A26887:214
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.
3. Yea our History takes in Heretics, yea and Infidels and Heathens too so far as they have left us any Testimony of these things. Even a Pliny, a Celsus, a Porphyry, a Julian, and any other the bitterest Enemies: Because we prove it Impossible that so many men of different Countries, and no converse, and contrary minds and Interests, should confederate or agree to deceive the world, and be undetected in such a matter. And what is the Pope and 42. or two hundred Prelates (most of Italy) to such Historical Evidence as this?
3. Yea our History takes in Hereticks, yea and Infidels and Heathens too so far as they have left us any Testimony of these things. Even a Pliny, a Celsus, a Porphyry, a Iulian, and any other the bitterest Enemies: Because we prove it Impossible that so many men of different Countries, and no converse, and contrary minds and Interests, should confederate or agree to deceive the world, and be undetected in such a matter. And what is the Pope and 42. or two hundred Prelates (most of Italy) to such Historical Evidence as this?
O that you could lay by partiality and base selfish respects but for one day or hour? ⟨p. 70⟩What if the Question among us were whether ever Paul was at Rome? Or Justin wrote his Apology? Or Origen was a professed Christian? Or Constantine the Great professed Christianity? Or whether the writings of Justin, Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, &c. be true or spurious, &c. Whether do you think that the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Evidence, with the Consent of all the world that knew them, Christians, Heretics, Heathens, &c. be not a more satisfying Evidence of truth, than if a Pope of Rome and his Council should say, so and so it was, (as Liberius condemned Athanasius,) without or against the rest of the world? If the Question were whether ever there was such a man as Gregory the first or seventh, or such a man as Luther, or as Charles the Great, or Car. 5. or King James in England, or such a thing as the French Massacre, &c. Is not the current uncontrolled self-evidencing History of these matters, more certain than if the Pope and Council of Trent only had told us of them?