THe vniuersall Church,1. Tim. 3. 1 Cant. 1. as it is the Citie and Spouse of the liuing God; so one part there of Triumphant, is the Companie of the Blessed ones in Heauen, who had runne their Race here,1. Pet. 1. 9. kept the Faith, and got the end thereof, euen the Saluation of their Soules: The other part is the So­cietie of Mankind,Rom. 12. 3. knowne to God, re­newed in the Spirit of their Mind,Act. 15. 9. puri­fied by Faith,Ioh. 15. 3. waiting the comming of the Lord Iesus to their Immortalitie. Of this secundarie part, it is controuerted betwixt Vs and the Enemies of the Truth, who should be the Head there­of; Whether solely and onely Iesus [Page] Christ her Husband, who neyther can admit, nor will allow, of Spirituall For­nication, imparting Vitall and Hea­uenly Life,Ioh. 14. 6. Light, Sence, and Motion thereto.Col. 3. 4. Or whether there bee ano­ther Head besides Christ: so that the Church, Monster-like, hath two Heads to one Bodie.

Wee,Ephes. 4. 16. out of Paule, affirme, Christ to be the onely true Head of his Church: who vseth this Demonstration; Hee by whom all the Bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioynt, for the Furniture thereof (according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part) receiueth en­crease of the Bodie vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue, This same is, and onely can be, Head. But so it is, that Christ our Sauiour is the same, and none euer can take vpon them iustly so to doe to the Church, which is the Bodie, Ergo &c. Yet the Ad­uersaries to the Veritie contend, That the Bishop of Rome, whome they call Pope, should bee added vnto Christ, to bee Head of the Church; leaning vnto this, as to the speciall [Page] Pillar and Ground they build vpon,

• Peter was the Head of the Church,
• The Pope is Peters Successor,
• Ergo
• The Pope is the Head of the Church.

To the intent the whole Matter may be the more cleare and euident, and that a perfect Answere may be had to the alledged Argument, these Heads in particular are to be treated and discus­sed plainely; viz.

• 1 Peter was neuer Head of the Church.
• 2 Peter was neuer Bishop of Rome, nor yet in Rome.
• 3 The Pope is not Peters Successor, nor could succeed to him.
• 4 The Pope is not Head of the Church, nor Christs Vicar.
• 5 The Pope is the verie Antichrist.

First then, no man can denie, but if Peter had beene constituted and ordai­ned Head of the Church, the rest of the Apostles would or should haue knowne it: For it stood them greatly [Page] vpon, to vnderstand to whom they should haue recourse in dangers, as to their Commaunder, and vnto whom they should giue obedience: to whom also they should render an account of al their proceedings, least they should wander, bestowing their endeuours (as it would appeare) vnprofitably, not go­uerned by any President, who should either allow or disallow of their trauels in their Apostle ship, &c. But so it is, that they neuer acknowledged Peter Head of the Church, nor of any of the Apo­stles, much lesse of them all.

Yea Christ, the wisdome of the Fa­ther, in whom the Godhead dwelleth bodily,Luke 11. 49. and in whom are the treasures of knowledge and vnderstanding, leaueth no place to the vaine Curiosity and foo­lish inuentions of man, a little before his death, as it were taking his farewell and good night of them: for then wee attend the last will and wordes of our friendes most, they take deepest impres­sion in our mindes and memories, how much the more aduisedly and delibe­rately they are spoken, as it were, by the heart, with great waight, not onely be­cause [Page] the time is short and imminent certainty of death, (for Christ knew wel his houre) but also for that men keepe most eagerly that, whereof they haue no long expectation of endurance and continuance. Christ, I say, the night before his death, after Supper, recom­mended humility in his owne example to his Apostles, not to be lookt on only,Iohn 13. 15. but followed,Ibid. 17. did wash their feete: and to signifie with due intimation, that no­thing in that whole action did come, but of his prouident foresight & know­ledge, whereto he was priuy; yea, and the Searcher of hearts did pry into the Closet of Iudas Treason,Ibid. 18▪ 19. which Peter, when Iudas was taxed for it, did desire to know by the meanes of Iohn, who leaned on Iudas breast: If he had been Head, it was more competent in his own person to haue demaunded it.

And for that they should be vnwel­come vnto the world, hee armes them with constancy and patience against the ignominie and shame of their future crosses,Ibid. 31. 32. with promises of sending the Comforter and other some heauenly in­structions: yea it was so farre from Iesus [Page] mind & intention, to ordaine Peter head of his Church, or of the rest of his Apo­stles, that hee before them all and in Pe­ters owne presence perticularly foretells his deniall,Ibid. 37. 38 if this was that Champion (not to derogate to the Saint of God) that was to be placed in primacie aboue the rest, iudge yee? For when could Ie­sus haue more opportune time, or the Disciples better or quieter occasion to declare and heare a Superior ap­pointed ouer them, then now, when hee should fore-speake his defection to him, and his Apostacie who so ar­rogantly relied vpon humane strength and fortitude; beside that lately he had beene rebuked in the highest degree, by Christ in calling him Sathan, for appa­rantly Christ might haue forborne and tolerated the future head of the Church, and more mildly and softly entreated him, as in these and such like termes. Peter thy lapse wil procure thee to bee lowest of all, because it will bee the greatest of all, yet I will after aduance and promote thee to bee highest and head of all.

Now hee was checked for intruding [Page] himself into the ciuil Magistrates office, who if he had beene to bee surrogate in Christs office might haue beene borne with,Ihon 18. 11. in some degree, yet so much as in him was, hee hindred the mistery of our saluation; At all these times was good opportunity to conciliate to Peter in so open audience and famous places, both of the disciples and men without, authority and credit, if it had stood with Christs purpose to haue exalted and pro­moted Peter to the dignity of beeing head ouer his people and Church.

But which is of greater moment, it may be, Iesus would conceale and keepe secret to himselfe the dispensation of that charge vntill after his passion, or then keepe it in his own person, not wil­ling to make any participant of the same, vntill the time appointed in his good pleasure thereafter: yet so it is, Pe­ter is heauily vpbraided after the Resur­rection, as [...],Iohn 21. 22. a busie body in o­ther mens affaires.

