Heb. xii. 23.

This outward peace of the church (as a learned man observes) distils
into peace of conscience, and turns writings and readings of
controversy into treatises of mortification and devotion.

And the Psalmist tells us, that it is not only good, but pleasant
for brethren to dwell together in unity, Psalm cxxxiii. But where
unity and peace is wanting, there are storms and troubles; "where
envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work;" James
iii. 16. It is the outward peace of the church that increaseth our
inward joy; and the peace of God's house gives us occasion to eat
our meat with gladness in our own houses, Acts ii. 46.

3. The unity and peace of the church makes communion of saints
desirable. What is it that embitters church-communion, and makes it
burdensome, but divisions? Have you not heard many complain, that
they are weary of church-communion, because of church-contention?
but now where unity and peace is, there Christians long for
communion.

David saith, that he was glad when they said unto him, "Let us go to
the house of God;" Psalm cxxii. 1. Why was this, but because (as
the third verse tells us) Jerusalem was a city compact together,
where the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, to give thanks to
his name? And David, speaking of the man that was once his friend,
doth thereby let us know the benefit of peace and unity; Psalm lv.
14. "We," saith he, "took sweet counsel together, and walked to the
house of God in company." Where unity is strongest, communion is
sweetest and most desirable. You see then that peace and union