would bee vnder none sayeth hee but hee alone would bee aboue all others And agayne What else sayest thou heereby but I will ascende to Hâ—aven and exalt my Throne aboue the Sâ—arres and bâ— lyke to the hâ—gâ—est For what are thy brethren * Bishops of the Catholicke Church bâ—t the Starres of Heaven More-over hee declareth this style to bee playne Antichristian and consequentlie clearlie guiltie of Noveltie for sayeth hee I confidentlie affirme that who-so-ever hee bee that calleth himselfe Vniâ—ersall Bishop or desireth so to bee called he is the fore-runner of Antichrist who by pryde extolleth himselfe aboue all others And therefore beeing Antichristian the same Gregorie telleth that it is so farre from true Catholicke sayth to assent thereto as on the playne contrarie this is to depart from the fayth and make Apostasie to Antichâ—ists 〈◊〉 For to giue assent oâ— acknowledge anie such style what else is it but to lose the sayth and make ship-wracke there of sayeth hee Which thing made Cardinall Cusanus to denye plainlie that the Pope was Vniversall Bishop but onelie the first Bishop saying And while wee defende this part to wit that the Pope is not Vniversall Bishop but onelie the first aboue others to wit in place and while wee â—ound the vigour and strâ—â—gth of holie Councells not on the Pope but vpon the consent of all because in so doing wee defende the trueth sayeth hee and reserue vnto everie one their owne honour heereby wee reverence the Pope a-right The cause lykewyse why the primitiue and godlie Bishops of Rome never claymed anie such supremacie quasi Episcopi vrbis potius quam orbis sayeth their owne Duaren and would never vse or assume as Gregorie testifieth anie such prowde title their owne Bishop of Rochester clearlie setteth downe saying For that age beeing neare to the Apostles tymes did studie to modestie and humilitie for as yet the word of CHRIST was recent in their memories sayeth hee which sayth Except that ye be coÌ„verted and become as these little ones yee can not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Wherefore they had a care to debarre from them these glorious titles sayeth hee whereon the verie lightest occasion of pryde might aryse Insinuating thereby evidentlie not onlie the latter Noveltie of anie such loftie styles and supremacie which the latter Bishops of Rome doe vsurpe but also the ground wherefrae the same proceedeth to wit the want of that wonted modestie and humilitie of their predecessoures and the oblivion of these words of CHRIST which were ever recent in the memories of their auncient and godlie forebeares CHAPTER VIII The Novelty of the Popes supremacie it selfe and first over the whole Clergie in matters Ecclesiasticall THE Noveltie of Papall supremacie it selfe implyed in the fore-named title of Vniversall Bishop will the more clear lie appâ—aâ—e by sâ—tting downe the beginning progressâ— thereof as their owne vndenyable recordes giue evidence thereof First then their owne Duarenus sayeth That the more auncient and holiest Bishops of Rome beeing content with their owne Sea and Church did leaue to other Bishops the free governament of these Churches that were committed to them beeing sayth hee rather as the Bishops of a Citie than of the whole world But these Bishops who came after them did not contayne themselues within these boundes but as it were Lords and Kings they made no doubt to doe all thinges at their pleasure sayâ—th hee and to ascrybe to themselues the governament of the whole Church Hee who was afterward one of their owne Popes lykewyse testifieth saying Before the Councell of Nice everie one lived to himselfe and small respect was had to the Church of Rome After this Emperours becomming Christian there were appoynted about the tyme of the Councell of Nice for the better governament of the Church foure Patriarches all of a-lyke jurisdiction and the Bishop of Rome amongst them as one having onlie the Primacie of place for the dignitie of the Citie and imperiall seat therein as is evident out of their owne wryters and especiallie out of that Famous Councell of Chalcedon consisting of 430 Bishops whose mynde was sayeth Bellarmine that the Church of Rome had therefore the first place because that Citie was the Seat of the Empyre But thereafter sayth their owne Cardinall Cusanus by vse and custome of subjection vnto him wee may see how farre the Bishop of Rome hath prevayled in jurisdiction beyond the holie and auncient boundes sayeth hee and allowance which was only within his owne westerne Patriarchie The first thing they stroue for after the