A27015:127
The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving…The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving…
The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving that popery is against the Holy Scriptures, the unity of the catholic church, the consent of the ancient doctors, the plainest reason, and common judgment of sense it self / by Richard Baxter.The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving that popery is against the Holy Scriptures, the unity of the catholike church, the consent of the antient doctors, the plainest reason, and common judgment of sense it self / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1657
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.
Answ. 1. To the Major Proposition of the main Argument, I answer. The word [safe] referreth to some Danger that we are safe from: The way may be called safe therefore, either in respect of sin or damnation: Also this way may be called [one] in respect of the Essentials of Religion, or else in respect of some inferior truths and duties, that are not of absolute necessity to salvation. And so I say that there is but one Religion as to the Essential and absolutely necessary points, in which a man can be safe from Damnation. And there is but one Religion as comprehending all the Integral parts, in which a man can be safe from sin: But yet that Religion which in the Essentials and Absolutely necessary points is but one, may yet consist with errors in lower and lesser things in the minds of those that hold it; and yet be a safe way to salvation, though not so safe as to freemen from all sin. And consequently there may be differences among true Christians that shall be saved, though there be nothing but perfect Harmony in the entire ⟨p. 28⟩Doctrine of Christian Religion as delivered from Christ and his Spirit: Because no man holds that Doctrine entirely and perfectly without any error or ignorance, and therefore there will be much difference among those that shall be saved. To the Major of the Pro-syllogism, I answer, Implicitly and in Generals the Church hath owned the perfect truth in all ages, because it hath Believed that all that God saith is true, and that the Scripture is his word: But explicitly and particularly the Church hath not held all the truth of Religion, in any one age since the Apostles. For every man on earth hath been Ignorant, and the most knowing men erroneous in some things: seeing we are all imperfect, and here know but in part. And so one particular Church might err in one thing, and another in another thing, as the differences about Easter, Rebaptizing, the Millennium, Infants Communicating, &c. show they did. And of the same Church one Member might err in one thing and another in another thing: it being as certain that no two men on the earth are in all things of the same mind, as that none on earth are perfect in knowledge. To the Minor I answer, that the Religion called Protestant is the same in all points absolutely necessary to salvation which the Church hath still owned!
Answ. 1. To the Major Proposition of the main Argument, I answer. The word [safe] referreth to some Danger that we are safe from: The way may be called safe therefore, either in respect of sin or damnation: Also this way may be called [one] in respect of the Essentials of Religion, or else in respect of some inferior truths and duties, that are not of absolute necessity to salvation. And so I say that there is but one Religion as to the Essential and absolutely necessary points, in which a man can be safe from Damnation. And there is but one Religion as comprehending all the Integral parts, in which a man can be safe from sin: But yet that Religion which in the Essentials and Absolutely necessary points is but one, may yet consist with errors in lower and lesser things in the minds of those that hold it; and yet be a safe way to salvation, though not so safe as to freemen from all sin. And consequently there may be differences among true Christians that shall be saved, though there be nothing but perfect Harmony in the entire