knowes so long as the Church is firmely built vpon this the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it Now as the graine of mustard-seede groweth so must we proceede from faith to knowledge vnaduised they are that would haue vs prescribe a scantling of Faith and knowledge as if eyther more were needlesse or lesse damnable but God in wisedome thought it meet to prescribe no such certainety and that for two reasons 1 To stirre vp our sluggish nature To forget that is behind and endeauonr to that which is before Philip 3 13 It is perfectio viatoris the perfection of a traueller still to goe on what need we goe to Church I know the summe of all beleeue in Christ Iesus c. Such sluggards shall neuer grow rich in grace that good corne shall neuer prosper in their hearts because they are so ouer-growne with thornes and thistles 2 Because God would not limit his mercies As it pleaseth him to saue infants without any knowledge so also to saue some in all degrees of knowledge ioyning wisedome mercy in proportioning somthing to the Times ages wherein men liue some to the place where some to the capacities of the persons themselues God exacts not so much knowledge of the woman of Samaria as of Nicodemus Iohn the 3. Art thou a Doctor in Israell nor so much of them that dwell in the middest of Spaine as of them in the heart of England nor of those that liued in the time of superstition as of vs that are in the Sunshine of the Gospell It is a sure rule if wee hold the foundation sure and conforme our liues and affections thereafter the ignorance of other branches shall neuer condemne vs except it be wilfull or affected ignorance 1 Wilfull ignorance in such as eyther contemn or neglect the meanes of further knowledge or such as in doubtfull cases will venter without aduice and then say I meant no hurt 2 Affected ignorance when wee suffer our affections to blinde our vnderstanding Act 19 25. like Demetrius that perswaded the crafts-men not to heare the Apostles because they liued in a profitable trade But simple ignorance in a well meaning Christian is eyther passed ouer in mercy or more knowledge reuealed in time as the Prophet in the Psalms To him that ordereth his conuersation aright Psal 50. vlt will I show the saluation of God Cornelius Acts 10.4 Thy prayers and almes-deedes The two wings of deuotion flye vp to heauen together for as it is in supplication Forgiue vs as wee forgiue so in almes Giue vs as we giue them rather then Cornelius shal want knowledge for saluation God will send Peter from Ioppa If any man doubt let him begin with the feare of the Lord and practise those grounds he knowes well and then by degrees learne to goe on and build vpon them as in Hebr. 6.13 Hebr 6.1.3 beeing the doctrine of the beginning of Iesus Christ Let vs goe on and pray to God that we may lay the foundation safely and surely that in Faith and charity wee may be knit altogether in the body of Christ TRACT II. WEE haue in the former exercise found the Rocke whereon wee may safely build vpon this Rocke must the maine grunsels bee laide such principles of Christianity and Articles of Faith as bee expressed in Scripture in the plainest places after compiled by the Church into a little body or short forme such as Irenaeus first sets downe as receiued of all churches about 178. which he testifies to be so vniformely professed in all Churches as if all Christians had but one soule and one mouth In Germany France East and West Europe and Asia and in all places of the world As there is but one Sun to euery nature so there is but one Faith to euery Christian hee that is most powerfull in speech can say no more and they that are most simple meane no lesse Tertullian expresseth another thing to the same effect Anno 210. after that the Fathers of the Nycen Counsell Anno 324. after that Athanasius made his Creede more fully designing the persons in Trinity against Arrius Anno 333. These ancient knowen verities being agreed vpon of all Churches long before these distractions Let vnstable mindes that finde their soules wauering in Religion giue attention 1 Cor. 9.22 for such I make inquirie as Paul 1. Corin. 9.22 Became all things to all men So we wil doubt with the doubtfull stand vpon indifferent ground looke on both sides with a single eye that we may the better discerne the true way of a Christian resolution Be wee sure then to hold the foundation and to build vpon these truths which all Churches in all ages haue agreed vpon Heere take we footing as vpon firme ground and looke a little about vs before we resolue where to light These parts of the Church within our view doe each of them becken vs to their side The Church of Rome bids vs returne to our olde mother as onely true Catholike The Brownist cries come to our congregation we are euen iump as it was in the Apostles time nay to ours sayes the Anabaptist Lo heere is Christ lo there It is the plea of euery Church But of all the Church of Rome cries loudest and if her challenge be true it stands vs in hand to listen to it for it concernes vs as much as euerlasting life is worth Extra Ecclesiam Romanam non est salus Without the Church of Rome is no saluation Yet she must pardon vs though we make a pause and do not presently make it