PHILADELPHIA OR Brotherly Love, A Sermon Preached at St. Michaels CROOKED-LANE London, at WESTMERLAND Meeting November 30. 1663. By J. C. Mr. of Arts, {αβγδ}. {αβγδ}, 1 Pet. 1.17. {αβγδ}, 1 Joh. 3.14. {αβγδ}, Heb. 13.1. Pro se orare necessitas cogit, pro aliis autem Charitas Fraternitatis hortatur, dulcior autem ante Deum Est Oratio: non quam necessitas transmittit, said quam Charitas fraternitatis commendat. Chrys. sup. Matth. Cunctis esto benignus, nemini blandus, paucis familiaris, omnibus Aequus, ad iram tardus, ad misericordiam pronus, in adversis firmus. In prosperis humilis. Sen. de form. vit. London, Printed for and by Peter Lillicrap living in Clarken-well Close. 1669. TO The Right Worshipful Sr. Philip Musgrave Knight and Baronet, Jungat Epistola quos junnit concordia, imo charitas non dividat quos Christi nectit amor, Hieron. in Proverb. Sr. Thomas Strickland Knight, Doctor Thomas Wharton, Richard Brathwait, and John Otway Esquires; Captain George Wharton, Mr. Edward Jackson Merchant, Mr. Nicolas Jackson Mercer, &c. My worthy Country-men of Westmerland. Brotherly Love be multiplied. IT is the saying of a wise man( right Worshipful and worthy Compatriots) that Preaching and Printing are excellent means to beget knowledge and increase faith: Dr. Hug s. the one like ashour of rain, waters for the present; the other like snow, lies longer on the ground, and may speak when the Author cannot. This Sermon, this Child of mine, hath laid in its Cradle dormant, dumb a long space; for the bringing forth, and making it speak publicly to the world, I have been besought as long, ( Si liceat magnis componere parva) as Troy was besieged; and now at last overcome as that was. Omnia perversae possunt cor●umpere mentes Ovid. It hath but one Father, yet so many God-fathers as were present at the initiation or presentation in the Church; who( I make no question) will defend it against the fiery darts of furious tongues; being it hath been their desire to bring it upon the Stage of the World, which is full of malignant censurers, and sinister Interpreters; meeting now and then, here a Bavius, and there a Maevius, Virg. Bucol. as its elder Brother did, Aspicies illic positos ex ordine fratres. quos studium cunctos evigelavit idem. Ovid. Trist. Eleg. ●1. which I lately put forth, Yet I will say of them as Cornelia said of her Cracchi, sunt ornamenta mea. but my comfort is it hath had the approbation of as good scholars, as the most critical Aristarchus amongst them: and will be supported by the first receivers of it, whose Patronage I am sure I have, being importuned by the most of you and them, to put in Print that which I then uttered; for the good of my absent as well as present Country-men: whose eagerness in the business was such, that some of them borrowed my copy, with a pretence to red it over, and ruminate upon it, but they had it to the press. I hearing of it fetched it thence, as fearing to b tossed upon the dangerous seas of the world, with the stormy blasts of mens different opinions, and various conceits. Aestuat,& lento miserima turba veneno liquitur, ut giacies incerto saucia sole. Upon which they desired my loving and learned friend, Mr. Hudson of Putney, to borrow it of me, only to see it, which I sent him, and he approving of it, it was carried once more to the Press, and part of it composed, which I hearing of accidentally, obstructed the business once more, Yet at last, I was had to the Press myself, and pressed so hard that I yielded to the efflagitations of divers worthy Persons amongst you, especially my loving friend and Brother Steward Mr. Edward Jackson, Hoc responso. Parve( nec invideo) sineme liber ibis in orbem to whom I surrendered my copy to be at their disposal. Insomuch that as the Prophet David saith Psal. 75.7. Promotion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, nor yet from the South; so may I say of the promotion of this Sermon to be Printed, coming only from( the North) my North country friends; which now being come forth by their means, if it please any, let them have the thanks, if not, let them have the blame. Onely this I must tell you( by way of digression) that as the Nec aranearum textus ideo melior, qui●●x se fila ginuntur, nec noster ideo vilior quia ex alienis libemus, ut ape● Lipsius. Spider works his web out of his own bowels, and the Bee gathers honey of every flower, Floriseris ut apes in saltibus omnia libant. Lucretius. so Divines make their Sermons after both fashions: I am for the latter sort, picking out of every Author those things which I thought fit for my purpose, and as a reverend Bishop said B. King. Ep. ded. his lect. on Jonas. Where I liked the waters of other mens wells, I drank of them deeply: so where the flowers were the sweetest, I gathered most plentifully. insomuch that as he said idem ibidem. nihil nostrum& omnia, synonymous to that of Democritus junior out of Macrobius, Dem. to the Reader. Omne meum& nihil meum. Such as it is( my loving Country men) as you have brought it fourth, so I pray bring it up, and maintain it against all those Qui Lectorum nomen ferunt,& Lictorum naturam gerunt. Whose mouths are sheathes for Hanuns raisors 2 Sa●. 10.4. wherewith they shave and cut off what they please, to disfigure the most holy intents. For( as I said) this Sermon was mine, now tis yours; let my words in it, be your deeds out of it; it was calculated for the Meridian of Westmerland; let them that heard it, heed it; them that heard it not red it, for whose sake it being now printed in Lines, it may be the better imprinted in their Lives, consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. 2 Tim. 2.7. Yours and his Countries servant John Crosbie. Ad Lectorem. SI quid dixi quod placeat, habeat Lector gratiam Deo propter me, Si quid, quod non placeat, ignoscat mihi propter Deum,& male dictis, debt veniam propter benè dicta, lord. Vives in Aug. de Civitate Dei, lib. ult. cap. ult. PHILADELPHIA: OR Brotherly Love A Sermon Preached at St. Michaels Crooked-lane London, at Westmerland meeting, Novemb. 30. 1653: 1 Peter 3.8. Love as Brethren. WHatsoever things are written are written for our learning saith the Apostle, Rom. 15.4. Our Apostle in his second Epistle urgeth this text four several times. 1 Pet 1.7. cap. 1.22. 2 Pet. 2.17:& cap. 3.8. S. Paul, in his writngs thrice Rom. 12.10. 