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 ...…

§. 54. He saith, [Where there is […] b••ach of Communion, no declared […] act of communion between […] be in communion with each […]. You may say of them what you will; But all these Negatives speak no positive Act: And is Communion nothing but Negations? All this I may say of those that never heard of each others being. 2. There may be an express disowning of each, as the Romans did the Asians about Easter, and the Africans about rebaptizing, and the Britons disowned Augustine, and as some disown a Pair of Organs, or neglect ⟨p. 55⟩of Discipline, &c. And yet both be parts of the Catholic Church.

§. 54. He saith, [Where there is 〈…〉 b••ach of Communion, no declared 〈…〉 act of communi•n between 〈…〉 be in communion with each 〈…〉. You may say of them what you will; But all these Negatives speak no positive Act: And is Communion nothing but Negations? All this I may say of those that never heard of each others being. 2. There may be an express disowning of each, as the Romans did the Asians about Easter, and the Africans about rebaptizing, and the Britains disowned Augustine, and as some disown a Pair of Organs, or neglect ⟨p. 55⟩of Discipline, &c. And yet both be parts of the Catholick Church.

§. 55. P. 326. He is so Catholic in Doctrinals, as to say that [We may safely communicate with any Church, how different soever our Opinion in other Matters may be, when we agree in all the Fundamentals of Christian Faith and Essentials of Worship] Answ. What could one wish more? Is this the same Man? May you not then admit those that so far agree with you? Are all your humane Associations and Confederacies, and all the Laws for Church-Discipline and Government (made by men that have no Legislative Power) Essentials of Worship, or Fundamental Doctrines of Faith? Are all that your foresaid Canons Excommunicate Men for such Essentials? If this much be enough in the Church, notwithstanding all other Sins and Errors, why not in those that you should receive. But it seems by this, that Matters of Divine Faith and Worship, besides bare Essentials, are small things to him in comparison of Bishops Rules and Canons.