If we would endeavour peace and unity, we must consider how God
hath tempered the body, that so the comely parts should not separate
from the uncomely, as having no need of them; 1 Cor. xii. 23-25.
There is in Christ's body and house some members and vessels less
honourable; 2 Tim. ii. 20. And therefore we should not, as some
now-a-days do, pour the more abundant disgrace, instead of putting
the more abundant honour upon them. Did we but consider this, we
should be covering the weakness, and hiding the miscarriages of one
another, because we are all members one of another, and the most
useless member in his place is useful.
6. If we would live in peace, let us remember our relations to God,
as children to a father, and to each other as brethren. Will not
the thoughts that we have one Father, quiet us; and the thoughts
that we are brethren, unite us? It was this that made Abraham
propose terms of peace to Lot; Gen. xiii, "Let there be no strife,"
saith he, "between us, for we are brethren." And we read of Moses,
in Acts vii. 26, using this argument to reconcile those that strove
together, and to set them at one again: "Sirs," saith he, "you are
brethren, why do you wrong one another?" A deep sense of this
relation, that we are brethren, would keep us from dividing.
7. If we would preserve peace, let us mind the gifts and graces and
virtues that are in each other; let these be more in our eye than
their failings and imperfections.
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