In that reasoning,Ioh. 14. 5 8. that Christ had with the Disciples, premonishing them that he was going and departing from them, and with Thomas, pretending his [Page] ignorance of the way hee should take; if any, or Peter himselfe should haue beene substituted in Christs roome, was it not now? When so familiarly hee dis­puted with Thomas, Ibid. 8. 9. I will not say, but euen then he did answere to farre har­der and difficult questions; as the Vni­tie of the persons in one Deitie, and if he should delay, and continue the deli­uery of his mind in that point, would he not thinke you, once without ambigui­ty and equiuocation, both euidentlie and manifestlie thereafter haue decla­red the matter?

Yea,Ibid. 23. 24. Iudas Lebbeus receiued a perfect resolution of his demaund, in the oeco­nomy and distribution in the matters of mans Saluation, which was to some ma­nifested, to others hid: but of this tran­scendent excellencie there is neuer a whisper, and no maruaile, for he was to reserue that point to himselfe vncom­municable, not willing to diminish and lessen the same, by diuoluing that fun­ction to another, or though he had bin weary (if so I may say) to beare that burthen himselfe, as not of sufficient power and abilitie to discharge it, to [Page] the will of all his mysticall members, which did receiue spirituall Sappe and Iuyce of him, who is the roote, in the which his Church is engrafted, by a true, liuely, and sauing Faith.Rom. 12. And in­to whom the Church, after a heauenly and vnspeakeable manner (yet truely) is vnited and encorporated, and so be­come one body with him,Rom. 17. Flesh of his flesh, and bones of his bones.

And we know it to be accustomably vsed (for so did Moses to Iosuah at the Lords owne direction, and Dauid to Sa­lomon, &c.) to establish the Successor in the second roome, when one is eyther to dimit, or giue signification of the succedent, to preuent occasions of strife and debate which might arise, and are commonly bred for degrees of prefer­ment; but Christ remits and sends them to no mans Soueraignty, but as it were, manumits them, and of Seruants, chu­seth them his free friends, and as friends haue most things common, cheefelie, wils, councels and minds, so saith hee: All that I haue heard from my Father, I haue declared vnto you; but when said he, either first or last, that Peter was [Page] Head, or should be head of the Church, which Christ knew to be immortall, and Peter then mortall, which Christ told him thereafter, and the manner of his violent death. And that a man, no not all the men in the world can viuifie or quicken themselues: it is then farre off that one can viuifie another. But wee, when wee were dead in trespasses and sinnes, are quickned together, in, with, and by Christ, by whose Grace wee are saued: and surely neither Peter nor any of the Apostles, can transfuse or deriue any of the spirituall Graces one to ano­ther, in such sort as Christ by his Spirit, saue onely, as all the disposers of the mi­nisters of God doe, by the liuely prea­ching of the word, &c.

Therefore if it had been Christs con­tentment to haue vouchsafed that pre­rogatiue vpon Peter, when that contro­uersie anent Superioritie did arise; sure­ly he would not haue passed it without Decision, he is not the God of Debate, but will haue all things done in order, for hee would haue this scrupple taken out of the way, seeing them all as vpon a stumbling block rush vpon it; A little [Page] before in their gazing vpon the stately building of the Temple and princely Fabrick of that magnificent materiall Church,Act. 1. and as they did after the resur­rection dreame of the restitution of the Crowne and commonwealth from the vnnaturall tyrannie of the Romanes to whom they were Tributaries (for now the Scepter had departed, and the law­giuer from betwixt Iuda his Feete) with close mouth, neither than nor now did he passe ouer, neither the matter & pur­pose it selfe, neither themselues vnre­proued,Mar 13. but forespake the ruine & sack­ing of the Towne of Ierusalem,Mat. 23. there­by taking occasion to Prophesie the consummation of the whol world,Luc. 21. with the diuers Incidents at that period of time, when it should happen, as in that his Sermon most euidently shewes it selfe. But in that so high a Question, so earnestly tossed among thē nothing, the world and Ierusalem both shall perish, and they shall wax old as doth a gar­ment and as a vesture shall they bee fol­den vp, and in Ierusalem (as was then foretold) is not a stone left vpon a stone, but the Church endureth for euer, and [Page] such an euerlasting and eternall head should it haue, which Peter in no wise could bee. This was I say the meetest time for remouing of the doubs, yet our Sauiour did not command to acknow­ledge Peter for head, which without all contradiction he would haue done if he had appointed him chiefe and princi­pall ouer the rest, if so it had beene his intention, that the other Apostles should haue acknowledged Peter for their Lord and Master. Yet so it is that flat contrarily he deliuers and giues his Decree and Sentence, that there should be no principalitie nor primacie among them, but the greatest as the smallest, &c. For so saith he, the Kings of the Na­tions doe raigne, &c. but so it shall not be among you. In the which words he doth not onely recall them from such gouernment and regencie as is amongst the Gentils or Nations, but also hee disswades and dehorts them from all manner of Primacie; for Christ answe­red to no other interrogation heere, but such as they propounded; but they did not enquire of the gouernment and Lordsh., of the kings of nations, for what [Page] was that forme of Regiment appertai­ning or belōging to them, out of a pri­macy which euery one of them affected among themselues, and vnto the which they would haue climbed, for they did chide among themselues, and were di­uided, as it is said there: And forsooth if any might haue looked for a high place and promotion,Mat. 20, 20. the sonnes of Ze­bedeus, Iames and Iohn, Mar. 10. 35. (Christs Cozens concerning the flesh) wherevpon they did ground their petition by appea­rance. But there is no acceptation of persons with God. Their mother as meaning to finde greatest fauour both in regard of her kindred with the Vir­gine Mary Christs Mother, as also for her Sexe and humble behauiour, but all their suites were cast ouer barre, and they simply denied for the causes there alledged, which are not necessary here to repeat, and besides those reasons there set downe, they should haue re­membred that Christ before had closed their mouth from such a subiect,Mar. 9. 33. and therefore taught them,Iuc. 9. 46. that their de­sire proceeded from ignorance and ob­iuion.

