A26931:228
Full and easy satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…Full and easie satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…
Full and easy satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference between D. a doubter, P. a papist, and R. a reformed Catholic Christian : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.Full and easie satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference between D. a doubter, P. a papist, and R. a reformed Catholick Christian : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nev. Simmons, 1674
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.
III. Reason. Their Papacy, which essentiateth their Church, is a horrid Usurpation of Christs own Prerogative, and of an Office to do that which is incomparably above the Natural Power or Capacity of any mortal man; even to be the Apostle and Governor of the whole world (of Christians at least); To take Charge of all the souls on earth; to teach and call those that are uncalled, and to Rule those that are baptized: even at the Antipodes, and in all those unknown or inaccessible parts of the world, which he hath no knowledge of: A far more arrogant undertaking, than to be the Civil Monarch of all the earth; and utterly impossible for him to perform, and which never was performed by him.
III. Reason. Their Papacy, which essentiateth their Church, is a horrid Usurpation of Christs own Prerogative, and of an Office to do that which is incompaparably above the Natural Power or Capacity of any mortal man; even to be the Apostle and Governour of the whole world (of Christians at least); To take Charge of all the souls on earth; to teach and call those that are uncalled, and to Rule those that are baptized: even at the Antipodes, and in all those unknown or inaccessible parts of the world, which he hath no knowledge of: A far more arrogant undertaking, than to be the Civil Monarch of all the earth; and utterly impossible for him to perform, and which never was performed by him.
IV. Reason. The said Papacy is an arrogant Usurpation of the Power of all the Christian Princes and Pastors upon earth, or of a Power over them, never given by Christ: It setteth up a Kingdom in a Kingdom, and taketh from Pastors the power which Christ gave them, over their particular flocks.
V. Reason. The said Papacy is a mere humane Institution: They confess themselves, that it is not of Divine faith that the Bishop of Rome is St. Peters Successor by Divine Right: It is no article of their own faith: But History fully assureth us, that it was but in the Roman Empire, that the Roman Bishop was made Supreme: as the Archbishop of Canterbury is in England: And that he standeth on the same humane foundation as the other four Patriarchs of the Empire did. And that their General Councils were called by the Emperors, and were called General only with respect to that Empire. And there never was such a thing as a General Council of all the Christian world, nor ever can be: And that there never was such, is most notorious yet by the Names subscribed to all the Councils. But they abuse the world, and claim that power over all the Christians on earth, which one Prince gave his subject-Prelates in his Empire: As if the General Assembly of Scotland or France should pretend to be a General Council of the world, and the Archbishop of Canterbury should call himself Archbishop of all the Church on earth, and claim the government of it.