The defense of the aunsvvere to the Admonition against the replie of T.C. By Iohn VVhitgift Doctor of Diuinitie. In the beginning are added these. 4. tables. 1 Of dangerous doctrines in the replie. 2 Of falsifications and vntruthes. 3 Of matters handled at large. 4 A table generall.

T. C. Pag. 72. Sect 2. 3. 4.

As for Symeon Archbishop of Sele〈1 line〉〈1 line〉cia, I will not denie, but at that time was the name of Archbishops. For then (*) Satan had made thorough the titles of Archbishops, Pr〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ates, and Patriarches, as it were three staires, wherby Antichrist might clyme vp into his cursed seate, not∣withstanding there wanted not good decrees of godlie councelles which did strike at these proude names, and went aboute to keepe them downe. But the swelling waters of the ambition of dy∣uers, coulde not by any bankes be kept in, which hauing once broken out in certaine places, af∣terwardes couered almost the face of the whole earth.

This 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉deuour of godly men may appeare in the Councell of Carthage, which decreed, that the bishop of the fyrst seat shold not be called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, eyther the chiefe of the priestes, or the hyghe priest, or any suche thing, by whiche woordes (any such thing) he shutteth out the name of Archbishop, and all such hau〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e titles.

The same decree also was made in the Africane councell, and if you saye that it was made a∣gainst the Pope of Rome, or to forbidde that any man should be called Archbishoppe, shewe me where ther was eyther bishop of Rome, or any other that euer made any such title or chal〈1 line〉〈1 line〉nge to be the generall Bishop of all at that tyme, when this councell of Carthage was holden, when as the first of those which did make any su〈1 line〉〈1 line〉h chalenge, was the bishop of Constantinople, which not∣withstanding (a) chalenged not the preheminence first ouer all, but that he might ordeyne bishops of Asia, Pontus, Thracia, whiche were before appointed by theyr Synodes, and this was in the councell of Chalcedon, which was long after that councell of Carthage before remembred.

Io. Whitgifte.

It is before sufficiently declared, that these names and offices were allowed and confirmed by the Councell of Nice, and therefore not brought in by Satan. Moreouer this Symeon Archbishop of Seleucia, liued as it may appeare by most Chro∣nicles aboute the tyme of the Councell of Nice, and was martyred by Sapores the king of Persia.

Which peraduenture if you had vnderstoode, you woulde not haue burste oute into this heate of woordes, for then might you haue made the same answere to Am∣brose his authoritie which was long after him, & so kept secret your owne fond deuise.

The Councell of Carthage and also of Affrike was at that tyme, wherein the Bishop of Rome by his Legates didde clayme the right of hearyng of appeales, from whome soeuer they were made, and for his purpose alleaged a counterfait Canon of the Councell of Nice. Wherefore it is moste certayne, that then th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Bishop of Rome beganne at the leaste to clayme the super〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oritie ouer all Chur∣ches, and to take vpon hym as it were the name of vniuersall Byshoppe: and ther∣fore this canon is made against him.

And that thys is true, the Epistle of the Councell of Affrike written to Cele∣stinus, then Bishoppe of Rome declareth. For after that they haue 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉esyred hym that he woulde admit no suche appeales, nor absolue such as they should excom∣inunicate, bycause that was to doe agaynst the decrées of the Councell of Nice, and to abridge them of their iurisdiction and libertie: they adde and saye:

Both bicause this priuiledge hath bin taken from the Church of Aphrike by no consti∣tution of the fathers, and also the decrees of the councell of Nice hath committed bothe the inferiour Clearkes and the Bishops themselues vnto their Metropolitanes: for it was di∣scretely and rightly consydered, that all matters are to bee determined in the places, where they began. and that no prouince can lacke the grace of the holie ghost, wherby the prieste of Christe may be hable, both wisely to see, and also constantly to mainteyn the right: espe∣cially

for that it is lawfull, for euery man that shall mislike the discretion of the iudges, to appeale either to particular councels within the same prouince, or else to an vniuersal coun∣cell: vnlesse perchaunce some man will thinke, that God is able to inspire the triall of iu∣stice into one man alone, and will not inspire the same into a greate number of priests meeting togyther in Councell. And how may such beyond sea iudgemente be thoughte good, wherevnto the persons of the witnesses which in triall of truth are thought necessary either for that they be women, or for the infirmitie of their age, or for many other incident letts, cannot be brought. Now that any should be sent abroade as it were from your ho∣linesse side, we find it not decreed in any Councell. And a little after, And send you not any your Clerks hither to execute iustice at any mans request, least we seeme to bring the smokie puffe of the world into the Church of Christ. &c.

