church and brethren, when God requireth it, is not a true catholic Christian.

2. And it is contrary much more to a spirit of malignity, by which men envy the good of others, or of those that are not of their party; and yet more to persecution, when men would tread down and destroy their brethren, and the inheritance of the Lord, in a selfish, devilish zeal.

3. But yet it is not contrary to a charitable, moderate correction of offenders, which tendeth either to their own or the church's good, and is necessary to the restraint of iniquity, and the preserving of others from the infection of error; and therefore the sword of the magistrate and the discipline of the church must both be employed in the cause of God; and this is so far from being contrary to the endeavours of a catholic spirit, that it is a necessary part of it. Correction first, proceedeth from love, and secondly, tendeth to good, and thirdly, is not used but in necessity; and this differeth from persecution, as the whipping of a child, from the malignant hurting of the innocent.

Quest. But how can the endeavours of a private Christian be extended to the catholic church?'

Answ. 1. His daily and earnest prayers to God may be extended to the whole; and must be. He is not of a catholic spirit that is not disposed to fervent prayers for the universal church of Christ. 2. And his actual assistance must reach as far as he can extend it; and then he that doth good to a part of the church, may well be said to do good to the catholic church in that part.

Quest. But what good is it that we should do?'

Answ. Besides that of prayer before-mentioned, 1. Maintain catholic truths and principles; earnestly contend for the catholic faith; and resist dividing, uncatholic principles and errors. 2. Maintain catholic affections in others to your power, and labour to draw them from privateness of spirit, and selfish or dividing affections. 3. Endeavour the actual healing of breaches among all catholics as soon as you perceive them. To that end, 1. Acquaint yourselves with healing truths; and labour to be as skilful in the work of pacifying and agreeing men, as most are in the work of dividing and disagreeing. Know it to be a part of your catholic work to be peace-makers; and therefore study how to do it as a workman that needeth not be ashamed. I

think most divines themselves in the world do study differences a hundred hours, for one hour that ever they study the healing of differences; and that is a shameful disproportion. 2. Do not bend all your wits to find what more may be said against others, and to make the differences as wide as you can, but study as hard to find out men's agreements, and to reduce the differences to as narrow a compass as is possible. 3. And to that end, be sure that you see the true state of the controversy, and distinguish all that is merely verbal, from that which is material; and that which is but about methods, and modes, and circumstances, from that which is about substantial truths; and that which is about the inferior truths, though weighty, from that which is about the essentials of Christianity. 4. Be as industrious for peace among others as if you smarted by it yourself; seek it, and beg it, and follow it, and take no nay. Make it the work of your lives. When once God hath so awakened the hearts of his servants to see the beauty, and feel so much of the necessity of unity and peace in the church, as shall make them generally more zealous, and diligent, and unwearied in seeking them, than dividers are in seeking to destroy them, then may we expect a healing, and strength, and glory to the catholic church: but wishing will not serve the turn, nor will we much thank wishers for it if we be healed.

Lastly. Lay the unity of the church upon nothing but what is essential to the church. Seek after as much truth, and purity, and perfection as you can: but not as necessary to the essence of the church, or any member of it; nor to denominate and specify your faith and religion by. Tolerate no error or sin, so far as not to seek the healing of it: but tolerate all error and sin, consisting with Christian faith and charity, so far as not to unchristian and unchurch men for them. Own no man's errors, or sins, but own every man that owneth Christ, and whom Christ will own, notwithstanding those errors and infirmities that he is guilty of. Bear with those that Christ will bear with; especially learn the master-duty of self-denial: for it is self that is the greatest enemy to catholicism. Self-conceitedness, and selflove, and self-willedness, and selfish interests, are the things that divide, and would make as many religions in the world as selfs. Even among many accounted orthodox, pride and

selfishness causeth them so far to overvalue their own judgments, as to expect that all should be conformable to them, and bow to their arguments which have no strength, if not to their sayings and wills without their arguments; and to disdain, and passionately censure and reproach all that dissent and gainsay them. And thus every man, so far as he is proud and selfish, would be the Pope or centre of the catholic church. And therefore it is observable that Christ hath told us, "That except we be converted, and become as little children, we cannot enter into his kingdom." (Matt. xviii. 3.) "And if we deny not ourselves we cannot be his disciples." (Luke ix. 23.) But of this I have spoken in another treatise.

