the making a Bishop Priest or Deacon as Baptism to make a Christian And unless the Dissenters can produce a better that is a more ancient Charter than the Bishops have which I am sure they can never do the sole power of Ordination must be still in them and those that pretend to it must be Vsurpers and Consequently Schismaticks Dr. Sherlock says but by what Authority I know not That the Vind. of some Prot. Princ. p. 108. Church of England does not deny but that in case of Necessity the Ordinations of Presbyters may be Valid But he says with respect to the Dissenters that the case of Schism is a different thing and I believe says he Our Author himself will not say that Schismatical Presbyters may take this power or that their Ordinations are valid if they do And this is the Case between us and the Dissenters They ordain in a Schism and tho' necessity may make an irregular Act valid yet Schism will not The Novatians were Episcopal and so were the Donatists says Mr. Vindic. of the Prim. Ch. p. 330. Baxter and yet how have they been judged of for their Schism I need not tell They are very much to blame that say the Presbyterians or Independents troubled the Primitive Church It was impossible for them to be troublesome before they were at all It seems all the Sects and Schisms of that time thought they had no right to pretend to be a Church unless they had Bishops But these Anti-Episcopal Separatists were reserv'd it seems for the last times as the severest Curse and Judgment that could befall the Church Those Episcopal Schismaticks indeed divided the Church but These quite Dissolve it It has been the Tradition and Doctrine of the Christian Saywel of Vnity p. 324. Church in all Ages even from the Apostles time to this very day that no Ordinations are valid or ought to be made but by Bishops to whom the greatest Authority of governing the Church is committed I admire this Episcopal Government and Institution because Faith and Practice of a Church of Eng. man Cap. 1. under it I am in no doubt of the Validity of the Ordinations of our Ministers Or of the Validity of the Sacraments by them Administred For we have our Orders by a continu'd Succession from the Ancients and so from the Apostles which is the only ordinary way that I know of for a Man to be Commissionated to act in Christ's Name I suppose no man will deny that all Ordinations in Schism Thorndike's Rts. of the Ch. p. 147. Review of Mr. M. Hs. Notion of Schism p. 50. are Meer Nullities tho' made by persons rightly Ordain'd because against the Unity of the Church We believe with St. Jerom that the power of Ordaining belongs only to the Bishop and your Dissenters Ordinations made by Presbyters are all Void and Null and till you can prove the Contrary we take you for no more but a parcel of Lay-intruders into those holy Functions to which you have no right those of you only excepted who have been Episcopally Ordain'd In the first place I must put him in mind That as no Man Id. p. 51. Mat. 28. 18. Jo. 2. 21. is to meddle with the Sacred Offices Except he be called of God no Man to preach except he be sent So no Man is to call or send as from God but he that is authoriz'd by him for that purpose Neither can I see any Reason why a Man may not as well be a Minister of Jesus Christ without any Mission at all as by the Mission of those persons who never were sent themselves I believe there never was any case of Absolute Necessity for Lay-Ordinations Id. p. 53. but if possibly such should happen as the Gentleman mentions of a Company of Lay-men being cast upon an Island or remaining in some Country when their Pastors are all kill'd or turn'd Hereticks I am apt to believe that Bishops and Ministers duly ordain'd might be had from other Countries and if not methinks it would be reasonable and fit that we should first see what God would do in such Cases before we presume to do any thing of our selves for which we have no Scripture warrant Basil is so resolute upon his prerogative that he will not endure Vindic. of the Prim. Ch. p. 550. they Chorepiscopi should ordain as much as the Inferiour Clergy as Deacons Sub-deacons Readers and several others which the Church of that time reckon'd among the Clergy without his consent and if they do let them know says he That whosoever is admitted without our Consent shall be reputed but a Lay-man What would he have said if they had pretended to ordain Presbyters or Bishops in opposition to them The Bishops of the Church of England desire no more than St. Basil assum'd That none should be reputed Priests or Deacons that were ordain'd in their Dioceses without their Consent and that by simple Presbyters who were never Chorepiscopi or had any Character to distinguish them from other Presbyters Therefore the Case ought not to be reckon'd so hard as it is Commonly represented by the more moderate Nonconformists who pretend