immediately added also blessed are they that are Persecuted c. XXXII But we hope better things of many of them than to do so by such as appear in healing and re-pairing Breaches among us and that it would be far more becoming us who profess that glorious peaceable Gospel of our Lord Jesus which as it tends to bring Glory to God on high so does it no less Conduce to peace on Earth tho not to the Earthly part in any and to good will towards all Men and would be more Christian and Prudent like in us in that Meek Gentle Charitable and Submissive Condescending Mind to say one to another Come Friends let us now lay aside all our Animosities Heats and Fouds let us compare the Importance and Weight of those things in which we agree with that in which we differ and see which ought to ballance us most let us now be reconciled and made Friends together again let us lay aside all Prejudice and Pertinacy wait together in lowliness of heart and feel that ancient spring of Love and divine Life to Unite and Cement us into that blessed Fellowship Unity and Concord and in the same let us begin afresh again and what is past be remembred no more than if it never had been let us forget those things that are behind and let us press towards that great and glorious Prize we all have had in our view Has not alas the Controversie and Differences been too too long kept on foot and keept up between us both to our shame and sorrow It s now more than high time for us all to leave off contendings and strivings together and quietly submit in the Love of God one to another and lay aside on both hands all things tending to Controversies Differences and all manner of Prejudices opprobious Reflections undecent Recriminations and odious Comparisons XXXIII O let us not dispute the matter in the anger and heat of our Spirits any more but if we will strive let it be then who shall exceed most in Temperance Patience Love and Forbearance who most Charitable and Moderate and who shall most follow after those things which make for Peace and Concord and things wherewith one may edifie one another let us not any more undervalue both our selves and also which is more the very common Interest of Truth and of our Holy Religion Let us therefore be of a tractable or treatable Temper and Comply and Condescend without any more ado without Reasoning this or Consulting other things whereby Self in all would save it's own Reputation with reasonable Expedients and Christian Proposals let us freely and fully and from our Hearts forgive one another c. as the Apostle said to the Philippians Phil. 2.1 2 3. If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfil ye my Joy that ye be like-minded having the same love being of one accord and of one mind Let nothing be done trough strife or vain-glory any more but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let this mind be in you which is for a Publick and Universal good which was also in Christ Jesus SECT II. Contains a Collection of divers remarkable Testimonies suitable to the Subject treated on MAny other Convincing Motives and pacifick Arguments upon divers accounts might be used and urged to perswade you to the aforesaid Noble Resolution but it would be too tedious to insert them here However to promote and encourage the same consider further these following Testimonies in the first place and afterwards some pressing Considerations to excite all towards Peace c. I. Eusebius de vita Const 67. Constantine saith to the Bishops you are not ignorant the Philosophers all of them do agree in the profession of the same Discipline but do oftentimes differ in some part of the Opinions that they Dogmatize but tho' they do dissent about the Discipline that each †Obs As The mistus in his Oration to Valens saith there were at least 300 amongst the Gentile Philosophers c. several Sect observeth they nevertheless Reconcile themselves again for the sake of that Common Profession to which they have concurred II. J. Hooper in his Ecclesiastical Polity saith The Time will come when three words with Charity and Meekness shall receive a far more blessed Reward than 3000 Volumes written with disdainful sharpness or he might have added twice 3000 Sermons framed from Mens inventions and delivered with the greatest Eloquence or Acuteness of Wit A late Ingenuous Author says I trust in the Almighty God that Contentions with us are now at the highest float and that the day will come for what cause is there of despair when the Passions of former Enmity being allayed Men shall with ten tiems redoubled tokens of unfeigned reconciled Love shew themselves each to other the same which Joseph and the Brethren of Joseph were at the time of their enterview in Egypt III. There was a long feud between Themistocles and Aristides But being both imployed in the service of their Country Aristides bespake Themistocles thus If we be wise its high time we should now leave off this vain Envy Spite we have a long time born each other And that we should enter into another sort of Envy more honourable and profitable I mean which of us two shall do his best endeavour to save Greece To which Themistocles made this answer I am sorry Aristides that herein your Honesty appeareth greater than mine but seeing it is that you have deserved the Honour in beginning and procuring such a Commendable Strife between us I will henceforth endeavour to exceed you in continuing this your desire Oh! that Saints says the Author upon this would learn Heathens to lay aside their particular differences to mind publick advantage Shall Heathens be better at self-denial than Christians Causinus tells us of one Raymundus Lullius who was so ravished with Love that being asked any thing he would answer nothing but Love Where dwellest thou With Love To whom belongest thou to Love From whence comest thou From Love Whether goest thou To Love c. IV. It was well observed by a Learned and Judicious Person That the Unity and Peace that was then viz. in the early and indeed the best Times of Christianity amonst Christians made Religion amiable in the judgment of Impartial Heathens Christians were then known by the Benignity and Sweetness of their disposition by the Candor and Ingenuity of their Spirits by their mutual Love Forbearance and Condescention one to another These were indeed blessed Marks but either this is not the practice of Christianity viz. a Duty the 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
