A27045:271
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.
1. Your first Testimony is from Liberatus, c. 16. [John Bishop of Antioch makes an appeal to Pope Simplicius.] Reply. 1. I see you are deceived by going upon trust: But its pity so to deceive others. There was no such man as John Bishop of Antioch in Simplicus reign. John of Antioch was he that made the stirs and divisions for Nestorius, against Cyril, and called the Schismatical Council at Ephesus, and dyed, Anno 436. having reigned thirteen years, as Baronius saith, and eighteen as Nicephorus: He dyed in Sixtus the fifths time. But its said indeed that John Bishop of Alexandria made some address to Simplicius: of which Baronius citeth Liberatus words (not c. 16. but c. 18.) ad An. D. 483. that John being expelled by the Emperor Zeno's command, went first to Calendion Bishop of Antioch, and so to Rome to Simplicius, (if Baronius ⟨p. 128⟩were to be believed, as his judge) Liberatus saith, that he took from Calendion Bishop of Antioch Letters to Simplicius, to whom he appealed as Athanasius had done, and persuaded him to write for him to Acacius Bishop of Constantinople; which Simplicius did: But Acacius upon the receipt of Simplicius Letters, writ flatly to him, that he knew no John Bishop of Alexandria, but had taken Petrus Mogus as Bishop of Alexandria, into his Communion, and that without Simplicius, for the Churches unity, at the Emperors command] Here you see how little regard Acacius made of your Pope: and that the appeal was but to procure his Letters to Acacius, which did him no good. 2. But do you in good earnest think that all such addresses, or appeals are ad superiorem judicem? What more common then to appeal or make such addresses to any that have advantage of interest, for the relief of the oppressed? Young men appeal to the aged in Controversies: and the less learned to the more learned: and the poor to the rich, or to the favourites of such as can relieve them. Johns going first to Antioch was no acknowledgement of superiority. 3. But of this I must refer you to a full answer of Blondel against Perron, de Primatu ⟨p. 129⟩in Eccles. cap. 25. sect. 76. where you may be satisfied of the vanity of your instance. Whereas therefore you infer (or you say nothing) that because this John thus appealed to Rome, therefore he appealed thither as to the Universal Ruler of the Church.] The story derideth your consequence.