herte he declared still in his owne person al subiection The .lvii. obiection In scriptures ther is no mencioÌ„ made of Peters supremaci The answere Not as heretikes wraste the scriptures but there is mention ofte many times in scripture of Peters supremacye as christeÌ„ people take y e scriptures As it is both in y e probacioÌ„s also in sundrye responsions in this boke ¶ The .lviii. obiection In diuerse consideracions a man may be head and chiefe yet iÌ„ other relatioÌ„s or respectes inferiour subiect y e chiefe tayler y e chiefe paynter the chiefe phisicion or surgeÌ„ here in London within y e parishes wher eueri of them doth dwel are but takeÌ„ as neyghbourlike may chauÌ„ce as much inferiours w tout aâ—â—i such preemineÌ„ce which they haue amoÌ„g their owne coÌ„panies in their owne halles so Peter chiefe first in placing chiefe in coÌ„staÌ„cye stedfastnes of minde chiefe in ferueÌ„tnes of deuocioÌ„ chiefe in preaching godlines but not chiefe or first in preemineÌ„ce here in y e world to be aboue princes c. ¶ The answere Peter in y t respect or coÌ„sideracioÌ„ y t he is christes vicar chief heade vndernethe him here in earth so is he heade ouer all y e be of the same occupatioÌ„ y t he is of bicause the similitude depeÌ„deth soÌ„what vpoÌ„ craftes or occupatioÌ„s that is to say of christes religioÌ„ He is chefe ouer al y â— professe christ whether he be tayler paynter phisicioÌ„ or surgen yea whether he be king or emperor not y â— Peter doth chalenge any seperiortye ouer an emperor or kiÌ„g bicause he is emperor or kiÌ„g or ouer a phisicioÌ„ or paynter bicause he is phisicion or paynter but in respect in consideracion al they be christeÌ„ meÌ„ so are they al vnder Peter like as y e head phisician the head tayler the head paynter head surgeÌ„ as it is iÌ„ thobiectioÌ„ will euer require and that by right all that be of the same crafte science or occupation to be vnder theÌ„ that w tout any respect or coÌ„sideracioÌ„ to riches or pouerty to wysedome or ignorance ¶ The .lix. obiectioÌ„ Oh howe many scriptures haue bene w tin these .xxii. yeares brought cited against the popes authority The answer Euer wheÌ„ ye heare any scripture alleged sayth OrigeÌ„ vpoÌ„ Mathue coÌ„trary to y t which y e vniuersal church obserueth beleue theÌ„ not Geue no credit to theÌ„ for they would but deceiue you w t false allegatioÌ„s or false applicatioÌ„s of scriptures coÌ„trary to y e meaning of tholy gost Thinke y t scrypture is no scripture if the true intente meaning be not there yea if therin ye folow not y e authority of the churche For howe shall we know I pray you that Moyses wrote al y t is in hê .v. bokes seing we neuer saw his hande writing Yea though we had sene it howe could we know it to be his haÌ„de he being dead so loÌ„g ago or if we knew al this how were we sure y t all that he wrote was true y t god spake vnto him And y e same is likewise to be demaunded of al the prophetes writinges If ye say christ bare testimony of Moyses of y e law of y t prophetes then I aske further howe ye know by christes testimonye y t these which we rede be Moyses or the prophetes writinges although we grauÌ„t y â— by christê testimony Moy. y e ê“ph wer true faithful Yea yet further how know ye y t christ bare testimonye of Moyses y e prophetes whoÌ„ ye neuer heard preche nor teache If ye say by y e euaÌ„gelistes theÌ„ I turne agayne aske how ye know these to be y e ghospels of Mathue Marke or Luke seing ye neuer sawe theyr haÌ„des writing And if ye had sene theÌ„ yet ye knewe theÌ„ not but suppose ye know them how do ye wote y t all is true y t thei wrote seing eueri maÌ„ may be deceyued yea speciallye Marke Luke whiche wrote but of here say dyd neuer see christ If ye say they wrote being taught by tholy gost then y e same doubt cometh agayne howe ye knowe tholy ghoste taught theÌ„ or how know ye y t these be their writinges w tout corruptioÌ„ or mixture CaÌ„ ye by any menes saue or defeÌ„d thautority of y e scripture but onlye by thauthority of y e ecclesiastical tradicioÌ„s surely by none other Ye know which be the canonical scriptures y e true seÌ„se therof only by y e testimonye of y e church vnderstaÌ„d receiued by successioÌ„ of the fathers froÌ„ y e beginniÌ„g til this our time Dionise ClemeÌ„t Policarpe Ignatiê° TertuliaÌ„ OrigeÌ„ Ciprian Athana Basil Hilari Chriso Ambrose Hierome Austine w t al holy meÌ„ euer since had neuer other rule to know y e truth of scripture by but onely y t comeÌ„ professioÌ„ coÌ„seÌ„t of al the fathers euer in their time by successioÌ„ linking together their testimonies for y e ful knowledge of y e truth This is was euer shalbe y e very piller fouÌ„dacioÌ„ wherunto we must nedes lein So y t we haue receiued y e truth of y e ghospel by y e ecclesiasticall tradicioÌ„ rather theÌ„ by writing yea y e certitude of our religioÌ„ sure fayth hath not depeÌ„ded froÌ„ y e begining vpoÌ„ y e authority of y e gospels writeÌ„ but rather coÌ„trarywise y e authoriti of y e gospel writteÌ„ hath depeÌ„ded vpon the certitude of our religioÌ„ c. Paule wheÌ„ he sayd if an angel froÌ„ heueÌ„ preche any other ghospel theÌ„ thê cursed be he did not meane of any ghospel writen which theÌ„ had no authority iÌ„ y e church though sone after y e gospels writeÌ„ for certeÌ„ causes receued their authority of y e church And here is now to be noted y t we rede in Eusebius how that Serapion that learned holy bishop of Antioche sayd we receyue Peter other of thappostels euen as christ but we refuse such thinges as be falsely writen vnder their names bicause we haue no such tradicioÌ„ of the church c. This was y e rule then to know thinges by when they euer receiued al as it were by haÌ„d one of an other TheÌ„ they perceiued y t thauthority of y e ecclesiastical tradicyoÌ„ exteÌ„ded much further then the authority of y e ghospel writen y t in al doubtful cases it must geue seÌ„teÌ„ce iudgemeÌ„t whych is truth which is falsily So y t here nowe to coÌ„clude though heretikes wrast neuer so mani textes of scripture agaynst the popes authority it maketh no force nor proueth any thing agaynste our purpose And yet moreouer hereby appeareth y â— though there were no scripture at al to proue the popes authority by as there be very mani yet y t made nothing contrarye herevnto seing that by successession it hath bene stil receiued eueÌ„ froÌ„ Peters time
