doctrine of saluation confirming his Gospell by excellent miracles and authenticall signes worthie of credite by which he did euidently shewe vnto them that he was the verie Messias promised in the lawe and the true and onely redeemer of the worlde but howe did these miserable people gouerne and behaue them selues in that behalfe Their obstinacie and rebellion was so great that they were not onely content desperatly to reiect and throwe from them the doctrine of the holie Gospell slaundering it and accusing it of falsehood but which is worse they killed and cruelly murdered the onely sonne of GOD and outragiously persecuted the Apostles as before that they had put to death also euen their owne Prophets and other Christians Who is he then which will affirme that these wicked people did not through their rebellion and pride iustly deserue to be deliuered and giuen ouer for a pray vnto Sathan and to be deceiued through the subtilties and craftes of his false doctrine The same is fallen out in our time and continueth yet euen euery day For there are diuers which are in such sort blinded before hand possessed with the darknesses of the prince of this world that they doe not onely despise all true religion and doctrine but also they inforce and straine them selues to bring into credite and estimation all the dreames dotages raylings and false opinions of Antichrist and his instrumentes in so much that for to attaine thereto they cease not to make warre vpon the poore faithfull people desiring with a burning affection the sheading of their bloud Who is he then which dare say that such people are not verie worthie and meete to be deliuered vnto Sathan that they may be so made drunken with the deadly poison of his false doctrine as they may neuer after be able to taste or smel the sweetnes pleasantnes of the word of God To be short then in that the diuell hath so great a sway in the world it is a very manifest signe or as a man would say a banner displayed of the iust vengeance of GOD and of his horrible and fearefull furie vpon all those who reiect and persecute the Gospell of his sonne For the vngodly perseuering in their vnbeliefe deserue to be couered and clothed with so great abhomination seeing that the trueth of GOD can finde no place amongst them CHAP. VII That Iesus Christ alone is the head of his Church and not Saint Peter neither any Pope what so euer EXperience teacheth vs what euill it bringeth vs when we turne aside from the worde of God be it neuer so little In olde time all the Pastors of the Church were commonly called Elders Auncients Bishops and they were all brethren and fellowes equall also and of like authoritie in their ministeries And this continued vntill such time as he that was chosen in the assemblies of the Pastours there for the time to be president and to gather the voyces came at the last to be especially and as it were only named a Bishop Hence the diuell beganne to frame and spinne as it were the tyrannie of Antichrist in the Church euen such as we beholde it at this day so that the man of sinne 2. Thes 2.3.4 and sonne of destruction reuealed is set downe in the temple of God as God shewing him selfe as though he were God For from Bishops they came to Metropolitanes who also are called Archbishops that vnder goodly shew and great pretence For these Metropolitanes were not but as it were Presidents or rulers to set the other in order and to call them together when it was needfull to haue some Synode for the affaires and businesses of the Churches of the Prouince and in good order and without confusion to redresse and guide matters in the assemblies made From Metropolitanes they leaped to foure Patriarches as though the whole Christian common wealth ought to be diuided into foure partes and be ruled and gouerned by foure Prelates These Patriarches were one of Antioch who bare rule ouer Syria one of Alexandria who gouerned Egypt Ethiopia one of Constantinople bearing rule ouer Asia Grecia and Illyricum and one of Rome ruling all the West that is to say Italie France Spaine Germanie Herevpon afterwardes there arose contentions and stirres betwene these foure Patriarches touching their iurisdiction and primacie in so much that they in such sorte set them selues one of them against an other with the hurt and losse indeede of the poore Church that at the last two to wit that of Antioche and that of Alexandria gaue place and yelded their roomes to the other two that is Constantinople and Rome the controuersie betweene which endureth as yet euen vnto this day For it is not yet well determined nor made plaine which of these two ought to be head and vniuersall Bishop In some sorte to quiet them and to make them contented and to keepe them selues within their owne boundes men haue limitted their charges thus the Patriarch of Constantinople to beare rule ouer all the Churches of the East and the Patriarch of Rome to beare rule ouer all the Churches of the West Wherefore the laâ—ter of these two is he whom the Romish Catholikes make them selues to beleeue that he is the head of the vniuersall Church as being the Vicar of Iesus Christe on earth and the lawfull or right successour of Saint Peter But we haue here two pointes to examine and sift the one touching Saint Peter The other touching the Pope who saith that he is his successour Concerning the first we shall not finde in all the scriptures that S. Peter was ordained at any time to be head of the whole Church and to beare rule ouer it neither that he him self did at any time either pretend or vsurpe such a iurisdiction and primacie bicause it did not at any hand belong vnto him but vnto Iesus Christ alone as we hope to proue and manifestly to shewe it by the reasons following The first reason is this Iesus Christ alone is called the head of the Churche Ephesians 1. verse 22. Ephesians 5. verse 23. Ephes 1.22 Ephes 5.23 Saint Peter then is not otherwise the Churche should be a bodye with two heads If they wil replie and say that Iesus Christ indeede is the onely head of the Church bicause that he alone reigneth ouer it and that by his owne onely authoritie yet that this nothing hindreth but that there may be an other head ministeriall as they call it that is to say one in respect of the execution of the charge and office vnder him who should be his great Vicar and liuetenant generall for to gouerne the Church I will demaund of them to shewe me when and howe this ministeriall head was ordained by Iesus Christ for if Iesus Christ be God liuing for euer Rom. 9.5 what neede hath he of a successour If we haue all his will in writing Ioh. 15.15 Act. 20.27 Matt. 18.18.28.20 and if he
taken for Cardinals that is to say for principall and chiefe among other Priestes and Deacons Wherevpon he addeth some examples There is a certaine epistle saith he of Gregorie the first to them of Peloponezus who demaunded a Priest to minister the sacraments vnto them wherein he saith we send vnto you our beloued sonne A priest Cardinal Also there is amongst the auncient Charters in the Church of Aretinum a donation or gift of a certaine Romane Senator named Zenobius which was made vnto the saide Church in the time of Damasus the high Bishop wherein there is contained this subscription And I Io. S. R. E. Deacon Cardinall doe on the behalfe of the high Bishoppe Damasus approue and confirme c. And of these Priestes or Deacōs Cardinals Marcellus Bishop of Rome ordained fifteene to baptise children Petr. de Nat. lib. 2. cap. 83 Polydor. lib. 4. cap. 9. and to burie the dead about the yere of Christ 301. If the Cardinals of these dayes would take their beginning from these let them marke then what is their charge and calling without taking that vpon thē which belongeth not vnto them But we knowe what great differēce there is betwene their estate these bicause at this day we may in euerie place behold it to be an estate or calling of honor not of office charge as it was then Beside when was it that they were so lifted vp and by whom A thousand yeares and more were spent before that the Church was burdened with such Cardinals as we haue at this day hauing benefices without exercising or executing offices It is affirmed that Pope Innocentius the fourth of that name about the yeare of Christ 1244. did so exalt their estate and calling that he commaunded by Edict that from that time foreward they should goe on horsebacke and should weare a red cap or hat a scarlet robe for a signe and witnesse that they ought to be always readie and prepared to suffer and shead their bloud for the defence of Christian religion And Paule the second about the yeare 1470. hath ratified the same Edict and in some point augmented and inlarged it But some will set vp him selfe and say that these Priestes and Deacons of Rome which were called Cardinals obtained that name bicause at that time they were such as the Cardinals at this present are that is to say hauing authoritie and iurisdiction ouer all other Bishops and Priestes I aunswere that the case goeth not so For we find this that the Priests and Deacons of Rome were in times past much lesse and inferior to the Bishops in steede whereof at this day they goe before them in honour and dignitie And that so it is we read that whē the Bishop of Rome sent two Embassadors or Legates to the Councel of Carthage whereof one was a Priest of the Church of Rome he was set the last of all Also that in the Councel which S. Gregorie held the Priestes of the Church of Rome were set last and made their subscription apart by them selues and the Deacons had not so much credite as to subscribe Touching the foure Patriarches Patriarches we haue spoken thereof in the beginning of the 7. Chapter Nowe we must vnderstand that the names of Patriarch and Metropolitane wer in time heretofore takē for one charge or office as appeareth by this Socrates lib. 5. cap. 8. that Socrates the historiographer speaketh of the Coūcel of Constantinople wherein mention is made of Metropolitanes These Patriarches then or Metropolitanes being lifted vp in degree of honour aboue all the rest of the Bishops in processe of time thrust on foreward with ambition haue so incroched one of them vpon an other that at the last they haue brought all the Patriarches euen to the number of foure as we haue named and described them in the aforesaid seuenth Chapter And this hath principally come to passe bicause that either for the antiquitie of the Churches or for the renoune of the cities and excellencie also of the Bishops men haue reuerenced and honoured Rome Constantinople Alexandria and Antioch aboue all other cities and by consequent the Bishops of those places as those that were the principall or chiefe The Pope Nowe these foure Patriarches haue yet in such sort so robbed one an other that the Patriarch of Rome and he of Constantinople haue quite and cleane taken away the roome and place of the other two And as touching the two of Rome and Constantinople we knowe what iarre and contention there hath bene betwixt them which is not as yet well compounded or ended In the time of Gregorie the firste of that name about the yeare sixe hundred and two there was great controuersie and stirre for the primacie of the Church For Iohn Bishoppe of Constantinople was declared and published in a ful and solemne Synode of the Grecians vniuersall Patriarch and the Emperour Mauritius commaunded Gregorie to obey the said Patriarch of Constantinople But Gregorie would not indure or suffer this presumption that any Bishop should be an vniuersall Bishop ouer all the rest and in his Epistles he yealdeth reasons thereof First he saith Greg. lib. 6. epist 76. If he fall that is called the vniuersall Bishoppe the whole Church falleth from her estate Secondly None of my predecessors hath euer desired to haue or vse this prophane worde For if there be one Patriarch that is called vniuersall the name of Patriarch shall be taken from all the rest To consent to this execrable and accursed name is no other thing but to betraye the faith and to destroy Christianitie Thirdly Greg. lib. 7. epist 196. I speake freely and boldly that who so euer calleth him selfe vniuersall Bishoppe or desireth to be called by that name the same is in his pride the forerunner of Antichrist bicause that by his pride he preferreth him selfe before all This controuersie being betweene these two Patriarches of Rome and of Constantinople it fell out and was agreed that the Patriarch of Constantinople was appointed head of the Churches of the East and the Patriarch of Rome head of the Churches of the West and this latter was afterward so established and lifted vp by Phocas about the yeare 604. as we haue declared in the seuenth Chapter that he was created Pope and vniuersall Bishoppe of all Churches And as touching the name Pope it hath bene heretofore generally attributed and giuen to all Bishops as may be proued by these testimonies Aurelius Bishop of Carthage is called by this name Pope in the beginning of the Councel holden at the saide Carthage of which Councel he was President In the hundreth fiftie and one Chapter of the same Councel Innocentius Bishop of Alexandria is called Pope Saint Cyprian in certaine Epistles which he writ to the same Bishop calleth him Pope The Elders and Deacons of Rome Cyprian li. 2 Epist 7. called Cyprian Pope in their Epistles Saint Ierome oftentimes calleth Augustine Pope in
force notwithstanding the vngodlinesse of men Likewise he hath by his prouidence brought to passe that there should remaine amongest them other remnants also as the Lordes praier the Apostles Creede the Commaundements of GOD c. least the Church should vtterly perish And as sometimes buildings are pulled downe in such sort that the foundations remaine and some shewes of the ruines and destructions so the Lord hath not suffered that his Church should be so rased or destroyed by Antichrist that nothing of the building should remaine And although that he might take vengeance of the vnthankefulnes of men who despised his word he hath suffered such a horrible shaking and fall to be made yet it was his pleasure that some part or portion thereof should remaine as a signe token and marke that the whole was not abolished Wherfore when we refuse simplie to graunt vnto the Papistes the title of the Church we doe not therefore vtterly denie them that they haue not any Churches amongest them but we onely reason of the true and right estate of the Church which importeth a fellowship as well in the doctrine as in al that which belōgeth to the profession of our Christianitie Daniel 9.27 2. Thess 2.4 Daniel and S. Paule haue foretold that Antichrist shall sit in the temple of God We say that the Pope is the head of that execrable abhominable and cursed kingdome at the least he is so in the West Church Nowe seeing it is saide that the seate of Antichrist shall be in the temple of GOD thereby is meant that his kingdome shall be such as shall not altogether abolish the name either of Christ or of his Church Hereby therfore it appeareth that we denie not but that the Churches ouer which he beareth rule by his tyrannie remaine Churches still but we say that he hath prophaned them by his vngodlinesse and so poisoned them with his false doctrines that there appeareth amongest them a picture or image of Babylon rather than of the holie citie of God To conclude we say that they be Churches first bicause that the Lord hath miraculously preserued amongest them the remnants of his people though they be poorely and thinly scattered abroad Secondly bicause there remaine amongest them some markes and tokens of the Church specially these tokens the power and effectualnesse wherof can not be abolished neither by the craft of the diuell neither by the malice of men But on the other side bicause the markes which we haue principally to regard in this dispute or question be blotted out there we say that there is not amongest them a right shewe and lawfull forme of a Church neither in any of their particular assemblies neither in the whole body And these are the wordes of Caluine But though we might indeede accord and agree to this that the Romish Church were the true church in respect of the baptisme which it hath yet there should be no reason to inferre therevpon that we ought also to take hold it for the true Church in respect of the other points of doctrine for it is most manifest that for the most part they are altogether contrarie to the expressed word of God And as cōcerning baptisme albeit they adde many vaine and superstitious ceremonies ministred in a tongue vnknowne to the people and not vnderstoode of them yet so it is that notwithstanding the substance remaineth that which is the principall or chiefe point of the forme as we haue shewed Now if one would demaund why then suffer we not our infants to be brought to the Romish Church there to be baptised seeing that the baptisme which is there ministred is good I aunswere that we suffer it not bicause God hath giuen vs grace to knowe the superstition and idolatrie 1. Cor. 10.14 1. Iohn 5.21 which is there committed to which we may not at any hande sticke cleaue or consent what soeuer apparance and shew of good we suppose may come thereby either to vs or to our children Rom. 3.8 for Saint Paul saith That we ought carefully to looke vnto our selues not to doe euill that good may come thereof And also bicause that through gods grace and goodnes we haue a meane way opened to haue our foresaid children baptised in the reformed Churches without any abuse error supperstition or idolatrie They will say yet further that Iesus Christ ceased not to approue allow the Church of Ierusalem in his time though it had in it store of errors which he well declared when he was there present at the sacrifices and feastes Wherefore then do not we approue also the Romish Church although it haue errors in it For if a Church shall for some abuses faultes or errors loose the name of the true Church where shall we then finde one alone in the whole worlde I aunswere firste that wee holde not that a true Church looseth the name of a true Church for some abuses or errors therein For S. Paul left not of to name the faithfull people of Corinthus the Church although he blamed and reproued them for many errors and corruptions not onely in respect of their manners but also concerning their doctrine And wee shall see hereafter that particular Churches are neuer so perfect in this worlde but that they be oftentimes subiect to error and goe astray But we rightly holde and affirme that the Romish Church ought to leese the name of a true Church because shee hath degenerated and gone out of kinde from the auncient and Catholike Church For the true auncient Catholike church cleaueth to her onely heade and husbande Iesus Christ shee beleeueth his worde followeth him shee is faithfull to him without committing adulterie with idols which the Romishe Church doeth not which thing wee haue a little while agoe shewed Secondly as concerning that that Iesus Christ did approue the Church of Ierusalem in his time we say in the first place that there is verie great difference betweene the estate of that Church then as it was and the estate of the Romish Church such a one as wee beholde it at this day For the abuse and corruption as well of doctrine as of sacramentes and the manifest idolatrie which beareth swaye at this present in the Romishe Church was not at that time in the Church of Ierusalem which is easie to prooue because that Iesus Christe would not haue made much a doe to beat down the idoles to reforme other abuses if they had had place there as he ouerthrew the tables of the monie chaungers Iohn 2.14 cast out of the temple those that there solde openly sheepe and doues Moreouer Iesus Christ woulde not reiecte or disallow the Church of Ierusalem because that the time was not yet come wherein he shoulde put an ende vnto the ceremonies of the lawe Leuiti 17.3 Deut. 12.13 Wherefore for as much as the faithfull had the commaundement of God whereby it was appointed them not to search
