in the same Ordinances and be linked together under the same spirituall Guides and Officers Surely in all probability thus it was at least in some of the Proto-Primitive Churches And why not now But not to wade too farre into this collaterall Controversie from which I have bound my selfe before however certainly to multiply Churches in one Towne one Citie especially to set up Churches in Churches the one extracted out of the other this hath no President no warrant no maintenance no countenance from any phrase of Scripture or practice of the Apostolicall times Object No it will be said What say we then to the Jewish Church Did not the Apostles set up Churches in that Church and those extracted out of it Answ. To this shadow of an Argument it is soon answered Here was not one Church set up in another but many set up upon the ruines of one so as the setting up of the one was the pulling down of the other Even as the Apostle saith of the two Covenants old and new The first was taken away that the second might be established Heb. 10. So was it with these two Churches that legall this Evangelicall As for the Jewish Church it was now like the Jewish legall covenant which the Apostle speaketh of Heb. 8. calling it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Antiquatum quid senes●ens a thing which was Antiquated and wax●● old {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} nigh to vanishing ready to disappeare and come to nothing so as here was onely a new edifice to be erected upon those ruines a new Church to be set up in an Evangelicall way where that Legall Church had been Now I confesse had we to deale with rigid down-right Separatists who looke upon our Churches as no true Churches of Christ but Anti-christian Synagogues fit to be dissolved and pulled down saying of them in the Edomites language Rase them rase them even to the foundation thereof then might this Argument have some colour of strength in it But otherwise where our Churches are acknowledged as true Churches in this case to set up a Church in a Church and to extract the one out of the other I say it again and I wish it may be taken notice of it is a thing which Scripture will give no warrant no president for Quest But suppose a Church be defective or corrupted in this case what shall we doe Answ. Not presently think of pulling it down and setting up another Was it not the very case of the Church of Corinth and yet we doe not read of any that went about to set up a Church in that Church under pretence of walking in a purer way but rather endeavour by all meanes to purge and reforme it This will we doe by our houses if they be foule we will sweep them if decayed and impayred though it be in some of the principals we will not presently think of pulling them down and building others out of their timbers and materialls but repayre them And thus did King Jehoash for the house of his God the Temple finding it ruinous he gave order not to pull it down and build a new one but to repayre it O that we would all of us entertaine such thoughts concerning the Church or Churches of God in this Kingdom It is a thought which God hath already put into the heart of the state of this Kingdome and what progresse and procedure is already made in the work I shall not need to tell you I hope time ere long will declare it Herein then let all our hearts close and comply with theirs every one in our places doing what we may to further so pious an undertaking in the meane time taking heed of adventuring upon new wayes which we have neither precept nor president in Scripture for What way of gathering setting up of Churches the Scripture holdeth forth unto us you may see by what hath been already said Those which embraced the faith within such a circuit within the bounds of a Citie and the adjacent Territories they were all framed together into one Christian society or Church And hence is it that Cities and Churches in phrase of Scripture are as you see put the one for the other as elsewhere so here in the Text As they went through the Cities they delivered unto them c. Quest Delivered them But what Cities what Churches were these Answ. The Text layeth it downe in indefinite words carrying with them the force of an universall viz. what ever Cities they passed thorow where there were any Churches they delivered these Decrees unto them Quest Here a scruple may arise Why should the Apostles here deliver these Decrees alike unto all the Churches where they came when as all of them did not appeare at this Councell As for Hierusalem and Antioch and the Churches of Syria and Cilicia these Decrees were proper for them in as much as they had referred both the Question and cause to the determination of that Councell and had their Agents there to deale for them But so had not some other of the Churches How then could these Decrees be obligatory and and binding unto them which they had no hand in making of or ●ss●●ting to Answ. To this it is answered that though these Decrees were not binding to them formally yet Morally and Vertually they were As for Jerusalem and Antioch and such other Churches as concurred with them in this Appeale they

the Articles of our Religion were drawn up and agreed upon and by Law established What think we of the late Synod at Dort or of the later Assembly in New-England to which that Plantation under God owes not a little of her present subsistence Not to multiply words Certainly such is the utility such is the necessity if not of Generall Councels yet of Topicall Particular Nationall Provinciall Synods that the Church in this declined condition cannot well subsist without them And therefore let all take heed how they goe about to prejudicate either themselves or others against this Soveraigne Church-Remedie Which what is it but as if one should endeavour to loath a sick man of his potion before it come at him Then which what greater dis-service and injury can possibly be offered and done both to Physitian and Patient I know there are yet some other Arrows let flye at th●se Synodicall Assemblies but I finde them