A26887:202
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.
§. 2. Though the Papists are disagreed greatly among themselves in this matter, yet the most prevailing opinion is, that it is upon the Authoritative Determination of the Bishop of Rome and a General Council if he approve it, that all Christians in the ⟨p. 62⟩world must have the Certainty what is indeed the word of God: And men must take all for Certain which is so determined of, and no more: even because this Authority hath so determined: And that this is to believe by the common certain faith of the Church, when otherwise men must have but an uncertain private faith of their own: And consequently that he that will convince an Infidel and convert he world, must first make them believe that the Pope and Council are Authorised or Enabled, to determine judicially (and not only to Teach by Evidence) what is Gods word and what not, before any thing can be Certainly taken for Gods word]
§. 3. The difference between the Papists opinion and ours, for brevity sake, shall be included in our Reasons against their pretended Certainty: which are these.
Reason I. We have another Certainty already by notorious Evidence of many things in your present Question. And must we quit all that Certainty, to take the same things only on trust from your Pope and his Council? We cannot do it; Because some evidence is Cogent, and the Intellect is necessitated by it: Must we not know that [Thou ⟨p. 63⟩shalt Love God and thy neighbour] is Gods word, by its proper Evidence? We have the witness within us; we see on all true Christians that Holiness wrought by this Gospel, which God will not use a lie to effect (even to save men from sin, and recover the hearts of men to himself, and repair his Image on mans soul). Must I needs give the lie to this Evidence till the Pope speak. He that Loveth God may be sure by inward perception (yea Intuition if Ocham say true) that he Loveth him; and consequently is beloved of him; and this Gospel wrought it. Must I not know that [He that believeth shall be saved] is truly translated out of the Original, till the Pope determine it? Must I believe no Grammar, no Lexicon, no Ancient Author, no Jew, no Teacher of Greek or Hebrew, no vulgar use, concerning the sense of words till the Pope determine it? Must I not know what the Baptismal Tradition of all Christians in the world doth tell me, that we must believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost till I know that the Pope determineth it? Must I not receive the Creed, Lords-Prayer, or Decalogue by all other Evidence till his word cometh in? Then I must throw away Certainty for uncertainty?