A27045:280
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.
6. Your sixth instance out of Basils 74. Epistle I imagine you would have suppressed, if ever you had read that Epistle, and had thought that any others would be induced by your words to read it. I have given you out of this and other Epistles of ⟨p. 139⟩Basil, a sufficient proof of his enmity to Popery, in my Key, cap. 26. pag. 170, 171, 172. and cap. 27. pag. 177. that very Epistle of Basils was written to the Western Bishops, and not to the Bishop of Rome only, nor so much as naming him: The help that he desireth is either a Visit, or persuasive Letters, never mentioning the least Power that the Pope had more then other Bishops, but only the interest of Credit that the Western Bishops had more then Basil and his Companions: saith he [For what we say is suspected by many, as if for certain private contentions, we would strike a fear and pusillanimity into their minds: But for you, the further you dwell from them, so much the more credit you have with the common people: to which this is added, that the grace of God is a help to you to care for the oppressed. And if many of you unanimously decree the same things, it is manifest that the Multitude of you decreeing the same things, will cause an undoubted reception of your opinion with all.] You see here upon what terms Liberius his Letters might bestead Eustathius: He having received him into his own Communion, and Eustathius being Orthodox in words, no wonder that the Synod of Tiana receive ⟨p. 140⟩him upon an Orthodox confession, and their fellow-Bishops reception and Letters: No doubt but the Letters of many another Bishop might have persuaded them to his reception; though he had more advantages from Rome. Is it not now a fair Argument that you offer? Liberius (sometime an Arian Pope of Rome) by his Letters prevailed with a Synod at Tyana to restore Eustathius (an Arian) that dissembled an Orthodox confession: What then? Ergo the Pope of Rome is the Vice-Christ, or was then the Governor of all the Christian world. Soft and fair. 1. Basil gives you other reasons of his interest. 2. He never mentioneth his universal Government, when he had the greatest need to be helped by it, if he had known of such a thing. 3. The Empire is not all the world: If Basil knew the Roman Sovereignty, I am certain he was a wilful Rebel against it.
6. Your sixth instance out of Basils 74. Epistle I imagine you would have suppressed, if ever you had read that Epistle, and had thought that any others would be induced by your words to read it. I have given you out of this and other Epistles of