if he neglect to heare thee but if he neglect to heare the Church let him be vnto thee as a Heathen man and a Publican But it were a very hard case to be condemned for a Heathen for not telling or hearing a Church which hath so closely layne hid that no man could heare see feele or vnderstand it for a thousand yeares 2. Cor. 4.3 But if our Ghospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost Loe the censure of S. Paul vpon all such as affirme that the Church or her Ghospell can be hid Isa 2.2 And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountaynes and shall be exalted aboue the hilles and all nations shall flow vnto it In hundred of places do the Prophecies make mētiō of this Kingdome of Christ as Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 c. which should be all in vaine if this his kingdome could be inuisible for a prophecy must be of things which may be seene and perceiued by our senses otherwise euery man might be a Prophet and fortell of thinges to come which if they should not come to passe he might answere that they had come to passe in very deed as he had prophecied but that they were inuisible to the world Loe the visible absurdities of this inuisible Church See more Psal 27.8 Rom. 10.14 1. Cor. 11.19 Psalm 19.3.4 Isa 60.20 Acts. 20.28 Isa 61.9 ¶ The Fathers commonly affirme the same Origen hom 30. in Matt. The Church is full of light euen from the east to the west S. Chrysostom hom 4. in 6. of Isa It is easier for the sunne to be extinguished then the Church to be darkned S. Aug. tract in Ioan. calleth those blind that do not see so great a mountaine Also S. Cyp. de vnitate Ecclesiae They maintayne IX That the Church was not alwayes to remaine Catholique or Vniuersall and that the Church of Rome is not such a Church COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Psalm 2.8 Aske of me and I shall giue thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession And Luc. 1.33 He shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome there shal be no end But none of these promises haue beene any where els so much verified as in the Church of Rome therfore both the church hath bene alwayes vniuersall and the Church of Rome only such a Church Colos 1.3 c. We giue thankes to God for you c. since we heard your faith c. for the hope which is laid vp for you in heauen wherof yee heard before in the word of the truth of the ghospell which is come vnto you as it is in al the world and bringeth forth fruit as is doth also in you since the day you heard of it and knewe the grace of God in truth But no Faith or Ghospell hath or is so dilated in all the world nor hath fructified and growne for so we read as the faith of the Roman Church hath done as appeareth more plainely by this which followeth Rom. 1.8 First I thanke my God through Iesus-Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world Where in expresse termes S. Paul calleth the fayth of the whole world or Catholique Faith the faith of the Romans that is of the Church of Rome Therefore the Church of Rome and no other is truly and indeed such a church See more Colos 1.23 Gen. 22.18 Mat 24.46 Acts 1.8 Dan. 2.35 Luc. 24.47 Psal 46.9 Psal 72.8 we 7◠Marc. 6.20 Ezech. 13.3 Math. 28.19 Actes 1.8 All which places are to be vnderstood not that the whole world should be Catholique at one and the same tyme but that the whole should be conuerted to Christ at sundry times and that it should comprehend a greater part of the world then any Sect of heretikes should euer do and this is the true sense of being Catholike or Vniuersall ¶ And to follow still our former Rule heare the Fathers that affirme the same S. Cypr. ep 57. writing to Cornelius Pope of Rome sayth Whilst with you there is one mind and one voyce the whole Church is confessed to be the Roman Church S. Aug. de vnitat Eccles cap. 4. sayth Who so dissent from the body of Christ which is the Church that they do not communicate with all the whole corps of Christendome certayne it is that they are not in the Catholike Church S. Hierome in his Apologie against Ruffinus and in other places saith that it is all one to say the Roman Fayth and the Catholike Fayth Agayne S. Aug. vpon the Psal 45. we 44. but much more excellently in ep 161. ad Honorat The place beginneth Dignare ergo rescribere nobis As also cont lit Petil. l. 2. cap. 16. The Reformers hold X. That the Churches Vnity is not necessary in all points of faith COntrary to the expres wordes of their owne Bible Ephes 4.5 One Lord one Faith one Baptisme Therfore Vnity is necessary in all points of faith The reason is for that the Church being a Congregation of the faithfull one Faith is necessary to make one Church but our Aduersaries differ in matters of faith therfore they haue not the Vnity requisit to one Church Iames 2.10 Whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all And euen so is it in our faith for who so denieth one article denieth all Acts 4.32 And the multitude of them that belieued were of one hart and of one soule And againe 1. Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ that yee all speake the same thing and that there be no diuisions among you but that yee be perfectly ioyned together in the same mind and in the same iudgement But our aduersaries will needs ioyne with vs in vnity of the Church yea and with others also who differ from them in matters of faith But this as you see cannot be See more Ierem. 32.29 Can. 2.6 Psal 67.7 Mat. 12.25 Marc. 3.24 Luc. 11.17 Mat. 18.19 Ephes 2.14.15.16.18.22 Ephes 5.27 Philip. 3.16 Philip. 1.26.27 Galat 59. 1.8 Colos 3.15 Iohn 17.11.2 Cor. 13.11 Psal 121.3 ¶ And lastly to checke by our common Rule the breakers of this Vnity and Rule S. Aug. cited by the Manuduc p. 134. saith In Cathedra vnitatis posuit Deus doctrinam veritatis In the chaire of Vnity God hath placed the doctrine of verity As also cont ep Par. l. 3. cap. 5. The place beginneth Qui non vult sedere S. Cyprian lib de vnitate Eccles num 3. saith This vnity of the Church he that holdeth not doth he thinke he holdeth the faith S. Hilary lib. ad Constantium Augustum and many others XI That S. Peter was not ordained by Christ the first Head or Chiefe amongst the Apostles and that amongst the
he will Where the Apostle in expresse words opposeth refelleth this vnsauory doctrine teaching that the gift of prophecying or truly to interpret the holy Scripture is not giuen to all the faithfull but to some only in particular yea he presupposeth that one may haue the gift euen to worke miracles and yet may want the gift truly to interpret the word of God Therfore a man by his owne priuat spirit cannot righly interprete Scripture 2. Pet. 1.20 Knowing this first that no Prophesy of the Scripture is of any priuat interpretation for the Prophesy came not in old time in the margent or at any time by the will of man but holy men of God speake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Loc how clearly the Apostle taketh this faculty authority from a priuate and prophane man restrayning the same to a company and society of men and those also of some speciall note for their sanctity and holines assuring vs that they spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost 1. Iohn 4. Beloued belieue not euery spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God By which wordes we are taught that the spirits of others are to be examined whether they proceed from God or not but this Caueat cannot be vnderstood of the spirit of the whole Church sith then it would follow that there should be none left to try the said spirit of the Church euery particular man being included therin If then it be to be meant of priuate men as needes it must it followeth that a priuat spirit cānot be this Iudge sith it selfe is to vndergoe the iudgment and examination of some other ¶ The Fathers that affirme the same are S. Aug. epist 162. l. de Baptismo cap. 18. ad Epictetum S. Basil epist 78. S. Amb. epist 32. S. Leo epist 53. S. Hier. lib. cont Luciferianos Vincent Lyr. cont prophan heres nouitates Yea Martin Luther himselfe the Protestants great Grand-Father saith lib. de potest Papae We are not certaine of any priuat person whether he hath the reuelation of the Father or no but that the Church hath it we ought not to doubt VI. That S. Peters faith hath fayled COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Luc. 22.31.32 Simon behould Sathan hath desired to haue you that he may sift you as wheate but I haue prayed for thee that thy faith fayle not Loe Sathan required to sift them all the Apostles but our Lord heere prayed for Peter only that his faith principally might not fayle Therfore S. Peters faith hath not failed Mat. 16.18 And I say vnto thee that thou art Peter and vpon this rock I will build my Church and the gats of hell shall not preuayle against it But had S. Peters faith fayled the gates of hell had long ago no doubt preuailed Mat. 23.2 The Scribes and the Pharisies sit in Moyses seat all therfore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and do How could Christ bid the people of the old law do all whatsoeuer he should bid them by those that sate in Moyses Chaire if they could erre But God hath no lesse preserued the truth of Christian Religion in the chaire of S. Peter which is in the new Law answerable to that of Moyses in the old Therfore neither S. Peters Fayth nor Chayre hath fayled Iohn 11.49.51 speaking of Caiphas the High Priest saith And this be spake not of himselfe but being High Priest that yeare he prophesied