1 Thes. 4.9. Heb. 13.1. And if with studious and attentive minds we red over the Sacred and holy Scriptures, we shall easily perceive that amongst all the virtues and fruits of the Spirit, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ exhorteth us to none so much, as Love and Charity: by this( saith Christ) shall all men know that you are my Si pro Christianis discipulis Christi habere volumus oportet, ut nos mutuò quod ardentissime diligamus, viz. non verbo solum neque lingua said opere& veritate 1 Joh. 3.18. Piscat in loc. Disciples if ye love one another, Jo. 13.35. As if he had said, other mens servants are known by their Masters badges and cognisances, I will also that you which are my Disciples be known by my badge and cognisance; that is, that ye love one another. Rom. 12.10. 1 Cor. 14.1. 2 Cor. 2, 8. Gal. 5.13. Eph. 4.2. Phil. 2.2. Colos. 2.2. 1 Tnes. 3.12. 2 Thes. 1.3. 1 Tim. 6.11. 2 Tim. 2.22. Philom. 9. Heb. 13.1. 1 Pet. 4.8. 2 Pet. 1.7. 1 Jo. 4.16. 2 Jo. 1.3. And as our Saviour did harp much upon this string, so did the Apostles in all their writings, insomuch that almost there is never an Epistle, but it hath some mention of Love and Charity one towards another. Wherefore our Apostle in this Chapter where my text is, after he had exhorted the Husband and the Wife to their particular duties, one towards another, he proceeds to exhort all men to geneal duties in the eight verse, Finally be ye all of one mind, one suffer with another, Love as Brethren. In which three words consider two things, the matter, and the manner, the matter Love, the manner as Brethren. In the matter observe to whom Love doth belong, or who ought to be the object of our Love. In regard of the object of our Love, it must be to God, and to man: to God principally, to man for Gods sake, to God, as the Law hath taught us, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy Soul, and with all thy might, and with all thy heart Deut. 6.5 To man, as the Lord hath taught us, thou shalt not avenge nor be mindful of wrong against the Children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour at thyself. Levit. 19.18. In My Text( beloved) Love is not taken for that Love which is due unto God, but for that Love which every Christian should have one towards another, and therefore saith St. Bernard, Bernard in Epist. Charitas est non quod sibi u●ile quaerit. said quod multis, Love seeeketh not that which is profitable to itself but to many; it respects more the public good then the private: more the good of others, then the good to itself. And by this Fructus ing●●i●& virtuti● omnisque, prastantia, 〈◇〉 maxi●● capitur, cum in proximum quemque confertur. Cic. lib. 〈…〉 Ameriti●. Love is not understood, only a bare and naked affection without any effects annexed unto it, for otherwise it were not worthy the name of Love, as St. John saith, Whosoever hath this worlds good, and seeth his Brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dweleth the Love of God in him? My little children let us not Love in word, nor in the tongue only, but in dead and in truth, 1 Jo. 3.17.18. Wherefore to know what this Love is, let us know that it is a virtue whereby we love others dearly: and what others our blessed Saviour( in the tenth of the Gospel by St. Luke, Charitas est mutuus amor hoins ad Deum cujus objicitum en Deus propter se dilectus,& prox mu● propter Deum d● 2● Deum quast. 23. art. 1. ) answered the expounder( that tempted him) at large, by the example of a certain man, that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, that was robbed and wounded, and left half dead: and a Priest and a Levite passed both by him, and gave him no comfort: then a samaritan came and had compassion on him, and bound up his wounds, and poured in Wine and oil, and set him on his beast, and had ●i● to an inn, and took care on him: which now of these three( saith our Saviour) was neighbour unto him that fell amongst the Thieves? and he said, he that showed mercy on him. From whence we may learn by the words of our Saviour himself, that Qutcunque quavis ratione tibi adjunctus fuerit eum scriptura vocat REACH proximum; I●●q●●●um praecipit Dominus diligere pro●emum intelligendum ipsum p●ll●● quem vis quac●nque ratione natu● adjunctum diligamus Jansen comment in luke. 6. Rec. Haebraeis {αβγδ} Graecis& Latin● proximus est proprius qui tibi qualibet ratione conjunctim fuerit ibid, David did so Psal. 35.12. every one that is joined unto us by any occasion, should be our Neighbour, and theeefore to be loved, his necessity being objected to our eyes, and thereby made capable of our benefits: so that those whom we must love, are all those that stand in need of love, Strangers, Friends, Acquaintance, yea our very Enemies as well as these, according to to that of our Saviour Mat. 5.44. I say unto you It is not in our power not to have Enemies, but it is our power not to hate Enemies, Chrysost. Luke ●. 27. Disce diligere ●nim●c●m sivis cavere iuimicum Aug. in Psal. 100. Q●i 〈◇〉 professo hostes nostris●●●, scoundum scripturam proximi sunt nob● 〈…〉 sunt proxi●●● q●in inimici. Jaosen comment in Mat. 5. Proximi sumus conduit 〈◇〉 ferr●nae naivil 〈◇〉,& f●aire spe●oe●●stis haridit ●is Gerad. meditat, Love your Enemies, bless them that Curse you, do good to them that Hate you, pray for them that Hurt you: and he gives a reason of it in the 46th. verse. For if you love them that love you what reward have you? even the Publicans and Sinners do the same things, as if you should have said, if you love but only those who are your lovers and friends, you are no better then Publicans and Sinners, for so do they Love one another. As rhat is the hottest fire which warmeth them that are furthest of, so that is the most fervent and perfect Love which forsaketh not, though they be never so far of, neither friend not so, that may be beloved, but embraceth all in him who never forsaketh unless he be forsaken, even Jesus Christ. But this doctrine may seem strange unto flesh and blood, that we should love all men, even our enemies; yet I beseech you let us rather obey the commandements of Christ virtue est coram hominibus inimicos said virtus coram Deo dilegere, quia hoc solum Denosacrificium accipit quod ante occulos ejus in altari charitatis flamma incendit, Greg. in past. Exod. 23.4. to love all men, even our enemies, then to yield unto the enticements of the fr●il and unstable flesh, which by its own Nature is always prove unto evil, for he that i● in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. 