Thirdly, hereunto is to be added, soundness in the faith. For the unity of faith is the foundation of Love and all the duties thereof, which in an especial manner are to be performed towards the Church, called therefore the house-hold of faith. There is among the members of the Church one faith; Ephes. 4.5. The common faith, the faith once delivered unto the saints, Jude 3. Which is the sound doctrine, 1 Tim. 1.10. Which those that will not endure, must be turned from; 2 Tim. 4.3. the faithful word that is to be held fast. Tit. 1.9. 1 Tim. 1.19. And which we are to be sound in; Tit. 1.13. Contained in a form of sound words, as to the profession of it, 2 Tim. 1.13. And this soundness in the unity of the faith, as it should be improved unto oneness of mind, and oneness of accord, in all the things of God, Phil. 2.2. Though it may admit of some different apprehensions in some things, wherein some may have more clear and distinct discoveries of the mind and will of God than others, which hinders ⟨p. 218⟩not, but that all may walk according to the same rule, Phil. 3.15, 16. So it is principally to be regarded in the fundamental truths of the Gospel, in and by the faith whereof the Church holdeth on the head Jesus Christ; Coloss. 2.19. And in the fundamental principles of Gospel worship, the joint celebration, whereof is the next end of the gathering the Church, for without a consent of mind and accord herein, no duty can be performed unto edification, nor the peace of the Church be preserved; and these principles are those which we have explained.
Thirdly, hereunto is to be added, soundness in the faith. For the unity of faith is the foundation of Love and all the duties thereof, which in an especiall manner are to be performed towards the Church, called therefore the house-hold of faith. There is among the members of the Church one faith; Ephes. 4.5. The common faith, the faith once delivered unto the saints, Jude 3. Which is the sound doctrine, 1 Tim. 1.10. Which those that will not endure, must be turned from; 2 Tim. 4.3. the faithful word that is to be held fast. Tit. 1.9. 1 Tim. 1.19. And which we are to be sound in; Tit. 1.13. Contained in a form of sound words, as to the profession of it, 2 Tim. 1.13. And this soundness in the unity of the faith, as it should be improved unto oneness of mind, and oneness of accord, in all the things of God, Phil. 2.2. Though it may admit of some different apprehensions in some things, wherein some may have more clear and distinct discoveries of the mind and will of God than others, which hinders ⟨p. 218⟩not, but that all may walk according to the same rule, Phil. 3.15, 16. So it is principally to be regarded in the fundamentall truths of the Gospel, in and by the faith whereof the Church holdeth on the head Jesus Christ; Coloss. 2.19. And in the fundamentall principles of Gospel worship, the joynt celebration, whereof is the next end of the gathering the Church, for without a consent of mind and accord herein, no duty can be performed unto edification, nor the peace of the Church be preserved; and these principles are those which we have explained.
