of these two extreams which disownes visible grace and holiness to be required in persons in order to visible membership or Church-state I shall say no more to that point it being already so largely spoken unto and fully cleared by several of the congregational way and especially that late eminent discoverer of the ancient and infallible bounds of Gods true Church Mr Jo. Cotton in that little Treatise of his besides several others intituled The holiness of Church members for I am far from pressing an unity of Church-state with any that make not visible Grace and holiness the main mark of visible Faith and Church-membership but what union is to be desired and endeavoured with the godly of that judgement I shall give my opinion in its place and shall now chiefly insist upon the second general Position That all true beleevers congregated together and separated from the world and mixt worship to serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness ought to own and esteem one another as true Churches and Saints giving the right hand of fellowship to one another and walking together as children of the same Father Jo. 11.52 Members of the same body Rom. 12.4 5. sheep of the same fold Jo. 10.16 in observance of all those joynt duties required by the Lord at their hands without dividing rending or separating from one another Object The Terms of your Position so generally stated may admit of several constructions and thereby give little light to the cases in controversie though you should prove it if not more particularly explained Answ I shall have occasion to explain the terms in answer to several objections that will arise in the ensuing discourse and therefore for brevitie sake shall pass them by here and shall next proceed to the several sorts of Arguments to prove the Position with Arguments I shall chiefly draw from these seven general heads following First From the visible choice and approbation of God the Father proving that such as the Father hath visibly manifested his choice and approbation of to be his children beleevers ought to chuse and approve of to be their brethren Secondly From the visible choice and approbation of God the Son proving that such as the Lord Jesus Christ hath manifested his choice and approbation of to be members of his visible body and Church on earth all his ought to make choice and approve of to be fellow members with him of the same body Third From the evident choice and approbation of God the holy Ghost proving that such as the spirit hath manifested its visible choice of by the holy inspiration of its quickening and sanctifying Grace beleevers ought to make choice and approve of as such who have an equal right with them to a mutual participation in the priviledges gifts and comforts of the same spirit Fourthly From the choice and approbation of the infallible servants of God his holy Prophets and Apostles c. in all ages proving that such as the infallible servants of God in all ages of his Church have made choice of and approved to be their brethren in the Lord and fellow-members with themselves in Gods visible Church ought to be so approved of and chosen by all his servants to the end of the world Fifthly From the several Similes and Metaphors the Church of God is compared unto in the Scriptures whereby their mutual interest in an union with one another is held forth from thence proving that what unity is required and interest is given to members of the same body branches of the same root sheep of the same fold and under the same Shepherd children of the same Father and fellow-heirs of the same inheritance c. that the same interest is given unto and union required in the several members of Gods Church which is so fitly compared thereto and lively set out thereby Sixthly From the evident sad consequences that attend the Church and people of God though their dividings and separatings from one another and uniting together upon other principles then this of visible grace arguing from thence that such principles and practices as open the door and let in upon the Church of God such destructive uncomfortable consequences should be of all evils laboured against and avoided Seventhly From the evident and unspeakable good both to the outward and inward man the union of Gods Church upon such Gospel lasting principles would be attended with arguing from thence that since the unity of Gods Church upon such a binding and abiding principle as this of visible grace would so exceedingly tend to the unvaluable good thereof it ought to be sought after and prayed for above all things by every true member thereof next to an interest in Christ and visible grace it self Now from the first head viz the visible choice and approbation of God the Father I argue 1. Those whom the Father hath manifested his visible choice and approbation of to be his children 2. Beleevers ought to manifest their choice and approbation of to be their brethren But the Father hath manifested his choice and approbation of all visible beleevers and grations holy persons to be his children Therefore ought Beleevers to choose and approve of such to be their Brethren 1. The Major or first Proposition is evident from the very light of nature and reason yet since prejudice against truth doth ofttimes put out all light I shall add the light of some Scriptures to the clearing up this truth And first that of our Saviour in Matth. 