A27045:249
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.
But O sir, what manner of dealing have we from you! must we be imprisoned, ⟨p. 109⟩racked, hanged or burned, if we will not believe that bread & wine, are not bread and wine, contrary to our own and all mens senses; and if we will not worship them with Divine worship, and will not obey the Pope of Rome in all such matters contrary to our Consciences: and then must we be chidden for separating from you, if we […] a while escape the strappado and the […]? What! will you blame us for not believing that all mens senses are deceived, and the greater part of Christians and their Traditions (against you) are false, when we read, and study, and suspect our selves, and pray for light, and are willing to hear any of your reasons, but cannot force our own understandings to believe all such things that you believe, and merely because the Pope commands it: and when we cannot thus force our own understandings, must we be burned, or else called Separatists? would you have the Communion of our Ashes, or else say, We forsake your Communion? In your Churches we cannot have leave to come, without lying against God and our consciences, and saying, We believe what our senses contradict; and without committing that which our consciences tell us are most heinous sins. We solemnly protest that ⟨p. 110⟩we would do as you do, and say as you say, were it not for the love of truth and holiness, and for fear of the wrath of God, and the flames of hell: but we cannot, we dare not rush upon these errors, and sell our souls to please the Pope. And must we then either be murdered, or taken for uncha••••ble? will you say to so many poor souls, that are ready to enter into another world [Either sin against your consciences, and so damn your souls, or else let us burn and murder you, or else you do not love us; you are uncharitable if you deny us leave to kill you, and you separate from the Communion of the Church.] We appeal from the Pope and all unreasonable men, to the great God of heaven and earth, to judge righteously between you and us concerning this dealing.
But O sir, what manner of dealing have we from you! must we be imprisoned, ⟨p. 109⟩rackt, hang'd or burn'd, if we will not believe that bread & wine, are not bread and wine, contrary to our own and all mens senses; and if we will not worship them with Divine worship, and will not obey the Pope of Rome in all such matters contrary to our Consciences: and then must we be chidden for separating from you, if we a while escape the strappado and the ? What! will you blame us for not believing that all mens senses are deceived, and the greater part of Christians and their Traditions (against you) are false, when we read, and study, and suspect our selves, and pray for light, and are willing to hear any of your reasons, but cannot force our own understandings to believe all such things that you believe, and meerly because the Pope commands it: and when we cannot thus force our own understandings, must we be burned, or else called Separatists? would you have the Communion of our Ashes, or else say, We forsake your Communion? In your Churches we cannot have leave to come, without lying against God and our consciences, and saying, We believe what our senses contradict; and without committing that which our consciences tell us are most heynous sins. We solemnly protest that