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Richard Baxter
Naked popery, or, The naked falsehood of a book called The Catholic naked truth,…Naked popery, or, The naked falshood of a book called The Catholick naked truth,…
Chapter 8

Naked popery, or, The naked falsehood of a book called The Catholic naked truth,…Naked popery, or, The naked falshood of a book called The Catholick naked truth,…Richard Baxter, 1677

What the Papists Church is: (called the Roman Catholic Church.)What the Papists Church is: (called the Roman Catholick Church.)

pp. 182–18734 passages

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.

:569p. 182

CHAP. VIII. What the Papists Church is: (called the Roman Catholic Church.)

CHAP. VIII. What the Papists Church is: (called the Roman Catholick Church.)

:570p. 182

What their CHURCH is may so easily be gathered from what is said, that I shall say but little more of it.

WHat their CHURCH is may so easily be gathered from what is said, that I shall say but little more of it.

:571p. 182

In General, It is a Society called Ecclesiastical, constituted of such a Head, and such Members, as I have described.

:572p. 182

Particularly, I. It is a Humane Church as to the Efficient Cause of its Form; made by Man, as distinct from that Church-form which was instituted by Christ; even by the Fathers, because that Rome was the Imperial Seat. As is proved before.

:573p. 182¶2

II. It is a Humane Church as to the constitutive Head, as distinct from the true Universal Church, which hath no Head (single or collective, Pope or Council) that is not God.

:574p. 182¶3

PreviousWhat a PAPIST is.Next How our Religion differeth from the Papists.

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

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III. It is a Sect consisting of about the third part of the Christian world, calling themselves the whole Church, and condemning all the rest for not subjecting themselves to this Usurping Head.

:575p. 182¶4

IV. It is a new Church in comparison of Christs Universal Church, as having a new Humane Original. (As is proved.)

:576p. 182¶5

V. It is a treasonable Church, as set up without Christs Authority, and challenging his Prerogative, and weakening his Kingdom, by unchurching the greatest part.

V. It is a treasonable Church, as set up without Christs Authority, and challenging his Prerogative, and weakning his Kingdom, by unchurching the greatest part.

:577p. 182–183¶6

VI. It is an unholy Church, as distinct from the ⟨p. 183⟩holy Catholic Church, and that both in the essential Matter and Form. 1. In the Matter, its Head which is a constitutive part, having been oft a condemned Heretic, Infidel, Murderer, and other flagitious wicked man. 2. As to the Form, being not of God it is not holy. 3. Besides that, as to the Head, he was long made by the most wicked Whores.

VI. It is an unholy Church, as distinct from the ⟨p. 183⟩holy Catholick Church, and that both in the essential Matter and Form. 1. In the Matter, its Head which is a constitutive part, having been oft a condemned Heretick, Infidel, Murderer, and other flagitious wicked man. 2. As to the Form, being not of God it is not holy. 3. Besides that, as to the Head, he was long made by the most wicked Whores.

:578p. 183

All this is before proved at large.

:579p. 183¶7

VII. It is a Church that hath had its pretended succession interrupted (as is proved;) sometimes by long Vacancies, sometimes by long Schisms, when no one was the Universal Head; sometimes by the Incapacity of the Persons, being Lay-men, or Infidels, Simoniacal, condemned deposed Heretics, and therefore no Bishops.

VII. It is a Church that hath had its pretended succession interrupted (as is proved;) sometimes by long Vacances, sometimes by long Schismes, when no one was the Universal Head; sometimes by the Incapacity of the Persons, being Lay-men, or Infidels, Simoniaoal, condemned deposed Hereticks, and therefore no Bishops.

:580p. 183¶8

VIII. It is a Schismatical Church, that cuts off it self from all the rest of the Christian Church: And by making a false Head and Principle, and conditions of Unity, which the Universal Church never did, never will, or can unite in, is the grand cause of the greatest continued Schism.

:581p. 183¶9

IX. It is a traitorous Church against Princes, making it their very Religion to force bloody Oaths on them, and to excommunicate and depose them, and give away their Dominions, and that tolerateth its most famous Doctors to maintain, that being excommunicate, they are no Kings, and may be killed; and to maintain, that the Pope is above them in Temporals, and may set up and pull down Kings when he seeth cause.

IX. It is a trayterous Church against Princes, making it their very Religion to force bloody Oaths on them, and to excommunicate and depose them, and give away their Dominions, and that tolerateth its most famous Doctors to maintain, that being excommunicate, they are no Kings, and may be killed; and to maintain, that the Pope is above them in Temporals, and may set up and pull down Kings when he seeth cause.

:582p. 183

All this is expressly proved before.

All this is expresly proved before.

:583p. 183–184¶10

X. It is a Church that believeth Contradictions (as is proved in their Councils) e. g. The Council of Basil, ⟨p. 184⟩Sess. ult. saying [No one of the skilful did ever doubt, but that the Pope was subject to the Judgment of a General Council, in things that concern Faith, &c.] And others saying the clean contrary: As also in divers other things.

:584p. 184¶11

XI. It was for above forty years, sometimes two, sometimes three Churches, instead of one: For the Head being an essential part, two or three Heads make as many Churches.

:585p. 184¶12

XII. It is at this day divers Churches really, as to the Form, that are by the ignorant supposed to be one: Two or three Forms and Parts Imperantes, being essential, make as many Churches, though the subjects live mixed. The summa Potestas is a constitutive essential part. Some called Papists take the Pope for the summa Potestas, and some a Council, and some both conjunct, and some the Church real or diffused through the World.

XII. It is at this day divers Churches really, as to the Form, that are by the ignorant supposed to be one: Two or three Forms and Partes Imperantes, being essential, make as many Churches, though the subjects live mixt. The summa Potestas is a constitutive essential part. Some called Papists take the Pope for the summa Potestas, and some a Council, and some both conjunct, and some the Church real or diffused through the World.

