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
much controversy as the former for say some They that are not of a scandalous conversation are of a suitable conversation and if so then many Papists nay Jews Turks and Pagans are of a suitable conversation for abundance of all them are free from scandal in their lives and do walk very unblameably Paul before his conversion was according to the Law blamelesse the Pharises made cleane the outside of the Cup and Platter and therefore sure a Suitable conversation to the Gospel must be more then a meer moral conversation but if all persons of the several perswasions walking by these Rules that admit of so much variousness and uncertainty were put to give their several meanings in these qualifications they would leave the enquirer after truth at a greater uncertainty then they found him But surely the Lord hath not left his People in this great and weighty Case at so evident an uncertainty and therefore to spend no more time in this labyrinth of different Opinions in this Case Let us consider what light the infallible word of the Lord wil afford us therein For as the Lord knows who are his Jo. 10.14 and is known of his Col. 1.10 so hath he left to his Church and people a rule of knowing one another from all the people of the world Psal 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself And since the day that the Lord put an enmity betwixt the two seeds Gen. 3.15 there have been visible marks and rules of distinction to know them by After Abels death we read nothing of a visible Church or Gods visible worship upon earth until the dayes of Seth who was given in stead of Abel whom Cain slew and after his posterity began to increase in the earth that is after Enoch was born then began men to call upon the name of the Lord Gen. 24.25 26. in whose seed the Church of God continued until the Flood at which time the Church and people of God polluted themselves and corrupted the holy seed by mixing themselves in marriages with the seed of the world For the Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of all which they chose at which the Lord was greatly provoked and said My Spirit shall not always strive with flesh Gen. 6.2.3 and after the Flood the holy seed was again revived in Shem Gen. 9.26 27. in whose line the visible Church continued until Abraham's time with whom the Lord again renewed his Covenant and made another separation betwixt the two seeds Gen. 12.2 3. who again reformed and revived the visible worship of God Gen. 12.7.8 Gen. 13.4 After which God did at several times not onely renew his Covenant of Promise but in the seventeenth of Genesis did declare more fully then before the Condition of his Covenant for as before he usually said my Covenant will I keep with thee he here saith my Covenant thou shalt keep with me verses 9 10 11 12 13 14. And God said unto Abraham Thou shalt keep my Covenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee Every man-child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins and it shall be a token of the Covenant between me and you And he that is eight dayes old shall be circumcised among you every man child in your generations he that is born in the house or bought with money of any stranger which is not of thy seed He that is born in thy house and he that is bought with thy money must needs be circumcised and my Covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting Covenant And the uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my Govenant In which words the Lord doth ordain and establish a new pale or bound to his Church which was never again to be altered for Abrahams seed and circumcision in the type or in the Antitype in the flesh or spirit shall ever continue to be the true bound of Gods Church militant which Covenant we finde was renewed again to Isaac Gen. 26.1 2 3 4. Rom. 9.7 Gal. 4.28 Hebr. 11.1 And after that to Jacob Gen. 28.13 14 15. from whose time this Covenant of distinction was usually repeated to be the Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Exod. 2.24 Lev. 26.42 and that for an everlasting Covenant 1 Chron. 16.16 17. compared with the thirty fourth verse Which Rule of Church-membership or visible bound of Gods Church continued in the type unquestionable until the coming of the promised Messiah Luke 1.59 2.21 And therefore the Pharisees in the 8th of John thought they made a good plea to Christ verse 33. We are Abrahams seed and verse 39. Abraham is our Father which our Saviour admits to be true verse 37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed And this priviledge Paul pleaded Rom. 11.1 Hath God cast away his people God forbid for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham And so against those false teachers in the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 11. Are they Hebrews so am I are they Israelites so am I are they the seed of Abraham so am I By all which and much more of that nature that might be added it is a truth out of controversie that the Condition of the Covenant made with Abraham c. was the standing unalterable bounds of the Church of God until Christ came who did not at all disannul this Covenant as it was a distinguishing Covenant nor alter the least Condition of it but fulfilled it that what our Lord saith of the Law in general may be truly applyed to this particular Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5.17 18. And so Paul argues Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid we establish the Law So that we must not seek for another Rule to know Gods Church and people by under the Gospel then what was under the Law But to enquire after that Legal Rule Gospelized that what the seed of Abraham and Circumcision under the Law were Types of under the Gospel that must we enquire for and make the same use of the Antitype now which the type then served for Now the seed of Abraham in the Flesh typed out to us the seed of Abraham in the Spirit the Carnal seed under the Law was the type of the Spiritual seed under the Gospel Rom. 4.11 to the end Rom. 9.10 first verses so Gal. 3.14 to to the end concluding with these words if ye be Christs then are ye
