rule of Faith may be written If the Papists cannot see this plain Conclusion they had best desire more light to be added to the Sun. The Papists pretend their Church to be the infallible teacher of all Divine Truths and an infallible Interpreter of all obscurities in the Faith But the Papists will I hope give us leave to admire how they can pretend to Teach them in all places without writing them down that is certainly beyond the reach of their power to do as well as our belief that 't is to be done And for the Papists saying there must be a living authority beside the Scripture or else controversies cannot be ended Protestants answer Necessary controversies are and may be decided and if they be not 't is not the defect of the rule in Scripture but the default of men so that if necessary controversies be ended 't is no matter if the unnecessary be not for doubtless if God had required it he would also have provided some means to effect it but sure it does not stand with any reason it should be the Pope because he cannot be a Judge being a party indeed in civil controversies a Judge without being a party may end them but in controversies of Religion a Judge of necessity must be a concerned party and I am sure the Pope to us iâ— the chief and most concerned party being really concerned as much as his Popedom is worth Now we Protestants make the Papists this plain answer that the means of agreeing differences must necessarily be either by the appointment of God or men men sure it cannot be for then rational wise Protestants may do as well as Papists for let the Papists shew us if they can where God hath appointed that the Pope alone or any confirm'd by the Pope or that Society of Christians which adhere to him shall be the infallible Judge of Controversies we desire the Papists if they can to let us see any of those assertions plainly set down in Scripture as in all reason a thing of this nature ought to be or at least delivered with a full consent of Fathers nay let them so much as shew us where 't is in plain terms taught by any one Father in Four hundred years after our blessed Saviour Christ and if the Papists cannot do this as we believe they cannot where I pray is their either Scripture or Reason that the Pope or his Councils should obtrude themselves as Judges over us Protestants Next we would desire to know from the Papists whether they do certainly know or not the sense of those Scriptures by which they are led to the knowledge of their Church for if they do not how come they to know their Church is infallible but if they do then sure they ought to give us leave to have the same means and ability to know other plain places in Scripture which they have to know theirs for if all Scriptures be obscure how come they to know the sense of those places but if some place of it be plain why pray may not Protestants understand them as well as Papists The Papists say That the Scriptures are in themselves true and infallible yet without the direction of the Church we have no certain means to know which Translations be faithful and Canonical or what is the true meaning of Scriptures and this is the common Argument and general Belief of all Papists To which the Protestants answer That yet all these things must first be known before we can know the directions of their Church to be infallible for the Papists cannot pretend any other proof of it but only some Texts of Canonical Scripture truly interpreted therefore either they must be mistaken in thinking there is no other means to know these things but their Churches infallible direction or else we must be excluded from all means of knowing her directions to be infallible for the proof must be surer than the thing to be proved or 't is no proof And upon better consideration I am confident the Papists dare not deny but that 't is most certain Faith hath been given by other means than the Church for sure they will not say that Adam received Faith by the Church nor Abraham nor Job who received Faith by Revelation and also the Holy Apostles who received Faith by the Miracles and Preaching of our Blessed Saviour So that you see and they cannot deny but their general Doctrine is contradictory And to make it yet plainer I desire to know of the Papists if they should meet with a man that believed neither Scripture Church nor God but declares he is both ready and willing to believe them all if the Papist can shew him sufficient grounds to build his Faith upon will the Papist tell such a man there are no certain grounds how he may be converted to their Church or there are if the Papists say there are none they make Religion an uncertain thing but if they say there are then they must necessarily either argue woman-like that their Church is infallible because it is infallible or else shew there are other certain grounds besides saying the Church is infallible to prove its Infallibility The Papists demand of the Protestants If they believe the Apostles wrote all the Scriptures for if