Fundamental positions and queries thereupon, concerning the faith, law, and church of Christ to be consider'd as highly conducing to publick peace, unity, and happiness.

FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS AND QUERIES Thereupon, Concerning the FAITH, LAW, AND CHURCH of CHRIST; To be Consider'd, as highly conducing to pub∣lick Peace, Unity and Happiness.

1. CHRIST our Lord, reveal'd and restablish'd a Faith, and Law, as the Universal and necessary [a] Means for the Ap∣plication of his Blood and Passion to Mankind.

II. A Belief and Profession of this Faith and Law, ought (at least regarding the Body of Christianity in General) to be Conform, and Adequate to [b] all the Truths or My∣steries so Reveal'd.

III. Hence this Faith and Law, is [c One, and the same amongst all Chri∣stians of what different Nation, and under what distinct Temporal Govern∣ment soever they be. The Universality of which Christians thus Combin'd, and Incorporated in one Faith and Law, is that which we term the [d] Ca∣tholick Church: And as this Faith and Law is One; so is the [e] Catholick Church One.

IV. This One Faith and Law thus necessary to the Salvation of all, con∣taining in it many Sublime and Supernatural Mysteries, or Truths, was deliver'd by Christ the Law-giver to the Apostles; who as his Vice-gerents on Earth, were [f] Authoriz'd and Commission'd by Him to Teach others, with a Promise of Divine Assistance, [g] least they might mislead their Fol∣lowers into Errour; either by Substraction from, or Addition to these necssary Mysteries or Truths.

V. Accordingly this Faith and Law was [h] Transmitted by the Apostles to their Successors, and by Them in like manner to others the Successive Bishops and Pastors of the Catholick Church. And as the necessity of Faith in its Unity and [i] Integrity is always the same; so is the Authority to each, and Divine Assistance not to misguide proportionably the same.

VI. Wherefore, As the Apostles (gather'd together in the Holy Ghost,) Exercis'd their Authority in determining [k] Controversies of Faith, and re∣quiring [l] a Submission of Judgement from others to their Decisions, in their time: So also the following Pastors, and Governours of the Catholick Church assembled in a General Council, and inspir'd by the same Holy Ghost, exercis'd the like Authority in desiding the like Controversies, distinguishing Gospel-Truths from Errour, and requiring the like sub∣mission of Judgement from Believers, as occasion was offer'd in all ensu∣ing Ages.

QƲERIES.

I. WHether a Separation at any time whatsoever, and on what Pre∣tence soever, made by any Part or Member of the whole Church, from the known Faith and Ʋnity of the same Church, be not opposite and destructive to the Fundamental Grounds of Religion esta∣blish'd by Christ?

II. Whether the Church of England before the Reformation was not a Part, or Member Subordinate to the whole? And whether by its Sepa∣rating in Faith and Communion from the Roman Church, it did not also Separate from the whole then Extant and Visible Church? If it did; Whether such Separation be Justifiable? If it did not; Where was the ever Divinely Authoriz'd and Assisted Catholick Church from the Visible Communion of which the Roman Church had Seperated, and to which the Church of England, deserting the Roman, did Adjoyn and Unite her self in Faith, Sacraments, and Subordination of Government?

III. Whether the Church of England at the time of the Reformation, assuming the liberty of Judging, and Determining Controverted Points of Faith by the Rule of Scripture, Interpreted by her self independently on, and with disjunction from the Judgement of all and every other, at least then extant Church or Churches, as her Book of Homilies seems to declare: Did not by this assum'd Liberty, Authorize and Warrant each particular Part, or even Member of her own Communion, to pass the like Judge∣ment, by the same Rule Independently on, and with disjunction from her respective Tenets in Faith and Doctrine. Furthermore, Whether such a Liberty be not repugnant to the Unity of Faith establish'd by Christ? Whether the Confusions and Disorders infesting the Nation for above these Forty years, have not in great measure sprung from this Root or Prin∣ciple? And whether it doth not lay open a direct and unavoidable way or passage, to all manner of Schisms and Heresies?

IV. Whether private Self-Interpretation of Scripture, in contempt of the Churches Authority, hath not already brought many (and in all likelihood will daily bring more) of the most weighty Articles of the Chri∣stian Religion into Question and Debate? And this by an endless Labyrinth of Contest, without hopes of Redress? And whether the same Church-Authority, once neglected, the Canon of Scripture it self, as to its being Gods Word, may not be Controverted; And finally the whole Systeme of Faith by degrees, perish?

V. Whether the Church of England having upon Self-Abstract-Noti∣ons and Allegations of Gods Word, made a Rupture in the Unity of Faith, and Subordination of Government from the Church, of which it was for∣merly a Member, doth not unduly exact from her Fellow Members ei∣ther an Intern or (consequently) an Extern Obedience, and Conformity to her own proper Doctrine and Worship? And whether Justice, Pru∣dence, and common Interest do not require, either that the Church of England return to the Unity and Obedience of the Church, from whence (by open Contradiction) she hath departed; or that she al∣low all other Sects, or Assemblies; yea, even individual Persons, in their own Judgements of sober Understanding, Dissenting from her, the free Exercise of their Religion, according to their several, though opposite Sentiments and Dictamen of Conscience, as to Faith and Worship in Expounding God's Word.

Lastly, Whether the Imposing of Oaths, Tests, Sacraments, Rites, Liturgies, Ceremonies, &c. by the Church of England upon Persons to whom such Matters do not appear plain and clear in Scripture, be not con∣trary to the Spirit and Genius of the Reformation: And whether such Impositions, and Entanglements under severe Temporal Penalties, may not be properly term'd a Persecution.

God Save the KING.

Notes

• a

  Mark 16. 16 Heb. 11. v. 6.
• b

  Matt. 28. 20.
• c

  Ephes. 4. v 4.
• d

  Tim. 3. v. 15. Matt. 16. 18.
• e

  Joh. 10. v 16.
• f

  Matt. 28. 16. Luk. 10. v 16.
• g

  Joh. 14. v. 16.
• h

  2 Tim. 2. v. ••. 2 Thess. 2. 15.
• i

  Ephes. 5. v. 5.
• k

  Acts 15.
• l

  Matt. 18. 17.