THE REUNITING OF Christianity OR The Manner how to rejoin all Christians under one sole Confession of Faith Written in French by a Learned Protestant Divine And now Englished by P. A. Gent. LONDON Printed by John Winter for William Gilbert at the Half Moon in Saint Pauls Church-yard 1673. THE AUTHORS PREFACE IF it be a great cause of grief to all true Christians to see the sacred Religion which the Son of God brought down from Heaven to the Earth miserably torn in pieces by so many several Sects which heretofore have and who still divide it at this present If all these different Confessions of Faith which dismember the spouse of Jesus Christ do extraordinarily afflict all pious Souls surely these pious Souls should conceive no less grief at this that hitherto there has never been any that has undertaken to apply a healing remedy to these wounds that has attempted with success the cure of so great an evil It seems no more to be thought of but as an evil to be deplored and absolutely incurable Every one thinks himself straightly bound to stick to his old principles and preconceived opinions every one flatters himself in his own thoughts and believes that he possesses the Truth and is in the right way after which he looks no more upon others but with some kind of aversion or at least with pity They in the judgment of him and his party are as so many unfortunate creatures ready to tumble down an unavoidable precipice they are considered as people that are only sit to be the subject of the prayers which are offer'd up for miserable wretches or of the complaints w ch are formed against their unhappiness Neither are those looked upon who would undertake to remedy this but as idle Projectors and fantastical persons like Mountebanks who promise the Cure of those Diseases that are given over by the most skilful Physicians I know very well that many have studyed to find out a means of according some of these Sects to reunite certain persons together who have been engag'd in them and who on this account have reciprocally entertained most implacable feuds against each other There have been divers Writings published for endeavouring an accommodation between the Roman Catholicks Protestants they have attempted to reconcile those of the Confession of Ausburg vulgarly stiled Lutherans with those other called Calvinists but there have commonly been other interests than those of the Glory of God intermixed in these enterprises It has rather been by a principle of Policy than by any motive of Conscience and desire of the salvation of Souls that these designs have been set on foot whence it has happened that God has turned his Blessing from them and made the success not to answer the greatness of the design Some likewise not aiming at any thing herein more than how they might make ane asier passage more plausible revolt from one Communion to another have only studied to weaken the foundation of their former opinions and strengthen that of their new ones which they have an intention to embrace There is also this in it that men do not ordinarily attempt but to remedy some effects without ascending up to the principal cause and only source of all this evil just like those ignorant Physicians who unskilfully labour to cure some of the Symptoms of Diseases without applying any thing to the grand original Cause on the curing whereof depends all its consequences There was a Preface of a Book printed some years since in the Low Countries which touched this matter and seemed to aim at a general reconciliation of all Christians by means of a charitable allowance and and a mutual toleration But besides that it was but by the by that the Author treated upon this important Subject It seems that not having ascended up to the spring head of all these Divisions he has not contrived any proper way for the Reconciliation which he proposes nor has rightly distinguished between what is fundamental in Christian Religion and what is not to let us see last of all in what things we should have this charity one towards another And we reject also the means which is most important towards the attaining to so good an end whilst we refuse to disingage our selves from whatsoever may render it unfruitful as I shall shew you in its proper place It was in the search of this that I have for some years since applyed my self to so diligent and serious meditation I utterly cast off at the instant all former opinions of my own and prejudices against others which might be any obstacle to me in so laudable a design I disingaged my self for a time of all things whatsoever of any Communion of Christians which was singular and which separated it self from others And I believed that in examining carefully the things wherein they all agreed I might discern with a more disinterested eye that which would be for the common good I then considered with the greatest exactness that I was able the Nature Greatness and lamentable Effects of this miserable Division of