Soul for these things that ever it should have so happened among us and a Holy firm Resolution through Divine Assistance never to be found therein again having sufficiently learned by this time through a serious review and impartial Observation of preceeding passages to be more wise and careful more circumspect watchful and moderate for time to come so as to endeavour to amend what has been amiss in every one of our own particulars hoping hereby that our most merciful tender hearted Father will be graciously pleased freely to remit what is past which hath offended him and favourably Countenance us when assembled together again with the Glory and sweet Sense of his Blessed presence than which nothing is more excellent or desirable III. And that as we know right well he hath been and is ready upon a true returning to him with the whole Heart to pardon and blot out many transgressions committed against his Divine Majesty so we truly desire to be of the same Mind as our Blessed Head was of Colos 3.13 14. to overcome all evil with good heartily forgiving each other their Trespasses against us as we pray to be forgiven our selves putting on every one of us as the Elect of God holy and beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness longsuffering forbearing and forgiving one another as the Apostle said even to the Christian Colossians if any Man have a quarrel or complaint against any even as Christ forgave you so also do you And above all things put on Charity the most excellent of all gifts which is the Bond of perfectness And let the Love of God rule in your Hearts to which also you are called in one body c. IV. And whatever imprudent miscarriages Weakness Frailties Infirmities and unfriendly behaviours have been observed one towards another either in our uncharitable apprehensions unadvised sayings or actionâ— and whatever unsavory Reflections Provocations and Aggravations have been given by any when formerly together or since asunder we sincerely and heartily desire in order to a Cordial uniting and amicable Meeting altogether again in the ancient publick Meeting-House That all these things aforesaid and whatever else has caused this unhappy Separation may be forever buried in the Grave of Everlasting Oblivion according to the tender Councel and Christian Practice of our Friends of Bristol and never to be remembred any more or any to be upbraided therewith publickly or privately for time to come V. Whereby it may be hoped that in time all these former or present Distances Prejudices Animosities Shiness and Straitness with all kind of Antipathy Harshness or Enmity and the very ground or root from whence they have sprung may come to an end and be totally Extirpated and in the room thereof that Brotherly Love that Christian Friendship and Condescention that sweet Society lasting Amity and Sympathy in the antient Life and Love of Truth may revive again and that Heavenly Concord and Harmony that desirable agreement and unity of Spirit and oneness of Heart Soul and Mind in the Blessed Seed may over all take place appear and prevail amongst us that the Bond of Peace may forever be kept inviolable and nothing ever able to break it again and so Truth and Righteousness Mercy and Peace may flow as a mighty River in and amongst us to our great mutual Joy and rejoycing of the Hearts of all the faithful and to the wiping away that reproach which hath been cast upon our Holy undefiled Religion VI. That it may be seen that there is a God in Israel and that there is a restorer of paths and a healer of breaches amongst us even he who is the great Reconciler of differences by whose reconciling Peace-making Word of Life when Enemies to God and strangers one to another we were brought near to him and into a Spiritual Relation whose Infinite Divine Power which thus so graciously visited us doubtless is as able we must all acknowledg as ever to Reconcile and unite us again and make us as near and dear one to another as ever yea and more than ever before and that it yet may be known to all wâ— still retain that infallible Christian Token and most certain Demonstrative Character of being the Disciples of Jesus through that tender unfeigned love which he hath begotten in our Hearts and declares it self in bearing one with another praying for and forgiving each other VII And that as there is now such an Universal Calm and toleration in the Nations as to outward Disturbations so we all may partake of the benefit thereof together and that this Town may no longer be the only differing place from all others but that for time to come we may meet all together in the Antient tender Love of God meekly and quietly we all endeavouring that all occasions of publick differences as much as in us lies may be avoided on all Hands for time to come and that as we would not that the truly Conscientious on the one Hand should be opposed or obstructed from doing those things that they believe are their Christian duty so one the other Hand the tenderly scrupulous should not be Imposed on or Compelled to act beyond their own understandings or Convictions or conform to any thing they are not clear nor free in their own Minds so to do in Matters purely Conscientious And thus an equal liberty is allowed to both and which all Christians ought to grant one to another For as one well said none but God alone hath power to impose a Law upon the Conscience of any Man to which it ought to be subject as obliging by it self This Conclusion is proved by the words of the Apostle There is but one Lawgiver who can both save and destroy There is nothing said another in the Primitive Church deserves greater Imitation than in that admirable Temper Moderation Action and Condescention which was used in it towards