Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations, History · Book 1 · Chapter 4 (3 of 3)

Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations · History · Book 1 · Chapter 4 (3 of 3)

p. 662ly. If St. Peters, the Apoſtles, Prieſts and Miniſters commiſſions forecited will neither warrant, ſupport their Supream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction challenged, pretended to, much leſſe will their ſeveral Titles do it. Before I enter upon the Poſitive Titles given to them in Scripture, I ſhall deſire you to take notice, 1. That neither St. Peter, nor any other Apoſtle, Miniſter, or Presbyter, is ever once ſtiled by Chriſt or any Apoſtle in relation to his office; either a King, Prince, Caeſar, Lord, or the higher Powers; but only earthly Kings and temporal Magiſtrates.aaDe Planctu Eccleſ. l 1. Artic. 52.Sir 50:1 Alvarus Pelagius, the Popes Grand Advocate, doth not only ingenuouſly acknowledge, but renders theſe folid reaſons for it: Firſt, becauſe Kings and Lords do frequently abuſe their Regal and Lordly power to tyranny and great oppreſſion of their Subjects; which Popes and Clergymen would be likewiſe apt to do, if dignified with theſe Titles. 2ly. Becauſe the name of a King aliquando ſuperbum ſonat, and is apt to puff men up with pride and arrogance; therefore inconſiſtent with the humility and meekneſſe of Chriſts Diſciples, Miniſters. 3ly. To put a diſtinction between Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Governors. Inter ſpirituales & temporales Reges ſicut eſt diſcretio in poteſtatibus, ſic debet eſſe in nominibus. Principes ita que ſeculares nomen Regis quod commune eſt, ſibi a proprietate retinent, praeſertim quia ante conſtitutionem ſpititualium Regum, officium Regis & nomen plures habuiſſe leguntur. Principes autem ſpirituales aliis nominibus nuncupantur, quae non faſtum, ſed actum & pietatem inſinuant. Et propter hoc ait Petrus, Paſtoribus Eccleſiae, 1 Pet. 5. 2. 3. & 95 Diſtinct. Esto. Neque ut Dominautes in Clero: & Chriſtus dixit Diſcipulis Lu. 22. Reges Gentium dominatur eorum, vos autem non ſic. & Mat. 20 Yea he draws this memorable inference from hence. Et ſecundum hoc videretur dicendum, quod licet Chriſtus ſit Rex & Sacerdos, tamen ejus Vicarii ſcilicet Apoſtoli & eorum ſucceſſors, non ſunt Sacerdotes p. 67et Reges, imo ſolum convenit eis poteſtas Sacerdotalis vel Pontificalis ex, conceſsione Chriſti. Si autem aliquibus eorum convent poteſtas Regia, hoc eſt ex conceſſione Principum terrenorum; ſicut ex conceſſione Conſtatini habet Romanus Prontifex Imperialem poteſtatem, Diſtinct. 96. Conſtituimus. Which though Alvarus prima facie, grants to be rationabiliter dictum for others; yet he ſpends ſeveral**Ibid. Ar…i…. 51, 52, 53, 56, 57. Articles to aſſert, That the Pope is not only a spiritual, but temporal King and Lord, yea King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and that not only Popes, but even Biſhops and Prieſts too have a power and juriſdiction above all Kings; Emperors, Princes in the world, even to excommunicate, depoſe, and put them from their Thrones, Kingdomes, Empires, as you heard**Here p. 37, 38, 39. before at large.

2ly. Neither Chriſt, nor his Apoſtles after his Aſcenſion in any of their Epiſtles or Goſpels, ever gave St. Peter or the Pope any of theſe ſwelling Titles now claimed, or Attributed to them by their flatterers; as aaSee here, p. 30 37. 38. 39. Biſhop Jewels Defence of the Apology, p. 59, 121, 125, 449 552, 582, 584.Chriſts ſole Viceroy, his ſole Vicar General on Earth, ſole head of the whole Catholick Church, God, Vice-God, Chriſt, Chriſts Omnipotentiary, or Plenipotentiary, indued with a plenituds of all power both in heaven and earth, the life of the world; or any of thoſe Titles which bbDe Conſideratione, lib. …St. Bernard (by way of irony, cenſure only) gives to Pope Eugenius, as others did in good earneſt; Age indagemus adhuc diligentius quis ſis? quam geras, videlicet, pro tempore, perſonum in Eccleſia Dei: Quis es? Sacerdos magnus, Summus Pontifex. Tu Princeps Apoſtolorum; tu Primatu Abel; Gubernatu Noe; Patriarchatu Abraham; Or …ine Melchiſedech, dignitate Aaron, auctoritate Moyſes, indicatu Samuel, poteſtate Petrus, unctione Chriſtus. Tu es cui claves traditae, cui over creditae ſunt. Sunt quidem & alii coeli janitores, & gregum paſtores: Sed tu tanto glorioſius, quanto & differentius utrumque prae caeteris nomen haereditaſti, &c. If none of theſe ambitious Titles were ever given by Chriſt or other Apoſtles to Peter himſelf in this magnificent manner… or to any other Apoſtle; How comes the Pope now to appropriate them to himſelf in Peters right, who doth not own but quite diſclaim them? 1 Pet. 1. 1. c. 5. 1, 2, 3.

Wherefore pretermitting them as late Papal fancies, invented by Popes and their Paraſites, I ſhall proceed to St. Peters particular Scripture Titles, peculiar to himſelf: whereon Popes and their flatterers bottom his and their own pretended tranſcendent Supremacy.

The 1. is his very Sirname, Peter, Mat. 16. 18. I ſay unto thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. Whence they infer, aaInnocentii 3… Opera, Tom. 1. p. 223. Gratian Diſt. 50. Cauſ: 24. qu. 1. Alvarus Pelagius de Planctu Eccl …. lib. 1. Artic. 55. Tho. Walde… Doctrinale Fidei, Tom. 1. l. 2. Artic …. c. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Bellarmine de Pontifice Romano, l. 1. & 2. & 3, & 4, & 5. …. Auguſtinus Triumphus, the Rhemiſts, Hart & all Papiſts that write of the Popes Supremacy.That Peter is not only ſupreme head of Chriſts Church, but the very ſtock and foundation on which it is built.

I anſwer, 1. That he had this very name Peter given him either before he was called by Chriſt to be an Apoſtle, or at leaſtwiſe he was named Peter by Chriſt upon his very firſt calling to be his Diſciple, Mat. 4 18. c. 8. 14, 15. Mar. 3. 16. Lu: 3. 16. Lu: 6. 14. Jo: 1. 41, 42 If then his firſt ſirname Peter, gave him no ſuch ſupream Juriſdiction, Lordſhip over all the other Apoſtles and whole Catholick Church, as certainly it did not, Chriſt himſelf beingbbEph. 5. 2…. Col. 1. 10.Eph 5:2Col 1:10 then the ſupream head thereof on earth, for ſome years after. This repetition, or confirmation of this his former Title, could give him no ſuch new headſhip or ſupremacy. 2ly. Neither Chriſt nor any of his Apoſtles, or Evangeliſts, before or after Chriſts reſurrection, who oft ſtile him by the name ofccMat. 16. 1…. John 21. 15, 16, 17. Mat. 17 25. Mar. 1. 30, 36. c. 14. 37. Luke 3. 4, 5. 10. c. 7. 40, 43 44. c. 22. 31. c. 24. 34. John 1. 42. Acts 15. 14.Matt 16:1John 21:15John 21:16John 21:17Matt 17:25Mark 1:30Mark 1:36Luke 3:4Luke 3:5Luke 3:10John 1:42Acts 15:14 Simon, and Simon Bar-Jonas; without his ſirname Peter, orddJohn 6. 8. 68. c. 13. 6. 9. 24. 36. c. 18. 10. 25. c. 20. 2. 6 c. 21. 2. 3. 7. 11. 15. Acts 1. 15. c. 2. 14. 38. c. 3. 1. 6. 12. c. 4. 8. 13. c. 5. 3, 8, 29. c. 11. 5. 17, 18. 32.John 6:8John 6:68Acts 1:15 Simon Peter, joyntly, or Peter ſingly; Nor yet Peter himſelf, (who ſtiles himſelf in his General Epiſtle, 1 Pet. 1. 1. 2 Pet 1. 1. Peter, and Simon Peter A SERVANT and an Apostle of Jeſus Chriſt; and 1 Pet. 5. 1. a Fellow-Elder:) ever dreamed of ſuch a ſupremacy or headſhip, as this, or of the leaſt Dominion or Juriſdiction over the reſt of the Apoſtles, or Elders of the Church, much leſſe over the whole Church of God, and Emperors, Kings themſelves, as Popes now claim. 3ly. This name Peter, as I ſay unto the thou art Peter, atteſt, was only perſonal, individual, affixed to his own perſon alone, not tranſmitted to his pretended ſucceſſors of Rome, whoeePlatina, Onuphrius, Baronius, Dr. Barns, Lydius, Opmerus, Laertius Cherubinus, and others who wrote the Popes Lives, & Pontificale Romanum. though they uſually change their former Names, when elected and crowned Popes; yet not one of them ever yet ſtiled himſelf Peter, but many of them Paul; and more of them John: Therefore not one of them aſſuming this name Peter, and neither Chriſt himſelf, nor Peter tranſmitting his ſirname Peter to them, they can derive no Supremacy from it to themſelves. 4ly. Yet all later Popes aver p. 68themſelves to beffHardings Confutation f. 210. Bp. Jewels Defence p. 125. 127. Leo 1. Serm. 1. & 2. de Petro & Paulo, Greg. Epiſt. l. 8. Epiſt. 45. 13. c. 8. ep. 45. Laertius Cherubinus, Bulla…ium Romanum Pontificale Romanum, Aventinus Annal: Boiarum, l. 6. The Excommunications of Henry the Emperor, Frederick & King John. not only Chriſt, but Peter himſelf; and what ever is given, offered to, or acted by them; to be given to, done, acted by St. Peter himſelf: and all things acted againſt their Antichriſtian Uſurpations, to be acted againſt St. Peter; as their Epiſtles, Bulls, Canons, Formularies, Interdicts, Excommunications, and Charters of pretended or real Donations to them by Conſtantine, Charles the Great, King John and others evidence: When as the Pope in reality and Name, is no more St. Peter himſelf, then he is Judas, the ſon of perdition, S. James; or Peter Lombard, Peter, the Hermit, Peter Martyr, or any other bearing that name; nor ſo much Peter, as Peters ſtatue, or picture repreſenting his pourtaicture; which may as juſtly claim the Authority, and more rightly the name of Peter, (which they all give it) then any Pope 5ly. If this very name Peter, hath the headſhip, or ſupremacy of the Church affixed to it, then every perſon ſtiled Peter (eſpecially if a King and Soveraign Prince) may as juſtly challenge the ſupremacy and headſhip of the Church, as any Pope, eſpecially when ſtiled Innocent, Boniface, Gregory, Clement, or any other ſuch name, not Peter. 6ly. St. Peter reſolves,gg1 Pet. 2. 3. to 10.1 Pet 2:3–10 that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (not he) is the precious Headſtone, which God hath layd in Zion, prophecied of by Iſaiah c. 28. 16. & Pſ. 118. 20. to whom coming as unto a living ſtone, diſallowed indeed of men, but approved of God, ye alſo as living stones are built up a ſpiritual houſe (or Church) an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual ſacrifices acceptable unto God through him; that he is made the head of the corner, and he that believeth on him ſhall not be confounded: Yea himſelf repeated it again Acts 4. 8. to 12. Then Peter filled with the holy Ghoſt, ſaid, Ye Rulers of the people and Elders of Iſrael, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Iſrael, that by the name of Jeſus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God hath raiſed from the dead, even by him doth this man ſtand here before you whole. This (not I) is the Stone which is become the head of the corner: Here St. Peter himſelf twice preciſely refutes the blaſphemous Gloſſes, Inferences of his Succeſſors to Rob Chriſt of his Headſhip, ſtoneſhip, and tranſlate it to the Pope, through St. Peters conduct-pipe. 7ly. St. Paul who is joyned hand in hand with Peter in Popes ſeals, Croſiers, Bulls, Charters, yea joynt Biſhop of Rome (as well as joynt Martyr with him, if he were ever Biſhop there) reſolves with Peter, That other foundation (of the Church and Chriſtian faith) can no man lay, but that which is already laid, which is Jeſus Christ, (not Peter) 1 Cor. 3. 10, 11, 12. And we are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets (in general, not in Peter) Ieſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief **Epheſ. 2. 21, 23.Eph 2:21Eph 2:23corner-ſtone, in whom, (not in Peter) all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye alſo are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 8ly.hhTract. 1. in Mat. Origen long ſincere ſolved; Petra est quiſquis eſt Diſcipulus Chriſt, & that theſe words spoken to Peter, were common to all: St.iiAdverſus Januarium l. 1. Hierom ſeconds him, Eccleſia fundatur ſuper omnes Apoſtolas: ex aequo ſuper eos Eccleſiae fortitudo ſolidatur, in and by Chriſt the chief corner-ſtone, on whom they are all built: Wherewith our learnedkkDefence of the Apol. p. 125 Biſhop Jewel and Church accord. YeallDoctrinale Fidei, Tom. 1. l. 2. Artic. 1. c. 6. Tho. Waldenſis, andmmDe Planctu Eccleſiae, l. 1. Artic. 55. Alvarus Pelagius too, (though grand ſticklers for the Popes Supremacy:) quote this paſſage of Origen Hom. xii. in Hieremiam, thus reſolving; Quae eſt igitur Petra? nn1 Cor. 10. 4.1 Cor 10:4Dominus Ieſus Chriſtus; bibebant enim de ſpirituali conſequente Petra, & ſuper Petram ſtatuit pedes meos. Quaeris alias Petras, & alias Cavernas? Vento ad chorum Prophetarum atque Apoſtolorum; & dico quia omnes imitatores Chriſti Petra ſunt, ut Petra eſt ille qui docuit. With St. Hierom Com: in Matth. 18. Tom. 9. & Mar. 8. Auguſtin ſuper Johan. Tract. ult. Tom. 9. de Verbis Domini, Sermo 13. 1 Tim. 10. Retractationum c. 12. Tom. 1. Ambroſius in Lu. 6. c. 11. Tom. 5. Chryſoſtom in Locum all reſolving Chriſt himſelf, & the faith which Peter confeſſed of him (not Peter himſelf,ooPſal. 40. 2.Ps 40:2 but ſecundum Metaphoram, as put for his faith confeſſed) to be the Rock on which the Church is built; that Non a Petro Petra, ſed Petrus a Petra, ſicut Chriſtus non a Chriſtiano,pp1 Cor. 10. 4.1 Cor 10:4 ſed Chriſtianus a Chriſto. Non dictum eſt illi, Tu es Petra, ſed Tu es Petrus. Ideo quippe ait Dominus; Super hanc Petram aedificabo Eccleſiam meam: quia dixerat Petrus, Tu es filius Dei vivi: ſuper hanc Petram quam confeſſus es aedificabo Eccleſiam meam, Petra enim erat Chriſtus: ſuper hanc Petram quam cognoviſti aedificabo Eccleſiam meam: Super me aedificabo te, non me ſuper te. To which Authorities, & Apoc. 2: 17. (objected againſt the Popes Supremacy by Wickliff, his Maſter Gulielmus, and others) they give this pitifull Anſwer, Super Chriſtum Petram primo & principaliter aedificatur Eccleſia: ſecundum vero formam Vicariam ſuper Petrum Petram. Omnes Apoſtoli Petrae ſunt, praecipue p. 69tamen Petrus, in quo omnes Petrae primo nomen ſumpſerunt; When as * Origen (from whom they draw this inference) reſolves, That all the Petty Rocks of Apoſtles and Prophets derived their names only from Chriſt the Rock, not from Peter: Which rotally ſubverts his headſhip and ſupremacy from this Text, and Title of Peter.

