ABSTRACT
The Church every where is look’d upon as an entire Garment, and whoever Dissents from what is believed in it, perswading others to be of his Opinion, tears and makes a Rent in it, which is called Schism. The Charity of a Christian in construing the Frailties of others, can hardly be too extensive, and it is believed that the Body of most Hereticks were better People than they have been represented to us. The Terror Men have against making GOD the Author of Evil has produced the Marcionites, Manicheans, Pelagians, Arminians, and many other Sects. Many Schisms ought only to have been ridiculed, and the Enthusiastical Innovators treated, as most Parts of Europe did the French Prophets some few Years ago. Most of them agree, that in all Countries, the Church ought to have a Jurisdiction without Appeal, that in all Ecclesiastical Matters, the Clergy are the undoubted Judges of the Laity, as well as of their own Order.
