Page images
PDF
EPUB

Gofpel, and mind of Chrift, which they all have equally heard, and learned from God.

Hence it is evident, that it is nothing to have the outward form of a Church, even as our Souls could wish, except there be, inwardly in that Church, the Spirit of Chrift; for it is not unity of form will ever make the Church one, but unity of Spirit: That Church then that is deftitute of the Spirit, in its Laws, Orders, Conftitutions, Forms, Members, Officers; what true Unity can that have in all its Uniformity?

And this is the fecond Bond of the true Churches Unity;

Unity of Spirit.

Who break

Now they break this bond of the Churches unity, this bond of that live in their own Spirits, and not in Chrifts; Unity. for they that live in a different Spirit from the true Church, what unity can they poffibly have with it? They then that live in their own humane reason, understanding, thoughts, councel, wills, ends, they live quite and clean out of the unity of this Church, yea, in direct enmity against it; feeing our own corrupt and earthly Spirits, are most contrary to the Holy and Heavenly Spirit of Chrift, in which the Church lives. Wherefore we may learn hence, what to judge of those men, that cry out much for the peace of the Church, and yet themselves, neither live in, nor are led by the Spirit of the Church; but either by their own Spirits, or Antichrifts.

2. They that labour to joyn men into one body with the Church, that are not one Spirit with it, do marr the peace of it: For as unity of Spirit in the Church is the bond of peace, fo diverfity of Spirit is the breach of peace; and therefore to preferve the peace of the Church, none are to joyn themselves to this one body, that are not of this one Spirit. 3. They

O 3

Quest.

[ocr errors]

3. They that being of the Church, do any thing i. their own Spirits, and not by Chrifts, prejudice the peace of the Church; for the true Church is fuch a Body which is to have all its communion in the Spirit. And therefore when any Pray or Prophefie, or the like, in the ftrength of natural parts, or humane ftudies and invention only, and do not pray and prophefie in the Spirit, they break the unity of the Church; for the faithful have communion with one another, only to far forth as the Spirit is manifefted in each.

Now if any shall fay, How may I know Chrifts Spirit in thefe acts and duties from a mans own? Anfw. I answer, That as by the Word of God we can judge of all other Words and Doctrines; and as by the Faith of Chrift we can judge of all other Beliefs, fo by the Spirit of Chrift we can judge of all other Spirits, and can know where is the fame Spirit, and where is a different or a contrary Spirit; as the members of the Body can judge of the oneness of Spirit that is among themfelves.

The right

ing.

The third Bond of the True Churches, Uni

ty, is,

ONE HOPE OF OUR CALLING. Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: As Church have all Believers are called by one calling (which is one hope of their call the inward and effectual voice of God to the Soul, by his Spirit through the Gofpel) fo they are all called into one bleffed hope of obtaining the Kingdom and glory of God. And no one is called to this hope more than another, or hath more intereft or share in it than another. Fishes that live in the Sea, though some be greater, and fome lefs, yet none hath more intereft or share in it than another; but all being alike produced in it, enjoy it alike; and Creatures that live on the

earth,

earth, though fome be greater, and fome lefs, yet all enjoy the Sun and Ayr alike; and yet nearer, the members of the body, though of different quantity, form and Office, yet all have alike interest in the head and all its fenfes, and in the foul and all its faculties: So all the faithful enjoy Chrift alike, and in him the Spirit and the Father; and no believer hath more intereft in Chrift and God, than another.

So that all the faithful are called to the fame things, and God gives not more, nor better things to one than to another, but he gives immortality, glory, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the inheritance of the Saints, or which is all one, himself, alike to all, and makes all to fit alike in heavenly places in Chrift, and in the Father.

All the faithful then are equally called to an Unity of hope, and none can hope for greater or better things than another. It was a very carnal thing in the Mother of Zebedee's children, to defire of Christ, That one of her Sons might fit at his right hand, and another at his left hand, in his Kingdom, where all alike fit at his right hand, and none at all at his left. Indeed in the Kingdoms of men, fome have greater eftates than others, and are in higher Honour and Authority; and this breeds envie, and emulation, and ftrife, and diftances, &c. but in the Sons Kingdom, and in the Fathers, all that are counted worthy to dwell therein, do alike inherit all things; All things are yours, faith Paul: And he that overcomes shall inherit all things; faith John; And the least believer hath no lefs, and the greatest hath no more; and this caufes unity and peace among them. We fee what a ftrong bond of peace and agreement, unity of hope is in them that travel together, that fight together, that labour together; and fo much

0 4

more

Who break

of Unity.

more in them who are equally called by God to
the Kingdom of God.

And this, is the third bond, of the true
Churches Unity :
Unity of Hope.

Now they break this bond of the Churches Unithis Bond ty, that live out of this hope of the Church, whofe hope is in earthly, carnal, base things; who pretending to be Chriftians, yet live only in the hopes of men, in hopes of worldly Profit, honour, Preferment, and the attaining and enjoyment of the things of this life, which they, according to the eagerness of their hopes, profecute mightily by all ways and means. Thefe men, I fay, break the Unity of the Church: for what true Unity can they have with the true Church, that live not in unity of hope with it? Seeing worldly hopes carry men one way, and the hopes of Believers carry them another: carnal hopes make men leave God for the world; and the hope of Saints makes them leave the world for God: Wherefore they that differ in their hopes, which are their ends, muft needs differ in their ways and works; and fo he that lives out of the hope of the Church, lives alfo out of the unity of it.

The right

Church hath

The fourth bond of the true Churches unity, is,
ONE LORD

The right Church hath not many Lords, but e Lord. One; and this one and only Lord, is the Lord Jefus Chrift: And fo all the Subjects of this Kingdom are fellow fervants to one Lord, to whom they do owe equal obedience; and this alfo is a ftrong bond of Unity.

For when there are divers Lords, there are divers minds, and wills, and ends, and fo divers laws, and thefe breed divifions, and diffentions, and wars among men; but where there is but one

Lord,

Lord, there is alfo but one Law; and where people live by one Law, under one Lord, unto whom all are equally fubject, this breeds peace and union.

Now the Lordship of the Church, is the Royal Prerogative of Chrift and no creature muft prefume to arrogate this honour to himself, feeing unto the very Angels he hath not put in fubjection this world to come, whereof we speak. And for men, Christ hath charged his own Apostles (who if there were any difference among Believers, might undoubtedly challenge the preheminence) I fay, Chrift hath charged even them on this fort, Matth. 23. IO. Be not ye called Mafters, for one is your Mafter, even Chrift; but he that is greatest among you, shall be your fervant: That is, you may and ought to be fervants to one another, but not mafters: and this fame doctrine the Apostle James Preacheth, Jam. 3. 1. My brethren (faith he) be not many Masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation: it is not fit for brethren, who are equal among themfelves, to make themselves masters over one another. Chrift alfo hath spoken again, fo plainly to this matter, Math. 20. that one would wonder, that ever the Beast, or his image, should dare to arrogate to themselves, Lordship over the People of God, in fo clear a light; Ye know (faith Chrift to the twelve) that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority over them: but it shall not be Jo amongst you: he speaks it Peremptorily; that fome Believers fhould not exercise dominion and authority over Believers; no not the greatest over the least, all being fellow fervants alike, under one Lord. Wherefore they that are puffed up in their hearts against their fellow fervants, might better think thus with themselves, why Chrift is our Lord, as well as theirs, and is as

much

« PreviousContinue »