A27045:482
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.
Arg. 2. Had the Roman universal Sovereignty, as essential to the Catholic Church, been known in the days of Tertullian, Cyprian, Athanasius, Nazianzen, Nyssen, Basil, Optatus, Augustine, and the other Doctors that confounded the Heresies or Schisms of those times (e. g. the Novatians, Donatists, Arians, &c.) the said Doctors would have plainly and frequently insisted on it for the conviction of those Heretics and Schismatics: But this they do not: therefore it was not known in those times.
Arg. 2. Had the Roman universal Soveraignty, as essential to the Catholike Church, been known in the daies of Tertullian, Cyprian, Athanasius, Nazianzen, Nyssen, Basil, Optatus, Augustine, and the other Doctors that confounded the Heresies or Schisms of those times (e. g. the Novatians, Donatists, Arrians, &c.) the said Doctors would have plainly and frequently insisted on it for the conviction of those Hereticks and Schismaticks: But this they do not: therefore it was not known in those times.
The consequence of the Major is evident hence: The Doctors of the Church were men at least of common wit and prudence in ⟨p. 245⟩the matters which they did debate: therefore they would have insisted on this argument, if then it had been known. The reason of the consequence is, because it had been most obvious, easy, and potent to dispatch their controversies. 1. When the Arians and many other Heretics denied Christs eternal Godhead, had it not been the shortest expeditious course, to have cited them to the bar of the Judge of controversies, the infallible Sovereign Head of the Church; and convinced them that they were to stand to his judgement? 2. Had not this Argument been at hand, to have confounded all Heresies at once, [That which agreeth not with the Belief of the Roman Pope and Church is false: But such is your opinion: therefore]
The consequence of the Major is evident hence: The Doctors of the Church were men at least of common wit and prudence in ⟨p. 245⟩