owning the Authority of our own Bishops who are their Successors and rule the Church in their stead Christ told the Apostles he would be Present with them to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. Being present with their Successors he calls being Present with them And in like sort keeping Fellowship with our Lawful Bishops who are their Successors is keeping Fellowship with them He that one sends saith the Jews is as himself And accordingly when Christ had sent out his Apostles he tells them he that receiveth you receiveth me Mat. 10. 40. and he that receives whomsoever I send receiveth me Joh. 13. 20. And the Apostle commends the Galatians that that they received him not only as an Angel of God but as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 14. And St. Ignatius that Blessed Martyr and contemporary of the Apostles applauds the Trallians that they were subject to their Bishop as to Jesus Christ and to the Presbytery as to the Apostles In Scripture Account and Legal estimate that is done to any Persons which is done to their Substitutes and Representatives And thus keeping Fellowship and Subjection to the Bishops of the Church in all Ages who were at first sent and commissioned by the Apostles and empowered to send and ordain others at all times is holding Fellowship and paying subjection to the Apostles themselves and by them to Christ Jesus Quest. This then is one Part of the Communion of Saints to live subject to our own Bishops not suffering our selves to be drawn away by such as would seduce us but adhering to them against all Schismatical Opposers Answ. Yes Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves Heb. 13. 17. And mark those that cause Divisions and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Be their Pretences and Appearance what they will if they lead us into Schism and an unnecessary Rejecting of our Lawful Governours God hath not sent nor doth his Spirit go along with them That cannot lead to Schism it is the Author of Peace not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. It will not put us upon a needless rejecting of our Spiritual Governours since Adherance to them in the Apostles Days as I noted before was made a Test of discerning True Spirits from False ones We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4. 6. Quest. But if a Man is careful to Believe and Practise Christ's own Laws and Doctrines is not that enough to make him a good Christian except he likewise submit to Church-Rulers and peaceably conform to their innocent Constitutions and Rules of Discipline Answ. No. For this is one of his Laws to obey those that have the Rule over us and watch for our Souls and to submit our selves Heb. 13. 17. He orders them to take care that all things in his Worship be done decently and to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26 40. And he requires us to obey and submit to their ordering A good Christian is not only one that believes and professes the Christian Religion but is also a Member of the Christian Church And they cannot be good Church-members who will not submit so far as conscionably they may to Church-Governours nor Communicate in Church-Offices Quest. I see the Communion of Saints implies their Communion in Christian Doctrine Worship and Government But doth it not also imply Communicating not only in Affections but in all Good Offices in Alms and outward Things Answ. Yes to do Good and to Communicate forget not Heb. 13. 16. And the Receiving their charitable Contributions St. Paul calls taking upon him the Gift and Fellowship or Communion of Ministring to the Saints 2 Cor. 8. 4. In the extream distress of the Jerusalem Christians at first this communication of Alms was wonderful For all that were Rich sold their Pessessions and put them into a Common Stock to be distributed by the Apostles as every one had need Act. 2. 44 45. and c. 4. 33 34. And in other places where they did not take this course yet was Communicating as in all good Offices so particularly in outward Things with their poorer Brethren the Profession of all Christians Their Rule was as they had opportunity to do Good unto all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. And to do good to these more particularly when they travelled about as Strangers and fled from place to place for the Faith of Christ which is the Charity and Hospitality of the Scriptures so much magnified Quest. When any Saints then of Foreign Countries are forced to fly and come among us for Christ's sake to entertain them in our Houses and communicate to them of our Substance which is here professed is of Great Account with God Answ. Yes of high Account For it is one of those Good Deeds which Christ will expresly mention in our behalf at the last Judgment Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom for I was a Stranger and ye took me in Mat. 25. 34 35. And therefore St. Paul when he tells us of distributing to the necessities of Saints reminds us particularly of being given to Hospitality Rom. 12. 13. CHAP. X. Of the Forgiveness of Sins The Contents What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of sins Quest. WHat is the Tenth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe the Forgiveness of Sins Quest. What is Sin Answ. The Breach of a Commandment or a Transgression of some Law of God committing what his Law forbids or omitting what it injoins us Sin is the Transgession of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And all the Laws of God which we transgress in sinning against him are contain'd in Holy Scripture Quest. Then we never offend God nor shall suffer for any thing but what the Scripture has forbid and against which we can produce some Law out of it Answ. No for Sin is not imputed where there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. And it must always be a Law that worketh Wrath i. e. makes us liable to suffer it For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. The strength of sin is the Law saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Law enter'd e're sin did abound Rom. 5. 20. Quest.