they did not how come we to call and believe them Apostolical and not the Writings of those that writ them To which we answer Though all the Scriptures were not written by the Apostles themselves yet they were all confirm'd by them and tho a Clerk writes a Statute and the King Lords and Commons confirm it in Parliament I believe they would esteem it very improper to call it the Statute of such a Clerk tho writ by him but an Act of Parliament because it was confirm'd by all their censents and becomes their Act not the Clerks The Papists desire us to tell them in what Language the Scriptures remained incorrupted and we desire them to satisfie us whether it be necessary to know it or not necessary if it be not I hope we may do well without it but if it be necessary we desire first that they will please to tell us what became of their Church for One thousand five hundred Years together all which time they must confess they had no certainty of Scripture till the time that Pope Clement the 8th set forth their approved Edition of the vulgar Translation and none sure can have the confidence to deny but that there was great variety of Copies currant in divers parts of their Church and read so which Copies might be false in some things but more than one sort of them could not possibly be true in all things And Pope Sixtus Quintus his Bible differ'd from Pope Clement his Bible in a multitude of places which makes us desire to be satisfied of the Papists whether before Pope Sixtus Quintus his time their Church had any defined Canon of Scriptures or not for if they had not
him as Universal Bishop over the whole Catholick Church but his not doing so argued he esteemed him Bishop only of one Church And further St. Cyprian all know did resolutely oppose a Decree of the Roman Bishop and all that adhered â—…o him in that one point of Rebaptizing which the Popish Church at that time delivered as a necessary Tradition and Excommunicated the Bishops of Capadocia Galatia and all that were against that Tradition and would not so much as allow them lodging or entertainment in Rome Now since the Papists affirm that not to Rebaptize those whom Hereticks had Baptized to be a damnable Heresie 'T is well worth asking the Papists when this begun to be so for if they say from the beginning it was so then they must maintain a contradiction for then was St. Cypriaâ—… a Professor of damnable Heresie and yet the Papists esteeâ—… him a Saint and Martyr And on the other side if 't were not so from the beginning then did the Pope wrongfully Excommunicate those other Churches of Cappadocia and Galatia without sufficienâ—… ground of Excommunication and separation which by theiâ—… own Tenents is Schismatical So let them chuse which sidâ—… they please the Pope was in an error And tho Victor Bishop of Rome obtruded the Roman Tradition touching the time of Easter upon the Asian Biships under the pain of Excommunication and Damnation yet we read that Irenaeus and all the other Western Bishops though they did agree with the Bishop of Rome in his Observation of Easter yet they did sharply reprehenâ—… his Excommunicating the Asian Bishops for their disagreeing with him which most plainly argues that the Western Bishops thought that not a sufficient ground of Excommunication which the Bishop of Rome did and therefore it must necessarily follow they did not esteem the Roman Bishop infallible nor the separation from the Church of Rome an Heresie And this I am sure is true and undeniable reason The Popish Story tells us That Optatus Bishop of Rome upbraided the Donatists as Schismaticks because they held no Communion with the Church of Rome by adding afterwards that they were Schismaticks for they held no Communion with the Seven Churches of Asia which occasions this Question of the Papists Whether a separation from these seven Apostolick Churches was a mark of Heresie or not If they say it was not how comes it that the Pope's Authority is a stronger Argument for the Popish Church than the Asian Authority for the Asian Churches And if the Papists say a separation from those seven Asian Churches was a mark of Heresie then they must confesâ—… their Church was for many years Heretical as separating many years from the Asian Churches And Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus and Metropolitan of Asia despised the Pope's Vniversal Supremacy and Authority and kept contrary to the Pope Easter-day the Fourteenth of March. And indeed tho the Papists do so much quote the authority of the Fathers yet I find they as little befriend their Churches Infallibility as the Asian Bishops themselves have done for tho the Papists say St. Hierome conceived it nenessary to conform in matters of Faith to the Church of Rome yet before the Papists brag of that let them answer us this How came it then to pass that St. Hierome chose to believe the Epistle to the Hebrews Canonical upon the authority of the Eastern Church and to reject it from the Canon of the Roman Churches Authority