bers of Chrift; I fay, whofoever do's any of thefe things, is a Schifmatic. Becaufe either he himself abftains from that Church Communion, which he ought to perform; or he keeps thofe from ChurchCommunion, whom he ought to admit.

Let us now fee, whether the Church of England be guilty of a Schifm from the Catholic Church, or no. That the Church of England is a part of the Catholic Church, is very easily prov'd. For 'tis granted by our Adverfaries, that they themselves do retain all the Fundamental Chriftian Doctrines, and all the Effentials of Chriftian Worship. Wherein then confifts the difference between the Church of England, and the Church of Rome? Why this is the difference; the Church of England rejects part of thofe things which the Church of Rome profeffes and maintains in the Trent Creed. Now I have abundantly prov'd in the fecond Part of this Book, that thofe things which we reject, are either abfolutely falfe, or forbidden in Scripture, or not contain'd in it; and confequently those things which the Church of England rejects, are neither Fundamental Chriftian Doctrines, nor Effentials of Chriftian Worship. Now fince our Adverfaries do acknowledge that they do retain all the Fundamentals and Effentials of Chriftianity; and fince we do receive whatsoever they maintain, except fome things that are neither Fundamentals nor Effentials: therefore 'tis plain that we profess and maintain all the Fundamental Chriftian Do&rines, and all the Effentials of Chriftian Worship. And confequently, we are a part of Christ's Body the Church; because, as I have already faid, whatsoever Perfon or Church (for a Church is a number of Perfons) retains all the Fundamental Doctrines of the Chriftian Religion, and all the

Effen

Effentials of Chriftian Worship, is a part of the Catholic Church.

Now fince the Church of England is a part of the Catholic Church; the next queftion is, whether fhe be a divided part, or no. If fhe be at all divided, it must be upon one of thefe accounts; either because the abftains from that Church-Communion, which fhe ought to perform: or because fhe keeps thofe Perfons from Church-Communion, whom the ought to admit. But I fhall fhew, that the Church of England is not chargeable with divifion either way.

1. She do's not abstain from that Church Communion which the ought to perform. She do's not declare thofe Perfons to be no Members of Chrift, or profefs her felf to be feparate from thofe Perfons, who are truly and indeed Members of Christ. She profeffes, and maintains, and upon all juft occafions fhews that the earneftly defires to preferve,an intire Communion and Fellowship with all the Chriftian World. 'Tis true, fhe do's not join with the Church of Rome in receiving false or forbidden, or groundless Doctrines; but is forc'd fo far to feparate from her for fear of offending God tho' fhe is heartily willing and defirous that all Papifts fhould join in her Worship and Sacra

ments.

2. She do's not drive any Perfons from joining in Communion with her, either impofing fuch terms of Communion as are unlawful, or otherwise keeping them from the Church. In a word, fhe joins with all thofe whom the can lawfully join with; and hinders none from joining with her. And how then can fhe be guilty of Schifm, who takes all poffible and lawful Methods to preferve the Unity of the Catholic Church? Y 4

There

There is, I confefs, a feparation between her and the Church of Rome : but to whom is it owing? Who is the caufe of the feparation? The Church of Rome will not join with her, because fhe will not comply with fuch things, as I have prov'd it unlawful to comply with: and for this reason the Church of Rome is divided from her. But in this cafe 'tis plain, that the Church of Rome is Schifmatical; and not the Church of England: because the Church of England would willingly join in Communion with the Church of Rome; but the Church of Rome by her unjust and wicked Impofitions, has made it utterly impoffible.

To conclude, the Church of England maintains Communion with all fuch parts of the Christian Church, as impofe no unlawful Terms of Communion; and therefore fhe is not Schifmatical. Let our Adverfaries therefore, if they defire to prove that the Church of England is Schifmatical, give us an inftance, where we break Communion with any fuch Church, as is willing to maintain Communion with us upon lawful terms.

CHA P. II.

The pretence of our many Divifions anfier'd.

SE

ECONDLY, 'tis pretended that there are many divifions in England, and therefore our Religion cannot be the Religion of Chrift. Because the Religion of Chrift is one and the fame, without any Divifions at all. Now 'tis true, that the Religion of Christ is one and the fame, without any Divifions at all; if by the Religion of Chrift we mean only thofe Doctrines and that practice

practice which Chrift requires of every Man in or der to Salvation by the Gofpel-Covenant: for 'tis certain that Chrift requires the fame conditions of falvation of all Mankind. But then to thefe Ef fentials of the Chriftian Religion fome things may be added, which are not Effential, and about which Contentions may arife; or else there may be quarrels concerning the due obfervation and practice even of the Effentials themfelves. Thus for inftance, we grant that the Church of Rome do's profefs the Religion of Chrift; but then we fay, that fhe has added fuch Corruptions, as make it neceffary for us to forfake her Communion: and thus amongst our felves, who have rejected the Errors of Rome, there are certain unjuft and unreasonable Quarrels concerning the obfervation and practice even of the Effentials of Chistianity. For 'tis acknowledg'd, that the Public Worship of God is an Effential part of Chriftianity; and we know that our Quarrels in England do refpect the Public Worfhip of God.

Wherefore, in anfwer to this objection against the Church of England, it must be confider'd by our Adverfaries, that the queftion at prefent is not, Which is the true Religion of Chrift? But it muft be fuppos'd that both the Papifts, and all the forts of Proteftants, do profefs the fame true Religion in fubftance; and the question is this, Which party Chriftians a Man ought to join with in this divided state the Chriftian Church?

Now I have fhewn, that a Man cannot lawfully join with the Church of Rome; because tho' fhe do's profefs the Chriftian Religion, yet fhe has made many wicked additions to it, with which a Man cannot comply with a good Confcience. Wherefore, fince the Chriftian Religion is ftill to

be retain❜d, 'tis neceffary that a Man fhould join with fome other Party of Chriftians. But with whom fhall be join? Why with thofe Chriftians, who do not impofe any unlawful terms of Communion with them. Now the eftablifh'd Church of England do'st not impofe unlawful terms of Communion; and confequently, 'tis his duty to join with the establifh'd Church of England.

But there are many Divifions in England; and all the Sects do condemn each other, and all of them cannot be in the right; and therefore how fhall a Perfon know to which of them he ought to adhere? Why the cafe is plain. 1. The establish & Church is easily known, and may be lawfully comply'd with: and therefore 'tis every Man's duty to comply with it. Now if it be every Man's duty to comply with the establifh'd Church; then 'tis a fin to feparate from it: and confequently, 'tis a fin for one that leaves the Church of Rome, to join in the feparation.

But may it not be faid, that none of the Parties in England are in the right, because they condemn each other? No furely; for 'tis poffible for one Party to be in the right, tho' many be in the wrong and therefore a Man muft endeavour to fearch and examine who is in the right, and who in the wrong.

In a word, the Papifts themselves, and the feveral forts of Chriftians in England, do profefs the true Religion of Chrift: but the Papists have corrupted the true Religion; and our fects do fin in a Schifmatical Practice of the true Religion, as reform'd from thofe Corruptions. Wherefore we muft not join with the Papifts, nor niuft we join with the English Schifmatics: but we may and ought to join with the establifh'd Church, which maintains Catbolic Communion.

CHAP.