did when his Brethren the Jews had provoked him much yet could not he be stirred up to fight against them but used all his skill and force against the Philistines i 1 Sam. 17.7 12. It is promised as a blessed fruit of the Gospel which every godly man prayeth for and desireth to see that the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lyon and the Fatling be together and a little Child shall lead them k Esay 11.6 that Ephraim and Judah shall cease to annoy and vex one another l Verse 13. but all should fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines and spoil them of the East O that we could see this day that we could lay aside our civil enmities to joyn together against our common Adversaries this would be an happiness upon earth almost heavenly if we could so speak the same things that there were no divisions amongst us 13. To this end let us follow peace joyntly and the things that make for mutual peace and unity Let each of us in our several places not only have pious affections thereunto but also put to all our skill and wisdom and cast about for the most proper and seasonable means conducing to so good an end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not enough for every one of us to accept it or desire it or meet it half way or let it in or welcom it when it comes but we must prosecute pursue and go after it We must venture our selves for it to a si fortè quantum in nobis if by any means we may overtake and apprehend it Let peace and unity be our rule not intangling our Consciences by scruples where we need not taking the way that leads to the Land of Peace and Promise not by Mount Ebal by pride and malice and ambition and Schismatical contentions but by Mount Gerizim by humility and charity and meekness and unanimity and piety Thus let us do that we may all speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us 14. Yet when all those Rules are observed except the Lord build the house they labour but in vain that build it Paul may plant and Apollo may water but his blessing is it which must perfect all By all these convincing reasons and insinuations we can but work upon your outward senses and by the sense represent fit motives to your understandings It is God only that can bow and frame your hearts to peace and unity we may perswade to unity unanimity and uniformity and some of you may wish it but if the God of Peace do not set in with us it will not take effect Non persuadebis etiamsi persuaseris It is God that shall perswade Japhet to dwell in the House of Shem m Gen. 9. Noah's perswasions will not do it nor Shem's though they should speak with the tongues of men and Angels Let God perswade Japhet and Japhet will be perswaded God is a Lover of Concord and the Author of Peace Alas without him what can be expected from us whose disposition by reason of that pride that aboundeth in us are naturally turbulent and self-willed The heart of man is a sour piece of Clay wondrous stubborn and churlish not to be wrought upon but by an Almighty Power What man is able to take down his own pride sufficiently many a good man have more ado with this one Viper than with all other his corruptions besides but how much less is any man able to subdue and beat down the pride of another mans spirit only God with the strength of his Arm is able to throw down every exalting thought and to lay the highest Mountains level with the lowest Flats It is he alone that can infuse a spirit into us that will eat out by degrees that canker'd proud flesh that breedeth all vexations and contentions He can subdue that self-love that is in every mans bosom and make us so vile in our own eyes that whereas we are naturally prone to esteem better of our selves than of all other men we shall through lowliness of mind esteem every other man better than our selves n Phil. 2.3 In vain shall we Wrestle with our own corruptions though we put to all our strength and wrestle with great wrestlings as Jacob said upon the birth of Nepthali o Gen. 30. â— so long as we wrestle with them only We must therefore to the use of all other means a joynt obedience to agreed truths moderation of zeal wherein we differ humility reflecting our censures and zeal upon our selves chiefly keeping within our Callings sobriety closeness to the form of sound words and the Churches Customs impartiality uniting against the common Adversary and following peace by all means To them all we must add our wrestlings with the Almighty as Jacob did by our importunate and uncessant prayers for this blessing of Peace and Unity Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem that he would repair the breaches and build up the walls thereof that he would give his Word of Peace a free passage into the heads and hearts into the consciences and conversations of all his people that so we all speaking the same things without divisions amongst us may grow up together unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ which the Lord grant for the merits and mercies of his beloved Son Jesus Christ the Righteous to whom with the Father and the Blessed Spirit three Persons and one Immortal and only