Whereby it is plaine, that they only prohibite that title of vniuersalitie and of generall iurisdiction, that the Byshop of Rome now claymed and at that time began to claime ouer all Churches, and not the names of superioritie due vnto any in their owne prouince. For that perogatiue of iurisdiction ouer. Byshops and other mini∣sters they acknowledge to be due to the Metropolitane, as it is euident in the words of that same epistle, which I haue recited.

Moreouer it is manifest that this name Archbishop was then vsed, and after that time continued and not disalowed by any, as it may appeare by that which hath bin hitherto written. And this name Primate (whiche is as hautie as the name of Arch∣byshop) is allowed euen in that councell of Carthage, as may appeare in the. 13. 17. and. 23. canons, as it is in the Gréeke copye. Wherfore in my opinion M. Foxe doth aptly decide this controuersie, in that learned treatise of his firste tome, where he speaking of this same Councell and of this Canon which you haue recited, (for I sup∣pose you did borrow it there) signifyeth in effect that neyther the name of Primate, Archbyshop or Metropolitane, is by that Canon prohibited, but rather these ambitious titles of uniuersall Byshop, prince of all priests, head of all priests, and suche like. Whiche names séeme to derogate authoritie both of iurisdiction and office from all other prie∣stes, and therfore alittle after he saith. Thus then these titles aboue recited, as Byshop, Metropolitane, Byshop of the first seate, Primate, Patriarke, Archbyshop, that is to meane, chiefe byshop or headbishop 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉o other byshops of his prouince, we denie not but were then in old time applyed and might be applyed to the Byshop of Rome, like as the same also were applyed to other Patriarks in other chiefe cities and prouinces. And in the same place, af∣ter he 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉athe declared this title (summus orbis Pontifex) as it is now vsed in Rome to be vnhard of in the primitiue time of the Churche, that is fiue hundred yeares after Christ. He saith the like is to be affirmed also of other presumptuous titles of like ambiti∣on, as the head of the vniuersall Church, the vicar of Christ in earth, Prince of priests, with such like, which be all new found termes. &c. so that it is plaine, that these general titles of vniuersall iurisdiction ouer all, and not the particular names of superioritie ouer seuerall Churches, is by this Councell forbidden.

Thys farther appeareth in the fyfth Councell of Constantinople where Iohn not being content with the name of Patriarke of Constantinople would néedes haue it ratifyed by the councell that he should be called Oecumenicus Patriarcha, that is vniuer∣sall Patriarch. Against which title not of Patriach but of vniuersall Patriarch, both Pela∣gius and Gregory at that time byshops of Rome, the one succéeding the other, did ear∣nestly write, and this is the true meaning of that Canon.

Ignatius immediatly after the Apostles time calleth a Byshop principem sacerdo∣tum, the Prince of priests, or chiefe Priest: and so doth Ambrose in the fourth ad Ephe∣sios. But this they do not attribute to any one as hauing vniuersall authoritie ouer all, but to euery byshop in respect of such as be vnder him.

Touching the byshop of Constantinople, your are deceyued very muche, and de∣clare in hym the same vnskilfulnesse that you haue done in the other. For it is euident that he required thys name and title of vniuersall Patriarch ambitiously as béeing desirous to be superiour to all the Patriarchs in the worlde. This to be true is manifest by the decrée of Pellagius Distinct. 99. Canon Nullus. And by the Epistles of

Gregory written purposely of that m̄atter. Neyther do I reade in any approued author to the contrary.

Agayne you are deceiued greatly in the Councell. For though the Byshoppe of Constantinople did chalenge in the Councell of Chalcedon the righte of ordering Metropolitanes in those places, yet doth he not in that Councell chalenge the title of vniuersall Patriarch, whiche notwithstanding was offered to the Byshoppe of Rome in that Councell of Chalcedon, but first giuen to the Patriarch of Constanti∣nople, in the seconde Councell of Constantinople: or as it is termed in the booke of Councels, the fifte, bycause it was the fiftegenerall Councell, as it may appeare in the same councell. Moreouer whereas you say, that the Byshop of Constantinople re∣quired that he might ordeyne Byshops in Asia. &c. if you marke the words diligently, you shall perceiue that he re quired therin nothing but according to the sixth Canon of the Councell of Nice, whiche is also there alledged for that purpose: but I haue shewed before how the Byshop of Rome made this chalenge of vniuersalitie in ef∣fect, and indéede, euen in that Councell of Carthage, where this Canon by you al∣leadged is, and therefore I néede not stand any longer vpon this poynt.

Notes

• (*)

  An vnaduised answer.
• Con. Car〈1 line〉〈1 line〉. cap. 39.
• Con. tom. 1 cap. 6.
• (a)

  An vntruth.
• The name of Primate al∣lowed in the Councell of Carthage. M. Foxe.
• Con. Const〈1 line〉〈1 line〉n. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 alias the. 2.
• Ignatius epist. ad Smirn. Ambros. in. 4. Eph.
• Distinct. 99.
• Con. tom. 2.