The English concord in ansvver to Becane's English iarre: together with a reply to Becan's Examen of the English Concord. By Richard Harris, Dr. in Diuinitie.

English Concord.

BOth Doctor Tooker and Hainric, deny the King to be supreme Iudge in controuersies of faith: but in other controuersies, both of them agree, that Christian Emperours haue giuen iudgement vp∣on Ecclesiasticall persons, in Ecclesiasticall matters.

Heere then you see is no Iarre, but a full and perfect concord. Wherein the Iesuit is taken guilty of a dou∣ble falsehood. First, when hee blusheth not to write, that Hainric affirmeth, the King, by vertue of his su∣premacie, is supreme Iudge of all controuersies; when on the cōtrary, he deemeth no mortall man, nor King, nor Angel, can be that supreme Iudge: nor Saint Pe∣ter; according to that, It seemed good vnto the holy Ghost and to vs: and least of all, the Pope of Rome.

Lastly, hee constantly denieth, that any one of the Fathers euer numbred this dignity, of beeing supreme Iudge of controuersies, among the other duties of Pri∣mate of the Church, or Ecclesiasticall supremacie.

Secondly, though Becan saith, Hic vhique dissidium, nothing but iarring: yet in good sooth, [that Christi∣an Princes haue with commendation iudged & taken vp controuersies of faith; out of these words of Socra∣tes, Lib. 5. cap. 10. Theodosius called together a Councell of all Sects: and vvhen the Emperour vnderstood their manifold dissensions, hee commaunded them, that euery of their Sects should put in vvriting the particular articles of their seuerall faith. They put their opinions in vvriting accordingly. Then, when they vvere sent for to the Court, the Bishoppes of each Sect appeared and met together: the

Emperour taketh at their hands the vvritten scroules of their faith. Afterward, he shutteth vp himselfe in his Clo∣set alone, and most earnestly maketh prayer to GOD, that his Maiestie vvould helpe him to finde out the truth. Last∣ly, hee readeth euery confession seuerally, and hauing read them, be condemneth and teareth them all, except the faith of the Consubstantiall: that hee praised and approoued] not onely Hainric, but before him, Ma. Doctor Bilson the most graue & learned Bishop of Winchester, in his book of Christian obedience, printed at London, Anno 1586. and before him, that most excellently learned Iuell, Bb. of Salisbury,* 1.1 in the defence of his Latine Apo∣logie, gathered the same doctrine, and concluded the same opinion: the words are these, pag. 172. in the A∣pology; Theodosius Imperator, vt ait Socrates, &c. The Emperour Theodosius (as Socrates vvriteth) did not onely sit among the Bishops, but was also chiefe at the decision of the controuersie, and did rend in peeces the vvritings of the Haereticks, approouing the faith of the true professing Ca∣tholicks.

That which Hainric writeth heere of the contro∣uersies of faith, remembred by the Iesuit in the foure first generall Councells (as for the second Councell of Nice, it was rather a godlesse and trifling conspiracy then a Councell) wherein Emperours sate Presidents, and together with the consent of the Synod, gaue iudgements, and concluded those differences; that did also Bishop Iuell, write long before him, Part. b. cap. 13. b. 1. Pag. 522. out of Cardinall Cusanus, in his third booke De Concordia, cap. 16. whom we will soo∣ner belieue, then tenne thousand Becans: the words are

these; Sciendum est quod in vniuersalibus octo concilys semper invenio Imperatores, &c. This you must knowe, that in the first eight generall Councells, I alwaies find, that the Emperours, and their substitutes, with the Senate, had the supremacie and office of Presidentship: and vvith the consent of the Synode, gaue the iudgements and decisi∣ons.

