THIS Sermon was Preached before you in order to the Peace and Unity of the Church of God amongst you: and I presume in order to the same good end I was by You pressed to the publishing of it. Which motion I have the more readily entertained, that the Arguments unto so necessary a duty, ⟨image 3⟩which I found prevalent with you then, might he always at your hand, to revive in you the same affections. And truly those many men in all parts of this Nation, who, upon whatsoever plausible and specious pretences, have given entertainment unto novel opinions, (never before these loose times heard of in the Church of God) and thereupon do forsake the Assemblies, and disturb the peace of an Orthodox and Reformed Church, little consider the advantage they give the Common Adversary: who no doubt rejoiceth to see us break one another with our own hands, whom they with theirs hither to have not been able to harm; As Vespasian is observed by Josephus to have done in the siege of Jerusalem, ⟨image 3⟩not choosing to storm the Jews by any hostile assault, while they were destroying one another by their Intestine confusions. Certainly what ever prejudices weak and credulous men may have their eyes dazzled withal, Divisions and Contentions in the Church have always fleshly lusts at the bottom of them, as the Apostle assureth us, 1 Cor. 3. 3. Nor are they only fruits of sin in men, but evidences of wrath in God, and sad symptoms of his further displeasure. When Manasseh is against Ephraim, 1and Ephraim against Manasseh, and both against Judah, it is a sign that Gods anger is not turned away, but that his hand is stretched out still. Schisms in a Church being like Leaks ⟨image 4⟩in a ship, or breaches in a Sea bank, which threaten speedy and extremest danger. And therefore all who wish well to Zion should listen unto Healing and Uniting Counsels, not suffering in so important a business, as the Peace and prosperity of the Church, any secular designs, single, or divided Interests, carnal animosities, or perverse disputes, to embitter their spirits or alienate their affections from other their brethren, heirs of the same common salvation: or to draw them away from the Communion of that Church, from whose breasts they have often sucked the sincere milk of the word, and in whose fellowship they may still undoubtedly partake of all the means of Salvation.
THIS Sermon was Preached before you in order to the Peace and Vnity of the Church of God amongst you: and I presume in order to the same good end I was by You pressed to the publishing of it. Which motion I have the more readily entertained, that the Arguments unto so necessary a duty, ⟨image 3⟩which I found prevalent with you then, might he always at your hand, to revive in you the same affections. And truly those many men in all parts of this Nation, who, upon whatsoever plausible and specious pretences, have given entertainment unto novel opinions, (never before these loose times heard of in the Church of God) and thereupon do forsake the Assemblies, and disturbe the peace of an Orthodox and Reformed Church, little consider the advantage they give the Common Adversary: who no doubt rejoyceth to see us break one another with our own hands, whom they with theirs hither to have not been able to harm; As Vespasian is observed by Josephus to have done in the siege of Jerusalem, ⟨image 3⟩not choosing to storme the Jewes by any hostile assault, while they were destroying one another by their Intestine confusions. Certainly what ever prejudices weak and credulous men may have their eyes dazled withall, Divisions and Contentions in the Church have alwayes fleshly lusts at the bottome of them, as the Apostle assureth us, 1 Cor. 3. 3. Nor are they only fruits of sinne in men, but evidences of wrath in God, and sad symptomes of his further displeasure. When Manasse is against Ephraim, 1and Ephraim against Manasse, and both against Judah, it is a sign that Gods anger is not turned away, but that his hand is stretched out still. Shismes in a Church being like Leaks ⟨image 4⟩in a ship, or breaches in a Sea bank, which threaten speedy and extremest danger. And therefore all who wish well to Sion should listen unto Healing and Vniting Counsels, not suffering in so important a businesse, as the Peace and prosperity of the Church, any secular designes, single, or divided Interests, carnal animosities, or perverse disputes, to embitter their spirits or alienate their affections from other their brethren, heirs of the same common salvation: or to draw them away from the Communion of that Church, from whose breasts they have often sucked the sincere milk of the word, and in whose fellowship they may still undoubtedly partake of all the means of Salvation.
- 1Isai 9. 21.
