Christ and one chayre might be made manifest and knowne Hitherto S. Cyprian 11. But now that these promises of Christ did not only belong to the person of S. Peter but also to all those who were to succeed him in the same office till the end of the world we do thus clearly proue and demonstrate First because S. Peter is heere made the foundation of the Church and the rocke wherupon it is buylded but the Church of Christ alwayes remayneth therfore the foundation therof must alwayes remayne seing that nothing can continue and be without it foundation 12. Moreouer those keyes which were giuen to S. Peter do remayne alwaies in the Church as all our Aduersaries confesse Ergo he also remayneth to whom these keyes were giuen For that authoritye or those keyes were not giuen for S. Peter alone but for the Church which is alwayes extant It therfore alwaies retayneth those keyes and that authority of bynding or loosing men from their sinnes in S. Peter and his successors till the end of the world 13. And this is that which S. Leo saith when he writeth that S. Peter euen to this day gouerneth the Church of God that is to say by his successors insomuch that his dignity neuer fayleth euen in an vnworthy successor But hitherto there was neuer any successor of S. Peter acknowledged in the Church of Christ besides the Byshop of Rome He therefore is the only successor of S Peter and the supreme Byshop of the Church And the Roman is not only the true Church of Christ but also preferred before all others euen by Christ himselfe 14. The second place is Feede my laÌ„bes feede my sheepe In which wordes God coÌ„mended to S. Peter not only his lambes which signifieth the common sorte of people but also his sheepe to wit the Pastors and Fathers of his Church First saith Eusebius Emissenus he committed to S. Peter his lambes and then his sheepe because he made him not only a Pastor but the Pastor of Pastors Peter therefore feedeth the lambes and also the sheepe He feâ—deth children and their mothers he ruleth the peoâ—le and their Prelates He is therâ—ore the Pastor oâ— all becausâ— besides lambes and sheepe there is nothing in the Church Hitherto Eusebius And S. Bernard My sheepe saith Christ Vnto whome is it not plaine and manifest that he did not assiâ—nâ— some but all nothing is excepted where there is no distinction made Thus S. Bernard And S. Leo Peter doth properly gouerne all whome principally Christ also gouerneth 15. Furthermore it is manifest that these wordes were spoken to S. Peter and not to the other Apostles seing that Christ asked him thrice Doest thou loue me And moreouer he added more then these that he might make a manifest distinction betwixt S. Peter and the other Apostles 16. Finally it is most certaine that this promise of Christ doth not only appertayne to the person of S. Peter but also to his successors which are to remayne in the Church till the end of the world For both the Apostle doth plainly testify and our Aduersaries do also confesse that the office of a Pastor is ordinary and shall alwaies continue and be in the Church of God 17. And the chiefest reâ—son hereof is because we stand in no lesse need now of a supreme Pastor then they which were in the primitiue Church whiles yet the Apostles were aliue yea we haue much more need therof besides that there are still and alwaies shal be some sheepe of Christ therfore there shall also still continue their chiefe Pastour The Roman Church therfore is not only the true Church of Christ but also that wherein S. Peters successor and the supreme Pastour of the whole Church of Christ remayneth 18. But these two places are so manifest that they cannot be confuted or wrested to any other sense vnlesse we will reduce all wordes to a metaphoricall signification or other figuratiue speaches the which is a common tricke of our Aduersaries wheÌ„ they are vrged with plaine wordes of the holy scripture But against all these falsifications of our Aduersaries we must alwaies obserue that rule of the Catholike Church taken out of S. Augustine to wit that we must neuer depart from the proper signification of the words of holy Scripture vnlesse we be forced by the authority of some more euident poynt of faith wherunto the proper significatioÌ„ of the wordes do manifestly repugne For otherwise if we might as often as we would refuse and leaue the proper signification of the wordes there will be nothing lesse certayne in all the holy Scripture 19. Moreouer it will be an easy matter for euery one to fly to metaphors and improper significatioÌ„s when he is pressed with the playne wordes of holy Scripture but there is nothing heere that should force vs to departe from the true and proper sense of the wordes None therefore but desperate and carelesse of their owne saluation will giue credit and belieue these foolish toyes and dreames of our Aduersaries inuented only by them in hatred and conâ—empt of the Byshop of Rome 20. Yea he will rather imbrace and follow the vniforme consent and vnderstanding of the aunciâ—nt Fathers and of all the whole Church For the holy Fathers in many places do affirme that â—hâ—se two laces of the holy Scripture are to be vnderstood litterally of S. Peter the which Bellarmine and Coccius haue diligently gathered togeather as many other Catholike Authors haue done before them But because this matter is so cleare and manifest that euen our Aduersarsaries caÌ„not deny it as we will plainly shew in the next Chapter we wil not now spend any more tyme in alleadging of Authors 21. But our Aduersaries doe heere cry out and obiect against vs that the holy Fathers doe sometymes affirme that the Church was built vpon the fayth of S. Peter and sometymes vpon his confession As though forsooth there were any among vs so foolish as to thinke that the Church was built vpon S. Peters back or shoulders or vpon S. Peter as he was an Infidell or dumme and not rather vpon S. Peter as indued and replenished with the gift of faith confessing and professing openly the mysteries thereof Wherfore it is all one whether we say that the Church is built vpon S. Peter or vpon his faith and confession for we do not separate S. Peter from his fayth or from the publike proâ—ession therof but we only affirme that the Church of Christ was bâ—ilt vpon the faith and confession of S. Peter alone and of no other 22. And hence it is that the same holy Fathers who in some places affirme that the Church was built vpon the faith and confession of S. Peter do els where plainly testify that it was built vpon S. Peter himselfe Yea euen in the same place they sometymes say that it was built vpon the faith or confession of S. Peter and sometymes vpon S. Peter
