But if they all not without the state of salvation who are not members of such an independent flock. 1. All the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Th•ssalonica, Philippi, Rome, the seven Churches of Asia, who were not such independent Churches must be in the state of damnation. 2. All are here obliged, who look for salvation, by Jesus Christ, to join themselves to this visible independent Church; then all who are not members of such a Church are in the state of damnation, if (say our brethren) they know this to be the only true Church, and join not to it. O but ignorance cannot save men from damnation, for all are obliged to know this so necessary a mean of salvation, where only are the meane• of salvation, for then it should excuse Scribes and Pharisees, that they believed not in Christ, for they knew him not, and if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. Now we judge this to be the revived error of-the Donatists, whose mind was as aAugustine saith, that the Church of Christ was only in that part of Africa, where Donatus was, and Augustine writing to Vincentius bobjecteth the same, as Morton answereth Bellarmine, and the same say Papists with Donatists, that out of the Church of Rome there is no salvation. And cField answereth well, ye are to be charged with donatism, who deny all Christian societies in the World, •to be where the Popes feet are not kissed, to pertain to the true Church of God, and so cast into Hell all the Churches of Ethiopia, Armenia, Syria, Graecia, Russia, and so did Optatus (saith dMorton, Answer, Donatists you will have the Church only to be where you art, but in Dacia, Mysia, Thracia, Achaia, &c. where you are not, you will not have it to be, nor will you have it to be in Graecia, Cappadocia, Egypt, &c. Where you are not, and in innumerable Isles and Provinces. See how Gerardus refuteth this eand certainly, if this be the only true visible Christian Church, to which all who look for salvation by Christ Jesus, must join themselves, there is not in the Christian World, a true visible Church but with you. 3.
But if they all not without the state of salvation who are not members of such an independent flock. 1. All the Churches of Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Th•ssalonica, Philippi, Rome, the seven Churches of Asia, who were not such independent Churches must be in the state of damnation. 2. All are here obliged, who looke for salvation, by Iesus Christ, to joyne themselves to this visible independent Church; then all who are not members of such a Church are in the state of damnation, if (say our brethren) they know this to be the only true Church, and joyne not to it. O but ignorance cannot save men from damnation, for all are obliged to know this so necessary a meane of salvation, where only are the meane• of salvation, for then it should excuse Scribes and Pharisees, that they believed not in Christ, for they knew him not, and if they had knowen, they would not have crucisied the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. Now we judge this to be the revived error of-the Donatists, whose mind was as aAugustine saith, that the Church of Christ was only in that part of Africa, where Donatus was, and Augustine writing to Vincentius bobjecteth the same, as Morton answereth Bellarmine, and the same say Papists with Donatists, that out of the Church of Rome there is no salvation. And cField answereth well, yee are to be charged with donatisme, who deny all Christian societies in the World, •to be where the Popes feete are not kissed, to pertaine to the true Church of God, and so cast into Hell all the Churches of Aethiopia, Armenia, Syri•, Graecia, Russia, and so did Optatus (sayth dMorton, Answer, Donatists you will have the Church only to be where you art, but in Dacia, Misi•, Thracia, Achaia, &c. where you are not, you will not have it to be, nor will you have it to be in Graecia, Cappadocia, Aegypt, &c. Where you are not, and in innumerable Istes and Provinces. See how Gerardus refuteth this eand certainly, if this be the only true visible Christian Church, to which all who looke for salvation by Christ Jesus, must joyne themselves, there is not in the Christian World, a true visible Church but with you. 3.
- aAugustine saith, haeres. 69. Eccl. siam Christi de •oto te•rarum or•e […], • que •s Africa Dona•i part remansyle.Augustine saith, haeres. 69. Eccl. siam Christi de •oto te•rarum or•e 〈…〉, • que •s Africa Dona•i parte remansyle.
- bAugustin. Epist. 48 ad Uincent in illa verba, indica, ubi pascis in meridie Viden. solam & solam illi in Meridie, vos in occidents? saith Morton apolog p. 1. c. 31. answereth Bellarmine de Ecclesia mil•• l. 3. c. 13.
- cField of the Church 3. book. 28. ch.
- dMorton grand imposture ch. 14. 2. challenge p. 342.Morton grand imposture ch. 14. 2. challeng p. 342.
- eGerard. to. 5. de Ecclesia c. 4. p. 231. 232. nu. 35.
