are the fruits of the Flesh The Apostle tells us The fruits of the Spirit are love peace gentleness and meekness Gal. 5.22 but the fruits of the Flesh are hatred variance emulation strife and envyings ver 20. So that a man can't evidence himself to be in the Flesh and destitute of the Spirit of God in any thing more than by a contentious dividing Spirit The Apostle says so 1 Cor. 3.3 If their be envyings and strifes and divisions among you are ye not carnal They are Salamanders that can live only in this Fire And then I may ask but who is their Father For the Wisdom that is from beneath is sensual and devilish the Mother of strife and division Jam. 3.15 Ver. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is pure and peaceable O how sad is it when the Flesh thus reigns in the Children of the Spirit 7. Division naturally runs into Tumult and Confusion It makes Zion to become a Babel It so confounds the Language of Christians that one can't understand another As when a House is on Fire some call for Water some for Ladders some for pulling down the House Such is the confusion where this Fire breaks out in the House of God 8. Nothing more obstructs the flourishing of Religion And how sad is it that the Interest and concerns of Christ should wither under our hands 9. Nothing becomes a greater stumbling block to turn others out of the way of God Division in the Church begets Atheism in the World Men charge all the faults of Professors upon the Religion they profess and thereby contract such prejudices against it as can never be rooted out O what an evil is this 10. Nothing becomes a greater Joy to our Adversaries nor gives them a greater advantage to undermine and destroy us While two Birds are pecking one at another the Kite comes and soops away both Our Contentions make us first a laughing-stock then a prey to our Enemies and therefore they are a sad forerunner of ruine Hoc Ithacus vetit c. When Abraham went to Sacrifies his Isaac he found a Ram intangled in the Briars which God had prepared for a Sacrifice and if we are intangled in these Briars we may justly fear we are prepared to be a Sacrifice These are some of the many Evils which might be reckoned up that are in the divisions of Gods People which may serve to set forth the blessing and advantage of Union And therefore when God binds up the breaches of his People and makes the two sticks one it is a great mercy Shall I not make a little Application of this I know to whom I speak which makes it needless but for Sions sake I will not hold my peace Isa 62.1 This Text affords two Uses that suit the end of this days appointment which you have set apart partly for Humbling and partly for rejoycing Here is matter of Humbling that the people of God should be two sticks Here is matter of Reioycing that God hath made the two sticks one 1. Let us Humble our selves before the Lord for our former Divisions Is their not a Cause when God calls to contend by Fire Hos 7.4 Isa 19.2 it is a Token of his Anger It is in favour to Israel when he sets the Egyptians against the Egyptians but when Ephraim and Manasseh are divided Isa 9.21 there is the Anger of God in it and that should be matter of Mourning And indeed the only way to a firm Union is to lay the foundation of it in shame and tears for past Divisions Even in this sense God lays the beams of his chambers in the waters Psal 104.3 and makes the clouds his chariot There is no building without Mortar to hold the stones together and there it no Mortar without Water When Israel and Judah come out of Babylon and inquire the way to Sion and joyn in a Covenant Union it is all done in Tears Jer. 50.4 5. In those days and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah together going and weeping they shall go and seek the Lord their God They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten They use in Faggotting either to twist the bands with some sap in them or to lay them for a time in water for when dry they 'l snap but they 'l bend and hold the twisting when well soaked So the deeper your Humiliation is the more durable will your Union be Their is much cause of Humbling on this account For the Pride of our hearts only by pride comes contention For the dishonour done to God by these differences For the reproach brought upon his ways For the offences and scandals given to many whereby their Souls have been eternally hazarded And should not the sense of this affect us Some diseases are called opprobria medicorum I am sure these are opprobria Theologorum O let us joyn in this one thing to mourn together till we have dissolved our hearts into tears and see if they 'l cun one into another and let us resolve that nothing shall comfort them but peace with God and peace with one another Vse 2. When we have thus passed through the valley of Baca Psal 84.6 and in this sense made it a well we may then go on to Berachah and sit down there blessing and rejoycing in God who hath made the two sticks one in his hand If any thing should affect us the great appearance of God should wherein he hath put forth so much of his Power Wisdom Love and Mercy Is it not a mercy you have long desired and prayed for And God hath this day returned your prayers like Noah's Dove with an Olive Branch in the mouth How long did our Fathers sow in Tears for this Harvest and God hath reserved the reaping time for us their Children Isa 9.3 And therefore let us joy