God owneth and will stand for This Man I say by his Profession suggesteth this to all that know him to be such a Professor Men meerly natural I mean Men that have not got the devilish art of Hypocrisie are afraid to think of doing thus And of the rest durst no Man join himself to them but the people magnified them Act. 5. 13. And indeed it displeaseth God They have brought saith he Men uncircumcised into my Sanctuary And again Isa. 1. 12. When you come to appear before me who hath required this at your hand to tread my Courts saith God They have therefore learnt this boldness of none in the visible World they only took it of the Devil for he and he only with these his Disciples attempt to present themselves in the Church before God The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One the Tares that is the Hypocrites that are Satan's Brood the Generation of Vipers that cannot escape the Damnation of Hell Had a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard He doth not say He planted a Fig-tree but there Was a Fig-tree there he Had or found a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard The great God will not acknowledg the barren Fig-tree or barren Professor to be His Workmanship or a Tree of his bringing in only the Text saith He Had one there This is much like that in Matthew Chap. 15. 13. Every Plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Here again are Plants in his Vineyard which God will not acknowledg to be of his planting and he seems to suggest that in his Vineyard are many such Every Plant or all those Plants or Professors that are got into the Assembly of the Saints or into the Profession of their Religion without God and his Grace shall be rooted up And when the King came in to see the Guests he saw there a Man that had not on a Wedding-garment and he said unto him Friend how camest thou in hither not having on a Wedding-garment Matth. 22. 11 12. Here is one so cunning and crafty that he beguiled all the Guests he got and kept in the Church even until the King himself came in to see the Guests But his subtilty got him nothing it did not blind the Eyes of the King it did not prevert the Judgment of the Righteous Friend how camest thou in hither did overtake him at last even a publick rejection the King discovered him in the face of all there present How camest thou in hither My Father did not bring thee hither I did not bring thee hither My Spirit did not bring thee hither thou art not of the Heavenly Father's planting How camest thou in hither John 10. 1. He that cometh not in by the Door but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber This Text also is full and plain to our purpose for this Man came not in by the Door yet got into the Church he got in by climbing he broke in at the Windows he got something of the Light and Glory of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Head and so hardy Wretch that he was he presumed to croud himself among the Children But how is this resented what saith the King of him Why this is his Sign The same is a Thief and a Robber See ye here also if all they be owned as the planting of God that get into his Church or Profession of his Name Had a Fig tree had one without a Wedding-garment had a thief in his Garden at his Wedding in his House These climbed up Some other way There are many ways to get into the Church of God and Profession of his Name besides and without an entring by the door 1. There is the way of lying and dissembling and at this gap the Gibeonites got in Josh. 9. 3 4 c. 2. There is sometimes falsness amongst some Pastors either for the sake of carnal Relations or the like at this hole Tobiah the enemy of God got in Nehem. 13. 4 5 6. 3. There is sometimes negligence and too much uncircumspectness in the whole Church thus the Uncircumcised got in Ezek. 44. 7 9. 4. Sometimes again let the Church be never so circumspect yet these have so much help from the Devil that they beguile them all and so get in These are of that sort of Thieves that Paul complains of false Brethren brought in unawares Gal. 2. 3 4. Jude also cries out of these Certain Men crept in unawares Jude 4. Crept in What were they so lowly A voluntary humility Col. 2. 22 23. a neglecting of the Body not in any humor Oh how seemingly self-denying are some of these creeping things that yet are to be held as we shall know them an abomination to Israel Lev. 11. 43 44. But in a great House there are not only Vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth and some to Honour and some to Dishonour 2 Tim. 2. 20. By these words the Apostle seems to take it for granted that as there hath been so there still will be these kind of Fig-trees these barren Professors in the house when all Men have done what they can Even as in a great house there are always Vessels to Dishonour as well as those to Honour and Glory Vessels of Wood and of Earth as well as of Silver and Gold So then there must be wooden Professors in the Garden of God there must be earthy earthen Professors in his Vineyard but that methinks is the biting word and some to Dishonour That to the Romans is dreadful Rom. 9. 21 22. but this seems to go beyond it That speaks but of the Reprobate in general but this of such and such in particular That speaks of their hardening but in the common way But this that they must be suffered to creep into the Church There to fit themselves for their place their own place Act. 1. 