[Page] But it would seem Peter should haue his ordination, if not immediatly from Christ, in the daies of his Flesh, yet by the authoritie of the rest of the Apo­stles, who had receiued the holy Spi­rit on the Pentecost in great aboun­dance, but they neuer acknowledged such place in Peter, whose prehemi­nence (if any had been) they would not haue neglected;Act. 8. 14. yet so it is they tooke vpon them boldnes to send both Peter and Iohn from Ierusalem to the Sama­ritans, whom they heard to haue recei­ued the word of God, for whom also the rest did pray and giue imposition of hands. Now he who sends and directs another is aboue him that is sent, else how dare he vsurpe that title and right as to command, either how can he look for obedience, or perfecting any point of dutie at the hands of him who is sent if hee be not subiect to the senders command & will, for it is not said the A­postles requested, or entreated, or be­sought Peter, but that they sent the o­ther Apostles, hauing, from their mee­ting and present assembly enioined to Peter and his Colleague Iohn, equall [Page] with him in that charge, to vndertake that iourney, for the benefit of the Sa­marirans. If euer at any time, surely heere, Peter might haue stood vpon his estimation, and might haue reiected their ordinance as arrogant and pre­sumptuous in extending their power too much, if he had beene head of the Church.

It may be that Peter as hee was euer very willing and prone to vndertake, so heere hee would yeeld to his Bre­threns desire, but who can excuse the Apostles; yea and the other Brethren which were of Iudea, which could not haue a like place and authoritie with the Disciples of Christ, in many and di­vers respects, which are not here to be reckoned,Act. 11. 1. 2. 3. to haue accused and caused Peter to giue a reason of his conuersati­on and Doctrine among the vncircum­cized, in that he had entered vnto them and eater with them after the receipt of the word of God, if hee had been constituted head of the Church, either in Christs time here vpon earth, or yet after his resurrection, by Christ or his Apostles or by any other means whatso­euer [Page] remarkeable, who can say, but that the Apostles haue done greatly a­misse in challenging their Superior and not rendring that simple and humble submission as in such matters is requi­site, and suppose it were tollerable in the Apostles, who were in like rank and estate with him; yet if Peter had been mounted▪ to that degree, he could not haue comported to heare himselfe so disgraced as it were,ibid. 2. and contended a­gainst by those farre inferiour to the Apostles, and adacted to giue in his A­pologie, clearely expounding and di­lating the whol matter vnto them with all the circumstances thereof. Peter, if hee had been their Master and head, might haue put them to silence for their sudden strife with him, or else haue said, I haue done no wrong, I haue reason for my actions; and that may suffice that I haue commandement by Reuelation from aboue, wherevnto I am priuie my selfe.

Peter yet might haue deliuered in defence of his proceedings to the A­postles and Brethren of Iudea offended at him, for Peters primacie had not [Page] been divulged and made manifest to the Church (if any had) or for per­secution and iniurie of the time it was suppressed and holden vnder vntill more conuenient time, while it should break vp, either (truely) in Antioch, or at Rome. But it is exceeding maruellous that Paul should not many yeares after haue got intelligence of the same see­ing it was such a necessary Head in the Church as tending to calme & tranquill all controuersies when refuge and ap­peale should be made to him as vnto an Oracle) for whom God sendeth in his worke whatsoeuer, him hee furnisheth fit and meet for the discharge thereof) and being aduanced to bee head, his graces should haue surpassed the other Apostles, especially Paul, who cals him­selfe an abortiue issue and borne out of time,Gal. 2, 2, 6. and it is credible that Paul would not take that arrogancy vppon him, by sundry arguments to contend, himselfe no wise inferior to Peter, if Peter was head of the church, & that hee receiued no point of doctrine from him, or any other of the brethren at Ierusalem, to which hee did ascend by reuelation to [Page] know his conformity with them.Ibid 9. More­ouer in recompting certaine disciples as Iohn and Iames, he placeth not Peter in the first order and roome: this is farre from his accustomed manner: who was so meeke as a nurse to her children, and who requireth his Galathians to bee as he was,1. Thes. 2. 7. 8. for he was as they were, and to giue to all men their duty,Gal. 4. 12. scare to whom feare and honor to whom wee owe ho­nor,Gal. 2. 12. but in Gods cause when hee did see Peter, that he went not the right way to the truth of the Ghospell, hee did withstand him to his face before all men, because hee was to bee rebuked, what can bee more euident? We know when Paul was rauished in the third heauen and receiued vasions and reuelations, fourteene yeares before hee manifested the same, and heard words vnutterable: but of this preferment of Peter, there is not one siyllable, yea Paul was his con­tradictor in this place, where, hee brin­geth his warrant, for in that matter and combate with Peter hee did nothing without expresse command, as not pur­posing one foot in that voyage without speciall reuelation; yea and if the sub­scription [Page] and date bee true,Gal. 2. 2. hee wrote the same Epistle to the Galathians from Rome.

Now in many other placees he comes to intimate by the spirit of Prophesie the condition of the world and the state of the Church vnder Antichrist, 1. Tim. 4. 1. but of this prerogatiue of Peter at any time hee hath not one word,2. Thes. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. but that three yeares after his conuersion hee came vp to Ie­rusalem to see Peter and staid with him fifteene dayes, where Paul might haue beene taught of others,2. Pet. 315. or of Peter him­selfe, and beene perswaded of this his Primacy; after soe many yeares since Christs ascention, and so many dayes con­ference and society with Peter himselfe, who doubtles would haue imparted to Paul, whom hee cal'd his beloued bro­ther, all speciall comfort aud heauenly grace particularly this point of the head of the Church, if any other then Christ had beene, land so much the more for that Paul, of all the Apostles, makes of­tenest mention in all his Epistles almost thereof, euer deferring that honor to Christ onely, the Sauiour of the Church which is his body, for Paul is farre off [Page] from grudging and disceptation, but his zeale must shew it selfe when Christs truth is peruerted as hee himselfe wit­nesseth.Phil. 2. 14.

Besides this three yeares after God had reuealed his sonne in him that hee might preach him among the Gentiles,Gal. 11. 8. 19. because hee did foresee that this verity should bee called in question, by them who would establish another head of the Church then Christ, hee conceites a graue atestation,Gal. 7. 21. saying, in these things which I write vnto you behold before God I lye not, as also more plainely in another place, whose preacher and A­postle (saith he) I am constituted, I speake the truth in Christ and lye not, [...]. Tim. 2. 7 euen a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and ve­rity.

