Christ's Banner of Love.  
Set up to call all Christians to serve in Love and Unity under it.  
But especially directed to the Saints of both Kingdoms.  Walk in Love, as Christ hath loved us.  publisher's devicr 
LONDON, Printed for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 1648.   

Christ's Banner of Love.  
IT is never enough to be lamented, That when Christ hath made Love, the very Character and Badge of his Disciples, those that would be called Christians, that is, the Disciples of Christ, are fare from that wherein this Discipleship doth especially consist. One Apostle having named some chief Graces and Virtues, saith; But the greatest of these is love; And in another place, Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And another Apostle; Above all things have fervent love among yourselves. But how comes it to pass then, that when Christ and his Apostles set up love above all things, we see so many things set up above love, yea, we see love destroyed for little things, which is better than all things? Yea, when love by uniting would mutually preserve the Saints, they by hatred and contention will destroy both love and themselves; yet the same evil spirit that moves to this destroying by hatred and division, preserves his own Kingdom by unity. And though his depraved nature be contrary to true love, yet his craft so fare overrules, or at least guides his malice, that he holds unity for our ruin, and his own preservation. But Christians, whose Divine Nature is especially made up of love, run hastily and headily into hatred and division; and thus do they go contrary to the Divine Nature, wherein is the virtue of the Dove, and the wisdom commended in the Serpent. But do not those that talk of Christianity, and thus walk contrary to it, merely turn Christianity into talking, and make themselves but tinkling Cymbals?  
Let true Christians seriously consider, that union in Christ their head, is a stronger root of love and unity than lesser differences can be of division. It was the great Plot of Christ by the expense of his most precious Blood, to recapitulate and bring into unity under one Head those that lay scattered under sundry differences; and is it not then to counter-worke against Christ's great Plot and Mystery of Godliness, by small differences to divide those whom he hath by so dear a purchase knit together; yet (which is a high degree of this mischief) men pretend for Christianity to hate and destroy Christians; but is it not the same which in others hath been truly called Antichristian; for both this and that persecutes Christ in his members, opposeth Christ in his Doctrine, and in his main work and dispensation; let such hear Paul speaking: Where there are divisions among you are ye not carnal, and walk as men? And indeed, is it not carnal to hate a member of Christ for that difference which he may have, and yet be a member of Christ? Is not he more to be loved for being a member of Christ then to be hated for that difference? yea, if Christ do love and forgive him, how darest thou to hate him whom Christ loves? Hast thou seen any warrant in Scripture to give thee authority to hate a member of Christ who agrees with Christ by faith and love, but agrees not with thee in all thy opinions? The Scripture saith, We know but in part; and if so, thou must give every Saint these grains of allowance which the Apostle gives him. It may be the knowledge of that point wherein he differs from thee is not within his part, and thou wilt have him know beyond his part, or else thou wilt fall out with him; Is not this to fall, out with a Saint for impossibilities; and which is more, is it not to fight against God in his dispensations? God is not pleased to put this knowledge within his part, and therefore thou fallest out with him; and is not thy quarrel against God also, because God hath not revealed it unto him? yea, as confident as thou art, it may be that opinion for which thou fallest out with him is not in thy part, but that which he holds is within his part; and than what a double madness is it to hate thy brother, for not maintaining that opinion which thou holdest, but knowest not to be a truth, and for that truth which thy brother knows, and therefore maintains? But if of ignorance he err in those things that are out of his part, bear with him as thou wouldst be born with, yea loved, notwithstanding that error, for this is the Law and the Prophets. It is not to be believed, that any Saint willingly would maintain a known error, and if he hold it of weakness, receive him that is weak, and not for contentions and dividing disputations; bear with him in that which is beyond his part, and he shall bear with thee in that which is beyond thy part; for there is a great number of truths which some Saints know, and others do not; yea many which none attain unto. We have plain places of Scripture wherein love to all Saints is commended and commanded, but none wherein hatred of Saints for lesser measures of knowledge is enjoined or approved.  
