for Brethren to Dwell together in Vnity It is like the precious Ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aaicons Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garments as the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the Monntains of Sion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even life for evermore VII And indeed as here is great blessing that attends Unity and Concord so the contrary must needs accompany Discord Disunity c. and which is very Unpleasant Uncomfortable and Uncomely And as it is highly Offensive and a great evil before the Lord so it is a great and may prove a fatal stumbling-block to many and a cause of sad reproach to see a People all own the same Principles of Religion all under the same Profession and Denomination and yet cannot agree nor meet in one and the same place together as Friends and Brethren VIII Psal 1.20 v. 5 6 7. Doth not this occasion some to take up that complaint which David did in his time Wo is me saith he that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar my Soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth Peace I am for Peace but when I speak they are for War O Friends what true quietness Peace or satisfaction can those enjoy or bespeak to themselves who have been or are the chief cause of this unhappy Separation and do obstruct it still from being otherways and do hinder an amicable Composure of differences being of such a rigorous severe Temper that they are for exacting to the very utmost Farthing IX Friends Remember and practice the Apostles good advice and caution Rom. 12.17 and 19.20 Recompence says he to no Man evil for evil but overcome evil with good and avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath Is not this one of the hardest Lessons that can be learned by too many especially such in whom Pride or passion prevails And if the professors of Christianity were but once brought to take up their Cross to deny themselves in this one thing viz. Revenge whether by Tongue or Hand or other ways as there are too many ways some more secret others more open whereby Revenge is shewen which is a necessary and material point of true Religion as to the practical part thereof O how soon then would there be an end put to all the Heats Broils Contests Animosities c. which abound amongst them and how easily then might they be Reconciled to and at Peace one with another For the aforesaid excludes all manner of Revengeful Retaliations Reflections or Exasperations towards any friends or foes and if we be advised as we are in another place Ja. 4.11 not so much as to speak evil one of another much less to do evil one to another And in Zach. 7.9 Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts saying Execute true Judgment and shew mercy and compassion every Man to his Brother And oppress not the Widow nor the Poor and let none of you Imagine evil in his Heart against his Brother Read the 11 12 13. vers the sore Judgment that came upon them for their refusing to harken and did not do as above mentioned X. Surely to be implacable is far from being like unto Children in malice 1 Cor. 14.20 as we are Counselled to be so innocent and harmless as they are for we know that though they do sometimes quarrel together and that about meer trifles too yet they are as soon pacified and made friends again it being contrary to their natures to retain long their wrath or anger one towards another as it is so with some good natur'd persons that it is more like to Men in Malice that are very rough hard-hearted difficult to be reconciled ever again and Children in understanding and quite contrary to what the Apostle exhorts Eph 31.32 to let all Bitterness and Wrath and Anger and Clamour and evil speaking be put away from you and be ye kind one to another and tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ his sake hath forgiven you XI But we fear there are those who are so implacable that they will rather forfeit or run the hazard of losing forgiveness from God to themselves than to forgive others and indeed an unforgiving is a sad Sign of an unforgiven person O how hard may it go with many such if the Lord should answer them according to what sometimes they may verbally pray and in a formal manner repeat these words oftentimes and yet never receive any benefit by them viz. forgive us our Sins as we forgive them that Sin against us Let such read Mat. 6.14 15. v. saith Christ for if ye forgive Men their Trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not Men their Trespasses neither will your Father forgive your Trespasses And in another place he saith Shouldst not thou also have had Compassion on thy follew servant even as I had pity upon thee and his Lord was Wrath c. so likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not for every one their Trespasses read Mat. 18. from the 23d to the end XII Well Friends it s a heavy Judgment for any Person or People to be given up to an Irreconcilable and Implacable Spirit of Revenge and Malice they themselves at last will have the worst by it And the Lord may and its the firm Faith of many that he will certainly in his own time and according to his infinite Wisdom find out some other way if there be still an obstinacy stifness and unwillingness to comply with pursue such Christian Prudent Methods as ought to be complyed with in order to a happy Reconciliation Union and Friendship by which he will