Catholic Unity, Errata
ERRATA.
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Catholick Vnity.
EPHES. 4.3.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
IT seems that Vnity and Felicity are near kin, in that the world is so like affected to them both. As our Felicity is in God, and we lost it by falling from God; so our Vnity is in God, and we lost it by departing from this Center of Unity. And as all men have still a natural desire after Felicity in general; but God who is their Felicity, they neither know nor desire; so have we still a natural desire after Vnity in it self considered; but God who is our Unity, is little known or desired by the most. And as nature can perceive the evil of Misery which is contrary to Felicity, and cry out against it, and yet doth cherish the certain causes of it, and will not be perswaded to let them go: So Nature can perceive the evil of Division, which is contrary to Vnity, and cry out against it, and yet will not forbear the causes of Division. And therefore as we say of Felicity, Nature by Philosophy seeks it, Divinity findeth it, and Religion possesseth it: So may we say of true Vnity; Philosophy or Nature seeks it, Divinity findeth it, and Religion or Holiness possesseth it. And as most of the world do miss of Felicity, for all their high esteem of it, and fall into misery for all their hatred of it, because they love not the object and way of Felicity, and hate not the Matter and Way of Misery. Even so most of the world do miss of Vnity, for all their high esteem of Unity, and fall into miserable distractions and Divisions for all their hatred of Division, because they love not the center and way of Vnity, and hate not the occasion and causes of Division. And as the very reason why the most are shut out of Happiness, is their own wilful refusing of the true matter and means of Happiness, and no one could undo them but themselves, for all that they are loth to be undone: Even so the very Reason why the world attaineth not to Unity, is their own wilful refusing of the true Center and Means of Unity; and it is themselves that are the wilful causes of their own Divisions, even when they cry out against Divisions. And as there's no way to Happiness, but by Turning to God from whom we fell, that in him we may be happy; and no way to God but by Iesus Christ as the Saviour, and the H…ly-Ghost as the Sanctifier; so there is no way to true Vnity, but by Turning to God that we may be one in him; and no way to him, but being united to Christ, and being quickned by that One most holy Spirit that animateth his members. And yet as poor souls do weary themselves in vain, in seeking Felicity in their own wayes and devices; so do they deceive themselves in seeking Vnity in wayes that are quite destructive to Unity. One thinks we must be united in the Pope; and another, in a General Council; another saith, we shall never have Unity till the Magistrate force us all one way; (and yet they would not be forced from their own way.) Another turns Atheist, or Infidel, or Impious, by observing the Divisions that be among Christians, and saith, [It is this Scripture, and Religion, and Christ, that hath set the world together by the ears; and we shall never have Unity till we all live according to Nature, and cast off their needless cares and fears of another life.] And thus the miserable deluded world are groping in the dark after Vnity and Felicity, while both are at hand, and they wickedly reject them; and many of them become so mad, as to run away from God, from Christ, from the Spirit, as if he were the cause of Misery and Division, who is the only Center of Felicity and Vnity. And thus as it is but Few that arrive at Happiness for all their desire of it; so it is but Few that attain to Vnity; to such a Unity as is worth the attaining to.
I dare presume to take it for granted, that all you that hear me this day, would fain have Divisions taken away, and have Unity, and Concord, and Peace through the world. What say you? would you not have us all of one …i…d, and of one Religion? and would you not fain have an Agreement, if it might be, through all the world? I am confident you would. But you little think that its you and such as you that are the hinderers of it. All the question is, What Mind that is that all should be One in? and what Religion that is that all men s…ould agree in? Every man would have all men of one mind, and one Religion; but then it must be of his mind, and of his Religion; and so we are never the nearer an agreement,
Well! what would you give now to be certainly told the only way to Unity and Agreement? There is but One way; when you have sought about as long as you will, you must come to that One way, or you will be never the nearer it. What would you give to know undoubtedly, which is that One way! O that the world were but willing to know it, and to follow it when they know it. Well! I dare promise you from the information of the Holy-Ghost here given us in this Text that now I have read to to you, to tell you the Only way to true Unity; and blessed is he that learneth it, and walketh in it.
