The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

It is not imaginable into what ridiculous, contemptible miscarriages, pride, prejudice, and selfulness do often-times betray men, otherwise of good abilities in their ways, and very commendable Industry.

It is not imaginable into what ridiculous, contemptible miscarriages, pride, prejudice, and selfulness do often-times betray men, otherwise of good abilities in their waies, and very commendable Industry.

But Section the sixth, the Doctor comes closer, and gives his Reason why this Testimony of Clement is not of any efficacy to the purpose in hand, saith He! At quis (sodes) à fidelibus de Episcopatu (ut vis) contra ipsos ab Apostolis constitutos Episcopos contendentibus; quis à populo contra principem suum tumultus ciente; quis verbis ad retundendum seditionem ad plebem factis, argumenta ad Authoritatem populo adjudicandum principi derogandum duci posse existimavit? Though many words follow in the next Section, yet this is all of Answer that is given to this signal Testimony of Clement's. I know the Doctor for the most part meets, not only with favourable Readers, but also partial Admirers; or else certainly his Exclamation would scarce pass for an invincible Argument, nor such Rhetorical diversions as this, be esteemed solid Answers. There is not by Blondellus any Argument taken from the faithful's tumultuating against the Bishops (that if appointed by the Apostles which is thrust in, taken for the persons of those Bishops, is against the express Testimony of Clemens in this Epistle) nor from the peoples seditiously rebelling against their Prince, nor from any word spoken to the People to repress their sedition; neither was any thing of this nature urged in the least by Blondellus: nor is there any colour given to such a collection from any thing in the words cited from the Epistle, or the context of them. It is the advise of the Church of Rome to the persons (whether already in office, or aspiring thereunto) about whom the contention, and division was in the Church of Corinth, that is insisted on. It is not the words nor plea of them who were in disorder, there is not any reprehension given to the body of the Church, the multitude or people who are supposed to tumultuate, to quiet them, but a direction given (as was said) by the Church of Rome to the persons that occasioned the difference, how to behave themselves so, that a timely issue might be put to the division of the Church. To this end are they advised to observe the [Greek or Hebrew], the orders, precepts, decrees, or appointments of the multitude, as (from Acts the fifteenth) the body of the Church is called. It is not, that they should yield to their tumultuating, but to yield obedience to their orderly precepts. [Greek or Hebrew], are by him approved;