the elect and beloved of God that know one another and in the Judgement of charity account one another such might love one another as brethren and that with a pure heart fervently See my ground for this 1 Pet. 1.22 2. That all that are in truth in the light might so walke in the light as to have fellowship one with another So as the blood of Jesus Christ might cleanse us from all sin See my ground for this 1 John 1.7 And the rather because that if we say that we have fellowship with God and walke in darknesse we lye and doe not the truth See vers 6 And if we walke in the light we have fellowship one with another c. So that we cannot demonstrate that we have fellowship with God and the Lord Jeâ—us Christ unlesse we also have fellowship one with another And therefore cannot say with the Apostle to wit And truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ See ver 3. Neither can we demonstrate that we are in the light nor that we love God unlesse we also love the brethren See Chap. 2 9 10 11. and Chap. 4.20 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth And if a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen From which it appeareth that it is for want either of light or love or rather both if we have not fellowship one with another So that we cannot demonstrate that we are in the light nor that we love God nor that we love our brethren nor that God loveth us nor that we keep his commandements unlesse we so love our brethren as to have fellowship with them For this is his commandâ—ment that we love one another and that even so as Christ hath loved us for this is the manner and measure required as I shall further make to appear from the Law and Testimony 1. From the command of God Lev. 19.18 thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but then shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe 2. It is also the command of our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 22.19 Luke 10.27 28. where the command is expressed This doe and thou shalt live John 15.17 This I command you that ye love one another 3. And the measure of this love which is here commanded is not a sparing or scant measure But this is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you See ver 12. And see also John 13 34. A new commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another From which it evidently appeareth that though this commandement is but the same in substance which was from the beginning Yet in this respect it is new and held forth to us under that notion in regard it is backed with such an example to wit the example of Christ who in his own person hath exemplified it to us and commandeth us to follow his steps and to love one another as he hath loved us binding us hereby to his example in what we are able and to make it all our marke to aime at as the marke of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus So that in respect of the measure of our love we ought not to be content with any lesser attainement then to love one another as Christ hath loved us 4. It is also the message that we have heard from the beginning that we should love one another See 1 John 3 11. And this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandement 5. It is like unto that first and great commandement to wit Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy minde See Mat. 23.37 38 39 40. Deut. 6.5 6 7 8 9 c. For upon these two commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets 6. The end of the commandement is lâ—ve out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained See 1 Tim. 1.5 From which some having swarved have turned aside unto vain janglings See ver 6. yea and that in these very dayes of ours 7. We are exhorted seriously to see that we love one another with a pure heart fervently See 1 Pet. 1.22 It must not be in word and in tongue onely but in deed and in truth 1 John 5.18 8. And the Apostle John seriously exhorteth us to it shewing us a strong reason to induce us to wit Beloved saith he let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Chap. 4.7 8. It is therefore styled the royal Law James 2.8 Because it cometh both expressely and essentially from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Now in regard it is both the expresse command to love one another and the essentiall and efficient worke of the Spirit of God for it both cometh of God and God is love And in regard that the end of the commandement is love c. And that the whole Law to wit that respects our neighbour is fulfilled in this to wit Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and that this is that second great commandement and so like the first as that he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen Nor manifest himselfe to be his Disciple nor indeed a true Christian See 1 John 4.20 Ch. 3.14 15 16 17 18 19 c. Then it necessarily followeth that such who are Christians indeed and expect to be so accepted and accounted of either with God or men ought to account themselves most chiefly bound to this duty of love and that to all the brotherhood above all other duties commanded in the Law that concerns our neighbour And that in regard that all other dutyes are inferiour and lesser matters of the Law As tithing of Mint Annisse and Cumin was to the Jews which yet ought to be done provided that Judgement mercy and faith which are the greater matters be not thereby neglected nor secluded for this was in the Scribes and Pharisees a token of their hypocrisie and how can we possibly excuse our selves from the same charge if by our strivings and contests about inferiour outward circumstantiall matters and things of God as Sacramentall matters and wayes of government and ministration We neglect and hinder the growth of love and so of faith likewise which are the two essencialls and only infallible marks of our
