Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…

But perhaps you will say, [Why are they not then more fully agreed?] I answer, 1. Because there are ⟨p. 181⟩such a multitude of ungodly persons among them, that hinder them from opportunities and advantages for agreement. And many of these ungodly ones are hypocrites, that take on them to be godly, and so are traitors in our bosoms, and hinder peace the more by seeming to be godly when they are not. 2. Because of the remnant of sin that is yet in the sanctified, and because they are not yet perfect, and in Heaven. If they had no sin, they would have no divisions: And as their sin is healed as to the dominion of it, but not perfectly till they come to heaven; so their divisions are healed in the main, but not perfectly till they are perfectly United to God in Glory.

But perhaps you will say, [Why are they not then more fully agreed?] I answer, 1. Because there are ⟨p. 181⟩such a multitude of ungodly persons among them, that hinder them from opportunities and advantages for agreement. And many of these ungodly ones are hypocrites, that take on them to be godly, and so are traytors in our bosoms, and hinder peace the more by seeming to be godly when they are not. 2. Because of the remnant of sin that is yet in the sanctified, and because they are not yet perfect, and in Heaven. If they had no sin, they would have no divisions: And as their sin is healed as to the dominion of it, but not perfectly till they come to heaven; so their divisions are healed in the main, but not perfectly till they are perfectly United to God in Glory.

9. Consider also I beseech you, what a joy it would be to Christ, and to the Angels of heaven, and to all good men, if you would but ⟨p. 182⟩all make such an Agreement, and heartily join together in Holiness! The whole 15. Chapter of Luk• s by divers Parables to tell you this, wat Joy there is in heaven it self for the conversion of one sinner O what would there be then, if Towns and Countries would agree in Holiness! And I am certain it should be a Joy to the Princes and Rulers of the earth; for such a Unity only will old, and be a blessing to their Dominions. Plutarch makes it Agsilus his reason why the Spartans had no Walls, because the people being […] of one mind, had no need or Walls. And Pliny tells us of a stone that will swim if it be whole, and sink if it be broken. And so will Common-wealths that are broke from Christ, and void of the cement of the Spirit that should unite them.