2ly. To ſupply this ſhipwrack,aaMyſterium Miſſae, l. 1. c. …. Operum Tom. 1. p. 321. Pope Innocent the 3d.bbDe Planctu Eccleſ. l. 1. artic. 37. p. 39. ….Sir 50:1 Alvarus Pelagius, andccGratian Diſt, 19. 21. Cauſ 3 qu. 6. & 16. qu. 6. Tho. Waldenſis Doctr. Fidei, l, 2. Tit. 2. 4.Titus 2:4 other his Champions, have found out an unanſwerable Text, to prove his Headſhip over the Univerſal Church: to wit, Chriſt tells Peter, he ſhould be called Cephas, which ſignifyes a Head: Petrus ſecutus eſt Chriſtum, non ſolum in genere Martyrii, ſed & in ordine Magiſterii, quod Chriſtus oſtendit, cum ait, Tu vocaberis Cephas. Licet enim Cephas ſecundum unam linguam; interpretatur, Petrus, ſecundum alteram tamen exponitur Caput, Nam ſicut caput habet plenitudnem ſenſuum, caetera vero membra partem recipiunt plenitudinis, ita caeteri Sacerdotes vocati ſunt in partem ſollicitudinis, ſed Summus Pontifex (he ſhould have ſaid Petrus rather) aſſumptus eſt in plenitudinem poteſtatis: PopeddEpiſt. 89. See Bp. Jewel His Def. of the Apology, p. 2. p. 125. Leo the 1. thus blaſphemouſly writes of Peter, (intending the Pope and himſelf thereby) Chriſtus Petrum in conſortium individuae Trinitatis aſſumpſit: And thence inferres, Deus â Petro velut a quodam Capite dona ſua velut in corpus omne diffudit.

To all which I anſwer, 1. That Cephas, ſignifieth not a Head in any Language (as theſe wilfully miſtake) but only a Stone, or Peter; witneſſe Iohn 1. 42. (the text wheron they rely) When Jeſus beheld Simon, he ſaid, thou art Simon the ſonne of Jonah, thou ſhalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, Lapis, ſo ſome; or Petrus, ſo others render it; and our Engliſh Tranſlations, a Stone, or Peter, not an head. Yea the Holy Ghoſt himſelf, by St. Pauls ſacred pen, gives him this Title of Cephas, (as the very ſame with Peter) no leſſe then 5 ſeveral times in his Epiſtles, 1 Cor 1. 12. Every one of them ſaith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollo, and I of Cephas: where Paul and Apollo are put before Cephas, as they are alſo 1 Cor. 3. 22. 25. Whether Paul or Apollo, or Cephas, &c. all are yours. & 1 Cor. 9. 5. Have not we power to lead about a ſiſter, or wife, as well as other Apoſtles, as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas; where all the other Apoſtles, James and John are marſhalled before Cephas. Gal. 2. 5. And when James, Cephas and John, which ſeemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowſhip, that we ſhould go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumciſion: Here Cephas is recited after James; and both James, Cephas and John, (the grand pillars of the Church) gave both to Paul and Barnabas, the right hand of fellowſhip, as their equals, neither claiming an abſolute headſhip over them or the Church, as Popes do now from this Title Cephas, 1 Cor. 15. 5. That he was ſeen of Cephas (after his reſurrection) then of the twelve; here only Cephas is placed before the 12. not in point of priority of order or dignity, but becauſe heeeChriſtus cum reſurrexit à mortuis prius ſe Petro, quam caeteris oſtendit Apoſtolis, quia ſecundum Apoſtolum viſus eſt Cepha, poſt hoc undecim. Innocentius l. 3. Myſterium Miſſae pars 1. n. 8. Tom. 1. p. 321. firſt ſaw Chriſt at his appearance after his reſurrection, before any of the other Apoſtles, to comfort and ſtrengthen his ſoul after his treble deteſtable denying of Chriſt: Wherefore this ſirname Cephas then given to Simon being one and the ſame with Peter, and ſignifying not an head, rock, nor chief head-ſtone, or Topſtone, a Title peculiar to Jeſus Chriſt alone: and Simon Peter by this very name Cephas, being in four ſeveral Texts ranked after Paul, Apollos, James, John, and all the Apoſtles, it cannot prove St: Peters or the Popes headſhip over the Church. 2ly. Admit Cephas ſignified a head; yet it doth not ſignifie the head of the Univerſal Church, the head of the World, the head of Biſhops, principalities, powers; which Popes muſt prove before they pretend thereto. For 1. It is uſed in Scripture for the head of the natural body in a proper ſence, Pſal. 23. 5. 2 Kings 10. 6, 7, 8, &c. 2ly. Metaphorically; as 1. For the Top or upper part of a pillar or baſe, 2 Chron. 3. 16. Pſ. 24. 7. 2ly. For the Fathers or chief men of a particular Tribe or family, Exod. 6. 24, 25. Numb. 1. 16. c. 30. 1. Deut. 5. 23. Joſh. 14. 1. 2 Chron. 5. 24. c. 7. 2, 7, 9, 11, 40. c. 12. 32. 3ly. For ſubordinate Princes, Civil Governors, and Rulers of the people in the Civil State, Exod. 18. 25. Num. 7. 2. c. 10. 4. c. 13. 3. & 25 13. Deutr. 1. 15. c. 33. 5, 22. Joſh. 19 22. c. 21. 1. c. 22. 21, 30. c. 23. 2. 1 Kings 8. 1. 1 Chron. 8. 6, 10, 13, 18. c. 9. 13. 2 Chron. 5. 2. c. 28. 12. Mich. 3. 1. Iſa. 9. 14. Judg. 8. 10. c. 11. 8, 9, 11. 3ly. For Kings and Supream Civil Governors, 1 Sam. 15. 17. Jer. 22. 6. 4ly. For a head city, or ffSancta Bethlehem caput eſt orbis, Prudentius in Enchirid.Metropolis, Iſay 7. 8, 9. Joſh. 11. 10. 5ly. For an oeconemical head; ſo the man is called the head of the Wife or woman, 1 Cor. 11. 3. c. 5. p. 7023. 6ly. For a Spiritual ſupream head; ſo Chriſt is ſtiled the head of the Church, the head of everyman, the head of the heathen, the head of all principalities and powers, and God the head of Chriſt, and head over all, 1 Chron: 29. 11. Pſal: 18. 43. 1 Cor: 11. 3. Eph: 1. 22. c. 4. 15. c. 5. 23. Col: 1. 10. 18. c. 2. 19. Pſ. 118. 22. Mat. 21. 42. Now that Cephas ſignified any of theſe 3. laſt ſorts of heads, the Pope muſt clearly demonſtrate, or elſe renounce his headſhip as derived from Cephas. 3ly. PopeaaIn 1 Regum. l. 4. c. 4. Gregory the 1. reſolves, That Paul had the prieſthood of the whole world; that he being converted to Chriſt, caput effectus eſt Nationum. WhichbbIn Act. Apoſt. Hom. 3. Chryſoſtom thus ſeconds, Both land and ſea, and the habitation of the whole world is committed to Paul. How then could Peter be the ſupreme head? 4ly. As for Pope Leo the 1. his paſſage, ſeconded by PopeddExtravag. de elect. & elect. poteſt. Jewels Defence, p. 117 125. &c. Nicholas; That Chriſt hath aſſumed Peter into the fellowſhip of the individual Trinity, that ſo God from Peter (not from Chriſt) as from an head might diffuſe his gifts into all his body the Church; it is a moſt groſſe daring blaſphemy, derogatory to Ieſus Chriſt his Headſhip, Offices in the higheſt degree, contradicted by John 1. 16. Eph. 1. 23. c. 2. 21, 22. c. 4. 10, 11, 12. Col. 1. 18, 19, 20, 21. befitting only ſuch blaſphemous Pontifs who ſtile themſelves**Here, p. 38, 39. Gods, and Vice-gods, as well as Heads.

