A27045:471
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.
2. But what must we prove? that all the Church hath been guiltless of the Papal usurpation, or only some in every age? of all its no more necessary to us, then to prove that there have been no Heresies since the Apostles. If a piece of the Church may turn Heretics, or but Schismatics, as the Novatians, and African Donatists, why may not another piece turn Papists?
2. But what must we prove? that all the Church hath been guiltless of the Papal usurpation, or only some in every age? of all its no more necessary to us, then to prove that there have been no Heresies since the Apostles. If a piece of the Church may turn Hereticks, or but Schismaticks, as the Novatians, and African Donatists, why may not another piece turn Papists?
3. What will you say to a man that knoweth not a Protestant, nor a Papist, or believeth only Christianity it self, and meddleth not with the Pope, any further then to say, [I believe not in him, Jesus I know: ⟨p. 241⟩and the Apostles, and Scripture, and Christianity I know, but the Pope I know not:] and suppose he never subscribed to the Augustan, English, or any such confession, but only to the Scripture, and the Apostles, and Nicene, and other ancient Creeds; By what show of Justice can you require this man to prove that there hath been no Pope in every age?
3. What will you say to a man that knoweth not a Protestant, nor a Papist, or believeth only Christianity it self, and meddleth not with the Pope, any further then to say, [I believe not in him, Jesus I know: ⟨p. 241⟩and the Apostles, and Scripture, and Christianity I know, but the Pope I know not:] and suppose he never subscribed to the Augustane, English, or any such confession, but only to the Scripture, and the Apostles, and Nicene, and other ancient Creeds; By what shew of Justice can you require this man to prove that there hath been no Pope in every age?