A26860:70
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 1: Mr. DODWEL's LEVIATHAN, or Absolute Destructive Prelacy, the Son of ABADDON APOLLYON, a…
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.
§ 4. And the matter of fact, I confess, hath had much power on my judgment: Had the Popes, and Lording sort of Diocesans been promoters of love and holiness in the Church, and not the woeful scandal of it, and the enemies of good men, and serious piety, I should have been stronglier tempted to own their form of government to be of God; though I am assured that Nature maketh one man, or one Council uncapable of proper government over all the earth; I should never have opposed that which doth good. But destruction, silencing, persecuting, cruelties, rebellions, worldliness, ignorance, malignity, and cherishing sin, and suppressing piety, and the very word of God, I am sure are all the work of the Devil, what name or titles soever are pretended for them.
§ 4. And the matter of fact, I confess, hath had much power on my judgment: Had the Popes, and Lording sort of Diocesans been promoters of love and holiness in the Church, and not the woful scandal of it, and the enemies of good men, and serious piety, I should have been stronglier tempted to own their form of government to be of God; though I am assured that Nature maketh one man, or one Council uncapable of proper government over all the earth; I should never have opposed that which doth good. But destruction, silencing, persecuting, cruelties, rebellions, worldliness, ignorance, malignity, and cherishing sin, and suppressing piety, and the very word of God, I am sure are all the work of the Devil, what name or titles soever are pretended for them.
§. 5. And the fact being to me past dispute, I quietly submit to the dreadful providence of God that permitteth it, considering,
1. The Church on Earth is no better than the Angels; of Heaven were; and if so many of the Angels kept not their first estate, but fell by Pride, what wonder if many Bishops do so?