3ly. I proceed to thoſe reſpective Titles, Names given to all Apoſtles, Miniſters of the Goſpel, and their Church-offices in the New Teſtament, neither of which imports or transferrs to them any Supream Eccleſiaſtical or Temporal Juriſdiction, at leaſt not ſuch as Popes, Popiſh Prelates, Prieſts now claim and exerciſe.

1. The chief and firſt of all thoſe Titles both for dignity and authority, is an Apoſtle: St. Paul reſolving, that God hath ſet in his Church;ee1 Cor. 12. 28.1 Cor 12:28 Firſt Apoſtles: and that ffEpheſ. 4. 11.Eph 4:11when Christ aſcended far above all heavens, he gave ſome (to be) Apoſtles, &c. the firſt and chiefeſt in order; as all ggIn their Commentaries on the Acts, and Pauls and Peters Epiſtles.Divines, and Popes themſelves acknowledge. Now what doth this prime title ſignifie or import? No juriſdiction at all, but only a meſſenger ſent by Jeſus Christ into all the world to preach the Gospel to all Nations according to his miſſion and commiſſion, Mat. 28. 19, 20. Mar. 16. 15. 16. John 20. 21. Acts 26 17, 18. Rom. 1. 5. foreign as all Divines and hhSee Scapula his Lexicon, Calepine, Holioke, Calvin, & Riders Dictiories.Dictionaries accord, is derived from the Greek word foreign, which ſignifies to ſend in a meſſage; Hence Mat. 11. 10. Luc. 7 27. Chriſt ſaith of John Baptiſt, This is he of whom it is written,iiMal. 3. 1. c. 2. 7Mal 3:1 Behold I ſend my Meſſenger before thy face. Thus Phil. 2. 25. Epaphroditus is ſtiled Pauls Brother and companion in labour, and fellow-ſouldier, but your meſſenger; and 2 Cor: 6. 23. Titus (whom the Pope and Biſhops aſſert to be Archbiſhop of Crete) and the brethren with him, are ſtiled Pauls fellow-helpers; labourers, and Apoſtles, which our beſt Tranſlation renders the Meſſengers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ: 2ly. This Title of Apoſtle was not peculiar to St. Peter, but common to all the 12. at firſt, Mat. 10. 2. Lu. 6, 13. 3ly. After Chriſts aſcenſion the Title of an Apoſtle was given to Matthias, Paul, Titus, and ſome others, Acts 1. 26. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Cor. 9. 1, 2. Epheſ. 4. 11. 1 Tim. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 23. Gal. 2: 1. 17. 19. who were equal with, not inferiour to the other Apoſtles. This is the higheſt Title given to them through all the Evangeliſts, Acts, Epiſtles, and Apocalips: The firſt they ſtile themſelves by in their Epiſtles: As Peter an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Pet. 1. 1, 2 Pet. 1. 1. Paul called to be an Apoſtle, Paul an Apoſtle by the will of God, &c. Rom: 1. 1, 2 Cor. 1. 1. Eph: 1. 1. Col. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 1. 1. 2 Tim. 1. 1. 1 Tit. 1. 1. And their very Office in relation to this ſtile, is termed an Apostleſhip, Miſſion, Miniſtry, Acts 1. 25. Rom. 1. 5. 1 Cor. 3. 2. Gal. 2. 8. Therefore no title, office of Juriſdiction. 4. In this Apoſtleſhip of St. Peter, there are theſe memorable circumſtances ſubverting his pretended ſupremacy over the reſt, and whole Catholick Church. 1. That Peter was not the firſt Apoſtle by vocation, or age; for **John 1. 37, to 40.John 1:37–40Andrew, and another Diſciple were called, and followed Chriſt as his Apoſtles before Peter; Whence kkDoctrinale Fidei, Tom. 1. l. 2. cap. 1. p. 138. 139.Thomas Waldenſis (a great aſſerter of his ſupremacy) confeſſeth, Petrus non dicitur Apoſtolorum primus, primitate vocationis, ſed auctoritate praelationis: Petrus non eſt Apoſtolorum Princeps, ſenectute, ſed poteſtate. 2ly. He is not alwayes firſt named, but llMat. 16. 21, 22 23. Mar. 8. 31. 32, 33. Lu. 4. 7. 8.Matt 16:21Matt 16:22Mark 8:31Mark 8:32Mark 8:33oft times poſtponed after all the diſciples, and ſometimes after James, John, Paul, Barnabas, (as Mar. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 12. c. 3. 22. c. 9. 5. Gal. 2. 9.) 3ly. That he was mmMat. 26. 31, 32, 33, 75. Mar. 14. 29, 30, 31. Lu. 22. 33, 34.Matt 26:31Matt 26:32Matt 26:33Matt 26:75Mark 14:29Mark 14:30Mark 14:31more ſharply, frequently reprehended by Chriſt then all the other Apoſtles, yea ſtiled Satan; & one that ſavoured not the things of God but men; 1. for diſſwading him from his paſſion. 2ly. FornnMat. 26. 51. to 55. John 18. 10, 11.Matt 26:51–55John 18:10John 18:11 his arrogance, and ſelf-confidence, That though all others ſhould deny Chriſt, yet he would not. 3ly. ForooMat. 14. 38. to 22.Matt 14:38 drawing his ſword and cutting off Malchus p. 71his ear without command, to prevent his paſſion; and doubting of Christs power. 4ly. For his peremptory refuſal at firſt to let Chriſt waſh his feet. 5ly. ForaaActs 10. 13, 14, 15.Acts 10:13Acts 10:14Acts 10:15 his want of faith when he be began to ſink, in preſuming to walk to Chriſt upon the ſea. 6ly. ForbbMat. 26. 60. to the end Mar. 14. 66. to the end, Lu. 22. … to 63. John 28, 25, 26, 27.Matt 26:60Mark 14:66 reputing the creatures whom God had ſanctifyed and commanded him to eat (and the Gentiles whom they typified) unclean, refuſing to eat of them when God enjoyned him. 7ly. He more ſhamefully denyed his Maſter Jeſus Chriſt, and that with Oathes and execrations, then all the reſt of the Apoſtles, and that thrice one after another, notwithstanding Chriſts premonition thereof. 8ly. Chriſt doubted of the ſincerity of his love more then of all the other Apoſtles, after his treble denyal of him: Whence he thrice put this queſtion to him one after another, but to none elſe, ccJohn 21. 19, 26, 17. John 23. 6, 7, 8.John 21:19John 21:26John 21:17Simon, loveſt thou me? 9ly. St. Paul at Antioch withstood and reprehended Peter openly to his face, becauſe he was to be blamed: Firſt, for his Julaizing and complying with the Jewes: 2ly. For with rawing himſelf from, and refuſing to …at with the believing Gentiles, and that out of fear. 3ly. For his diſſimulation, and not walking uprightly according to the truth of the Goſpel. 4ly. For compelling the Gentiles, to live as do the Jewes. But we never read that Peter thus reprehended Paul, or any other Apoſtle, for any crime whatſoever. 10ly. TheddCal. 2. 11, to 17. Apostles that were at Jeruſalem when they heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they ſent unto them Peter and Iohn; who went unto them by their order: Therefore the other Apoſtles thus ſending Peter, were rather Supream, then he or John thus ſent by them. 11ly. When eeActs 8. 14, 15.Acts 8:14Acts 8:15Peter returned to Jeruſalem after Cornelius his baptiſm & converſion, he was there publikely queſtioned by the Church for his going to, & eating with them which were not circumciſed, & forced to make a large Apology for it, by the ſpecial command of the Spirit, and the miracles wrought among them by him. Whereupon they were ſatisfied. If St. Peter had been ſo ſupream as the Pope would make him, it had been a great preſumption in them thus publikely to queſtion and arraign him for his actions; when as none muſt now question or judge the Pope for any Crime or ſinne how great ſoever; nor to ſay to him, Domine, cur ita fac…s? though he ſhould ſend millions of ſouls to hell, and decree Vertues to be Vices, and Vices vertues; as the ffGratian Diſt. 21. & 40. cauſ 9. qu. 3. cauſ. 12 qu. 2. and the Gloſſes thereon. Alvarus Pelagius de Planctu Eccleſ. l. 1: Artic. 4, 5. 6.Sir 50:1Canoniſts, and ggDe Romano Pontif. l. 5.Bellarmin himſelf determin; He being paramount all Judicatories, Tribunals whatſoever, and General Councils too, as they dog…atize. 12ly. Peter was the Apoſtle principally of the Circumciſion only, and that not the chief, St. James reſiding conſtantly amongſt them, and being Biſhop of Ieruſalem (as moſt averr) not Peter; who though he converted hhActs. 10 & 1… & 8.Acts 10Cornelius and his family who were Gentiles, and was ſent with Iohn to Samaria, and cured Aeneas, and raiſed Tabitha at Lydda and Ioppa; yet we read not, that he publikely preached at Lydda, Joppa, or planted any one Church among the Gentiles, whoſe company he avoyded for fear of the Jewes. Hence Paul relates Gal. 2. 7, 8, 9. Now when James, Cephas, and John (who ſeemed to be pillars) ſaw that the Goſpel of the uncircumciſim was committed unto me, as the Goſpel of circumciſion was unto Peter, for he that wrought effectually in him the Apoſtleſhip of the Circumciſion, was mighty in me towards the Gentiles) they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowſhip, that we ſhould go unto the Heathen, & Iames, Peter & Iohn to the circumciſion. Upon which account Peter directed his firſt Epiſtle only to the ſcatered Iewes. Now the circumciſion and Jewes being but a very ſmall number, the leaſt part of the world, Church, the other Apoſtles miſſion being generally to all the world, and principally to the Gentiles, of whom St. Paul was the prime Apoſtle, iiRom. 15. 18, to 26. c. 16. 26. Epheſ. 3. 3, to 12. Col. 1. 8. 27, 28, 29. Rom. 10. 18.Rom 15:18–26Eph 3:3–12Col 1:8Col 1:27Col 1:28Col 1:29Rom 10:18who ſpread the Goſpel into moſt parts of the world, planted many famous Churches amongſt the Gentiles, and in Rome it ſelf, to whom he directed a ſeveral Epiſtle, but Peter none at all, nor was ever there, for ought appears by Scripture. How Peter or Popes, can againſt all theſe particulars, with any colour of verity or ingenuity aſſert St. Peter to be paramount all other Apoſtles, undoubted head, or ſole Vicar General of the whole Catholick Church, Let all Roman Catholickes reſolve their conſciences, and theirs who on all theſe grounds deny it. Yet notwithſtanding kkAlvarus Pelagius de Planctu. Eccleſ. l. 1. Artic. 55. f. 38, 39.Sir 50:1Alvarus Pelagius informes us, That the Church is called Apostolical, becauſe it is founded on the Apostles, eſpecially on St. Peter the chief of the Apoſtles; That the Church of Rome is ſtiled, The Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul; Therefore the Pope is Summus Rector Eccleſiae, dicitur Apoſtolicus, yea Apoſtolus in many of his Bulls, and Canoniſts Gloſſes; & Sedes Apoſtolica, vocatur ſedes Papalis in multis locis (of Gratian, and his Gloſſers there cited) Et dignitas Papalis officium Apoſtolicum appellatur; Et Lex Papae vel Conſtitutio, Apoſtolica inſtituta vocantur, & p. 72quia Petrus & Paulus princeps Apoſtolorum Romanam Eccleſiam Chriſto Domino confirmarunt: Et quia omnes Apoſtolos fuerunt fundamentum & origo totius Eccleſia militantis: Et quia Papa eſt Vicarius illius magni Apoſtoli, deſuper miſſi Chriſti de ſinu Patris, ipſe ſucceſſor Petro, in quo tota Apoſtolica authoritas ſecundum plenitudinem reſervatur: Being all built upon the ſand, ſince both the Title, Office of an Apoſtle, or Meſſenger, comprehend no Soveraign Juriſdiction in them.