before him according to the joy in Harvest This day hath the Lord rolled away our reproach Josh 5.9 for what hath been the reproach we have been silled with Is it not that we have been a divided people crumbling into Factions and Parties fill'd with mutual animosities and jarrs envying and hating one another Now God hath brought us to Gilgal for this day is the reproach rolled away and shall not God have the glory of this You have this day made up one great Breach at which Judgment used to enter Ezek. 13.5 Ye have gone up into the gaps and made up the hedge for the house of Israel You have this day recovered your strength Division is a weakening thing A Kingdom a House a Church divided cannot stand Untwist a Cable and it is easily broken Divide the strongest Current into many streams and it becomes shallow and weak You know the story of Scilurus
Look throughout this whole transaction from first to last and you can't find any thing out of which this Union should be formed Either Wisdom or Power or Strength or Policy or any thing else It is a pure Creation for it is out of nothing And this you have in your Preface expressed a due sense of in giving to him the glory of his Power by ascribing the Success of these Attempts to the signal Presence of God 3. If the Breaches and Divisions that at any time fall out among the Lord's People be a Judgment from the Lord then he alone can make them One. For who can remove a Judgment that comes from God but God himself the same hand that wounds must heal He hath smitten and he will bind us up Hos 6.1 Now the Divisions that are among Gods People tho they proceed from sin originally yet there is a Judicial Dispensation in them Hear O ye Mountains the Lord's Controversie Mich. 6.2 All their intestine Divisions are the Lords Controversie This is one way by which God avenges the quarrel of his Covenant Lev. 26.25 When his People break with him then he breaks them one against another Jer. 13.13 14. I will fill all the Inhabitants of the Land the Kings the Priests and the Prophets and all the Inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness and I will dash them one against another So Zech. 11 14. I cut asunder my Staff of Bands that I might break the Brotherhood between Judah and Israel Ye read in Isa 9.21 of Manasseh against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and they together against Judah And this is said to be from the Wrath of the Lord of Hosts vers 19. And what Wisdom or Skill of Men can quench this Wrath of God it must be God himself As fire is said to fetch out fire so nothing can extinguish this fire of God's Anger but the kindling of his own Repentings How shall I give thee up Ephraim Hos 11.8 my heart is turned within me and my repentings are kindled together And he is said to repent himself for his servants when he sees their power is gone Deut. 32.36 When their Wound is incurable for want of healing Medicines then God will plead their Cause and the Wound shall be bound up For he glorieth in this Title I am the Lord that healeth thee Jer. 30.13 Exod. 15.26 4. This will further appear if you consider the Season of this blessed Cure Usually it is when his People are brought very low The virtue of his Medicines is best known when the Wound is desperate and to the eye of Sense past healing God reserves the speaking of this Comfort till the Church is brought into a Wilderness Hos 2.14 How is it that the Bones are brought together bone to his bone but by the Breath of the Lord and when did this breath enter into them but when they were scattered in the open Valley Ezek. 37.2 and Lo they were very dry No Life no expectation no hope of Union Behold they say our Bones are dried Ver. 11. Ver. 7. our hope is lost Then behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone And when doth God command the Prophet to write upon Judah and Ephraim but when they were in a very low and hopeless Condition and therefore he must write upon two Sticks A Stick is a dead thing a dry thing a withered thing a fit Emblem of the low Condition they were in Dan. 5.25 And what is the writing upon your Sticks at this time Not a Mene tekel upharsin No blessed be God but the quite contrary Heads of Agreement united Brethren A blessed Hand-writing and if it be not written upon dry Sticks judge you So that none could have caused this to be written if God had not said to us as he did to the Prophet Son of Man write upon them And therefore what the Apostle says in another case I may say in this Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ 2 Cor. 3.3 written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God 2. When God is pleased thus to heal the divisions of his people and make the two sticks one in his hand it is a great mercy For 1. When God doth this it is to accomplish the promise and every promise travels with mercy there can be nothing but mercy in the promise therefore when ever it brings forth the birth must be mercy Now God hath made great promises concerning the peace and oneness of his people The envy of Ephraim shall depart he shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim Isa 11.13 v. 6. The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid. The Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lie down together The meaning is that all sourness and fierceness and bitterness of spirit shall cease among the subjects of Christ and a spirit of love