A27045:493
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. 4. Many Churches without the verge of the Roman Empire, never subjected themselves to Rome, (and many not of many hundred years after Christ:) therefore there were visible Christian Churches from the beginning, to this day, that were not for the Roman Vicarship.
That abundance of Churches were planted by the Apostles, without the reach of the Roman Empire, is plentifully testified by the ancients, and the Papists commonly confess it. That these were under the Papal Government, all the Papists in the world cannot prove. The contrary is confessed by them, and proved by us. 1. They came not so much as to General Councils. 2. They had no Bishops ordained by the Pope, or any empowered by him. 3. They never appealed to him. 4. They never had any causes judged by him. 5. They performed no obedience to him, nor lived under ⟨p. 250⟩his Laws; nor scarce had any communion with him, more then the common communion that is held in Charity, and common faith and ordinances with all. Such were the Indians, the Persians, the further Armenia and Parthia, the Abyssinians and many more. And of long time the English and the Scots, that refused so much as to eat and drink in the same Inn with the Roman Legates: much less would obey him, so much as in the change of Easter day; we challenge them to show us any appearance of subjection to the Pope in the generality of the Churches without the Empire.
That abundance of Churches were planted by the Apostles, without the reach of the Roman Empire, is plentifully testified by the ancients, and the Papists commonly confess it. That these were under the Papal Government, all the Papists in the world cannot prove. The contrary is confessed by them, and proved by us. 1. They came not so much as to Generall Councils. 2. They had no Bishops ordained by the Pope, or any impowred by him. 3. They never appealed to him. 4. They never had any causes judged by him. 5. They performed no obedience to him, nor lived under ⟨p. 250⟩his Laws; nor scarce had any communion with him, more then the common communion that is held in Charity, and common faith and ordinances with all. Such were the Indians, the Persians, the further Armenia and Parthia, the Habassines and many more. And of long time the English and the Scots, that refused so much as to eat and drink in the same Inn with the Roman Legates: much less would obey him, so much as in the change of Easter day; we challenge them to shew us any appearance of subjection to the Pope in the generality of the Churches without the Empire.