in Vnity c. The whole Psalm is a compendium of the blessings and excellencies of the Churches Vnity So observe Solomons discription of a sower of discord among Brethren Prov. 6.12 13 14 15 16. verses compared with the 19th verse and you will judge he loved unity well And so David again in Psal 122.6 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love her verse 7. Peace be within thy walls and verse 8. For my Brethren and companions sake I will now say peace be within thee Many Examples might be added but I shall end with Paul who was an eminent example both to Ministers and Christians in the Church uniting work If we should consider him no further then the Church of Corinth he approved himself amongst them a skilfull Physitian furnished with healing medicines which he tenderly administred to that sad divided erroneous Church from whom he had received so much hard measure and ungratefull usage and yet it is evident the peace and union of that Church was more upon his heart to preserve then all its other errours and miscarriage was to reform though they were very great ones and were minded by him in their due place too But the whole being under the profession of visible Saints he writes unto them as fuch without distinction Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Called to be Saints c. as in the first chapter and second verse And after he had finished his Preface in the 9th verse begins with that which was most upon his heart verse 10. Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no Divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgment for it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren of them which of are the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you ver 11. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ ver 12. is Christ Divided was Paul crucified for you c. or were you baptized into the name of Paul ver 13. But if you please to observe the main scope and drift of this holy Apostle in the 1 2 3 10 12 13 and 14. Chapter of this first Epistle they all drive at union teaching uniting principles and pressing uniting practices affirming to them that whatsoever pretences or arguments they might have to justifie their Divisions c. yet they must necessarily arise from carnal principles Chap. 3. verse 3. And in the 12th Chapter he commends to their consideration unanswerable uniting Arguments in the 13th Chapter he presseth them to uniting graces in the 14th Chapter directs to uniting Duties videlicet orderly improving their gifts to the Churches Edification So to the Church of Rome Mark them which cause Divisions c. Rom. 16 17. So to the Galatians the 5. and 6. Chapters But if ye bite and devour one another ye shall be consumed one of another Chap. 5.15 So to the Ephesians the 2 3 and 4. Chapters especially Chap. 4. verse 1 2 3 4 5 6. I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meckness with long-suffering forbearing one another in Love endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace there is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in 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 So to the Phil. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. especially the first verse If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies Fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus So to the Colossians Chap. 3.12 13 14 15 verses Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindeness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering for-bearing one another and forgiving one another if any man hath a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankfull And thus we might track him through all his Epistles he hath sometimes more or less of this doctrine as the state of the people to whom he writ required By which exhortations and earnest perswasions you may observe how much the unity of Gods Churches and Saints were upon the heart of this blessed Apostle having doubtless that Maxime of our Saviour much upon his heart that a Church no more then a Kingdom or house divided against it self could not stand Matthew 12.25 From all which I Argue That if the union of Gods Church and preventing divisions and separations amongst his people were upon the hearts of the most holy and faithfull servants of God in all ages and sttates of the Church as a principal and special mercy to labour the attaining of it then ought to be of the same esteem and weight with all his now But that is evident by what hath been said before Ergo the union of Gods Church c. ought to be principally upon the hearts of the servants of God now 5. The fifth general Head from whence we shall argue is from the several Similitudes and Metaphors the Church of God is compared unto in Scripture whereby their mutual interest in union with one another is so lively held forth of which I shall onely mention some few by which the Reader may make use of the rest to the same end First From the Similitude of Beleevers being Gods Children Gal. 3.26 and thereby of his houshsld Gal. 6.10 Ephes 2.1 from whence I Argue That all persons who stand in an equal relation to God as children and are thereby all equally of Gods family of the houshâ—ld of faith Gal. 6.10 have all an equal right unto and interest in the priviledges and provisions of Gods house proportionable to their place therein nay though prodigal children if they will return may encourage themselves so to do from the consideration of that interest they have in the plenty of bread in their Fathers house Luke 15.17 but all visible gracious persons or true beleevers do stand in an equal relation to God as Children and thereby of his houshould Ergo
