A27045:308
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.
17. You next tell me of Valentinians words A. D. 445. Reply. It is the most plausible of all your testimonies, but worth nothing to your end. For 1. Though Theodosius name pro forma were at it, yet it was only Valentinians act, and done at Rome, where Leo prevailed with a raw unexperienced Prince to word the Epistle as he desired; so that it is rather Leo's, then the Emperors originally: And Leo was the first that attempted the excessive advancement of his Seat above the rest of the Patriarchs. 2. It is known that the Emperors sometime gave the Primacy to Rome, and sometime to Constantinople, as they were pleased or displeased by each of them. So did Justinian, who A. D. 530. Lampadio & Orest Coss. C. de Episcopis lib. 1. lege 24. saith [Constantinopolitana Ecclesia omnium aliarum est Caput] [The Church of Constantinople is the Head of all other.] 3. It is your fiction, and not the words of Valentinian (or Leo) that [the succession from Peter was the foundation ⟨p. 165⟩of Romes Primacy.] It was then believed that Antioch and other Churches had a succession from Peter. It is the Merit of Peter, and the Dignity of the City of Rome, and the Authority of the Synod jointly that he ascribeth it to. The Merit of Peter was nothing but the Motive upon which Leo would have men believe the Synod gave the Primacy to Rome: And Hosius in the Council of Sardica indeed useth that as his motive, [Let us for the honour of Peter, &c.] They had a conceit that where Peter last preached, and was martyred and buried, and his relicts lay, there he should be most honoured. 4. Here is not the least intimation that this Primacy was by Gods appointment, or the Apostles, but the Synods: Nor that it had continued so from Peters days, but that jointly for Peters Merits (and honour) and the Cities dignity, it was given by the Synod. 5. And it was but Leo's fraud to persuade the raw Emperor of the authority of a Synod, which he would not name, because the Synod of Sardica was in little or no authority in those days. The rest of the reasons were fraudulent also; which though they prevailed with this Emperor, yet they took not in the East. And Leo himself it seems durst not pretend to a Divine Right ⟨p. 166⟩and Institution, nor to a succession of Primacy from the Apostles. 6. But nothing is more false then your assertion, that he extendeth the power [over the whole visible Church.]