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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10823	A blovv for the pope, or, A discourse had in S. Giles Church, in Elgen of Murray at a conference with certaine papists, plainely prouing that Peter was neuer head of the Church : with a short register of all the attempts and murthers vpon kings and princes in our time by the persuasion of the Iesuits.	Robertson, Bartholomew, fl. 1620.	1615 (1615)	STC 21096.5; ESTC S3099	24,053	74

any of all the Epistle Paule sent to Rome neither yet any remembrance had of Peter in any of the Epistles he sent from Rome as that to the Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians the second to Timothy to Philemon vnlesse their subscriptions be faulty No remembrance I say neither any word of Salutation which Paul vseth not to omit and that very largelie yea and not to forget euen the most obscure men and women so they be faithfull of whatsoeuer degree Now I pray you whether Peter or Paul hath best right to claim the Superiority or which of these two shall wee adiudge to bee Head of our Church if either of them be And by the way Gentle Reader take a view whether or not Peter was euer at Rome at the least neuer in Pauls daies and if not then hee neuer saw Rome with his eyes as shall be proued God willing in our second Discourse For the which cause Anthonius Pyranensis Legatus did say it was not lawfull for men to reade Pauls Epistles for I know saith he by reading of them men may become Lutherans and therefore Ioh. Siluanus Atheseus Pastor Herbipolis confesseth that the Papists doctrine was false and Antichristian and that he had learned that out of Pauls Epistles which moueth Rhegius Gallicus Aristarchus when he had burnt 9. in Lyons for Lutheranisme publikely to proclaim That if the holy Church had not receiued Pauls Epistles accounted them Canonique he would not repute them better or of more credit then the Fables of Aesope And therfore are they named by them Armamentarium Lutheranorum Fincelius writeth that Anno 1557. a Priest in Forcham a Citie in the Bishoprick of Lamberg in his Sermon alledged Paul to haue erred and that the Sacrament of the Supper should be receiued vnder one kind only And if it be not so that Sathan should take him away aliue from out of his Pulpet and so it happened to the great feare of all the whole Diocesse as the History written by the said Fincelius at length reports And wee know the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable c. that the man of God may bee perfectly instructed vnto euery good worke And that Timothy from his childhood hath knowne the Holy Scripture which might make him wise to Saluation Now since they conteine all things necessarie to bee beleeued and that to beleeue the holy Church vniuersall is one point of our Faith and for that the militant Church here is one part thereof The head whereof is searched heere by vs and seeing the holy Scripture directeth vs to no other head then Iesus Christ wherefore is it that wee would bee wise aboue that which is reuealed yea rather foolishly enquire for that which the Word of God hath been silent in And pursue after that which cannot in any case become meet to supply and minister the vertues and duties requisite in him who should be Head of the Church and those neuer were nor can happen in the person of any mortall Yea Paul takes vpon him to institute Timothy and Titus to be Bishops and prescribes vnto them their particular and seuerall duties yet hee sends vs alwaies to another head namely Christ and that which hee doth it is not of any power he receiued of Peter for this he markes purposely as neither did Titus create Bishops in Creta by any ordinance deriued from Peter I ioine hereto that Paul accompanied with Barnabas passed through all the Churches of Asia in which they preached and there by the Suffrages of the same choosed Bishops and elected them and in a word Paul in that most solemne and most accurate Sermon rendred to the Bishops of Asia neuer enioined them to submit themselues neither to Peter nor any other whatsoeuer earthly wight head of the church And would hee obscure the same if it had been commaunded him or any waies profitable vnto Saluation or quitting the estate of the Church for hee declared vnto them all the counsels of God yea and foretels them that after his departure there would greeuous wolues rush in amongst them deuouring the flockes and that euen of themselues should men arise speaking peruerse things to draw Disciples after them as hereticks doe at all times but he neuer remembred Peter vnto them who should put order to this proud attempt and hainous tyrannie in the Church If hee had been made Superiour to asswage the Furie and rage of Tumults and Schismes Paul would not haue buried the same in the beds of Obliuion but he euer directs vs a farre other course which is to CHRIST onely Surely Christ is a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedech leauing no Vicar nor Successor but his Holy Spirit which hee promised to send and lead his Disciples in all