The City of Peace, Section 1
The Wals of Peace.
Are Vnitie and Concord. Omnis Societas est corpus politicum: and it is in a Citie, as in a Bodie: there are many members, one body: many Citizens, one Citie.The Body is a figure of Vnitie. The Body is one of the most liuely figures and examples of peace. Wee are all one Body: 1 Cor. 12not onelyonly one Kingdome; so disparitie in Religions make many differences. Nor only one Citie, Inter dites erunt lites; so disparitie of estates will breed quarrels. Nor only one House, so wee may hauehave enemies of our owne houshold. But one Body, here must be al louelove & peace. Where all are tied by bonds, ioynts, & ligaments to the head; there also by the fame Nerues one to another.
Some mēbers are single; as the tongue is one, to speake one truth:Mutuall LoueLove. the heart one, to entertaine one God. Other are Gemina, Germana; their forces are doubled to supply mutuall defects. Some are stronger, as the armes and leggs; for the supportation of the weaker. Thus qualified are all the faithfull citizens of Peace; preseruing an vnanimitie in affection, a sympathy in affliction, a ready helpe to the most needful condition. Comforting the mindes of those that are perplexed, supplying the wants of those that are distressed, rectifying the weaknesse of those that are vnsetled, informing the ignorance of those that are seduced, and reforming the errors of those that are peruerted: all endeauoring the deliuerāce of the oppressed.
The mēbers prouide one for another:Prouidence of parts for the vvhole▪ the eye sees not only for it selfe, but for the Body: the hand works not only for it self, but for the Body: the eare hearkens, the tongue talkes, the foote walkes, all parts exercise their functions for the good of the whole. In the Citie of peace men must not only seek their owne, but the glory of their Maker, and the good of their Society. That God who hath giuen vsus honour by our Ancestors, would also hauehave vsus adde honour to our Successors. To preferre a priuate good before a publike; is to famish▪ and starue the whole Body, to fatt a toe, or pleafe a finger. Such Monopolies and Patents, as impouerish the whole, to enrich a part are not tolerable in the Citie of Peace.
There is no enuy and grudging among the members:Discontents remoued. the eye doth not grieue to see the arme grow strong, nor the foote to bee sensible of the Stomacks health. In this Citie, one should not enuy anothers thriuing; as if all were taken from our selues that is giuen to our neighbours. The Lord sees that an inequality is best for his glory: distributing (to whomsoeuer lest, yet) to eueryevery one more then hee deserues. Shall the Eare say, … Cor. 12. 16.Because I am not the Eye, I am not of the Body? No, but as Iohn Baptist said of Christ▪ He commeth after me, yet is before me: Some come after vsus in wealth, that may goe before vsus in grace. The poore man is not so many pounds behinde the rich for this world, as he may be talents before him for the world to come. They often with their pouertie, miserie, ignominy, are saued; whiles others with all their honour and opulencie goe to hell.
If one member suffer,Condolency of the members. the rest suffer with it. If there be a thorne in the foote, the eye shedds a teare, the heart akes, the head grieues, the hand is ready to pull it out. If a man tread on our toe, wee say, Why doe you tread on Me? Quod cuiquam, cuivis: let vsus sorrow for the afflictions of others, as if we were in the body. He is no sonn of Peace, that forgets the breaking of his brother Ioseph.Amo. 6. 6.
The Walls of the Citie must bee whole,Schisme dangerous. no breaches in them, least this aduantage the enemies entrance. There must bee no schisme in a Citie, as no diuision in the Body: one must not be for Paul, another for Apollos, another for Cephas; but all for Christ; & all for Peace. Many euill men may hauehave one will in wickednesse. It is said of Pilate Tradidit Iesum volun…a ti…earum; Luk 23. 25Hee deliuered Iesus to their Will; not wills: many sinners, one will. Shall then the Sonnes of grace iarre? The Children of Peace be mutinous? Vnica columba mea, saith Christ: My Doue is but one; the Doue is a Bird of peace. Many of them can agree louingly together in one house: eueryevery one hath a litle cottage by her selfe, wherein shee sits content without disquieting her neighbours. Thus Dum singulae quaerunt vnionem, omnes conseruant vnitatem. Wee hauehave them that rush into others Tabernacles, swallowing a man and his heritage: would Doues doe thus? Poore Nabaoths portion is many a rich Ahabs eyesore; would Doues doe thus? Numbers are still on the wing, to prey vponupon prostrate fortunes; these bee Rauens, not Doues: If the Law cannot make worke for their malice, their malice shall make worke for the law. This is like Cockes of the Game, to pecke out one anothers eyes, to make the Lawyers sport. When two friends are fallen out of loues into blows, and are fighting; a third aduersary hath a faire aduantage to kill them both. We hauehave an enemy that watcheth his time, and while wee wound one another, hee wounds vsus all.
If the members bee pulled a sunder,Distraction mortall. they all rott: the distraction of parts is the dissolution of the whole. If we forsake the peace of our Mother, wee put our selues vponupon record for bastards Discontēt with our owne portions and places, ouerthrowes the Citie of Peace.2 Esdr. 4. 1. When the Woods and the Floods were at variance, the Sand and the Fire were fain… to quiet their insurrections. While men will not rest satisfied with their owne determinate stations; but inuade the seueralls and proprieties of others; what can bee expected but destruction? If there be Contention on this side, and Ambition on that side, there will bee confusion on all sides. While Iudah was hot against Israel, and Israel hott against Iudah, the King of Syria smote them both. God shall supply the part of Syria; and when brother is against brother, hee will bee against them all. He that doth not what he can to mainetaine the walles doth what he can to betray the Citie. So I come from the Walles to the Gates.