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from the ,works of the ,puritan ,divines
 7,bunyan71 #ahde ,thomas ,nelson       
edition4      ,,an ,,exhortation ,,to   
,,peace ,,and ,,unity4  ,attributed     
7incorrectly7 to ,john ,bunyan     ,we  
deem it proper to state1 that1 though   
the following ,treatise of ,christian   
,union appears in nearly all the        
collected editions of ,,bunyan',s       
,,works1 yet its genuineness has been   
called in question by the ,rev ,mr      
,philip in his admirable work1 ,the     
,life and ,times of ,bunyan4  ,without  
here entering into this question1 we    
have separately appended it to the works
 of ,bunyan in this volume1 and trust   
that it will not prove unacceptable to  

our readers1 especially considering the 
efforts that are now being made to      
promote the living union of all true    
,christians who hold the one ,lord1 the 
one faith1 and the one baptism4         
,endeavouring to keep the unity of the  
,spirit in the bond of peace4--         
,ephesians iv4 #c4  ,beloved1 religion  
is the great bond of human society2 and 
it were well if itself were kept within 
the bond of unity2 and that it may so   
be1 let us1 according to the text1 use  
our utmost endeavours to keep the unity 
of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4    
,these words contain a counsel and a    
caution3  the counsel is1 ,that we      
endeavour the unity of the ,spirit2 the 
caution is1 ,that we do it in the bond  
of peace2 as if ,i should say1 ,i would 
have you live in unity1 but yet ,i would
 have you to be careful that you do not 
purchase unity with the breach of       
charity4  ,let us therefore be cautious 
that we do not so press after unity in  
practice and opinion as to break the    

bond of peace and affection4  ,in the   
handling of these words1 ,i shall       
observe this method4  ,i4  ,i shall open
 the sense of the text4  ,,ii4  ,i shall
 shew wherein this unity and peace      
consist4  ,,iii4  ,i shall shew you the 
fruits and benefits of it1 together with
 nine inconveniences and mischiefs that 
attend those churches where unity and   
peace is wanting4  ,,iv4  ,and1 lastly1 
,i shall give you twelve directions and 
motives for the obtaining of it4  #a4   
,as touching the sense of the text1 when
 ye are counselled to keep the unity of 
the ,spirit1 we are not to understand   
the ,spirit of ,god1 as personally so   
considered2 because the ,spirit of ,god1
 in that sense1 is not capable of being 
divided1 and so there would be no need  
for us to endeavour to keep the unity of
 it4  ,by the unity of the spirit then1 
we are to understand that unity of mind 
which the ,spirit of ,god calls for1 and
 requires ,christians to endeavour      
after2 hence it is that we are exhorted1

 by one spirit1 with one mind1 to strive
 together for the faith of the gospel2  
,phil4 i4 #bg4  ,but farther1 the       
apostle in these words alludes to the   
state and composition of a natural body1
 and doth thereby inform us1 that the   
mystical body of ,christ holds an       
analogy with the natural body of man3   
as1 #a4  ,in the natural body there must
 be a spirit to animate it2 for the body
 without the spirit is dead2 ,james ii4 
#bf4  ,so it is in the mystical body of 
,christ2 the apostle no sooner tells of 
that one body1 but he minds us of that  
one ,spirit2 ,eph4 iv4 #d4  #b4  ,the   
body hath joints and hands to unite all 
the parts2 so hath the mystical body of 
,christ2 ,col4 ii4 #ai4  ,this is that  
bond of peace mentioned in the text1 as 
also in the #afth verse of the same     
chapter1 where the whole body is said to
 be fitly joined together1 and          
compacted1 by that which every joint    
supplieth4  #c4  ,the natural body      
receives counsel and nourishment from   

the head2 so doth the mystical body of  
,christ2 he is their counsellor1 and him
 they must hear2 he is their head1 and  
him they must hold3  hence it is that   
the apostle complaineth1 ,col4 ii4 #ai1 
of some that did not hold the head from 
which the whole body by joints and hands
 hath nourishment4  #d4  ,the natural   
body cannot well subsist1 if either the 
spirit be wounded or the joints broken  
or dislocated2 the body cannot bear a   
wounded or broken spirit--,a broken     
spirit drieth the bones2 ,prov4 xvii4   
#bb1 and ,a wounded spirit who can bear8
 ,prov4 xviii4 #ad4 ,and1 on the other  
hand1 how often have the disjointing of 
the body1 and the breakings thereof1    
occasioned the expiration of the spirit8
 ,in like manner it fares with the      
mystical body of ,christ2 how do divided
 spirits break the bonds of peace1 which
 are the joints of this body8  ,and how 
do the breakings of the body and church 
of ,christ wound the spirit of          
,christians1 and oftentimes occasion the

 spirit and life of ,christianity to    
languish1 if not to expire4  ,how       
needful is it then that we endeavour the
 unity of the spirit in the bond of     
peace6  ,,ii4  ,i now come to shew you  
wherein this unity and peace consists2  
and this ,i shall demonstrate in five   
particulars4  #a4  ,this unity and peace
 may consist with the ignorance of many 
truths1 and in the holding of some      
errors2 or else this duty of peace and  
unity could not be practicable by any on
 this side perfection3  but we must now 
endeavour the unity of the spirit1 till 
we come to the unity of the faith1 and  
of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god2   
,eph4 iv4 #ac4  ,because now1 as the    
apostle saith1 ,we know in part1 and we 
prophesy in part1 and ,now we see       
through a glass darkly2 #a ,cor4 xiii4  
#i1 #ab4  ,and as this is true in       
general1 so we may find it true if we   
descend to particular instances4  ,the  
disciples seem to be ignorant of that   
great truth which they had often1 and in

 much plainness1 been taught by their   
,master once and again1 viz41 that his  
kingdom was not of this world1 and that 
in the world they should suffer and be  
persecuted2 yet in the #ast of the      
,acts1 ver4 #f1 we read1 that they asked
 of him if he would at this time restore
 the kingdom to ,israel8 thereby        
discovering that ,christ's kingdom 7as  
they thought7 should consist in his     
temporal jurisdiction over ,israel1     
which they expected should now commence 
and take place amongst them4  ,again1   
our ,lord tells them1 that he had many  
things to say 7and these were many      
important truths7 which they could not  
now bear2 ,john xvi4 #ab4  ,and that    
these were important truths1 appear by  
the #ajth and #aath verses1 where he is 
discoursing of righteousness and        
judgment1 and then adds1 that he had yet
 many things to say which they could not
 bear2 and thereupon promises the       
,comforter to lead them into ,,all      
,,truth2 which implies1 that they were  

yet ignorant of many truths1 and        
consequently held divers errors2 and yet
 for all this1 he prays for1 and presses
 them to1 their great duty of peace and 
unity2 ,john xiv4 #bg2 xvii4 #ba4  ,to  
this may be added that of ,heb4 v4 #aa1 
where the author saith1 he had many     
things to say of the priestly office of 
,christ1 which by reason of their       
dulness they were not capable to        
receive2 as also that in the #ajth of   
the ,acts1 where ,peter seems to be     
ignorant of the truth1 viz41 that the   
gospel was to be preached to all        
nations2 and contrary hereunto1 he erred
 in thinking it unlawful to preach      
amongst the ,gentiles4  ,i shall add two
 texts more1 one in ,acts xix41 where we
 read that those disciples which had    
been discipled and baptized by ,john    
were yet ignorant of the ,holy ,ghost1  
and knew not 7as the text tells us7     
whether there were any holy ,ghost or   
no2 though ,john did teach constantly1  
that he that should come after him      

should baptize with the ,holy ,ghost and
 fire4  ,from hence we may easily and   
plainly infer1 that ,christians may be  
ignorant of many truths1 by reason of   
weak and dull capacities1 and other such
 like impediments1 even while those     
truths are with much plainness delivered
 to them4  ,again1 we read1 ,heb4 v4    
#ac1 of some that were unskilful in the 
word of righteousness1 who nevertheless 
are called babes in ,christ1 and with   
whom unity and peace is to be inviolably
 kept and maintained4  #b4  ,as this    
unity and peace may consist with the    
ignorance of many truths1 and with the  
holding some errors1 so it must consist 
with 7and it cannot consist without7 the
 believing and practising those things  
which are necessary to salvation and    
church-communion2 and they are1 #ast1   
,believing that ,christ the ,son of ,god
 died for the sins of men4  #b;d1 ,that 
whoever believeth ought to be baptized4 
,the third thing essential to this      
communion1 is a holy and a blameless    