do visibly gouerne in Christs steed so also neyther should Christ be sayd truly to gouerne visibly the whole Church vnlesse there were some one who in his person might visibly gouerne the whole Church But this person can be no other but the Byshop of Rome 4. And that which hath byn said before of the head is also to be vnderstood of the rocke and foundation For Christ is indeed the chiefest foundation of all true belieuers but the secondary and subordinate foundation vnto Christ is also the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets as the Apostle expressely saith to the Ephesians and Caluin also acknowledgeth it to be most true But if the doctrine of all the Apostles be also the foundation of the Church why should not also S. Petres doctrine be the same For when we say that S. Peter is the foundation of the Church by S. Peter we doe vnderstand not his person only but also his doctrine preached in the Church of Rome 5. Moreouer seing that S. Iohn in his Apocalyps sayth that the Citty of God hath twelue foundations and in them twelue names of the twelue Apostles of the lambe VVhat meruaile is it if S. Peter the first of the Apostles be called a rocke or foundation of the Citty of God 6. And heere it is to be considered that when the Apostle sayth that there is no other foundation besides Christ this word besides hath the same signification that contrary or against hath as appeareth by many other places of holy Scripture For otherwise all the Apostles are called the foundations of the Church as we haue sayd before but they are not contrary or against Christ but vnder Christ and subiect vnto him 7. Finally yf we examine more exactely the true sense of those wordes of S. Paul to the Corinthians yt will appeare manifestly that our aduersaries wrest the said wordes of the Apostle to a contrary sense and meaning For the Apostle doth not speake of the foundatioÌ„ of the whole buylding of the Church of Christ wherof only is our present CoÌ„trouersy but of the foundatioÌ„ of particuler priuate actions of euery true belieuer For S. Paul manifestely writeth that he layd that foundatioÌ„ wherof he speaketh that euery one buyldeth his owne proper worke vpon this foundation But there is a great difference among these foundations because heere Christ himselfe is he who made ordayned S. Peter to be a founâ—ation I say vnto thee saith Christ to S. Peter that thou art Cephas there S. Paul is he who loÌ„g after laid that â—oundation wherof he speaketh as a wise worke-mayster saith he haue I layed the foundation Heere Christ himselfe is he who buildeth Vpon this rocke saith our lord I will buyld There euery priuate man is he who buyldeth but let euery one looke saith the Apostle â—ow he buildeth theron heere the Church is that which is built theron I will build saith our Lord my Church There the worke of euery priuate man is that which is built theron If any mans worke abide saith the Apostle that which he built therupon shall receaue reward S. Paul therfore speaketh of the foundatioÌ„ of good workes which belong vnto iustice and life euerlasting wherof as we haue said Christ is the only foundation We treate here of the foundation of the outward and visible gouernement of the Church and doctrine of sound faith Now S. Peter his successors were such a foundation Wherâ—ore that which our Aduersaries alleadge out of S. Paul doth nothing concerne this our preseâ—t â—iâ—putation 8. The second argument S. Peter denyed Christ thâ—ice therâ—ore he could not be the reâ—ke against whome the gates of hell should neuer preuayle I answere that when S. Peter denyed Christ he was not as then the foundation of the Church For promise was made vnto him only Matth. 16. I will build c. I will giâ—e thee c. speaking alwaies in the future tense but afterward Ioan 21. the authority was actually giuen which was bâ—fâ—re promised vnâ—o him and that after that denyall of S. Peter as also after the resurrection of Christ feede my lambes saith Christ fâ—ede my sheâ—pe 9. The third argument After that the foresayd authority was giuen Ioan. 21. S. Peter was reprehended by S. Paul Gal. 2. I answere that as witnesseth Tertullian the Marcionists obiected this very same place against Catholikes vnto whome Tertullian answereth in these words Indeed saith he it was a vice or fault of his conuersation and not of his preaching And he answered very well for S. Peter might peraduenture theÌ„ haue synned but he could not erre in fayth because he knew very well that the Moysaicall Law was not necessary to saluation for the Gentills neyther did he euer teach the same to be necessary Yea when there arose any controuersy about this matter he manifestly taught that tâ—e Gentills were not obliged by it as may be seen in the Acts of the Apostles Wherfore if S. Peter offeÌ„ded in any thing it was a synne of his conuersation and not of his preaching doctrine wherof we now only dispute albeit there are many who thinke that S. Peter