A Motive to Peace and Love Delivered in a SERMON At Pauls the first Lords Day in June Anno Dom. 1648. By Humfry Chambers D. D. and Pastor of Pewsy in the County of Wilts Isaiah 32.17 The work of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever LONDON Printed for John Wright at the Kings Head in the old Bayley 1649. To the Right Honourable Philip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery Lord Warden of the Stannaries and Knight of the Noble Order of the Garter My Lord BEing pressed by the desire of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London notified under the hand of the Clerke of that Court to print a Sermon which I lately preached at Pauls I was willing rather to deny mine owne judgement which prohibited then theirs who called for the publication of the same Such as it is I presume to offer it unto your Lordship and under your name to the worlds view because I know that the Argument thereof suiteth with that noble disposition which your Lordship upon all occasions expresseth to promote Peace Love and Christian unity in these distracted destroying times Besides I was glad to catch at any opportunity to make some publick Record of those many great undeserved favours which your Lordship is pleased to heap upon me and oblige me in the strongest bonds of thankfulnesse and duty ever to be and appeare to the uttermost Your Lordships most humble Servant and Chaplaine Humfry Chambers A Sermon Preached at PAULS the first Lords Day in June 1648. 5. Galatians Ver. 15. But if ye bite and deuour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another THe words are an Apostolicall Caveat to a dividing short-sighted people who being in the fire of contention either could not or would not look forward to the ashes of confusion which they were dissolving themselves into The Galatians before the breaking out of the light of the Gospell upon them were as other Gentiles in darknesse and in the shadow of death They knew not God Gal. 4.8 but then did service to those which by nature are no gods But when the blessed Gospell of Jesus Christ reported to them the glad tidings of everlasting salvation and blessednesse to be imparted in Jesus Christ to all that beleeve in his Name they did at first happily embrace that saving Doctrine and did run well in the acknowledgement of the same as the Apostle bare them witnesse in the beginning of the seventh Verse of this Chapter You did run well saith the Apostle But they were soone stopped or stagger'd in their course by certaine Teachers of errors and such as brought in destroying divisions amongst them of whom the Apostle collectively wrote as of one man with admiration and indignation in the end of the seventh Verse VVho did hinder you that you should not obey the truth And then in the sweet voyce of a loving extenuation he did assure them in the eighth Verse that this crosse-worke this mis perswasion contrary to the Gospell what ever the Authors thereof pretended was not of God This persuasion commeth not of him that calleth you the Apostle left them to make out his abrupt speech and to conclude that it was from that great Make-bate the Prince of darknesse acting in his transformed Servants against God his truth and people These subtile Agents of the Prince of darkenesse the troublers of the Galatians however at first they were for number but contemptible yet the Apostle shewed that not resisted not ejected they were likely and might quickly prove sufficient to corrupt the whole Congregation with their pernitious error A little leaven saith the Apostle using a Proverbiall forme of speech at the ninth Verse leavens the whole lumpe intending that a little Doctrine contrary to the Gospell carried on by a few subtile Teachers may soone sowre corrupt and undoe a whole Congregation Howbeit that those who were tender of heart newly brought to the faith of the Gospell might not be grieved at this speech as if they had been in danger of being utterly corrupted and sowred with the false Doctrine which was brought in amongst them to their everlasting destruction the Apostle comforted them in the beginning of the tenth Verse and assured them confidently that that God who had graciously called them to the saving knowledge of his truth would powerfully confirme them therein unto the end I have confidence in you saith the Apostle through the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded and he was as confident that the Achan the troubler of the people of God who ever he was how high soever he looked should be troubled by the God of Heaven and should at last beare his deserved judgement for so he expressed himselfe in the end of the tenth Verse But he that troubleth you shall beare his judgement whosoever he be These troublers of the Galatians belike the more to enduce them to entertaine their Doctrine of the necessity of legall Circumcision and the universall observation of the Law of Moses for life and righteousnesse did suggest that the Apostle Paul himselfe whatever he did at Galatia yet at other places did likewise preach even as they the same Doctrine of Circumcision and of the necessity of universall obedience to the Law of Moses for righteousnesse unto justification and life but the Apostle put this by as a wicked false slander really confuted by his constant continuance in the contrary Doctrine of the Gospell even unto persecution for had the Apostle declined the Doctrine of the Gospell in any place why should he suffer for the same as he did in every place Or why should the Jewes be enraged every where against him if the Apostle had blemished so much the Crosse of Christ in his Doctrine any where as to have peiced up the saving vertue thereof with the additionall