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 ...

Confuted by their owne Bible.

I. IT is so farre from making it the Catholike Church, as it no where doth giue it the name of a Church, as it doth Co∣rinth, chap. 1. Gal. chap. 1. Ephesus, Reu. 2. 1. Acts 20. 28. 1. Tim. 3. 15. and so other Churches. But no where is this title giuen to Rome. Note it well.

II. It telleth vs, that the Faith of Saints at Rome was renow∣ned in the whole World, Rom. 1. 8. but not that their Church was spred into all the World. Neither saith it, that the Faith so commended, came out from thence into the World; or that it was any other, then that which was then in all the World. For* 1.1 their Bible telleth vs, that not from Rome, but from Ierusalem, it came both to Rome, and into other places of the World. Ieru∣salem was the Mother and Head Church, and not Rome. And of those in Rome it saith, Among whom ye are called, Rom. 1. 6. so were they not the Vniuersall Church, but one particular a∣mong the rest, which together made vp the whole Church.

III. Their Bible telleth vs, that the Church at Ierusalem was planted by Christ, and by his twelue Apostles, with whom were the 70. Disciples: such Teachers as no other Church euer had at once. The Church of Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, and o∣ther moe, were planted by the Apostles, as we learne from their owne Bible. But who first taught at Rome, it shewes vs not, not Peter, I am sure.

IIII. Their Bible doth at least equall other Churches with it, if not preferre them before it: 1. In giuing the name of Church to other, and not to it: for there is mention of Saints at Rome, but not of the Church at Rome: The title they had not giuen to them.

2. It plainely telleth vs, that other Churches were first plan∣ted by the Apostles, but mentioneth not the planting of it by any of them.

3. In highly praising of other Churches, as the Corinthians, for being enriched with all vtterance, and all knowledge, for comming behind in no gift, 1. Cor. 1. 5, 7. and for being parta∣kers of the sufferings of Christ, 2. Cor. 1. 7. So the Ephesians, which Church he calleth the Church of the liuing God, the Pil∣lar and ground of truth, 1. Tim. 3. 15. and the beleeuers there to be fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God, built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone, in whom they wer builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2. 19, 20, 22. If our Romanists had any such testi∣mony, how would they boast? Great commendations are giuen to the Church at Colosse, Col. 1. 4, 6. for their stedfast faith, loue, and fruit of the Gospell, and for their order which the Apostle ioyed to behold, cha. 2. 5. What shal I speak of the praises of the* 1.2 Thessalonians for their worke of Faith growing exceedingly, their labour of loue, their patience of hope, their abounding in charitie, being followers of the Apostles, and the Churches of God in Iury, receiuing the Word of God, as the Word of God, in much tribulation, with ioy of the holy Ghost? To which prayses the beleeuers at Rome did not then attaine, though they had their prayses, and those great too, Rom. 15. 14. but not com∣parable with those Churches.

Lastly, in shewing how the Apostles honoured some other Churches by their writings. As Corinth, by two Epistles: so Ephesus, by one from Saint Paul, by another from Saint Iohn, Reuel. 2. 1. who wrote to that Church, in the first place, the hea∣uenly booke of the Reuelation: in like sort were two written to the Thessalonians, and but one to Rome.

5. It is cleare by their own Bible, that Peter (whō they claime falsely for their first Pope) wrote two Epistles, which are cal∣led Catholike: but neither of them was written to Rome, as the Catholike Church, neither maketh he any mention of it. And S. Paul writeth to the Saints at Rome, as to a particular compa∣ny, and not as any Head-Church, before, and aboue other. The Thessalonians are commended for being followers of the Chur∣ches of God in Iudea, but not for following those at Rome; to

whom, when Saint Paul wrote, hee saith, Rom. 1. 6. that they were called among others that in other Nations were called; but it is not said, aboue other Nations.

6. Their Bible telleth vs, that S. Paul wrote his Epistle to them that were in Rome called Saints, and beloued of God, so that they were within that City, or there-about: but the Ca∣tholike Church was then dispersed; for the Gospell at that time had gone into all the World, and was preached to euery creature vnder Heauen, Col. 1. 6, 23. In their Bible is mention* 1.3 made of thirtie Kingdomes and Countries, ten Ilands, and al∣most three score famous Cities out of Iury, in and amongst the Gentiles, where the Gospell had been preached, among whom Rome was but one, and had obteined at the most, praises com∣mon with other Churches. Their titles were Saints, Rom. 1. 7. beloued of God, also brethren, Rom. 10. 1. and 12. 1. and 15. 14, 30. Their faith, the same that was among all Nations, Rom. 1. 5. called the common Faith, vers. 12. and therefore spoken of throughout the whole World, vers. 8. Their obedience was published to euery place, Rom. 16. 19. Not for that their Faith and obedience did surpasse others: for the words are deliuered barely, your faith, your obedience: not with prayses, as the Faith and obedience of the Colossians, and Thessalonians, accompa∣nied with loue and aboundant charity, with patience, and ioy of the holy Ghost, in great afflictions, and so forth: but for that Rome was the sease of the Empire, and the publishing of their faith and obedience, might bee a meanes to draw on others which dwelt in other places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom 1. 5 12,
• * 1.2

  1. Thes. 1. 3, 6. & 2. 13, 14. & 3. 6. &. 4. 10. 2. Thes. 1. 3, 4. & 2. 13.
• * 1.3

  Acts 2.