did not offende at all in any respect of whom see Bellarmine and Baronius 10. The fourth argument S. Paul reprehended those that said they belonged to S. Peter I answere that those men deuided Christ from S. Peter and S. Paul and they opposed them against Christ as equalls vnto him making them as it were so many Christs The which S. Paul declareth in these wordes Is Christ deuided Moreouer they attributed to S. Peter and S. Paul the internall and inuisible giftes of the holy Ghost and the effect of the Sacrament yea and our redemption also no otherwise then they did vnto Christ. Hence are those wordes of S. Paul in the same place why was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the name of Paul 11 But we teach that the Pope of Rome is inferior and not equall vnto Christ wherupon he is also called the Vicar of Christ as subiect vnto him and not deuided from him Moreouer we teach that the Pope doth not giue the inward and spirituall gyftes of Fayth Hope and Charity but he is only the â—icar of Christ in the doctrine of fayth and exteriour gouernement of the Church 12. The fâ—rst argument The Apostle to the Corinthians and Ephesians doth recount diuers offices of the Church and yet he sayth nothing of S. Peter I answere first that it is not necessary that the Apostle make any mention of S. Peter in euery place for it is sufficient that in some one place or other he hath euidently declared that S. Peter was a chiefe member of the Church the which he did when he said that he came to Hierusalem to see S. Peter and tarryed with him fifteene dayes 13. Furthermore in these very places he manifestly
the name of AdoratioÌ„ that AdoratioÌ„ in the holy Scripture hath two significations in the one it appertayneth to God alone in the other it may without any sinne at all yea with great merit be giuen to men And of adoration in both senses are verified those wordes of the Scripture they adored first God and then the King Many other places of Scripture there are which approue this adoratioÌ„ of men of which only we now treate For this adoration only is exhibited to the Pope not that other which belongeth only to God and it is exhibited vnto him as the Vicar of Christ wheras the other cannot be exhibited but to the true God himselfe Now there are foure testimonies of holy Scripture which euidently proue that the adoration of the Pope is not only lawfull but also dutifull 3. The first testimonie is that which the Prophet Isay recordeth in these wordes Thus saith our Lord the labour of Egipt the merchaÌ„dize of Ethiopia the eminent men of the Sabeans shall come vnto thee and they shal be thine they shall follow thee they shall go with their handes manacled or bound in chaines and they shall adore thee and make supplication vnto thee It is manistest that the Prophet in this place speaketh not to Christ but to the Church for all the verbes and pronownes in the Hebrew text are of the feminine gender and not of the masculine besides it appeareth euidently by all that goeth before these wordes and all that followeth that this promise was made to the Church of Christ. The Prophet therfore saith that the labour negotiatioÌ„ that is the riches gotten togeather by labour and negotiation of Egipt and Ethiopia and the eminent persons of the Sabeans by whome are vnderstood the Princes of the Gentils shall passe ouer to the Church and they shal be the Churches and they shall walke after the Church in manicles by which are signified Ecclesiasticall lawes and that they shall adore the Church and make supplication to her 4. And it is to be obserued that the Hebrew word in the last coÌ„iugation as it is vsed heere and in a manner euery where elâ— signifyeth to prostrate ones selfe before another not howsoeuer but by way of adoration as al that are skilfull in the Hebrew tongue know in so much as the adoratioÌ„ done oÌ„ly to God is often expressed by this word This therefore is the true sense and meaning of this place they shall prostrate themselues before thee thereby to exhibite adoration vnto thee we haue therefore out of the Scripture that the Church and consequently the Ministeriall head thereof not only may but must be adored vnlesse we will make God to falsify his promise But the craftâ— dealing of Caluin heere is to be detected who to abuse the Reader leaueth out in his latin translation twice the Pronowne Te that this adoration may not seeme to be referred to the Church but eyther to God or to Christ for he translateth not adorabunt te obsecrabunt te but thus adorabunt atque obsecrabunt whereas in the Hebrew the particle te is twice put in the feminine gender so as this adoration and obsecration must needes be referred to the Church and therefore those of Geneua durst not omit the same neyther in their French Bibles nor in their corrupt translation which they call Vatablus no nor Caluin himselfe in the former edition of his Commentaries vpon Isayas which was set forth in French in the yeare 1552. but in his latter latin edition in the yeare 1559. which he will needs haue accounted a new worke being now become more wary he twice omitteth that particle and that not vnaduisedly but of set purpose as is manyfest by his former edition 5. The second testimony is also in the same Prophet Isayas in which much more clearly is declared the exceeding great honour which the Kinges and Princes of the earth shall doe vnto the Church for thus God speaketh to the Church of Christ. Kinges shal be thâ—â— nursing Fathers and Queenesshalbe thy nurses they shall adore thee with their faces bowed downe to the earth and licke vp the dust of thy feete Where not only is expressed that humble adoration by which one prostrateth himselfe before another bowing downe his face eueÌ„ to the earth but there is further added a new Metafor of imbracing and kissing of feete put in practice by Christian Emperours Kinges and Princes therby to honour the vicar of Christ and in him the Church or rather Christ himselfe for whosoeuer with gredines and feruour hasten to the imbracing and kissing of the feete of any man seeme as it were to licke and thereby to wipe away the dust of his feete for the Hebrew word signifyeth to wipe away in what manner soeuer as may be seene in the booke of Numbers the 22. Chap. and the 4. v. and the 3. of Kings Chap. 18. v. 38. 