and sweetness shall take place and heal all Ye have many promises of this kind and some that have a more direct aspect to the last times and therefore look wishly upon us Such is that in Zeph. 3.9 Then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the Lord and serve him with one consent So Zech. 13.19 Deut. 32.4 In that day the Lord shall be one and his Name one But is not his Name one now yea in itself it is He is the God of truth that is his Name But while there are different ways of profession and each party intitles God to his particular way this gives him many Names the differing claims that divided interests make to God give him many Names But in that day his Name shall be one differing ways and modes of Worship shall cease all his people shall be united in the same mind and judgement and shall own God in the same truth and the same way of worship and so his Name shall be one But this day is said to be when Christ shall be King over all the earth Christ shall be King over all the earth and in that day the Lord shall be one and his Name one This is that Christ promises in the New Testament John 10.16 There shall be one fold and one shepard 2. It is a great mercy in that the ruine of their enemies follows upon it You seldom read of any great healing among the Churches and people of God but their enemies have soon felt the effects of it It is no sooner said in Isa 11.13 The envy of Ephraim shall depart but the next words are The adversaries of Judab shall be cut off His work is no sooner performed upon Mount Sion but the next work is the pulling down the Assyrian Is 10.12 and in Is 15.10 No sooner are Gods people one in his hand but his enemies are trod under his feet as straw is trodden down for the
Two Sticks made One OR THE EXCELLENCY OF UNITY BEING A SERMON Preached by the Appointment of the Ministers of the Congregational and Presbyterian Perswasion at their Happy UNION On the Sixth Day of April 1691. Which was a Day set apart by them partly to bewail former Divisions and partly as a Thanksgiving to God for their present Agreement And now at their Vnanimous Request made Publick By MATTHEW MEAD Pastor of a Church of Christ at Stepney Psal 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity Si virtutum finis ille sit maximus qui plurimorum spectat profectum moderatio omnium pulcherrima est Ambr. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1691. THE Excellency of Vnity A SERMON preached by the Appointment of the Ministers of the Congregational and Presbyterian Perswasion at their Happy Union On the Sixth Day of April 1691. By MATTHEW MEAD Pastor of a Church of Christ at Stepney To the Reverend THE Dissenting Ministers OF LONDON Formerly called Congregational and Presbyterian But now known by the Name of United Brethren Reverend and much honoured in the Lord AS this Sermon had not been Preached so nor had it been made publick but in obedience to your Call which I the more willingly complied with that I might thereby give Testimony to my readiness of promoting that good Design abroad which you have made so happy a progress in at home You no sooner had appointed me to this Work but God pointed me to the Text which I found so suitable to the Occasion that I resolved to do the utmost my short Arm could reach to in improving it to the blessed ends of Love and Vnion that I might thereby shew my self to be not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and indeavour with all my might that the Heaven below might be made like the Heaven above a quiet and peaceable Habitation To intermeddle in Matters of Strife is in common Cases deemed a thankless Office and he oft times feels most Fists who steps in to part the Fray Naz. Orat. de Pace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the Goodness of this Vndertaking is such as will richly Recompense for the greatest Inconvenience that can attend the Attempt and if it should not find Success among Men I am satisfied that it will not want a Blessing from God None can with any colour of Reason be prejudiced at this happy Vndertaking of yours which is not in the least intended to countenance any Carnal or Worldly Design but to serve the great Interests of our Lord Jesus and promote that Kingdom of his which is not of this World Many there are who call every kind of Compliance baseness and a betraying of Principles but so long as our Consciences tell us that what we do is in Obedience to the Command of Christ the peace we shall find within will more then pay the Charge of all unjust Censures from without Men of such rough and sowr Spirits are ready to think God to be such a one as themselves As the Lacedaemonians being a Warlike People represented their Gods all in Armour But God is love and he that dwells in love dwells in God and God in him Who doth not desire to see the Church of Christ in a flourishing state It was one of Austin's wishes to see Romam in flore And should it not be every good Man's wish to see Ecclesiam in flore When the Temple is purged and a Separation made between the Sanctuary and the profane Place Ezek. 41.20 then the Glory of the Lord will fill the House Ezek. 43.5 God hath eminently appeared among you hitherto in carrying on this blessed Work therefore it greatly concerns us to hold him fast by Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace lest this Silence in Heaven should be but for the space of half an hour How should