erre in this way hee doth not say The Church or the learned Church men or men in holy Orders for are these fooles but wayfaring men though fooles shall not erre Here is a promise that the simple Laytie shall not mistake their way which Popish Teachers cannot abide to heare of Neither shall any vncleane passe ouer this way but they teach that their Church Catholike consists of elect and reprobate both good and bad cleane and vncleane Therefore in a spirituall sense the words are to be vnderstood of the onely sanctified by Gods Spirit here trauelling in this World as wayfaring men and though esteemed as fooles yet are so guided in their holy profession as they shall not bee suffered to wander out of the way of life neither totally nor finally But he will say If these shall not erre then much lesse shall the Church True who denies it we doe not say that all the whole Church and all the holy that euer haue been such as this place speaketh of haue all erred this thousand yeeres as the Gagger beares his Reader in hand making him beleeue that we so teach Here the Prophet speakes of the Lords redeemed separated from the vncleane in a spirituall estate in and by Christ but in our dispute we speake of the visible Church of cleane and vncleane good and bad and of a mixt company III. This verse and the whole chapter speakes in the first place of the returne from Captiuitie which the Prophet doth expresse in figuratiue speeches to set out the comfort thereof most liuely and so it is nothing to the purpose for which the Gagger brings it In a high sense it sets out the spirituall happinesse of the redeemed by Christ partly here begun and fully to be perfected in the day of the Churches perfect redemption IV. It speakes not here of the Churches teaching but rather of the Saints trauailing towards Heauen But the word not erre made the Gagger thinke he had obtained his purpose and an expresse text for not erring in Doctrine when the words speake of a way a high-way of trauailing men and others not passing ouer it and of the redeemeds walking vers 9. Then being vnderstood of not erring in life it cannot be taken absolutely for error of life is in the best but they erre not to finall destruction Ephes 5. 27. That hee might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Answ 1. Our dispute is of the visible Church and mixt company this is to be vnderstood only of the body whereof Christ in the most proper sense is the Head and Sauiour vers 9. which hee nourisheth and cherisheth vers 29. betweene whom and Christ thereis such an vnion as it is called a great Mystery vers 32. which cannot properly be meant of visible Churches consisting not onely of Elect but also of Reprobates who are not clensed nor nourished or cherished as members of his body nor made euer glorious II. The Apostle speakes heere of the Church either as triumphant or if as militant then as it is in preparing and as it shall bee hereafter in Heauen for in this life it is not altogether spotlesse without wrinkle or blemish Cant. 1. 5 6. III. This place doth serue rather to prooue her puritie in life then infallibilitie of iudgement in teaching this latter is hence farre fetched the former may seeme more apparant But will any beleeue that Gods Church for life and conuersation is in this life without spot wrinkle or blemish 1. Tim. 3. 15. The Church of the liuing God the ground and pillar of truth Because this place is much vrged by others and the last of this Gaggers I will more fully make answer vnto it Hence hee would conclude that the Church cannot erre he meaneth the Church of Rome the Pope at least the virtuall Church for they defend not now any Church from errour but their owne But this they can neuer proue out of the place I. Saint Paul wrote to Timothy how he should behaue himselfe in the Church 1. Tim. 3. 14. So his Epistle that is the Apostolicall written Word was made to be Timothies rule to guide him from erring and not the Churches determination S. Paul for all this his praise of the Church sent him not to Her but prescribed him a written Word to direct him in gouerning of her which hee would not haue done if by calling the Church the pillar and ground of truth he had meant she could not haue erred II. Saint Paul speaketh thus of the then present Church of Ephesus where Timothy was chap. 1. 3. built vpon the foundation Ephes 2. 20. and yet she soone left her first Loue Reuel 2. 4. and after fell away III. The word Church comprehendeth all the faithfull together at Ephesus so the Church of Ephesus is taken Reuel 2. 1. But our Aduersaries will not haue the people as the Apostles allowed Act. 15. 22. with their Bishops and Pastors to be the Church and with them to approue of matters of Faith For the Romish Clergie thinke of the people as did the hypocriticall Pharises that they know not the Law and are cursed Ioh. 7. 49. Except they allow the people also with the Teachers to be the pillar and ground of truth this place doth not serue their turne IV. If the word Church bee taken for any other particular Church to which Timothie as an Euangelist might goe after the Apostles planting of them then from hence the Papists cannot conclude that which they would for first they acknowledge that particular Churches may erre Secondly its euident by Scripture in the Churches of Galatia Gal. 1. and 3. 1. and 4. 10 11. by historie and by experience Now the Church of Rome was neuer other then a particular Church in the best spirituall estate thereof Saint Paul writes to it no otherwise then to a particular Church V. If it be taken for the Vniuersall Church this helpes not them For first theirs is not the vniuersall but a particular Church as is proued after in the sixteenth question Secondly it is absurd to reason from that which is not questioned nor can euer assemble together to come to the triall if it were questionable VI. The intituling of the Church to bee the pillar and ground of truth wil not afford the conclusion of not erring and that for these Reasons First because the words are metaphoricall and a similitude must be extended no farther then is in ended Now the Church is called the pillar and ground not because shee cannot erre but first for that she hath the Apostles writings committed to her as were the Oracles of God to the Iewes Rom 3. 2. which Apostles writings are saith Irenous the pillars and supporters of our faith the proofes foundations Li. 3. ca. 1. and the grounds of our cause as Saint * De vnit Eccl. ca. 16. On this 1. Tim. 3.
Dutie common to other of inferiour ranke This word feede therefore will helpe them nothing for the Supremacie The word my pulleth downe Peter from Soueraignty For first Peters charge is to seed not his owne but Christs sheepe So then Peter is not a Lord but a Seruant-Shepheard to feede the chiefe Shepheards flocke as Peter himselfe calleth Christ who knew no other chiefe Shepheardship either in himselfe or in any other but in Christ 1. Pet. 5. 3. And wee reade how the flocke is called Gods Act. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. but no where Peters As also by Christ himselfe wee are taught that there is but one fold and one Shepheard of that fold to wit but one generall Shepheard and that is he himselfe Ioh. 10. 11 14 16. and not Peter and that by Peters owne acknowledgement in the fore-quoted place 1. Pet. 5. 3. The word Lambes or Sheepe considered with the rest of the words and as it is commonly taken wipes away Peters Supremacie For first the words are not spoken vniuersally Feede all my Lambes as if hee had been charged with all of them For this had beene a charge First which hee could neuer haue performed secondly which he neuer did attempt to performe Now God neuer imposed any impossible charge vpon him and Peter would not haue been found faithlesse But it is spoken indefinitely to feed here and there whom he could and where hee could at any time Therefore hee is not here the vniuersall Bishop Secondly Lambes or Sheepe are not Apostles Prophets Euangelists and Pastors These are neuer so called but in relation to Iesus Christ onely Mat. 26. 31. and neuer in reference to any man But if vnder these Lambes and Sheepe bee comprehended all and euery one of the Church and flocke of Christ then by their account all the Apostles and the rest must bee sheepe and Peter their Shepheard and so a Shepheard ouer shepheards Which vaine conceit without proofe who can giue credit vnto And yet Bellarmine makes a difference betweene Lambes and Sheepe The Lambes forsooth must bee the Laitie and the Sheepe the Apostles when as the words are vsed indifferently Math. 10. 16. Luk. 10. 3. Act. 8. 32. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ though he vse two words yet doth not make any such difference For the two words to feede are applyed also indifferently to either of them So that taking sheepe for the Apostles Peter must not onely rule as they would haue it but also teach the Apostles when Apostles are all immediately from Christ and taught of Christ and by his holy Spirit Galat. 1. 1 12. and needed no instruction from man in the worke of the Ministerie Math. 10. 20. Ioh. 14. 26. and 16. 13. Thus we see there is not the least footing in any word of this Text for Peters Supremacie aboue all other on which yet they settle it But if here Peters Supremacie could bee proued yet what 's this to the Pope He feeds not by preaching Christs Lambes but rules or rather rauages like a roaring Lyon ouer Christs Sheepe hee is like a Lambe but speakes like the Dragon Reuel 13. Lastly that here is no Headship giuen to Peter it appeareth in verse 17. where it is said that vpon Christs third time questioning him he was grieued Now may wee reasonably suppose if Peter had conceiued of Christs words as Popes doe that a Supremacie was therein bestowed vpon him that hee would haue beene grieued Doe men grieue at high preferments offered especially hauing contended for the same as the Apostles had done Who seeth not therefore that Peter perceiued no such glorious preferment nor high Dignitie out of any thing that Christ here spoke as our Aduersaries doe From all this it is cleere that Peter from hence hath no Headship aboue others XX. Proposition That Peter was the onely Vicar of Christ here on Earth Confuted by their owne Bible FOr Vicaradge vnto Christ properly so taken it teacheth vs That Iesus Christ going out of the world promised to substitute in his roome not any Peter nor any man but such a one as could bee euery where with his Church in his bodily absence which was his holy Spirit Ioh. 15. 26. 16. 7. And by this would hee be euer with them Math. 28. 19 20. 18. 20. to remember them of all things Ioh. 14. 26. to guide them Ioh. 16. 13. and to dwell with them Ioh. 14 17. Rom. 8. 9. which a Peter could not doe Secondly it telleth vs that according to this promise when Christ ascended hee sent downe his Spirit Act. 2. by which Gods people are still guided and taught Rom. 8. 1 5 9. 11 14 26. 1. Cor. 2. 10 12. 1. Ioh. 2. 20 27. which beareth witnesse to our spirits that wee are Gods children Rom. 8. 16. Gal. 4. 6. by which wee are sealed to eternall life 2. Cor. 1. 12. Ephes 1. 13. Thirdly it declareth vnto vs that when Christ ascended hee was mindfull of his Church and gaue gifts vnto men Some to Ephes 4. 12. be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastors and Teachers but among these no one generall Vicar or Head ouer all If there had beene such a one Paul had as good reason to haue mentioned him as the rest But his Vicar generall was Gods Spirit and no man And note that the Apostle shewes a threefold vse of these afore-named 1. For that they were the consummation of the Saints 2. For the worke of the Ministerie 3. For the edifying of the body of Christ Now if a generall visible Vicar on earth had serued for any of these purposes hee had been giuen of Christ but he needed not and therefore this needlesse gift was not giuen to any As for a supply of Instructers Guides and Lights in the Church Militant wee deny not but Christ hath left many Vicars and doth still send dayly Embassadours to his Church to reconcile vs to God And so our Bishops and other Ministers of the Church by the Keyes of power and knowledge open the way of Heauen to Christian people which they doe in Christs stead and therein are his Vicars or Deputies lawfully called But this Vicaradge is too small a portion for Sir Pope Contraried by Antiquitie Tertul. de violand Virgin The Lord sent the Holy Ghost that mans mediocritie not being capable of all things at one time might by little and little bee directed orderly disposed and brought to perfection by that Vicar his holy Spirit Also in his Booke de praescript hee saith that Christ taken vp into heauen sent the power of his holy Spirit as his Vicar to conduct the faithfull Wee see in these dayes who was held the Vicar of Christ Gainesaid by their owne men Aquinas in Opusc 20. calleth all the Apostles the Vicars of Christ Tolet. in Ioh. 20. 21. saith that Christ instituted his Apostles his Vicars How then was Peter his Vicar for their cannot be a Vicars Vicar If Peter was then the
This place proueth not that the Priests lips euer did keepe knowledge though it be thus read in a Cōmandement but teacheth what his duty was to doe For the next verse following telleth vs what the priests then were But you haue departed out of the way and haue scandalized many in the Law Vers 8. Therefore he made them contemptible and base vers 9. 2. This text maketh for euery Priest without exception but will they haue euery Priest in his teaching to be without error and his word the rule of faith 3. This telleth vs what the people are to seeke for to wit the Law but this as before is proued was written X. Proposition That the Church is no where in Scriptures taken for the inuisible Church Confuted by their owne Bible Heb. 12. 23. ANd the Church of the first borne which are written in Heauen which in the former vers 22. he calleth Mount Sion the city of the liuing God heauenly Ierusalem and the assembly of many thousand angels Is this the visible or inuisible church doth mans eye looke vpon this heauenly company Reu. 14. 1 3. There is the Lambe with his company redeemed from the earth vpon Mount Sion hauing his Fathers Name written in their foreheads Mat. 16. 18. Rom. 8. 29. Eph. 1 22. and 5. 23 32. Col. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Reuel 21. 10 In which places is to be vnderstood the inuisible Church and wheresoeuer it is vnderstood of the mysticall body of Christ it is there the inuisible Church Contraried by Antiquitie The Ancient Fathers found in Scripture an inuisible Church Saint Augustine in Psal 92. concion 2. part 2. of the same Psalme maketh onely the elect from Abel to the worlds end to be the Church this Church is inuisible to man Saint Cyprian saith in Epist 55. That those are the Church which abide in the house of God But can man see who will abide therein Origen in Math. 16. 18. vnderstandeth the Church of such as fall not away but doe ouercome and are not ouercome of those gates of hell but such are knowne onely to God and not discerneable by men nor seene with bodily eyes Saint Gregory in Hom. 19. in Euang. calleth the Catholike Church the Lords Vineyard from iust Abel to the last of the elect in the end of the world Doth Gregory vnderstand this of the visible Church What mortall eye can see this Church of the Elect On Iob cap. 9. in l. moral 35. Hee writeth that Christ and the Church the Head and the Body are one person But who euer saw this with his eyes Gregory therefore found in the Scripture an inuisible Vineyard and Church of Christ Gainesaid by their owne men Caietan taketh that of Mat. 16. 18. for the congregation of the faithful Ferus expoundeth it of the Elect now the Elect are visible to the eye Our Aduersaries alleadge many places to proue the Church most properly to bee called visible as Num. 20. 4. 1. King 8. 14. Act. 20. 28. and 15. 3 4. and 18. 22. and many other Scriptures Answ 1. All these are of particular visible Churches and not vnderstood of the Catholike the former we affirme to be visible but not this 1. The places contradict not this which we hold that the Church somewhere in holy Scriptures is taken for the inuisible Church which they by bringing places to proue a visible Church doe not gainesay XI Proposition That the Church is euer gloriously conspicuous to the world What wee meane when we say that the Church is sometime hidden WHen we speake of an inuisible Church we meane the Church Catholicke in our Creede which we doe beleeue and doe not see nor can see for faith is the ground and euidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. also faith and sight are opposed 2. Cor. 5. 7. but wee onely beleeue the Catholicke Church as in our Creed we confesse and therefore is it inuisisible partly in heauen triumphing partly here on earth militant knowne onely to God 2. Tim. 2. 19. and not discerned of men because they be only the Elect of God This is the Church spoken of Heb. 12. 22 23 24. Rom. 2. 28 29. Mat. 16. 18. Eph. 1. 22. and 5. 23. Col. 1. 18. and the hidden ones Psal 83. 3. Besides this Catholicke we hold also a particular Church visible For beginning in Paradise we may finde such a visible Church till the flood from thence to Moses from him vnder whom it mightily increased into thousands of families till the same was planted in Canaan where it became a Nationall Church and neuer wanted some degree of visibility in more or fewer of the members thereof vnto the comming of Christ who taught the people and gathered Disciples which professed him and after his Ascension were the first of those which after were called Christians all being then together in Ierusalem for a time and the only visible Church of Christ vpon earth which visible Church through persecution began to be scattered abroad and the Apostles and Teachers being also dispersed this one Apostolicall Church spred farre and wide into the world neuer being any more entire at once in one place as before it had beene in Ierusalem but from that time to this day hath beene and is in seuerall Congregations which are called Churches euery one bearing the denomination of the whole because all of them doe make but one Church as also for that euery one of them should liuely represent that first Church in Ierusalem from whence these other came into the world in doctrine of the Apostles fellowship Sacraments and prayer with one accord Act. 2. 42 46. This Church taken in a generall notion for all those that professe Christ any where in any sort hath euer beene visible in the world also to the world to Iewes Turks and Pagans But thus taken in so superficiall bare and naked apprehension it comprehendeth all sorts of Assemblies professing Christ whether purely or impurely Orthodoxally or Heretically vniformely or Schismatically and so hath seuerall names Sometimes taken from the City where such Assemblies be as the Church of Ierusalem Antioch Corinth Ephesus Philippi Thessalonica and Colosse Sometime according to the Countries as the Churches of Galatia So we say now The Church of France of England Scotland Sometime from the Sect-Masters names as Arians Macedonians Eutychians Nestorians Donatists as now Brownists Separatists c. Sometime from the People according to their Countrey where they were borne though dwelling elsewhere as wee haue here in London and some other coasts of England the Dutch the French and Italian Churches Sometime from the Coasts as the East and West Church Sometime from the Language vsed in the publike worship as the Greeke Church and the Latine Church Sometimes from the opinions held as Anabaptists Vbiquitaries and Familists And thus come we and our Aduersaries to be diuersly named though we be all in generall called Christians yet wee call them that are yoaked vnder the B.
