Baxter - BX1763 B28

(91) Roman Pope is rightfully the Governour of the "Univerfal Church on Earth, either a/s to Legiflative or judicial-exe- cutive Power, either withCouncilsor without. Two things are here included in our Judgment. i. That there is no rightful Univerfàl Governour under Chrifl over all the Church on Earth, either as to Legj fation, or judgment: 2. That the Roman Pope therefore is no fuch Governour. In this third fenfe now I am to tell you what we Prote- ftants mean by a Papifl more particularly. And firf e I muff tell you what a POPE is, before I can well tell you what a Papifl is : Which I thall do, I. De fado Hi- florically : II, De jute as to the Power which he claim eth. I. A long time the Whops of Rome were feldome cal- led Popes, and other Bifhops were fo called as well as they : At &II the B fhops ofRome were pious perfecuted Men, and manyofthemMartyrs, and ufurped no Power over any Churchesbut their own; which with Alexan- driawere the two firft that brake Ignaiiu4 his Tefl ofUni- ty, who faith, [ To every Church there is one Altar, and one Bilhop with his fellow Presbyter andDeacons.] But Rome having longcalledher felf the Miftrisof theWorld, and being the Seat of thé Empire and Senate, and of the Governing Power of the orbis Ramanws, the Chrif}ians there grew greater than others, and the Bithop as it in- creafed kept it under his Power : And when Chriflians had peace ( which was under the far greatefl part of the Heathen Emperours, and for the far longefl time) the Greatnefs ofRome givingGreatnefs to that Church, and fo ro the Bithop, and great opportunity to help other Churches, becaufe the Governing Power of the Empire was there, this Bilhop grew to be of greatef wealth and interefl : And in times ofPeace the Strife which Chriff M 2 once

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