A27015:252
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.
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.
4. Because we see that the Pope is faine to keep them in subjection by the most cruel force of secular power: by the bloody inquisition, tormenting and burning them, or rasing wars against them to ruine them; or else by worldly honors, 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.
5. Because we see by experience, that even here with us among their few most zealous and voluntary Proselytes, it is but very few that call themselves Roman Catholics, or Papists, that indeed know what Popery is: Nay most of them, if you do but name some points of the Popish faith, will tell you that you slander them; and they hold no such thing. I have talked with many of the Laity, and find very few that will own the doctrine of mans Merits, but profess to rest on the Merits of Christ only: The like I could say of other points: By which it is plain that the Priests do hide from the Laity so much of the venom of their doctrine as they think will prove distasteful to them, and dare not let them know the worst.