A27045:252
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.
You ask me [Is not charity, subordination, and obedience to the same state and Government, required as well to make one Congregation of Christians, as it is required to make a ⟨p. 113⟩Congregation of Commonwealths men?] Answ. Yes, it is: But as all the world is one Kingdom under God the universal King, but yet hath no universal Vice-King, but every Commonwealth only hath its own Sovereign; even so all the Christian world is one Church under Christ the universal King of the Church, but ha•• not one Vice-Christ, but every Church hath its own Pastors, as every School hath its own Schoolmaster. But all the anger is because we are loth to be ruled by a cruel usurper therefore we are uncharitable.
You ask me [Is not charity, subordination, and obedience to the same state and Government, required as well to make one Congregation of Christians, as it is required to make a ⟨p. 113⟩Congregation of Commonwealths men?] Answ. Yes, it is: But as all the world is one Kingdom under God the universal King, but yet hath no universal Vice-King, but every Commonwealth only hath its own Soveraign; even so all the Christian world is one Church under Christ the universal King of the Church, but ha•• not one Vice-Christ, but every Church hath its own Pastors, as every School hath its own Schoolmaster. But all the anger is because we are loth to be ruled by a cruel usurper therefore we are uncharitable.
Your next reason against me, is, because [They cannot be parts of the Catholic Church, unless Arians, and Pelagians, and Donatists be parts] and so Heretics and Schismatics be parts.] Reply 1. You know sure, that your own Divines are not agreed whether Heretics and Schismatics are parts of the Church. And if they were, yet it is not de fide with you, as not determined by the Pope. If it be, then all yours are Heretics that are for the affirmative (Bellarmine nameth you some of them) If it be not, then how can you be sure its true, and so impose it on me, that they are no parts.