A27045:454
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.
Note here 1. That no Original Church is mentioned but those of Judea, with the rest of the Apostles planting. And 2. That the Churches planted by the Apostles themselves, (without any mentioned difference of superiority) are that one Church which all the rest must try their faith by, as the witnesses 3. That they are equally made traduces fidei, and mother Churches to others propagated by them. 4. That per hoc, by this propagation (without subjection to the Church or Pope of Rome) all the rest are Apostolical. 5. And the sufficient proof to any Church then that it was prima & Apostolica, was (not subjection to Rome but) that nuam omnes probant unitatem. That is, of the Apostolic faith, received from that one Apostolic Church. 6. Yea when he reciteth the external Characters of the Church, it is not subjection to Rome, that is any one of them, but, Communicatio pacis, appellatio fraternitatis, contesseratio hospitalitatis.] 7. Yea utterly to exclude the Roman subjection, he adds [quae jura non alia ratio regit, quam ejusdem sacramenti una traditio.]
Note here 1. That no Original Church is mentioned but those of Iudaea, with the rest of the Apostles planting. And 2. That the Churches planted by the Apostles themselv•s, (without any mentioned difference of superiority) are that one Church which all the rest must try their faith by, as the witnesses 3. That they are equally made traduces fidei, and mother Churches to others propagated by them. 4. That per hoc, by this propagation (without subjection to the Church or Pope of Rome) all the rest are Apostolicall. 5. And the sufficient proof to any Church then that it was prima & Apostolica, was (not subjection to Rome but) that nuam omnes probant unitatem. That is, of the Apostolick faith, received from that one Apostolick Church. 6. Yea when he reciteth the external Characters of the Church, it is not subjection to Rome, that is any one of them, but, Communicatio pacis, appellatio fraternitatis, contesseratio hospitalitatis.] 7. Yea utterly to exclude the Roman subjection, he adds [quae jura non alia ratio regit, quam ejusdem sacramenti una traditio.]
So he proceeds Si haec ita sunt, constat proinde omnem doctrinam, quae cum illis Ecclesiis Apostolicis matricibus & originalibus fidei conspiret, veritati deputandum id sine dubio tenentem, quod Ecclesiae ab Apostolis, Apostoli à Christo, Christus a Deo suscepit; reliquam verò omnem doctrinam de mendacio praejudicandam, quae sapiat contra veritatem Ecclesirum, & Apostolorum, & Christi, & Dei. Superest ergo ut demonstremus, an haec nostra doctrina (the Creed; not the Popes additions) cujus regulam supra edidimus, de Apostolorum traditione censeatur, & ex hoc ipso, an caeterae (that contradict the Creed) de mendacio veniant. Communicamus cum Ecclesiis Apostolicis (Rome is not made the standard) quod nulla doctrina diversa, hoc est testimonium veritatis.