S. Peter Seing Ioane the eight was a woman and incapable of this Byshoprick long since elected lawfull Pope and receaued in the Chayr of Sainct Peter ANSVVER WHen we sayd him to be a lawfull successor of S. Peter to haue receaued full power in the whole Church of Christ who by lawfull way is receaued of the Church The Pope of Rome is euer chosē capable and sett in the Seat of S. Peter This sense no otherway we vnderstand but that the Church lawfully electes receaues him who is capable of the high Priesthood of the which is neyther a woman nor an infidell nor an Heretick capable of nor can be Whatsoeuer be the cause in which a Pope may be chosen incapable of this byshoprick I iudge charitably with many godly and learned men that it came neuer to passe as yet that any was chosen incapable God of his owne goodnes and prouidence turning away the perill of such euentes from his Church who neyther in this manner of canonicall election of his owne Vicar is dead sleepeth or is careles who hath said Math. 28. v. 20. Behold all dayes I am with you to the consummation of the world But this assertion is a manifest and a falsely whatsoeuer they can produce concerning Pope Ioane to be a woman for first there is none of the greek latin historiographers and wryters who make mention of one sillable or word of this mater neyther Cedrinus nor Zonoras much more auncient then Martyn Pollon the first author of this fable who are wranglers and contemners of the Byshop of Rome and most willingly are glad to haue such an occasion to scoff at the Latine Secondly the same Martyn Pollonus doth not affirme this history as certaine The Author doubtes of the historie but sayeth it was spoken by report and of vulgar rumor for Sigibertus Marianus Scotus who were a liue before Martinus Polonus in their old hand written bookes make no mention of a woman Ingland and Moguntia are diuerse regiōs Thirdly Martinus Polonus reportes this woman Pope to be borne in Moguntia in Ingland which is a manifest lie seing Moguntia is not in Ingland but in Germany situat on the Rhyne Fourthly the same Martinus Pollonus doth leane to an other falshoode that this woman-pope was brought vp in Athens The history of Martinus Polonus is full of contradictions and lyes and studied there her course of morall sciences seing by all vniforme consent of all wryters that neyther then nor long before any studies was at Athens much lesse inhabited of any So that it is a manifest lie that euer this woman Pope were Far lesse credible that any woman of honesty or estate bygge with child and neare her tyme of deliurance to goe throughout the streates in publick processiō with so great perill of infamie and scandal to her self from which easely she might haue excused her selfe Last of all I shall euer persuade my selfe that God would neuer haue permitted such a base scādall to ryse in his Church As concerning the rest of the trifles that is obiected by our aduersaries as the hole in the chayr for his dimissorialles the image of a woman the declyning of the street and way all are sufficiētly answered of Bellarm. tom 1. cont Gen. lib. 3. c. 24. Therefore I counsell all Protestants to moderate their hatred and malice against the Pope and see of Rome A friendly exhortation to vse mederatiō in detracting the see of Rome Let them call to remembrance the hereticall mynd and ende of Wiritri Archdeane of Oxford in England who in the yeare of God 1571. expounding that place of Scripture Ephes 4. v. 11. He therefore gaue some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastors and teachers c. To serue the tyme Weretries fatall end in glossing the Scriptures against the Pope inferres the Pope you heare sayes he what offices are promised and giuen to his Church but amongst these vocatiōs you heare nothing of a Pope which when he had made his application immediatly he was stricken with a great sicknes and became dombe and was caryed out of the stoole to his bed not to his dinner as he presupposed to goe Thus Surius in chronicis de vita Veretri c. Who dyed miserably in raging and wrangling of consciēce to the fear of all that were about him Lykwise I cannot omit to rehearse as it was reported to me by faithfull men and beholderes of the truth of M. walter Makcanker one of the Puritane ministers in Edinburg in Scotland an 1614. expoūding the 13. chapter of the reuelation in his sermon speaking of the beast that had seauen heades Mackankers fatall and in applying Antichrist to the Pope and ten hornes vpon his hornes were ten crownes and vpon his head the name of blasphemy c. Applying these things to the Pope with such vehemence of gaping and gloaring calling him Antichrist as Puritans doe mentioned and discrybed vnder the name of the beast in the reuelation immediatly the hand of God was on him who although he dissembles long yet in the myddest of their iniquity punishes with equitie that his teeth fell into his throat and he fell downe in the stoole and from thence was caryed home to his house