Paul for the Romans Now the God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Iesus that yee may with one minde and with one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. Id ipsum sapite Be of one mind And so much for that unity and unanimity in matters of Faith wee come now to that externall Peace and Concord which is required of all Christians in those words In pace agite Live in peace where the Apostle gives us to understand that there had beene divisions and contentions among the Corinthians as may appeare in divers places as 1. Cor. 1.11 It hath beene declared to me of you my brethren by them which are of the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you So Chap. 3. verse 3 4. For yee are yet carnall for whereas there is amongst you envying strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnall Once more 1. Cor. 11.18 When you come together in the Church I heare that there be divisions among you and I partly beleeve it Now the blessed Apostle to cure this Intemperancy brings this as a soveraigne Antidote In pace agite Live in peace O quà m bonum jucundum c. O how good and pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to live together in Vnity There be some things that be Bona sed non jucunda Good but not pleasant as Patience in Adversity there be other things that be Iucunda sed non bona Pleasant but not good as voluptuousnesse in prosperity there be other things that be Nec bona nec jucunda Neither good nor pleasant as envy and worldly sorrow and there be some things that be Et bona jucunda Both good and pleasant and such is that Peace that is here commended O how good and pleasant a thing it is It is like the precious oyntment upon the head that ran downe upon the beard even Aarons beard and went downe to the skirts of his garments This Oyntment is Peace and it is upon the Head of Aaron that is Christ who is the the Head of the Body the Church and from thence it ran downe to the Beard that is to his Apostles the Beard being a signe of Virility and neere the Head as They were to Christ. And it went downe to the Skirts of his garments His garments that is the Church As I live saith the Lord thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament and bind them to thee as a Bride doth And by the skirts of this garment is meant every inferiour Saint Such is the large extent of this precious ointment Unity and Peace What then shall wee thinke of the wrangling and brawling spirits of these dayes that are of such a salt fiery humour that they can live peaceably with no man like flax or gun-powder the the least sparke will catch them that will strive and contend in law like the Frog and the Mouse for the marish ground till the Kite sweep them both away I mean till the Lawyer hath eaten them both up Surely these must needs be the last dayes since Love and Charity is grown so cold for you shall scarcely finde a Parish which is not divided you shall hardly come into a family that is not disjoynted rare are the friends whom we dare put trust in but wee are all in pieces all divided like Iacobs troop into divers companies like Labans sheep of divers colours some white some black some speckled some of this minde some of that some of one opinion some of another we are a Chaos of confusion a Tohu and Bohu like the people scattered over the land of Egypt to gather stubble and to pick up straws You may reade Iudg. 5. That for the divisions of Reuben their were great thoughts of heart That was but for one Tribe scattered from the rest what thoughts of hart then may there be for the division of a whole Kingdome nay of Kingdomes What thoughts of heart when Nation shall rise up against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome The Heathen were wont to say of the Christians of the Primitive Church Ecce ut se invicem diligunt See how they love one another Love was then the badge and cognisance of a true Christian but now it may be trulier said Ecce ut se invicem oderunt see how they hate one another see how they malice and enuy and contend with one another I wonder where we may now finde a David and a Ionathan an Eusebius and a Pamphilus a Ruth and a Naomi where shall we now seek Vnam animam in duobus corporibus inclusam one soule shut up in two bodies where shall we looke for such as where the Apostles that had but one heart and one soule No no those golden dayes are past and now are dog-dayes come every one biting and barking at his Neighbour not like Christians not like Brethren not like Saints but like Beares and Tygres wee teare one another like Scythians and Canibals we eat up one another as void of all naturall affection O my beloved is this Christianity Is this to bee members of the same body Is this to bee sonnes of the same Father Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us Why then do wee deale treacherously every man against his brother But I hope better things of you and let not I beseech you my hopes be frustrate but follow you peace with all men especially with those that are of the houshold of Faith Be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitifull be courteus not rendring evill for evill or rayling for rayling but contrariwise blessing knowing that you are thereunto called that you should inherit a blessing Have salt then within your selves and have peace one with another remembring