8.8. Dulce est pacis nomen,& res ipsa salutaris( saith the Orator Tul. 2 Phil. the very name of Peace it sweet, and the thing itself wholesome, but especially in the Church Love and concord is to be desired. First of all, among the Teachers of the Word, for Quasi tu●a exalit●r● vocem tuam inquit, Isa. 8.1.& si 〈◇〉 certum sonum taba dederit, quis apparabitur ad bellum, 1 Cor. 14.8. disention amongst Teachers produceth divers doubts in the hearts of many, hinders the service of God, and the course of the Gospel to have free passage amongst us. Secondly, {αβγδ} Hom. ●ind. how much available Love and concord is in Common-wealth, the agreement of Citizens and Countrymen and how unprofitable is discord,( which livy in the Common-wealth of Rome calls Discordia 〈…〉 urbit, patrum ac plebis c●rtaminia, an● 〈◇〉 nobis imperis, nec 〈◇〉 libertatis testimo●●r, Liv. 1 ●ist. R●●●●●●o 41 Dei. a povison) late experience( in these our days) hath plainly manifested, the goodness of the one, and the badness of the other. Thirdly, how profitable it is in private families, in which( ●s in the Church or Common-wealth) that saying of Austin. is verified, Sicut corporis, membra per spiritum id ●s●● 〈◇〉 con●●●gunium ita vera corporis mystici membra per spiritum sanctum charitatis v●ncula 〈◇〉, Gerard. Med. Tale bonum& bonum pacis ut in rebus creatis nihil gratios●●● fola●t ami●●, dip●● dilectatibus concupisci, nihil utilius possideri Spiritus enim huminus &c. August. de Civitat. Dei. Spiritus humanus nunquam vivificat membra nisi fuerint unit●●e sie Spiritus suncta ●unquam vivificat membra Ecclesiae, nisi fuerint concordia 〈◇〉 The Spirit of a man doth not qui●ken the members of the Church, that are not Cemented with Love and Concord. Lastly, how ought it to flourish among all men? since Christ doth r●peat that precept, as the onely and chief precept before his passion, calling it his Commandement a Facilé declaratur quomodo novum sit dilectionis praeceptum à Christo da●um 〈◇〉 enim Cyrillus fratrem diligendum esse ait, ficut se ipsum Christus, autem magis nos quam scipsum amov●t, novas atque auditus dilectionis modus, nihil omnino dilectioni fratrum anteponentas, non gloriam, non divitias, non corporis hujus mortem, si opus fuerit pro saluto fratris mori quod a beatis Salvatoris discipulis factitatum esse videmus. jansen in loc. new Commandement, and a mark whereby his Disciples might be discerned from the ungodly, John 13.24. Therefore those that desire to be accounted Christs disciples, let them carry this mark in their fore-heads Non enim e discentionis Deus said pacis 1 Cor. 14. ●3. let them Love one another and not carry the mark of the Beast, which is Hellish and devilish dissension. And thus much of those we must Love. I come now to the second circumstance, in what it consists. Nec habet aliquid viridi●atis boni operis si non manet in radice charitatis in homine multis modis intelligitur charitas, clermentia, suavi●ate, patientia, invidentiae& aemuiationis vacuitate,& in juriarum oblivione, Clemens Alexand. Sicut in regali pretexiâ, illi flores& colores praeciosi sunt qui hanc conficiunt, chlamyd●n; Itidem& hic, illa sunt prafiosa virtut●s, qua charitatem contintant Chrysost. Hom. 51. de diversis. St. Gregory saith, Ut multi arboris rami ex una radice prodeunt: sic multae vertutes ex una charitate generantur? as many bows spring from the same root: so many virtues proceed from this one virtue Charity, Therefore under the name of Charity amongst many others six things are comprehended. First to Love, Secondly to council, Thirdly to relieve, Fourthly to bear, Fifthly to pardon, sixthly to teach by good example of life: and whosoever wants any of these, wants some part of Love. For some will say they love their Neighbour, but that hath but only the name, it wants much of the Nature of Love: others Love and give good counsel, and relieve not their needy Brethren: others Love, give good counsel, and relieve: yet they bear not their infirmities: they follow not the counsel of the Apostle, Nibi● sic probat amicum que● admodum oneris amic supportatis nemo nisi pe● amicitiam cognoscitur,& ideo amicorum mala fermiter sustinemus, quia bona eorum nos delectand,& tanent August. 12. quastion. bear ye one anothers burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6.2. Others do Love, counsel, relieve, and bear: but they do not mercifully pardon those that have injured them: and lastly, there be some that have all the aforesaid effects and virtues of Love, but they edify not their Neighbour, either by words or Nullum ego consilium milius arbitror, quam si examplo suo fratrem docere studeas, qua oportit fieri, provocans cum ad meliora,& cons●lens ●i, neque verba, neque lingua, said opere& veritate Greg. lib. 10. moral. Sic luceat lux vestra corum h●minibus& h●c autem fir cum apparet miserecordea in affectu beniguitas in vultis, humilitas in habitu, modestia in habitatione, patientia in tribulatione. Hugo de claust. enim. lib. 3. good example of life, which is the best and noblest of all the duties of Love. According to this order, let every man examine himself, that he may understand what he hath, and what is wanting to him in this virtue: For we may say, he that loveth, is in the first degree of Love, he that loveth and giveth counsel, is in the second: he that loveth, giveth counsel, and releiveth, in the third, he that loveth, giveth counsel, releiveth, and suffere h, in the fourth, he that loveth, counseleth, releiveth, suffereth, and pardoneth, in the fifth, but yet there wants another step of this Ladder unto Heaven, else he will scarce come there, and that is good example of life: for every man should Love, give good counsel, relieve, suffer, pardon, and teach as they are able by Godly Quantis exemplum vera humanitatis& perfecta charitatis ostenderis cum tantis pro tantis atorna pramia possidebis, lo in Serm. examples, and then he hath ascended the last step, and standeth upon the uppermost stair, that reacheth unto heaven: yea what shall I say more? why should I recount all the blessed and remarkable fruits of this Love? Haec in adversitate tolerat, in prosperitate temperat in daris passionibus forty est: in bonis operi●, ●ilaris est, in tempora lib. di●tissima in hospiralitate latissima infer bonos fratres latissima inter falsos sapientissima In abel per sacrificim laeta in No● per diluvium secura Abrahae, perigrenatione fidelissima in Davidis trikulatione mitissima, &c. Aug de laud Charitatis In Charitate pauper est dives, fine Charitate omnis dives est pauper, saith St. Austine, In Love or Charity, every poor men is rich, without Charity every rich man is poor, and again saith the same Father, August. tract. 