faults and infirmities of others: hence it is that we watch for the
haltings of one another, and do inwardly rejoice at the miscarriages
of others, saying in our hearts, "ha! ha! so we would have it:" but
now where unity and peace is, there is charity; and where charity
is, there we are willing to hide the faults, and cover the
nakedness, of our brethren. "Charity thinketh no evil;" 1 Cor.
xiii. 5; and therefore it cannot surmise, neither will it speak
evil.

3. Where unity and peace is wanting, there can be no great matters
enterprised--we cannot do much for God, nor much for one another;
when the devil would hinder the bringing to pass of good in nations
and churches, he divides their counsels (and as one well observes),
he divides their heads, that he may divide their hands; when Jacob
had prophesied of the cruelty of Simon and Levi, who were brethren,
he threatens them with the consequent of it; Gen. xlix. 7, "I will
divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." The devil is not
to learn that maxim he hath taught the Machiavellians of the world,
Divide et impera; divide and rule. It is an united force that is
formidable. Hence the spouse in the Canticles is said to be but
one, and the only one of her mother; Cant. vi. 9. Here upon it is
said of her, ver. 10, "That she is terrible as an army with
banners." What can a divided army do, or a disordered army that
have lost their banners, or for fear or shame thrown them away? In
like manner, what can Christians do for Christ, and the enlarging of
his dominions in the world, in bringing men from darkness to light,
while themselves are divided and disordered? Peace is to Christians
as great rivers are to some cities, which (besides other benefits
and commodities) are natural fortifications by reason whereof those
places are made impregnable; but when, by the subtilty of an