The Holy Catholic Church.

THIS article was, I conceive, adjoined or inferted here, upon occafion of these many herefies and fchifms, which from the beginning continually fprang up, to the danger of Chriftian doctrine, and difturbance of the Church; the introducers thereof meaning thereby to fecure the truth of religion, the authority of ecclefiaftical discipline, the peace and unity of the Church, by engaging men to difclaim any confent or confpiracy with any of thofe erroneous or contentious people, (who had devised new conceits, deftructive or dangerous to the faith, against the general confent of Christians, or drave on troublesome factions, contrary to the common order, and prejudicial to the peace of the Church.) Their meaning of this article therefore was, I take it, this: I believe, that is, I do adhere unto, (for belief, as we at firft obferved, is to be taken as the nature of the matter requireth,) or I am perfuaded that I ought to adhere unto, that body of Chriftians which, diffufed over the world, retains the faith which was taught, and the discipline which was settled, and the peace which was enjoined by our Lord and his disciples; I acknowledge the doctrines generally embraced by the churches founded and inftructed by the Apostles; I am ready to observe the received customs and practices by them derived from apoftolical institution; I submit to the laws and disciplines by lawful authority established in them; I do perfift in charity, concord, and communion with them.

And that men anciently should be obliged to profess thus, there is ground both in reafon and Scripture. In reason, there being no more proper or effectual argument

to affure us that any doctrine is true, or practice warrantable; no means more proper to convince fectaries, deviating from truth or duty, than the confent of all churches, of whom (being fo diftant in place, language, customs, humour; fo independent, or coordinate in power) it is not imaginable, that they fhould foon or eafily confpire in forfaking the doctrines inculcated by the Apostles, or the practices inftituted by them: it is the argument which Irenæus, Tertullian, and other defenders of Christian truth and peace do prefs; and it may in matters of this kind. pafs for a demonstration,

2 Tim. i. 13,

It hath also ground in Scripture; which as it foretels that pernicious herefies fhould be introduced; that many falfe prophets fhould arife, and feduce many; that grievous wolves fhould come in, not fparing the flock; that men Should arife, Speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them ; as they warn us to take heed of fuch men, to reject and refufe heretics, to mark those which make divifions and scandals befide the doctrine which Chriftians had learnt, and to decline from them; to ftand off from fuch men as do repodidaonaλeïv, that is, teach things different from apoftolical 1 Tim. vi. 3. doctrine, the doctrine according to godliness; as it enjoins 14. iii. 14. us to hold fast the form of found words heard from the Apofiles; to continue in the things which we have learned and been affured of, knowing of whom we learnt them; to Rom. vi, obey from the heart that form of doctrine into which we 17: were delivered; to keep the traditions as the Apoftles de- 2 Theff. ii. livered them to us; to ftand faft, and hold the traditions 15. iii. 6. which we were taught, whether by word or writing; to firive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the faints ; as it enjoins us to walk orderly, to obey our guides, or Jude 3. rulers; to purfue peace, to maintain concord; to abide in charity with all good Chriftians; as it declareth herefies, factions, contentions, and feparations to be the works of the flesh, proceeding from corrupt difpofitions of foul, (pride, covetoufness, vanity, rashness, inftability, perversenefs, craft, hypocrify, want of confcience;) fo it also describes the univerfality of them, who ftick to the truth,

YOL. V,

1 Cor. xi. 2.

Eph. iv. 3. and observe the law of Chrift, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; to be one body, knit together, and compacted of parts, affording mutual aid and Supply to its nourishment and welfare; joined to, and deriving life, motion, fenfe, from one Head; informed by one Spirit; as one house, built upon the foundation of Prophets and Apofiles, Chrift himself being the corner ftone, in whom all the building is fitly framed and connected; as one family under one mafter; one city under one governor; one flock under one Shepherd; one nation or people, fubject to the fame law and government, used to the fame fpeech, cuftom, and converfation; laftly, as one Church or congregation; for, as fometimes every particular affembly of funt etiam Chriftians, and fometimes a larger collection of particular Laici, ibi Ecclefia eft. focieties, combined together in one order, and under one Exh. Caft. government, are termed churches; fo the whole aggre

Ubi tres

Tertull.

gation of all particular churches, or of all Chriftian people, is frequently called the Church; even as the whole body of those who lived in the profeffion of obedience to the Jewish Law, which was a type of the Chriftian Church, is called ixxanola, the congregation.

In relation to which fociety, these are the duties which we here profefs ourselves obliged to, and in effect promise to obferve:

1. That we do and will perfift in the truth of Christian doctrine, delivered by our Saviour and his Apoftles, attefted unto by the general confent of all Chriftians; avoiding all novelties of opinion deviating from apoftolical doctrine.

2. That we are obliged to maintain a hearty charity and good affection to all good Chriftians.

3. That we are bound to communicate with all good Christians, and all focieties fincerely profeffing faith, charity, and obedience to our Lord; fo as to join with them, as occafion fhall be, in all offices of piety; to maintain good correspondence and concord with them.

4. That we fhould fubmit to the difcipline and order, should preferve the peace, and endeavour the welfare of that part thereof, wherein we live: for what of good or

harm is done to a member thereof, is alfo done to the whole.

5. That we should disavow and shun all factious combinations whatever, of perfons corrupting the truth of Christian doctrine, or disturbing the peace of the Church, or of any part thereof.

6. In fine, that we fincerely should with in our hearts, earneftly pray for, and by our best endeavours promote the peace and prosperity of the whole Catholic Church; whereof we profess ourselves members and children ; fol- 2 Tim.ii.22. lowing, as St. Paul directs, righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with those that call upon our Lord with a pure heart,

The Communion of Saints.

THESE words were not extant in any of the ancient Creeds, but were afterward inferted: nor, as I conceive, doth the meaning of them much differ from what was intended in the precedent article; and perhaps it waş adjoined for interpretation thereof: for the meaning of them is, as I take it, that all the faints (that is, all Christians, either in legal presumption, or according to real dispofition of heart, fuch) do, in effect, or fhould, according to obligation, communicate, partake, join together, consent, and agree in what concerneth faints, or members of the holy Catholic Church; in believing and acknowledging the fame heavenly truth; in performance of devotions or offices of piety with and for one another; in charitable good-will and affection toward one another; in affording mutual advices, affiftances, and supplies toward the good (either fpiritual or temporal) of each other; in condolency and compaffion of each other's evils, in congratulation and complacency in each other's good; in minding the fame thing for one another, and bearing one another's burdens; fo that if one member fuffers, all the members fuffer with it; or if one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. This briefly feems to be the meaning of this point; and I need not to infist on clearing the truth, or fhewing the ufes thereof; the doctrine fo manifeftly carrying its obligation and its use in the face thereof.