Catholic Unity, Part 5

Catholic Unity · Part 5

p. 88Use 4.

I Have been all this while but about preparatives: and now I come to the work that I intended. Do not think that I have spoken all this of the ungodly to hinder a Union and Christian Concord, but to prepare for it, by telling you the reason of our distance, and division, and what must be removed before we can be One. Truly Sirs, I come to you with Peaceable intentions. I come upon a treaty with you, to see whether you will become One with us, and be reconciled or not? For the Lords sake attend me considerately and impartially, for it is a weighty buness that I have to propound to you, and a most excellent motion that I have to make. As you regard p. 89the God of Unity that sends to you, and Christ the Prince of Peace, and the Spirit who is the Principle of Unity, and the Church that is the seat of Unity, and your selves that may have the blessing of Unity, hearken to the motion of Peace and Unity that I have to make to you from the Lord. Sirs, What think you! hath the world been long enough divided or not! Are our distances from one another broken into pieces enow or not? Are we cut into shreds enow, and great enough, and our spirits bitter enough or not? Is it not time think you to sound a retreat to our foolish wars? You call for Unity: Y…u talk for Unity, and against sects and divisions: Do you mean as you speak? and are you in good sadness, or are you not? Would you have us to be all of one mind and way, or not? You talk against being of so many Religions: Is it p. 90the true desire of your hearts that we should be all of one Religion? If it be, hold fast to this: So far we are agreed: Let us lay this as a g…ound-work; We must be all of One Church, One Faith, One Religion, if we will be saved.

Well the…, it lyes next before us in order to enquiry, What One Religion and Way we must be of? and what is our distance, and what course must be taken to make us One? Are you willing to lay by passion, and scorn and hatred, and bitterness, and come to a treaty about the matter? O Sirs, if you were but all truly willing to search out the business, and to be ruled by God and reason, we should soon be agreed, for all our differences. And how happy would this be for the troubled Church? How happy for the offended distracted world? how happy for your own souls? Well! what terms shall we agree p. 91upon? Some body must begin the motion; sitting still will not heal us. I will make a motion that never a man of you that hath the face of a Christian, can tell what justly to accept against. Let us set the Word of God before us, and take the best helps on both sides to understand it, and let this decide the case with us: What say you? will you stand to the Word of God? Shall we app…al all to Christ, and try our differences by his revealed word? If this may carry it, we shall soon be agreed.

But if any of you have catcht the Popish perversness, and say [The Scripture is dark, and a dead letter; every sect pleads Scripture for their way; this will not serve our turn; we must have a living Judge] I answer such a one as followeth. 1. Is the Scripture the Law of God or not? If you say Not, you may as well say you are p. 92Infidels. If you confess it is, then it must have the use of a Law. And, 2. Must not subjects understand a Law to live by it, though they be not Judges? And when estate and life depends on our obedience to the Law; if this Law now be so dark that the subjects cannot understand it, then it is no Law, as not being capable of the use and ends of a Law. And so if our salvation or damnation lye on our obedience to Gods Word and Law, its an intolerable reproach to God and it, to say it is such as we cannot understand. 3. Must we not be judged by this Law? Undoubtedly we must. And then should we not measure our Causes by it now? 4. May not Arbitrators make use of a Law to decide a controversie, before it come to the Jud…e? Doubtless they may. 5. What Judge would you have? There are but two in the world that pretend p. 93to be the Universal Infallible Judge of controversies: and that is the Pope, and a General Council. For a General Council, there is none now in the world, nor like to be to the end of the world: God forbid we should defer our Peace till then. And its Decrees are as dark, and much more uncertain then the Word of God. And for the Pope, he is Head of a sect or party, and therefore not fit to be judge: you may well know he will judge on his own side. He must be judged by this Word of God himself. He is too far off, of all conscience, for us to go or send to. Where Rome is, the most of you know not: A shorter journey may better dispatch our work. The Papists themselves tell us that many Popes have been Murderers, Adulterers, Simonists, perjured persons, and some Hereticks and Infidels. And must such as these be p. 94our only Judges? They have erred oft already, and therefore they may deceive us: And if you send for the Popes Sentence, you must take the Messengers word that he was there, and that its true.

But yet if all this will not serve turn, I will make a motion that none can gainsay that hath the face of a Christian. Let us first agree in all those points that Papists and Protestants, Calvinists and Lutherans, Arminians and Anabaptists, and Seperatists, and all parties that deserve to be called Christians, are agreed in! What say you, is not this a reasonable motion! O happy you, and happy the places where you live, if you would but stand to it!

And let us consider of this motion first in the General state of our difference, and then in the particular parts of it!

Truly Sirs, the main difference p. 95in this world is between the Godly and the Vngodly; and all other differences that are not parts of this, are nothing to this, being of lesser danger, and easier toleration or cure. The whole world is divided into two Armies: Christ is the Captain General of one, and the Saints only his true Souldiers, and the seeming Saints his seeming Souldiers: The Devil is the General of the other, and all the unregenerate or ungodly are his Souldiers. An enmity is put since the beginning between the seed of the woman and of the Serpent, Gen. 3.15. and there is no middle state, nor one man on earth that is not in one of these Armies. I come not to reconcile the Commanders, Christ and Satan; for they are unreconcileable; but to reconcile you to Christ, and draw you from a deceiver. I tell you, …irs, this great difference between the holy p. 96and the unholy, is the first that must be healed. We can go no further with you, if you will not begin here at the heart of the difference. When this is do…e, you shall see before I have done with you, that I will quickly tell you how we may do well, for all our other differences. You know if one of us believe that there is a God, and another that there is none, i… were foolery for us to dispute how God must be worshipped, before we are agreed that there is a God. So here; when it is the nature of ungodliness to make men false to the very truths that they do profess, and heartily to be of no Religion at all, it is in vain to dispute about circumstances and mode▪ with such kind of men. Who would dispute whether Infants should be baptized, with a man tha… knows not wh… Baptism is? [Ev…n an accepting of God for ou… p. 97God, and Christ for our Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Ghost for our S…nctifier; and an absolute delivering up our selves to the blessed Trinity in these relations, by a solemn Covenant professed …nd sealed by water, renouncing the flesh, the world and the Devil.] O were but this much practically known, we should be all United in this one Baptism. Still I say, Unholiness is th… great point of difference, and the dung…on of Confusion, and puddle where all the heresies of the world are blend…d and made into a body that is something worse then heresie. When you cry up Unity, and cry down Holiness, you are distracted and know not what you say. You talk of joyning us together, and you cast away …he glue and soder. You talk of building the Church in unity, and you cast away the lime and morter, the pins and nails, and all that should fasten p. 96duplicate page p. 97duplicate page p. 98them. You complain that the garment of Christ is rent, and you throw away the needle and thred that should sow it up. You see our wounds and blood, and take on you to have pitty on the Church, and call for healing, but you hate and cast away the only salve. Do you not yet know that the Churches Unity is a Unity of the Spirit, and of Holiness? and that there is no way in the world for us and you to be United, unless you will be Sanctified, and live in the Spirit, as you have done in the flesh?

Sirs, let us come nearer the matter: … know our Towns and Countries have two sorts of persons in them; some are Converted, and some Unconverted; some holy, and some unholy; some live for heaven. and some are all for earth; some are ruled by the Word of God, and some by their own flesh or wills. If ever these agree and be United, p. 99one party must come over to the other. Either the Godly must become ungodly, or the ungodly must become Saints and godly: Which must it be? which do you think in your Consciences is the way? Must we yield to you; or should you … away to us? (Pardon that I … my self with the sanctified; … dare not deny the mercies of God, and the priviledges of his house) Let us come fairly to debate the Case, and lay our Reasons together; and I will here protest to you, if you can give us better reasons why we should forsake a godly life, I'le turn to you: and if we can give you better reasons why you should embrace an holy life, will you here promise to turn to us? and let them carry it that have the better cause, and let us be resolved to go away United; and fall all together into that one way that shall be proved to be the best.

p. 100Well, let us come to a debate, and see whether we must come to you, or you to us.

1. If we ever agree and unite, you know it must be on terms that are possible. He that propoundeth Impossibilities to be agreed on, is the enemy of agreement. But it is impossible for us to come to you, and so to Unite with you. Th…s I now prove. 1. …t is Impossible to have any Vniversal Vnity but in an Vniversal Head and Center, and that is only God, the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost. As I told you, the Army must Unite in the General, the Kingdom in the Soveraign, the Family in the Master, the School in the School-master. In order of Nature, you must Unite with God in the Redeemer by the sanctifying Spirit, before you can Unite with us. But while you are unsanctified you are divided from God. Do you not feel your minds p. 101strange to him, your hearts draw back from him, and find by his strangeness to you that there is a division? Its impossible for us to be United to you, till Christ be United to you. For, 1. Its against Nature, seeing he is the Center, and the Head and Fountain of Life: And what good would it do you to be one with us and not with him? 2. God is against any Unity without him: If you will not begin with him, he will take it but as a treasonable conspiracy, and will break it. We dare not go without him, lest he be angry and destroy us: Souldiers must not make either Peace or war, not so much as treat without the General. Do you not remember how Iehosaphat had like to have sped by a friendship and confederacy with Ahab?

