Chapter III: Part 3

_Soc._ The Church of _England_ alloweth, assenteth to, and teacheth, what she judgeth evident in the Scripture; for so she ought; what she believes, or assenteth to, I look not after, but what she enjoyns. Now I yield all that obedience in this point, that she requires from me; and so I presume she will acknowledge me a dutiful Son.

_Prot._ What obedience when as you deny one of her chiefest, and most fundamental doctrins?

_Soc._ If I mistake not her principles, she requires of me no internal belief or assent to any of her doctrins, but only, 1st. _Silence_, or _non-contradiction_ or 2ly, a _conditional belief_, _i.e._ whenever I shall be convinced of the truth thereof. Now in both these I most readily obey her. For the 1st, I have strictly observed it, kept my opinion to my self; unless this my discourse with you hath been a breach of it; but then I was at least a dutiful subject of this Church at the beginning of our discourse; and for the 2d, whether _actual conviction_, or _sufficient proposal_, be made the condition of my assent, or submission of judgment, I am conscious to my self of no disobedience, as to either of these; for an _actual conviction_ I am sure I have not: and, supposing, that I have had a _sufficient proposal_, and do not know it, my obedience, upon the Protestant principles, can possibly advance no further, than it now doth. The _Apostles Creed_ I totally embrace, and would have it the standing bound of a Christian Faith. For other _Creeds_: I suppose, no more belief is necessary to the Articles of the _Nicene Creed_, than is required to those of the _Athanasian_. And, of what kind the necessity is of believing those, Dr. _Stillingfleet_ states on this manner [101]----_That the belief of a thing may be supposed necessary, either as to the matter, because the matter is to be believed in it self necessary; or because of the clear conviction of mens understandings; that, though the matters be not in themselves necessary, yet being revealed by God, they must be explicitly believed: but then, the necessity of this belief doth extend no further, than the clearness of the conviction doth._ Again, _that the necessity of believing any thing arising from the Church's definition_ [upon which motive you seem to press the belief of the Article of _Consubstantiality_] _doth depend upon the Conviction, that whatever the Church defines is necessary to be believed. And, where that is not received as an antecedent principle, the other cannot be supposed._ [Now this principle neither I, nor yet Protestants, accept]. Then he concludes----_That as to the Athanasian Creed_ [and the same it is for the _Nicene_.] _It is unreasonable to imagine, that the Church of_ England _doth own this necessity, purely on the account of the Church's definition of those things which are not fundamental, it being directly contrary to her sense in her 19th and 20th Articles._ [Now, which Articles of this Creed are not Fundamental, she defines nothing; nor do the 19, 20, or 21. Articles own a necessity of believing the Church's Definitions, even as to _Fundamentals_.] _And hence, that the supposed necessity of the belief of the Articles of the Athanasian Creed must, according to the sense of the Church of_ England, _be resolved, either into the necessity of the matters, or into that necessity, which supposeth clear conviction, that the things therein contained are of divine Revelation._ Thus he. Now, for so many Articles as I am either convinced of the matter to be believed, that it is in it self necessary; or, that they are divine Revelations, I do most readily yield my Faith, and assent thereto. Now, to make some Reply to the other things you have objected.

§. 38.

The Act 1 _Eliz._ allows no Definitions of the First General Councils in declaring _Heresie_, but with this limitation, that, in such Councils, such thing be declared _Heresie_ by the express and plain words of the _Canonical Scripture_. On which terms I also accept them.

§. 39.

Dr. _Hammond_'s affirming, _That all additions settled by the Universal Church_ [he means General Councils] _are in all reason, without disputing, to be received as Apostolical Truths, that the Holy Ghost speaking to us by the Governors of the Christian Churches, Christ's Successors, may receive all uniform submission from us_, suits not with the Protestant Principles often formerly mentioned.[102] For thus (if I rightly understand him) all the definitions of General Councils, and of the Christian Governors in all ages, as these being still Christ's Successors, are to be without disputing, embraced as truths Apostolical.

§. 40.

If the words of the fourth _Canon_ of the _English Synod_ 1640. signifie any more, than this; That any person _convicted_ of Socinianism (_i. e._ by publishing his opinion) shall, upon such conviction, be excommunicated; and if it be understood adequate to this, _Qui non crediderit filium esse_ +homoousion+ _Deo Patri, Anathema sit_, and, that the Church of _England_, for allowing her Communion, is not content with _silence_ in respect of Socinianism, but obligeth men also to _assent_ to the contrary; then, I see not upon what good grounds such exclamation is made against the like Anathema's or exactions of assent required by that of _Trent_, or other late Councils, or by _Pius_ his Bull. If it be said here, the reason of such faulting them is, because these require assent, not being lawful _General Councils_, such reason will not pass; 1st. Because, neither the English Synod, exacting assent in this point, is a General Council. 2ly. Because, it is the Protestant tenent, that neither may lawful General Councils require _assent_ to all their Definitions. Or, if it be affirmed (either of _General_ or _Provincial_ Councils) that they may require assent under Anathema to some of their decrees; _viz._ Those evidently true, and divine Revelations; such as _Consubstantiality_ is; but may not to others; _viz._ Those not manifested by them to be such; then, before we can censure any Council for its Anathema's, or its requiring of assent, we must know, whether the point, to which assent is required, is, or is not, evident divine Revelation. And then, by whom, or how, shall this thing touching the evidence of the Divine Revelation be judged or decided? for those that judge this, whoever they be, do sit now upon the trial of the rightness, or mistake of the judgment of a General Council: Or when, think we, will those who judge this (_i.e._ every person for himself) agree in their sentence? Again, If on the other side, the _former Church_ in her language, _Si quis non crediderit, &c. Anathema sit_, be affirmed (to which purpose the fore-mentioned Axioms are urged by you) to mean nothing more, than, _Si quis Hæresin suam palam profiteatur, & hujus professionis convictus fuerit, Anathema sit_, Thus the Protestants former quarrel with her passing such _Anathema's_ will be concluded causeless and unjust. But indeed, though, (according to the former sentences,) her Anathema is not extended to the internal act of holding such an opinion, if wholly concealed, so far as to render such person for it to stand _excommunicated_, and lie actually under this censure of the Church, because hitherto no contempt of her authority appears, nor is any dammage inferred to any other member of her Society thereby? Yet her _Anathema_ also extends, even to the internal act, or tenet, after the Church's contrary definition known (which tenet also then is not held without a disobedience, and contempt of her authority) so far, as to render the delinquent therein guilty of a very great _mortal sin_; and so at the same time internally cut off from being a true member of _Christ's Body_; though externally he is not as yet so cut off. And the Casuists further state him _ipso facto_ to be excommunicated, before, and without conviction, if externally he doth, or speaketh any thing, whereby he is convincible; and not if there be any thing _proved_ against him, but if any thing at least _provable_; and such a one, upon this, to be obliged in Conscience, not only to confess his heretical opinion, for his being absolved from _mortal sin_; but also to seek a release from excommunication incurred, for his re-enjoying the Church's Communion. Thus you see a rigor in this Church towards what it once accounted _Heresie_ much different from the more mild Spirit, and moderate temper of the _Reformed_.

