A26947:451
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.
I repeat their words just as I have heard they make use of them with the people, and now I shall open the deceit of them in particular Answers to each part.
And 1. For the matter of unity, I have spoken of it before, and dare leave it to all the world that are judicious, whether the Papists or we are more unanimous, or more divided. Only to the Instances of division, I shall speak further now. 1. For the matter of Church Government, we are all agreed in the substance of it (except a very few stragglers;) As concerning the duty of Penitence, Confession, Restitution, Contrition, and of the excommunicating the obstinate, and Absolving the penitent, &c. All this we agree is the duty of the Presbyters; and we agree that these Presbyters may have a President, only some think that the President is ejusdem ordinis, of the same order, differing but in degree, and hath no power jure divino, but what the Presbyters have, but only the exercise is restrained as to the Presbyters, ⟨p. 108⟩by men; but others think that the President is a Bishop eminently of another order, having not only the exercise, but the power above the Presbyters. And is this difference so great a business? And do not these cheaters know, that if for this they would reproach us, they must do so by themselves? Know they not that among their own Schoolmen there is the same difference, or in most points the same? And know they not that if differences in Ceremonies or Modes should unchurch us, or disgrace us, it would fall as foul on the whole Catholic Church, and that in the very primitive times? Did they never read of the difference between the Asian and the Roman Churches, about the celebration of Easter day, and how Polycrates and the rest did plead Tradition against the Church of Romes Tradition; and how Irenaeus did reprehend the Bishop of Rome for his uncharitable censure of the Churches for so small a difference? And how Polycarp and Anicetus Bishop of Rome could not agree, as building upon contrary Traditions: but yet maintained Christian peace; as Eusebius out of Irenaeus his Epistle to Victor tells us, lib. 5. Hist. Eccl. cap. 26. And the English and Irish Churches long after that adhered to the Asian way; even after the Council of Nice had ended the controversy on the Roman side. And who knows not how many more controversies greater then these of ours have been among the Churches of Christ, without their unchurching or disparagement to Religion.