This Text is a Precept containing the work required of us, with its double Object; the one the means to the other. The next verse is an exposition of this. As the Natural man hath One Body, and One Soul, which constitute it a man; so the Church which is the mystical Body of Christ, is one Body, consisting of many members united by One Spirit. Every Common-wealth or Political Body hath 1. Its Constitutive causes that give it its Being and its Unity; and 2. Its Administration and preserving causes, as Laws, Execution, Obedience, &c. that exercise and preserve, and perfect its Being. The Constitutive cause is the Soveraign and the Subject conjoyned in their Relation. So is it with the Church, which is a Political Body, (but of a transcendent kind of Policy.) The Constitutive Cause of the Church are Christ and the members united in One Spirit: And this is the final part of the Duty here required [To keep the Vnity of the Spirit] The Preserving cause is the Peaceable behaviour of the members: and this is the mediate Duty here required, [In the bond of Peace] Our own Endeavours are hereto required; because as every natural body must by eating, and drinking, and fit exercise and usage, be a cause of its own preservation, and not forbear these under pretence of trusting the allsufficiency of God; and as every Political Body, must by Government and Arms in case of need preserve themselves under God; so must the Body of Christ, the Church, be diligent in using their best endeavours to preserve the Being and well-being of the whole. So that you see here are two causes of the Churches Unity expressed: 1. The principal Constitutive cause in which our Unity consisteth; and that is [The Spirit.] 2. The Preserving cause, by which our Unity is cherished, and that is [Peace] which therefore is called [the bond] of it. The fifth and sixth verses do open this Vnity of Spirit, in its parts, effects and ends. [There is One Hope of our Calling] that is, One Heaven or Life Eternal, which is the end of our Christianity and Church Constitution [There is one Lord] Jesus Christ; One Head, one Saviour, one Soveraign Redeemer, to whom by this Spirit the members are all United. [There is One Faith] both one summe of holy Doctrine, which all that will be saved must believe (which was used to be professed by the adult at Baptism) and One internal saving Faith, which this Spirit causeth in our Spirits, and useth it as a means of our union with Christ in whom we do believe. [There is One Baptism] or solemn Covenanting with God, the Father, Son and Holy-Ghost; and the same promise there to be made by all. And [there is One God the Father of all] from whom we fell, and to whom we must be recovered, and who is the End of all, and to whom Christ and all these means are the Way. So that all these are implyed in, and conjunct with [the Vnity of the Spirit.]
The sense of the Text then briefly is this: [As all the living true members of Christ and the Church have one Spirit (and so one Faith) by which they are all united to Christ the Head, and so to the Father in and by him, which Vnion in One Spirit is your very Life, and it that constituteth you true members of Christ and his Church; so it must be your care and great endeavour to preserve this Spirit in you, and this vital Vnity which by this Spirit you have with Christ and one another: and the way to preserve it, is by the bond of Peace among your selves.] It is here evident then that all the members of Christ and his Body have One Spirit, and in that is their Union. All the question is, What Spirit this is? And that's left past all doubt in the Chapter: For though the common gifts of the Spirit are sometime called by that name, yet these are no further meant in the Text then as appurtenances or additions to greater gifts: As godliness hath the promise of the common mercies of this life, as well as of the special mercies of the life to come; but yet with great difference; the later being absolutely promised, and the former but limitedly (so far as God sees best for us): Even so the Spirit gave to the members of the Church both Sanctifying Grace, and common Gifts; but with great difference: giving Sanctification to all and only the members of Christ; but giving common gifts also to some others, and to them but with limitation, for sort, and season, and measure, and continuance, as God should see good. It is then the same Holy-Ghost as our Sanctifier into whose name we are baptized, as wel as into the name of the …ather and the Son, and in whom we all profess to believe, that is here meant in my Text. And it is only the Sanctified that are the people United to Christ and to One another. This is proved expresly by that which fo…loweth, vers. 6, 7. It is those that have the One Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God the Father, vers. 12. It is the Saints and body of Christ that are to be perfected by the Ministry, vers. 13, 15, 16. It is those that must come in the Vnity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; and that grow up in all things in Christ the Head: It is the Body that is Vnited to him, and compacted in Love, and edifieth itself in Love: vers. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. It is those that h…v… so le…rned Christ as to put off t…e …ld man th…t is c…rrupt, …nd are r…newe… in the Spirit of their …in…s, and put on the n…w man, which …fter God is re…t… in righteou…ne…s and true holiness. If there…re any words be plain, its plain t…at its true …aints only that are here spoken of, that have the Vnity of spirit which they must preserve in the bond of Peace. And therefore I shall make this Observation the ground of my discourse.