A27045:433
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 as to the Essence of the Christian faith and Church, we say with Tertullian of the Symbole [Fides in Regula posita est: habes legem, & salutem ex observatione legis: exercitatio autem in curiositate consistit, habens gloriam solam ex peritiae studio: Cedat curiositas fidei: Cedat gloria saluti. Corte aut non obstrepant, aut quiescant adversus regulam: Nihil ultra scire, est omnia scire.] That is, [Faith lieth in the Rule: Here you have the Law, and salvation in the observation of that Law; but it is exercise that consisteth in curiosity, having only (a name or) glory by the study of skill; Let curiosity give place to faith: Let glory give place to salvation. Let them not prate, or let them be quiet, against the Rule. To know nothing further, is to know all things.] De Praescript. cap. 13, 14.
So cap. 8. Nobis curiositate opus non est post Christum Jesum, nec inquisitione post Evangelium. Cum credimus, nihil desideramus ultra credere; hoc enim prius credimus, non esse quod ultra credere debeamus.] That is, [As for us we need not curiosity after Jesus Christ, nor inquisition after the Gospel: When we believe, we need to believe no further: For we first believe this, that there is nothing further that we ought to believe.]
So cap. 8. Nobis curiositate opus non est post Christum Iesum, nec inquisitione post Evangelium. Cum credimus, nihil desideramus ultra credere; hoc enim prius credimus, non esse quod ultra credere debeamus.] That is, [As for us we need not curiosity after Jesus Christ, nor inquisition after the Gospel: When we believe, we need to believe no further: For we first believe this, that there is nothing further that we ought to believe.]
And here (on the by) for the right understanding of Tertullians Book de Praescript. note, 1. That the Rule of Essentials extracted from the whole Scripture, is the Churches ancient Creed. 2. That the complete Rule of all points of faith is the whole Scripture. And that Tertullian had to do with Heretics that denied the Essentials, and desired the whole Scripture to dispute their case from both, because they had questioned or rejected much of it; and because it was a larger field to exercise their wits in, and whence they might gather more matter of dispute to puzzle the weak: And therefore Tertullian adviseth the ordinary Christians of his time, instead of long puzzling disputes with them out of Scripture, to hold them to the Churches prescription, of the simple doctrine of the Creed. But now come in the Papists; and 3. will neither be content with Creed nor Scripture, but must have a Church or faith partly made up of supplemental Traditions, of more then is in all the Scripture, and so run further from Tertullian and the ancient simplicity, then these Heretics, and yet are not ashamed to glory in this Book of Tertullian as for them.