himself in all things towards them and was correspondently treated by them as a Brother In any common Debates and particularly in the Council of Jerusalem he did not so much as preside as St. James there seems rather to have done but as an Equal gave his Reasons and his Voice among them Act. 15. 7. When his actings seem'd very Novel and Doubtful as his going in to Cornelius and his Gentile Friends the Brethren of the Circumcision freely required an Account thereof and stifly contended with him Act. 11. 2. And when they were really Blame-worthy as his dissimulation was at Antioch St Paul like his Com-Peer Apostle openly withstood and rebuked him Gal. 2. 11 12 13 14. These with sundry other like Passages shew how unknown such Universal Headship was in the Apostles time And the same may be made appear of the Church in the Ages following But that visible Unity which all Christians were obliged to endeavour after in the Church was preserv'd as I say by their joint readiness to communicate externally as Brethren not by a profest subjection of all Churches to one Visible Head and submitting to his Authority and Jurisdiction Quest. In this one Church indeed as it follows in the Creed there must be a Communion of Saints what is meant by Saints Answ. Christians By their Enemies they were styled Hereticks or Nazarenes But the Names they gave themselves were the Elect the Brethren the Christians or many times the Saints as is very commonly seen in the inscriptions or salutations of the Epistles writ to them by the holy Apostles Quest. And what is the Communion of these Saints or Christians Answ. Their joining in common in those things which make them Christians or in the common Offices and concerns of Christianity There must be Communion because of their Unity as one Body And this Communion must be in something sensible to shew a visible Unity which the World shall see and reflect upon as I noted from our Saviour Quest. In what doth this Communion consist Answ. In adhering to the same Doctrine Government and Worship both in Prayers and Sacraments For in these St. Luke places the Communion of the Primitive Church They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and breaking of Bread and in Prayers Act. 2. 42. Quest. How must they keep to the same Faith and Doctrine Answ. By adhering to the Holy Scriptures which ought to be every where the same Rule of it And this Unity of Faith requiring not only that they inwardly believe the same things but also that they outwardly profess that Belief to make Unity in this Profession in the first days there is mention of its being drawn up into a Form of Sound words 2 Tim. 1. 13. This Form was as some think the Apostles Creed which contains all that Catholick Doctrine that is necessary to make any Man a Good Christian and which accordingly has been always received as the Form in Baptism the most learned not professing more thereat nor the most ignorant less through all Ages of the Church Quest. This united Adherence to the same Rule and Form will keep up a visible Union in Faith or Doctrine But how can they all be thus united in Prayers and Devotions not having one and the same Forms of Prayer and Liturgies Answ. By making them all according to the same Rules and for the same intents and purposes For all their Prayers are put up to one and the same God for one and the same common mercies on the same common terms and expectations through the same common Merits and Mediation and with the same common Affection and Brotherly concern for each other Which make them in Substance the same Worship and Devotions though put up in far distant places or in different Forms of expression or Languages Quest. According to what you said before of the Unity of the Church the Members of this one Body must not only worship and pray like each other but be ready to worship and pray together But how can we communicate or joyn in the use of Prayers and Sacraments with all Christians who are so far spread and widely distant in their Habitations Answ. With Foreigners we are bound to joyn only as we meet with them When we happen to be amongst them or they amongst us to shew we are all of the same Body and that the Church is one we must mutually Associate in worship and receive each other to Communion not sticking at any different Rites and usages we find in other Churches whilst there is no Sin in them And as for the Christians of our own Country there is no difficulty of joining thus in Worship yea and Government too with them because we are all under the same Laws and spiritual Guides and live among them Quest. Do you lay much weight upon Publick Prayers and think the People ought to place much in attending the Churches Service and Praying along with the Minister Answ. Yes For though God is ready to hear any Good man by himself alone Yet for the Countenance of the Publick Worship and the maintenance of good order he sets particular marks of Favour on those Prayers which are offer'd to him in Publick in concurrence with his Minister Thus in the Jewish Law he appointed the Priests to Offer and burn incense twice a Day for a Daily Service the end whereof was to present those Prayers which the People offer'd up during this Ministration as a sweet smell to God in these Perfumes And David when he would desire a great Recommendation to his Prayers begs they may come fortifi'd with this advantage to be set forth in God's sight like Incense Psal. 141. 