Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/49

Rh as we are; and, again, in the same prayer, "neither pray I for these alone, but for them also, which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us." … Would it not be in direct opposition to the spirit and letter of this prayer to justify every individual Christian in claiming the right of withdrawing himself from communion with the Church upon every slight difference of opinion? As if Christianity required of us no surrender whatever of the private judgment, and as if it were never right for a Christian silently to acquiesce in existing usages, or new ordinances, in things indifferent, when commanded by lawful authority, unless he was convinced of the benefit and propriety of them, which would, in fact, be to make every individual Christian a law unto himself in all things; or, to adapt our language to the day, as if it were never required to assent in religious matters in the same way as in civil matters, i.e. without being convinced of the advisableness or benefit of the thing enjoined, but merely because, on the one hand, lawful authority orders it, and, on the other, we see no danger to our souls in obeying it.

8thly. hath given an authority to the Church, and therefore there is but one thing which can justify us in going against its authority, and that is, a firm conviction, that by doing what the Church orders, we should transgress some still more evident ard higher command of ; as, e.g. whence the Church of Rome pronounced it lawful to take away the lives of excommunicated princes. And is not separating from the Church transgressing its authority?

If any one ask, where is this authority spoken of in Scripture, let him consider the following texts.

"He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth Him that sent me." (Luke x. 16.)

"If he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." (Matt, xviii. 17.)