callings are without repentance Rom. 11.29 And though he will oblitterate the names of such out of his book of life as he said unto Moses who sin against him Exod. 32.32 33. yet he will be mercifull unto his land and to his people And therefore he saith Rejoyce oh ye nations with his people for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be mercifull to his land and people see Deut. 32.43 And of this we may be confident that he that hath begun will certainly make an end before he break off from us whom he hath owned as a peculiar people in a nationall way and that above any nation under heaven as once he did to Israel of old And will bring us to rest and settlement in spite of all opposers either forraine or domestick And he will give victory on the Lambs side together with them who are the called chosen and faithfull His heart is towards the governors of Israel who have jeoparded their lives to maintaine his cause upon the high places of the field with Zebulon and Napthali see Judges 5.9.18 for they offered themselves willingly amongst the people and have not loved their lives even unto the death Rev. 12.11 And therefore rejoyce ye heavens that is to say ye Churches militant and triumphant and ye that dwell in them but woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the Sea that is to the world for the Devill is come downe amongst you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time vers 12. to wit till he must be inclosed in the bottomlesse pit that he shall not deceive the nations any more till a thousand years shall be fulfilled see Rev. 20.1 2 3. Yea woe unto the world because of offences for though it must needs be that offences shall come yet woe to that man by whom the offence cometh see Mat. 18.7 Doubtlesse it hath ever been dangerous to give any offence either to Jew or Gentile or to the Church of God see 1 Cor. 10.32 but much more now in these latter dayes wherein the Lord hath begun to avenge his Elect who cry unto him day and night for now he hath begun he will certainly hold on and avenge them speedily as hath been proved before Luke 18.7 8. And therefore it is the advice of our blessed Saviour to take heed that we despise not one of those little ones yea one of the least of those little ones that beleeve in him and the reason is rendred because that in heaven there Angels doe alwayes behold the face of their Father which is in Heaven For they are all ministring spirits sent forth for the good of them who shall be heires of salvation and will readily accomplish what the will of God shall require them to doe For they alwayes behold his face to know his will concerning his servants that they might accomplish it concerning all his Elect over whom they have Charge see Matth. 18.10 Mark 9.42 Heb. 1.14 Psal 103.20 Now if it be so much danger to offend but one of the least of those little ones that beleeve in Christ as that it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the depth of the Sea c. How dangerous is it to offend his Embassadors that are sent unto us in the name of the Lord for the good of our souls Is it not said He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me And he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me But how few is there in these our dayes that regard these words or at least so regard them as to caution them as they ought in these respects Are not the words of men in authority as Magistrates and Officers and masters much more regarded then these words of Christ They that are under command under any authority either civill or millitary will quickly say we are so commanded and we must obey else it will be worse for us we shall be turned out of office or out of our service or places else or those our superiours will be offended with us and for such like reasons which in such cases are good and wise and but our duty but how few is there that are so wisely subservient to the commands of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ and to take his counsells and admonitions and lay them to heart and own them as a rule for regulation of all their wayes But if you please to read with seriousnesse of spirit but this little Treatise you will easily perceive how much we are short of obedience and subserviencie to the commands of Christ yea even the best of us all and so what need there is to make it our businesse to indeavour a redresse what in us lyeth in our places and callings and to provoke one another to love and good works which are so much wanting And for this end I have directed it to you who are in highest authority though I therein speak not to you only but to all that are or professe themselves to be christians indeed not in shew only that you all such might incourage and induce what in them lieth to a cordiall uniformity of hearts and affections in the wayes of God For though it is a thing that cannot possibly be compelled to by humane authority yet it much conduceth and helpeth forward when the eyes of authority are bent that wayes The incouragement of authority in well doing is a strong inducement to the doing of it And so is likewise their own example no lesse available with ingeneous spirits see 1 Pet. 2.14 The Lord grant that you may make it your businesse when you come to deale in matters of religion To accord our differences as much as may be and to settle peace both in Church and state what in you lyeth And in so doing the Lord will assist you and blesse your indeavours for the good of these nations to all posterities which is the earnest desire of Your Cordiall Subject Ellis Bradshaw I Desire the Reader to mend these Erratats following and to make the residue sence in the reading to wit Page 6. line 4. for on read or Page 8. line 30. for state read save Page 13. line 26 for smite them hand read smite them with the hand Page 31. line 4 for consecrate read consociate and line 26. for hear read heavens A CORDIAL-MEDIATOR FOR Accordance of Brethren that are of different Judgements and wayes of Administration in things that concern the Kingdom of God For repairing of the breach and restoring of the paths for many Generations as followeth to wit BELOVED brethren the end of this discourse I shall in few words first declare with the grounds thereof before I begin because I love not prolixity nor would not be mistaken to wit 1. That all
Christianity And on the contrary part doe thereby provoke one another to wrath and enmity biting and devouring one another till we be consumed as is but just with God because we cannot agree but fall out by the way and that about the way like untoward children who part themselves into various pathes till they are be wildred and loose one another and some themselves and their poor soules And considering also that all the ordinances of God and the wayes of government and all the ministrations and gifts of God with all the ministrators whom he hath sent and set in his Church yea all the inferiour commandements in the morral Law with all the Prophets Apostles Scriptures both old and new yea all the truths and doctrines or examples therein held forth both concerning Judgements and mercies with all other wayes and means of grace Are all but given and held forth to us through the necessary meanes for this necessary end to wit The producing of love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained See 1 Tim 1.5 From all which I make bold to conclude that if we make not the observance and use thereof as helps and means conducing to the acquirement and fulfilling of this end but in our keeping of the lesser we obstruct the greater yea and even the mâ—ine of all And that which if attained would bring the lesser with it as a naturall fruit which is included in it and cannot possibly be seperated from it See 1 Cor. 13. Then without all question or peradventure we quite pervert the end of all the commandements and meanes of grace that God hath appointed at least so far forth as we use them so as hath been said before Making his commandements void and of none effâ—ct in our selves or others through our owne traditions for we thereby hinder both our selves and others from acquiring to the end of the holy commandements that are given unto us By the keeping whereof we might be made partakers of the godly nature love cometh of God for God is lâ—ve Now these things being generally assented too as so I nothing doubt but all that are Christians iâ—deed in the sight of God both doe and will assent with me thus farre at least and that they will agree to indeavour the acquirement of this blessed end as in duty they are bound I shall further propose those means and wayes which as I conceive would strongly conduce to the acquirement of this end through the help of God the which as I conceive are of absolute necessity and such as without which there is little hopes of this Accordant nor of keeping this commandement in the keeping whereof there is great reward 1. Then I desire as accounting it our duty and the naturall product of true brotherly love that we might pray one with and for another and each for all that we might be healed and our breaches repaired and we united and made of one heart of one mind and of one judgement and that the same mind might be in us that was in Christ Jesus This I doubt not but all that are godly will justifie and own and indeavour to pâ—actise but that we might doe it in faith it is required that we go first and be reconciled to our brethren and then come and offer our gifts See Mat. 5.23 24. 2. Therefore it is desired for this end that we might have fellowship one with another and each with any both in publick and private and that in all Gods ordinances so as love requireth so farre as possible and convenient as being all members of the same body to wit of Christ and each of other for how else is it ever possible that we should be reconciled if we meet not together my if we receive not one another even as Jesus Christ hath received us to the glory of God the Father See Rom. 15.7 3. John 9.10 Mat. 9.3 3. That instead of disowning or excluding any that is known to be Godly of whatever way or Church they are of either Ministers or people from the Lords Supper or any other ordinance they desire to partake of We might all be willing to invite each other to any ordinance that Christ hath appointed for mutuall comfort and edification where our selves are admitted owned as Godly in case when any Brother shall have occasion to sojourn or be occasionally amongst us to hear the word preached on any other businesse 4. And not only so as but barely to partake of the outward ordinances But that each and all that in the judgement of charity may be accounted brethren might be owned as such and dealt with as such not in word only but in deed and in truth in a pâ—acticall manner in all these respects or in any other as we doe with brethren that are of the same judgement and society with us as accounting it our duty both to watch over and to exhort reproove admonish comfort restore and releeve and all such duties as need requireth in a brotherly way for his good and comfort as we our selves would also be dealt with in the like case for our soules health and benefit any wayes Reas For this we are commâ—nded Doe to all men as ye would they should doe unto you for this is the Law and the Prophets But if to all men much more to our brethren that in the judgement of charity are of the same body together with us under Christ our Head Reas For if they be members though they are but feete the body walketh slowly if it wanteth feete See 1 Cor. 12.21 22. nay If those necessary members of the body should either be cut off or it halteth on them you know the charge and how we are exhorted to make streight pathes for our feete lest that which halteth be turned out of the way which should rather be healed I wish this text were better understood then I doubt it is by the most part even of the Churches of Christ See Heb. 12 12 13 14 15. Such who halt betwixt two opinions should rather be healed and have streight paths made for their feete then turned out of the way to the Kingdome of Christ 5. That the doores of fellowship and Christian communion might be set as wide open as can lawfully be allowed or as can be practised without breach of duty and conscience towards God by building men up in their evill wayes and sowing pillowes under all arme holes healing their wounds slightly and preaching peace when there is manifestly no peace and that for their owne destruction Reas For if the doores of Discipline and Christian communion should shut out any of the elect of God either from hearing of the word or Church communion for their soules health or that they should be offended through the Churches default and scattered abroad yea whither they be weak or strong See Ezek. 34 they ought not to be thrust with the side or shoulder nor pusht with
