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Catholuk Vmtyi 
 
 OR 
 
 The only way to 
 bring us all to be of 
 one Religion* 
 
 By Htjcht 'Baxter. 
 
 To be read by fuch as 
 are offended ac the diffe- 
 rences in Religion^and are 
 willing to do their part 
 to heal them. 
 
 James 3. 17. 
 But the Wifdom that is from above, 
 is fir ft PurejhenPeaceablefien- 
 tle, eajie to be intreated, &c. 
 
 Ltndoa, Printed by R. W. to Thomas 
 Underbill and Franc'sTyon^nd are 
 to be fold at the fignofthc An- 
 chor and Bible in VaulsChmch- 
 yard} and at the three Dag- 
 gers in Fleet- ftreet. 1660. 
 
(I) 
 
 To dllthofe in the 
 feverallT art floes of 
 tbeje Rations jhat 
 complain of the dip 
 agreements in mat- 
 ters of Religion. 
 
 Men and Brethren , 
 
 S in the midft of 
 all the impiety 
 and di(bonefty of 
 the world 3 it is 
 fome comfort to 
 us 5 that yet theiV^^of Pi- 
 A 2 tt j 
 
(O 
 
 tiy and Honefty are {till in cre- 
 dit, and nngcdlincfs and dtfho- 
 nejly are terms of difgrace-, fo 
 that thofe that will be ungod- 
 ly and difhoneft, are fain to 
 ufe the Mask and Vail of bet- 
 ter names, to hide their wic- 
 kednefs 5 fo alfo ic is fome 
 comfort to us, in the midft of 
 the uncharitablenefs and dif- 
 cords of this age, that yet the 
 Names of Love and Concord 
 found fo well, and are honou- 
 red by thofe that are furtheft 
 from the Things : For thus wc 
 feem agreed in the main caufe , 
 and have this advantage in 
 our debates , that whatever 
 fhall be proved to be againft 
 Love 5 and Unity, and Peace, 
 we.are all of us obliged by our 
 profeffions todifo»vn, I may 
 
 fuppofe 
 
fuppofe that all that read 
 thefe words^vill fpeak againft 
 the uncharicablenefs.and con- 
 tent ons 5 and divisions of the 
 prefent times as well as I. 
 Doth it grieve my foul to 
 hear profefled Chriftians fo 
 cenforioufly condemning, and 
 paffionately reviling one ano- 
 ther, while they are proudly 
 juftifying themfdves t I fup- 
 pofeyou'l fay, It gVfeve* you 
 alfo < Do I mourn in fecret, 
 to fee fo many divifions and 
 fubdivifions f and Church 
 ftt up againft Church , and 
 Paftors againft Paftors, in the 
 fame Pariilies •, and each par- 
 ty labouring to difgrace the 
 other and their way 3 that they 
 may promote their own ? I 
 fuppofe you will fay. You do 
 A3 fo 
 
(4; 
 
 fo too. Do I lament it as the 
 Nations fhame, that in Reli- 
 gion men are of fo many 
 minds, and manage their dif- 
 ferences founpeaceably, that 
 it is become the Humbling 
 block to the ungodly , the 
 grief of our friends, and the 
 derifion of our enemies } I 
 know you will fay, that this 
 alfo is your lamentation. And 
 is it not a wonder indeed, that 
 fuch a mifery fhould be conti- 
 nued , which all men are 
 againft 5 and which cannot 
 be continued but by our wil- 
 full choice t Is it not ftrange 
 that we are fo long without fo 
 great a bleffing as Unity and 
 Peace , while all men fay they 
 love ic,and defife it, and while 
 we may have is if we willfBut 
 
 the 
 
(%) 
 
 the caufe is evident:while men 
 love Unity they hate the Holi- 
 mfs in which we muft Unite : 
 While they love Peace^they 
 hate the neceffary means by 
 which it muft be obtained 
 and maintained .• The way of 
 Peace they have not known 5 
 or knowing it, they do abhor 
 it. As well as they love Uni- 
 ty and Peace, they love the 
 Caufes of difcord and divifion 
 much better. The drunkard, 
 and whore-monger , and 
 worldling fay they love the 
 falvation of their fouls : But 
 yet while they love and keep 
 their fins, they will mifs of 
 the falvation which they fay 
 they love. And fo while men 
 love their ungodlinefs and di- 
 viding wayes, we are little the 
 A 4 better 
 
better for their love of peace. 
 If men love Health, and yet 
 love Poj[o» jand hate both me- 
 dicine and wholfom food^they 
 may mifs of health, notwith- 
 flanding they loveit. 
 
 Where know you a Parifh 
 in England, that hath no dis- 
 agreements in matters of Re- 
 ligion ? In this Parifh where 
 I live, we have not feveral 
 Congregations, nor are we di- 
 vided into fuch parties as in 
 many other places 5 But we 
 have here the great divilion : 
 fome are for Heaven , and 
 fbme for Earth : fome love a 
 holy diligent life, and others 
 hate it: fome pray in their Fa- 
 milies , and teath them the 
 word and fear of God 5 
 and others do not : fome 
 
 fpend 
 
(7) 
 fpend the Lords Day in 
 holy exercifes , and others 
 fpend much of it in idle- 
 nefs and vanity : fome take 
 the fervice of God for their 
 delight 5 and others are weary 
 of it ^ and live in ignorance, 
 becaufe they will not be at the 
 pains to learn. Some make it 
 the principal care and bufinefs 
 of their lives, to prepare for 
 death, and make fure of ever- 
 lading life • and others will 
 venture their fouls on the 
 wrath of God , and cheat 
 themfelves by their own pre- 
 emption, rather then be ac 
 this fwe?t and neceffary la.- 
 bour to be laved. Some hate 
 fin, and make it their dayly 
 work to root out the reli&s 
 of it from their hearts and 
 
 A 5 lives 
 
(8) 
 lives; and others love it and 
 will not leave it,but hate thofe 
 that reprove them, and endea- 
 vour their falvation. 
 
 And as long as this great di- 
 vifion is unhealed, what other 
 means can bring us to any 
 happy Unity i It would make 
 ft mar^s heart bleed to confider 
 of the folly of the ungodly 
 rout, that think it would be 
 a happy Union, if we could 
 all agree to read one form of 
 prayer , while fome love, and 
 others hate the holinefs which 
 they pray for : and if we could 
 nil agree to ufe the fign of the 
 Crofs in'Baptifm, while one 
 half either underftand not the 
 Baptifmall Covenant, or wil- 
 fully violate it, and negleft,or 
 hate^ and fcorn that mortified 
 
 holy 
 
(9) 
 
 holy life, which by that fo- 
 lcmn Vow an d Covenant they 
 are engaged to. They are 
 folicitous to bring us all to 
 unity in the gefture of recei- 
 ving the Sacrament of the 
 Lords Supper , while fome 
 take Chrift and ljfe^and others 
 take their own damnation. 
 When they fhould firft agree 
 in being all the faithfull fer- 
 vants of one Matter, they 
 make a great matter of it, that 
 the fervantsof Chrift, and of 
 the Devil may ufe the fame 
 bodily pofturein thatworfhip 
 where their hearts areas diffe- 
 rent as fpirit and flefli. Poor 
 people think that it is the 
 want of Uniformity in certain 
 Ceremonies of mans inventi- 
 on , that is the caufe of our 
 
 great. 
 
(IO) 
 
 great divifions and diftra&i- 
 ons5 When,alas 3 itisthewant 
 of unity in matters of great- 
 er confequence, even of Faith, 
 and Love, and Holinefs , as I 
 have here (hewed. If once 
 we were all children of one 
 Father 3 and living members 
 of one Chriff,and all renewed 
 by one fan&ifying Spirit, and 
 aimed at one end, and walked 
 by one Rule ( the word of 
 God, ) and had that fpecul 
 Love to one another which 
 Chrift hath made the mark of 
 his Difciples, this were an 
 Agreement to be rejoyced in 
 indeed, which would hold us 
 together in the moll comfor- 
 table relations, and affure us 
 that we fhall live together 
 with Chrift in everlaftirig 
 
 bier- 
 
(II) 
 
 bleflednefs. But, alas, if our 
 Agreement be no better,then 
 to fit together in the fame 
 feats , and fay the fame 
 words , and ufe the fame ge- 
 ftures and Ceremonies , our 
 hearts will be dill diftantffom 
 each other^our natures will be 
 contrary, and the malignity of 
 ungodly hearts will be break- 
 ing out on all occafions. And 
 as now you hear men fcorn- 
 ing at the practice of that 
 Religion which themfelves 
 profefs, fo if God pre vent, it 
 not, you may fhortly fee ano- 
 ther War take off their re- 
 ftraint and let them loofe, and 
 then they will (eek the blood 
 o£ thofe that now they feem 
 to be agreed with.Atfurtheft 
 we are fare, that very fhortly 
 
 we 
 
(12) 
 
 we (hall be feparated as far as 
 Heaven and Hell, if there be 
 not now a nearer agreement 
 then in words and outward 
 Shews and Ceremonies. 
 
 It being then pad doubt, 
 that there is no happy lading 
 Unity, but in the Spirit and 
 a holy life, What hindercth us 
 from fo fafe, fo fweet, fo fure 
 a Peace I Why might not all 
 our Parifhes agree on fuch 
 neceflfary,honourable and rea- 
 fonable terms? Why is there 
 in moft places, but here and 
 there a Perfon, or a Family, 
 that will yield to the terms of 
 an everlafling peace, & uveas 
 men that believe they have a 
 God to ferve and pleafe, and 
 immortall fouls to fave or 
 lofe i Is not God willing that 
 - all 
 
(13) 
 all (hould be faved, and come 
 to the knowledge of the truth, 
 ir/w.2.4. and that all {hould 
 agree in fo fafe a path i Why 
 then doth -he invite all, and 
 tender them his faving mer- 
 cy, and fend his meflengers 
 to command and importune 
 them to this holy Concord £ 
 He would take them all into 
 the bond of his Covenant : 
 How oft would Chrift have 
 gathered all the Children of 
 zfcrufdem to him, as the Hen 
 gathereth her Chickens under 
 her Wings f but it was they 
 that muld not^ Mat. 23. 37. 
 He would have the Gofpel 
 preached to every creature , 
 Mar.\ 6.\ 5,16. & would have 
 the Kingdoms of the world 
 become the Kingdoms of 
 
 the 
 
(14) 
 
 the Lord and of his Chrift. 
 What then is the caufe of this 
 faddivifion in our Parifhes? 
 Are Minifters unwilling that 
 their people fhoqld all agree 
 in holinefs? No, it would 
 be the greateft favor you 
 could do them, andthegreatr 
 eft joy that you could bring to 
 their hearts : T hey would be 
 gladder to fee fuch a blefled 
 Unity, then if you gave them 
 all that you have in the world. 
 O how a poor Minifter would 
 boaft and glory of fuch a Pa- 
 rish / He would blefs the day 
 that ever he came among 
 them 5 and that ever he was 
 called to the Miniftry $ and 
 that ever he was born into the 
 world for, their fakes, Hqvv 
 eafie would all his ftudiesand 
 
 labour 
 
(15) 
 labours be, if they were but 
 fweetned with fuch fuccefs i 
 How eafily could he bear his 
 (corns, and threatnfngs, md 
 sbufes, and perfecutions from 
 others, if he faw but fuch a 
 holy Unity among his people 
 to encourage him < So far are 
 your Teachers from exclud- 
 ing you from this h3ppinefs 5 
 that it is the end of their flu- 
 dies, & preaching, & prayers, 
 yea and of their lives, to bring 
 you to partake of it. And 
 glad would they be to preach 
 to you, and exhort you , in 
 hunger and thirft, m cold and 
 nakednefs, in all the contempt 
 and derifion of the world , if 
 thereby they could but bring 
 their parishes to agree in a life 
 )f faith and holinefs. 
 
 And 
 
(if) 
 
 And fare our difference is 
 not becaufe the godly will 
 not admit you to joyn with 
 them in the waies of God 5 
 For they cannot hinder you 
 if they would $ and they would 
 not if they could • It is their 
 joy to fee the houfe of God 
 filled with guefts that have on 
 the wedding garment. 
 
 We muft conclude therefore 
 that it is the ungodly that are 
 the wilfull and obligate divi- 
 ders. They might be united 
 to Chrift 5 and reconciled to 
 God, and they will not. They 
 might be admitted into the 
 Communion of Saints , and 
 into the houfhold of God , 
 and partake of the Privi- 
 ledges of his children $ and 
 they will not.They have leave 
 
 to 
 
U7; 
 
 to Read, and pray, and medi- 
 tate, and walk with God in a 
 heavenly converfation, as well 
 as any of their neighbours 5 
 but they will not. 1 1 is them- 
 felves that are the refufers, 
 and continue the divifion, to 
 the difpleafing of God, and 
 the grief of their friends, and 
 the gratifying of Satan , and 
 the perdition of their own im- 
 mortall Souls, Wc might all 
 be united, and oar divifions 
 be healed, and God much ho- 
 noured , and Minifters and 
 good Chriftians be exceeding- 
 ly comforted, and the Church 
 and Commonwealth be deli- 
 vered and highly honoured, 
 and themfelves be faved from 
 everlafting mifery, if we could 
 3Utget the hearty confent of 
 
 thefe 
 
(i3) 
 thefe fooliih obflinate ungod- 
 ly men. 
 
 What fay you , wretched 
 Souls, can you deny it i How 
 long have yourTeachers been 
 labouring in vain , to bring 
 you to the hearty Love of 
 God, and heaven, andferious 
 holinefs t How long have they 
 been perfwading you to fet up 
 Reading, and Catechizing, 
 and conftant fervent prayer in 
 your families, and yet it is un- 
 done i How long have they 
 in vain been perfwading the 
 worldling from his worldli- 
 neft; and the Proud perfon to 
 humility ,and the fenfual beaft 
 from his tipling,and gluttony, 
 and other flefhly pleafures < 
 
 And befides this, moft of 
 the diforders and divifions in 
 
 the 
 
(19) 
 the Churches are caufed by 
 ungodly men. I will inftancc 
 in a few particulars. 
 
 i. When we ask any god- 
 ly diligent Minifteis, either in 
 L&ndw> or the Country , why 
 they do not unanimoufly ca- 
 techize, inftruft and confer 
 with all the Inhabitants of* 
 their Parishes, man by man, 
 to help them to try their fpi- 
 rituall ftate, and to prepare in 
 health for death and judge- 
 ment I they ufually anfwer 
 us, that alas their people will 
 notconfent, but many would 
 revile them if they ihould at* 
 tempt it. 
 
 2 . When we ask them why 
 :hey do not fet up the pra&ice 
 )f Difcipline , which they fo 
 manimoufly plead for < and 
 
 why 
 
(to) 
 
 why they do not call their 
 people to Confirmation , or 
 open profeffion of faith and 
 holineis in order thereto 5 they 
 tell us, that their people will 
 not endure it • but many will 
 rather fet themfelves againft 
 the Miniftry, and ftrengthen 
 the enemy that now endan- 
 gereth the Churches fafety, of 
 turn to any licentious Se& 5 
 then they will thus fubmit to 
 the undoubted Ordinance of 
 Chriftj which the Churches 
 are fo commonly agreed in as 
 a duty. 
 
 3. We have an ancient 
 too-imperfe& verfion of the 
 Pfalms, which we fing in the 
 Congregations-,& in the judg- 
 ment of all Divines that ever 
 I fpoke with about it (of what 
 
 fide 
 
(21) 
 
 fide foever) it is our duty to 
 ufe a better Verfion, and not 
 to perform fo excellent a part 
 of the publick Worfhip , fo 
 lamely, and with fo many 
 blemilhes." And if you ask 
 the Minifters why they do not 
 unanimoufly agree on a Re- 
 formed corredted Verfion , 
 moft of them will tell you, 
 that their people will not bear 
 it, but proudly and turbulent- 
 ly reproach them, as if they 
 were changing the Word of 
 God. 
 
 4. In many places the Sacra- 
 ment of Baptifmis ofterufed 
 in private houfes, then in the 
 publick Aflemblies 5 and if 
 we ask the reafon of fo great a 
 diforder, the Minifters will tell 
 us that it is the unrulinefs and 
 
 will- 
 
(22) 
 
 wilfulnefsof the people, that 
 proudly fet themfelves above 
 their Guides, and inrtead of 
 obeying them , muft rule 
 them, and have their humors 
 and conceits fulfilled^ even in 
 the holy things of God, or 
 elfe they will revile the Pa- 
 ftors,and make divifions in the 
 Church : And this is done by 
 l em that in other cafes do 
 ifufficiently to reverence 
 the place of publick Af- 
 fembly as the houfe of God, 
 and that fpeak agatnft private 
 meetings 5 though but for pray- 
 er , repeating Sermons , or 
 linging to the praife of God, 
 while yet themfelves are wil- 
 fully bent for fuch private 
 meetings as are fet up in oppo- 
 fitiontothepub!ick ; and that 
 
 for 
 
for the adminiftration of fo 
 great an Ordinance as the Sa- 
 crament of Baptifm , and in 
 cafes where there is no necef- 
 fity of pr vacy .• And who 
 knows not that our Sacra- 
 mental! Covenant with God, 
 and engagement to a Chriftian 
 life, and reception into a Chri- 
 ftian ftate and priviledges , is 
 fitter to be done with the mod 
 honourable I'olemnity, then in 
 a conventicle , in a private 
 houfe? 
 Too many more fuch inftan- 
 ces I could give you, which 
 Ihevv who they be that are the 
 enemies of our Unity •, Even 
 thofe that cry out againft di- 
 vifions while they caufe them, 
 and cry up Unity, concord and 
 obedience, while they deftroy 
 them. (a) ' And 
 
(H) 
 And (hall we thus continue 
 a divifion that doth prognosti- 
 cate our Everlafting divifion? 
 Is there no Remedy for fo 
 great a mifery, when 5 et our 
 poor ungodly neighbours may 
 heal it if they will i What if 
 the Minifters of the feverall 
 Parifhes , (hould appoint one 
 day of publick Conference 
 with all the people of their 
 Pnrifhes together , and defire 
 allttm are fit to fpeak, to de- 
 bate the cafe, and give their 
 Reafons , why they concur 
 not in their hearts and lives 
 with the holy diligent fervants 
 of the Lord I and let them 
 hear theReafons why the god- 
 ly dare not , and cannot come 
 over to their negligent ungod- 
 ly courfe t and fo try who it is 
 
 long 
 
(*5) 
 long of among them,that they 
 an not ot One mind and way. ? 
 what if the Minifters then 
 urged it on them,to agree all 
 before they parted , to unite 
 on the terms which God will 
 own, and all unanimoufly to 
 take that courfe that {hall be 
 found moft agreeable to his 
 Word ; and whoever doth 
 bring thefulleft proof that his 
 courfe is btft, in reafon, the 
 reft fhould promife to joyn 
 w;th him What if we call 
 the people together, and be- 
 fpeak them as Elijah did, 
 j Kt#gs 18.21. How long halt 
 ye between two ofinions ? If the 
 Lord be God^ follow him : but if 
 Bdal , then follow htm. Q If a 
 cardefs, ungodly, worldly, 
 fleshly life be beft D and moft 
 (a i) pleafe 
 
(26) 
 
 pleafc Cod, and will comfort 
 you moft at death and judge- 
 ment, then hold on in the way 
 that you are in 3 and never pur- 
 pofe hereafter to repent of 
 it, but let us all become as 
 fenfuall as you. But if it be 
 only the life of faith 3 and holi- 
 ness , and feeking firft the 
 Kingdom andRighteoufnefs of 
 God 5 that God,and Scripture, 
 and reafon will juftifie, and 
 that will comfort the foul in 
 the hour of extremity , and 
 that you (hall with athoufand 
 times you had followed, ( in 
 cverlaftingmifery, when wiih- 
 ing istoolate)if now you con- 
 tinue to negleit it-, doth not 
 c mmon reafon then require, 
 that we all now agree to 
 go that way which all will de- 
 fire 
 
(*7) 
 fire to be found in at the laf^ 3 
 One would think, if a Mini- 
 fier fhould treat thus with 
 his Parifhioners, and urgefuch 
 a motion as this upon them, 
 they fhould not have the hearts 
 or faces, to deny 3 or delay fuch 
 a necefTary Agreement and 
 Engagement,that would make 
 their Parifli and their fouls fo 
 happy, and which nothing but 
 the Devil and the befooled 
 corrupted minds of finners 
 hath any thing to fay againft ! 
 And yet its likely we fhould 
 either have fuch an anfweras 
 Elijah had,even filence, (v.2 1 . 
 The people anfwered him net 4 
 ward. ) Or elfefomeplaafible 
 promife 3 while we have them 
 in a good mood, which would 
 quickly be broken & come to 
 
 (33) no- 
 
U8) 
 
 nothing. For indeed, they are 
 all engaged already ; by their 
 baptifmall Covenant and pro- 
 feflion of Chriftianity, to the 
 very fame thing : and yet we 
 fee how little they regard it. 
 
 But yet becaufe it is our du- 
 ty to ufe the means for the 
 Salvation and Concord of our 
 people, and wait on God by 
 prayer for the fuccefs, I have 
 here fhewed you the oaly 
 way to both. Read it impar- 
 tially, and then be your felves 
 the Judges 5 on whom the 
 blame of our greateft and raoft 
 dangerous divifions will be 
 laid-, and for fhame, either 
 give over complaining that 
 men are of fo many minds,and 
 profefs your felves the enemies 
 of Unity and Peace 5 or elfe 
 
 give 
 
(29) 
 
 give over your damning, and 
 dividing courfe, and yield to 
 the Spirit of Chrift,that would 
 Unite you to his Body, and 
 Avalk in Communion with his 
 Saints: and let not thefc warn- 
 ings be hereafter a witnefs 
 againft you toyourconfufion, 
 which are intended for your 
 falvation, and the healing of 
 our difcords by - 
 
 An unworthy fervant of 
 Jefus Chrift, for the 
 Calling and Edifying of 
 his Members, 
 
 Decern. I o. 
 1659. 
 
 c Rgb. c Baxter. 
 
 The 
 
The Contents. 
 
 HE IntrocttiBion and 
 Explication of tlm 
 g 7m*, w p. 1 4 
 
 ,P Do#. r^ rr//f Uni- 
 ty of tin CatklUf^ 
 Church of Chrifi 
 confifteth in this, that they, have 
 all one fanSifitd Spirit within 
 them, p. 14 
 
 Explicatory Proportions , p. 1 6 
 
 Twenty Arguments to prove that 
 Ungodlinels is the great divider^ 
 and. that if ever there be a Vnion > 
 it waft be by the ungodlies come- 
 ing ov:rto a holy life, p. 1 9 
 
 life 1 . Shewing plainly who are the 
 canfes of our great diviftons,p.^'/ 
 Vngodlinefs is all Heretical opini- 
 ons 
 
The Contents. 
 
 oftj combined and reduced to 
 practice, p.43,&c. 
 
 It is again ft every Article of the 
 Creed, and every one if the Com- 
 mandments, and t very petition vf 
 the Lords Prayer, and every Or- 
 dinance vf Worfhip y p 65 
 
 They are Wurfe then meer Sectaries, 
 
 r P.73 
 
 life 2. How little caufethe Papifts 
 h^ve to glory , when they draw an 
 ungodly man meerly into their 
 Chunhy J .80 
 
 Ufe $.Hcwf«l(ly Papifts and jt>*f a- 
 kj. rs tell us that the ungodly per- 
 fons are the fruit of our JMini- 
 ftery, p.83 
 
 life 4. A ferious Motion for Vnity 
 and Peace, to all that would have 
 us of one Religion, p , 8 8 
 
 Some more undenyable Peafons to 
 prove that there is no other way of 
 Vnity but this one, p. 1 00 
 
 Queft. What is that Godlinefs that 
 we muft all unite in } p. 1 3 6 
 
 Queft. 
 
7he Contents. 
 
 ■ Quell, What the nearer an Agree- 
 ment flould we be ? Do not the 
 godly differ among themftlves ? 
 
 Uie 5. How little hope of per feci 
 
 Vnity on earth -, And how much 
 
 Vnity rray be expecled among 
 
 the Godly, P» r 95 
 
 QiieO. Whether Vnity in the Pro- 
 
 fejfion of one Faith , Government 
 
 and Worfhip , may ferve turn ? 
 
 Ten difcoveries of the inefficiency 
 
 of a Vnion, in meer profeffwn , 
 
 P203 
 How much true godlinef j would con- 
 duce to heal our leffer differences • 
 and that we might do well not- 
 withfianding them, p. 2 3 4 
 
 Manifefied in twenty four particu- 
 lars. 
 Quell How then comes it to pafs 
 that there are fo many differences 
 among thvfe that you call godly , 
 Anfwered, p.288 
 
 Advice to t he godly 3 p. 3 08 
 
 Rom. 
 
The Contents. 
 
 Rom. 1 4. i . Explained, p. 3 1 3 
 Do ft It is the will of God that the 
 IJnityof the Church JhouU net 
 be laid on indifferent , [mall or 
 dtuktfull things :but thai true be- 
 lievers that differ in fuch things, 
 Jhculd yet have inward Cha- 
 rity and outward Communion 
 with each other, not cenfuring,ncr 
 defpifing, nor dividing upon this 
 account, p.323 
 
 Convincing Re a font, p. 3 26 
 
 Several Vfes or Ccnfe claries : and 
 an Exhortation applied te our dif- 
 ference about Chrifimas Day , 
 
 P.358 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 T)Age 90 . 1. 9 . r . enquire : p. 91. 1. *. 
 «*• r. except : p. igz, 1. 7. for now, r. in 
 time : p. 17$. 1. it for^r. as : p. $66 
 J. xi. for tf,r, them : p. 377. Ln.delcj/; 
 
Qatbolicl^ Vnity. 
 
 E P H E S. 4, 3. 
 
 Endeavouring to keep the unity 
 of the Sprit in the bond of 
 peace. 
 
 T feems that V- 
 nity and Felicity 
 are near kin, in 
 that the world is 
 fo like affeded to 
 them both. As 
 our Felicity isir* 
 God, and we loft it by falling from 
 GW V fo our Vnity is in God, and wc 
 loft it by departing from thisCen- 
 :er of Unity. And as all men hare 
 B flili 
 
2 Cathelick Unity. 
 
 ftilla natural defire after Felicity 
 in general ; but God who is their 
 Felicity ,they neither know nor de- 
 fire ^ fo have we ftill a natural de- 
 fire after Vnity in it f elf consider- 
 ed ^ but God who is our Unity , is 
 little known of defired by the 
 moft. And as nature can perceive 
 the evil of Mifery which is contra- 
 ry to Felicity, and cry out againfl 
 it , and yet doth cherifh the cer- 
 tain caufes of it, and will not be 
 perfwaded to let them go : So Na- 
 ture can perceive the evil of Divi- 
 fion , which is contrary to Vnity , 
 and cry out againfl it , and yet will 
 not forbear the caufes of Divifion. 
 And therefore as we fay of Feli- 
 city, Nature by Philofophy feeks 
 it , Divinity findetbit , and Reli- 
 gion pojfejfeth it : So may we fay 
 of true Vnity ^ Philofophy or 
 Nature feeks it , Divinity findeth 
 it, and Religion or Holinefs fojfejf- 
 eth it. And as moft of the world 
 
 i do 
 
Catholick Unity. 3 
 
 do mifs of Felicity , for all their 
 high efteem of it, and fall into mi- 
 fery for all their hatred of it , be- 
 cauie they love not the objett and 
 "fray of Felicity , and hate not the 
 Matter and Way of Mifery. Even 
 fo molt of the world do mifs of 
 Vnity, for all their high efteemof 
 Unity, and fall into miferabledi- 
 ftra&ions and Divifions for all 
 their hatred of Diviiion, becaufe 
 they love not the center and Vvay of 
 Vnitj , and hate not the occafion 
 and catifes of Divifion. And as the 
 very reafon why the moil: are fhut 
 out of Happinefs , is their own 
 wilful refufing of the true matter 
 and means of Happinefs, and no 
 one could undo them but them- 
 felves, for all that they are loth to 
 be undone : Even fo the very Rea- 
 fon why the world attaineth not to 
 Unity, is their own wilful refufing 
 of the true Center and Means of 
 Unity j and it is them felves that 
 Bz arc 
 
4 CMbolick Unity. 
 
 arc the wilful caufes of their own 
 Divifions; even when they, cry out 
 againft Divifions. And as there's 
 no way to Happinefs^ but by Turn- 
 ing to God from whom we fell, that 
 in him we may be happy ^ and no 
 Way to God but by Jefns Chrifl as 
 the Saviour, and the Holj-Ghofi as 
 the Sanftifier •, fo there is no Way 
 to true Vnity, but by Turning to 
 God that we may be one in him • 
 and no way to hiw, but being uni- 
 ted to Chrift, and being quickned 
 by that One moft holy Spirit that 
 animateth his members. And yet 
 as poor fouls do weary themfelves 
 in vain, in feeking. Felicity in their 
 own wayes and devices •, io do they 
 deceive themfelves in feeking Vni- 
 ty in wayes that are quite deftru- 
 d:ive to Unity. One thinks we 
 muft be united in the Pope ^ and 
 another , in a General Council ^ 
 another faith, we (hall never have 
 Unity till the Magistrate force us 
 
 .all 
 
Cntholick Unity. 5 
 
 all one way ; ( and yet they would 
 not be forced from their own 
 way. ) Another turns Atheift , or 
 J-nftdel, or Impious, by obferving 
 the Divisions that be among Chri- 
 ftians, and faith , £lt is this Scri- 
 pture, and Religion, and Chrift, 
 that hath fet the world together 
 by the ears •, and we fhall never 
 have Unity till we all live accord- 
 ing to Nature, and caft off their 
 needlefs cares and fears of another 
 life. ] And thus the miferable de- 
 luded world are groping in the 
 dark after Vnity and Felicity , 
 while both are at hand , and they 
 wickedly reject, them •, and many 
 of them become fo mad , as to run 
 away from God, from Chrift, from 
 the Spirit, as if he were the caufe 
 o£ Mifery and JDivifion , who is 
 the only Center of Felicity and 
 Vnity. And thus as it is but Few 
 that arrive at Happincfs for all 
 their de fire of it • fo-ir is but FeV? 
 
 B 3 tBae - 
 
6 Cdtbtlick I! nit j. 
 
 that attain to Vnity • to fuch a 
 Unity as is worth the attaining 
 to. 
 
 I dare prefume to take it for 
 granted, that all you that hear me 
 this day, would fain have Divifions 
 taken away, and have Unity , and 
 Concord , and Peace through the 
 world. What fay you? would you 
 noc have us all of one mind, and of 
 one Religion ? and would you noc 
 fain have an Agreement, if it might 
 be, through all the world ? I am 
 confident you would. But you 
 little think that its you and fuch as 
 you that are the hinderers of it. 
 All the queition is, What Mind 
 that is that all fhould be One in ? 
 and what Religion that is that all 
 men fhould agree in ? Every man 
 would have all men of one rr:ind> 
 and one Religitn j but then it mult 
 be of bis "mind, and of bis Religion j 
 and fo we are never the nearer . an 
 agreement. 
 
 Well! 
 
Catholick Unkj. 7 
 
 Well 1 what would you give now 
 to be certainly told the only way to 
 Unity and Agreement ? There is 
 but One way •, when you have 
 fought about as long as you will , 
 you muftcome to that One way, or 
 you will be never the nearer ir. 
 What would you give to know un- 
 doubtedly, which is that One way ! 
 O that the world were but -willing 
 to know it , and to follow it when 
 they know it. Well ! I dare pro- 
 mife you from the information of 
 the Hoiy-Ghoft here given us in 
 this Text that now I have read to 
 to you, to tell you the Only way to 
 true Unity ^ and blefled is he that 
 learneth it, and walketh in it. 
 
 This Text is a Precept contain- 
 ing the Tporl^ required of us, with 
 its double Object • the one the 
 means to the other. The next verfe 
 is an expofition of this. As the 
 Natural man hath One Body, and 
 One Soul , which conftitute k a 
 B 4 man • 
 
8 Catholick Unity. 
 
 man • fo the Church which is the 
 myilical Body of Chrift, is one Bo- 
 dy , confiding of many members 
 united by One Spirit. Every Com- 
 mon-wealth or Political Body hath 
 
 1 . Its Constitutive caufes that give 
 h its Being and its Unity ^ and 
 
 2. Its AdminifkrAthn and prefer- 
 *ving caufes, -as Laws, Execution, 
 Obedience, &c that exeraieand 
 preferve, and perfect its' ffeing. 
 The Constitutive caufe is the Sove- 
 reign and the Subject conjoyned 
 in their Relation. So is it with the 
 ChurchjWhichisa Political Body, 
 ( but of a tranfcendent kind of 
 Policy. ) The Constitutive Caufes 
 of the Church are Chrift and the 
 members united in One Spirit : And 
 this is the final part of the Duty 
 here required [_ To keep the Vnity 
 of the Spirit ~\ The Preferving 
 caufe is the Peaceable behaviour of 
 the members : and this is the me- 
 diate Duty here required, [_ In the 
 
 bond 
 
CatM ck Unity. 9 
 
 bond of Peace 1 Our own Endea- 
 vours are hereto required • becaufe 
 as every natural body muft by eat- 
 ing, and drinking, and fit exercife 
 and ufage , be a caufe of its own 
 prefervation,and not forbear thefe 
 under pretence of truftingthe all- 
 fufficiency of God •, and as every 
 Political Body , muft by Govern- 
 ment and Arms in cafe of need 
 prefervethemfelves under God!} fo 
 muft the Body of Chrift, the 
 Church, be diligent in ufing their 
 beft endeavours to preferve the Be* 
 ing and well-being of the whole. 
 So that you fee here are two caufes 
 of the Churches Unity exprefled : 
 1. The principal Conftitutive caufe 
 in which our Unity confifteth • and 
 .that is [ The Spirit."] 2. The Pre- 
 ferving caufe, by which our Unity 
 is cherifhcd r and thac is [ Peace^ 
 which therefore is called [the. bond] 
 of it. The fifth and fixth verfesdo 
 open this Vnitj of Spirit ,,in its; 
 B5, R ar ^ s , 
 
10 Cdtholick Unity. 
 
 parts, effects and ends. ~£ There is 
 One Hope of aur Calling J that is , 
 One Heaven or Life Eternal, which 
 is the end of our Chriftianky and 
 Church Conftituti on [There is one 
 Lord~\ Jefus Chnft • One Head, 
 one Saviour, one Soveraign Re- 
 deemer, to whom by this Spirit the 
 members are all United . [_ There is 
 One Faith 3 both one fumme of ho- 
 ly DoBrine , which all that will be 
 ftved muft believe (which was ufed 
 to be profefled by the adult at Ba- 
 ptifm) and One internal faving 
 Faith, which this Spirit caufeth in 
 our Spirits, and ufeth it as a means 
 of our union with Chriflin whom 
 we do believe. [_ There is One Ba- 
 *j>tifm "I or folemn Covenanting 
 with God , the Father , Son and 
 Koly-Ghoft ^ and the fame pro- 
 mife there to be made by all. And 
 [_ there is One God the Father of all] 
 from whom we fell, an d t0 whom 
 we muft be recovered, and who is 
 
 the 
 
Ctxboltck Unit). It 
 
 the End of all, and to whom Chrift 
 and all thefe means are the Way. 
 So that all thefe are implyed inland 
 conjunct with £ the Vnitj of the 
 Spirit. ] 
 
 The fenfe of the Text then 
 briefly is this : [ As all the livinr 
 true members of Chrift and the 
 Church have one S fir it ( andfo one 
 Faith ) by which they are aU united 
 to Chrift the Head, and fo to the 
 Father in and by him , which Union 
 in One Spirit is your very Life, and 
 it that conftitutethycu true members 
 of Chrift and his Church •, fo it mufi 
 be your care and great endeavour to 
 prefer ve this Spirit in you , and thU 
 vital Vnity which by this Spirit joh 
 have with Chrift and one another : 
 and the way to preferveit , is by the 
 bond of Peace among •jour ft Ives. ] 
 It -is here evident then that all the 
 members of Chrift and his Body 
 have One Spirit&nd in that is their 
 Union. All the queftion is , What 
 
 Spirit 
 
I* CAtkoIickUr.it j. 
 
 Sf'mt th\%is> And that's kit pafl 
 all doubt in the Chapter : lor 
 though the common gifts of the 
 Spirit arefometime called by that 
 name , yet thefe are no furrher 
 meant in the Text then as appurte- 
 nances or additions to sweater 
 gifts : As godlineis hath the pro- 
 mife of the common mercies of 
 this life , as well as of the fpecial 
 mercies of the life to come • but 
 yet with great difference • the 
 later being ab folate Ij promifed, and 
 the former but Umitedly ( fo far 
 as God fees beft for us ) : Even fo 
 the Spirit gave to the members of 
 the- Church both Sanctifying 
 Grace, and common Gifts- but 
 with great difference": giving San- 
 diiication to all and only the 
 members of Chrift • but giving 
 «ommon gifts alfo to fome others, 
 and to them but with limitation a 
 for fort, and feafon, and meafure, 
 and- continuance,^ God fhould 
 
 fee 
 
Cat hoik k Unity. i J 
 fee good. It is then the fame Holy- 
 Ghoft as our San&irier into whofe 
 name we are baptized, as wdi as 
 into the name of the Father and 
 the Son y and in whom we all pro- 
 fefs to believe , that is here meant 
 in my Text. And it is only the San^ 
 diried that are the people United 
 to Chrift and to One another. 
 This is proved exprefly by that 
 which foUoweth , verf. 6 r j. It is 
 thofe that have the One Hope a one 
 Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm , one 
 God the Father , \erf. 1 2*. It is the 
 Sdnts and body of Chrift that are 
 to be perfected by. the Afiniftry, verf. 
 13, 15, 16. It is thofe that mull 
 come in the Vnity of fit h and 
 knowledge of the Son of God to a per- 
 feci man, to the meafure of the ft a- 
 turc of the fulnefs of Chrift ; and 
 that grow ftp in all things i'&Chrift 
 the Head :. It is the Eody that is 
 United to him, and compacted in 
 Love, and idifiethitfelf in Love : 
 
 verf. 
 
14 Cdtholick Unit j. 
 
 verf. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. Ttisthofe 
 that havefo learned Chrift, as to put 
 off the eld wan that is corrupt, and 
 are renewed in the Spirit of their 
 f/.indsj and pur en < the new man , 
 Which after God is created in righte- 
 oufnefs and true ho line fs. ] 1 f there- 
 Joreany words be plain, its plain 
 that its true Saints oni'y that are 
 here fpoken of, that have the 
 Vnity of Jpirit which they muft 
 preferve in the £0^6/ Peace. And 
 therefore Khali make this Obfer- 
 vation the ground of my difcourfe. 
 
 Doft. The true Unity of the Ca- 
 tholickjllhurch of Chrift confift- 
 tthinthis, that they have all one 
 Santlifyingfpirit wtthinthem. 
 
 By the Holy-Ghoft within them 
 they are all United to Chrift and 
 to one another : By this One Spirit 
 they are all made Saints, or an Ho- 
 iy people, having One Heaven for 
 
 the 
 
Catholick Unity. 15 
 
 the matte* of their Hopes f One 
 (Thrift their Head, One iumme of 
 Chriftian doctrine, which they be- 
 lieve, containing all the Eflentials 
 of Chriftian Faith j and One living 
 principle of Faith to believe it •, 
 One fblemn Covenant with Chrift ^ 
 and One God the Father their End 
 and All. 
 
 It is only the Sanctified that have 
 true Chriftian Vnity •, and it is un- 
 holinefs or ungvdlinefs that is the 
 caufe of the miferable Div'tfions of 
 the World. Now, Sirs, you fee the 
 Only way to Vnity : Even to have 
 One Santtifying Jpirit within us , 
 and be all an Holy People-, and there 
 is no way but this : Now you fee 
 the principal caufe of Divifion •, 
 even unholinefs, andrefufing the 
 Spirit of Grace. 
 
 In handling this point, 1 . 1 (hall 
 give you fome Propofitions thac 
 are neceffary for the fuller under- 
 ftandingof it. 2. I fhall demon- 
 
 ftrate 
 
1 6 Catholick Unit). 
 
 ftrate the Point to yoi*, by fuller 
 Evidence of Reafon. 3. 1 fhall 
 make Application of it. 
 
 I. T}£«£. 1. Though it be only 
 JL the SanCtined that have the 
 true Un on of Members with C hr.ft 
 andthePody - 5 yet all that make 
 i roferl : on of SanrtiTi cation , and 
 NuB not that Pro. eillon ,-have an 
 Extr'n£ck., Analogical Union in 
 profeflion : As the wooden or dead 
 leg is united to the body , and the 
 dead branch to the Vine ; And fo 
 even Hypocrites muft not only 
 dwelf among us, but£t= of the fame 
 vifibh Church with us , as the 
 chrtjf and tares are in the fame corn- 
 field. And as long as they feem 
 Saints we muft value them, and ufe 
 them as Saints, and love them, and 
 have Communion with them" as 
 faints : Not as conceiving them 
 
 certain' r 
 
Catbolick Unit j. 17 
 
 'certainly to be fuch, but probably , 
 and by that humane faith , by 
 which we are bound to believe 
 their profeflion * not as we believe 
 God, who is Iniallible- but as men 
 that are fallible : And this in feveral 
 Degrees • according to the feveral 
 Degrees of their Credibility , and 
 the Probability of their Profeflion. 
 ^o that you muft not after this 
 mi (lake me^ as if I tyed our exter- 
 nal Church- Communion only to 
 true Saints ^ for then we muft 
 have Communion with none ^ be- 
 caufe being not able to fearch the 
 hearts, we know not what Profef- 
 fors are flncere. But yet even this 
 External Church- Communion be^ 
 longs only to them that make Pro- 
 fejfim of Love and Kolinefs , as 
 well as of Belief • and no lower 
 Profeflion muft ferve the turn. 
 
 Prop. 2. There is a Common Vni- 
 tj of humane Nature that we have 
 with all men, and a common Peace 
 
 that 
 
is Cdtboltck Unity. 
 
 that m mnch as in us lyeth we mnfi 
 hold yeith all , Rom. 12. 18. But 
 this is nothing to the Unity in que- 
 ftion , which belongeth to our 
 happinefs. The Devils have a 
 Unity of Nature , and fome order 
 and accord in Evil •, for if Satan 
 be divided, how can his kingdom 
 ft and . ? Mat. 12.26. 
 
 Prop. 3 . The Unity of the Saints 
 in the Spirit of Holinefs, confifteth 
 in this life with much imperfedion 
 and difcord, according to the im- 
 perfedion of their Holinefs. But 
 as Grace is the feed of Glory, and 
 the beginning of Eternal Life , for 
 all its weaknefs . and the fins that 
 accompany h ( John 1 7. 3 . ) 5 So 
 the Unity of the Spirit of holinefs, 
 is the ked and beginning of the 
 perfed Unity in Heaven, for all the 
 differences and difcord that here 
 accompany it. 
 
 II. Having 
 
Cdtbolick Unit j. 19 
 
 1 1. TTAving fhewed you the 
 JLl only bond of Unity , I 
 come now by fuller evidence to 
 convince you of the truth of what 
 is faid , and even to force it into 
 your understandings , if you will 
 but ufe your Realon,and believe 
 the Word of God. It is unholi- 
 ttefs and ungodliness that caufeth 
 our Difcord^ and it is the Spirit of 
 Holine/s that is the Uniting Prin- 
 ciple •, and there's no true Chrifti- 
 an Vnity to be had with ungodly 
 men : Never think of Zjnity by 
 any other way then SanUification : 
 You are as on the other fide of the 
 River, and cannot be united to the 
 fervants of Chrift , till the Spirit 
 Convert you, and pafs you over. 
 You are dead men, and unfit to be 
 United to the livings and its the 
 Spirit that quUkpeth, and this Life 
 muft be our Union, You madly 
 
 rail 
 
20 Catholick Unity. 
 
 rail agaihfrD»'v»Jfo*, and yet {land 
 at a diftance from Chrift and his 
 Church, and maintain the greater!: 
 division in the world. Believe it , 
 you do but doat and dream, if you 
 think to have true Cbriftian 
 Vnitj on any other terms, then by 
 the Sanctifying Spirit of Chrift. 
 And this I {hall now evince as fol- 
 lowed]. 
 
 i. You know fure that there 
 can be no Chriftian Unity; but in 
 God as your Tat her, and the Cen- 
 ter of Unity : All the true mem- 
 bers of theCatholiek Church muft 
 fay [_0*r Fathcr~\ and be as his 
 children United in him. If you will 
 have Unity without the favour of 
 God, it muft be the Unity of Re- 
 bels , and fuch a concord as is in 
 Hell ; The family of God do all 
 Unite in him : As all the Kingdom 
 is United' in one King •, fo is all the 
 Church in God. Can you think it 
 poffible to have Unity , as long as 
 
 you 
 
Catholick Unity. 21 
 
 you will not Unite in God ? Well 
 then ^ there's nothing plainer in 
 the Scripture, then that all men by 
 nature are departed from God, and 
 none are United to him bur thofe 
 that are regenerate and made new 
 creatures • not a man is his child by 
 Grace, and in his favour, but only 
 thofe that are fan&ihed by his 
 Spirit, Job. 3. 3,5- Mat. 18. 3. 
 2CV/5. 17. Heb. 12. 14. So that 
 there's no true Vnitj without S^h- 
 Bificatiun , becaufe there's no re- 
 conciliation with God , nor Uni- 
 ty with him, without it. 
 
 2. There can be no true Chri- 
 stian Vnitj but in Chrift the Re- 
 deemer and Head of the Church : 
 For how can the members be Uni- 
 ted but in the Head ? or the Schol- 
 lars but in their Teacher? or the 
 Subjects but in their Soveraign ? 
 You know there's no Chrvftian 
 Vnitj but in Chrift. Well then ^ 
 What Unity can we have with 
 
 thofe 
 
21 Catholick Unity* 
 
 thofe that are not in Chrift ? The 
 unfanftifled have indeed the name 
 of Chriftians : but what is that to 
 the nature ? Some branches not 
 bearing fruit are faid to be in him 
 the Vine, by outward profeifion .• 
 K ut they are dead and withered , 
 and muft be cut off and caft away 
 for the fire .• and fo are unfit for 
 Communion with the Vine , John 
 15. He that is in Chrift is a new 
 (feature: old things are f aft aVvay , 
 behold all things are become new. 
 2 Cor. 5. "17. If any man have not 
 the Spirit of Chrift ( which is this 
 fanftifying Spirit) the fame is none 
 of his. I pray you mark the plain- 
 nefs of thefe pafTages. All you 
 that are unconverted and unfan- 
 fied,areoutof Chrift, and none of 
 his, though you may talk and 
 hoait of him as long as you will. 
 And therefore you cannot have 
 Unity with Chriftians^ till you will 
 firft have Unity with Chrift him- 
 
Cdthtlick Until. 23 
 
 fe/f. Till you are engraffed into 
 him, you are not engraffed into the 
 Catholic l^ Church , but only feem 
 to be what you are not. 
 
 3 . The dead cannot be United to 
 the living : who will be married to 
 a dead corpfe ? or would be tyed 
 to it, and carry it about ? It is life 
 that muft Unite us : The unfancti- 
 fled are dead in iin, Efh. 2. 5. and 
 the Spirit is given to quicken the 
 dead, that they may be fit for eon- 
 verfe. What Union can there be 
 between a block and a man •„ or a 
 bead that hath but a fenfitive life , 
 and a man that hath a rational 
 Soul ? So what Union between the 
 fenfual world and the fan&ified Be- 
 liever ? If you could have Unity 
 without the Santlifying Spirit, 
 why are you then Baptized into 
 the name of the Holy-Ghoft as 
 your SanEtifie r ? To have a Vnity 
 of Being is common to us with the 
 Devils :, for they are Gods crea- 
 tures, 
 
24 Catbolkk Unit]. 
 tures, and fo are we. To have a 
 Vnion of Specif l\ Being is com- 
 mon to us with all the damned, for ' 
 they are men as well as we-, and 
 common to the Devils among 
 themfelves. But it mufl be a Uni- 
 ty in the Spirit of Holinefs that 
 mufl prove us happy, and afford us 
 comfort. 
 
