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

6. This confesseth that Christ hath appointed no way for choosing Popes, nor given any sort of men power to choose them: else what need Pope Nicholas begin it now anew? And if so, it seemeth that Christ never instituted the Papacy: For can we suppose him so Lax a Legislator, as to say, a Pope shall be made, and never tell us who shall have power to do it. Then England may choose one, and France another, and Spain another, &c. the Bishops one, the Priests another, the Prince another, and the Citizens another. But if Christ have settled a Pope-making power in any, it is either the same as Pope Nicholas did, in Cardinal Bishops, or not▪ If not, the Pope changeth Christ's institution: If yea, then all those were no Popes that were otherwise chosen, and so where is the Roman Church and its succession.

6. This confesseth that Christ hath appointed no way for choosing Popes, nor given any sort of men power to choose them: else what need Pope Nicholas begin it now anew? And if so, it seemeth that Christ never instituted the Papacy: For can we suppose him so Laxe a Legislator, as to say, a Pope shall be made, and never tell us who shall have power to do it. Then England may choose one, and France another, and Spain another, &c. the Bishops one, the Priests another, the Prince another, and the Citizens another. But if Christ have setled a Pope-making power in any, it is either the same as Pope Nicholas did, in Cardinal Bishops, or not▪ If not, the Pope changeth Christ's institution: If yea, then all those were no Popes that were otherwise chosen, and so where is the Roman Church and its succession.

7. What power hath Pope Nicholas to bind his successors? Have not they as much power as he? and so to undo it all again? If the King should decree that his Kingdom hereafter shall not be hereditary but elective, and that the Bishops should be the choosers of the King, were this obligatory against the right of his heirs?