common union of minds, I fear, is from no other than the aforementioned causes, want of knowledge, and want of affection to religion. You that boast you live conformably to the appointments of the church, and none hears of your noise, we may thank the ignorance of your minds for that kind of quietness. But this unanimity, here required, is another thing; and before I unfold it I shall premise this, That although it be very difficult, and it may be impossible, to determine what things are alone fundamental in religion, under the notion of difference, intended by that word; yet it is undoubted, that there be some truths more absolutely necessary, and therefore accordingly more clearly revealed, than some others; there are yana revue, great things of the law, and so of the Gospel. And though no part of divine truth once fully cleared, ought to be slighted; yet there are things that may be true, and yet are but of less importance, and of less evidence than others. And that this difference is wisely to be considered by christians, for the interest of this agreement of minds here recommended, and concerning it we may safely conclude, 1. That christians ought to have a clear and unanimous belief of the mysteries and principles of faith, to agree in those without controversy. 2. They ought to be diligent in the re-search of truth in all things that concern faith and religion; and withal to use all due means for the fullest consent and agreement in them all that possibly can be attained. 3. Perfect and universal consent in all, after all industry bestowed on it, for any thing we know, is not here attainable, neither betwixt all churches, nor all persons in one and the same church: And therefore, though church-meetings and synods, as the fittest and most effectual way to this unity, should endeavour to bring the church to the fullest agreement that may be, yet they should beware, lest the straining it too high in all things, rather break it, h Matt. xxxiii, 23. 1 and an over diligence in appointing uniformities, remove them further from it: Leaving a latitude and indifferency in things capable of it, is often a stronger preserver of peace and unity. But this by the way; we will rather give some few rules that may be of use to every particular christian, toward this common christian good of unity of mind. 1st, Beware of two extremes, that often cause divisions, captivity to custom, on the one hand, and affectation of novelty on the other. 2dly, Labour for a stayed mind, that will not be tossed with every wind of doctrine', or appearance of reason, as some, that like weather-cocks are easily blown to any side, with mistakes of the scriptures, either arising in their own minds, or suggested by others. 3dly, In unclear and doubtful things, be not pertinacious, as the weakest minds are readiest to be, upon seeming reason, which tried, will possibly fall to nothing; yet they are most assured, and cannot suffer a different thought in any from their own. There is naturally this popeness in every man's mind, and most, I say, in the shallowest; a kind of fancied infallibility in themselves, which makes them contentious (contrary to the Apostle's rule, Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory,) and as earnest upon differing in the smallest punctilio, as in a high article of faith. Stronger spirits are usually more patient of contradiction, and less violent, especially in doubtful things; and they that see farthest, are least peremptory in their determinations. The Apostle to TimothyTM, hath a word, the spirit of a sound mind; it is a good sound constitution of mind, not to feel every blast, either of seeming reason to be taken with it, or of cross opinion to be offended at it. 4thly, Join that which is there, the spirit of love, in this particular. Not at all abating affection for every light difference (and this the most are a little to blame in ;) whereas the abundance of that should 上 Ephes. iv. 14. 2 Epis. i. 7. Phil. ii. 3. rather fill up the gap of these petty disagreements, that they do not appear, nor be at all sensibly to be found. No more disaffection ought to follow this, than the difference of our faces and complexions, or feature of body, which cannot be found in any two alike in all things. And these things would be of easier persuasion, if we considered, 1. How supple and flexible a thing human reason is, and therefore not lightly to be trusted to, and that especially in divine things; for here we know but in part". 2. The small importance of some things that have bred much noise and dissention in the world, as the Apostle speaks of the tongue, How little a spark, how great a fire will it kindle, and a great many of these debates, that cost men so much pains and time, are as far from clear decision, as when they began, and possibly of so little moment, that if they were ended, their profit would not quit the cost. 3. Consider the strength of christian charity, that if it dwelt much in our hearts, would preserve this union of mind, amidst very many different thoughts, such as they may be, and would teach us that excellent lesson, the Apostle gives to this purpose', Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Let us follow our Lord unanimously, in what he hath clearly manifested to us, and given us with one consent to embrace; as the spheres, notwithstanding each one hath its particular motion, yet all are wheeled about together with the first. And that leads us to consider the further extent of this word, to agree in heart and in conversation, walking by the rule of those undoubted truths we have received: And in this I shall recommend these two things to you; n 1. In the defence of the truth, as the Lord shall 1 Cor. xiii. 9. P Phil. iii. 15, 16. • James iii. 5. call us, let us be of one mind, and all as one man. Satan acts by that maxim, and all his followers have it, divide and conquer; and therefore let us hold that counter-maxim, Union invincible. 2. In the practice of that truth agree as one. Let your conversation be uniform, by being squared to that one rule, and in all spiritual exercises join as one, be of one heart and mind. Would not our public worship, think you, prove much more both comfortable and profitable, if our hearts met in it as one, so that we could say of our hearing the word, as he, We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded of God? And if our prayers ascended up as one pillar of incense to the throne of grace; if they besieged it, as an army, all surrounding it together, to obtain favour for ourselves and the church'? This is much with God, the consent of hearts petitioning. So says our Saviour', Where two or three are gathered; not their bodies within the same walls only, for so they are but so many carcases tumbled together; and the promise of his being amongst us, is not made to that, for he is the God of the living and not of the dead". It is the spirit of darkness that abides amongst the tombs and graves; but gathered in my name, one, in that one holy name, written upon their hearts, and uniting them, and so thence expressed in their joint services and invocations. So he says there of them, who agree upon any thing they shall ask, own. If all their hearts preσυμφωνήσεσιν. sent and hold it up together, if they make one cry or song of it, that harmony of their hearts shall be sweet in the Lord's ears, and shall draw a gracious answer out of his hand. If ye agree, your joint petitions shall be as it were an arrest or decree that shall stand in Heaven, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. But alas! where is our agreement? The greatest part of hearts say noStipato agmine Devim obsidentes.-TERTULL. Matt. xviii. 20. 4 Acts. x. 33. " Fama est junctas fortiùs ire preces. *་ thing, and others with such wavering and such a jarring harsh noise, being out of tune, earthly, too low set, that they spoil all, and disappoint the Were the censer fill'd with those united prayers Heaven-wards, it would be filled with fire earth-wards against the enemies of the church. answers. And in your private society, seek unanimously your own, and each another's spiritual good; not only agreeing in your affairs and civil converse, but having one heart and mind, as christians. To eat and drink together, if you do no more, is such society as beasts may have; to do these in the excess, to guzzle and drink intemperately together, is a society worse than that of beasts, and below them: to discourse together of civil business, is to converse as men. But the peculiar converse of christians in that notion, as born again to immortality, an unfading inheritance above, is to further one another towards that, to put one another in mind of Heaven, and things that are heavenly. And it is strange that men that profess to be christians, when they meet, either fill one another's ears with lies and profane speeches, or with vanities and trifles, or at the best with the affairs of the earth, and not a word of those things that should most possess the heart, and where the mind should be most set, but are ready to reproach and taunt any such thing in others: What! are you ashamed of Christ and religion? Why do you profess it then? Is there such a thing, think ye, as communion of saints? If not, why do you say you believe it? It is a truth, think of it as you will, the public ministry will profit little any where, where a people or some part of them are not thus one, and do not live together as of one mind, and use diligently all due means of edifying one another in their holy faith. How much of the primitive christian's praise and profit is involved in the word, they were together [ador] with one accord, with one mind, and so they grew; the Lord added to the church*. |