25. the place prepared for them of this sort only As the Lord Jesus said once of the Pharisees These shall receive greater damnation Luke 20. 47. Barren Fig-tree fruitless Professor hast thou heard all these things Hast thou considered that this Fig-tree is not ackdowledged of God to be his but is denied to be of his planting and of his bringing unto his Wedding Dost not thou see that thou art called a Thief and a Robber that hast either climbed up to or crept in at another place than the Door Dost thou not hear that there will be in God's House wooden and earthly Professors and that no place will serve to fit those for Hell but the House Church the Vineyard of God! Barren Fig-tree fruitless Christian do not thine Ears tingle And He came and sought Fruit thereon When a Man hath got a Profession and is crouded into the Church and House of God the Question is not now Hath he Life hath he right Principles but hath he Fruit He came seeking Fruit thereon It mattereth not
learn and obey those that God by his Providence hath set over you this is a great means to preserve the Unity and Peace of Churches but when Men yea and sometimes Women shall usurp Authority and think themselves wiser than their Teachers no wonder if these People run into Contentions and Parties when any shall say they are not free to hear those whom the Church thinks fit to speak to them This is the first step to Schism and is usually attended if not timely prevented with a sinful Separation Eleventhly If you would keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace be mindful that the God whom you serve is a God of Peace and your Saviour is a Prince of Peace and that his Ways are Ways of Pleasantness and all his Paths are Peace and that Christ was sent into the World to give Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the shadow of Death and to guide our Feet in the Way of Peace Twefthly Consider the oneness of Spirit that is among the Enemies of Religion though they differ about other things yet to persecute Religion and extirpate Religion out of the earth here they will agree the Devils in the Air and the Devils in the Earth all the Devils in Hell and in the World make one at this turn Shall the Devil's Kingdom be united and shall Christ's be divided Shall the Devils make one shoulder to drive on the design of damning Men and shall not Christians unite to carry on the great Design of saving of them Shall the Papists agree and unite to carry on their Interest notwithstanding the multitudes of Orders Degrees and Differences there are among them and shall not those that call themselves Reformed Churches unite to carry on the common Interest of Christ in the World notwithstanding some petty and disputable Differences that are among them Quarrels about Religion as one observes were Sins not named among the Gentiles What a shame is it then for Christians to abound in them especially considering the nature of Christian Religion and what large provisions the Author of it hath made to keep the Professors of it in Peace Insomuch as one well observes It is next to a miracle that ever any especially the Professors of it should fall out about it Thirteenthly Consider and rememher That the Judge stands at the door let this moderate our Spirits that the Lord is at hand What a sad account will they have to make when he comes that shall be found to smite their Fellow Servants and to make the way to his Kingdom more narrow than ever he made it Let me close all in the words of that great Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 11. Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you POSTSCRIPT REader I thought good to advertise thee that I have delivered this to thy Hand in the same Order and Method in which it was preached and almost in the same words without any diminishings or considerable Enlargings unless it be in the thirteen last Particulars upon some of which I have made some enlargements which I could not then do for want of time but the substance of every one of them was then laid down in the same particular order as here thou hast them and now I have done I make no other account to use the words of a moderate Man upon the like Occasion but it will fall out with me as doth commonly with him that parts a Fray both Parties may perhaps drive at me for wishing them no worse than peace My ambition of the publique Tranquillity of the Church of God I hope 〈…〉 through these hazards let 〈…〉 me so their Quarrels may cease◠〈◊〉 shall rejoyce in those Blows and Scars I shall take for the Church's Safety VALE FINIS Some Books printed for Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard FOLIO MR. Pool's Annotations on the whole Bible in which the whole Sacred Text is inserted In two Volumes Dr. Tho. Goodwin's Works In 2 Vol. Dr. Tho. Manton's Works In Folio Quarto and Octavo Bp Vsher's Body of Divinity Josephus's History of the Jews With Cuts The Turkish History to the Year 1687. In 2 Vol. Thesaurus Brevium or a Collection of approved Forms of Writs Nani's History of Venice Crollius and Hartman's Chymistry in English In QUARTO DR Tuckney ' s Prelectiones Determinationes Dr. Jacomb on the 8th of the Romans Several Sermons before several Lord Mayors of London viz. Mr. Jekyll's Mr. Fen's Mr. Newcome's Mr. Williams c. A plain Representation of Transubstantiation A Paraphrase on the 6th of S. John A Sermon on Humanity and Charity both by Dr. Claget In OCTAVO DR Bates's Harmony