A69533:26
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
Preface: A PREFACE to those of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of this Land, that adhere to PR…
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.
But the New Episcopal Divines, both Protestants and Papists, do renounce the Synod of Dort, and the Doctrine of our Articles and Homilies, so far as it is conform thereto, in the points of Predestination, Redemption, Freewill, Effectual Grace, Perseverance, and Assurance of Salvation: following that Doctrine which is commonly maintained by the Jesuits and Arminians in these points.
But the New Episcopal Divines, both Protestants and Papists, do renounce the Synod of Dort, and the Doctrine of our Articles and Homilies, so far as it is conform thereto, in the points of Predestination, Redemption, Freewill, Effectual Grace, Perseverance, and Assurance of Salvation: following that Doctrine which is commonly maintained by the Iesuites and Arminians in these points.
2. The Old Episcopal Divines did renounce the Pope as Antichrist, and thought it the duty of the Transmarine Churches to renounce him, and avoid communion with his Church, as leprous and unfit for their communion. But the New Episcopal Divines do not only hold that the Pope is not Antichrist, but one part of them (the Protestants) hold that he may be obeyed by the Transmarine Western Churches as the Patriarch of the West, and be taken by us all to be the Principium unitatis to the Catholic Church, and the Roman Determinations still may stand, except those of the last four hundred years, and those, if they obtrude them not on others. So B p Bramhall, and many more: And M r Dow, and others tell us that the Canon Law is still in force in England, except some parts of it which ⟨p. 8⟩the Laws of the Land have cast out. And the Grotians teach, that the Church of Rome is the Mistress of other Churches, and the Pope to stand as the Head of the Universal Church, and to Govern it according to the Canons and Decrees of Councils: and they receive the Trent-Creed and Council, and all other Councils which the Pope receives, excepting only against some School-points, and abuse of manners among the Papists, which their Canons and Decrees condemn.