A26880:1023
Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…
Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ... / by Richard Baxter ...Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1684
The Twelve Arguments said to be Dr. Owens, impartially considered.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 4. TO the Third Premise, I answer, 1. The Church of England is an ambiguous word: 1. As it signifieth a part of the Universal Church, agreeing in Faith, one God, one Christ, and all essential to the Church; so we desire the honour of being parts of it. 2. And also as it is a Christian Kingdom under one King. 3. And as it is a Confederacy of many Churches to keep Concord in lawful Circumstantials as well as Integrals. In all these senses it is a lawful Association. 4. But if any Church go beyond these bounds, and on good pretences shall agree upon any error or evil, it is a mistake to hold, That all that incorporate with them in the Three foresaid lawful respects, do therefore confederate with them in their error.1 This is your Fourth Error.
§ 4. TO the Third Premise, I answer, 1. The Church of England is an ambiguous word: 1. As it signifieth a part of the Universal Church, agreeing in Faith, one God, one Christ, and all essential to the Church; so we desire the honour of being parts of it. 2. And also as it is a Christian Kingdom under one King. 3. And as it is a Confederacy of many Churches to keep Concord in lawful Circumstantials as well as Integrals. In all these sences it is a lawful Association. 4. But if any Church go beyond these bounds, and on good pretences shall agree upon any error or evil, it is a mistake to hold, That all that incorporate with them in the Three foresaid lawful respects, do therefore confederate with them in their error.1 This is your Fourth Error.
- 1IV. Error.
I will give you a general Instance, and a particular one: 1. You cannot name me one combined company of Churches from the Apostles days till now, that had no error. You take Episcopacy to be an error in the very constitution: Name one Church from the 3d or 4th Century, for a thousand years, that was without it, either Catholics or Heretics, that were indeed a Church: And must Christians have forborne associating with any of them? Or might not own the good in their Associations, without owning the evil?