A27015:284
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.
9. It must be known what it is that makes a Pope, what is necessary to his being Peters successor. I• it enough that he step up into the chair and call himself Pope? Or that his party call him so? Then if any Heathen or Arian conqueror, though a Lay ma• did so, he should be Pope. And he that conquers Rome may make himself Saint Peters infallible successor at any time. But if there must be an ordination and Election, then it must be known whether every Ecclesiastical Ordination or Consecration, and Election will serve or not. If it will, then when there have been three Popes chosen and consecrated at once, they were all Saint Peters infallible successors, though one condemned the other: If not, then it must be known, who it is that hath the power of election (which being the act that determineth of th• person, is the main that must resolve our doubts) and also of consecration or ordination. And ho• shall the people know this, when the Clergy have been so disagreed among themselves.
9. It must be known what it is that makes a Pope, what is necessary to his being Peters successor. I• it enough that he step up into the chair and call himself Pope? Or that his party call him so? Then if any Heathen or Arrian conqueror, though a Lay ma• did so, he should be Pope. And he that conquers Rome may make himself Saint Peters infallible successor at any time. But if there must be an ordination and Election, then it must be known whether every Ecclesiastical Ordination or Consecration, and Election will serve or not. If it will, then when there have been three Popes chosen and consecrated at once, they were all Saint Peters infallible successors, though one condemned the other: If not, then it must be known, who it is that hath the power of election (which being the act that determineth of th• person, is the maine that must resolve our doubts) and also of consecration or ordination. And ho• shall the people know this, when the Clergy have been so disagreed among themselves.