chiefly addressed to private Christians Such would I intreat both in their own persons to walk circumspectly and in reference to others to endeavour to reduce such as walk in sin and to train up such as are committed to their care in the fear of God and in the paths of Righteousness that they would teach their children what Religion that is and what the principles and precepts thereof are to which they were devoted in Baptism and withal what obligations they have to walk therein that they would restrain what vices they see in their children and both direct and incourage them in the practice of Piety This would tend to make the present and future generations happy But I shall conclude this with the words of Samuel 1 Sam. 12.20 to the last Verse Fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart And turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake Verse 24 25. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King As our Sins are just grounds of our Fears so likewise are our Divisions and breaches which I handle distinctly not as if they were not sins but because on many reasons they have a particular unhappy aspect on these Kingdoms And consequently II. Union Peace and Love are a chief means of averting the miseries we fear and securing the blessings which we now enjoy I shall endeavour to make this appear by considering what influence our Divisions and Animosities have upon our miseries and what reasons we have from hence to fear lest our Jesuitical Enemies should prevail against us And that 1. as they provoke Gods displeasure against us 2. and as they afford our Enemies so great advantages to hurt and destroy us 1. Our Divisions may justly provoke the God of love and the Prince of peace to be displeased at us in that we find him so frequently and earnestly pressing us to seek peace and ensue it and as much as in us lieth to live peaceably with all men Rom. 12.18 In that he represents that wisdom that is from above as first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated without partiality Jam. 3.17 When likewise we find in his word that love joy or rejoycing in others good peace long-suffering gentleness goodness are fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Whereas on the other side Hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings are called the works of the flesh Verse 20 21. When withal we find Loving one another made a Character of Christs disciples John 13.35 and those that separate themselves are joyned with such as are sensual and that have not the Spirit Jude 19. Now can we imagine that God should act with that kindness which he shews to his obedient Servants towards those who disobey his strict command of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Or vouchsafe those favours which belong to his people to such as walk contrary to the Spirit of Christianity Strife Contention and Divisions proceed from the Devil who hath his names in the sacred languages of Satan and Diabolus from his Enmity to mankind and his false accusing of Gods people And if it be too severe to make Hell the rise of these things yet to be sure they proceed from the worst thing on Earth viz. mens Lusts Jam. 4.1 Now can we suppose that God will own those for his people or have regard unto their prayers who do the works of the Devil and indulge themselves in the works of the flesh Have we ground to hope that God will hear us when we present our supplications for our King and those that are in authority under him that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty when we do not lift up pure hands to God without wrath and debates 1 Tim. 2.8 No we are so far from having reason to expect Gods favour that we have just ground to fear that God will deliver us up to suffer in the same cause under the same Enemies that then at least we may learn to lay aside our animosities As it happened in the differences betwixt those two eminent Bishops and fellow-sufferers in Queen Maries days Ridley and Hooper 2. Our Divisions afford our Enemies great advantages against us It is an ordinary but yet withal a true observation that civil discords have done more to ruine Nations than foreign invasions However that from hence Enemies have been incouraged to invade such as are before weakned and prepared for slavery such who are so heated against each other that they will not unite though for their common safety This is particularly observed by Tacitus a grave Historian in vitâ J. Agric. how the ancient inhabitants of this Nation became subjected to the Romans Non aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro nobis utilius quam quod in commune non consulunt Nothing more helped the Romans to overthrow the valiant Britains than their not agreeing among themselves for the common interest I wish some of our Brethren who pretend to be the greatest Enemies of the Roman Religion and decry all they dislike in the Polity of our Church as Popish would seriously consider what the consequence of their Zeal is like to be while carried forth in opposing them who are equally concerned with themselves to oppose that common Enemy Nay I wish all sorts of men among us who hate the corruptions and usurpations of Rome would consider this so as to abate their heats towards each other to study those things which make for peace and union and heartily endeavour so far as lies in their power the healing of our breaches lest we become surprized amidst our divisions and Britany which God prevent be once again brought under the Romish yoke It hath been long thought and is now more manifest that the hand of the Jesuite is in all our divisions They send their Emissaries to personate sometimes one party sometimes another hereby to increase our flames to heighten our distractions and to weaken the Protestant interest that hence they may the more easily prevail against us The discovery of the late horrid Plot hath brought to light their devices of this kind how the Jesuits have interested themselves in our feuds and as Preachers among dissenters have animated them against the established government and they knew if they could effect this we should with greater ease become a Prey to their teeth Further it is well known how they make use of our Divisions to perswade persons to their communion where if they may be believed is nothing but union and concord and not only so but the readiest
