that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to heare it The third cause and that a great one why there is such difference in affection among many is because that which our Creatour blessed for ever hath ordained to be the bond and tie of his people together z Rom. 8.9 is by many neglected or not duly indeavoured and that is Charity namely the Charity which the Gospel hath expresly delivered The Apostle saith unto the Colossians having exhorted them unto sundry great vertues b Col. 3.14 2 Thess 1.3 1 Thess 3.12 Above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnes And if it is the bond and tie of the highest matters in Christianity is it not likewise the bond and tie of all inferiour matters therein c Eph. 4.15 16. Col. 2.19 Heb. 10.24 25. 1 Thess 2.7 8. Joh. 13.34 35. 2 Joh. 6. That from the very Infancie in Christ there may bee a comfortable growing up unto the eldest age which is in Him and through Him If the sheaves of a field bee not tied up together how can they bee well brought home into the barne So among whomsoever the said bond or tie ordained by the eternall Wisdome is not put on how can there bee a good growing up together into the Christian unitie S. Paul declared it to bee his great d Or conflict See the marginall reading of Col. 2.1 care even for all professing Christianity That their hearts might bee comforted being e Col. 2.2 And in verse 5. hee sheweth the power or effect of the said knot saying Though I bee absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ knit together in love c. Hee giveth it also for a rule for every particular action in this world where he saith Let all your things be done with f 1 Cor. 16.14 charity And hereon saith D. Lucas Osiander that famous Writer Sixteen properties of Charity expressed in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6.7 8. Omnium actionum nostrarum moderatrix debet esse charitas Charity ought to be the moderatresse or ruler of all our actions The Holy Ghost thus describeth charitie saying Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not it self or is not g So is the marginall reading of 1 Cor. 13.4 rash is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in or h So is it in the marginall reading See 1 Pet. 4.8 Prov. 10.12 Song 8.6 7. with the Truth Beareth or i covereth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charitie never faileth There is delivered lately concerning charity that which is very considerable viz. k In page 67. of the booke intituled The nature of Truth its union and unitie with the soule Printed anno 1641. Doth not the Apostle doth hee not most truly most pathetically cry out Though I had the gift of prophecie and knew all secrets all knowledge yea if I had all faith so that I could remove mountains I were nothing I were as sounding brasse and a tinkling Cymball if I have not charitie When all these excellencies meet in a Christian as haply they may yet it is charity that maketh him l See 1 Joh. 4.7 8.12 16. and 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. what he is and the other beeings are but as phalerae as trappings which give an handsome set off but not a being to a Christian m In page 68. of the aforesaid booke Love is lovely in Gods eye He is stiled the God of Love the God Love And in another place the Scripture affirmeth that in this we have fulfilled the will of God if wee love one another for by n Here is declared whereby union with God is according to 1 Joh. 4.16 The fourth mentioned cause of difference this we are made one with God and so dwell in true light The fourth and last cause which shall be mentioned at this present why there is so much difference among many is for that so few have any care at all to understand their own way and that the most addict themselves to judge one anothers way The Holy Ghost saith The wisdome of the prudent is to o Prov. 14.8 understand his way p Verse 12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the waies of death q Prov. 12.15 The way of a foole is right in his own eyes but hee that hearkeneth unto counsell is wise David said r Ps 119.24 See The margent there Thy Testimonies are my delight and men of my counsell Now the counsell of the eternall Wisdome is That whoso would be a Disciple of Christ or a true Christian he do first of all betake himselfe to Å¿ Mat. 7.5 cast out the beame out of his own eye because then he shall see cleerly to cast out the mote out of his brothers eye Also to t Mat. 16.24 deny himself To become a u 1 Cor. 3.18 foole that he may be wise To * Luke 14.26 33. hate his own life and to forsake all that he hath all his Laodicean x Rev. 3.17 18. riches To follow Christ in the y Mat. 19.28 Regeneration To z 1 Cor. 4.5 judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and in his particular a Joh. 14.23 spirituall comming will guide into b Joh. 16.13 all truth To doe nothing through strife or vain-glory but in lowlinesse of minde each to c Phil. 2.3 esteem other better than themselves and not to think every one to be in the wrong which differeth from him concerning some ceremoniall matter or the like To shun all d 2 Tim. 3.2 self-love e Ezech 36.31 and 20.43 See 2. Cor. 7.11 To remember ones owne evill wayes and his own doings that were not good and to loth himselfe in his own sight for his iniquities and for his abominations To consider that the f Ier. 17.9 heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked and therefore to g Prov. 4.23 keep it with all diligence Not to h Prov. 3.5 6 7. leane unto ones own understanding but in all ones wayes to acknowledge the Lord and he will direct ones paths Not to be wise in ones own eyes but to feare the Lord and to depart from evill To i Jam. 1.26 Isa 58.9 Mat. 12.34 36 37. Eph. 5.4 5 6. bridle ones tongue because his Religion is vain and not the true Christian which doth not unfeinedly endeavour that dutie as the Holy Ghost hath pronounced Now when as one hath duly judged his k 1. Cor. 11.31
of the way of the Lord within him may perceive many of them and may take notice of all other wheresoever signified elsewhere in any place of holy Scripture Because being stedfast unmoveable alwaies x 1. Cor. 15.58 Valleys mountains and hils crookednesses roughnesses reckoned up many together promiscuously for to introduct a devout person to take notice of them and of all other signified by any holy Scripture See 2. Esdras 16.50 abounding in the work of the Lord they shall know that their labour is not vain in the Lord as the Apostle declareth unto the Corinthians The Holy Ghost doth oftentimes in many places of the Bible reckon up many such matters together to the end we may the more cleerly know what qualities conditions properties inclinations affections passions natures humours infirmities and such like we are to strive against All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works The Lord Jesus Christ saith y Marke 7.20 21 22 23. That which commeth out of the man that defileth the man For from within out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts adulteries fornications murthers thefts covetousnesse wickednesse deceit lasciviousnesse an evill eye blasphemie pride foolishnesse All these evill things come from within and defile the man The Apostle saith unto the Galatians Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these z Gal. 5.19 20 21. adulterie fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatrie witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God He writeth to the Ephesians saying a Eph. 5.3 4 5 6. But fornication and all uncleannesse or covetousnesse let it not be once named among you as becommeth Saints neither filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks For this ye know that no whoremonger nor uncleane person nor covetous one who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God Let no man deceive you with vain words For because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience There is written elsewhere against b Col. 3.4 6 7 8 9. Isa 63.8 Rev. 21.8 and 22.15 inordinate affection evill concupiscence all manner of lying c Rom. 12.9 dissimulation d Rom. 1.29 30 31 32. debate deceit whispering backbiting brawling despitefulnesse inventing of evill things covenant-breaking disobedience to parents voidnes of naturall affection * See the Margent of Rom. 1.31 unsociablenesse unplacablenes unmercifulnesse malignitie fulnesse of envie voidnesse of understanding wherein knowledge should be e 2. Tim. 3.2 3 4. self-love unthankfulnesse * Philemon 19. forgetfulnesse of good turnes bodily or ghostly corruptnesse * Judges 9.16 17. Wisd 14.25 26. Tit. 2 10. unfaithfulnesse disorders in marriages f Ier. 4.24 Sirach 16.23 thinking upon vain things or imagining follies false accusing incontinencie fiercenesse headinesse g 2. Tim. 3.2 3 4 5 love of pleasure more than God having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof h Prov. 28.4 Ps 15.4 neglecting of loving those that are good i 1. Cor. 6.9 10. effeminatenesse reviling extortion k Ps 15 4. So the Hebrew word there doth import Ps 15.3 See also the margent there Exod. 23.1 See there the Margent also biting usury l receiving reproach against ones neighbour afore it be duly examined and the truth of the report be known m Prov. 8.13 an evill way a froward mouth n 1. Pet. 3.8 uncourteousnesse in speaking or doing o Rom. 13.8 owing any thing to another and not endeavouring according to ability for to make p Luke 19.8 Mat. 18.29 satisfaction q Mat. 5.37 swearing in Communication r 2. Kings 2.23 24. Luke 16.14 mocking Å¿ Sir 19.4 Eph. 4.14 and 3.17 light-mindednesse t 2. Cor. 1.17 Ier. 23.32 Prov. 7.10 11 12. lightnesse in behaviour in speaking or doing u Prov. 12.10 cruelty towards man or any other creature * Rom. 12.11 sloathfulnesse in businesse x Ezech. 