they should proceed against us and withdraw from us upon this Account Answ Having as before walked with all tenderness and unblamableness towards them let not that offend you that is their Sin so to abuse an Ordinance of God it is not yours the fear of this punishment kept many a beleeving Jew from publiquely owning the Gospel John 12.42 Neverthelesse among the chief rulers also many beleeved on him but bicause of the Pharisees durst not confesse him least they should be put out of the Synagogue so John 9.22 Acts. 22.19 Object But would not this be a meanes to foment and encrease a great deal of contention and strife in every particular Church for where congregations do consist of persons so different-minded each enjoying an equall liberty of professing and practising their different perswasions this must necessarily tend to a frequent begetting disputes and controversies amongst them whereby the mutual edification and comfort of the whole would be endangered Answ Without doubt the different perswasions of Christians walking together in the same fellowship will be attended with many difficulties and hazards which the mercy of unity of understanding would remove but put them all in the ballance with the fore-mentioned evils which their dividing and separating from one another as at present is attended with and then judge which is the greatest for where a necessity of evill is upon us one in competition with the other it is our duty to admit the least that which least dishonors God and tends least to the ruine and desolation of his Church and people and sure I need not bring the evils attending each of these cases in competition to find out which is the greatest but when you find such Errors or Erroneous persons singled out the admitting of whom into the Church of God or giving the right hand of fellowship unto would be attended with equall evill either as to Gods dishonour or to the damage of his Church that our present Divisions are attended with then and not else I judge you ought to assent thereto But if once union of Saints had that weight upon our hearts which it ought to have I do not judge differences of judgement amongst Members of the same Church could be so inconsistent to its Peace and Edification For 1. The Church must allow an equal liberty to all controversal points either in doctrine or practice and withal must provide an equal rule to limit and restrain the extreams of unseasonable unsober and troublesom promotions of them or oppositions to them of each hand so that the mutual edification and comfortable walking of the whole in the practice of those main duties wherein there is a mutual agreement may not be interrupted for God is not the Author of confusion saith the Apostle but of Peace in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 And James doth not say Where difference of understanding is but where envying and strife is there is confusion every evil work and therefore do but make an equal provision against carnal contentions and disorderly promotions of controverted points and then the holding them or sober preaching and practising of them could not be inconsistent to union in the same Church Object But would not this be a means to prejudice and block up the way of some despised controverted truths which much the least part of the people of God have received and the generality is very much prejudiced against And this way would subject the Saints professing them to the united Church power of such as oppose them and thereby bring such truths of God and the professors of them under great discouragements and contempt Answ Whatsoever the rule of Christ directs us unto in order to the promoting controverted despised truths is the best way to promote them howsoever to our reason it may not seem so to be and when we lay our hands to any part of Gods work we must be careful to keep our feet in the way of his pathes and though controversies and differences of understanding have been in all ages in the Church yet produce one Instance out of Gods Word to justifie Separation thereupon before you plead for the practice of it but this Union would not at all tend to the prejudice of any particular truth that may be at present under reproach amongst the generality of Christians for nothing more tends to the damage of an opposed despised truth then the reproach and dishonour brought upon it by weak self-conceited sticklers for it whose unseasonable and unsober contending for it doth so much offend and stumble the contrary minded that they take a prejudice against the truth for the promoters sake whereas were Saints united in Church Order there might be special times and places appointed for the most able and sober of each different perswasion to hold forth their grounds for their judgement either Doctrinally by way of Preaching or otherwise