AS unto the actings of the first sort, the ground of them is Faith, and therein is the first Act of the Communion of Churches. And this Communion in Faith among all the Churches of Christ is two-fold. (1.) General in the belief of the same Doctrine of Truth, which is according unto ⟨p. 245⟩Godliness, the same Articles of Faith, and the public profession thereof; so that every one of them is the Ground and Pillar of the same Truth. This the Primitive Church provided for in Creeds and Symbols, or Confessions of Faith, as is known. But as never any one of them was expressly owned by all Churches; so in process of time they came to be abused, as expressing the sense of the present Church, whether true or false. Hence we have as many Arian Creeds yet extant, as those that are Orthodox. But unto the Communion of all particular1 Churches in the World, there is nothing required but a belief of the Scripture to be the Word of God, with a professed assent unto all Divine Revelations therein contained; provided that no Error be avowed that is contrary to the principal or fundamental Doctrines of it. For although any Society of Men should profess the Scripture to be the Word of God, and avow an Assent unto the Revelations made therein, yet by the conceptions of their Minds, and misunderstanding of the sense of the Holy Spirit therein, they may embrace and adhere unto such Errors, as may cut them off from all Communion with the Catholic Church in Faith. Such are the denial of the holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, His Divine Person or Office, the Redemption of the Church by his Blood; the necessity of Regeneration by his Spirit, and the like. And they may also add that of their own unto their professed Belief, as shall exclude them from Communion with the Catholic Church. Such are the Assertion of Traditions as equal with the written Word; of another Head of the Church besides the Lord Christ; of another Sacrifice besides what he once offered for all; and the like. But where any are preserved from such Heresies on the one hand and the other, there is no more required unto Communion with the whole Church, as unto Faith in general, but only the Belief before described.
AS unto the actings of the first sort, the ground of them is Faith, and therein is the first Act of the Communion of Churches. And this Communion in Faith among all the Churches of Christ is two-fold. (1.) General in the belief of the same Doctrine of Truth, which is according unto ⟨p. 245⟩Godliness, the same Articles of Faith, and the publick profession thereof; so that every one of them is the Ground and Pillar of the same Truth. This the Primitive Church provided for in Creeds and Symbols, or Confessions of Faith, as is known. But as never any one of them was expresly owned by all Churches; so in process of time they came to be abused, as expressing the sence of the present Church, whether true or false. Hence we have as many Arian Creeds yet extant, as those that are Orthodox. But unto the Communion of all particular1 Churches in the World, there is nothing required but a belief of the Scripture to be the Word of God, with a professed assent unto all Divine Revelations therein contained; provided that no Error be avowed that is contrary to the principal or fundamental Doctrines of it. For although any Society of Men should profess the Scripture to be the Word of God, and avow an Assent unto the Revelations made therein, yet by the conceptions of their Minds, and misunderstanding of the sence of the Holy Spirit therein, they may embrace and adhere unto such Errors, as may cut them off from all Communion with the Catholick Church in Faith. Such are the denial of the holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, His Divine Person or Office, the Redemption of the Church by his Blood; the necessity of Regeneration by his Spirit, and the like. And they may also add that of their own unto their professed Belief, as shall exclude them from Communion with the Catholick Church. Such are the Assertion of Traditions as equal with the written Word; of another Head of the Church besides the Lord Christ; of another Sacrifice besides what he once offered for all; and the like. But where any are preserved from such Heresies on the one hand and the other, there is no more required unto Communion with the whole Church, as unto Faith in general, but only the Belief before described.
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