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Way of true Peace and Unity, in the

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true Church of CHRIST.

AVING now for a long time together observed with a fad heart and troubled fpirit, the grievous differences and diffentions among the faithful and churches of Chrift, and perceiving also, that there is yet no healing of this error, many or moft of them not clearly understanding wherein their true peace and unity ought to confift; and fo, are still profecuting former with latter mistakes, till their wound is become almoft incurable; I found my heart inclined and engaged by God, to propound to others that way of peace, which myself have learned from the word. And this I defire to do, not that I might seem to be fomething, or be accounted of, any more than the meaneft of all God's people, being indeed unworthy to minister so much as a cup of cold water to the church, the spouse of Chrift, much lefs fo incomparable a treasure as the word of God is, in comparison of which, all the world is not to be mentioned; but meerly out of love and compaffion to the infirmities of my brethren, whom I fee walking in the light of their own fire, and in the sparks which they themselves do kindle, whereby they are in great danger to lie down in forrow; whilst in the mean time they neglect the true light, which alone is to shine in the kingdom of God, till all ignorance and darkness be done away. And as my end and scope is, to bring all men, from all human doctrines, and conceptions

of

of carnal wisdom and prudence, to the word of God: fo I defire all men that are spiritual, and able to judge, to allow of no more in this discourse, than they fhall find agreeable to this word; and whatever the word of God, in the true sense and meaning of it, fhall disapprove or condemn; fo far, let them alfo difapprove and condemn with it, as I myself alfo do: knowing well, that no word ought to have any place in the church of God, but the word of God, which alone carries light, life, righteousness, wifdom and power, fufficient and enough in itself, to do the whole mind and work of God in his church. Wherefore what I have freely learned, I fhall freely communicate, defiring every one to regard his own falvation; feeing now, after fo clear a difcovery of truth, he can have no cloak, nor the least excufe for his fin.

Now that he that reads may understand, it is necessary for me, fpeaking of the unity and peace of the church, to tell you at first, that I intend not to propound any way of peace, either between the church and the world, or elfe between the carnal and spiritual children of the church, as having learned no fuch thing out of the word of God.

First, Not between the church and the world: for the Lord never intended any reconciliation and agreement between thefe, in the fpiritual and eternal things of the kingdom of God; for thefe, are two diftinct feeds, and forts of people; the one from beneath, the other from above; the one the feed of the woman; the other the feed of the ferpent; and between these two, God hath put fuch an enmity, that no man can take away. Wherefore they, who never minded these two different feeds, between whom God hath put fuch irreconcileable enmity, would make all the people of one or more whole kingdoms a church at once, and would reconcile all of them together, in the things of God, and in the ways of his worship, according to devices and methods of their own; these men

know

know not what they do; for they walk in the darkness of their own hearts, and not in the light of the word; which fhews us clearly, that it is as poffible to reconcile Michael and the Devil, as the angels of both.

2. Neither, fecondly, do I find any way in the world to reconcile all thofe together, who are commonly called, The visible church: feeing even among thefe, there are two diftinct forts of children, as Paul teacheth us; one fort of thofe, who are born after the flesh, as Ifhmael and Efau, and another of thofe, who are born after the Spirit, as Ifaac and Jacob: and there is as great enmity between these in the church, as between the former in the world; for they that are born after the flesh, are always perfecuting them that are born after the Spirit; but never agreeing with them.

Now of thefe two forts of chriftians, one makes up the body of Chrift; the other, the body of antichrift. The fpiritual children make up Chrift's true body, as it is written, He gave him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is bis body; for thefe being born of the Spirit, do alfo partake of the Spirit, and fo are the true flesh of Chrift, as all that flesh is in which the Spirit dwells: and thefe all worship God in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh, that is, in no fleshly forms, ceremonies, or worship.

The carnal children of the church make up antichrist's true body: For as Chrift's body confifts of fpiritual chriftians, fo antichrift's of carnal; for antichrist sets up in the temple of God as well as Chrift: and as Chrift gets his body together of spiritual chriftians, fo antichrift gets his body together of carnal chriftians: and thefe have a form of religion, or godliness, but they have no fpirit or power in that form: yea, under the form of godliness they exercife the greater power of ungodlinefs: And Christ and his Spirit, and all their things, are no where more op

pofed,

posed, than by those in the church, who have the letter of the word, but want the fpirit of it, being taught of men only, and not of God. So that, all that part of chriftianity, that is deftitute of the Spirit, and hath the name only, and not the anointing of christians, this makes up the body of antichrift. And now there can be no more agreement between these two bodies, of Chrift and of antichrift, that is, between spiritual and carnal christians, than between Christ and Antichrift themselves, the heads of thefe bodies. And as I find nothing in the word, fo neither do I propound any thing for an agreement here: For to go about to reconcile there, where the Father never intended, nor the Son never undertook any reconciliation, would not be a work of wisdom, but of weaknefs.

So then the way of peace I fhall speak of, is between the children of peace, touching whom God hath promifed, that He will give them one heart, and one way; and for whom Christ hath prayed, That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: And thefe are the elect, made faithful, called to be faints, and fanctified through their calling; and these are the true church of God.

The peace then I feek by this difcourfe, is the peace of

the true church: Wherefore I fhall first declare the church itself, whofe peace I seek; and then after declare, wherein this church's true peace and unity lies; and alfo how it may be preferved among themselves, it being firft wrought by Jefus Chrift.

For the church itself; what I have learned touching it, I shall speak plainly, and fomething largely, because the right understanding hereof is so abfolutely neceffary to our prefent business: and yet there are very many, and very great mistakes and misapprehenfions touching it, even among the faithful.

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The right church then is not the whole multitude of the people, whether good or bad, that join together in an outward form or way of worship; for in this church there are whoremongers, idolaters, thieves, murderers, and all forts of wicked and unbelieving perfons; which are so far from being the church of Chrift, that they are the very fynagogue of Satan, and children of the devil; and therefore I fhall not speak of this church. But the church I fhall fpeak of, is the true church of the New Teftament, which I fay is not any outward or vifible fociety, gathered together into the confent or use of outward things, forms, ceremonies, worship, as the churches of men are; neither is it known by feeing or feeling, or the help of any outward fenfe, as the fociety of mercers, or drapers, or the like; but it is a fpiritual and invifible fellowship, gathered together in the unity of faith, hope and love, and fo into the unity of the Son, and of the Father by the Spirit; wherefore it is wholly hid from carnal eyes, neither hath the world any knowledge or judgment of it.

This true church is the communion of faints, which is the communion believers have with one another: not in the things of the world, or in the things of men, but in the things of God; for as believers have their union in the Son, and in the Father, fo in them also they have their communion; and the communion they have with one another in God, cannot be in their own things, but in God's things, even in his light, life, righteousness, wifdom, truth, love, power, peace, joy, &c. This is the true communion of faints, and this communion of faints is the true church of God. .

Now this true church of God, differs from the churches of men in very many particulars, as follows.

1. Members come unto the churches of men, either of their own minds, or elfe by the perfuafion, or by the forcing