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THe answere to the Councell of Ausburge. a 1.1 Forasmuch, as the Church of God, which is with vs, is the Princesse of all o∣ther Churches: And that shee guideth the people of God in all knowledge and
grace, and glorieth in the pure sinceritie of the splen∣dore of the Apostolicke Traditions and of the Fathers. And for that also she hath born the first prerogatiue in the Orthodoxall veritie: It is reason that all Christi∣an common wealthes, should celebrate the Diuine my∣steries as she doth.
Nilus Archi-episcopus Thessalonicoensis.b 1.2 The Latines say that the blessed Apostle Saint Peter was constituted by the Lord, the Prince of the twelue Apostles, and that he gaue into his hands the Keyes of Heauen, against the which the Gates of Hell should neuer preuaile, that hee also prayed that his faith should not faile, and such like things, as doe manifestly shew the Primacie of Saint Peter: And they say, that the Pope was constituted to be his successor, and hath receiued of Saint Peter all the Primacie, and that hee can, all that Peter could in things, concerning faith, and that it is impossible that he should decline from the truth in matters of faith: For if hee should faile, all matters of faith would runne to ruine. But Honorius Bishop of Rome was an heretike, according to the seauenteenth decree of the sixt Vniuersall Councell. It may bee then that the Pope might decline from the truth in matters of faith. Yet graunt that hee erred in the faith, the words of the Lord are not in vaine. That the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against the Church.c 1.3 The piety and integrity of Religion, may be firmely preserued in other Bishops. It is then manifest that it is not pecu∣liar to the Roman Church, to bee founded vpon this stone, for that should be hard and grieuous, and not far differing from the Iewes basenesse, to inclose the
Church within Rome. Well then, Christ hath built his Church; but he builded it vpon the faith and doctrine of Peter, and vpon those that shalbe keepers and obser∣uers of such a confession. And if Saint Agathon affir∣med, that his Church (to wit that of Rome) neuer erred from the truth, it is no wonder, for it is because that in∣deed very seldome she falleth from the faith. Otherwise how should a man interpret this place of Scripture: All are gone out of the way: they are al corrupt▪ there is none that doth good, no notd 1.4 one, Moreouer when he saith that the Church of Rome is not stayed from the way of truth, he speaketh of the time past, and doth not include the time to come: and that which is to bee noted, Agathon spake that, before the sixt Synode.
Theuet.e 1.5 The Patriarch of Ierusalem, as I haue seene, did excommunicate out of the body of their Church, (the which they hold from al antiquity) aswel the pope of Rome, as also all Christian Princes, (to wit, those of the Roman Church) because that they are seperated from the Greeke Church, the which receiued the Gos∣pell, before the Latine Church.
Villamont.f 1.6 The Syrians doe boast themselues, to be the first Christians of the world, because that Saint Peter had his seate seauen yeares in Antioch, before that euer he went to Rome, which is the reason that the Syrians would neuer submit themselues to the Church of Rome.
Theuet.i 1.7 The Christians of Traprobane and the I∣lands neare thereunto, doe not acknowledge, nor their fathers did neuer acknowledge, the popes, Cardinalles or prelates of Rome. Also the Nestorians and other
Indians doe call the Pope a Bishop vnapproued.
Sacranus.k 1.8 The Ruthenians and Moscouites doe say, that the Pope is an Hereticke, and doe excommu∣nicate him, and his Clergy at such times as they do ce∣lebrate the Lords supper.
ALuaresl 1.9 Prester-Iohn calling to remembrance that I had said, that the Church had drawn these things (that is to say, the ceremonies of the Masse) out of the passion, he demaunded of me what was this Church; and wherefore haue we two chiefe heads in Christen∣dome, the one at Constantinople in Greece, and the o∣ther at Rome in Italy: vnto whom I made answere, that we acknowledged no more then one Head of the Church, and although Constantinople was the chiefe in the beginning, yet the same now was abolished: for that the head of the Church ought to be, where Saint Peter dwelleth, because that Iesus Christ tolde him: Tues Petrus, & super hanc petram &c. And then, when Saint Peter was in Antioch, the Church was there, by reason that the chiefe head was then there resident; the which being now come to Rome: there, was the Ec∣clesiasticall Iudge established, and so firmely placed, that it remaineth there vntil this present. Moreouer he told me then, that I yeelded sufficient reason for the Church of Rome; but hee asked me what I could say of the Church of Constantinople, which was planted by St. Marke, and of that of Greece, whereof Saint Iohn Patri∣arch of Alexandria was head.
