Church concord

But that our ordinary Parishes in England that have true Ministers are true Churches is so familiarly granted by the Congregational party, that to recite their words seems needless: And therefore they utterly disclaim separating from us as no true Churches. 1. That our want of a Church Covenant nullifieth not these Churches, I told you before they grant, because our consent is our Covenant: And our ordinary practice tolerably signifieth that consent. Saith Mr, Norton, p. 21. [Siuna externa fidei professione, veritatis & sanctitatis praxi, eodem baptismate uniantur, & eundem publicum cultum uno in loco frequentent, iisdem inspectoribus Ecclesiae subsint, &c.] See the place, where he acknowledgeth this a Church without an Explicit Covenant.

2. And that the impiety of our Parishes, or other incapacity of the Members is not such as to nullify our Churches they confess. Because a good Church may have some bad Members: And where the greater number are bad, the Pastor and the better (smaller) part may denominate the Church, and it may be true, though polluted. What Doctrinal and Practical Corruptions were in the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, and divers of the Asian Churches, Rev. 2. and 3. is so plain, and hath been so often mentioned that it's needless to recite the Texts. Saith Mr. Norton, 28, 29. Immo tantum abest, ut ob defectum foederis expliciti (salva vel ungulae religione in rebus Jesu Christi) ullas Congregationes ex Ecclesiarum albo expungamus; ut Caetus multò graviora passos, essentialibus Dei gratia adhuc in tuto positis tanquam non Ecclesias judicare, salvâ conscientiâ nullos posse, sanctè testemur. Distinguendum inter Ecclesiam puram, impuram, impurissimam, & nullam▪—Fundamentalia sive Essentialia sunt materia & forma Ecclesiae particularis. Materia sunt homines profitentes Doctrinam salutaris fidei: Forma est mutuus consensus politicus ad incedendum in illa fide, vel verbis, vel factis, modo aliquo visibiliter significatus: ⟨p. 42⟩Adeo ut non sufficit subitanea aliqua conjunctio, & sanctae communionis exercitium, ad Ecclesiam constituendam, nisi constantia illa accedat, saltem quoad intentionem, quae statum adfert Corporis & Membrorum in spiritually quadam politia: Qualem consensum nos foedus vocare jam toties diximus.]