this point of Re-ordination the only Bar that keeps them out of the Church since there was never any other Church not any in Ancient times would have received them upon any other terms And they must have remain'd Nonconformists under Basil Athanasius and all the Ancient Bishops whose names are and always have been had in Veneration with all Christians not one of these would have ever been perswaded to own a Pastor that his Presbyters had ordain'd in opposition to him nay hardly could they have been prevail'd with to admit such as any other Bishop should ordain within their Diocess So extream punctilious they were in this matter and there is hardly any one thing that caus'd so frequent and dangerous contentions between them as the point of Ordination Q. May Orders given in a Schism be made afterwards valid A. Tho as was said above all Ordinations in Schism are Thorndike's Right of the Ch. p. 148. meer Nullities and tho made by persons rightly Ordain'd yet we find such Ordinations made valid by the meer decree of the Church without Ordaining a new as the Meletians in Egypt by the Council of Nice in Epiphanius and the Church Histories and as Pope Melchiades much commended for it by St. Austin offer'd to receive all the Donatists in their own ranks besides divers others that might be produc'd The only reason why some things tho they be ill done yet Id. ibid. are to stand good is because the power that doth them extends to them but is ill us'd So when the power is Usurp'd as in all Schism or when that is done which the Law makes void it can be to no effect Therefore when the Act of Schism is made valid it is manifest that the Order of Bishop and Presbyter is conferr'd in point
AN ANSWER TO SOME QUERIES CONCERNING SCHISM TOLERATION c. IN A LETTER To a Friend It was not long since that the Sins of Rebellion and Sacrilege were so Successful that they did not only cast off their old Names but commenc'd Vertues and it was dangerous to discourse whether there were such Sins or no Prosperous Wickedness has never wanted its Apologists who know how to call Evil Good and Good Evil. The case is almost the same concerning the Sin of Schism and Separation Long 's Epist to the Brethren before the Character of a Separatist An Vniversal Toleration is that Trojan Horse which brings in our Enemies without being seen and which after a long Seige they hope to bring in at last under the pretence of setting our Gates wide enough open to let in all our Friends Still Misch of Separation p. 58. I beseech you Brethren mark them who cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. London Printed in the Year MDCC AN ANSWER TO SOME QUERIES CONCERNING SCHISM TOLERATION c. In a LETTER to a Friend SIR I Receiv'd your Letter with some Queries but I cannot imagine what made you pitch upon me when you are acquainted with so many Learned men to Answer ' em But to let you see how willing I am to give you the best Satisfaction that I can I have here sent you the Opinions of some of our most Celebrated Episcopal Divines that out of them you may frame Answers to all your Queries And if you are not Satisfied with what I have Collected out of 'em you may have recourse to their Books your self If you say that the Authors I have quoted are but Private men and their Writings of no Authority I must Answer that most of their Books have past an Imprimatur or which by some is look'd upon as Tantamont The Approbation of the London Divines If you say further That their Practices have in some Cases contradicted their Principles I must say that that is nothing to me Let them look to that If their Principles be Sound and Orthodox that 's all that I desire let them Answer for their Practices As for the Preliminary Questions I have likewise taken the Answers to them out of the same Writers as you 'll find upon the perusal The first Question that you propose is this What is meant by the Church But before a distinct Answer can be given you must know that the word Church has various significations Sometimes 't is taken for the Place where people Assemble and sometimes for the People assembled Sometimes for the Whole Church including the Church Triumphant which is in Heaven as well as the Church Art 19. Militant or the Visible Church here on Earth Sometimes for the Catholick Church Representative or a General Council Sometimes for the Catholick Church Diffusive or the Whole Body of Christians Sometimes for the Church Vniversal Sometimes for a Particular Church c. Q. What is meant by the Church in General or the Catholick Church A. The Church Ecclesia among Christians in the largest use Dr. Loyd ' s Serm. on Acts 2. 