Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

Quest. 8. Wherein consists the Individua∣lity, or singleness, the Vnity or Oneness of the true Church?

That the Catholick Church is but one, is both asserted in Scri∣pture, and believed in our Creed; and though it be scattered up and down through the world in every Kingdom, Nation, People, Province, Common-wealth, Countreys and Dominions that are known in the earth, from La Mairs Straits to Greenland, from Sancta Creek to S. Ians; yet differs no more then one member of the body differs from another; the question then is this, what is it that like Arteries and Ligatures, Sinews and Nerves, holds such a vast body together, that the Church of God in this place is not a distinct Church of it self, from that that is in another, but only a part of it, differing as a bone in the neck from that in the foot of the self same body? one may be preaching or hearing the word in the Country of the Great Mogul, another in Iapan, and another in Pauls at London, and yet he in one and the self same body. And as the Sea receives divers names according to the Countreys she runs through, though all but one Sea; so the members of the Church Triumphant above in heaven, and those of the Church Militant be∣neath, make but one body, differing only as a mans upper from his lower parts: this Unity consists

• 1. In a consenting of all of them to the truth and doctrine of the Gospel, (for we know no Church but the Christian) what ever is written by the holy Ghost, through the Ministery of the Apostles,

• and Disciples, the best expositors of the prophets, Psalms, and Moses, whether made in it, and to be done, or said to be fulfilled in it and done, the whole society of the Church whereever they be scattered, believes it; and readily consents to it as a Canon of faith, and manners.
• 2. It consists in the consenting and unity in reference to the Sacraments of the Gospel; the same Sacraments for number, for nature, that one part holds to be profitable for the Souls of men, the same doth the other; it is true there are many Churches that differ from another in more externall and Ceremoniall points; it is the current doctrine of all reformed Churches, and of England, Art. 34. that it is not necessary that ceremonies be alike in all places, but may be altered as the People or Officers may teach and think meet, but as touching the essentiall and necessary truths, as the ends, the uses▪ the Author, the profit of them; all Christians of the Catholick Church hold one and the same thing.
• 3. I consists in the consenting to, and unity in holding the uti∣l••••y and necessity of hearing and obeying a Gospell ministery, where it is to be had; it is a Catholick truth to hear the word of God preached; and to obey those that have the rule over them; is a Catholicks practice even in their reproofs, Suspentious, Ex∣communications &c. they know their preaching is the power of God unto Salvation. I Rom, 16. and the ••other is necessary for the saving of the Spirit in the day of the Lord Jesus. I Co∣rinthians 5.5.

  There are some among us, that imagine themselves distinct Ch••rches from us, in this particular (viz) for the separating themselves from the ministery as now constituted, upbraiding their Minister, perhaps his receiving his dues, which he is no more to lose upon that account, then a man is to lose the milk or the wooll of his beast at night, upon the account that it wandered at Noon. Untill they be cast out of the Church, by Church censures, and by those to whom that power is design'd, their separation hi••der no more their union with us in the body of the Church, then a Boyl, scab or a sore hinders the continuity of the parts of a man, or no more then a Malignant Fever takes away the being of a person; so that in some sence we look upon them as Members of our Church, but itchy

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  ones, scabby ones, as members in our Israel, but as troublesome ones, untill they be cast out, and then for me they sh••ll be looked upon as Publicans and Heathens, and so by all the members of the Catholick Church; for being cast out of her who is the only Church, they must so be, and so long as they are in her, they are of her; their own separation availing us no more then a mans willing confinement of himselfe to his house, makes him a Prisoner in Law, when he is commanded forth to action.

• 4. It consists in that Communion that they have each member and each part with another, they have the benefit of each others prayers; they are all walking in one way, by one Rule, working all one work, expecting all one reward, acted by the same spirit, carried forth upon the same Motive, and armed with the same weapons, fighting against the same Enemies, building each other in their most holy Faith, Iude 20.
• 5. It consists in that union and communion that they have with Christ; he is their head, and whereever they are as members of him, they have life, sence and strength from him: in him they all live, move and have their being.

The Church hath also communion with Christ; and that both in his Person, and in his Offices and Sufferings.

• 1. In his person; every part of her is a Member of his body; they are bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, Ep. 5.30. and he that is joyned to the Lord is but one. As the Holy Ghost did unite in the Blessed Virgins Womb the Divine and humane nature of Christ, and made them one person, by reason of his formation of the body; whereby C••ist is of our flesh and of our bones: so the spirit unites us to the person of Christ by the gift of faith, that we are of his flesh and of his bones, and members of his body. For suppose a man to be so many Cubits high, that his head should reach the stars, and his hands stretch to either side of heaven, and one foot stood upon the Sea, and another upon the Land, yet these members being knit toge∣ther by natural Arteries, & informed by the same specifick soul, they might truly be said to have comunion each with other; even so, though Christ be in Heaven, and part of the Church with him, and we on earth, and so should seem to be a great distance from each other: yet the distance is not so great as to make a distinction of the parts,

• or separation of the head from the body; by that fore-mentioned sup∣position we may be said to be united to him, and therefore are hereby to have union each with another.
• 2. In his Offices: What Offices Christ executes as Redeemer of the World, in order to the great end of bringing his Church to∣gether, the same Offices doth he make his people to receive through the unction of his spirit, untill, and at their coming home he hath made them Kings. Revel. 1.6. makes them reign over all lusts, and have dominion over all the powers of Hell and Earth, and hath both Thrones and Crowns for them in Heaven; and he hath made them Priests, Rev••. 1.6. in as much as they are dayly offering up the Sacrifice of burnt Offerings, & whole burnt Offerings of Praise, prayer and thanksgiving; he hath made them Prophets. Io. 15.15. in as much as they know the Will of God: and the mind of God is made known to them; for what ever he had received of the Father he made known unto her.
• 3. In his sufferings. She must drink of that Cup that he drunk of, and the Church must be baptized with the Baptism he was bap∣tized withall. Matth. 20.23. He drank of the Brook by the way, and they must taste after him: it's their priviledge that are his Members, to suffer for him. Phil. 1.29. He drank of the Cup of affliction in the Garden, and all his followers must pledge him. Christ ought to suffer, Luke 24.26. nay, did it not become him to suffer Heb. 2.10. And it is decreed that all must suffer, before they enter into glory: for this suffering with Christ is a dying with him; which must precede rising with him, which must go before being glorified with him; in all these do the Members of Christ (which is the Church) hold Communion and have Union with him.