A26887:207
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.
IV. You are utterly uncertain and disagreed among your selves, who it is that hath this Ascertaining Determining Authority: ⟨p. 65⟩You say it is your Church: But some say that the Infallibility and Power is in the Pope alone, in Cathedra. Some say it is a General Council though the Pope dissent: Some say that the Pope and Council must agree: and some say that the Church Essential of all Countries must receive the decrees before they are infallibly ascertaining. And who can be Certain of Gods word by an Authority which is it self so uncertain? See the proof in Safe Relig. p. 192, 193, 194.
V. Your own sentence condemneth your own Judges as uncertain: General Councils (as Constance and Basil) have concluded that Popes may err in matters of faith: yea accused and Condemned them as Heretics, if not Infidels. And shall we not believe a General Council in matter of present fact, and yet must believe them what is Gods word? And that one Council hath Condemned another, and Popes have Condemned Councils, I have ibid. proved at large. And if Popes and General Councils distinct are deceitful, how shall we be sure that two false parties when they meet do make one true one?
V. Your own sentence condemneth your own Judges as uncertain: General Councils (as Constance and Basil) have concluded that Popes may err in matters of faith: yea accused and Condemned them as Hereticks, if not Infidels. And shall we not believe a General Council in matter of present fact, and yet must believe them what is Gods word? And that one Council hath Condemned another, and Popes have Condemned Councils, I have ibid. proved at large. And if Popes and General Councils distinct are deceitful, how shall we be sure that two false parties when they meet do make one true one?