382 DISCOURSE ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. one by participation of common nationality, r &vûpc'or:vov, humanum genus. For cognation of blood, as gens una: so are all Jews, however living dispersedly over the world, reckoned one nation or people; so all kinsmen constitute one family; and thus also all men, as made of one blood, are one people. For commerce of language: so Italians and Germans [Grisons?] are esteemed one people, although living under different laws and governments. For consent in opinion, or conformity in manners and practices; as men of the same sect in religion or philosophy, of the same pro- fession, faculty, trade. So Jews, Mohammedans, Arians; so orators, grammarians, logicians; so divines, lawyers, physicians, merchants, artisans, rustics, &c. For affection of mind or compacts of good-will, or for links of peace and amicable correspondence, in order to mutual interest and aid; as friends and confederates. For being ranged in order under one law and rule, as those who live under one monarchy or in one commonwealth; as the people in England, Spain, France, in Venice, Genoa, Holland, &c. Upon such grounds of unity or union a society of men is deno- minated one; and upon divers such accounts it is plain that the catholic church may be said to be one: for, I. It is evident that the church is one by consent in faith and opinion concerning all principal matters of doctrine, especially in those which .have considerable influence upon the practice of piety toward God, righteousness toward men, and sobriety of conversation to "teach us" which "thegrace of Godhathappeared," Tit. ii. ].1, 12. " My sheep hear my voice," John x. 27, 16. As he that should in any principal doctrine differ from Plato (denying the " immortality of the soul," the " providence of God," the "natural difference of good and evil ") would not be a Platonist; so he that dissents from any doctrine of importance manifestly taught by Christ renounces Christianity.) All Christians are " delivered into one form of doctrine," Rom. vi. 17, Col. ii. 7, to which they must stiffly and steadfastly adhere, " keeping the depositum committed to them," Heb. iii. 6, xiii. 9; 1 Cor. xv. 58; Eph. iv. 14. They must " strive together for the faith of the gospel," Phil. i. 27; and "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints," Jude 3. They must " hold fast the form of sound words in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. i. 13; that "great salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto them by his hearers; God also 1 Regula Mel sola immobilis et irreformabilis, &o. Tert. de Virg., vel i.
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