The establish'd church, or, A subversion of all the Romanist's pleas for the Pope's supremacy in England together with a vindication of the present government of the Church of England, as allow'd by the laws of the land, against all fanatical exceptions, particularly of Mr. Hickeringill, in his scandalous pamphlet, stiled Naked truth, the 2d. part : in two books / by Fran. Fullwood ...

1. Faith.

THe third Point is the Object, about, and in which, Separation is made: Namely, External Communion; in those three great Means or Bonds of it; Faith, Worship and Go∣vernment: under that Notion, as they are bonds of Communion.

The first is Faith or Doctrine: and it must be acknowledged, that to renounce the Church∣es Faith, is a very great Schism: yet, here, we must admit two exceptions; it must be the Churches Faith: that is, such Doctrine, as the Church hath defined as necessary to be be∣lieved; if we speak of a particular Church: for

in other Points, both Authorities allow Liberty. Again, though the Faith be broken, there is not Schism presently or necessarily, except the external Communion be also, or thereby di∣sturbed. Heretical Principles not declared, are Schism in Principle, but not in Act: Hast thou Faith, have it to thy Self. 'Tis farther agreed, that we may and some times must differ with a particular Church in Doctrine; wherein She de∣parts from the Catholick Faith: but here we must take care, not only of Schism, but Dam∣nation it self, as Athanasius warns us.

Every one should therefore endeavour to sa∣tisfie himself in this great Question; What is Truth? or the true Catholick Faith? To say presently, that it is the Doctrine of the Ro∣man Church, is to beg a very great Question, that cannot easily be given. I should think A∣thanasius is more in the right; when he saith, this is the Catholick Faith, &c. in my opinion, they must stretch mightily that can believe, that, the Catholick Faith, without which no man can be saved; and therefore, which every man ought to understand, takes in all the Doctrines of the Council of Trent.

Till the contrary be made evident; I shall affirm after many great and learned men, that he that believes the Scriptures in general, and as they are interpreted by rhe Eathers of the Primitive Church; the three known Creeds; and the four first general Councils, and knows and declares himself prepared to receive any further Truth that he yet knows not, when made appear to be so, from Reason, Scripture, or Just Tradition, cannot justly be charged with

Schism from the Catholick Faith.

Methinks, those that glory in the Old Reli∣gion, should be of this mind; and indeed, in all reason, they ought to be so; unless they can shew an Older and better means of knowing the Catholick Faith, than this: what is contro∣verted about it, we shall find hereafter in its due place.

In the mean time, give me leave to Note, that our more Learned and Moderate Adversa∣ries, do acquit such a man or Church, both from Heresie and Schism; and indeed come a great deal nearer to us, in putting the issue of the Controversie very fairly upon this unquestio∣nable Point. They who first Separated them∣selves from the Primitive pure Church, and brought in Corruptions, in Faith, Practise, Lyturgy, and use of Sacraments, may truly be said to have been Hereticks, by departing from the pure Faith; and Schismaticks, by dividing themselves from the ex∣ternal Communion of the true uncorrupted Church.

Notes

• External Communi∣on.
• Faith.
• Mr. Knot in fid. unm. c. 7. s. 112. p. 534.