conversation4  7#a47  ,that believing   
that the ,son of ,god died for the sins 
of men is necessary to salvation1 ,i    
prove by these texts1 which tell us1    
that he that doth not believe shall be  
damned1 ,mark xvi4 #af2 ,john iii4 #cf2 
,rom4 x4 #i4  ,that it is also necessary
 to church-communion appears from ,matt4
 xvi4 #af-ah4  ,peter having confessed  
that ,christ was the ,son of the living 
,god1 ,christ thereupon assures ,peter1 
that upon this rock1 viz41 this         
profession of faith1 or this ,christ    
which ,peter had confessed1 he would    
build his church1 and the gates of hell 
should not prevail against it4  ,and1 #a
 ,cor4 iii4 #aa1 the apostle having told
 the ,corinthians that they were ,god's 
building1 presently adds1 that they     
could not be built upon any foundation  
but upon that which was laid1 which was 
,jesus ,christ4  ,all which proves1 that
 ,christian society is founded upon the 
profession of ,christ2 and not only     
scripture1 but the laws of right reason1

 dictate this1 that some rules and      
orders must be observed for the founding
 all society1 which must be consented to
 by all that will be of it4  ,hence it  
comes to pass1 that to own ,christ as   
the ,lord and head of ,christians is    
essential to the founding of ,christian 
society4  7#b47  ,the ,scriptures have  
declared1 that this faith gives the     
professors of it a right to baptism1 as 
in the case of the eunuch1 ,acts viii4  
,when he demanded why he might not be   
baptized1 ,philip answered1 that if he  
believed with all his heart1 he might4  
,the eunuch thereupon confessing        
,christ1 was baptized4  ,now1 that      
baptism is essential to                 
church-communion1 ,i prove from #a ,cor4
 xii41 where we shall find the apostle  
labouring to prevent an evil use that   
might be made of spiritual gifts1 as    
thereby to be puffed up1 and to think   
that such as wanted them were not of the
 body1 or to be esteemed members3  he   
thereupon resolves1 that whoever did    

confess ,christ1 and own him for his    
head1 did it by the ,spirit1 ver4 #c1   
though they might not have such a       
visible manifestation of it as others   
had1 and therefore they ought to be     
owned as members1 as appears1 ver4 #bc4 
,and not only because they have called  
him ,lord by the ,spirit1 but because   
they have1 by the guidance and direction
 of the same ,spirit1 been baptized1    
ver4 #ac1 ,for by one ,spirit we are all
 baptized into one body1 c4  ,i need not
 go about to confute that notion that   
some of late have had of this text41    
viz41 that the baptism here spoken of is
 the baptism of the ,spirit1 because you
 have not owned and declared that notion
 as your judgment1 but on the contrary1 
all of you that ,i have ever conversed  
with1 have declared it to be understood 
of baptism with water1 by the direction 
of the ,spirit3  ,if so1 then it        
follows1 that men and women are declared
 members of ,christ's body by baptism1  
and cannot be by scripture reputed and  

esteemed so without it2 which farther   
appears from ,rom4 vi4 #e1 where men by 
baptism are said to be planted into the 
likeness of his death and ,col4 ii4 #ab1
 we are said to be buried with him by   
baptism4  ,all which1 together with the 
consent of all ,christians 7some few in 
these later times excepted71 do prove   
that baptism is necessary to the        
initiating persons into the ,church of  
,christ4  7#c47  ,holiness of life is   
essential to church-communion1 because  
it seems to be the reason why ,christ   
founded a church in the world1 viz41    
that men might thereby be watched over1 
and kept from falling2 and that if any  
be overtaken with a fault1 he that is   
spiritual might restore him1 that by    
this means men and women might be       
preserved without blame to the coming of
 ,christ2 and the grace of ,god teacheth
 us to deny ungodliness and worldly     
lusts1 and to live soberly and uprightly
 in this present evil world2 ,tit4 ii4  
#aa1 #ab4 ,and let every one that nameth

 the name of ,christ1 depart from       
iniquity2 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ai4  ,and ,james
 tells us 7speaking of the ,christian   
religion71 that pure religion1 and      
undefiled before ,god1 is this1 ,to     
visit the fatherless and widows in their
 affliction1 and to keep ourselves      
unspotted from the world2 ,james i4 #bg4
  ,from all which 7together with many   
more texts that might be produced7 it   
appears1 that an unholy and profane life
 is inconsistent with ,christian        
religion and society2 and that holiness 
is essential to salvation and           
church-communion4  ,so that these three 
things1 faith1 baptism1 and a holy life1
 as ,i said before1 all churches must   
agree and unite in1 as those things     
which1 when wanting1 will destroy their 
being4  ,and let not any think1 that    
when ,i say1 believing the ,son of ,god 
died for the sins of men is essential to
 salvation and church-communion1 that ,i
 hereby would exclude all other articles
 of the ,christian creed as not         

necessary2 as the belief of the         
resurrection of the dead1 and eternal   
judgment1 c41 which1 for want of time1  
,i omit to speak particularly to1 and   
the rather1 because ,i understand this  
great article of believing the ,son of  
,god died for the sins of men is        
comprehensive of all others1 and is that
 from whence all other articles may     
easily be inferred4  ,and here ,i would 
not be mistaken1 as though ,i held there
 was nothing else for ,christians to    
practise1 when ,i say this is all that  
is requisite to church-communion2 for ,i
 very well know1 that ,christ requires  
many other things of us1 after we are   
members of his body1 which1 if we       
knowingly or maliciously refuse1 may be 
the cause1 not only of excommunication1 
but damnation4  ,but yet these are such 
things as relate to the well-being and  
not to the being of churches2 as laying 
on of hands in the primitive times upon 
believers1 by which they did receive the
 gifts of the ,spirit3  ,this1 ,i say1  

was for the increase and edifying of the
 body1 and not that thereby they might  
become of the body of ,christ1 for that 
they were before4  ,and do not think    
that ,i believe laying on of hands was  
no apostolical institution1 because ,i  
say men are not thereby made members of 
,christ's body1 or because ,i say that  
it is not essential to church-          
communion4  ,why should ,i be thought to
 be against a fire in the chimney1      
because ,i say it must not be in the    
thatch of the house8 ,consider1 then1   
how pernicious a thing it is to make    
every doctrine 7though true7 the bond of
 communion2 this is that which destroys 
unity1 and by this rule all men must be 
perfect before they can be in peace3    
for do we not see daily1 that as soon as
 men come to a clearer understanding of 
the mind of ,god 7to say the best of    
what they hold71 that presently all men 
are excommunicable1 if not damnable1    
that do not agree with them4  ,do not   
some believe and see that to be pride   

and covetousness1 which others do not1  
because 7it may be7 they have more      
narrowly and diligently searched into   
their duty of these things than others  
have8  ,what then8  ,must all men that  
have not so large acquaintance of their 
duty herein be excommunicated8  ,indeed 
it were to be wished that more          
moderation in apparel and secular       
concernments were found among churches3 
but ,god forbid1 that if they should    
come short herein1 that we should say1  
as one lately said1 that he could not   
communicate with such a people1 because 
they were proud and superfluous in their
 apparel4  ,let me appeal to such1 and  
demand of them1 if there was not a time1
 since they believed and were baptized1 
wherein they did not believe laying on  
of hands a duty8 and did they not then  
believe1 and do they not still believe1 
they were members of the body of        
,christ8 ,and was not there a time when 
you did not so well understand the      
nature and extent of pride and          

covetousness as now you do8  ,and did   
you not then believe1 and do you not    
still believe1 that you were true       
members of ,christ1 though less perfect8
  ,why then should you not judge of     
those that differ from you herein1 as   
you judged of yourselves when you were  
as they now are8  ,how needful then is  
it for ,christians to distinguish 7if   
ever they would be at peace and unity7  
between those truths which are essential
 to church-communion1 and those that are
 not8  #c4  ,unity and peace consists in
 all as with one shoulder practising and
 putting in execution the things we do  
know2 ,phil4 iii4 #af4 ,nevertheless1   
whereto we have already attained1 let us
 walk by the same rule1 and mind the    
same thing4  ,how sad is it to see our  
zeal consume us and our precious time in
 things doubtful and disputable1 while  
we are not concerned nor affected with  
the practice of those indisputable      
things we all agree in6  ,we all know   
charity to be the great command1 and yet

