A26947:1449
A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all…A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all…
A key for Catholics, to open the juggling of the Jesuits, and satisfy all that are but truly willing to understand, whether the cause of the Roman or reformed churches be of God ... containing some arguments by which the meanest may see the vanity of popery, and 40 detections of their fraud, with directions, and materials sufficient for the confutation of their voluminous deceits ... : the second part showeth (especially against the French and Grotians) that the Catholic Church is not united in any merely humane head, either Pope or council / by Richard Baxter, a Catholic Christian and Pastor of a church ...A key for Catholicks, to open the jugling of the Jesuits, and satisfie all that are but truly willing to understand, whether the cause of the Roman or reformed churches be of God ... containing some arguments by which the meanest may see the vanity of popery, and 40 detections of their fraud, with directions, and materials sufficient for the confutation of their voluminous deceits ... : the second part sheweth (especially against the French and Grotians) that the Catholick Church is not united in any meerly humane head, either Pope or council / by Richard Baxter, a Catholick Christian and Pastor of a church ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
Quest. Whether the way to heal any Divisions in the Churches of Chr… › Chapter 3
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.
Well, but was there ever such a thing at all? Indeed men have a fairer pretence when the Church was contained in a family, or a City, or a narrow space, to call the meetings of the Apostles or other Christians then, by the name of a General Council, but they are hard put to it, if this be all. The great Instance insisted on is the Council, Act. 15. But were the Bishops of all the Churches there? or summoned to appear? Act. 14. 23. they had ordained them Elders in every Church; but few of them were there, Timothy, Titus, abundance were absent. It's plain, that it was to the Apostles and Church at Jerusalem as the Fountain, and best informers that they sent. Not because these were the Universal Church, but because they were of greatest knowledge and authority. If it could be proved that all the Apostles were there, it would no more prove them a General Council, then that the Deacons of one Church were ordained by a General Council, Act. 6. And Matthias and Justus put to the Lot by a General Council, Act. 1. and that Christ appeared to a General Council after his Resurrection, and gave the Sacrament of his Supper to a General Council before his death. So that it is most evident from the event, that Christ never made a General Council the Head or Governor of his Church; and that there never was such a thing the world, much less continually.
Well, but was there ever such a thing at all? Indeed men have a fairer pretence when the Church was contained in a family, or a City, or a narrow space, to call the meetings of the Apostles or other Christians then, by the name of a General Council, but they are hard put to it, if this be all. The great Instance insisted on is the Council, Act. 15. But were the Bishops of all the Churches there? or summoned to appear? Act. 14. 23. they had ordained them Elders in every Church; but few of them were there, Timothy, Titus, abundance were absent. It's plain, that it was to the Apostles and Church at Hierusalem as the Fountain, and best informers that they sent. Not because these were the Universal Church, but because they were of greatest knowledge and authority. If it could be proved that all the Apostles were there, it would no more prove them a General Council, then that the Deacons of one Church were ordained by a General Council,