The 2d. Title given them in Scripture, even whiles they were Apoſtles, is Diſciples, and that as well after as before Chriſts Reſurrection. This Title is given them more frequently in the Evangeliſts, and Acts, then that of Apoſtle, in many hundred places: and in Mat: 28. 19. Mar: 16. 7. John 20. 18, 19, 20. 25, 26, 30. c. 21. 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 14. Acts 1. 15. c. 9. 1. they are ſtiled Diſciples after Chriſts reſurrection, and their Miſſion as Apoſtles: This title was likewiſe common to them all, yea to all Chriſtians and converts to the faith, though no Apoſtles, Biſhops, nor Miniſters of the Goſpel, Acts 6. 1, 7. c. 9. 25, 26, 28. c. 11. 26, 29. c. 14. 20, 22, 28. c. 15. 16. c. 18. 23. 27. c. 19. 1, 3, 30. c. 20. 7. 30. c. 21. 4. 17. Now this Title of Diſciples, common to Apoſtles and all Chriſtians, carries not the leaſt colour or ſhadow of any, much leſſe of ſupream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction in it, but rather of ſubjection to the doctrine, inſtruction of others who inſtructed them.

The 3d. Title, next in dignity to that of Apoſtles, is Prophets, and their miniſtry is uſually ſtiled prophecying; Acts 13. 1. c. 15. 42. 1 Cor. 12. 29. c. 14. 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 29. c. 11. 5. Epheſ. 4. 11. 1 Theſſ. 5. 20. That this Title carryeth in it any Eccleſiaſtical or Civil Juriſdiction, eſpecially Supream, no mortall can conjecture, nor any now claim, ſince they diſown this Name.

The 4th Title is an Evangeliſt, or Preacher of the Goſpel, whoſe office is ſtiled Preaching, Epheſ. 4. 11. Acts 2. 8. 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 5. Rom: 10. 8. 15. 25. 1 Cor: 1. 18. 2 Cor: 10. 14. And in this there is no Juriſdiction at all couched, much leſs Supream.

This Title of Preacher, aaAlvarus Pelagius de Planctu Eccleſ. l. 1. Art. 62.Sir 50:1is not peculiar to Apoſtles, Biſhops or Prieſts by order, but attributed frequently to King Solomon, Eccleſiaſtes 1. 1, 2. ſtiled The Preacher; The words of the Preacher, the Sonne of David, King of Jeruſalem. Vanity of Vanities, ſaith the Preacher, all is vanity. I the Preacher was King over Iſrael in Ieruſalem. And c. 7. 27. c. 12. 8, 9, 10. He oft ſtiles himſelf. The Preacher; adding, Becauſe the Preacher was wiſe he ſtill taught the people knowledge; yea he gave good heed and ſought out, and ſet in order many Proverbs: and the Preacher ſought to find out acceptable words: And as King Solomon, ſo King David his Father, was a Preacher too; elſe he would not have recorded, Pſal: 40. 9, 10. O Lord my God, I have Preached righteouſneſſe in the great congregation, lo I have not refrained my lips, O Lord thou knoweſt. I have not hid thy righteouſneſſe within my heart, I have delivered thy faithfulneſſe and thy ſalvation, I have not concealed thy loving kindneſſe and thy truth from the great …rrgregatio…. Yea other Chriſtian Kings, as**Euſeb. de Vita Conſtantini. Conſtantine, ††Beda, Mat. Weſtm. Holinſhed in his Life.Oſwald, have been preachers and expounders of the Scriptures to their people upon ſpecial occaſions, in default of able learned Biſhops, the**Alvarus Pelagius de Planctn Eccleſ. l. 1. Art. 62. See here chapter 5.Sir 50:1 principal duty of Kings being to endeavour the felicity and ſalvation of their peoples ſouls, as well as bodies or eſtates. Thus Noah, (though no Prieſt by order) is ſtiled, a Preacher of righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 2. 5. And though the office of publike preaching the Goſpel was principally committed to the Apoſtles and Miniſters of the Goſpel; yet it is ſpecially recorded,bbActs 8. 1, 2, 3 4, 5. to 26. Zanct. in Act. 8.Acts 8:1Acts 8:2Acts 8:3Acts 8 That when the Church at Jeruſalem were all ſcattered through Pauls perſecution throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apoſtles; Therefore they that were ſcattered abroad, (whom Zanctius the Jeſuit, and Baronius too affirm to be above 15000. who were not certainly all ordaine Miniſters, but Lay-men) went every where preaching the word, and converting ſouls in Samaria and elſewhere; which the Apoſtles being informed of, ſent Peter and Iames from Ieruſalem to pray with, confirm, and lay hands on thoſe they converted, that they might receive the holy Ghoſt, and likewiſe preach the Goſpel in thoſe parts. Yea**Euſebius Eccleſiaſt. Hiſt. …l. 6. c. 20. Nicephorus Calixtus Eccl. Hiſt. l. 5. c. 14. Origen himſelf about 200. years after Chriſt, quando Presbyteratus honorem nondum eſſet conſecutus, whiles he was a Layman, at the earneſt requeſt of the Biſhops of Paleſtine, ut de ſacris libris diſſereret, et publica eas in Eccleſia interpretaretur (for defect of able Miniſters and Biſhops to inſtruct them) thereupon publikely preached and expounded the Scriptures in Caeſarea. Upon which Demetrius (a perſon diſaffected to Origen) writing Letters to the Biſhops of Paleſtine, Nunquam ante auditum, nunquam factum eſſet, ut praeſentibus Epiſcopis Laici concionarentur; Thereupon they all, ſpecially Alexander Biſhop of Ieruſalem, and Theoctyactus p. 73Biſhop of Ceſarea, in defence thereof returned him this anſwer in writing, charging him with untruths, Quod autem in literus dixeris, Nunquam ante auditum, ne que iam uſurpatum, ut Laici praeſentibus Epiſcopis diſputarent, Scripturaſque erponerent, in eo nobis (neſcio quomodo, videris) perſpicue falſa dixiſſe. Nam ubi idonei et habiles reperiuntur qui fratribus in verbo Dei adiumento ſint, a ſanctis Epiſcopis rogantur, ut populum in verbo inſtituant, et per exhortationes ad populum verba faciant, et id offendiculo non eſt: ſicut Laodiceis Evelpis à Neon…, …onu Paulinus à Celſo, et apud Synodos Theodorus ab Attico, qui omnes beati et pii fratres erant, nondum Preſbyterii gradu potiti, ac veriſimile eſt, illud idem in aliis locis fieri, quamvis nobis obſcurum, et minime cognitum. Not long after thisaaTheodoret Eccleſ. l. 3. c. 23. Sozomen. l. 3. c. 24. Ruffinus, l. 1 c 9. Cent. Mag. 4. col. 25, 26.Sir 50:3 Aedeſius and Frumentius, two godly Chriſtian Merchants trading among the Indians, occaſionally preached the Goſpel to them, and converting them to the Chriſtian faith; exhorted them to meet together, and celebrate divine Myſteries, which they exhibited to them. Upon their return from thence, and reporting the Indians converſion to the faith by their means, Athanaſius thought ſit to give them Orders, make them Biſhops, and ſend them again to the Indians for their further inſtruction and converſion, to compleat that work which God had ſo happily began by them. Neither can Popes nor Popiſh Prelats decry this; forbbDiſtinct. 96. c. bene. v. Laicus. Diſtinctio 23. Mulie… cauſ. 16. qu. 1. Adjicimus. Bart. Buxienſis, ccDiſtin. c. Decernimus.Dr. Thierry, with other Gloſſers upon Gratian, ccDiſtin. c. Decernimus.Panormitan, ddSumma Angelica, Tit. Laicus, ſect. 4.Angelus de Clavaſio, and moſt Canoniſts reſolve, That the Pope, Biſhops, yea and Prieſts too may licenſe a meer Lay-man to preach to the people, and excommunicate Prieſts themſelves, yea authorize women to preach, againſt Saint Paul reſolution, 1 Cor: 14. 33, 34. 1 Tim. 2. 11, 12, 13. Upon which ground about the year 1620. there ſprang up a new order of Ieſuiteſſes, or She-Ieſuites, in Italy, Germany and other places; who took upon them to preach publikely and privately to others of their ſex, and under pretext of promoting the ſalvation of ſouls, alia opera permulta ſexus et ingenii imbecillitati & modeſtiae muliebri & virginali praeſertim p…dori minime convenientia aggrediantur. eeLaertius Cherubinus Bullariam Romanum, Romae 1638. Tom. 4. p. 115, 116.The ſcandal whereof grew ſo great, that Pope Ʋrban the 8. by his Bull, dated in Ianuary 1630. was enforced utterly to ſuppreſs their Congregation, Order, Houſes. Pope (*) Gregory the 13. Anno Domini 1584. by a ſpeciall Bull granted this ſpecial Priviledge to the whole Society of the Jeſuites and their Emiſſaries; to preach in all places without interruption, though not in Orders. Explaining and ratifying the Bull of Pope Paul the 8th. which as Gregories Bull recites, had granted them this Priviledge. Ex illo conceſſionis hujuſmodi tempore, etiam Scholares, & alii Religioſi veſtri ſacris Ordinibus nondum initiati, alias tamen idonei**Laert. Cheuub. Bullarium Tom. 2. p. 361, 362. ad praedicandum verbum Dei paſſim, & ubique mittuntur. Verum quia nonnullis dubitatio curioſius inceſſit, an…dictum privilegium praedicandi, etiam eos comprehendat, qui ad Ordines ipſos nondum aſcenderunt: Nos quemcunque hoc ſcrupulo eximere volentes, praeſentium authoritate declaramus ac etiam decernimus, veſtrum unicuique etiam ad ſacros Ordines praedictos non promoto, praedicationis munus in vim privilegii hujuſmodi exercere potuiſſe & poſſe. Vobis inſuper concedentes ut etiam Clerici veſtri prima tantum tonſura inſigniti, prout hucuſque fecerunt, valeant, deinceps ipſum Dei verbum ubique populo praedicare. Diſtrictius inhibentes univerſis & ſingulis locorum Ordinariis & quibuſvis aliis quacunque dignitate, & Authoritate fungentibus, quemquam veſtrum quovis pretextu praemiſſorum occaſione impedire vel moleſtare audeant quoquo modo. Non obſtantibus Apoſtolicis ac in generalibus & provincialibus Conciliis ed…ctis generalibus vel ſpecialibus, conſtitutionibus & ordinationibus, caeteriſque contrariis quibuſcunque. Therefore this Title of an Evangeliſt or Preacher, can derive no ſupream Juriſdiction, power to the Pope, (who ſeldom preacheth) or any other in and over the Church of God, ſince every Jeſuit, though not in Orders, may preach.

