Review of the True Nature of Schism, Treatise · Chapter 6
CHAP. 6.
HAving declared and vindicated the Scripture proper notion of Schiſme, and thence diſcovered the nature of it with all its aggravations, with the miſtakes that men have run into, who have ſuited their apprehenſions concer…ing it, unto what was their intereſts to have it thought to be, and opened a way thereby for the furtherance of peace among profeſſors of the Goſpell of Jeſus Chriſt, for the further ſecurity of the conſciences of men unjuſtly accuſed and charged with the guilt of this evill, I proceeded to the conſideration of it in the uſuall common acceptation of the word, and things, that ſo I might obviate what ever with any tollerable pretence is inſiſted on, as deduced by a parity of reaſon from what is delivered in the Scripture, in reference to the charge managed by ſome or other againſt all ſorts of Proteſtants. Hereupon I grant, that it may be looked on in generall as foreign, a branch of union, ſo that it be granted alſo, that that union be an union of the inſtitution of Jeſus Chriſt. To find out then the nature of Schiſme under the conſideration of the condeſcention made: and to diſcover wherein the guilt of it doth conſiſt: it is neceſſary that we find out what that union is, and wherein it doth conſiſt, whereof it is the brcadth and interruption, or is ſuppoſed ſo to be over and above the breach above mentioned and deſcribed. Now this union being the union of the Church, the ſeverall acceptations of the Church in ſcripture are to be inveſtigated, that the union inquired after, may be made known. The church in ſcripture being taken either for the Church Catholick or the whole number of elect beleivers in the world (for we lay aſide the conſideration of that part of this great family of God, which is already in heaven, from this diſtinction) or elſe for the generall viſible body of thoſe who profeſſe the goſpell of Chriſt, or for a particular ſociety joining together in the celebration of the ordinances of the new teſtament, inſtituted by Chriſt to be ſo celebrated by thē; The union of it, with the breach of that union, in theſe ſeverall reſpects with the application of the whole, to the buſineſſe under conſideration, was to be enquired after: which alſo was performed.
I began with the conſideration of the Catholick inviſible Church of Chriſt, and the union thereof; having declared the riſe of this diſtinction, and the neceſsity of it from the nature of the things themſelves; as to the matter of this church, or the church of Chriſt as here militant on earth, I affirme, and evince it to be, all and only elect believers; the union of this church conſiſts in the inhabitation of the ſame ſpirit in all the members of it, uniting them to the head Chriſt Jeſus, and therein to one another. The breach of this union, I manifeſted to conſiſt in the loſse of that ſpirit, with all the peculiar conſequences and effects of him in the hearts of them, in whom he dwels; This I manifeſt according to our principles to be impoſsible, and upon a ſuppoſition of it, how remote it would be from Schiſme, under any notion or acceptation of the word; ſo cloſing that diſcourſe with a charge on the Romaniſts of their diſtance from an intereſt in this church of Jeſus Chriſt.
Our Reverend Author profeſſes that he hath but little to ſay to theſe things, ſome exceptions he puts in unto ſome expreſſions uſed in the explication of my ſenſe, in this particular: that which he chiefely inſiſts upon, is the accommodation of that promiſe Matth. 16. 28. upon this rock will I build my church, to the Church in this ſenſe, which he concludes to belong to the viſible Church of profeſſors; now as I am not at all concerned, as to the truth of what I am in confirmation of, to which of theſe it be applyed, ſo I am far from being alone in that application of it to the Catholick Church which I inſiſt upon; All our Divines that from hence prove, the perſeverance of all Individuall believers, as all do that I have met withall, who write on that ſubject, are of the ſame mind with me. Moreover the Church is built on this rock in its Individuals; or I know not how it is ſo built. The building on Chriſt, doth not denote a meer relation of a generall body to his truth, that it ſhall allwaies have an exiſtence, but the union of the Individualls with him in their being built on him, to whom the promiſe is made. I acknowledg it for as unqueſtionable a truth as any we believe, that Chriſt hath had, and ever ſhall have to the end of the world, a viſible number of thoſe that profeſſe his name, and ſubjection to his kingdome; becauſe of the neceſſary conſequence of profeſsion upon believing; but that, that truth is intended in this promiſe any farther but in reſpect of this conſequence, I am not convinced. And I would be loath to ſay that this promiſe is not made to every particular believer, and only unto them; being willing to vindicate to the Saints of God, all thoſe grounds of conſolation which he is ſo willing they ſhould be made partakers of.
As to the union of this Church and the breach of it, our Reverend Author, hath a little to ſay: becauſe there may be ſome decaies in true grace in the members of this Church: he affirms that in a ſort there may be ſaid to be a breach in this union, and ſo conſequently a ſchiſme in this body. He ſeemed formerly to be affraid leſt all ſchiſme ſhould be thruſt out of the world; If he can retrive it on the account of any true believers failing in grace, or falling for a ſeaſon, I ſuppoſe he needs not fear the loſſe of it, whilſt this world continues: But it is fit, wiſe, and learned men ſhould take the Liberty of calling things by what names they pleaſe; ſo they will be pleaſd withall, not to impoſe their conceptions and uſe of tearms on them who are not able to underſtand the reaſons of them. It is true there may be a Schiſme among the members of this church, but not as members of this church, nor with reference to the union thereof. It is granted that ſchiſme is the breach of union; but not of every union much leſſe not a breach of that, which, if there were a breach of, it were not Schiſme: However by the way I am bold to tell this Reverend Author, that this Doctrine of his, concerning ſchiſme in the Catholick inviſible Church, by the failings in Grace in any of the mēbers of it for a ſeaſon, is a new notion, which as he cannot juſtify to us, becauſe it is falſe, ſo, I wonder how he will juſtify it to himſelfe, becauſe it is new. And what hath been obtained by the Author againſt my principles in this chapter. I cannot perceive. The nature of the church in the ſtate conſidered, is not oppoſed; The union aſſerted not diſproved; the breach of that union, is denyed (as I ſuppoſe) no leſſe by him then my ſelfe; That the inſtances that ſōe Saints, as mē bers of this Church may ſometimes fail in grace more or leſſe for ſome ſeaſon; & that the members of this Church, though not as members of this Church, yet on other conſiderations may be guilty of Schiſme, concern not the buſineſſe under debate, himſelfe I hope is ſatisfied.