half dead the night following senseles ended his lyfe And in such lyke manner the sweet Sainctes so called of the Clouted Kirches-sisters of the new Ghospell make their finall ende for as they lyue in hatred and malice against the Pope so die they in the same malignity that we may rightly see that Luthers benediction hath efficacie and power for as the benedictions of Gods Sainctes was in efficacie towards men that belieued in God euen so Luthers maledictiō workes powerfully in the followers of his misbeliefe Which Vitus Theodoricus a Lutheran makes mentiō of Tom. 4. Operum Luth. Praef. in Ioell The which is worthy of memory saying when he came to the Synod to confirme the confession of Augustana by testimonies of Scriptures Fathers in the way he was wonderfull sicke and by stopping of his vryne nynes dayes almost dead sit vp in his bed and lifting vp his handes to blesse those that were about him vttered these wordes for his benediction saying The Lord replenish yow with his benedictiō and hatred to the Pope So that being almost dead he left them with hatred to the Pope as a right inheritance of his cursed mynd which malediction as from Cain discends linially to his successors so from Luther it passed in his successors as it took effect to worke in himself QVESTIO XI Of the infallible authority of Generall Counsells WHerfore doe the Papists esteeme so much of their Generall Counsells Seing their Byshops in them may erre as men And moreouer vniustly against all reason do exclude the power and voyce of Emperours and Kings in iudging matters of faith Luth. in varijs locis Calu. lib. 4. inst cap.
straitly that that which is once iudged in a Synode and rightly disposed let no man call it againe in question seeking thereby occasion of tumult or of falshood for it is wicked and sacrilegious after the iudgement of so many Priests to leaue any thing to his owne opinion to be discussed Emperours nor Kings nor no lay-men are admitted in generall counsels to defyne matters of faith Morouer neyther are Emperours nor any lay-men howsoeuer learned in holy Scriptures admitted in a generall counsell to defyne matters of faith or at any tyme haue been admitted as the Byshops be who assist the Pope not only as counsellers but also as iudges and for that cause they say so the holy Synode hath decreed For what is more contrary to reason then wher is treated of saluation damnation of good and euill and in defyning of the wholsome doctrin from errour Byshops are both counsellers iudges It is contrary to reason that in matters of saluation damnation lay-meÌ„ should be iudges to commit the iudgmeÌ„t of these things to lay-men which appertaine to the dutie of the Pastor according to Hier. saying cap. 3. I shall giue you Pastors according to my hart and they shall feede you with science and doctrine and S. Paul sayes Eph. 4. He hath giuen some to be Pastors and Doctores But the Emperours from the beginning of the Church vsed to followe and heare the iudgement of the Apostolicall seat and the generall counsells and not to argue or to giue verdâ—cte or pronuÌ„ce sentence with the Byshops of the Church whereupon S. August apud possid in vita eius cap. 18. sayes That the Byshops of the Apostolicall seat Innocent and Zozimus accursed the Pelagians cut theÌ„ of from being members of the Church and wrot letters to the Affrican Churches of the Orient and Occident signifying theÌ„ to be accursed and to be eschewed of all Catholickes Also the most godly Emperor Honorius hearing Pelagius and his fellowers accursed decreed them also by his owne law damned adiudged for Heretickes Emperors and Kings haue made concurrence to the counsels for obedience haue made lawes for obedience to be done for receauing their decrees Lykewise S. August epist 166. maketh mention of the decrees of Constantine the Great to haue the lyk strength against Hereticks So that these godly Emperours neuer medled themselues to be examiners of the counsell farreles iudges but what was decreed in the counsel we read them to haue made lawes for the execution of the counsell Popes verdict and sentence and euer haue shewed themselues as nourses in the Church of God rendering all reuerence and submitting themselues to the Churches authorities as witnesse Ruff. lih 10. Eccl. Hist cap. 2. Valentin Emper. ad Synod Chalc. Martianus Act. 3. Concil Chalced S. Ambros epist. 