Thoughts about promoting the Interest of Christ's Universal Church.  
THE Interest of the Universal Church lieth doubtless in the raising, enlarging and adorning of that mystical building, which is called the City of God, Christ's Spouse, and Christ's Body. As this Body is made up of such members, as are animated by the vital Spirit, which Floweth from the Head, and links them together with one another as well, as with their Head, Christ, so real Christianity is without doubt the main point of the Universal Church, and as real Christianity spreads and improves, or shrinks and decays, the Universal Church must be looked upon as flourishing or declining. Real Christianity consisting in following the steps of our Saviour, and expressing by our life his pattern, as far as Divine Grace inables every one of us, we may term it, a ressemblance to Christ, the restorer of God's image in the soul of man, the Beginner and Fullfiller of our Faith. Now the nearer we ressemble unto Christ, and the more there is of those that ressemble him, the more fully the glorious ends of his Gospel are answered and the Universal Church advanced.  
As absurd as it is to think that Christ died for this or that sect, and that heaven must be stocked only out of one particular Church, nevertheless notions of Christianity run so low, that the greatest part fancy, Christian Religion is the performing of divine Worship after this or that form, and holding such or such opinions.  
Which false supposition hath betrayed some into Unchristian courses against those that differ from them, and occasioned doleful effects. Wherefore divers pious Souls have endeavoured to heal the wounds of the Church, by reconciling the aforesaid differences. It is but too much known how fruitless hitherto such endeavours have proved. Nor can it be otherwise, as long as that poisonous root of all dissension remains in the Soul, namely the rebellious selfish tincture, contracted by the first man, in listening to te serpent, and so declining from God to Satan, the Prince of Pride. It would not signify much neither, if all the men in the world resolved upon using the same expressions, and the same Church service, continuing all the while slaves to te Kingdom of darkness. Whereas holiness or real Christianity, sincerily pursued in the several particular Churches, would approach people to that heavenly temper, to which jarring and disquiet is a perfect stranger. Wherefore I am of opinion, that instead of studying for confessions to be received by all parties, or arguing against one another's tenets, the differing parties should vie with one another, who could produce most instances of such as have in their Church arrived at the glorious renovation of God's image in the Soul; which is the sign and effect of that Faith, which 
(a) 1 Joh. V 4.  overcomes the world, 
(b) Eph. III. 17.  and by which Christ lives in us, enabling those that receive him 
(c) Joh. I. 12.  to become children of God. Those that 
(d) 2 Cor. V 17.  are in Christ become such new Creatures, and united with him, need not study for a confession, whereby thy might be united, all of them together living as it were by one common Soul. Though the number of such is very small, nevertheless God hath some here and there, which in his infinite mercy he hath left as the salt of the earth. These Few aught to be the more thankful to that goodness, which hath snatched them out of the inundation of the Universal Corruption. The greatest thankfulness to the great Donor of all good and perfect gifts consists in benefitting others by what we have received out of the unexhaustible divine treasure, to the glory of the Liberal Giver. Wherefore the aforesaid proficients in real Christianity will hardly make here on earth a better return to heaven's Favours, than if they hearty bestir themselves, to communicate unto others that divine nature, whereof in the new Creature they are made partakers.  
After these premises I infer, that the Interest of the Universal Church might be promoted, if the following points were heeded.  
(1.) Those that are in authority should study all possible means to provide such Guides for the people, as have an experimental knowledge of the  real Christianity, and can say with St. Paul: Fellow me, as you see me follow Christ. At least ut-most care ought to be taken that a Preacher my not bring a reproach or disparagement upon his doctrine by his bad example. Persons that have not themselves recovered life by Christ, will hardly be able duly to lay before their hearers, what is the 
(e) Eph. IU. 22.  Old man depraved according to the desires of the Deceit, and the 
(f) Eph. IU. 24.  New man, who is created after God in Righteousness and holiness of the truth; what it is to be dead in sin, and to be resuscitated with Christ. Wherein nevertheless consists preaching repentance and Faith, which two heads 
(g) Act. XX. 21.  St. Paul rekones the chief towards the saving of Souls. Without this foundation, the learnedest discourses will avail little towards the enlarging of God's Kingdom; though they tickle the ears, get credit and esteem to the Preacher, and fill the minds of the hearers with never so fine notions. Nay though they should convince the auditory of the advantages of a good moral life, little will be practised, as long as the principle of disobedience, self-love, and own will continueth the spring of the heart. At the best a good moral life is not yet God's Righteousness, 
(h) 2 Cor. V 21.  which is the Scope of the Gospel. Moral men are some times fallen into a conceit of themselves, setting up their own righteousness, for want of due instruction about the deplorable state of corrupted nature, and the glorious advantage of a new birth from above, 
(i) Phil. III 9  which formeth Christ in us, and begets at this rate God's Righteousness, which is by Faith.  
(2.) For the breeding many Guides duly qualifyed, it would be requisite to order the Schools so, that a solid foundation for true wisdom might be laid there, by inuring youth betimes to a sincere regard to him, who is the fountain of true understanding. For want hereof we find so many Scholars, that aim rather at fame, by being versed in many hard authors, than at the glorifying of God, and advantaging their Neighbour by an experimental knowledge of the vast difference between Living to God and Living to ourselves. I have met with some that took more delight in giving an account of an old manuscript, than in turning of a Soul from the world to heaven. Nor is it probable Heaven's interest should be hearty espoused by those, with whom the Love of the world bears the chief sway. Though Providence hath contrived it so wisely, that some smart for their vanity in desiring the reputation of vast Scholars, because oftentimes they become unfit for thinking right themselves, by wasting their lives in cramming other men's notions into their brains.  
(3.) If, instead of railing at one another and preaching at this rate hatred rather than charity, the Clergy of all the particular Churches made it their only business, to preach Repentance and Faith, according to the first Article, they would show the more of an Apostolic Spirit, and reap the more fruit from their labours. I have often wondered at their taking more pleasure in the making of Proselytes to their Church, than in turning their own flock, from the world to heaven, and from the Slavery of the Prince of the world, to the glorious liberty of the Kingdom of God. He that hath a tenderness for the persuasion, he professes, should not encourage vicious worldlings to come into it, since a great many well disposed Souls, ground their esteem of a Church upon the number of good patterns, which that Church affords. So that it is the Interest of those that would bring their own persuasion into request, to contribute what they are able, that Christian Virtues might shine brighter in their Church than in any other,  
(4.) If people of differing persuasions fell into Company, they should avoid all controversy, the handling whereof seldom betters men, but often inflames animosities. And most men do think it a lessening of their own reputation, and that of their masters, if they should yield one tittle of their Systeme of Divinity. Whereas some have done good even upon men of a differing persuasion, by declining controverted points, and grounding their discourse upon those subjects, which as essential to salvation are owned by all parties, though put in execution by a very few of them,  
(5.) Those few that know Christ really, 
(a) 1 Cor. I. 24.  as the Power of God in the faithful, and feel by this knowledge 
(b) Joh. XVII. 3.  eternal life in them, having attained to the blessed experience of 
(c) 1 Cor. VI 17.  being one Spirit with Christ, may endeavour to get acquainted and settle a correspondence with one another, though Providence hath placed them in different Provinces of the Lords Vineyard. Such a correspondence would not only prove of comfort and encouragement to themselves, but they might confer with one another about carrying on the common interest, against the Kingdom of darkness, that all along so miserably deludes the Slaves of its Dominions, and thwarts the heirs of God's Kingdom. In the mean while every one making it his main business to strengthen the weak of his own persuasion, and to rescue them from perishing.  
If the following of this method should by God's blessing prove successful, and Christ's meek, peaceable, heavenly Spirit dethrone the haughty, broilsome, worldly spirit of Satan in most people's minds, they would soon hasten to brotherly embraces. But the turbulent opposers of Love and Union would be left to fret away by their so much beloved sowrness.  