2. Moreover the Godly and ungodly are of contrary natures: I p. 102told you God hath put an enmi…y between them. You must chan…e your nature or we ou…s, before we can Unite. You may as well think else to Unite fire and water, or to build in the air, or to incorpo… fire and Gun-powder; or to reconcile men and serp…nts, and ma… ry the dog and the bear together Sirs, these …hings are meer imposs…bilities. 2 Cor. 16.14. There is no agreement between Christ and Belial, righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness, d…ath and life, the members of Christ, and the members of an harlot or a drunkard, or such like: We have contrary spirits; how then can we be One? One hath the Spirit of holiness, and the other the Spir… of profaneness; One is led by the Spirit of God, and the o…her by the flesh: We live not by one Law. Gods will revealed in h…s Word is Our Law: and the will of p. 103the flesh and the course of the world is your Law. We live not on one sort of food; how then can we accord together? Christ and his heavenly truth, and holy Spirit, and Ordinances, is the meat and drink of the Saints: they cannot live without them: And the world and fleshly delights are your food; you cannot be without it. Your food would be our poyson; your worldly cares, your drunkenness, and profaneness would be a torment to an honest heart. They cannot live without some Communion with God in Faith and Love by Prayer and …editation: and your heart is against it. They have not the same …nd as you have. Their work is all for Heaven, and yours is all principally for earth. Their work and yours are contrary. Th…y go one way, and you another. So that its Impossible to be United and agree, till one side change. p. 104And we cannot Possibly turn to you: God holds us fast by his Love and Spirit, and will not let us go▪ nor suffer us ever to be willing to go. Do you not read Christ …elling you, that its impossible to deceive the Elect? that is, so far as to turn them away from Christ. We are kept by the mighty power of God through faith to salvation. 1 Pet. 1.5. And who can break away from the upholding arms of Almighty power? Christ hath such hold of us that he is resolved none shall take us out of his hands, Ioh. 10.28. So that we cannot come over again to you.

But you may come over to us if you will. God calls you, and Christ would welcome you, and the Holy Ghost would h…p y…u: the door is set open by the bl…od of Christ: the promise is …o you and to your children, that you may and shall have Christ and life if you will p. 105come in, and accept the offer. The Devil cannot hinder you against your wills; he holds you but in the fetters of your own wilfulness, by his meer deceits. Seeing therefore that you may come over to the sanctified, and they cannot possibly come to you, let any reasonable man be judge on what terms we should unite and agree.

2. Moreover if we Agree, it must be on terms of wisdom and honesty. A dish…n…st Agreement is not to be desired, but abhorred. For you to l…ave your ungodliness, and turn to the Love and Fear of God, is an honest cours… of Agreement; for it is but to have dishonesty it sel… and become honest. I hope none of you dare charge the way of God and godliness with any dishonesty: God calls you to nothing but what is holy, and just, and good: and therefore Honesty requireth you to yield.

p. 106But for the s…nctified … unsanctified; for the … b…come ungodly, to be one … you, this were the b…s…st dish… sty in the world. We know your way to be of the Devil and … flesh; and is it honest then to joyn with you in it? We have …yed too long already in the d…es o… our ignorance, and have found it dishonest and deceitful: and would you have us go against our own experience? We were once in the way that you are in, and were forced to renounce it, or else we had been undone body and soul for ever; and should we …ck up the vomit which we were forced to cast out? we were once Agreed with you, and God constrained us to break that Agreement: and shall we renew it again? Alas, your way hath cost us dear; Many a bitter repenting day, and many a sad thought, to the breaking of p. 107our hearts, and the very sense of Gods displeasure; a taste of Hell was cast into our consciences; many a groan, and …ear, and prayer it cost us, before we could recover the hurt that we c…t…ht in the way of ungodlin…ss; and yet we have not fully recovered it to this day. And would you have us stark mad to forget so soon our former sorrows, and turn to a h…e that hath cost us so … already? No, we have paid too dear for it, and smarted too much for it, to go that way any more: It brought us to the very brink of Hell; and if we had but dyed in that condition, we had been damned at this hour; And would you be so unreasonable as to wish us to go back again? No; by that time you know as much of an unsanctified state as we do, you will run from it your selves as fast as you can run; as …he Israelites did from the cry of the p. 108company of Dathan and Abiram, lest the earth should swallow them up also, Numb. 16.34.

We are cer…in that the Lord whom we serve is the only God; and that he, and none but he should rule us; and that we have grievously wronged him by disobeying him so long. And yet would you have us again forsake him? If we should lie in tears till we die, it were too little to satis…e his Justice for one of the sin… we have already committed; and if it had not been for the wonderful …ave and suff… ing of the son of God, we had been lost for ever: And yet must we turn to this course again? God forbid. It was not so wise nor honest a course. We our selves, saith Paul, were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (you hear how he calls p. 109his former life) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he s…ved us, by the washing of reg…neration and ren…wing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. 3.3, 4, 5. And should Paul have turned a fool again, and be deceived and disobedient again, to Ag…ee with the rest of the deceived world? O Sirs, we have seen that which you have not seen, and tasted that which you never tasted. Had you seen and tasted the Love of God in Christ, and the delightful hopes of eternal life, and felt the comfort of his service, and the joyes of the Holy Ghost, you would never wish us to come back again to agree with you in sin, but you would abhorr your selves the very thoughts of your former folly. Why, you may better perswade a man to repent that he was born, p. 110and …o go into the womb again, … perswade us to …epent tha… we are new-born, and return to our … sta…e of death. Dea…h is not so …weet to us; …or H…ll, …or the w…a… or … so …, …or sin w…h … ple…sure so … tha… we should turn to them again for …ea…e with you. If we have scaped them …, and will not take that for a warning, to come …here no more, we dese…ve to pay for it.

Why Sirs, we have made a solemn Covenant with God, in the face of the Congregation in our Baptism, and oft renewed it in the Lo…ds Supper, and vowed that we would be his, and absolutely and unreservedly his. And would you wish us to break so solemn a Covenant? What honesty is in such persidiousness? We have renounced the flesh, the world and the devil; and should we turn to them aga…n p. 111for Peace with you? O what a cursed Peace were that! Let me tell you, that we have not found God so …ad a Master, as to forsake him for the sake of you or any creature. We have tryed h…m, …nd fou…d him … to us then all …he wo…ld He hath never given us cau…e to fors…e him. And if we should now af…er all …he tryals of his love, turn back to the way of sin and ungodliness, the Devil himself would charge us with dishonesty. What! must the godly turn drunkards, and worldlings, and hate…s of godliness to have Peace with you? Why you may next perswade us even to turn Devils, that we may be reconciled to you. The God that made us, hath forbid us upon pain of his hot displeasure, to walk in your wayes. He saith to every one of us, as to Ieremy, 15.19. [Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them.] And should we obey p. 112God or men? Judge you whether. Why Sirs, are you so utterly unreasonable, as to wish us or any man living to love you better then God, or to regard you more then God, or obey you before God? Or should we be so much worse then mad, as to yield to you if you did desire it? Why what are you in comparison with the Almighty! O poor worms, that are even dying while you are speaking! that are but as bubbles ready to burst, when you are swelled to the highest in ungodly pride! That even while you are eating, and drinking, and making merry, are passing on apace to weeping and gnashing of teeth, and everlasting woes and lamentations! What should we regard such dust and dirt as you are before the glorious God! It were far greater wisdom and honesty, for your children to set up a dog or a toad, and say, This is more to be p. 113loved and honoured then my Father. If a Traytor against an earthly Prince deserve to be hang'd drawn and quartered; certainly that man that would forsake God and his Laws to please such silly worms as you, did deserve to be hang'd in the flames of Hell, and to be tormented by infernal fiends, and ground to powder by the wrath of the Almighty! Well! if you have eyes that can see, you may see now past doubt, that we cannot turn to you that are ungodly, with any wisdom or honesty in the world, nor without the highest madness and dishonesty. But can you say so of your turning in to us? Is it contrary either to Wisdom or Honesty for you to turn unfeignedly to God, and to become a sancti…ied godly people? Me thinks you should not have such a thought in you… hearts. And therefore if we be not all of a mind, and go not p. 114all one way, it is most apparent that it is not long of us, but of you.

