Burials Penance and all manner of Divine and Ecclesiastical affairs where those who please may peruse them for their satisfaction This pious Emperor to reform all corruptions abuses in Doctrine Discipline in the Churches of France Italy Germany summoned several Councils under him being present and president in most of them Pope Leo the 3d. being distressed misit ad Carolum claves Sancti Petri Urbisque Romae vexilla alia 〈◊〉 peteâ—s ut Romanum populum Papae Sacramento fidei data subâ—iceret against their wills upon this occasion Anno 799. there was a great sedition raised at Rome against this Pope whose Opposites as he was riding in procession from his Palace of Lateran to St. Laurence Church threw him from his horse put out his eyes and cut off his tongue as they imagined leaving him naked and half dead in the Streets and afterwards thrust him into the Monastery of St. Erasmus as a prisoner whence he escaping went into France complained of this injury to Charles the Great who Anno 800. marched to Rome accompanied with this Pope where after 7. days stay calling an Assembly of the Bishops Abbots et omnem Nobilitatem Francorum et Romanorum He acquainted them that the principal cause of his comming to Rome and convening them now was De discutiendis quae objecta sunt Pontifici criminibus ejus calumniatores mortiferum ei crimen imposuerunt Rege autem hoc inquirente cum nullus esset criminis probator Pontifer assumpto Evangelii textu coram Rege et omni populo ambonem conscendit astantibusque accusatoribus invocato sanctae Trinitatis nomine jure jurando ab objectis se expurgavit c. Lo here King Charls before he was crowned Emperor sat as Supreme Judge in Rome it self examining the Crimes objected against the Pope who when witnesses failed purged himself before him and all the people by his Oath and was thereupon acquitted Immediately after by way of gratitude for his restitution to the Papacy and absolution from his objected crimes King Charls comming on Christmas day to divine Service this Pope Leo on a sudden rising from prayers Carolo nihil minus speranti as Abbas Uspergensis relates though others conceive it was by his own appointment Papa coronam imposuit et Imperatorem Romanum pronunciavit et a cuncto Romano populo acclamatum est Carolo Augusto a Deo not Papa coronato Magno et Pacifico Imperatori Romanorum vita et victoria Post quas laudes unctus ab Apostolico et antiquorum more Principum ab eo adoratur ablato Patricii nomine Imperator et Augustus appellatus est Which Mantuanus the Poet thus expresseth Imperii tandem Roma applaudente Coronam Impoâ—uâ—t Carolo tantique insignia Regni Gratia Anastatius Onuphrius Platina Stella Baronius Alvarus Pelagius Marta 〈◊〉 Schioppius Bellarmin and other Pontificians conclude from lience that the Pope is above the Emperor and may de jure dispose of Empires Kingdoms and at his pleasure translate them from one Family and Nation to another Romani Imperii 〈◊〉 Gracis per Papam ad Gallos est translata postea a Gallis ad Germanos secundum beneplacitum ejus Ita est Imperium quod antea a coelo dari creditum fuit nunc ad Papae manus devolutum Pipinum queque Caroli hujus filium illius partis Itahae regem declaravit hic Pontifex quam nec ipse nec ullus praedecessorum suorum subjicere poterant writes Balaeus and others But whosoever shall impartially consider these ensuing particulars will at first discover the falsity and absurdity of these Conclusions 1. The several Letters supplications addresses of Pope Hadrian Stephen Leo and others to Pipin Carolomannus and this King Charles to protect and desend them against Aistulphus Desiderius the Lombards Romans Exarchs and other their opposites who deposed expelled and seised upon their persons possessions from time to time who thereupon restored these Popes to yea confirmed them in their Papacy by their swords and new Charters of Donations 2ly That they submitted themselves to them as their Lords Patrons Protectors surrendred up St. Peters Keyes and the Roman Ensigns to them 3ly That the Pope Council Nobles and people of Rome granted the power of electing confirming the Pope and the Government of the See and City of Rome to this Charles and his successors 4ly That before he was crowned Emperor he sat as Judge of this Popes crimes when others refused out of fear to Judge him that after his purgation he absolved and pronounced him innocent then gave judgement of death banishment against his false accusers and persecutors beheading no lesse then 300 of them as some record 5ly That Charles by way of conquest got actual possession of Rome and Italy made himself Emperor thereof his son Pipin King of Italy and this Leo actual Pope by his own sword alone not by this Popes antecedent gift or donation who never had any precedent right in or possession of them Hence Otto Frisingensis and sundry others truly observe Qualiter Carolus assumpto Pontifice totoque populo Augustus vocatus Imperium a Gracis ad Francos transtulit Hujus virtute Regnum Francorum plurimum augmentatum est omniumque Regnorum Maximum Romanum scilicet ab Oriente ad Occidentem translatum Not by the Popes or St. Peters authority as Pontificians fancre 6ly That all this Popes Predecessors were subject to the Emperors their elections approved yea their persons judged deposed by them from time to time as the premises evidence 7ly That the people of Rome by their unanimous acclamations and assents rather elected and made Charles their Emperor then the Pope who only declared anointed crowned him Emperor ministerially as other Archbishops and Bishops crown their Kings as Cardinals Bishops crown Popes themselves not