all the Members of it And to separate Goodness and Mercy from God Compassion and Charity from Religion is to make the two best things in the World God and Religion good for nothing c. VIII What is aforesaid proposed is judged very proper and necessary expedients in order to a Friendly agreement and Composure of differences amongst the Friends of Reading even by a mutual acknowledgment one to another and forgiving each other and some body must begin this good work God Almighty grant that this honest sincere undertaking in proposing these things in the Universal Love of God in true and tender good-will to all may be Prosperous and Successful and have its desired effects That over all and in and by us all he may be livingly Worshipped Served and Reverenced according to his own appointed Way and in the Divine Order of his own Ordaining Blessed and Magnified be his Holy Name for ever and ever 25th of the 8th Month 1687. Hereunto is also Annexed the Copy of a very tender healing Epistle from some of the most
in lowliness of mind therein keep but by departing therefrom as too many have done in all Ages and as in this of ours some do hath caused much trouble and exercises to the Lords People and hath been one of the chiefest occasions of the Divisions Contentions Strifes and Animosities amongst them such ought to be Cautioned and Advised and also Warned of the great Hurt and Prejudice they do in many respects both to themselves and others and if they continue stiff and obstinate and instead of receiving the tender Council and Admonition from any Friend or Friends concerned in the Love of God to give the same they rather grow higher minded and more into self Exaltation Conceitedness and spiritual Pride they are then to be zealously detected and testified against But still we say all this should be done in the Spirit of Love and Meekness and with true Christian Prudence and Discretion and nothing given away to harbour in the least any Personal Prejudice or Enmity on the one hand which is to be as carefully watched against as Partiality or Hypocrisie two great Evils and too ready on the other hand to creep in II. That so upon the Reforming growing better and mending what has been amiss in any upon any account there may be both a friendly and kind receiving and embracing one another again into true Love Friendship and Vnity and also in that sweet Christian and Charitable frame of spirit forgive what 's past and never upbraid or remember it any more against them It is said in Eccles 28.2 3. Forgive thy Neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee so shall thy Sins be forgiven when thou prayest One Man beareth hatred against another and doth he seek pardon from the Lord he sheweth no mercy to a Man that is like himself and doth he ask forgiveness of his own Sins III. See Charrons Book of Wisdom chap. 34. page 104. There is nothing as Charron well observes so honourable as to know how to Pardon To give Grace to Remit and Forgive belongeth to a Soveraign Prince if thou wilt be a King of Kings themselves do an act that may become a King Pardon freely be Gratious towards him that offendeth thee But indeed if God were not more merciful and favourable of greater Compassion and Pity towards us than we are often towards one another alas who then could be saved For have we not all greatly grieved and provoked him much more than any can provoke or grieve us Is it not very unbecoming for us to be Quarrelling and be Implacable one towards another when he is both willing and ready to be Reconciled to and at Peace with us after such innumerable Transgressions against him which we all have been found guilty of Come Friends seeing then he is so ready to forgive us upon a sincere Repentance all our former provocations Let us therefore also forgive one another be Reconciled unto and at Peace one with another IV. As also we desire it may be observed that we plead for no other Vnity Peace Concord or Reconciliation with any but that which we believe to be consistent with and agreeable to the Truth even that which the Holy Apostles exhorted all to endeavour after and to be found in which is the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace And that is both much more comprehensive and of greater weight than many either understand or would have it to be This blessed Vnity c. which stands in Righteousness we really desire forever to Prize and do value above and beyond all other Vnities or Vniformities whatsoever in which we are and hope ever to be in true Vnity in the Ground withall the Faithful Sincere and Vpright hearted People of God every where V. And we know that the True Spiritual Invisible Fellowship and Communion of Saints which consisteth in the Divine Light or Spirit of Christ Jesus is not Confined to any External Visible Form c. For as J. Hales of Eaton See his Golden Remains Pag. 49 50. a Worthy and Learned Man well observes that it is the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and not the Identity or oneness of Conceit which the Holy Ghost requires of at the Hands of Christians c. Concerning which much more might be said but let this suffice for the present having enlarged already far beyond what was first intended The Reader is also desired to observe that what is expressed in the aforesaid concerning Heats Animosities Prejudices c. one against another only Relates to those amongst Friends and such places where the Vnhappy and sad Difference hath fallen out as in this and some other parts VI. So shall Conclude all as in the Beginning of the Preface 1 Cor. 16.14 and 14.1 with the Apostles advice Let all your things be done with Charity and follow after it Concerning which one of the Antients spake very excellently For unprofitably saith he