Reims Against Rome, Propositions · Proposition 18
XVIII. Propoſition. That Saint Peter was Prince of the Apoſtles, and had a primacie of Power and Authoritie aboue all the other Apoſtles:
Confuted by their owne Bible.
1. IT telleth vsus, how Ieſus Chriſt reproued the contention, which aroſe about their vaine conceit of Superioritie one aboue another. This hee plainely condemned, and as plainely told them, that there ſhould bee no ſuch Superioritie among them, as they did dreame of: and therefore hee exhorted them to humilitie; yea, in ſuch a ſort, as that hee keepeth him downe as the inferiour Miniſter, and Seruant of the reſt, that would be greateſt among them, Mat. 20. 24, 25, 26, 27. Mar. 10. 42, 43, 44. Luke 22. 24, 25, 26.
2. By their Bible wee are giuen to vnderſtand, that all the Apoſtles are eueryevery way made equall: in the like chuſing and manner of calling, Math. 4. 18. 21. In the like Commiſſion giuen to all at once, Mat. 28. 19, 20. & 10. 5. Mar. 16. the like power, Mat. 10. 1. the ſame authoritie, Ioh. 20. 21, 23. the ſame benediction, Luk. 24. 50, 51. In breathing on them with one and the ſame breath, his holy Spirit, Ioh. 20. 22. In making them all Apoſtles, in office the ſame, and in title, Luk. 6. 13. For the Apoſtles were the chiefeſt of all appointed in the Church, Eph. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 12. 28. All therefore being Apoſtles, they were equall; for a higher dignity amongſt them there was not. They were all called foundations, Reuel. 21. 14. They were all inſtalled into their Apoſtleſhip by one and the ſame meanes, Act. 2 1, 2, 3, 4. They were all ordained to one and the ſame end; to bee with him, to goe and preach, Mar. 3. 14, 15. & 16. 15. to be witneſſes of him to the vtmoſt parts of the Earth, Act. 1. 8. and all of them at the length to ſit and iudge the twelue Tribes of Iſrael, Mat. 19. 28. The Lord made no difference among them. If any had been, it may ſeeme to hauehave been in Iohn. 1. For he, with his brother, was Chriſts neereſt kinſman. 2. He was called the Diſciple whom Chriſt loued. 3. Hee and his Brother were called Boanerges, Mar. 3. 17. ſonnes of thunder. 4. He was euer one with Chriſt: as in his transfiguration, Math. 17. 1. and in other places, Mat. 26. 37. Mar. 5. 37. 5. Hee was the onelyonly Diſciple, after whom Peter made enquirie, what he ſhould doe, and of whom a ſaying went abroad, that he ſhould not dye. 6. He was the onelyonly Diſciple, that went boldly in with Chriſt, and when he was in the High Prieſts houſe, hee brought in Peter. 7. He was the onelyonly Diſciple that ſtood by Chriſt when he was vponupon the Croſſe. 8. He was the onelyonly Apoſtle to whom Chriſt committed his Mother, to take care of her. 9. Hee was the onelyonly Apoſtle, which Chriſt would hauehave to call his Mother, Mother, and ſhe to hold him as her ſonne. 10. He, with Matthew was the onelyonly Apoſtle that did write a Goſpell, adding thereto three Epiſtles. 11. He was the onelyonly Apoſtle that was rapt in Spirit on the Lords day, to receiue the Reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt by an Angell, foretelling the Churches eſtate to the worlds end. 12. Laſtly, hee was of all the reſt that liued, the longeſt, and alone after them all. In theſe was hee farre beyond Peter. He neuer denied his Maſter, as Peter did. Hee was neuer called Satan, as Peter was. Yet for all theſe excellencies in Iohn, the Papiſts will not hauehave any Chiefty in him. And ſurely, if theſe eminencies wil not afford him the Headſhip among them; it cannot be found in Peter, who attained not to ſuch excellencies.
Contraried by Antiquitie.
