propose terms of peace to Lot; Gen. xiii, "Let there be no strife,"
saith he, "between us, for we are brethren." And we read of Moses,
in Acts vii. 26, using this argument to reconcile those that strove
together, and to set them at one again: "Sirs," saith he, "you are
brethren, why do you wrong one another?" A deep sense of this
relation, that we are brethren, would keep us from dividing.

7. If we would preserve peace, let us mind the gifts and graces and
virtues that are in each other; let these be more in our eye than
their failings and imperfections. When the apostle exhorted the
Philippians to peace, as a means hereunto, that so the peace of God
might rule in their hearts, he tells them, iv. 8, "That if there
were any virtue, or any praise, they should think of these things."
While we are always talking and blazoning the faults of one another,
and spreading their infirmities, no marvel we are so little in peace
and charity; for as charity covereth a multitude of sins, so malice
covereth a multitude of virtues, and makes us deal by one another,
as the heathen persecutors dealt with Christians, viz., put them in
bears' skins, that they might the more readily become a prey to
those dogs that were designed to devour them.

8. If we would keep unity and peace, let us lay aside provoking and
dividing language, and forgive those that use it. Remember that old
saying, "Evil words corrupt good manners." When men think to carry
all before them, with speaking uncharitably and disgracefully of
their brethren or their opinions, may not such be answered as Job
answered his unfriendly visitants, Job vi. 25, "How forcible are
right words; but what doth your arguing reprove?" How healing are
words fitly spoken? A word in season, how good is it? If we would
seek peace, let us clothe all our treaties for peace with acceptable