A26860:117
An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlocke, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical…
An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical and monarchical, as church-tyranny and popery : and defending Dr. Isaac Barrow's treatise against it by Richard Baxter ; preparatory to a fuller treatise against such an universal sovereignty as contrary to reason, Christianity, the Protestant profession, and the Church of England, though the corrupters usurp that title.An answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlocke, confuting an universal humane church-supremacy aristocratical and monarchical, as church-tyranny and popery : and defending Dr. Isaac Barrow's treatise against it by Richard Baxter ; preparatory to a fuller treatise against such an universal soveraignty as contrary to reason, Christianity, the Protestant profession, and the Church of England, though the corrupters usurp that title.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1682
Chapter 3: The consequence of Mr. Dodwell's foresaid doctrine.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
16. Yea, he maketh Communion and Salvation to lye not only on such obedience, but on such perfection of obedience as reacheth to every lawful indifferent thing. Whereas God himself under the Gospel accepteth of sincerity, instead of perfection which the Law required of perfect man.
17. This is the way to make Bishops absolute Lords of Kings and States, and all the world, if they can make them believe that on pain of damnation for schism, all must obey them even in every indifferent thing.
18. If you would ferret him out of his Borough, ask Mr. Dodwell, what if the Bishop of the place where I live contradict the Archbishop, or the Synod, or most of the Bishops in the land, which must I obey to escape damning schism? Doubtless he will allow me to disobey my Bishop. But what if the National Synod ⟨p. 24⟩gainsay the Provincial? He will say, I may disobey the Provincial? But what if a Council of many Nations, called General, gainsay the National? and it be known that our National Church is gainsaid by the far greatest part of the Bishops in the world? which must I obey? If the National, why not a Provincial against them? And why are not they Schismatics for disobeying a General Council? If it be the greater Council that I must obey, 1. What's become then of his doctrine of obeying the Episcopacy of the place where we live? 2. And then we are brought under a foreign Jurisdiction. 3. And who but the Pope must call that General Council, preside, approve, &c.? 4. And among all the erroneous and contradicting Councils called General, how shall all Christians know which of them to obey? We see whither all will come at last. But saith Bishop Bilson, To such Councils called General, we owe respect for concord, if they abuse us not by error or usurpation; but subjection and obedience we owe them none.