A27045:279
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. It was made in a Case of the distress of Athanasius and other Orthodox Oriental Bishops, merely in that strait, to save them and the Churches from the Arians. The Arians withdrew from the Council being the minor part, and excommunicated Julius with Athanasius, and other Occidentals; and the Occidental Bishops excommunicated the Oriental. Athanasius himself was a chief man in the Council, and had before been rescued by the help of Julius, and therefore no wonder if they desired this safety to their Churches. 2. Note, that this is a thing newly granted now by this Canon, and not any ancient thing. 3. Note, that therefore it was of Humane Right, and not of Divine. 4. Note, that yet this Canon was not received or practised in the Church, but after this the contrary maintained by Councils, and practised, as I shall anon prove. 5. That it is not any antecedent Governing Power that the Canon acknowledgeth in the Pope; but in honour of the Memory of S. Peter, as they say, (yet more for their present security) ⟨p. 138⟩they give this much to Rome; it being the vulgar opinion that Peter had been there Bishop. 6. That it is not a Power of judging alone that they give, but of causing the re-examination of Causes by the Council, and adding his assistants in the judgement, and so to have the putting of another into the place forborne till it be done. 7. And I hope still you will remember, that at this Council were no Bishops without the Empire, and that the Roman world was narrower then the Christian world: and therefore, if these Bishops in a part of the Empire had now given (not a Ruling, but) a saving Power to the Pope, so far as is there expressed, this had been far from proving that he had a Ruling Power, as the Vice-Christ over all the world, and that by Divine right: Blame me not to call on you to prove this consequence. 8. There is as much for Appeals to Constantinople, that never claimed a Vice-Christship as Jure divino.
1. It was made in a Case of the distresse of Athanasius and other Orthodox Orientall Bishops, meerly in that strait, to save them and the Churrhes from the Arrians. The Arrians withdrew from the Council being the minor part, and excommunicated Iulius with Athanasius, and other Occidentals; and the Occidental Bishops excommunicated the Oriental. Athanasius himself was a chief man in the Council, and had before been rescued by the help of Iulius, and therefore no wonder if they desired this safety to their Churches. 2. Note, that this is a thing newly granted now by this Canon, and not any ancient thing. 3. Note, that therefore it was of Humane Right, and not of Divine. 4. Note, that yet this Canon was not received or practised in the Church, but after this the contrary maintained by Councils, and practised, as I shall anon prove. 5. That it is not any antecedent Governing Power that the Canon acknowledgeth in the Pope; but in honour of the Memory of S. Peter, as they say, (yet more for their present security)