by hearing Non-conformists than others and therefore why should we not forsake our Parish-ministers to hear them I answer 1. were this generally true that hereby men are better Christians than they were before we have reason to rejoyce in that more honour redounds to God and good to their own Souls Are men hereby more acquainted with the Perfections of God so as to live in the sense of his All-seeing Eye his governing the world his supplying us with blessings so as continually to fear and love him daily to offer up their Prayers and Praises to him and more frequent in communicating of the Body and Bloud of Christ in the Lords Supper Are they hereby more dutiful Children loyal Subjects obedient to them that have the rule over them and watch for their Souls more faithful Servants more loving Neighbours and as Parents more careful to educate their children in the nurture of the Lord Are they more just in their dealings more charitable and loving in their demeanour more humble and condescending to their fellow-brethren less censorious than formerly less prying and intermedling with the affairs of others and in a word doing the same to others as they desire others should do to them Lastly are they hereby more heedful lest their hearts should be overcharged with surseiting drunkenness and the cares of this life are they better able to command and regulate their passions and affections less solicitous for the things of this world and more ardently breathing after Heaven I say if these and the like Christian qualifications are wrought in mens Souls by the labours of our Non-conforming Brethren we do therein rejoyce yea and will rejoyce I wish these effects were more generally wrought among their Hearers and that instead thereof many did not make their Hearing them and separating from us a Cloak for their sins 2. Suppose these be generally the fruits of their labours I wish them to consider whether the like would not be produced if their Preachers kept their meetings at other times than those wherein we assemble and whether the Hearers be the better Christians for being hindred from joyning with us in our addresses to God and attendance on his word 3. May not the like gracious effects be expected in the hearing of their own Pastors that are Conformists If not it must arise either from the insufficiency of the means or the denial of Gods Blessing upon it As for the first consider whether our labours tend not to the foresaid ends and whether the producing those effects is not the great thing we drive at and withal whether the greatest part of Conformist Ministers are not fitted and qualified for this work And as for Gods blessing it may in all reason be expected from those that attend on us because they do not offend God by needless separation by forsaking the lawful Assemblies by withdrawing themselves from the Churches of Christ and by breaking the bond of peace in opposing them Gods blessing is then chiefly to be expected by us when we walk in Gods ways 4. Suppose the Non-conformist you hear may more warm and raise your affections nay suppose his Sermons better fitted to inform you if these benefits may be obtained in a lower degree in our publick Assemblies Consider whether you ought to leave us when you give so great advantages to the Common Enemy the Popish Agents to destroy both you and us when you do so much mischief by your bad Example in drawing others to separate or incouraging them in their Separation and when from hence you incur so much danger by Scandalizing others for that is Scandal when we draw others into sin or hinder them in the ways of God for a woe is pronounced by our Saviour against such Luke 17.1 2. and that it were better for him that a milstone were hung about his neck and he cast into the Sea 5. Consider whether your practice be consistent with the Duties that God requires should be performed to your legal Pastors who labour among you and are over you in the Lord These you are commanded to esteem very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thess 5.12 13. Now do you manifest any esteem or love towards them while by withdrawing your selves from hearing them you discourage them in their labours 6. Supposing some N. C. be a more edifying Teacher what necessity is there that you should hear him in such a constancy as to reject your Parish-Minister or from hence to forsake our publick Assemblies and to neglect the Sacraments administred in our Churches Lastly if this be a sufficient reason to leave one Preacher and follow another because he more affects or pleases you consider whether this will not be an inlet to all delusions If you leave your own Minister whom you cannot but owne preaches the Gospel of Christ to hear another who in your esteem preaches more feelingly you may on the same reason leave this new preacher to follow another and another and never stop till you fall into gross Errors to the dishonour of God the disturbance of the Church and the perdition of your own Souls As the reason of the thing it self evidences this so do the Instances of many who have run thus giddily sadly evince the truth hereof Take heed of being in the number of those spoken of 2 Tim. 4.3 who after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching Ears Such are in danger of turning away their ears from the truth and turning unto fables Verse 4. Having thus largely answered that objection I again beseech you Brethen in the bowels of love as you desire the peace of your own Conscience the peace of the Church of God and the prosperity and peace of England that you would seriously consider what I have propounded It is our Duty to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace This Duty is not practised by those who without any just grounds separate themselves from any true Church There can be no just ground