Transcribed from the “Works of the Puritan Divines(Bunyan)”, 1845 Thomas Nelson edition, ,
[We deem it proper to state, that, though the followingTreatise of Christian Union appears in nearly all the collectededitions of Bunyan’s Works, yetits genuineness has been called in question by the Rev. Mr Philipin his admirable work, “The Life and Times ofBunyan.” Without here entering into this question, wehave separately appended it to the works of Bunyan in thisvolume, and trust that it will not prove unacceptable to ourreaders, especially considering the efforts that are now beingmade to promote the living union of all true Christians who holdthe one Lord, the one faith, and the one baptism.]
Endeavouring to keepthe unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.—Ephesiansiv. 3.
Beloved, religion is the great bondof human society; and it were well if itself were kept within thebond of unity; and that it may so be, let us, according to thetext, use our utmost endeavours “to keep the unity of theSpirit in the bond of peace.”
These words contain a counsel and a caution: the counsel is,That we endeavour the unity of the Spirit; the caution is, Thatwe do it in the bond of peace; as if I should say, I would haveyou live in unity, but yet I would have you to be careful thatyou do not purchase unity with the breach of charity.
Let us therefore be cautious that we do not so press afterunity in practice and opinion as to break the bond of peace andaffection.
In the handling of these words, I shall observe thismethod.
I. I shall open the sense of the text.
II. I shall shew wherein this unity and peaceconsist.
III. I shall shew you the fruits and benefits of it,together with nine inconveniences and mischiefs that attend thosechurches where unity and peace is wanting.
IV. And, lastly, I shall give you twelve directions andmotives for the obtaining of it.
1. As touching the sense of the text, when ye arecounselled to keep the unity of the Spirit, we are not tounderstand the Spirit of God, as personally so considered;because the Spirit of God, in that sense, is not capable of beingdivided, and so there would be no need for us to endeavour tokeep the unity of it.
By the unity of the spirit then, we are to understand thatunity of mind which the Spirit of God calls for, and requiresChristians to endeavour after; hence it is that we are exhorted,by one spirit, with one mind, to strive together for the faith ofthe gospel; Phil. i. 27.
But farther, the apostle in these words alludes to the stateand composition of a natural body, and doth thereby inform us,that the mystical body of Christ holds an analogy with thenatural body of man: as, 1. In the natural body there mustbe a spirit to animate it; for the body without the spirit isdead; James ii. 26. So it is in the mystical body ofChrist; the apostle no sooner tells of that one body, but heminds us of that one Spirit; Eph. iv. 4.
2. The body hath joints and hands to unite all theparts; so hath the mystical body of Christ; Col. ii. 19. This is that bond of peace mentioned in the text, as also in the16th verse of the same chapter, where the whole body is said tobe fitly joined together, and compacted, by that which everyjoint supplieth.
3. The natural body receives counsel and nourishmentfrom the head; so doth the mystical body of Christ; he is theircounsellor, and him they must hear; he is their head, and himthey must hold: hence it is that the apostle complaineth, Col.ii. 19, of some that did not hold the head from which the wholebody by joints and hands hath nourishment.
4. The n