Moreouer three yeares after his con­uersion he passed to Ierusalem and four­teene yeares after hee ascended to Ieru­salem the second time, now in this sea­uenteenth yeare after his calling to the Apostleship, which fell in the yeare of Christ, Anno 6. Paul testifies the Ghos­pell of vncircumcision was committed vnto him, as that of the Circumcision to [Page] Peter, and the Lord blessed and made both their Ministeries effectuall,Gal. 2. 8. So that it came to passe that Paul and Barnabas did couenant and giue their right hands of fellowship that they among the Gen­tiles, Iames, Peter and Iohn (for so hee rankes them) among the Iewes should discharge their Apostleship; now it must be of necessity that if Peter was head of the Church, then hee was constituted head both ouer Iew and Gentile, (vnles they would say, that hee was but halfe a head) but Paul affirmes and that by their owne motiue and voluntary will, that the Ghospell of the Gentiles was committed to him and Barnabas and not vnto Peter, how can we say then that he was, or apoynted to bee, head of the Church, seeing he was bound and tyed by his owne faithfull promise, beside his Commission, not to meddle with the Gentiles in his Ministery, or was not that an vnfirme head of the Church (if so I may say) that had so mutilate a bo­dy, seeing the one halfe as it were sepe­rated and seioyned from Peters Apostle­ship, he hauing obliged himselfe by his troth in his right hand to the contrary.

[Page] Againe if Christ would haue Peter to bee an vniuersall Apostle both of Iewes and Gentiles, how durst Peter without speciall licence had and obtained of his Author, and euident certainties there­of, haue brought his calling into such streighths and narrownes so hastily or at any time after, that within foure and twenty yeares he should enter in league with Paul to dimit and forgoe, the most dificult part, and of greater confe­quence, because both that the benefit of calling was not generally offered before but counter-manded; which was a miste­ry, as also for the multitude and great­nesse of the Gentiles▪ for there was farre more Gentiles then Iewes, whom the Lord suffered to walke in their owne waies while there was light, in some measure,Eph. 4. 23. among the Iewes in particular places and persons,I. Pet. 1. 19 although not gene­rally and amongst the greatest,Act. 13. 27. and yet such as might make inexcusable, and for this cause Peter not vnmindfull of his charge, hee had contracted himselfe vnto, as hee taught, with great liberty and feruency among the Iewes, for wheresoeuer he might haue occasion, as [Page] wee see aboundantly in the Acts of the Apostles, so likewise by writing an E­pistle hee taught the Iewes,1. Pet. 1. 1. Strangers which dwelt heere and there through­out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia, contayning himselfe al­wayes within the limits and bounds of his calling, requesting them to be mind­full of the wordes of the prophesies spoken so long time before,2. Pet. 3. 12 for vnto Iewes was it that the oracles of God were committed.Rem. 3. 2.

And so did Paul also,Act. 13. 2. being seperated to the worke,Rom. 1. 5. he was called to was sent a faire off to the Gentiles by the Lord by whom hee had receiued Grace and Apostleship to the obedience of Faith among all the Gentils for his name,Rom. 11. 13 and therefore cals it, the exalting and ador­ning of his Ministerie to bee called the Apostle of the Gentils, working in the Euangell of God, that the oblation of the Gentils might bee acceptable, san­ctified by the holy Spirit,Act. 13. 46. 47. not but that it behooueth the word of God to bee first expounded to the Iewes, but since they did repell it, and thought them vn­worthy of eternall life, he and Barnabas [Page] did conuert themselues vnto the Gen­tiles,2 Tim. 1. 11 whose Preacher,Rom. 11. 14. Apostle, & Do­ctor he cals himselfe, yet euer desiring to prouoke his Kinsmen, that he might saue some of them.

And to whom I pray you can we bet­ter giue credit vnto then to Peter him­selfe: for surely, although once he had dissembled in that deniall of his Maister in three-fold forme. And again▪ in that euill example he had giuen to Barnabas and others,Mar. 14. 66. 67. 68. when hee is precisely chal­lenged by Paul. Now would hee not haue hid his Talent in the earth, but that which was spoken to him in the eare, hee would haue spoken vpon the house tops, especiallie since he had pro­mised by Christs Praier, his Faith should not faile; yea, and it was enioyned him not to deny, but being cōuerted to con­firme his Brethren in the veritie of those things he had heard and seene, as hee did also abundantly; yet hee cals him­selfe no other then Apostle and Seruant, not Superior: yea,2 Pet. 1 15. 16. 17. 18. hee names himselfe a fellow-elder with them who are El­ders.2. Pet. 11. And if it be so,1. Pet. 5. 1. how can he he iust­ly said to bee Lord and Prince ouer his [Page] Brethren, and rest of the Elders,Ibid. 3. 4. 5. shall wee giue him more then either Christ bestowed vpon him, or that hee would claime himselfe, or any of the rest of the Apostles and Elders would acknow­ledge him to be. And which is more, he requests them to feede the Lordes flocke which is amongst them, taking diligent heede thereunto, not by con­straint, but willingly; not for filthy lu­cre, but of a readie mind, not as though they were Lords ouer Gods Heritage, but to be examples to the Flocke, that when the cheefe Shepheard shal appear, they may receiue an incorruptible Crowne of Glorie: he forbids Domi­nion & Lordships ouer the Heritage of God, if he had so done himselfe, and affected Primacy in the Church, which was farre from the mind of this Saint of God, hee had wrongfully forbid that, whereof he was culpable himselfe.

Likewise who will not esteeme it a great absurdity to repute all the Apo­stles, which then liued, and all the com­pany of the faithfull to be Peters mem­bers, and all things that appertaine and [Page] belong to a spirituall body, to be com­municated by him to them, which must be graunted, and that of most neces­sary consequence followeth, if we con­discend Peter to be head of the church: but this of Paul onely, in place of all that might be brought in, is plainly re­futed, who doth esteeme himselfe no­thing inferior to the highest Apostles, here is no exception of Peter, or Prima­cy,Rom. 12. 16 which Paul (such is his modestie) wold haue don if Peter had bin superior.