 how few agree to practise it8  ,we all 
know they that labour in the word and   
doctrine are worthy of double honour2   
and that ,god hath ordained1 that they  
which preach the gospel should live of  
the gospel4  ,these duties1 however     
others have cavilled at them1 ,i know   
you agree in them1 and are persuaded of 
your duty therein3  but where is your   
zeal to practise8  ,o how well would it 
be with churches1 if they were but half 
as zealous for the great1 and plain1 and
 indisputable things1 and the more      
chargeable and costly things of         
religion1 as they are for things        
doubtful or less necessary1 or for      
things that are no charge to them1 and  
cost them nothing but the breath of     
contention1 though that may be too great
 a price for the small things they      
purchase with it6  ,but further1 ,do we 
not all agree1 that men that preach the 
gospel should do it like workmen that   
need not be ashamed8 and yet how little 
is this considered by many preachers1   

who never consider before they speak of 
what they say1 or whereof they affirm6  
,how few give themselves to study that  
they may be approved6  ,how few meditate
 and give themselves to these things1   
that their profiting may appear to all6 
,for the ,lord's sake let us unite to   
practise those things we know2 and if we
 would have more talents1 let us all    
agree to improve those we have4  ,see   
the spirit that was among the primitive 
professors1 that knowing and believing  
how much it concerned them in the       
propagating of ,christianity1 to shew   
forth love to one another 7that so all  
might know them to be ,christ's         
disciples71 rather than there should be 
any complainings among them1 they sold  
all they had4  ,o how zealous were these
 to practise1 and as with one shoulder  
to do that that was upon their hearts   
for ,god6  ,i might further add1 how    
often have we agreed in our judgment8   
and hath it not been upon our hearts1   
that this and the other thing is good to

 be done1 to enlighten the dark world1  
and to repair the breaches of churches1 
and to raise up those churches that now 
lie gasping1 and among whom the soul of 
religion is expiring8  ,but what do we  
more than talk of them8  ,do not most   
decline these things1 when they either  
call for their purses or their persons  
to help in this and such like works as  
these8  ,let us then1 in what we know1  
unite1 that we may put it in practice1  
remembering1 that if we know these      
things1 we shall be happy if we do them4
  #d4  ,this unity and peace consists in
 our joining and agreeing to pray for1  
and to press after1 those truths we do  
not know4  ,the disciples in the        
primitive times were conscious of their 
imperfections1 and therefore they with  
one accord continued in prayer and      
supplications4  ,if we were more in the 
sense of our ignorance and              
imperfections1 we should carry it better
 towards those that differ from us3     
then we should abound more in the spirit

 of meekness and forbearance1 that      
thereby we might bring others 7or be    
brought by others7 to the knowledge of  
the truth3  this would make us go to    
,god1 and say with ,elihu1 ,job xxxiv4  
#cb1 ,that which we know not1 teach thou
 us4  ,brethren1 did we but all agree   
that we were erring in many things1 we  
should soon agree to go to ,god1 and    
pray for more wisdom and revelation of  
his mind and will concerning us4  ,but  
here is our misery1 that we no sooner   
receive any thing for truth1 but we     
presently ascend the chair of           
infallibility with it1 as though in this
 we could not err3  hence it is we are  
impatient of contradiction1 and become  
uncharitable to those that are not of   
the same mind2 but now a consciousness  
that we may mistake1 or that if my      
brother err in one thing1 ,i may err in 
another2 this will unite us in          
affection1 and engage us to press after 
perfection1 according to that of the    
apostle2 ,phil4 iii4 #ac-ae1 ,brethren1 

,i count not myself to have apprehended3
  ,but this one thing ,i do1 forgetting 
those things which are behind1 and      
reaching forth unto those things which  
are before1 ,i press toward the mark1   
for the prize of the high calling of    
,god in ,christ ,jesus4  ,and if in any 
thing ye be otherwise minded1 ,god shall
 reveal even this unto you4  ,o then    
that we could but unite and agree to go 
to ,god for one another1 in confidence  
that he will teach us2 and that if any  
one of us want wisdom 7as who of us does
 not71 we might agree to ask of ,god1   
who giveth to all men liberally1 and    
upbraideth no man6  ,let us1 like those 
people spoken of in the #b;d of ,isaiah1
 say to one another1 ,come1 let us go to
 the ,lord1 for he will teach us of his 
ways1 and we will walk in his paths4    
#e4  ,this unity and peace mainly       
consists in unity of love and affection3
  this is the great and indispensable   
duty of all ,christians2 by this they   
are declared ,christ's disciples2 ,and  

hence it is that love is called the     
great commandment1 the old commandment1 
and the new commandment2 that which was 
commanded in the beginning1 and will    
remain to the end1 yea1 and after the   
end4 #a ,cor4 xiii4 #h1 ,charity never  
faileth2 but whether there be tongues1  
they shall cease2 or whether there be   
knowledge1 it shall vanish away4  ,and  
ver4 #ac1 ,and now abideth faith1 hope1 
charity2 but the greatest of these is   
charity4  ,and ,col4 iii4 #ad1 ,above   
all these things1 put on charity1 which 
is the bond of perfectness2 because     
charity is the end of the commandment1  
#a ,tim4 i4 #e4  ,charity is therefore  
called the royal law2 as though it had a
 superintendency over other laws1 and   
doubtless is a law to which other laws  
must give place1 when they come in      
competition with it2 above all things1  
therefore1 have fervent charity among   
yourselves2 for charity shall cover the 
multitude of sins2 #a ,pet4 iv4 #h4     
,let us therefore live in unity and     

peace1 and the ,god of love and peace   
will be with us4  ,that you may so do1  
let me remind you 7in the words of a    
learned man71 that the unity of the     
church is a unity of love and affection1
 and not a bare uniformity of practice  
and opinion4  ,,iii4  ,having shewn you 
wherein this unity consists1 ,i now come
 to the third general thing propounded3 
and that is1 to shew you the fruits and 
benefits of unity and peace1 together   
with the mischiefs and inconveniences   
that attend those churches where unity  
and peace are wanting4  #a4  ,unity and 
peace is a duty well-pleasing to ,god1  
who is styled the author of peace and   
not of confusion4  ,in all the churches 
,god's ,spirit rejoiceth in the unity of
 our spirits2 but on the other hand1    
where strife and divisions are1 there   
the ,spirit of ,god is grieved4 ,hence  
it is that the apostle no sooner calls  
upon the ,ephesians not to grieve the   
,spirit of ,god1 but he presently       
subjoins us a remedy against that evil1 

that they put away bitterness and       
evil-speaking1 and be kind one to       
another1 and tender-hearted1 forgiving  
one another1 even as ,god for ,christ's 
sake hath forgiven them2 ,eph4 iv4 #cj1 
#cb4  #b4  ,as unity and peace is       
pleasing to ,god1 and rejoiceth his     
,spirit1 so it rejoiceth the hearts and 
spirits of ,god's people4  ,unity and   
peace brings heaven down upon earth     
among us3  hence it is that the apostle 
tells us1 ,rom4 iv4 #ag1 that the       
kingdom of ,god is not meat and drink1  
but righteousness and peace and joy in  
the ,holy ,ghost4 ,where unity and peace
 is1 there is heaven upon earth2 by this
 we taste the first fruits of that      
blessed estate we shall one day live in 
the fruition of2 when we shall come to  
the general assembly and church of the  
first-born1 whose names are written in  
heaven1 and to ,god the judge of all1   
and to the spirits of just men made     
perfect2 ,heb4 xii4 #bc4  ,this outward 
peace of the church 7as a learned man   

