Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 11 · Verse 19 · Textual commentary 3
Preſervatives of One heartedneſſe:
1. Looke much at the gifts, graces, and excellencies be in others, not their weakneſſes and imperfections, let the b…ight ſide of the cloud be in your eyes, not the black ſide, and this will k…epe your hearts united, Peter eyed the like pretious faith which was in the Chriſtians, with his and other Apoſtles, 2 Pet. 1.1. And John takes ſpeciall notice of the graces were in the Fathers, young men, little children, in the elect Lady, and Gaius, and that kept his heart united to them: when mens perſons, parts, or graces, are ſlighted, it breaks the bond of peace, divides hearts and ſpirits. The Apoſtle bids us honour all men, 1 Pet. 2.17. Eſteeme them if their be any worth in them, take notice of it, and honour them anſwerablie, if there be great ſins and weakneſſes in th…m, are they greater then thine owne, If they be or be not, greive for them, be not angry with them.
2. Lay aſide all provoking, dividing names, tearmes and ſpeeches. Thoſe names of Petrians, Paulians, Johanites, in the primitive times did hurt; which Epiphanius obſerving would not give way that there ſhould be foreign, any name added to the Chriſtian name. Thoſe names of Lutheran, Swinglian, Calviniſt, bred diviſions among the Proteſtants; and ſurely diſcriminating names have made divided hearts among us, ſo reproaching and bitter words have kindled a fire which might be put out, if all men had ſuch ſpirits as Calvin had, who profeſt if Luther ſhould call him Devill, yet would he have a reveren'd eſteeme of him, and acknowledge him a worthy Servant of the Lords; If we would have our hearts kept in a firme union, we muſt uſe ſoft tongues, and gentle words, Prov. 15.1.12.25.
3. Ever make the beſt conſtruction of mens words and actions; that will preſerve peace and oneneſſe of heart; when other interpretations are put upon the words and actions of men, then were intended, this ſowes the ſeed oft times of bitter contentions, and great evills, John 2.19.20. with Mat. 26.61. Chriſt ſpeakes there of the Temple of his Body, the Jewes interpret it of the Temple that was 46. Yeares a building, and bring it in againſt Chriſt, as matter worthy of death. If we ſhall force the words, or acts of others, and fetch ſenſes, intentions, out of them, which the Authors aim…d not at, we ſhall never maintaine peace with any.
4. Get much love and excerciſe it; that makes hearts one, and preſerves them being one, 1 Sam. 18.1. Jonathan loved David at his owne Soule, ſo verſ. 3. David loved Jonathan as his owne ſoule; they two had as it were one heart and one ſoule, If there were love among us, it would cover a multitude of ſins, and not diſcover one, it would make up breaches paſt,Epheſ. 4.2. Forbeare one another in love. and prevent breaches for the future. The very nature of love conſiſts in union, Amans eſt in amato, He that loves lives in the loved, the heart of the loved is his habitation: and love is very forward to doe any kindneſſe for thoſe it relates to. That Chapter 1 Cor. 13. had need be new ſtudyed in theſe divided times. What ever the knowledge of faith be, if we have not love, the text ſaith We are nothing. He ſaith not, we are little, but plainely wee are no…hing. Many among us are very bitter, uncharitable, and go among men for ſome things, and ſome bodies, but in the judgement of God they are nothing; if you have little love, you are little ones, if great love, great ones, if no love, nothing: Its love that Chriſt ſpecially lookt at, and call'd for, in Peter, Peter loveſt thou me more then theſe &c. Chriſt meaſures men by their love; and no marvaile, love is the ful…fi…ling of the law, Gal. 5.14. And if wee ſerve one another by love and fullfill the law where can the breach be made, how can the offence come in? love behaves not it ſelfe unſeemely, ſeeketh not her owne, is not eaſily provoked, thinketh no evill; this grace binds a man to his good behaviour; and will keepe peace with all men: hence is it that whereas once we are bid Above all things to take the ſheild of faith, wee are twice bid above all things to put on love, 1 Pet. 4.8. & Col. 3.14. Which is the bond of perfectneſſe, That is both in regard of man and G d, l…ve knits the members of Chriſt together, and ſo perfects his body, it unites us to God, and ſo cauſeth the perfecting of Divine love in us, 1 Job. 4.12. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us. v. 17.
5. Be willing to le…rne one of another, that will indeare our hear…s each to other, and keepe them in oneneſſe: The Scribes and Phariſees thought they knew the Law, better then Chriſt, they would not learne of him, and ſo never heartily cloſed with him, but were peremptorie in their owne opinions, and tenacious of traditions, and by this meanes were enemies to truth, and thoſe were one-hearted in the truth, Col. 3.16. They were to teach and admoniſh one another, yea they muſt ſay to Archippus, take heed to the Myniſterie which thou haſt received of the Lord, that thou fullfill it: Their willingneſſe to learne one of another, preſerved them in order; and thoſe that doe teach, ſhould willingly and meekely inſtruct, thoſe that doe oppoſe, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 2 Tim. 2.24.25. For the promiſe is, Iſa. 29.24. That thoſe have erred in ſpirit ſhall come to underſtanding, and they that murmured ſhall learne doctrine.
6. See Gods preſence and nearneſſe to us; that's a meanes to preſerve us in an one hearted condition, when the Maſter is preſent the ſervants are quiet, and keepe ſo, James, 5.9. Grudge not one againſt another brethren, leaſt yee be condemned, and what ſhould prevent this, and keep them in brotherly love, Behold the judge ſtandeth before the doore, he is ready to come in, to examine you throughly, what the differences are, what the words, acts, thoughts are; he is in you all, through you all, obſerves every ryſing of the ſpirit, all workings there; and above you all; and will reckon with you.