A Treatie of the Churche conteining a true discourse to knowe the true Church by and to discerne it from the Romish Church and all other false assemblies or counterfet congregations Written by M. Bertrande de Loque of Dolphinee and dedicated vnto my Lord the Vicount of Turenne And faithfully translated out of French into English by T. W. Imprinted at London for Richard Langton dwelling in Swythins Lane and there they are to be solde 1581. The Summe of the Chapters conteined in this present Treatise TOuching the diuers significations and Chapter 1 takings of this worde Church and how the Churche is commonlye distinguished Pag. 1. Of the Catholik and vniuersal Church which Chapter 2 is one although there be diuers particulers thereof Pag. 7. Of the visible Church and of the true markes Chapter 3 thereof Pag. 14. Whether the true markes of the Church are Chapter 4 to be found amongest the Romish Catholikes Pag. 19. Of the calling succession of pastors Pag. 24. Chapter 5 That the Church hath alwaies been from the Chapter 6 beginning of the world is and shal be vnto the end thereof but yet the Church must not be regarded or acknowledged for the great numbers sake Pag. 55. That Iesus Christe alone is the head of the Chapter 7 Churche and not Saint Peter neither any Pope Pag. 68. Whether the Church of Rome be the true and Chapter 8 Catholike Church and whether wee doe well to withdraw and separate our selues from it Pag. 102 Chapter 9 Touching the degrees of Ministers in the Church where also speeche is had of the orders of the Popes Cleargie and of the office and dueties of true pastors Pag. 128. Chapter 10 Whether the ministery of the word be alwaies necessary in the Church and howe muche men may attribute or giue therto Pa. 160. Chapter 11 Of the sanctitie or holinesse of the Churche Page 184. Chapter 12 Whether the Church may erre Pag. 197. Chapter 13 Whether the Church be aboue the holy scripture that is to say whether the holy scripture depend on the iudgement and authoritie of the Church Pag. 213. Chapter 14 Of the Discipline of the Church Pag 234. Chapter 15 Whether it helong to the Churche to make lawes and if shee make some how far the faithful ought to obey her Pag. 258 Chapter 16 Concerning the afflictions and persecutions of the Church Pag. 274. ¶ To the most noble Lorde my Lorde Henry de la Tour Vicount of Turenne Countie of Monfort Baron of Mongacon Oliergues Bonsolz Fey Seruissac Croc c. Captaine of fiue hundred men at armes of the kings armies MY Lord Lactan. lib. 4. de vera sapient Cap. 30. Lactantius hath very properly and fitly called the Church the fountaine of trueth the house and dwelling place of faith the temple of God adioyning withall that if there bee any whiche entreth not into this Temple or if there be any that goe out therof hee is shut out from the hope of life and from eternall saluation For euen as in the time of the vniuersall flood none coulde bee saued which were out of Noe his Arke Genesis 7.20 23. so without the Churche there is neither hope nor faith nor grace nor saluation Whiche thing also the Apostle Saint Paule did verie well declare and meane when beeing purposed to excommunicate some and to caste them out of the Church 2. Cor. 5. 3.5 1. Tim. 1. 20 hee saide hee muste deliuer them vnto Satan For as Iesus Christe reigneth in the Churche so Satan reigneth without the same and as they which are in the Church hauing Iesus Christ for their head are in very good state blessed so they which are out of the Churche hauing the Diuell for thejr head cannot but be wicked and accursed And therfore it is said both in Isaiah in Ioel That in Sion and in Ierusalem there shal be saluation Isaiah 46.13 Ioel. 2.32 There being meant by Syon and Ierusalem the Church of God as also by the worde heauē there is meant the same thing in the Apocalips when S. Iohn saith I hearde a great lowd voice Reue. 12.10 saying Nowe is saluation in heauen On the other side wee reade that when God declareth that hee will vtterly roote out some from the heauenly life hee denounceth against them and threatneth Ezech. 13. 9 That they shal not be in the councell assemblie of his people neither written in the role of his seruants And Dauid very well knew and felt this when sometimes being in exile all griefes and aduersities were vnto him tollerable and as a man would say easie to beare excepting this that hee was depriued of and wanted the solemne assemblies wherein men made publike declaration and protestation of Gods religion and seruice Wherefore bewailing his condition because hee was excluded from the visible Churche hee being also shut out from accesse or comming to the Tabernacle by the crueltie and tyrannie of his enimies hee cried out earnestly and said Psalm 84.1.2.4.10 O Lord of hostes how amiable are thy Tabernacles My soule longeth yea fainteth for the Courts of the Lord for my heart and my fleshe leape for ioy in the liuing God And a little after Blessed are they which dwel in thy house they will euer praise thee For a day in thy courtes is better then a thowsand other where I had rather bee a doore keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the Tabernacles of the wicked For thereby he hath declared that the conditiō of those men which bestowe their life yea although it were but a day long in the seruice of God in the middest of the Church and among faithful people is farre more blessed then theirs who lyue though it were neuer so long out of Gods house and in the midst of those out of whose companie their religion is banished To which purpose also belongeth that Psalm 27.4 which the same Prophete singeth an other Psalme One thing haue I desired of the Lorde that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of Lorde all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lorde and to visit his Temple Psal 106.45 And againe when hee saith Remember or haue mercie on mee O Lorde with the fauour and good will of the people and visite mee with thy saluation That I may see the good things of thy chosen ones reioyce in the ioy of thy people and glory with thine inheritance And for this very cause and occasion Heb. 11.24.25 the Apostle to the Hebrewes commendeth and praiseth Moses when he saith That by faith hee beeing com to age refused to bee called the sonne of Pharaoh his daughter chosing rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of GOD then to inioy the pleasures of sinne for a short season Wherefore if wee woulde that GOD shoulde gouerne vs by his holy spirite to the ende to make vs inioy and possesse
They are called euen Goddes to wit not onely in respect of ciuill iudgements and because they are the tutors mainteiners and defendours of publike good thinges and the common wealth but also because the principall parte of their charge and office is to serue God in nourishing and mainteining his seruice aswell outwarde as inwarde in causing pure doctrine and religion to florishe and in keeping the state of the Church safe and sound and whole in euery parte for whiche effect and cause they are also named in Isaiah Isaiah 49.23 Nurcing fathers and Nurces of the Churche The Apostle writing vnto Timothie 1. Timo. 2.2 sheweth vs the selfe same matter when after hee had exhorted them to pray for the kinges and for all those which are placed in authoritie he addeth as a fitte reason and verie strong for that purpose That vnder them wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie For thereby hee euidently declareth that the Magistrates office is to haue care that the people which are committed too them shoulde liue not onely in honestie and in peace one of them with another but also in all godlines and feare of God But if the holy Scripture did not teach vs this yet wee might in some sorte learne it out of prophane authours that is to saye Philosophers and Heathen lawe makers For among the Philosophers Aristot in Politicis Aristotle in his Politikes hath saide That godlinesse and religion are the matters which Magistrates ought to esteeme most necessary for the establishement of common weales Plato in Epi. nom And Plato in his Epinomis saith also That Princes shoulde not at any time bee persuaded that there is any thinge more profitable and necessarie for mankinde then that vertue is which men call pietie and godlinesse that is to say religion and the seruice of God And as concerning lawe makers wee knowe that they hauing to prouide for necessary things and to make ordinances and decrees therefore haue alwaies giuen the first most honourable place to pietie or godlinesse and the seruice of God And in deede because they woulde that their Lawes should bee of greater authoritie and better receiued of their people as well agreeing with pietie and godlynesse they haue made them beleeue that their Gods were authours thereof Minos Minos the Lawemaker of the Cretenses gaue them to vnderstande that hee was Iupiters familiar friende and that hee spake often to him to the ende the people might beleeue that he receiued from him the lawes which hee established amongest them Zoroastes Zoroastes gyuing lawes to the Bactrians and Persians saide that hee receaued them from Oromason whome they accounted for God and authour of all goodnesse Trismegistus saide also Trismegistus that hee had receiued from Mercurius the lawes which hee gaue to the Egyptians Carondas Carondas the lawmaker amongest the Cathaginenses referred and ascribed his lawes to Saturnus Lycurgus Lycurgus the lawemaker of the Lacedemonians referred the lawes which hee gaue to Apollo Solon and Draco the lawemakers among the Athenians Solon Draco Xamolxis Numa referred their lawes to Minerua Xamolxis the lawemaker among the Scithians ascribed his lawes to Vesta Numa too the end hee might get authoritie to his lawes amongest the Romans feigned that in the night season hee had great acquaintance or lay with the goddesse Aegeria Wherefore this remaineth resolute and standeth sure that Princes and Magistrates to the end that they may in good policie and order gouerne their Lordships and frame the maners of their subiects ought alwayes to beginnne with pietie and the seruice of God as with the most necessary matter and as without the which there is no regiment or gouernment in the world which can long subsist or stand And therefore for this cause specially is it that good kinges princes and lordes are praised in the scripture as Dauid Iosiah Hezekiah amongest kinges Ioseph and Daniell amongst the rulers and gouernours of prouinces for kings Moses Iehoshua the iudges amongst those who had the guiding and leading of people which were free Wherefore the flatterers of the courte doe uilanously abuse and mocke the very Lordes and Princes when they blowe this into their eares that the cause of religion concerneth them nothing at all and that they ought to be content with this that they haue some care of politike matters committed vnto them and charge of their domesticall and housholde affaires and namely of their Horses Dogges Haukes Foules c forwarre for hunting hauking and for their other particuler pleasures without trauelling and taking any more paine for all that or any part thereof which concerneth the good estate and affaires of Gods Church Thankes bee to GOD my Lorde that you be far otherwise instructed in that which belongeth to the duetie of Christian lords and magistrates thā that which the courtiers brabble and prate not to suffer your selfe to bee distracted neither to goe astray from that which the trueth hath once taught you And I hope yea I hope it very stedfastly that that great God who hath put and placed in you so good seed will giue it so good an increase that hee will be thereby for euer glorified and that that true and not counterfeite profession of the religion which you haue wil bring to passe that you shal be more and more loued honored of good and honest people and feared and reuerenced of the wicked and persecutors On mine owne parte that I might bring some aide and succour to the faithfull people to the end that they might learn by your example to put a difference betweene the true and false Church and by the same meane to resolue to keepe and stay them selues vppon the true Church and that I might also giue some familiar and plaine order to all to knowe on which side the true Churche is I haue as diligently builded framed and prepared this present discourse as it was possible for me wherein I intreate of the Churche and all the pointes and partes thereof that I thought meete and purposed to touch or could thinke vpon And therin I haue followed the most apt conuenient order that I coulde choose without confounding the matters therein declaring all that which wee ought to behold and beleeue of the Church touching her estate forme guiding and gouernment For I shewe therein what is the true Churche which are her true and infallible markes which is the true succession and calling of Pastours therein what is her spreading abrode increase and continuance who is the head thereof howe shee is holy whether shee may erre what is her power and authoritie amongest whom it is what be the degrees and orders of her guiders what is her discipline whether the ministerie be necessary in her And lastly I speake of her persecutions and afflictions in which point I am somwhat more large then in the rest because I knewe that the present need
and occasion required it to the ende I might confirme and strengthē the faithful peoples cōsciences at this time in which it seemeth that the Diuell the enimie of Gods glorie and our saluation is vnchayned and vntyed and that all the worlde is kindled with rage and set on fire with furie and conspired with him furiously to rush vpon the poore Churche setting out and making a shewe against it of all that that crueltie can deuise Weerefore I shewe what is the state and condition of the Church on earth that shee hath alwaies had such a vertue of patience and so great cōstancie and courage in the middest of the crosse that tyrants haue rather left of to persecute her then that shee hath failed and fallen away by their torments insomuch that she hath abode inuincible and vnconquered against the vehemencie and violence of so many horrible cōbats as she was to sustain indure and out of all them hath brought a famous victorie and moste glorious crowne In summe that the sonne of God hath alwaies founde place and passage in the middest of the worlde notwithstanding the fires swordes tormentes furies outcries and horrible scatterings abrode which were made against him As touching the fruite and profite whiche may come of this little labor I dare not affirme any thing thereof except it bee in respect of you my Lorde For I doubt not but you take as muche pleasure to heare mee discourse in writing vpon this matter of the church as you commonly doe when you heare mee speake either particulerly to your selfe or publikelie in the execution of my charge and office And yet if you regarde that which is mine without doubt the fruite wil bee none but if you consider the argument and the large laying out of the matters conteined in this present treatie I assure my selfe that it will not bee altogether vnprofitable and that they which shall reade the same will not repent themselues thereof Furthermore I staying my selfe my Lord vpon your accustomed goodnesse through which you disdaine not or dislike any thing which commeth from your seruants offer and dedicate vnto you this little booke most humbly beseeching you to accept it and to take it well that it commeth out into light vnder the inscription of your name and to receiue it with such gentlenesse and curtesie as you haue been accustomed to loue vertue and fauour Christian religion and those that make profession thereof For I hope that if you receiue and take it well that your name shal procure it more grace and liking and shall get it more authoritie and purchase it more fauour amongest all because that thinges dedicated to great personages are better receiued of the lower sort although the thinges of them selues are oftentimes very base and of small account and value And also as touching my selfe I was gladly minded to declare and shewe by this slender meane a testimonie of the obedience which I owe you and for the singuler earnest desire which I haue to do you the most humble and acceptable seruice that I can in the Lorde whom I beseech with all my hearte to maintein you my Lord my Lady the Coūtesse your sister in his most holy most worthy keeping and to preserue you both in a blessed and long life augmenting and increasing in you dayly more and more the giftes and graces of his holy spirite wherewith hee hath so plentifully decked and liberally inriched you From Turenne this xxv of March 1577. Your most humble and most obedient seruant Bertrand de Loque ¶ An Admonition to the Reader I Was loth gentle Reader to publish this profitable and necessary treatise because it being meant wel may bee taken ill and being a rule and confirmatiō to forraine Churches reformed may perhaps fall into the hands of vndiscreete readers trouble the happy quiet state of the Church of England But to preuent this inconuenience and to helpe the weakenesse of many whiche carried with a preposterous rash zeale doe iudge before they conceaue and like rather to feede their humor then foster the peace of the Church I thought it necessary to put the reader in remembrance of those thinges which being greedily snatched at and read without iudgement by curious and contentious heads may tende to the disturbance of the peace and tranquilitie of the Church Whereas therefore in the nienth Chapter intreating of the degrees of the Ministerie the authour seemeth to detract frō Archbishops Metropolitanes Deanes Archdeacons and other Ministers in this Church of England and els where his meaning is not to condēne those titles allowed attributed to faithfull Pastors in other reformed Churches according to the auncient and laudable order of the primitiue Church but to eleuate and impugne the tyrannie pompe and ambition of the popishe prelacie who leauing their function of preaching and teaching haue vsurped I knowe not what authoritie and power of commanding and countercommanding what they list in the church of God Who in crueltie succeed not Peter but Romulus in pompe and magnificence not Peter but Cōtantine as Bernard faith They doe all for honor and nothing for holines saith the same authour Their courts are full of Symoniacks their thresholds more troddē by ambitiō then by deuotiō and their Cannons Ecclesiasticall procurers of gain lucre The Church is not gouerned by names but by offices which they faithfully performe this day to whom for reuerence wee willingly ascribe the names of honor and dignitie Moreouer no man will denie though the same authoritie be committed to all Gods faithfull Ministers in binding losing preaching or ministring the Sacraments yet that this equalitie in ministration doth nothing hinder a diuersitie distinction of degrees and superioritie in gouernment being very necessary for the auoiding of cōfusion and schisme That this preheminence is not lately deuised or newe begunne may soone appeare by these words of the Apostle The spirites of the Prophetes are subiect to the Prophetes Whereupon I gather that if the spirites of all the Prophetes being lightened by the vertue of the holy Ghoste were not free from the checke of other Prophetes vpon whom it had pleased God to bestowe his gifts of iudgement knowledge and learning much more ought wee to allowe and preferre the graue and learned iudgement of the best and graunt them a dignitie preheminence in matters of lesse importance The reason by the Apostle is not to be neglected Non est Deus author confusionis sed pacis as who shoulde say if some were not appointed to decide such doubtes as arise either of ignoraūce or of mallice all woulde goe to wracke in haste and Christian education to mortall hatred Thē would the frost of priuate quarrel either sterue the buddes of the Gospel or rage of spirituall ambition disturbe the policie of euery congregation Gregorie Nazianzen in his Oration intituled Apologeticus saith There must of necessitie be two sortes of mē 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some