an article of our Faith because wee finde it not in any of our ancient Creeds nor in any plaine text of Scripture in any translation theirs or ours what chymicall witts may extract thence wee will not now dispute A Catholicke Church wee finde but a Romish Catholike Church we find not That all Christians haue such necessary dependance vpon any place or person Rome or Bishop of Rome and vnder such a penalty of eternall damnation It seemes then this is the Rocke without which all other articles will not saue vs and yet the auncient Church hath forgotten to put it in any of her Creedes It is not in the Apostles Creede Irenaeus hath left it out of his Tertullian out of his the Nycene theirs Athanasius out of his And Peter out of his Catholicke Epistle 2 Pet. 1.13 when at the time of his departure out of this life hee tooke his last farwell of the Church First one Church we acknowledge built vpon Christ the sonne of God Eph. 4.4 fully described in the 4 of the Ephesians by one Body one Spirit one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one Father 1 One body because a Church is nothing else but a society of beleeuers called out of the rest of the world by the word of God and though it run as the Sea through many Countries and thence receiues many names like the seuen Churches of
Asia yet it is but one body 2 It followes One spirit that doth animate and informe the members of the same as the soule or spirit of a man knits vp the members into one body 3 This professeth One Lord Christ which makes it a Christian Church 4 Yet the very naming of Christ Iesus our Lord is not sufficient to proue a Christian Church vnlesse we embrace that Faith which Christ doth publish one Faith not in euery branch of diuinity that neuer was nor will be but the grundsels laid vpon the true foundation 5 Yet wee are but Catechumenists as it were in the Church porch till we be admitted by the doore of Baptisme 6 In which Baptisme we are made the Adopted Children of One Father vpon which the Apostle concludes one God and Father of all must needes make a Church Secondly this Church we beleeue to be Catholike that is vniuersall not because it is spread ouer the face of the vniuersall world but because it is not limited to any place or nation as the lewish Church was much lesse to the succession of any person but it is scattered and dispersed without bounds So as still it hath a power and disposition to bee more and more vniuersally spread That 's the sence of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Zacharies Prophesie That Ierusalem should be inhabited without walls Zach. 2.4 But for the Romane Church so famous in the Apostles time that Saint Paul in the first to the Romans doth glory so much in it Admit the memory of the Apostle Peter caused the Church to honour his successors and to giue the Patriarke of that Sea priority before all other Admit that Church hauing beene purged by fiery persecutions and crowned with Martyrdome vnder the Heathen Emperors was therefore more reuerenced of succeeding Churches in other ages Admit the seate of the Empire the renowne of the Cittie the excellent choice they made of wise and learned Bishops got them such credit amongst remote Churches that amidst their distractions which were amongest the Greekes many there were that would haue recourse to Rome as to arbitrators for aduice and iudgement What is all this to the saluation of my soule in these daies What warrant haue I to rent my selfe from this Church wherein by Gods prouidence I am borne and whereof I am borne againe a member Or what reason haue they to exact this new article at my hands whereof I finde no mention amongst the old I dispute not the point in this place onely let mee put the case of a lay mans resolution I am by Gods prouidence borne and Christned brought vp and Catechized in the Church of England The quaere is no more but this Whether I be bound in Conscience to become a Romish Catholique and to bee reconciled to the present Church of Rome as now it standeth in paine of eternall condemnation This is the very point that draweth so many from vs to whom I propound fiue Quaeries or demands which in the iudgement of indifferent men may seeme reasonable 1 First I demand some cleere euidence or firm ground to build vpon that this is my duety and vpon so great a penalty to thrust my selfe into such an action without sufficient warrant I should not onely condemne my selfe of rashnesse but incurre offence against God in the 14. to the Romanes Rom. 14.23 What euery Man doth doubtingly is sinne to him that doth it Quod dubitas ne feceris A greater matter is a greater sinne a greater then this cannot bee vnder the Sunne I desire therefore some cleere warrant for my resolution The first testimony that is offered is the Testimony of the Church that is of the Church of Rome for shee tels vs that shee alone is the true Catholike Church out of which there is no saluation whereupon it followes that such as will be saued must be reconciled to her This wee verily beleeue that the Church of Rome saith so and hath so said a long time 2 The next Quaere is then whether the Testimony of the Church of Rome in this case concerning her selfe be sufficient Go vp as high as they will so long