Three Pillars and Arch-patriarchs of the Popish Synagogues, Treatise 4 · Section 40
SECTIO. 40. From the second face of the 135. leafe, to the 139. leafe, in which he speaketh of the title of the vniuersall bishop.Rastle
To the bishops challenge, that the bishoppe of Rome was not called an vniuersal bishop,Fulk. or head of the vniuersall Church, he answereth that the title was due, although it was not vsed, and after his accostomable manner cauilleth of the worde vniuersall, whereas the bishop doth sufficiently expound himselfe, by addinge, or head of the vniuersall Church, which he taketh in hand to proue, giuing ouer the former title of vniuersall. First by a lowsie counterfett Epistle most falsely ascribed to Anacletus, which he citeth to be the second, but it is in the thirde, in which the vnlearned asse that counterfeted that Epistle, interpreteth the name of Peter giuē him by Christ, which was Cephas▪ to signifie a head and beginning, whereas by the Gospell we learne that Cephas was a stone, as Peter is, if the knowledge of the Syrian tongue shoulde fayle vsus.
His seconde authoritie is out of Cyprian. Lib. 3. ep. 11. The wordes of certaine scismatikes that tooke part with Nouatus against Cornelius bishop of Rome, and vppon their repentaunce beeinge in Africa, were receyued into the Churche. These men confessed that they did acknowledge Cornelius to bee a bishoppe of the most holy Catholike Churche, whereas before they refused him, and claue to Nouatus, a false bishoppe of Rome not lawfully ordained: like as afterwarde they acknowledge, that there shoulde bee but one bishoppe of a Catholike Church, meaning in one citie, for else they shoulde hauehave denyed Cyprian, and all other bishoppes of the worlde to bee bishoppes sauinge onelyonly Cornelius the bishoppe of Rome, whereas Cornelius being lawfully called to be bishop of Rome, they had taken part with Nouatus, which would be a bishoppe by intrusion. He citeth also Cyprian lib. 1. ep. 3. heresies hauehave risen of none other cause, but that the priest of God is not obeyed, and that there is not one priest of God in the Churche for a time. and one iudge in steede of Christ thought vponupon: whiche Cypriane speaketh not of one priest, to be as iudge of all the Churche, but of one in euerie Churche, and namely he speaketh of himselfe, complaininge that he was contemned by a leude heretike and scismatike, called Felicissimus with his complices.
His thirde author is Ambrose in 1. Tim. 3. whiche although it bee denyed to be the worke of Ambrose, but rather set forth of some man of muche later time in the name of Ambrose, to get more credite vntounto his writing, yet receyuinge it as Ambrose, what sayeth hee? Forsoothe that Damasus was a gouernour of the Church of Christ, whiche is the house of God: whiche he sayeth in none other sense, then S. Paule enstructed Timothie to behaue himself in the house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, not meaning to make him supreame head of all the Church of Christ, no more did Ambrose meane to make Damasus, then bishop of Rome.
His fourth authour is Cyrillus, whome hee citeth in Lib. Thesau. a counterfette place, not to bee founde in all the workes of Cyrillus, by whome so euer it was forged.
His last authour is Gregorie. Libro 4. Epistola 32. who sayeth that although the charge of all the Churche was committed to Peter as chiefe of the Apostles, yet he was not called an vniuersall bishoppe
I confesse the charge of al the Church was committed to Peter, whiche was not bishoppe of one Churche, but an Apostle sent vntounto the whole worlde, as all the rest of the Apostles were. But that prooueth not the supremacie of the bishoppe of Rome, who if hee were a right bishoppe, yet were hee no Apostle, and so hath nothinge to doe with the charge and commission of an Apostle.
Hee nameth also Sainte Augustine whiche in diuers places calleth Rome Sedem Apostolicam, a seate Apostolike, whiche is nothinge else (sayeth Maister Rastell) but that place whiche may plante and pull vppe, sette and lette, and hath his power ouer the whole worlde. But where learned hee this deffinition of a seate Apostolike?
O impudent and arrogaunt disputer! All Churches that were planted and honoured with the presence of the Apostles, were called Apostolike seates, yet did they neuer claime, neither would Rastell giuegive vntounto them that whiche he maketh to bee the deffinition of a seate Apostolike. As for Augustine, doeth often call Rome, Babylon the seat of Antichrist, De ciuit. Dei, lib. 16. cap. 17. & lib. 18. cap. 2. & 22.