this matter in Bel lib. 2. de conc c. 14.17 and the base conceit the Iesuites hold of all such Councells as want the Popes confirmation contrary to the judgement of Peter de Alliaco Cardinall of Cambry Iohn Gerson Iacobus Almaine Card. Cusanus Bishop Tostatus Abbot Panormitan with the Councels of Pisa Constance and Basil and generally of the whole French Church at this day I know not to which of these factions your friend enclines if he thinke as the French Papists doe I am of his opinion if hee be Iesuited desire him to mend his description of the Catholique Church and where he names it a visible Monarch let him sit downe and write a visible Monarch For that is Purus putus Iesuitismus Disput Theol. To. 3. dis 1. By the Church we meane her head saith Greg. de Valent. that is the Pope in whom there resideth the full authority of the Church when he pleaseth to determine matters of faith whether he doe it with a Councell or without His words are these Est in Ecclesiâ authoritas divinitûs instituta quâ fideles tum doctrinâ tum praeceptis informentur Haec authoritas plenè in Romano Pontifice Christi Vicario S. Petri successore residet qui scilicet de fidei morum controversiis vel per se vel vnà cum generali concilio sufficienter constituat Nomine Ecclesiae intelligimus eius caput id est Romanum Pontificem per se I haue stood thus long vpon the authority of Scripture because if the question of the Church must receiue its decision from thence as Bell confesseth me thinkes it is but hard dealing in him and his fellowes to keepe Lay-people from the free reading of the scripture vnlesse they meane to keepe them from the knowledge of the true Church also but for your friend though hee talke much of the Catholique Church yet I cannot finde by his description that ever hee consulted either with scripture or any ancient lawfull councell when he went about it And thereupon I would presently ioyne issue with him but that I am bound to take knowledge first of a place of Malachy which hee sets most eminently in the forefront of his writing I haue no will in you saith the Lord of Hostes and gift I will not receiue of your hand for from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe great is my name amongst the Gentiles and in every place there is sacrificing and there is offered to my name a cleane oblation because my name is great amongst the Gentiles saith the Lord of Hostes Mal. 1.11 In the allegation of this Text I complaine that there are two notorious faults committed by him 1. That he alledgeth it to no purpose any other text in the Bible would haue become the place as well as that 2. That he falsifies the words of the Prophet and makes him to say that which he never meant 1. If your friend in citing these words did purpose to proue the reiectiō of the Iews and calling of the Gentiles I know it is true but I know not to what purpose alledged to perswade any man to Popery more then the deposing of Abiathar and Sadocks advancement to the Priesthood 1. Reg. 2.35 If his meaning be to shew that the Church of the Gentiles is of greater extent then ever the Iewish Synagogue was that it is not now confined to any one place or people as it was vnder the Law but belongeth indifferently to all Nations vpon earth for my part I know no Christian that ever denied it besides the Donatists of old and some Papists of later times who seeking to bring all Christians to a dependance vpon Rome and the Bishop of that place just as the Synagogue depended vpon the Temple of Ierusalem and the high Priest there they turne the vniversal Church into a particular congregation howsoever for fashiō sake they retaine the name of Catholike They themselues doe in a manner acknowledge as much when as not contenting themselues with those known marks of Vna Sancta Catholica Apostolica by which the Church was wont to bee notified in the antient Creeds and Councels they foist in Romana amongst the rest which being but a late tricke vnheard of in antiquity and only devised to serue the present turne it shewes that the Church for whose sake it was first devised is but of a late edition per Romanam Ecclesiam nemo vnquam intellexit vniversalem nisi forte latini sermonis ignarus Pigh hierar Eccl. l. 6. c. 3. 