414 DISCOURSE ON THE UNITYOF THE CHURCH. 1. We assert that every church is bound to observe the institutions of Christ, and that sort of government which the apostles ordained, consisting of bishops, priests, and people. 2. We avow it expedient (in conformity to the primitive churches, and in order to the maintenance of truth, order, peace) for several particular churches or parishes to be combined in political corpora- tions, as shall be found convenient by those who have just authority to frame such corporations; for that otherwise Christianity, being shattered into numberless shreds, couldhardly subsist, and that great confusions must arise. 3. We affirm that, such bodies having been established and being maintained by just authority, every man is bound to endeavour the upholding of them, by obedience, by peaceable and compliant de- meanour. 4. We acknowledge it a great crime, by factious behaviour in them, or by needless separation from them, to disturb them, to divide them, to dissolve or subvert them.' Jude 19, o; cceroSropí ovrsç. 5. We conceive it fit that every people under one prince (or at least of one nation, using the same language, civil law, and fashions) should be united in the bands of ecclesiastical polity; for that such a unity apparently is conducible to the peace and welfare both of church and state, to the furtherance of God's worship and service, to the edification of people in charity and piety, by the encouragement of secular powers, by the concurrent advice and aid of ecclesiastical pastors, by many advantages hence arising.' 6. We suppose all churches obliged to observe friendly communion, and, when occasion invites, to aid each other by assistance and ad- vice, in synods of bishops or otherwise. 7. We affirm that all churches are obliged to comply with lawful decrees and orders, appointed in synodswith consent of their bishops, and allowed by the civil authorities under which they live ; as, if the bishops of Spain and France assembling should agree upon constitu- tions of discipline which the kings of both those countries should ap- prove, and which should not thwart God's laws, both those churches, and every man in them, were bound to comply in observance of them. From the premises divers corollaries may be deduced: - 1. Hence it appears that all those clamours of the pretended I We allow the Apost. Can. xxxi.c ET 4iç xarappovn'oas 40ú ióíou lxmxóarou xv,is oava- yáyn, zai .`luovaO,rñ+vov i ip i, 91-Ìm, p. Olv xa4£yvaux ç 70L ivrICxÓ9r,u iv sboi E1á %af 8xaoo'úvr xaAays:4v, «s píT.apxoç, &c. If any person, despising his own bishop, shall set up a separate meeting and build another altar, having nothing to condemn in his bishop, either for his piety or uprightness, let him be deposed as one that ambitiously affects to be a governor," &c. 2 .7ízalav aúv loot areiv4aç I' 04 iv v 'Pal(caimv xórtcap li aoxaañouç 4oú vítvou ,,iry alp; Tor; vó¡cou ppovv7v, xai f4i7 levpópo,s Mavxaa,íaiç 4ñv , 'çr,v ,araív,,v. Syn. Rom., apud Theed. ü. 22.
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