9 Joan. si desit charitas frustra habentu● caetera, si adsit recte habentur omnia. If Charity be wanting; nothing is present, if Charity be present, nothing is wanting; It suffers in adversity, it is mildred in prosperity, it is strong in works, large in hospitality: it rejoiceth amongst good Brethren, and is most patient amongst false: It was glad in Abel through his Sacrifice, in Noah by the flood: faithful in the peregrination of Abraham, most comfortable in the wrongs against Moses, most gentle in the trouble of David: free in Paul to reprove, humble in Peter to obey: human in Christians to confess, divine in Christ to pardon: Nescio quid majas in laud tua dicere pollum quam ut Deum de caelo traheres,& hominem ad caelum elevares magna virtus tua,& parte usque ad hoc humiliaretur Deus,& usque ad hoc exalteretur homo Hugo de ●aude Charitatis. what shal I say more of the fruits and effects thereof? Si mihi centum linguae ●raque centum, if I had a hundred tongues to speak, and as many mouths to utter, as the Poet saith, or as the Apostle faith, 1 Cor. 13.1. If I had the tongues of Men and Angels, and had not Love, I were as sounding Brass, or as a tinkling cymbal. And so I come to the Second general part of my text, that is the manner as we ought to Love as Brethren. Ipsa enim est anima literarum prophetiae virtus, sacramenoorum salus, sapientiae stabilimentum, fidei fructas d●tie pauperum, vita morientium August. ●n loc. ibid. Love as Brethren. The Second general Part. THe word ( Brethren) hath divers acceptations in holy Scripture, modern writers reduce them to three heads, there are( say they) Brethren by Race, by Grace, and by Place. By Race, and that, first by birth as Gen. 29.26 Jacob and Esau, secondly by blood, as Gen. 12.7. Abraham and Lot, so our blessed Saviour is said to have Brethren and Sisters, Mark. 6.3. Mat. 12.47. And Jacob called Labans Sons his Brethren, Gen. 29.4. By Grace, and that is either common or special natural or spiritual, by generation or regeneration; In the former respect all men are Brethren, God hath made of one blood all Nations of Men, Acts 1.7.26. by the latter respective are all Brethren by Christ, Heb. 2.11. Coloss. 4.9. Mat. 12.50. Rom. 8.29. By Place, thou shalt choose a King, from among thy Brethren, of thine own Nation, not a Stranger Deut. 17.15. Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon Usury, but not unto thy Brethren, Deut. 23.20. Rom. 9.4. But to make it more plain unto you( though briefly) there are five sorts of Brethren in the Scripture in all which we are joined together in Love, The 1 sort are Conservanda est humanitas, si homines recté dici velimus Id autem ipsum conservare humanitatem quid aliud est quam diligere hominem, quia h●mosit,& idem quod nos sumus. Lactan. firm. divin. institat. lib. 6. c. 10. Amico conterranti. contribulis, populares, sodales commilitones, convictores, familiares, proximi, sunt omnes fratres. sic discipali 1 Chron. 25, 7.9.10.& similes vel, aequales Job. 30.29. Pro. 18.9. humanitate, brethren, in common humanity, as in Gen. 9.5. There the Lord saith, at the hand of a man, even at the hand of a mans brother, will I require the life of man: after which acceptation, the Hebrews in the old Law, and the Christians in the Gospel are called brethren: so are all those that are born of Adam, Num quid non Pater nun● omnium nostrum Namquid non Deus unus creavit no● Malac. 2.10. of whom is of one stock and blood all mankind was made, 1 Chro. 5.11. Secondly affinitate, brethren, by affinity those that come of the same line, though it be of divers degrees to the Hebrews called their cousins and kinsmen, brethren, as Arestinus ad fratrem dixit reconciliatum, memineris te dissentionis, me reconciliationis fuisse Autori. Stob. Serm. 82. Abraham to appease and stay the debate between his herdsmen and Lots( his Nephew) calleth Lot( his Brothers Son) brother. Let there be no strife between us, and our herdmen, for we are brethren. Gen. 13.8. Thirdly, Consanguinitate, Quis amicur est quam frater fratri, aut quem alienum fidum i●venias si tui● hostis fuerit? ut Mycipsa dixit filii suis. sallust de bello Jugurthino. Non ego te, vita frater amabilior, aspiciam post hac. Catul. ad Ortal. brethren in blood, and consanguinity, who came of the same Parents, and have the same Father and Mother, as Joseph and Benjamin, &c. Fourthly, Christianitate Brethren in Christianity; and so are all Christians called brethren, therefore Moses seeing two Hebrews contend and strive together to reconcile and stay the contention between them, asketh them, why they striven together seeing they were Brethren, Exod. 2.12. So in the Gospel by St. Matthew, our Saviour speaking of the Scribes and Pharisees unto the multitude, and his Disciples saith, but be not ye called rabbis, for one is your Doctor( to wit Christ) and all ye are brethren, Mat. 23.8. Fifthly, and Lastly vel Provincia ipsa ex qua orti sumus vocatur Patria Unde salustias, his pantam sibi patriam antiquam dixit. Patria, those that are all of one Country are called brethren: so the Jews are called among themselves brethren: Deut. 15.12. If thy brother an Hebrew sell himself unto thee, and serve thee six years, even the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee, he is thy brother. So all we of one county, of Marius or rather( as some call him) Westmer overthrew the Picts with Roderid their leader, at Stainemore so called from a ston, erected in that place, as a memorial of the Victory, and from this Westmer came the name of Westmerland. An. Christi. 13. Prideaux Introduction to reading Histories Pag. 279. and Isaac Sons Chrono. Westmerland cambden Brit. ( Britanno-brigantes, as learned cambden calls us) are brethren. Nay all Englishmen are brethren, being all of one Nation though not of one affection, as woeful experience hath lately taught us for in these late civil uncivil Wars, brother hath been against brother, as our Saviour foretold long ago: the brother shall betray the brother, and that unto Death, Math. 13.12. Ecce patrem nati perimunt natosque parentes. Mutuaque armati conunt vulnera fratres. Manil. lib. 4. Acerba fata Romanos agunt, Scelusque fratornae nicis, Ut imm●titis fluxit interram Remisacer nepotibus cruor. Hitat. 