A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

ANSWER.

The place of Saint Matthew, chapter 28. 19, 20. prooueth: [ C] First, that the holy Apostles receiued a Commission and Man∣date from Christ, to preach the Gospell to all nations, both Iewes and Gentiles, and to baptise them, In the name of the Fa∣ther, Sonne, and holy Ghost. Marke 16. 15, 16. Luke 24.27. Acts 1.8. Rom. 1.14.

Secondly, that our Sauiour promised his Apostles a perpe∣tuall * 1.1 presence, and assistance of his diuine power and grace, both in regard of the gifts of edification, Acts 2. 4. And in respect of the grace of inward sanctification, Iohn 17.17.

Thirdly, because the Apostles were mortall, and not to re∣maine alwayes personally vpon earth, and other Pastors a 1.2 must succeed in the office of Ministerie, the promise of Christ tou∣ching his spirituall presence, and assistance of grace, is extended to these successours, and when they teach and baptise in such manner as Christ commanded, diuine grace is present to their [ E] Ministeriall actions b 1.3, and the holy Ghost co-worketh with them.

Fourthly, But yet succeeding Pastors receiued not the [ A] same measure of diuine Grace with the Apostles a 1.4: neyther had they immediate and Propheticall reuelation, but onely a measure of Grace, ordinarie, mediate, and in some sort con∣ditionall. Also, the said Promise, Matth. 28. 20. was com∣mon and equall to all the Apostles, and to the successors of one Apostle, as well as of another: to the successors of Saint Iames, and Saint Iohn, &c. as well as to the successors of Saint Peter b 1.5.

Fifthly, Notwithstanding the said promise, Bishops and Pastors succeeding the Apostles, were in respect of them∣selues subiect to errors c 1.6, and their iudgement in matters of Faith was not absolutely infallible, like the Apostles; but so farre forth onely, as they walked in the footsteps, and fol∣lowed the Doctrine deliuered by the Apostles. Our Sauiour [ C] promised, that he would be alwayes with the Apostles, euen to the consummation of the World; partly, in their personall Teaching, whiles they themselues liued in the World; and partly, in their permanent Doctrine, contained in the Scrip∣tures of the New Testament d 1.7, when the same was truly deli∣uered by their successors. And he will be also with succee∣ding Pastors all Ages, according to such a measure of Grace and assistance, as is sufficient for the edifying of the Church, if they for their owne part e 1.8 be studious to learne diuine Truth from the holy Apostles, and carefull to preach the same to [ D] others: But his promise concerning immunitie from error, and mortall offences, is not so absolute to successors, as it was to the Apostles themselues.

Sixtly, Many antient Expositors affirme, That the Promise [ E] of Christ, Matth. 28.20. is especially made to the iust and faith∣full f 1.9; and some of them say, to the Elect g 1.10 onely. And Oc∣cham

affirmeth, That if there should be found in the whole World [ A] but one Orthodox Bishop, or but one such Priest a 1.11, and a small num∣ber of Lay people b 1.12, professing right Faith in Articles essentiall, and willing to embrace all other Diuine Vertie, when the same should be manifested vnto them, this were sufficient to make good, Christ his Promise. Matth. 28.20.

In the next passage, our Aduersarie inferreth and deri∣ueth certaine Propositions from the former Text of Matth. 28. 20.

First hee saith, There is still a Christian Church all dayes, not wanting so much as one day in the World, till the consummation thereof.

I answer, That there is still in the World a common Chri∣stian [ C] Church, wherein some beleeuers hold the substance of right Faith: But there is not perpetually in the World a Church, the more potent and maior part whereof beleeueth and professeth right Faith, without error, in all points, and so infallible in all her Doctrine, as was the Primitiue Church c 1.13, which enioyed the immediate and actuall preaching of the Apostles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gratia gratis data. Gratia gratum fa∣ciens. Aquin. 1.2. q. 111. ar. 1. Cum gratia [ D] ad hoc ordinetur vt homo reducatur in Deum, ordine quodam hoc agitur, vt scilicet quidam per alios in Deum reducantur. Secundum hoc igitur duplex eft gratia: vna quidem per quam ipse homo Deo coniungitur, quae vo∣catur gratia gratum faciens. àlia vero per quam vnus homo cooperatur alteri, ad hoc quod ad Deum reducatur: hoc autem donum vocatur gratia gratisdata.
• a 1.2