truth and to bee present with the Church for euer To the which Priesthood in the New Testament neither by Paul or whosoeuer hee was that was Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes who speaketh of this matter at length is mention made any to succeed the same for hee had neither beginning nor ending of daies as it was constituted in that Aronicall Priest-hood to passe from man to man in Leui his posterity to the comming of the Messias who hath by his owne blood entered in once into the Holy place and obtained eternall redemption for his Church which is his bodie euen the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things And to the end neither Peter nor any of the rest of the Apostles were otherwise sent but as God sent Christ But his Kingdome and Regiment is not of this world for Christ tooke not vpon him to iudge and distribute of earthly and transitorie affaires but hee by his word and Sacraments which are the ordinary meanes to breed Faith and by the operation of his Holy Spirit from aboue doth effect the whole purpose of mans Saluation instilling in mortall soules the immortall seed of the Gospell of the Lord by whose power wee are kept through Faith vnto Saluation which is prepared to bee shewed in the last time And this is that precious Balme farre aboue that of Gilead whereby Christ the Head of his Church doth annoint the hearts and cheere the mindes of his own Elect with vnspeakable peace descending from Christ as the Head like vnto Aarons Oyntment vnto his Church the members of his mysticall bodie sonnes of God by free adoption Coheires with their Head the Lord Iesus Christ. If flesh and blood can accomplish these offices let any reasonable man iudge It is now conuenient we heare what our Aduersaries obiect in the contrarie that by this meanes the truth may more brightly shine and doubting braines be resolued as also that those in whom the Veritie hath taken some hold may be cōfirmed and established and way bee stopt to the vndermining and subuerting of the simple and ignorant Scripture say they

I may say that had so mutilate a body seeing the one halfe as it were seperated and seioyned from Peters Apostleship he hauing obliged himselfe by his troth in his right hand to the contrary Againe if Christ would haue Peter to bee an vniuersall Apostle both of Iewes and Gentiles how durst Peter without speciall licence had and obtained of his Author and euident certainties thereof haue brought his calling into such streighths and narrownes so hastily or at any time after that within foure and twenty yeares he should enter in league with Paul to dimit and forgoe the most dificult part and of greater confequence because both that the benefit of calling was not generally offered before but counter-manded which was a mistery as also for the multitude and greatnesse of the Gentiles for there was farre more Gentiles then Iewes whom the Lord suffered to walke in their owne waies while there was light in some measure among the Iewes in particular places and persons although not generally and amongst the greatest and yet such as might make inexcusable and for this cause Peter not vnmindfull of his charge hee had contracted himselfe vnto as hee taught with great liberty and feruency among the Iewes for wheresoeuer he might haue occasion as wee see aboundantly in the Acts of the Apostles so likewise by writing an Epistle hee taught the Iewes Strangers which dwelt heere and there throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia contayning himselfe alwayes within the limits and bounds of his calling requesting them to be mindfull of the wordes of the prophesies spoken so long time before for vnto Iewes was it that the oracles of God were committed And so did Paul also being seperated to the worke he was called to was sent a faire off to the Gentiles by the Lord by whom hee had receiued Grace and Apostleship to the obedience of Faith among all the Gentils for his name and therefore cals it the exalting and adorning of his Ministerie to bee called the Apostle of the Gentils working in the Euangell of God that the oblation of the Gentils might bee acceptable sanctified by the holy Spirit not but that it behooueth the word of God to bee first expounded to the Iewes but since they did repell it and thought them vnworthy of eternall life he and Barnabas did conuert themselues vnto the Gentiles whose Preacher Apostle Doctor he cals himselfe yet euer desiring to prouoke his Kinsmen that he might saue some of them And to whom I pray you can we better giue credit vnto then to Peter himselfe for surely although once he had dissembled in that deniall of his Maister in three-fold forme And again in that euill example he had giuen to Barnabas and others when hee is precisely challenged by Paul Now would hee not haue hid his Talent in the earth but that which was spoken to him in the eare hee would haue spoken vpon the house tops especiallie since he had promised by Christs Praier his Faith should not faile yea and it was enioyned him not to deny but being cōuerted to confirme his Brethren