A27015:655
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.
Further I add that if all the Popes infallibility Positive be only in points of absolute necessity to salvation, then many a private Doctor, nay every Christian man or woman, is at present, as infallible as the Pope: for it implies a contradiction to be a true Christian, and not to believe all that is essential to ⟨p. 267⟩Christianity, or absolutely necessary to salvation. And if it be not de praesenti & in sensu composito, but de futuro & in sensu diviso that they mean it, that is, that another man may fall from the faith, but the Pope cannot, 1. Clean contrary, we maintain, and the Papists confess, that no elect person shall fall quite from the faith. 2. But a reprobate Pope may: witness John 23. and many another. So much for that Argument.
Further I adde that if all the Popes infallibility Positive be onely in points of absolute necessity to salvation, then many a private Doctor, nay every Christian man or woman, is at present, as infallible as the Pope: for it implyes a contradiction to be a true Christian, and not to believe all that is essential to ⟨p. 267⟩Christianity, or absolutely necessary to salvation. And if it be not de praesenti & in sensu composito, but de futuro & in sensu diviso that they mean it, that is, that another man may fall from the faith, but the Pope cannot, 1. Clean contrary, we maintain, and the Papists confess, that no elect person shall fall quite from the faith. 2. But a reprobate Pope may: witness John 23. and many another. So much for that Argument.
Argu. 12. If every Pope be infallible (Positively in all matters of faith, or in expounding all Scripture) then all Popes are of equal understanding and fidelity in matters of faith, and Scriptures. For the most learned, wise and pious can go no higher, but to be able infallibly to interpret all Scripture, and declare all Gods will concerning our faith and duty. But sure all Popes are not equal. None of those children or dunces that Alphonsus a Castro saith understood not the Grammar, are equal to Pius 2. or Adrian the 6.