A26887:242
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.
XXXIII. It is but few persons in the world that ever saw and consulted with a Pope and a General Council? How then shall we be all sure, what they said or determined? How know we whether the Records of them be truest in Crab, in Surius, in Nicolinus, in Binnius or in none of them? What was Caranzas's fault that he is blamed for? Which of the various Copies of Canons are true which are given us oft by the same Author? Who knoweth what alterations the Index expurgatorius (not infallible) maketh in the books? Have we no more or other Certainty of our Creed than of all these Councils, so variously and doubtfully delivered?
XXXIV. Seeing that each lay man that never saw Pope or Councils, can know them only by believing the Priest that telleth him, This the Church saith, is that Priest Infallible? Can no man be be certainer of the Creed than of that Priests words? Is not the faith of almost all your vulgar Papists, resolved into ⟨p. 93⟩the Priests affirmation? And so is it not a humane faith? And how ignorant and wicked is many a Priest? Is our faith uncertain because we take it not on such a mans credit?
XXXV. If you say that an Implicit faith that all is true and of God which the Pope and Council saith is so, will save men; 1. How do the people know whether the Pope and Council determine any thing at all but on the Priests credit? 2. Then all Infidels may be saved without believing that there is a Saviour or salvation, so they do but believe in the Pope and Council. 3. Then believing in the Pope and Council is made far more necessary than believing in Christ. 4. Why will not an implicit belief in Christ go as far as yours?
XXXV. If you say that an Implicite faith that all is true and of God which the Pope and Council saith is so, will save men; 1. How do the people know whether the Pope and Council determine any thing at all but on the Priests credit? 2. Then all Infidels may be saved without believing that there is a Saviour or salvation, so they do but believe in the Pope and Council. 3. Then believing in the Pope and Council is made far more necessary than believing in Christ. 4. Why will not an implicite belief in Christ go as far as yours?