hath he all who wants that one viz. Charity whereby he should use all and how great is Love for if that be wanting all other Graces lose their Grace but if present all are profitable VII And as we find the Holy Apostles did neither affect nor seek of Men Glory neither says Paul to the believing Thessalonians of you 1 Thes 2.5 6. nor yet of others neither at any time used we flattering words So likewise he tells them but we were Gentle amongst you even as a Nurse Cherisheth her Children And according to this their Practice they exhorted others as in Titus 3.2 To speak evil of no Man to be no Brawlers but gentle shewing all meekness unto all Men. And in 2 Tim. 24. It is said Observe this well the Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all Men apt to teach Patient in Meekness instructing those that opposed themselves c. nor must be self willing nor soon angry c. These Divine Blessed Qualifications ought all that profess to be Ministers and followers of Christ Jesus to be Endowed with who should also walk worthy of the Vocation unto which they are called with all humbleness of mind and meekness and with Long-suffering and Patience c. Forbearing or as some read it Supporting one another through or in Love THE END The CONTENTS of the Book I. THE Introduction by way of Preface page 1. II. The Copy of a Letter and a Paper Containing some Christian and Reasonable Proposals for an accommodation of Differences page 8. III. A tender and healing Epistle from Friends of Bristol to Friends of Reading advising them to meet all together again page 13. A seasonable Expostulation to Peace and Reconciliation directed particularly to Friends of Reading page 15. Sect. I. Contains several weighty Motives shewing the great need and necessity of Reconcilation Ibid. Sect. II. A Collection of divers remarkable Testimonies suitable to the Subject treated on page 31. Sect. III. Some Objections fairly Stated with their Answers as also divers weighty Considerations proposed page 46. Sect. IV. Some Friendly Councel and tender Advice to Professors of Truth with one or two more substantial Testimonies page 63. The Conclusion page 69. A Postscript Containing an Advertisement with something further relating to the said Expostulation c. page 71.
Let every of us please his Neighbour for his good to Edification for observe even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me And those that are stronger and wiser than others must we not also bear with some of their natural infirmities sometimes for where is the Man or Woman wholly exempt or free from them but less or more for want of that due and constant watchfulness one time or other appears in them and therefore the same Apostle tenderly counselled the Galatians to bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ. Gal. 6.2 3. For if any Man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself Which if rightly considered none have cause to be proud self conceited or exalted in themselves And to prevent and exclude all vain glorious boasting or insulting or being lifted up either upon a spiritual or temporal account in any whatever may be their Gifts Attainments Abilities or Qualifications let the best the wisest the strongest or richest Man or Woman ponder seriously in their minds but these two or three Queries of the Apostle Paul in his own words or rather such as God by his Spirit moved him to utter and answer them so as they should be and see then if they can justly brag or vainly boast or insult over others 6. The Apostle after he had given the Corinthians a very seasonable caution in the beginning of the 1st 1 Cor. 4 5 6 7. Ch. to beware of rash censorious and forward Judging one another Next of too fondly or foolishly admiring any Mans Person as in the 6th Verse Or as in the Margin distinguisheth These things says he Brethren I have in a figure transferred to my self and to Apollo for your sakes that ye might learn in us observe not to think of Men above that which is written That no one of you be puffed up one against another Then in the next Verse he comes to his close Queries For who maketh thee O Man or O Woman whosoever thou be to differ from another 2dly And what hast thou that thou didst not receive it As most certain it is we all have received whatever we enjoy or whatever we are upon any account it is from him and by him the great and blessed Benefactor to all mankind from whom all good and perfect gifts come and who is rich and liberal to all But 3dly Why dost thou then glory as if thou hadst not received it 7. So it seems there were some in his days that were puffed up and forgot both the giver and themselves too and its like were ready to trample upon rejoyce and insult over others as if they had merited what they were Ja. 4.16 and what they enjoyed for some rejoyced in their boasting which was evil rejoycing Now says the Apostle to them in verse 8. Ye are full now ye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us and I would to God ye diâ— reign that we might also reign with you We are fools for Christs sake but ye are wise c. And the same Apostle says in the same Epistle Let him that thinks he standeth Ch. 10 12.13 verse take heed lest he fall for there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common or incident as the margine hath it to Man Considering thy self lest thou also be tempted and as in the 13th Chap. to the Heb. in another Cause as being your selves also in the Body For whatever happens to one Man may happen to every Man And had that Christian good advice taken place or yet could be regarded and followed which was given some years ago by a very good tender-hearted devoutand ancient Friend Loved and Respected by most if not all that knew him it would neither ever