it as Members of it live peaceably together as the Members of the Natural Body do which are made to love and have a care one of another and keep all together without any division for that certainly tends to its dissolution But above all others the Christian Body or Society is disposed and bound hereunto by its very Constitution and by various Obligations As for its Constitution It is founded upon the Law of love and kindness and mutual care of each other By which our Saviour hath told us all his Disciples are to be known as by their very Badge and proper Character And as for their Obligation St. Paul reckons up a great number of things wherein we are united and thereby tied to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Ephes IV. 5 6. There is one Body That 's the first and general obligation And what can be more unnatural than for the Members of the same Body to quarrel and fall out and tear one another in pieces And one spirit that 's the second the Spirit of Love and Truth which suggests the same peaceable inclinations to every one that it doth to any one and what more unchristian than to throw off the Government of this one Heavenly Guide and to live as if we were severally acted by so many Infernal Furies Even as we are called in one hope of our calling that 's the third we must all be Friends in Heaven if we ever meet there Why do we bite then and devour one another in the way thither One Lord that 's the next who redeemed us all at the same rate of his own most precious Blood And is it agreeable to this relation for the Servants of the same Master to make disturbance nay confusion in his Family Is this think you for his Service Or can it turn to our good account when he reckons with us One Faith delivered to us by his Apostles How come we to fall out about that which teaches us to agree For faith worketh by love as the Apostle speaks Gal. V. 6. One Baptism whereby we are received into Christ's Family upon the same terms and conditions We are marked with the same Cognizance as an excellent Writer of our own glosses upon it * Bp. Bramhall's Answer to S. W. p. 5â— Edit 1. we use the same word we march under the same banner How come we to mistake one another for Enemies Lastly There is one God and Father of all who is above all by his most excellent Nature and through all by his Providence and Care of the whole World especially of every Member of the Church and in all by the operations of his Grace in our hearts For Christians then to contend and quarrel and fight What is it but to divide this one God to commit him against himself to disown his Government to cross his Motions to refuse to follow the conduct of his Graces which works in us and by abandoning our selves unto our own passions to throw our selves out of his Fatherly care of us and Favour towards us and to expose our selves to all the sin and all the mischief unto which the malice of the Evil Spirit can hurry us Behold here not one or two alone but seven Bands of Unity and Peace among Christians whereby they are tied to such mutual care of each others welfare that they cannot vex much less destroy one another unless they forget all these Obligations and break these Bands in sunder Nay there is not a Leaf in the whole Book of God wherein we read these things but it teaches us this blessed accord The very Body of the holy Scriptures we might easily see if we did observe from the one end of them to the other is a most lively Image and Type of this unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace which the Apostle commends unto us in this place For though the Writers of them lived in divers Ages in distant places and were of different tempers yet they all most admirably agree together having the very same relish in their writings carrying on the same design and aiming at the self same end without the least ground for suspicion that they had any private respect to themselves Let us but remember then that we have so many ties upon us and endeavour to have a feeling of them and then as the consideration that we are Members of the same civil Society moves us to be at peace one with another in the State which cannot otherways subsist but must be dissolved So the serious consideration that we are Members of the same Sacred Body of Christ linkt together by so many strong ligaments will much more move us to study the Peace of his Church which cannot be preserved but by a firm Union of those parts of which it consists and is made up To end this let it be considered that the peace of God here mentioned is a branch of Charity as appears by the foregoing words v. 14. And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts c. Which tell us that peace is the natural effect and product of a lively and sincere Love in the Heart Especially of such a love as is between the Members of the same Body 1. For we naturally fear to do any harm to those we love And it is from the injuries we do one another of several sorts that abundance of quarrels and contentions arise among us 2. But suppose any hurt be done the affection we have to those whom we dearly love disposes to look upon all the faults we commit against them as great and all that they commit against us as small Which stops up the very source of quarrels which for the most part spring from those false Ideas which make all things that concern our selves look very bigg and those that concern other men seem very little 3. Nay we are so far from being disposed to hurt those we love that we cannot but