And who would not contend Paule to be Head of the Church of the Gen­tiles, rather then Peter: because it is proued already he is appointed both by Christ, as also with consent of those which were thought to bee Pillars of the Church, and in price had conditi­oned to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. Now it is certaine, wee are not of the Iewes, but of the Gentiles, if there should bee any of the Apostles Head of our Church, it must therefore be Paul, who did correct Peters error in Antiochia, Gal. 2. 11. the first place of his alleaged seat and residence, to whom also euen their own [Page] great Bulwark Tho: Aquinas. 2. secunda quest. 33. sect. 4. & Gloss. ad Gal. 2. 11. doth make Paul equal, but not superior.

Besides this,Act. 20. 11. Paul was sent to Rome by God, that he should testifie of Iesus Christ, as he had done already in Ieru­salem, whom the Lord did encourage to that effect: the which also by an An­gell of God, sent to him by night, was reiterate, saying; Feare not Paul, it be­hooueth thee to be presented to Caesar: Act. 27. 23. 24. And further,Act. 28. 30. Paul was at Rome and taught there two yeares, and the Ro­mans did thereby come to that perfec­tion of Religion,Rom. 1. 8. that their Faith at that time was spoken of in all the world. Here is a speciall designation of Paul to goe thither, whither we heare of none to be formerly sent, appointed thereto by two seuerall Mandates, tending to one Scope, who did enter into Rome, exercised the Office from morning till euening, expounding the Law and Pro­phets,Act. 28. 31. 32. &c. testifying and perswading of the kingdome of God in Iesus Christ, and made his aboad there during the space aforesaid in a house hired for him­selfe, [Page] and receiued all that came vnto him, teaching with all boldnesse of speech without let, what can bee more craued in a good Bishop, then which we find in Paul at Rome, but in all this time there is no mention made neither by Paul of Peter, neither Salutation sent to him in any of all the Epistle Paule sent to Rome, neither yet any remem­brance had of Peter in any of the Epi­stles he sent from Rome; as that to the Galathians, Ephesians, Philippians, Co­lossians, the second to Timothy, to Philemon, vnlesse their subscriptions be faulty: No remembrance I say, neither any word of Salutation which Paul v­seth not to omit, and that very largelie, yea, and not to forget euen the most ob­scure men and women, so they be faith­full of whatsoeuer degree. Now I pray you, whether Peter or Paul hath best right to claim the Superiority, or which of these two shall wee adiudge to bee Head of our Church (if either of them be.) And by the way (Gentle Reader) take a view, whether or not, Peter was euer at Rome, at the least neuer in Pauls [Page] daies, and if not then, hee neuer saw Rome with his eyes, as shall be proued (God willing) in our second Discourse.

For the which cause Anthonius Pyra­nensis Legatus did say, it was not lawfull for men to reade Pauls Epistles: for I know (saith he) by reading of them, men may become Lutherans; and therefore Ioh. Siluanus Atheseus. Pastor Herbipolis confesseth, that the Papists doctrine was false and Antichristian, and that he had learned that out of Pauls Epistles: which moueth Rhegius Gallicus Aristarchus, when he had burnt 9. in Lyons for Lu­theranisme, publikely to proclaim, That if the holy Church had not receiued Pauls Epistles, & accounted them Canonique, he would not repute them better or of more credit then the Fables of Aesope. And therfore are they named by them, Armamentarium Lutheranorum. Fin­celius Alue. exa­mi. Part. 1. Chap. 1. writeth, that Anno 1557. a Priest in Forcham, a Citie in the Bishoprick of Lamberg, in his Sermon, alledged Paul to haue erred, and that the Sacrament of the Supper should be receiued vnder one kind only: And if it be not so, that [Page] Sathan should take him away aliue from out of his Pulpet, and so it happened to the great feare of all the whole Dio­cesse; as the History written by the said Fincelius at length reports.

And wee know the whole Scrip­ture is giuen by inspiration of God; and is profitable, &c. that the man of God may bee perfectly instructed vnto euery good worke. And that Timothy from his childhood hath knowne the Holy Scripture, which might make him wise to Saluation: Now since they conteine all things necessarie to bee beleeued, and that to beleeue the holy Church v­niuersall is one point of our Faith,Ephes. 22. & 4, 15. and for that the militant Church here is one part thereof:Col. 1, 38. & [...]. 19. The head whereof is sear­ched heere by vs, and seeing the holy Scripture directeth vs to no other head then Iesus Christ, wherefore is it that wee would bee wise aboue that which is reuealed, yea rather foolishly enquire for that which the Word of God hath been silent in. And pursue after that which cannot in any case become meet to supply and minister the vertues and [Page] duties requisite in him who should be Head of the Church, and those neuer were nor can happen in the person of a­ny mortall. Yea Paul takes vpon him to institute Timothy and Titus to be Bi­shops, and prescribes vnto them,1. Tim. 4. their particular and seuerall duties,Tit. 2. yet hee sends vs alwaies to another head, name­ly Christ, and that which hee doth it is not of any power he receiued of Peter, Gal. 1, 1. for this he markes purposely as neither did Titus create Bishops in Creta by any ordinance deriued from Peter. Tim. 1. 1. I ioine hereto that Paul accompanied with Barnabas passed through all the Churches of Asia,li. 7. 1. 11. in which they prea­ched and there,Act. 14. 23. by the Suffrages of the same,Act. 20. choosed Bishops and elected them, and in a word Paul in that most solemne and most accurate Sermon, rendred to the Bishops of Asia, neuer enioined them to submit themselues neither to Peter nor any other whatso­euer earthly wight head of the church. And would hee obscure the same if it had been commaunded him, or any waies profitable vnto Saluation or quit­ting [Page] the estate of the Church, for hee declared vnto them all the counsels of God,Act. 20. yea and foretels them that af­ter his departure there would gree­uous wolues rush in amongst them de­uouring the flockes and that euen of themselues should men arise speaking peruerse things to draw Disciples after them, as hereticks doe at all times, but he neuer remembred Peter vnto them, who should put order to this proud at­tempt and hainous tyrannie in the Church. If hee had been made Supe­riour to asswage the Furie and rage of Tumults and Schismes: Paul would not haue buried the same in the beds of Obliuion, but he euer directs vs a farre other course which is to CHRIST onely.