observes7 distils into peace of         
conscience1 and turns writings and      
readings of controversy into treatises  
of mortification and devotion4  ,and the
 ,psalmist tells us1 that it is not only
 good1 but pleasant for brethren to     
dwell together in unity1 ,psalm cxxxiii4
  ,but where unity and peace is wanting1
 there are storms and troubles2 where   
envy and strife is1 there is confusion  
and every evil work2 ,james iii4 #af4   
,it is the outward peace of the church  
that increaseth our inward joy2 and the 
peace of ,god's house gives us occasion 
to eat our meat with gladness in our own
 houses1 ,acts ii4 #df4  #c4  ,the unity
 and peace of the church makes communion
 of saints desirable4  ,what is it that 
embitters church-communion1 and makes it
 burdensome1 but divisions8  ,have you  
not heard many complain1 that they are  
weary of church-communion1 because of   
church-contention8 but now where unity  
and peace is1 there ,christians long for
 communion4  ,david saith1 that he was  

glad when they said unto him1 ,let us go
 to the house of ,god2 ,psalm cxxii4 #a4
  ,why was this1 but because 7as the    
third verse tells us7 ,jerusalem was a  
city compact together1 where the tribes 
went up1 the tribes of the ,lord1 to    
give thanks to his name8  ,and ,david1  
speaking of the man that was once his   
friend1 doth thereby let us know the    
benefit of peace and unity2 ,psalm lv4  
#ad4  ,we1 saith he1 took sweet counsel 
together1 and walked to the house of    
,god in company4  ,where unity is       
strongest1 communion is sweetest and    
most desirable4  ,you see then that     
peace and union fills the people of ,god
 with desires after communion3  but1 on 
the other hand1 hear how ,david         
complains1 ,psalm cxx41 ,wo is me1 that 
,i sojourn in ,mesech1 and that ,i dwell
 in the tents of ,kedar4  ,the ,psalmist
 here is thought to allude to a sort of 
men that dwelt in the deserts of        
,arabia1 that got their livings by      
contention2 and therefore he adds1 ver4 

#f1 that his soul had long dwelt with   
them that hated peace4  ,this was that  
which made him long for the courts of   
,god1 and esteem one day in his house   
better than a thousand4 ,this made his  
soul even faint for the house of ,god1  
because of the peace of it2 ,blessed are
 they1 saith he1 that dwell in thy      
house1 they will be still praising thee4
  ,there is a certain note of concord1  
as appears1 ,acts ii41 where we read of 
primitive ,christians1 meeting with one 
accord1 praising ,god4  #d4  ,where     
unity and peace is1 there many mischiefs
 and inconveniences are prevented1 which
 attend those people where peace and    
unity are wanting3  and of those many   
that might be mentioned1 ,i shall       
briefly insist upon these nine4  #a4    
,where unity and peace is wanting1 there
 is much precious time spent to no      
purpose4  ,how many days are spent1 and 
how many fruitless journeys made to no  
profit1 where the people are not in     
peace8 how often have many redeemed time

 7even in seed-time and harvest7 when   
they could scarce afford it1 to go to   
church1 and1 by reason of their         
divisions1 come home worse than they    
went1 repenting they have spent so much 
precious time to so little benefit8     
,how sad is it to see men spend their   
precious time1 in which they should work
 out their salvation1 in labouring1 as  
in the fire1 to prove an uncertain and  
doubtful proposition1 and to trifle away
 their time1 in which they should make  
their calling and election sure1 to make
 sure of an opinion1 which1 when they   
have done all1 they are not infallibly  
sure whether it be true or no1 because  
all things necessary to salvation and   
church-communion are plainly laid down  
in scripture1 in which we may be        
infallibly sure of the truth of them2   
but for other things that we have no    
plain texts for1 but the truth of them  
depends upon our interpretations1 here  
we must be cautioned1 that we do not    
spend much time in imposing those upon  

others1 or venting those among others1  
unless we can assume infallibility1     
otherwise we spend time upon            
uncertainty4  ,and whoever casts their  
eyes abroad1 and do open their ears to  
intelligence1 shall both see1 and to    
their sorrow hear1 that many churches   
spend most of their time in jangling and
 contending about those things which are
 neither essential to salvation nor     
church-communion2 and that which is     
worse1 about such doubtful questions    
which they are never able to give an    
infallible solution of4  ,but now where 
unity and peace is1 there our time is   
spent in praising ,god2 and in those    
great questions1 ,what we should do to  
be saved8 and1 ,how we may be more holy 
and more humble towards ,god1 and more  
charitable and more serviceable to one  
another8  #b4  ,where unity and peace is
 wanting1 there is evil surmising and   
evil speaking1 to the damage and        
disgrace1 if not to the ruining1 of one 
another2 ,gal4 v4 #ad1 #ae4  ,the whole 

law is fulfilled in one word1 ,thou     
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4    
,but if you bite and devour one another1
 take heed you be not consumed one of   
another4  ,no sooner the bond of charity
 is broken1 which is as a wall about    
,christians1 but soon they begin to make
 havock and spoil of one another2 then  
there is raising evil reports1 and      
taking up evil reports1 against each    
other4  ,hence it is that whispering and
 backbiting proceeds1 and going from    
house to house to blazon the faults and 
infirmities of others3  hence it is that
 we watch for the haltings of one       
another1 and do inwardly rejoice at the 
miscarriages of others1 saying in our   
hearts1 ha6 ha6 so we would have it3 but
 now where unity and peace is1 there is 
charity2 and where charity is1 there we 
are willing to hide the faults1 and     
cover the nakedness1 of our brethren4   
,charity thinketh no evil2 #a ,cor4     
xiii4 #e2 and therefore it cannot       
surmise1 neither will it speak evil4    

#c4  ,where unity and peace is wanting1 
there can be no great matters           
enterprised--we cannot do much for ,god1
 nor much for one another2 when the     
devil would hinder the bringing to pass 
of good in nations and churches1 he     
divides their counsels 7and as one well 
observes71 he divides their heads1 that 
he may divide their hands2 when ,jacob  
had prophesied of the cruelty of ,simon 
and ,levi1 who were brethren1 he        
threatens them with the consequent of   
it2 ,gen4 xlix4 #g1 ,i will divide them 
in ,jacob1 and scatter them in ,israel4 
,the devil is not to learn that maxim he
 hath taught the ,machiavellians of the 
world1 ,divide et impera2 divide and    
rule4  ,it is an united force that is   
formidable4  ,hence the spouse in the   
,canticles is said to be but one1 and   
the only one of her mother2 ,cant4 vi4  
#i4  ,here upon it is said of her1 ver4 
#aj1 ,that she is terrible as an army   
with banners4  ,what can a divided army 
do1 or a disordered army that have lost 

their banners1 or for fear or shame     
thrown them away8  ,in like manner1 what
 can ,christians do for ,christ1 and the
 enlarging of his dominions in the      
world1 in bringing men from darkness to 
light1 while themselves are divided and 
disordered8  ,peace is to ,christians as
 great rivers are to some cities1 which 
7besides other benefits and commodities7
 are natural fortifications by reason   
whereof those places are made           
impregnable2 but when1 by the subtilty  
of an adversary or the folly of the     
citizens1 these waters come to be       
divided into little petty rivulets1 how 
soon are they assailed and taken8  ,thus
 it fares with churches1 when once the  
devil or their own folly divides them1  
they will be so far from resisting of   
him1 that they will be soon subjected by
 him4  ,peace is to churches as walls to
 a city2 nay1 unity hath defended cities
 that had no walls4  ,it was once       
demanded of ,agesilaus1 why ,lacedemon  
had no walls2 he answers 7pointing back 

to the city71 ,that the concord of the  
citizens was the strength of the city4  
,in like manner1 ,christians are strong 
when united2 then they are more capable 
to resist temptation1 and to succour    
such as are tempted4 ,when unity and    
peace is among the churches1 then are   
they like a walled town2 and when peace 
is the church's walls1 salvation will be
 her bulwarks4  ,plutarch tells us of   
one ,silurus that had eighty sons1 whom 
he calls to him as he lay upon his      
death-bed1 and gave them a sheaf of     
arrows1 thereby to signify1 that if they
 lived in unity1 they might do much1 but
 if they divided1 they would come to    
nothing4  ,if ,christians were all of   
one piece1 if they were all but one     
lump1 or but one sheaf or bundle1 how   
great are the things they might do for  
,christ and his people in the world1    
whereas otherwise they can do little but
 dishonour him1 and offend his6  ,it is 
reported of the leviathan1 that his     
strength is in his scales2 ,job xli4    