32. S. Aug. hom de Paschal in ps cont part donat epist 48. Philo. libro de Victimis Athanasius in Epistol ad Solit. vitam agente Epistol idem Suâ—idas in vita Leontij Theodor. lib. 4. cap. 17.18 lib. 4. cap. 5. But contrarywise it is proper to all Heretickes The germanes contemned the counsell of Trent to their great ignominie to contemne all generall counsels of the Church as did most filthyly the ProtestaÌ„ts of Germanie the last of Febu 1537. with ignominy to their nation for dispysing the counsell set and appointed by the Pope whom they will not acknowledge to haue power to iudge nor yet the Byshopes with him but the vniuersall Church But more plainly they may say it doth appertaine also to barbers taylors coblers bakers brewers wolspynners botchers cookes apotecharies and euery mechanicall and all trashkynde of people to whome God neuer gaue authority to iudge neyther were admitted to come in the place of iudgement to hear what was iudged in matters of faith but only to Prelates is committed the authority of feeding as S. Pet. saies 1. Pet. cap. 5. v. 2. Feed the stock of God which is amongst you No Emperour may call a generall counsell lawfully neyther doth his power extend in all partes to be obeyed and depending vpon you thus he Moreouer neyther Emperours of themselues may command a counsell the reason is euident because it is not sayd to the Emperor feed my sheepe but only to Peter and his successors neyther is the Emperor or King head of the Church neyther haue they commandement ouer all Byshopes seing many Byshops remaine out of their iurisdiction and commandement But a generall counsell should be commaunded of him who may coÌ„maund that they assemble otherwise the indictioÌ„ and command shal be of no value or effect and seing the Emperour or King is only a generall defender of the Church to whome for that cause that iurisdiction to commaund a counsell was neuer lawfull neyther at any tyme hath been instituted of the Emperors by authority of theÌ„selues And albeit some de facto haue indicted couÌ„sels notwithstaÌ„ding no otherwayes Whatsoeuer Emperours hath done was by consent of the Pope of Rome theÌ„ with the authority and consent of the Byshop of Rome neyther did the first Byshops in those tymes indicte any counsell without the helpe of the Emperors so that euer the authority of the Pope was ioyned with the Emperor as for example that great couÌ„sell of Nyce was not only gathered of Constantyne Emperor but also of Siluester Pope as it is sayd in the sixt Synod Act. 8. to whome agreeth Ruff. lib. 10. Hist. cap. 1. saying Constantine to haue gathered that great counsell by iudgment of the Pope and Priestes of the Church and not of his owne authority and commandement Moreouer this authority of the Emperor was very necessary for the Byshops to be gathered at one counsell First The authority of the Emperour is necessary for diuers respectes that the Prelates of the Church might by their authority be defended from paganes in the way Secondly that they might be transported with publique charges for then they were poore and might not beare so great chardges of themselues Thirdly because in that tyme the old lawes of the Emperors did rule and were in effect obserued which inhibited all great meetings and couentions without the authority of the Emperor for fear of sedition and coniurations leg conuent cod de epist. cop presb which lawes haue now ceased OBIECTION IT is sayd Iohn 5. search the Scriptures therefore the certaine way to compose controuersies of religion is by the searching of the Scriptures and not by decition and senteÌ„ce of counsell ANSVVER THe Scripture kept the place of a witnes and not of a iudge For Christ hath not sayd search the Scriptures because they bear iudgemeÌ„t of me but he sayth search the scriptures by the indicatiue word because they beare witnes of me for it is not the office of a witnes to giue sentence but only to giue testimonie but it is the iudges part to hear search and examine the witnes
coÌ„pelled to swear him supream iudg in all ecclesiasticall causes as well as in temporall causes Would to God that his Maiesties eyes were illuminated and that God would giue his maiestie a vvyse hart that deeply he might consider how his maiesties good nature vvisdome learning and heauenly gyftes The office of a King is with great vexatioÌ„ His maiesties good nature is euill abused by priuat men for their own particular with the counsell of perticular men is abused laying on his Maiesties shoulders such a heauy burden which his Maiestie is not able to vndergoe For if the temporall gouernement and office of a King be excellent notwithstanding that office is so intricated with inumerable cares and disquietnes of body and mynd by the account making to the lyuing God with vvhom there is no acception of persones who giues to euery man according to his workes if in a Kingdome be great enormityes wrongs which are to be corrected amended by the authority of the Prince yet notwithstanding this dignity is intricated for peace and quietnes in his country with vexation of his body disquietnes of mynd heauines of soule anxiety of spirit with solicitude and care night and day and with fear with mand debate without which euidently declare the greatnes of the charge what I pray thee gentle Reader is the charge of the Church of God and the gouernment of the soules of men in comparison of the common estate Is it lesse in effect do not murther fyre robbery witchcraft sodomy buggery theift c. and these and such lyke vexe and molest the wyselt Prince that euer was or shal be to redresse and mend in haste Lykwyse vvhat