6. The Prophet Isay then in these wordes fortold that Kings and Queenes that is Princes men and women should prostrat theÌ„selues downe to the earth at the feet of the Church so as by imbracing and kissing therof they should seem to wipe away the very dust of the Churches feet which prophecy hath byn fullfilled of old and as we see is still fulfilled in the Roman Church by the humble and Religious submission expressed by Christian Catholike Princes in the imbracing and kissing of the Bishop of Romes feet the supreme head of the Church on earth which kind of Religious worship seeing it was so many ages agoe foretold by the Prophet our Aduersaries had small reason to thinke the same so absurd a thing or so much estranged from Christian piety 7. The third testimony is taken from the same Prophet which no lesse manifestly doth shew vnto vs that such an adoration and kissing of the Churches feete was to be practised as hath byn sayd for amongst many other thinges which he foretelleth appertayning to the Maiesty powerful authority of the Kingdome of Christ to come he setteth downe this promise made by God to the Church The sonnes of them that humbled and afflicted thee shall come and bow vnto thee and all they that detracted from thee shall adore thy footsteeps which in the Hebrew is much more cleare where it is thus they shall adore the bendings of thy feete then the which nothing could be sayd more manifestly for the adoration of the Churches feete in her visible head for the beÌ„dings of the feete by the figure Synecdoche signify the feet themselues as may be seene in the third of Iosue and the 1â— v. For the bindings of the feete in that place are in the 15. v. following called feet so the bendings of the hands themselues 1. Reg 5. v. 4. and 4. Reg. 9. c. v. 35. which wordes of the Prophet conuince Caluin as shal be sayd We see then how the Prophet Isayas not in one place only but in many fortelleth this
A TREATISE CONCERNING THE CHVRCH WHERIN It is shewed by the Signes Offices and Properties therof that the Church of Rome and consequently such particuler Churches as liue in her Communion is the only true Church of CHRIST VVRITTEN In Latin by the Reuerend Father Iames Gordon Huntley of Scotland Doctour of Diuinity of the Society of IESVS And translated into English by I. L. of the same Society The third Part of the second Controuersy Permissu Superiorum M. DC XIV THE FIRST CHAPTER Of the false and true Signes or Markes of the Church in generall HAVING in the precedent CoÌ„trouersyes declared that Christ and all that good is can only be found in the true Church and that out of it there is nothing but euerlasting damnation now it remayneth that we enquire which is that true Church where it may be found and how it is described and set forth in holy Scripture for all the sectes of heresies go about to challenge her vnto themselues yea euen those who otherwise haue a very bad conceyt and opinion of her For they see very well that out of her they can expect or hope for no saluation But to the end we may not erre in matter of so great moment we will seeke out the true Markes and Signes wherby the true Church may be certainly knowne and discerned from euery faile and counterfait Church 2. Our Aduersaries doe commonly set downe two signes or markes of the true Church to wit the sincere preaching of the word of God and the lawfull administration of the Sacraments Bâ—za addeth a third signe to wit the Ecclesiasticall discipline practised agreable to the word of God The Lutherans annexed vnto these a fourth signe to wit an Obedience towards ministers Oâ— this fourth signe we will speake a little after for it is reduced to the vnity of the Church But the three signes set downe by the Caluinists are altogeather foolish and friuolous the which we proue thus 3. First by the very nature of a signe For euery signe of it owne nature is a sensible thing as all teach following therein S. Augustine and our Aduersaries confesse this to be true when they treat of the Sacraments Yea Caluin writeth that this was alwaies as it were a matter of faith in the Church And so do all teach now who are of vnderstanding Truly nonâ— will say that which is only belieued in the Sacrament is a signe but that which is seene But these signes of the Church prescribed by our Aduersaries can neyther be seen nor perceyued by any sense Yea not euen by our vnderstanding vnlesse it be illuminated by faith For by faith only are they perceyued because none can know which is the sincere preaching lawfull administration of the Sacraments or Ecclesiasticall discipline prescribed by Christ but by faith wherfore they who say that these are the signes and markes of the Church do not indeed know what they say euen as if one should affirme that in the Sacrament of baptisme the ablution and the wordes are not signes but the effect of baptisme which is not seene which euery man seeth how absurd it is 4. The second reason Euery signe of anything must be more manifest and better knowne then the thing it selfe whose signe it is because it is put for that end that it may be a signe or token wherby that other thing may be known but these signes of the Church alleadged by our Aduersaries are more obscure and vncertaine then the Church it self For the Church is at the least often tymes visible as they theÌ„selues