as shee hath made this challenge I demand whether her testimony be sufficient I answer out of doubt it is not In the fifth of Iohn vers 31. If Christ should beare witnesse of himselfe Iob. 5.31 his witnesse were not true that is not sufficient Though after chap. 8.14 he professes that though hee should beare witnesse of himselfe yet his witnes were true because ver 16. I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me Take him single as in the first place by the way of concession that he wil deale with the Iewes vpon indifferent termes I hope then the testimony of Christ concerning himselfe was as sufficient in it selfe and to the Iewes as the testimony of the Church of Rome can be eyther in it selfe or vnto vs. Let it not therefore seeme vnreasonable if beside the testimony of the Church wee desire further euidence for heere she standeth for her selfe against all Churches in Christendome 3 Other testimony beside the Church and Scripture they pretend none for Traditions are referred to the Church and the Creeds to the Scripture To the Scripture then of necessity she must come in this point 4 Our next demand is whether it is expressely there or drawne out by Tract of consequent mentioned it is not neither in the originall nor in the vulgar nor in the Rhemish nor in any of their owne translations 5 If by consequent it bee extracted my next Quaere is whether I am bound vnder paine of damnation to beleeue euery poynt that may be drawne out of Scripture by consequence of arguments wee stumble not at immediate consequents as such as these The Trinity is not named in so many letters but the Scripture implieth euery person to be God in seuerall places and elsewhere auerreth that there is but one God this is easily put together But are wee to beleeue that which by long tract of consequent may be gathered Then none but great wits can be saued our weake vnderstanding is not able to fetch euery conclusion from the right ground Hence let vs make three degrees of diuine positions 1 Some are Articles as Christ the Sonne of God was crucified 2 Some as Conclusions as that children are capable of Baptisme but not of the Lords Supper 3 Some are taken as Opinions and problemes of Diuinitie As that Angels doe more solemnely attend in person at holy exercises That Saints shall haue some personall knowledge one of another Matt. 17. as Moses and Elias had in the mount Now as fixed starres seeme to twinckle because they are further remote and cannot so stedily be discerned by our weake eyes so our vnderstandings are more vnstable and our beleefe more vncertaine in points deduced by many sequels and farre fetcht consequents These bring narrow issue let vs see what degree
of euidence they bring and accordingly frame our Faith That I cannot be saued except I be subiect to the Bishop of Rome as head of the Church He must pretend then a title from Christ as he is Vicar for spirituall matters it is euident that Christ while he liued on earth was the visible head for Temporalls himselfe concludes Who made me a Iudge My kingdome is not of this world therefore so farre as he medleth with kingdomes he cannot claime that from Christ It is confessed that while Christ was on earth hee was the visible head of the whole Church so as no soule could bee without necessary dependance on him but whether at his departure he committed the supremacy to any man on earth If hee did whether in whole or part to whom whether to the Apostles in generall equally or to one aboue the rest and who that was 1 Their point is that Christ left it to Peter alone to no other Apostle in that degree This is cleer out of Scripture That the rest of the Apostles as Apostles are equall but as Bishop he aboue them note that a Bishop aboue an Apostle Linus aboue the Euangelist Iohn who liued in his time 2 Admitte the Supremacy in Peter whether it died with him as the Apostleship did or left it to his successors The difference is they put the rest out of special fauor They might haue as great power but it was for terme of life Peter had it for him and his successors for euer But this must be cleered that Peter had power to leaue it to his successors and none but he If this be not proued why not Iohns successors in the Churches of Asia or of Iames in Ierusalem or any of the Apostles in other places as well as he to his The reason is Though Peter by vertue of his fiery tongue was able to gouerne the whole Church in his daies being but small yet hee knew the charge in time would grow so great and the circuit so large that Peters spirit had neede be doubled vpon those that should succeed him If he had one clouen tongue his successors neede to haue twelue so we might say of the least of his successors A greater then Peter is heere Peter was not alone during his life there were the eleuen Apostles Bel. l. 1. c. 21 and Paul as great an Apostle as himselfe as Bellarmine confesses and greater because hee writ more then Peter hee planted more Churches then Peter he laboured more aboundantly then they all for hee preached from Ierusalem Rom. 15.19 round about to Illiricum as Hierome auouches from the redde Sea to the great Ocean so farre as there is any land Amos. c. 5. And that all the charge of Peter and Paul and all that the rest