I answer : —
1. Our rule is plain ; and as it distinguisheth error from truth, so weakness and j^artial Christianity from that which is more perfect nnd thorough. Besides, it is clear some have not the gifts of know- ledge and experience that others have, nor such advantages of educa- tion and study, and helps of knowing the truth ; and though they are not to captivate their understandings to the dictates of others, yet they should search and search again and again, and have double light, when they are by the seeming evidence of truth forced to differ.
2. Christianity teacheth us to think meanly of ourselves, and not to be wise in our own conceits : Phil. ii. 3, * In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves ; ' at least, we should have such a sense of our imperfections as to make us tractable and teachable.
3. If you will not own yourselves weak, do the part of the strong meekly, hold forth your light, produce your reasons to convince others ; but if you have nothing to produce but your obstinacy and ignorance, surely you are not only a weak, but a perverse brother. ]3ut what are the weak to do ? Not to rend and cut off themselves from the rest of Christians, or be strange to them upon every lesser dissent, nor to raise troubles by your censures, but to be humble, teachable, diligent in the use of means, to lay aside obstinate prejudices, to examine how it Cometh to pass that the rest of the godly and you differ ; to leave room still for the discovery of God's mind where your grounds are not clear and certain, and to count it no shame to retract that former practice which a future conviction disproveth.
II. The reasons.
1. From the necessity, excellency, and utility of union. What more clear in the scriptures than that Christians should endeavour to be united ? Christ prayed for it : John xvii. 21-23, ' That they all may be one, that they may be one as we are one, that they may be perfect in one.' And the apostle enforceth it by the most vehement iutreaties that can be used : Phil. ii. 1,2, 'If therefore there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the (Spirit, if any bowels of mercy, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.' Who can withstand such an adjuration and powerful beseechings as these, that if ever they found any comfort by his ministry, and ever had any hope by Christ, ever any influence of the Spirit, ever any pity and compas- sion over souls, that they would look after unity in judgment, love, and affection, and lay aside their differences, and carnal enuilations ? Again, tliey caution us against those that cause divisions : Rom. xvi. 17, 18, ' Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divi- sions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned ; and
7-1 A TEIISUASIVE TO UNITY [I'lIlL. III. 15.
avukl tlicm ; fur they that arc such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, hut their own helly, and hy good 'words and fair speeches deceive tho hearts of the simple.' They press unity upon us hy very cogent argu- ments, that cany the highest reason with thcni : E[)h. iv. 4-G, ' There is one hody, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one faith, one haptisni, one God and Father of all, who is ahove all, and through all, and in you all.'
Seven uniting considerations are there heaped up together : —
[1.] There is one hody of Christ, whereof all are memhers. Tho whole church maketh hut one hody, knit hy faith to Christ, their liead, and hy the houd of love among themselves ; and the meanest Christian is a memher in this hody. Now it is unnatural if the mem- bers of the same hody should tear and destroy one another, and that the hody of Christ should be rent and torn ; and woe be to them by whom it is so !
[2.] This body is animated by one Spirit ; that if any be a member of this body, it is necessary that he have the Spirit of God abiding in him, to renew and quicken him. Now, this one and the self-same Spirit, as the apostle calleth him, 1 Cor. xii. 11, worketh in all the saints. If his gifts be various, they proceed from the same author, and they are variously dispensed, to preserve society and communion, that one may not say to another, ' I have no need of thee.' However, there is but one new nature in all the sanctified.
[8.] One hope of glory. We are all joint-heirs of the same king- dom, we all expect one end and happiness, where we shall meet and live together for ever. Now those that shall meet and live together in glory hereafter, should live together in peace and concord here.
[4.] There is ' one Lord,' one Mediator and blessed Saviour. Now, shall the servants of one Master fall at odds with themselves, neglect their Master's work committed to them, beat their fellow-servants, and eat and drink with the drunken r*