mean time let us hear our Saviour's Promise to St. Peter Matt Chap 16. v 18 and I say also untâ— yoâ— that thou art Peter and upon this 〈◊〉 I will â—uild my Church and the Gates of Hâ—lâ— shall not prevail against it By which words our Saviour promis'd the Supream Goverment of the whole Church on Earth to St Peter as all the following Fathers and Doctorâ— do openly Declare Origines Homily 5 in Exoâ—um Tertullian in his book de Praescrip St Cyprian in his Epist to Quintus St Athanasius in his Epist to Felix St. Basil in his book against Eunomius St. Hilarius St. Hierome expounding the aforsaid text St. Chrysostome Hom 55. in Matt St. Cyrill of Alexandria in his 2 book c 1 in Ioann St Ambrose ser 47 and in his book de Isaac c. 3 St. Leo ser 11. of our Saviours Passion and in his 2 ser of St. Peter and St. Paul St Augustin in Psal Contra partem Donati and in his 2 book against Gaudentius Epistles c 23. which promise was effectually fullfil'd after Christ's Resurrection as all the aforsaid Fathers doe Testifie and it manifestly appears by our Saviour's own words Iohn c. 21 v. 15 16. 17 where we read that Christ Commanded St. Peter thrice consequently to feed the flock saying thus feed my Lambs feed my Lambs feed my Sheep which words doe plainly make-out that it was our Saviour's intention to appoint Peter the Supream head and chief pastor over all Christians under himself on earth which is further Confirm'd â—y the following Testimonies S. Denis the Areopagite cited by S Damascen ora 2. de dormitione Deiparae affirms that he and Timothy were both present at the blessed Vâ—rgin Marâ—'s death to be hold that body which gave tâ—e begining of life and that there was also present both fames and Peter the Supream and most anâ—â—ent top of Divines S Irenaeus who liv'd in the 2 Age in his 3 book c 3 says that all Churches round abouâ— ought to resort the Roman Chuâ—ch by reason of her more powâ—rfull Principality Tertullia who liv'd in the yeâ—â— 2â—â— in his booâ— call'â— Scorpiaâ—u◠〈◊〉 speaking to a heretick sayes thus so alâ—ho ' you thâ—â—k heaven to be still 〈◊〉 â—p remember tâ—e Lord to have lefâ— her it's â—eres with Pâ—ter and by Peter to the Church Origines who liv'd about the same time Hoâ— 5 in Exod sayes thus Obâ—â—rve what thâ— Loâ—d said to â—hat gâ—eat fâ—â—ndation of the Church and most solid â—ocâ— upon whom Christ built his Church And oâ— tâ—e 6 Chap. of S. Paul's Epist to the Rome he also sayes the folâ—owing whords when the câ—iâ—f charâ—â— of fâ—â—diÌ„g Christ s sheep was given to S. Peter and the Church foundâ—d upon him there was requâ—r'd of him tâ—e Confessâ—on of no vertue but of Charity S. Cyprian who also liv'd in the same Century Epist to Iulian sayes thus we hold Peter to â—e the hâ—â—d root of the Church Epist 5 he sayes the following words Peter upon whom the Church haâ—â— been buiâ—â— spoâ—e for all asweâ—iÌ„g in the Church's name sayâ—g â—â—nd to whom shall we go and in hiâ— 71. Epist he also saâ—es thus Peter whom thâ— Lorâ— first choes'd and upon whom he built his Church St. Epiphanius who liv'd in the year 3â—0 sayes ' heresie 51 that Christ choâ—s'd Peter first in order to maâ—â— him the Captaine of his Disciplâ—s and heresie 5â— â—e calls St. Peter the â—riâ— of the Apostles St. Ambrose who also liv'd about that same time in his Commentary on St. Paul's Epist to the Gala c. 1 speaking of St. Paul sayes thus Iâ— was â—it that he long'd for to see Peter who was the chiefest of the Apostleâ— to whom our Saviour intrusted the care of all the Churches and also in his Commentary on St Paul's 2. Epist to the Corin c 12 he says Andrew firâ—t fâ—llowâ—â—â—ur Saviour yet Andrew Receiv'd not the sâ—premacy but Peter Optatus who liv'd in the year 365. sayes thus in â—is 2. book against Perminian there is oâ—e chaiâ—â— and you darâ— not deny to â—now that the chaiâ—â— was first bestowed vnto Peter in the City of Rome where Peter the head fâ—ll the Apostles continued S. Basil who also liv'd in the â—ame age in his ser de Iudicio dei calls Peter that blessed one who was prefer'd before the rest of the Apostles â—usebius Emissenus who also liv d about the same time in his ser de nativi St. Joan speaking of Christ says that he first comâ—itted his Lambs afterwards his sheep to Peter becâ—uâ—e he made him not only pastor but pâ—stor of pastors and Ecumenius who like wise then liv'd sayes the