§. 83. Direct. 6. Make nothing necessary to the unity of the Church, or the communion of Christians, 1which God hath not made necessary, or directed you to make so. By this one •olly, the Papists are become2 the most notorious Schismatics on earth: even by making new Articles of faith, and new parts of worship, and imposing them on all Christians, to be sworn, subscribed, professed or practised, so as that no man shall be accounted a Catholic, or have communion with them (or with the Universal Church, if they could hinder it) that will not follow them in all their Novelties. They that would subscribe to all the Scriptures, and to all the ancient Creeds of the Church, and would do any thing that Christ and his Apostles have enjoined, and go every step of that way to Heaven that Peter and Paul went, as far as they are able, yet if they will go no further, and believe no more (ye•, if they will not go against some of this) must be condemned, cast out, and called Schismatics by these notorious Schismatics. If he hold to Christ the Universal Head of the Church, and will not be subject or sworn to the Pope, the Usurping Head, he shall be taken as cut off from Christ. And there is no certainty among these men what measure of faith, and worship, and obedience to them, shall be judged necessary to constitute a Church-member: For as that which served in the Apostles days, and the following ages, will not serve now, nor the subscribing to all the other pretended Councils until then, will not serve without subscribing to the Creed or Council of Trent; so no body can tell, what New Faith, or Worship, or Test of Christianity, the next Council (if the world see any more) may require: and how many thousand that are Trent-Catholics now, may be judged Heretics or Schismatics then, if they will not shut their eyes, and follow them any whither, and change their Religion as oft as the Papal interest requireth a change. Of this ⟨p. 745⟩Chillingworth, Hales, and Dr. H. More have spoken plainly. If the Pope had imposed but one lye 3to be subscribed, or one sin to be done, and said [All Nations and persons that do not this, are no Christians, or shall have no communion with the Church; the man that refuseth that imposed lye or sin, is guiltless of the Schism, and doth but obey God, and save his soul:
§. 83. Direct. 6. Make nothing necessary to the unity of the Church, or the communion of Christians, 1which God hath not made necessary, or directed you to make so. By this one •olly, the Papists are become2 the most notorious Schismaticks on earth: even by making new Articles of faith, and new parts of worship, and imposing them on all Christians, to be sworn, subscribed, professed or practised, so as that no man shall be accounted a Catholick, or have communion with them (or with the Universal Church, if they could hinder it) that will not follow them in all their Novelties. They that would subscribe to all the Scriptures, and to all the antient Creeds of the Church, and would do any thing that Christ and his Apostles have enjoyned, and go every step of that way to Heaven that Peter and Paul went, as far as they are able, yet if they will go no further, and believe no more (ye•, if they will not go against some of this) must be condemned, cast out, and called Schismaticks by these notorious Schismaticks. If he hold to Christ the Universal Head of the Church, and will not be subject or sworn to the Pope, the Usurping Head, he shall be taken as cut off from Christ. And there is no certainty among these men what measure of faith, and worship, and obedience to them, shall be judged necessary to constitute a Church-member: For as that which served in the Apostles dayes, and the following ages, will not serve now, nor the subscribing to all the other pretended Councils until then, will not serve without subscribing to the Creed or Council of Tr•nt; so no body can tell, what New Faith, or Worship, or Test of Christianity, the next Council (if the world see any more) may require: and how many thousand that are Trent-Catholicks now, may be judged Hereticks or Schismaticks then, if they will not shut their eyes, and follow them any whither, and change their Religion as oft as the Papal interest requireth a change. Of this ⟨p. 745⟩Chillingworth, Hales, and Dr. H. More have spoken plainly. If the Pope had imposed but one lye 3to be subscribed, or one sin to be done, and said [All Nations and persons that do not this, are no Christians, or shall have no communion with the Church; the man that refuseth that imposed lye or sin, is guiltless of the Schism, and doth but obey God, and save his soul:
- 1Direct. 6.
- 2see […] p. 52•.see 〈…〉 p. 52•.
- 3D•. H. More saith Myst. Redemp. p. 495. l. 10. c. 2. There is scarce any Church in Christendom at this day that doth not obtrude, not only falsehood, but such falsehoods that will appear to any free Spirit pure contradictiors and impossibilities: and that with the same gravity, authority, and importunity, that they do the holy Oracles of God. Now the consequence of this must needs be sad? For what knowing and conscientious man, but will be driven off, if he cannot assert the truth, without open asserting of a gross lye? Id. p. •26. And as for Opinions, though some may be better than other some, yet none should exclude from the fullest enjoyment of either private or public rights; supposing there be no venom of the persecutive spirit mingled with them: But every one that professeth the faith of Christ, and believeth the Scriptures in the Historical sense, &c.D•. H. More saith Myst. Redemp. p. 495. l. 10. c. 2. There is scarce any Church in Christ•ndome at this day that doth not obtrude, not only falshood, but such falsehoods that will appear to any free Spirit pure contradictiors and impossibilities: and that with the same gravity, authority, and importunity, that they do the holy Oracles of God. Now the consequence of this must needs be sad? For what knowing and conscientious man, but will be driven off, if he cannot assert the truth, without open asserting of a gross lye? Id. p. •26. And as for Opinions, though some may be better than other some, yet none should exclude from the fullest enjoyment of either private or publick rights; supposing there be no venome of the persecutive spirit mingled with them: But every one that professeth the faith of Christ, and believeth the Scriptures in the Historical sense, &c.