such as light as well upon this first Councell at Hierusalem as upon those which have or shall succeed it and in that respect the lesse to be regarded As viz. Object 1. That they are prejudiciall to mens gifts and parts and industry conjuring them all into a Synodicall circle as one unhappily expresseth it suffering them onely to dance there Answ. And might not the Churches to whom Paul here maketh delivery of these Synodicall Decrees have taken up the same exception against this Councell at Hierusalem to which as it is alleaged some of them were not called so much as to shew their judgements Object 2. Not unlike is that other that Assemblies of this nature are commonly swayed and carried by a few It is usuall saith the same Author that in such Councels some one or few of predominant parts or authority amongst them sway and s●eere all the proceedings and act the judgements and affections of the rest though conscientious and learned to a degree So that upon the matter and just account the resolutions of Councels and Synods themselves are but the fruits and puttings forth of the learning and judgement of a very few men Answ. And was it not so in this first Councell at Hierusalem were there not here some leading men amongst them Is not that the very Epithe●● which the holy Ghost giveth unto Judas and Silas that they were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} chiefe men or leading men as the word properly signifieth amongst the brethren at whom no question the rest had a speciall eye And were no● the Apostles Peter and James and Paul such as by whose predominant parts and authority the proceedings of that Councell were mainly swayed and steered And yet for all that was that a free and orderly Councell And so may others after it be But I will say no more in this cause neither was I willing to have said so much Onely taking notice of a dangerous designe set on foot by some and driven on by others for the prepossessing and forestalling the minds and hearts of the people with prejudicate opinions against the determinations of the present Assembly in this Kingdome what ever they may be and thereby to blast all the hopes which the Church of God may conceive from thence I could not but thinke it my duty to say what I have done that it might serve both as an Antidote and Preparative unto you of this place to preserve you from the danger of this infection and to prepare you for the receiving and entertaining of such messages as God shall send unto us by the hands of those whom at the present by his providence he hath set a worke as his Instruments for the finding out and revealing of his minde and will unto his people Come we in a word or two to the third and last branch of this second particular which I will but onely touch upon therein making amends for my necessitated prolixity in the two former viz. the place where this Councell was held and these Decrees ordained viz. at Hierusalem Quest And why there rather then elsewhere Answ. Take a reason or two 1. To let passe the conveniency of the place which being the metropolis the chiefe City of that Kingdom as London is of this was most commodious for such a meeting whither persons from all parts were wont to resort 2. In the secound place as it was the chief Citie so it was the chief Church being the first Church The first 1. For time the first place where the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ gathered and constituted a Church 2. the first for number the number of beleevers belonging to that Church being very great as I shall have occasion God willing to shew you anon 3. the first for Honour and dignitie highly accounted of by all other of the Churches In some sense a Mother-Church So the rest of the Churches many of them looked upon it Non secus ac Matrem colebant saith Calvin They respected and honoured that Church as a M ther-Church And so indeed she was 1. In as much as the Gospell first went out from thence So it was foretold The Lord shall send the Rod or Scepter of thy strength out of Sion Psalme 110. It is spoken of Christ Now what is the Rod or Scepter of Christ why his word which is called the Scepter of his strength because it is the powerfull instrument wherby Christ brings and keeps the world in subjection to himself Now this Rod this Scepter was to go out of Sion out of Hierusalem So the Prophets both Esay and Micah explain both the one the other The law shall go forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Hierusalem Isa. 2. Micah 4. Thus it was foretold and thus it came to passe Behold the accomplishment of these prophecies at the day of Pentecost when the Apostles being filled with the Holy Ghost preached the Gospell at once to all nations to some almost of everie nation By which meanes the Gospell was conveyed through the world Like water it is Calvins similitude which is conveyed from one fountain through many channels and conduit-pipes to divers places Thus did the Word of the Lord go forth from Hierusalem And in that respect a mother Church 2. A mother Church out of whose loines as I may say many other Churches were issued having their Originall from thence being but as so many slips and off-se●s from that first Root In which respect the Church of Hierusalem is called by some Ecelesiae Surcularis being like a Tree full of yong shootes and branches many of which are in time transplanted elswhere So was it with that Church many of the members thereof were in time translated to other parts by which means the Gospell was dispersed and the Churches increased And hereupon it was that the rest of the Churches gave so much honour to that Church being as you see a mother Church 3. Againe a mother Church as breeding of Churches so

