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 ...…

But lest the Doctor when he understands me, should think, that I have hereby served his Notion of Communion; I must add that it is not either the placing or the being of all the parts of a humane Body, that is this formal Organization, but only of the Essential parts: It may be a humane Body without a Finger, or Hand, or Foot, or Arm, or Leg; and what great ⟨p. 20⟩diversity of parts are found within men, and diversity of place, and shape, you may see in Skenkius his Observation, as well as in Paraeus, Hildanus, Hollerius, and multitudes more that afforded him his instances. But without a Heart, a Brain, a Stomach, a Liver, Lungs, &c. it cannot be a humane Body organized. And without a Gospel Ministry to guide the Flocks, it is not a complete organized Body of Christ, though in fieri, it was an Embryo before.

But lest the Doctor when he understands me, should think, that I have hereby served his Notion of Communion; I must add that it is not either the placing or the being of all the parts of a humane Body, that is this form•l Organization, but only of the Essential parts: It may be a humane Body without a Finger, or Hand, or Foot, or Arm, or Leg; and what great ⟨p. 20⟩diversity of parts are found within men, and diversity of place, and shape, you may see in Skenkius his Observation, as well as in Paraeus, Hildanus, Hollerius, and multitudes more that afforded him his instances. But without a Heart, a Brain, a Stomach, a Liver, Lungs, &c. it cannot be a humane Body organized. And without a Gospel Ministry to guide the Flocks, it is not a compleat organized Body of Christ, though in fieri, it was an Embrio before.

But I must again warn the Reader, not to argue too far from Similitudes. In a natural Body God hath fixed all the parts by a constant Law of generation, except in Monsters. But in political Bodies, the difference is much: Civil politics quoad formas specificas, are humane Creatures; and men may alter them. The Church is a Divine polity; God hath fixed its essentials: But he hath left many of its Accidents to the choice of Man, who may alter them as Edification requireth. And again, I say, that Catholic Union in the Essentials only, is necessary to the Being of the Church; and in the Integrals, to its Integrity; and in the needful common Accidents, to its Comeliness; and in other Accidents its unnecessary and impossible. God makes the Man, but the Tailor makes his Clothes; and the Country, and Usage, and Parents, may diversify Colour and Complexions. Metropolitans and Patriarchs, and Diocesan Churches, as containing multitudes of Churches, without Bishops, and their Chancellors, Officials, Commissaries, Arch-Deacons, &c. are humane Creatures, as the Episcopal Protestants usually confess: And Liturgies are various, as Languages; and Ceremonies are like our Periwigs: Some think it lawful to wear Women's Hair, and some think it unlawful, though the fashion: But I remember none yet, that have taken all for Rebels, or Out-laws, that wear not Periwigs, or are not of the same Habit, Language, or Complexion; nor any that for these send men to Prison, nor that think it a wise way to unity.