7. Ethod. Fraterno primi muduerunt sanguine muri, Lucan. lib. 1. de bell. civit. This word Brother( take it in what sense you will) is a name of much Love, as both the Greek word Adicti●ne {αβγδ},& a pro {αβγδ} quasi {αβγδ} Constant. ( {αβγδ}) and the latin Quasi sare alter, Aut. G●ll. lib. 13. Nect. A●t. ( frater) intimates unto us. If it be taken in the first sense, Secundum Hie●onimum Augustum& Theophilactum, nomine fratris vel proxime significatur omnis homo, eo quod ex eodem parent omnis sumus nati, atque ad eandem Dei similitudinem facti,& ad eandem vocati, haereditatem caelestem. Janse●. Comment. in Mat. 5.& luke. 6. for common humanity, homo homini non est lupus, one man is not a wolf unto another, being made all of one substance, the body from the earth, and the soul from heaven: and have all one Creator, the true and ever living God, by whom one onely man was created, from whom all should proceed, that the strength of Brotherhood might be amongst all, and if we should Love as Brothers in common humanity onely, it were a motive not to be despised. Or if the Apostle had said Love as kindred, which is a further knot to tie men together, both by the Law of God and Man; the very name whereof possesseth many with such graceful delight, that they are ready to claim it of those, who are many degrees removed. But natural Brotherhood is a more strict tie then that, insomuch that nothing is deemed more odious, then those that are conjoined in blood, should be disjoined in affection. Now if these be of force to pled for Love and Cbarity, much more is Christians Brotherhood, which bindeth men together in the straightest conjunction: Joh. 1.12.13. Eph. 2.4. having one God for their Father, Is non potest habere Deum patrem, qui ecclesiam matrem non habet. Tertul. lib. de anima. one Church for their Mother, Heb. 2.11. Mat. 12.5. one Christ for their elder Brother: 1 Pet. 1.23. and 25. being all begotten by the immortal seed, Tit. 3.5. washed by the laver of one new birth, John. 6.3.5. {αβγδ} Coll. 2.2. conjoined by the Sinews of the same Faith, 1 Cor. 3.2. Heb. 5.12. nourished by the milk of the same word, Rom. 5.2. 1 Pet. 1.3. having all the same hope of immortality to come: Wherefore the Prophet concludes this Brotherly Love unto us, in comparing it to the precious oil, that ran down upon the board even upon Aarons beard, and went down to the Skirts of his clothing, Psal. 133.2. For as an ointment well compounded and of sweet and odiferous things cannot but be acceptable to the sent of all men: So the unity which beginneth at Religion, and stretcheth to the utmost borders of the Church, and Common-Wealth cannot but both please God and all good men, and therefore the Apostle saith, as ye are men, and as ye are Christians, Love as Brethren. And let me add one thing more,( as concerning this present occasion) that not onely as ye are men, and as ye are Christians, but as ye are Patria est velut alter quidem Deus,& proximas maximusque Pareus quo qui nomen ei imposuit ● reipsa, non temere patriam nominarit, vocabulo quidem patre deducto, pronunciato tamen faemenina terminatione, ut ex utroque parent mixtum esset; Atque haec ratio insinuat patriam unam ex aequo, ut utrumque parentem colendam Esse. Scob. Serm. 37. Chari sunt parentes, chari liberi, propinqui, familiares said omnes omnum charitates patria una complexa est, pro qua quis bonus dubitet mortem opperere, si ei sit profuturus ic. off. lib. 1. Countrymen, Love as Brethren. This one motive, if there were no other( in my judgement) might be enough to induce us to fraternal amity, for what more dear to a man then his Country, Lucian hath a whole Treatise de encomio patriae, of the praise of ones own unicunque sua patri● charior est, dum supra omnia sulvam fore quaeritur. ubi ab ipsis cunabalis commeratur, feris datum est agros cilves quaerere, hominibus autem patrias supper cuncta diligere. Aves ipsae per aero vagantes proprios nidos amant, erratiles ferae ad cubilia dumosa festinant. voluptuosi pisces cavernas per quirunt, cunctaque animalia ibi se norunt refugere, ibi longissima cupiunt aetate constare Cass. 1. Epist. 20. Country, which( he saith) evermore ought to be esteemed and reverenced of all men: showing that whatsoever men do, they ought to do it for the good and honour of their Country, {αβγδ}( saith Homer nothing more sweet then ones own Country, Nemo patriam diligit qua magna, said quia sua, ulysses ad sua saxa Ithacae properat, ut Agamemnon ad Mycenerum nobiles miros, Sen de rem fort. insomuch that although men be born in a sterile and barren soil, notwithstanding they prefer it before all the splendid Cities or Kingdoms of the World, for as every bide thinketh her own brood the finest, and every Parent their own off-spring the Fairest: so every man conceiveth his own Country to be the pleasantest. Patria nihil dulcius, nullus locus est domestica side jucundior, charisunt parentes, liberi, proximi qui, familiares said omnes omnium charitates patria una complexa est, pro qua quis bonus dubitet mortem oppetere si ei profuturus Cic. off. lib. 1. Durus fuit Sermo( inquit Augustinus) cum Deus dixit Abrahamo, Exi est terra tua, ex patris domo,& ex cognatione tua &c. Sertorius dixit se mall Romae igno●isissimum civem, quam exulem, omnium aliarum civi atum imperatorem nominare. Plutarch. in Sertorio. Et sola est patria poenacarere sua, Ovid de Trist. lib. 4. Eleg. 8. Nos patriae fines& dulcia linquimus arva, Nos Patriam fugimus tu Ti●yre lent us in umbra formosam resonare, docis Amaryllida silvas Virg. Et eum Patriam misi tunc est periisse putato ( Ovid. de Trist. lib. 3. Eleg. 3.)