Mal. 2. 11. In the second of Machabees we may reade of horrible corruptions in the high Priests Iason got the office by money brought his Country-men to the Heathen rites the Priests were not occupied about the offices of the Altar but the Temple and Sacrifices were neglected 2. Machab. 4. 7 11 14. And when our Sauiour was come he found many sects false Teachers corrupting the truth Matth. 6. and 16. 6 12. and 23. 16 22. was by the outward pretending domineering Church then in Councell condemned and put to death To conclude of the chiefe Rulers in this Church the saying of Steuen that they were stiffe-necked and vncircumcised in heart and eares alwaies resisting the holy Ghost Act. 7. Who can reade these things and thinke yet that the Church cannot erre if withall they would consider how this Church of Israel had the most excellent meanes for direction and confirmation I. They had the written Word and ordinary Teachers the Priests and Leuites daily instructing them Deut. 33. 10. Acts 15. 21. II. They had extraordinary teaching 1. By God himselfe from Heauen Exod. 20. By Vrim and Thummim by Vision and Dreames 2. By Prophets Moses Samuel Eliah Elisha and very many moe 3. By Kings endued with a Propheticall Spirit as Dauid and Salomon 4. At length by Iesus Christ himselfe personally 5. By the twelue Apostles Mat. 10. 6. By the 70. disciples Luk. 10. 1. Neuer such nor so many in any Church since God had a Church III. They had Miracles and wonders in bringing them out of Egypt in the fearefull giuing of the Law in carrying them thorow the Woldernesse in planting them in Canaan and in strange Miracles wrought in Eliah and Elisha's time and in some of the Kings of Iudah Christ confirmed his doctrine and so did the Apostles and Disciples their teaching by Miracles Luk. 10. 17. No Church vnder the Heauen had euer the like IV. They had great mercies and vnheard of deliuerances from their Enemies from Pharaoh and his Host drowned in the Red Sea from the Amalekites discomfited by Moses prayer from the innumerable multitude of Enemies the Kings of Canaan of Midian Philistims Syrians Assyrians from the Host of Sennacherib nine score thousand slaine by an Angell in one night Kings thirtie two besides Benhadad with an infinite Hoste defeated by onely 7000. and odde Ionathan and his Armour-bearer did terrifie an whole Campe Gideon and three hundred men made an innumerable multitude to she away and with a few other of Ephraim did slay of them in one day one hundred and twenty thousand Asa vanquished the Army of the Ethiopians ten hundred thousand besides three hundred Charets Iehosaphat gathered the spoile of his enemies three Kings comming with their Hosts against him whom God set one against another to destroy vtterly one another for his safetie and enriching What shall I speake of Hostes flying for feare without any pursuing of them For other blessings and mercies they are not to be numbred V. They had strange and most terrible punishments vpon them to keep them in the feare of God to make them to know him and to walke in his waies fire from Heauen deuouring vp some the earth swallowing vp quicke other-some the giuing of them often into the hands of Heathen Kings to oppresse them that they might turne from Idolatry yea at length sent them all into captiuitie for 70. yeeres Thus we see for Teachers for Wonders and Miracles for Mercies and Iudgements none euer to be compared to them Papists may fame Legends to parallel these but these are truths hauing witnesse from Gods Word it selfe And yet this Church erred and as Esay saith chap. 48 4 8. was stubborne had a neck as an Iron sinew and her forehead as brasse and was a transgressour from the wombe If the Papists make little account of these reasons as nothing to keepe a Church from erring yet is it much more then their Romish Church can say for her selfe Let them say what they can for the Churches not erring and we will see whether this Church of Israel cannot say the same also Will they pleade 1. A Couenant Israel had so Deut. 29. 10 15. 2 Or a Couenant written in the heart So was it then Ier. 31. 33. Esay 5. 7. 3. Or a Couenant with their Priests So had the Priests then Ier. 33. 20. 4. Or that the Priests lips should preserue knowledge and the people learne of them and they teach the people So the verie same might Israel alledge Mal. 2 7. Deut. 33. 10. Neh. 8. 7 8 9. Leui. 10. 11. Ezech. 44 23. yea and did boast of Ier. 18. 18. 5. Or succession of persons from time to time in the same Chaire or Seate This could she plead to the full from Aaron the first appointed immediatly by God himselfe with his office place seruice ornaments and maintenance his next successor to be also named by God himselfe Num. 20. 28. 6. Or the Continuance of this Couenant to vphold succession This had it in plaine words and therefore was for euer the Priest-hood appointed to him and his seed Num. 25. 12 13. 7. Or the presence of God with them So could and did Israel Mâ—ch 3. 11. 8. Or the name of the Church So they Ier. 7. 4. 9. Or that it is called holy the Ground and Pillar of truth So was Ierusalem the holy Citie Esay 48. 2. the Citie of truth the sanctified Mount Zach. 8. 3. 10. Or that the Word did go out from them to conuert other Nations So could they as they were taught by Esay Chap. 2. 3. of making Proselytes could the Pharises boast Mat. 23. 11. Or the Spirit to be in them to keepe their Teachers from erring Who could thus speake as Israel might Nehe. 9. 20. Esay 6. 3 11. Zach. 7. 12. as Peter witnesseth 2. Pet. 1. 21. 12. Or that they are called the Church and are come from the Apostles Church at Ierusalem So they by Stephen Act 7. 38. also saith Isaiah Esay 48. 1. Heare ye ô House of Iacob which art called by the name of Israel and are come out of the waters of Iudah So could the Scribes and Pharises boast of their Originall Ioh. 8. 33. 13. Or that they are Catholicks and the world spred ouer with them And could not the Iewish Church say so Of their Religion were some of euerie Nation vnder heauen Act. 2. 5 9 10 11. they were dispersed in all the Persian Monarchy Esteâ— 3. 8. Chap. 1. there were many Proselytes made such was the Eunuch of Ethiopia and to make them they trauailed Sea and Land Mat. 23. 14. Or that they haue euer had the holy Scriptures in their custodie So to the Iewes were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. 15. Or yâ— the Church now hath many excellent promises What more then Israel had to be their God they to him a peculiar treasure aboue all people a kingdome of Priests an holy Nation Exod. 19. 5 6. to
Augustine speakes Secondly as Lyra thinkes it is so called for that the Church doth maintaine the truth of the Gospell euen in the greatest persecutions and as other iudge for that it vpholdeth the truth that it may not fall to the ground though it be afflicted and because by words and examples it confirmes our Faith Thirdly the Apostle speakes according to the vse of pillars in old time among the Gentiles on which their Lawes written in Tables were hanged vp for people to reade yea some wrote the Lawes vpon pillars themselues So as the Church here is resembled to those pillars which hath the Bookes of holy Lawes to shew them and to vphold them and to exhibite them out vnto all to bee seene and read Secondly because Saint Peter was counted a Pillar Gal. 2 9. and yet he erred euen in not walking according to the truth of the Gospell vers 14. Thirdly because Saint Paul calleth so the Church at Ephesus then as she was and so long to be so esteemed as she should continue Thus Saint Paul to the Hebrewes telleth them that they with himselfe and others are the House of Christ if saith he we hold fast the confidence and the reioycing of the hope firme vnto the end implying that if they did not they should not be so Can any well conclude from that which one is at the present that he shall euer be the same Then had not our first Parents fallen nor Salomon been an Idolater nor the Israelites now none of Gods people nor Rome as she is spirituall Babylon Fourthly because not the name and title of the House of God it self by which name the Church is called here in 1. Tim. 3. 15. as also beleeuers are called by the name of the houshold of God Ephes 2. 19. will afford this their conclusion For the Church of Ephesus so called did erre Now may it not be inferred from hence that she is called the House and beleeuers the Houshold and may it be inferred because she is called a pillar only or stay to vphold the house Will not the whole house nor the household yeeld it And will a pillar or prop make it good Very vnlikely Fifthly it is onely vpon the praise giuen to the Church that this conclusion is made Is this then good arguing Whatsoeuer prayses the Church hath that for which or wherein shee is praysed she hath it in perfection Here she is called the pillar and ground of truth Ergo say they she cannot erre See the like reasoning She is the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. Ergo she neuer hath any doubting Yet this they deny and hold here to haue no certaine assurance Lastly consider the truth of which shee is the pillar and ground * On this place Ioh. 5. 23 Oecumenius vnderstands it in opposition to the shaddowes in the Temple vnder the Law there the type here the truth there the shadow here the substance But the Temple was onely the pillar and ground that is the appointed place where the knowledge and vse of the Ceremoniall Law was had and vpheld so onely is now the Church the place where the diuine truth is to be found and is in practice and no where else Truth in Scripture is taken for the Word of God Ioh. 17. 17. and 8. 31 32. the Gospell the Word of truth Col. 1. 5. Gal. 5. 7. euen the Mystery of godlinesse as Saint Paul in this place of the 1. Tim. 3. 16. enterpreteth the Word Truth So then the Church of God is the pillar and ground or stay of Gods Word and his Gospell euen the mysterie of godlinesse This she receiueth keepeth beareth vp publisheth to the world and is the ground whereon it doth rest and no where else in the world What then Is she or it the Rule Is her authoritie aboue it or it aboue her The King committeth to some the publike Records to keepe and to publish to other Is their authoritie greater then these Are their words of force without the warrant of those Records Or is it not possible for these keepers of them to erre in their proceedings We know the contrary The Iewes had the Oracles of God committed to them Rom. 3. 2. but haue not they erred The Church of Corinth Ephesus Galatia Philippi Colosse Thessalonica Hebrewes and other Churches in the East had the new Testament committed to them yet haue they we see erred So hath the Church of Rome very shamefully as the Epistle written to them doth testifie if her now new doctrine be examined by it The Church therefore the visible mixt company of whom all our dispute is may erre XIII Proposition That the Church of Rome cannot erre Confuted by their owne Bible I. IN it we reade that shee is in particular forewarned to take heed of falling Rom. 11. 20. which admonition proueth her possibilitie of erring II. It foretelleth of her Apostasie Yea this Church which See his Maiesties broke and Bishop Downham de Antichristo Respons eius ad â—essiam de Anticâ—r they say cannot erre and whereof the Pope is Head is called the great Whore named Babylon drunken with the Saints blood sitting vpon the Beast with seuen heads hauing ten hornes expounded by their owne Bible to be Rome Reuel 17. 1. 5 6. the great Citie situate vpon seuen Hills and which in Iohns dayes reigned ouer the Kings of the earth vers 9 18. III. Their Bible telleth vs that there were begun in her vncharitable disputations about eating and not eating of some things about obseruation of dayes Rom. 14. men for these things condemning and despising one another There were such then as were authors of diuisions and scandals contrary to the doctrine which the Saints then had learned Rom. 16. 17. so that a defection was then breeding and a beginning to erre from the Apostles doctrine in his dayes IV. The Epistle of Saint Paul written vnto them sheweth that she hath erred for his and her doctrine are at odds in many things as for example in these for instance The Romish Church Saint Paul She calleth not her selfe A Church but The Church and is euer boasting of that name Hee neuer calleth them at Rome then The Church as in other Epistles he vseth to call others the Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Reuel 2. 1. c. a point for Papists to note and to obserue why this title is not giuen her She saith that God may be represented like an old man He teacheth it to be a Heathenish practice for which God plagued them Rom. 1. 23. She teacheth that all sins deserue not death but in themselues many are veniall He nameth 23. sinnes Rom. 1. 29 30 31. worthy of death not for the Act but for the consent of heart vers 32. and Rom. 6. 23. He saith that the stipend of sinne is death he excepteth none She teacheth that the Virgin Marie was without sinne He teacheth otherwise All to be vnder sinne Rom. 3. 9. All to haue
adding thereto three Epistles 11. He was the onely Apostle that was rapt in Spirit on the Lords day to receiue the Reuelation of Iesus Christ by an Angell foretelling the Churches estate to the worlds end 12. Lastly hee was of all the rest that liued the longest and alone after them all In these was hee farre beyond Peter He neuer denied his Master as Peter did Hee was neuer called Satan as Peter was Yet for all these excellencies in Iohn the Papists will not haue any Chiefty in him And surely if these eminencies wil not afford him the Headship among them it cannot be found in Peter who attained not to such excellencies Contraried by Antiquitie Cyprian de vnitat Eccles Verily the rest of the Apostles were the same that Peter was endued with equall fellowship both of honour and authoritie Ierome aduers Iouin lib. 1. All the Apostles receiued the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen and the strength of the Church was established equally vpon them all Origen on Math. 16. tract 1. saith of the Keyes that they were not giuen to Peter alone but to all alike and that which Christ said was spoken in common to them all Ambrose de incarnat cap. 4. saith that Peter receiued the Primacie of confession not of honour the primacie of Faith not of Degree Rabanus Maurus de institut Clericorum lib. 1. cap. 4. saith That the rest of the Apostles were fellowlike with Peter in Honour and Authoritie Gainesaid by some of their owne side Aquinas id opuse 20. calleth all the Apostles the Vicars of Christ Cusanus lib. 1. de concord Cathol cap. 13. Wee know that S. Peter hath not receiued more authoritie of Christ then the rest of the Apostles In the Masse they singing to Christ pray that he would keepe his flocke by the holy Apostles who are there called Vicars of his worke Gratian dist 21. in Nouo 24. 4. c. loquitur Nothing was said to Peter that was not said to the rest of the other Apostles who according to S. Ierome are all the Fundamentall stones of the Church Reuel 21. Leo first Bishop of Rome in Aniuers die assump suae ad Pontificatum Ser. 3. saith I giue thee the Keyes was a power transferred to all the Apostles Scriptures obiected answered Mat. 10. 20. Now the names of the twelue Apostles are these the first Simon who is called Peter c. Because he is first named therefore they will conclude a Headship ouer the rest Answ Here is no expresse word of Headship but in numbering the Twelue the first beginneth with Peter So he is onely first here in reckoning in order of numbring but not of commanding superioritie Saint Marke chap. 3. 16. Luke 6. 14. leaue out the word first in naming of the Apostles And Saint Paul in naming the Apostles with Peter giueth him not the first place Gal. 2. 9. He is first reckoned for that hee was first called by Christ Mat. 4. 18. Andrew knew Christ before him and Ioh. 1. 41 42. brought him to Christ but when Christ called them to follow him and to be his Disciples Peter is first in that place of Matthew For when Andrew brought him to Christ neither of them were as yet called by him to follow him for that was not till Iohn the Baptist was imprisoned Andrew was Iohns Disciple and his knowing of Christ was this by Iohns teaching Ioh. 1. 35 36 40. and he brought Peter to Christ vers 41 42. but Andrew abode with Christ but that day verse 39. neither did hee as yet leaue his Master Iohn but when Iohn was imprisoned both Andrew and Peter returned to their calling Mar. 1. 14 16. In which vocation Christ found them and then called them and the first of them was Simon Math. 4. 18. And hereupon being first named when he was called and the first called of all the Cyprian Ep 71. ad Quint. Greg. in Ezech. hom 18. are of this iudgement that Peter was first called Apostles by Mathews relation chap. 4. he is in the reckoning of the 12. first named by him in chap. 10. 21. and so by the other Euangelists For it is the Rhemists errour to say that Andrew was first called and a common mistake to yeeld them so much whereby they seeme to take more hold from this place and from the rest where Peter is first named then there is iust cause although the argument is of it selfe very weake as by the former Reasons is euident and as before hath beene proued For Reuben was first in the numbring but Iudah for all that was chiefe in gouernment Math. 16. 19. I will giue vnto thee the Keyes c. The Gagger will haue Peter chiefe for that he supposeth the Keyes were giuen to him onely Answ 1. The question which Christ propounded was to all the Apostles verse 13. 15. though Peter readiest euer to speake made the answer yet not onely for himselfe but for all the rest as appeareth in verse 20 where our Sauiour commandeth them all not Peter alone not to tell that he was Christ which sheweth that they all knowing it would haue professed as much if Peter had not preuented them Therefore his answer beeing for all Christs power giuen thereupon was generall to all Secondly the Keyes giuen are no such things as belong onely to Peter but are common to all See before an answer to this place Thirdly the words following in this Text Whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vpon earth c. containing the action or office of the Keyes belong to all Math. 18. 18. which power here was giuen not onely to Peter but also to the other Apostles by the Rhemists owne confession Fourthly Iesus Christ when hee breathed on them the Holy Ghost Ioh. 21. 22 23. which with one bredth he gaue to all saying As my Father sent me so I send you and gaue them all power of forgiuing and retaining of sinnes which is the power of the Keyes here spoken of Christ sent all his Apostles as his Father sent him Therefore Peter cannot haue more authoritie then the rest vnlesse they can proue that Peter was sent by Christ otherwise then Christ himselfe was sent by his Father Fiftly the words are a promise of giuing the Keyes and power to bind and loose to remit and retain sinnes afterwards and not the giuing of them now but this promise wee see was not performed to Peter alone but to all the Apostles Ioh. 20. 23. not then naming Peter and therefore this promise was made vnto all and so intended to be performed as the fulfilling sheweth Lastly the Fathers are of the same opinion with vs touching the meaning of this Text See before Origen Ambrose and the same on Psal 39. Austin in Iohan. tract 118. Theophylact on Mathew 16. Beda on this Text. 1. Cor. 3. 4 22. One saith I am of Paul I am of Apollos I am of Cephas I of Christ The Gagger here from the order would proue Peter chiefe next Christ
keepe and attend sheepe in the Countrey my furniture is rather the Crooke and Scripp then the Sword or Sling Yet if wilde beasts range and rauage among our flocks we are awaked to stretch forth our hands and rescue our Lambs And well may wee answer with Dauid Thy seruant kept his fathers 1. Sam. 17. 34. Sheâ—pe and there came a Lyon and likewise a Beare and tooke a Sheepe out of the Flocke and I went out after him and smote him and tooke it out of his mouth Plaine Shepheardly Dauid had he trusted in his owne strength and not rather in the goodnesse of his cause being Gods quarrell might easily haue been discouraged not onely by the braues and threats of the Philistine but much more by the checks and snappes of his elder brother Eliab who perhaps being better furnished with abilities both for warre and for Court thought to frowne his rurall brother out of the field But God is pleased to aduance his truth and cause the rather by plaine and weake meanes For my part nothing hath moued me to this encounter but the zeale of Gods truth and desire to instruct the meaner sort and establish our lesse learned Christian brethren As for curiosities and subtill contemplations I leaue them vnto others or rather to be left of all others so farre as they tend to engendring of strife among our selues and preiudice to our Church And accordingly in pressing the passages of Scripture and vindicating the same from violent and absurd interpretations I haue laboured to deliuer the plaine true and natiue exposition arising out of the literall sense and naturall context together with the circumstances thereof Which manner of interpretation as most sound and solid hath in all ages and will find approbation with the iudicious As for the stile and words of Scriptures I desire as this aduersarie dealt with vs by way of repercussion so to repay him in coine of his owne stampe and therefore I still pleade out of their owne vulgar English Translation of the whole Bible written and perfited by the Seminary Priests at Rhemes as appeareth by the first words of their Preface to the New Testament printed there Though the other part thereof being the old Testament was afterward printed at Doway and thereupon is commonly called the Doway Bible The Rhemists Priests for making any Translation at all of the Bible into the English tongue though out of the vulgar Latine though obscured by affected phrases and distorted by their corrupt Annotations yet are said to haue bin beshrewed by their owne more subtile Masters and Superiours as hauing thereby layed open to the people the nakednesse and deformitie of their Romish doctrines And therefore haue I the more willingly produced the same against themselues the power and lustre of Gods Word though clouded and disguised by their purposed obscuritie and improprieties yet competently shining forth for their conuiction by this vnwilling wounding of Rome by the out-workes of Rhemes Vnto the places cited out of their Bible I haue added not onely sutably to the Gaggers proofes the testimonies of diuers ancient Fathers and Doctours of the Church but also for ouer-measure the consent of diuers moderne Writers very passable and laudable in the Romish Church Lastly in handling this Popish Gagg varyed and furbished in diuers Editions I thought it not worth the while to goe thorow euery particular question some being friuolous or of small moment or weake and naked enough of themselues but haue rather chosen to insist vpon those which are most pertinent and weightie The discussing whereof might tend to seasonable edification The iudgement of which my poore labours I humbly submit to our Reuerend and blessed Mother the Church of England And so Christian Reader I commit my endeuours to thy charitable acceptation and withall desire to haue my part in thy deuout and brotherly prayers resting Thine in the Lord R. B. The Contents of this Counter-Gagg Three Principles premised for deciding Controuersies THere is one onely Rule of Faith page 1. 2. This Rule is and euer hath beene the Word of God p. 3. 3. This Word of God is now no where to be found but onely in the Holy Scriptures p. 6. Principal popish errors refuted in this Counter Gag by expresse Texts of the approued English-Rhemish Bible as also by Testimonies of Antiquity and of their owne Writers 1. That the holy Scriptures are not the only Rule of our Faith and life in all matters necessary to saluation p. 13. 2. That the Scriptures are imperfect insufficient to instruct vs in all things necessary to saluation p. 21. 3. That the Scriptures be obscure and hard to be vnderstood euen in things necessary p. 29. 4. That the Script doe not interpret themselues and that the true sence may not be fetched out of themselues p. 40. 5. That the Scriptures are not to be allowed to be read of the people nor heard by them in a knowne tongue p. 44. 6. That the common liberty for all to reade the Scriptures doth breed heresies p. 50. 7. That the Scriptures cannot of themselues be knowne to be the Word of God vnlesse the Church doe giue witnesse vnto them that they are so p. 53. 8. That Traditions which they call the vnwritten Word are the Rule of Faith p. 60. 9. That the present Churches determination is the absolute vnquestionable Rule of the peoples faith on which they are to rest beleeuing their teachers without farther inquiry p. 70. 10. That the Church is no where in Scripture taken for the Inuisible Church p. 77. 11. That the Church is euer gloriously conspicuous in the world p. 79. 12 That the Church cannot erre p. 88. 13. That the Church of Rome cannot erre p. 106. 14. That the Bishop of Rome cannot erre p. 109. 15. That Councels may not erre being confirmed by the Pope 115. 16. That the Church of Rome is the Catholike Church p. 120. 17. That the Church of Rome hath euer bin in perfect vnity within it selfe p 127. 18. That Saint Peter was Prince of the Apostles and had a primacy of power and authority aboue all the other Apostles p. 130. 19. That Saint Peter was Head of the Church p. 137. 20. That Peter was the onely Vicar of Christ heere vpon earth p. 152. 21. That the publike Seruice of the Church ought not to be in a vulgar and knowne tongue p. 155. 22. That Images are to be in Churches that not only for instruction but also to be adored p. 159. 23. That the Lords Supper is to bee administred to the people in one kind onely p. 170. 24. That these words This is my body are to be taken literally without any figure the Bread being transubstantiate and Christ there corporally the substance of Bread being taken away and Christs true Body in the roome thereof though the accidents of Bread remaine p. 177. 25. That Prayers are to be made to Saints departed and Angels p. 183. Scriptures obiected for
the Word of his Father Ioh. 8. 26. Lastly it is very euident that this Word of God hath alwaies from the very beginning of the Church been her warrant and guide in all her faith in God and seruice to God First Before the flood as appeareth first by the commendation of Abels sacrifice by faith offered Heb. 11. Now faith presupposeth a Word of God Rom. 10. 17. Secondly by Gods accepting of his sacrifice which hee so did offer as being performed according to his will Thirdly by the prayses of their obedience to be as God commanded Gen. 6. 9 22. and 7. 5. Secondly After the flood till Moses for God smelt a sweete sacrifice when Noah sacrificed Gen. 8. 21. which he would not haue done had not Noah been warranted by him so to sacrifice to him First by this Word of God was Abraham Isaac and Iacob guided as the History sheweth if we consider these places where God is said to speake vnto them giuing them precepts Gen. 12. 1. and 13. 17. and 15. 1. and 17. 9 10. and 31. 3. and 35. 1. Secondly making them promises Gen. 12 2 3 4 7. and 13. 15 16. and 15. 5 13 18. Thirdly their going to enquire of God Gen. 25. 2. Exod. 18. 15. Fourthly Gods commending their obedience in keeping his way charge commandements statutes and lawes Gen. 18. 19. and 26. 5. Thirdly When Moses was appointed by God to guide the people they were exhorted to hearken to Gods voyce and to his commandements Exod. 15. 26. they iournyed towards Canaan according to the commandement of the Lord Exod. 17. 1. And concerning Moses this is said of him that according to all the Lord commanded so did he Exod. 40. 16. He spake that which was commanded him Exod. 34. 34. Deut. 4. 5 14. and according to all that the Lord had giuen him in commandement Deut. 1. 3. and made them know the Statutes of God and his Lawes Exod. 18. 16. The Tabernacle was for the parts the matter manner and end in all and euery thing exactly done onely according to Gods Word and the patterne shewed him from God Exod. 25. 9 40. nothing left to Moses deuice Exod. 26. 30. and 27. 8. So was the Temple built afterwards by Gods commandement and direction onely 1. Chr. 28. 11 12 19. 1. King 6. 38. 2. Chron. 3. 3. The Prophets taught onely the Word of the Lord Ezech. 3. 4. for they say Thus saith the Lord Heare the Word of the Lord when they executed their Ministery and they spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. 20. Nehemiah 9. 30. Heb. 1. 1. Fourthly When Christ came he spake not of himselfe Ioh. 12. 49. not his owne words Ioh. 40. 10. and 17. 8. neither was his doctrine his owne Ioh. 7. 16. and 14. 24. he did nothing of himselfe Ioh. 8. 28. and 5. 19. but hee taught the words of his Father Ioh. 17. 8. his Doctrine and Word was his that sent him Ioh. 7. 16. and 14. 24. what he had heard and seene with the Father that did hee speake Ioh. 8. 26. 38. of whom hee receiued a commandement what he should say and speak Ioh. 12. 49. And before his Ascension chusing his Apostles he gaue them a commandement and charge to teach whatsoeuer he commanded them Matth. 28. 20. and gaue them the words which his Father gaue vnto him Ioh. 17. 8. Fifthly After he was ascended according as he had promised Ioh. 14. 26. hee sent downe vpon his Apostles the holy Ghost Act. 2. which Spirit of God spake not of himselfe but whatsoeuer he heard that he spake Ioh. 16. 13. By this holy Spirit the Spirit of the Father spake the Apostles Mat. 10. 20. Mark 13. 1. which guided them into all truth Ioh. 16. 13. teaching and remembring them of all things whatsoeuer Christ had said vnto them Ioh. 14. 26. So that what the holy Ghost taught them was the Word of Christ and Christs Word was the Word of the Father thus strictly was the Word of God obserued Sixthly The holy Apostles obserued this Rule in whom and by whom the holy Ghost did speake Mark 13. 11. whose direction they did follow Act. 15. 28. and gaue themselues to the Ministery of the Word Acts 6. 4. preaching the Word of the Lord Act. 8. 25. and 15. 35 36. and 16. 32. what they did teach was the Word of God Acts 18. 11. and 19. 10 20. the counsell of God Act. 20. 27. the Gospell of God Rom. 1. 1. the commandements of the Lord 1. Cor. 14. 37. deliuering what they had receiued from the Lord 1. Cor. 11. 23. and 15. 3. And lastly That which the Church and the Saints and beleeuers heard was the Word of the Lord Acts 13. 44. this they receiued as Gods Word 1. Thes 2. 13. and glorified the same Act. 13. 40. Thus was Gods Word from the beginning before the Law vnder the Law in Christs time and all the Apostles dayes the Churches instruction and direction and must be so vnto the worlds end Therefore it is the onely infallible rule of our faith by which we must euer be directed and guided III. Position This Word of God is now no where to be found but in the holy Scriptures THe truth of this will appeare if we consider how God did cause all those things which were necessary to be beleeued and practised of the Church to bee afterwards written which before had been deliuered by word of mouth 1. Before the Law till Moses the Church was guided by Gods Word vnwritten this we acknowledge and the Papists seeke to make aduantage thereof for an vnwritten Word still but their arguing hence is vaine because that all that same Word vnwritten in all necessarie points of the worship and seruice of God was afterwards written by Moses so as that vnwritten Word became to be the written Word The proofe of this is manifest For Moses first wrote the same Historically in the bookes of Genesis and Exodus vnto the giuing of the Law vpon Mount Sinai Exod. 20. which Law God himselfe wrote Exod. 31. 18. Afterwards Moses wrote the same by way of precept which other of the Prophets after him explained and enlarged as they were mooued by the holy Ghost For the better clearing of this point see the same more fully in the particulars Before the Law they were taught by the vnwritten Word To sanctifie the Sabbath day Gen. 2. 2. The very same after the giuing of the Law by the written Word So in Exod. 20. 8. and 31. 13. Leuit. 23. 32. To build an Altar to the Lord Gen. 8. 20. and 13. 18. So in Exod. 27. 1. and 20. 24. Deut. 27. 5. To offer sacrifice Gen. 4. 3 4. and 8. 20. So in Numb 28. 2 3. To make a distinction of beasts and other creatures cleane and vncleane and to offer onely of the cleane to God So in Leu. 11. 2 13 31 47. and 20. 25. and 22. 20 25. Genes 7. 8.