2. My second accusation is that your friend deales not faithfully in setting downe the words of Malachy For whereas hee makes the Prophet to say that in every place there is sacrificing you may boldly tell him that there is no one word of sacrificing in the Hebrew text at all God saith that among the Gentiles there should be incense offered to his name that is prayers supplicatiōs as you shall findethe word interpreted by the holy Ghost himselfe Rev. 5.8 and therefore the Septuagint renders it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arias Mont. The sacrifice of the Masse who vnderstood both the Hebrew and Greeke very well in his interlineary Bible translates it incensum As for Sacrificing there is Nec vola nec vestigium neither fell nor marke of it as we say in all that saying of the Prophet You must thinke it was not without some speciall cause that the name of Sacrificing was drawne into the text thus by the heeles but vpon hope that it should doe som speciall service which though your friend doe not signifie and so I need not take knowledge of it yet I thinke good to make you acquainted withall because it may serue to discouer some other of our Adversaries mysteries Cardinall Allen forsooth Card. Allen hath vndertaken out of these words of Malachy to proue the sacrifice of the Mas by sixe reasons which would make my writing swell too big if I should set them all downe lib. de Euch. c. 5. I would desire you to reade both his reasons the answer made vnto them by Doct. Reinolds in his conference with Hart. p. 479. D. Reinolds and Hart. And if you receiue not full satisfaction in that point besides many others blame me for commending the booke vnto you Now what hope could hee ever haue of prouing the Sacrifice of the Masse by Malachy vnlesse the word Sacrifice it selfe were first found in the Text. And so I come to his description of the Catholike Church as he calls it though all things considered he hath little reason to giue it that name A description of the Catholique Church The holy Christian Catholique Church militant which we professe in the Apostles Creed to belieue is a visible Monarchy or Kingdome consisting of all the true belieuers vpon the face of the earth confessing one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity vnder one lawfull visible head for the time being obseruing one
THE FALSHOOD OF THE CHEIFE grounds of the Romish Religion Descried and convinced in a briefe Answere to certaine Motiues sent by a Priest to a Gentleman to induce him to turne Papist By W.S. Printed for the Author Anno Dom. 1635. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL his much honoured Vncle EDWARD SMYTH Esquire SIR THere are other reasons besides that common motiue and popular pretence of the importunity of friends which hath now put this little manuall into the world It was composed by the Author for I cannot say that it was written by him but rather dictated as hee spake it lying on his bed of sicknesse and therefore hee intended to haue kept it private iudging it vnworthy other mens approbation because vnworthy his own Neverthelesse it secretly crept into the presse and return'd from thence full of faults like the Printer of it who had as little authority to Print it at all as Print it false There was no other way to suppresse the old impression but by a new which I haue here done setting it out the second time but in a lesse volumne and with lesse faults There is one motiue more and that more important then the former The Author since his death for in his life time malice it selfe was never so audacious as to dare ecclipse the bightnesse of his integrity either in life or doctrine hath had his faith branded with the name of apostacy and his profession with heresy But whither he were a professed open enemy or an hypocriticall friend which hath done him this wrong I forbeare to name Whosoever he were this ensuing treatise will put him both to shame and silence and therefore I need not make any apology for him whose owne workes speake in his defence Sir it was formerly made solely yours by the Author and therefore in the dedication it now iustly claimes your patronage only If it satisfy not the more curious reader yet hee that made it thought his paines fully recompenced in that it gaue you satisfaction neither doth the reward of my labour spread it selfe vnto others but is wholy terminated in your acceptance If it chance to bee condemned as imperfect because he hath not spoken all that might haue beene said on this subiect I adde neither hath he spoken all that hee could It was intended for a letter only and therefore not to swell into a larger volumne yet I presume there is as much in the answere as the Priests motiues require more peradventure then he ever expected or at least thank't him for Such as it is it is once more made yours by him who desires to be esteemed Your dutifull Nephew and Servant WILLIAM SVTTON From Christ-Church in Oxon. Iun. 28. 