Fourthly, our Divisions are very dishonourable to Jesus §4Christ; were it, that they darkened our names only, it were not so much; but that which darkens the glory of Jesus Christ, should go very near unto us. I have read of Alexander Severus, seeing two Christians contending one with another, commanded them that they should not presume to take the name of Christians upon themselves any longer; For (says he) you dishonour your Master Christ, whose Disciples you profess to be. It is dishonour to a General to have his Army routed, and run into confusion. The Devil seems to prevail against us in these our divisions, so as to rout us. John 17. 21. 23. is a notable Scripture, to show the sinfulness of our divisions, in the dishonour they put upon Christ, and it may be as strong an argument against them as any I know in the Book of God; Christ praying to the Father for the union of his Saints, uses this argument, O Father let this be granted, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me: And again, ver. 23. Let them be perfect in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me. If they be not united one to another in love and peace, but have a spirit of Division ruling amongst them, what will the world think? surely, that thou didst not send me; that I who am their head, their teacher and Lord, never came from thee, for thou art wisdom, holiness and love, & if I had come from thee, then those who own me to be theirs, and whom I own to be mine, would hold forth in their conversations something of that spirit of holiness, wisdom and love there is in thee; but when the world does not see this in them, but the clean contrary, they will never believe, that I came from thee; those truths that I came into the world to make known as from thee, O Father will not be believed, but rather persecuted, if those who profess them by their divisions one from another, and oppositions one against another, show forth a spirit of pride, folly, envy, frowardness; therefore, O Father, let them be one as thou and I am one; if this Petition be not granted, how shall I look the world in the face; I shall be contemned in the world:
Fourthly, our Divisions are very dishonourable to Jesus §4Christ; were it, that they darkned our names onely, it were not so much; but that which darkens the glory of Jesus Christ, should goe very neere unto us. I have read of Alexander Severus, seeing two Christians contending one with another, commanded them that they should not presume to take the name of Christians upon themselves any longer; For (sayes he) you dishonour your Master Christ, whose Disciples you professe to be. It is dishonour to a General to have his Army routed, and run into confusion. The Devill seems to prevaile against us in these our divisions, so as to rout us. John 17. 21. 23. is a notable Scripture, to shew the sinfulnesse of our divisions, in the dishonour they put upon Christ, and it may be as strong an argument against them as any I know in the Book of God; Christ praying to the Father for the union of his Saints, uses this argument, O Father let this be granted, that the world may beleeve that thou hast sent me: And againe, ver. 23. Let them be perfect in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me. If they be not united one to another in love and peace, but have a spirit of Division ruling amongst them, what will the world thinke? surely, that thou didst not send me; that I who am their head, their teacher and Lord, never came from thee, for thou art wisdom, holiness and love, & if I had come from thee, then those who own me to be theirs, and whom I own to be mine, would hold forth in their conversations something of that spirit of holinesse, wisdome and love there is in thee; but when the world does not see this in them, but the clean contrary, they will never beleeve, that I came from thee; those truths that I came into the world to make known as from thee, O Father will not be beleeved, but rather persecuted, if those who professe them by their divisions one from another, and oppositions one against another, shew forth a spirit of pride, folly, envy, frowardnesse; therefore, O Father, let them be one as thou and I am one; if this Petition be not granted, how shall I look the world in the face; I shall be contemned in the world:
