A27045:13
The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members…
The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members I. defended against the opposition of Mr. William Johnson, II. proved by many arguments / by Richard Baxter ; whereunto is added 1. an account of my judgement to Mr. J. how far heretics are or are not in the church, 2. Mr. Js. explication of the most used terms, with my queries thereupon, and his answer and my reply, 3. an appendix about successive ordination, 4. letters between me and T.S., a papist, with a narrative of the success.The successive visibility of the church of which the Protestants are the soundest members I. defended against the opposition of Mr. William Johnson, II. proved by many arguments / by Richard Baxter ; whereunto is added 1. an account of my judgement to Mr. J. how far hereticks are or are not in the church, 2. Mr. Js. explication of the most used terms, with my queries thereupon, and his answer and my reply, 3. an appendix about successive ordination, 4. letters between me and T.S., a papist, with a narrative of the success.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1660
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.
Reader,
IF thou meet me at the threshold with a [What need any more against Popery then is written?] I must answer thee, [No need, if all that is already written, were improved. Nor were there need of any writings, if men would not renounce their common senses. We cannot hope or pretend, by any writings, to bring any controversy to a plainer, better issue, then to resolve it by the judgement of the common senses of all the world: and yet this doth not end the controversies between us and the Papists; whether Bread be Bread, and Wine be Wine, when they are seen, felt, tasted, ⟨p. 2⟩&c. But some writings are useful to awake men to the use of Reason, and to help them to improve their other helps. And, as Seneca saith, Multum egerunt qui ante nos suerunt; sed non peregerunt: suscipiendi tamen sunt] Though I thought I had said enough before in three or four former writings, yet the weight of the Question here debated, and the common use that's made of it by the Papists, have persuaded me, that this also will be useful to the Church.
IF thou meet me at the threshold with a [What need any more against Popery then is written?] I must answer thee, [No need, if all that is already written, were improved. Nor were there need of any writings, if men would not renounce their common senses. We cannot hope or pretend, by any writings, to bring any controversie to a plainer, better issue, then to resolve it by the judgement of the common senses of all the world: and yet this doth not end the controversies between us and the Papists; whether Bread be Bread, and Wine be Wine, when they are seen, felt, tasted, ⟨p. 2⟩&c. But some writings are usefull to awake men to the use of Reason, and to help them to improve their other helps. And, as Seneca saith, Multum egerunt qui ante nos suerunt; sed non peregerunt: suscipiendi tamen sunt] Though I thought I had said enough before in three or four former writings, yet the weight of the Question here debated, and the common use thats made of it by the Papists, have perswaded me, that this also will be usefull to the Church.