their part for all these things are common to the pope and his white sonne the king of Spaine they are their continuall meditations dooth not this sufficientlie proue their cruell malice So that their proude practises and cruell purposes which are two of the fruits of the supremacie of the popes that I haue spoken of are plaine enough euen in our dayes we may see with our eyes the proofe of the same by almost dayly examples But their greedie mindes and couetous affections doe not appeare to vs so plainely as vnto our fathers vnto whom they were an intollerable burthen as I haue shewed before And although we nothing doubt but the fat morsels which they vnderstand their predecessours haue plucked from this land doe make the popes that haue beene in our dayes more eager to get such like againe yet God hauing deliuered vs from the rauening pawes and iawes of that Romish Lion the Lord make vs truly thankefull and in life fruitfull for this his inestimable mercie we feele not the griefe of his exactions But this I trust sufficeth to decalre that the power which the pope vnlawfully hath gotten he vnreasonably abuseth making it a wicked and vngodly meane to crowe ouer princes to fill his coffers and to execute his reuenges And now that the pope was come to that that hee might doe euen what he would to satisfie his proude greedie and cruell lusts he thought it good for him to dwel and continue alwayes in that lawlesse estate And therefore did he not onely striue by all the power and policie that he had and with all his indeuour to maintaine the same for the time present but also did prouide some meanes to maintaine it as hee hoped for euer And to performe this they haue had no small helpe by priuileges and grauntes from princes who at the first when bishops of Rome and others also did applie themselues in some measure to perfourme their duetie were willing to the better incouraging of them to goe on forwardes in well doings and that those worldly things should not be to them any let or hinderance in their callings that were a burthen vnto other they were willing I say to exempt them from such seruices and duties as they required of other to be don vnto them And because that at the first when Christianity began to increase and grow mightie no doubt many that were secret enemies and yet durst not when the Emperors had by law established the christian profession accuse any man for their religion would then lay other faults to their charges and obiect other crimes to bring the Gospel into contempt as appeareth by Tertullian Iustin the Martyr and others that they did when religion was yet professed in corners Now it is not vnlikely but that godly princes to exempt them from such flaunders and reproches would commit the hearing of those accusations vnto such as were of best credite among themselues that when their enemie did see that their accusations were not like to be fauoured vnlesse they were sufficiently proued they might be discouraged from defaming them with vniust reports But howsoeuer these immunities were graunted vnto them at the first or on what consideration I wil not precisely set downe But afterwards I am sure they tooke them as their owne right and that they did alwayes belong vnto them And therefore when as the Emperour would haue taken vpon him to haue iudged of some causes of cleargie men pope Iohn sheweth that hee must not so doe and telleth him boldly but falsely that the almightie God will haue the clearkes and priests of Christian religion to be ordered examined and receiued when they returne from errour not by publike lawes or powers of this world but of bishops and priests Christian emperors saith he must submit their executions to prelates and not preferre them Whereupon the glosse doth gather that the cleargie was neuer vnder the secular power and therfore that all the constitutions that are made that clearks should not be iudged by any but by bishops are but declarations of that their former right And in the same distinction the verie next chapter that pope Iohn is not ashamed to affirme that Christian princes were woont to be obedient to bishops and to how downe their neckes to them And afterwards there is in Gratian a whole treatise to this purpose to proue that as is their alledged out of Caius the Pope no man must presume so much as to accuse before a secular iudge a bishop or any clearke I need not alledge to this end many testimonies These are as plaine as need to be He that would see mo testimonies to this effect let him looke the first question of the eleueuh cause in Gratian he shall see it affirmed with full mouth But how vntruly in a word may be declared And first how false that is which he affirmeth that princes haue alwaies submitted themselues vnto priests there is no colour of truth in it if we examine the shamelesse lie either by the scriptures or by the examples of the emperors and kings in