Baxter - HP PR3316 .B36 1821

151 The Sovereign Power, the church doth unify, Was it then none, or how could man it know? An universal cou~cil never was, · 'Twas but one empire that did make that name; Now that's dissolv~d how should it come to pass, That any.prince on earth sl).ould do the same ? Hath any one the common rule of all, Or wlll Turks, papists, and all kings agree, Such a true council, when and where to call? Or can one-third.part universal be? The church of councils' power is not agreed, Therefore this doth -not now it unify: Those that stand_for their sovereignty,indeed, Which were those councils, differ shamefully. Some are for four, some six, some eight, some all, Some such as by the Pope approved were; Divers each other heretics did ~all, And which we must obey cannot appear. And is church-unity -no better known, And yet is necessary to salvation : And to all those that Christ himself will own, What follows hence but generaJ damnation ? An universal council none shall see, Till the world have an universal king ; This the triple-crown'd Pope pretends to be, Though not the name, he challeqg_eth the thing. The poor fifth-monarchy seekers they pity, As seeking that which long hath extant been: No monarchy ever m.atch'd the holy city, By his church-keys .thus rules the ,1nan of sin•

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