DIVISION DIVIDED OR Ruines fore-runner DISCOVERED and DECYPHERED In a Sermon before the Right Honourable and the Right Worshipfull the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London Preached on the Lords-day September 20. 1646. in Pauls Church London By one that wisheth well unto and daily prayeth for Unity and Uniformity in these three Kingdomes Now I beseech you Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that yee all speake one thing and that there bee no dissentions among you but bee yee knit together in one minde and in one judgement 1 Cor. 1.10 Infaelix populus Dei non potest in bono tantam habere concordiam quantam mali habent in malo Hier. in Ps Neque enim Civitas in seditione potest esse beata nec in discordia dominorum domus quâ— minus animus a seipso dissidens secumque discordans gustare partem ullam liquidae voluptatis liberae poâ—est Atque pugnantibus contrariis studiis consiliisque semper utens nihil quiete videre nihil tranquille potest Cicero 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London Printed for Andrew Crooke at the Green Dragon in Pauls-church-yard 1646. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE A True patterne of the old and good Way of Pietie and Charity and a cordiall Patron of Truth in these unsteady and giddy Times THOMAS ADAMS NOW Lord Major of this famous City of London all blest establishments in all the wayes to Grace and Glory My Lord YOu have made that saying true which heretofore was spoken Amicus Plato and Amicus Socrates but amicissima Veritas I love Plato wel and Socrates too but Truth better than either of them yea than both of them The hearts of Gods people blesse you and God for you and we hope your zeale for Truth against every opposite Error shall still provoke many Confes lib. 12. Veritatem celare est aurum sepelire To conceale Truth is as to bury gold saith Austin And Bernard convincingly Si propter timorem mortis tacere Veritatem impietas est quomodo non est major impietas propter miserum ventrem honoris vani spem tacere Veritatem Videtur meliorem facere gratiam panis honoris Bernard quam gloriam Veritatis If for the feare of death to conceale a Truth be sin and wickednesse ô what a sin is it for the bellies-sake or some such sinister end to dissemble it Truth in 1 Petition 2 Presence 3 Possession My Lord Inquisitio Veritatis est ejus petitio scientia Veritatis est ejus praesentia sed creditio Veritatis est ejus possessio Truth when sought after is excellent when found and knowne it is yet more lovely but when beleeved and practised too it becomes ours in possession Faith what And indeed what is Faith but I beleeve that is I understand and conceive of it for a truth I assent unto it in my Judgement to bee a truth I consent unto it in my will as good and build mine eternall comfort on it as good for mee this act of beliefe carries the whole soule with it It is pleasant to stand upon the shore and see the Ships tossed in the troubled Ocean to stand upon a Castle safe and see a pitch'd Battaile fought in the variety and successe thereof to stand upon a rock and see so it bee with pity and without pride the Errors wandrings mists clouds and stormes which are below in the valley of this world Your Lordship hath like a stable Christian stood fast in God and in the power of his might while you have seen many too many tossed to and fro with the wind of every Doctrine Doubtlesse every godly Movet mens pia in charitate quiescit in providentia non vertit denique nisi super polâ—s veritatis truly godly mind moves in charity rests in providence and doth not turne but upon the poles of Truth while the portion of wicked men will bee that they deceive and are deceived Mixtures of falshood Simile I may fitly resemble them to that allay which is in gold silver or pewter it may indeed make the met all worke somewhat the better but it abasâ—th it much even so our notionall mixtures may indeed in preaching presse c. make things take the better among giddy heads but they abase Divinity and render men delighting therein too full of levity and emptinesse Gods attire if hee did dwell among men It was wont to bee said of our Learned Criticks That if God himself were to dwell in humane shape amongst men hee would take light for his body and truth for his soul This City hath been exceedingly honoured in sending out Champions to fight for Truth abroad wherein with what gallantry and successe our Londoners have behaved themselves Chronicles will not conceale in after times and there are yet private Anniversaries of thankefull remembrances for Newbery The 20 of September that day this Sermon was Preached c. And it will bee no little Fame to this City also to have it recorded that in the time of such a one and such a one severall Lord Majors of London successively Heresies Schismes Sectaries were suppressed or at least not so countenanced as that the tares overgrew the wheate in Gods Field Salvian Dum mali