blocks and offences that are on our parts and the Lord will blesse us and hear our prayers and reward our worke and labour of love that we have shewed to his name and for ought we know he may turne their hearts to be otherwise minded then we expect It may be our stiffenesse hath been a cause of theirs and theirs of ours And so likewise may our yeelding and holding forth of love and condescention provoke them to doe the like And therefore let no excuses reâ—ard or hinder our speedy indeavours for mutuall Accordance But let us make iâ— our â—usinesse and that as a matter of greatest importance and concernement to us yea as a matter of life and death lest the Lord cometh and findeth us smiting our fellow servants c. And give me leave a little to inculcate and beat it home to our very consciences Consider it seriously did not the Lord himself inculcate this command upon his holy Disciples and that over and over again with argument after argument and command after command and shall we think it needlesse in this frozen age Nay Did he make it his businesse when he was ready to leave them and to give it forth chiefely as his will and testament and shall not we think it worthy to be made as our businesse and that of greatest concernement in this our age and generation because the love of many waxeth cold already However in this treatise I study brevity expecting that men better able will make it their businesse And yet if I seem to repeat and fall on againe with the same Scriptures it is to presse them further Consider therefore thus saith the Lord A new commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another John 13.34 Consider it I say It is the commandement of Christ to all such as are and would be accounted and knowne by all men to be his Disciples which is the promise annexed vers 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Now the measure of this love is expressed in the latter part of the 34. ver to wit As I have loved you that ye also love one another And this measure of love is further explained as to the latitude and extent thereof in reference to the same command to wit John 15.12 13. This is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you And how is that See vers 15. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay downe his life for his friends And that this is the true and proper meaning of Christ without any misticall dark sence See how the same Apostle that loving Disciple who is therefore truly called the beloved Disciple or the Disciple whom Jesus loved as though in comparison he had loved none 〈◊〉 him And certainâ— it is that though he loveâ— them all yet he loved John with a more peculiar transcendent affection then any of tâ—e rest and chiefly because that his doctrine of lovâ— and his commands thereof took more impression in him then the other Disciples and the love of God and the love of the brethren tooke more place in his heart as so it is manifest in his Epistles and Gospel by his treating more and more fully of love then all the other Disciples 1 Con. From whence I may gather by the way That they that love most are the most beloved and the most bent to the pressing and inculcating and communication of the doctrine of love unto their brethren 2 Con. And that they whomsoever that cannot cordially embrace and receive this doctrine are not cordially embraced and received of Christ and that in respect of the measure of our cordiallity 3 Con. Look how much more cordially we embrace and receive his doctrine of love by so much the more cordially we shall be and are embraced yea loved and received of the Lord Jesus Christ And thus much by the way Now for the proper extent of the manner and measure of this duty of love See 1 John 3.16 to wit Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren It is not sufficient to love in word and in tâ—ngue only but it must be in deed and in truth vers 18. especially if we would know that we are of the truth and that the love of God dwelleth in us and would have our hearts assured before him See ver 17.19 we must not shut up our bowels of compassion if we have this worlds good and see our brother hath need for in such case there is no appearance or manifestation that the love of God abideth in us No he that loveth not his brother abideth in death And whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and we know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him See vers 14.15 Read this Chapter throughout and Ch. 4. wherein it is so evident that the Apostle presseth this duty of love as the great and chiefest duty and command of Christ and that without which we cannot possibly be assured that we are yet passed from death unto life nor that God loveth us and we him nor that we keep his commandements and doe those things that please him nor that we know God or dwell in him and he in us nor that we shall have boldnesse in the day of judgment neither can our feare that hath torment in it be cast out nor can we prove our selves to be true men but lyars because it is impossible that he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seene should love God whom he hath not seen And this commandement have we from him that he who loveth God should love his brother also See Chap. 4. And this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning that we should love one another Chap. 3.11 See also 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained And why is this called the end of the coÌ„mandement but because that he that hath loved another hath fulfilled the Law for no man can love his brother but he loveth God nor any man love God but he will also love his brother and upon this hangeth the whole Law and the Prophets to wit To love God above all and our neighbours as our selves And againe Because if this love be in us in perfection as it ought the naturall product of it will be suitable both in respect of our duties to God and to our neighbours for love worketh no evill against our neighbours much lesse against God See 1 Cor. 13. Now this main duty of love and the measures and necessity of it being sufficiently proved and that from such authority as no Christian can for shame gainsay it or oppose it in the least I shall proceed to answer some Queries
