The Church is that from which the rent is: Heresy divides from the head, Schism from the body, Apostasy from both. This rent is either from the whole Church, or some part, if from the whole, it is Donatism: Donatus denied any to be of the body of Christ, to be believers, to be such as could be saved, except that company that joined with him, and with those in his way. This is clear from the whole discourse of Augustine against him, in that Tract De unitate Ecclesiae. Wherefore those who censure such as deny communion with some particular Congregations, as Donatists, discover either ignorance or malice, if not both. Yet Schism may be, though the rent be but from some part of the Church, but this must needs suppose union with that part: now there may be a twofold union with the several parts of the Church, either that which all who are to be accounted Christians have with them as they are of the same body Catholic; or that which is by agreement to grow up together into a special fellowship. The rending from any of these unions in such a way as before was mentioned, is Schism. If we separate from, or refuse that communion with such as are to be accounted Christians, that is due to all Christians, this is the more gross Schism. Or if we thus break off that communion which is by special agreement, which may be either when Christians join together in a private way for mutual edification and comfort: or when they so join together as to make up a distinct spiritual corporation, to set up the public ordinances of Christ, which the Scripture calls a Church: Now though there may be Schism in the breaking the former, yet the censure of Schism is especially applied to the undue breaking off communion in the latter.
The Church is that from which the rent is: Heresie divides from the head, Schisme from the body, Apostacy from both. This rent is either from the whole Church, or some part, if from the whole, it is Donatisme: Donatus denyed any to be of the body of Christ, to be beleevers, to be such as could be saved, except that company that joyned with him, and with those in his way. This is clear from the whole discourse of Augustine against him, in that Tract De unitate Ecclesiae. Wherefore those who censure such as deny communion with some particular Congregations, as Donatists, discover either ignorance or malice, if not both. Yet Schisme may be, though the rent be but from some part of the Church, but this must needs suppose union with that part: now there may be a twofold union with the severall parts of the Church, either that which all who are to be accounted Christians have with them as they are of the same body Catholick; or that which is by agreement to grow up together into a speciall fellowship. The rending from any of these unions in such a way as before was mentioned, is Schisme. If we seperate from, or refuse that communion with such as are to be accounted Christians, that is due to all Christians, this is the more grosse Schisme. Or if we thus breake off that communion which is by speciall agreement, which may be either when Christians joyne together in a private way for mutuall edification and comfort: or when they so joyn together as to make up a distinct spirituall corporation, to set up the publick ordinances of Christ, which the Scripture calls a Church: Now though there may be Schisme in the breaking the former, yet the censure of Schisme is especially applyed to the undue breaking off communion in the latter.