23. verse 8. compared with the 9th Saith the word in verse 8. All ye are Brethren which he proves in verse 9. For one is your Father which is in Heaven and so Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethen from which Scripture I gather that the Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to own all Saints for Brethren though they were attended with abundance of imperfection and uncomliness unsutatable to his most holy nature and course of life because himself as head and they as members were all of one Father that since his Father was not ashamed to own them all as Sons verse 10. therefore he was not ashamed to own then all as Brethren verse 11. Now it is a sad thing that fellow Brethren who are all subject to like infirmities Jam. 5.17 who do all see but in part and know but in part 1. Cor. 13.9 10 11. should be more high-minded in this case and sooner ashamed of their Brethren upon the account of their infirmities and weakness then their elder Brother who was free from all imperfections and stood in no need of their bearing with him he bore all their sins not onely in the punishment but in the shame of them Heb. 12.2 thereby setting them a pattern to bear the shame of each others infirmities for so argues Paul Rom. 15.1 2 3. We then that are strong ought to bear
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
by all means as in 2 Thess 3.16 If thou wouldest have thy soul prosper Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that so love her nay if thou wouldest have Sion prosper say Peace be within thy wals and then prosperitie shall be within her Pallaces and therefore for thy brethren and companions sake say Peace be within thee and because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good as in Psal 122.6 7 8 9. If after you have perused this Discourse you shall observe there are many considerable Objections against the thing prest unspoken to that I admit I do not expect these few weak Lines should answer all Objections in a controversie of this weight neither do I judge my self able to answer them but am assured there are well wishers to this Truth that are able to proceed Therefore if these Lines may but tend to awaken and stir up the people of God to enquire after this Truth and to allow that the laboring after Saints Union is not only a Dutie but a great and weighty Duty and to be numbered in the first Rank of Christian Duties I have my aim for that would prepare the hearts of Saints for Unity and make the work of removing obstructions and resolving particular cases much more easie For many of Gods people do already and more will be daily discerning the inconsistency of the principles they walk by to Gospel-prosperity unity doth as naturally fore-run Glory to Christs Church as health doth strength or light heat Therefore the main design of Satan at this day is to prevent Gospel-Glory by obstructing Gospel-Unity but the more the spirit of strife and division struggles against this work let it provoke you the more to set to all your strength to promote it the Lord doth not onely require that his people should be faithful unto but valiant for the Truth upon earth Shall Quakers and such like rigid censorious dividing principled people compass sea and land and consume their estates to make common purses in order to the promoting and carrying on their ridiculous principles of division and confusion and shall those who pretend the Espousing the universal interest of Saints as such be Ephraim-like a silly Dove without heart as their diligence and painfulness do now upbraid us so I fear it will in the great day rise up in judgment against us It was good Mr. Burroughs complaint in his time when the spirit of division was but in its infancy That there were many would cry Loe the Thief but who stopt him So saints are many at this day will bemoan such divisions and make sad complaints of it one to another when they meet but how few have set themselves to study and propagate uniting principles which I trust the Lord will set upon the hearts of some who he hath so eminently principled and qualified for the work that the friends of this precious Truth may not have cause above all the rest of Truths Favorites to complain with the Prophet in its behalf There is none to guide her among all the Sons whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons which she hath brought up Isa 51.18 Nay is there not rather cause for this Truth to take up the Lords complaint Isa 1.2 I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me This Principle hath been dealt withal by some of its Favourites as Saul dealt with David who honoured and imbraced him in his camp and hated and banished him his Court yet blessed be the Lord there are some Jonathaas to stand up and say What evil hath he done whose souls are knit to this principle as the soul of Jonathan was to David who will not be afraid to answer imposing and dividing principles as Moses answered Pharoah Exod. 10.9 We will go with our young and with our old with our Sons and with our Daughters with our Flocks and with our Herds will we go for we must hold a Feast unto the Lord. Pharoah would have put off Moses with the liberty and freedom of some part of Gods people Go you that are men to serve the Lord saith he ver 11. No saith Moses Church deliverances from bondage opression must be universal deliverances otherwise how should we hold a feast to the Lord can part of us rejoyce in our Liberties as long as other part is under bondage and oppression No we must either all go together or all stay together all rejoyce together or all mourn together therefore we will not leave a hoof behind us ver 26. Now this spirit in Moses is the true nature of this Gospel-principle it will not own any deliverance from oppression and imposition of conscience contrived and proposed by men to answer the design of Gods deliverance to his people untill it include the common Gospel Liberty due to all Saints and that in all their necessary concernments though it may out of tenderness with David 1 Sam. 30.10 leave some of the weak and feeble behind in the work of War and danger yet all must have an equal share of the spoil whether the Sons of Belial will or no as in ver 24. It 