enormities are in the Church of God No charge more chargable then the charge of soules vvhat leudnesse and wickednesse in the lyues of men vvhat heresie in religion what erroneous opinions what profession of Mahematisme what inclination to Paganisme what Atheisme in conuersation Is this charge easily performed As for the proofe of the temporall gouernment I hope his Maiesty hath sufficient experience vvhill his Maiesty reygned King in Scotland vvhat day lie complaintes of wrongs vvhat iniquity vvas done in the land to no small griefe and vexation of his Maiesties mynd and body And as for the proofe since his Maiesty hath bene King of great Brittany and head of the Church the Oath sworne to his Maiesty to be supreame iudge in all ecclesiasticall causes vvhat Heresies in religion is falne out in Ingland and Scotland vvhat sectes what opinions betwixt the Protestants and Puritans vvith vvhat disquietnes of mynd hath his Maiestie laboured to accord and agree religion amongst them what muny ficeÌ„cy What paynes without be efiâ— hath us maiesty vsed to compâ—se the erâ—ticks among themselues A head ought to be obeyed and giftes had h s Maiesty bestowed on the mynisteres to accord them to h s Maiesties will And pitiarrs and emulat on s remaines yet If his Maiestie be head why is he not obeyed if obedience how is â—here controuersie and sectes should not the members be obedient to the head and all the members dispose their actions to the wit and gouernment of the head that the head and the meÌ„bers may do one thing conformably for wher the head hath his pure vigent power the meÌ„bres should follow his will and conforme their actioÌ„s to his iudgment Therefore all the Sectaries as the Caluinistes Brunistes Puritaues Protestantes should conforme themselues to the vnity of the head his iudgment And yet notvvithstanding all these sectes allovve and condiscende his Maiesty to be head of the Church All the sects in Britane allowe the king for head and yet they will lyue in their owne opinioÌ„ wherby they would make the King a monster and yet they themselues wil be disordered mebers and beleeue their owne erroneous opinions in erecting Altare against Altare in making Schisme and Heresy But more lyckly that they would make and absurdly belieue his Maiesty to be some monster for whilst they acknowledge his Maiestie head of the Church vvhat is this confession els but that they make his Maiestie head of ech heresie and of all dogmaticall doctrine which is maintained permitted or professed in the land and in his maiesties dominions It importes no small charge vnto his Maiesties soule and body to presume and clame to him Presumption a great synne is not left vnpunished the primacy of the Church and her authority which appertayn not to lay-men of whatsoeuer quality they be of for the history of Achaz and others punished for their presumption is doctrine sufficient to all men of whatsoeuer condition not to presume in the office of the Church for Priest and Kings are of sundrie povvers and distinct preheminence for Kings haue power of the body Priests are ouer the soule Kings haue the sword and Priests the Keyes Diuerse are the conditioÌ„s of Kings and Priests Kings are called nurses but Priests are called parentes Kings are to hear and Priests are to teach Kings at the voyce of the Church are to be obedient and not to coÌ„maund but Priestes are Pastors of the Church and the cheif members of it to whom Kings should be obedient as vnto Christ As they are in dignity discrepant so are they in offices and lyckewyse are discrepant in charge the one ouer the body and the other ouer the soule the one caryeth the temporall sword and the other the spirituall What glory can his Maiesty reape by this spirituall gouernmeÌ„t in claming it To be head of the Church the King can get no honour but rather dishonour And what ignominy hereafter may blot his Maiesties fame and eternallize his name for an other presuptuous Achaz which Ipray God auert from his Maiesty and that God of his diuyne goodnes vvould grant him an vnderstading hart to execute the office of a King dutifully and leaue vnto Priestes what belongeth to Priests so shall his Maiesty eternallize his fame name with the rest of his Maiesties Catholyck progenitores As concerning that the Protestants say the Pope is Antichrist That the Pope is Antichrist it agreeth nether with the law of God nor morall reason their assertion standes neyther with the law of God nor with naturall reason For Antichrist doth properly signify an aduersary and an enemy to Christ As S. Aug. sayes with all kynd of malyce and hatred and as LucÌ„ifer was the Captayne and first of all cursed rebelles and for that was named Sathan that is to say an aduersary euen so is Antichrist named by thss proper name as an euemy to Christ and as a chief captayne of all rebellious and accursed Christians For as God of his goodnes was not content to send his Prophets Priests to teach and guyde men to lyfe eternall but at least sent his owne sonne in mans-flesh thereby to work more effectually our saluation Lykewyse on the otherside Sathan shall procure what lyeth