Annot. The reason of this (great King) is, the very same with the Grecians in the controuersie▪ against some Cardinals, in these wordes:m 1.10 If that your Ro∣man Church be the chiefe and mother of the other Churches, by reason that Saint Peter was her Pastor, it is more reason that Antioch should obtaine these titles, because she first embraced and receiued his preaching: from thence it commeth, that Antioch is called Theopo∣lis, the citie of God; or else that Church of Ierusalem, which obtained the great and Soueraigne Sacrificer, who preached, and offered himselfe a Sacrifice there∣in.
The vniuersall Histories of then 1.11 Indies made menti∣on, that the Pope sent Ouiedo a Spaniard, to drawe the Abyssins or Aethiopians to acknowledge the Romane Church, but the Emperour Claudius of Ethiope then raigning, chased him away, and Ouiedo was compelled to hide himselfe.
THE confession of Wittenberg.o 1.12 Wee beleeue and confesse, that the Church ought to expound the Scripture: but there are diuers opinions concerning the Church, that is to say, where it must be sought for, and whether her iurisdiction be inclosed within certain limits. Now wee doe thinke according to the holy Scripture, and the holy Fathers, that the Catholike and Apostolike Church is not tyed to any one certaine
place, to one nation, or to one sort of people, but that it is in that place, and with those nations, where the Gospell is sincerely preached.
The confession of the Swizers.o 1.13 We doe condemne the Donatists, which would inclose the Church in a corner of Affrica, and we approue not the Clergie of Rome, who attribute the name of Catholike onely to the Romane Church.
Annot. The Diuines of Tubinge in their letters doe call the Patriarch of Constantinople Oecumenicke, and haue sought the Vnionp 1.14 of the East Churches.
POpe Pelagius.q 1.15 Although that all the Catholicke and Apostolike Churches, established through the vniuersall world, are a nuptiall bedde of Christ: Neuer∣thelesse, the holy Roman Church was not preferred be∣fore the other Churches, by any constitutions of coun∣cels, but rather obtained the Primacy from the holy words of our Lord. The Church of Rome is there∣fore the first Sea of the Apostle Peter, she hath no spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but in these things the higher her degree is, the greater is her authoritie: for the greater haue the power to commaund, and the les∣ser are to yeelde obedience.
SAint Peter ought to be considered foure manner of wayes: first, in the quality of an Apostle, sent by God im∣mediately:
as such a one that had no successor. In the se∣cond, place as an Apostle simply, hauing charge to plant ma∣ny Churches: in such manner S. Marke and other Euange∣listes (their Substitutes, which also are called Apostles) were his Successors. In the third place, as a Bishoppe and Presi∣dent in euery Church, where he was: that is to say, in Anti∣och, Rome, Ierusalem: as Euodias did succeede him in An∣tioch, Clement in Rome, S. Iames the Apostle, and S. Sime∣on in Ierusalem. Fourthly, S. Peter is to be considered as Primate in the Catholike Church: in such manner S. Iohn the Apostle (entirely beloued of the Lord) succeeded him▪ hauing out-liued S. Peter fiue and twenty, or thirty yeares: Moreouer, that S. Iohn was preferred before all the Bishops of the world, is apparent by that, that he was taken for one of the three pillers of the Church, and was one of the twelue foundations, vpon which the ordinarie Bishoppes of cities were constituted. And withall, Tradition confirmeth this: for there is no Church in the world which nameth not the Apostles before the Bishops: yea the Church of Rome pre∣ferreth the Apostles before the Popes. It remaineth then for vs to search, who was the successor of S. Iohn in the Ca∣tholike Primacy, whether Polycarpus was his successor in Ephesus, or Simeon successor to S. Peter in Ierusalem, or Albinus of Alexandria successor of S. Marke, successor and chosen of S. Peter, or Ignatius successor of Euodias, and of S. Peter in Antioch: or Euaristus successor of Clement, and of Linus, and of S. Peter in Rome.