supply of legall ordinances and obedience Thus the Apostle confuted the slanderous suggestion of the false Teachers against him at the eleventh Verse And I if I yet preach circumcision why doe I yet suffer persecution then is the offence of the crosse ceased and thereupon in a holy heat and height of spirit and zeale for God and for the good of his people the Apostle wished at the twelfth Verse that these troublers of the Galatians were cut off I would that they were cut off that trouble you whither this cutting off were by the hand of Heaven or by the hand of the Civill Magistrate or by the hand of Church Censures I now dispute not plaine it is that the Apostles holy heart could not brooke an indifferent liberty for those that were the Patrons of errors contrary to the Gospell of Jesus Christ to invenome and destroy the Church of God by them he wished to them not a lawlesse freedome and toleration but a speedy removall and abscision he wished that they were cut off that they might not be the corrupters that they might not
in those wicked lusts which Warre within them against the law of God The multitudes of men lye under a wicked feare of having the yoake of Jesus Christ put upon them and if the truth were spoken out what it is that makes many so much discontented and enraged against Presbyteriall Discipline it is clearely this Because they be afraid that if that should prevaile they should not hold the name and outward priviledges of Christianitie together with their sinfull lusts with so much freedome as formerly they have done It is a matter of just and great lamentation at this day to see how the most struggle with their heads tongues and hands to make good a libertie for their lusts and in that regard rise up in an hostile enmity against all those that are any wayes active or instrumentall for their restraint And this is doubtlesse a head spring of our civill imbroylments at this time Thus we have learned from the Scripture foure severall causes of our present contention viz. The open practise of notorious wickednesse proud ambition self-seeking and sinfull lusts maintained in their regencie I come now to speake something of the course which is to be taken for remedie of our sore maladie of civill contention but I must doe that very breifly that I may reserve some time in the second place to bewaile our irreligious contentions in matter of religion That we may by the mercy of God attaine deliverance from this civill bitternesse and enmity I shall direct you to the meanes which may be of force to remove the forementioned causes of this our present miserie remove the cause you cure the disease and might the causes of our contentions which I have before pointed at be taken away I doubt not but our enmitie would soone be changed into amitie and our bloodie contention into sweet affection That these evill causes of our civill contentions may be removed the servants of God ought to mourne over them in private in their addresses to the Lord according to that of the Prophet Jeremiah If you will not heare my soule shall weepe in secret for your pride Mourne all ye that are Gods hidden ones mourne in secret for the open wickednesse the pride the selfishnesse the sinfull lusts which prevaile in the land Who can tell whether Childrens teares shed in secret may not prevaile with the Father of mercie for the removing of those publique sinnes with which their righteous soules are grieved from day to day The servants of God ought to mourne over these sinnes in speciall confessions when they appeare in dayes of solemne humiliation before the Lord At such times the servants of God should with Ezra take shame to themselves and lye in the dust for these notorious sins this pride this selfishnesse these lusts which worke our ruine Ezras 9.6.7 Ezra 10.22 When Ezra bewailed the sinne of the people God poured out a spirit of reformation upon the people were our publique mournings serious we might finde the Lord in his returnes equally gracious Thirdly the servants of God are earnestly to pray for a removall of these sinnes both in a way of remission and reformation Turne to the Lord saith the Prophet take ye words unto you and turne to the Lord Hos 14 2. and say take away iniquitie and receive us graciously and we will offer to thee the fruit of our lips God taketh away iniquitie only for this his mercy sake yet will for this mercy be sought unto by his servants that he may afford it and therefore Gods people should fix their eyes on the Lord Christ as that mediator by whom their prayers are made effectuall with their God and Father and then bend themselves to pray downe asmuch as may be in themselves and others these crying sinnes which are the causes of our publique miseries The servants of God should endeavour the removall of these sinnes first in themselves and then in others It is a preposterous course to be tampering with the reformation of every one before a man begins with himselfe It concernes the people of God first of all to labour against these corruptions in themselves and then in others according to the Apostles rule Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse but rather reprove them First a Christian is to looke that he hath no fellowship with workes of darkenesse himselfe and then as occasion is offered to reprove them in others unto all which duties beleevers are made sufficient not through their owne power Phil. 4.13 but as being able to doe all things through Christ that strengthneth them and were this course taken for the removing of these corruptions which are the occasion of our miserable contentions I cannot but beleeve that wee might with abundance of comfort expect to have the spirit of virulencie cast out of the land