 4. 1 here is no poffibility of ha- 
 ving Unity wi h thofe that have 
 not the fame ultimate principal end. 
 But thef*n£Hfieda.ndthe unfantti- 
 ^fd have not the fame gnd, nay have 
 contrary ends. If one of you will 
 go to Tor^and the other to Lon- 
 don, how can you poffibly go one 
 way ? This is the great difference 
 that fets the world and the fan&i- 
 ried by the ears : You ferve Mam- 
 won, and they ferve God ; You have 
 cne portion, and they another : Tour 
 portion is in this life, Pfalm 1 7. ' 4. 
 Here you have your good things , 
 Luke 16.25. and here you lay up 
 
 your 
 
Catbdick Unit j. 25 
 
 your treafure, Mat. 6.19, 21. To ur 
 belly is your God , and you mind 
 t art hly things. Phil. 3. 18.- But it is 
 ihe Z^thatis the portion of the 
 S«ints,Vhl 16.5. They Uy up a. 
 treafure in heaven, Wat. 6. 20. an4 
 r^rf they have their conventions* 
 Ihil. 3.20. Being rif en VeithChrift, 
 they feekjhe things that are above , 
 w/?frf C/?r//£ 7/fff^ *f the right 
 hf.ndof God • /cr r/tfj ^ ^^, W 
 their life is hid with Chrifi in God 
 Col.3.i,3^.The bufinefs that the 
 Saints,and that the ungodly have in 
 the world, is clean contrary. Their 
 bufinefs is for Heaven ^ zndyours 
 for earth •, 1 hey are foxing to 
 ? ij5i>#> in hope of everLfting 
 r ife, zndyou3Xc/Gm»gtotheflefi 9 
 ind /hall reap corruption , Gal 6. 
 5, 7. They are making Provifion 
 or ano:her Lie, thai never (hall 
 lave end • and you are w*ki*gpro- 
 vifion fdrtheflefi } tofatufieits de- 
 tres, Rom. 13.14. And how is ic 
 C poffible 
 
26 Catholick Unity. 
 
 poflible for thefe to beUiited ? 
 What concord between light and 
 darknefs ? orChrifl And Belial? or 
 right eoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs ? 
 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15. Can two wa/l^ 
 together except they be agreed? Amos 
 .3.3. We mull better agree of our 
 bapnefs in the world , and of our 
 journeys end, before we can keep 
 company with you. While you are 
 for earth and we for heaven, it is not 
 poflible that we fhould go one 
 way. While one is for the world, 
 and another for God, they muit 
 needs differ : lor God and the 
 world are mailers that are unre- 
 concileable. If you will cleave to 
 one, you mufl defpife the other. 
 
 The work of the Butcher and 
 the Souldier is to kill .- and the 
 work of the Surgeon and Phyfiti- 
 an is to cure. And do you think) 
 thefe will ever take onecourfe 
 The Souldier ftudies how t 
 wound and kill ; The Surgeon ft 
 
 dies; 
 
 esj 
 
CAtbolkk Unity. 27 
 
 dies how to dofc thefe wounds and 
 heal them. And furely thefe muft 
 go contrary wayes. Sirs , as long 
 as your bufinefs is principally for 
 the flefh and the world • and the 
 bufoefs of the fan&ifTed is againft. 
 the flefh and world , and for the 
 Spirit and the world to come, how 
 is it poflible that you fhould be 
 agreed ? You muft bring heaven 
 and earth together firft • yea hea- 
 ven and hell together flrft , before 
 you can have a Chriftian Unity and 
 Agreement between the fan&ified 
 andtheunfandified. 
 
 5 . There is no Vnity to be had 
 bmmtheGefcl. The Apoftle tell 
 us , there is One Faith, Eph. 4. 5. 
 ff an Angel from heaven would 
 preach another Gofpel , he muft 
 *accurfed, Gal.i.io, 11. But 
 the unfanftified do not truly and 
 aeartily entertain this Go/pel. 
 ifou thin^and/aj you truly believe 
 r, when you do not. If you truly 
 C z believed 
 
28 Cdtholtck Unitj. 
 
 believed it, your lives would fhew 
 it. He that indeed believes an 
 everlafting Glory, will fure look 
 after it, more then after the world 
 ortheflefti. 
 
 6. There is no Chriftian Unity, 
 but in the Chriftian Nature. Con- 
 trary natures cannot clofe. Fire 
 and Water , the Woolf and the 
 Lamb, the Bear and the Dog, will 
 not well Unite. The fanctified have 
 a new, divine and heavenly nature, 
 fob. 3.6. 2 Pet. 1.4. 2CV.5. 17. 
 Their Difpofition is another way 
 then it was before. Buttheunfan- 
 dified have the old corrupt fleftily 
 nature {till r One is as the flre,ftill 
 bending upward • the other as the 
 earth or ftone, (till bending down- 
 ward to the earth : And how car 
 thefe agree together ? 
 
 7. There is no ChriftUn Vnitj 
 to be had, where the Ajfeltions rut 
 quite contrary wajes. But fo it i: 
 with thefartttificdmd the unftntti- 
 
 fied 
 
Catholick Unity. 29 
 
 ficA. One loves God above all, and 
 cannon live without holy Commu- 
 nion wich him , and recireth into 
 him from the diilradions of the 
 world , and maketh him his Rett , 
 Content and Solace : The other 
 mentions the goodnefs of God , 
 but findeth no fuch fweetnefs in 
 him, nor defires after him. One 
 treads the world underfoot as dirr, 
 or valueth and ufeth it but as a 
 help to heaven : And the other 
 makes it his happinefs, and fets his 
 heart on it. One delighteth in Ho- 
 linefs,and the other hateth it, or 
 regardech it not. One hatethfin as 
 a Serpent, or as death ^ and the 
 other makes it his meat, and drink, 
 and bufinefs. And how is it pof- 
 fible for men of fuch contrary af- 
 fections to be agreed ? and na- 
 tures at fuch enmity to Unite ? 
 
 8. The fantlified and Hnfanfiifi- 
 
 ed are moved by contrary Ob jells : 
 
 One lives by faith on things that 
 
 C 3 are 
 
30 Catfolhk Unity. 
 
 are oat of fight , and itrives for 
 Heaven as if he faw it, aad itrives 
 againit Hell as if he fa\X> it • for his 
 faith is the evidence of things not feen^ 
 Heb. 11.1,7. We live by faith, and 
 not by fight, 2 Cor. %. 7. 2 Cor. 
 4. 1 S. But the unfanttified live up- 
 on tilings that are [ten, and things 
 believed little move them 4 becauie 
 they are not heartily believe J. 
 
 9- The Holy and the unkiy do 
 live by contrary Laws. One liveth 
 by the Law of God, and there ask- 
 eth counfel what he mud: think, or 
 fay, or do, refolving to obey God, 
 before his flefh, and all the world. 
 The other will fay, he will be ruled 
 by Gods Law, till his flefh and car- 
 nal intereftcontradid it , and then 
 he will take his lufts for his Law : 
 His Pride is a Law to him , and the 
 pleafures and profits of the world 
 are a Law to him > and the will of 
 great ones, and the cuftoms of men 
 are his Law. And how is it poflible 
 
 for 
 
Catholic k Unit j, jl 
 
 for men to agree chat walk by fuch 
 contrary Rules as thefe? 
 
 10. There is no trueZJnitj but 
 in the Covenant -frith Chrifi. As 
 Marriage Vnitcth man and wife 5 
 fo every truly iandihed man, harh 
 delivered up himfelf to Chriit in a 
 peremptory abfolute Covenant 3 , 
 and lath quit all claim of int.:- 
 
 in himfelf, and is wholly Gods. 
 But the unfanttifi.J will not be 
 brought to this , any further then 
 the lips, and therefore they cannot 
 be well United. 
 
 11. The true members of the 
 Church are built on the foundation 
 of the Apoftles and Prophets , Eph. 
 2.20,21. But the unfandified re- 
 gard them not, if they crofs their 
 minds. 
 
 12. There is no true Chriflian 
 Vnity , but with the Holy Catho- 
 lic^ Church. The body is but one 
 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13. ^.4.4. But 
 the unfanclified are not of the 
 
 C 4 Holy 
 
3 2 CAtholickllnkj. 
 
 Holy Cacholick Church, but only 
 in the vifible external Communion 
 of it. 
 
 1 3 . There can be no true Chri- 
 fiian Vnity with the Saints , with- 
 out a fpecial Love to the Saints. 
 For by this we know that we are 
 p; Jfedfrow death to life , becaufe we 
 love :hs Brethren • he that lovtth 
 not his brother abldeth in death , 
 i John 3.14. B) this m»fi all men 
 know that we are Chrifis Difciples , 
 John 13. 35. Love is the bond 
 and cement of the Church. He that 
 doth not heartily love a godly fan- 
 ftificd man,becaufe he is fucn,riath 
 no true Unity with the Church. 
 But the ungodly love them not as 
 fuch : They fee no fuch beauty and 
 lovelinefs in Holinefs. Though 
 Scripture call it Gods Image , they 
 be not in Love with Gods Image ^ 
 but think it a conceit, or hypocri- 
 tical pretence , or a weary fom 
 thing. Why ! poor carnal wretches, 
 
 do 
 
Cathshck Unity. 33 
 
 lo you hate the godly , and yet 
 would you have Unity with them ? 
 Do you hate them, and yet cry out 
 againft Divii1ons,when your hearts 
 are thus divided from God and his 
 fervants? You muft learn to Love 
 them with a fpecial Love, and 
 Chriit in them , before you can be 
 United with them. 
 
 14. There is no Unity to be had 
 wi hout a Love to the Body that you 
 areUnkedto. You mult Love the 
 Cmmh and long for its profperity,. 
 and thefuccefsof the Gofpel, and 
 the downfall of wickednefs. Thus 
 do the Saints : but thus do not the 
 ungodly. Nay many of them are 
 glad when they hear of any evil be- 
 fell the godly. 
 
 15. There is no true Vvlty 
 without a fwgtilar refpetl to the 
 /fecial members that are the liga- 
 ments and chief Instruments of 
 Unity •, even the Officers of the 
 Church and moftufeful member?. 
 
 C 5 The; 
 
J4 Cat bolide If nit j. 
 The Overfeers of the Church mufl 
 be highly efieemedin Love for their 
 •rvork^fake , i Thef. 5. 12. Thus 
 do the godly, but not the un- 
 godly. 
 
 16. There mull be an inward in- 
 tlination to the Communion of Saints , 
 before there can be any agreement 
 and Unity. All that are of the Ho- 
 ly Catholic l^Church , muft.defire 
 the Communion of Saints. Their 
 delight mufl be in them, Pfal. 1 6. 3 . 
 But the ungodly have no fuch de- 
 light in their Communion. 
 
 17. If you will have Vnity and 
 Communion with the Church , you 
 mufl: have a Love to the Holy Or- 
 diturnces, which are the means of 
 Communion : as to the Word of 
 God, heard and read, to Prayer , 
 Sacraments, Confeffion , &c. But 
 the ungodly have either a diftafte 
 of thefe, or but a common delight 
 in the.outfide, and not in the Spirit 
 of; the Ordinance. . And therefore 
 
 they 
 
CMholkk Unity. 35 
 
 they cannot agree with the 
 Church : when you loath that 
 which is ourrmatand drink, and 
 we cannot feed at one Table toge- 
 ther , what Agreement can there 
 -be ? 
 
 1 8 . If you will Agree, you muft 
 mri^in the fame Vineyard , and 
 labour in the fame employment , 
 <ind walk the fame way as the fan- 
 ctifTeddo : And that is in away of 
 holinefsandrighteoufnefs , giving 
 all diligence to make your calling and 
 eletlion fure ,' 2 Pej| 1 . 10. If you 
 live to the flefh , and they live to 
 the Spirit, (Rom.S. 5, 13- ) What 
 Unity and Agreement can there- 
 be? 
 
 19. There is no Unity to be 
 had, unlefs you will joyn in a de- 
 fenfive and offensive league, and in 
 an opposition to that which would 
 tend to our deftrudtion. What 
 Common-wealth will Unite with 
 them that defend their enemies- 
 
 and 
 
$6 Cat Mick tint j, 
 
 and rebels ? There is an enmity put 
 in the beginning becween the kel 
 of the woman and of the Serpent ,. 
 Grth j. 15. Becaufe we are not of 
 the world, the world, will hate us 
 John 15. 19 If you will be United 
 to the Church and people of 
 Chrift^ you muft be at enmity with 
 fin, and hate it, andjoyn for the 
 deft roying of it ; and you muft be 
 fouldiers in Chrilts Army, which 
 the Devil and his army right 
 againft •, and you muft fight againft 
 theflcfh, the world, anil thedevil v 
 and not live fc friendfhip with 
 them. But this the unfan&ined wilL 
 not do. 
 
 20. And therefore becaufe you 
 will not be United to them in the 
 ftate and Kingdom of Grace, you 
 fhall not be United with them, in 
 the ftate and Kingdom of Glo- 
 ry. 
 
 And thus I have made it plain to 
 you , that none can have true 
 
 Union. 
 
Catholick Unity. 57 
 
 Union with the Church of Chrift , 
 hut only they thatare fandifiedby 
 the Spirit. 
 
 Ufe f. 
 
 BY this time you may fee, if 
 you are willing to fee, who 
 it is long of that the world is all in 
 pieces by divifions , and who are 
 the greateft hinderers of Unity. 
 Even unfanctirled , ungodly men. 
 And you may fee how fit thefe men 
 are to cry out againft Divifions , 
 that are the principal caufcs of 
 them : And how wifely they deal 
 to cry up Unity „ and in the mean 
 time refift the only ground and 
 way of Unity ; As fo/hpu faid to 
 Achem y 7. 25. \_Why haft thou. 
 troubled™ ? the Lord [hall trouble 
 thn this day. ^ Sol may fay to all. 
 
 the 
 
38 Cdtbelick Unity] 
 
 the ungodly, Why trouble you the 
 Church , and hinder Vnity ? you 
 Jhj// one day have trouble jour [elves 
 for this. They cry cue againft the 
 Minilhy and others that fear God, 
 as Ah.xb did to Elijah, Art thou he 
 that trouble th Iirael ? But faith 
 Elijah , It is thou and thy Fathers 
 houfe that trouble ifraeljn that ye 
 have forfaken the Commandment 
 of theLord, i King. 18. 17,18. 
 Sirs,! tell you, (and I may confi- 
 dently tell you when I have proved 
 it fo fuHy),that it is the ungodly that 
 are the great "Dividers of the \X>orld. 
 Its you that make the breach , and 
 keef it open. We are willing to 
 agree to any thing that is reafon- 
 able or f'ffible :, but there is no 
 fcjfibility of Agreeing with the un-- 
 godly , unlefs they will turn. It 
 would make any honeft heart to 
 ake , to fee thefe wretches fet all. 
 on fire, and then cry cut sm- 
 others as the Authors of it 
 
 As 
 
•^ 
 
 Ctthelick Unity . 39 
 
 As Nero fet Rome on fire, and then 
 perfecuted the Chriftians for it , as 
 if it had been done by them. They 
 pluck up the ?oundations,and hold 
 moft damnable practical errours •, 
 and when they have done, they go 
 about reviling other men as erro- 
 neous. I fpeak not in theexcufeor 
 extenuation of other mens errours t 
 I have fpoke my part againft them 
 alfo : But I tell you, it is the pro- 
 phane and ignorant rabble , and all 
 the ungodly, whether Gentlemen, 
 Scholiars, or of what rank foever,. 
 that are the great dividers , and 
 ftand at the greateft diftance from 
 Chriftian Unity. O what a happy 
 Church fhould we have, for all the 
 feds that trouble us fo much , if it 
 were nocfor ungodlinefs chat ani- 
 mateth fome of thofe feds , and 
 virtually containeth many more ! 
 Had we none but men fearing God 
 to deal with, we fhould have no 
 oppofuion to the Effentials of Re- 
 ligion < 
 
40 Catholick Unity. 
 
 Ji&ion ^ and we (hould flill have 
 the comfort of agreeing with them 
 in all things neceffary to falvation. 
 They would carry on their diffe- 
 rences in Christian meeknefs, cha- 
 rity and moderation :. and at the 
 worft our Agreement would be 
 greater then our difagreement. 
 But when we have to deal with 
 haters of holinefs, or at leaft with 
 men that are ftrangers to the fan- 
 difying work of the Spirit , we 
 have predominant Pride r and Sel- 
 fiftinefs,and Covetoufnefeto ftrive 
 againft : We have radicated Infi- 
 delity, and enmity to God and ho- 
 linefs, giving life and ftrengthto 
 all their errours, and making them 
 itubborn, and wilful,.and fcornful^ 
 againft the cleareft' truths that can 
 be fhewed them. There is no deal- 
 ing effectually with a carnal heart , 
 for any but God himfe'f. Unlefs 
 we can create light in them, as well 
 as reveal the. truth to them , what 
 
 good. 
 
Cat bo lick Unity. 41 
 
 good can we do them ? What good 
 doth the Sun to a man that is 
 blind ? They have underftandings 
 left, and therefore they can err : 
 but they have no heavenly light in 
 them, and therefore they cannot 
 choofebut err : They have wills , 
 and therefore are capable of fin : 
 but they have no holy rectitude of 
 them, and therefore f n they will 
 with obfttnacy. When we difpute 
 with the godly , that err through 
 vteaknefs , we deal with men that 
 have eyes in their heads, and life in 
 their fouls, and fome favour and 
 experience of the matters of God. 
 But when we difpute with the un- 
 godly, we deal with the blind , we 
 talk to the dead, we offer the bread 
 of life to men that have no appe- 
 tite, or favour of it : yea we fpeak 
 for God, to enemies of God •, and 
 for truth, to the natural enemies 
 of fuch truths >, and the more ob- 
 ftinate enemies, becaufe they know 
 
 it 
 
42 CAtbolick Unity. 
 
 it not. Had we nothing but off- 
 takes to arrue apainft, and had we 
 but to do with men that have the 
 free ufe of their reafon, we fhould 
 do well enough with them. But 
 when we mull perfwade the deaf, 
 the diitraded and che dead ^ when 
 we muft difpute with Pride, and 
 Pa/lion, and Enmity, and perlwade 
 a Lyon to become a Lamb , and a 
 Serpent to lay by his venom, no 
 wonder if we find a difficult task 
 of it. Had we none but the Godly 
 to deal with, we fhould have abun- 
 dant advantage for fuccefs •, we 
 fhould deal with men that Love 
 the truth , and are willing to ufe 
 right means to difcover it : They 
 would pray with us for truth , as 
 well as difpute ^ they would with 
 meeknefs fearch the Scripture , 
 and fee whether thefe things be fo 
 or not : They would yield to light 
 when it appearcth to them , and 
 not imprifon itinunrighteoufnefs. 
 
 And 
 
C&tkolick Unit), 43 
 
 And it would move us to more ten- 
 der dealing with them, while we fee 
 and love Chriftin them, and when 
 we remember that the men that we 
 now difpute with , we muft live 
 with in Heaven , and join with in 
 the everlafting Praifes of the Lord. 
 I profefsSirs, Ifpeak to you from 
 fad experience , I have been trou- 
 bled with Antrnomians , and Ana- 
 baptifls, and other errours in well- 
 meaning men , as much as moft ; 
 And manyadaieswork they have 
 made me in writing and difputing 
 againftthem. But alas, this is no- 
 thing to the trouble that the pro- 
 fane , ungodly do put me to. I 
 thank God , I have dealt with all 
 thefe errours with fo good fuccefs, 
 that I Hve in peace by them •, and I 
 know not of an Anabaptift, or So* 
 cinian, or Arminian, or Quaker,or 
 Separatift, or any fuch feet in the 
 Town where I live- except half a 
 dozen Papifts that never heard me. 
 
 But 
 
44 Catbolick Unit). 
 
 But Infidels, Atheifts , ungodly 
 wretches 1 am peftered with ftill .- 
 One herefic called Drunkennefs , 
 jhat denyeth the ufe of reafon it 
 felt" , doth ftill walk the ftreets in 
 defpight of all that I can fay, or 
 all that the Magiftrates will do ^ 
 and none of us all are able to con- 
 fute them. In one hours time they 
 will ferth more arguments from the 
 Alehoufe^hen all the reafon in the 
 Town can effeftually anfwer. 
 
 And as the ungodly are molt de- 
 fperately Principled of any Here- 
 ticks in tne world , both for the 
 quality and the radication of their 
 errours ^ fo there are far greater 
 numbers of them, then of all other 
 Herefies fet together. It may be 
 we have one or two Anabaptifts 
 in a Parifh , and in fome Parifhes 
 none •, in fome few it may be twen- 
 ty : But O that I could lay , I had 
 not twenty , and twenty , and 
 twenty, and twice twenty more 
 
 un- 
 
Catholick Unity. 45 
 
 unfanctifled ungodly perfons in 
 my Parifh I though 1 hope there is 
 as many better , as in any Parifh I 
 know. Alas, Sirs, into how many 
 parifhes may you go , and find 
 grofs ignorance, profar.enefs , 
 worldlinefs, contempt of God and 
 heavenly things , to be their com- 
 mon air which they breath in, and 
 tne natural complexion of the in- 
 habitants, asblacknefsis to Ethio- 
 pians. It isableffed Parifh, that of 
 three thoufand inhabitants, hath 
 not above two thoufand natural 
 hereticks ; even ungodly perfons 
 that arc (hangers to fandification. 
 And who then do you think is 
 likefl to be the caufe of our diftra- 
 dions and diviiions ? 
 
 Moreover, let me tell you, Pro- 
 fanenefs aixillngodlineisis not a 
 Tingle errour or herefie • but it is 
 the fumme of all the herefies in the 
 world. You will think this ftrangc, 
 when you fee fo many that joyn 
 
 with 
 
4.6 Cat holt ck Unit)* 
 
 with us in a found profeffion. , and 
 fome of them zealous defenders of 
 the truth ^ and many of them cry 
 out againli errours : But alas, they 
 believe not that which they think 
 they do believe. They hold not 
 that which ihey fay they hold. 
 There's much in their Creed, that 
 was never in their Belief. Douht- 
 \tk ungodlinefs is the neft of an 
 theHerefies in the world. 
 
 Will you give me leave to in- 
 fiance in fome particulars. The 
 greateft. errour in the world is 
 Atheifm, when men deny the God- 
 head it felf. And do not themofl 
 of the ungodly deny him in their 
 hearts ? If he be not Juft,he is not 
 God : and they deny and hate his 
 Juftice : If he be not Holy, he is 
 not God : And they deny in their 
 hearts, and hate his Holinefs ; If he 
 be not True, he is not God : And 
 they commonly believe that he is 
 not true ; fhew theru where he 
 
 hath 
 
Cdtbeluk Unity. 47 
 
 hath faid , that none but the con- 
 verted, the fandified , the regene- 
 rate, the heavenly, the felf-deny- 
 ing (liall be faved 5 and they will 
 not behevc that this will be made 
 good, but hope itsfalfe. If he be 
 not wile, and be not the Govern- 
 ourof the world, he is not God. 
 And thefe wretches qua rel with 
 his holy Laws, as if they could tell 
 how to mend them themfelves,and 
 were wifer to make a Law then 
 God is :, and by flat Rebellion de- 
 ny his Government. So that we 
 may truly fay with David, pfal.14. 
 that thefe fools fay in their hearts' 
 that there is no God : or elfe they 
 durft not fay and do in his prefence 
 as they do. 
 
 Moreover idolatry , which is the 
 fetting up of falfe Gods , is a moll 
 abominable damning fin. And 
 every ungodly man is guilty of it. 
 Covetoufncls is idolatry, Eph. 5.5. 
 and the fcnfual make their belly 
 
 their 
 
48 Catholick Unity. 
 
 their God, PhiLi. 18. And Pride 
 and Selfifhnefs which are the heart 
 of the old man, are nothing elie 
 but making our felves our Idols. 
 Every unfanftifTed man is his own 
 Idol ^ giving to himfclf the honour, 
 and pleafure, and love thacs due to 
 God alone ^ and fett ing up his own 
 will infteadof Goes. 
 
 Poltttheifm , which is the feign- 
 ing of many Gods, is a meft dam- 
 nable errour: And how many Gods 
 have all that are ungodly ? No man 
 departeth from the one true God, 
 but he makes to himfelf many falfe 
 Gods in his Head. His wealth,and 
 his credit , and his throat, and his 
 recreations, and the Rulers that are 
 capable of hurting him, are all as 
 his Gods , and to them he gives 
 that which is due to God on- 
 
 Infidelity is one ef the raoft 
 damning errours in the world ^ 
 when men believe not in Chrift 
 
 that 
 
Catbslick linttf. 4$ 
 
 that bought them : But this is the 
 cafe of all the unfan&ifled. An 
 Opinion they have that the Gofpel 
 is true • and Chrift. is the only 
 Lord and Saviour .- but Infidelity 
 is predominant in them, and there- 
 fore fhould denominate them ^ or 
 elfe they (hould be faved, if they 
 were true Believers. Never did 
 they give an "hours true enter- 
 tainment to Chriit in their hearts. * 
 
 Tofe t tip a falfe Chrift , is one 
 of the moft damning iins in the 
 world. And what elfe do all the 
 ungodly, that place their hopes for 
 pardon and falvation , either in 
 their own good works, or carnal 
 fhifts, or at leaft, by falfe concepti- 
 ons do make Chriit not indeed to 
 be Chrift ? 
 
 To have many Saviours, is a 
 damnable errour. And how many 
 do the ungodly make to them- 
 felves, while they depart from the 
 Lord Chrift? 
 
 D To 
 
$o Catholick Unity. 
 
 To deny the Holy-Gbofi , is a 
 damnable errour. And what elfe 
 do all the ungodly in the world, 
 that will not be fandified by him? 
 This is the moft palpable errour 
 that they are guilty of : They are 
 baptized into the name of the Ho- 
 ly-Ghoft as their Sandifier , and 
 yet they will not be fandified by 
 him : Nay fome of them make a 
 mock of the Spirit, and of fandi- 
 fication. And fome of them - will 
 hearken to falfe deceiving Spirits , 
 inftead of the Holy Spirit of 
 God. 
 
 Some Hereticks have denyed 
 fome parts of the Scripture , and 
 Infidels deny it all. And what lefs 
 do all ungodly men, that believe it 
 not heartily, and will not obey it , 
 but deny it in parts, and refufe fub- 
 jedion to it ? They will not be fo 
 holy , not they, let Scripture fay 
 what it will. Are not all the ungod- 
 ly againft the Scripture ? Many a 
 
 time 
 
Catbolick Unity. 5 1 
 
 time have I heard them, when the 
 times more encouraged them , de- 
 riding the Bible, and thofe that did 
 but carry a Bible, or fpeak of the 
 Scripture,or read it in their houfes. 
 Certainly, he that fighis againft 
 Scripture in his life, is more againft 
 it, then he that only denys it with 
 his tongue. 
 
 Moreover , the Pelagian Here- 
 ticks denyed Original fin , andju- 
 ftified mans Nature : And fo doth 
 profanefs in a very great meafure. 
 Never were the ungodly truly 
 humbled for their Original fin,nor 
 favr any fuch matter in them- 
 felves,as to make them abhor them- 
 felves ! And what is this but actu- 
 ally to deny it ? 
 
 The fame Pelagians made light 
 «f Grace , which is Gods Image 
 upon the foul. But in this the un- 
 godly go quite beyond them : 
 They make a matter of nothing of 
 Holinefs, but account it a fancy i 
 D 2 or 
 
52 Catboltck Uniij, 
 
 or a needlefs thing . and many of 
 them hate it, and if the times did 
 but favour their malice, there were 
 no living near them for any that 
 fear God : In this they are Devils 
 in flefh •, I cannot liken them to any 
 herefie, butDevilifm, they go fo 
 far beyond the profeilions or them 
 all. 
 
 One fed is againft thofe that are 
 their oppofers , and another fed 
 againft their oppofers •, but ungod- 
 linefs is againft all that are godly 
 of every party vrhatfoever : and is 
 in open arms or fecret enmity 
 againft the army of Chrift , and 
 againft himfelf. 
 
 The SlmottUns, and NicoUitans, 
 and Gnoftickj of old, did hold that 
 men might do any outward adion, 
 when there is no other way to 
 efcape fuffering , as long as they 
 keep their hearts to God. So think 
 the ungodly, as appeareth by their 
 praftice ; Before they will loie their 
 
 eftates 
 
Cat Mick Unit j. 53 
 
 cftates and be brought to poverty, 
 or before they will lie in prifon, or 
 be burnt a: a Make, they will fay 
 any thing,or do any thing : They 
 would worfhip a piece of bread as 
 if it were God: they would turn to 
 Papiiis or any that can do them 
 a mifchief, if it were the Turks. 
 Alas, the particular feds among 
 us, do play a fmall game in compa- 
 nion of the ungodly • and hold 
 but petty errours to theirs : One 
 fed is againft one Ordinance , and 
 another fc& is againft another Or- 
 dinance •, but the ungodly are 
 againft all. The Sectaries are againft 
 fomething in the manner or oat-fide 
 of the work : but the ungodly are 
 againft the Spirit and Life , and 
 fubitanceof the duty it felt ; One 
 fed depraveth the dodrinc of 
 laith - 5 and another the dodrinc 
 of Repentance , and another the 
 dodrine of Obedience .- But the 
 ungodly deprave all the dodrinc 
 D 3 of 
 
54 Catholick Unity. 
 
 of Godlinefs •, yea deny it and not 
 only deprave it ; They fweep away 
 all before them, and go by whole- 
 sale ; They ftand not to fpeak as 
 other Hereticks, againft this Grace 
 or that Grace, but againft all : It is 
 Godlinefs it felf that the ungodly 
 are againft. 
 
 The SecTaries oppofe all parts of 
 the Catholick Church faving their 
 own : But the ungodly are againft 
 the Holy Catholick Church it fe\f- 7 
 as it is a Churchy and as it is Holy , 
 they are againft it. The Church is 
 a Society combined for holy obe- 
 dience to Chrift : and the un- 
 godly are againft that holy Obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 The Sectaries would have no 
 Communion of Saints, but in their 
 cwn way. But the ungodly, are 
 againft the Communion of Saints in 
 it j elf : for they are againft the 
 Saints that hold this Communi- , 
 on. 
 
 The 
 
Catholkk Unity. 55 
 
 The Papifls and Quakers are 
 againft our Miniitry , and rail at 
 them , and labour to bring them 
 into hatred. So do the worier lore 
 of the ungodly .- even of them thar 
 fay they are Proteftants, of our 
 own Religion. In their hou fes and 
 in the Ale-houfes, in their ordina- 
 ry difcourfe, they are cavilling 
 againft the Minifters, or reproach- 
 ing them : And fome of them are 
 more bitter haters and revilers of 
 them , then almoft any hereticks 
 that we meet with.- Yea fome of 
 them are glad to hear the Quakers 
 and Anabapufts reproach them , 
 and fecretiy fet them on ; Only 
 they are afhamed to own thefe re- 
 vilers, becaufe they fee them come 
 off in the end with fo much dif- 
 grace. But if they were but fure 
 that Papilts or Quakers- or any 
 fed: that is againft a godly Mimftry, 
 had power in their hands to go 
 through with their work, the mul- 
 D 4 titude 
 
56 Catholick Unity. 
 
 titude of the ungodly among us 
 wouid foon joyn with them. How 
 plainly did this appear in our late 
 wars ? when few Minifters of no- 
 ted diligence and piety , that defi- 
 red to have lived at home in quiet- 
 nefs, could be fuffered to live 
 among them • but the ungodly rife 
 up againft them as if they hid been 
 Turks or Jews , and drove them 
 into Garrifons to fave their lives. 
 The Separatifts, and Quakers, and 
 other feds difpute againft the Mi* 
 niftry with cavils and railings^ but 
 the ungodly would difpute them 
 down with halters and hatchets , 
 with fire and fword, if the merci- 
 ful Governour of the world did 
 not tye their hands. 
 
 The Quakers and many Ana- 
 baptifts and Separatifts are againft 
 Tythes, and all fettled maintenance 
 of the Miniftry. And do I need to 
 tell you that the ungodly covetous 
 worldlings are of the fame mind ? 
 
 What 
 
Cathelick Unity. 57 
 
 What need had Minifters elfe to 
 fuc for their Tyches? Were it not 
 for fear of treble damages , the 
 Minifters in many Parifhes of Eng- 
 land fhonld not have bread to 
 their mouthes,nor doathes to their 
 backs, before they got it by fuit at 
 Law. How commonly do they 
 think that alliswoon, and is cur- 
 rently their own, that they can but 
 defraud the Minifter of ? If it were 
 not that they are under difgrace t 
 the Quakers would foon have dif- 
 ci pies enow upon this very ac- 
 count , becaufe they are againft 
 Tythes. And gladly do the ungod- 
 ly covetous people hearken to that 
 doctrine, and get their books, and 
 would fain have that opinion take 
 as Orchodox. If the Prince , and 
 Parliament would but turn Quak- 
 ers, and cry downTytties, yea and 
 Miniitry too, the miferable ungod- 
 ly multitude would quickly be of 
 that Religion, and encertain their 
 D 5 Laws 
 
5 8 CMholhk Unity. 
 
 Laws wirh ringing of Bells , and 
 lhowts,and bone-fires. 
 
 Another here lie there is (even 
 the old feA of Anabaptifts ) that 
 are aganft a Chriftian Magiftracy ! 
 And another herefie ( the Liber- 
 tines ) that would have the Magi- 
 strates give men leave to fin. And 
 are not all the Profane of the fame 
 Opinion ? They dare not ifeal^ fo 
 freely indeed againft the Magi- 
 fir ate as againft the Mini fir -y ( un- 
 Jefs when they are up in arms 
 againft him ) but their very hearts 
 detefl that Magiftrate that takes 
 part with godlinefs, and promotes 
 Religion , and puts down Ale- 
 houfes , and puniftieth Swearers , 
 and Drunkards, andprofaners of 
 the Lords Day.. They are com- 
 monly for the Doftrinc that Dell 
 preacht to the Parliament , that 
 they fhould let Chrift alone "frith 
 Reformation , and let him do his 
 Tteinft himfelf : Or as another 
 
 hath 
 
Catholick UfJttj* 59 
 
 harh written , that he mil never 
 ferve fuch a God that is not able to 
 defend his own catife without the 
 Magiftrapes /word. The wretches 
 might as well have laid £We will 
 have no fuch God as cannot Go- 
 vern us himlelf without a Magi- 
 ftrate : or canr.ot defend us againil 
 enemies without wars ; or cannot 
 preferve our eftates without the 
 charge and trouble of Law-fuits ; 
 or fave our goods or lives , with- 
 out punifhing thieves or murder- 
 ers : or that cannot teach the 
 world without Minifters •, or give 
 us corn without plowing and fow- 
 ing ; we will never ferve fuch a 
 God as cannot preferve our lives 
 without meat, and drink, and 
 cloathes - 3 and lighten the world 
 himfelf without a Sun. ] God can 
 do all this ! But mult thefe dung- 
 hill worms impofe it on him , and 
 give him a Law • and take down 
 his creatures, and inftitu:ioni, and; 
 
 means. 
 
60 Cathlick Umtj. 
 
 means, and bid him do all with* 
 out them himfelf, or elie he is no 
 God. O wretched bkfphemers 1 
 Why how much of this blafphemy 
 are the ungodly guilty of,tbat hate 
 the Magittrate or any other that 
 executes Gods Laws , and would 
 hinder them from fin, and drive 
 them to the means that fhould 
 make them better 1 
 
 The Antinomians corrupt the 
 do&rine of faith, and take it to be 
 a Believing that their {ins are par- 
 doned^ that Chriit hath even re- 
 pented and believed in their ftead ^ 
 and he that hath this belief they 
 think is fafe, and that a man cannot 
 thus believe too much or too foon. 
 And this is juft the common Faith 
 of the ungodly : They truft in 
 Chrift to fave and pardon them , 
 even without San&iflcation or 
 Converfion ; and truft they will , 
 let Miniflers fay what they can ; 
 Preiumption is taken to be true 
 believing, 
 
Cstholick Unit j. 61 
 .believing , and by it they think to 
 be laved. They believe that Goi 
 will fave them , and therefore 
 they think they are true Be- 
 lievers. 
 
 The Antinomians fay, that no 
 man {hould be difcouraged from 
 fuch a belief by any fin whatfoever. 
 And this the ungodly hold and. 
 pra&ice. The Antinomians hold 
 that no man (hould ftay for any 
 Evidences of Grace in himfelf, be- 
 fore he thus believe that he is a 
 child of God,, and Juftified. And 
 this the ungodly hold and practice. 
 They believe and hope they are Ju- 
 ftiried and fhall be faved,wnen they 
 have not a word of proof for their 
 hopes, nor any reafon why tbey 
 (hould befaved more then the reit 
 of the world that will be condemn- 
 ed. Only they believe it and h<rpe 
 it^and that they think fhall ferve 
 the turn. 
 
 The Antinomians are againlt 
 Rep.-n:ing 
 
6i Cttkelick Unity. 
 
 Repenting and Grieving for fin , 
 and Conf effing it , as a means of 
 pardon. And I am lure the un- 
 godly are pradically againft it. 
 Repent, and mourn, and turn from 
 fin, they will not • nor confefs any 
 more but what they know not 
 how to deny { but as much as they 
 can they will hide it, excufe it and 
 defend it. 
 
 The Antinomians would not 
 have one of their believers, if he 
 fall into [he grofleft fins , to make 
 the leait queftion of his pardon 
 and [uftihed ftate for that. And fo 
 is it \vi:h the ungodly : They will 
 confefs, when they fwear , or are 
 drunk, that they fin ( becaufe they 
 cannot deny it; ) but they wAl 
 not btlieve that they are graceiefs 
 and unpardoned: but all are din- 
 ners ; and the beft have their 
 faults, and fo have they ; and 
 this is tjje worll thev make of their 
 fin. 
 
 Tkft 
 
Cdtholick Unity. 6} 
 The Pelagians fay that the will 
 of man is fo free , that he can turn 
 and become a new creature at any 
 time. And if this were not the 
 Opinion of the ungodly, how 
 could they put off Converfion, and 
 fay , Its time enough hereafter ? 
 but that it feems they think they 
 can turn at any time, as if they had 
 the Spirit and Grace of God at 
 their command. 
 
 And yet they hold the contrary 
 to this. (And this is no wonder .- 
 for there is a very Babel of con- 
 fnfion in the foul of the unfan&i- 
 fted. ) The Antinomians fay, that 
 man can do nothing to his own 
 con^erfion,butismeerly paffive : 
 if God have Juftifled him before 
 he was born, he {hall be a Juftifled 
 perfon -, and if God will give him 
 grace, well and good ^ if not , he 
 cannot help it. Juft fo fay many of 
 the ungodly • £lf we are eleded 
 we. lhail be faved ; if not, let u; 
 
 do 
 
64 Catholick Unity. 
 do what we can , we cannot be fa- 
 yed ; if God will not give us grace, 
 we cannot 4iave it ; and if we pe- 
 rifh what remedy ? 2 As if God 
 did deny his Grace to any of you, 
 but thofe that forfeit it by wilful 
 fin ? Or as if your wilful refilling 
 of it w T ere no fault or forfeiture : 
 Or as if C od did predeflinate any 
 Lefides the fan&ified to falvati- 
 on. 
 
 Abundance mere fuch Herefies 
 I m?ght reckon up , that are all 
 comprized in ungodlineis. Some 
 Ir.ndels queftion the Immonaliry 
 of the Soul : And fo do n any of 
 the ungodly ; 1 have heard fome of 
 them flatly deny it : and others 
 of them do not well believe it. 
 
 Some Infidels quellion whether 
 there be any Hell. And fo do the 
 ungodly in their hearts , or elfe 
 they durit never fo boldly venture, 
 on it , and fo merrily live in. 
 the fuddrn danger cf it. 
 
 £c«2 
 
Catholick Unity. 65 
 
 Some Infidels queftion the Joyes 
 of Heaven. And if the ungodly 
 did not fo in their hearts, they 
 would not think an holy life too 
 much ado to get it, nor would they 
 part with it for the pleafure of a 
 filthy (in. 
 
 There is never an Article of the 
 Creed bur^fome Heretickor other 
 do:h oppofe it: Andthe ungodly are 
 againft themaltogether,even while 
 they profefs to believe them 
 all. 
 
 There is never a one of the 
 ten Commandments , but ungod- 
 Iinefs is againft it. There is 
 never a Petition in the Lords Pray- 
 er, but ungodlinefs is againft it •, 
 for all that they are content to 
 ufe the words. Inftead of Hal- 
 lowing the name of God, they 
 diihonour it, and inftead of living 
 to the Glory of God , they feek 
 themfelves and their own honour. 
 The Kingdom of Chrift they are 
 
 enemies 
 
66 Catholic* Unit j, 
 
 enemies to : In the Church with- 
 out: them , they love not his Go- 
 vernment. In their hearts within, 
 they will not endure it > and the 
 coming of his rittwa Kingdom 
 they are afraid of. Inftead of do- 
 ing his will, they quarrel with it, 
 and murmur at it, and difobey it , 
 and do their own wills , and would 
 have God do their wills too , and 
 have all others do them. Inftead cf 
 being content with daily bread to 
 fit them for Gods fervice , they 
 drown themfelves in pleafures , or 
 in worldly cares to make provision 
 to fkusiie their ftefh. Inftead of 
 valuing and accepting the forgive- 
 nefs of iin, as purchafed by Chrift 
 and offered in the Gofpel , they 
 have flight appreher. lions of fo 
 great a mercy, and refufe the con- 
 ditions of it as too hard , and run 
 deeper into debt , and wilfully fin 
 more. Inftead of avoiding Tern- 
 p:a:ions, and flying to Chrift for 
 
 de- 
 
Catholick Unity. 61 
 
 deliverance from evil , they tempt 
 themfelves, and run into Tempta- 
 tions, and feek after them-, and 
 love the evil of fin, and are loth to 
 leave it and be delivered from it. 
 So that they are againfl every pe- 
 ticionin the LordsPrayer, though 
 they ufe the words. 
 
 They arealfoagai.ft every Or- 
 dinance of God , and lick up the 
 vomit of all feds that dobppofe 
 them. One fed is aga;nft the Lords 
 day : and fo are the ungodly againft 
 the fandifying of it , and fpend- 
 ing it in holy worfhip^and delight- 
 ing themfelves thereon in God. 
 Elfe what need fo many Acts to 
 reftrain them from fports and other 
 profanacion of it ? And all will not 
 do. 
 
 Another fed: is againft Praying 
 but by the Book, and would have 
 Min Iters reftrainfd from praying 
 in any other words, then are com- 
 manded him. And the ungodly 
 
 eafily 
 
6i Catbolick Unit). 
 
 eafily receive this opinion, and 
 reproach all other prayers as ex- 
 temporate and diforderly. 
 
 Another fed is againft Church 
 Government by any but Magi- 
 ftrates^ thefe are called Eraftians. 
 And the ungodly are not only 
 againft ir, but deceit it , and re- 
 proach it. Let them be called to 
 Publick Repentance and Confefii- 
 on for 'any publick fin , and try 
 whether they be not againft. this 
 difcipline. I know no outward du- 
 ty that they are more againft. They 
 will hear us Preach with fome pa- 
 tience and quietnefs : but when we 
 come to reprove them perfonally , 
 and recover them from fcandalous 
 iirs by neceflary difcipline , they 
 ftorm and rage againft us, and will 
 not endure it. ' 
 
 \ Some Separatifts are for the 
 Peoples Governing of the Church 
 by a major Vote - 9 and Consequent- 
 ly ruling thofe that G$d doth call 
 
 their 
 
Catbolick Unh). 69 
 
 their Rulers, and commandeth 
 them to obey, Heb. 13.17. And 
 lb are the ungodly ^ they would 
 rule their Rulers, the Minifters.and 
 have them adniinifter the Ordinan- 
 ces of God according to their fan- 
 cies • but they will not be ruled by 
 them : Let the Minifte-r but require 
 thtm to come to him to be inRrucV 
 ed or Catechized, and they will not 
 be ruled by him , they are too old 
 to be Catechized : Let him call 
 them to any neceflary profeflion 
 or other duty , and they will do 
 what their lift. Let him butcrofs 
 any of their conceits and cuftoms , 
 and they will fooner revile him 
 then be ruled by him. 
 
 The Separatifts will withdraw 
 themfelves from our Churches and 
 Gods Ordinances, if things be not 
 fuited to their mind. And fo will 
 many of the ungodly. Moft Pa- 
 rifties in England^ that I hear of, 
 where any kind' of Difcipline is 
 
 exer- 
 
70 Cathltck Unity. 
 
 exercifed , have more Separatiils 
 then Communicants. The far 
 greater part of many Pariihes , 
 forbear the Communion of the 
 Church in trie Lords Supper, and 
 have done many years together • 
 even became they cannot be ad- 
 mitted without examination, or 
 without lbme neceiTaryor lawful 
 profeiTion,or became they cannot 
 have the Sacrament kneeling , or 
 put into their hands, or the lixe : 
 They wi:l ieparate and be without 
 theSacrament,ortakeit inafepa- 
 rate focie:y, rather then they will 
 be ruled by the Pallors of the 
 Church in a gelture or undoubted- 
 ly lawful thing. 
 
 Another fed of late will not 
 fing Davids Pfi.lms : And the un- 
 godly will not do it heartily and 
 reverently , but only with the 
 voice. 
 
 Another fed ( the Anabaptifts) 
 are againfl Baptizing Infants. And 
 
 the 
 
Catbdick Unit). 71 
 
 the ungodly do not holily and 
 heartily devote themfelves and 
 their infants to God ; they do not 
 themfelves renounce, the world , 
 the flefh and the devil , and take 
 God for their God, and Omit for 
 their Saviour , to heal and rule 
 them, and the Holy-Ghoft for 
 their San&ifler to make them ho- 
 ly : and how then can they do this 
 for their children , which they re- 
 fufe themfelves ? When they have 
 offered their children to God in 
 Baptifm , they bring them to the 
 flefh., and the world, and the devil 
 in their lives , and teach them to 
 break the Covenant which they 
 made. So that they are far work 
 then Anabaptifts. 
 
 Another late fed will not Pray 
 morning and evening 'in their fa- 
 milies, nor crave Gods blefiing on 
 their meat, nor teach children and 
 fervants the duties of Religion • 
 And fo is it with the ungodly ; 
 
 How 
 
72 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 How many of you that hear me to 
 day, have prayerlefs families ? that 
 let your people go about their la- 
 bours as an Ox to the Yoak, with- : 
 out calling upon God? How few 
 ufe to indraft and admonifh their; 
 families, and help to prepare them I 
 for death and judgement ? All that 
 arc about you, may fee that you* 
 are guilty of this herefie. 
 
 Another fed alate is rifen up , 
 that will not keep any conftant 
 times of prayer neither in family 
 or in private, but only when they 
 find themfelves in a good mood , 
 then they will pray. And fo is 
 it with many of the profane. 
 
 I am aweary of mentioning 
 thefe defperate errours : More of 
 them might be mentioned •, and 
 the cafe made plain, that almoft all 
 theHerefiesin the world are met 
 together in the ungodly and un- 
 fan&iried. 
 
 Would you fee the fumme of all 
 
 my 
 
Catbolick Unity 7j 
 
 my charge, in order? It is this .- 
 i. Many feels that troabk us 
 much, do ye: hold no errours but 
 what may fund with Chriftianity 
 and Salvation. Btic tire ungodly err 
 in the EiTentials , and overthrow 
 the very Foundation of Religion. 
 Their errours will not confift with 
 grace or falvation : They are 
 damnable hercfies. Yea befide all 
 that the feds aforefaid hold, they 
 have many damning hercfies of 
 their own. Thefe deadly hereticks 
 hold, that the world is rather to be 
 fought then everlasting Glory •, 
 that the pleafure of fin is to be 
 chofen before the Holinefs of thei 
 Saints : that their flefh is to be 
 p'eafed before God - y that its bet- 
 ter venture on their beloved fins , 
 and keep them yet a little longer , 
 then prefently forfake them • that 
 the way to heaven which Gocf 
 commandeth, and Chriftand all his 
 Apoftles went in, is Puritajaifm and 
 
 5 P r€ " 
 
74 Catholick Unity. 
 
 precifenefs- and godi^nefs is more 
 ado then needs h and that the body 
 muft have more care and diligence 
 then the foul • and the trifiles of 
 this world be more looked af- 
 ter then the one thing necefla- 
 ry ! 
 
 Thefeand abundance fuch dam- 
 nable Herefies do dwell in our Ci- 
 ties and Countries, in the minds of 
 thofe that cry out againft here/?es. 
 Ungodlinefs is the greateft Herefie 
 in all the world. 
 
 2. Other Heretieks have fpme 
 of them but one or two errours, 
 but the Ungodly have all thefe to- 
 gether : They are the fink of all 
 errours : As all Gods Graces make 
 lip the new creature inthefan&i- 
 fied^ fo all deadly errours and 
 vices go to make up the body of 
 ungodlinefs, when it iscomplcat. 
 Its name is Legion - ? for there are 
 many of thefe evil fpirits in it. 
 The Anabaptift hath a fcab^ and 
 
 the 
 
Catholick Unity. 75 
 
 the Separatift hath a wound ^ but 
 the common ungodly multitude 
 have the leprofie, and plague-fores 
 from top to toe. 
 
 Proianenefs is a hodge-podge and 
 gally-rnawfry of all the herefiesof 
 the world in one. 
 
 3 . Many other hereticks do err 
 but in Speculation, and only the 
 brain is infected , and they do not 
 at the heart digefl their own mis- 
 takes. But the Herefies of the 
 Profane ungodly people are Pra- 
 ftical , and have mattered the 
 will : the Poyfon is working in the 
 heart and vital parts ^ fo that it 
 is far the more mortal for this. 
 
