was learned He like some schismaticks now accounted humane learning heresie and so they may see their error is popish while they condemn learning as if it were popery Next comes Sixtus the fourth Innocentius the eight Alexander the sixt who imprisoned and banished many Cardinals Then followed Pius the third and next Julius the second who by the Emperour Maximilian and the King of Spain and France's aids spoiled the Venetians of many territories yet he received them again into favor and so discontented the Emperour and the King of France that they thought to depose him by their Councill at Pisa But he called another Councill at Rome which disanulled all they did at Pisa He lived in wars all his time Leo the tenth succeeds him He endevoured to suppresse Martin Luther but could not Adrianus the sixt followed and threatned the Duke of Saxony for maintaining Martin Luther Clement the seventh succeeds who poisoned many and was poisoned himselfe Paulus the third followeth whose authority in England was abrogated by King Henry the eighth who called himselfe supreme head in his own dominions in all causes Ecclesiastick and Civill He cursed King Henry the eighth of England therefore and interdicted the Kingdome ratified the order of Jesuites and called a Councill at Trent where the Protestants would not appear because they said that Councill was not lawfully called and the Pope sate Judge who was the party they were to accuse of errors and abusing the Church He carried the Councill to Bononia Iulius the third followed who brought it back again to Trent and sent in Queen Maries daies Cardinall Pool to absolve England from the interdiction of Paul the third But havock was made in England of Protestants Paulus the fourth followed who hated Charls the Emperour who resigned his government to his son Ferdinand and died in a Monastery The Pope approved not this election but Ferdinand esteemed not of his approbation Pius the fourth followed In his time the Councill of Trent called by Paul the third was dissolved which had sate six yeers only of eighteen But before that he sent an Embassador into England to invite the Clergy to that Councill but Queen Elizabeth would not suffer him to land Nor would the Germans send any Scotland also revolted from popery He massacred Protestants at Montalto in Italy to the number of eighty because they met at an house to hear a Sermon They were drawn out one by one and their throats cut but none recanted their Religion Pius the fifth followed who with the Venetians and the King of Spain and his own aids overcame the Turks at Lepanto under the conduct of John of Austria Gregory the thirteenth followed He founded a new Colledge for Jesuites and gave it great revenues to bring up schollers to convert the Germans The Guises faction and the Queen Mother made an horrid massacre in Paris of the Protestants whom they called Huguenots 1572. Which act this Pope commended and sent Charls King of France 40000. Duckats to set forward the war against them This Pope set forth a new Kalender Sixtus the fift followed who excommunicated the King of Navar and the Prince of Condie both Protestants Now was Henry the third killed by a Frier Clement the eighth absolved Henry the fourth King of France from the excommunication of Sixtus the fifth upon his abjuration of the protestation by his Orators which King was slain by a proselyte of the Jesuits called Ravilack Mathe. I desire to know how the Protestant Religion came in and whether it be ancient and how it hath been persecuted by the Pope his adherents whether Princes or Prelates and by what heresies opposed for the Papists still upbraid us that our Religion was begun by Luther who began an innovation in the time of Pope Leo the tenth Against whom Henry the eighth of England did write and obtained the title from the Pope of Defender of the faith Phila. You are to understand that the substantiall points of the Protestant Religion are the same which are grounded upon Scripture and maintained from the Primitive times by the Church Christian but obscured in tract of time by divers heresies and popish traditions which like tares and weeds over-grew the good seed which yet still appeared in divers places of the field of the Catholike Church plain enough to prove a visible being both of the truth and professors of it till the Protestants made a more full declaration of it by refining the old truths from the drosse of heresie and popish superstition Mathe. I desire to have a more plain view of those hereticks that turned from Gospell truths And secondly how the Pope sell off being that the Roman Church did oftentimes excommunicate those hereticks And thirdly how the Protestants came to reform themselves they being once in the bowels of the Romish Church Phila. You know I have shewed many already among the persecuting hereticks yet it shall not be irksome to me if it be not to you to view them a little better especially the Manicheans who sprung up before Arrius with which heresie Augustine