these hauty speaches in Leo and I thinke that the Mistery of iniquity so wrought through his ambitious adaduancing Peter that of the Egges which he cherished two of the most venemous Cockatrices were bred that euer poysoned the Church of Christ The one the Popes Supremacy c. The other the worshiping of Saints 31. What sayth he of Saint Hierome Hierome to Reyn. c. 4. diuis 3. fol. 134. Hieron ad Aug. ep 11. inter ep Aug. Reyn. c. 4. diuis 1. fol. 133. Rein. c. 4. diuis 1. fol. 116. 117. mayntaine his quarrell agaynst Augustine wrote of affection more what he fancied then of discretion what be thought And when we Catholikes alleadge that sentence of his Paul not had security of preaching the Ghospell vnlesse it had beene approued by the sentence of Peter c. Mayster Reynolds answereth That we discouer the nakednesse of the Fathers c. And prayse the beauty of their blemishes and thinke them best clad when they are naked most Thus of Saint Hierome What of Saint Chrysostome That which Peter might haue done as Chrysostome supposeth would infer a greater Primacy then Peter had if it were true but the Scripture sayth it not The Fathers write some thinges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of prayse and commendation c. Wherein if their words should be rigorously sifted Reyn. c. 4. diuis 3. fol. 132. cap. 4. diuis 2. fol. 123. Ibid. c. 7. diuis 9. fo 285. Bern. l. 2. de Conside the truth is somtymes ouerlashed Of Maximus of Isidore of Theodoret what Father Maximus did dote Isidore ouershot himselfe by slip of memory Theodoret serued his owne cause 32. Is Saint Gregory then Is Saint Bernard of more credit with him Gregory quoth he was somewhat troubled Gregory had a louing affection to Rome Will you giue me leaue to thinke of him as Christ of Peter That he knew not what he sayd That worthy passage is cited out of Saint Bernard vvriting of Eugenius Thou art the Prince of Bishops thou the Heyre of the Apostles Thou art for Primacy Reyn. c. 6. Diuis 4. fol. 226. Abel for gouernement Noe for Patriarch-ship Abraham for order Melchisedech for dignity Aaron for authority Moyses for Iudgement Samuel for power Peter for vnction Christ. Mayster Reynoldes answereth Your men esteeme this place of Bernard very highly and make a feast of it I maruell they are not ashamed to alleadge it For to call the Pope heyre of Saint Peter it were a great excesse of speach much greater to call him heyre of the Apostles But to call him Christ that is so great that any modest man who were Bernardes friend would rather lay his cloake vpon it then discouer it much lesse make boast of it Was euer heard a more audacious fellow who durst open his mouth agaynst heauen it it selfe and disgrace the vvritinges of so many Saints 33. And who art thou O Reynoldes that I should belieue thee before those Cyprians those Chrysostomes those Gregoryes those Bernardes whome thou reprouest Who art thou that I shold rather iudge the greatest faults in them then the least spot or blemish in thee Shall I deeme Leo ambitious Hierome naked Gregory troubled Cyprian to haue varyed from the word of God and only Reynoldes to haue vnderstood it aright Can any man be perswaded that Chrysostome ouerlashed Maximus doted Isidore ouershot himselfe Theodoret serued his own cause and Iohn Reynoldes spake sincerly that Bernards shame deserued a cloake and Reynoldes beauty was worthy to be displayed Can a man thinke so many godly Popes miscaryed with affection all Ecclesiasticall Hystories wide and only Reynoldes to hit the marke Truly he were eyther sottishly peruerse or frowardly blind whosoeuer would seeme so partiall on his side whosoeuer I say vpon the slanderous deposition of such a faythlesse witnesse should depriue the Pope of his soueraygne dignity ouer the whole Church which God and his Saintes haue imparted vnto him The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE THE TWELVTH CONTROVERSY FREETH The true worshippe of Saints of their Shrines and Reliques from Idolatry Agaynst D. Bilson D. Reynoldes and D. Fulke CHAP. 1. THE Prince of darknesse our professed enemy as he alwayes enuyed the glory of God and repined at the felicity and happynesse of man so he euer sought to impayre the honour of the one deface the dignity preheminence of the other To this end he leuied See Irae l. 1. c. 22. ler. in Catal Epip baer 68. his infernall forces first agaynst the Diuine Maiesty it selfe agaynst the first person in Trinity stying vp Simon Magus Basilides and others to deny the first article of our Creed That God the Father created beauen and earth Then agaynst the second person he banded Ebion Chrinthus Arius who robbed our Sauiour Christ of his Diuinity and Equality with his Father Agaynst the third he armed Concil 2. Constant cont Mac. Ambr. l. 1. de fide c. 1. 2. c. Macedonius who impiously impugned the Diuinity of the holy Ghost Agaynst them all iointly Sebellius who wickedly gainsayed the distinction of the Persons But when this diabolicall battery could no way preuayle he mounted his Ordinance agaynst the blessed Angels and Saintes of God He suggested Eustachius in the yeare of Basil in orat con Sabellium our Lord 300. Eunomius and Vigilantius about the same tyme to fight agaynst the honour the vniuersall Church exibited vnto the happy soules which raygne in heauen whose poyson Wicklisse after swallowed vp and is now disgorged by M. Caluin M. Bilson M. Reynoldes M. Fulke Calu. l. 1. Inst c. 11. §. 11. Bils 4. p. pag. 157. 561. 571. Rey. de ldol Rom. Eccl. 1. l. c. 8. Fulke in c. 14. Act. sect 2. in c. 19. Apoc. sect 4. Rey. ibid. c. 6. 8. and all moderne Protestants chiefly vpon this fond perswasion That there be only two sorts of honours Ciuill and Dixine the one proper to God the other peculiar to mortall men And seeing the seruants of God already departed cannot be reuerenced with Ciuill honour because they are absent nor with Diuine for feare of Idolatry no true worship but only as M. Reynoldes yieldeth an honest commemoration or decem burialt can belong vnto them This is the maine ground of M. Caluin of M. Fulke of whosoeuer which being once razed the Rampier of their defence and Fortresse of their folly is wholy ouerthrowne 2. First then I will deduce out of the cause it selfe and off-spring from whence honour ariseth out of Scriptures reasons vndeniable another kind of worship besides Ciuill and Godly which without danger of Idolatry may be allotted to Saintes Albeit Aristotle sayth Adoration and honour is in him that honoureth yet it hath for Etb 9. c. 2. his marke and obiect the excellency of the person worshipped in testimony whereof this signe of reuerence is submissiuely exhibited And therefore as there be three sortes of