authoritatively as disposers of their Crowns Empires Kingdoms as Supream Lords thereof 8ly That this Pope together with the people of Rome and all present at Charls his Coronation cryed out That God had made and crowned him Emperor by his providences and his own victorious successes not the Pope or Romans as Carolo Augusto A DEO CORONATO c. resolves 9ly That as the High Priests and Priests anointing and crowning of David Solomon and other Kings of Judah and Jerusalem by Gods appointment under the Law gave them no Jurisdiction or superiority over their persons or Kingdoms So the Popes and Bishops annointing crowning of Emperors Kings under the Gospel warranted by no Gospel precept or president of Christ Peter or any other Apostle Bishop Priest can much lesse do it Hence Thomas Waldensis though a great Champion for the Popes and Bishops Jurisdiction and Supremacy dogmatically resolves 1. Regia potestas prima sui origine a Deo est non a Sacerdoâ—e 2. Quanquam ministerio Episcoporum Regibus imponatur Corona et insignia conferantur non est propterea dicendum Regiam illam dignitatem ortum habere a sacerdote
incense Altar which Azariah the chief Priest all the Priests looking upon drave thrust him out from thence yea himself also hasted to go out because the Lord had smitten him And he continued a Leper until the day of his death and dwelt in a several house being a Leper for he was cut off from the house of the Lord and Jotham his Sonne was over the Kings house judging the people of the Land Had the exercise of Supream Ecclesiastical power in all the premised particulars been any usurpation of the Priests Office in Moses Joshua David Solomon Asa Jehoash Hezekiah or Josiah no doubt God would have punished them as exemplarily for it as he punished King Saul and King Uzziah for offering a burnt offering and burning incense upon the Altar of incense Or as he did Corah Dathan and Abiram before them for rebelling and usurping the Priests Office in burning incense with their censers asVzziah intended to do Or as he punished and slew the men of Bethshemesh for looking irreverently into the Ark and Vzza for stretching out his hand to hold the Ark steady when it â—â—ook in the Cart when as none but Levites were by Gods special precept to come near bear or touch it whose office all these directly invaded for which they were thus signally punished by God himself But since neither of all these Kings Rulers received any check punishment at all from God or the high Priests but on the contrary praise honour blessings from God and chearfull obedience from all the high Priests Priests Levites themselves for these their sacred Ecclesiastical transactions they were doubtlesse no parts of the high Priests Priests or Levites Offices but of their own proper inherent Supream Magistratical and Regal Authority vested in them for these ends by God himself 6ly When the Kings Kingdoms of Judah and Israel were destroyed for their Idolatry and both Kings Princes people carried away Captives into foreign Nations so that they had no King nor Magistrate of their own to govern them the sacred story records that even Heathen Kings exercised Supream Authority over them in all Religious and Ecclesiastical matters as these presidents demonstrate 1. The King of Assyria sent one of the Priests they had carried away captive to the Nations he had placed in and about Samaria instead of the Israelites to teach them the manner of the God of the Land and to fear the Lord. 2. God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia to make a publike Proclamation through all his kingdom in writing for every man that would to go up to Jerusalem and build the house of the Lord God of Israel who had charged him to build it and that all should assist them with silver gold beasts besides the free-will offering for the House of the Lord Whereupon God stirring up the spirits of the chief of the Fathers of Judah Ephraim Priests Levites and others to undertake the work King Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the House of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzer had taken from thence and put in the house of his Gods and delivered them to them by number all which they carried to Jerusalem for the use of the Temple when re-built and all they that were about them in obedience to Cyrus royal Proclamation strengthned their hands with vessels of gold goods beasts and pretious things besides all willingly offered Whence God said of Cyrus He is my Shepherd and shall fulfill all my pleasure saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built and to the Temple thy foundations shall be layd and stiled him HIS ANOINTED Vpon which Proclamation and Grant of Cyrus the Jewes set up the Altar offered Sacrifices and laid the foundation of the Temple as King Cyrus King of Persia had commanded them 3ly King Darius confirmed and enlarged this Decree of Cyrus commanding his Officers not to hinder the building to furnish them with moneys out of the Kings tribute for the work and with young Bullocks Lambs Rams for burnt offerings of the God of Heaven wheat salt wine oyl according to the appointment of the Priests at Jerusalem to be given them day by day without fail that they may offer Sacrifices of rest to the God of Heaven and pray for the life of the King and of his Sonnes clozing his Decree thus Also I have made a Decree That whosoever shall alter this word let timber be pulled down from his house and being set up let him be hanged thereon and let his house be made a Dunghill for this And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all Kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter or destroy this House of God which is at Ierusalem I Darius have made a Decree let it be done with speed Whereupon the Iewes built and finished the House offered Sacrifices set up Gods worship in it according to the commandement of the God of Israel and according to the Commandement of Cyrus Darius and Artarerres King of Persia 4ly This King Artaxerxes sent Ezra the Priest up to Jerusalem and gave him sundry Vessels for the Lords house with a large Commission to like effect with that of Darius recorded Ezra 7. superadding Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven let it be done diligently for the house of the Lord of heaven for why should wrath come upon the King and his sons And thou Ezra as my Commissioner after the wisdom of thy God set Magistrates and Judges which may judge all the people that are beyond the River all such as know the Law of thy God teach ye them that know it not And whosoever will not do the Law of thy God and the Law of the King let judgement be executed â—eedily upon him whether unto death or unto banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment all Temporal and Ecclesiastical Censures to be executed by Civil Magistrates not Ezra the Priest Upon receipt of which Commission Ezra used this Thanksgiving Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this into the Kings heart to beautifie the House of the Lord c. Which Commission he punctually pursued and delivered it to the Kings Lieutenants and Governors who thereupon furthered the people and the House of God This King likewise granted his Royal Letters to Nehemah commanding the Governours there to give him Timber and stone for the building of the Temple who as the Kings Lieutenant over the Jewes there exercised Supream Ecclesiastical Authority in building the Temple directing and ordering the Priests and Levites setting up the publike worship of God observing the Sabbath and solemn Festivals constituting publike Fasts and putting the Priests from their Priesthood and the Levites who could not prove their pedigrees causing all of them that had married strange wives to enter into a Covenant to walk in Gods Laws given by Moses not to marry with strangers pay
suae partem consumpsit electus consecratus ipse tum demum ab ipsis he dying within 7. months after An. 921. Pope John the 11. Papae Laudonis cum adulterio filius Papatum quasi haereditario jure per scortationem obtinuit Theodora scortum impudens Romanae Urbis Domina veneris calore succensa eum ob mutuas scortationes Bononiensem Episcopum primo Ravennae Archiepiscopum secundo tertio ut sic insano ejus amore commodius fruiretur Romanum Papam fecit At last he was apprehended in Rome by the Souldiers of Guido Marquesse of Thuscia Anno Dom. 928. cast into prison cervicale super os ejus injecto suffocatur to set up Theodoraes daughters Bastard son Quo mortuo Marozia filium Johannem 12. quem ex Sergio Papa meretrix ipsa genuerat 〈◊〉 Papam constituerunt Sed quia Romanus Clerus populus in ejus electionem non consenâ—erant eodem anno est iterum depositus in maximo Civium tumultu Leo sextus in ejus locum suffectus Qui statim post septimum ejus regiminis mensem Anno Dom. 930. veneno sublatus à Marozia fertur ut sâ—urio locum daret Stephanus the 7. who succeeded him Anno Dom. 932. vitam cum morte per venenatum poculum ut fertur commutavit to make way for John the 12. Pope Sergius the 3. his Bastard son by Marozia formerly deposed expelled by the Romans who after the poysoning of Leo and Stephen was restored to the Papacy by the power of Marozia his Mother and Albericus his Brother during whose Papacy Metetrix mater Marozia Romae tam Regnum quam Ecclesiam regebat Pope Stephanus the 8. ita civilibus Romanorum seditionibus vexatus fuit ut nil memoria dignum ab eo geri potuerit In populari enim tumultu tam turpiter mutilatus erat ac cicatricum deformitate signatus ut puduerit eum postea in publicum prodire Adeo sancti tunc temporis Papae fuerunt ut eorum oves nulla sanctitatis aut beatitudinis aut superioritatis ipsorum habita ratione eos vulneribus afficerent he dyed ingloriously Anno 944. During all this space the Emperors by reason of their intestine Wars and Competitors for the Empire were disabled to claim or exercise their antient Imperial Jurisdiction at Rome in the election confirmation correction and deposition of these wicked scandalous Popes who were for the most part elected deposed ruled by most infamous Roman Whores and Strumpets bearing chiefest sway in Rome none of all these Popes exercising any Supreme Jurisdiction over Emperors Kings or Foreign Prelates who for the most part slighted their Authority and Bulls in all places and acknowledged their Kings Supremacy over Popes Bishops as these Histories well demonstrate Helduinus Episcopus Tungrensis Ecclesiae about the year 920. against his Allegiance revolting from King Charles the 3. of France to Henry his Enemy by great sums of money given to him and his followers procured a grant of this Bishoprick from him who by force and menaces enforced Archbishop Herimannus to consecrate him procuring sundry Clerks and Laymen likewise to swear That King Charles had conferred this Bishoprick upon him Whereupon King Charles writ a Letter to the Bishops of his Realm against this intruder Qui contra Regalem agens potestatem contra quoque Apostoli dicta ubi dicitur Deum timete Regem honorificate Et Qui potestati resistit Dei ordinationi resistit non est enim potestas nisi a Deo Et adversus cytharedi David dicta ubi ad Dominum loquitur Imposuisti homines super capita nostra Quique ultra Rhenum ad inimicos nostros proficiscens minimeque