particular Congregations it is to be managed by those that rule over them in the Lord and that therefore the Examination and Determination of things in point of admissions to Ordinances and refusals together with other Church acts shall be performed and mannaged by them yet not without notice given to the people of what in matters of general concernment and consequence is determined by them that if any can upon grounds out of the Word object any thing their satisfaction may be endeavoured or the matter forborn 3. In these and all such cases wherewith the people are made acquainted we agree according to Scripture Rules practice of the Churches and all Societies rightly ordered there must be one to govern the matter of speech and silence of which the Pastour or Minister is to take care that order be maintained 4. We agree that to heal offences and remove scandals out of the Church Christ hath provided the remedy of admonition of offenders and other Church censures to which there ought to be no proceeding but in case of known offence and such as cannot be healed without censure and offences being some of them private others publike they require a proceeding according to their nature and quality 5. In private offences or scandals of one Brother against another known if to more than the brother yet but to few we agree that as Christian Inspection and watchfulness over each other must not degenerate into imprudent rash and uncharitable prying into others failings so Brotherly Admonition may not at any time become unadvised and unwarrantable medling therefore we are in proceedings of this sort to follow as other Scripture Rules so espcially that Rule Mat. 18.15 If thy Brother c. which offence or trespass we understand not to be meant by our Lord of such humane infirmities that all men even the best Saints on earth in this state of imperfection continually fall into nor of such smaller faults or injuries which Christian prudence love and peaceableness require an over-looking and passing by but the offence there grounding the admonition is a greater evil endangering the soul of the doer scandalizing the Brother seeing it and lying as a stumbling stone in his Christian course and such a sin that for the nature of it is fit in case of insuccessefulness of admonition to be brought before the Church 6. Besides this Ecclesiastical Admonition we yeeld there may be other Charitative Admonitions which must not proceed to Ecclesiastical censure 7. Therefore for our own particulars we shall be very tender and cautious what either we our selves do or encourage others unto in this case but on such grounds as the Word will sufficiently warrant 8. The offence or scandal against a Brother being more than a meer humane infirmity the offending Brother by the Rule of Christ ought to go to his Brother offended and declare his Repentance to him who thereupon is to forgive him but if the Offender neglect that duty the Brother offended is to go personally to him and tell him his fault between themselves alone and if by that admonition the offence be healed and the Brother gained it is to be concealed for the future If he hear not this first admonition the party offended is to take to him two or three witnesses and if he then hear at the second admonition before witnesses the matter ought to be kept secret by both the Admonisher and the Witnesses but if he again hear not before Witnesses then the matter is to be told to the Church which though some understand of Church Rulers others of the Church of a particular Congregation yet all do agree that for order and decency the accusation must not first be brought to the whole Congregation but to the Rulers or Over-seers and therefore we resolve not to countenance the bringing of any such matter before the Congregation till those that are set over them in the Lord have first been acquainted with it to whom belongs also the giving of all publike admonitions if afterward the aforesaid party upon proof of sin be admonished by the Church and he hear not the Church but is obstinate in the sin then he ought to be accounted as an Heathen man and a Publican and excluded the Church Publike Scandal 1. VVE agree that a private Scandal by obstinacy added to it against private admonition and thereupon told and proved to the Church especially by that further obstinacy against the Churches following admonition becomes a publike scandal but properly a publike scandal is that which in its own nature at the very first is publike and notorious known to many if not to the whole Church in which case the former proceeding by a private gradual admonition is not requisite nor proper but the Church when an offence is thus publike ought immediatly to deal with it according to the nature of the offence either by the less censure of admonition when the Scandal is less which admonition may be once or oftner as need shall require or by the greater Censure of Excommunication when the scandal is greater and heinous wherein we resolve faithfully to endeavour the discharge of that duty shall be incumbent on us 2. If the party offending after due proceeding shall manifest Repentance and satisfie the Church he is to be received into fellowship again 3. To the satisfaction of the Church is required more evidence of Repentance after some greater sin is committed or in case of relapsing readily into the same sin for which he hath declared Repentance before the Church or falling into some new scandalous evil after a former censure and re-admission into Communion then in other cases Therefore we agree to be very cautious and circumspect herein that there be not an over-hasty re-admitting of any such till due tryal of Reformation be made in some competent measure of time 4. When an offender is under Church-Censure though the former