This Liberty of preaching indulged by this Popes Bull to Lay-Jeſuits, in all places without controll, hath been one cauſe of the growth of ſuch Preachers during our late Confuſions, many of theſe diſguiſed Jeſuits having bin preachers among us; & of the prodigious increaſe of the Jeſuites beyond all other Orders of the Roman Church, (through the extraordinary favours, aſſiſtances of the Pope, and King of Spain; they being the moſt active Inſtruments to promote the Popes Ʋniverſal Monarchy over the Church, and Spaniards Univerſal Monarchy over the whole world,) worthy our ſpecial Obſervation. Their Order, Society, by Ignatius Loyola his ſollicitation (the Founder thereof) was**Hoſpinian & Ludovicus Lucius Hiſtoriae Jeſuitica, l. 1. c. 1 p. 8. Speculum Jeſuiticum, p. 1 H…ſſermullerus & Maffaeus in Vita Ignatii, & Hiſtoria Jeſuitica. Ribadeniera in Vita Ignatii: Laertiu… Cherubinus Bullarium Romanum, Tom 2. p. 538, 57… firſt ratified by the Bull of Pope Paul p. 74the 3d. October 5. 1540. their Number at firſt not being above 15. or 16. increaſing by Degrees was ordered not to exceed 60. at most; but 3. years after the Pope left it free to Ignatius and his ſucceſſors to admit ſo many as they pleaſed into their Society. Whereupon they increaſed ſo exceedingly, that Petrus Rabadeniera Anno 1608. and Aubertus Myraeus, Anno 1620. publiſhed a Catalogue of the Number of their Colleges, Houſes, Cells, in all quarters of the world, and of the fellowes of their Society therein (beſides their Novices and Scholars.) Their Domus Profeſſae then (within the compaſſe of 80. years,) announted to 21. their Colledges to 371. their Domus profeſſae ſeparatae to 43. their Houſes and Reſidentiaries to 103. in all 538. and their Socii, or Patres ſocietatis in them to 13010. The Numbers of theſe Locuſts being then ſo augmented, that Claudius Aquaviva their General boaſted,bbLudovic: Lucius Hiſt Jeſuitica l. 1. c. 7. p. 156. That he could raiſe an Army ſooner then any Chriſtian King: and in the time of the Venetian Interdict, when Pope Paul the 8th. was in ſome danger, covenanted to raiſe him an Army of forty thouſand men, upon this condition, that whoſoever was ſlain in that war, ſhould be reputed a martyr. In the year 1640. (being their Jubile, or 100. year from their Societies inſtitution) they publiſhed in print new Tables of their Houſes, Colleges, Cells, then printed at Antwerp, with additions to the former; wherein Ignatius was pourtrayed lying along on the ground, with an olive-tree ſpringing out of his Loyns, **Speculum Jeſuitica. p. 209, 210, 211.as the root of Jeſſe, spreading it ſelf over all parts of the world, (Europe, Aſia, Africa and America) with the names of every Colledge, Houſe, Cell, in every leaf of this tree, in the Province whether its branches extended: they then amounting in the total to**Nota. 935. Houſes, Colledges, Cells, and their Socii ſocietatis in them to no leſſe then 15591: their Scholars, Novices, and others admitted into their Society being ten times more in number. Amongſt theſe, they enumerated no leſſe then 15 private Houſes, Colledges, Cells, in **Speculum Jeſuiticum, p. 210. Ludovicus Lucius Hiſt. Jeſuit. l. 1. c. 7.Provincia Anglicana, in the Province of England, wherein they had then 267. Socii ſoci…tatis, beſides 4. Colledges of Engliſh Jeſuites in forreign parts, one of them in Rome it ſelf, another at Lovain, another at Audomar in the Netherlands, and the fourth at Valladolid in the Kingdom of Caſtel in Spain. Moreover they had then in Ireland and elſewhere 8. Colledges of Iriſh Jeſuites; two of them at Salmantica and Compostella in Spain: in Scotland ſome Reſidences of Scotiſh Jeſuites, who had beſides two Colledges in forraign parts, the one of them in Rome it ſelf; being ſo many ſeminaries or profeſſed Traytors againſt our Kings, Church, State.ccIn Vita Ignatiii Loyolae. Lud Lucius, Hiſt. Jeſuit. p. 157. Ribadeneira, a Spaniſh Jeſuit informs us, Collegia & Seminaria Jeſuitarum eſſe Hoereticorum exitia, & Apoſtolicae ſedis propugnacula: AndddLud. Lucius, hiſt. Jeſuit. l. 1. c. 1. Hoſpinian hiſt. Jeſuit. c. 1. Speculum Jeſuit. p. 61. Jacobus Crucius Rector of the Jeſuites Novices at Landſperg An. 1584 writes; Miles eſſe debet noſtrae Societatis pater (as Ignatius a fiery Souldier was) quia ut Militis eſt, totis viribus in hoſtem irruere, nec deſiſtere, donec victor evadat; ita noſtrum eſt in omnes irruere, qui Pontifici Romano reſiſtunt, illoſque conſiliis, dictis et ſcriptis, vocato etiam ſeculari brachio (hoc eſt ferro & igne) tollere et abolere, ſicut Pontifex, et noſtra vota, contra Lutheranos ſuſcepta, volunt et mandant. NayeeHoſpinian Hiſt: Jeſuit. l. 3. f. 214. l. 4. f. 244 Lud. Lucius Hiſt. Jeſuit. l. 2. c. 2. p. 187. Edmond Compian the Engliſh Jeſuit, in his Diſſertatio Eccleſiae Catholicae, or Letter to Qu. Elizabeths Council, printed Treveris Anno 1583. p. 22. proclaims to all the world. Quod ad Societatem noſtram attinet, velim ſciatis omnes nos, qui per totum orbem longè lateque diffuſi ſumus, quorum eſt continua ſucceſ…io, & magnus numerus, ſanctum faedus iniiſſe, nec quamdiu vel unus noſtrum ſupererit ſtudium & conſilia nostra de ſalute veſtra, (that is, as his ffThuanus Hiſt. l. 74. Speed, Cambden, & others in the life of Qu. Eliz: Anno 1581.own Treaſons againſt Queen Elizabeths perſon ſhew, to deſtroy her, and her Kingdoms together, and as Ludovicus Lucius and Hospinian truly interpret it, id eſt Religionis, Reginae, et Regni veſtri everſione, aut ſub Papae iugum reductione) intermiſſuros. Iampridem inita ratio eſt, et inchoatum certamen nulla vis, nullus Anglorum impetus ſuperabit. And this whole Society (as Watſon a ſecular Prieſt in hisggPage 320, 334, &c. Quodlibets informs us) have long ſince boaſted, That they were the men miraculouſly conſtituted by God, who ſhould turn all things in England upſide down; and make ſuch an univerſal diſmal change in Church, Lawes, Parliaments, in ſuch ſort; as from the beginning of the world, the like was never heard of before, and turn our Kingdom into a Japonian or Helvetian Commonwealth, which they hhSee my Speech in Parl. & my Epiſtle to A Seaſonable Vindicat. &c.lately effected. Therefore it cannot conſiſt with the ſafety of our King, kingdoms, Church, State, Religion, to tolerate any of this ſpreading Deſperate order of Jeſuites amongſt us,iiLudovic. Lucius & Hoſpinian Hiſt. Jeſuit. & Speculum Jeſuiticum. baniſhed out of moſt forraign Popiſh as well as Proteſtant Kingdoms, p. 75States, for their manifold Treaſons, ſeditions againſt their; Kings, Magiſtrates, Government, and who made very many attempts to11See Camden, Speed in her life. deſtroy the ſacred perſons of Queen Elizabeth, 22Jac. 3. c. 1, 2, 4, 6. Speeds hiſtory, p. 1240. to 1244. 1250. to 1256.Jas 3King James, were the principal contrivers of the late horrid Gunpowder Treaſon, to blow up our King, Queen, Prince, all the Royall Iſſue, Lords, Commons, Church, Kingdom, Religion, Parliaments at once, had a principal hand in the unparallel'd murder, proceedings againſt our late King Charles of glorious memory; and had no ſmall influence in the late metamorphoſis of our Hereditary Kingdomes, into the confuſed Chaos of a new Free Commonwealth; Having (as the General of the Engliſh Jeſuites confeſſed to a Noble Engliſh Lord in their Colledge at Rome) Anno 1653. in England above 1500 of their Society able to work in ſeveral trades, (which the Bu…l of Pope Gregory the 13th. inables them to exerciſe, as well as to preach without Orders.) They having a Conſiſtory and Council that ruled all the affairs of the Kings in England: into which they never came over in thoſe ſwarms, as they did during our late confuſions; as Cromwell himſelf relates in his printed Speech, Sept. 4. 1654. p. 16, 17. and being the Heads and Lay-preachers to moſt of our New ſects, as well as Soldiers in our late Armies, and Gariſons?

Their 5th. Title (whereunto all Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, and that by divine right is now pretended to be annexed as inſeparable, incommunicable to Kings, Temporal Magiſtrates, or to ordinary Prieſts, Presbyters, Miniſters) is that of Biſhop, or Overſeer, and their office a Biſhoprick, or good work, Acts 20. 28. Phil: 1. 8. 1 Tim. 3. 1. Tit: 1. 7.

