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.

PRotestants deny not the Primacie of S. Peter, but they yeeld vnto him, both as he was an Apostle, Primacie of Spirituall Authoritie, and Iurisdiction ouer the Vniuersall Church, Matth. 28.20. Ioh. 20.21. And also respectiuely to the other [ E] Apostles (which were his Compeeres and Equals a, in regard

of all Apostolicall Authoritie) Primacie of Calling, Order, [ A] Grace, Gifts a, &c.

And the place of Saint Matthew, chap. 16.18. prooueth not Saint Peter to haue beene a visible Monarch ouer the whole Church.

First, Our Sauiour affirmeth not plainely and literally, that [ B] hee will build his Church vpon him, but vpon the Rocke: which hee confessed b, verse 16, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Vpon this Rocke, and not vpon this Peter: Non dictum est illi, Tu es Petra, sed, Tu es Petrus, Petra autem erat Christus; It was not said vnto him, Thou art the Rocke, but, Thou art Peter, for the Rocke was Christ. August. Retract. Lib. 1. cap. 21.

Secondly, If hee had affirmed expressely, That hee would build his Church vpon him; yet hee saith not exclusiuely, that hee would build the same onely vpon him, but in other places hee conioyneth the rest of the Apostles c with him, Iohn. 20. 23. Eph. 2.20. Apoc. 21.14. Matth. 28.19.

Thirdly, To be a Ministeriall Rocke, and foundation of the [ A] Church, is not to be the sole Monarch of the Church: because S^t. Peter might bee such, in regard of his Preaching and Do∣ctrine, as the other Apostles were, and not in respect of Mo∣narchicall dominion. Heereupon Turrecremate in his Sum. d. Eccles. lib. 2. cap. 11. saith, Non argumentati sumus Petrum prima∣tum habuisse quia dictus fuit fundamentum aut Petra Ecclesiae, sed quia singulariter, &c. Wee argue not, Saint Peter had the Pri∣macie, because he was called the Foundation, or Rocke of the Church, but because he was in a singular manner so called. But [ B] if the name of Rocke, argueth not S^t. Peters supremacie, the singular applying thereof in one Text of Scripture, will not doe it; both because the speaking to him in particular, is onely a circumstance, and relation of a matter, granted by the words of Rocke and Keyes, but no addition of any other essentiall gift: and also because the same Title, in tearmes equiualent, is elsewhere made common to other Apostles a.

The Iesuit addeth, That we denie the primacie of Peters Suc∣cessour: and that this Successour is the foundation of the Church, laid by Christ, and necessarie for the perpetuall go∣uernment of the same.

I answere, First, S^t. Peter, in one respect, to wit, in regard of his Apostolicall function, had no successour: for the Office of Apostles was extraordinarie, appointed by Christ, for the [ D] first planting of Faith; and consequently, it ceased with the A∣postles a. Immediate calling, Propheticall inspiration, the gifts of Miracles and Languages, authoritie ouer the whole Church, and all the ordinarie Pastours thereof, were proper to the holy Apostles; and if none succeed them in these gifts and prerogatiues, then it is manifest, that in respect of their Apostle∣ship b they haue no Successours.

Secondly, In respect of ordinarie Ministerie, and in regard of the power and order of iurisdiction, S^t. Peter hath succes∣sours, in the same manner, as the rest of the Apostles: to wit,

all Bishops and Pastours a, teaching (either where hee plan∣ted [ A] Churches, or in any other part of the world) the same Faith and Religion, which himselfe and his fellow Apostles did b.

Thirdly, That S^t. Peter hath a speciall Successour, differing [ B] in kinde, from the Successours of the rest of the Apostles, and which is to bee for euer, a visible Head and Monarch ouer the vniuersall Church, from whom all Ecclesiasticall power is de∣riued, and to whose sentence, in things diuine, euery Chrstian must submit himselfe; and that the Romane Bishop is the man, is deliuered as a prime Article of Christian Faith, by Papals a: but it is neither confirmed by the holy Scripture b, nor by any diuine Reuelation, neither is the same deliuered in the holy Apostles Creed, or by any antient generall Councell, or by the vnanimous consent of the Primatiue Fathers. And sundry [ C] Romists themselues haue made question of it c, and later Pontificians, doe with so many subtill sleights and inuentions propugne it, that all intelligent and impartiall men may plaine∣ly discerne, That this Doctrine of Papall Supremacie is builded vpon the sand.