reminiscens Sacramentorum suorum nobis promissorum eaque retro deorsum abjiciens ab Henrico inimico nostro Episcopatum Tungrensis Ecclesiae expetivit suaque damnatione contra omnia statuta tam sacrorum patrum quam Regum viz. antecessorum nostrorum usurpavit c. commanding them to ordain Ruherus Bishop in his place upon the petition of the Laity and Clergy of that Church to the King whom they had unanimously elected by his License which they did accordingly Pope John the 10. in his Epistle to Herimannus Archbishop of Colen affirmed that this forcible intrusion and consecration of Helduinus into this Bishoprick absque Clericorum electione Laicorum acclamatione and Kings assent was illegal and against the Apostles rule Lay hands suddenly on noman cum prisca consuetudo vigeat qualiter nullus alicui Clerici Episcopatum conferre debeat nisi Rex cui divinitus sceptra collata sunt Concluding Quia nos Caroli Regis decus nullo modo auferre volumus sed pro vigore atque dilectione vel consanguinitate nostri dilecti filii Berengarii gloriosissimi Imperatoris ut prior antecessorum suorum Regum mos fuit eum ita illibatam atque inconcussam Dominationem obtinere delectamur et sicut Priores suos antecessores nostrorum antecessorum authoritate Episcopum per unamquamque Parochiam ordinare probabiliter statutum est ita ut Carolus Rex faciat confirmando jubemus A clear Papal concession and ratification of this their Royal prerogative of conferring Bishopricks After the death of Seulfus Archbishop of Rhemes Herebertus Earl of Aquitaine coming to Rhemes perswaded the Clergy and people to elect Hugo his sonne not above 5 years old for their Bishop and sent to Rodulphus King of Burgundy to confirm his election by his authority who thereupon by advice of some Bishops Remensem Episcopatum committit Hereberto Comiti aequitatis censura disponendum atque regendum ab ipso Qui etiam legatos Ecclesiae cum Abbone praesule Romam mittere satagit hujus electionis decretum secum ferentis assensum Papae super eum petentes Johannes itaque Papa interveniente Abbone presule petitioni corum assensum praebens Episcopium Remense Abboni Episcopo delegat quae sunt Episcopalis ministerii ab ipso in eodem Episcopio tractanda sirmanda decernens Abbo being Guardian only of the spiritualties and Count Herebertus of the temporalties during Hughs minority the Earl by force of arms turned many Clerks and Laymen out of their benefices and possessions belonging to the Archbishoprick disposing of them prolibitu suae voluntatis quibuscunque placuerit A tumult arising thereupon his souldiers slew two Canons in the Cloisters of the Church After which he called a Synod of 6. Bishops of the Province of Rhemes apud Trosteium Anno 927. Rege tamen Rodulpho contradicente In the mean time Pope John being apprehended and kept Prisoner by Wido and King Rodolph falling out with Herebertus Rodulphus Rex literas Remis mittit ad Clerum populum pro electione Praesulis celibranda ad quas illi respondent id agere se non posse salvo suo electo to wit Hugh the infant electione quam fecerant permanente The K. thereupon besieged Rhemes 3. weeks then being admitted
continuing King till his death and making his Sonne his Viceroy to supply his Government and order his house 5ly Here was no sentence of Excommunication thundred out against him with Bell Book and Candle no absolving of his Subjects from their oaths of Allegiance no exciting of them to rebell or take up Arms against him to dethrone him Wherefore Popes and Popish Prelates can no wayes justifie from this president their excommunicating deposing Kings Emperors or absolving Subjects from their Allegiance against their wills for the greatest crimes Having removed these 4. Grand Romish stumbling-blocks before under the law and Gospel out of the way of my Chronological Progresse I now proceed to my third Conclusion BOOK II. CHAP. III. III. My Third Proposition is That the Supream Government of the Church after Christs Incarnation under the Gospel was and is vested in Jesus Christ himself God and Man only as he is the King not Priest or Prophet thereof and as it is His KINGDOM And that his Priestly and Prophetical Office are united to his Kingly as the first highest in dignity order not his Regal to his Prophetical or Kingly Office BEcause this is of very great Consequence and may seem strange to Usurping Pontifs and other Prelats who appropriate the Soveraign Spiritual Jurisdiction Government over Christs kingdom Church to themselves as united to his Priestly and Prophetical not Regal Office and so derived wholly and immediately to themselves by Christ as Bishops Priests not to Kings by from and under whom they will not claim nor exercise it as a flower of Christs Crown though delegated to Kings his sole Vice-royes upon Earth not Popes or Priests who are no Kings I shall fully demonstrate its verity by pregnant Scripture-proofs 1. It is generally asserted by all Divines Old and New Pontificans and Protestants That King David and Solomon both of them anointed by Gods special command to sit upon Gods throns to be Kings for the Lord their God 〈…〉 his people Israel to do Justice and Judgement to reign over rule 〈◊〉 in the fear of God and to establish them for ever as likewise to prepare build consecrate a most 〈…〉 and holy Temple for him under the Law were both lively Types of Christ 〈◊〉 by God with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellowes as the son and seed of David to be the Soveraign King as God incarnate over his Church Saints under the Gospel which he redeemed built sanctifyed with his own blood adorned with all saving graces and in which he should sit rule as King and Soveraign Lord for ever to govern rule help protect save glorify it for eternity 2ly That Christs comming in the flesh to rule reign in and over his People for ever is alwayes prophecied of and promised in the Old Testament under the Title and Office of a King not Priest or Prophet and that he shall sit upon the Throne of David his Father to govern them as a King not Priest Witnesse I say 32. 