at least wise so farre cast out as that it might not worke so desperately as at present to the working of our ruine And now though I know that there are but too too many contentions in the land yet give me leave to presse one contention more upon you a new one New things take Oh that this new motion might finde assent and acceptance according as it deserves I hope a contention might be named which could like Aarons rod swallow up all those other contentions which the infernall Master of Magicians hath throwne in amongst us The contention I speake of and move for is this that every man would contend to goe before each other in the example of a reall reformation in regard of the forementioned and the like hatefull and hurtfull evills which lye at the root of our contentions and of all the miseries which doe prevaile in the land This Christian contention might it once take would take up our unchristian contentions at the roots and bring us after all our tossings to that faire Haven of civill rest where we would bee And now I would gladly speake two words more to carry on yet further an endeavour for the removall of our contentions and for the promoting of an happy civill peace amongst us The first is this Let every one that can pray to the Father in the name of his Sonne pray for this blessing I know many talke of prayer that know not how to goe to God by Christ to lay a prayer at his feet I forbid not such to pray not knowing how farre the voyce of nature groaning under pressures may prevaile with a faithfull and gracious Creator but let every one that can pray in the name of our prevailing Mediator who hath a promise of gracious audience pray for the peace of our ferusalem pray for the peace of the land of our Nativitie and habitation pray for the peace of the Kingdome and pray in faith Despondencie of heart deadeth prayâ—r Jam. 5.15 faith in Gods power and faithfulnesse animates prayer The prayer of faith shall save saith the Apostle in the way of instrumentall efficacie
that is effectually serve Gods saving mercy for the good of his people pray therefore earnestly all ye that can pray unto the God of Heaven and pray in faith for this needed mercy of a civill peace to be afforded to our land though I doe not say that such should pray in an absolute assurance of the particular mercy presently to be enjoyed yet they may and should pray in a faithfull dependance upon the power goodnesse and faithfulnesse of the God of Heaven hoping that the Lord who hath done so much for us already will at the length answer the prayers of his servants and crowne their desires with that peace and civill union which they groane to see established in the land and in the Kingdomes annexed unto it One word more that this peace may be premoted Follow peace with all men with that cautionarie addition and holinessâ— Universall peace is to be pressed after as farre as possibly may stand with due regard to holinesse Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord This holinesse here pointed at by the Apostle I take to be the just bound of that if it be possible in the Epistle of Paul to the Romans If it â—e possible as much as in you is Ro. 12.18 live peaceably with all men There ought to be in Gods servants as farre as respect to holinesse will beare all possible endeavour to obtaine and maintaine peace with all men I presse not this to interrupt the course of judgement according to righteousnesse Amos 5.24 may it ever flow out like a streame in the land and overflow all malicious unreconcileable enemies to the peace and union both of this land and the Kingdomes annexed whoever they be but with this proviso that the streame of judgement according to righteousnesse may run in the channell of safe and saving mercie as much as may be Zac. 7.9 considering that there shall be judgement without mercy to him that shewes no mercy and mercy rejoyces against judgement As farre as a due respect to holinesse Iam. 2.13 and judgement according to righteousnesse doth admit there ought to be in all a conscionable pursuance of peace with all men and I suppose that a civill peace can never be well expected in a Scripture way in this Kingdome unlesse the holy Ghosts counsell be followed herein Now then for you that are the Inhabitants of this great City not to reproach you by ripping up any of those flaming contentions which appeare amongst you the Lord avert the evill which they threaten for his mercies sake let me speake unto you as one that desires seriously the peace and welfare of this place be exhorted to pray for and to pursue peace with all those who are together with your selves Members of this City as far as a due regard to righteousnesse and holinesse may possibly beare Doe not you see that a sweeping destruction is ready to invade you at the wide gate of your divisions and let the Inhabitants of this land be perswaded with due respect to righteousnesse and holinesse to follow peace with all those that are together with themselves Members of this State Let every man in his place study to bring the Parliament the Army the City the severall Counties and if it be possible the King and Kingdome the head and Members of our State into a bond of peace and love that there may be a sweet joyning of all together for the mutuall defence securitie and benefit one of another and for the good of the whole And for those that are the Inhabitants of the three Kingdomes let them all be perswaded to pray for and pursue a stable peace betwixt the nations that these three Lands may be as a threefold Cord twisted together in the hand of Gods mercy to such a strength as shall not need to feare the force or furie of any publique or common Enemy It were very happy if this speech of the