Now Sir, I pray you, what other thing is this, then to iudge and take vp controuersies of faith? and yet the Iesuit turnes Iester in this so serious a matter; as if the gods of his societie had giuen him some great ad∣uantage: saying vpon his former weake inferences; So as if in England there should chaunce to arise a debate, &c. And I will follow his steppes, and turne his owne tearms vpon him in this manner:

So as if in Rome there should chaunce to arise a dis∣sension, or debate about any point of faith; as for ex∣ample, about the Popes supremacie, or (which is all one) his beeing vniuersall Bishoppe, what would the Academicall Fathers of the societie of IESVS doe? vvho haue suppressed the Sorbonists. What would the people of Rome doe, or other the Popes subiects? Should they goe to Pope Paul the fift, as their onelle Iudge and desire his sentence & determination? why then Pope Gregory the great (a farre wiser man) vvill stand against it. Should they goe and desire any other Iudge to take vp the matter? Surely, Bellarmine wil not endure that.

What were then best to be done in this case? Euen that which hither to hath beene done in the debate of the Popes supremacy. For the Papists haue euer beene at odds, and iarred, and could neuer end this contro∣uersie.

And what's the cause? In very deed no other, but for that some thinke one thing, and some another: and they cannot, or rather will not, finde out the cer∣taine and true Iudge, who can decide the matter. And this is the property of hereticks.

Againe, I will touch Becane in one instance, more neerely. If there chaunce to arise a controuersie a∣bout this point, or article of the Popes religion; An si∣des haereticis seruanda, Whether promise must be kept with hereticks, what will the Academicall Fathers of the societie doe? Will they goe to Pope Paul the fift? Becane will not like of that. Will they goe to any other Iudge? Barronius will not endure it; no, nor Ignatius Loyola, the Syre of all the Iesuits (who first inuented the Art of Equiuocation, and so the breach of faith) if hee were aliue.

Heere I might boinfinite: but I will confine my selfe in one or two examples. If it chance a dissension or debate to arise about the body of Christ in the Eucha∣rist; as whether it may be broken, or chewed with the teeth of them that care it; according to the Decree Part. 3. dist. 2. cap. 42. What would the Romane Ca∣tholicks doe in this case?

Would they repaire to Pope Paul the fist, as Iudge of this controuersie? Berengarius in his Recantation hath giuen warning to the contrary. Would they goe to Pope Nicholas? Bellarmine will not allow of him; vvho in his third booke and tenth chapter of this Sa∣crament of the Eucharist, vvriteth; Christus vere in Sacramento existit, sed non teritur, non roditur: Christ is trulie in the Sacrament, but hee is neither bitten nor chewed.

To conclude, if there arise a dissension at Rome, a∣bout the Reall presence; as for example, Whether Christs body be really present, but without bignesse, as Durand holdeth, in 4. Dist 10. q. 2. or with great∣nesse, but vvithout distinction of parts, as Decam in 4. q. 4. and thirdly, with bignesse, and all distinct parts, as Bellarmine, Lib. 3. cap. 5. De Euchar. what were then best to be done in this case? For the Papists are alwaies at odds & iarre about the corporall presence of Christ in the Eucharist: and the strife can neuer be taken vp. What's the cause? In very deede no other, but for that some thinke one thing, and some another: and they cannot, or rather will not, finde out the certaine and true Iudge, who can decide the matter. And this is the property of Hereticks.

But heere obserue with mee in the last place, the guilefull disposition of Becan; Doctor Tooker, pag. 23. affirmeth, that Princes are aboue the persons, and not the sacred things, as the vvord, Sacraments, and spiritu∣all graces of the Church: adding in the same page, Sole ipso, &c I vvill make it as cleare as the Sunne, that the chiefe care of the Prince, must be had for things and causes Ecclesiasticall: and that their supremacy especially consi∣steth in the execution of that function.

From hence the Iesuit maketh this collection; The King (by confession of Doctor Tocker) is not aboue some Ecclesiasticall things, as the vvord, and Sacra∣ments: therefore aboue no Ecclesiasticall things, as are the controuersies of Bishops; Against Doctor Tooker his expresse meaning in the same leafe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Part. 6. cap. 13. Diuis. 2. Pag. 524.