of the Divine Attributes His three Sermons at Dr. Jacomb's at Mr. Clarkson's at Mr. Ashurst's Funeral Mr. Tho. Gale his Philosophy In Latin his Anatomy of Infidelity Several Pieces of Mr. Baxter Mr. Whiston and Mr. Willis of Infant Baptism Mr. Faldoe against the Quakers Mr. Shelton's Discourse of Superstition Mr. Ranâ—w on Divine Meditation Mr. Lassell's Voyages into Italy Suetonius in English with Cuts Sir Paul Ricaut's State of the Ottoman Empire A Voyage to Syam perform'd by Six Jesuits Grotius of the Truth of the Christian Religion In English Verse The Idea of Christian Love By W. Atwood Esq In TWELVES MR. Pearse's Preparation for Death his Best Match his Last Legacy Mr. Case his Treatise of Affliction Mr. Hooker the Doubting Christian drawn to Christ. The Epitome of the Bible in English Verse useful for Children The Temperate Man By Lessius in English The Rules of Civility useful for all people Meriton's Guide for Constables Bibanck's Present for Children In 16 o and 24 o. QVintus Curtius Lat. Val. Maximus Lat. Kempis Imitation of Christ. In English Lately Published A Brief Account of the first Rise of the name Protestant and what Protestantism is With a Justification of it and an Earnest Exhortation to all Protestants to persist in that Holy Religion Very usefull for these times For ever being with the Lord The Great Hope End and Comfort of Believers Preached by Matthew Sylvester and published at the publick Request of Mr. Richard Baxter Price stich'd 6d Catechism made Practical The Christian Instructed 1. In the Principles of Christian Religion Positively in the Shorter Catechism 2. In what he is to refuse and what to hold fast in the greatest Points of Controversy and how to Confute Errors and Defend the Truth 3. In the Practise of several Duties Viz. 1 The Practical Improvement of the Holy Trinity 2 Baptism 3 Prayer Ard 4 Preparation for the Lord's Supper Fitted to the meanest Capacity and very useful for all Families A System of the Revelations proving who is The Antichrist c.
Society and it were well if it self were kept within the Bond of Unity and that it may so be let us according to the Text use our utmost endeavors to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace These words contain a Counsel and a Caution the Counsel is That we endeavour the Vnity of the Spirit the Caution is That we do it in the Bond of Peace as if he should say I would have you live in Unity but yet I would have you to be careful that you do not purchase Unity with the breach of Charity Let us therefore be cautioned that we do not so press after Unity in Practice and Opinion as to break the Bond of Peace and Affection In the handling of these words I shall observe this method First I shall open the Sense of the Text. Secondly I shall shew wherein this Unity and Peace consists Thirdly I shall shew you the Fruits and Benefits of it together with nine Inconveniencies and Mischiefs that attend those Churches where Unity and Peace is wanting Fourthly and lastly I shall give you twelve Directions and Motives for the obtaining of it First As touching the Sense of the Text when we are counselled to keep the Unity of the Spirit we are not to understand the Spirit of God as personally so considered because the Spirit of God in that sense is not capable of being divided and so there would be no need for us to endeavor to keep the Unity of it By the Unity of the Spirit then we are to understand that Unity of Mind which the Spirit of God calls for and requires Christians to endeavor after hence it is that we are exhorted by one Spirit with one Mind to strive together for the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. But farther the Apostle in these words alludes to the state and composition of a Natural Body and doth thereby inform us that the Mystical Body of Christ holds an Analogy with the Natural Body of a Man As first In the Natural Body there must be a Spirit to animate it for the Body without the Spirit is dead James 2. 26. So it is in the Mystical Body of Christ the Apostle no sooner tells us of that one Body but he minds us of that one Spirit Eph. 4. 4. Secondly The Body hath Joints and Bands to unite all the parts so hath the Mystical Body of Christ Col. 2. 19. This is that Bond of Peace mentioned in the Text as also in the 16th Verse of the same Chapter where the whole Body is said to be fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplieth Thirdly The Natural Body receives Counsel and Nourishment from the Head so doth the Mystical Body of Christ he is their Counsellor and him they must hear he is their Head and him they must hold hence it is that the Apostle complaineth Col. 2. 19. of some that did not hold the Head from which the whole Body by Joynts and Bands hath Nourishment Fourthly The Natural Body cannot well subsist if either the Spirit be wounded or the Joints broken or dislocated the Body cannot bear a Wound or broken Spirit A broken Spirit dryeth the Bones Prov. 17. 