And to conclude, let me use your own word to you, UNITE, or (if you will, the Apostles) Reconcile all the Saints in this Kingdom together. Providence hath disposed it so, that they do and will differ in judgement. The Apostles, who were Oracles infallible, could not in their times wholly prevent it. And differing thus in judgement, they will hardly ever of themselves agree. But it is your work, and will be your honour, to make them and to cause them so to do, and to find out ways whereby this may be done, notwithstanding these their differences. Thus Constantine dealt as a Reconciler amongst his Divines, and he did it with success. It is of all works the happyest and most glorious,1 for it was Jesus Christ his eminent work. Eph. 2. 14. He is our PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the partition wall between us, having abolish in his flesh the enmity: and a greater enmity was betwixt Jews and Gentiles, then among us. He did it by his blood; do you mingle his blood with faith, and mingle therewith but the Rules given by the Apostles, by which they effected this, as in Rom. 14. when one believed that he might eat all things, another that was weak durst not, but eat herbs, ver. 2. Let not him that eateth, says he in this case, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth. And ver. 14. Let us not judge one another any more. Certainly this rule, with such others, reduced to practice, as are found in ⟨p. 57⟩their writings, would heal all. I shall not stand to dispute that place now. I shall only upon occasion thereof, acquaint you with an Observation, which to me was strange (having considered former proceedings) when I first found it. In the late Book of Canons that were made just afore this Parliament, and stirs began, when the Bishops would have brought in bowing towards the Communion Table, (the Altar, as it was called) after many specious colours prefaced thereto, they close all with this, In the practice or omission of this Rite, we desire that the RULE OF CHARITY prescribed by THE APOSTLE may be observed, which is, That they which use this Rite, DESPISE NOT them who use it not; & that they who use it not, CONDEMN NOT those that use it. Could they not have said so sooner?
And to conclude, let me use your own word to you, UNITE, or (if you will, the Apostles) Reconcile all the Saints in this Kingdome together. Providence hath disposed it so, that they doe and will differ in judgement. The Apostles, who were Oracles infallible, could not in their times wholly prevent it. And differing thus in judgement, they will hardly ever of themselves agree. But it is your work, and will be your honour, to make them and to cause them so to doe, and to finde out wayes whereby this may be done, notwithstanding these their differences. Thus Constantine dealt as a Reconciler amongst his Divines, and he did it with successe. It is of all works the happyest and most glorious,1 for it was Jesus Christ his eminent work. Eph. 2. 14. He is our PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken downe the partition wall between us, having abolish in his flesh the enmity: and a greater enmity was betwixt Jews and Gentiles, then among us. He did it by his blood; doe you mingle his blood with faith, and mingle therewith but the Rules given by the Apostles, by which they effected this, as in Rom. 14. when one beleeved that he might eate all things, another that was weake durst not, but eate hearbs, ver. 2. Let not him that eateth, sayes he in this case, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth. And ver. 14. Let us not judge one another any more. Certainly this rule, with such others, reduced to practice, as are found in ⟨p. 57⟩their writings, would heale all. I shall not stand to dispute that place now. I shall onely upon occasion thereof, acquaint you with an Observation, which to me was strange (having considered former proceedings) when I first found it. In the late Book of Canons that were made just afore this Parliament, and stirs began, when the Bishops would have brought in bowing towards the Communion Table, (the Altar, as it was called) after many specious colours prefaced thereto, they close all with this, In the practice or omission of this Rite, we desire that the RULE OF CHARITY prescribed by THE APOSTLE may be observed, which is, That they which use this Rite, DESPISE NOT them who use it not; & that they who use it not, CONDEMNE NOT those that use it. Could they not have said so sooner?
- 1Lege Eusebium in vita Constantini, lib. 3. c. 13. Ipse consilio interfuit, reconciliavit eos qui dissidebant, & ad concordiam persuasit: Eos qui paulo insolentiores & ferociores fuerunt, mitigavit; nec antea desi it, quàm omnes ad concordiam revecaverit, & tum hanc quasi SECUNDAM VICTORIAM nactu•, [Greek or Hebrew], Festum Triumphal celebravit. Whitak. contr. 3. quaest. 4.Lege Eusebium in vita Constantini, lib. 3. c. 13. Ipse consilio interfuit, reconciliavit eos qui dissidebant, & ad concordiam persuasit: Eos qui paulo insolentiores & ferociores fuerunt, mitigavit; nec antea desi it, quàm omnes ad concordiam revecaverit, & tum hanc quasi SECUNDAM VICTORIAM nactu•, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Festum Triumphale celebravit. Whitak. contr. 3. quaest. 4.