42. of the word is the whole Multitude of Believers joyn'd together in One Body or Society under One Head Jesus Christ Or The Catholick Church is the Whole Church of Christ spread Bramhal's Just Vind. p. 23. abroad thro' the whole World Or The Vniversal Church is the Company of Christians Knit together Id. by the Profession of the same Faith and the Communion of the same Sacraments under the Government of Lawful Pastors By Catholick Church is meant the whole number of Christians Disc concerning the Cath. Ch. p. 2. in all Ages and Places admitted into the Church by Baptism and gather'd into Particular Churches under their respective Pastors and Bishops United to one another and to Christ their Head by the Profession of one Faith or Religion Q. What is meant by a Particular Church A. By a Particular Church is meant a Number of Men professing Vindic. of Ch. Eng. from Sch. p. 10. Christianity form'd into a Society under Lawful Governours and govern'd by such Laws and Rules as are not different from but Agreable to the Laws of the Catholick Church Q. What is meant by a National Church A. The whole Body of Christians in a Nation consisting of Stil unreason of Separ p. 299. the Pastors and People agreeing in that Faith Government and Worship which are Establisht by the Law of the Realm Q. What is meant by a Representative National Church A. The Representative Church of a Nation is the Bishops and Id. p. 300. Presbyters of the Church meeting together according to the Laws of the Realm to consult and advise about Matters of Religion Q. What is meant by the Church of England A. The Church of England is a Society of People which in Stil Misc of Separ p. 19. this Nation are united under the same Profession of Faith the same Laws of Government and Rules of Divine worship Or By the Church of England I understand that Body of Men Faith and Prac. of Ch. Eng. man c. 1. who as to Church Affairs are united together under the same Principal Church Officers the Bishops Priests and Deacons and Communicate with them and with one another in all Religious Offices according to the Liturgy and Orders of our Church Profess the Christian Faith according to the Ancient Creeds and the 39 Articles and are govern'd according to the Canons and Laws of this Church Or The Church of England is a Community consisting of profess'd Doct. of Sch. p. 42. Christians united in the same Government Doctrin and Worship according to the 39 Articles and Homilies Her Liturgy Canons and Laws and divided into Parochial Assemblies for the more Convenient worshipping of God Q. What is meant by a Diocesan Church A. The Notion of a Church by the ancient Canons was Stil Misch of Separ p. 29. the same with that of a Diocess or such a number of Christians as were under the Inspection of a Bishop Or A Church is the Body of Christians contain'd in a City and Thorndike's Weights and Measures p. 39. the Territory of it for the Government of such a one the respective Authority of the Apostles convey'd by the Overt Act of their Ordination was visibly vested in a Bishop in a number of Presbyters for his advice and assistance and in Deacons attending upon them and upon the executing their Orders Q. What is meant by a Parochial Church A. A Parochial Church is a Company of Christians united under the care of a Pastor in subordination to the Bishop of the Diocess Q. Wherein consists the Unity of the Church A. Ecclesiastical Unity consists in preserving all those Relations Ham. of Schism p. 508. wherein each member of the whole Church of Christ is concern'd one towards another and this Unity is either of
being Traiterous and paying Homage to an Usurper doth annul the Right and Title of the Lawful Prince The Church of England Bishops are guilty of no Schism from the Church of Rome their order is undoubted and their Succession Reform Justify'd p. 29. uninterrupted and so their Title and Authority is as firm and unquestionable as any upon earth and they must be Schismaticks before God and the Catholick Church that do not submit to them and joyn in their Communion in all Lawful things If we look over the ancient Canons of the Church we shall find two things very plain in them 1 That the Notion of a Church was the same with that of a Mischief Separ p. 29. Can. Nic. Can. 6. 15. 16. Constan c. 6. Chalced. 17 20 26. Antioch c. 2. Codex Eccl. Affric c. 53. c. 55. Conc. Gang. c. 6. Conc. Constan c. 6. Conc. Carthag c. 10 11. St. Cypri Ep. 40. 42. Theod. Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 22. 1. 