1635. Motiues sent by a Priest to a Gentleman to Induce him to turne Papist The rejection of the Iewes and acceptation of the Gentiles I Haue no will in you How to knovv the holy Catholique Church which all Christians professe to beleeue saith the Lord of Hostes and guift I will not receiue of your hands for from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe great is my name among the Gentiles and in every place there is Sacrificing and there is offered to my name a cleane oblation because my name is great amongst the Gentiles saith the Lord of Hostes Mal. 1. vers 11. A Description of the true Christian Catholique Church Militant The holy Christian Catholique Church militant which wee professe in the Apostles Creed to beleeue is a visible Monarchy or Kingdome consisting of all the true beleeuers vpon the face of the earth confessing one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity vnder one lawfull visible head for the time being obseruing one Faith Religion and Sacraments instituted by Christ Which holy kingdome and Society is composed of a visible head Clergy and Laity the head to governe the Clergy to preach and administer Sacraments the Laity to learne and to obey in all things touching their faith and salvation For Christ saith of the Pastors of his Church Hee that heareth you heareth mee and he that despiseth you despiseth mee Luk. 10. vers 16. That our Saviour Christ being a Priest for ever secundum ordinem Melchisedec was the first visible head and founder of the said holy Christian Catholique Church militant composed of a head Clergy and Laity is apparant first in his sacred person being the visible head in his holy Apostles being the Clergy and in his Common disciples being the Laity which small beginning is compared to a Mustard-seed and the increasing to a great tree that birds may build in the Branches thereof our Saviour saying to the Clergy his Apostles and in thē to all their lawfull Successors To you it is giuen to know the misteries of the Kingdome of God but to the rest in Parables Luk. 8. vers 10. The increasing of the Church By the Preaching and Miracles of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles many were converted to be members of the Church At S. Peters first Sermon after he had receiued the Holy Ghost 3000. were added and afterwards 5000. Act. 2. vers 41. Act. 4. vers 4. And Saint Paul affirmeth that in his time the Romane faith was renowned in the whole world Rom. 1. vers 8. agreeing with the words of Christs But you shall receiue the vertue of the holy Ghost comming vpon you and you shall bee Witnesses to me in Ierusalem and in all Iurie and Samaria and even to the vtmost of the earth Act 1. v. 8. Of the Continuance of the holy Catholique Church in true Faith by the Holy Ghosts assistance This is my Covenant with thee saith our Lord speaking of his Church my spirit that is in thee and my words that I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth and out of the mouth of thy seed and out of the mouth of thy seedes seed saith our Lord from this present and for ever Isay 59. vers 21. All power is giuen to mee in Heaven and in Earth going therefore teach ye all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to obserue all things whatsoever I haue commanded you and behold J am with you alwaies to the Consummation of the World Math. 28. vers 19.20 I will aske the Father and hee will giue you another Paraclet that he may abide with you for ever the spirit of truth Ioh. 14. vers 16.17 And if hee will not heare the Church let him be to thee as the Heathen and as the Publican Math. 18. v. 17. All which promises of Christ for sending the Holy Ghost to preserue his Church in truth for ever was visibly miraculously performed on Whitsunday Act. 2. vers 1. That our Saviour Christ did constitute Saint Peter to bee Ministeriall head of his Church militant And I say to thee thou art Peter and vpon this rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it
praesentis Ecclesiae Concilij Tridentini then all will come to nothing de effect saor l. 2. c. 35. q. d. Though all other councells were expunged yet that may stand by it selfe and so long we shall stand One thing more by the way I would haue you take notice of in Bellarmine how when hee had first endevoured to proue that the first foure generall Councels were all called by Popes just as your friend would haue it yet presently after in the same chapter he sets downe foure reasons why the Emperor did call call those 4. Councels and not Popes alone l. 1. de Concil to cap. 13. to 2. It is confessed by divers learned Protestants that the Romane Church was the true Mother Church which Christ our Saviour planted some for 300 yeeres some for 400. yeares some for 600. yeares c. Among other particular Churches planted by the Apostles the Romane Church with the first was of speciall note and the faith of the Romans in the beginning renowned