Christian-Fellowship be denied to him yet ought there to be all due wayes used to reduce him to Repentance towards God and former Fellowship with the Church as being a Member or person under cure Therefore we resolve so long as opportunity and hope remain to do our best endeavours when any Member of our Congregations shall come under Censure for the Recovery of such out of Satans Snare and reducing them to the obedience of Christ and his Churches Fellowship 5. Whereas such Members of the Church born and Baptized in it by vertue of the Covenant of their Parents and so received into it have many priviledges which others not Church-Members have not as their being in Covenant with God having the Seal of the Covenant of Baptisme upon them and so if they are not Regenerate yet are in a more hopeful way of attaining Regenerating Graces and all the spiritual blessings both of the Covenant and Seal and are also under Church-watch and oversight and consequently subject to such Gospel-order as may conduce to their spiritual good Therefore we agree
duties we owe to fellow-Christians and preserve us therein Get we but that sincere and ardent Love the Gospel calls for and unity will be both easily brought about and kept a firm and full unity that may answer the Churches present necessity If there be any defect in Union 't is from a deficience in this Bond this affection of Love Were there among other Gospel requisites this publick Spirit were this Gospel Brotherly Love put on this would recover and reduce us to happy unity without which the breaches and distempers are not likely to be healed For to provoke us those especially that are the backward and unactive oh that we could consider things together and once more in Christs name be entreated to endeavour it For is Brotherly Union meerly arbitrary and left to our liberty and not of a Scripture and Gospel necessity Are not divisions among Christians carnall Are not sowers of discord among Brethren abominable to the Lord 1 Cor. 3.3 Prov. 6.12 Rom. 16.17 Must not those that make divisions be marked and also avoided Hath not God in Scripture straitly Commanded Unity Christ most signally and peculiarly enjoyned it Do not his Apostles very frequently in the New Testament Eph. 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. both require and perswade to it yea must we not look to keep it studiously solicitously and zealously endeavour it And that as in other Scriptures is there urged upon very General and equitable reasons that extend to all Christians There are seven ones and all respecting all the People of God as those Ephesians It is not to be endeavoured only with some single persons whom we shall please to pick out to our selves Or with those particular Congregations we are fixed in but with all Christians in General as their condition requires and opportunity is afforded to us And accordingly have not good Christians in all Ages both assented to the Doctrine and earnestly endeavoured the practice of it Doth not all experience of the Churches Evidence the Necessity of it Did not those Churches so excellently constituted by the Apostles themselves soon discover the use and Necessity of it as we see in the case of the Church of Antioch Acts 15. which occasioned that Application to the Church of Jerusalem and thereupon the first and exemplary Christian Synod Whereby that and likewise other Churches were established in the Faith Let matters be never so well Constituted in Churches yet there ever will be New Emergencies and after cases which will call for and still Necessitate union and correspondencie and that cannot be relieved otherwise At this day those Divisions among the Reformed are not they acknowledged and bewailed as sinfull and greatly desired by the Godly of any moderate spirits of all parties to be healed Yea among our selves is it not so acknowledged and bewailed and accordingly are not our desires and Prayers still a going after it Do we not Evidently see the evils and mischief that will unavoidably every day encrease and Grow upon us without Union Ah! What will become of Truth of all Gospel-Truths and the purity of Doctrine which is preserved by Union When the house is burnt and the Gold and Treasure in it melted is it not hard finding it among the Rubbish Pearles if they should be buried in great heaps of sand will they not hardly be recovered How hard will it be for people to find the Treasure the Pearles of Gospel-Truth in the Rubbish and sands of multiplicities of errours And what will become of the life and power of Godliness when mens zeale and fervour still evaporate and breathe forth in contentions and Christians become engaged to maintain Parties rather then Godliness it self Yea how must Ignorance and Prophaness encrease And how will Popery gaine upon us Yea and how will that be kept out at last look seriously to the close What can Magistrates and Ministers do if unity be not recovered At the best must not the Doctrine be highly hazzarded and hardly be saved Must not the Power of Godliness needs sink and be swallowed up in these Quick-sands of Division yea and withall the civil state When hearts are divided and mens wayes and Conscience so continually clash and run cross must not that needs be but in a crazie condition in comparison of that which General union would produce which also would in time work out a happy settlement in the Civil State What though some are of the opinion that disunion is best that makes it not so in it self But why should union the entirest fullest and largest union in States and Kingdoms be best and not in the Church of Christ and among Christians If single persons or small Townes and particular places cannot carry on the Civil Interest without Civil Union nor never sufficiently provide for the security of the Civil State then why must