A27045:644
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.
R. B. Qu. 3. Is it any lawful Pastors, or All, that must necessarily be depended on by every member? and who are these Pastors?
Mr. J. Answ. Of all, respectively to each subject; that is, that the authority of none of them, mediate or immediate, be rejected or contemned by him, that is a true member of the Church.
R. B. Reply. Ad Qu. 3. R. Reply 1. Here still you tell me that your descriptions signified nothing. You told me that the members must [live in dependence on their lawful Pastors.] And now you tell me that [their authority must not be rejected or contemned.] And indeed, is dependence and non-rejection all one? The millions of heathens that never heard of the Pope or any of your Pastors reject them not, nor contemn them: ⟨p. 320⟩Are they therefore fit matter for your Church? 2. If you say, that you mean it of such only as have a sufficient Revelation of the Authority of these Pastors, I further reply. 1. It seems then it is not only the Pope, but every Priest respectively that is an essential member of your Church; or to whom each member must be subject necessarily ad esse. If so, then every man that by falling out or prejudice, doth culpably reject the authority of any one Pastor or Priest among a swarm, is damned, or none of the Church, though he believe in the Pope and in twenty thousand Priests besides. 2. And then have we not cause to pray God to bless us from the company of your Priests? or at least, that we may not have too many, when among a multitude we may be in danger of rejecting some one, and then we are cast out of the Church! What if a Gentleman should find some such as Watson or Montaltus describe in bed with his wife; or a Prince find a Garnet, a Campion, or a Parsons in a Treason, and by such a temptation should be so weak, as to contemn, or reject the authority of that single Priest, while he honoureth all the rest: Is it certain, that such a man is none of the Catholic