An Exhortation to Peace and Unity | Page 7

excommunication, but damnation. But yet these are such things as
relate to the well-being and not to the being of churches; as laying on of
hands in the primitive times upon believers, by which they did receive
the gifts of the Spirit: This, I say, was for the increase and edifying of
the body, and not that thereby they might become of the body of Christ,
for that they were before. And do not think that I believe laying on of
hands was no apostolical institution, because I say men are not thereby
made members of Christ's body, or because I say that it is not essential
to church- communion. Why should I be thought to be against a fire in
the chimney, because I say it must not be in the thatch of the house?
Consider, then, how pernicious a thing it is to make every doctrine
(though true) the bond of communion; this is that which destroys unity,
and by this rule all men must be perfect before they can be in peace: for
do we not see daily, that as soon as men come to a clearer
understanding of the mind of God (to say the best of what they hold),
that presently all men are excommunicable, if not damnable, that do not
agree with them. Do not some believe and see that to be pride and
covetousness, which others do not, because (it may be) they have more
narrowly and diligently searched into their duty of these things than
others have? What then? Must all men that have not so large
acquaintance of their duty herein be excommunicated? Indeed it were
to be wished that more moderation in apparel and secular concernments
were found among churches: but God forbid, that if they should come
short herein, that we should say, as one lately said, that he could not
communicate with such a people, because they were proud and
superfluous in their apparel.
Let me appeal to such, and demand of them, if there was not a time,
since they believed and were baptized, wherein they did not believe

laying on of hands a duty? and did they not then believe, and do they
not still believe, they were members of the body of Christ? And was
not there a time when you did not so well understand the nature and
extent of pride and covetousness as now you do? And did you not then
believe, and do you not still believe, that you were true members of
Christ, though less perfect? Why then should you not judge of those
that differ from you herein, as you judged of yourselves when you were
as they now are? How needful then is it for Christians to distinguish (if
ever they would be at peace and unity) between those truths which are
essential to church-communion, and those that are not?
3. Unity and peace consists in all as with one shoulder practising and
putting in execution the things we do know; Phil. iii. 16. "Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, and
mind the same thing." How sad is it to see our zeal consume us and our
precious time in things doubtful and disputable, while we are not
concerned nor affected with the practice of those indisputable things we
all agree in! We all know charity to be the great command, and yet how
few agree to practise it? We all know they that labour in the word and
doctrine are worthy of double honour; and that God hath ordained, that
they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. These duties,
however others have cavilled at them, I know you agree in them, and
are persuaded of your duty therein: but where is your zeal to practise?
O how well would it be with churches, if they were but half as zealous
for the great, and plain, and indisputable things, and the more
chargeable and costly things of religion, as they are for things doubtful
or less necessary, or for things that are no charge to them, and cost
them nothing but the breath of contention, though that may be too great
a price for the small things they purchase with it!
But further, Do we not all agree, that men that preach the gospel should
do it like workmen that need not be ashamed? and yet how little is this
considered by many preachers, who never consider before they speak
of what they say, or whereof they affirm! How few give themselves to
study that they may be approved! How few meditate and give
themselves to these things, that their profiting may appear to all!

For the Lord's sake let us unite to practise those things we know; and if
we