others do propose better more feizable and more rational expedients and be more effectual than what is here offered we shall be really glad of it and do desire that this may be as an encouragement or an occasion to incite and stir up others more capable so to do and so to be concerned herein And indeed it was hoped that before this time these unhappy differences might have been composed but instead thereof it is sad to observe how they have rather increased than decreased and that Matters are here rather far worse than better so that there appears now a greater need and necessity for a speedy Compliance with reasonable Proposals in order to some Reconcliation or Accommodation c. Now Friendly Reader not to detain thee longer and to conclude this at present we desire and beseech thee to Read what follows without any prejudice and in the fear of God seriously ponder and consider the same so then it may not be undervalued or disesteemed by thee XV. For notwithstanding this undertaking of being Peacemakers or Reconcilers we may be rasbly judged by some partial disaffected persons and as foolishly disliked of by others may be too deeply engaged either by affection or interest and so too much prejudiced whose Zeal may far exceed both their Vnderstanding and their Charity Yet it may please Almighty God so to bless it in the Hands of Some Moderate and unbyassed Friends that in time it may prove successful and however may be of such service so as to beget some living earnest desires and ardent longings in the Hearts of many sincere-hearted ones on both sides and from thence there may be hearty endeavours used according to their Capacities and in their stations towards the effecting that long desired Reunion and happy Reconciliation which would be an unspeakable comfort and Cause of no small rejoycing to us all XVI And which that the Lord God Everlasting in his infinite Mercy Goodness and tender Compassion towards us may be graciously pleased both to grant us and hasten the time of its accomplishment and that we may all labour in the mean time to be a People worthy of so great and so unvaluable a Blessing and singular favour And let us all if so be at present we cannot accord in other things however unite and joyn together in our sincere breathings and supplications and with one Heart and Soul mightily cry to the Lord for the same XVII And which that it may be really effected and by that Divine powerful hand with which nothing is impossible at last brought to pass amongst us is that which is both our Hearty and earnest desire and is likewise the chief aim and end of the publishing the following Papers Reading the 12th 6 Month 1692. Signed on behalf of himself and others Concerned Abraham Bonifield The Copy of a Letter and a Paper Tending to an Amicable Composure of Differences among Friends at Reading c. Which is as follows The 18th 9th Month 87. Dear Friend IT cannot but be a great grief to many of you as well as with us that so sad Heats Animosities and Divisions have happen'd among those that were begotten to God by one and the same Word of Eternal Power That such should fall out by the way is indeed Lamentable Altho' the occasions taken may be very small yet the Enemy of all our Souls gets his Advantage when he draws us into Feuds and Controversies to the neglecting the most weighty matter these things greatly tending to the prejudice and hurting of many Tender Innocent and well meaning People And as these things have taken too much place in your Town and partly issued hither so it will be well if you first could hit upon a Reconciliation that the same Brotherly Love might again arise which at first was among Friends one towards another where then will the Animosities be Surely if all had kept in it these things had never happened Wherefore I have been willing to send thee the Inclosed Copy of a Paper Written by one who heartily Travels for the Prosperity of the Truth and the Vnion and Tranquillity of those that Profess it and shall esteem it well done of thee if thou approve thereof and propagate it to others of your Town Where I hope there are many either weary of these sad Disturbances or at least troubled at them If all sides prove as willing I hope it will prove as Easie and as Comfort able to you at Reading to come out of them again as it has done to our Friends at Bristol who had long enough tryed the sad effects of Division And if this Essay should have any of the same effect I make no doubt but it would be to the Glory of God the Honour of the Truth and the Comfort of you all the good Example of others and much Rejoycing to the Author c. Here follows the Paper SOmething once more soberly offered for an Amicable Composure and Accommodation of difference happened among the Professors of Truth in and about Reading and which may be through the Blessing of God in order to their Friendly Meeting all together again in the Antient publick Meeting-House if all parties concerned be Cordially inclined to agree hereunto and comply therewith which is left for them all to consider of seriously in and with the Precious Light of Christ Jesus WHereas it must be acknowledged