Surely Christ is a Priest for euer af­terHeb. 7. 1. 2. the order of Melchizedech leauing no Vicar nor Successor but his Holy Spirit which hee promised to send, and lead his Disciples in all truth, and to bee present with the Church for euer. To the which Priesthood in the New Testament neither by Paul, or whoso­euer [Page] hee was that was Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes who speaketh of this matter at length, is mention made any to succeed the same, for hee had neither beginning nor ending of daies, as it was constituted in that A­ronicall Priest-hood to passe from man to man, in Leui his posterity to the com­ming of the Messias who hath by hisHeb. 9. 11. owne blood entered in once into the Holy place,Ephes. 1. 23. and obtained eternall re­demption for his Church which is his bodie, euen the fulnesse of him that fil­leth all in all things.

And to the end neither Peter Iohn 18. 39. nor a­ny of the rest of the Apostles were o­therwise sent but as God sent Christ,Luk. 12. 14. But his Kingdome and Regiment is not of this world, for Christ tooke not vp­on him to iudge and distribute of earth­ly and transitorie affaires, but hee by his word and Sacraments, which are the ordinary meanes to breed Faith, and by the operation of his Holy Spirit from aboue, doth effect the whole purpose of mans Saluation, in­stilling in mortall soules the immortall [Page] seed of the Gospell of the Lord, by whose power wee are kept through Faith vnto Saluation, which is prepa­red to bee shewed in the last time. And this is that precious Balme farre aboue that of Gilead,1. Pet. 1. 4. whereby Christ the Head of his Church doth annoint the hearts and cheere the mindes of his own Elect with vnspeakable peace descending from Christ as the Head (like vnto Aarons Oyntment) vnto his Church the members of his mysti­call bodie sonnes of God by free a­doption, Coheires with their Head the Lord Iesus Christ. If flesh and blood can accomplish these offices, let any reasonable man iudge.

It is now conuenient we heare what our Aduersaries obiect in the contrarie, that by this meanes the truth may more brightly shine, and doubting braines be resolued, as also that those in whom the Veritie hath taken some hold may be cōfirmed and established, and way bee stopt to the vndermining and subuerting of the simple and igno­rant.

[Page] Scripture, say they, cals Peter first, and why should wee deny him the place which the word of God giues him.Mat. 10. 2. Answere. It is not one thing to bee cal­led first, and to be called principal Lord or commander, for wee say Homer is the first of Greeke Poets, hath he ther­fore commandement or power ouer all the rest: Peter in order may bee called first, either in feruencie or magnanimi­tie or such like, but his authoritie and dignitie ouer the rest is denied. Se­condly, Paul making mention of Pe­ter about three and twenty yeares thereafter, inuerts that order and pla­ced him betwixt the Bonerges, Gal. 2. 9, that is Iames and Iohn the sonnes of Thunder, to signifie that there was no hidden mysterie in that ennumeration, yea, and in the Catalogue, by sundry of the Euangelists, the Disciples are per­mixt.Luk. 6. 14.

But if vpon Peter (say they) the Church was builded, hee must be Go­uernour and Head thereof: for so sayth our Sauiour, Thou art Peter, Mat. 16. 18. and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church. [Page] Answere. Albeit there might be fra­med a Sillogisme in moode and figure, as there cannot be, because there bee foure tearmes (after the Schoole-men) which cannot enter in a right Sillo­gisme (besides the construction in the Greeke and Latine Tongues, which al­together ouerthrowes the Argument alledged) yet the Assumption is deni­ed: for there is not meant Peter, on whome the Church should bee buil­ded, but vpon Christ (as with manie o­ther auncient Doctors, August. Iohn, Tract. 124.) Which Christ was that Rocke which he confessed immediate­ly before to be the sonne of the liuing God. So Lyranus in Gloss: marginali su­per hanc Petram scilicet quam confessm est, ibidem in Gloss: interlineari & Gloss: ordinaria, Tu es Petrus scilicet à me Pe­tra, ita tamen vt mihi retineam dignita­tem fundamenti. Et Lyranus ibid. sayth, Quod Ecclesia non consistit in hominibus quia multi Pontifices & Principes inuen­ti sunt Apostatasse à fide. And so also Gregorius Nicenus in testimoniis Veteris & Noui Testamenti. But in stead of all [Page] these, Paule satisfieth vs when he sayth, No man can lay any other foundation but that which is layd, Iesus Christ. 1. Cor. 3. 11. Then Peter is not the ground: Which if it had beene otherwise, beleeue we, that Paule would be ignorant of it, or of purpose denie so serious and earnest a matter. Moreouer, if the Church was builded vpon Peter, how was it, it did not fall when Peter, at the voice of a Maid, yea, and a long time thereafter, was relapsed and reproued by Paule, as is aforesaid, and whome Christ did vp­braid with the most vile name of a De­uill. Will the Building stand firme and stable after the Ground is sunke or fal­len? or rather, is it not the Foundati­on that vpholds and sustaines the whole Fabrick? But that Church which Christ promised to build vpon this Rocke, could not fall: for so saith hee, The Gates of Hell shall not preuaile against her: She cannot therefore be founded vpon such a tottering Mould as Peter was.

Paule boasts of himselfe (and that truely) that as a skilfull Master-Builder1. Cor. [Page] he had layed the Foundation: and shall wee thinke, that Christ, the Wisdome of God,Luc. 11. 49. would build vpon the Sand where the Winds beat and Waters rise, and made it fall, and not vpon that Stone, hewen out of the Mountaine without hands: And shall the Masons of Salomons 1. Reg. 5. 17. Church bee commended for their Wisdome, that they should haue brought-great Stones and costly Stones to make the Foundation of that materiall House, euen hewed Stones, (which was figuratiue of Christ and the Temple of his Bodie) and shall wee not say, Loe heere is a greater one then Salomon. The Fathers all dranke of the Rocke that followed them,1. Cor. 10. 4. and the Rocke (saith Paule) is Christ.

