A26887:211
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.
VIII. Scripture it self never mentioneth this Method or Evidence: And would it be silent of the only way of Certainty? It never saith to the world [You must know by the Judgement of Peter, or the Pope and a General Council what is the word of God] Did Christ forget it?
IX. The Ancient Defenders of the Christian Faith did all go another way: Justin, Tertullian, Athenagoras, Tatianus, Minutius Faelix, Arnobius, Lactantius, Eusebius in his two first Volumes de Praepar. & Demonstrat. Augustine, and all such writers, seek to prove our faith by other Evidence, and never say [the Pope and a General Council are the only ascertaining declarers of it.]
IX. The Ancient Defenders of the Christian Faith did all go another way: Iustin, Tertullian, Athenagoras, Tatianus, Minutius Faelix, Arnobius, Lactantius, Eusebius in his two first Volumes de Praepar. & Demonstrat. Augustine, and all such writers, seek to prove our faith by other Evidence, and never say [the Pope and a General Council are the only ascertaining declarers of it.]
X. Our Proof of the Matters of fact is incomparably more certain than yours: For, 1. As to the Power of Judging, we maintain a concurrence of the peoples Discerning Judgement, the Pastors Teaching or Directing Judgement, and both Magistrates and ⟨p. 68⟩Pastors Deciding and Governing Judgement, not to be the only Determiner of mens minds de fide, but to Rule the public Doctrine and Communion of the Church according to Gods foreknown Laws. And as to the Truth of Copies, Miracles, and the actual delivery of the Gospel in the Scripture, and in the distinct Catechistical Articles aforesaid, we rest on Tradition which hath a Natural Infallibility, and not a pretended Authoritative Judge. Your Tradition receiveth its credit from pretended Power to Judge, which all the wise men in the world will deny till its proved. Our Tradition hath its credit from a Natural Impossibility that the History should be false. I have showed you the proof of this in my More Reasons for the Christian Religion and else where: If you will not read them there, I know not whether you will read them here, and therefore will not write them again. We have all your Evidence which is Evidence indeed, and far more with it; And as Hierom saith, The world is more than the City. Your Tradition is that of a Popes judging Power only as some say; and of a Pope with his Council as others say; and of the Pope with his subjects as your few moderate Latitudinarians say You are not above the third or fourth part of the Christian world: If you deny