wise God be all Glory Praise and Thanksgiving now and for evermore Amen FINIS SOUND CONSIDERATIONS FOR TENDER CONSCIENCES Wherin is shewed their OBLIGATION Not to forsake the PUBLICK ASSEMâ—LIES OF THE CHURCH IN SEVERAL SERMONS upon HEB. 10.25 By Joseph Briggs M. A. Vic. of Kirkburton in Yorkshire LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Brooks and are to be sold at the Angel in Cornhil 1674. The Epistle to the Reader wherein some new Pleas for Conventicles are considered Courteous Reader I Do not invite thee to read unless thou needest instructions in this Subject and unless thou be an impartial and considerate man nor will I at all flatter thee to an applause or approbation but leave it entirely to thy Christian judgment and discretion to use these my Labours as thou findest them It is not I assure thee a conceit of Self-worth that ingaged me to imprint them or that can oblige thee to cast a candid eye upon them Only this I say to my weak apprehension such as it is the Doctrines herein delivered are Divine Truths and as such I make bold to offer them to the Worlds Tryal Thy part it is to examine them and with those Noble Bereans to search the Scriptures and see if the things spoken be according unto them which if they be take thou heed of being found in the number of selfish or envious gain-sayers for if thou reject Truth
thought he need say no more to his Brethren to prevent their falling out by the way than to remind them that they were all one mans Children and Brethren to each other Gen. 45.24 And Abraham to procure an everlasting Amity and utter cessation of all Debates thenceforth between himself and his Nephew Lot and their Servants made use of this one Argument the most prevalent of all others that they were Brethren Gen. 13.8 Psa 133 1. Ecce quam bonum Behold how good and joyful a thing it is Brethren to dwell together in unity Prophane Esau durst not avenge himself on Jacob lest he should vex his Father Isaac Gen. 27.4 And shall not Christians then who are Brethren not only by Generation but by Regeneration much more tender the displeasing of their one Father by disagreements and molestations of one another the nearer the dearer we use to say and there are few Relations nearer than that of Brotherhood but no Brotherhood in the world so closely and surely knit together and with so many and strong tyes as the Fraternity of Christians in the Communion of Saints which is the Brotherhood in the Text And therefore as we are Brethren and tender the glory of that God who is the Father of us all it concerns us to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us 2. Consider also God the Son we are all redeemed by that one price of his precious Blood and methinks that calls for love and unity It 's implied in that of the Apostle One Faith Eph 4.5 One Faith is fixed on one and the same object the Mercy of God and Merits of Christ or Gods Free Grace in Christ and being ingrafted into one and the same Vine should we not all bear one and the same fruit We are all Fellow-Captives redeemed by the same Saviour Fellow-Patients cured by the same Physitian even Jesus Christ the object of our Faith Hence he that redeemed us did in like manner pray for us that we may be one John 17.21 23. perfectly one that the world might know that God sent him but this can never be if we speak not the same things but there be divisions amongst us 3. There is also but one Spirit and that 's the Apostles Argument also There is one Body one Spirit Eph. 4. and therefore endeavour the unity of the Spirit The Spirit is a Spirit of Unity this Spirit is the very Essential Unity Love and Love-knot of the two Persons the Father and the Son of God with God yea it was the very Union and Love-knot of the two Natures in Christ of God and Man he is the Spirit of Unity and therefore cannot delight in us unless we keep the unity of the Spirit That Spirit the Soul of man that gives life to the natural body yet can it not animate and give life to members dismembred unless they be first united and compact together Ezek. 35.7 8 9. We read there of the dead and scattered bones that to the end they might be revived they first came together every bone to his bone then the sinews came and knit them then the flesh and skin covered them and then and not before the Spirit came from the four Winds to give them life So the very natural Spirit the Soul doth not inform the body unless there be an accord and unity in it much more is this required as a proper disposition to make us meet for the habitation of the Holy Ghost even this quality that is like that his Nature and Essence Unity and Unanimity for us to be of one mind and judgment and to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us divisions are a token we are led by divers Spirits and not by this one There is a Spirit indeed in these divisions but it is an evil spirit such as was between Abimelech and the men of Shechem Judges 9. And such as are for a toleration of such divisions we may write upon them as our Saviour did upon the man possessed Legion for they are many pretend they to the Spirit as they will of walking and praying