A plain defence of the Protestant religion, fitted to the meanest capacity being a full confutation of the net for the fishers of men, published by two gentlemen lately gone over to the Church of Rome. Wherein is evidently made appear, that their departure from the Protestant religion was without cause of reason. Written for publick good by L. E. a son of the Church of England, as by law established.

Of the Popes Supremacy.

PA.

51. The Foundation of the Church of God, next after Christ was builded upon St. Peter, or it was not.

Pro.

It was no more builded on St. Peter, than upon the other Apostles.

Pa.

Why then doth the Scripture say, Mat. 16. 18. Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church?

Pro.

Christ says not there, that he will build his Church upon the Person of Peter, but upon the Confession that he had before made, vers. 16. Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God, which is the Foundation of the Christian Religion; so St. Austin explains it (Aug. trac. 10. in 1 John) What means this (saith he) vpon this Rock will I build my Church? Upon that Faith, upon that which is said, Thou

art the Christ: seeing then Christ did not build his Church on Peter more than the other Apostles, we with good reason deny his Supremacy.

Pa.

52. Christ did prefer Peter before the other Apo∣stles, or he did not.

Pro.

He did not give Peter any Preference of Or∣der, or Power more than to the other Apostles.

Pa.

If he did not, why did he say to Peter only, John 21. 16, 17, 18, feed my Lambs, feed my Sheep?

Pro.

He did not say it to Peter only, St. Austin tells us, (Aug. de ago. Christ. c. 30.) when it is said unto Peter, Feed my Sheep, it is said unto all, and St. Amb. (Lib. de Sacerd.) which Sheep, and Flock, St. Peter did not receive alone, but we all received them with him. Seeing then here was no Prerogative given to Peter, but what the rest of the Apostles, and all Pastors received, we have good reason to deny his Supremacy.

Pa.

53. The Apostles were of equal Authority, or they were not.

Pro.

They were.

Pa.

If they were, why have you Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and no equal Authority as they had?

Pro.

The Question is impertinent, all Archbishops are of equal Authority in their own Provinces? All Bishops are of equal Authority in their respective Dioceses: So that we have an equal Authority. But as Bishops were under the Apostles, and Presbyters under them, so we have the same degrees, but for the Office of an Apostle, that is; no longer in the Church.

Pa.

54. To whom the chief Charge of feeding Christs Sheep was given, he was chief of the Apostles, or he was not.

Pro.

He was.

Pa.

Why then do you deny Peter's Supremacy, to whom the chief charge was committed.

Pro.

The chief Charge was not committed to him, there∣fore we deny his Supremacy. And although I acknowledg∣ed that, if the chief Charge had been given to any, he had been Chief; yet seeing it was given to none, as I proved before, there was no chief over the rest.