bring and Unite together the sincere honest and simple-hearted on both sides who are Innocent in their minds to the Lord and have no by-end private interest or design nor prejudice in their hearts towards any into true Love Peace and Concord And as for those who do continue stiff stout and high-minded will not in the least yield nor by no means be brought to be of a flexible condescending tender frame of Spirit one to another but say as the proud Pharisee I am not as this Publican or like to those of Old which said stand by thy self or further off Come not too near me for I am holier than thou c. let them beware lest it befal them as it did those that even their Sacrifice became as Smoak in the Nostrils of the Lord Isa 65.5 and he abhorred their offerings and as they do delight themselves in a separation and at a distance one from another and reckon it better to be so than together that he be not at last provok'd to separate and remove from them his blessed Presence for though he waits and bears long yet he will not always do so but his long-suffering
Comprehensive There are not only two or three but a whole complex or system of evil works always attends Strife Envy c. wherever the same is given place to amongst any sort of People and we find that some were ready even to glory in their bitter Envyings and strife which they had in their Hearts one against another James 3.14 15. and not only so but to lie against the Truth And in their Zeal and Wisdom concluded the same to be consistent therewith But this Wisdom saith he descended not from above but is Earthly Sensual and Develish and who is a wise Man endured with knowledg among you How shall such a one be known by this let him shew out of a good Conversation his works with Meekness of Wisdom even from that which is from above and that is first pure then peaceable gentle and easy to be entreated full of Mercy and good Fruits and observe and without partiality and without Hypocrisie Here we may all see who is truly the wise Man and both the Earthly and the Heavenly Wisdom with the proper effects each produceth and if we judg the Cause by the effects it s easily seen which of the two is predominant XXI And in the next Chapter of the same Epistle he begins with a Querie from whence comes Wars and Fightings amongst you what even them whom he calls Brethren come they not hence This is his Answer even of your Lusts that War in your Members Is it not from Ambition Covetousness a greedy desire after preheminence who shall be greatest and highest and carry the biggest sway and is not that one of the chief causes of most of all Quarrels Brolls Contentions and Animosities Therefore it s said in the 5 11 12 Verses Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law and there is one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy Who art thou that judgest another or as Paul has it in Rom. 14.4 another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up however harshly or uncharitably he may be censured and judged for God is able to make him stand let us not therefore judge one another any more XXII We are as much cautioned and prohibited not to walk in strife and envying as in Rioting and Drunkenness c. the former being as well counted the Works of Darkenness as the latter in Rom. 13.13 And the Apostle we also find reckons amongst the rest of the Works of the Flesh Envyings Hatred Variance Wrath and Strife and though these be different names yet may be all summed up in one great Evil expressed by the word Enmity or Prejudice and these four are so linked together that one of them cannot be without the rest as where Envying is there is Hatred c. there is no other particular Work of the Flesh so expressed with so many words to aggravate the same as this of Envy or Strife and when we are exhorted to follow Peace with all Men at the same time in the next verse it 's added looking diligently lest any Root of bitterness springing up trouble you It s observable how much or mostly indeed the Apostle places the Fruit of the Spirit in these Heavenly and Excellent Virtues which are most directly opposite to the aforementioned Works of the Flesh as Love Joy Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Meekness Temperance these are all he mentions except Faith as the Fruit of the Spirit and though they also be expressed by divers Characters yet as they proceed from one Spirit so they all tend to one and the same thing and which the word Charity may comprehend them all XXIII We find that very early even Christ's own Disciples began to strive together by the way and it was about Who should be greatest too as in Luke 9.46 And it was from their Carnal reasoning that this Ambition proceeded upon which Jesus took a Child and set him by him by which they might learn how Innocent and Humble and Little they ought to be And in Mat. 20.23 It s said they were moved viz. ten of the Disciples against their Brethren But Jesus called them unto him and said ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them but it shall not be so among you and O that it had never been so upon no account amongst any who have professed to be his Disciples c. But whosoever will be great amongst you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be your Servant even as the Son of Man came not to be Minisered unto but to Minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many XXIV And all such who are found guilty