of whom his Life Doctrine and Miracles his Death Buriall Resurrection and Ascension his sitting at Gods right hand and what benefit we reape by him are liuely depainted and written The Apostles Sermons were taken out of the Scriptures Act. 2. 16 25 35. and 7. 2 51. and 8. 35. and 10. 34 35 43. and 13. 16 23 27 33 36 40. by which Scriptures they confirmed what they did teach and thereby confounded the aduersaries Acts 17. 2. and 18. 28. the decrees of the Councell at Ierusalem made by the Apostles and whole Church were grounded vpon Scripture Act 15. 15 19 Saint Pauls faith and seruice to God was the written Word in the Law and in the Prophets Act. 24. 14. And those Euangelicall doctrines found in his Epistles which are so full of comfort to a true beleeuer though our aduersaries spurne at them he found written in the old Testament There could hee finde the Kingdome of Christ Act. 28 23. There hee found written that the workes of the Law before God iustifie not Rom 4. 2 6. and 3 20. That election is of meere grace without respect to will or worke of man Rom. 9 11 16. That man is blessed by imputation through faith without workes of the Law and freely iustified by grace through faith Rom. 3. 21. for all these he gathereth out of the old Testament as in the quoted places may be seene Saint Peter taught out of the Scriptures remission of sinnes through faith in Christs name Act. 10. 43. Yea the Saluation of our soules and the grace which should come by Iesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 9. 10 11. Therefore he commendeth to the whole Church in his second Epist 2. Pet. 1. 19 20 21. the holy Scriptures to which they doe well to attend as to a candle saith he shining in a darke place This he calleth a Propheticall Word most sure Now that this might not be taken for an vnwritten Word first he telleth them in vers 20. what he meaneth hereby euen the Prophecie of Scripture a Word written and then giueth a reason why hee calleth it a most sure Word for that saith he it was not by any priuate interpretation nor brought by mans wil but it was that which holy men taught inspired with the holy Ghost Psal 20 21. All Scripture therefore being inspired of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. is this most sure Word which is to bee attended vnto And if it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Word surer then any other then euery other word must be ruled by it No other word then can equall it for two superlatiues of the same thing there cannot bee much lesse a word to ouer-top it This is the rule then and not any traditionall word which is but a meere popish fiction and subtill deuice to deceiue by VI. Their owne Bible telleth vs by way of commendations that the Church of Berea did hold the Scriptures to be the rule to examine doctrine by Act. 17. 11. which heard the Word deliuered by preaching and receiued it but no otherwise then they found it written in the Scriptures by which they did trie it daily searching the Scriptures if those things were so Where note 1. That the Bereans held not themselues tyed to the Priests lips 2. That they heard that which was taught them with relation to the written Word 3. That they held the Scriptures to be the triall of the truth of their Teachers doctrine 4. That they hauing heard did bring that which they had heard to the touchstone of holy Writ for their greater confirmation in the truth which things are written for their praise for our instruction also in imitation For if the holy Scriptures of the old Testament were then the rule to trie the Apostles preaching is not both the Old and New the rule to try mens teaching now VII And lastly Our Aduersaries grant vs that the Word of God is that one only and infallible rule of Faith which is vndoubtable true for what can be the rule to vs of Gods seruice but Gods will And how can wee know what is his will but by his Word Therefore this Word now being no where to be found but in holy Scriptures as is proued by their own Bible they must needs yeeld that the Scriptures are then the one onely infallible rule of our faith which if they will yet obstinately deny they must deny antiquity which they so vainely boast of Contraried by Antiquity Their owne Clement telleth vs lib. 1. Recog That from the diuine Scriptures the firme and sound rule of Faith must be taken Tertul. contra Hermog calleth the Scriptures the Rule of Faith Saint Basil lib. 1. Contr. Eunom calleth the Scriptures the Canon of that which is right and the rule of Truth Saint Ierome lib. 1. cap. 1. in Mat. The holy Scriptures are the Limits of the Church out of the which we may not goe Chrysostome Hom. 3. in 2. Cor. calleth them a most exquisite Rule and an exact Square and Balance to trie all things Saint Augustine lib. de bono viduit cap. 1. The holy Scripture hath fixed the Rule of our Doctrine that wee may not presume to bee more wise then we ought Greg. Nyssen in orat de eis qui adiêrunt Hieros calleth the Scriptures a right and inflexible Rule Gregory the great Hom. 4. in Ezechiel compareth the Scriptures to a measuring Reed which meteth out both the actiue and contemplatiue life of man By which testimonies of the Fathers wee may see how they contrary our Aduersaries tenent for in plaine termes the Fathers call the Scriptures a Rule right exquisite and inflexible and the onely Rule the Limits of the Church But our new Romane Masters sticke not to slighten and vilifie the same by calling the Booke of God a piece of a rule a Lesbian crooked rule a leaden rule a nose of waxe and we must be Heretikes for not partaking in such blasphemies We may therefore conclude with the words of Isiodorus Pelusiota lib. 1. Epist 369. who saith We ought to refuse whatsoeuer is taught vnlesse it be contayned in the volume of the Bible and with that of Cyril Hier. in 4. Catech. Concerning saith he the Diuine and holy mysteries of our Faith not any the least thing must be tendered without warrant of diuine Scripture Gainesayed by their owne men Gerson de commun sub vtraque specie The Scripture is the Rule of our faith And the same man saith Li. de examin doct part 2. cons We must take heede whether the doctrine bee agreeable to holy Scripture as well in it selfe as in the manner of deliuery Petrus de Aliaco the Cardinall calleth the Scriptures the Sacred Canon Clemangis loc 3. cap. 29. affirmeth the Scripture to be the infallible Rule of Truth yea the measure and Iudge of all Truth Durand Episcopus praefat in lib. sent The holy Scripture saith he setteth out the measure of Faith wee may not write or speake any thing which may differ from
the same Picus Mirand in Apologia was bold to say that there was no infallible truth without the Bible Our faith saith Aquinas doth stay vpon the Canonicall In sum part 1. q. 1. Art 8. 10. books and the Church doth not decree but of things not necessary to Saluation Ferus on Mat. 13. saith that the holy Scriptures are the sole Rule of verity and whatsoeuer differs or contradicteth the same it is error and Cockle with whatsoeuer shew it commeth forth Franciscus à Victoria de Sacra pa. 120. saith I doe not thinke it sure and certaine although all Writers agree thereto because it is not to be found in the holy Scriptures Villa Vincentius teacheth that the doctrine of the Bookes Li. 2. de form Conci ca. 2. of the Prophets and Apostles is alone the Rule and foundation of Truth Their Canon Law tels vs that the diuine Scriptures containe Dist 37. 6. Relat the whole and firme Rule of faith Andradius lib. 3. Defens Trid. Con. in initio Their opinion dislikes me not who say that therefore the Scriptures are called Canonicall because they containe the most ample Canon that is the Rule and Square of Piety Faith and Religion Bellarmine lets fall this truth that the sacred Scripture is De Verbo Dei lib. 1. ca. 2. the most certaine and most sure Rule of Faith If so in the Superlatiue degree then nothing there is to ouerrule or equall it and therefore we may more safely cleaue to it onely as the most sure and the most certaine Rule For nothing saith the same man a little before in the same place is more knowne nothing more certaine then the holy Scriptures which are contained in the Propheticall and Apostolike writings Besides these testimonies so cleare as no Protestant can speake better in this point I adde their owne practice against themselues For whatsoeuer they conceit to be a Rule whether a Traditionall word or their Popes Definitiue sentence they are constrained to runne vnto the Scriptures for the ground of their assertions and to procure credit to their supposed rule The Gagger hath obiected no Scriptures to disproue the Scriptures to be the onely Rule of Faith II. Proposition That the Scriptures are imperfect and insufficient to instruct vs in all things necessary to saluation Confuted by their owne Bible THeir Bible proueth the vndeniable fulnesse perfection and sufficiency of the Scriptures by setting downe the true ends thereof both for the whole and parts which being so appointed of God cannot bee frustrated nor insufficiency found in any meanes which he ordayneth for they doe perfectly conduce to their ends except any dare imagine impiously and will say that either the Scriptures are not sufficient for the ends whereto they are appointed of God which none but Atheists will affirme or that the ends are not inough to make the Scriptures perfectly sufficient to instrtct vs in all things necessary to Saluation But if the Scriptures be granted to be sufficient for their ends whereto they be appointed as needs must and the ends therein set downe be proued sufficient in all matters necessary to saluation it will necessarily follow that the Scriptures are sufficient The ends why the Scriptures were written proued sufficient to direct vs in all matters necessary to saluation The Scriptures were and are written for our learning Rom. 15 4. to teach to argue to correct and to instruct in iustice 2. Tim. 3. 16. that we might haue faith and life in the Sonne of God Ioh. 20. 31. and hope also by the patience and consolation of the Scriptures Rom. 15 4. which can instruct to saluation 2. Tim. 3. 15. that the man of God may be perfect instructed to euery good worke If it can instruct and make perfect to euery good worke then euery good worke may be learned out of the Scriptures and that which can make a man to euery good worke perfect is in it selfe a perfect instruction thereto And what instruction is farther required then to good workes and to euery good worke where instruction is for euery such thing there is no defect This were proofe enough for the sufficiencie of the Scriptures but yet more Moses as their owne Bible sheweth wrote that the people might learne that they might feare the Lord their God all their dayes and keepe and fulfill all the words of the Law Deut. 31. 9 12 13. and his words and ceremonies that were commanded in the Law Deut. 17. 19. Dauid and others wrote the Psalmes to teach the feare of God Psal 33. 11. for instruction for the iust for comfort in aduersitie for praising and thanksgiuing in prosperitie with many other ends which their owne Bible plentifully sets out in their contents before euery Psalme according to their Doway translation Salomon wrote his Prouerbs to know wisedome and discipline to vnderstand the words of prudence and to receiue instruction of doctrine iustice and equitie that subtilty that is as they expound it profound and solid wit may be giuen to little ones knowledge and vnderstanding to yong men Prou. 1. 2 3 4. The Prophets wrote to discouer mens sinnes to threaten iudgements to call them to repentance to comfort the humbled to foretell things to come either of some particulars or of the state of the whole Church either then or afterwards as the Prophesies do witnesse The Euangelist S. Luke wrote that we might know the veritie Luk. 1. 3 4. of all those things which Iesus began to do and teach vntill the day that he was assumpted Act. 1. 1 2. S. Paul wrote to the Romanes to put them in remembrance what he had taught Rom. 15. 15. to the Corinthians to admonish them 1. Cor. 4. 14. not to keepe company with such as professed Christ and liued lewdly 1. Cor. 5. 9 11. to instruct them how to carrie themselues to an excommunicate penitent 2. Cor. 2. 3 9. To the Ephesians he wrote that by reading they might vnderstand his wisedome in the mysterie of Christ Ephe. 3. 3 4. to Timothy how he ought to conuerse in the house of God 1. Tim. 3. 15. To these may be added the end and scope of all the rest of his Epistles S. Peter wrote to admonish alwayes the Saints 2. Pet. 1. 12. to stirre them vp by admonition ver 13. and after his decease to keepe a memoriall of the things taught ver 15. that they might be mindfull of those words which he before had told them from the holy Prophets and the Apostles of the precepts of our Lord and Sauiour 2. Pet. 3. 2. and to testifie that this was the true grace of God wherein they stood 1. Pet. 5. 12. S. Iohn he wrote that we might not sinne but if any did to let vs know that we haue Iesus Christ our Aduocate and propitiation for our sinnes 1. Ioh. 2. 1 2. that we also might beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the Sonne of God Ioh. 20. 31. and that we might know that
we which beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of God haue eternall life 1. Ioh. 5. 13. that so we might reioyce and that our ioy might be full 1. Ioh. 1. 4. He wrote that we might know the things which he had seene the things that were and that which was to be done afterwards euen to the worlds end Reuel 1. 19. Now therefore seeing it is cleare as before is proued that all Scriptures are inspired of God and he the Author thereof as also that vpon what occasion soeuer or to whomsoeuer they were first written that they were not written for their sakes alone but for ours also as their owne Bible iustifieth Rom. 4. 23 24. and 15. 4. 1. Cor. 9. 10. and 10 11. Psal 101. 19. and that they were appointed for all thâ—se forenamed ends to teach the Churches to argue against errors to correct sinne and vice to instruct in vertue to keepe vs from sinne to worke faith feare hope loue patience comfort and fulnesse of ioy to know the Author of our saluation and what Iesus Christ taught and did to know the words of the Prophets and Apostles also whether we stand in the true grace of God or no how to demeane our selues in Gods Church and to be wise to saluation to beleeue in the Sonne of God and in beleeuing to haue life through his name and to know the Churches state from the beginning to the worlds end These with other before mentioned being the maine ends of holy Scripture what can be further desired to set out the perfection of it especially considering fourthly that the particulars either in expresse words or by a necessarie conclusion which are in euery book do fully shew the sufficiencie of the whole Bible according to these ends so as nothing is to be held necessarie for instruction and direction in Gods Church but is therein contained For would we know what we are to beleeue All the twelue Articles of our Christian faith are there to be found almost in so many words expresly Would we know our dutie to God and man There are the ten Commandements of God wholy set downe with the explanation thereof by exhortations dehortations and examples throughout the Bible Would we know how to pray aright There is the Lords Prayer fully set downe to teach vs to pray and holy mens prayers as a commentarie for our directioÌ„ Would we know what Sacraments Christ ordained The two Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord are plainely shewed to be instituted and commanded by Christ Matth. 28. 19. and 26. 26 27 28. Would we haue controuersies decided If men without wrangling will rest in that which is sufficient to quiet the conscience the Scriptures wil end them in any necessarie point of faith and good life I will for example instance in some betweene Papists and vs their own English Bible being iudge 1. Whether publicke seruice ought to be in an vnknowne tongue No say wee Yes say they Heare the Iudge 1. Cor. 14. 9. By a tongue vnlesse thou vtter a manifest speech how shall that bee knowne which is said for thou shalt but speake in the aire Vers 15. I will pray with vnderstanding I will sing with vnderstanding Whether any Images or likenesse of God may be made Yes say they No say we Heare the Iudge Deut. 4. 15 17. Keepe your soules carefully yee saw no similitude in that day that our Lord spake to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire lest perhaps deceiued you might make you a grauen similitude or image of male or female c. 3. Whether the Sacrament of the Lords Supper be to bee administred in one kind Yes say they No say we Heare the Iudge Mat. 26. 26. Iesus tooke bread vers 26. and tooke the Chalice saying Drinke you all of this vers 27. 1. Cor. 11. The Lord Iesus tooke bread vers 23. also the Chalice after he had supped vers 25. This was the Churches practice 1. Cor. 10. 16. 4. Whether the words This is my Body are to be taken properly or figuratiuely Figuratiuely say we No properly say they Heare now the Iudge in the like sacramentall phrase Gen. 17. 10. God speaking of Circumcision saith of it This is my Couenant Also speaking of the eating of the Lambe and manner thereof calleth it the Passeouer it is the Phase that is the passage of the Lord as their Bible hath it and as ours it is the Lords Passeouer Exod. 12 11. Saint Paul in 1. Cor. 10. 4. saith The Rocke was Christ It is vsuall to call the signe by the name of the thing signified Reuel 1. 20. The seuen Candlestickes are the seuen Churches 5. Whether a sacrifice properly so called is now to be offered for the forgiuenesse of sinnes They say yes else their Masse is mar'd but wee say no. Heare the Iudge Heb. 10. 18. Now there is no oblation for sinnes for 1. Ioh. 2. 1 2. We haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the Iust and he is the propitiation for our sinnes 6. Whether Saints bee our Mediatours to God and so there be more then one Mediatour betweene God and vs. They say yea we denie it Heare the Iudge 1. Tim. 2. 5. There is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man which is the Man Christ Iesus 7. Whether we be iustified and saued freely through faith in Christ or by works before God We say yea by faith in Christ freely By merit of workes before God say they Heare the Iudge Rom. 3. 20. By the workes of the Law no flesh shall be iustified before him Chap. 4. 2. If Abraham was iustified by workes he hath to glorie but not with God Chap. 3. 24. For by grace you are saued through faith and not of your selues for it is the gift of God Rom. 9. 16. It is not of the willer nor of the runner but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 11. 16. If by grace not now of workes otherwise grace now is not grace Rom. 3. 28. For we account a man to be iustified by faith without the workes of the Law Ephes 2. 9. Not of workes that no man glory The place in Iames Chap. 2. 24. is of declaring a man to be iust before men for in the Law no man is iustified with God Gal. 3. 11. because the iust liueth by Faith but such a Faith as worketh by loue and is not a fruitlesse Faith of which Iames speaketh Thus might I runne thorow all the maine controuersies betweene vs and them to shew the sufficiency of the Scriptures which they hold imperfect and insufficient Contraried by Antiquitie Ireneus lib. 2. ca. 47. We know very well that the Scriptures are perfect And li. 3. ca. 1. the foundation and pillar of Faith Iustin in Tryph. Wee must flye to the Scriptures that in all things we may be safe Tertul. contra Hermog I adore the plenitude or fulnesse of the Scriptures And against Praxeas The Scripture is sufficient of it selfe Cyprian or
