Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

LII. 1. A Christian indeed is a great esteemer of the Unity of the Church, and greatly averse to all Divisions among Believers. As there is in the natural body an abhorring of dismembering or separating any part from the whole; so there is in the mystical body of Christ: The members that have life cannot but feel the smart of any distempering attempt: For abscision is destruction: The members die that are separated from the body. And if there be but any obstruction or hinderance of communion, they will be painful or unuseful. He feeleth in himself ⟨p. 129⟩the reason of all those strict commands, and earnest exhortations, 1 Cor. 1.10. Now I beseech you Brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement, Phil. 2 1, 2, 3, 4. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one mind: Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things; but every man also on the things of others, Ephes. 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Read also Ephes. 4.12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 1 Cor. 12. throughout. He looketh at uncharitableness, and divisions with more abhorrence, than weak Christians do at drunkenness or whoredom, or such other heinous sin. He feareth such dreadful warnings, as