For if the Romane Bishop had beene appointed and establi∣shed the perpetuall Successour of Saint Peter, in manner before mentioned: either our Sauiour himselfe would immediately, expreslly, and manifestly haue reuealed the same to his Church; or the holy Apostles would haue taken notice thereof, and de∣clared the same to others. Also Saint Peter must haue carried himselfe as a Monarch among the other Apostles, and exercised the actions of Soueraigntie in the visible Church. But we find [ E] in the holy Scripture, no supereminent iurisdiction, or Monar∣chicall actions exercised by him a, no vassallage and subiection

yeelded him by the rest of the Apostles. And if hee must haue [ A] had a Successour in his Monarchie, the Apostles suruiuing him, b should rather haue beene his Successours, than the ordinarie Pastours of one Diocesse. The Spirit of God also, together with so eminent authoritie, would haue conferred vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Successours, extraordinarie graces, of Learning, Wisedome, Holinesse, &c. necessarie for so high a calling. Also it is not probable, that Eusebius, and other antient Ecclesiasticall Histo∣rians would altogether haue been silent of this Monarchicall authoritie of the Romane Bishop, neither would any Ortho∣doxe Father or generall Councell haue confined the Romane [ B] Pontife to equall bounds, with other Patriarkes. But the anti∣entest Ecclesiasticall Stories, are absolutely silent of such a swel∣ling preheminence as moderne Papals claime; and the Fathers and Councells contest the same. Pope Stephan was slighted by S^t. Cyprian, and the Bishops of Affrica d, when he enterposed in their affaires: and Pope Victor, by the Bishops of the East e. The Oecumenicall Councell of Chalcedon f, equalleth the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Bishop of Rome. Gregory the Great g himselfe giueth the Papacie a deadly blow. And a [ C] great part of Christianitie h hath euer to this day opposed the Papall Primacie. Therefore it is most improbable that this do∣ctrine should be fundamentall veritie, which hauing no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or infallible grounds in diuine Reuelation, wanteth also the suf∣frages of all antient Ecclesiasticall Testimonie.

Notes

• a

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. d. Vnit. Eccles. Hoc erant 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus, pari 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praediti & honoris & potestatis. Chrysost. sup. Galath. cap. 2. lamque se caeteris honore, parem ostendit (Paulus) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se reliquis illis, sed īpsi summo comparat, decla∣rans quod horum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 parem sortitus sit dignitatem. Barlaam. lib. d. Pap. princip. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a

  Hilar. sup. Matth. Canon. 14. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. 2. cap. 14. August. sup. Ioh. tr. 124. Read D. Reinolds Confer. Hart. cap. 5. diuis. 3. pa. 178. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Serm. 66. B. Petrus & Paulus eminent inter vniuersos Apostolos & peculiari quadam 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, vttum inter ipsos quis cui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 incertum est.
• b

  August. sup. Ioh. tr. 124. Super hanc ergo inquit Petram quam con∣fessus es, aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, Petra enim erat Christus. Idem, d. Verb. Dom. Serm. 13. Tu es ergo, inquit, Petrus, & super hanc Petram, quam confessus es, Super hanc Petram, quam cognouisti, dicens, Tu es Christus, filius Dei viui, aedificabo, Ecclesiam meam. Super me aedificabo te, non me super te. Ambros. sup. Eph. 2. ver. 20. Super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, hoc est in hac Catholicae fidei confessione statuo fideles ad vitam. Hilar. d. Trinit. lib. 6. Super hanc igitur confessionis Petram, Ecclesiae [ C] aedificatio est. Chrysost. sup. Matth. Hom. 55. Eusebius Emissen. Gregor. Beda, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Glossa Gratiani, Lyra, Ferus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Stella, & complures alij.
• c

