A26885:263
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one…
Catholic unity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.Catholick vnity, or, The only way to bring us all to be of one religion by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed by R. W. for Thomas Underhill and Francis Tyton, 1660
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. Moreover, if once we were all Agreed in the Spirit, and in Holiness of Heart and Life, we should escape all Heresies, or Errors that effectually subvert the Essentials ⟨p. 242⟩of the Christian faith. Mistaken we might be; but Heretics we could not be. I stick not upon the bare word, whether smaller errors may be called Heresy; but taking Heresy as commonly its taken, a sanctified person cannot (at least Habitually) be a Heretic. For should a man so hold a point inconsistent with any one Essential point of the Christian faith (at least Habitually and Practically hold it,) its as impossible that this man should be then a Christian as that contradictories should be true. And therefore certainly whosoever is a true Christian, is fr•e from such Heresies. And therefore as, if you are sure a man so holds a Heresy, you have no reason to believe his shows of Holiness; so where you see a great appearance of real Holiness, you must long deliberate and have good evidence, before you judg• ⟨p. 243⟩that man a Heretic: For this is the certain Privilege of the Sanctified, that they cannot be Heretics, though they may have many errors (as in sensu composito all confess).
4. Moreover, if once we were all Agreed in the Spirit, and in Holiness of Heart and Life, we should escape all Heresies, or Errors that effectually subvert the Essentials ⟨p. 242⟩of the Christian faith. Mistaken we might be; but Heretikes we could not be. I stick not upon the bare word, whether smaller errors may be called Heresie; but taking Heresie as commonly its taken, a sanctified person cannot (at least Habitually) be a Heretick. For should a man so hold a point inconsistent with any one Essential point of the Christian faith (at least Habitually and Practically hold it,) its as impossible that this man should be then a Christian as that contradictories should be true. And therefore certainly whosoever is a true Christian, is fr•e from such Heresies. And therefore as, if you are sure a man so holds a Heresie, you have no reason to believe his shews of Holiness; so where you see a great appearance of real Holiness, you must long deliberate and have good evidence, before you judg