A26947:967
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.
3. When we say that a Papist may be saved, it is with all these limitations. 1. We say that a Papist as a Christian may be saved, but not as a Papist. As a man that hath the Plague may Live; but not by the Plague. 2. We say that Popery is a great enemy and hinderance to mens salvation; and therefore that those ⟨p. 263⟩among them that are saved, must be saved from Popery, and not by it. 3. We say, that therefore salvation is a rarer thing among the Papists, then among the Reformed Catholics: where it is most difficult, it is like to be most rare: many more of the Orthodox are like to be saved then of the Papists. 4. And we say, that where Popery prevaileth against Christianity, and so much mastereth the heart and life, that the Christian doctrine is not Practically received, there is no salvation to be had for such without Conversion. Thus is it that we say a Papist may be saved. And for my part, I will not be the more uncharitable to them, for fear of giving them advantage. I know Hunnius hath written a Book to prove them no Christians, and Perkins hath written another to prove, that a Papist cannot go beyond a Reprobate: and I must needs say so too, of all those in whom Popery is predominant practically, and overcometh Christianity. But yet I doubt not, but God hath thousands among them that shall be saved: partly of the common people that are forced to forbear contradicting the Priests; and that understand not, or receive not all the mysteries of their deceit: and partly among the Friars and Jesuits, where some of them take in the venom but speculatively: or not predominantly and practically give themselves to Mortification and an holy Life: though I have known none such, yet when I read the writings of Gerson, Kempis, Thaulerus, Ferus, Barbanson, Benedictus Anglus, the Life of Mounsieur de Renty, and such others (though I see in some much of error, and mere affectation, yet) I am easily persuaded to believe, that they had the spirit of God, and that there are many more such among them. But I should be sorry if Holiness were not much more common among us, and freer from the mixtures of error and affectation.
3. When we say that a Papist may be saved, it is with all these limitations. 1. We say that a Papist as a Christian may be saved, but not as a Papist. As a man that hath the Plague may Live; but not by the Plague. 2. We say that Popery is a great enemy and hinderance to mens salvation; and therefore that those ⟨p. 263⟩