A30241:2770
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sixthly, Unity is not only a sanctifier, but a strengthener also? 1It's that which confirmeth and establisheth the Church. The old Rule is, Vis unita sortior, the Sun beams united together cast the greater heat. It's union in an Army, in a Nation, in any Society that preserveth it; as a Wise-man said, Public Societies are immortal, if they do not kill themselves by division; Our Saviour confirmed this, when he said, No Kingdom divided against it self can stand, Matth. 12.25. He brings this as an argument, That he did not cast out devils by the help of devils, but by the Spirit of God. Thus if the people of God cast out error and profaneness by Gods Spirit, then they will not entertain the like themselves; for this would be to set a Kingdom at variance within it self. ⟨p. 568⟩The old Rule is, Divide & impera: It was a peculiar providence, that Christs bones should not be broken, to demonstrate hereby (say some) that Christ, though he died, yet he did not lose his strength. We must justly fear God hath some heavy scourge upon the godly, when they are first divided, if their bones are broken, their strength is weakened; their evil and misery will not stay there: So that it's a very foolish and weak thing in the godly to continue in their divisions; for have they not mighty and numberless enemies? Doth not the whole world hate them? Are they not as Wolves to the godly, who are as Sheep? Now if not only the Wolf and the Fox, but also one Sheep shall devour another, Must not this bring utter ruin? The Apostle Paul speaks fully to this, Gal. 5.15. If ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed of one another: Observe the notable expression, biting and devouring one another, How unnatural is this to sheep, dogs use to do so? And further, by this means you will consume one another; That which the devils of hell, and all the wicked adversaries thereof could not do, that you will do to one another, En quo discordia cives perduxit miseros! Look not then upon your differences, as mere sins, but heavy prognostics of Gods wrath. The veil in the Temple did rend in pieces, which was a presage of the destruction of the Temple.
Sixthly, Ʋnity is not only a sanctifier, but a strengthner also?