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Scriptures obiected, answered.
Mat. 10. 20. Now the names of the twelue Apostles are these; the first Simon, who is called Peter, &c. Because he is first na∣med, therefore they will conclude a Headship ouer the rest.
Answ. Here is no expresse word of Headship, but in num∣bering the Twelue, the first beginneth with Peter. So he is one∣ly first here in reckoning, in order of numbring, but not of com∣manding superioritie. Saint Marke chap. 3. 16. & Luke 6. 14. leaue out the word first, in naming of the Apostles. And Saint Paul in naming the Apostles with Peter, giueth him not the first place, Gal. 2. 9. He is first reckoned, for that hee was first called by Christ, Mat. 4. 18. Andrew knew Christ before him, and* 1.1 brought him to Christ: but when Christ called them to follow him, and to be his Disciples, Peter is first in that place of Mat∣thew. For when Andrew brought him to Christ, neither of them were as yet called by him to follow him, for that was not till Iohn the Baptist was imprisoned. Andrew was Iohns Disciple, and his knowing of Christ was this, by Iohns teaching, Ioh. 1. 35, 36, 40. and he brought Peter to Christ, vers. 41, 42. but An∣drew abode with Christ but that day, verse 39. neither did hee as yet leaue his Master Iohn: but when Iohn was imprisoned, both Andrew and Peter returned to their calling, Mar. 1. 14, 16. In which vocation Christ found them, and then called them, and the first of them was Simon; Math. 4. 18. And hereupon being first named when he was called, and the first called of all the* 1.2 Apostles by Mathews relation, chap. 4. he is in the reckoning of the 12. first named by him, in chap. 10. 21. and so by the other Euangelists. For it is the Rhemists errour, to say that Andrew was first called; and a common mistake to yeeld them so much: whereby they seeme to take more hold from this place, and from the rest where Peter is first named, then there is iust cause, although the argument is of it selfe very weake, as by the for∣mer Reasons is euident, and as before hath beene proued. For Reuben was first in the numbring, but Iudah for all that was chiefe in gouernment.