that must rule and guide others that must bee guided and gouerned In man there are two thinges the soule which gouerneth by reason the body which submitteth it selfe and obeyeth otherwise if in an armie all were souldiers or all Captaines what hope were there of victorie and good successe If in a ship all shoulde bee alike all marriners who shoulde stande at the Helme who shoulde guide the compasse If in a Citie all were equall who shoulde make decrees prescribe lawes and execute the same If the whole bodie were a head what disorder Or if the members were without a head what confusion The learned therefore send vs to learne order to the heauens to the earth to the angels amongst whom there are degrees Angels Archangels vertues potestates principatus dominationes throni Cherubin Seraphin to the Sun to the moone to the stars which in glory brightnes excell one another To the Bees which haue their graūd captaines at whose buzzing they go forth they follow cluster together to the trees wher you see of a great stocke many braunches arise and spring Our naturall appetite and affection acknowledgeth the gouernmēt of reason vnderstāds And so in the Church of God ther hath been alwayes gouernours and they gouerned chiefly and souerainly as in the ciuill estate Seth Enos Sem ruled the Church in their time the Church acknowledged obeyed their gouernment The best writers affirme that the first borne had the rule of the whole familie Noah alone ruled in making and ordering the Arke in which there were cleane and vncleane beastes tame and sauage of all kindes to signifie the church gathered together of both Iewes Gentiles and gouerned by Iesus Christ only as by a second Noah The Church vnder the lawe had diuersitie of orders as may appeare in sundry places In the third of Numbers where the Tribes are mustered the three families of the Gersonites Kohathites Merarites had their Prince or head which they called Nescha In the first of Kings the 4. Azaria is called the Prince of the Leuites Obadiah that worthie Counceller meeting with olde Heli disdaineth not to call him lord Gregorie Nazianzen writeth to Gregory Nissien which supposed him to be angry because they had ordeined one without his consent saide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let no mā bely vs nor any of my lords the brethrē Good Gregorie an humble and simple man weighed not titles nor cared for any worldly honour but was carefull that order should bee prescribed in the Church and that one should goe before an other in honour S. Iames saith Be not yee many masters And Chrysostom saith that equalitie of dignitie and place bringeth forth schisme Likewise Ierome writing to Euagrius saith that from Marke to Dionisius and Heraclas there was one alwayes set in higher place of dignitie aboue the rest and this he saith was to auoid schismes which seeing they lacke skill and be in the Church and shal be to the end sith the disease remaineth still what great folly is it to condemne or refuse the remedie In the Counsell called Gangrensse the holie fathers assembled there writing to the Bishops of Armenia vse these wordes Honoratissimis dominis To our most honourable Lordes The late writers most of them allow and affirme a primacie of order though not in degree of ministration M. Caluin writing vpon the 2. Cor. 10. Etsi omne commune sit c. Although one and the same office be common to all yet be there degrees of honor And the same Authour writing vpon these wordes out of the 2. to the Philipp Sicut patri filius ita mihi Timotheus seruiuit in Euāgelio As a father his sonne so hath Timothie serued mee in the Gospell Wee learne saith hee in this place that no such equalitie was amōg the Ministers but one did rule and gouerne the rest by counsell and authoritie Againe in his 4. booke 8. Chapter sect 54. He saith that euerie prouince had among their Bishops an Archb. and that the Councell of Nice did appointe 4. Patriarches which shoulde be in order and dignitie aboue Archb. it was for the preseruation of discipline Wherefore it is apparant by testimonies of holie scripture by light of reason and by practise of the Church by the necessitie of the thing that distinctiō of degrees superioritie is necessarie in the church as without the which law would soone grow to libertie faith wold soone be deuided the coat of christ Iesu which is his church rent and torne in sunder so many fancies so many faithes would follow Nowe whereas many make much adoe about the titles of Bishops Metropolitans Archb. and the scripture is still alledged as an aduersarie in this quarell containing expresly no such names Thus may they make our Sauiour Christ inferiour to his father concerning his diuinitie because the title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is no where literally expressed although the same by sūdrie places may be well and iustly gathered Therefore to conclude to them that list to be contentious Vbi de re constat puerile est de verbolitigare And to the discreete Reader that hee peruse this booke to profite his conscience and not to please his affection Seeke peace and the God of peace shall blesse you increase his grace amongst you to the terrour of your enemies and comfort of your soules Amen A TREATIE OF the Church containing a true discourse in which a man may clearely behold and see what is the nature forme gouernement and guiding of the true Church together vvith the infallible markes and tokens by vvhich a man may knowe it and discerne the same from the Romish Church and all other false and counterfeited congregations CAP. I. Of the diuers significations and acceptions of this word CHVRCH and how the Church is commonly distinguished MEN are accustomed to say that euery worde which may be taken in many senses and in diuers significatiōs shuld rather be distinguished then defined For a man can not otherwise rightly declare the nature vertue and disposition of any thing vnlesse he be first resolued of the sense and meaning in which it ought to be taken For as much therfore as this word Church is of that sort being a Greeke word which signifieth an assemblie or congregation is taken or deriued from a word which in that tongue signifieth to call or to cause to come it is meete and necessarie that before we giue the definition thereof we declare after howe many sortes men vse to take it 1 Nowe men sometimes take it for a companie or assemblie of wicked persons as Psalme 22.16 Psal 22.16 The Church or the Synagogue of the wicked haue inclosed me and in Psalme 26.5 Psal 26.5 I haue hated the Churche of the wicked that is to say the companie For there is in the Hebrue text two words which the Greekes haue turned Synagogue and Church which doe signifie as much as a companie troupe
or assemblie 2 Sometimes it is put for the assemblie of citizens and burgesses of a towne in which meeting they intreate of the common and ordinarie affaires of the common wealth and so doth Saint Luke vse it Act. 19.32.39 Actes 19.32.39 3 It is also taken for the place whether the assemblie is called together as Iudeth 6. Iudeth 6.16 verse 16. And they called together all auncients of the citie and all their youth ranne together to the Church or assemblie that is to say to the place of the congregation or assemblie 4 Also for the Senate or consistorie of the Church that is to say for the Pastors and Elders of the Church who are indeed the conductours and guiders thereof Matt. 19.17 as when Iesus Christ saith Tell the Churche Chrysostom Hom. 62. vpon Matth. that is to say euen as Chrysostome also expoundeth it the Pastours leaders and gouernours of the Churche according wherevnto we see that Saint Iohn making mention of the consistorie of the Iewes in which it was sometimes determined to thrust out of the Synagogue euerie one that would confesse Iesus Christ Ioh. 9.22 he saith generally that the Iewes made this decree although it was indeede the Consistorie onely 5 But in the question or matter of Christian religion it is taken for the companie and assemblie of faithfull people which make profession of the true pure religion of God Of this Church speaketh S. Paul when he saith to the Pastors thereof Take heede to your selues Act. 20.28 and to all the flocke whereof the holie Ghost hath made you Bishops or ouerseers to feede the Church of GOD which he hath purchased with his owne bloud But here we must obserue certaine distinctions for euen in this signification the Church is commonly distinguished into three sortes First it is called triumphant or else militant The Church triumphant is the companie of blessed spirites who hauing gotten victorie through Iesus Christ against their enimies the diuell the world the flesh sinne death and hell triumph at this present on high in heauen praising God and celebrating the glorie of his name with all ioyfulnesse We haue a goodly description of the Church in the Reuelation Reu. 7.9.10 Cap. 7.9.10 The Church militant is the assemblie of all the faithful people who as yet on earth fight vnder the banner or standard of Iesus Christ their head against the foresaide enimies whose armours or weapons are set out by S. Paule in the Ephesians Ephes 6.13.14 c. chap. 6. For it is not the Lords will that so long as we are to walke here belowe we should be without afflictions but he will haue vs to be continually in the battell and alwayes troubled and tormented through the malice of men yea so much the more by how much we shall earnestly indeuour to serue him in all godlinesse and holinesse Act. 14.22 this matter also being alreadie concluded that by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Wherevnto do appertaine also Ioh. 15.20.16.2 2. Tim. 3.12 the sentences of Iesus Christ and S. Paul Ioh. 15.20 Ioh. 16.2 2. Tim. 3.12 But hereafter we will speake more largely of the afflictions of the Church The second distinction is that the Church is called either Catholike that is to say vniuersall or generall being dispersed thoroughout the world and comprehending vniuersally all the faithfull and elect people of God or else particular which is a part of the vniuersall for we vse to call them particular Churches or congregations which are limited within a certaine number and inclosed in certaine places being as it is said before partes and members of the vniuersall such in former time were the Churches of Corinthus Rome Ephesus such are at this day the Churches of Fraunce Germanie England Switzerland and other places of all which together consisteth the vniuersal which notwithstāding is but one as anon we shal see The third distinction is that the Church is sometimes said to be inuisible and sometimes visible The inuisible Church is streitly and narrowly considered and is the verie same which before we called Catholike or vniuersall comprehending only the faithfull and elect in which number they also are to be accounted that be already dead The visible Church is considered more largely and comprehendeth al them which are called by the preaching of the Gospel to be of Christes flocke August in Psal 64. S. Augustine vseth this distinction in his writings For writing vpon the 64. Psalm he saith that the Church which is signified by Ierusalem tooke beginning from Abell and Babylon from Caine and yet notwithstanding in his booke of Baptisme against the Donatistes chap. 16. August li. 1. cont Donatist cap. 1.6 taking the Church in a more generall signification he saith that the same which begate ingendered and brought foorth Abell Enoch Noah Abraham and the Prophetes did also begette ingender and bring foorth Caine Ismael Dathan and others such like But we must more narrowly and deepely search this matter declare what it is which doth properly belong to the Church as well Catholike and invisible as to other which I saide was visible But first of the Catholike and inuisible Church CHAP. II. Of the Catholike and inuisible Church which indeede is but one albeit it haue many particular partes and members BY that which hath bene said before it is an easie matter to gather and make a good and certaine definition of the Church Wherefore first we say that the Catholike and inuisible Churche is the companie of all faithfull people scattred throughout the whole world whom God hath chosen to euerlasting life With this definition agreeth that which may be gathered out of that which Saint Paule saith to the Corinthians to wit that the Churche is the companie of all those 1. Cor. 1.2 that being sanctified through Iesus Christe and called to be Saintes doe call vpon the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe in euerie place The Church then is not an house of wood or of stone builded by mans hande but the congregation commonaltie and fellowship of all those which followe the trueth of faith Which matter also we may confirme by these reasons following Gal. 1.13 Act. 9.14 First S. Paul confesseth That he persecuted the Church of God Ananias saith that he had authoritie from the high Priestes to bind all those that called vppon the name of the Lorde that is to say Christians Here we see that Saint Paul calleth those the Church whome Ananias nameth Christians or such as did call vpon the name of the Lord. Ephe. 1.23 1. Cor. 12.27 Secondarilie the Church is called the bodie of Christe and the companie of faithfull people is also called the bodie of Christ wherevpon it followeth that the Church is no other thing but the companie of the faithfull Ioh. 10.16 Thirdlie Iesus Christ him selfe calleth the Church a sheepefolde wherevnto sheepe appertein and
15. for he is a chosen vessel vnto me to beare my name before the Gentiles and Kinges and the children of Israel Which is a matter worthie to bee noated to the ende that we shoulde carefully looke vnto our selues that we take not vppon vs to iudge of any man rashlie and before the time CHAP. III. Of the visible Church and of the true markes thereof THe visible Church is the cōpanie of all those who by the preaching of the Gospell are called to be of Christs flock as indeed they are supposed to be amongest whome notwithstanding manie are not of the number of the elect as appeareth by the parable of the seede whereof Iesus Christ maketh mention in the 13. chapter of the Gospell according to S. Matthew and by that which he saith that all they which say vnto him Lorde Lord Math. 13.24 Matth. 7.21 Matt. 20.16 shal not enter into the kingdom of heauē Also that many are called but few are chosen Also by that Saint Paul saith Rom. 9.6 that all they which are of Israel are not therefore Israel And S. Iohn They went out from amongest vs Iohn 2.19 but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. We haue an example hereof in Iudas as Iesus Christ himselfe witnesseth the same in Saint Ioh. Here then we haue to marke this Iohn 6.70.13.18 that the outward profession of Christan religion is not sufficient to saluation Furthermore this Church is knowen by her own proper marks which are two verie principall and substantiall The first is the pure preaching of the worde with a right and common consent thereto There was neuer yet any religion which was not vpholden maintained and pointed out by some doctrin So we se that the gentiles haue had their seruices hymnes songes praises vnto their Gods The Iewes haue the barke or huske of the lawe and their own Thalmude The Turkes haue the Alcoran of their Mahumet and the heretikes also boast thēselues of the doctrin of the Gospell and yet all these are false signes or markes But the true church hath for her first and principall marke the worde of God purely preached to the which the church consenteth conformeth hir selfe as we proue it plainely by these places of scripture Iohn 10.27 Iesus Christ saith My sheepe heare my voyce and I knowe them and they followe mee And Saint Paule in his Epistle to the Ephesians Ephe. 2.20 you are saith he builded vppon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christe himselfe being the cheife corner stone And indeede if this be true as of necessitie it must needes be that by the Scriptures wee are brought to the knowledge of Christ as Christ himselfe affirmeth Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures diligently for they are they which beare witnesse of me ought we not then by the same scriptures to be guided and leade to the knowledge of the true and right Church This matter the auncient fathers respected when they taught the the true Church ought to shewe and declare it selfe by the holy scriptures as Saint Augustine saying There is great disputation betweene vs and the Donatistes Contra pitilia cap. 2. to knowe where the Church is What is then that we haue to doe herein Shall we search it out in our owne wordes or rather in the wordes of our Lord Iesus Christe the head thereof verily we ought rather to seeke for it in the wordes of him that is trueth and knoweth very well his owne body For the Lord knoweth them that be his And againe 2. Tim. 2.19 Cont. Pitili cap. 3. Aug. epist 166. I will not shew or declare the Church by the doctrine of men but by the word of God Also by the scriptures saith he we haue learned Christ by the scriptures likewise we haue learned to knowe the Church We haue these scriptures common amongest vs wherefore then doe we not retaine and holde in them both Christ and his Church And Chrysostome saith Supr Matth. exposit 2. Homil. 49. cap. 24. He that will knowe which is the true Church of Christ by what meane can he knowe it in such and so great a confusion of outward shewe if it be not onely by the scriptures Lib. 2. de Iacob cap. 7. Saint Ambrose saith also The true and Catholike Church is there where GOD him selfe appeareth and speaketh to his seruantes by his owne worde The other marke of the Church is the lawfull administration of sacraments Cont. Faustū Manich. lib. 9. cap. 11. Saint Augustine hath sometimes saide that men can not vnite or knit them selues together in any religion what so euer be it true or false but by the meanes of some sacramentes or visible signes So the Gentiles had their sacraments and sacrifices The Iewes had Circumcision and some other outward signes of their religion But the true Church hath for the second of her markes her owne sacraments instituted by Iesus Christe the head thereof that is to say baptisme and the holie supper And therevnto must be referred that which Saint Augustine saith The Lorde hath vnited or knit together the newe people that is Ad inquisit Ianuar. ca. 1. the people vnder the newe Testament by the sacraments which are few in number easie in obseruation and very great in signification to wit by baptisme consecrated or administred in the name of the blessed Trinitie and by the communicating or partaking of his body and of his bloud Besides Saint Paule doth in like sort rightly teach vs this when he saith first of baptisme 1. Cor. 12.13 that we are all baptised by one spirit into one body and afterward of the supper we that are many 1. Cor. 10.17 are one breade and one body bicause we al are partakers of one and the selfe same breade meaning thereby that these two sacraments are in such sort the two common signes of the Church that by the same we are visibly gathered together into the house of God that we may there be accounted in the number of his housholde seruants and contained in the vnitie of the body of the Church withall the faithfull and by consequent drawne taken and separated from all other people prophane nations CHAP. IIII. Whether these true markes of the Church are to be found amongst the Romish Catholiks THese then are the two certaine and infallible markes of the true Church by which men must examine all assemblies that pretend the name and title of the Church least otherwise they be seduced and deceiued Wherfore if a man will knowe whether the true Church be among the Romish Catholikes or no we neede not haue recourse to any other proofe or touchstone then this onely But it shall behoue vs to holde and to keepe in memorie one foundation or sure ground to wit that these two markes must alwayes be retained and kept in their puritie without being any manner of way
