An Exhortation to Peace and Unity | Page 4

in question
by the Rev Mr Philip in his admirable work, "The Life and Times of
Bunyan." Without here entering into this question, we have separately
appended it to the works of Bunyan in this volume, and trust that it will
not prove unacceptable to our readers, especially considering the efforts
that are now being made to promote the living union of all true
Christians who hold the one Lord, the one faith, and the one baptism.]
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.--
Ephesians iv. 3.
Beloved, religion is the great bond of human society; and it were well if
itself were kept within the bond of unity; and that it may so be, let us,
according to the text, use our utmost endeavours "to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace."
These words contain a counsel and a caution: the counsel is, That we
endeavour the unity of the Spirit; the caution is, That we do it in the
bond of peace; as if I should say, I would have you live in unity, but yet
I would have you to be careful that you do not purchase unity with the
breach of charity.
Let us therefore be cautious that we do not so press after unity in
practice and opinion as to break the bond of peace and affection.

In the handling of these words, I shall observe this method.
I. I shall open the sense of the text.
II. I shall shew wherein this unity and peace consist.
III. I shall shew you the fruits and benefits of it, together with nine
inconveniences and mischiefs that attend those churches where unity
and peace is wanting.
IV. And, lastly, I shall give you twelve directions and motives for the
obtaining of it.
1. As touching the sense of the text, when ye are counselled to keep the
unity of the Spirit, we are not to understand the Spirit of God, as
personally so considered; because the Spirit of God, in that sense, is not
capable of being divided, and so there would be no need for us to
endeavour to keep the unity of it.
By the unity of the spirit then, we are to understand that unity of mind
which the Spirit of God calls for, and requires Christians to endeavour
after; hence it is that we are exhorted, by one spirit, with one mind, to
strive together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. i. 27.
But farther, the apostle in these words alludes to the state and
composition of a natural body, and doth thereby inform us, that the
mystical body of Christ holds an analogy with the natural body of man:
as, 1. In the natural body there must be a spirit to animate it; for the
body without the spirit is dead; James ii. 26. So it is in the mystical
body of Christ; the apostle no sooner tells of that one body, but he
minds us of that one Spirit; Eph. iv. 4.
2. The body hath joints and hands to unite all the parts; so hath the
mystical body of Christ; Col. ii. 19. This is that bond of peace
mentioned in the text, as also in the 16th verse of the same chapter,
where the whole body is said to be fitly joined together, and compacted,
by that which every joint supplieth.

3. The natural body receives counsel and nourishment from the head;
so doth the mystical body of Christ; he is their counsellor, and him they
must hear; he is their head, and him they must hold: hence it is that the
apostle complaineth, Col. ii. 19, of some that did not hold the head
from which the whole body by joints and hands hath nourishment.
4. The natural body cannot well subsist, if either the spirit be wounded
or the joints broken or dislocated; the body cannot bear a wounded or
broken spirit--"A broken spirit drieth the bones;" Prov. xvii. 22, and "A
wounded spirit who can bear?" Prov. xviii. 14. And, on the other hand,
how often have the disjointing of the body, and the breakings thereof,
occasioned the expiration of the spirit? In like manner it fares with the
mystical body of Christ; how do divided spirits break the bonds of
peace, which are the joints of this body? And how do the breakings of
the body and church of Christ wound the spirit of Christians, and
oftentimes occasion the spirit and life of Christianity to languish, if not
to expire. How needful is it then that we endeavour the unity of the
spirit in the bond of peace!
II. I now come to shew you wherein this unity and peace consists; and
this I shall demonstrate