One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 112
SERMON CXII. Of Ʋnity among Gods People, The Nature of it.
JOH. 17.21.
That they all may be one as thou (Father) art in me, &c.
IN this Verſe is laid down the matter of Chriſts Petition, what it is that he praieth for in the behalf of thoſe who ſhall believe in him, and that is unity and concord amongſt themſelves, ſo that as before for the Apoſtles he praied that they might be one, as Apoſtles in the work of the Miniſtry, ſo here he praieth for all believers, ſo great a matter is it to have all the Godly at Union amongſt themſelves; Now although this Union comprehend in it grace begun here and glory conſummated hereafter, yet it's again and again to be conſidered, that theſe glorious priviledges ſhould be comprehended in the…r Union, as if that being preſerved all was preſerved, and without that there could not be any godlineſs here, or bleſſedneſs hereafter.
We have then the unity and agreement of all believers made the principal part of Chriſts Petition for them, and in that take notice,
1. Of the benefit it ſelf, foreign that they may be one, he doth not ſay, that they may love and agree with one another, but be one, as if the Church ſhould be but one perſon, and as the Apoſtle argueth, None ever hated his own fleſh, Eph. 5.29. So there ſhould be no diviſions, envyings, and differences amongſt the godly, becauſe they are one ſpirit as it were; They ſhould no more hate one another then a man doth himſelf.
2. Here is the univerſal extent of this unity, That they all; Though there be great variety and difference in gifts, in graces, in offices, in outward conditionr, yet they muſt all be one.
3. You have the patern of this unity, As thou Father in me, and I in thee.
4. The nature and quality of this unity, That they may be one in us.
5. The benefit and fruit of this union, That the world may believe thuu haſt ſent me, I ſhall firſt conſider the benefit praied for, That they may be one, and obſerve
That union rmongſt the godly is of ſo great neceſſity and conſequence that Christ doth in their behalf principally and chiefly pray for this;Doct. Though in this Unity be included grace and ſanctification, yet that which is expreſly mentioned is their agreement: I have handled this Union as it related to Officers in the Church, from v. 11. I ſhall purſue from this Text, union amongſt believers themſelves, Conſider, That there is a two-fold Unity among the godly.and becauſe our Saviour doth enlarge himſelf about it, I ſhall alſo inſiſt upon it.
To Open this Truth Conſider,
1. That the is a two-fold unity or union among the gtdly, Inviſible and Viſible: Inviſible Unity is that whereby they being united to Chriſt their head by the Spirit on Gods part, and faith on our part,I. Inviſible. do receive ſpiritual life and encreaſe in which ſome Beleevers are compared to the ſeveral members of the body, and Chriſt to the head, becauſe of that ſpiritual life and motion they receive from him; This is the foundation of our viſible union, and without this though we may be outwardly of the Church, yet we do indeed receive no ſaving advantage by Chriſt. Of this union the Text ſpeaks not, becauſe it's ſuch an Union, that the world ſeeing it may thereby be induced to believe Therefore 2. there is a viſible Ʋnion, whereby Believers do outwardly and viſibly expreſſe their compacted nearneſſe to one another, and ſo thoſe particular Churches of Corinth and Epheſus are called Chriſts body in reſpect of their external union as well as internal, for not only by faith, but alſo by the Ordinances we have fellowſhip with Chriſt, and with one another, Of this viſible Unity the Text ſpeaks, and this is made a ſpecial means to bring the world to believe; Whereas on the contrary differences of Opinion, and ſad rents and ſects in Religion is the only way to confirm men in their impiety, and to think there is no truth, and no religion at all
II. Viſible.In the ſecond place, This viſible Union doth diffuſe it ſelf in many Branches: As 1. There is an unity of Faith and profeſſion, when they all believe and ſpeak the ſame thing; This muſt be laid as the foundation of unity, for unity in errour and idolatry, or falſe waies, is not peace, but a faction or Conſpiracy; This unity of faith is reckoned among the many unities, the Apoſtle mentioneth Eph. 4.5. Phil. 2.2. They are exhorted to be of one minde, and the Apoſtle notably preſſeth this, 1 Cor. 1.10. that they ſpeak the ſame thing, being perfectly joyned together in the ſame minde, and the ſame judgement: What a ſad breach then hath the devil made upon Gods people, when there are ſo few of the ſame minde, and do judge the ſame things; but (as you heard) it muſt be a ſameneſſe and unity in the true Faith, for the Jews they are one amongſt themſelves, the Mahumetans are one, the Papiſts are ſo one that they boaſt of it, and make it a note of the true Church; Now though this ſhould be granted (though they have a thouſand diviſions amongſt themſelves) yet unleſs it be unity in the faith, unity in the ſound doctrine it is nothing at all.