to breke the order bicause thei would be vnder no head but al at lose liberti so many heades so many wittes euer sturriÌ„g to diuersity in opinioÌ„s mouiÌ„g theÌ„ to sedicioÌ„ euer causing y e priÌ„ces magistrates to leaue to their parte How be it al y e deuels indeuor hereiÌ„ is iÌ„ vaine For christ promissed as ye haue herd that y e gates of hel should neuer preuaile agaiÌ„st this Peters shipe neuer drowne though sometimê it be sore tossed Christ to Peter alone as to the heade shepeherd gaue charge ouer al his shepe biddinge him alone fede gouerne them appoyntiÌ„g him not ouer Rome alone saith Chrisostome but ouer the whole worlde which professe Christ when at his assenscion he goinge into the farre countrey mencioned in y e gospel gaue him that large commission So that who so euer obeieth not hereunto he is cut of and perteyneth no more to Christes churche then a roten bowe cut of the tree and cast a side parteyneth to the liuelye tree And this both the Greke church and the Latine playnly do teache Clement Anacletus Ireneus Tertulian Origen CipriaÌ„ Basil Ciril Chrisostom Athanasius Ambrose Hillari and Austine with all the rest euer since Whom shall we beleue then herein Al these with the consente of the whoâ—e churche or els shall we geue credit to Swinglius Ecolam podius and Luther whereof not one can agree with the other ¶ The .xii. probacion The cause why Christ chauÌ„ged Simons name and called him Peter was for y t ye he should be head after him And here first note y t rede of no chaunging of names in scripture but for some great benefite priuelege or high dignity as appeareth in AbrahaÌ„ Iacob and other And as for Peters name it was not geueÌ„ with out most high mistery and as a signe of greate priuelege For Peter is deriued of Christes own name a petra of the stone which was Christ So y t he had his name most like vnto Christes name euen deriued taken forthe of it not only thereby to signifye vnto vs that Peter shold haue Christes chiefe authoritie and office coÌ„mitted vnto him but also bicause christ did build his church here upoÌ„ when he sayd to Peter vpoÌ„ this stone I wil builde my churche What is y t S. Hierom Hilari theophe vpoÌ„ Mat. the .xvi. Tertul. also in li. de presc her And S. Aug. con 26. de san do plaiÌ„ly declare say y â— christ gaue to Peter an exceding great reward for his coÌ„fessioÌ„ in that he ded build his church vpon him he being named the stone of y e church to be builded Whereby appeareth y â— Peter was y e stone where vpoÌ„ the church was builded This is the ceÌ„sure herein of these auÌ„cient fathers and holye saintes But of thê matter ye haue more in the aunswere to y e .vii. obiection ¶ The .xiii. probation There was stil one chief head in y e olde law which christ as he saithe came not to breake Therfore one must nedes coÌ„tinue stil iÌ„ y e new If ye say christ is now y e head whereof y e other was the figure trueth is christ was and is the head euer as Paule sayth Christus heri et hodie c in thold as wel as in the new and yet as he had his vicare vnder him then so must he haue nowe as Aaron was then so was Peter nowe All chaunsed to them in figure Aaron diuerslye was a figure of Peter Aaron offended in the calfe Peter in denying his mayster Aarons highe office was confirmed with the death of Chore and his company so was Peters with the death of Ananye Saphire Aarons wyth buddynge of the rodde Peters with raysing TabithaÌ„ with healing the lame man with curing diseases eueÌ„ with his shadow c. ¶ The .xiiii. probation In the sinagoge there was one head bishop and diuerse degrees vnder him in the church triumphant Christe the heade with diuers degrees and ordres of aungels shall then the churche militaunt be without a head In al natural thinges there is euer one head In euery politike and comen wealth one heade one kynge in a realme as is in the faurthe probation one maior in a citye one shiriffe in a shire one head in euery house and shall there not be one head in the churche vpon whom and vpon whose aucthoritie all other must depende to desise all contrauerses shal Christes church be a monster either without a head or els hauinge many heades and euery one to do as he wil shal we graunt this confusioÌ„ Shal not theÌ„ euery one wrast scripture after his owne braiÌ„e but what shall we say further hath not the successioÌ„ in the sea of Rome continued froÌ„ the beginninge doeth not Ireneus declare this doth not S. Aug. say y â— the successioÌ„ of Bishopes in the see of Rome til this daye kepeth me saith he in the bosome and vnytie of Christes churche ¶ The .xv. probation If Christ had lafte Thappostels without a head yea or if siÌ„ce we could haue bene without one then must nedes haue chaunsed that which is spoken the last chapter of the boke of Iudges y t in those daies there was no ruler in Israell but euerie one dyd that whyche he thought good him selfe And this were an opeÌ„ way to al herisies as s CipriaÌ„ wytnesseth And therfore