of Separation from our Churches unless you are put upon doing something that is sinful in order to enjoying Communion with us Nothing can be sinful but what is a Transgression of some Law of God Now if any thing occur to your own thoughts or be propounded by others as a violation of Gods Laws which is required as a condition of Communion with us be serious in the examination hereof before you forsake our Assemblies upon the account of its unlawfulness In this trial I beseech you make Gods revealed will the Rule of your Conscience and not the Example or Judgment of such whom you esteem for their Piety Several persons remember how many who before the late unhappy troubles in this Nation were followers of the Non-conformists though it is probable on no other ground but because they appeared to manifest a greater Zeal for God than others how these I say fell into monstrous extravagancies after liberty was given to men to vent their
fancies Some who were at first eager for the Presbyterian Government immediately closed with the Independents when they appeared and preached more movingly to their affections or from such like ground they in the mean while being unacquainted with the state of the controversie or the arguments used on each side Hence it is no wonder they joyned with the Anabaptists when they appeared with more affecting expressions or pretended new discoveries Nay afterwards there was not any new-fangled Sect but these men were ready to become its Proselytes and Patrons till at length some became Quakers others Papists and many of them had their Religion to seek and others were of no Religion especially such who had at any time run into the licentious madness of the Ranters Whence proceeded this but from zeal without knowledge hearkening to every body that broached something new and closing therewith without a serious trial Now consider what security any of you have from running into such extremes supposing the like circumstances as formerly if you make the judgments or Examples of others whom you think pious and zealous for Religion the Rule of your actings or opinions Further consider that where there is no necessity to separate and so to be of a Party that this is so far from making you good Christians that so far as you are of a Party or Faction you are defective in Christianity 1 Cor. 3.4 While one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are you not carnal Let not any interpret my being larger in opposing Division and Separation than I was in speaking against Wickedness and Profaneness as if I had kinder thoughts for this than for the former No my thus doing proceeds only from my kinder thoughts to you my Brethren who have already or are about to separate from us I have justly more grounds to hope that you will consider what I have written than such who are debauched and hardened in sin And therefore I once more beseech you as S. Paul did the Ephesians Eph. 4.1 that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness 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 1 Thes 4.11 We beseech you Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be ambitious to be quiet and peaceable and to be as earnest in promoting unity as others are busie in making divisions and factions This Christ and his Apostles often require as a Duty this they intreat Christians to be careful about and back their intreaties with the most pressing Arguments Now if these will not move you in point of Conscience nor the danger we are all in from a common Enemy which by this means chiefly may be prevented in point of interest I cannot hope that whatever I should urge further should prevail with you My hope is only in God who hath the hearts of all men in his hand and can turn them as the Rivers of waters To this fountain of all mercies will I make my humble requests that he would be pleased graciously to incline all our hearts to desire and seek for peace that he would sweeten the Spirits of Christians that are embittered against each other that he would remove those prejudices out of mens minds which have caused our breaches and continue to widen them that he would make men more careful to approve themselves Christ's disciples by obeying his commands than to be the disciples and followers of men Lastly that he would put a stop to our divisions and distractions and find out means to bring us in his good time to an happy Union And I doubt not but all good Christians will joyn with me in this Prayer GRacious and heavenly Father who art the God of Love and Peace look with an eye of pity upon thy poor distressed distracted Church in this Kingdom allay our unchristian heats heal our wounds close our breaches pour into all our hearts a Spirit of peace union and brotherly love and grant that though we cannot all be of one mind and judgment in this state of Error and Ignorance yet we may be of one heart and affection so as to follow after those things that make for peace and avoid whatever hath a tendency to Breaches Separation and Faction Grant that petition which thy dear Son and our blessed Saviour requested for all which should believe on him to all Christian professors in this Nation that we all may be One as thou Father art in him and he in thee that we may so joyn hands and hearts as with one mind and one mouth to glorifie thee our heavenly Father That hereby thou mayest have the glory this Nation the advantage and each Christian the comfort of this Union Grant this we beseech thee for thy Sons sake who is the Prince of Life and Peace to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit of Peace be all praise honour and glory now and for evermore Amen FINIS
