Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 3.djvu/227

Rh these the only weapons to atchieve [sic] it with. If those who sin scandalously, and will not hear the admonition of the Church, were cast out of the Church, if not religion, reputation would restrain them somewhat; not to be thought fit company for Christians, would surely make them proud against their vices. Shame, the designed effect of their censures, hath great pungencies; the fear of it does goad men into actions of the greatest hazard, and the most unacceptable; such as have nothing lovely in them, but are wholly distasteful .... Now, the infliction of these censures is so much the work to which Church governors are called by the Holy Ghost, that they are equally called by Him to it and to Himself; both are alike bestowed upon them. "Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins ye retain they are retained." (John xx. 22.) And in the first derivations of this office, it was performed with severities, such as this age, I doubt, will not believe; and when they had no temporal sword to be auxiliary to these spiritual weapons.

[After considering the Church as one, by reason of its one foundation, faith, ministry of sacrament, hope, and charity, he continues,—]

Lastly, all the Churches of are united into one by the unity of discipline and government, by virtue whereof the same  ruleth in them all. For they have all the same pastoral guides appointed, authorized, sanctified, and set apart by the appointment of, by the direction of the Spirit, to direct and lead the people of in the same way of eternal salvation; as, therefore, there is no Church where there is no order, no ministry; so, where the same order and ministry is, there is the same Church. * * *

The necessity of believing the Holy Catholick Church appeareth first in this, that hath appointed it as the only way unto eternal life. We read at the first, "The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved;" and what was then daily done hath been done since continually. never appointed two ways to Heaven; nor did He build a Church to save some,