by a sober and Christian conference betwixt such as the brethren of each different perswasion should make choice of where all might have liberty to be present and to make their sober Objections against what should be delivered as they see cause and this might be done without the least disturbance of the peace and with mutual edification of the whole as a Church which would also exceedingly tend to remove those discouragements on the one hand which lye in the way of despised Truths and those encouragements on the other hand that are given by our divisions to several applauded Errors For when the Judgment of any person made him neither more nor lesse esteemed nor advantaged Christians would then receive or reject controverted points singly to answer a good Conscience towards God in obedience to his will made known to them whereby doubtless Truth would much prevail against Error for a sincere sober Conscience no ways byassed seldome miscarries in its judgement And so in our present divided confused state several controverted Truths may suffer much prejudice by the many Errors they are accompanied with in the Professors of them and oft-times so inter-woven and intangled in their practice that such as may have a desire to professe the Truth are discouraged and kept off thereby whereas this Union upon Gospel principles removes all that and leaves every Truth single and pure without any addition or detraction thou mayest then take up such a trampled on pearl though it be found among Swine and adde it to the Bracelet of thy former graces or duties without wallowing with them in the mire to enjoy it or perform it Object But there are many whom we judge godly both Ministers and private Christians that will be opposite to us in this work upon the account of our separation from the carnal multitude and visible unbelievers they admitting a bare profession of the Christian Religion with some other additional qualifications not evidencing conversion nor visible grace to be the rule of Church-membership c. now how should we walk towards them Answ
the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves for even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me and that this is not onely a duty but a special duty to all Saints See further Eph. 4.6 1 John 1.3 and 2 13. Mal. 2.10 John 4.21 23. John 6.45 2. For the Minor or second Proposition none can deny that doth not deny the Scripture consider the first Epistle of Iohn 3.1 2. compared with verse 10. Galat. 3.26 27. Isaiah 62.12 Deut. 28.9 Isa 13.3 Act. 20.32 with a multitude of other places it is hard to read a Chapter that affords no evidence to this truth So that I conclude this Argument in every part of it fully cleared I might draw from this head many more Arguments of equal strength as from the Fathers visible Covenant with special promises unto the Saints positive precepts for this union of Saints upon the principle of visible grace c. But I shall leave them to the Readers meditation to enlarge and come to the second head 2. The visible choice and approbation with the personal qualification of God the Son who as he hath set himself a patern of all grace to his people so in an especial manner of this glorious state of Gospel union he became a perfect pattern of holy union by uniting the humane and divine nature in his own person God and Christ and Saints must all be made one in in the mystical union Jo. 17.21 22. which though it cannot be perfected until the state of glory yet it is to be begun imitated and prest after in the state of Grace And therefore God the Father would have but one Son to be his dearly beloved Son Mark 1.11 Luke 7.37 he must have no equal Col. 1.18 nor no partner nor help in his work Isaiah 63.3.5 He must tread the wine-press alone of the people there must be none with him And so Saints must have but one Saviour Acts 4.12 one Redeemer Revel 5.9 one Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 one Head Ephes 1.22 one Husband 1 Corinth 11.2 one Chief Shepherd John 10.16 one Captain of their Salvation Heb. 2.10 all which lively holds forth to us the unity of Saints and in him alone Christ must not be divided 1. Corinth 1.13 neither in his headship nor in his members but they must grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ from whom the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in measure of every part maketh increase of the body to the edifying it self in love Ephes 4.15 16. From whence we may observe what a perfect pattern of union the Lord Jesus Christ is both Head and Body as if not onely the Glory but the very Essence of heavenly things depended on unity And so the main design of Christ in his assuming our nature and doing and suffering all for us was chiefly a work of union and reconciliation Col. 1.20 to reconcile God and man 2 Cor. 5.20 to break down partition walls betwixt Jew and Gentile bond and free Ephes 2.14 16. that in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Ephes 1.10 And so we finde him in the whole course of his ministry walking by principles of union commanding those duties and commending those Graces most which were the uniting Duties and Graces The first Gospel that was preached on earth was in these words Glory to God in the highest