So that whereas God for the first Communion at Mans creation imprinted on him the Image of his Sonne : Now for the reconciliation God imprinted on his Sonne the Image of Man , Phil . 2 7. Oportuerat mediatorem Dei et hominum per suam ad vtrosque domesticitatem , in amicitiam & concordiam vtrosque reducere , & facere vt Deus assumeret hominem et homo se dederit Deo Quâ enim ratione filiorum adoptionis eius participes esse possemus nisi per filium eam quae eum ad ipsum recipissemus abeo communionem , nisi verbum eius communicasset nobis , caro factum . Irenaeus l. 3. c . 20. aduers . haeres . Psal . 78.60 . He was found in shape as a man : God was vnited hypostatically to man , to revnite man to God .

And thus farre haue I prefac'd vnto youth Antiquitie , and dignitie of the Saints Communion , both for that the blessed Trinity began it in th●… eternall vnitie : and inlarg'd it in , the creation of Man and Angells ; and renu'd it by the incarnation of the Word the second Saint .

And to let passe that Communion , which the old Church vntill the dayes of Christ , had both among themselues , and with their God ; a taste of which I could giue you by Enoch his walking with God , and Abrams frequent conferences with the most high God : and Moses his visions , and Mount communications ; and by all those reuelations , and oblations , and prayers , and prayses , and holy passages , but aboue all by that tabernacle in which God dwelt among them ; to pratermit ( I say ) all that typicall Communion of the Saints of old .

It is faithfully to be obserued , how that at the incarnation of Christ , and actuall renouation of this Communion , S. Iohn beginnes this Epistle ; Contextus . That which was from the beginning , which wee haue heard , which we haue seene without eyes , which wee haue looked vpon , and our hands haue handled of the Word of life , that eternall life declare wee vnto you , and why ? to what end do we declare it vnto you ? that you may haue fellowship with vs : that is , we shew you Christ Iesus his vnion with our nature , whom we haue seene in the flesh and had Communion with , that you may know and beleeue , that God hath bound himselfe vnto man by an Assumpsit of Man into God ; and the reason why hee hath so oblig'd himselfe , and was so vnited is this ; that you might haue Communion with the Apostles , and be of the Apostolicall Church : But blessed S. Iohn , what is your Communion then who are Apostles ? Truely our Communion is with the Father , and his Sonne Iesus Christ .

You see then ( to speake but a word of the dependance ) that Societie with the holy Apostles is Societie with the heauenly Lord , and all they who come vnto Christ Iesus , now since his comming , must come by the Apostles , and vnto them , and by , & vnto them who succeed them , or they shall neuer come vnto the sight of essentiall happinesse ; for , these are the beginners & continuers of the Saints Communion .

God who is the Father of Spirits ; and Iesus Christ who is the Sauiour of Soules , hath not onely giuen authoritie and spirituall power ouer his mysticall body which is the Communion of soules , ( for what thinke you of those voyces from his owne lips , feed my sheepe : preach : baptize : whose sinnes yee remit : whose sinnes yee retayne ? ) But hath also giuen a power ouer his owne naturall bodie which is himselfe vnto them , for to them onely was it sayd : Doe this in remembrance of me ; by which wordes , they haue Commission to dispose of that very bodie which was giuen for the life of the World , & of that invaluable bloud which was shed to redeeme sinfull soules : for which causes the Bishops and Presbyters haue ( as Antiquitie can tell ) beene honoured with an honour which no King , Isiod : Pelufiota : l. 2. Epist: 5 . {αβγδ} . no Angell had euer giuen him ; they are the Makers of Christ his body , they doe a worke which none but the holy Ghost besides them euer did , they make vp the mysticall body of Christ by the holy Ghost which made his bodie of Virgin-substance , Ioh . 20.22 . which Iesus gaue them by Insufflation : Insufflauit ijs & dixit accipite Spiritum Sanctum , &c. Act. 8.17.18 . 1 Tim . 4 14. 2 Tim . 1.16 . Which holy Ghost is now by imposition of hands successiuely receiued from Apostolicall men , that still the body of Christ may be made vnto the end of the World ; for , this power was not giuen the Apostles ad tempus , but ad consumationem , Mat . 28.20 . as the Apostles themselues were giuen , in their heires , ecce ego vobiscum : for though they be with him , yet hee is with them in their successors ; & ecce behold he is with them on earth , though they be in heauen with him : and as Christ Iesus himselfe is bodily in heauen , but by his spirit still on earth , and till the end ; Num cessauit gratia in sancta ecclesiâ 〈◇〉 Abfit : Epiphanius hares : 48. so are his Apostles for themselues in heauen : in Bishops and Presbyters on earth vntill the second , and last consummatum : and do still by the holy Ghost make the mysticall bodie ( I am sure ) let who list dispute of his naturall .