of the pride of Life of Envy Hatred c. and are of a bitter sower Spirit and do not repent of it will as undoubtedly be excluded and shut out of the Kingdom of God as those who live and dye in other gross extravagancies Job 5.2 for Wrath killeth the foolish Man and Envy slayeth the silly one and as Christ told them plainly in his time who its like conceited themselves to be great Saints as with respect to those upon whom the Tower of Siloe fell Luke 13.4 Think ye saith he that they were sinners above all the Men that dwell in Jerusalem I tell ye nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish And this same he told others over again in the foregoing verse let us all therefore beware of Envying or as the Apostle James saith Grudge not one against another Brethren lest ye be condemned behold the Judg standeth before the Door XXV And let us neither be of such a hot uncharitable temper to call for Fire Luke 9.54 or to command it if we could as Elias did to come down no not though from Heaven it self to prejudice or hurt any which far better Men than we are or are now in being were not allowed to do yea though they had power to work Miracles yet no liberty granted them to dedestroy or consume any by them No not even those who would not receive Christ himself and for their but very desiring such a thing in their warm Zeal we see he rebuked them and with a pretty smart kind of reprehension said to them ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of for the Son of Man is not come to destroy Mens Lives but to save them Now though its true this is as good and as strong an Argument as can be used against Persecution yet it is not improper altogether here to be alledged also against a Furious Fierce Passionate Violent and indiscreet Zeal Unchristian and Unwarrantable Imposition of Matters of Faith which
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
Spirit the Argument upon which he chiefly dwells is to perswade all to love one another and he does that in the softest and most melting language that can be IX The Controversie concerning the Obligation that lay on the Gentiles for obeying the Mosaical Law was judged by the Apostles against the Judaizers and the inferences that depended on that Controversie were such that the Apostle Paul says they went so far as to make void the Death of Christ yet the same Apostle is Gentle to those that without seeing the extent of those Consequences were carried away by those Judaizers so that he acknowledges that in their observing them from a good motive they were acceptable to God and that as the Kingdom of God or the Gospel consisted not in scrupulous distinctions of Meats and Drinks but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost so he adds that every Man was to endeavour to be fully perswaded in his own Mind and was not to Judg his Brother in such Matters but to leave him to the Judgment of God X. Anthony the Great as Jerem witnesseth when he used Exhortations to the People to stir them up to Godliness and Vertue See Drexelius his considerations upon Eternity Chap. 3.174 was wont to wish them always to keep in Mind and often meditate upon that Saying of the Apostle Sol non occidat super Iracundiam vestram let not the Sun go down upon your wrath and this Prohibition he did not restrain to wrath only but made it general let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath Hatred Malice Envy Lust or any other Sin lest it depart from you as a Witness against you Now Friends if all those whoever they be that are Implacable and of an Irreconcilable and Untreatable Temper and who through that too powerful Influence that Prejudice Enmity and Revenge which has so deeply prevailed upon their Spirits are wholly averse to a Reconciliation or Peace one with another and not only so but can very securely and unconcernedly which indeed is strange but that such seem to be hardned in their Enmity spend Days and Nights one after another nay and Months and Years to live at such an Unnatural Unneighbourly Unfriendly and Unchristian like Distance Strangeness and Antipathy and in Discord and variance did they I say but once seriously consider with themselves and had that due weighty sense of Launching into Eternity in such a sad deplorable State as aforesaid and how suddenly that Morning Evening or Hour may come least of all thought thought of by too many as of all things we know Death is most uncertain both as to the time and manner thereof wherein such may be summoned by that undeniable Messenger to remove for ever from off the Stage of this World had they a right ponderous Sense of this upon their Spirits O how could they give Sleep to their Eyes or slumber to their Eyelids or take their natural rest securely or comfortably for one Night or one hour till they found the universal tender love of God and that Good will spring up in their Souls and that Charitable Disposition raised up in them towards all even those whom they may account as their greatest Enemies in which they could heartily desire and as freely and fully forgive them all their Trespasses or Offences as they themselves would be forgiven of God XI In which tender Christian frame of Spirit they could not be at all satisfied in their Minds nor think all ever well with them nor indeed can it ever be well with any let them pretend or say what they will and make this or the other thing as the reason of their excuse and it may be