Here’s some great encouragement to pursue Christian unity, from an English Puritan named Thomas Brooks. This is taken from one of the “Pocket Puritan” paperbacks we have in the bookstore. They have small selections from highlights of the longer works by these old brothers. For directions on pursuing and maintaining unity among Christians, read on:
Satan has his devices to destroy the saints; and one great device that he has to destroy the saints is by working them first to be strange [that is, estranged from each other] and then to divide, and then to be bitter and jealous, and then ‘to bite and devour one another’ (Gal. 5:15).
Remedy 1: Dwell more upon one another’s graces than upon one another’s weaknesses and infirmities.
Remedy 2: Solemnly to consider that love and union makes most for your own safety and security.
Remedy 3: Dwell upon those commands of God that do require you to love one another.
Remedy 4: Dwell more upon these choice and sweet things wherein you agree, than upon those things wherein you differ.
Remedy 5: Solemnly consider that God delights to be styled Deus pacis, the God of peace; and Christ to be styled Princeps pacis, the Prince of peace, and King of Salem, that is, King of peace; and the Spirit is a Spirit of peace. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace’ (Gal. 5:22).
Remedy 6: Make more care and conscience of keeping up your peace with God.
Remedy 7: Dwell much upon that near relation and union that is between you.
Remedy 8: Dwell upon the miseries of discord.
Remedy 9: Seriously consider that it is no disparagement to you to be first in seeking peace and reconcilement, but rather an honour to you, that you have begun to seek peace.
Remedy 10: Join together and walk together in the ways of grace and holiness so far as you do agree, making the word your only touchstone and judge of your actions.
Remedy 11: Be much in self-judging: “Judge yourselves, and you shall not be judged of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:31).
Remedy 12: Labour to be clothed with humility.
[Taken from United We Stand, Divided We Fall by Thomas Brooks. This is a chapter from his longer book Precious Remedies for Satan’s Devices.]