IT were a manifest folly in the judgements of most knowing men, to go about to use in any set way, exhortatory motives to persuade to peace & reconciliation the people of God amongst us. The provocations are so high, and exasperations so fresh and increasing, that if I had an audience made up of those alone that have the swaying power of either, and together therewith their most favourable attention, and interest in affection without prejudice, I should not know how to attempt it with any hope of success. But ⟨p. 2⟩though the animosities of mens spirits, augmented by coincident circumstances, are gone beyond the power of the persuasions of men in this present paroxysm: yet they are not above the power of Gods wisdom and providence, nor the force and efficacy of Christs blood. You may therefore, in the midst of all contrary appearances, give me leave, though I cannot hope to persuade, yet to BELIEVE (The Catholic Church, and Communion of Saints, they are in my Creed) and because I believe therefore to speak, and so to give you an account of my faith as to this issue. Let your faith but wait, and give God time for it, and leave him to effect it his own way. And to this end I have taken this Text, Christus Pax nostra: For he is our peace who hath made both one, &c. and my inference is, That therefore the Saints SHALL and MUST be one, and reconciled in the end. And this is the best news which in these times can be told you, the seasonablest we can hear of, and is indeed one great part of the glad tidings of the Gospel it self, without which it were imperfect, which Christ himself our peace (who came to purchase it, as these words show, so) came to preach, as the very next v. 17. hath it.
IT were a manifest folly in the judgements of most knowing men, to goe about to use in any set way, exhortatory motives to perswade to peace & reconciliation the people of God amongst us. The provocations are so high, and exasperations so fresh and encreasing, that if I had an audience made up of those alone that have the swaying power of either, and together therewith their most favourable attention, and interest in affection without prejudice, I should not know how to attempt it with any hope of successe. But ⟨p. 2⟩though the animosities of mens spirits, augmented by coincident circumstances, are gon beyond the power of the perswasions of men in this present paroxisme: yet they are not above the power of Gods wisedome and providence, nor the force and efficacy of Christs bloud. You may therefore, in the midst of all contrary appearances, give me leave, though I cannot hope to perswade, yet to BELEEVE (The Catholique Church, and Communion of Saints, they are in my Creed) and because I beleeve therefore to speake, and so to give you an account of my faith as to this issue. Let your faith but wait, and give God time for it, and leave him to effect it his owne way. And to this end I have taken this Text, Christus Pax nostra: For he is our peace who hath made both one, &c. and my inference is, That therefore the Saints SHALL and MUST be one, and reconciled in the end. And this is the best newes which in these times can be told you, the seasonablest we can heare of, and is indeed one great part of the glad tidings of the Gospell it selfe, without which it were imperfect, which Christ himselfe our peace (who came to purchase it, as these words shew, so) came to preach, as the very next v. 17. hath it.