the primitiue church For Moses was the ciuill magistrate and Aaron was the priest Did Moses submit himselfe to Aaron No did he not rather on the contrarie reprooue him as at other times so especially concerning the golden calfe which he caused to be made And did not Aaron in token of his submission to Moses call him his Lord And why did God deliuer the law and the order for all the sacrifices and ceremonies and all the seruices that were commaunded rather by Moses to Aaron and the people Moses being the ciuill magistrate then by the ministerie of Aaron who was appointed to be the priest Did not God hereby testifie that he would haue the ciuill magistrate to haue a speciall regard vnto the things that belong to Gods seruice Was not Abiathar the high priest at the commaundement of Salomon when at the commaundement of Salomon the king he was put from the office of the high priest and the king made Zadocke high priest in his roome But out of manie examples let these suffice for the time before Christ S. Paul when he saith Let euerie soule be subiect to the higher powers teacheth vs that we must not looke that they should submit them selues vnto vs but how sincerely we should obey them And what is meant by the higher powers saint Peter telleth vs that the king is chiefe then other gouernours vnder him And these are the superiour powers which saint Paul meaneth of as if need were might hee proued by all antiquitie If we looke vpon the bishops that were in the time of Constantine and a good while after their stories will teach vs that they as humbly as they could submitted themselues to Emperours and princes called them Lordes intreated them with all submission Yea and Leo the third pope of that name eight hundred yeares after
16. Li. 2. cap. 13. The popes legate taken with falsifying Li. 2. cap. 25. Conc. Afric cap. 5 No appeales to the pope Iohn 6. 27. eph 1 22. matth 17. 5. 1. pet 2. 25. Ioh. 14. 16 17. 1. Pet. 5 3. 1. Sam. 2. Num. 16. 2. Helping the distressed churches in their neede Gen. 28. 1. Sam. 21. 10. Matth. 2. 14. Concil Tom. 1. Ad Hemerium Terracon epum. Concil Tom. 1. Decret Innocen Tom. 1. Concil Epist ad Hefich Tom. Concil â— Their bu◠〈◊〉 of mens 〈…〉 â—â—ences The two first steps to the popes supremacy Conncils against supremacy Constantinople stroue for it Phâ—â—as his decre 〈…〉 The 〈◊〉 step vnto the popes supremacy The fourth step He depriueth the Emperour of hauing any thing to doe in the popes election Ioh Rioche compend Hist Benno a Card. of the life and acts of Hildebrand The profe of the supremacy out of gods woâ—d weake and suspected Phocas his decree they thought a reason scarce homest enough The donation Constantine Ce pontif Rom. Lib. 4. cap. 17. lib. 5. cap. 9. Ibidem Pant. 1. Tit. 8. c. 1. L. 3. of catholike concord Themselues agree not to what pope it was giuen Caus 12. q. 1. ca. faturam Cron. Euseb Impossibilities in the donation Conci Constant 1. cap. 2. Niceph. li. 7. c. 34. Theod. li. 1. ca. 16 The imitation of the emperours court for officers Lib 2. epist 100 Tom. concil 2. concil 6. Act. 4. Epist 2. The sift step to supremacy the debasing of princes Platina in const In Constantin The controuersie concerning images In Greg. 3. Reuel 19. 16. Math. 28. 18. Mark 9. 33. 35. Their practises to keepe them great still Epitom Eron Pcriury to speake truth of the pope Presat in Expos Simbol Apostol Power of the keies Releasing subiects of their duty of obedience Immunities of the clergy Shrift Ignorance What it is in the Romish language to beleeue the church The scriptures ether quite taken away or corrupted Ignorance say they mother of deuotion â— Kings 6 19. Ignorance at this day cause of much euill Pardons and agnus deis Marke 8. 24. Declarat contra Nauar. Conâ—â— A potterne of the holy father of Rome Lib. 2. cap. 31. 〈◊〉 2. cap. 12. Ephes 1. Lib. 2. cap. 31. Match 23. 9. Vniuersall bish Actione 3. Bellar ans to that we obiect out of the odious name of vninersal bishop Vniuersal bishop an only bishop A reply against that answere Tom 2. anno 187 De bonis operib in part li. 2. c. 24. Most holy Conc. Chale actione 3. obiect Answer The title of Most holy giuen to sundry Li. 5. Nullitate 11 Christs vicor Christ hath many vicars 2. Cor. 5. â—0 The spirit Christ vicat generall Ioh. 14. 16 17. Father Iames 1. 18. 1. Pet. 1. 23. The bridgroome of the church Vbi peticulum de electione in sexto Cap. Quoniam de Immunit m 6. â— Cor. 11. 2. Epist 237. Bellar. answ to that place of Bernard The reply against his answere Ioh. 3. 29. August in Ioh. Tract 13. Hom. 28. Panorm in l. licet de electione extra ex hostiensi The pope and Christ haue one wife make one consistory Seruant of Gods seruants Gen. 9. 25. Why these names are giuen to the Pope The Pope god Extrauag Iob. 22. Dist 96. â— Satic Psal 82 1 6. Caus 11. q. 1. cap. Sacerdotibus Act Rom. pontif Ioh. â—a Popes saucy with God Psal 53. 1. Psâ—l 49. 20. Cono. Trident. li 2. 