esse volunt Veritatem esse nolunt qua mali condemnantur but let Truth prevaile and let it be glorious Of all pieces of our Spirituall armour Truth is resembled unto a girdle Ephes 6. for indeed Truth should incompasse us about Truth fourefold And a fourfold Truth scil of judgment heart speech action is required of every Christian My Lord the Lord of Lords take a double portion of the Spirit of Paul and put it on you and on all them that shall succeed you that you may withstand them to the face which goe not with a right foot unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ Non bene vivitur Holy life what and how ubi non bene de Deo creditur Aug. A holy life is indeed nothing else but the infusion of holy truths The Spirit opening generall truths to a Christian hath another worke also and that is to reveale our particular interest in those truths and to breed speciall faith whereby wee may make them our owne that so where sacred truths are truly apprehended there may be an impression in the soule suitable to the things believed The Lord make our believing of God Almighty to bread an impression of dependence reverence c. Some dispute of Faith some preach it some sweare by it but few live thereby the belief and knowledge of Christ crucified to bee a crucifying knowledge of Christ rising a raising knowledge of Christ abased an abasing knowledge to our soules and so of all truths else whatsoever The good Prince George Anhalt who in Luthers time became a Preacher of the Gospel intending to comfort his brother Prince John raiseth strong consolations for
him from the last three Articles of the Creed Remission of sinnes resurrection of the body Comfort in trouble what and how and life everlasting There is one Article before these three and that is the Communion of Saints which we beleeve too but finde as little influence from in these our dayes as from any truth that ever our Lord Christ left us and reason I know none thereof but that there is so much of that knowledge which puffeth up and so little of that love that edifieth Hee that strives for Error strives for Satan against God A holy strise he that strives for victory strives for himself against other men but hee that strives for truth against errour helps the Lord against Gods enemy and his too namely Satan the Father of lies And this specially Bonum benè God loves Adverbes better than Adjectives if withall hee handle Gods cause according unto God A man shews most knowledge and understanding in the matter of truth but most grace in the manner of handling of it with reverence holinesse and modesty Your Lordship hath so behaved your self in your Yeare that I doubt not but it will turne to your accompt before God and amongst us your Name shall be as an Oyntment poured forth Jesus Christ blesse you more and more with sin's decreases and graces increases that you may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing So prayeth Your Lordships that loves you for loving Truth Walter Bridges TO THE FOVRE ESQVIRES FOR THE Service of this Honourable CITY William Gunthrop Sword-bearer John Clutton Common-Hunt Henry Hodges Common-Cryer Edward Peerse Water-bayliffe Grace and Peace with light and truth in the Lord Jesus Christ YOur last Lord and Master Gentlemen O many such more may you serve in that place and you are not such men as some are there is a rule among the Romanists and it is this Wee are bound to the obedience of the Pope when hee ordaines a Holy Day but wee are not bound to doe against our consciences How shall this now bee reconciled For the Pope may happily command that which I cannot in conscience doe The Roman Doctors reconcile it easily and it is thus Make the word and will of the Pope the rule of your obedience and then it is enough O slavery of all slaveries for any poore soule to lye under Your Lord and you love inlargements not to take any thing upon trust which doth concern your souls for eternity but to bee perswaded in your owne mindes and to have your senses exercised to discerne good and evil your Lord and you together made it your requests that this poore word of exhortation might passe from the Pulpit to the Presse it hath done so now through the good hand of God and here you have it if it helpe you in any thing one good turne deserves another do you helpe him with your prayers who is Your loving Friend and Servant in such workes as these WALTER BRIDGES DIVISION DIVIDED OR RVINES FORE-RVNNER Discovered and Disciphered The TEXT Every Kingdome divided against it self shall be brought to desolation and every City or house divided against it self shall not stand Mat. 12.25 THis is such a piece of Gods truth as being spoken by Christ himselfe ought much to be regarded the occasion thereof very easily gathered out of the Context and as to that or to the Text with reference to the Context I shall have nothing to say I shall looke on the Text with reference to our times rather and labour to hold forth