it is no meruell that y â— deuil is euer most busiest to bring christeÌ„ people froÌ„ y e vnitie froÌ„ hauing one head to make christes body a moÌ„struous body with manye heades For then throughe variaunce scisme contention he euer soweth heresies at hys pleasure So that ther is no more open waye to let in all heresies then to take awaye Peters primacye and authorytye frome the church wherfore let thautoriti of the church neuer go aboute to extincte other heresies tyll this great wound be healed we clerely restored to the vnitye agayne Where the bone within is perished to heale the flesh without nothiÌ„g helpeth ¶ The .xvi. probation Aaron was a figure of Peter like as Moyses was of Christe And as Aaron was vnder Moyses so Peter was vnder Christ al being priestes Moises et Aaron in sacerdotibê° eius And as Moises w t God and Aaron with y e people haÌ„dled all matters god sayinge to Moyses Aaron shall be thy mouth to the people and thou his to me euen so Christ was Peters mouth to god wheÌ„ he said I haue prayed for the. c. And Peter was Christes mouthe to the people when Christe sayde to him confirme thou and strengthen thy brethren And here obserue this sayth S. Aug. vpoÌ„ y e said text lu 20. y t Christe neither prayd for Iames nor Iohn but only for Peter in whom al the other were coÌ„teined he beinge y e head of the familie And therfore in paying the tribute money wherof is spokeÌ„ in the .iii.
S. Ciprian nameth y e church of RoÌ„e peters see and calleth it the principal churche whereoute the vnitye doth springe Li. i. epist epis iii. ante calcem S. Amb. also bearethe testimonye hereof saying we think it was not without a cause that tholy apostels Peter Paule did suffer martridome iÌ„ one day in one place vnder one tiraÌ„d In one day y t thei might come together vnto christ at one time one place y t Rome should lacke neither of theÌ„ vnder one persecutor y â— either might fele like crudeliti The day was appointed them for their merit the place for their glory the persecutour for their vertue What place did they suffer in In the citye of Rhome whiche was the chiefe and head cytye of all the nacions So that there shoulde reste the heade of all holinesse where before was the head of al supersticion there the princes of y e churches shoulde remayne where before y e princes of y e GeÌ„tils did dwel Haec amb in coÌ„ in natali petri et pauli coÌ„ 67 Agayn S. Ambr. saith Peter went forth in the night sawe Christ mete him goinge into y e citye to whoÌ„ Peter saide lorde whither goest y u christ aunswered I go to Rome there to be crucified againe And theÌ„ Peter knew y t christes auÌ„swer did perteine to his crucifyinge or death Haec ambr li. 5. epistolaruÌ„ in orÌ„one coÌ„ auxentiuÌ„ And this sam iÌ„ effect w t much more hath Egesippê° li. â— excid hiera cap. 2 an olde writer eueÌ„ sone after y e apostels time â–ª yea he being a GreciaÌ„ which would haue ben loth to haue testified any thing to the glory of Rome if the verye trueth had not compelled him y â— to haue done s Hierome likewise in catalogo illust viro rum in titulo peâ— intitulo pauli in titulo philonis saieth Peter priÌ„ce of the apostles after that he had bene byshop in Antioch c. came to Rome the seconde yere of Claudiê° the emperour and kept y e see there .xxv. yeres euen vnto the last yeare of Nero vnder whom he beyng crucified did suffer mertirdom Orosius thistoriographer affirmeth y e like li. 7. ca. 4. v. And so doth Euse li. ii ca. xiiii etiaÌ„ in li. croni And holy Bede our couÌ„tremaÌ„ in his cronacle testifieth y e same of s Peter s Hie againe saith in the place recited Philo fel into gret acquaiÌ„taÌ„ce loue with Peter in the city of Rome c. Ireneus moreouer scholer to s Iohns disc Pol. li. 3. ca. 1. 3. sheweth that peter was byshop iÌ„ rome so do chriso hê abbreuiator the ophilat in coÌ„mentariis epistolae poster ad Timo. Yea here now final lie to coÌ„clude s Peter him selfe in his first epistle .v. cha speaking vnder y e name of BabiloÌ„ for so he calleth ther rome bicause of superstition idolatry then vsed amongest y e infidels sheweth y t he wrot y t his epistle from rome as al authors doe declare whiche do interprete that epistle of Peter and so do Tertu li. con Iudeos pag. 128. Sainte Hierome in catalogo viroruÌ„ illustr titulo Marci papias disciple to S. Iohn euaÌ„g and bishop of HierusaleÌ„ Eusebius li. 2. ec his ca. 15. with many mo I nede not here to bring in certayne germayn writers which expouÌ„ding the fornamed place of Peter affirme him there to speake of Rhome vnder the name of Babilon where not without great blasphemy ofte they rayle agaynste all godlinesse and yet they be not ashamed to say and write yea and putte forth in printe thousand volumes wherein they denye y t Peter euer was at Rhome ¶ The .xlv. obiection Christ bade peter fede hê flock saying Pasce but this word pasce be tokeneth seruice not preeminence It is I say a word of seruice not preeminence The answere Christe in y t place vsed .ii. wordes twise he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whiche is pasce fede but after he addeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is both rege et pasce rule or gouerne and fede And so in the Ps god biddeth rule them w t an irne rod and in y e Actes Paule willeth them to take hede to them selues and â—o al the flocke amoÌ„ge whome y e holy ghost had made them bishops to rule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the church of god Also in Peters epistle rule ye the churche of Christe though it be fede in the damnable translacions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therfore now to coÌ„clude seinge euerye man