A27015:251
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.
2. Because (I hope among most or many of them) they are first taught the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and ten Commandments (or at least the Creed, and Decalogue, though the Lords Prayer be usually taught them in Latin) which contain the Fundamentals of Christian faith and practice: and therefore we have reason to hope that these are deeper in their minds then any contradictory doctrines: especially when they must have so much time afterward, to build upon this foundation their hay and stubbles, that we have great reason to hope that it is but few that throughly understand or entertain them.
2. Because (I hope among most or many of them) they are first taught the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and ten Commandments (or at least the Creed, and Decalogue, though the Lords Prayer be usually taught them in Latine) which contain the Fundamentals of Christian faith and practice: and therefore we have reason to hope that these are deeper in their minds then any contradictory doctrines: especially when they must have so much time afterward, to build upon this foundation their hay and stubbles, that we have great reason to hope that it is but few that throughly understand or entertaine them.
3. Because we know that the generality of the people, or a very great part of them, do look upon their Clergy as having a carnal self-interest to carry on, and so far have hard and different thoughts of them; though they are yet captivated by them too much.
4. Because we see that the Pope is fain to keep them in subjection by the most cruel force of secular power: by the bloody inquisition, tormenting and burning them, or raising wars against them to ruin them; or else by worldly honours, dignities, and riches to entice and ensnare them; which were needless if he could carry it by the cogent evidence of his doctrines or their understandings.