First, That the true ground of all Love and Peace, all Concord and Agreement, 1can only be upon a Motive of Godliness and honesty. Only godly men can truly love one another, because the Motive of it, is the Image of God: The cause of it, is Gods command: And the end of it, is to do good temporal and spiritual, to one another. Hence this is called love in the Faith, Tit. 3.15. and in the Spirit, Col. 1.8. And therefore, if the people of God at any time quarrel, and strive one with another; there is so much manifestation, that their love was not because they were godly, but for other ends. For if so, then because they are the Children of God still, they are such as have grace. They are such as God hath cast his love upon, therefore thou darest not but love them still. How darest thou but be reconciled with him, to whom God the Father through Christ, is reconciled? The Apostle doth very frequently urge this duty of love, and that without dissimulation; knowing the corruptions and falsehood, that would be even in the godly, did they not take heed. But as for the wicked, the very Heathen said, Amicitia nisi inter bonus esse non potest: Friendship can only be upon grounds of goodness and honesty. Therefore if you see any man agree upon evil grounds, because others are wicked like themselves, or for matter of profit, or matter of pleasure; here is no sure Concord, But are as dogs, playing together in the room, while bones are cast amongst,2 and then they snarl and fight with one another. Take all the wicked men that are, though they are never so great, yet matter of pleasure or profit, will ⟨p. 34⟩presently divide them. So that it's no wonder, if Herod and Pilate cannot agree, unless it be against Christ. Wicked men never join together, unless it be to oppose godliness.
First, That the true ground of all Love and Peace, all Concord and Agreement, 1can only be upon a Motive of Godliness and honesty. Only godly men can truly love one another, because the Motive of it, is the Image of God: The cause of it, is Gods command: And the end of it, is to do good temporal and spiritual, to one another. Hence this is called love in the Faith, Tit. 3.15. and in the Spirit, Col. 1.8. And therefore, if the people of God at any time quarrell, and strive one with another; there is so much manifestation, that their love was not because they were godly, but for other ends. For if so, then because they are the Children of God still, they are such as have grace. They are such as God hath cast his love upon, therefore thou darest not but love them still. How darest thou but be reconciled with him, to whom God the Father through Christ, is reconciled? The Apostle doth very frequently urge this duty of love, and that without dissimulation; knowing the corruptions and falsehood, that would be even in the godly, did they not take heed. But as for the wicked, the very Heathen said, Amicitia nisi inter bonus esse non potest: Friendship can only be upon grounds of goodness and honesty. Therefore if you see any man agree upon evil grounds, because others are wicked like themselves, or for matter of profit, or matter of pleasure; here is no sure Concord, But are as dogs, playing together in the room, while bones are cast amongst,2 and then they snarle and fight with one another. Take all the wicked men that are, though they are never so great, yet matter of pleasure or profit, will ⟨p. 34⟩presently divide them. So that it's no wonder, if Herod and Pilate cannot agree, unless it be against Christ. Wicked men never joyn together, unless it be to oppose godliness.
- 1Godliness the only motive of love and agreement.Godlinesse the only motive of love and agreement.
- 2The agreement among the ungodly.
