A26885:148
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed by R. W. for Thomas Underhill and Francis Tyton, 1660
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.
Well, let us come to a debate, and see whether we must come to you, or you to us.
1. If we ever agree and unite, you know it must be on terms that are possible. He that propoundeth Impossibilities to be agreed on, is the enemy of agreement. But it is impossible for us to come to you, and so to Unite with you. Th•s I now prove. 1. •t is Impossible to have any Universal Unity but in an Universal Head and Centre, and that is only God, the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost. As I told you, the Army must Unite in the General, the Kingdom in the Sovereign, the Family in the Master, the School in the School-master. In order of Nature, you must Unite with God in the Redeemer by the sanctifying Spirit, before you can Unite with us. But while you are unsanctified you are divided from God. Do you not feel your minds ⟨p. 101⟩strange to him, your hearts draw back from him, and find by his strangeness to you that there is a division? Its impossible for us to be United to you, till Christ be United to you. For, 1. Its against Nature, seeing he is the Centre, and the Head and Fountain of Life: And what good would it do you to be one with us and not with him? 2. God is against any Unity without him: If you will not begin with him, he will take it but as a treasonable conspiracy, and will break it. We dare not go without him, lest he be angry and destroy us: Soldiers must not make either Peace or war, not so much as treat without the General. Do you not remember how Jehoshaphat had like to have sped by a friendship and confederacy with Ahab?
1. If we ever agree and unite, you know it must be on terms that are possible. He that propoundeth Impossibilities to be agreed on, is the enemy of agreement. But it is impossible for us to come to you, and so to Unite with you. Th•s I now prove. 1. •t is Impossible to have any Vniversal Vnity but in an Vniversal Head and Center, and that is only God, the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost. As I told you, the Army must Unite in the General, the Kingdom in the Soveraign, the Family in the Master, the School in the School-master. In order of Nature, you must Unite with God in the Redeemer by the sanctifying Spirit, before you can Unite with us. But while you are unsanctified you are divided from God. Do you not feel your minds