16.49 2 Thess 3.8 9 10 11 12. idlenesse gluttony not strengthening the hand of the poore and needie y Isa 1.17 Psa 72.4 Ier. 21.12 not endeavouring to help such unto their right z Col. 4 5. Eph. 5.15 16 17. Prov. 14.33 misspending the time a Ier. 22.13 using anothers service without wages b 1 Sam. 25.11 1 Pet. 4.9 Sir 14.10 niggardlinesse c Jam. 1.27 neglect of visiting the fatherlesse and widowes in their affliction d Mat. 25.35 36. of giving meate unto the hungry of giving drink unto the thirstie of hospitality toward strangers of clothing the naked of visiting and comforting the sick what may be of going to the imprisoned for to minister unto them what comfort is requisite e Rev. 3.15 16. Rom. 12.11 luke-warmnesse in duties toward God or man f Jam. 1.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 15.58 unconstancie in goodnesse or truth g Col. 3.2 Phil. 3.19 setting ones heart on earthly things h Gal 5.26 provoking others unto anger i Iude. 16. Gal. 4.17 Jam. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 1.12 and 3.4 overvaluing some and undervaluing others k Rom. 13.7 and. 12.10 not giving to every one his due honour l Ps 50.17 Luke 7.30 hating to be instructed m Hab. 2.6 Luke 12.20 21. 1 Tim. 6.10 and 3.3 8. Eph. 5.5 Phil. 3.19 8. making it the chiefest care and delight to lade himself with thick clay as speaketh the Prophet viz. earthly wealth n 1 Sam. 15.23 2 Thess 1.8 1 Pet. 4.17 stubbornnesse o Joh. 7.49 1 Cor. 8.1 2. 1 Tim. 6.20 21. Col. 2.8 18. vaunting in humane or historicall knowledge of holy Scripture p Mal. 1.6 Lev. 19.32 Ps 89.7 1 Pet. 2.17 unreverence toward God or man q Tit. 3.2 speaking evill of others r 1. Pet. 2.23 and 3.9 Acts. 24.14 Jam. 4.11 Gal. 5.15 Jude 9 giving others reproachfull names or termes Å¿ Deut. 16.19 taking of bribes t Ier. 9.23 glorying in bodily strength in naturall wit in earthly riches or worldly power u Jam. 1.4 and 5.10 11. Job 2.9 10. unpatience * Rom. 12.14 cursing x Rom. 13.4 and 12.19 Acts. 4.29 avenging ones self when as it may be forborn or should be referred unto the Magistrate or Almighty God y Isa 5.7 Zech. 7.10 oppression z Jonah 3.8 Zeph. 3.4 violence a 1. Thess 4.6 See Margent over-reaching another in any matter b Exod. 20.7 Sirach 23.9 10. mentioning lightly the name of God or any of his word
14. â— Jer. 32.39 2 Cor. 12.18 Unity in observing the duties of the Morall Law contained in the Ten Commandements so is there also Unity in the most holy d Jude 10. Tit. 1.1 faith of Gods elect The Apostle saith There is e Eph. 4.5 one faith And he hath these words f Eph. 4.13 Till we all come into the Unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And as all which truly endeavour to make preparation of the way of the Lord within them according as it is prescribed by the aforesaid heavenly crying voice shall see more and more the g 1 Tim. 3.9 mysterie of the Christian faith and what the true Christian h Joh. 8.12 Mal. 4.2 See wisd 5.6 life and conversation is unto the increase of godly Unity so such as are i Eph. 4.3 studious of all holy Unity shall partake of the greatest measure of heavenly light which God now communicateth unto his servants It is said in the Booke of Chronicles k 2 Chron. 5.13 14. It came to passe as the trumpetters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of the Lord. So that the Priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God So it is said in the Acts of the Apostles l Acts 2.1 3 4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord or with one mind in one place And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Then did God m Acts 2.16 17 18. powre out of his Spirit upon all flesh namely on all ages and states as on old persons and young persons on sonnes and daughters on servants and hand-maids and in great abundance on his Apostles who had n Acts. 1.4 waited for the promise and had kept in Jerusalem Which saith David is builded as a City that is o Psal 22.3 compact together or as some translate which is at unity in it self For where brethren dwell together in unity p Psal 133.3 Where there is such concord us saith the Geneva note The Ratification of this oracle there saith he the Lord commandeth the blessing