on both Hands that there has been and is a sad Division and Separation unhappily fallen out amongst the Professors of Truth in the Town of Reading and that which hath partly occasioned the same has greatly proceeded from an unwary managing of Matters too hot a Zeal and Indiscreet Inadvertency and though possibly there might be in the mean time a good intention in divers on both sides yet alas how have the sparks of contention arisen to a great flame which albeit it may seem difficult however we hope it is not impossible to be quenched I. In order to which it is therefore in the first place tenderly proposed That it be Heartily and Unanimously concluded on by all concerned herein That it had been more to the Honour of God and renown of his Holy unchangeable Truth more for our prosperity therein and gathering of others thereunto had we all kept more in the Word of Gods patience and in the Lamb like Life more in Coolness and Calmness of our Minds and in the silence of all Flesh than frequently we have done whereby the Enemy of us all hath often prevailed upon us to draw us out to those things which were unseemly and unbecoming our Holy profession both to the wounding of our own Souls and also hurting many others and casting stumbling Blocks before the weak and whereby the pure Name of the Lord our God has been much Dishonoured and his Holy Spirit grieved the Hearts of the Righteous sadned and many ill effects produced II. Wherefore in the second place its necessary that a true godly Sorrow seize upon every
Eminent Friends of Bristol of both sides and Directed to several Friends of Reading also of both Meetings which contains good Christian Counsel and seasonable Advice and doth well agree with the aforesaid And is as followeth Bristol the 5th of the 1st Month 1686 7. Thomas Curtice William Lambol Leonard Key Abraham Bonnifield Robert Sandilands Robert Payne John Kent John Buy Benjamine Coale c. Dear Friends We dearly and heartily salute you in that Ancient Love of God which did at first reach unto us and gathered us to be a People and which hath often refreshed our Souls and Spirits to our great Consolation and Joy in the Lord and one in another It having pleased the Lord to take away the cruel hand of the Informers and other sufferings that have of late attended us in this City and our Meeting-Houses being again delivered up to us it came into our Hearts and we believe from the Motion of the Spirit of the Lord in us joyntly notwithstanding some misunderstandings and differences had happened amongst us to meet and continue together in the Worship of God as in former times in and through which we have found great refreshment and satisfaction for by our mutual endeavours to bury the extreams that offen'd each other we feel the antient love to arise the more which brings us nearer unto each other wherein we rejoyce and have great Consolation and from thence arises the same true and antient love unto you with prayers unto the Lord and desires unto you that the same endeavours may be amongst you that in the Grave of Oblivion all that hath been hurtful may be buried and utterly forgotten that so as one Family you may again meet together in your antient love and place as formerly then will certainly the true love more and more arise and the hope and faith that will remove Mountains and the peaceable Saviour be more rejoyced in that leads through and over all that which doth offend into Brotherly kindness and forgiveness one unto another wherein you may be one anothers joy and rejoycing in the Lord. May the Lord so tender all our Hearts and lead you and us in the same path are the Prayers and desires of your Dear Friends and Brethren Thomas Gouldney Richard Snead Charles Hartford Thomas Callowhill John Love Charles Joanes Cornelius Sarjant William Ford Thomas Jordan William Smith We send this by our Dear Friend John Osgood whom we have desired to communicate this to you A Friendly Perswasive to Peace or something by way of an Earnest and Seasonable Expostulation with Friends of Reading on both sides to be reconciled to one another and to lay aside all Heats Prejudices Animosities c. with divers Remarkable Testimonies collected to promote the same and some Objections answered which may tend to a general service SECT I. Contains several weighty Motives shewing the great need and necessity of Reconciliation c. I. AS concerning the Proposals for an Accommodation or Composure of Differences c. something already has been said in the Introduction Now as touching the aforesaid tender and healing Epistle from Bristol some Friends on both sides may remember That is was carefully delivered to them by our dear Friend John Osgood who after having imparted it to several he also used his utmost endeavours by perswading them to a Complyance with what was therein recommended and afterwards divers other Friends had the sight and perusal of it II. But alas it appears too plainly that it was not so tenderly regarded at least not Answered so as ought to have been And indeed seeing that to this very day the desired effects thereof are not yet produced must it not be concluded that there was both a great neglect and remissness somewhere and the wholesom Councel and Christian good advice therein given to Friends was neither followed nor favourably intertained so as to be practised Now Friends its left to every one both seriously to consider and also soberly to reflect upon themselves whoever they be that find they are particularly concerned herein and were really the chief cause or occasion thereof III. However it is hoped that it is not as yet too late to amend what has been amiss in this or any other respect and to take an impartial and ponderous review of the abovementioned so as to endeavour to recover whilst there is