A27045:277
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.
4. Your next instance is of Cyprian's desire that Stephen would depose Martian Bishop of Arles.] Reply 1. That Epistle cannot be proved to be Cyprian's: for the Reasons I refer you to M. de Lanny on that subject, and Rivets Critica Sacra: only adding that there are eight copies of Cyprian, ⟨p. 134⟩ancient M. S. S. in the English Universities, that have none of them this Epistle to Stephen (of which see Jerem. Stephens Edition of Cyprian de unitate Ecclesiae) 2. Could you prove this Epistle to be Cyprian's, it makes against you more then for you. Not for you: for the distance of Cyprian, the nearness of Stephen might make it a matter more concerning him, and fitter for him to transact: And it was within his Patriarchate, and therefore no wonder if he were minded of it. And yet Cyprian only writes to him to write to the Bishops of France to restrain Martian: [§. 2. Quapropter facere te oportet plenissimas literas ad coepiscopos nostros in Gallia constitutos, ne ultra Maertianum pervicacem & superbum, & divinae pietatis ac fraternae salutis inimicum, collegio nostro insultare patiantur.] Cyprian did as much to Stephen, as he desired Stephen to do to the Bishops of France: This therefore is against you, if any thing to the purpose: Had you found but such words of a Pope to another Bishop as Cyprian useth to your Pope, you would have taken it as an evidence of his superiority. §. 3. Dirigantur in provinciam & plebem in Arelate c••xistentem à te literae, &c. [Let thy Letters be directed to the Province and people ⟨p. 135⟩at Arles, &c.] And its plainly an act of non-Communion common to all Bishops towards those unfit for their Communion, that Cyprian speaks of [§. 3. Idcirco enim, frater charissime, copiosum corpus est sacerdotum concordiae mutuae glutino atque unitatis vinculo copulatum, ut siquis ex collegio nostro haeresim facere, & gregem Christi lacerare & vastare tentaverit, subveniant caeteri, & quasi pastores utiles & misericordes oves dominicas in gregem colligant.] You see it is a common duty of brotherhood, and not an act of jurisdiction that Cyprian speaks of.
4. Your next instance is of Cyprians desire that Stephen would depose Martian Bishop of Arles.] Reply 1. That Epistle cannot be proved to be Cyprians: for the Reasons I refer you to M. de Lanny on that subject, and Rivets Critica Sacra: only adding that there are eight copies of Cyprian,