1. There being in this Country of England, much people of God, many of his Elect called and Sanctified, by and through the Spirit and blood of Christ, with the washing of water and the Word, so made true living members of the mystical body, or Catholic Church of Christ, holding him, as a spiritual Head, receiving influences of life and grace from him continually, they may be called, (though improperly) the Church of England, that is, that part of Christs Catholic Church militant, which lives in England. In this sense it is the desire of our souls, to be found and to abide members of the Church of England, to keep with it, whilst we live in this world, the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Jerusalem which is above, is the Mother of us all; and one is our Father, which is in Heaven; one is our Head, Sovereign, Lord, and Ruler, the dearly beloved of our Souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. If ⟨p. 223⟩we have grieved, offended, troubled the least member of this Church, so that he may justly take offence at any of our ways, we profess our readiness to lye at his or their feet for Reconciliation, according to the mind of Christ. If we bear not love to all the Members of the Church of England in this sense, without dissimulation, (yea even to them amongst them, who through mistakes and darkness, have on several accounts designed our harm and ruin) if we rejoice not with them, and suffer not with them, however they may be differenced in and by their opinions, or walkings, if we desire not their good, as the good of our own Souls, and are not ready to hold any communion with them, wherein their and our Light will give and afford unto us peace mutually, if we judge, condemn, despise any of them, as to their Persons, Spiritual state and Condition, because they walk not with us, let us be esteemed the vilest Schismatics, that ever lived on the face of the Earth. But as to our membership in the Church of England on this account, we stand or fall to our own master.
1. There being in this Country of England, much people of God, many of his Elect called and Sanctified, by and through the Spirit and blood of Christ, with the washing of water and the Word, so made true living members of the mysticall body, or Catholick Church of Christ, holding him, as a spirituall Head, receiving influences of life and grace from him continually, they may be called, (though improperly) the Church of England, that is, that part of Christs Catholick Church militant, which lives in England. In this sense it is the desire of our soules, to be found and to abide members of the Church of England, to keep with it, whilst we live in this world, the Ʋnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Hierusalem which is above, is the Mother of us all; and one is our Father, which is in Heaven; one is our Head, Soveraigne, Lord, and Ruler, the dearly beloved of our Soules, the Lord Jesus Christ. If ⟨p. 223⟩we have grieved, offended, troubled the least member of this Church, so that he may justly take offence at any of our waies, we professe our readinesse to lye at his or their feet for Reconciliation, according to the mind of Christ. If we bear not love to all the Members of the Church of England in this sense, without dissimulation, (yea even to them amongst them, who through mistakes and darknesse, have on severall accounts designed our harme and ruine) if we rejoyce not with them, and suffer not with them, however they may be differenced in and by their opinions, or walkings, if we desire not their good, as the good of our own Soules, and are not ready to hold any communion with them, wherein their and our Light will give and afford unto us peace mutually, if we judge, condemne, despise any of them, as to their Persons, Spirituall state and Condition, because they walk not with us, let us be esteemed the vilest Schismaticks, that ever lived on the face of the Earth. But as to our membership in the Church of England on this account, we stand or fall to our own master.
