Chap. 3.
Quest.5.

CONCLUSION.

HUS far then we fee, what is meant
by the Catholick Church.

TH

First, It is a Church, which is only in (24) ONE COMMUNION.

Secondly, It is a Church, which is (25) alWAYS IN BEING, from its Establishment and Foundation by Chrift, to the end of the World.

Thirdly, It is a Church, which is (26) ALWAYS A VISIBLE and KNOWN SOCIETY, being, in a limited Senfe, the (27) CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS.

Fourthly, It is a Church, which is (28) alWAYS ORTHODOX, both in the chief and in the fecondary Articles of Religion.

And confequently it is a Church, whose Doctrine, in Matters of Religion, cannot be reform'd.

If these Points have been duly and rationally prov'd (as, I prefume, they have) I need not fay any more on this Head. But to fet the Subject in a more extenfive View, and to apply the Principles, already prov'd, a few Questions may be added.

SIXTH

(24) See the first and fecond Question of this Chapter (25) Quest. 3d. (26) Quest. 4th. (27) Quest. 4th. Proof the firft. (28) Quest. 5th.

Chap. 3.
Quest.6.

Sixth QUESTIONA

Are not new Terms of Communion, new Definitions of Faith, and new Creeds, a manifeft Proof of the Church's Unorthodoxy?

ANSWER,

HIS is no better, than a vul

Tgar Error. Falfe or doubtful

Definitions of Faith, falfe or doubtful Creeds, falfe or doubtful Additions to the ancient Creeds, and unreasonable Terms of Communion (or any of thefe) would make the Church to be Unorthodox: but new Definitions of Faith, new Creeds, new Additions to the ancient Creeds, and new Terms of Communion, cannot do it. Because a new Declaration of the ancient and Apoftolical FAITH cannot make her Unorthodox. Unlefs She be Unorthodox, because She does her Duty.

II.

NEW CREEDS.

A

NY Truth, which is certainly reveal'd, may be put into the Creed, whenfoever the Catholick Church pleases: which Church, if it be always Orthodox (as was prov'd in the laft Question) is an unexceptionable Judge of all reveal'd Truths. She might therefore (if new Herefies requir'd it) lawfully make a Creed of 39 Articles. Becaufe new Creeds, and new Additions to them (if true, and certain) are neither commanded, nor forbid, by the Word of God: but are

left

left to the Prudence and Difcretion of the H. Chap. 31 Catholick Church. Tho' She feldom or ne- Quest.6. ver uses this Power, but when the Defence of Truth, against new Herefies, requires it.

III. The two first general Councils, an. 325, and 381, made a new Creed. The first infer ted the Confubstantiality of the Son, againft Arians; and concerning the eighth Article of the Baptifmal Creed, faid only, I believe in the Holy Ghost.

The latter added against the Macedonians, 1 believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who together with the Father and the Son, is ador'd and glorify'd; who spoke by the Prophets, &c. The Claufe, who proceeds from the Son, was added after the fourth Century: tho' read in that, which we call S. Athanafius's Creed.

Of these the Church of England, in her 39 Articles, fays: (1) The three Creeds, NiceCreed, Athanafius's Creed, and that, which is commonly call'd the Apostles - Creed, ought THROUGHLY to be receiv'd,and believ'd: for they may be prov'd BY MOST CERTAIN WARRANTS of Holy Scripture. She reads the Nicene Creed (with the Additions made at Conftantinople, and with the Clause concerning the Holy Ghoft proceeding from the Father and the Son) in her Communion Service. And S. Athanafius's Creed, on Christmas-day, on the Epiphany, on S. Mathias, on Eafter-day, on Afcenfion-day, on Whitfunday, on S. John Baptist, on Trini ty Sunday, &c.

(1) Art. viii.

M

Her

Chap. 3.

Her fifth Article is: The Holy Ghost, proceed Queft.6.ing from the Father AND THE SON, is of one Subftance, Majefty and Glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

IV. The third and fourth general Councils added nothing to the Creed. But the fourth against a new Herefy of Eutyches, not yet extinct, publish'd a new (2) Definition of Faith. A Method, which the Catholick Church has us'd against all new Herefies, whenever there feem'd to be an Occafion for it, in all Ages fince.

V. These new Creeds, and Definitions of Faith, the Arians, the Macedonians, the Eutychians call'd. INNOVATIONS, and new ARTICLES OF FAITH. Not that they contain any Doctrine, but what was reveal'd to the Apostles: but because all Diffenters form it are Innovators, and Reformers of the Faith once deliver'd to the

Saints.

VI. The Catholick Church, against the late Herefies, has made no Creed. But Pope Pius the fourth publish'd a Profeffion of the Catholick Faith, which our Adverfaries are pleas'd to call his Creed. And by the fame Rule all the Profeffions of Faith, which Proteftants have made, will be fo many Proteftant Creeds. Thus the Proteftants of (3) Bohemia, an. 1535, give us a new Creed of xx Articles.

Thofe of (4) Saxony, an. 1551, furnish us with another Proteftant Creed of xx Articles. Thofe

(2) A. v. Tom. 4. Conc. Labb, pag. 566, 567. Et in Alloc. ad Imper. p. 819, &c. (3) In Syntag. Confeft. Par. 2. pag. 177. (4) Ibid. pag. 52.

Thofe of (5) Scotland an. 1568, give us a Chap. 3. Scotch Creed of xxv. Articles.

Thofe of (6) Germany, an. 1530, fent us the first Proteftant Creed from Augsburg of xxviii Articles.

Befides, we have a Creed from (7) Swifferland an. 1566, of xxx Art. a (8) Wirtemberg Creed, an. 1552, of xxxii Articles: a (9) Dutch Creed, confirm'd at Dort an. 1619, of xxxvii Articles: and a (10) Huguenot Creed of xl Articles, approv'd in their Synod at Rochelle an. 1561.

The 39 Articles of the Church of England were certainly defign'd to be a Profeffion of Faith, and fo they are cald by (11) Protestants abroad. But her Faith in 1727 is not altogether the fame, that it was in 1562. For now fome of the 39 Articles are esteem'd no better by her dutiful Sons, than probable and pious Opinions. But if a Profeffion of Faith may be call'd a Creed; we shall still find Matter enough in the 39 Articles for a Prote ftant Creed.

And why may we not reckon the following Articles in it?

1. (12) Holy Scripture containeth all things neceffary to Salvation. Hence (13) befides the Scripture, the Church ought not to enforce any thing to be believ'd for neceffity of Salvation. 2. (14) Concupifcence (after Baptifm) bath of itfelf the nature of Sin.

M 2

3. (15)

(5) Ib. Par. 1. pag. 111. (6) Ib. Par. 2. pag. 9. (7) 1b. Par. 1 pag. 1. (8) lb. Par. 2. pag. 102. (9) Par. I. pag. 129. (10) Ibid. pag. 77. (11) Anglicana Confeffio Fidei, in Articulis, de quibus convenit inter Archiepifco pos & Epifcopos utriufq; Provinciæ in Synodo Londinenfi an. Dom. 1552. Syntag. Par. 1. p. 99 (12) Art. vi. (13) Art. xx. (14) Art. ix,

Queit.6.