§. 41.

To conclude. For the enjoying the _Protestant_ Communion, I conceive that, as to any necessary approbation of her Doctrins, it is sufficient for me to hold with Mr. _Chillingworth_ (as I do[103])----_That the Doctrin of Protestants, though not that, of all of them, absolutely true, yet it is free from all impiety, and from all Error destructive to Salvation, or in it self damnable._ And [104]----_whatsoever hath been held necessary to Salvation by the consent of Protestants, or even of the Church of_ England, [which indeed hath given no certain Catalogue at all of such _necessaries_], _that, against the Socinians, and all others whatsoever, I do verily believe, and embrace_----And (which is still the same) [105]--_I am perswaded, that the constant doctrin of the Church of_ England, _is so pure and Orthodox, that whosoever believes it, and lives according to it, undoubtedly he shall be saved._ [For if all truths necessary to Salvation be held in it, then, so, is no error, opposite or destructive to Salvation, held by it; and so, living according to the truths it holds, I may be saved.] Again [106]----_I believe that there is no error in it, which may necessitate, or warrant any man to disturb the peace, or renounce the Communion of it_, [For, though I believe _Antisocinianism_, an error; Yet if I hold it not such, as that for it any man may disturb the peace, or ought to renounce the Communion of the Church, I may profess all this, and yet hold Socinianism.] Lastly as he,[107] so I;----_Propose me any thing out of the Bible, seem it never so incomprehensible, I will subscribe it with hand and heart. In other things_ [that I think not contained in this Book] _I will take no mans liberty of judgment from him, neither shall any man take mine from me; for I am fully assured, that God doth not, and therefore that men ought not to require any more of any man than this; To believe the Scripture to be Gods Word, to endeavour to find the true sense of it; and to live according to it. Without pertinacy I can be no Heretick; And[108], endeavouring to find the true sense of Scripture, I cannot but hold my error without pertinacy, and be ready to forsake it, when a more true, and a more probable sense shall appear unto me.----And then, all necessary truth being plainly set down in Scripture, I am certain by believing Scripture to believe all necessary truth; and in doing so, my life being answerable to my Faith, how is it possible I should fail of Salvation?_ Thus Mr. _Chillingworth_ speaks perfectly my sense.

_Prot._ I see no other cure for you; but that you learn _humility_ and _mortification_ of your _Understanding_ (in which lies the most subtle and perilous of all _Prides_): And, It will reduce you to _Obedience_: and this to _Truth_. That, with all the Church of God, you may give glory to _God the only begotten Son_, and _the Holy Ghost, coessential with God the Father_. To which _Trinity_ in _Unity_, as it hath been from the beginning, and is now, so shall all Honour and Glory be given throughout all future ages. _Amen._

[81] _Dr. Potter p._ 75.

[82] _Chillingw. p._ 274.

[83] _Lawd. p._ 142.

[84] _p._ 331.

[85] _Stilling. ib._

[86] _Vindic. of the Church of Eng._ _p._ 9.

[87] _D. Potter p._ 76.

[88] _Stillingfl. p._ 359.

[89] _Division of Churches. p._ 106.

[90] _Chillingw. p._ 278.

[91] _Ib._ 279.

[92] _Of Schism_, _p._ 23, 24, 25.

[93] _p._ 73.

[94] _Stillingfl. p._ 292.

[95] _p._ 100.

[96] _Schism guarded_, _p._ 192.

[97] _p._ 200.

[98] _Of Fundamentals. p._ 90.

[99] _cap._ 1.

[100] _Can._ 4.

[101] _p._ 70, 71.

[102] _See before_ §. 26.

[103] _Chillingw. Pref._ §. 39.

[104] _Ib._ §. 28.

[105] _Ib._ §. 29.

[106] _Ibid._

[107] _Chillingw. p._ 376.

[108] _Ib._ §. 57.

_FINIS._

_ERRATA._

Page 19. lin. 18. read _Emperor_. p. 28. l. 1. dele [_See more Protestants cited to this purpose_, _Disc._ 3. §. 19.] pag. 31, l. 7. r. _there by_.