The Happiness of Brethrens Dwelling Together in Unity, Title page – Dedication
THE HAPPINESS OF BRETHRENS Dwelling together in UNITY.
DISCOURSED Upon PSALM 133. Verſ. 1. On Occaſion of the late Thankſgiving, Feb. 14. 1688/9.
By JOHN COLLINGES, D. D.
LONDON, Printed by T. S. for Edward Giles Bookſeller in Norwich, near the Market-Place. 1689.
TO THE READER.
FOr the Diviſions of Reuben are great thoughts [great ſearchings] of heart (ſaith the victorious Propheteſs, Jud. 5. 15, 16.) Reuben was one of the moſt Potent Tribes of Iſrael, you will find, Numb. 1. that upon their firſt Numbring, there belonged to it Forty ſix thouſand five hundred fighting Men: Ʋpon the ſecond Numbring, Num. 26. Forty three thouſand ſeven hundred, and thirty. They had their Portion on the other ſide of Jordan, and were by that River divided locally from their Brethren; but that is not the Diviſion here lamented. In a cauſe where the whole was concerned againſt a Potent Enemy, they could not unite, but abode amongst the Sheepfolds to hear the bleatings of the Flocks. The cauſe of this Neutrality is not told us, but what ever it was, it could not be juſtified, and cauſed amongſt the more conſiderate amongst their Brethren, great thoughts, great ſearchings of heart, and not without reaſon: It is a juſt amazement to any, that any Men for a little Secular Profit and Advantage to themſelves, ſhould diſunite from their Brethren in Councels, and Actions tending to the common preſervation of the whole Body of which they are Members. This hath been our caſe in England for more than an Hundred years, Men to keep up their particular Dominations, grandeur, and Secular Gain and Intereſt have kept up Diviſion to the apparent hazard of the whole, at leaſt twice, or thrice, and this deſerveth great thoughts, great ſearchings of heart. Being called to perform my part in the late Publick Thanksgiving, I knew not what better Subject to pitch upon, than the Commendation of Unity, with a Perſuaſive to it; becauſe I thought this alone was a Real Thankſgiving, as well as moſt of any thing ſubſervient to the good of the Nation. Every one calls for Unity, and reflects upon thoſe who are (in their fancies) the hinderers of it, but they ſeem not to underſtand the way of Peace. Would they have an Unity in the Doctrines of Religion? Nothing leſs, they grant this unpracticable; nor will they themſelves own the Articles of our Religion, further than as an Inſtrument of Peace, and with a Latitude for their own ſenſe of them. Would they have an Ʋnion in Deſigns and Councils for the Publick Good, and in the performance of mutual Offices of love one towards another? To this all good Men will ſay Amen. Only, ſay we, this is inconſiſtent with any Perſecution; for how do they ſhew their readineſs to do all Offices of love one to another, who make it their buſineſs to ruine others, by Fines, Impriſonments, &c. Or how can they joyn in Actions for Publick Good, of whom you require (as the terms of ſuch Conjunction) things that their Conſciences tell them they cannot do without Sin? and others Conſciences tell them are no way neceſſary for that end; but wholly foreign as to the thing for which they would have them unite? Would you have an Ʋnion to uphold the Proteſtant Religion? All honeſt Men are agreed for this. But, ſay they, (and truly too) you pluck up Proteſtant Religion by the root that day, that you deny to every Proteſtant, the Judgment of Diſcretion, which allows to every Man a liberty to Judge of his own Acts, whether they be ſuch as he may lawfully do, or may not do. For if a Man may act contrary to the practical Judgment of his own Conſcience; in compliance with the Commands, or Opinions of others, calling themſelves The Church: The Papiſts have got a great Point of us, and ſeeing they have greater Numbers, and that of Learned men, than are of and amongſt Proteſtants, they grant it ſafer to be Papiſts than Proteſtants. Well, but ſay ſome, We would have ſuch an Ʋnion that all may joyn together in Hearing, Receiving the Sacrament, &c. All good Men will ſay, Amen to this too; Provided, that they will allow all thoſe who are true Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt (if there be any in the World except amongſt thoſe of their Perſuaſions) to Preach and Adminiſter the Sacraments: And Provided, There be nothing added to Preachings beyond what God hath revealed in his Word, nor to Prayers and Adminiſtrations of Sacraments beyond what God hath directed in his Word, which is a ſufficient Rule for Worſhip as well as Doctrine, except as to the common Circumſtances of all humane acts. We hear Men ſay, Will you allow nothing then to Humane Laws and Legiſlators? Yes, very much; 1. A Power to judge what is neceſſary and expedient in all Civil things for the upholding and managing the Civil Government. 2. A Power to inforce the Laws of God in Religious things. 3. A Power there alſo to determine the neceſſary Circumſtances of thoſe actions, ſo far as they are Humane Acts. But by the granting of theſe things, ſo much of ſome mens craft is in danger to be ſet at nought; So much Magnificence (as ſome count it) in danger to be deſtroyed, that I deſpair ever to ſee ſuch an Unity. Nor do I underſtand how it is neceſſary in order to Brethrens dwelling together in Unity, more than it is neceſſary to the Civil Ʋnion of a Corporation, that all Men in it ſhould manage the ſame Trade by the ſame Method, and in the ſame Circumſtances. If Men be united in their common Counſels, Deſigns, and Readineſs to ſerve the publick, for their common Good and Advantage, and a readineſs to ſerve one another in love, it is enough for our Civil, and Secular Happineſs: and if they be united in a common belief of all things neceſſary to be believed, and all things neceſſary to be done, in order to Salvation, it is Ʋnion enough in order to our Spiritual, and Eternal Happineſs. The neceſſity of any other Ʋnion is a Chimaera fit only for ſuch who cry out for Unity upon terms, upon which it is almoſt impoſſible it ſhould be had, that is, they cry out for continued Diſcord, under the Notion of Unity, This, Reader, is that Union which the following Diſcourſe pleadeth for, and directeth what ſeemeth to me the beſt means to attain. Now the God of Peace, which brought again from the dead, our Lord Jeſus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the Blood of the Everlaſting Covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his Will, working in us, that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight, through Jeſus Chriſt. To whom be Glory for ever and ever, Amen.