A26998:421
The Protestant religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard BaxterThe Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter
The Protestant religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Daniel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1692
Protestant Religion Truly Stated, and Justified, &c. › The One and Thirtieth accused Point.
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.
The One and Thirtieth accused Point.
That the Saints Deceased, know not what passeth here on Earth.
Ans. Confusion and Calumny. There is knowledge Immediate by Intention, and Mediate by Notification from others. And there is knowledge perfect, and in part.
1. We take not on us to know the extent of the knowledge of separated Souls. And these proud Infallible men know no more than we, but so much less, in that they know not their own Ignorance: Yet neither Lilly, nor any Astrologer, nor Conjurer, that ever I heard of, that pretendeth the greatest acquaintance with Spirits, did ever pretend to make their Opinions of them necessary to Salvation; nor to kill all Dissenters as Heretics, but the Vice-Christ and his Church, we cannot know all that they pretend to know. And why must we needs know whether ever such Souls appeared? If they did, we will try what they are by the word of God, ⟨p. 117⟩which is our Rule. And why must we know how much they know? We know that they are not Omniscient, nor Omnipresent. And how much they know by present Intention, not one of these Pretenders know. That they know more than we, and know much by the notices of Angels or one another, and specially of the General State of Christs Kingdom on Earth, we make no doubt: And what Christ himself maketh known to them, we know not. O! what sort of men are these, that forbid us to Read the Word of God, and yet obtrude on us (on dismal Penalties,) so many things more than all the Bible doth contain!