A26887:154
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.
Quest. V. What Certainty have we of the Canonical Books.
§. 1. Answ. 1. OF all those Canonical Books which the Christian world now commonly receiveth, there is the same Certainty by the same means, which I before mentioned of the Copies. The Doctrine of them was spoken of before, it being that Divine Revelation which God hath attested as was opened. We have the Certain History and Tradition of all ages from the first common notice and reception of them, agreeing which are the true Books.
§. 2. 2. But yet even of these Canonical Books agreed on, the Evidence of Divinity is not equal. For, 1. Some of them have. more Evident Impressions of Gods Image upon them in the Matter than others have (As the Psalms more than Ruth, the Chronicles, &c. The Doctrinal Books more than the Genealogies, Chronologies, particular Histories,) 2. God did confirm some more ⟨p. 46⟩notoriously by Miracles and public attestations than others: So Moses his words, had more confirmation by Miracles than Ruth, Chronicles, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, &c. 3. Some have had a fuller testimony by Tradition than others; As the Pentateuch and Psalms, more than the Chronicles, part of Daniel, &c. 4. In all these respects, the New Testament cometh to us with fuller and clearer Evidence than the Old: As being of later date, and so the Historical proof more discernible; And hath more clear Impressions of Divinity, and was confirmed by the most notorious multiplied long-continued Miracles, and by the most notable effects of holiness in all true Believers, &c. And indeed its attestation to the Old Testament is not our weakest proof of its Divinity.
§. 2. 2. But yet even of these Canonical Books agreed on, the Evidence of Divinity is not equal. For, 1. Some of them have. more Evident Impressions of Gods Image upon them in the Matter than others have (As the Psalms more than Ruth, the Chronicles, &c. The Doctrinal Books more than the Genealogies, Chronologies, particular Histories,) 2. God did confirm some more