through the whole world Rom. 1.8 But what doth S. Paul say more of the Romanes in that place The Romish Church not the mother of all Christians then hee doth of the Thessalonians elsewhere Read 1. Thes v. 7.8 2. Thes 1. v. 3.4 and you shall finde as great praise if not greater given to them then to the other What would hee inferre hence Did hee ever heare any Protestant confesse because he would so faine worke somewhat out of their confession that the Romish Church when it was at the best was the Mother of all Christians Or that the holy Catholique Church which we belieue in our Creed was nothing else but the Church of Rome Or because that Church was faithfull in the Apostles daies doth it follow that it must needs continue so still Egesippus an auncient Catholique writer saith that so long as the Apostles liued Virgo pura incorrupta mansit Ecclesia c. apud Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 29. And whereas hee talkes of 300 and 400. nay of 800. years as if we did acknowledge Rome so long to haue bin the Church of Christ tell him for his further learning that we acknowledge her for a Church still though a most degenerate and corrupted one Whose doctrine is full of Novelty and her practise as full of pride and cruelty and yet a Church in respect of some truths that shee teacheth among many falshoods as a man that is heart-sicke and ready to dye ceaseth not for all that to bee a man so we likewise thinke of divers other Christians in the world though there be many errors in their doctrine and much scandall in their liues yet so long as they hold the foundation the name of the Church is not to be denied them and if your friend thinke otherwise tell him that his faith is never the better because his charity is worse then ours The corruptions of Rome But hee will deny perhaps that there are any such corruptions as we speake of growne into the Church of Rome What then meane so many grievous complaints made by men of speciall note in that Church long before Luther was borne Bernard in â—antic â—on serm 〈◊〉 What meant Bernard to say that there was putida tabes a filthy disease that had spred it selfe throughout all the parts of the Church that Ministri Christi in his time did servire Antichristo If nothing be amisse in the Church of Rome what meant Paulus Tertius to set certaine delegate Cardinals and others a worke to giue their advice how reformation might be made Or what meant those Cardinalls to write such a booke as they did called Concilium delect Card. aliorum Praelat which if you will read as it is extant in Tom. 3. Concil edit per Crab. editionis Colon. 1551. you shall find that their Church hath both rugas maculas Concil Trident. sess 22. dâ—eret de Oâ— serb 〈◊〉 vit in cel bratione Missae as well in matter of doctrine as in manners What meant the Councell of Trent to decree that the Masse it selfe ought to be purged out of all such abuses as vel avaritia vel superstitio induxit if all were as it should be what needed such a reformation of your Breviary and Missal officium beatae virginis But that they were refertae superstitionibus and so confessed in Pij Quinti constitut super recitat offic Beat. virginis Read also his preface in Breviar Missale restitut Indeficiency of faith not promised to one particular Church Now let him answere himselfe how it may bee true that Rome was once a sound Church of Christ and yet is not so now Let him remember what Isaiah said c. 1. v. 21. How is the faithfull City become a Harlot Desire him to read that whole passage in the Prophet and he shall finde how changing of the name the words doe as well fit Rome in these daies as ever they did Ierusalem then And whereas he talkes of the promises of God it is but the same vanity that the Iewes were possessed with when they stood so much vpon Templum Domini Jer. 7. v. 4. The promises that Christ made to his Church that he would be with it to the end of the world That hee would send the spirit of truth to abide with it for ever that Hell gates shall not prevaile against it They were made to the Catholique Church and not to any particular one such as Rome is and to that Catholique Church they haue beene and ever shall bee most truly performed God will haue his Church vpon earth though Rome were as deepe buried vnder the earth as now she stands aboue it And to end with a demonstration Hee doth well to end with one for I am sure that from the beginning hitherto such Arguments haue beene geason with your friend and if this bee one Aristotle never knew what demonstrations meant in that kinde of argument the propositions ought to be evidently true and the conclusion to be drawne from the premises not by probable but by necessary consequence