GOSPEL-SEPARATION Separated from its Abuses OR THE Saints Guide IN GOSPEL-FELLOWSHIP WHEREBY They may be directed not onely to preserve the Purity but withall the Unity of GOSPEL-WORSHIP By a well-wisher to Sions Purity and Unity R. L. Mercy and Truth have met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Psal 85.10 Therefore love the Truth and Peace Zach. 8.19 Imprimatur JOSEPH CARYL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1657. TO HIS EXCELLENCY Charls Fleetwood Esq Lord Deputy of IRELAND My Lord THough the Truth asserted by this little Treatise have but few Friends amongst whom you deserve to be numbered in the first rank yet is it able to plead its own cause for where-ever its absence is there wants no Arguments to prove the worth of its presence for as the Puritie of the Gospel may be esteemed in the mystical Body of Christ as its life blood so its Unity may be next esteemed as its health and strength and life without health is but a lingring death but I am perswaded I need not spend time to beget in you a love to this Truth you have evidenced the sincerity of your love thereto and therein I hope have tasted of that fruit of righteousness which is sown in peace of them that make peace Jam. 3.18 The reason why Contention and division have been more natural to Gods people then union in all ages is because it is more naturally suitable to their unregenerate part therefore those duties and graces that most crosse the lusts of the flesh must necessarily be attended with most difficulty and opposition but to ballance that they are also attended with proportionable inward comfort and peace and therefore my Lord though imposing oppressing principles and spirits do cry out against you as the injurious Israelites did against Moses Exod. 2.14 yet cease not to plead with them Ye are Brethren why do ye wrong one another though it may cost you dear at the present yet consider the Lord that made it up to him is able to do so to you Among the rest of those excellent principles the Lord hath born an approving testimony unto in the day of his glorious power none have been attended with more signal evidences of his presence with and delight in then this pleaded for Most disowned instruments that have tendred their service to the Lord in the Work of this Generation have profest and declared a love to Gods ways and people but therein have confined their care affection to a part if not the least spiritual part of them which the Lord took so unkindly at their hands that he visibly removed the Tabernacle of his presence from among them and chose the same people despised and slighted by them to be the instruments of his praise and glory in the great work he hath done for his people in these Nations And easie it is to demonstrate if it were not too large a discourse for an Epistle that as those persons so singularly owned by the Lord have declined abated in this principle so hath the Lord withdrawn from them and left them to that destraction and miserable confusion they are at this day involved in as if the Lord should say if you withdraw your equal respect and affection from any of my people I will withdraw mine from you And do but well weigh and consider the visible principles and frame of spirit of such persons who are vehemently driving on the interest of some part of Gods people under some peculiar notion they have received of the truth or work of the Generation in opposition to the rest that are not like-minded And ye may observe a visible inconsistency in their principles and practices to the obtaining or securing the very things they pretend for That my Lord it is not onely your praise but your mercy that your heart is kept in an even frame towards all the Lords people in this day in which so many eminent Professors are through temptation and stumbling blocks laid in their way by the weakness and frailties of some of the Lords people growing weary and faint in their minds as to the stedfast practice of and impartial respect to Saints as such and to be good in bad times is the best testimony of goodness from a good principle Therefore as your discouragements and opposition encrease labor to encrease in your confidence and diligence though you may have War without you may have Peace within And of all dangers be most watchful against heart-risings and alienation of affection towards such who are contrary-minded to you herein that is the stone many at this day are stumbling on They measure out their respect and affection to Saints proportionably to that respect and affection they or their principles receive from them whereas the cheif excellency of this principle above others lieth in this difference that it can extend respect to others upon the account of duty to Christ though disrespect on the account of different opinion be returned to them again for uniting principles must be attended with the exercise of uniting Graces if they intend to be successful in uniting work That the Lord may guide you in all your streights support you under all your burthens and render into your bosom plentiful returns of all that kindness you have shewn unto and weaknesses you have over-looked in his people for his Image sake upon them is the earnest prayer of the most unworthy of Your Excellencies sincere Servants in Ireland RICH. LAWRENCE The Author to the Churches of Christ in the Dominions of England c. To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1.1 And to all the faithful in Christ Jesus with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord Grace and Peace be multiplied Beloved in the Lord HEre is a Treatise presented to your view which stands in much need of your favourable consideration as to the weakness and imperfection in the writing thereof but if you can overlook them the Truth endeavored to be held out thereby is worth your studying and enquiring after It is a Truth that hath many Hangers-on but few faithful Servants many Gospel Merchants have been trading for this goodly Pearl but few have been willing to go to the price of it they have had Peace in their mouthes but War in their hearts like those Micah speaks of chap 3.5 They bite with their teeth and cry peace but if thou wouldest obtain the precious unity of Saints thou must not onely seek peace but pursue it Psal 34.14 not stand still and call it to thee but follow after the things that make for peace Rom. 14.19 If the peace of God once rule in thy heart it will guide thy feet into this way of peace this work of peace will surely attend thy soul with the comforts and joy of peace nay the Lord himself shall give you peace always
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
