The second joyning Consideration: Let us consider how farre we can agree.
VVE differ thus and thus, but what doe we agree in? doe we not agree in things enough, wherein we may all the dayes of our lives spend all the strength we have in glorifying God together? Many men are of such spirits as they love to be altogether busied about their brethrens differences; their dis∣course, their pens, and all their wayes are about these, and that not to heale them, but rather to widen them. You shall not hear them speak of, or meddle with their agreements; their strength is not bent to heighten and strengthen them: if at any time they do take notice of their agreements, it is to make advantage of them: to render their disagreements the more odious, or to strengthen themselves in what they differ from them; they desire to get in men, and to get from them, only to serve their owne turnes upon them, this is an evill spirit. No marvaile therefore though some be so loath to discover to them how near they can come to him.
Pliny tells us of Apelles,* that drawing the face of Antiochus the King who had but one eye, that he might hide this deformity, he devised to paint him turning his visage a little away, so he shew∣ed but the one side of his face: and from him, sayes Pliny, came Page 273 the invention first of concealing the defects and blemishes of the visage. But the Painters of 〈◊〉 time are quite in another way, if there be any deformity or defect on any side, they will be sure to paint that side in all the lin••ments of it, that must be set forth fully to the view of all men; yea if it may be made to look more ugly and monstrous then it is, all the skill they have shall be improved to do it. But my brethren, this ought not to be, God doth not so with us: he takes notice of the good of his children, but conceals their evill. There was but one good word in Sarahs speech to Abraham, Gen. 18. 12. she called him Lord, the speech otherwise was a speech of unbelief, yet the holy Ghost speaking afterwards of her, in reference to that speech, 1 Pet. 3. 6. conceals all the evill in it, and mentions only that reverend title she gave to her husband, commending her for it. Thus should we do; had we peceable hearts thus we would do: all the good of our brethren we would improve to the ut∣termost, and what is evill, so far as with a good conscience we might, we could conceal. When I shall see this temper in mens spirits, I shall hope there will be peace.