A27045:560
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.
And that the people were as ignorant and much more in former ages, they testify themselves: And before Gregory's days they must needs be ignorant of that which was not then risen in the world.
And that the people were as ignorant and much more in former ages, they testifie themselves: And before Gregories dayes they must needs be ignorant of that which was not then risen in the world.
Yea Dr. Field hath largely proved, Append. lib. 3. that even the many particular points in which the Papists now differ from us, were but the opinions of a faction among them before Luther: and that the Western Church before Luther was Protestant, even in those particular Controversies; though this is a thing that we need not prove. And as Dr. Potter tells them, pag. 68. [The Roman Doctors do not fully and absolutely agree in any one point among themselves, but only in such points wherein they agree with us: In the other disputed between us, they differ one from another as much almost as they differ from us.] He appeals for this to Bellarmines Tomes. Though I cannot undertake to make this good in every point, yet that proper Popery was held but by a Faction in the Western Church, even at its ⟨p. 278⟩height before Luther, is easily made good.
He that readeth but the Writers before Luther, and in History noteth the desires of Emperors, Kings, and Universities, and Bishops, for Reformation of the things that we have reformed, may soon see this to be very true. It was Avitas Leges & consuetudines Angliae (as Rog. Hoved•n and Matth. Paris in H. 2. show) that the Pope here damned, and anathematized all that favoured and observed them (O tender Father, even to Kings! O enemy of Novelties!) The German History collected by Reuberus, Pistorus, Freherus and Goldastus, shows it as pain as day light, that a Papal Faction by fury and turbulency, kept under the far greater part of the Church by force, that indeed dissented from them, even from Hildebrands days till Luther's, or near. Saith the Apologia Henrici 4. Imperat. in M. Frheri Tom. 1. p. 178. [Behold Pope Hildebrands Bishops, when doubtless they are murderers of Souls and bodies—such as deservedly are called the Synagogue of Satan—yet they write, that on his and on their side (or party) is the holy Mother Church: When the Catholic, that is, the Universal Church, is not in the Schism of any side, (or parties) but in the Universality