The Strife of Brethren and a Treaty for Peace, Title page 1 – Dedication 2
THE STRIFE OF BRETHREN; AND A TREATY FOR PEACE.
Two Sermons. The one, Preached at the Morning Lecture in the Citie of LONDON:
The other, More inlarged in another Congregation.
BY JOHN FATHERS, Master in Arts.
Si filij dei sumus pacifici esse debemus nam pacificos esse oportet dei filios, corde mites, sermone simplices, affectione concordes, fideliter sibi unanimitatis nexibus cohaerentes. Cypr. de unita. Ecclesiae.
LONDON; Printed by Matthew Simmons, and are to be sold, by Christopher Meredith, at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard. 1648.
READER;
RIght words are forcible, and a word fitly spoken like apples of gold in pictures of silver. These Sermons present right words in season: they found good acceptance with those that heard them preached; at the intreaty of many of whom they are published by their reverend Authour, and allowed to be printed by
Thy servant in the Gospel, JA: CRANFORD. Aug. 26. 1648.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX, Lord of Cameron, and Generall of all the PARLIAMENTS Forces. Strength of body and multiplication of Grace and Honour unto perfection.
ILLUSTRIOUS SIR;
YOur Excellency beaming down lately some favour on your worthless Orator, invites this reflection of an humble gratitude. I am not ignorant how little leasure your most important, and now incumbent affaires can allow you unto reading, and yet how much your zeal and piety enforces from them. This treatise is very little, the Title shews you the whole mind of it. It contains the strife of brethren, and a treaty for peace, it comes with confidence to kisse your hand, which the hand of the Allmighty hath made so notably instrumentall for the publique peace.
It was visible as the Sunne, how in every quarter of the Kingdome, the nets were spread for the godly, (how soever characterd under most unhappy notions of division.) Had not the holy watchman of Israel quickned your vigilancy and activity to breake those snares of death, from whence our soules are escaped. It is more then manifest to all that seek out the works of God [which all do that have pleasure therein] that the same arm, which cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon, hath not lesse wonderfully appeared in your Armies, then in ages past, and by most remarkable providences hath determined the unkindly differences that are amongst us.
And since the Highest hath so much honored you, it will be your happinesse, as your goodnesse, to study how to honour him. Amidst other opportunities, the Justice of your cause bespeaks the improvement of this, that your Excellency will be pleased to mediate unto the Parliament, to take care, that godly Ministers, whose hands lifted up in the Mount, have strengthned yours in the valley, and the people, who have willingly offered themselves, & even undon themselves for the publique, be not a second time undon by those rigid taskmasters amongst whom they live; I mean such dis-affected Constables, Overseers, and other Officers, who in proportioning publique rates, impose the greatest burden upon the best-affected, thereby endeavouring (if they might) to render your Armies, for whom the rates are collected, most detestable unto those, to whom they are a protection.
Josephus and Terentius in their respective ages, having favour for any request from the Emperours, aspired nothing for themselves, but improved all their interests for God, and for the Saints; the one petitioning the safety of sacred truths, the other the liberty of holy Professors.
And since I have assumed the boldnesse to beg, suffer me (most benigne Sir) to lie at your Excellencies feete with one suite more. In these labours which were expended on the Citie of London, I have with all humility and intention of affection besought the Citie, to lay aside all discontent and passion for a godly peace. And as Christians indeed, to bury all sense and suspition of injury in the grave of Christ. The same Petition I doe most humbly offer unto your Excellency: it is the glory of man to passe by offences. In great men it is greatest glory. It will be the choicest Diamond in the Diademe of your successes, to manage your power by a self-denying spirit of meeknesse and humility.
Our English Chronicle hath a notable passage between the King of England and the King of Wales, who after an hot dispute of the sword, appointed a treaty of peace at the river Severne, some discourse inclining to a reconciliation, these competitors in soveraignty became corrivalls in humility. The English King forced his horse into the river to offer the first imbraces unto his brother of Wales. The welsh-bloud being overcome with this admired condescension, lighted from his horse and swam the streame to salute his Corrivall, with these words; Vicit humanitas tua injustitiam meam, invictissime Rex, I need not bring it neerer, your wisdome can see a far off.