sound goeth foorth of his mouth If he be deade as saith S. Gregorie when he preacheth not Greg. epl 24 by what title may a man say that the Romish Bishops and priestes succeded the the Apostles and haue the possession of their chaire or place if they be deade or altogether dumbe or else not the followers of the Apostles in doctrin truth for let vs a litle beholde howe the auncient fathers haue ioyned and knitte the succession of person or place with the succession of doctrine and office Irenae lib. 4. cap. 43.44 Irenaeus saith Wee are commaunded to yeeld obedience to the elders which are in the Church who haue their succession from the Apostles and together with the succession of the office of a Bishoppe haue receiued according to the good pleasure of the father certaine grace and knowledge of the trueth Tertullian saith also If some heresies dare be so bolde to intermingle them selues with the times of the Apostles thereby to make men beleeue that they were deliuered from the Apostles them selues because they were vnder the Apostles or in their dayes we may say let them shew then the beginnings of their Churches let them vnfolde or discouer the succession of their Bishops in such sorte running and flowing by continuall order from the beginning that the first Bishoppe hath had some of the Apostles for his author and predecessor or some one of them who were the folowers of the Apostles who also did notwithstanding perseuer and continue with the Apostles And a litle after The Churches saith he which were planted after the Apostles time those which are yet planted at this day although that they bring not any author for them from amongest the Apostles themselues or Apostolicall persons yet notwithstanding being found consenting in the same faith they are not to be helde taken or acknowledged for any other then Apostolicall pro consanguinitate doctrinae saith he that is to say for the nighnesse in bloud or by reason of that doctrine which they maintaine keepe and holde with the Churches which the Apostles them selues ordained and set vp S. Augustine writing to one Generosus Aug. epist 156. doth so extoll the succession and continuall order of Pastours that he nameth thirtie Bishops of Rome putting Anastasius for the nine and thirtieth but he addeth euen presently or immediately after In all this ranke or band there was not to be found one Donatist Epist fundament cap. 4. And against the Manichees he writeth thus There are very many things which holde and keepe me in the lappe of the Catholike Church the consent of people and nations the authoritie which was begunne by miracles nourished through hope augmented by charitie and confirmed by antiquitie moreouer the succession of Pastours euen from the seate of Saint Peter to him that is at this day present And a little after But on your parte saith he to the Manichees ye alledge or bring foorth no such thing but onely ye retaine or stand to a promise of truth which indeed if it did declare it selfe so euidently that a man could not any more dout therof I confesse consent that it ought to be preferred before antiquitie succession and all other things Hierom. epist 1. ad Heliodor habetur S. Hierome they are not saith he the sonnes and children of holy men that hold and possesse the places of holy men but they which followe their doctrine and practise their workes Distinct 40. Can. And Chrysostome in a certaine place There are saith he many Elders and fewe Elders many in name and fewe in deede Behold my brethren how ye are placed and set in the chaire For it is not the chaire or place that maketh an Elder but the Elder the chaire or place Behold after what maner and sort the auncient writers haue spoken But would we knowe in one word by the word of God of what value is the most common and old succession that a man can suppose if the puritie of doctrine be wanting S. Paule teacheth it vs Gal. 1.8 writing to the Galathians when he saith If we our selues or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you otherwise then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed Moreouer I would gladly demand of the Romish Catholikes for what cause they holde not the Churches of the East for true Churches They will not say that it is bicause that succession is not on their side for they want not that but it is on their side euen as olde and auncient at the least as in the Romish Church Wherefore they must needes say that it is by reason of the doctrine receiued amongest them to wit bicause they hold not the Pope for their head bicause thei deny Purgatorie bicause their ministers be married bicause they celebrate and minister the holy supper with leauened breade bicause they giue both kindes to the people and such like things Nowe if as touching the East Churches the Papistes iudge of the Churches not by succession but by doctrine wherfore do they when they dispute with vs stay themselues rather vpon succession then vpon the doctrine seing that the question in controuersie betweene vs is to examine the markes of the Church Secondarily touching the matter of succession we say that if we shall enter into the sifting of the succession of Popes Bishops in the Church of Rome we shal easily finde that if men will thereby iudge of their vocatiō or calling it shall not serue their turn very much or stand them in any great stead For this we shal be sure to find that they haue oftentimes succeeded tyrants schismatikes excōmunicate persons and Bishops or Popes not lawfully called For what was Gregorie the seuenth who was named before he came to the popedome Hildebrand Vispergens Vispergensis witnesseth that he vsurped the Papall seate through tyrannie and not by a lawful vocation And the Councel holdē at Wormes Concil Wormat. in the yere 1080. saith also of the said Hildebrand that he was not chosen by God but that he did without shame thrust in him selfe thether by deceit and money that he ouerthrew the Ecclesiasticall order that he was an offensiue person a mouer of debate and an obseruer of diuinations and dreames yea a manifest Necromancer or coniurer What was the woman Pope Ioan about the yere 854 Platina Platina in her life saith that she was an English woman who in her youth followed and accompanied a young scholler in studies and profited so well therein that at Rome she was esteemed amongest the most skilfull and learned for which cause she was exalted to be Pope they supposing she had ben a man But she was found great with childe and at the last deliuered in an open streate and as they were going in solemne procession vpon the shoulders of those that caried her where also she died What was Benedict the ninth The storie writers declare that after he
be alwayes present in the middest of his Church to rule and gouerne the same what hath he to doe for a Vicar or Lieuetenant And as concerning charges and offices we know what executors he hath established and left S. Paul in the Epistle to the Ephesians affirmeth Ephes 4.11 c. that Iesus Christ being ascended into heauen hath giuen some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelistes some Pastors some teachers to whome he hath giuen in charge and committed his Church to order and guide the same This is not spoken onely for two or three or for some other small number neither yet for one age but for all the Pastours of the Church generally and for all times Nowe you may see what lieutenantes Iesus Christe hath substituted in his place but that he shoulde giue vnto Peter a primacie to bee Pope and heade of the Church is a meere leasing The seconde reason is this Iesus Christ onely is the foundation of the Church 1. 1. Cor. 3.11 Corinth 3.11 Wherevpon it followeth that the Church is founded vppon Iesus Christ and at no hande vpon Saint Peter and by consequent that Iesus Christ alone is the heade of the Church and not Saint Peter Touching that which Iesus Christ speake vnto Peter Thou art Peter Matt. 16.18 and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church we wil anon declare the true and naturall sense thereof The thirde reason S. Peters charge office was limited and set within certaine bondes For S. Paul witnesseth of himselfe and Peter thus Galat. 2.7 That he was the Apostle of the Gentiles and Saint Peter of the Iewes And saith that this diuision was made by the reuelation and ordinaunce of GOD. It followeth then that Saint Peter was not an vniuersall Apostle nor a soueraigne high bishoppe ouer all the Church Otherwise Saint Paul shoulde haue done ill in so limiting hedging in as it were the the charge and office of his Apostleship yea and that eighteene yeares after the death of Iesus Christ But I would wish the Romishe Catholikes to take some better viewe of and heede to this reason For if their Pope snatch and take vnto himselfe the primacie for this reason because hee is Saint Peters successors he must then exercise his primacie or popedome ouer the Iewes and preach vnto them the Gospell that hee may gaine them and drawe them to Iesus Christ leauing vnto him whosoeuer he bee that will take vppon him to be called the successor of Saint Paul primacie ouer the Gentiles The fourth reason One wife hath but onely one husband which is her head But the Church is the spouse of Christ 2. Cor. 11.2 Ephe. 5.22 Reue. 21.9 2. Cor. 11.2 Ephesians 5.22 Reuelat 21.9 The Church then hath none other but Christ alone for her husbande and head The fifth reason It is certaine that Saint Peter vsed the power and authoritie which Iesus Christe gaue him for otherwise hee shoulde haue neglected his charge and hidden his talent in the ground and so by consequent haue disobeyed his Master not seruing him purely and faithfully But so it is hee neuer vsurped any primacie ouer the other Apostles or ouer the Church for hee maketh himselfe equal to the other pastors 1. Peter 5.1.21 c. naming himself a pastor and an Elder with them and hee hath saide also that it is not lawefull at anie hande for anie man to haue Lordship ouer the Lordes inheritaunces Then it followeth that hee receiued not anie primacie or Lordshippe from Iesus Christ ouer the Church of God The sixth reason Act. 8.14 Saint Peter was sent together with Iohn into Samaria by the other Apostles Nowe if hee had beene the head of the Church and had had rule and authoritie ouer the Apostles it had apperteined vnto him to sende others not to others to send him The seuenth reason If Saint Peter had had the right of primacie to what end woulde he haue suffered himselfe to haue beene reproued by S. Paul and that before the people In sext decr de Con. cap. Licet distinct 19. ca. si Roman in Glossa de conces prae tit 8. ca. pro. posuit alibi for this was done euen then when hee both might and ought to haue shewed his authoritie and rule As at this day the Pope who saith that hee is aboue right neither is helde or bounde by lawes that he may preferre through his interpretation equitie vnwritten before lawe writen that wee ought to allowe or dissallow all that he alloweth or disalloweth that he is not subiect to any censure hauing all lawe and right in the coffer of his breste and stomacke Now Saint Peter did not alledge any whit or parte of all these blasphemies but tooke in good worth Saint Paules censure and reproofe acknowledging himselfe his companion and fellowe and one that was ioyned with him the other Apostles in felloweshippe of office yea inferiour to the whole bodie and subiect to the admonitions and censures of his brethren The eight reason So it was that among the Apostles in the time that our Sauiour Christ was bodily conuersant with them Luk. 22.24 c. there was a controuersie which of them shoulde bee esteemed or iudged the greatest but Christ laboreth to bring them to humilitie and to take from amongest thē all ambition saying thus The kinges of the nations beare rule and they which exercise authoritie ouer thē are called Gratious lords but ye shall not be so But let the greatest among you be as the least and the cheifest as he that serueth And afterwardes hee setteth himselfe foorth for an example For who is greater he that sitteth at Table or he that serueth is not he that sitteth at the table And I am among you as he that serueth and ye are they which haue continued with mee in my temptations Lastly he concludeth Therefore I appoint vnto you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed to me These are our principal reasons to declare that Saint Peter was not appointed Lorde ouer the Church and that hee had no more authoritie or preheminence in it than the other Apostles his companions and fellowes had Nowe let vs heare the contrarie reasons which the Romish Catholikes make The firste is this Matt. 16.18 Iesus Christ hath said to Saint Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church It followeth then that Saint Peter is the foundation of the Churche and by consequent the head thereof I aunswere that the holy spirite is not contrarie to it selfe but hee hath spoken plainely to the Corinthians That Iesus Christe alone is the onely foundation of the Church 1. Cor. 3.11 and that none can lay anie other than that which is laide alreadie Therefore he affirmeth not in that place of S. Matthewe the contrarie to this And marke this deed Iesus Christ hath not said and vpon thee O Peter I will builde my Church but vpon
this rocke I will builde And what meaneth this vpon this rocke Let vs heare S. Augustine The Church saith he is founded vpon the rocke August in Iohan. tract 124. ca. 21. of which rocke Peter hath taken his name for the rocke is not so called of Peter but Peter is so named of the rocke as Christ hath not taken his name of Christiās but Christians of Christ Therefore the Lord saith vpō this rocke I wil build my Church because that Peter had confessed thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God He saith therefore vpon this rock which thou hast confessed I will build my Church For the rock was Christ vpō which foundatiō Peter also himselfe was builded Marke what S. Augustine saith S. Ambrose S. Chrysostome vnderstand this to be spoken of the faith which is Christ not as the Pope doth of the person of Peter S. Ambrose saith thus Amb. in epl ad Ephe. ca. 2.20 Iesus Christ said to Peter vpon this rocke I wil build my Church that is to say vpon this confession of Catholike faith I will establishe the faithfull vnto eternall life Chrysostome saith also Chriso Ser. 21. de Pentecost Iesus Christ saith Thou art Peter and vppon this rocke I will builde my Church Hee saith vppon this rocke and not vpon Peter For he hath founded or set his Church not vppon man but vpon the faith and confession of Peter And what was this faith and confession Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God The seconde reason is Matth. 16.19 Iesus Christ hath giuen the keyes vnto Peter he hath therefore appointed him head of the Church I denie the consequent For by the vse of the keyes is vnderstoode not the rule or ouersight of the whole Church but the power to binde and loose or else to pardon or not pardon sinnes as it is declared Matt. 18.18 Iohn 20.23 in the 18. Chapter of the Gospell after S. Mathewe and Chap. 20. after S. Iohn Now seeing that so it is that power to remitte or to retaine sinnes was giuen not vnto Peter onely but equally vnto all the Apostles it followeth well that the vse of the keyes was not giuen to Saint Peter alone but also to all his companions fellowes by consequent if he were the head of the Church to whō the power of the keyes was giuen it would follow that the Church had so many heads as it had then Apostles But some will say Iesus Christ speaketh onely to Peter It is true indeede Howe beit by the name of Peter is vnderstoode the whole Church For euen as Iesus Christ was willing to heare what iudgement not onely Peter but also all his fellowes had of him when he demaunded of them But what say ye that I am Matt. 16.15.16 And that Peter alone in the name of all answered and made this confession Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God So on the other side Iesus Christ giuing the power of the keyes vnto the Church addressed his speache vnto Peter alone although he meant to speake as wel vnto all the rest Augu. in Iohan tract 50 And so doth Saint Augustine vnderstande it for beholde howe he speaketh Peter saith hee signifieth the whole Church For if that in Peter there were not the figure of the Church Christ would not haue saide vnto him I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen And agane when Iesus Christ saide vnto Peter I will giue vnto thee the keyes c. Hee ment without doubt the whole Church And the reason would be marked why Iesus Christ in the person of one spake vnto all that is to the ende hee might cōmend and set the vnitye of the Church euen as also the ancient writers haue marked obserued the same Cypri tract 3. de simpli praelat S. Cyprian saith thus Our Lord in the person of one man hath giuen the keyes vnto all thereby to denote and set out the vnitie of all The other wer the same in deede that Peter was fellowes in equall honour and in equal power But Iesus began with one man to the end to shew that the Church is one And Augustine August in Iohan. tract 11. So it was saith he that all were asked Peter alone answered him thou art Christ c. to him was it said I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen as though power to bind and lose had bene giuē vnto him alone But as he answered for al so he receiued the keyes together with all bearing as it were the person of vnitie Wherefore he alone was named for all bicause there was vnitie among all 3 The third reason is Ioh. 21.16 Iesus Christ commaunded Peter aboue al the rest yea and the three times to feed his sheepe He then did constitute and make him an vniuersall Bishop and head of all Churches I aunswere that this consequent is false for there is a very great not only differēce but contraritie betwene these two to haue charge to feed the sheepe of Christ and to haue a most high Empire vniuersall rule ouer the whole Church Besides if to feede the sheepe of Christ be no other thing but to minister giue vnto them the spiritual foode of their soules by the preaching of the Gospel Matt. 28.19 Mark 16.15 as it is indeed and seeing that it is most euident and plaine that Iesus Christe hath giuen this commission to all his Apostles generally it followeth verie well that he hath not giuē it to Peter alone And indeed Peter him self doth wel confesse the same 1. Peter 1.5 c. when he exhorteth his fellow ministers to feede the flocke of Christ which is cōmitted vnto them And Basil cōfirmeth the same saying Iesus Christ him selfe teacheth vs this to wit that he is the only head of the Church who did cōstitute appoint Peter the pastor of his church after him For he saith Peter louest thou me feede my sheepe and consequently he hath giuen this verie same power to all Pastors teachers and hereof this is a certaine signe and sure token that all bind and lose without any difference as well as he The fourth reason S. Peter is diuers times in the Scripture named the first among the Apostles Therefore he was chosen to haue rule aboue the other his fellowes yea aboue or ouer the whole Church I answere first that this argument is friuolous and vaine yea worthie to be mocked and hissed at For be it that we confesse that S. Peter was the first and chiefe as it were amongst a fewe people that is to say amongst the twelue Apostles yet very farr fet is this that it should therefore followe that he was the first or chiefest ouer all Christians or that he did beare rule ouer all the world Secondly if bicause that S. Peter is the first named he is therfore the first chiefest