was entangled but the Lord God that bringeth good out of evill converted him by the pains of Ambrose Bishop of Millain and he became a great light to Gods people and a confuter of that cursed heresie Manicheus opinions were that there were two beginnings one evil and the other good which is all one as to say there be two Gods No wonder if their patron Manes called himselfe the Holy Ghost Maniches as Montanus did if he proceeded from such principles This Manes forbade flesh and wine neglected the old Testament ascribed the sin of man not to his free will Vid. Aug. cont Mani but necessity because he said mans body was made of the substance of the Prince of darknesse He died a fearfull death Theo. l. 4. c. 4. For as Arrius voided his guts at a draught-house before he came to dispute against the truth so this Manes was sent for being a Persian by the King of Persia to cure his son who died in his hands and he was imprisoned but escaped yet heard of in Mesopotamia was taken and flead Socrat. l. 1. c. 21. and his skin stuffed and set up at the gate of the City Mathe. Sir lest it be too much trouble to you and no great benefit to me to recite all the heresies I desire only the chiefe of them which do directly oppose true Religion Phila. I intend so and therefore first I will shew you the ancient heresies and then the modern that you may see how far the latter are raked out of the former We find some holding God to be like a man because Gen. 1.21 God is said to make man after his image Anthropomorphites but that in the soule and the endowments thereof wisedome and righteousnesse The Author of this heresie was one Ardaeus a Syrian Then followed the Messalians called Euchitae because they thought the whole duty of
fourth succeeds Pope Joan or John the eight born in Mentz went to Athens in mans apparell came to Rome and was to the Popedome advanced proved with child delivered as she was going to the Church of Lateran of whom Anastasius a Chronologer who lived about this time maketh no mention for shame of the fact but passed it Benedict the third honoured much the funerals of the Clergy with his own presence and desired the Bishops might by the whole Clergie Nicolaus the first succeeds him who suffered the Emperour Ludovicus the second to alight and lead his horse by the bridle a full mile He permitted divorces without consent of parties as the Anabaptists do and or dained that the Clergy should not be subject to civill Magistrates seats of Judicature And that none should receive the Sacrament from a married Clergy man and that the Emperour should not be present at Ecclesiasticall meetings unlesse some point of faith were to be handled and the common service of the Church to be in Latine in all Churches but dispensed with Sclavonia and Polonia He added to the Liturgie the Hymn of Glory be to God on high Hadrian the second succeeds who proudly commanded the King of France Carolus Calvus to let Hircmanus Bishop of Laudunum to appeale to Rome after his condemnation by a Councill in France but he refused However John the ninth his successor crowned him Emperor and after him Balbus and then Crassus all three named Charls Hadrian the third ordained that the Clergy and people of Rome should chuse their Pope without attendance upon the Emperours allowance or leave And that after the death of Carolus Crassus who died without succession that the imperiall title and government of Italy should belong to an Italian Prince which bred great contention and debate among the Princes and much trouble to the Chair of Rome every Prince striving to advance him to it that was most friend to himselfe Stephanus the fifth followed who ordained that whatsoever the Church of Rome appointed was to be perpetually observed Pormosus succeeds him who crowned the Emperour Arnulphus and then Boniface the sixt was next Then Stephanus the sixt who offered great violence to the dead body of Formosus cutting off his fingers and disanulling his ordination yea and his crowning the Emperour Arnulphus and set up Albertus Marquesse of Tuscia in his stead Now Antichrist appears more then ever before by putting down and setting up Emperours Romanus succeeds him and nuls the decrees of Stephanus Theodorus succeeds him and alloweth them againe John the tenth nuls the decrees of Stephanus the sixt and alloweth them of Formosus How were these men led infallibly by the spirit Sergius the third who again took up the body of Formosus after eight yeers and beheaded it He loved Marozia and on her begot a son who was afterward made Pope and called Iohn the twelfth Pope Iohn the thirteenth committing adultery was slain by the womans husband but first deposed by a Councill called by Otho the first Emperour Leo the eighth succeeds who finding and being weary of the sedition and insolence of the Roman people resigned the chusing of Popes to the Emperour Iohn the fourteenth succeeds who first brought in baptizing of bels and he called the great bell of the Church of Lateran by his own name Iohn