III. UNITY is the strength and preservation of Societies, and Selfishness and Division is their weakness, their dissolution and their ruin. As in Natural, so in Political Bodies, the closest and perfectest Union of Parts, maketh the firmest and most durable composition. What is the strength of an Army but their UNITY? When they obey one General Commander, and cleave inseparably together, and forsake not one another in fight, such an Army would conquer far greater multitudes of incoherent separable men: when every Soldier thinketh how ⟨p. 49⟩to shift for himself, and to save his own life whatever become of others, a few run away first, and show the rest the way, and they are quickly all made conquered fugitives: when they that resolve [We must all stand or fall together, and we will not Live or escape alone; It is more the Army than my Life that I would preserve] these are seldom overcome by any policy or power. What is the conquest of an Army, but the routing and scattering of them? The strength of composed bodies lieth in the great Number of parts most inseparably conjoined. Small Cities and Republics are made a prey to potent Princes, because they are insufficient for their own defence, and are hardly United with their neighbours for mutual preservation. An United flame of many Combustibles consumeth all without resistance; when divided sparks and candles have no such power: Divided drops of rain are easily born, when United streams and floods bear down all before them. He can break a single thread, that cannot break a cord that is made of multitudes. And though the chief strength of the Church of Christ be not in themselves, but in their God and Head, yet God fitteth every thing to the use that he designeth it to, and maketh that creature, that person, that society strong, which he will have to be most safe and durable, and to do the works and bear the burdens that require strength. Though we have all one God and Christ and Spirit, yet are there great variety of gifts and graces; and as there are strong and weak Christians, so there are strong and weak Churches and Common-wealths.
III. UNITY is the strength and preservation of Societies, and Selfishness and Division is their weakness, their dissolution and their ruine. As in Natural, so in Political Bodies, the closest and perfectest Vnion of Parts, maketh the firmest and most durable composition. What is the strength of an Army but their UNITY? When they obey one General Commander, and cleave inseparably together, and forsake not one another in fight, such an Army would conquer far greater multitudes of incoherent separable men: when every Souldier thinketh how ⟨p. 49⟩to shift for himself, and to save his own life whatever become of others, a few run away first, and shew the rest the way, and they are quickly all made conquered fugitives: when they that resolve [We must all stand or fall together, and we will not Live or escape alone; It is more the Army than my Life that I would preserve] these are seldom overcome by any policy or power. What is the conquest of an Army, but the routing and scattering of them? The strength of composed bodies lyeth in the great Number of parts most inseparably conjoyned. Small Cities and Republicks are made a prey to potent Princes, because they are insufficient for their own defence, and are hardly Vnited with their neighbours for mutual preservation. An United flame of many Combustibles consumeth all without resistance; when divided sparks and candles have no such power: Divided drops of rain are easily born, when United streams and floods bear down all before them. He can break a single thread, that cannot break a cord that is made of multitudes. And though the chief strength of the Church of Christ be not in themselves, but in their God and Head, yet God fitteth every thing to the use that he designeth it to, and maketh that creature, that person, that society strong, which he will have to be most safe and durable, and to do the works and bear the burdens that require strength. Though we have all one God and Christ and Spirit, yet are there great variety of gifts and graces; and as there are strong and weak Christians, so there are strong and weak Churches and Common-wealths.