2. In like manner the four and twenty Elders in the Revelations that is the Bishops or Pastors of the Church are represented as having every one like the Jewish Priests Golden Vials full of Odors which are the Prayers of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. And when any Persons in sickness would have Recourse to Prayers St. James directs them to present them by their Pastors and send for the Elders of the Church Jam. 5 14. And Jesus Christ that Angel who at the Golden Altar offers up the Prayers of all Saints is set out particularly as presenting those Prayers of theirs which came up with the smoke of incense Rev. 8. 3 4. Not to mention the many other Advantages of Publick Prayer as its being an addressing to God in a Body and united Number which in all Addresses is confessedly a way of most Force and Power and among them perhaps in conjunction with some of the best Souls and very likely with several more Holy and dearer to him than our selves for whose sake he may be more like to hear our joint supplications as he would hear Job for his Friends when he would not accept either their Prayer or Sacrifice at their own hands Job 42. 7 8. And therefore it is a most fond
any Church locks up her Publick Prayers and Offices in an unknown Tongue good People must seek out another where they may offer up the same Services in a Language their Spirits can joyn in and Worship as the Scripture requires to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26. We must not separate as I said from a sound Church only because it seems less edifying But we must separate when there is no Devotion but what is directly contrary to Edification Quest. If we may not separate where there are such real Faults in a Church then much less for the dislike of received Customs Rites and Usages when confessedly as you said in indifferent matters Answ. Most certainly To rend the Body and make disturbance for light things shews an ill Member in all Societies Not to yield to an innocent Custom as I noted before from St. Paul shews a man to be no lover of peace but a lover of contention 1 Cor. 11. 16. Nay if any man would shew himself a Catholick Christian he must not only readily comply with the indifferent Rites and Usages of his own Church which has Authority over him but as he has occasion to pass by them or converse among them with the Usages of other Churches or Christians tho' very different from his own so long as there is no sin in them a Catholick Christian must have a Catholick Spirit and be ready to shew he owns all other Christians 'till they are regularly cast out of Christ's Church for Brethren and fellow-members and never stick out from exercising with them the common Christianity whereby all Christians serve and honour Christ by reason of the particular Rites in any Church or Place which are no offence to him Quest. If we may not lawfully separate from a Church whose Constitution has some Faults yea some great ones as were among the Churches in the Apostles times I suppose we may much less separate when the Church it self in its constitution is faultless meerly for the ill and scandalous Lives of its Members Answ. Most certainly And accordingly St. Paul is most severe against the Schisms at Corinth tho' in the same Church he complains of the horrible prophaneness of many among them who came drunk to the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11. 21. and of the Wraths Envyings Strifes Back-bitings Swellings Tumults unrepented Uncleanness Laciviousness and Fornication for which he feared God would humble him when he came among them 2 Cor. 12. 20 21. The Church of God in all times under the Ancient Patriarchs and afterwards in the Nation of the Jews was a mixt Society of good and bad livers And in Christianity it is compared to a Net that catches Fish of every kind and to a Field sown with Tares as well as Wheat and wherein both must grow together till the Great and General Harvest 'T is always its misfortune here together with some true Saints to have some Hypocritical Professors So that were we to separate from a good Church for this Cause we must separate from all Churches and could hold Communion with no Church on Earth And therefore men must never think of leaving a good Church because it happens to have some corrupt People or scandalous Ministers From the Sins we must separate which give the scandal but unite and adhere to the Church which condemns them the good must not desert it because the bad will not obey and be ruled by it Quest. But what if it doth not use the Rod of Discipline to correct them Answ. We are not to separate notwithstanding as the Apostles told the Churches where the Sins were too strong And the Sinners too numerous for Discipline or the Pastors too remiss in using it Thus the Pastors were at Corinth who instead of mourning over the incestuous Person were rather puff'd up with him 1 Cor. 5. 