confesse but these their signes be neuer visible but alwaies inuisibâ—e for they can only be knowne by fait◠〈◊〉 we haue already declared but that which is by faith belieued is necessarily obscure because faith as witnesseth the Apostle is the argâ—ment of things not appearing hence it is that all sectes do bragge and boast that they haue these signes because indeed they caÌ„not be clearly seene of any 5. The third reason our Aduersaries do â—lledge in vaâ—ne these signes for therfore do we enquire for signes and Markes of the Church that they which are ignorant of â—er may therby come to know her for they who already know any thing do not need any signes as for example he who already knoweth very well this Citty needeth no markes or signe therof wherby he may know it But he staÌ„deth in need of signes who neuer saw this Citty So in like manner they wâ—o are out of the Church and know her not do most of all need some signe and markes wherby to know her but these which our Aduersaries assigne can be knowne by none but by those who are already within the Church and know her very well hauing the true faith 〈…〉 therof but they cannot be vnderstood by those who know not the true Church to the end they may seeke and fynd her because they are only perceyued and knowne by faith they are therfore alleadged in vaine by our Aduersaries 6. But neyther can these signes be knowne of all those who are in the Church but only of the more learned in the Church For euery one of the common people cannot discerne which is the sincere preaching of the word of God or the lawfull administration of the Sacraments and the Ecclesiasticall discipline prescribed by the word of God for it is necessary that he who knoweth all these things well should also vnderstand almost all the holy Scripture Moreouer there is as yet a very great controuersy among ouâ— Aduersaries themselues concerning these three signes whiles that some of them doe contend striue that this is the sincere preaching of the word of God others that some doe say that this is the lawfull administration of the Sacraments others that some doe say this is the discipline prescribed by the word of God others assigne another quite different from this 7. But our Aduersaries do in very truth confound the offices of the Church with the signes therof For to preach sincerely to administer the Sacraments lawfully and to appoint the discipline of the Church rightly are the offices of the Church as we haue declared before and not the signes therof these signes therfore being reiected which our Aduersaries do assigne it remayneth that we enquire out the true signes of the Church 8. But this is first to be presupposed as it were the ground of all that we are to speake of this matter That euen naturall reason it selfe doth clearly demoÌ„strat that there is some true Church of God heere vpon earth For this is one of those first principles of fayth which are as euidently proued by naturall reason as that there is a God Wherfore the Apostle placeth these two amoÌ„gst the fiâ—st grounds of our faith he that couâ—ueth to God saith he must belieue that he is is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seeke him But they which so seeke after God that they may be rewarded by him are
Scriptures whereof see Bellarmine and Sanders we according to our accustomed breuity will only bring two principall places for this purpose wherby it is manifestly declared that the Roman Church is not only the true Church but that also that which is now in Rome is more eminent and famous then all other Churches of Christ as the successor of S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles is there resident and gouerneth the same as the supreme head thereof 2. The first place is taken out of S. Mathew For he relateth the words which Christ spake to S. Peter which are these And I say vnto thee that thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it and I will giue to thee the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen And whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpoÌ„ earth it shal be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth it shal be loose in heauen 3. First that Christ spake to S. Peter and not to the other Apostles appeareth euidently by the very words of the text For first of all Christ setteth downe S. Peters old name Simon â—ayth he thou art blessed and then afterward he setteth downe the name of his father Bariona that is to say the sonne of Ionas or of Iohn as also the EuaÌ„gelist S. Iohn testifyeth He sheweth afterward that the reuelation was only made to S. Peter My father sayth he hath reuealed vnto thee he doth not say vnto you as he is weÌ„t to say when he speaketh vnto them all He addeth moreouer because thou art Peter which certainly agreeth only to S. Peter for vpon him only was this Name imposed Ioan. 1. v. 42. 4. Moreouer Christ addeth And vpon this rocke I will build my Church in which words that particle And is a coniunction causall and not a copulatiue and it signifieth because anâ— in this sense it is vsed oftentymes in holy Scripture as our Adueriaries cannot deny as for example in that place of Genesis Lo thou shalt dye for the woman that thou hast taken and hath a husband that is because she hath a husband So also Dauid in his Psalmes Giue vs thy helpe from our tribulation and vayne is the saluation of men that is to say because the saluation of men is but vayne In like manner the Prophet I say saith Behould thou art angry and we haue sinned that is to say because we haue sinned In the same sense it is vsed in the new Testament Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe that is to say because it is blessed as Caluin and Beza doe acknowledge all which places Caluin conâ—esseth to be so vnderstood after Theophilact Also and none