's the faithfullest and impartiallest Steward to trust with the Saints common stock that can be found on earth there shall be no cause of complaint so far as its power reacheth every one of Sions children shall have an equal share of those common mercies and priviledges their Heavenly Father appoints for them And therefore whatsoever opinion or way thou art of consisting with sobriety and holiness this principle if thou dost promote it will take equal care and make equal provision for thy Christian liberty and encouragement that if thou beest a favourer of Saints prosperity labor to be acquainted with this common friend of theirs it will teach thee how to observe and own the shining beauty of grace in Saints through the darkest cloud of those common errors and mistakes that the opposite principle renders them so unlovely and deformed one to another by And let not the homely and mean attire this Truth salutes thee in make it less acceptable if the Author had had better it should not have worn so bad but Beauty is Beauty though clothed in rags The ensuing Discourse is rather intended to tell thee there is such a Principle accommodated with such excellent Qualifications and to provoke thee to enquire after it and endeavor acquaintance with it then to give the an exact description of it But I shall submit what follows to thy favorable censure and close with the words of Paul to the Philippians c. 2. v. 1 to 6. If there be therefore 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 mind Let nothing be done through
out and remove the cause and partly to prepare and arme themselves against the necessary and sad consequences that might attend them which Duty the division of our days among Gods people loudly calls for which to speak a word unto I shall make a little digression which is to entreat all who desire in sincerity to set upon this work of heart-searching in order to find out the cause and avoid the cosequences of the sad Divisions amongst us to consider the following directions 1. Search thine own heart and way throughly for this cursed spirit of Division may have hidde it self under such plausible pretences of good that whilst thou seekest for it among thy temptations and corruptions it may be close hid in several of thy best duties and religious qualifications And therefore if thou find him not amongst thy temptations of pride of minde self conceit affecting Singularity a desire to seem some body amongst those with whom thou walkest a loving preheminence over thy Brethren or in a froward rash uncharitable spirit c. If thou searchest thy heart throughly and find him not dwelling there under the Covert of these or the like temptations or corruptions then proceed to a further heart searching as to the tryall of thy graces and religious dutyes for this spirit of darkness knows how to transform it self into an angel of light If thou beest one that hath attained to an eminent knowledge and hath found out the mind of God in some special truths that many other of Gods people are dark in then search whether thy knowledge hath not pufft thee up as in 1 Cor. 4.18.19 4 chap. verse 8. Col. 2.8 and begotten in thee an high esteeme of thine own things Phil. 2.4 and a low esteem of the things of others Phil. 2.3 Whether thy gifts graces and religious endowments have not been more employed by thee in promoting and propagating of disputable points and doubtfull questions Rom. 14.1 tending rather to strife about words 1 Tim. 6.4 and 2 Tim. 2.23 and vaine janglins 1 Tim. 1.7 then to godly edifying 1 Cor. 14.26 Whether by thy knowledge thou hast not laid a stumbling block in thy weak brothers way Rom. 14.13 by pressing upon him more remote dutys while the immediate duties of his present state in grace have been neglected contrary to that of our Saviour who had many things to say but could not say them then because the Disciples could not bear them John 16.12 And to that of Paul who could not speak to the Church of Corinth as spirituall but unto carnal even unto babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3. 1. And therefore fed them with milke and not with strong meat verse 2. I say search and examine whether thy knowledge hath not been employed by this Spirit of Division in some such or the like failings which hath so visibly tended to the promoting the dissentions and divisions among Gods People But secondly Art thou one that hath attained to an extraordinary zeal for God his wayes and truths that thou thinkest thou couldest say with the Psalmist The zeal of thy House hath eaten me up Psal 69.9 then search and try thy zeal for fear this spirit of division hath not hid it self there the Jews misguided zeal mentioned Acts 21.20 provoked them to cry out against Paul verse 28. Men of Israel help this is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place c. It was Paul's misguided zeal before conversion for the tradition of his fathers Gal. 1.14 that provoked him beyond measure to persecute the Church of God and waste it verse 13. and so Phil. 3.6 And therefore when thou art zealous be sure it be in a good thing Gal. 4 18. It is dangerous being exceedingly zealous for points of Doctrine or practice in matters disputable and much controverted betwixt both godly and able Christians least whilest like those Pharisees Luke 11.42 thou be zealous in Tything Mint and Rue and pass over Judgement and the Love of God For as holy zeal rightly managed is the most excellent grace among Christians so misguided is the most dangerous and thus in thy searchings of heart for the divisions among Saints go on by the same rule to search and try every grace and gift in thee lest thou missest of thy care in searching the wound Now for the sad effects and evil consequences flowing from Divisions among Christians I may say they are unmentionable