And certainely no man,Eph. 4. 4, 5, 6 yea the De­uill cannot denie, but that there is one Bodie, and one Spirit, one Lord, one Faith one Baptisme, one Hope of our Vocation, one God and Father of all; and that this Church began in the Creation with Adam and Eue, and continued euer since in one Place or [Page] other, Familie or Kingdome, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, sometimes larger, sometimes narrower, and had but one Ground, which now also, vn­der the Gospell, as by the Prophets long since hath beene fore-told, the Gentiles are ioyned thereto. But where was this Foundation then? What was the Ground that this Building leaned to? For shame wee shall not say Peter was borne then, vnlesse wee-should make him as old as Adam and Eue, or then (I tremble to speake it) elder then them both; for the Ground of the House must be first layd before Buil­ding be made. Surely, if wee will trust Paule, he will explaine the matter, That neither Iewes nor Gentiles, beleeuers, are anie more Strangers and Forrainers, but Citizens with the Saints,Eph. 2. 20. and of the Household of God, and are buil­ded vpon the Foundation of the Pro­phets and Apostles, Iesus Christ him­selfe being that chiefe Corner Stone in whome all the Building, coupled toge­ther, groweth vnto a holie Temple vn­to the Lord, in whome yee also (saith [Page] hee to them of Ephesus) are built toge­ther, to be the habitation of God by the Spirit. If any point of all this can bee attributed iustly to Peter, hee is blind that cannot see. I know the Ad­uersaries of the Truth will trust Peter at least, who sends the Iewes disper­sed vnto the consideration of another Foundation. If hee had beene that Ground that the Church should bee built vpon, would hee not haue clay­med it himselfe? If so be (sayth hee) you haue tasted how bountifull the Lord is,1. Pet. 2, 4, 5, 6. to whom you come as vnto a liuing Stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, and yee as liuely Stones bee made a Spirituall House, and a holy Priesthood, to offer vp Spirituall Sacrifices, acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture, Behold I put in Sion, viz. the Church, a chiefe Corner stone, elect and precious, and he that beleeueth therein, shall not be ashamed. Vnto you therefore which beleeue it is precious, but vnto them which be disobedient, the stone which [Page] the Builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner, and a Stone to stumble at, and a Rocke of Offence, euen to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: where liuely, as it were in orient Colours, hee paints out that Romane Hierar­chie and Antichrist. For seeing they stumble in disobedience at the Word of God both in Doctrine and Man­ners, dispensing with it, and substi­tuting in place thereof Councels, Tra­ditions, Ceremonies. For this cause they forge to themselues another then the true Head of the Church, and would haue a pretended Entrie and Passage thereto by Peter, without any Warrant or Approbation in the Word of God, as shall bee at length, in his owne place (God willing) euidently proued.

But (say they) to whom the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen was giuen, him had CHRIST appointed Head of the Church: Math. 16. 19 for hee had receiued [...] to binde and loose, remit and [...] sinnes: for al these tend to one [Page] sense and meaning, and soe said Christ that to Peter hee would giue them. An­swer, if Iesus had giuen the keyes, and power to lose and bind, &c. to Peter on­ly, it had beene somewhat, but so it is, that Christ promised the same in the person of Peter, vnto all the rest of the Apostles, as the foresaid Lyranus Gloss: interliniari vpon the seauenteenth verse of the same expoundeth, and soe hath Gloss: ordinaria ex Hieronimo, Habent eandem potestatem etiam alii Apostoli quibus post resurrectionem dixit, accipite Spiritum sanctum, habet eandem et om­nis Ecclesia in Presbiteris et Episcopis. But why is mention specially-made heere, of Peter and of the rest of the A­postles? Answere ibidem ex Hieronimo, Petrus specialiter accepit claues quod qui­cun (que) ab vnitate fidei et societate eius se se­perauerint a peccatis solui et regnum coelo­rum ingredi non possunt. And Ciprianus lib. de simplicitate Prelator: in persona v­nius hominis Dominus dedit claues om­nibus vt omnium vnitatem denotaret. vide Augustinum in Iohn: Tractat 129.

[Page] Secondly, it is answered, Christ said not (do, sed dabo) which promise Christ did perfect and accomplish thereafter to all the Apostles, with Peter, Ioh. 20. 22. Wheir the first day of the Weeke, after his Resurrection, Iesus stood in the middest of them &c. and breathed on them and said, Receiue the Holy Ghost (Is there a better Por­ter, or Key-bearer, of the Heauens then the Holy Ghost?) Whosoeuer Sinnes yee remit, they are remitted vnto them; and whosoeuer Sinnes yee retayne, they are retayned, &c. VVas Heauen euer more lockt, till now? Then none could haue accesse to Abrahams bosome, and enioy that Inheritance, prouided for them be­fore the Foundation of the World was layd.

But to shut vp this matter, well hath Augustine sayd, Tractat 11. & 124. & 501. super Ioh. If Christ gaue the Keyes to Peter alone, then the Church had not the Keyes after him but as hee answered for all, so hee re­ceiued [Page] the Keyes withall. And what account hath beene made of them by the Pope Iulius the second, Aruol­dus Farronus, Burdegalensis, Gallicus Historicus testifie: Which Gilbertus Ducherins translates thus:

And seeing Iesus our Sauiour did commit the feeding,Iohn 21. 15. that is, the ouer­sight of his sheepe and Lambes par­ticularly vnto Peter, would hee not [Page] haue him had one degree or other of preferment among the Apostles and aboue the people of the world for such direction was not giuen to the rest of the Disciples.

