THUS far the Author's Sermons upon the Creed. As to the remaining Articles, he hath only left a short Explication of them, like to that upon the Lord's Prayer, &c. And there needed not much more, considering that the Substance of these Articles had been treated of before: that of the Holy Catholic Church, and of the Communion of Saints, in his Discourse of the Unity of the Church, at the end of his Treatise of the Pope's Supremacy; and that of the Forgiveness of Sins, in his Sermons of Justification; and that of the Resurrection of the Body, in his Sermon of the Resurrection of Christ.

The Holy Catholic Church.

THIS article was, I conceive, adjoined or inferted here, upon occafion of these many herefies and fchifms, which from the beginning continually sprang up, to the danger of Christian doctrine, and disturbance of the Church; the introducers thereof meaning thereby to fecure the truth of religion, the authority of ecclefiaftical discipline, the peace and unity of the Church, by engaging men to dif claim any confent or confpiracy with any of thofe erroneous or contentious people, (who had devised new conceits, deftructive or dangerous to the faith, against the general confent of Chriftians, or drave on troublesome factions, contrary to the common order, and prejudicial to the peace of the Church.) Their meaning of this article therefore was, I take it, this: I believe, that is, I do adhere unto, (for belief, as we at first observed, is to be taken as the nature of the matter requireth,) or I am perfuaded that I ought to adhere unto, that body of Chris tians which, diffufed over the world, retains the faith which was taught, and the difcipline which was fettled, and the peace which was enjoined by our Lord and his disciples; I acknowledge the doctrines generally embraced by the churches founded and inftructed by the Apostles; I am ready to observe the received cuftoms and practices by them derived from apoftolical inftitution; I fubmit to the laws and disciplines by lawful authority established in them; I do persist in charity, concord, and communion with them.

And that men anciently fhould be obliged to profess thus, there is ground both in reafon and Scripture. In reason, there being no more proper or effectual argument

to affure us that any doctrine is true, or practice warrantable; no means more proper to convince fectaries, deviating from truth or duty, than the consent of all churches, of whom (being fo diftant in place, language, customs, humour; fo independent, or coordinate in power) it is not imaginable, that they fhould foon or easily confpire in forfaking the doctrines inculcated by the Apostles, or the practices inftituted by them; it is the argument which Irenæus, Tertullian, and other defenders of Christian truth and peace do prefs; and it may in matters of this kind pafs for a demonstration.

It hath alfo ground in Scripture; which as it foretels that pernicious herefies should be introduced; that many falfe prophets fhould arife, and feduce many; that grievous wolves should come in, not sparing the flock; that men should arife, fpeaking perverfe things, to draw difciples after them; as they warn us to take heed of fuch men, to reject and refufe heretics, to mark thofe which make divifions and Scandals befide the doctrine which Chriftians had learnt, and to decline from them; to fland off from fuch men as do repodidaoxaλeïv, that is, teach things different from apoftolical 1 Tim. vi. 3, 2 Tim. i. 13, doctrine, the doctrine according to godliness; as it enjoins 14. iii. 14, us to hold faft the form of found words heard from the Apofiles; to continue in the things which we have learned and been affured of, knowing of whom we learnt them; to Rom. vi, obey from the heart that form of doctrine into which weCor. xi. 2. were delivered; to keep the traditions as the Apoftles de- 2 Theff. ii. livered them to us; to fland faft, and hold the traditions 15. iii. 6. which we were taught, whether by word or writing; to firive earnefily for the faith once delivered to the faints; as it enjoins us to walk orderly, to obey our guides, or Jude 3. rulers; to purfue peace, to maintain concord; to abide in charity with all good Chriftians; as it declareth herefies, factions, contentions, and feparations to be the works of the flesh, proceeding from corrupt difpofitions of foul, (pride, covetoufness, vanity, rashness, inftability, perversenefs, craft, hypocrify, want of confcience;) fo it also describes the univerfality of them, who stick to the truth,

VOL. V,

Eph. iv. 3. and observe the law of Chrift, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; to be one body, knit together, and compacted of parts, affording mutual aid and supply to its nourishment and welfare; joined to, and deriving life, motion, fenfe, from one Head; informed by one Spirit; as one houfe, built upon the foundation of Prophets and Apofiles, Chrift himself being the corner ftone, in whom all the building is fitly framed and connected; as one family under one mafter; one city under one governor; one flock under one shepherd; one nation or people, fubject to the fame law and government, ufed to the fame speech, cuftom, and converfation; laftly, as one Church or congregation; for, as fometimes every particular affembly of funt etiam Chriftians, and fometimes a larger collection of particular Laici, ibi Ecclefia eft. focieties, combined together in one order, and under one Exh. Caft. government, are termed churches; fo the whole aggre

Ubi tres

Tertull.

gation of all particular churches, or of all Christian people, is frequently called the Church; even as the whole body of thofe who lived in the profeffion of obedience to the Jewish Law, which was a type of the Christian Church, is called ixxanola, the congregation.

In relation to which fociety, these are the duties which we here profefs ourselves obliged to, and in effect promise to obferve:

1. That we do and will perfift in the truth of Christian doctrine, delivered by our Saviour and his Apostles, attefted unto by the general confent of all Christians; avoiding all novelties of opinion deviating from apoftolical doctrine.

2. That we are obliged to maintain a hearty charity and good affection to all good Christians.

3. That we are bound to communicate with all good Christians, and all focieties fincerely profeffing faith, charity, and obedience to our Lord; fo as to join with them, as occafion fhall be, in all offices of piety; to maintain good correfpondence and concord with them.

4. That we should fubmit to the difcipline and order, fhould preferve the peace, and endeavour the welfare of that part thereof, wherein we live: for what of good or

harm is done to a member thereof, is alfo done to the whole.

5. That we should disavow and fhun all factious combinations whatever, of persons corrupting the truth of Christian doctrine, or disturbing the peace of the Church, or of any part thereof.

6. In fine, that we fincerely should wish in our hearts, earnestly pray for, and by our best endeavours promote the peace and profperity of the whole Catholic Church; whereof we profess ourselves members and children; fol- 2 Tim.ii.22. lowing, as St. Paul directs, righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with thofe that call upon our Lord with a pure

heart.