therehence unto this Honorable and grave Assembly such truth as is Land Church and Common-wealth concerning Calvin's note is excellent and too true Right Honourable and wel-beloved Est kic Divini verbi quasi quidam genius ut nunquam emergat quieto et dormiente Satana Cal. Praes ad Reg. Gall. that though while men slept the envious man tooke his time to sow tares yet men never can take a time to wake and watch to preach truth while Satan is asleep Origen once being to preach on that place of the Psalmist Vnto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to take my Name into thy mouth c. seeing thou hatest to be reformed wept over the Text in stead of Preaching upon it It is Pareus his observation upon that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that yee all speake the same thing and that there bee no divisions among you but that yee bee perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement Pareus I say marks that the Apostle being to cure division◠Huic morbo exulceratissimo primum malagmata quaedam adhibet Par. ad loc to this disease saith hee Paul first applyes Playsters and Poultesses to ripen it and draw it to maturation before hee cut or make incision our disunions disjoyntings disaffections and dissensions are very great very unreasonable very unseasonable tongue-disagreement and pen-disagreement I yet hope God will keep us from discord for that sounds harsh and is not till hearts bee broken asunder from which God deliver us I would not have that said of Christians which had wont to bee said of Chronologers Chronologi non magis congruunt quam Horologia Victorin Strigel Proleg in Chron. Melancth the Chronologers agree like clocks scarce two of one minde throughout It would bee our advancement in the eyes of God and good men to advance unity and one-mindednesse lest it bee said of us and truly too that Demades the Oratour said of the Athenians in Plutarch that they never sate upon Treaties of Peace but in black and mourning garments when they had paid before too deare for their divisions Vis unita fortior hath hitherto gone for a good Proverbe and indeed if wee have a fancy of crossing such Proverbes it may prove to our ruine God because he is Ens simplicissimum a most simple and undivided being is therefore Ens fortissimum inexpugnabile a most strong and impregnable being and surely if wee hold together amongst our selves it will bee more hard to harme us what is the destruction of a man but the division of the body and the soule as long as they two hold together the man is not destroyed so is it also and will bee found to bee amongst us Besides that glorious light shining forth of Gods Word whereunto they doe well that take heed as to a light shining in a darke place such as that Rom. 16.17 I beseech you brethren marke them which cause division 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that 1 Cor. 3.3 For yee are yet carnall for whereas there are among you envyings and strife and divisions are yee not carnall and walk as men Besides these such as these Scriptures the very light of nature and men guided by no better Principles will rise up in judgement against men that call themselves Christians and yet love divisions Aristotle in
Christo Tert. Sins merese certainely if duty faile as it hath done and doth daily we shall all faile with it I heare some say Iâ—le sing no Psalmes at home or at Church either unlesse I be sure they be all Saints I sing with I heare others say I 'le not Catechise my children for feare I should make Hypocrites of them Whence came this Doctrine forth Are these indeed the words of truth and sobernesse Heretofore good Christians have found benefit by the old way of duty and yet not trusted to it or any thing but the onely to be trusted For what goodnesse is there without a God and what God â—iâ—hout a Christ Heretofore these things were thought to be the way to the Kingdome though not the cause of reigning Betweene trusting to a worke done and not doing it when it ought to be done is a great difference 2. Increase of sinne must be acted against increase of all sin but especially of such kinde of sinne and wickednesse as becomes a man's sinnes that they are also Gods punishments because they beleeved not the Gospell because they received not the love thereof God gave them up to beleeve a â—ye 2 Thess 2.11 If any man shall doe his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no Jo. 7.17 These two sins increase mightily amongst us the want of love and truth and the want of practice thereof under which two notions indeed the whole of the sinne of our time is committed Between wit learning authority 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 and experience there hath been a great question which should be the greatest but it was alwaies granted to experience to 〈◊〉 for it being conversant about sensible things and by 〈…〉 tained doubtlesse it doth not so easily erre in the â—bject as 〈◊〉 