A26887:231
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.
XXII. The use of Authority is not to disclose all Verities, but to Govern Societies in the management of them; If the King of Rome could prove himself King of all the world, that would but enable him to Govern the world: When one man that is at his footstool that is more Wise and Learned, may know better than he and his Council too, what's true or false.
XXIII. Your very foundation is a Contradiction in its self. What do you make a Pope to be but the Vicar of Christ? And (mark Reader) can any man be sure that he speaks true as Pope or Christs Vicar, that never knew that he was Pope or Christs Vicar? Or can any man believe that Christ hath an Infallible Vicar before he believe in Christ himself, and that he is Infallible? It's a contradiction ⟨p. 89⟩to believe the Pope as his Vicar or Pope, before we believe Christ. If you believe that the Pope hath Power or Infallibility, you must believe that Christ gave it him. And if you believe that he gave it him, it must be by some Revelation that he gave it, and that you must believe it. And can you believe that Revelation that made him Pope or Infallible, before you believe any Revelation?
XXIV. The same contradiction there is in believing a Council or the Church, before you believe Divine Revelation: For you cannot know till you believe Divine Revelation, that Council or Church have any such being or power.