Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

The Scriptures obiected answered.

Ioh. 11. 49, 51. Caiphas spake this not of himselfe, but being high Priest that yeere, he prophesied, that Iesus should die for the Nation.

Answ. Caiaphas was a wicked man many wayes, and in part an vsurper, as the Rhemists confesse: a very fit patterne & Patron for the Pope. But to answer to the place obiected, for the Popes not erring: First, this was but once by speciall direction, and therefore cannot hence be concluded any perpetuall assurance of direction. Its cleare by that which followed: for this man in another Councell, Mat. 26. 57, 59. heard and accepted of false witnesses, condemned Christ for a blasphemer, vers. 60. 62, 65. and in another Assembly tooke counsell to put him to death, Mat. 27. 1. Secondly, this speaketh of prophesie, an ex∣traordinarie gift to this man then. Thirdly, though the man here was a lewd wicked vsurper; yet was his office of Gods own appointment. What is this to the Popes Antichristian su∣premacie, an office of the diuell, and not of Gods ordinance? Fourthly, If this place afford assurance of an vnerring spirit to the Pope, it must be either in respect of the mans person, or office, or chaire he sate in. But none of these. First, not of his person, who was a wicked vsurper, and Christs enemie. And will the Pope plead his person? Secondly, not of his office, for that is changed, as the Apostle in Hebrewes doth witnesse. Thirdly, not of the chaire; for the seate had no such vertue in it to keepe him safe from error, as before is noted in Mat 26. 57, 59, 61, 62, 65. and 27. 1. for the chaire either had then lost his vertue, and then can it not keepe from error: or it was not the chaires vertue which made Caiaphas to prophesie; and then is it idle to boast of the chaire: or else paraduenture the vertue was in it, but not alwayes operatiue; and then is it vncertaine, when

it will worke, to keepe the man from error which sits therein, so as he may some time or other erre, or be left in doubt whether he doth erre or no. This being the state of that chaire, how can the Pope clayme an vnerring spirit from this? Fourthly, though the Euangelist Iohn, guided by Gods Spirit, did expound the meaning of the words otherwise then Caiphas euer meant them; yet those in Councell with him, vnderstood them not spiritual∣ly, but tooke them as vttred in State policie, for outward peace and safetie of the Nation; as is cleare in Ioh. 11. 48, 53. So as he erred in his owne scope, and they in apprehending the words in another drift and sense, then God did intend by them. Therfore as Caiphas and his companie herein erred, so may the Pope and conclaue of Cardinals, for any helpe to the contrary that they can get from this place.

Luk. 22. 31. I haue prayed that thy faith faile not.

Answ. 1. This is spoken of Peter, and not of the Pope. 2. This was in respect of a future lapse in Peter, which Christ foresaw, more then in any of the Apostles, as the euent decla∣red. 3. This is meant of Peters owne particular inward grace of faith, which was terribly shaken, when he denied and forswore his Master, and not of his teaching in the execution of his mi∣nisterie. For why should Christ pray more for Peters teaching, then for the rest, whom Christ sent out as well as him, to teach all Nations?

Mat. 16. 18. This text is spoken vnto Peter, of the Churches preseruation against the gates of hell: but speaketh nothing of Peters not erring, much lesse of the Popes; of whom Christ in this place neuer dreamed. And its cleare by Scripture, that the gates of hell preuailed against Peter, after Christ had vttered these words vnto him, though not totally and finally to destru∣ction, yet in a great measure to transgression, and fearefull fal∣ling.

Mat. 23. 2. This is very largely answered before; and there is it fully proued, that these Scribes and Pharises erred grosly in many things.

Ioh. 21. 15, 16, 17. This text speakes of Peters dutie, that as he loued Christ, he should feed his lambes; but speakes not a

word of his not erring, who after this was found ignorant in some things of the nature of Christs Kingdome, Act. 1. 6. of going to the Gentiles, and eating things forbidden by the Law, abrogated by Christ, Act. 10. 12, 14. and he also erred at Antioch, Gal. 2. But if this did cleare Peter, what maketh it for the Pope, who shewes no loue to Christ in feeding his lambes? If he neuer teach, then he may be sure neuer to erre in that kind.

Exod. 28. 30. First, what this Vrim and Thummim was, can no man tell. Secondly, though Aaron had it, yet he foully erred in the golden Calfe, in making it, in building an Altar before it, and proclaiming a feast thereupon to the Lord, Exod. 32. 4, 5 And did not Vrijah erre in the dayes of wicked Ahaz, 2. King. 16. 11, 16? So the high Priest in Christs time? Therefore this place alledged to proue that the high Priest could not erre, is much abused. Thirdly, what is this to the Pope, who is neither Gods high Priest (for such is there now none, but Iesus Christ onely;) neither hath this Vrim & Thummim, which Aaron had?