Wherefore Beloued ; if they then make not you members of Christ , how can you be bone of his bone , and flesh of his flesh ? If you bee not begotten by them , how can you be children of the liuing God ? Nay , how can you haue any thing to doe with God , if you haue not communion with vs ? I know presumption vpon wealth , and distempers of opinion , and wit , haue left the world little respect to vs ; no care of our Communion , lesse loue of our persons : I am sensible of contempt and persecution , and Greatnes complaines shee is disgraced , if perchance once a yeare she be seene in company of a poore Priest , when as their Greatnesse hath made vs poore ; yea , now the world takes it selfe little beholding vnto the Father of Lights for his Starres ;

Ordo & plebs in Tertullia his time were as Termini incompossibiles , l. de exhort . ad Castitat .

And in his li. deprescript , he complained , that Laicis Sacerdotalia munera , &c. in Castris haereticorum .

Leo mag. epi . 62. ad maxinum Antioch : epis : Praeter eos qui sunt Domini Sacerdotes , nullus sibi ius docendi , & praedicandi audeat vindicare siue fit ille Monachus , siue Laicus qui alicuius scientiae , nomine gloriatur ; quia etsi optandum est , ve omnes ecclesiafilij , quae recta et sanasunt sapiant ; non tamen permittendum est , vt quisquam extra sacerdotalem or din●… m Constitutur gradum sibi predicatoris assumat cum in Ecclesiâ Dei omnia ordinata esse conueniat , vt in vno christi corpore et excellentiorae membra suum officium impleant et inferiora superioribus non resultent .

Then is it a vsurpation of transcendent presumption , not onely to lay hand vpon our Benefices , but our holy Offices beside , as if we were but Church-men for their ease , as some of them haue Chappells : as if there were no other vse of the Apostles , but to saue them a labour : what else meane those Hereticall soundes so often in our cares , Euery man is a Priest to himselfe : blaspheming the Sauiour of the worlds institution , Goffrid : vindocinensis opus : ● . and in effect , calling the cognizance of the Apostles , the couzenage of the people :

Super quem videris spiritum ille est qui baptiz at in spiritu sancto .

Iohn 1.33 . And it hath bin euer held stiffely , that Bonus laicus non potest facere quod malus sacerdos .

I speake not of Gods extraordinary operation .

Obedite prapositis vestris qui vigilant pro ammabus .

Heb . 13 . 17. {αβγδ} .

Laicks preaching can conuert no more then a good Morall sentence out of Seneca : their Sacraments ( as they proceed from them ) conferre no more , then the Vine and Fountaine haue affoorded : for not hauing the spirit by imposition , and Apostolicall succession ; they doe all without Gods spirit , Gods ordinance , Gods promise , Gods blessing ; and so will be the successe : Then must it be assented vnto , that you must haue communion with vs , or else not with the Father and his Sonne Iesus Christ . Gods will is that his ordinance bee obeyed ; and Gods will is that his sonnes shall be beholding to his seruants for their glory . Thou owest me thy very selfe ( sayth S. Paul to Philemon ) yea , euen Christ himselfe that Great Shepheard , and Bishop of soules , after his humiliation began , obeyed his owne institution and honored it , neither did he , neither could hee himselfe haue ascended vnto his kingdome , but by the Priesthood .

