A27045:617
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. Many Popes have been condemned for Heretics, even by General Councils, as not only Henorius (by two or three) but Eugenius by the Council of Basil, when yet he kept his place, and the rest come in as his successors. And your writers frequently confess that a Pope may be an Heretic (as Pope Adrian himself affirmeth.) Now if these are not of the Church, then they are not Heads of the Church, and then being essential parts of your Church, it followeth that your Church is heretical and unchurched with them. But if these Popes may be in the Church (and Heads of yours) while Heretics, then so may others.
2. Many Popes have been condemned for Hereticks, even by General Councils, as not only Henorius (by two or three) but Eugenius by the Council of Basil, when yet he kept his place, and the rest come in as his successors. And your writers frequently confess that a Pope may be an Heretick (as Pope Adrian himself affirmeth.) Now if these are not of the Church, then they are not Heads of the Church, and then being essential parts of your Church, it followeth that your Church is heretical and unchurched with them. But if these Popes may be in the Church (and Heads of yours) while Hereticks, then so may others.
3. Its commonly said by others (of yours) as well as Bellarmine, that the Councils were misinformed about Honorius, (and the Popes that consented to those Councils) and so that he was not a Heretic nor out of the Church: Also that a Pope may err in matter of fact, and unjustly excommunicate. If so, a Pope and Council may err about another, as well as about Honorius or other Popes; and therefore their sentence be no proof that such are out of the Church, no more then that he and Eugenius were out.
3. Its commonly said by others (of yours) as well as Bellarmine, that the Councils were misinformed about Honorius, (and the Popes that consented to those Councils) and so that he was not a Heretick nor out of the Church: Also that a Pope may erre in matter of fact, and unjustly excommunicate. If so, a Pope and Council may erre about another, as well as about Honorius or other Popes; and therefore their sentence be no proof that such are out of the Church, no more then that he and Eugenius were out.