Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

248 POPERY CONDEMNED 3Y
" tempt the Ex. or his friend Jortin, r^-.rr^ have
*'
for his authority, is absolutely unai:s>- le
*'
and applies with the same force to any ocaer
*'
innovator as to Manes. For how \vi\\ this
" pretended reformer shew an infidel tliat he
*'
ought to believe the Gospel he must of
" all necessity have recourse to the testimony
*'
of the Church, in v/hose hands he hnds it,
" and if he deiiies the infallibility of her testi-
*'
mony, he leaves no infallible authority ; on
*'
which, to rest his belief of the Gospel. Hence
*'
St, Austin says, in the course of his reasoning,
*'
/ would not believe the Gospel if the authoriiij
" of the Church did not move me thereto. Why
**
should I not obey thera^ (the Bishops) saying
" to me-: do not believe Manes ^ ivhom I obeyed
" sayings believe the Gospel**"
The R. thinks the Popish mode of convincing
infidels much more conclusive than that
used by Protestants. Let us then compare the
tvv'o tofrether, and observe the result. If an infidel
inquire who was St. Paul, the Papist
would reply, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
this be doubted by the infidel,
Should
the Papist would
refer him to the inraihble testimony of the
Church. But what answer would the Papist
make, when the infidel disbelieved the
doctrine
of infallibiHty He has no farther proofs by
* P. 139-
v- -'' '^could
convince his disbelieving judgement.