The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

And here my principal business is to warn you of the Papal way of Unity: They are so great enemies to divisions and sects, that they must have all the Christian world, united not only in one Christ, by one profession & baptism, but also in one mortal Monarch as his Vicar, that men may know at the Antipodes when they understand not the Scripture, or differ in opinions, who to step to for the ending of their controversies, and to give them an infallible commentary on the Bible, and to tell them with whom they must hold communion. And all their differences may thus have a speedy dispatch: If it be doubted whether one in Abyssinia or much further off, be a Heretic, or an impenitent sinner and to be excommunicated or not; and the Church where he liveth is divided about it, if the matter be but referred to the Pope, as the supreme Judg, it is but going to Rome, and sending thither all the parties and witnesses on both sides, and the Pope can decide it much more judiciously than those that are on the place and know the persons and all the circumstances. And all this may be done in three years time or less, if wind and weather and all things serve: And if all the persons die by the way, the controversy is ended: If one part only die, let ⟨p. 276⟩the longer liver have the better, and be justified. Or if the Pope will rather send Governors to the place to decide the controversy, whether the next Lords day you shall hold communion with such a man, or not, and so forward, its like in a few years time some of them may live to come thither. And if you must still appeal to the Pope himself for fear lest a Priest be not the infallible or final Judg (and can do no better than other folks Priests,) you may after all, have the liberty of the voyage: And if you cannot in that age get the case dispatched, yet you must believe that you have appeared to the only centre of Unity.

And here my principal business is to warn you of the Papal way of Vnity: They are so great enemies to divisions and sects, that they must have all the Christian world, united not only in one Christ, by one profession & baptism, but also in one mortal Monarch as his Vicar, that men may know at the Antipodes when they understand not the Scripture, or differ in opinions, who to step to for the ending of their controversies, and to give them an infallible commentary on the Bible, and to tell them with whom they must hold communion. And all their differences may thus have a speedy dispatch: If it be doubted whether one in Abassia or much further off, be a Heretick, or an impenitent sinner and to be excommunicated or not; and the Church where he liveth is divided about it, if the matter be but referred to the Pope, as the supream Judg, it is but going to Rome, and sending thither all the parties and witnesses on both sides, and the Pope can decide it much more judiciously than those that are on the place and know the persons and all the circumstances. And all this may be done in three years time or less, if wind and weather and all things serve: And if all the persons die by the way, the controversie is ended: If one part only die, let