 4. Many feds at lead do not 
 Pra&ife their errours ^ but the un- 
 godly live upon them. Yea their 
 lives are worfe then their opini- 
 ons : they fay bad, and do worfe. 
 You may fee more Herelie , then 
 you can hear from them. 
 
 5. Some erring perfons have 
 
 Ez the 
 
j6 CAtbclick Unity. 
 
 the fubftance of Chriftian truth 
 mfxt with their errour, by which 
 the power of the venom is abated, 
 and they do good in the Church as 
 well as hurt : But the ungodly do 
 notfavingly, heartily and pra&i-l 
 cally hold faftany the moft fundaJ 
 mental truth. 
 
 6. Some feds are wee 1^ and tem\ 
 prate in their way. But the ungod-J 
 iy are carried on with fury and ma- 
 lice ', againft the whole body of the 
 Holy Catholick Church. 
 
 7. And fome Hereticks are fo 
 thin and few, that where we have 
 cne of them to do hurt , we have 
 an hundred or a thou/and to con- 
 tradict them. But the unfan&ified 
 and ungodly are the greater num- 
 ber ■, and think they fhould rule be- 
 caufe they are the moft •, and the 
 flock of Chrilt is a little flock. 
 And fo many thoufands fwarming 
 all over the world , and making up 
 the far greatcft part of the world , 
 
 is 
 
Catholick Knit j, 77 
 
 is like to do more againft truth and 
 peace, then here and there a poor 
 Se&ary in a corner. 
 
 8- And laltly , the erroufs of 
 fome others are eafnr cyred • but 
 the whole nature of the ungodly 
 is turned as it were into errour ^ k 
 is rooted fo at the heart , that r.o- 
 power on earth is able to cure 1: ,. 
 till God Almighty by iufuperable 
 light and life of grace will do the 
 cure. 
 
 And now I befeech you, judge 
 impartially who they be that arc 
 the deadly and dangerous herc- 
 ticks .- and who are the hinderere 
 of Unity in the Church, And 
 how unfit thefe miferabie peopje 
 are to call (or Vniry^ and cry out 
 againft out many Jteligims , who 
 are heartily of no Religion tbeitl- 
 felves, hwiagainfl the life and pra- 
 ctice of all. To hear an ungodly 
 man go crying out of Setts , of 
 Separates , of Anabaftifts , and 
 E 3 «*his 
 
78 Catbelick Unity. 
 
 this and that; is as if we fhould 
 hear a Blackawore fcorn one for a 
 ipot on his face •, or a murderer 
 rebuke a man for an angry word ^ 
 or a Souldier that kills as many as 
 he can , cry out of the Surgeons 
 for curing no more, or blame 
 others for a foul word • or a com- 
 mon whore reproach another for 
 a wanton word, or uncomely gar- 
 ments.- Or as if a mad man (hould 
 revile men for every flip he flndeth 
 in their fpeeches , and call them 
 fools. O that we knew how to 
 call out this matter Devil of Vn- 
 godlinefs I this Beelzebub the 
 Prince of Devils 1 and then I 
 fhould not fear the reft % no not all 
 the feds and errours in the world 
 that are found with true godli- 
 nefs. 
 
 Yet {till remember thefe two 
 cautions. 1. I do not excufe the 
 errours of thebeft : and I lament 
 that they have lamentably wrong- 
 ed 
 
Catholick Unity. 79 
 ed the Church , and in fome re- 
 fpe&s they have the grcateft ag- 
 gravations. 2. And I ftill confefs 
 that fome of the unfan&ified are 
 fo civil and Orthodox , as to be 
 very ufeful in the Church s and 
 helpful againft feds and herefies : 
 becaufe they are right in the brain 
 as to fpeculation , and right in the 
 tongue ; and their errour is kept 
 buryed deep in the heart , and 
 therefore they err more to them- 
 felves then to others. I doubt not 
 buc many fuch are profitable 
 Preachers and defenders of the 
 truth • and the Church mud: be 
 thankful to God for their gifts. 
 And yet all that I have affirmed 
 {tandeth good, that Ungodlinefsis 
 the tranfcendent Herefie and 
 Schifm. 
 
 E 4 Vfi 2, 
 
8o Catholkk Unity. 
 
 life i. 
 
 T± Y what hath been faid yoti 
 ^ may eaiily perceive, how little 
 caufe the Papifts, or Ceremonious, 
 or any others,have to glory in fuch 
 members of their Churches as I 
 have defchbed. Can they expecl a 
 llnjty of the Spirit with thefe ? 
 \i they glory that they have men 
 and multitudes on their iide^fo may 
 the Turks that have more then 
 they : and fo may the Heathens 
 that have more then either. And 
 yet when a Papiit hath deceived a 
 poor licentious, or ignorant man , 
 or a proud or vitious filly woman , 
 •they glory in their Convert. Ne- 
 ver yet did I know any Protectant 
 turn Papiit, that was not an un- 
 godly wretch before, and without 
 the power of the Religion which 
 
 he 
 
Cathelickllnitj. 81 
 
 he profefTed. Do not faylfpcak 
 cenfohoufly or -uncharitably in 
 this-, for I think upon confiderati- 
 on all Papifts will confefs it : For 
 they teach that all that be not of 
 their Church are void of chanty , 
 and cannot fo be faved : and that 
 all muft therefore come in to their 
 Church, becaufe there is no Cha- 
 rity or Salvation without it. 
 Though this be falfe, yet you fee by 
 it that they confefs that nerer any 
 but gracelefs unfan&ified prote- 
 itants did turn to them ; r^or can 
 they invite any to them but un- 
 godly people. And who ever turn- 
 erh Papift , doth thereby confefs 
 that he was ungodly before , and 
 that he was not an honeft godly 
 man. For in turning Papiit , he 
 profeffech to go in*o that Church 
 out of which thereisnofalvation,, 
 and confequently no Charity or 
 faving grace. And if indeed you 
 defire none but the ungodly to 
 E 5 turn 
 
8 l Catbclick Unity. 
 
 turn to you, take them if they will' 
 needs go, and try whether you can. 
 do any more good on them then 
 we have done. I thiok we have 
 little caufe (but for their own 
 fakes ) to lament our [ok of fuch 
 asthefe : and that you have little 
 caufe to glory in your Profelites. 
 And I have ye: feen none that {hew 
 us any more Holinek fince their 
 change, then they had before. A 
 fair Church you have , that is the 
 common {tie for all that will come 
 to you • and that is glad of any to 
 make up the number , that you 
 may have that in quantity , that is 
 wanting in quality. 
 
 Vfty 
 
Catbolick Unity. 83 
 
 life 3. 
 
 FRom hence alfo let Quakers, 
 and Papift?,ahd all reproachers 
 of our Churches take notice, how 
 groundiefiy they hit us in the teeth 
 with the ungodly that live among 
 us. [ Thefe are jour Protefiants , 
 fay they ^ Thefe are your Churches : 
 Thefe are the fruit of jour Mini- 
 fir j ! fay the Quakers, j No • thefe 
 are the enemies of our Miniitry and 
 Dodrine : Thefe are they that 
 joyn mthyoH, and fuch asj0#, to 
 ref roach us and revile us ! Thefe are 
 the obfimate defpifers of our Mini- 
 ftry • that inftead of learning of 
 us do revile us • and inftead of 
 obeying our doctrine do make a 
 mock at it. If they are any of them 
 brought to a found confeifion, and 
 retrained from any vice , they 
 
 may 
 
&4 CatMick Unity. 
 may thank tht do&rine which we 
 preach for that (imlefsthey do it 
 only for fear of the Laws.) But 
 t^eir profanencfs is it that we have 
 endeavoured to cure them of, 
 and tannot •, for they are obfti- 
 nate. 
 
 . If Papifts or Quakers accufe 
 our Do&rine as dead and weak,, 
 becaufe it* cannot cure all our 
 hearers-, What forgetful dotards 
 are they that obferve not how they 
 condemn thtmfelves ? Do the 
 £mk£rs or Ptpfts change us all 
 to their opinions by their books or 
 preaching ? Beyond Sea they are 
 fain to keep men in their Church 
 by fire and fword for fear of 
 lofing them : and here ; it is but 
 here and there an ignorant ungod- 
 ly wretch, or a proud raw novice, 
 that turns to them> 
 
 You may therefore as well hit us 
 in the teeth with your felves that 
 sevik us and fey, [We m the 
 
 fruit 
 
Ctihottck Unity] 85 
 
 fruit of your Miniftry 3 as with 
 the ungodly, and tell us that [they 
 are the fruit ] of our Miniftry. 
 For though they live among us , 
 they are not of us. And we teach 
 men no more to be ungodly , then 
 to be Quakers or Papifts. If- you 
 fay, that they are in our Churches-, 
 I anfwer, where Difcipline is exer- 
 cifed , the moft of them arc out ^ 
 and the reft we weed up as fall as 
 they fo difcover themfelves, that 
 we may do it without danger of 
 pulling up the Wheat with them. 
 Many of us reject them by Difci- 
 pline : and all of us rebuke and 
 diibwn them by do&rine. If Jews 
 and Heathens were among us, we 
 could not preach more againft 
 them , then we do againft the un- 
 godly ^ nor could we labour harder 
 to cure them. Tell us not there- 
 fore of them .- they are none of 
 ottrs : they difown us, and we dif- 
 own them ; They are our perfecu- 
 
 torfl 
 
** Catbelick Unity. 
 tors as you are , that hate us when 
 we have done our beft for them 
 and love us leaft when we Jove 
 themmoft. and caft back all our 
 imtruction in our faces, or caft it 
 behind their backs and tread it un- 
 I der feet. They are thofe aeainft 
 ; whom we fhake off the duft of our 
 feet: They are not our DifcipJes • 
 \ but fuch as refufe to be Chrifts' 
 own Difciples. 
 Nay I wonder that Papifts and 
 I Quakers do not to their frame ob- 
 ferve , that it is like to be fome 
 \ evil Spirit that fees them awork to 
 'rail againft us ■ feeing all the 
 IJDrunkards , and Whore-mongers , 
 land^ covetous wretches, and un- 
 l;god!y malicious people in our Pa- 
 '/rifhesbe of their mind, and rail 
 [againft us as they do : Its like to 
 be the fame caufe that hath the 
 fame effect. If it be the Devil that 
 lets tht Profane to revile us, judge 
 who it is that fets thefe fetf s to 
 
 fpeak 
 
Cdthelick Unity. 87 
 
 fpeak the fame or like words 
 againft the fame perfons. 
 
 And you that are Profane and 
 ungodly, I pray you here take no* 
 tice what a cafe you are in I You 
 are fo vile that few befides your 
 felves will own you. We difown 
 you : You are none of ours $ be- 
 caufe you will be none of Chrifts. 
 And the very Quakers and other 
 feds difown you, and hit us in the 
 teeth with you, as if you were our 
 fhame : All thefe bear witnefs 
 againft your ungodlinefs : And 
 therefore if yet you will be ungod- 
 ly, when Quakers are againft you, 
 and all are againft you almoft as 
 well as we h if you will hear nei- 
 ther Minifters nor Sectaries, nei- 
 ther Teachers nor Railers , how 
 many witnefles will rife up againft 
 you, and how fpeechlefs will you 
 be ? 
 
 Vfe 4. 
 
8S Catbclick Unity. 
 
 lift 4. 
 
 IHave been all this while bur 
 about prepare tivrs r and now 
 I come to the work that I intended. 
 Do not think that I havefpoken 
 all this of theurgodly to hinder a 
 Union and Chnltian Concord, but 
 to prepare for it,by telling you the 
 reafon of ou cc , and divi- 
 
 , and what mi: ft be removed 
 before we can be One. Truly Sirs, 
 :rie to you with peaceable in- 
 . 1 come upon a treaty 
 you, to lee whether you 
 become One with us, and be re- 
 conciled or not ? For the Lords 
 iake attend me con fid era: ely and 
 impartially, for it is a weighty bu- 
 finefs that I have 10 propound to 
 you , and a mod exce 
 thatlhavetorr.a^e. As you re- 
 
 gatd 
 
Catbdick Unity. 8# 
 
 gard the God of Unity that fends 
 to you , and Chrift the Prince of 
 Peace , and the Spirit who is the 
 Principle of Unity, and theChurcfj 
 that is the feat of Unity, and your 
 felves that may have the bleiling 
 of Unity , hearken to the motion 
 of Peace and Unity that I have to 
 make to you from the Lord. Sirs , 
 What think you ! hath the world 
 been long enough divided or not ! 
 Are we cut into fnreds enow , and 
 broken into pieces enow or not ? 
 Are our diftances from one another 
 great enough, and our fpirits bit- 
 ter enough or not ? Is it not time 
 think you to found a retreat to onr 
 foolifti wars > You call for Unity : 
 You talk for Unity, and againft 
 feds and divifions : Do you mean 
 as you fpeak ? and are you in good 
 fad'nefs , or are you not ? Would 
 you have us to be all of one mind 
 and way, #r not ? You talk againft 
 being of fo many Religions ; Is it 
 
 thfi 
 
90 CithAick Unit y. 
 
 the true defire of your hearts that 
 we lTiould be all -of ^ Religion? 
 If it be , hold fall to this : So far 
 we are agreed .• Let us lay this as 
 a ground- work ^ We muft be all 
 of One Church , One Faith , One 
 Rdigicn, if Vvewill be faved. 
 
 Well then, it lyes next before us 
 in order to enquiry, What One 
 Religion and Way we muft be of? 
 and what is our diftance, and what 
 courfe muft be taken to make us 
 One ? Are you willing to lay by 
 paffion, and fcorn, and hatred, and 
 bitternefs , and come to a treaty 
 about the matter f O Sirs, if you 
 were but all truly willing to fearch 
 out the bufinefs,and to be ruled by 
 God and reafon , we {hould foon 
 be agreed, for all our differences. 
 And how happy would this be for 
 the troubled Church ? How happy 
 for the offended diftracted world ? 
 how happy for your own fouls ? 
 Well ' what terms (hall we agree 
 
 upon? 
 
CdtbolkkUnit'). 91 
 
 upon ? Some body muft begin the 
 otion :, fitting ftill will not heal 
 us. I will make a motion that never 
 a man of you thac hath the face 
 of a Chriftian, can tell what juftly 
 to accept againft. Let us kc the 
 Word of God before us , and take 
 the beft helps on both fi des to un- 
 derftand it , and let this decide the 
 cafe with us : What fay you ? will 
 you ftand to the Wordof God t Shall 
 we appeal ail to Chrift, and try our 
 differences by his revealed word ? 
 If this may carry it, we (hall foon 
 be agreed. 
 
 But if any of you have catcht 
 the Popifh perverfnefs , and fay 
 Q The Scripture is dark, and a dead 
 letter ^ every fed pleads Scripture 
 for their way h this will not ferve 
 our turn •, we muft have a living 
 Judge] Ianfwerfucha one as fol- 
 lowed. 1. Is the Scripture the 
 Law of God or not ? If you fay 
 Not, you may as well fay you are 
 
 Infidels. 
 
92 C ttbfflict Unity. 
 
 1.} i I not 
 
 not Judge ^areand 
 
 E CO 
 
 the!. 
 
 not being capable f Ac oft 
 
 ends of a Law. And l'o if our fal- 
 
 on or damnation lye on our 
 
 Gods Word and L 
 
 :.b!e repi Gcd 
 
 and it , to lay car:- 
 
 -inderftand. j. Muft we not 
 
 be judged by this Law ? U 
 
 : . An d then fh o old we 
 :ure our Caufes by 
 4 > Arbitra: eufe 
 
 of a Law to decide a controver- 
 
 . :gc ? 
 Doubrle: y. 5. V. 
 
 Judge would e ? There are 
 
 to 
 
Cathilick Unity. 93 
 
 be thellniverfal Infallible Judge 
 of controverfics : and that is the 
 Pope 9 and a General Council. Tor a 
 General Council , there is none 
 now in the world, nor like to be 
 to the end of the world : God for- 
 bid we (hould defer our Peace till 
 then. And its Decrees are as dark, 
 and much more uncertain then 
 the word of God. And for the 
 Pope , he is the Head of a fe& or 
 party, and therefore not fit to be 
 judge : you may well know he will 
 judge on his own fide. He mult be 
 judged by this word of God him- 
 felf. He is too far off, of all con- 
 fcience, for us to go or fend to. 
 Where Rome is, the molt of you 
 know not : A fhorter journey may 
 better difpatch our work. The Pa- 
 pifts themfelves tell us that many 
 Popes have been Murderers, Adul- 
 terers, Simonifts, perjured per- 
 fons, and fome Hereticks and In- 
 fidels. And mull fuch as thefebe 
 
 our 
 
 
94 Cathelick Unity. 
 
 our cnlj Judges? They have erred if. 
 oft already ,and therefore they may 
 deceive us s And if you fend for 
 the Popes Sentence, you muft take 
 the Meffengers word that he was 
 there, and that its true. 
 
 Bra yet if all this will not ferve 
 turn , I will make a motion thai 
 none can gainfay that hath the 
 face of a Chriltian. Let its firft 
 agree in all tbofe points that Papijts 
 and Proteftants, Calvinifis And Lu- 
 therans , Arminiahs and Ana- 
 baptifis , ana Separatifts , and all 
 parties that deserve to be called 
 Ckriftians, are agreed in I What 
 fay you , is not this a Reafonable 
 motion ! O happy you, and happy 
 the places where you live , if you 
 would but ftand to it I 
 
 And let us confider of this mo- 
 tion -firft in the General ftate of 
 our difference , and then in the 
 particular parts of it I 
 
 Truly Sirs, the main difference 
 
 in 
 
Catbfilick Unity. 95 
 
 n rhis-world is between the Godly 
 and the Vngodly, and ail other dif- 
 ferences that are not parts ot\his, 
 are nothing to this , being of leffer 
 danger , and eafier toleration or 
 cure. The whole world is divided 
 into two Armies : Cbrift is the 
 Captain General of one, and the 
 Saints only his trueSouldiers , and 
 the feeming Saints his feeming 
 Souldiers ; The Devil is the Ge- 
 neral of the other, and all the un- 
 regenerate or ungodly are his Soul- 
 diers. An enmity is putfincethe 
 beginning between the feed of the 
 woman and of the Serpent , Gen. 
 3.15. and there is no middle Hate, 
 nor one man on earth that is not 
 in one of thefe Armies. I come 
 not to reconcile the Commanders, 
 Chrift zn&" Satan •, for they are 
 unreconcileable •, but to reconcile 
 you to Chrift, and draw you from 
 a deceiver. I tell you , Sirs , this 
 great difference between the holy 
 * ana 
 
96 C4tbolick Unity. 
 
 and the unholy, is the firft that 
 muft be healed. We tan go no 
 further with you , if you will not 
 begin here at the heart of the dif- 
 ference. When this is done, you 
 lhall fee before I have done with 
 you, that I will quietly tell yon 
 how wc may do well, for all x>ur 
 other differences. You know if one 
 of us believe that there is a God ,■ 
 and another thatthere is none, it 
 were foolery for us to difpute how 
 God muft be worfhipped, before 
 we are agreed that there ts a God. 
 So here ^ when it is the nature of 
 ungodlinefs to make men falfe to 
 the very truths that they do pro- 
 fck, and heartily to be of no Re- 
 ligion at all, it is in vain to difpute 
 about circumftances and modes 
 with fuch kind of men. Who 
 would difpute whether Infants 
 fhould be baptized , with a man 
 that knows not what Baptifm is ? 
 [ Even an accepting of God for our 
 
 God, 
 
Catbel'ck Unity. 97 
 
 Cod , and Chrifl for our Lord and 
 Saviour, and the tidy Ghoflfor our 
 S^nBifier ^andan abfolute deliver- 
 ing up our [elves to the blejfed Tri- 
 nity in thefe reUthns, by a fdewu 
 Covenant prof e fed snd fealed by 
 water ■, renouncing the flefi, the world 
 and the Devil. J O were but this 
 much practically known, we ffcould 
 be all United in this oneBaptifm. 
 Still I fay, Unholinefs is the great 
 point ol difference , and the dun- 
 g.OAiof Confufion , and puddle 
 where all the herefies of the world 
 are blended and made into a body 
 that is fomniueg worfe then here- 
 lie. When ycucry up Unity , and 
 cry down Holinels, you are difl ra- 
 ded and know not what you fay. 
 You talk of joyning us together, 
 and }ou caft away the glue and 
 foder. You talk of building the 
 Church inllnity,and you caft away 
 the lime and morrer, the pins and 
 nails, and all that fhouid fallen 
 F them. 
 
98 Catholick Unity. 
 
 them. Youcompiain that the gar- 
 ment of Chrift is rent , and you 
 throw away the needle and thred 
 that fhould fow it up. You fee our 
 wounds and blood • and take on 
 you to have pitty on the Church , 
 and call for healing but you hate 
 and cad away the only falve. Do 
 you not yet know that the Chur- 
 ches Unity is a Unity of the Spirit, 
 and of Holinefs } and that there 
 is no way in the world for us and 
 you to be United, unlefs you will 
 be Sanctified, and live in the Spirit , 
 as you have done in the flefh ? 
 
 Sirs, let us come nearer the mat- 
 ter : 1 know our Towns and Coun- 
 tries have two forts of perfons in 
 them >, fome are Converted , and 
 fome Unconverted ^ fome holy, and 
 fome unholy ^ fome live for heaven, 
 and fome are all for earth • fome 
 are ruled by theWord of God,and 
 fome by their own flefh or wills. 
 If ever thefe agree and be United, 
 
 one 
 
Catbolick Unit j. 09 
 
 one party muft come over to the 
 o:ber. Either the Godly mull: be- 
 come ungodly ,or the ungodly muft 
 become paints and godly: Which 
 muft it be ? which do you think in 
 your Confciences ;s the way ? Muft 
 we yield to you • or fhould you 
 come away to us ? ( Pardon that I 
 r .umber my felf with the fandified^ 
 fori dare rot deny the mercies 
 of God, and the priviledges of his 
 houfe) Let us come fairly to debate 
 the Cafe, and lay our Reafons to- 
 gether ., and 1 will here proteft to 
 you, if you can give us better na- 
 fons why we fhould forfake a god- 
 ly life, tie turn to you ? acd it' we 
 can give you better reafons why 
 you fhould embrace an- holy life, 
 wiil you here promife to turn to 
 lis ? ar.d let them carry it that have 
 th. better caufe, and let us be re- 
 foved to go away United • and fall 
 all together into that one way chat 
 ihall be proved to be chfcbeft. 
 
 F2 Well, 
 
loo Catbohck Vnii). 
 
 Well, let us come to a debate • 
 and fee whether we mutt come to 
 you, or you to us. 
 
 i. If we ever agree and unite , 
 you know it mull be on terms that 
 arepojfikle. He that propounds th 
 ImycJJibilities to be agreed on, is 
 the enemy of agreement. But it is 
 imfojfible for hs to come to jo«,and 
 fo to Unite with you. This I now 
 prove, i . 1 1 is Impojfible to have 
 any Vniverjal Vnitj but in an 
 Vniverjal Head and Center , and 
 that is only God, the Father, Son, 
 and Holy-Ghoft. As I told you , 
 the Army muft Unite in the Gene- 
 ral, the kingdom in the Soveraign, 
 the Family in the Matter, the 
 School in the School-matter. In or- 
 der of Nature , you muft Unite 
 with God in the Redeemer by the 
 fan&ifying Spirit , before you can 
 Unite with us. But while you are 
 unfandified you are divided from 
 God. Do you not feel your minds 
 
 ftrange 
 
Catholichlinitj. 101 
 
 itrange to him , your hearts draw 
 back from him , and find by his 
 ftrangenefs ro you that there is a 
 diviiion ? Itsimpofiible for us to be 
 United to you, till Chrift be United 
 to you. For, i. Its againft Nature, 
 feeing he is the Center , and the 
 Head and Fountain of Life • And 
 what good would it do you to be 
 one with us and not with him ? 
 2. God is againft any Unity with- 
 out him : If you will not begin 
 with him , he will take it but as a 
 treafonable confpiracy, and will 
 break it. We dare not go without 
 him, left he be angry and deftroy 
 us ; Souldiers mwft not make either 
 Peace or war, nor fo much as treat 
 without the General. Do you not 
 remember how fehofafhat had 
 like to have fped by a friend- 
 fhip and confederacy with A- 
 hab ? 
 
 2. Moreover the Godly and un- 
 godly are of contrary natures : I 
 F 3 told 
 
IC2 Cdtbtlick Unity. 
 
 told you God hath put an enmity 
 between them. You tnuft change 
 
 your narure or we ours, before we 
 can Unite. Von may as well think 
 elleto Unite hr^ and water , or to 
 build in the air, or to incorporate 
 fir? and Gun- powder ; or to re- 
 concile men and ferpents-, and mar- 
 ry the dog and the bear together. 
 Sirs, thefe things are meerimpof- 
 Lblities. 2 Cor. 16. 14. There is no 
 agreement between Chrifl and 
 Belial, righteouinefs andunrighte- 
 crofnefs, light anddarknefs, d.a:h 
 and life , the members of Chrift, 
 and the members of an harlot or a 
 drunkard, orfuchlik? : We have 
 contrary fpirits • how th:n can we 
 be One? One hath the Spirit of 
 holinefs , and the other the Spirit 
 of profanenefs •, One is led by the 
 Spirit of Cod, and the o. her by 
 the fhfh : We live not by on* 
 Law. Gods will revealed m his 
 Word is Our Law : and the will of 
 
 the 
 
Catholick Unity. 103 
 
 tli.' flefh and the courfe of the 
 world \$ your Law. We 1: vc not on 
 one fort of food ^ how then can 
 we accord together ? Chriit. and 
 his heavenly truth, and holy Spirit, 
 and Ordinances , is the meat and 
 drink of the Saints .- thry cannon 
 live Without them : And the world 
 and flelhly delights are your food ^ 
 you cannot be without it. Your 
 food would be our poyfon^ your 
 worldly cares, your drunkennefc , 
 and profanenefs would be a tor- 
 ment to an honeft heart. They 
 cannot live without fome Commu- 
 nion with God in Faith and Love 
 by Prayer and Meditation : and 
 your heart is againft it. They have 
 not the fame end as you have. 
 Their work is all for Heaven , and 
 yours is all principally for earth. 
 Their work and yours are contrary. 
 They go one-way ,and you another. 
 So that its Jmfojfible to be United 
 and agree, till one fide change. 
 F4 And 
 
*<H C at holick Unity. 
 And n e cannor Poflibiy turn to 
 jo* : God holds us fall by his Love 
 and Spirit, and will not Jet rseo 
 norfufferus ever to be mMn* to 
 go. Do you not read Chrifttei- 
 «ng you , that its impoftbie to de- 
 ceive the Eled? that is, fo far as 
 to turn them away from Chrift. 
 
 r/o ar 5 k , epc h y the mi g hc Y power 
 or Cod through faith to falvation, 
 1 Pet. i. 5. And who can break 
 away from the upholding arms of 
 Almighty power? Chrift hath fuch 
 flold of us that he is refolved none 
 fliall take us out of his hands, fob. 
 10. 28. So that we cannot come 
 overagaintoyou. 
 
 But you may come over to us if 
 you will. God calls you, and Chrift 
 would welcome you, and the Holy 
 Ghoft would help you : the door 
 is let open by the bkod of Chrift : 
 the promife is to you «and to your 
 children, that you may and ihall 
 have Chrift and Hfc if you will 
 
 come 
 
Camlick Unity. 105 
 
 come in, and accept the offer. The 
 Devil cannot hind r you againft 
 your wills ^ he holds you but in the 
 fetters of your own wilfulnefs, by 
 his meer deceits. Seeing therefore 
 that jou may come over to the fan- 
 ftified, and they cannot pojfibly come 
 to you, let any reafonable man be 
 judge on what c.rms we fhould 
 unite and agree. 
 
 2. Moreover if we Agree, it 
 muft be on terms of wifdom and 
 hone ft y, A dijhuieft Agreement is 
 not to be deiired, but abhorred. 
 Toryoti to Lave your urrgodlinefs, 
 and turn to the Love and Pear of 
 God, is an hone ft courf . of Agree- 
 ment j for it is but to leave dif- 
 honefly it jfelf and become honeft. 
 I hope none of you dare charge 
 the way of God and godlinefs 
 with any difhonefty : God calls 
 you to nothing but what ishoiy, 
 and juft, and good : and therefore 
 Honefty requireth you to yield. 
 
 F5 Buc 
 
106 Cat bolt ck llnttj. 
 
 But for the far.&ihed co become 
 nnfan&ified •, for the Gcd'\ 
 become ungodly, to be one with 
 you, tfcis were the baf.ft difhone- 
 ftyinthe world. We know your 
 way to be of the Devil and t he 
 fieih $ and is it honeft then to 
 joyn with you in it ? We have try- 
 cdtoo long already in che daies of 
 our ignorance , and have found it 
 difhoneft and deceitful • and would 
 you have us go againft our own 
 experience? We were once in che 
 way that you are in , and were 
 forced to renounce it , or elfe we 
 had been undone body and foul for 
 ev.r ^ and fhould we lick up che 
 vomit which we were forced to caft 
 out ? we were once Agreed w r ich 
 you , and God conftramed us co 
 creak that Agreement ; and (hall 
 we renew it again ? Alas, your 
 way hath coft us dear ., Many a 
 bitter repenting day , and many a 
 fad thought , to the breaking of 
 
 cur 
 
Cath&lick Unit). 107 
 
 our hearts, and the very fenfeof 
 Gods difpleafure •, a tafte of Hell 
 was call into our conferences •, ma- 
 ny a groan , and tear, and prayer 
 it coft us, before we could recover 
 the hurt that we catcht in the way 
 of ungodlinefs • and yet we have 
 cot fully recovered it to this day. 
 And would you have us ftark mad 
 to forget fo fooii our former for- 
 rows, and turn to a life that hath 
 coft us fo dear already ? No, we 
 have paid too dear for it , and 
 fmarted too much for it , to go 
 that way any more : It brought us 
 to the very brink of Hell • and if 
 we had but dyed in that condition, 
 we had been damned at this hour • 
 And would you be fo unrealbnable 
 as to wifh us to go back again ? 
 No • by that time you know as 
 much of an unfandiHed flare as 
 we do, you will run from it your 
 felves as 1 aft as you can run ^ as the 
 lfraelitcs did from the cry of the 
 
 com- 
 
lo8 CatboIickUtitJ. 
 
 company of Dathan and Abiram , 
 left the earth fhould (wallow them 
 npa/fo, Numb. 1 6. 34. 
 
 We are certain that the Lord 
 whom we ferveis the only God-, 
 and that he,and none but he fhould 
 rule us j and that we have grie- 
 voufly wronged him by difobey- 
 ing him fo long. And yet would 
 you have us again forfake him ? If 
 we fhould lie in tears till we die , it 
 were too little to latisfie his Juftice 
 for one of the fins we have already 
 committed-, and if it had not been 
 for the wonderful love and fuffer- 
 ing of the fon of God, we had 
 been loft for ever ; And yet muil 
 we turn to this courfe again ? God 
 forbid. It was not fo wife nor ho- 
 neft a courfe. We our [elves , faith 
 Paul, were femetime foelijh , difo- 
 bedient , deceived > ferving divers 
 lufis and f leaf ures y living in malice 
 and envy , hateful and hating one 
 another ( you hear how he calls) 
 
 hisi 
 
Catholick Unttf, 109 
 his former life ) But after that the 
 kjndnefs and love of God our Savi- 
 our toward man appeared , not by 
 works of righteoufnefs Which we 
 have done^ but according to his mer- 
 cy he fixvedvu, by the wafting of re- 
 generation and renewing of the Holy 
 Ghcft, Tit. 7,. 3,4,5. Andftiould 
 Paul have turned a tool again, and 
 be deceived and difobedienc again, 
 to Ag:ee wich the reft of the de- 
 ceived world ? O Sirs , we have 
 feen that which you have not feen , 
 and tailed that which you never 
 tafted. Had you feen and tailed 
 the Love of God in Chnft, and the 
 delightful hopes of eternal life, and 
 felt the comfort of his fervice,and 
 the joyes of the Holy Ghoft, you 
 would never wifhus to comeback^ 
 again to agree with you in fin, buL 
 you woulaabhorr your felves the 
 very thoughts of your former fol- 
 ly. Why, you may better perfwade 
 a man to repent that he was bom, 
 
 and 
 
no CAthlick Vmtj. 
 
 and ro go into the womb again , 
 then :o perfwadeus to repent tha: 
 we are r.ew-bcrn , and return to 
 our to: D>er (late of death. De:.:h 
 is not fo \7;€€Z to us ; r or HeH, nor 
 the wrath ot C od fo lovely , ror 
 fin with all irs pleafure fo deiirab-e, 
 that we fhould torn to them again 
 for Peace with you. If we lave 
 fcaped :hem ca:e , and will r.ottake 
 that for a warning, to come there 
 no mure, we dclerYe to pay for 
 it. 
 
 Why Sirs , we have made a fo- 
 lemn Covenant with God, in the 
 face of the Congregation in our 
 Baptifm, and oft renewed it in the 
 Lords Supper, a..d vowed that we 
 would be his , and abfohitely and 
 ^nrefervedly his. And would you 
 wifh us to break fo folemn a Cove- 
 nan: ? What honefty is in fuch per- 
 fidioufnefs > We have renounced 
 the fleih, the world and the devil ■ 
 and fhould we turn to them again 
 
 for 
 
Cdtholick Unity. 1 1 1 
 
 for Peace with you ? O what a cur- 
 fed Peace were that I Let me tell 
 you, that we have not found God 
 fo bad a Matter , as to forfake him 
 for the fake of you or any creature. 
 We have tryed him, and found him 
 better to us then all the world. He 
 hath never given us caufe to for- 
 fake him. And if we fhtould now* 
 after all :he tryals of his love, turn 
 back to the way of (in andun^od- 
 linefs, the Devil himfelf would 
 charge us with difhonefty. What ! 
 mull the godly turn drunkards,and 
 worldlings , and haters of godli- 
 nefs to have Peace with jou ? Why 
 you may next perfwade us even to 
 turn Devils, that we may be recon- 
 cifedtoyou. The God that made 
 us, hath forbid us upon j^in of his 
 hot difpleafure , to walk in your 
 wayes. He faith to every one of uf^ 
 as to Jeremy, 15. 19. [.Let theM 
 return unto thee^ but return not thou 
 nntothewA And (hould we obey 
 
 God 
 
1 1 2 CAthoitck llmtj. 
 
 God or men ? Judge you whether. 
 Why Sirs, are you To utterly unrea- 
 fonable, as to wifh us or any man 
 living to love you better then God, 
 or to regard you n ore then God , 
 or obey you before God ? Or 
 fhould we be lo much worfe then 
 mad, as to yield to you if you did 
 defire it J Why what are yon in 
 companion with the Almighty ! O 
 poor worms, that are even dying 
 while you are fpeaking ! that are 
 but as bubbles ready to burft. when 
 you are iwelled to the higheit in 
 ungodly pride ! That even while 
 you are eating, and drinking, and 
 making merry } are palling on apace 
 to weeping and gnafhingof teeth , 
 and everlaitir.g woes and lamenta- 
 tions ! What fhould we regard 
 iuch dull and dirt as you are before 
 t£e glorious God I It were far 
 j^reater wifdom and honefty, for 
 ^^•our children to fet up a dog or a 
 toad, and fay, This is more to be 
 
 loved 
 
Catbolick Unitj. 1 1 3 
 
 loved and honoured then my Fa- 
 the:*. If a Tray tor a^ainft an 
 earthly Prince deferve to be hang'd 
 drawn and quartered $ certainly 
 that man that would forfake^od 
 and his Laws to pleafe fuch filly 
 worms as you, did deferve to be 
 hangM in the flames of Hell , and 
 to be tormentecU)y infernal fiends, 
 and ground tcr powder by the 
 wrath of the Almighty ! Well ! if 
 you have eyes that can fee , you 
 may fee now paii doubt, that tve 
 cannot turn tojou that are ungodly , 
 with any wifdom or honefty in the 
 world, nor without the higheft 
 madnefe and difhonelly. But can 
 you iky fo of your turning in to us? 
 is it contrary either to Wifdom or 
 Honefty for you to turn unfeign- 
 edly to God, and to become a fan- 
 dined godly people ? Me thinks 
 you fhould not have fuch a thought 
 in ycur hearts. And therefore it we 
 benpt all of a mind, and go not 
 
 all 
 
114 Crthdick Unit j. 
 
 all one way, it is moift apparent 
 that it is not long of us, but of 
 you. 
 
 3. If we do Vnite and Agree, 
 it muft be upon terms of Safety. 
 This much I hope you cannot deny 
 us. You would not fure wifh us to 
 Agree to our own deftruclion, and 
 to make a bargain with you that 
 we may all joyn together in cutting 
 our own throats? Do you think 
 that this were a wife combination ? 
 How much lefs (hould we make 
 an Agreement to go the certain 
 wdy to Hell, and to joyn together 
 in damning our own fouls for ever? 
 Sirs, if you difliice che way of Ho- 
 linels , do but find out any other 
 way that will faf.ly bring a man 
 to heaven,and we will promife you 
 to joyn in it. But unholinefs will 
 never doit. God hath told us as 
 plain as can be fpok:n , that except 
 a man be born again, and be convert- 
 ed, he cannot enter into the King- 
 dom 
 
Catlolick Unity. P%i 
 
 dvm of bcaven,Joh.-$ .} ,5 .M&t.iS .$ . 
 and that without hclinefs no man 
 ffa&fettbe Lord, VLb. 12. 14. and 
 that the righteous t he mj elves are 
 fiercely fa'ved, 1 Pet. 4. 18. and 
 that ij any man be in Chrift, he is a 
 new creature ; old things are pa ft 
 aw ay , and all things become new , 
 i Cor. 5.17. and that if any man 
 have not the Spirit of Chrift^ he is 
 none of his, Rom. 8.9- So that if 
 God know who {hall be faved, it is 
 as certain as any thing in the world, 
 that no unfan&ifled man can be 
 faved. If leaping ineo th> water 
 be the way to drowning, or leaping 
 into the fire be the way to burn- 
 ing, or leaping down from the top 
 of a fteeph be th: way to break 
 your necks, as fure is an unholy 
 life the way to evertafting torment. 
 And would you wifh us to undo 
 our flv.s everlaftir.gly for your 
 friendfhip ? What can you fay to 
 this now ? If you fay that your 
 
 way 
 
i : 6 Cdtbolick llnitf. 
 
 is not fo as , a is but 
 
 our conceit. 
 
 Yv'e r.a.e fh.- 
 
 : for it ; 2nd fourty tin: - 
 wc c 
 
 norfuchr.s you 
 
 r.rs^ but 
 
 Cod tafUKM lye. Yen fee rot what 
 
 is done in another world -, but God 
 
 I know not what is in 
 
 Heaven or He God xnow- 
 
 ctb. And {hall we eve God 
 
 that kaowetjb and diipofeth o: 
 
 bettei :': -.ever iawit, 
 
 ram fowls that never knew 
 
 it? God&ith, ::a: T .micanrs , 
 
 AJmkrrtrs 9 Drm Civrtwm 
 
 fffj rrvilersyvrtbc like^Jka 
 inherit the Kingdom of God, I Cor. 
 6. i c, 1 1 . and that r£?j rihtf *rf ** 
 Jbc£n*otfle*ft God ; ani that 
 i/ js* /#« rffrfr tbepjbje jhall aie 9 
 Rom. 8. 5,6. 7, 1 .:. And * 
 you ha v .- bone 
 
 is no danger in a r f: ? Sirs , 
 
 wc 
 
Catholick Unity* 117 
 
 we defire heartily robe United and' 
 Agreed with you • buc we are loth 
 to buy it lb dear, as the lofs of God 
 ancf heaven com s to. We are wil- 
 ling of Concord with you ^ but 
 we are loth to be damned with 
 you : And do you blame us for 
 this ? And, alas, if you (hould tell 
 us a thoufand times that you hope 
 there is no fuch danger,or that you 
 hope to fcape as well as the godly , 
 this is but poor fecurity to us. Shall 
 we be fo mad as to venture our 
 ielves on fuch words as thefe a- 
 gainft the Word of the Ruler of 
 the world ? What fecurity can you 
 give us that we (hall fcape damna- 
 tion if we turn ungodly ? ArCyou 
 able to fave us from the wrath of 
 God ? Will you undertake to 
 ftand between us and his difplea- 
 fure ? What fay you } if we will 
 forfake an holy life , and live as 
 carelefs worldlings do, and negled 
 God and our fouls, and pleafe the 
 
 world 
 
r flefti, 
 
 ... - 
 
 (hoc 
 
 ; 
 
 ; 
 
 cur 
 
 : or God. ( 
 you z'lke 
 
 si.h 
 
Cathdick Unity. \ig 
 
 and wealth for ever, whether God 
 will or no ? How comes it to pais 
 th. j n that here is never a one of 
 you near two hundred years of 
 age ? Let us fee you chide back ap- 
 proaching death , and raifj the 
 dead bodies from their grav. s, and 
 heal all the difeafes that cut off 
 mar kind : If you can* t do thefe 
 (mailer matters, would you have us 
 b.lievethat you can faveus from 
 damnation ? Why, Sirs, mult your 
 ne ghbours lie leme of tium in 
 poverty, and fome in pain , fome 
 iick of one difeafe , and fome of 
 another y and you look on them 
 and cannot cure them or relieve 
 them, and yet muft we venture our 
 fouls upon your words I You can- 
 not make an old man young again ; 
 and can you mak? the word of 
 God prove falfe, or fave thofe that 
 God hath faid fhail perifh , and 
 bring unfan&ified men to heaven 
 whether God will or no ? Well , 
 
 Sirs, 
 
120 Catholick Unit j. 
 
 Sirs,>et them that hate their fouls,or 
 care not whether they are laved or 
 damned, forfake the Lord and an 
 holy life, and joyn with you , and 
 fee whether you can fa ye them * 
 But for my part 1 believe the Word 
 of God, and upon this Word only 
 I am refoked to build my hopes , 
 and venture my foul and ail that 
 little that I have in this world : 
 Trull you on what you pleafe , this 
 fhallbe Riy&rufi : And they that 
 can rind a furer ground to build 
 upon , let them take their 
 courfe. 
 
 EutI mult tell you , that if you 
 would Willi us all to call away 
 God, and Chrift, and heaven , to 
 agree with you, you are modlers 
 and not men-, and if you are io 
 cruel as to defire i:s to damn our 
 fouls for company, we mull be fo 
 careful of our felves as to abhor 
 your motion, and rather to hate 
 the dearefl thing or perfon in the 
 
 world, 
 
CatbslickUnity. lit 
 
 vorli, as thry would draw us from 
 Chriftand everlaltir.g lire, Luke 
 14. 26. 
 
 You fee th:n what it is that 
 landeth in our way , to hinder us 
 : rom turning back to you. But what 
 dang:r would you be in if you 
 (hould turn to us ? Would it hurt 
 :>r hazzard you to forfake your 
 fenfual ungodly lives ? Is there 
 my danger in turning to God, and 
 living an holy heavenly life ? What 
 is the danger ? Forfooth you may 
 lofe your tftat.s or lives 1 A great 
 matt-r indeed in comparifon of 
 eternal life : And muft you not 
 lofe them (hortly whether you will 
 or not ? And are they not in the 
 power of God ? and cannot he 
 KreCrve th :m if he pLafe ? and if 
 it b: good for them, he is liker to 
 do it tor his own, th?n for his ene- 
 mies ! But indeed he hath told you 
 himfelf, that/?? that mil fave hi* 
 life Jball lofe it , and he that lofeth 
 G his 
 
1 2 a Catholick Unity. 
 
 his life for his fake , flail find it •, 
 even in life everlafting , Mat. 16. 
 25 . & 1 o. 3 9. And yet as the world 
 now goeth in England, through 
 the mercy of God, your lives are 
 in no danger. It is but the fcorn of 
 ignorant miferabb m^nthat you 
 muft endure. And will you (tick at 
 this,inthec3ufeof God and your 
 falvation ? Nay indeed you are in 
 moft dreadful danger every day , 
 and night, and hour, till you for- 
 fake your former fleftily lives , and 
 turn to Chrift 1 You are all the 
 while even within a ftep of death 
 and hell, till you are Converted and 
 made an holy people h It is but one 
 ftroak of death to put an end to 
 your lives and hopes, and you are 
 gone for ever. So that you have 
 nothing tolofe, but an Heaven to 
 gain, if you joyn with the godry. 
 There is no danger can come to 
 torn* by turning , unlefs it be the 
 lofiof your fins > and that is a loi: 
 
caimtcK unttj. 123 
 
 no more to b? flared, then a man 
 'fhould fear to l*fe the plague, 
 or pox , or leprofie that hath 
 it. 
 
 Now I befeechyou Sirs, as men 
 of Confcience or of Reafon , fee 
 both together, and equally confi-* 
 der how the cafe ftands between 
 v's~. If we joyn with the unholy, we 
 run into Hell, and lofe God , and 
 Chrift, and Grace, and Salvation 
 for evermore ; But if you turn to 
 th 2 Godly, you gee out of danger, 
 and make the gainfulleft match that 
 ever was made by mortal men ^ and 
 you can lofe nothing but the fen- 
 lualplrafuresof fin, which are but 
 exchanged for the joyes of Saints a 
 asikknefs is exchanged for health. 
 And which now do you think irj 
 reafon is the fitter , that you turn 
 fcthe godly, or they to you? Tru- 
 y, if you make fo great a matter 
 31 leaving your fins, which arc viler 
 :hen your dung , that you will ra- 
 G2 tier 
 
ther break with God and us , you 
 muft give us leaye to make fo great 
 a matter of leaving Chrift and his 
 holy wayes and people 9 that we 
 will much rather break with you 
 and all the wicked in the world , 
 and with our carnal felves , and 
 that which is moft dear to them: 
 And I think we have good reafon 
 for it. . 
 
 4. Moreover, th's muft be con- 
 fideredin our treaty , that if wt 
 agree, it is fit that our dear eft friends 
 be taken into the Agreement : 
 Should we caft off them to agree 
 with adverfaries, and leave our old 
 friends in hope of new ? But if we 
 come over to you, and turn unholy, 
 we ihail never have Gods confent 
 to the Agreement, we muft leave 
 him out , and utterly lofe him : 
 When, alas, we cannot live, noi 
 move,nor breath without him I we 
 cannot have our daily bread,or one, 
 nights reft but by his gift. Anc 
 
 fuel 
 
Catbolick Unity. 125 
 
 fuch a friend is not to be loft for 
 you. And we fhall lofe the Lord 
 Jems and the Holy Gheft , and the 
 Communion of Saints, and the 
 peace of our own confidences, Q 
 what a peal would confidence ring 
 us night and day I It would open 
 Hell to us : It would kindle the fire 
 of Gods wrath in our bofoms ^ and 
 be fcorching us as we lie down and 
 as we rife up ; And who would en- 
 dure fuch a life as this , for ail the 
 world ? Its like it is not thus with 
 you .* but that is becaufe you know 
 not what a cafe you are in, nor 
 what a dreadful thing ungodlinefs 
 is •, bnt we know it :*And therefore 
 what {hilt foever you make to keep 
 your confidences afleepj know not 
 how I fhould quiet mine, if I were 
 in your cafe, and kr\ew but what I 
 know of it. 
 
 But now if you will joyn with 
 
 Chrift and us/your true friends will 
 
 be glad of it : you fhould not lofe 
 
 G 3 one 
 
126 Catbelick Unity. 
 
 one friend in the world by it,unlefs 
 you take the Devil and his fervants 
 for your friends , that would de- 
 ftroy you. Judge then whether 
 youfhould come to us , or we to 
 you. 
 
 . 5. Moreover, this muft be con- 
 fidered in our treaty , that it we 
 agree with you, we h&vefome re- 
 gard to our Honour. And what 
 Honour is it to us to become the 
 fervants of fin and the Devil , and 
 beforfakenof God, and return to 
 the flavery that lately we were de- 
 livered from ? A hang-man is ten 
 thoufand times more honourable 
 then this. 
 
 But on the other fide, if you will 
 turntoChriit, you will come out 
 of the greateft fhame , and obtain 
 the greateft honours that you are 
 capable of ; You will be the fons 
 of God, and heirs of ruaven, co- 
 heirs wichChrift, fellow-Citizens 
 of the Saints, and of the houfhold 
 
 of 
 
. Catholick Unit j, 127 
 
 of God, filmu'iW. Rom.%.17. 
 Eph. 2.19. and be built up an ha- 
 bitation of God through the Spi- 
 nt,Eph. 2. 22. 
 
