Which is the true church? the whole Christian world, as headed only by Christ…

But mark Reader what edification is to be expected from these mens Disputations. He knew very well that he and I are agreed that all Christians must take Gods Veracity in his Revelations ¹for the formal object, without which faith is no faith, and so must believe that God cannot lie, and that all is true which he asserteth. And that we Protestants hold that this is not enough, nor includeth the knowledge or belief of any thing which he hath revealed (beside this one general): He knoweth that our question is, Whether it be not necessary to believe some ⟨p. 9⟩particulars as revealed by God? And whether this faith do not go to essentiate a Christian and a member of the Church? And if so, then what those particulars are which must be believed to constitute a true Christian and member of the Church. Now he durst not come into the light, and answer this question; but as if he were mocking women or children, saith, All that God hath revealed must be believed explicitly or implicitly. We understand you, Sir, that we must believe this Proposition, All that God revealeth is true. But is that enough? then Heathens, Idolaters, Sadducees, Infidels, Mahometans, are Christians and members of your Church. (But do they think so themselves?) If you can thus with a juggle make all the world Christians, the like art may make them subjects of the Pope. No, saith he, there must some things also be believed explicitly. But the question is, What they are? O there you must excuse him; he dare not, he cannot tell you what. But Sir, are these [some things] essential to Christianity and Church-membership, or not? If you say, Not; what! nothing essential to Christian faith in particular? Is it faith, and yet a belief of nothing in particular? Is there no material difference at all between a Christian and a Sadducee, Infidel, Mahometan, or Heathen? And yet cannot Protestants be saved for want of the right belief? O marvellous Religion! But if any particular belief be necessary, cannot it be known what it is? How then can a Christian be known by himself or others from all the unbelieving world? or your Church from other men? This was my question to you, Is not your Church then invisible, when no man can know what makes a member of it?

But mark Reader what edification is to be expected from these mens Disputations. He knew very well that he and I are agreed that all Christians must take Gods Veracity in his Revelations