A27045:453
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.
Tertullian dealing with Heretics indeed, that denied the Fundamentals, thought it but a tiresome way to dispute with them out of Scripture, who wrested so many things in it to their destruction, but would have them convinced by Prescription: because they lived near the Churches that were planted by the Apostles, and near their days: And what doth he? appeal to Rome, as the Judge, or Church that the rest are subjected to? No: but 1. It is the common Creed or Symbol of the Church, that he would have made use of in stead of long disputes (and not any other doctrine.) 2. And it is all the Churches planted by the Apostles, that he will have to be the first witnesses. 3. And the present Churches, the immediate witnesses that they received this Creed (not any supernumeraries) ⟨p. 233⟩from them, as the Apostles doctrine. So de praescript. c. 13. he reciteth the Symbol it self, and so cap. 20. he mentioneth the sending of the twelve to teach this faith, and plant Churches, which he describeth thus [Statim igitur Apostoli— primo per Judaeam contestata fide in Jesum Christum, & Ecclesiis institutis, dehinc in orbem profecti, eandem doctrinam ejusdem fidei nationibus promulgaverunt, & proinde Ecclesias apud unamquamque civitatem condiderunt, à quibus traducem fidei & semina doctrinae caeterae exinde Ecclesiae mutuatae sunt, & quotidie mutuantur ut Ecclesiae fiant. Ac per hoc & ipsea Apostolicae deputantur ut soboles Apostolicarum Ecclesiarum. Omne genus ad Originem suam censeatur, necesse est. Itaque tot ac tantae Ecclesiae una est illa ab Apostolis prima, ex qua omnes. (Are not those too gross deceivers that would persuade us that he here meaneth the Church of Rome by the [una illa], when he plainly speaks of the Catholic Church of the Apostolic age from which all the rest did spring? If of a particular Church, it must be that of Jerusalem. Did all the rest arise from Rome? Can they say [ex hac omnes?] Sic omnes primae, & omnes Apostolicae, dum unam omnes probant unitatem. Communicatio pacis, & ⟨p. 234⟩appellatio fraternitatis, & contesseratio hospitalitatis, quae jura non alia ratio regit, quam ejusdem sacramenti una traditio.]
Tertullian dealing with Hereticks indeed, that denyed the Fundamentals, thought it but a tiresome way to dispute with them out of Scripture, who wrested so many things in it to their destruction, but would have them convinced by Prescription: because they lived near the Churches that were planted by the Apostles, and near their daies: And what doth he? appeal to Rome, as the Judge, or Church that the rest are subjected to? No: but 1. It is the common Creed or Symbole of the Church, that he would have made use of in stead of long disputes (and not any other doctrine.) 2. And it is all the Churches planted by the Apostles, that he will have to be the first witnesses. 3. And the present Churches, the immediate witnesses that they received this Creed (not any supernumeraries)