 6. Moreover, this is molt con- 
 fiderabl* in our treaty, that if we 
 Agree, it mud be upon Vmv&fal 
 terms that all will agree upon • or 
 elfe it can be no Vniverfd Agree- 
 ment. If a />w(hould Agree with 
 you, this would not make a Unity 
 in the world. We mult have terms 
 that are fit for all to Agree upon. 
 And in good fadnefs , would you 
 have all the world be fuch as you > 
 Tell me, you that are covetous and 
 proud , would you have all the 
 world become proud and covetous 
 to Agree with you ? Nay if they 
 fliould, when they are likeft you , 
 they would not Agree with you ; 
 For the Proud will envy the Proud, 
 and their Pride will fet them toge- 
 ther by the ears « And the covet- 
 ous would be greedily fhacching 
 G 4 the 
 
128 Cathelicklimty. 
 
 the prey out of one another? jjws, 
 a;:d cheir mammon would be the 
 matter<>l Teii me alio 
 
 you thac aire drunkards or un- 
 clean, would y< : all the 
 world betome drunkards and un- 
 clean tor Unity with you ? Vou 
 : are carelefs about your fouls , 
 prayerlefs in your families , 
 and forge: the matters of ever- 
 r.g ii'e, would you have ail the 
 world ie: as light by God, and 
 Chrift, and Heaven as you r Could 
 theworft of you all have the face 
 to make fuch a motion as this ? 
 What 1 would you have allHoli- 
 ncfsand heavenly-mindednefs ba- 
 nifhed out of the world , became 
 you have banifhed it from your 
 felves ? Would you have 
 (hut their Bibles as much as y 
 and mftruet their children and ier- 
 vants no more then you , and love 
 Godandferve bim no more then 
 you ? Is it poflible that fuch an 
 
 heart 
 
Cathdick Unity. Up 
 
 heart as this can be in the bread of 
 the word on earth ? What! would 
 you have all the world be drun- 
 kards, or fornicators, or haters of 
 godlinefs, or at lead unfan&ified, 
 becaufeyOuarelo 1 How quickly 
 then would earth turn Hell , and 
 the flames of the wrath of God 
 confume it ? How certainly then 
 would God forfake the world , as 
 2 man would be gone from toads 
 and ferpents ? Can there be fuch 
 cruelty in any but the Devils, as 
 to wifh all the world to be damned 
 with you for company, or to Agree 
 with you on fuch terms, that you 
 may go hand in hand together to 
 damnation I Or if you had fuch 
 Devilifh hearts within you , as 'to 
 defirefuchan Agreement as this, 
 can you think that all the godly 
 would yield to it I No v Fee me 
 tell you, not one of them in ill the 
 world will yield to it, ]f yen fet no 
 more by the Love of fcod , the 
 G 5, blood 
 
I JO Cathci: fey. 
 
 I of (Thrift, the prefence and 
 c omforts of the H ^ oft, and 
 the Hopes of Gk 
 and wii do. If« 
 Heli , you (hall ei them 
 
 thither with von k 
 ny. 
 
 But on the etn :here is 
 
 nothing in the v. 
 
 but what is fit for *H men to A§rw 
 Bpon. I know ^// w*tf ** •, 
 therefore we expect r.o; an Agree- 
 ment with all Bat that is; I 
 bappinefs T means of 
 
 Agreement but : 
 
 7. Lailly. this alio mnft be c 
 fidered in our treaty ^ that we 
 Agree upon terms that are like to 
 hold, and not to be repented of 
 hereafter. Tor what good will it 
 do to Agree to day, and to break 
 h or bewail it to morrow ? Why, 
 alas Sirs , we know as fa* as we 
 . :h , thac if we fhould Agree 
 nil youin unhoiicefe, we ftiould 
 
Ctlholick Unit). tjt 
 
 quickly Repent it,either by Grace y 
 or in Hell-fire. Nay we know that 
 you will Repent of thofe unholy 
 vvayes and hearts your felves, ei- 
 ther by Grace or judgement. Nay 
 there are even now fome kind of 
 purpofes in many of you to repent. 
 1 have heard alxundance of ungod- 
 ly men profefs that they hope to 
 repent hereafter, and mend their 
 lives, and leave their (ins. And 
 would you wifh us to come and 
 joyn with you in a way that you 
 hope to forfake your felves, and in 
 a way that you purpofe hereafter 
 to Repent of ? 1 know as fure as 
 that the Sun will fet, that every 
 ungodly foul among you , will 
 Shortly change their falfe opinions^ 
 and thgy that derided the fervants 
 of Chrift, would wifh then they 
 might but be door-keepers among 
 them t You will wifh and wifh a 
 thoufand times that you had done 
 as they did , and lived as holily as 
 
 the 
 
Ij2 Cuiholickitr.it y. 
 
 the befl on earth : You will then 
 wifh, £ Otmx it were to do again ! 
 and that my life Vvere again to be - 
 lived ^ tnd God would but try me en 
 earth once wore. ~\ Thofe tongues 
 that railed againft Religion,, will a 
 thoufand times more reproach 
 your felves for thofe reproaches , 
 and the negled of this Religion. 
 You will then cry out \_Wherewas< 
 wj wit and reafin, when J madefo 
 . wad a change, m of God for the crea- 
 ture^ Chrifi for Jin, and Heaven for 
 Hell J Do you think Sirs, that it 
 were any wifdom for us to Agree 
 with you now in that, for which 
 you will fa' 1 out with your felves 
 for ever ? and to go with ycu in 
 that loofe ungodly way which you 
 will wifh your felves that you had 
 never known ? 
 
 Befides , we know that it is on- 
 ly the Saints that wemuft live with 
 for ever •, and therefore you mud 
 become Saints, if you would be 
 
 United 
 
Cat hoik k Unity. 135 
 
 Unitid to us here. What I Should 
 we be fo careful to Agree wirh you 
 a while, andbefeparated from you 
 eternally , or do worfe by fuller- 
 ing with you I But if you will Unite 
 with us in Chrilt and Holinefs, this 
 will be a lafting Unity •, which you 
 will never have occafion to repent 
 of. The Union between the Lord 
 Jefus and his members, (hall never 
 bediffolved. Heartily joyn with 
 his fervants now in the wayes of 
 Holinefs, and you (hall certainly 
 joyn with them in the ftate of Hap- 
 pincfs ,. and in the joyful fruition 
 and praifes of the Lord. 
 
 Well Sirs, in this much of our 
 treaty I have layed the cafe plain 
 and open before you, and fhewed 
 you, that we cannot come over to 
 you; It is not Poflible, nor Ho- 
 neft, nor Safe-, we cannot forfake 
 an holy life without forfaking 
 God, and our Redeemer, and our 
 faivation, which no man that is a 
 
 man 
 
134 CAtbelick Unity, 
 man indeed, fhou!d defire us to do 5 
 nor can we do it till werirft for- 
 fakeour undcrltandmrs : Bu: on 
 ycur fide rhj cafe is oth.-rwife.- 
 You may turn to God and an holy 
 life, without any htiri or wrong to 
 you ata'l; nay it is the only way 
 to your felicity , and if yen do it 
 not, you are undone for ever : So 
 that ihe cafe is pail all controver- 
 fie before you, tha: there is no way 
 in the worid to Unity, but by Coil* 
 fent m ?ie:y ? If half the Com- 
 mon-weal:h turn Rebels, and fo 
 fhallmakeaDivifion in the body, 
 the way to Unite them is by the 
 returning of the Rebels to their 
 Allegiance, and not for the true 
 and lawful fubje#s to turn aH Re- 
 bels and joyn with them. For 
 without the Head there cannot be 
 a Union. So that if the world be 
 flill divided and difagrced , it is 
 not long of the godly, but of the 
 ungodly : And if you would have 
 
 an 
 
CAtholick Unity. 135 
 
 an Agreement , its you that muft 
 yield, who catife the difagreement. 
 You way do it, and mufi do it, or 
 do worfe^ but the godly piny not 
 yield toyoH. 
 
 What fay you now , would you 
 have Unity or Divifion ? Would 
 you have peace or no Peace? You 
 complain that the world is of fo 
 many minds ; Would you have 
 them all reconciled and of one 
 mind? If you wouldjec us fee it. 
 The work fticks with you •, on your 
 hands itlyeth, and it is you that 
 muft do it, if ever it be done. If 
 you would have all ungodly , you 
 deferve not to live on the earth. 
 Shall we then without any more 
 ado agree all upon a life of Holi- 
 nefs ? O that our Towns and Pa- 
 rishes would all joyn together in 
 this Agreement I and it muft be this 
 or none. 
 
 But perhaps fome of you will 
 fay, What need yon make fo many 
 
 words 
 
136 Catholick Unity. 
 
 words about a matter that fio body 
 dvth di ny ? We all know we fljould be 
 Hdy andGodly, and ncnejhoxld Le 
 i.ngocly ^ who doubts cf this ? But 
 the jQ^ftlcn is, Wh.it Holintfs and 
 Gcdlincfs is ? Tell its therefore what 
 you mean ly it, and who thb/e be that 
 joh take to be the Godly fantlified 
 people ? 
 
 Anfw. If we are all agreed of 
 the Necejjitj of Holinefs, then 
 thefe thai, are not yet agreed to be 
 Holy themfelves, do fin againft 
 their own conferences , and con- 
 demn themfelves in the things 
 which they allow , and wilfully di- 
 vide themfelves trom Chrift and 
 from his Church. And if any of 
 you have been fo long Baptized 
 into the Name of the Holy-Ghoft 
 as your San&irler, and yet know 
 not what San&itication is, and who 
 are to be accounted fanthfied and 
 godly, you (hew that you have per- 
 iidiouily call away and broak your 
 
 Cove- 
 
Catbolick Unity 137 
 
 Covenant with God •, and made 
 butan ill ufe of your Bapcifm or 
 any Means and Ordinances (ince. 
 But if you. know not who are god- 
 ly or ungodly, 1 fhali quickly tell 
 you. 
 
 A godiy man is one that being 
 formerly in a Hate of fin and miie- 
 ry,both ftrange and backward to 
 God, and heaven, and an holy life, 
 and prone to earthly, flefhly plea- 
 sures, is now by the powerful work 
 of the Word and Spirit of God , 
 converted to unfeigned faith and 
 repentance , broaken-hearted for 
 his former fin and mifery, flying to 
 Chrift as the only Hope and Phyfi- 
 tianof his foul, and fois made a 
 new creature, having his heart fet 
 upon Godand everlafling life, and 
 contemning all the pleafures of the 
 fkfhandthe things of this world 
 in companfon of his hopes of Glo- 
 ry > y hating all known fin, and not 
 wilfully living in any- and loving 
 
 the 
 
138 CMholick Unity. 
 
 the highcft degree' of -Holinefs , 
 and willing to ufe the means that 
 God hath appointed to deftroy 
 the remnants of fin, and bring him 
 nearer to perfection-, This is a truly 
 godly man. 
 
 And he that is not fuch, is un- 
 godly. He that yet remaineth in 
 his Natural depraved (late , and is 
 unacquainted with this great and 
 holy change, that hath any fin that 
 he had rather keep then leave, and 
 any that he wilfully liveth in 5 and 
 wilfully negle&eth known duties, 
 as one that had rather be free from 
 them then perform them, and had 
 rathet live a flefhly life, then a fpi- 
 ritualandanholyltfe, and is more 
 in love with the creature,then with 
 God • with his life on earth in ftefh 
 and fin, then a life in heaven wkh 
 God and his Saints in perfed ho- 
 liness ^ this man is undoubtedly a 
 wicked and ungodly man , how ci- 
 villy or religioufly foever he may 
 
 feem 
 
CAtholicklinit). 139 
 
 feem to live in the world. And fo I 
 have in a few words told you, who 
 they be that are godly, and who are 
 the ungodly. TheQueftion now 
 that we are treating about, ^whe- 
 ther we (hall all agree together to 
 be godly ? Do you not believe it 
 to be beft and necefiary ? If not , 
 you are blind ; If you do , let us 
 agree on it without delay. You tell 
 us with many great complaints of 
 the many differences and divifions 
 that are among us : but {hall we 
 Agree fo far as we are agreed ? 
 that is, {hall we agree in heart and 
 practice, fo far as we are agreed in 
 opinion and profefiion ? O that 
 you would make a folemn Cove- 
 nant , that you will but Confent 
 and go along with the Godly fo far 
 as you confefs,you ought to do ^ 
 and would but Unite with us in 
 faithfulnefs to the truths which you 
 cannot deny. I think it will be beft 
 to call you to the tryal in fome par- 
 ticulars. 1 . 1 
 
140 Cntholick Unity. 
 
 1 . I hope we are all Agreed chat 
 there is one only God that made 
 us, and prefervech us,and Redeem- 
 ed us : and therefore that we are 
 wholly his, and fhould refign our 
 felves and all that we have abfc- 
 lucely to him for his fervice. He is 
 not worthy the name of a man, 
 that denyeth this : And (hall we all 
 Agree now in the Practice of this 
 much ? Shall we wholly refign our 
 felves and all that we have to God? 
 and labour to know what God 
 would have us be and do, and that 
 lee us refolve upon , whatever t^e 
 flefh or the world lay to the con- 
 trary. Were but this much well re- 
 folved on, we were in a fairway to 
 a full agreement. 
 
 2. We are all Agreed in Opini- 
 on or Profeflion , that this God is 
 cur only Happincfs^ and his favour 
 is leetttr then all the world, and that 
 he is infinitely Wife,and Good,and 
 Powerful •, a'nd therefore that he 
 
 Diuft 
 
Cat bolt ck Unit j. 141 
 
 muft be Loved above all thirds 
 whatsoever, and mull be mod fear- 
 ed, and ferved, andtrufted,and de- 
 pended on. 
 
 And {hall we but Apree all in 
 the PraEHce of this much ? O thst 
 ycu would but heartily confer t 
 and do it ! f)id we but joyn toge- 
 ther in Loving God above all, anc] 
 fearing, and trufhng, and ferving 
 him before all, we fhould quickly 
 be of one heart and foul, and in a 
 very fair way to a perfect agree- 
 ment. 
 
 3 . We are all Agreed (that pro- 
 fefs Chriftianity ) that fin hath 
 made us rr.iferable , and brought 
 us under the wrath and curfe of 
 God , and that the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift having Redeemed us by his 
 blood , is the only phyfitian and 
 Remedy for our fouls , and having 
 manifefted fuch infinite Love in 
 our Redemption , and alfo pur- 
 chafed Dominion over us , we are 
 
 ftrongly 
 
ftroogly bound to Rcjoyce in his 
 falvation, and fly ro him for Safe- 
 ty and reft upon him, and live in 
 the thankful admirations of h-s 
 Love, and in careful Obedience to 
 his gracious Laws. 
 
 Ar.d fh;.'.i we all Agree in the 
 Practice of this much? Will yon 
 flytoChriit with broken b'.eed'ir.g 
 neans , for fafety f; . and 
 
 w;ath, ar.dHel', anc .eby 
 
 him then by ail the world ? 
 you ftudy with all Saints to com- 
 prehend his Love? Efh. ? . 18,19. 
 and admire him and his mercies , 
 and devote your felves to him and 
 be ruled by him ? O that we were 
 but all agreed in this much > . 
 
 4. We are all agreed in Opinion 
 or ProfefTion, that the Holy Ghoft 
 is the San&iher of Gods eled, or 
 of all that (hall be faved, and that 
 excep: a man be born again by the 
 Spirit , he cannot enter into the 
 Kingdom of heaven , and that 
 
 wi.h- 
 
Cdtbeuck Unit*}. 1^3 
 
 without holinefs none fhall fee 
 God • and -that no man is the Son 
 of God, that hath not in him the 
 Spirit of his Son, i Or. 1 2. 1 2, 1 3. 
 
 ifrw.8.9.(7*?/. 4. 4. 
 
 Were we but all fuch now as 
 we are agreed we mufi be, and 
 would you but ail Content to this 
 San&ifkationand newnefs of life , 
 the great difference were healed , 
 and the work were done. 
 
 m $. Moreover we are all Agreed, 
 or feem to be fo , that the holy 
 Scripture is the word of God, ana 
 of infallible truth , and therefore 
 muft be believed and made the 
 Rule of our Judgements and our 
 lives. 
 
 Shall we all agree now in the 
 prafticeof this? Will you appeal 
 to the Scripture 1 and (hall it be 
 our Rule > If the flefh perfwade 
 you to another courfe, and mur- 
 mur at the ftri&nefs of Gods 
 
 Word- 
 
144 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 Word •, if cuftom be agair ft it, and 
 the greater number be againitic ^ 
 if your profits, or plealures , or 
 worldly honours be againft it, and 
 your former opinions and practice 
 have been againftit , will you yet 
 believe the Scripture before all, 
 and be ruled by it above all the 
 world ? You are agreed I hope that 
 <3od is to be obeyed rather then 
 men , or then the flefh and the 
 Devil ? Will you refolve that it 
 ftiall be fo ? O if the Word of God 
 might be the Rule , how quickly 
 fhouldwe beagreed ? For all the 
 Popifh cavils at its difficulty , and 
 mens divers expofitions , yet how 
 foon (hould we beagreed ? 
 
 6. We are all agreed in Opinion 
 or Profeilion, that there is a hea- 
 ven for the Sanctified, even an end- 
 lefs unconceivable Glory with 
 God, in the feeing of his face, and 
 enjoying him in perfed Love and 
 Joyes- and that the feeking of this 
 everlafting 
 
CatbeltckUmtj. 1 45 
 
 iverlafting Glory ihould be the 
 r.ainand principal bufi ne fs of our 
 ives, which all things muft give 
 place to. He that will deny this," 
 can have no pretence to call himfelf 
 1 Chriftian. 
 
 O that we might but all agree in 
 the pradifing ot this ! and that the 
 principal love and defire of our 
 fouls were fet upon the Heavenly 
 bleffednefs, and thechiefeftofour 
 care and labour might be laid out 
 for the obtaining of it. Agree in 
 this, and all will be agreed at 
 laft. 
 
 7. We are all Agreed in our 
 profefiion, that there is an Hell, or 
 Hate of endlefs torments, where all 
 the finally unfandified and ungod- 
 ly muft be for ever. 
 
 But why do we not agr,eein the 
 diligent avoiding of fuch a dread- 
 ful mifery, and ufing ourbeften* 
 deavours to efcape it ? 
 
 8. We are all agreed in Frofef- 
 
 H iion; 
 
t$6 Catholkk Unity. 
 
 fion, that the flefh is our enemy, 
 and muft be mortified. But will 
 you agree in the fraEHce of this 
 mortification ? We are agreed in 
 Profeilion , that the world is our 
 enemy and muft be contemned , 
 and that it is a vain and worthlefs 
 thing, compared with the Glory 
 thatistocome : But yet men will 
 not agree to renounce the world 
 unfeignedly 9 and to be Grangers 
 to it, and part with all rather then 
 with God and a good Confcience : 
 but while men fp:ak contemptu- 
 oufly of the world , they feek it 
 far more eagerly then heaven. We 
 are agreed that the Devil is our 
 enemy ,and yet men willnot forfake 
 his fervice. 
 
 9. We are all agreed in profef- 
 fion, that fin is a moft hateful thing, 
 liated of God, condemned by his 
 Word, and the only caufe of the 
 damnation of fouls ; And yet men 
 love it, and live in it with delight. 
 
 Shall 
 
Catbolick Unity. 14.7 
 
 Shall we agree all to deal with fin 
 as we fpeak of it ? Will Magi- 
 ftrates, and Ministers , and people 
 joyn together , to banifli it out of 
 Town and Countrey ? Particularly 
 weareagrejdlhope, that whore- 
 dom, and wantonnefs, and glutto- 
 ny, and drunkennefs, and ftrife, 
 and envying, and lying, and de- 
 ceit, and curling, and fwearing, 
 and railing, and backbiting, and 
 fpeaking againft an holy life, are all 
 grofs,hateful,damningfins , which 
 every Chriftian muft abhor. But 
 why do you not agree in the hate- 
 ing, and forfaking , and beating 
 down of thefe fins ? But Town 
 ind Countrey fwarmeth with them 
 is a carkafe doth with maggots.or 
 t ftinking pond with frogs and 
 oads : So that Magiftrates and 
 ylinifters, punifliments and per- 
 wafions, the Laws of the Land J 
 md the Laws of God, can do but 
 itcle to rid the Countrey of them ^ 
 H2 but 
 
148 Cat holt ck Unity. 
 
 but the fame men that confefs all 
 thefe to be great and grievous fins, 
 will keep them and delight in 
 them, as if it were in defpight of 
 God and man, or as if they bore a 
 deadly grudge to their own im- 
 mortal fouls. 
 
 10. There is none of you that 
 bears the face of a Chriftian-, but 
 muft agree with us in profeflion, 
 that One thing is needful , and that 
 tyemuft feek^ fir ft the Kingdom of 
 God and his right eoufnefs, and la- 
 bour mo ft for the food that will not 
 ferijh. Lvke 10. 41, 42. Matth. 
 6, 3 3. John 6.ij. and that God 
 fliould be loved with all our heart , 
 and foul, and wight, and that no 
 man can love him too much , nor 
 ferve him too carefully, nor be too 
 diligent in the feeking of his falva- 
 tion. Why then will you not ail 
 agree to do thus ? But the very fame 
 tongues that confefs all this, will 
 y«t fpeak agatnft the fervice of 
 
 God, 
 
Catkolick Unity. 149 
 
 God , and call it Puritanifm and 
 precifenefs, and fay its more ado 
 then needs: Why Sirs, if you will 
 fay and unfay, there is no hold to 
 be taken of your words, and there- 
 fore what agreement can be with 
 you? Will you confefs that all 
 fhould take more care for their 
 fouls then for their bodies, and 
 take more care for heaven then 
 earth • and yet will you not agree 
 to do it , but rather fpeak againft 
 them that doit, when you confefs 
 that it is beft ? Why , if you can 
 agree no better with your felves , 
 how can you agree with us ? If 
 your own opinions and profeffion 
 be at fuch odds with your wills a*nd 
 pra&iees , no wonder if you be at 
 odds with others. 
 
 More particularly,! hope you 
 will all confefs , that it is the duty 
 of all that can, to hear the Word of 
 God, and frequently to read it, 
 and labour to underftand it, and to 
 H 3 me- 
 
15° Catbtlick Unity. 
 
 meditate in it day and night j and 
 for Parents daily to te?ch it their 
 children at home and abroad , lying 
 down and riling up : Detit.6. 6, 
 7,8. & ii. 18, 19. Pjtlm 1.2, 3. 
 and to pray in their families, and in 
 private, even alwaies or frequently 
 to pray, and not to wax faint , buc 
 in all things to make known their 
 requefts to God , that all things 
 might be fan&ified to them by the 
 Word and Prayer. All this is plain 
 in the Word of God , £*m. 6, 
 10, ii. Luke 18. 1. 1 The/. 5.17. 
 PJalm 55.17. 1 Tim. 4. 5. Phil. 
 
 4.6. /J . 
 
 But will you all agree with us m . 
 
 rhe*praftice of thefe things? Will all 
 the Families in Town and Coun- 
 trey agree together to pray morn- 
 ing and evening reverently to God, 
 and to banifh profaneneis out of 
 their doors, and to inftrucfc their 
 children and fervants in the fear of 
 Cod, and fpend. the Lords day in 
 
 holy 
 
Catholick Unit j, ijl 
 
 holy exercifes , and help one ano- 
 ther to prepare for death and 
 judgement , and exhort one ano- 
 ther daily while it is called to day , 
 left any be hardened by the deceit- 
 fulnefs of fin ? Heb. 3.13. 
 
 To what purpofe {hould I men-' 
 tion any more particulars , till we 
 fee whether you will Unite and 
 agree in thefe ? All thefe are your 
 own Profefllons . I know you can- 
 not deny any one of them ^ and yet 
 we cannot perfwade you to Con- 
 fent with us in the Practice of what 
 your felves profefs : No, nor 
 icarce to forbear the open oppo- 
 fing of it : Either refolve now 
 that you will all agree with us in 
 thefe things which you confefs the 
 Lord hath made your duty, or elfe 
 tell us plainly that you are the 
 deadly enemies of Unity and Peace, 
 that we nay take you 'to be as you 
 are, and trouble our felves no more 
 abcut yon. If you are refolved 
 H4 again ft 
 
*5* Catholick Unity. 
 «Z«j»fi Agreement an* Vnity , tell 
 «s fo, and fave us the labour of any 
 iunher trebles with you. Talk no 
 more childifhly about our petty 
 differences in ceren onies and 
 . forms or Worfhip, about Bifliops 
 and Common-prayer Books, and 
 Holy-da.es, andfuch like, as long 
 as jou refiife Agreement in the 
 mam Tbere'sa difference between 
 you that is an hundred rimes great- 
 er then theie- fome of you are for 
 Heaven,and iome for Earth • fome 
 of you live to the Spirit, and fome 
 to the flefh • fome of you are hear- 
 ing, reading or meditating on the 
 Word of God, when others think 
 ltneedlefs, and had rather have a 
 pair of cards or dice in their hands • 
 fome of you make Gods Law your 
 Rule, and fome are Ruled by the 
 world and the flefh • fome are 
 drunkards, gluttons , wantons, 
 worldlings- and fome are fober , 
 temperate, chafte and heavenly \ 
 
 fome 
 
Cathdlick Unity. IJJ 
 
 fome think almoft any thing 
 enough in the Worfhip of God , 
 and for the faving of their fouls- 
 and others thinkche beft they can 
 do too little- and when they have 
 done moft, lament that they do no 
 more ^ fome Families ufe daily 
 prayer, reading, and holy inftru- 
 dions • and others ufe daily fwear- 
 ing, railing, ribaldry , and perhaps 
 deriding of holinefs it felf. In a 
 word, ibme. give up themfelves t* 
 God and Heaven , and others to 
 the world, the flefh and the devil- 
 fome are converted and become 
 new creatures by the fan&ifying 
 work of the Holy Ghoit •, and 
 others are yet in the Itate of na- 
 ture, and never knew a true con- 
 version. 
 
 This is the great difference of 
 the world Sirs : Till this be heal- # 
 ed, it is in vain to taik of the heal- 
 ing of our petty differences. And 
 therefore once more I teii-you,if 
 H 5 yea 
 
IJ4 Catholick Unity* 
 you will not be Converted to an 
 holy life, and Unite with ns on 
 thefe terms, you are the enemies of 
 Peace and Unity, and the great In- 
 cendaries of the world. 
 
 AND now having proceeded 
 thus far in the treaty with 
 you, becauf? I will either bring you 
 to Agreement , or leave you at 
 ieaft without excufc, I wiil here 
 annex fome further Reafons to 
 move you, if it may be to fo happy 
 a work. 
 
 i> Confider T pray you, that If 
 you will rot agree with us in the 
 things that you make profefiion 
 of , and confefs to be your duty, 
 you are then treacherous and falfe 
 to God , aud to your felves, and 
 therefore not fit for any to make 
 Agreement wi:h ■ till you change 
 your minds, Do you know that 
 
 God 
 
Ctiholick Unit)* 155 
 
 God is belt , and yet will you not 
 Love him better then the world ? 
 Do you knew that Heaven is the 
 only* happinefs, and yet will you 
 not feek it more then earth? Do 
 you know that an hoiy life is beft , 
 and yet will you be unholy? Do 
 you Know iln is the woiil and moft 
 dangerous thing in the world , and 
 yet will you not let it go. ? Who 
 will trull: fuch men as you, that will 
 go againft their own knowledge 
 and confrffior.s? It" you will be 
 falfe to God, and fa lie to your own 
 fouls, no wonder if you befalleto 
 us. 
 
 2. Moreover all your prete? 
 cd defires of Unity and Concord 
 are bale hjpomfie , as long as you 
 refufe to Unite with us in the way 
 and ftateof holinefs ;To take on 
 you that you are troubled- .at the 
 £)ivifions of the world, and to. f, iili 
 that we were ail of one Religion 
 andto talkagair.ft feels and *g 
 
15$ Cathlicktimtj. 
 
 ens as you do , is meer felf-con- 
 demning, and futh grofs diifcm- 
 blingas expofeth you to (hame. 
 What ! would you have us think 
 you arc againft Divifions , when 
 you divide from God, and Chrift, 
 and the Holy Ghoft, from the Scri- 
 pture, from the holy Catholick 
 Church, and from the Communi- 
 on of Saints ? Can you for fhame 
 fay that you are for Unity and 
 Agreement, when you are dividing 
 from us, and will not agree with 
 us, unlefs wc will be as mad as you, 
 and damn cmr^fouis for company 
 wkhyou? To hear thsfe ungodly 
 men talk againftfe&s and divifions 
 ip the Church, is as if we heard a 
 man that hath theleprofie cry out 
 again!* thofe that have the itch , or 
 a murderer chide another for foul 
 words. 
 
 3 . And I muft tell you while you 
 remain ungodly, you are the great 
 Hereucks and Separatifls that 
 
 trouble 
 
Ctiholick Unity. 1 57 
 trouble the Church of God, more 
 then abundance of thofe that you 
 reproach. I excufe not the leaft ^ 
 but none of them are like you : 
 As death is worfe thenficknefs, as 
 being that which all ficknefs tends 
 to, and the vvorft that it can do • fo 
 Ungodlincfs is worfe then fects and 
 particular Errours or Herefies, it 
 being the worft that any errour 
 can do, to make a man ungodly. 
 There are no fuch Separatists in the 
 world as you. It is not only from 
 a particular Church or Ordinance 
 that you fcparate, but aslfaideven. 
 now , you feparate from God that 
 made you, from Chrift that bought 
 you, from the Spirit that fhould 
 fan&ifie you , from the Word of 
 God that muft Rule you or Con- 
 demn you, from the body of Chrift, 
 and the holy Communion of his 
 people. The Church would have 
 you joyn with them in holy wor- 
 ihip ^ and your godly neighbours 
 
 would 
 
153 Camliek Unity, 
 would have you joyn with them in 
 prayer and holy lives, and you will 
 not, but ieparate from them alJ.. 
 They cannot have your help 
 agairft the fins of the time and 
 place you live in : They cannot, 
 have your company in the way to 
 heaven j but v:hen they go one 
 way, you go ar.ochcr way. You 
 are the great troubles of the 
 world , and break the Peace of 
 Church and State, and of all that 
 you have to do with. . You trouble 
 Magiftrates and make work for 
 Lawyers - you trouble Minifters , , 
 and fruftrate their labours, and 
 make their lives grievous to them , 
 when it is much in your hands to 
 make them joyous. You trouble 
 all the godly that are about you - 9 
 and you will find at laft that you 
 have moft of all troubled your 
 own fouls. For (harxie therefore 
 before you fpeak any more againft 
 Sefts and Separating, or any other 
 
 troubkrs-. 
 
Ctthdick Unity. i?9 
 
 troublers of the Church, give over 
 the ungodly feparation which you 
 continue in , and come in to the 
 Unity of the Church your felves, 
 and live in that Communion of 
 Sainrs which you fay you do be- 
 lieve, and do not goon to trouble 
 the Church abundance more 
 then thofe that you fpeak a- 
 gainl>. 
 
 4. Confider alfo , Whether you 
 have not as much reafon to Uvea 
 diligent holy life, and feek God 
 and your falvation with all your 
 might, as any of your neighbours 
 have ? and therefore whether your 
 ownNeceilkydoih not call aloud 
 to you, to Unite with them and to 
 do as they do ? Your Godly neigh- 
 bours are meditating on the Word 
 of God, when you are thinking of 
 the world or on vanity : they are 
 difcourfing of the life to come, 
 when you are talking of your 
 worldly bufinefs, or pouring out a. 
 
 com- 
 
) 00 Cdtholick Unity. 
 
 our 
 
 I es now gi h.ther you ha\ e 
 
 not asrr.uch r :heScri- 
 
 p:ure Mid r rep;, re tor the life to 
 
 hey- Yc ai g dl) ne 
 
 hours are at prayer y v. ■ are 
 
 red in the ;r.or- 
 
 :be world, and 
 
 have no heart to ih.ir em- 
 
 uhecher you have not as much 
 need as the)*. They abhor 
 
 inrnc are afiajAtf it, Krntfiyou 
 
 iua- 
 
 ence bex you have 
 
 ro: as much caufe :o be arraid of 
 fin as they? Yea and an hundred 
 times rr.ore ; foryouareur.der the 
 guil: Ci Owor.. 
 
 iul madnelsor the ungodly wo. 
 tha: the example of the gl 
 Jhoraid ro: bring them to f< 
 conf.dera:ior.. Amanthans con- 
 vert - to God, and 
 haih a p a : : on of all his fins, ar.d is 
 
Catbolick Uffitj. 161 
 
 in a ftate of falvation, and walketh 
 humbly and uprightly with God ^ 
 do.h yet think all too little that he 
 can do , but fafteth , and prayeth , 
 and watcheth again ft temptations, 
 and humbl.th h.s flefli, and follow- 
 eth after God continually, and la. 
 mentethafterallthatheisfobad,& 
 can do no more. And his neighbor 
 that liveth by him , is an ignorant 
 ftupid finncr, unconverted , «nd 
 under the guilt of his fin, and un- 
 der the curfe and wrath of God , 
 having no affur an ce of falvation-, 
 nay it is certain that he would be 
 caft into Hell the next hour if he 
 die in that condition • and yet this 
 man feels not any fuch neea of 
 prayer, and holy medication, and 
 conference , and fo religious and 
 find a life.Ke that hath loft almoft 
 all the time of his life, and is not 
 only quite behind-hand in know- 
 ledge and abilities, but is anunfan- 
 ftitfed mi ferable wretch , not fure 
 
 to 
 
16 2 Cxlboltck Umty. 
 
 to be out of Hell an hour, this man 
 perceivcth nofuch neceffity of an 
 holy life, nor why he {hould make 
 fo much ado. As if a rich man 
 (hould be put to daily labour , and 
 a man that hath nothing {hould 
 think it needlefs : Or as if a man 
 that hath the tooth-ake or a flight 
 difeafe, {hould fend to the Phyfiti- 
 an ; and he that hath the Plague 
 fhould fit ftill and fay, What needs 
 this trouble ? Sirs , 1 befeech you 
 look upon the hoiieil and mcft hea- 
 venly neighbours you have , and 
 bethink you whether you have not 
 much more need to be diligent then 
 they ? Have not you immortal 
 fouls to fave or lofe as well as they ? 
 Are not you in danger of damna- 
 tion as much and an hundred times 
 more then they ? Should not God 
 be your matter as well as theirs ? 
 and his Law your Rule as well as 
 theirs ? and Heaven be as dear to 
 you as to them ? Bethink your 
 
 felves 
 
Cdtbelick Unity. 163 
 
 felves when you hear them pray- 
 ing, or reading, or repeating Ser- 
 mons , and Sandifying the Lords 
 day, and fearing to offend, £ Have 
 not I at much need to do all this as 
 any of them f\ If then you have as 
 much caufe and need to live a god- 
 ly life as others, joyn with them in 
 it, and let all the Town agree to- 
 gether, and none withdraw but he 
 that can fay , / have m need of 
 it. 
 
 5. And I pray you confider al- 
 fo, hoty eafie it -would make the Vvay 
 to heaven y if we tvovld but all Vnite 
 and Agree to go together in it. This- 
 is it that difcourageth the weak, 
 and makes it fo hard a matter to be 
 feved, becaufe there are ioferp than 
 are godly ; but if one or two poor 
 people berefolved to feek firft the 
 Kingdom of God and his righte- 
 oufnefs , and to pleafe God and 
 fave their fouls , the reft do either 
 look on and refufe to joyn with 
 
 them, 
 
164 CMbolick Unity. 
 
 them,, orelfefpcak againft them, 
 and make them their ordinary 
 fcorn. And thus he that will be 
 faved, muft not only go to heaven 
 without the company of the moft 
 of his neighbours , but muft go 
 through their oppofiiion,and re- 
 proaches r and difcouragemeats : 
 And ( the Lord be merciful to the 
 mi ferable world) moft places that 
 one (hall come into, are more 
 agreed againft holinefs and falvati* 
 on then for it ^ and had rather that 
 all the Parifh would agree together 
 againft a godly life ( which is in- 
 deed againft Chrift, and heaven , 
 and their own fouls) then for it. 
 And fome places are fo miferable, 
 that you may h. j ar them thank 
 God that they have not one Puri- 
 tan in their Parifh , or but few at 
 moft •, meaning by Puritans , men 
 that feek heaven above earth , a. d 
 had rather leave their ftns then be 
 damned. And this difhearteneth 
 
 many 
 
Crtholick Unit). i55 
 
 many that have fome mind to god- 
 linefs \ to fee almoft all the Town 
 andParifhagainftit. 
 
 But now if you had all but fo 
 much wit and grace, as to meet to- 
 gether and make an Agreement , 
 that you will All be a holy peop'e 
 to the Lord, and you will All joyn 
 together in a godly life, and you 
 will All be the lworn profeffed ene- 
 mies of the way to Hell, and joyn 
 together againft your Ignorance , 
 and Pride, and Covetoufnefs, and 
 Drunk rnnefs, and Swearing , and 
 Railing , and all Profanenefs and 
 Iniquity • and if you would All 
 agree together, to fet up prayer , 
 and reading, and holy exercifes in 
 every houfe in Town- and Parifh , 
 and that you will all redeem the 
 time for your fouls, efpecially that 
 you will wholly fpend the Lords 
 day in the neceflary delightful 
 work of God • then what abun- 
 dance of your difficulties would be 
 
1 66 Cathelick Unity. 
 
 removed ? and how eafie and plea- 
 fant would the way to heaven be 1 
 Then there would be none to dif- 
 courage poor ignorant fouls , by 
 deriding at a godly life ^ nor none 
 to entice them to wicked cowrfes , 
 nor none to tempt them by their 
 ill examples •, and the number of the 
 godly would encourage men , as 
 the fewnefs of them now difcou- 
 rageth. This troubleth men in their 
 paffage to Heaven, when we are il!- 
 yoaked together , and one draws 
 backward as the oth^r draws for- 
 ward : and if the husband be for 
 God, the wife is for the world •, or 
 if the wife be for Heaven, the huf- 
 . band will needs go the way to Hell s 
 and if one neighbour be godly, the 
 two , if not ten or twenty nexc 
 him will be ungodly : And as the 
 Jfraeiitesfyles , they raifeupfalfe 
 reports of the Land , of the ftate 
 of godlinefs , and of the perfons 
 themfelves, to difcourage others .- 
 
 whereas 
 
Cttkelick Urtitj* 167 
 
 whereas if you would all agree to- 
 gether , you might march on com- 
 fortably without all this ado. 
 
 O how fweet arid pleafant a life 
 is it to fee brethren dwell together 
 in fuch an holy Unity as this ? Pfal. 
 133. j. Happy are they that dwell 
 in fuch Towns and Panfhes as 
 thefe ! if there be any fuch in the 
 world : Where neighbours go all 
 hand in hand together towards 
 heaven j and take fweet counfel to- 
 gether ; and go to the houfe of 
 God in company •, and whenothers 
 meet in Ale-houfes , and about 
 fooleries and profanenefs, they will 
 meet together to talk of their 
 meeting in the prefence of God , 
 and the joy and praifes of the 
 Living God, and the Communion 
 with Chrift, and with Angels, and 
 with one another , which we (hall 
 thenpoffefs: when they will pray 
 together, and comfort ore another 
 with fuch words, 1 Tbef. 4. 18. 
 
 And 
 
1 68 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 And when others are calking idly 
 or of the world, iheywillbe ad- 
 monilhing and exhorting one ano- 
 ther, and (peaking words that are 
 edifying to the hearers, Col.$. 16. 
 Ephef, 4. 29, and opening the'r 
 cafes and expe.iences to each 
 other,and faithfully watching over 
 one ancther, agreeing to tell one 
 another plainly and lovingly of 
 their fins, and to take it thankfully 
 of thole that do fo,and endeavour 
 prefently to amend 1 What a fweer 
 a.id bieflvd life were :his , if all 
 our Tow r ns and Parifhes would 
 agree in it ! Who would not raiher 
 live with bread and wa; er in fiich a 
 Town as this , then be a Lord or 
 Prince among the ungodly ! Well 
 Sirs, it is much in your hands now 
 to make your own and your neigh- 
 bours lives thus fweet and comfort- 
 able, and to make the way to hea- 
 ven thus eafle : Why then will you 
 not Agree and do it ? 
 
 6. More- 
 
CatbelickUmtj* i6g 
 
 6. Moreover fuch an Holy Uni- 
 ty and Concord would be the 
 higheft honour to your Towns and 
 Countries, that in this world chey 
 can pofiibly receive. 1 1 is the high- 
 eft glory of the Kingdoms of the 
 world , to become the Kingdoms 
 cf the Lord and of his Chri fi y Rev. 
 1 1 . 1 5. Y/ou think it a great honour 
 for your Towns to be rich and have 
 fair buildings, and to have world- 
 ly priviledges ; bur, alas, thefe are 
 bawbles in comparison of the 
 other 1 O if it were buttheHap- 
 pinefs of this Town and Parrfh to 
 be brought to furh an Holy Agree- 
 ment as I mentioned , that you 
 would a/l joy n together in a godly 
 lire, and every Family Agree to 
 worfhip God wnh holy reverence, 
 and all fet together againft pro- 
 fa nenefs and all known fin, whan 
 an honour would it be to you of 
 this place? Kow would your fame 
 go through all the Land I All 
 I Coun- 
 
170 CatholkkUnitj. 
 
 Countries would ring of Keder- 
 winfter^ what a vidory Chrift had 
 gotten there/and what an over- 
 throw the Devil and fin had there 
 received ! and what a blefTed place 
 and people it is, where they are All 
 agreed to be Holy and to be fa ved , 
 and are all like the antient Primi- 
 tive Believers, that were of one 
 heart and one foul, ABs 4. 32. O 
 how the world would ring of fuch 
 a Town where there is not one fa- 
 mily that is ungodly , that ferveth 
 the Devil by worldlinefs, fwearing, 
 drunkennefs , or any ungodly 
 courfe : but all are United in Chrift 
 and Holinefs , and are like to live 
 together in Heaven I Truly neigh- 
 bours, this would be a greater ho- 
 nour to you, and to theTown,then 
 if you were every man a Lord or 
 Prince ! In the eyes of God and 
 all wife men, it would be the great- 
 ell honour in the world. And O 
 what an excellent example would 
 
 ii 
 
Catholick Unity. 171 
 
 i; be to all the Towns and Pariflies 
 in die Land 1 When they fee your 
 holy Unity and Peace, or hear of a 
 place thac is fo happily agreed, it 
 may fhame them out of their un- 
 godlinefs , and kindle in them a 
 ftrong defire to be like you, and 
 agree together as you have done. 
 6 that you would but give them 
 feci) an example , and try the 
 iifue 1 
 
 7. And I defire every one fin gly 
 to confider, that it is the unfpeak- 
 able mercy of God, that he calleth 
 you to this holy Union with Chrift, 
 and Communion of Saints ^ and 
 that he doth not thruft you away, 
 and forbid you coming near, but 
 will give you leave to be of the 
 holy Society, fellow-Citizens with 
 the Saints, and of the houfhold of 
 God, God hath made his promife 
 and offer fo large, that you may 
 have part in it as well as others , if 
 you will not wilfully (hut out your 
 1 2 felves. 
 
172 CAtboltck Unity. 
 
 Selves. Thefeaftis prepared . all 
 things are ready, and you are eve- 
 ry man and woman invited 1 Chnft 
 hath opened to you a door of ad- 
 mittance andaccefsto God. And 
 will you now refufeand undo your 
 Delves. The fandified are Gods 
 Jewels, Mai. $• 17. his treaiure 
 and peculiar people : the beloved 
 of his foul, and his delight : and 
 the only people in the world that 
 fhall be laved. This is true •, for 
 God hath fpoken it ; And you may 
 be of this bleffed number if you 
 will. God hath not feparated you 
 from them, or fhut you out by for- 
 bidding you to come among them. 
 O do not you feparateand fhut out 
 yourfelves. You fee your godly 
 neighbours in poflfeffion oi this 
 pri viledge : And may not you have 
 it if you will ? May not you ftudy 
 the Word of God , and call upon 
 him in prayer , andfet your felves 
 for heaven as well as they ? Where 
 
 doth 
 
CathollckUnitj, 17$ 
 
 doth the Scripture command them 
 to it, any more then you? or for- 
 bid you any more then them ? 
 The door is open • you may come 
 in if you will. You have the fame 
 means 3 and call , and offer, and 
 time, and leave to lead an holy life 
 as they. And will you mak:- fo 
 much of th? difference your felves, 
 as to be the only r.fufers ? God 
 hath done fo much for you by the 
 death of Chriil, and fo ordered 
 the matter in the promifes and 
 offers of the Gofpel , that none 
 of you (hall be able to fay atlaft , 
 £ I would fain have been am of the 
 bltffed Society y and fain h^ve lived 
 in the TJni,n k#d Commurn n of 
 Saints, but I could net , God would 
 net give me ItAVt \ and Chrift and 
 his Church . widd not receive me 
 and entertain me. ] Not a man or 
 woman of you fhall have this ex- 
 cafe. And therefore come in and 
 r joyn with the Saints; &. thank God 
 that you may, I 3 8, And 
 
1 74 Catholick Unity. 
 
 8. And confider alfo , that if 
 you will not Agree with us in mat- 
 ter of Holinefs, we can never well 
 make up the reft of our different 
 ces ; Our fmaller Controversies 
 will ne/er be well agreed, if you 
 will not agree in the main. But if 
 this were Agreed, wefhouldin fea- 
 fon certainly heal the reft. It would 
 make a mans heart ake, to h.ar 
 wretched finners talk of our diffe- 
 rences about Bi(hops,and Ceremo- 
 nies , and Common-prayer , and 
 Holy-daies , and Infant-Baptifm , 
 and the like, that are dead in their 
 fins , and are yet di (agreed from 
 us in the very bent of heart and 
 life. Alas Sirs, you have other mat- 
 ters then thefe rirft to talk of, and 
 trouble your felves with. A man 
 that is ready to die of a Confum- 
 ption , fhouid not be taking care 
 to cure the warts or freckles in his 
 face. We have greater matters 
 wherein we differ from you, then 
 
 kneel- 
 
Cathelick Unity, 17 J 
 
 kneeling at the Sacrament, or ob- 
 fervationof daies, or othe»: Cere- 
 monies , or doubtful opinions in 
 matters of do&rine. Letusfirftbe 
 Agreed all to ferve One Matte ,and 
 feek One End, and be Ruled by 
 One Law, and hate known fin, and 
 live a holy life,and then we fh?.ll be 
 ready to treat with you about a 
 further Agreement. But to talk of 
 fmall matters , when we differ in 
 the greateft matters in the world , 
 as much as your ibnis are worth , 
 and in matcers which Heaver, or 
 Helllyetho.- Jus is but childifh 
 trifling, and whateverwemay do 
 for the Peace of the Church with 
 fuch, yet to your felves that will be 
 fmall advantage. 
 
 Nay I muft tell you, that it is 
 ufually but the cunning of the De- 
 vil and the hypocrifie of : . our own 
 hearts, that makes you turn your 
 talk to thefe controverfies , when 
 the great breach is unhealed bc- 
 1 4 tween 
 
I*] 6 CMholickUmtj. 
 
 tween Chnft and you. Its com- 
 monly made afhift to delude and 
 quiet a debauched conference. Our 
 poor people \v\.\ no: by any per- 
 fwafion bw dawn lo an holy hea- 
 venly life, buc live in worldlir.efs, 
 and ftefhhnefc , n fwearing and 
 d. unkennels., and lying and deceit, 
 and hlch.nels and proran.nefs, and 
 bate the Minifter or Chr»ftianrhac 
 doth reprove them ^ and then for- 
 footh they talk of Common-pray er 
 Book, and Holy-dayes, and Bi- 
 fhops, and kneeling at the Sacra- 
 men c . to mak. a others, and per- 
 haps the'.r deluded hearts believe, 
 lhat this is th^ controv^rfie and 
 difference. And fo a wretched 
 drunkard or worldling pefwades 
 feimfelf that he is a Religious man , 
 as if the difference between him 
 iind i he godly were but about theie 
 Ceremonies or Church -Orders : 
 When alas we differ in greater 
 matters, as light and darknefs j life 
 
 and 
 
Catholick Unity. ryy 
 
 and death , yea next to the diffe- 
 rence between Heaven and Hell. 
 And I muft tell you, that you do 
 but wrong the party or caufe that 
 you pretend to , when you will 
 needs engage your ftlves among 
 them. What hath done more to 
 the difhonour of theBiftiops, and 
 Common-prayer Book, and other 
 late Orders and Ceremonies of the 
 Church, then to fee and hear the 
 rabble of drunkards , fwearers , 
 fcorners at holinefs, and fuch like , 
 topLad for them, and be violent 
 defenders of them? If you would 
 devifehow to fhame thefe things, 
 and brmg rhem down , you can 
 fcarce contrive a more effectual 
 way, thni ro fet ail the ungodly 
 fcandalous wretches to cry th:m 
 up, and become their Patrons : lor 
 it will make abundance of foberer 
 people begin to queftion whether it 
 be likely to be good , that hath 
 fuch Defenders on on^ &de,and 
 1 5 Ad- 
 
I "3 Catbciick rniti. 
 