had should lye vpon the shoulders of one Pope and yet neuer a clouen tongue to his head Sure say That a greater then Peter is heere Bellarmine proued well from the election of Matthias in the first of the Acts De Pont. 4.23 that the Apostles were not chosen by Peter and Paul was Galathians the first Paul an Apostle not of men nor by men but by Iesus Christ Those that came in after the death of Christ Matthias and Paul were not but all the Apostles successors must now deriue their power from the Pope Therefore a greater then Peter is heere 3 Admit while the body of the Church carried any proportion to a visible head as in the Apostles time it might and some time after for auoyding of factions a Monarchicall gouernment might stand but when it is so dispersed that amongst the Antipodes for ought we know may be Christians that such a burthen of gouernment should rest vpon the shoulders of any one mortall wight it is strange It must be cleered out of the booke of God for the Testimony of their Church in her owne case is silent That Peter did not impart his supremacy to diuers in diuers Churches which he planted but wholly committed it to one in one place 4 If to one we must know where that one is Certitudine fidei else wee are neuer a whit the neerer Whether Peter left it amongst the lewes till they fell being himselfe the Preacher of the Circumcision If not because hee saw they would reuolt why not at Antioch a Church of his owne planting Paul had as much to doe at Rome as he Antioch had the Primacy Act. 11.27 for they were first called Christians at Antioch and it was a famous Patriarchall Church Why not Marke the Euangelist Peters Disciple who writ the Gospell from his mouth in that famous Church of Alexandria It is cleere then that Rome and no other Church doth enioy that Bishop who succeeds Peter in that great office But now wherein a lay man may receiue satisfaction the Scripture is silent It is not found in our Creede The testimony of the Church is laid by in this point Bellarmine saies Bel. 2. de Rep. c. 12. that the Bishop of Rome alone doth succeede Peter in the Supremacie is not found in Scripture but to be beleeued vpon tradition I thought wee should returne thither againe it is hard that they will not spare their own testimony in their own case Seeing Christ did spare it in his case I hope we may be saued without it 5 Admit this could be cleared yet that Church doth not agree who was Bishop Linus or Clemens or Cletus after three Popes at once Benet the ninth Siluester the third and Iohn Then two in a schisme betwixt Vrban and Clement The first in Italy the second in France after that three againe hard to iudge who was the true one Such vncertainties must there needs bee when Religion depends vpon any mans person in this troublesome world 6 Admit it can be demonstrated to my conscience that this Pope is lawfully chosen and vndoubtedly succeedes Bishop Linus and Peter by a lineall succession of true Popes for 500 yeares without any materiall interruption yet neuer the neerer except they doe succeede as well in Faith and doctrine as in place and person else they could not exclude vs from the Church for we show personall succession as well as they Cranmer consecrated Barlo Scony and Couerdale These consecrated Parker Parker other Bishops these made Priests euery Act of Priesthood ratified by their owne Canons is Valide factum though not Licite Quis enim Catholicorum ignor at ordinatos ab Episcopo haeretico verê esse ordinatos That those that are ordained Priests of an haereticall Bishop are truely ordained no Catholike is ignorant So they exclude vs as heretiques as not embracing their doctrine so by their owne rule they grant that the Church and the Bishop of Rome must succeede Peter as well in Faith and Doctrine as in time and place else wee are not bound in conscience to cleaue to them you see by how many sequels and degrees of consequent they must proceede before it be
cleered to my conscience that I am bound to be reconciled to the church of Rome as now it stands vnder paine of eternall condemnation If therefore they faile in any of these demonstrations we must faile them These sixe Articles wee must passe before the maine point be concluded Let vs repeat them that we forget them not 1 We must beleeue certitudine fidei with the certainty of Faith 2 That Christ left his supremacie to Peter and to his successors onely 3 That Peter bequeathed it to one in one Church and not to diuers 4 That this one was the Bishop of Rome and no other 5 That this Pope that now is did succeede him in this Church 6 That hee and his Church doe continue succession of Faith and doctrine as well as in person and place Vntill these be all made cleere as an article of our Faith I hope they will giue vs leaue to serue and worship our God according to that Christian liberty which God hath giuen in a Church professing his Gospell TRACT III. REturne wee then to our first conclusion that for such gruncels as are immediately to be laid vpon the rocke that is matters of saluation and principles of Faith wee must receiue them vndoubtedly distinguish them from all other positions that are thrust vpon vs as necessary to be beleeued by the same degree of Faith And to receiue them vpon