How long and how anxiously have we prayed and waited for such a day of gospel-liberty as we now enjoy.? It hath been one of the sorest afflictions we have grappled with in the days of our re- straint, that we could not speak unto the carnal world. If we had an opportunity to speak at all, it was for the most part to such as stood in need of edification more than of conversion, God hath now, beyond the thoughts of most hearts, opened to us a door of liberty to preach, and for all that will, to hear. Some fruits we have already seen, and more we expect. The children are as it ■were coming to the birth,. and will you obstruct \t? AVill you give the gospel a miscarrying womb ? be instruments at once by your contentions, to destroy tlie souls of men, and break the very hearts of your ministers, whose greatest comfort is bound up in the suc- cess of their labours } Brethren, I beseech you read these words as if they were delivered to you upon my bended knees ; I beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the hope's sake of saving the precious immortal souls of men ; and for your poor mi- nisters' sake, who have scarce any thing besides the fruits of their labours, to recompense their long-continued and grievous suffer- ings, depose your animosities, maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ; help us, but do not hinder us in our hard labours.
A SERMON ON COSPEL-UXITY. OOt
"VVliat good will our lives do us if we must labour in vain, and spend our strength for nought ? We find it difficult enough to persuade sinners to come unto Christ, when no such stumbling-blocks are laid in the way ; the counter-pleas of Satan, the unbelief and sen- suality of unsanctified nature, are diiKculties too great for us to grapple with ; but if to these must be added prejudices against re- ligion, from your dividing lusts and scandalous breaches, what hope tlien remains ? If you have no pity for yourselves, pity perishing souls, and pity your poor discouraged ministers ; have a care you make us not to groan to God against you ; or if that be a small thing in your eyes, have a care lest the blood of souls be charged to your account in the great day. Are there none in the towns or neighbourhoods where you live ? Are you sure there are none that have hopeful inclinations towards religion ? Desires and purposes to attend on the same means of grace you sit under, who will charge the occasion of their damnation upon you at the bar of Christ, and say. Lord, we had some weak convictions upon our consciences, that we needed a rousing and searching minister ; we were convinced that the profane and carnal world, among whom we had our conversation, were not in the right path that leadeth to salvation ! We felt In ourselves inclinations to cast off our old com- panions, and associate with those that professed more strictness and holiness, and place ourselves under the most fruitful and advanta- geous ministry, and accordingly improved opportunities to get ac- quaintance with them ; but when we came nearer to them we found such wrath and envy, such wranglings and divisions, such undermining and supplanting each others reputations ; such whis- perings and tale-bearings, such malicious aggravations and improve- ments of common failings and infirmities, such covetousness and worldliness, such pride and vanity, as gave us such a disgust and offence at the ways of reformation, that we could never more be reconciled to them. Beware, I say, how you incur the guilt of such a dreadful charge as this, by giving liberty to such lusts and passions, under a profession of religion, and pretence to reforma- tion.
Motive 4. Consider the contrariety of such practices to that so- lemn and fervent prayer of Jesus Christ, recorded in John xvii. It is highly remarkable, how in that prayer which he poured out a little before his death, with such a mighty pathos and fervency of spirit, he insists upon nothing more than unity among his people. He returns upon his Father again and again, for the obtaining of this one thing: Four times doth he beg for unity among them, and every time he seems to rise higher and higher, beseeching his Father, (1.) That they may be one. (2.) That they may be one in us. (3.) That thev may be one, as thou and I are one. And, lastly, thai
60^ A SERMON ON GOSPLL-r XITY,
tbcy may be made perfect in one. By all this shewing how intent his spirit was upon this one thing.
Brethren, if you would study how to frustrate the design, and grieve the heart of your Lord Jesus Christ (to whom you profess love and obedience) you cannot take a readier way to do it, than bv breaking the bonds of unity among yourselves. I beseech you, therefore, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath so ear- nestly prayed for the unity of his people. That ye he perfectly joined together in one heart, and in one mind, as the text speaks.
Motive 5. Consider how directly your divisions cross, and frus- trate the design and end of church-fellowship, which is instituted lor the improvement of each other's graces, and helping on the mortification of each other's corruptions.