Veri 1f. the t7th Chapter of St. J O H N. i63 together aS one Man, front Dan even to Beerflteba, with the Land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh. Oh, when thall it be fo amongft us ! there is not only Altar fit up againft Altar, but Prayer againft Prayer. We are fiel divided in Pratlices and Opinions, and'then in Prayers ; God's dear Children and Servants are divided in Language ; we Cannot in charity but judg them to be aged with the fame Spirit, infpired with the fame Breath, yet they yield a different found. It is Paid of the Primitive Believers, that they continued, óµo.,diawd`ec, with one accord, in Prayer and Supplication, AQs r.'r 4. And they Were with one accord in one place, when the Holy Spirit defcended on them, Nis 2. t. And yet how feldom doth any publick Congegration meet with one mind in the fame place ? As in an Organ, when fome Pipes do make a found, others keep filence : Mat. 18. ig. If two of you 'ball agree on Earth, as touching any, thing that they (Bailask, it (hall be done for them of nay Father which IS in Heaven. God looks for an Agreement and Harmony in our Requefs, if we would fpeed with him. (a.) Becaufe Chrift forefaw how much the Church would need this Bleffing. Divi- (ions will arife, an Evil molt unfuitable to Chrifiianity ; and yet the evil Genius that path attended it ; partly through Satan's Malice, he cannot elfe hold the Empire and Title to the World ; he is not only Prince of the Power of the Air, but the God of this World. God permitteth him in his righteous Judgmenr, not only to have a great Power over the Elements, but to rule in the Hearts of Men. Now he could not keep his own, nor prevail againft the Church, were it not for Divifions. As Cyrus in Hero- flow, going to fight againft Scythia, coming to a broad Rivèr, and not being able to pals over it, cut and divided it into divers Arms and Sluces, and fo made it paflàble for all his Army. This is the Devil's Policy, he laboureth to divide us, and feparate us into divers Sets and Fanions, and fo eafily overcometh us. Christ knew that the envious Man would faze Tares. Partly through Weaknefs and Imperfe&ion of Know- ledg, divers Men may agree in one Aim, and yet not in one Way. The Apoftle faith, ( which indeed is the great Canon and Rule of Charity, when it is rightly un- derftood and applied ) Phil. 3. 15, 16. Let us therefore, as many as be perfes' , be thus minded ; and if in any thing ye be otherwife minded, God(hall reveal even this unto you : Neverthelefs whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the fame Rule, let we mind the fame thing. I obferve there, That among the godly, becaufe of Difference of Light, efpecially in times of Reformation, there will be difference of Judgment, tho they agree in the fame Aim. As when divers Phyftcians are lent for to fick a Perfon ; fome think that the beft way to cure the tick Perfon, is to take away all the corrupt Blood at once, others think it beft to take it away by little and little ; here is a Difference in Judgment, but yet the Aim is the fame, all intend the good of the fick Party : So it is in curing a lick Church ; fome are for taking away all, and beginning upon anew Foundation, others for a regular Reformation, to try all ways, and all means of Re,. covert'; this is a Difference. Or rather thus, When an Houle is on fire, foam are for pulling it down, others are for quenching it, and letting the Building ftand, it re- quireth a prefent Remedy, and in this burly burly, the Matter's Voice is not always heard: So it is in Reformation of inveterate Errors and Cufioms that have crept into the Church, there is a Difference of Judgment about the Cure, and God's Voice in the Confufion is not always heard. Partly, through vile Affections, Man's Nature is very prone to Difcords, out of Pride, worldly Interefts, delire of Precedency, Envy of one anothers Reputes, irregular Zeal ; all thefe make us touchy. Some are of a fait and fiery Humour, like Flax and Gunpowder, the leali Spark catcheth, and fet- teth them into a Flame. Much Experience hereof we have in thefe Dog -days of the Church, wherein every tine is barking and biting at one another, whereby Chrift is exceedingly dishonoured, and the Caule of Religion much difadvantaged. Therefore that there might be fome Sparks of Love kept alive in the Church, is Chrift fo eatneft with the Father ; Let them be one. (3.) That we might know, that Unity among Believers is a pofftble Blefi'tng. It feemeth many times pall hope,and that it were as good to fpeak to the Winds to be (kill, as to Men's Prejudices and boifterous Affections. Ay, but there s Hope, Chrift hath prayed for it, and his Prayers are as good as fo many Promifes; John 11.42. /know that thou hearefi me always. This is a Fountain of Comfort and Hope. (4.) To encourage us to pray for ir. Endeavours with Men are without Fruit and Succels ; but let us ply the Throne of Grace naore,and learn of Chrift to go to our Hea- venly Father, and wreftle with him in Supplications. In one place it is Paid, Rom. I s. I8. If it be poble, au much as in you lies, live peaceably with all Men. Far quod tuum efi; we x x 2 muli
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