A treatise of the nature of Catholick faith and heresie with reflexion upon the nullitie of the English Protestant church and clergy / by N.N.

CHAP. VI. VVhether all Christians be the Catholick Church or whether it may be composed of any two, or more Congregations of them, if not agreeing in all matters whatsoever which any one Congregation, or Church pretends to be revealed by God?

1 THis is as much as to demand, Whether Ca∣tholicks, and Protestants both, may be part of the Catholick Church? Protestants (as w•• have seen in the former Chapter) say, that a•••• Christian Congregations are parts of the Ca∣tholick Church, as well as we Roman Catholicks. Thi•• assertion they ground upon the signification of the wor•• Catholick, which is as much to say, as Vniversal. In the sa•• me sense they explicate Catholick Tradition to be onel•• that which is contradicted by any Christian Church. Ac∣cording to this opinion, no Congregation of Christian can be Hereticks; because Hereticks must be obstinate a∣gainst the Doctrine of the Universall, or Catholick Church: but no Christians can be obstinate against th•• Doctrine of the Catholick or Universall Church; seein•• themselves are part of it, and they can not be obstinate a∣gainst themselves, or their owne Tenets, and Doctrine therefore none can be Hereticks. This absurd, and here∣ticall sequele is a sufficient refutation of the Protestant principle, and their explication of the word Catholick.

2 But let us prove directly that neither all Christians, nor any two Churches dissenting in their testimonies, con∣cerning whatsoever matters of Faith, can be the Catho∣lick Church. My proofe is this: The testimony of the Catholick Church, concerning what is pretended to be re∣vealed, or not revealed by God, must oblige all persons who are informed of it, to believe what it saith, and pro∣poseth. But if all Christians, or any two Churches not agreeing in their testimonies (suppose Roman Catholicks, and Protestants) be parts of the Catholick Church, the testimony thereof can not oblige any sober person to be∣lieve what both say, and propose. First, because one Church contradicts the other, and its impossible to belie∣ve contradictions at one, and the same instant. Secondly, when witnesses do not agree in their testimonies, if they be of equall authority, no man is obliged to believe either side, but rather is bound in prudence, to suspend his judge∣ment. Therefore if the Catholick Church be composed of all Congregations, and Churches of Christians, or of any two Churches not agreeing in their testimonies con∣cerning matters of Faith, no man is obliged to believe the testimony of the Catholick Church, but rather to suspend his judgement, and credit nothing: which sequele is ab∣surd, and contrary to the Doctrine not onely of Catho∣licks, but also of Protestants. Therefore the Catholick Church must not be all Congregations of Christians, or any two dissenting, but one onely Congregation of per∣sons who agree in one Faith.