The Disarmers Dexterities Examined, Chapter 7 · Section 3
SECT. III.
The Romanists peace not perfect. The Greek Church, acknowledged not the Popes Supremacy. The Politick Problem. The Kings power in externals. His judgement what good for the publick.
IN his answer to Chap. 8. Sect. (it should be) 6t. he hath made a shift at the enrance quite to mistake my words, and design. I speak of the unity of the whole body, i. e. of the whole Christian Church, and all the parts of it, Eastern as well as Western &c. to which I thought the sub…ection of this Nation to the Pope, could not effectually contribute, because before the time of our pretended departure, the Eastern Churches had long renounced all subiection to the Papacy. And he refers me to the great tranquillity which they enjoy who are under that government now.] I answer, 1. that I discern not the truth of his affirmation, nor acknowledge the so perfect peace which he bo sts of; I need not go far for instances; Tis not long since we saw the seculars and regulars far enough removed from such huge tranquillity, ingaged at a competent distance (as Watsons Quodlibets wil testifie) in many things, particularly, and more lately in that controversie concerning the necessity of an Ordinary in these Islands, and S. W. may remember it, by the token of the Iesuits Creed, and whether their agreement be now so perfect in respect of the questions long agitated betwixt the Iansen…ans and Molinists, even after the Popes decision on the Molinists side, he may please to inform us in his next; And till then I shall omit the debate concerning the state of the souls departed, and the doctrines attending that, which are of some weight of importance.
Secondly, Be the tranquillity of the Romish Subjects and votaries never so profound, yet 'tis evident the unity of the Romanists is not the unity of the whole Christian world, and that being it I spake of, tis certain he yet renders no answer to that. Tis true indeed, if it were all Christians duty, and so o…rs, to be subject to the Bishop of Rome, others default would not secure or justifie us, but that this is the duty of all Christians, or of any more than of right belong to the Roman Province, is the principal question all this while, and must not be begg'd (as in the process of this answer it is) while it is under dispute.
But at length he comes nearer the point in hand, and considers the Greek Church, and of them affirms these three things. First, that for rejecting the Popes Supremacy they were by all the Christian world held and called schismaticks; and yet Secondly, when they were in their right mode, as in the Councel of Florence, they admitted it as much as any Roman Catholick. Thirdly, that when they were disgusted and refused unity, they acknowledged the power of the Bishop of Rome, as, saith he, appears by the testimony of Gerson, cited by Bishop Brambal against himself, Just. vindic. p. 16.which witnesses that the Greeks departed from the then Pope with these words, we acknowledge thy power, we cannot satisfie your covetousness, live by your selves.]
To these I answer, 1. that their being the greatest schismaticks for the rejecting the Supremacy, and yet their acknowledging as much as any Catholick, and when they refused unity, yet acknowledging the Popes power] are riddles for none but S. W. to expound, and when he hath done that, he may very justly turn South-sayer, and set up ex tripode to deliver auguries or oracles which he please. For certainly if their schism consisted in denying the Popes Supremacy, and that is his power, then when they refused unity, in which refusal their schism consisted, they did not acknowledge his power. Secondly, if somet…mes they were in the mode to deny the Popes Supremacy, sometimes to grant it, then, for ought S. W. hath here attempted to prove by any other means, than that of his own approving it, the yielding the Pope's power doth no more appear to have been their good mood, or interval, than their much more const…t and con… ed refusing. Thirdly, for their subscription in the Councel of Florence, he cannot but know, how invalid it is to infer their submission to the Popes power, else it were great unkindness to account them as great schismaticks since, as before that Councel (of the Greeks doctrine in this Councel, I have also spoken in the reply, Ch. XI. Sect. I.) Lastly, for Bp. Bramhals citation out of Gerson, Part of the Bi…hops words are, that the Greek Church never acknowledged any obedience to be due from them to the Bishop of Rome, and he that is acquainted with the Chancellor John Gersons writings, or but with as many pieces of his, as are put together by Goldastus, in his Monarchia, will not doubt that the fame was his sense also, and we need no further evidence, than the words thus cited from him, for sure they that bid the Pope live by himself, res suas sibi habere (the solemn form of divorce) cannot at the same time acknowledge any such power, as S. W. pretends to, or any more than that of the Prime Patri…rch, or beginning of unity, which that learned Bishop was there willing to acknowledge.
He next replies to my mention of the Politick Problem, whether the Bishop of Rome be probably able to administer so vast a Province, the truth of which I thought belonged to prudent persons to iudge, and especially to Kings intrusted by God with the care of their own Realms; And first he is willing to interpret my words of such humane policy, as was to be had among heathens, and streightway to advance to such a f…stidious despising of my conclusion drawn from the Christian Kings being nursing Fathers to the Church, as to make it equally to inferr Nero to have right and title to be head of the Church, whilst he remained an heathen Emperor.] But all this hath no more appearance of w…ight or earnest in it, than will briefly be answered, by my telling him, 1. that I spake of Ch…istian policy, or skill of managing and regulating the external matters of the Church, such is this of abiding or bounding of Provinces, appointing of Bishops Sees, or Metropoles, and the like in such a manner as may most tend to publick good, and as an Heathen Emperor by accident may do somewhat in this, viz. by dividing the Empire into Provinces, as we know Aug…stus did by Mae…enas's advice, and S. Paul in his ordaining Bishops in Churches, follow the foreign order, as he found in the civil notitiae, so now that Princes have received the faith of Christ, and undertaken the defence of it, sure none is more fit to judge of all things of this rank than he, whom in every Nation God hath appointed to be Supreme over all, even Ecclesiastical persons, viz. the Christian King, as (both in this particular, and more generally) had before been proved to be the sense and resolution of the Christian Church and Councels, and as the very title of Father, which the Scripture gives Kings, in relation to the Church, Isa. 49.23. doth demonstrate; For to the Fathers power, subjection and obedience in external things is relative, as even by the instance, which he thinks most confutes it, is manifest; for though Ioseph was but a softer Father to Christ, yet the text assures us, Christ lived in obedience to Ioseph, for else it could not be truly said, that he was subject to them, in the plural, Luk 2.51.
What he adds in conclusion of that Sect. as a consequence from my words, that by making the King in each nation Judge of this Politick Problem, I make the party in the controversie to be umpire of it] can really have no place here, where I am speaking, not of the point of right, whether the Pope be rightfully the head of our Church (for if that were the thing now under consideration, I should acknowledge the Prudential or Politick Problem it self to be very unseasonably interposed) but whether it be most for the good of our, or any particular Church abstracting from the point of right) that the Pope should be head of it, or whether he being himself of but finite faculties, and at such a distance from us, and many other nations, he be fitly qualified to administer that vast Province, one Monarch over the whole Christian world, For of this it was evidently, that I there spake, and in that I thought it reasonable that the Prince, that is the Common ruler both of S. W. and of me, should be deem'd the most competent judge betwixt us, what is best for either of us, and for all others in the same condition with us, which is farr enough from making either party the umpire, as S. W suggested me to do, and is only angry with me, because I would not let him be guilty of the same fault himself, which he unjustly accuses me of, for if the Pope should be umpire, as he would have it, 'tis visible that a party is umpire. And so much for his first Section.