knoweth that to rule or gouerne is thoffice of superiours heades and rulers we maye well and truelye aunswere that to Peter and to all his successors was geuen not only commauÌ„dement to fede but also to rule his flocke And for this saith Paule which was but an inferiour to Peter will ye that I shal come to you with the rod of correctioÌ„ Rebuke sayth he to Timothe and checke in season out of season But of this ye haue more in y e .2 probation ¶ The .xlvi. obiection Ezechias that good kinge as hauing hygh authoritye ouer all geuen vnto him eueÌ„ by god sayde herken o ye Leuites and priestes be ye halowed make ye pure and cleane the house of our lord put away al wickednes and all vncleanes from the holy place c. ¶ The answere There were in Iuda by goddes permission manye wicked kinges whych did most filthyly pollute gods howse with Idolatrye and but fewe good whych wyth all theyr myghte did seke goddes honour Among whych fewe kyng Ezechias was one of the chyefe But if ye marke the text wel ye shall not fynde that he dyd vsurpe or take vppon him the priestes offyce but wyth his temporall sworde did defende it in all godlye ordre c. The .xlvii. obiection Mokst coÌ„moÌ„ly at al times causes of heresies haue ben debated before Emperours kinges princes both in this Realme also in other places of christeÌ„dome As appeareth euidentlye by manye chronicles ¶ The aunswere Good Kinges and Princes haue ofte made lawes and ordeined sharpe statutes to preserue the churches ryght therwith as mainteners and defendours thereof but not as chiefe authours or heades of the churche ¶ The .xlviii. obiection Kinges haue grauÌ„ted many priueleges preeminences and immunities to the clergi wher by appereth plainlye the Kinges authoritye to be aboue theirs c. ¶ The answere Thereby appereth plainlye that all suche godlye Princes were euer redye with all their power to defende Christ his churche and with al their indeuore to set vp his glorye ¶ The .xlix. obiection In tholde testamente the priestes were in subiection to the high Princes And firste to speake of Aaron he euer toke Moises for hê souereigne lord The aunswere Moyses was a figure of Christe as AaroÌ„ was a figure of Peter his vicare yea and bothe Moyses Aaron were priestes as y e
prophit testifieth Moyses Aaron in sacerdotibus eius so that to proue AaroÌ„ vnder Moises maketh nothiÌ„g againste my purpose no more then to proue y t Peter was vnder christ shold make agaiÌ„st it The .l. obiection Achimelech the high prieste vsed all subiectioÌ„ wheÌ„ he spake to kinge Saul whiche caused him notwithstandinge he was the high prieste to be kilde bycause he had asked councell of god for Dauid ¶ The answere Achimelech as authors do testifye did signifie Christ being betrayed and put to death by Doeth signifienge Iudas His condemnation was most vniust and Saul in that facte moste wicked and cruel The people disobeyed the kinges coÌ„maundemeÌ„t therein as it is in the text .i. reg xxii woulde not kil the high prieste wheÌ„ he bade them knowynge it to be contrarye to gods wil as Rabbye Salomon testifieth But then wicked Doech a straunger borne dyd kyl him that contrarye to gods wyl Nowe in that ye saye the high prieste vsed al subiection in speakinge to the wycked kinge that surelye was no meruel he spake for his lyfe which he perceued then to stand in great ieoperdi being in the tirantes handes ¶ The .li. obiection Did not Salomon put Abiathar the high prieste to death would he haue done that if he hadde not bene in authoritye aboue him The answere He neither put him to death nor caused him to be put to death But he put him forth of his great office and dignitie to signifye inquit glos iii. reg ii that the Iewes should not be vtterly destroyed thoâ—gh their pristehode was ended but that towarde the ende of the world thei should come into Christes flocke and so cause to be one shepecote and one shepherde That expulsinge of Abiathar the high prieste was not done without the spirite of prophecye and that the scripture of God i. Reg. ii spoken of Hely the priest might be fulfilled where it was sayd to him that for the wickednes of his soÌ„nes Ofne and Phinees all his posteritye should lose thoffice of the high priestehode And here note that AaroÌ„ the high priest had .ii. sonnes Eleazar Ithamar that to Eleazar and his posteritye that highe office by gods oppointmeÌ„t did perteine How be it through offences coÌ„mitted god turned it for a time vnto Ithamar after to Hely and last of all to Abiathar of the same lyne but now in the beginniÌ„g of SalomoÌ„s reigne God turned it from Abiathar whyche came of Ithamar to Sadoch whyche came of Eleazar to whome and to whose posteritye god appointed firste the highpriestes office Marke wel his secrettes be verye priuey bothe in ponyshinge for synne and also in those thinges that were done in figure Here by puttiÌ„g Abiathar forth of the high Priestes rowme putting in Sadoch was signyfyed the putting awaye the leuiticall priesthod the institutinge the newe after the ordre of Melchisedech And this fygure S. Paule doth speake of Hebrues the .vii. ¶ The .lii. obiection King Alex. wrote to Ionathas the high priest saying we haue now this daye ordeined thee to be the high prieste ouer thy people c. The aunswere Alex. was an heathen king the sonne of Antiochus nowe like to be greatlye troubled w t warre agaiÌ„st Demetrius and therfore was glad to sende for ayde to y e Iewes so sende to y â— high priest Ionathas which came of the line of AaroÌ„ as did Iudas Mathias other So that he now receyued not this high office of the heathen king which had no power to gyue it him although hereby appeareth the