asmuch as he had first by vision that the gentiles also were called to belieue in Christ act 10. For asmuch as God choose that the gentills should first of all hear the word of the Ghospel by S. Peters mouth and should belieue Act. 15. For asmuch as when Peter was in prison prayer was made in the Church for him without intermission Act. 14. For Peter prayer is made by the church Peter decides the question moued about the Law For asmuch as when a sedition was among the disciples in so much that Paul and Barnabas came to the Apostles at Ierusalem to seeke a solution from them and chiefly from Peter and tould the controuersie in the counsell Act. 15. Theod in Epist. ad Leenem For asmuch as Peter did not only first speake but also gaue a determinate sentence that the gentils should not be burdened with the law act 15. For asmuch as S Paul came to Ierusalem to see Peter Gal 1. And that as S. Amb-sayes in com cap. ad Gal. 1. Because he was first and chiefest of the Apostles to whome our Lord had commited the cure of his Church For asmuch as Peter was eyther alone or first or chiefest in the greatest affaires of the Church Chry. in act apost Hom. 21. For asmuch as he was send to possesse with his chayr Rome Peter by Gods prouidence is sent to Rome to possesse that see with his chayre the Mother Church of the Roman Empyre Athan. ad Solit. Vit. Agent Aug de sanct serm 27. Leo serm 1. in nat Pet Paul VVho calleth Rome the Head-city of the world to conquer all superstition Heresie and infidelity For asmuch as his chayr and succession hath bynacknowledged of all the auncient Fathers hath florished there to this present day without interruption of that faith which S. Peter professed and taught as expertence doth bear witnes Conc. Calced act 3. Bern. epist 190. For as Christ excelleth the Angels Heb 1 because God neuer said to any of them as he said to Christ euen so Christ neuer sayd to any of the Apostles as he said to S. Peter Thow shaltbe called Peter or vpon this rock I will build my Church or to thee I will giue the keyes or pay for me and thee or I haue prayed for thee that thy faith fail not feed my sheepe and rule my lambes Matt 16. Luc. 22. Iohn 21. To declare one Pastor and one chayre wherein vnity might be kept of all men The building of Christ Church varieth not but is neuer syk it self least the other Apostles might echone chaleng a chaire to himself Opt. milet lib. 2. de Schism donat So that in Peter himself is this rock and faith of his Church And because the building of Christs Church varithe not after his Ghospell planted but is alwayes lyk it self therefore all Catholyckes belieue that when S. Peter died who was the head coÌ„stitute by Christ another succeeded in his place by ordination of S. Peter All christians belieue the Pope to be the head of the church and confessor of the true faith and consequently the rock of the church vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ Christs militaÌ„te Church might be as stedfastly builded as it had ben once built on S. Peter And seing the Byshop of Rome succeedes S. Peter all Christians doe constantly affirme that the Byshop of Rome is the rock and head of his Church who confesses euermore Christes true faith Vpon which confession of the sea of Rome as vpon a sure rock Christs Church is built VVhervpon Bern. lib. de consid ad Eugen. pp. lib. 2. Other Pastores haue flockes assigned to them euery Pastor one flock to thee all are committed one flock to one sheepheard And not only of the sheep but also of the Pastores thow allone art the Pastor doest thou aske how I proue it by the word of our Lord. For to whom I say not only of the Byshops but also of the Apostles so absolutly without distinction are all the sheep committed as it is said It thow louest me Peter feed my sheep which sheep whether the people of this or of that city or country or certaine kingdome he sayes my sheepe Out of which worde it is euident that Christ did not appoint out some to a particular Pastor but assigned all nothing is accepted wher nothing is distinguished Thus he Therfore seing the pastorall office and authority of S. Peter was ordinary it behoueth that it must go for euer vnto his successors and for asmuch as the Byshop of Rome is that ordinary Pastor who succeedeth in S. Petees chayre and is aboue the rest according to Gods word All ordinary offices goe by succession for when the Church was built on S. Peter and he was made cheif Pastor of the same at what tyme he was in Palestina and not in Rome euen then he was accompted the high Byshop of the circumcision of the faithfull Iewes yet notwithstanding for asmuch as the same Peter at the leÌ„gth setled himself at Rome by Gods appointement and left a successor there as the holy Fathers affirme as Iren. lib. 3. cap. 3. Tertul. de praese And seing he was the rocke promised by Christ vpon whome he should