Then Gregory the fifth who after much trouble by the advice of the Emperour O ho the third The seven Electors of the Empire appointed made a constitution of seven Electors to chuse the Emperour for the time to come which continueth still namely the Bishops of Mentz Colen and Tryer the Count Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh and in case of difference the King of Bohemia Next followed Sylvester the second Platina a great scholler but a Magician He enquired of the devill how long he should live Pope he did answer him till he said masse at Ierusalem which fell out at a Chappell so called at Rome where this Pope saying masse in Lent was stricken with a feaver of which he died Mathe. But yet we hear of no great persecutions Phila. True Why no great persecution yet by the Pope because yet the Church was of one language and none stands up against the corrupt tenets of Rome Mathe. Why do you then reckon up this bedroll of Popes Phila. Because you may know how and by whom corruption crept in which corruption being contradicted by some whom God enlightned then began persecutions Mathe. I pray now go on Phila. I have not nor shall trouble you with all of them but with some who have acted things very remarkable Therefore after Sylvester the second and divers other Popes Leo the ninth called a Councill against Berengarius who denied transubstantiation Nicolaus the second followed who forced by a Councill Berengarius to recant who did yet afterward wrote against transubstantiation He was poisoned as other Popes before him Alexander the second followed who denied to rule as Pope without the Emperours consent For which he was beaten in a chamber by Hildebrand in his pontificials and cast into prison where he died Hildebrand called Gregorius the seventh succeeds He called the marrigâ—e of Priests the heresie of the Nicolaitans and receiving Ecclesiasticall preferments and offices from Lay men though Princes symony About this time William the Conquerour came into England This was brought to passe by the thunder of excommunications which made the Emperour Henry the fourth travell to Rome in the hard winter to get absolution from the Popes curse Vrbanus the second excited Princes to war against the Turks who had got Jerusalem This he did in a Councill held at Cleremount in France and by divers Princes recovered it for a while But this war made Christian Princes so weak both in power and purse that the Pope more easily brought them all under his girdle Paschalis the second succeeds him who at the Church of Lateran had a scepter put into his hand and girded with a girdle having seven seals and keies hanging at it signifying his power of binding and loosing shutting and opening sealing and resigning and judging He excommunicated Henry the fourth the Emperour and excites his son Henry the fifth against him He took up the corps of Henry the fourth and kept it above ground five yeers Well did the Bishop of Florence write in this Popes time that Antichrist was born and manifested to the world and therefore he was silenced by the Councill of Florence which this Pope called and his book burnt You see how persecutions began now upon Emperours and Bishops This Pope would not crown Henry the fifth Emperour unlesse he would give over his right of investment of Bishops by the staffe and ring but the Emperor laid hold of him and his Cardinals and compelled him to do it and the Pope solemnly divided the holy Host between him and the Emperour and wished that he might be divided from the Kingdom of
Boniface the third had got the title of universall Bishop they began to break out into strange opinions and manners as that the Chair of Rome was infallible as you see in Pope Agatho his decree and excommunicating Emperours and suffering them to kisse his feet as did Pope Constantine the first and others Condemning Priests marriage and setting up the the service of the Church in Latine as did Nicolaus the first and that whatsoever the Church of Rome appointed should be perpetually observed as did Stephanus the fifth and setting up the Masse Purgatory Pilgrimages adoration of images invocation of Saints and transubstantiation and setting themselves above generall Councils in determinations of faith so that no decree or Canon could passe without the Popes approbation They getting thus aloft suppressed all that withstood their tenets From hence it came that the true Religion became eclipsed yet some God raised up in every age who wrote against both their pride and errors though by reason of the over ruling power of the Church of Rome they could not so plainly appear as in the time of Luther and afterwards For Basilius Magnus writes to the Bishops of the West that if they held themselves to be the head yet they could not say to the feet Bas transmar Ep. 77. About the 4th century of years I have no need of you which plainly reproved the Popes usurping supremacy as well as do the Protestants Gregory Nyssâ—n wrote against Pilgrimages to Jerusalem Mount Olivet and Bethelem saying that Pilgrimages from carnall lusts to the righteousnesse of God is acceptable to him Hist Magd. cent 4. cap. 10. and not pilgrimages from Cappadocia to Palestina and that no rewards will be given in the life to come but for such things which are done by the command of God so the Protestants hold also So Hilarius the Bishop of Arls opposed Leo Bishop of Rome by acknowledging that the Bishop of Rome had no dominion over the Churches of France For which though they accused him as a usurper yet he nothing regarded the Popes curses but went to Rome Leo ad Gal. Epis Ep. 77. 