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CHAP. IV.

OF THE NECESSITY OF CHURCH COMMUNION, AND THE SIN OF SCHISM.

HAVING

AVING now explained the nature of the Visible Catholic Church, I proceed next to inquire into the necessity of Church Communion and the Sin of Schism, by which I mean the necessity of entering into, and continuing stedfastly in the external communion or society of the church, and the sin of separating, or being in a state of separation from it *.

Some men, (as Archbishop Potter observes,) have conceived the christian church to resemble a society of philosophers, where many useful and excellent truths are taught,—but no man is obliged to come into it, or to continue in it; and if any man has learned the truths which are there delivered by any other means, it is all the same as if he had lived in the society. In their opinion, there lies no farther obligation on any man to be a member of the christian church, than as this is a means to the knowledge of the christian religion: which being once obtained, they think men may be saved by keeping God's commandments, without associating themselves with any body of christians. For the confutation of these notions, I assert that

* See Potter on Church Gov. p. 12. Burscough on Schism, Lond. 1699. Sherlock's Def. of Still. p. 138. and Vind. of do. p. 89. Sherlock's Discourse of Religious Assemblies, p. 132 4th edit. 1726. Necessity of Church Communion, against N. Taylor, 1702. Bennet's Rights of the Clergy, 1711.

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it is necessary for every person, to whom the gospel is preached, to become a member of the one, holy, perpetual, Catholic Church of Christ. I say, it is necessary for every person to whom the gospel is preached, because I do not, by any means, presume to determine any thing concerning the final condition of those who never heard of the gospel, and wanted an opportunity of embracing it. The ignorance of such persons is involuntary and invincible; and their not associating themselves with Christ's disciples, is an instance, not of obstinacy and disobedience to God's call, but of incurable blindness and moral incapacity. And therefore we charitably hope well of their final condition, considering that they are in the hands of a compassionate God, who will not suffer his creatures to perish eternally, otherwise than by their own fault.

But as for those who have enjoyed means of conviction, it is undoubtedly necessary for them to be so effectually wrought upon by it, as to become members of Christ's Church. For God's promulgation of the gospel to them, is a divine command to embrace it ; and our Saviour's authority in founding the church, obliges them to enter within its pale. And if they act otherwise, they forfeit the blessings which are promised to Christ's disciples; they lie subject to that wrath from which the blessed Jesus came to set them free, and provoke God to pour on them judgment without mercy, by adding all possible aggravations to their guilt. So that, if it be a matter of consequence to obtain the greatest happiness, and escape the greatest misery, it is necessary for them to become Christ's disciples, or members of his church.

It is in vain to pretend, that they may repent and amend their lives, and consequently escape that into

lerable vengeance, although they are not united to the church. For it is impossible for them to amend without the assistance of God's Grace, and his grace is ordinarily promised to none, but those who are members of "his body the church," (Col. i. 24.) This I shall attempt to prove by shewing, that the Visible Church is a Society of God's appointment,-that we cannot otherwise become members of Christ, than as we are members of his church,—and from the heinousness of the Sin of Schism.

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The Church is a Visible Society of God's appointment.-Although this has been sufficiently proved in the preceding chapters, yet there are some objections to be taken notice of. For some having observed, that the kingdom or church of Christ is plainly distinct from all worldly kingdoms; that the graces, whereby our inward communion with Christ is maintained, are invisible and that some who live in the church's external communion, have no title to the chief privileges of the church, by reason of their wicked lives, have hence concluded, that the true church consists only of such men, as have a title to God's favour by their faith and other christian virtues, the sincerity whereof is invisible to the world; and that whoever is adorned with these inward qualifications, does by them maintain a strict communion with Christ, and enjoy all the privileges of the christian church, though he has never associated himself with any visible body of christians *.

This distinction between the visible and invisible state of the church, is very important. Many are really members of the visible church, who are not members of the invisible,—that is, many are professed outward members of the church, although not regenerated and united to Christ, and continue members of it, till cast out by ex

It is true, that to live in the external communion of the church, though it confer a right to all its outward ordinances, yet, unless it be accompanied with faith and obedience, does neither entitle us to any of the inward blessings, which are conferred on the worthy receivers of those ordinances here, nor to eternal life hereafter. Neither shall we deny, that it is possible for men to be excluded from the external communion of the church, and at the same time maintain an uninterrupted invisible communion with Christ; which is the case of all those who are unjustly excommunicated. Yet still we affirm that the Catholic Church, whereof every one is obliged to be a member, is an External and Visible Society of God's appointment; for it is constantly mentioned as such in the scriptures. Thus, "Tell it to the church;" "if he neglect to hear the church," (Matt. xviii. 17.) Paul and Barnabas are said to be "brought by the church, and received by it at Jerusalem," (Acts xv. 3. 4.) The Presbyters at Ephesus are commanded to "feed the church of God, over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers, (Acts xx. 28.) And God "added to the church daily, such as should be saved." Since then the church is an External Society of God's appointment, it follows that all men are obliged to become members of it: for he who does nothing in vain, would not have instituted a society, into which he did not intend that men should enter. And therefore whoever neglects to be made a member of the church, contributes to frustrate the design of God, by whom it was founded.

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communication. Our adversaries themselves allow, "that men who have no religion, provided they have the appearance of it, are to be admitted to the sacred ordinances." See this point argued in Allen's Catholicism, 1683; also Lamb's Fresh Suit against Independency, 1677.

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Moreover, the church is a body of that nature as consists of a variety of different offices and officers, which are of no manner of use without actual and visible communion of all its members. For, to what purpose has he instituted a standing ministry to offer up the prayers of the faithful to God, to instruct, exhort, reprove, and administer the sacraments, if private christians are not bound to maintain communion with them in all religious offices? Moreover, the christian people are expressly charged, "not to forsake the assembling of themselves together," but "with one heart and with one mouth to glorify God," " to come together with one accord in prayer and praise," and at the same time," to obey them that have rule over them, and to submit themselves, for they watch for their souls," (Heb. xiii. 17.)

I observe further, that the union of particular christians to Christ, is by means of their union to the christian church. The church is "the body of Christ," and every christian, by being united to this body, becomes a member of Christ, as the apostle tells the Corinthians, (1 Cor. xii. 27.) "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular ;" an allusion which at the same time implies, that all the members must be united to the body, through which life and aliment are supplied; and all must likewise be united one to another, that the several functions of the body may be properly discharged. The church is the "temple of God," "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone," and every christian is a lively stone in this spiritual building. The church is Christ's "flock," and every christian who is of this fold, is one of Christ's "sheep." The church is Christ's "spouse," and every christian is a member of that so

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