it or how can it be that single Christians or particular Congregations without Consociation can carry on and preserve Religion in a Nation As all former so late Experience proves and after Experience will ever prove the contrary Thus New England it self also acknowledges and practices the contrary and that upon Experience And they accordingly even the strictest of them do not only wish but encourage and provoke the Godly of different Judgements in this Nation to endeavour Unity And certainly this must be very considerable that they of New England who left this Country for liberty of Conscience and went into a desolate wilderness They that had such excellent Christians and Eminent Ministers to form and make up their Congregations They that had so full a Liberty to choose their own way of Church Government and withall had so great countenance and assistance from the Civil Magistrate as ever Churches in the world had yet these these so accommodated and assisted after almost thirty yeares experience find a Necessity of union of Churches and of godly Christians of different Judgement are in expectation daily of it here blame those that are opposite to it or slothfull in it And certainly this fresh experiment brings a cogent and conclusive Argument that out-weighs all colours and pretences made by any for refusal or neglect of unity But to adde no more we our selves Generally see a Necessity of unity we wish it pray for it and expect it also but this layes great blame and sin to our charge that we do so little for it That our Judgements and Prayers concurre in it but our hands stir not and we do not to any purpose endeavour after it What then is and must be the Obstacle to this so Necessary Unity Is it private advantage like men that having a private Trade are enemies to joynt Stocks and Trading in Companies Is it listlesness and a spirit of slothfulness like the sluggard that will not pull his hands out of his bosom A lothness to be unhinged and taken off our old wonts of unactiveness and doing nothing but for our own particulars and so being
to endeavour to perform what we judge our duty towards them accordingly as God shall afford us power and opportunity Brotherly Union and Assistance 1. BEcause we judge it lawful and necessary for Members of divers Churches in sundry cases of common concernment and greater weight to hold correspondence and communion together we agree to associate our selves and keep frequent meetings together as occasion shall require 2. We agree that whereas Synods and Councils wherein divers of several Churches meet for matters of common concernment and greater importance may Ministerially determine and order such things according to the Word of God so their determinations and orders being consonant to it are to be received with reverence and submission not only for the agreement with the Word but for the power whereby they are made as being an Ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his Word so we judge our selves and our Congregations bound to follow whatsoever Advice Direction or Admonition being consonant to the Word any of us shall receive from the Brethren in their meetings of Association with us 3. If in our Associate Meetings any thing proposed shall seem less convenient to any of us in particular concerned yet if it be not evidently contrary to the Word of God we resolve to yeeld to it rather than to break peace and to give an evil example of disorder by our dissenting 4. If any Minister or particular Church shall obstinately after many endeavours much waiting and patience reject the counsel or admonition of the Association in things manifestly agreeable with the Word of God then we resolve to withdraw from that Minster or Church the Right Hand of Fellowship 5. There being severab matters of concernment wherein we may need the advice and help not of one Association only but the generall Association of the whole County Therefore we agree to have divers Associations some particular others more general also of the whole County where matters most weighty and that cannot be determined in the less may be debated and receive advice and direction in the greater 6. We agree to dispose of our selves into divers divisions each division consisting of such a number as may conveniently meet together at fit times and places for consulting and ordering such matters of consequence which shall be propounded according to such Rules as are hereafter expressed 7. We agree for furtherance of desired general Union and to shew our readiness to give all due satisfaction concerning the proceedings in our Associations that we purpose not to exclude all those which are Members of our Congregations from being present at our Meetings and therefore do desire the Members that are Communicants of our respective Congregations to chuse and send if they think meet one or two fit persons among them to be present at our Meetings held either in their own divisions or for the County in general 8. It being agreeable to order and conducing to Edification as is expressed in the second Generall Proposition for those that dwell together in one place to joyn together as Members of the same particular Church or Congregation and it having been an occasion of difference among Brethren to receive Members out of other Churches or Congregations than their own Therefore for the future we agree not to receive into our Churches or Congregations those that live in other Congregations except first they have no Minister of their own or secondly one that is scandalous or thirdly one that hath not competent ability for the Ministery Fourthly except any Minister himself shall be willing that some of his Congregation shall joyn to another Congregation or Church tendring his Reasons to be approved first by us in our Association who