and on earth Peace and good will towards men Luke 2.14 himself is called the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 7. Heb. 7.2 His Gospel is called the Gospel of Peace Rom. 10.15 Ephes 5.16 his people are called the Sons of Peace Luke 10.6 his wayes are called the wayes of Peace Luke 1.79 And as Peace so Love is held forth in the Gospel of Christ as a Cardinal Grace A new commandment give I unto you that ye Love one another as I have loved you John 13.34 And so we might proceed to the Graces of Humility Meekness Patience Mercifulness c. which are all uniting Graces and by our Lord commended unto us above all Graces they are conditional Graces unto which promises are annexed above all things saith the Apostle put on Charity in the discription of which Grace all these are contained 1 Cor. 13. from all which and indeed from the whole scope and tendency of the Scripture I argue That the duty which is most lively held out unto us by our Paterne and required of us by our Lawgiver the Lord Jesus Christ should be most upon our hearts to imitate and obey him in But the Duty of uniting the Saints to one another next to that of uniting them to himself was the greatest duty held forth by our Lord and Master to us and required by him of us therefor the unity of Saints with one another ought to be most upon our hearts next unto their union with Christ Object But say some we do admit all Christs Members ought to be united together in his worship but the doubt lies who we should own as his members Answ Those whom the Lord Jesus Christ owns as Members of his visible body here on earth ought all to own one another as members of the same body But the Lord Jesus Christ owns all true Beleevers or visible gracious persons to be members of his visible body on earth Ergo All such ought so to own one another 2. Answ Those for whom Christ prayed to the Father that they all might be One as he and the Father were One John 17.11 ought to walk in union one with another But it was for all the Father had then visibly given him verses 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. And that should afterward be converted by their doctrine verses 20 21. for whom he prayed Ergo all such ought to walk together in union We might draw arguments of union from all the Metaphorical relations the Scripture holds forth Christ to stand in to his People as an head Col. 1.18 an husband Isai 54.5 A King Revel 15.3 a Shepheard Psal 23.1 a Root Rom. 11.17 18. the very essence of which relations consists in union and the main end of them in Scripture is to hold forth the necessariness of union in the Church and People of God hut I shall speak to them under another head Arg. 3. From the visible choice and approbation of God the holy Ghost The Spirit of God though it fill all things Eph. 4.10 yet is but one Spirit verses 3 4. the same spirit that fills Christ the head with all fulness Col. 1.19 and 2.9 fills all his members out of the same fulness Eph. 1.23 They all receive out of his fulness grace for grace John 1.16 And as the Spirit of God that fills whole Christ head and members is
its uncharitable censoriousness and that 's the air it breaths in and therefore you may observe with what people soever this spirit is predominate they esteem not of any that own the same points with them wherin they differ from others unless they be sticklers for them they dare not lay more weight or place more religion in a controverted truth then their conscience tells them the Scripture doth they do little less then deny it in some mens opinions 3. As thou must expect opposition and discouragements and oughtest to be armed against them so take heed thou dost not imploy any of the carnal weapons of the spirit of division in the spirit of unions cause some men will oppose the spirit of division by a dividing spirit that is exercising the same carnal contention and proud wrath with uncharitable censoriousness c. against divisions as dividing spirits promote them by now this comes under Jobs reproof Chapter 13.7 Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him if we had no better Physicians then these we might tell the Church with Jeremiah Chap. 30.13 thy bruise is incurable and thy wound is grievous thou hast none to plead thy cause that thou mayest be bound up thou hast no healing medicines And therefore Paul being sensible how apt the best Church-healers are to apply the wrong plaister he gives to Timothy a special direction 2 Tim 2.24 The servant of the Lord must not Strive but be Gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth I must say the contrary spirit in healers hath added much inflamation and thereby corruption to our wound 4. Labor to obtain a compassionate tender frame of spirrit even towards those whom thou art least in love with upon the account of their Errors in judgement If Christians would mourn and sigh more in the sense of Saints divisions and delusions and fret and rage less our healing would not seem to be so far of as it doth There is a kinde of religious hard-heartedness and cruelty overspread the hearts of many Christians in these dayes that we have cause to complain with the Church Lam. 4.5 Even the Sea monsters draw out the brest they give suck to their young