place with which our Aduersaryes vrge vs and we easily retorte vpon them turning the points of their weapons against their owne breasts two thinges he obserued he reprehended the imperious haughty manner of ruling ordinarily practised by worldly Princes he instructed them in another course of gouerning which he purposed to plant among them In the former he vseth generall Qui maior est invobis Reyn. in his Confer c. 2. diuis 2. pag. 105. Reyn. ibid. Vos autem non sic or non ita erit inter vos as S. Matthew readeth Matth. â—0 v. 26. Luc. 22. v. 26. tearmes and speaketh to them in common Vos au em c. but you in the latter particuler wordes directing his speach to one he that is greater In the former he teacheth them all to humble themselues and not to thirst after earthly preferments in the latter he doth not only teach humility to all as Reynolds would likewise slip away but he also deliuereth an instruction to one how to behaue himselfe in gouernment In the former I accord with him that he debarreth them all from being such Lords from such proud dominion as he there rebuketh and therefore purposely sayth But you not so in the latter he approueth a distinct manner but directly establisheth a superiority amongst them saying He that is the greater among you let him become as the younger He doth not say he that would be as in S. Mathews Ghospell but he that is nor he that is the greaterouer others but he that is the greater among you Among you my Apostles among you in the midst of whome I the Leader haue bin like him that wayteth so he whom I shall leaue as chiefe among you let him follow my example and be as the waiter 13. Shall I heere pose M. Bilson shall I pose M. Reynolds what this instruction meant was it addressed to some one amongst the Apostles designed to be head or not if they answer it was as maugre all violent constructions or coloured glosses the Text it selfe doth speake Then there was one to be a Greater a Leader a Captaine or Prince amongst them as the Greeke * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word †Dirosh that is Princeps a Prince in Syriack in which language our Sauiour spak Luc. 22. 31. 32. Syriacke openeth if not if it appertayned to none how will they free the wisdome of God from letting fall those superflouous words from teaching a lesson proposing an example giuing an instruction which no way belonged to any of his audience how followeth that sudden digression immediatly hereupon Simon behold Sathan hath required to haue you for to sift as Wheat but I haue praied for thee that thy faith faile not and thou once conuerted confirme thy brethren How is this saying connected with the former discourse this conuersion of our Sauiours speach at the same time to Peter this redoubling of his name this mention of the praier he made for him of the authority of strengthning his brethren giuen to him vnlesse he he were the man appointed to be head and Amb. lib. 10. in c. 22. Luc. posteaquam inquit fleuisti erectus es vt alios regeres qui te ipse non rexeras Arnobius in Psal 138. Rein. c. 5. diuis 3. Mat. 10. 2. Beza in Annot. Noui Test Anâ—o Domini 1556. Mat. 16. Act. 2. Act. 10. Act. 3. Act. 4. Act. 21 Act. 1. chiefe of them all Which S. Ambrose flatly auoucheth speaking thus vnto Peter After thou hast wept thou art raised vp that thou maiest rule and gouerne others who didest not gouerne thy selfe And Arnobius Help it affoarded to the Apostle penitent who is the Bishop of Bishops and a greater degree is restored to him weeping then was taken from him denying c. that he might not only be assured to haue recouered that which he had lost but also to haue gotteÌ„ more by repeÌ„ting then euer he lost by denying 14. Further whensoeuer the Euangelists rehearse the Catalogue of the Apostles S. Peter is named first which M. Reynolds basely conceiting surmiseth to be for that he was like the fore-man of the quest in Iuries But S. Matthew expresseth it to be because he was indeed in the number of the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Primus that is The first a word so significant in Latin and Greeke as Beza suspecteth it to haue beene foisted into the text by some fauourer of Peters Primacie Not only in naming in sundry others extraordinary graces he is priuiledged as the first or chief of the Apostles He was the first who acknowledged and openly confessed the Diuinity of Christ the first who preached vnto the Iewes the first who conuerted the Gentiles the first who confirmed his doctrine with a famous miracle the first who resisted the Synagogue the first who increased the Church with three thousand at one time the first who riseth the first who propoundeth the first who concludeth in the middest of his brethren 15. Finally the Scripture teacheth that only Peter Mat. 17. Mat. 14. Luc. 5. was matched with Christ in the paiment of tribute Only Peter walketh with him vpon the waters Only Peter recei ueth Christ into his barge Only out of Peters boat doth our Sauiour teach and instruct the people Only Ioa. 21. Act. 12. Luc. 22. Leo serm 3. de assump sua ad Pontif. Luc. 5. v. 4. Amb. l. 5. in c. 5. Luc. Gal. 1. 