#ae-ag1 ,his scales are his pride1 shut 
up together as with a close seal2 one is
 so near to another1 that no air can    
come between them3  they are joined     
together1 they stick together1 they     
cannot be sundered4  ,if the church of  
,god were united like the scales of the 
leviathan1 it would not be every        
brain-sick notion1 nor angry            
speculation1 that would cause its       
separation4  ,solomon saith1 ,two are   
better than one1 because1 if one fall1  
the other may raise him2 then surely    
twenty are better than two1 and an      
hundred are better than twenty1 for the 
same reason2 because they are more      
capable to help one another4  ,if ever  
,christians would do any thing to raise 
up the fallen tabernacles of ,jacob1 and
 to strengthen the weak1 and comfort the
 feeble1 and to fetch back those that   
have gone astray1 it must be by unity4  
,we read of the men of ,babel1 ,gen xi4 
#f1 ,the ,lord said1 ,behold1 the people
 are one1 c41 and now nothing will be   

restrained from them that they have     
imagined to do4  ,we learn by reason1   
what great things may be done in worldly
 achievements where unity is2 and shall 
not reason 7assisted with the motives of
 religion7 teach us1 that unity among   
,christians may enable them to          
enterprise greater things for ,christ8  
,would not this make ,satan fall from   
heaven like lightning8  ,for as unity   
built literal ,babel1 it is unity that  
must pull down mystical ,babel4  ,and1  
on the other hand1 where divisions are1 
there is confusion2 by this means a     
,babel hath been built in every age4    
,it hath been observed by a learned     
man--and ,i wish ,i could not say truly 
observed--that there is most of ,babel  
and confusion among those that cry out  
most against it4  ,would we have a hand 
to destroy ,babylon8 let us have a heart
 to unite one among another4  ,our      
,english histories tell us1 that after  
,austin the monk had been some time in  
,england1 he heard of some of the       

remains of the ,british ,christians1    
which he convened to a place which      
,cambden in his ,britannia calls        
,austin's ,oak4  ,here they met to      
consult about matters of religion2 but  
such was their division1 by reason of   
,austin's imposing spirit1 that our     
stories tell us that synod was only     
famous for this1 that they only met and 
did nothing4  ,this is the mischief of  
divisions--they hinder the doing of much
 good2 and if ,christians that are      
divided be ever famous for any thing1 it
 will be1 that they have often met      
together1 and talked of this and the    
other thing1 but they did nothing4  #d4 
,where unity and peace is wanting1 there
 the weak are wounded1 and the wicked   
are hardened4  ,unity may well be       
compared to precious oil1 ,psalm        
cxxxiii4 #b4  ,it is the nature of oil  
to heal that which is wounded1 and to   
soften that which is hard4  ,those men  
that have hardened themselves against   
,god1 and his people1 when they shall   

behold unity and peace among them1 will 
say1 ,god is in them indeed3 and on the 
other hand1 are they not ready to say1  
when they see you divided1 ,that the    
devil is in you that you cannot agree6  
#e4  ,divisions and want of peace keep  
those out of the church that would come 
in2 and cause many to go out that are   
in4  ,the divisions of ,christians 7as a
 learned man observes7 are a scandal to 
the ,jews1 an opprobrium to the         
,gentiles1 and an inlet to atheism and  
infidelity3 insomuch that our           
controversies about religion 7especially
 as they have been of late managed7 have
 made religion itself become a          
controversy4  ,o then1 how good and     
pleasant a thing is it for brethren to  
dwell together in unity6  ,the peace and
 unity that was among the primitive     
,christians drew others to them4  ,what 
hinders the conversion of the ,jews1 but
 the divisions of ,christians8  ,must ,i
 be a ,christian8 says the ,jew4  ,what 
,christian must ,i be8 what sect must ,i

 be of8  ,the ,jews 7as one observes71  
glossing upon that text in ,isa4 xi4 #f1
 where it is prophesied1 ,that the lion 
and the lamb shall lie down together1   
and that there shall be none left to    
hurt nor destroy in all ,god's holy     
mountain3  they interpreting these      
sayings to signify the concord and peace
 that shall be among the people that    
shall own the ,messiah1 do from hence   
conclude1 that the ,messiah is not yet  
come1 because of the contentions and    
divisions that are among those that     
profess him4 ,and the apostle saith1 #a 
,cor4 xiv4 #bc1 that if an unbeliever   
should see their disorders1 he would say
 they were mad2 but where unity and     
peace is1 there the churches are        
multiplied4  ,we read1 ,acts ix41 that  
when the churches had rest1 they        
multiplied2 and ,acts ii4 #df1 #dg1 when
 the church was serving ,god with one   
accord1 the ,lord added to them daily   
such as should be saved4  ,it is unity  
brings men into the church1 and         

divisions keep them out4 ,it is reported
 of an ,indian1 passing by the house of 
a ,christian1 and hearing them          
contending1 being desired to turn in1 he
 refused1 saying1 ,habamach dwells      
there1 meaning that the devil dwelt     
there3 but where unity and peace is1    
there ,god is2 and he that dwells in    
love1 dwells in ,god4  ,the apostle     
tells the ,corinthians1 that if they    
walked orderly1 even the unbelievers    
would hereby be enforced to come and    
worship1 and say1 ,god was in them      
indeed4  ,and we read1 ,zech4 viii4 #bc1
 of a time when ten men shall take hold 
of a ,jew1 and say1 ,we will go with    
you1 for we have heard that ,god is with
 you4  ,and hence it is that ,christ    
prays1 ,john xvii4 #ba1 that his        
disciples might be one1 as the ,father  
and he were one1 that the world might   
believe the ,father sent him3  as if he 
should say1 you may preach me as long as
 you will1 and to little purpose1 if you
 are not at peace and unity among       

yourselves4  ,such was the unity of     
,christians in former days1 that the    
intelligent heathen would say of them1  
that though they had many bodies1 yet   
they had but one soul4  ,and we read the
 same of them1 ,acts iv4 #cb1 that the  
multitude of them that believed were of 
one heart and one soul4  ,and as the    
learned ,stillingfleet observes in his  
,irenicum3  ,the unity and peace that   
was then among ,christians made religion
 amiable in the judgment of impartial   
heathens3  ,christians were then known  
by the benignity and sweetness of their 
dispositions1 by the candour and        
ingenuity of their spirits1 by their    
mutual love1 forbearance1 and           
condescension to one another4  ,but     
either this is not the practice of      
,christianity 7viz41 a duty that        
,christians are now bound to observe71  
or else it is not calculated for our    
meridian1 where the spirits of men are  
of too high an elevation for it2 for if 
pride and uncharitableness1 if divisions

 and strifes1 if wrath and envy1 if     
animosities and contentions1 were but   
the marks of true ,christians1 ,diogenes
 need never light his lamp at noon to   
find out such among us2 but if a spirit 
of meekness1 gentleness1 and            
condescension1 if a stooping to the     
weaknesses and infirmities of one       
another1 if pursuit after peace1 when it
 flies from us1 be the indispensable    
duties1 and characteristical notes of   
,christians1 it may possibly prove a    
difficult inquest to find out such among
 the crowds of those that shelter       
themselves under that glorious name4    
,it is the unity and peace of churches  
that brings others to them1 and makes   
,christianity amiable4  ,what is        
prophesied of the church of the ,jews   
may in this case be applied to the      
,gentile church1 ,isa4 lxvi4 #ab1 that  
when once ,god extends peace to her like
 a river1 the ,gentiles shall come in   
like a flowing stream2 then 7and not    
till then7 the glory of the ,lord shall 

arise upon his churches1 and his glory  
shall be seen among them2 then shall    
their hearts fear and be enlarged1      
because the abundance of the nations    
shall be converted to them4  #f4  ,as   
want of unity and peace keeps those out 
of the church that would come in1 so it 
hinders the growth of those that are in4
  ,jars and divisions1 wranglings and   
prejudices1 eat out the growth1 if not  
the life of religion4  ,these are those 
waters of ,marah1 that embitter our     
spirits1 and quench the ,spirit of ,god4
  ,unity and peace is said to be like   
the dew of ,hermon1 and as a dew that   
descended upon ,sion1 where the ,lord   
commanded his blessing2 ,psalm cxxxiii4 
#c4  ,divisions run religion into briars
 and thorns1 contentions and parties4   
,divisions are to churches like wars in 
countries3  where wars are1 the ground  
lieth waste and untilled1 none takes    
care of it4  ,it is love that edifieth1 
but division pulleth down4  ,divisions  
are as the north-east wind to the       

