A27058:682
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.
And now Reader, I unfeignedly hate uncharitableness, and therefore deny no good that was in such Bishops: But I must no more be indifferent between Good and Evil, than between Heaven and Hell; not may I judge Christ a Railer, for saying to his prime Apostle, [Get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me, &c.] If the name of [Hereticators] that is, too rash pronouncing men Heretics be railing, I will give thee no Character, censure or name of the aforesaid practice, for I can devise no name which may not be called Railing. But judge of it and call it what you see cause.
And now Reader, I un•eignedly hate uncharitableness, and therefore deny no good that was in such Bishops: But I must no more be indifferent between Good and Evil, than between Heaven and Hell; not may I judge Christ a Railer, for saying to his prime Apostle, [Get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me, &c.] If the name of [Hereticators] that is, too rash pronouncing men Hereticks be railing, I will give thee no Character, censure or name of the aforesaid practice, for I can devise no name which may not be called Railing. But judge of it and call it what you see cause.
And again, if you say, These are not the Decrees of Councils, I answer, These are but Flea-bitings to the wounds that the Church hath received from Councils, by Anathematizing.
The next Instance of Railing in these words, which he half repeateth [Either credible Socrates and others were gross Liars, or this Patriarch and St was a downright Knave.] Ans. He himself is so far from denying this, that he makes Socrates and Sozomen not only Liars, but Lovers of a Lie; for what they say of St. Theophilus: And who is it then that is the Railer? Read the Story.