1 2. ch 16. 5. ch 9. 6 7 8. Behold a KING shall raign in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in Judgement and a man shall be as an hiding place from the Wind and a covert from the ten post as rivers of waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land And in mercy shall his Throne be established and he shall sit upon it in truth in the Tabernacle of David Iudging and seeking Iudgement and hasting righteousnesse For unto us a Child is born unto us a Sonne is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be call Wonderfull Counsellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the PRINCE of Peace Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Isay 33. 22. Forthe Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Law giver the Lord is our King he will save us Jer. 23. 5 6. The dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise 〈◊〉 avid a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute Iudgement and Iustice in the Earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel 〈◊〉 dwell safely and this is his name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our righteousnesse c. Ezek. 27. 22 24 25. And they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all And David my servant shall be King ever them and they all shall have one Shepherd and they shall also walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the Land which I have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your Fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever Hosea 3. 5. ch 13. 9 10. Afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his Goodâ—esse in the latter dayes O Israel thou hast 〈◊〉 thy self but in me is thy help I will be thy King where is any other that may save thee in all thy Cities Jer. 33. 15 16 17. chap. 8. 19. ch 9 10. In those dayes and at that time will I cause the branch of righteousnesse to grow up unto David and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the Land In those dayes shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the house of Israel Is not the Lord in Zion is not her King in her The Lord is the true and living God and an everlasting King or King of eternity Micah 2. 13. Their King shall passe before them and the Lord on the head of them cap. 4. 7 8 9. I will make her that was cast off a strong nation and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Sion from henceforth for ever Unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem Now why dost thou cry out aloud Is there no King in thee Zach 9. 9. Rejoyce greatly O daughter of Sion shout O daughter of Jerusalem Behold thy King cometh unto thee he is is iust having salvation lowly and riding upon an Asse and upon a Colt the fole of an Asse Actualy fulfilled at Christs triumphant riding into Jerusalem and crying 〈◊〉 to the Son of David blessed is the King of Israel and blessed be the kingdom of our Father David that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest as all the four Evangelists record Zech
as the Roman Porters have forged yea the broad gate of hell but one which stands open day and night to let in prisoners who can never return back thence as I may conclude with Iohn Veselius on the one hand Claves Papae Praelatorum non aperiunt Regnum Dei sed abscondunt So I may resolve on the other That they give them no Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at all over any Churches Christians much lesse over Kings and Emperors for the premised reasons The 4th Commission which Popes and their creatures would appropriate to St. Peter and the Pope is that treble Interrogation and command given by Christ to Peter after his treble denying of him with an Oath John 20. 15 16 17. Jesus said unto Simon Peter Lovest thou me more then these He said Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Lambs Feed my Sheep Feed my Sheep From whence Popes and their Janizaries conclude That the Pope is the Universal Vicar Head over all the Church Militant that the whole world is his Diocesse and that he hath an absolute Power not only over all other Bishops Cardinals Priests but over all Christian Kings Emperors Princes not only to feed but to excommunicate depose kill them divide or give their Crowns kingdoms to others To which I answer 1. That the High Priests and Priests in the Old Testament were obliged by their office duty to feed teach and instruct their flocks as well as St. Peter and the Apostles under the New as is largely resolved with much expostulation by God himself against those who neglected it Jer 23. 1 to 16. Ezech 34. 2. to 24. Zech 11. 7. 2 Chron 17. 7 8 9. Neh. 8. 7. c. 7. 15. and other Texts But the High Priests under the Law claimed no such Soveraignty or Jurisdiction over the people much lesse over Moses Joshua Supream temporal Magistrates or their Kings by this their pastoral charge power to feed Gods sheep and flock as I have formerly proved and shall here further illustrate by the example of Aaron the first High Priest who was subject and subordinate to Moses the Israelites first chief Civil Governour being no Priest by birthright nor consecration as some Popish writers would now make him First because Aaron was his elder Brother by 3 years so the only Priest by birthright the high Priest by Moses special consecration who at his death stripped him of his high priests robes and put them on Eleazar his son 2ly Because he never consecrated himself a Priest as he did Aaron and his sons nor was he ever consecrated a Priest by others 3ly Because he never offered burnt offerings or sacrifices nor intermedled with the proper office of the Priests but charged them alone to do it 4ly Because the word Priest in Psal 99. 