Christians I observed at the same time how inestimable would all those goods and all those advantages be which would arise from their reuniting into one the same Confession of Faith and reconciliation of their minds into the same Communion After that I diligently considered with an intire applying my mind what could be the causes of so deplorable a misfortune I have ascended the best I could to the very fountain head of this evil where I suppose I have made some discoveries which without question will be relished by those who shall look upon them without interest In short I am verily persuaded that after all my endeavours nay continual prayers have been heard by the Goodness and Bounty of the God of Peace I hope that through the Blessing of Heaven I have met with the true and only remedy of this evil that is to say the sole means of reconciling together all those who make profession of Christianity and who are perswaded that the Doctrine of the Gospel which is comprised in the Scriptures of the New Testament is delivered to us from God and that it contains what we should know believe and do for our salvation So that as soon as we shall religiously reunite in those matters which it prescribes to us we shall be in a ready way of attaining to the mark which it proposes to us At least I may with truth say that since that very time I have found for my own part a great calmness of Spirit I have not any more since that looked upon Christian Doctrine to be difficult knotty charged and encumbred with an infinite number of subtil questions critical and unprofitable notions These are the very things that have made it to pass unknown having utterly disfigured its natural Beauty This is it that has given it a face altogether new and strange and I dare say that if Saint Paul
repugnant to the design which I have in hand as the prejudices wherewith it may be looke upon for they are these prejudices which have so much fomented and strengthened this Division and which would also be capable to destroy the fruit that might be hoped for from this project So I have on this occasion endeavâ—ured as much as in me lay not to give the least hint that should seem to favour any prejudice whatsoever I have avoided as a dangerous rock giving the least suspicion that I am interested for any party and content my self without taxing any one in particular to blame in general whatsoever hath caused these Divisions and whatsoever entertains them at present 'T is for this reason that I have not been spurred on to this design by any motive of Vanity as to acquire the glory of having undertaken an enterprise which never any man proposed before and likewise to take away all distrusts which my Profession or my Condition might give For I know well enough that if the Protestants did believe that this project had been contrived by a Roman Catholick and especially by a Clergy man of that Religion they would think partially on it and that it was already engaged by interest to favour those of their Communion and on the contrary if the Roman Catholicks were perswaded that it was the work of a Protestant or of a Greek they would immediately reject it And without doubt the aversion that they have to those whom they pretend are out of the Church would make them refuse the most saving remedies because it would be presented them by a suspected hand it is just as a sick person takes not but with great fear any Medicine which is ordered him by a Physician whom he mistrusts The same might be said of all other Communions which are found amongst Christians they look upon one another with so much Jealousie and Suspicion that only the very thought that so laudable a design had been laid by a person who was not of their Communion would be sufficient to make them reject it without any further examination But to draw to a conclusion I doubt not but that some coming to consider the nature of the remedy which I propose for the cure of this evil shall esteem it but as a thing easie to conceive that they will say this Idea was no more than what any man might have thought on that it is a project which at the first is very specious and which finds no great difficulties at a slight consideration of it but which will meet with such as are unconquerable if any one undertakes to set it on foot But besides the great advantage it is to have a means of fancying such an Idea as is accompanyed by that of peace and concord the only names of which are capable of exciting an abundance of joy in the hearts of all men I hope so to unmask this design and discover such a face that all shall understand the foundation the possibility and great advantage thereof For I pretend not to put an end to this great work without answering to the principal objections which may be made against it And I do promise as I have said before another Treatise wherein in case this shall be favourably received I will propose a means how to make this project succeed I shall let you see how the power and authority