2. c. 24. c. 17. Vincent c. 16. Diocess or such a Number of Christians as were under the Inspection of a Bishop Or 2ly That those Presbyters who rejected the Authority of their Bishop or affected Separate Meetings where no fault could be found with the Doctrine of a Church were condemn'd of Schism So the followers of Eustathius Sebastenus who withdrew from the publick Congregations on pretence of greater Sanctity and Purity in Paphlagonia were condemn'd by the Council at Gangrae So were those who Separated from their Bishops tho' otherwise never so Orthodox by the Council at Constantinople and the Council at Carthage wherein before S. Cyprian had so justly Complain'd of the Schism of Felicissimus and his Brethren who on pretence of some disorders in the Church of Carthage had withdrawn to the Mountains and there laid the foundation of the Novatian Schism But when false Doctrine was imposed on Churches as by the Arian Bishops at Antioch then the people were excused in their Separation So at Rome when Felix was made Bishop and at Sirmium when Photinus publish'd his Heresie but I do not remember one instance in Antiquity wherein Separation from Orthodox Bishops and setting up Meetings without their Authority and against their consent was acquitted from the Sin of Schism The substance of what is contain'd in the Answer to this Query amounts to this viz. 1. That K. Edward's Bishops were True and Canonical Bishops And the Popish Bishops in Q. Mary's days Intruders 2. That those that adhered to K. Edward's Bishops in Queen Mary's days altho' depriv'd were the True Church and Consequently those that forsook their Communion were the Schismaticks Q. Whether a Particular Church suppose the Roman being Schismatical yet keeping possession of all the Churches may be said to Separate A. Yes For Private Meetings in such a case commence Churches Hales and the Churches become Conventicles according to the Definition given of a Conventicle above viz. That a Conventicle is nothing else but a Congregation of Schismaticks If Rome has by the many Additions c. err'd she may be said Ans to Reason and Authority p. 66. to have left and gone from or be separated from that First Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church without making an open Schism or Schismatical Separation So far then as any Church now in being shall depart from the Doctrine of the Ancient Catholick Church and profess great and many errors and broach new Doctrines unknown to the Primitive Churches and lay mighty stresses upon them so as to make them necessary for Communion here and to Salvation hereafter such a Church may be said to Depart or Separate it self from that Ancient One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church It is true That they who first desert and forsake the Communion Bramhal Just Vind. p. 10. of their Christian Brethren are Schismaticks but there is a Moral Defection as well as a Local In a word he that forsakes the Assemblies of Catholick Christians is a Schismatick not he that goes not to a Church for where-ever Christians tho' in a Den or Cave of the Earth worship God in the Unity of the Church there is the Church of God Q. Are the Dissenters Schismaticks A. Yes doubtless For they not only set up separate Meetings in opposition to Bishops but renounce all Episcopal Authority and Usurp the Power of Ordination which did always belong to the Order of Bishops As for the Government of the Church we are assur'd partly Letter concerning the necessity of Regulat the Press p. 18. from Scripture and partly from the Earliest Antiquity That the Order of Bishops and Metropolitans rests upon Apostolical Institution Both Timothy and Titus in the judgment of the most Learned Presbyterians were Superiour to the rest of the Clergy within their Districts at least in Jurisdiction if not Order The Bishop presided over a City and the adjacent Villages Id. p. 19 and Territories where a Temporal Magistrate was likewise plac'd As the Metropolis of every Province had its Proconsul in the State so it had its Archbishop or Metropolitan in the Church And when the Government of Patriarchs prevail'd it was form'd after the same Model either in Imitation of the Vicars or Lieutenants that presided over a Diocess composed of several Provinces or at least in Imitation of the Praetorian Prefects that had several Dioceses under their Jurisdiction All those that set up Altar against Altar and hold Separate Saywel of Vnity p. 318. Congregations contrary to the Law of this Church are to be held as Schismaticks and were condemn'd for such by the ancient General and Particular Councils and all the Catholick Fathers and Martyrs and thought not sit to be receiv'd into Christian Communion or accounted lively members of the Catholick Church As 't is a high crime to Affront a Judge duly Commissionated Id. 395. so it is no less than Rebellion for an able Lawyer without a Commission to assume to himself the Office and Authority of a Judge And why it should be in Temporal Judges and not in Spiritual appointed by God as the Bishops are in the opinion of this Lord Chief Justice Hales I cannot see I am sure 't was ever thought so by all sober Christians till our unhappy Rebellion nurs'd People up in Schism and Disobedience Were it Episcopacy but an Human Ordinance of yesterday Thorndike prim Gov. of Chs. p. 197. establish'd by due course of right let me be bold to say that if Aerius withdrew his Submission to it he must come within Epiphanius's list of Hereticks not understanding an Heretick in St. Augustin's sense to be none but he that will not believe some point of Doctrine necessary as the means of Salvation to be believ'd but according to the latitude of the Word taking all to be Hereticks that make Sects and Assemble themselves a part besides the Church of God Lawfully Settled As for Episcopal Ordination that was accounted as necessary in the primitive Church to