18. Oecum in eum loc Chrysost hom 87. in IoaÌ„ Amb. in huÌ„c loc Peters death and Passion was foretold by Christ For Peter alone praier is made by the Church without intermission To Peter alone infallible assurance was giuen to strengthen others in faith To Peter alone our Sauiour said Duc in altum Launch forth into the deepe that is as S. Ambrose interpreteth In profundum disputationum Into the maine depth of all disputations of all hidden mysteries of our beliefe To see Peter alone S. Paul came to Hierusalem He came as to his greater saith Oecumenius As to the mouth and chiefe of the Apostles S. Iohn Chrysostome As to the first amongst the Apostles to whome our Sauiour committed the charge of the Church S. Ambrose Few Iuries I ween will performe the like office or yield such dignity to the Foreman of their Quest 16. But if you will see the Primacy of Peter more liuely expressed consider the actions he accomplished after the ascension of Christ and you shall euery where behold him practising his soueraigne authority To publish the deposition of one Bishop and election of another in the Colledge of the Apostles is proper to the chiefe Act. 2. and highest Apostle S. Peter pronounced Iudas to haue lost his Bishopricke and proposed another to be chosen in his roome To condemne vnto death without checke or controlment belongeth to the chiefe and highest Iudge S. Peter condemned Ananias and Saphira for their sacriledge Act. 5. Act. 8. Aug. l. de
to the rule of many It was a Monarchy when Christ alone planted and founded it a Monarchy when Peter ruled it and is it now fallen to a more vnperfect forme of gouernment The Common-wealth of the Romans which flourished aboue all others was at last vtterly ruined by her manifold alterations by altering the sterne of regiment from Kings to ten Gouernours from them to Consuls from Consuls to Tribunes of souldiours from Tribunes to Dictatours from Dictatours to Trium-viri and could not our heauenly Law-maker preuent in his spirituall Common-wealth these great inconueniences Would he subiect his Church to such chops and changes to be gouerned first by one then by many after by more now by the Cleargy then by the Laity one while by Bishops then by Kings and Princes heere by Women there by Children whome you make heads and Gouernours of your Church Daniel prophesied that the God of Heauen would raise a kingdome which should neuer be dissolued and the Angell Gabriel foretould it should neuer haue end But neither the wordes of the Prophet nor voice of the Angell do you regard who rent and deuide the kingdome of Christs Church into as many seuerall Common-wealthes as there be seuerall Kinges seuerall Courts of Parlament seueral estates and manners of gouernement absolute and independant in the whole Christian World 6. The Synagogue of the lewes long triumphed in the lineall succession of her High Priests First in Aaron next in Eleazarus then in Phinees and in others after him vntill the end and abrogation of the Law and is it not meete the Church of Christ should glory in the like Being Heb. 8. v. 6 established in better promises and hauing greater necessity theÌ„ euer the Synagogue had For we find by experience many strifes contentions daily happen among the people of God who shal appease quiet theÌ„ The Bishops But how often do they arise among the Bishops themselues The Primates and Patriarches And what if they be also at variance as Flauianus and Dioscorus Cyrillus and Nestorius Euphemius and Petrus Mogus were The temporall Prince or Ciuill Magistrate But they ought not to intermedle with Ecclesiasticall affaires their factions may be more dangerous then any of the former To whome shall we then repaire To a Generall Councell But who shall sommon who shall order who shall direct and guide this Assembly What if they decline from the truth as the Councell of Ariminum the Councell of Milan the second Councell of Ephesus did who shall iudge their cause Who shall compose their dissentions vnles some one be appointed by the prouidence of God whose decree is iÌ„nuiolable and whose infallible censure all ought to obey Couell in his exam against the Plea of Innocents pag. 107. Cartwright in his second Reply part 1. pag. 582. 7. Otherwise as D. Couell our English Protestant affirmeth The Church of Christ should be in a farre worse case then the meanest Common-wealth nay almost then a denne of theeues if it were left destitute of meanes either to conuince heresyes or suppresse them A little before he sayth Authority which cannot be where all are equall must procure vnity and obedience And Cartwright This point of keeping peace in the Church is one of those which requireth as well a Pope ouer all Arch-bishops as one Arch-bishop ouer all Bishops in a Realme Melancthon pursueth the same reason The Bishop sayth Melanct. in Centu. Ep. Theol. Ep. 74. iuxta edit Bipont an Domini 1597. Luâ—h in lo. com Clas 1. cap. 37. p. 107. he of Rome is president ouer all Bishops and this Canonicall policy no wise man as I thinke doth or ought to disallow c. For the Monarchy of the Bishop of Rome is in my opinion profitable to this end that consens of Doctrine may be retained Which Luther his maister taught before him Whereas God would haue one Catholike Church throughout the whole world it is necessary to haue one people Yea and of this one people one Father ought to be chosen 8. Thus these Protestants depose against their own confederates and no maruell though some in so cleare light of Scripture in such a general consent of Councels 1. Cor. c. 12. vers 21. Io. 10. v. 16. Fathers and all antiquity should voluntarily approue a truth so manifest maruell no more approue it great maruell they remember not all the comparisons of S. Paul resembling the Church to a body in which the head Concil Nicen. can 6. Concil Brach. can 28. 