89. and to the Popes face maintained that Christ did not appoint Peter to be head over the rest of the Apostles nor had the Pope from Peter any such power so hold the Protestants So the Councill of Constantinople called by the Emperour Constantinus Copronymus deposed and excommunicated Germanus the Patriarch of that City for allowing the worshipping of images which sin also the Protestants abhor Serenus the Bishop of Marsieles in France brake down all images in the Church of his Diocesse more then 1000. yeers past so the Protestants So Albertus Gallus and Clement and Sampson Scotish men said Hist Magd. cent 8. cap. 10. that the Pope of Rome was the author of lies a disturber of the Christian peace a corrupter and a deceiver of the people and for this suffered bonds and imprisonment in France by the procurement of Pope Zacharias So the Protestants hold So Claudius Thurinensis cast down images and abolished the worshipping of the crosse out of his Diocesse of Thurin by Piedmont and said they might as well worship the Asse upon which Christ did ride and said that he was not to be accounted an Apostolike Bishop that sate in the Apostolike Chair but he that performed the Apostolike Office So think the Protestants Theophilactus Bishop of Bulgaria writ that Antichrist would spring up in the decay of the Roman Empire and called the marriage of Priests honourable and a step to Church government So held St Paul 1 Tim. 3.4 5. So the Protestants hold Berengarius a Deacon at Argiers writ against the popish opinion of transubstantiation or conversion of the bread and wine in the Sacrament into the very body and blood of Christ But he following the opinion of Augustine and Joannes Scotus he was condemned unheard by a Councill called at Rome by Pope Leo the ninth for an heretick Whose opinion the Protestants also do hold Radulphus Patriarch of Antiochia refused to be subject to the Pope of Rome saying that Antiochia was the ancient Chair of St Peter and therefore had a prerogative above Rome So think the Protestants if St Peters being Bishop of a place can give prerogative Arnulphus in his preaching Opus Tripart much reproved the Roman Clergy for their lewd lives of the number of holy daies spent rather in lawlesse pleasures then devotions and against the number of begging Fryers and the unchast behaviour of Church-men He was drowned by them in the night as is reported About this time sprung up Waldus of whom you have heard formerly His opinions be these following 1. That the Scriptures are only to be beleeved in matters of faith and contain all things necessary for faith and manners 2. That Christ is the only Mediator and that Saints are not to be invoked 3. He held traditions not necessary to salvation and denied Purgatory and Masses sung for the dead 4. That constrained fast daies and making difference of meats superfluous holy daies variety of superstitious orders of Priests and Monks Friers and Nuns hallowing of creatures vowes and also pilgrims and humane ceremonies were to be abolished and that no degrees should be received into the Church but Bishops Priests and Deacons 5. They denied the Popes supremacy over other Churches States and Governments 6. That the Church of Rome is spiritual Babylon and the Pope Antichrist and rejected the Popes pardons and allowed the marriages of Priests 7. And that they that hear the true word of God and beleeve it are the true Church 8. And that the Communion was to be eaten and not reserved for shew or worship For which opinions they endured persecutions of Pope Alexander the third who excited all Christian Princes to persecute them with fire and sword all which the Protestants hold for which they also have been persecuted as shall appear Hildebertus also abhorred the pride of Rome and said that Rome if it had no Rulers or at least such as did not violate the faith Bernard Abbot of Claravell held free justification by Christs merits and thought that all Christian people had conspired against Christ and that those were the chiefe persecutors that had the highest places in the Church So thought Protestants Nichetes Bishop of Nicomedia held against Anselmus Bishop of Havelburgh that the Pope was not the principall Bishop and that the power of binding and loosing was not given to Peter but also to all the rest of the Apostles even as they all received graces alike on the day of Pentecost Act 2. So hold the Protestants About 1300. yeers after Christ 1300. true Religion began to be much darkened by schoole disputations by many that followed school disputations and Peter Lombards Sentences as Albertus Magnus Aquinas Alexander de Ales and Scotus called Dunce of the Town in Scotland where he was born but of a most subtile wit But God still stirred
