A26947:329
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
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.
So that if you do but force them to define and explain what they mean by the Church, you will either cause them to open their nakedness, or find them all to pieces about the very subject of the Dispute.
2. So also when they use the name of [a Pope] in disputation, make them explain themselves, and tell you (in a Definition) what they mean by [a Pope.] For, though you would think this term were sufficiently understood, yet you shall find them utterly at a loss, and all to pieces about it. Let us consider distinctly of the Efficient, Matter, and Form. 1 As to the efficient cause of their Pope, there must concur a Divine Institution (which they can no where show) and a call from man (& Nemo dat quod non habet, what man or men have power to make a Head to the Catholic Church.) But whether they will call it an Efficient Cause, or only a Causa sine qua nen, Election and Ordination must go to make a Pope. Now either they will put these into their Definition, or not. If not, know of them whether a man without Election and Ordination may be Pope: If so, what ⟨p. 75⟩makes him one? If Possession, then he that can conquer Rome, and sit down in the chair is Pope: If not possession, what then? and why may not any man say, I am Pope? well: but doubtless they will tell you that Election, or Ordination, or both, is Necessary. If so, then first for Election, is it Necessary to the being of a Pope, that some certain persons Elect who have the Power, or will any Electors serve whosoever? If any will serve, then every Monastery or every Parish may choose a Pope: If there must be certain Authorized Electors, see that those be named in the Definition: or at least declared. And then first know whether these Electors are empowered to that work by Divine Law, or by Humane: If by Divine, let them show it if they can. In Scripture they can never find who must choose the Pope. And their Tradition (if that were a Divine law) hath no such precept, as appeareth by the alterations and divers ways. And if it be but by a Humane Ecclesiastical Canon, then it seems the Papacy is so too: for the Power received can have no higher a cause then the Power giving or authorizing.