ones the daughter of my people is become cruel like the Ostriges in the wilderness Christians can as easily and with as little reluctancy hear or speak evil of others that are gracious if they be but judged erroneous by them as carnal malicious persons can do of one another nay some be ready and zealous to stir up the rude carnal multitude against others and even take contentment in each others afflections Oh! where is the bowels of good Jeremiah that lived in a day when he could say of his people They be all Adulterers an Assembly of treacherous men they bend their tongue like a bowe for lies Chap. 9.2 3. and yet he cries out Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people and so Isaiah he mentions the Sins of Gods people to be very great Chapter 22.8 9 10 13. And yet when he considers their suffering verse 4. he cries out Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people But the like bowels and compassion in Gods people towards one another is not found which until the Lord afford thee thou wilt be very unfit for healing work 5. Labour to set thy affections on those things or qualifications in Saints which most lively and evidently demonstrate the powerfull work of Grace in them and the sincerity of their Love to Christ many Christians will more esteem of their own image in their brethren then Christs their closing with them in judgement in some particular controverted opinion will answer the defect of a great deal of more precious grace when much grace in another will not answer the defect of their differing in that opinion it is an easie matter to love them that love us the worst of men can do that Luke 6.32 but Paul sets us a pattern of another manner of Love 2 Cor. 12.15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I am beloved it was this love in Paul that enabled him to bear all those hard measures from the Corinthians to labor for their union and peace whilest they made war against him Now without this Love that will cover a multitude of infirmities thou wilt never be able to receive this truth in the love of it nor to bear with patience all those discouragements thou wilt meet withall in this work 6. Labour to abound in all other uniting graces which the Apostle mentions Col. 3.12 he having spoken of the union of Saints verse 11. he then comes to commend as a means to fit them for it verse 12. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another forgiving one another if any man hath a quarrel or complaint against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts unto which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankfull let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom c. It is the want of putting on and exercising of these graces that hinders Saints from Gospel union more then all their different understanding doth for if all men were of one minde in the things wherein they differ the want of these uniting graces and living in the exercise of the contrary dividing vices would doubtless disunite and divide the people of God from one another for I am afraid there is little of that union among Saints at this day even among those of the same judgement that deserves the name of Gospel union either from the nature grounds or degree of it but generally a kinde of an outside heartless formal union that the very union of carnal people in carnal things seems to be more strongly founded which proceeds clearly from the want of the enjoying and exercising those precious graces for Christians united upon the Account of opinions are onely united in the head but Gospel-union upon the account of visible grace would be an uniting of hearts together such was the union the Saints enjoyed Acts 4.32 And the multitude of them that beleeved were of one heart ane of one soul 7. Labour to preserve a proportionable growth of grace in the soul all grace in the exercise of it must preserve an harmony otherwise it will sound like an Instrument out of tune some Christians seem to be all
affection and no judgement others all judgement and no affection some have zeal but want knowledge others have knowledge but want zeal whereas light and heat goes together if grace be of a true growth Now this time of unevenness in thy graces will much disinable thee for uniting work for herein thou wilt be like the foolish Physitian who hath but one sort of medicines for all diseases and constitutions whereas that which cures some kills others and therefore Job's friends though good men applying the wrong plaister to his sore he esteems them to be Physitians of no value Job 13.4 How forcible are right words saith he but what doth your Arguments reprove that is words rightly applied sutable to the condition of the person or people unto whom they are spoke and seasonable to the time and place occasion therefore saith Isaiah Chap. 50.4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season c. so the wise man Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver and as an earing of gold an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear Now until thou hast a spiritual judgment as well as spiritual affections thou wilt not be capable of Understanding the season of a duty nor the right way of performing and applying it 8. Be most