were bound formally by an Ecclesiasticall bond or tye Even as those which put a businesse to Arbitration they are formally bound to stand to what their Arbitrators shall agree upon so it be not against Law and Reason Besides the bond of Equity they have also a Civill Formall Obligation under which they lye So was it with those Churches which had referred their cause to this Councell and had sent their Delegates thither they were now bound by a double bond not onely that generall Morall bond of Equity and Right but by a Formall Ecclesiasticall bond to submit to the Determinations of that Councell so farre as they they were agreeable to the Word But now for other Churches though they did not lye under such a double obligation yet under a single one they did Though they were not so formally bound as the other yet vertually they were and morally in regard of the Equity and Reason of those Decrees It is Dr. Ames his determination touching Councells and their Decrees Tantum valet Decretum concilii quantum valet ejus ratio A Decree of a Councell carrieth so much weight with it as there is Reason in it Now these Decrees here agreed upon in this Councell they were all Rationall Decrees agreeable to Scripture and sound Reason And being such they were in this respect obligatory to the rest of the Churches even to those who did not appeare at that Councell And upon this ground it was that the Apostle here maketh delivery of them wheresoever he came As they went thorow the Cities they delivered the Decrees unto them Quest But yet it may be said againe Wherfore deliver them to all Possibly and probably some of the Churches were not interested and concerned in these differences And if they were yet why might they not be left to their Christian liberty to doe as they saw convenient in these indifferent things Why might they not rather be left every one to their own way in these matters of lesser difference Answ. No this the Councell thought not convenient they make an Order against it and in prosecution of that Order the Apostle here where-ever hee commeth maketh delivery of these Decrees And wherefore this why that he might by this meanes bring all the Churches to Vnity and Vniformity Unitie in judgement and affection and Uniformity in practice that they might all be of one heart and of one way Observ. An usefull observation which meeting me so full in the way I may not baulk it Vnity and Vniformity among the Churches is a thing to be earnestly desired and endeavoured This was a thing which this blessed Apostle set much by His requests to and prayers for the Churches are well knowne Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded c. that ye may with one minde and one mouth glorifie God it is his prayer for his Romans Rom. 15. Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speake the same thing and there be no divisions or schismes among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement it is his first request which he maketh to his Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. And as it is the first so it is the last his Alpha and Omega Finally brethren farewell be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace c it is his farewell to the same Church 2 Cor. 13. Onely let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ c. that ye stand fast in ●ne spirit and one minde It his charge to his Philippians Phil. 1. If there be any consolation in Christ c. Fulfill yee my joy that ye be like minded c. So hee prosecuteth the same charge with most patheticall enforcements in the chapter following Thus did Paul stand affected towards the Vnitie of the Churches to whom he writeth And as to their Vnity so to their Vniformity hereupon it was that what he ordered in one Church he willed that it should be observed by all Thus in that 1 Cor. 7. having answered and stated certain doubts and questions propounded to him by his Corinthians as viz. touching single life and marriage the co-habitation of persons unequally yoaked Beleevers and Infidels c. he tells them that the Orders and Directions which hee sent unto them were no other then what he gave in common to all the rest of the Churches And so ordain I in all Churches vers. 17. Thus againe chapter 16. taking order touching the time and manner of making collection for the poore Saints he prescribeth one Order for all the Churches Now concerning collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so doe yee vers. 1. And upon the same ground it was that having the Decrees of the Councell at Hierusalem in his hands he maketh delivery of them where ever he commeth not onely to the Churches to whom they were by name directed but to all other Churches As they passed thorow the Cities they delivered the Decrees to them And was Paul so active so forward in this businesse let not any of us be backward with it much lesse averse against it Certainly Vnity and Vniformity are a matter of greater concernment to the Churches then commonly they are taken to be making much both for their safety and beauty 1. For their safety It is not for nothing that Paul writing to his Philippians in the place forenamed putteth these two together That ye stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel And in nothing terrified by your adversaries were it so that the Churches were of one minde and would {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} strive together for the Gospell going out as one man against the common enemy as the tribes of Israel are said to have gathered together against Benjamin Judg. 20. then would they be terrible as an Army with banners so as they should not need to fear the Adversary Their Vnity under God would be a speciall meanes of their safety Whereas their divisions are like breaches in a common banke letting in a Sea of evils upon them or like the breaking of the rankes in an army which is the next way to let in the enemy and so to rout the whole body Unity in judgement and affections the one of which much depends upon the other for where judgements are divided though it ought not to be so yet such is the corruption in the Heart of man which is like unto tinder ready to take fire by the least spark that falleth into it there will ordinarily be some alienation in affections maketh much for the Churches security 2. And so doth Vniformity make much for the beauty of it Even as in a City where the buildings are uniforme much of one height and one