------------------·---- 74 Againft PeJjwuion. ------~----~----------- ---------------- 3~ nr.ccJllry to Communion, which all may nor rationally be expeCted to confent in. Now thefe CaSecVi·!C~•;t. Loiwif, Objr[/. m ..,a. 16. Dire/l. 17· tholick principks of Communion mufi be fuch as thefc : 1. Such points of f3.ith only as conft;utte Chrijfianity, and which every upright Chrillian holdeth; and therefore only fuch as are contained in our B;.pti{inal Covenant or Prof(aJ,m, which maketh us Chrifiians: And not thofe other which only fomcjfronger Chri!\i.ms believe or undedbnd: Btcaufe the weak are not to be cafi our of the family of ChriO. 2· Such points as the Primitive Churches did agree in, and not innovitions, which they never pradifed or agreed in : For they arc our pattern, and were b~tter than we: and no more can be ncceJTary to our Concord and Communion, than was to theirs. 3· Such points as all the Church bath fometime or other at leaH agreed in: For what n:afon can we have to think that the Cburches fhould now agree in that, which they never hitherto <1grced in. 4· ~uch points :IS all the true Chriftiam in the world are now agreed in: For otherwife we !hall exclude foo1e true Chrillians tram our ChriHian Communion. 5· No points of Worfhip, much lefs of Modt:s and Circumllanccs, which are not neceffary, and more nccrffuy eo the Churches good, than is the Communion of all thofe perfonsl who by diffent– ing are like tO be feparated or call out: and whofe omifiion would nm do more hurt, than rhis fcp 1 .. ration and divifion is like 'tO do. 6. Efpccially no fuch things mull: be made neccffuy to communion , as the moft confcientious are ordinarily fcuful of and averfe to, and may be forborn without any great detriment w godlindi. 9· 36. ObjtCt. Bttt, it will be faid, tb.at CatholicJt.. Ccmm:mion indeed req~tirtth nn more th-?n yrm [ay: But particular Cburchu may require more of their membeu: Fer 1bat may be mcrff.Jry or fit for a mem· her of !bi1 particu1ar Clmrch, which i1 not to at aU. Aiifw. C1tholick Communion is that which all Chriflians ln~ Churches have with one another, and the term! of it are fuch as aO ChriftianJ may agree i;z : Cath.o\Jck Communion is prhH;:ipally rxiftent u:d excrcif~!d in particular Churches, ( as there is no exillcnt Chrifiianity or faith, which exifh::th not io individuo~.l Chrifii.uts:) Therefore if one plrricular Church may fo narrow the door of its Cvmrnunion,. then anorher and another, aqd every one may do fo: if not by the fame particular im. pofi,ions 1 yet by fomc other of the like nature: For what power one Church harh herein, others have; And then Ca.tholick Communion will be fcarce found exil\cnt cxtcrn.\lly in the world: buc a meer Catholick Chrill:ian would be denyed Communion in every particular Chutch he comcth to. And how do you hold Catholick Communion when you will admit no mecr C1tholick Chri· Hian as fuch to your Communion , but only fuch as fupererogate according to your private Church·terms. z, But gr:mt that every Church may impofe more upon its members, it mufi be only that which is Nectjf.Jry to thofe common things which all agree in : And then the mcef]ity will be difcernahle to all fober minded perfons, and will prevent divitions : As it is Ntcdfuy that he that will commu– nicate with our Churches, do joyn wich them in the fame Tranflatitm of St:ripture, and Verfion of Pfalms, and under the f~.me Pafior 1 as the refi of the Church dorh ~ For here the Church cannot ufe variety ofPafiors, Tranfl;adons, Verfions, &c. to fit the varietY. ofmens hurri~urs : There is an evi– dent lJCcdlicy, that if theywill be one Socieiy, they mufi agree in the fame, in each of thtfc: There– fore when the Church hath United in one , if any man rdufc that one pcrfim or way which the Churt:h is neccfl',uify United in, he refufeth communion with that' Church, and the Church doth not excommunicate him J But if that Church agree on things hurlfl1l or unnecdT.ny as necelfuy to its communion, it mull bear tht: blame of the lf:puations it felf. 3· And grant yet that (Ome Churches cannot admit fuch fcrupulous perlons to herCommunion as dare not joyo in every punCl:illio, circurnfiance or moqe; It cloth not follow that thofc perfons mull: ~herefore be excommunicated, or forbidden t0 wortbip God among thcm!elves without that which they lcruple: or to joyn in or with a Congregation which impoferh no fuch things upon them. Pcr– fccurion will unavoidably come in, upon fuch dominee-ring narrow rerrns as thofc. T~le man is a Chrifiian fiill, though he fcruple one of our modes or ceremonies, and is c<~.pablc ofCuholick Corn· munion : And if private and little inconvcniencies !hall be thought a fufficienr caufC, to forbid all fuch the publick worfbipping of God, on pretence that in one NJ.tion, there mutt not be variety of modes, this is a dividing principle, and not Catholick, and plungcth men into the guilt of pcrfe– cution. It was not fo in the Chur,hcs of the RomanEmpire: In the da.ycs of Bafil hisChurch, and that at Neoc£[areadiffered : and ordina.ily fevcral Bifuops ufed fcveral forms of prayer and worfuip in their feveral Churches, without offence : And furcher, 9· 37· DinGt. 16. Diffrrml [AAltJ mHjl have different pcna/tic1: And excommzmication er forbidding mw aU publick.. wgrjhip ofGod, muft l[ot be the penalty of every dif[ent. Is there no fmalicr penalty fufficient if a doubtful fubfCription or ceremony be fcrupled, than to {iltnce MiHijferJ therefore fJorn preaching the Gofpel, or excommunicating mCn, and forbidding them to worfhip God at all ex~ cept th<y can do this? This is the highefi cccltfiafiical penalry thar can be laid on men for the greatef\ hercfie or crime; Doubtlefs there are lelfer punithments that may fuflice for lefT~:r faults. ~· 38. DireCt. 17· Every friend ufChrijl and the Church rnuft choofe fi"h pmallifl for Minijlm and priuatt ChrijlianJ who offend, aJ are leajt to the hinderan-ce of the Go[pcl, or burlful to the peoplu {oul1: Therefore filcncinjl Mini!lcrs is not a fit penalty ior tvery fault which they commit ! The provi· dcnce
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