23. Concil Constant apud Theod l. 5. Hist c. 9 Concil Lateran c. 5. Florent in Declarat fidei Conc. Chal. Act. 3. in relatione Sanctae Synodi ad B. PapaÌ„ Leonem 6. Synodus general cannot say to the feete as Christ might you are not necessary for me The prophesy recorded by S. Iohn There shal be one fold and one pastour Which as it was not verifyed in Christ his tyme so it cannot be now vnderstood only of him our inuisible Pastour but the flocke and fold being visible the Pastour whose office is ordinary and charge perpetuall must likewise be visible 9. What shall I adde the approbation of generall Councells Of the first Councell of Nice in Bithynia of the Councell of Brachara in Spaine of the Councell of Constantinople in Thracia of the Councells of Lateran and Florence in Italy especially of the Councell of Chalcedon in Asia one of the foure which our English Protestants allow where Pope Leo is called The vniuersall Arch-bishop The vniuersall Patriarch The Bishop of the vniuersall Church The Pope of the vniuersall Church Where the whole Councell tearmeth Leo The Interpreter of S. Peters voyce to all the world Where they acknowledge him their head and themselues his members Where they all confesse That the custody or keeping of the vineyard that is of the whole Church is committed by our Sauiour to Leo. Likewise the sixth Generall Synod confesseth that S. Peter was with them by his Successour Agatho and that S. Peter spake by Agatho his mouth 10. From the Councels I passe to the Fathers to S. Chrys l. 2. de Sacer. Hiero. Ep. ad Dam Hiero. ibid. Aug. in Psal cont part Donati de Vtilitate Cred. c. 17. Aug. in Epist. 162. Aug. lib. 1. con 2. Ep. Pela c. 1. ad Bonifa Prosper li. de ingrat Victor l. 2. de persecu Vandal Vincen in suo CoÌ„mo â—ustinian Ep. ad Io. quae habetur in Codice Iraen l. 3. cap. 3. Chrysostome Why did our Lord shed his bloud Truely to redeeme those sheep the care of which he committed both to Peter also to his Successours To S. Hierome writing to Damasus the Pope of Rome With the Successour of the Fisher-man and with the Disciple of the Crosse I speake I following none chiefe but Christ hold the fellow-ship of Communion with your Holynesse that is with Peters Chaire Vpon that Rocke I know the Church to be built Whosoeuer shall eate the Paschall Lambe out
of that house is a prophane person And a little after He that gathereth not with you scattereth that is he that is not Christs is Antichrists To S. Augustine Number the Priests euen from Peters seate see who succeeded one another in that row of Fathers that is the Rocke which the proud gates of Hell do not ouercome And in another place That is it which hath obtained the top of authority Then he sayth The principality of the Apostolicall Chaire alwayes florished in the Roman Church Lastly The Bishop of that Sea hath the preheminence of higher roome in the pastorall watch-tower which is common to all Bishops For this cause the Church of Rome is tearmed The head of the world the head of all Churches by Prosper by Victor by Vincentius by the Emperour Iustinian and others To which Church as Irenaeus testifyeth for her more powerfull principality euery Church ought to repayre For this the Pope of Rome is worthily intituled The a Hiero. epist. 123. chiefe and highest Priest The b Ambr. com in 1. Tim. 3. ruler of the house of God The c Concil Chal. in epist ad Leonem act 1. head of the Church The d Synod Later sub Marâ—ino Papa secret 2. Prince Doctor of the orthodoxall and immaculate fayth The e Stephanus Archiepis Carthag ep ad Dam. Father of Fathers The f Bern. l. 2. de consid Vicar of Christ The g Bern. ibid. Pastour of all Pastours The h Concil Constant 5. act 1. pag. 74. giuer of Light and pillar of the Church The i Valent. epist. ad Theodosium quae habetur inter praeambula Conc. Chaleed Iustinian Nouell constit 123. in edit Haloand lib. 1. Cod. de summa Trinitate Liberatus in Breuiario cap. 12. Sozom. lib. 3. cap. 7. most Blessed Bishop of the Citty of Rome to whome amiquity hath giuen the principality of Priest-hood aboue all other These last be the wordes of Valentinian the Emperour whome Iustinian Chrys Ep. ad Innocent Theod. in Ep. ad Leonem Sulpitius Seuer l. 2. sacr hist Epiph haer 42. Cyp. l. 1. Ep. 4 Epiph. haeres 68. â—este Paulo Diaco Anact in Symmacho Sigeber in chronic Extainter Epi. Agapeti ToÌ„ 1. ep Rom. Pontif. habetur ep Euti tom 2. Conc. edit Colon. ann 1606. pag. 510. Apud Leonem epist 68. following maketh also a solemne decree That according to the Definition of the foure Holy Councells of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus and of Chalcedon the Pope of Rome is the chiefe of all Priests And he addeth No man doubteth but that the top or principality of the highest Bishopricke resteth in Rome 11. Besides these authorityes which are all impregnable the continuall practise and consent of all Nations approue the supremacy of the Pope of Rome and therfore to him as to the supreme and highest Iudge vpon earth appeales haue beene made from all partes of the world To giue you a tast of some few examples To whose high tribunall did Flauianus the Partriarch of Constantinople appeale from the second Councell of Ephesus but to the tribunall of Leo Pope of Rome Whose ayd and succour did Athanasius the Bishop of Alexandria implore oppressed by the Arrians but the ayd of Iulius the Pope of Rome Vnder whose wings did S. Iohn Chrysostome flye deposed in a Councell of many Bishops of the East but vnder the wings of Innocentius the Pope of Rome To him Theodoret to him Saluianus and Priscillian rebells vnto God and enemyes of that Sea condemned in a Synod at Caesar-Augustum to him Marcion to him Basilides