And to the Ministers of the Gospel, and all good Christian•, ⟨p. 183⟩such an Unity as this would be an unspeakable joy. Somewhat I know of other mens hearts by mine own. Could I but prevail with this Nation, yea with this one Town and Parish, to meet all together and heartily Consent, Agree and Resolve to join all together in an heavenly life, I should more rejoice in it, then if I had the house full of gold and silver, yea (as to mine own interest) then if I were Lord of all the world. O what a joyful day were this, if I could this d•y bring you to this Holy Unity and Agreement? How comfortably should I spend the few remaining days of my pilgrimage among you, if you would but all be brought to this? Whereas I may now say as David, Psalm 120.5. for all the godly that are among you, [Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the T•nt• of Kedar! My soul •ath too long ⟨p. 184⟩dwelt with him that hateth ▪ this holy) peace, I am for peace, but when I speak (and persuade men to it) they are for war, and continuance in the dividing course […] ungodliness Alas it grieveth us to see such divisions in all the Churches and Nations of the Christian world: and O that we did know how to heal them! But when we cannot heal the most ungodly separations and divisions of one Town and Parish, it discourageth us from hoping for any great matters of such large extent. Some attempts I have made, and more I would fain make, to further a Union and Peace among the Churches through the Land: But when I cannot procure the Unity of this one Town and Parish, what hope can I have to look any further? •l•s what a shame is this to you, and what a grief to us, that we cannot bring one Parish, one Village that ⟨p. 185⟩ever I knew of, in all England, to be all of a mind in those great, those weighty, needful things, where it is worse th•n a madness for men to b• unresolved or disagreed? As Melanthus made a je•t of a great man that went about to reconcile all Greece, and bring all the Princes and States to Pe•ce, when he could not bring h•s wi•e and her servant-maid to agreement in his own house. So with what hopes can we attempt any public peace, when we cannot bring one Parish, one Village, y•a but very few families, to agree in that which they must agree in, or else the refusers will be certainly condemned! I beseech you •irs make glad the […] of your Teachers •nd of all good m•n, by your Agreement.
And to the Ministers of the Gospel, and all good Christian•, ⟨p. 183⟩such an Unity as this would be an unspeakable joy. Somewhat I know of other mens hearts by mine own. Could I but prevail with this Nation, yea with this one Town and Parish, to meet all together and hear•ily Consent, Agree and Resolve to joyn all together in an heavenly life, I should more rejoyce in it, then if I had the house full of gold and silver, yea (as to mine own interest) then if I were Lord of all the world. O what a joyful day were this, if I could this d•y bring you to this Holy Unity and Agreement? How comfortably should I spend the few remaining dayes of my pilgrimage among you, if you would but all be brought to this? Whereas I may now say as David, Psalm 120.5. for all the godly that are among you, [Wo is me th•t I s•journ in Mesech, that I dwell in the T•nt• of Kedar! My soul •ath too long ⟨p. 184⟩dwelt with him that hateth ▪ this holy) peace, I am for peace, but when I speak (and perswade men to it) they are for war, and continuance in the dividing course 〈…〉 ungodliness Alas it grieveth us to see such divisions in all the Churches and Nations of the Christian world: and O that we did know how to heal them! But when we cannot heal the most ungodly separations and divisions of one Town and Parish, it discourageth us from hoping for any great matters of such large extent. Some attempts I have made, and more I would fain make, to further a Union and Peace among the Church•s through the Land: But when I cannot procure the Unity of this one Town and Parish, what hope can I have to look any further? •l•s what a shame is this to you, and what a grief to us, that we cannot bring one Parish, one Village that ⟨p. 185⟩ever I knew of, in all England, to be all of a mind in thos• great, those weighty, needful things, where it is worse thn a madness for men to b unresolved or disgreed? As Melanthus made a jet of a great man that went about to reconcile all Greece, and bring all the Princes and Sttes to Pece, when he could not bring hs wie and her servant-maid to agreement in his own house. So with what hopes can we attempt any publick peace, when we cannot bring one Parish, one Village, ya but very few amilies, to agree in that which they must agree in, or else the refusers will be certainly condemned! I beseech you irs make glad the of your Teachers nd of all good mn, by your Agreement.
