FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS AND QUERIES Thereupon, Concerning the FAITH, LAW, AND CHURCH of CHRIST; To be Considered, as highly conducing to public Peace, Unity and Happiness.  
1. CHRIST our Lord, revealed and reestablished a Faith, and Law, as the Universal and necessary [
a Mark 16. 16 Heb. 11. v. 6. ] Means for the Application of his Blood and Passion to Mankind.  
II. A Belief and Profession of this Faith and Law, ought (at least regarding the Body of Christianity in General) to be Conform, and Adequate to [
b Matt. 28. 20. ] all the Truths or Mysteries so Revealed.  
III. Hence this Faith and Law, is [
c Ephes. 4. v 4.  One, and the same amongst all Christians of what different Nation, and under what distinct Temporal Government soever they be. The Universality of which Christians thus Combined, and Incorporated in one Faith and Law, is that which we term the [
d Tim. 3. v. 15. Matt. 16. 18. ] Catholic Church: And as this Faith and Law is One; so is the [
e Joh. 10. v 16. ] Catholic Church One.  
iv This One Faith and Law thus necessary to the Salvation of all, containing in it many Sublime and Supernatural Mysteries, or Truths, was delivered by Christ the Lawgiver to the Apostles; who as his Vice-gerents on Earth, were [
f Matt. 28. 16. Luk. 10. v 16. ] Authorised and Commissioned by Him to Teach others, with a Promise of Divine Assistance, [
g Joh. 14. v. 16. ] least they might misled their Followers into Error; either by Substraction from, or Addition to these necssary Mysteries or Truths.  
V Accordingly this Faith and Law was [
h 2 Tim. 2. v. ●. 2 Thess. 2. 15. ] Transmitted by the Apostles to their Successors, and by Them in like manner to others the Successive Bishops and Pastors of the Catholic Church. And as the necessity of Faith in its Unity and [
i Ephes. 5. v. 5. ] Integrity is always the same; so is the Authority to each, and Divine Assistance not to misguide proportionably the same.  
VI Wherefore, As the Apostles (gathered together in the Holy Ghost,) Exercised their Authority in determining [
k Acts 15. ] Controversies of Faith, and requiring [
l Matt. 18. 17. ] a Submission of Judgement from others to their Decisions, in their time: So also the following Pastors, and Governors of the Catholic Church assembled in a General Council, and inspired by the same Holy Ghost, exercised the like Authority in desiding the like Controversies, distinguishing Gospel-truths' from Error, and requiring the like submission of Judgement from Believers, as occasion was offered in all ensuing Ages.  

QVERIES.  
I. WHether a Separation at any time whatsoever, and on what Pretence soever, made by any Part or Member of the whole Church, from the known Faith and Unity of the same Church, be not opposite and destructive to the Fundamental Grounds of Religion established by Christ?  
II. Whether the Church of England before the Reformation was not a Part, or Member Subordinate to the whole? And whether by its Separating in Faith and Communion from the Roman Church, it did not also Separate from the whole then Extant and Visible Church? If it did; Whether such Separation be Justifiable? If it did not; Where was the ever Divinely Authorised and Assisted Catholic Church from the Visible Communion of which the Roman Church had Separated, and to which the Church of England, deserting the Roman, did adjoin and Unite herself in Faith, Sacraments, and Subordination of Government?  
III. Whether the Church of England at the time of the Reformation, assuming the liberty of Judging, and Determining Controverted Points of Faith by the Rule of Scripture, Interpreted by herself independently on, and with disjunction from the Judgement of all and every other, at least then extant Church or Churches, as her Book of Homilies seems to declare: Did not by this assumed Liberty, Authorise and Warrant each particular Part, or even Member of her own Communion, to pass the like Judgement, by the same Rule Independently on, and with disjunction from her respective Tenets in Faith and Doctrine. Furthermore, Whether such a Liberty be not repugnant to the Unity of Faith established by Christ? Whether the Confusions and Disorders infesting the Nation for above these Forty years, have not in great measure sprung from this Root or Principle? And whether it doth not lay open a direct and unavoidable way or passage, to all manner of Schisms and Heresies?  
iv Whether private Self-Interpretation of Scripture, in contempt of the Church's Authority, hath not already brought many (and in all likelihood will daily bring more) of the most weighty Articles of the Christian Religion into Question and Debate? And this by an endless Labyrinth of Contest, without hopes of Redress? And whether the same Church-Authority, once neglected, the Canon of Scripture itself, as to its being God's Word, may not be Controverted; And finally the whole Systeme of Faith by degrees, perish?  
V Whether the Church of England having upon Self-Abstract-Notions and Allegations of God's Word, made a Rupture in the Unity of Faith, and Subordination of Government from the Church, of which it was formerly a Member, doth not unduly exact from her Fellow Members either an Intern or (consequently) an Extern Obedience, and Conformity to her own proper Doctrine and Worship? And whether Justice, Prudence, and common Interest do not require, either that the Church of England return to the Unity and Obedience of the Church, from whence (by open Contradiction) she hath departed; or that she allow all other Sects, or Assemblies; yea, even individual Persons, in their own Judgements of sober Understanding, Dissenting from her, the free Exercise of their Religion, according to their several, though opposite Sentiments and Dictamen of Conscience, as to Faith and Worship in Expounding God's Word.  
Lastly, Whether the Imposing of Oaths, Tests, Sacraments, Rites, Liturgies, Ceremonies, etc. by the Church of England upon Persons to whom such Matters do not appear plain and clear in Scripture, be not contrary to the Spirit and Genius of the Reformation: And whether such Impositions, and Entanglements under severe Temporal Penalties, may not be properly termed a Persecution.  
God Save the KING.