〈◊〉 1. num 3. Esa 14. 14. 2. Thessal 2. 3. Dist 40. cap. Non nor Ind. expurgat Matth. 23. 8. Iam. 3. 1. The pope teacheth vs of his owne obiection Answere Ioh. 16. 13. What the spirit teacheth The pope controleth gods word Heb 13. 4. 1. Cor. 7. 2. 9. Mat. 26. 52. 53. Killing of princes meritorious in the popes court Interdictum regni franciae p 67. Rioche Compeâ— temporum in Iulio 2. 1. Pet. 3. 11. Mat. 5. 9. Mat. 5. 〈◊〉 Deuter. 12. 32 Doctrines beside the word Matth. 15. 3 6. 9 Psalm 12. 4. Luth. tom 1. Loc. com de eccl Dist 40. c. si pâ—p Leuit. 20. 20. Leuit. 18. 9. Yo' doubt of the popes supremacie is heresie against God In his inuectiue answer to the English Iustice our sins deserue great plagues Iames 2. 1. The pope forgiueth sinnes God onely can pardon sinnes 1. Iohn 3. 4. Tibi soli peceaui Iob. 14. 4. Esa 43. 25. The ministery of â—econciliation Esa 1. 18. Popery a doctrine of licentiosnesse Ioh. 3. 1â— Rom. 3. 28. Plat. in Bonif. 8. Sleid. li. 21. Plat. in Clem. 6 Marke 2. 7. 1. Pet. 1. 18 19. Another abuse The generall promise of pardon Act. Rom. pontif Mart. 5. Pardon to the penitent Esay 48. 22. Luke 7. Luke 19. 8. Matth. 16. 75. Plaeina Num. 33. 55. Funct Cronol an 686. The popes contention with his brethren The Emperours debarred for hauing any thing to do in the election of the Pope Sigeb Cronic â—nno 773. A pope acknowledgeth the emperour to haue supremacie Dist 63. C. Quia sanct Rom. Pope Steuen the fourth abuseth scripture Rioche Compeâ— temporum Dist 63. C Ego Ludouicus The emperor put from their councils by the pope Dist 96. C. Vbinaâ— Dist 28. C. Consulendum Dist 28. C. consuâ—end â—m â—lâ—â—gie not to be iudged by lay men Funct An. 885. Dist 63. in Synodo The emperours tight restored The Romish shifâ— to debar the emperor for maintaining his right in the elections Panta ex blondo Election by Cardinals Plat in Pasch 2. Plat. in Gelas 2. The emperour confirmed by the Pope Plat. in Innoc. 3. A popelike policie Acts Rom. pontif The popes controll emperours Brut â—ulmen ex Nauâ—l Esâ—c 28. â— Many vile means to get the papacy Hebr. 5. 4. None should without calling take any place Ioh. 10. 1 10. Ier. 14. 13. Ier. 23. 21. Ier. 29. 8. Ioh. 6. 38. Ioh. 1. 19 Ioh. 20. 21. Act. 9. 4. 1. Cor. 15. 10. Bald. In 6. l. Impetrata C. Sententiam rescindi non posse Num. â— â—elin in l. 4. de iureiuran extra in principio Dist 79 C. Si quis pecunia Plat. in Nicoâ— Plat. in Damaso Li. 4. oist c. 29 li. 6. cap. 23. Hieron in cron Socrat. hist eccl li. 4. ca. 62. Plat. in Bonif. 1. Sigeb Crou â—asâ—ie tempor Plat. in Syâ— Bergom A king maketh a pope Rioche Plat. in Bonif. â— fascic tempor Bergomates fascicul tempor A pope made by the gouernour Bergomates Stella A lay man made pope Plat. in Steph. 3. Bargom fascic tempor Blat in M. 2. Abbas Vrsp Platina Bergomat Rioche Platina in Leo. 5. Rioche fascic tempor Platina in Serg. Bale ex Petro Premonstratens Rioche fasci tâ—m â—ergom Act. Roman pontif Fasciul temp Bergom Rioche Plat. fascicul temp Platina fascicul temp Popes murthered but not marâ—ired A pope a theefe Rioche fascicul temp Rioche Bâ—rgom Rioche Rioche Bergomateâ— fascicul tempor fascicu tempor Rioche Elections in worldly respects Rioche Bergomates Stella fascicul
fathers Thus we see that in as plaine termes as they can deuise this Councill doeth oppose themselues to that which the Bishop of Rome did seeke to obtaine And thus it appeareth how vntruely the church of Rome hath delt very long since to exalt her selfe aboue others and to maintaine her owne pride And how shee hath in the times of those learned fathers beene bridled in their councils Wherein they haue set downe lawes to mitigate and keepe vnder their immoderate affections how soeuer they would sometimes write or speake of them or to them that were bishops of Rome for the peace of the church and the reuerence of the persons being men often times indued with very good gifts and such as by their acquaintance and credit being in the imperiall citie did helpe many that were distressed Now therefore let vs yeld that honour to him onely whome God hath sealed that he be acknowledged the head of his church the lawe maker to his people the sheapheard to his flocke Let vs receaue no other vicar to snpply his roome but that spirit of truth which God our gracious father shall giue and which shall abide with vs for euer But as for them that without any good warrant of Gods word or sufficient calling from God claime to be as kings and loue to liue as lords ouer Gods heritage detest them as the proud off-spring of Corah Dathan and Abiram or rather as the wicked sonnes of Ely that did as themselues would yea as men that are enemies to Gods lawes vsurpers of Christs office despisers of all authoritie abusers of all maiestie and therefore most perillous plagnes to christian princes And thus much to examine how iust a title the pope hath or how iust a claime he may make