3. If we do Vnite and Agree, it must be upon terms of Safety. This much I hope you cannot deny us. You would not sure wish us to Agree to our own destruction, and to make a bargain with you that we may all joyn together in cutting our own throats? Do you think that this were a wise combination? How much less should we make an Agreement to go the certain way to Hell, and to joyn together in damning our own souls for ever? Sirs, if you dislike the way of Holiness, do but find out any other way that will safely bring a man to heaven, and we will promise you to joyn in it. But unholiness will never do it. God hath told us as plain as can be spoken, th…t except a man be born again, and be converted, he cannot enter into the Kingdom p. 115of heaven, Joh. 3.3.5. Mat. 18.3. an… that without h…liness no man s… … the Lord, H…b. 12.14. and that the righteous th…mselves are s… …reely s…rv…d, 1 Pet. 4.18. and that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are past away, and all things become new, 2 Cor. 5.17. and that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, Rom. 8.9. So that if God know who shall be saved, it is as certain as any thing in the world, that no unsanctified man can be saved. If leaping into the water be the way to drowning, or leaping into the fire be the way to burning, or leaping down from the top of a st…ple be the way to break your necks, as sure is an unholy life the …ay to everlasting torment. And would you wish us to undo our s…lv…s everlastingly for your …ri…ndship? What can you say to this now If you say that your p. 116way is not so dangerous, it is bu… our precise uncharitable conc…it. We have shewed you the word of God for it; and fourty times mo…e we could easily shew you▪ And shall we believe you or such as you before God? You are lyars; but God cannot lye. You see not what is done in another world; but God seeth it. You know not what is in Heaven or Hell: but God knoweth. And shall we not believe God that knoweth and disposeth of all. better then moles that never saw it. and ignorant souls that never knew it? God saith, that Fornicators, Adulterers, Drunkards, Covet…us persons, revilers, or the like, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6.10.11. and that they that are in the fl…sh cannot please God; and that if you live after the flesh ye shall … Rom. 8.5.6, 7, 13. And would you have us believe you that there is no danger in a fleshly life? Sirs, p. 117we desire heartily to be United and Agreed with you; but we are loth to buy it so dear, as the loss of God and heaven com…s to. We are willing of Concord with you; but we are loth to be damned with you: And do you blame us for this? And, alas, if you should tell us a thousand times that you hope there is no such danger, or that you hope to scape as well as the godly, this is but poor security to us. Shall we be so …ad as to venture our selves on such words as these against the Word of the Ruler of the world? What s…curity can you give us that we shall scape damnation if we turn ungodly? Are you able to save us from the wrath of God? Will you undertake to stand between us and his displeasure? What say you? if we will forsake an holy life, and live as careless worldlings do, and neglect God and our souls, and please the p. 118world and our flesh, w…ll you undertak… …o answer for us in Judgm…nt? and will you … bear the punishme…t … should bear … you … …o save …s ha…mless, … will you per…wade …s to … do? Nay, …f you … it, he were a mad man … trust you, and … on … such under… … know you are not … ma…th … how unable w…ll … your selves? … an hour …, whe… … Commission to car…y you… … And shall we trust … your …oa…g words, when … kn…w you are … help yo…r selves? Let us see … what yo… can do f…r our selves or us agai… the prefer… …and of God. … you keep off death, and … diseases, and live here in heal…h p. 119and wealth for ever, whether God will or no? How comes it to pass th…n that here is never a one of you near two hundred years of age? Let us see you chide back approaching death, and raise the dead bodies from their graves, and heal all the diseases that out off mankind: If you cannot do these smaller matters, would you have us b…lieve that you can save…s from damnation? Why, Sirs, must your ne…ghbours lie some of them in poverty, and some in pain, some sick of one disease, and some of another, and you look on them and cannot cure them or relieve them, and yet must we venture our souls upon your words! You cannot make an old man young again, and can you make the word of God prove false, or save those that God hath said shall perish, and bring unsanctified men to heaven whether God will or no? Well, p. 120Sirs, let them that hate their souls, …r care not whether they are …aved …r damned, forsake the Lord and an holy life, and joyn with you, and see whether you can sa…e the…e But for my part I believe the W…r… of God, and upon th…s Word … I am resolved to build my hop…s▪ and venture my soul and a…l … little that I have in this … Trust you on what you please, … shall be my trust: And they … can find a surer ground to … upon, let them take the…r course.

But I must tell you, that if you would wish us all to cast aw…y God, and Christ, and heaven, to agree with you▪ you are mo…ite… and not men; and if you are s… cruel as to desire us to damn our souls for company, we must be so careful of our selves as to abhor your motion, and ra…her to ha…e the dearest thing or person in the p. 121world, as they would draw us from Christ and everlasting life, Luke 14.26.

You see than what it is that standeth in our way, to hinder us from turning back to you. But what dang…r would you be in if you should turn to us? Would it hurt or hazzard you to forsake your sensual ungodly lives? Is there any danger in turning to God, and living an holy heavenly life? What is the danger? Forsooth you may lose your estat…s or lives! A great matter indeed in comparison of eternal life: And must you not lose them shortly whether you will or not? And are they not in the pow…r of God? and cannot he pr…s…rve th…m if he please? and if it be good for them, he is liker to do it for his own, then for his enemies! But indeed he hath told you himself, that he th…t will save his life shall lose it, and he that loseth p. 122his life for his sake, shall find it, even in life everlasting, Mat. 16.25. & 10.39. And yet as the world now goeth in England, through the mercy of God, your lives are in no danger. It is but the scorn of ignorant miserable men that you must endure. And will you stick at this, in the cause of God and your salvation? Nay indeed you are in most dreadful danger every day and night, and hour, till you forsake your former fleshly lives, and turn to Christ! You are all the while even within a step of death and hell, till you are Converted and made an holy people; It is but one stroak of death to put an end to your lives and hopes, and you are gone for ever. So that you have nothing to lose, but an Heaven to gain, if you joyn with the godly. There is no danger can come to to you by turning, unless it be the loss of your sins; and that is a loss p. 123no more to be f…ared, then a man should fear to lose the plague, or pox, or leprosie that hath it.

Now I beseech you Sirs, as men of Conscience or of Reason, set both together, and equally consider how the case stands between us. If we joyn with the unholy, we run into Hell, and lose God, and Christ, and Grace, and Salvation for evermore: But if you turn to the Godly, you get out of danger, and make the gainfullest match that ever was made by mortal men; and you can lose nothing but the sensual pleasures of sin, which are but exchanged for the joyes of Saints, as sickness is exchanged for health. And which now do you think in reason is the fitter, that you turn to the godly, or they to you? Truly, if you make so great a matter of leaving your sins, which are viler then your dung, that you will rather p. 124break with God and us, you must give us leave to make so great a matter of leaving Christ and h…s holy wayes and people, that we will much rath…r break with you a…d all the wicked in the world▪ and with o… carnal selves, and that which is …ost dear to them: And I think we have good reason for it.

4. Moreover, th…s must be considered in our treaty, that if we agree, it is fit that our dearest frien… be taken into the Agreemen… Should we cast off them to agre… with adversaries, and leave our ol… friends in hope of new? But if we come over to you, and turn unholy we shall never have Gods consent to the Agreement, we must leave him out, and utterly lose him When, alas, we cannot live, no… move, nor breath without him▪ w… cannot have our daily bread, or one nights rest but by his gift. And p. 125such a friend is not to be lost for you. And we shall lose the Lord Jesus and the Holy Ghost, a… …he Communion of Saints, are the peace of our own consciences. O what a peal would conscience ring us night and day! It would open Hell to us: It would kindle the fire of Gods wrath in our bosoms; and be scorching us as we lie down and as we ris… up: And who would endure such a life as this, for all the world? … like it is not t…us with you: but that is because you know not what a case you are in, nor what a dreadful thing ungodliness is; but we know it: And therefore what shift soever you make to keep your consciences asleep, I know not how I should quiet mine, if I were in your case, and kn…w but what I know of it.

But now if you will joyn with Christ and us, your true fri…nds w…ll be glad of it: you should no… lose p. 126one friend in the world by it, unles… you take the Devil and his servants for your friends, that would destroy you. Judge then whether you should come to us, or we to you.

5. Moreover, this must be considered in our treaty, that if we agree with you, we have some regard to our Honour. And what Honour is it to us to become the servants of sin and the Devil, and be forsaken of God, and return to the slavery that lately we were delivered from? A hang-man is ten thousand times more honourable then this.

But on the other side, if you will turn to Christ, you will come out of the greatest shame, and obtain the greatest honours that you are capable of: You will be the sons of God, and heirs of heaven, coheirs with Christ, fellow-Citizens of the Saints, and of the houshold p. 127of God, Iohn 1.12. Rom. 8.17. Eph. 2.19. and be built up an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.22.