is the cause of error Mat. 22. 29. Yee doe erre not knowing the Scriptures Error then is from ignorance of the Scriptures The Apostles doubting of Christs resurrection a maine point of Faith without which all is vaine 1. Cor. 15. is ascribed to their ignorance of the Scriptures for as yet saith their Bible they knew not the Scriptures The Israelites erring in heart so continually is ascribed to the want of knowledge in Gods wayes Psal 94 10 11. These alwaies erre in heart and these haue not knowne my Psal 95. wayes Secondly it telleth vs whence otherwise errors proceed from Philosophy vaine fallacie Col. 2. 9. from humane traditions Whence proceed errors Mark 7. 8. from pretended Apostolicall traditions Acts 15. 24. from pretended reuelations of the Spirit a feigned word and forged writings 2. Thes 2. 2. from Satans strange delusions in the Man of sinne and his followers 2. Thes 2. from lying signes and wonders seducing people Reuel 13. 13 14. 2. Thes 2. 9. from doctrines and commandements of men Col. 2. 22. from vnlearnednesse and vnstablenesse of mens owne selues 2. Pet. 2. 16. from false Teachers Act. 20. 29. Iude vers 4. 2. Pet. 2. 2. Tim. 3. 6. from mens giuing heed to Seducers 1. Tim. 4. 1. and such like meanes God giuing men ouer to beleeue lyes because such haue not a loue of the truth 2. Thes 2. 3. Their Bible cleareth Scriptures from being cause of error for it telleth vs that no lie is of the truth 1. Ioh. 2. 21. Now error in diuine matters is a lye the Scriptures are Gods Word inspired by the holy Ghost 2. Tim. 3. 16. Gods Word is truth Ioh. 17. 17. and therefore no error can arise from it and to reason from abuse to hinder the vse is absurd 4. It telleth vs that the holy Scriptures are the Rule of faith and life as before is prooued and therefore cannot be the cause of error 5. It pronounceth the Readers blessed Reu. 3. 3. How can this be if it breed errors in men 6. It telleth vs that by Scripture Christ confuted Satan the false doctrine of Scribes and Pharises the heresie of the Sadduces so did the Apostles the Iewes Act. 17. 2. and 18. 28. Therefore heresies are ouerthrowne by Scripture and get no ground at all from Scripture Contraried by Antiquitie Chrysost Hom. de Lazar. The ignorance of the Scriptures hath bred heresies In Hom. 58. on Iohn The Scriptures doe leade vs to God doe driue away heretickes and doe not suffer vs to goe out of the way Tertullian de resurr telleth vs that heretickes flie the light of the Scriptures Surely hereby its cleere then that this Father did not beleeue that the Scriptures would make heretikes S. Ierome in Esay c. 8. willeth vs in things doubtfull to haue recourse vnto the Scriptures to know the truth otherwise saith he ye shall not haue the light of truth but remaine euer in darknesse of error Therefore Scriptures expell the mist of errors and doe not breed them in the iudgement of Saint Ierome It is witnessed before by Augustine Chrysostome Tertullian Basil Ierome Gregory-Nyssen that the Scriptures are the sound Rule of Faith therefore cannot they be any ground for error Gainesaid by some of their owne Petrus de Aliaco saith The new Testament is the hammer that killeth all heresies the Lanterne that lighteneth vs. Gerson in tract de distinct The sacred Scriptures are the shop wherein is laid vp the royall stampe of spirituall coine if a penny differs from the stampe neuer so little vndoubtedly its counterfeit It is also witnessed before by Gregory Gerson Clemangis Aliacus Durand Mirandula Aquinas Ferus Villa-Vincentius the Canon law and by Bellarmine that the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith how can they then breed error Our Aduersaries haue here no Scripture against vs for indeed the Scripture speaketh for it selfe and not against it selfe But Papists will here say they meane that the Scriptures breed heresies when they are misunderstood or abused or not rightly interpreted Answ If thus they meane in good sooth 1. why blame they the Scriptures when the fault is in men and not in them 2. Why doe not they likewise so accuse all mens writings whose soeuer are not they subiect to be mis-conceiued misunderstood and peruerted 3. Why doe they in this respect feare the Scriptures to breed heresies more in the people then in the Priests Were Arius a Presbyter Macedonius a B. Pelag. a Monke and Eutyches an Abbat they of the Lay-people onely which were the Authors of former heresies or of the Clergie Was Arius was Macedonius was Eutyches Pelagius and other damnable first-broachers of heresies Lay-men No man saith Ierome can frame an heresie but he that is of excellent gifts Gerson and Aeneas Syluius doe De defect viror Eccles 48 Hist Austr 8 52. alleage the same saying of Saint Ierome That there neuer happened any notorious euill in the Church but Priests were the cause thereof Lastly by thus reasoning from the abuse either through ignorance or wilfulnesse in any thing we should disallow euerie thing we should not eate because some gluttonize at meate nor drinke wine nor strong drinke because some thereby become drunke nor weare costly apparell as men of place may because some grow thereby proud nor vse the Arte of Rhetorick because some men abuse it setting their tongues to sale nor Logick for that some peruert it from the right end to iangling Sophistrie Iesus Christ saw how Satan abused Scripture yet he did vse it and exhorted other to search the Scriptures This point of Poperie Christ then knew not nor any of his Apostles VII Proposition That the Scriptures cannot of themselues be knowne to be the Word of God vnlesse the Church doe giue witnesse vnto them that they are so Confuted by their owne Bible 1. IT plainely auoucheth the contrary 1. By teaching that Christs sheepe knew his voice Ioh. 10. 4. 2. That Christ hath promised that such as doe his will shall vnderstand all the doctrine whether it be of God Ioh. 7. 17. 3. That to his Disciples it is giuen to know the Mysteries of the kingdome of heauen Mat. 13. 11. Now the Scriptures inspired of God 2. Tim. 3. 16. are his voice are his doctrine and there are the Mysteries of the Kingdome of heauen euen that great Mysterie opened by the Scriptures Rom. 16. 26. in the Law and Prophets Acts 28. 23. Therefore if Christs sheepe and Disciples can know his Voyce his Doctrine and the Mysteries of the Kingdome of Heauen then they can know the Scriptures to be the Scriptures of God II. It telleth vs by whom and by what we haue this knowledge 1. By the Spirit of God for what things God hath prepared for them that loue him hath he reuealed to vs by his Spirit which we haue receiued that we may know the things that of God are giuen vnto vs 1. Cor. 2. 9. 10 12. Now the Scriptures
formall obiect of Faith and of infinit force and abilitie to perswade immediately by it selfe without the helpe of any formall inducement whatsoeuer Stapleton saith That all the former writings of the Bible may Defens Eccl. Autho. lib. 1. cap 9. Tripl incoat Aduers Wâ—itak in admonit be assured to vs by the latter the old Testament by the new and the inward Testimonie of the Spirit is so effectual for the beleeuing of any point of faith that by it alone any part may be beleeued though the Church hold her peace and neuer be heard Note this saying well you Papists that perswade your selues that the Scripture is not Scripture to you but because the Church tels you so They haue no Scripture for defence of this their Position to S. N. Guide of Faith chap. 7. num 2. and 3. obiect against vs. Atheisticall obiections some haue made as if they would vphold the Turkish Alcoran vnworthy any Christian and no more worthy any answer then the blasphemie of Rabshekah 2. King 18 36. against which King Hezekias commandement was Answer him not a word Esa 36. 21. VIII Proposition That traditions which they call the vnwritten word are the Rule of Faith Confuted by their owne Bible I. IT hath beene proued before that the word deliuered by mouth both before and vnder the Law and after till the new Testament was written in all substantiall and necessarie points of faith is now either expresly set downe or by a necessarie conclusion comprehended in the Scriptures II. That therefore the Scriptures are the onely Rule of Faith which before also is fully proued III. Their owne Bible in many places diuers wayes doth condemne traditions 1. In calling them traditions of men Col. 2. 8. of Fathers 1. Pet. 1. 18. your traditions that is the traditions of Scribes and Pharises Mat. 15. 1 3. commandements and doctrine of men Mat. 15. 9. Rudiments of the world Col. 2. 8 20. not calling them the tradition doctrines and commandements of God or his Word or the word of his Prophets any where 2. In declaring to vs that the worship which is after such traditions is a vaine worship Mat. 15. 9. and but a shew of wisedome in superstition Col. 2. 23. and that the conuersation also which is after Fathers tradition is but vaine 1. Pet. 1. 18. So as we see traditions may not be either a Rule of worship or of conuersation of life 3. In setting downe the euils which haue come to the Church and true Religion of God by such traditions Their Bible telleth vs that for traditions the Commandements of God were left transgressed made frustrate and his Word defeated Mat. 15. 3. Mar. 7. 8 9 13. It was tradition by which the Scribes and Pharises had diminished the integritie of the Law taken from it added to it and corrupted the meaning thereof which Christ freed it from Mat. 5. 18 20 22 23 28 29 34 35. It was a pretended Apostolicall word which first greatly troubled the Church of Antioch and was the cause of gathering the Councell at Ierusalem to confute and condemne the same Act. 15. 1 2 5 6 23 24. The decrees thereof were written the Epistle sent abroad vers 30. 31. and so they had a written Word to strengthen them against that traditionall corrupt and counterfeit Word Lastly it was a pretended Apostolicall word which troubled the Thessalonians 2. Thess 2. 2. which by his Epistle and so by the written Word was confuted If I should adde out of Storie to this out of Scripture what euils haue hereby happened to the Church in and among Hereticks who vsed traditions to defend their Heresies in and Irenaeus l. 5. c. 66. l. c. 13. â—ert de praescript Epiphan de Haeres l. 1. c. 23. 24 38. among the Fathers misse-led and misleading others by false traditions whereby some of them became Chiliasts and now in and among the Papists who vnder the colour of traditions fill the world full of their inuentions superstitions and Idolatries I should be ouer-long and so proue tedious But let the desirous Reader peruse D. Whitakers De traditionibus 4. In teaching vs that the Apostle giueth the Church warning not to be deceiued by word by Philosophie by vaine fallacie according to mens traditions 2. Thess 2. 1 2 3. Col. 2. 8. Contraried by Antiquitie Iustine in Triphonem If we will be safe in all things we must flie to the Scriptures we must beleeue God onely and rest only vpon his institutions and not on mens traditions Irenaeus li. 3. ca. 13. saith of the Apostles that what they preached by mouth they left vs in writing to bee the pillar and ground-worke of our Faith Tertul. de praescrip It were a folly to thinke that the Apostles knew all things but reuealed the same to few deliuering some things openly to all reseruing some other things to be spoken in secret to some What can more plainely be deliuered contradictorie to Papists and to taxe them of folly and falshood in this point Theoph. Alexand. in 2. Paschali It is a diuelish spirit to thinke any thing diuine besides the Authoritie of the holy Scriptures Basil in serm de fide It is a manifest defection from the faith to bring in any thing that is not written When he vttered this did he dreame of a traditionall word Ierome in Hag. cap. 1. All traditions pretended to be Apostolike if they haue not their authoritie from the Scriptures are cut off by the Sword of God Nazianzen in Epimedio Athanasij calleth this vnwritten word An inuocation and opposite to written Pietie See further Tertul. Origen Hippolytus Athanasius Ambrose Basil Greg. Nissene Ierome Augustine Cyril of Alexan. S. Antonie and Theodoret cited by Bishop Vsher in his last booke in the Controuersie of traditions Gainesaid by some of themselues This is to be seene in the words of Gregory Gerson Petrus See question the first before de Aliaco Clemangis Durandus Picus-Mirandula Aquinas Ferus and other auouching the whole Scriptures to bee the Rule of faith Also of Antoninus Scotus Gerson Trithemius Villa-Vincentius Caictan Lyra and other who maintaine that the the Scriptures be perfect and sufficient euery way their words See question the second before are cyted before and so doe gainesay this traditionall word Obiections out of the Scriptures answered 2. Thes 2. 15. Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye haue beene taught whether by word or by our Epistle Answ This place though in shew at the first sight may seeme to helpe them yet considering well what they in the Question vnderstand by traditions it helpes them nothing at all 1. Traditions here are such as all the Thessalonians receiued and which the Apostles had taught to them all but traditions which the Papists maintain are certaine secret traditions deliuered not to all but to some sorts of men for the better guiding of the Church Therefore these traditions here are not those these being common to all
spoken is not set downe here and so proueth not the point in question 3. Of themselues there be that expound this depositum farre otherwise Caietan expounds it of the flocke committed to him So also Lyra their Glosse takes it to be his office So Hugo Cardinalis Aquinas interpreteth it of euery good thing which any man hath committed to him of God to keepe and to increase Thus they agree not among themselues if they cannot agree about the sense of the word is this then a sound proofe of so great a point as is in question Must a Rule to rule holy Scripture and the holy Church be grounded vpon such an vncertaine meaning 4. But let the Rhemists interpretation of the word goe for sound it is enough to ouerthrow their tenent for this depositum they make the whole doctrine of our Christianitie If this be the Treasure of vnwritten doctrine as Bellarmine will haue it what doth the Scripture containe Saint Paul telleth vs 1. Tim. 1. 11. that the glorious Gospell was committed to his trust as this depositum was committed to Timothy his trust if these two bee one as they are for was another thing committed to the trust of Timothy then was committed to Saint Pauls trust Then the Gospell is the whole doctrine of our Christianity except there be doctrines of Christianity which are not Gospell but the Gospell is written as before is prooued and therefore also is this a written depositum and not an vnwritten doctrine 5. This place wicked heretickes so expounded and to defend Tertul. de praescript aduersus Haeret. ca. 25. their hereticall falsities feigned such a sense of this place of certaine vnwritten traditions as the Papists doe by which they may see whence they be 2. Tim. 1. 13. Haue thou a forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me the same is mentioned Rom. 6. 17. Answ 1. This sheweth that a forme of words were deliuered by mouth but hence will it not follow that the same is not now written Saint Paul instructed by word of mouth Ergo may it be concluded that he wrote not the same How in reason will this follow And yet this is the thing to be proued or else nothing to the purpose 2. The place sheweth in what things this forme of words is to bee kept to wit in faith and in loue but the forme of the words of our beliefe is in the Scripture Ioh. 20. 31. Act. 8. 37. and also of our loue Mat. 22. 37 39. 3. If by forme of words they will vnderstand the compendium of Christianitie concerning Faith Obedience Prayer and forme of administring the holy Sacraments all these be also in the Scriptures as our Creed the ten Commandements the Lords Prayer as before is shewed For baptisme reade Mat. 28. 19. and for the Lords Supper Mat. 26. 26 27 28. 1. Cor. 11. 23 24 25. Therefore here is no forme of words left vnwritten as out of this place the Papists pretend 2. Tim. 2. 2. And the things which thou hast heard c. Answ 1. This still speakes of Pauls preaching but proueth not the same not to be written 2. It hath been before proued that Paul preached openly the Scriptures and therfore by the things heard from him must be meant those which he taught out of the Scriptures 3. It is probable that S. Paul himselfe preaching out of the Scriptures and onely according to the Scriptures also highly commending Scriptures to Timothy to be able to make perfect the man of God to euery good worke 2. Tim. 3. 16 17. that hee would haue any thing commended by Timothy to other Teachers but what was to be found in holy Scriptures This place therefore helpes not for vnwritten traditions Ioh. 20. 30. Many other signes did Iesus c. which are not written in this booke Answ 1. The Euangelist saith they were not written in this booke But what then May they not be written in other Euangelists 2. Here he speakes of signes and Acts of Christ and not of his doctrine by tradition which is the matter in question and so this text is nothing to the purpose Ioh. 21. 25. There are many other things which also Iesus did c. Answ This place also speaketh of that which Iesus did and not of that which he taught Here is not one syllable of a traditionarie word Ioh. 16 12. Many things I haue to say to you but you cannot beare them now Ans 1. This place tels vs not what Christ said but what hee concealed to wit many things which he had to speake but then spake not so as this proueth not a traditionall word nor any word at all except they will conclude that what one can say therefore he doth say it 2. If Christ had said all things to the Apostles then yet would it not follow that the same were not at all written in Scripture for Iesus Christ taught what was written in the Scriptures expounded them cited them and by them confuted the Aduersaries And Saint Luke makes a profession that his Gospell was A Treatise of all that Iesus began both to doe and speake vnto the day of his Ascension Act. 1. 1 2. 3. Can our Aduersaries tell what things Christ had to say If they can first let them shew to vs what they were secondly that they were differing from those things taught by him and written now in the new Testament thirdly that they were neuer written by the Apostles If these they cannot demonstrate to vs they gaine nothing hence for their pretended traditionary August 77. tract in Iohn word This place heretickes abused for their traditions 1. Cor. 11. 16. Wee haue no such custome nor the Church of God Answ 1. This speaketh not affirmatiuely of a custome but negatiuely of no such custome 2. Though it had spoken of a custome what is this to a traditionall word Is custome doctrine Or is it not rather applied to actions as in Gen. 31. 35. Ioh. 18. 39 3. The Scriptures allow not custome to be a Rule Leu. 18. 2. See Doway Translation Ier. 10. 2. 2 King 17. 40. 1. Cor. 11. 34. The rest will I dispose when I come Answ Here is no speech of any word of Doctrine but of order among the Corinthians Ioh. 2. 12. and Ioh. 3. 13. Hauing moe things to write vnto you I would not by paper and inke For I hope that I shall be with you and speake mouth to mouth Answ These places shew indeed that in the two short Epistles Iohn wrote not all those things which he might haue written because he would speake to them of them But can our Aduersaries proue first that Iohn euer came to vtter the things vnwritten If he did what were they If he did not then so much of their conceited traditionall word is lost Secondly that those moe things left vnwritten were either things necessarie or they were not things already written Til they can shew these things this place doth them
whom these words were spoken should teach and the people heare from them should be taken as Christ speaking in them but with condition as they should teach what he charged them to teach For the Apostles had their lesson giuen them to teach whatsoeuer Christ commanded them Mat. 28. 20. And these seuenty were taught what to doe and say Luk. 10. 3 12. which they obseruing Christ was heard in them So the meaning is Hee that heareth you deliuering my message and teaching what I command heareth me as if I were there in very person and he that shall despise you so discharging your duty despiseth mee and him that sent mee euen God himselfe as also Saint Paul speaketh 1. Thes 4. 8. For albeit the Apostles had an vnâ—rring Spirit assisting them in the Ministery Mat. 10. 20. Mar. 13. 11. Iohn 16. 13. of whom these words may bee taken absolutely yet of all other succeeding they are to be vnderstood with the former limitation Else why are we allowed yea charged not to beleeue euery spirit but to trie the spirits 1. Ioh. 4. 1. to trie all things 1. Thes 5 And why are the Bereans who not knowing Pauls Apostolicall function but taking him as a Teacher as other were commended as Bellarmine confesseth l. 1. de Verbo Dei for searching the Scriptures and left as an example for vs to follow Act. 17. 11. if the Teacher were to be credited in euery thing he should speake Mat. 16. 19. Whatsoeuer thou shalt binde in earth shall be bound in heauen c. Answ This is to be done by the Keyes which Christ gaue him as the words before going shew I will giue thee the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen then followeth whatsoeuer thou shalt binde c. to wit by these keyes of Christ Not then by his owne power and will as himselfe pleaseth but as those keyes doe helpe him to open and shut to bind and loose by and with the authority of these keyes must hee proceede and not otherwise Now let vs see what these keyes be by which hee openeth and shutteth byndeth and looseth forgiueth and retaineth sins These Keyes are these two Christs Word and Christs Spirit Mat 18. 18. Ioh. 20. 23. which I thus proue 1. For that in this Text is a promise of giuing the keyes I will giue the keyes c. Now seeing that here they are not giuen but promised let vs see what Christ gaue to Peter and other the Apostles and we shall finde that he gaue them two things his Word which hee calleth the words of his Father and the Word of reconciliation which he put in them and they receiued Ioh. 17. 8. 2. Cor. 5. 19. and his Spirit Ioh. 20. 22. which they also receiued when he said Receiue ye the holy Ghost breathing on them These are the two things which we finde that he gaue them therefore they are either the keyes or inseparable companions of the keyes 2. Christ in Ioh. 20. 21. saith As my Father hath sent me so I also send you so in Chap. 17. 18. But with these two did his Father send him with his Word Ioh. 7. 16. and 8. 26 28 38. and with his Spirit Luk. 4. 18. Mat. 3. 16. Esay 11. 2. and 42. 1. and 61. 1 2. Therefore these two are the keyes Keyes are by Bellarmines interpretation here taken for great authoritie and power as in Esay 22. 22. in Eliakim shadowing the great power and authoritie in Christ Reuel 3. 7. exercised in his Church But what greater power and authority then his Word and Spirit can there be in Christ his Church whatsoeuer it be it is comprehended in these two Therefore these be the keyes 4. He speakes of keyes as of moe then one linked together so that they are giuen as inseparable and so these two be For the Spirit teacheth the Word of Christ Ioh. 16. 13. and 14. 26. and the Word is with the Spirit Esay 59. 21. these two keyes are tyed together and giuen by Christ 5. The keyes promised here are the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen In this spirituall Kingdome by these to beare rule by these to bind and loose in earth is so verily and as surely done in heauen For what in this Kingdome here can beare Rule but his Word and his Spirit What truly can bind and loose in heauen but these We may be assured that what the Word and Spirit of God bindeth they are bound indeed and what these loose remit and forgiue they are loosed remitted and forgiuen of God in heauen of no other keyes can we be so assured hereof These then are the keyes here promised to Peter and were giuen to all the Apostles and to the true Church of God This place therefore helpeth nothing our Aduersaries who boast of an vnerring spirit leading the Pope and his Prelates into all truth if they bragge of this key let them shew vs the other the Word of God and the same written now in the Scriptures or else their boasting is in vaine and their binding and loosing of no force Deut. 17. 8. If there arise a matter c. Answ This place is for vs and against them for here iudgement must be giuen not as men thinke out of their own braine but saith the text according to their owne translation Thou See also Ezec. 44. 24. shalt doe whatsoeuer they that are Presidents of the place which our Lord shall choose shall say and teach thee according to his Law now that Law was written 2. Chro. 17. 9. This is it then we desire that the truth of iudgement may be from the written Word of God which this place approueth yet though they produce it and vrge it so often neuerthelesse it speakes not of the necessary points of faith but of controuersies in matters of another nature as the eighth verse plainely sheweth Hag. 2. 12. Thus saith the Lord of hostes Aske the Priests the Law Answ This place is also for vs and against themselues for what were the Priests to be asked what their owne opinion and iudgement No but they were to bee asked the Law that is the Law written and according to which they did answere in vers 13. 4. We teach that Pastors are to bee heard speaking to vs out of the Word written and accordingly as it teacheth them to speake wee must obey with all reuerence 2. Chro. 19. 8 18. Moreouer in Ierusalem did Iehosaphat set of the Leuites c. Answ It is one with that in Deut. 17. 8. and here contrary to the Popish practice the Priests and Leuites were subiect to Iehosaphat the King who had an inspection ouer them and gaue them a charge so 2. Chron. 17. 7 8. 2. Thes 2 15. Stand fast and hold the tradition c. This place is answered fully and at large before in handling the former question Mal. 2. 7. For the lips of the Priest shall keepe knowledge and the Law shall they require of his mouth Answ 1.
