A26947:871
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.
It seems that Bernard thought that humane Traditions were too much befriended, when he thus describeth the Assemblies that he approveth, Epist. 91. [Such a Council (do I delight in) in which the Traditions of men are not obstinately defended, or superstitiously observed; but they do diligently and humbly enquire, what is the good, and well pleasing, and perfect will of God.]
And it seems to me that General Councils by error introduced Novelties, when Later Councils were fain to undo what the former had done: For so doth blessed Augustine profess they did, saying, De Baptis. cont. Donat. lib. 2. cap. 6. [And Councils themselves that are gathered through several Regions or Provinces, do without any scruple yield to the authority of more plenary Councils that are gathered out of the whole Christian world; and those same plenary Councils do often yield (or give place) the former to the later, when by some experiment of matters, that which was shut is opened, and that which lay hid is known] Sure here are alterations made even by General Councils that correct one another.
And what should hinder the Introduction of Novelty when General Councils do so often err? Nay if such Councils be Morally and Interpretatively the whole Church, as the Papists say, then the whole Church doth err in the reception of some Novelty, before they declare it by their decrees. If you say, that General Councils cannot err, nor introduce such Novelties, your Champion Bellarmine and many of your own, will give you the Lie: saith he De Concil. lib. 2. cap. 11. [Neque potest, &c. It cannot be answered that those Councils erred because they were ⟨p. 236⟩not lawful (that is the Arian and other Heretical General Councils, at that at Sirmium, Millanie, Ariminum, Ephesus, several at Constantinople disallowed by the Papists) For to most of them there was nothing wanting but the Popes assent. Yea the second at Ephesus was altogether like that at Basil: For both were called by the Pope; in both of them the Popes Legate was present at the beginning: from both of them the Popes Legate shortly after went away: in both of them the Pope was excommunicated; and yet that the Council of Ephesus erred, the adversaries will not deny.] Hence he concludeth that [the chief Power Ecclesiastical is not in the Church, nor in the Council, the Pope being removed formaliter vel suppletivè.]