that Iesus should die for that nation Lo how in this most wicked time of the Sinagogue the very Dregges and outcast of that disobedient people yet speaking forth of that Chaire which Christ had commanded to be heard and obeyed touching mattters of fayth they answere truly and their chiefe Bishops prophesy ¶ S. Leo ser 3. de assump sua affirmeth the same The danger was common to all the Apostles but our Lord tooke speciall care of Peter that the state of all the rest might be more sure if the Head were inuincible VII That the Church can erre and hath erred COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Isa 59 21. As for me this is my Couenant vnto them saith the Lord. My spirit that is vpon thee and my wordes which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of thy seedes seed from hence forth and for euer Therfore the Church cannot erre Ioan. 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer euen the spirit of truth But the Apostles themselues aboad not for euer therfore this is to be vnderstood of the perpetuall aboad of the spirit of Truch with their Successors Mat. 18.17 And if he neglect to heare the Church let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and a Publican Whence is clearly to be gathered that the Church in her Censure cannot erre Isa 35.8 And a high way shal be there and a way and it shall be called the way of Holines the vncleane shall not passe ouer it but it shall be for those the way faring men though fooles shall not erre ther in How far deceiued then are many simple soules who do affirme that the whole Church and all holy men that euer haue bene therein for these thousand yeares how wise soeuer haue all erred Ephes 5.27 That he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thinge but that it should be holy and without blemish Note well these wordes without spot wrinkle any blemish and tell me now if it be possible that reading this thou canst euer belieue that she hath euer taught such horrible blasphemies abhominations as at this day she is charged with See more Iohn 16.13 Ephes 5.27 Isay 9.7 Ezech 37.26 Luc. 22.32 Mat. 23.3 1. Pet. 2.9 Iohn 17.17 1. Cor. 11.25 Psal 101.23.29 Ephes 2.10 Ihon 10.16 Acts. 4.32 Ephes 4.5.11 Luc. 10.16 Deut. 17.8 Ierem. 3.15 Malac. 2.7 Mat. 16.18 Acts. 15.28 2. Cor. 13.8 1. Tim. 3.15 ¶ The Fathers affirme the same expressely S. Aug. cont Crescon lib. 1. cap. 3. Also vpon the 1◠8. Psal the place beginneth Ne auferas de ore meo verbum veritatis vsquequaque S. Cypr. epist. 55. ad Cornel. num 3. S. Ireneus lib. 3. cap. 4. with many others VIII That the Church hath bene bidden and inuisible COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Mat. 5.14.15 Yee are the light of the world a Citty that is set on a hill cannot be hid Neither do men light a candle and put it vnder a bushell but on a candlestick and it giueth light to all that are in the house But the Catholique Church is such a light such a candle and such a Citty built vpon Christ as vpon a mountaine therfore hath not nor cannot be hidden nor is inuisible Mat. 18.17 Tell the Church
twelue none was greater or lesser then other COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Mat. 10.2 Now the names of the twelue Apostles are these The first Simon who is called Peter All the Euangelists doe put Peter in the first place and wicked Iudas in the last And wherfore this but because the one was first in dignity and worthiest of the rest and contrariwise the other last worst and vnworthiest of al his fellowes Againe why as Peter is called First are not the rest called Second Third c. but to shew therby that they did not therfore call Peter First because he occurred first to be named but because he was the First both in dignity and authority whom therfore they all number First and call the First Mat. 16.18 And I say also vnto thee that thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it Wordes clearly insinuating S. Peters Supremacy in the Church of God for according to the Greeke and Syriack text as our Doctors note these words Thou art Peter sound thus Thou art a rocke and vpon this rocke I will build my Church So that to say that Peter is the rocke of the Church is as much as to call him Chiefe or Head of the Church Neither without especiall mystery did our Lord impose vpon him this new name the name of Peter a Rocke or Stone being one of the most excellent names of Iesus-Christ who is many times in holy Scripture tearmed by the name of a Rocke or Stone as Psal 117.22 Isa 28.6 Dan. 2.34 Mat. 21.42 Rom. 9.33 So that this Soueraigne and absolute Pastour of the Church did communicate this new name vnto his Vicar to represent the more liuely the supreme authority which he would giue vnto him ouer his flocke And not that Christ sayth not I haue built or I do build but I will build the Church being built vpon himselfe from his Incarnation so as these wordes referred to Christ as our Reformers vse to do do not well agree to the building of the Church vpon Christ as head thereof for the time to come but do most fitly agree to S. Peter as Head thereof for the time to come Matt. 16.19 And I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of Heauen c. By these wordes also no lesse then by the former is clearly signified S. Perers Supremacy For none hath the gouernment or commandement of the keyes of any Towne or Citty but the Prince Gouernour or Magistrats of the same And that soueraigne Power is signified by the Keyes is likewise proued by that of our Sauiour Christ I haue the keyes of hell and of death Apoc. 1.18 As also by the key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth Now adde to this that hath bene sayd the correspondency of the wordes of our Sauiour to S. Peter with the wordes of S. Peter agayne to him and how cleare will this doctrine appeare For when our Lord asked his disciples Matt. 16.15 Whome say yee that I am he demaunded not how they called his name which was Iesus for that they knew full well before but what his quality office and dignity was And S. Peter answering Thou art Christ the Sonne of the liuing God Iesus tould him not his Name which was Simon but gaue him another name and such a one as likewise signifyed the office quality and dignity that he bestowed vpon him saying Thou art Cephas or Petrus that is to say Rocke or Peter Therefore he ordayned him Head c. 1. Cor 3.4.22 For while one sayth I am of Paul I am of Apollo I of Cephas I of Christ c. Loe how from those he would haue esteemed lesser he ascendeth to those whome he would haue esteemed greather and placeth Peter next to Christ Luc. 22.31.32 And the Lord sayd Simon Simon c. when thou art conuerted strengthen we read confirme thy brethren Now what other thing is it for Peter to strengthen or confirme his brethren but to practise and exercise his greatnes ouer them For he that doth strengthen or confirme others is the greater and they who are strengthened or confirmed are made therby inferiour to him who doth strengthen or confirme them Luc. 22.26 He that is greatest amongst you let him be as the younger and he that is chiefe as he that doth serue Where the wordes He that is greatest is chiefe do euidently shew that amongst the twelue one was greater then another and was so accounted euen by Christ himselfe Iohn 21.15.16.17 Iesus said to Simon Peter Simon louest thou me more then these Feede my lambes feed my sheep where the Greeke hath in the second place for feed gouerne or rule Hence it followeth that either the Apostles were not accounted to be in the flock of Christ or else they were subiect to S. Peter as to their head when Christ commanded him to feed or gouerne not only his lambes to wit the lay people but his sheep also to wit the Apostles and Pastours themselues for besides lambes sheep there is nothing in the Church of God Againe if S. Peter loued our Lord more then al his fellow-Apostles did it followeth necessarily that he receiueth more power to feed then all the rest did For it cannot be conceiued that he is willed to loue more then to feed but he loueth more then others therfore he is willed to feed more then the others and consequently to be head of the others Mat. 12.25.26 Euery kingdome deuided against it selfe is brought to desolation And if Sathan cast out Sathan c. Sathan therefore hath a Kingdome whereof he is the Chiefe If then there be not only a visible Head of the Church triumphant in heauen but also a visible head euen in Hell why not a visible head also on Earth See more Psal 18.42 Psal 45.16 we 46. Marc. 2.16 Actes 1.13 Luc. 1.33.2 Cor. 11.5 ¶ The holy Fathers do commonly affirme the same Theophilactus 23. Luc. calleth Peter Prince of the Disciples Eusebius in Chron. calleth him the First Bishop of Christians S. Cyril of Hier. cat 2. Prince and most excellent of all the Apostles S. Chrysost ho. 55. in Mat. Pastour and Head of the Church Euthym. in cap. vlt. Ioan. Maister of the whole world S. Leo epist 89. Head and chiefe of the Apostles They hold XII That a woman may be Head or supreme Gouernesse of the Church in all causes as the late Queene Elizabeth was COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible â—1 Tim. 2.11.12 Let the woman learne in silence with all subiection But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to vsurpe authority ouer the man Therfore a woman cannot be Head of the Church 1. Cor. 14.34 Let women hould their peace in the Churches for it is not permitted theÌ„ to speake but to be subiect as also the Law saith Therfore c. ¶ I produce no Fathers