following words in his commentary on the 1. Cap. of the acts Not Iames but Peter rais'd up as being both morâ— fervent and also the president of the Disciples S. Cyrill of Ierusalem â—ho liv'd in the same Century Catech 2 sayes thus Peter the Prince and most excellent of all the Apostles St Hierome who liv'd in the year â—90 in his first book against the Pelagians c 14 calls Peter the Prince of the Apostles upon whom the Lord's Church has been built and also in his first book against Jovinian Cap. 14 he sayes That one of the twelve was choesen to be the head of the rest that the occâ—sion of sâ—hisme might be prevented St. Chrysostom who liv'd in the same time in his 2 Hom de paenit in Psal 50 calls St Peter the pillar of the Church the foundation of the faâ—th and the head of the Apostolical quâ—re and in his last Hom on Ioâ—n he sayes that the charge of the brothers that is to say of the Apostles of the whole whâ—â—ld was câ—mmited to Peter and also in his 55 hom on Matt he sayes that the pastor and heâ—d of the Chuâ—ch was oncâ— a poor fisherman Theodoretus who liv'd in the year 430. sayes thus in his Epist to Leo. Paul that preacher of the truth and trumpet of the holy Ghost run'd to great Peter that he might bring his Sentence to those who indeavor d to establish the legals in Antioch S Augustin who liv'd in the same age in his 24 Ser de Temp â— casâ—'s Peter the governer of the Church And in his 68. Epist he calls him the head of the Apostles the gate keeper of heaâ—en c. in his last Treatise in Ioan he sayes thus whom Peter by reason of the Supremacy of his Apostle-ship c. S. Leo who liv'd in the year 440 in his 3 ser de Aslump sua ad Ponâ—iâ— sayes the following words out of the wholâ— world one Peter â—is choâ—sen who is prefer'd before all people and before the Apostles and before all the fathers of the Church and altho' among the people of God theâ— be many Priests and many pastors yeâ— Peter particularly governs them all and Christ governs them principaly S Gregory in his 4. â—ook 32. E. pist which is to Mauritius the Emperor sayes that it was maâ—ifesâ— to all that knew
is false as is manifest by that of the Acts c. 15. v 7 where we find the followiÌ„g words when there had been much disputing Peter rose up and said to them men bretheren ye know that a good while agoe God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should he are the word of the Gospel and believe c. as for that which Whealy adds that Peter writ his Epistles from Babylon and not to Rome c. it proves his ignorance and coÌ„firms what he would faine deny for in Peter first Epist c. 5. v 1â— by the word Babylon Rome is meant as Papias the Apostles Disciple cited by Eusebius in his 2. book of History c. 15. St. Hierome in his book de Viris Illustribus in Marco Eunomius Venerable Bedâ— and all the Fathers that ever writ a commentary on that Epist do unanimously declare and it is evident out of the 17. c. of revelations where John sayes that Babylon was builded on seaven hills and that i'ts Impire did extend over the Kings of the earth which notwithstandig should fall down and be destroy'd all which has beeÌ„ verify'd of the City of Rome and of no other City in the whole world for it was foâ—erly and is at present builded on seaven hills and it's Impire only did then reach all parts of the world yet what John fore see came to pass for the Roman Impire was reduc'd almost to nothing the City wholly run'd by the Goths Wandals Hunns Longobards but what occasion'd people in them times to call Rome Babylon was a certain similitude that was between the City of Rome and that of Babylon when in the time of NabuchodoÌ„oâ—or BabyloÌ„ was an Imperial City whose King Nabuchodonoâ—or crully persecuted the people of God duriÌ„g their captivity there eveÌ„ so in the time of the Apostles Rome was an Jmperial City whose Improur was Nero who persecuted most cruelly the people of God during his reign it 's therefore the City of Rome was call'd another Babylon Whealy's fifth reason is grounded on the audieÌ„ce given to Paul in the Apostles assembly Acts c. 15. v. 12. by which it seems that Peter till then was wholly a stranger to the wonders Paul told them he had perform'd amoÌ„g the Gentiles this consequeÌ„ce is false for tho' General Ginkle related in a Council of war before the Prince of Orange how he behav'd himself at the breach of Agherim