Apostle in my text might generally ring throughout the Kingdome yea throughout the Kingdomes If ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye he not consumed one of another There is a very great danger of a common consumption whilst men goe on in so much particular bitternesse fomenting civill divisions and contentions amongst themselves It was the Prophet Habakkuks complaint There are that bring in strife and contention Hab. 1.3 And are there not such amongst us are there not such in the the Kingdome in the Kingdomes at this day who like bellowes filled with the arie of Hell doe continually breath out lying suggestions and studied intimations of grounds of jealousie amongst brethren for no other end but to blow up an everlasting contention in the land and betweene the Kingdomes that they whom God hath greatly blessed may at the length be sadly ruined together shall such men be so diligent to divide and to de stroy and shall not every man that soves God and loves the Kingdom be awakâ—ned to presse on and pray for a peacefull union of Parlialiament City Army Country Magistracie Ministerie and if God have such a mercie in store for us of him with all whom we would be glad to enjoy as head of all in faithfulnesse and righteousnesse that there may be an union of all in the feare of God almighty to be really assistant one to another as fellow-members of the same State for the mutuall good and benefit one of another I shall say no more to this point but what you finde in the epistle of James namely That the wisedome which is from above Jam. 3.17 heavenly wisedom it is First pure then peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits without partialitie and without hipocrisie and the fruit of righteousnesse is sowne in peace of those that make peace Mat. 5.9 And blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the Children of God Therefore let all with a due respect unto the glory of the God of Heaven in maintenance of holinesse and righteousnesse which I lay still as the foundation and boundstone of our peace be ever carefull to promote and maintaine an universall civill peace in this and the annext Kingdomes which may be the foundation of comfort and safety to us and our posterities Thus I come to speake Unto the second kinde of biting and devouring which the Apostle had a speciall eye unto in my Text. And now I am to enter upon a very sad argument to mourne over the bitter railings and oppositions which mutually prevaile amongst many brethren joyning together in the confession of the same faith and worship of the same God But before I begin because I desire to speake plainely I shall endeavour to prevent all mistakes by laying downe in the enterance First that I doe not bewaile the zeale of any brethren who in a way of love and faithfulnesse doe give testimonie to the truth of Jesus
against those wicked damnable blasphemies and heresies and other notorious errours which like a smoake out of the bottomlesse pit are ready overshadow our land I know it is the duty of beleevers and ministers in speciall to contend for the faith which was once given to the Saints Iude 3. Nor Doe I bewaile the Christian zeale of any who with Christian moderation fervencie and sinceritie doe publiquely rebuke those publique sinnes which carry with them a direct opposition against truth and holinesse and stand condemned by the good word of God I know it is the duty of the Ministers of God so to doe they have a command for it 1 Tim. 5.20 Them that sinne rebuke before all that others also may feare Neither doe I bewaile the six'd stedfastnesse of the hearts of those who doe hold close unto truths those truths which they have formerly received and learned from the word of truth against all that contradict and oppose the same for it is not for Christians to childe it as the Apostles speakes in matters of religion Ephes 4.14 And to be tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Stabilitie of judgement becometh those that have received truths from the mouth of God Nor Doe I bewaile the endeavours of those who desire and labour to see Church-Discipline according to the word of God established with vigor and activitie in our land for the purging out of old leaven that we may be a new lumpe according to the certaine will and appointment of Jesus Christ by his Apostles 1 Cor. 5.7 Purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lumpe I would not be mistaken as if I did glance in the least at any such practises which are according to God and which are according to the rule and direction of the word of God But that which I intend to speake of I looke upon as a sorrowfull subject and such as no teares are sufficient to bewaile For there is beyond all this that insufferable rage and violent strife of tongues that railing and bitternesse appearing in our land amongst those who have good grounds to build Christian love and union upon that we have cause to blush if not to tremble at the mention of it I hope no man will say that this should be conceal'd I would it could be concealed but the truth is it is too late to talke of concealing that folly which is openly laid before the eyes of the world by many of those of all sides whom yet I dare not give up as men wholly destitute of unfained regard unto the living God I will not discusse how farre grace may lye at the root of that zeale which fleshly corruption may transport unto such a distemper as bringeth forth bitter railing against brethren that would be to long too speake of But this I say That whether it be from grace in part and corruption overcarrying it or whether it be from corruption only working under a pretence of grace evident it is that there is a palpable and grosse miscarriage