  Aug. Ep. 80. & in Psal. 56. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Math. c. 28.
• b 1.3

  Leo Epist. 69. Ego vobiscum sum vsque ad consum∣mationē seculi: vt si quid perseruitutem, nostram, bono ordine & gratulanti impletur affectu, non ambigamus per Spiritum sanctum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 donatum.
• a 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. cp. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in Ps. 86. Fundamenta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in montibus fan∣ctis. Quos nos di∣cere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fun∣damenta? Aposto∣los, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 erant fundamenta, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quia 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fun∣damento alius au∣rum alius argentum, &c. Diligit Dominus Portas Syon super omnia Tabernacula, &c.
• b 1.5

  Orig. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. [ B] tr. 1. Quod si super vnum illum Petrum tantum existimas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 totam Ecclesiam, quid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 es de 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, & Apostolorum vnoquoque? Alioqui num audebimus dicere, quod aduersus 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 non prae∣ualiturae sint portae inferorum, aduersus caeteros autem Apostolos & praesectos 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sint, ac non potius, in omnibus, & singulis corum, &c.
• c 1.6

  Hieron. in Psal. 86. Et principum, hoc est Apostolo∣rum & Euangeli∣starum horum qui fuerunt, in ea, vi∣dete quid dicat, Qui fuerunt, non qui sunt, vt excep∣tis Apostolis quod∣cunque aliud po∣steal 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ab∣scindatur, non ha∣beat postea autho∣ritatem. Quamuis ergo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sit ali∣quis post Aposto∣los, quamuis diser∣tus non. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 au∣thoritatem, Quo∣niam Domin' nar∣rat in Scriptura po∣pulorum, & Prin∣cipum qui fuerunt in ca.
• d 1.7

  Cyril. in Esaiam, lib. 2. c. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 scripta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (Apost.) nos 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ac 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & constantia fidei, & 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, pag. 103.
• e 1.8

  Cordub. Arm. Fid. Quaest. 2. Prop. 9. Promissiones Dei generales, de co 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ipse non solus, sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nostris concurrendo in nobis facturus est, sub hac condi∣tione sunt intelligendae, si videlicet homo faciat quod in se est, ad talem finem & effectum.
• f 1.9

  Leo. serm. 2. c. 3. d. Resurrect. Chrys. Matth. Hom. 91. Hieron. sup. Matth. 28. Basil. Hom. 29.
• g 1.10

  Druthmar. Matth. 28. Est etiam cum Reprob is 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, &c. Sed aliter est cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. Paschas. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in Matth. 28. Se cum suis elecus in 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• a 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, Dial. p. 1. lib. 5. c. 31.
• b 1.12

  Id. lib. 2. c. 25. & lib. 4. c. 9. & lib. 5. c. 3. Non est neces∣sarium credere im∣plicite nec expli∣cite, multitudinem Christianorum non errare nec errasse in fide, nec maiorem partem: pro eo quod, fides Catholica in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 potest seruari, pag. 451. Fides quam B. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, praedicauir & docuit, nunquam deficiet, sed in aliquibus Chri∣stianis Clericis vel Laicis, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vel mulieribus, vsque ad finem seculi perdurabit. 473. Quamuis maior pars, immo tota fere multitudo Cloricorum, possit contra fidem errare, & fidem Catholicam pertinaciter 〈◊〉〈◊〉, tamen semper 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saltim 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Episcopus sacerdos Catholicus, qui illa quae ordinis sunt, licite valeat exercere. 502. Sicut in Idiotis (Sacerdotibus ac Religiosis & Magistratibus repudiatis) fidem primitus fundauit Catholi∣cam: [ B] Ita omnibus literatis & potentibus datis in reprobum sensum, potest dare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 simplices illiteratos & rusticos, in aedificationem Ecclesiae Orthodoxae. 498.
• c 1.13

  Kling. Loc. Com. lib. 3. cap. 32. Apud viros bonos & aequos maioris authoritatis est iu∣dicium illorum Scripturae qui sanctis illis Apostolis ac Martyribus viciniores 〈◊〉〈◊〉, quorum vita & affectio erat purior & multo sanctior, quam huius populi nunc superstitis, qui certe vix rationem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 habet ad purum Vi∣num [ D] si cum priori illo conferatur.