good wil that the heathen king bare toward him y t he would defende him in his office to the vttermoste and therfore in signe therof he send him diuerse Princelye gyftes saing this daye haue we ordened the to be high prieste that is to saye we by all our power and streÌ„gth do promisse to ratifye streghthen and defende the in thy high office c. yea beside this suppose y t kiÌ„g Alex. had had authority power in dede to haue choseÌ„ Ionathas the high prieste he being ones iustlye chosen what had that bene againste his high priestehode surelye nothinge at all No more then it were against the authoritie of our holye father the Pope if the college of Cardinales after his election had send vnto him beinge absent sainge this daye we haue chosen your most holye father hode to be the highest paster ouer al christendome c. How be it I maye geue one answere to al the .v. last obiections and saye that in tholde law they liued fleshlye and the seculer power was then y e higher it was then called y e priestly kingdome bycause y e priesthod then did depende vpon y e kingdome but now contrariwise it is called a kinglye priestehode in i. Petri. ii the priestehoode beinge now y e chiefe and the spiritual power aboue y e Carnal And this is now required in y e time of grace The .liii. obiection As tholde law was a figure of the new so was y e olde priesthode a figure of the priest hode of the ghospel but y e priesthode in the olde was subiecte to the power and dignitie of Kinges therfore it must be so now ¶ The aunswere The similitude is not like as appereth in the last respoÌ„sion The .liii. obiection There is not one worde in scripture y e maketh anye menâ—ion of the Byshope of Rome Wherby then woulde he haue his authoritye The answere The place geueth not authoritye to the Byshope but the Byshope to the place Ye haue in scripture y t Peter by priuelege had y e keyes geueÌ„ to him being chiefe of al other as it is fully declared that Rome was at his death establisshed to be the see for all his posteritye Rede the answere to y e .18 obiection The .lv. obiection Peter was the chiefe onlye bycause of his confession that is to saye chiefest in vertue in preachinge and in ruling affections c. ¶ The aunswere No doubt it is true y t Christe would his elect to excel in vertue in preachinge in rulinge affectioÌ„s c. but y t Peters preeminence dyd not consist here in appeareth partlye by that S. Iohn beiÌ„g a virgin was more pure then Peter and euerye other of Thappostels as feruaunt as he and as diligent in preaching as he and partly by that if this were true that Peters superioritie dyd only consist here in then our faith concerninge the vnitye could not by succession haue so longe continued as it hathe done styl in the see of Rome Rede the .lvii. responsion The .lvi. obiection The Disciple is not greater then his Mayster but Christe was in all subiection how then can it be that Peter was superiour or chiefe of all other The answere Christe was superiour and chiefe ouer al and yet of humilitye to teache the Disciples y t the higher they were the more low they ought euer to be in
finde a cause that shal seme expediēt y t the Kinge in his owne person shall goe Wil they not then say it hath pleased y t King the Councel y e the King him selfe shal goe take one chiefe Duke with him as Peter had Iohn w t him May it not then be sayd the cause was so great they haue euē sende fourth the King haue not euen the verye consuls of Rome as histories declare ofte so bene sente was not therfore the consuls authoritye the higheste but to be counted equal with other yea haue we not a lyke example in scripture how the head of al Phinees was sēt .x. Princes with him in to the land of Galaad euē so Peter the head as moste mete and as most honorable was put therunto being so sent to Samaria yea note this that Peter euer vsed humble submission but where authoritie was required But further yet herein to speake what derogation were it now to the Popes authoritie if the whole college of Cardinalles did conclude that it were expediēt for his fatherhode now to come in to Englande Moreouer note wel concerning this obiectiō that in thactes Lukes chiefe purpose was to describe y e pere grinatiō of him self of Paule so y ◠not one worde is there of Peters tarieng nor of his stallaciō at Antioche nor of y e deuidīg thapostels into sūdry cūtres nor whō they cōuerted nor what martirdōe they suffered ¶ The .xiii. obiection In y e xv of thactes in y e questiō had about the legals Iames had y e chefe preeminēce for the coūcel was cōcluded by hī c. The aunswere S. Peter made S. Iames Bushop of Ierusalē as Anacletus Peters disciple successour saith after him Chrisostome cōfirmeth y e same with these wordes Peter y e Master of y e whole world made Saint Iames Bushope of Ierusalē Do ye thinke then that Saint Iames would take vpō him to be aboue his head but now I pray you iustlye pouder wey the place Actes the .xv. and ye shal fynde that both Peter did first as head say his mind yea though it were in S. Iames see and also that which Peter then said toke place shortly after yet doth S. Iames euen then confirminge Peters sayinge with the prophetes testimony What maketh it then against Peters authoritie that S. Iames approuing all that Peter had spoken added somthīg to Peters wordes which addicion yet shortly after was quite taken awaye and neuer since obserued that is to saye to abstene from bloud c. yea may not y e chiefe of a councel first geue his sētence as Peter did here yet after him an inferior may say something more whyche shalbe thought to the whole coūsel better for y e time doeth this any thing againste