Five disputations of church-government and worship

Answ. 1. All this is no certainty: and therefore no proof: and no satisfaction to the mind of a Minister, in the forementioned doubts. 2. Yea we have so great reason to be suspicious in the case that we cannot conclude that we have so much as a probably.

Answ. 1. All this is no certainty: and therefore no proof: and no satisfaction to the mind of a Minister, in the forementioned doubts. 2. Yea we have so great reason to be suspicious in the case that we cannot conclude that we have so much as a probab•ly.

Sect. 9. For, 1. We know that there is so much selfishness and corruption in man as is like enough to draw them to deceit. Ordainers may be bribed to consecrate or ordain the uncapable, and the Ordained or Consecrated may be tempted to seek it in their incapacity; and many may be drawn to pretend that they were Ordained or Consecrated when it was no such matter. And so there is not so much a a Probability.

Sect. 10. 2. And we know that there were so many heresies abroad, and still have been, and so much faction and Schism in the Church: that we cannot be sure that these might not interrupt the succession, or that they drew not our predecessors to counterfeit a Consecration or Ordination when they had none, or none that was regular.