deposed from his Bishopricke was faine to appeale To him Valens and Vrsacius came to giue an account and craue pardon for their treachery against Athanasius To Symmachus Pope of Rome 220. or 225. Bishops as others report banished their seates by King Thrasimond fled for reliefe who honourably maintained them at his owne charges 82. To the Pope of Rome as to the anker of fayth oracle of truth the faythfull were wont to direct the Summe of their beliefe the greatest Clarkes their bookes and writings most famous Councells their Canons and decrees So Iustinian the Emperour sent the profession of his fayth to Agapetus the Pope Eutychius the Patriarch of Constantinople to Vigilius the Pope Proterius the Patriarch Aug. coÌ„t 2. ep â—ela lib. 1. cap. 1. Inter Ep. Hormis Tom. 1. Ep. Rom. Pontif. Hiero. in exp li. Sym. ad Dama Concil Chal. in relat sanct Synod ad Leo. Con. Mileu 10. 2. p. â—01 inter ep Aug. 92. c. Cyp. teste Hier. dialo adu â—ucif Bilsâ— pa. 1. p. 44. 45. 48. 49. Chrys Ep. 1. ad Inno. Tom. 5. Socrat. l. 2. cap. 15. Hier. in symb exp ad Damas Aug. con 2. Epis Pelag l. 1. c. 1. Theod Ep. ad LeoneÌ„ Commen eius in Paul praefix of Alexandria to Leo the Pope So S. Augustine sent his workes to Pope Boniface to be examined and amended Possessor a Bishop of Africa his commentaries vpon S. Paul to Hormisda S. Hierome his explication vpon the Creed to Damasus So the Councell of Chalcedon sent their Canons to Leo the Pope The Mileuitan Councell held in Numidia the cause of Pelagius to Pope Innocentius And S. Cyprian the Primate of Africa sent the decrees of the Councell of Carthage to Stephen the Pope Neyther were these thinges done as M. Bilson to obscure the truth and beguile his Reader craftily suggesteth for the common consent mutuall agreement publike liking of the Bishops in euery Prouince because then the like resorts should haue been made to other Primates as well as to the Pope but they were made to him as to the Vicar Generall of Christ and ruler of his whole Church who had power and authority to examine the causes punnish the faultes reforme the abuses approue the fayth condemne the heresies establish the decrees reuerse the sentences of all other Bishops as the Letters the Complaints the Suites the Embassages the Petitions the whole History of the former Appellants and other resorters vnto Rome beare witnesse 13. S. Iohn Chrysostomes letters were to request Innocentius To pronounce the proceedings of the Bishops of the East voyd and of no force to punish with Ecclesiasticall Censures the Authours of that disorder S. Athanasius his complaint was of the wrong offered him by the Emperor a great assembly of Easterne Bishops who wrongfully thrust him from his Bishopricke And Iulius the Pope of Rome as Socrates relateth by the prerogatiue of the Roman Sea wrote threatning letters in his behalfe and restored him to his place rebuking them who rashely deposed him S. Hieromes suite to Damasus was If any thing be here vnaduisedly set forth we entreate it may be amended by thee who holdest the fayth seat of Peter The like suite S. Augustine made to Bonifacus Theodorets supplication to Leo was this I humbly request beseech your Holynesse in this case to ayde me appealing
to your iust and vpright iudgement command me to come before you And in his Epistle to Renatius the Priest Idem in Epist ad RenatuÌ„ praesbit In rela S. Synod Chalâ—ed ad B. Papam Leonem I beseech thee sayth he to perswade the most holy Archbishop Leo that he vse his Apostolicall authority and command our appearance before his Councell For that holy Seat holdeth the sterne of gouernement ouer all Churches of the world 14. The Embassage of the Fathers of the Chalcedon Councell was To haue their decrees confirmed by Leo Saying we are suppliants vnto you and doe you honour our iudgement with your decrees as we haue ioyned to our head conformity in things that be good so let your Highnesse performe that which beseemeth to your children To the same purpose Marcianus the Emperour Osiand in Epist CeÌ„t. â— p. 182. prayed him to confirme the fayth which there was defined The petition of the first Councell held at Arles to Pope Siluester in the tyme of Constantine the Great was this That for the Rogâ—â—nus igitur tuis decretis nostruÌ„ bonora iudicium sicut nos capiti in bonis adiccimus consonantiaÌ„ sic summitas tua filiis quod decet adimpleat ex Epist 59. Leo. 60. eiusdeÌ„ Habetur inter Ep. Hormisdae Tom. 1. Epist Rom. Pont. Extat in decret Agapeti to 2. Concil 553. or 45â— according to the later Edition Sozon l. 8. c. 3. Socrates lib. 5. c. 15. Theod. Eccl. Hist lib. 5. cap. 23. Theod. ibid. vniforme obseruation of Easter day throughout the world he according to the custome should direct his letters to all Iustinus the Emperour referred the questions of fayth presented him by the Bishop to Hormisda the Pope requesting his resolution And the Emperour Iustinian after he had humbled himselfe to Pope Agapetus adored his Holynesse he beseeched him to adnance Meâ—â—as a Catholike to the Catholike to the Patriarchall seat of CoÌ„stantinople insteed of Anthimus the Heretike S. Iohn Chrysostome the Patriarch of Constantinople and Theophilus the Bishop of Alexandria intreated Damasus the Pope of Rome that Flauianus long vsurping the seat of Antioch might at length after the death of Paulinus be installed in his Bishoprike and pardoned his former fault And although he were much fauoured by all the East who cleaued vnto him and by Theodosius the Emperour who allowed him as farre as he could yet he twise commauÌ„ded him to repayre to Rome and neuer could he be canonically or peaceably enthroned vntill he sent Acatius the famous Bishop of Beroea with other illustrious Prelates to the sea Apostolike by whom he obteined the consent and approbation of the Pope 15. Not the suites of Emperous