  Orig. in Matth. tr. 1. Si autem su∣per vnum illum Petrum, arbitraris vniuersam Ecclesiam aedificari a Deo, quid dices de Iacobo, vel Iohanne, &c. Ambros. sup. Psal. 38. Quod Petro dicitur, Apostolis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hieron. c. Iouinian. lib. 1. At 〈◊〉〈◊〉 super Petrum fundatur Ecclesia, licet [ D] id ipsum in alio loco super omnes Apostolos fiat. Idem, sup. Galath. cap. 2. Licet Petrum & Iohannem secum Apostolos habuerit, &c. Et super ipsos Ecclesiae sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fundamentum. Cyril. sup. Esa. lib. 4. Orat. 2. Est omnium fundamentum & basis inconcussa Christus, &c. Fundamenta etiam proxima & viciniora nobis in∣telligi possunt, Apostoli & Euangelistae, oculati testes & ministri Sermonis facti, in confirmationem fidei, &c. Ab ipso enim dictum est Diuino Petro, &c. Tu es Petrus, & super hanc Petram, &c. Petram opinor vocans, immotam fidem Discipuli, Dictum est item voce psallentis: Fundamenta eius in Montibus sanctis. Optime sanctis Montibus comparandi sunt sancti Apostoli & Euangelistae, quorum cognitio firmata est instar funda∣menti posteris, non sinens eos, qui per ipsos irretiti sunt in reprobam fidem decidere. Cusan. Concord. Cath. lib. 2. cap. 13. Nihil dictum est ad Petrum, quod etiam alijs dictum non sit. Sixt. Senens. Biblioth. lib. 6. an. 68. Credimus & certa fide fatemur, Christum esse primum ac 〈◊〉〈◊〉 totius Ecclesiastici aedificij fundamen∣tum; sed super hoc etiam fundamentum, asserimus, alias Petras superimpositas, nempe Petrum, & caeteros Apostolos, quos Iohannes in Apocalypsi nominat duodecim fundamenta Coelestis Hierusalem. Victoria. Re∣lect. 2. d. Pot. Eccles. Con. 4. Apostoli omnes habuerunt aequalem potestatem cum Petro & Paulus ad Gal. 1. & 2. Satis defendit, se parem potestatem cum Petro habere. Haec est aperte sententia Cypriani in Epistola [ E] de vnitate Ecclesiae ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉: & habetur 24. quaest. 1. Ego dico tibi, hoc vtique erant caeteri 〈◊〉〈◊〉, quod Petrus, pari consortio praediti & honoris & potestatis. Nec audienda est Glossa dicens, hoc debere intelligi in ordine & dignitate Consecrationis, non in potestatis plenitudine.
• a

  Aug. d. Agon. Christ. ca. 30. Non sine causa inter omnes Apostolos huius Ecclesiae Catholicae personam sustiner Petrus, huic enim Ecclesiae claues 〈◊〉〈◊〉 caelorum datae sunt, cum Petro datae sunt, & cum ei dicitur ad omnes dicitur, Amas me, pasce oues meas. Beda. Hom. in Euang. Quem me dicunt? Potestas ligandi & soluendi, quamuis soli Petro à Domino data 〈◊〉〈◊〉, tamen abs{que} vlla dubitatione noscendum; quod & caeteris Apostolis data est. AEnaeas Syluius. d. gest. Basil. [ C] Concil. l. 1. p. 28. Maximus omnium Theol. Aug. super literam Math. Euang. Tibi dabo claues, &c. Ait, per verba illa iudiciariam potestatem datam esse, non solum Petro, sed alijs etiam Apostolis & toti Ecclesiae, in Episcopis & Presbiteris.
• a

  Victor. Relect. 2. Con. 4. Prop. 12.
• b

  Bellar. d. Rom. Pontif. l. 4. c. 25. A∣postoli non suerunt ordinarij sed extraordinarij & quasi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pastores, quibus non succeditur. Victoria Relect. 2. d. pot. Eccles. Con. 4. Propos. 12. Nemo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alijs Apostolis cum aequali potestate & authoritate iurisdictionis hoc est vt in toto orbe haberet plenitudineni potestatis, sicut 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apostolorum habuisset. [ E]
• a

  Hieron. Epist. ad. Euagr. to. 3. pa. 150. Caeterum om∣nes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suc∣cessores sunt. Id. ad. Heliodor. Epist. 1. Absit vt de his quicquam sinistrum loquar qui Apostolico gradui succedentes, &c. Ambros. Dignit. Sacerd. ca. 1. Claues regni Caelorum quas in Beato Petro Apostolo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suscepimus Sacerdotes. Ibid. cap. 2. Quas oues & quem Gregem, non solum tune Beatus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Petrus, sed & nobiscum eas suscepit, & cumillo cas nos suscepi∣mus omnes.
• b

