N00497:72
Blessed unions. An union with the son of God by faith. And, an union…
Blessed unions. An union with the son of God by faith. And, an union in the church of God by love, importunately pressed; in a discourse which makes divers offers, for those unions; together with a copy of those articles, where-upon a most happy union, has been lately made between those two eminent parties in England, which have now changed the names of Presbyterians, and Congregationals, for that of United Brethren. / By Cotton Mather ; [Six lines from Mead]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1692
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, We are to be United in our Affection. Tis possible that we cannot come up, or go down to the Persuasions, of some Godly Brethren; Yet we are still to Love them all, as Brethren. […] should be with us as it was said in Act. 4. 32. The Multitude of them that Believed, were of one Heart, and of one Soul. We must make no Schism, in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ: All the Church Catholic, that is, all that▪ speak and live according to the Main things in the Gospel of God, must have our Charity, although they be not in all things of our mind. Every Saint must have our Hearts knit unto them, as Jon•th•ns was to David; and we must not confine Saint ship to every thing in our way▪ Moreover, Having with Gods leave joined our selves to that Particular Church which we Judge most fully answering, The Pattern in […] Mount, we must with a most Holy and Humble Carriage Endeavour the Peace of it, as well as of any other Societies with which it walks in a Total Communion; and at the same time, if there be any other Particular ⟨p. 44⟩Church with which in its Constitutions or Observances we cannot me• tain an Entire Communion, yet ever there also we should beware of Hasty Censuring, and while we Walk wherein […] have Attained, we must with all Charitable Friendliness and Patience leave unto God, Those that are otherwise-minded, until God shall Reveal even This unto them. It is a Rule as Good as Old Necessarjis Unitas, in Adiaphoris Libert•• in U•risque Chari•as.
Secondly, We are to be United in our Affection. Tis possible that we cannot come up, or go down to the Perswasions, of some Godly Brethren; Yet we are still to Love them all, as Brethren. 〈…〉 should be with us as it was said in Act. 4. 32. The Multitude of them that Beleived, were of one Heart, and of one Soul. We must make no Schism, in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ: All the Church Catholick, that is, all that speak and live according to the Main things in the Gospel of God, must have our Charity, although they be not in all things of our mind. Every Saint must have our Hearts knit unto them, as Jonthns was to David; and we must not confine Saint ship to every thing in our way Moreover, Having with Gods leave joyned our selves to that Particular Church which we Judge most fully answering, The Pattern in Mount, we must with a most Holy and Humble Carriage Endeavour the Peace of it, as well as of any other Societies with which it walks in a Total Communion; and at the same time, if there be any other Particular