Cyprian. de vnitat. Eccleſ. Verily the reſt of the Apoſtles were the ſame that Peter was, endued with equall fellowſhip, both of honour and authoritie.
Ierome aduerſ. Iouin. lib. 1. All the Apoſtles receiued the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen; and the ſtrength of the Church was eſtabliſhed equally vponupon them all.
Origen on Math. 16. tract. 1. ſaith of the Keyes, that they were not giuen to Peter alone, but to all alike, and that which Chriſt ſaid, was ſpoken in common to them all.
Ambroſe de incarnat. cap. 4. ſaith, that Peter receiued the Primacie of confeſſion, not of honour; the primacie of Faith, not of Degree.
Rabanus Maurus de inſtitut. Clericorum, lib. 1. cap. 4. ſaith, That the reſt of the Apoſtles were fellowlike with Peter, in Honour and Authoritie:
Gaineſaid by ſome of their owne ſide.
Aquinas. id opuſe. 20. calleth all the Apoſtles the Vicars of Chriſt.
Cuſanus lib. 1. de concord. Cathol. cap. 13. Wee know that S. Peter hath not receiued more authoritie of Chriſt, then the reſt of the Apoſtles. In the Maſſe they ſinging to Chriſt, pray that he would keepe his flocke by the holy Apoſtles, who are there called Vicars of his worke.
Gratian, diſt. 21. in Nouo. 24. 4. c. loquitur. Nothing was ſaid to Peter, that was not ſaid to the reſt of the other Apoſtles, who according to S. Ierome, are all the Fundamentall ſtones of the Church, Reuel. 21.
Leo firſt Biſhop of Rome, in Aniuerſ. die aſſump. ſuae ad Pontificatum. Ser. 3. ſaith, I giuegive thee the Keyes, was a power tranſferred to all the Apoſtles.
Scriptures obiected, anſwered.
Mat. 10. 20. Now the names of the twelue Apoſtles are theſe; the firſt Simon, who is called Peter, &c. Becauſe he is firſt named, therefore they will conclude a Headſhip ouer the reſt.
Anſw. Here is no expreſſe word of Headſhip, but in numbering the Twelue, the firſt beginneth with Peter. So he is onelyonly firſt here in reckoning, in order of numbring, but not of commanding ſuperioritie. Saint Marke chap. 3. 16. & Luke 6. 14. leaue out the word firſt, in naming of the Apoſtles. And Saint Paul in naming the Apoſtles with Peter, giueth him not the firſt place, Gal. 2. 9. He is firſt reckoned, for that hee was firſt called by Chriſt, Mat. 4. 18. Andrew knew Chriſt before him, andIoh. 1. 41, 42. brought him to Chriſt: but when Chriſt called them to follow him, and to be his Diſciples, Peter is firſt in that place of Matthew. For when Andrew brought him to Chriſt, neither of them were as yet called by him to follow him, for that was not till Iohn the Baptiſt was impriſoned. Andrew was Iohns Diſciple, and his knowing of Chriſt was this, by Iohns teaching, Ioh. 1. 35, 36, 40. and he brought Peter to Chriſt, verſ. 41, 42. but Andrew abode with Chriſt but that day, verſe 39. neither did hee as yet leaue his Maſter Iohn: but when Iohn was impriſoned, both Andrew and Peter returned to their calling, Mar. 1. 14, 16. In which vocation Chriſt found them, and then called them, and the firſt of them was Simon; Math. 4. 18. And hereupon being firſt named when he was called, and the firſt called of all theCyprian. Ep 71. ad Quint. Greg. in Ezech. hom. 18. are of this iudgement, that Peter was firſt called. Apoſtles by Mathews relation, chap. 4. he is in the reckoning of the 12. firſt named by him, in chap. 10. 21. and ſo by the other Euangeliſts. For it is the Rhemiſts errour, to ſay that Andrew was firſt called; and a common miſtake to yeeld them ſo much: whereby they ſeeme to take more hold from this place, and from the reſt where Peter is firſt named, then there is iuſt cauſe, although the argument is of it ſelfe very weake, as by the former Reaſons is euident, and as before hath beene proued. For Reuben was firſt in the numbring, but Iudah for all that was chiefe in gouernment.
