A27058:122
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.
10. I took not this notice of them upon mere prejudice, but have read, I think, as many Papists Books, as Protestants, or any other against them. Nor have I taken it upon dark Scripture Prophecies, suspecting my understanding of them: But 1. The matter of fact from themselves: 2. Against their Papal Supremacy from such Arguments as are fully collected by Dr. Barrow. 3. Against their heinous Church-corruptions, from such Moral Evidence as Dr. H. Moore hath fully gathered in his Mystery of Iniquity. 4. Against their pretences of Tradition and Antiquity, I fetched my Arguments from the Histories and Authors which they themselves allege, and especially their Councils, with the Fathers Writings.
10. I took not this notice of them upon meer prejudice, but have read, I think, as many Papists Books, as Protestants, or any other against them. Nor have I taken it upon dark Scripture Prophecies, suspecting my understanding of them: But 1. The matter of fact from themselves: 2. Against their Papal Supremacy from such Arguments as are fully collected by Dr. Barrow. 3. Against their heinous Church-corruptions, from such Moral Evidence as Dr. H. Moore hath fully gathered in his Mystery of Iniquity. 4. Against their pretences of Tradition and Antiquity, I fetcht my Arguments from the Histories and Authors which they themselves alledge, and especially their Councils, with the Fathers Writings.
§ 9. Seeing the Church in this sad Condition, and the Papal part so greatly vitiated, I considered how long it had so been. And I found that the Pope and his Bishops grew not up like a Mushroom in a day; but had been long in thriving to maturity: And I met with no man that could just tell what Year or what Age the disease or tumour did begin. Bishop Bromhall thinks if they will abate their last 400 years Innovations, we may have hope of agreeing with them. Bishop Gunning will own no General Councils, but the first six; some will receive eight; some but four. Mr. Morris here goeth no further in his defence of them, whatever he think. Some begin Popery with Leo the great, some with Gregory's Successor. But it is most certain, that it was first an Embryo, and next an Infant and so grew up from Childhood to maturity by degrees. And the first Church-corruption was not that which we now call Popery. And it is as certain that the tumour did neither begin nor grow up in the Bishop of Rome alone, but in other Bishops, who grew up with him, & were his strength and Councils, and he their Head.