to a former 2ly For erecting new places for the dividing party to meet in publickly He Mr. Hales says truly that all Meetings upon unnecessary Id. p. 180. occasions of Separation are to be stil'd Conventicles so that in this sense a Conventicle is nothing else but a Congregation of Schismaticks and he had before determin'd them to be Schismaticks that do choose a Bishop in Opposition to the former and that do erect a New Church and Oratory for the dividing party to meet in publickly The Laws and Customs of all Churches do condemn it for Saywel of Vn 193. Schismatical for a man to come into another Ministers charge c. The summ of what is cited on this Query is this that there ought to be but one Bishop in a Diocess or City that they that set up a Bishop in opposition to the Rightful Bishop and make separate Meetings setting up Altar against Altar are Schismaticks and therefore those that would avoid the guilt of Schism must constantly Communicate with the First and Rightful Bishop but never with the Intruder or his Adherents Q. Are the People that Communicate with Schismatical Bishops and Presbyters guilty of Schism A. A Schismatick is an impious Son which having contemn'd Ham. of Schism out of Ignatius the Bishops and forsaken the Priests of God dares constitute another Altar The Schismaticks are they that having left their Bishop set Doctr. of Schism p. 45. up for themselves abroad another false Bishop and all their Adherents are involv'd in the same guilt who joyn with the Schismaticks against their Bishops An essential part of our Communion with our Bishop Def. of Dr. St. p. 471. is to live in Communion only of those Presbyters who live in Communion of their Bishop that is who officiate by his Authority and are subject to his Directions and Orders This was a standing rule in Ignatius his time as is evident from his Epistles that Presbyters must do nothing in the Church but by the Bishop's consent or order and those who do are Schismaticks and those people who adhere to them in it partake in the guilt of their Schism c. 'T is notorious in all the Histories and Canons of the Church Saywel of Vnity p. 393. that never any more than One Bishop at a time was allowed in any of those great Cities Jerusalem Alexandria c. And if a Schismatick did sometimes creep in as the Novatians and Donatists did in troublesome times they were always condemn'd by the Church which did constantly maintain There ought to be but One Bishop in a City or Diocess and all Priests and Lay Persons ought to be govern'd by him To assemble and celebrate the Eucharist besides the Bishop's Thornd Prim. Gov. Ch. p. 117. appointment was then in St. Ignatius his time the due mark of a Schismatick If the Church unites upon Schismatical Principles whatever Sherl Ans to Anonym the Bishop does in pursuance of such Principles is the Act of the Church and if the Bishops be Schismaticks the Church is so too The Church is by St. Cyprian defin'd to be a People united to St. Cyprian their own Bishop and a Flock adhering to their own Pastor whence you may know the Bishop always to be in the Church and the Church to go along with the Bishop if therefore the Bishop be a Schismatick so must all the Flock that Communicate with him If any Presbyter contemning his own Bishop shall make a Long 's Ch. Sep. p. 85. Separate Congregation and erect another Altar his own Bishop not being condemn'd of any Irreligion or Injustice let him be depos'd as one that is Ambitious and a Tyrannical person and in like manner all that Adhere to him and let the Lay People be Excommunicated after the Bishops third Admonition He who submits to or complies with the manager of a Schism Falkner's Christian Loyalty p. 272. in his prosecution thereof doth involve himself in the same crime Q. If a Bishop or other Clergy man be guilty of any Offence by whom is he to be Try'd and Punish'd A. Touching the Depriving or Degrading of Bishops Presbyters Field of the Ch. p. 512. and Deacons the ancient Canon requires the Concurrence and consent of 3 Bishops for the Censuring and Depriving of a Deacon of 6 for the Depriving of a Presbyter and of 12 for the Censuring Judging and Deposing of a Bishop If a Bishop be Convicted of Heresy or Schism or some great Vind. of Def. p. 128. Wickedness and Injustice his Colleagues that is Bishops may Depose him and forbid his People to Communicate with him and Ordain another in his stead For one particular Primate or Metropolitan