have been so as it has been nor would it continue long so as now it is amongst us It s worth both the pains of Transcribing seriously perusing is as followeth viz. Let all strive to excell in tenderness and and long-suffering and to be kept out of hard and evil thoughts one of another and from harsh interpretations concerning any thing relating to one another Oh this is unworthy to be found in an Israelite towards an Egyptian but exceeding shameful and inexcusable to be found in one Brother towards another How many weaknesses doth the Lord pass by in us how ready is he to interpret every thing well concerning his Disciples that may bare a good Interpretation The Spirit saith he is willing but the flesh is weak when they had been all scattered from him upon his death he did not afterwards upbraid them but sweetly gathered them again O dear Friends have we received the same Life of sweetness let us bring forth the same sweet fruits being ready to excuse and receive what may tend towards the excuse of another in any doubtful Cause and where there is any evil manifest O wait to overcome it with good O let us not spend the strength of our Spirits in crying out of one another because of evil but watch and wait where the Mercy and healing Vertue will please to arise So the living God the God of Israel the God of everlasting ten-Bowels and Compassions to Israel fill the Vessels of his Heritage with his Life and cause the Peace and Love of his holy Nature and Spirit to descend upon their dwellings and to spring up powerfully in them towards his living Truth and towards one another O Lord my God when thou hast shewn the wants of Israel in any kind sufficiently whether in the particular or in the general bring forth the supply thereof from thy fulness so ordering it in thine eternal Wisdom that all may be ashamed abased before thee thy Name praised in and over all See the Book called many deep Considerations c. VIII One more Testimony and it is of a singular person as profound in the knowledg both of Natural and Supernatural or Heavenly Divine Mysteries as any in this age And indeed there are but few that can equal or come near him in either Whose name as well as the formers is omitted because some may like the Matter of both their Testimonies but may be tho' groundlesly prejudiced against them otherwise and possibly the greatest reason they can give for it is because they were or are not of their party as usually is said such a one is a good Man and such a one is a wise discreet Man But still there follows an if and a but he is of this or the other side Opinion c. This brings to my remembrance what one observes that under the Papacy any Sins find easy absolution if the person be not suspected of Protestantism and any Opinions have tolerable favour if not degenerated from Papal Authority How often besides by Jehu hath that question been past Who is on my side And if the party have been right
immediately added also blessed are they that are Persecuted c. XXXII But we hope better things of many of them than to do so by such as appear in healing and re-pairing Breaches among us and that it would be far more becoming us who profess that glorious peaceable Gospel of our Lord Jesus which as it tends to bring Glory to God on high so does it no less Conduce to peace on Earth tho not to the Earthly part in any and to good will towards all Men and would be more Christian and Prudent like in us in that Meek Gentle Charitable and Submissive Condescending Mind to say one to another Come Friends let us now lay aside all our Animosities Heats and Fouds let us compare the Importance and Weight of those things in which we agree with that in which we differ and see which ought to ballance us most let us now be reconciled and made Friends together again let us lay aside all Prejudice and Pertinacy wait together in lowliness of heart and feel that ancient spring of Love and divine Life to Unite and Cement us into that blessed Fellowship Unity and Concord and in the same let us begin afresh again and what is past be remembred no more than if it never had been let us forget those things that are behind and let us press towards that great and glorious Prize we all have had in our view Has not alas the Controversie and Differences been too too long kept on foot and keept up between us both to our shame and sorrow It s now more than high time for us all to leave off contendings and strivings together and quietly submit in the Love of God one to another and lay aside on both hands all things tending to Controversies Differences and all manner of Prejudices opprobious Reflections undecent Recriminations and odious Comparisons XXXIII O let us not dispute the matter in the anger and heat of our Spirits any more but if we will strive let it be then who shall exceed most in Temperance Patience Love and Forbearance who most Charitable and Moderate and who shall most follow after those things which make for Peace and Concord and things wherewith one may edifie one another let us not any more undervalue both our selves and also which is more the very common Interest of Truth and of our Holy Religion Let us therefore be of a tractable or treatable Temper and Comply and Condescend without any more ado without Reasoning this or Consulting other things whereby Self in all would save it's own Reputation with reasonable Expedients and Christian Proposals let us freely and fully and from our Hearts forgive one another c. as the Apostle said to the Philippians Phil. 2.1 2 3. If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort 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 and of one mind Let nothing be done trough strife or vain-glory any more but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let