:586p. 184¶13

XIII. It is a Church made up of a tolerated hodgepodge of many Sects, some utterly uncapable Members, so they do but serve the Pope.

:587p. 184

I have showed out of many Doctors cited by Sancta Clara that many that believe not in Christ are of their Church. He saith himself pag. 113. (Deus, Nat. Grat.) [What is clearer than that at this Day, the Gospel bindeth not, where it is not authentically preached; that is, that at this Day men may be saved without an explicit belief of Christ? For in that sense speaks the Doctor concerning the Jews: And verily what ever my illustrious Master hold, with his learned Master Herera, I think that this was the Opinion of Scotus, and the COMMON one, citing many that follow it.

I have shewed out of many Doctors cited by Sancta Clara that many that believe not in Christ are of their Church. He saith himself pag. 113. (Deus, Nat. Grat.) [What is clearer than that at this Day, the Gospel bindeth not, where it is not authentically preached; that is, that at this Day men may be saved without an explicite belief of Christ? For in that sence speaks the Doctor concerning the Jews: And verily what ever my illustrious Master hold, with his learned Master Herera, I think that this was the Opinion of Scotus, and the COMMON one, citing many that follow it.

:588p. 185

And that men that hold all the different Opinions in the Jesuits Morals, and the Schoolmen, besides many various Religious Sects, make up their Church, is not denied.

And that men that hold all the different Opinions in the Jesuites Morals, and the Schoolmen, besides many various Religious Sects, make up their Church, is not denyed.

:589p. 185¶14

XIV. It is a Church that pretendeth to have a Judge and end of Controversies; but indeed hath a Judge that for the most part dare not decide them, and that can make no end of them when decided.

:590p. 185

For instance, the Controversy of the Virgins immaculate conception decided at Basil, is never the nearer an end. Images were decreed up by some Councils, and down by others. Even S. Thomas stood not to the second Council of Nice about Image Worship. The various Councils that decreed variously for and against a Councils Supremacy, never the more ended the strife.

For instance, the Controversie of the Virgins immaculate conception decided at Basil, is never the nearer an end. Images were decreed up by some Councils, and down by others. Even S. Thomas stood not to the second Council of Nice about Image Worship. The various Councils that decreed variously for and against a Councils Supremacy, never the more ended the strife.

:591p. 185

And indeed it is so hard to know approved from reprobate Councils, and what parts of them the Pope meant to approve, and what not, (as by Pope Martin 5. his Conciliariter appeareth) that there is no certainty, and no end.

:592p. 185¶15

XV. It is a Church that hath almost laid by the ancient Discipline of Christs appointment, and instead of it hath set up partly Auricular Confession, when it should be Public, and partly a tyrannical sort of hostile proclaiming their Adversaries excommunicate without hearing them, and forbidding Gods Word and Worship to whole Kingdoms.

XV. It is a Church that hath almost laid by the ancient Discipline of Christs appointment, and instead of it hath set up partly Auricular Confession, when it should be Publick, and partly a tyrannical sort of hostile proclaiming their Adversaries excommunicate without hearing them, and forbidding Gods Word and Worship to whole Kingdoms.

:593p. 185

Saith Learned Albaspineus a Bishop, Observ. 1. pag. 1. [If ever any one in this Age was deprived of Communion (which I know not whether it ever fell out) it was only from the receiving of the Eucharist: In the other parts of his life he retained the same familiarity and converse with other Believers, which he had before he was excommunicated.

:594p. 186¶16

XVI. It is a Church that is upheld by Flames and Blood, distrusting the ancient Discipline, and the mere Protection of the Magistrate, and the proper work of his Office.

XVI. It is a Church that is upheld by Flames and Blood, distrusting the ancient Discipline, and the meer Protection of the Magistrate, and the proper work of his Office.

:595p. 186

The foresaid 12. General Council at Lateran proveth it, besides Inquisitions and bloody Executions.

The foresaid 12. General Council at Laterane proveth it, besides Inquisitions and bloody Executions.

:596p. 186¶17

XVII. It is a Church that cherisheth ignorance in the matters of Salvation.

:597p. 186

Proved, 1. By forbidding the reading of the Scriptures translated, without Licence. 2. Their Prayers in an unknown Tongue. 3. The quality of their commonest Members.

:598p. 186¶18

XVIII. It is a Church that militateth against Christian Love. 1. By their foresaid condemning the most of Christians. 2. By the foresaid bloody Religion and Execution.

:599p. 186¶19

XIX. It is a Church which hath often damned it self, one Pope and Council damning others. As is proved.

:600p. 186¶20

XX. It is a Church which indeed is no Church, according to their own Rules; the Pope indeed being no Pope, and the General Councils no General Councils, (as is proved.) And if it were one, it could not possibly be certainly known to be so; because the Pope, who is an essentiating part, cannot be certainly known. As is proved both as to Election, Ordination, and all that is necessary to a Right and Title.

:601p. 186

As to the Doctrines which they hold contrary to the Scriptures, I have named many of them elsewhere, (in my Key, pag. 39. 142, 143, &c.) And others more largely.

:602p. 186–187

And thus I have told you what I take a Pope, a Papist and the Papal Church to be. But you must remember that as the same man may be a visible Christian or Member ⟨p. 187⟩of the true Universal Church as headed by Christ, and a visible Papist or Member of the Sectarian Church as headed by the Pope, so I judge none of you as in the first respect, but allow you the same Charity proportionably as I do other erring Sects: And especially to those many thousands who adhere to a Church which they understand not, and profess that in gross which in particulars they themselves abhor: Of which number I am not hopeless your self (W. H.) to be one.