An Exhortation to Peace and Unity | Page 5

in five particulars.
1. This unity and peace may consist with the ignorance of many truths,
and in the holding of some errors; or else this duty of peace and unity
could not be practicable by any on this side perfection: but we must
now endeavour the unity of the spirit, till we come to the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God; Eph. iv. 13. Because
now, as the apostle saith, "We know in part, and we prophesy in part,"
and "Now we see through a glass darkly;" 1 Cor. xiii. 9, 12. And as this
is true in general, so we may find it true if we descend to particular
instances. The disciples seem to be ignorant of that great truth which
they had often, and in much plainness, been taught by their Master once
and again, viz., that his kingdom was not of this world, and that in the
world they should suffer and be persecuted; yet in the 1st of the Acts,
ver. 6, we read, that they asked of him if he would at this time restore
the kingdom to Israel? thereby discovering that Christ's kingdom (as
they thought) should consist in his temporal jurisdiction over Israel,

which they expected should now commence and take place amongst
them. Again, our Lord tells them, that he had many things to say (and
these were many important truths) which they could not now bear; John
xvi. 12. And that these were important truths, appear by the 10th and
11th verses, where he is discoursing of righteousness and judgment,
and then adds, that he had yet many things to say which they could not
bear; and thereupon promises the Comforter to lead them into ALL
TRUTH; which implies, that they were yet ignorant of many truths, and
consequently held divers errors; and yet for all this, he prays for, and
presses them to, their great duty of peace and unity; John xiv. 27; xvii.
21. To this may be added that of Heb. v. 11, where the author saith, he
had many things to say of the priestly office of Christ, which by reason
of their dulness they were not capable to receive; as also that in the
10th of the Acts, where Peter seems to be ignorant of the truth, viz.,
that the gospel was to be preached to all nations; and contrary hereunto,
he erred in thinking it unlawful to preach amongst the Gentiles. I shall
add two texts more, one in Acts xix., where we read that those disciples
which had been discipled and baptized by John were yet ignorant of the
Holy Ghost, and knew not (as the text tells us) whether there were any
holy Ghost or no; though John did teach constantly, that he that should
come after him should baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. From
hence we may easily and plainly infer, that Christians may be ignorant
of many truths, by reason of weak and dull capacities, and other such
like impediments, even while those truths are with much plainness
delivered to them. Again, we read, Heb. v. 13, of some that were
unskilful in the word of righteousness, who nevertheless are called
babes in Christ, and with whom unity and peace is to be inviolably kept
and maintained.
2. As this unity and peace may consist with the ignorance of many
truths, and with the holding some errors, so it must consist with (and it
cannot consist without) the believing and practising those things which
are necessary to salvation and church-communion; and they are, 1st,
Believing that Christ the Son of God died for the sins of men. 2d, That
whoever believeth ought to be baptized. The third thing essential to this
communion, is a holy and a blameless conversation.

(1.) That believing that the Son of God died for the sins of men is
necessary to salvation, I prove by these texts, which tell us, that he that
doth not believe shall be damned, Mark xvi. 16; John iii. 36; Rom. x. 9.
That it is also necessary to church-communion appears from Matt. xvi.
16-18. Peter having confessed that Christ was the Son of the living God,
Christ thereupon assures Peter, that upon this rock, viz., this profession
of faith, or this Christ which Peter had confessed, he would build his
church, and the gates of hell should not prevail against it. And, 1 Cor.
iii. 11, the apostle having told the Corinthians that they were God's
building, presently adds, that they could not be built upon any
foundation but upon that which was laid, which was Jesus Christ. All
which proves, that Christian society is founded upon the profession of
Christ; and not only scripture, but the laws of right reason, dictate