pleaded that the quarrel is on Gods or Truths account tho' in the bottom if it were well searched into there is a great deal of personal prejudice grudge dislike c. secretly entertained till they had made their Peace and were reconciled to all with whom they be at varience and at a distance let it be upon what account it will or at least ways had done what lies in their power and to the utmost laboured and used all possible endeavours and reasonable means on their part for attaining the same And wherein any has done amiss in acting contrary to Truth we are to leave them to answer to God for it whom they have chiefly offended having in a Christian frame of Spirit cleared our consciences and in true tenderness discharged that incumbent Duty towards them in order to their recovery and however we are not in the least to approve of the evil in any nor even in our selves nor stand by them or countenance them therein yet we must beware of Hatred Enmity or Prejudice to the Persons which is a hard lesson for many to learn who do not know what it is to forgive or if they do know yet do not practise it For by forgiving is meant as one well observes the not avenging of injuries or contumelies not suffering their Trespasses against Men Nay nor sins against God to cool or lessen my Charity and Mercy to them but loving and compassionating and shewing all effects of true Christian mercy such especially as may do them most good as well to Enemies and sinners as to Friends This alas has been and is still too too much wanting among many Professors of Christianity XII And I pray God that all were of the same good Charitable Considerate Mind as is reported of one John Patriarch of Alexandria to be of who had a certain Controversie with one Nicetas a Chief Man of that City And it being such a very remarkable and imitable Passage and worthy of deep Consideration it deserves to be Transcribed tho' something large and added to the foregoing Testimonies it is thus The matter was to be tryed at Law John was for the Poor Nicetas for his Mony the Reader may easily judge whose Cause was best but for Peace sake there was a Private Meeting and Hearing appointed to see if they could come to some Composition and Agreement they Met they fell to Words they were hot at it a great deal of Choler and Stomach was shewn on both parts neither would yield a jot nor depart an inch from his Right a great Conflict there was between them many hours spent to little purpose they were further off from agreement at length than before for neither would yield to Conditions Propounded by either Well it grew late they departed more offended and displeased one with another than before as indeed is too usual the effects of such Meetings of Controverting Matters c. and so left the Suit pendent Nicetas thought it hard to part with his Mony and the Patriarch seemed to be in the right and to stand out in the Cause of God and the Poor XIII Note this well But yet when Nicetas was gone the good old Bishop weighed the matter better with himself and condemned himself for his Pertinacy how few will do
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
So will the Prophecy have had its accomplishment in our Fathers Days and shall in ours enjoy the Calm after all these Tempests Let us add hereunto that as the Scripture foretels us these Divisions so it also makes us hope for an Estate of Peace and Quiet in the Church It makes Times of refreshment and ease to succeed all these great disturbances and assures us that there shall be such a firm Peace in the Earth that we shall see the Woolf dwell with the Lamb c. For it is prophesied That in the last days the Mountains of the Lords House Isa 2.3 4. shall be established in the Top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and that the Lord himself shall judge among the Nations and rebuke many People and they shall beat their Swords into Plow-shears and their Spears into pruning books Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 11.9 And it is said also That they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain O this will be a blessed day and happy Times indeed when all that which hurts or destroys upon any account comes to be destroyed and reproved Then may it be hoped that all these many uncomfortable and fruitless Contentions Controversies and Quarrels will come to an end true and Love Peace Concord Union and Reconciliation prevail and take place Which O God of Infinite Love hasten to bring to pass amongst us and all People every where for thy Dear Son Jesus Christ his sake who is the great Prince of Peace who came to Reconcile Mankind to thee and one to another and who tasted Death for every Man and shed his most precious Blood by and through which all might be brought nigh to the Lord and one to another out of all the enmity strife variance hatred prejudice and envy and to live together in Love Peace and Friendship in his pure fear and holy dread to the praise of his great Name who over all and by all is alone worthy to be Reverenced and renowned exalted and adored forever and ever more Amen Object 3d. There is another Objection still behind to be answered and that is if it be said suppose all be true as above cited concerning both parties to be less or more blame-worthy yet ought not those who are most in the wrong and have been the greatest cause of those Jumbles c. and given the lightest Provocations in divers respects