Our English histories tell us, that after Austin the monk had been
some time in England, he heard of some of the remains of the British
Christians, which he convened to a place which Cambden in his
Britannia calls "Austin's Oak." Here they met to consult about
matters of religion; but such was their division, by reason of
Austin's imposing spirit, that our stories tell us that synod was
only famous for this, that they only met and did nothing. This is
the mischief of divisions--they hinder the doing of much good; and
if Christians that are divided be ever famous for any thing, it will
be, that they have often met together, and talked of this and the
other thing, but they did nothing.

4. Where unity and peace is wanting, there the weak are wounded,
and the wicked are hardened. Unity may well be compared to precious
oil, Psalm cxxxiii. 2. It is the nature of oil to heal that which
is wounded, and to soften that which is hard. Those men that have
hardened themselves against God, and his people, when they shall
behold unity and peace among them, will say, God is in them indeed:
and on the other hand, are they not ready to say, when they see you
divided, That the devil is in you that you cannot agree!

5. Divisions and want of peace keep those out of the church that
would come in; and cause many to go out that are in.

"The divisions of Christians (as a learned man observes) are a
scandal to the Jews, an opprobrium to the Gentiles, and an inlet to
atheism and infidelity:" insomuch that our controversies about
religion (especially as they have been of late managed) have made
religion itself become a controversy. O then, how good and pleasant
a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in unity! The peace