Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 33. Though this be the Argument that I have the greatest advantage to press the adversary with, yet because I have made it good already in two or three other writings (in my Key for Catholics, and my Safe Religion, and Christian Concord) I shall say but little of it now. But briefly this may suffice: 1. For the Church of Rome, if either Heresy, Infidelity, Sodomy, Adultery, Murder, Simony, violent intrusion, ignorance, impiety, want of due election, or of due consecration, or plurality of Popes at once, can prove an interruption of their succession, I have showed them already where its proved; But if none of these prove it, we are safe our selves.

Sect. 33. Though this be the Argument that I have the greatest advantage to press the adversary with, yet because I have made it good already in two or three other writings (in my Key for Catholicks, and my Safe Religion, and Christian Concord) I shall say but little of it now. But briefly this may suffice: 1. For the Church of Rome, if either Heresie, Infidelity, Sodomie, Adultery, Murder, Simony, violent intrusion, ignorance, impiety, want of due election, or of due consecration, or plurality of Popes at once, can prove an interruption of their succession, I have shewed them already where its proved; But if none of these prove it, we are safe our selves.

Sect. 34 But Grotius (in Discus. Apolog. Rivet.) pleads for them, that if any intercision have been made at Rome, it hath been made up from other Churches.] Answ. 1. That is not proved, but nakedly affirmed. 2. Nor will it serve the Papists turn, that must have all Churches hold from Rome and her succession, and Rome from none, nor to be patched up from their succession. 3. De facto the contrary is certain: For 1. Those other held their Ministry as from the universal Headship of the Pope; and therefore had themselves their interruptions in the former interruptions of Rome (as being but her members:) and therefore were not capable themselves of repairing of her breaches, 2. The successors of the illegitimate Popes (such as deposed Eugenius, &c.) and men as bad as they, have continued the succession: And t•e Bishops that were consecrated by power received from the illegitimate