And how comes it also that he dissented from the Roman Church touching the Canon of the Old Testament Let the Papists take heed of losing their Fort by endeavouring to maintain their out-works And now to conclude this point and excuse the Papists mistake concerning their universal Bishop we read in Scripture of the Prophet Elias who thought there was none â—…eft beside himself in the whole Ringdom of Israel who had not revolted from God and yet God himself is pleased to assure us he was deceived And if a Prophet and one of the greatest err'd in his judgment touching his own time Country why may not the Papists subject to the same passions err in their opinion and judgment about the Popes being Vniversal Bishop when plain reason tells them as well as us that there were other Bishops as much Vniversal as the Pope I now come to examine this infallible Pope whether he cannot make his infallible Church more infallible than he has made himself and free the Popish Church from error tho he could not the Pope from Heresie Now towards the disproving the pretended Infallibility of the Roman Church I lay this as the foundation of my Discourse That the whole Roman Church can be no better than a Cengregation of Men whereof every particular not one excepted and consequently the generality is nothing but a collection of men and if every one be polluted as who dare say he is free from sin how can the whole but be defiled with error As reasonably may a man brag he is in perfect health and strength and yet at the same time confess he hath not one sound part about him And truly it very much creats my wonder but does not in the least satisfie my reason what the Papists can pretend by the Infallibility of their Church for if they will allow their Pope to be no better than St. Peter was their Church to bâ—… composed of no better men than the Holy Apostles were 〈…〉 shall desire no more and I am sure they can never provâ—… so much for they that pretend to it declare as great aâ—… ignorance as St. Peter did a sin in denying his Lord anâ—… Master and there are many other known circumstances which made St. Paul prove him blame-worthy to hiâ—… face And for the Apostles being in error we have not only the examples of the Apostles themselves who in the time of our Saviours Passion being scandalized lost their Faith in him and I believe the Papists will not say they could lose their faith in our blessed Saviour Christ without error and therefore our Saviour after his Resurrection upbraided them with their Incredulity and called Thomas incredulous for denying the Resurrection in the Twentieth oâ—… St. John. And further 't is most apparent that the very Apostleâ—… themselves even after the sending the Holy Ghost did through Inadvertency or Prejudice continue some time in an error contrary to a revealed Truth And if the Papists will not own to know this Truth they may be fully satisfied of it in the Story of the Acts of the Apostles where they may plainly read that notwithstanding our Saviours express warrant and injunction to the Apostles to go and preach to all Nations Yet notwithstanding till St. Peter was better informed by a Vision from Heaven and by the Conversion of Cornelius both St. Peter and the rest of the Church held it unlawful for them to go and Preach the Gospel to any but the Jews Now since we can prove that St. Peter did err
first Council though he gave his opinion last yet he took upon him no Superiority above others and within the bounds of such Christian modesty did the Holy Prelates of Christendom contain themselves till the year 607. The Venetians were Excommunicated by Pope Clement the fifth for attempting to besiege Ferrara which is Tributary to the See of Rome whereupon Francis Dandalo afterwards Grand Dogue of Venice went to France where the Pope then had his Seat submissively to beg his Pardon for that imaginary Offence when he arriv'd there he spent much time ' ere he could be admitted but at last he was brought into his presence with an Iron Chain or Dog's collar about his Neck crawling on all four the Sabellicus in fine 9 Aeneid l. 7. length of the great Hall and afterwards lay among the Dogs under his Table till his wrath was appeas'd and then he obtain'd a Pardon for which Act he was ever after called Dog by his own Countrymen Surely he very undeservedly had the Name of Clement who could be so inhumane and haughty to an ancient Person and treat him so currishly that prostrated himself at his Feet with so much slavish submission This Pope walking through the City Bogenci upon the River Loire in great State had for his Attendants or Servitors the Kings of England and France one upon his right the other on his left hand and one leading his Horse by the Bridle Alexander the Third after he obtain'd the Popedom had many dangerous Conflicts with the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa and was so often worsted by him that he was forced to fly to Venice and there live for some time incognito in the habit