To which I anſwer firſt: That if the Supream Titles, offices of Apoſtles, Diſciples, Evangeliſts have no ſuch Juriſdiction included in or conferred by them, as is pretended, then this of Biſhop or Overſeer, inferior to them, can have none, at leaſt none greater or ſo great as they. 2ly It is only a Title of Miniſtry, not of Dignity; of Labour, not Honor; of Operation not Denomination; of Watching, not Lording or loytering; as Fathers and Councils in all ages have defined: I ſhall preſent you with a ſhort view of their reſolves herein, to abate that Timpany of Ambition, pride, ſupercilioſneſſe, luxury, which Popes, others challenge only from this Title of Biſhop. aaIn Mat. Hom. 13. & in Eſaiam Hom. 10.Origen (within 220. years after Chriſt) reſolved, Qui Principatum deſiderat Eccleſiae, debet fieri omnium ſervus in humilitate ſervili, ut obſequatur omnibus in his quae perrinent ad ſalutem, & haec docet nos ſermo divinus. Eccleſiarum Principes. Principum mundalium imitatores eſſe non debent, ſed imitari debent Chriſtum acceſſibilem, & mulieribus loquuentem, & pueris manus imponentem, & diſcipulis ſuis pedes lavantem atque tergentem, exemplum eis dantem, ut & ipſi ſimiliter faciant ſuis fratribus. Neque enim ad Principatum Eccleſiae venit qui ſalvari vult, etſi praeeſt; ſed ad ſervitutem Eccleſiae. Et ſi oportet diſcere de Evangelio, Principes quidem Gentium dominantur eis, & qui poteſtatem habent in illis, Magistratus vocantur; vos autem non ſic. Qui vocatur ergo ad Epiſcopatum, non ad Principatum vocatur, ſed ad ſervitutem totitius Eccleſiae. Si vis credere de Scripturis, quia in Eccleſia ſervus ſit omnium, qui praeſet. Propter quod ait Apoſtolus: Ita nos exiſtimet homo ut miniſtros Chriſti & dispenſatores mysteri…ram Dei. Peccat autem in Deum quicun que Epiſcopus, qui non quaſi conſervis ſervus miniſtrat, ſed quaſi Dominus. Frequenter autem et quaſi amarus Dominus dominans per vim: ſimilis conſtitutus Egyptiis, qui affligebant vitam filiorum Iſrael vi, &c.

bbDe Dignitate Sacerdotis, l. 4.St. Ambroſe reſolves, Niſi bonum opus amplecturis Epiſcopus eſſe non potes; a Biſhoprick being not a Dignity or Dominion, but a good work, &c.

St. Chryſoſtom Hom. 11. in Epheſios, Non dominamur, ait, fidei veſtrae, thus reſolves. O D…lecti, nec Domini more haec imperamus. Doctrinae verbi praefecti ſumus, non eſt nobis mandatus Magiſtratus, nec data Auctoritas. Conſiliariorum admonentium locum tenemus. Opus Imperfectum in Matth. Hom. 35. Principes Gentium dominantur eis, &c. Chriſtus fructum humilitatis terreſtris poſuit, primatum caeleſtem: et primatus terreſtris fructum poſuit confuſionem caeleſtem. Quicunque ergo deſiderat primatum caeleſtem, ſequatur humilitatem terreſtrem: quicumque autem deſiderat Primatum in terra, inveniet confuſionem in coelo: ut jam inter ſervos Chriſti non ſit de Primatu certamen, p. 76nec feſtinet unuſquiſque eorum, quomodo aliis major appareat, ſed quomodo omnibus inferior videatur. Converſatio igitur melior eſt deſideranda, non dignior gradus. Principes autem Eccleſiae fiunt, ut ſerviant minoribus ſuis, et miniſtrent iis, quaecunque acceperunt, ut ſuas utilitates negligant, & illorum procurent: ut ſi opus fuerit neque mori recuſent pro ſalute inferiorum ſuorum, ſicut Apoſtolus dicit: Ego autem impendar, & ſuperimpendar pro animabus veſtris. Si haec ergo ita ſe habent, Primatum Eccleſiaſticum concupiſcere neque ratio eſt, neque cauſa, quia neque juſtum eſt, neque utile, as he there proves at large. Denique ipſi honores in Chriſto in prima quidem facie videntur honores, revera autem non ſunt honores diverū, ſed diverſa miniſteria.

St. Hierom thus back him,ccAd Nepotian. Epiſt. 2. c. 19. Illud etiam dico, quod Epiſcopi Sacerdotes ſe eſſe …overint, non Dominos: honorent Clericos, quaſi Clericos, &c. Vnus Dominus, ddEpiſt. 3. ad He…odo…. c 7.unum Templum, unus ſit etiam Miniſterium. Recordemur ſemper, quid Apoſtolus Petrus praecipia Sacerdotibus, Paſcite eu, qui in vobis eſt, gregem Domini; neque dominantes in Clerum, ſed forma facti gregis. Rex nolentibus praeeſt, Epiſcopus volentibus; ille terrore ſubjicit, hic ſervituti donatur: ille corpora cuſtod… ad mortem; hic animas ſervat at vitam.eeCom in Sophoniam, c. 2. Com. in Epiſt 1. ad Timotheum. c. 3. Qui Epiſcopatum deſiderat, bonum opus deſiderat; Videte quod dixit, bonum opus deſiderat, non dignitatem. Ad boni operis deſiderum eum provocat,ffEp. 13. ad Ruſtic. Dia…. non ad honorem. Miniſtri ſunt Epiſcopi, non Principes: Etiam in altari Dei videant ſibi Epiſcopi, ſi ſuperbi ſint, Draconos antepo…. aaComment. l. 2. in Epiſt. ad Galatas c. 4.Fratres obſecro vos, &c. Quae quidem verba ad humilitatem provocant, & ſupercilium decutiunt Epiſcoporum, qui velut in aliqua ſublimi ſpecula constituti vix dignantur vid…r… mortales, & alloqui conſervos ſuos; Diſcant ab Apoſtolo, errantes & inſipientes Galathas vocari Fratres. bbComment. l. 2 in Epiſt. ad Epheſ.Subjecti invicem in timore Christi. Audiant haec Epiſcopi, audiant Presbyteri, audiant omnis ordo Doctorum, ſubiectis ſuis ſe eſſe ſubiectos, & imitentur dicentem Apoſtolum, Cum enim eſſem liber ex omnibus, omnibus me ipſum ſervum feci, ut omnes lucrifacerem. Et in alio loco, Per charitatem ſervite invicem. Servator quoque formam ſervi accepit, ut ſerviret diſcipulis ſuis, & pedes eorum lavit. Hoc intereſt inter Gentium Principes, et Chriſtianorum, quod illi dominantur ſubditis, nos ſervimus; et in eo maiores ſumus, ſi minimi omnium fuerimus. Yea he concludes,ccAd Evagriam Epiſtola. the Biſhop of Eugubium (a ſmall deſpicabie City) to be equal to the Biſhop of Rome himſelf in power and Juriſdiction Nec altera Romanae urbis Eccleſia, altera totius orbis exiſtimanda eſt, &c. Si authoritas quaeritur, Orbis major eſt urbe. Ubicunque fuerit Epiſcopus ſive Eugubii, ſive Conſtantinopoli, ſive, Alexandriae, ſine Tanais, ejuſdem meriti, ejuſdem eſt Sacerdotii. Potentia divitiarum & paupertatis humilitas vel ſublimiorem vel inferiorem Epiſcopum non facit. Caeterum omnes Apoſtolorum ſucceſſores ſunt; quid mihi profers unius urbis (Romae) conſuetudinem?

ddDe Civitate De…. l. 19.St. Auguſtin determines; Epiſcopatus nomen eſt Operis, non Honoris, &c. ut intelligat ſe non elſe Epiſcopum, qui pra eſſe dilexerit, non prodeſſe. eeComment. in Pſal. 126Ps 126Quomodo vinitori altior locus factus eſt, ad cuſtodiendam vineam, ſic & Epiſcopis altior fit locus, ut ipſi ſuperintendant, & tanquam cuſtodiant populum. Et de iſto loco alto periculoſa redditur ratio, niſi eo corde ſtemus hic, ut humilitate ſub pedibus veſtris ſimus, & pro vobis oremus, ut qui novit mentes veſtras, ipſe cuſtodiat. Cuſtodimus enim vos ex officio diſpenſationis, ſed cuſtodiri volumus vobiſcum: tanquam vobis paſtores ſumus, ſed ſub illo Paſtore vobiſcum oves ſumus. Tanquam vobis Doctores ex hoc loco ſumus, ſed ſub uno illo Magistro in hac Schola vobiſcum condiſcipuli ſumus. Si volumus cuſtodiri ab illo, qui humiliatus eſt propter nos, & exaltatus ad cuſtodiendos nos, Humiles ſimus, Nemo ſibi arroget aliquid.

In brief, Primaſius Uticenſis Epiſcopus, Sedulius Scotus, Theodoretus, Beda, Rabanus Maurus, Oecumenius, Theophylactus Biſhop of Bulgaria, Anſelmus Cantuarienſis Archiepiſcopus, Hayme Halberſtattenſis Epiſcopus, in their Commentaries and expoſitions on 1 Tim. 3. 1, 2. & Tit. 1. Iſidor. Hiſpalenſis Epiſcopus, de Officiis Eccleſiaſticis l. 2. c. 5. Concilium Aquiſgranenſe ſub Ludovico Pio, c. 9. 11. & 13. Gratian Cauſa 8. quaeſt. 1. St. Bernard. De Conſideratione ad Eugenium Papam, lib. 2. with infinite more unanimouſly reſolved. Epiſcopatus nomen eſt Operis, non Honoris; Opus, inquit Apoſtolus, non dignitatem, laborem, non delicias p. 77& honorem. Opus, pet quod per humilitatem creſcat, non faſtidio intumeſcat. Ne igitur Dominatum et Auctoritatem ſolum expetat. Nec deſiderare Epiſcopatum putandus eſt, qui ſuum deſiderat iucrum vel honorem, non plebis ſalutem. Non enim dicitur, qui Epiſcopatum deſiderat, bonum Gradum deſiderat, ſed bonum Opus. Ipſe ergo ſibi teſtis eſt, quia Epiſcopatum non appetit, qui non boni Operis Miniſterium, ſed Honoris gloriam quaerit. ffSee the Vnb…ſhoping of Timothy and Titus, p 9…, to 100.Epiſcopi nomen non Dominium, ſed Officium, non Honos, ſed Onus. Nec enim Dignitates ſunt Eccleſiaſtica, ſed opus: co quod unumquod que horum pro communi utilitate eſt conſtitutum, ſive Epiſcopatus, ſive Diaconia, ſive unumiquod que aliud. Curam potius haereditabis et Operam, quam gloriam et divitias. Non eſt Epiſcopus qui praeeſſe dilexerit non prodeſſe: There is therefore nothing in the Title, or Office of a Biſhop, (being only a work) that can give St. Peter, the Pope, or any other Biſhop, Presbyter, Elder or Miniſter, any Supream or Ordinary inherent Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction independent on, underived from the muniſicence of Chriſtian Emperors & Kings, eſpecially if we conſider, that in the Apoſtolical Churches, and thoſe next ſucceeding them in the pureſt Primitive times, there were by divine inſtitutionggSect. 11. 30. c 14. 23. c. 13, 14 15. c. 2, 3, c 16 4. c. 20. 17, 28. c. 21. 18. c. 22. 5 Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Tit. 1. 5, 7 Jam. 5. 14. Heb. 13. 17. 1 Pet 5. 1, 2. 3. 1 Cor. 14, 20, 30, 31, 32 c. 1 Theſ. 5. 10. 15. Rom. 16. 3. 9, 12. Euſeb. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 31. l. 6. c, 8. 10. Socrates Scholaſt. Eccleſ. Hiſt l. 5. c. 5 l. 7. 3. Poſſid. in vita Auguſtin. c. Cent. Magd. 8. col. 679, 680. The Unbiſhoping of Timothy & Titus, p. 15, 16, 17, 34, 35.Phil 1:11 Tim 5:17Titus 1:5Titus 1:7Jas 5:14Heb 13:171 Pet 5:11 Pet 5:21 Pet 5:31 Cor 14:201 Cor 14:301 Cor 14:311 Cor 14:321 Thess 5:101 Thess 5:15Rom 16:3Rom 16:9Rom 16:12 many Biſhops, Elders in one and the ſame Church; not one Biſhop over many; That they were all of equal authority, who by a common council and conſent, did feed, inſtruct, watch over, and take care of their Churches. that they were promiſcuouſly ſtiled Biſhops, Elders, Presbyters; there being then no real diſtinction of order and degree between a Biſhop & a Presbyter by divine inſtitution: Hence aaEpiſt. l. 4. Epiſt. 1. 9.St. Cyprian reſolves, Una eſt Eccleſia Chriſti per totum mundum in plura membra diviſa; Item Epiſcopatus unus Epiſcoporum multorum concordi numeroſitate diffuſus. Eccleſia una eſt, & connexa & cohaerentium ſibi invicem Sacerdotum glutino copulata.bbEpiſt. l. 3. Epiſt. 13. Etſi Paſtores multi ſumus, Unum tamen grogem paſcimus & oves univerſas, quas Chriſtus ſanguine ſuo & paſſione quaeſivit, collegit & fovere debemus; Idcirco copioſum eſt corpus Sacerdotum, concordiae mutuae glutino, atque unitatis vinculo copulatum, ut ſi quis ex collegio nostro haereſim facere, ac gregem Chriſti lacerare ac vaſtare tentaverit, ſubveniant caeteri, ut Epiſcopatum quo que ipſum unum et indiviſum probemus, they being all (both Biſhops and Prieſts) ejuſdem merito, ejuſdem Sacerdotii, Apoſtolus perſpicue docens; eoſdem eſſe Presbyteros, quos & Epiſcopos. Idem ergo eſt Presbyter qui Epiſcopus, &c. as ccCom. in Epiſt ad Tit. c. 1. in Evagrium Epiſtola.Titus 1St. Hierom and moſt antient Commentators after him on 1 Tim. 2. & Tit. 1. aſſert; which our learned ddDefence of the Apology, pars 2. c. 3. div. 5. c. 7. diviſ. 1. p. 128. 129, 248.Biſhop Jewel,eeLetter to Sir Fran. Knols, & conference with Hart. Dr. Raynolds,ffContra Duraeum l. 7. ſect. 55. Controv. 2. qu. 2. c. 5. Dr. Whitaker,ggOf the Church, Book 5. c. 27. Dr. Field,hhSynopſis Papiſmi, qu. 1. part 2. Dr. Willet,iiDr. Ames Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 1, 2. Dr. Ames, and ſundry other Writers have at large aſſerted againſt the Popes pretended Supremacy over all other Biſhops, Presbyters, and the Catholick Church, and kkDe Gubernatione Eccleſ. lib.Gerſomus Bucerus, llApologia pro ſententia Hieronymi, a moſt learned Treatiſe; Smectymnuus.David Blondellus, with many more have demonſtrated in peculiar Treatiſes againſt the Ʋſurpations of Patriarchs, Archbiſhops, Biſhops over Ordinary Presbyters, Prieſts, Miniſters, People, by a pretended Divine Right, not derived from Chriſtian Kings, or Princes; from whom alone all their Epiſcopal Juriſdiction and Courts are or ought to be derived, as the Statutes of 37 H 8. c. 17. & 1 E. 6. cap. 2. and other Acts reſolve.

