A Peacemaker Without Partiality and Hypocrisy, Discourse · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Concerning the way how to ſettle and proſecute a mutuall Toleration, by rules wherein there is an agreement.
HItherto in this matter of forbearance wee have lookt upon the principles of our dutie, which wee conceive both ſides will fully aſſent unto, if now wee can alſo from thence gather, and from other undeniable and knowne truths, find out ſome rules which may direct us in a way, how to ſettle and proſecute to a full period of practiſe the duties of this forbearance; and if theſe rules being found out can bee applied to the caſe in hand between the parties, by ſome tranſaction ſo fully and orderly, that none who doth aſſent unto the principles and the rules, can except againſt the proceedings therein; if (I ſay) theſe rules can be thus found out and applied, then we ſhall be able convincingly to conclude that all ſuch as follow not the practiſe thereof, walke neither anſwerable to the light which they have received, nor to the vocation wherewith they are called in the profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, and conſequently, that as they are not upright in their way, ſo they ſhall bee fruſtrate of the felicitie promiſed thereunto, and receive the reward of hypocrites: for in this caſe that which Chriſt ſaid unto his Diſciples, is to bee ſaid unto the miniſtery, and to the profeſſors of this kingdome, John 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happy are yee if yee doe them.
But if you know them not, you cannot bee happy in doing them; and if knowing them, you doe them not, your profeſſion ſhall be found vaine, and your end eternall miſery; for not every one that ſaith Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the kingdome of heaven, Matth. 7.21.but hee onelyonly who doth the will of God, who is in heaven. From all which wee muſt gather this concluſion, that if wee know that there is a forbearance, which is neceſſary, it will not be enough for us to know what the principles thereof are, but the way how to practiſe the duties muſt alſo bee ſought after, and regularly followed. Let us then doe this, and endeavour to find the rules of ſuch a tranſaction as will beget between the parties a ſettlement of that toleration, whereof wee have ſeene and allowed the principles.
And to this effect if any Treatie or conference be intended (for without ſome ſuch thing nothing can bee ſetled) there muſt be, before all other things, an agreement found in the aime of the tranſaction, and in the meanes to bring it to paſſe.
For if theſe two be not determined by common conſent, and a reſolution fixed to proceed according to that determination, nothing will take effect or be ſucceſſefull in the tranſaction.
The aime then of the tranſaction ſhould not bee to ſettle a forbearance which ſhould leave the parties or confirme them in the diſtance, whereinto they are unhappily fallen: But both ſides ſhould expreſly declare that the Treatie is to bee ſet afoot, and profeſſedly intended for theſe two ends. Firſt, that a dore may bee kept open and enlarged, to further a more perfect unitie then as yet the parties have attained unto. Secondly, that a path and courſe to maintaine the further unitie, which will be attained by Gods bleſſing, may bee prepared and made more plaine and eaſie then hitherto it hath been.
If this aime bee ſincerely taken up, the meanes to bring it to paſſe will neither be difficult to be found, nor without ſucceſſe, when they are ſet a worke amongſt true Chriſtians. I ſhall offer therefore at them.
Firſt then, the meanes to open a dore to advance the parties to a more perfect unitie, then as yet they have attained unto, is to find out, and ſettle rules of mutuall condeſcenſion.
Secondly, the meanes to make the path plaine and eaſie to maintaine and walke in the unitie which ſhall bee ſetled, is, to remove move by common conſent and upon conſcionable motives all the cauſes of diſaffection and of breaches. For if both ſides cannot onelyonly yeeld and ſtoop to embrace each other in love, but alſo remove all that which may occaſion the diſſolving of that embracement, we may bee ſure that peace and unitie will bee ſetled without interruption. Therefore in hope that either now or hereafter this may bee laid to heart, and followed to produce a neceſſary toleration, I ſhall offer my thoughts of theſe two meanes.