among the Apostles we must then say by the contrarie that the virgine Marie is the last and least of all women bicause in the first chapter of the Actes Act. 1.13.14 where also S. Peter is set the first in the catalogue or nūber she is set the last after others Which matter the Romish Catholikes will not at any hand say or affirme which if they should it would be found in deede a verie absurde thing Thirdly we read in many places that S. Peter is not named first And S. Paul in the second Chapter of his Epistle to the Galathians Gal. 2.9 placeth Iames before him Iames then by this reason should haue authoritie ouer Peter bicause he is named before him Besides in the Councel of Ierusalem the speach aduice of Iames which was had after that Peter had giuen his Act. 15.13 c. had such weight with it that all consented and agreed to his iudgement And thus much concerning the first point Let vs come to the other which concerneth the Pope who saith that he is Saint Peters successor and so by consequent the head of the Church First if it manifestly appeare by that which hath bene said heretofore that Saint Peter was neuer established head of the Church and that he neuer had any such preheminence and authoritie attributed vnto him by what title or right can or will the Pope who saith that he is his successor pretend at this day any such Lordship rule and authoritie Let vs also on the other side well marke this S. Peter died as they say vnder Nero and there succeeded him Lucius Cletus Clemens in the time of S. Iohn who liued vnder Domitian and euen vnto Traian his dayes Now if they of the Church of Rome will say that the Popes which succeeded S. Peter were the heads of the Church to whome all the rest of the Bishops ought to be subiect they must of necessitie be driuen to confesse that S. Iohn was subiect to Lucius to Cletus and to Clemens Moreouer if S. Peters successors be the heads of the Church Clemens who succeeded him in the third place as they say was so likewise But let vs heare what he him selfe saith in an Epistle which as some say he writ to Iames Bishop of Ierusalem Tom. 1. Concil pag. 135. col 2. The title or inscription is this Clemens to Iames the Lords brother Bishop of Bishops gouernour of the Church of Ierusalem and of all other Churches which by the prouidence of God are throughout all the world If Clemens were the vniuersall Bishop why did he spoyle him selfe of his owne titles to attribute ascribe and giue the same vnto Iames to whome they did not belong Furthermore who is he that hath lifted vp the Pope into this goodly degree of honor Is it Iesus Christ or his Apostles No in deede for we reade that Bonifacius the third of that name Bishop of Rome was by the Emperour Phocas ordained the first souereigne or chiefe of all Christendome and the Chuuch of Rome established head of all the Churches in the world this was about the yere of Christ sixe hundred and foure This Phocas as the historie writers rehearse and record was a traitor and an vnfaithful murderer of the Emperor Mauritius his master for as the said Mauritius at a certaine time shewed him self ouer seuere and rigorous against his souldiers they being giuen to debate and contention chose Phocas for Emperor who in Calcedonia immediately caused to be cut off the forenamed Mauritius his owne head his armes also and his three sonnes named Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine But he receiued his paiment and reward for it afterwards For hauing reigned eight yeares he was at the last slaine by the common people in the yeare of Christ 612. Behold and marke by whome the primacie of the Romish Church was established and the Romane Bishop made an vniuersall Bishop there being before not so much as any newes of it For as concerning a certaine Edict or decre which they alledge by which Constantine the great a Christian Emperor gaue vnto Siluester the Bishop of Rome about the yeare of Christ 317. spirituall domination and gouernement ouer all the Churches of the whole world also the iewels and kingly ornaments yea the Empire it selfe and politike gouernement ouer all the West parts it is a writing found and forged for and at their pleasure full of lyings also and falshoodes which may be easily proued by these reasons There are none of all the approued historiographers during certaine ages which make mention thereof after any sort as Eusebius Eutropius Ruffinus Socrates Theodoretus Beda Euagrius Paulus Diaconus Zonaras Nicephorus Orosius either other the like yea they which haue written the liues of the Emperours and Popes haue not any whit at all spoken thereof No more haue the auncient Doctours Athanasius Basilius Saint Ambrose Gregorie Nissenus Gregorius Nazianzenus Optatus Milenitanus Saint Augustine Chrysostome which is more the Bishops of Rome them selues haue not saide any thing thereof no not in Councels when they haue taken vpon them the care and charge to maintaine their primacie which would notwithstanding haue bene a good buckler and shield of defence for them If Constantine gaue to the Romane Bishop the primacie ouer Constantinople Antioch Alexandria Ierusalem and all other Churches what reason had he to suffer in the Councel of Nice whereat he him selfe was present that the contrarie should there be determined and concluded Concil Nic. Can. 6. habetur tom 1. Concil pag. 342. For in that Councel it was concluded that the Bishop of Rome should not be preferred before the Bishop of Alexandria or of Antioch or of Ierusalem If the foresaid Emperour ordained that the Bishop of Rome should be helde and taken for the head of all the Churches of the world wherefore then did Bonifacius demaund and seeke the same of Phocas whereas he should rather haue required to haue kept the same to himselfe and his successors which was long before graunted by Constantine to his predecessors With what conscience would Constantine giue vnto Siluester lordship and gouernment ouer the Churches and the Empire he him selfe being a Christian and therfore by cōsequent knowing very well that there was a distinction and difference betweene the office of the Pastors of the Church and the charge and duetie of Magistrates Eusebius euen as Eusebius witnesseth of him that he was accustomed to say that the Lorde had giuen and committed the inwarde charge of the Churche to the elders ministers but the outward to him If wee woulde consider Siluester with what conscience also coulde hee accepte the saide donation or gift the vse whereof as he well inough knewe Iesus Christ had forbidden him Luk. 22.25 Matt. 22.21 for hee was not ignorant of this sentence The kinges of the nations beare rule c. but it shall not bee so amongest you Also Giue vnto Caesar the thinges which are
Caesars Wherefore seeing that Iesus Christ hath distinguished the offices of the Magistrates and the charges of the pastors of the Church Siluester did verie ill to confounde and iumble them together in his owne person Yea also there is a certaine Canon to this purpose Distinct 96. Can. QuuÌ„ ad Nico. c. auouched and alledged vnder the name of a Pope and that these offices are distinguished by Iesus Christ If so be that Constantine gaue the empire of the west partes to Siluester they must say that Siluester possessed the same and left it to his successors and that if his successors doe not any longer hold it they must say that they haue beene thrust and driuen out of the possession thereof But let them shew if they can any matter touching this point in the histories Verilie so farre is it that Siluester those which succeeded him euen vnto Hildebrand who was named Gregorie the seuenth was created Pope about the yeare of Christ one thousande seuentie foure did holde the Empire of the West that indeed they had not rule or authoritie ouer the Citie of Rome but did peaceably and quietly acknowledge the Emperors for their Lords and were subiect to their lawes neither was there at any time a Pope choseÌ„ or created without the authoritie of the Emperor The charge came in in the time of the foresaide Gregorie It is about fiue hundred yeres agoe since the Pope haue by litle litle incroched vpon the Empire haue at the last brought into their subiection the Citie of Rome and since they did accomplish that there is not passed about a hundred threescore and nine yeares or there about I holde my selfe contented to haue set downe and declared this as it were by the way He that woulde more fullie see the falshod subtiltie which is in the deuice of this donatioÌ„ or gift may read theÌ„ which haue coÌ„futed the same Marsili c. as Marsilius of Padua in his booke which hee intituled the defender of peace who liued about the yeare of Christ 1324. Moreouer Laurentius Valla Laur. Valla. who liued about the yere 1440. Antonius Archiep. Also Antonius Archbishop of FloreÌ„ce in his historie Cardinal Cusanus Cusanê° Cardinal in his third booke second chapter who sent his opinioÌ„ to the Councel of Basill about the yeare 1460. Raphael volater Raphael Volateran who liued about the yeare 1500. Moreouer it is written in the ecclesiasticall historie that Liberius and Felix Niceph. lib. 9. cap. 37. both two together at one and the same time gouerned the seate apostolicall and did in common the duetie of a Bishop at Rome Sozo lib. 4. cap. 15. and that by the consent of the Church yea by the ordinance and decree of the Councel of Syrmia which of these two then was at that time the onely and vniuersall head of all the Churches But let vs see whether the bishop of Rome were by the auncient fathers aduouched or acknowledged for the high or chiefe bishop S. Cyprian writing to the Bishoppes of Rome as Cornelius Stephanus Cypria lib. 1 epi. 1. 2. Cypria lib. 2. epi. 1. c. some others doeth not in any sorte call them either Popes or vniuersall Bishoppes but brethren and fellowes Cipria tract 3. de Simpli praelat Hee himselfe saith in an other place that there is no more but one Bishoprike wherof euery bishoppe in his owne charge holdeth a whole and sounde portion Cypria in Synod Carthu August recitat haec verba lib. 3. de Baptism contra Donatist cap. 3. And againe none of vs sayth hee is appointed bishop of bishops to inforce his fellowes by tyrannous terror vppon necessitie to obey him Polycarpus Bishoppe of Smyrna came to Rome in the time of Anicetus Bishop of Rome not to frame some appellation before him neither yet to kisse his feete or to receiue his decrees but to conferre with him touching the feaste of Easter and hee alledged for him selfe the authoritie and custome of S. Iohn and of other Apostles of Christ But Anicetus did not alledge either S. Peters authoritie or his owne but onely saide that it stoode him in hande to obserue the custome of the Elders which were his predecessors neither did he constraine Polycarpus to doe the like or excommunicate him therefore and Polycarpus on his side did not thinke he had coÌ„mitted any offence in not consenting with the bishop of Rome in this matter touching the feast of Easter which hee woulde of a suretie haue done if he had acknowledged him for the heade or for the vicar of Iesus Christ constituted and placed in that office by the authoritie of God Irenaeus Euseb lib. 5 cap. 26. of whome wee haue spoken a litle before calleth Soter Anicetus Higinus Pius Telesphorus Xistus Elders as Eusebius in his fifth book and sixe and twenty chapter Dionysius the Bishoppe of the Corinthians writing to the Romaines calleth Soter not Pope of Rome or high prelate but Bishoppe Marke what he saith Soter your good Bishoppe hath not onely obserued this custome but also hath augmented it Euseb lib. 4. cap. 23. Eusebius hath extracted or taken this out of the Epistle of the saide Dionysius Lib. 4. cap. 3. Hierom. ad Euagr. Saint Ierome in an Epistle to Euagrius saith thus If a man dispute or reason of authoritie the worlde is greater then a citie In what place soeuer the Bishops be whether at Rome or at EugubiuÌ„ or at Constantinople or at Alexandria or else where they are all of equall ministerie and degree Chrysostome Chrys hom 43. in Saint Matt. ca. 23. whosoeuer saith hee shal amonge the Bishops desire primacie on earth shall finde confusion in heauen and he that shal affect or seek to be the first shal not be counted amongest the seruantes of Christ. Gregor lib. 4. epist 16.32.34.36.38.39 Gregor lib. 6. epist 24.28.29.30 S. Gregorie in diuers of his Epistles saith That he is an Antichrist that will attribute or giue vnto him the title of vniuersall Bishop But aboue al he putteth down a notable sentence in the two hundred and seuen and thirtie epistle to Eugenius the Bishop of Rome Gregor ad Eugeni epist 237. saying If Christ haue sent thee thou shouldest iudge that thou arte come not to be serued but to serue The true successor of Saint Paul will say with S. Paul Not that we haue Lordship ouer your faith but that we are aided and comforted with your ioy Saint Peters heire â— Peter 5.3 wil heare S. Peter saying Not as though yee were Lords ouer the Lordes heritage but being made ensamples to the flocke In the third Councel of Carthage whiche was helde about the time of Pope Syricius in the 26. Conci Cart. tertium Can 26. habet Distinct 99. Ca. prima sedis c. Canon which is also alledged distinct 99. The fathers ordeined that the Bishop of Rome should
not be called the prince or chiefe of priestes or the high priestes or any such other like thing but only the Bishop of the first seate and that he himselfe shoulde not bee called vniuersall Bishoppe whiche laste clause Peter Grabbe the compiler or gatherer of the Tomes of the Councelles hath lefte out either by deceit or negligence I know not whether You see testimonies inowe gathered out of the most approued olde Doctours and such as bee best worthie of credit by which you may easily perceiue that this rule or authoritie ouer all Churches was not in their time attributed to the bishop of Rome and that the Churches themselues had not anie superioritie or authoritie one of them ouer an other but that they were all associated and vnited together that some obteyned not neyther more or lesse power then othersome yea wee reade that when the Romish Bishop woulde sometimes haue vsurped more authoritie than did appertayne vnto him other Bishoppes did stronglie and stedfastly resist him which appeareth by the historie following that Socrates an ecclesiastical historiographer writeth in his seconde booke and fifteenth Chapter and Sozomenus in his thirde booke and eight Chapter A certaine man named Athanasius one Paulinus being deposed from their charges by the Bishoppes of Asia assembled and mett together with their Metropolitane would needes complaine to the Bishop of Rome who easily gaue thē letters by which he did place them againe in their firste offices and did greeuously reproue and chide them who had put them therefrom But the bishops of Asia tooke this in such sorte that they obteyned of the councel of Antioch that letters should be written to Iulius Bishoppe of Rome by which there should be declared vnto him that he did attribute and take vnto himselfe an authoritie which did not at anye hande belong vnto him and that in so doing hee offered greate wronge to other Churches and other Bishoppes And there was added to the letters that he should no more meddle with them whom they had deposed thē they medled with those whiche were deposed by the Bishop of Rome and others which were ioyned with him therein To which purpose they alledged the example of Nouatus which was as yet verie freshe and newe For when this Nouatus was reiected by the bishoppe of Rome none of the rest of the Metropolitanes and Bishops of other prouinces did gainesay the same neither any manner of way intermedled therein Furthermore if that which is maintained and practised at this day amongst the Romish Catholikes touching the large iurisdiction soueraigntie of their Pope were in force by Gods lawe as they would persuade the simple people therof should not then all the foresaid Bishops all others together with their Councels and Churches which haue not at any time confessed the Bishop of Rome for their head be verie grieuously censured or punished and worthie of a verie seuere and sharpe reprehension It is true that men may find that some amongst the auncient Fathers haue sometimes called the Bishops of Rome high Priest Pope but they did heretofore call after the same sort all Bishops For as touching the name high Priest Theodo lib. 2. cap. 7. Theodoretus in his second booke chap. 7. speaketh on this maner that two hundreth and fiftie high priests were assembled together in Sardis And Athanasius in his first Oration against the Arrians Athanasius oratio 1. cōtra Arrianos doth not only cal Iulius and Liberius the Bishops of Rome high Priests but also he calleth by the very same name the Bishops of Grecia Dacia Cappadocia Affrica Ruffin lib. 2 cap. 26. Italie Sicilia and Armenia Ruffinus also in the second booke sixe and twentie Chapter calleth Athanasius the great high Priest As concerning the name Pope we wil speake thereof by Gods grace and aide hereafter in the ninth Chapter Moreouer let vs consider by what tokens and markes the Pope of Rome saith that he is Saint Peters successour It is say the Romish Catholikes bicause that Saint Peter had his seat and chaire in the Church of Rome being there the Pastour and hauing borne rule there a long time and that after him there came in order his successors the Bishops of Rome hauing the same authoritie which he had before But touching the first it is vncerteine whether Saint Peter was Bishop of Rome or no at the least whether he bare rule there and helde the seat They are not able plainely to proue the same neither to approue it as truth at what time it was neither vnder what Emperour neither howe long bicause that out of the holie scriptures they are not able to bring so much as one onely probable coniecture Caluin li. 4. Instit cap. 6. sect 14. but rather the contrarie as Caluine hath well sufficiently declared in his Institutions Secondly if S. Peters abode at Rome hath giuen this authoritie to the Romish Bishops to the heads of the Church and vniuersall Bishops from whence commeth it Concil Nic. Can. 6. Concil Antioch Can. 13. that the Councels haue limitted to all the Patriarches who were many diuers yea euen after that thei were brought to foure their seueral charges making them Metropolitanes euerie one in his own prouince the Bishop of Rome hauing no more authoritie ouer others than others ouer him For at that time the Bishop of Rome might verie wel haue alledged S. Peters seate and the other Bishops Councels would very wel haue confessed and allowed the same if it had bene true and if the same could rightly haue giuen the title of primacie to the Bishop of Rome On the other side what an argument is this S. Peter was Bishop of Rome there suffered martyrdome therfore it followeth that this Church is the mother and mistresse of al the rest and that the Bishop therof is the vniuersall and general head of all Christendome Verily if in this respect the question be to establishe and set vp a primacie it ought rather to be placed at Ierusalem than at Rome For Saint Peter preached there Act. 2.14 Act. 2.12 yea the first after Christes ascention where he together with his fellowes and brethren builded vp the Church Act. 4.3 did great miracles was imprisoned Act. 5.18 and sundrie times persecuted The Prophets likewise preached there and all the Apostles yea which is more Iesus Christ him self Ioh. 2.13 7.14 8.2 c. 18.20 died there and rose againe and from thence ascended vp into heauen There also was the first Synode that euer was held in the Christian Church assembled of all the Apostles There also Iesus Christ sent downe his holie spirit vpon his Apostles and disciples Act. 15.6 c. Act. 2.1 c. And to be short from thence it was that the doctrine of saluation should come foorth to be spread abroad throughout al the world Isai 2.3 Michah 4.2 euen as the Prophets had before told which