the consideration of the Coming of the Lord which now draws very nigh put us all upon promoting this Work Will it not be a very uncomfortable thing to be found in our Divisions in that day Therefore we ought not to stand at a distance but upon such Reasons as will justifie our dissent and be approved of by the impartial Judge The Lord pour out a richer measure of the Spirit of Love upon all that fear his Name and shew to them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which none can find but they who are taught of God The Inquiry after which in order to walking therein was the chief Design of this Discourse Such as it is it is now yours not only by my Act in the Dedication but by your own in the Publication And therefore as it humbly begs your Patronage because it needs it so it earnestly calls for your Observance because of the importance of the Design of it which is to strengthen the Staff of Bands now put into your hands by God and this nothing can do but a constant and conscientious practice of those Principles upon which your Vnion stands And now Brethren as that Rod out of the Stem of Jesse upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests the Girdle of whose Reins is Faithfulness hath so far fulfilled that comfortable Promise as to cause the Wolf to dwell with the Lamb let it also appear that he hath bowed your Spirits to such an intire Resignation to Truth as that a Child may lead you And then the Counsels here given will be as readily imbraced and as carefully practised as they were faithfully tendered by him who greatly rejoyceth to be known by the pleasing Title of one tho the meanest of the united Brethren and Your most faithful Servant Matth Mead. Two Sticks made One. EZEK XXXVII 19. Say unto them Thus saith the Lord God Behold I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the Tribes of Israel his fellows and will put them with him even with the stick of Judah and make them one stick and they shall be one in mine hand WHat our Lord Christ said in Luk. 4.21 upon his reading that of the Prophet Isaiah The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tydings to the meek c. This day says he this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears The same I may say of this Scripture now read to you God hath in a great measure this day fulfilled it among you A Scripture which seems exactly fitted to this Days Design which is partly for humbling in regard of former Divisions and partly for rejoycing with respect to the present Union Accordingly you have in the Text two Sticks Isa 9.21 The stick in the hand of Ephraim and the stick of Judah that is Ephraim against Judah and Judah against Ephraim This is matter of mourning But then you have these two sticks made one in
who had Eighty Sons on his Death-bed he caused a bundle of Arrows to be brought and given to them and bids them break it when they had tried successively they answered that it was not to be done He bids them take them one by one and then the work was easie Thereupon he tells his Sons if ye agree together you will be strong and invincible but if you divide you 'l be weak and easily overcome God hath in this agreement bundled up his Arrows together he hath made the two sticks one and this is your strength in the hand of the Lord. Therefore he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. You have done that in this agreement that promises great advantage and comfort to our brethren abroad it is like the beams of the Sun which diffuse light and heat to thousands at once And what can please and rejoyce you who are by calling by Duty by Affection Men of publick Spirits and Aims more than to be made such a blessing to the whole Interest of Christ through the Nation In this Union you have shewed a high Conformity to Christ He is all for union There is a union between him and the Father a union between him and the Spirit a union between him and the humane Nature a union between him and all Believers And it is such a union as admits of no disunion or dissolution Nothing can untie it not faults and failures not blots or blemishes no sins or swervings Ah how many infirmities neglects omissions how many weaknesses wants and wanderings doth Christ see in us and yet the union remains Now when we are like minded one to another according to Christ Jesus This highly glorifies God This union is an hopeful means to reconcile others to Religion and bring them into the ways of Christ It is said of the Primitive Christians They walked with one accord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and what fruit had it the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2.46 47. How many have estranged themselves from Religion and cast it off because of the feuds and heats of its Professors afraid to touch it lest they burn their Fingers in the fiery contentions that are kindled by reason of it Mr. Cotton on the 2d Cant. 7. I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and by the Hinds of the field that ye stir not up nor awake my love till he please senseth the words thus By the Roes and Hinds are meant young beginners persons under some preparatory work towards Conversion who are as shy and fearful as Roes and Hinds who are affrighted and run at the barking of a Dog so will these at any offences in the Churches of Christ O how many have fallen and been turned out of the way by the fatal stumbling blocks which our divisions have laid in the way of their Conversion Now God hath this day taken away the stumbling block by making the two sticks one in his hand And should we not bless God for this God hath intitled you by this agreement to the many and great blessings that are promised in this Chapter to this work Do but see what promises God makes as a consequent of it 1. It shall be an abiding union When God unites his people who or what can divide them Unions made by the policy and arts of Men for carnal ends and interests may be broken but a union made by God and his Spirit shall not be broken Therefore it is promised ver 22. They shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided any more at all That is one Mercy promised 2. It shall be attended with a peculiar sanctifying work of the Spirit ver 23. