A27015:399
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.
I conclude therefore, and confidently conclude, that Popery is not a safe way to heaven, because it doth 1. both vilify Gods Scriptures as an insufficient Rule, and but part of his word: And 2. presumeth to alter its most express institutions (as the Cup in the Lords Supper) And 3. expressly contradict it, in forbidding the Prayers of the Church to be in a known tongue. 4. And forbid the public reading of Scripture in a known tongue. 5 And forbid the translating of Scripture, and the reading of such translations even by any private man, unless he have the Ordinaries Licence, which he may get in those Countries where there is no remedy. The Kingdom of the Devil is called in Scripture the Kingdom of darkness; and Christs Kingdom is called, a Kingdom of light: and when ever God converteth a sinner, he translateth him from the Power of Darkness into his marvellous light, even into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Act. 26.18. Col. 1.13. 1 Pet. 2.9. And God is the father of lights, Jam. 1.17. And Satan is the Prince of the powers of darkness, Luk 22 53. Rev 16.10. And Christ hath told us, that he that walketh in darkness stumbleth and knoweth not whither he goeth, Joh. 12.35, 46. And that every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved; but he that doth tru•• cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God, Joh. 3.21. The Papists therefore give us reason to think they have not the truth, were it but in this enmity which they bear unto the Light.
I conclude therefore, and confidently conclude, that Popery is not a safe way to heaven, because it doth 1. both vilifie Gods Scriptures as an insufficient Rule, and but part of his word: And 2. presumeth to alter its most express institutions (as the Cup in the Lords Supper) And 3. expresly contradict it, in forbidding the Prayers of the Church to be in a known tongue. 4. And forbid the publike reading of Scripture in a known tongue. 5 And forbid the translating of Scripture, and the reading of such translations even by any private man, unless he have the Ordinaries Licence, which he may get in those Countries where there is no remedy. The Kingdome of the Devil is called in Scripture the Kingdom of darkness; and Christs Kingdom is called, a Kingdom of light: and when ever God converteth a sinner, he translateth him from the Power of Darkness into his marvellous light, even into the Kingdom of his dear Son,