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CHAP. VIII. Concerning a nationall Church answ. to the 60.61.62. of the Preface.
OF the faythfull congregations, wherein we were borne, baptized, and nourished up in fayth, there is no quaestion made, but they are our loving and beloved mothers: Yet much quaestion ariseth con∣cerning that which the Rej. teacheth viz.* 1.1 That all those churches together, have one mother, and so we have a grand∣mother, that is the Church of England, considered as one church: and that by way of representation, as the convocation house, 2. by way of association and combination into one pro∣fession, worship, and discipline, which includeth the orders and officers, that is, the Hierarchye, pertaining therunto, but not by any other collective consideration.
1. I never read either in Scripture, or in any ortho∣doxe writer, of a visible particular Church, either grand∣mother of Christians, or mother of other Churches, if the Rej. hath, he should do well to informe us, where we may fynd this doctrine explained. 2. I would wil∣lingly know, whether Christians & Christian churches also, were not in England, before this great grandmo∣ther? I think, the Rej. will not denye it, nor yet flye for succour to his phisitians, who have found out an herb, which is called of them, Sonne before the Father,* 1.2 to justi∣fye his intention of Daughter before the Mother:* 1.3 He must confesse, that this Grand-mothe••, is onely a mother in