Verti. the i7th Cbapterof St. J O H N. tbc demnations, caftings out of Chrift, limiting Religion to our own Party, faying, Here is Chrift, and there is Chrift ; as if Chrift were divided ; commending One ano- ther's Profperity to God by mutual Prayers, this were a healing Courfé. Let us per- form all mutual Offices of Love and Spiritual Counfel to one another ; ftrengthning one another in folid Piety, holding forth light in the Infer Differences, with all mo- defty and candor ; and in Civil Matters, (landing as one Man againft the common Ene- my, and Ming Endeavours to promote the Kingdom of Chrift, without any Refieai- ons on our private Honour, Profit, and Intere(ts. If this were once done, I doubt Dot but the Fog would vanifh, and we (hould find our felves nearer to one another than we do imagine. I am not altogether out of hope that this wilt be done, becaufe of the Promifes. It is done already in the Kingdom of Poland, between the Luthe- rans and the Calvinifis. Vfe 3. To perfwade the Minifters of the Gofpel to a greater Concord and Amity in the joint difcharge of their Work. Chrift prayeth here for the Apoftles, that they may be One. How (hould we agree together in preffing Duty, reprehending Sin ? This would be an effe&ual and potent Means, not only to the Peace of the Church, but Succefs of the Gofpel. Schifm in the Church of Corinth, arofe from the Emu- lation of Minifters among themfelves, one Iriving to excel the other in Eloquence and Favour among the People, and contemning Paid and others, that followed the limplicity of the Gafpel. So the ApoRle noteth it elfewhere ; Phil. T. 15. Some preach Chrift out of Envy and Strife, and fame alfo of Good -will. It is ufual, that one carpeth at another's Gifts, one ftanding in the way of another's Honour and Profit ; like Men in a Boat, juffling at one another till the Boat it felf be funk. One faileth, and yieldeth to the Promifes and Threatnings of the World, another ftandeth ftoutly ; and from their different Praftices, there proceed different Interefts and Opinions. We fhould with a combined Strength promote the Gofpel. 2. Obferve the Patern ; he doth not only pray, Let them be One, but (hows what kind of Onenefs he meaneth, as we are One. Some think, that by we is meant, the Fa -. Cher, and Chrift as Mediator, between whom there was an Agreement in the Work of Redemption ; this is true : but Unity of Effence, I fuppofe, is here intended, there being a plain intimation in the Context of the into e gnus, peculiar to the Trinity, (viz.Ver.s i.) But what then {hall we fay to the Arrians r? I Anfwer,In this x.4.94s is im- plied, not locizis, but ö,teotózis ; not an exalt Equality, but force Refetnblance; not the fame Unity, but a like. Do &. The Union of Believers with Chrifi the Head, and with bne another, bath form refemblance to the Unity that is between the Divine Perfons themf lees. n. It is a Spiritual Union ; not Natural or Civil, but Divine and Spiritual: a. It is a dole Union. Between the Father and the Son, there is not only Confent, but Unity of Effence ; there cannot be a greater Unity. So there is a dole Unity be tween the Members of the Mythical Body, by Love, end Peace, and Concord, and delighting in one another. It is Unitas Plnralitas Veeita, faith Bernard. 3. h is a conftant and infeparable Union. The Divine Effence may be diftinguifh- ed, but not divided. They that are united to Chrift, cannot be feparated from him; and ( hould not from one another. Take heed of ftragling; What becomes of the Member that is cut off from the Body ? the Branch from the Root ? It is dangerous to run from the Shepherds' Tents. 4. It is an Holy Union. There is no Unity, but what ftandeth with Purity. Mark 9. 56. Have Salt in your felves, and Peace one with another. The Heart mint be kept pure and Holy. Loofe Zeal, it is not Unity; but Compliance. Peace with Men is bought upon hard Terms, when we muff go to war with God : It is better Rill to be a Man of Contention. An Agreement in Evil, is like that of Herod and Pilate, who (book hands againft Chrift. Heb..ra. 14. Fo &'ow Peace with, all Men, and Holinefs, without which no Man {hall fie God. A Man may fee God without Peace, but he can- not fee God without Holinefs. g. It is an Unity which confifteth with Order and Diftin &ion. There is in the Church a Subordination of Callings, by whicfs its Beauty and Strength is maintained ; and
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