dayes of Gregorie was for that style of Vniversall Bishop which hee had so much damned and with it to clayme an vniversall supremacie of jurisdiction over all others in matters Ecclesiasticall which style as Platina telleth vs Boniface the third obtayned from Phocas the Emperour magna cum contentione or with great opposition in the verie hatching for How farre contrarie this was as Gregorie himselfe sayeth to the Evangelicall ordinance and decrees of Councells let the Canons of the first foure generall Councells testifie which foure their canonized Pope Gregorie did reverence alyke as hee did the foure sacred Evangelistes The first whereof was that Famous and first Councell of Nice vnder Constantine the first Christian Emperour consisting of 318 Bishops and celebrate Anno 325 In the sixt Canon whereof it was thus decreed that the Bishop of Alexandria should brooke alyke jurisdiction within his province as the Bishop of Rome did in his showing thereby that all the Patriarches were alyke in jurisdiction within their owne precincts without anie subordination of one to another Wherefore Cardinall de Cusa setting downe the meaning of Parilis Mos vsed by the Councell sayeth As the Bishop of Rome hath power over all his owne Bishops so lyke-wyse the Bishop of Alexandria hath the same priviledge of power throghout all Aegypt Which limitation of everie ones proper power within their owne precinctes is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or the auncient custome amongst Bishops before therefore sayeth the Canon concerning Antioch Let Antioch also and other provinces keepe their Auncient priviledges Whence wee conclude out of this Famous Councell that if this was the auncient priviledge and custome of other Churches to bee free from anie subjection to the Church of Rome then her vniversall claymed supremacie now over all other Churches as Mistresse and Mother over them is nowayes the auncient fayth nor profession of the Catholicke Church but an ambitious vsurpation and a meere Noveltie The next generall Councell whose sacred Canons militate agaynst the Noveltie of Papall supremacie is that Famous Councell of Constantinople consisting of 150 Bishops and helde in Anno 380 which as Bellarmine confesseth withstood altogether any such supremacie the fift Canon of which Councell giveth onelie a primacie of order to the Bishop of Rome amongst his fellow Patriarches which they declare hee had
onelie given him for the dignitie of the Citie beeing the imperiall seat The third generall Councell that giveth evidence of Romes Innovation heerein is that Famous Councell of Ephesus of 200 Bishops celebrate in Anno 434 resolutelie thus decreeing Let it be observed say they in all Provinces and Diocesses that no Bishop draw vnder his subjection anie province which was not his from the beginning lest vnder pretence of Priesthood hee bring into the Church arrogancie and pryde The last but not the least evidence of the Noveltie of this Papall vsurped supremacie is that of the Famous and fourth Councell of Chalcedon of 430 Bishops and helde Anno 451 decreeing peremptotilie that how-so-ever the Bishop of Rome had the primacie of place before the Bishop of Constantinople yet that the Bishop of Constantinople in all other thinges should bee equall and haue alyke priviledges with the Bishop of Rome Now wee know that the equalitie of power priviledges betweene two dissolveth ipso facto Monarchie which can not bee but in one as the verie word importeth This sacred Conncell and the Act thereof so galleth the romaenistes that forgetting all pretended reverence to Antiquitie and authoritie of auncient Councells Bellarmine spareth not to impute to these godlie Bishops fraude and deceat saying They decreed this indeed but not sayth he without fraude and guyle Which as sayeth Lyrinensis What is this else but to treade vnder foot the decrees of the holy Bishops almost of the whole Easterne Church for preventing so wyselie pronounciâ—g so clearlie opposing so stoutlie and decreeing so piouslie agaynst aniâ— such Noveltie of the new Romane Hierarchie CHAPT. IX The Novelty of the Popes Supremacie which hee claymeth over Princes as well as Prelates and in thinges temporall HEEREIN in these two poynts the Novation standeth made by the Bishops of Rome 1. in subducing their neckes from that homage and subjection which they yeelded of olde to the Emperours as their dread Soveraygnes and 2. in reducing them to such subjection vnder thâ—m that they haue troden vpon some of their neckes First then for witnessing of the Bishops of Rome their homage and