build his Church and also the pastor who as he hath loued Christ more then any other So he had the authority to feed Christ flock more then any other Bâ—shop and seing that power of S. Peter was ordinary it must continue in the Church of God permanent and also it must continue in on chiefe sheepheard only which is the byshop of Rome who ordinarily succedees in the said authority of S. Peter therfore the said supremacy of the byshop of Rome is auouched and taught by Gods owne word Et Cyp. ad iubatan de simplicit prol sayes Christ gaue that authority that there should be no schisme Authority is in the Church that there should be no schisme and breach in vnity and that he might make vnity manifest that the originall of the same vnity may haue his beginning of one And therefore Iren lib. â— aduers Haeret. cap. 3. Speaking of the successions of Byshops in those Churches which the Apostls had first intituled called the church of Rome the greatest Church and most auncient and knowne to all men All Churches concures with the Church of Rome as mother Church Hereticks haue appealed from the affrican counsels to the sea of Rome being planted setled by two most glorious Apostles Peter and Paul and ech Church that is about this must come agree and concurr with her for her mighty principality and gouernement Hereupon S. Cyp. lib. epist 3. confesseth the authority of S. Peter to be at Rome for wheras certain factious persons Heretycks sayled from Cathage to Rome intending to complaine of him and the other Byshops of Africk sayd to Pope Cornelius they dare cary letters from Schismaticall and prophane men to the chayr of Peter and principall Church whence the
priestly vnity began neyther do they consider them to be Romans whose faith is praysed by the Apostles owne mouth to whom infidelity can haue no accesse This he For this Seat Emperours and Kings honoured and reuerenced Ruff. lib. 10. Eccl. Hist. cap. 2 Lykewyse Byshops To the sea of Rome infidelity can haue no accesse and Prelates haue made their appellatioÌ„s to Rome as Cyp. cont epist. Steph. ppae Hist. tripart lib 4. cap 15. Arnob. in ps 106. Opt. mel cont parm Donat lib. 2. Hier. Epist ad Dam. Papa By her authority Generall Counsells haue been indicted and appointed By the authority of the roman see Hereticks Schismaticks are accused No Heretick Byshop euer found in the sea of Rome Schismaticks and Hereticks by the same authority or accursed and condemned In this succession and authority noe Heretick Byshop euer was found as witnes S. Aug. epist. 165. And therefore as S. Aug. sayes to the Donatists in ps cont par donat Come yee bretheren if yee wil be grafted in the vyne it grieues vs when we see youly thus cut of Nomber ye the Byshops euen from the very seat of S Peter and consider who succeded whoÌ„ in that order that himself is the rock which the proud gates of hell do not ouercome What greater testimony can be said for the primacy of the Byshop of Rome and successor of S. Peter whom all good Christians ought to honour and reuerence as the high priest of God and gouernour of his Church OBIECVIO THe Protestants affirme that Peter himself is not called this rock but eyther Christ alone or the faith which Peter confessed is called this rock So that the wordes of the text are thus meant Vpon this faith and confession of thyne which thow hast testified of me vpon this rock which I am or on this stronge faith which is confessed of me I will build my Church And wheresoeuer this faith is there is the rock vpon which Christ buildeth his Church ANSVVER ALbeit the faith coÌ„fession of Christs-goodhead be indeed a most stronge rock wherevpon the Church is builded yet that is not all which Christ meanes at this present For these wordes thow art Peter haue a respect vnto three diuerse tymes First to the tyme past because they are spoken to him who was promised to be called Peter And secondly to the present tyme because they are spoken to him who now confessed Christs-goodhead And thirdly to the tyme to come because they are spoken to him to whom Christ sayes he wil giue the keyes of Heauen and vpon whom he will hereafter build his Church which thing he performed when he sayd to him Peter louest thow me c. Io. 21. For the proposition is qualified with the persone to whome it is spoken and with the diuersity of three tymes To conclude the Protestants deny Peter himself who make the confession te be this rock and deuyde the confession from the promise going immediately before which wrought the effect which ensued after for somuch it is affirmed true but in respect of that which is denyed it is a maine falshood for Christs wordes doe teach that this rocke wherupon Christs Church is built is S. Peter in respect of the promise past present confession and the authority of feeding of Christs sheepe Io. 21. OBIECTIO PETER alone was not made the sheepheard of Christ flock aboue all others but that in him Christ spake to all the Apostles ergo ANSVVER PEter alone is spoken to and commanded to