for it is very hard to name an evil that at this day the people of God and this Commonwealth groans under that our Divisions hath not had an hand in if not the main cause of Is there cause to complain the much prayed for and expected reformation hath been obstructed and retarded Why consider whether Division hindred it not if the generality of the godly could but agreed on good things to have proposed them or joyntly desired them we have not wanted an Authority to have granted and confirmed them but the several opinions and perswasions in Religion have had every one a Reformation to promote wherein an equal provision of liberty and encouragement for all that are truly godly have been declined and the extreams of each of their different perswasions insisted on like the cruel harlot Solomon gave judgement against they have rather chosen half a dead child then their opposites should enjoy a living one 2. Is there cause to complain of the spreading of Errors Heresies and Blasphemies c. Why Division opens the door for them for every one making their particular opinions a particular different Religion and separating thereupon hath given a kinde of reputation to â—â—â—aration though it be from the most pure Churches and holy people so that if any make shipwrack of Faith and a good conscience and suck in principles inconsistent with grace and godliness And observe they will not be born among the people with whom they then walked why it is but separating and setting up for themselves and they have field-room enough to sowe their tares in Whereas were the people of God who are sound in the Substantials of Religion united together within the bounds before mentioned and exercising that discipline God hath set in his Church it would bear an Authority that as the Apostle saith 2 Thes 3.14 Tit. 2.8 The offending person would be ashamed which now it doth not for now the personmarked Rom. 16.17 or withdrawn from with all others observing him not of the same way or fellowship with them that past the censure do but look at it as a censure past by a few Christians upon the account of opinion and from thence heed it not That I may say the solemn Ordinances of Christ for the healing and recovery of the diseased and infected of his people are become contemptible which nothing but the union of his Church that the censure of one congregation may be the censure of the whole will remedy And then if the walls of our Gospel Jerusalem
of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee and All they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and They shall call thee the City of the Lord the Sion of the holy one of Israel verse 14. That whereas in thy divided disunited State thou hast been forsaken and haâ—ed so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternal excellency a joy of many generations verse 15. the whole Chapter is spent in seting forth the mighty encrease of Gods Church in the day of its Vnity 5. The renewing of the Churches unity would abundantly tend to renew its joy and comfort The ransomed of the Lord shall then return and come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Isa 35.10 compared with the 8. and 9. verses which speaks of the Churches Unity So Psal 48.1 Let mount Sion rejoyce let the Daughter of Judah be glad c. compared with the 12. and 13. verses which speaks of Unity if for the divisions of Reuben there were such great searchings of heart surely for the healing of the divisions of Reuben there must flow in great Comfort and Joy of heart and therefore saith David who had great experience of the evil of divisions among Gods people the sense he had thereof made him cry out Psal 133. How good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to live together in unity It s like the precious ointment upon the head that runs down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments as the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Sion c. He could not think of things excellent enough to compare the sweetness and comfortableness of union unto I might further proceed upon this Head as to the encrease of the Peace and all other outward prosperitie with the encrease of all spirituall graces both in the enjoyment and exercise of them but I shall leave the rest to the Readers enlargement and close up this head with this following Argument That that mercy which would prepare the way for and bring in with it such a multitude of other precious mercies must needs be it self a glorious mercy and of all other mercies inferior to it to be laboured after and prayed for But such is the mercy of the Saints union as before Therefore it ought of all mercies inferior to it to be prayed and laboured for I shall now proceed to the answering of such Objections as I can remember to have met with or have ground to beleeve will be made against the several forementioned heads and arguments drawn from them which I have deferred for this place rather then to annex them to the head or argument they may most properly oppose in regard several of them are so general that they will include the several particulars that might be made against each part thereby avoiding prolixity Now the persons from whom the ensuing objections may be expected must be either from such as do erre in the extream against my first proposition in not approving of a separation betwixt Beleevers and Unbeleevers or visibly gracious and visibly ungracious persons or otherwise from such as do erre in the extream against my second generall position of the duty of all true Beleevers and Churches separated from the World c. to walk together in the performances of all Religious worship and services without separating or dividing from one another Which two sorts of persons will include the contrary-minded to this truth in both extreams And