A27045:371
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.
[Of which—are—] By Profession. We profess our selves to be of no other Church. ⟨p. 200⟩And before men, a man is to be taken to be of that Religion and Church of which he professeth himself to be, till he be proved false in that Profession. If a Papist affirm himself a member of the Roman Church, in disputing with him we will take it for granted that he is so; every man being best acquainted with his own mind, and fittest to describe the Religion which he owns. So that two things I here include. 1. It is only such a Catholic Church that hath been still visible, [that Protestants own.] 2. And only such that really they are of, their Profession being valid.
[Of which—are—] By Profession. We profess our selves to be of no other Church. ⟨p. 200⟩And before men, a man is to be taken to be of that Religion and Church of which he professeth himself to be, till he be proved false in that Profession. If a Papist affirm himself a member of the Roman Church, in disputing with him we will take it for granted that he is so; every man being best acquainted with his own mind, and fittest to describe the Religion which he owns. So that two things I here include. 1. It is only such a Catholick Church that hath been still visible, [that Protestants own.] 2. And only such that really they are of, their Profession being valid.
Note also, that it is not directly the inexistency by internal invisible faith, that is in question among us, or that I mean: but the inexistency by external Visible Profession. Bellarmine thinks the bare Professors that are wicked, are best termed [Dead members] and [the true Professors, [Living members] we will not stick needlessly on words: We take the Living members only to be in strict propriety members; but Sincerity and Hypocrisy being known only to God and the possessors, we speak of Professors as Professors abstractively from their Sincerity or Hypocrisy.
Note also, that it is not directly the inexistency by internal invisible faith, that is in question among us, or that I mean: but the inexistency by external Visible Profession. Bellarmine thinks the bare Professors that are wicked, are best termed [Dead members] and [the true Professors, [Living members] we will not stick needlesly on words: We take the Living members only to be in strict propriety members; but Sincerity and Hypocrisie being known only to God and the possessors, we speak of Professors as Professors abstractively from their Sincerity or Hypocrisie.