Math. 16. 19. I will giuegive vntounto thee the Keyes, &c.
The Gagger will hauehave Peter chiefe, for that he ſuppoſeth the Keyes were giuen to him onelyonly.
Anſw. 1. The queſtion which Chriſt propounded, was to all the Apoſtles, verſe 13. 15. though Peter readieſt euer to ſpeake, made the anſwer; yet not onelyonly for himſelfe, but for all the reſt, as appeareth in verſe 20, where our Sauiour commandeth them all, not Peter alone, not to tell that he was Chriſt which ſheweth that they all knowing it, would hauehave profeſſed as much, if Peter had not preuented them. Therefore his anſwer beeing for all, Chriſts power giuen thereupon was generall to all.
Secondly, the Keyes giuen, are no ſuch things as belong onelyonly to Peter; but are common to all. See before, an anſwer to this place.
Thirdly, the words following in this Text, Whatſoeuer thou ſhalt binde vponupon earth, &c. containing the action, or office of the Keyes, belong to all, Math. 18. 18. which power here was giuen not onelyonly to Peter, but alſo to the other Apoſtles, by the Rhemiſts owne confeſſion.
Fourthly, Ieſus Chriſt, when hee breathed on them the Holy Ghoſt, Ioh. 21. 22, 23. (which with one bredth he gaue to all, ſaying, As my Father ſent me, ſo I ſend you) and gaue them all power of forgiuing, and retaining of ſinnes, which is the power of the Keyes here ſpoken of, Chriſt ſent all his Apoſtles, as his Father ſent him: Therefore Peter cannot hauehave more authoritie then the reſt, vnleſſe they can proue that Peter was ſent by Chriſt, otherwiſe then Chriſt himſelfe was ſent by his Father.
Fiftly, the words are a promiſe of giuing the Keyes, and power to bind and looſe, to remit and retain ſinnes, afterwards, and not the giuing of them now: but this promiſe, wee ſee, was not performed to Peter alone, but to all the Apoſtles, Ioh. 20. 23. not then naming Peter; and therefore this promiſe was made vntounto all; and ſo intended to be performed, as the fulfilling ſheweth.
Laſtly, the Fathers are of the ſame opinion with vsus, touching the meaning of this Text: See before Origen, Ambroſe, and the ſame on Pſal. 39. Auſtin in Iohan. tract. 118. Theophylact on Mathew 16. Beda on this Text.
1. Cor. 3. 4, 22. One ſaith, I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas, I of Chriſt.
The Gagger here from the order would proue Peter chiefe next Chriſt. Lo, ſaith he, how from thoſe, which he would hauehave eſteemed the leſſer, he aſcendeth to thoſe whom he would hauehave eſteemed the greater.
Anſw 1. The mans wit went a grazing, when he wrote this. For if he ſo conclude from the order, then Paul muſt be inferiour to Apollos, when Paul was an Apoſtle and a Planter: but Apollos no Apoſtle, and onelyonly a waterer, 1. Cor. 3. 6.
2. In Mat. 10. 2. he would hauehave Peter the chiefe, becauſe hee was named firſt: now here the chiefe, becauſe hee is named in a third place. Saint Paul, Gal. 2. 9. puts him in the ſecond place betweene two: and will not they hold him the chiefe for this too? Doth not vertue conſiſt in the midſt? for put him in the firſt place, as in Mat. 10. in the third place, as in 1. Cor. 3. 4, 22. or in the ſecond, as in Gal. 2. 9. its with them a profound Reaſon, to make him alwayes the chiefe; for he may take what place he liſteth. Deepe Diuinitie, and an inuincible Reaſon! Though Saint Paul in Gal. 2. takes himſelfe to be nothing inferiour to him, or to other which ſeemed to bee Pillars; and was inferiour to none of the great Apoſtles, 1. Cor. 11. 5. & 12. 11. vponupon this Text, Chryſoſtome ſhewes, that S. Paul compared himſelfe with the Apoſtles, euen with Peter and the reſt.