And thus much I haue declared vnto you , concerning the dependance of the Text , and the beginners and continuers of this Communion , that you may haue communion with vs , And truly our communion is with the Father , and his Sonne Iesus Christ , all is but one Communion if with vs , with him ; not with him , if not with vs.

To part the Text : the Communion of Saints admitts a double consideration , in regard of the Saints themselues , and both are in the Text .

1. One is {αβγδ} , our Communion specified and poynted out with a double Article , that communion , that ours : take notice of it .

2. The other is {αβγδ} , &c.

1. The first is , Communio cum corpore : our communion with the Apostles , and their Successors , and all their conuerts .

2. The other is , Communio cum capite , with God the Father , &c.

The head and the bodie are one Christ , and our Communion amongst our selues is our commuon with the Father , &c. Yet for the better vnderstanding of this admirable and diuine communion , ( the pith and sweet , and creame of all Diuinitie , then which your soules neuer tasted any thing more wholesome and delicious ) I say for the better vnderstanding of the whole communion , and for the better conioyning of euery Saint and member , and all the Saints together with God , we must thus for a time deuide it : And also deuide them ( the Saints themselues ) into these three rankes and orders .

1. Some are Saints Per Substantialem sanctitatem , and also per gubernationem and these are the three persons of the blessed Trinitie , who are Rex sanctorum , Apocal . 15.3 . God is the beginner and gouernour of their communion .

2. Some are Saints per creationem , as those Angells which were created holy and so perseuer'd .

3. Some are Saints , Per vocationem , and these are men vocati sancti , Rom. 1.7 .

The second order is of the bodie of our Communion , because they minister for our sakes . Heb . 1.

I shall speake first of our Communion amongst our selues , and then of our communion with God the Father , &c.

And in our communion , first of our communion with men , then of our communion with Angells .

In our communion of men with men , there are three branches .

1. The first is , Separatorum cum viuis , the communion of men seperated from communion with their bodies by death , with the liuing : and that is the departed Saints communion with vs , and ours with them .

2. The second is , Seperatorum cum seperatis , the Communion which the seperated soules of the Iust haue one with another in heauen .

3. The third is , Viuorum cum viuis , the Communion which the liuing haue with the liuing , and this is our communion amongst vs who yet liue on earth .

Of all these shall I speake vnto you ( God assisting me , though not now ) beginning with Saints by Vocation , with that communion which is amongst our selues here on earth , and so by degrees ascending , till wee come vnto innumerable companies of Angells , to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne , and to God the Iudge of all , with the spirits of iust men made perfect , and to Iesus the Mediator of the new Couenant , Heb . 12. And to that blessed Communion of all , of God , and men , and Angells , altogether in vnchangeable felicitie , and eternall glory .

To beginne then with that communion which is amongst our selues here on earth , of necessitie these three questions fall first into consideration .

1. Who are the Saints of this Communion , and who are not ?

2. What that Communion of Saints is , which is both to be beleeued , and practiz'd ?

3. What those graces and duties and blessings are , in which those Saints doe , and ought to communicate ?

And here we shall see how farre we may , and must communicate with the vniuersall Church ? How farre with the Church of Rome ? How farre with particular Churches ? And how farre with particular men ?

