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 ...…

Is every Christian bound on pain of Damnation to know all these, and then to examine and judge Bishops and Priests accordingly? or if they mistake one or more mens Commission, do they therefore separate from the Catholic Church? If so, what a case was the East in by the difference between Chrysostom and his Competitors? Photius and Ignatius and hundreds others? and France, about the Archbishops of Rhemes, when he was put out that deposed Ludovicus 4. and when an Infant was put in, and oft besides?

Is every Christian bound on pain of Damnation to know all these, and then to examine and judge Bishops and Priests accordingly? or if they mistake one or more mens Commission, do they therefore separate from the Catholick Church? If so, what a case was the East in by the difference between Chrysostome and his Competitors? Photius and Ignatius and hundreds others? and France, about the Archbishops of Rhemes, when he was put out that deposed Ludovicus 4. and when an Infant was put in, and oft besides?

What if the Alexandrians, when Athanasius was banished by Constantine himself, were half for him, and half against him? Or Basil at Caesarea was put down, and hundreds more; or when Theodosius first and second and Martian, and Valentinian, and Zeno, and Anastasius and abundance more, set up and pulled down, and set up again against each other? What, I say, if the People now mistook who had the best Title? Is this separating from the Catholic Church? When the Interim cast out hundreds in Germany; When Ludovicus cast out Multitudes in the Palatinate, and half the People stuck to the ejected, persecuted Pastor, and the rest to the Magistrates choice, which of them separated from the Universal Church? Is every Priest the Universal Church, or an essential part of it? then it dyeth when he dyeth, and Apostatizeth when he doth. How many Ages in above 23 Duplicates or Schisms, was the World uncertain which was the true Pope? suppose, e. g. Arthur Jackson, Edmund Calamy, and many such were placed in their Incumbency, by the Bishops, Patrons and Parish consent, according to the Law of Christ and the Land, and by a new Act of Uniformity they be all turned out, the Flock not consenting, nor any Bishop accusing, trying or deposing them (save in Legislation,) and some of the Parish think this dissolveth not their Relation to him, and they cleave to him as before, without any change save of Place and Tithes, and others forsake such a one, and follow the Magistrates choice, may not both these be still of the Catholic Church? If not, I know where the old Canons laid the charge and danger. It's wonderful selfishness in those men, that if they can but get into the Seat, take it for granted, that all must own their right on pain of Damnation.