22. And a wounded Spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. And on the other hand how often have the disjoyinting of the Body and the breakings thereof occasioned the expiration of the Spirit In like manner it fares with the Mystical Body of Christ how do divided Spirits break the Bonds of Peace which are the Joynts of this Body And how doth the breakings of the Body and Church of Christ wound the Spirit of Christians and oftentimes occasion the Spirit and Life of Christianity to languish if not to expire How needful is it then that we endeavour the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I now come to shew you wherein this Unity and Peace consists and this I shall demonstrate in five particulars 1. This Unity and Peace may consist in the ignorance of many Truths and in the holding of some Errors or else this Duty of Peace and Unity could not be practicable by any on this side Perfection but we must now endeavour the Unity of the Spirit till we come to the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God Ephes. 4. 13. Because now as the Apostle saith we know in part and we prophesy in part and now we see through a Glass darkly 1 Cor. 13. 12. And as this is true in general so we may â—ind it true if we descend to particular Instances the Disciples seem to be ignorant of that great Truth which they had often and in much plainness been taught by their Master once and again viz. That his Kingdom was not of this World and that in the World they should suffer and be persecuted yet in the first of the Acts ver 6. we read That they asked of him if he would at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel thereby discovering that Christ's Kingdom as they thought should consist in his Temporal Jurisdiction over Israel which they expected should now commence and take place amongst them Again Our Lord tells them that he had many things to say and these were many important Truths which they could not now bear John 16. 12. And that these were important Truths appears by the 10th and 11th Verses where he is discoursing of Righteousness and Judgment and then adds that he had yet many things to say which they could not bear and thereupon promises the Comforter to lead them into ALL TRUTH which implies that they were yet ignorant of many Truths and consequently held divers Errors and yet for all this he prays for and presses them to their great Duty of Peace and Unity John 14. 27. and 17. 21. To this may be added that of Heb. 5. 11. where the Author saith He had many things to say of the Priestly Office of Christ which by reason of their dulness they were not capable to receive as also that in the 10th of the Acts where Peter seems to be ignorant of that Truth viz. That the Gospel was to be preached to all Nations and contrary hereunto he erred in thinking it unlawful to Preach amongst the Gentiles I shall add two Texts more one is Acts 19. where we read That those Disciples which had been discipled and baptized by John were yet ignorant of the Holy Ghost and knew not as the Text tells us whether there were any Holy Ghost or no though John did teach constantly That he that should come after him should baptize with the Holy Ghost and Fire From hence we may easily and plainly infer that Christians may be ignorant of many Truths by reason of weak and dull Capacities and other such-like Impediments even while those Truths are with much plainness delivered to them Again We read Heb. 5. 13. of some that were unskilful in the Word of Righteousness who nevertheless are call'd Babes in Christ and
with whom Unity and Peace is to be inviolably kept and maintained 2. As this Unity and Peace may consist in the ignorance of many Truths and in the holding some Errors so it must consist with and it cannot consist without the believing and practising those things which are necessary to Salvation and Church-Communion and they are First Believing that Christ the Son of God died for the Sins of Men. Secondly That whoever believed ought to be baptized The third thing essential to this Communion is a holy and a blameless Conversation First That believing that the Son of God died for the Sins of Men is necessary to Salvation I prove by these Texts which tell us that he that doth not believe shall be damned Mark 16. 16. John 3. 36. Rom. 10. 19. That it is also necessary to Church-Communion appears from Mat. 16. 16 17 18. Peter having confest that Christ was the Son of the Living God Christ thereupon assures Peter that upon this Rock viz. this Profession of Faith or this Christ which Peter had confest he would Build his Church and the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it And 1 Cor. 3. 11. The Apostle having told the Corinthians they were God's Building presently adds that they could not be built upon any Foundation but upon that which was laid which was Jesus Christ. All which proves that Christian Society is founded upon the profession of Christ and not only Scripture but the Laws of Right-reason dictate this that some Rules and Orders must be observed for the founding all Society which must be consented to by all that will be of it Hence it comes to pass that to own Christ as the Lord and Head of Christians is essential to the founding Christian Society Secondly The Scriptures have declared that this Faith gives the Professors of it a right to Baptism as in the case of the Eunuch Acts 8. when he demanded why he might not be baptized Philip answereth That if he believed with all his heart he might the Eunuch thereupon confessing Christ was baptized Now that Baptism is essential to Church-Communion I prove from 1 Cor. 12. where we shall find the Apostle labouring to prevent an evil use that might be made of Spiritual Gifts as thereby to be puft up and to think that such as wanted them were not of the Body or to be esteemed Members he thereupon resolves that whoever did confess Christ and own him for his Head did it by the Spirit ver 3. though they might not have such a visible manifestation of it as others had and therefore they ought to be owned as Members as appears ver 23. And not only because they have called him Lord by the Spirit but because they have by the guidance and direction of the same Spirit been baptized ver 13. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body c. I need not go about to confute that Notion that some of late have had of this Text viz. That the Baptism here spoken of is the Baptism of the Spirit because you have not owned and declared that Notion as your Judgment but on the contrary All of you that I have ever conversed with have declared it to be understood of Baptism with Water by the direction of the Spirit if so then it follows that Men and Women are declared Members of Christ's Body by Baptism and cannot be by Scripture reputed and esteemed so without it which farther appears from Rom. 6. 5. where Men by Baptism are said to be planted into the likeness of his Death and Col. 2. 12. We are said to be buried with him by Baptism all which together with the consent of all Christians some few in these late times excepted do prove that Baptism is necessary to the initiating Persons into the Church of Christ. Thirdly Holiness of Life is essential to Church-Communion because it seems to be the reason why Christ founded a Church in the World viz. that Men might thereby be watched over and kept from falling and that if any be overtaken with a Fault he that is Spiritual might restore him That by this means Men and Women might be preserved without blame to the coming of Christ and the Grace of God teacheth us to deny Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live soberly and uprightly in this present evil World Tit. 2. 11 12. And let every one that names the Name of the Lord depart from Iniquity Tim. 2. 19. And James tells us speaking of the Christian Religion That pure Religion and undefiled before God is to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep our selves unspotted from the World James 1. 27. From all which together with many more Texts that might be produced it appears that an unholy and prophane Life is inconsistant with Christian Religion and Society And that Holiness is essential to Salvation and Church-Communion so that these three things Faith Baptism and a Holy Life as I said before all Churches must agree and unite in as those things which when wanting will destroy their being And let not any think that when I say believing the Son of God died for the Sins of Men is essential to Salvation and Church-Communion that I hereby would exclude all other Articles of the Christian Creed as not necessary as the belief of the Resurrection of the Dead and eternal Judgment c. which for want of time I omit to speak particularly to and the rather because I understand this great Article of believing the Son of God died for the Sins of Men is comprehensive of all others and is that from whence all other Articles may easily be inferred And here I would not be mistaken as though I held there were nothing else for Christians to practise when I say this is all that is requisite to Church-Communion for I very well know that Christ requires many other things of us after we are Members of his Body which if we knowingly or maliciously refuse may be the cause not only of Excommunication but Damnation But yet these are such things as relate to the well-being and not to the being of Churches as laying on of Hands in the Primitive Times upon Believers by which they did receive the Gifts of the Spirit this I say was for the increase and edifying of the Body and not that thereby they might become of the Body of Christ for that they were before And do not think that I believe laying on of Hands was no Apostolical Institution because I say Men are not thereby made Members of Christ's Body or because I say that it is not essential to Church-Communion Why should I be thought to be against a Fire in the Chimney because I say it must not be in the Thatch of the House Consider then how pernicious a thing it is to make every Doctrine though true the bound of Communion this is that which destroys Unity and by this Rule all Men must be perfect before they
time in imposing those uponâ— others or venting those among others unless we can assume Infallibility otherwise we spend time upon uncertainty And whoever casts their Eyes abroad and dotâ— open their Ears to intelligence shall both see and to their sorrow hear that many Churches spend most of their time in Jangling and Contending about those things which are neither essentialy to Salvation or Church-Communion and that which is worse about such doubtful Questions which they are never able to give an infallible solution of But now where Unity and Peace is there our time is spent in praising God and in those great Questions What we should do to be saved and how we may be more holy and more humble towards God and more charitable and more serviceable to one another Secondly Where Unity and Peace is wanting there is evil surmizing and evil-speaking to the damage and disgrace if not to the ruining of one another Gal. 5. 