upon the referring the matter to us will not be rigid against any expediency that may be without a manifest doing of injury and breaking peace and unity 9. We resolve so far as any of us shall be interessed to advise with the Association concerning the justness or unjustness of exception made against Ministers in point of scandal inability or any other matter that may be alledged by any that desire to be admitted Members into other Congregations than where they live conceiving that neither people desiring to depart from their Ministers nor yet Ministers themselves with whom they desire to joyn are competent Judges in such cases yet we agree if the exceptions be approved by the Association that it is fittest for the duties of mutual inspection and edification together with the avoiding disorder and offence for people to joyn themselves to some near Congregation that may be for the best conveniency and where a godly able Minister is placed 10. In case hereafter for peoples want of a godly able Minister These three last Propositions although for some special reasons thus passed yet because they may seem to bear upon the parties in this agreement conceined they will be reduced to a due moderation in our after Assemblies we shall admit any of them to be Members of our Churches or Congregations Yet when once a godly able Minister is placed in that Congregation then will we seriously advise such a person whom in that case any of us have admitted to joyn himself to that Minister neither will any of us retain such a person any longer 11. In case complaint be made of any Minister in Association with us we the rest of the Ministers complained to engage to hear it freely and impartially and if any such complaint be brought to the Association against any of us in particular we do all engage freely to submit our selves to the admonition reproof censure or advice of our Brethren of that Association particular or general yet not as encouraging frivolous quarrellers between Minister and people neither being hasty to receive an accusation against an Elder Excommunication THe Censure of Excommunication being in it self so weighty and concerning and that wherein none can be too over cautious and circumspect nor receive too great advice Therefore we judge it very expedient that consultation be had with the Association in cases of this nature before the Sentence of Excommunication be declared in any particular Church or Congregation and accordingly we will not any of us either declare the Sentence of Excommunication or give consent for any other to declare it in our Congregations or Churches before advice first had from the Association either the next particular Association or when the weightinesse of the matter requires the assistance of the general Association unlesse the case be so easie and evident that there needs no consultation Yet we agree that whosoever shall be duly cast out of any one particular Church we will look on that person as cast out of all Churches and accordingly will decline fellowship with him till he testifie serious repentance and be received into the Churches communion again Ordination THe different perswasions among Ministers and People about the Call and Ordination of Ministers having been such an occasion
THE AGREEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATED MINISTERS OF THE County of Essex Proposed to their particular Congregations and to all such of the County that love the Churches Peace with a word of Exhortation to Brotherly Union Rom. 14.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edifie another 1 Cor. 1.10 11 12. Now I beseech you Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment For it hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them which are of the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul I am of Apollo I am of Cephas I am of Christ Rom. 16.17 Mark them that cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which you have learned and avoid them The second Edition Corrected and much Amended LONDON Printed for Edward Brewster at the Crane in pauls-Pauls-Church Yard 1658. THE PREFACE THe richest Crown and highest glory of a people is to be Gods Peculiar related in Covenant-nearness to him dedicated to his Praise trusted with his Word the only perfect Rule guided in the alone way of Salvation the true Religion Religion shining in those greater Beauties of Purity Power and Vnity still that Purity being preserved most tenderly the Power held up eminently the Vnity maintained entirely and to have all due provision made for this Crown and Glory to descend and settle upon Posterity for ever To consider how much of the fore-mentioned Glory hath dwelt in our Land together with its gradual declining great decay almost departing the hopes of Reformation given and heightned but soon disappointed sadly turned into fears confusions and such vast evils which once let in have been so lengthened out Above all to seriously view our present condition of sin after soarest smartings more abounding it spreads farther roots deeper rises higher but comes daily nearer to a filling up Of miseries in complicate distempers imminent dangers and so extreme difficulty of healing settlement and security our hearts cannot but break and bleed within us To see Souls more precious than Worlds whose price can never fall lower to run unwonted higher hazards of utter undoing The numbers among us either more setled in ignorance or improved in prophaneness fixed in meer civility and formality without any Power of Godliness or arrived at very Neutrality and not a few which we tremble to mention under fearful Apostacy of damnable Heresies and vilest practises often also attended with hellish blasphemies These Souls all retaining their invaluable worth and for ought can be known possibility