III. Of Unity In Religion.
Religion being the chief band of human society, it is a happy thing when itself is well contained within the true band of Unity. The quarrels and divisions about religion were evils unknown to the heathen. The reason was, because the religion of the heathen consisted rather in rites and ceremonies, than in any constant belief. For you may imagine what kind of faith theirs was, when the chief doctors[1] and fathers of their church were the poets. But the true God hath this attribute, that he is a jealous God;[2] and therefore his worship and religion will endure no mixture nor partner. We shall therefore speak a few words concerning the Unity of the Church; what are the Fruits thereof; what the Bounds; and what the Means.
The Fruits of Unity (next unto the well pleasing of God, which is all in all) are two; the one towards those that are without the church, the other towards those that are within. For the former; it is certain that heresies and schisms are of all others the greatest scandals; yea, more than corruption of manners. For as in the natural body a wound or solution of continuity[3] is worse than a
- ↑ Doctor. Teacher, instructor. "And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." Luke ii. 46.
- ↑ "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Exodus xxxiv. 14. Compare also the Second Commandment, Exodus xx. 5.
- ↑ A wound makes a solution of continuity by severing muscles, nerves, arteries, and the like.