14 15. The whole Law is fulfilled in one word Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self but if you bite and devour one another take heed you be not consumed one of another No sooner the Bond of Charity is broken which is as a Wall about Christians but soon they begin to make havock and spoil of one another then there is raising evil Reports and taking up evil Reports against each other Hence it is that whispering and backbiting proceeds and going from House to House to blazon the Faults and Infirmities of others Hence it is that we watch for the haltings of one another and do inwardly rejoice at the Miscarriages of others saying in our Hearts Ah ah so we would have it But now where Unity and Peace is there is Charity and where Charity is there we are willing to hide the Faults and cover the nakedness of our Brethren Charity thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13. 5. And therefore it cannot surmize neither will it speak evil Thirdly Where Unity and Peace is wanting there can be no great matters enterprized we cannot do much for God nor much for one another when the Devil would hinder the bringing to pass of good in Nations and Churches he divides their Councils and as one well observes he divides their Heads that he may divide their Hands when Jacob had prophesied of the cruelty of Simeon and Levi who were Brethren he threatens them with the consequent of it Gen. 49. 7. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel The Devil is not to learn that Maxim he hath taught the Machavilians of the World divide impera divide and rule it is a united force that 's formidable Hence the Spouse in the Canticles is said to be but one and the only one of her Mother Cant. 6. 9. Hereupon it is said of her ver 10. That she is terrible as an Army with Banners What can a divided Army do or a disordered Army that have lost their Banners or for fear or shame thrown them away In like manner what can Christians do for Christ and the enlarging his Dominions in the World in bringing Men from darkness to light while themselves are divided and disordered Peace is to Christians as great Rivers are to some Cities which besides other Benefits and Commodities are natural Fortifications by reason whereof those places are made impregnable but when by the subtilty of an Adversary or the folly of the Citizens these Waters come to be divided into little petty Rivulets How soon are they assailed and taken Thus it fares with Churches when once the Devil or their own folly divides them they will be so far from resisting of him that they will be soon subjected by him Peace is to Churches as Walls to Cities nay Unity hath defended Cities that had no Walls it was once demanded of Ageslaus why Lacedemon had no Walls he answers pointing back to the City That the Concord of the Citizens was the strength of the City In like manner Christians are strong when united then they are more capable to resist temptation and to succour such as are tempted when Unity and Peace is among the Churches then are they like a Walled Town And when Peace is the Churche's-Walls Salvation will be her Bulwarks Plutarch tells us of one Siâ—â—rus that had 80 Sons whom he calls to him as he lay upon his Death-bed and gave them a sheaâ— of Arrows thereby to signify that if they lived in Unity they might do much but if they divided they would come to nothing If Christians were all of one Piece if they were all but one Lump or but one Sheaf or Bundle how great are the things they might do for Christ and his People in the World whereas otherwise they can do little but dishonour him and offend his It is reported of the Leviathan that his strength is in his Scales Job 41. 15 16 17. His Scales are his pride shut up together as with a close Seal one is so near to another that no Air can come between them they join together they stick together they cannot be sundred If the Church of God were united like the Scales of Leviathan it would not be every brain-sick Notion nor angry Speculation that would cause their separation Solomon saith Two are better than one because if one fail the other may raise him then surely twenty are better than two and an hundred are better than twenty for the same reason because they are more capable to help one another If ever Christians would do any thing to raise up the fall'n Tabernacles of Jacob and to strengthen the weak and comfort the feeble and to fetch back those that have gone astray it must be by Unity We read of the Men of Babel Gen. 11. 6. The Lord said Behold the People are one c. And now nothing will be restrained from them that they have imagined to do We learn by Reason what great things may be done in worldly Atchievements where Unity is And shall not Reason assisted with the Motives of Religion teach us that Unity among Christians may enable them to enterprize greater Things for Christ would not this make Satan fall from Heaven like Lightning For as Unity built literal Babel it 's Unity that must pull down mystical Babel And on the other hand where Divisions are there is Confusion by this means a Babel hath been built in every Age. It hath been observed by a Learned Man and I wish I could not say truly observed That there is most of Babel and confusion among those that cry out most against it Would we have a Hand to destroy Babylon let 's have a Heart to unite one among another Our English Histories tell us that after Austin the Monk had been some time in England that he heard of some of the Remains of the British Christians which he conven'd to a place which Cambden in his Britannia calls Austin's Oak here they met to consult about Matters of Religion but such was their Division by reason