Aug. in Psal . 30. Conc . 2. in l. de vnitat : ecclesiae . cap . 4. Isidor . Pelus . Epist. 246. l. 2. 1. For the first , it is easie to answere , that all they are Saints who are members of Christ : now totus Christus est caput & corpus , ( as S. Augustine many times remembers vs ) the head is the onely begotten Sonne of God , the bodie is the holy Church , a true Saint must haue communion with both , or not with whole Christ . For to what end is it to be in the true Church , and to haue a false faith concerning Iesus Christ ? and what will it profit to beleeue aright concerning Christ , and not to be in the true Church ? That glorious Martyr S. Cyprian , Cyprian l. 2. Epist. 8. & the Fathers euer 〈…〉 themselues to this refuge , against ●… onatus , and ●… ga●us , and Donatus , and that whole rabble of heretiques and schismatiques which hath alwayes pester'd the Church : Non potest esse cum Christo , qui cum sponsâ Christi , atque in eius ecclesiâ non est : And doth not S. Augustine speake home ? Aug : Epist. 48. Nobiscum estis in baptismo , in Symbolo , in cateris dominicis Sacramentis : in spiritu autem vnitatis , invincalo pacis , in ipsô denique Catholicâ ecclesiâ nobiscum non est is . Whosoeuer then would proue a right Saint , must ioine himselfe to the great Mysterie of two in one flesh , Ephes . 5. Christ and his Church .

But because wee are now about Communion with the bodie , let vs try onely who are Saints of the bodie and this experiment is soone made : Who are in the Catholique Church , for the Catholique Church , and the communion of Saints are but one Article of faith ; all then who are in the first are of the second : now who are in the first ?

That Miracle of vnderstanding ( S. Augustine I meane ) giues one marke for all : Aug. tract . 32. in Iohn . they are in the holy Catholique Church who haue receiued the holy Ghost : & they haue receiued the holy Ghost who speake all Languages ( as did the Apostles at the day of Penticost ) they then who speake all Languages , are Saints of our Communion , but what ? Is he then no Saint , who speakes not all tongues ? No , ( sayth he ) for how can he bee seeing he hath not that Spirit by which they spake all tongues , who were in one place ? the Church spake all ●… ngd ag●… s then , and it speakes all now , and how bespeak●… 〈…〉 all hath not the holy Ghosts I ow●… d can 〈◇〉 be a Saint ? he is pr●… sus & diuisu ab vnitate membrorum quae vnitas linguis omnium liquitur , If therefore any bee of the Church , let him shew me this signe , what signe ? Let him speake all tongues : well , but can Augustine himselfe shew this signe ? Loquor planè . I doe euidently speake them all , Quia omnis lingua mea est , that is , Ti● corporis cuius membrum sum : Ecclesiast corpus Christi , in hoc corpare membrumes , cum ergo membrumes eius corporis quod loquitur omnibus linguis , crede te loqui omnibus linguis : yea , but still we seeke the Church in the Church : how know we who is a member ? Well enough : Vnitas membrorum charitate concorda●… , et ipsa vnitat loquitur , accipimas ergo Spiritum sanctum , si amamus ecclesiam , si vnitate compaginamur , si Catholico nomine & fide gaicdemas , credam ac fratres quantum quisque amat ecclesiam Christi , Not shut vp in the Synagog . {αβγδ} . Isidor . Pelusiot . l. 4. Ep. 103. tantum habet Spiritum Sanctum .

Here is the pith of all : if wee will bee of that Church which is not confined to any one countrey , or nation , but is Catholique , & euery where , where any ●… yes , 〈◇〉 Language is heard , and if we loue that Church we are Saints , and within the Communion : So that he who beleeues the Catholique Church , must also loue the Catholique Church ; for , indeed vniuersall charitie makes thee of the vniuersall Church , and the holy spirit of loue being communicated vnto thee in that extension , as that thou louest all the members of that Church , makes thee a member of it . For euery member of the bodie speakes his owne Language , and euery member speakes the Language of euery member , and euery member speakes the Language of the whole .

1. The language of euery member is loue , and care , and preseruation , and euery member speaks this for it selfe .

2. Euery member hath its particular loue , Tolle inuidiam & tuum est qd habeo , tollam inuidiam et meum est quod habes , oculus solus videt in corpore sed nunquid soli sibi oculus videt ? Et manui videt , et pedi videt , et caeteris membris videt . Aug. vbi suprae . and euery member sayes the same for it also : For the eye watcheth for the head , the head 's a counseler , the mouth 's an orator , the hand 's a Phisitian ; the heart 's a Diuine ; the leggs are footemen ; euery member is seruant to any member , euen to a goutie toe , to cure it , and to make it found .