And here is no such matter The Patriarchall and Episcopall seates of the Apostles not extinguished That all the Patriarchall and Episcopall seates of the Apostles This is not true nay in saying so he doth vnreasonably overlash For it is well knowne to the world that there is at this day a Patriarch of Constantinople to whose Iurisdiction are subiect all the Christians of Asia minor excepting Armenia the lesse and Cilicia besides Circassia Mengrelia and Russia moreover that in Europe it selfe the Christians of Greece Macedonia Epirus Thracia Bulgaria Rascia Servia Bossina Walachia Moldavia Podolia doe acknowledge the Iurisdiction of that Patriarch and cannot endure the Bishop of Rome vnder this Patriarch there is the Metropolitan of Salonichi Thessolonica and thirtie Churches of Christians in that one Citty and no lesse then ten Suffragan Bishops subiect to his Iurisdiction besides this the Metropolitan of
and J will giue to thee the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind vpon earth it shall bee bound also in the heavens and whatsoever thou shalt loose in earth it shall be loosed also in the Heavens Math. 16. v. 18.19 And our Saviour said Simon Simon behold Satan hath required to haue thee for to sift as wheat But I haue prayed for thee that thy faith faile not and thou being converted confirme thy Brothren Luk. 22. v. 31.32 Our Saviour Christ asking Peter if he loued him more then these said yea Lord thou knowest I loue thee whereupon Christ said to him twice feed my Lambes and the third time feede my Sheepe Ioh. 21. v. 15.16.17 That Saint Peter was chiefe of the Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome When all the holy Apostles are named S. Peter is the first Math. 10. vers 2. After the Apostles had visibly receiued the Holy Ghost S. Peter made the first Sermon thereof whereat 3000. persons were converted Act. 2. v. 41. With his word and power he killed Ananias and Saphira for their Sacriledge Act. 5. v. 5. Saiut Peter called the first Councell of the Apostles held at Ierusalem and first spake therein Act. 15. v. 7. Jt is affirmed by old writers and some moderne learned Protestants that S. Peter was 15. yeares Bishop of Rome and by the auncient Ecclesiasticall wryters that S. Peter and S. Paul were both of them martyred together in Rome vnder the Emperour Nero. Orig. apud Euseb Lib. 3. cap. 1. Eus Cap. 24. Lib. 2. Hist Eccliastic Tertul. de praesc c. 26. Aug. tract 123 in Ioh. Chrysost Beda in hunc locum S. Ambr. Serm. 66.68 St Maximus Statu faelix Ecclesia cui totam doctrinam Apostoli cum suo fanguine pro funderunt vbi Petrus passioni Dominicae adaequatur vbi Paulus Iohannis exitu Coronatur Tertul. de Praescrip cap. 36. That St Peters Successors Bishops of Rome haue exercised chiefe authority in the Church Militant ever since to this day After the Martyrdome of St Peter first Bishop of Rome 32. of the succeeding Bishops there were martyred for the faith of Christ Eusebius Pope Victor in the first 200. yeares excommunicated the Asian Bishops about the observation or keeping Easter day Pope Silvester 314. yeeres called the first Councell of Nice against the Arian hereste Pope Damasus 367. called the second generall Councell at Constantinople against Macedonius the heretique Pope Caelestine 414. called the third generall Councell at Ephesus against Nestorius the heretique Pope Leo 440. called the fourth generall Councell at Calcedon against the heretique Eutiches And likewise euer since to the last generall Councell of Trent the Bishops of Rome haue called them all as heresies and false Prophets did arise in the Church Jt is confessed by divers learned Protestants that the Roman Church was the true Mother Church which Christ our Saviour planted some for 300. yeares some for 400. yeares some for 600. yeares and some for 800 yeares after Christ which being true that it was once the true Church and also true that our Saviour Christ promised to bee with it to the consummation of the world and to send the spirit of Truth to abide with it for ever and that Hell gates should not preuaile against it and Christ saith Heaven and Earth shall passe but my words shall not passe How then can it be true that the Roman Church being once the true mother Church should fall so fouly from her first puritie as is by some too too boldly affirmed Jt is so necessary for every one to know and beliene the holy Catholique Church Militant that whosoever is not a sound member of that society either in act or desire cannot be saved as all those which were out of Noahs Arke were drowned And to end with a demonstration all the Patriarchall Episcopall Seas of the Apostles be extinguished and worne out many hundred yeares since