of saving should they not have all endeavour of pulling them out of the fire and if by Covenant-Obligation and Sacramental-Dedication they are Christs Propriety and Right should not his Officers and Stewards strive to the utmost to recover them to the King of Glories use and service yet these poor perishing ones as to any effectual order for Instruction or Reformation remain helpless Ah! that we could not go higher to the injuries and dissecurities of Religion it self in those checks given to the progress damps to the Power wide breaches made in the Vnity and most daring attempts against the very Being and Reality almost no Doctrine or practise escaping vain doubting yea impious vilifying and decrying Add that further danger of Opportunity and Temptation either of shifting wayes and Religions till the substance and foundation is overturned or for to shake off profession of Godliness shut out the Knowledge and sit at home at doing nothing Besides which still more endangers many of the elder sort who should derive Religion to succeeding Times by sinful indifferency are ready to let go their hold of the Truth and most of the younger either distracted at diversities of Wayes and Opinions or disacquainted with the very principles of Christianity are never like to take sure hold of it Oh that we had not to bewail the dissatisfactions divisions distances and oppositions among Brethren of the same houshold of Faith and these arising chiefly from less and lower points and punctillioes when in fundamentals and the main there is so great an accord And to all we annex the offence given the weak discouragements to commers in to godliness just scandal to many at home and in Forraign Nations opening wide the mouths and strengthening the hands of Adversaries against us and the most if not all these evils arising chiefly from our unestablishment as to Scripture and Gospel-Order Therefore when Souls are thus perishing Truth lies bleeding divisions continuing enemies insulting dangers and difficulties not abating and which far transcends all that can be said the most precious and glorious Name of Christ so infinitely suffering All this likewise when our calamitous condition is not utterly hopeless but like the patient languishing not from utter defect of remedy but want of the Physitians willingness to joyn together study the case and apply the cure For these things our hearts melt and eyes mourn till the Lord look down from heaven and help But when all looking bewailing pities and prayers can little avail without endeavours of redress in a right way first resolved and then unanimously carried on for which the conceived expedient is a Brotherly Association long since in our thoughts and already begun by others godly learned in divers Counties others of different judgement in point of Church-Government shewing the hitherto hindred Vnion to arise not so much from difference of principles inconsistent with Vnion as from defect of will and inclination and this from a grand failing in Brotherly Love Therefore laying aside all private respects and carnal interests and resigning our selves wholly up to the Lord we resolve in his strength according to what we have attained to unite together for carrying on the work of Reformation and discharge of our duties in our respective places and not only an Associating in this particular County but correspondency with our Brethren in other parts of the Nation yet hereby not binding up and limiting our selves from further improvement of Vnion which we hope the Lord will teach and stablish in his time Vniversally And for an Introductive to the work in hand and freeing our selves from imputed Innovation in the Doctrine of Religion we declare that as all way formerly we have owned so we do and by Christs assistance will ever own and maintain the form of wholesome words contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in the constantly received sense of the Orthodox Churches of Christ exprest more especially as to the Fundamentals of Faith in that most Ancient and Vniversally received Creed called the Apostles in the therewith agreeing famous Nicene Creed and that notable Creed of Athanasius to which we might add those excellent Creeds of the Great Councils of
saying Come and let us join our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten And to submit to the Government and discipline which Ghrist hath ordained If thy Brother shall trespasse against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother but if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that c. and if he shall neglect to hearken then tell it unto the Church but if he shall neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen man and a Publican For his own glory and his peoples good 2 Cor. 10.8 For though I should boast more of our Authority which the Lord hath given us for edification and not for destruction and Chap. 13.10 The power which the Lord hath given me to edification and not to destruction And that I may have the opportunity of the enjoyment of these priviledges for the advancement of mine obedience I resolve and promise Isai 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hands unto the Lord c. 2 Cor. 8.5 And this they did first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God 2 Cor. 9.13 They glorifie God for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ To submit to the Ministerial Guidance and over-sight exercised according to the rule of the Word in this Congregation Acts 14.22 And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you over-seers to feed the Church of God Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves to such for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you And to the Brotherly advice and admonition of fellow-Christians here Rom. 