Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

And they that are against strict and precise adhering to the Scriptures, or observance of Gods own commands, are yet so strict for obedience to their proud imperious wills, that they persuade themselves and others, that without it there can be no order, no unity, no peace, but rebellion and confusion: And so they cry up Obedience, Obedience, that their Idol wills may be bowed to by all without control; And when they are mere Usurpers, and use no Power given them by God, they yet get the advantage of making all odious that obey them not in the least and greatest matters, by the names of schism, unruliness or such like. O say the Papal Usurpers, [The Church must be obeyed, or there will be no order: Disobedience in small matters is no small sin] when they have set up an Idol power against Christ; as if to disobey him, whose Laws they make void by their Traditions and Usurpations, were a lesser fault. And when they have departed as far from the Christian simplicity, in Doctrine, Government and Worship, as their voluminous Councils and Decretals, and Missals differ from the ancient simple Christianity, and have made as many snares and engines to divide and tear the Church of Christ as there are noxious (that I say not Needless) Laws, Canons, and Decrees imposed as necessary to peace and concord, then no mens mouths are more opened against schism, when they have unavoidably caused it, yea are the greatest schismatics; And no ⟨image 16⟩men call so loud for Unity and Concord, as they that have first made it a thing impossible.

And they that are against strict and precise adhering to the Scriptures, or observance of Gods own commands, are yet so strict for obedience to their proud imperious wills, that they perswade themselves and others, that without it there can be no order, no unity, no peace, but rebellion and confusion: And so they cry up Obedience, Obedience, that their Idol wills may be bowed to by all without controul; And when they are meer Usurpers, and use no Power given them by God, they yet get the advantage of making all odious that obey them not in the least and greatest matters, by the names of schism, unruliness or such like. O say the Papal Usurpers, [The Church must be obeyed, or there will be no order: Disobedience in small matters is no small sin] when they have set up an Idol power against Christ; as if to disobey him, whose Laws they make void by their Traditions and Usurpations, were a lesser fault. And when they have departed as far from the Christian simplicity, in Doctrine, Government and Worship, as their voluminous Councils and Decretals, and Missals differ from the ancient simple Christianity, and have made as many snares and engines to divide and tear the Church of Christ as there are noxious (that I say not Needless) Laws, Canons, and Decrees imposed as necessary to peace and concord, then no mens mouths are more opened against schism, when they have unavoidably caused it, yea are the greatest schismaticks; And no