Luk. 22. 31. And the Lord ſaid, Simon, &c. When thou art conuerted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren.
Anſw. This place proueth not any Headſhip ouer the Apoſtles.
Firſt, hee is called Simon, by his common name, and not Peter, which our Aduerſaries ſtand vponupon, and make their chiefe argument.
Secondly, this place is to forewarne him of his fearfull temptation, and ſo of his fall thereby, the vtter peril wherof he ſhould eſcape, not by himſelfe, or his owne power and grace, but by Chriſts mediation. What, is this to hauehave a Headſhip?
Thirdly, it teacheth him a duty, when hee ſhould be conuerted, and be recouered from vnderunder the fall, that hee ſhould confirme others. If by confirming, the Gagger will hence conclude the practice and exerciſe of greatneſſe ouer the Apoſtles; then Saint Paul and Barnabas had this greatneſſe too. For they did confirme others, Act. 14. 21. and Paul and Silas, Act. 15. 41. 1. Theſ. 3. 2. yea it is a common Duty of eueryevery Paſtor. Is eueryevery one that confirmeth, made thereby a Superiour in Rule, and Gouernment? Then a Prieſt confirming his Soueraigne, is his Superiour. And by this, Saint Paul was Peters Superiour: for he brought Peter backe from his by-path, both by reproofe, and publike teaching of the truth, and ſo confirmed him, who for feare did before goe aſtray, Gal. 2. 11, 17.
Fourthly, the Lord Ieſus (if they will here vnderſtand the Apoſtles) calleth them Simons Brethren, and ſo giueth them equalitie.
Laſtly, where are the Gaggers expreſſe words for Peters Headſhip, out of this place? Is it in ſtrengthening? A poore ſtrength to ſupport ſuch a Babyloniſh Tower.
Luk. 22. 26. He that is greateſt among you, let him be yonger, and he that is Chiefe, as he that doth ſerue.
Anſw. 1. The words in the beginning of this verſe are againſt Chiefety; for it is ſaid, It ſhall not be ſo with you: when they were at ſtrife for Superioritie.
Secondly, the meaning of the Greateſt, and Chiefe, on which the Gagger doth faſten his teeth, doth not imply as hee pretendeth, any Chiefety among them: but Chriſt ſpeaketh according to their aſpiring minds; not of them, as any of them were, but as ſome of them deſired to be, as is cleare by the ſpeech and Petition of the Mother of Zebedees children, Mat. 20. 20, 27.
Thirdly, the occaſion and the very ſcope of the place, is againſt all Superioritie in the Apoſtles.
Fourthly, it cannot be ſhewed, that any of them all did either claime, or practiſe any ſuperioritie; or taught in their writings any ſuch thing.
Fiftly, they did ſtriue verſe 24. for ſuperioritie, which of them ſhould ſeeme the greater. As yet therefore there was no ſuch greatneſſe ſettled among them.
6. If any ſuch thing had beene, or had beene intended by Chriſt to be conferred vponupon Peter, he had, vponupon this, iuſt occaſion to hauehave decided the Controuerſie: as ſurely he would hauehave done in Peters behalfe, in a matter of ſo great conſequence, as our Aduerſaries make it, as he did in the behalfe of Moſes and Aaron, to appeaſe the contention againſt them, Num. 16. & 17. 10. But Chriſt telleth them all, that no ſuch thing ſhould be among them, in this text, and giueth the reſt authoritie to pull downe the ſpirit of him that would ſeeke to be Chiefe, to make him as a Seruant; as is euident in the words of the text. Therefore here is nothing for any authoritie in Peter: Nor indeed in any other Scripture.