6. 9. whence they would conclude Moses a Priest signifies as well a Prince as a Priest and therefore cannot conclude him a Priest but Prince among them Now though Aaron was high Priest and Moses his younger brother yet Aaron was subject to his Jurisdiction Power Censure as these 2. Scriptures evidence First Moses particularly reprehended Aaron and the Priests for burning and not eating the sin-offering in the holy place according to their duty and Gods prescription for which Aaron made his Apology to him 2ly By Gods anger against Aaron and smiting his Sister Miriam with Leprosy only for speaking against Moses for marying an Ethiopian woman and using these seditious words against him Hath the Lord only spoken by Moses hath he not also spoken by us in derogation of his Authority 4ly By Aarons confessing of his sinne and craving pardon of him for it in this submissive manner Alas My Lord I beseech thee lay not this sin upon us wherein we have dealt foolishly 5ly By Aarons intercession to Moses for Miriam after God had smitten her with Leprosy and then healed her upon his prayer that she might not be put out of the Camp Which Moses refused to grant shutting her out of the Camp seven dayes ere he restored her Seeing then this Pastoral office of feeding advanced not Aaron above Moses to whom he was high Priest who continued l subject to his Supream Ecclesiastical and Civil Jurisdiction How Christs command to Peter to feed his Sheep can elevate his pretended Successors above Kings Emperors and all other Bishops no rational Christian can discern 2ly Every Apostle Minister Priest Bishop in and under the Gospel is expresly enjoyned and bound ex officio to feed Christs sheep lambs flock committed to his charge as well as Peter as is evident by this question and demand of God himself Ezech 34. 2. Should not the Shepherds feed the Flocks which infallibly intimates that they should and ought to do it under the Gospel as well as Law by Jer 11. 15. I will give you Pastors after mine own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Jer 23. 4. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them both meant of the times of the Gospel by these expresse Gospel Texts Acts 20. 28. where Paul gave this strict charge to all the Elders and Bishops of Ephesus Takeheed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to what end to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Which words Feed the Church of God are certainly as universal as Feed my sheep feed my Lambs 1 Cor 9. 7. Who Feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the milk thereof applied by St. Paul to all Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel who ought to live of the Gospel Yea which is most observable St. Peter himself as if he had purposely foreseen his pretended Successors ambitious Monopoly and claim of Feeding Christs Sheep to himself to erect a new Monarchy tyranny over them by a prophetical Spirit and purposely writ against it for ever refutes their pretences in this memorable passage 1 Pet. 5. 1 to 5. The Elders that are among you I exhort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut Compresbyter or Consenior as the Vulgar Jerom Arias Montanus and other Latin Translations render it as your fellow Elder yea fellow-shepherd too not chief Head Pastor Feeder of the Universal Church of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as Lords over or as Domineering and ruling over the Lords heritage but being ensamples to the flock And when the Chief Shepherd acknowledged by Peter himself after Christs Resurrection to be Christ alone not himself shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away Whence St. Peter expresly enjoynes them to feed the flock as Shepherds only not as Kings or Lords
Epistola 154. Domino glorioso Othoni Imperatori semper Augusto Gerbertus gratia Domini Remorum Episcopus quicquid tanto Imperatori dignum c. Paremus ergo Caesar Imperialibus edictis tum in hoc tum in omnibus quaecunque divina Majestas vestra decreverit Non enim deesse possumus obsequio qui nihil inter humanas res dulcius aspicimus vestro Imperio Epist 34. he hath the like passages Epist 12. he thus complains Ipse Caesar omnium hominum excellentissimus a furciferis asino coaequatur O amicorum fidelissime recordare quod te oraverim me malle esse nulitem in Caesarianis castris quam Regem in extraneis And in his Epistola ad Wilderodonem Episcopum Argentinensem he thus asserts the Rights of the Kings and Church of France against the Popes Usurpations Tu dicis Arunlphum incendia seditiones traditiones flagitia captivitates suorumque direptiones exercentem suorum Regum interritus molientem Patriam hostibus prodentem divina humanaque contemnentem nec communione debuisse privari nec potestate Principis abjici sine Episcopi Romani jussione cum Apostolus dicat Quia Princeps non sine causa gladium portat sed ad vindictam malefactorum laudem vero bonorum Favete omnes qui Regibus vestris fidem promisistis promissamque servare vultis qui Clerum vobis commissum populum nec tradidistis nec tradere disponitis vos inquam qui tantorum scelerum facta perhorrescitis favete his qui obediunt