being desirous to avoid all names of distinction that might be offensive earnestly wishing that those Nicknames of division among Saints might be like those names of Baalâ—m Hos 2.17 taken out of our mouths that the old good names of Beleevers and Unbeleevers or godly and Ungodly might be again revived I shall state the objections in a general way leaving the reader to choose such as are his own and consider the Answers to them as to himself accordingly for I judge there will be several objections that would be joyntly made by persons of several perswasions and from several Principles which to answer to distinctly would be a meanes to multiply many words to the same thing Object 1. We do admitt all true Beleevers and holy gracious persons to have a right to all Gods Ordinances and to be admitted as true members of his Church But they which only seem to be such and are poysoned with Errours and Delusions with which they would infect the flock of Christ thâ—se we only reject and speak against as Schismaticks and Hereticks c. Answ Such as the Errours and delusions may be your rejection may be just but the generality of Christians so rejected and stigmatized with nick-names by you are not of that sort but generally holds the foundation points of Doctrine and substance of Religion with you the difference lying in things very controversal Now in the purest times of the Church there were believers tainted with divers errors of a dangerous nature who yet were not rejected as incommunicable nor reproached with the odious names of Schismaticks c. by the rest of their brethren though several of them erred in points of great weight as denying Justification by Faith without the works of the Law against whom Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans and Galatians the chief scope of which Epistles being to prove the erroneousness and danger of those Doctrines with which you may observe the Ephesians Colossians and Philippians were also tainted which error as it was held by those Christians I judge was of a more dangerous tendency then the generality of those controversies Christians in these dayes usually separate upon and in the Church of the Colossians there were several deluded with Philosophical errors and Heathenish opinions and customs as worshipping of Angels c. Col. 2.8 compared with the 16 17 18 19 verses And further what sad errors and schisms was the Church of Corinth infected with there were contentions strifes and vain janglings 1 Cor. 1.10 and 3.3 4. contradiction and contempt of their Ministers 1 Cor. 1.12 even of Paul himself whom God had used as the instrument of their conversion 1 Cor. 11.12 2 Cor. 10.1 10. given to vexatious Law suits to the shame of the truth among the heathen chap. 6. verses 1 2. and abusing of their Christian liberty to the hazzard of the destruction of the Faith of their brethren chapter 8. Errors in the administration and receiving of the Lords Supper even to the prophaning that holy Ordinance Chap. 11. Yet the Apostle in all he wrote against these great errors and miscarriages gives not a word of Command or direction to the more sober and sound to separate from those corrupted nor cast them out of the Church nor to esteem them as Schismaticks c. but labours by sound
avoid that disadvantage to the truth pleaded for my weak handling of it may administer and content my self with some few more general Objections and so conclude with some directions to such whose hearts are groaning under the Divisions of Saints Object Though this comfortable State of the Churches unity in Gospel-worship be a desirable thing yet it it not possible to be attained untill the glorious estate of the Church the time of fulfiling those promises of unity quoted by you pag. 56.57 and therefore to labour to attanie to impossibilities in an uncomfortable work Answ The same objection might have been made in the Apostles time and in the primitive State of the Church and yet you find they pressed and laboured after the Churches unitie and so far prevailed as we never heard of more universal Churches Christ had on earth but one though in that Church several different opinions about several weighty points yet they preserved an union in Church-state and did not unchurch nor unsaint one another untill these latter days wherein the Spirit of division hath been in its raigne and strength And there is as much reason to object against all our endeavours after all other graces and spiritual attainments because the perfection and fulness of them is reserved for that glorious day for until then our knowledge will be but darkly as through a glasse 1 Cor. 13.9.12 but then we shall know as we are known we shall then see face to face vers 12. then shall knowledge cover the earth as waters do the Sea Esay 11.19 we shall all then know the Lord from the least to the greatest Jer. 31.34 And so holiness and purity is now very imperfect We are now all the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be but when he shall appear we shall be like him 1 John 3.2 the way of the Lord shal then be called the way of holiness the unclean shall not pass over it Isa 35.8 In that day there shall be upon the bells of the Horses holiness to the Lord Zach. 14.20 then shall Terusalem be holy there shall no stranger pass through her any more Joel 3.17 Yet I hope none will object from these Scriptures knowledge and holiness is reserved for the glorious state of the Church and therefore why do ye press to an encrease of it until the fulfilling of those glorious promises Therefore though the perfection of the Saints union be reserved for the last and glorious times of the Church yet the labouring after the measure of the present day is to not be omitted but rather to be laboured for as a mercy that must forerun many other precious mercies the Saints seem at this day to be in expectation of that I may say in this case as was said of our Saviour Mat. 13.58 Mar. 6.5 he could not do many mighty works among them because of their unbelief so the Lord cannot do many works amongst us because of our divisions and therefore we should esteem the unity of the Saints a mercy that would make way for abundance of other mercies for those glorious promises relating to the glorious estate of Christs Church in the latter dayes are to be fulfilled to all the Saints whether of Paul Apollo or Cephas And therefore Isaiah stirs up all Gods people to gladness and rejoycing at that day Isa 66. 10. Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her All ye that love her rejoyce with joy with her all ye that mourn for her That ye may suck and be satisfied with the brests of her consolation that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory And so Isa 4.5 The Lord shal create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the burning of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence So Zach. 14.5 And the Lord my God shall come and All the Saints with thee And so the generality of those precious promises relating to the last and glorious state of the Church doth hold forth an universality of peace purity and glory to the whole Church to all Saints which the divided State of the Church is uncapable of receiving and therefore such whose souls long for the day of the Churches glory should take heed that therein they do not hurry the Saints besides or beyond the means of its present Unity for the obstructing the latter is an eminent means to hinder the former and such as will defer the work of the Saints Unity prest for untill that glorious day shall never have an oppotunity of casting their Mite into that Treasury for the Vnity of that day shall stand in no need of their help The Lord alone shall be exhalted as the Vniter of his Church in that day there shall then be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God shall give them light Reu. 22.5 It would be taken for a very strange answer from a Physitian to a sick person that desired his help that when he was well he would come cure him since the whole needs no Physitian but those that are sick which Answer agrees much with this Objection Which I have been the larger in answering in regard I have often met with it from the most moderate against this Gospel union who though they have seemed to be convinced of the duty yet would quiet their consciences in the neglect of their uttermost endeavour to obtain it from the consideration that it was not to be expected until the last and glorious times That until there was an unity of knowledge and judgement there could be no unity in Church-fellowship alledging that Scripture How can two walk together unless they be agreed which Scripture others of like tendency are evidently mistaken when applied in this case for such an agreement as to have no difference of understanding among Saints and that in considerable weighty points was never yet on earth yet Gods Church hath preserved its unity And therefore it is to be considered that the union we are capable of attaining unto and ought to press after in this day of our imperfection is not to proceed from the perfection of our understanding in the same things but from the exercise of grace one towards another whiles thus differing to which purpose the Lord hath supplyed his people with several special graces which are chiefly applicable in this special duty and there fore ye may observe that generally exhortations to union as the end do provoke to the exercise of such graces as are proper thereunto as the means as for instance Ephes 4.1 2 3. That ye walk worthy of the vocation whereunto ye called are with all lowliness and meekness with long suffering forbearing one another in love verse 2. And further let all bitterness wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice
and be ye kinde one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake forgave you verse 31.32 here was the means then verse 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace here is the end so the same Apostle to the Philippians Chapter 2.2 that ye be like-minded having the same Love being of one accord of one minde here he expresseth the end then verse 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain janglings but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves so verse 4. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others thus he directs the means so that the great mercy of Gospel union is not to be expected but in the exercise of the great means of suitable Gospel Grace and why Beleevers should be more discouraged in endeavouring the Churches unity then its purity I know no ground for there is no difficulty attending the one but what attends the other even the corruption of our hearts and principles which Paul affirmed to be the cause of the divisions in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 3.3 And therefore they that begin in the work of Saints union to dispute and reason them into the same understanding and practice begin at the wrong end The first step to unity is humility and therein the exercise of the graces of patience meekness charity long-suffering and forbearing one another in love c. The principal and main use of those graces in their exercise would be little needed if all the Saints had once attained to the same understanding in all things And therefore if through the rigid froward contentious disposition of some Christians unity of Church-state in some places could not be obtained but Christians should continue to walk in several distinct societies according to their several perswasions yet therein they might be through the exercise of the foregoing uniting graces and unity of