A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

Not that we must know men first to be true Christians, that by them we may know what Christian Truth is; but the plain Scripture tells all men what Christianity is, and by that we know whom to take for Christians. But if any thing be new, and risen since the Apostles writing of the Scripture, that can be no Point essential to Christianity; else Christianity must be a mutable thing, and not the same now as it was heretofore; or else there were no Christians before this Novelty in the world. The Church were not the Church, nor were any man a Christian, if they wanted any essential part of Faith or Practice.

But here take heed of Sophisters deceit: Though nothing is necessary to Salvation, but all sound Christians have still believed, yet all is not necessary, or true, or good, which all good Christians have believed or done; much less all which the tempted worser part have held: For though the Essence of Christianity have been ever and every where the same, yet the Opinions of Christians, and their Mistakes, and Faults have been none of their imitable Faith or Practice. Humane Nature is essentially the same in Adam, and in all men; but the Diseases of Nature are another thing. If all men have Sin and Error, so have all Churches; their Christianity is of God, but the Corruptions and ⟨p. 286⟩Maladies of Christians are not. You must hold nothing but what Christians of old have held as received from Gods Word; but because they have all some Faults and Errors, you must not hold and do all those.

V. Maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, with all true Christians as such, and live in Love in the Communion of Saints.

V. Maintain the Ʋnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, with all true Christians as such, and live in Love in the Communion of Saints.