perceive an inclination we have to serve and succour them the best we are able Which it is not possible for us to do unless we be at peace with them For Peace is the very gate by which we enter into their Hearts which is barred against us when men have an aversion for us and are upon terms of Enmity or opposition to us Therefore if we be bound to help we are bound to be at peace one with another And all that have any sense of Humanity cannot but confess that we are made by God to be helpful one to another which Christianity cannot but make us more sensibly acknowledge Because of the ardent love which above all things it commends to us and is no where so strong as between Members of the same Body especially of such a Body as theirs which hath Christ for its Head and the Spirit of God for its Soul and Life Which inclines them
us and others when our Passions begin to raise a commotion and to make us displeased with the present settlement For it is by the Protection and Favour of the publique Government that we eat and drink and sleep and do all other things in safety Which thought alone is sufficient to quiet us when our Spirits begin to fret and be tumultuous That is to quarrel with our Happiness III. But let us still further make our selves sensible of the far Nobler Benefits which we enjoy by being Christians and be truly thankful to God for them more particularly for his great Grace in calling us to be one body in Christ and thereby calling us unto Peace one with another and to Peace with him the God of Peace who will be with us as I have said while we continue perfectly joyned together in the same Mind and Spirit and then we shall not have the heart to give the least disturbance unto this Blessed Society of the Church of God But with united Affection study to preserve it and to promote the Honour of it by the most ardent Love and kindness tenderness and compassion one towards another especially in that part of it where we live Read the pathetical Exhortation of the Apostle in the Verses foregoing upon which my Text depends and it will be impossible not to have your heart affected with it if you attend unto it and ponder every Word Put on therefore as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved bowels of Mercy kindness humbleness of mind meekness long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any Man have a quarrel against any Even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all these things put on Charity c. What if you did read these Verses deliberately every Morning before you went about any other business It would not take up much of your time nor cost you much pains unless it be in laying them to heart and laying them up in your Hearts But whatsoever Labour you bestow in that it will be abundantly recompensed in the Benefit you and others will receive by it if this small portion of the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as it follows immediately after my Text and dispose you to continue in this Heavenly Temper all the day long And how can you chuse but be so disposed if you consider how much you are bound to God for his inestimable benefits bestowed upon you in making you his Elect Holy and Beloved Ponder these Three Words seriously and look upon your selves as Elect of God that is chosen unto Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth as he speaks 2 Thes 11. 13. Holy that is separated from the profane World to be his devoted Servants Beloved that is made partakers of the greatest kindness Heaven could do us in sending his Son to save us And then you will not be able to reject the Exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto Children V. Ephes 1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour IV. Especially when we remember that we are not bare Christians but Reformed Christians whose Principles lead to Unity and Peace more than the Principles of any other Christians whatsoever For the very Basis of the Reformed Religion is this that all necessary Truths are not only contained in the Holy Scriptures but evidently and plainly set down there Which single Truth being agreed it is manifest there must needs be an Vnity of opinions among us in all things necessary And as for other things which are not evident in the Holy Scriptures and therefore are not necessary what should hinder but that notwithstanding any different Opinions about them there may be among us an Vnity of Affection Unto which the Holy Scriptures direct and press us as the most necessary duty and as the greatest happiness of which this World is capable For there is nothing the Gospel urges so much as kindness forbearance tender compassion one of another Such kindness as making us look upon one another as Brethren and fellow-Members will not let us break all the bonds of Friendship that are between us For why should there be any breach among those who are agreed in this plain principle That there being Unity of Opinion among them in all things Necessary in things not necessary Unity of Opinion is not necessary but only Unity of Affection Which will make us study and embrace the means of our Common Preservation by mutual condescention to such terms of Agreement as will establish a firm and undisturbed peace among us In which if there should happen any breach the same Spirit of love and goodness will dispose us immediately to make it up by not adhereing too flifly to our own private opinions much less to any worldly interest which must be laid aside by all peaceable-minded men that is by all good Christians Who ought not to engage in fierce oppositions much less in confident censuring and condemning one another but with all humility modesty and calmness endeavour each others information or if that cannot be obtain'd patiently to bear with one anothers infirmities according to the forenamed golden Rule of St. Paul VI. Gal. 