of a Cook a prety greazy Disguise for a Pope see what necessity will do who would have thought so proud a Bishop should stoop to so base a Condescention but at last he was known and honourably embraced by the Venetians and this coming to the Emperours Ear he was highly offended at them for entertaining his Enemy insomuch that he sent his Son with a powerful Army and great Navy to take the Pope by force and violence but the young Prince had the ill fate in that Engagement to be taken Prisoner by the Venetians nor could his freedom be possibly procur'd unless Frederick would come in his own Person to Venice and endeavour to be reconcil'd to the Pope which the Emperour for his Son's sake condescended to went to Venice and procur'd it upon these unreasonable and Unchristian conditions That he should restore the City of Rome and all the Royalties thereof and undergo such further Penance as the Pope should injoyn This being submitted to the Emperour came to the Door of St. Mark 's Church the People being Spectators where the proud Pope commanded him very imperiously to ly prostrate on the Ground and to ask his Pardon and Forgiveness and then he gently treading upon his Neck prophanely wrested the 13 verse of the 91 Psalm to his own purpose saying Thou shalt walk upon the Aspâ—… and Basilisk and shalt tread upon the Lion and Dragon And when the Emperour said unto him Non tibi sed Petro cujus Successor es pareo the Pope replied Et mihi Petro proudly placing himself before the blessed Apostle whose immediate Successor he falsly pretends to be See the unexampled humility of this Servus Servorum Dei. Platina in the Life of Gregory the Seventh tells you that the Emperouâ—… Henry the Fourth of France commonly stiled the Great was Excommunicated by the Pope and that for a Trifle too The Emperour being inform'd of this his rigorous proceedings came to Canosse where his Holiness was then dallying with his wanton Mathilda and divesting himself of his Imperial Robes fine work indeed that the Scepter must bow to the Crosier went bare-foot and bare-head in the depth of a hard Winter to the City Gates and there humbly crav'd Admittance but his Entry was denied and he like an obedient Son of that See bore it with unimaginable and uncommon Patience remaining three dayes complete in the Suburbs fasting continually beging Absolution which at length by the earnest Intercession and repeated Request of Mathilda the Popes Minion or St. Peters Daughter as they call'd her the Earl of Savoy and the Abbot of Cluniac was obtain'd A brave Jaunt indeed for a Puissant Potentate at such an Unseasonable time of the Year and very kind usage he receiv'd for his pains but this must be done or he is undone and forfeits all his Regalia for disobliging a proud peevish Pope Where is there ever a Gueux of you all that has so much courage to maintain your Protestant Privileges and Episcopal Dignity But one Swallow makes no Summer all Frenchmen are not so soft Spirited Well fare Philip the Fourth surnamed Philip Le Bel who in the year 1320 had to do with a Monster of a Man Boniface the eighth when France shook off the Supremacy of the Pope in Temporalibus This Prelate wrote to the King iâ—… these and such like arrogant Terms We will that thou know thou art our Subject iâ—… Annales Nie Giles Spirituals as well as Temporals Tâ—… which the King return'â—… this Princely answer Qâ—… Sciat fatuitas vestra c. ta tresgrande sottise scachâ—… c. Let your Sottishness and greâ—… Temerity know that in Temporals wâ—… have none but God for Superior 〈…〉 And not being satisfied with this hâ—… commanded a Lord of Languedoc aâ—… Albigeois of the House of Nogaret tâ—… Seize on the Pope which he did and withal gave him such a Blow on the Ear with a Gantlet that fell'd him for saying his Father was Burnt for an Heretick and afterwards cast him into Prison where he died of a Phrenzie gnawing his own hands out of Rage and Fury and left this worthy Elogium or Epitaph behind him Intravit ut Vulpes regnavit ut Leo mortuus est ut Canis He entred the Papacy like a Jo. Andr. Bald. c. 1. defend gl ad 6. Decretal Fox reigned like a Lion and died like a Dog. T was valiantly done of the Stout Monsieur to knock down four at a Blow the Campanian the Cardinal Boniface the Eighth and the Pope This Pope was so shameless as to boast having denied three times to confer the Title of Emperour of Germany upon the Duke of Austria that he himself was Lord and Emperour of the whole World. Nor did Lewis the Twelfth stand in awe of the Pope whose Motto was Perdam Babylonis nomen I will destroy the name of Babylon But this usurped power of the See of Rome is but Novel and Modern for instead of their deposing Kings they deposed Popes nay Constantius the Son of Constantine the Great deposed Pope Liberius the Emperour Otho Pope John the Twelfth Henry the Third Bennet the Ninth Sylvester the Third and Gregory the Sixth and Sigismund deposed as Platina in vit Greg. 6. Abbas Vesp anno 1406. many more at one time The