fruits1 which causeth them to dwindle   
away to nothing2 but when the storms are
 over1 every thing begins to grow4      
,when men are divided1 they seldom speak
 the truth in love2 and then no marvel  
they grow not up to him in all things1  
who is the head4  ,it is a sad presage  
of an approaching famine 7as one well   
observes71 not of bread nor water1 but  
of hearing the word of ,god1 when the   
thin ears of corn devour the plump full 
ones2 when the lean kine devour the fat 
ones2 when our controversies about      
doubtful things1 and things of less     
moment1 eat up our zeal for the more    
indisputable and practical things in    
religion which may give us cause to     
fear1 that this will be the character by
 which our age will be known to         
posterity--that it was the age that     
talked of religion most1 and loved it   
least4  ,look upon those churches where 
peace is1 and there you shall find      
prosperity4  ,when the churches had     
rest1 they were not only multiplied1    

but1 walking in the fear of the ,lord   
and the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost1   
they were edified2 it is when the whole 
body is knit together1 as with joints   
and hands1 that they increase with the  
increase of ,god4  ,we are at a stand   
sometimes1 why there is so little growth
 among churches1 why men have been so   
long in learning2 and are yet so far    
from attaining the knowledge of the     
truth2 some have given one reason1 and  
some another2 some say pride is the     
cause1 and others say covetousness is   
the cause4  ,i wish ,i could say these  
were no causes2 but ,i observe1 that    
when ,god entered his controversy with  
his people of old1 he mainly insisted   
upon some one sin1 as idolatry1 and     
shedding innocent blood1 c41 as         
comprehensive of the rest2 not but that 
they were guilty of other sins1 but     
those that were the most capital are    
particularly insisted on3  in like      
manner1 whoever would but take a review 
of churches that live in contentions and

 divisions1 may easily find that breach 
of unity and charity is their capital   
sin1 and the occasion of all other sins4
  ,no marvel then1 that the ,scripture  
saith1 the whole law is fulfilled in    
love3 and if so1 then where love is     
wanting1 it needs must follow the whole 
law is broken4  ,it is where love grows 
cold that sin abounds2 and therefore the
 want of unity and peace is the cause of
 that leanness and barrenness that is   
among us2 it is true in spirituals as   
well as temporals1 that peace brings    
plenty4  #g4  ,where unity and peace is 
wanting1 our prayers are hindered2 the  
promise is1 that what we shall agree to 
ask shall be given us of our heavenly   
,father3  no marvel we pray and pray1   
and yet are not answered2 it is because 
we are not agreed what to have4  ,it is 
reported that the people in             
,lacedemonia1 coming to make            
supplication to their idol god1 some of 
them asked for rain1 and others of them 
asked for fair weather3  the oracle     

returns them this answer1 ,that they    
should go first and agree among         
themselves4  ,would a heathen god refuse
 to answer such prayers in which the    
supplicants were not agreed1 and shall  
we think the true ,god will answer them8
  ,we see then that divisions hinder our
 prayers1 and lay a prohibition on our  
sacrifice3  ,if thou bring thy gift to  
the altar1 saith ,christ1 and there     
remember that thy brother hath aught    
against thee1 leave thy gift1 and go1   
and first be reconciled to thy brother1 
and then come and offer it4  ,so that   
want of unity and charity hinders even  
our particular prayers and devotions4   
,this hindered the prayers and fastings 
of the people of old from finding       
acceptance2 ,isa4 lviii4 #c4  ,the      
people ask the reason wherefore they    
fasted1 and ,god did not see nor take   
notice of them4 ,he gives this reason1  
,because they fasted for strife and     
debate1 and hid their face from their   
own flesh4  ,again1 ,isa4 lix41 the     

,lord saith1 his hand was not shortened1
 that he could not save2 nor his ear    
heavy1 that he could not hear3  but     
their sins had separated between their  
,god and them4  ,and among those many   
sins they stood chargeable with1 this   
was none of the least1 viz41 that the   
way of peace they had not known4  ,you  
see where peace was wanting1 prayers    
were hindered1 both under the ,old and  
,new ,testaments4  ,the sacrifice of the
 people1 in the #feth of ,isaiah1 that  
said1 ,stand by thyself1 ,i am holier   
than thou1 was a smoke in the nostrils  
of the ,lord4  ,on the other hand1 we   
read how acceptable those prayers were  
that were made with one accord1 ,acts   
iv4 #bd1 compared with verse #ca4  ,they
 prayed with one accord1 and they were  
all of one heart1 and of one soul3  ,and
 see the benefit of it1 ,they were all  
filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and spoke 
the word with all boldness2 which was   
the very thing they prayed for1 as      
appears verse #bi4  ,and the apostle    

exhorts the husband to dwell with his   
wife1 that their prayers might not be   
hindered2 #a ,pet4 iii4 #g4  ,we see    
then want of unity and peace1 either in 
families or churches1 is a hinderance of
 prayers4  #h4  ,it is a dishonour and  
disparagement to ,christ that his family
 should be divided4  ,when an army falls
 into mutiny and division1 it reflects  
disparagement on him that hath the      
conduct of it4  ,in like manner1 the    
divisions of families are a dishonour to
 the heads1 and those that govern them4 
,and if so1 then how greatly do we      
dishonour our ,lord and governor1 who   
gave his body to be broken to keep his  
church from breaking1 who prayed for    
their peace and unity1 and left peace at
 his departing from them for a legacy1  
even a peace which the world could not  
bestow upon them4  #i4  ,where there is 
peace and unity1 there is a sympathy    
with each other2 that which is the want 
of one will be the want of all4  ,who is
 afflicted1 saith the apostle1 and ,i   

burn not8  ,we should then remember them
 that are in bonds1 as bound with them2 
and them which suffer adversity1 as     
being ourselves also of the body2 ,heb4 
xiii4 #c4  ,but where the body is       
broken1 or men are not reckoned or      
esteemed of the body1 no marvel we are  
so little affected with such as are     
afflicted4  ,where divisions are1 that  
which is the joy of the one is the grief
 of another2 but where unity and peace  
and charity abound1 there we shall find 
,christians in mourning with them that  
mourn1 and rejoicing with them that     
rejoice2 then they will not envy the    
prosperity of others1 nor secretly      
rejoice at the miseries or miscarriages 
of any4  ,,iv4  ,last of all1 ,i now    
come to give you twelve directions and  
motives for the obtaining peace and     
unity4  #a4  ,if ever we would live in  
peace and unity1 we must pray for it4   
,we are required to seek peace3  of whom
 then can we seek it with expectation to
 find it1 but of him who is a ,god of   

peace1 and hath promised to bless his   
people with peace8  ,it is ,god that    
hath promised to give his people one    
heart1 and one way2 yet for all these   
things he will be sought unto3  ,o then 
let us seek peace1 and pray for peace1  
because ,god shall prosper them that    
love it4  ,the peace of churches is that
 which the apostle prays for in all his 
epistles2 in which his desire is1 that  
grace and peace may be multiplied and   
increased among them4  #b4  ,they that  
would endeavour the peace of the        
churches1 must be careful who they      
commit the care and oversight of the    
churches to2 as 7#a47--,over and besides
 those qualifications that should be in 
all ,christians1 they that rule the     
church of ,god should be men of counsel 
and understanding4  ,where there is an  
ignorant ministry1 there is commonly an 
ignorant people1 according as it was of 
old-- ,like priest like people4  ,how   
sad is it to see the church of ,god     
committed to the care of such that      

