16 September 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—dissensions in the churches, yet unity in essentials, pp.63-64
16 September
2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—dissensions in the churches, yet
unity in essentials, pp.63-64
Jewel, John. “The Apology of the Church of England.”
Project Gutenberg. 5 Aug 2006. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17678/17678-h/17678-h.htm. Accessed 1 Aug 2015.
They were best, therefore, to go and set peace at
home rather among their own selves. Of a truth, unity and concord doth
best become religion: yet is not unity the sure and certain mark whereby to
know the Church of God. For there was the greatest consent that might be
amongst them that worshipped the golden calf; and among them which with one
voice jointly cried against our Saviour Jesus Christ, “Crucify Him.”
Neither, because the Corinthians were unquieted with private dissensions: or
because Paul did square with Peter, or Barnabas with Paul: or,
because the Christians, upon the very beginning of the Gospel, were at mutual
discord touching some one matter or other, may we therefore think there was no
Church of God amongst them. And as for those persons, whom they upon
spite call Zuinglians and Lutherians, in very deed they of both sides be
Christians, good friends and brethren. They vary not betwixt themselves
upon the principles and foundations of our religion, nor as touching God, nor
Christ, nor the Holy Ghost, nor of the means of justification, nor yet
everlasting life, but upon one only question, which is neither weighty nor
great: neither mistrust we, or make doubt at all, but they will shortly be
agreed. And if there be any of them which have other opinion than is
meet, we doubt not but ere it be long they will put apart all affections and
names of parties, and that God will reveal it unto them: so that by better
considering and searching out of the matter, as once it came to pass in the
Council of Chalcedon, all causes and seeds of dissension shall be thoroughly
plucked up by the root, and be buried, and quite forgotten for ever.
Which God grant.
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