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

W. J. Such as by approved custom are esteemed by those to whom it belongs, fit for that charge, and with whose election the Church is satisfied.

R. B. Now we come to their desperation! never were men put to more open confusion in the very essence of their cause. Something must be said, but they know not what. I noted here, that if no Election, or any ones Election will serve turn, the Scholars may elect a Schoolmaster Pope, and any man may be Pope, or an hundred may be Popes: But if not, then it must be known who it is that hath the power of Election, and that it was done by them. The people of Barnet or Brentford have no authority to elect a Lord Mayor of London; nor would one of their choice be any better than a Play-house Lord. Our Question is, Who must choose the Governor of all the world? In reason all the world should meet by themselves, or their just Delegates to choose him. But the man that claimeth this Divine Sovereignty hath been sometime chosen at Rome by a meeting of Lay-citizens; and sometimes by neighbour-Bishops, and sometimes (at the best) by Citizens and Presbyters together, Bishops approving it, and sometimes by the Emperors of Rome, of Constantinople, or of Germany, and sometime by a sort of things called Cardinals. Now if none of these have more right to choose him than the rest, then either any body hath right that can carry it out, and get possession, or else no body hath right, or none can tell who hath it. Accordingly for above forty years together, the Emperor and his party chose one Pope, and the King of France and his party chose another; one reigned at Rome, and another at Avignon in France. Part of Europe chose or owned one, and part another; and at once, saith Wernerus, there were six alive that were then Popes, or had been Popes (of whom one honester than the rest, because he could not read himself, chose another Pope to be his partner to read the Mass, which he could not do, and to help him in the rest).

R. B. Now we come to their desperation! never were men put to more open confusion in the very essence of their cause. Something must be said, but they know not what. I noted here, that if no Election, or any ones Election will serve turn, the Scholars may elect a Schoolmaster Pope, and any man may be Pope, or an hundred may be Popes: But if not, then it must be known who it is that hath the power of Election, and that it was done by them. The people of Barnet or Brainford have no authority to elect a Lord Mayor of London; nor would one of their choice be any better than a Play-house Lord. Our Question is, Who must choose the Governour of all the world? In reason all the world should meet by themselves, or their just Delegates to choose him. But the man that claimeth this Divine Soveraignty hath been sometime chosen at Rome by a meeting of Lay-citizens; and sometimes by neighbour-Bishops, and sometimes (at the best) by Citizens and Presbyters together, Bishops approving it, and sometimes by the Emperors of Rome, of Constantinople, or of Germany, and sometime by a sort of things called Cardinals. Now if none of these have more right to choose him than the rest, then either any body hath right that can carry it out, and get possession, or else no body hath right, or none can tell who hath it. Accordingly for above forty years together, the Emperour and his party chose one Pope, and the King of France and his party chose another; one reigned at Rome, and another at Avignion in France. Part of Europe chose or owned one, and part another; and at once, saith Wernerus, there were six alive that were then Popes, or had been Popes (of whom one honester than the rest, because he could not read himself, chose another Pope to be his partner to read the Mass, which he could not do, and to help him in the rest).