Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

(1.) By pursuing of Unity and Concord, we fhall gain a great deal of true and folid Pleasure. The first views we take of Charity in its exercife, and the tendency that generous Principles and Actions have towards Union and Peace, without any long reflection, are fecretly approv'd by us, and occafion in us a real and rational Pleafure. We cannot but be fatisfied and delighted with the Exercifes of Charity, unless our Powers are greatly deprav'd and vitiated.

A Man that has a clear Eye or a good Ear, cannot but be pleas'd with Beauty and Harmony. Man was made for Society, and naturally abhors Solitude: Infinite Wisdom thought it not good for him to be alone, even in a state of Innocence; Paradise it felf was render'd more pleasant by mutual Converse: and no doubt but it will be a part of the happiness of Heaven, that we fhall be favour'd with the agreeable Society of the Angels, and the Spirits of just Men made perfect; whofe Love to God is always ardent, and whofe united Endeavours to advance the Divine Glory, will occafion a true and a lafting Pleasure to spring up in their Minds.

i

While we live in the exercife of Love, which is the fofteft and sweetest of all the Paffions, we free our felves from those things that are unruly and troublefom, difquieting and tormenting; our Minds are calm and chearful, ferene and pleafant; and every reflection we make upon what is past, increases our Pleasure, fo that this Duty carries with it its own Reward.

I know 'tis commonly faid, that Revenge is fweet but I am fure, that'to a Man of a great and generous Soul, the exercifes of Charity will

X. 2

give

give a truer guft of real Pleasure. For there is no man that meditates Revenge, but he has a thoufand unquiet Agitations in his breast; and when he begins to cool, and feriously confider, he is angry with himself and asham'd of his Folly: whereas there is no torment in Love, as the Apostle obferves, but it produces a real and a fublimated Pleasure. He that follows the things that make for Peace, has the teftimony of a good Confcience in favour of his Actions, as well as the approbation of all wife and good Men; but that which is more than all, he has the favour of God, and fhall have the honour of being number'd with his ChilMat. 5. 9. dren. Bleffed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be call'd the Children of God.

Union and Agreement (fays one) is the Soul of the Univerfe, the Ornament of Heaven and Earth, the Life and Joy of both Pfal. 133.1. Worlds. Behold (fays the Pfalmift) how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity! If the Agreement of others gives us fo charming a view, what an exalted Pleafure must they feel that are of one Heart and one Way! Indeed that Chriftian, whofe natural temper is none of the best, will find the Exercifes of Charity fomewhat difficult at firft: which an ingenious Modern does illustrate thus. 'Tis (fays he) like a Man that has fome acquaintance with Geometry; if he does but juft caft his eye upon a fubtil Theorem, it seems perplex'd and difficult; but if he begins at the fimple Principles, and fo advances by degrees through the intermediate Propofitions, he will with ease attain a Demonftration of it. So if a Chriftian follow the things that make for Peace, and is found in the exercise of thofe

Graces

Graces that have a tendency to promote Union and a good Correfpondence, he will lofe his Prejudices by degrees, which he had imbib'd against the poffibility and practicableness of this Daty, and begin to have a relish of the most agreeable Pleasure.

(2.) Another Advantage that attends the practice of the Duty I am recommending, is, that it will be for the fecurity and defence of the Church. The bleffed Jefus indeed is the Rock on which the Church is built, and the Head by which he is influenc'd and govern'd: yet without detracting from the honour of our Lord, we may fay, that Union between her feveral Members is her fubordinate Strength and Safety. The Apostle, after he had recommended to the Coloffians the practice of various important Duties, adds, And above all thefe things put on Charity, which is the Bond of perfectness, or a perfect Bond. And let the Peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which alfo you are called in one Body; and be ye thankful. Q. D. Charity is the most excellent Grace in it felf, and the most beneficial in its Exercifes; it will not only be ornamental to your Profeffion of Christianity, but the Cement of the Church, and fo will defend you against a great many Evils to which you would be otherwife expos'd.

3

All the Perfecutions that have fallen on the Churches of Christ, have not weaken'd them half fo much as the Divifions of their own. Members. Where there is Strife and Conten

* Zuvoμ& fignifies such a Bond as unites different Things or Perfons together; which makes it evident the Apostle is speaking of that Charity we owe to one another.

X 3

tion,

Ecclef.4.12.

tion, Difcord and Animofity in a Society, it foon loofens and weakens the Bands that hold it together. How have the most flourishing Churches, as well as Kingdoms, been deftroy'd by their own Diffenfions! When Jerufalem was befieg'd by Titus Vefpafian, all his battering Rams did not half fo much mischief to the Jews, as the Divisions occafion'd among them by their fiery Zealots, who provok'd them to destroy one another. The rage and violence of Enemies cannot do fo much injury to Sacred Societies as their own Members, when they give a loose to their indecent Paffions; which weaken their Hands, and divide their Strength, and have a direct tendency to diffolve and break them in pieces. And fo much the Apoftle intimates in that excellent Caution he gives the Galatians; But if you bite and devour one another (fays he) take heed ye be not confum'd one of another. 'Tis Union, and a good Correfpondence, that muft make us ftedfaft and unmovable; for our Bleffed Saviour hath affured us, that a Kingdom divided against it Self cannot ftand. Where all the Members of a Church are united as one Man, they are in an excellent pofture of defence; but when they are toffed about with every wind of Doctrine, and begin to promote Parties and Factions, they prefently become an easy Prey to those that lie in wait to deceive.

A fingle Thred is foon fnapt afander; but as the wife Man obferves, a threefold Cord is not quickly broken. 'Tis Union and Order that render men capable of making a vigorous defence, and that raife them above the fears of an Enemy, that are fuperior in Number, but ftrangers to Difcipline and Agreement. When

a

[ocr errors]

a Church of Christ maintains the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, fhe is not only fair as the Moon, and clear as the Sun, but terrible as an Army with Banners. How reafonable therefore is it that we pursue the things that make for Peace, that we facrifice all private Animofities and Difcords to the Publick Good, than which nothing can more contribute to our lafting Settlement, fo as to render us firm and unfhaken as a Rock.

*

(3.) The purfuit of Peace and Union will recommend our Holy Religion, and bring Honour to Jefus the Head of it. 'Tis very remarkable, that when our Bleffed Saviour had pray'd for the Union of his People, he pleads this Argument with his Father, Let them be one, Joh, 17.21. that the World believe that thou haft fent me. Again, Let them be perfect in one, that the World Ver. 23. may know that thou haft fent me.

Now that

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

which does any way prove or illuftrate Chrift's coming forth from the Father, is proper to recommend Christianity to the World, and the Union of Chriftians, in the judgment of our Saviour, is proper for this end. When we follow the things that make for Peace, we adorn that Holy Religion we profefs, as well as evidence to the World that we belong to that Jefus who is the Prince of Peace: By this (fays our Saviour) fhall all men know that you are my Difciples, if you love one another. Love is the diftinguishing Badg, the difcriminating Mark of a true Difciple of Jefus. The Difciples of other Institutions among the Jews, as well as Heathens, ufed to diftinguish themfelves by fome pecu

Donare inimicitias Reip. was the Advice of the antient Romans for the fecurity of their Civil State.

X 4

liar

« VorigeDoorgaan »