There are two Churches which haue contended herein, more then eight hundred yeeres, that is to say, that of Con∣stantinople, and that of Rome. The Romane Church saith, that S. Peter hath ordained, is from God, that Rome should
haue the Primacie and power to command, and that for euer. They of Constantinople say on the contrarie side, that our Lord neuer spoke any such words, much lesse Saint Peter himself, and if any such thing had been, some one of the Apo∣stles would haue written of it, this Article being the foun∣dation of all the doctrine, and gouernement of the Church. Moreouer Saint Peter himselfe would haue Preached the same, and Saint Iohn who succeeded and out-liued S. Peter, would not haue stayed in Ephesus. Well then, you see that all the Churches planted by the Apostles not excepting any one, doe testifie after many ages, that neither they, nor their fa∣thers neuer beleeued nor held, that the Primacie by diuine power, was due to the Church of Rome, but rather that it ap∣pertaineth to whosoeuer shall bee chosen and elected by the greater part of the Churches: and that the Bishop of Rome alone ought not to be q beleeued, much lesse in his owne pro∣per cause. In like maner many learned men of the Latine Church doe confesse, that the reason wherefore Rome is helde to haue the Primacie in diuine affaires, is an opinion of the vulgar sort. So that rather to Constantinople appertai∣neth the Primacie, seeing it was giuen her by the Aposto∣licke Churches, which they gaue not then to Rome, being one of the last seates of Saint Peter, but onely in regard of the Imperiall seate. Well then, to make this the more intelli∣gible, it is necessarie to know how it happeneth, that the Citie of Rome now a dayes, pretendeth that the Primacie is due to her by diuine right. The aboue mentioned Apostolicke Chur∣ches doe surmise, as followeth, and say.
First, that Saint Peter had the first place among the A∣postles, for he was oftentimes demanded many things by the Lord, and he answered in the name of his fellowes, ouer
whom neuerthelesse he had no iurisdiction nor authority: although that some doe thinke, that he resigned it to Saint Iames, when they were together at Hierusalem: after that S. Iames was instituted Bishoppe, that is to say, after that hee was staied, that hee should make his ordinarie residence there.
Secondly, that Saint Iohn during his life, after the time of S. Peter, had the first place amongst all the Euangelists and Bishoppes.
Thirdly, that he neuer taught that Rome by Diuine right, ought to be the Mistresse of the other Churches: if he had, S. Polycarpus his Disciple, and others his successors in E∣phesus had not debated so earnestly and obstinately against the Roman Church touching the feast of Easter.
Fourthly, that after S. Iohn, the Bishop of Rome obtained by iust title, the first place among the Bishops which were vn∣der the Romane Empire: for seeing that the Citizens of Rome then raigned ouer the Inhabitants of other Cities: hee had been both proud, audacious and vnreasonable, which would haue preferred himselfe before their Bishop, especially without any ordinance of a Councell.
Fiftly, that the churches of Italy, and other their neigh∣bours, through the laps of time gaue to the Bishop of Rome, not only the first place, but also the superintendancie ouer the Bishops neare them, in particular, for to giue his aduice in matters that happened, till a Synode might be had.
Sixtly, that the councell of Nice approued the same, and ordained that Alexandrias 1.16 should in like manner, haue the ouer-sight of the Churches of Egipt and of Affrica, and that the church oft 1.17 Antioch should ouer-see those of the east. And after a certaine time, because the Emperiall seate was trans∣ported
vnto Constantinople, it was ordained that that Bishop should be ouer-seer of the Greeke Churches, and the Bishop of Ierusalem should be admitted to be one of the fiue, for Pa∣lestina: and those fiue were called Patriarches.
Seuenthly, that the Bishop of Rome all this while had the first seat, but yet without any vniuersall iurisdiction▪ but rather euery one of the foresaid fiue Patriarches, iudged or rather gaue his aduise and opinion, till a Councell might be had, as euen to this day they of Constantinople (although that they call themselues Oecumenicke) are subiect to Sy∣nodes, but yet of Greece onely.
