Roman-Catholick doctrines no novelties, or, An answer to Dr. Pierce's court-sermon, miscall'd The primitive rule of Reformation by S.C. a Roman-Catholick.

CHAP. IV. (Book 4)

The sum of Dr. Pierce's Discourse against the Pope's Supremacy en∣ervated by himself. The Churches Doctrin touching that Supremacy. The Text, Mark 10. 42. cleared.

1. IN the Doctor's Catalogue of Roman No∣velties, the first is, The Supremacy of the Pope:* 1.1 Concerning which, he tells his Maje∣stie, he has spoken most at large, because it is a Point wherein the honour and safety of his Domi∣nions are most concern'd; And because, by Bellar∣min's Assertion, it is the chief, if not onely hirge on which does hang the whole stresse of the Papal Fabrick.

This universal Superintendency or Supremacy of* 1.2 the Pope (saies he) hath been a visible usurpation ever since Boniface the 3d. to whom it was sold by the most execrable Phocas, the greatest Villain in the world, except Cromwel and Pontius Pilate, not out of reverence to the Pope, but in displeasure

to Cyriacus, Patriark of Constantinople, &c.

2, In contradiction to this Usurpation, he adds,* 1.3 But from the beginning it was not so. For we find in Scripture the Apostles were equally foun∣dations of the wall of God's City, &c. They were all as St. Cyprian saies,* 1.4 Pari consortio praediti & honoris, & potestatis: And S. Hierom is as expresse: And sure Paul, who withstood Peter to his face, was equal to him at the least. And for any one Bishop to affect over his Brethren a Supre∣macy of Power and Iurisdiction is a most impudent opposition both to the Letter and Sense of our Sa∣viour's precept, Mark 10. 42, 43, 44. They that rule over the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, &c. But so shall it not be among you, but whosoever, &c. Nay, by the Canons of the two first General Councils,* 1.5 every Patriark and Bishop is appointed to be chief in his proper Diocesse, as the Bishop of Rome is the chief in his. And a strict Injunction is laid on all, the Bishop of Rome not excepted, that they presume not to meddle in any Diocesse but their own.* 1.6 And the chief Pri∣macies of Order were granted to Rome and Con∣stantinople, not for having been the Sees of such and such an Apostle, but for being the two Sea••s of the two great Empires: Witnesse the famous Ca∣non of the General Council of Chalcedon, &c. Nay, the immediate Predecess••r of Boniface the third,* 1.7 Pope Gregory the Great, calls the Ti∣••le of Universal Bishop, a wicked, prophane, and blasphemous Title, importing that the times of

Antichrist were at hand, &c. Further adding, That if any one Bishop were universal, there would by consequence be a failing of the universal, Church,* 1.8 upon the failing of such a Bishop: Which is an Argument ad homines, not easily to be an∣swer'd, whatsoever infirmity it may labour with in its self, &c. And upon that occasion he makes an excursion about the Pope's infallibi∣lity, and his falling into Heresie, &c. nothing to the Point. Lastly, He concludes, that Whosoever shall read at large the many Liberties of the Gallican Church,* 1.9 and the published confessions of Popish Writers for more then a thousand years together, touching the Papal Vsurpations, and Right of Kings, he will not deny that the Supre∣macy of the Pope is but a prosperous Vsurpa∣tion.

3. This is the substance of his Discourse upon this Point of Novelty, the Supremacy of the Pope. In answering which he must per∣mit me, yet without any prejudice to the Cause, yea rather for a better clearing of it, not to bind my self to his Order: Assuring him, in the mean time, that I will not pur∣posely omit any thing material, either in his Reasoning or Quotations.

1. And first in general, he must give me leave to tell him, that by the Conclusion of the foregoing Discourse, he has entirely en∣ervated all that went before. For by argu∣ing and asserting, That the Gallican Liberties and Popish writings against Papal Vsurpations

do demonstrate that the Supremacy of the Pope 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but a prosperous Vsurpation: He clearly shows that his fore-mentioned Reasons do not touch the Catholic Cause at all: He acknow∣ledges those Writers to have been Roman Ca∣tholics: None can deny the French Church to be a Member of the Roman Catholic Church, acknowledged for such by the Pope himself, and professing a subjection to him, as to the Supream Spiritual Pastor of God's Church: Therefore it is evident that what they deny to the Pope, is not simply his Supremacy in Spiritual matters, (which is all that will be required of Protestants) but an extending of that Supremacy beyond what they conceive the received Ecclesiastical Canons do warrant: (and this the English may as well be permit∣ted to do as the French.)