pretend to be teachers of others1 that  
understand not what they say1 or whereof
 they affirm4  ,no marvel the peace of  
churches is broken1 when their watchmen 
want skill to preserve their unity1     
which of all other things is as the     
church's walls2 when they are divided1  
no wonder they crumble to atoms1 if     
there is no skilful physician to heal   
them4  ,it is sad when there is no balm 
in ,gilead1 and when there is no        
physician there4  ,hence it is1 that the
 wounds of churches become incurable1   
like the wounds of ,god's people of old1
 either not healed at all1 or else      
slightly healed1 and to no purpose4     
,may it not be said of many churches    
this day1 as ,god said of the church of 
,israel1 ,that he sought for a man among
 them that should stand in the gap1 and 
make up the breach2 but he found none8  
,remember what was said of old1 ,mal4   
ii4 #g1 ,the priest's lips preserve     
knowledge3  and the people should seek  
the law at his mouth4  ,but when this is

 wanting1 the people will be stumbling1 
and departing from ,god and one another2
 therefore ,god complains1 ,hos4 iv4 #f1
 ,that his people were destroyed for    
want of knowledge2 that is1 for want of 
knowing guides2 for if the light that is
 in them that teach be darkness1 how    
great is that darkness6 and if the blind
 lead the blind1 no marvel both fall    
into the ditch4  ,how many are there    
that take upon them to teach others1    
that had need be taught in the beginning
 of religion2 that instead of           
multiplying knowledge1 multiply words   
without knowledge2 and instead of making
 known ,god's counsel1 darken counsel by
 words without knowledge8  ,the apostle 
speaks of some that did more than darken
 counsel2 for they wrested the counsel  
of ,god2 #b ,pet4 iii4 #af4  ,in ,paul's
 epistles1 saith he1 are some things    
hard to be understood1 which they that  
are unlearned and unstable wrest1 as    
they do also the other scriptures1 to   
their own destruction4  ,some things in 

the ,scriptures are hard to be known1   
and they are made harder by such        
unlearned teachers as utter their own   
notions by words without knowledge4     
,none are more bold and adventurous to  
take upon them to expound the dark      
mysteries and sayings of the prophets   
and ,revelations1 and the #ith of the   
,romans1 which ,i believe contains some 
of those many things which1 in ,paul's  
epistles1 ,peter saith1 were hard to be 
understood2 ,i say none are more forward
 to dig in these mines than those that  
can hardly give a sound reason for the  
first principles of religion2 and such  
as are ignorant of many more weighty    
things that are easily to be seen in the
 face and superficies of the ,scripture2
 nothing will serve these but swimming  
in the deeps1 when they have not yet    
learned to wade through the shallows of 
the ,scriptures3  like the ,gnosticks of
 old1 who thought they knew all things1 
though they knew nothing as they ought  
to know4  ,and as those ,gnosticks did  

of old1 so do such teachers of late     
break the unity and peace of churches4  
,how needful then is it1 that if we     
desire the peace of churches1 that we   
choose out men of knowledge1 who may be 
able to keep them from being shattered  
and scattered with every wind of        
doctrine3  and who may be able to       
convince and stop the mouths of         
gainsayers4  7#b47  ,you must not only  
choose men of counsel1 but if you would 
design the unity and peace of the       
churches1 you must choose men of courage
 to govern them2 for as there must be   
wisdom to hear with some1 so there must 
be courage to correct others3  as some  
must be instructed meekly1 so others    
must be rebuked sharply1 that they may  
be sound in the faith2 there must be    
wisdom to rebuke some within            
long-suffering1 and there must be       
courage to suppress and stop the mouths 
of others4  ,the apostle tells ,titus of
 some whose mouths must be stopped1 or  
else they would subvert whole houses1   

,titus i4 #aa4 ,where this courage hath 
been wanting1 not only whole houses1 but
 whole churches have been subverted4    
,and ,paul tells the ,galatians1 that   
when he saw some endeavour to bring the 
churches into bondage1 that he did not  
give place to them1 no not for an hour1 
c1 ,gal4 ii4 #e4  ,if this course had   
been taken by the rulers of churches1   
their peace had not been so often       
invaded by unruly and vain talkers4  #c4
  ,in choosing men to rule 7if you would
 endeavour to keep the unity of the     
,spirit1 and the bond of peace thereby71
 be careful you choose men of peaceable 
dispositions4  ,that which hath much    
annoyed the peace of churches hath been 
the froward and perverse spirits of the 
rulers thereof4  ,solomon therefore     
adviseth1 ,that with a furious man we   
should not go1 lest we learn his ways1  
and get a snare to our souls1 ,prov4    
xxii4 #bd1 #be1 and with the froward we 
learn frowardness4  ,how do some men's  
words eat like a canker2 who instead of 

lifting up their voices like a trumpet  
to sound a parley for peace1 have rather
 sounded an alarm to war and contention4
  ,if ever we would live in peace1 let  
us reverence the feet of them that bring
 the glad tidings of it4  ,o how have   
some men made it their business to      
preach contentions1 and upon their      
entertainment of every novel opinion to 
preach separation6  ,how hath ,god's    
word been stretched and torn to furnish 
these men with arguments to tear        
churches6  ,have not our ears heard     
those texts that say1 ,come out from    
among them1 and be separate1 c41 and    
,withdraw from every brother that walks 
disorderly8  ,i say1 have we not heard  
these texts that were written to prevent
 disorder brought to countenance the    
greatest disorder that ever was in the  
church of ,god1 even schism and         
division8 whereas one of these          
exhortations was written to the church  
of ,corinth to separate themselves from 
the idol's temple1 and the idol's table1

 in which many of them lived in the     
participation of1 notwithstanding their 
profession of the true ,god2 as appears1
 #b ,cor4 vi4 #a4f1 #ag1 compared with  
#a ,cor4 viii4 #g1 and as #a ,cor4 x4   
#ad1 #bj1 #bb1 recites2 and not for some
 few or more members1 who shall make    
themselves both judges and parties to   
make separation1 when and as often as   
they please1 from the whole congregation
 and church of ,god1 where they stood   
related2 for by the same rule1 and upon 
the same ground1 may others start some  
new question among these new            
separatists1 and become their own judges
 of the communicableness of them1 and   
thereupon make another separation from  
these1 till at last two be not left to  
walk together4  ,and for that other text
 mentioned1 #b ,thess4 iii4 #f1 where   
,paul exhorts the church of             
,thessalonica to withdraw themselves    
from every brother that walks           
disorderly2 ,i cannot but wonder that   
any should bring this to justify their  

separation or withdrawal from the       
communion of a true 7though a           
disorderly7 church4  ,for1  7#a47       
,consider1 that this was not writ for a 
few members to withdraw from the church1
 but for the church to withdraw from    
disorderly members4  7#b47  ,consider1  
that if any offended members1 upon      
pretence of error1 either in doctrine or
 practice1 should by this text become   
judges 7as well as parties7 of the      
grounds and lawfulness of their         
separation2 then it will follow1 that   
half a score notorious heretics1 or     
scandalous livers 7when they have walked
 so as they forsee the church are ready 
to deal with them1 and withdraw from    
them71 shall anticipate the church1 and 
pretend somewhat against them1 of which 
themselves must be judges1 and so       
withdraw from the church1 pretending    
either heresy or disorder2 and so       
condemn the church1 to prevent the      
disgrace of being condemned by the      
church4 ,how needful then is it1 that   

men of peaceable dispositions1 and not  
of froward and fractious and dividing   
spirits1 be chosen to rule the church of
 ,god1 for fear lest the whole church be
 leavened and soured by them6  #d4  ,as 
there must be care used in choosing men 
to rule the church of ,god1 so there    
must be a consideration had1 that there 
are many things darkly laid down in     
scripture2 this will temper our spirits1
 and make us live in peace and unity the
 more firmly in things in which we      
agree2 this will help us to bear one    
another's burdens1 and so fulfil the law
 of ,christ1 inasmuch as all things     
necessary to salvation and church       
communion are plainly laid down in      
scripture4 ,and where things are more   
darkly laid down1 we should consider    
that ,god intended hereby to stir up our
 diligence1 that thereby we might       
increase our knowledge1 and not our     
divisions1 for it may be said of all    
discoveries of truth we have made in the
 ,scriptures1 as it is said of the globe