to censure any Hills Cath. Balance p. 86. Bishop by himself or to be uncapable of censure in his own Provincial Synods hath no Precedent in the primest and purest Antiquity The Canon Apostolical 33 directing That every Bishop of every Nation give deference to him that is Chief among them and to esteem him as their Head and to do nothing extraordinary without his Cognisance but every one only to do those things which are expedient to his own Diocess and to the Country under him And so neither must the Capital Bishop do any thing without the consent of them all for thus there will be an Vnanimity and God will be glorify'd thro' the Lord in the Holy Spirit Bishops had over their Presbyters and People Supreme Power Faith and Pract. Ch. Eng. m. cap. 1. under Christ as to Church affairs and Accountable only to Christ and to a Council of their fellow Bishops often Meeting and Consulting together for the good of the whole A Bishop of the Church of England by all the Law in the Christian Bishop of Lond. Tryal p. 6. Church in all ages and by the particular Law of this Land in case of offence is to be Try'd by his Metropolitan and Suffragans The Bishop of London's Council urged in behalf of the Bishop Id. for not suspending Dr. S. without a Legal process That absolute Suspension supposes a proof of the Crime c. Id. and That where there is an absolute Suspension there ought to be Citation Form of Proceeding Judgment and Decree and that to Act otherwise is contrary to the Laws of God of Nature of all Nations in all Ages and was never known in the World My Lord I Always have and shall count it my duty to obey the K. in whatever Id. Bp. of London's Letter to my Lord Sanderland he Commands me c. But in this I humbly conceive I am oblig'd to proceed according to Law and therefore 't is impossible for me to comply because tho' His Majesty Commands me only to Execute His Pleasure yet in the capacity I am to do it I must Act as a Judge and your Lordship knows no Judge Condemns any Man before he have knowledge of his Cause and have cited
of Right by the meer consent of the Church which by the precedent Ordination was Conferr'd only in point of Fact being a meer Nullity in point of Right It hath been often practis'd by the Church to receive Id. of Forb p. 69. not only Schismaticks but even Hereticks also that is Such as had receiv'd orders of those that parted from the Church upon an Error of Faith in their respective Orders But always upon Condition of Renouncing the Cause of their Division whereupon they were to receive the Blessing of the Church by prayer with Imposition of hands The reason was because neither is Baptism in Schism effectual to Salvation nor Ordination in Schism effectual to Grace by Ministry of any Office in Schism But being Renounc'd there remains no cause why their Ministry should not be effectual to their People Their Baptism and their Ministry to their own Salvation supposing it sincerely renounc'd Therefore the reason why they who are Ordain'd by Presbyters cannot be receiv'd in their respective Orders is peremptory Because the Schism Consisting in ordaining against Authority cannot be renounc'd unless the Ordination be voided For so long as the Ministry may be Rev. of Mr. M. Hs. New Notion of Schism p. 47. Usurp'd upon such Ordination so long is the Schism on foot I can see no reason why the line of Ordination may not pass thro a Schismatical Church for altho by Schism people are out of the Church and while they Continue so cannot enjoy the benefit either of Ordination or Sacraments yet to say that both are absolutely destroy'd and Nullifi'd so that a Schismatick loses the Chracters and can neither be a Christian nor a Bishop i e not the subject of Apostolical power till he be again Baptiz'd and Ordain'd is an Assertion beyond all that I could ever yet meet with The Meletians were Schismaticks and yet those ordain'd by Meletius were receiv'd into places where others dyed c. I think that Orders and Regularity of Episcopal Succession Ans to Sev. capt Queries p. 19. will suffice to make them Lawful Bishops who for corrupting the Doctrin of the Church shall not be allow'd to be Good ones Q. Whether Toleration will excuse from Schism A. An Act of Parliament would deliver the Dissenters from Vind. Def. of Dr. St. p. 457. Temporal Punishments and might deliver them from the Sin of Disobedience to Civil Governours But the guilt of Schism will remain still unless he Mr. H. thinks the Donatists were not Schismaticks when Julian the Apostate with an uniting design granted a General Toleration So that this project may secure the Estates but cannot secure the Souls of Dissenters Schism will damn men tho they should get it establisht by Act of Parliament There is nothing more or less in a Toleration than a Suspensiou Norris Charge of Sch. p. 26. of the Penal part of the Law This is all that it Can do and perhaps more than it ought For I believe there ought to be no such thing as a Toleration and that 't is more than either the Church or State can Rightfully grant We do not derive the Grounds of Obligation to Ecclesiastick Id. p. 80. Communion from the Authority of the Civil Law tho' that must be allow'd to add a considerable weight to the Obligation but also and chiefly from that of the Divine Law which I conceive to be as positive and express in requiring Unity and Conformity of Worship as in requiring any Religious Worship at all No License given no Toleration granted no Exemption from Blackhalls Serm. on Jo. 6. 