means to end all controversies by the Infallible authority of their Church Now though the Vanity of this Pretence hath been sufficiently detected by such who have shewn what divisions are among them and that the remedy they so much boast of viz. the Popes authority hath been so far from healing or allaying their heats that usually when it hath been interposed it hath inflamed and exasperated them Yet these things many are ignorant of and therefore our dissensions are made use of by the Popish factors to seduce poor ignorant persons into their delusions Certainly therefore it concerns us to do all we can to deprive them of this advantage against us if not by being all of one opinion which is impossible yet by taking care not to be of different factions and parties The Atheist likewise from hence seeks a pretence for his folly because he sees such variety of parties in Religion therefore he will be of none which arguing is as foolish as it would be in any to say there is no true coin because there is so much that is counterfeit and therefore he will take no mony However it is our concernment and duty not wilfully to afford any matter of derision to these scoffing Ishmaels who when they cannot dispute will endeavour to laugh men out of their Religion and think to do that by blasphemous drollery which they are unable to do by force of argument Though we cannot stop these mens mouths or hinder their irreligious laughter yet let us endeavour by our Union to bereave them of one of their pretences I wish I could as easily cure our breaches as I can weep over them or find out means for our Union as I can affectionately desire it or perswade persons to the use of such means as I can prescribe them I know that as the whole Kingdom would share in the Benefits of such a happy closure so most men might be instrumental one way or other to procure or promote it I know withal that as our Governours both in Church and State move in an higher orb so they may have a more especial influence in healing our breaches But yet I am sensible that it becomes not a private person in such a publick way as this to address himself to them that are in authority and thence have the stamp of Divinity upon them Neither can I suppose that they will cast their Eyes on this Discourse I shall therefore only pray for them that God would inspire them with true wisdom that they may in the first place mind the concerns of Religion the honour of God and the happiness of the Church upon which the welfare of the Kingdom chiefly depends and that from hence as an excellent means to promote these ends they may study the things that make for peace and Union That as Nursing Fathers they would so far comply with the infirmities of their weak children as may tend to the good of the community so as in the mean while the government be not unhinged nor their authority diminished or weakened that God would make them value Peace and Union among Christians as a Jewel worthy to be purchased with laying aside many things that are of their own nature indifferent supposing no considerable damage or inconvenience attend such an alteration In a word that God would so direct them in the management of the government that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty in all concord and amity Leaving therefore my Superiors I address my self to those in whose power it very much consists to put an end to our unhappy divisions and those are my Brethren of the Separation for I must esteem them Brethren whatever their thoughts are of me or carriage towards me These I would humbly beg to obey that Gospel-command Eph. 4.3 to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace And that in Rom. 14.19 that they would follow after the things which make for peace And here let me request of you who have forsaken your legally constituted Pastors who have withdrawn your selves from our publick Assemblies to do these two or three following things which as they are in themselves reasonable so they are things that make for peace I mean chiefly the peace of the Church of God but together herewith the peace of your own Consciences 1. Impartially examine the truth lawfulness and reasonableness of those things which you reject and for the sake of which you have left or are about to leave our Assemblies Condemn not any thing used by us in Gods Worship before it hath had a legal trial at the Bar of your own Reason and there be found contrary to the Laws of our Heavenly King If you will reject any thing without trying whether it be lawful though it be commanded by the Law of the Land or embrace any doctrines which have not been before heard of before you have examined the truth thereof you are no way secure from giving heed to the grossest delusions and in a ready way to be Papists Quakers or what not For to act thus is to put out your own Eyes or however to shut them and then to chuse your way blindfold which whoever doth we wonder not if he miss the right way or runs upon that which is exceeding hazardous Consider that what is performed in our Assemblies are the injunctions of those higher powers to whom God requires us to be subject and that for Conscience sake Rom. 13.1 5. Neither are we to disobey them or to refuse to do what they require but when their commands oppose the Laws of God Consequently we should examine the injunctions of our Superiors and not dare to reject them before we find that they are contrary to the Law of God For otherwise we may oppose Gods will while we seem zealous for it and transgress the Command of God which requires obedience to the higher powers while we refuse to obey their Laws which we never found to be any transgression of the Law of God In this your Trial make Gods will your Rule Be not led by the Examples of others nor induced to think any thing lawful or unlawful true or false merely because such whom you esteem pious and Religious are of that mind For besides that the best of mere men are imperfect and fallible in this life the giving heed to any doctrine or practice because men that make great pretences of piety are of that mind is the way to expose you to the worst of Errors We know that the Devil and his instruments too appear as Angels of light many Popish Monks are men of strict lives some Quakers are persons of great uprightness in their dealings and indeed what Hereticks have shew'd themselves in the world but they have at first appeared in the guise of extraordinary Sanctity So that if we should always give heed to and follow the ways of every one that appears in the world