gaue him any thing that is to say because none gaue him See more examples of this in the latin edition 5. This therfore is the true sense of that place As thou hast sayd vnto me thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God so I say vnto thee that I haue worthily called tâ—ee Peter because vpon this rocke which thou art I will build my Church For to what end should Christ haue said vnto him thou art Peter seeing that all knew well inough before that Peter was â—eter but that he would therby declare that he was not called Peter without great cause that is to say because vpon him as vpon a sure and stronge foundation and rocke Christ intended to build his Church God therfore would haue S. Peter to remember the name which of late was giuen him and afterward he assigneth the reason and cause why he called him so to wit because vpon him as vpon a most strong rocke he would build his Church According to the metaphore of a rocke saith S. Hierome it was rightly said vnto him I will build my Church vpon thee 6. For the holy Scripture is accustomed when it speaketh of a name giuen vnto any by the interpretation of the word to adioyne also tâ—e reaâ—â—n and cause of the name so said our â—ord vnto Abram Neyther shall thy name be caâ—â—ed any more Abram but thou shalt be called Abraham and then he presently giueth a reason takeÌ„ from the etimology of the word because a Father of many Nations I haue made thee So also he did when Iacob was called Israel Se more of this in the Latin edition pag. 280. 7. Lastly not without great reason Christ gaue vnto S. Peter this new name but no other cause is assigned in the holy Scripture but this Because vpon this rocke I will build my Church This therefore and no other was the cause of giuing him this new name Hereupon saith S. Hilary very well O happy foundation of Christes Church saith he in the imposition of a new name and o worthy rocke of that building the which should dissolue and breake the infernall Lawes the gates of hell and all the stronge barres of death So S. Hilary 8. Moreouer Christ said to S. Peter I will giue the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen vnto thee he doth not say vnto you in like manner he said in the singular number whatsoeuer thou hast bound vpon earth c that thou shalt loose c. He spake therfore to S. Peter only and not to many 9. And albeit he promised this last authority of bynding or loosing men from their sinnes to the other Apostles also yet first of all in this place he promised this to S. Peter alone and then afterwardes to the rest to the end we might therby know that he made S. Peter the head of all the rest and that all their power and authority was subordinate to that of his For at this day all Catholike Bishops haue authority to bynd loose but subordinate to the Popes authority 10. All which thinges that holy martyr S. Cyprian declareth very well in these wordes wherby it may easily be vnderstood what was the opinion and iudgment of the primitiue Church concerning this matter God speaketh vnto S. Peter saith S. Cyprian I say vnto thee because thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church c. And againe after his resurrection he sayd feede my shepe vpon him alone be buyldeth his Church and he committeth vnto him to feede his sheepe and albeit he gaue the like authority to all the other Apostles saying As my Father sent me so c. whose sinnes yee forgiue c. yet to the end he might shew and declare an vnity he ordayned but one chayre he confirmed by his authority the beginning of that vnity proceeding from one The same indeed or equall in all other thinges were the other Apostles with S. Peter indued with the same power and authority to wit before those wordes of Christ to S. Peter feede my sheepe but the beginning proceeded from vnity The primacy was giuen to S. Peter to the end that one Church of
theÌ„ a maÌ„ as manifestly appeareth by S. Peters answere Arise for I also am a maÌ„ therfore Cornelius was to be admonished corrected for adoration is eyther good or bad according to the cause or reason for which it is exhibited Now the cause for which Catholikes exhibite the same to the Bishop of Rome is very good to wit the excellent power of Christ or rather Christ himselfe gouerning ruling his Church in his Vicar and therfore this adoration is good and gratefull to God but the cause of Cornelius adoration was fond and false and therfore his adoration was naught and worthily reprehended 14. I know our Aduersaries often obiect thâ—â— Pope Alexander the third did insoleâ—tly â—rample vnder his feete Frederike the Empeâ—oâ—r â—ut â—his foolish fable is soundly and copiouâ—ly refuted by Baronius citing the testimonies of such as were present and haue committed to writing all that pâ—ssed in which there was nothing vnusuâ—ll but the Pope admitted from Frederike the accustomed adoration He that desireth more concerning the kissing of the Popes feet may read Ioseph Stephanus who hath written a whole booke therof it is sufficient for vs to haue briefly proued the same by many euident testimonies of holy Scripture CHAP. X. Of generall Councells GENERAL Councells doe represent the whole body of the Catholike Church wherefore we will now speake a little of them for seeing that we haue already spoken of the head of the Church it remayneth we treat of the body therof But this we will do briefly For our Aduersaries now adaies graunt many thinges concerning this matter which in tymes past they denyed To the end therfore thaâ— the true state of this Controuersy may the better be vnderstood three thinges are to be considered which our Aduersaries hauing now learned by experieÌ„ce to be true do willingly graunt vnto vs. 2. The first is that these Councells â—re very profitable that the authority therof is not to be despised For seing