yet a time and opportunity afforded what has been lost either through carelessness or unwillingness which surely would not appear half so difficult nor uneasie as may seem to some if but once the manly part or that selfish conceited revengeful-like part where any thing of it is yet alive in any were laid aside and subdued and the holy precious Cross truly taken up to all Peevish and Stubborn Wills harsh and sower Inclinations cunning crafty Reasonings and Consultations with Flesh and Blood and to that untoward Disposition of too much justifying every one themselves and as much Judging and too severely Condemning others an Epidemical Distemper which Mankind is too generally and naturally Incident to And if that even sweet moderate Temper Peaceable Lowly and Charitable Frame of Spirit might once so prevail and appear in all so as to remove all all kind of Personal Prejudices Private Enmity Revenge or Hatred IV. Then certainly would not all be as hearty and desirous after a Reconciliation Peace and Friendship one with another again as ever formerly they might be Eager Earnest and Hot after Contention Variance Dissention and Separation from one another neither then would they be content or at quiet till the same should be brought to pass or at least they had used their utmost endeavours for a re-uniting and bringing all together again and it is but what the Lord both requires and expects of every one so to do according to their Power and Capacities V. That so the World and our Enemies on all hands may no longer reproach us and say we are become such enemies one to another that it seems impossible that we will ever agree or be Friends together again and that we are of all People the worst to be Reconciled or that there is not a wise Man amongst us to Compose our Differences or else if there be that we are very ill-natur'd and wholly averse to comply to any Christian and reasonable Terms and hear of no kind of Expedient for a Reconciliation nor yield to any equal Proposals that would tend to a better Accommodation of Matters and that it appears some do delight more in a separation and being divided asunder than to dwell and meet altogether again as Brethren of one Heavenly Father and belonging all to one Family in true Love and Friendship VI. O Friends is not the one that is the former as comely and as amiable a sight as can be seen amongst the Children of Men as it s expressed very fully and excellently in the 133 Psalm 1 2 3. vers Behold saith he How good and how pleasant it is
patience and forbearance will come to an end to all who abuse the same XIII It is said in Prov. 13.10 That only by Pride cometh Contention This I conceive must be meant a Spiritual sort of Pride especially being attended as for most part it is with vain glory strong self-will and conceitedness which with Singularity Flattery and Hypocrisie its Concomitants have been and are the very Spring of all Distraction and the great underminers of Peace Concord and Quietness the very chief make-bates and occasions of Dissention Strife and Contention in all Societies Hereunto also may be added those busie-bodies back-biters tale-bearers and whisperers who run up and down from House to House as some have been observed who have made a long Practice of it under the pretence of Friendship to both hear and tell stories of one another whom they or their Friens do dissaffect They were not amiss compared by one to a sort of Hawkers of groundless Reports which they take in gross and afterwards retail them out in Companies It ought to be the care of every good and wise Man to have them suppressed and discountenanced for they are mortal enemies to all Peace and Reconciliation Love and Friendship and such are the Whisperer and double-tongu'd as in Eccles 28.14 it is said have destroyed many that were at Peace c. These have been and are the main Fomenters and the chief Incendiaries of Breaches Divisions Heats Animosities differences both in City and Country c. Concerning which more at large see William Shewer's little Book containing a plain Testimony against Back-biters Tale-bearers c. It s well worth every ones reading c. XIV And wherefore was it that the Lord took no notice of those when they fasted and afflicted their Souls Because they fasted for strife and debate and smote with the fist of wickedness and hid their Face from their own Flesh see Isa 58.3 4. But on the other Hand we may find how well pleasing and acceptable were those prayers which were offered up with one accord as in Acts 41.24 And see the benefit of it vers 31. And in Chap. 2.46 and 47. It s said They continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking Bread from House to House did eat their Meat with gladness and singleness of Heart praising God and having favour with all the People XV. And does not our Lord Jesus prefer Reconciliation of one Brother to another where there is a difference or ought between them before Sacrifice by laying a positive prohibition thereon with as strict a Command as in Mat. 5.24 If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remember that thy Brother hath ought against thee Leave thy gift and go first be Reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer it How little is this rightly minded or duly practised by many who cannot but remember the same And though it is as true that we see one Brother hath ought against an another and both must needs remember it yet it s very strange that they both continue still offering and bringinging their gifts and not mind first the chief and main thing viz. of being first reconciled one to another which as then their gifts would be more acceptable to God being according to his Divine Order and Command so would it be more serviceable and profitable to others and also much more comfortable