A27045:381
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.
So also in some places it may be Latent through persecution & the paucity of believers, when in other places it is more Patent.
And its Degrees of soundness being various, are accordingly variously visible. One part may be really and visibly more strong, and another more weak in the faith: One part much more corrupt then others, and other parts retain their purity: And the same Countries increase or decrease in that purity, as is apparent in the case of the Churches of Galatia, Corinth, the seven Asian Churches, Rev. 2. and 3. &c.
Lastly note, that it is only that part of the Church which is on earth whose visibility we assert; though that in Heaven be ⟨p. 204⟩also a true part of the Body of Christ.
Nor is it in the same Individuals that the Church continueth Visible, but in successive Matter. So much for explication of the terms.