15.14 I am perswaded that you are filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another Jude 20. Ye beloved building up your selves in your most holy Faith keep your selves in the love of God and of some have compassion making a difference others save with fear pulling them out of the fire 1 Thess 5.11 Comfort your selves together and edifie one another Heb. 3.16 Exhort one another daily Heb. 10.24 Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works The Exhortation to Union IT will readily be yielded that the great work of Christians here is to advance to their utmost the Superlative interest of Christ his Kingdome and Glory That the way conducing hereunto lies First for a sure foundation to begin with a Totall and free subjecting themselves to Christ Then for suller furtherance to endeavour after the largest Heart and most publike Spirit for doing very much for Christ And as a yet more full and proportionate meanes to put themselves into the best posture of the fullest and firmest Union and Conjunction for exalting together of the Name and Cause of Christ without which Generall Union neither the Churches Edification Reformation or Preservation can be sufficiently provided for as necessarily requiring a conjunction of hearts knit together in Love of heads united in counsels and contrivances and of hands affording their best assistance and help Among others there are these three things in the reformed Churches which are the great Dolenda the greatly to be bewailed 1. That great defect and want of Union and good correspondencies for mutuall help 2. That height and depth of hazzard and danger they daily run by that want of good Union 3. That so great so great neglect of applying any just and proportionate remedy to heal divisions and prevent the danger Certainly 't is no small one but one of the great scarrs seen this day in the Face of the Protestant Churches that sinfull division and want of Union which interrupts those good correspondencies and joynt actings thereupon to the securing and propagating the Protestant interest that would upon conjunction follow Our Lord indeed tells us Luke 16. The Children of this world are wiser in their generation then the Children of Light and besides former our own present age and experience do abundantly prove and seale unto it Divers adverse parties though smaller they can hit it they can be closely united among themselves and strongly combined against the reformed But Papists the greatest enemies and the greatest party are the most eminently and observedly prudent and wise as to matter of Union and combination against the reformed They though so scattered over the earth as to places of habitation yet are all one in heart for to unite still strongly against the Protestants And for a spring and feeder of all their affairs and dangerous actings they have one chief the deepest and most impenetrable counsel They have the choicest instruments exactest correspondencies surest intelligences and the most equall and unwearied prosecutions of their grand design the propagating of their own and extirpating of the reformed party and way But the Protestants though for numbers no whit despicable and by good conjunction would be sussiciently formidable are so defective towards themselves as they neither do nor will piece together in any entire and generall Union for Counsels correspondencies and joynt prosecution of their own interest and preservation And as this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and inconsistency becomes a daily derision and reproach among their adversaries and makes them look upon the Protestants as a very simple party and wanting that wisdome of self-preservation by union So it is the great ground given them to place their destructive Engines carry on their mines and lay their trains But for any just and speedy remedy as yet undertaken effectually This is rather the Object of our Desires Prayers and Tears then of our Hopes and not to be expected untill God rebuke that spirit of division gone out among the Churches breathe a Spirit of Love and Unity and bow the clashing interests of States and Kingdoms into a due subserviency to that Supream interest of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ When therefore disunion and division is so great a scarr in the face of the Churches in generall It can be no small blemish in any particular Nations and Churches but is more especially so in this Nation of ours That so many Nations divided in situation and of such different Languages and interests more especially do not so perfectly unite is not altogether so strange But for those of our Nation and which formerly were so united to be so rent and torn in pieces and so remain without a healing up into unity to behold the great and growing divisions among us to hear the continuall scorns and
Churches and among the people of Jesus Christ They are by Office Guides and Leaders First To lead by preaching Christians into union shewing the Gospel-duty the Necessity Excellency and Utility To set home all Gospel Directions and Inducements upon the Consciences and Hearts of Christians and do all they can to light warm and winne them to it And they are likewise to guide and leade by example Give the fairest Copie Set the most excellent president of endeavours Industry and Zeal for godly unity If Ministers leade not will their people begin alone If they are listless will people be lively and active If they are of a low narrow cold cowardly spirit will people in probability be of an high heroical zealous temper No the Ministers Light must help to direct their Heat to warm their Resolution and Zeal to help others to be resolute and zealous And people also should design and endeavour union to cooperate and go along with their godly Ministers in good and