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their detestable things for I will cleanse them I know how these detestable things are interpreted But may we not understand them of their divisions too and the sins caused thereby I am sure these are detestable things to God Ezek. 16.61 63. and when his people are made one they shall become so to them working to shame and self-lothing and when they become so they shall be no more defiling For I will cleanse them says God This is another Mercy promised 3. It shall issue in a closer walking in all the ways and appointments of God So ver 24. They shall walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them They shall consult Divine Institutions and frame their Worship and Ways according to them And this is another Mercy promised 4. It shall have its effect in a closer Covenant union to God When his people are made one he will renew his Covenant with them make it more manifest that God and they are one A thing is said to be then done in Scripture when it is made more manifest Therefore it is said ver 23. So shall they be my people and I will be their God q. d. I will make it appear to all the World that these are the people of God and that I am the God of this people That is another Mercy promised 5. It shall issue in a great advantage and advance to the Kingdom of Christ And hath not Christ gained a great point among you in this union I know you can't but see it and say it Division shuts Christ out union lets him in This is a door opened in Heaven Rev. 4.1 Psal 24.7 for so the Church is called The everlasting doors are lifted up for the King of glory to come in You have prepared the way of the Lord to his Throne and given him an abundance entrance into his Kingdom by this thing Then the Lord Christ Reigns indeed when his Church and People serve him with one consent in one way and in one Spirit And therefore when the two sticks are made one it is said ver 24. David my servant shall be king over them i. e. shall reign in the Church more visibly more powerfully more gloriously than ever And therefore brethren lift up your heads and look for great things to result from this great work of making the two sticks one I am well perswaded that God hath a great design in this thing and that it will have a farther extent than you can foresee Heb. 12.27 How far it may reach to hasten the removal of all made things all false Worship all humane devisings who can tell This is plain in Scripture that Zions building Rev. 19.7 20. and Babylons ruine the Lambs Marrying and the Whores Burning do go together The Church Militant and Malignant are like a pair of Ballances or the Buckets of a Well as one goes up the other goes down The Spirit of the Lord can't be quieted till the white horses have fetched his people out of Babylon Zech. 6.6 8. and the black horses have speeded her destruction Rev. 18.4 8. When the voice from Heaven once calls Gods people out of her wrath from
Heaven will quickly fall upon her But whatever the effect of this Dispensation of God be without I am perswaded it will be great within And therefore look for some glorious appearance of Christ both in your Churches and Ministry as the result and blessed fruit of it For 6. It shall be attended with great Church Mercies So it is said ver 26 27. I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them my Tabernacle also shall be with them What is this Sanctuary the Septuagint render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my holy things It imports Purity of Gospel Worship That in Ezek. 43.11 explains it Shew them the form of the house and the fashion thereof and the going out and the comings in thereof and all the ordinances thereof and all the Laws thereof and write it in their sight that they may keep the whole form thereof and all the ordinances thereof and do them This is setting his Sanctuary and Tabernacle in the midst of us And this receives farther light from that of John Rev. 21.2 3. When he saw new Jerusalem coming down from God then he heard a voice out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them Are not these great Mercies 7. Nay it is such a Union as shall have its effect in a great increase Division is a scattering judgment Gen. 49.7 I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel But union and concord are blessed with increase When were the Churches multiplied but when they were at peace and walked together in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost Acts 9.31 Therefore God here doth not only promise to make them one but so to make them out that they shall thereby