and unity that was among the primitive Christians drew others to
them. What hinders the conversion of the Jews, but the divisions of
Christians? Must I be a Christian? says the Jew. What Christian
must I be? what sect must I be of? The Jews (as one observes),
glossing upon that text in Isa. xi. 6, where it is prophesied, That
the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and that there shall
be none left to hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain: they
interpreting these sayings to signify the concord and peace that
shall be among the people that shall own the Messiah, do from hence
conclude, that the Messiah is not yet come, because of the
contentions and divisions that are among those that profess him.
And the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xiv. 23, that if an unbeliever should
see their disorders, he would say they were mad; but where unity and
peace is, there the churches are multiplied. We read, Acts ix.,
that when the churches had rest, they multiplied; and Acts ii. 46,
47, when the church was serving God with one accord, "the Lord added
to them daily such as should be saved."

It is unity brings men into the church, and divisions keep them out.
It is reported of an Indian, passing by the house of a Christian,
and hearing them contending, being desired to turn in, he refused,
saying, "Habamach dwells there," meaning that the devil dwelt there:
but where unity and peace is, there God is; and he that dwells in
love, dwells in God. The apostle tells the Corinthians, that if
they walked orderly, even the unbelievers would hereby be enforced
to come and worship, and say, God was in them indeed. And we read,
Zech. viii. 23, of a time when ten men shall take hold of a Jew, and
say, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

And hence it is that Christ prays, John xvii. 21, that his disciples