necessary wayes Not neglect their Ministers herein to let them go and act alone but honour them with yieldings to and followings of them in what they follow Chirst Formerly what a spirit of willingness was there to hear learn believe and do as their godly Ministers guided and perswaded What a Gospel yieldingness and great sequaciousness was seen among people that turned greatly to their own Edification and the great Comfort and high encouragement of their godly Ministers Christs Ministers they have ever been Satans great eye-soar and speciall envy and Satan hath ever endeavoured to make their credit run as low as he could that the Gospel might run the lower and be glorified the less in peoples hearts A man is so far passable with others as he hath esteem and credit in their hearts and will accordingly prevail with them It is Satans grand design to make the Reputation of the Ministers of Christ run low that thereby the Doctrine they bring might be little regarded Gods design in Scripture and Christs great drift in the Gospel is to set up the Ministers very high in peoples hearts that they should have them in singular Honour for their work sake knowing this would exalt both his Word and himself also But this hath been Satans design and effected more of late then ever since the Reformation yea other Ages scarce any have exceeded ours But the loss is least to Ministers and most to the Hearts that suffer themselves to be prejudiced against them The Word loses its efficacy but the people the profit and their souls into the bargain also if they look not to it But as Ministers of Christ must leade and let their Light shine before their people so people must let in their light and suffer themselves to be guided and perswaded as for their own Edification so Ministers great encouragement and comfort Thus in this great work of Union both should help and encourage each other and then the Adversaries may be disappointed and in time our Divisions healed up Some looking into the obstacles likely to hinder Union among those of different judgements gave some years since among others a matter of ten Reasons which though not in the same method nor in all the words at length yet is thought not amiss to mention here As 1. Some place too much of their Religion in standing off from others as if the height of a Christian lay in rigid Separation from those that are of a lower size and will be hardly drawn to remit any thing of their supposed necessary strictness rather desiring to please themselves than bear with the weak suspecting even necessary provisions for admission of the weak as savouring too much of loosnesse and that which may bring on their partaking in other mens sins 2. Some have drunk in such prejudice against their Brethren that fancying the difference greater then it is and supposing a Closure unlawful or scarce possible are the more backward to any thing tending to a composure 3. Ignorance may prove a great hinderance many understand only the practick part of their own way not fully knowing the extent necessity indifferency of their severall principles these out of a zeal to truth will stand off as not knowing how far they may yield 4. Some delight in contentions 5. Some once embittered their blood is not easily cooled 6. Some are pleased with nothing that themselves propound not 7. Many are engaged and will find it a hard task to deny themselves in point of honour and credit which they think will be lost if they alter their course 8. Many are so overdriven by their friends and members of their Congregations that they dare do little for fear of displeassing them 9. Some want publick principles having but one thing in their eye as suppose purity or peace prosecute that to ruine or neglect of other necessary things 10. Some want publick Spirits not caring what become of other Christian so long as they have the Ball at their own foot or things go with them as they would have it Now as the proper cure and relief of Divisions and dangers thence arising must necessarily be from Union a suitable and speedy Union answerable to the nature and extent of the Malady so that must first be removed that is the impediment to it that though many things else concur is chiefly a great defect of publicknesse of Spirit a Spirit carried out to the publick good of the Church of Christ and his Cause together with a grand failing in Brotherly Love 1. That defect and great want of a publick spirit a spirit that hath made so many Prophets Apostles Martyrs Ministers and Saints in all ages to shine so gloriously All Christians whatsoever should endeavour great publicknesse of Spirit should put on and wear this rare Jewel with the rich Pendants of it of purest and greatest aims best contrivances warmest affections strongest highest resolutions for the Churches good against all things whatsoever that interpose But publick Persons Ministers principally they should be of a very eminent and exemplary publicknesse of Spirit as they are lights and leaders so in this in a more observeable manner But now there 's none should be of a meer private and impublick but of the most publick Spirit We should not be like the Snail that houses her self in her shell commonly cleaves to a block or stone and seldome moves and then but for a little food But like the Springs of Water that rise up run over and make a river for general use Not like a Light in a dark Lanthorn which shineth only inward but like the Heavenly bodies that mounted up are still running round the Heaven to carry and convey their light and influence to all It is too evident that great want of publicknesse of Spirit that like an Epidemical common disease hath spread it self about This this is the reason of that want of endeavours for generall Union The School Maxime is Omne negativum fundatur in affirmative