2. And yet for all this St. Paul would not bear to hear of any tendenoies towards Schism among them 1 Cor. 3. 3. Thus also it was at Pergamus where several were infected with the scandalous Doctrines of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2. 15. and at Thyatira where the followers of Jezabel the False Prophetess were suffer'd to go on in their Spiritual Fornication and Sacrificing to Idols v. 20. And in other Churches which either out of necessity or neglect relaxed the reins of Discipline and tolerated scandalous Persons in the Apostles own times But yet no plea for separation would ever be admitted by them on this pretence In these cases the Church must answer for the neglect of its power and scandalous Sinners for the scandals they give but as for any private Christians whilst they neither help on their scandals nor imitate them their Consciences are not defiled with them Besides the growth of Schism has been one of the greatest weakners of Discipline one Congregation admitting and harbouring men when another rejects them And therefore to pretend want of Discipline for separation is not only a most dis-ingenuous thing but the way to bring Discipline which they complain of as too little already to be none at all Quest. By what you have discoursed on this Point I perceive we are never Guilty of Schism in separating from any Church when we have just cause But that all breaking off from any Part of Christ's Body is Schismatical which is Causeless Answ. Yes And so is all Driving others into Separation by imposing sinful Terms as the Condition of their Communion And then which is the last thing I shall note concerning it Schism from any Churches is most compleat when we do not only separate from their Religious Assemblies and Divine Offices but withal deny them to be Members of Christ's Body or Parts of the Catholick Church This is the Highest step in Separation and leaves not the least Ground for Church-Communion For 't is only the Members of Christ's Body that must Communicate under him their Head in the proper Offices of Christianity and the Communion of Saints profess'd in the Creed is only within the compass of the Catholick Church So that if we cut off any Societies from being Members of Christ and a true Church we must have no more Communion with them than if they were profest Heathens And this was the Sacrilegious Breach of the Donatists and Novatians the Consummation of whose Schism was their confining the Catholick Church to their own Party and allowing no Church no Sacraments or Promise of Salvation but among themselves Quest. There remains yet one instance of the Communion of the Primitive Christians mentioned by St. Luke viz. Continuing in the Apostles Fellowship Act. 2. 42. I pray you what is meant by that Answ. Owning their Authority and continuing under their Government They were appointed by Christ as his Deputies to Govern his Church and therefore adhering to them as the Delegates of Christ is call'd living in their Fellowship Quest. But how can we live in their Fellowship and adhere to their Government now they are dead Answ. By adhering to and
please God and go to Heaven But do you suppose that some may still be Prophets and have Revelations about other things Answ. Perhaps they may about Particular accidents to particular Persons or Families or about great Revolutions to States or Empires As to these Matters it is not for me to stint the kindness and care of God or to determine what intimations he may sometimes vouchsafe from the other World. And if any wise sober and good men by the forcibleness of the impression on their minds after the Prophetick way which convinces and satisfies themselves and by the correspondence of events which may satisfie others find they have any such thing I shall not withstand them and so long as they do not offer these to innovate in Religion the Revelations of the Scripture are no bar against them Quest. You have fully explained this first miraculous Gift of the Holy Ghost the Gift of inspirations Were there any other miraculous Gifts subservient to it which you would explain to me under this Head Answ. Yes First the Gift of discerning Spirits i. e. among all the Pretenders to inspiration who spoke true inspirations and who meer pretences of it or Satanical delusions We have received the Spirit of God saith St. Paul which reveals to us the Things of God. And he that is Spiritual judgeth all Things that are pretended by others yet he himself is judged of no man i. e. they who want his Spirit cannot judge of him For who i. e. of those who want this Spirit hath known the mind of the Lord to discern when another meerly pretends to it 1 Cor. 10. 