N00497:82
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.
Where we can Unite in Practices, let is do it; although Perhaps we cannot Unite in the Principles whereupon we proceed in those Practices. The same Conclusions may by diverse Intellects be formed out of diverse Premises. I say then, let them not only Hold the Conclusions, but Gladly Hold together in them; and never Vex one another about the Media which they Raise them on. Particularly, In many matters of Church Order, there are two Considerations which may be a Ba•m to heal many Contentions. One is, That the Foundation of all Church-Societies, is laid in the Light and Law of Nature it self, A Church is a Society of Humane Rac• […] ⟨p. 58⟩and hath its Particularities wherein […] Conforms to the Common Rules of all Societies. There needs no New Express Command for what the Law and Light of Nature do's require in all Societies Combining for▪ the Worship o• God. Another is this That the First Commandment ha•s cut out much Business for Church-Societies, which 'tis possible the Second Commandment may not so plainly reach unto; yea, such a Society ha's many things to do, which not the First, but the Second of the Tables in the Divine Law, ha's Enjoined the doing of. I say then if Saints that see not all with the same Eyes, can do the same things, though not on the same grounds, there is no Thing to be a Ground for Quarrelling. Pardon me, if I touch upon two or three Instances, which are, I think, the Only ones, wherein our Churches have their (not Contentions, blessed be God, but) Varieties. I will meant on them, though I should meet with the Parters Portion for it; or find […] observation true, Media via nequ• Amicus par••, […] Ini•icos […].
Where we can Unite in Practices, let is do it; although Perhaps we cannot Unite in the Principles whereupon we proceed in those Practices. The same Conclusions may by diverse Intellects be formed out of diverse Premises. I say then, let them not only Hold the Conclusions, but Gladly Hold together in them; and never Vex one another about the Media which they Raise them on. Particularly, In many matters of Church Order, there are two Considerations which may be a Bam to heal many Contentions. One is, That the Foundation of all Church-Societies, is laid in the Light and Law of Nature it self, A Church is a Society of Humane Rac