It hath indeed been said, that it is never better with the churcli, than when there are most hypocrites in it ; but then you must un- derstand it only with respect to the external tranquillity and pros- perity of the church : For as to its real spiritual advantage, they add nothing. And therefore it behoves church-officers and mem- bers to be exceeding careful (especially in times of liberty and pros- perity) how they admit members, as the Jews in Solomon's time were of admitting proselytes. It is said, Amos iii. 3. " How can " two walk together, except they be agreed ?" I deny not, but Vol. III. Pp
J596 A SER^ION ON GOffPEL-UNITY.
persons that differ in some lesser points, as to their judgment, may, and ought to be one in affection ; but of this 1 am sure, that when sanctified persons, agreed in judgments and principles, do walk to- gether under pious and judicious church-officers, in tender affec- tion, and the exercise of all duties tending to mutual edification, glorifying God with one mouth, Rom. xv. 6. and cleaving together with oneness of heart. Acts ii. 42. this is such a church-unity, as answers Christ's end in the institution of particular churches, and greatly tends to their own comfort, and the propagation of Christianity in the world. Tongue-unity flows from heart-unity ; hea,rt-unity in a great measure from head-unity ; and all three from union with the Lord Jesus Christ. The divisions of our tongues come mostly from the divisions of our hearts ; Avere heart* agreed, tongues would quickly be agreed ; and then what blessed times might be expected.^ And so much briefly for the nature of unity. Next,
(2.) Let us evince, both the necessity and desirableness of this unity among believers, and this will appear in a threefold respect ; viz.
1. With respect to the glory of God.
S. The comfort and benefit of oiu* own souls.
3. The conversion and salvation of the world. ^
(1.) With respect to the glory of God. Tiie manifestative glory of God (which is all the glory we are capable of giving him, is the very end of our being, and should be dearer to us than our lives) is exceedingly advanced by the unity of his people. Hence is the apostle's prayer, Rom. xv. 5, 6. '* Now the God of patience^ and " consolation, grant you to be like- minded one towards another, " according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind, and " one moutli glorify God." It is highly remarkable, that the apostle, in this petition for the unity of the saints, doth not only describe that unity he prays for, one mouth and one mind, and shews how much God would be glorified by such an union ; but he also addresses himself to God for it, under these two remarkable titles, the God of pat'ieiice^ and consolation ; thereby intimating two things, (1.) How great need and exercise there is of patience in maintaining unity among the saints : They must bear one another's burthens ; they must give allowance for mutual infirmities, for the church here is not an assembly of spirits of just men made per- fect. The unity of the saints therefore greatly depends upon the exercise of patience one toward another ; and this he begs the God of patience to give them. And to endear this grace of patience to them. He, (2.) joins with it another title of God, viz. the God of consolation, wherein he points them to that abundant comfort which would result unto themselves from such a blessed unity.
A sF.nMON o\* GOsrEL-rxiTY. 597
continued and maintained by the mutual exercises of patience and forbearance one towards anotlier. And to set home all, he lays before them the pattern and example of Christ : The God of pa^ ticnce and consolation^ ^y^rant you to be like-minded, according to Christ. How many thousand infirmities and failures in duty doth Christ find in all his people? notwithstanding which, he maintain- eth union and communion with them ; and if they, after his exam- ple, shall do so likewise w4th one another, God will be eminently glorified therein. This will evidence both the truth and excellency of the Christian religion, which so firmly knits the hearts of its pro- fessors together.
(2.) The necessity and desirableness of this unity farther ap- pears, by the deep interest that the comfort and benefit of our souls have in it. A great example hereof we have in Acts ii. 4f6, 47. Oh ! what cheerfulness, strength and pleasure, did the pri- mitive Christians reap from the unity of their hearts in the ways and worship of God ? Next unto the pleasure and delight of im- mediate communion with God himself, and the shedding abroad of his love into our hearts by the Holy Ghost ; none like that which ariseth from the harmonious exercises of the graces of the saints, in their mutual duties and communion one with another. How are their spirits dilated and refreshed by it ? What a lively emblem is here of heaven ! the courts of princes affords no such delights. Whereas on the other side, when schisms have rent churches asunder, they go away from each other exasperated, grieved, and wounded, crying out. Oh, that I had a cottage in the wilderness ! or, Oh, that 1 had the wings of a dove, that I might flee away, and be at rest.
(3.) Lastly, The necessity and desirableness of this union further appears witli respect unto the world, who are allured unto Christ by it, and scared off from religion by the feuds and divisions of professors. To this the prayer of Christ hath respect, John xvii. 23. " That they may be made perfect in one, that the world may " know that thou hast sent me," q. d. This, O Father, will be a convincing evidence to the world, of the Divinity both of my Person and doctrine, and a great ordinance for their conversion to me, when they shall see my people cleaving inseparably unto me" by faith, and to one another by love. And on the other side, it will be a fatal stumbhng block in the way of their conversion, to ob- serve my followers biting and devouring, rending and tearing one another.
A learned and judicious divine*, commenting upon those words,
598 A SERMON ON GOSPEL-UNITY.
Cant. ii. 7. " I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the " roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor a- " wake my Love till he please f gives the sense thus : By roes and hinds of the field (saith he) understand weak comers on to- wards Christ, persons under some preparatory work towards con- version, who are as shy and as timorous as roes and hinds of the field ; and as they will be scared by the yelp of a dog, or the sound of a gun ; so will these at any offensive miscarriages in the churches of Christ.
Alexander Severus, finding two Christians contending with one another, commanded them that they should not presume to take the name of Christ upon them any longer ; for (saith he) you greatly dishonour your Master, whose disciples you profess your- selves to be. And thus briefly of the nature of church-unity, and the necessity and desirableness thereof, among all that stand in that relation.