The True Catholic and Catholic Church Described, Title page – Preface
THE TRUE CATHOLICK, AND Catholick Church DESCRIBED.
AND The vanity of the Papists, and all other Schismaticks, that confine the Catholick Church to their Sect, discovered and shamed.
By Richard Baxter, a Member of that one Universal Church, which containeth all the true Christians in the world.
With an Apologetical Postscript against the factious Principles and Writings of Mr T. Malpas, Mr T. Pierce, Philo-Tilenus, and such others.
London, Printed by A. M. for T. Underhill at the Anchor and Bible in Pauls Church yard, and F. Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleetstre…t, 1660.
The Preface.
Reader,
THe tumultuary contentions and distractions about the Catholick Church, which have been raised by many heretical and schismatical firebrands, have moved me to publish these popular Sermons, in order to the satisfaction and setlement of such minds, as have been ensnared to a misunderstanding of this Article of the Creed. It grieved me to hear so many Christians, that were all Baptized into the Catholick Church, and there received the badge of Christianity and Catholicism, to be doubtfully enquiring, which is the true Catholick Church, and many dividers confining it to their Sects: and lastly, the Seekers, (instructed by the Papists) with seeming seriousness, questioning whether there be any Church and Ministry at all? But never any Sect did cause my admiration so much as the Papists! That ever so many Princes and Learned men, should so odiously vilifie the Catholick Church, and that under pretence of magnifying it, and appealing to it. They are not contented in their Doctrine of Transubstantiation, to deny sense and reason (Et contra Rationem nemo sobrius) and in many of their writings to speak diminutively and dishonourably of the holy Scriptures (too like to Infidels: Et contra Scripturas nemo Christianus;) but they also cut off themselves (as Sectaries) from the Universal Church, as farre as an uncharitable odious condemning of the farre greatest part of the Church can do it, and call the Church (even that greatest part) by the name of Hereticks and Schismaticks; (Et contra Ecclesiam nemo pacificus.) And as confidently and contentiously do they labour to cut off the main body of believers, and to appropriate the Catholick Church to themselves, and to make their corrupted Sect to be the whole, as if the Catholick Church had been limited to the Roman, in the Scripture, or the Creed; or as if they had the Consent of Christ himself for the divorcing of his Spouse. And the men that call Charity the form, and soul, and life of the new creature, do seem to be insensible of the brand of their unhappiness; and that there is no greater uncharitableness to be found on this side hell, than the malicious reproaching, condemning and unchurching of the farre greatest part of the Church of Christ; except that of Infidels, who condemn the whole. When you hear them glorying of their Charity, come hither and rub your eyes, and see what Popish Charity is.
For the right understanding of this following Discourse, I shall only desire the Reader to observe, 1. That it is not a particular Church, but the Universal, that I am here enquiring after. 2. That I do not intend hereby to equalize the several parts of the Catholick Church, as to purity of Doctrine, Discipline or Worship. 3. That yet I would have all Christians joyn themselves in actual particular Communion, with the purest Churches, if they can obtain it, without greater hurt to themselves or others, then the benefits will countervail. And that I do not intend, that we must hold local Communion with every Congregation, which must be owned as a part of the Catholick Church. It is possible they may require a participation in some sinne, of all those that they will admit to their Communion: And in such cases, (when they exclude us) we can hold but such a general distant Communion, which they cannot prohibit. 4. That when I condemn the Schisme and uncharitableness of the Papists, or any others, I yet condemn not, but commend our exercise of Charity to them, and shall own all that is of Christ in them, as far as I can discern it.
Lastly, Be advertised, That whereas in another Book, that comes out with this (called Catholick Ʋnity) I have again taken up many of the particulars wherein the Godly are United, I think it need not offend the Reader, as an unnecessary repetition, that being but the application of the truth which is here asserted. There I labour to convince the ungodly, That Concord can be obtained by no other means, and on no other terms, than those which I have here shewed the Godly are all agreed in.
Reader, if indeed thou love the Church of Christ, joyn with me in thy heartiest daily prayers, and in thy faithfull diligent endeavours, for the destroying of Divisions, and the repairing of decayed Charity, and the restoring of Catholick Principles and Affections to all the members of the Church.
Decem. 12. 1659. Richard Baxter.