Deo jubenti Peccantem Ecclesiae non obaudientem habendum sicut Ethnicum Publicanum qui iterum dicit vobis Vae vobis Scribae Pharisaei qui transgredimini mandatum Dei c. Et ne quis nos in invidiam adducat quasi privilegiis Romanae Ecclesiae derogantes audiat Hieronymum dicentem Si authoritas quaeritur orbis major est Urbe Quod si persona major Presbytero quaeritur ille Sacerdos magnus Leo Papa accedat Non tenetur inquit Petri privilegium ubi non ex ejus aequitate fertur judicium c. At quid judicata si judicanda exinde non informantur aut quomodo mansuras in aeternum leges trecenti decem octo Patres constituerunt si horum constituta ad unius libitum permutantur aut perimuutur Apiarius Presbyter ab Afris damnatus a Romanis communioni restitutus est Scribunt Africani Papae Coelestino contra Nycaenam Synodum factum videri Aiunt Calumniatores nostri Summum Sacerdotem Arnulphum a Summo Sacerdote Romano debuisse tantum dijudicari ait Beatus Augustinus si Caecilianum totius Africae primatem ejus accusatores quod in vita non potuerunt post mortem convincant a sacrorum proditoribus voluminum ordinatum vel ipsum proditorem fuisse post mortem sine râ—tractatione se ei Anathema dicturum Licuit ergo Episcopis Galliarum viventi Arnulpho confesso convicto ut Ethnico Publicano dixisse Anathema licuit inquam sequi Evangelistas Apostolos Prophetas sacra Concilia vivorum Apostolorum decreta ab his quatuor non discordantia semper in usu habita semper habenda c. Pressa jacet Tyrannide omnis Ecclesia Gallorum atqui non a Gallis sed ab his a quibus sperebatur salus Sed una salus hominis ô Christe tu es Ipsa Roma omnium Ecclesiarum hactenus habita mater malis benedicere bonis maledicere fertur et quibus nec ave dicendum est communicare tuamque legem zelantes damnare abutens ligandi et solvendi potestate a te accepta So little did this Archbishop soon after made Pope esteem the pretended Supremacy of the Pope or See of Rome After the death of Pope John the 17. Otto the 3. coming with an Army into Italy jubet commanded the Romans to chuse Bruno his kinsman son of Otto Duke of Suevia Pope sperans ista ratione posse pacem stabilire quae electionibus Novorum Pontificum semper solebat perturbari Hereupon Clerus populus sibi ab Imperatore metuentes Brunonem in Pontificem eligunt called Gregory the 5. à quo Otto cum benedictionem tum Coronam Imperii accepit Ottone ad Germaniam regresso Romanus populus novarum rerum cupidus Crescentium ad consularem potestatem trabunt res Romanas ejus fidei atque industriae committunt Crescentius populus aegre ferentes Gregorium Germanum natione Auctoritate Imperatoris creatum Pontificem ideo illum sede Pontificia ejiciunt Johannem 18. natione Graecum Placentinum Episcopum hominem perniciosum insatiabili mentis ardore Papatum muneribus tumultu ac seditione aliorum Pontificum more ambientem Pontificem creant qui per factionem pecuniis corruptam sedem occupavit quod illi exitium divina ultione horridum postea peperit Gregorius ad Imperatorem se conferens de injuria queritur Imperator indigne ferens hanc contumeliam cum exercitu in Italiam redit Urbem obsedit oppugnavit impigre Hereupon the Romans deserting Crescentius and Pope John veniam ab Imperatore sibi dari petunt aperiuntque Germanis portas The Pope and Crescentius thereupon fled to the strong Castle of St. Angelo where after some assaults descendunt ad Imperatorem veniam petituri in itinere intercipiuntur Johannes Novus Pontifex effossis prius oculis auribus quoque naribus abscissis as Damianus and others write Pontificatu simul et vita privabatur On this Pope John and his followers Baptista Mantuanus bestowed these verses Pernices mercantur equos venalia Romae Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coronae Ignes Thura Preces Coelum est venale Deusque Miror ego inquit Platina Historicos Johannem istum inter Pontifices numerasse cum vivente adhuc Gregorio sedem occupasset nisi forte in conscribendis Pontificum vitis ita faciendum censeant ut in perpetua Historia fit Nam Tyrannorum perversa facta optimorum Pricipum rebus gestis annumerantur ut quantum inter se boni mali dissident à legentibus agnosci possit quo malorum exemplo a vitiis deterreantur bonorum exemplo al virtutes impulsi vitam in terris beatam ducant Qua quidem beatitudine Johannes iste caruit Fur certe in Pontificatu et latro Flores Temporum and Aventinus relate that this Pope John de Capitolio praecipitatus sit indeque esse ut nulli Pontifici invisere liceat Crescentius his Patron and advancer vili jumento imponebatur vultu ad caudam verso nasoque cum auribus abscisso ut spectaculo esset omnibus per plateas circumducebatur ac truncatis membris ante Vribis moenia patibulo suspendebatur This Emperor Gregorium 5. in pristinam Pontificum sedem restituit an unanswerable evidence of his Soveraign Jurisdiction both over the Pope City and Citizens of Rome in relation to the election and confirmation of the Roman Pontiff After which Congregata Romae Synodo the