in the veritie of those things he had heard and seene as hee did also abundantly yet hee cals himselfe no other then Apostle and Seruant not Superior yea hee names himselfe a fellow-elder with them who are Elders And if it be so how can he he iustly said to bee Lord and Prince ouer his Brethren and rest of the Elders shall wee giue him more then either Christ bestowed vpon him or that hee would claime himselfe or any of the rest of the Apostles and Elders would acknowledge him to be And which is more he requests them to feede the Lordes flocke which is amongst them taking diligent heede thereunto not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a readie mind not as though they were Lords ouer Gods Heritage but to be examples to the Flocke that when the cheefe Shepheard shal appear they may receiue an incorruptible Crowne of Glorie he forbids Dominion Lordships ouer the Heritage of God if he had so done himselfe and affected Primacy in the Church which was farre from the mind of this Saint of God hee had wrongfully forbid that whereof he was culpable himselfe Likewise who will not esteeme it a great absurdity to repute all the Apostles which then liued and all the company of the faithfull to be Peters members and all things that appertaine and belong to a spirituall body to be communicated by him to them which must be graunted and that of most necessary consequence followeth if we condiscend Peter to be head of the church but this of Paul onely in place of all that might be brought in is plainly refuted who doth esteeme himselfe nothing inferior to the highest Apostles here is no exception of Peter or Primacy which Paul such is his modestie wold haue don if Peter had bin superior And who would not contend Paule to be Head of the Church of the Gentiles rather then Peter because it is proued already he is appointed both by Christ as also with consent of those which were thought to bee Pillars of the Church and in price had conditioned to be the Apostle of the Gentiles Now it is certaine wee are not of the Iewes but of the Gentiles if there should bee any of the Apostles Head of our Church it must therefore be Paul who did correct Peters error in Antiochia the first place of his alleaged seat and residence to whom also euen their own great Bulwark Tho Aquinas 2. secunda quest 33. sect 4. Gloss. ad Gal. 2. 11. doth make Paul equal but not superior Besides this Paul was sent to Rome by God that he should testifie of Iesus Christ as he had done already in Ierusalem whom the Lord did encourage to that effect the which also by an Angell of God sent to him by night was reiterate saying Feare not Paul it behooueth thee to be presented to Caesar And further Paul was at Rome and taught there two yeares and the Romans did thereby come to that perfection of Religion that their Faith at that time was spoken of in all the world Here is a speciall designation of Paul to goe thither whither we heare of none to be formerly sent appointed thereto by two seuerall Mandates tending to one Scope who did enter into Rome exercised the Office from morning till euening expounding the Law and Prophets testifying and perswading of the kingdome of God in Iesus Christ and made his aboad there during the space aforesaid in a house hired for himselfe and receiued all that came vnto him teaching with all boldnesse of speech without let what can bee more craued in a good Bishop then which we find in Paul at Rome but in all this time there is no mention made neither by Paul of Peter neither Salutation sent to him in

two Heads to one Bodie Wee out of Paule affirme Christ to be the onely true Head of his Church who vseth this Demonstration Hee by whom all the Bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioynt for the Furniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth encrease of the Bodie vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue This same is and onely can be Head But so it is that Christ our Sauiour is the same and none euer can take vpon them iustly so to doe to the Church which is the Bodie Ergo c. Yet the Aduersaries to the Veritie contend That the Bishop of Rome whome they call Pope should bee added vnto Christ to bee Head of the Church leaning vnto this as to the speciall Pillar and Ground they build vpon Peter was the Head of the Church The Pope is Peters Successor Ergo The Pope is the Head of the Church To the intent the whole Matter may be the more cleare and euident and that a perfect Answere may be had to the alledged Argument these Heads in particular are to be treated and discussed plainely viz. 1 Peter was neuer Head of the Church 2 Peter was neuer Bishop of Rome nor yet in Rome 3 The Pope is not Peters Successor nor could succeed to him 4 The Pope is not Head of the Church nor Christs Vicar 5 The Pope is the verie Antichrist First then no man can denie but if Peter had beene constituted and ordained Head of the Church the rest of the Apostles would or should haue knowne it For it stood them greatly vpon to vnderstand to whom they should haue recourse in dangers as to their