examination according to the authority of the propounder and according to that degree of euidence by which they are proued Hold on the foundation and let vs conforme our affections and liues and build further to perfection of grace as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then as it is Psalm 50. and the last To him that ordereth his conuersation aright I will show the saluation of God TRACT IIII. GIue me leaue a little because I doe not much trouble you with questions to examine this point for their sakes that be vnstable or desire the same the rather because this is the very ground of their resolution and if this faile all failes That the supremacy was in Christ while hee liued vpon earth it is agreed but whether at his departure he conferred the same vpon Peter and in that degree which they challenge is the first maine point And for this they pitch vpon foure maine texts 1 Super hanc Petram Mat. 16.18 Matt. 10. verse 19. 2 Tibi Dabo claues That key of Dauid which Christ had which openeth when no man shutteth and soutteth when no man openeth 3 Pasce oues Ioh 21.15 Before it was promised there exhibited To be chiefe Pastor To feede the Lambs that is the Laity To feede the sheepe that is Rule and Gouerne the Clergie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea the Apostles themselues if they be sheepe of Christ Peter must be their shepheard 4 I haue praied for thee Tu autem conuersus confirma fratres Luke 22.32 That is confirme the rest of the Apostles they were his brethren These 4 are like foure pillars whereupon Peters supremacy is built presently if Peter had it the Pope hath it but admit this yet we finde many doubts which must be cleered and many blocks which must be remoued before my conscience finde a cleere euidence to come ouer to them vnder such a penalty as eternall condemnation For my Text the point of difference is what Christ meant by the Rocke 1 Whether the Person of Peter as they affirme 2 Or the Faith of Christ which Peter professed Thou art the Sonne of God or Christ apprehended by that Faith Do them no wrong t' is agreed that Christ is the Primitiue foundation but the secondary foundation is Peters person not as a priuate person but as the head of the Church That it should be Peter not Christ or the Faith of Christ there are foure colours 1 Hanc by Grammer must be referred to that which is Tues Petrus c. 2 Because Petrus and Petra are all one in the tongue wherein Christ spake Cepbas therefore hee meant the same thing 3 Not aedifico nor aedificani but aedificabo As if Christ had built his Apostle vpon himselfe already But Peter is called Sathanas after and denied Christ ô but after the resurrection it is built vpon Peter and therefore Aedificabo 4 He would neuer haue said Tu es Petrus and then Inferred super hanc why does hee say with an asseueration Ego dico tibi These are prety colours to looke vpon at the first but these are not wadded they will not hold but shed if they be well handled What if we say with St. Augustine Aug. de ver Dom. Secū Mat. ser 13 Super hanc petram quam confessus es super hanc petram quam cognouisti dicens Tu es filius deiviui aedificato ecclesiam meam id est meipsum filium dei viui aedificabo ecclesiam meam Vpon this Rocke which thou hast acknowledged vpon this Rocke which thou hast known saying Thou art the sonne of the liuing God I will build my Church that is my selfe the sonne of the liuing God will I build my Church Is not this good grammer What if wee say with S. Ambrose Ambr. in 2. cap. ep Ephes v. 20 Super istam aedificabo Ecclesiam meam hoc est in hac catholicae fidei confessione fides ergo ecclesiae fundamentum est Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church that is in the confession of this Catholicke Faith therefore Faith is the foundation of the Church hath not Hanc a good reference to the premises What if I say with Hilary Vna haec est foelix fidei petra Hill de Trin 2.6 Petri ore confessa tu es filius Dei vini super hanc igitur confessionis petram Ecclesiae aedificatio est Haec fides Ecclesiae fundamentum est This alone is the most happy rocke of faith confessed by the mouth of Peter thou art the sonne of the liuing God vpon this rocke of confession is the building of the Church this faith is the foundation of the Church to the same purpose you finde Cyrill de Trinit 4. Cyrill Chrisost Beda Chrysost 55. hom sup Matth. Beda vpon Iohn the 21. These fathers will defend Grammer well enough for hanc but let vs adde one of their owne Lyra. gloss Interlin Cusanus gloss in Grat. Aliaco Lyra who they say for interpreting Scripture had not his match and the interlineall glosse Cusanus and the glosse vpon Gratian Petrus de Aliaco Chancellor of Paris though a Cardinall though he name Peter yet goes with vs. 2. It is all one word Cephas but Bellarmine and Augustine and the rest are deceiued because they did not vnderstand the Syriake tongue but the Euangelist distinguishes betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To make a difference betwixt Peters faith and his person to distinguish the Rocke that he confessed from himselfe Bellarmines saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a stone and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