Religion or to set fasting in absteining from flesh for conscience sake and yet at the same time to eat that which is far more delicious is meer hypocrisie yet we agree in the end of fasting that it is profitable to make the soule more attentive in Gods service that the rebelliousnesse of our flesh may be subdued and to professe our unworthinesse of Gods creatures and to testifie in humiliation for the aversion of judgements which we either feele or fear So they teach that a man may not only do all the Commandements of God but also do more than they require which they call works of supererrogation But it is said that by nature we are not subject to the law neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 and by grace we cannot do it of our selves but Christ is the end of the Law to them that beleeve and so we do the law only by faith in Christ Gal. 2.16 and thereby are justifi'd Again they adore and worship Saints and yet they know not what knowledge the Saints have of them Isa 63.16 Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel doth not acknowledge us said Isaiah We may have a reverend remembrance of them and give God thanks for their patterns and lights of godlinesse to us and we ought to imitate their examples but to give them civill worship now they are absent is simplenesse and to give them religious worship is idolatry I know they pretend they intercede for us and present mens praiers to God which if it could be proved it might perswade some men to give them a petition in speciall as to a Kings favourite to prefer our suits But we know of no mediator between God and man but the man Christ Jesus So they say that if one beleeve the generall points of faith it is enough we are for the doctrins built thereupon to believe as the Church believes which beliefe is called implicit faith It is true that at first we do assent to truth out of respect and regard to the Church that relates it as the Samaritans did believe at first for the womans sake but at last for Christs sake So they hold praying for the dead John 4.42 because they hold also there is a purgatory where men are purged by pains which satisfie for veniall sins and for their temporall punishment of their mortall sins But we know of but one satisfaction for sin the least of which we cannot be freed from but by the infinite merit of the blood of Jesus Christ therefore no particular man being dead can lawfully be praied for because he is determined of God in his condition So they hold the Pope supreme over all causes and persons Kings and Bishops and all because he was they say Peters successor yet Peter was not Bishop of Rome and so his succession is surreptitious nor would the Greek Church ever acknowledge the Pope of Rome to be supreme but only the Bishop of the chiefe See because Rome was the imperiall City So they say that Sacraments do not only represent to us Christ and his benefits and instruments whereby God conveies them to us but also that they have a physicall force to give grace and also that the very administration giveth grace as it is a work done which doth much invade Gods prorogative So they make repentance a meritorious cause of remission of sin but how can a temporall penance or a finite sorrow merit for an infinite transgression let them shew that and they shall make many an Esau glad and a sullen Ahab to rejoice The next turbulent people are the Papists called Jesuits Jesuits Their order began in the time of Pope Vrban the fift Their patron or founder was Ignatius Loyala a Spanish souldier they pretend to Visions and Revelations like the Anabaptists and say that the Virgin Mary appeared to this Ignatius with Jesus in her arms and perswaded him to erect this order upon which it seems they call themselves Jesuites though they supplant his Gospell wheresoever they come This order was confirmed by Pope Paul the third and Pope Gregory the thirteenth gave them a place in Rome to build them a Collegde which cost a vast sum of monie Some say 25 tun of gold They have a Governor called their Generall who hath power to command them what he please and they respect his commands as divine oracles and to send abroad his Emissaries who transform themselves like Proteus into all shapes of professions to do mischiefe Their errors are very destructive to policie and piety for they hold the oath of allegiance unlawfull but lawfull to lay violent hands on Kings and Princes Vid. Mariana adv Anticot if the Pope do but frown upon them by his curse or excommunication They say that the Pope is only a Bishop by divine right and that all Bishops hold their power and office from him But some Cardinals and Bishops that be Papists Vid. Hist