to themselves than can be whilst unreconciled one to another XVI Now that there is too much here in this Place of ought one against another is too apparent by the open separation and division amongst us But however one is apt to excuse himself and so another the like and one thinks he may as safely offer or bring his gift to the Altar as well as another and thus it goes and so from year to year the positive Command of Christ is dispensed with and Unity and a Reconcilement wholly neglected and it s to be feared that some are become so unconcerned in it and careless of it that it s even but as an indifferent thing to them nay and not only so but the contrary is become customary to them that they neither desire after nor much care for a Reconciliation XVII But they should consider that as Unity c. is their duty to labour after so it is the Glory Strength and Beauty of Christian Societies It was demanded once of Ageslaus why the Lacedemonians had no Walls to their City He answered that the Concord of the Citizens was the strength of the City It also reported of them that when they made their Supplications to their Idol God some asked for Rain and others for fair Weather The Oracle returns them this answerd that they should first go and agree amongst themselves Alexander Severus finding two Christians contending with one another commmanded them that they should not presume to take the name of Christ upon them any longer for saith he you greatly dishonour your Master whose Disciples you profess to be When there were Commotions in Caesars Army the very name of Quirites husht them Oh shall not that Reverence we all ought to bear to that Holy Name which we profess Hush or Compose our Religious Commotions or Differences amongst us XVIII The Mahometans as one saith live in such Exemplary Concord that they seldon break out into ill language but if they do a third Man will reprove him with a fie Musselman fall out And all is appeased Were it not to be wished that the Mahometans were Christians and in this Christians were Mahometans To see an Egyptian smiting an Israelite is no strange sight but to see one Israelite quarrelling with another is most unnatural and uncomely The nearer the Relation the stronger the Affection ought to be XIX Remember the tragical dismal History of poor Jerusalem its very Animosities and Divisions proved at last its fatal ruin for it was not only as observed particularly by some a certain sign of ruin to the Jews But one infallible cause of it was that while they were besieged by the Romans instead of consulting together the Methods of their common defence they were broke into such Irreconcileable feuds ☞ that no sooner had they a time of breathing given them by their besiegers but they fell one upon another so that they became their own most implacable Enemies And so it has happened to many in this and former Ages as by manifold sad experiences hath been known and to observe such Envy Prejudice such Animosities Heats c. one to another amongst those who profess to be followers of him whose Doctrin and example was so full of Love Meekness Forgiveness Compassion is it not a scandal to the Jews an Opprobrium to the Gentiles and an inlet to Atheism and Infidelity XX. And as the Apostle James tells us Ja. 3.16 20. where Envying and strife is there is not only Confusion which is bad enough if there were no more but every evil work This is indeed very
tho' many others were very hearty and really much inclined to it And to help to answer the second part How shall it be carried on This is proposed let all such Friends on both sides whose hearts the Lord has inclined hereunto and who are very willing to comply with the aforesaid or any other Christian reasonable Proposals they may see needful to be concluded on and added with joynt consent it s hoped that there are divers such and if they please they may signifie the same by Word or Writing to any Friend or Friends they think fit to acquaint therewith tho' its but meet that those also should know it whom they believe are like-minded with them in this Concern And likewise those who have so far proceeded in it as to publish some Proposals in order to promote the same if they please they may apply themselves to any of us herein concerned and they may be further satisfied about it Now by this Method it may bee seen plainly who are free willing and desirous after a Reconciliation and who are not who are the Obstructers and who the Incouragers of the said on both sides and so even let the fault and blame herein be laid on those to whom it belongeth and who do let and hinder such a good Work And as to the third part of the Objection viz. That both Parties plead their Innocency and neither willing to confess to be in the fault or the cause of the Difference but both shift it off from themselves and throw it upon one another little need be said of this for if there be any others beside some particular Persons that do apprehend so that one side only â—s altogether to be blamed and the other wholly blameless they must needs be certainly either very Ignorant of matters or else too deeply engaged more to a Party than the naked Truth and swayed by some more sinister self-interest or by private affection which blinds the Judgment and darkens the Understanding than by sound Reason or an impartial Examination and fair Hearing of things so take all upon meer trust believe implicity what such a one says or reports see with others eyes and not by their own and besides too much to be feared which is very bad they are likewise plunged too deeply into that dangerous and hurtful thing called Prejudice c. But besides were it needful or serviceable to any as at present it is not the contrary might be fully evinced by too plain Particulars to be much lamented and