12 15 16. And this Gift of Discerning Spirits was very necessary in that Age to warn the Church against False Prophets For when there was such a commonness of true Revelations it gave the greatest opportunity to Diabolical Enthusiasts or wicked Impostors to obtrude their inventions or delusions upon the Church hoping they should pass for inspirations among the crowd of others Now are there many False Phrophets gone out into the World saith St. John which makes it necessary not to believe every Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. Quest. This Gift indeed was necessary to discover them before the Scriptures were written but when once they had them could not any Christians thereby detect Impostors without the Gift of discerning Spirits Answ. Yes and so St. John and the other Apostles in their Epistles gave ordinary Rules for this purpose One of these Rules was confessing Christ to be come in the Flesh. Try the Spirits says he whether they be of God and hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God and every one that denys it is not of God 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. and 2 Joh. 7. Another Rule was their submission to the Apostles and Governours of the Church since God would inspire no man to break Unity and make needless Schisms We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour 1 Joh. 4. 6. But the most comprehensive Rule of all was their agreement or dissonancy with the Holy Scriptures as I noted before and the Revelations of the undoubted Apostles If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the Things which I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14. 37. But if any Man or Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that you have received already let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. Quest. What other miraculous Gifts besides this of Discerning Spirits were subservlent to this Gift of inspirations Answ. Secondly the Gift of utterance i. e. of assurance fluency and volubility of speech whereby they were enabled to declare and make known their Revelations to advantage This St. Paul desired the Colossians to beg of God for him Praying for us that God would open to us a Door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak Col. 4. 3 4. Under which is comprehended that miraculous boldness which these poor men shew'd to admiration in asserting undauntedly a most exploded Cause in the face of their numerous and potent Adversaries That utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 19 20. Quest. Was this miraculous Boldness a Gift bestowed upon the Old Prophets Answ. Yes it was a part of that Spirit of Fortitude the Jewish Writers speak of wherewith God armed a Prophet before he sent him with a difficult and perillous Message in which he might foresee the greatest terrour and dread of men to stop his Mouth Thus God told Ezekiel when he sent him to the impudent and hard-hearted Israelites Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads As an Adamant harder than Flint have I made thy Fore-head Fear them not neither be dismayed at their Looks though they be a Rebellious House Ezek. 3. 8 9. Thus also he bid Jeremiah speak and not be dismayed at their Faces for he had that Day made him a defenced City an Iron Pillar and Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah the Princes the Priests and the People thereof Jer. 1. 8 17 18 19. Quest. And did the Holy Ghost give this miraculous Boldness to the Apostles Answ. Yes in a wonderful measure They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with Boldness Act. 4. 31. And when the Jewish Rulers saw the Boldness of Peter and John asserting freely the Power and Authority of Jesus and taxing them openly as his wicked Murderers to their very Faces they marvelled ver 10 11 12 13. Quest. Had they this boldness of Spirit at all times Answ. No. For at Corinth St. Paul says of himself that he was with them in Weakness and Fear and much Trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. In some great Dangers and pressing Necessities their Natural Fears would return upon them to trouble them for some time Thus it sometimes happen'd to St. Paul where he expected the most perillous opposition for after the hardships and hazards he had run through at Philippi and at Thessalonica expecting the like at Corinth too he was with them as he says in much trembling and so discouraged that he needed a Revelation to embolden him Act. 18. 1 9 10. And thus it did especially if at such time he were alone and had not his Companions with him When he came into Macedonia whilst he was by himself his Flesh had no Rest but he was troubled on every side without were fightings and within were fears But as soon as his Coadjutor Titus came to him he took heart and God who
The Church is Catholick as containing all Places and Persons but it is not universal as to some Acts which being done any where are valid and equally bind every where Answ. Yes it is Catholick in the Admission into its Baptism which being duly administred in one Church makes a man free of the whole Christian Society and gives him a Right to all Christian Priviledges in all other Churches So that go where he will every Church shall own him for a Christian and admit him to Communion without requiring him to be Baptised over again Quest. So that a true member of Christ who is allow'd to Pray and receive the Sacrament in one Church ought to be allowed the same in every Church Answ. Yes and so they were in ancient times when upon producing their Certificates and Commendatory Letters from their own Churches Strangers and Travellers were owned as Brethren and admitted to Communion in the remotest Places Quest. And is it not fit they should seek this Communion wheresoever they pass Answ. Yes very fit to shew themselves true Catholicks and that they own the Christians of all other places as Brethren and Fellow-members But this must be only where they may be admitted to Communion upon lawful terms For when Churches will suffer none to Pray or Communicate with them without professing some Errors or joyning in some forbidden Practice there is no seeking to associate with such Assemblies Quest. Can you shew this Catholick efficacy in other Acts Answ. Yes not to insist on others secondly in excluding Persons out of the Church by Excommunication For if a man is justly excommunicated in one Place the Church as I shall shew being but one that is valid and ought to stand till he is duly loosed and reconciled again in all places He is cast out by Christ who for any unchristian Practices is regularly and justly bound or excommunicated by the Church of Christ for whatsoever you bind or retain on Earth saith he shall be bound and retain'd in Heaven Joh. 20. 