of the Councill of Trent are not of that mind but hold just contrary These are by their learning the chiefe maintainers of Antichrist and all its abominations Index Expurg and have corrupted the writings of the Fathers and makes them speak what they list They have been the fathers of all foule plots and treasons the most vile cozening imposters that ever were as you may read of their presenting the head of a dead man to the King of the Georgians Hist of Grego Hieromonachus 1626. making him to beleeve that it was his mothers head who was taken and slain by the Persians because she spake against Mahomet Another disturber of the Churches peace in these latter times were the Familists Familists whose patron or founder was David George of Delfe who called himselfe John of Bridges and affirmed that he was the true David that should restore the Kingdome to Israel That the Scriptures were only to keep men in order till his comming but he was able by his doctrine to save those that would beleeve him and that he was the right Messias and that the spirit of Christ was given to him and that the Church of Christ must not be built up by patience and suffering but meeknesse and love and that whosoever spoke against his doctrine should never be forgiven He died in August 1556. though he had promised he should never die After him appeared Henry Nicolas born at Amstelrodam in Holland who maintained the same doctrine in his own name He was called the New man or the Holy nature Vid. Disco of Anab. errors p. 89. They teach that Adams state of perfection may be attained in this life and that all of their Family of Love are as innocent as ever Adam was and that the resurrection of the body is fulfilled in them and they acknowledge no other like Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2.17 His followers accounted him the Son of God that was to come to judge the world and whosoever obeieth not his doctrine shall
Constantinople and he was chosen by the full consent of the Clergy and Laietie yet none of them laied hands on him but Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria Socrat. lib. â— cap. 12. nor doth the fourteenth of the Acts from the Greek word prove any such thing for the word though by some strained will not properly signifie the holding up of hands in election but rather an institution of one to an office or if it did yet is there no mention made in that Chapter of such gesture used by any except Paul and Barnabas Acts 14.23 nor doth that place of Timothy 1 Tim. 4.14 which only text nameth Presbyterie in the New Testament where it is said Timothy had the hands of the Presbyterie laied upon him prove any such association of Presbyters and Lay-men with the Apostle For first 2 Tim. 1.6 if Timothy were at that time made an Elder or Bishop sure it was not by Lay-Elders for the lesse cannot blesse the greater If preaching Elders shall be understood in the word Presbyterie then Presbyters ordained Presbyters or Bishops which we cannot find exemplified in the new Testament What then was the Presbyterie here Chrysostome tels us they were not Elders Chrys hom 13. in 1. Tim. 4. Hieron in 1 Tim. 4. but Bishops And for the word Presbyterie Jerome expounds it for the office that Timothy was called to viz. of a Bishop So doth Primasius and Haymo and Lyra say that Presbyterium is the dignity of an Elder or Bishop yea Calvin saith as much upon that place of Timothy Theodor. in 1 Tim. Theoph. in 1 Tim. Calv. Instit l. 4. c. 3. S. 16. yea Ambrose Theodoret and Theophylact before him and if so the sense must be thus as Calvin gives it Stir up the gift of God that is in thee by laying on of my hands not of others as if he had said look that the grace be not in vain which thou receivedst by imposition of hands when I created thee an Elder and so confesseth that he understandeth not 1 Tim. 4.14 to intend by Presbyterie the Colledge of Presbyters but only the ordering of Timothy to become an Elder Indeed that the Presbyterie laied hands on Timothy together with St Paul no place doth evidently shew and in that very place 1 Tim. 4.14 the word hath you see a divers signification but that St Paul himselfe alone did it that place of 2 Tim. 1.6 clearly sheweth whose hands alone were sufficient without the hands of the others to give one a degree above themselves namely to make Timothy an Evangelist to accompany Paul in his travelling or to make him a Bishop which was of no effect and of as little to make him an Elder or Presbyter because the lesse must be blessed of the greater namely such as had the grace of imposition of hands committed to them which Presbyters had not Therefore the Presbyterie spoken of 1 Tim. 4.14 if a number of men yet must be such as had Apostolike grace Theodor. in 1 Tim. 4. as saith Theodoret and if they had Apostolike grace yet could they not convey it without the Apostles hands for though God bestowed the spirit upon others as well as upon them as on the 70 disciples Aug. in Epist Joh. tract 2. and the rest Acts 1.15 