Churches and among the people of Jesus Christ They are by Office Guides and Leaders First To lead by preaching Christians into union shewing the Gospel-duty the Necessity Excellency and Utility To set home all Gospel Directions and Inducements upon the Consciences and Hearts of Christians and do all they can to light warm and winne them to it And they are likewise to guide and leade by example Give the fairest Copie Set the most excellent president of endeavours Industry and Zeal for godly unity If Ministers leade not will their people begin alone If they are listless will people be lively and active If they are of a low narrow cold cowardly spirit will people in probability be of an high heroical zealous temper No the Ministers Light must help to direct their Heat to warm their Resolution and Zeal to help others to be resolute and zealous And people also should design and endeavour union to cooperate and go along with their godly Ministers in good and necessary wayes Not neglect their Ministers herein to let them go and act alone but honour them with yieldings to and followings of them in what they follow Chirst Formerly what a spirit of willingness was there to hear learn believe and do as their godly Ministers guided and perswaded What a Gospel yieldingness and great sequaciousness was seen among people that turned greatly to their own Edification and the great Comfort and high encouragement of their godly Ministers Christs Ministers they have ever been Satans great eye-soar and speciall envy and Satan hath ever endeavoured to make their credit run as low as he could that the Gospel might run the lower and be glorified the less in peoples hearts A man is so far passable with others as he hath esteem and credit in their hearts and will accordingly prevail with them It is Satans grand design to make the Reputation of the Ministers of Christ run low that thereby the Doctrine they bring might be little regarded Gods design in Scripture and Christs great drift in the Gospel is to set up the Ministers very high in peoples hearts that they should have them in singular Honour for their work sake knowing this would exalt both his Word and himself also But this hath been Satans design and effected more of late then ever since the Reformation yea other Ages scarce any have exceeded ours But the loss is least to Ministers and most to the Hearts that suffer themselves to be prejudiced against them The Word loses its efficacy but the people the profit and their souls into the bargain also if they look not to it But as Ministers of Christ must leade and let their Light shine before their people so people must let in their light and suffer themselves to be guided and perswaded as for their own Edification so Ministers great encouragement and comfort Thus in this great work of Union both should help and encourage each other and then the Adversaries may be disappointed and in time our Divisions healed up Some looking into the obstacles likely to hinder Union among those of different judgements gave some years since among others a matter of ten Reasons which though not in the same method nor in all the words at length yet is thought not amiss to mention here As 1. Some place too much of their Religion in standing off from others as if the height of a Christian lay in rigid Separation from those that are of a lower size and will be hardly drawn to remit any thing of their supposed necessary strictness rather desiring to please themselves than bear with the weak suspecting even necessary provisions for admission of the weak as savouring too much of loosnesse and that which may bring on their partaking in other mens sins 2. Some have drunk in such prejudice against their Brethren that fancying the difference greater then it is and supposing a Closure unlawful or scarce possible are the more backward to any thing tending to a composure 3. Ignorance may prove a great hinderance many understand only the practick part of their own way not fully knowing the extent necessity indifferency of their severall principles these out of a zeal to truth will stand off as not knowing how far they may yield 4. Some delight in contentions 5. Some once embittered their blood is not easily cooled 6. Some are pleased with nothing that themselves propound not 7. Many are engaged and will find it a hard task to deny themselves in point of honour and credit which they think will be lost if they alter their course 8. Many are so overdriven by their friends and members of their Congregations that they dare do little for fear of displeassing them 9. Some want publick principles having but one thing in their eye as suppose purity or peace prosecute that to ruine or neglect of other necessary things 10. Some want publick Spirits not caring what become of other Christian so long as they have the Ball at their own foot or things go with them as they would have it Now as the proper cure and relief of Divisions and dangers thence arising must necessarily be from Union a suitable and speedy Union answerable to the nature and extent of the Malady so that must first be removed that is the impediment to it that though many things else concur is chiefly a great defect of publicknesse of Spirit a Spirit carried out to the publick good of the Church of Christ and his Cause together with a grand failing in Brotherly Love 1. That defect and great want of a publick spirit a spirit that hath made so many Prophets Apostles Martyrs Ministers and Saints in all ages to shine so gloriously All Christians whatsoever should endeavour great publicknesse of Spirit should put on and wear this rare Jewel with the rich Pendants of it of purest and greatest aims best contrivances warmest affections strongest highest resolutions for the Churches good against all things whatsoever that interpose But publick Persons Ministers principally they should be of a very eminent and exemplary publicknesse of Spirit as they are lights and leaders so in this in a more observeable manner But now there 's none should be of a meer private and impublick but of the most publick Spirit We should not be like the Snail that houses her self in her shell commonly cleaves to a block or stone and seldome moves and then but for a little food But like the Springs of Water that rise up run over and make a river for general use Not like a Light in a dark Lanthorn which shineth only inward but like the Heavenly bodies that mounted up are still running round the Heaven to carry and convey their light and influence to all It is too evident that great want of publicknesse of Spirit that like an Epidemical common disease hath spread it self about This this is the reason of that want of endeavours for generall Union The School Maxime is Omne negativum fundatur in affirmative