against the Irish it cannot be infer'd that the Prince of Orange himself was till then wholly a straÌ„ger to the Irish affairs and that he never fought at the breach of the Boyne or elswhere against them tho' Peter gave audience to Paul telling the Miracles wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles by him and Barnabas it does not follow that Peter never preach'd the Gospel to any of the Gentiles before that time as for Whealy's 6th reason that it was after Pauls said relation that the Apostles and Elders sent Barsabas and Silos with him to Antioch to assist in the ministry I allow that to be true but what Whealy would infer out of it is false for it does not at all follow out of this that the Gospel was never preach'd before in any of those Countryes but what might be lawfully infer'd is that Barsabas Silos were not commaÌ„ded to go with Paul to Antioch till after the said relatioÌ„ but before this time beiÌ„g the 18. year after our Saviours PassioÌ„ the Gospel was preach'd not only in Antioch but also in Rome by Peter as I will shew hereafter as for Whealy's new commeÌ„tary on the words of our Saviour Mathew c. 16. v. 18. 19. John c. 21. v. 15. 16 17. I believe no man of sense will prefer it before the exposiâ—ion of all the holy Fathers and Doctors which is coÌ„trary to that of Whealy's as may be seeÌ„ in my Anâ—wer to Mr. JeÌ„niÌ„gs 4 poiÌ„t as for that word only which our Saviour would have added if he meant Peter in particular as Whealy pretends I would willingly know by what reason can he or any other shew that the word only would be requisite here to prove Peter's supremacy and not in that of John c 6. v. 50. where he the present Church of England do wrest the words of Christ to a figurative sence without the lest meÌ„tioÌ„ of the word only or siguratively by which it appears how incoherently Whealy argues aâ—d pretends to expouÌ„d the worâ—s of Christ in the said tâ—xts ' its apparent that it would be superfluous for Christ to express the word oÌ„ly in either of these texts viz Matt c. 16. John c. 21 it was enough that he spoake to Peter personaly in the singular number in these words Blessed art tâ—ou Simon Bâ—rjona for flesh blood have not reveal'd it uÌ„to thee but my Father who is in heaven I say also unto thee that thou art Peter upon this râ—ck I will build my Church the gates of Hell shall not prevaile agaiÌ„st it I will give unto thee the Keyes of the KiÌ„gdom of HeaveÌ„ what soever thou shall biÌ„d on earth shall he bouÌ„d in heaveÌ„ whatsoever thou shall loose on earâ—h shall be loos'd in heaveÌ„ Mat. c. 16 v. 1718. 19 so wheÌ„ they had diÌ„ed Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me more than these he said unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he saith unto him feede my lambes he saith unto him again the second time Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he saith unto him feede my sheepe he said unto him the third time Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me and he said unto him Lord thou knowest that I love thee Iesus said unto him feede my sheep John c 21. v. 15. 16 17. which words do plainly prove that our Saviour then meant Peter and none else of the Apostles for he excluded them by the words Simon Peter sonne of Jonas levest thou me which as the reader may observe our Saviour thrice coÌ„sequeÌ„tly repeated and after Peter answer'd each time he gave him in charge his lambes and sheepe commanding him to feede them which he would not have done if he had then meant equally all the rest of the Apostles as Whealy falsly alleages but would speake to them Generally in the plural number as he did in that of Matt. c. 18. v. 19 when he commanded them to go and teach all nations as for that new explication which Whealy gives saying that our Saviour speake particularly to Peter more than to the other Apostles because they were not in the danger that Peter was of swearing cuâ—sing denying his blessed Master as Peter afterwards did Matt c. 26. v. 7â— therefâ—re wanted not the consolation which the Saviour of the world judg'd nâ—edfull for the support of a faâ—linâ—