& prior& gravior mors fuit illa mihi. Ovid. de Pont. lib. 1. Eleg. 4. The Jews in their Captivity sung the 137. Psalm By the rivers of babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered thee O Sion, &c. If I forget thee O Jerusalem! Let my righ● hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, &c. Non dabia est Ithaci prudentia, said tamen optat fumum de patriis posse videre focis. Ovid. de Pont. lib. 1. Eleg. 4. Amor Lacaenae erga suam Patriam est observatione digniss. quae cum filium in praelium misisset,& interfectum audivisset: Ideirt●( inquit) generam, ut esset, qui pro Patria morte non dubitar●t occumbere, Cic. lib. 1. Tusc. Quaest. Filiae Erichthaei Athenis Regis mortem pro Patria contemplisse dicantur. Cic. Orat. pro Pab. Sestio. And therefore when those that are in authority, punish malefactors for grand offences, they use to deprive them of their native Country by banishment as a punishment of high Nature. Ovid had sad experience of this, which made him writ his five whole books de Tristibus, as he was wherryed away from Rome to Pontus, the place whither he was banished in contemplation of his Country saying thus. {αβγδ} Hom. odyss. 1. {αβγδ}, Id odyss. 13. {αβγδ}. Stob. Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos Ducit& immemores non sine esse sui, All think their native soil to be so sweet That farthest distant they remember it. Nay saith Lucian {αβγδ} the very name of my Country is pleasant unto me, yea the smoke of my Country( saith he) is more delightsome to me then the fire of another, much like that of Ulysses, in Homer, who said he preferred the smoke of his own Country before all the Kingdoms of the World. And you may red in holy Scripture likewise much of this subject, I will instance onely in one particular, By faith Joseph when he died made mention of the departing of the Children of Israel& gave commandment concerning his bones He. 11. ●2. namely Joseph who loved his Country so well while he was living, that when he was a dying, he took an oath of the Children of israel saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry my ●ones fro● hence, and bury me in the sepulchers of my Fathers, ●n my own Country. Quantum erat O magni) perituro parcere Divi ut saltem patriâ contumularer hu● Ovid de Tristib. l. 3. Eleg. 3. Gen. last 25. Whom when they had ●mbalmed, they performed his Will, as you may red( at ●our leisure) at large, in the 13th of Exod. 19. And Lu●un seems to give a reason of this same extraordinary Love ●o ones own Country, for( saith he) Omnibus patria communis 〈◇〉 water, our Country is the common Mother of us all, and she be our Mother then we are her Sons, and if her Sons ●en Brethren, therefore Love as Brethren Libri quoque sunt fratres e●usdem Authori●. Aspicies ●●t●s illic ex ordine fratres, Quos studium cunctos evigi●avit idem Ovid. de Trist. ●●g. 1. lib. 1. Quarebam fratres, exceptis scilicet illis, Quos suos optaret non geu●isse ●ens. Idem Eleg. 1 lib. 3. . And thus I have showed you, that not only as we are Men, and as we are Christian-men, but as we are Country-men we ought to Love as Brethren, let us now see how we may Love as Brethren. How to Love as Brethren. To Love as a Brother, is to Love. 1. {αβγδ} that is, 1 Pet 1.22 Multis simulationum involueris tegitur,& quasi v●lis quibusdam ob●enditur unusquisque natura, fro●s, oculi, vultus persaepe mentiuntur Cic. ad Q. fratrem. Demosthenès interrogatuí, quid Deo simile haberent homines; Respondit, benign facere& sinceritatem amare, Maxim. Serm. 8. sincerely without dissimulation, for it is not enough, to speak well of him, and to do good unto him, unless it be with a true and sincere heart, so that the outward habit, and the inward intent of the heart must concur, otherwise they are like to those painted sepulchers our Saviour speaks off, Mat. 23.27. The outside very glorious, but the inside nothing but corrupted bones, and rottenness, having outwardly a dissembling show of Love, but inwardly are mere hypocrites: Secondly, to Love as a brother, is to Love Tunc plena cordis nostri compassio est quam mala inopia pro proxima suscipere non meruimus, ut illum a passione liberemus. Plus est aliquando compati ea cord, qu●dare, quia quisque indigenti perfect● compatitur minus estimat omne quod dat;& re● quamlibet plarumque dat, qui non compatitur Greg. moral l. 20. {αβγδ} that is, to make our brothers calamities and miseries, as though they were our own a friend that loveth, &c. Prov. 17.17. for as a member in a mortal body, being wounded or diseased, all the rest of the body feels the smart there of, so in the spiritual body( the Church of God) whereo● Christ is the head, there ought to be a Si doles condol● non dol●o tantum, maxim sciens a salute longius absistere membrum quod obstupuit● aegrum seize non sentientem periculosius laborare. Bern. de consol. ad Eug. Cujus pect● tam ferreum, cujus cor tam lapideum, ut genitus non exprimat, lach●yma non eff●● dat, cum proxime vel amici morbum vel interitum intuetur, ut patienti, non compa●●tur,& dolenter non condoleat; Ipse Jésus cum videsset Mariam,& judaeos plera●● infremuit spiritu turvavit se ipsum& lachrymatus est inn de vilit. conduit. humi● Tanto quisque perfectior est quanto perfectius, sentit dolores alienos. Greg. Moral. li● 19. Christus ipse patiendo compassus est non solum erat patience said compabions. Ba●nard, in Canc. Fellow feelin● one of anothers miseries, and a condoling sorrow for them, as though they were proper unto themselves: hence is it that he that receiveth Christ, receiveth God, and he that contemneth a true Christian, contemneth Christ, who persecuteth a true Christian persecuteth Christ, and therefore saith our Saviour, Acts 9.1.( When they persecuted his members the Church) Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? the head was sensible of the persecution of the body, therefore saith he, why persecutest thou me. Thirdly, Constantia est nutrix ad meritu● moderatrix ad praemium soror est patientia perseverantiae filia, omnes pacis, amicitiarum nodus unanimitatis vinculum, sanctitatis propugnaculum Denique non qui incaeperit, said qui perseveravit usque ad finem, sa vus erit. Bern. in epist. 129. Constans& perfectus debet esse Amor noster si necesse fuerit, amore illius moriamur qui amare nostro placide ac benign mori dignatus est. August. de cattle. rudib. Vide 1 John 4.17. Heb. 3.14. Qua potes excusa, nec amici desere causam Quo ●ede caepisti, sic been semper eas. Ovid. lib. 1. de Tristib. to Love as a Brother is to Love {αβγδ} to be constant therein, to continue to the end, not to be fleeting, or wavering in their Love, not to Love for a day, or a month, or a year, and then give over: not to be weary of well doing, not to be weary of Loving; after the example of our blessed Saviour Christ, for those whom he Loveth, he Loveth unto the end. Fourthly, to Love as a Brother is to Love {αβγδ} to be unwilling to have any concords unus capit lectulus, said d●scordes pe tota quidem Domus-Plaut. Herbalem& Hi●●salem. discord or difference with any of the brethren, but to live in peace and unity, to keep the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3. sallust.