The Grotian religion discovered, at the invitation of Mr. Thomas Pierce in his Vindication. With a preface, vindicating the Synod of Dort from the calumnies of the new Tilenus; and David, Peter, &c. And the Puritanes, and sequestrations, &c. from the censures of Mr. Pierce. / By Richard Baxter, Catholick.

SECT. XIV.

YET cannot I consent that these should * 1.1 be made the terms of Union that the Bishop here grants. For, 1. If when he excludeth [Ʋniversality of Jurisdiction by Christs Institution] he intend to grant them (which yet I know not) an Universality of Jurisdiction by humane Institution or Agreement, then it would be but to set up an Humane Popery instead of a pretended Divine: But this I charge not on him as his judgement; though some will think it intimated. But 2. that Peter hath a certain fixed Chair to which a Primacy of Or∣der is annexed, and a Head ship of Unity, is not a Truth, and therefore not a Pin∣ciple Necessary to Heal the Church. 3. That the Pope should hold to himself and his Church his [last four hundred years deter∣minations] and so continue such as the Bi∣shop here concludes to be [no Apostolical, Orthodox, Catholick Church, nor to have

true Faith] is an unlikely thing to stand with the Unity and Concord that he men∣tioneth: We shall cement but sorrily with such a Body as this. 4. That the Pope should hold his Patriarchal Power, is a meer Innovation and humane Institution, as is his Primacy of Order, and such Priviledges (the Council of Calcedon averr's it.) And therefore it is no necessary thing to be con∣ceded for the Churches Peace. 5. Multi∣tudes that live in the Western Nations of the world, will still dissent both from the Popes Patriarchal Power, and more from his way of exercising it: and so will be forced to fall under the reproach of Schismaticks by these terms: and that for obeying the Laws of Christ. If the Pope as Patriarck of the West, should impose upon us only, (and not on the East) the Doctrines, and Wor∣ship, and Ceremonies which he now im∣poseth on the Papists, (excepting the ex∣cepted before) doth any man of reason think that the Reformed Churches would ever yield to them, or ought to do it? We will Unite on Christs terms, and that will be a sure and more General Union; and not on such humane devices as these. Let those that made the Pope our Patriarck, maintain his Power: For Christ did not. 6. Many

things in Doctrine and Worship which on these terms would be imposed both on East and West, and prevail in most of the Chur∣ches at this day, are sins against God; and therefore how small soever they may be, are not to be consented to for Unity. 7. The Ethiopian and other Churches that were still without the verge of the Roman Empire, will never acknowledge this much to the Pope; seeing that even those humane Constitutions that gave him his Primacy of Order, determined of no more then the Roman world, and had nothing to do be∣yond Euphrates; nor did the Popes lay any claim, or meddle any further. And abun∣dance among the Eastern Churches also will deny this Primacy. 8. There is no hope of Uniting the Churches on any terms but what are Necessary and Divine: For its vain to expect that things humane and un∣necessary should be consented to by all: Much less things sinful. 9. There is no Union to be had but upon the terms on which the Churches have sometimes United. For a new way of union is not to be expected, or attempted. But never was the Church united on such Concessions as these; and therefore never will be. 10. It would be an exceeding dishonour to God,

and injury to the souls of many millions of men, if but under the Popes Patriarchal Jurisdiction in the West, the Papists way of worship were set up, and their Govern∣ment exercised as now. The good will of Rome, or the name of Peace would not recompence the loss of so many thousand souls as some one of the Papal abuses might procure: For instance, their driving the people from the Scriptures and other means of knowledge. Besides most of the evils that I before charged on the Grotian way, (as Censures, Persecutions, &c.) would follow upon this.

Yet this I shall yield, that if the Papists will Reform what the Bishop requires them to Reform, it will undoubtedly make way for nearer Concord, and make them capable of our more charitable thoughts. But if it be expected also that we yield to them as much as the Bishop yields them, and these be made the terms of Peace or Concord, I dare say that the Churches will never have a general, or safe, or durable Peace or Concord on those terms.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 14.