the â—hosple the charge of the whâ—le Church to have been committâ—d by the â—ord to Peter the Prince of all the Apostle And the General Council of Calcedon wherein 630 Fatherâ— were assembled call'd action 3 S. Peter the Rock and pillar of the Church All which proofs do sufficiently make-out that it was alwayes believ'd and acknowledg'd by those of the Primitive Church St. Peter to have been instituted a supream pastor but the same charge still remains being the office of a pastor is an ordinary and a perpetual office and as long as there are sheep to be feed so long there ought to be a pastor to feed them which because St. Peter did not perform in his own person those many hundred years there must needs be some other lawfull successor to execute the office in his place for we see by daily experience many strifes and contentions to happen amonghst the flock in matters of faith and discipline who then shall appease reconcile them you will say the Bishops but how often doth differences of this sort araise and happen amonghst the Bishops themselfs perhaps you will answer that they ought to appeal to Primates and Patriarches but what if they be also at variance as Flavianus and Dioscorus Cyrill and Nestor were peradventure you may say that they ought to goe to temporal princes and civil Magistrates but t is not their part to ingage themselves in Ecclesiastical affairs and their factions may be more dangerous then any of the former to whom then shall the people appeal it will be said to a general Council but who shall summon who shall order or who shall direct and guide that assembly what if they decline from the true faith of Iesus Christ as the Council of Ariminium the second Council of Ephesiâ—â— ' and several other Schismatical Councils did who then shall Iudge their case who shall deside their dissentions unless some certain head be appointed by the divine providence of the holy Ghost whose decrees are infallible whose censures ought to be obey'd and in respect of whom St. Peter may be still said to performâ— his duty and feed the sheep intrusted to his charge as the premisses do plainly make-out Now let us see if those of the Primitive Church did belive and acknowledge the Popes of Rome successiuely from age to age since Peter's death to have been that Supream head of the Universal Church as St Peter was in hâ—s own time St. Irenous who liv'd in the year 180 in his 3 book Chap 3 sayes the following words The fouâ—ders of the Church deliver'd the Episcopaâ—y of over-seeing the Church to Linus and Anacletus succeeded Linus Clemens Anacletus Evaristus Clemens c. numbring all the rest of the Popes of Rome who govern'd the Church from St. Peter's time to that very instant St. Basil who liv'd in the 4 Century in his 52 Epist which is to St. Athanasius sayes thus It is convenient that we shu'd write to the Bishop of Rome that he might take notice of what is done here and produce his sentence and use his Authority in the case choese some sound men who can câ—rrect those stoburn and crosse people that are here with us and cancel what has been done by force ud violâ—nce in Ariminium St. Athauasius in his Ep written in the name of all the Bisâ—ops in Egypt to Marke Pope of Rome sayes the following words To the holy and Venerable Marke Pope of the Vniversal Church ruler of the holy Apostoâ—ical sea we desire by the Authority of your holy sea which is the Mother and hâ—ad of all Churches that we may know by the present legates what ought to be done for the recovery and correction of the faith full Orthodox foâ— being supported by your Authority and sâ—râ—nthn'd by your Prayers we can escape safe from the enemyes of God's Church and ours and be able to root-out those committed unto us such an other convincing Authority may be seen in St Athanasius's Epist to Felix and also in St Cyprian's Epistles to Cornelius Lucius and Stephen Popes of Rome St Hierome in his Epistle to Pope Damas sayes thus altho' your grandeâ—â— terrisies me yet yâ—â—r mildness invicts me I do crave from the Priest the victim of Salvation from the Pastor succoâ—r to a sheep I speake to the succâ—ssor of the fisher and disciple of the cross following none buâ— Christ I do joyne with your holynesse in communion that is to say with the chaier of Peter for I know the Church to have been built upon that Rocke whosover shall eat the â—amb out of this house is prophane St Crysostome in his first Epist to Pope Innocentius beseeches him to declare the proceedings of the Eastern Bishops void and of no effect and to punish with Ecclesiastical Censure the promoters of the discorde and in his 2 book de Sacerdotio