Answere. Hee that doth feede the Lambes is not Lord but a Ser­uant, for so hee saith, Feede my Sheepe and not thine owne,2. Pet. 5. 3. yea and Peter makes an opposition betwixt Dominare in Clerum, to haue Do­minion ouer the Lords Inheritance, and Pascere Oues, to Feed the sheepe. Answere. Secondly, Peter was com­manded to feede the Flocke, not that hee should presume aboue the other Fellow Apostles, sed vt Apostolico muneri redderetur, vnde per fidei elapsum & Christi abnegationem excidit, saith Augustine: Thirdly, it is answered, for that hee specially directeth his speech to Peter, if hee loued him, and that three seuerall times, by Au­gustine ibidem. Christus rogauit Pe­trum num se amaret, ter, vt trini ne­gationi redderetur tri [...]a confessio, & [...] ­minus [Page] linguae amore quam timore ser­uiret. For it was hee onely, among the Apostles that so openly and co­wardly denied his Master, as it was foretold him, for the which cause no demand was directed to the rest of their loue towards CHRIST, &c. Fourthly it is answered to feed in the Scripture by vsuall forme of speach, is to teach and preach, &c. As also Lyra­nus ibid. and Arias montanus do testifie, with innumerabe others, and were not the rest commanded to goe and teach all Nations baptizing them? &c. Or is it because Peter was commanded to feede, were the rest enioined to bee idle, remisse and negligent? Or ra­ther did not their sound passe through the world, and as they were comman­ded were witnesses vnto Christ both in Ierusalem, and in all Iudea, and in Samaria, and vnto the vttermost parts of the earth. Yea, did they not direct their wholesome and sound Doctrine both to Sheepe and Lambes. First, both yong and old, Master and Ser­uant, [Page] Husband and Wife as it is eui­dent aboundantly in their writings and Epistles, yea both to Iew and Gen­tils, to those who are within, and those who are without. And shall we say therefore, that all they that did feede were heads of the Church. Ge­rion of whom the Poets Fable had not so many heads, but the Church shall haue many more which is most absurd, for they are all enioined to passe about the Lords businesse, yea and Paul affirmes that the cure of all the Churches did hang vpon him. To this effect saith Cyprianus, Lib. de Dig­nitate Eccles. Pastores, sunt omnes sed Grex vnus ostenditur, qui ab Apostolis omnibus vnanimi consensu pascitur; Wherefore if all the Apostles were enioined to feede the Flock of Christ, then was not Peter onely. And if hee were commanded for the causes be­fore specified so to doe, shall wee not thinke, that Christ ascended on high and led captiuitie captiue. And gaue guifts vnto men, some to bee Apo­stles, [Page] and some Prophets,Ephes. and some Euangelists, and some Pastors and Tea­chers, for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the Mini­sterie, and for the edification of the bo­die of Christ till wee all meete toge­ther in the vnitie of Faith, and know­ledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man, and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ, Which charge the Holy Scripture eue­rie where, and Histories of all times doe report. And suppose it were so that to feede the flocke would import him to bee Head of the Church, then rea­son I thus, Peter was appointed Head of them whom hee was commanded to feede, but no man will say, hee was commanded to feede the rest of the Apostles, (viz.) preach and teach them their Gospell wherevnto they were put a part and receiued by the liuely voice of Iesus Christ, for vnto them it was giuen to know the my­steries of the Kingdome of Heauen. It must needs follow therefore that hee [Page] was not, at the least, head of the rest of the Apostles, and so consequently not head of the whole Church whereof the Apostles were members. Yet say they if Paul ascended to Ierusalem to Peter to conferre his Gospell with him, and from him receiue authority for the confirmation of his Apostleship,Gal. 2. 2. 3. 4. 5. that he should not tunne in vaine. Then it must needs bee that Paul did acknowledge Peter head of the Church. Answere, Paul did not conferre with Peter onely, but with Iames and Iohn also which were esteemed of price, and pillers of the Church Second answere, Paul him­selfe denyeth that he did receiue ought of them, neither was inferior to them, and truly if he had receiued confirma­tion of his calling from them in that re­spect, he had beene inferior: And that which is of more importance, if Paule had acknowledged Peter for his Lord, and Head of the Church, How was he so bold I pray you, to withstand him to his face; and so publiquely, in presence both of Iewes and Gentiles vpbraid his [Page] dissimulation,Ibid. 11. alleadging him to bee a Rocke of offence to others, who were brought into the like dissimulation. But thou wilt demaund what mooued Paul from Siria aud Silicia, and other farre distant bouilds, wherein he had plan­ted the Gospell amongst the Gentiles, to take the second paines and trauaile vppon him to passe to Ierusalem, if it were not for the cause aforesaid. An­swere. Paul expresseth the cause him­selfe of his ascending to Ierusalem, was to remooue and cut off that false ru­mour which was spread abroad by false Apostles,Gal. 2. 4. that hee taught otherwise then the rest of the Apostles did: for these false Brethren did conioyne Mo­ses and Leuiticall Ceremonies of the Law, new Moones, Saboaths, Circum­cision, &c. with IESVS CHRIST and Euangelicall Doctrine, as simply and absolutely necessary vnto Saluation, which Paul reiected to be done; yea, taught,Cal. 5. 2. 4. that whosoeuer was circumci­sed, was fallen from Grace, and that by the workes of the Law, no flesh [Page] should bee iustified, but by the Faith of Iesus Christ, and not by the workes of the Law.

Thus then I reason, if Paul at that time did ascend to receiue authoritie, and confirmation to preach the Gos­pell: then wee must graunt, that the foureteene yeares proceeding, where­in hee had trauelled in the Euangell, hee had openlie taught without any warrant, which is manifest absurdi­tie.

And last of all, if Paul receiued any authoritie of Peter to publish the Gos­pell: how is it that Paul declares, he was an Apostle not of men, neither by man, but by Iesus Christ, and God the Father which had raised him from the dead. It rests therefore, that Pe­ter was neuer ordained Head of the Church: and that whatsoeuer the Ad­uersaries of the troth alledge for the establishing of his Primacie and Supe­rioritie, is friuolous, and cannot abide the ballance of the Sanctuary, be­cause they are too light. Wherefore, [Page] also in that third time Christ acquaints his Disciples with his Resurrection, most liuelie speaking and inuiting Pe­ter with the rest, to eate after his vn­profitable labour all the night,Iohn 21. 3. 4. he did not euen then, as it were, lastly designe him to such a Supreame place. And also he left vnto him a Propheticall de­claration what death hee should dye,Ibid. 18. 19. and would he not haue signified vnto him of this his great Stile in the Church. And this did Peter himselfe very well remember, and prepares him­selfe for such a departure; recommen­ding sundry good and profitable Ob­seruations, Doctrines, and Lessons to the Iewes, [...] Pet. 1. 14. saying; I will endeuour therfore alwaies, that ye also may be a­ble to haue remēbrance of these things after my departure; but neither Christ remembreth in the Gospell at any time, neither the Apostles nor Brethren then remaining of the Church, acknow­ledge, neither Saint Luke the Compi­ler of that Ecclesiasticall History of the Acts of the Apostles recordeth, ney­ther [Page] yet Peter leaues any succeeding Monument of that meere vsurpation, which cannot fal without great blas­phemie in any humane Nature.

Soli Deo Gloria.