renew its purity p. 57. 3. Vnity would repaire its reputation and esteem p. 57 58. 4. Vnity would renew its growth and increase p. 59. 60. 5. Vnity would abundantly renew its joy and comfort p. 61. The Argument from the whole p. 62. From whom objections may be expected p. 63. How the objections are stated to the Reader p. 64. 1. Object Against the admission of erroneous persons answered p. 65. And wherein is proved that persons holding greater errors then Generally Saints now separate upon were admitted communion with the Primitive Churches p. 65. 66. Much more reason for Gods Ministers and Churches to permit Erroneous persons into communion now then then p. 67. 2. Object That this Principle admits all Errors and heresies in Gods Church answered p. 67. In which answer is shewn what sort of errors or erroneous persons Gods Churches and people ought to withdraw from p 68. to 77. 3. Object Raised from the 2 Thess 3.6 concerning disorderly walking and disobedience answered from p. 77. to 83. 4. Object Whether the power of Religion can consist without the true form answered p 83. 84 5. Object From the inconsistency of unity with Principles directly opposite one to another answered p. 85. 6. Object Against the too generall stateing the case and not coming to those particular points wherein the difference lies answered p. 86. 7. Object From the unpossibility of Gospell union untill the fulfilling of the glorious promises relating to the later times answered p. 87. Wherein is proved that there is as much reason to deferr our indeavors after the increase of knowledge and purity as after unity p. 87. 88. Vnity must precede Glory to Christs Church p. 88. Division lies as much in the way of Christs glory now as unbelief did formerly in the way of his grace p. 89. The promises of the Churches glory hold forth an universality of peace purity and glory to all Saints p. 89. The union we are capable of attaining is not to proceed from the agreement of our understandings wherein we differ but in the exercise of Grace one towards another while thus differing p. 90. The Lord hath supplyed his Church with speciall uniting graces as the meanes to assist them in this speciall uniting duty as the end p. 91. They that begin the work of Saints union by disputing and reasoning them into the same understanding begin at the wrong end p. 92 93. Saints too apt to be pâ—aring upon each others infirmities p. 94. Object From the prejudice that is in Christians against each others opinions and principles answered p. 95. Directions to such as shall set upon the work of Saints union p. 96. 1. Direction to labour to informe themselves of the worth of the mercy and weight of the duty p. 95. 2. Direction to arme themselves against all discouragements and dificulties they must expect to meet with therein p. 96. 3. To take heed of exercising any of the Spirit of divisions weapons in the Spirit of unions cause p. 96. 97. 4. Labour to obtain a Compassionate tender frame of Spirit p. 97. 5 Set thy affections on those things in Saints wherein the Image of Christ is most visible p. 99. 6. Labor to abound in uniting graces p. 99. 100. 7. Labour to preserve a proportionable growth of of grace in thy soule p. 100. 8. Be most exercised in those duties thy place and abilities most cal thee unto and fit thee for p. 102. 103. Further directions to Gospel Ministers in order to Saints union p. 103. 104 1. To be sensible of the sad effects of the divisions amongst themselves 104. 105. 106. 2. Then to study all holy waies of furthering the worke of union p. 107. 3. To change their sharp censurings and blamings into intreatings and beseechings p. 108. 4. To commend what is good as well as condemn what is evill in those differing from them p 109. 5. To lay no more stress upon the errors reproved then the Scripture doth p. 110. 6. To take heed of so intailing errors one to another as to charge upon persons holding some lesser error with others they detest the thoughts of p. 111. 7. To beware in so opposing errors controversall in some they do not thereby commend errors fundamentall in others p. 112. Christians of all hands are too apt to manifest more indignation against some holy persons for controversall errors differing from them then against visible ungodliness and open prophanness in them that in opinion close with them p. 113. 114. Little helpe to be expected in the work of Saints union from such as have much engaged themselves in the evil of Saints devisions p. 115. Therefore those that have the evill of Saints divisions upon their hearts ought the more to labor for unity p. 116. 1. By being much in prayer together and apart for Saints union p. 116. 2. To study to propagate the principles of this truth p. 117. 3. To set up some beginnings in Gospel fellowship upon this Gospell principle p. 117. 118. Object From the aversness of particular Churches and from thence the danger of further divisions upon the promoting this principle answered p. 118 119 120. Object From the inconsistency of persons not agreeing in judgment to walke together in fellowship without obstructing the mutuall edification of the whole answered p. 121 122. Object From the disadvantage that some controverted despised truths might receive thereby answered p 123. 124. Object From the opposition that may arise from such of the godly as are against all separation answered p. 126 127. Object From the difficulty of walking towards such whose Conversion though hopeful may be very doubtfull answered p. 128. 129. A censorious Spirit and provoking carriage towards any professing Christianity though not visibly gracious is blameable and hurtfull p. 130. What cases may give a dispensation from the present promoting this or any other pretious truth among some people p. 131. What the dross and rubish of Christians principles and spirits are that hinder them from uniting which Gods Ministers should be labouring to remove in order to unity when they can do nothing else towards it p. 132 133. Christians usually more curious about the dish the Lord presents the bread of life to them in then the purity and spirituallness of the bread it selfe p. 134. Vnpossible for Saints ever to come to an union wherein they differ untill they come to a communion in what they are agreed p. 135. The Spirit of division never speakes good of differing Christians one to another p. 136 The Spirit of division confines the hearts of Saints in prayer and praises to a few of Gods people and ofttimes sets them in opposition one to another at the throne of grace p. 137 138. This evil principle leades to a wresting misapplying the pretious promises and precepts of Christ and to misguide us in our obedience to God and duty towards our Bretheren p. 139. What the Author drives at in all he hath spoke to Gospell