feede Christs sheepe in the presence of al the other Apostles to none of theÌ„ Christ speaketh any thing therof at this tyme. Ergo Peter alone is preferred OBIECTION AL Hereticks cry out that all the Apostles were equall and the rest were the same thing which Peter was which thing say they S. Cyp de vnit Ecclaes doth witnes and lykenwyse the very practise of the Apostles in so much that Paul withstood and reproued Peter who was not one of the twelue Ergo. ANSVVER SAINCT Peter was not only an Apostle in which office duringe their lyues all the Apostles were his equalles but also both chiefe Apostle and also ordinary sheepheard and high Byshop wherin they all were inferiors to him as the members and body to the head Ergo. OBIECTION THe old Catholik Fathers haue written and pronunced that no mortall man as Peter was but Christ himself the sone God can be this head Ergo. ANSVVER IT is manifest false for all the ancient Fatheres agree and affirme that Peter receaued the building of the Church on him as Bas aduers eunom lib. 2. Hilar. lib. 6. de Trinit S. Cyp. ad Iubatan S. Aug. de past S. Hier. lib. 1. de Iouin lâ—b 2. aduers Iouinian Leo in assumpt serm 3. Aug. Epist 165. in Tract Io. 124. OBIECTION SAINCT Aug. de verbis Domint sayes Christ was â—he rock vpon which foundation Peter himself â—as also built Ergo. ANSVVER WHo doth not know that one rock might be built on another the lesse on the greater is not the house of God built of many stones Christ is the chief Rock and the corner-stone vpon him lyeth S. Peter a Rock in comparison of Christ very small in comparison of vs very great Vpon S Peter the rest of the Church which liued vnder him was built who is also a Rock since euery man in his degree is a liuely stone concurring to the building vp of the whole Church which are ioyned togeather and fastned by faith and charity make also a Rock of themselues beside that they are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles 1 Pet 2 1. Cor. 10 Ephes 2. Neyther doth one of these verities contradict or disproue the other Ergo c. OBIECTION VVHEN the Apostles who were in Ierusalem had â—eard that Samarta had receaued the word of God They sent to them Peter and Iohn Act 8. But no man is sent but by a higher power Therfore Peter was not head of the Apostles ANSVVER THe holy Ghost is sayd to be sent of the Father and of the Sone is not yet the holy-Ghost of equal honour and dignity with them Is it therfore because he is sent that he is inferiour But we vnderstand that he is inferior that is sent by commandement Otherwyse equals and superiors are sayd to be sent from theÌ„ at whose request counsel they go chiefly if those from whom they come be of great authority with those to whom they are sent And such was the college of the Apostles in Samaâ—ia For indeed it was much to moue them that the Prince of the Apostles with the beloued disciple of Christ by iudgemeÌ„t and decree of all the Apostles came to their conuersion OBIECTION IT is sayd that Peter did suffer an heauie reprehension of the Apostle Paul Gal. 2. to wit that to his face he withstood him but this was not decent in a subiect or inferior Therfore the Apostle did not acknowledge Peter Superior but a
7. Brent in prolog cont a sotum Cent. Madeb lib 4. cap. 7. ANSVVER I Say no counsell eyther particuler or generall or whatsoeuer Prelates or Byshopes are assembled haue any infallible authority to defyne themselues without the authoritie and approbation of the Byshop of Rome No counsel may of it self define matters of faith without the head Diuers counsels haue erred which we proue manifestly with reason seing suchlyke sometymes without his authority haue erred as the counsell of Ariminense in which counsell were six hundrith Byshops with Arius in which it was defined by thē that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 homousion should not be vsed as an vnproper word which is to say that Christ Iesus in his Godhead is not to beheld consubstantiall to his Father Lykwise the Counsell of Millan which confirmed the Heresie of Arius Neyther this should seeme to any a maruell that two such great Counsells are dispysed and reiected because they are imperfect and lame without a head neyther doe such Counsels represent the vniuersall Church but only the body of the Church without a head Therefore it is not to such lyke coūsells The promises of God are to the head not to the body not to no particular member that the infallible promises of Gods diuyne assistance in defining matters of Faith are promised and effected but only to the head who by lawfull ordination hath receaued from Christ immediate power and authority to defyne matters of faith as head of the Church So that the body cannot defyne any thing without the head In the head is the sensitiue power to rule the body seing in the head are the sēsitiue powers of the body Therefore the body is vnder the gouernement of the head and not contrariwyse the body to rule the head Moreouer whatsoeuer counsell hath