The Character of Cruelty in the Workers of iniquity, Prefatory address 2
TO THE SONS OF PEACE.
Yee Lambs among Wolves;
THe King of Salem, Heb. 7. Iſa. 9.and Prince of Peace (who is himſelf no ſtriver, Matth. 12 19) hath ſent mee this day to you with this charge, avoid contentions and ſtrivings, Tit. 3.9. for the Servants of the Lord muſt not ſtrive, 2 Tim. 2.14, 24.
Wherefore let him henceforth hear of your Affairs, that you ſtand faſt in one Spirit, with one mind ſtriving together (i. e. not againſt one another, but with combined forces) for the faith of the Goſpel, ſo need you in nothing to bee terrified by your Adverſaries, Phil. 1.27, 28.
Make haſte therefore and turn your ſwords and ſpears, the carnal weapons of your warfare one with another, Iſa. 2.4.into pruning-hooks and Plough-ſhares, into pruning-hooks to cut off the ſuperfluitie of naughtineſs,Jam. 1.21. and Plow-ſhares to extirpate the Root of bitterneſſe in your ſelves.Heb. 12.15.
Whatever yee therefore forget, forget not the great Commandement, yea the end of the Commandement, which is Charitie, 2 Tim. 1.5.
Whether you bee for new Notions, this is the new Commandement that yee love one another, Joh. 13.34. or for old wayes, the ſame is the old Commandement, which was from the beginning, 1 Joh. 2.7. & 2 Joh. 5.6.
Therefore above the having of your will, or your way, or your luſt, or your lucre, Above all things have ſervent Charitie among your ſelves, for Charity ſhall cover a multitude of ſins, 1 Pet. 4.8. For the fruit of Righteouſneſſe is ſown in Peace, of them that make Peace, Jam. 3.18.
Now ſeeing your Lord proclaims unto you a Ceſſation from ſtrife, and ſounds a Retreat from Contention, flight not your Generalls word of command, though it bee but a Child that blows the Trumpet.