A30241:2877
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
In the next place, Bellarmine hath this evasion, If (saith he) our Church have any divisions, they arise from the mere malice of the Devil, not for want of a remedy to keep the unity, for we have a visible Judge to determine all controversies, whereas (saith he) among Protestants their differences do arise from the very Genius of their Doctrine, because they hold no visible efficacious remedy to such contentions.
In the next place, Bellarmine hath this evasion, If (saith he) our Church have any divisions, they arise from the meer malice of the Devil, not for want of a remedy to keep the unity, for we have a visible Judge to determine all controversies, whereas (saith he) among Protestants their differences do arise from the very Genius of their Doctrine, because they hold no visible efficacious remedy to such contentions.
But to this also its answered easily, That all the differences amongst the people of God, come from the Devil without, and corruptions within. The Devil is not wholly conquered, nor are our corruptions altogether vanquished, and therefore it cannot be, but that breaches and wounds will sometimes be made.
Yet in the second place, We have a more sure and efficacious remedy to compose all differences, then they have; for they indeed allege the Pope, or a Council, as a visible Judge to end all controversies; but these being men are subject to ignorance and passions, and so cannot perform the Office of an infallible visible Church, because not sufficiently qualified thereunto. Again, They have not de facto, silenced all those debates that are amongst them. Some of the fore-mentioned Disputes are as fervent as ever. Neither hath the Pope yet interposed to decide, Whether those Doctrines about scientia media, and absolute predefinitions with the dependent controversies thereon, be true on the Dominicans side, or their adversaries?