 of the earth1 that though men have made
 great searches1 and thereupon great    
discoveries1 yet there is still a terra 
incognita1 an unknown land2 so there is 
in the ,scriptures3 for after men have  
travelled over them1 one age after      
another1 yet still there is1 as it were1
 a terra incognita1 an unknown track to 
put us upon farther search and inquiry1 
and to keep us from censuring and       
falling out with those who have not yet 
made the same discoveries2 that so we   
may say with the ,psalmist1 when we     
reflect upon our short apprehensions of 
the mind of ,god1 that we have seen an  
end of all perfection1 but ,god's       
commands are exceeding broad2 and as one
 observes1 speaking of the ,scriptures1 
that there is a path in them leading to 
the mind of ,god1 which lieth a great   
distance from the thoughts and          
apprehensions of men4  ,and on the other
 hand1 in many other places1 ,god sits1 
as it were1 on the superficies1 and the 
face of the letter1 where he that runs  

may discern him speaking plainly1 and no
 parable at all4  ,how should the       
consideration of this induce us to a    
peaceable deportment towards those that 
differ6  #e4  ,if we would endeavour    
peace and unity1 we must consider how   
,god hath tempered the body1 that so the
 comely parts should not separate from  
the uncomely1 as having no need of them2
 #a ,cor4 xii4 #bc-be4 ,there is in     
,christ's body and house some members   
and vessels less honourable2 #b ,tim4   
ii4 #bj4  ,and therefore we should not1 
as some now-a-days do1 pour the more    
abundant disgrace1 instead of putting   
the more abundant honour upon them4     
,did we but consider this1 we should be 
covering the weakness1 and hiding the   
miscarriages of one another1 because we 
are all members one of another1 and the 
most useless member in his place is     
useful4  #f4  ,if we would live in      
peace1 let us remember our relations to 
,god1 as children to a father1 and to   
each other as brethren4  ,will not the  

thoughts that we have one ,father1 quiet
 us2 and the thoughts that we are       
brethren1 unite us8  ,it was this that  
made ,abraham propose terms of peace to 
,lot2 ,gen4 xiii1 ,let there be no      
strife1 saith he1 between us1 for we are
 brethren4  ,and we read of ,moses1 in  
,acts vii4 #bf1 using this argument to  
reconcile those that strove together1   
and to set them at one again3  ,sirs1   
saith he1 you are brethren1 why do you  
wrong one another8  ,a deep sense of    
this relation1 that we are brethren1    
would keep us from dividing4  #g4  ,if  
we would preserve peace1 let us mind the
 gifts and graces and virtues that are  
in each other2 let these be more in our 
eye than their failings and             
imperfections4  ,when the apostle       
exhorted the ,philippians to peace1 as a
 means hereunto1 that so the peace of   
,god might rule in their hearts1 he     
tells them1 iv4 #h1 ,that if there were 
any virtue1 or any praise1 they should  
think of these things4 ,while we are    

always talking and blazoning the faults 
of one another1 and spreading their     
infirmities1 no marvel we are so little 
in peace and charity2 for as charity    
covereth a multitude of sins1 so malice 
covereth a multitude of virtues1 and    
makes us deal by one another1 as the    
heathen persecutors dealt with          
,christians1 viz41 put them in bears'   
skins1 that they might the more readily 
become a prey to those dogs that were   
designed to devour them4  #h4  ,if we   
would keep unity and peace1 let us lay  
aside provoking and dividing language1  
and forgive those that use it4          
,remember that old saying1 ,evil words  
corrupt good manners4  ,when men think  
to carry all before them1 with speaking 
uncharitably and disgracefully of their 
brethren or their opinions1 may not such
 be answered as ,job answered his       
unfriendly visitants1 ,job vi4 #be1 ,how
 forcible are right words2 but what doth
 your arguing reprove8  ,how healing are
 words fitly spoken8  ,a word in season1

 how good is it8  ,if we would seek     
peace1 let us clothe all our treaties   
for peace with acceptable words2 and    
where one word may better accommodate   
than another1 let that be used to       
express persons or things by2 and let us
 not1 as some do1 call the different    
practices of our brethren1 will-worship1
 and their different opinions1 doctrines
 of devils1 and the doctrine of ,balaam1
 who taught fornication1 c41 unless we  
can plainly1 and in expressness of      
terms1 prove it so4  ,such language as  
this hath strangely divided our spirits1
 and hardened our hearts one towards    
another4  #i4  ,if we would live in     
peace1 let us make the best             
constructions of one another's words and
 actions4  ,charity judgeth the best1   
and it thinks no evil2 if words and     
actions may be construed to a good      
sense1 let us never put a bad           
construction upon them4  ,how much hath 
the peace of ,christians been broken by 
an uncharitable interpretation of words 

and actions8  ,as some lay to the charge
 of others that which they never said1  
so1 by straining men's words1 others lay
 to their charge that they never        
thought4  #aj4  ,be willing to hear1 and
 learn1 and obey those that ,god by his 
providence hath set over you2 this is a 
great means to preserve the unity and   
peace of churches3  but when men 7yea1  
and sometimes women7 shall usurp        
authority1 and think themselves wiser   
than their teachers1 no wonder if these 
people run into contentions and parties1
 when any shall say they are not free to
 hear those whom the church thinks fit  
to speak to them4  ,this is the first   
step to schism1 and is usually attended1
 if not timely prevented1 with a sinful 
separation4  #aa4  ,if you would keep   
the unity of the spirit in the bond of  
peace1 be mindful1 that the ,god whom   
you serve is a ,god of peace1 and your  
,saviour is a ,prince of peace1 and that
 his ways are ways of pleasantness1 and 
all his paths are peace2 and that       

,christ was sent into the world to give 
light to them that sit in darkness1 and 
in the shadow of death1 and to guide our
 feet in the way of peace4  #ab4        
,consider the oneness of spirit that is 
among the enemies of religion2 though   
they differ about other things1 yet to  
persecute religion1 and extirpate       
religion out of the earth1 here they    
will agree2 the devils in the air1 and  
the devils in the earth1 all the devils 
in hell1 and in the world1 make one at  
this turn4  ,shall the devil's kingdom  
be united2 and shall ,christ's be       
divided8  ,shall the devils make one    
shoulder to drive on the design of      
damning men1 and shall not ,christians  
unite to carry on the great design of   
saving of them8  ,shall the papists     
agree and unite to carry on their       
interest1 notwithstanding the multitudes
 of orders1 degrees1 and differences1   
that are among them2 and shall not those
 that call themselves reformed churches1
 unite to carry on the common interest  

of ,christ in the world1 notwithstanding
 some petty and disputable differences  
that are among them8  ,quarrels about   
religion 7as one observes7 were sins not
 named among the ,gentiles4  ,what a    
shame is it then for ,christians to     
abound in them1 especially considering  
the nature of the ,christian religion1  
and what large provisions the ,author of
 it hath made1 to keep the profession's 
of it in peace6 insomuch 7as one well   
observes71 it is next to a miracle that 
ever any 7especially the professors of  
it7 should fall out about it4  #ac4     
,consider and remember1 that the ,judge 
stands at the door4  ,let this moderate 
your spirits1 that the ,lord is at hand4
  ,what a sad account will they have to 
make when he comes1 that shall be found 
to smite their fellow-servants1 and to  
make the way to his kingdom more narrow 
than ever he made it6  ,let me close all
 in the words of that great apostle1 #b 
,cor4 xiii4 #aa1 ,finally1 brethren1    
farewell4  ,be perfect1 be of good      

comfort1 be of one mind1 live in peace1 
and the ,god of love and peace shall be 
with you4  ,postscript4--,reader1 ,i    
thought good to advertise thee1 that ,i 
have delivered this to thy hand in the  
same order and method in which it was   
preached1 and almost in the same words1 
without any diminishings or considerable
 enlargings1 unless it be in the        
thirteen last particulars2 upon some of 
which ,i have made some enlargements1   
which ,i could not then do for want of  
time2 but the substance of every one of 
them was then laid down in the same     
particular order as here thou hast them4
  ,and now ,i have done1 ,i make no     
other account 7to use the words of a    
moderate man upon the like occasion7 but
 it will fall out with me1 as doth      
commonly with him that parts a fray1    
both parties may perhaps drive at me for
 wishing them no worse than peace4  ,my 
ambition of the public tranquillity of  
the church of ,god1 ,i hope1 will carry 
me through these hazards2 let both beat 

me1 so their quarrels may cease1 ,i     
shall rejoice in those blows and scars  
,i shall take for the church's safety4