subjâ—ction which from the beginning and of olde they gaue to the Emperours Bellâ—â—mine himselfe will instruct vs speaking of that tyme which was manie hundreth yeares after the Apostles saying At that tyme alâ—ho the Bishâ—p of Rome in spirituall thinges was the head of all even of Empeâ—â—â—res themselues yet in temporall thinges hee was subject to the Emperoures sayeth hee and because hee acknowledged the Emperour to bee his temporall Lord therefore hee made supplication to him that hee would command a Councell to bee conveaned Whence it is that Cardinall Cusanuâ— declareth That the eyght first generall Councells were convocate by the Emperoures and no wayes by the Popes in so much that Pope Leo with much intreatâ—e desired to Theodosius that a Councell might bee celebrate in Italie and yee could not obtayne it Gregorieâ—yke-wyse the great everie where in his Epistles to the Emperour Mauritius styleth him his supreame Lord Soveraigne and wryting vnto him concerning his imperiall command that hee should cause publish a certayne Law which Gregorie thought vnjust hee sayeth I as the most vnworthie servand of your sacred Majestie beeing subject to obey your command I haue caused sende your Law which yee haue made thorow sundrie parts to bee published and because the same is nowayes agreeable to the Law of Almightie GOD Beholde I haue by my letter signified the same to my most excelleâ—t Lord there-fore everie way I haue performed what I ought to doe who hath both given â—â—edience to the Emperour and haue not beene silent in that which I thought fit to speake for GOD And yet in a more humble manner doeth Agatho the first profesie his subjection to the Emperour supplicating in thâ—se wordes Bowing humblie the knees of the mynde wee intreate your royall Clemencie Where-with also Adrian the first joyneth the prostration of the bodie saying Prostâ—ate vpon the ground and â—alling downe grooflinges at the soles of your feete doe I intreate your Majestie Thus wee see that servitude and subjection with prostration and humble supplicating was the auncient practise and profession of the Bishops of Rome to the Romane Emperoures manie hundreth yeares after CHRIST till in place of humilitie Luciferian pryde was installed in seat of Antichrist The next poynt of Innovation is the reducing of Emperours and Kings by the Bishops of Rome vnto their subjection and dominiering so over them as to inthrone or dethrone them at their pleasure as BELLARMINE de facto instanceth to haue beene done to Emperoures and King's and yet that the auncient Bishops of Rome never vsurped such power nor vsed such practises agaynst eyther Heaâ—hen Hereticall or Apostate Emperoures Bellarmine himselfe clearlie acknowledgeth The particular tyme then when the Noveltie of this vsurpation began to peepe out their owne Charter Monke author of that booke intituled Fascicâ—lus temporum telleth vs That it was in the dayes of Boniface the second Anno 523 for remarke sayeth hee that about this tyme the Popes began to oppose themselues to the Emperoures even in temporall thinges farre more than of olde they were wont Thereafter their owne Bishop Otho Frigensis condescendeth vpon the verie tyme of putting this vsurpation first into practise showing that Gregoriâ—â— the seaventh was the first who deposed anie Emperour so that till 1060 yeares after CHRIST this bolde Noveltie began not to bee practised Therefore sayeth their owne Barclay For the space of a thousand yeares and more altho the Church did flowrish with all wealth and that there was also a great number of the wicked Princes and Tyrants yet none of the auncient Fathers or Orthodox wâ—yters in these tymes are found sayeth hee who either by word or writ taught anie such thing And when it began to bee practised Sigebert the Monke who lived in the â—leventh hundreth yeare of CHRIST and tyme of Gregorie the seaventh sayeth thereof Let it bee spoken with leaue of all good men sayeth hee that this NOVELTIE I will not say Heresie before this time was ever hatched or peeped out in the world And last to put on the kepstone of Antichristian pryde and Tyranâ—ious vsurpation the Author of Fasciculus Temporum telleth vs that Beniface the eyght rose vp to that hight of pryde sayeth hee that hee called himselfe Lord of the whole world as well in temporall as in spirituall things as if Kings onelie did reygne by them and with the Tempter they might dispose of the Kingdomes of the Earth to giue them to whom they will Who-so-ever then they bee who may so clearlie see the Noveltie of this vsurpation and yet so highlie advance the Bishop of Rome as onelie that they make him not GOD sayeth their owne Cassander and who extolleth his authoritie to bee not onelie aboue the whole Church as well in
