The Cure of Church Divisions, Directions · Direction 60
DIRECT. LX.
When the Love-killing spirit, either cruel or Dividing is abroad among Christians, be not idle nor discouraged spectators, nor betray the Churches Peace by a few lazy wishes; but make it a great part of your labour and Religion, to revive Love and peace, and to destroy their contraries: And let n… censures or contempt of any Sect or party take you off: But account it an honour to be a Martyr for Love and Peace, as well as for the Faith.
OF all parts of Religion, (I know not how unhappily it comes to pass) men think that Negatives are sufficient for the service of Peace: If a man live not unpeaceably and do no man wrong, nor provoke any to wrath, this is thought a sufficient friend to peace. And therefore it is no wonder that Love and Peace so little prosper. When Satan and his instruments do all that they can by fraud and force against it, and we think it enough to stand by and do no harm. It is the Peace-makers that Christ pronounceth blessed, for theirs is the kingdome of heaven, Math. 5. 9. Here he that is not with Christ and the Church is against it. Why should we think that so much actual diligence, in hearing, reading, praying, &c. is necessary to the promoting of other parts of holiness, and nothing necessary to Love and Peace, but to do no hurt, but be quiet patients! Is it not worthy of our labour? And is not our labour as needful here as any where? Judge by the multitude and quality of the adversaries: and by their power and success. Is it a mark of hypocrisie to go no further in duties of Godliness, than the safety of our reputation will give us leave? And is it not so in the duties of Love and Peace? If the Kingdome of God be in Righteousness and Peace, then what we would do to promote Gods Kingdome, we must do for them. Rom. 14. 17. And if dividing Christs Kingdome is the way to destroy it (and Satan himself is wiser than to divide his own Kingdome, Math. 12.) then what ever we would do to save the Kingdom of Christ, all that we must do to preserve and restore the peace of it, and to heal its wounds.
I know if you set your selves in good earnest to this work, both parties who are guilty will fall upon you, with their censures at least: One side will say of you that you are a favorer of the Schismaticks, and Sectaries, because you oppose them not with their unhappy weapons, & love them not as little as they. (As they say of Socrates and Sozomen the Historians, that they were Novatians because they spake truth of them & called them honest men: And as they said of Martyn, and Sulpitius Sever…s, that they were favourers of unlearned Fanaticks, and of the Priscilian Gnosticks, because they were not as hot against them as Ithacius and Idacius, but refused to be of their Councels or communicate with them, for inviting the Emperour to the way of blood and corporal violence.)
And the other side will say that you are a temporizer, and a man of too large principles, because you separate not as they do; And perhaps that you are wise in your own eyes, because you fall in with neither Sect of the extreams: But these are small things to be undergone for so great a duty. And he that will not be a peace-maker upon harder terms than these, I fear will scarce be meet for the reward. I again repeat Iam. 3. 17. The wisdome from above is first pure and then Peaceable, gentle and easie to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisie: and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible, as much as in you lyeth live peaceably with all men. Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness.
Obj. But is it not as good sit still as labour to no purpose. What good have ever any peace-makers done among differing Divines.
Answ. A grievous charge upon Divines and Christians: Are they the only Bedlams or drunken men in the world? If Princes fall out, or if neighbours fall out, arbitrators and peace-makers labour not alwayes in vain: But I answer you, It is not in vain: Peace-breakers would have yet prevailed more and made the Church unhappier than it is, if some Peace-makers had not hindered them. The minds of thousands are seasoned with the Love of Peace, and kept from cruelties and Schisms, by the wholesome instructions and examples of Peace-makers. And it is worth our labour to honour so holy and sweet a thing as Love and Peace; and to bear our testimony for it in the world. And Gods promise of reward doth tell you that you labour not in vain. Is that in vain which Heaven is promised to?
Quest. But what is it that you would have … do for Love and Peace, and against the contraries?
Answ. First, Preach and write, if it be your calling.
Secondly, Let the cause of Love and Peace, be much in your secret and open prayers to God.
Thirdly, Instruct all that learn of you with principles of Love and Peace, and labour to plant them deep in their minds, and make them as sensible of the evil of the contraries, as they are of any other sin. Unless Divines and Parents do take the way to bring up the people, and children under this kind of doctrine, that Love and peace may become their Religion, the Church is never like to be recovered.
Fourthly, In all your conference, labour (seasonably and prudently) to inculcate these matters on the hearers minds, and to bear your testimony against cruelty and division.
Fifthly, Put such books into peoples hands as plead best the cause of Love and Peace. Among others get men to read these: Bishop Usher's Sermon on Eph. 4. 3. at Wansted before King Iames, Bishop Hall's Peace-maker: Mr. Ieremiah Burroughs of Heart-divisions; and Mr. Stillingsteet's Irenicon; and all Mr. Duries.
Sixthly, Disgrace not your Doctrine by the badness of your own lives; but be as much more Holy than them as you are more Peaceable, that they may see that it is not a carnal unholy Peace that you desire. But these things belong to the following Directions.
Finally, Brethren, farewel, Be perfect; be of good comfort: Be of one mind: Live in Peace: And the God of Love and Pea…e shall be with you. 1 Cor. 13. 11. Phil. 4. 9. 1 Thes. 5. 23. And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Rom. 16. 20. Now the God of Peace be with you all. Amen. Rom. 15. 33.
Martyrdome for Love and Peace is as honourable and gainful, as Martyrdome for the Faith.