A Moral Prognostication, Epilogue
Conſectary.
ALL the Romiſh-Dreams of Church-Union, ariſe from Ignorance of the true State and Intereſt of the Church, and the true and neceſſary Terms of Union.
And all the Plots alſo, of the Moderating Papiſts, that Talk of a Political Church-Catholick, having a Viſible Conſtitutive, or Governing-Head; whether Monarchial, (the Pope); or Ariſtocratical or Democratical, (the Patriarchs, or a General-Council): And that Talk of Univerſal Laws of this Church, made by ſuch a Univerſal-Head; beſides the Univerſal Laws of Chriſt, And falſly feign the Councils called General, in a Particular Empire, called or ruled by one Emperour only, in his own Dominions; to have been Univerſal, as to all the Catholick Churches on Earth, And that feign theſe Councils to have been Infallible, which ſo often erred, and croſt each other: And that ſet the World upon the undeterminable Controverſie, Which were true General Councils; and, How many we muſt Receive, and Conform to: Whether only Four, or Six, or Eight; and till what Age. And that would perſwade the Chriſtian World, that what-ever diverſity of Canons, Cuſtoms, or Church-Laws, or Ceremonies, are allowed among them, it muſt all be done or held by this ſame Authority of the Pope, or Council, or Both: to which (though Forreign) Kings and Biſhops muſt all be ſubject; and from which, they muſt receive their Chriſtianity; and by which, all their Reformations muſt be tryed, And that none muſt be taken as Catholicks, nor any Churches tolerated, that hold not ſuch a Factious Union, under ſuch an Uſurping Head, Perſonal or Collective, But as Tertullian ſpeaketh, rather than endure ſuch Wiſer and Better Societies; Solitudinem facerent, & vocarent Pacem; And as a Worldy Clergy, whoſe Church and Kingdom is only of and in this World, would baniſh from it all (ſave a Lifeleſs-Image) which hath any Kin to Heaven; and ſuffer none to Live in this World among them, but themſelves.
I ſay, all this is, 1. From Ignorance of the True Nature of the Chriſtian Religion, Church-State, and Terms of Unity and Concord; which I have lately opened in a Book, Entituled, [The true and only Terms of the Concord of all the Churches.]
2. And from Contention about Ambiguous Words, and Self-Conceitedneſs in their Controverſies, ignorantly thence raiſed; which I have ſought to End in a Book, called, [Catholick Theology.]
3. And from vicious Paſſions and Partiality; which I have ſought to Heal in a Book, called, [The Cure of Church-Diviſions.]
All written long ſince the Writing of this Foregoing Prognoſtication.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, A Moral Prognostication (1680)