but one spirit so the chief business of this own spirit and tendency of its operation is unity Eph. 4.3 And next to that betwixt head and members Christ and Saints it drives on the designe of the Saints union with one another in all truth Eph. 4.13 It can neither be divided nor deceived but must speak the same thing at all times to all persons Heb. 13.8 Men may have different apprehensions and understandings and from the variety in them may put a various interpretation upon the Spirits teaching 1 Cor. 12.3 but yet the spirit remains the same spirit of truth it leadeth into all truth Jo. 16.13 And though this variety be in the spirits operation in the work of illumination and directing the judgement from the variety which is in the capacities and apprehensions of men yet in the more certain properties of the spirits work upon the hearts of Beleevers as in the works of mortification and sanctification c. there is no such variety for though there may be difference of degree yet the least measure of the spirits work in those things bears a divine stamp that fruit of the Spirit which is in all goodness righteousness and truth Eph. 5.9 is of the same nature and complexion in all Saints from whence I argue That the most infallible Rule Saints can walk by in their choice of gospel brethren or Church-members is to follow the tract of the Spirits choyce to choose where it hath chosen before them But the visible tract or evidence of the Spirits choyce is its manifesting its indwelling through its operation in carrying the Soul out to the exercise of Grace Therefore the visible operation of the Spirit of Grace in persons is the most infallible Rule for Beleevers to make their choyce by Object But may some say how shall we know the Spirits operations and thereby its choyce in such a day of delusion as this is when the spirit of Errour that new reigneth hath transformed it self to so neere a likenesse to the Spirit of Christ Answ Whatsoever is held forth to be the visible fruits and effects of the Spirit of grace in the hearts and conversation of Beleevers by the word of truth ought to be admitted by them as sufficient Testimony of the Spirits choice Acts 11.17 But the effects and fruits of the Spirit are clearly testified to be Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness and Temperance Gal. 5.22.23 Therefore such persons whom the Spirit of the Lotd hath so qualified ought to be admitted and owned by Beleevers as such of whom the Spirit hath manifested its choyce For what may be further objected against this Argument from the various understandings and different minds of several visible gracious persons and from the grosse Errours held by several persons seemingly gracious and spirituall I shall have occasion to speak to when I come to answer to such general Objections as will include many of those particular Objections that might be made against every Argument I might add many Arguments more drawn from the fruits of the Spirits choyce But let all that long for the union of Saints first resolve to make the Spirits choice theirs and then they shall hardly read a Scripture but will afford them some Characters of the Spirits choyce for our heavenly Father hath not a Child nor our chief Shepheard a Sheep that are visibly such but his holy Spirit hath set his seal on them either lesse or more visible 2 Cor. 1.22 Eph. 1.13 4.30 Therefore I shall conclude this head with one Argument more and leave the remain to the Readers meditation That qualification or State which gives us free access to and acceptance with the Father Eph. 2.18 1.6 by which we are made his adopted Sons Rom. 8.15 unto which he hath annexed the performances of his preitious promises 2 Peter 1.4 wherein he seeks and desires us to worship him Joh. 4.23 by which we are joyned unto the same body of which Jesus Christ is the head 1 Cor. 12.13 and whereby we are made partakers of the same grace 1 Col. 12. heirs with him of the same Kingdom James 2.5 or inheritance Eph. 1.11 14. and partakers with him of the same glory in heaven Col. 1.27 3.4 nay wherein the perfection of shall be their State in glory John 17.23 24 Eph 4.13 when all other qualifications and additional rules of distinction shall cease 1 Cor. 13.8 10. is doubtlesse the most infallible rule and qualification for Gods Church and People to owne and joyn with one another in the worship and service of God by But the qualification that gives us right unto interest in all the former particulars is a participation of a spiritual work of grace upon the heart as the Srciptures annexed with abundance more that might be added do sufficiently evidence Therefore it is the most infallible rule for Gods Churches and People to make choice of Church-members and Gospel Brethren by The fourth General head from which we shall argue is the choice and approbation of the infallible servants of God in all ages whose fellowship and communion with persons as Gods Church and People is recorded for our Example in Scriptures who in their several generations and ages of the Church they lived in made this duty of preserving the Churches union and peace within it self the great and weighty duty unto which most other dutyes when they come in competition must give place unto And they did always make the declared visible choice of God their choice For those whom God had chosen to be his people by his visible Covenant with an especial grace unto they owned to be their brethren and fellow members in his Church excluding none of them nor admiting no other which point I suppose hath been sufficiently proved in my discourse of the true Church-bounds That until I meet with one instance at least out of Gods word of a person or persons visible which in those Church-bounds before mentioned viz. Abrahams seed Circumcision in the type Antitype was kept out or not esteemed one of Gods Church not scandalous or unexcommunicated I shall for bear further speaking to that And shall chiefly from this head insist to observe the weight that the holy servants of God in all ages have laid upon the Churches peace and unity When the Church consisted of Jacobs family how carefull was Joseph to preserve union among his Brethren though they had little deserved it at his hands yet the great and chief charge he layeth upon them is see that you fall not out by the way Gen. 4.5.24 So Moses reproves his Brethren the Hebrewes for striving one with another Exod. 2.13 in in these words as Stephen quotes it Acts 7.26 Sirs ye are Brethren why do ye wrong one another So for the Divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart Judges 5.15 16. So David Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together
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