 Adveriaries on the other fee 
 
 And therefore Sirs. let us begin 
 our clofcre and agreerr.er it 
 main, if yon wok I* be ever :h 
 terforir, and ha indeed. 
 
 And if you fay, £ Wh*t the wearer 
 JbuM ve c Agreement in the 
 
 &fer dbent Chmrcb-Geiverw* 
 And Orders, dnJ Certmcnus ?^ I 
 anfwer, i. If we never fhoc!: 
 
 Agre.din :hefe on earth, we r 
 bear it the more quietly , bev. . 
 our very Learcs irA k Uni- 
 
 te: :r. :;.e ?. "."-.:. :*. tr. :: r"::c;> 
 abundar er^ and in all that 
 
 fa] ration is laid upon • and there - 
 e this comfort in the 
 r.:f: <:: •:_: c -e.:r ;e>, ::.i: ~~e 
 fr.i.i i ifr.-:r:.;. : .:; :; Hc.v.e.- . 
 and that perfection and bleffed 
 fi :=•::" G-: : 
 
 -gree us in all things. 
 
 : In the mean time, we could 
 :...~ ..:■ Cc.T.r ;:..;.-.'■ .;:. ::.:"". 
 
 in 
 
CAtklick Unit). 179 
 
 in the fubftance of Gods Worfhip-, 
 and we have a daily Communion 
 with them in the Spirit , and 
 and an endeared Love to one ano- 
 ther, 
 
 3. And the Holinefs of their 
 natures will endine them to man- 
 nage our remaining differences 
 with meeknefs, humility, ielf-de- 
 nyal, moderation, and with great 
 r^fped: to the fafety of the whole 
 Church , and the honour of God 
 and of theGofpel. 
 
 4. And yet 1 mufl add, that with 
 fuch there is a far greater advan- 
 tage to h:al the fmalleit difference 
 that remains, then with any other. 
 When we have one God to awe us, 
 and one Heaven to draw us, and 
 one Chrift for our Head , and one 
 Spirit and new nature to principle 
 us and difpofe us, and one Law to 
 Rule us, and have all one ultimate 
 End and Intereft , here is a great 
 advantage for healing of any par- 
 ticular 
 
i8o CrtboiickllM]. 
 
 ticular differences that mav ariie. 
 If thelnc-,oji ? I^n, orflbmack, 
 or bram, or lungs be unfound, the 
 fores that are without will hardly 
 be cured • yea if there were none, 
 theie inward difeafes rrav breed 
 them : butwhenalliswell'within, 
 the ftrength ot nature without a 
 rpedicme will do much to cure fuch 
 fmaii cuiempers that anle without. 
 The lire or Faith, tfcelove of God, 
 the love oi Brethren, and the 
 Churches peace and w.lfare , with 
 the humility and felf-d.nyal that is 
 in every Chriftian , wd! do a great 
 deal to the healing of divilions 
 among the Godly. They will be 
 content to meet together in Love, 
 and pray it out, and reier the mat- 
 ter to the holy Scripture, and they 
 have all fame /fecial lKumir acion of 
 the Spirit. 
 
 But perhaps you will far, \_\Vhy 
 Are they not then uoreftiiij agreed? j 
 laniwer, i. Becaufe there are 
 
 fuch 
 
Catholic* Unity. 1 8 1 
 fucha multitude of ungodly per- 
 fons among th.m,that hinder th.m 
 from oppominities and advantages 
 for agreement. And many of thefe 
 ungodly on.s are hypocrites a that 
 take on them to be godly, and fo 
 are tray tors in our bofoms , and 
 hinder peace the more by feemir.g 
 to be godly when they are not. 
 2.Becaufe of the remnant of fin 
 that is yet in the fan&irled , and 
 becaufe they are not yet perfec%. 
 and in Heaven. If they had no fin, 
 they would have no divifions : 
 And as their fin is healed as to the 
 dominion of it , but not perfectly 
 till they come to heaven ^ fo their 
 divifions are healed in the main v 
 but not perfectly till they are 
 perfectly United to God in Glo- 
 ry. 
 
 9. Confider alfo I befeech you , 
 what a joy it would be to Chriit , 
 and to the Angels of heaven , and 
 to all good men, if you would but 
 
 all 
 
? 82 Cathelick Unity. 
 
 all make fuch an Agreement, and 
 heartily Joyn together inHolineisi 
 The whole 1 5 . Chapter of Luke is 
 by divers parables to tell you this , 
 what Joy there is in heaven it felf 
 for the converfon of one finner ; 
 O what would there be then , if 
 Towns and Countries would agree 
 in Holinefs ! And 1 am certain it 
 fhonld be a Joy to the Princes and 
 Rulers of the earth h for fuch a 
 Unity only will hold, and be a clef- 
 ling to their Dominions. Plutarch 
 makes it Agefrfaus his reafon why 
 the Spartans had no Walls, becaufe 
 the people being all of one minde, 
 had no need of Walls. And Pliny 
 tells us of a ftone that will fwim if 
 it be whole, and fink if it be bro- 
 ken. And fo will Common-wealths 
 that are broken from Chrift, and 
 void of the cement of the Spi- 
 rit thatfhould Unite them. 
 
 And to the Minifters of the 
 Gofpel, and all good Chriffians % 
 
 inch 
 
Cttholick Unity. 183 
 
 fuch an Unity as this would be an 
 unfpeakable joy. Somewhat I know 
 of other mens hearts by mine own. 
 Could I but prevail with this Na- 
 tion, yea with this one Town and 
 Panfh , to meet all together and 
 heartily Confent , Agree and Re- 
 folve to joyn all together in an 
 heavenly life , I fhould more re- 
 joyce in it, then if I had the houfe 
 full of gold and filver, yea ( as to 
 mine own interefl) then if I were 
 Lord of all the world. O what a 
 joyful day Were this, if I could this 
 day bring you to this Holy Unity 
 and Agreement ? How comfor- 
 tably fhould I fpend the few re- 
 maining dayes of my pilgrimage 
 among you , if you would but all 
 be brought to this ? Whereas I may 
 now fay as David , P[alm 1 20. 5. 
 for all the godly that are among 
 you, \_Wo is me that I fojourn in 
 Mefech , that I dwell in the Tents 
 cf Kedar 1 Mj foul hath too long 
 
 dwelt 
 
1 84 Catholick Unit). 
 dwelt with him that hateth (this 
 holy ) peace •, J. am for peace , but 
 when I fftetk^ ( and perfwade men 
 to it) they are for y?ar, and con- 
 tinuance in the dividing courfe of 
 ungodlinels. Alas it grieve:h us 
 to fee fuch divifions in all the 
 Churches and Nations of the Chri- 
 fUan world : and O that we did 
 know how to heal them / But when 
 we cannot heal the moll ungodly 
 reparations and divifions of one 
 Town and parifh , it difcourageth 
 us from hoping for any great mat- 
 ters of fuch large extent. Some at- 
 tempts I have made , and more I 
 would fain make, to further a Uni- 
 on and Peace among the Churches 
 through the Land : But when I 
 cannot procure the Unity of this 
 one Town and Parifn , what hope 
 can I have to look any further? Ale s 
 what a fhameis this to you , and 
 what a grief to us, that we cannot 
 bring one parifh, -one Village that 
 
 ever 
 
Cathotick Unit*. l8? 
 
 ever I knew of, in ail England, to 
 be all of a mind in thole great , 
 thofe weighty , needful things , 
 where it is worle then amadnefsfor 
 men to b . unrefolved or difagreed? 
 As Melanthm made a jeft of a great 
 man that went abouc to reconcile 
 &\\ Greece, and bring all the Prin- 
 ces and States to Peace _ when he 
 could not bring Irs wite and her 
 lervant-maid to agreement in his 
 own houfe. So with what hopes 
 can we attempt any publick peace, 
 when we cannot bring one Parifh, 
 one Village , yea but very few Fa- 
 milies, to agree in than which they 
 rnuit. agree in , or elfe the refufers 
 will be certainly condemned ! I 
 befeech you Sirs make glad the 
 h:a:ts of your Teachers, and of all 
 good m:rj, by your Agreement. 
 You owe us this Comfort .- and 
 youoweittoChrift, and the An- 
 gels of heaven : deny us not our 
 due, but without any more delay 
 
 Agree 
 
1 86 Csthduk Umtj. 
 
 Agrci togeiber to live as Saints. 
 
 What a Joy it would be to your 
 Paftors, youare noteafily able to 
 believe. When Gregory Thaum/i- 
 
 [m came firft to be Bifhop of 
 NiM I but feven teen 
 
 Chnltiansin tfceGty ■ And when 
 he lay on his death-bed, he defired 
 them to make enquiry how many 
 els were unconverted ; and 
 they for.nd bat juft feventeen In- 
 fidels left, and all the reft were con- 
 \erted to Chriftianity : And 
 
 agh he rejoyced that he left but 
 unconverted Ir- 
 as he found converted Chriitians y 
 yet he grieved withal] , that he 
 fhould leave thole feventeen in the 
 e; ot the Devil. When 1 came 
 to yon, I found you all ProfefTed 
 Christians-. Eut Oh that I could 
 fay that I (hall leave bu: Seventeen 
 unconverted when I am called from 
 you , for all tha: 1 O that there 
 were no mure that are Infidels or 
 
 Impious 
 
CAthelickUnitf. 187 
 
 Impious under the name of Chri- 
 ft-ars! But I and you are unwor- 
 thy of fo great a mercy. 
 
 10. And I pray you confidcr 
 this in time, that all of you that 
 now refufe this Agreement in Ho- 
 linefs, will wifh ere long that you 
 had heartily embraced it , and 
 joyned with the godly, and done 
 as they. And why will you not be 
 of the mind that you will be fhort- 
 ly of ? And why will you be of 
 that way and company , that you 
 will wifh at Jaft you had not been 
 of ? The Prodigal in Luke 1 5. did 
 think it a flavery to be kept up fo 
 ftriftly by his Fathers eye • hemuft 
 have his portion in his own pofTefli- 
 on, and abroad he muft be gone : 
 but when (mart had laught him 
 another leflfon , and mifery had 
 brought him to himfelf , then he is 
 glad to be an hired fervant , and 
 cafteth himfelf at his Fathers feet 
 in the confeffion of his unworthi- 
 
 nefs 
 
i88 Cdtholick Unity. 
 
 nefs to be called a fon. God grant 
 that this may prove your cafe. Bat 
 let me tell it you for a certain 
 truth, there is not one of you that 
 now is loth to become fo Holy, and 
 joyn your ielves in the waves of 
 God, but the time is at hand when 
 either Grace or Hell {hall make 
 you wifh and wifh again , that you 
 might have but the pooreft lowefc 
 place in the Society which you fo 
 defp.fed. Marx what I fay to you, 
 Sirs, in the name of God. If the 
 Lord of Heaven do not fhortly 
 make the ditUeft heart, the greateil 
 derider of godl:nefs among you, 
 thathea.eth thefe words, towifti 
 and wifh an hundred times, that he 
 had lived as holy andheaver.lv a 
 life as theitricteiV of thofe that he 
 formerly derided , then call me a 
 e prophet for ever, and fpare 
 no:. When you feel the mifery c f 
 unholy fouls, and fee the happinefs 
 of the Saints above you, then O 
 
 that 
 
Catholick Unity. 189 
 
 that you had been but fuch as they, 
 and lived as they, whatever it coil 
 you! And as Balaam you will 
 (liortly fay, Othat I might die the 
 death of the righteous, and that my 
 la ft end may be as hi$\ Numb. 2 3 . 1 o. 
 There is never a one of you all but 
 would fain be among the Saints ac 
 Judgement, and receive their Sen- 
 tence and reward ^ and therefore 
 its belt for you joyn with them 
 now j or it will be too lace to wifh 
 it then. 
 
 11. If all this will not ferve 
 the turn, but you will needs (land 
 off, and feparateyour felves from 
 the fervants of (Thrift, be it known 
 to you, you fhall ere long have fe- 
 paration enough , and be further 
 from them then your hearts can 
 wifh. Asyouwouldnotbellnitfd 
 to them, and joyn with them in 
 Holinefs, fo you (hall notbe par- 
 takers with them. of their Happi-j 
 nefs. One Heaven will not hold 
 
 you 
 
\go Catbolick Unity. 
 you both •, and there is but One 
 to hold you : and therefore an 
 everlaltirg reparation fhall be 
 made .- Eezweeu them and you 
 will a great gull be let, fo that they 
 that wou'd pals from you to them 
 fhall never be able , Lvke 16-26. 
 When they (land on the right 
 hand,you lhall be let upon the left: 
 and when they hear [ Coyne ye lltf- 
 fed ] you (hail hear [ G-> je cur/ed] 
 and when they go t y\\n into life 
 etrm..l, you fhall^o *wdj mtotver- 
 l a fling j> uniform nt , Mat, 25. 31, 
 32,41,46. Then you fhall lee 
 that £ the ms.n is blejfedtkn waU^ 
 tth not in the connftl of the ungodly , 
 ncrftandefh in the way of fmners,mr 
 fit t tth in the feat if the fecrnful j 
 but his delight is in the Lave of the 
 Lord, and in his Law doth he medi- 
 tate day and night The un- 
 godly are net fo •, but are like the 
 chaff \Vhich the wind driveth away : 
 therefore the ungodly Jhall not fl and 
 
 in 
 
CAth$Uck Unity. ipi 
 
 in the Judgement, nor [inner s in the 
 Congregation of the righteous : For 
 the Lord knvweth the way of the 
 righteous, iuttheVcayvf the ungod- 
 ly fia 11 per ifi, Pfalm j . J Then you 
 will fay to them that now you dif- 
 fer from £ Give us of your oyl } fvr 
 our Lamps are gone out. ] Oh that 
 we had pare in yourholinefs and 
 your hopes 1 but -hey will aniwer 
 you £ Not fo , left there be not 
 enough for us and you. J We have 
 little enough for our felves , you 
 fhould have done as we did : but 
 then it will be too late , Mat. 2$. 
 8,9, 10. It will then make the 
 proudeft heart to (hake, to hear, 
 Depart from me , nil ye that are 
 workers of iniquity , I never knew 
 jou y Matth.j.2$. You departed 
 from me, and would not live in the 
 Communion of Saints ^ and now 
 Chrift himfelf of whom you boaft- 
 cd, and in whom you trufted, will 
 not know you, but caufe you to 
 
 depart 
 
192 CatkplickUmtj, 
 
 depart much .urcher the/ 1 you de- 
 fired , both from his Saints and 
 him. Thele are the true revelations 
 of God, wh.ch may belaugrtat 
 and flighted now, but will certain- 
 ly be made good on all that are not 
 now United to Chrift and his 
 Church. 
 
 12. And let me tell you, to con- 
 fummate yonr mifery , when that 
 day of everlafting feparation 
 comes , thofe fervants of Chrift 
 whom you refufed to joyn with in 
 an holy life , will be fo many wit- 
 neffes againft you to your con- 
 demnation ; As Chrift tells you, 
 Mat. 2 5. he will fay [_ In m much 
 as yon did it nut to one of thtfe, yon 
 did it not to me ] So in as much as 
 you refilled the Communion of 
 Saints, and perhaps derided them, 
 you refilled Communion with 
 Chrift himfelf and derided him. 
 Then they muft teftifie againft 
 you, £ We were willing to have had 
 
 his 
 
CAtbelickUnity. l$j 
 
 his company in the way of holinefs y 
 tMt he refufed it. ~] And when you 
 ee them fee fo far above you, then 
 four own confeienees will fay, 
 ^ We might have been of this bleffed 
 Society , and would not : we might 
 have done as they , and now fped as 
 they ^ we were often entreated to it 
 hy our Teachers -^and full glad would 
 the godly have been of our company 
 in an holy life •, but we obfiinarely 
 refufed all I Wretches that we are , 
 we refufed all I We thought t need- 
 le fs -, our hearts were againfi it > we 
 preferred our f leaf teres, and pro fits, 
 and credit , and the cufloms <f the 
 world before it. and nnfy Ikw juflly da 
 we perijh in our wilfulnefs, and n. ufi 
 lie inyondtr burning flames , and be 
 feparated as far as HeU is from 
 Heaven , from thofe that we will- 
 fully feparated from on earth. I 
 
 Feloved hearers, I were not a 
 Believer, if I did not forefee this 
 dreadiul day : and I were hoi a 
 K mar* 
 
1 94 Catholick Unity. 
 
 man, if I did not defire that you 
 might efcape this mifcry •, and 
 therefore I could do no lefs then 
 warn you, as you love your felves, 
 and would not be feparated from 
 them for ever, that you would pre- 
 fently be United to the Godly, and 
 live in the true Communion of the 
 Saints, and withdraw your felves 
 from the wayes of the ungodly , 
 left you be found among them, and 
 perilh with them. I have done my 
 part in telling you the truth , and 
 now muft leave the fuccefs to 
 God. 
 
 Vfi 
 
Catholick Unity. Ipj 
 
 life ult. 
 
 BU T I muft conclude with a 
 word of advice to the Godly • 
 I have made a very large ambitious 
 motion, for the converfion of all 
 at once: But alas, it is far from my 
 expectation that it fnould prevail. 
 I am not fo unacquainted with the 
 power of fin,and the fubtilty of the 
 Devil, and the wiifulnefs of blind 
 unfan&ifled men, and the ordinary 
 courfe of Providence in this work, 
 as to cherifh any hopes that All the 
 Town and Parifh ftvculd Confenr. 
 If many or any more do-, I fhall 
 be glad. Buc flurima qu*ras , ut 
 fattcAferas : An high motion when 
 reafonable, may be ferviceable to 
 lower hopes. By what I have here 
 laid, you may fee how little hope 
 there is that ever the Church 
 Kz fliouJd 
 
ig6 Catholick Unity. 
 fhould have any fuch Peace on 
 earth as we defire. If unholinefs 
 be the hinderance, and the ^reateft 
 part of the world are fo unholy , 
 and fo our Unity is like to rife no 
 higher then our piety , you may 
 fee then how much Unity to look 
 for. 
 
 But for your own parts, be fure 
 among your felves to maintain the 
 Unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
 Peace. Love the Brother-hood , 
 even Saints as Saints. And becaufe 
 you are not the fearchers of the 
 heart, proceed according to the 
 Word of God. Let all that Profels 
 themfelves a fandified people, and 
 live fo as that you cannot certainly 
 difprove their profeflion, beufed 
 as Saints by you, and leave the in- 
 fallible judgement to God. It is on- 
 ly real Saints that have the internal 
 fpecial Unity of the Spirit, and fa- 
 ying Communion -, but its Profef- 
 fors of Faith and Holinefs that 
 
 muft 
 
Catholic k Unity, i<yj 
 
 muft have external Communion 
 with us in Ordinances, as they have 
 avifible Union of Proicilion with 
 the Church. But if they profefs not 
 Holinefs, they ought not to have 
 any Chriftian Communion at all. 
 
 O Chriftians, keep clofe to 
 Chriil the Center of your Unity , 
 and the Scripture,which is the Rule 
 of it, and cherifh theSpirit which 
 is the vital caufe ^ walk evenly and 
 uprightly in a dark generation, and 
 give no offence t# thofe without, 
 nor to the Church- of God. Know 
 them that are over you in the Lord, 
 and be at Peace among your felves, 
 and the God of Peace (hall be with 
 yon, 1 Thef.$. 12. Phil, 4. 8.9. 
 
 K 3 Obj. 
 
196 CatbMck Unity, 
 
 Object. D Vt may not a Profejpon 
 ■^ of the fame Jpahb pro- 
 cure a J efficient Vnlty among us , 
 though all be not Saints, andfaving- 
 ly regenerate ? Let m firft be of one 
 JRtligion, and then we may come to be 
 fincere in the Practice of that Reli- 
 gion by Degrees. 
 
 Anfw. i . T or the Churches fake, 
 we are thankful w God , when we 
 fee a common concord inProfefli- 
 on, though moil: are falfe in and to 
 the Religion which they profefs. 
 Many wayes God doth good to his 
 Church by ur. found ProfeiTors. 
 
 i. Th?ir Profefiing the fame 
 Taith doth fomewhat tye their 
 hands from perfecuting it. And of 
 the two, we can better bear Hypo- 
 crites then Persecutors. 
 
 2. And it fomewhat tyeth their 
 tongues from reproaching the 
 
 Faith, 
 
Cathotick Unit j. i99 
 Faith, and arguing againft it, and 
 feducing others from it. And of 
 the two , it would be more hurtful 
 to the Church to have thefe men 
 open enemies to the truth , and 
 bend their wits and tongues againft 
 it, and to have the multitude af- 
 faulting their neighbours with in- 
 ve&ivesand cavils againft Religion, 
 then to have them falfly pretend to 
 be Religious. 
 
 3. And it is a great mercy to the 
 Church, hereby to have the bene- 
 fit of thefe mens common parts 
 and interefts. When they profefs 
 the fame Religion with us , though 
 unfoundly, yet it engageth them to 
 ftand for the Religion which they 
 profefs h and their illumination 
 and convi&ion may lead them to 
 do much fervice for the truth. By 
 this means many hands are at work 
 to build up the Church of Cfcrift. 
 And by this means the lives of ma- 
 ny faithful Chriftians are preferved 
 K4 and 
 
500 Cdtholick Unity. 
 
 and their eftates much fpared. 
 Many have skill in building, that 
 are not true heirs of the houfe 
 which they build. Many have ex- 
 cellent gifes for preaching and ex- 
 pounding Scripture , by which the 
 Church may be edified , and the 
 Truth defended againft theadver- 
 fai ies, when yet the fame men may 
 thtmfelves be deftitute of the Pow- 
 er of rhis truth. The Church hath 
 great caufe to be thankful to God 
 for rhe gifts of many an unfandrfi- 
 ed man : Had the Church been de- 
 nyed the Miniftry and Gifcs of all 
 men except Saints , it would have 
 been confined to a narrower 
 room, and many a foul might have 
 be^n unconverted, that have been 
 called by the Miniftry of unfan&i- 
 tfedmen. By fome fuch did God 
 work Miracles ihemfelves for the 
 confirmation of the Chriftian 
 Fa : th. Andintim°sof war, if the 
 Church had none but Saints to 
 
 fight 
 
Cathdick Unity. 201 
 
 fight for them , it could not ftand 
 without a continued Miracle. And 
 if we had not the daily help of 
 others in civil and fecular affairs , 
 we fhould find by the mifs of it , 
 what a mercy we undervalued. 
 Were every unregenerate man an 
 open enemy to the Church , we 
 fhould live as Patridges and fuch 
 other birds, that muft hide them- 
 felvesfrom every PafTenger. 
 
 4. Moreover, this Profeilion 
 of Hypocrites doth much reftrain 
 them trom many a fin, by which 
 God would be much dilhonoured, 
 and the Church more wronged , 
 and the godly more grieved, and 
 the open enemies more encou- 
 raged. 
 
 5. And alfo it is -fome honour 
 to the Gofpel in the eyes of men , 
 to have a multitude of ProfefTors. 
 Should Chrifts vifible Church be as 
 narrow as the myftical, and (hould 
 none be ProfefTors of the Faith , 
 Kj bur 
 
102 Cat bo lick Unify 
 
 but thofe few chat are fanftified 
 Believers, the paucity of Chrifti- 
 ans,and narrownefs of the C hutch, 
 would be a difhoncur to Chrift in 
 the eyes of the world j and would 
 hinder the Converfionof many a 
 foul. 
 
 All this I have faid , that you 
 may. fee that we do notdefpifea 
 Unity inprofrflion " and that we 
 are not of thofe that would have 
 all hypocrites and corrmon profef- 
 fors fhut out ; Yea that we take 
 our felves bound to be very thank- 
 ful to God for the mercy, which he 
 vouchfafeth us by the gifts /and 
 favour, and help , and intereft of 
 many fuch Pro feffors. And fucha 
 Unity of Prof-flion we {hall en- 
 deavour to our power heartily to 
 promote , as knowing that the 
 Church as vifible confifteth of fuch 
 profeffours. 
 
 2. But yet for all this , I muft 
 eome.clofer to your objection, arid 
 
 tell 
 
Catholic k Unity. 20$ 
 
 tell you , thac this Vnity of mee* 
 Pro'feffion is comparatively To poor 
 a kind of Unity, that this will not, 
 this muft not fatisSe us and ferve 
 the turn, which I defireyou toob- 
 ferve in thefe diicoveries. 
 
 1. This Unity inmecr Profeffi* 
 on is properly no Chriftian ZJttitJ , 
 becaufe you are not preperly Chri- 
 fiians. if this be all, it is but in the 
 bark and fhell that we are agreed - 
 ft is but zfeeming agreement, from 
 the teeth outward : but not an 
 hearty agreement to be Chriftians. 
 What 1 {hall we all agree to fay we 
 are Chriftians ? when with moit it 
 is not fo : "For all this Agreement, 
 you will full have one "Father, and we 
 another. You will not be United 
 •with us in Chriftthe Head; you: 
 will not have the fame Holy Spirit , 
 who is the Life of the New crea- 
 ture : You will be contrary to us-. 
 inNature or Difpofition • You will 
 not have the fame Intention and 
 
 Ultimate, 
 
204 Cdtholick Umtj. 
 
 Ultimate End with us, but you will 
 aim at one thing, and we at ano- 
 ther : You will not go the fame 
 way , nor walk by the fame Rule 
 and Law as we : It will be but a 
 tying together the Living and the 
 Dead. Bclltrmine himfelf confef- 
 feth that the ungodly are but dead 
 members _ It is not life that Uniteth 
 a dead member to the living. You 
 will bt (till either openly or fecret- 
 ly betraying the Body to which 
 you profefs your felves United,and 
 taking part with its deadly enemies, 
 the flefli, the world and the Devil !" 
 Your very Hearts and ours will {till 
 be contrary 7 r You will love the 
 fin that we hate and fetour felves 
 againft 5 and you will dif-relifh 
 that Holy Heavenly life , which 
 mud be our bufinefs and delight. 
 Your Afle'&ions wilt go one way, 
 and ours another. You will Live by 
 fenfe, whenwemuft live by faith i- 
 and you wkll be laying up a treafure 
 
 on 
 
Cdtholkk Unity. 205 
 on earth, when we are layiug up a 
 treafure in heaven : You will be 
 asking counfel of flefh and blood r 
 when we muft advife with God 
 and his holy Word. You will look 
 firit to your bodies , when we muft 
 look firft and principally to our 
 fouls. It will be your bufinefs to 
 feed thofe fins, which it is our daily 
 work to kill. You will make and 
 apprehend it to be your Intereft to 
 go contrary to us : And what 
 Agreement can there be, where 
 there are contrary Interests ? Un- 
 der all your outward profeflion , 
 you will ftill retain a fecret enmity 
 and hatred to the life of holinefs : 
 and will not have that hearty Love 
 to the Saints , as befeems all thofe 
 that are members ofChrift,and of 
 the holy Catholick Church. So that 
 when you have Communion with 
 the Saints , it will be but an exter- 
 nal and fuperficial communion in 
 fome common things h but you 
 
 will 
 
20 6 Cathelick Unity 
 
 will have no Communion with; 
 them in the fame Head, and Spirit, 
 and Pron-iie, and Holy Nature,. 
 and favirg Bene rits of the Gofpel. 
 And fhali :his be called Unity \ that 
 leaveih ycu a: To fad a diftar.ceas 
 this ? This is but fuch a Union as a 
 wooden leg hath to the body-, or 
 as the veiTds of honour and dif- 
 honcur have by being in the (zmt 
 houfe together. In their higHeft 
 ProieiTions, the Lord himfelf faith 
 of unfandiried ProfefTors, that th:y 
 are none of Chrifis, Rom. 8. o. and 
 that they cannot be his Difcifles , 
 Luke 14. 3 3 . that they are not If- 
 r.tL though of If rati , nor are they 
 children of God, nor the feed of pro- 
 mife, Rom. o. 6,7,8. and when 
 they plead their higheft Privileges, 
 atlaft,Chrift wilkell them that he 
 kricweth them not, Mat. J. 23. & 
 25. 12. Pf.lm 1.5,6. .And if m 
 mercy to the Church God caufe 
 the Lyon and the Lambs to lie 
 
 down 
 
Catholiak Unity. 207 
 
 down together, yet will he not 
 therefore miftake the Lyon for a 
 Lamb. So that you fee what a poor 
 kind of Unity , and next to none 
 it is thatmeer profefiion maketh. 
 And therefore this will not ferve 
 our turn. 
 
 2. Moreover , if we have no 
 other Unity , wj are unlike to live 
 in Peace together. Though it be our 
 duty to endeavour to have peace 
 with all men, yet we can have but 
 little hope of it. As long as there 
 is fo much difference and contra- 
 riety as I have mentioned • and as 
 long as there is a fecret enmity at 
 the heart, it will be working into 
 difTemion, if God for the fake of. 
 his Church reftrain it not. The 
 godly will be crofting your carnal 
 Intercity and hindering you in the 
 finful wayes of your commodity - 
 pleafureor vain-glory 1 They will 
 be calling you to lelf-denyal, which 
 you cannot endure : and putting 
 
 yCttr 
 
208 Catholkk Unity. 
 
 you upon duties of Holinefs," 
 Righteoufnefs and Mercy , which 
 your finful flefh will utterly refufe. 
 If you are fcandalous, you will be 
 called to Confeffion, Repentance, 
 and Reformation , or by Church- 
 cenfures be cut off from them to 
 your ftiame .* And the Magiftrate 
 alfo mult trouble you by the penal- 
 ties of the Law. The very exam- 
 ples of a ftrid and holy living, 
 which are given you by the godly , 
 will difpleafe you, becaufe they are 
 fo unlike to your lives, and there- 
 fore witnefs againft your negli- 
 gence and ungodlinefs. So that it 
 is not poflible that we fhould 
 avoid offending you ^ for our very 
 obedience to God will offend you, 
 and our fludying and following the 
 Holy Scripture will orTend you , 
 and our diligent labour to fave our 
 fouls will offend you ^ and our 
 hateing and avoiding the Poy fon of 
 fin will offend you. And how then - 
 
 fhonld 
 
Catbolick Unitf. 109 
 
 fhould we live in Peac : with fuch ? 
 If you yoak a fwine and afhetp 
 together, one will be drawing to 
 the wafh-tub , when the other 
 would beat grafs : and one will be 
 drawing to lie down in the mire, 
 when the other would lie clean ; 
 one will be rooting in the earth , 
 and eating dung, which the others 
 nature is againit. It is Chri{t,be- 
 foreme,that calleth the wicked by 
 the name of fwine ^ and the godly 
 fieep : And if you will come no 
 nearer us then this , we are like to 
 have but poor Agreement. 
 
 And asourwayes will difpleafe 
 you , fo your galled malicious 
 hearts will manifeft the offence, 
 and wll be girding, and maiigning, 
 if not flandering , deriding , or 
 openly perfecting, as far as you 
 have power, thofe that thus offend 
 you. And what Unity is this > 
 
 3 . If Reafon perfwade you not, 
 do but ask experience it felf, Whe- 
 ther 
 
2io Citlmtck Unity. 
 
 ther in all ages, men that Profefs 
 the fame Religion with zealous 
 godly men , have not been their 
 perfecutors , and oft-times more 
 cruel then Infidels themfelves > 
 The Arrians that called themfelves 
 Chriftians* were as cruel to the true 
 Believers as the Heathens. ThePa- 
 pifts profefs the fame Chriftianity 
 as we 3 and take the whole Scripture 
 as the Word of God .> And yet 
 none of the Heathenifh Perfecu- 
 tions do match or come near to 
 their French Maflacrees ,. and Spa- 
 nifh Inquifition, and the cruelty 
 that in Ireland, England^ and their 
 part of the Chriftian world , they 
 have ex ere i fed upon the fheep of 
 Chrifr.. The many Minifters that 
 were iilenced in Germany, and 
 fomemprifoned, an many Fami- 
 lies undone, was by the Lutherans, 
 againft men that were Protectants 
 as well as they. And they that caft 
 out fo many Learned, holy Mini- 
 
 fters 
 
CAtbelkktimtf. ill 
 
 ftersin England y and occafioned 
 the expulfion of fo many thoufand 
 perfons fearing God, were Proief- 
 fedproteftantsaswellas we. And 
 that there may not be the appear- 
 a'^efomuch as of a difference in 
 Cer, monies to cover their pro- 
 ceedings, abundance of conform- 
 able men are troubled and undone 
 as well as others , and they gave 
 out that [ none were worfe then the 
 conformable Puritans. ~] It was a 
 holy obfervation of the Lords day,, 
 and oppofition to the abufeof ic 
 by Dancings , and it was hearing 
 Sermons, and inftru&ing mens fa- 
 milies, and praying together, that 
 were the things enquired after,that 
 occafioned our troubles. And 
 (who ever was in the right or 
 wrong) you all know that the late 
 miferable wars among us, was be- 
 tween men that prolefTed them- 
 feives to be of the fame Religion , 
 not only as Chriftians , but as Pro- 
 tectant 
 
212 Cdtfalick Unity. 
 
 teftant , and Reformed ( in the 
 main. ) To this day you fee among 
 our f-lves in Towns and Coun- 
 tries , that thofe that do not only 
 dwell with us , and come to the 
 fame Aff-mblies with us , and pro- 
 Ms themfelves of the fame Pro- 
 teftant Reformed Religion , have 
 yet many of them a f cret maligni- 
 ty again ft the godly , ihat will not 
 beas:o rt fe and negligent as they, 
 and will not as madly caft away 
 their iuuls : And alfo even may 
 greater Hypocrites, that rank 
 themfelves with us in the fame 
 Church-order, and feem to own 
 all Ordinances of God , and Go- 
 vernment of the Church, yet when 
 this Government croffeth them in 
 their carnal wayes, and thefe Or- 
 dinances open the nakednefs of 
 their mifcarriages, they prove (lark 
 enemies to the Government, Offi- 
 cers and Ordinances them- 
 felves. 
 
 Indeed 
 
Cat hoik k Unity. 213 
 
 Indeed however we may abide 
 together (as the dean and un- 
 clean creatures in Noahs Ark ) yec 
 ftill at the heart there is fo much 
 enmity or diftance, and in our Ends 
 and Interclts there is fo much con- 
 trariety, that if the Minifters and 
 other followers of Chrift, will 
 faithfully difcharge the duty that 
 is required of them , they will 
 certainly be perfecuted by men of the 
 fame Profeffiou in Religion •, elpeci- 
 ally by the Prouder and Lofty er 
 fort of wicked men. Becaufe fome 
 will receive the fame truth better 
 from one then from another. I will , 
 give you my affertionin the words 
 of a man that you (hall confefs did 
 fpeak impartially , and not out of 
 any intemperance or Angularity ^ 
 who in a Profperous Univerfity , in 
 Peaceable times , being himfelf in 
 favour , and of that Judgement 
 and of fuch Learning as was likely 
 to continue hina in favour, did yet 
 
 write 
 
21 5 Catholick Unity. 
 
 write rhus concerning persecution: 
 I nmn Doctor Jackson , in hi 
 Book of faving Faith , fed. 2. 
 chap. 4. pag. 185. [ The Mmifters 
 of Chrift may deny Chrifl, or mani- 
 feft their afhamednefs of hvs Gofpel , 
 as direEUy by not L ying his Law as 
 clofely to the great He rods of the 
 world, as John Baptift did ( fup- 
 pofe the c life be as n-jtoriom, in dot 
 well known to them ) as if they had 
 been afraid to confefs him, for fear of 
 being put cut of the Synagogues, cr 
 faidwtth thofe other Jews, We know 
 that God tf>*ks with Mofes, and 
 gave authority to Magi fir ates 5 but 
 this man we know nut whence he ts , 
 nor do we care for his Counfels. Tet 
 were JohnBaptifts kindof preaching 
 fifed in many Kingdoms , though fry 
 fuch as prcfefs the fame Religion 
 with the Potentates 3 they fhould offtnd 
 with their boldnefs, I thinkjt would 
 prove matter of Martyrdom in the 
 end. That any age fince Chrifiian 
 
 Religion 
 
Cdtbelick Unity. 214 
 
 Religion was firft propagated, hath 
 named ft ore of Martyrs , is more 
 to be attributed to the Negligence 
 Ignorance, and Hypocrifie, or want 
 of courage in Chrifts Embaffadors, 
 or appointed Paftors 9 then unto the 
 fmcerity, mildnefs or fidelity of the 
 flocks j efpecially of the Bell-wea- 
 thers or chief ring-leaders. Or if 
 Satan had not abated the edge of 
 primitive zeal andrefolution by that 
 difhonourable peace concluded be-' 
 tween Chriftianity and Gentilifm , 
 tfter the fettling of Goths and Van- 
 dals inthefe parts of Chriftendom • 
 had he not utterly benummed man- 
 kind by locking up their fpiritual 
 Mfesm midnight darknefs, and fet- 
 tering their fouls infuperftitionfwce 
 the time he himfelf was let loofe : 
 Rome Chriftian had feen mere 
 Martyrs, even of fuch as did not 
 much diffentfrom her in moft opini- 
 ens held Within fix hundred years of 
 Chrift, in one year , then Rome 
 
 Heathen 
 
216 Cathtllck Unity. 
 
 Heathen at any time had kncfon in 
 ten. Even in Churches befi Reform- 
 ed, it would be much e after, I thinly, 
 tofindftoreofjuft matter of Mar- 
 tyrdom , then of men fit to make 
 Martyrs. And he that hath lived 
 any longtime in thefe quiet manfions, 
 and feats of Mufes , fecure from 
 Mars his broyls., or external vio- 
 lence , hath great caufe either to 
 magnife the tender mercies of his 
 gracious God, orfujfetl himfelf for 
 an Hypocrite , if he have not fuf- 
 fcredfome degrees of Martyrdom : 
 Bnt untofuch a* have been exercifed 
 therein^ it bringeth forth the quiet 
 fruit of Right eoufnefs. ] 
 
 Thus you fee this Learned Do- 
 dor , though in favour with the 
 Rulers of the age he lived in , did 
 think that a man that would not 
 be an Hypocrite, but faithfully dif- 
 charge his duty, was likely to furTer 
 Martyrdom from thofe of the 
 fame Pro feffion with himfelf, and 
 
 that 
 
Catbellck Unity* 217 
 that it muft be by very great mercy 
 from God , or by hypocrifie and 
 unfaichfulnefs in us, if any Minifter 
 do fcape the hands of the wicked 
 that are of his own Profefilon. So 
 that you may fee that meer Profef- 
 fion will make but a poor Agree- 
 ment or Union among us : Sin will 
 be (in lull, and the flefh will rage 
 (till after its prey in unmodified 
 Profeffors • and the Word of God 
 will ftill difgrace them and con- 
 demn them, and confequently 
 trouble them and exafperate them • 
 So that if yon come no nearer to 
 us then a Proieflionof the Chrifh- 
 an Proteftant Religion , you will 
 ftill be fouldiersin the Army of the 
 Devil, and be itill riving in the fa- 
 ces of true Believers , whenever 
 they do but crofs you in your 
 Cms. 
 
 3. Confider alfo , Wlmt a poor 
 
 benefit comparatively it is to your 
 
 felves, to be joyned with the Saints 
 
 L by 
 
2l3 Cdtholicklinitj. 
 
 by a bare Profeflion, and no more- 
 Will in make you happy to fee their 
 faces, or live among them i So do 
 the bruit beafis , and fo do their 
 Perfccutors .- Will it make you hap- 
 py to be called by the name of Chri- 
 ftians ? No more then it maketh a 
 Picture Rational to be called by 
 the name of a man. And what if 
 by your pares and moral vermes , 
 you are fome way helpful to the 
 Church ? So is the wooden leg to 
 the body, which yet is not a mem- 
 ber, but a crutch. 
 
 4. Yea me thinks it (hould ra- 
 ther double your forrows, that 
 you are fo miferable among the 
 happy. You live with them that 
 have pare in Chriit , when you 
 have none in him. You joyn with 
 thofe that have the Spirit of God, 
 and an holy difpofition and con- 
 verfation 5 when you have none ; 
 You kneel by them whole Spirits 
 are importunate with God in pray- 
 er 
 
 • 
 
Catholick Unity. 219 
 
 er, when your hearts are . dead : 
 You fit by them that are quickned 
 and fan&ified by the Word, which 
 to yon is but a dead and empty 
 found. You are famifhed among 
 them that are feafting upon Chrift , 
 and upon the precious promifes of 
 eternal life. You are but as car- 
 kafes among the living .- Their 
 company maketh not you alive •, 
 but your noyfom converfation is 
 grievous unto them , unlefs it be 
 fome of you that are embalmed 
 and beflowered with fome common 
 graces, for the fakes of thofethat 
 el fe would be more troubled with 
 you. And is this fo great a comfort 
 to you, to be dead among the li- 
 ving, and to be heirs of hell in the 
 midft of them that are heirs of hea-i 
 ven ? Methinks ( till you are fan- 
 dtifiedj it fhould be adailyhor- 
 rour to you, to look them in the 
 faces , and think that they have 
 Chriit and grace , and you have 
 L 2 none; 
 
220 Cttbolick Unity. 
 
 none , and to hear in the holy Af- 
 femblies the mention of their hap- 
 pinefs, and the name of that God , 
 that Chrift , that Heaven where 
 they muft live for ever , and in 
 which their blefTedneJs confifteth , 
 when you muft be turned out into 
 everlaiting mif;ry. 
 
 That you may not think I am 
 Angular in all this, I will add here 
 fome humane teftimony for con- 
 firmation ot it. Zn:ra< } Comment. 
 in Epift. Canon. Can. 45. ex Bail). 
 Af. Epift. 2. adAmphihch. gives 
 us :h.s as one ot the Canons ot the 
 Greek Church received from Baft I 
 C /f an J ° nc **C*iln#g the Name of 
 Chrift L nity , fhaH be a reproach to 
 Chrift ( tbst is, faith Zonaras, ly a 
 7/tiiked life) his Name or Apptl- 
 ni&na profit at .ill U him.^ And 
 even in the Roman C aron Law, 
 this is one Canon taker, oqt of Au- 
 gift'-S. V.irvulns qui hptU txr, 
 (: ad ar.nos raticn,ues vc9H*s , mm 
 
 €ndi- 
 
CatbolichUmtj. 22 1 
 
 credlderit, nee ab illlritis abftinuerit, 
 nihil eiprodefi qmd ps.rvulm acce- 
 pt. Decret.part l.dift. 3./?. 1 241.] 
 that is £ A . Baptized Infant 3 // 
 w£f /* ^£ £0W£ j fo j^rfr/ of difcreticn, 
 doth not believe , nor abfiain from 
 things unUypfy.l, it profteth him. 
 nothingnvhich he received in his in- 
 fancy. J If it were needful after the 
 Canons both of the Greek and 
 Latine Church to give you the like 
 words from particular Fathers, I 
 could foo:i perform it. 
 
 5 You are fo far from being 
 Happy by your vifible Church, 
 (race and outward Profeilion , and 
 Communion with the Church, thac 
 you have the greater fin , and will 
 have the forer puni{hment,becaufe 
 among fuch examples, futh means, 
 and calls, and mercies, }cu ytre- 
 fiil the Grace of Chrift , and are 
 void of that Holinefs which your 
 tongues Profefs. The poor Indians 
 hear not that which you daily or 
 L 3 week* 
 
212 Catholick Unity. 
 
 weekly hear ^ nor have the oppor- 
 tunities in publick and private that 
 yon have had. If they lie in igno- 
 rance and unbelief, they can fay , 
 it is becaufe they never read or 
 heard the Scripture, nor ever had a 
 man to tell them of the bleffed 
 tidings of Redemption, or open to 
 them the way to life: But fo cannot 
 you fay for your fclves They were 
 the lefs excu fable, if they had feen 
 but one of your dayes , or joyned 
 but once in thofe holy Affemblies 
 which you profane. The mouth of 
 (Thrift himfelf hath told us concern- 
 ing the reje&ers of his Minifters 
 and his Gofpel , that it (hall be 
 eafier for Sodom in the day of 
 Judgement then for them, Mat. 
 jo. 15. You will find a hotter 
 place in Hell , that pafs thither 
 from thofe teats, from this Altera- 
 bly, from fuch a neighbourhood, 
 and fuch a Nation, then if you had 
 pafTed thither from among the 
 Turks or Indians. 6. More- 
 
Catholick Unity, 223 
 
 6. Moreover , there is in fome 
 refpe&s , lefs hope of your falva- 
 tion, that have long lived uncon- 
 verted in the outward Communion 
 of the Church , then of other 
 men. As a fick man is in a more 
 defperate cafe that hath iongufed 
 thebcfVand only means, and all 
 in vain , then he that never ufed 
 any. I confefs you have the ad- 
 vantage of being ftill under the 
 means ^ and that is your hope ( as 
 long as it laftcth ) .- but then you 
 have the dreadful fymptom of 
 fruftratlng thefe means • and that 
 is your terrour , above thofe that 
 yet remain without. 
 
 7. Moreover, if you agree with 
 us but in Profeffion and outward 
 Communion, you will be thereby 
 more capable of doing us^ rhe 
 greater mifchief. I know God doth 
 benefit his Church by many of the 
 unfandified, as I faid befor*. But 
 many others of them are the great- 
 ly, eft 
 
224 CAtholick Unity . 
 
 eft plagues to ir. One enemy in our 
 own Armies, or in our Councils , 
 may do more agairit us , then ten 
 thouland open enemies abroad, 
 Pal.Vhearted Bifhops, Faftors, yea 
 and \'agiftra:e$, that have the 
 Name and no: the Nature of Chri- 
 ftians, are they that h~ve betrayed 
 the Church, and broken it in 
 pieces , and made the caufe of 
 Chriit a frepping-ftone to their 
 worldly ends. It was a Doeg that be- 
 trayed David aod Abimelech t It 
 was a. Judas that betrayed Chrift 
 himfelf. You are now our daily 
 hearers, and live fome of you civil- 
 ly among us, and take your Lives 
 confidently for Chnitians and 
 Saints as well as others, and fecra- 
 fy fcorn thofe that would rob you 
 of that honour , as appropriating 
 it unto themfelves, and fay a$Z>- 
 dtkiah to Micaiah when he ftruck 
 him , \King. 22. 24 [_ Which Way 
 went the Sprit of the Lord from me 
 
 to 
 
Cathdick Unity. 22 J 
 
 to ffeeai^ unto thee ?~\ But if the 
 times (hould turn,and you bad but 
 your will , at leaft if you were but 
 forced or driven by Authority, we 
 fhould foon find many of you to be 
 blood-thirfty enemis, that now 
 are fo consent that you are Chri- 
 THans and true fer vanes of God. A 
 little money would hire thofe Jh- 
 das'es to betray Ghrill , and his 
 Caufeand Church, that now are 
 our familiars, and put their hands 
 into the fame difh with the true 
 Difciples. While they are among 
 us, they arc not of us .- and there- 
 fore when Temptanons come, they 
 will be gone from us. Its well if half 
 this Affembly that are now hearing 
 me, weuld ftick to Godlinefs , if 
 Godlinefs were but theperfecuted, 
 fcorned way of the times : Yea if 
 they would not forfake even u.e 
 name it felf of ChriiHan, and for- 
 fake thefe AfTemblies and outward 
 wordiip, if the Rulers were againft 
 L 5 it, 
 
116 Catbclick ifiHf. 
 
 it, and did bu: perfecure i£, (o that 
 i: muft coft them any thing dear to 
 hold it. 
 
