A26887:134
The certainty of Christianity without popery, or, Whether the Catholic-Protestant or the papist have…The certainty of Christianity without popery, or, Whether the Catholick-Protestant or the papist have…
The certainty of Christianity without popery, or, Whether the Catholic-Protestant or the papist have the surer faith being an answer to one of the oft canted questions and challenges of the papists, sent to one who desired this : published to direct the unskilful, how to defend their faith against papists and infidels, but especially against the temptations of the Devil, that by saving their faith, they may save their holiness, their comfort and their souls / by Richard Baxter.The certainty of Christianity without popery, or, Whether the Catholick-Protestant or the papist have the surer faith being an answer to one of the oft canted questions and challenges of the papists, sent to one who desired this : published to direct the unskilful, how to defend their faith against papists and infidels, but especially against the temptations of the Devil, that by saving their faith, they may save their holiness, their comfort and their souls / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simons, 1672
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.
§. 23. 7. But that Medium which ascertaineth us that these supernatural Revelations are indeed Divine (I mean the proper ⟨p. 38⟩Truths of Christianity) must be something, which is Lower, or is Notius & prius cognitum, better known than Christianity, and known (in order of Evidence) before it. For all proof of conclusions must be from something first and better known.
§. 24. 8. These things which are sooner and better known than the supernatural Revelation, can be nothing but Natural Revelations, by Gods works in the Nature of things compared, and our natural experience. For there is nothing else antecedent to be a medium of proof. The forementioned natural Verities, about God and Holiness carry their own Evidence with them, either as first principles or as certain conclusions; And the Essentials of Christianity have a self-commending Goodness, which rendereth them sweet to a man that is already a true Believer, and desirable to all truly rational men, and the Congruency rendereth it credible, supposing further proof. But that really the Incarnation, Deity, Life, Satisfaction, Resurrection, Ascension, Offices and Coming of Christ, are truth, with the Trinity of persons, and such other points, must be proved by some more notorious Medium, proving that they are Divine assertions; which must be some Natural Verities.
§. 24. 8. These things which are sooner and better known than the supernatural Revelation, can be nothing but Natural Revelations, by Gods works in the Nature of things compared, and our natural experience. For there is nothing else antecedent to be a medium of proof. The forementioned natural Verities, about God and Holiness carry their own Evidence with them, either as first principles or as certain conclusions; And the Essentials of Christianity have a self-commending Goodness, which rendreth them sweet to a man that is already a true Believer, and desireable to all truly rational men, and the Congruencie rendreth it credible, supposing further proof. But that really the Incarnation, Deity, Life, Satisfaction, Resurrection, Ascension, Offices and Coming of Christ, are truth, with the Trinity of persons, and such other points, must be proved by some more notorious Medium, proving that they are Divine assertions; which must be some Natural Verities.