23. and Mat. 18. 18. And whilst Christ himself rejects 't is not for any other Church of Christ to receive him And thus it was in the Ancient Church where if any for Heretical stubbornness or lewd Lives were cut off from Christ by their own Church no other Churches would admit them 'till they had made their peace again And to prevent any over-sight and unwary Communion with an Excommunicate Person when any Strangers and Travellers especially whom they had ground to suspect came to them from Foreign parts they would not admit them to joyn in their Church-Offices till they produced their Communicatory Letters to certifie their being in Communion with their own Churches And this must make all good Christians extreamly careful by all innocent ways to keep the peace of their own Church and never contumaciously provoke or proudly slight it presuming if it casts them out they may do as well by being let in and harboured by others Which if all Christ's Members really believed Church Discipline would not be so precarious a thing nor would any think as I fear too many do that a Church is beholding to them for sticking to her and keeping in her Communion Quest. What is it to Believe the Holy Catholick Church Answ. Not only to believe there is such a Church but also agreeable to that belief in all those Acts which declare our Union with it to adhere to it as its Members against all Factious Innovators and Dividers Quest. Is this Church but one Body Answ. No. For we are call'd to peace in one Body Col. 3. 15. and there is but one Body as one Spirit one Lord one Baptism Eph 4. 4 5. Quest. And is it to be one by an External Visible Unity Answ. Yes for an external Union in the common Offices and Advantages of the Society must shew it to be what the Sripture calls it one Body It must have such an Union as may be taken notice of by Men and from whence they will say Christians are all of one Religion I pray not for these alone but for all that shall believe on me through their word That they may all be one and that so visibly that the World may see it and thereby know and believe that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Joh. 17. 20 21 22 23. And this visible union is their maintaining one Communion and Church-Fellowship i. e. their readiness to Pray and Communicate together and join in all Acts of Christian Worship Faith and Charity with each other By this shall all Men know that you are my Disciples if ye love one another If ye Love one another i. e. if ye love so as to unite not only in Faith and Affection but in Worship too and pray and communicate together For a readiness to worship God together must shew as much as any thing their unity in Discipleship and that they are all Servants of one and the same Lord and Master Joh. 13. 35. And accordingly Prayers and Sacraments are set down among the Bonds of Union which compact together the Members of this one Church Of the Eucharist says St. Paul we being many are made one Body by being all partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10. 17. And of Baptism we are all Baptized into one Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. and as many as have been Baptized into Christ are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 27 28. And among those various ways whereby the Church becomes one Body he lays down as one Faith which they all Profess So one Baptism whereof they all partake one God and Father of all whom they all invocate with one Hope and one Lord whom they all serve and worship Eph. 4. 4 5 6. Quest. Doth this visible union imply a profest subjection of the whole Church to one visible Head the Bishop of Rome Answ. No that is a Title too haughty to be assumed and a Power too extensive to be managed by any one Person Besides in Scripture there is not the least mention of this universal Headship No not in the Lists of Church-Powers and Ministrations where this which is the highest of all others could not be left out Nor in Silencing any Heresies or deciding any Controversies and Disputes of which there was great number then in the Church and for determination whereof as it ought to have been used so 't is not conceivable had it then been owned but the Apostles would have directed and sent men to it or the Litigants themselves would have appeal'd to its sentence Among the Apostles our Blessed Lord precludes all pretence to such Power telling the Twelve when they were at Strife who should be highest in Empire and Lordship that one of them should not bear Rule and exercise Authority over the rest Luke 22. 24 25 26. And as for St. Peter in particular he set up no claim of Power over the other Apostles but bore