A27015:768
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.
Greg. Nazianzene saith of Councils [If I must write the truth,1 I am of this mind, that I will fly or avoid all Councils of Bishops: for I never saw a glad or happy end of any Councils, or which did not rather bring an addition or increase of evils, then a removal of them.] To this of Nazianzene Bellarmine answereth that [Gregory meant that in his time no Council could be wholly lawful: for he lived between the first and second general Council, where he had seen many Councils which because of the great number of Heretics had a bad end.] And he names five of them.
Greg. Nazianzene saith of Councils [If I must write the truth,1 I am of this mind, that I will flye or avoid all Councils of Bishops: for I never saw a glad or happy end of any Councils, or which did not rather bring an addition or increase of evils, then a removal of them.] To this of Nazianzene Bellarmine answereth that [Gregory meant that in his time no Council could be wholly lawful: for he lived between the first and second general Council, where he had seen many Councils which because of the great number of Hereticks had a bad end.] And he names five of them.
- 1Nazianzene Bellar. li. 2. de concil. e. 7. pag (mihi) 121.
Answ. 1. But by what Authority doth Bellarmine confine Gregory's words to some Councils, which he speaks in general of all that he had seen or might do resolving to avoid all hereafter. 2. Here note that Bellarmine confesseth that Councils may err; and then where is the French Religion? 3. I would fain know where was the Churches infallibility, and power of judging of matters of faith in Nazianzens days? If there were no lawful General Councils, nor could be, then it was not in them; therefore it must be either in the people (and how shall we gather the world together to consult with them) or else as Bellarmine will say, in the Pope alone, or in the Roman Clergy with him.