only not the supplication or intreaty of forren Bishops but the iurisdiction also and authority which the Pope hath alwayes practised witnesse his soueraignty ouer the whole flocke of Christ. For he made lawes which did bind the whole Church he called Councells censured Princes excommunicated Bishops deposed Patriarches restored them to their seats who were vniustly depriued of their dignityes For example a Leo. Epist 1. ad Episcop Camp c. Leo writeth to the Bishops of Campania of Picenum and of Tuscia how he and his Predecessours constitutions obliged them all The same b Leo ep 87. Ep. 93. ad Turb Leo summoned to a generall Councell the Bishops of Tarracone Lusitania France and Carthage c Nicep l. 13. c. 34. Innocentius the first thundred the sentence of Excommunication against Arcadius the Emperour and Eudoxia the Empresse Agaynst d The Centuristâ— Cent. 5. Col. â—â—â— Theophilus also Bishop of Alexandria e Liberatus c. 18. Felix excommunicated Acatius the Patriarch of Constantinople f Euseb l. 5. ca. 24. Victor the 15. Pope after S. Peter not somewhat Popelike as g Sparks in his answere to M. Iohn Albins preface M. Sparkes scoffeth at him exceeding his bounds but by the priuiledge of his supreme transcendent authority censured in like manner all the Bishops of Asiae for dissenting from the Roman Church in celebrating the feast of Easter h Zona in vita Iustin. Agapetus the Pope deposed Anthimus i Galas Ep. ad epis Darda Leo Dioscorus k Theod. l. 5 histo c. 23. Damasus Flauianus three Patriarches one of Constantinople another of Alexandria the third of Antioch And on the other side l Conc. Chal. act 1. Leo restored Theodoret the famous Bishop of Cyrus to his sea deposed by the 2. Councell of Ephesus m Cyp. l. 3. ep 13. S. Cyprian wrote to Pope Stephen to depose Marcian the Bishop of Orleance and install another in his roome n â—elas ep ad Epis Dardaniae Socrat. l. 2. c. 15. Cent. 4. col 550. Iulius the first of that name restored to their Bishoprikes Athanasius of Alexandria Paulus of Constantinople and other Catholike Bishops of the East expelled by the Arians And this he did as the Centurists coÌ„fesse out of Socrates fraetus Romanae Ecclesiae prerogatiua By the prerogatiue of the Roman Church And Sozomenus sayth of the same Iulius When for the dignity of his Sea the care of all appertayned vnto him he restored euery one to his Church Zozom l. 3. c. 7. Euag. l. 1. c. 4. Phot. l. de 7. Syn. Leo ep 47. Leo ep 84. idem ep 87. Gela. ep ad Epi. Dard. Galf. l. 9. cap. 11. Leo ep 84. Greg. l. 4 ep 52. Innocent 1. ep 26. ad Con. Mile extat inter epi. Aug. Conc. Cbal act 1. Patet ex Leo. ep 55. ad Pulch. Basil epist 52. ad AthanasiuÌ„ Conc. Nicenum 1. c. 6. ex Nicolao 1. ep ad Mich. Imp. vide S. Greg in Regist epi passim Idem S. Greg. in Regis l. 12. c. 15. vsum tibi pallij ad sola missarum solemnia agenda concedimus Bedel â— hist c. 19. 2. hist c. 8. God win in the Catal of Bishops Beda l. 2. c. 17. Fox act p. 185. 16. In fine the Pope of Rome hath alwayes had his legates presidents and chiefe in all Oecumenicall Councells as Hosius Vitus and Vincentius in the first Councell of Nice S. Cyril in the Councell of Ephesus Paschasius and Lucentius in the Councell of Chalcedon He hath had his Vicars generall in all forrayne and remote Countreyes Anastasius Bishop of Thessalonica in Grece Potentius in Afrike Acatius Patriarch of Constantinople in Egypt Dubritius Arch-bishop of Wales primate of Britany in England To him as to the highest Iudge the weightyest causes from all partes of the world haue been still directed Without him no generall Councell can be kept or assembled By him tumultuous Synods haue been euer disanulled From him most ample priuiledges dignityes and prerogatiues haue byn granted to Bishops Pathiarches Kings and Princes To mention some particulars From him the Patriarch of Constantinople had the preeminence of the highest Sea after Rome iurisdiction ouer Egypt
Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople vsurped it to himselfe to wit to be such an absolute and vniuersall Patriarch as to derogate from all others their Patriarchall dignity as diuers Catholike writers haue often demonstrated out of S. Gregoryes owne Epistles Greg. l. 4. Ep. 34. 36. Andreas Frisius de Eccles l. 2. 6. 10. p. 170. Yet if it may carry more credit with Protestants deliuered by Protestants themselues let them read what Andreas Frisius a famous Zuinglian Secretary to the King of Polonia wryteth Some there be who agaynst this office of vniuersall Superintendent obiect the authority of Gregory who sayth that such a tytle belongeth to the Precursour of Antichrist But the reason of Gregory is to be knowne and it may be gathered out of the words he repeateth in many Epistles That the tytle of vniuersall Bishop is contrary and doth withstand the grace which is commonly powred vpon all Bishops He therfore that should surname himselfe vniuersall Bishop nameth himselfe the only Bishop and taketh Bishoplike power from the rest Therefore this tytle he would haue to be reiected which is vsurped with the iniury of other Bishops And immediatly after Notwithstanding by other places it is euident that Gregory thought the charge principality of the whole Church was committed to Peter by the voyce of our Lord. And thus much he wrote plainly and almost word for word to the Emperour Maurice and strenghtned it by testimony of Scripture Thus he Plainly declaring that although S. Greg. l. 4. Ep. â—2 Gregory disliked the arrogant vsurpation of that name with iniury to the other Bishops yet he allowed the vniuersall dignity of one supreme Gouernour of the Church without wrong or derogation to any 22. To that which M. Bilson vrgeth of Councells Bils part â— p. 84. 85 86. 87. 