Commaunder and vnto whom they should giue obedience to whom also they should render an account of al their proceedings least they should wander bestowing their endeuours as it would appeare vnprofitably not gouerned by any President who should either allow or disallow of their trauels in their Apostle ship c. But so it is that they neuer acknowledged Peter Head of the Church nor of any of the Apostles much lesse of them all Yea Christ the wisdome of the Father in whom the Godhead dwelleth bodily and in whom are the treasures of knowledge and vnderstanding leaueth no place to the vaine Curiosity and foolish inuentions of man a little before his death as it were taking his farewell and good night of them for then wee attend the last will and wordes of our friendes most they take deepest impression in our mindes and memories how much the more aduisedly and deliberately they are spoken as it were by the heart with great waight not onely because the time is short and imminent certainty of death for Christ knew wel his houre but also for that men keepe most eagerly that whereof they haue no long expectation of endurance and continuance Christ I say the night before his death after Supper recommended humility in his owne example to his Apostles not to be lookt on only but followed did wash their feete and to signifie with due intimation that nothing in that whole action did come but of his prouident foresight knowledge whereto he was priuy yea and the Searcher of hearts did pry into the Closet of Iudas Treason which Peter when Iudas was taxed for it did desire to know by the meanes of Iohn who leaned on Iudas breast If he had been Head it was more competent in his own person to haue demaunded it And for that they should be vnwelcome vnto the world hee armes them with constancy and patience against the ignominie and shame of their future crosses with promises of sending the Comforter and other some heauenly instructions yea it was so farre from Iesus mind intention to ordaine Peter head of his Church or of the rest of his Apostles that hee before them all and in Peters owne presence perticularly foretells his deniall if this was that Champion not to derogate to the Saint of God that was to be placed in primacie aboue the rest iudge yee For when could Iesus haue more opportune time or the Disciples better or quieter occasion to declare and heare a Superior appointed ouer them then now when hee should fore-speake his defection to him and his Apostacie who so arrogantly relied vpon humane strength and fortitude beside that lately he had beene rebuked in the highest degree by Christ in calling him Sathan for apparantly Christ might haue forborne and tolerated the future head of the Church and more mildly and softly entreated him as in these and such like termes Peter thy lapse wil procure thee to bee lowest of all because it will bee the greatest of all yet I will after aduance and promote thee to bee highest and head of all Now hee was checked for intruding himself into the ciuil Magistrates office who if he had beene to bee surrogate in Christs office might haue beene borne with in some degree yet so much as in him was hee hindred the mistery of our saluation At all these times was good opportunity to conciliate to Peter in so open audience and famous places both of the disciples and men without authority and credit if it had stood with Christs purpose to haue exalted and promoted Peter to the dignity of beeing head ouer his people and Church But which is of greater moment it may be Iesus would conceale and keepe secret to himselfe the dispensation of that charge vntill after his passion or then keepe it in his own person not willing to make any participant of the same vntill the time appointed in his good pleasure thereafter yet so it is Peter is heauily vpbraided after the Resurrection as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a busie body in other mens affaires In that reasoning that Christ had with the Disciples premonishing them that he was going and departing from them and with Thomas pretending his ignorance of the way hee should take if any or Peter himselfe should haue beene substituted in Christs roome was it not now When so familiarly hee disputed with Thomas I will not say but euen then he did answere to farre harder and difficult questions as the Vnitie of the persons in one Deitie and if he should delay and continue the deliuery of his mind in that point would he not thinke you once without ambiguity and equiuocation both euidentlie and manifestlie thereafter haue declared the matter Yea Iudas Lebbeus receiued a perfect resolution of his demaund in the oeconomy and distribution in the matters of mans Saluation which was to some manifested to others hid but of this transcendent excellencie there is neuer a whisper and no maruaile for he was to reserue that point to himselfe vncommunicable not willing to diminish and lessen the same by diuoluing that function to another or though he had bin weary if so I may say to beare that burthen himselfe as not of sufficient power and abilitie to