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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A64487 There be four heads of reasons by which the absolute necessity of a religious correspondency between the godly party of this common-wealth and forraign Protestants may be made manifest ... 1653 (1653) Wing T861; ESTC R25644 11,606 18

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THere be four Heads of Reasons by which the absolute necessity of a Religious Correspondency between the Godly Party of this Common-wealth and forraign Protestants may be made manifest 1. The first is taken from the truth of our Christian Religion whereof we make profession 2. The second from the present sad condition of the Churches 3. The third from the universall danger of the Publique States of Protestants 4. The fourth from the peculiar and weighty Engagements under which the Godly party of this Nation doth stand for the performance of this duty more then any people of the world Of the first IN the truth of our profession of Christianitie there be four things which oblige us mainly to maintain a Religious Correspondency with our Brethren of the same profession in forraign parts 1. First the Substantials wherein the truth of the Profession doth consist 2. Secondly the Ends for which the graces and gifts of God are given to us in the truth and received by us 3. Thirdly the Means by which we may attain to these ends 1. The truth of our profession doth consist in the soundness of the Doctrine of Faith and in the holiness of the life of the professors Tit. 1. 1 3 8 9. to advance and maintain both these towards one another and towards all men the professors of Christianity are obliged by the speciall commandment of God concerning the communion of Saints which consists not onely in the conjunction of Beleevers to strive together for the Faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. Jude 3. but also in a reall endeavour by prayers to strive one for another Eph. 6. 18. and in the communication of their gifts and graces to provoke one another unto love and to good works Heb. 10. 24. Now these endeavours cannot possibly be put forth by us except ●ome Religious Correspondency for the maintaining of Truth and Holinesse be intended and upheld amongst Protestants therefore such a Correspondency is absolutely necessary to be minded by us and if we mind it not it is evident that we come short of a fundamentall duty and fall under the guilt of breaking the Communion of Saints of neglecting the fight for the faith and of carelesnesse to provoke others unto love and good works which God will certainly require at our hands if we continue to do so having so great cause and so much opportunity to do otherwise 2. The End for which God doth give the gifts and graces of his Spirt unto the Saints is that the members of the body of Christ should profit thereby one towards another 1 Cor. 12. 7 and that they should trade therewith to gain more graces for themselves Luk. 19. 12. 13. Mat. 25. 14. but it is no more possible to do this without maintaining an intercourse of spiritual Correspondency one with another then it is possible to the dis joynted member of a natural body to conveigh blood and nourishment each to other Therefore a course of religious Correspondency is absolutely necessary for this cause also and if this be not intended Gods aime in giving his gifts unto his Saints and Churches is not fulfilled and he will certainly deprive such of the gifts which they have received who continue under the guilt of not making a right use thereof For if the end of Gods giving should be answered by our receiving then we are bound in conscience to receive grace onely for the advancement of his glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and of our mutual edification 1 Cor. 14. 26 Rom. 14. 19. and 15. 2. and if these two Ends are so subordinate one to another that God cannot be glorified otherwise by us then by this that we bring forth much fruit one towards another Joh. 15. 6 for our good cannot reach to him as David saith Psal 16. 2. but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent ones in whom ought to be all our delight ibid. v. 3. then it will follow that the main use of all grace is the improvement thereof towards others But it is not possible to intend this improvement of our goodnesse towards the Saints for mutuall edification except we use means to know one anothers spirituall condition by some course of spirituall Correspondency therefore such a Correspondency is wholly necessary to be setled and entertained if we will not deprive God of his glory and the Saints of the interest which they should have in us by the right use of our Talents towards them 3. The Means by which these Ends are to be attained is to endeavour to keep the Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace which we are commanded and by many reasons exhorted to do Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. Now this endeavour being the effect immediately flowing from Charitie which is the chief edifying grace as appeareth by 1 Cor. 8. 1. chap. 3. p. totun Ephe. 4. 15 16. And seeing Charity cannot be maintained nor edification advanced nor the unity of the Spirit upheld except there be an eddeavour put forth to take notice of one anothers state therefore a Correspondency for mutual intelligence in spirituall matters tending to unity and peace in the profession of the Truth is a thing absolutely necessary amongst such as intend sincerely to uphold the Truth of the Gospel-profession or if they intend it not it is evident that they come short of the fundamentall duty of the life of Christianity by neglecting the means of mutual edification wherein God is chiefly glorified and such as continue in this neglect and order not their way aright in the profession of the Gospel shall never see the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. Of the Second THe present condition of the Churches comes under a two-fold Consideration the one is in respect of themselves the other is in respect of their common Adversaries The Churches considered within themselves are found to be in their particular relations not onely for the most part at a distance and strangers to each others affairs but many of them are even at open defiance and opposition to one anothers welfare which is the more to be blamed and lamented not onely because this behaviour is directly oppo●●te to the truth of the profession of Christianity to Gods end in giving and our dutie in receiving gifts and graces and to the means appointed to reach the ends we are bound to prosecute but because this mis-behaviour seems to me even contrary to common sense and reason so that it may be wondered at how it fals out amongst intelligent men that their understandings in fundamental matters of Faith being so fully consonant their affections should be so far dis-sonant and again in matters of duty their conscience being for the main bound up to one and the same Rule which is the word of God how they should be at so much division and strife about the application of that Rule unto lesser matters Furthermore it is no small wonder unto me that they having the