Apology for the Reformed Churches, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I. The Occaſion and importance of this Treatiſe.
AMong all thoſe actions and perſwaſions of us (Proteſtants) that are ill taken by our Adverſaries, there is ſcarce any that is worſe reſented, or for which we are more bitterly and generally reproached, then our Separation from the See of Rome, and the Churches of her Communion. For they charge us of having by this means rent aſunder the bowels of Jeſus Chriſt, and miſerably torn in pieces that holy Body, which He formed of His own bloud. An horrible crime (queſtionleſſe) and ſuch an one as comes but little (if at all) behind the impiety of thoſe outragious murderers, who nailed our Saviour to the croſſe, pierced his ſide, and hands, and feet, with their abominable ſpear and nails. And whereas other parts of our doctrine offend onelyonly our enemios, this hath the ill luck to diſpleaſe ſome of our friends: For ſuch I take them to be who approve our belief, and yet blame us for being out of the Church of Rome. It therefore doth behove us infinitely (for the common rectifying and enlightning of both parties) to examine this accuſation, and to ſhew, if it be poſſible, the injuſtice and nullitie of it: to the end, that they who approve our belief may joyn themſelves to our Communion, ſeeing the weakneſſe of thoſe reaſons, which have hitherto kept them on a ſide in which they acknowledge ſome errours; and that they who entirely reject our perſwaſion may hereafter conſider the grounds whereon we go, without any more troubling themſelves to throw upon us this invidious but vain reproach. This is the ſubject, which I purpoſe to treat on in this paper; moſt humbly beſeeching thoſe who ſhall vouchſafe to reade it, to bring with them a mind free from paſſion, which turning its eyes from the Perſons, may regard nothing at preſent but the worth and weight of the ſubject in hand.
CHAP. II. The neceſſity of an union of Believers.
IN the firſt place, we confeſſe that Chriſtians are obliged both by the will of their Maſter, and by their own welfare and ſalvation, to continue united one to another, and all together to make up but one body. And as this union is their ſoveraigne happineſſe, and the neceſſary effect of charity, without which they cannot be Chriſtians; ſo the breach of it, and diviſion is the greateſt of their infelicities, and the moſt grievous of their crimes. And they who either procure it or foment it, ſhall never be able to avoid that curſe, which our Saviour doth often denounce, of not inheriting the kingdome of heaven; into which place none is received without this charity, which ſuch men want. For as the being and perfection of a naturall body conſiſts in the union of its parts; which diſſolving and falling aſunder, the whole doth preſently loſe not its form and beauty onelyonly, but likewiſe its force and life: ſo is it in all humane Societies, which are called Bodies onelyonly by ſimilitude. Their being and their excellence depends upon the union of the members whereof they are compoſed. We ſee Kingdomes and States flouriſh while the Subjects are united and knit together with the lovely bond of concord, but ſtraight crumble to nothing when diſſenſion ſeparates them each from other. And among all the evils that afflict them there is none ſo pernicious as diviſion, which ſtrikes at the very foundation of their being, and poiſons the originall of their life and ſtrength. So that to kindle ſedition and ſow faction by breaking the peace of Subjects, is queſtionleſſe the higheſt crime that any man can commit againſt a State.
So then, the Church being the heavenly Kingdome and everlaſting State of Chriſt Jeſus, the moſt admirable of all the Societies that ever have been either ſeen or ſancied in the Univerſe; We muſt needs conclude, That by proportion their crime who trouble and diſturb it (ſo farre eſpecially as to rend away from the Body any of its parts) is the blackeſt of all crimes whatſoever.
Thus farre we all agree. Nor are any ready to ſpeak ought further in behalf of union or againſt diviſion, which we are not ready to ſigne and conſent unto; deſiring ſtill, if poſſible, to outbid any for unity.