Eightly, that Maurice Emperour of Constantinople, would haue taken away the primacie fromu 1.18 Gregorie Bi∣shoppe of Rome, andx 1.19 giuen it to Iohn Bishop of Con∣stantinople, who for a Marke of his place, desired to haue the Title of a generally 1.20 Bishoppe: and that Gregorie did op∣pose himselfe against him, least he should loose his place, vr∣ging, how insolent that Title was, and saying, that Iohn would vsurpe Dominion ouer the other Bishops, (which per∣aduenture was not the intention of Iohn:) but he on the contrary side, to shew that he was contented with the ranke or place of his predecessors, called himselfe Seruus seruorum Dei. The seruant of the seruants of God.
Ninthly, that Phocas hauing slaine Maurice gaue to the Bishop of Rome (which was then Boniface) the first seate and Title of Generall or Vniuersall Bishop, and yet without any iurisdiction or Dominion ouer the other patri∣arches: which notwithstanding, the churches acknowledged him not in that quality.
Tenthly, that Charles the great, King of France, hauing subdued with armes a great part of Europe: The citie of
Rome craued his ayde against the Lombards, who being ouer come by the same King, the Romanes proclaimed him their Emperour.
11 That then the Emperors of the East with the consent of the Patriarchall and Apostolicke Churches tooke from Rome the primacy, and gaue it to the said Church of Con∣stantinople.
12 That then the Romanes seeing that by the Ecclesia∣sticall law they should loose the primacie, began to say that the primacy belonged as of Diuine right to them, and to their Bishop: and consequently, that the whole Church together could not take away from them the first ranke, because that Rome is the Sea of S. Peter.
13 That after that they of the East had rightly said, that hee is successor of S. Peter, which is elected, confir∣med, and approued by the greatest part of the Churches, in what place soeuer he maketh his residence, and that imitateth S. Peter in doctrine and humilitie. That the Bishoppes of Rome haue brought into their church many errours, and haue innouated many things without and against the decrees of the councels, withall they haue added to the Symbole of Nice of their priuate authority, that the holy Ghost pro∣ceedeth from the Sonne, euen as from the Father. That al∣though that the vniuersall councell hath giuen the first seate to the bishoppe of Rome: yet did not they beleeue that the church in future time could not take from him this place: especially if the church of Rome should fall into any errour, as they say she is already fallen.
14 That in the meane while the prouinces of the Empire of Charles the great, to wit, Fraunce, Italy, Germanie and Spaine remained vnder the bishoppe of Rome, as being
their nearest Patriark, which is the reason that they now go a∣bout to perswade men, that the Primacie appertaineth vnto him by Gods Law, but this should bee no preiudice to other Churches, nor to the trueth.
15. That the Bishops of Rome enriched with the gifts and Donations of the Kings of France, and per aduenture beleeuing themselues to be that which was repated of them, haue ouerthrowne both Spirituall and Temporall Monarkes, and haue caused to bee receiued, in places vnder obedience to them, as well the Lawes of their predecessors the Popes, made by the Church of Rome, as also those Lawes which they themselues from time to time doe adde thereunto, in somuch that the Churches of the East, South, and North, with good reason haue opposed themselues against these enterprises. The confession and beliefe of the Apostolicke Churches about this Question here in controuersie, is this.
That the first seate (which is by diuine Law, so farr as is necessarie for the order of Councels, and is meete to shewz 1.21 vnitie) is by the Ecclesiasticall Law, as also the Sea that appertaineth to any such Bishop, whome the Catholicke Church shall iudge to be fit and capable of such a charge.
Cap. 13.
De primat. l. 2.
Mat. 16. 18
Psal. 14. 4.
Cosm. lib. 9
Ʋoyages. l. 2 cap. 22.
Cosm. l. 10. c. 15.
Elucid. c. 2.
Cap. 26.
Discept Graci & Caldei.
Chap. of Ethiop.
Cap. 32.
Cap. 17.
Acta. Theol Virtemb.
Dist. 21. Quamuis.
Alexan∣dria was the greatest Ci∣tie of the Empire af∣ter Rome. Ioseph. l. 4. c. 42.
Antioch was the third Citie Josep. bello Iud. lib. 3. there was in this Ci∣tie 360. Churches of Christi∣ans.
The Gre∣cians doe call him Gregorie Dialoger.
John nest∣entes. That is to say, the younger.
Oecumeni∣cos.
S. Cypr. de simpl. cl.