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…

14. Moreover, if once we were United in the Spirit, and in Holiness, We should manage all our differences in a holy manner, and be awakened and disposed to seek after healing in a healing way. It would put us upon enquiring after Peace, and studying the meetest terms of Peace, till we had found out the way in which we should accord. The Spirit of Love and Holiness would provoke us, to begin and seek for Peace with those that will not seek to us, and that seem averse to it; and to follow after peace, when it flieth from us, Heb. 12, 14. and ⟨p. 268⟩even to lie down at the feet of men, and deny our honour and worldly Interest, if it might procure Brotherly love and peace. Whereas a proud unsanctified heart will scorn to stoop, especially to those that are below them, or have wronged them, and will scorn to ask forgiveness of those that they have wronged! When you have showed them the plainest word of God for it, and persuaded them to it with undeniable reasons, you lose your labour, and may almost as well persuade the fire to be cold. If you will stoop and humble your self to him, and ask him forgiveness, and give him the honour, or change your mind and be of his opinion, and say as he saith, and do as he would have you, perhaps you may have some Peace with the most ungodly man. But the servants of Christ have a spirit of Meekness and Humility and Self-denial; and ⟨p. 269⟩therefore if there be fallings out among them, they can humble themselves and seek for reconciliation. If there be difference in Judgement about any weighty matters, they will go or send to one another as Brethren, and confer about it in Love and meekness, and search the Scripture, and seek after Truth, and compare their evidences, and Pray together for that Light and Love that must Reconcile them: If they fall out, they can say to one another [We are Brethren, and must not Live at a distance, nor suffer any wounds in our Affections, or any breach of Charity to remain: The Sun must not go down upon our wrath: Come, l•t us go together in private, and beg of God that he would repair our Love, and reconcile us, and prevent such breaches for the time to come.] And thus they can pray themselves friends again. I am persuaded that ⟨p. 270⟩