Transcribed from the 1826 J. Chilcott edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org
[Picture: Pamphlet cover]
No. XXXI.
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Church of England Tract Society,
Instituted in BRISTOL, 1811.
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SHORT REASONS
FOR COMMUNION
_With the Church of England_;
OR,
THE CHURCHMAN’S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION,
“WHY ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE
ESTABLISHED CHURCH?”
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“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.”—_Ephes._ iv. 3.
“Beseeching Thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the
spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all they that do
confess Thy holy name, may agree in the truth of Thy holy word, and
live in unity and godly love.”
_Com. Service_.
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Sold at the DEPOSITORY, 6, Clare Street, BRISTOL;
And by SEELEY and SON, 169, Fleet Street, LONDON.
_Price_ 1¼_d._ _each_, _or_ 6_s._ 8_d._ _per Hundred_.
[Picture: Hand with finger pointing right] An Allowance to Subscribers
and Booksellers.
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J. Chilcott, Printer, 30, Wine Street, Bristol.
1826.
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“_O ALMIGHTY God_, _who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of
the Apostles and Prophets_, _Jesus Christ Himself being the head
corner-stone_; _grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit
by their doctrine_, _that we may be made a holy temple acceptable
unto Thee_, _through Jesus Christ our Lord_. _Amen_.”
COLLECT
For St. Simon and St. Jude’s Day.
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SHORT REASONS FOR COMMUNION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, &c.
REASON I.
_I maintain communion with the Church of England_, _not_ MERELY _because
my parents and forefathers were members of her community_.
THE connexion which my parents and forefathers held with the Church of
England I consider to be a sufficient reason why I should continue in
communion with her, if there be nothing contrary to the law of God in
such a connexion. For the fifth commandment peremptorily requires me to
“honour my father and mother;” and, assuredly, this duty implies
reverence to their example, if that example be not inconsistent with the
rule of God’s holy word.
But as a man’s parents and forefathers may have been members of a
communion, a continuance in which would be manifestly contrary to the
word of God (as, for instance, if a man were born of Popish or Socinian
parents;) I therefore say, that “I maintain communion with the Church of
England, not MERELY because my parents and forefathers were members of
her community.”