Thus Elihu argueth; Hear me; why? Because the Spirit of God hath made me, as well as thee; do not despise what I have to say, as if you were a man of another mould, or pedigree, the same God, out of the same matter, by the same Word, and Spirit, hath formed us both. Some pictures are more highly prized then others of the same person, because drawn by a better hand, by An Apelles, or A Michael Angelo. The fame of the Artist or workman puts a value upon the work; And the title of the Author doth sometimes commend a piece more then, in truth, either the form or matter. But come among the sons of men, all their faces and features are drawn by one hand; The same most exact hand of God hath wrought and fashioned them all, both as to their outside, and inside, both as to the form of these houses of clay, and as to all the ornaments and beautifyings of them. As we all walk upon the same earth, drink out of the same water, breath in the same air, as we are all covered with the same Canopy of heaven, and lighted with the same Sun, so we are all ⟨p. 175⟩made with the same hand; The Spirit of God hath made one as well as another; This man hath not had a better pencil nor a more skilful Limner then that. Thus we may argue from the common condition of man in nature, to a mutual condescension among men. Indeed Christians, who have higher principles, have also higher topics & arguments then that, why they should condescend one to another; and (as the Apostle directs, Eph: 4.4, 5, 6.) Keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Saints should be lowly and meek with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, (as the Apostle there exhorts) not only because one hand hath made all their bodies, but because they are one body; though they are many natural bodies, yet one mystical body; There is one body, and one spirit; As one Spirit hath made them, so they are made one spirit; There is also (as it followeth) one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. How should all Saints be one, who are comprehended and united under this seven-fold oneness. That we have all one maker in nature, is a very moving argument to meekness, love, and unity, but that all believers are made one by Grace, is a much more moving argument.
Thus Elihu argueth; Heare me; why? Because the Spirit of God hath made me, as well as thee; doe not despise what I have to say, as if you were a man of another mould, or pedigree, the same God, out of the same matter, by the same Word, and Spirit, hath form'd us both. Some pictures are more highly prized then others of the same person, because drawne by a better hand, by An Apelles, or A Michael Angelo. The fame of the Artist or workman puts a value upon the worke; And the title of the Authour doth sometimes commend a piece more then, in truth, either the forme or matter. But come among the sons of men, all their faces and features are drawne by one hand; The same most exact hand of God hath wrought and fashioned them all, both as to their outside, and inside, both as to the forme of these houses of clay, and as to all the ornaments and beautifyings of them. As we all walke upon the same earth, drinke out of the same water, breath in the same ayre, as we are all covered with the same Canopy of heaven, and lighted with the same Sun, so we are all ⟨p. 175⟩made with the same hand; The Spirit of God hath made one as well as another; This man hath not had a better pencill nor a more skilfull Limner then that. Thus we may argue from the common condition of man in nature, to a mutuall condiscension among men. Indeed Christians, who have higher principles, have also higher topicks & arguments then that, why they should condescend one to another; and (as the Apostle directs, Eph: 4.4, 5, 6.) Keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Saints should be lowly and meeke with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, (as the Apostle there exhorts) not only because one hand hath made all their bodyes, but because they are one body; though they are many naturall bodyes, yet one mysticall body; There is one body, and one spirit; As one Spirit hath made them, so they are made one spirit; There is also (as it followeth) one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptisme, one God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. How should all Saints be one, who are comprehended and united under this seven-fold oneness. That we have all one maker in nature, is a very moving argument to meekness, love, and unity, but that all believers are made one by Grace, is a much more moving argument.