by the Spirit we need not believe them unless we list to be led by any other than a devillish spirit The Devil shews himself to be a Devil by his Cloven Foot if we would receive and not grieve nor quench nor dishonour the one Spirit by which we pretend all to be governed let us speak the same things that there be no divisions amongst us As we tender the glory of God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost we must do this 3. So while we look upon the Church of God for that is but one body which is the Apostles argument also It is but one and only one My Love my Dove Eph. 4. Cant. 6. my undefiled is one she is the only one of her Mother So are we Christians made all up into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one mystical body Eph. 3.6 and that by such a real though mysterious incorporation as that we become thereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as all of us members of Christ Rom. 12.5 so every one of us members one of another Noâ— the sympathy and supply that is between the members of the natural body for thâ—ir mutual comfort and good of the whoâ—e The Apostle setteth it forth elegantly and applieth it very fully to the Mystical Body of the Church at large 1 Cor. 12. It were a thing prodigiously unnatural and to every mans apprehension the effect of a frenzy or madness at the least to see the head plot against the tongue revile the hands buffet the teeth devour his fellow-members No if any one member be it never so small and despicable be in anguish the rest are sensible of it There is a mutual sympathy and communication betwixt them there are no terms of bitterness stood upon in the natural members I am better than thou and I than thou no terms of disgrace heard I have no need of thee nor I of thee but they are all ready to contribute their several supplies according to their several measures and abilities to give ease and relief to the grieved part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That there be no rent or schism 1 Cor. 12.25 saith the Apostle using the very word of the Text no division or disunion of parts in the body And as we may consider the Church as one Body so as one Houshold and our selves as fellow-servants of the same Family Gal. 6.10 the same houshold of Faith So ought we then to behave our selves in the House of God 1 Tim. 3.15 which is the Church of the Living God as becometh fellow-servants that live under the same Master We all wear one Livery 1 Cor. 10.3 4. having all put on Christ by solemn profession at our holy Baptism and we are all fed at one Table eating the same spiritual meat
so have the other and if the times were dark and gloomy and adverse to the one so have they to the other As for our present distractions However the adversary may with smooth words softer than butter stroke the Magistrate flatter him into contentment and satisfaction as if things where as well or better in a state of indulgence and Toleration as they were before and how ever they may strive to reduce him into a Gallio's temper not to be troubled or careful for any of these matters yet in my opinion the case seems harder to Magistrates that have care and conscience to serve the Lord in that capacity and to preserve his Church in truth and peace than to the Ministers of the Church For whereas our Mouths blessed be God are not shut though our adversaries are opened but we may still freely lift up our voices as a trumpet to tell Juda of her sins and so deliver our own souls yet alas the Magistrateâ— hands seems to be bound by the suspension of the Lawes so that he cannot proceed in the discharge of his office with courage efficacy In this case what should Aaron do but lift up Moses his hands it remains that I and my Brethren should call upon you and yours not to be dismayed at these things but wait upon God in the Faithful fulfilling of your duties to your utmost power not doubting but that God hath his time his proper season for all things and while he governs the world all things will work together for the good of the Church in the end If then in stead of speaking Placentia pleasing things for with Elihu in Job * Job 32.21 I say Let me not I pray you accept any mans person neither let me give any flattering titles to man nay I know you are not troubled with such itching ears as love to be tickled with your own commendations true Vertue is ever humble if then I say instead hereof I may presume to offer a word of exhortation to him whose love to Gods word is known to all men I beseech you to go on to approve your self more and more in all truth of heart before the judging eye of the Almighty a Patron of the truth a friend of Vertue a discountenancer of vice a shield and defence to the Godly in all grief and distress a Father of your Country a Religious Governour of your Family a Pattern of Piety and a Persevering Orator at the Throne of Grace for the peace of Jerusalem saying ever with Holy David we wish you good luck ye that are of the House of the Lord. Question not Right-worshipful but the Lord will ever be with you while you be thus with him do but learn more and more to know him the Lord