88. c. deposing Popes I answere First they were vnlawfull assemblyes as the Councell of Brixia the Councell of Pisa according to Antoninus And the Councell of Basil although lawfully begun was then vnlawful when it deposed Eugenius Secondly I answere that lawfull Councells may in tyme of Schisme iudge and declare who is true Pope depose the vsurpers or perswade also the true Pope for quietnes sake to resigne his right which was all that the Councell of Constance defined practised in deposing Iohn the 23. Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. And therefore M. Bilson might haue well spared his paynes from tyring the learned and amazing the simple Reader with the vayne recitall of so many wild and vagrant hystories To proceed 23. This second point being proued that Peters Successour enioyeth his dignity it resteth I discusse why the Pope of Rome should rather inherite it then the Bishop of Antioch where Peter first sate or the Bishop of Ierusalem where Christ our Sauiour dyed For declaration whereof you must vnderstand that Christ neuer fixed his seat eyther at Ierusalem or at any other determinate place Agayne he hath none to succeed him he still continueth Haeb. 7. v. 24 his Euerlasting Priest-hood And that the Primacy should not remayne at Ierusalem the testimonyes of Scripture are most perspicuous S. Paul giueth a reason hereof The Priesthood being translated it is necessary that a translation of the law Haeb. 7. v. 12. Matt. 21. v. 41. Act. 13. v. 46. also be made Christ fortoâ—d it to the Iewes The Kingdome of God shall be taken from you and giuen to a Nation yielding the fruits thereof S. Paul and Barnabas testify the performance To you it behooued vs first to speake the word of God but because you repell it and iudge your selues vnworthy of eternall life behold we turne to the Gentils 24. If Caluin had weyghed these places well they might haue instructed him why the seat of Christs Lieutenant was not placed at Ierusalem the chiefe Citty of the Iewes but in the chiefe and principall Citty of the Gentils It might haue also informed M. Bilson why at Rome rather then at Antioch because it was meete as Saint Leo doth often insinuate That the Citty of Superstition Leo 1. de naâ—a Apost Pet. Paul Marcel Ep. ad presbyt Antioch Anaclet ad omnes Presbyt Hieron de viris illust in vit Pet. Damas in vit eiusdoÌ„ Euseb in Chron. an 44. Hieron de viris Illusta in Petro. might be made the Chiefe Seate of Religion For this cause albeit he first sate at Antioch for the space of seauen yeares yet after as Saint Marcellus Anacletus Saint Hierome and Damasus auouch he translated his throne to the Citty of Rome and there continued Bishop as Eusebus Saint Hierome and other Hystoriographers testify 25. yeares There he ended his life with a glorious Martyrdome There he resigned or rather surceased his Pastorall charge Wherefore seing he only is inuested in the state of his Predecessour who succeedeth him yielding vp eyther by natural death or voluntary resignation his whole former dignity and not he who succeedeth only in his place or partaketh some part of his charge the reason is cleare why Linus the Pope of Rome and not Euodius Bishop of Antioch is Peters Successour because in Rome he sate last in Rome he sate longest in Rome he resigned his Episcopall dignity 25. We see when the King changeth and remoueth his Court from one Citty to another the Magistrate he placeth in his former residence he appointeth no heyre or Successour to the right of his Kingdome When the throne of the Empire was translated from Milan from Treuers from Antioch and other places the Gouernours of those Cittyes did not thereby vsurpe the Imperiall crowne no more can the Bishop of Antioch challenge the scepter of Peters supremacy after that Peter translated his seate from thence after that he aduanced it to the Citty of Rome and there continued it vntill the houre of his death Neuertheles he often departed thence during this tyme into diuers other countreyes about the affayres of the Church 26. And it hath pleased God so to confirme the continuall succession of his chiefe Vicars in the Blessed Sea that notwithstanding many cruell and mighty Tyrants haue bent their whole endeauours to disturbe them from thence notwithstanding they haue beene often banished into remote and barbarous Countreys as Clemens by Traian in Chersonesum the North part of Asia Cornelius Thomas Bozius de signis Eccl. Tomo 2. l. 17. signo 78. Baronius in Auna anno chri 200. 255. by Decius to Centumcellas Liberius by Constantius into Thrace Martin by the same into Pontus and forty such like notwithstanding 33. one after another haue beene put to the sword notwithstanding their remoue for a tyme to Viterbo Auenion Rauenna Yet the Pope haue still returned and the Sea continued at Rome All other Patriarchall seates haue beene shaken in pieces but that of Rome no deaths no banishments no Tyrannies of men or malice of Sathan could euer ouerthrow That hath perseuered for the space of 1620. yeares and
Councell expoundeth it should not be â—roden on and defiled by mens feet With the like cosenage they quote a Canon of the Elibertine Councell as though it discharged all Churches of the vse of Images whereas the Councell allowing all Tables and portable Pictures commanded only by reason of the incursions of the Gothes which often happened at that tyme no Image should be painted and engrauen on the wals and windowes of the Church least that which is adored by Christians should be dishonoured and abused by sauage enemyes in their common ransackes and rifling of the Temples 31. Then they produce certaine wordes out of a Conc. Nic. 2 act 6. Bils 4. par pag. 601. proscript of S. Epiphanius Epistle Disswading images to be brought into Churches or erected in Church-yardes or tolerated in priuate houses conuinced in the 7. Synod to be inserted by heretikes where the fable of the painted veile is proued also