thautoritie of the chiefest Peters iudgemēt was y t the heathen people should be quite deliuered frō al the Iewishe burdens so shortlye after it was fullye concluded though for a shorte time S. Iames counsel was taken as appeareth by y t Paule then sone afterwrote to the Corinthians bye al that cōmeth into y e shambles eate all thinges c. to Tite all meates be cleane vnto the pure to the Romās no meate is to be coūted cōmen or vncleane ye whyche eate not misiudge not them that eate Againe to the Collosians let no mā iudge you in receiuīg your meate c Wherby wel appereth that S. Peters sentēce was chiefe as spokē by the chiefe But herin yet more to speake note wel y t Peter ofte amonges thappostels vsed suche modestye humilitie and in so doinge did folow Christes cōmaūdemēt which bad y e higher they were the lower more humble they ought to be y t he dyd not euer put his high authoritye in executiō but as S. Ciprian saith y t Peter whome Christe made head of al and vpon whom he builded his church whē Paule dyd contende with him aboute circumcision dyd not reuenge or boste him selfe that he was the Prince or chief of al as he iustly might haue said but stil he humbled him selfe But god forbid y t we should ascribe this his hūble gentil submittinge to the derogation of his highe power authoritie but thinke y t euer whē Christes glorye or the profit of y e flocke required it then he vsed his ful and high authoritye as appereth in the punishīg of Anany Saphire Simon Magus c. And yet furthermore in the primatiue churche it was rather time as is in the .viii. responsion to cal people in to Christes flocke then to set euerye man in his owne place or to talke then of rules and orders or of Peters authority that was to be done afterwarde the people beinge first instructed in y e faith Thē was rather y e time to seke for gethering thē for gouernīg And if we loke well we shall fynde not onlye in the ghospel before Christes ascēsion but also afterwarde in thactes that Peter behaued him selfe as head and Prince euer when time required and occasion serued He spake for al he answred for al he for al said to Christ beholde we haue forsaken al and folowed thee what rewarde therfore shall we haue againe he sayde to Christe speakest thou this parable to vs or vnto all when Christe asked whether they woulde goe awaye also from him Peter alone made answere saying to whom shall we goe thou hast the wordes of lyfe None dyd thus but he and that bycause he was heade Howbe it as yet whiles Christ was present with them in his naturall shape for in y e forme of breade he is euer stil presēt it was not meete that his vicare should greatlye medle But after thascension Peter firste stode vppe as heade and made the sermon at the chosynge of Mathias and sayde oportet we must chose one c. And after when they had receyued tholy ghoste and were illuded of the people he alone spake and preached conuertinge them to the faythe .3000 people at once Also when he Iohn came into the temple at y ◠.ix. houre of prayer he alone sayde to the lame creple that whych I haue I geue the in the name of Iesus arise c. The lame mā asked almes of both and Peter bade loke vpon both but he sayd not in the name of bothe we haue neyther golde nor siluer y t whiche we haue we geue thee c. But as head he in y e singuler number as hauinge a singuler authority said yea though Iohn one of the chiefe of the appostels were present I haue neyther golde nor siluer y t whiche I haue I geue thee c. And this declareth him to be head Likewise he alone for all as head made the oration to pacifie the people and he alone as prince did strike Ananye and Saphire Whiche of all the apostels in the presence
yeares ordeyned Euodium there after whom folowed Ignatius euen then in the primatiue church by the apostels it was ordeyned for y e third chiefe see and Alexandria for the second bicause Peter appoynted his dearely beloued disciple Marke there to be Bishoppe and yet bothe it and Alexandria subiectes to Rome bicause both they there receyued theyr prerogatiues dignities euen of Peter y e head bishop which had his see by y e holye ghoste there appointed saieth Chrisost as was couÌ„ted the chefe city of al y â— world And where as he w t his death coÌ„firmed the prerogatiue dignity thereof appointinge also before his Martirdome y t S. Clement shuld succede him in that highe place to receyue the keyes sayth S. Clement him selfe writinge to S. Iames which Peter then said he had before receiued of christ This vndoubtedlye is the catholike fayth So that no scriptures wrasted ought to moue a christen maÌ„ froÌ„ this the faithe of y e church receyued before al scriptures were writteÌ„ This is y t Paule sayth if any maÌ„ preach any other ghospel to you theÌ„ y t which you haue receiued cursed be he Paule neyther sayde nor did meane if any man preche any thing but y t which Mathue Marke Luke or Iohn haue writteÌ„ as for some of theÌ„ then had not written but he did meane if anye preache agaynst thappostolicall tradicions thoughe they were neuer writen cursed be he Al the consente of the apostels scholers disciples successours to this day thê haue taught and shall we now bring al into questioÌ„ Yea shal we condemne all and inuent newe of oure owne as men haue done in this realme of late yeares most wretchedly Sayncte Austen sayth that the succcession of Bishoppes in Peters see is one of the .4 causes y t kept him in the catholike fayth Ireneus agreeth with the same S. CipriaÌ„ affirmeth that all heresies springe forth of the denial and refusinge the see of Rome to be head Anacletus a holye Martir disciple to S. Peter and successour to