of Rome Papists for their Pope and Romanists from their City but they themselues vsurped the name of Catholikes They call vs Lutherans and Caluinists but we make none saue only Christ the autor of our faith commonly we are called Protestants because we continue our protestation against the enemies and abominations of the Romish Church Such a Church thus taken in this generall manner professing Christ vnder one name or other hath euer bene visible euen to the world Thus we teach that the Church is euer visible one where or other and neuer wholy hidden at any time But here in the question the name Church we take more strictly for a companie wheresoeuer assembled in publique together worshipping the true God in Iesus Christ as God himselfe onely hath prescribed by his Word whereto outwardly they professe conformitie both for doctrine and conuersation also in good measure This true Church of God we say is visible First in respect that it consists of men making open profession Secondly in respect of the place being publique where such obtaine liberty to meete together Thirdly in respect of the externall actions in and about the worship of God Thus this Church is visible but not alike gloriously coÌ„spicuous at al times in euery place where God planteth it This Church we affirm not to be at any time inuisible but we only say it is sometime hidden neither yet do we meane hereby that it is so hidden as not to be found any where of theÌ„ that seeke after it by due means as if it were vtterly extinguished nor so hidden as not to be seene of any in any place for such a hiding we neuer dreame of as our Aduersaries interpret falsely against vs but when we say it is hidden we meane that it is not acknowledged but contemned by the euill ones which loue not the truth by reason of the fewnes of the followers Mat. 10. 23. and 23 34. Heb. 11. 38. Act. 1. 13. and 12. 12 and 20. 7 8. thereof and their secret meetings in time of persecution and their decay of outward gouernment and publique exercises in open places For these reasons she is said to be hidden and this hidden estate of the Church commeth to passe 1. For that she consisteth of a mixt companie the worser sort sometime and for a long time comming to be the greater and a preuailing faction 2. As they preuaile so they diminish the number weaken the credit of those professing the truth and do bring cunningly their owne will their owne inuentions and wayes into estimation with the worldly minded 3. This preuailing faction and greater number increasing engrosse and arrogate to themselues the name of the Church and so encroach vpon credit to their owne deuices as vaunting to be the onely true Church and their profession and practice the onely true and sound Religion 4. Hereupon they condemne the other as Schismatiques and Hereticks and their way as heresie and so raise vp against them persecution inhibiting their meetings in publique scattering their Assemblies punishing their Teachers and making them to be generally euill spoken of and putting by-names vpon them full of reproach to cause theÌ„ to be the more detested of the worst and distasted of indifferent minds by forging many lies and falsities vpon them both in life and doctrine 5. By this it commeth to passe that now they are glad to flie away to hide themselues to meete in secret places where they may with any safetie come together till God raise such as be in authoritie to afford them publique meetings againe In the meane space they are as it were hidden and this is all we meane when we speake of the hidden Church which is not so hidden but that the members of her are seene one to another See D Whites te aâ—d cable obâ—eruatiâ—ns of the Church i◠〈◊〉 Reply to Fisher pag. 51. and do often meete together yea some of them are espied by this preuailing faction sometime whom they cruelly persecute and put to death if they do not recant and turne to them Their assertion that the Church hath beene euer to the world gloriously visible is most false Confuted by their owne Bible 1. By Propheticall speeches foretelling that the Church shall lose her glorious conspicuousnesse to the world 1. Chr. 15. 3. And many dayes shall passe in Israel without the true God and without Priest and Teachers and without the Law Osea 3. 4. Many dayes shall the children of Israel sit without King without Priest without Sacrifice without Altar and without Ephod and Teraphim See also Mich. 3. 6 7. and in Mat. 24. 24. Christ foretelleth that false Christs and false prophets shall arise and so farre seduce as to deceiue the verie elect if it were possible which could not be if the true Church should be euer gloriously conspicuous S. Paul 2. Thess 2. 3 4. telleth vs of such a reuolt as Antichrist shall be exalted and sit in the Temple of God And S. Iohn in the Reuelation Chap. 9. 2. telleth of such a darknesse that should obscure the Sunne and Aire of such an oppression of the Church as she should be trodden vnder foote Chap. 11. 2. of such a persecution as she should be glad to fly into the wildernesse Chap. 12. 6. and lastly of such a preuailing of the Beast that enemie as the whole earth should adore and follow after him Chap. 13. 7 8. Which Word of God must needs be true And therefore the Church is not euer gloriously conspicuous to the world as an earthly Monarchy or estate 2. By Historicall narration 2. Chron. 15. 3. Heb. 11. 37 38. Iudg. 6. 2. in the kingdom of Iudah in Ahaz his dayes in the dayes of Manasses his reuolt from God for then was there no glorious conspicuitie of the Church any where What a low ebbe was Gods Church come to in Israel in Eliah his dayes About the time of Christs suffering what glorious face of the true Church weâ— there then Christ was condemned the Apostles were sted 〈◊〉 scattered Peter forswore Christ Was heere a glorious true Church in the eye of the world We see then the Church hath not euer beene in a pompous visibilitie Contraried by Antiquitie S. Augustine Epist. 80. ad Hesych towards the end and Epist. 48. ad Vincent saith When the Sunne shall be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the Starres shall fall from heauen as is prophesied Reuel 6. and 9. 1. then the Church shall not appeare for that then the vngodly persecutors See more of this his opinion in Enarrat in Psal 10. de bapt also contra Donat. lib. 6. cap. 4. shall rage out of measure S. Chrysostome on Mat. Hom. 49. saith that since the time that Heresies inuaded the Church it can no wayes be knowne which is the true Church of Christ but by the Scriptures onely in this confusion it can no otherwaies else be knowne This sheweth then that the true Church of
come to them and blesse them Chap. 20. 24. to be high aboue all Nations to praise name and honour to be a holy people Deut. 26. 19. to circumcise their heart and the heart of their seed to loue him with all their heart and soule Deut. 30. 6. to be with them not to leaue them nor forsake them Deut. 31. 8. yea he promised that no new god should be among Psal 81. 9. them nor they to adore a strange god Psal 80. 10. Mount Sion was not to be remoued but to abide for euer and peace to be on Israel Psal 105. 1. whom he would redeeme from all Psal 1â—â— 1. Psal 13â— 8. Psal 132. 13 14 iniquities Psal 129. 8. He chose Sion and that to be his rest for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 13â— 13 14. their way was to be the way of Holinesse and so direct that fooles should not erre by it Esay 35. 8. and such as erred in the Spirit should know vnderstanding the mutterer should learne the Law Esa 29 24. and they should haue Pastors according to the Lords owne heart which should feed them with knowledge and doctrine Ier. 3. 15. To conclude Israel had a promise to be saued with eternall saluation they should not be confounded and ashamed for euer and euer Esay 45. 17. yea that we may know that the promises were not to the people then liuing onely the Lord saith I will powre out my Spirit vpon their seede and my blessing vpon thy stocke Esay 44. 3. and touching the Temple thus saith God to Salomon I haue sanctified this House to put my Name there for euer and mine eyes and my heart shall be there 1. King 9. 3. alwayes 3. Kin. 9. 3. Yet for all these so gracious promises she erred she hath fallen away and remaineth in her sinnes We haue heard out of their owne Bible First how the Churches defection hath beene foretold Secondly how she also hath beene found guiltie Thirdly the same proued by Historie of the Bible from the beginning in Adam and Eue till Christ though the Church of Israel had admirable meanes to vphold it to which I do adde this last From Christs comming till Iohns being in Pathmos In this space we may finde errours in the Church The Apostles themselues before Christs Ascension were in an error touching Christ his Kingdome dreaming of a temporall kingdome Act. 1. 6. Luk. 24. 21. of restoring the kingdome to Israel and redeeming them so as they did striue among themselues which of them should be greatest Luk 22. 24. and hereupon it was that the mother of Zebedees children desired of him for her sonnes that one might sit in his Kingdome on the right hand and the other on the left Mat. 20. 20 21. Their knowledge was very imperfect for it is said often that they vnderstood not many things Mat 15. 16. Luk. 9. 45. and 10. 34. Ioh. 12. 16. and 29. yea so slow of heart and dull of hearing they were that Christ telleth them that he had many things to say to them but that then they were not able to beare theÌ„ Ioh. 16. 12. their faith was verie weake as appeareth by his calling of them Ye of little faith Mat. 8. 26 and 16. 8. Slow of heart to beleeue what the Prophets had spoken Luk. 24. 25. Also by their forsaking him and flying from him when he was taken Mat. 26 56. After Christs Ascension and the comming downe of the holy Ghost they were ignorant for a time in this that they did not thinke it was lawfull to go to the Gentiles as we may see in Peter Act. 10 15. 20. and the other Iewes vers 45. compared with Cap. 11. 2 3 18 19. The Churches of Galatia erred so as S. Paul said that he feared lest hee had laboured in vaine Gal. 4. 11. I neede not here speake of errors and Heresies creeping in troubling the Church and deceiuing many as in Act. 15. 2. 1. Tim 1. 3 6 7 19. 20. 2. Tim 2. 18 19. 1. Cor. 15. 12. Ephesus fell from her first loue Reu. 2. 4 Pergamus had in her such as vpheld the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans Reu. 2 14. Thyatira tolerated Iezabel to reach and seduce Christs seruants Reu. 2. 20. Sardis was an hypocriticall Church and in a dying condition and Laodicea luke-warme rich in conceit but miserable naked blinde and poore in condition Reu. 3. 2 16 17. S. Paul telleth Timothy that all that were in Asia were departed from him 2. Tim. 1. 15. Thus was the Churches state euen in the Apostles dayes By which we may see the Church subiect to erre and to hold the contrary that she cannot erre Antiquitie is against Contraried by Antiquitie Origen Hom. 6. in Ezek. The Citie of God as long as she erreth not or doth not sinne hath God to her Father but when she beginneth to erre her father is an Amorite and her mother an Hittite he then thought she might erre Ierome complaineth in Dialog aduers Lucifer That the whole world groaned and wondered to see it selfe Arian Did not he thinke then that the Church might erre Aug. lib. 2. cap 18. Retract speaking of the Church on earth saith that by reason of ignorance and infirmities of her members the whole Church hath cause to say euery day Forgiue vs our trespasses Basil epist 70. telleth vs that Satan had in his time begun to sow the seedes of Apostasie in those places where the Gospell of the Kingdome first arose vp striuing to spread it into the whole World He speakes of Apostasie which is more then erring What meant Hilarie cont Auxentium when he said The Church is lost and wee are fallen into the time of Antichrist whose ministers do transforme themselues into Angels of light without all feeling or conscience of Christ Vincent Lvren aduers profan Nou. ca. 4. hath said that not only some portion of the Church but the whole Church it selfe is blotted with some new contagion Gainesaid by some of their owne Pope Innocent saith in the Canon Law The Churches Iudgement Decret Greg. li. 3. de sent excom ca. 28. A nobis est saepe Super 5. de sent excom Anobis 2. oftentimes followeth opinion which many times falleth out both to deceiue vs and to be deceiued it selfe Panormitan thus writeth A generall Councell representing the whole Church may erre in excommunicating him that should not bee excommunicate If in a matter of this nature where proofes may bee brought before sentence pronounced how much more in points of a higher nature without the Scripture for the guide A generall Councell is called the whole Church representadue If therfore this erre theÌ„ may the Church erre for how can the Churches voyce else be heard except in Can. 6. the Scriptures But by their owne confession generall Councels haue erred for the first Councell at Nice of 318. Bishops made the Bishop of Romes gouernment no more then that of Alexandria That at Ephesus of 200.
sinned ver 33. and he exempteth none of either Iewes or Greekes neither there or any where else saue Iesus Christ onely Heb. 4. 15. She teacheth that they are iust fied by workes and that before God He contrarily Rom. 3. 24. We are iustified gratis by grace for we account a man to be iustified by faith without the workes of the Law vers 28. For if Abraham were iustified by works he hath to glory but not with God Rom. 4. 2. She teacheth that concupiscence in the regenerate is not sinne He contrary calleth it sinne Rom. 7. 7. She teacheth that a man may perfectly fulfill the Law and do workes of supererogation He teacheth the contrary and that out of himself Ro. 7 15 16 18 25. agreeing with our Sauiours teaching Luk. 17. 10. She teacheth that the sufferings of the Saints here are worthy of eternall glory He teacheth that the passions of this time are not condigne of glorie to come Rom. 8. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 17. She teacheth that the Church cannot erre S. Paul sheweth the contrary in Rom. 11. 19 20 21. by example of the Israelites and doth forewarne the Romanes to take heed that God do not cast them off She teacheth that the Pope and his Clergie is not subiect to Ciuill Authoritie He teacheth the contrary not exempting any Rom. 13. 1 3 4 6. with Tit. 3. 1. She teacheth that holinesse is to be put in the obseruation of daies and difference of meates He maketh this as a thing indifferent and teacheth that none are to contend about such things and that the kingdome of God stands not herein Rom. 14. 1 2 5 17. She teacheth that it is not profitable for all to reade the Scriptures He teacheth that it was written for the vse and comfort of all Rom. 4. 23. 15. 4. She teacheth to pray to Saints Angels and to the Virgin Marie and to giue them praises for many things He teacheth to pray to God Rom. 15. 30. and so prayeth he Rom. 15. 5 13 33. and 16. 27. to none other prayeth he nor giueth prayses but to God for his mercies Thus we see them to be at odds with the Apostle by the witnesse of their owne Bible laid to their doctrines The like might be shewed out of the Epistles of Saint Peter whom the Popes claime for their Rocke and therefore their Church not onely may and doth erre And to make yet this more cleare we will view them first in their virtuall Church and then in their Church representatiue The creame or quintessence of their Church as it is reduced to an Elixir by the Refiners and Alchymists the Iesuites is squeczed into a little roome and comprized in the Pope whom they call the Virtuall Church Of his Holyhood they auouch XIV Proposition That the Bishop of Rome cannot erre Confuted by their owne Bible IT giueth vs to know that Peter whom forsooth they doe make the first Pope of Rome did erre first in mistaking Christs Kingdome as terrene and earthly Act. 1. 6. Secondly concerning the person of Eliah that he should come before the Messiah mis-vnderstanding Malachi Mat. 17. 10. Thirdly touching the resurrection of Christ Luke 18. 34. Iohn 20. 9. Fourthly in hauing conscience of the difference of meates after Christs Ascension Acts 10. 14. Fifthly in not vnderstanding his full Commission to goe to the Gentiles Act. 10. 20. Sixthly in not walking rightly to the veritie of the Gospell Gal. 2. 14. If then this first Pope as they make him did so erre then the after-Popes may except they can shew some priuiledge before him Contraried by Antiquitie For it is manifest by History that the Popes iudgement was not held to be infallible but that he might erre 1. For we may find such to haue been made Popes as may easily perswade any wise man that they might erre Some haue Alphonsus de Castro haeres li. 4. ca. 4. Platina in Iul. 1. * See Master Alex. Cooke his booke of this which no Papist hath vndertaken to answere See such Authors as haue set out the Popes liues Platina and other bin vnlettered Idiots no Grammarians that could hardly write their names in Latine some Lay-men as Constantius the second and Bennet the eighth and once a woman Pope * Ioane and very boyes for age Bennet the ninth a child of ten yeeres old Iohn the twelfth a bastard a mad Lad about eighteene yeeres old Could not these yonkerrene thinke you 2. Some haue been most abominable persons Atheists blasphemers poysoners sorcerers and such like Is it like that Gods holy Spirit would reside in such filthy monsters to keepe them forsooth from erring 3. Some of them fell fearefully Marcellinus worshipped Heathen Idols Zepherinus was a Montanist Liberius and Felix Arians Anastasius the second an Acatian Vigilius an Eutychian and Honorius a Monothelite And cannot yet Popes erre 4. Some Popes haue abrogated the Decrees one of another Benno Platina Supplementum Chronic. Gregorie the first abolished the Decrees of Pelagius so Sabinian and Innocent those of Gregorie Steuen abolished those of Formosus so Romanus those of Steuen and so forth And cannot yet Popes erre 5. Some haue decreed flat against Scripture Celestine ordained Alphons li. 1. ca. 4. de haeres Trent Conc. sect 8. can 3. sub Pio 4. Marriage to be void when either party fell into heresie Pius Quartus decreed that it should be lawfull for him to allow degrees of Marriage forbidden in Leuiticus and to forbid what God allowed And cannot Popes erre 6. Easterne Bishops and ancient Fathers haue very sharpely Euseb li. 5. c. 26. reproued the Bishop of Rome as namely Polycrates the Bishop of Ephesus and as Ireneus the Bish of Lions did Victor for his rash proceeding against the Easterne Church And yet doe not Popes erre 7. Ancient Councels haue withstood him as that of Chalcedon Acts 16. wherein were 630. Bishops withstanding Leo in the question of supremacy The sixth Councell of Carthage of 217. Can. 105. Bishops resisted three Popes one after another in that they would do contrary to the Councell of Nice These iudged that Popes might erre else would they haue yeelded to the Popes Gainesaid by Papists themselues 1. Pope Andrian the sixth de sacr confir ar 3. ad 2. pag. 55. saith It is certaine that the Pope may erre So iudged Innocentius Arbor Theosoph li. 4. ca. 32. De potestat Ecclesiae consid 10. 11. De signis Ecclesiae li. 18. ca. 6. the fourth So also haue learned men formerly held as Gerson of which opinion are the Sorbonists who hold that the Pope might erre Bosius dares to write that the Pope may be an heretike writing teaching and preaching heresies Stapleton confesseth it to be no matter of Faith but of opinion Controuers 3. qu. 4. onely because so many famous and renowned Diuines haue euer held the contrary as Gerson Almaine Occam almost all the Parisians Durandus whereto may bee added Waldensis Turrecremata
Nationall or Prouinciall or Diocesan Synod much lesse a generall Councell but Church-officers or Gouernours in a particular Congregation to iudge of priuate offences as is cleare from the text verses 15 16 17 18 19. II. Will they say that the number of two or three assembled is of an vnerring spirit Is this such a Councell as on which men may rest assured that the iudgement thereof is infallible Neuer any yet durst affirme so much And yet this text speakes but of two or three gathered together III. Here is not a word of not erring nor of infallibilitie in doctrine but of Christ his presence with them But from this it followes not that they cannot erre For the Apostle saith We 1. Cor. 13. 9 10. know in part But with those which the Apostle comprehendeth vnder the word Wee was Christ present And if they knew but in part perfection of knowledge not being to be attained vnto here as the Apostle there teacheth seeing imperfect knowledge may erre it is euident that they might erre though Christ be present with them for he is with his Saints but he doth not perfectly sanctifie them his Spouse hath imperfections in this life neither doth hee perfectly illuminate them but they haue their mistakes Christ was with his before his death yet had they errors and before his Ascension yet he found them ignorant of his spirituall Kingdome Luk. 24. Act. 1. And after his Ascension and comming of the holy Ghost euen Peter was mistaken Act. 10. and other of the Church Act. 11. as before is proued IV. What is this text to proue Popish Councels not to erre For this Scripture speakes of such as are gathered in Christs name whereas those Councels are gathered in the Popes name Christ promiseth to bee with those that are gathered in his name but will it necessarily follow that hee will therefore bee with those that are gathered in the Popes name This stands in neede of proofe especially seeing the Pope is proued to be Antichrist with whom we may be sure Christ will keepe no company Ioh. 6. 13. The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth Answ I. This is a promise vnto the Apostles whose prerogatiue in their Ministery was not to erre because they were the chiefe builders and planters of Christian Religion All other Ministers are but watereâ— II. It is one thing for a Guide to leade aright another for those that should follow to follow aright It therefore will not be necessarily concluded that because a perfect Guide leadeth the way such as come after cannot or doe not goe out of the way For they may not strictly follow the Guide but now and then may slip out of the way through want of eie-sight or dimnesse of sight or through carelesnesse looking some other way not minding the Guide 3. How can our Aduersaries proue that this promise is made to their Popish Councels which are ruled and * See the History of the Councell of Trent and Brocard on Reuel 17. who was at that Councell guided by their Popes and not by Gods Spirit Acts 15 25 28. This Councell erred not Ans 1. This was a Councell gathered of all the 12. Apostles of the Elders at Ierusalem and of the whole Church 2. This had the guiding of the holy Ghost as the text witnesseth 3. This laid the Scriptures for their ground vers 15. and the manifest euidence of the worke of the holy Ghost vers 8 which they tooke for direction in their decrees 4. Here was free libertie of disputation without interruption one attentiuely hearing another without by-respect that the truth might take place What is this to Popish Councels Are there any Apostles Admit they freely the whole Church Are they guided by the holy Ghost and by the verity of holy Scriptures Is libertie there granted to euery one to speake freely If they cannot proue these this text serues not their turne Other Scriptures are obiected as Mat. 16. 18. Luk. 10. 16. 1. Tim. 3. 15. All which are fully answered before As for the place in Heb. 13. 17. it is to be vnderstood not simply but that Teachers are to be obeyed as farre-forth as they doe teach the truth and command what God prescribeth XVI Proposition Whether the Church of Rome be the Catholike Church Confuted by their owne Bible I. IT is so farre from making it the Catholike Church as it no where doth giue it the name of a Church as it doth Corinth chap. 1. Gal. chap. 1. Ephesus Reu. 2. 1. Acts 20. 28. 1. Tim. 3. 15. and so other Churches But no where is this title giuen to Rome Note it well II. It telleth vs that the Faith of Saints at Rome was renowned in the whole World Rom. 1. 8. but not that their Church was spred into all the World Neither saith it that the Faith so commended came out from thence into the World or that it was any other then that which was then in all the World For Rom 1. 5 12 their Bible telleth vs that not from Rome but from Ierusalem it came both to Rome and into other places of the World Ierusalem was the Mother and Head Church and not Rome And of those in Rome it saith Among whom ye are called Rom. 1. 6. so were they not the Vniuersall Church but one particular among the rest which together made vp the whole Church III. Their Bible telleth vs that the Church at Ierusalem was planted by Christ and by his twelue Apostles with whom were the 70. Disciples such Teachers as no other Church euer had at once The Church of Antioch Corinth Ephesus and other moe were planted by the Apostles as we learne from their owne Bible But who first taught at Rome it shewes vs not not Peter I am sure IIII. Their Bible doth at least equall other Churches with it if not preferre them before it 1. In giuing the name of Church to other and not to it for there is mention of Saints at Rome but not of the Church at Rome The title they had not giuen to them 2. It plainely telleth vs that other Churches were first planted by the Apostles but mentioneth not the planting of it by any of them 3. In highly praising of other Churches as the Corinthians for being enriched with all vtterance and all knowledge for comming behind in no gift 1. Cor. 1. 5 7. and for being partakers of the sufferings of Christ 2. Cor. 1. 7. So the Ephesians which Church he calleth the Church of the liuing God the Pillar and ground of truth 1. Tim. 3. 15. and the beleeuers there to be fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone in whom they wer builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 19 20 22. If our Romanists had any such testimony how would they boast Great commendations are giuen to
