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VVE have seene the necessi∣ty of peace in regard of the command of God, and the grounds whence it ariseth; But fur∣ther, this is necessary not only ne∣cessitate praecepti (as Divines speak)
by the necessity of a command, but also necessitate medij, as a means to procure good. It is necessary both for the well being, and being of the Church of God.
1 It is necessary for its welbe∣ing; for looke as it is in the natu∣rall body, when there is a good a∣greement betwixt the parts, so as the members being joyned to the body, every bone moves in his owne joynt, and every member in his owne place, performing the of∣fices that belong to them. When the humors and elementary quali∣ties are so equally tempered and mixed together, that they move and act in that order, and accord∣ing to that proportion and mea∣sure, which nature hath injoyned them, then the body is in a good condition, free from paine & dis∣quiet, & fit for action: Or as in the body Politick, when there is a good agreement betwixt the supreme
and subordinate powers, and be∣twixt both these and the common people, so as every one quietly does the work and busines that belongs to his place, then the com∣monwealth is in a good condition: Or as in an army, when there is a good agreement betwixt the com∣manders amongst themselves, and of all these with the common soul∣diers, so as all these are ready in their severall ranks and orders to go upon that duty which is en∣joyned them by their leaders, then the army may be said to be in a good condition, and fit for any honorable action & service: so it is in the Church of God, if there be a good agreement betwixt civill of∣ficers, and Church-officers, and betwixt both these and Church members, and of these one with another, then the Church may be said to be in a good condition. As on the other side, if there be sediti∣on
in a common wealth or mutiny in an army, the wellfare and safe∣ty of both these must needs be in∣terrupted or endangered: so it is in the Church of God, if there be jarrs and divisions, either betwixt the officers and members or either of these one with another, the Church cannot be said to be in a state of welbeing. Where there are animosities and exasperated af∣fections, there will be harsh and bitter words, and both these will produce such actions as will breed disquiet. After the storme of Sauls persecution was blowne over, it is said, that the Churches had rest, & then they were multiplied and edifi∣ed by the comfort of the holy Ghost. Act. 9.31. When there is debate and discord in the Church, there will also be some degree of hatred and enmity, and where these take place, there will also be persecuti∣on in some kinde or other: if not
persecution of hands by hard dealings, yet persecution of hearts by hard thoughts, and persecution of tongues by hard speeches, which will much disturbe the tranquillity and wellbeing of the Church of God, therfore it is given as one note of the happy conditi∣on of the Church, in the first times of Christianity, that believers were of one heart and one soul, Act. 4.31. so farre therefore as they are of di∣vided hearts and soules it makes them miserable. Solomon saith, that better is a dry morsel with peace, than an house full of sacrifices with strife, Prov. 19.1. If a man should dwell in a great family, where there were plenty and fulnesse of all things, yet no peace nor quiet, but the governors should be al∣way chiding and brawling with the servants, and the servants fall∣ing out and fighting one with a∣nother, what content could there
be? So in the Church of God, if there be plenty of ordinances, if both ministers and private Christi∣ans be of excellent performances, yet no concord nor good agree∣ment, but continuall jarring and contending one with another, that Church cannot be in a flourishing and prosperous condition.