A27045:353
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.
and the ⟨p. 188⟩terms [Vice Christi & Vicarius Christi] being those that Popes and Papists choose to signify their claim, what other should I use?
and the ⟨p. 188⟩terms [Vice Christi & Vicarius Christi] being those that Popes and Papists choose to signifie their claim, what other should I use?
As to what you say of the Council of Constance (which you must say also of Basil, and of the French Church, Venetians, &c.) you pretend the doubt to be only between Ordinary and extraordinary Governors. But 1. of old the Councils called General (indeed but of one Principality) were more ordinary, then now the Pope hath brought them to be: (and I blame him not, if he will hold his greatness, to take heed of them.) 2. The way not to have been extraordinary, if the Council of Constance had been infallible, or of sufficient power, who decreed that there should be one every ten years. 3. The Councils that continue so many years as that at Trent did, are then become an Ordinary Government. 4. What is given to the Church Representative, is by many of you given to the Church real or essential (as you call it) which is ordinarily existent, only not capable of exerting the power it hath: The singulis major, at universis minor, is no rare doctrine with you. 5. But let it be as extraordinary as you please, if while these Councils sit, the ⟨p. 189⟩Pope lose his Headship, your Church is then two Churches specifically distinct, and the form of it changeth when a Council sitteth: which is a two-headed, mutable Church, not like the Spouse of Jesus Christ. 6. As your Popes are said to live in their constitutions, and Laws, when the person dyeth; and your Church is not thought by you to die with them; so why may not Councils do? The Laws of Councils live when they sit not, and the French think that these Laws are above the Pope; though I showed you even now that Julius 2. in Conc. Later. concluded otherwise of Decrees, and the Council of the Popes power. 7. If a Nation be Governed by Triennial (and so Decennial) Parliaments as the highest power, and Councils of State in the intervals, who shall be accountable to Parliaments; will you say that these Parliaments are extraordinary, and not the ordinary Sovereign? No doubt they are. And the Council of State is not the Sovereign, but the chief Officer or Magistrate for execution in the intervals.