as St Aug. witnesseth yet we read not any of them gave the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands but the Apostles Therefore we read of the seven Deacons were men full of the Holy Ghost before they were chosen Acts â— 3 and yet after that the Apostles had laied hands on them and that Philip preached and baptized at Samaria Chrys hom 18. in cap. 8. yet he laied hands on none of them but they received the Holy Ghost afterward by Peter and John Acts 8.15 because this was peculiar to the Apostles Mathe. Why did the Apostles use imposition of hands in their instituting Pastours and Teachers in the Church being it was an old ceremony among the Jewes Phil. It was an old ceremony indeed used in making praiers for any As Jacob did Gen. 48. in blessing the children of Joseph So Moses on Ioshua Num. 27. So on the heads of their sacrifices Levit. 13.4 So in accusation the Elders laid their hands upon Susanna And Christ did not reject it Mark 10. he laied his hands on children when he blessed them and Mark 6. on the sick when he cured them Now the Apostle Mark 16. receiving it from their masters example and warrant use the same ceremony in their dispensations as Paul on the father of Publius Acts 28. Ananias on Paul that he might receive sight Acts 9. So when the seven were chosen Acts 6. and Paul and Barnabas separated Acts 13. they had the hands of the Prophets laid on them So Paul on the Disciples that had not experience of the Holy Ghost Acts 19. laied his hands and made them Ministers of Ephesus Beza in Annot. act cap. 19. whereas yet were no godly assemblies to elect them nor Presbytery to join with him Mathe. What was the generall rule for elections and ordinations in the Apostles time Phila. We find three sorts 1. By the spirit 2. By lots 3. By voices Matthias was chosen by lot Acts 1. Paul and Barnabas by the spirit speaking by himselfe immediatly Acts 13. Timothy was designed by the spirit speaking in the Prophets who after received imposition of hands from St Paul By voices and suffrages I find some propounded Acts 6. but not ordained save by the Apostles and such to whom they gave Apostolike power as to Timothy and Titus Mathe. What need was there then of imposition of hands if chosen by the spirit or by lot guided by the spirit Phila. As a testimony that they were so ordained as the spirit had appointed So Barnabas and Saul Acts 13. with fasting and prayer were separated to convert the Gentiles not upon their own heads but by a solemn way they were commended to the grace of God for prospering the work For imposition of hands is not alwaies taken for ordination to be an Elder but also for a commending of a man by praier to the work propounded and so the Prophets might well join with St Paul in praier over Timothy 1 Tim. 4.14 Mathe. But we find others joined with the Apostles in deciding doubts of faith as Acts 15.6 So in delivering some up to Satan 1 Cor. 5. Phila. For the doubts in a point of faith of that concernment the Apostles no doubt were content that the professors in Jerusalem should come together but for the determination we find none medling in that Councill but Peter by way of advice ver 7. and James the Bishop of Jerusalem giving the definitive sentence ver 19. my sentence is that you trouble not the Gentiles about circumcision c. And for delivering up to Satan you may see it was done by decree of St Paul upon the incestuous person 1 Cor 5. I have determined as if present
his Church and shall in the end of the world be given up to God the Father again 1 Cor. 15.25 28. in the mean time he is by dispensation the head and sole monarch of the Church But he hath neverthelesse a government ministeriall not only invisible by his spirit and Angels John 16.7 Heb. 1.14 but a visible ministration by the word and wholesome discipline to the exercise whereof some men are by his appointment delegated for the helping our infirmities and speaking to us in Christs absence 2 Cor. 6.1 And this hath alwaies been done by Bishops and Presbyters Acts 20.28 who by the Holy Ghost were made overseers of the flock not secular men though Princes had ever this externall government in the dispensation of spirituall things committed to them for then how was the Church ruled for 300 years after Christ till the daies of Constantine yet the secular power is to govern men as men but the ministers only governs them as Christians and therefore in this case Princes themselves have not refused subjection to this ministeriall government of Christ as the Emperour Theodosius to St Ambrose Bishop of Millane Theod. lib. 5. cap. 17. Nor have any dared to usurp their office without some exemplary punishment as Uzzah and Uzziah till these latter times 2 Sam. 6.7 wherein any tradesman dare take upon him the office of a minister and a seutor to be a soule member Beside if this ministeriall government were committed to secular powers then they might give the Sacrament and a woman if a Prince might preach too notwithstanding St Paul 1 Cor. 14.34 