that God is the God of Peace Christ is the Prince of Peace the Angels are the Messengers of Peace the Ministers are Preachers of Peace the Magistrates are Defenders of Peace This This was Christs legacy that he left his Desciples Pacem relinquo vobis My Peace I leave with you It was bequeathed from Christ to his Apostles and from his Apostles to us for so commonly they conclude their Epistles Grace be unto you and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Peace it is the language of Heaven the Angels speake no other then Glory be to God on High on Earth Peace The second thing in the World is Peace one only thing before it the Glory of God yet Glory and Peace must be sung together no Glory on High will be admitted without peace upon earth no Gift on His Altar will be accepted before Peace be made in the earth first go your way and
make peace on earth and that done come againe and you shall be accepted to give glory to Heaven and not before Have Peace therefore with all men especially with those that are of the houshold of Faith with all men not absolutely but upon these conditions The Apostle tels us the first Follow peace saith he and holinesse they must go still together never purchase peace with the losse of holinesse If I must by keeping peace with men warre with my God and offend my Conscience and betray the Truth I will resolve to be contentious still and so farre from following of peace that I will proclaime open warre and hang out my flags of defiance against all the world I will refuse and defie that peace that cannot be had but upon such hard tearms I am sure I have a good warrant for 't the Prophet David was of this minde hee accounted Peace a good and a comely thing but it must be among Brethren those that hate God he will hate they that are Gods enemies shall be his Enemies Doe I not hate them O God that hate thee and am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee Yea I hate them with a perfect hatred I account them my enemies Psal. 139.21 22 And yet cum odio habemus vitia personas prosequimur charitate saith Peter Martyr Though we hate their Vices we must love their Persons otherwise it will prove a devillish malice and not a Godly hatred hate therefore the Sin but love the Man Secondly Harken to the Apostle Rom. 12.18 If it be possible and as much as in you lies live peaceably with all men Fac qaod tuum est ostende alacritatem animi promptitudinem Do what lies in you shew your cheerfulnesse and readines of minde to entertain Peace It 's true it is not in you to put into other men a peaceable disposition but see that there be no stand on your behalfe and then your dutie is discharged Lastly This must be understood as meant in a private or personall cause that we are thus eagerly to follow and pursue after peace Otherwise if the cause be publique or doe concerne others if it tend to the undoing or betraying of our neighbour in such cases as these a man hath a Sanctuary provided him even the Law which hee may lawfully flie unto yet so as hee still remember to ensue Peace and be as ready upon any reasonable termes to lay hold on it This is a Doctrine never out of season but especially at this time when Kingdomes halfe disjoynted are united I pray God continue it especially at this time when all the World are together by the eares and wee in safety especially at this time when you are to receive the communion of the body and bloud of our Saviour Christ which is the Sacrament of Peace and a Seale of our union and communion with Christ our Head and with one another where you are all to eat of the same spirituall meat where you are all to drink of the same spirituall drink when then should you be friends and at peace among your selves if not now I require and charge you before him that knoweth the hearts and tryeth the reins of all men that if any of you have a grudging against me against him against anyone that you doe not dare to approach that holy Table before you disgorge your stomacks lay down your malice and be friends First goe and be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy Gift Thus if you performe the Apostles precept you shall not faile of his promise Be of one minde and live in peace and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you Some take this for a blessing others for a promise it may be either or both for first not only the power to Pray to Preach to give the Sacraments but also the power to blesse you that are Gods people is annexed and is a branch of Ours of the Priests office Thus God commanded Aaron and his sonnes to blesse the people Numb 6. Thus our blessed Saviour blessed his Disciples at his departure from them Luke 24. He lift up his hands and blessed them and this was the custome in the Primitive Church at the end of the Liturgie ever to dismisse the assembly with a blessing before which was pronounced not a man of them would stir like good Iacob Non demittam te nisi benedixeris mihi I will not let thee go till thou hast blessed me Esau himselfe lift up his voice and wept for a blessing yea He cryed with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his Father blesse me even me also O my Father Such a vertue held they in it but an evil custome hath prevailed with our people away they go without blessing as if it were not worth the taking with them I marvell how they will