should not these begin first and acknowledg c. Whatever weight this may have as is usually urged amongst the great and proud ones and State-Politicians of this World whose Grandeur and Honour makes them very loath to bend or bow one to another when they have quarrelled one thinks it below him and so another the same to submit first yet sure it ought not to have any place amongst us or any true Christians Ans All must conclude this to be a good work to make Peace or Reconciliation Now Friends which of the two is really most capable first to begin the same those that have most or those that have least transgressed whom shall we expect to be most Instrumental herein But certainly whoever they are that begin first and endeavour most to promote this blessed Work whether they are the most or least to be blamed will however in this deserve to be most praised and commended and will conduce most both to their true Peace and Honour and never will have cause to repent how forward how humble and condescending they were in this matter and are willing though in many things innocent to come under and seem more to be blamed than really they deserve Let us remember what Paul that humble Apostle said and how far he condescended to be made all things to all Men. To the weak he became as weak 1 Cor. 9.22 c. We know that Condescention Lowliness Tenderness Humility c. is very much both commended and pretended to by many but alas is it not as little practised Now here is a Trial for us all who will be really most in the Christian exercise of it However it will be well for those that do their part and if others refuse to do theirs and be obstinate churlish refractory stiff and wilful and appear still implacable captious and Irreconcilable let them look to it the weight of it will certainly be heavy on their Heads at last And whoever they are here are none named that have been or still are the chief occasion or cause of being a let to and preventing of Reconciliation and of its being stopped and not prosecuted nor accomplished amongst us doubtless the Lord God the most Just Righteous and impartial Judg of all who is no respecter of Persons will require it of them one day and call them to an account and they must answer to him for it and unless in time repented of they must bear the weight of it however at present or for a time they may slight it and put it off at an overly rate and account themselves Innocent as those of old did tho' they were very guilty and yet had great confidences in whose very skirts was found the Blood of the Souls of the poor Innocents Jer. 2.35 c. O the Blood of the Souls of many poor Innocents that have been hurt and wounded on the one Hand and stumbled on the other Hand by these things amongst us and instead of pursuing Peace do reject all Christian and reasonable offers of making Peace so let all such as find themselves concerned herein whosoever they be look about them and see to it in time if so be as yet it be not too late for really the Matter is of greater importance and of a far weightier concern and consequence than possibly they may at present be aware of But there is another objection still and which is the last tho' none of the least or weakest but what may seem to some to be the most weighty of all and it s thus farely stated Obj. 4. It may then be said by some To what purpose should we so much as think of meeting all together again either in the old publick Meeting-house or any where else VNLESS there might be first some certain ground to expect that our meetings woudl be more quiet peaceable and comfortable to us than they were some time before we parted It is not yet forgot by many amongst us what sad Distractions and Confusions what publick Oppositions and open Contentions Smitings and Clashings appeared in our solemn Assemblies when we came together to wait upon and worship the great God O what sad Reflections and aggravations one against another both to the great dishonour of the Name of the Lord and also to our shame and reproach of our holy profession And with what grief and sorrow of Heart did these things cause many to go away from each other in a mournful condition to see
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
this very day they are amongst us and O that the Lord would be pleased yet more and more both to search that out and also remove it whatever it be and whereever it is which hinders our Peace Concord and Reconciliation together both here and every where And Friends must not this at last be the Result of all and be concluded on by all the impartial and unbyassed on every Hand that the whole fault and the greatest and most principal Cause why Peace and Reconciliation is not obtained nor can be at present effected and brought to pass must be laid on some few particular persons and we wish there be not such a deep rooted and inveterate prejudice and irreconcilable Rancor and Enmity between them as some have observed and lamented Insomuch that they cannot look upon one another with a friendly Countenance nor converse together neither upon a Religious or civil account But we forbear to mention any Names So that the cunning crafty and subtile Contrivances and designs of some who carry on their own private ends and politick projects of exalting them selves and drive on under specious pretences some sinister or popular interest together with the Whisperings Backbitings and Surmisings of tatling busie