But we find Jehosaphat to distinguish the civill power 2 Chro. 19.5.8 from the ecclesiastick ministry in the Old Testament and surely the Church of the New Testament was not left to confusion in government 1 Cor. 14.40 Therefore the ancient Fathers have reproved even Emperors Amb. Ep 33. de Valentin Imper. Athanas Ep. ad agintes vitam solit when they took upon them to meddle with things divine which was no part of their administration for though God had committed to them the Empire yet to the minister the sacred things the mysteries whereof they are to teach not to be taught yet religious Magistrats are to rule over ministers by their civill power to which ministers are to subject themselves yea they may and ought to correct negligence in the practise of religion and vice which is a scandall to religion yea and heresies blasphemies and sacriledge proved to be so by Ecclesiasticall judgement but not to define points of faith nor to exercise ministeriall offices It is true that Moses Eli and Samuel and others did exercise both offices many times yet we cannot argue from an extraordinary action in a state not fully setled that it should be so in a setled Church and State for by the same reason a Priest may act the office of a Prince or a Judge at any time as did Moses Eli and Samuel But we find when the Priesthood was setled that Moses then medled not with Aarons businesse and Eli and Samuel were Judges by an extraordinary call in a corrupted State but ordinarily it was otherwise So in the New Testaments Church holy things were alwaies ordinarily and ordinately administred by Bishops and Presbyters Eph. 4.11 12. to whom those of the Church were to submit themselves Heb. 13.17 Nor was the Church governed by any one man but by them Acts 15.6 no not by Peter alone though he was in that Councill and the ancient Fathers decline that sole definitive judicature Cypr. lib. 31 Epi. 19. ad Cletum Amb. in 1 Tim. 1. Hier. in Epi. 1. ad Tur. which the Pope hath challenged to himselfe St Cyprian durst not do so and St Ambrose saith that first the Synagoue and afterward the Elders of the Church was to be consulted and without them nothing was to be done and St Jerom saith that till by the instinct of the devill contentions arose in the Church it was governed by the counsell of ministers Nor was the government of it democraticall or in the power of the people for then they must have this power from themselves or from God it cannot be from themselves for this power is not by right of nature or Nations but is supernaturall and of divine right nor have they it from God for no Scripture sets it forth but therein they are called the flock which are to be fed not to govern or chuse their Shepherds Yet it is true they were present at the ordination of Matthias Acts 1. and the seven Deacons Acts 6. but they only named or designed them but ordained them not however such a particular fact at first proveth not that it must be so alwaies no more then because the first Kings were chosen by the people therefore they must be so alwaies So that it seems to me that the Church militant is neither democraticall as governed by the people nor monarchicall by any one man but aristocraticall that is governed by some chiefe heads of the ministry Therefore the Pope can derive no such power from Peter as to be the head of the Church for Peter was never so constituted by Christ nor was ever so acknowledged by the rest of the Apostles for then they would never have contended who should be chiefe as they did Luke 22.24 Christ is only the head who is the head stone and the foundation of it Mat. 16.18 19 for though our Saviour said to Peter thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church yet he called him only Peter Aug. retract lib. 1. cap. 22. Cypr. lib. de unit eccles not Petra the rock for that was Christ for all the Apostles were endued with the same power which Peter had John 20.22 when Christ said to them receive the Holy Ghost whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted Nor can the Pope challenge succession from Peter who was Bishop of Antioch not of Rome as some write But the Scripture saith that the Jewes were especially Peters charge Gal. 2.7 who were all banished from Rome by Claudius Acts 18.2 and so Peter had but little to do there or if he were Bishop there yet the Pope cannot be his successor properly Amb. de incarn cap. 5. if he succeed him not in faith and doctrine for faith is the Churches foundation much lesse can he pretend to be Christs Vicar any more then any other Bishop who may be said to be vice Christi in the stead of Christ to wooe men to be reconciled to God Conc. Nic. can 6. Cypr. Ep. ad Papas 41.58 when he was at the best he was allowed to be but one of the Patriarchs nor called by the ancient Fathers but only brother colleague or fellow Bishop But had they taken him for Christs Vicar or the head of the Church they would have given him other titles than they did Pius 2. Ep. 301. as might become one of so high degree