But your Excellency hath as legible a Copie in your hand, as humane or sacred Story can afford. Abraham who was Uncle and foster-father unto Lot, in the strife between them was the first that sued for peace, and yeelded so farre in his own right, as that, though the whole Land were his by as cleere and sure a title, as the Lord Paramount of all the earth could make, yet he offers Lot to take his portion where he pleased, and for a godly peace was contented with his Nephews leavings.
Wee are now entring upon that great treaty of peace, by all that love Jerusalem most vigorously desired, although by some never well affected to the publique, too violently exacted, upon a designe; But the incomprehensible. Wisdome had a designe beyond theirs, seasonably to appoint it, when his goodnesse had put a blessed advantage into your Excellencies hand to be helpfull unto it.
There are three sister-graces, mentioned in this labour, which are inseparable from a well-grounded and lasting Peace. Truth, Justice, and Holinesse. Truth and peace, Justice and peace, Holinesse and peace, like Hippocrates twins, will live and die together. I trust, that Victorious Sword in your Excellencies hand, will readily appeare with that two-edged sword in Christs mouth for defence of these.Simsons Ecclesiasticall History. It was a brave resolution of Joane Queen of Navarre, to prefer safety of Conscience before assurance of honours, Religion before life; and never to lay down Armes which shee had taken up for the Protestant Cause, but with one of these three Conditions: an assured peace, or an absolute victory, or an honest death. Wee trust the most holy Wisdome is now compassing the first of these, which, as it will be your vertue to promote, so your Crowne to subscribe.
Mean time, wee continue our devout breathings for your Excellency in that divine elegancy of the Royall Prophet; Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty—ride prosperously; because of truth, meeknesse, and righteousnesse, and the right hand of God teach thee terrible things. FAXIT DEUS.
FOR, and, TO your Excellency a most humble Petitioner. JOHN FATHERS.
TO MY REVEREND BRETHREN, AND TRULY RELIGIOUS FRIENDS; Who desired the publishing of these ensuing Discourses.
Mr ELIDAD BLACKVVELL, Preachers of the Gospel.
Mr PETER WITTHAM, Preachers of the Gospel.
Mr JOHN CRADICOTT, Preachers of the Gospel.
WILLIAM BROVVNE, Esquire.
Mr JOHN DETHICKE, Citizens of London.
Mr HENRY WHITTINGHAM, Citizens of London.
Mr RANDALL DOD, Citizens of London.
Mr THOMAS IRONS, Citizens of London.
Grace and Peace be multiplied.
Right Worthy Sirs;
THe words of a Minister must not onelyonly be commoda, profitable to the Auditory, but accommoda, suitable to times and occasions. This necessity surprized these hasty thoughts, which your benignity conceiving to have some availe against the distempers of these times, and of this Citie, have importuned abroad.
As I have ever thought my labours unworthy the Presse, so my selfe have been ever unwilling to publish any thing, that may not finde a roome to stand up in the study, contrary to that Greek proverb,foreign. A great book, a great evill; for if the subject be good, the bulke can be no burthen: I might have been so happie, to have left something unto posterity, had not the unhappie plunder of these times snatcht from me twenty yeares labours in the Ministery. Whilest nature shall yet fanne a little breath into my nostrills, I shall indeavour not to be found idle, nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Mean time, my deare friends, your respective importunities have prevailed for a let passe unto these unpolished notes, and if I cannot as yet compasse richer gifts, to cast into the Churches Treasury, the Lord, I know, disdaineth not mites. If I might be any way serviceable to God, or to his people in this weake indeavour, as it is the end of your desire, so it is the reward of his labour, who is a faithfull Zelot to the wellfare of Jerusalem. And
Your most affectionate brother And servant in the Lord, JOHN FATHERS.