even life for evermore There remaineth also that something be said concerning the Ratification of this Oracle which is contained in these words For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The which words are added for to assure us That our labour in the work of the Lord shall not now be in q 1 Cor. 15.51 vain our true endeavouring for to performe the aforesaid preparation shall not be unconsidered For God saith the Apostle is not unrighteous to r Heb. 6.10 11 12 13 14 15. Mat. 10.41 42. Ps 19.11 Heb. 11.26 forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward His name c. And we desire that every one of you doe shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That ye be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises For when God made promise to Abraham because he could sweare by no greater He sware by Himself saying Surely blessing I will blesse thee and multiplying I will multiply thee And after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise Whereas it is said For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it giveth us to consider that a mouth hath uttered it which Å¿ Tit. 1.2 cannot lye and that the Almighty holy righteous eternall Spirit hath promised it which is t Eph. 3.20 able to performe it Who hath promised many spirituall blessings to be inherited in the life that u 1. Tim. 4.8 now is according as His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him as S. Peter * 2. Pet. 1.3 4. saith that hath called us to glory and vertue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust That as the Apostle writeth unto the x Eph. 1.12 13 14. Ephesians We should be unto the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory And as the Lord Jesus Christ saith y Mar. 10.29 30. There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternall life Moreover it is to be observed that these words for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it being so often used in holy Scripture What the mouth of the Lord signifieth do in speciall manner note forth unto us the power and truth of God upon which we may build and ground our selves and be secure or z See of Heb. 11.1 the marginall reading confident that what duties we for our parts are to endeavour are a Ps 19.7 8. Deut. 4.6 7 8. perfect wisdome to be done and that the benefit signified to be received in the doing of them is most sure and certain It is said in Ezechiel * Ezech. 37.13 14. And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves O my people and brought you up out of your graves And shall have put my Spirit in you and ye shall live and I shall place you in your own land then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and performed it saith the Lord. And to conclude this point there is observed to be understood by these words The mouth of the Lord hath spoken Such a more inward manifesting and communicating of the Divine will as whereby matters were made knowne unto Moses as it is written With him will I speak b Num. 12.8 mouth to mouth apparently For so Isaiah framed not out of his own mind this crying voice as Jeremiah saith That the false Prophets doe speak a vision of their own heart
most seriously consider what saith the heavenly crying voice That the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed unto all preparers of his way and they shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who hath power to performe whatsoever he promiseth Isaiah saith elsewhere h Isa 54.13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the i The said word in sense implieth Unity peace of thy children Great unitie will be among all those which are led by his holy Spirit and Word for his Spirit leadeth into all k Joh. 16.13 Acts. 5.32 Eph. 4.3 1 Cor. 12.13 truth such as unfeinedly strive to yeeld due obedience unto all the commandements of Christs holy Gospel The wisedome of the God of heaven made use of this l Ier. 8.22 Balme of Gilead the crying voice when great difference was in the Church of the Jewes and it with his Divine m 1 Cor. 3.6 blessing cured a great many It was John the n Luke 3.3 4 5 6. Baptists doctrine yea o Mat. 4.17 Mar. 1.14 15. Luke 4.18 19. Christ and his p Mar. 6.12 Acts. 20.21 Luke 13.3 5. Apostles in effect did use it in their preaching O into what an unitie it brought the true fearers of God which were in q Acts. 2.1 38 41 42 46 47. Jerusalem and the land of Jewrie And so how it wrought among the Gentiles witnesse all the r Col. 2.1 2 5. Churches of them unto whom the Apostles wrote Epistles Also the same efficacie by the assistance of Divine grace will it now take among all such as will make due use of it as it did in those