410 DISCOURSE ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. were one small nation, which conveniently might be embodied, but the Christian church should consist of all nations, which renders cor- respondence in this particular unpracticable, at least without great inconvenience. Ans. 4. Before the law, Christian religion, and consequently a Christian church, in substance subsisted; but what unity of govern- ment was there then ? Euseb. list, i. 4; Baron., App. ii. Ans. 5. The temporal union of the Jews might only figure the spiritual unity of Christians in faith, charity, and peace. Arg. VII. All ecclesiastical power was derived from the same fountains, by succession from the apostles; therefore, the church was one political body. Ep. p. 51-55; Lat., p. 157. Ans. 1. Thence we may rather infer that churches are not so united, because the founders of them were several persons endowed with co-ordinate and equal power. Iren. iii. 3; Tert. Præscr. xxxi., xxxii. Ans. 2. The apostles in several churches constituted bishops in- dependent from each other; and the like may be now, either by suc- cession from those or by the constitutionsof human prudence, accord- ing to emergencies of occasion and circumstances of things. Ans. 3. Divers churches were alróvepor, and all were so according to St Cyprian. Ans. 4. All temporal power is derived fromAdam and the patri- archs, ancient fathers of families. Does it thence follow that all the world must be under one secular government? Arg. VIII. All churches exercised a power of excommunication, or of excluding heretics, schismatics, disorderly and scandalous people. Ep., p. 59, 125; Lat., p. 185, 195. Ans. 1. Each church was vested with this power. This, therefore, only infers a resemblance of several churches in discipline; which we avow. Ans. 2. This argues that all churches took themselves to be obliged to preserve the same faith, to exercise charity and peace, to maintain the like holiness of conversation. What then? do we deny this? Ans. 3. All kingdoms and states punish offenders against reason and justice, banish seditious and disorderly persons, uphold the principles and practice of common honesty and morality. Does it thence follow that all nations must come under one civil govern- ment?' Arg. IX. All churches maintained intercourse and commerce with i Excommunication of other churches is only a declaration against the deviation from Christian truth, or piety, or charity. Communio suspensa restituitur demonstranti causas, quibus id acciderat, jamesse detersas, et profitenti conditiones pacis impletas. P. Inn. I., Ep. xvi. de Attico Constant. Ep.
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