4. To the end therefore he may no longer mistake this so important an Argument, I will clearly set down the Churches Doctrine concerning this matter. This Doctrine is contained in that profession of Faith com∣piled by Pius 4. and extracted out of the Council of Trent.* 1.10 I believe that the Pope is the Successor of St. Peter, and Vicar of Iesus Christ on Earth: I acknowledg the Holy Catholic, Apo∣stolic and Roman Church, as the Mother and Mi∣stress of all other Churches. And more largely in the Decree, with great circumspection fra∣med in the Council of Florence, and subscribed by the Greeks.* 1.11 We do define that the Holy A∣postolic

See and Bishop of Rome does enjoy a Su∣premacy through the whole world; And that the Same Bishop of Rome is the Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, the true Vicar of Iesus Christ, the Head of the Vniversal Church; the Father and Teacher of all Christians; and that in the Person of St. Peter he hath received from our Lord Iesus Christ full power to feed, rule and go∣vern the whole Church in such manner as is ex∣press'd in the Acts of Oecuminical Councils and the holy Canons.

This is the Decision of the Council of Florence: The substance of the Doctrine of which Decree, (by which the Pope, as Suc∣cessor of St. Peter, is acknowledg'd to have a Jurisdiction over all Christians, to be regula∣ted by the Ecclesiastical Canons) is so received even in France, notwithstanding all the Gal∣lican Liberties, that whoever denies it, will not be esteem'd a Catholic. See what Cardinal Palavicino writes touching the Cardinal of Lorrain and his French Bishops proceedings a∣bout this Point in the Council of Trent.

5. This Jurisdiction the Preacher positive∣ly denies both to the Pope and St. Peter, affir∣ming It to be an impudent opposition both to the Letter and sense of our Saviours forecited precept,* 1.12 Mark 10. But I heartily with Dr. Pierce would look well on this passage of the Go∣spel once more, and ask his own reason, though he should not be able to exclude all the fumes of passion from it; Is Ecclesiastical

Authority in Superiors, and Subordination of Inferiors forbidden in this Text? Will one that calls himself a Regular Son of the Church of England, by vertue of this Text pronounce the Sentence of Decapitation (ac∣cording to his own pleasant expression) upon his own Church, whosoever passes for the Head of it, whether his Majesty, or my Lord of Canterbury? On the contrary, I dare pro∣nounce that (not the affecting, but) lawful exercising a Supremacy of Power and Iuris∣diction is so far from being an impudent oppositi∣on to this Precept, that it is establish'd by it. For in this very Text expresse mention is made of some that are great, yea some that are the chiefest. And if he would have adjoyn'd the next Verse to his Quotation, he would have published to the most ignorant of his Hearers of Readers his manifest abusing this passage of Scripture: Our Saviour immedi∣ately adding,* 1.13 For even the Son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister. Surely he will not deny, but that our Saviour had Au∣thority, yea a Supremacy of Iurisdiction over the Church, and only here proposes himself as a Pattern of humility to be imitated by his Apostles and their Successors. And what were the Apostles? Church Governors without que∣stion. How then are they to imitate their Supream Governor? In renouncing Superiori∣ty? Did he himself do so? By no means.* 1.14 But as he did not glorifie himself to be an High

Priest: But he that said unto him thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedech: And be∣ing high Priest he did not forget his meek∣nesse and humility, consistent very well with the vigour of Spiritual Jurisdiction: In like manner his Apostles, (and all that succeed him) are commanded not to affect Superiori∣ty, and when they are lawfully invested with it, not to exercise it with such an arro∣gant pride as Heathen Princes usually do, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Conc. Eph. 1. Can. 8. they must neither 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; neither ambitiously seek Superiority; nor after a secular manner,* 1.15 Lord it over the Flock of Christ.

6. And now let the Doctor say where is the impudent opposition of Supremacy and Iuris∣diction both to the letter and sense of our Saviours Precept? Such an Argument as this, being Magisterially and confidently pronounc'd, might for half an hour serve his present turn in the Pulpit: But I wonder he could have the confidence to expose it to examination in Print. 'Tis time we come a little closer to examine this his first great Novelty.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Epist. Dedica••▪
• * 1.2

  Serm. pag. 10. Page 16.
• * 1.3

  Page 17.
• * 1.4

  Page 18.
• * 1.5

  Ibid.
• * 1.6

  Page 19.
• * 1.7

  Ibid.
• * 1.8

  Page 20.
• * 1.9

  Page 21.
• * 1.10

  Sess. 25.
• * 1.11

  Concil. Floren.
• * 1.12

  Page 17.
• * 1.13

  Mark. 10. 45.
• * 1.14

  Hebr. 5. 5. 6.
• * 1.15

  1 Pet. 5.