6. Moreover, this is most considerable in our treaty, that if we Agree, it must be upon Vniversal terms that all will agree upon; or else it can be no Vniversal Agreement. If a few should Agree with you, this would not make a Unity in the world. We must have terms that are fit for all to Agree upon. And in good sadness, would you have all the world be such as you? Tell me, you that are covetous and proud, would you have all the world become proud and covetous to Agree with you? Nay if they should, when they are likest you, they would not Agree with you: …or the Proud will envy the Proud, and their Pride will set them together by the ears. And the covetous would be greedily snatching p. 128the prey out of one anothers jaws and their mammon would be the matter of their strife. Tell me also you that are drunkards or unclean, would you have all the world become drunkards and unclean for Unity with you? You that are careless about your souls, and p…ayerles… in your families, and forget the matters of eve… lasting life, would you have all the world set as light by God, and Christ, and Heaven as you? Could the worst of you all have the face to make such a motion as this? What! would you have all Holiness and heavenly-mindedness banished out of the world, because you have banished it from your selves? Would you have all men shut their Bibles as much as you, and instruct their children and servants no more then you, and love God and serve him no more then you? Is it possible that such an p. 129heart as this can be in the breast of the worst on earth? What! would you have all the world be drunkards, or fornicators, or haters of godliness, or at least unsanctified, because you are so! How quickly then would earth turn Hell, and the flames of the wrath of God consume it? How certainly then would God forsake the world, as a man would be gone from roads and serpents? Can there be such cruelty in any but the Devils, as to wish all the world to be damned with you for company, or to Agree with you on such terms, that you may go hand in hand together to damnation! Or if you had such Devilish hearts within you, as to desire such an Agreement as this, can you think that all the godly would yield to it? No; let me tell you, not one of them in all the world will yield to it. If you set …o more by the Love of God, be p. 130blood of Christ, the presence and comforts of the Holy-Ghost, and the Hopes of Glory, yet they do, and will do. If you will run into Hell, you shall never get them thither with you for company.

But on the other side, there is nothing in the way of Holiness, but what is fit for all men to Agree upon. I know All will not; and therefore we expect not an Agreement with all. But that is their unhappiness. There is no fit means of Agreement but this.

7. Lastly, this also must be considered in our treaty; that we Agree upon terms that are like to hold, and not to be repented of hereafter. For what good will it do to Agree today, and to break it or bewail it tomorrow? Why, alas Sirs, we know as sure as we breath, that if we should Agree with you in unholiness, we should p. 131quickly Repent it, either by Grace, or in Hell-fire. Nay we know that you will Repent of those unholy wayes and hearts your selves, either by Grace or Judgement. Nay there are even now some kind of purposes in many of you to repent. I have heard abundance of ungodly men profess that they hope to repent hereafter, and mend their lives, and leave their sins. And would you wish us to come and joyn with you in a way that you hope to forsake your selves, and in a way that you purpose hereafter to Repent of? I know as sure as that the Sun will set, that every ungodly soul among you, will shortly change their false opinions; and they that derid…d the servants of Christ, would wish then they might but be door-keepers among them: You will wish and wish a thousand times that you had done as they did, and lived as holily as p. 132the best on earth: You will then wish, [O that it were to do again! and that my life were again to be lived; and God would but try me on earth once more.] Those tongues that railed against Religion, will a thousand times more reproach your selves for those reproaches, and the neglect of this Religion. You will then cry out [Where was my wit and reason, when I made so mad a change, as of God for the creature, Christ for sin, and Heaven for Hell] Do you think Sirs, that it were any wisdom for us to Agree with you now in that, for which you will fall out with your selves for ever? and to go with you in that loose ungodly way which you will wish your selves that you had never known?

Besides, we know that it is only the Saints that we must live with for ever; and therefore you must become Saints, if you would be p. 133Unit…d to us here. What! Should we be so careful to Agree with you a while, and be separated from you eternally, or do worse by suffering with you! But if you will Unite with us in Christ and Holiness, this will be a lasting Unity; which you will never have occasion to repent of. The Union between the Lord Jesus and his members, shall never be dissolved. Heartily joyn with his servants now in the wayes of Holiness, and you shall certainly joyn with them in the state of Happiness, and in the joyful fruition and praises of the Lord.

Well Sirs, in this much of our treaty I have layed the case plain and open before you, and shewed you, that we cannot come over to you: It is not Possible, nor Honest, nor Safe; we cannot forsake an holy life without forsaking God, and our Redeemer, and our salvation, which no man that is a p. 134man indeed, should desire us to do nor can we do it till we first forsake our understandings: But o… your side the case is o…herwi…e▪ You may turn to God and an holy life, without any hurt or wrong to you at all▪ nay it is the only way to your felicity, and if you do it not, you are undone for ever: So that the case is past all controversie before you, that there is no way in the world to Unity, but by Consent in Piety? If half the Common-wealth turn Rebels, and so shall make a Division in the body, the way to Unite them is by the returning of the Rebels to their Allegiance, and not for the true and lawful subjects to turn all Rebels and joyn with them. For without the Head there cannot be a Union. So that if the world be still divided and disagreed, it is not long of the godly, but of the ungodly: And if you would have p. 135an Agreement, its you that must yield, who cause the disagreement. You may do it, and must do it, or do worse; but the godly may not yield to you.

What say you now, would you have Unity or Division? Would you have Peace or no Peace? You complain that the world is of so many minds: Would you have them all reconciled and of one mind? If you would, let us see it. The work sticks with you; on your hands it lyeth, and it is you that must do it, if ever it be done. If you would have all ungodly, you deserve not to live on the earth. Shall we then without any more ado agree all upon a life of Holiness? O that our Towns and Parishes would all joyn together in this Agreement! and it must be this or none.

But perhaps some of you will say, What need you make so many p. 136words about a matter that no bo…y doth deny? We all kn…w we should …e Holy and Godly, and n…ne should be ung…ly; who doubts of this? But the Question is, What Holin…ss and Godliness is? Tell us th…refore wh…t you me…n by it, …n… who those be that you tak… to be the Godly sanctified people?

Answ. If we are all agreed of the Necessity of Holiness, then those that are not yet agreed to be Holy themselves, do sin against their own consciences, and condemn themselves in the things which they allow, and wilfully divide themselves from Christ and from his Church. And if any of you have been so long Baptized into the Name of the Holy-Ghost as your Sanctifier, and yet know not what Sanctification is, and who are to be accounted sanctified and godly, you shew that you have perfidiously cast away and broak your p. 137Covenant with God; and made but an …ll use of your Baptism or any Means and Ordinances since. But if you know not who are godly or ungodly, I shall quickly tell you.

A godly man is one that being formerly in a state of sin and misery, both strange and backward to God, and heaven, and an holy life, and prone to earthly, fles…ly pleasures, is now by the powerful w…rk of the Word and Spirit of God, converted to unfeigned faith and repentance, broaken-hearted for his former sin and misery, flying to Christ as the only Hope an… Physitian of his soul, and so is made a new creature, having his heart set upon God and everlasting life, and contemning all the pleasures of the flesh and the things of this world in comparison of his hopes of Glory; hating all known sin, and not wilfully living in any; and loving p. 138the highest degree of Holiness and willing to use the means that God hath appointed to destroy the remnants of sin, and bring him nearer to perfection; This is a truly godly man.

And he that is not such, is ungodly. He that yet remaineth in his Natural depraved state, and is unacquainted with this great and holy change, that hath any sin that he had rather keep then leave, and any that he wilfully liveth in, and wilfully neglecteth known duties, as one that had rather be free from them then perform them, and had rather live a fleshly life, then a sp… ritual and an holy life, and is more in love with the creature, then with God; with his life on earth in flesh and sin, then a life in heaven wi…h God and his …aints in perfect holiness; this man is undoubtedly a wicked and ungodly man, how evilly or religiously soever he may p. 139seem to live in the world. And so I have in a few words told you, who they be that are godly, and who are the ungodly. The Question now that we are treating about, is, whether we shall all agree together to be godly? Do you not believe it to be best and necessary? If not, you are blind: If you do, let us agree on it without delay. You tell us with many great complaints of the many differences and divisions that are among us: but shall we Agree so far as we are agreed? that is, shall we agree in heart and practice, so far as we are agreed in opinion and profession? O that you would make a solemn Covenant, that you will but Consent and go along with the Godly so far as you confess you ought to do; and would but Unite with us in faithfulness to the truths which you cannot deny. I think it will be best to call you to the tryal in some particulars.

p. 1401. I hope we are all Agreed that there is one only God that ma…e us, and preserveth us, and Redeemed us: and therefore that we are wholly his, and should resign our selves and all that we have absolutely to him for his service. He is not worthy the name of a man, that denyeth this: And shall we a…l Agree now in the Practice of this much? Shall we wholly resign our selves and all that we have to God? and labour to know what God would have us be and do, and that let us resolve upon, whatever the flesh or the world say to the contrary. Were but this much well resolved on, we were in a fair way to a full agreement.

2. We are all Agreed in Opinion or Profession, that this God is our only Happiness, and his favour is better then all the world, and that he is infinitely Wise, and Good, and Powerful; and therefore that he p. 141must be Loved above all things whatsoever, and must be most feared, and served, and trusted, and depended on.

