Of schism the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…Of schisme the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…

Of his meeting Simon Magus at Rome, who in all probability was never there, (for Seem Sangus was not Simon Magus, nor Sanctus, nor Deus Magnus) of the conquest made of him, and his Devils, of his being instructed of Christ not to go from Rome, but tarry there, and suffer, some thing may be said from old Legends. But of his chair, and fixing of it at Rome, of his confinement, as it were, to that place, in direct opposition to the tenor of his Apostolical commission, who first told the story I know not; but this I know, they will one day be ashamed of their Chair, Thrones, and Sees, and Jurisdictions, wherein they now so please themselves.

Of his meeting Simon Magus at Rome, who in all probability was never there, (for Seme Sangus was not Simon Magus, nor Sanctus, nor Deus Magnus) of the conquest made of him, and his Divells, of his being instructed of Christ not to goe from Rome, but tarry there, and suffer, some thing may be said from old Legends. But of his chaire, and fixing of it at Rome, of his confinement, as it were, to that place, in direct opposition to the tenour of his Apostolicall commission, who first told the story I know not; but this I know, they will one day be ashamed of their Chaire, Thrones, and Sees, and Jurisdictions, wherein they now so please themselves.

But what is next to this?¹ The Bishop of Rome succeeds Peter in all that Power, Jurisdiction, Infallibility, with whatsoever else was fancied before in him, as the ordinary ⟨p. 181⟩Lord of the Church, and therefore the Roman Church is the Catholic; quod erat demonstrandum Now though this inference will no way follow upon these Principles, though they should all be supposed to be true, whereof not one is so much as probable; and though this last Assertion be vain and ridiculous, nothing at all being pleaded to ground this Succession; no Institution of Christ, no Act of any Council of the Church; no Will nor Testament of Peter; but only it is so fallen out, as the world was composed of a casual concurrence of Atoms: yet seeing they will have it so, I desire a little farther information in one thing, that yet remains; and that is this, The Charter, Patents, and Grant of all this power, & right of succession unto Peter, in all the Advantages, privileges and Jurisdiction, before mentioned, being wholly in their own keeping, whereof I never saw letter or title, nor ever conversed with any one, no not of themselves, that did; I would be gladly informed, whether this grant be made to him absolutely, without any manner of condition whatever; so that, who ever comes to be Pope of Rome, and possessed of Peters Chair thee by what means soever he is possessed of it, whether he believe the Gospel