( 454 ) it'that is called by them L The Churchof England 3 I a Pofiti- cal renfe, I know no tech thing a a Church of England or orány Nation on earth ; that is, There is no one Society united in any one ,Eccla apical `)overaign,that can truly be call ad [ the Ch ;irch of England] or of any other Nation. The whole Ca- tholick Chu, ch is One,as united in Chrift the Head : And every part'cular Chu. ch, affociated for perfonal Communion in Gods Werfh'p, is one being a part of the Càtholick Church, and united in, and individuated by their relationto their feveral Pa. ftors.- But a National Church under one chief Ecclefiaftick Go- vernment, I find no mention of in Scripture; but contrarily, [theChurches of Judaea, Galatia, &c. ] or any other Coun- tret where there were many,are alway mentioned in the Plural number ; and nevercalled one Church. 6. Yet ill we quarrel with no men about meer names or words. Irby (a National Church] be meant anyof thefe follow- ing, we acknowledge that there is filch a thing. r.Ifall the parti. cular Churches in a Nation do Affcciare., for Communions and mutuall afliflance, and fo tare to meet by their officers in oneNational Affembly ; I confefs the Affociation ufelull, if not neceffary,and the Affemblies to be maintained, and for unity fakeobeyed in things lawfull : And though Scripture call not fuch National Affociations by the name of [ aChurch] in the ungular number, yet we ¡hall leave men to their Liberty in filchnames. If all the SchoolmaPters in England fhould hold General Affsimblies , to agree what Books to read in their Schools, erc. ifany man would therefore call all the Schools in England in the fingular number, by thename of [ the School of England, I would not differ withhimfora word. 2. Or if the Churches are all called One that are under one Chriftian Magi - ftrate , I will confers the thing to be true that is pretended.to be the realen of rife name : All the Churches do oweobedience to the Magiftrate. But he is no Effential part or Ecclefraftical Headof the Church : and therefore it is very improperly deno- minated from him; or called [ One ] on that account : No more then all the Schools are one becaufe he is their Soveraign. It is the Common-wealth that is fpecified and individuated by th, Magiltrate as the Soveraign Power ; and not the Chur- ches.
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