168 SERMONS' upon Serm. i<9, and if we would keep this Unity, we muff yield Honour to one another's Gifts and Places. In the Body Natural, the Eye medleth not with Hearing, nor the Ear with Seeing.; the Foot talketh nor; thAOffice of the Hand is to drefs the Body, that of the Foot to fupport the Body. The Soul giveth Life to all the Parts; there is ground of Unity ; but the Parts have feveral Offices, and there is ground of Order and Come - linefs. The Soul enlivens the Feet, as well as the Hands and Breaff. It is comfortable to fee all confcionably in their way, joining together for the common Good. Vfe. Let us ftudy to imitate the Trinity : as in the Cafe now before us, there is a little refemblance of the Myflery of the Trinity. Men cry for an Union, and yet make no Confcience of Separation. They would have an unholy Mixture, a carnal Compliance and Confent, for Carnal Ends, out of Worldly Policy : As Ice amaffèth into a Body Iron, Water, Wood, Sticks, and Stones. We have one Unity, but ob- ferve not due diflin&ion therein ; Is there not an horrible Invafion of Callings, and thence cornés Confuiion and Diforders ? Miniflers turn Souldiers, and Souldiers turn Miniflers ? Oh, but remember, Chrifl commendeth this Patern to us, Walk as thofe that are One, as Chrift.'and the Father are One, feeking one another's Welfare, re- joicing in one another's Graces, as if they were our own ; contributing Counfel, pathy, Spiritual Affiftance, and Prayers for the Common Good. When the Finger is hurt, there is pain through the whole Body. Wè fhould live, as if we had but one Effence and Intereft. It is almoft in vain to hope for the Publick at prefene, but in your particular Societies, faithfully, yet regularly, ufe your Gifts for the Common Good, fo as that you may neither difhonour the Head, nor diffolve the Union between the Members. 3. I Obferve, That Chrift feeketh it of God ; he beggeth Perfeverance, that they may be One. Doâ. It is God that keepetb the Saints together. Nature is prone to Difcord 5 if God fhould leave us, we fhould Coon difcover what is in our{Iearts. God doth it fometimes by his Providence, letting loofe the common Enemy ; as a Dog let loofe, makes the Sheep run together : Or by infli&ing great Diftrefs; as two Ends of Wax are joined together in the Fire : Or he can take off Contention, as a Judg. Sometimes by his Spi- rit, and the confiant Influences of his Grace, of Light and Love. God made Efaa a Friend to /acok 5 let Spirits be never fo rough, he can meeken them. 'Ufa. Acknowledg God in this Matter ; He will be known, as the Lord of Hofts, and as the God of Peace. Acknowledg him in this Matter, in Prayer, and Praife : In Prayer, before Divifion is broken out; if God did but leave Men to their own fway, they would never be at Peace. After Divifions are broken our, Prayer is the belt Means to fettle the Church. It is God's Prerogative to fpeak Pent when Men have wearied themfelves in the purfuit of it, it is God muff give it. Acknowledg him in Praife, in Days of Peace and Tranquility ; when there is a happy Union among the People of God, give thanks to his Name for it, for it is God alone, who is the God of the Spirits of all Flefh, that unites the Spirits of Men to one another. SERM.
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