God of your Fathers and to serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind and it shall be well with you and with your posterity after you to many many generations This God of all Power and Mercy multiply his Spirit and all the blessed Fruits thereof upon your Worship your truely Vertuous Lady your hopeful Off-spring your Religious Family and Grant you that Grace which hath the promise both of this life and that which is to come Which is the hearty Prayer of him who in a grateful acknowledgement of all your favours presumes yet humbly to present This small part of his labours to your Worships perusal and protection as being a probable way to secure themselves of others welcome and acceptance and will for ever endeavour to approve himself Your most Obliged and Faithful Servant to his utmost power unto death J. B. Reader the Authors great absence from the press hath disabled him utterly from preventing numberless mistakes in words and pointing I pray thee amend with thy Pen as thou readest these gross ones and the rest I hope thou wilt thy self easily discern and courteously pardon TItle page r. quaerit Ep. Ded. p. 7. l. 11. r. ministers p. 10. l. 15. r. than not as Ep. to his Parishioners p. 4. l. 27. r. seducers p. 15. l. ult r. in the failure not to the praise Book p. 5. l. 15. r. what p. 7. l. 9. r. urge it By p 9. l. 16. corruption in our natures our dispositions by reason c. p. 10. l. 5. super seminate Margint l. 3. Stephan c. 3. l. 9. Niceph. for incepto l. ulâ— Rom. 14. l. 16. disunion p. 12. l. 16. is his l. 26 of p. 13. l. 22. punishments of a Land p. 20. l. 21. concordia discors p. 19. l. 8. voiceâ— p. 21. l. 6. field l. 24. decachinamur p. 25. l. 6 livâ—ry p. 26. l. 21. hence p. 27. l. 1. our faith p. 29. l. 27. now p. 32. l. 2. edification l. 25. dele in p. 35. l. 22. unanimity p. 42. l. 13. Brittannomachia l. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 44. her p. 45. l. 2. animos p. 49. inseperabiles p. 63. l. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 23. least not most p. 64. l. 3. communicatory pacificatory p. 72 l. 26. dele that p. 74. l. 15. adversaries p. 75. l. 7. masus l. 20. magneâ— p. 77. l. 12. lowliness l. 24 Scarabaean p 78. l. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 83. l. 12. Doctors p. 87. l. 6. dele be p. 88. l. 10. Chemnitius l. 17. the not theirs p. 89. l. 14. Mel hizedeck p. 91. l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epistle before the second Sermons p. 9. l. 5. r. determinations p. 14. l. 13. rakehell l. 20. part of c p. 111. l. 16. forsakers p. 122. l. 25 imployes p. 123. l. 19. not l 22. dele to p. 130. l. 28. to set p. 166 l. 10. conveniencies not covenants p. 172 l. 24. presence p. 186. l. 18. that was p. 187. l. 10 divorce allowed p. 197. l. 13 ventis l. 20. thing not this p. 200. Etomology not Element p. 202 l. 14. to go to p. 207. l 2. temptations p. 216. l. 4. ever p. 217. l. 12. comparison p. 228. l. 5. sint l. 17. bred p. 235. l. 4. sott sh p. 236. l. â—0 descent p. 237. l. 18 fastidisusly l. 26. spirituality p. 240. l. 23. dele a. l. 28 serve for secure p. 242. l. 16. wages for wayes p. 243. l. 16. dele and. To his well beloved People the members of the Parish of Kirkburton And to every Christian Reader the Author wisheth Grace and Peace BELIEVE me it is no vain-glorious Desire of being in Print it were a folly to hope for any access of Reputation hereby in this so Critical and Censorious an age nor do I think the World wanteth books and those excellent ones upon this subject nor do I offer any new speculations concerning it nor do I plead though perhaps I might as well as others the importunity of any Christian friends Invitation to embolden encourage or oblige me to this impression nor these nor any of these did move me effectually unto it
of their feet They are but like Cain as fled from the place of rest so dwelling in the Land of Nod i.e. of wandring Vid. Dr. Stillingfleet's Sherinah in locum till they return to the Ark again They are like children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine and even when they think themselves fixed they most-what still have some jealousies remaining in their minds that possibly they are deceived so that they seldom have any rest unless they come at last to a hardness of of heart and a stupid and benumming in sensual security crying Peace where there is no Peace for no true peace no true rest is to be had till they come to this speaking the same things without division from their Brethren How often do we see them like drunken men reeling to and fro carried from this to that extreme till they come at last to conclude in Atheism and Infidelity whereas by being united particular Christians would be strengthened in the truth having nothing more to do but to grow in Grace and make Progress from degrees to degrees in Holiness which is the very design of Christianity Indeed 3. It concerns every one to labour after this Unity if they do but consider that this alone will put them in a fit posture to receive the blessing of God It is remarkable the Psalmist e Psa 134. exhorts the people Behold bless ye the Lord all