Several sermons and discourses of William Dell Minister of the Gospel; sometimes attending both the generals in the army: and now Master of Gonvil and Caius Colledge in Cambridge. Heretofore published at several times, and on several occasions; and now gathered in one volumn, for the benefit of the faithful, and conviction of the world.

The third bond of the true Churches unity, is, ONE HOPE OF OUR CALLING.

Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: As all Believers are called by one calling (which is the inward and effectual voyce of God to the soul, by his Spirit through the Gospel) so they

are all called into one blessed hope of obtaining the Kingdom and glory of God. And no one is called to this hope more then ano∣ther, or hath more interest or share in it then another. Fishes that live in the Sea, though some be greater, and some less, yet none hath more interest or share in it then another; but all being alike produced in it, enjoy it alike: and creatures that live on the earth, though some be greater, and some less, yet all enjoy the Sun and Ayr alike; and yet nearer, the members of the body, though of different quantity, form and office, yet all have alike interest in the head and all its senses, and in the soul and all its faculties: So all the faithful enjoy Christ alike, and in him the Spirit and the Father; and no Believer hath more interest in Christ and God, then another.

So that all the faithful are called to the same things, and God gives not more, nor better things to one then to another, but he gives immortality, glory, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven. which is the inheritance of the Saints, or which is all one, himself, alike to all, and makes all to sit alike in heavenly places in Christ▪ and in the Father.

All the faithful then are equally called to an Ʋnity of hope, and none can hope for greater or better things then another. It was a very carnal thing in the Mother of Zebedee's children, to desire of Christ, That one of her Sons might sit at his right hand, and another at his left hand, in his Kingdom, where all alike sit at his right hand, and none at all at his left. Indeed in the Kingdoms of men, some have greater estates then others, and are in higher Ho∣nour and Authority; and this breeds envie, and emulation, and strife, and distances, &c. but in the Sons Kingdom, and in the Fa∣thers, all that are counted worthy to dwell therein, do alike in∣herit all things; All things are yours, saith Paul: And he that overcomes shall inherit all things; saith John: And the least be∣liever hath no less, and the greatest hath no more; and this causes unity and peace among them. We see what a strong bond of peace and agreement, unity of hope is in them that travel together, that fight together, that labour together; and so much more in them who are equally called by God to the Kingdom of God.

And this, is the third bond, of the true Churches Ʋnity: Ʋnity of Hope.

Now they break this bond of the Churches Ʋnity, that live out of this hope of the Church, whose hope is in earthly, carnal, base things; who pretending to be Christians, yet live onely in the hopes of men, in hopes of worldly profit, honour, preferment, and the attaining and enjoyment of the things of this life, which they, according to the eagerness of their hopes, prosecute mightily, by all ways and means. These men, I say, break the Ʋnity of the Church: for what true Ʋnity can they have with the true Church, that live not in unity of hope with it? Seeing worldly hopes carry men one way, and the hopes of Believers carry them another: car∣nal hopes make men leave God for the world; and the hope of Saints make them leave the world for God: Wherefore they that differ in their hopes, which are their ends, must needs differ in their ways and works; and so he that lives out of the hope of the Church, lives also out of the unity of it.

Notes

• The right Church have one hope of their calling.
• Who break this bond of Unity.