Bodies whose chief business is to beget Jealousies and hard thoughts c. one against another has been none of the least of the Engins and Methods which the grand Disturber and Enemy of us all hath used both first to foment and also to keep up and heighten differences and then to divide rend and break into pieces and run into parties one after another which alas many are more zealous to maintain when once engaged therein either by affection interest or relation and are more eager and earnest by far to promote the same than purely the interest of naked Truth it self And is it not a great pity that such a substantial commodious Meeting-house as the old one is both for Situation Largeness and several other Conveniences should altogether be as useless and lie waste and desolate as already for some years and may be more a great injury both to the living and the dead and in the mean time Friends on both sides put to the charge and inconveniency of having two distinct publick Meeting-places O how will some be able to answer for this in the day of the Lord SECT IV. Some Friendly Counsel and tender advice to Professors of Truth with one or two more substantial Testimonies I. LEt us therefore Friends every one of us lay aside all manner of Peevishness of Spirit and let not a haughty kind of a sullen morose Humor prevail upon any of us neither let an impatient insolent or insulting Temper appear in us But let us all be as tender and complying as affectionate and good natured towards all as possibly we can be that so by an obliging Civility and courteous Behaviour as well as a melting kindness it may be apparent that we do sincerely desire the good and well-fair one of another And were we all but once brought to be of this excellent and truly Christian-like Temper viz. to judg charitably to bear patiently to be moderately inclined freely and fully to forgive tenderly compassionate meekly condescend and humbly submit to and prefer one another then we should soon see things grow better amongst us then there would not be such shyness distance and straitness nor such Contentions Confusions Distractions c. amongst us And had it not been for these evil hurtful and stumbling practices would not the Truth have prevailed generally in this place as much as in any And before these sad divisions happened were there many Country Meetings like to this here and that in divers respects both for freshness and largeness And certainly could it ever have come to such a loss either as to the one or the other had that Innocency Lowliness Simplicity Lamb-like nature Tenderness and Charity which first appeared been really by all kept to which alas for some time past has been too much on the decaying hand and in the place thereof too much of Human Wisdom Carnal Policy Subtile Contrivances and Cunning Projects together with Sourness Loftiness Prejudice Enmity Envy Self exaltation Obs But the Blessed Truth is still the same as ever and must not be blamed for these things c. hath alas too much prevailed as to some here and been on the increasing hand Insomuch that the one viz. the latter hath even almost overpowered the other O Friends this indeed is sad and very grievous to consider but it is really too true tho' a mournful observation And would to God that it could be proved by any to be but either a mistake or a misrepresentation or a too rash Conclusion or severe groundless Censure or what might be supposed to be but the product of dissatisfaction or prejudice as doubtless some will be ready enough to judge so But the Instances Effects of the aforesaid the greater is the pity being so publick and notoriously seen and observed as they have been and are and that too almost dayly There is neither that ground to suggest any one of these as other ways there might be nor can any rationally conclude that what is here mentioned only in general concerning the same is done either from Malice or Ill-will towards any And there are but few if any amongst us here but must confess to the Truth thereof and that it is too often manifest in one Action or other which ought indeed to be much lamented by all the sincere honest hearted Friends of Truth and surely it is cause of great grief and sorrow to all such as consider of things both seriously and impartially and are of one Universal publick Spirit and concerned for the good of all and not byassed to interests or parties c. And Friends happy would we all be that as we profess to be followers of blessed Jesus who suffer'd for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps so we may really demonstrate that we are truly such as imitate him and that the same mind be in us which was in him who though he did no Sin neither was Guile ever found in his Mouth yet when he was reviled he reviled not again 1 Pet. 2.21 23. when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that Judgeth righteously and most meekly and patiently endured the contradictions of Sinners Luke 23.25 and pray'd according to his own injunction to us for his enemies even those that Crucified him and said Father forgive them for they know not what they do And as holy the Apostle after he had with a great deal of excellent good arguments pleaded for Compassion and Condescension as in Rom. 13. In the Wisdom of God he gave forth this Conclusion and Determination in the first Verse of the next Chap. We then says he that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves