7. Lastly, the Saints themselves are sanctified but in part, and many in a low degree; and being Imperfect in Holiness, must needs be as Imperfect in holy Unity and Peace It is not their Holiness that causeth their contentions, but the remnants of their sin. And therefore its but small credit to the way of sinners. Were we but perfectly rid of the vices which you cherish, ⟨p. 302⟩and perfectly separated from the ways that you so much delight in, and had we no remnants of your disease and sinful nature in us, we should then have perfect Unity and Peace. Do you think that its long of our Religion, that we disagree? No: if we were but perfectly Religious we should be perfectly agreed. It is because we are Holy in no greater a measure, and not because we are Holy at all. It is not because of the way of Godliness that we have chosen; but because we walk no faster, and no more carefully in that way. It is our too oft stepping out of it, and not our walking in it, that breaketh our Peace with God and man, and our own consciences. Search all the Scripture, and see where you can find, that ever God encouraged his servants to divisions. No: but on the contrary he oft and earnestly cries them down, ⟨p. 303⟩and warneth all his followers to avoid them, and the causers and fomenters of them. There was never Master so much for Unity as Christ, and never was there a Law or a Religion that did so much condemn Divisions, and command brotherly Love, and Peace and concord, and forbearing and forgiving one another, as the Christian Law and Religion doth. And will you yet say that our Divisions are long of our Religion, or of Christ the author of it? You may as wisely say, that eating is the cause of weakness, because that some are weak for all their meat. But you will find that none can live without it. Or you may say as wisely that Physicians are the causes of the diseases of the world, because they do not cure them all. I tell you there is none in all the world that have done so much for Unity and Peace, as ⟨p. 304⟩Christ hath done. No: all the world set together have not done half so much for it as he. He hath preached Peace and Unity, forgiving and forbearing and Loving one another, yea Loving our enemies; and he hath gone before us in the perfect practice of what he taught. He hath offered himself a Sacrifice to the Justice of his Father, that by his blood he might reconcile us unto God.
7. Lastly, the Saints themselves are sanctified but in part, and many in a low degree; and being Imperfect in Holiness, must needs be as Imperfect in holy Unity and Peace It is not their Holiness that causeth their contentions, but the remnants of their sin. And therefore its but small credit to the way of sinners. Were we but perfectly rid of the vices which you cherish, ⟨p. 302⟩and perfectly separated from the waies that you so much delight in, and had we no remnants of your disease and sinful nature in us, we should then have perfect Unity and Peace. Do you think that its long of our Religion, that we disagree? No: if we were but perfectly Religious we should be perfectly agreed. It is because we are Holy in no greater a measure, and not because we are Holy at all. It is not because of the way of Godliness that we have chosen; but because we walk no faster, and no more carefully in that way. It is our too oft stepping out of it, and not our walking in it, that breaketh our Peace with God and man, and our own consciences. Search all the Scripture, and see where you can find, that ever God encouraged his servants to divisions. No: but on the contrary he oft and earnestly cries them down, ⟨p. 303⟩and warneth all his followers to avoid them, and the causers and fomenters of them. There was never Master so much for Unity as Christ, and never was there a Law or a Religion that did so much condemne Divisions, and command brotherly Love, and Peace and concord, and forbearing and forgiving one another, as the Christian Law and Religion doth. And will you yet say that our Divisions are long of our Religion, or of Christ the author of it? You may as wisely say, that eating is the cause of weakness, because that some are weak for all their meat. But you will find that none can live without it. Or you may say as wisely that Physicians are the causes of the diseases of the world, because they do not cure them all. I tell you there is none in all the world that have done so much for Unity and Peace, as ⟨p. 304⟩Christ hath done. No: all the world set together have not done half so much for it as he. He hath preached Peace and Unity, forgiving and forbearing and Loving one another, yea Loving our enemies; and he hath gone before us in the perfect practice of what he taught. He hath offered himself a Sacrifice to the Justice of his Father, that by his blood he might reconcile us unto God.