2. There is an unity of affection and love in the heart, and outwardly one to another, Love is called the affection of union, and makes a man to be the object he loveth as much as his own, and we ſee the praier of Chriſt abundantly fulfilled in this reſpect concerning the Primitive Chriſtians, for Act. 4 32. it's ſaid, they were of one heart and of one ſoul; Thoſe thouſands of believers were as if they had but one heart and ſoul among them; and thus in Tertullians time the heathens did admire at the love Chriſtians had to one another, our Saviour makes it a ſurer ſign of diſcipleſhip then if they wrought miracles, Joh. 3.35.
3. This union is ſeen in the publike worſhip and Ordinances which God hath appointed, as God ſaid of man at firſt, it was not good he ſhould be alone, So it's true of every believer, he is not to ſerve God alone, to think that a private Religion is enough; Therefore you have the examples of the primitive Chriſtians, Act. 2.1. Act. 5.12. how they met with one accord in one place, and that to have the enjoyment of publike Ordinances, they praied together, the Word was preached to them, they received the Sacraments together, and the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. ſheweth how the Sacrament of the Lords Supper did declare their union and communion one with another; Hence Heb. 10.25. The Apoſtle reproveth thoſe whoſe manner it was, not to aſſemble themſelves together; This v…ſible union of believers in Church-Ordinances is their higheſt beauty and their chiefeſt advantage; Hence David profeſſeth his raviſhment herein, How beautiful are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hoſts! and Pſa. 110. it's called the beauties of Holineſſe, and Hag. 2. this temple is ſaid to be more glorious then ever the former was; and that becauſe of Chriſts preſence therein, preaching and reforming all abuſes and corruptions: When the Ark was taken Phinehas his daughter cried, The glory is departed from Iſrael; Hence the Ordinances even in this life are called the Kingdom of heaven becauſe of Gods glorious preſence therein; David when baniſhed Pſa. 63.2. longed to ſee the glory of God as he had ſeen it in the Sanctuary; And then its our greateſt profit and advantage, for Gods preſence is promiſed to theſe, So that the Chriſtian Ordinances are the life of the Church; There is a larger diſpenſation of Gods gifts and graces here then otherwiſe.
4. This unity is ſeen in that publike order and government which Chriſt hath appointed in his Church, as God hath appointed ſome to be Shepherds, and to govern, ſo others to hear and obey, he hath commanded admonition, and in ſome caſes ſharp reproof, and where obſtinacy is, to caſt out; Now it's very hard to have unity in this reſpect, for as 1 Cor 14. it appeareth private Chriſtians do difficultly keep within their ſphere, every member would be an eye, as the Apoſtle there chargeth, ſo it's hard to meet with an obedient ear, though to a wiſe, and godly reproof; It's therefore a bleſſed thing, as to have unity of faith, ſo alſo of order, That is to ſee every member of the Church with its relation in an harmonious way, as it's in the body, though they be heterogeneal parts, yet they all harmoniouſly conſociate in their operations; This unity of order is like the nerves and ligaments to this ſpiritual ſociety.