daies of old For saith the Scripture Behold the Lords hand is not Å¿ Isa 59.1 2. shortened that it cannot save neither his eare heavie that it cannot heare But your t Ier. 5.25 Ps 66.18 iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he will not heare The Virgin Mary said u Luke 1.51 He scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts But his Sonne gathereth together into * Joh. 11.52 one the children of God that are scattered abroad as even Caiphas prophesied Yea unto Unitie worketh God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost x Eph. 1.10 It is to bee noted That as in the beginning man and woman were created in unity with God so Holy Scriptures use is to direct us for to draw nigher and nigher unto the same Hence it is that Christ prayed so fervently for his people concerning their true Christian unity See Joh. 17.11 21 22 23.26.13 That as S. Paul saith in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in Him Moreover that the receiving of heavenly light into the understanding doth further unto unitie it may appeare from a similitude If a company be in a dark room where is very little light and it hath a table whereon is much mony A Similitude for to shew that the true heavenly light wheresoever it appeareth doth further unto true Christian unitie gold and silver and some counterfeit coine be among the same If they be willed to take only all the currant mony and thereunto to advise each with other for the better judging of the same and also be promised increase of benefit according as every one taketh most of the said coin with none of the counterfeit Will there not arise some difference among them concerning some peeces of the mony Will there not be some conjectures amisse because they judge for the most part by supposing or imagination not by clear sight But if a window be opened unto them and they have the true day light will not then the case be otherwise and all former dissent in opinion about the said coine much cease So is it with us mankind so long as we abide fast in the fall of Adam y Isa 60.2 Ier. 4.22 23. 1 Joh 2.9 11. grosse darknesse covereth us as Isaiah signifieth Yea S. Paul told the Ephesians that they were sometime z Eph. 5.8 Prov. 4 1â— darknesse And the Prophet also speaking concerning such saith a Is 59.10 We grope for the wall like blind and we grope as if we had no eyes we stumble at noone-day as in the night we are in desolate places as dead men The b 1 Cor. 2.14 naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The Lord Christ saith The c Joh. 14.17 1 Joh. 5.19 2 Cor. 4.4 Spirit of truth the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Great is our spirituall darknesse manifold are our mistakes about the things of God Yea also we much differ in opinion concerning such matters But when as we heare the heavenly d In Isa 40.3 4 5. crying voice and attend thereunto when we open the e Rev. 3.20 Ps 24.7 8 9 10. door of our hearts and receive the f Eph. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 14.25 Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.11 and 1.27 2. Cor. 13.3 Spirit of Christ thereinto He will then g Eph. 5.14 2 Cor. 4.6 2 Pet. 1.19 Prov. 28.5 Phil. 1.9 10 11. Ps 112.4 give us light he will open unto us such a spirituall window and let such a measure of true heavenly light shine into us as that we shall judge more and more rightly concerning all things pertaining unto Godlinesse Also former differences among us will more and more cease and the unitie of the Holy Spirit will inwardly and outwardly among us encrease Another Similitude for to shew how among all well-affected the true Christian unitie easily increaseth Heare also another similitude Even as in an houshold where all the servants do faithfully mind the performing of every command of their master and one to help another for the fulfilling of the same will there be any dissension among such Or if any should chance through any mistake will it not soon cease for that none seeketh himself but every one onely his masters benefit and credit So among all those whose * The mind of mankind for the farre greatest part hath as it were lost it selfe in that it considereth not the marke which the Creatour hath prescribed unto it only aime it is that our heavenly Masters will may be done here on earth h Mat. 6.10 Rom. 12.2 Eph. 5.17 1 Thess 4.3 4 5 6.7 as it is in heaven and * The said marke at which to aime continually and whereon to mind alwaies in every particular matter is in briefe signified in the afore quotations Mat. 6.10 Eph. 5 17. thereunto do endeavour what may be to help and set forward one another will there be any discord among such Or