Notions of carnall liberty which the Apostle calls perverse disputings of men of Corrupt minds destitute of the truth 1 Tim. 6.5 and doating about questions and strife of words whereof cometh envy Strife raylings evill surmizings vers 4. which he again presseth them to avoid as prophane vaine bablings vers 20th Now from such the Word of God is clear though they walk with never such a shew of holiness and profession of spiritualness they ought to be avoyed and withdraw from as ungodly persons 3. Third sort of persons I judge Churches and Saints ought to separate and withdraw from are persons so corrupt in Judgement and tainted with such gross impious Errours in opinions as are evidently inconsistent with true grace such was Hymeneus Alexander and Philetus mentioned 1 Tim. 1.2 compared with 2 Tim. 2.17 who had made Shipwrack of faith and a good conscience such doth the Apostle mean by an Heretick Titus 3.10 Such opinions the Apostle cals the Error of the wicked 2 Pet. 3.17 which implies more then a wicked Errour which a holy Christian through weakness or temptation may be drawn into as Peter and Barnabas was Gal. 2.11 12 13 14. vers such are said to erre from the Faith 1 Tim. 6.10 which is more then to erre in the Faith for those Errours were contrary to the graces of Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness c. which the Apostle in the next verse exhorts Timothy to follow in his flight from the foresaid Errours Such are said to erre from the truth James 5. 19. viz. the Body and substance of saving truth for he that converts such a sinner from the errour of his way shall save a Soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins vers 20. which clearly implyes the erring from the truth in that peace is meant such an erring as putts the Erroneous person out of a saveable state they are said to live in Error 1 Pet. 2.18 which is more then to have Error live in them In which Chapter he fully describes what sort of erroneous persons he there means from the tenth verse to the end John calls it the Spirit of Error 1 John 4.6 by which he means more then an errring spirit Jude calls such sensual separatists Jude 19. such as had no appearance of the grace of God in them but were ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ the whole Epistle is spent to describe those sort of Separatists now from such sort of Erroneous persons as these are mentioned and fully described least we should mistake doubtless the Church of God and Saints ought to separate from and reject 4. The fourth sort of Erroneous persons which I judge holy Churches and Saints ought to separate from are such as err in fundamentals or foundation points of Religion holding opinions that lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree of Life Now as these sorts of Errors are most dangerous to be permitted so they are most difficult to single out for though it be a thing out of doubt that there are foundation Doctrines which the Church of God ought to prefer in order to its Beeing before its Peace and Vnity yet it remains very doubtfull whether several of those precious and substantial truths that are highly to be prized and much contended for and are by several godly and sound Christians esteemed foundation points be so or no that is so to be esteemed foundations as the persons not beleeving them or holding Error contrary to them and are otherwise in the main gratious be thereby made incommunicable But as in the former cases so in this I shall decline coming to particulars as a work above my capacity and shal onely tender my thoughts in some few general Rules and so leave it to them who are more able to add 1. First I judge that Errors against the foundation points of Religion must be of such a nature and tendency as do strike at the very root of Saving-Grace and tend to unstate the the person holding them from a possibility of Salvation he living and dying therein for so Paul argues 1 Cor. 15.14 concerning the resurrection of the dead If Christ be not risen then is our preaching Vain and our faith is also Vain And also verse 17.18 And if Christ be not raised your Faith is Vain ye are yet in your Sins Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 2. I judge they must be Errors contrary to the general tendency and scope of Scripture and to the Doctrines of Salvation plainly and evidently therein exprest which all true Beleevers concur and agree in And therefore saith the Apostle if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 3.3 and so chapter 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For if he that cometh preacheth Another Jesus whom we have not preached or if ye receive Another Spirit which ye have not received or Another Gospel which ye have not excepted c. ye might well bear with him And so Gal. 1.6 7 8. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that hath called you into the grace of Christ unto Another Gospel Which is not Another but there be some which trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach another Gospel unto you then that which we have preached let him be accursed Now it is evident that that bringing in another Gospel was a joyning Circumcision and the works of the Law with Faith in Christ in Justification contrary to the very Essence of Gospel Faith as they held it Object Why how did they hold it did not you before number this among one of the Errors Paul permitted in the Church of Rome c. and prest the Church to union without separating from it Answ They held it rigidly imposing it upon others as of necessity to Salvation chap. 2.14 and 6.12 For where the same Error was held more moderately as we observe before in the Church of Rome and Corinth c. the Apostles deals milder with it there he saith Circumcision is nothing nor uncircumcision is nothing 1 Cor. 7.19 Is any man called being circumcised let him not be uncircumcised verse 8. But when they come to hold it imposingly and positively as in this verse he then changeth his voice then O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth c. Chap. 3.1 2 3 4. then Behold I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised Christ shall Profit you Nothing For I testifie again to Every Man that is circumcised Christ is become of None Effect unto you Chap. 5.2 3 4. So that the manner of holding an Error alters the case of its fundamentalness much It was Peters
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
this day have been examples to their Flocks in this great duty of a holy tender spirit and humble brotherly carriage towards others differing from them for I know my self many that have so walked but I fear if there was a due search the most have not so done but there have been more hands dividing and rending then have been binding up and healing or else the disease would not have grown so Epidemical as it is this day that the Lord hath just cause to take up the complaint against them he did against his Shepherds of old Ezek. 34.4 5.6 The diseased have ye not strengthened neither have ye healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with Force and with cruelty have ye ruled them And they were scattered because there is no Shepherd and they became meat to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered my sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill yea my Flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth and none did seek or search after them And therefore until the Lord set this great evil upon your hearts that you have troden under your feet and scattered abroad so much of Gods precious wheat by your inordinate and unseasonable striving to be plucking up the tares there is little hopes of your setting your selves to this work of labouring for the unity of Gods