A Retentive to Stay Good Christians, Chapter 8
The eight chapter.
THe conclusion of the former discourse, and the order of the other which followeth.Sander.
THe conclusion consisteth of 7. poynctes. In the first Fulke.he repeateth what he woulde hauehave men thinke, he hath gained in his former discourse concerning Peter to be the Rock of the Church where on it is builte.
In the second for continuaunce of the building promised, there must be alwayes some mortall man, which beeing made the same Rocke by election, and afterwarde by reuelation, shoulde make the same confession, whensoeuer hee is demaunded, or consulted in matters of Religion. If this were true there were no necessitie of the holy Scriptures, neither yet of Synodes and Councelles, if one Pope were abe to resolue all the demaundes mooued by all menne of the worlde.
In the thirde he sayeth, if there muste be some such one Rocke, it is not possible it shoulde be any other but the Bishop of Rome: First, because he alone hath beene the firste and chiefe in all assemblyes. Secondly, he only sitteth in Peters Chaire. Thirdly, and the consent of the world hath taken him so, euer indeede, but by the aduersaryes confession aboue a thousande yeeres. But God be thanked, the Churche hath no neede of any such Rock, neither is any such taught. Ephe. the fourth, where the order of the building thereof, and of all necessary builders of Fayth and doctrine are fully sette foorth. And the three reasons are all false, in manner and forme as they are vniuersally set downe, as in their proper places shalbe shewed.
In the the fourth he gloryeth, that he hath chosen to proue that poynte which of all other is moste hard. That all the Apostles were not the same thinge that Peter was. And firste he will aske in what Gpspell or holye Scripture it is written, that eueryevery other Apostle was the same Rocke, which Sainct Mathewe testifyeth Sainct Peter to hauehave beene. I answeare, not onelyonly by necessary collection out of many places of Scripture, whiche he him selfe acknowledgeth to be the literall sense, as well as that which followeth the sounde of wordes, it is proued, but also in plaine wordes of Sainct Paul Ephe. the second, verse. 20. Where the Churche is builded vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes, Iesus Christ beeing the head corner stone. And Apo. 21 verse. 14. Where the twelue precious stones, the foundations of the wall of the Cittie, had on them the names of the xij. Apostles of the Lambe.
The 5. is either thus or nothing at all, for it is not noted in him as the other bee. If Cyprian or Hierome were alleadged for this equallitie, it were sufficient for him to say, they were no Euangelists. For he sheweth it written: thou shalt be called Cephas and thou art Peter. You see these men that bragge of the Doctors, will be holden by them, as long as they liste.
The 6. whereas all holy Scriptures is on the popish Catholicks side, he lamenteth the vnhappines of these dayes, in wc men altogither vnlearned in them, by the bare naming of Gods word, hauehave among Pedlers won their spurres, and amonge the ignoraunt hauehave gotten the opinion of knowledge. As truely as none but Pedles and ignoraunt men imbrace this doctrine which we teach, so truely all Scriptures be on M. Sand. side. Among so many Princes, noble men, and excellent learned men as at this day acknowledge this doctrine to be the trueth: M. Sanders head was very sleepy, when he could see none, but Pedlers and ignoraunt persons.
The seuenth he will take vponupon him to shew, by what meanes Sainct Peter excelled the other Apostles, and sheweth in what order he will proceede, which seeing it is contained worde for worde in the titles of the seuen Chapters next following, I though it needelesse heere to rehearse.