A27015:428
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.
The Major is certain: For 1. God hath taken down the ceremonial Law which he himself had made, and therefore will not give leave to man to set up another in its stead, and to burden his Church with unnecessary things. 2. It is contrary to the freedom and spiritual state of the Gospel Church. The Apostle bids us stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free: And Christ saith, that God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and Truth: for such worshippers the Father seeketh: And he telleth the formal ceremonious Pharisees, that they worshipped God in vain, teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.6, 7, 8, 9. Joh. 4.23, 24. Gal. 5.1.
The Major is certain: For 1. God hath taken down the ceremonial Law which he himself had made, and therefore will not give leave to man to set up another in its stead, and to burden his Church with unncessary things. 2. It is contrary to the freedom and spiritual state of the Gospel Church. The Apostle bids us stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free: And Christ saith, that God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and Truth: for such worshipers the Father seeketh: And he telleth the formal ceremonious Pharisees, that they worshipped God in vain, teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.6, 7, 8, 9. Joh. 4.23, 24. Gal. 5.1.
As for the Minor, it were tedious to recite but half the Romish ceremonies and formalities with which •hey both delude and burden poor sinners. For the word of God in a tongue which they understand, they must hear a sound of a strange language which they understand not: Instead of singing praises with the heart (as David) and with the understanding (as Paul requireth) they sing over prayers and Scriptures and other things in uncouth notes and in the