The encounter against M. Parsons, by a revievv of his last sober reckoning, and his exceptions vrged in the treatise of his mitigation. Wherein moreouer is inserted: 1. A confession of some Romanists, both concerning the particular falsifications of principall Romanists, as namely, Bellarmine, Suarez, and others: as also concerning the generall fraude of that curch, in corrupting of authors. 2. A confutation of slaunders, which Bellarmine vrged against Protestants. 3. A performance of the challenge, which Mr. Parsons made, for the examining of sixtie Fathers, cited by Coccius for proofe of Purgatorie ... 4. A censure of a late pamphlet, intituled, The patterne of a Protestant, by one once termed the moderate answerer. 5. An handling of his question of mentall equiuocation (after his boldnesse with the L. Cooke) vpon occasion of the most memorable, and feyned Yorkeshire case of equiuocating; and of his raging against D. Kings sermon. Published by authoritie

The Reuiew.

4 If the foresaid Authors do affirme that Popes, as Popes, may be Heritikes, nay, if they doe not absolutely deny it e∣uen in the very same places which I haue alleaged, then let your brand of Impudency sticke fast in my forehead. First, Bellarmine. d 1.1 The opinion of them (saith he) who say that the Pope, as Pope, may be an Heretike, and teach an Heresie, est o∣pinio erronea, & haeresi proxima: that is, Is an erroneous o∣pinion, and next vnto Heresie. Yea, he is so far from yeeld∣ing to M. Parsons, that in his sixt Chapter he saith: Piè cre∣dendum, * 1.2 &c. that e 1.3 It is piously to be beleeued, that the Pope cannot be an Heretike, not onely as he is Pope, but euen as he is a priuate man, by beleeuing obstinately any thing that is contrary vnto faith. And f 1.4 Carerius doth follow Bellarminc verbatim, yea Syllabatim, saying, Opinio est erronea &c. and Piè creden∣dum, &c. concluding that A Pope, as Pope, cannot be an He∣retike. Seeing then that Bellarmine doth confute M. Par∣sons euen in terminis, it is not to be maruelled, that M. Parsons chose rather Canus than Bellarmine, to speake for all the rest.

5 The second is Greg. de Ualentia, who is most perem∣tory in this point. g 1.5 They that shall say (saith he) that the Pope

can according to his publike person (that is, as Pope) erre in faith, in things controuerted in the Church, those men doe most grieuously erre in faith. Salmeron defendeth the same positi∣on, calling this the h 1.6 Singular prerogatiue of the Pope, that as Pope he cannot erre in determining any thing against faith. Sta∣pleton walketh in the same path. i 1.7 The Pope (saith he) as a priuate man, may erre, but in discharging his function (that is, as Pope) he cannot erre in the matters of faith. Costerus will not be behinde his fellowes. k 1.8 We doe constantly deny (saith he) that the Popes of Rome can teach (that is, as Popes) others an heresie. Only Canus remaineth, whom M. Parsons would haue to speake for the rest. In good time: for he will not be found differing from the rest. l 1.9 The Pope of Rome saith Ca∣nus) cannot erre in defining Controuersies of faith: which is all one as to say, that although the Pope may fall into heresie, as he is a priuate man, yet as he doth prescribe any doctrine to be publikely beleeued in the Church (that is, as Pope) he cannot be an heretike. And thus the Antecedent is cleerely ratified by all the fiue witnesses, whom I alleaged. I proceed now to the Consequence.

Notes

• d 1.1

  Bellar. l. 4. de Rom. Pont. c. 2. §. Secunda o∣pinio, & §. ex his.
• * 1.2

  M. Parsons maruelous ig∣norance or peruersnesse, in reporting the iudgement of his owne Authors.
• e 1.3

  Ibid. cap. 6.
• f 1.4

  Carer. lib. 1. de Rom. Pont. c. 23.
• g 1.5

  Valent. Ies. Anal. l. 8. c. 3. §. Respondeo quid.
• h 1.6

  Salmeron. in 2. Gal. Dist. 24. §. Deindè.
• i 1.7

  Stapleton 〈◊〉〈◊〉 princip. l. 6. c. 1.
• k 1.8

  Costerus En∣chirid. cap. 3. §. Fatemur.
• l 1.9

  Canus. loc. Theol. lib. 6. c. 7. &. 8.