fills the people of God with desires after communion: but, on the
other hand, hear how David complains, Psalm cxx., "Wo is me, that I
sojourn in Mesech, and that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." The
Psalmist here is thought to allude to a sort of men that dwelt in
the deserts of Arabia, that got their livings by contention; and
therefore he adds, ver. 6, that his soul had long dwelt with them
that hated peace. This was that which made him long for the courts
of God, and esteem one day in his house better than a thousand.
This made his soul even faint for the house of God, because of the
peace of it; "Blessed are they," saith he, "that dwell in thy house,
they will be still praising thee." There is a certain note of
concord, as appears, Acts ii., where we read of primitive
Christians, meeting with one accord, praising God.

4. Where unity and peace is, there many mischiefs and
inconveniences are prevented, which attend those people where peace
and unity are wanting: and of those many that might be mentioned, I
shall briefly insist upon these nine.

1. Where unity and peace is wanting, there is much precious time
spent to no purpose. How many days are spent, and how many
fruitless journeys made to no profit, where the people are not in
peace? how often have many redeemed time (even in seed-time and
harvest) when they could scarce afford it, to go to church, and, by
reason of their divisions, come home worse than they went, repenting
they have spent so much precious time to so little benefit? How sad
is it to see men spend their precious time, in which they should
work out their salvation, in labouring, as in the fire, to prove an
uncertain and doubtful proposition, and to trifle away their time,
in which they should make their calling and election sure, to make