the Church at Colosse Col. 1. 4 6. for their stedfast faith loue and fruit of the Gospell and for their order which the Apostle ioyed to behold cha 2. 5. What shal I speak of the praises of the 1. Thes 1. 3 6. 2. 13 14. 3. 6. 4. 10. 2. Thes 1. 3 4. 2. 13. Thessalonians for their worke of Faith growing exceedingly their labour of loue their patience of hope their abounding in charitie being followers of the Apostles and the Churches of God in Iury receiuing the Word of God as the Word of God in much tribulation with ioy of the holy Ghost To which prayses the beleeuers at Rome did not then attaine though they had their prayses and those great too Rom. 15. 14. but not comparable with those Churches Lastly in shewing how the Apostles honoured some other Churches by their writings As Corinth by two Epistles so Ephesus by one from Saint Paul by another from Saint Iohn Reuel 2. 1. who wrote to that Church in the first place the heauenly booke of the Reuelation in like sort were two written to the Thessalonians and but one to Rome 5. It is cleare by their own Bible that Peter whō they claime falsely for their first Pope wrote two Epistles which are called Catholike but neither of them was written to Rome as the Catholike Church neither maketh he any mention of it And S. Paul writeth to the Saints at Rome as to a particular company and not as any Head-Church before and aboue other The Thessalonians are commended for being followers of the Churches of God in Iudea but not for following those at Rome to whom when Saint Paul wrote hee saith Rom. 1. 6. that they were called among others that in other Nations were called but it is not said aboue other Nations 6. Their Bible telleth vs that S. Paul wrote his Epistle to them that were in Rome called Saints and beloued of God so that they were within that City or there-about but the Catholike Church was then dispersed for the Gospell at that time had gone into all the World and was preached to euery creature vnder Heauen Col. 1. 6 23. In their Bible is mention Acts 2. made of thirtie Kingdomes and Countries ten Ilands and almost three score famous Cities out of Iury in and amongst the Gentiles where the Gospell had been preached among whom Rome was but one and had obteined at the most praises common with other Churches Their titles were Saints Rom. 1. 7. beloued of God also brethren Rom. 10. 1. and 12. 1. and 15. 14 30. Their faith the same that was among all Nations Rom. 1. 5. called the common Faith vers 12. and therefore spoken of throughout the whole World vers 8. Their obedience was published to euery place Rom. 16. 19. Not for that their Faith and obedience did surpasse others for the words are deliuered barely your faith your obedience not with prayses as the Faith and obedience of the Colossians and Thessalonians accompanied with loue and aboundant charity with patience and ioy of the holy Ghost in great afflictions and so forth but for that Rome was the sease of the Empire and the publishing of their faith and obedience might bee a meanes to draw on others which dwelt in other places Contraried by Antiquitie We may reade that the chiefe of the Church of Rome was but at first a Bishop and his Church but a Drocesan Church Then hee became an Archbishop and so his Church but a Prouinciall Church After he got to be a Patriarch and so his Church but Patriarchall as some other were then equall with him as that of Antioch Alexandria Ierusalem and Constantinople All this time he was no Vniuersall Bishop till bloody Phocas gaue him that title and so his Church not Vniuersall till she also became the great whore and so might well be common the kings of the earth committing fornication with her as was foretold Reuel 17. It is said that Athanasius as Liberius confesseth was separated Epist ad Vrsac Valent. in Baron Annal. to 3. Ann. 357. n◠44. from the communion of the Church of Rome But may we iudge so holy a man and so valiant a Champion for the truth to be therefore separated from the Catholicke Church Polycrates and the Easterne Churches did not condiscend to the Church of Rome in the keeping of Easter did they therefore dissent from the Catholicke Church who was he in those dayes that had so much as a dreame thereof S. Ierome in Catal. Fortunat. reproueth the custome of the Church of Rome and Epist ad Euagr. he preferreth the custome of the Catholicke Church he held not Rome then the Catholicke Church but distinguisheth them asunder one from another The title of Catholicke was long before it came to be added to the Church and when it was vsed many Churches were so called The Romane Church then was not the Catholicke Church Gainesayd by some of their owne Aeneas Syluius who was Pope writeth That before the Epist 30 1. Councell of Nice small respect was had to the Church of Rome Now it cannot be imagined that all the time before the learned Fathers and holy Martyrs should be said to haue had small respect to the Catholicke Church the mother of euery particular Church because they had small respect to the Church of Rome If Aeneas Syluius saith true then was not Rome held the Catholike Church of those who so smally respected her Pighius lib. 6. ca. 3. de Eccl. Hierarch saith Who did euer yet by the Church of Rome vnderstand the Vniuersall Church He then at that time had not learned this point to hold the Church of Rome for the Catholicke Church Francisc Picus Theorem 13. saith The Church of Rome is a particular Church The obiected Scriptures answered Psal 2. 8. Aske of me and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance c. Luk. 1 33 He shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome there shall be no end Answ Who is read in Scripture but knoweth these to be spoken of Christs Kingdome and not of the Popes iurisdiction Where is here Pope or Rome expressed But the Gagger proueth hereby the Church of Christ Catholicke which we acknowledge But saith he None of these promises haue beene so much verified as they haue beene in the Church of Rome and therefore is she onely the Catholicke Church In that he saith Not so much verified as of Rome he grants it to haue beene verified of other Churches though not so much he cannot therefore from a higher degree conclude that she is onely the Church whereof the promises are made The words are spoken of Christs Kingdom in plain termes expressed And is his Kingdome now become the Romish Iurisdiction onely His Kingdome after he assumed our nature began before the Church of Rome had a being And can any thinke that Dauid in the Psalme or the Angell speaking the words
to his Mother in Luke did dreame of a Pope-holy Father and his Churches iurisdiction Christs Kingdome was not nor is not of this world Ioh. 18. 36. but the Popes is therefore he vndertakes to be chiefe Iudge to diuide inheritances and to dispose of kingdomes which Christ refused to intermeddle in Luk. 12. 14. Moreouer his Kingdome should extend to the vttermost parts of the earth but so did neuer Romes Iurisdiction Many Christian Churches neuer subiected themselues to her many farre remote know her not nor her Pope whether a man or a woman Pope Ioane Lastly The Romish Church cannot be Christs Kingdome for that the Pope is Antichrist whose character set forth in the Scripture he seemeth so liuely to expresse that his best abetters cannot free him of that title For my part I haue laid the dogge so neere his doore that I hope hee and his Parasites See also the Answer of B. Downame vnto Leon. Lessius de Antichristo cannot beat him away See more in my poore labours vpon the Reuelation Coloss 1. 5 6. Yee heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospell which is come vnto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit c. But saith the Gagger No faith or Gospell hath or is so dilated in all the world nor hath fructified as the faith of the Romane Church hath done Answ 1. Where is in the Text Rome or the Romish Church Secondly by saying no faith or Gospell hath or is so dilated speaking in the time past and present hee playeth the deceitfull Merchant by making two different things one 1. For by the time past and most ancient must bee meant the faith and Gospell in the Church planted in other places as well as at Rome in the Apostles dayes of which this place of the Colossians speaketh and by the time present is vnderstood the faith and profession of the now Romish Church greatly differing from that which the Apostle commended then as before is manifested out of the Epistle to the Romanes Thirdly in that he saith no faith meaning this present faith for which hee onely striueth hath not been nor is so dilated in all the world fructified and growne is not true For first the true faith beginning at Ierusalem went farther being preached to euery creature vnder Heauen Col. 1. 6 23. Secondly this our present faith the very same with that Ancient faith as I See my Booke Looke beyond Luther haue proued is dilated fructified and growne more then theirs It is in both the East and West Indies it is in more Kingdomes in Europe then the Pope hath full iurisdiction in as in England Scotland with all the adiacent Ilands belonging to both Kingdomes which bee many in Ireland in Denmarke Norway Sweden Poland Lapland and in other Countreys vnder those Kings in Pomeraine in the Low Countreys in Dukedomes Princedomes and in other places in Germany Besides that it is in France and some other places of the Popes Iurisdiction So that for spaciousnesse wee be little behinde Rome Hereto are to bee added the Russian Greeke and Abyssine Churches as large as the European In those the Papacie is either vtterly vnknowne or abhorred as vehemently as by vs. Thirdly the faith and vnbeliefe of the Mahumetane Religion is beyond the Romish present faith Therefore as the Text helpeth him not so his boasting is vaine and false Rom. 1. 8. I thanke my God through Iesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world The Gagger hauing cited this place saith that Saint Paul in expresse termes calleth the faith of the whole world or Catholike faith The faith of the Romanes that is to say of the Romane Church Therefore it is onely the Catholike Church Answ 1. Note here that hee concludeth the Catholikenesse from the faith of the Church where therefore that is which then was commended must needs bee the Catholike Church holding the Catholike faith as we doe Secondly but what is this to the Romish Church now For their present faith is not that which Paul commended then This should they proue Is this good reasoning Such a mans word was of singular credit formerly with euery man Ergo it is so still when hee is growne Bankerupt Ierusalem was the ioy of the whole earth ergo it is so still Let this Gagger proue their faith now the same with that then else this place will doe them no good but rather vpbraideth their Apostasie 3. In this application of the words hee erreth grosly or rather if it be not his error through ignorance then it is wicked deceite and so worse in calling it the faith of the Church of Rome as if originally it had flowed from thence and gone out thence into the world when Saint Paul mentioneth not any going forth of this Faith from thence but that it was spoken of which is to be vnderstood of their receiuing of it as it was receiued of other Nations as is euident in Rom. 1. 5 6. where Paul speakes of the Faith among all nations among whom saith he they were called So as those at Rome were partakers with others of the common faith preached in the world and not otherwise beholden to Rome for their faith as this Gagger would insinuate to his credulous Schollers This text therefore makes Rome no more the Catholicke Church then Corinth Philippi Tessalonica c. which had receiued the same faith though their receiuing of it was not perhaps so much spoken of for the reasons afore alleadged XVII Proposition That the Church of Rome hath euer beene in perfect vnity within it selfe Confuted by their owne Bible FOr euen in the Apostles dayes when Saint Paul wrote his Epistles there were in the Romane Church some which then made dissentions and scandals contrary to the doctrine which they had learned which serued not Christ our Lord but their owne bellies Rom. 16 17 18. as yet they now doe at Rome There were vncharitable contentions and iudging of one another about things in themselues indifferent about eating and not eating as also about superstitious obseruing of dayes Rom. 14. in and about which two things a great deale of their Religion consists to this day And if shee hath beene in such vnity alwaies within her selfe how is it happened that she is become the great Whore Reu. 17. and that her Head the Pope is become that Man of Sinne 2. Thes 2. and that Antichrist the beast like a Lambe which speaketh as the Dragon Reu. 13 Contraried by Antiquity I. There is no vnity betweene the Popes and Peter whom they make their Predecessor See for this Catal. Test verit pa. 27. 62 c. Saint Peters life and the Popes compared Saint Peters Doctrine in his Epistles and the Popes Decrees together II. Not betweene Pope and Pope Not in iudgement for Martin the fift held with the Councell of Constance and Eugenius the fourth with Ferrara and Florence against the
other concerning the Popes not erring and his Authority ouer Councels Not in authorizing the Latine Translation For Pope Sixtus 5. set out his Edition with his fullest power as not to bee amended yet comes Clement 8. with his corrected Edition in many hundred places afterwards Not in Decrees for Formosus his Decrees were disannulled by Stephanus and this Popes by another Not in affection as is euident by the so many and so long continued Schismes Onuphrius reckons vp aboue thirtie notorious schismes Not in life for though bad inough all of them after they became Popes especially from the time of Boniface yet some were Necromancers some Mortherers some Atheisticall contempers of the Gospell some bloudy Warriers how many of them filthy Fornicators and Adulterers it is not to be told III. Not betweene Pope and Councels for these haue deposed Popes As the Councell of Constance did Iohn the 22 that of Basil Eugenius the 4. that of Pisa Gregory 12 and Bennet the 13. IV. Not betweene Pope and his Cardinals For of them he hath put out the eyes of some and caused other to be thrattled and some of them haue opposed him in their Writings V. Not betweene the Pope and the learned in that Church such were beside many others Marsilius of Padua Dante 's Aleigerius Occham the Doctors of Paris the state and Diuines of Venice of late dayes in an opposition did not regard the Popes iudgement VI. Not betweene the parts of the Popes Lawes for the See Rainolds against Hart. pag. â— 33. Decrees and Decretals are often at odds VII Not betweene Councell and Councell for Constance and Basil were against Ferrara and Florence VIII Not betweene the Canonists and Glossaries for they iarre and are at difference one with another IX Not betweene the Schoolemen for among them are particular Sect-Masters whose Schollers are called after their names Thomists Scotists Albertists Occhamists opposing one another X. Not betweene the Friers for the Dominicans and Franciscans spent whole ages in Controuersies one holding one thing and another another opinion about the Conception of the Virgin Mary which bred other differences also XI Not betweene the Priests and the Iesuites let herein beare witnesse The Iesuits Catechisme The sparing Discourse and other bookes with all virulencie written one against another in the English tongue XII Not betweene the Learned of what sort soeuer for in their writings they crosse one another in many points of their Religion and namely in all those which maintaine the truth with vs against others of that Romish Faction as in many particulars is already before and afterwards shall be further shewed And farther for this let the Reader reade Pappus concerning the discord among Papists Doctor Hall Deane of Worcester his Booke called the Peace of Rome and Doctor White his Way pa. 154. 155. to 161. XIII Not betweene the Inquisitors for they differ in their iudgement about the purging of Bookes some allowing for orthodoxe that which other will not let passe for sound as may be seene in the Indices expurgatorij of Spaine Antwerpe and Rome varying one from another See for this Doctor Iames his Mysterie of the Indices expurgatorij pag. 15. XIV Not betweene the People for euen among them be differing opinions As Master Moulin in his Buckler of Faith sheweth from his owne experience pag. 279. and as wee may finde among Papists with vs when they are conferred withall apart one from another Gainsaid by their owne men From the Papists themselues may the discord of the Romish Church be noted from their owne Historians from such as haue written the Popes liues and from such as in their writings doe acknowledge the differences among them as Bellarmine himselfe doth confesse very many and so Nauarre For which reade Doctor Hals forenamed booke intituled The Peace of Rome in hundreds of differences Many Scriptures are alledged to proue that vnitie ought to be in the Church which we acknowledge and pray for But yet they proue not their Churches vnitie XVIII Proposition That Saint Peter was Prince of the Apostles and had a primacie of Power and Authoritie aboue all the other Apostles Confuted by their owne Bible 1. IT telleth vs how Iesus Christ reproued the contention which arose about their vaine conceit of Superioritie one aboue another This hee plainely condemned and as plainely told them that there should bee no such Superioritie among them as they did dreame of and therefore hee exhorted them to humilitie yea in such a sort as that hee keepeth him downe as the inferiour Minister and Seruant of the rest that would be greatest among them Mat. 20. 24 25 26 27. Mar. 10. 42 43 44. Luke 22. 24 25 26. 2. By their Bible wee are giuen to vnderstand that all the Apostles are euery way made equall in the like chusing and manner of calling Math. 4. 18. 21. In the like Commission giuen to all at once Mat. 28. 19 20. 10. 5. Mar. 16. the like power Mat. 10. 1. the same authoritie Ioh. 20. 21 23. the same benediction Luk. 24. 50 51. In breathing on them with one and the same breath his holy Spirit Ioh. 20. 22. In making them all Apostles in office the same and in title Luk. 6. 13. For the Apostles were the chiefest of all appointed in the Church Eph. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 12. 28. All therefore being Apostles they were equall for a higher dignity amongst them there was not They were all called foundations Reuel 21. 14. They were all installed into their Apostleship by one and the same meanes Act. 2 1 2 3 4. They were all ordained to one and the same end to bee with him to goe and preach Mar. 3. 14 15. 16. 15. to be witnesses of him to the vtmost parts of the Earth Act. 1. 8. and all of them at the length to sit and iudge the twelue Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. The Lord made no difference among them If any had been it may seeme to haue been in Iohn 1. For he with his brother was Christs neerest kinsman 2. He was called the Disciple whom Christ loued 3. Hee and his Brother were called Boanerges Mar. 3. 17. sonnes of thunder 4. He was euer one with Christ as in his transfiguration Math. 17. 1. and in other places Mat. 26. 37. Mar. 5. 37. 5. Hee was the onely Disciple after whom Peter made enquirie what he should doe and of whom a saying went abroad that he should not dye 6. He was the onely Disciple that went boldly in with Christ and when he was in the High Priests house hee brought in Peter 7. He was the onely Disciple that stood by Christ when he was vpon the Crosse 8. He was the onely Apostle to whom Christ committed his Mother to take care of her 9. Hee was the onely Apostle which Christ would haue to call his Mother Mother and she to hold him as her sonne 10. He with Matthew was the onely Apostle that did write a Gospell
Lo saith he how from those which he would haue esteemed the lesser he ascendeth to those whom he would haue esteemed the greater Answ 1. The mans wit went a grazing when he wrote this For if he so conclude from the order then Paul must be inferiour to Apollos when Paul was an Apostle and a Planter but Apollos no Apostle and onely a waterer 1. Cor. 3. 6. 2. In Mat. 10. 2. he would haue Peter the chiefe because hee was named first now here the chiefe because hee is named in a third place Saint Paul Gal. 2. 9. puts him in the second place betweene two and will not they hold him the chiefe for this too Doth not vertue consist in the midst for put him in the first place as in Mat. 10. in the third place as in 1. Cor. 3. 4 22. or in the second as in Gal. 2. 9. its with them a profound Reason to make him alwayes the chiefe for he may take what place he listeth Deepe Diuinitie and an inuincible Reason Though Saint Paul in Gal. 2. takes himselfe to be nothing inferiour to him or to other which seemed to bee Pillars and was inferiour to none of the great Apostles 1. Cor. 11. 5. 12. 11. vpon this Text Chrysostome shewes that S. Paul compared himselfe with the Apostles euen with Peter and the rest Luk. 22. 31. And the Lord said Simon c. When thou art conuerted strengthen thy Brethren Answ This place proueth not any Headship ouer the Apostles First hee is called Simon by his common name and not Peter which our Aduersaries stand vpon and make their chiefe argument Secondly this place is to forewarne him of his fearfull temptation and so of his fall thereby the vtter peril wherof he should escape not by himselfe or his owne power and grace but by Christs mediation What is this to haue a Headship Thirdly it teacheth him a duty when hee should be conuerted and be recouered from vnder the fall that hee should confirme others If by confirming the Gagger will hence conclude the practice and exercise of greatnesse ouer the Apostles then Saint Paul and Barnabas had this greatnesse too For they did confirme others Act. 14. 21. and Paul and Silas Act. 15. 41. 1. Thes 3. 2. yea it is a common Duty of euery Pastor Is euery one that confirmeth made thereby a Superiour in Rule and Gouernment Then a Priest confirming his Soueraigne is his Superiour And by this Saint Paul was Peters Superiour for he brought Peter backe from his by-path both by reproofe and publike teaching of the truth and so confirmed him who for feare did before goe astray Gal. 2. 11 17. Fourthly the Lord Iesus if they will here vnderstand the Apostles calleth them Simons Brethren and so giueth them equalitie Lastly where are the Gaggers expresse words for Peters Headship out of this place Is it in strengthening A poore strength to support such a Babylonish Tower Luk. 22. 26. He that is greatest among you let him be yonger and he that is Chiefe as he that doth serue Answ 1. The words in the beginning of this verse are against Chiefety for it is said It shall not be so with you when they were at strife for Superioritie Secondly the meaning of the Greatest and Chiefe on which the Gagger doth fasten his teeth doth not imply as hee pretendeth any Chiefety among them but Christ speaketh according to their aspiring minds not of them as any of them were but as some of them desired to be as is cleare by the speech and Petition of the Mother of Zebedees children Mat. 20. 20 27. Thirdly the occasion and the very scope of the place is against all Superioritie in the Apostles Fourthly it cannot be shewed that any of them all did either claime or practise any superioritie or taught in their writings any such thing Fiftly they did striue verse 24. for superioritie which of them should seeme the greater As yet therefore there was no such greatnesse settled among them 6. If any such thing had beene or had beene intended by Christ to be conferred vpon Peter he had vpon this iust occasion to haue decided the Controuersie as surely he would haue done in Peters behalfe in a matter of so great consequence as our Aduersaries make it as he did in the behalfe of Moses and Aaron to appease the contention against them Num. 16. 17. 10. But Christ telleth them all that no such thing should be among them in this text and giueth the rest authoritie to pull downe the spirit of him that would seeke to be Chiefe to make him as a Seruant as is euident in the words of the text Therefore here is nothing for any authoritie in Peter Nor indeed in any other Scripture XIX Proposition That S. Peter was Head of the Church THough the former Position ouerthrowne sufficiently confuteth this for if Peter be not Superiour ouer the Apostles who were the principall members of the Church he cannot be the Head of the Church yet seeing this Headship ouer the Church is so stiffely stood in I thought good to handle it also distinctly from the rest for more euidence of the truth to common Christians Confuted by their owne Bible I. By appropriation it giueth the title of Head of the Church onely to Christ Ephes 1. 22. 4. 15. 5. 23. Col. 1. 18. And no where doth it make a man the Head of the Church neither Peter nor any other either expressely or by any necessarie consequent II. It calleth the Church the bodie of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 27. Ephes 4. 12. 6. 23. No where is it called the body of S. Peter III. It telleth vs that Saint Peter himselfe giueth to Christ Headship Principalitie and Chieftie and to none other for he calleth him the Prince of Pastors 1. Pet. 5. 4. the Pastor and Bishop of our soules 1. Pet. 2. 25. as he is also called the high Priest of our confession Heb. 3. 1. IV. The Apostles did not know or acknowledge any such Primacy or Headship in Peter For first they sent Peter and Iohn to Samaria Act. 8. 14. which they neither would nor could haue done had he been their Gouernour and Head indeed Secondly Iames in the Councell at Ierusalem tooke no notice of Peters supremacy for Iames did then call him Simon his name before he was an Apostle without any title of preeminencie Acts 15. 14. Hee also said I iudge which word Peter there vsed not vers 19. to whose sentence and iudgement Peter and all the Apostles and Ancients did subscribe vers 22. Thirdly none of the other Apostles then did acknowledge any Headship in Peter for the Decree of the Councell went out vnder the conioynt authoritie of all without speciall mentioning of Peter Act. 15. 23. and 16. 4. Fourthly Saint Paul knew of no such Chieftie in Peter for first when he doth mention any word tending to set out any greatnesse in the Apostles hee applyeth it not singularly as to
