The Successive Visibility of the Church, Errata
ERRATA.
PAge 176. l. 24. for it r. that. p. 179. l. 14. r. Freheri. p. 217. l. 26. r. necessitate. p. 271. l. 6. r. Ecclesia Romana. p. 355. l. 2. for here r. hear.
Mr. Iohnsons first PAPER.
THe Church of Christ, wherein only Salvation is to be had, never was nor is any other then those Assemblies of Christians who were united in communion and obedience to S. Peter in the beginning since the Ascension of Christ. And ever since to his lawful successors, the Bishops of Rome, as to their chief Pastor.
Proof.
Whatsoever Congregation of Christians is now the true Church of Christ, acknowledges S. Peter and his lawful successors the Bishops of Rome, ever since the Ascension of Christ to have been; and now to be by the Institution of Christ, their chief duplicate page duplicate page Head and Governour on earth in matters belonging to the soul next under Christ.
But there is no salvation to be had out of that Congregation of Christians, which is now the true Church of Christ.
Ergo, there is no salvation to be had out of that Congregation of Christians which acknowledges S. Peter and his lawful successors the Bishops of Rome ever to have been since the Ascension of Christ; and now to be by the Institution of Christ their chief Head and Governour on earth in matters belonging to the soul next under Christ.
The Minor is clear; For all Christians agree in this, that to be saved, it is necessary to be in the true Church of Christ; that only being his mystical Body, Spouse and Mother of the faithful, to which must belong all those who ever have been, are, or shall be saved.
The Major I prove thus.
Whatsoever Congregation of Christians as now the true Church of Christ, hath been alwaies visible since the time of Christ, either under persecution, or in peace and flourishing.
But no Congregation of Christians hath been alwaies visible since the time of Christ, either under persecution or in peace and flourishing, save that only which acknowledges S. Peter and his lawful successors the Bishops of Rome, ever to have been since the Ascension of Christ; and now to be by Christs Institution, their chief Head and Governour on earth, in matters belonging to the soul next under Christ.
Ergo, whatsoever Congregation of Christians is now the true Church of Christ, acknowledges St. Peter, and his lawful successors the Bishops of Rome, ever to have been since the Ascension of Christ; and now to be by Christs Institution their chief Head and Governour on earth, in matters belonging to the soul, next under Christ.
The Major is proved thus.
Whatsoever Congregation of Christians hath alwaies had visible Pastors and People united, hath alwaies been visible, either under persecution, or in peace and flourishing.
But whatsoever, Congregation of Christians is now the true Church of Christ, hath alwaies had visible Pastors and People united.
Ergo, whatsoever Congregation of Christians is now the true Church of Christ, hath alwaies been visible, either under persecution, or in peace and flourishing.
The Major of this last Sylogism is evident, for seeing a visible Church is nothing but a visible Pastor and people united: where there have alwaies been visible Pastors and people united, there hath alwaies been a visible Church.
The Minor I prove from Ephesians, cap. 4. ver. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, &c.
Where S. Paul saies, that Christ had Instituted, that there should be Pastors and Teachers in the Church for the work of the Ministry, and preserving the people under their respective charges from being carried away with every wind of doctrine, &c. which evidently shews, those Pastors must be visible, seeing the work of the Ministry, which Preaching, and Administration of Sacraments, and Governing their flocks, are all external and visible actions. And this shews likewise, that those Pastors and People must be alwaies visible, because they are to continue from Christs Ascension, untill we all meet together in the unity of faith, &c. which cannot be before the day of judgement.
Neither can it be said (as some say) that this promise of Christ is only conditional, since to put it to be so without evident Reason, giveth scope to every one at his pleasure, to make every other promise of Christ to be conditional. And so we shall be certain of nothing that Christ hath promised, neither that shall alwaies be a visible or invisible Church, nor any Church at all; no nor of Judgement, nor of Eternal life, or of the Resurrection of the dead, &c. for one may say with as much ground, as this is said, that some conditions were included in all those promises, which being not fulfilled, hinders the execution of them.
There remains only, to prove the Minor of the second Sylogism, viz. That no Congregation of Christians hath been alwaies visible, &c. save that which acknowledges S. Peter, and his lawful successors, &c. to be their chief Head and Governour, &c. next under Christ.
This Minor I prove, by obliging the answerers to nominate any Congregation of Christians, which alwaies till this present time, since Christ, hath been visible, either under persecution, or in peace and flourishing, save that only which acknowledges S. Peter, &c. ut supra.