3. Lastly , euery member speakes the language of the whole ; if the whole speake prosperitie , euery member speakes the same ; if it speake content , euery member sayes the same ; if it speake for preseruation , euery member in its owne dialect sayes the same , if it complaine of affliction or tribulation , euery member sings the lamentations of the whole ; the voyce is mourning , the eye is weeping , the heart is sighing , the hands are pleading , the head is hanging downe , and euery part and member is compassionate ; which make the saying true , Pars totius , totum partis exhibet officium ; And that part which doth not sympathize is dead , or cut off , and not animated with the soule .

So is it in the body mysticall of Iesus Christ ( as S. Paul teacheth ) as the body is one , 1 Cor . 12.12 . and hath many members , and all the members of that one body being many are one body , Vess . 25. so also is Christ : and in the 25. v. he sayes they all say the same , being animated per eundem spiritum , God would haue no schisme in the bodie , In vnum spiritum baptizatisumus , in vno spiritu potati s●… . but that the members should haue the same care , one for another , and whether one member fuffer all suffer with it , if one member be honored , all the members reioyce with it ; now you are the bodie of Christ , and members in particular .

And ( I will not say ) as true as the Gospell , for it is the truth of the Gospel , as many of you as are members veritate essentiae siue formae ( as the learned speake ) of that catholique and aecumenicall bodie of Iesus Christ : doe speake the language of euery member , and of the whole , or else you are not actuated by the Spirit of Iesus , but are dead and rotten members of his Church : you offer vp your odors duely into the viall of the Angell , which are the prayers of Saints : you make supplications and deprecations , and all humble-earnest inuocations , for the whole Church , and pray that the prayers of the whole Church , and euery member of the Church may be heard . You reioyce for the reioycing of the Church ; you are comforted with her prosperitie , and you mourne for her desolations : you lament and bewayle her woundes and gashes ; the sects , and cuts which are made vpon the bodie of the Lord Iesus : ( I say ) you speake all her languages , or you haue not the Spirit , neither are you Saints of this communion with vs. But if you doe speake all her languages , whensoeuer you speake to God for her ( though you speak but one ) God heares all languages speake vnto him , and when any member of that bodie interceeds for her , all Languages doe sound in Gods cares in heauen for thee , because thou art a member of that vnitiue body : And if any would know how this can be , I answer , with S. Paul , per eundem spiritum , by the selfe same spirit which is whole in euery one , and the same in all , totus in toto , & totus in qualibet parte .

Alas , alas then for all them who speake but the Language of one Nation , it may be not so much , but of one Cittie ; and with more restriction , but of one conuenticle , but of one chamber , one chimney , but of one man , Hareticus de se Natus , Optatus l. 1. pag . 14. Vnitas ab vno sed non ad vnum vnity comes of one , but if it come to one it is no longer vnitie . sayd Optatus .

Well was it for that man who abrenounced the Catholique Church , holding God had lost his Church , and therefore would beginne to shape God a new one , and baptize himselfe first ; Well was it for that man that he saw his sinne , and the Church his teares .

But pittie we that Nouice in knowledge , Robinson Angloleydensis Apol . Brownist . p. 25. that Nouator by inuention , at best ( and that s bad enough ) that Nouatian by profession , who speakes onely his owne tongue , in deuiding himselfe from that bodie which the Spirit of Iesus informes , in seperating himselfe from the communion of a principall part ; in spreading his papers before the eyes of all men , that it is incongruous Diuinitie for a Christian to say the Pater noster by himselfe ; these are his words , Vt verò quis solus et siue alio dicat Pater noster vix congruum videtur : I know it is incongruous Diuinitie among such as are not of the Church ; for how can they say , Our Father , who are not his children ? How little haue such beene acquainted with the language of the holy Ghost ? Christ Iesus our head vnderstood a mysterious congruity in it when he had his Apostles enter into their closetts and shut their doores , and pray , Mat . 6.6 . and two verses after , after this manner pray yee : Our Father , &c.