The True Catholic and Catholic Church Described, Part 32
Before I come to speak of the last (which is, Catholick Affections) I shall briefly name some Principles contrary to the Catholick Principles, which I would warn you to avoid: and I shall not stand upon them, but touch them.
1. It is a private and not-Catholick Principle, to hold that we are not baptized into the Catholick Church; but into a particular Church onelyonly. As the case of the Eunuch Act, and the baptismall institution shew.
2. It is a private Principle contrary to Catholicisme, to hold that an authorized Minister of Christ, is onelyonly a Minister in that Church which is his speciall charge (and where we confess he is bound to exercise his ordinary labours) and that he may not preach, baptize, administer the Lords Supper, yea and rule pro tempore, as a Minister in another Church to which he is called. As Physicians must first have a generall Licence (upon exploration and approbation) to practise Physick when they are called, and afterward, may have a speciall Call and engagement to a particular Hospitall or City, as their charge, and so do practise occasionally upon a particular call abroad, but ordinarily at home, as to their speciall charge, but to both as Physicians; so is it with a Pastor in the Church of Christ.
3. It is a private and uncatholick Principle, that a Minister is so bound to that one Congregation which is his speciall Charge, as that he must prefer them and their service, before the more publick service of the Churches, and must neglect opportunities of doing apparently much greater good, for fear of neglecting them. All our obligations are strongest to our ultimate end, and next to that which is next that end, and so more to the Publick then to any particulars as such.
4. And it is a private uncatholick Principle, that a Minister should more fear or avoid the offending or hurting of his own particular flock, then the offending and hurt of the Catholick Church, or of many particular Churches where the Interest of Christ and the Gospel is greater, we are more obliged to God, and the Catholick Church, then we can be to any man or particular Church. A Physician of an Hospitall caeteris paribus, must prefer his own charge before any others, and rather neglect a strangers life then theirs: But he should rather neglect one of his own charge, then a Prince, or many considerable persons abroad, or all his own charge, then persons, or Cities, or Countries of far more publick use and interest.
5. It is a private uncatholick principle, that Ministers may satisfie their Consciences, if they stay at home, and onelyonly look after their own Congregations, and never go to the Assemblies of the Ministers, where more publick affaires of the Churches are transacted, nor by preaching abroad where necessity requireth it, be helpfull to other places.
6. And it is an uncatholick Principle, to hold that the Assemblies and Associations of Pastors and concatenation of Churches by them, is a needless thing; or that they are not to be ordinary, and fixed, for a certain setled way of the Communion of Churches and Brethren, but onelyonly occasionall and seldom, and that it is indifferent whether we be there.
7. And it is an uncatholick dividing Principle to hold, that when the Churches agree upon a Circumstance of worship as convenient, any particular persons shall walk singularly, and refuse to consent to that agreement, unless it be against the word of God.
8. It is not according to Catholick Principles, for any man of another Church, to make light of the reproofs, advice or teaching, of any faithfull Minister of Christ, because they are not members of his charge.
9. Nor is it a Catholick Principle for a Minister to hold, that a fit person of another Church may not have Communion with him and his Charge, and partake of the Ordinances among them, when they are for a time cast into their Neighborhood, and give sufficient testimony of their fitness.
10. It is a dividing uncatholick Principle, to think that for every disorder, or gross sin, that (against our wills) is connived at in the Church, we must therefore withdraw from the Communion of that Church, before sufficient meanes and patience have been used with them, and before the Church do own the sin.
11. It is a dividing uncatholick Principle, to hold that we must necessarily require the Profession of more then the Essentials of Christianity, in order to the baptizing of any into the Church; Or that Profession is no satisfactory evidence, (though there be no proof on the contrary to invalidate it,) unless there be some other discovery of the truth of grace. To deny the Catholick qualification of visible members, is not Catholick.
12. It is a dividing, and not a Catholick Principle, that we must needs preach, profess or declare every thing that we take to be a truth, though to the apparent hazard of the Church, and hinderance of the great Essential truths; and that no truth must be silenced, for the Churches peace, and the advantage of the more necessary truths. And that we may not hold Communion with those that agree not with us in some Integrals of the Christian faith, though they agree in the Essentials, and forfeit not the Communion of the Church by wicked lives.
Too many more such Principles might be named: But I onelyonly warn you briefly of these few.