A26887:232
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.
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.
XXV. Either the Pope and Council themselves know the true Copies, Readings and Translations from the Authority of former Councils, or by their own: or by the Evidence of the thing: and Common History: or by Inspiration or Supernatural Revelation: If all the rabble of wicked Popes and Prelates pretend to Rule the Church and our faith by Inspiration, they are cracked-brained fanatics: Sure they were no Prophets before they were Popes or Councillors. But if it be by their own Authority, who will take a self-made faith, of men that Believe only because they ⟨p. 90⟩Believe? And must have all others believe only because they believed before them? Then it is themselves and not Christ that they believe. If it be, former Popes and Councils that they believe, tell us whom and why the first believed? Mark, that you cannot arise to St. Peter: For the various Copies and Translations which we are in question of, were all made since St. Peters days.