66. p. 14. Temporal Penalties in case of Separation allow'd by men is sufficient to excuse from the guilt of Schism those that Separate from the True Christian Church whereof they were Members or to render their Schism no sin Human Lawgivers may give leave to their Subjects to be of any Id. p. 15. Religion or to be of no Religion but if they do they can't make it Lawful in it self either to be Atheists or to profess a false Religion or to forsake the Communion of the True Church for to believe a God and to worship publickly and to worship him in the Assemblies of the Faithful are Duties that are laid upon us by a higher than any humane Authority and therefore no humane Authority can discharge us from them The Law can take away and discharge us from no Obligation but that which its self laid on us so that all the meaning of the largest and most unlimited Toleration that the Law can grant is no more than this viz a Declaration that Men shall not be liable to any Temporal Mulcts or Penalties or be any ways punish'd by the Civil Power upon the account of any Differences in Religion or for being of no Religion at all but if antecedently to the establishment of any Church by the Civil Power and if antecedently to the enacting any Penal Laws to oblige men to hold its Communion it was Schism to separate without cause from that Christian Church whereof we were Members and such Schismatical Separation was a Sin before God then so it will be still notwithstanding any License or Toleration that can be granted by the Secular Power Toleration is not only a means to encourage those that are already Saywel of Vnity p. 137. engag'd in Schism to continue so but by experience is found the most effectual way to multiply new Swarms of Schismaticks c. When a particular Church enjoys a Civil Establishment it receives Letter about Regulating the Press p. 22. as it were a new Authority in as much as it becomes a Civil Right or Property So that unless its Constitution is Materially vicious and sinful it s a high piece of Injustice to destroy or infringe any of its Establish'd Rights or Immunities But yet since the Magistrate is only the Guardian not the Founder of a National Church its Original Authority resting on certain positive Laws and Sanctions enjoyn'd by a Power Superior to that of the Magistrate even that of God Himself wherever a Church in any Province or Nation professeth the True Religion by an Orthodox Faith and a pure worship under Lawful Church Governours and Pastors that is the True National Church in opposition to all Dissenting Sects and Parties tho' it wants the Authority of a Civil Establishment It is indisputably evident that the Christian Church is one Society Id. p. 16. or Body of Men united to CHRIST and each other in certain External as well as Internal and Spiritual Bonds of Union It s certain one great design of Christianity is Vnity or to range Id. p. 23. all the Parts and Members of the Church of CHRIST into an Holy Building and therefore if the Magistrate is Constituted a Guardian of the True Religion all his offices of Succour and Protection must be directed to this end I mean the Bonds of Catholick Vnity throughout his whole Dominions
an Answer to a Paper reprinted at Oxford call'd The Schism of the Church of England demonstrated in four Arguments c. by Dr. Saywell Cambridge Printed for Ed. Hall 1688. Discourse Nat. Vnity c. A Discourse concerning the Nature Unity and Communion of the Cath. Church wherein most of the Controversies Relating to the Church are briefly and plainly stated pt 1st by Will. Sherlock D. D. and Master of the Temple London printed for William Rogers 1688. Several Capt. Quer. Several captious Queries concerning the English Reformation first propos'd by Dean Manby c. briefly and fully Answer'd by Dr. Claget London printed for James Adamson 1688. Cath. Bal. The Catholick Balance or a Discourse determining the Controversies concerning 1. The Tradition of Cath. Doctrines 2. The Primacy of St. Peter and the Bishop of Rome 3. The Subjection and Authority of the Church in a Christian State c. by Mr. Hill of Killmanton in Somersetshire London printed for R. Clavel 1687. Sherl Serm. Nov. 4. 88. A Sermon preach'd before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London at the Guildhall Chapel on Sunday Nov. 4. 