to be supreame head of the Church The second part of the Suruey of the Popes Supremacie which is a proofe of his Practises NOw that it plainly appeareth in the first part of this Treatise to them that doe not wincke with their eyes against the trueth that this Supremacie that the Bishop of Rome most prowdely abuseth hath not any ground in the worde of God as is seene partely by the weakenesse of their owne arguments and partly because the fathers being assembled together in their generall councils some of them more then foure hundred and fiftie yeares after Christ haue taught vs the contrarie it is necessary for the better vnderstanding of this matter yea for the more detestation of their vniust authoritie that something bee said of the second part of this Treatise which is a proofe or examination of the popes practises But herein I must consider of two pointes First how and by what meanes they got vnto that high estate wherein nowe they are Secondly after what manner they haue vsed themselues in the same In fewe wordes how they haue ruled And because the church of Rome was not sodainely or in one instant aduanced to this place of excessiue pride and insatiable ambition wherein she now challengeth rule and dominion ouer al that professe christianitie it wil not be amisse but a thing very pertinent to this my purpose to see by what steps the pope hath come to such height by what practises he hath attained to such honour Whereas therefore the godly fathers of the primitiue church did many times stand in neede of the help or counsel or comfort of the good Bishops of Rome that were in their times and as occasions fell out were forced somtimes to flee to them for succor who also found reliefe at their hands very often the ages succeeding did interpret this charitable affection and performance of christian duety in these godly Bishops of Rome to be not so much tokens of the loue towards all as of their power ouer all And yet a man may be as good as he will to them ouer whom he hath no power at al. Although therefore we neither can nor will deny that which the Author of the Apologie for the English Seminaries doth so confidently pronounce that the famous fathers called for aide comfort and counsell in their distresses of the bishop of Rome yet iustly we may and for the trueâ—hs sake we must affirme that this seeking for these causes to the bishop of Rome doth not prooue him to haue authoritie ouer all but onely that at such times he had better meanes to helpe the distressed then they that sought vnto him had to releeue themselues But many times the godly are forced to flie for aide as these men did whom the Apology nameth as Cypr. Atha Chrys Aug. Basil Ierom Miletius Theod. to men worse theÌ„ themselues as Iacob to Laban from the wrath of Esau and Dauid to the Philistins to auoide Saâ—â—s rage and Ioseph with Christ to escape the bloudy hands of Herod went into Egypt But if any man desire more particularly to be informed in y e special causes that moued these godly men to make sute to the B. of Rome let him reade that learned answer that Bilson hath made vnto the said apologie he is too wilfull if he be not satisfied for this point Now some B. of Rome though otherwise good men were pufe vp with some prowd conceit of their authoritie when they saw such famous and godly men were driuen to seeke for their help as it may appeare by their owne words if they be their words which go abroad in their name for their Epistles and decrees As Damasus in his fourth epistle writing vnto prosper the B. of the first seat in Numidia and other bishops commendeth theÌ„ that in all matters that may be doubtfull they refer themselues to him as to the head to giue them answere And it is no great maruell though Damasus woulde write or speake much for the dignity of his place for comming to the which he did striue euen to the death of a great number of christians Siricius then commeth next after him who taketh vpon him to threaten to pronounce sentence against such as wil do otherwise then he would haue them And Innocentius writing to the bishops of macedony findeth himselfe grieued and thinketh that that church of Rome to which he telleth them they shoulde haue regard as to their head is wronged because they did not at the first yeelde to his iudgement The like might be said of many other of them Whereby appeareth that they who at the first were intreated by some godly men by such means as God had giuen them to help them in their need at the length tooke vpon them to commaund others to stand to their orders and decrees Insomuch as they also gaue out their decrees which they would binde al to obserue as partly appeareth in Siricius and Innocentius and partly also in others it will be more plaine It sauoureth of too great an arrogaâ—â—y that Zosimus another pope threatneth seuerity if any despise the apostolike authority So did Leo so did pope a afterward