recondendo gladio Petrum imitetur c. Esto concedimus vobis inviti eum talem esse qualem dicitis nec talis a nobis repellendus esset armis contra eum sumptis sed precibus ad Deum fusis Contra Pharaonem cujus cor contra Deum induravit Moses ranam muscam locustam grandinemque induxerat has tantum plagas non nisi orando extensis in coelum manibus avertere potuit Jeremias pro Nabuchodonozor Paulus pro Nerone orant c. Et haec exempla latius exporrigit Quis Pontificum Romanorum suis unquam decretis authorizavit ut debeat Pontifex gladio belli in peccantes uti Gregorius primus hujus nominis Papa quid omnes ante se Papae super hoc senserint quid omnes post se sentire debeant ostendit scribens Sabiniano Diacono c. Hoc exemplo omnes a primo Gregorio contenti utebantur solo gladio spirituali usque ad ultimum Gregorium qui primus se et suo exemplo alios Pontifices contra Imperatorem accinxit gladio belli c. Dicitis cum Gregorio quoquo modo liget pastor timeat grex vinculum pastoris Dicimus nos cum Gregorio ligandi solvendi potestate se privat qui subjectos pro suo velle non pro merito eorum ligat solvit Dicitis quoque modo excommunicatur si morte praevenitur damnatur Hic nobis succurrit Romanae Ecclesiae authoritus Gregorius enim primus scripto facto exauctoravit quod potest Romanus Pontifex absolvere excommunicatum in juste ab aliquo Si hoc potest Romanus praesul quis neget etiam Deum posse absolvere si quem praesul Romanus injuste excommunicaverit Nemo enim potest ab alio laedi nisi prius laedatur a semetipso nullum vero sacrificium Deo gratius offerre poterit Robertus quam si nos persequatur Quaero a te O mater mea Romana Ecclesia Num Deo placeat sacrificium nisi sit mundum immaculatum Quale ergo quomodo tam gratum est Deo hoc bellandi Sacrificium quod non potest fieri sine macula culparum quod caput multis Scriptura locis explicat Et hoc inquit tibi ac militibus tuis in peccatorum remissionem praecipimus Hic quid dicam nescio quo me vertam non video Si enim utriusque legis totam bibliothecam si omnes totius bibliothecae veteres expositores revolvam exemplum hujus Apostolici praecepti non inveniam Solus Hildebrandus Papa ultimam manum sacris Canonibus imposuit quem legimus praecepisse Mathildi Marchionissae in remissionem peccatorum suorum ut debellaret Henricum Imperatorem Tumque ex Scriptura aliquot Gregorii locis veram peccata remittendi rationem edisserens qua nemp peccatori peccatum suum ob oculos ponitur quod confiteatur agnoscat indeque ejus gravitatem expendat dolore coâ—punctus viva fide remedium in Christo quarat concludit haec ipsa Leodiensis Epistola his verbis Hunc morem discrete ligandi solvendi hactenus tenebas nobis tenendum mandabas O sancta mater Romana Ecclesia Unde ergo haec nova authoritas per quam reis sine confessione poenitentia offertur praeteritorum peccatotum immunitas futurorum libertas Quantam fenestram malitiae patefecisti hominibus 〈◊〉 mater liberet Deus ab omni malo Sit Jesus tibi ostium sit ostiarius nullus in te introeat nisi cui ostiarius aperuerit Te inquam tuumque Praesulem liberet ab his qui ut ait Micheas seducunt populum Dei qui mordent dentibus suis praedicantem pacem Et si quis non dederit in ore eorum quippiam sanctificant super eum bellum This Pope after Conrades death perceiving he could not work his design to depose the Emperor who upon Conrades long unnatural rebellion against him had declared his Son Henry Copartner with him in and Successor to the Empire by Decree of the German Princes but by engaging Henry to revolt and take up arms against his Father as Conrade had done by his Legate and Agents perswaded Henry against his filial duty and express Oath never to bear arms against his Father suddenly to desert and raise Forces both to imprison and dethrone him To prevent which design Henry the Father Anno 1103. published his intention to leave the Government of the Empire wholly to his Son and to take a voyage to relieve the Holy land whereby many were encouraged to accompany him thither and the malice of his enemies abated for the present but he deferring his expedition thereupon An. 1105. his Son Henry by the advice of the Pope of some German Princes Prelates rebellionem adversus Patrem in Boiaria parat most unnaturally departing privily from his Fathers side as an Heretick excomunicated by the Pope soon after to engage all the Hildebrandian Papal faction to side with him against his Father Primo haresin Investiturarum anathematizans Apostolicae sedis Pontifici debitam profitâ—tur obedientiam indeque foederatis sibi Noricis principibus atque ab Alemannia necnon ab Orientali Francia nonnullis Nobilibus ad Saxones conâ—enitur the old seditious Rebels A quibus honorifice susceptus in brevi universis Saxoniae civitasibus potitus ab optimatibus est dignitate Regia satis honoratus Consilio tamen atque ministerio Ruothardi Moguntini atque Gebehardi Constantiensis Episcopi responsalium scilicet Domini Pascalis Papae being the Popes Legates and Commissioners totam Saxoniam Romanae Ecclesiae reconciliavit After which this Usurper of his Fathers Throne by his new Imperial authority Episcopis atque Clericis Conventum generalem in villam regiam quae Northusam dicitur quarto Calendas Junii indixit ubi super Ecclesiasticae institutionis jam depravata disciplina tractaretur Convenit igitur magnus Episcoporum Abbatum Monachorum turba In quo Concilio super sententiis instantibus Patrum decretis primo relictis quaecunque poterunt ad praesens laudabiliter corrigebantur quaedam vero quae graviora videbantur ad Apostolicam audientiam differebantur Simoniaca quippe haeresis Patrum consuetudine condemnata ibid. ab omnibus condemnata Deinde as the Century Writers observe Investiturae jus totum Romano idolo consecrabant et involabant plenissimis oribus Nam Henricus hactenus majorum authoritatem et privilegia contra furorem Romanorum Praesulum tutatus fuerat Et hac quidem in parte Henrici filius Papam omnium maxime fricare studebat sed postea in similes poenas justo Dei judicio incidit Hoc igitur Investurae jes quod sibi politici arrogabant per invidiam nonnulli Scriptores Papae Simoniam appellabant His vero qui a Pseudo-Episcopis as they deemed all who received Investitures from the Emperor fuerant consecrati per Catholicam manus impositionem reconciliatis proximo â—ejunio danda fore