that the Apostle warneth vs to obey euery true Pastor much more are we bound to obey many assembled togeather For which cause our Aduersaries would also that we should all obey their synodicall assemblies Heereupon sayth Caluin Truly we do willingly graunt that if there happen debate about any doctrine there is no better nor surer remedy then if a Synod of true Bishops assemble togeather where the doctrine in controuersy may be discussed Thus he And euen naturall reason it selfe conuinceth this to be true as Caluin also confesseth For it is an easier matter for many assembled togeather to discerne the truth from falshood then if any one should attempt it at home 3. The second thing which our Aduersaries graunt is that Generall Councells when they are assembled togeather in the name of Christ do not err in matters of faith for they confesse that Christ promised this to two or three asseÌ„bled togeather in his name Thus Caluin and he addeth that they may erre when they are not called togeather in the name of Christ the which no Catholike did euer deny as will appeare heereafter 4. The third thing which they admit is that the first Generall Councells were lawfully assembled and that they did erre in points of fayth Thus Beza expresly who admitteth also the fifth sixt generall Councell he sayth that all thâ—se of his Relâ—gion are of this opinion Caluin also of the auncient Councells writeth thus I reâ—â—rence them from my hart and wish them to be had in their due honour with all men And a litle after wheÌ„ he treateth of the ancieÌ„t CouÌ„cells he saith that besides those fâ—ure first general Councells to wit Nicaenum CoÌ„stantinopolitanuÌ„ the 1. Ephesine Chalcedonense he admitteth also such other auncient Councells the which cannot be vnderstood but of the fifth and sixt For a little after he plainly reiecteth the seaueÌ„th 5. Heere it is also to be noted that Luther in the beginning reiected wholly all generall Councells but the Caluinists afterward by reason of Seruetus and other Anti trinitarians â—ere forced to admit the first foure Councells â—oreouer by reason of the Vbiquitarian Lutherans who coÌ„founded the properties of the two natures of Christ they were coÌ„treined to admit also the fifth and sixt And these things euen the Caluinists themselues do graunt vnto vs. 6. But Catholikes teâ—ch these fiue things of the generall Councells The first is that a generall Councell cannot without the word of God mâ—ke any new articles of fayth but her office is to explicate clearly and propose the word of God to be belieued of all the which the Church hath receaued from Christ and his Apostles For a lawfull generall Councell defineth nothing in matters of fayth which eyther is not extant in the holy Scripture or may not be gathered by the Traditions of the Apostles or â—astly may euidently be deduced out of both The which the Councell of Trent doth manifestly profesâ—e for now we must not expect new reuelations from heauen Wherfore it is a meere â—launder that Calâ—in sayth that Catholikes teach that the Church hath authority â—o make new articles of â—aâ—th and that Catholikes despising the word of God do coâ—ne at their owne pleasure new points of fayth 7. The second is that we acknowledge that Generall â—ouncelâ—s may erre in matters which do not belong vnto our fayth and in this sense sayâ—â— S. Augustine One full and perfect Councell may be â—orrected by another Not in sayth the which is neuer changed but in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions the which according to the diuersity of tymes both are and should often be changed Whereupon in the same place he writeth that things ordeined beâ—ore may be changed by those which come after when we see by experience that is opened and made knowen which before was hidden and secret For the experience of new matters which happen may change or correct the Ecclesiasticall laiues Constitutions but it cannoâ— alter and change matters of â—ayth 8. Wherefore Caluin wrongfully obiecteth against vs that S. Leo the Pope reprehended the Councell of Chalcedon seeing that Caluin himâ—elâ—e acknowledgeth in the same place that to appertaine nothing to fâ—â—th which S. Leo reprehended And he also confesseth that Catholikes teach that Councells may erre in those thinges which nothing concerne fayth And no lesse foolishly Caluin reprehendeth the first Councell of Nice about matters which do not belong vnto fayth 9. The third is that we acknowledge those Councells may erre which eyther are not lawfully assembled or do not proceed lawfully in their busines they haue in hand For such Councells indeed are not assembled togeather in the name of Christ and of this sort was the Councell of the Arians holden at Ariminum that of the Eutichians at Ephesus the seauenth Constantinopolitane Councell of the Image-breakers the which therefore our Aduersaries doe in vayne obiect against vs. 10. The fourth is that albeit a Councell be