Macarius Homil. XXXII.  
As the Sun inlightens the whole earth, so God is every where. If you look for him in heaven, there he is in the thoughts of the Angels. If you seek him on earth, there he is to be met with in the hearts of men. But of a great many there is but few such Christians as please him.   

Homil. V.  
There is a great difference between real Christians and the rest of mankind. Real Christians have their mind and understanding all ways in a heavenly disposition, eternal blessings are all ways in their sight by reason of the communion and participation of the holy Ghost. They are born of God from above; they are dignifyed to be God's Children in Truth and Power; after much labour, sweat and time, they are arrived at settledness, steadiness, tranquillity and comfort, ceasing to be sifted and tossed by fickle and vain thoughts; In this they are better and greater than the world, because their mind and understanding rests in the Peace of Christ, and the love of the holy Ghost; as the Lord speaking of such saith: They are passed from death unto life. Wherefore the difference of Christians (from the rest of men) doth not consist in form and outward appearance.  
For by the renovation of the mind, by the tranquillity of the thoughts, by the Love of the Lord, and by a heavenly longing, differs the New Creature of Christians, from all the men of the World.   

Homil. XXV.  
We have not yet obtained the exultation of Christ's salvation, because the sting of death sticks still in us. We have not yet put on the new man, which is created after God in holiness, because we have not yet put of the old man corrupted according to the desires of the Deceit. We do not yet wear the heavenly image, nor are made resembling to the glory thereof; because in our mortal body sin bears the sway still. We have not yet beheld the glory of what is incorruptible, because we are still under a dark moonless night. We have not yet put on the armour of light, because we have the weapons and works of darkness still about us. We are not yet transformed by the renovation of our mind, because we continue in conformity to the world by the vanity of our mind. We are not glorified with Christ, because we do not suffer with him. We carry not his marks in our body about us, entered into the mystery of the Cross of Christ; for we are still wedded to our carnal passions and lusts. We are not yet become God's Heirs and Coheirs of Christ, because the Spirit of Servitude and not of adoption reigns in us. We are not yet become a Temple of God and a habitation of the holy Ghost, because we are still a temple of Idols, and a lurking place of wicked spirits, by the strong bent of our Soul to passion.  
FINIS.