him in that see sayth that y e see of Rome had his preeminence and power aboue all not geueÌ„ by the Appostels but euen by Christe hym selfe This doctrine euer hathe bene taught of all the writers from the beginninge with one consente bothe of the Latines and the GreciaÌ„s Sayncte Clemente Anacletus Ignatiê° Policarpus Dionisius Papias with many other which all were in thapostels time after them Ireneus Tertulian Origen Ciprian Athanasius Eusebius Ambr. HieroÌ„ Aug. Chriso with thousandes since them whyche haue euer kept y e same line and succession receiuinge thys doctrine as it were by hand one of another Whether shal we folowe al these holye learned fathers being saintes in heauen or els geue eare to a rablemeÌ„t of rascal herytikes verye limmes of the deuel ¶ The .xix. obiection Christ before Pylate refused an earthlye kingdome saying his kingdome was not of this worlde yea wheÌ„ they would haue made him a kinge he fled awaye ¶ The answere This maketh nothinge against the authority of S. Peter or his successours y t Popes holines Christe came not to reigne in a teÌ„poral kingdome No true christen man euer beleued or taught the contrarye He came not to depriue kinges of their worldly dignities and honours He came to establish a new kingdome whych is spiritual for the saluation of the soule and here of Saint Iohn speaketh saing thou hast redemed vs with thy bloud made vs a kingdome to oure lorde and we shall reigne vpon the earth This kingdome Christ did ordeine and made Peter head here of his successours for euer so that euery worldly Kinge or Prince if he wil be in this kingedome muste be subiecte to the head of the same or els shall he neuer come to the kingdome of heauen which is thonly cause of comming in to this spiritual kingdome here As for infidels and heathen Princes whyche wyl neither thone nor thother I speke not of Christe although he were Prince of y e kinges of y e earth as S. Iohn saith and as maÌ„ not onlye as God Kinge of Kinges and Lorde of Lordes his vesture wherin that was written signifyed the humanitye that couered the godhed yet when they woulde haue made him a Kyng he fled and no meruel for he came not therfore His onlye comminge was to redeme maÌ„ with his bloud beynge obediente to his father euen vnto the vilest death so that he came not to beare here in the world an earthlye scepter for that he sayde to a certaine yonge man requiringe right at his handes againste y e iniuries of his brother O thou man who appointed me to be iudge or deuider betwene you and your brother as though he had sayd that is not y e cause of my comminge at the leaste waye principallye to meddel with suche ciuile matters but it is to suffer death for mans raunsome Howe be it now to note a worde or .ii. although Christe in his owne person came not to take in hand anye earthly kingdoÌ„ being notw tstaÌ„ding as maÌ„ king of al kinges yet he would his disciples that is to say al that trulye professe him be he of the laitie or clergy Kinge Byshop or other for al suche be Christes Disciples iustlye and godlye to vse and exercise all rules and offices here in the world both kinges Byshoppes Dukes Lordes Ladyes both men and womeÌ„ riche or pore high or lowe ¶ The .xx. obiection Christe to declare how he and his should bee subiectes bade geue to Cesar that which was Cesars and to God that whyche was Goddes c. ¶ The answere By these wordes of Christe there is no derogation against his chief minister here in earth no nor anye power geueÌ„ to the laytye here by to be ouer the cleregye For here the wicked Pharises came craftely being determined whether he hadde sayde yea or naye to haue had a great vauntage against him ether as a traitour or els as a dissembler demaunded not whether they were bounde to paye tribute or whether he could iustlie receiue it but whether they might geue tribute to Cesar or no he being a strauÌ„ge prince which thiÌ„g thei thought to be against the fredoÌ„ of their lawe Nowe Christe whyche saw al thinges perceuing their deceytfull hertes sayd neither it was lawefull nor not lawful but only bad geue to euery one that whych was his right to haue And this is euery christen mans dutie to do But yet further here in to speake iÌ„ case Christe then had geuen commaundemeÌ„t to the Iewes as his people to haue payde tribute to Cesar or to other foreÌ„ Princes his commaundemeÌ„t had bene no more againste the Clergie then againste anye other of the laytye be he King or Emperour if he be a member of Christes church and a shepe of his flocke ¶ The .xxi. obiection Christ bad go paye tribute whyche should seme to make
partlye that the people mighte the rather geue eare to christes doctryne and lyâ—e more vertuously hauing him theyr heade shepeherde whome they loued and chose them selues What meruel was it then that themperours coÌ„sent y e chiefe of the comen people was desired in that electioÌ„ what maketh this agaynste our holye father the popes authoritie Surely nothiÌ„g at al. Howbeit in processe of time manye inconueniences rising herby as tiraÌ„ny sinister affectioÌ„ with diuerse other corruptions it was lafte to the election of the clergy agayne that euen by the consent of the holye emperours as ye maye rede in graciaÌ„ dist 63. in many other places mo Wherfore HildebraÌ„d which after was pope named Greg. y e .vii. answered vnto Otto Archb. of Colen coming froÌ„ Hen. the .iiii. emperour that neither emperoure nor any other but onely the clargye had any power or Authoritye in chosing the bishop of Rome that the permission or sufferaÌ„ce y t emperours for certayne causes had had therin was iustlye for more lawful more reasonable causes taken