brotherhood by giving the right hand of fellowship to each other as Gospel Churches and exercising all Brotherly and Christian affection towards each other and in extraordinary cases where the joynt advice or the assistance of the Eldership or Presbytery of the several societies may be required in things wherein they are all agreed they might make use of and submit unto the help of each other therein which would prepare the way for a more perfect union For as nothing more tends to divide then a frequent controverting of the cases in controversie amongst Saints so nothing would tend more to unite then a frequent partaking of each others gifts and graces in those things wherein they agree for in the one they onely come to discern the unsoundness of judgement and weaknesses of each other by passionate unpleasing expressions which the best of Christians are subject unto in disputes whereas in the other they would come to observe the soundness of judgement and strength of grace in each other which would exceedingly tend to endear and unite for if godly persons were better known to one another in their spiritual excellencies and graces and less in their defects and weaknesses their union would not be so difficult a thing as at present it seems to be and therefore what the Church saith Cant. 1.5 concernning her afflictions might be repeated by different-minded societies of Christians one to another to the weaknesses of their judgement or supposed Errors on each hand Look not upon me because I am black for as a good man observed in a discourse upon Hebr. 12.1 Christians are the exceeding apt to be poring upon the dark side of the cloud prying into each others infirmities and weaknesses judging of one another according to the sight of the eye and the hearing of the ear which he that shall judge righteous Judgement will not do Isa 11.3 for it is the natural disposition of the Churches enemies to be so exercised they say Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Sion Mich. 4.11 which sin in Saints is neer kin to the sin of Ham Gen. 9.22 whose sin did not lie in the seeing of his fathers nakedness but in not covering it and his publishing it to his brethren without and therfore to expect union of Saints whiles we live in the exercise of all dividing practises is to expect it by way of miracle but to expect it as before in the exercise of uniting graces is to expect it in a way of means unto which the promise of blessing is onely annexed Object But although the union of Saints as before be a mercy of that worth and a duty of that waight you press it yet the present sad divided State of Gods People in these Nations seemes to render it so difficult that endeavours to unite may tend further to divide there is such a spirit of prejudice in Christians against the opinions and principles they are contrary unto that not only the opinions of each other but the very persons holding them are ofttimes unacceptable and burthensome to each other for their opinions sake Answ I would I could say there is no ground for this Objection but doubtlesse there is The work is like to be attended with much difficulty and opposition both from good and bad men but especially where this spirit of Division is predominant it will exceedingly rage it will there like those unclean spirits our Saviour cast out Mark 1.26 Chap. 5.2 3 4. teare those it possesseth and cry with a loud voice before it come forth but be not discouraged the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind 2 Tim. 1.7 shall prevaile against this carnal spirit of contention strife and vain iangling which thus begets and increaseth Divisions amongst Gods People but the better to enable thee to employ thy talent and opportunities in this good work consider the following directions In general to all persons of what degree or condition soever labour to inform thy self not only that the unitie of Gods Church is a mercy and the endeavouring of it is a duty but that it is a duty and mercy to be prefered before many others nay most others when they come in competition therewith for the consideration of the worth of a mercy and the weight of a duty doth much enlarge the heart towards it and carryes the heart in earnest prayer for it which is the first and chief duty I shall press thee unto to pray for the peace of Jerusalem 2. Being satisfied of the worth and weight of it and therby seeking frequently the Lord with fervent prayer for it labour to arm thy self against all discouragements and difficulties that may seem to lie in the way of it that though its likely thou mayest come to bear the reproach of a luke-warm Laodicean a person of no setledness in judgment that is filled with notions of unpractiseable things and much worse then this yet heed it not but know this spirit of division is best discerned by
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
whence they are hewn and the hole of the pitt whence they are digged they would be less in offensive termes and scornefull carriages towards poore carnal professors they would rather say as Paul argues 1 Cor. 4.7 who maketh us to differ from others what have we that we did not receive Unto whom I shall conclude with Pauls reply Now if you did receive it why doe ye glory as if you had not received it I might multiply many more Answers to Objections that may lie in the way of this duty of making beginnings in this blessed worke but I hope the prosperous success of some whose hearts the Lord shall engage in the practice hereof will be more convincing arguments to prove that gracious holy persons of different judgments may comfortably walke together in Gospel fellowship edifying each other in their most holy faith without being offensive or grievous one to another in their different mindes then I am able to adde and therefore I shall