things we cānot after any sort say or affirme of Rome Moreouer if we must respect and regard the Apostles there is as much or rather more reason to make S. Paule the first Bishop or Pope of Rome as S. Peter For in the first place besides that he was not in any thing lesse or inferior to the most excellent or chiefe Apostles 2. Cor. 11.5 we finde not that S. Peter did at any time reproue him in his ministerie Gal. 2.11 as he reproued or blamed S. Peter And besides we haue a certaine and an assured testimonie in the holie scripture touching S. Paul Act. 23.11 Act. 28.30.31 that he was sent by GOD to Rome there to beare witnesse of him that he there preached the kingdome of God two whole yeres together that from thence he writ diuers Epistles to the Churches that he was there prisoner and at the last beheaded by Nero. And as touching Peter we haue no assured testimonie that he went to Rome or that he taried there exercising there the ministerie If they wil replie that Iesus Christ gaue him the keies of the kingdome of heauen and that by that meanes he was preferred before Saint Paule and made head of the Church we haue aunswered that heretofore which we minde not hereto repeat Besides though it were so that S. Peter was ordained to beare rule ouer all Churches as an Apostle yet it can not therevpon followe that his successours ought to haue any such right or authoritie as he bicause they which succeeded the Apostles haue not the same charge and the same office that the Apostles had For when Iesus Christ ordained his twelue Apostles he ordained them for a time onely and after thē he hath not substituted or ordained others in their place to haue so ample and large a charge as theirs was Likewise we read not that the Apostles established other Apostles in their stead but onely Elders and Auncients that is to say Pastors and Ministers who had their callings charges and offices limitted Wherefore albeit Saint Peter might well be an vniuersall Bishop yet so it is that those that came after him can not rightly attribute vnto themselues such an office But to conclude by what marks can the Pope brag that he is the successor of Peter whose office he doth not any maner of way execute and whome he followeth not in any thing whatsoeuer CHAP. VIII Whether the Church of Rome be the true and Catholike Church And whether we doe well to separate and withdrawe our selues from it WHen we cal the assemblie of Papistes the Romish Church we mean not that we hold or take the same for the true Church For we take the word Church in his generall signification for a companie or fellowship or congregation And indeed we hold and affirme that among the Papists the true church is not but only some little tract or path of a Church to the end that that which Saint Paule saith may be accomplished to wit that Antechrist doth sit as God in the temple of God This being true 2. Thess 2.4 much lesse can we say that the assemblie which is amongest the Papistes is the Catholike Church which point we proue by these reasons folowing The first reason The true Church is founded or buided Ephes 2.20 vpon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles as S. Paul saith but the Papacie or Popedome hath not any such foundation bicause that it hath ouerthrowne the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles as may plainly appeare by the examination of their traditions The Popedome therefore is not the true Church The second reason In the true and Catholike church 1. Tim. 3.7.15 the truth should reigne beare sway for S. Paul saith the church is the piller and ground of truth but in the Papacie truth reigneth not but on the cōtrarie side falshod lying as appeareth by the doctrine of the Masse of Purgatorie of invocatiō or praier to Saints of idols of merits and other such matters Wherfore it foloweth that the papacie or popedome is not the true Church The third reason The true Church 2. Cor. 11.2 Ephes 5.22 is the spouse or wife of Christ But the Churche of Rome is not the spouse of Christ For the spouse of Christ contenteth her selfe with Christ her only husband euen as an honest woman doth content her selfe with her only husband without admitting or suffering any other with or besides him which the Romish Church doth not bicause she receiueth the Pope of Rome for her husband and ioyneth him together with Iesus Christ Wherefore it followeth that the Romish Church is not the true Church The fourth reason The true Churche is the sheepfold of Iesus Christes sheepe Ioh. 10.16 But the Popedome is not the sheepfold of Christes shepe for it heareth not the voice of Christ the true Pastor or sheepheard but the voice of a stranger that is of the Pope whose lawes it foloweth and keepeth more then the lawes of Christ The papacie then or popedome is not the true Church Ephes 1.23 The fift reason The true Church is the body of Christ but the Romish Church is not the body of Christ For the body of Christ contenteth it selfe with Christ the onely head therof otherwise it should be a monster with two heades as we haue declared before in the seuenth chapter which thing the Romish Church doth not bicause it receiueth and holdeth the Pope for her heade Wherefore it followeth verie well that the Romishe Church is not the true Church The sixt reason Though it were that Church of Rome were the true Church yet it could not be but a particular church euē as the Church of Corinthus Ephesus and others wherevppon it followeth that it is not neither can be the Catholike and vniuersall Church The seuenth reason In the true Church these three markes are founde without fayling that is to say the lawful calling of pastors the pure preaching of the worde the right administration of sacraments but in the Romishe Church these three markes are not to be founde as it is easie to shewe by the examination that a man might make thereof Wherof it followeth that the Romishe Church is not the true and right Church Nowe seeing that wee haue sufficiently shewed that the Church of Rome is not the Catholike Church neither yet the true Church mē must not deme it strange that we can not agree with it but that we depart and seperate our selues from it and that in so doing we ought not at any hand or any manner of way to be held accoūted for Schismatiks because we do not forsake the auncient and Catholike Church no not the auncient Romaine Church but doe altogether agree with the same For would we knew what manner of Church the church of Rome was in auntient time Tertullian teacheth it vs Tertul. de praescr haeretic when hee speaketh therof after this maner A blessed Churche
for which the Apostles haue spred abroad all the doctrine with their bloude where Saint Peter suffered such a death as the Lorde him selfe did where Paul was crowned with martyrdome where Iohn the Apostle was put into burning or flaming oyle yet was taken out of the same without any hurte or blister and afterwardes sent into exile Let vs looke vpon that which she learned and that which shee taught and what concorde and agreement she hath had with the Churches of Affrica She hath acknowledged confessed and allowed one onely God the creator of all thinges Iesus Christ the sonne of God borne of the virgine Marie shee hath beleeued also the resurrection of the fleshe she hath receaued the law and the Prophetes with the writinges as well of the Euangelistes as of the Apostles and from thence she draweth or fetcheth faith she marketh hers with the sacramente of baptisme and shee clotheth them with the holy Ghoste shee nourisheth them with the sacramentes of the supper shee exhorteth by martrydome and she receiueth not any person against such instruction Beholde Tertullian his wordes wherefore wee haue not forsaken this auncient Church of Rome but the newe and particular Romish Church which since hath lifted vp her selfe which aduoucheth the Pope for her heade and alloweth him for the Vicar of Iesus Christ on earth which worshippeth him and obeyeth his lawes againste the lawes of GOD. For shee hath degenerated and gone out of kinde and hath loste all her authoritie euen as the cleargie of the saide Church hath sometimes foretolde writting to Saint Cyprian saying Cyprian lib. 2. epist 7. Rom. 1.8 That the prayse that Saint Paule gaue to that Church to wit that their fayth was spreade abroad and published throughout all the worlde should bee turned to their shame dispraise if they went out of kind became bastards and if they continued not to bee heires of the same faith And by this departure from her we haue declared the obedience which wee owe vnto God who hath commaunded vs to doe so saying Goe out of Babylon my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues And haue receiued the counsell of Saint Ambrose who saith If there bee any Churche which refuseth the faith and keepeth not the foundation or groundworkes of the Apostles preaching wee must leaue her least she bring with her the infection of error and vnbeliefe This hee hath written vppon the ninth chapter of the Gospell according to Saint Luke But some will say ye account the reformed Churches of Germanie for the true church though ye find there many things to be amended as concerning the supper it selfe and some other ceremonies why thē make you not the like accoūt of the Church of Rome I aunsweare that it is very true that there is some controuersie betwene the Germaines and vs touching some poyntes of religion but it is not in respecte of the essentiall or substantiall poyntes thereof I call them essentiall or substantiall points that are so of the substance of religion that if men erre in one point the same cannot subsiste or stande for euen in that which concerneth the holy supper wee all beleeue that wee are partakers of the bodie and bloude of Christ The difference is not but in that Consubstantiation whiche they maintaine which is not of such great importance and weight as transubstantiation which the Romish pretendeth which euen in that one point ouerthroweth and vtterly bringeth to nothing godlinesse putting an idole of bread in the place of the sonne of God making of the creature a creator a Christ subiect to corruption rasing frō the foundation turning topsie turuie as wee say that which concerneth the proprietie the nature and the glorie of Iesus Christ his bodie All which abhominations and idolatries the Germans that are reformed doe detest and set them selues against as well as we But if some that are willing to make diuorce as it were and separation between the Germanes and vs will alledge that the foresaide Germans haue not the like opinion of vs that we haue of them and that they holde and account vs for heretikes as may bee seene and proued by certayne writinges which they haue set abrode and published we answere that the passions affections and heates of some particular persons who haue written somewhat more freely thē they should ought not so to be regarded and esteemed that thervppon they will make a generall conclusion of all the rest and so prooue that there is a diuision betweene all them and vs. For albeit there bee some diuersitie betweene them vs in this point touching the supper and in some certayne ceremonies yet vnitie doeth not therefore cease to continue and remayne alwayes amongest vs. Socrat. lib. 5 cap. 22. Socrates who writ the Ecclesiasticall historie sayth thus There is not any religion which obserueth the same ceremonies though it doe receiue and admitte one and the selfe doctrine touching ceremonies And indeede they which haue the same faith sometimes differ amongest themselues touching some ceremonies and obseruations Irenaeus writing to Victor the Bishop of Rome Euseb lib. 5. cap. 26. rehearseth that there was great diuersitie in the Churches touching fasting and the celebration of the feast of Easter afterwards he addeth Notwithstāding though there were diuersitie amongest all these touching ceremonies yet so it was that they did alwayes agree with vs and the discord or difference about fasting did not breake the concord or vnitie of faith So then following these places wee affirme that we leaue not of to acknowledg the companie of the reformed Germanes for the true Church although that we be not in euerie poynt and throughly agreed with them touching some matter considered in the supper and some ceremonies obserued amongest them And the rule of charitie teacheth vs this as Saint Paul hath giuen vs a good example thereof 1. Cor. 1.2 2. Cor. 1.1 Galat. 1.2 when he calleth the Corinthians and the Galathians Saintes and faithfull ones and giueth vnto them in generall the name of the Church although there were amongest them great and greeuous faultes as well in ignorance of the doctrin as in their owne life and manners This is that also which hee hath set foorth in an other place saying That all they which hold and keepe the foundation do not alwayes build gold and siluer and pretious stones but haye stubble But some say why follow you not the same rule on the behalf of the church of Rome we answere that in the ceremonies seruice of the Romishe Church the puritie of religion is not there obserued kept but the whole seruice of God is amongest them corrupted and falsified and therefore can not with out offending God applie or frame our selues vnto them And Saint Augustine hath giuen vs this lesson teaching vs howe farre wee may communicate in the ceremonies and seruice of other Churches
commonly hath more wisedome more experience and grauitie But yet it doth not alwayes fall out that white or grey haire maketh men wise yea sometimes we shall finde yong men which are farre more fit to exercise and execute the charge and office of a Pastour such a one was Timothie than those that be of greater yeares It is true that there are two sorts of Elders that is to say Ancients One sort haue charge and office to minister the worde of GOD and sacraments and to watch ouer the discipline and ouer the whole Church The other are ioyned vnto these to ayde them in the exercising and execution of discipline without medling any whit at all in the preaching c. Saint Paule setteth out this order when he saith to Timothie 1. Tim. 5.17 The Elders that rule well are worthie of double honour specially they which labour in the word and doctrine For in that he maketh mention of bearing rule he giueth vs well to vnderstand that those whome he nameth Elders or Auncients that is to say the Pastours and such as are ioyned vnto them are chosen to haue charge and office in the Church ouer the people And in that he more commendeth those which minister the word and doctrine than the other he euidently declareth that al haue not one and the selfe same charge We may behold this order euen at this day obserued in the reformed Churches Deacons The Apostle maketh mention likewise of Deacons which word is taken in holie scripture in two senses or sortes Somtimes generally for euerie minister or seruitour In which sense S. Paule calleth the Magistrate the Deacon of God that is to say Rom. 13.4 Ephe. 3.7 Rom. 15.8 the seruaunt or minister of GOD and hee nameth himselfe the Deacon that is to say the minister of the Gospell as also he calleth Iesus Christ the deacon of Circumcision that is to say the minister thereof Wherefore being so taken and referred to the estate calling of the pastor it is commonly translated and turned by this worde minister or seruaunt Coloss 1.7 1. Cor. 3.5 as in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians and the third Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians But sometimes it is taken more straitely for thē which haue a charge and office to gather the almes to dispense or bestow thē among the poore The first occasion that was giuē to chose these deacons in the Church was this because the Apostles could not verie wel prouide for our furnishe both the charge of preaching the worde and of distributing the goods of the poore And for this cause were the seuen Deacons chosen Actes 6.2 of whom is spoken Actes 6. And the conditions and qualities which ought to bee in the Deacons that men will chose are there described and set out and also in the third chapter of the first Epistle to Timothie 1. Tim. 3.8 c. These are the degrees of the Church or ecclesiastical orders which Iesus Christ him selfe sette vp and his Apostles after him established for the regiment and gouernment of the Church which order was afterwardes in the Popedome by litle and litle not onely corrupted but vtterly ouerthrown For in that tyrannous king dome after that corruption had once craftilie ouertaken or stolne vppon the doctrine of the Church they diuised and forged a stewardshippe dispensation and bestowing of ecclesiasticall offices and charges which was altogether farre of and estraunged from the former simplicitie plainenes whereof we haue spokē Wherin first they made a sacrament without the warrant of Gods worde of the orders and degrees of ministers Afterwards they diuised a certaine kinde of creame or oyle to anoint thē as they say but indeed it is to grease or smeare them fetching that though a false zeale from Aaron and that which was done in olde time vnder the lawe Also shauing or sheering specially of the crowne of the heade against the custome both of the Apostles and of the primitiue Church Actes 18.18 It is true indeed that S. Paul did once cause his heade to be shorne in Cenchrea after the manner of the Iewes but it was by reason of a vow which he had made and not that he was then ordeined into some ministery but a great while after his calling And in that hee caused himselfe to be shorne he did it not for any other purpose but to applie himselfe thereby to the Iewes who were as yet verie rude and not well instructed 1. Cor. 9.20 as hee himselfe protesteth in the Epistle to the Corinthians That of his owne accorde and willingly hee became vnder the Lawe although hee were deliuered therefrom to the end he might winne the Iewes Orders of the Romish Church Next they established or made seuen orders of the Church the first Porters or doore keepers the second Readers the thirde Exorcistes or in playne english Coniurers who as they faine had power giuen them to lay their handes vpon mad men and men possessed with diuels and to heale them the fourth Acoluthes that is to say followers who waited vpon the Bishop in his houshold seruices and did continually accompany him first for honours sake and then that no suspicion should arise of them the fifth Subdeacons or vnderdeacons the sixt Deacons and the seuenth Priestes of which last sort they haue made many degrees whereof they call some simple or single Chaplaines Others Curates and Vicars others Bishops others Archbishops or Metropolitanes other some Cardinalls And afterward they came to the foure Patriarches and lastly to the Pope himselfe But from whence commeth this goodly hierarchie or order of Priests who hath established it set it in nature or being Did Iesus Christ or his Apostles the scripture maketh no mentiō therof But let vs discourse a little vpon the fountaine and beginning of these goodly degres I say and meane onely of those which they conteine vnder the name Priest For the others keepe not the place of true Bishops and pastors of the Church as these would seeme to doe And yet notwithstanding hee that will heare speach thereof Theod. Beza lib. Confe Punct 7. cap 11. let him reade the confession of Theodorus Beza As concerning Chaplaines Durandus in his booke called Rationale diuinorum offic alleageth two reasons to shew why priests were so called The one is because the kings of France in time heretofore when they went to warre were wont to carrie with them Saint Martins capp or hoode which they kepte vnder a tent which of the cap kept in it was named Capella that is Chappel and the Clerkes or Priestes that had the keeping of this Chappel were called Chaplaines and afterwardes in continuance of time this name was in some countries giuen generally to all Priestes And these litle Cabbines or corners or rather high places which were in the Popishe Temples wherein the Chaplaines saide their masses were called Chappels The other reason