temporall as spirituall thinges but aboue the verie holie Scriptures c. I can not see sayâ—th hee why these men may not bee called false or Pseudocotholickes CHAPTER X. The Noveltie of publicke Prayer and other divyne Service in a tongue vnknowne to the people FIrst in this poynt that the Apostles doctrine and Churches practise in their tyme was coâ—trarie to the Romaniâ—tes now Cardinall Cajetane doeth evidentlie testifie saving Out of the doctrine of S. PAVLL wee haue it clearlie set downe that it is better for the edification of the Church that publicke prayers which are vttered in the audience of the people bee spoken sayeth hee in a Language common both to Clergie and people than otherwyse And that this was also the Churches conforme practise in the dayes of Iustine Martyr is evident who in the ende of his second Apologie for Christians in expresse tearmes telleth vs sayeth Bellarmine That the whole people in the Church vsed to answere AMEN when the Presbyter ended the Prayer or Thankesgiving wherefore it will follow that the Prayer or Thankesgiving was in the vulgar tongue else sayeth the Apostle how shall hee that occupieth the rowme of the vnlearned say AMEN at thy Thankes-giving if hee vnderstand not what thou sayest Next what was the practise of the Church after Iustines dayes both in the East and West is lyke-wyse cleare out of Bellarmine who testifieth saying That this custome was also a long tyme observed both in the East and West is evident out of Chrysostomes Liturgie where most clearlie sayeth hee are distinguished what the Prieâ—â— and Deacon and what the people in divyne Service did sing As lyke-wyse out of Cyprian in his sermon on the LORDS prayer where hee showeth how the people did answere saying Wee haâ—e our heartes vnto the LORD and out of Ierome in the preface of his second booke on the Epistle to the GALATIANS who wryteth That in the Churches of the Citie of Rome the people was heard lyke a heavenlie thunder aunswering with a lowde voyce and saying AMEN Therefore their Nicolaus de Lyra and with him Aquinas Gretzer others freelie acknowledgeth saying In the primitiue Church the Thankes-givings and all other common Servâ—ce was performed sayeth hee in the vulgar Toâ—gue and the Canonicall Prayers â—ayth their Cassaâ—der and speciallie the words of consecration of the bodie and blood of our LORD the Auncientes did so reade that all the people might vnderstand and say AMEN thereto Which custome of the Church as yet vsed in Aegypt and Ethiopiâ— it is a wonder sayâ—th Erasmus how it became to bee changed And if wee consider M. Hardinges reason in his aunswere to Bishop Iewell why Prayers and all other divyne Service was vsed in the primitiue Church in the vulgar tongue wee shall finde that the same reason holdeth still and so miliâ—ateth constantlie agaynst this practise of Romish Noveltie for thus sayeth M. Harding In the primitiue Church this was necessarie when fayth was alearning and therefore the Prayers were made then in a knowne tongue vnderstood by the people sayeth hee because of their farder instruction And can anie man say nowe but people in lyke-manner are learning the fayth daylie and haue neede of farder instruction than they haue alreadie Or will anie affirme that this â—ule of the Apostle Let all bee done vnto edification helde onelie for a tyme Therefore seeing the edifying of GOD'S people which is the fiâ—all cause why Prayer and publicke Thankes-giving should bee performed in the vulgar doeth not varie by diversitie of tymes but continueth still even so then should speaking in the Church vnto their vnderstanding CHAPTER XI The Noveltie of the invocation of Saynctes departed FOr discoverie of the Noveltie of which doctrine obtruded to bee believed and practised by all Catholickes vnder payne of damnation wee haue before CHRIST the first foure thousand yeares prescription agaynst anie such doctrine or practise in the Church of GOD by the confession of Bellarmine and all other Romanistes who graunt That during all that tyme both before and vnder the Law there was no invocation of Saynctes departed Next if wee come to our SAVIOVR'S tyme and his Apostles their owne Eckius Luthers great Antagonist declareth That in the New Testament the Apostles and Evangelistes neyther taught by word nor delyvered or left anie such thing by writ that the Saynctes departed should bee invocated neyther would the holie Ghost