ioyned to it the authority and approbation of the Byshop of Rome is of infallible authority whether it be general prouincial The counsel of Ierusalem is a paterne to all other lawfull counsels or national because the decrees and definition of the counsell of Ierusalem are called the decrees of the holy-Ghost who cannot erre In which counsell it is sayd it is seen good to the holy Ghost and to vs. Act. 15. v. 28. For this cause all other counsels lawfully assembled may say the same words representing the vniuersall Church because that counsell was the forme and exemplar of all other counsels lawfully gathered with the authority of the head As also because no lesse necessary is the assistāce of the holy ghost in these letter dayes then he was in those dayes but now more necessary because of the greater breaking out of Heresies Greater reasōs are in these tymes to gather coūsels then were in the dayes of the Apostles which shall deny our Lord that hath bought vs bringing on themselues swift damnation not knowing what they professe and lyuing lyk brute-beastes only seaking their pleasures and liberty without contradiction of a superior power For which causes generall counselles are vsed to be ordayned that they may suppresse and extinguish such new nouelties and Hereticall opiniōs which from the beginning of the Church by generall counselles with the head as chief Pastor and vicar of Christ haue byn damned accursed So that aswell by Scripture as reason it concludeth that whatsoeuer counsell is gathered lawfully and hath the authority of the Pope Counsels approued by the Pope are infallible is infalible that in one word I shall make it euident that euer in the Church that auncient costume hath bene that whatsoeuer decreetes of a Synode were concluded were euer sent to the Byshop of Rome to be confirmed Counsels remit their decree and examination with the Hereticks books to the Pope to be censured by his iudgement and approued So that S. Aug. Epist 90. beareth witnes of the counsell of Chartage wrytting in these wordes to Innocent Byshop of Rome saying vnto our most blessed Father and honourable brother Holy Innocent Pope VVe Aurelius Mundinus Rusticanus Fidentius and the rest who were present in the Counsell at Carthage and after cōmemoration of those who were present and of those things which were decreed in the counsell against Pelagius they add these words following Lord and holy Brother we haue thought good to intimate to thy charity what we haue done that the authority of the Apostolick seat may be annexed to the statutes of our iudgementes and meaning for the defence of the saluation of many and the correction of the peruersitie of some others as also the Heretical booke of Pelagius and the answer of the Catholyck Fathers we haue sent vnto thy holynes to be adiudged The same lykewise This infallibility is ascrybed to the assistance of the holy Ghost S. Aug. doth witnes in his epist 92. 95. for we doe not ascrybe this infallibilitie to the Byshopes and Fathers gathered togeathe in the counsell for that they are many or learned men but to the promise of the assistance of the holy Ghost as Matth. 18. v. 20. 28. v. 66. Which assistance of the holy Spirit we belieue you not to haue in your synodes wherin lyke manner men are foūd This holy Ghost no Heretycks are assisted with where also is found men and noe Angels The Protestant counsels are left without determination and worse then they be good Luther sets at nought all counsels and condemnes the Canons of Nyce and not Angels neyther Prophets nor Euangelistes but very men with whome the spirit of dissention makes matters indeterminate and without conclusion amongst you And moreouer wherefore giues your Bretheren such obedience and are in subiection vnto your pseudo Byshops as to a spirituall and higher power and accept of their decrees seing they are lyke our Catholicke Byshops in name mortall men whose lyues are knowne to all men Therefore we haue attributed infallibility of the counsels to the assistance of Gods holy spirit and not to man which if Luther in his booke of counsels would haue behoulden with a pure eye would not haue broken out in that bitternes to accurse and blaspheme the counsels with which he sets at nought the Canones of that holy counsel of Nyce which in all former tymes hath been esteemed soe venerable in the Church of God tearming all the articles of this counsell to be but haye stubble and strawe Kemnitius will examine the counsell of Trent after his spirit To augment this did not Kemnitius a Lutherā a prophane temerous fellowe wryte the examen of the counsell of Trent in which was so many learned men and all are tryed and examined of him In which doing they not only violate and transgresse the diuyne law of God which law commaundes all men to seek the knowledge of the law of the mouth of the Priestes Hereticks trāsgresse the law of God and imperiall ordinances of man as Mal. 2. but also the humane law of Martian the Emperour which commaundes