conclude what I have to say to Gospell Ministers as to their propagating this pretious truth with this one direction 4. If providence hath placed your present residence amongst a people so frowardly bent to dividing principles and practices that the labouring to promote this Gospel union might be so ill resented by them as might render your present ministration unacceptable and thereby unsuccesfull amongst them that you have cause to take up Davids complaint Psal 120.7 I am for peace but when I speak they are for warre Then it is my opinion you ought to suspend earnest pressing the practice of this Gospel union and say as the Lord did Iohn 16.12 I have yet many things to say but you cannot beare them now But yet not to close with such in their rigid dividing principles as Peter and Barnabas did Gal. 2.12 13. but to be daily labouring to remove them for take but away the rubbish and dross of Christians principles and spirits and then like hewn stones they will unite of themselves 1. By the rubbish and dross of their spirits that hinders union I meane those sinful distempers of spirit that are contrary to the uniting graces before mentioned as Pride and Passion selfe conceit Envy Hatred Emulations and the like for if these were once removed and the opposite graces strengthned inclinations to union would become as natural to them as now inclinations to division are for remove but the cause and the effect ceaseth and if you should convince them of the evill of their dividing principles before their dividing spirits were subdued they would be no more capable to practice this Gospel union then a drunken man would be capable to goe without staggering and therefore if nothing else can be done towards this worke be preparing the spirits of Gods people with uniting graces 2. By the rubbish or dividingness of their principles I meane such notions and tenents as naturally tend to division which Christians of most perswasions have received by tradition from their fathers as I may say that because former good men of the same opinion with them and the people all along professing the same way with them have so done therefore they conceive they must do so too of which sort of dividing principles are 1. A confining their Christian relation affection and duty within the limits of their own judgements allowing God to have no visible Church nor judging themselves to owe any special duty to Christians as Brethren beyond their own rule of fellowship which principle is usually the nurse if not the mother of these following practices From hence proceed all those scruples which hinder Saints from a free participation of each others gifts and graces on the one hand such as are rigid against Separation will neither hear nor joyn with any but such as are of their own Principles they will either have Objections against their Call and Ordination or otherwise against their judgement and qualifications and thereby oft deprive themselves of a soul-searching powerful instruction and stand picking the bones of a dry sapless Historica Discourse set off with the trimming of some humane excellency that the other might want more minding what the dish is the Lord presents the Bread of life to them in then the purity and spiritualness of the Bread it self when the Lord doth usually put this treasure of his graces and spiritual gifts into earthen vessels that the glory might be of God and not of man 2 Cor. 4.7 He oft times hides these things from the wise and prudent when he reveals them to babes and sucklings Mat. 11.25 I having observed some whom I judge godly to rigid upon this hand that they have rather chose to hear where the Speaker hath been a visible ungracious person or stay at home then to attend a powerful heart-searching Godly Preacher contrary-minded in some things to them And on the other hand many poor Christians do run into the like extream for as the former makes humane defects the Rule of Rejection they go neer to make them the Rule of Election and so by both the true Rule of gracious qualifications and spiritual gifts where-ever found are declined and set light by and put in competition with every circumstantial thing whereas if Christians would make that which tends most to answer the ends of hearing viz. the nourishment edification and comfort of their souls the rule of hearing these things would not be and nothing would more tend to further the Saints union then the removal of these hinderances in their providential Communion in things wherein they are agreed for if gracious persons different-minded did but sometimes meet to pour out their Souls to the Lord together in prayer for their joynt concernments and to taste the preciousness of each others experiences and graces by a mutuall communication of spiritual gifts it would much tend to remove uncharitable jealousies and endear their hearts one to another that was the Argument Peter used to convince the unbeleeving Jews that the Gentiles were pertakers with them of the same grace Acts 11.17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gifts as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ what was I that I could withstand God unto which Reason they assented v. 18. When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life From which Scripture you may clearly gather that it was both Peters and the believing Jews opinion that such ought to own and esteem each other as fellow-brethren in the Gospel of Christ whom God had granted the same precious gifts and graces unto And I may say it is impossible for Christians ever to come to an union in things wherein they differ until they come to a Communion in things wherein they agree for while Christians be at the utmost distance one from another they can never come to acknowledge of any thing that is obliging or uniting for we may