be inheritors of the blessing hereafter that seeme to set so little by it now if they ever intend to heare Come yee blessed me thinks they should not now runne from the blessing none of the Apostles did so but one and that was Iudas and you know what followed hee went out and hanged himself But as this is a wish or blessing of the Apostle so it is likewise a promise upon the performance of those duties where you may observe that as God is wont to proportionate mens punishments to their sins so doth he heer their rewards to their vertues if wee live in love and peace the God of Love and Peace wil live with us I would we were but truly possest of the greatnesse of this blessing I would we did but know what it were to have God to be with us not as hee was with Moses in a fiery Bush not as he was with the Israelites upon Mount Sinai in Thunder and Lightning but as hee was with Elias in a still small voice in Love and Peace And contrariorum eadem est ratio If it be so great a blessing to the godly to have God with them then what an ineffable curse is it to the wicked to have God from them and so have all they that live in strife and discord they are without God in the world here and they shall be without him hereafter if you will credit Saint Paul who saith that they that live in hatred variance emulations strife seditions heresies envyings c. shall not inherit the Kingdome of God If it be possible therefore and as much as in you lies live peaceably with all men yea seeke peace and ensue it what ever it cost you whither whether pleasure or profit or credit or whatever else slack not nor give over till thou hast atchieved it So will I make bold to make good the promise of the Apostle to you and it shall be my finall Benediction Deus Charitatis the God of Love and Peace shall be with you He shall be
with your bodies they shall be satisfied He shall be with your souls they shall be in peace He shall be with your estates they shall be secure He shall be with your good name that shall be inviolable He shall be with you in this life you shall live in Peace and you shall die in Peace and He shall be with you in the life to come where you shall eternally enjoy the beatificall Vision of the Prince of Peace Grant this O Father thou God of Love and Peace for thy Sonnes sake Jesus Christ the Righteous to whom with the Father the holy Spirit three persons and one God be ascribed all Honour and Glory Prayse and Thanksginow and for ever Amen FINIS Mandetur-typis haec Concio cui Titulus An Apostolicall Injunction for Vnity and Peace Ex adibus Fulham dei August 8. 1639. Sa. Baker The division Finally Oecum iâ— locum Psal. 1.3 Luke 13.8 Esay 53.1 Exod. 5.17 1 Cor. 9.16 Matth. 23.4 Brethren Gen. 4.9 Gen. 13.8 Rom 9.3 Liv. Flor. Gen. 13. 1 Tim. 5.4 Plato Cicero Livius St. Aug. de divers Ser. 9. Matth. 12. ult S. August Phil. 2 5. Gal. 6.10 Farewell Luke 1.28 Homer Od. Gen 24.60 Gen. 28.3 Numb 6.24 25 26. Gen. 42. Deut. 32. Ruth 2.4 Ephes. 6.23 1 Thes. 4. ult 2 Tim. 4. ult 1 Pet. 5. ult Jude 3. Psal. 10.7 Rom. 3.14 Rom. 12.14 Psal. 109.17 2 Sam. 16. In Psal. 119. S. Hieron ad Demetriada 1 Cor. 12.10 Act. 8.20 1 John 5.16 Secunda pars 1 Be perfect Aquin. in Matth 5. ult Phil. 3.12 Verse 5. Jam. 2.10 Jam. 3.2 Psal. 19.12 Deut. 6.5 Legem implere id est non concupiscere quorsuÌ„ ergo hoc qui vivit c. S. Aug. de tempore serm 49. 2 Cor. 4.7 Hos. 6.4 Esay 64 6. Job 1.1 Job 9.30.31 Ipsa iustitia â—ostra ad examen diuinae iustitiae deducta in iusticia est sordet in rarâ—bus Iudicis quod in aestimatione fulgâ—t operaÌ„tis Greg mor. l. 5. cap. 8. Rom. 7.24 Prov. 20.9 St. August Luke 1.6 Cant. 1.5 Eccles. 7.20 Pet. Lomb. l. 3. sent dist 27. Matth. 5. ult Aquin. in locum In locum 1 Complete quae desunt ministerio Apoc. 22.11 1 Thes. 4.10 Sal in 1 Thes. cap. 4. Phil. 3.14 Sicut navis in flumen posita per aquae motum descendit nisi remigetur in contrarium sic anima ex corruptione carnis pravitate ad malum contâ—nuò descendit a profectione nisi conetur in contrartum Nich. Lyra in locum Gen. 1.28 2 Pet. 3.18 1. Cor. 15.58 Matth. 19.20 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. Ephes. 4.13 2 Complet quae desunt ministro Gal. 6.6 Verse 7. Luke 10.16 Matth. 9.37 2 Be of good comfort Gualther in locum Idem Heb. 3.13 Gal. 6.1 2 Cor. .4.9 Psal. 30.5 Deut. 3â— 13 Esay 40.1 Esay 42.3 Aretius 1 King 19.11 12. 2 Cor. 1.3 â— Cor. 4.21 Heb. 10.29 Revel 11.11 Gal. 5.22 2 Sam. 12.7 13. Act. 2.37 38. Act. 16.30.31 3 Be of one minde Erasmus in ocum Benedict Iustinian in locum Gualther in locum Vnanimit as fidei induobus attenditur in intellectu affectu Cor unum in intelligendis credendis Anima una in affectibus id est in volendis operandis Hugo Card. in locum Hereticks against unitie 2 Pet. 2.1 Rom. 16.17 Jude 6. Matth. 757. Jam. 1.5 Schismaticks against unitie Psal. 122.3 Ephes. 4 3. Acts 2.1 4.32 Jude 19. Matth. 12.26 Mat. 27.35 1. Kings 3.26 2. Chron. 30.12 Ezek. 11.19 Rom. 12.5 Matth. 21.9 Ephes. 4.4 Herodotus Quintus Curtius Gal. 5.15 Rom. 15.5 6. 4 Live in peace 1. Cor. 1.11 1 Cor. 3.3 4. 1. Cor. 11.18 Psal. 133.1 Verse 2. Col. 1.18 Esay 49.18 Judg. 5.15 Matth. 24.7 Mal. 2.10 1 Pet. 3.9 John 9.50 John 14.27 Luke 2.14 Heb. 12.14 Psal. 139.21 22. Pet. Mart. Rom. 12.18 Theodoret. Matth. 5.24 Tertia pars And the God of love c. Numb 6.23 24 25 26. Luke 24.50 B. Andrews Gen. 32.26 Gen. 27.34 Gal. 5.21