Prince, and to have a Feast proper to him, besides innumerable other acts done
against the Laws of God and Man I do utterly despair ever to know what it is
to lord or tyrannize over others. Surely it is easier to praise Busiris, or to
justifie Dionysius of Syracuse, or Nero of Rome, and to acquit them from
lording, than the Bishop of Rome for many hundreds years last past, if we
stand to the Relations of Writers of their own Church, who speak too favour∣ably
of them.
H. T. proceeds. Object. Christ is the foundation (of the church) and
other foundation can no man lay, 1 Cor. 3. 11. Answ. Other principal founda∣tion
can no man lay, I grant, other subordinate, I deny: for that he himself
hath laid, Peter, thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my church,
St. Matth. 16. 18. and the rest of the Apostles were built on the foundation of
them all, although not equally, Ephes. 2. 20.
I reply, when it is said, Christ is the Foundation of the Church, and other
Foundation can no man lay, it is meant of a principal Foundation not ex∣cluding
a subordinate. But sith the term [Foundation] as hath been proved be∣fore
in this Article, Sect. 2, 3. as applied to the Apostles doth not note settling or
upholding by rule or dominion, but by teaching, the Papists who ascribe to the
Pope such a Supremacy and Infallibility in teaching, as is proper to Christ, do
lay another principal Foundation besides Jesus Christ, not subordinate, but
coordinate to him. Which that they do is proved by two things, which are
ascribed by them to the Pope either by himself or with his Council.
1. That they can alter the plain express precepts of Christ, as namely in
determining, that it is not necessary that other faithfull people besides the sacri∣ficing
Priest should drink the Wine in the Eucharist, though the precept of
Christ is as express for all the faithfull drinking of it, as it is for their eating
of the Bread, and that it is not lawfull for a Priest to marry, though the Scri∣pture
expresly saith, Marriage is honourable in all men, Heb. 13. 4.
2. In enjoyning under pain of Heresie, Excommunication, and Damna∣tion
things to be believed, and practised, which Christ never enjoyned to be
believed or practised, as namely, Transubstantiation, the unbloody Propitia∣tory
Sacrifice, properly so called in the Mass, Purgatory Fire, confession of all
a persons known sins into the ears of a Priest, the keeping of the Vow of a
Monastick profession, when the person cannot contain, and to live an idle
begging life, when the person is able to work, and hath no other imployment,
nor pretends to any, which is usefull to men, besides praying, which is the
common duty of all Christians. Now surely he that takes on him to alter
Christ's commands, and to put his own in stead thereof doth make himself
the principal Foundation equal to Christ, which is contrary to Paul, 1 Cor.
3. 11. and to Christ, Matth. 23. 8, 11. and so makes himself a Foundation co∣ordinate,
as indeed more than Christ, however he pretend himself the Vicar of
Christ, or the authority of the Church for his Warrant. As for that which is
said of Peter here, it was answered before, Sect. 2, 3. that it doth not import
any Rule or Dominion, but some peculiar success in his preaching, besides
what others had, which was but a personal preheminence derivable to no Suc∣cessour,
much less to the rank of Roman Bishops in these last Ages, who never
build the Church by preaching, but pull down Princes, and oppress those that
would build up Christ's Church. Yet it is observable, that he allegeth Eph. 2. 20.