in this kinde amongst us at this day to the dishonour of God and to the reproach of the Gospell and I doubt not but much to the weakening of the hands and hearts of those that feare the Lord I shall not adventure to presse farther into this point then I am sure you will or may easily goe along with me in testifying the truth of what I shall speake And in this which I shall now bewaile I 'le speake impartially I doe not know on either hand which of the differing parties amongst us is more or lesse guilty in regard of the miscarriage so notorious in this kinde doe not our streets ring and are not our stalls fill'd from day to day with * Certaine it is that some bookes which had truth for their center yet because they have wanted temperance modestie and urbanitie for their circumference have to the great prejudice of the truth hardened the adversarie in their errors and by their bitter invectives vvhetted them not only to defend themselves and to offend in the like but many times being thereby urged to write to defend the error it selfe to the hurt of many which otherwise might have vanished away without any contradiction bookes written with inke steeped in the gall of Hell and printed in the most unlovely Characters of bitternesse and despight it is so plaine posterities will reade the follie and madnesse of men amongst us In this kinde of men I say on all sides who doe in all their differences unhappily agree with might and maine to slander one another For whereas charity should cover a multitude of sinnes charity it selfe is cover'd and many as if they were strongly engaged thereunto studiously lay out the offences of brethren in print with some advantages yea lay on offences upon brethren with boldnesse which no eye but that which is dazeled with envious jea lousie no heart but that which is braced with malicious partialitie could ever have seene or adjudged them guilty of The miscarriage of many in this kinde at this time is such that charity it selfe is put often-times to the stresse to be charitable towards such men as doe please themselves in such uncharitable practises of this the servants of God may justly say that it is a laâ—â—â—â—tation I wish it may not be added and shall be for a lamentation Nor will recrimination serve to justifie any man in this kinde If one man be before another in bitter reprochings that will never justifie the injured person in paying the rayler againe in his owne coine and rebanding those scoffes and scornes which cannot without shame appeare or be made mention of amongst Christian Brethren The rule of Christianitie will never ply to this practise If one man be so mad as to fire his tongue at Hell for so the Apostle saith of a wicked tongue that it is a fire kindled at Hell and then spit he cares not whom in the face with scorching reproaches Sir Ed. Cook 5. pt â— of his reports ad Lector in this case a Christian man is bound so far to tender his owne esteeme yea Gods honour as in the words of meeknesse and of truth to quench if possible the slander that it may not blast his reputation and profession But no man is warranted to answer this spit-fire just in his owne hellish language and to straine againe to raise such reâ—roches against him as are likely to expose both to common scorne The rule for Christians is this Rom. 12.17.21 Render to no man evill for evill Be not overcome by evill but overcome evill with good A man will say why they provoke me provoke thee and was not the Lord Christ provoked he left his owne example for us to imitate who when he was revil'd reviled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but commited himselfe to him that Judgeth righteously 1 Pet. 2.21 It were an happy and
glorious victory worthy of a Christian indeed to tread such base revilings under foot and scorne to meet any miscarrying brother upon such a field as they have cause to be ashamed once to appeare in who are the servants of that blessed master who being reviled reviled not againe Howsoever therefore I deny not but that the servants of God may have their severall apprehensions in some Doctrinall or Practicall points of Religion and in their difference not be able to meete and in that distance be enforc'd one to adhere to one and another to another judgement and practice too in some circumstantialls of religion may not all this be done in love without railing-bitternesse without biting and devouring one another Must teeth of necessity come into the tongue-combate Cannot it possibly be that Christian men may argue either in word or writing by the Scriptures of God what is in difference betweene them but they must neede turne unchristian railers and expose each other and religion to boot unto common scorne Great cause we have in our saddest thoughts to bewaile this in the presence of God and to looke upon it as a hatefull evill that doth at this time strangely prevaile in this land Many great pretenders to religion there be now adays the maine of whose religion standeth in sleighting and reviling all those as utterly irreligious who doe not keepe peace with them in what they call religion and hence it is that so many religious persons in their owne esteeme at least doe most irreligiously breake out into this wicked course of biting and devouring such whom a little love would teach them to call brethren How glad would any Minister of Jesus Christ be might he apply a remedie to this maladie I dare not adventure upon any long discourse about this necessarie subject the time will not admit it but that I may briesly draw to an end I shall tender to you some Scripture prescriptions and I would be glad that they may be said unto mine owne and all our hearts that this miferable distemper which is among