of those must be employed who are in a capacity of working successfully in it And I beseech God to send down his blessing hereupon and guide all to his Glory to the good of his Church and to the comfort of all those good Souls who shall sigh after so holy a Reunion ET nunc miror maxime usque antehac miratus sum eo plerosque Christianos esse ingenio ut inter se concordiam colere non possint quod mihi in monstri loco esse videtur Cum enim eam religionem sectentur qua nihil unquam fuit nec unquam erit aut sanctius aut simplicius aut ad humanitatem accommodatum magis illi tamen inter se ita vivunt ut tigres ursos pantheras leonesque ac rabiosos canes in unam caveam conclusos dicas Hincque adeo faclum ut jamdiu mihi sit persuasissimum qui ita sunt eos nihil minus esse quam Christianos etiamsi tales se haberi postulent Neque enim internecinis odiis turpissimis opprobriis ac atrocissimis calumniis ferro denique ac flammis ut fit alii adversus alios grassarentur amorem Dei ac proximi charitatem violarent queis sublatis nihil aliud fuerit Christianismus quam nomen inane vana aliqua species quae contemplantis otium oblectet Id apud me cum nuper ut saepe alias non sine gravissima indignatione dolorem optato allatus ist hic libellus sine omni scriptoris nomine in quo tantam utilitatem reperi ut si quod tam diuturno ac pene immedicabili malo adhiberi remedium possit id illius ope eventurum esse arbitrer Eum certe ita probavi ut repentino mentis instinctu percussus meum de illo judicium his versibus incluserim non sine votis ut te Lector Christianum esse bona side ostendas Et siet spero ubi scriptoris mentem consilium pernoveris Marc. IX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DEscende summis Pax alma polis Celeresque per aethera purum Extende pennas Frondenti nitidum caput Impediens olivâ Jam satis O nimium satis Te juga Olympi Et Long a exilia Et dirae scelerum facies ac tristia bella Aversam tenuere Aude itaquo oblitas nunc Diva revisere terras Christiadumque genus genus irritabile placa Concordes illis mittens per pectora sensus Laeta redi Virgo tecum unà Astraea redibit Mâ—lliaque inter se traducent otia gentes Dissidiis odiisque procul Te turba Acherontis Te bellona tremet venientem magnus easdem Sub te sacra canens Orbis venerabitur aras Fia age jam cernes divelsa abreptaque membra Et corpus lacerum in sedes rediisse priores Donique jam Christo redivivum reddere Christum Et secura potes Nam lato limite fertur Hic liber aversosque animos tibi Sancta reducit Per populos jam juradabis Te quisque canemus Et tua tam densis stabunt altaria donis Vt te rellicts â—encant oblivia Coeli Et dubites posthac â—um secula laeta videbis Sideribus Terrae praestent an sidera Terris THE CONTENTS The First Part. Of the Division which is among Christians and of its Consequences CHAP. I. OF the nature and greatness of this Division Page 1 CHAP. II. The first Effect of this Division Disquiet of mind and trouble of conscience p. 15 CHAP. III. The Second Effect of this Division That it destroys the study of Holiness and especially the practice of charity 26 CHAP. IV. The Third Effect
of this Division That it makes men irreligious and causes Atheism 35 CHAP. V. The Fourth Effect of this Division That it keeps back all those who are without and breeds in them a dislike of Christian Religion 44 CHAP. VI. The Fifth Effect of this Division Trouble in Church and State The Second Part. Of the Causes of this Division which is among Christians CHAP. I. THat the frame and temper of mens Minds doth much contribute to this evil p. 69 CHAP. II. That there has never yet been made a true distinction in Christian Religion of what is really essential and fundamental and what is not 80 CHAP. III. That men have departed from the true fundamentals of Christian Religion to take up others which have nothing of solidity in them and which put these divisions among Christians 88 CHAP. IV. That the dislike which has been had at the simplicity of Christian Religion has been an occasion that meâ— have given it a different â—â—â—â—ct frâ—m that which it had in its â—â—â—inning 97 CHAP. V. That many do make use of Religion to serve their particular interests and the advantages of a temporal life 106 The Third Part. Of the proper means to reunite all Christians into one sole communion CHAP. I. Of the ill means that has been made use of hitherto for putting a remedy to the evil of this Division 117 CHAP. II. The first mean To lay aside all prejudices and to throw off all particular interests that so nothing may be proposed by us but the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls 128 CHAP. III. The second means That we should not have for our direction more than one known and generally approved Rule for all Christians to walk by 142 CHAP. III. The third means Rightly to distinguish between the Doctrines which the Holy Scriptures propound to be believed by all true Christians and what regards only the outward Government of the Church