by Heretiques and Jnfidels onely the Church of Rome the Seate of Saint Peter stands at this day most conspicuous according to the prayer and promise of Christ that his faith should not faile and that the gates of Hell should not prevaile against it Thus briefly is proued the beginning encreasing and continuing of the holy Christian Catholique Apostolique and Romane Church as also the promised continuall assistance of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of truth to remaine therewith alwaies to the Consummation of the World that is for ever Of which Vine all Christians that shall be saued must be vnited liuely branches and members THE ANSWERE to the Priests Motiues GOod Brother Whosoever he was that sent you these lines as motiues to make you a Romish Catholique I must needs thinke him your friend and by that name I meane to call him hereafter because I thinke hee did it out of a desire to saue your soule although I am sure he goes the wrong way to worke And if you should follow him which God forbid hee will certainly leade you into the ditch Though his proofes bee simple ones as I hope you will see by the answere yet it seemes hee thought better of them and they were the best he knew and therefore if hee faile in his purpose as I hope he shall yet you haue some cause to thanke him in that hee vsed the same arguments to perswade you wherewith hee himselfe was perswaded But for the validity of his reasons doe you judge your selfe when you haue heard vs both speake or if not let it bee tried by God and the country And who soever he was he hath placed a sentence in the foot of his discourse which for the importancie thereof deserved to bee set in a higher roome therefore I will begin with that first The true Catholique Church Jt is so necessary saith hee for every one to know and beleeue the holy Catholique Church militant that whosoever is not a sound member of that society either in act or desire cannot bee saved All this is true and there is great reason for it for if it were once agreed among Christians which were the true Church of Christ other differences in Religion would more easily be composed by the authority thereof But so long as the doubt remaines concerning the Church it selfe as in these daies that is the capitall controversie betweene Protestants Papists there is small hope of any good accord vnlesse both sides could agree vpon some third party to be vmpire Who must be such a one as is of sufficient vnderstanding to discerne where the truth resteth and withall of that indifferency in affection that he encline no way to one side more then to another For that either the Romish or reformed Church being themselues the parties litigant that they should require to be made Iudges in their own cause though some of our adver saries be not ashamed to make such a proposition yet I thinke there is no man that hath his fiue wits about him
in generall Vos autem quem me esse dicitis v. 15. Vnto which question Peter making answere in the name of them all saith Tues ille filius Dei viuentis vers 16. Wherevpon hee receiued the promise of the keyes and those other comfortable words spoken by Christ vnto him vers 18.19 yet not so spoken to him alone but that it is apparent that the substance of the promise did equally belong vnto them all and there is nothing singularly belonging vnto Peter alone throughout the whole speech but only an allusion betweene his name and the nature of his confession betweene Petrus Petra for the rest it is all common for either wee must say that the disciples did make no answere at all to their Masters question which had beene a point of great incivility and so not likely or else the answer that Peter made must bee taken for their common answer and his confession the common confession of them all Now if it be granted that it was the common confession and only delivered by Peter as the fore-man of the Jury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2. Hist Eccl. cap. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so Eusebius calls him our Saviours-reply therevnto cannot with any congruity be otherwise vnderstood then to belong vnto them all though spoken vnto Peter as judges vse to direct their speech to the foreman when they would haue the whole Iury take knowledge of it Petrus pro omnibus dixit cum omnibus accepit Orig. tract 1. in Mat. Aug. de verbis Dom. secund Mat. Ser. 13. Quia tu dixisti mihi Tu es filius Dei viui ego tibi tu es Petrus Vpon this rocke will I build my Church Whether by the rocke wee vnderstand Christ himselfe or whether wee vnderstand the confession of Saint Peter made of Christ all comes to one if there be any difference betweene them it is meerely verball