is not at any time perfecte so long as shee trauelleth and fighteth in this worlde whiche maior I prooue thus First if the Church were without spot in this worlde in vaine hath our Sauiour Christe taught it alwayes to pray Matth. 6.12 forgiue vs our trespasses and sinnes But the Lorde Iesus hath not without good cause giuen vs such doctrine and instruction wherefore it followeth that the Church is not in this worlde without spotte yea rather that shee hath continuall neede alwayes for to praye vnto GOD that shee may bee more and more sanctified and obteyne the forgiuenesse of all her sinnes Secondly those which are with out spot and wrinckle haue nothing to doe with any washing because they haue no neede thereof But the faithfull although they be washed haue notwithstanding need yet of washing still as Iesus Christe himselfe declareth it vnto vs Iohn 13.10 when hee saith Hee that is washed needeth not saue to washe his feete For by the washing of the feete hee meaneth a continuall sanctification It followeth then that the faithful are not in this world without spot 1. Cor. 1.2 Thirdly Saint Paul ceaseth not to adorne and bewtifie the Corinthians with the title of the Church who notwithstanding greeuously abused the holy supper of the Lorde and had amongest them diuisions and partakinges which are not smal faultes yea indeede they were in doubte also touching the resurrectiō of the dead Also he nameth the assembly of the Galathians Galat. 1.2 the Church although that poore people were deceaued by false Prophetes and caried away to an other Gospell contrarie vnto that which hee had preached vnto them These places doe manifestly declare that the Church is neuer so pure and perfect in this world but that it hath always need to be more more purged sanctified which thing S. Paul sheweth yet more plainly openly whē he writeth vnto the Thessalonians For he calleth thē the Church 1. Thes 1.1 1. Thes 5.23 and yet he prayeth vnto God for them that he would sanctifie thē through out True it is that the Nouatians Donatistes and Anabaptistes who doe not agree with vs in this point are not without their replies For first they alledge vnto vs that which S. Paul writeth vnto the Ephesians Ephe. 5.25.26.27 That Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle but that it shoulde be holy without blame But wee want not an aunswere also Saint Paul considereth the Church not in her selfe but in Iesus Christe her heade which shee taketh holde of by faith So shee is saide to bee without wrinckle and vnblameable by reason not of her owne righteousnesse but of Iesus Christes righteousnesse whereof shee is made partaker because it pleased God to impute and reckon the same vnto her for which cause also it is in an other place 1. Cor. 1.30 that Iesus Christe is made of God the father vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Moreouer wee might say that Saint Paul speaketh of sanctification or holinesse promised and which is not yet fully accomplished as though he called saide the Church to bee without spot not that it is so here belowe on the earth but because that one day it shall so bee aboue in heauen Augu. lib. de nuptiis Concupise cap. 34. And after this sorte Saint Augustine vnderstandeth it Iesus Christ saith hee cleanseth his Church by the washing of Christians to make it vnto himselfe without spott or wrinckle not in this world but in the world to come They alledge moreouer that which Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 3.6.9 whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not Wherevnto I aunswere by a distinction Those that are borne of God that is to say the faithfull sinne not that is to say serue not sinne or rather sinne doth not raigne in them because they do withdraw themselues as much as they can or are inabled from sinne and with all their heart giue themselues to holinesse of life that they may glorifie God And in this sense Saint Iohn taketh it and speaketh it Againe they that are borne of God sinne that is to say can not liue so holily but that oftentimes they stumble and fall into sins For although they be sanctified yet for all that by reason of the reliques and remnauntes of nature corrupted which yet resteth and remaineth in them euery day they turne aside from the righte waye and sinne In this sense S. Iohn ment not that which he saith that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for so he should speak against him selfe hauing before saide If we say we haue no sinne 1. Ioh. 1.8.10 wee deceiue our selues and trueth is not in vs yea wee make God a lyer and his worde is not in vs. So it is then that though there seeme to bee some contrarietie betweene these two to say that we are sinners and sainctes both together yet all agreeth together verie well for euerie man if we consider him in his owne nature according to which he is called the childe of wrath he is a sinner worthie of death and eternall damnation but if we consider him in Iesus Christ as a Christian and faythfull man hee is holy so that he sinneth not that is to say serueth not sinne and his imperfections are hidden and couered because that they are not imputed vnto him and moreouer the Lorde Iesus maketh him partaker of his righteousnesse And so being a sinner in respect of his owne nature he is notwithstanding reputed and accounted holy iust before God But that which we haue hitherto spoken toucheth or concerneth the members of the Church particularlie Wee may also well say touching the Church considered in her owne bodie that it shall neuer here be purged from al filthinesses because that so long as shee shall bee on earth there shall be in her wicked ones mingled with good ones Which thing Iesus Christ hath declared in the Gospell by two similitudes Matth. 13.24.25 c. In the first he saith that the kingdome of heauen that is to say the Church is like vnto a man which sowed good seede in his feeld but while men slept there came his enemie sowed tares amongest the wheate and went his way And when the blade was sprong vp and had brought foorth fruit then appeared the tares also Then came the seruauntes of the housholde and saide vnto him Master sowedst thou not c. and woulde presently haue gone and gathered them vp but the Lorde woulde not suffer them least while they went about to gather the tares they plucked vp also with them the wheate Therefore he willed that they might both growe together vntill the haruest and in the time of haruest the reapers shall gather the tares and binde them in sheaues to burne them but they shal gather the good
corne into the Lords barne Afterwards he expoundeth the saide similitude saying He that soweth the good seede is the sonne of man and the fielde is the world Matt. 13.37 c. the good seede are the children of the kingdome the tares are the children of the wicked and the enimie that soweth them is the diuell the haruest is the end of the world and the reapers be the angels As then saith he the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of the world The sonne of man shall send foorth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kingdome all things that offend and them which do iniquitie and shall cast them into a fornace of fire there shall be wayling gnashing of teeth Then shall the iust men shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father In the second similitude he saith Matt. 13.47.48 That the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a drawe net cast into the sea that gathereth of all kinde of things which when it is full the fishers draw to land on the shoare and put the good by them selues into their vessels and cast the bad away And afterwardes he giueth the exposition thereof So shall it be saith he at the end of the world Matt. 13.49.50 The Angels shall goe foorth and seuer the wicked from amongest the iust and shall cast them into a fornace of fire where shall be wayling and gnashing of teeth By these two similitudes Iesus Christe verie plainely expresseth what shall be the visible state and condition of the Church so long as it shal be on earth that is to say that the wicked shal continually be mingled therein with the good and that in such sorte as the tares are amongest the good wheate in the fieldes and as euill fishes are mingled with the good in the sea whereof followeth that which we haue saide before in the third Chapter to wit that all they which are in the Church are not for al that of the Church And indeede experience hath in all ages shewed the same vnto vs and maketh vs to behold the same as yet euē euery day Cain was the first that defiled the Church of GOD Gene. 4.3 c. although he offered sacrifices in outward shewe as his iust brother Abel did Noah preached vnto those of his time and continuing his exercise a long season some thinke sixe score yeares hardly would his owne housholde beleeue his worde Gene. 7.1 c. so that GOD destroying all the worlde by the floud onely eight persons of the foresaide Noahs housholde were reserued by the meane of the Arke And euen yet of those eight persons with whom GOD had made a newe couenaunt touching the establishing againe of his Churche Ham Gene. 9.22 in his time verie manifestly declared his hypocrisie Matt. 27.3 c. Act. 1.16.17 c. Reue. 2 6. Amongest the twelue Apostles Iudas is found a traitor and vnfaithfull Amongest the seuen Deacons one Nicholas was an heretike at the least if that be true that this Nicholas was one of the seuen Deacons as Clemens Clemens strom lib. 3. Euseb hist eccles lib. 3. cap. 29. Alexandrinus and Eusebius certainely affirme it S. Iohn speaking of Antichristes wherewith the Church was in his time troubled and tormented saith 1. Ioh. 2.19 They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs they would haue continued with vs. And what at this day Howe many hypocrites and great mungrell mastifes are found at this day in the outward Church and are suffered therein Certainely there are verie many which are acknowledged and allowed for members of the Church of whome GOD who beholdeth all mens heartes doth in the meane season iudge otherwise Wherefore the Church euen in this respect is not at any time in the world without wrinkle The fourth point which we must note here is that our sanctification is not performed or wrought all at one time but there are three degrees or steppes thereof to the end that it may be perfect The first degree is during this life when that our Lorde Iesus Christ giueth vs his holy spirite thereby to resist and withstande the world the diuell sinne and our owne flesh to the end that we may loue good thinges and hate euill Herevnto may be applyed that which Saint Paule speaketh of him selfe Rom. 7.22.23 c. writing vnto the Romanes in the seuenth Chapter verse 22.23 The second is after this life when the soule enioieth the presence of Iesus Christ giuing it selfe vnto all holinesse but our other part that is the bodie resting it selfe in the dust without being able to applie it selfe vnto any thing to sanctifie the name of God by The thirde shall be after the last iudgement when being perfectly ioyned with Iesus Christe our head we shall beholde God euen as he is who shall all in all and that after such manner and sorte as Saint Paule saith 1. Cor. 1.30 that Christe is made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Therefore when that our Lord Iesus Christ shall so worke in vs that there shal be no spot Philip. 3.21 1. Ioh. 3.2 but that our verie bodyes shal be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodye and we shall be like vnto him then truely shall our sanctification be accomplished and made perfect which nowe is but as it were begunne in vs. CHAP. XII Whether the Church may erre or no. THis question to wit whether the Church can erre hath bene diuers times tossed and handled for the opening vnfolding whereof we must first striue to knowe after what maner or in what sense the word Church is here to be taken I meane whether we must vnderstand this of the Catholike and vniuersall Church or else of the particular Churches But the controuersie is not in my iudgement of the Catholike Church for we all agree herein that she can not erre as touching faith And indeede howe should she erre seeing that following Iesus Christ her head and her husband she walketh not in darkenesse but in the light of life On the other side it is impossible that all faithfull people vniuersally euen from the first vnto the last should fall into errour for there haue bene alwayes some preserued through the goodnesse and grace of GOD by whome trueth it selfe through other mens naughtinesse brought as it were to nothing or at the least destituted and forsaken hath yet notwithstanding bene restored to her former force and is yet still maintained and preserued Wherefore this question is touching a particular Church Touching which it seemeth good vnto vs in the first place to heare the iudgement and reasons of the Romish Catholikes vpon this that they affirme that the Church so taken can not erre following herein the Nouatians Donatistes and other heretikes And afterwardes we will shewe foorth and put downe our aduise and reasons
are vsually to be found and had as well to make publike praier as to giue aduice and counsell touching that which ought to be done In the assemblie or companie which haue care of the poore they take aduise and order for collections and distributions for aide assistance to be giuen to the poore and that the sick and diseased may be holpen and succoured And then are present with the Deacons so many of the Ministers and Elders yea and of other citizens and towne dwellers or parishioners as occasion and necessitie requireth The Consistorie is composed made and consisteth of the Pastors and Elders whervnto also are admitted and receiued the Doctors and Deacons so farre foorth and in as much as they shall iudge it to be expedient and profitable to aduise giue coūsell and consider of the Censures and of that which is requisite and necessarie for the guiding and gouernment of the Church Therefore of this companie is it that we speake to which we say appertaineth the spirituall gouernement of the Churche And indeede it appeareth that the primitiue Church was gouerned and guided after this manner by the Apostles accompanied with the Elders who altogether assembled and met together so often as there was neede of such an assemblie to be had Act. 15.2 For it is saide in the Actes of the Apostles that the Church of Antioch being desirous to haue aduise and iudgement in a difficult and hard question concerning doctrine Act. 21.18 did send to the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem and that they assembled and met together Also that the Elders of Ierusalem were assembled and met together when Iames was to take counsell of that which Saint Paule had to doe touching the purging and clearing of himselfe from the slaunders that were laid vpon him and giuen out against him And we see also whither Iesus Christe sendeth the offenders who are stiffe not yelding to a confession of their fault Matt. 18.17 when he saith Tell it vnto the Church For by the Church there hee meaneth no other thing but the Consistorie that is to say the gouernours and guiders of the Church euen as Chrysostome hath expounded it as wee haue before obserued it and put it downe in the first Chapter To be short it is verie manifest and plaine that there must be in the Church Auncients or ouerwatchers appointed to this end to watch ouer the manners of the people and who also together with the Pastors must looke to the exercise and execution of discipline that the Church may be well guided and gouerned The fourth head or point is Of the corrections and censures of the Church touching the corrections and censures of the Churche we haue saide that in euerie Church there ought to be a Consistorie to exercise and execute the discipline Nowe we adde that this ought to be found true and declared specially in the corrections and censures Wherevpon we haue certaine considerations to be obserued and marked The first is that we must make a differēce betwene secret faults and those which are publike and open that we may applie thereto meete and conuenient censures I call them secret faults which are knowne to one alone or to verie fewe persons And I call them publike and open faults which are notorious and manifestly knowne of euerie one or else of verie many men If then the faultes be secrete we must follow in the correction and amendment thereof the rule which is prescribed by Iesus Christ in Matth. 18. Matt. 18.15 where it is saide If thy brother offend or sinne against thee goe tell him therof betweene thee and him alone c. But if the faults be publike and open we must folow the commandement and example of Saint Paul 1. Tim. 5.20 His commaundement is this Such as offend reproue openly that the rest also may feare His example is in that when S. Peter had committed an offensiue fault he did not warne him thereof apart Gal. 2.14 or by him selfe but did reproue him openly and that before the Church The second consideration is that among open faultes and offences there are some which are lesse than other some are and therefore discretion and iudgement ought to be vsed in the censuring thereof But all the circumstances cannot be easily expressed wherefore the Consistorie ought to be wise and of good iudgement to practise the admonition and warning of S. Iude de 22. 23. when he saith Haue compassion of some in putting difference and other some which feare pulling them out of the fire For amongest faults some deserue but simple or bare admonition alone othersome suspention frō the holie supper others excommunication and other some other censure But we can not be deceiued in this what so euer it be in following doing that which the word of God commaundeth vs that is to say to cut off from the Church rebellious and impenitēt persons also faultie persons Matt 18.17 1. Cor. 5.3.4 Tit. 3.10 which stand stiffe in their faultes and consequently heretikes The thirde consideration is that when the question is of censures and namely of cutting off from the vse of the supper or of excommunication one alone should not take vpon him the knowledge thereof but it is necessarie and meete that the iudgement of the Church should be interposed or come betweene For one man alone what so euer graces he hath receiued from God cannot or ought not to attribute vnto him selfe such an authoritie And therefore S. Paul being willing to excommunicate the incestuous person saith thus 1. Cor. 5.3.4.5 I verily as absent in body but present in spirit haue determined alreadie as though I were present that he that hath thus done this thing when ye are gathered together and my spirite in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that such a one I say by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ be deliuered vnto Sathan c. Although hee was an Apostle yet he alone and of his owne authoritie doth not cut off from the Church this incestuous person but communicateth his aduice order to with the Church to the ende that the matter might be done by common authoritie consent And indeed in old time this was the common vsual maner to wit that the Ecclesiastical censures should be executed by the Consistorie For as it appeareth by the Apologetike Tertul. Apologeti cap. 39. or defensiue writing of Tertullian if question shoulde bee had touching them that ought to be excommunicated or of them that had committed certaine faultes whether they ought to be receiued or no this authoritie appertained to the Ministers and Elders of the Church who ordinarily and commonly assembled and met together for that purpose and matter But the denouncing or publishing of the excommunication or the casting of one out or the publike receiuing of him againe before the Church was done by the Pastour In this sort Origen ordaineth
