An examination of those plausible appearances which seeme most to commend the Romish Church, and to preiudice the reformed Discovering them to be but meere shifts, purposely invented, to hinder an exact triall of doctrine by the Scriptures. By Mr Iohn Cameron. Englished out of French.

CHAP. XXVII. That the Cardinalls, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Monkes, and Nunnes of the Romish Church, are not of Apostolicall in∣stitution. (Book 27)

AFter we haue examined the succession of the supreame degree of authoritie in the church of Rome, come wee now to the in∣feriour orders, and first to the Cardinalls. Who is so ignorant at this day, as to thinke, or so im∣pudent as to affirme, that their institution was in the times of the Apostles: or that their office, such as it is at this day, was in the church a good while after the age of the Apostles. The church increasing, there were created by the principall churches a 1.1 Presbyteri Cardi∣nales, that is to say, principall, or chiefe Elders. Dia∣coni Cardinales, principall or chiefe Deacons. Their office was limited within the iurisdiction of the church where they were created; if at Rome, within the iuris∣diction of the church of Rome: if at Carthage, within the iurisdiction of the church of Carthage. Their charge was a superintendency over the common El∣ders, and common Deacons. The Cardinalls at this day, haue nothing of it but the name, their charge is quite of another nature, their institution is altogether different. They are now the electours of the Pope, which they were not anciently, except those of the ci∣tie

of Rome as making a part of the Clergie. Now they take care of the affaires of all those churches, which are obedient to the Pope: anciently their charge was bounded within the circuit of one church alone. How∣soever it's true indeed, that by hypocrisie, they beare now adaies certaine titles, which seeme to assigne and to binde them to certaine parishes in Rome; to the end that they may retaine, if not the truth, yet the name of what they were anciently. Anciently their authority allowed them not any degree aboue Bi∣shops: now they are, as it were, Princes of the bloud in the church, next to the triple crowne. So then the Cardinalls haue no succession deriued from the Apo∣stles, and by consequence neither the church of Rome, in respect of this part of her policy.

As for the Patriarchs, there were none of them also in the times of the Apostles, nor a long time after. On∣ly we read in the decrees of the Nicene councell,b 1.2 that their iurisdiction is called an ancient custome, a tearme very different from an Apostolicall tradition. Moreo∣ver the Patriarchs were supreame, and equall to the Bishop of Rome in iurisdiction: he was but their com∣panion, albeit he were first in order. All the other Pa∣triarchs haue long since renounced the communiō of the Roman church: the Pope also will no longer be accoūted a Patriarch. The Patriarchs which are at this day in the Romish church, are elected by the Pope, who hath no power to choose thē, seeing that at their first institution (which howsoever was not Apostoli∣call) they were his fellowes in authoritie. So the Pa∣triarchs of the Romish church haue no lawfull succes∣sion,

their beginning being not not from the true be∣ginning, the times of the Apostles, yea not from the primitiue institution of Patriarches.

The Romish Archbishops and Bishops at this day are nothing like those ancient, primitiue ones, I say not onely in respect of their manners, but also in re∣spect of their authority. Their authority at this day dependeth barely of the Pope: anciently, it was not subiected but to the Companie of Bishops; They might not be deposed, but by the common consent. They were not bound, to runne to Rome for their e∣lection; But they gaue their mutuall aduice, one to another, both in the election and deposition of a Bishop. Anciently they had no such authority ouer the magistrate, as they at this day vsurpe. It's worth the observation, to see how matters are chan∣ged. Their authority in respect of the Pope, is become slauish: in respect of the magistrate, tyrannicall This is their comfort, that they haue gotten on the one side, that which they haue lost on the other; so they would haue it, choosing rather to be subiect to one who is far from them, and whose greatnesse depend∣eth of theirs, then to many which are neare them, and whose lustre might obscure theirs. In regard of this order therefore, there is no succession in the Church of Rome.

In the ancient Church there were Elders tearmed Presbyteri, from whence came the name of Prebsters, Priests, But the Priests of the Romish Church retaine nothing of them, but the name. Their Principall office was to c. 1.3 teach and instruct, where as the Romish

Priests for the most part, are vnlearned idiots, and by consequence are no otherwise successours of those Primitiue ones, then darknesse, pouerty, sicknesse, suc∣ceed light, wealth, health. Now this default, can∣not be excused, by alleaging that it is the fault of the persons; for so it is in Ecclesiasticall functions, that were the incapacity of the person is, the function cannot bee. I call here the incapacity, not simply the fault of the person, but the impossibility of discharg∣ing the function. The womā which hath no milke, can∣not be a nurse, and if she take the office of one who hath vpon her, this cannot be in the qualitie of a nurse, shee cannot be a nurse beyond the name. So he which hath not in some sort the abilities requisite for reaching, he cannot possibly be a teacher; if he suc∣ceede one that could and did teach, he succeedeth him not as teacher, but onely in his name. Moreouer, the Principall part of the priests office consisteth now a dayes in mumbling of masse, and in being sacrificers, of which there is no mention in the Primitiue ordina∣tion of Priests.

In the ancient Church there were d. 1.4 Deacons; now there are Deacons, Archdeacons, subdeacons. But what haue these people of the ancient Deacons, be∣side the name? Take they any care of the poore? yea they suck their blood by a cruell and importunate ex∣action of their reuenues. Doe they serue tables? yea themselues are sumptuously attended at their owne. In a word, seeing they doe not the office of the anci∣ent Deacons, how shall they be their successiours?

Concerning Monkes and Nunnes, there will no••

be found a syllable in scripture, to signifie that there were any in the age of the Apostles. e. 1.5 S^t. Hierome who hath much extolled this profession, fetcheth its originall from Paul the Hermite; a faire time after the Apostles. If else where, he referreth its beginning to a time more ancient, he contradicteth both him∣selfe and the truth,f 1.6 being carried away by the excessiue affection he bare to this profession. Howsoeuer the Monkes of these times, cannot iustly be accounted the successours of these Monkes which S^t. Hierome so much commendeth: What maketh a monke g. 1.7 sayd he, within citties? These not onely abide in citties, but euen in them build citties. h. 1.8 In S^t. Austens time it was theft for a Monk to beg: now it is an especiall point of their sanctifie. i. 1.9 In S^t. Cyprians time it was not vn∣lawfull for him who had vowed continencie to marry afterwards: now it's a matter monstrously hereticall; except when the Pope dispenceth with it, who like a God vpon earth can doe whatsoeuer it pleaseth him, and more also then God in heauen, for he can make vice vertue, and vertue vice by his dispensations.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Polyd. Virg. lib. 4. de inven. c. 19.
• b 1.2

  Can. 6.
• c. 1.3

  1. Tim. 1.89.
• d. 1.4

  Act. 6.2.3.
• e. 1.5

  Hieron. in vit. Paul. Erem
• f 1.6

  in Catal. scrip Eccles. nom. Phil.
• g. 1.7

  ad Paul. de in∣stit. Mon.
• h. 1.8

  S^t. Austen hath left a full treatise of this point, in∣tituled.

  De opere mona∣chi. extat. 3. tem. Basil.
• i. 1.9

  Cypr. ep. 62. edit. Pamel.