courses and deductions of skill We have had gracious experiences of the conversing with and finding of God in publike ordinances and of the sweetnesse that is to be found in the love of practise and of duty if any man have found another a newer a nearer way to communion with God I doe not grudge him his nor will I till I see more be drawne out of mine owne Prudence among the Ancients had wont to be painted thus Prudence what An Hand full of eyes with five fingers long strong and very white and faire that is to say Memory understanding circumspection fore-sight and execution if there be prudence amongst us as I hope there is yet much left nor doe the prudent keepe silence in the gate I hope we shall remember our peace how yet young it is understand the things that make for it looke about and see who causeth divisions fore-see that which our Lord saith will be the issue and doe execution impartially on the Peace-disturbers The fifth Use leades us to see 5. Use Direction That there is a rule of Condemning Divisions not all of them nor promiscuously are they to be adjudged against but regularly and with discretion Some have said Cause of all errour and thought That the causes of all the errours of our times have been such as these mis-application fallacy credulity supine carelesnesse and the cleaving unto antiquity and authority over-much without such disquisitions as become those that would Try all things and hold fast that which is good And if I should stay a little here and take these into consideration surely much and exceeding much might be said Men are made up of mis-applications they are preached and practised if fallacy and sophisme ever would passe for current reasoning and Religion surely they are now gilded over to deceive the eyes of the simple credulity such as the wise man hints The foole beleeveth every thing is the Idoll of the times and when all these goe before you must needs thinke what followes after amongst many men even a resolved negligence of every thing till every thing be established The King of Navarre to Beza or if they seeme to doe or say something it is but as the King of Navarre said to Beza That he would goe no further to Sea than he might sleepe ashore when pleased him or as the Polititian said He would follow Religion as he followed a Horse not too neare for feare he should kick and hurt him A man's foolishnesse brings him into formality and that into nothing But this is that which undoes our times and people they have false selves and they have false Glasses whereinto they looke themselves False selves too truely looked unto and a false Glasse will not easily shew a true face marke then these false-selves-following Men will say They have a care of all these selves and they have a selfe of Religion Then for answer 1. The Selfe of Religion men speake of so much 1 Times Selfe mystically it is a Religion without Reformation I read men as well as bookes and heare men scoffe at the great Reformation at our great Reformers too but these are great sensualists a Generation of men and women concerning whom our Apostle is very plaine They speake evill of the things they know not 2 Pet. 2.12 That place of the Author to the Hebrewes is to be marked diligently its designe and the Doctrine therein as exceeding fit for our times Reformation the first Tabernacle stood onely in meats and drinkes and divers washings and carnall ordinances imposed on them untill the time of Reformation which word I heare finde onely in the New Testament and may be expounded thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till the season of better judging so then I conclude that till the time such a time onely a time of Reformation some things were to continue who therefore destroyes Reformation destroyes one of Gods designes speake not against Reformation Common Prayer And here now for our Booke of Common Prayer men are divided strangely For 1. Some aske Shall we have none of this and complaine that for want of formes of Baptizing c. for the Country their Ministers make but halfe Marriage and commit such whole absurdities in the Baptizing of Infants Administration of the Lords Supper c. That it grieves some causeth others to jeere and shames the Ordinance and that Solemnity wherewith the things of God should be performed The Slavonians seeking to Pope Formosus that they might have Service in their owne Mother Tongue Slavonians request it was debated in a Counsell wherein a voyce was heard from Heaven saying Let every Spirit praise the Lord and all Tongues confesse him Whereupon for that time it was granted This is found in En. Silvest 2. Some stubbornely againe say peremptorily Wee 'le have none but this in this we have been brought up thus our fathers served God Raboldus and as they so we The Duke of Frizland Raboldus by name about the yeare of our Lord 900. being perswaded as he pretended to imbrace Christianity as he went to be baptized and had the one of his feet