A26887:136
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.
§. 25. 9. Therefore the Ascertaining Inference must be this, that If this be not a Divine Revelation, then some Certain Natural Verity must be denied; (which at last will amount to the denying of a God.)
§. 25. 9. Therefore the Ascertianing Inference must be this, that If this be not a Divine Revelation, then some Certain Natural Verity must be denied; (which at last will amount to the denying of a God.)
§. 26. 10. Here the Matter of fact is supposed to be known by sight and other senses to the first Christians, and the first Churches, where Christ and his Apostles, and multitudes of other Christians wrought them. And to be known by Certain History to those that saw them not; And the existence of the Persons, Words and Books is supposed known the same way. And on this supposition, we infer that [These Impressions of Divine Power, Wisdom and Goodness, set upon this Doctrine: and all these Miracles by Christ, and multitudes of his servants wrought, in attestation of it, and all this sanctification of all true Believers by this word through the world, are either done by Gods will, or against his will. If they be done by his will, he is the Author of them and approver: And seeing it is evident that they are to the common capacity of mankind, so notorious a signification that God is the Author or approver of that word which be so evidently and wonderfully attesteth, if yet this word prove ⟨p. 40⟩false, mankind is unavoidably deceived, and Governed in the greatest concernments and business of all his life by this deceit. For he hath no principle, no means left him to know that these are not Divine attestations, nor to disoblige him from judging them so to be. But if God shall thus necessitate mankind to a false belief and thereby Govern him, while in Nature he hath taught man to value Truth and hate Lying, he must do this either for want of Power to do otherwise, or for want of Wisdom to do otherwise, or for want of Will and Goodness to do otherwise. And if he wanted any of these he is not God. Or if he Govern not the world himself, but permit some Evil Spirit to do all this; he is not God. For to be God is to be the Supreme Governor, and to be every where, the nearest universal Agent.]