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Unity and Peace Preferv'd by Communion with our CHURCH.

Ephef. 4. Ver. 2, 3.

With all Lowlinefs and Meeknefs, with Long-fuffering, forbearing

one another in Love.

Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.

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HEN Ihaften'd last day to a Conclufion of my former Subject, I did it with Design to Treat of the Great Mystery of our Religion, Christ made manifeft in the Flesh, in this time of Advent; but contrary to my purpose, I am forc'd to turn the point of my Discourse another way, being by the present Transactions of Affairs Neceffarily and Unavoidably engag'd on a Subject very unpleasant to me, and to B

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all Sober and well-affected Men, our prefent Divifions. You are not ignorant, I suppose, what Prefentment the Church-wardens have been Oblig'd_to make, and you know as well as I, what the Method of the Law is towards those who fhall continue in their Separation from this Church. This, I know will raise a great Cry against the Government, but especially, the greatest share of Popular Odium and Invidious Reflectiion will light upon the Clergy. What are we to do in this Cafe? Shall we difobey the Lawful Commands of our Lawful Governours, to Humour a Discontented Party of the People? And to Humour them in that which we in our Consciences are perfwaded is both hurtful to themselves, and Deftructive to the Peace and Profperity of the Government: This cannot be expected from us, because we cannot do it with a good Conscience towards God, or towards Man. All that I can poffibly imagine to be in our Power, is both by Private and Publick Admonition to inform such of the error and danger of their ways, to exhort them to return to their Duty, and as much as lies in us, to perswade them to keep the Unity of the Spirit in

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the bond of Peace: This I am willing to do as far as I am able in Private, and am now about to do in publick, though it is highly probable, that those whose good I chiefly design in it, may by their absenting themselves, make themselves incapable of this part of my Charity.

By the Unity of the Spirit here is meant that which we are wont to call the Unity of Charity and Affection; By the Bond of Peace, is meant Unity and Agreement in our external Societies, whether more publick, or more private, whether Ecclefiaftical or Civil, but especially Ecclefiaftical, as appears by the Context; for by this Peace, Preferved by Meekness and Long-fuffering, God is Glorified in the Church; which is that St. Paul paffionately defires, Chap. 3. ver. ult. And the enforcements of this Duty, ver. 4, 5, 6. of this Chapter, (a)(a) ClariFor there is one Body, &c. do immedi- us exprimit quàm ately relate to Ecclefiaftical Union. You perfecta Obferve here,

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1. That the Unity of the Spirit cannot be preserved but in the bond of ChriftiaPeace; that all Divifions in Externals,do nempe que Naturally tend to diffolve the Unity of omni ex

parte adeo valeat ut in unum Corpus & unam animam coalefcamus. Calvin, in hunc locum,

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Charity and Affection: and I think, were there no other Proof for Uniformity of a National Church in the New Teftament, this were enough.

2. You may obferve that it is the indifpenfible Duty of all the Members of the Church of Chrift, to endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.

How great the Importance of this Duty, how neceffary and indifpenfible its obligation, no Man (I think) can be ignorant; unless he be a perfect Stranger to Chriftianity. Both may fufficiently appear from the verfes fol lowing my Text. There is one Body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm; One God and Father of all; who is above all, and through all, and in you all. In which words St. Paul does neceflarily infinuate, that whoever, does not endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace, does Act repugnant to the very nature of Chriftianity, and cuts himself off from that glorious and neceffary Unity which he here explicates. This fhould make us amazed to think, that Men fhould fet fo light a Value upon our Peace and U

nity; and upon fuch flight, trifling, dark and difputable pretences, throw off all obligations to this Duty; tho fo clear, fo important, fo indifpenfible. I am Astonished to think that any Man profeffing Christianity, fhould be tender and fcrupulous in things of an indifferent Nature, and yet Confident and Careless in the Violation of a Duty neceffary and effential to the life and being of Christianity, and a Chriftian Church.

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But it is not my Defign at present to infift upon either of thele two Obfervations, though of fo great moment in themselves, and fo fairly and naturally deducible from the Text, I have only brought you on thus far, that from hence, as from a rifing ground, you may with more eafe and advantage furvey each part of my following Dif courfe, and I may more fecurely make my entrance into it, the main Design of which is this. To confider the Method by which we ought to preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, and to apply it to the prefent State of things.

The Method is laid down, ver. 2. With all Lowlinefs and Meekneß, with

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