t66 S E l. 1VI (? N S upon Serm, i 9; whom we are adopted, hope for one Patrimony, we fhould be more careful to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Pea£e. We have a great many Contentions now for one holy Contention. Heb.Io.24. Let ma confider one another, to provoke to Love and 'to good Works. What Arguments (hall I ufe ? The danger of the Papßs on one hand, of Seas on the other : Of Papills ; If ever the Beaft were likely to recover of his Wounds, now it is. Our Divifions make us firft a Laughing -Stock to the Enemy, and then a Prey ; firft we are had in contempt, then they ufe violence. And it may he jufl with God to Puffer it ; when Piety decreafeth, Charity is exiled ; and Bitternefs, ,Partialities, Strife, Sufpicions are only left to reign and Bourn. Certainly, if once .a Peace were fetled in the Reformed Churches, the Prophecies concerning Antichrift would loon be accomplifhed ; chofe Reli &s of God's Eleaion, which do as yet remain in Spiritual Babylon, would foon come out from amonglt them, who are now fcandali- zed at our Divifions: As when a Boat is to take in Paflèngers, when all the Paffengers are in the Boat, they lanch out; and hoilt up Sail. They are weary of the Idolatry and Superftitions of the Romifh Church, and would foon break the Cords wherewith they are now held ; Truth would have a greater Power. Afts 4. 32, 33. And the multitude of them that believed, were of one Heart, and of one Soul : neither field any of then, that ought of the things which he pofjd was his own, but they had all things com- mon. 4nd with great Power gave the IpofIles witnefr of the Refurrn'Jion of the Lord Jefus, and Grace was upon them all.. As to Seas on the other fide, Libertines daily in- creafe, by means of the Divifions amongft them that fear God, and grow formidable in the variety of their Combinations and Endeavours. Jude i t. Wo unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and run greedily after the Error of Baalarit for Reward, and perifbed in the gain-faying of Core. There would be an end of this Itch, if all that fear God would join together as one Man in the defence of the Golpel. Alas we have (triven long enough, hindred the common Salvation long enough ; Scandals enough havebeen given : it is high time to renounce all Fruits of Revenge and Ambi- tion, and think of Peace and Unity. But you will_fay, What would you have us to do ? I Anfwet, Something with God, fomething as to Men. Something with God ; Pray and Mourn, lay to Heart the Divifions that are among God's People. I fpeak for Sion's fake, we fhould be very earneft with God for Sion. Ifa. 62. i. For Sion's fake brill not hold my peace, and for Jerufalem's fake I will not ref(, until the Righteouf- nefr thereof go forth as Brightnefi, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth. A great Houle is fmitten with Breaches, and a little Houle with Clefts; not only King- doms, but particular Families are deftroyed, when the Members, of them are divided in Opinions and Affeftions. Pfal. 122. 6. Tray for the Peace of Jerufalem ; they (hall profper that love thee : Let this be. your confiant Requeff to God ; be not auted with a private fautions Spirit. Something is to be done with Men. I do not (peak now how to keep Peace,' it is pail that, but how to re(tore it now it is loft. What (hall we do ? The Apoftle tel- leth you, Phil. 3.1 g, 16. Let us therefore, as many ar be perfe7, be thus minded : and if in any thing ye be etherwife minded, God (hall reveal even this unto you. .`!Ceverthelefr whereto ye have already attained, let us walk by the fame Role, let IN mind the fame Thing. There is no Remedy now left, but brotherly- forbearance towards thole that hold the Foundation. It were to be wifhed that we could agree, not only in Fundamentals, but in all other the Acceflaries of Chriftian Doutrine. But this cannot be hoped for ; What then? (hall the Rent go further and further, without any Remedy ? No : let therefore all Parties, that in the judgment of a regular Charity, may be prefumed to have owned Chrift, walk together as far as they have attained. And how is that ? I can only propound my Wifhes and Delires; let them, referving their private Diffe- rences to themfelves, come under Come common Rule, or folemn Acknowledgment of the Foundations of Religion. What if there were a Form drawn up to that pur- pole, to which both fhould Band ? I think, to (fate Fundamentals, is a Matter of great difficulty ; God would make us cautious of every Truth ; therefore the Canon of the Scripture is very large. But there are fome things propounded in the Scrip- tures, as abfolutely neceffary, without which Salvation cannot be had : If we were mutually engaged to the Profeffion of thefe, patiently bearing with one another in other things undecided, mutually abftaining from Magisterial Decisions and Enforce - ments, and obtruding Opinions upon one another by Violence ; and all rafh Con- demnations,
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