Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	agree_v	church_n	zion_n	12	3	8.5916	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67182	The beauty of unity in a sermon preached at Preston in Lancashire at the opening of the Guide-merchant held there, September 4, 1682 / by Richard Wroe ...	Wroe, Richard, 1641-1717.	1682 (1682)	Wing W3726; ESTC R31851	15,914	42

Ecce quàm se mutuò diligunt Christiani behold said they how Christians love one another but a ravishing sight to them that wish well to Sion to see Brethren so dwell together in Unity I know there are other kinds of Unity besides these already mentioned as Unity of Discipline and Government Wherein that the Christian Churches did once all agree seems plain from hence that all sides admit this as a great Truth that is the best Form of Government which comes nearest to the Primitive Platform so that in the Primitive Church there was an Unity of Discipline the same Order of Men the same Form of Government in all the Churches of Christ Happy had it been had it received no alteration happy were we were all our differences in that respect silenced into an amicable agreement that as there is no Church where there is no Order no Ministry so we might all be of one and the same Church by enjoying the same Order and Ministry There is also an Unity of Opinion when men not only build upon the same Foundation but raise the same superstructure and agree not only in fundamentals but shake hands also in less necessary truths and have the same Sentiments and Opinions as well as Interests in all things An Unity that may be seen in Parties and Factions especially to promote an Interest or secure a Design but otherwise is very rare to be met with For as long as there are men of different Complexions and divided Interests there will be different Conceptions and disagreeing Opinions among them Certain it is that mens Tempers and Complexions strongly incline them to some Opinions more than others and no less evident it is that the prejudices of Education Acquaintance and Custom do no less strongly byass mens fancies with kindness to some Opinions and a dislike of others so that till all men are cast in the same mold and act upon the same Principles and drive on the same end and design Unity in Opinion is not like to be Universal Indeed both this and the other are rather to be wish'd than hoped for for till men be willing to part with their Opinions which yet few men are there is small hopes of Union that way and till men become Humble and Obedient to the Discipline and Government of the Church no hopes to be united under any one Form Besides that Opinions encrease with the age of the World and are daily multiplyed and men grow more fond of their own Form of Discipline and more averse to all others So that there is small hopes of a perfect correspondence in all things till we come to that happy Union which the Apostle describes Eph. 4. 13. till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ But if we cannot hope to see them yet we may and ought to pursue after them which would every one of us in his several capacity sincerely endeavour we should enjoy that blessing of the Lord to behold Truth and Unity met together to see Righteousness and Peace kiss each other and the only method to pursue those ends a right is to maintain inviolable that threefold Unity in Faith in Worship and Affection which is indispensably necessary to make us One with that Body whereof Christ is the head For Unity in the Faith is Catholick Unity without which we cannot be Members of the Body of Christ Unity in Worship is Church Unity without which we cannot hold the Communion of Saints and Unity in Mind and Affection is that Unity of Charity without which we violate the Commands and Obligations of the Gospel But if we keep these intire and twist this threefold cord we make it strong and not easie to be broken And when our Faith is One and our Worship uniform and agreeable and our minds conspire in united affections we then wear his Livery whose Coat was seamless the Emblem of Unity not rent by Schism nor torn by Separation then like Brethren we dwell together in Unity and how good and pleasant that is to behold is next to be made out 'T is good and pleasant excellent properties to rerecommend a thing to our love and affections for good is the great Object of our choice And What more endearing than that which is good and pleasant too 't is good that intimates its necessity and usefulness 't is pleasant that implies its delight and comeliness We 'l survey each property distinctly that we may better behold its perfection 1. It s Necessity and Usefulness Of which we need no other Evidence than the strong Enforcements and Obligations which the Gospel lays upon us to Unity and the powerful Arguments wherewith the Apostles of Christ press it upon his Disciples and Followers I instance only in St. Paul and observe in this Argument 1. The strength of his Reasoning 2. The persuasiveness of his Oratory The one is that every thing in our Religion is an Argument to Unity as you have it Eph. 4. 4 5. there is one Body and one Spirit and one Hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all every thing in our Religion is one and so ought all they to be who are Proselytes to that Religion The other is his powerful Eloquence and persuasive Rhetorick whilst persuading his Philippians to love and amity and perhaps in no Author whatsoever occurs a more pathetick and endearing strain than that in which he wooes and beseeches them to Unity and Uniformity Phil. 2. 1 2 If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind per sanctum amicitiae nomen per chara amoris pignora per mutuò datam fidem these are powerful Charms but far less prevailing Oratory than the Apostle here used to press the Philippians to be of one accord of one mind and no doubt but the great earnestness wherewith the Apostle enforced it proceeded from his sense of the necessity and advantages of it For it is good in all those respects which conduce to the good of Society or the Interest of Mankind good for the publick and for every private man good for them that rule and for them that obey 1. Good for the Publick since it is not only essential to Society but the foundation of all the Priviledges we reap thereby a Society cannot consist without Union and Concord but dissolves into a rout and unruly herd when divided and disunited and there can be neither Order nor Government where there is not mutual agreement as Aristotle observ'd of Thieves and Robbers that they must agree together and be true to one another or else must needs dissolve and cannot hold together For there is no other bond