that by undeniable matters of Fact too that both sides less or more are blameable and have been in the wrong have been Imprudent and Indiscreet in managing Matters have been too Uncharitable Harsh and Sower c. one towards another This is so palpable and so well known even to the World that to mention the same in the Particulars how far some on each side have digressed from both that Golden Rule from that Royal Law of Love and Kindness and from many other Excellent and Blessed Laws also Professed equally by both would be as well too tedious and large as it might tend to exasperate each Party which all along herein from first to last of this Work is avoided as much and as carefully as possibly can be as to any personal and particular Reflections that so neither Partiality nor Uncharitableness might in the least appear However it may be safely said and without any breach of Charity reasonably and modestly concluded as being what is but impartial and according to Truth that it has been visible to all and even plain to a demonstration to all the unbyassed That neither the one nor the other side can justly plead themselves wholly clear but that both less or more have offended and given occasion to each other of Provocations and of causing a Disreconciliation and this unhappy Separation either in the first Fomenting or Raising or Heightning and keeping up the Differences and Controversies to this day amongst Friends And those who may reckon themselves clearest or least concerned herein have no cause if all things be duly and calmly considered to upbraid others saying had it not been for the too hot ungoverned heat or Zeal of one or the Impatience and Imprudence of another or the indiscreet Conduct or the Moroseness Sraitness Sullenness and Shiness of others c. it had never been so or so amongst us Now Friends were it not really more Christian like to lay aside all manner of aggravations or personal reflections and learn now to be of that excellent Charitable Temper which we find Moses and David were of that they were not provoked neither to upbraid or be revengeful against those who had so insolently affronted and abused them when they had an opportunity to do either or both towards them Moses it is said Numb 12.13 cryed unto the Lord to heal Miriam saying heal her now O God I beseech thee she appears with Aaron had murmured and reflected foolishly upon him which highly provoked the Lord and when his Hand was laid on her for it It was then that Moses intreated and interceeded for her he was so far from insulting over her or desiring the punishment to be either Continued Increased or heightned And as concerning David Sacred History gives a large account how merciful and how exceeding tender hearted he was even towards his great outward Adversary Saul and would never by any means take revenge upon him tho' he might of ten have easily done it had he been so disposed Another great instance we have of his princely Clemency and good nature after he was restored again to his Kingdom Abishai was mighty importunate that Shimei should be put to Death because saith he he cursed the Lords anointed and indeed he railed at him and that when he was under adversity 2 Sam. 19.21 22. and that was base indeed most bitterly and extravagantly saying Come out come out thou Bloody Man and thou Man of Belial c. yet for all this David that good Man was so far from revenging himself or remembring old faults so as to bear any hatred or improve them to the disadvantage of his offenders that he reproved those smartly and counted them as his adversaries that laboured to stir him up to the same What have I says he to do with you ye Sons of Zerviah that ye should this day be Adversaries to me c. therefore the King said unto Shimei thou shalt not die and he swear unto him So we may see here was no upbraiding or raking up of old Misdemeanors or faults of one another nor the least appearance of a revengeful Spirit or retaliating again and therefore it is well advised and O that all would take the good Counsel in Prov. 24.29 Say not I will do so to him as he hath done to me I will render to the Man according to his work We are to leave that to the Lord tho' it s said he giveth to all
Publish abroad each others weaknesses and failings or infirmities to the shame and reproach both of themselves and their Profession IV. Let us also Consider how many have been discouraged and stumbled from owning the Truth when they observe such an irreconcilable Temper and have such Wrath and Envy Enmity and Prejudices such Wranglings and Divisions such Whisperings Back-bitings such Supplanting and Undermining each others Reputations such malicious Aggravations and improvements of all advantages one against another such uncharitable Censures and Apprehensions such unfriendly Deportments unchristian-like Treatments such a fowr and un-neighbourly-like Behaviour and unhandsome Carriage towards one another such odious Comparisons opprobrious Reflections and Characters cast one upon another such groundless Jealousies and Surmisings c. It s true Men are but Men and Women but Women and the best of them may Err and do amiss one way or other but such things as reflect upon a whole Society or Meeting as being culpable of the aforesaid and charged as Guilty thereof is of far worse Consequences than any particular Persons Misdemeanour both by how much the more one single Person may sooner and easier Repent Reform and amend than many can do And also that Envy and Pride especially spiritual Pride hath been evermore deadly and more hurtful to and amongst Gods People than any other thing V. For from thence these four great Evils have sprung up and which gradually succeeded each other in former Ages among the Primitive Christians have been ever since too much predominant