sayeth hee suffer them so to doe by whose inspiration they spake The same also doeth their Dominicus Bannes and the Iesuit Salmeron testifie rendring this reason Because it would seeme hard to the Iewes sayeth hee who were never taught so to doe by Moses nor the Prophets and the Gentiles should haue thought that there were manie gods exhibite to them in place of the multitude of gods which they had forsaken Beholde thâ—n heere a doctrine of the Romane fayth confessed to haue for the warrand there of neyther Gods written word nor yet Apostolicall vnwritten tradition now if it was neyther written nor preached by them let anie man consider if the Noveltie thereof bee not cleare and that they can not eschew the Apoâ—tles Anathemâ— who sayeth If an Angell from Heaven should preach vnto you beside thâ—t which I haue preached let him bee accursed Next to the Apostles tymes if wee come to after ages and inquyre howe loâ—g was it after the Apostles before anie mention was ever heard of anie such thing their owne Bishop Poresiâ—s Will playnlie tell vs saying That beâ—ore the â—yme of the Martyr Corneliâ—s which was abouâ— 252 yeares after there was no mention sayeth hee so farre as wee can see of anie invocation or intercession of Saynctes What was the practise lykewyse of the Church in S. Augustin's tyme who lived after the 400 yeare of CHRIST and speciallie of the westerne or Romane Church himselfe doeth declare saying of the Martyres and Sayncts departed As for such men of God sayeth hee who haue overcome the world in confessing of Him they are named in their owne place and order but they are not prayed vnto Yea in the 1200 yeare of God Bernard did put it in doubt whether the Saynctes departed anie wayes heard the living which if they doe not then speaking to them by prayer were altogether foolish for speaking of devoute Humbert hee sayeth Neyther see I him now nor perhaps doeth hee heare mee More-over it is to bee observed that the Fathers of the primitiue Church vsed this as a specâ—all Argument to proue Christ to bee GOD because Hee was everie-where prayed vnto Which Argument had beene of no force if in those tymes they had prayed eyther to Saynctes or Aâ—gâ—ls Therefore Oâ—igen showeth That PAVLL 1 COR. 1. 2. proveth heereby CHRIST to bee GOD because His Name is everie where incalled vpon for the Apostle sayeth hee doeth thereby pronounce IESVS CHRIST to bee GOD because His Name is incalled
THE NOVELTIE OF POPERIE Discovered and chieflie proven by Romanists out of themselves IER. 6. 16. Ask for the old path's where is the good way and walk therein TERT. L. 2. CONT. MARCION Omnino res Christiana sancta antiquitate constat nec ruinosa rectiùs reparabitur quà m si ad originem reducatur By William Guild D. D. and Preacher of Gods word ABERDENE Printed by IAMES BROWN 1656. TO The worshipfull and worthie of all respect DAVID WILKIE Dean of gild of Edinburgh Worshipfull Sir THere are two remarkable points of Policie which are used by the enemies of the Trueth the Papists for bearing down the same and for upholding the Dagon Diana of their idolatrous worship The first is the claime of venerable Antiquitie to be only on their side being herein like the Gibeonites who tho they dwelt near hand yet preteÌ„ded that they wer come froÌ„ a far or like the Pharisees who deryved the leaven of their new and corrupt doctrine from the verie chayre of Moses it self The second is the imputation of Noveltie to us and laying that foule aspersion on the faire face of trueth and of our profession as tho like Elihues confession of himself Iob 32. 6. the same were but young and of yesterday but theirs like Iobs other friends wâ—r onlie old or ancient which imputation indeed is no new tricke of enemies to the Trueth seing we see the same aspersion cast on our Saviours and his Apostles doctrine Act 17. 19. and whereby also Pagans laboured to make the Christian religioÌ„ at first odious to the world But we are content to be tryed by Antiquitie the old way as Ieremieâ—â—eakes 6. 16. being the only good way and as Tertullian sayeth cap. 4. ad praxeam That that onelie is trueth which is first and most ancient as that was the good seed onelie which was first sowen in the Masters field it being tares onlie which were sowen later by the envyous enemie Therfore we must distinguish between Antiquitie of Trueth which is like the Legitime first borne between Antiquitie of Errour which is later and of a bastard broode which made our Saviour to oppose to this Math. 5. it was said of old this other speech of his but from the beginning it was not so by which sort also of primitive antiquitie Ierusalem was somtimes a faithfull Citie as Isaiah calleth her 1. 