A26892:5941
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.
They have nothing of sense left them to say but this, That though the Efficient Jurisdiction which maketh Popes be only in Christ, because no men are their Superiors, yet Bishops and Presbyters who have Superiors, cannot receive their power but by an Efficient Power of man, which must come down by uninterrupted succession.
They have nothing of sense left them to say but this, That though the Efficient Iurisdiction which maketh Popes be only in Christ, because no men are their Superiours, yet Bishops and Presbyters who have Superiours, cannot receive their power but by an Efficient Power of man, which must come down by uninterrupted succession.
Answ. 1. And so if ever the Papal Office have an intercision, (as I have proved it hath had as to lawful Popes) the whole Catholic Church is nullified; and it is impossible to give it a new being, but by a new Pope.
Answ. 1. And so if ever the Papal Office have an intercision, (as I have proved it hath had as to lawful Popes) the whole Catholick Church is nullified; and it is impossible to give it a new being, but by a new Pope.
But the best is, that by their Doctrine indeed they need not to plead for an uninterrupted succession either of Popes, Bishops or Presbyters, but that they think it a useful cheat to perplex all that are not their subjects. For if the Papacy were extinct an hundred years, Christ is still alive: And seeing it is no matter (ad esse) who be the Electors or Consecrators, so it be but made known conveniently to the people, and Men only Elect and Receive the person, and Christ only giveth the power (by his stated Law) what hindereth after the longest extinction or intercision, but that some body, or some sort of persons may choose a Pope again, and so Christ make him Pope? And thus the Catholic Church may dye and live again by a new Creation, many times over.