this mind be in you which is for a Publick and Universal good which was also in Christ Jesus SECT II. Contains a Collection of divers remarkable Testimonies suitable to the Subject treated on MAny other Convincing Motives and pacifick Arguments upon divers accounts might be used and urged to perswade you to the aforesaid Noble Resolution but it would be too tedious to insert them here However to promote and encourage the same consider further these following Testimonies in the first place and afterwards some pressing Considerations to excite all towards Peace c. I. Eusebius de vita Const 67. Constantine saith to the Bishops you are not ignorant the Philosophers all of them do agree in the profession of the same Discipline but do oftentimes differ in some part of the Opinions that they Dogmatize but tho' they do dissent about the Discipline that each †Obs As The mistus in his Oration to Valens saith there were at least 300 amongst the Gentile Philosophers c. several Sect observeth they nevertheless Reconcile themselves again for the sake of that Common Profession to which they have concurred II. J. Hooper in his Ecclesiastical Polity saith The Time will come when three words with Charity and Meekness shall receive a far more blessed Reward than 3000 Volumes written with disdainful sharpness or he might have added twice 3000 Sermons framed from Mens inventions and delivered with the greatest Eloquence or Acuteness of Wit A late Ingenuous Author says I trust in the Almighty God that Contentions with us are now at the highest float and that the day will come for what cause is there of despair when the Passions of former Enmity being allayed Men shall with ten tiems redoubled tokens of unfeigned reconciled Love shew themselves each to other the same which Joseph and the Brethren of Joseph were at the time of their enterview in Egypt III. There was a long feud between Themistocles and Aristides But being both imployed in the service of their Country Aristides bespake Themistocles thus If we be wise its high time we should now leave off this vain Envy Spite we have a long time born each other And that we should enter into another sort of Envy more honourable and profitable I mean which of us two shall do his best endeavour to save Greece To which Themistocles made this answer I am sorry Aristides that herein your Honesty appeareth greater than mine but seeing it is that you have deserved the Honour in beginning and procuring such a Commendable Strife between us I will henceforth endeavour to exceed you in continuing this your desire Oh! that Saints says the Author upon this would learn Heathens to lay aside their particular differences to mind publick advantage Shall Heathens be better at self-denial than Christians Causinus tells us of one Raymundus Lullius who was so ravished with Love that being asked any thing he would answer nothing but Love Where dwellest thou With Love To whom belongest thou to Love From whence comest thou From Love Whether goest thou To Love c. IV. It was well observed by a Learned and Judicious Person That the Unity and Peace that was then viz. in the early and indeed the best Times of Christianity amonst Christians made Religion amiable in the judgment of Impartial Heathens Christians were then known by the Benignity and Sweetness of their disposition by the Candor and Ingenuity of their Spirits by their mutual Love Forbearance and Condescention one to another These were indeed blessed Marks but either this is not the practice of Christianity viz. a Duty the Christians are now bound to observe or else it is not Calculated for our Meridian where the Spirits of men are of too high an Elevation for it for if Pride
to be minded and practised by all viz. Let your moderation be known to all men Phil. 4.5 and why because the Lord who is the great Judge of all is at hand he is near This doth not only relate to our Eating Drinking c. appertaining to the outward Man but also respects an Immoderate or Blind Zeal in such who are apt to be too forward and severe in their Judging Censuring and Condemning of others Such may also read the 14th Chap. Virtusstat in medio of Pauls Epistle to the Romans especially the 4 5 and 10. verses And as one wisely observes that in Nature we see all Heat Consumes all Cold Kills that three degrees of Cold and two of Heat allays the heat but introduces the contrary quality and overcools by a degree but two degrees of Cold to two of Heat make a poize in Elements and a ballance in Nature c. Besides as the Maxim is nullum extremum est perpetuum There is no Extreme that 's lasting as we have had many experiences XVIII Plutarch Apoth Notable and very Remarkable is that passage concerning Silurnus an Heathen Parent so called who having many Children and fearing lest some unquietness should grow between them to the end he might the better persuade them to entertain a constant Peace and Concord between themselves he took a Sheaf of many Arrows and offerded it to each of his Children one after another willing them to break it but they could not so long as the Arrows were altogether in one Bundle At last pulling forth the Arrows one by one it was an easy matter for them to break them all one after another even thus said their Father it is with you so long as you remain united and love each other no Man can hurt or break you Note this well but if once ye be dissevered one from another by strife or variance every Man may easily destroy you Strife and Variance between Brethren whether upon a Natural or Spiritual account is a thing most barbarous and prodigious and all Enmity saith a wise Heathen so termed breedeth within our selves a thousand tormenting passions Plutarch but especially between Brother and Brother XIX