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ The Law of Christ that is his peculiar Law is the Law of Love which he calls a new Commanament XIII Joh. 34. and his Commandment XV. Joh. 12. This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you Which we then fulfil or perfectly observe when it makes us bear one anothers burdens that is offences whether they be infirmities or sins For as long as there are any hopes of amendment we ought as the Apostle there teaches in the Verse foregoing if any man be overtaken with a fault to restore such a one with the Spirit of meekness considering our selves lest we also be tempted That is we must tenderly admonish such offenders study in the kindest and softest manner to reclaim them which is no small labour and trouble indeed but thereby we in the properest sense take part of their burden upon our selves whilst we seek by such charitable means to rid them of it V. And now if in the last place we make our selves sensible that we are such Reformed Christians as have been lately saved and delivered in a wonderful manner from the hands of those that designed our destruction it will raise our thankfulness to such a heigth that it will surmount all those clouds which overcast our joy in God and in his Salvation For what a blessing is it that we have the liberties of our Holy Religion and meet here together in peace and quietness without the least apprehension of such dangers as not long ago hung over us If we had been deprived of it should we not have accounted the loss to be invaluable What is the matter then that we do not set the greatest price upon the enjoyment Is it Nothing to be delivered from those fears wherewith we were lately surrounded what should we think if God should throw us back again into them But there is a great deal more to be thankful for which is the hopes we have that this blessed Liberty will be continued and secured to us and to our Posterity after us Which will derive a Blessing likewise upon all other Protestant Churches abroad Whose safety lies in our preservation Nay this one single reflection that we have had the happiness to behold a Protestant King and Queen here worshipping God together in this place a sight which if it hath been ever seen in England yet not these Seventy years is enough to transport us with such joy as should make us quite forget all our differences and discontents And let us think of nothing else but what we shall render to the Lord for such benefits as he hath bestowed upon us For which we can never thank him enough and therefore let us thank him continually Evening and Morning and Noon let us give our solemn thanks unto him Yea Let us bless the Lord at all times let his praise be ever in our mouths When we sit in our house as Moses speaks in another case when we walk by the way when we lye down and when we rise up let us be talking of all his wondrous works saying with the Psalmist Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord Who can shew forth all his praise Thy righteousness or goodness O God is very high who hast done great things O God who is like unto thee Thou art great and dost wondrous things Thou art God alone I will praise thee O Lord my God with my whole heart I will Glorifie thy Name for evermore For great is thy Mercy towards me and thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell i. e. the extreamest Dangers Therefore shall my Tongue speak of thy Righteousness and of thy Praise all the day long I will Praise the Lord with my whole heart secretly among the faithful and in the Congregation For the Works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have Pleasure therein His Work is Honourable and Glorious And his Righteousness endureth for ever Now the God of all Grace grant unto every Soul of us such truly thankful hearts that we may be always praising him and speaking good of his Name And then the Peace of God will Rule and Govern us unto which we are called in one Body by Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be Eternal Praises Amen FINIS
and powerfully moves them to hold all together in love and peace as the only means of preserving and edifying the Body of Christ and also of perfecting it for the happy Rest of the other World. Thus I have given a brief account of the Reasons for this duty Which sufficiently commends it self to us in that it is the peace of God but the Apostle presses it from this consideration also that we are called to it in one body III. I proceed now to the last part of my Text the means or help as I understand it which the Apostle prescribes for the introducing and increasing the peace of God and giving it the rule over our hearts which is contained in these Words And be ye thankful We are very apt as you have heard to be disgusted at many things which are disagreeable to us from whence arises much disquiet discontent and sometimes quarrels with those who give us such distaste But if we would spend that time in recounting Gods mercies to us and giving him our solemn thanks for them which we spend in complaining in finding fault one with another and aggravating every thing which displeases us we