And as long as this great division is unhealed, what other means can bring us to any happy Unity? It would make a mans heart bleed to consider of the folly of the ungodly rout, that think it would be a happy Union, if we could all agree to read one form of prayer, while some love, and others hate the holiness which they pray for: and if we could all agree to use the sign of the Cross in Baptism, while one half either understand not the Baptismal Covenant, or wilfully violate it, and neglect, or hate, and scorn that mortified ⟨p. 9⟩holy life, which by that solemn Vow and Covenant they are engaged to. They are solicitous to bring us all to unity in the gesture of receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, while some take Christ and life, and others take their own damnation. When they should first agree in being all the faithful servants of one Master, they make a great matter of it, that the servants of Christ, and of the Devil may use the same bodily posture in that worship where their hearts are as different as spirit and flesh. Poor people think that it is the want of Uniformity in certain Ceremonies of mans invention, that is the cause of our ⟨p. 10⟩great divisions and distractions; When, alas, it is the want of unity in matters of greater consequence, even of Faith, and Love, and Holiness, as I have here showed. If once we were all children of one Father, and living members of one Christ, and all renewed by one sanctifying Spirit, and aimed at one end, and walked by one Rule (the word of God,) and had that special Love to one another which Christ hath made the mark of his Disciples, this were an Agreement to be rejoiced in indeed, which would hold us together in the most comfortable relations, and assure us that we shall live together with Christ in everlasting ⟨p. 11⟩blessedness. But, alas, if our Agreement be no better, then to sit together in the same seats, and say the same words, and use the same gestures and Ceremonies, our hearts will be still distant from each other, our natures will be contrary, and the malignity of ungodly hearts will be breaking out on all occasions. And as now you hear men scorning at the practice of that Religion which themselves profess, so if God prevent it not, you may shortly see another War take off their restraint and let them loose, and then they will seek the blood of those that now they seem to be agreed with.
And as long as this great division is unhealed, what other means can bring us to any happy Unity? It would make a mans heart bleed to consider of the folly of the ungodly rout, that think it would be a happy Union, if we could all agree to read one form of prayer, while some love, and others hate the holiness which they pray for: and if we could all agree to use the sign of the Cross in Baptism, while one half either understand not the Baptismall Covenant, or wilfully violate it, and neglect, or hate, and scorn that mortified ⟨p. 9⟩holy life, which by that solemn Vow and Covenant they are engaged to. They are solicitous to bring us all to unity in the gesture of receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, while some take Christ and life, and others take their own damnation. When they should first agree in being all the faithfull servants of one Master, they make a great matter of it, that the servants of Christ, and of the Devil may use the same bodily posture in that worship where their hearts are as different as spirit and flesh. Poor people think that it is the want of Uniformity in certain Ceremonies of mans invention, that is the cause of our ⟨p. 10⟩great divisions and distractions; When, alas, it is the want of unity in matters of greater consequence, even of Faith, and Love, and Holiness, as I have here shewed. If once we were all children of one Father, and living members of one Christ, and all renewed by one sanctifying Spirit, and aimed at one end, and walked by one Rule (the word of God,) and had that special Love to one another which Christ hath made the mark of his Disciples, this were an Agreement to be rejoyced in indeed, which would hold us together in the most comfortable relations, and assure us that we shall live together with Christ in everlasting ⟨p. 11⟩blessedness. But, alas, if our Agreement be no better, then to sit together in the same seats, and say the same words, and use the same gestures and Ceremonies, our hearts will be still distant from each other, our natures will be contrary, and the malignity of ungodly hearts will be breaking out on all occasions. And as now you hear men scorning at the practice of that Religion which themselves profess, so if God prevent it not, you may shortly see another War take off their restraint and let them loose, and then they will seek the blood of those that now they seem to be agreed with.