and consisteth rather of a diverse manner of mens expressing their mindes then in any matter of substance But for the person of Peter the Church of Christ did never vnderstand her selfe to bee any otherwise built vpon it then vpon the rest of the Apostles Apoc. 21.14 or then Saint Paul when hee saith it is built vpon the foundation not only of the Apostles but also of the Prophets that is vpon their doctrine Eph. 2.20 Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram quam confessus es super hanc Petram quam cognovisti dicens tu es Christus filius Dei viui aedificabo Ecclesiam meam super me aedificabo te non me super te Aug. vbi supra I could cite twenty places out of August to the same purpose besides Ambr. Ser. 84. Hil. de Trin. l. 2. Hier. in Mat. l. 1. c. 7. Tert. adversus Marcion l. 4. c. 13 Theod. in Psal 47. But for August he is so plain for vs against the Popish interpretation that Bellarmine would faine quarrell with him vpon the point chargeth him with ignorance of the Hebrew tongue l. 1. de Rom. Pont. c. 10. and Stapleton calls it lapsum humanum in that holy Father because he could not thinke of the matter as they would haue him Princip doctrinal lib. 6. c. 3. And the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it This makes it more plaine that the other part of the speech was not spoken to Peter alone because this cannot bee vnderstood of Peter alone and so Origen collecteth Tr. 1. in Mat. shall we dare to say saith he that the gates of Hell shall not overcome onely Peter and that the same gates shall prevaile against all the other Apostles And againe in the same Tract 1. in Mat. If you thinke that the whole Church was builded only vpon Peter what will you say of Iohn the sonne of thunder and of every of the Apostles And I will giue to thee the keyes c. Here is nothing promised in the Keyes to Peter nor in the power of binding loosing but what is likewise promised to all the Apostles Mat. 18.18 Quaecunque ligaveritis in terrâ erunt ligata in coelo and when this promise came to performance Ioh. 20.22.23 you shall finde that it was performed to all alike Accipite Spiritum Sanctum quorum remiseritis peccata remittentur iis -Now it is certaine that remitting and retaining of sins is a power of the same extent with the power of the keyes and that being giuen to them all Ioh. 20. as well as vnto Peter proues that there was nothing promised vnto Peter Mat. 16. but was intended to them all Cuncti Apostoli claves regni coelorum accipiunt Hier. adversus Iovinianum l. 1. Origen An vero soli Petro dantur claves regni coelorum nec alius beatorum quisquam eas accepturus est Quod si dictum hoc tibi dabo claves caeteris quoque commune est cur non simul omnia communia Tract 1. in Mat. Cypr. Christus Apostolis omnibus post resurrectionem suam parem potestatem tribuit l. 1. de vnitat Eccl. August in Ioh. tractat 124. quando Petro dictum est tibi dabo claves quodcunque ligaveris vniversam significabat ecclesiam vide eundem Tra. 50. Theoph vpon Math. 16. Nay Anselme that was a child in comparison of the Fathers yet hee vnderstood this truth Notandum est saith he quod haec potestas non solum Petro data est sed siout Petrus vnus pro omnibus respondit sic Christus in Petro omnibus hanc potestatem dedit And our Saviour said Simon Simon behold Satan hath required to haue thee for to sift as wheat but J haue prayed for thee that thy faith faile not and thou being converted confirme thy brethren Luk. 22. vers 31.32 The first part of this speech was spoken to all the Disciples Satanas expetivit vos vt cribraret as the vulgar likewise translateth and therefore it is no good dealing in your friend to render it in the singular number Satan hath required to haue thee for to sift as if these words had beene spoken to Peter alone which is a meere falsifying of the Text as if a man would pay his creditor with counterfeit coine but let that passe with his former citation of Malachy In the words themselues 1. Christ signifies to his Disciples the malice of Satan against them all and consequently the dāger wherein they stood vnlesse his grace did stand by them 2. Because he knew that Peters danger was greatest that he would proue the weakest in his performance who had made the greatest promises of loue to his Master Christ I say foreseeing that Peters fall would bee more dangerous in many respects then the fall of any of his other fellowes therefore hee turnes the latter part of his speech to him alone promising to assist him with his speciall prayer as the greatnes of his sinne had speeciall need of If Satan desire to sift them all saith Chrysostome why