Church with such desire and endeavour to accomplish it as may promise much success 2. You having once the sad divided condition of the people of God set upon you hearts with a due sense of what furtherance you have given thereto as aforesaid then begin to study all holy wayes of furthering the work of union then imitate the chief and good Shepherd Ezek. 34.11 12 13 14 15 16. For thus saith the Lord God behold I even I will both search my sheep and seek them out As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the country I will feed them in a good pasture and upon the high mountains of Israel there shall their fold be there shall they lie in a good fold and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel I will feed my flock and cause them to lie down saith the Lord God I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and I will binde up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong I will feed them with judgement For until then you will not be able to bear the contradiction and opposition you must expect to meet withall in this work not onely from bad but from good men till then the meekest Moses will be in danger to lift up himself over his poor deluded murmuring brethren Numb 20.10 and smite the rock oftner then he ought to do in his anger verse 11. but if once the Lord bring your hearts under an holy sense of equal guilt there will then be a spirit of sympathy with your poor weak brethren then you will know how to feed your flocks like a shepherd and to gather the lambs with your arms and carry them in your bosom and gently to lead those that are with young 3. I would propose to you to change your sharp severe censurings and blamings into affectionate beseechings and intreatings that was Paul's way Phil. 2.1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels of mercies fulfill ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde And so Ephes 4.1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation whereto ye are called with all lowliness and meekness with all long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace c. 4. In all your preachings or writings against Errors and Divisions c. labour to distinguish betwixt the chaff and the wheat the dross and the silver do not only condemn what is evil but also commend what is good in the same people or persons that is the method Christ observed to the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 2. and 3. Chap. as to Ephesus Chapter 2.2 I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them that are evil and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them liers and hast born and hast patience and for my Names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted And then he tells them of their faults verse 4. Nevertheless I have somwhat against thee c. And so to Pergamus verse 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans seat is and thou holdest fast my name and hast not denied my faith c. then in verse 14. he tells them of their evils but I have a few things against because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam c. And so he proceeds to Thyatira Sardis and Philadelphia c. Now if this method were observed by you in your preachings and acting against what you judge Error it would tend much to unity and also to the furtherance of the truth you contend for for by the contrary practice you usually prejudice and incense the persons holding the Errors you reprove against the reprover by your so far extending the Error or Errors they hold as to blemish and render undiscernable all the graces and precious truths retained and profest by them 5. In your opposing of Errors lay no more weight upon the Errors reproved then the Scripture doth the contrary extream of all hands tending much to Division such as are rigid against separation they have one sort of general exclamations against all sorts of persons they judge Erroneous separating from them jumbling them all together usually in their Invectives under the odious names of Schismaticks Heriticks c. And such as are rigid for separation answer them in the same extream on the other hand they cry out against them as Idolaters false worshippers superstitions Formalists c. by which unchristian and unreasonable deportments one towards another not onely the godly on both hands are incensed and prejudiced one against another but even carnal wicked people observing these passages and hearing such expressions they are
the daughter of their people Now to such I have these following directions to propose Though you do not think it convenient to engage your selves in the controversies of the times as they tend to estrange the hearts and alienate the affections of good People one from another yet to engage your selves in a controversy against controversies managing of it with a spirit of love and tenderness which may so much tend in the fruits of it to the endearing and uniting of the hearts of Saints one to another that may be worth your engaging in If you observe what is said page 32 33 34 35 36. you will there see how all the servants of God in all ages contended against the contentions in the Church and laboured to preserve union amongst Saints as the main duty And therefore in the first place I would begg of you to stir up your own hearts with all the Saints near you to be much in prayer for this mercy set special times apart to meet together to wrestle with the Lord about it this is a difficult and a great work and prayer hath done many such all those late great mercies that God hath bestowed upon his People in these Nations which they are now so unable to agree about the dividing of were all by many gracious and eminent instruments received and acknowledged to be the returns of Prayer I shall close this request with Joels exhortation Chap. 2.17 Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy heritage to reproach that the Heathen should use a by-word against them wherefore should they say among the People Where is their God 2. Give up your selves to study and propagate this truth for among the multitude of books that this day hath produced I have found few though I have diligently enquired and sought for them of this subject And had I not been wearied with long delayed expectation I should not durst to have made an Essay upon this work but I hope if it be of no other use it may serve to provoke some of you to lay your hand to this plough least such unskilful ones as my self is should spoile a good cause by badly managing it 3. Set upon some beginnings in Gospel-fellowship upon this Gospel principle I am perswaded the Lord would prosper and blesse it against this Spirit of division as the house of David against Sauls it shal grow stronger and stronger and the other weaker and weaker the Lord seems to be withdrawing his good