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"[T]he first unity of the Church considered in itself (beside that of the Head, which is one Christ, and the life communicated from that Head, which is one Spirit) relieth upon the original of it, which is one; even as an house built upon one foundation, though consisting of many rooms, and every room of many stones, is not yet many, but one house. Now there is but one foundation upon which the Church is built, and that is Christ: for other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And though the Apostles and the Prophets be also termed the foundation, yet even then the unity is preserved, because as they are stones in the foundation, so are they united by one ComerCorner-stone; whereby it comes to pass that such persons as are of the Church, being fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone, in Whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord. This stone was laid in Zion for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious comercorner-stone, a sure foundation: there was the first Church built, and whosoever have been, or ever shall be converted to the true Christian Faith, are and shall be added to that Church, and laid upon the same foundation, which is the unity of origination. Our Saviour gave the same power to all the Apostles, which was to found the Church; but He gave that power to Peter, to shew the unity of the same Church.

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"Fifthly, They which are all of one mind, whatsoever the number of their persons be, they are in reference to that mind but one; as all the members, howsoever different, yet being animated by one soul, become one body .... By this, said our Saviour, shall all men know that ye are My DiSCiplesDisciples, if ye have love one to another. And this is the unity of charity.

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"[T]he Church, as it embraceth all the professors of the true faith of Christ, containeth in it not only such as do truly believe and are obedient to the Word, but those also which are hypocrites, and profane. Many profess the Faith, which have no true belief; many have some kind of faith, which live with no correspondence to the Gospel preached. Within therefore the notion of the Church are comprehended good and bad, being both externally called, and both professing the same Faith. For the Kingdom of heaven is like unto afield in which wheat and tares grow together unto the harvest; like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind; like unto a floor in which is laid up wheat and chaff; like unto a marriage feast, in which some have on the wedding-garment, and some not. This is that ark of Noah in which was preserved beasts clean and unclean. This is that great house in which there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour and some to dishonour. There are many called, of all which the Church consisteth, but there are few chosen of those which are called, and thereby within the Church. I conclude therefore, as the ancient Catholics did against the DonattstsDonatists, that within the Church, in the public profession and external communion thereof, are contained persons truly good and sanctified, and hereafter saved, and together with them other persons void of all saving grace, and hereafter to be damned: and that Church containing these of both kinds may well be called holy, as St. Matthew called Jerusalem the holy city, even at that time when our Saviour did but begin to preach, when we know there was in that city a general corruptions of manners and worship" (Pearson [32 f.]).

"The Catholic Faith ... is so called with relation to the Catholic Church, whose Faith it is, and the Catholic Church is the Universal Church, or all the true churches in the world, which are all but one whole Church, united in Christ their Head. The profession of the true Faith and Worship of Christ makes a true Church, and all true churches are the One Catholic Church, whether they be spread over all the world, or shut up in anyone comer any one corner of it, as at the first preaching of the Gospel the Catholic Church was nowhere but in Judaea. Now as no Church is the Catholic Church of Christ, how far soever it has spread itself over the world, unless it profess the true Faith of Christ, no more is any Faith the Catholic Faith, how universally soever it be professed, unless it be the true Faith of Christ. Nor does the true Christian Faith cease to be Catholic, how few soever there be who sincerely profess it. . . . Were there but one true Church in the world, that were the Catholic Church, because it would be the whole Church of Christ on earth, and were the true Christian Faith professed but in one such Church it would be the Catholic Faith still, for it is the faith of the whole true Church of Christ, the sincere belief and profession of which makes a Catholic Church" (William Sherlock, A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity [40]).

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