Châ—p â—â— he syes the fallowing words speaking of Christ why did he sâ—ed his own blood certainly it was to purchase those sheep whose care he committed both to Peter and to Peter's succesors Theodoretus in his Epist to Pope Leo sayes thus I do expect the sentence of your Aposlolical sea and I humbly beseech and Pray your holynesse that your just and upright judgment may aâ—de me appealing to you and command mâ— to come before you in his Epist to Renatus he also sayes thus I beseech you to perswade the most holy Archbishop Leo to use his Apostolical Authority and command me to appear at your Council for that holy sea has the Goverment of all Churches thro' the whole world St Augustin in his 262 Epist which is to Pope Caeleâ—stinus sayes the following words I congratulate your merits that our Lord estabâ—ish'd you in that sea without any opposion of the people secondly I do inform your holynesse of what is committed near us here that not only by praying for us but also by advising and assisting us you may relâ—ef us I beseech you thro' the blood of Christ and remembrance of the Apostle Peters who admonish'd the chifest of the Christian people not to sufer these things to be done All which Authorityes do plainly make-out that the holy Fathers and Doctors of the primitive Church firmly believ'd and acknowledg'd the Popes of Rome to have been successively from age to age the Supteam head of the Universal Church on earth Which may be further confirm'd by the coÌ„tinual practice and consent of several Nations who in the primitive Church appeal'd to the Popes of Rome acknowledging each of them in his own time to have been Christ's Vicar-generall on earth As for exemple to whose high tribunal did Flavianus the Patriarch of Constantinople appeal from the â— Ephesian Councilâ— but to that of Leo Pope â— Rome as Liberatus in his breviate c 12. writes whose assistance diâ— Athanasius Bishop of Alexandrâ— depos'd by the Aerians imploreâ— but the assistance of Marke Feliâ— and Iulius Popes of Rome â— St. Athanasiu's own Epistles â— the
AN ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE Of Mr. Henry Jennings Protestant Arch-deacon of Dromore which evidently makes-out the present Church of Romes doctrine to have been maintain'd in the first five ages the adversarys Principles to be only a heap of heresies lawfully condemn'd by the primitive Church To which is annexed An Answer to one Whealy Set forth by JAMES O SHIELL Reader of Divinity Remember the dayes of old consider the years of many generations aske thy Father he will shew thee thy elders they will tell thee Deut c. 32. v. 7. Permissu Superiorum 1699 TO THE QUEEN MADAM THis little book makes bold to adress it self to your Sacred Majestie not to inform or instruct you in any thing it containes for beside the gifts of nature and great perfections with which your Majestie is so richly indowed you had the advaÌ„tage of being born bred in the most Catholick Country of Europe beiÌ„g well educated throwly instructed in vertue piety religioÌ„ in all other things proper for so great a Princess to learn The end and scope of this small treatise is Madam first to answer a ChalleÌ„ge made to all Catholicks in General by one of the most dareing most presumptuous of the protesaÌ„t it party next to prevent unwary and well meaning Christians from being seduc'd or impos'd upon by such artifices which it will effect by Gods help so it be but countenanc'd by your Sacred Majestie If you consider only its style contexture or the Author that compos'd it it caÌ„not on either of those accounts deserve this honour but the Docttrine it comprehends being compiled faithfully extracted out of the scripture holy Fathers Ancient CouÌ„cils it may on that score well pretend the patronage protection of so great a Quen a desceÌ„ded from the Glorious House of Est which has furnish'd Europe for many hunderds of years with Illustrious Dukes Princes Famous Generals great states-men most Eminent prelates Church-men yet never did oblige it more than in giving it so great a Princess so fit a consort for our Gratious King whose piety zeal are with-out example who for his religion only has lost the Imperial crown of three Kingdoms for his great resignation ChristiaÌ„ patience will infallibly receive a crown of everlastiÌ„g Glory your Majestyes Heroycal sted fast resolution of still prefering