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quently calling the Church of Rome, particularly in this very Article, by the Name of a Church; which fhews, that in her Opinion the Church of Rome has the Metaphyfical Verity of a Church, tho' fhe is fo grofly corrupted, as our Church upon every Occafion declares, in Doctrin and Worship. And confequently, not only a Particular Church may retain its Metaphyfical Verity together with its Corruptions; but the Catholic Church it felf may do the fame, if every Branch of it were grofly corrupted. For that which does not deftroy the Metaphyfical Verity of a Particular Church, does not deftroy the Metaphyfical Verity of the Catholic Church.

Wherefore our Church does in this Propofition fpeak of that Vifible Church (whether Catholic or Particular, it amounts at last to the very fame) which is true by a Moral Verity. She fhews, what the Visible Church ought to be, and what a true Visible Church is. She faies, 'tis a Congregation of faithful Men, that is, of fuch as profefs a Belief in Chrift, in the which the pure Word of God is preach'd, and the Sacraments be duly miniftred according to Christ's Ordinance, in all those things that of Neceffity are requifite to the fame.

But then it must be observed, that our Church, does not in this Article pretend to give an accurate Definition of a Church even according to its Moral Verity. Tho' fhe faies, that Purity of Doctrin, and a due Ministration of Sacraments, are in that vifible Church which is a morally true one: yet fhe does not fay, that a morally true vifible Church needs only a Purity of Doctrin and a due Ministration of Sacraments; and that if the has these, she wants nothing more to make her come up to that Rule of Chrift, by the Degree of her Conformity to which she is more or less a true vifible Church. I For

For (whether other Particulars may be added, or no) 'tis certain, that due Difciplin, as well as Purity of Doctrin, and a due Ministration of the Sacraments, is required by Christ's Rule. And this our Church her felf teaches in the Second Part of the Homily for Whitfunday, faying, The true Church is an univerfal Congregation or Fellowship of God's faithful and elect People, built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the bead Cornerstone. And it hath always three Notes or Marks whereby it is known. Pure and found Doctrin, the Sacraments miniftred according to Chrift's holy Inftitution, and the right Ufe of Ecclefiaftical Difciplin. This Defcription of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God, and alfo to the Doctrin of the antient Fathers, fo that none may justly find fault therewith. That Church therefore, which joins due Difciplin to Purity of Doctrin and due Ministration of the Sacraments, is for that Reason a more true Church, than that which has Purity of Doctrin, and a due Ministration of the Sacraments, but wants due Difciplin.

This Article therefore does not enumerate all things, that a morally true vifible Church has or ought ro have; but afferts, that a morally true vifible Church has or ought to have thofe Particulars : even as he that faies, a Man is a Creature that has a rational Soul, does not enumerate all the Parts of a Man; for he ought to have a Body too. However, as that Perfon, who faies, a Man is a Creature that has a rational Soul, fpeaks truly, tho' he does not speak all that he might: even fo when the Article faies, the morally true vifible Church is a Congregation of faithful Men, in which the pure Word of God is preach'd, and the Sacraments be duly miniftred'according to Chrift's Ordinance, in all thofe things that of Neceffity are requifite to

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the fame; it expreffes true Doctrin, tho' it does not exprefs all that it might have exprefs'd, concerning the Properties or Marks of a morally true vifible Church.

In fhort therefore, the Cafe ftood thus. The Papists were conftantly objecting to the Proteftants, that they were no part of the visible Church; be cause they had forfaken the Communion of the Bifhop of Rome. To obviate this Pretenfe, our Article afferts, that the visible Church of Chrift is a Congregation of faithful Men, in which the pure Word of God is preach'd, and the Sacraments be duly miniftred according to Chrift's Ordinance, in all those things that of Neceffity are requifite to the fame. And hereby, 1. It vindicates our own Claim to the Title of a vifible Particular Church, or a part of the vifible Catholic Church: Because we have Purity of Doctrin and a due Miniftration of the Sacraments, which are, tho' not all, yet the principal Marks of a morally true vifible Church. 2. It retorts the Charge upon the Papists, who want thofe two Marks, and who tho' they are 2 vifible Church, and confequently a true visible Church by a Metaphyfical Verity; yet are not fuch a morally true vifible Church, as they ought to be. This is moft certainly the meaning of the Propofition; tho' I must own, it might have been more happily worded.

The Senfe of the Propofition being clear'd, the Truth of it is felf evident, and readily acknowledged by Papifts as well as Proteftants. Whether the Papists had or wanted fuch a Purity of Doctrin and due Ministration of the Sacraments, as the Article fpeaks of, is another Question. The Compilers of the Article juftly thought they had them not: but did not fpecify Particulars here, referving them

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for distinct Heads; and they are accordingly dif pers'd up and down, and very eafily found, in their proper Places.

The Second Propofition. If it be inquired whether the Church affirms, and confequently whether we be oblig'd to fubfcribe, no more than that the Church of Jerufalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred; or that the Church of Jerufalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have, like the Church of Rome, erred in Matters of Faith, as well as in their living, and manner of Ceremonies: I anfwer, that tho' 'tis poffible, the Compilers of the Articles might mean the latter; yet it doth not appear that they did; and 'tis certain, that their Expreffions do not neceffarily fignify, and confequently we are not bound to fubscribe, more than the the former. And accordingly I have worded the Propofition. Wherefore he that believes, that the Church of Jerufalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred at all, whether in Living, or in manner of Ceremonies, or in matters of Faith (tho' perhaps he is not fatisfied, that they have erred in all these Respects, or it may be in more than one of them) may honestly subscribe this Propofition.

Now that the Churches of Jerufalem, Alexandria and Antioch have erred, none can doubt, who confiders, that Arianifm had once overfpread those Parts of the World. This is a plain Inftance in matters of Faith. If any Man thinks his Subfcription obliges him to own, that they have alfo erred in Living and manner of Ceremonies; the Truth of this Charge is too plainly prov'd. For, 1. No Church ever wanted fome degree of Depravity of Manners. 2. Thefe Churches have been tainted with the Roman Pollutions in Worship.

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The Third Propofition is evident from the whole Course of our Controverfies with the Church of Rome. Their Errors in Life they dare not deny ; and their Errors in Faith and manner of Ceremonies evidently appear from their Trent Creed, which is burdened with a vast Variety of such abominable Falfhoods, as have grievoufly corrupted their very Worship. For inftance, the Doctrin of Tranfubftantiation has led them to the groffeft Idolatry. I forbear other Particulars, which are equally no.

torious.

steetect at ttet etteatate creatiate stent, teste The TWENTIETH ARTICLE.

Of the Authority of the Church.

HE Church bath power to decree rites or ceremo nies, and authority in controverfies of faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's word written, neither may it fo expound one place of fcripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witnefs and a keeper of holy writ, yet as it ought not to defree any thing against the fame, fo befides the fame ought it not to enforce any thing to be believ'd for neceffity of fal

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This Article contains Six Propofitions.

1. The Church has Power to decree Rites or Ceremonies.

2. The Church has Authority in Controverfies of Faith.

3. It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written. 4. The

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