1688. by W. Sherlock D. D. Mr. of the Temple London printed for Will. Rogers 1689. Vindic. some Prot. Princ. A Vindication of some Protestant Principles of Church Unity and Cath. Communion from the charge of Agreement with the Church of Rome by Dr. Sherlock Ans to Anonym A Letter to Anonymus in Answer to his three Letters to Dr. Sherlock about Church Communion Rev. M. H's new notion Sch. A Review of M. H's new Notion of Schism and the Vindication of it London printed for E. Mory 1692. Hellier's Treat Sch. A Treatise concerning Schism and Schismaticks c. by Hen. Hellier D. D. fellow of CCC Oxon. London printed by R. Smith for John Crosley Bookseller in Oxford 1697. Blackall visit Serm. A Sermon preach'd at Brentwood in Essex Oct. 7. 1693 at the Visitation c. by Offsp. Blackal 2d Edition London printed for W. Rogers 1699. Necess Regul Press A Letter to a Member of Parliament shewing the necessity of regulating the Press Oxford printed 1699. Thorn Weights and Meas Just Weights and Measures That is the present State of Religion weigh'd in the Balance and measur'd by the Standard of the Sanctuary according to the opinion of Herbert Thorndike The 2d Edition London Printed for J. Martin 1680. Def. Vnreason Separ A Discourse of Church Unity being a Defence 8vo of Dr. Stillingfleet's unreasonableness of Separation in Answer to several late Pamphlets but Principally Dr. Owen and Mr. Baxter by a Presbyter of the Church of England Dr. Sherlock London printed for R. Chiswel 1681. Vindic. Def. unreason Separ A Continuation and Vindication of the Defence of Dr. Stillingfleet's Unreasonableness of Separation in Answer to Mr. Baxter and Mr. Lobb c. by the Author of the Defence London printed for R. Chiswell 1682. 2d pt unreasonable Separ The Unreasonableness of Separation The 2d part or a further impartial Account of the History Nature and Pleas of the present Separation c. by Mr. Long London printed for Dan. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple Barr. 1682. Vindic. prim ch A Vindication of the Primitive Church and Diocesan Episcopacy in Answer to Mr. Baxter's Church History of Bps. c. by H. Maurice D. D. London printed for Moses Pitt 1682. Ans to Prot. Reconciler A Vindication of the Rights of Ecclesiastical Authority being an Answer to the 1st part of the Protestant Reconciler by Wm. Sherlock D. D. Mr. of the Temple London printed for Abel Swale 1685. Falkner's Christ Loyal Christian Loyalty or a Discourse wherein is asserted that just Royal Authority c. by Wm. Falkner preacher at St. Nicholas in Lyn Regis London printed for Walter Ketilby 1679. Vindic. Ch. and State of Scotld A Vindication of the Authority Constitution and Laws of the Church and State of Scotland in four Conferences c. By Gilbert Burnet Professor of Theology in Glasgow Printed by Robert Sanders printer to the City and University 1673. Bram. Just Vind. A just Vindication of the Church of England from the unjust Aspersion of Criminal Schism c. By Bp. Bramhal London printed for John Crook 1645. Thornd Rt. of the Ch. A Discourse of the Right of the Church in a Christian State By Herbert Thorndike London printed for Octavian Pulien 1649. Thorn of Forbear A Discourse of the Forbearance or the Penalties which a due Reformation requires By Herbert Thorndike c. London Printed for James Collins 1670. Doctr. Sch. Doctrine of Schism fully open'd and apply'd to gather'd Churches c. By the Author of Toleration not to be abus'd by the Presbyterians London printed for James Collins and sold by Abish Brocas in Exon. 1672. Long 's Char. Separatist The Character of a Separatist or Sensuality the ground of Separation By Tho. Long B. D. and Prebendary of St. Peter's Exon. London printed for Walter Ketilby 1677. Long against Hales of Schis Mr. Hales's Treatise of Schism Examin'd and Censur'd by Tho. Long. B. D. and Prebendary of Exeter London printed for Walter Ketilby 1678. Faith and Practice Ch. Engl. man The Faith and Practice of a Church of England man London Printed for W. Ketilby 1688. Thorndike prim Ch. Gover. Of the Government of Churches a discourse pointing at the Primitive form Printed by Roger Daniel Printer to the University of Cambridge 1641. Norris Charge Sch. Charge of Schism Continued by Mr. Norris London printed for Sam. Manship at the Black Bull over against the Royal Exchange 1691. Saywel of Vnity Evangelical and Catholick Unity maintain'd in the Church of England or an Apology for her Government c. By William Saywell D. D. and Master of Jesus Coll. in Cambridge London printed for Robert Scott and Awnsham Church-hill 1682. FINIS ERRATA PAge 9. line 13. r. Roman p. 33. l. 12. for distinct r. of Christ's Church l. 13. for of Christ's Church r. distinct p. 36. l. 2. for of r. off p. 37. l. 18. for Bisac r. Brisac p. 45. l. 4. r. himself Marg. p. 43. r. Hill's Cath. Bal. p. 107.