406 DISCOURSE ON THE UNITYOF THE CHURCH. prejudicial to the main designs of Christianity, destructive to the welfare and peace of mankind in many respects. This we have showed particularly concerning the pretence of the Papacy; and those discourses being applicable to any like universal authority (perhaps with more advantage, monarchy being less sub- ject to abuse than other ways of government), I shall forbear to say more. 9. Such an union is of no need, would be of small use, or would do little good, in balance to the great mischiefs and inconveniences which it would produce. This point also we have declared in regard to the Papacy; and we might say the same concerning any other like authority substi- tuted thereto. 10. Such a connection of churches is not anywise needful or expe- dient to the design of Christianity, which is to reduce mankind to the knowledge, love, and reverence of God, to a just and loving con- versation together, to the practice of sobriety, temperance, purity, meekness, and all other virtues, Tit. ii. 12; all which things may be compassed without forming men into such a policy. It is expedient there should be particular societies, in which men may concur in worshipping God, and promoting that design by in- structing and provoking one another to good practice, in a regular, decent, and orderly way. It is convenient that the subjects of each temporal sovereignty should live, as in a civil, so in a spiritual uniformity, in order to the preservation of good-will and peace among them (for that neighbours differing in opinion and fashions of practice will be apt to contend each for his way, and thence to disaffect one another), for the beauty and pleasant harmonyof agreement in divine things, for the more commodious succour and defence of truth and piety by unanimous concurrence. But that all the world should be so joined is needless, and will be apt to produce more mischief than benefit. 11. The church, in the Scripture sense, has ever continued one, and will ever continue so, notwithstanding that it has not had this political unity. 12. It is, in fact, apparent that churches have not been thus united which yet have continued catholic and Christian. It were great, no less folly than uncharitableness, to say that the (reek church has been none. There is no church that has in effect less reason than that of Rome to prescribe to others. 13. The reasons alleged in proof of such an unity are insufficient and inconcluding; which (with great diligence, although not with
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