And shall we but Agree all in the Practice of this much? O that you would but heartily consent and do it! Did we but joyn together in Loving God above all, and fearing, and trusting, and serving him before all, we should quickly be of one heart and soul, and in a very fair way to a perfect agre… ment.

3. We are all Agreed (that profess Christianity) that sin hath made us miserable, and brought us under the wrath and curse of God, and that the Lord Jesus Christ having Redeemed us by his blood, is the only Physitian and Remedy for our souls, and having manifested such infinite Love in our Redemption, and also purchased Dominion over us, we are p. 142strongly bound to Rejoyce in his salvation, and fly to him for Safety and rest upon him, and live in the thankful admirations of his Love, and in careful Obedience to his gracious Laws.

And shall we all Agree in the Practice of this much? Will you fly to Christ with broken bleeding hearts, for safety from sin, and wrath, and Hell, and set more by him then by all the world? Will you study with all Saints to comprehend his Love? Eph. 3.18, 19 and admire him and his mercies, and devote your selves to him and be ruled by him? O that we were but all agreed in this much?

4. We are all agreed in Opinion or Profession, that the Holy Ghost is the Sanctifier of Gods elect, or of all that shall be saved, and that except a man be born again by the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven, and that p. 143without holiness none shall see God; and that no man is the Son of God, that hath not in him the Spirit of his Son, 1 Cor. 12.12, 13. Eph. 4.5. Ioh. 3.5, 6. Heb. 12.14. Rom. 8.9. Gal. 4.4.

Were we but all such now as we are agreed we must be, and would you but all Consent to this Sanctification and newness of life, the great difference were healed, and the work were done.

5. Moreover we are all Agreed, or seem to be so, that the holy Scripture is the word of God, and of infallible truth, and therefore must be believed and made the Rule of our Judgements and our lives.

Shall we all agree now in the practice of this? Will you appeal to the Scripture! and shall it be our Rule? If the flesh perswade you to another course, and murmur at the strictness of Gods p. 144Word; if custom be against it, and the greater number be against it; if your profits, or pleasures, or worldly honours be against it, and your former opinions and practice have been against it, will you yet believe the Scripture before all, and be ruled by it above all the world? You are agreed I hope that God is to be obeyed rather then men, or then the flesh and the Devil? Will you resolve that … shall be so? O if the Word of God might be the Rule, how quickly should we be agreed? For all the Popish cavils at its difficulty, and mens divers expositions, yet how soon should we be agreed?

6. We are all agreed in Opinion or Profession, that there is a heaven for the Sanctified, even an endless unconceivable Glory with God, in the seeing of his face, and enjoying him in perfect Love and Joyes; and that the seeking of this p. 145everlasting Glory should be the main and principal business of our lives, which all things must give place to. He that will deny this, can have no pretence to call himself a Christian.

O that we might but all agree in the practising of this! and that the principal love and desire of our souls were set upon the Heavenly blessedness, and the chiefest of our care and labour might be laid out for the obtaining of it. Agree in this, and all will be agreed at last.

7. We are all Agreed in our profession, that there is an Hell, or state of endless torments, where all the finally unsanctified and ungodly must be for ever.

But why do we not agree in the diligent avoiding of such a dreadful misery, and using our best endeavours to escape it?

8. We are all agreed in Profession, p. 146that the flesh is our enemy, and must be mortified. But will you agree in the practice of this mortification? We are agreed i… Profession, that the world is our enemy and must be contemned▪ and that it is a vain and worthless thing, compared with the Glory that is to come: But yet m…n … not agree to renounce the world unfeignedly, and to be stranger to it, and part with all rather th… with God and a good Conscience but while men sp…ak contemptuously of the world, they seek … far more eagerly then heaven. We are agreed that the Devil is our enemy, and yet men will not forsa… his service.

9. We are all agreed in profession, that sin is a most hateful thing hated of God, condemned by his Word, and the only cause of the damnation of souls: And yet men love it, and live in it with delight p. 147Sha…l we agree all to deal with sin as we speak of it? Will Magistrates, and Ministers, and people joyn together, to banish it out of Town and Countrey? Particularly we are agreed I hope, that whoredom, and wantonness, and gluttony, and drunkenness, and strife, and envying, and lying, and deceit, and cursing, and swearing, and railing, and backbiting, and speaking against an holy life, are all gro…s, hateful, damning sins, which every Christian must abhor. But why do you not agree in the hateing, and forsaking, and beating down of these sins? But Town and Countrey swarmeth with them as a carkase doth with maggots, or a stinking pond with frogs and toads: So that Magistrates and Ministers, punishments and perswasions, the Laws of the Land, and the Laws of God, can do but little to rid the Countrey of them; p. 148but the same men that confess all these to be great and grievous sins, will keep them and delight in them, as if it were in despight of God and man, or as if they bore a deadly grudge to their own immortal souls.

10. There is none of you that bears the face of a Christian, but must agree with us in profession, that One thing is needful, and that we must seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and labour most for the food that will not perish. Luke 10.41, 42. Matth. 6, 33. Iohn 6.27. and that God should be loved with all our heart, and soul, and might, and that no man can love him too much, nor serve him too carefully, nor be too diligent in the seeking of his salvation. Why then will you not all agree to do thus? But the very same tongues that confess all this, will yet speak against the service of p. 149God, and call it Puritanism and preciseness, and say its more ado then needs: Why Sirs, if you will say and unsay, there is no hold to be taken of your words, and therefore what agreement can be with you? Will you confess that all should take more care for their souls then for their bodies, and take more care for heaven then earth, and yet will you not agree to do it, but rather speak against them that do it, when you confess that it is b…st? Why, if you can agree no better with your selves, how can you agree with us? If your own opinions and profession be at such odds with your wills and practices, no wonder if you be at odds with others.

More particularly, I hope you will all confess, that it is the duty of all that can, to hear the Word of God, and frequently to read it, and labour to understand it, and to p. 150meditate in it day and night; and for Parents daily to teach it their children at home and abroad, lying down and rising up: Deut. 6.6, 7, 8. & 11.18, 19. Psalm 1.2, 3. and to pray in their families, and in private, even alwaies or frequently to pray, and not to wax faint, but in all things to make known their requests to God, that all things might be sanctified to them by the Word and Prayer. All this is plain in the Word of God, Dan. 6.10, 11. Luke 18.1. 1 Thes. 5.17. Psalm 55.17. 1 Tim. 4.5. Phil. 4.6.

But will you all agree with us in the practice of these things? Will all the Families in Town and Countrey agree together to pray morning and evening reverently to God, and to banish profaneness out of their doors, and to instruct their children and servants in the fear of God, and spend the Lords day in p. 151holy exercises, and help one another to pr…pare for death and judgement, and exhort one another daily while it is called to day, lest any be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin … Heb. 3.13.

To what purpose should I mention any more particulars, till we see whether you will Unite and agree in these? All these are your own Professions. I know you cannot deny any one of them; and yet we cannot perswade you to Consent with us in the Practice of what: your selves profess: No, nor scarce to forbear the open opposing of it: Either resolve now that you will all agree with us in these things which you confess the Lord hath made your duty, or else tell us plainly that you are the deadly enemies of Unity and Peace, that we may take you to be as you are, and troubl… our selves no more ab… you. If you are res…lved p. 152against Agreement and Vnity, tell us so, and save us the labour of any further tr…aties with you. Talk no more childishly about our petty differences in ceremonies and forms of Worship, about Bishops and Common-prayer Books, and Holy-daies, and such like, as long as you refuse Agreement in the main. There's a difference between you that is an hundred times greater then these; some of you are for Heaven, and some for Earth; some of you live to the Spirit, and some to the flesh; some of you are hearing, reading or meditating on the Word of God, when others think it needless, and had rather have a pair of cards or dice in their hands, some of you make Gods Law your Rule, and some are Ruled by the world and the flesh; some are drunkards, gluttons, wan…ons, worldlings; and some are sober, temperate, chaste and heavenly; p. 153some think almost any thing enough in the Worship of God, and for the saving of their souls; and others think the best they can do too littl… ▪ and when they have done most, lament that they do no more; some Families use daily prayer, reading, and holy instructions; and others use daily swearing, railing, ribaldry, and pe…haps deriding of holiness it self. In a word, some give up themselves to God and Heaven, and others to the world, the flesh and the devil; some are converted and become new creatures by the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost; and others are yet in the state of nature, and never knew a true conversion.

This is the great differ…nce of the world Sirs: Till this be healed, it is in vain to talk of the healing of our pet…y differences. And therefore once more I tell you, if p. 154you will not be Converted to an holy life, and Unite with us on these terms, you are the enemies of Peace and Unity, and the great Incendaries of the world.

AND now having proceeded thus far in the treaty with you, because I will either bring you to Agreement, or leave you at least without excuse, I will here annex some further Reasons to move you, if it may be to so happy a work.

