A26892:5829
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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. The Church of Rome is considered, 1. Formally, as a Church or Policy, 2. Materially as the singular persons are qualified. It is the Form that denominateth. Therefore the Question must be taken of the Roman Policy, or of the Church of Rome as such; that is, As it is one Ruler pretending to be the 1Vicarious constitutive Governing Head of all Christs Visible Church on earth, and the Body which owneth him in this Relation.
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4. Therefore I conclude (and so do all Protestants) that this Policy or Church of Rome is no true Church of Christs Instituting or approbation, but a Humane sinful Policy formed by the Temptation of Satan the Prince of Pride, deceit and darkness. The proof of which is the matter of whole loads of Protestant Writings. And indeed the proof of their Policy being incumbent on themselves, they fail in it, and are still fain to fly to pretended false Tradition for proof, in which the Sophisters know that either they must be Judges themselves, and it must go for truth because they say it; or else that if they can carry the Controversy into a Thicket or Wood of Fathers and Church History, at least they can confound the ignorant, and evade themselves. Of this see my Disput. with Johnson, and my Key for Catholics, &c.
4. Therefore I conclude (and so do all Protestants) that this Policy or Church of Rome is no true Church of Christs Instituting or approbation, but a Humane sinful Policy formed by the Temptation of Satan the Prince of Pride, deceit and darkness. The proof of which is the matter of whole loads of Protestant Writings. And indeed the proof of their Policy being incumbent on themselves, they fail in it, and are still fain to fly to pretended false Tradition for proof, in which the Sophisters know that either they must be Judges themselves, and it must go for truth because they say it; or else that if they can carry the Controversie into a Thicket or Wood of Fathers and Church History, at least they can confound the ignorant, and evade themselves. Of this see my Disput. with Iohnson, and my Key for Catholicks, &c.