A27045:722
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. It is contrary to the Papists own opinion that Ordination of their particular Pastors, is necessary to the being of a true particular Church. Bellarmine granteth (Lib. 3. de Eccles. c. 10.) that it is indeed ⟨p. 356⟩to us uncertain that our Pastors have potestatem ordinis & jurisdictionis; and that we have but a moral certainty that they are true Bishops: though we may know that they hold Christs place, and that we owe them obedience; and that to know that they are Our Pastors, non requiritur nec fides, nec Character Ordinis, nec legitima electio, sed solum ut habeantur pro talibus ab Ecclesia. [i. e. It is not requisite, that they have faith, or the Character of Order, or lawful election; but only that they be taken for such by the Church.] And if it be enough that their Church repute their Pastors to be elected, ordained, and believers, though they are not so indeed; then can no more be necessary to ours. We repute ours as confidently to be lawfully elected and ordained as they do theirs.
3. It is contrary to the Papists own opinion, that any Consecration (much less Canonical) is necessary to the being of their Universal Head. I need not cite their Authors for this; as long as you have 1. The History of their Practices: And 2. The confession of this learned man that I dispute with, in the explication of the term [Pope] in these his last Papers. And that which is not necessary to their Pope, ⟨p. 357⟩cannot by them be made necessary to our Bishops.
3. It is contrary to the Papists own opinion, that any Consecration (much less Canonical) is necessary to the being of their Vniversal Head. I need not cite their Authors for this; as long as you have 1. The History of their Practices: And 2. The confession of this learned man that I dispute with, in the explication of the term [Pope] in these his last Papers. And that which is not necessary to their Pope,