1. Consider I pray you, that if you will not agree with us in the things that you make profession of, and confess to be your duty, you are then treacherous and false to God, and to your selves, and therefore not fit for any to make Agreement with, till you change your minds. Do you know that p. 155God is best, and yet will you not Love him better then the world? Do you know that Heaven is the only happiness, and yet will you not seek it more then earth? Do you know that an holy life is best, and yet will you be unholy? Do you know sin is the worst and most dangerous thing in the world, and yet will you not let it go? Who will trust such men as you, that will go against their own knowledge and confessions? If you will be false to God, and false to your own souls, no wonder if you be false to us.

2. Moreover all your pretended desires of Unity and Concord are base hypocrisie, as long as you refuse to Unite with us in the way and state of holiness: To take on you that you are troubled at the Divisions of the world, and to wish that we were all of one Religion, and to talk against sects and opinions p. 156as you do, is me…r self-condemning, and such gross dissembling as exposeth you to shame. What! would you have us think you are against Divisions, when you divide from God, and Christ, and the Holy Ghost, from the Scripture, from the holy Catholick Church, and from the Communion of Saints? Can you for shame say that you are for Unity and Agre…ment, when you are dividing from us, and will not agree with us, unless we will be as mad as you, and damn our souls for company with you? To hear these ungodly men talk against sects and divisions in the Church, is as if we heard a man that hath the leprosie cry out against those that have the itch, or a murderer childe another for foul words.

3. And I must tell you while you remain ungodly, you are the great Hereticks and Separatists that p. 157trouble the Church of God, more then abundance of those that you reproach. I excuse not the least; but none of them are like you: As death is worse then sickness, as being that which all sickness tends to, and the worst that it can do; so Ungodliness is worse then sects and particular Errours or Heresies, it being the worst that any errour can do, to make a man ungodly. There are no such Separatists in the world as you. It is not only from a particular Church or Ordinance that you separate, but as I said even now, you separate from God that made you, from Christ that bought you, from the Spirit that should sanctifie you, from the Word of God that must Rule you or Condemn you, from the body of Christ, and the holy Communion of his people. The Church would have you joyn with them in holy worship; and your godly neighbours p. 158would have you joyn with them in prayer and holy lives, and you will not, but separate from them all. They cannot have your help against the sins of the time and place you live in: They cannot have your company in the way to heaven; but when they go one way, you go another way. You are the great troubl…rs of the world, and break the Peace of Church and State, and of all that you have to do with. You trouble Magistrates and make work for Lawyers; you trouble Ministers, and frustrate their labours, and make their lives grievous to them, when it is much in your hands to make them joyous. You trouble all the godly that are about you; and you will find at last that you have most of all troubled your own souls. For shame therefore before you speak any more against Sects and Separatists, or any other p. 159troublers of the Church, give over the ungodly separation which you continue in, and come in to the Unity of the Church your selves, and live in that Communion of Saints which you say you do believe, and do not go on to trouble the Church abundance more then those that you speak against.

4. Consider also, Whether you have not as much reason to live a diligent holy life, and seek God and your salvation with all your might, as any of your neighbours have? and therefore whether your own Necessity doth not call aloud to you, to Vnite with them and to do as they do? Your Godly neighbours are meditating on the Word of God, when you are thinking of the world or on vanity: they are discoursing of the life to come, when you are talking of your worldly business, or pouring out a p. 160company of idle words. Ask your conferences now wh…ther you have not as much need to study the Scripture and prepare for the life to come as they Your godly ne…ghbours are at prayer, when you are sinning and drowned in the inordinate cares of the wo…ld, and have no heart to th…ir employment. Let conscience speak whether you have not as much need to pray as they. They abhor sin and are afraid of it, when you boldly venture on it. Let conscience tell you. Whether you have not as much cause to be afraid of sin as they? Yea and an hundred times more; for you are under the guilt and power of it. O wonderful madness of the ungodly world! that the example of the godly should not bring them to some consideration. A man that is converted and reconciled to God, and hath a pardon of all his sins, and is p. 161in a state of salvation, and walketh humbly and uprightly with God; doth yet think all too little that he can do, but fasteth, and prayeth, and watcheth against temptations, and humbl…th his flesh, and followeth after God continually, and lamenteth after all that he is so bad, & can do no more. And his neighbor that liveth by him, is an ignorant stupid sinner, unconverted, and under the guilt of his sin, and under the curse and wrath of God, having no assurance of salvation; nay it is certain that he would be cast into Hell the next hour if he die in that condition; and yet this man feels not any such need of prayer, and holy meditation, and conference, and so religious and str…ct a life. He that hath lost almost all the time of his life, and is not only quite behind-hand in knowledge and abilities, but is an unsanctified miserable wretch, not sure p. 162to be out of Hell an hour, this man perceiveth no such necessity of an holy life, nor why he should make so much ado. As if a rich man should be put to daily labour, and a man that hath nothing should think it needless: Or as if a man that hath the tooth-ake or a slight disease, should send to the Physitian, and he that hath the Plague should sit still and say, What needs this trouble? Sirs, I beseech you look upon the holiest and most heavenly neighbours you have, and bethink you whether you have not much more need to be diligent then they? Have not you immortal souls to save or lose as well as they? Are not you in danger of damnation as much and an hundred times more then they? Should not God be your master as well as theirs? and his Law your Rule as well as theirs? and Heaven be as dear to you as to them? Bethink your p. 163selves when you hear them praying, or reading, or repeating Sermons, and Sanctifying the Lords day, and fearing to offend, [Have not I as much need to do all this as any of them?] If then you have as much cause and need to live a godly life as others, joyn with them in it, and let all the Town agree together, and none withdraw but he that can say, I have no need of it.

5. And I pray you consider also, how easie it would make the way to heaven, if we would but all Vnite and Agree to go together in it. This is it that discourageth the weak, and mak…s it so hard a matter to be saved, because there are so few that are godly: but if one or two poor people be resolved to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and to please God and save their souls, the rest do either look on and refuse to joyn with p. 164them, or else speak against them and make them their ordinary scorn. And thus he that will be saved, must not only go to heaven without the company of the most of his neighbours, but must go through their opposition, and reproaches, and discouragements: And (the Lord be merciful to the miserable world) most places that one shall come into, are more agreed against holiness and salvation then for it; and had rather that all the Parish would agree together against a godly life (which is indeed against Christ, and heaven, and their own souls) then for it. And some places are so miserable, that you may h…ar them thank God that they have not one Puritan in their …arish, or but few at most; meaning by Puritans, men that seek heav…n above ear…h, a…d had rather leave their sins then be damned And this d…s…ea…teneth p. 165many that have some mind to godliness, to see almost all the Town and Parish against it.

But now if you had all but so much wit and grace, as to meet together and make an Agreement, that you will All be a holy people to the Lord, and you will All joyn together in a godly life, and you will All be the sworn professed enemies of the way to Hell, and joyn together against your Ignorance, and Pride, and Covetousness, and Drunkenness, and Swearing, and Railing, and all Profaneness and Iniquity; and if you would All agree together, to set up prayer, and reading, and holy exercises in every house in Town and Parish, and that you will all redeem the time for your souls, especially that you will wholly spend the Lords day in the necessary delightful work of God; then what abundance of your difficulties would be p. 166removed? and how easie and pleasant would the way to heaven be! Then there would be none to discourage poor ignorant souls, by deriding at a godly life; nor none to entice them to wicked courses, nor none to tempt them by their ill examples; and the number of the godly would encourage men, as the fewness of them now discourageth. Th…s troubleth men in the…r passage to Heaven, when we are ill-yoaked toge…her, and one draws backward as the oth…r draws forward: and if the husband be for God, the wife is for the world; or if the wife be for Heaven, the husband will needs go the way to Hell and if one neighbour be godly, the two, if not ten or twenty next him will be ungodly: And as the Israelites spies, they raise up false reports of the Land, of the state of godliness, and of the persons themselves, to discourage others: p. 167whereas if you would all agree together, you might march on comfortably without all this ado.

