A prudent and secure choice. Worthy of due consideration being a sure land-mark to all those who have been tossed to and fro in these wavering times. / Written by H.G. Gent.

CHAP. 5. Securely wee beleive one Church, vnder one Head thereof.

14. NEcessarie it is, in one Family one Master, in one Citty one Major, in one Company one Captaine, in one Army one Generall, in one Common-wealth one State, in one Kingdome one King. And can it beare any colour of offence, to believe that in the most perfect Common-wealth, instituted by Christ, there should be one flock under one Pastor? vt fiat unum ovile et unus Pastor. Where there are two, not subordinate Governements, there is not one Common∣wealth,

and two peaceable governing Kings, argue two Kingdomes, where then in Chris∣tians wee find divers Spirituall governments, not subordinate; wee must acknowledge divers Churches, yet wee all say in one Creed, delivered by the Apostles, conforma∣ble to what Christ promised, J believe the holy Catholique Church. Not one if not subordinate to one visible head, who as hee ordained a visible Church, so he ordained a visible Pastor. That there may be made one flocke and one Pastor. Necessary for the preseruation of Unity, and decent Confor∣mity, without which no Common-wealth is permaent.

15. I find this no where verified but in the successors of Peter, and the Church adhering to them, cleerely promised, Math. 16. vers. 8. Thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke will J build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it.

Behold one rocke, one Church, and that permanent, against all assaults: now knowne by its singular Constancy, in the middest of continuall assaults, Iohn. 21. To Peter Christ said, Feed my sheepe; which words imply the office of a Pastor; that is, not onely

to provide nourishment, but also to Governe and defend, without which it were not com∣pleat.

That also these words were spoken to Peter only, and consequently only to his suc∣cessors; It is manifest by that three-fold In∣terrogation, Simon Peter louest thou mee? Especially when hee added, More then these. Whereby he excluded the rest of his Apostles. To which when Saint Peter had answered, that he loued him. Christ replyed to him siingularly; Feed my sheepe. That is, the su∣preame dignity of Pastorship and Vicegeren∣cy J give you, requireth a singular love, and as you love mee, so be a true Pastor in my Church.

Grant that by probable arguments all said may appeare not evident, I will not dispute it; yet the common voyce of the World so long continued, expressed also in the Creeds, may justifie the Believers of one, holy Catho∣lique, and Apostolique Church: and not one, unlesse in one belief under one supreame visible Governour; whom such as reject out of a perswasion, that they need none, but Christ; make many Churches disagreeing in confused Beliefes, every one equally chal∣lenging CHRIST for their Governour;

securely then one Church under one visible Pastor is believed, but with danger denied: Hee that will not beleive the Catholique Church, he that heareth you heareth mee, he that dispiseth you dispiseth mee &c.