The 6th. Goſpel Title given to them, is that of Elder, or Presbyter; 1 Tim. 5. 1. 19. 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2. 2 John 1. 3. John 1. Tit. 1. 5. Jam. 5. 14. Rev. 4. 10. Acts 10. 17. c. 15. 2, 4, 6, 22, 23. c. 16. 4. Acts 21. 18. c. 23. 14. Which being the ſame in ſubſtance with that of Biſhop, hath no ſupream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, but only a directive, not coercive Authority or dominion included in it, as St. Peter reſolves, 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3.

The 7th. Title given them, is that of**2 Cor. 5. 29, 20, 21.2 Cor 5:292 Cor 5:202 Cor 5:21 Embaſſadors for Chriſt, to whom he hath committed the word of reconciliation, beſeeching men as if God did intreat them (by their Embaſſy) to be reconciled to God, who hath made Christ to be ſinne for us, who had no ſinne, p. 78that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God by him. But this ſupplicatory Office, carrying no Juriſdiction, but beſeechings and intreatings along with it, derives no Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction at all, (much leſſe Supream) to any who enjoy it; and its the ſame in ſubſtance with the Title of an Apoſtle.

The 8th. Title is that of a Miniſter, a Miniſter of God, a Miniſter of Chriſt, a Miniſter of the Goſpel, by whom we believe; given to Apoſtles, Biſhops, Elders, and all other diſpenſers of the Goſpel, Acts 26. 16. Rom. 15. 16. Epheſ. 3. 7. c. 6. 21 1 Cor. 3. 5. c. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 3. 6. c. 6. 4. c. 11. 23. Col. 1. 7, 23, 25. c. 4. 7. 1 Theſ. 3. 2. 1 Tim: 4. 6. Whence the office is ſtiled a Miniſtry, Miniſtration, and Miniſtring, 2 Cor. 3. 7, 8, 9. c. 4. 1. c. 5. 18. c. 6. 3. c. 9. 13. Rom: 12. 17. Eph. 4. 12. Col. 4. 17. 1 Tim: 1. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 5, 11. Hebr: 8. 6. Now as this Title was attributed to the Prieſts, Levites, and others in the Old Teſtament, without any Juriſdiction. Ezra 7. 24. c. 8. 17. Pſ. 103. 21. Pſ. 104. 4. Iſay 61. 6. Jer. 33. 21. Ezech: 44. 11. c. 45. 4, 5. c. 46. 24. Joel 1. 9, 13. c. 2. 17. Heb: 8. 2. So it ſignifies nothing but a ſervant, and their office but a meer ſervice, without the leaſt appurtinent of Juriſdiction, Soveraignty, Power, Dominion over thoſe to whom they are Miniſters; as is evident by Matth: 20. 16. Mar. 10. 43. Luke 4. 20. Acts 13. 5. Exod 24. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 4. c. 9. 1. Heb: 1. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 11. Ezech. 44. 11. 15, 16, 17. 27. and ſundry other Texts.

The 9th. Title is the ſame in effect with that of Miniſter, to wit,nnRom. 1. 1. c. 16 2 Cor. 9. 17. Col. 4. 12. Tit. 1. 1. Lu. 16. 1, 2, &c.Rom 1:12 Cor 9:17Col 4:12Titus 1:1 A Servant of Jeſus Christ, ſervants of the Church, & their ſervants for Jeſus ſake; Pauls uſual ſtile in his Epistles, and Peters and Judes in their Epiſtles. Now as this Title is uſually given throughout the Scrpture to every Chriſtian, ſervant, and other Miniſters of the loweſt rank; ſo it imports only inferiority and ſubjection to their Lords and Maſters, not Soveraignty or Juriſdiction inconſiſtent in and with a ſervant, Mat: 20. 27, John 13. 16. Mat. 24. 50. c. 25. 21.

aaAlva…us Pelagius de Planctu Eccleſ. l. 2. Artic. 13.Sir 50:2Pope Gregory the 1. being the moſt humble, was the firſt Pope who (out of humility) ſtiled himſelf not only a Servant, but, Servus ſervorum Dei, in all his Letters, by whoſe example other ſucceeding Popes gave themſelves this Title of humility, which was inſerted into their antient Lawes and Decrees, but not in their new, as Alvarus Pelagius obſerves; who informs us, That the Pope ſtiles himſelf thus, becauſe he is the ſervant of Peter and Paul; and that he is called a Servant, 1. Becauſe he makes himſelf the ſervant of all, (like Paul) that he might gain all. 2ly. Propter laborem & ſollicitudinem quam ſuſtinet pro omnibus, ſicut Servus. 3ly. Quia ſicut per Servum acquiritur Domino, ſic per Papam cuilibet Eccleſiae poteſt acquiri. But this Servus ſervorum is now aſſerted to be, Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominorum. And that whichbbCauſ. 1. qu. 3. & Diſtinct. 73. St. Bernard thus decried;ccDe Conſid. …. 2. Abſit à te, Nunquid hoc, quia Summus Pontifex, ideo ſummus? hoc enim illorum eſt, qui dignitates virtutes putant. Auguſtis relinquito illam ſententiam, aliiſque qui divinis coli honoribus non timent, viz. Nabuchodonoſor, Alexandro, Anticho, Herodi; is now become the Popes uſual darling Title, which occaſioned theſe two Verſes:

ddGloſſ. in Gratian cauſ. 1. qu. 7. Alvarus Pelagius, l. 2. A…t. 13.Servierant tibi Roma prius Domini Dominorum:

Servorum ſervi NUNC TIBI SUNT DOMINI.

The 10th. Title isee1 Cor. 5. 1, 2. 1 Pet. 2. 10. Lu. 12. 42, 43. Tit. 1. 7. Lu. 16 1, 2, &c.1 Cor 5:11 Cor 5:21 Pet 2:10Titus 1:7 Stewards, and dispenſers of the myſteries and manifold graces of God, and their office is ſtiled a Stewardſhip, to give the houſhold and their fellow ſervants their meat in due ſeaſon; not to beat, abuſe, domineer over, or enſlave them. Now a Steward being but a ſervant, imports not the leaſt dram of Juriſdiction or Dominion.