awaye ¶ The .xxxi. obiection At NiceÌ„ counsel y e bishop of Rome was not present c. The aunswere What then his authoritye was there as it euer was and is in all councels lawfully gethered by his legates Theyr names at that time were Victor Vincentius and Osius bishops of Corduba Yea there it was declared confirmed not instiTute for y t was done by Christe that no generall councel shoulde be kept without the consent authority of the bishop of Rome So y â— although ye bring neuer so many couÌ„cels wherein the bishop of Rome in his owne person was not present yet his authoritye and power was neuer abseÌ„t And here note further that in the .iiii. firste and chiefe general councels wherunto S. Gregory saide he gaue credite euen as to the .iiii. euaÌ„gelistes all the doinges were referred to be iudged and confirmed by the authoritie of the byshop of Rome At Nicen couÌ„sel which was the first of y e iiii they did send this epistle folowing Vnto the most blessed Siluester bishop of the citye of Rome Osius bishop of Corduba Victor and Vincentius priestes of Rome with the rest of y e bishops .318 sende greting in our lorde What so euer we haue ordeyned in this counsell of Nicen we desire that it may be confirmed by the agrement of youre mouth And in the second councel which was the first at Constantinople al that blessed coÌ„panye there gethered obeid vnto Damasus Byshope of RoÌ„e he geuing sentence against the heretikes MacedoniuÌ„ Sabellium EunomiuÌ„ Likewise at the thirde chiefe general councel which was holden at Ephesus Nestorius was coÌ„demned by Celestine then Bushope of Rome being chiefe iudge And finallye at Chalcedon the last of the .iiii. all the councel there gethered did write as in moste submission vnto the most holy Bushope of Rome Leo Byshope of thuniuersal church c. ¶ The .xxxii. obiection Ireneus bishop of Lyons did resiste Victor bishop of Rome eueÌ„ sone after y e apostels time concerning y e feast of Easter And Anicetê° bishop of Rome euen immediatly after thappostels gaue place to Policarpê° S. Iohns disciple ¶ The answere Anicetus then Pius after them Victor successours vnto peter made decrees coÌ„cerning easter And y e East church first did resist y e ordre bycause they hadde kepte an other custome whiche was after the Iewes fashion takeÌ„ of S. Iohn euaÌ„gelist Then Policarp bishop of Smirma in y e greke church yea being S. Iohns disclple also came to Rome to Anicetê° to aske councell of the matter And here marke y e al that they dyd was to edifye not to destroy and marke also that Policarpus acknowledged supirioritye when he came to holye Anicetus Byshope of Rome about the determinatioÌ„ of Easter notwithstanding he was S. Iohns disciple a Byshop yea that in the greke church Agayne after this when Victor that holy martir about the same mater would haue excominicate as heade of all the bushoppes of the greke church Ireneus exhorted him to the contrarye lest more trouble discorde and disquietnes thereby myght haue risen What maketh this obiectioÌ„ now against the popes authority Ireneus god knoweth acknowledged al to be subiecte to that highe authoritye as ye may rede in his worke li. 3. ca. 3. et 4. ¶ The .xxxiii. obiection Christ came in al pouertye not hauing as he saith where to hide his head his Disciples likewyse were called beinge pore fishers c. ¶ The answere Christ thereby did no more burtheÌ„ the Clergie then he did y e laitye yea then he did kinges or Princes being ones subiectes to y e ghospel It was mete that he and his then shoulde come without all worldlye honour riches or seculer authoritie bothe for our example and also that infidels should haue no occasion to saye that he had institute his religion by violence by tirannye by power earthlye goodes as no doubt they wold haue done if he had commen as he might if it had pleased him with all worldlye power he euen as man beinge kiÌ„g of al kinges Neuertheles in this pouerte it ought not to haue continued no nor coulde so haue done seinge Christe would haue but one body mistical in al christeÌ„dome and one head thereof his successour to gouerne al the rest must it not then nedes folow y t eueÌ„ in temporal substaunce bothe he and al other vnder him accordinge to their callinge ought to haue where with all to maintene defende their places would it not els sone come to passe that al the ministerye should come in conteÌ„pt or at the least waye smallye be regarded yea and would not all thereby shortlye come to confusion call to your remeÌ„brauÌ„ce I pray you how y â— Christ did send his Disciples twise forthe ones long before his passion and thother time after his resurrection At the first sending he bad them go al porely knowing that al necessaries then should be prouided for them to with drawe all men therby from Auarice and that nothing shuld be an hindraunce to the settinge fourthe of his Ghospel But at the seconde tyme of sendynge them fourth whyche was after his resurrection and ascension he byddynge them tarye tyl they had receiued tholy ghost they were charged to take all thinges necessarye yea and shortly after Saint Paule him selfe dyd appoint beinge euen led with the same spiryte of God that no mo pore ignoraunte fishers should be made Bishoppes or priestes but that they should be bothe doctours and men of good hospitalitye At the beginnynge all was rawe symple and rude yea and at that time when the Bushoppes were suche as hadde bene but poore ignoraunte fyshers then the verye Princes and rulers came and layde al their goodes at their fete If ye now wil nedes haue y e one ye must then nedes haue y e other How be it like as at the begynninge of the worlde the