21. but afterwards by the other sort became a Harlot as Ezekiel also speaketh 23. 43. waxed old in her adulteries even as Rome in likemanner was first famous for her faith throughout the world by holding the antiquitie of trueth But thereafter like Ierusalem making defection to errour and Idolatrie shee hath in likemaÌ„ner played the Harlot waxed old in her Adulteries Whose followers as Demetrius cryed up their great Diana of Ephesus or the Iewes the Temple of the Lord so tho they in likemanner cry up the holie RomaÌ„ Church Mother and Mistresse of all other yet justlie we may reply as is said of her Revel. 17. 5. That shee is a mother indeed but the Mother of harlots and abhominations of the earth and so old indeed but as Ezekiel speaketh old in adulteries and who because of the multitude of her whoredomes as the Prophet Nahum speaketh 3. 4. is the mistres of witch-crafts whose skirts the Lord hath discovered upon her face and will more and more shew the Nations her nakednes and the Kingdomes her shame who at last shall hate the Whore as Revel. 17. 16. make her dosolate eate her flesh and burne her with fire for strong is the Lord who judgeth her Howsoever therefore they upbraid us with Noveltie who are of that Apostaticke Church of Rome and synagogue of Antichrist yet it shall bâ—e seene God willing by this ensueing Treatise That 〈◊〉 Potiphars wife was onlie guiltie of that foull aspersion wherwith shee accused innoceÌ„t Ioseph so that they in likemanner are onelie guiltie of that aspersion of Noveltie which they impute to us and to our profession and that their doctrine is neither that first sowen seed in the Lords field by his Apostles whereanent Paul sayeth Gal. 1. 8. If an Angell from heaven should â—each any thing beside that which we haue taught let him be accuâ—sed nor yet consonaÌ„t thereunto but altogether disagreeable and dissonant therefra and like the supersemination mixture of the tares by the envyous enemie in the LORDS field Which paines I haue Dedicate to you Sir as a pryme lover of the Trueth and promover of learning to whom by Divine providenoe as the patronage of six Bursers of Philosophie in the Vniversitie of Saynt Andrewes Leonardin Colledge thereof now belongeth founded by that worthie and never to be foregotten Principall thereof Master ROBERT WILKIE of happie memorie So your godlie care and conscientious manageing therof with your loue to that place which oweth so much to you and to your surname hath moved mee in this barren age of encouragements to vertue and learning to single you out as fittest and most worthie to whom my pen and paines may contribute their best respects the increase of whose prosperitie and happinesse everie way I shall ever wish who am Sir Your's most affectionatlie devoted William Guild The Noveltie Of POPERIE CHAPTER I. That the most Auncient Religion is onelie true and Catholicke THERE can bee no better direction in matter of Religion than that of the Prophet saying Stand in the wayes and see and aske for the olde way which is the good way Neyther can there bee a greater prescription agaynst Hereticall pravitie than that of our SAVIOVR'S from the beginning it was not so Or can there bee a surer preservatiue agaynst the seduction of those who speake lies in Hypocrisie than that which is set downe by the Apostle S. IVDE to wit Earnestlie to contende for that Fayth which was once delyvered to the Saynctes to wit at the beginning and therefore who are sayde to bee built onelie as the Apostle speaketh vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets IESVS CHRIST Himselfe beeing the Corner-stone Therefore as it was PAVL'S Protestation to the CORINTHIANS That what hee receaved of the LORD that onelie hee delyvered vnto them So it was his precept to TIMOTHIE and TITVS To holde fast that forme of sound doctrine and word of Fayth which they had beene taught and had heard of him It was the primitiue Churcheâ— practise in lyke-manner next to these Apostolicall tymes as witnesseth Lyrinensis not to delyver their owne inventions to posteritie but to holde fast onelie that which they receaved from their Predecessoures so that as anie one more flowrished in Religion sayeth hee the more hee with-stood ever anie newe inventions Whence it is that the Church was called a diligent and warie preserver of these doctrines of Fayth which were concredit vnto her without changing anie thing ever therein without diminishing therefrae or adding anie thing thereto sayeth the same Father