spirit of his quickening sanctifying comforting grace from the People with whom the spirit of division is most predominate even pouring upon the head of dividers what he threatned to back-sliders Prov. 14.14 even to fill them with their own wayes that they are even wearied with the multitude of their divisions and contentions and such as are sincerely sensible thereof are ready to cry out with David Psal 120.6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace unto whom your feet will be beautiful that bring good tydings that publish peace Esay 52.7 when they shall observe by your Order and spirituall concord how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity as Psal 133.1 If you have already the charge of a particular Church labour to instruct them in this precious truth which when they have received endeavour to manifest it and make it known to all the Godly round about that you are in charity and desire to be in fellowship with them and all the godly or visible Beleevers in the World But if you be not engaged to any particular Church at present then make known your judgment to al that feares God near unto you and press them to their dutys to congregate themselves together and to have fellowship one with another in all Ordinances so farr as the Lord hath enlightned them therein which when obtained proceed as before Object But in case the Churches or at least a great part of them over whom the Lord hath set us be so averse to this truth that the promoting of it among them may hazard a breach betwixt us or at least a division in the Churche show should we then walk in the prosecution of this duty Answ Either such an aversness must proceed from a conscientious godly fear that some other truth of Christ they have received may be prejudiced thereby Otherwise from a contentious unruly frame of spirit not being able to bear the sincere and savory advice and instruction of those the Lord hath set over them If from the former a great deal of tenderness and Christian patience ought to be exercised toward them and endeavours used to satisfie them that your main aim and intendment in promoting this duty is to take away the cause from whence all grievances of that hand come and to provide that an equal provision of Liberty and opportunity may be to all conscientiously professing or practising any controverted point without the least discouragement or restraint which is as much as any sober mind can desire If from the latter lesse weight is to be put upon it saith Paul if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churhes of God 1 Cor. 11.16 And so to Titus There are many unruly and vain talkers whose mouths must be stopped Titus 1.10 11. Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith vers 13. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee Chapter 2.15 when Christians contain not themselves within the bounds of a sober gracious spirit whether the matter they strive about be truth or error their pride passion unruliness ought to be reproved But if in case they all should agree to dissent in this matter and will retain their former rule of separation yet if they be willing to allow that liberty to others that they desire to enjoy themselves separate not from them but the rather abide with them as with a Church of Christ that most needs your help For Christians much more ministers should not somuch consider where they may walk to enjoy most comfort and Christian liberty c. but rather where they may be most serviceable to the Lord and the weak diseased of his People for the whole need not the Physitian But though I do judge you ought to condiscend to the weakness of your Brethren and to walk with all Christian and brotherly affection towards them yet not herein with Peter Gal. 2.12 13. to dissemble the truth or to suffer any of the same society to be imposed on by them but your selves withall like-minded to manifest your charity towards and desire of fellowship with all the Saints on earth and as your occasions give you opportunity to evidence your principle by your practice Object But in case the Church with whom wee walk should be so offended as
truly say of this spirit of Division as Ahab said of Micaiah 1 Kings 22.8 It doth never speak good of me that is of Christians differing in judgement to one another It will not want its Spies at every Christian meeting or Sermon to gather up all offensive dividing expressions and passages and carry them up and down as fuell to the fire of contention that if ye observe it there is not the least secret mis-carriage among Christians but shall be known talked of and stretched out to the utmost by others contrary-minded to them But Christ wants his Intelligencers to publish and tell of those expressions and passages which would tend to unite and endear differing Christians one to another and if any out of a desire to beget love amongst Saints should take upon them that Office they would find it a very unthankful one where this spirit of Division hath found entertainment though there it is most needed and therefore until ye open the door of a free participation of gifts and graces among Saints expect no union And as this principle of confining the Church c. within our own limits thus nourishes dividing practices and hinders a free communication of gifts and graces so it tends to beget and nourish the saddest of inward delusions of heart that Christians can be possest with tending to the Corruption of our best duties to God and to make all our solemne sacrifices have an ill savour before him as 1. It confines our petitions and the desires of our hearts in prayer to a few of Gods people excluding the rest for no further then our principles carry us to own Gods Church and people to extend can our petitions to the Lord for his Church and people intend nay hereby sometimes our prayers becomes opposite to Gods designes of mercy to his people when they appeare before him at the throne of grace in opposition to one another and justifying where he condemnes and condemning where he justifies it would make a considerate heart tremble to appeare before him that knows all hearts in Prayer and there to repeat such general petitions as these Doe good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Psal 51.18 and in their hearts exclude the generality of the Lords people or to utter such complaints as these Let them all be confounded and turned backe that hate Sion c. Psal 129.5 and intend hereby amongst others such as are gracious persons differing-minded to them only for opposing some controverted point of Doctrine or practice which they have received and maintaine as carnally as the other opposeth it I say thus to do is to provoke the Lord against us all by engaging him as much as lyeth in us in our carnal contentions and divisions that the Lord hath just