Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

There is no knot of love so sure, as that which Religion ties: It is able to draw together East and West, sea and land, and make one of two, of ten, of thousands, of all. This is that, which gathereth the saints together, not to a local, but mystical union; whereby they are compacted under the government of one Lord, tied by the bonds of one faith, washed from their sins in one laver, assigned, assured, assumed by one spirit, to the inheritance of one kingdom: but the unity of brethren agreeing, is not more entire,¹ then their dissension, falling out is violent. Pro. 18. A brother offended is harder to be won, then a strong City: and their contentions are like the bars of a Castle: but their own loss is the enemies gain. It is usually seen, that (amicorum dispen••a, hostium compendia) dissension is a Lent to friends, a Christmas to foes. They that so labour to untie unity, that true-lovers knot, which every christian heart should wear, and never be weary of; find at last ⟨p. 8⟩by miserable experience, that destruction doth strive to follow, where distraction went before. When in stead of ^tthe right hands of fellowship, struck for consent, they like the Athenians will sacrifice for none but themselves, and their neighbours of Chios. Needs must the Daughter of Israel be disquieted, when such opposites, like Rebecca's twins, struggle in her womb. If the distraction of voices hindered the building of Babel: needs must the distraction of hearts hinder the building of Jerusalem.

There is no knot of loue so sure, as that which Religion ties: It is able to draw together East and West, sea and land, and make one of two, of ten, of thousands, of all. This is that, which gathereth the saints together, not to a locall, but misticall vnion; whereby they are compacted vnder the gouernement of one Lord, tied by the bonds of one faith, washed from their sinsin one lauer, assigned, assured, assumed by one spirit, to the inheritance of one kingdome: but the vnity of brethren agreeing, is not more intire,¹