When Socrates saw Cherephom and Cherecrates two Brethren Zenoph lib. 2. de dict fact Soerat jarring and warring each with other he said unto them ye do now as if the Hands which were created to help one the other should hinder and hurt each other or as if the Feet which were framed to bear one anothers burden should supplant one another or as if the Ears Coadjutors of mutual good should wax deaf to hear good one of another or as if the Eyes which are fellow-spies for the good each of other should look asquint at the good one of another Let none hold together like Simeon and Levi Brethren in evil and mischief but like David and Jonathan to preserve one another from evil c. It s said of the former two in Gen 49.5 Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations Or as in the Margin their words are Weapons of Violence O my soul come not thou into their secret unto their assembly mine honour be not thou united for in their anger they slew a Man and in their selfwill they digged down a wall Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath Isa 59.8 9 c. for it was cruel I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel Pray Friends read and consider the Characters of those of old concerning whom it is said that the way of Peace they know not and if we do know it and yet do not walk in it nor pursue peace it will be far worse for us XX. O let not our Lord when he cometh find any of us smiting or beating our Fellow-servants neither let any give just cause to say of them as of him of old It is thou and thy Fathers House that troubleth Israel c. that do chiefly obstruct that peace Concord and Reconciliation amongst us which is so earnestly desired by many on both sides such may be said to be as observed by one neither Actively Peceable nor Passively Peaceable neither as Peace-makers nor Peace-takers and so in some sense may be accounted also the Peace-breakers And these are they that both raise and keep up Strife and Contention and Discord among Brethren Ja. 3.81 Whose Tongues are fall of deadly Poison which setteth on Fire the course of nature Prov. 12.18 it self being set on Fire of Hell For tho' there be that speak like the piercings of a Sword yet their words may be sometimes even smoother than Oyl XXI The Tongue as Petrarch says is the mighty Bellows to blow up strife c. and grievous words says the wise Man stir up anger But the discretion of a Man differeth his Anger or is seen by his patience as some render it Prov. 19.11 and it is his glory to pass over a transgression And as there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet not washed from their filthiness of both Flesh Spirit O how lofty are their Eyes and Eyelids lifted up so there is a generation Whose Teeth are as Swords and their Jaw-Teeth as Knives Psal 55.21 and are there not some whose words are smoother than Butter and softer than Oyl and yet be they very swords c. XXI Remarkable is that Golden sentence of that Golden Mouthed Father Chrysostom as he is called Didst thou know saith he the worth of Peace and Quietness or consider the sweetness of it thou wouldest sell all that thou hast to buy it were it present thou woudlst welcome it were it absent thou wouldst make search after it were it lost thou wouldst never leave until thou hadst recovered it were it to be bought thou wouldst think no Silver or Gold too much to procure it XXII Let us also take notice what Luther Pag. 299. that worthy and famous Reformer says in his Commentary on 133 Psal It is saith he a commendation of Peace and Unity to the end we should esteem it as an excellent and Holy gift and that we should rather sustain the loss of all things else than give occasion of Dissention and Discord for if we must suffer any loss it ought to be born patiently in this respect that all other things through Peace are recovered and reslored again as one said very well I never bought any thing better cheap than Peace for to the Buyer it bringeth most plentiful Fruit for we see oftentimes in our private affairs that if a Man be content to lose ten or twenty Crowns that he may live in Peace and quietness he winneth thereby great Gain and Commodity c. He also saith in another place That truth is not lost by teaching but by disputing and contending the Minds of Men being carried away by the heat thereof they neglect those things whichmost of all they ought to
Men liberally and upbraideth not and we are to overcome evil with good A soft answer Prov. 15.19.11 saith Solomon turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger The discretion of a Man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression Hard to hard says one never does well a gentle Rain will allay a Boisterous Wind as its unnatural to hate them that love us so its natural to love them that love us but its supernatural to love them that hate us for we are injoyned by Christ not only to love or salute our Friends but even our Enemies also and those of our Friends whom we esteem as our Enemies we ought so to love them as to forgive them and be likewise reconciled to them if possible at least to use our utmost endeavours for the same that if it be not effected the fault may be theirs Plut. in vita Alexandri and not ours It is a Kingly thing saith a great King to bear evil when thou dost good O Friends let us all in the love of God and for his sake and the truths sake which we all jointly profess delay no longer being at Peace one with another and Cordially reconciled together We can none of us be insensible how many disadvantages we all lie under and what grievous Censures and Reflections we are all exposed to both by professors and prophane how those common Enemies both to Truth and us all rejoyce at our Divisions expecting as 〈…〉 they may