A60194:2508
A learned commentary or exposition
A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Gray's-Inn, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the public good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoke-Newington, near London.A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Grayes-Inne, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the publick good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoake-Newington, near London.
London: printed by J.L. for N.B., 1655
A COMMENTARY upon the first CHAPTER of the second Epistle of S. PAU… › Commentary on verse 19
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.
The Papists maintain fundamental truths with us; they believe the Word of God, they believe in Christ, and to be saved by mercy, but upon what grounds? They believe the truth, upon heretical, devilish grounds. As upon what grounds do they believe the Articles of the faith to be so? and the Scriptures to be so? because the Church saith so. Who is the Church but the Pope? And what man is the Pope oft-times? A man, if we believe their own Writers, led with a devilish spirit: some of them have been Magicians. If they believe the truth, they do it not as divine truth: they believe the truth for matter: but the grounds of believing those truths are humane, nay worse, many times, devilish: for you know in the Revelation, the beast is inspired with the spirit of the Dragon, with the spirit of the Devil, and teacheth the doctrine of Devils. Now to teach that which is materially true, upon reasons that are diabolical, or humane, at the best it is but humane, as the testimony of the Church is, what an unsafe thing is this?
The Papists maintaine fundamentall truths with us; they believe the Word of God, they believe in Christ, and to be saved by mercy, but upon what grounds? They believe the truth, upon heretical, divellish grounds. As upon what grounds do they believe the Articles of the faith to be so? and the Scriptures to be so? because the Church saith so. Who is the Church but the Pope? And what man is the Pope oft-times? A man, if we believe their own Writers, led with a divellish spirit: some of them have been Magicians. If they believe the truth, they do it not as divine truth: they believe the truth for matter: but the grounds of believing those truths are humane, nay worse, many times, divellish: for you know in the Revelation, the beast is inspired with the spirit of the Dragon, with the spirit of the Divell, and teacheth the doctrine of Divels. Now to teach that which is materially true, upon reasons that are diabolicall, or humane, at the best it is but humane, as the testimony of the Church is, what an unsafe thing is this?
Nay, I say, it is the most horrible witchery, the most horrible abomination one of them that ever was since the beginning of the World, this principle, that their Church cannot err; that is the reason of the believing of all divine truths. Hereupon they come to practise most abominable treacheries, hereupon they defend lies, hereupon they kill Princes, and dissolve the bonds of allegiance that Subjects owe to Princes. And all humane and Divine things, all the light of nature, and Scripture, all becomes a nullity. Why? because the Church cannot err. And this they have from their holy Father the Pope, he is above all Councils, and all, and cannot err. We know if principles be false, all other things are false: an error in principles is a dangerous error. An error in the ground is the worst thing in the World. As to maintain treason to be lawful it is worse then to be a Traitor: for his judgement is convinced already; but he that maintains a false principle, he is a dangerous man indeed: So to have this abominable principle, that the Church, that the Pope cannot err. Hence come all those dangerous practices in this Common-Wealth ever since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time.