A27058:1111
The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended…
The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended vindicator of the primitive church, but indeed of the tympanite & tyranny of some prelates many hundred years after Christ, with a detection of the false history of Edward Lord Bishop of Cork and Ross in Ireland ... and a preface abbreviating much of Ludolphus's History of Habassta : written to show their dangerous error, who think that a general council, or college of bishops, is a supreme governor of all the Christian world ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; to which is added by another hand, a defence of a book, entitled, No evidence for diocesan churches ...The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended vindicator of the primitive church, but indeed of the tympanite & tyranny of some prelates many hundred years after Christ, with a detection of the false history of Edward Lord Bishop of Corke and Rosse in Ireland ... and a preface abbreviating much of Ludolphus's History of Habassta : written to shew their dangerous errour, who think that a general council, or colledge of bishops, is a supream governour of all the Christian world ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; to which is added by another hand, a defence of a book, entituled, No evidence for diocesan churches ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1682
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.
§ 13. He truly tells you, that the Original of all mischiefs is the Lusts that war in our Members, and not this or that Order of Men.]
When the World had a good Pope, if God would bless that Order of men, some think he might do more good than any other man. But he hath touched the Core of the Churches Malady. Verily, the grand Strife is between the Flesh and Spirit, the seed of the Serpent and of the Woman: And if Patriarchs and Diocesans were but as much set on the promoting of a holy and heavenly Life, as those Ministers are whom they silence and imprison, they might do much good, though the largeness of their Diocese render them uncapable of performing the 40th part of a true Bishops Work. No doubt but Bishop Hall, and Potter, and Usher, &c. did much good, by such preaching, writing, and good living, as others use that are no Bishops.
When the World had a good Pope, if God would bless that Order of men, some think he might do more good than any other man. But he hath toucht the Core of the Churches Malady. Verily, the grand Strife is between the Flesh and Spirit, the seed of the Serpent and of the Woman: And if Patriarchs and Diocesans were but as much set on the promoting of a holy and heavenly Life, as those Ministers are whom they silence and imprison, they might do much good, though the largeness of their Diocess render them uncapable of performing the 40th part of a true Bishops Work. No doubt but Bishop Hall, and Potter, and Usher, &c. did much good, by such preaching, writing, and good living, as others use that are no Bishops.
But will fire burn without fuel? And will it not burn if combustible fuel be contiguous? Do not the Lusts that war in our Members live upon that food which we are forbidden to provide? Do you think that the Lust of the Flesh doth not more desire Riches than Poverty, Honour than a low Estate, Domination over others, to have our Will on all, than humble Subjection? Where the Carcass is there will the Eagles be gathered.