Baxter - HP PR3316 .B36 1821

lbO BAXTER'S POEMS. Whom must we take for Pope ? who must, him choose? Which is the Pope, when there are two or three? Must they that give the power w}1ich they use, Superiors, equals, or inferiors be? When one at Rome, one at Avignon was, And each a council had which tooK his part ; Which for the true communion then must pass, Which was the church fro~ which none must depart? Must all th' Abassians and Armenians know, (And in cosmography so skilful be,) Whether there's such a place as Rome, ,or no? Whether there be a Pope, and which is he? Is 't the whole church on earth that he must rule i Why then hath not the whole a choosing vote ? Is all the world, save Rome, but the Pope's mule, - And that his crown's elective all do note? It's like, that all the church consent, they '11 say, Then he's no Pope whom three fourth parts disclaim, How shall three parts then know whom to obey ? Will any serve that will usurp the name ? When Popes damn Popes, andcouncils damn them all, . And Popes damn councils, what must Christians ~? ' When they each other's laws damn and recal, How shall we know whose power then was true? rfhe French say councils have this sovereignty, The first three hundred years it was not so;

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=