one but plurally as to moe Thus 2. Cor. 11. 5. he speakes of great Apostles 2. Cor. 12. 11. of such as were aboue measure Apostles so Rhemists doe translate but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we the chiefe Apostles and Gal. 2. 9. of such as seemed to bee Pillars and namely them Againe these Apostles so great the Chiefe the Pillars among whom was Peter hee doth equall himselfe saying that hee was nothing lesse nor had done nothing lesse then they 2. Cor. 12. 11. and 11. 5. neither added they any thing to him Gal. 2. 6. As touching Peter more particularly Saint Paul resisted him in his face before all Gal. 2. 11 14. did share with him fully in Commission for as Peter was the Apostle of the Circumcision so was Paul of the prepâ—ce or Vncircumcision vers 7. and did compare with him in the effectuall worke of the Ministery vers 8. All which he would not haue done had Peter been the Head of the Church for it had been arrogancy in him Moreouer when he named some of the Apostles as Pillars he mentioneth Iames and giueth him the first place before Peter belike forgetting Peters Headship Lastly when Saint Paul had fit occasion offered to speake if euer of Saint Peters Headship 1. Cor. 1. 12. when some held of Paul himselfe some of Apollor some of Cephas he speaketh not one word thereof as not knowing nor acknowledging any such primacy in Peter for had he knowne it at all much more to haue been such an essentiall point of Religion as Papists make it he would vndoubtedly haue taught it But neither hee not any other Apostle loue go of any such high point as the Papists since haue forged to gull the World withall V. None of the foure Euangelists nor Saint Luke when hee wrote the Acts knew of any such dignitie for they neuer write of him as the Head of the Church They name him but as they doe the rest calling him Simon or Simon Beter without any title of eminency aboue other VI. The Church in the Apostles dayes know not of any such honour to belong vnto him for some did call him to an account of his doings Act. 11. 2 3. neither did they yeeld him any such principalitie The Corinthians of whom some equalled Paul and others Apollâ—s with him had not yet learned this note aboue Ela. VII And lastly it is also cleare by their owne Bible that Peter himselfe knew of to Much supreme authoritie for first he went at the other Apostles sending of him Act. 8. 14. Secondly he gaue to the Church an account of his proceeding when they found fault with him Act. 11. 2 3. Thirdly he gaue to Saint Paul the right hand of sooretie or fellowship Gal. 2. 9. Fourthly being openly rebuked he submitted thereto vers 11. Fifthly he was not so much as President of the Councell at Ierusalem Act. 15. Sixthly he neuer vndertooke matters of the Church of his owne head or by his sole authoritie In teaching the necessitie of electing another Apostle not he but they to wit the men then assembled appointed two vpoÌ„ whom the lots were to be cast Act. 1. 23. In ordaining Deacons the twelue Apostles gaue their aduice together and imposed their hands vpoÌ„ them Act. 6. 2 6. No speciall mention of Peter aboue before or alone from the rest Seuenthly he in his Epistles stileth himselfe by the title of an Apostle 1. Pet. 1. 1. and no higher Neither doth he in either of his Epistles expresse any signe or token of any other authority but rather the cleane contrary first by equalling himselfe to others his inferiours calling himselfe a fellow-Elder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 5. 1. yet neuer the Seruant of Seruants the stile of cursed Cham fit for the Pope By forbidding others to Lord it ouer Gods heritage 1. Pet. 5. 3. By appropriating to Christ the title of Prince of Pastors vers 4. which now they that pretend to be Saint Peters heytes shame not to arrogate to themselues So farre is he from dreaming of an vniuersall Headship And lastly we find not that hee euer vsed this authoritie of Headship which if it had been laid vpon him by Christ he ought to haue done yea and he would haue exercised it For what Christ imposed vpon him hee performed As to preach the Gospell Mark 16. 16. to doe the office of an Apostle Luk. 6. 13. to worke Miracles Matth. 10. to be a witnesse of Christ Act. 1. 8. These and other such offices he performed and the other hee would haue done had any such dignitie been bestowed vpon him Contraried by Antiquitie For as before is shewed Cyprian Ierome Origen Ambrose Augustine and also Chrysostome in Matth. and in Gal. 2. make On Mat. 16. tract 1. all the Apostles like equall with Peter Austin de verbis Dom. ser 13. maketh Christ the Rocke and not Peter but Peter to be established vpon the Rocke in Concion ad Catechum ca. 12. in his retractions li. 1. ca. 21. Hilary de Trinit l. 2. makes Christ the Rocke confessed by Peter Ierome in Lucam ca. 16. telleth vs that the Rocke was Christ The Fathers iudgement concerning the Keyes giuen to all the Apostles is set downe before Sea more Austin de doct li. 1. ca. 18. Firmilian epist 75. inter epist Cyprian Chrysost in Act. ca. 1. in Galat. ca 1. And touching the exhortation of Christ to Peter to feed his Lambes Cyprian de vnitate Ecclesiae saith The Flock of Christ was but one which all the Apostles fed with one consent August de pastoribus They were many Apostles and yet it is said to one Feed my Lambes because all good Pastors are one and in one they feed Christ feedeth Also de agone Christiano ca. 30. When Christ saith to Peter Louest thou me Feed my sheepe he saith the same to all Cyril speaking of the place in Iohn Chap. 21. 17. telleth vs that Christs thrice asking Louest thou me was to draw so many answers from him according to his thrice denying of him and the charge to feed his Lambes was the renewing vnto him the dignitie of Apostleship hee saith not Headship for that by his deniall it might haue been thought he had weakened it As for the name of Head of the Church which of the Fathers giueth it to Peter A title too high for man which is proper onely to Iesus Christ Gainesaid by Popes and others their owne men Eutychianus Bishop of Rome in Epist There is but one immoueable Foundation one happy Rocke of Faith confirmed by Peters mouth Thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God The Interlineall Glosse vpon the Rocke that is to say vpon Christ in whom Peter beleeueth The Common Glosse Thou art Peter but thou art so of me who am the Rocke Lyra Haymo Hugo Cardinalis Cardinal de Aliaco and Ferus on this place of Matthew say that Christ is the Rocke Concerning the Keyes Anselmus on Matth. 16. saith
This power was not giuen alone to Peter but as Peter answered one for all so in Peter he gaue his power to all Pope Leo 1. ser 3. in Aniuers die assump suae ad pontificatum This power of the Keyes passed ouer to all the Apostles Gratian Decrees D. 21. in nouo 24. q. 2. loquitur Saint Peter receiued no more power then the rest of the Apostles Gerson de potest Ecclesiae consid 11. The Keyes were not giuen to one but to vnitie Councell of Basil The Keyes were giuen to the Church and not to Peter Hincmar Archbishop of Rhemes wrote a Booke hereof vnder Charles against another Hincmar Episcopum Laudunensem yea Canonists and those of the chiefest in cap. 1. de renunciat lib. 6. say that the power of binding and loosing in which is found all iurisdiction of the Church proceedeth immediately from Christ and not mediately from Saint Peter Touching Peters Office of feeding Cusanus Concord lib. 2. c. 13. vpon the place of Iohn 21. 15 16 17. as also of Christs charge to goe into all the world and preach saith There is found nothing said to Peter that importeth any power Marsilius Defens Pacis part 2. cap. 28. saith That Christ spake to al the Apostles in Peters person which manner of speaking Christ testifieth himselfe to haue vsed in that hee saith What I say to one I say to all Gregorie lib. 4. Epist 32. denyeth Peter to bee called vniuersall Bishop And it is well knowne how he opposed that title as very Antichristian lib. 4. Epist 34. But if hee had knowne that to Peter the whole Church had beene principally committed that hee had beene the Prince of the Apostles and Pastor of Pastors he would haue allowed of that title as iust and lawfull and not haue condemned it as Antichristian Scriptures obiected answered Mat. 16. 18. Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church and the gates of Hell c. Answ Here is no expresse word of Headship neither doth this Text by consequence proue it For although Christ speakes to Peter yet he speakes not of Peters person I. The words are a promise touching the Churches safety and nothing of Peters Supremacie II. It speakes of a Rocke on which the Church is builded Now the words are a Metaphor as Bellarmine granteth But a Lib. 1. de PP Rom. cap. 11. Metaphor is to be interpreted according to the nature of the thing of which it is spoken as here of a Rocke as of a foundation which is to vphold that which is built vpon it and not to rule ouer that which is builded thereupon So that from the name of Rocke cannot be concluded Headship and Rule for it is not proper to a foundation in that respect to rule but to support and beare vp III. If Christ here either gaue or promised to giue to Peter the Headship and that before all the rest of his Disciples Why did then afterward Iames and Iohn Mar. 10. 35. and their Mother Math. 20. 2. seeke for the chiefest places aboue the rest Yea and why did the Apostles afterwards striue which of them should be the greatest Luk. 22. 24 And why had not Christ plainely decided this for Peter then and told them of this his speech and meaning in this place towards Peter If Christ had heere intended it surely there he had not forbidden Soueraignty but vpon so sit occasion offered had stablished Headship vpon Peter It is cleare therefore that Christ here meant no such thing IV. If by Rocke be concluded Headship not to vrge the Metaphor against it yet Peter is neuer the nearer his Headship for he is not the Rocke 1. The name Peter giueth it him not For first there Christ names him for more vehement affirming of that which hee The like speech Gen. 41. 44. would vtter for the Churches comfort As if he had said As verily as thou art Peter and so to be called Ioh. 1. 42. Mar. 3. 16. so certainly will I build my Church firmely vpon the Rocke which thou hast made confession of that Hell gates shall not preuaile against it So that Christ cals him not Peter because he should be the Rocke but that vpon the remembrance of his name he might thinke vpon the Churches safe stabilitie as vpon a Rocke against all the powers of darknesse 2. Petros is the interpretation of Cephas Ioh. 1. 42. and therfore he being by Christ who spake Syriak called Cephas as he is sometime so named by S. Paul 1. Cor. 1. 15. most commonly he was called Peter not alluding to Peter in this place of Matthew but for that Cephas was Syriak and Petros Greeke and so was he named Peter because of the generalitie of the Greeke tongue rather then Cephas 3. Petros signifieth in Greeke generally a stone and not a Rocke of foundation And therefore though hee be called Peter yet is he not therefore the Rocke but a Stone in the Lords building a precious stone For the twelue Apostles are twelue foundations Reu. 21. 14. and euery foundation is a precious stone verse 19. 20. And if Peter bee reckoned the first in order he is there a lasper A stone he is and so are all the other Apostles fundamentall stones and likewise are the elect stones too 1. Pet. 2. 5. though not such stones But the chiefe corner stone is Christ 1. Pet. 2. 6. and here in Mathew is hee the Rocke and not Peter Petros is a stone Now the Church is here built on a Rocke not on a stone except on the Corner-stoue and on the twelue precious Stones but not on one stone but vpon one Rocke 4. If Christ by calling him Petros had meant him to be Petra then had Petros bin an appellatiue the same with Rock and not a proper name as here it is vsed For no Demonstratiue goeth before it But if Christ had said Thou art that Petros and vpon that Rock will I build my Church and so made the word appellatiue this Text had been somewhat to the purpose but here is no such Demonstratiue Petros being a proper name 5. He cannot be the Rocke because that Christ cals him Peter for he was Peter before Mar. 3. 16. and is now Peter when Christ called him so for he saith Thou art Peter He was not now at this time the Rocke as Bellarmine doth confesse Lib. 1. cap. 10. 〈◊〉 Rom. PP Therefore it is not his name that makes him the Rocke because here hee is Peter but yet not the Rocke by Bellarmines grant II. These words vpon this Rocke will not make Peter the Rocke 1. The Scripture no where makes man the Rocke of Gods Church Dauid called God his Rocke 2. Sam. 22. 2 32. Psal 18. 2. Saint Paul saith Christ is the Rocke 1. Cor. 10. 4. 2. The word Peter and Rocke in the Originall yea and in their Translation are distinguished in gender and termination yea and in signification as before is noted and the one
a Noune appellatiue and the other a proper name 3. The present alteration of the speech from Peters person to some other thing will not admit him to be the Rocke For it is not said as it in plainenesse of speech should be if indeed the Rocke had been Peter Thou art Peter and vpon thee will I build my Church but Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke c. Where the Pronoune this hath Relation to some other thing then to Peter euen to his confession that Iesus was Christ the Sonne of the liuing God vpon which Rocke Christ would build his Church For no where the Scriptures thus vary in a Relatiue if the intendment of the speech be to one and the same person neither doe any thus vse to speake nor may wee thinke that Iesus Christ would haue thus doubtfully spoken if he had purposed to haue had Peter held to be the Rocke III. The words following I will build my Church remoueth Peter from being the Rocke First Church here is to be vnderstood the whole Church militant and Triumphant How can Peter be the Rocke on which it is built Could he be the Rocke of the Church Triumphant when he was here militant Or can he be the Rocke now of the Militant and he a Saint in Heauen Triumphant Or how the Rocke of both then and now as hee that is the Rocke must be For on the Rocke is the Church built not a part of it but the whole and not for a time but euen for euer For will all or any part of the Church once built vpon the Rocke bee remoued off from the Rocke Or will the Rocke cease to bee the bearer vp of the Church Then either is Peter now the Rocke or he neuer was the Rocke at all But how can he now be whose bodie is turned to dust Can his Soule be the Rocke As for a Rocke by succession it is but a fantasie Christ speakes of an euerlasting sustaining Rocke and but of one Rocke and not of one Rocke after another dying and decaying Secondly the Church and this Rocke are two things for Christ saith he will build his Church vpon this Rocke Now Peter was one in and of the Church here a principall member militant and now a Saint triumphant He must therefore bee one built with the Church vpon the Rocke he cannot therefore himselfe be the Rocke for so himselfe should be built vpon himselfe Thirdly Christ speakes of his Church and saith my Church Had he no Church but that which was built vpon Peter Had not he at this very time when he spake these words a Church Was Zachary and Elizabeth Iohn Baptist Ioseph and Mary Simeon and Annah the other Apostles the 70. Disciples and many others following him not of his Church If they were were they built on Peter Did they know Peter to be the Rock Or were they of the Church not built as yet vpon the Rock For as yet Peter was not the Rocke by Bellarmines confession Fourthly Christ here made himselfe a Builder I will build saith he my Church He built while he did liue by his Word and Spirit But did his Word and Spirit gather any to Peter Did his Word and Spirit build his followers vpon Peter Christ built his Church by his Apostles for they are said to build and Paul speaketh of himselfe as of a wise Master-builder 1. Cor. 3. 10. But vpon what did they build Euen vpon Christ alone 1. Cor. 3. 11. Ephes 2. 20. in whom all the building is knit together verse 21. They built not vpon Peter nor he on himselfe but vpon Christ 1. Pet. 2. 4 5 6. Did any of the Apostles preach Peter Paul saith he preached not men but God Gal. 1. 10. Or did Peter preach himselfe to be the Rocke If he was the Rocke why did they not preach him If they did not who can beleeue it Fiftly if Peter now was made the Rock and Head as Aquinas Turrecremata and many other Papists auerre though Bellarmine saith it was but here promised how came this Rocke by and by after in Mathew to be called Satan Mat. 16. 23 Is it like that Christ would call the Rock on which he will so firmely build his Church Satan Lastly if it were granted that Christ built his Church on Peter yet is it not spoken exclusiuely as on him alone secluding the rest of the Apostles for elsewhere he conioynes them with him Ioh. 23. 23. Ephes 20. 20. Reu. 21. 14. Mat. 28. 19. IV. These words and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it will ouerthrow Peters being the Rocke For this Rock beareth vp so powerfully the Church that Hell gates shall not preuaile against it Whence followeth that this Rocke must needs be stronger then Satans power and policies But what power can that be but the power of Christ and of God For who but God can resist Hell gates Therefore from all the words of this Text it is cleare that Peter cannot by it bee the Head of the Church nor the Rocke on which it is built and yet this place is one of the chiefest for his Headship The words in the next verse 19. I will giue thee the Keyes are answered before Ioh. 21. 15 17. Iesus said to Simon Peter Simon sonne of Ionas louest thou me more then these Feed my Lambes Answ 1. Here are no expresse words of Headship neither can any such thing be concluded out of this place by any well framed argument and yet this is the very principall place which they alledge to vphold it Secondly Christ here calleth him not Peter for that name is vttered by the Euangelist but onely Simon the sonne of Ionas as thereby preuenting the conceit of Headship which our Aduersaries dreame of from the name of Peter Which our Sauiour here mentioneth not nor the name Cephas because of his fearfull deniall of him so lately as now therefore vnworthy of that name Thirdly he is here questioned concerning his loue which he so much boasted of before Christs taking and soone after seemed to haue lost by forswearing Christ And three times hee is asked to remember him of his three times deniall of Christ it being now also the third time of Christs appearing to them verse 14. Also the question is with a comparison Louest thou me more then these What if hee meant it of the 153. great Fishes with the Ship Nets and other things therein for he leaped into the Sea hearing of Christ and cast off all respect to the ship and Fishes verse 7. till Christ willed them to bring of the fishes ver 10. 11. And therefore might Christ demand thereupon this question neither is any thing in the Text against this For Christ was by the fishes and the question was after dinner But conceiue it of the rest of the Apostles as it is commonly vnderstood for Peter had preferred his owne loue before all of them before Mat. 26. 33. Luk. 22. 23. Which here Christ by
thus propounding the question remembers him of as a check to his former conceitednesse seeing his loue appeared lesse then theirs Christ here questions Peters loue hee here in a sort checks his former boasting What of all this Ergo hee is the Head of the Church and Prince of Pastors Logically concluded Fourthly Peters answer was now affirmatiue concerning his loue simply He durst not boast now comparatiuely as before Neither did he answer to the comparison but appealed to Christs knowledge of his loue towards him And therefore at the other two times Christ leaueth out the comparison Which shewes that Peter knew his former folly and now discerned no superioritie of loue in himselfe aboue the rest neither that Christ purposed to commend it aboue the loue of the other and so to preferie him aboue them but to make Peter more humble and better to know himselfe as the whole carriage of the businesse sheweth Fiftly the words Feede my Lambes will not afford Peter any Headship I. In generall this charge was as to re-install him againe into his Apostleship that it might not bee doubted of and that by a threefold command First because of a threefold deniall of Christ by which hee had deserued to lose his Apostleship And secondly for that Christ would haue him very diligently carefull in performing the charge of feeding being thus mercifully admitted into the grace of the Apostleship againe but not aduanced into any higher dignitie and command ouer other Apostles Againe this charge followeth not as a reward of his loue which had formerly so failed but as a true declaration of his loue now againe professed towards Christ For what great expression of loue had it been to Christ for Peter to haue accepted of a Supremacie aboue all the rest which before they had foolishly contended for Luk. 22. 24. II. The word feede maketh not heere for any Headship For first it was a duty of his Office already receiued for an Apostle to feed and not an imposing of a new Dignitie Secondly it is a common charge to all the Apostles Mat. 28. 19. Mar. 16. 15. Yea to other Bishops and Elders Act. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. Thirdly the words in the Greeke which Christ vseth here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are vsed to expresse such feeding as is required of ordinarie Teachers as the former quoted places shew and doe not here imply any supreme Authoritie or extraordinarie kinde of feeding from other of the Apostles Fourthly the word in our English to feede and the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 words are taken from such as feed beasts of the earth The one is vsed for such as keepe Swine Mat. 8. 34. Mar. 5. 14. but this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Aduersaries make no vse of to pearke vp Peters regencie And yet Christ in the Euangelists language vseth this word twice in the first question and in the last verses 15. 17. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other word but once perhaps because of such as are fed that is outwardly called there will bee two Swine or Goats for one true Sheepe This last word is taken from Shepheards feeding their flockes as the word here applyed to Lambes doth shew So in 1. Cor. 9. 7. 1. Pet. 5. 2. This they take great hold on to helpe forward their conceit Because this word is applyed not onely to Teachers as in this place and in Act. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. and the word Pastor also taken from Shepheards applyed to Teachers Mat. 9. 36. and 26. 31. but the same is spoken also of Kings Math. 2. 6. Reuel 19. 15. So it is to teach and to beare rule ouer others Therefore they will hence conclude that Peter had heere a Princely Supremacie bestowed vpon him But first the word which is vsed twice both before and after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth limit the signification of this which is but once vsed Secondly a word of double signification is to be vnderstood according to the subiect matter spoken of and that signification taken which is fittest to the thing in hand As this word here translated feede spoken of a King is to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gouerne and rule as a King and not to teach as a Pastor But being spoken of a spirituall Pastor as here it is it cannot bee so meant of ruling as a King but is to be vnderstood of feeding as a spirituall Pastor by Doctrine and life and not of ruling Or if of ruling too yet it is but of such a rule as befitteth a Pastor and not of the Rule which is in a King For our Aduersaries can no more conclude from the double signification of the word that Peter is to teach as an Apostle and Bishop and to rula also as a King the Church then it may bee concluded of a King that he is not onely to rule as a King but also to teach the Church as a Bishop This they will not allow to Kings whom they hold Lay-men and yet the Argument from the double signification is as good for the one as for the other Thirdly our Sauiour Christ tooke on himselfe no such Rule as they would giue vnto Peter to lay it vpon their proud Pope Though the name of Gouernour be giuen to Christ as of rule and power also Mat. 2. 6. and 28. 18. yet he would not be made a King Ioh. 6. 15. though he was a King Ioh. 1. 49. nor would meddle in diuiding the inheritance Luk. 12. nor allow Soueraignty in his Disciples Luke 22. 24 25 26. Must here then a word of double signification bee written aduantageously to lift vp Peter to a new Dignity which Christ neuer allowed of in them nor euer tooke vpon himselfe as the Pope doth As his Father sent him Iohn 20. so sent he not Peter onely but them that is all the rest of the Apostles But that was not to beare rule ouer Nations in outward State as the Pope doth as much as hee can but to teach and preach to all the world this did Christ And his seruants may not thinke to be aboue their Master or to be sent from him otherwise then his Father sent him Fourthly Saint Peter who exhorteth the Elders to feede vseth the same word in 1. Pet. 5. 2. that is here in this Text and yet by and by forbids them to be Lords ouer Gods Heritage If this word had noted any such soueraignty hee would not haue giuen it to Inferiours nor haue immediately forbidden Dominion thereupon if there had beene any such Rule included for that had beene to giue and by and by to take away againe Fiftly the word and Title of Pastor whence the other word 〈◊〉 to feede commeth is the fourth degree vnder an Apostle for Apostles Prophets and Euangelists are before Pastors Now a Pastor or Bishop or Elder is to feede Acts 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. Therefore here is not imposed a Superioritie vpon Peter but a