The 11th. is that of ffHebr. 5. 1. c. 8. 3. c. 9. 9. c. 10. 38.Heb 5:1Prieſt, (which Proteſtants allow of as a contract of Presbyter, but utterly diſallow as uſed by the Church of Rome, for a ſacrificing Prieſt) unleſſe in reſpect of ſuch spiritual ſacrifices of Prayer, Prayſe, Alms, & offring up our own ſouls and bodies to God;ggRom. 12. 1. Eph. 5. 2. Phil. …. 18. c. 2. 17.Rom 12:1Eph 5:2 Now this Title in this ſpiritual ſence, is common to every Chriſtian, as well as to Popes, Biſhops and Presbyters: Witneſſe 1 Pet. 2. 9. But ye are a choſen generation, a Royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, &c. (as all the Elect and Saints of God are there ſtiled) Rev. 1. 4. 7. where St. John writes thus to the 7. Churches in Aſia. Unto him that loved us, and waſhed us from our ſins in his bloud, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God his Father. Rev. 5. 9, 10. Thoſe whom Chriſt had redeemed with his bloud out of every tongue, language & Nation, ſing this New ſong unto p. 79him that ſits on the throne, Thou art worthy, &c. For thou haſt made us unto our God, Kings and Prieſts; Rev. 20. 6. Bleſſed and holy is he, that hath part in the firſt Reſurrection, on ſuch the ſecond death hath no power, but they ſhall be Prieſts God and of Chriſt. From which Texts, ggIn Exhortat: ad Caſtitatum.Tertullian thus argued. Nonne & Lalci Sacerdotes ſumus? Regnum quoque nos et Sacerdotes Deo & Patri ſuo fecit. hhIn Luc. 1.Luke 1St. Ambroſe reſolves, Omnes filii Eccleſiae Sacerdotes ſunt. iiIn Malach. c. 1.Mal 1St. Hierom determines, Genus Sacerdotale & Regale ſumus omnes, qui baptizati in Chriſto, Chriſti cenſemur nomine. Which kkIn 2 Cor. Hom. 3.St. Chryſoſtom thus backs, Et tu in baptiſmo, & Rex eſſiceris, & Sacerdos, & Propheta: adding, St. Peter calls the whole Church of Chriſt, A Kingly Prieſthood. llIn Evang. …. 1. c. 10. De Civit: Dei, l. 20. c. 10.St. Auguſtin concludes, Hoc Sacerdotio Regali, conſecrantur omnes pertinentes ad corpus Chriſti, Summi & veri Principis Sacerdotum: Omnes ſunt ſacerdotes, quia membra ſunt unius Sacerdotis: Yea **Reges ſunt & Sacerdotes omnes electi. Sententiae, f. 113.St. Bernard,mmMarlorat, Calvin, Fox, Beza, &c. Bp: Jewels Defence of the Apology, part: 1. c. 11. diviſ. 4. 5. p. 113 114. moſt Commentators and all Proteſtant Divines from theſe Texts reſolve, That every faithfull Chriſtian is after a ſpiritual and ghostly manner, both a Prieſt to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices unto God, and likewiſe a King, to rule over his ſins and corruptions. Therefore Mr. Hardings inference from this Text of Peter, That the Pope being a Biſhop, may be a King, But on the other ſide, a King may in no wiſe be a Biſhop or Prieſt. That the Prieſthood which is the greater, may contain the Kingſhip being the leſſe; but not è converſo, And Dormers inference thence: You are a Kingly Prieſthood, as who ſhould ſay, the Priesthood before was not Kingly; for that their Kings (under the Law) nnHere, Fol. 40. Biſhop Jewel, ib. p. 711 712, 713, 714.ruled over Prieſts; but now is the Prieſthood Kingly, for that to it be ſubiect even Kings themſelves; So that unleſſe the Pope, yea every Popiſh Prieſt may rule over Kings and Princes as their Lords paramount, and that in Temporals as well as Spirituals, and all the world at their pleaſures, they think they are no Kingly Prieſtood) muſt needs vaniſh into ſmoak; ſince not only every Chriſtian King, but private Chriſtian, is as much; as really a Spiritual Prieſt and King too, by St. Peters and St. Johns reſolutions, as the Pope, or St. Peter himſelf: Eſpecially if we believe aaDe Poteſt. Regali, & Papali, c. 18.Johannes de Pariſiis his deciſion; Sacerdotium dicitur Regale, a Regno, non hujus mundi ſed coeli; and the Gloſſe on bbDiſtinctio 10.Gratian, from St. Cyprians reſolution; Chriſtus actibus propriis & Dignitatibus diſtinctis potestates utriuſque diſcrevit. Hinc eſt argumentum, (as the Gloſſe reſolves) quod Papa non habet utrumque gladium; or at leaſt it evidenceth, that every private Chriſtian being both a Spiritual King and Prieſt, hath both ſwords as well as the Pope; who upon this account can have no ſuperiour Spiritual or Temporal Juriſdiction over them, ſince **Gratian Diſt. 65.Par in parem non habet Imperium.

To cloze up this Chapter, I can diſcover (upon ſerious diſquiſition) nothing in all or any of the Evangelical Commiſſions or Titles given to the Apoſtles or Miniſters of the Goſpel, that can inveſt St. Peter, or any other Apoſtle, Pope, Biſhop, Presbyter, Miniſter, Prieſt, with Supream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction or Dominion, much leſſe advance the Pope to ſuch a tranſcendent ſuperiority over the whole Church, all Biſhops, yea Emperors, Kings themſelves, as now they exerciſe, preſcribe, expect by their very Caeremoniale, wherein they inform us;ccCaeremoniale Romanum. l. 3. c. 2. Papa nemini omnino mortalium reverentiam facit aſſurgendo manifeſte, aut Caput inclinando, aut detegendo. Such is his Antichriſtian pride: But on the other ſide, the Emperor himſelf when he is to be crowned by the Pope,ddSacrarum Caeremoniar: l. 1. ſect. 5. c. 3. 6. Bp. Jewels Defence. p. 461. ut primum videt Pontificem, detecto capitc, illum, genu terram contingens veneratur, & iterum cum appropinquat ad gradus ſedis, genu flectit: Demum ut ad Pontificis pedes pervenit, illos in reverentiam Salvatoris (who never received nor required any ſuch reverence from Emperors or Kings) devote oſculatur. Yea the Empreſſe, eeSacrarum Caeremon. l. 1. Sect. 1. p. 61. Sect. 2. p. 38, 43, 45. & Tit. 2 28, 29. Marta l. 18. n. 14. Steuchus p. 13… Dr. Crakenthorp of the Popes Temporal Monarchy, p. 23 24. Bp. Jewels Defence of the Apology, 4 part c. 7. diviſ. 3. p. 463, 464, to 473.Titus 2:28Titus 2:29Imperatrix Coronata mox oſculatur pedem Pontificis. Moreover the Emperor himſelf, like a Groom of the Popes Stable, or Footman, muſt hold the Popes ſtirrop, and lead his horſe, (as Pepin did to Pope Stephen, and Frederick to Pope Hadrian, and as Conſtantine the Great did to Pope Silveſter, if we credit Mr. Harding.) If more Kings be preſent, then the more worthy King muſt lead the Popes horſe on the right ſide, and the other on the left. And if he be not pleaſed to ride, then four of the greateſt Kings (whereof the Emperor to be one, if preſent) muſt bear the Popes chair on their ſhoulders, and the Pope ſitting therein. At his feaſt: the Emperor, or greateſt King, muſt bring water to waſh his hands; they muſt carry the firſt diſh of meat and ſet it on his Table. At his Coronation, two Cardinal Deacons muſt hold up the ſides of his Pluviale, or looſe upper Garment; and the Emperor, or in his abſence, two of the chiefeſt Kings muſt hold up the tayl thereof. If they happen to offend the Pope, they muſt dance attendance barefooted p. 80at the Popes gates, asssLambert. Scafnaberg. p. 249. Abbas Uſperg. p. 235. Sabellicus Aeneid. lib. 9. lib. 3. Hermanus Schedel: Chron. did Henry the 4th. the Emperor, and that for divers dayes and nights, and in a cold froſty, ſnowy ſharp ſeaſon: Or, they must be whipped with rodds on their naked body, as wasggMat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. p. 125. Henry the 2d. of England, who received three ſtripes on his naked body from many religious perſons, and from others 4. or 5. who in great numbers reſorted to his pennance. Or elſe ſuffer the Pope to trample on their necks, ashhNauclerus ad Anno 1177. Cent. Magd. 12. c. 7. col. 1070, 1071, 1072. Pope Alexander the 3d. did on the neck of the Emperor Frederick Barbaroſſa, juſtifying this his proud inſulting over him, by a blaſphemous wreſting of this ſacred Text, Thou ſhalt tread upon the Adder and the Baſili…k. And when the Emperor replyed, He ſhewed this humility, Non tibi, ſed Petro; this inſolent Pope retorted, et Mihi et Petro: YeaiiPolychron, l. 7. c. 26. Centur. Magd. 12. col: 1071. Caeleſtine the 3d. when he crowned Henry the 3d. Emperor, and had ſet the Imperial Crown on his head, which he bowed down to him, the proud Pope ſitting in his chair, Statim pede in terram excuſſit, preſently ſtruck the Crown off his head with his foot to the ground; deſignans per hoc, quod ipſe Papa haberet poteſtatem coronandi Imperatorem, ſi meruerat, & dejiciendi ſi demeruerit. kkSumma, pars 3. Tit. 21. c. 5. Sect. 4.Antoninus averrs, Non minor honor debetur Papae, quam Angelis: Vnde Papa recipit a fidelibus (yea a Regibus et Imperatoribus) Adorationes, Proſtrationes, et Oſcula pedum, quod non permiſit Angelus a Iohanne Evangeliſta fieri. Therefore he learned this humility and proſtration not from this good Angel, but the Apoſtate Angel the Devil; whollMat: 4. 8, 9. uſurped a power to give all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, to Chriſt, if he would thus fall down unto him and worſhip him, as Kings and Emperors do to the Pope; who though he ſtiles himſelf Servus ſervorum Dei in his Epiſtles, yet diſplayes himſelf to be aaGreg. Magnus l. 4. Epiſt. 38.Rex ſuperbiae, Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominorum, in and by this his Antichriſtian Pride, actions, and Kings, villain ſervice. It is St.bbDe Conſid. l. 2. Bernards inſtruction to Pope Eugenius, Bonus fundus humilitas in qu…mne aedificium spirituale conſtructum creſcit in Templum ſanctum in Domino. Nulla ſplendidior gemma, in omni praecipue conatu Summi Pontificis: Quo enim celſior caeteris, eo humilitate apparet illuſtrior in ſeipſo: And it is the determination ofccDoctrinale Fidei, Hom. 1. lib. 2. Art. 1. c. 3. ſect. 8. Thomas Waldenſis, (a great Patron of the Popes Supremacy) Petrus ſicut in Apoſtolatu primus erat, ſic etiam in humilitate. I wiſh Popes (who pretend themſelves to be St. Peters ſucceſſors, diſclaiming all their premiſed Luciferian Ceremonies, Services, Exorbitances) with all other Biſhops and Clergymen, may from henceforth demonſtrate themſelves to be Chriſts real Diſciples, Apoſtles, ſucceſſors, exceeding all others in humility, by preaching, diligence in the Miniſtry, not in the uſurpation of ſuch Eccleſiaſtical Authority, for which they have neither precept nor preſident in the Goſpel, as the premiſes demonſtrate. I ſhall cloze up this Chapter with St.ddDe Conſid. lib. 2▪ Bernards words to Eugenius, which I cordially deſire all ambitious Popes and Prelates ſeriouſly to conſider: En quis es: ſed noli obliviſci etiam, quid? Quid deſinas intueri, quod non deſiiſti eſſe? Hoc ergo conſulo; conſideres maxime, quod maximus es; hominem videlicet, quod & natus es. Tolle ergo nunc haereditaria haec perizomata ab initio maledicta. Dirumpe, velamen foliorum celantium ignominiam, nec plagam curantium. Dele fucum fugacis honoris hujus, & malae coloratae nitorem gloriae; et unde es nude nudum conſideres, quiaeeJob. 1.Job 1 nudus egreſſus es de utero matris tuae. Nunquid infulatus, nunquid micans gemmis, aut floridus ſericis, aut coronatus pennis, aut ſuffarcinatus metallis? Si cuncta haec veluti nubes quaſdam matutinales velociter tranſeuntes, & cito pertranſituras diſſipes & exſuffles a facie conſiderationis tuae, occuret tibi homo nudus & pauper, & miſerabilis; Homo dolens, quod homo ſit; erubeſcens, quod nudus ſit, plorans quod natus ſit, murmurans quod ſit,ffJob. 5.Job 5 Homo natus ad laborem, non ad honorem. Homo natus de muliere, & ab hoc cum reatu; brevi vivens tempore, ideoque cum metu; repletus multis miſeriis, ideoque cum fletu: & vere multis, qu… corporis & animae ſimul. Proinde ſi conſideras quantus es; cogita etiam qualis; & maxime. Haec te ſane conſideratio tenet in te, nec te avolare ſinit, necggPſal. 230. ambulare in magnis, neque in mirabilibus ſuper te. In te conſiſtito; non infra dejici, non attolli ſupra; non evadere in longius; non extendi in latius. Tene medium, ſi non vis perdere modum. Locus medius tutus eſt: Medium ſedes modi, & modus virtus. Omnem extra modum habitationem ſapiens exilium putat.