The Protestants Plea for a Socinian / Justifying His Doctrine from Being Opposite to Scripture or Church Authority; and Him from Being Guilty of Heresie, or Schism

by R. H.

§. 36.

Prot. Be not mistaken, I pray: especially concerning the Church of England. For though she, for several Points, imposed formerly by the Tyranny of the Roman Church, hath granted liberty of Opinion, or at least freed her Subjects from obligation to believe so in them, as the Church formerly required; yet as to exclusion of your Doctrin, she professeth firmly to believe the three Creeds; and concerning the Additions made in the two latter Creeds to the first, Dr. Hammond[98] acknowledgeth,——That they being thus settled by the Universal Church, were, and still are in all reason, without disputing, to be received and embraced by the Protestant Church, and every meek Member thereof, with that reverence that is due to Apostolick Truths; with that thankfulness which is our meet tribute to those sacred Champions, for their seasonable, and provident propugning our faith, with such timely and necessary application to practice, that the Holy Ghost, speaking to us now, under the times of the New Testament by the Governors of the Christian Churches, (Christs mediate successors in the Prophetick, Pastoral, Episcopal Office) as he had formerly spoken by the Prophets of the Old Testament, sent immediately by him, may find a cheerful audience, and receive all uniform submission from us. Thus, Dr. Hammond of the Church of England's assent to the three Creeds. She assenteth also to the definitions of the four first General Councils: And the Act 1 Eliz.[99] declares Heresie that, which hath been adjudged so by them; now in the definitions of these 4 first General Councils your tenent hath received a Mortal wound. But lastly, the 4th Canon in the English Synod held 1640.[100] particularly stiles Socinianism a most damnable and cursed Heresie, and contrary to the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England: and orders that any, convicted of it, be excommunicated and not absolved, but upon his repentance and abjuration. Now further than this [namely, excommunication upon conviction.] No other Church I suppose hath, or can proceed against your Heresie; It being received as a common Axiom in the Canon law; that Ecclesia non judicat de occultis,——And——Cogitationis pænam nemo patitur.——And——Ob peccatum mere internum Ecclesiastica censura ferri non potest. And in all Churches every one, of what internal perswasion soever, continues externally at least a member thereof, till the Church's censures do exclude him.