that may be made 1 Query The first and chief whereof is And who is our brother that so we may know whom we ought to love with so vast and boundlesse an affection as that for their sakes if need so require we should be willing even to lay down our lives for them and much more our goods and estates as so the command is clear and full and without exception Answ I answer I shall first shew whom we ought to account as brethren and such to whom we owe this measure and manner of love And secondly I shall shew whom we ought to account our neighbours and we ought to love them 1. All such ought to be owned and accounted our brethren whom we know to be professors of faith in God through our Lord Jesuâ— Christ and to be worshippers of God and that they doe not live in any scandalous known sin nor doe not hold and maintain any manifest convicted error after due admonition nor are not willfully schismaticall nor imperiously proud and arrogant and this I beleeve no rationall and sober Judicious Christian will deny 1. Considering that of necessity we must but judge according to the rules of charity in regard we have not any rules of certainty but such as wherein we may be deceived and it is far better to be deceived by extending our charity to the loving of such as doe not properly deserve it then through meer uncharitablenesse to deny such love and brotherly respect as our duty requireth to all the brother-hood and so to give them Just cause to be offended with us for it is dangerous to offend one of the least of those little ones that beleeve in him See Mat. 18.6 2. Considering the length and breadth of that love or charity which cometh of God Reas For if the love of God be shed abroad in our hearts really as it ought it is so charitable that it thinketh no evill Nay it beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things See 1 Cor. 13 5.7 Nay it suffereth long and is kind c. vers 4. It taketh not all things in the evill part it judgeth nothing before the time it quencheth not the smoaking flax nor breaketh the bruised reed and such like many Scriptures I might produce but these I hope are sufficient for any that understand them and the latitude of their sence 3. Considering the absurd unsavourinesse of judging or disowning any as brethren of whom we know so much as hath been said before of their profession and practise but have nothing to the contrary whereof to accuse them And they that are or should be the salt of the earth should by all means take heed they loose not their saltnesse or become unsavoury to whom they should season for who then shall season them that so they might be able or in a capacity to season others See Mat. 5. â—3 Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves and have peace one with another saith our blessed Saviour And by this salt is meant the affection of love and charity for without the exercise of these though we had the tongue of men and Angells and such other gifts reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. yet we should be so unsavourie if together with those gifts we did not exercise charity us that we should profit nothing nor season any of those with whom we converse but seem as it were naucious unto them all other gifts would do us no good for edifying of the Church if Charity be wanting in us or if we doe not exercise them in a way of charity and as mixed with charity and powdred with the affection of love the which as salt to our corporall meat mâ—keth it savoury and seasoning to the hearts of others but if we step aside out of the ways of charity and cannot hold that forth as having it really in us and acting by it and in it It is because we have but little of it in our own hearts and then who can expect to be seasoned by us See 1 Cor. 1â— 31 Chap. 13 1 2 3. and compare the sence whether it be not so as hath been said Covet earnestly the best gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way that is to say get abundance of charity so as to exercise those gifts in the way and shew a manifestation of charity or else they are all worth nothing for edifying of the Church but like sounding brasse or a tinckling cimbal in which there is not much for the use of edifying No No knowledge indeed puffeth up but it is love that edifieth See 1 Cor. 8.1 But it may yet be demanded how this Scripture is to be understood how love edifieth considering love is an internall grace as so also is faith which cannot be communicated to others from us but are gifts of God I answer It is love which edifieth because love is the efficient cause of all Spirituall ministrations that are effectuall for edification It is the fountain and spring from whence doth flow forth such cordiall expressions as are effectuall for edification It is of the essence of the Spirit of God he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him So that when love ingageth us or is the efficient cause of any expressions or ministrations it may truly be attributed to the Spirit of God as the chief cause of such ministrations and they are certainly efficacious either as the favour of life unto life or of death unto death as the words of God nay as our Saviour saith the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life See John 6.63 So words that come from the Spirit are Spirituall words they are cordiall fervent earnest and powerfull words They are words of life and power for edifying in the faith and provoking unto love and good works And therefore when men are acted and exercised from a root and principle of love they are properly acted and exercised by the Spirit of God And it is more proper to say so of them then that they exercise their gifts for it is their gifts to wit of the Spirit and Faith and Love which exercise them They are but the instruments God is the Agent It is God that granteth them according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith that they being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that they might be filled with all the fullnesse of God See Ephe. 3.16 17 18 19. See here what large requests the Apostle putteth up and that in few words for the Ephesians and in how compleat an order For though he ascribeth the originall of all strength and might in the inner man to the Spirit of God as