5. This unity is ſeen in the ſympathizing that all believers have one with another, and that in reſpect of mourning and rejoycing; In reſpect of thoſe that mourn, So we are to weep and mourn with them; We are to bear one anothers burdens; We are to be affected with the Churches calamities as being alſo of the body; As the Apoſtle ſaid, the care of all Churches lay upon him, 2 Cor. 11.28. Who was afflicted and he did not burn? the ſame proportionably is to be in every believer: Therefore this unity of believers ſhould be vigorous this way, what evils, what exerciſes befall others, they ſhould be affected with them as their own; This diſcovers they are lively members of the body, for if Chriſt though in Heaven was ſenſible of the perſecutions done by Paul againſt the Church, ſaying, Why perſecuteſt thou me? how much rather ſhould every particular member account the temptations of others as his own; As it is thus for mourning, ſo alſo for rejoycing, there ought to be ſuch an unity among believers, that we are to rejoyce in the gifts, graces, and good things that others have, as if they were our own; But O the ſelf-love, the envy, the repinings that are apt to be in one godly man againſt another, The ſpirit in us luſteth to envy, ſaith the Apoſtle, even in believers; Hence are thoſe daily exhortations againſt grudgings, murmurings, and envyings one againſt another, and theſe are made the fruit of the fleſh, becauſe where the Spirit of God worketh and enliveneth, there is joy, peace, and long-ſuffering, all graces contrary to ſuch unquiet diſtempers; Now this is very difficult to fleſh and bloud, that thoſe parts and gifts which obſcure thine, and thoſe good things in others that ſeem to hinder thine, yet to rejoyce and bleſſe God for them, as if it were to thy own ſelf, but this ſpiritual and myſtical unity will enable thee thereunto▪ Neither is the Sun or air more requiſite then this union, no wonder if our Saviour doth thus affectionately pray for it.
6. This union is ſeen in their mutual ſtriving together, in promoting the Kingdome and glory of Chriſt; They all have the ſame heart, the ſame ſhoulders, the ſame tongue to bleſſe and praiſe God; They are like ſo many ſervants in the ſame houſe, all promoting and furthering their maſters work; That as the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 3. ſaith, all the Officers are one, He that plants, and he that waters are one, becauſe they agree in one end, which is to ſet forward the work of God; Thus it is here, Though there be never ſo much variety in the gifts and graces, and conditions of Gods people, yet they are all one in this work, The Glory of God is the end they all look upon; Thus you ſee in how many particulars this Unity diffuſeth it ſelf.
In the third place, We are to know that the inviſible unity doth extend it ſelf farther then the viſible; For this is to the viſible Church only,III. but that to the inviſible; So that in this reſpect there is an unity between all believers that ever have been, with Enoch, Abel, Abraham, and all that of old ever were; This is believed in that which uſually is called the Apoſtles Creed, I believe the Catholike Church ▪ Sometimes there was added the one Catholike Church, and this is believed, and not ſeen, but by this it is that all the godly who have been, are, and ever ſhall be, make up one body; All Chriſts ſheep will have one ſheepfold; So that there is an inviſible Union, where there cannot be a viſible one,
In the fourth place, Concerning this viſible Union (for we make theſe all one) you are to know, ſome are of this unity both viſibly and inviſibly, externally and internally, and in appearance; Now ſuch only who are both waies of this Unity, enjoy God, are indeed members of Chriſt, and receive benefit by him, but the other are only in name and title, like a withered branch in a Tree, or an artificiall eye, or leg, which though joyned to the body, yet receive no life or nouriſhment thereof; Think it not therefore enough to be of this unity, many have gloried and reſted on this, that they are of ſuch and ſuch a Church, yet their condemnation is greater then thoſe of Sodom and Gomorrha.
In the fifth place, This unity therefore when it's true and advantagious doth firſt terminate on Chriſt, and then deſcends to others; Hence it's added, That they may be one in us; There muſt be firſt an unity with Chriſt the Head, and then it extends to other members, So that this is to be looked upon as the foundation and cauſe of all, there muſt be firſt an incorporating into Chriſt; He that is joyned to the Lord is made one ſpirit with him.
Laſtly, This Union viſible is not interrupted in ſome effects of it by diſtance of place; For in regard of praier, there every one is remembred, when the Churth is praied for, So that the poor Chriſtian who cannot pray for himſelf, yet hath the praiers of the whole Church of God, what a comfortable refreſhing ſhould this be to every godly ſoul.
Ʋſe of Exhortation, to lay to heart more the diviſions, differences, and breaches that are among the godly; Learn of Chriſt here to be affected with the unity of the Church, and again and again he commended peace to them, We are commanded to pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, God is the God of peace, the Goſpel is the Goſpel of peace, Believers are called the children of peace; Take heed of being a Jonah in this Ship, Let not thy pride, thy conceits, thy diſcontents make thee tear and rend the Church; that Jeruſalem may be as a City compact together.