A27058:720
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
The particular Defence of the History of Councils and Schisms. › Chapter 18: Of his Second Chapter.
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.
[After this he gives a short Account of Councils called on the Subject of Rebaptization of Heretics: And here, to do him right, he is just enough in his Remarks: The generality of the World was for Rebaptizing Heretics: And considering what manner of men the first Heretics were, it is probable they had Tradition as well as Reason on their side. However, Mr. Baxter endeavours fairly to excuse these Differences, and speaks of the Bishops with honour and respect, allowing them to be men of eminent Piety and Worth. Had he used the same Candour towards others, &c.
[After this he gives a short Account of Councils called on the Subject of Rebaptization of Hereticks: And here, to do him right, he is just enough in his Remarks: The generality of the World was for Rebaptizing Hereticks: And considering what manner of men the first Hereticks were, it is probable they had Tradition as well as Reason on their side. However, Mr. Baxter endeavours fairly to excuse these Differences, and speaks of the Bishops with honour and respect, allowing them to be men of eminent Piety and Worth. Had he used the same Candour towards others, &c.
Answ. 1. If this be true, a great deal contradictory is untrue.
2. He greatly misreporteth the Controversy: It was not whether Heretics should be Rebaptized, but those that were Baptized by Heretics, and taken into their Churches. If a Heretic had been Baptized when found by a sound Minister, and ⟨p. 118⟩after turned to Heresy, he was to be restored by Repentance without Rebaptizing; and I think they all agreed in this. But I imagine this was but a lapse of his memory in Writing.
2. He greatly misreporteth the Controversie: It was not whether Hereticks should be Rebaptized, but those that were Baptized by Hereticks, and taken into their Churches. If a Heretick had been Baptized when found by a sound Minister, and