A26885:34
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…
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed by R. W. for Thomas Underhill and Francis Tyton, 1660
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Catholic Unity.
Catholick Vnity.
EPHES. 4.3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
IT seems that Unity and Felicity are near kin, in that the world is so like affected to them both. As our Felicity is in God, and we lost it by falling from God; so our Unity is in God, and we lost it by departing from this Centre of Unity. And as all men have ⟨p. 2⟩still a natural desire after Felicity in general; but God who is their Felicity, they neither know nor desire; so have we still a natural desire after Unity in it self considered; but God who is our Unity, is little known or desired by the most. And as nature can perceive the evil of Misery which is contrary to Felicity, and cry out against it, and yet doth cherish the certain causes of it, and will not be persuaded to let them go: So Nature can perceive the evil of Division, which is contrary to Unity, and cry out against it, and yet will not forbear the causes of Division. And therefore as we say of Felicity, Nature by Philosophy seeks it, Divinity findeth it, and Religion possesseth it: So may we say of true Unity; Philosophy or Nature seeks it, Divinity findeth it, and Religion or Holiness possesseth it. And as most of the world ⟨p. 3⟩do miss of Felicity, for all their high esteem of it, and fall into misery for all their hatred of it, because they love not the object and way of Felicity, and hate not the Matter and Way of Misery. Even so most of the world do miss of Unity, for all their high esteem of Unity, and fall into miserable distractions and Divisions for all their hatred of Division, because they love not the centre and way of Unity, and hate not the occasion and causes of Division. And as the very reason why the most are shut out of Happiness, is their own wilful refusing of the true matter and means of Happiness, and no one could undo them but themselves, for all that they are loth to be undone: Even so the very Reason why the world attaineth not to Unity, is their own wilful refusing of the true Centre and Means of Unity; and it is themselves that