conjecture and conclude the dismal Consequence may be next to hear of our downfall O how do they warm their Hands at the Fire of our Contentions and say ha ha so we would have it I. Let us also seriously consider how highly provoking these things are in the sight of the Lord. Ob◠Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 and let us not live in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 John 3.18 And that it is a great evil that so much of Love and Tenderness Charity Humility Patience Long-suffering c. is professed pretended to and talkt of by many and yet in the mean time so very little of these in truth and in deed is practised and brought forth in real Fruits of love c. but a great deal of the Contrary It may not be long before God who greatly abhors all such Hypocrisy and Dissimulation take his Rod as well as shake it as he has often and especially of late given us both loud 〈◊〉 and frequent Warnings and severely correct and punish for these things Doth a Fountain send forth at the same place sweet Water and bitter Can the Fig tree my Brethren bear Olive-berries Either a Vine Figs So can no Fountain both yield salt Water and fresh Ja. 3.11 12. So that as their Faith is dead and like the Body without the Soul that hath no motion which is without works even so is their Charity c. but cold and faint without its Demonstrative effects and Fruits and still we may rationally conclude whether the Fountain be bitter or sweet tho' its easy for many to put the one for the other as they may imagine by its streams which flow from it And hath not the just God in all ages manifested his soar displeasure because of such Divisions c. It s no wonder says one if a Father after a long patience be at last provoked to turn all his Children out of Doors when they cannot be quiet nor agree together so it was heretofore when there was such siding one against another Bishop against Bishop some engaged in one Faction some in another till as one observes the Brethren of the Camp brought Dioclesians persecution which devoured them all It s a common observation among Shepherds that when the Sheep push at one another a storm speedily ensues and when that comes it drives them altogether whereas before they might be scattered asunder some feeding in one place and some in another II. Moreover to be plain Do not these Animosities Divisions and Contentions egregiously reflect upon our selves bespeaking us too plainly to be such as the Apostle complained of in his time who were divided amongst themselves For 1 Cor. 1.11 12 13. saith he it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren how gently doth he treat them that there are contentions amongst you That every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided c. Chap. 3.3 4. For whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not Carnal and walk as Men And this he repeats to them three times and in one of them says positively that they were as yet Carnal and to draw them off from admiring and following one person more than another to the breach of Concord he tells them who then is Paul and who is Apollos But Ministers in whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every Man I have Planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase and so goes on further upon this in the 7 8 9. c. vers And tho' the Galatians we find were once very zealous in affecting Paul yet saith he to them am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth What Turn-coats observes one upon this were these But a while since they would have pulled out their own Eyes and given them to Paul and now they would have as it were pulled out his Eyes who told them the truth III. And Friends amongst many of the disadvantages which do attend this unhappy Division and Separation this one is not the least viz. that as many simple honest-hearted Friends on the one Hand are disappointed of the benefit and comforts of the Labours and Testimonies of those that are sent amongst us and in the Universal Love of God are moved to visit us so on the other hand many of the Servants of the Lord have been straitned to come amongst us because they have not that full opportunity of clearing themselves and imparting of their spiritual gifts to all as in other parts so that in this respect we among our selves and many others are useless and as it were dead to one another while alive O how comfortable is it for the Lords People to meet often together in Love Peace and Quietness and open their Hearts freely one to another and tell their experiences one to each other what the Lord hath done for their Souls Thus it was once amongst Friends in this Town and it s hoped it will be so again one time or other After this manner some say the Art of Medicine was first found out as any one met with a Herb and discovered the Virtue of it by an accident he was to Post it up and so the Physicians still were perfected by a Collection of those Posted Experiments But alas some and too many there are who are ready to Post up and