brethren may be removed The rules are these Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercie kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another Col. 3.12 if any man bave a quarrell one against another even as Christ forgave you so also doe you and above all these things put ye on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye are also called in one body and be ye thankfull Oh be thankfull let every one that knowes the Lord Jesus as his head be thankfull that he is called into one body with every one who is by the faith of the truth of the Gospell joyned to the Lord Iesus It may be that differing apprehensions concerning some truths or practises of religion may arise beteewne him and some other persons who doe notwithstaning together with himselfe hold fast the faith of the truth of the Gospell Let him yet be thankfull that he is brought together with them into the same body and then consider how peacefully and under what a strict law of love it becometh those to live that are fellow members of Jesus Christ and of one another in his mysticall body Let nothing be done through strife and vaine glorie 2 Rule Phil. 2.3.4 but in lowlinesse of minde let each esteeme other better then themselves looke not every man on his owne things but every man also on the things of others Were self-love and self-seeking once brought to the grave brotherly love would soone receive life and a glorious resurrection amongst us Let us not be desirous of vaine glory 3 Rule Gal. 5.26 provoking one another envying one another Might Ambitions Envyings and Provocations which are the very soule of Church-Contentions be laid aside amongst brethren Brethren I meane who have a good right to that name amongst Christians by holding to the form of sound Christian Doctrine and to the Worship and Ordinances of God taught in the Scriptures might I say ambitions envyings and bitter provocations be laid aside it would be a blessed root of brotherly love and Christian sweetnesse amongst us Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works 4 Rule Heb. 10.24 25. not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Might unhappy separations be avoyded and might wicked rayling contentions which tend unto wrath and enmity be laid downe and on the contrary side the Servants of God be induced instead of provoking to wrath to provoke one another to love and good workes we might no doubt expect a suddaine change of the face of the Church of God in our Land no lesse glorious then of midnights darkenesse into a noone-dayes brightnesse Me thinkes an answer might be taken from this place to that Apology which many are apt to make for their virulency against Brethren why say they they provoke us to anger by words and actions and can we possibly live in love and peace with them Grant all that these pretend say that brethren be so vile so forgetfull of their duty as to provoke others greatly unto wrath yet should not this put other Christian Brethren from a serious endeavour according to their duty to provoke even those who provoke them to wrath to love and to good workes And were this carriage to be found amongst Christian Brethren certainly we should see a blessed and happy union of Beleevers effected in our Land yea we should see the Church of God amongst us to looke out as the expression is in the Song of Solomon Beautifull as Tirzâ—h comely as Jerusalem Cant. 6.4 terrible as an Army with banners If an Army be at varience in it selfe no Childe needs feare them but if they keep to their Banners and march in order and unity an Army is terrible to the stoutest of men So would the Church of God amongst us be if the Servants of God did according to duty keepe up unto a blessed union and unity of love affection and tender regard one to another conscionably provoking each other to love and to good workes This would make the Church of God amongst us Looke forth as the Moone cleare as the Sun Cant. 6.10 and terrible as an Army with banners I 'le goe no further but leave all this to Gods blessing upon your further consideration desiring that there may be some fruit of love Civill love and Spirituall love arising unto you from what hath been spoken this day Consider of it seriously I beseech you in regard of both unions Civill and that which is Religious that division threatens destruction and embowelled contention utter ruine I 'le now therefore only borrow the Apostles Incitation you may call it his Adjuration for the earnestnesse of it to the Philippians and apply it to you according to the present necessity Phil. 2.12 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort in love if any fellowship in the Spirit if any bowells and mercies fulfill yee my joy that yee be like minded having the same love being of one accord and of one minde If there be any thing of Christ any thing of the Spirit any thing of love deare unto you for these things sake I beseech you that you would study to have the same love to be of the same minde that you may be of one accord and may preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and now end all with that valedictory advice of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 2.13 Finally brethren farewell be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peaâ—e shall be with you FINIS VVarner Major Martis vicesim die Junij 1648. Annoque regni Regis Caroli Angliae c. XXIV IT is Ordered by this Court that Mr. Goodwin Dr. Chambers Mr. Cadworth and Mr. Herle be desired by Mr. Hynde from this Court to print their Sermons of late made in Pauls Church respectively upon the Lords Day before the Lord Mayor Aldermen and others there assembled the same being very well approved of and thought fit to be published Michel