cause to take up that complaint against us Psal 50.20.21 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother thou slaunderest thine own mothers sonne these things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee and set them in Order before thine eyes This is very neere kinne to the sin of that evill Servant Mat. 18.31 whom when his Lord had forgiven him many Talents to take his fellow servant by the throate for one And as it thus misguides the heart in prayer so in prayses this contraction in our hearts of the extent of God Church will tend to put us upon rejoycing and praysing when we should weepe and mourne and put us upon mourning when we should rejoyce how hath this ungratefull principle robbed the Lord of the glory due unto his name for all the great mercies he hath bestowed upon us in these Nations of late years which before this spirit of division overspread us had weight upon our hearts that the people of the Lord did then seem to say with the Church Psal 126.1 When the Lord turned againe the captivity of Sion we were like them that dreame then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongues with singing then said they among the heathen the Lord hath done great things for them the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad but now we have cause to complaine with the Church Lam 5.15 the joy of our heart is turned into mourning the Crown is fallen from our head woe unto us that we have sinned now little but murmuring and complaining is heard in our streets what we yet want seemes to make all wee possess not worth being thankfull for As this confineing Principle byasses our hearts in prayer and praise so it tends to put us upon a wrestling and misapplying the precious promises and precepts of Christ in the Scripture to misguide our obedience to God and duty towards our brethren for all we exclude out of the pale of the Church we therby exclude from an interest in the promises they are thereby made as far as it is in our power Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant and promises and also thereby we excuse our selves of all those special dutyes we owe to one another as Christian Brethren that ye shal receive it as an Ordinary answer from some Christians if ye press them to Christian duty towards such as are not of the same fellowship with them what have we to do with them that are without but I am well assured that will not be admitted for a good answer at the last day to the Lord. And thus I shall conclude what I have to say to Gods Ministers as to their part in this work of Saints union hoping the Lord will stir up the hearts of some of them to set their shouldiers to it that that precious promise of the Lord to his Church Esay 60.17 18. may be fulfilled in them I will make thine Officers peace c. violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting and destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy Gates praise FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the black-spread Eagle at the West-end of St. Pauls REnodaeus his dispensatory containing the whole body of Physick discovering the natures and Properties and vertues of Vegetals Minerals and Animals in folio The History of Diodorus Siculus containing all that which is most memorable and of greatest Antiquity in the first ages of the World until the war of Troy in folio Doctor Pordages Innocencie appearing through the Dark Mists of pretended guilt in folio Cornelius Aggrippa his occult Philosophy in 3 Books in quarto Henry Laurence Lord President his book Entituled Our Communion and War with Angels in quarto Christopher Goad his Sermons Entituled Refreshing Drops and Scorching Vials in quarto William Dells works in quarto Samuel Gorton his Exposition on the fifth Chapter of James in quarto Samuel Hartlibs of Bees and Silkworms in quarto Cotton his Book called the Bloody Tenet of Persecution for cause of conscience in quarto Doctor Gells Sermon Entituled Noahs Flood returning in quarto A Taste of the Spirit of God and of this world by Robert Bacon in quarto Several Pieces of Christopher Blackwood now publick Teacher in Ireland in quarto Jacob Behem his Signatura Rerum or Signature of all things in quarto His Epistles explaining many things written in his other Books in quarto Of Election and Predestination in quarto His Book Entituled Aurora or the day-spring lately printed in quarto Several Pieces of Jsaac Penington Junior in quarto Biggs of the vanity of the Craft of Physick or a new Dispensatory in quarto Averies Scriptures Prophesies in quarto An Apology or Plea for two Treatises against Infant Baptisme by John Tombs in quarto William Sedgwicks his leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the Nation in quarto Collier his Pulpit-guard routed in quarto His Font-guard routed in quarto Simon Hendon his key of Scripture Prophesies in quarto Mr. Parker his Answer to the Assembly in large octavo Several pieces of Thomas Collier in large octavo Tillom on the eleventh Chapter of the Revelations in large octavo Henry Laurence Lord President his Book of Baptisme in large octavo Cobs Sermons entituled the Straight-Gate in large octavo Several Peeces of H. N. in octavo namely Prophecy of the Spirit of Love Revelatio dei or the Revelation of God Introduction to the Glass of Righteousness Evangelium Regni a joyfull message of the kingdome Spiritual Tabernacle The first Exhortation The Apology for the service of Love all in octavo Samuell Hartlibs Chymicall addresses in octavo Several Peices of Joshua Spriggs in octavo Several Peices of Jerrad Winstanley in octavo The Marrow of Moderne Divinity in octavo Thomas Butler his little Bible of the Man or the book of God opened in Man in octavo Crooked Paths made streight or the ways of God made known in lost sinners by A. Yeomans in octavo Simmons Saints like Christ in octavo William Sedgwick his Eleven sermons Intituled some Flashes of Lightnings of the Son of Man in octavo A Word of Peace from the Prince of Peace by J. Hatch in octavo Mysteries unvailed wherein the Doctrine of Redemption by Christ is handled by Robert Gardner in octavo Edward Hide Junior his book of the Mystery of Christ in us in octavo Purnels Weaver Shuttle in octavo His good tidings for Sinners great Joy for Saints in octavo Biscos Glorious Mysteries in octavo The confession and Fame of the Rosie Crosse by English Philalethes in octavo Several Peeces of Joseph Salmon in octavo Peytons History of the Rise Raign and Ruine of the house of Stuarts in octavo Larkhams Sermons in octavo Bacons Catechisme in twelves Corporations vindicated in their fundamentall Liberties by Charles Hotham in twelves Iohn Saltmarsh his book of Free Grace in twelves And his book Intituled Sparkles of Glory or some beames of the morning Starr in twelves Dawnings of Light in twelves