A26880:707
Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…
Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ... / by Richard Baxter ...Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1684
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.
2. But is it not Universal Church-Communion that he is speaking of? I provoke him to tell me, if he can, who on Earth hath power (beside God and our Saviour) to make Laws (the same) of Discipline and Government to the Universal Church? Is not Legislation the prime part of Government? Have not you oft denied any Humane Supreme Government under Christ over all the Church? Do you not here say the contrary? Know you not the difference between the Contracts of a Community, and the Laws of a Polity? It's no true Law if it be not the act and instrument of a Rector to govern his Subjects. If Twenty Kings meet (or School-Masters, Physicians, &c.) and agree on certain Points of Government, this maketh ⟨p. 45⟩them not One Polity, Kingdom (or School): Their Contracts are neither Laws to each other, nor to their common Subjects; but every King may make them a Law to his own Subjects.
4. If you should mean only National Laws of Discipline and Government, how come all the Churches in the World to be obliged to [observe the same Laws], e, g. our Canons? This, as to Traditions, is expressly contrary to our Articles of Religion which you subscribe. And when the Church-Laws of all Countries differ so much, which must all be reduced to?
4. If you should mean only National Laws of Discipline and Government, how come all the Churches in the World to be obliged to [observe the same Laws], e, g. our Canons? This, as to Traditions, is expresly contrary to our Articles of Religion which you subscribe. And when the Church-Laws of all Countreys differ so much, which must all be reduced to?
If you say, They must all agree to those called the Codex Ecclesiae Universalis, or the Four or Six first approved Councils, &c. I answer, 1. It's gratis dictum: And how prove you those universally obligatory, and no other? And how will you satisfy Conscience, which are the obligatory Laws indeed?