O how sweet and pleasant a life is it to see brethren dwell together in such an holy Unity as this? Psal. 133.1. Happy are they that dwell in such Towns and Parishes as these! if there be any such in the world: Where neighbours go all hand in hand together towards heaven; and take sweet counsel together; and go to the house of God in company; and when others meet in Ale-houses, and about fooleries and profaneness, they will meet together to talk of their meeting in the presence of God, and the joy and praises of the Living God, and the Communion with Christ, and with Angels, and with one another, which we shall then possess: when they will pray together, and comfort one another with such words, 1 Thes. 4.18. p. 168And when others are talking idly or of the world, they will be admonishing and exhorting one another, and speaking words that are edifying to the hearers, Col. 3.16. Ephes. 4.29. and opening their cases and experiences to each other, and fai…hfully watching over one another, agreeing to tell one another plainly and lovingly of their sins, and to take it thankfully of those that do so, and endeavour presently to amend! What a sweet and blessed life were this, if all our Towns and Parishes would agree in it! Who would not rather live with bread and water in such a Town as this, then be a Lord or Prince among the ungodly! Well Sirs, it is much in your hands now to make your own and your neighbours lives thus sweet and comfortable, and to make the way to heaven thus easie: Why then will you not Agree and do it?

p. 1696. Moreover such an Holy Unity and Concord would be the highest honour to your Towns and Countries, that in this world they can possibly receive. It is the highest glory of the Kingdoms of the world, to become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, Rev. 11.15. You think it a great honour for your Towns to be rich and have fair buildings, and to have worldly priviledges: bu…, alas, these are bawbles in c…mparison of the other! O if it were but the Happiness of this Town and Parish to be brought to such an Holy Agreement as I mentioned, that you would all joy… together in a godly life, and every Family Agree to worship God with holy reverence, and all set together against p…ofa…eness and all known sin, what an honour would it be to you of this place? How would your fame go through all the Land! All p. 170Countries would ring of Ked…rminster, what a victory Christ had gotten there, and what an overthrow the Devil and sin had there received! and what a blessed place and people it is, where they are All agreed to be Holy and to be saved, and are all like the antient Primitive Believers, that were of one heart and one soul, Acts 4.32. O how the world would ring of such a Town where there is not one family that is ungodly, that serveth the Devil by worldliness, swearing, drunkenness, or any ungodly course: but all are United in Christ and Holiness, and are like to live together in Heaven! Truly neighbours, this would be a greater honour to you, and to the Town, then if you were every man a Lord or Prince! In the eyes of God and all wise men, it would be the greatest honour in the world. And O what an excellent example would p. 171it be to all the Towns and Parishes in the Land! When they see your holy Unity and Peace, or hear of a place that is so happily agreed, it may shame them out of their ungodliness, and kindle in them a strong desire to be like you, and agree together as you have done. O that you would but give them such an example, and try the issue!

7. And I desire every one singly to consider, that it is the unspeakable mercy of God, that he calleth you to this holy Union with Christ, and Communion of Saints; and that he doth not thrust you away, and forbid you coming near, but will give you leave to be of the holy Society, fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God. God hath made his promise and offer so large, that you may have part in it as well as others, if you will not wilfully shut out your p. 172selves. The feast is prepared; all things are ready, and you are every man and woman invit…d! Christ hath opened to you a door of admittance and access to God. And will you now re…use and undo your selves. The sanct…fied are Gods Jewels, Mal. 3.17 his treasure and pecul…ar people: the beloved of his soul, and his delight: and the only people in the world that shall be saved. This is true; for God hath spoken it: And you may be of this blessed number if you will. God hath not separated you from them or shut you out by forbidding you to come among them. O do not you separate and shut out your selves. You see your godly ne…g…bours in possession of this priviledge: And may not you have it if you will? May not you study the W…rd of God, and call upon him in prayer, and se… your selves for heaven as well as they? Where p. 173do…h the …cripture command them to it, any mor… then you? or forb…d y…u any more then them? The door …s open, you may come in if you will. You have the same means, and call, and offer, and … ▪ …nd leave to … life as th…y. And w…ll you … much of thediff…ren… y…rselves, as to be the only r…users? God hath done so much for you by the de…h of Christ, and so order…d the matter in the promises and offers of the Gospel, that none of you shall be able to say at …st, [I w…uld …uin have b…en … the bl…ssed …, an… …ain h…v… liv…d in the Vni…n and Communi… of Saints, but I … n…t give …; and Christ …nd his Church w…ul… n…t r…ceiv… …e and entert…in me.] Not a man …r woman of you shall have this excuse. And th…refor… come in and joyn with the Saints; & thank God that you may.

p. 1748. And consider also, that if you will not Agree with us in matter of Holiness, we can never well make up the rest of our differences: Our smaller Controversies will never be well agreed, if you will not agree in the main. But if this were Agreed, we should in season certainly heal the rest. It would make a mans heart ake, to h…ar wretched sinners talk of our differences about Bishops, and Ceremonies, and Common-prayer, and Holy-daies, and Infant-Baptism, and the like, that are dead in their sins, and are yet disagreed from us in the very bent of heart and life. Alas Sirs, you have other matters then these first to talk of, and trouble your selves with. A man that is ready to die of a Consumption, should not be taking care to cure the warts or freckles in his face. We have greater matters wherein we differ from you, then p. 175kneeling at the Sacrament, or observation of daies, or other Ceremonies, or doubtful opinions in matters of doctrine. Let us first be Agreed all to serve One Master, and seek One End, and be Ruled by One Law, and hate known sin, and live a holy life, and then we shall be ready to treat with you about a further Agreement. But to talk of small matters, when we differ in the greatest matters in the world, as much as your souls are worth, and in matters which Heaven or Hell lyeth on; this is but childish trifling, and whatever we may do for the Peace of the Church with such, yet to your selves that will be small advantage.

Nay I must tell you, that it is usually but the cunning of the Devil and the hypocrisie of your own hearts, that makes you turn your talk to these controversies, when the great breach is unhealed between p. 176Christ and you. Its commonly made a shift to delude and quiet a debauched conscience. Our poor people will not by any perswasion be drawn to an holy heavenly life, but live in worldliness, and fleshliness, …n swearing and drunkenness, and lying and deceit, and filthiness and pro…an…ness, and hate the Minister or Christian that doth reprove them; and then forsooth they talk of Common-prayer Bo…k, and Holy-dayes, and Bishops, and kn…eling at the Sacrament, to mak… o…hers, and perhaps …heir deluded hearts believe, that this is the controversie and diff…rence. And so a wretched drunka…d or worldling peswades hims…lf that he is a R…ligious man, as if the difference between him and he godly were but about these Ceremonies or Church-Orders: When alas we differ in greater matter…, as light and darkness, life p. 177and death, yea next to the difference between Heaven and Hell.

And I must tell you, that you do but wrong the party or cause that you pretend to, when you will …eeds engage your selves among them. What hath done more to the dishonour of the Bishops, and Common-prayer Book, and other late Orders and Ceremonies of the Church, then to see and hear the rabble of drunkards, swearers, scorners at holiness, and such like, to pl…ad for them, and be violent defenders of them? If you would devise how to shame these things, and bring them down, you can scarce contrive a more effectual wa…, th…n …o set all the ungodly scandalous wretches to cry th…m up, and become the…r Patrons: For it w…ll make abund…nce of soberer people begin to question whether it be li…ely to be good, that hath such Defenders on one side, and p. 178Adversaries on the other side.

And therefore Sirs, let us begin our closure and agreement in the main, if you would be ever th… better for it, and have Unity indeed. And if you say, [What the ne…rer shall we be for Agreement in the other things? Do not the Godly still differ about Church-Government, and Orders, and Ceremonies?] I answer, 1. If we never should be Agreed in these on earth, we might bear it the more quietly, because our very hearts and souls are United in the main, even in matters abundance greater; and in all that salvation is laid upon; and therefore we have this comfort in th… midst of our differences, that we shall all shortly come to Heaven, and that perfection and blessed face of God will Unite and perfectly agree us in all things.

2 In the m…an time, we could hold a holy Communion with them p. 179in the substance of Gods Worship; and we have a daily Communion with them in the Spirit, and and an endeared Love to one another,

3. And the Holiness of their natures will encline them to mannage our remaining differences with meekness, humility, self-denyal, moderation▪ and with great r…spect to the safety of the whole Church, and the honour of God and of the Gospel.

4. And yet I must add, that with such there is a far greater advantage to h…al the smallest difference that remains, then with any other. When we have one God to aw… us, and one Heaven to draw us, and one Christ for our Head, …nd one Spirit and new nature to princip…e us and dispose us, and one Law to Rule us, and have all one ultima…e End and Interest▪ he…e is a gre… advantage for healing of any particular p. 180differences that may arise. If the liv…r, or spl…n, or stomack, or brain, or lungs be unsound, the sores that are without will hardly be cured; yea if there were none, these inward diseases may breed th…m: but when all is well within, the strength of nature without a medicine will do much to cure such small distempers that arise without. The life of …aith, the love of God, the love of Brethren, and the Churches peace and welfare, with the humility and self-d…nyal that is in every Christian, will do a great deal to the healing of divisions among the Godly. They will be content to meet together in Love, and pray it out, and refer the matter to the holy Scripture, and they have all some special illumination of the Spirit.

But perhaps you will say, [Why are they not then more fully agreed?] I answer, 1. Because there are p. 181such a multitude of ungodly persons among them, that hinder them from opportunities and advantages for agreement. And many of these ungodly ones are hypocrites, that take on them to be godly, and so are traytors in our bosoms, and hinder peace the more by seeming to be godly when they are not. 2. Because of the remnant of sin that is yet in the sanctified, and because they are not yet perfect, and in Heaven. If they had no sin, they would have no divisions: And as their sin is healed as to the dominion of it, but not perfectly till they come to heaven; so their divisions are healed in the main, but not perfectly till they are perfectly United to God in Glory.