for that Cause if his Religion be that of Mahomet or his life like that of Apicius he need not doubt but he shall find fair entertainment IX But to return to the Matter before proposed It would be too large to insert the whole Testimony being two or three Pages here is the last and least part of it but what is very material and of a general Service to all and would help much to put a final end to all Controversies Disputes c. if practised if this says he were but one received amongst those called Christians and that nothing should be required by one sort from another as an Article of Faith or Doctrin or Principle of the Christian Religion in common to be believed but as what is expresly delivered in the Scriptures in plain Scripture terms of how great advantage might it be to a true Reconcilement amonst them and beget true Christian Unity Peace Love and Concord And as for the consequential part of peculiar Doctrins whether true or false to leave every one a freedom without imposing upon them the Affirmative or Negative as any Bond or Tye of Christian fellowship this is a purely Primitive and truly Apostolick like Testimony for if such consequential Doctrin be false it is most unreasonable to impose it and therefore in that Case a Dissenter should have his liberty to differ in Judgment Obs and without any Breach of Brotherly Unity and Society And if it be true yet not being opened or revealed to another it cannot be in Justice pressed or urged upon him where God has not given him the true freedom and clearness of Mind to receive it and to do otherwise that is to Impose Press or urge any thing that is purely Matter of Conscience upon any is to transgress that Golden Rule delivered by Paul viz. To walk by the same Rule according to what we have attained And if any be otherwise minded says he God will reveal it to him and if this advice could find place and a great pity but it should amongst all it would bring the Differences amongst those called Christians in point of Judgment into a very small and narrow compass and they would understand one another far better than now they do THE CONCLVSION I. But now to conclude the whole for indeed a great deal more might be enlarged on this Subject but have already much exceeded by what was at first intended in this Expostulation and perswasive c. remember what the Apostle tenderly exhorts unto Brethren says he if any Man be overtaken in a fault ye which are Spiritual restore not rejoyce or insult over such a one And how In the Spirit of Meekness not then in the Spirit of Ruggedness Harshness Uncharitableness c. And why Because considering thy self lest thou also be tempted bear ye one anothers Burthens and so fulfil the Royal Law and with all Lowliness and Meekness forbearing one another in love II. And above and beyond all let us hear hearken to and obey what our great and Blessed Lord and Master Christ Jesus Commands us Take my Yoke saith he upon you and learn of me for I am Meek and Lowly in Heart Mat. 11.29 He is the best Master that ever was or can be and a most blessed and profitable Lesson for all to Learn to be Meek and Lowly and of a Patient Spirit Which all Christs Scholars or such as are Disciplined in his School are instructed in And says he also A new commandment I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another And in the next Verse he presses the same again and have peace one with another Ye have heard it hath been said an Eye for an Eye c. but I say unto you resist not evil John 13.34 and be Merciful as your Father also is Merciful Judg not and ye shall not be Judged Condemn not and ye shall not be Condemned which must needs relate to unjust sower and uncharitable Judgment c. as by these following words forgive and ye shall be forgiven Luke 6.36 37. and have Peace one with another 3. If all Friends would but look well at home examine Matters there Impartially and mind the Prosperity of Truth and of the work of God to be carried on in their own Hearts and be more concerned to feel all that Judged down and wrought out in themselves by his pure eternal power which is contrary to him and obstructs their inward Peace with him were every one thus truly and daily exercised as they ought to be then certainly they would not look out so much at others or be so Uncharitably Censorious in their severe and harsh Judging and condemning of others who possibly may be at last in the great day of the Lord found to be more justified and approved of by him the great Judg of all than they themselves may be for his ways and thoughts are not as Mans ways and thoughts are neither are his doings like unto Mortals but as there is as great if not a greater Disproportion betwixt the one and the other as there is distance between Heaven and Earth so oftententimes it has proved to be too true that those whom Men do Countenance Reject Condemn and Judg as Reprobates may be Countenanced Received and Chosen of the Lord And so on the contrary Hand whom Men may Commend c. by God may be Discommended Disowned c. And now the God of Love and Peace grant a Reconciliation together amongst all Friends that do profess his Holy Peaceable Truth and that the Hearts of all may be sincerely disposed and cordially inclined thereunto that so we may all call upon his reverent pure Name and serve him with one Consent and that being like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus we may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15.5 6. This is the earnest and fervent desire of him who is an impartial Friend and Well-wisher to all POSTSCRIPT Containing an Advertisement with something further relating to the aforesaid Expostulation c. I. BE pleased to Observe Friendly Reader in order to prevent any groundless misapprehensions and to remove mistakes That notwithstanding of what is so largely expressed as with respect to a meek charitable bearing and forgiving each other c. we do not however in the least hereby intend that whatever hath appeared doth or may appear in any that is manifestly contrary to and incosistent with the Holy Pure Truth professed amongst us ought to be Connived at or Countenanced without a faithful Testimony given forth against the same according to Gospel order as likewise even against those who do act above their proper Sphere and out of their places in the Concerns of Truth by exalting themselves beyond their Stations in the Church of Christ in which the Lord hath placed them and in all humility ought to abide and