A27015:595
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.
Having considered the Papists proof of their infallibility, I shall next (though it be more then the cause obligeth me to) say somewhat to prove the Negative, and so proceed to my second Argument against them.
Argu. 2. If the common senses of sound men (or their sensible apprehensions) be infallible, then the Pope with his pretended General Council is fallible: But the common senses of sound men are infallible: Therefore, &c.
I know not how we should come nearer hand with a Papist, nor to plainer dealing, then to argue from common sense. And as to the Antecedent, Either sense is infallible, or it is not: If it be, I have that I seek. If not, then mark what follows.
I know not how we should come neerer hand with a Papist, nor to plainer dealing, then to argue from common sense. And as to the Antecedent, Either sense is infallible, or it is not: If it be, I have that I seek. If not, then mark what follows.
1. Then no man can be sure that the Christian Religion is true: For the proofs of it all vanish, if sense be not infallible. If you plead the Miracles of Christ and his Disciples, no man was sure that he saw them. If you plead the death and Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, no man was sure he saw them, and therefore could give no assurance of it to another. All the Disciples senses, and the worlds senses were (or might be, for ought we know) deceived. Nor are you sure that any writings or traditions came down to us from the Apostles: For the eyes of the Readers and the ears of the hearers might be deceived. 2. And then most certainly the Pope himself and all his Clergy are fallible: For they cannot be sure of that which the Apostles and following Church were not sure of: Nor can they be sure that in reading and hearing, their eyes deceive them not. And I take it for granted that the Pope and his Clergy do use their senses, and by them receive these matters into their intellect. Nay if sense be fallible, no man in the Church of Rome can tell whether there be any such place as Rome, or any such person as the Pope at all, or ever was. Nay what else can any man be sure of?