Again, the Body of Christ doth edify itself in love, therefore no love, no edification. But on the contrary, as love edifies, so hatred pulls down, and tears the building into pieces. Now what says the Scripture? Who so destroys the Temple of God, him shall God destroy. A fearful work paid with fearful wages, Temple destruction followed with destruction of Temple destroyers. Neither is this wholly deferred to the great day, but even in this life division of Saints threatens destruction; for if ye by't on another, ye shall be consumed one of another. When these lesser differences make a division, the great Malignant puts in his wedge, and the lesser follow and serve him in this work, and both tear Saints asunder to destroy them by dividing; yea to destroy one Saint by another. A sad thing when Saints shall do the Devils works, dividing and destroying. But fare from Saints be the works and paths of the destroyer. But let them much rather do the works of God, even of that God who is Love, and his work is Salvation. Let them strive to preserve each other by provoking one another to love and good works, and by being knit and linked together so fast in love, that none of these infernal Wedges and Engines may tear them asunder. Let them walk in those saving truths which they have attained to, with one mind, and one love; and if any thing besides be not yet attained to, wait with mutual patience and forbearance until the same be revealed.  
I know there are errors to whose owners and maintainers the Apostle allows not, God speed. But I speak not of those, but of such differences and divisions as are of a lower nature. And is not the internal unity of the Spirit a greater band of love and peace than difference in small matters or externals, be of hatred, division, and mutual destruction? Is not such a destruction like unto this, that when two owners of a field of Corn cannot agree about the fashion of the hedge, upon this disagreement they will both agree to set the Corn on fire and destroy it? What were this but to destroy the Corn for that very thing, whose main, if not only use, is to preserve it? Let Saints hear the voice and judgement of Moses (a great Saint, and who in this voice spoke as one that was designed to be the great Judge of Israel) Why sttive ye, since ye are brethren? Why tear ye the Body of Christ into pieces for the  of the body? Is not the body better than raiment? Christ hath shed his blood for his Saints, and his Spirit into the Saints, to purchase love, peace, and unity for them; do not rob him of his purchase by divisions, and tearing his body asunder, lest he again cry out from Heaven, Why do you persecute me? and why do you tear me in pieces in my members? Let us not prefer low quarrels and opinions before Christ dwelling and living in his members; what is this but to make Idols of them, and to make ourselves like those of Canaan, who sacrificed their Sons and Daughtere to their Idols; and what follows? Thus was the Land defiled with innocent blood.  
But let every man sadly and sincerely examine the matter, both as a Christian, and as a wise man: as a Christian, let him ask his Soul, whether it can be the Spirit that hates and endeavours to destroy a man that hath the Spirit, certainly it is impossible, that the Spirit should hate the Spirit, or him that hath it. For the fruit of the Spirit is love, even love to all the brethren that are borne of the same Spirit. And if it be a work of the flesh, what hath a spiritual man to do with the flesh but to kill it? and not for the flesh to kill those that have the Spirit. Secondly as a wise man, who would by such division and opposition of Brethren make a gap, and open a gate for the common enemy to come in and destroy both? wherefore (to conclude) let not lesser faults or exceptions which may stand with brotherhood, dissolve brother hood; much less set Brethren to destroy one another. And if it were lawful (as it is not in Abraham's judgement, who was the Father of the faithful, and told his Nephew Lot, Let us not strive, because we are brethren) yet first of all, means should be used for reconciliation and satisfaction; thus did the whole Congregation of Israel by Messengers sent to the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Tribe of Manasseth, when they were suspected for setting up a new and forbidden kind of Worship. Lastly, fare be it from Brethren upon doubtful and disputable differences, yea doubtful breaches of Covenant, to break that plain and downright part of the Covenant; That each one of us according to our place and interest shall endeavour, that these Kingdoms may remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all posterity. To break a certain and clear part of the Covenant for uncertainties, is a most certain sin surely; the breach of this peace and union is in itself a great Judgement upon the Kingdoms. But how great a judgement shall he deserve, that by a breach of Oath is a cause of this Judgement? Come not into their secret, O my Soul, for cursed is their anger, and their wrath is cruel; divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel; for they would divide Jacob, and by dividing scatter and destroy Israel, even our Jerusalem, compacted and knit together in both Nations by Saintship and Covenant. But pray we for the union and peace of Jerusalem; let us say (and endeavour what we say) peace be within thy walls, and prosperity in thy palaces. For my Brethren and companions sake I will now say, Peace be within thee; and let all the Brethren and Companions agree in this, and say, Amen, Amen.  
FINIS.