consciencious and diligent in performing that duty in order to this good work that is most properly thy own unto which thou art most clearly call'd by that place or condition Providence hath set thee in either in Church or Commonwealth and thy abilities and gifts in such thy place do most fit thee for the want of a due regard thereto amongst Christians hath greatly encreased and promoted their Divisions for order of Place is necessary to union and harmony in all things whether natural Civil or Spiritual for what a confusion in nature would it be for the hands to be performing the work of the feet or the feet the hands or the eye to usurp the office of the ear or the ear of the eye which Metaphor the Apostle makes use of in 1 Cor. 12. to teach the divided Corinthians that order of Place was necessary to union of Saints which he proves first in regard all had not the same gifts verses 8 9 10 11. 2 in regard all had not the same Place or office verse 28 29. God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healing helps of governments diversities of tongues are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers are all workers of miracles c. wherein he doth not only preserve distinction but also degree of place which he doth not say himself set in the Church though that might have been of sufficient Authority but God hath set them in his Church least the Ringleaders of Division in that Church should have broken the Order under pretence of the insufficiency of the Authority it were appointed by and so the same Apostle observing the inclination of the same People to be expecting changes in their outward condition after they profest the Christian Religion answers several particular Cases 1 Epistle Chap 7. And least any others from the like temptation or mistake should not think themselves concerned in those Answers he layes down some general Rules or precepts to answer all Objections against this truth as verse 20. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called and so verse 24. Brethren let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God therefore of all duties labour to be performing those dutyes thy present place and calling requires at thy hands in Order to the union of Saints and when the Lord of the harvest finds thee like a good and faithful Servant faithfully improving thy few Talents he will trust thee with many Talents Matt. 25.23 And therefore I shall speak a word to the Ministers of the Gospel by whom I intend not those carnal scandalous dumb dogs who seldom open their mouths unless it be to bark at the precious flock of Christ for to expect better from them would be to expect grapes of Thorns and figs of thistles but I mean such as are gracious holy men solemnly set apart to serve the Lord in that work of what judgment or perswasion soever as to the present contoversies among the Godly who are not only to be fellow-Labourers but Master-builders in this work of Saints union And it is my opinion they have had the first and chiefest hand in Saints Divisions so it is my earnest prayers they might be owned and fitted by the Lord in the first and chief place in this work of Saints union Now that which I shall propose to them is First that you Labour to be sensible of the sad effects of those sad Divisions that have been amongst your selves and from thence those unbrotherly untender and uncharitable carriages in your publick writings and speakings one towards another that I am assured many private Christians of the same perswasions with you have been grieved and ashamed to read and hear though the generality of Christians are too apt to be pleased most with such of their teachers as are most vehement against those contrary minded to them and from thence hath that general overflowing spirit of division and dissentions which we now complain of received its life and nourishment That the Lord hath cause to complain as in Isa 4.12 O my people they which lead thee caused thee to erre and destroy the way of thy paths if the leaders of the people go before them in a froward contentious uncharitable spirit towards one another in matters wherein they differ no marvel if the generality of their followers tread on each others heels in that crooked path Therefore if no other Argument be prevailing let the consideration of the sad divided condition of Gods Church and people produced by your example affect your hearts that you cannot with that comfort and authority repeat that exhortation to the Saints under your charge that Paul gave to the Church of Philippi Chap. 3 having in the 15 and 16. verses exhorted them to union and directed them how to preserve it he exhorts in verse 17 Brethren be ye followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample so he exhorts Timothy Chap. 4. after he had spent the former part of the Chapter in Instructions to him concerning the Errors and Divisions that were in his Flock he then exhorts him verse 12. But be thou an example of the Beleevers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity and so Peter in his first Epistle Chap. 5.3 he exhorts the elders that were among them not to be as lords over Gods heritage but to be examples to the Flock I am far from saying that none of Gods Ministers at