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

But he saith, Though the Prophet be a humane person, yet he speaks when he is inspired by God, not by humane, but divine authority, God speaking by his mouth.

Ans. It is Veracity that is the thing that we now speak of, and is the authority in question. And doth not Gods Veracity give Veracity to the Speaker, and use it? Doth God speak by Prophets and Christs Humanity, as through an inanimate Pipe or Whistle, or as by Balaam's ass? Doth he make no use of the reason and honesty of the speaker? nor make them more knowing, and more honest, true and careful, that they may be the fitter to be believed? Is this Roman Divinity? Why then do the Apostles so oft protest that they speak the truth and lye not, even of that which they had seen and heard? Would the Gospel have been equally credible to us, if all the witnesses had in other matters been knaves and liars?

Ans. It is Veracity that is the thing that we now speak of, and is the authority in question. And doth not Gods Veracity give Veracity to the Speaker, and use it? Doth God speak by Prophets and Christs Humanity, as through an inanimate Pipe or Whistle, or as by Balaam's asse? Doth he make no use of the reason and honesty of the speaker? nor make them more knowing, and more honest, true and careful, that they may be the fitter to be believed? Is this Roman Divinity? Why then do the Apostles so oft protest that they speak the truth and lye not, even of that which they had seen and heard? Would the Gospel have been equally credible to us, if all the witnesses had in other matters been knaves and lyars?

2. Reader, judg whether those that accuse the Roman Clergy of Fanaticism and Enthusiasm, do them any wrong, while they think that God maketh them infallible by such inspiration, as maketh no use of their Reason, Learning, or Honesty. And read but what their own Historians say of Fifty Popes together, besides all the rest, and of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries of the Church, and of the Popes that were lads, and could not read Mass, but were illiterate. Read what their Councils have said of some whom they deposed as inhuman Monsters, and judg whether it be easy to believe that any inspiration used those men as infallible deliverers of that Christian faith; and see here why it is that they think wit and honesty no more necessary in Pope or Councils, if God use them but as an organ-pipe or trumpet.