Vicar of Christ they could not be Vicars too and by these mens testimonie they being Vicars he was not Christs onely Vicar Now then I conclude that if Peter was not the Prince of the Apostles nor the Head of the Church nor Christs onely generall Vicar here on earth then the Pope cannot possibly bee any of these For he claimeth all from Peter as being his onely successor Therefore Peter neuer hauing these from Christ as is fully proued the Pope cannot haue them But if it could be proued that Peter had all these which yet is most false what were that to the Pope by what right could hee claime them when al the Papists in the world are not able by vndeniable arguments to proue 1. That Peter was euer after he was Christs See my Booke The fabulous foundation of the Popedome Disciple personally at Rome 2. That albeit hee had beene at Rome therefore already being an Apostle hee was the Bishop of Rome an inferiour Dignitie 3. That whatsoeuer was giuen to Peter the same was also giuen to the Pope successiuely to the worlds end 4. That the Pope is truely Peters successor both in Doctrine and life 5. That these last Popes for many hundred yeeres are one and the same with the Bishops of Rome in the first three hundred of yeeres for Doctrine and conuersation following Peter therein Till these be proued soundly though Peter had been that which they striue to make him yet is the Pope neuer the better but a proud and an arrogant vsurper of Titles and Authoritie not due to him XXI Proposition That the Publike seruice of the Church ought not to be in a vulgar and knowne Tongue Confuted by their owne Bible 1. Cor. 14. 9. So thou also by a tongue vnlesse thou vtter a manifest Speech how shall that be knowne which is said for thou shalt but speake in the Aire This is a plaine condemning of speaking in a tongue not manifest not vnderstood of the Hearers 2. Cor. 1. 13. We write no other things to you then that you haue read and know They then knew what they read whether priuate or publike Ephes 3. 4. According as thou reading maist vnderstand Reading the Scriptures is a part of the publique Liturgie or seruice 1. Thes 5. 27. I adiure you by the Lord that this Epistle bee read to all the holy Brethren If it had beene in an vnknowne Tongue it had beene in vaine to haue beene read vnto all the brethren and it had been to no purpose thus to adiure them Act. 1. 14. All these were perseuering in one minde in Prayer and with one accord Act. 4. 24. This was Publike Prayer But if they vnderstood not what was prayed how could they bee of one minde and accord S. Paul willeth vs to pray and sing with vnderstanding 1. Cor. 14. 15. and saith plainely that if men blesse that is pray in an vnknowne tongue the vulgar cannot say Amen And hee giueth this Reason because hee knoweth not what thou sayest neither is edified verse 16 17. In their Bible mention is made First of Prayer in the Congregation Act. 12. 12. 4. 24. 13. 3. 16. 13 16. 20. 36. and 21. 5. Secondly of reading the Scriptures Coloss 4. 16. The parts of the publike Seruice of the Church in the Apostles daies 1. Thess 5. 27. Thirdly of preaching Act. 9. 20. 20. 7. Fourthly of singing Math. 26. 30. 1. Cor. 14. Fiftly of administring the holy Sacraments of Baptisme Act. 10. and of the Lords Supper 1. Cor. 10. 11. Let our Aduersaries shew if they be able that these parts of the publike seruice were done in an vnknowne tongue Contraried by Antiquitie Origen cont Cels l. 8. Let euery man make his prayer to God in his natiue Mother tongue Austin Tract in Iohan. 21. Why are these things spoken in the See more in l. 4. â— 10. de doct Christ lib. â—4 c. 16. de Trunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 18. â— 4â— Church but to be knowne Why are they pronounced but to bee heard And why are they heard but to be vnderstood And on Gen. l. 12. cap. 8. Noman saith hee is edified by hearing that which he vnderstands not Ambr. in cap. 14. 1. Epist ad Cor. If we come together saith he to edifie the Church those things ought to be spoken which the hearers vnderstand Chrysostom hom 35. in 1. Cor. Hee that speakes in an vnknowne tongue is not onely vnprofitable and a Barbarian to others but euen to himselfe if he vnderstand not In Hom. 18. on 2. Cor. Hee telleth vs that the Priests and the people say the same common prayers and all doe say one thing S. Basil Epist 63. telleth how that in his time when they met together they vsed a knowne language In the purest Churches for the space of eight hundred yeeres Diuine Seruice was neuer performed in an vnknowne tongue And if it were at any time in a tongue not the Mother tongue yet was not that tongue a strange language but such as the hearers vnderstood See for this point Master Perkins Probleme If any desire any more of this let him reade Doctor Fulk on Rhem. Testament 1. Cor. 14. Doctor White his last Book of this point pag. 369. who eiteth Origen Iustin Martyr Tertul. Clemens Alexand. Cyprian Basil Chrysostome Ambrose and Augustine with their owne words against this absurd practice of Papists See also pag. 375. in the Margin 380. Gainesaid by themselues Aeneas Syluius who after was Pope in hist Bohem. cap. 13. faith that when sute was made that the Slauonians newly conuerted to the faith might haue their Church-seruice in their Mother Tongue and there being some stay about it at Rome a voice was heard from Heauen saying That euery spirit should praise the Lord and euery tongue should confesse vnto him So the controuersie is determined by an immediate voice from heauen The Lateran Councell vnder Innocent the third chap. 9. decreed by reason of mingled Nations of diuers tongues in one Citie that meet men should bee prouided to celebrate Diuine seruice and to administer the Sacraments according to the diuersitie of their Rites and languages Lyra on 1. Cor. 14. saith that if the people vnderstood the prayers of the Priest they were better brought vnto God and so answere Amen more deuoutly And Caietan on the same saith it were better for the Churches edification that prayers should bee said in the Mother tongue Many learned Papists as Lyra Thomas Aquinas this Caietan on this 1. Cor. 14. and Erasmus in Declarat ad Cens pag. 153. confesse that in the Primitiue Church and long after the Prayers and Seruice were done in the Mother Tongue See D. Whites last booke pag. 356. mentioning Armenians Abissines Indians Russians Egyptians proued by Papists themselues And Cassander Liturg. cap. 28. sheweth that diuers Nations to this day retaine the ancient custome still Thus we see their owne Bible the ancient Fathers their owne
Councels and learned men are against this absurd and vnreasonable custome of hauing Seruice in an vnknowne tongue God gaue diuersitie of tongues to his Apostles and they spake in them all Act. 2. and the hearers heard them speake to them therein What letteth but that in praying reading singing and administring of the Sacraments we should vse euery tongue according to euery Nation seeing euery Language was giuen by the Holy Ghost to publish the Gospell therein Scriptures obiected answered Luke 1. 8. Zachary burnt incense within and the whole multitude was praying without at the time of the incense Answ 1. Here is not a word of the Priests speaking in any language at all to the People neither was he heere to say any seruice but to burne incense Secondly if he had said Seruice the People could not heare him For he was in the Temple they a great way off in the out-Court Leu. 16. 17. What is this to Latine Seruice Or saying it in any language except they hence will conclude that because the Priest said nothing and the People could not heare him that now the Priest may speake in what language either he will or can speake when none is neere him but all farre inough from hearing what hee saith And then who shall helpe the poore man to say his Masse Is this their authoritie for their Latine Seruice Shame light on such as so abuse Scripture to keepe poore people in ignorance Nehem. 8. 8. Here would they proue that the Scriptures were read in an vnknowne Tongue to the People that is in the Hebrew Tongue which the People now after seuenty yeeres captiuitie vnderstood not Answ 1. It is vntrue that the people assembled were ignorant of the Hebrew tongue For most of the Congregation were such as were before carried captiue and were now returned from thence Esd 2. 1 42 65. and 3. 12. who had not lost their language Nehem. 13. 24. As for that where it is said they made the People vnderstand the reading it is not meant of the language and words but of the sense and meaning thereof Secondly grant that now they had forgotten the language and had now the Scriptures in no other tongue will it follow that what they had of necessitie the Church now needs must bee inforced to when there is no cause Thirdly this Language was the holy Tongue in which the Scriptures were written and once their owne Mother tongue must therefore a strange tongue and wherein the Pen-men of Scripture neuer wrote be thrust vpon all Nations as the only tongue to say Seruice in Fourthly as yet the Holy Ghost had not sanctified all languages as hee did in comming downe vpon the Apostles after Christs Ascension Act. 2. but now hee hath And therefore in euery tongue hee is to bee preached prayed vnto and praifed See before how to answere this place in the end of the fift Proposition XXII Proposition That Images are to be in Churches and that not onely for instruction but also to be adored Confuted by their owne Bible 1. IT doth forbid them Deut. 4. 23. where is forbidden the making of a grauen similitude which Moses saith is a forgetting of the Couenant And in verse 15. hee saith You saw no similitude in that day And a reason is giuen Lest perhaps deceiued you might make you a grauen similitude or Image Here the drawing of any similitude of God is vtterly condemned So in Rom. 1. 23. Exod. 20. 4. Thou shalt not make to thee a grauen thing nor any similitude c. thou shalt not adore them nor serue them Here is not onely a grauen thing but any similitude forbidden without any restriction or exception at all and also the adoration of them And a reason is in Esay 42. 8. I will not giue my glory to another nor my praise to grauen things neither can God be likened to any thing or an Image be made of him Esay 14. 18. 46. 5. Act. 17. 29. Wisd 14. 17. This commandement condemneth in matter of Religion the making of our owne heads a grauen thing and any likenesse not onely of things which be not which they say are Idols representations of things which are not false Similitudes but a grauen thing and similitude of any thing which is in heauen which is in earth and of things which are in the waters to adore and serue them Leu. 26. 1. Secondly their Bible layeth folly to their charge and affirmeth that such are vaine in their cogitations and their fablish heart darkened who make God in similitude of a man Rom. 1. 21 22 23. This hath God fearefully punished and that with a spirituall plague Rom. 1. 26. Hee is pronounced accursed that makes a grauen and molten thing an abomination to our Lord the worke of the hands of Artificers and puts it in secret how much more openly to worship it and all the people are to say Amen Let them be confounded saith the Psalmist that adore sculptils Psal 96. 7. The Iewes to this day hate Images which shewes that they were taught by the Law to hate them Thirdly by their Bible we learne that this was an Heathenish practice The Heathen inuented this making of Images of the dead Wisd 14. 15. They decked them lighted Candles before them offered to them Baruch 6. and worshipped them Wisd 14. 17 18. and their Priests were shauen and beguiled the people Baruch 6. as the shauen Priests of Rome doe Fourthly their owne Bible telleth that no good commeth thereof but euill Hab. 2. 18 19. What profiteth the thing engrauen that the forger thereof hath grauen it a molten and a false Image What canit teach Hee telleth vs that an Image cannot teach The Doctrine of their vanity is wood saith Ieremie chap. 10. 8. and euery Craftsman confounded in his sculptill because it is false which hee hath melted and there is no spirit in them They are vaine things and a worke worthy to be laughed at verse 14. 15. It is changing the verity of God into lying Rom. 1. 25. For the shadow of a Picture is a labour without fruit the louers of euill are worthy to haue their hopes in such things both they that make them and that loue and that worship them saith the Author of the Booke of Wisedome ca. 15. 4 6. Fiftly by their Bible wee learne that men worshipping the worke of their owne hands they doe worship idols Diuels 1. Therein we finde Heathen idols Diuels 1. Cor. 10. 20. representations of false gods 2. We finde the Israelites worshipping the worke of their owne hands the golden Calues falsly representing the True God and these calues were idols Act. 7. 41. and diuels 2. Chro. 11. 15. Whereby wee see the representing of the True God falsly is a diuellish idol as well as the representing of a false god 3. We finde idols and so the worship of Diuels among the Papists Reu. 9. 20 21. where the workes of mens hands of gold siluer brasse stone and
the ground Let them proue to vs by Gods owne voice as here that their Images are holy and that Gods presence is in them And yet for all that will not this procure adoration to them no more then Moses adored the earth Fourthly this place if Images were holy should rather keep vs from them then make vs come to them For it is said Approach not or come not hither loose off thy shooes from thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground It s therefore rather against going to Images then to goe to worship them Adorâ—â—â—e the footstoole of his feet Vnderstood say they of the Arke 1. Chron. 28. 2. Which was worshipped of the Iewes in regard of the Images set vpon it Answ Vnderstanding this footstoole of the Arke as they say it will helpe nothing their worship of Images For first the Arke was of Gods own appointment to be made for manner matter and end Exod. 25. 9. but so bee not their Images Secondly the Arke is called his footstoole But Images are not so called neither claimeth he them for his Thirdly God promised his presence with the Arke Exod. 25. 22. But where is his promise to be with their Images Fourthly the Arke was not an Image What is this then to an Image Fiftly the Arke was in the most holy place into which none could enter but the High Priests Therefore the people could not adore it but a farre off as being in the out-Court without any sight thereof Now their Images are neere and in the peoples view and not only where the High Priest of Rome comes If they will haue Images as the Arke then let his High Priestship keepe them in his most holy Chappell for himselfe and let them be for him only as the most Holy was for the high Priest Sixtly by the Arkes being in so remote a place its cleere that the words must be translated Adore yee towards his footstoele as in 1. King 8. 44. Pray towards the holy Citie and the house which hee had chosen And then the Arke was not adored but God it being the signe of Gods presence before which they worshipped 1. Sam. 1. 19. Seuenthly if it was worshipped because of the Images vpon it then was it only worshipped in the Sanctum Sanctorum For there the Cherubims were spred ouer it and not elsewhere and then onely the High Priest adored it for he onely saw the Images ouer it And then this Text seemeth to speake not to all but to him What is this to the peoples worshipping of Images Eighthly and lastly it is vntrue to say the Iewes worshipped it because of the Images on it For first they neither did nor could euer see any Image vpon it Secondly wee reade of the Arke brought forth in their iourneyings in the wildernesse so in going ouer Iordan also into the Campe of Israel 1. Sam. 4. 5. and at other times but wee neuer read of any that did worship it But if this had beene a commandement here surely there would haue beene some example of adoring it Thirdly they were commanded to worship God Deut. 6. 13. 10. 20. but no where to worship any other thing Fourthly how could it be that they worshipped the Arke because of the Images vpon it when the angels which by the Images were represented were not adored of them Would they worship the Image and not the things themselues For as Origen saith No Contr. Cels lib. 5. man adored the heauenly Angels which did submit himselfe to the Law of Moses Phil. 2. 10. At the name of Iesus c. Answ 1. Here is no Image mentioned What is this to Saints worship and their Images For this Text speakes of Iesus our Lord Sauiour Christ because we must bow downe to him the Sonne of God one person God and Man when wee doe make mention of his name Will it follow therefore that we should doe so to dead Images XXIII Proposition That the Lords Supper is to be administred to the people in one kinde onely Confuted by their owne Bible 1. IT teacheth vs that Christ instituting this his last Supper administred it in both kinds giuing a commandement to take and eate and also to drinke Mat. 26. 26 27. Luk. 20. 20. Secondly the Apostle Saint Paul repeating the institution mentioneth both the Bread and the Chalice 1. Cor. 11. 24 25. And first he tels them that this hee receiued of the Lord. Secondly that he deliuered the same vnto them verse 23. Thirdly he in verse 28. plainely prescribeth the eating of the Bread and drinking of the Chalice and that to euery one that commeth prepared and proueth himselfe saying Let him eate of that bread and drinke of that Chalice Out of which place it is euident that the drinking of the Chalice is of equall extent with the duty of prouing our selues before wee come vnto this Sacrament But the duty is generall and belongeth vnto all indifferently The drinking of the Chalice therefore may not be denied vnto any Thirdly the Church then in his dayes did receiue it in both kindes 1. Cor. 11. 26. For it is said there So often as you shall eate this bread and drinke this Chalice you shall shew the death of our Lord vntill hee come By both they shew his death And this place shews clearely that so often as they receiued they did eate the Bread and drinke the Chalice Fourthly the Apostles and Ministers of Christ did administer in both For the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 10. 16. The Chalice of benediction which we doe blesse is it not the communication of the bloud of Christ and the bread which wee breake is it not the participation of the body of the Lord Here the Apostle first mentioneth both the Chalice and Bread Secondly by the word we he vnderstands himselfe and other which did blesse the Chalice and breake the Bread Thirdly he saith that by the Chalice we communicate of Christs bloud and by the bread wee participate of his bodie and not by one of them of them both Saint Paul would haue Christs bloud out of his bodie in the Against concomitancy See D. White his last booke pag. 460 466. Chalice represented and not by the bread onely both his body and bloud Fourthly Christ is perfect food wee must therefore eate him and drinke him Drinke alone preserues not life nor onely to eate but both to eate and drinke therefore Christ instituted both to be receiued If the Aduersaries say that this receiuing was of the Apostles and as they by consequent would See an answer to this there also pag. 488 489 492. inferre of Priests onely which may receiue in both kindes but not the Laitie I answer first that the Apostles receiuing the Sacrament from Christ were then and there for the whole Church They receiued alone because they were Christs family to receiue together the Passeouer Secondly the Apostles were not as yet fully ordained till Christ breathed on them after
hauing thus fallen how can they alledge him to proue perfect obedience For perfection is not in one point or in all for a time but in the same for euer Thus we see that there is no perfection of obedience in any to keepe the Law Therefore is there no workes of supererrogation for they that boast of these must bee in all perfection obedient to the Law first and then doe more then God commandeth either expresly or deriuatiuely For reasons against this point see Moulins his Buckler of faith pag. 173. 70. Sect. and Doctor White his last Booke pag. 521. Sect. 2. to pag. 534. Scriptures obiected for workes of supererrogation answered Matth. 19. 21. If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all that thou hast and giue to the poore c. Answ 1. Christ here teacheth not that a man may in this life attaine to perfection to doe all that God commands and more too For first he had taught the contrary Luk. 17. 10. Secondly in Mark 10. 21. Christ leaueth out the word perfection and telleth him plainly that he lacked one thing Thirdly Saint Paul for all his excellencies and his manifold sufferings for Christ 2. Cor. 6. 4 10. yet hee did not attaine to perfection Phil. 3. 12. But here Christ speaketh to the vainely conceited yong man who as Austin in Epist 89. saith answered more arrogantly then truely and as Basil saith gaue false testimonie of himselfe when he said he had kept all these to wit all the Ad Hilarium lib. 4. de linquendis facultatibus commandements from his youth vp saying What lack I yet as if he had lacked nothing when he was apparantly couetous Mar. 10. 22. To suppresse this excesse of pride and to discouer his folly Christ thus speakes to him and not to set out a new Doctrine and way to perfection not contained in the Law Secondly these words are not a bare counsell as some conceit because it is said if thou wilt For this kinde of speaking notes not the thing spoken of to bee euer in a mans libertie and pleasure to doe or not to doe for so then should we not be tyed to Gods commandements for thus hee speakes in vrging to the obedience of them in verse 17. of this Chapter and Deut. 28. 1 15. it is said If thou wilt or if thou wilt not So in Esa 1. 19. These words imply not the libertie of choise but rather the desire of the minde to attaine to some thing yet lacking as by comparing Matthew here with Mark chap. 10. 21. it may appeare Thirdly the words giue vnto the poore are plainely a commandement This is a duty commanded and the Law requireth the works of Charitie and Almes to be giuen to the poore This is no counsell left to mans free choise to doe or not to doe as these places shew 1. Tim. 6. 17 18 19. Heb. 13. 16. to striue to perfection is commanded also Matth. 5. 48. Heb. 6. 1. 2. Cor. 7. 1. increasing more and more 1. Thes 1. 10. and 4. 1 10. 1. Pet. 2. 2. 2. Pet. 3. 18. Act. 20. 32. So it is not in our libertie to stand at a stay but we are tyed and bound to grow in grace in knowledge in faith and in good workes Thirdly Goe and sell all that thou hast This also is a commandement for it hath the forme of a commandement Goe and sell And though it be not an ordinary commandement to binde all yet was it a commandement to this young man for the present to try him and to discouer him as Gods commandement to Abraham to sacrifice his sonne Gen. 22. Seeing therefore that these words containe in them Commandements and not a bare counsell this place is nothing for arrogantly conceited works of supererrogation Fourthly if it were granted to bee a counsell yet being Gods counsell it is not best to our libertie to doe or not to doe for God who is great and wonderfull in counsell Esai 28. 29. Ierem. 32. 19. his counsell bindeth and to neglect and despise it is sinne and deserues punishment Psal 106. 13. and 107. 11. Prou. 1. 25. Luk. 7. 30. And therefore vpon Gods counsels they can build no workes of supererrogation 1. Cor. 7. 25. Now concerning Virgins I haue no cōmandement of the Lord yet I giue my iudgement c. He that giueth her in marriage doth wel but he that giueth her not in marriage doth better ver 38. Answ 1. Here is not the word Counsell though they for aduantage so translate it For the word in Greeke which is for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counsell is not here vsed but another which signifieth a sound and graue sentence and iudgement more then counsell and aduice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Corinthians had written about the matter verse 1. and the Apostle giueth his iudgement what is most conuenient and fitting for the present time verse 26. Secondly this his iudgement hee giueth by the aide and assistance of Gods Spirit verse 40. and therefore were the Corinthians highly to reuerence his iudgement yea and to submit vnto it as being giuen from an Apostle hauing Gods Spirit and one that had obtained mercy of the Lord to bee faithfull verse 25. and had the wisedome of God to iudge what was best to bee done Thirdly by saying he had no commandement from the Lord his meaning is hee had no expresse precept in particular but not that he had no commandement at all For he taught nothing which he had not from the Lord at least included in generall precepts from which by the direction of Gods Spirit hee deduced particulars considering and applying them to the circumstances of times places and persons This the Apostle doth here for Christ cōmanded his to be without worldly carefulnesse Mat. 6. 25 31 34. and to mind heauenly things chiefly ver 33. Now the Apostle at this time grounded his iudgement vpon these precepts and considering the present distresse and troubles of the Church applyed the same to the question of marrying or not marrying as is most cleare in verses 32 33 34 35. So then here is no counsell or bare aduice but his iudgement vpon the question grounded first on Christs commandements and then deliuered faithfully by the guidance of Gods Spirit This place therefore is nothing for workes of supererrogation or for counsels tending as they dreame to perfection Matth. 19. 12. There be Eunuches which haue made themselues Funuches for the Kingdome of Heauen Hee that is able to receiue i◠let him receiue it Answ There are here two things First a commendation of some Secondly a commandement vpon some Out of neither of these can they build their workes of supererrogation Not out of the first First they are to proue that these Eunuches were perfect fulfillers of the Morall Law Secondly that they did this which they did vpon counsell and not of dutie Both which they are to proue before they proue vpon this their commendations their