derisions of the adversaries to foresee that danger that heightens and the ruine that hastens towards us by our enemies close conjunctions deep contrivances and daily attempts of so many Parties especially the Popish who are both greatly encreased and encouraged to act and strive with all their artifices and industries to make our divisions subservient to their own destructive purposes against us And which adds no little weight to all the former for our selves to find it and our adversaries thereby to observe their great advantages by that great defect of any adequate meanes yet used yea and withall so generall a heartlesness unto any such way which may timely secure and relieve us Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse refelli This is and must be for a Lamentation When therefore our distempers and dangers are from division The remedy must needs be by a just and generall Union especially of the conscientious and godly of different perswasions There are three wayes may be thought of for effecting Union The first is that which though it may greatly be feared yet cannot justly be desired and that is the Storme and Flame of Persecution to drive and warm us into a willingness to unite This although persecution sometimes hath brought about yet now if persecution should arise it must in most probability be from the Popish party which is no way likely to occasion it For now the way of the Papists is not that of Queen Maries time by a juridical Triall condemnation and execution by burnings and such like But by suddain Massacres and exposing to cold nakedness hunger and all extremities This is the new way of the Papists a proof of which we have in those three successive Instances First in that of Ireland and then divers years after in that of Poland and that of Piedmont These tell us plainly what course they will run if once opportunity be given them Then when the sword and violence hath taken away those that come to their hand The inquisition will come to find out others that have escaped and are undiscovered Therefore if the Popish party so encrease and are so busie daily as on very good grounds it is apprehended there is great need of a present firm generall Union to counterwork them and the Lord set this home on the heedless and listless Spirits in this Nation 2. A second way for procuring Union is by the Civill Magistrates Interposition by setling such order and government as may gather and glue together the broken and divided parties among us But this way though it is not desired at all by divers who like no imposition but a liberty to do as they please yet if the civill power would please to give their assistance and encouragement unto it how soon might a happy Union be effected and the building of Gods House would bring a blessing and greatly conduce to settle their own affairs But when a disease is mortall and high the remedy must not be remote and delayed if at present this will not be done we had need do that we can do 3. There is a third way The way at present to effect a good and necessary Union which is by our own free choice or voluntary conjunction and association in some just and moderate way respectively to the godly and peaceable of different perswasions Continuance of disunion and every ones going his own way as the best way of peace and preservation cannot nor will not in the conclusion be a relief and remedy to out distempers and dangers Whatsoever may be said for a necessity of indulgence the good party in the Nation must come in to some fit Union and accord For such as conceive dis-union and division best we may as soon credit them as we would agree to him who should affirm that burnt tow is best to make Cord-age or Roes of sand are fittest to make Cables for Ships that toss at Sea Or to say we need do no more then either lie still or only act in our own private capacities in our own particular places this will avail us little For if the Ship be sinking and so all engaged to endeavour the saving of it it is no time for any particular person to lie sleeping like Jonas in the sides of the Ship or to be busie in his private Cabbin to order his own affairs If a Country be invaded with an Army it is not fit for the Inhabitants to run into holes and hide themselves as the Israelites did when the Philistines were up against them Neither is that enough in this case for every man to take up Armes and then stand in his own door only that may help against the approach of the thief but not against an enemy in a Body But as the enemies strength and the Countryes danger is by that of many single persons joyned in one Army so the single persons of the endangered Country must unite as Saul and Jonathan did in that invasion by the Philistines there must be Army against Army for the present security The way left us at present is Union by a free and voluntary associating both to heal Divisions and defend our selves against them that are all united and joyntly acting against the Reformed Religion But this must be a good and a just an entire and extensive full union so as the Remedy be not below or short any way of the Malady A good union by the Good Good men sincerely and cordially closing for carrying on the work A due and entire union made by persons of a sutable due Gospel temper of Sobriety Moderation and Discretion that may thereby evenly joyne and glue together Rigidness and Harshness of spirit will not suit this work as churlish Iron and soft pliant Gold will not agree in a curious frame for an exquisite and continuing motion Nor harsher matter with softer silk in the same piece which will not wear or hold well but soon fret out Gospel calmness and gentleness Humility and Yieldingness must make a due union But yet there is need also of Resolution firmness of purpose Confidence and Courage to make the strong soder of a firm and lasting union Men must not be of a dubious Hesitancy of a suspicious timorous temper full of Doubts Jealousies endless Dissatisfactions and continuall Unevennesses but Fortes Tenaces propositi that know first what they do and then fix and hold up in evenness and equalities For when the Remedy is proper it must also be constantly used so long as Necessity calls The persons concerned that should contribute to and concurre in this union are both Ministers and people Ministers leading and people willingly following both together coming in to help close up the breach which the high-seas and spring tides of Distempers have made upon us First Ministers of the Gospel the Gospel of peace and union Ministers that are publike persons and more peculiatly concerned These should specially be healers of Breaches in
