Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

§. 75.

Mr. Bl. When Fisher the Jesuit told Dr. Featley that it was solid Divinity, that a Conclusion de fide must necessarily by inferred out of two Propositions de fide, Dr. Goad (being present as Dr. Featley's Assistant) interposed in these words, I will maintain the contrary against you or any other: That a Conclusion may be de fide, although both Propositions be not de fide, but one of them otherwise evidently and infallibly true by the light of Reason or experience; giving instance in this Conclusion, Christus est risibilis, which he said and truly, was de fide, though both Propositions whence it is inferred be not de fide. Omnis homo est risibilis, is not a Proposition de fide, or supernaturally revealed in Scripture; yet thence the Conclusion follows in this Syllogism. Omnis homoest risibilis: Christus est homo: therefore Christus est r•sibilis, which is a Conclusion de fide, affirming that Melchior Canus had judiciously handled and proved this tenet, which he said he could otherwise demonstrate to be infallible: To whom Dr. Featley assents, second Days dispute, pag. 85. It were casie to frame many such Syllogisms. If an Heretic should affirm that Christ had only a fantastic body in appearance only, how would you prove the contrary but with this Syllogism, He that is truly man, hath a true body, and not a fantastic body only. This is a Position in reason, Christ ⟨p. 133⟩is truly a man: this is a Position de fide in Scripture, whence follows the Conclusion de fide, that Christ hath not a fantastic body; If one should deny that Christ had a reasonable soul, affirming that his body was informed by the Deity instead of a Soul, must it not be thus proved? Every true man hath a reasonable Soul: Christ is a true man, and therefore Christ hath a reasonable Soul. The City that ruleth over the Nations of the earth, and is seated on seven hills, is the seat of the Beast. This is a Scripture Proposition: But that Rome then ruled over the Nations of the Earth, and was seated on 7 hills, we know by History and Geography: Whence the Conclusion follows, that Rome is the seat of the Beast. Abundance of these may be framed, where the Proposition opposite to the Conclusion, is either an Heresy or at least an error in Faith. The Conclusion is of Faith Disputing against the Ubiquitarians and Transubstantiation;