to be fabulous which the fornamed Epiphanius Baron an Christ 392. caused as they pretend to be cast out of the Church Or he commanded that veile to be remoued and torne in peeces because it was the Picture of a prophane man seeming to be the Image of Christ or some Saint as the wordes themselues import and Baronius in his Ecclesiasticall History diligently vnfoldeth 32. Notorious is the Centurists and Caluins fraud in alleadging to this purpose two vnlawfull Councells tumultuously assembled at Constantinople the one vnder Leo Isaurus the other vnder Constantine Copronimus two pernicious Cent. 8. c. 9 Calu. l. 1. Inst c. 11. Abbas Vrs pâ—â—g in Chron. Bils 4. par pag. 547. Heretikes and as a graue Historiographer chronicleth them Fore-runners of Antichrist Lesse notable yet no lesse dangerous is M. Bilsons legier-de-main in crazing the 2. Nicen and extolling the credit of the Councell of Franckeford where the Churches sayth he of England France Italy Germany c. condemned the former Nicen in behalfe of Images A mighty condemnation if iuridically pronounced as crafty a Collusion if wickedly procured if guilfully extorted The guile lurked in the Authour of the bastardly bookes ascribed to Charles who perswaded the Councell of Franckeford first that the Bishops assembled in the 7. Synod at Nice decreed Images to be worshiped Epist Adri. act 2. subscrip in omnibus actionib Confes act 7. Recant act 1. 3. Centu. 8. cap. 9. Paul Dia. l. 23. ReruÌ„ Rom. Cedr in comp hist Iuo 4. p. c. 147. Bils 4. p. pag. 551. 565. Rein. de dol Rom. Ec. l. 1. c. 2. with the Diuine honour of Latria secondly that this Councell was celebrated without the authority of the Pope of Rome Both false depositions as the Epistle of Adrian the Pope the subscription of his Legates the confession of the Councell it selfe the recantation of Basil the Bishop of Ancyra of Constantine the Bishop of Cyprus can testify who abiuring their Heresyes allowed the Religious yet not the godly worship of Images The Deuines notwithstanding of Franckeford mistaken in this matter of fact by that faythlesse deponent disanulled the second Councel of Nice accursed them who assigned to Pictures the worship of Latria and those withall who should seeke to abolish them Which point M. Bilson concealed as little fauouring his cause Or if this CouÌ„cell had fauoured it could not haue steeded him against the former A priuate Councell cannot impeach a publike a latter a more ancient a Councell from which if the Centurists deceiue vs not the Pope and his Legats dissented a Councell approued by the supreme authority of Pope and Prelate as the 2. Nicen was first by AdriaÌ„ then by Leo the third of that name as Paulus Diaconus Cedrenus and Iuo accord 33. Lastly for the vpshoot and conclusion of their perfidious dealing M. Bilson and M. Reynoldes oppose certaine passages of the Fathers The fact of Ezechias the Idolatry Epiph. haeres 27. Aug. haer 7. Greg. l. 7. ep 109. l. 9. ep 9. Ambr. de Obitu Theodo Aug. de moribuâ— Eccl. Cath. l. 1. c. 34. Caiet in 3â— part q. 25. art 3 of Marcellina Carpocrates the Gnostikes detested by S. Augustine Irenaeus c. detested also by vs. For they as S. Epiphanius and S. Augustine teach had the Pictures of Heathens Homer Plato Pythagoras in equall esteeme and reuerence with the pictures of Christ of Paul c. They burned incense and offered Sacrifices to their Images worshiping them as Gods which we renounce King Ezechias abhorred when he brake the Brasen Serpent in peeces for the like crime committed by the Iewes S. Gregory S. Ambrose S. Augustine with the rest condemne in such places as they speake against the worshiping of Images For as Caietan very learnedly obserueth The Fathers sometime say Picturs ought not to be adored Sometyme they write that they ought They ought not to be worshiped absolutly for themselues not with Sacrifices or Godly homage but they ought to be honoured respectiuely with reference to the Originalls with a deuout and Religious kind of worship as by Scriptures Fathers Councels and vnanswerable proofes I haue manifestly declared to such as will not shut their eyes against the light of truth THE FIFTEENTH CONTROVERSY MAINTAINETH Purgatory and Prayer for the Dead agaynst D. Field and D. Fulke CHAP. I. HAVING mantained the honour of Aug. l. de baer c. 35. Epiph. haer 75. Guido in summa de haeres Field l. 3. c. 17. in append 1. part p. 42. 43. c. Fulke in c. 12. Matth. sect 6. in 1. 10. 1. sect 5. our noble Patrons the glorious and triumphant Saintes in Heauen the worship of their Images the veneration of their Reliques now I come to defend the cause of our humble suppliantes the poore afflicted soules in Purgatory the place of their punishment the reliefe they receaue by our prayers suffrages The later whereof was first gainesayd by Aerius as S. Augustine and Epiphanius the former by the Waldenses as Guido reporteth and both are now denyed by D. Field D. Fulke and all Protestants vpon these three groundes First for that they suppose after the guilt of sinne remitted no punishment remaineth to be expiated either heer by our satisfactory workes or heerafter by the paines of Purgatory Secondly for that they allow no distinction betwixt mortall and veniall sinnes Thirdly because no mention is made in Scripture or in the Primitiue Church either of Purgatory or Praier for the Dead Their former grouÌ„d I haue ouerthrowen in the treatise of Satisfaction now to refute the second Some Protestams imitating the old Heretikes Iran l. 1. adu haeres of whom Iraeneus writeth who spake like Catholikes and meant farre otherwise admit with vs the names of Veniall and Mortall sinnes but in a farre different sense Calu. lib. 2. Inst c. 8. in Antido 2 to Concil Trident. sect 6. c. 12. Eulke in c. 1. 1. ep 10. sect 5. Caluin will haue all sinnes Veniall to the Elect because they