and its ceremonies 150 CHAP. V. The fourth means To distinguish between that which the Scriptures proposes to us to believe as Doctrine of Salvation that which it delivers to us as Histories of things which have happened and that which it reports to us as predictions of things to come 163 CHAP. VI. Fifth Advice Touching the Mysteries of Christian Religion which we must believe as being revealed in the Holy Scriptures and concerning the distinction which must be made of them 170 CHAP. VII What ways must be follow'd to facilitate the execution of this design 186 CHAP. VIII Answers to the Objections and Difficulties which may be formed against this design 199 CONCLUSION Profits and advantages which might be hoped for from this Project 218 THE RE-VNITING OF CHRISTIANITY The First Part. Of the Division which is among Christians and of its Consequencies CHAP. I. Of the Nature and Greatness of this Division WHen St. Paul said That it was necessary there should be Heresies amongst us to the end that such as are approved might be made manifest His words must not be taken as if he would by an extravagant Paradox Authorize the diversity of Opinions in Christianity For his design was never to favour the Authors of Sects and Heads of Patties by imposing silence to those who would remedy Divisions and put a stop to their sad consequencies But he declares plainly what we must expect from the ill disposition of the spirits of Men from the high esteem which they have of their own sufficiency and from their inclination to render themselves considerable by some singular Opinions in matters of Religion He designs by the same means to make us see how the providence of God which draws good out of evil and light out of the thickest darkness takes occasion from thence to distinguish such as appeartain to him making appear by this contradiction of sinners the constancy of the Servants of God and their generous resistance to all sorts of temptations and tryals It is in this sence also that Jesus Christ declares to us the necessity of scandals and tribulations arising in the Church and that he is come to kindle the Fire-brand of War in the World and to put Divisions in States and Families for otherwise the Gospel which is the Ministry of Grace and a Word of Reconciliation and Peace does not of it self propose any thing but union amity and concord Nature although sprung from the same Original with Grace hath inclinations quite distinct It is not pleased but in diversity and seems not to subsist but by the contrariety of qualities which occur in its works whereas Grace is not preserved but by the entire correspondence of those who â—â—ve a share therein and by the conformity of their Opinions We cannot divide our selves in its Principles without destroying it to us For such a separation is to give it such grievous wounds as will force it to retire from those who are not more careful to improve it by such wayes as are most suitable to its nature Now is it not a most deplorable thing that an occasion should be taken of making use of a Doctrine of Peace for the miserable tearing in pieces a Body whose Members ought to be perfectly united Is it not a shameful thing that this unhappy Pro and Con should be introduced to make the same havock in the Church which it ordinarily makes in the World Philosophy never saw so many Sects Paganisme so many different Devotions Mahometisme so many contradictory Opinions concerning their Alcoran as we have Sects Heresies and Schismes in Christianity about the understanding of its fundamental Law which is the Gospel As soon as the sprouts of this Holy Seed began to appear upon the face of the Earth we saw at the same time an infinite number of unprofitable and choaking Tares spring up sufficient to destroy that in its birth which would bring with it Salvation and Life Almost in the sight of the Holy Apostles those Sacred Confidents of our Soveraign Master there arose such as vaunting themselves to have embraced his Doctrine would have represented him after their fancies and set him forth as their own whimsies and caprichioes suggested to them And presently afterwards would make their particular Sentiments pass for general and infallible Rules and have pretended that all others were obliged to submit themselves thereto Thus the Blood of Jesus Christ which still reeking should warm the hearts of Christians with a Holy Charity as well as with an Ardent Zeal could not choak the Seeds of these miserable Divisions Insomuch that in the Third Age St. Epiphanius numbers up Four-score several Heresies or rather different Opinions which had crept in amongst the Christians and yet not mentioning the divers Branches into which these Heresies were sub divided There is scarcely any one Article of Faith or any speculation of Christianity whereon strange Opinions have not been advanced which in time have made Sects and different Religions And we know that every particular Combination has appropriated to it self the