be many ver 26. I will multiply them And therefore sing O barren thou that didst not bear Isa â—4 1 3. for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left and thy seed shall make the desolate Cities to be inhabited And this is another Mercy here promised O the many Mercies that are the birth of this one Mercy And therefore if the two sticks are made one give the glory to him who hath made them one and hath said they shall be one in his hand Psal 118.23 For it the Lords doing and should be marvellous in our eyes And that the wonderful work of God may be to you matter of lasting joy give me leave to direct about it a little 1. Labour to manifest this union If God hath made the two Sticks one let it appear that they are one Make it evident by seeking each others welfare rejoyce in the gifts and graces and successes of others as if they were our own contributing your counsels assistance sympathy and prayers for the common good When we live and act as they that have but one Essence and Interest this makes the union manifest and shews that we are in a sense one as God and Christ are one 2. Use all means to preserve the union God hath made the two sticks one and he looks you should preserve the oneness You come hardly by it Non minor est virtus c. don t let it go it hath cost many prayers to obtain it and therefore we should spare no cost to preserve it What is hardly got should not be easily lost It is as much a Duty to endeavour to keep it as it was to seek it Indeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 Need I use any Motives to press this Motive 1. How many unities doth the Apostle urge as Arguments for the maintaining this Unity All things in Religion are reduced to one that the people of God may be one and abide one Eph. 4 4. There is one body and one spirit one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all How many Ones are here to move the People of God to be one 1. There is one Body As Christ had but one natural Body so he hath but one Mystical Christ hath many Members but he hath but one body and all that believe in Christ are that one body Now how monstrous is it for the Members of the same Body to fight one against another to rend and tare one another for the Hand to pluck out the Eye the Mouth to tear the Hand c. What nearer then Members of the same Body Brethren that have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the same Womb have been divided in Interest and Affections and have defaced all feelings of Nature You have instances of this in Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau 1 Cor. 12.25 But it is not so with Members of the same Body They care one for another and perform their several Offices for the common good Now ye are not only Friends and Brethren but Members of one Body 2. There is one Spirit As all the natural Members of the same Body have but one and the same Soul so all the Members of the Mystical Body of Christ have one and the same Spirit One Spirit to inlighten and teach one Spirit to sanctifie and one Spirit to direct and lead Why then should they not have one heart and one way when they are taught and led by one Spirit Is he not the Spirit of Love and Meekness 3. There is one hope of our Calling i. e. One Heaven our hoped for Glory to which all are called There is one Inheritance for all the Saints and why should theer not be one Heart in them that have one Inheritance 4. There 's one Lord and that is the Lord Christ whom we all worship and serve And shall fellow Servants differ that have the same Lord Is Christ divided 1 Cor. 1.13 5. There is one Faith One Systeme of Christian Doctrine and if their be but one Faith why should we not be united therein in one judgment 6. There is one Baptism This is that Sacrament whereby we are distinguished from the unbelieving World and incorporated into the Body of Christ As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And shall we by our discords unbaptize our selves by dividing from that Body into which we were baptized 7. There is one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in all All these are to be restrained to the Church Father of all by Regeneration above all by his Dominion through all by his Presence and special Providence in all by his Spirit and Grace And shall not we be one that have one God Shall he be over us and through us and in us and should not this be an Argument to preserve Union among us Motive 2. This is one great end of all Christs undertakings It was one end of his coming into the World That in the fulness of time
he might gather together in one all things in Christ. Eph. 1.10 It was one end of his Ministry and therefore he doth so frequently inculcate it These things I command you that ye love one another John 15.17 and John 13.34 35. It was much the matter of his Prayer for Believers That they all may be one He urges it again and again no less then four times in three Verses John 17.21 21 23. It was one end of his Death to gather together in one the children of God that are scattered abroad John 11.50 See Ephes 2.14 15 16. It was one end of his ascension and pouring out of his Spirit It was not only to unite us to God but to one another He is the great uniting principle therefore the oneness of Believers is called the unity of the Spirit Eph. 4.3 You see how much the Heart of Christ was set upon this oneness among his People Is this no motive 3. This is an