9. Consider also I beseech you, what a joy it would be to Christ, and to the Angels of heaven, and to all good men, if you would but p. 182all make such an Agreement, and heartily joyn together in Holiness! The whole 15. Chapter of Luk… …s by divers Parables to tell you this, w…at Joy there is in heaven it self for the convers…on of one sinner▪ O what would there be then, if Towns and Countries would agree in Holiness! And I am certain it should be a Joy to the Princes and Rulers of the ear…h; for such a Unity only will …old, and be a blessing to their Dominions. Plutarch makes it Ag…sil…us his reason why the Spartans had no Walls, because the people being … of one minde, had no need or Walls. And Pliny tells us of a stone that will swim if it be whole, and sink if it be broken. And so will Common-wealths that are broke… f…om Christ, and void of the cement of the Spirit that should …nite them.

And to the Ministers of the Gospel, and all good Christian…, p. 183such an Unity as this would be an unspeakable joy. Somewhat I know of other mens hearts by mine own. Could I but prevail with this Nation, yea with this one Town and Parish, to meet all together and hear…ily Consent, Agree and Resolve to joyn all together in an heavenly life, I should more rejoyce in it, then if I had the house full of gold and silver, yea (as to mine own interest) then if I were Lord of all the world. O what a joyful day were this, if I could this d…y bring you to this Holy Unity and Agreement? How comfortably should I spend the few remaining dayes of my pilgrimage among you, if you would but all be brought to this? Whereas I may now say as David, Psalm 120.5. for all the godly that are among you, [Wo is me th…t I s…journ in Mesech, that I dwell in the T…nt… of Kedar! My soul …ath too long p. 184dwelt with him that hateth ▪ this holy) peace, I am for peace, but when I speak (and perswade men to it) they are for war, and continuance in the dividing course … ungodliness Alas it grieveth us to see such divisions in all the Churches and Nations of the Christian world: and O that we did know how to heal them! But when we cannot heal the most ungodly separations and divisions of one Town and Parish, it discourageth us from hoping for any great matters of such large extent. Some attempts I have made, and more I would fain make, to further a Union and Peace among the Church…s through the Land: But when I cannot procure the Unity of this one Town and Parish, what hope can I have to look any further? …l…s what a shame is this to you, and what a grief to us, that we cannot bring one Parish, one Village that p. 185ever I knew of, in all England, to be all of a mind in thos… great, those weighty, needful things, where it is worse th…n a madness for men to b… unresolved or dis…greed? As Melanthus made a je…t of a great man that went about to reconcile all Greece, and bring all the Princes and St…tes to Pe…ce, when he could not bring h…s wi…e and her servant-maid to agreement in his own house. So with what hopes can we attempt any publick peace, when we cannot bring one Parish, one Village, y…a but very few …amilies, to agree in that which they must agree in, or else the refusers will be certainly condemned! I beseech you …irs make glad the … of your Teachers …nd of all good m…n, by your Agreement. You owe us this Comfort: and you owe it to Christ, and the Angels of heaven: deny us not our due, but without any more delay p. 186Agree toge…her to live as Saints. What a Joy it would be to your Pastors, you are not easily able to believe. When Gregory Thaumatu…gus came first to be Bishop of Neoc…sarea, he found but seventeen Chr…stians in the City; And when he lay on his death-bed, he desired them to make enquiry how many Infidels were unconverted; and they found but just s…venteen Infidels left, and all the rest were converted to Christianity: And though he rejoyced that he left but just as many unconverted Infidels as he found converted Christians, yet he grieved withall, that he should leave those seventeen in the power of the Devil. When I came to you, I found you all Professed Christians; But Oh that I could say that I shall leave but seventeen unconverted when I am called from you, for all that! O that there were no more th…t are Infidels or p. 187Impious under the name of Christians! But I and you are unworthy of so great a mercy.

10. And I pray you consider this in time, that all of you that now refuse this Agreement in Holiness, will wish ere long that you had heartily embraced it, and joyned with the godly, and done as they. And why will you not be of the mind that you will be shortly of? And why will you be of that way and company, that you will wish at last you had not been of? The Prodigal in Luke 15. did think it a slavery to be kept up so strictly by his Fathers eye; he must have his portion in his own possession, and abroad he must be gone▪ but when smart had taught him another lesson, and misery had b…ought him to himself, then he is glad to be an hired servant, and casteth himself at his Fathers feet in the confession of his unworthiness p. 188to be called a son. God grant that th…s may prove your case. But let me tell it you for a certain truth, the…e is not one of you that now, … t… become so …, and joyn your selves in the wayes of God, but …he time is a hand when … Gr…ce or Hell shall make you …i…h and wish …gain, tha… you might have but …he poore… lowest place in … which you so desp…sed … what I say to you, Sirs, in the name of God. If the Lo…d of Heaven do not shortly make the dullest heart, the greatest dender of godl…ness among you, that heareth these words, to wish and wish an hundred times, that he had lived as holy an… heavenly a life as the strictest of those that he fo…merly derided, …hen call me a false Prophet for ever, and spare not. Wh…n you feel the misery of unholy souls, and see the happines… of the Saints above you, then O p. 189that you had been but such as they, and lived as they, whatever it cost you! And as Bala…m you will shortly say, O that I might ill the death of the righteous, and that my last and may b… as his! Numb. 23.10. There is never a one of you all but would fain be among the Saints at Judgement, and receive their Sentence and reward; and therefore its best for you joyn with them now▪ or it will be too la…e to wish i… then.

11. If all this will not serve the turn, but you will needs stand off, and separate your selves f…om the servants of Christ, be it known to you, you shall ere long have separation enough, and be further from them then your hearts can wish. As you would not be United to them, and joyn with …hem in Holines…, so you shall not be partakers with them of their Happiness. One Heaven will not hold p. 190you both; and there is but One to hold you: and therefore an everlasting separation shall be made: Between them and you will a great gulf be set, so that they that would pass from you to them shall never be able, Luke 16.26. When they stand on the right hand, you shall be set upon the left: and when they hear [Come ye blessed] you shall hear [Go ye cursed] and when they go aw…y into lif… etern…l, you shall go …way into ev…rlasting punishment, Mat. 25.31, 32, 41, 46. Then you shall see that [the man is blessed that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, n…r sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he me…itate day and night — The ungodly ar… … so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away: therefore the ungodly shall not stand p. 191in the Iudgement, nor sinners in the Congr…gation of the righteous: For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the Way …f the ungodly shall perish, Psalm 1.] Then you will say to them that now you differ from [Give us of your oyl, for our Lamps …re gone out.] Oh that we had part in your holiness and your hopes! but they will answer you [Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you.] We have little enough for our selves, you should have done as we did: but then it will be too late, Mat. 25.8, 9, 10. It will then make the proudest heart to shake, to hear, Depart from me, all ye that are workers of iniquity, I never knew you, Matth. 7.23. You departed from me, and would not live in the Communion of Saints, and now Christ himself of whom you boasted, and in whom you trusted, will not know you, but cause you to p. 192depart much further then you desired, both from his …aints and him. These are the true revelations of God, which may be laught at and sl…ghted now, but will certainly be made good on all that are not now United to Christ and his Church.

12. And let me tell you, to consummate your m…se…y, when that day of everlasting separation comes, those servants of Christ wh…m you refused to joyn with in an holy life, will be so i… any witnesses against you to your condemnation: As Christ tells you, Mat. 25. he will say [In as much as you … to one of th…s…, you … it n…t me] …o in as much as you r…fused the Communion of Saints, and pe…haps derided them, you refu…ed Commun…on … Ch…ist h…mself a…d derided him. Then …hey … test…fie … you, [We were willing to h…v… had p. 193his company in the way …f holiness, but he refused it.] And when you see them set so far above you, then your own consciences will say, [We might have been of this bl…ss…d Society, and would not: we might have done as th…y, and now sp…l as they; we were often entreat…d … by our Teachers▪ …nd full glad would the godly h…ve been of our comp…y in an holy life; but we …estinately refused all! Wr…t he…th… we are▪ we refused all! W… th…ght i… re… l…ss; our h…arts w…r… …g…inst it, we pr…ferr…d …, an… pr…fits, and cre…it, … …f the worl… b…f…re it an… … …ustly do w… p…rish in …ur … lie in yo…der …urnin… … ▪ and be separated as far as H…l is …om H…ven, fr…m th…se that we willfully …epar…t… f…om on …arth.]

…eloved hearers, I were not a Believer, if I did n…t foresee this d…e…d…ul day: and I were n…t a p. 194man, if I did not desire that you might escape this misery; and therefore I could do no less then warn you, as you love your selves, and would not be separated from them for ever, that you would presently be United to the Godly, and live in the true Communion of the Saints, and withdraw your selves from the wayes of the ungodly, lest you be found among them, and perish with them. I have done my part in telling you the truth, and now must leave the success to God.