A97353:313
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…
The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their principles about civil and ecclesiastical authority and obedience ... : mostly written many years past, and now published to save our lives and the kingdoms peace, from the false and bloody plotters ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Hancock, 1680
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.
5. Therefore he that claimeth such an Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Power as Vicarious with Obligation to exercise ⟨p. 52⟩it, condemneth himself for betraying the most of mankind, for he doth not exercise it at the Antipodes, or to the fifth part of the world.
5. Therefore he that claimeth such an Apostolick and Ecclesiastical Power as Vicarious with Obligation to exercise ⟨p. 52⟩it, condemneth himself for betraying the most of mankind, for he doth not exercise it at the Antipodes, or to the fifth part of the world.
Obj. No more doth Christ who yet is the Universal Teacher. Answ. Christ is the Light of the world, and all things are committed into his hand: And though he send not preachers of the Gospel eventually to all, he sendeth them all that commoner Light, means and mercies which call them to Repentance, and to seek to a pardoning gracious God; so that his Teaching and Rule is universal, though not equally.
Obj. No more doth Christ who yet is the Vniversal Teacher. Answ. Christ is the Light of the world, and all things are committed into his hand: And though he send not preachers of the Gospel eventually to all, he sendeth them all that commoner Light, means and mercies which call them to Repentance, and to seek to a pardoning gracious God; so that his Teaching and Rule is universal, though not equally.
6. The Pope claimeth an Universal Power of Government, over all Christian Princes and States, yea over all the world: And the Papist Doctors assert it in their writing; some in things spiritual; some in things spiritual and temporal, and some in things spiritual and in temporals in order to spirituals. Accordingly in their Councils they make Decrees which shall be obligatory to Kings and Kingdoms, and have declared themselves empowered to set up Princes and pull them down, to excommunicate and depose them, and force them to Oaths and obedience, or else to give their Dominions to others that will obey: yea if they will not burn or exterminate all as Heretics who hold the Christian Doctrine which we call Protestant, yea that will not in the matter of Transubstantiation, deny belief to all mens senses. By which claim of Government over all Kings, and Laws for such execution, we suppose that the Roman Pope declareth himself to be Hostis publicus to all Christian Princes and States who do not voluntarily make themselves his subjects, and alloweth them to judge and use him accordingly.