in Christendom and these are 1st the Ambition or Pride that first appeared then 2dly Contention with Confusion followed 3dly Afterwards Imposition of Numerous Creeds one upon another And last and worst of all and as the sad effects of all these cruel Persecutions one of another all these things may be plainly observed by those that are acquainted in the least with Ecclesiastical History as of Eusebius Socrates c. Geo. Bishops Looking-Glass for the Times c. a special Book Now Friends have not all these things happened all these Disorders Divisions and Confusions c. by not keeping near to the Lord in Unity and near one to another and being gone from the measure of that divine Light and Grace in their own Hearts then there was a departure from the Charity and into harsh Apprehensions and Constructions one against another and not being content with that place and Station the Lord allotted for them then an aspiring mind got up and sought to be higher then there was a Grudging and Envying others and thus also the Humility was lost and so all Love and Tenderness one towards another decay'd Loftiness of Spirit with hardness of Heart prevailed even to the grieving and vexing both of the Spirit of God in themselves and also of one another so that there could be no longer any more comfortable Society or Christian Fellowship together the great Bond of Peace being broke and that Heavenly invisible Tye which Knits together being dissolved What then behoved to follow but Divisions and separations one from another We may likewise read how the Apostle blames the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6.7 for their being of so Contentious and Striving humour insomuch that thereby they reduced themselves to this at last that those were set up even as their Judges who were least esteemed of in the Church and God knows how many raw young unexperienced sort of Persons are got up or set up of late into the Judgment Seat amongst us in this our Day and we wish that there were not cause to say the same as he tells them plainly thus I speak to your shame is it so that there is not a Wise Man nor a patient Condescending bearing Man among you no not one that is able to Judge between his Brethren c. why do you not rather take wrong than as if he had said be thus Litigious Striving Quarrelsome even to go to Law one with another and that before the Unbelievers too which was utterly a fault as he says amongst them He saith also that the whole Law is fulfilled in one word Gal. 5.14 15. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another VII But to leave these things relating to former Times and much more that might be mentioned let all beware and take warning in time to come of splitting on the same Rock as others before us have done both in this and former Ages and let the Cause wherever it is or whatever it be or has been be searched out by every particular and labour by the power of God to have it removed and then no doubt but all these sad evil and hurtful effects that proceed there from will quickly cease and come to an end Object 2d Some also may be ready to argue thus and say It is altogether vain to suppose or expect that all Differences Contentions or Quarrels upon a Religious action can ever be Composed so as to be brought to one end and it may be said of them as the Apostle spoke of Heresies which he said must be amongst the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.19 That they which were approved may be made manifest tho' its true at the same time he blamed them for their Divisions c. Answ But one may as well reason and say that because thou knowest there is already a Fire broke out and that one tells thee there will be another after that that therefore thou oughst not to endeavour what possibly thou canst to help to extinguish both that or any other Fires that might be supposed for certain would happen still one after another so the Apostle does not by the aforesaid Text design to discourage any from labouring to heal breaches to remedy divisions to stop Contentions and to make Peace and Reconciliation but as observed by a late Author upon the aforesaid Scripture he declares plainly what we must expect from the ill disposition of the Spirits of Men which is the cause of the disunion by reason of the high esteem they have of their own sufficiency and of their inclination to render themselves considerable c. The Providence of God is hereby is also seen which draws good out of evil and light out of darkness the thickest darkness and to distinguish suc has truly belong truly to him and that Faithfulness and Constancy manifested In this sense also it is saith he that Jesus Christ declares to us the necessity of Scandals and Tribulations arising in the Church otherways the Gospel which is the Ministry of Grace and a word of Reconciliation and Peace does not of it self purpose any thing but Union Amity and Concord Besides the Apostle did not say that there must always be Heresies or forever in the Church of Christ Is it not enough that it has taken place for so many Ages it is not time now to stop its Course and see an end of it