all disintending and neglect of a duty arises from over intending and following something else that should not be done The neglect of the publick must have some ill unworthy ground and occasion There 's some evil that infects the Heart of Men that breeds this animi deliquium this heartlessness unto the publick It was holy Paul's complaint in his time All seek their own and none the things of Christ. The defect of publicknesse of Spirit seeking the things of Christ breeds from a private Spirit and sinfull seeking our own things There is a very private narrow Spirit gone out into the Nation that like Pharaoh's lean and ill favoured Kine eats up the fat and good Many Christians many publick persons many Ministers for their own safety ease self-enjoyments and attendance on their own private affairs design retiredness and please themselves in unprofitable Privacies lying hid and lying still withdrawing themselves from the publick in a great measure when the publick cals so loud to all for help There is a very sinful unworthy Spirit in divers this way suffering themselves to be of little use in comparison of what they might and hiding much of their Talent in the Napkin of an unprofitable privacy This is as if the Springs and Rivers should seal up themselves or hide themselves under ground and bid us go seek our water As if the Sun should stand still draw a Curtain before it and then bid the Moon and Stars to warm the world and make day Ah how sinfull is it to be all self Center-self and Circumference self aimes and actings all self Or to prefer a mans own petty privacies and particularities before the publick to have all the heart on the one no heart on the other or in an exceeding great disproportion Never any Christian yet had his license made him or his quietus est given him to retreat from the publick and lie still in meer unactivenesse It is the alone prerogative of him that is immutably self-sufficient and from whom all things only are to be solely for himself Weigh it seriously there are but two sorts of Creatures in the world that have made themselves a license to be meerly and only for themselves and they are Divels and wicked men left to themselves There is nothing in the whole Creation but as it is stampt with a principle of self-preservation so likewise it hath a strong inclination and will accordingly on occasion to bestir it self into a zealous activity to preserve the universe Many heathens though moved only by principles of Morality yet were often Persons of a most Publick and Heroicall Spirit eminently carried forth and acted to undertake and adventure for the publick good Holy persons in Scripture are purposely put upon the file of a glorious Record for their excellent publick Spirit their being so studious and zealous for promoting the publick and not regarding their own private as to estates liberties lives or whatsoever might be dear and precious to them As Moses David Nehemiah Paul and many others The Saints in Heaven though so secure and happy yet are all of a most publick transcendently publick Spirit engaging for the Church Militant in their requests continually The glorious Angels are of this publick Spirit being daily most freely ministring Spirits for the good of the Heires of Salvation The most Blessed God although he needeth nothing and is under no obligation to any but as himself pleases yet hath the largest heart and most liberall hand doing good to all especially his Churches and guides continually every thing as to his own glory so the good of his That private Spirit that designing of and pleasing it self in unprofitable recesses latencies and lying still That Spirit which is under a Spirituall Listlesness and Cowardize for doing and adventuring any thing to promote or preserve the publick is the most improper and irregular thing in the world The most excellent Christians have the most publick lively Spirits the greatest thoughts highest aimes largest affections most abundant Zeal activity and equality of endeavours for the publick These when private narrow listless Spirited men that overminded their own will have but a bad account to give in to Christ These will render up their account with greatest joy and confidence This the first great Obstruction to our healing and relieving Union want of a publick Spirit and this from being so much of an unprofitable private Spirit set upon and seeking our own and not the things of Christ The second and which also greatly grounds the former is that very great want of Love First To Jesus Christ his cause and Gospel-Brotherly Love Love which is exclusive of a meerly private and narrow of a listless cold and dull distemper introduces a free and enlarged active adventurous and zealous disposition and way and is one of the great Fountains and Feeders of publickness of Spirit One of the great Legacies the Lord Jesus bequeathed to his Disciples when he was leaving the world was peace And one of the great Commandments given in charge by him was Brotherly Love the ground of peace and unity let that be well considered Brotherly Love which besides that great weight of the golden Scepter of Christ lying on it all the Scriptures over and the clear stamps of his authority in those frequencies of strictest Scripture Precepts to make it more passable and currant it received from Christ himself a peculiar Stamp and new Signature and is that alone in all the Scripture which is stiled the new Commandment required to be the proper Gospel-badge of Christs Disciples Herby shall all men c. And Brotherly unity is the genuine and rare fruit of Brotherly Love by every Christian to be endeavoured to the utmost extent of Gospel possibility Nothing in our own Spirits of corrupt distemper carnal ends or undue prejudice should hinder it nothing in our Brethren sound in the Faith and of Godly Conversation though not absolutely agreeing with us in way disposition or opinion in all things Christians cannot be all alike here All have not the same intellectuall complexion It is a great defect of meekness of wisdome to refuse all agreement with others because they agree not with us in all things Neither may any other Christian precepts hinder us Ah that we could duly consider of this new this one new Commandment our Lords peculiar charge given upon ground of great necessity in Gospel times foreseen perfectly by the Lord the all-knowing Law-giver and King of his Church Certainly when Christ will heal and stablish a people he fills their Spirits with over-powering Brotherly Love to smooth off heart-unevennesses of disinclinations distrusts and misunderstandings and makes them firmly piece together in Godly unity Love as the Apostle hath it is the bond of perfectness Yea Love is the fulfilling of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That will encline and enable wise for and make willing with it and constrain us into it into all the latitude of