  Iren. lib. 4. cap. 43. Eis qui in Ecclesia sunt Presbyteris obaudire oporter, his qui successio∣nem habent ab Apostolis, qui cum Episcopatus successione, Charisma veritatis certum, secundum placitum Patris acceperunt. Ibid. cap. 44. Qui Apostolorum Doctrinam custodiunt. Greg. Nazian Orat. 21. d. laud. Basil. Qui eandem Fidei doctrinam 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quoque throni particeps est, &c.
• a

  Bellarm. d. Pon∣tif. Rom. praef. Ex∣trauag. com. l. 1. tit. 9. d. Maior. & obed. ca. vnam sanctam. Subesse Rom. Pon∣tifici omni humanae creaturae, declara∣mus, dicimus, defi∣nimus, & pronun∣ciam' omnino esse de necessitate salu∣tis. Paul. Cararia. sum. mor. & Canon. q. 2. ar. 4. p. 4. n. 26. Non solum omnis fidelis populus, verum etiam infidelis, & omnis rationalis creatura, Papae imperio subiacet.
• b

  Canus loc. l. 6. c. 8. Romanum Pontif. Petrosucoedere, non est perse quidem in Sacris literis Reuelatum. Dried. d. Ecclesia Dogm. l. 4. c. 3.
• c

  Soto 4. Sent. Dist. 24. q. 2. ar. 5. Nulli particulari Ecclesiae addixit, neque aliunde insti∣tutio Christi circa hoc constat, &c. Cusan. Concord. Cath. l. 2. c. 34. pa. 599. Non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 probari Rom. Pontif. perpe∣tuum Principem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esse. Succession in loco non 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. AEneus. Sylu. d. gest. Basil. Concil. l. 1. Ioannes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peritissimus, glossam illam singularem, quae Rom. Ecclesiam orbi, praepone∣ret, [ D] dixitse omnino contemnere, beneque singularem esse, quae tam fatua diceret: indignumque fore vt illam quispiam 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c.
• a

  Chrys in Act. A∣post. Hom. 3. Petrus egit omnia ex communi Discipulorum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nihil ex 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nihil cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b

  Saint 〈◊〉〈◊〉 li∣ued 30. yeeres after Saint Peter. Baron. annual. to. 1. An. 69. n. 1. & to. 2. Anno. 101. n. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Haer. 66. Praeterijt generatio Aposto∣lorum, à Petro in∣quam vs{que} ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & Ioannem, qui etiam 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 in mundo, vsque ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tempora.
• c Eusebius, in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hi∣storie speaketh no word of it. Bulen∣ger. c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Si quando apud Euse∣bium aliosque non∣nullos de potestate sedis Apostolicae, Paulo obscurius agi videris; Sic 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ante be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 illud 〈◊〉〈◊〉 secu∣lum, &c.
• d

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. apud. Cypr. Ep. 75. Atque ego in hac parte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indignor ad hanc tam apertam & manifestam Stephani stultitiam, quod qui sic de Episcopatus sui loco gloriatur; & se successionem Petri tenere contendit. Tertul. d. pud. c. 21. De tua nunc sententia quero, vndè hoc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ecclesiae vsurpes? Si quia dixerit Petro. Dominus super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, tibi dedi claues Regni caelorum: velquaecunque alligaueris, &c. Qualis es euertens, atque commutans manifestam Domini intenrionem, personaliter hoc Petro conferentem: super te inquit aedificabo Ecclesiam meam.
• e

  Euseb. Hist. l. 5. c. 26.
• f

  Chalced. Concil. Act. 16. ca. 28. Centum quinquaginta Dei amantiss. Episc. sanctiss. noua Roma throno, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aequalia 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ D] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, recte iudicantes, vrbem quae & imperio & senatu honorata sit 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aequalibus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 antiquiss. Regina Roma priuilegijs fruatur etiam in rebus Ecclesiast. non secus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ac illa extolli & magni fieri, secundam post illam existentem.
• g

  Greg. li. 4. Epist. 31. 32. 34. 38. 39. & li. 6. Epist. 24. Cusan. Concord. Cath. li. 2. c. 34.
• h

  Graeci. Asiani, &c. Nilus Archiepisc. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. c. d. Primat Papae.