The Novelty of Popery Opposed to the Antiquity of True Christianity, Book 1 · Chapter 43
CHAP. 43. Of Union in the viſible Church.
UNion and concord are deſirable things, ſo it be an union in things good and holy; for otherwiſe union is but a conſpiracy. Thus the Apoſtle Eph. 4.15. commands us to follow truth with charity, rejecting that charity which maintaineth untruth. The Devils themſelves have an union among them. And without a ſtrict union, a company of thieves cannot ſubſiſt. When then our Adverſaries give us union for a mark of the true Church, we ask Whether they underſtand union in the true Doctrine, or in the falſe? If they mean (as it is to be ſuppoſed) union in the true Faith and Doctrine, it follows, that before we can know whether union in a Church be good and holy, that Church muſt be inſtructed before in the true Faith and Religion. It appears then, that union cannot be a mark of the true Church, ſince to judge of that union, there is need of another mark.
Neither can that be an infallible mark of the true Church, which is not perpetual with the true Church, and may not leſs or more conſiſt with the ſocieties of Hereticks and Infidels. For the ancient Chriſtian Church hath been often troubled with diſſentions; and before the Schiſm and ſeparation between the Greek and the Roman Church, there was always ſomething to mend, and ſome quarrel to appeaſe: And the Roman Church which bears her ſelf for the only true Church, hath many times been troubled with Schiſms: And at this day, yet they are not agreed in the Roman Church, whether the Pope be above the Council, or the Council above the Pope. Now there can hardly be a greater and more important quarrel in a State, then to diſpute to whom the Soveraignty doth belong.
Beſides, union in the ſame religion is found alſo among Hereticks, and therefore cannot be an infallible mark of the true Church. In the whole Empire of the Turk, which is the greateſt of the world, there is a very great agreement about Religion. The Jews alſo keep among them an admirable union. Neither is there any, though never ſo ſmall heretical Church, but is united in her error. For it is not the great number that makes the union to be good or evil, but the agreement to do well or ill, or to believe well or ill.
That union is inculcated by our Adverſaries to upbraid us, that we agree not with the Lutherans and Anabaptiſts. But herein the Roman Church upbraids us with nothing, but what ſhe may be upbraided with: For ſhe alſo diſagreeth with the Lutherans and Anabaptiſts. The reproaches of the Roman Church to us upon that Subject, are of no force, ſince the Pagans and Jews make the ſame reproach to the Roman Church with the like force, and to all Chriſtians in general. For thence they gather, that Chriſtian Religion is falſe, ſince Chriſtians are at odds about their Religion, and the Greek Church hath a Religion, the Roman Church another, the Ethiopian Church another, &c.
Let our union then be with our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and through Jeſus Chriſt with God, and with them that ſerve him, according to his Word. For in vain do we ſeek union with men, while we are in diſcord with God. Now the way to be united with God, is to follow his Word, and to conform our ſelves unto his Will; By conſequent that we may enter into that union, we muſt be inſtructed in his Word: For it is an open contradiction to reaſon, and a wilful blindneſs, to think to agree upon an union, and not know about what we muſt be united; and to preſs concord upon the people, and at the ſame time to hide the truth from them, without which, all agreement is a conſpiracy againſt God.