lawfully assembled and seeme to proceede orderly the definitions notwithstanding thereof will not be altogeather certayne according to the opinion of many Catholikes vnlesse they haue their approbation from the Bishop of Rome if he be not present at the Councell The reason is because before that the Councell be approued and allowed of by the Pope it is as yet an vnperfect body of Christ without any visible head and such a body may stumble fall 11. And hence it is that the Councell of Trent demanded her confirmation from Pius 4. who solemnely afterward confirmed it The which also the other auncient Councells demaunded yea euen those which our Aduersaries do admit as for example the first Nicene Councell that of Calcedon the sixt Synod to omit other later Councells 12. The first is that we affirme a Generall Councell approued by the Pope cannot erre in fayth The reason is because it is altogeather necessary that there be some supreme iudgmeÌ„t in the Church of God wherunto all should submit themselues and belieue assuredly in all matters in CoÌ„trouersy as we haue proued before but there can be no other supreme iudgment but this 13. Moreouer we see that euen froÌ„ the beginning of the Church till now all heresies and controuersies concerning matters of faith haue byn still ended taken away by the generall Councels Wherfore they who deny this do open make way for all old Heresies The which when our Aduersaries had learned by experience in the Anti-trinitarians Anabaptistes Vbiquitarians and such other sectes they were forced to admit those six more auncient Councels as we sayd before but the authority of all Generall Councells is alike and equall 14. Finally our Aduersaries themselues acknowledge that there is no better or surer remedy to roote out and take away all herâ—sies therfore eyther this is a certaine remedy or els there is none at all the which to affirme were to deny the prouidence of God and his loue of his Church 15. Moreouer that which our Aduersaries say to wit that the later Councels are not lawfull Assemblies because they haue not obserued due manner and forme is a false lye first because it doth not become euery priuate man to be iudge in this matter but it belongeth to the whole Church who hauing receyued for so many yeâ—res all these as lawfull Councells we must not call them any more in question 16. And seing that our Aduersaries do imbrace and approue the six first Councels the lawfull forme to be obserued in Councells is to be fetched from them the which is exactly obserued in the later Councells as Baronius sheweth euidently in euery one of the first six Councells But Caluin acknowledgeth no lawfull manner of any synodicall assembly nor any such to be gathered togeather in the name of Christ but where all things are proued by Scripture only reiecting all Ecclesiasticall traditions but we haue already proued that the Traditions of the Church of God are as a principall and chiefest part of the word of God 17. Yea euen this was the only cause why S. Cyprian and so many other holy Byshops erred in the African Councells when they determined that all those who were christned by Heretikes should be baptized againe for they confirmed this their opinion very probably by many places of holy Scripture but they reiected the auncient tradition of the Church the which they knew very well was opposite to this error as though it had byn contrary to the holy Scriptures as S. Vincentius Lyrinensis declareth very well and before him S. Augustine in many places 18. And that which is more S. Augustine manifestly writeth that he had byn of S. Cyprians opinion by reason of those probable reasons which were deduced out of holy Scripture but that the whole Catholike Church had defined the contrary And as the same holy Father teacheth at large they most of all oppugne the custome of the Church which were in the same error with S. Cyprian obiecting among other thinges that place of the holy Scripture the which our Aduersaries now adayes obiect against vs. God saith I am the truth he doth not say I am the custome Vnto whome S. Augustine answereth very well that the custome of the Church is not opposite to truth but it is euen truth it selfe 19. Our Aduersaries arguments are of small account or moment Caluin bringeth in the example of Caiphas and of the Iewish Councell wherin Christ waâ— condemned the same argument Beza also alledgeth But who doth not know that this was neyther a generall Councell whereunto Christ was not called nor any other true belieuer nor lawfull in it selfe seing that it was not assembled in the name and authority of Christ who was then the supreme head of the visible and militant Church as also because it was called togeather against the true Church of God by the wicked and cursed Synagogue of the Iewes For that was the true Church which adhered vnto Christ and belieued in him but that other which was altogeather depriued had lost the true faith of Christ was rather a fit Church for Saâ—han and other infernall spirits And I meruaile truly that Caluin â—nd Bezâ— do alledge that Councell as true and lawfull which was assembled against Christ himselfe as also by those who were not true belieuers in Christ yea who were filthily stayned with the most heynous synne of infidelity as Christ himselfe witnesseth but we willingly leaue such a Church and Councell to our Aduersaries 20. It was also manifestly foretould by the Prophet that Christ should not be receyued by the Iewes and that the Synagogue of the Iewes should then fall from her faith But the holy Scriptures teach the plaine contrary of the true Church of Christ to wit that Christ and his spirit shall remayne with her for euer 21. But neyther is that other argument which Caluin and Beza vse any better to wit that S. Augustine would not vrge the authority of the Councell of Nice against Maximinus the Arian For neyther can we vrge the authority of the new testament against the Iewes not because we haue any doubt thereof but because the Iewes do not admit the new Testament In the same manner when that Arian would not admit the Councell of Nice but did plainly reiâ—ct it S. Augustine should in vayne haue vrged the authority therof for otherwise it is well knowne that S. Augustine neuer had any doubt of the fayth explicated in the Councell of Nice the which euen our Aduersaries imbrace as the most true word of God 22. Such as desire to see any more concerning this controuersy of the Generall Councells let them read Bellarmine in his first second booke of the Church militant and Coccius in his first Tome the seauenth booke the 21. 22. article CHAP. XI Of the Authority of the auncient Holy Fathers NOvv it remayneth