A27045:32
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.
Qu. 2. And for the second Question, about the Toleration of Popery, let him that desireth it, but procure a Toleration of the Protestant Profession in Spain, Italy, Bavaria, Austria, &c. and then I undertake to give him a satisfactory answer of this question. In the mean time, I shall only say as Seneca, Nemo ex imprudentibus est qui relinqui sibi debeat: especially men that renounce all their senses and reason ▪ so far, as not to believe that bread is bread, and wine is wine, should not be left without a guardian. But in general, we must on one hand avoid inhumane cruelty (and leave them those means that are suited to their cause:) and on the other hand we must take heed that we betray not the Gospel and the souls of men, to the subtlety and pernicious fraud of trained deceivers. We must vigilantly and strenuously defend, though we must ⟨p. 12⟩tenderly and sparingly offend, any further then is necessary to such defence.
Qu. 2. And for the second Question, about the Toleration of Popery, let him that desireth it, but procure a Toleration of the Protestant Profession in Spain, Italy, Bavaria, Austria, &c. and then I undertake to give him a satisfactory answer of this question. In the mean time, I shall only say as Seneca, Nemo ex imprudentibus est qui relinqui sibi debeat: especially men that renounce all their senses and reason ▪ so far, as not to believe that bread is bread, and wine is wine, should not be left without a guardian. But in general, we must on one hand avoid inhumane cruelty (and leave them those means that are suited to their cause:) and on the other hand we must take heed that we betray not the Gospel and the souls of men, to the subtilty and pernitious fraud of trained deceivers. We must vigilantly and strenuously defend, though we must ⟨p. 12⟩tenderly and sparingly offend, any further then is necessary to such defence.
Qu. 3. And for the third question, about Reconciliation, I have spoken to it, and offered the terms in other writings (especially my Key for Catholics) I only add now, that the Peace-makers no doubt are blessed; and if it be possible, as much as in us lieth, we must live peaceably with all men. But for the terms, we cannot possibly meet every corrupted party half way in their sins and errors, that we may be friends. Let us hold to the immutable sufficient Rule, indited by the Holy Ghost, and judge of all that swerve from it, according to the degree of their deviation, and unite in the ancient simplicity of Doctrine, Worship, and Government, and lay our unity only on things necessary: For whosoever deviseth any other Rule and terms of unity then these, shall never attain it, but raise up a new Sect, and increase our wounds. I am as much for unity as ever was Cassander, Erasmus, Grotius, or any of the Reconcilers: But I am certain that to subscribe to the Trent Decrees and Creed, and to turn Papist, or Semi-Papist, or participate of any sin for peace, is not the way. Let some plead for all the Greek corruptions, and some for the Popes supremacy regulated