Philippi hath 150. Churches vnder him Athens as many Hee of Corinth hath a hundred besides all the Ilands of the Aegean Sea Constantinople it selfe the very seat of the Turkish Empire hath aboue twenty Churches of Christians Put all these together and you shall see that Papists haue little cause to boast of their multitude or to sleight this Patriarch as if there were but few Christians subject vnto him There are likewise at this day Patriarchs though poore ones of Alexandria and Antioch and great multitudes of Christians that are subiect to each of them though nothing so many in number as were wont to bee heretofore by reason of the Turkish tyranny and oppression vnder which they are brought yet neither so few that it can bee truely said of the meanest of them as your friend ventures to affirme of them all That they bee extinguished and worne out many yeares since They be poore and suffer much affliction vnder the Turke and other Infidels and yet they may be never the worse Christians for all that True piety and godlinesse did never so much flourish in the Church as when the Church it selfe was most persecuted and afflicted by Tyrants Schola Crucis est Schola Lucis semen Ecclesiae est sanguis Martyrum and therefore they that make temporall prosperity a note to know the Catholique Church by as generally our Iesuites doe speake more like Epicures then Divines and Christians Besides your friend shewes himselfe very ignorant in the state of his owne Romish Church if he doe not know that the Pope at this day doth vsually create certaine titular Praelates Whereof one is called Patriarch of Alexandria the other of Antioch another of Ierusalem It is true that these all are but meere puppets and Idols and possesse not a foote of revenew or the least part of Iurisdiction in those places whereof they beare names yet your friend should not haue denied that there were any such Patriarchs seeing they are Creatures of the Popes owne making whose greatest vse is to gull the world vnder those names as if those foure Patriarchs did performe him obedience when indeed they bee but foure vizzards in comparison of the Patriarchs themselues Only the Church of Rome the seat of Saint Peter stands at this day Let him not stand too much vpon the standing of his Church Rome no sound Church of Christ For sure the leggs thereof are not so sound as they should bee a church may be worne out as well by diseases bred inwardly in her body as by the violence of externall persecution If Rome bee free from this latter yet a great part of the world thinkes her ill affected in her inward and vitall parts She thinkes not so her selfe no more doth many a dying man but will say he is well when he is ready to giue vp the Ghost Sacerdotium quod intus cecidit foris diu stare non potest Greg. Mor. You see the falshood of those propositions vpon which his demonstration is built see now how loosely his conclusion hangs vpon those propositions though I should grant them to be true If there be any sense at all in the connexion of the parts together this it is All the other Patriarchall Churches are fallen Onely Rome is not fallen Therefore it shall never fall Let him take his answere from S. Paul Rom. 11.17 If some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild Oliue tree c. Now let him remember to what Church Saint Paul there writes and what they were to whom hee gaue such earnest premonition to take heed least for their infidelity God should cast them off as hee had done the Iewes in their sight This had beene a very needlesse admonition especially from the Apostle to the Romanes if he knew certainly that God had promised them such indeficiency of faith that whatsoever became of other Churches theirs should never turne Infidell Be not high minded but feare saith hee vnto them vers 20. and againe If God spared not the naturall branches the Jewes take heed least hee also spare not thee v. 21. and againe Behold the goodnesse of God towards thee if you continue in his goodnesse otherwise thou shalt be cut off v. 22. And yet your friend would make you thinke that the Romanes haue no cause to feare and that they cannot be cut off and all by vertue of an imaginary promise which hee supposeth Christ made to thē by which reckoning all Saint Pauls iffs were but Panici timoris Hee feared where no feare was and therefore might well haue spared all the breath he spent that way To conclude let mee now at the Parting giue him a demonstration out of these words of the Apostle That Church which may possibly bee cut off from Christ and fall into infidelity is not the true Catholique Church But it is possible the Romish Church may be cut off from Christ and fall into infidelity Teste Apostolo vt supra Therefore the Romish Church is not the true Catholique Church FINIS