 S. Moreover, t! efe hollow- 
 hearted Chniti- fts ; ^ee with 
 us but in the on fide a 
 are capable of dishonouring (Thrift, 
 and the Gofpel, much more then 
 if they were open enemies. If a 
 profeffed Heathen or Infidel live 
 wickedly, this cannot be cart upon 
 the Golpel or the Chriftian name, 
 nor can (Thrift and his fervants be 
 hit in the tee:h with it , or re- 
 proached by it : But when thofe 
 that take on them to be Christi- 
 ans 3 and joyn with Chriftiansin 
 their publike worfhip ; (hall live 
 life Heathens, or worfe then fome 
 cfzhem, want greater wrong can 
 be done to (Thrift ? will he not 
 one day take fuch wretches by the 
 throats. . \_lf thou muft 
 - thj Trite, «nd i)rf.*kennefs , 
 and Ccveteotifwfs ^ if then mttft 
 
 needs 
 
Cathblick Unity. 227 
 
 needs [wear and curfe and rail^ or 
 live an ungodly flefhy life , thou 
 Jhuuldeft have kept thee out of my 
 Church, and not have called thy [elf 
 a Chriftian , and taken an eafier 
 place in Hell : Muft thou bring thy 
 wickedne/s into my houfe, and a- 
 mong my fervants, to dijhonour me .* 
 Muft I and m) fervants be re- 
 proached with thy crimes ? ]] 
 
 And this is one great caufe why 
 Chrifl hath appointed Discipline 
 in his Church to admonifh and Re- 
 form , or rejed the fcandalous ; 
 And this is the reafon (among ma- 
 ny others) why faithful Chriftians, 
 (though they would make no un- 
 juft divifions and feparations ) 
 would yet have the Church of 
 Chrift kept clean, by ufe of holy 
 Discipline, as he hath appointed • 
 Becaufe it is from fuch falfe-hear- 
 ted Profeflors (ufually) that the 
 name of Chrift is reproached in 
 the world .- Thefe are they for the 
 
 raofiu 
 
2 28 Catholick Unity. 
 
 moft part that make Turkes and 
 Jewes and all other enemies fay, 
 that Chriftians are as bad as o- 
 thers \ becaufe thofe that are as 
 bad as other /, do take on them to 
 be Chriftians. "W hen Drunkards , 
 and Fornicators , and Covetous 
 p^rfons, and profane, do come to 
 the Congregation , and fay they 
 are Chriftians, when in heart and 
 deed they are not, what wonder 
 then if Infidels and Enemies of the 
 Church reproach us and fay, You 
 fee what Chriftians are ? How 
 could a Papift do the Proteftants 
 a cunmnger and furer mifchief, 
 then to take on him a Proteftant, 
 and then commit fornication or 
 other horrid lewdnefs , or joyn 
 with fome abominable Seft , to 
 make men think that the Prote- 
 ftants are fuch as thefel And how 
 can you do Chrift a greater wrong 
 then to carry the dung of the 
 world into his Church ^and to co- 
 ver 
 
Cat Mick Unit j. 129 
 verall the crimes of Infidels, with 
 the name and garb.of Chriftianity, 
 that it may be faid r All thefe are the 
 crimes of Chriftiansl And there- 
 fore it is that Chrift and his faith- 
 ful Minifters, though they would 
 have as many as is poflible to be 
 faved, yet are not fo forward to 
 take in all, as others be : For Chrift 
 needeth not fervants, but its they 
 that need him •, and he had rather 
 have a few that will honour him 
 by mortifyed holy lives then a mul- 
 titude that will but caufe his name 
 and Gofpel to be reproached. It is 
 certain from Church-hiflory , that 
 the holy life of fome one or few 
 perfons (as Gregory Thau-mat ur- 
 gut , Macarius , and many the 
 like) hath drawn in multitudes and 
 converted Countries to the faith .• 
 when the wickednefs of whole 
 Towns and Countries of ProfefTed 
 Cftriitians, hath caufed many to 
 fall off , and caufed the enemie to 
 infult. We 
 
230 Cat belie k Vxitj. 
 
 We will not for all this break 
 Rule, nor prefume to learch the 
 hearts of n c : er then 
 
 they appear: 
 Wfc 
 
 Chr - . that 
 
 Null not their own Profeffioo, Ba- 
 fil was advifed by lus h ; .m- 
 
 lelf to recede the ArriktU them- 
 felves in:o Communion , if they 
 did but cifown :mer er- 
 
 rors, and fubfenbe to the X if ere 
 Creed, and ie.k the Communion 
 of the Churches. Andhepra&i- 
 fed this, though many were offen- 
 ded 4ti:. But yet we mu it. needs 
 fay, that it is better for the 
 Church to have a few that are Ho- 
 ly and anfwer the nature of their 
 holy Caning, then to have multi- 
 tudes that will but prove our 
 fharne, and make the Ir.hdel world 
 believe that Ch: 
 what it is. Yea and thefe a 
 mod commonly too (though they 
 
 may 
 
Catbolickltmtj. 231 
 
 may proceed to a higher profeffi- 
 on) that are carried about with 
 every wind of dodrine , and that 
 turn to Herein s , and caufe and 
 continue the Divifions of the 
 Church: Tor they-that are fuch, 
 Jerve not the Lord J ejus , when 
 they profefs to ferve him, Rom. 1 6 . 
 17. When Herefies do anfe , it is 
 fuch chaff as this that is carried 
 away, that the Approved Chrifti- 
 ans indeed may be made mani- 
 feft, 1 Cor. 11 19. Abundance of 
 proud unfan&ified perfons, do us 
 as much good in the Church as fire 
 in our thatch,or as mutinous foul- 
 • diers that are but the enemies a- 
 gents in the Army, to fet ail the 
 fouldiers together by the ears , or 
 difcover. their Councils, or blow 
 up their magazins. And would 
 you have us contented with fuch a 
 kind of Agreement and Commu- 
 nion with you as this , which you 
 and we are like tobefo little tie 
 
 better 
 
2 31 Cat Mick Unit j. 
 better for , if not the worfe? 
 
 9. Furthermore , it is not this 
 meerAgreement in Profeflion that 
 will fatisfie Chrift himfeif , and 
 therefore it muft not fatisHe us. 
 It is not in this that he attaineth 
 the principal ends of his Redemp- 
 tion, nor feeth the travaile of his 
 Soul. Alas, the blood of Chrift 
 is loft to you, and all the Ordinan- 
 ces and means are loft , and all the 
 labour of Minifters is but loft to 
 you as to any pardon of iin,or life, 
 or Heaven that ever you (hall have 
 by them, if you goe no further. 
 And would you have us be conten- 
 ted with fuch an Agreement as 
 this? 
 
 10. Laftly, Confider that if we 
 Agree no further then in an out- 
 ward Profeflion of the Chriftian 
 faith, alas , it will be but a Jhort 
 Agreement. We may be together 
 here a while in the Church, as 
 fifties good and bad in one net ■, but 
 
 when 
 
Cat bo tick Unity. 233 
 
 when it is drawn to the fhore, a 
 feparation will be made.. Here 
 you may lit and kneel among us a 
 while, and go away with the Name 
 ot Chriilians : But alas , it is but 
 a little while till this Agreement 
 will be broken, and a dreadful e- 
 verlafting reparation muftbe made. 
 Dreadful to the unfan&ihed, but 
 joyful to the Saints. And what 
 great good will it do to you or us, 
 to be tyed together a little while, 
 by words and {hews, and then to 
 be everlaftingly fcparated, as far as 
 Light from darknefs, Heaven from 
 Hell, and the Greatefl: Joys from 
 the Greateft forrc ws. O blame 
 us not if we motion to you, and 
 beg of you, a far neerer Union and 
 Agreement then this. 
 
 I think I have now fufficiently 
 proved, that If we will be indeed 
 ol One Relignn, and ever come to 
 a right Agi eement, it is The Vni-. 
 tj of the fantlifying Spirit that 
 
 muft 
 
2 34 Catholick Unity. 
 
 mud do it. It rnuft be a Union and 
 Agreement in true Converfion and 
 Holinefs of life, and nothing lower 
 will ferve the turn. If God do 
 us any good by the Profejfionfiifts 
 or Inter eft of Hypocrites and un- 
 fandifled profefTors , we J i thank 
 him for it, and take it as a mercy : 
 But it is a higher Deftgn that muft 
 be in our Hearts •, and woe be to 
 them that come no nearer the Ho- 
 ly Catholik Church and the Unity 
 of the Spirit and the Communion 
 of Saints, then by an Outward 
 profeffion and participation of Sa- 
 craments, and fuch like outward 
 Ordinances of Communion. 
 
 -> 
 
 Queft. T\VT fuppofe we fhould be 
 -*^ United in the Sprit, 
 and Agree in Holinefs, doj/on thinly 
 this would hed the Divificns if the 
 Church? Doe jou not fee that the 
 mo ft godly are all in pieces, as well as 
 
 others ? 
 
CdtfolhkUmtj. 235 
 
 others ? Is it notfuch that have been 
 the principal catifcrs of our late Di- 
 visions ? To*t promifed to Jbew us, 
 How we might do well, for all our 
 other differences if we were bn A- 
 greed in Holiness $ will you now 
 fawns what uidvantage that would 
 .be? 
 
 Anfw. To be Agreed in Holi- 
 nefs, and to be Heartily one in the 
 EfTentials of Chriftianity,is an ex- 
 ceeding advantage to us in all 
 our difagreements about leffer 
 things. As 
 
 1. Were we but once Vnitedin 
 the main and SanElified by the Vni- 
 ting Spirit of Chrift, cur Principal 
 differences were healed already. W£ 
 (hould no longer be of different 
 minds ? whether fin or holinefs be 
 beft , or whether earth or heaven 
 fhould be chofen for our portion^ 
 nor whether God or the flefh or 
 world (hould be obeyed. You little 
 think what abundance of differen- 
 ces 
 
z}6 Cdthlick Unit j. 
 
 ces are at once reconciled in the 
 very hour of a finners converfion. 
 Before that hour, we differed in 
 Judgement from all wife men, 
 from all the Saints of God , from 
 all the holy Prophets, Apoftles and 
 Martyrs, as well as from all the 
 Godly about us •, and from all 
 men of right Reafon, and faith 
 and experience •, Yea we differed 
 from the Holy Ghoft, from Chrifr, 
 fro m God himfelf :, yea from none 
 fo much as him. Wicked wretches! 
 you differ from the Godly becaufe 
 they Agree with God h but you 
 differ more from God then from 
 them. When youdefpife a Holy 
 life, are his thoughts like your 
 thoughts } when you revile his 
 fervants, and fcorn his yoak and 
 burden as too heavy ,are you then 
 of the mind of Chrilt ? O no ^ 
 Your darknefs and his Light, are 
 far more diitent then you are able 
 to conceive. Were you but once 
 
 Reeon- 
 
CAtholick Unit J. 237 
 
 Reconciled to God, by conver- 
 ting fanctifying light , you would 
 at once he Reconciled to his fer- 
 vants ; for in the matters of chief 
 concernment to the foul, they are 
 all of his mind •, for he is their In- 
 flructer. And then what a day of 
 healing would that be ! Oh what 
 abundance of differences arc en- 
 ded upon the day of true Con- 
 verfion? And withal what abun- 
 dance of differences would be new 
 made ? For now you Agree with 
 the Devil and with your flefhly 
 defires , and wi h diffracted wic- 
 ked men , and all this Agreement 
 would then be broke : For this 
 friendfhip with the world is enmi- 
 ty to God, Jam. 4. 4. and fuch 
 Divifions as thefe Chrift tells us 
 that he came to fend , Luke 12. 
 51. But you would prefeatly be 
 Agreed with God, with the Holy 
 Scriptures, wirh all the Apoftles 
 and Servants of ihe Lord , and 
 
 with 
 
238 Cathelick Unity* 
 
 with all men of Spiritual wifdom 
 and experience in the world , in 
 the great and principal matters of 
 your lives. And it is a multitude 
 of particulars that is contained in 
 this Agreement that's made when 
 a Tinner is truly fan&ih*ed. 
 
 2. If once you were united in 
 the Spirit, and Agreed in a Holy 
 life, you -would, differ in nothing 
 that could keep you out of Heaven, 
 And if we have fome fmall diffe- 
 rences on Earth, as long as they 
 are fuch as cannot hinder our fal- 
 vation, they may be the moreea- 
 iilyborn. Paul and BarnabashsA 
 a little falling out : but O how 
 fweetly are they now reconciled I 
 Hierom and Chryjoftom , Epipha- 
 nius and John of Hierufalem , 
 Theophilus and Chryjoftom, were 
 at odds ^ Luther and Zuinglius 
 had their difagreements ^ But Oh 
 how happily are they now agreed ! 
 Our imperfe&ion of Knowledge 
 
 caufeth 
 
Cdtbtlick Unit j. 139 
 
 caufeth us here to erre and differ 
 in pare : But if we are all united in 
 Chrift , and agreed in the main, 
 how quickly fhall we fee that blef- 
 fed Light that will reconcile all our 
 controverfies! Marvail not to find 
 fome contefts among the moft 
 learned and moft godly , unlefs 
 you'l marvai! that Earth is not 
 Heaven •, or that in that body we 
 fee not the face of God, which is 
 the all-difclofing reconciling light. 
 If we were all here togetherin the 
 dark, and were of many opinions 
 about the things before us ^ if one 
 did but come in among us with a 
 candle, it might end all our diffe- 
 rences in a moment. When we 
 are newly out of this obfeuring 
 flefh,^nd this dark deceitful earth- 
 ly world, G what an unconceive- 
 able reconciliation will be made^by 
 that bieifed Light ! There's no con- 
 tending or quarrelling : Tor there 
 are none of thofe errors or pafli- 
 
 ons 
 
240 Catholic!: Unity. 
 
 fons that fhould occafion it. As 
 Imperfed Holinefs produceth an 
 anfwerable Imperfed: tlnity, fo 
 perfed Holnels will prfcdiy U- 
 nite. And is not this then the on- 
 ly way to Unity, which will help 
 us here to what is here attainable, 
 and fecure us of eternal perfed 
 concord , in the world that we are 
 palling to ? O fee that you be once 
 Agreed in the things that are ne- 
 ceffary to falvation , and then the 
 hour is neer at hand that will end 
 all your differences, and agree you 
 in the reft. 
 
 3. If once you be but Agreed 
 in Holinefs, you will have no dif- 
 ference left 3 that Jhall deftroy my 
 Grace in you, that's neceffary tofal- 
 vation.The power oi Divine laith, 
 and Love and Hope, and Fear and 
 Zeal, wtli itill be fafe. Your dif- 
 eaf^s will not deftroy your vital 
 faculties. And if the Head, the 
 Heart , and principal parts be 
 
 found, 
 
Catkolick Unity. 241 
 found , you may the better bear a 
 fmall diftemper. The difagree- 
 m.ents of theurgodly from God, 
 from Scripture and the Saints, are 
 mortal to them , and prove them 
 under the power of darknefs and 
 of Satan , that leads them captive 
 at his will, ( 2 Tim. 2. 26. Eph. 
 2.23. Afts26.i$.) Butthe dif- 
 ferences of the fanftified, arebuc 
 as the different complexions or 
 (taturcs of children, or at worft 
 but as their falling out , which will 
 not caufe the Father to turn them 
 out of his family •, fo that as long 
 as Faith, and Love, and Hope and 
 other Graces are kept found , we 
 fhall certainly do well for all oui; 
 differences. And this is the benefit 
 of Agreeing in Holinefs. 
 
 4. Moreover, if oneewewerg 
 all Agreed in the Spirit, and in 
 Holinefs of Heart and Life, W* 
 Jbouldej cape all Here fie s , or Er- 
 rors that effcttmlly Jubvert the Ef- 
 M . fentials 
 
i 42 Cathohck Unity. 
 
 fentials ef the Chriftian faith. Mi- 
 ftaken we might be •, but He- 
 fecik :swe could not be. I Hick 
 not upon the bare word , whether 
 fmailer errors may be called Here- 
 fie •, but taking Herefie as com- 
 monly its taken, a fandirled perfon 
 cannot ( at leaft Habitually ) be a 
 Heretick. Tor fhouid a man fo 
 hold a point inconfiftent with any 
 *>ne Effcntial point of theChriflian 
 fetch fat le^ft Kabicually and Pra- 
 ctically hold it,) its as lmpoffible 
 that this man fhoiild be then a 
 Chriftian as that contradictories 
 (hould be true. And therefore 
 certainly whofoever is a true Chri- 
 ftian, is free from inch Herenes. 
 And therefore as, if you are fure 
 a man fo holds a Herefie, you have 
 no reafon to believe his (hews of 
 Ilolmefs •, fo where you fee a grear 
 appearance of reaiHolinefs , you 
 muit long deliberate and have 
 good evidence , before you judge 
 
 that 
 
Cdtbelickllmty* 24? 
 
 that man a Heretick r For this is 
 the certain Priviiedge of the dan- 
 dified, that they cannot be Here- 
 ticks , though they may have ma- 
 ny errors ( as in fenfu ccrafoftt* 
 all confefsj. 
 
 5. Moroverif we were but all 
 Agreed in tru* Holinefs, Vtefiotitd 
 ie freed from yyioft of thofe fcanda- 
 lous fins which are the cowmen oc- 
 cafiun of our reproaches And divlh- 
 ans. It is fin that is the great trou- 
 ble of the Church, and of the 
 world, (fohny.z*).) T/;^breeds 
 our quarrels This fetteth all into 
 aflame. When a Drunkard, or 
 an unclean perfon, or a fland.rer, 
 or a railer, or any fcandalous per- 
 fon, is reproved, or openly admo- 
 nifhed, or for impenicency reje- 
 cted, thea the Devil and fin beiltr 
 themfelves, and rage agair.lt the 
 C hurch and Officers and Ordinan- 
 ces of God. it is fin within that 
 animateth the malignant to b? con~' 
 M 2 tentious; 
 
244 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 tentious : And it is to defend and 
 take part with fin, that they fall 
 out with God and his Word and 
 Servants. Now Holinefs is con- 
 trary to this fin that troubleth us. 
 Mortification of fin is part of San- 
 dification. If therefore we were 
 Agreed in Holinefs, it were as rea- 
 dy a way to procure our Peace , as 
 quenching the fire in your thatch, 
 is the ready way to fave your 
 houfe. I know there are too ma- 
 ny fcandals given by the beft. But 
 it js commonly but by the weaker 
 worfer fort of the belt . And it is 
 not a common thing with them 
 neither. And none of them make 
 a trade of finning, nor have any 
 unmodified reigning fin. If a No- 
 ach, a Lot, 3. David , be once fcan- 
 dalous in all his life, this is not the 
 cafe of all the godly •, and it is not 
 like the cafe of the ungodly that 
 are either often, or impenitent in 
 it. And therefore though it may 
 
 difturbc 
 
Catbolick Unity. 245 
 
 diflurbe the Church : yet not fo 
 much as the frequent and impeni- 
 tent fcandals of the ungodly. O 
 could we but all Agree againft this 
 make-bare * this great diflurber 
 and troubler of the world , what 
 Peace might we enjoy ? 
 
 6. And alfo, if once we could 
 Agree in Holinefs, the matter tnd 
 occafion of offences, Reparations and 
 contentions would ceafe. What cau~ 
 fed the Donatifls feparation of 
 old,but the fcandals in the Church; 
 and the receiving of fuch upon re- 
 pentance into Communion ormi- 
 niftry ? And fo the Novatian 
 fchifm alfo was occafioned. And 
 though the Donatifls and Novati- 
 ans were too blame to be againft 
 the Ordination or reception of 
 fuch Penitents •, yet the prevention 
 of the fin , would have been the 
 prevention of the breach. What 
 hath caufed fo many to turn fepa- 
 racills in England , .but feeing fo 
 M 3 many 
 
2^6 Cat bo lick Unity. 
 many ungodly perfons in cur 
 Churches and Communion ? Yen 
 that are mod offended at Schifnra 
 and Private Churches, are the 
 common occasions of it your 
 ielves. Jf fuch ungodly perfons 
 Were not in our Afiemblics, few 
 godly per fens would feparace from 
 them. Though I do not juftifie 
 then-, yet 1 muft needs condemn 
 vcu as the caufe. Were it not 
 ioryou, wefhouldbe more of a 
 mind-among our felves. But when 
 your rotten ulcers and corrupted 
 lives have raifed a ftink in our AC 
 femhl.:ec 5 this caufeih our Divifi- 
 On : The Separates it op tl>eir no- 
 te and are gone, and will come 
 here no more- and the reft of us 
 think that for your fakes and the 
 Peace of the Church, we ihceld 
 fray as long as well we can , like 
 Pa i?nt Surgeons that will not for- 
 iake their patient becaufe of a rot- 
 ten funking fore , as long as there 
 
 i9 
 
CatfoHck Unity. 247 
 
 is any hope of cure, or of favftg 
 the body , by cutting off the rot- 
 ten member. And thus while feme 
 are more patient and charitable 
 towards you , and fome ar . more 
 impatient of your nn, or el'fe afraid 
 of ■ Gods dilpleaiure for hffviHg 
 communion with you , here domes 
 our divifions among our felves; for 
 your fakes. And therefore ir we 
 were but Agreed inHolineis, a'.l 
 this were end d. There would 
 thep be no habituated Drunkard^ 
 or worldling, or railer, or fwea^er, 
 or other ungodly perions in our 
 Churches-, and then who could 
 fcruple communion with them ? 
 and lb what fhould hinder but we 
 might all be one ? and yet will you 
 not agree. in this? 
 
 7. Yea if we were united in the 
 Spirit of Holinefs , the vttj Dhi- 
 ding unye ace able Difpofition of men 
 would it [elf be healed , and fo ft* 
 Jtyuld have Peace. For an unchari- 
 % 4. table, 
 
248 CAthlick Unity. 
 
 tabic, dividing difpofition is part 
 of the old man, and of that unho- 
 linefs which we mud forfake. And 
 charity and mecknefs^nd a peace- 
 able healing temper, is Holinefs it 
 fdf. And therefore this mult needs 
 do much to heal and reconcile us. 
 Read but fames 3. throughout, 
 and it Will fatisfie you of this, if 
 you will be fatisHed. Thofe that 
 pretend to be wiferthen the reft 
 of the godly, and to have more iU 
 lumination, if yet they have bitter 
 envying and ftrife in their hearts, 
 they Glory in vain y and lie again fl 
 the truth : For this Wifdom defcen- 
 deth not from above, but is earthly ■-, 
 fenfual and devilijh. He that is tru-. 
 ly wife and endued with knowledg in 
 the Church, muft ■ fhew out of a gosd 
 converfation his worlds with me eke 
 nefs of Wifdom. For the wifdom 
 that is from above, is firft pure, 
 then Peaceable , gentle, eafy to be 
 intreated > full of mercy and good 
 
 fruits, . 
 
Catholtck Unit). iqp 
 
 fruits , wit ho fit partiality , and 
 without hypocrfie. But where en- 
 vying and firife is, there vs conf up- 
 on, and ever j evil wcrk^> James 3. 
 13,14, 15, 16, 17. See here vvhac 
 a lpirit fanctitication doth con- 
 tain, and whether this be not the 
 only healing way. Ic is firfi in- 
 deed Ture : but next it is Peacea- 
 ble , gentle and eafpto be intreated. 
 They chat caufe Divifionsand offen- 
 ces contrary to the Doctrine which is 
 taught, do not ferve the Lord Je~ 
 fus, what ever they may pretend or. 
 think. Peace and Ho lint fs muft 
 be followed together, Hcb. 12.14. 
 Yea Peace with all men, if it be 
 poflible, and in our power , Rom. 
 12. 18. fo that by changing the 
 unpeaceableDifpofition , and dry- 
 ing up the fountain of our ftrifes, 
 an Agreement in the Spirit would, 
 reconcile us. 
 
 8. Moreover , if we would all 
 Agree in the fpirit of Hoiineis , it 
 M 5 ; wenldd 
 
ijc^ Cathotick Unity. 
 
 wld defiroy that Carnal feifi/b di- 
 ffofiti'.r*^ and that end which is the 
 dividing Intereft, and take away 
 the bone of our contentions. It is 
 .fdfijbnefs that caufeth the great 
 Divifion* in Church and State, and 
 k:s the/ world together in wars 
 and quarrels : Every unfan&ificd 
 man is 'felfifh : his f elf and felfifh 
 intereir is more to him then God 
 and his intereil. And fuch men as 
 th:ie will never live with any man 
 in peace, any longer then they may 
 have their will and way. They will 
 not agree with neighbours Sftif 
 be but toucht by any. They will 
 hate the Magiftrate when ever he 
 would punifh them. They will 
 hate the Paiiors of the Church if 
 they faithfully difebarge their of- 
 fices, in reproving them, and cal- 
 ling them to Repentance and ftreh 
 Confeilion as isneceffary to their 
 cure. If it were Father or Mo- 
 ther, a felfifh perfon cannot bear 
 
Cathlick Unity. 2 J i 
 
 it, if they go againft his f el fifi in- 
 tereft. Theresno living at peace 
 with felfijh men , if you do but 
 crofs them in their credit or profit 
 or fenfual delights j and this we 
 mufl do, unlefs we will incur the 
 difpleafure of our Lord. We are 
 caft upon anlmpoffibility of living 
 in Peace with wicked men. lor 
 God hath commanded us to to re- 
 buke them plainly , and nut tofufftr 
 fin upon them. And if we difobey 
 God to plea fe men, it will colt us 
 dearer then their favour can repay. 
 Rut if we obey God and do our 
 duty, we are as fure to be hated 
 and reproached with 'the mod, as 
 'that the earth is under our feet. 
 Give a wicked felfifti (inner as plain 
 Scripture and Re;. ion as can be gi- 
 ven, and you ih^W not ftir him 
 from .'his- felfifti intereft ; If you 
 punifti him, or reprove him open- 
 . l'y, or exercife Church-cenftires on 
 him > or any way touch bis carnal 
 
 ielfidi 
 
2J-2. Cathoiick, Unit J; 
 
 felfifh intereft , and when you have-; 
 done go. about to farisHe h:m with* 
 Reafon, you may as. well almoft. 
 go Reafon a hungry dog from his- 
 carrion, or Reafon. a Wolf into the. 
 nature of a Lamb , or Reafon a 
 MaftirTto be friends with a Bear. 
 Many a tryal I have made j and. 
 many a. time I have ftopt their 
 mouthes, and fatisS d them in rea~- 
 fon,that th_y ought to.deny-.tbem- 
 felves,and confefs andjorfaJcc their 
 fijns ^ . and yield to God (or made 
 tbem confefs fo much at the lead) 
 But their felrlfh. minds were no « 
 snore fatisfied, for all that, then 
 if I had never fpoken to them. 
 Scripture is no Scrip-cure, nor Rea-* 
 ion is no Reafon to them ^ nor 
 God frjall be no God to them , if 
 fdfi do but contradid it • and that 
 is y when i ever he contradi&eth • 
 fvlfa They can no more believe 
 and Like., and Love that do&rine 
 or duty or counfei or courfe oi\ 
 
 life,. 
 
CAthelick Unity: *5T 
 
 life that croffeth [elf ^ and cafe 
 them to any great [elf- denial , then- 
 a child can love to be corre&ed. 
 So that [elf being fo certain a 
 Peace-breaker and difturber of the 
 world - and yet being the Reign- 
 ing Principle in all chat are unfan- 
 dified, you may caflly fee that this 
 is the hindrance of our Vnity and 
 Gcncord; and that fan edification 
 muft needs be thePrincipal remedy. 
 For fan edification is^ the detfru&i- 
 on of [elftfljne[s, and teacheth men 
 [elf-denial , and centreth all men 
 in one Interefl which is God. A^ 
 mong the unfanc^rihed there are as 
 many Ends and Jntereftsas Men : 
 For every one of them hath a [elf 
 to Pleafe : And then what Unity 
 can there be ? But the fan&ified 
 are all United in God , as their 
 common Principle, End and All r. 
 and therefore mull: needs be re- 
 conciled. 
 9. Moreover, if we could bue 
 
 all 
 
2 54 Cathclick U titty. 
 all Agree in the Spirit of H 
 We jhottld then overcome tbdt y . 
 end ftlf-c 
 
 our peace, anA raifeth errors , and 
 puts us into dijfent: 
 us all lb hardiy to Agi e?, sr.d to be* 
 of fo many minds an : but 
 
 that every man aaroralfy is v: 
 andfelf-conceited, and wife in his 
 own eyes, and o . \ 
 fancy of his own } >wn 
 
 Reafons feem itrong to htm : ar.d 
 Gods own Reafor.s do rea- 
 
 fonable to him : And can we : 
 agre .h men as thefe, 
 
 think themk et then God 
 
 and Scripture, and care prefer the 
 very roily of their own rr 
 bra:r. e the word aud 
 
 domof their Maker ? Give : 
 men as plan 
 
 ; 
 
 vou 5 
 
 .:hey 
 
 : ; and 
 
 . ere- 
 
CAtholick Unity. 255 
 
 therefore your wifdom is folly to 
 them. But now when the Spirit of 
 Holinefs comes, it takes them 
 down, and abafeth andhumbleth 
 the proud and felf-conceited , and 
 makes them afhamed of the folly 
 and weaknefsof their own under- 
 flandings, fo that a man may fpeak 
 to them now as to men of reafon, 
 and have a hearing and confiderau- 
 onof his words. A humble godly 
 man is lew in his own eyes^ and 
 therefore fufpicious of his own un- 
 demanding, in doubtfull things ^ . 
 and therefore is more flexible and 
 yielding to the truth •, when others 
 are io itiffened by Pride , that they 
 are readier to deride the wifeft that 
 fhall contradict them : If therefore 
 we could but all Agree in Holy 
 meeknefs and humility, what rea- 
 dier way could there be in the 
 world, to draw to an end of our 
 differences and divifions! 
 
 10. Moreover, if we-could but 
 
 Agree 
 
2$& Cat heli ck Unity-. 
 
 Agree, in Holinefs, It would free us 
 from thai wuhdritdMexefs that cau- 
 Jeth cur Difxgreemenf in other 
 things •, and It rrvuldpsjfefs m with 
 a. ffecutl indebted Jjcfn cm to . - 
 ther : And who kr.o\ve:h net that 
 Love is a uniting healing thing? 
 Sancrihcation principally cordiiieth 
 i n Love to God. and man , and this-. 
 tjfc uniandifved principally want, 
 its wan: of Lo\e chat makes men 
 furmife the worli of one another, 
 and make the worft of ail that they 
 fay eV do y and draw matter of con- 
 tention from that which never gave, 
 them Caufe. Love w r ould put a bet- 
 ter fence upon mens words and 
 d;td$, orat leaft would bear them 
 more eafily. But inftead of 
 Love, thrreis a Natural Enmity in 
 all that are unfanctined ■ to^all the 
 fervan:> ai d of God. And. 
 
 can we ever be agreed with our 
 Natural enemies ? why Malice wilL 
 fo pervert their, underilandinrs, 
 
 tnar 
 
CMholickllnii). I57 
 
 that all that wc fay or do will be 
 mifconftrued : and as a man that 
 looks through a red glafs thinks all 
 things to be red that he looks up- 
 on j fo thefe men through the di- 
 ftemper of their malicious minds, 
 will flnde matter of quarrelling 
 with all that we can fay or do. Ill 
 will never faith well. Our very o- 
 bedience to the Law of God, and 
 feeking to fave our own fouls , will 
 be matter of quarrel, and taken 
 to be our crime. If we will not 
 runinto Hell fire with them, and 
 think there is no danger, when we 
 know the contrary, it will be a fault 
 fufficient for their malice to re- 
 proach us with ; fo that if we 
 (hould Agree with ungodly men, in 
 all our Opinions of Religion ^ yet 
 if we will not damn our fouls , and 
 make no bones of difpleafing the 
 great and dreadfull God, there is 
 no Peace to be had with them* 
 Xhey have no Peace with God,and 
 
 they. 
 
258 Catbolick Unit). 
 
 thsy have no .folid Peace with 
 themfelves(for God hath profeffed 
 that there is no peace to the wicked*, 
 //rf.48. 22. ) And how then can we 
 exped that they {hould have peace 
 with us? But San&ification doth 
 beget that eff. ctual Love, that is as 
 healing to a divided Church, or to 
 difagreeing perfons, as the moft 
 precious Balfom or Wound-felve is 
 to bodrly wounds. Love will not 
 let you reft in wrath, but will keep 
 you under fmart and difquietnefs, 
 till you are either at Peace, or have 
 doneyour part to have procured it; 
 Husband and Wife , Parents and 
 Children, Brethren and Sifters do 
 feldomer fall into greater diffenti- 
 ons then ftrangers do : And when 
 they do fall out they are eafilier re- 
 conciled. The Spirit of Grace doth 
 pofTefsunfainedChriftians, with as 
 dtar a love to one another , as is 
 between the neareft Relations. To* 
 by our -New birth the Saints are 
 
 Bre- 
 
CAtboltck Unity. 259 
 
 Brethren in Chrift. If you faw an 
 Army righting , or a company of 
 people quarrelling and fco! ding at 
 one another, do you think there 
 could be a readier way to make 
 them all friends and e nd their quar- 
 rels, then to poffefs them all with 
 * dear and tender love to one ano» 
 ther? If it were in my power to 
 eauieall contenders to Lovethofe 
 that they contend with as them- 
 selves, do you think 1 (hould noc 
 foon agree them .* Why, you know, 
 if you know any thing in Christia- 
 nity, that Sandiiieation caufeth 
 nun to Love their Neighbors as 
 themfeh'cs, and to Love one ano- 
 ther with a pure heart fervently^ 
 I Pet. 1.22. Lor by tins m know that 
 -we are faffed from de^th to life, be- 
 tAtsfe we love the Brethren : He that 
 Lvcth not hh Brother akideth m 
 death, Tah.3,14. And therefore it 
 is a cafe exceeding plain, that tie 
 re-adieft way in tiie world, to re- 
 concile 
 
26o Catbolick Unity. 
 
 concikourleffer differences, is, to 
 be united in the Spirit, and to A- 
 gree upon a Holy Life. 
 
 1 1 . Moreover, were we all uni- 
 ted in the Spirit. We Jhonldhave all 
 one God, one JWafler of our Faith, 
 and one Law-giver and Judge cf all 
 ourControverfiesx And this would 
 be an exceeding help to unity. The 
 Principal caufe of Divifions in the 
 world, are the multitude of Rulers 
 and Matters and Judges. "For with 
 unfan&ilkd men, their own Con- 
 ceits and Carnal Interett is their 
 Counfellor and Judge. The Ru- 
 lers of the world , that have the 
 power of the fword , and can do 
 them good or hurt in their eftates^ 
 are the Matters of their Religion, 
 more then God. They will follow 
 this Man or that Man,that b'eft plea, 
 feth their farcies and fklhly de- 
 fires , and fo will never be of one 
 minde. But San&irTcation takes 
 down all other Matters of ounFaith, 
 
 fave. 
 
Cdthelick Unit). 261 
 
 fave Chrifl and thofe that declare 
 his will. Let flefh and blood fay 
 what it will , let all the world lay 
 what they will , if God fay the 
 contrary, his word fhallftand and 
 be a Law to them. And can there 
 be a readier way to Uniiy , then to 
 bring us all into one School, and 
 fub jed: us all to one Lord and Ma- 
 iler, and to bring us all to refer our 
 differences to one moftwife infal- 
 lible Judge ? Though we do not yet 
 underftand his will in all things, yet 
 when we underftand it in the main, 
 and are refolved to fearch after the 
 knowledge of the reft, it is a great 
 preparative to our Agreement, 
 when we all look but to one for the 
 deciding of our comroverfies. 
 Whereas the "unfanftined have as 
 many Judges and Guides, as per- 
 fons • For every man is a Guid and 
 Judge to himfelf. 
 
 12. Moreover,werewebutonce 
 Agreed in Holinefs, We (hould all 
 
 have 
 
i6z Catholick Unity. 
 
 have one Light for the ending of cur 
 differences: and that Light -would 
 be the true Infallilie Light. For we 
 fLould all have the fame Holy word 
 of God as the extrmi.ck Light, 
 which is moft True,as coming from 
 the Lord of Truth : And we fhould 
 all have the Spirit of Truth within, 
 to teach us the meaning of that 
 vrord without, and to help our un* 
 derftandirgs, and ailiit us in the 
 application, and defiioy the cor- 
 ruptions that blind us and hinder 
 us from perceiving the Truth : 
 Whereas the unfa net lfied are afi in 
 the Dark: and what wonder, if 
 there they difagree, and are of ma- 
 ny minds! They be not guided by 
 the word and Spirit , and they are 
 itrangers to the Light that muft 
 Reconciieus, if ever we be recon* 
 cited. Jts true, too true, that the 
 godly are illuminated but in part, 
 and therefore as yet they differ in 
 part. But ye: this imperfed-iliu- 
 minarion, 
 
Cat Mick Unity. 263 
 
 miration, doth more to a true and 
 firfi Agreement, then all the world 
 can do befides. 1 f you would flop 
 your ears againft the fkfh, & yield 
 all to the teachings of ihe word and 
 Spirit , we fhould be fooner a- 
 greed. 
 
 13. And if we were once Uni- 
 ted in the Spirit and Hoiinefs, We 
 pouuld all have the v.[e and benefit of 
 *ll the Reconciling , Healing means 
 and Ordinances of God. which would 
 be an exceeding great advantage to 
 W. The uTifanclifred have but the 
 outfide, the found, and iliell of Or- 
 dinances •, but it is the San&ified 
 that have the light and life and fruit 
 of them. Every Chapter that you 
 read, and every Sermon that you 
 hear. will do fomewhat towards the 
 healing of our breaches : It will 
 furcher our Knowledge and out- 
 Love. The Communion of the 
 ' Saints in all holy Duties, efpccially 
 at the Lords Supper , when they 
 
 par- 
 
264 C4thoiick Unity. 
 
 partake of one Chrift, willenflame 
 their Love, and humble them for 
 their divifions, andibderand glue 
 their hearts together, as being all 
 one bread and one body : And fo 
 they will be all as of one heart and 
 foul, AEts^. 32. 1 Cor. 10. 16, 
 17. ^#j 2.42,43,44,46. When 
 we hear of the tender Love of 
 Chrift to his weakeft members,how 
 can we choofe but love them if we 
 beliis DifciplesiWhen we hear how 
 much, and how freely he hath for- 
 given us , how can we choofe but 
 forgive them 1 Mm. 1 8.35. When 
 we have Communion with them in 
 holy worfhip , as fervants of the 
 fame Lord, as Members of the fame 
 body, how can we choofe but have 
 the affe&ions of fellow-Members ! 
 1 Cor, 12.26. When we joyn with 
 them in Prayer , or holy Confe- 
 rence, and perceive the fragrant 
 odour of their Graces , and the 
 holy breathings of their fouls. after 
 
 God, 
 
Catholick Unitj. 265 
 God, we cannot choofe but Love 
 Chrift in them. As the new Com- 
 mandment To frequently prefTed in 
 the Gofpel, is the Law of Love, 
 (Joh.i$.i2,ij.) and the New Na- 
 ture of the Saints is aDifpofition of 
 Love (for this they are taught of 
 God effectually, 1 The fa. 9,) So 
 the Ordinances do all of them exer- 
 cife that Love, and engage us to it. 
 Wemuft leave our gift at the Al- 
 tar, and gofirftandbe reconciled 
 to our brother, if we remember he 
 hath any thing againft us, Matth. 
 5.23,24. We muft pray for for- 
 sivenefs, but on condition that we 
 do forgive. Differences and Divifi- 
 ons that make a breach in Chriftian 
 Charity, are fo infurT.rable among 
 the Saints, that they long for heal- 
 ng, and fmar.t as the wounded bo- 
 ly doth, till the time of healing - 
 md are pained as a bone out of 
 [oynt, till it be fet again. And as 
 :hey cannot bear it them lei ves 
 N . (when 
 
266 Catboltck Unity. 
 (when they are themfelves) fo the 
 Church cannot bear it, but is enga- 
 ged to watch over them, and to kt 
 them in joynt again • fo that God 
 hath hedged in his Servants into 
 one holy Society, that they ftiould 
 not toggle from him or from each 
 ©ther. , and hath fet Paftors over 
 them for this very end, to guide 
 them and keep them in holy Unity, 
 Ephef.4. 11,12,13,14. Now all 
 thefe Uniting Healing Ordinances 
 are effectual upon the Sanctified : 
 for their hearts are open to them, 
 and their New nature is fuited to 
 the new Commandment and work; 
 But to others they are in a manner 
 as lood or Phyfick to the dead : 
 They hate the power of them-, they 
 break the holy Enclofure of Difci- 
 pline , and proudly Rebel againft 
 their Guides : and fay ,Let m break 
 their kinds, and caft away their cord 
 fromm,Vfo\.2.3. what mufiweb 
 'Ruled by (neb and fitch ? It is but 
 
 th< 
 
CAlbelicklinitj. 167 
 
 theoatfide of Sacraments, Praifes 
 and Prayers that they are acquain- 
 ted with : and thefe have no fuch 
 healing force. So that in this you 
 fee the great advantage that we 
 fliould have for full agreement , if 
 we were but once agreed in the 
 main , and United by the Sanctify- 
 ing Spirit. 
 
 14. Moreover, if once we were 
 United in the Spirit, and in Holy- 
 nefs, We fio^U mr.nage all our dif- 
 ferences in a hoi j manner, and be 
 awakened and- dijpofed to fetk^after 
 healing in a healing way- It would 
 put us upon enquiring after Peace, 
 and ftudying the meeteft terms of 
 Peace, till we had found out the 
 way in which we fhould accord. 
 The Spirit of Love and Holinefs 
 would provoke us , to begin and 
 feek for Peace with thofe that will 
 not feek to us, and that feem averfe 
 to it- and to follow after peace,when 
 it flyethfroinus, H^. 12,14. and 
 N 2 even 
 
268 Catholick Unity. 
 
 even to lie down at the feet of men ^ 
 and deny our honour and worldly 
 Intereft, if it might procure Bro- 
 therly love and peace. Whereas a 
 proud unfan&ifyed heartmlricorn 
 to ftoop,efpecially to thofethat are 
 below them, or have wronged 
 them , and will fcorn to ask for- 
 givenefs of thofe that they have 
 wronged 1 When you have ftiewed 
 them the plained word of God for 
 it, and perfwaded them to it with 
 undeniable reafons, youlofe your 
 labour, and may almoft as well per- 
 fwade the fire to be cold. If you 
 will ftoop and humble your felr to 
 him, and ask him forgivenefs, and 
 give him the honour , or change 
 your minde and be of his opinion, 
 and fay as he faith , and do as he 
 would have you, perhaps you may 
 have fome Peace with the moft un- 
 godly man. But the fervants ©f 
 Chrift have a fpirit of Meeknefs and 
 Humility and Self*denyal h and 
 
 there- 
 
Catholick Unity. i6g 
 
 therefore if dure be fallings out 
 among them , they can humble 
 themfelves and feck for reconcilia- 
 tion. If there be difference in 
 Judgement about any weighty 
 matterSjthey will go or fend to one 
 another as Brethren , and confer 
 about it in Love and meeknefs, and 
 fearch the Scripture, and feek after 
 Truth, and compare their eviden- 
 ces, and Pray together for that 
 Light and Love that mud Recon- 
 cile them : If they fall out , they 
 can fay to one another [ We are 
 Brethren, and muft not Live at a di- 
 ftance, nor fujfer any wounds in our 
 Affeclions, or any breach of Charity 
 to remain : The Sun ma ft not go 
 down upon our wrath : Come-^ let tus 
 go together in private , and beg of 
 God that he would repair our Love^ 
 and reconcile us, and prevent fuch 
 breaches for the time to come. ~\ And 
 thus they can pray themfelves 
 friends again. I am perfwaded that 
 N 3 one 
 
270 Catbolickliwty. 
 
 one quarter of an hours fervent 
 Prayer , would do more to quiet 
 our diitempered minds, and re- 
 concile us, if thus we would get 
 together in private, then many 
 hours debates without it. Now the 
 Spirit of holinefs , is a Spirit of 
 Prayer ; and therefore difpofeth 
 the fervants of Chrift, as meekly 
 and lovingly to fearch for Truth, 
 fo eameitly to pray themie-lves into 
 Agreement. 
 
 15. Moreover, were we once 
 United in the Spirit , We fiozld he 
 under the Promife of Divine afflft* 
 a nee , ivhich the unfanEtified have 
 no pin in. When we Pray tor Light 
 and Peace and Concord, we have 
 apr^/jVtobe h^ardand helpt, at 
 leaft, in the time and meafure ?.s~ 
 ihali be fltteft •, we have a frmife 
 o{ the Spirit to be ourTeacher,and 
 ro fe-iid us into Truth : We have 
 frmp'fei for the mairtaining and 
 repairing of our healing Graces, 
 
 and 
 
CathoHcklimt], 271 
 
 and our Communion-Graces • our 
 Love to Chnft and one another • 
 our Patience and Meeknefsand the 
 reft. Aud this muft needs be a great 
 advantage to Unity and Agree- 
 ment, lor God is partly engaged 
 for it. 
 
 16. And if we were United in 
 tl Spirit and Agreed in the main,. 
 The Great Truths which we are 
 agreedin would very much direll m y 
 to find out the reft which yet we dif- 
 fer in. For thefe bave an influence 
 into all the reft ^ and the reft are all 
 connext to thefe, and alfo linkt and 
 knit together, that we may finde 
 out many by the help of one. Ail 
 holy Truths do befriend each other- 
 but efpecially the Great and Mailer 
 points which the reft depend upon, 
 and flow from : There is ro way to 
 a right Agreement in other points, 
 but by agreeing firit in thefe Fun- 
 damental Rudiments. 
 
 17. Alfo /if we were once A- 
 N 4 greed 
 
272 Catbelick Unity. 
 
 gre:d in Holinefs, we fhould have 
 that continually within us andbefore 
 us, that would much take us off from 
 vain contendings, and from an over- 
 ^ealous minding of fm a Her things* 
 We (hould have fo much to do 
 with God in holy Duties, and fo 
 much to do with our own hearts in 
 ■fearching them, ■ & watching them, 
 and exciting them, and mending 
 them - 9 reproving and correcting 
 them, fupporting and comforting 
 them by the application of the Pro- 
 mifes, that we {hould have lefs time 
 for quarrelling, and lefs minde of it 
 then the unfan&ifyed have. We 
 fhouid have fo many great and 
 practical Truths to digeft and live 
 upon, that leiferand unneceffary 
 matters , which are the common 
 caufesof Contention, would find 
 jefsroom : Oratleaft, we (hould 
 allow each Truth its due proporti- 
 on of our fludy and talk and zeal j 
 andfo the leffer would have com- 
 paratively 
 
Cdlholick Unit). 27$ 
 
 paratively fo fmall a (hare, and be 
 fo exceeding feldom and remifsly 
 medled with , than their would 
 be the lefs danger of Conten- 
 tions, 
 
 18. Yea, if once we were united 
 in the Spirit, the very forethought of 
 *n Everlafiing ZJnioa in Heaven, 
 would have a continual influence up- 
 on our heart s^ for the healing of our 
 breaches. We fhould be thinking 
 with our [elves [Shall we not Jbort- 
 ly be all of one mind and heart ! and 
 all be perfetledwith the bltffed vi li- 
 on , and Reconciling Light of the 
 face of God ! There will then be no 
 diffention or divijion, or unbr other ly 
 cenfures, orfeparations. Andfljould 
 we now live fo unlike our future 
 lifel Shall we new be fo unlike to 
 what we mufi be for ever I Shall 
 we now cherijh thofe heart-burnings ' 
 <tnddiJfentions, that rnuftnot enter 
 with in into Heaven, but be cafl off 
 among the refi of our rniferies , and 
 N 5 Jhnt 
 
274 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 pjrtt cut with the reft cf our enemies 7 
 and hated for ever by God and us ? 
 Aft: ft we there be clofed in ferfetl 
 Love , and be all imflojtd .in t he- 
 fame hcly Praife of God and our 
 Redeemer; and does it befeem its 
 now to be cenfuring, contending and 
 feparating from each other f Thus 
 the belief of the Life to come , 
 will be a more effectual means with 
 the godly for Agreement , then 
 any that unfan&ified men can ufe. 
 19. Moreover, they that have 
 the Spirit of Holinefs, have a dear 
 and JpecisJ Love to Truth as well as 
 unto Peace. And therefore they 
 have a great advantage for the re- 
 ceiving of it in all debates : and 
 confequently they are fairer for a 
 juil Agreement. They are friends 
 with the moft fearching fpintual 
 truths : But the ungodly have an 
 enmity to all that Truth that 
 would fhew them their iin and mi- 
 fcry and duty, and make th?m ho- 
 ly 
 
Cathdick Unity. 275: 
 
 ly and lead them up from the crea- 
 ture unto God. And as the Pro- 
 verb is, He that would not know, 
 cannot under ft and. When you deal 
 with a wicked gracelefs heart, you 
 donotfet Reafon againit Reafon 
 (Tor if that were all, we fhould foon 
 have done) but you fet Reafon 
 againftWTll andpafiion and Ap- 
 petite and flefhly Intereil : and 
 when you have convinced them, 
 you are little the neerer prevailing 
 with them. You may as well think 
 to fatisfie a hungry belly with 
 Reaions , or to tame a wild b^aft 
 with Reafons , or to humble the 
 Proud, and bring the fenfual per- 
 fon to felf-denial, by all your Rea- 
 fons. Yor they Love not the Truth , 
 bscaufe they Love not the Duty 
 that it would perfwade them to, 
 andbecaufe they Love the {in that 
 it would take from them. There 
 are two forts of Satan in a wicked 
 man that none but God can batter, 
 
 fo 
 
*j6 Cat ho lick Unity. 
 
 fo as to win them : that is , A 
 Proud and Ignorant wind , and a 
 Hard andfenfual Heart. Many a 
 year have I been battering them by 
 the Word of God, from this place, 
 and yetwith many can do no good. 
 But che fandified heart that Lo- 
 veth the Truth will meet it, and 
 welcome it , and thankfully enter- 
 tain it. Love maketb a diligent 
 hearer, andagoodfchollar, and 
 givech us hope that informations 
 and debater may be fuccesful. A 
 godly man is fo far from hating 
 truth and flying from it, that he 
 would give all the riches of the 
 world to purchafe it : He prayes 
 and reads and fludyeth for it ; and 
 therefore hath great advantage to 
 attain ir. 
 