evident badge a manifest character of our Discipleship to Christ John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one another But if ye do not whose Disciples will ye be known to be then 4. Let that of the Psalmist be a motive How good and pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity Some things are good but they are not pleasant as Afflictions Some things are pleasant but they are not good as Sins and Corruptions Some things are neither good nor pleasant as Envy and Malice But Unity among Brethren is good and pleasant and so hath in it a double excellency for which it should be sought and imbraced 5. It is an evidence that God is accomplishing the latter day promises upon you Zeph. 3.9 Then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent And Zech. 14.9 In that day shall the Lord be one and his name one What day is that When the Lord shall be King over all the Earth 6. Nothing puts a greater beauty and glory upon you in the eyes of others then this Cant. 6.9 My dove my undefied is but one she is the only one of her mother she is the choice one of her that bare her And what follows The daughters saw her and blessed her yea the Queens and Concubines and they praised her Who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the moon clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners 7. This is that which secures the presence of God with you Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13.11 These are some of the many Motives I might urge for the preserving this Union which is so great a Duty upon all the Churches but more especially upon you that are their guides and leaders you are to go before them in it as the he goats of the Flock Therefore you should be the great examples of it The Faces of the Cherubims in the Temple looked one towards another Which some think signified the agreement that should be among the Ministers of the Gospel Exod. 15.31 32. So the six branches of the golden Candlestick joyn'd all in one which intimates that they who hold out the light of Truth to others should be one among themselves Your Place Calling Office and Work wherewith God hath be trusted you do with a loud voice call you to this More then the saving your own Souls lies upon your hands The Glory of Christ the promoting his Name and Interest the building up his Church the inlarging his Kingdom and Dominion are the great part committed to you Are not your Names among the Angels who are to pour out the Vials upon the Earth For it is the vengeance of the Temple and the Vials are in the hands of the Angels that come out of the Temple Now I pray mark how they are clothed in pure and white linnen and their breasts girded with golden girdles Rev. 15.6 This denotes Purity Peace and Unity And how must these Vials be poured out By Preaching the everlasting Gospel And pray mind the Preaching the everlasting Gospel is said to be the work but of one Angel Rev. 14.6 and yet the pouring out the Vials is the work of seven to shew their unitedness in the Gospel and cause of Christ against Antichrist Brethren What design God may have to honour you in making use of your Gifts and Learning and Zeal for dethroning the Beast and promoting the Kingdom of Christ who can tell But this I can tell that it can never be done but by a Spirit of Love and Union and should we not labour to preserve it Quest I but how shall it be done Answ 1. Labour to remove all the causes of division Look back and see what root our discords sprang from James 4.1 Come they not hence even of our lusts Whatever you find to have been the cause of them whether Spiritual Pride or a Contentious Disposition or an affectation of Singularity or errour of Opinion or admiration of Mens Persons or a sourness of Spirit or an ambition of drawing Disciples after us Let the cause be what it will it must be removed if you would have the Union preserved 2. Take heed of passing rigorous Censures on every light occasion and making the worst of matters In weighing the Actions of others be sure alwayes to cast in the allowance of Humane Frailty because it is that which you expect many grains of for your self when another holds the scale This austerity and sourness of Spirit is usually attended with a double mischief it hinders Union where it is indeavoured and it often breaks it where it is attained Those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that examine all things by the rigid rule of extream right are neither just nor wise They are not just to the Rule which requires Moderation and bearing and forbearing where the case needs it Nor are they wise for themselves For such Solomon sayes trouble their own flesh Prov. 11.17 3. Take heed of impropriating Christ to a party A common evil but a great one It was the sin of the Church of Corinth Every one of you saith I am of Paul 1 Cor. 1.12 and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Now the Apostle reproves them all as well them that said I am of Christ as any of the rest But why did he reprove them Is it not a Duty to be of Christ and to own him above all Yes in a way of Union and Communion but not in a way of Faction and Division We are to own Christ in a way of preference above all but not in opposition to any We are to exalt him as the Author of our Faith but not so as to flight the instruments of our Faith which is the sin the Apostle here reproves They were for prefering one Minister to the