ye servants of the Lord which stand in the House of the Lord. Mark he exhorts them plurally Ye and all ye bless ye but in the third verse he prays to God to bless the people singularly The Lord bless thee out of Sion Plures hortatur ut benedicant iâ—se uni benedicit saith S. Austin He exhorts all to bless the Lord but he blesseth all from the Lord as one man It hints that then God useth to bless his people when they are at unity as one man So Christ came to his Disciples with a blessing when they were a rowing together f Mâ—â— 1â— 2â— and to his Apostles with a blessing of Peace when they were assembled together g John 2â— 19 and he sent his Holy Ghost to them when with one accord they were met together And so the Promise runs Where two or three is met together in my Name there am I in the midst of them While Christians disagree in their manner of serving and blessing and worshipping God God will not bless them as He will do if in one way and with one mouth and heart they glorifie their Father if they speak the same things and there be no divisious amongst them if he will hear the prayers of Christians when two or three are united together how much more when several thousands nay not only all in a Congregation but all in all Congregations throughout a whole Land are united speaking and asking the same things In this case sure if in any the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force On the contrary if there be divisions we can never be so hopeful in our prayers for these divisions most-what causeth alienation of affections and so we cannot pray with such hopes of Audience because we cannot then lift up pure hands without wrath the clamour of our boiling malice to each other will out-cry our prayers our dissentions will make that sweet Incense stink in Gods Nostrils and will turn our Prayers into Curses if we do not speak the same things but there be divisions amongst us Many more Motives I might heap up to inforce our Exhortation especially that drawn from the many examples we have set before us as that of God the Father who being provoked by us yet by all means seeks peace and union with us hath sent his Ministers of Reconciliation to beseech us to be reconciled unto him loadeth us with his blessings causeth his Sun to shine and his Rain to fall on us and all to induce us to be at peace with himself And can we be partakers of the Divine Nature or Sons of our Heavenly Father if we be not Followerâ— of him as dear Children in endeavouring to be united one with another Nay Christ his Son did become Incarnate to unite us to God and make our peace with God yea and loe the Prince of Peace came to dwell amongst men for this end when peace was amongst men in Augustus's days when there was general quiet and union through all the World and at his Birth the Angels proclaimed peace on Earth good will towards men O how then can we be Disciples of Christ and not follow after peace to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us yea and this Oyl of Charity poured on Christ the Head did run down to the Beard yea unto the skirts of all his garments for all the Saints of God now in heaven have gone thither in this way of peace Abraham said to Lot Let there be no contentions amongst us for we are Brethren Stephen prayed for his Persecutoâ—s Father forgive them The Saints were ever peace-makers and not peace-disturbers or dividers Nay very wicked men and Devils are sensible of the benefit of this way of union one with another therefore did Ephraim and Manasseh agree together against Judah Herod and Pilate Scribes and Pharisees against Christ Nay very bruit beasts covet an union saevis inter se convenit ursis and shall we be more blockish than they In a word God stiles himself the God of Peace Christ the Prince of Peace his Name is Immanuel a Name of Peace was Crowned at his Baptism with a Dove the Emblem of Peace being in the building 〈…〉 Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Corner-stone the place of Peace coming into the World with a Song of Peace and going out of the World with a Legacy of Peace The Spirit the Bond of Peace the Gospel the Covenant of Peace and the word of Reconciliation Ministers Ambassadours thereof Jerusalem the type of the Church signifies in the Hebrew Tongue the Vision of Peace and the bliss in Heaven we all look for is nothing else but Eternal Peace where we shall all speak the same things without division to the glory and praise of God If then we be Sons of the God of Peace Servants of the Frince of Peace Temples of the Spirit of Peace Professors of the Gospel of Peace if we have any Consolations in the Ministers the Ambassadours of Peace if we be Citizens of Jerusalem the Vision of Peace and hope to be gathered to our Fathers to enjoy an eternal Sabbath of Peace if there be in us any consolation in Christ any comfort of love any fellowship of the Spirit let it be our care to walk by this Rule of Peace Unity Unanimity and Uniformity with our Brethren to speak the same things and that there be no divisions amongst us but let us be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and the same judgment and as