 2c. Moreover , if we were all 
 Agreed in Holinefs, and united in 
 the Spirit of (Thrift, we Jhuld Loit 
 the Truth in a Practical wanner^ 
 and we fticuld know that every 
 
 Truth 
 
Catholick Unity: 277 
 
 Truth of God hath its proper 
 work to do upon the foul ^ and 
 therefore we fhould Love the end 
 of each Truth , better then the 
 Truth it fclf. And therefore we 
 could not pretend the Truth a- 
 gainft the Ends of Truth. And 
 therefore we fhould fee to the fe- 
 curity of thofe ends in all our de- 
 bates and controversies. We fhould 
 not make havock of the Church 
 of Chrift, nor eafily be guilty of 
 divifions, nor quench our Love of 
 God and of our Brethren , under 
 pretence of ftandingfor the Truth- 
 which unfandified men will eafily 
 do. Truth is for Holinefs and 
 Love&s its proper end. Ungodly 
 men will tread down Love and Ho- 
 linefs, or at leaft difadvantage it 
 and hinder it in the world, for the 
 exalting of their own conceits, un- 
 der the name of truth. They will 
 cure the Church by cutting it in 
 pieces, or by cutting the throat of 
 
*7& Calhclick Unit). 
 it, and arc prefendy d:fmember~ 
 ing for every fore : But with the 
 godly it is not fo. 
 
 21. Moreover, the fancied 
 have a great advantage for Agree- 
 ment, in that thy hm&t hearts th.t 
 drefubjec ~ruth y and Will be 
 
 True to it vp>; vderftand it. 
 
 Did they but know the right way, 
 they would prefently walk in it. 
 Nothing is fo dear to them that 
 fheuldnotbe forfaxen for i:. 
 facrifked to it. But the wicx.d 
 are talie to the Truths which they 
 are acquainted with. They hold 
 it or impriion it in urrnghte 
 neis. Rom. i. 1 8. and theref 
 wrath revealed again tr them. They 
 like net to retain God, in their kncT?- 
 ledge •, ard therefore God c 
 oft give them up to a reprobate 
 mind, Rom. t. 23. 7% 
 not the truth in the iove tf it that 
 thy wight be faved: no we: 
 c here fore if God give them up to 
 
Catholick Unity. 279 
 
 flrongdelufions to Believe a lye, that 
 all the j might be damned that belie- 
 vednotthe truth, but had f leaf ure 
 in unrighteoufnefs , 2 Thef. 2. IO, 
 1 1. When the j know the judgement 
 cf God, that thej that do fuch things 
 are worthy of death ■ yet they do 
 them and have f leaf are in them that 
 do them , Rem. i. 32. We may well 
 think that God will fooner reveal 
 hisTruth to them that will obey it, 
 then to them that will but bury it 
 in the dunghil of a corrupted 
 heart. And that he will rather 
 hold the candle to his fervants that 
 will work by it, then to loyterers 
 that will but play by it • or thieves, 
 or fornicators, that had rather it 
 were put out • or to enemies that 
 would do mifchief by it , and will 
 throw away the candlefticks (the 
 Minifters) and put the candle into 
 the thatch. Is there not many an 
 ungodly perfon that hears me this 
 day, that is convinced in his con- 
 science 
 
280 C at b dick Unity. 
 
 fciencethataholyhfeis beft, and 
 yet ttj^jw* follow it and obey his 
 conscience ? Are there not convi- 
 ctions at the bottom, that the di- 
 ligent heavenly Chriftian whom 
 thou reproachefL is in a fafer con- 
 dition then thy felf ? and yet thou 
 wilt not imitate fuch. Can you 
 expeft that God fhouid acquaint 
 fuch with his truth , that are lb 
 falfe to it ? 
 
 22. If we were but all Agreed 
 in true Holinefs', flu have 
 
 the great adz:tntJge of a tender con- 
 science, together with an illumina- 
 ted mind. For fpiricual wifdom, 
 with tendernefs of confcience , is 
 a great part of fanctirication. And 
 it is a great advantage in contrc- 
 verfies and debates, to be wife and 
 tende-confcienced : For wifdom 
 makes men able to difcem , and a 
 tender confcience will make them 
 afraid of miftaking and contra. - 
 ding the truth •' and ■rill keep them 
 
 from 
 
CdthelkkUnif). 281 
 
 From rafhnefs, and unadvifedncfs, 
 and levity • fo that fuch an one 
 dare not venture fo eaflly upon 
 new conceits, and will be more 
 fufpicious of himfelf, and of any 
 thing wherein himfelf \$ much con- 
 cerned. Efpecially if hefcegr.at 
 probabilities againft it , or the 
 judgment of the Univerfal Church, 
 or of many wife and godly men 
 againft it, and fee that its like to 
 have ill effects • in all fuch cafes a 
 godly man will be tender-con- 
 icienced, and therefore cautelous. 
 But is it fo with the ungodly ? no.- 
 but clean contrary. None fo bold 
 as the blind. Solomons words de- 
 icribc them exa&Iy , Prov. 14. 16. 
 The fool rageth and is confident. If he 
 be in an error, or entangled in any 
 evilcaufeor way, you know not 
 what to fay to him for his recove- 
 ry. The lefs he knows, the more 
 he defpifeth knowledge, and fets 
 his face againft his Teachers , as if 
 
 they 
 
282 i Cdtbfflick Unit). 
 
 they were but fools to him , and 
 fcorns to be Ruled by fuch as they 
 whom God hath made his Rulers. 
 Will you go to difpute or debate 
 the cafe with one of thefe ? why 
 be fure of it, they will put you 
 down and have the day. It would 
 do a man good to difpute with a 
 wife and learned or fober rational 
 man , and to be overcome by Rea- 
 fon and by Truth : But no man 
 will have fo fure a conqueft againft 
 you, as he that hath the leaft of 
 ienfe or reafon. He will go away 
 and boaft that you could not con- 
 vince him : As if a mad man (hould 
 boaft that the Phyficians could not 
 all of them cure him. An obftre- 
 perous proud felfconceited fellow, 
 will n^ver yield to the clearer! rea- 
 fon, nor never be put down. We 
 have a Proverb , that Thers vm 
 raping again fi an Ovr/t, efpecially 
 if it be hot. If he have paflion 
 as well as ignorance, and a tongue, 
 
 . he 
 
Cat bolt ck Uvitj. 28? 
 
 h? will have the belt. He thac 
 fpeaks nonfence fayth nothing 
 while he f.ems to fpeak. Thefe 
 men have the faculty of faying no- 
 thing an hour or two together in 
 abundance of words. And there's 
 no confuting a rran that faith no- 
 thing. Nonfence is unanswera- 
 ble, if there be but enough of it. 
 Who would difpute asainft a pax 
 ©f bagpipes, or againft a company 
 of boyesthat whoote at himl If 
 you will make a match at barking 
 or biteing, a curre will be too 
 hard for you « And if you will try 
 yonrskilorftrengthat kicking, a 
 horfe will be too hard for you. And 
 if you will contend with multitude 
 of words, or by rage and confi- 
 dence, a fool will be too hard for 
 you (as you may fee by Solomons 
 d.fcriptions and by daily experi- 
 ence^ But if you will difpute by 
 equal foberfleafoning, ir is only 
 a wifer man by evidence of Truth 
 
 that 
 
284 Cathlick Unity. 
 
 that can overcome you : And to 
 be thus overcome is better then to 
 conquer.- Yor you have the better 
 if Truth overcome you j and you 
 have the wor/e if you overcome 
 the truth. 
 
 So that you may eafily perceive 
 what an exceeding hindrance to 
 Unity and Peace it is to have to do 
 with ungodly perfons, that are 
 blind and proud^nd brazen-faced, 
 and of feared confeiences , that 
 fear not God, and therefore dare 
 fay any thing, as if they could out- 
 face the truth , and the God of 
 Truth. But the fandified have 
 Illuminated minds, and therefore 
 are the more capable of further 
 information ^ and they have tender 
 confeiences , and therefore dare 
 not be unadvifed and contentious, 
 and drive againil the light ^ and 
 therefore have great advantage 
 for Agreement. 
 
 23. And if all thefe Advanta- 
 ges 
 
Cdtbelick Unity. 285 
 
 ges fhould not yet fo far prevail 
 as to bring us up to a full Agree- 
 ment, yet if we be but united in 
 the Spirit and a Holy life, ^e fhould 
 be the more eafilj Able to bear with 
 one another under all our lejfer dif- 
 ferences, until the time : of full A- 
 greement come. We (hould hold 
 our differences ( as Brethren their 
 diverfity of ftatures and complexi- 
 ons, or at lead as common human 
 frailties) with Love and compaf- 
 fion , and not with hatred and di- 
 vifions. We fhould Lovingly con- 
 fulc together upon Rules or terms 
 on which we might manage our 
 unavoidable differences, to the 
 leaft difadvantage to the caufe of 
 Chrift and to the common Truths 
 that we all maintain , and to the 
 work of God for other mens con- 
 verfion , and to the leaft advan- 
 tage to fin and Satan and the ma- 
 lice of ungodly men. And I think 
 this is a fair Agreement for Imper- 
 
 fed 
 
2B6 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 fedperfons, friortofHeaven-, to 
 lave Unity in the Spirit, and A- 
 greement in things of greateft 
 weight, and to bear with one ano- 
 ther in fmaller matters, and ma- 
 nage our differences with meek- 
 nefsand with Peace. 
 
 24. Laftly , if all this be not 
 enough , there is yet more for our 
 encouragement. 1 . If we are but 
 once United in the Spirit, and 
 Agree in an Holy heart and life, 
 we have the infallible fr&mife of God 
 that we fhall Jhortly all arrive in 
 Heaven at the pL.ce andfiate sf full 
 perfection, where all our differences 
 will if ended, and we (hall be per- 
 fectly Agreed in mind and will, 
 being One in him that is the only 
 Center of Univerial Peace and 
 Concord. And its a great com- 
 fort to us in our darknefs and dif- 
 ferences, that we are in the lure 
 and ready way to per fed light and 
 Harmon v of mind. 2. Yea and 
 
 - till, 
 
Catbolick Unity. 287 
 
 till wc do come thither , we are 
 ftill on the mending hand ^ and if 
 we do but thrive in Holinefs, we 
 (hall certainly thrive in Concord 
 and in Peace. And its a comfort 
 toafkkman, not only to he cer- 
 tain of a full recovery , but to feci 
 himfelf daily on the mending hand. 
 3. And in the mean time God him- 
 felf will bear with all our differen- 
 ces, though not fo far as to ap- 
 prove or chertfh them , yet fo far 
 as to own us for his children, 
 though we are too often falling 
 out with one another -, and fo far 
 as to pitty our frailty and infirmi- 
 ty, and to pardon us , and deal as 
 a Father with us : And if our quar- 
 rels caufe him to ufe the rod , it is 
 but to keep us in quietnefs after- 
 wards • that as we, had the talk of 
 the four fruits of our contentions, 
 fo we may after have the quiet 
 fruits of righteoufnefs. 
 
 And thus I have given you in 
 
 four 
 
2 83 Cathelick linitf. 
 
 four and twenty particular difco- 
 veries, aiufficientProof, that A 
 Vnity in the Spirit, and an Agree- 
 ment in Holinefs , hath abundant 
 advantages for our further Agree- 
 ment in lowers things •, and fuch as 
 all other men are defiitute of •, and 
 therefore that there is no way pof- 
 fible for a juft, a fafe, a durable 
 Agreement, but that we all Agree 
 in a Holy life , and be United in 
 the fandifying Spirit of Chrift. 
 
 BUt perhaps you will Objed:^ 
 If all this be fo^ whence comes it 
 topafsthat there are fo many diffe- 
 rences fiill among thofe that you call 
 the fantlified f Do we not fee that 
 they are more contentious, and divi- 
 ded into party es 3 and make more ftir 
 about Religion then any others f 
 
 Anfw. I. The differences a- 
 rnorg the godly, are nothing for 
 
 number, 
 
Catholick Unity. 289 
 number, or greatnefs, or weight, 
 in comparison of yours. I have 
 (hewed you in my Difcourfe of 
 the Catholick Church , twenty 
 great and weighty points in which 
 they all agree together , and in 
 which the ungodly agree not with 
 them. What if they agree not,whe- 
 ther Church-Government fhould 
 be exercifed by the Elders only, 
 the flock cc&fenting • or by all the 
 flock, the Paftours Guiding? Or 
 whether One among the Paftours 
 fhould be of a fuperior Degree, or 
 of a fuperior Order , or whether 
 they fhould only be of the fame 
 Degree and Order, though cho- 
 fen to prefide and moderate for 
 the time ? What if one think that 
 its NecefTary to read the publick 
 Prayers out of a Bcok • and ano- 
 :her think its necefTary to pray 
 vithout book • and a third more 
 ruly thinks it is in it felf indifferent 
 whether it be within book or with- 
 O out? 
 
290 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 out ? with other fuchlike differen- 
 ces as thefe , which will keep no 
 man out of Heaven. Are thefe 
 like our differences with ungodly 
 men ? Our differences with you 
 are , Whether Heaven or Bath is 
 chiefly to be loved and fought after ? 
 Whtther Grace and Hclinefs , or fin 
 and carelefnefs be the better I whe- 
 ther it be the more fwqgt and defe- 
 rable life, to be heavenly minded 
 and live in the Love and Service 
 of God , and to be much in holy 
 communion with him, and medi- 
 tating upon his Law, and upon the 
 Life to come-, or on the contrary, 
 to live to the world and to the 
 flefh? whether it be better to o- 
 bey the Word of God , and his 
 Minifters tnat fpeak it in his name^ 
 or obey ourflefhly deiires and the 
 proud conceits of ignorant minds? 
 In a word, our difference, with the 
 i.ngodty, though they, will not 
 confefs it aiid fpeak out , is plainly 
 
 this. 
 
Cat Mick Unity. 191 
 
 this, whether Heaven or Earth be 
 better ? and whether God be God and 
 Shall be our God? and whet her Chrifi 
 be Chrifi and /hall be our Chrifi ? 
 and whether the Hvlj Ghoft /hall be 
 our fauEiifer} or whether we fljall 
 live after the fle/h and Rule our 
 [elves , againfi the Will and 
 Word of God ? and fo in effect, whe- 
 ther God be Godj and man be man ? 
 and whether we/hould live as men or 
 as beafis ? and/o whether we pjould 
 choofe Salvation or Damnation ? If 
 you could but underftand your 
 ielves, and the depth of your de- 
 ceitful hearts , you would fee that 
 here lyeth the difference. For 
 though fome of the unfandified 
 have a fair and plaufible deport- 
 ment, and will fpeak handfomly 
 of the Chriftian Religion, becaufe 
 they have had ingenuous Chriftian 
 education •, yet all this is indeed 
 but little more then formal com- 
 plement , fo far are they from a 
 O 2 Heavenly 
 
291 Catholick Unity. 
 
 Heavenly mind and a heart that's 
 truly fet on God , ss their carelefs 
 lives, and carnal unfavory confe- 
 rence fheweth ; if not their fcorns 
 at a ftate of Holinefs. So that 
 our differences are nothing in 
 comparifon of the difference with 
 you. 
 
 2. Moreover , the fervants of 
 God do mind the matters of Reli- 
 gion more ferioufly then others 
 do • and therefore their differen- 
 ces are brought to light, and made 
 more obfervable to the world. 
 Their very heart is fet upon thefe 
 heavenly things, and therefore 
 they cannot make light of the 
 fmalleft truth of God •, and this 
 may be fome occafion of their dif- 
 ference : Whereas the ungodly 
 ^differ not about Religion, becaufe 
 they have heartily no Religion to 
 to differ about ; They trouble not 
 themfdves about thefe matters, 
 becaufe they do not much regard 
 
 them." 
 
Cdtholick Unity, 29? 
 
 them. And is this a Unity and 
 peace to be defired ? I had rather 
 have the difcord of the Saints 
 then fuch a concord bf the wic- 
 ked. They are To careful about 
 their duty that they are afraid of 
 miffing it in the leaft particular^ 
 and this (with their Impeded 
 light ) is the reafon of their di- 
 fputings about thefe matters. But 
 you that arecarelefs of your du- 
 ty, can eafily agree upon a way of 
 fin, or take any thing that comes 
 next to hand. They honour the 
 Worihip of God fo much, that 
 they would not have any thing out 
 of order •, but you fee fo little by 
 it, that you willb* of the Reli- 
 gion that the Kir g is of, let it be 
 what it will be : And its eafy to 
 agree in fuch an ungodly care It fs 
 courfe. Aftronomers have many' 
 controversies about the pofitions 
 and motions of the heavens . and 
 all philosophers have many con- 
 O 1 troverfies 
 
294 Catholick Unttj. 
 trovernes about the matter of 
 their Sciences ; when ignorant 
 men have none of their contro- 
 ^erfies , becaufe they underftand 
 not, and therefore regard not the 
 things tr.at the learned differ a- 
 bout. And will you think ever 
 the better of Ignorance , or ever 
 the worfe of Learning for this ? 
 The controverfies of Lawyers, of 
 Hiilorians , Chronologers, Geo- 
 grapher r , Phyficians , and fuch 
 Jike,do no never trouble the brains 
 of the ignorant .- But forall that, 
 I had rather be in Controverfie 
 with the Learned , then without 
 iuch controveriie with you. If 
 you fcatter a handful of Gold or 
 Diamonds in the ftreet , perhaps 
 rr.m will fcramble for them, and 
 iall out about them, when fveine 
 will trample on them and quietly 
 defpife them , becaufe they do not 
 know their worth : will you there- 
 fore think that fwine .are happier 
 
 then 
 
CatbolkkUmty. 295 
 
 then men ? The 'Living are vest 
 with ftrifes and controverfies, a- 
 bout almoft all the matters in the 
 world ^ when the dead carka^es 
 in the grave lie dill in peace , and 
 are not troubled with any of thefe 
 differences. And will you fay 
 therefore that the dead corps is 
 happyer then the living ? Sirs, 
 the cafe is very plain, if you will 
 fee, that thus it is as to the matter 
 in hand. It is a Death in fin, and 
 compliance with the times and 
 carnal Intereft , and a difefteem of 
 fpintual holy things , that is the 
 caufe of the Agreement of the 
 wicked. But the godly know the 
 worth of the things that you kt 
 light by, and therefore make a 
 greater matter of them then you, 
 and therefore no wonder if they 
 have more debates and controver- 
 ts about them. 
 
 3 . And this alfo is another Rea- 
 
 fonof the difference. It is the In- 
 
 O 4 tereft 
 
296 Catbeluk Unity. 
 
 tereft of Satan to Divide the fer- 
 vants of Chrift, but to Keep his 
 own in Unity and Peace: and 
 therefore he will do what he can 
 toaccomplifliit. He knows that 
 a Kingdom divided cannot ftand : 
 And therefore he will do his word 
 to Divrde Chnfts Kingdom, and 
 to keep his own from being di\i- 
 ded. By a deceitful Peace it is that 
 he keeps his feryantstohim. Arid 
 by tailing among thtm the matter 
 of contentions and divifions he 
 hopeth to get Chrifts followers 
 from him. So that the Devil him- 
 ielf is the promoter of your Uni- 
 ty and Concord, but the deftroyer 
 of ours ; and therefore no won- 
 der if you have fewer differen- 
 ces. 
 
 4. Befides , the way that un- 
 godly men go in, is fo fuited to 
 the common corruption of nature, 
 that it is no wonder it they be all 
 agre.d. All the world can agree 
 
 to 
 
Cat he It ck Unttp 29 7 
 
 to eat and drink and fleep : And 
 therefore all the fenfual finners in 
 the world may eafily agree upon 
 an overloving of meat and drink 
 and fleep , and fo of riches and 
 honours and pleaiures. And as its 
 eafy, fo it is not much defirable^ 
 no more then if you fliould all a- 
 gree to eait your felves headlong 
 into the Sea .* when every houfe is 
 infected with the Plague, there is 
 an Agreement among them : But 
 had you not rather be one of thofe 
 that difagree from them ? But to 
 Agree in a holy heavenly life, is 
 contrary to corrupted nature » 
 and therfore no marvail if it be 
 more difficult. When a Phyfician 
 hath an hundred Patients in hand, 
 he may eafily get them all to Agree 
 to eat and drink that which ihey 
 defire: But if he require them to 
 forbear the things that theymoft 
 Love, becaufe they will hurt them, 
 the -under ft anding fort will agree to 
 O 5 ' him,. 
 
29o LAMltCK UnttJ. 
 
 him, but fo will not the reft. In a 
 rotten houfe, the fail of one bearer 
 may occafion the fall of all the 
 houfe -, becaufe their weight in- 
 clines them downward : But if 
 you take up one ftone and caft 
 it upward , all the reft of the 
 ftones in the heap, will not flie up- 
 ward with ir. Its eafier to draw 
 others with us down hill , then up 
 the hill 
 
 5. And it is confiderable that 
 the differences among the fervants 
 of Chrift , are not alwayes from 
 themfelves, but from the ungodly 
 enemies that contrive their disten- 
 tions , and fet them together by 
 the ears , that they may fifh in 
 troubled waters , and the better 
 attain their wicked ends.lt is the en- 
 vious man that foweth thefe tares 
 while we are afleep, and cafteth 
 in this wildfire among us. 
 
 6. Moreover, one of thegrea- 
 teit caufes of the troublefome 
 
 preaches 
 
Catklick Unity. 299 
 
 breaches and divifions in the 
 Church , is becaufe there are fo 
 many unfandified perfons among 
 us, that feem to be of us, and to 
 be truly godly, when it is not fo. 
 You think it is the godly that have 
 thefe divifions, when the moit and 
 worft of all our Divifions proceed 
 from the ungodly that have an un- 
 bound and unrenewed heart, un- 
 der the cloak of piety and zeal : 
 For if they were truly gracious 
 perfons, they durft not do as ma- 
 ny of them do. 1. They durft 
 not fo raihly and eafily venture on 
 novelties as they do , without de- 
 liberation and reading and hear- 
 ing what can be faid on the other 
 fide. 2. They durfl not foeafily make 
 a divifion in the Church of Ohrift. 
 . 3 . Nor fo eafily caft a ftumbling- 
 block before the weak ^ and mat- 
 ter of reproach to our Chnftian 
 profeftion before the wicked. 4. 
 Nor durft they fe eafily reproach 
 
 and 
 
300 Catholick Unity. 
 
 and condemn anchcaft off the una- 
 nimous faithful Minifters of Chrift. 
 5. Nor durft they fo eafily cenfure 
 th? univerfal Church in former 
 ages, as many of them do. 6. Nor 
 durft they facrifke the fuccefs and 
 honour of the Gofpel and the conv 
 mon acknowledged Truths , and 
 the faving of mens fouls thereby, 
 to their private opinions, and ends. 
 7. Nor durft they make fo great a 
 breach in Charity , nor fo arro- 
 gantly condemne or flight their 
 brethren, whole piety and fober- 
 nefs they cannot deny. Thefe with 
 many other evidences , do let us 
 know that ungodly men crept in 
 among us, are the caufesof moft 
 of our moft dangerous divifions. 
 And will you lay the blame of this 
 upon Religion , which the Devil 
 and the fecret enemies of Religion 
 do perform? Its your difhonour 
 and not ours : For thefe men are 
 of year party, though they feem 
 
 to 
 
Cttbolick Unity. 301 
 
 to be of us. Satan knows weir 
 enough, that if he have not fome 
 of his followers to be fpics in 
 (Thrifts Army, and to raife muti- 
 nies there and betray the reft , 
 he is like to be the more unfucc^f- 
 ful in his attempts, Was Judas 
 more a diftionour to Chrift , or ta 
 the Devil ? He was among the fol- 
 lowers of Ghrift indeed ; but he 
 told them beforehand of him, that 
 he was a Devil 5 and he never be- 
 trayed Chrift till Satan had en- 
 tered into him. 
 
 7. Laftly, the Saints themfe Ives 
 are fandified but in part, and ma- 
 ny in a low degree ^ and being 
 Imperfed in Holinefs, mult needs 
 be as- Imperfect in holy Unity and 
 Peace It is not their Holinefs that 
 caufetrj their contentions, but the 
 remnants of their fin. And there- 
 fore its but fmall credit to the way 
 of flnners. Were we but perfect- 
 ly rid of the vices which joh che- 
 
 rifh, 
 
302 CathMck Unity. 
 rifli , and perftffly feparated from 
 thewaiesthat^ fomuch delight 
 in , and had we no remnants of 
 your difeafe and finful nature in us 
 we fhould then have perfect Unity 
 and Peace. Do you think that its 
 long of our Religion, that we dis- 
 agree? No : if we were but fer- 
 fetlly Religions we fhould be per- 
 fectly agreed. It is becaufe we are 
 Holy in no greater a meafure.and 
 not becaufe weare Holy at all. It 
 is not becaufe of the way of God- 
 Iinefs that we have chofen \ but 
 becaufe we walk nofafler, and no 
 more carefully in that way. It is 
 our too oft fteppiug out of it, and 
 not our walking in it, that break.. 
 eth our Peace with God and man, 
 and our own confciences. search 
 all the Scripture , and fee where 
 you can find, that ever God en- 
 couraged his fervants to divifions. 
 No .- but on the contrary he oft 
 and earneftly cries them down, 
 
 and 
 
VAtnoitcK unuj. 30$ 
 and warneth all his followers to 
 avoid them , and the caufers and 
 fomenters of them. There was 
 never Matter fo much for Unity as 
 Chrift, and never was there a Law 
 or a Religion that did fo much 
 condemne Divifions , and com* 
 mand brotherly Love, and Peace 
 and concord, and forbearing and 
 forgiving one another , as the 
 Chriftian Law and Religion doth. 
 And will you yet fay that our Di- 
 vifions are long of our Religion, 
 or of Chrift the author of it ? You 
 may as wifely fay, that eating is 
 the caufe of weaknefs, becaufe 
 that lome are weak for all their 
 meat. But you will find that none 
 can live without it. Or you may 
 fay as wifely that Pbyfkians are 
 the caufes of the difeafes of the 
 world, becaufe they do not cure 
 them all. I tell you there is none 
 in all the world that have done fo 
 much for Unity and Peace, as 
 
 Chrift 
 
304 CMbeuck Unity 
 
 Chrift hath done. No .- all the 
 world fet togerher have not done 
 halffomuchforitashe. He hath 
 preached Peace and Unity , for- 
 giving and forbearing and Loving 
 one another, yea Loving our ene- 
 mies -, and he hath gone before us 
 in the perfect practice of what he 
 taught. He hath offered himfelf it 
 Sacrifice to the Juftice of his Fa- 
 ther, that by his blood he might 
 reconcile us unto God. He is the 
 great Peacemaker between God 
 and man, between Jews and Gen- 
 tiles, taking away the enmity, and 
 becoming himfelf the Head of our 
 Unity-, and giving us One Spirit, 
 one faith , one baptifm, that we 
 might be One in him who is One 
 with the lather. So that to charge 
 the Center of Unity with our Di- 
 vifions r and the Prince of Peace 
 himfelf with our Difcords, or his 
 holy Word or waies with our Dis- 
 agreements, is all one as to charge 
 
 the 
 
CAtbotickUmtj. 305 
 
 the Sun with Darknefs, and to fay 
 that our Law-givers and Laws are 
 the caufes of theft and murder and 
 Adultery , which condemne them 
 to death that are proved guilty of 
 thern. The caufe of all our difa- 
 greemcnts and divifions, is, be- 
 eaufe we are no ?nore Holy then we 
 are, and becaufe we are no more 
 Religious. So that I may leave ic 
 now as a Proved Truth that we 
 muft Unite in the Spirit, and Agree 
 in Holinefs of Heart and life , if 
 ever we will have true Unity and 
 Agreement. 
 
 AN D now Sirs, you have feen 
 the only way of Unity ope- 
 ned to you-: Its plain and pait all 
 doubt before you. If yet you will 
 divide from God and his fervantK, 
 and rf yet you will b: numbered 
 with the ftraglers or quarrelers, 
 
 do 
 
306 Cdtbolick Unity. 
 
 do not fay but Peace was opened 
 and offered to yon. Do not fay, 
 Ton could not have Peace, but that 
 you would not. Do not fay any 
 more hereafter , that there were 
 fo many Religions and fo many 
 waies that you could not tell which 
 to joyn with ! Never more pre- 
 tend the differences of the godly 
 as a cloak for your ungodlinefs. 
 I have opened the nakednefs of 
 fuch pretences. You {hall not be 
 able when your lives are fcan'd , to 
 look God in the face with fuch an 
 unreasonable impudent pretence. 
 Your confciences and the world 
 (hall then be witneffes of your 
 fhame ^ that while you cryed out 
 of SecVand herefies, and were of- 
 fended at the Divifions of the 
 Church , it was your felves that 
 were the caufe of it .- It was you 
 and fuch as you that were the 
 great Dividers ^ and that obfti- 
 nately proceeded in your Divid- 
 end 
 
Catbolick Unity. 307 
 
 ons, when the way of Peace was 
 opened to you- and would not be 
 United in the Spirit to (Thrift, nor 
 would not Agree in Holinefs wich 
 his Church , when you were ac- 
 quainted that there was no other 
 way to Peace. Would you but 
 have joyned in a firm and everla- 
 ling Covenant to God the lather, 
 Son, and Holy Ghoft, as your on- 
 ly Creator, Redeemer and San&i- 
 fyer, as members of the Holy Ca- 
 tholick Church, and have lived in 
 the Communion of the Saints , 
 you (hould have received the For- 
 givenefsof fins^ the Refurredtion 
 of the juft, and Everlafting Life : 
 But in ref fifing , and obftinate rc- 
 fvfing thefe, you refused ail your 
 hopes of Bleffednefs, and wilfully 
 caft your felves on the wrath of 
 God ; and therefore muft endure 
 it for ever. 
 
 The 
 
3c8 Cdtholick Unit j. 
 
 TH E laft Advice that I have to 
 give, upon the ground of 
 thisDo&rine, is, To all that are 
 United in the Spirit, and Agreed 
 upon an Holy life. I mean to fay 
 but little to you now • but briefly 
 to tender you thefe two requefts. 
 
 i . I beieech you Chriftians but 
 to live as Chriftians, in that holy 
 Unity as your principles and pro- 
 feffion do engage you to. Hath 
 true Chriftianity and Holinefs fuch 
 abundance of advantages againft 
 divifiou, and yet will you be guiky 
 of it ? Againft all thefe bonds and 
 healing principles and helps , will 
 you be dividers ? Doth it not 
 grieve you and even break your 
 hearts , to hear ungodly perfons 
 Jay that Profeffous are of fo many 
 minds and partyes, that they know 
 Fj&t which of them to follow ? and 
 
 thae 
 
CMh$liek Unit j. 309 
 
 that we had never concord lince 
 you bore fway ? O do not feek by 
 your contentious wayes , to per- 
 iwade people that Holinefs is a di- 
 viding thing, and that Religion 
 doth but tend to fet the world to- 
 gether by the eares. Is it not a 
 precious mercy to us of this place, 
 that we have among us but one 
 Church , and one Religion , and 
 and have not Church againfl 
 Church, and Chriflian againfl: 
 Chriflian! I charge you from the 
 Lord that you be thankful for this 
 benefit ^ and that you look upon 
 divided places, and compare their 
 cafe with yours , that if ever di- 
 viders come amongft you , the 
 fenfe of your felicity in this bleffed 
 Unity may caufe you to rejed 
 them • and that you do not fuffer 
 any DdlUh to rob you of your 
 flrength and glory. Were you 
 but once here in pieces among your 
 felves, what a fcorn would you be 
 
 to 
 
310 Cdtbclick Unity. 
 
 to all the ungodly ? what fport 
 would it be to them, to hear you 
 difputingagainft one another, and 
 reproaching and condemning one 
 another, as bitterly as the wicked 
 do reproach you all ? Do you not 
 pitty thofe places where di virions 
 have made Religion to be a fcorn, 
 and the tender Love and Unity of 
 the Saints is turned into unchari- 
 table cenfures and reparations? 
 Take warning then that you come 
 not to the like. If you fhould, 
 you would be as unexcufable as 
 any People in the world , becaufe 
 you have tryed and tafted fo much 
 of the fweetnefs and benefits of 
 Unity as you have done : (hew 
 men by your lives, that Holinefs is 
 the moft certain way to Unity, as 
 ever you defire either to propa- 
 gate Holinefs, or to have any evi- 
 dence of it in your felves. 
 
 2. Judge by this undoubted 
 truth , of any do&rine that fhall 
 
 be 
 
Catholick Unity. 311 
 
 be offered you, and of the wayes 
 of men and of your felves. 
 
 1. Sufped that doctrine that 
 tendeth to divifions in the Church. 
 If it be'not for Unity, it is not of 
 God, Rom, 16. 17. Chrift came 
 to heal and reconcile, and is the 
 Prince of Peace •, and therefore 
 fendeth not his fervants on a con- 
 trary errand. He will juftifie your 
 dividing from the unbelieving 
 world ^ but he hateth dividing a- 
 monghis fervants. He that's for 
 Church-divifion, is not (in that J 
 for Chrift or you. 
 
 2. What ever holinefs they may 
 pretend to, adhere not to thole 
 men, and think not too highly of 
 them that are for Divifions among 
 the Churches, or fervants of the 
 Lord. You'l fee them repent, or 
 come to fhame and confufion at 
 thelaft. You flie from Chrift, if 
 you flie from Unity. 
 
 3 . Think not that you have any 
 
 more 
 
3 1 2 Catbolick Unltf. 
 
 more of the Spirit or of Holinefs, 
 than you have of Love to the Uni- 
 ty of tne Saints. It is the fpirit 
 of Satan and not of Chrift that 
 leadeth you to Church-divifions : 
 It is a counterfeit Holinefs that 
 maketh yon not defirous of Unity 
 with all the Saints. If you be not 
 firft pure and then peaceable, your 
 wifdom is not from above. As 
 you would all take that man to be 
 an enemy to Holinefs, that is an 
 enemy to Chaftity ; , Temperance 
 or common honefty ^ So have you 
 reafon to think of him that is an 
 enemy to the Churches Unity and 
 peace. Shew that you have the 
 Spirit by the Unity of the Spirit : 
 and {hew that you are Holy by lo- 
 ving the Union and Communion 
 of the Saints. 
 
 Rom- 
 
Catholick Unity. 3 ! 3 
 
 Rom. 1 4. 1. 
 
 Him that is weak^ iu the Faith re- 
 ceive ye, but not to diiibtful Dif- 
 •putations. 
 
 I Have already proved to you in 
 the foregoing Difcourfe. i.That 
 the true Unity of the Church of 
 Chrift is a Unity of the Spirit, and 
 that the unfan&ifled are the caufes 
 of our Divifions. 2. Thau a Unity 
 in mser Profeflion,is but a low and 
 miferable Unity, which will not fa- 
 ti$fie nor ferve the turn. 3 . That a 
 Unity in the Spirit of Holinefs, is a 
 great advantage for the healing of 
 all our leffer differences y or that we 
 may do well for all thofe differen- 
 ces , if we are truly fanclified. I 
 come now to the fourth and lad: 
 part of my Difcourfe, which is to 
 P fliew 
 
314 Catbolhk Unity. 
 
 fhew you, that. It knot the will of 
 God that the Unity of his Church 
 fhould confifi in things indifferent, or 
 in the [mailer matters, or in points 
 of doubtfull Diffpitation. To which 
 end I have chofen this 3ext i in 
 which Paul doth purpofely and 
 plainly lay down this point _, in or- 
 der to the reconciling of a differ- 
 ence that was then among the Ro- 
 mans :, I (hall not now ftand to dif- 
 cufs whether the weak that Paul 
 here fpeaks of, werefome Chrifti- 
 ans tainted with a Pythagorean 
 conceit, and guilty of fome excef- 
 five Aufterities ( which fome have 
 thought, 1 .Becaufe here is no men- 
 tion of Circumcifion , 2. and be- 
 caufe they are faid to eat herbs on- 
 ly) or whether it were fome Con- 
 verts of the Jews , that fcrupled 
 the forfaking of their ancient Ce- 
 remonies ( which is the common 
 and likelier Expofition.)i.The per- 
 fonherefpokenof is^Him thdt is 
 
 weak 
 
CdtbBlickltmty. 315 
 
 ves\ in the Faith^ that is, who is 
 r 'Qt io ignorant in the Docirine of 
 Faith, as not to know that thefe 
 Ceremonies are abolifhed, or thefe 
 matters are no part of duty, which 
 he piaceth duty inland confequent- 
 ly, who is fo weak in Confidence as 
 that he dare not omit theobferva- 
 tion of thefe days and Ceremonies. 
 The Points in which the weaknefs 
 of thefe perfons is faid to be mani- 
 fefted, are, 1. In their abftainrng 
 from flefh, and eating herbs, 2. In 
 their observation of certain days as 
 Holy. 
 
 2. The thing commanded is,that 
 thefe perfons for all their weaknefs 
 be Received, that is , 1 . Into bro- 
 therly internal Charity. 2. Into 
 Chriftianexternal Communion .Tor 
 it feems,that'by reafon of this their 
 weaknefs, there grew Divifions in 
 the Church.The weak were fo felf- 
 conceited,as to cenfure the ffirong, 
 becaufe they did not obferve their 
 P z Cere- 
 
J! 6 Cathelick Unity. 
 
 Ceremonies. And the ftrong were 
 too contemptuous of the weak, 
 and made light of them asafuper- 
 ihtious people, unfit for their Com- 
 munion : Paul chides them both \ 
 the weak for cenfuring the ftrong 
 and the ftrong for contemning the 
 weak : and commandeth that for 
 the future, the weak forbear his 
 judging , and the ftrong Receive 
 the weak whom they contemned, 
 and ■ fo that they foyn in in- 
 ward Love, and external Commu- 
 nion. 
 
 3. And he addeth this caution, 
 for the manner of their reception 
 and behaviour, that it muft not be 
 [to dctibtfull Diffiutations] either 
 to the cenfuring of one another, or 
 to unfeafonable uncharitable con- 
 tendings and difputes, about thefe 
 fmailer things. Three things Paul 
 feemeth to fuppofe in the matter of 
 their controverfie. 1. That they 
 were matter of fome IndifTerency. 
 
 2. That 
 
Catbolick Unity. 3 1 7 
 
 1. That they were fmalt , and of 
 owed: confederation in Religion. 
 3 . That to the weak they were io 
 dark and doubtfull, as to be the 
 matter of Difputes. But for all 
 thefe, he would have no breach in 
 their Charity or Communion. 
 
 One doubt we mud: not over- 
 p:f>: And that is, How this will 
 ftand with what he faith in the E- 
 piftle to the Galathians. Here he 
 faith \_Let not him that eateth defpife 
 him that eateth not: One man efteem- 
 eth one dry above another : another 
 efteemeth every day alike : Let every 
 man be fully perfwaded in his own 
 minde f\ But there he faith [Te ob- 
 ferve days andmoneths, and times, 
 and years •, lam afraid of you, Lfl 
 J have beftcwed upon you labour in 
 vain, GaL4,io,ii.] And of Cir- 
 cumcifion, Gal. 5.2,3. [Beheld I 
 Paul fay unto you , If ye be Cir- 
 cume'tfed , Chrifi jhall profit you no- 
 thing ±.f or Jteftifie again to every 
 V 3 man 
 
3 1 8 Cdtbolick Unity. 
 
 man that is circamcifed^ that he is 
 a debtor to do the whole Law J] For 
 the underftanding of this you muft 
 <>i>ferve, i . That there is a great 
 difference between Circumcifion, 
 and theCeremonies here fpoken of. 
 2. And between the outward ad: 
 of Circumcifion , and the Sacra- 
 ment of Circumcifion as appointed 
 by God. 3. And there is a great 
 difference between the ufing it as 
 neceffary to Justification , and the 
 ufing the outward part only for 
 fome !awfull end. 4. And between 
 the time when the Gofpel was but 
 newly revealed, and the time when 
 it was oft and fully declared to the 
 world. 5. And between thofe that 
 are ignorant for want of full infor- 
 mation, and thofe that are obfli- 
 nate after long inftrudion. 6. And 
 between thofe that fcruple the o- 
 miffion of fuch Ceremonies them- 
 felves ; and thofe that would ob- 
 trude them as neceffary upon o- 
 
 tlers. 
 
Cathollckllnitj. 319 
 
 tiiers. Obferving thefe diftin&i- 
 ons , you may fee the difficulty 
 plainly refolved , as followeth, 
 1. In this Text, Rom. 14. Patdl 
 fpeaketh not of Circumciiion, but 
 of meatsand days only. For Cir- 
 cumciiion engaged men further to 
 Mofes Law, then thefe fingle Ce- 
 remonies. 2. When Paul faith, he 
 was afraid of the Galathians , be- 
 caufeof their obfervation of days 
 and weeks, and moneths, he means 
 becaufe they {till adhered to the a- 
 brogatedLaw, after fo long and 
 plain Inftrudion. 3. And though he 
 circumcifed Timothy, Atts 1 6. 3 .and 
 yetfpeakagainflit, Gd.%, 2, 3. the 
 difference of the Cafes is exceeding 
 great. For 1 . It was but the out- 
 ward Circumciiion of the flefh that 
 he ufed with Timothy fas with one 
 that did not intend by it any en- 
 gagement to Mofes^ or neceflity of 
 it to Juftification.) But it was the 
 entire Sacrament of Circumcifion 
 P 4 which 
 
320 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 which was pretended to continue 
 neceffary, by the falfe Teacher?, 
 and which he exhorted the Gala- 
 ihians to refufe. And Circumcifi- 
 on as a Sacrament 5 doth iignifie two 
 principal things. i.An Engagement 
 to and profeilion of Faith in the 
 Pro mi fed Seed, as promifed and fu- 
 ture. 2. An Engagement to Afo- 
 fes Law (for thisufe it had after 
 the Law was given. ) Now when 
 Chrilt was come, that man that 
 would ftill beCircumcifedinto,and 
 profefs to exped: a Mejfiab yet to 
 come, and that would engage him- 
 ielf to that Law , which contained 
 the Types of a furure Mcjpuh, and 
 was but a School-matter to lead to 
 Chriit, I fay that perfon that was 
 thus Circumci fed (as all were that 
 received it according to the inftitu- 
 tionj did plainly deny, that Chrift 
 was come, and therefore Chrift 
 could profit them nothing. But yet 
 a man that iif^dbut the outward 
 
 fign 
 
Cat Mick Unity. 321 
 
 !gn to avoid an impediment to the 
 Gofpel (as Paul did in the cafe of 
 Timothy , ) or if it were errone- 
 oufly as a meer Cuftom, as the A- 
 baffines now do,might yet be faved 
 by Chrift neverthelefs.2. And when 
 Paul ufed it,it was as an indifferent 
 thing; but he condemned it as 
 fuppofed neceffarv. 3. When he 
 ufed it, it was in the beginning of 
 the publication of the Gofpel, that 
 ( as Auftin fpeaksj he might give 
 the Ceremonies an honourable bu- 
 rial : But when he condemned it, 
 it was after the full Publication of 
 the abolition of the Law, againft 
 thofe that would have raked it out 
 of the grave again. 4. He bore 
 with it in the weak ^ but he con- 
 demned it in the wilfull. 5. He bore 
 with it in thofe that fcrupled the 
 for faking it as they were Jews : 
 but he condemned it in thofe 
 that would have laid this yoke 
 as necefTary on the Gentiles. 
 
 P 5. Object 
 
322 CatbolickHmty. 
 
 Object. But it feems here that 
 Paul is again/ the necejfary observa- 
 tion of the Lords day, when he u 
 for efteeming all days dike. 
 
 Anfw. If you underftand the 
 lubject of the debate , you wilt 
 underftand his fpeecb. In is only 
 Jewifh Holy-days than was the 
 matter in Queftion, and therefore 
 of thefe only is he to be under- 
 ftood. As for the Lords day its 
 plain in the New Teitamem , that 
 Chrift did not only rife upon ir,and 
 appear to his Difciples on it, 'and 
 fend down the Holy Ghoft upon it- 
 but that the Difciples prefently af- 
 ter Chrifts Refurreftion , began 
 their Religious Affemblies on it, 
 and fo continued them, by the 
 guidance of the Holy Ghoft . and 
 ip fetled that day for the ufe of the 
 Holy AfTembiies of the Church, 
 calling it the Lords day, foh.zi. 
 19, 26. All.2.1. & 20.7. 1 Cor. 
 16.2. Rev, i ic. Anditispaftall 
 
 doubt 
 
Catfolick Unity. 3315 
 
 doubt in the Hiftory of theChurcn, 
 that fince the Apoftles days till 
 now, the Church hath conftantiy 
 kept this day as thus eftablifhed, by 
 the name of the Lords day : which 
 the Farhers called the Chriftian 
 Sabbath, as they applyed the name 
 of an Altar totheTable^ and of a 
 Sacrifice to the Supper of the Lord: 
 To that he that will rejed: the obfer- 
 vation of the Lords day,mu(t take 
 on him to be wifer then the Holy 
 Gholt in the A'poftLs, and then all 
 the Catholick Church of Chrift, 
 from the beginning, till thefe con- 
 tentious perfons did arife. 
 
 The Text being thus explained, 
 the Dodrine before mentioned is 
 plain in it before us, viz,. 
 
 Do&rine. \T is the will of God that 
 
 ''the Vnitj of the Church 
 
 Jhould not be laid upon indifferent , 
 
 (mall , and do ubtju 11 points : but 
 
 that 
 
324 Catbolkk Unity. 
 
 that true Believers who differ infuch 
 things Jhould netwithftanding have 
 inward Charity and outward Com- 
 munion with one another ', not Cen- 
 fv.ring , nor defpifing , nor divi- 
 ■ ding from each other upon this ac- 
 count. 
 
 In handling this point I (hall 
 briefly (hew you, 1. What I mean 
 by things indifferent •, 2- What I 
 mean by [Tmaller matters.]3. What 
 by [[doubtfull things or deputati- 
 ons J And then I (hall give you 
 the Reafons of it, and then Ap- 
 ply it. 
 
 1. For the Explication , 1. By 
 \_things indifferent} I do not mean 
 ^things hie & nunc , indifferent in 
 the ufe^ but ^things that are not 
 ordinarily in themfelyes either 
 commanded as Duties, or forbid- 
 den as fins^buc left asLawfull or In- 
 different by the Scriptures, unlefs 
 as fome accident or circumftance 
 
 may 
 
Catholick Unit]. 3*5 
 
 may make them to be good or 
 
 evil. - . 
 
 2. By [[mailer matters} its 
 none of my intent to perfwade you 
 that any thing that is but an appur- 
 tenance to Taith or Piety is Abfo- 
 tmeh (mail: But they are [mall 
 in comparifon of the far greater 
 things, and fo fmall that many are 
 faved without them, and they are 
 not of flat neceffity to falvation 5 
 and the Greater matters muft be 
 preferred before them. 
 
 3. By [ things doufo[nir\l&o not 
 mean fuch as are not certainly re- 
 vealed in the Scripture , nor yet 
 fuch as per verfe Heretical men do 
 raife doubts about when they are 
 plain in themfelves : But I mean 
 fuch points as are revealed certain- 
 ly , but more darkly then the grea- 
 ter points, and therefore cannot be 
 fo clearly known b fo that the fum 
 is this, 1. Indifferent things muft 
 not be. taken to be Necejfary, or 
 
 fin[tit> 
 
?2# Catholick Umtj t 
 
 zndLefcr ports muft not be taken 
 to be Greater ov Weightier then 
 
 ^l^^rklj revealed -mi 
 not be taken to be more clelr a „d 
 cen aifl to us, then they are. 4. And 
 *«■ not on fuch darker fmaller 
 matters chat t,od hath laid our 
 
 ftlvation ; orthattheChurchesU- 
 mtyandPeaccdependeth... 
 
 H. tOr the fuller Demonftrati. 
 
 foni/fcf J*' ,ec theie Rea- 
 sons be obferved. 1. IfourUnirv 
 
 »f*^'«*-of them is foch, that 
 weflioudneverAgreeinal!. The 
 fjfennals of Chriftianitv are fo 
 
 few that all men may Well be ex- 
 Peded to learn and know and en- 
 
 are io many that there JS no hope 
 
Cat Mick Unity. 327* 
 
 of an univerfal Agreement in them 
 all. You know in the Body of 
 man or Beaft,the great Matter veins 
 that are the ftock of all the reft, are 
 hut a few •, but follow them fur- 
 ther, and you fhall have fo many 
 Divisions , and fub-divifions , till 
 you find them to be many hundreds- 
 or thoufands. So is it with the Ar- 
 teries, and with the Nerves. The 
 Body of a Tree is but one, and the 
 firft divifion perhaps is but into 
 two or three parts •, but follow it 
 to the very ends of the branches, 
 and you may find many thoufands. 
 So is it in Divinity ; And there- 
 fore if none fhould be in Unity 
 with the Church, but thofe that 
 underftand every branch of Chri- 
 ftian verity, what hope of Union 
 could there be? 
 
 2. Moreover the fmall'er points 
 are far lefs difcernable then the 
 greater be : and therefore there 
 is the lefs hope that ever the 
 
 Church 
 
J35 CMhOllCk MMf). 
 
