Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§. 54. If now Baronius and Binius say, That the Clergies Consent can make an uncapable Monster a true Bishop, let any one tell us: 1. Whether this Council did not prove, that the Church did not consent to John? 2. Or, Whether his utter Incapacity, many express Canons, and the Bishops and Councils Consent, did not Eject him, and Authorize Leo?

§. 54. If now Baronius and Binius say, That the Clergies Consent can make an uncapable Monster a true Bishop, let any one tell us: 1. Whether this Council did not prove, that the Church did not consent to Iohn? 2. Or, Whether his utter Incapacity, many express Canons, and the Bishops and Councils Consent, did not Eject him, and Authorize Leo?

§. 55. But here we come to the Core of all the Papists Cheats: When they tell us themselves of all this Wickedness, they cry out, O the happy Church of Rome! that though it fail in Manners, yet never faileth in Faith. Answ. 1. If General Councils are sufficient Witnesses, that judged Popes Heretics, it hath failed in Faith. 2. Hath that Man true Faith, that wanteth all things requisite to a Lawful Bishop, and that drinketh to the Devil, and prayeth to Jupiter and Venus; and Liveth in all Wickedness? What a thing is Popish Faith? 3. Did Christ mean to pray only, that St. Peter might have such a Faith, as will stand with Wickedness and Damnation? What the better is any Man of a wicked Heart and Life, for a dead Opinion called Faith, that will damn him the more deeply for sinning against it? 4. It is not possible, but that serious true Belief of so great Things, as God, and Christ, and Glory, will bring a Man to serious Repentance and Reformation.

§. 55. But here we come to the Core of all the Papists Cheats: When they tell us themselves of all this Wickedness, they cry out, O the happy Church of Rome! that though it fail in Manners, yet never faileth in Faith. Answ. 1. If General Councils are sufficient Witnesses, that judged Popes Hereticks, it hath failed in Faith. 2. Hath that Man true Faith, that wanteth all things requisite to a Lawful Bishop, and that drinketh to the Devil, and prayeth to Jupiter and Venus; and Liveth in all Wickedness? What a thing is Popish Faith? 3. Did Christ mean to pray only, that St. Peter might have such a Faith, as will stand with Wickedness and Damnation? What the better is any Man of a wicked Heart and Life, for a dead Opinion call'd Faith, that will damn him the more deeply for sinning against it? 4. It is not possible, but that serious true Belief of so great Things, as God, and Christ, and Glory, will bring a Man to serious Repentance and Reformation.