A27069:182
Which is the true church? the whole Christian world, as headed only by Christ…
Which is the true church? the whole Christian world, as headed only by Christ ... or, the Pope of Rome and his subjects as such? : in three parts ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London : Printed, and are to be sold by Richard Janeway ..., 1679
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.
Ans. And what's this but the same again? we know none but the adult that are to believe. And so here we are told, That all men that believe all things commanded are Christians. We were told this before: But it was with, If any such are to be found. And who knows by this what your All is? When we find men that do all commanded and sin not, we will hope to find men that know all revealed, and have no ignorance; yet here is no visible Church.
4. His fourth sort are, All those who believe in that manner all things necessary necessitate medii, according to the first opinion of the more ancient Doctors. But what those things are, we are not yet told, but five words set down with an &c. And is here yet a word to satisfy any man of reason what their faith is, or what Christianity is, or what maketh a member of their Church, or is the bond of union?
4. His fourth sort are, All those who believe in that manner all things necessary necessitate medii, according to the first opinion of the more ancient Doctors. But what those things are, we are not yet told, but five words set down with an &c. And is here yet a word to satisfie any man of reason what their faith is, or what Christianity is, or what maketh a member of their Church, or is the bond of union?
But Reader, hath God left us so much in the dark? Is Christianity any thing or nothing? If something, hath it not an essence which may be defined? Is this all our notice of it. That men that know all that God hath revealed, and believe it, are Christians? or such as believe five Articles, & caetera? Judge now whether their Church be not invisible. And if any little part of it were visible, what's that to the rest? or to that visibility of particular members? He tells us these are almost all Christians; and yet questioned whether any of the first be found; and the rest are no more to be found than they.