Anglican Communion -- Apologetic works; Church of England -- Apologetic works
they well agree between themselves: except it be peradventure as, in
times past, the Pharisees and Sadducees; or as Herod and Pilate did
accord against Christ.
They were best, therefore, to go and set peace at home rather among their
own selves. Of a truth, unity and concord doth best become religion: yet
is not unity the sure and certain mark whereby to know the Church of God.
For there was the greatest consent that might be amongst them that
worshipped the golden calf; and among them which with one voice jointly
cried against our Saviour Jesus Christ, "Crucify Him." Neither, because
the Corinthians were unquieted with private dissensions: or because Paul
did square with Peter, or Barnabas with Paul: or, because the Christians,
upon the very beginning of the Gospel, were at mutual discord touching
some one matter or other, may we therefore think there was no Church of
God amongst them. And as for those persons, whom they upon spite call
Zuinglians and Lutherians, in very deed they of both sides be Christians,
good friends and brethren. They vary not betwixt themselves upon the
principles and foundations of our religion, nor as touching God, nor
Christ, nor the Holy Ghost, nor of the means of justification, nor yet
everlasting life, but upon one only question, which is neither weighty
nor great: neither mistrust we, or make doubt at all, but they will
shortly be agreed. And if there be any of them which have other opinion
than is meet, we doubt not but ere it be long they will put apart all
affections and names of parties, and that God will reveal it unto them:
so that by better considering and searching out of the matter, as once it
came to pass in the Council of Chalcedon, all causes and seeds of
dissension shall be thoroughly plucked up by the root, and be buried, and
quite forgotten for ever. Which God grant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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