that is to say out of the word of God For otherwise the Lord protesteth and openly witnesseth that hee is worshipped in vain when men set out and preach for doctrine the commandemēts of men Matth. 15.9 And he himself doth straightly cōmand vs earnestly to take heed beware of the leauen of the Pharises Saduces Touching which matter Mat. 16.6 August in Iohn Tracta 46. Cap. 10. let vs heare Sainte Augustine The Scribes saith hee and the Pharisees sitte in Moses seate doe that therefore which they shall shew vnto you For being set in the chaire or seate of Moses they teach the law of God and so God teacheth by them But if they would teach any thing of their owne heare them not and doe not that which they will say for they seek their owne profite and gaine and not Christes profite In summe then if the Churche make ordeine for vs commaundements drawen and taken from the word of god it is our duetie to receiue them and to yeelde our selues obedient thereto otherwise not For it is not the Churches dutie to goe beyond the boundes of Gods worde in making lawes of her owne head and authoritie inuenting new fashions and maners to serue God by And the rule of our obedience ought alwaies to be the very selfe same worde of God as Cornelius saide vnto Saint Peter Acts. 10.33 Now are we al heere present before God to heare all thinges which are commaunded thee of God The fourth reason wee must obey the voice of the Churche Mat. 18.17 Luke 10.16 as wee haue a commandement giuen vs therfore in these places Mat. 18. Luk. 10. But the lawes commandements of the church are the churches voice wherefore it followeth that we must obey the lawes cōmandemēts of the church I aunswere as aboue is aunswered that wee must obeye the voyce of the Church when it commeth out of Moyses chaire and seate that is to say when her commaundementes shal be taken and set from the word of God and when also the question shall bee of thinges indifferent which shee shall ordeine and establish to keepe good order to serue for edification and the maintenance and vpholding of the discipline For in the things which are contrarie to Gods worde and in those also which of them selues are indifferent but yet become and made euill thorowe superstition to wit because that in them they would place the seruice of God and that they would think by them to deserue Gods grace and the forgiuenes of sinnes in these thinges I say we ought not at any hand to obey Acts. 4.19 5.29 but in such commaundementes of the Church wee ought to say that it is better to obey God then men The fift reason Ester 9.26 27 As in Ester it was ordeined that besides the feastes commaunded in the lawe they should celebrate euerie yeare the feast of lottes which was called Purim 1. Macha 4.59 and in the historie of the Machabees the feast of the dedication called in Greeke by Saint Iohn Iohn 10.22 Encaenia So the Christian church may well at this day ordeine feastes as shall seeme vnto her to be expedient and profitable for the glorie of God and the edification of the people as it hath in time heretofore ordeined the feastes and holie dayes of saint Peter of saint Anthonie of saint Marcellus of saint Margaret and all the rest I answere that there is no likenesse at all betweene the feastes of Purim or lots and of the dedication and these of saint Peter saint Anthonie and such others I deny not but that those two first were in former time established by the church besides the feastes ordeined in the lawe but let vs marke I pray you howe and to what ende Certeinly this was for the glorie of God to bring to their remembrance his great benefices towardes his church that they also might giue him thanks therfore For in Ester it is saide that the feast of Purim or lottes was ordeined by the church for remembraunce of this that the people was deliuered from the cursed conspiracie of Haman And Iudas Machabeus with the consent of the whole church ordeined the feast of the dedication otherwise called Encaenia in remembraunce of the deliueraunce of the people and of the repairing and hallowing againe as it were of the Temple which had beene polluted by Antiochus And wee deny not but that Synodes may ordein certain dayes and solemnely keepe them to the end that the people may cease from their own workes to fast to pray vnto God and to yeeld him thankes according as things shall fall out occasion be ministred so that it be don without superstition idolatrie or euill example But how can we by the examples of the two feastes aforesaide approue or allowe the feastes of the Papacie or Popedome First they were but two onely But in the Popedom there is an infinit number For what measure did they euer keepe in the number thereof Secondly the two aboue spoken of were instituted to the name of God and at no hande to the name of any dead Saints But these are ordeined to the name of creatures and not to the name of God as we heare they cal them the feastes of S. Anthony of S. Frauncis of Saint Vincent of Saint Sebastian of Saint Agathon of the virgine Mary and so of others Thirdly those had their foundation and beginning for the seruice of God and alwayes serued to edification for they were established and appointed as hath beene said to thank God to giue him praise for the benefites which hee had bestowed vpon his Church These had no foundation or beginning but in superstition and idolatrie serue to no other purpose or matter either more or lesse than the feastes and holie dayes of the Paganes and Ethnickes For wherfore is it that the Papistes giue the names of Saintes to their feastiuall dayes but because they meane to sanctifie the saide feastes in the honour of those Saintes as they call them whose name they beare And in so doing do they not set vp the Saintes in Gods place because they serue giue that honour vnto thē which apperteineth to him alone as in olde time the Paganes did in the celebration of their feastes and diuine seruices These are the principall reasons vpon which the Romishe Catholikes grounde them selues thereby to proue that it belongeth to the Church to make lawes to tye mens consciences withall Nowe it remaineth that wee shewe and set downe our reasons to proue the contrarie The first is this It is written in Isaiah Isaiah 33.22 The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our lawe giuer the Lord is our King Iam. 4. 12. And in Saint Iames. There is one lawe giuer which is able to saue and destroy whereby it is verie clearely seene that it belongeth to God alone to make Ecclesiasticall lawes apperteining to his seruice The second reason
also it hath not bin begun in our time Euseb lib. 3. cap. 33. Tertull. Apolo Cap. 2. Behold the two letters whereof Eusebius maketh mention in his Ecclesiasticall Historie alleadging Tertullian in his Apologetico which Tertulliā censuring the Emperors answere speaketh after this maner O sentence confused and darkened by necessitie which decreeth that inquirie shall not be made of them because they seeme innocent people yet in the mean while commaundeth that they should bee punished as culpable and giltie It vseth pardon crueltie it dissēbleth punisheth Wherfore O Emperour doest thou abuse thy self in thy charge and Censure If thou condemne Christians why doest thou not make and put in also informations against them Or if thou make and put in no informations Wherefore doest thou condemne them The fourth persecution was vnder Marcus Antonius verus the xvi Emperor who was created in the yeere of Christ 162. He is otherwise called of the Historiographers Marcus Aurelius Verus and surnamed the Philosopher He gouerned the Empire the space of xviii or xix yeeres His vertues were great and wonderfull yet the true vertue was wāting in him to wit the feare of God For looke by how much more he was gentle towards his owne by so much he was the more rude and seuere againste the Christians as a Stoicall man nourished and brought vp from his infancie with the Priests of Satia his lawes edicts declare howe cruell hee was towardes the Christiās For in the booke of digestes we finde such a writing or law that hee made that those which woulde doe any thing against the religion of their Auncestours shoulde bee banished and sent into the Isles Euseb lib. 4. cap. 62. Eusebius reciteth certain things takē out of the Apologie of Melitus the bishop of Sardis amōgst which is this also to be shewed that the faithfull people suffered persecution by reason of some newe Edictes which were published in Asia wherewith the slaunderers making themselues strōg were prouoked and stirred vp to pill and robbe the faithful in euery place wheresoeuer they found them and to steale away the goods of the poore innocents Euseb lib. 5. cap. 1 The Epistle of the Martyres of Vienna and of Lions Cities of Fraunce sent to the faithful people of Asia Phrigia of which Eusebius maketh mention speaketh of a writing or law of the Emperour sent too the gouernour of Fraunce by which hee ordeined that they shoulde put to death the christians perseuering and continuing in their confession and that they shoulde let the other goe which woulde abiure forswere and forsake the same As touching the crimes and faultes whereof the Christians were accused the foresaide Epistle reciteth that the Pagans prouoked yea constrained them to confesse straunge matters and behold what it saith Some were founde amongest vs which were weake who beeing vanquished by Satan and very muche fearing tormentes which they sawe the Saintes suffer and abide being also pushed on by the souldiers haue alleadged against vs that in our bankettes wee should eate the flesh of litle children as was vsed in Thiests his banket and that we commit whoredomes and hortible incests like Oedipus and other thinges which are not lawefull for vs to name yea that so execrable abhominable that it is not possible to thinke that men shoulde euer haue committed such actes And as concerning the tormentes the selfe same Epistle rehearseth them That the Christians were spied and watched both within their houses and without that men cried out againste them in all publike and open places that they dyd beat and whip them drawe them vp and downe stoned them pilled and tooke away their goods and imprisoned them that they applied and layde vnto them burning blades of yron that they shut them together in an instrument of torture and torment euen vnto the fifth hole that they put them into obscure and darke dungeons that they strangled them within the prison that they cast them to beasts that they put thē with in cauldrōs of yron to burne them that they hanged them on Gibbets that they caste them to bulles which might pearse and gore them with their hornes and such other like things The 5. persecutiō was vnder Seuerus xxi Emperor who was established in the Empire in the yere of Christ 196. He raigned 18. yeres The state of the church was som what peaceable from the time of the Emperour Commodus who was the xviii Emperor created about the yeere of Christ 182. vntill Seuerus came who in the ix yeere of his raigne which was after Eusebius account in the yeere of Christe 205. moued stirred vp a terrible persecution against the christians by the gouerners of the Prouinces and countries And some thinke that hee was moued therto rather by the vices faultes which the furious common people did very fasly and wrongfully lay to the Christians charge then to say that of himselfe hee had his hearte inflamed against them Tertullian who was in his time saith Tertullian ad scapul that hee shewed him selfe for a certaine time not onely curteous gentle and full of beneficence liberalitie and good will but also did openly resist the rage of the people yet Eusebius proueth by diuers examples of the Martyrs that this Emperout was a terrible persecutor of the Church Touching the crimes falsly obiected alledged against the Christians Tertul. ad Scapu in Apologes Tertullian reciteth diuers of them saying That they were accused of sedition and treason that they had blamed and spoken euill of the Emperour his honor that they were murtherers Church robbers incestuous persons killers of infantes which they did eate the flesh being rawe that they committed whordome without hauing respect with whom after that they had put out the candles with which filthinesse the Gnostici were in deed spotted Also that they worshipped the head of an Asse in the steede of God that they worshipped the Sunne that they were in nothing profitable for others that they were enemies of mankinde and the greatest and chiefest crime that they laid against them or vpon them was this that they despised the gods which other men worshipped And touching the sortes and maners of torments we may gather it out of that which Eusebius hath written of it Eusebius that some were buffetted and beaten other some beheaded others burned others had boyling pitch powred ouer all the members of their bodies and so they were by litle and litle burned and put to death and besides all this that all their goods were pilled away robbed and confiscate The sixt persecution was vnder Iulius Maximianus the xxvi Emperour who succeeded Alexāder in the yeare of Christ 237. reigned onely about three yeares Hee was a sheepeheard in his young age but because hee was a great and mightie man beeing a Souldier hee was created Emperour without any authoritie of the Senate but by the onely good will and pleasure of the
recompence that slownesse as it were long forebearing by very terrible torments yea it commeth and draweth nigh by little and little with feete of wooll as it were but being once arriued and come it declareth that it hath an arme of iron to bruise in peeces beat downe all vnrepentant wicked persons O blessed is he as a certaine Poet hath sayde who is made wise by an other mans daungers and examples I wishe that this might open the eies of the men of our time who doe openly bande and set themselues againste God and his Church For some there bee who are so arrogant and presumptuous that they take pleasure delight in no other thing then to murther and persecute poore innocent people as though they had made a couenant or agreement with death it self as Isaiah saith They lift vp thē selues aboue the clowdes Isaiah 28.15 neither haue they any tast or feeling of the iudgement of God and therefore they harden them selues in a cursed kinde of licentiousnesse But so much there is that their ende if they amend not shall make manifest an alteration and chaunge not looked for by which the Lorde when so seemeth good vnto himselfe knoweth rightly to execute his own iudgemēts yea that his hande although it appeare not that it seemeth as thogh hee had it shut vp in his bosome is notwithstanding nigh to ouerwhelme them and where as they lift vp them selues against heauen that hee will in a moment and twinkling of an eye make them to fal backwarde to the earth yea and cast them headlong to the deapth or bottome of Hell O that tyrants persecutors would thinke well of these matters But what What should a man doe to hard heartes and to blinded eies The wicked become more proude through the prosperitie which they haue in this worlde as though that no punishmēt for their cruelties were prepared for them It fareth with them as with Dionysius the tyrant who after he had spoyled and robbed a temple went to the Sea and seeing hee had a good wind beganne to say that the Gods fauoured Churche robbers or spoylers of temples So likewise these men when they beholde that their offences remaine vnpunished that their villanies wickednesses are not corrected immediatly they giue them selues ouer to worke wickednesse outragiously and to conclude in their carnal fleshly vnderstāding that there is no iudgement of God at all and that hee hath no punishments redy and prepared for their iniquities But as the holy Scripture determineth and pronounceth the quite and cleane contrary so ordinary and common experience of the examples of gods wrath doeth sufficiently shew vnto vs that when god spareth the wicked persecutors of his people for a time and maketh as though hee seemed not to looke vpon their extortions outrages and violences it is not because hee is fauourable vnto them neither because hee reacheth them his hande and helpeth them for it cannot otherwise bee but that one day as hee is a iuste iudge hee wyll giue vnto the enimies of his glorie and the good and saluation of his Children suche recompence and hyre as they shall haue deserued first in this life if it bee expedient that they may shamefully and wickedly ende their daies and afterwardes in the other worlde that they may vtterly perishe if they repent and amend not in this life and may bee tormented eternally in Hell fire where there is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth FINIS ¶ A Table conteining the principall matters handled in this present booke A AFflictions and the causes thereof Page 333. c. Afflictions of the church 274. Afflictions of the Church and the ends which God respecteth therein 340. Afflictions of the Church increase when the deliuerance thereof is nigh 325. Afflictions of the Church is alwayes ordered and gouerned by Gods hande 321. Afflictions come not without the prouidence of God 318. Afflictions and their issue in respect of the faithfull 345. Afflictions and their issue in respect of the persecutors 357. Ancientes 133. Antiochus 359 Apostles 128. Archebishops 69. 144. Aurelian 304 372. Augustine and in what sense he saide that hee would not beleeue the Gospel without the authoritie of the church 222. Auncient fathers did not acknowlege the bishop of Rome for Pope 92. c. B BBaptisme of the Roman Church 115. Bishop 69. 133. 143. Bishop vniuersal is a title of Antichrist when it is giuen to men 94. C CAlling see Vocation Cardinals 146. Censures 247. Censures three endes thereof 252. Censures of the Church must be applied with out respect of persons 255. Chaplines 140. Councels 202. Consistorie 241. Corrections and censures 247. Curates 142. Church whence it commeth 2. Church how many waies taken 2. Churche which is true hath two substantiall markes 15. Church and her continuance 55. Church and her head is Iesus Christ alone 68. Church and her holinesse 184. Church compared to a Palme tree roses lilies and to a Vine 332. Old Church of Rome what a one it was according to Tertullian his iudgement 106. Church catholike is one alone 11. Church catholike inuisible what it is 7. Church distinguished into three sortes 4. Church in what sense called the piller groūd of trueth 200. Church in what sense saide to be without spot or wrinckle 189. Church whether aboue the scripture 213. Church whether more old then the scripture 220. Church must not be iudged by the great number 58. Church whether it may erre 197. Church why called catholike 9. Church why saide to bee inuisible 12. Church represented by a bright lampe or firebrand in the middest of a burning or smoking furnace 330. Church represented by the burning bush 330. Church of Rome hath not the markes of the true church 19. Church of Rome is not the true church 102. Church of Rome hath not true vnitie 113. Church increaseth in the middest of persecutions 330. Church visible what it is 14. D DEcius 299.370 Deacons 136. Diaconisses 244. Dioclesian 305. 373. Discipline necessarie in the Church 235. Discipline incrocheth nothing vpon the magistrate 237. Doctors 132. Domitian 283. 365. Donation of Constantine to Siluester 87. E EVangelistes 130. Excōmunication 3. endes therof 252. Exposition of Scriptures and two principles necessary therein 20. Elders 135. G GAlerius 376. Galien 302. God deliuereth his church out of afflictions when it is time 327. God why he afflicteth rather his church then other people 319. God why he sendeth not succour to his church so soone as it is afflicted 323. H HEad of the church is Iesus Christ alone 68. Herode Agrippa 362. Herode Antipas 362. Herode the great 360. High or chiefe Bishop 97. Holinesse of the Church vnperfect 187. I IGnorance excuseth not 125. Iulian the Apostata 313. 377. K Keyes in the Church and the vse thereof 79. L Lawes Ecclesiasticall 258. M MArcus Aurelius 293. 357. Maximianus Herculien 305. 373. Maximinus 298. 369. Metropolitanes 69. 144. 149. Ministerie and howe much shoulde bee giuen thereto 179. Ministerie of the worde ordeined by God for our weakenesse sake 177. Ministerie necessary in the Churche 160. Ministers considered after two sortes 180. Ministers of the church their degrees or orders 128. Miracles are not sufficient to proue a calling 53 Multitude maketh nothing at al for the church 58. N Nero. 184. 364. O Orders of the Pope his cleargie 139. P POpe 97. 152. Pope and his blasphemies 75. Popes two at Rome at one time 91. Pastors 131. Patriarches 69. 149. Paule shoulde rather bee taken for Pope then Saint Peter 100. Persecutions of the Church 274. Persecutions of the Church ten great and general a discourse thereof 279. Persecutions come not without Gods prouidence 318. Persecution the first vnder Nero. 281. Persecution the second vnder Domitian 283. Persecution the third vnder Traian 284. Persecution the fourth vnder Marcus Aurelius 293. Persecution the fift vnder Seuerus 296. Persecution the sixt vnder Iulian Maximinus 298. Persecution the seuenth vnder Decius 299. Persecution the eight vnder Valerian and Galien 302. Persecution the nienth vnder Aurelian 304. Persecution the tenth vnder Dioclesian and Maximianus 305. Pharao 358. Peter whether he were Bishop of Rome is vncertaine 98. Peter was not the head of the Church 71. Pilate 363. Pontifex or high Bishop 97. Predecessours of ours who died in the faith of the Romane church whether saued or condemned 126. Priestes 140. Prophetes 129. Parsons 158. S SAbaoth changed to the Sunday 228. Sanctitie or holinesse of the churche is vnperfect 187. Sanctification how wrought in vs. 186. Sanctification and three degrees of it 69. Saincts in what fense wee are called 185. Sancherib 358. Seuerus 296. 269. Succession and three sortes thereof 26. Succession to what ende and in what sense the auncient Doctors vsed an argument taken there from 28. Sucession personall hath some times had a breache in the seate of Rome 35. Succession and calling of persons 24. T TRaian 284. 356. Teachers 132. V VAlens the Emperour 314. 378. Valerian 362. 371. Vicars 140. Vnitie in veritie is not in the Romishe church 113. Vocation of Pastors three thinges necessarie therein 39. Vocation ordinarie and extraordinary 47. FINIS