religio beforé all Temporal inâ—rest and your great zeal for the service of God the Catholick cause do evidently prove that no other Princess but yourself could be so agreable to his Majestie so conformable to his generous inclinations in this particular as well as in all other Royal perfections The King your Majesties chief study is to maiÌ„taiÌ„ support that religion for which both have sacrific'd your all your daily businesse is to comfort the poor to cloath the naked to feed the hungry to provide for the Fatherless widowes to supply all their waÌ„ts ever to the straitning of yourselves in a word to promote in others ' by your own example the practice of all the workes of piety Charity imaginable Now since standing-up in defence of truth endeavouring to instruct the ignorant in matters of salvation has ever been accounted a work of Charity this little book how ever meanly write may deservé your Majestie 's Royal protectioÌ„ approbation this will render it more acceptable to all good Christians supply it's want where-ever it is defective either in language or composition for this reason Madam the Author does most humbly presume to lay it at your Majesties feet to beg you wou'd be Graciously pleas'd not only to afford it the honour of your Royal patronage but also ot accept of it as a small testimony of the fidelity greatfull respect justly due from all his Country where with he is oblig'd daily to pray for your Majestie ever to continue MADAM Your Majesties Most obedient and most Loyal and most Humble Subject and Sevarnt JAMES O SHIELL An Answer to Mr. Iennings Challenge ALtho' this Treatise be but small yet it treats not of small matters the subject of it being of no less consequeÌ„ce than the salvation of those christians who are led astray from the true faith because they are not guided by any christian motive or Authority but rather by their own wordly interest and libertinism whith now a days too many preferre before gods cause and the salvation of their own souls notwithstanding all the convincing arguments both of our ancient and modern controvertists who with a great deal of pains have shifted the wheat from the tares and inspite of all oppositioÌ„ have made out very clearly the reall and naked truth of their assertions in all controverted points between our pretended reformers the present church of Rome for which reason I wou'd at present forbear writing of a subject so often scann'd and discuss'd before but that I was over perswaded at the earnest request of a certin person of quality who faithfully promis'd to be come a Roman catholick if she cu'd get but a satisfactory answer to an extravagant bold challange of one that stiles himself a prelat of the church of England now residing in the north of Ireland where he makes a great figure and wou'd faine perswade the ignorant and vnwary to belive that his notions are truely catholick To prevent wdich imposture and in hopes that some copyes of this litle work may for the good of souls pass over the seas to that afflicted country where books of controversy are very scarce J made it my business to get it printed haviÌ„g compos'd it as succint and compendious as the subject cou'd possibly permit that it may-be no burden in a mans pocket If the reader be not of the church of Rome I do advise him to perruse it with a serious consideratioÌ„ and remorse of conscience which if he does perhaps it may be an ocasion of leading him to the true light and way of salvation whatever he may carp vpon the method or language I shall bear it patieÌ„tly if he does but observe and consider the meaning and doctrine thereof But before I proceed further I must take notice of this daring champions legerdemain who being sensible â—â— of his own want of proofs and authoritys to make out any one point now controverted he wou'd faine turn the scale impose upon the Roman catholicks to prove their assertions whereas it is plain that since he owns the church of Rome to have been in a legal possession of the true faith for above 300 years after christ he ought coÌ„sequently to suppose that she kept the same faith all along unless he can prove the contrary yet this is no peculiar device of our bold challenger but rather the ordinary practice of all preteÌ„ded reformers who finding no solid grounds for their new notions are forc'd to trust wholy to negatives and endeavor upon that