And thus I have plainly from the word of God declared to you the true nature of catholicism, and which is the catholic church, and who a catholic. I hope it may do somewhat to cure the frensy of the world, that makes men cry, Here is the church, and there is the church. That makes one sect say, We are the church, and another say, We are the church. I hope it may do somewhat to the confounding of the arrogancy and presumption of all sects, especially the sect of Papists, that being but a piece of the church, and that none of the best, dare pretend to be the whole, and restrain the name of Catholics or Christians to themselves! And I hope it may do somewhat to awake the servants of Christ to more catholic considerations, and principles, and affections, and endeavours, that those that have lived too much to themselves, and too much to their own parties, as if the church had been confined to their narrow provinces, may hereafter look more abroad into the world, and remember the extent of the kingdom of Christ, and not think so dishonourably of it as they have done. I hope also it may help to abate the censoriousness and presumption of those that would rob Christ of the greatest part of his inheritance, and deliver it up to Satan, his enemy. And I hope it may somewhat disgrace the dividing principles and practices of these times, and turn soldiers into surgeons, wounding into healing, and excite in some a stronger desire for unity and peace, and cause them to extend their care and charity further than they have done. However, this here described, is the catholic church which God will own. This is it that is

built on Christ the Rock, which the gates of hell shall not prevail against. Here is the safe standing, from whence you may look with boldness, thankfulness, and compassion, upon the many sects, and furious contentions of the world; and lament their giddiness, without being brought yourselves to a loss about the truth of your church or faith: and may see the folly of them that are puzzled to find out the true catholic church and religion. And here you may see the admirable privilege of a truly regenerate, sanctified person, that is most certainly a member of the true catholic church, whoever deny it. To conclude, you may hence see that it is not as Romanists, Greeks, Armenians, Abassines, Jacobines, Lutherans, Calvinists, Arminians, &c., that men are saved, but as catholic Christians, aspiring to the highest perfection.

END OF TRUE CATHOLIC, AND CATHOLIC CHURCH DESCRIBED.

371

CATHOLIC UNITY:

OR

THE ONLY WAY TO BRING US ALL TO BE OF ONE RELIGION.

TO BE READ BY SUCH AS ARE OFFENDED AT THE DIFFERENCES IN RELIGION, AND ARE WILLING TO DO THEIR PART TO HEAL THEM.

To all those in the several Parishes of these Nations, that complain of the Disagreements in Matters of Religion.

MEN AND BRETHREN,

As in the midst of all the impiety and dishonesty of the world, it is some comfort to us, that yet the names of piety and honesty are still in credit, and ungodliness and dishonesty are terms of disgrace; so that those that will be ungodly and dishonest, are fain to use the mask and veil of better names, to hide their wickedness; so also it is some comfort to us, in the midst of the uncharitableness and discords of this age, that yet the names of Love and Concord sound so well, and are honoured by those that are farthest from the things: for thus we seem agreed in the main cause, and have this advantage in our debates, that whatever shall be proved to be against love, and unity, and peace, we are all of us obliged by our professions to disown. I may suppose that all that read these words, will speak against the uncharitableness, and contentions, and divisions of the present times as well as I. Doth it grieve my soul to hear professed Christians so censoriously condemning, and passionately reviling one another, while they are proudly justifying themselves? I suppose you will say, it grieves you also. Do I mourn in secret, to see so many divisions and subdivisions, and church set up against church, and pastors against pastors, in the same parishes; and each party labouring to disgrace the other and their way, that they may promote their own? I suppose you will say, you do so too.