 Chutch fhould have Unity in 
 thefe. The great armes of a Tree 
 areeafily difcerned, when the ex- 
 tremities of the branches are very 
 fmaJl. The trunks of the mafter- 
 veins are great and eafily feen, but 
 the points and capillar veins arefo 
 fmall, as hardly to be perceived. 
 So God in mercy hath made very 
 plain thofe few efTential points of 
 faith that falvation lyeth on : but 
 if you follow on thefe generals to 
 all the particulars and appurtenan- 
 ces , you (hall find them run fo 
 fmall as well as fomany, as that it 
 is impoflible that Unity fhould 
 confift in thefe. 
 
 3 .Furthermore, if our Unity were 
 laid on thefe,Religion would be for 
 none but the learned, and(as the An-' 
 cients ordinarily argue againit the 
 Heathens that cavilled at the plain- 
 ncfs of the Scripture ) God fhould 
 be then Partial, and fhould make a 
 way to Heaven that poor men can- 
 not 
 
- CdthetickUmtj. 329 
 
 not go. For the poor cannot pof- 
 fibly attain to fo much Learning, 
 and fpend fo much of their lives in 
 itudy, as may bring them to the 
 knowledge of all thefe lower dif- 
 ficult points. 
 
 4. Yea if our Unity or Salvati- 
 .on lay on thefe, It is certain it 
 would fliut us out all , both from 
 Unity and Salvation : fo that there 
 would no two be at Unity in all 
 the world, and no One be faved. 
 For all men on earth are Ignorant 
 m many leffer truths, even fuch as 
 are revealed to us in the Scripture, 
 and we (hould endeavour to un- 
 derstand. Whatman dare affirm 
 that he uuderftandeth every word 
 of the Holy Scripture ? Did the 
 Pope himfelf think that he had at- 
 tained to thislnfallibility,he would 
 ere this have written us an infalli- 
 ble Commentary. If the befl muft 
 fay with Paul himfeif , we know 
 but in part, then fure thofe fmaller 
 
 doubtful 
 
3J0 Catholick Unity. 
 
 doubtful things which all the tru^ 
 ly fan&irled know not , are not 
 the matter of the Unity of the 
 Church. 
 
 5. I have (hewed in my Dif- 
 courfe of the Catholick Church, 
 that to (hut out all from the 
 Church and our Communion that 
 differ from us in fuch lower things, 
 is utterly againft the defign of 
 Chrift, and the tenour of the Gof- 
 pel , and. very difhonourable to 
 him and to his Church ; God hath 
 more mercy then to (hut out the 
 weak : and will you difhonour him 
 fo far as to perfwade the world, 
 that he hath no fuch mercy. The 
 defign of the Gofpel is Grace and 
 Love! How ^tender was Chrift 
 even of his little ones that believe 
 in him ? How companionate is he 
 to them in their infirmities > And 
 would you go about to perfwade 
 the world that he hath fo little of 
 this compaflion, as that he will 
 
 admit 
 
Catholick Unity. 3JI 
 
 admit none to Heaven, or to the 
 Communion of his Church but 
 thofe that attain to Knowledge 
 and Agreement in all thefe letter 
 doubtful Controverts , and in- 
 different things ? The Church is 
 fmall enough already •, but if you 
 would cut off all , chat do not 
 Agree in every circumftance, you 
 would make it fmall indeed. This 
 is no better, then under pretence 
 of Faith and Unity, to un-Church 
 the Church, and damn your felves, 
 and all the world. 
 
 6. The Arguments in the Text 
 are very forcible, verfe 3. [For 
 God hath received him~\ As if he 
 fhould fay, Dare you defplfe or 
 caft out him that God receiveth ? 
 ver. 4. Vcho art thou that judge ft 
 another mans fervant ? ver. 10. 
 Why doft thou judge thy brother ? or 
 why daft thoufet at naught thy bro- 
 ther} we jhall all ftand before the 
 judgement [eat of Chrift f The 
 
 Church : 
 
3 $2 Cdtholick Unity. 
 
 Church doth not cenfure men for 
 fmall or doubtful things ; nor muft 
 we condemn thofe that God doth 
 not condemn. 
 . 7. The laying fuch ftrefs on 
 fmal I er things, doth multiply con- 
 troverfies , and fill the minds of 
 men with fcruples , and enfnare 
 their confidences, and engage men 
 in parties againlt each other to 
 the certain breach of Charity, and 
 ruine of the Peace of the Church, 
 and of their fouls. The fire of 
 Contention will never go out for 
 want of fewel , if unnecefTary 
 things be made neceffary, and fmall 
 things pretended to be great, & un- 
 certain things pretended to be cer- 
 tain. Abundance of vice will be 
 daily fetand kept at work, upon 
 this borrowed flock. 
 
 8. And what a world oipeciom 
 Time Vf/7/ be wafted by this means , 
 while men are Studying and Rea- 
 ding to maintain their own opi- 
 
 nions - 7 
 
Cdtbelick Unity. 333 
 
 nions • and when they mutt wafte 
 their hours when they are together, 
 in Conferences and wrangling-DLf- 
 putations, to the difcompolirgof 
 their own and others minds , and 
 certain troubling the Church of 
 God ! Oh what ufe have we for 
 thofe precious hours , for furer, 
 greater, and more needful things ? 
 9. The things that our falvation 
 and the Churches Peace are in- 
 deed laid upon , are j fo great , fo 
 neccffary, fo fleafant^ and fo po- 
 rtable, that it leaveth us the more 
 without excufe, to wafte our time 
 in things unneceffary. We have 
 our great Creator to know and 
 honour .- we have the myfterie of 
 Redemption to fearch into and ad- 
 mire : we have the Nature, and 
 Life, and Death, and Refurre&i- 
 on, and Afcenflon, and Glorifica- 
 tion , and Interceflion of Chrift 
 "toftudy and believe- and all the 
 Love and Wifdom of God, the 
 
 Mercy 
 
334 Catbolkk Unity. 
 
 Mercy ,and theHolinefs,andJuftice 
 that was revealed in him : we have 
 Judgment to prepare for- & all the 
 Graces of the Spirit of Chrift to 
 be received, orcherifhed, increa- 
 fed and exercifed in our Souls. We 
 have a Hell to fcape, and a Hea- 
 ven to obtain , and the forefeen 
 glory of it to feed upon, for the 
 ftrengthningand delighting of our 
 Souls : we have many particular 
 duties of Holinefs and Righteouf- 
 nefs to attend : And in the midft 
 of all this great employment, 
 fhould we make more work and 
 trouble to our felves, and that a- 
 bout unneceffary things ? 
 
 i o. Thefe unneceffary or lower 
 things, when once they are advan- 
 ced above their ranck , do under- 
 mine and wrong the greater mat- 
 ters, which they pretended to be- 
 friend. They divert the. thoughts 
 and fpeeches from them, and take 
 up the affeftions, and will not be 
 contented 
 
Cat bolt ck Unity. 335 
 
 contented with their due propor- 
 tion : but are, as the Proverb is, 
 like aBeggeron horfe-back, that 
 will never light. If men be but 
 fet upon Ceremonies, or private 
 opinions of their own, they are 
 upon it in all companies ^ and you 
 {hall fometimes have almoft no- 
 thing elfe from them. And that's 
 not ail ; but the Intcreft of their 
 unnecefTary , or lower points, is 
 ordinarily ft up againft the Inte- 
 reft of that Body of Chriftian 
 Verities which we are all agreed 
 in ^ fo that they can be contented 
 that Chriftianity lofe much advan- 
 tage in the greater points , that 
 their caufe may be advantaged. If 
 this were not fo, we {hould not 
 have had ceremonies & formalities 
 have caft out fuch abundance of 
 excellent Preachers heretofore: 
 Nor private Opinions have fet fo 
 many againft the labours of faith- 
 ful Minifters, as, to our grief and 
 
 Ihame, 
 
33^ Cathelick Unity* 
 fhame, we have lately feen : And 
 the mifchief is , that unnecetfary 
 things made neceffary 9 &Q fo involve 
 the Impofers intereil with their 
 own , that they think they are 
 Neceilitated to drive them on, and 
 fee their Impofkions obeyed , or 
 elfe their wifdom or authority is 
 defpifed. 
 
 ii. And thus they directly lead 
 men to prfecution, and occafion 
 thofethat muft needs have their 
 wills, to Lord it over Gods heri- 
 tage, ( i Pet. 5.3.) when the de- 
 fire of being the Churches God, 
 hath prevailed fo far with any of 
 its members, as to fet them upon a 
 courfe of Law-giving and domi- 
 neering, and bringing others into 
 a conformity to their wills •, they 
 look upon all men as finners that 
 difobey them, and think that their 
 power will warrant them to force 
 obedience to their commands, or 
 elfe to deprive the Church of her 
 
 Paftors. 
 
Catholicklimtj. 337 
 
 ?a(tors.Many a Congregation have 
 [ known change Preachers for Ce- 
 remonies ^ when as if Gods Will 
 and Word in Nectftary things to 
 mens Salvation, haa but been pre- 
 ferred to the will and word of the 
 Biftiops, about things called Indif- 
 ferent by themfelves , the cafe had 
 been altered ^ and they would ra- 
 ther have let the ignorant have 
 been without a Ceremony then a 
 Sermon. It is the unhappy fate of 
 almoft all that are fet upon unne- 
 ccffary things, tfiat they cannot en- 
 dure that others {hould haVs the 
 liberty of differing from them. Ic 
 is not enough to them to enjoy 
 the freedom of their own Con- 
 fciences, about meats, or holy- 
 daies , or geflurec or ventures , or 
 other formalities, unlefs all others 
 be compelled to do as they do. 
 When they are but moved to com- 
 ply with others, though plain Scri- 
 pture and the practice of the Pn> 
 Q^ mitive 
 
338 Catholick Unity. 
 
 initive Cathilick Church be juftly 
 alledged for it, yet it moveth them 
 little or nothing. But if others 
 will not comply with them, they 
 cry out againft them as enemies to 
 Unity and Peace ^ and fay, It is 
 not fit to fuffer men to be of fo ma- 
 ny minds and waies. That is, It is 
 fit all {hould be compelled to do as 
 they would have them. 
 
 12. And another mifchief that 
 folio weth the making unneceffary 
 things to be Neceffary, is, that it 
 openeth a gap to fo many more of 
 the fame kind, that no man knows 
 how to flop it , nor when we have 
 Ceremonies and inventions e- 
 nough : But upon the fame ground 
 that thefe are brought in to day, 
 the next Pope or Biftiop thinks he 
 may bring another to morrow •, 
 and fo we can never tell when we 
 have all, nor when will be an end. 
 
 '13. And then in the multitude 
 of things unneceffary , we fhallbe 
 
 in 
 
Catholick Vnitj, 359 
 
 n danger of iofing the things that 
 ire neceffarj, they will be fo buryed 
 3r obfcured in the crowd 1 the fab- 
 lance will fcarce be perceived for 
 he ceremony. 
 
 14. And me thinks it is fuch 
 leight of Pride for mortal men to 
 irrogate fuch a power, and to de- 
 li e and endeavour fuch a thins? 
 hat I wonder how they dare att- 
 empt it. I mean to make univerfal 
 >r unneceffary Laws for the Church 
 a the matters of faith or wor- 
 hip.Can a man that hath one fpark 
 )f humility left m him, defire that 
 )is will may be a Law to all others, 
 n doubtful or indifferent things? 
 tnd proceed fo far as to defire chat 
 lone may have Liberty m the 
 3hurch that are not of his opinion, 
 >r will not be ruled by him , in 
 hings indifferent or of no neceffi- 
 y! Surely a man of any humility 
 /ould think with himfelf, Am not 
 dfo impcrfeft in knowledge ? and 
 
340 Catbolick Unity. 
 
 may I not be miftaktn ? what u my 
 judgement that itfljould be a Law to 
 the Church, and that I Jhould be fo 
 highly conceited and confident of it, 
 as to turn out godly Mini ft ers or peo- 
 ple from the Church or worjhip of 
 G(d,for not conforming t hem f elves 
 to my opinion in things of fuch a low 
 indifferent nature ! He that would ' 
 be the Law-giver to the Church," 
 and fuffer none but thofe of his 
 own opinion in fuch points, would 
 be the Lord of the Church, which 
 can know the voice of none but 
 Chrift, and owneth no other Lord 
 but him. 
 
 1 5 . And the fin is the greater 
 becaufe they have fo littlelntereft 
 or pretence to lead them to thefe 
 ufurpations : They muft have their 
 will though it get them nothing. 
 Who made them Law-givers to 
 the Church of Chrift? Cannot they 
 allow Chrift this part of the Sove- 
 raignty , to make Laws for his 
 
 Cburch? 
 
Cat ho lick Unit j. 341 
 
 Church ? And cannot they be con- 
 tent with a Minifterial power, to 
 proclaim and promore the Laws of 
 Chrift, andaccordidg to thefe to 
 guide his Church ? 
 
 16. And hereby men are drawn 
 to a humane kind of Religion ; 
 And they do more properly be- 
 lieve, obey and worfhip thefe Jm- 
 pofers then Jefus Chrift : when 
 they muft fetch the very matter of 
 their Religion, not from the Bi- 
 ble, but the Canons or Decrees of 
 men, their conscience , obedience 
 and reward will be according 
 thereunto. 
 
 17- And hereby the adverfa- 
 riesof the Church have occaflon 
 to infult over us, and think our 
 •Differences to be more then in- 
 deed they are. When ths Unity of 
 the Church is laid upon things In- 
 different or of fmaleit. moment, 
 there will prefently be difagree- 
 ments, and thefe will be the ene- 
 Q^j mies 
 
34* Catbelick Unit*). 
 
 mies matter of reproach. It is 
 this that makes the Papifts tell us of 
 our differences among our felves , 
 becaule we have made them feem 
 Something to them, when they are 
 next to nothing. O fay they, where 
 is your Church of England novel 
 why ! what's the matter ? Is the 
 Church of England dead ? Or is 
 any thing taken down that was ef- 
 1: mial to the Church of England I 
 was a Prelacy ruling by a lay-Chan- 
 celor over many hundred Parifhes, 
 chofen and Governing without 
 the body of the Clergy , Effential 
 to the Church of England ? I am 
 confident >the molt of the fober 
 godly Minifters in England , are 
 for the Apoiiolical primitive Epis- 
 copacy ftilJ. Was the Book of 
 Canons, or the Book of Common 
 Prayer, or the Ceremonies Effen- 
 tial to the Church of England} 
 Sure they were not •, And if fo, its 
 living Ail], But if any fay that 
 
 thefe 
 
Catholick Unitj. 343 
 
 thefe were Eflfential to it, we may 
 thank them for the dnith of it, that 
 made it of fuch a humane mortal 
 frame , which any Prince might 
 fpurndown at hispleafure. Sure- 
 ly the Church or Churches of 
 Chrift in England, are of a more 
 heavenly durable frame, that may 
 be perfecuted, but hardly deitroy- 
 ed, while the men are living , of 
 whom it doth confift. 
 
 Hence alfo it is that the Papifts 
 tell us ihat we have changed all our 
 worfhip. And wherein? why we 
 have not the fam:- Baptifm that we 
 had •, nor the fame administration 
 of the Lords Supper, nor the fame 
 publick Prayer, nor the fame way 
 of Marrying , Churching , Bury- 
 ing , &c. And what's the diffe- 
 rence ? Is it that we fay not at eve- 
 ry time the very fame words ? why 
 fo you may as well fay, that Paul 
 was mutable, becaufe he wrot not 
 the fame words in every one of his 
 CU EpifUes, 
 
344 CdtholickUnttj. 
 
 Epiflles, nor fpoke not the fame 
 words in all his Prayers , no not in 
 publick. And fo both you and we 
 are mutable , becaufe we preach 
 not the fame words every day in 
 our Sermons. God hath bid us 
 Pray-, but he hath prefcrihed us 
 no necei'fary form of words,but the 
 Lords Prayer, If the difference be 
 that we ufe not the Common Pray- 
 er Book -, doth that make a diffe- 
 rent fort of worfhip? Is it not the 
 fame fort of worfhip if we fay the 
 fame words, or words to the fame 
 ferte, cither on the Book or off it ? 
 If once men lay the Nature of 
 worfhip and the Unity of the 
 Church upon things v.meceflar.y, 
 then what changes will feem to be 
 in our wor(hip,when indeed theres 
 none? Then- the Papiiis may tell 
 us of our divifions in worfhip,be- 
 caufe one man fitteth at the Ting- 
 ing of Pfalms and another {lands ^ 
 and one readeth with fpe&acles 
 
 and 
 
Cat Mick Unity. 345 
 
 and another without ^ and one 
 weareth a cap, and another wear- 
 eth none •, and one preacheth on 
 one Text and another upon ano- 
 ther : But be it known to all the 
 Papifls in the world, that our Re- 
 ligion is not changed at all : Our 
 worfhip is the fame whether with- 
 in Book or without. Our Prayers 
 are the fame for matter with thofe 
 in the Common Prayer Book. And 
 if I fhould one day ufe the Com- 
 mon Prayer Book, and another day 
 forbear it v I (hould not change 
 the worfhip of God. To fray is 
 part of his worfhip : but whether 
 it be on a Book or off it, is no part 
 at all , but only a mode, or circum- 
 fiance , which may be altered as 
 occafion ferverh. 1 doubt not but 
 a Book is fitteft for fome ^ but not 
 for all. And do they think that 
 we know not what adding and 
 chopping and changing they have 
 made with their Mafs Book? Who 
 <\S is 
 
J$6 Catbolick iMtj. 
 
 is it then that hath changed their 
 worftup? Is it likethe fame Book 
 that it was before the changes 
 made by Gregory the gr at ? It was 
 fo ordinary a thing to change the 
 manner and forms of worfhp t that 
 private Bifhops did it without any 
 Synods : whence elfe had the- world 
 the forms that are now in ufe? 
 Teli ns how many of thofe in the 
 Bihlioth. Patrttm were made by 
 Apoftic, or General Council, if 
 you can. When Bafil the great 
 had fet up a new way of Tinging 
 to God , and made fome other 
 changes in worfhip, the Clergy of 
 Neocefareaweve offended with him 
 for the novelty, and told him that 
 none of that was ufed in Gregory's 
 dayes : To whom he anfwers that 
 neither was their own Letany 
 known in Gregory's dayes, (who 
 yet had lived not 140 years be- 
 lore, and was the lamous founder 
 4 of their Church by miracles. ) 
 
 Baft 
 
Catholick Unity. 347 
 
 tiafilEprlt. 63. And Bafil added 
 to the Clergie of Neocefara. [_But 
 how can you tell that thefe things 
 were not in ufe in Gregories dales , 
 .whtnyou have kspt nothing unchan- 
 ged which he. .was ufcd to? ]} And 
 that you may fee his mind in this, 
 he adds £ But J pardon all thefe 
 things, {though God will examine 
 till : ) Only let the principal things 
 be kept fife. ] If we had changed 
 the Sacraments as the Papifts have 
 done, vi^. a Commemorative Sa- 
 crifice into a Real Sacrifice of 
 Chrift himfelf •, the Sacramental 
 Body and blood of Chrilt into the 
 Real Body and blood ^ theadmi- 
 in ftration of it in both kinds, into 
 , one kind alone, defrauding the peo- 
 ple of the cup - the Communion 
 into a private M>fs , the people 
 only looking on the prieft, when 
 he receiveth alone himfelf, &c* I 
 fay, had we made fuch changes as 
 thefe, they might have called us 
 
 change- 
 
348 Cathoticlc Unity. 
 
 changelings indeed ' and have told 
 m of novelties in the worfhip of 
 God. 
 
 1 8. Moreover this laying fo 
 much upon lower or unneceflary 
 things, doth impoverifh the foul, 
 and make it low and empty and 
 formal, according to the matter 
 that it hah to work upon. As the 
 great unqueftionablc Truths of 
 God , are they that fandifle and 
 elevate the foul, and leave their 
 Image on it •, fo will contending 
 about private opinions , or laying 
 out our zeal in ceremonies and 
 ihaddows , deprefs the foul and 
 famifh it, and turn our Religion 
 into a fhaddow. We find by fad 
 experience that people are fo prone 
 to turn all Religion into meer 
 words and ftiews and cuftomary 
 formalityes, that when we have 
 done our beft , we cannot cure 
 them of this mortal fin : God is a 
 Sprit , and will have fach tygr flip- 
 pers 
 
Catholkk Unity, 349 
 
 fers as worfhip him in Jpirit and in 
 truth, John 4. 23. We have little 
 need to cherifti this difeafe of hy- 
 pocnfie & Teeming hiltrionical ouc- 
 fide Religioufnefs, when we fee 
 fo many perifh by it after all that 
 we can do for their deliverance. 
 
 19. And this making a Religion 
 of unneceffary things , or laying 
 the Churches Unity thereon, is a 
 dangerous fnare to delude the Ig- 
 norant and ungodly , and make 
 them believe that they are godly 
 people, and in the way to Heaven 
 as well as others. I ufe not this or 
 any Argument againft the profita- 
 ble ufe of any forms in order to 
 the undemanding of the matter ^ 
 nor againft the due circumftantia- 
 tingof the worfhip of God : But if 
 profitable forms, and Gods own 
 Ordinances are fomwhat lyable to 
 this abufe, we cannot devife how 
 to increafe the danger , and quite 
 enthral thefe mifcrable fouls more 
 
 certainly 
 
359 Catbdkk Unity. 
 
 certainly then by multiplying un- 
 necefiary formalityes, ana placing 
 Religion and Unity in them. For 
 .they that are moft ignorant, and 
 .empty of the Love and fear of 
 God, and the bi.ttereft enemies to 
 a Heavenly life , will prefently fet 
 in with thefe formalities, and make 
 themfelves a Religion of thefe ^ 
 and then they will take themfelves 
 . as godly as the belt. You fball ne- 
 ver make tfrem believe that they 
 are ungodly. They think the diffe- 
 rence lyeth but in the ^ay and 
 manner of ferving God .- Ton ferve 
 him one way, and they another \ but 
 yet they ferve, him as well as you : 
 Yea they will, overdo in thefe Indif- 
 ferent things, .that they may make 
 up that which is wanting in true 
 godlinefs h and then they will think 
 that they are better and r.ighter 
 then you. Thus didthe Heathens 
 cry out againft the ancient Chrifti- 
 ans with a Tollite imfios , away 
 
 with 
 
GMMick-Unit]. $JB 
 
 with the ungodly • and killed them 
 and caft them to wild- beaft to be 
 torn by them, becaufe they would 
 not worfliip their Idols. And h 
 : many ungodly wretches now, that 
 will not be perfwaded to a Holy 
 life, will yet cry dow others as im- 
 pious becaufe they obferve not all 
 the Ceremonies which they ob- 
 it rve. When we have u(ed all the 
 means we can to bring them to the 
 fludy of the Scripture , and to 
 meditate in the Law of the Lotd 3 
 and to holy conference, and fer- 
 vent prayer , to hatred of fin, the 
 contempt of the world, the mor- 
 tifying of the ftefh, to the Love 
 of God above all, to a thankful 
 admiration of the Love of Chrift, 
 and the great myfbry of Redem- 
 ption, to the believing, delightful 
 forethoughts of everlafting life, 
 and preparation for it, &c I fay, 
 when we have done all to bring 
 them to this which is godlynefs in- 
 
 deedj 
 
35* Caiholick Unit). 
 deed, we lofe our labour, and leave 
 them as we find them. They can- 
 not away with fo precife a life : 
 But yet a Religion they will have 
 inftedd of k, to deceive their fouls, 
 and quiet them in the way to Hel . 
 Por inftance, I mull fpeak it with 
 grief of heart, that I meet with 
 no fmall number among us that 
 know not who Chnft is • fomefay 
 he is God and not man - 9 fome fay, 
 he is man and not God ■ fome fay 
 he was made both God and man at 
 once : fome fay he is neither God 
 n©r man, but a Spirit : fome fay, 
 he is not God, but the Son of God, 
 and hath the power of God given 
 him : Abundance fay that he is 
 God only and not man, now he is 
 in Heaven, though he was both on 
 earth.- and very many know not 
 W T hat Chriftianity is , nor wherein 
 the Chriftian Religion doth con- 
 fift. And yet all thefc perfons, that 
 are Heathens rather then Chrifti- 
 
Catholick Unity. 353 
 
 ans 3 are the moft zealous Keepers 
 of Chrifimafs (as it is called,) and 
 the bittereft ccndemners of thofe 
 that do not ^ and fo do make 
 therrfelvcs believe that they are 
 Chriitians a§ well as others. 
 The fame perfons that know not 
 who Chrift s, nor what it is to be 
 a Chrift ian, are fo much for kneel- 
 ing at the taking of the Lords Sup- 
 per, that they dare not be fo unre- 
 verentas to fit or itand, but will 
 ra:her never receive at all: (nor are 
 they fit till they change in a greater 
 matter then the gelture ;) And yet, 
 poor fouls, they think themfelves 
 to be very Religious, and more Re- 
 verent then others, and that here 
 lyeth the difference between them. 
 It would grieve the heart of a con- 
 federate man, to fee a multitude 
 of miferabiefinners, to live in wic- 
 kednefs, in curling, fwcaring,drun- 
 kennefs, fllthinefs, negleft of God 
 and a holy life, drowned in world- 
 
 iy- 
 
354 CAtholick Unity. 
 ly-mindednefs, and as regardleis of 
 the life to come as if they thought 
 theyfhould die like the beafts : and 
 even hating thofe 'that will not be 
 ungodly as well as they j and yet 
 as hot for Ceremonies, and Holy- 
 days , and kneeling at the Sacra- 
 ment , and the Common-prayer- 
 Book, as if they were more de- 
 vout :hen others: and it feems they 
 have made themfelves believe in 
 good earneft that they are true 
 Chriftians and Godly men, becaufe 
 in the depth of their ungodlinefs 
 they can make a Itir againil thofe 
 that will not be of their mind, and 
 uie thefe Ceremonies as well as 
 they. 
 
 If any of you fay, thatl am now 
 fpeaking againfl your opinions or 
 Ceremonies themfelves , as if I 
 could not give you leave to uie 
 them, you will but fliew your felves 
 millaking hearers, and falfe re- 
 porters. No, it is the laying too 
 
 much 
 
CatbelickUnitj. 355 
 
 much ftrefs on thefe matters, and 
 making Indifferent things feem iVY- 
 c f jT- r J > as ** Gods Worfliip , or 
 the Unity of the Church lay on 
 them, which I fpeak againft .- And 
 therefore I muft needs fay , that 
 both fides may be guilty of this 
 fin : Principally the Jmpofers of 
 them , that would have all men 
 forest to do as they do -, and next 
 them there may be too much guilt 
 in thofe that make indifferent 
 things feem evil, cr leffer evils to 
 be much greater then they are, and 
 fo would make a Religion of avoid- 
 ing what others make it their Re- 
 ligion to obferve. And whether 
 your Religion lie in being for or 
 againft thefe points in queftion 
 (Tuch asche Apoltle fpeaks of in 
 my Text) is no great difference: 
 Tor the Religion of both will prove 
 but a meer (hadow: yea an over 
 hot oppofing of fuch Middle things, 
 doth teach thofe chat-are for them 
 
 t^ 
 
356 CAtboiick Unit). 
 
 to believe that they are matters of 
 very great moment, or elfe they 
 think you would not make fo great 
 a matter of them. And then when 
 you have caught them by your 
 tierce oppofuion, to make a Great 
 matter of them-, and cuftom and 
 their party hath taught them to 
 think their way is belt ^ both thefe 
 fet together do delude their fouls, 
 and make them think thatbecaufe 
 of their Formalities, they are god- 
 ly men, in the depths of their ig- 
 norance , ungodlinefs and mi- 
 fery. 
 
 20. Laftly, obferve how we fin 
 againfl the fad experience of the 
 Church in all Ages/ by laying our 
 Religion or Unity upon thefe fmal- 
 ler or unneceffary things. Whar 
 hath diftra&ed the Church fo much 
 as contendings about their Cere- 
 monies and Orders, and preceden- 
 cy and fuperiority I Herefies I 
 know have done their part (efpeci- 
 
 ^ ally 
 
Cat holt ck Unit j. 357 
 
 ally the Arrians :) but fmaller 
 matters have had two great a hand 
 in it : what plentifull evidence 
 could I give you of this ? The la- 
 mentable divifions of theChriftian 
 world about Eafier day,which the 
 firft General Council was fain to 
 meet about and decide, is too fad 
 an Initance. But, alas, the prefent 
 Age it felf hath given us too fad 
 and plenteous proofs of it. By a 
 heap of Ceremonies, andunnecef- 
 fary things, the Romcn Church 
 hath almoftdrownd both the Do- 
 ctrine, Worftiip and Discipline of 
 Chrift , and miferably torn the 
 Church in pieces, and fo continues 
 to do. And what work this mi- 
 ftake hath made in England, I have 
 no minde to tell you , while our 
 fmart and furTerings tell you of it 
 more plainly then is fit for me to 
 do. Indifferent things have fhut 
 out that which was better then In- 
 different. Confider well thefe 
 
 twenty 
 
358 C&tbelick Unitf. 
 
 twenty Reafons, and then judg5 
 whether the Religion cr Vxitj of 
 the Church (hould be placed in un- 
 necefTary things. The impofing of 
 them I {hall fpeak of by it feif. 
 
 Vfc. T^Rom the Text and Do- 
 X ftrine explained and con- 
 firmed, we may fee thefe following 
 Confe&aries arife. 
 
 i. Hence we fee the tender mer- 
 cy of God to them that are fincere 
 in the Faith, though weak. If their 
 underftandingsbedark, and their 
 judgements in leffer things mifla- 
 ken, and their Confcienas therein 
 erroneous •, yet if they be but true 
 Believers,and right in the mainland 
 willing to know the mind of God 
 and to obey it, God would not 
 have rhem excluded from the Com- 
 munion of the Saints,but rather re- 
 ceived with charity and compani- 
 on i 
 
Cdthlick Unity, 359 
 
 on •, and would have the ftranger 
 bear with their infirmities (Rom. 
 1 5. 1 J He will not himfelfrejed: 
 them • and therefore he would not 
 have them rejected or defpifed by 
 his Servants. 
 
 Vfe 2. Hence alfo we may fee, 
 that God will bear more, and fo 
 muft his Church, with fmaller Er- 
 rors, then with the uncharitable or 
 dividing management of thofe er- 
 rors. Though men fhould erre 
 about meats or days or fuch like 
 matters, we muft yet receive them 
 and love them as Believers ; But yet 
 if they will hereupon defpife , or 
 c^nfure one another to the breach 
 of Charity , and trouble of the 
 Church , for this they mud be 
 fharply rebuked , as Paul here 
 doth. 
 
 Vfe 3. Hence alio you may 
 learn, How far men (hould defire 
 
 and 
 
380 Catbolkk Unity. 
 
 and enjoy a Liberty in matters of 
 Religion, and how far theMagi- 
 ftrate fhould interpofe with force, 
 and how tar not. A liberty to live 
 in fin, or to fubvert the Gofpel,and 
 the fouls of others, the Magiftrate 
 fhould give to none : But a Tole- 
 ration in things of a lower nature, 
 that hazardeth not mens fouls, nor 
 the Unity of the Church , fhould 
 be granted to the weak. Can we 
 be bound with Charity to receive 
 them, and yet to provoke the Ma- 
 giftrate to punifh them,and deal fe- 
 verelyer with them then we I This 
 may not be defired. 
 
 ■ Vfe 4. Hence alfo you may 
 fee what an enemy Popery is to the 
 Unity of the Church, and how im- 
 poffible it is that theChurch fhould 
 have Unity upon their terms: when 
 they have compofed a Religion of 
 fo many Ceremonies, and unnecef- 
 fary things , and new devifed Ar- 
 ticles: 
 
CatholickUnit]. 361 
 
 tides and Sacraments ^ and none 
 muft be a Catholick Chriftian with 
 them that will not be of this Reli- 
 gion, and vow or pra&ife ail their 
 Novelties. So far are they from 
 pra&ifing the Doctrine of my Text, 
 that they fet themfelves in oppofi- 
 tion to it, and place their Religion 
 and the Unity of their Church in 
 fuch things as Paul here requireth 
 us not fo much as to judge one ano- 
 ther in • or in worfe then thefe. A 
 Catholick Unity is impolTible on 
 their terms. 
 
 Vfe$.'To conclude, I advife 
 all that are unfeigned friends to the 
 Unity of the Church, to pra&ife 
 the wholfom Doctrine of this Texr. 
 If you have Zeal,thert's fin enough 
 inyourielves and others to lay it 
 out upon : Bear not with Infidc/i- 
 ty^Senfnallty^ Imfenitency or any 
 ungodly courie. If men be not fo 
 R much 
 
36 1 Catholick Unity. 
 
 much as weak Believers, and feem 
 not Saints at leaft of the lower form, 
 receive not thefc into your Com- 
 munion •, but leave them under 
 your common companionate cha- 
 rity. If you can prove that God 
 receiveth them not , then do not 
 you Receive them. But as you are 
 Chriflians, take heed of cutting off 
 or defpifing the Members of Chrih\ 
 and of giving a Bill of divorce to 
 any foul that is truly efpoufed to 
 him : You have Drunkards , and 
 Railers , and notorious ungodly 
 ones enough to exercife all your 
 Zeal, if you joyn both head and 
 heart and hand againft them ; And 
 can you find in your hearts to fall 
 upon one another for indifferent- 
 things, orfmaller matters, which 
 the Unity of the Church doth not 
 confift in ?rfpeak to both fides 
 impartially •, and I befeech you fo 
 underftand me. What if thy weak 
 
 Bro- 
 
Calholick Unity, 35? 
 Brother pray upon a Book., dareft 
 thou therefore defpifehiml and what 
 if thy Brother pray without Boob 
 dareft thou therefore judge him ? 
 Nay dareft thou defire that none 
 but fuch fliould have liberty to 
 Preach or Worfhip in the Church ? 
 What if thy weak Brother dare not 
 recede the Sacrament unlefs he 
 
 Kneel m L the aft of receiving it > 
 dareft thou therefore defpife him? 
 And what if thy Brother on the 
 other fide,do rather take it in ano- 
 ther gefture becaufe he is fure thac 
 Chnllandh.sApcftles finned 
 in io doing, and becaufe he finds 
 that ^our Kneeling ,s contrary to 
 ■bepraftceof the ancient Church 
 W*«t*m*tm,\ may fay) contra- 
 ry t0 General Co until, , yea tot h, 
 a« Canon of the firft General 
 
 lonifts fay that no Provincial 
 ^uncil, or Bifhops can repeal 
 R 2 (with 
 
364 Catbolick Unity. 
 f with many other reafons-J dare 
 you therefore judge hira , becaufe 
 he dare not imitate you rather then 
 Chrift and his Apoftlcs, and the 
 Primitive Church for many hun- 
 dred years ? If any imagine that I 
 go againft this neceffary Toleration 
 my felf, becaufe all here receive the 
 Sacrament fitting •, I anfwer , Let 
 them prove that ever I refufed one 
 perfonmeerly becaufe they would 
 take it Kneeling, if they can. If you 
 fay, Why then are not all admitted 
 to take it Kneeling > I anfwer, Soft 
 and fair-, There are greater matters 
 then Kneeling in the way. Do but 
 firft let go your vicious courfes, and 
 agree with us in a holy life, & turn 
 unfeignedly to God, and live in the 
 Church Order that he hath plainly 
 Commanded^ and then, if I cannot 
 give you fatisfa&ion , you fhall 
 fiave liberty to take it in the gefture | 
 that you defire , fobeit you will 
 
 granJ 
 
Catholickllnitj. 365 
 
 grant me my liberty as I grant you 
 
 yours. 
 
 One inftance more, Tomorrow 
 is the day called Cbriflmafs day, 
 and many days called Holy days do 
 follow it • If you will but Read and 
 Mark this Chapter, Row. 14. I am 
 perfwaded it may prevent a great 
 deal of fin , that many of you on 
 both fides may be guilty of. Is it 
 not. a wonder that after fo large 
 and plain a decilion by the Holy 
 Ghoft , as here you rind , there 
 fhould yet be any cpntroverfie 
 among us about th;s Cafe ? Do 
 you take the word of God for your 
 Rule or not ? If you do, why then 
 doth it not Rule you, and end the 
 difference ? Do you not read the 
 Apoftlis words, ver. 14. \Onemtm 
 efieemethone day above another: ano- 
 ther efleemeth every day alike : Let 
 every member fully ptrf traded i# his 
 R 3 onvi 
 
3 66 CMhelick Unity. 
 
 own mind;~\ If you were Papifrs 
 that would fay the Scripture is ob- 
 fcure, and therefore you nmft have 
 a GeneralCeuncil,you could fcarce 
 dtv.k how a Council fhould fpeak 
 more plain then this. But nothing 
 will ferve fome men, but their own 
 wills. Dare you on the one fide, 
 defpife your weak Brother now 
 for efteeming thefe days above the 
 reft ? Why perhaps it is to God 
 that he efteemeth it .- and the anci- 
 ent cuftom of the Church, and pra- 
 ctice of many godly perfons,do per- 
 fwade him that it is right : And 
 dare you on the other fide con- 
 demn or reproach them that make 
 not this difference of daysasycu 
 do } If we are contented that you 
 have your Liberty (which truly I 
 would not deprive you of,if it were 
 in my power ) eannotyou be con- 
 tented that we have ours ? There 
 are three opinions about thek Ho-. 
 
Catholick Unity, 36 j 
 
 ly days. 1. Some think theobf:-r- 
 vance of them a neceflary Religi- 
 ous Duty. 2. Some think the very 
 outward obfervance to be an into- 
 lerable fin. 3. Some know that 
 boh thefe extreams are erroneous, 
 and therefore they take the thing 
 in it felf to be indifferent , but as 
 circumftances or accidents may 
 make it Good or Evil : And thefe 
 are in the right. They that are in 
 the Middle can bear with others, 
 but the other cannot bear with 
 them, nor with each other. There 
 is no proof that ever Ifaw , that 
 the Church obferved any of thefe 
 days, of many hundred years af- 
 ter ChrifL "For the Clement^ the 
 Dronyfita s the Cyprian that are ci- 
 ted for i$, are known tobefpuri- 
 ous. And it is unlikely that none 
 of thefe would have been mention- 
 ed as well as the Lords day , if they 
 had been then obferved , when 
 R 4 there 
 
368 Catholiekllnity. 
 
 there was fo much ado about the 
 time of E after day. Yea it is cer- 
 tain that of divers hundred years 
 after (Thrift, it was not agreed on, 
 which was the day of (Thrifts Na- 
 tivity ^ fome thought it was on 
 January 6. and therefore called it 
 i he Epiphany ^ or Appearance.- And 
 of old both the birth day and Cir- 
 cumcifion of (Thrift were fuppoied 
 to be on that fame day, that is, 
 on the fixth of January. Cfiffia- 
 nm wirneffeth that the Egyptians 
 were of that mind ; Cdllat.l.io.c. 
 1 1 . And Epiphaniut witnefTeth the 
 fame of the Greek and Afian and 
 Syrian Churches. Epiphanim him- 
 felf and Nazi^nzen^ and many o- 
 thers were of this mind, that it 
 was on January 6. and that 
 thence it was called the Epiphame. 
 And Chryfcftom in Horn, in Natal. 
 D)m. telis us that it was but ten 
 years before he wrote i: 5 that the 
 
Cdthd'tck Unity. \6g 
 
 Romans had perfwaded the Church 
 of Conftantinople to change the 
 day to December 25. And yet the 
 Country es about ferufalemheld to 
 the 6. of January , as Ca ft fab on 
 hach (hewed, Everett. 2. cap. 4. 
 p. 170, 171. & cap. 11. p. 180, 
 i87.Yea indeed the Day of Chrifts 
 Nativity \syet unknown, as if God 
 had kept us ignorant of purpofe : 
 Many very learned men , as 
 Broughton , Hefoicus , Scaliger, 
 Beroaldtu, think that the day was 
 aboutvi#f umn in the beginning of 
 Otiober : Calvi/ius , Partus, and 
 many more are for other times 
 then December 25. and fac. Cap- 
 pell us and many others ftill go the 
 old way for January 6. And Th. 
 Lydiat out of Cltm* Alex an dr. is 
 for May 20. Scnltnus , Clopen- 
 burgius and many others do (hew 
 that indeed the time is utterly un- 
 certain. And no wonder it the 
 R 5 day 
 
37<3 Catholick Unity. 
 
 day be uncertain when the very 
 ■-year Is fo uncertain,that there is no 
 probability of ever comeing to a 
 full agreement about it among the 
 Learned in Chronoiogie till the laft 
 comeing of Chrift agree them! 
 Our late mod Learned Chronolo- 
 ger (Bifhop Vjher ) was confi- 
 dent that we wereabout four years 
 too late in our common account, 
 as in his Annals may be (qqh. And 
 what man can reveal the things 
 that God hath purpofely concea- 
 led ?For my part, I dare not judge 
 men for keeping or not keeping 
 fuch daies as thefe. But if any will 
 make it a necejfary thing to the Vn'v- 
 verfal Church, I mull refill: that 
 uiurpation •, as Paul that had Cir- 
 cumc[fcdTimothy t did cry downcir- 
 cumcifion when fome would have 
 obtruded it as a necefTary thing. 
 And for this I have an Argument 
 that fuflaineth my Religion it felf .- 
 
 even 
 
Catholick Unit). 371 
 
 even the fufficiency of the Ho- 
 ly Scripture. If this be not the 
 Law of God, then farewel Chri-' 
 ftianity .- If it be his Law , it is 
 fufficient in its kind, and to its 
 ends, which is 1. To determine 
 of all things that were then fit to 
 be determined of : 2. And to de- 
 termine of.all that the Univerfal 
 Church in all times after mud be 
 bound to. Th.re is no Univerfal 
 Law-giver but Chrift. If this day 
 be of Neceffity , it Vvas fo then as 
 well as now , and it is fo to one 
 Country as well as mother : for 
 there is the fame reafon for it in 
 one age and place as in another. 
 And therefore if Scripture be not 
 a fufficient Rule for Univerfal Du- 
 ties of Religion, then we are ut- 
 terly at a lots •, and as Popery will 
 come firft in , fo Infidelity is likely 
 to come next. I doubt not but 
 frorenatu, upon emergent occa- 
 
 fions, 
 
37 a Cttbofiti Unity. 
 
 forts, Church-Governours r 
 appoint Religious Anniversary fc - 
 
 lemriities. For the occation or' 
 thefe being i. To iomeone place 
 or Province only : 2. And not exi- 
 gent in Scripture times •, it did nor 
 belong to the Univerfal Law to de- 
 termine of them. Eut in caLs that 
 eqiia >ng to the Halve 
 
 Church, arid where the Re:, 
 and occal T on was exiitent in the 
 Apoftles da.es as well as now, if 
 s not their determina- 
 tion , no others can come after 
 them and make it univerially JvV 
 . ->. And indeed neither Ge- 
 neral Councils nor Apoftolick Tra- 
 dition can be pleaded for the Ne- 
 cefficy. And lure I am that the one 
 day inleven, even the Lords-day, 
 of his own appointment . which 
 Univerfal Church hath con- 
 flantly obferved,isaFeftival for the 
 commemoration of the whole wark^ 
 
 of 
 
Catholkk Unity . 373 
 
 of Redemption , and therefore of 
 the Birth of Chrift, though efpe- 
 cially of the Re[urrellion : And 
 therefore we are not without a 
 Day for this ufe. 
 
 I fpeak not all this to condemne 
 any that ufe thefe daies 5 but ? to 
 exeufe thofe that ufe them not, 
 and by .telling you a few of thofe 
 many reafons which they have to 
 give for themfelves, to perfwade 
 you both to lay by the opinion of 
 Neceflity, and to forbear condem- 
 ning thofe that differ from you, 
 I and be content that they have their 
 liberty, as we are freely content 
 that you have yours •, and Lay noc 
 the Vnitja.n& Peace of the Church 
 upon fuch things as thefe , when 
 the Holy Ghoft hath fo plainly de- 
 cided the cafe. And I could hear- 
 tily wifh that the Lords own day 
 were not mod wilfully neglefted 
 
 by 
 
374 Gdtmtck unity. 
 by many that are mod: forward for 
 other Holy-daies. Its a fearful 
 feif-delufion of ungodly people 
 that no means can bring them to a 
 New, a Holy and Heavenly Jife • 
 and yet they will make themfelves 
 believe that they are Religious, by 
 pleading for forms, and dayes and 
 ceremonies. Alafs pcor foul , if 
 thy eyes were but opened, thou 
 wouldft fee that thou haft other 
 kind of matters firft to look after ! 
 It would grieve one to hear a man 
 contending for Kneeling and Holy - 
 dayes, and Prayer-books , that is 
 in a ftate of unregeneracy , and a 
 ftranger to fan&ification, aid un- 
 der the dominion of his fins, and 
 under the curfe and wrath of God. 
 Get firft a new and holy Nature ^ 
 make fure of the pardon of fin, 
 and of Peace with God, and then 
 the difcourfe of lower matters will 
 be more feafonable and more fa- 
 voury. Is 
 
Ctiholick Unity. 375 
 
 Is ic not a foameful felf-condem- 
 ning to keep Holy-dayes for the 
 .dead Saints, and to hate and rail 
 againft the Living ? Do you know 
 what kind of men thofe were that 
 are called Saints , and Holy-dayes 
 were kept in remembrance of 
 them? They were fuch as thofe 
 that now are hated by the world, 
 and took the ccurfe in a holy and 
 diligent care of their falvation, as 
 thele do , and therefore were ha- 
 ted by the world , as the godly 
 now are • and when wicked men 
 had put them to death, the godly 
 that furvived would keep a day in 
 remembrance of their Martyr- 
 dom, to encourage others to con- 
 flancy for Chriit. And alfo becaufe 
 the unruly multitude were fo fee 
 upon their pleafure, that they kept 
 the Idols feftivals for their fport 
 fake ^ therefore fome Paftors of 
 the Church did think it better to 
 
 Itt 
 
37$ Catholick Unity. 
 let them have Feftivais for th e 
 Saints to take their pleafure in , 
 to turn them off from the Idols fe- 
 ilivals. So Gregory Nyjfen tells us 
 of Gregory Thaumaturgm in his 
 Oration of his life, thac he made 
 Holy-dayes for his neighbours of 
 Neccefarea, when the Rowan fury 
 had Martyred many • and he ufed 
 this as a pious wile to draw the li- 
 cencious Vulgar frcm the Idols fe- 
 ftivais, by letting them play on the 
 Martyrs dayes, till they could be 
 drawn up to a holy obfervation of 
 them. Whether the courfs were 
 right or wrong, by' this you may 
 fee the Original of fuch dayes. 
 And Gregory the great of Rome, 
 would for this very end, have all 
 the Heathens Feftivais turned into 
 ChriftianFeftivalc. But if any of 
 you will hate a Saint • and refufe 
 the Communion of faints, and 
 will not imitate them in Holinefs, 
 
 an* 
 
Catholick Unitf. 377 
 
 and yet will keep Holy-dayes for 
 them that are dead, Chriit him-'' 
 f?!f hath given you your doom, 
 Mattk. 23. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33- 
 which I deiire you to read. 
 
 Well Sirs, I have faid enough, 
 if enough will ferve, to prove that 
 the Unity of the Church mull not 
 be laid on things Indifferent ? nor 
 upon low or doubtful points ^ but 
 itmuftbea Unity in the Spirit of 
 Sandin* cation. It is in the kw^ 
 the great, the certain and the Ne- 
 ceflkry points, that we mull: all 
 agree in if ever we will agree, 
 and compafiionately tolerate the 
 differences that are tolerable. 
 
 If afterall this, there be any fo 
 Proud, and felnYh, and ungodly, 
 and unmerciful , that they will let 
 up their own Conceits and Wilis 
 againft the frtafn Commands of 
 
 God, 
 
378 C dth click Unit j. 
 God, the long and fad experience 
 Jbf the world, and againft the Peace 
 of their Brethren, and the Unity 
 of the Church , and will have no 
 Agreement unlefs all orhers will be 
 conformed to their Wills, I {hall 
 now fay no more to fuch, but that 
 Thefe are not the fons of Peace, 
 nor the living companionate mem- 
 bers of the Church, but felf-ido- 
 lizerf that God is engaged to pull 
 down ; And it is not by fuch as 
 thefe that the Church mud be hea- 
 led and repaired: But it is by them 
 that are fenfible of their own in- 
 firmities, and companionate to 
 others , that are of a Chriftian 
 Catholick Spirit, and have Catho- 
 lick Principles and ArTe&ions , and 
 fee fuch a beauty*, in the Image of 
 Chrift, that they can heartily Love 
 a gracious perfon, notwithstan- 
 ding his many tolerable infirmi- 
 ties, and think themfelves more 
 unworthy 
 
CdthelickUnit), 379 
 
 unworthy to be tolerated by o- 
 thers, then fuch as I have deicri- 
 bed to be tolerated by them. 
 
 Preached December 24. 1557. 
 FINIS. 
 
^ 
 
 J 
 

 
ka2 
 
 
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