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Catholicks not Uncharitable in faying, That, none are
Sav'd out of the Catholick Communion, &c.

First CHAPTER.

It is a general Rule of Catholick Faith, that
there is no Salvation out of the CATHOLICK
COMMUNION.

I.

T

HERE is a Difference, ftrictly speaking, betwixt general and univerfal Rules. General Rules, how true foever, may have Exceptions. But thofe Rules only are strictly faid to be Univerfal, which have no Exception at all. It may therefore be generally True, tho' not Universally and without Exception, that none are Sav'd out of the Catholick Communion. II. This Difference will appear by the following Instances.

B

First,

Chap. 1. First, 'Tis true univerfally, that is, witho Exception, that all are Sav'd, who die in t Fear, and Love of God above all thing Tho' Mr. Chillingworth, in the Dedication his Book to King Charles I. (if I understar him right) would have his Majefty to believ that, in our Opinion, this is neither univerfa ly true, nor true at all. For this, fays he, THEIR OWN HORRID ASSERTION, that a Go of Goodness fhould damn, to eternal Torment. THOSE THAT LOVE HIM, AND LOVE TRUTH for Errors which they fall into through huma Frailty. But was it not an Overfight, in f vigilant a Writer as Mr. Chillingworth, to mak fuch an early Discovery of Infincerity, that he could not furnish out a fhort Dedication of two whole Leaves, without it?

2dly, 'Tis alfo univerfally true, and without Exception, that none have the Fear and Love of God above all things, who either obftinately or by a criminal Neglect, refufe to comply with a great and neceffary Duty of Chriftianity, as to (1) love our Enemies, to (2) believe the Gofpel when duly propos'd, to (3) be Baptiz'd, to (4) be a Member of the Catholick Church.

3dly, It is, generally true, but not without Exception, that none are fav'd without Baptifm. This, I fay, is a general, not an univerfal Rule. For first we muft except the (5) Martyrs, who had not an opportunity of being Chriften'd. Secondly, we muft except the (6) Catechumens and others, who, having a true Love

(1) S. Matth. v. v. 44. (2) S. Mark xvi. v. 16. (3)
S. Matth. xxviii. v. 19. (4) Acts ii. v 47. (5) S.
Cyprian. Epift. Ixxiii. ad Jubaianum. (6) S. Aug.
Lib. iv. de Baptifmo Cap. xxii. xxiii, xxv.

Charity and Truth;

OR,

Catholicks not Uncharitable in faying, That, none are Sav'd out of the Catholick Communion, &c.

First CHAPTER.

It is a general Rule of Catholick Faith, that there is no Salvation out of the CATHOLICK COMMUNION.

I.

T

HERE is a Difference, ftrictly speaking, betwixt general and univerfal Rules. General Rules, how true foever, may have Exceptions. But thofe Rules only are strictly faid to be Univerfal, which have no Exception at all. It may therefore be generally True, tho' not Universally and without Exception, that none are Sav'd out of the Catholick Communion. II. This Difference will appear by the following Inftances.

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Chap. 1. First, 'Tis true univerfally, that is, without Exception, that all are Sav'd, who die in the Fear, and Love of God above all things. Tho' Mr. Chillingworth, in the Dedication of his Book to King Charles I. (if I understand him right) would have his Majefty to believe, that, in our Opinion, this is neither univerfally true, nor true at all. For this, fays he, is THEIR OWN HORRID ASSERTION, that a God of Goodness fhould damn, to eternal Torments, THOSE THAT LOVE HIM, AND LOVE TRUTH, for Errors which they fall into through human Frailty. But was it not an Overfight, in fo vigilant a Writer as Mr. Chillingworth, to make fuch an early Discovery of Infincerity, that he could not furnish out a fhort Dedication of two whole Leaves, without it?

2dly, 'Tis alfo univerfally true, and without Exception, that none have the Fear and Love of God above all things, who either obftinately or by a criminal Neglect, refufe to comply with a great and neceffary Duty of Christianity, as to (1) love our Enemies, to (2) believe the Gofpel when duly propos'd, to (3) be Baptiz'd, to (4) be a Member of the Catholick Church.

3dly, It is, generally true, but not without Exception, that none are fav'd without Baptifm. This, I fay, is a general, not an univerfal Rule. For first we muft except the (5) Martyrs, who had not an opportunity of being Chriften'd. Secondly, we muft except the (6) Catechumens and others, who, having a true Love

(1) S. Matth. v. v. 44. (2) S. Mark xvi. v. 16. (3)
S. Matth. xxviii. v. 19. (4) Acts ii. v 47. (5) S.
Cyprian. Epift. Ixxiii. ad Jubaianum. (6) S. Aug.
Lib. iv. de Baptifmo Cap. xxii. xxiii. xxv.

Love of God above all things, and a defire Chap. 1. of Baptifm, died before that Sacrament could be adminifter'd to them. Thirdly, we muft except those true Lovers of God, who, by an innocent and involuntary Mistake, think they were Chriften'd in their Infancy, tho' indeed they were not. For these may be Sav'd, without ever receiving Baptifm in Effect. Lastly, those may also probably be excepted, who have an invincible Ignorance, that Christians are commanded to be Baptiz'd.

4thly, It is a general, not an univerfal Rule without any Exception, that none are Sav'd out of the Catholick Communion. For, as in Baptifm, fo we may bere except two Cafes. The first is that of an inevitable and involuntary Neceffity. As if a Perfon, who Loves God above all things, defires to be Baptiz'd, or to be receiv'd into the Catholick Communion, but dies before a Prieft can be call'd. The fecond is probably that of an involuntary and invincible Ignorance. As if a Person, who is out of the Catholick Communion, be ignorant (without any Fault of his) of the true Church, and of the true Religion. And here too Mr. Chillingworth, in his Dedication to the King, is not altogether fo fincere, as might be expected from a Writer of Controverfies concer ning Religion. For if I understand him right, he would have his Majefty to think, that a Point of Doctrine and its Explication, a general Rule and its Exception, are Contradictions. For the most part, fays he, they Speak nothing, but Thunder and Lightning to us, and Damn'us ALL WITHOUT MERCY OR EXCEPTION: Yet fometimes, to ferve other purposes, they can B 2

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