some bitterly exasperated and inflamed one against another others grievously wounded and not a few stumbled insomuch that some might with a bowed down Spirit cry out and say O that I had a Cottage in the Wilderness or that I had the Wings of a Dove that I might flee away and be at rest Now the thing is thus and here lies indeed the great Obstruction say some In short its this we are jealous and affraid that it will be so again and till we be sure that we can meet together in the same ancient love and life of Truth as in the beginning better it is for us to continue as it is and where we are Ans By no means Friends pray do not reason so and to avoid all manner of Controversie it is not proper here to enter into the merit of the cause of these Quarrels Confusions c. on either Hand However let not the remedy be worse than the disease neither ought any upon what pretence soever to do evil that good may come do you think that we ever can be brought near in Love and Friendship one to and with another by keeping still at a distance and by being as it were afraid of each other Let us all but once lay aside our Fears Jealousies Doubts and Reasonings and in that Faith which can remove Mountains let us come once more all together again and wait in the Faith and see what may be the Blessed effects thereof who knows but that it may be a good means of raising that ancient Love and Life amongst us which is stronger than Death it self Pray consider what hurt will it be to try this expedient and if it doth not answer what 's proposed or desired we will be but where we were before and where now we are If you seriously compare the advantages of being altogether and the disadvantages in many respects of meeting asunder or on the contrary the supposed Conveniences of the latter with the real and great inconveniences of the former surely there is great odds either way and the one should reasonably be thought quickly to overballance the other that is to say there is a great deal more can be said for meeting all together than can be alledged to the contrary And suppose upon trial it should prove to be as formerly and as objected we can as is said but meet asunder again as now we do if there should not be that Prudence Patience and Charity to bear up and carry through it all And we shall however have this advantage by it to be more excusable both in the sight of God and all sober impartial People when they see we have tried all possible means in order to obtain a Reconciliation and to have peaceable and quiet Meetings together And besides if the same cannot be had it may be the more manifest what has been or is still the cause or occasion thereof But is it not to be hoped and reasonably expected that most Friends on both sides are by this time heartily inclined to Reconciliation and to mannage matters with more Wisdom and Prudence and with more Moderation and Discretion and as it was agreed to that all occasions of publick differences as much as in us lies be avoided on all Hands for time to come and that the truth or Gospel of our Lord Jesus be only and alone declared and preached to and amongst Friends and People and all Personal Reflections or Matters Disputable or in Controversy laid aside or at least suspended for a time and discoursed of more privately and that they will keep the Feasts not with the old sower Leaven neither with the Leaven of malice Zech. 13.6 c. that none shall have cause any more either to ask what are these wounds in thine Hands Nor any to Answer Those with which I was wounded in the House of my Friends And tho' it was so or so before as abovesaid It does not therefore follow that it should always be so Certainly Friends there is neither a necessity nor any reason for it unless it be an unhappy Fate of some persons that can no more live without Contention than the Salamander can live but in the Flames of Fire as is said or a Fish in Water Have we not all had time and leisure enough to bethink our selves and come into a more calm sedate cool and temperate frame of Spirit and to be at least more patient and so wise and unconcerned with these things that do but disturb our inward Peace and disquiet our Minds if any imprudently or indiscreetly do manage Matters or run into unseemly Reflections in bearing and prudently slighting Provocations as if they were not given or no notice taken of them and then they will be sure to return on themselves that give them if not at all minded with a double weight and in time make them weary of them If we cannot be so charitable in being so friendly kind and loving one to another as we ought to be and as we ought to live together as Brethren let us however for our own particular Content and quiet bear and contemn all Injuries c. satisfying our selves as well as the Apostle Paul who seemed not at all to be disturbed or disquieted with the rash Censures of others who had this to answer as a Salve to them all who saith in 1 Cor. 4.3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of Mans Judgment c. So let all concerned seriously consider of what is here in universal good will and true tender love to all proposed before it be too late and our differences prove as fatal to us or any of us upon a spiritual account as it s reported that War did upon a temporal account to the Duke of Burgundy which began between him and the Swissers for a very small trifle even but for a load of Sheep-skins wherein the Duke refusing all offers of accord lost in three Battels Honour Life and Wealth See Historical Contemplations Pag. 55. on which the Historian makes this Observation not unsuitable to the present subject Of how great says he advantage to us while we are in this World is Moderation whereby even easily those differences are accommodated and mischiefs avoided which our frowardness and obstinacy widen unmeasurably and many times involve us in utter ruin past recovery It is said in Judges 5.15 16. For the Divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of Heart For the Divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of Heart And may it not be said also that for our sad Divisions the grievous Distractions Quarrels c. in this place there has been and still there are great thoughts of concerning the same whatever true searchings of Heart have been or however surely ought to have been and yet still one time or other must be even after the Cause or what that has been which hath occasioned and continued these things so as to