( de bello Jugurthing) sic ait Mycipsa Rex jamjam moriturus,& ●onens filios suos paterno affectu, ut concords sint, aureis sempte● literis scribendam sententiam utque adderent, Concordia parvae res crescunt discordia, &c. Concordia p●rvae res crescunt discordia magnae dilabuntur, is not so old as true( it is the Motto to Merchant-Taylors Arms, and it is a good one( by concord small things increase to great, by discord great things come to nothing, therefore saith the Psalmist behold( do not perfunctorily look over it but behold) how good, and joyful a thing it is for Brethren to live together in unity, Psal. 133.1. Distantia loci non tollit amicitiam. Aristot. Ethic. lib. 8. cap. 5. Fifthly and Lastly, to Love as a Brother, is to Love {αβγδ} ubique gentium, to make no difference of place, for Love must be extended to a Brother in London, as well as Westmerland, in England, all over as well as London, in France, Spain, or Italy, as well as ●ngland, abroad as well as at home: So Pauls Love did reach from Corinth to Rome, {αβγδ} &c. 1. Pet. 1.1. from Philippi to Corinth, from Rome to Ephesus, and so our Apostle [ g] St. Peter, in my text, exhorts the strangers, that dwell here and there throughout Pontus Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia to love as brethren. I. But how many fail in these duties, in these days? the number is innumerable, therfore I say unto every one of you in particular, dost thou Love thy Neighbour as thyself, dost thou Love him without fraud or dissimulation? or dost thou call him Facto pus& sceleratus eodem. Ovid. Met. lib. 3. Brother in Christ, yet would cut his throat Innocens contra hypocritam suscitabirum in judicio Job. 17 8. Job. 8.13. Mat. 6.24. behind his back? if so thy portion shall be with hypocrites where shall be weeping wailing, and gnashing of teeth. II. Dost thou make thy Brothers Calamities as though they were thine own? art thou partaker of his miseries or rather dost thou flout and laugh at his miseries? surely then thou art no member of Christ, Mortuum est corporis membrum, quod alterius non sensit affectum nec se verum mystici corporis membrum estimet qui alteri patienti non condolet. Gerard. Meditat. Dolentem non potest, consolari, qui non concordat dolori Emolliri debet animus ut afflicto congruat, congruence inhaereat inhaerens trahat. nec ferrum ferro conjungitur, si non utrinque exustione ignis liquetur. Greg. Moral. Qui vere amans est omni tempore diligit, nam eum tormentum non seperat, labour non laxat, thesaurus non superat, alienas amor non occupat, Cass. in Epist. thou art but like a wooden leg, crept in the Church, or hast no sense or feeling of any other members, therefore great is thy Judgement. III. Dost thou Love thy brother constantly unto the end? dost thou never shrink from him in any distress, but stick as close to him as the bark unto the three? or is thy Love as the due, soon on, and soon off? or dost thou forsake him, as the Disciples did Christ? then thou breakest the Commandement of Christ, that we should love one another as he hath loved us, and those whom he Loveth he Loveth unto the end, John 13.1. IV. Art thou a favourer of Unity and Peace among thy brethren? dost thou seek to stay their hatred and pacify their Wrath? Quisquis corpus affligit said concordiam deserit; Deum quidem laudat in tympano said non in choro Hier● supper Epist ad Rom. or art thou a brother of discord and dissension, and means to set thy brethren together by the Ears? then observe what St. Austine saith, Non erit tibi concordia cum Christo, si sit discordia cum Christiano, thou shalt have no concord with Christ, if thou art at discord with a Christian Sicut nihil est pretiosius Deo virtute dilectionis eat nihil est desiderabilis Diabolo extinctione cha●itatis. Quisqu●s ergo seminando jung●a dilectionem prox morum perimit, hosti Dei familiarius servit, Greg. in past. or rather that, Si vocantur filii Dei qui pacem faciunt, procul dubio sunt filii Diaboli qui pacem confundunt. If they be called the Sons of God that make peace, then without doubt, they are the Sons of the Devil, that confounded peace, and are the Authors of discord and division, and therefore are reckoned amongst those that God hates, for these six things doth the Lord hate, yea his soul abhorreth seven, the haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and the hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that imagineth wicked enterprizes, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and him that raiseth up contention among Brethren, Prov. 6.16.17, 18, 19. V. Or dost thou Love thy Brother wheresoever he be, at home or abroad; in the country or in the City in thine own Parish or in another, in thine own house or without? Or dost thou hate a stranger, a Townsman, a foreigner or a door Neighour? then know this, that as God is no Accepter of Persons, so he is no Accepter of Place, and for this will bring thee to Judgement. Some may object, and say, how can this Doctrine be true, that we must Love our Brethren always even unto the end? seeing it is said in the book of the Preacher, that there is a time to Love, and a time to hate, Ecclesiastes 3.8. I answer, that in this place is not meant, that a man may sometimes Love, and sometimes hate his ●rother lawfully but these words, as also all those from the beginning of the Chapter are to show unto us, that all the actions and affections of men, whether rhey be good or evil, have been and are done in the appointed time of God: for Non denotant quid agendum sit, said quid agimus, the words demonstrate not what we ought or may lawfully do, but what we commonly do: So that they may seem to be understood thus, Tempus dilectionis quam diu ille qui diligitur est bonus,& tempus odiis, quando efficitur malus: non tam òdiendo naturam quam culpam. Lyra in loc. There is a time to love, that is, there is a time wherein we love our brother, and there is a time to hate our Brother, not by any approbation on Gods part, but through our own