should be perfectly cured of those distempers and ashamed to make such a bustle and stirr as we are wont to do about such small things as now disquiet us Thankfulness we all agree is a Christian Duty as much as any other And not only a Duty enjoyn'd us by God but to which we are inclined by Nature if our Hearts be touched with the least sense of his Divine Benefits And that it is very pleasant and delightful as all natural Motions are every one may feel who pleases to make a trial And no less profitable and beneficial we must needs acknowledge because he invites a new Benefit who most gratefully acknowledges the old And lastly to omit the rest we cannot but confess that nothing more becomes us than Thankfulness because we have nothing originally of our selves but all purely from God. Which makes it the most decent thing in the World to be paying him our perpetual acknowledgments Or if there should be any one so perverse as not to be sensible of this he cannot but yield that it is far more decent and becoming than perpetual complaints and discontents brawlings and scoldings one with another about every petty difference Far more agreeable I am sure to the Christian Spirit if we know what that is more beseeming those who lye under infinite Obligations to God our Saviour which challenge our highest and incessant Praises than it is to murmur and repine to find faults and pick quarrels to contend and strive which end too oft in fighting and destroying one another We may well be ashamed then and confounded at our folly and disingenuity if we do not live in a sincere practice of this Duty Which if we do will be an effectual means to suppress all such unseemly behaviour as that above-mentioned because it strikes at the very root of all Discontent and Wrath and Pride and such like evil Affections which give disturbance unto us and unto others We cannot easily be discontented about any thing when we set our selves seriously to consider how many Blessings both temporal and spiritual past present and to come we stand indebted for to the Divine Bounty and accordingly offer to him the Sacrifice of Praise continually giveing Thanks unto his Name We shall soon suppress Anger and Rage at those that offend us when we remember with due thankfulness as we ought to do perpetually how oft we have provoked God and have been mercifully forborn and forgiven by his patient and long-suffering goodness towards us The swellings of Pride will presently go down when Thankfulness puts us in mind that we are nothing nor have any thing of our own but depend wholly upon God Who can soon humble us and lay us low if we be forgetful of his bounty to us All harshness and severity will be abated by the thoughts of God's lenity compassion and kind dealing with us there will be no room for fretting Envy to trouble us or molest others but it will be immediately thrust out of doors when this Thought comes into our Mind and fills our Heart with devout Affections to God That we are in a far better condition than we deserve and if we be ungrateful may fear to be in a worse In short All those Graces from whence I observed in the beginning the Peace of God springs are manifestly maintained and nourished by continual thankfulness to God for all his Benefits In which if we exercise our selves it will give the Peace of God the government of us by making us humble and courteous mild and gentle kind and merciful meek and patient which are the natural qualities of a truly thankful Christian Let us make this then our constant employment and our delight and look upon a thankful Heart Hom. 1. ad Pop. Antioch as a great Treasure to use the words of St. Chrysostome inestimable Riches a Good of which none can rob us Armour of Defence against all Temptations I. And first as we are Men who live together in the same neighbourhood let us be thankful to God for all the good we receive one by another and then we shall the easier pass by any evil that is done us because it is small and inconsiderable in comparison with the good we do or may receive by our neighbourly living together in one Society Family Parish or City There is not the meanest Man among us who doth not some way or other serve the greatest God having so made this World that we should be helpful one to another in our several ranks and conditions nay that one sort of Men should not be able comfortably to subsist without the service of the rest Which if we did consider we should perceive so many and great benefits we reap thereby that it would make us confess we have great reason to be thankful to the Creator and wise Disposer of all things And that Thankfulness would moderate all the Disgusts we take one at another which disturb our private peace and quietness Nay the Benefits we receive by some Men are so very considerable that if we were not extremely ungrateful we could not be so apt as we are to find fault with every thing we do not like in them But for the sake of the greater good they do us should wink at or rather not mind the smaller faults we see or fancy in them With which we are wont to be so distasted as to forget all the Excellent Qualities they are indowed withal and the great service they do to all mankind II. But if we enlarged our thoughts beyond these bounds and considered our selves as Members of the same Kingdom we should find so many obligations to be thankful to God for the invaluable Blessings of Order and Government that it would mightily appease that Heat and Violence which is very troublesome to