corrupt and malignant affections. Secondly, Some may say, that his neighbour is both an enemy to God, he blasphemeth his Name, profaneth his Sabbaths, and the like, and also he is an enemy to me, for he hath greatly endamaged me in my goods and good name therefore what have I to do with him, in what thing am I bound to him, that is both an enemy to God and me. Beloved thou that dost thus reason with thyself know this, that thou must not contemn any man, Perfecta charitas est rectissima animi affectio qua diligitur Deus propter se,& proximus propter seipsum Aug de Doctri. Christ. Odio habebis inimicum tuum Mat. 5.43. non inimicos but in the singular number meaning the Devil our common enemy, as Aug. Serm. 59. de Temp. non fratrem said Diabolum. Idem ibidem. Love thy friends in the Lord, and thine enemies for the Lords sake, who when thou wast his enemy, he so loved thee, that to redeem thee, and deliver thee out of the hands of thine enemies, he gave his own life for thee. And although thine Neighbour be an enemy both against God and thee, yet for all this he must not be hated, and despised, east similis medico medicus non amat aegrotantem si non odit agritudinem: ut libere● aegrotum febrim persequitur Nolite amare vitia amicorum vestrorum, si amatis amicos vestros. Aug. in quodam Serm. Non attinde, quid tibi faciat homo, said attend, quid tu feceris Deo, non attend injurias quas infert inimicus, said attend beneficia, quae confert tibi is, qui jubet a●e inimicum diligas. Gerard. Meditat. Ne fratri irascere quamvis peccato fratris irasceris, Aug. Retract. lib. 1. cap. 19. Non minima pars dilectionis est reprehendere delictum. Idem. Diligite homines interficite errores. A●g. con. lit. Petilian; lib. 1. cap. 29. Pacem cum hominibus bellum cum vitiis. Idem de caterudibus cap. 27. but in this thou must imitate the physician, who hateth the Disease, but not the Diseased, so do thou, Loving that which is made of God, and abhorring that which is of the Devil, considering him not as thine enemy, but as the Image of God, and the workmanship of his hands. And thus( beloved) I have as plainly and briefly as I could, laid open these words unto you Love as Brethren. Wherein I showed you the matter and the manner, the matter Love, the manner as brethren, in the matter Love, I laid open unto you. 1. To whom Love doth belong. 2. In what it consists. In the manner as brethren, I showed you there were five sorts of Brethren, in all which we are joined together in Love. 1. In Humanity. 2. In Affinity. 3. In Consanguinity. 4. In Christianity. 5thly and lastly. By Proximity. Being all of one Country, much more of one County. And in this I showed you that we ought to Love as brethren In the next place I manifested unto you, how we ought to Love as brethren. And that was. 1. Sincerely. 2. Compassionately. 3. Constantly. 4. Unanimously. 5thly and lastly. Omni tempore diligit qui ami●us, est,& frater in angustiis comprobatur. Prov. 17.17 Universally. At all times, and in all places. And so much for the Text, and the time. Consider what I have said and the Lord give you understanding in all things. Appendix. And now, methinks I hear you say, the Sermon is done, no( my Brethren and Compatriots) it is but said, it is not done, it is then done and onely then, when we put in practise what hath been said Bernard in Cant. Verba verte in opera ( saith St: Bernard) turn the words into deeds, and then the Sermons done. We have all this while discoursed of Love and Brotherly kindness: Charitas est radix, fructus sunt opera, Aug. supper Psal. 4.1. fructus spiritus est charitas Gal. 5 22. Love is the root, brotherly kindness is the three, but Charity is the fruit, love and brotherly kindness is the house, but Charity is the roof, which heals all, keeps all dry and warm; let us add the roof unto the house, add to brotherly kindness Charity, they are the words of our Apostle 1. Pet. 1.7. and that is done, Vide Jam. 2.15.16. Pascit esurientes charitas, pascit& superbia: charitas ut Deus laudetur, superbia ut ipsa landetur vestit& superbia. August. supper Epistol. Jo. cap. 7. Si non pavisti occidisti Ambros. Qui succurrere perituro potest,& non succurit, occidit. Sen. by feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, if there be any of our Brethren or Compatriots, which be in need or necessity, that we lend our helping hands, every man according to his power, for their relief. August de civit. Dei. lib. 10. cap. 1. Charitable works to our brethren,( saith the apostle are pro sacrificiis, instead of sacrifices, Heb. 13.6. Nay prae sacrisiciis, before or better then sacrifices, Hos. 6.6. A King of our Country( I mean of Northumberland) in a controversy about Easter,, some alleging for Peter, others for John, bethought himself, that Peter was the Potter of Heaven-gate, saying, he would make the Potter his friend, that he might be sure to get in. Whatsoever he did of Peter, let us do of Charity. Let us hereby make Christ our friend, he is sanua vitae, and thus the poor are made our friends, ready to receive us into everlasting habitations. Luke. 16.9. I will onely commend unto you one portion of Scripture, which I would have you seriously consider on, both now and anon, and with that I will conclude all, and it is in Deut. 15.9.10, 11. Beware that there be not a thought in thy heart, saying the seventh year, the year of the release is at hand, and thy eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nothing, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, Judicium sine misericordia, erit iis, qui non faciunt miserecordiam,& gloriatur misericordia adversus damnationem Jam. 2.13. and it be sin against thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest unto him because that for this thing, the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the Land, therefore I command thee saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the Land. Thus if we shall do, of Westmerlandians we shall become Philadelphians, let us so love as brothers here upon earth, that we may for ever live together as brothers hereafter in the Kingdom of Heaven: Which the Lord grant unto us all, even for his Son Christ Jesus his sake, To whom, &c. FINIS. I desire the Christian Reader, if he find any erratas omitted by reason of the Authors sickness and keeping his bed, that you would courteously amend them with your Pen.