The buckler of the faith: or, A defence of the confession of faith of the reformed churches in France, against the obiections of M. Arnoux the Iesuite Wherein all the principall controuersies betweene the reformed churches and the Church of Rome are decided. Written in French by Peter du Moulin minister of the word of God in Paris: and now translated into English.

Of Succession. The third Marke.

[Section. 97] Aboue and before all others, they make account of a li∣neall Succession, continued from the Apostles times. This marke might haue serued once, in the ages next ensuing after the Apostles, when all the chaires erected and set vp by the A∣postles, agreed together, and when the Succession was short, and the memory of the beleefe (holden by the Bishops after the Apostles times) fresh. But now this marke is vnprofita∣ble, because of the length of so many ages, and the confusion and contradiction of Histories, but specially because the chaires which draw their successions from the Apostles are now in discord and separated from communion. Among the which that of Rome which seeketh to draw her succession from Saint Peter, is condemned by the rest of the chaires, which also draw their Succession from Saint Peter, that is, by the Church of Antiochia, and of Alexandria; among which

the Church of Rome is the newest and the most corrupt, and condemned by all the rest. So that if we should stand vpon the succession of chaires, it will be hard to range it to the Church of Rome.

If the succession of chaires since the Apostles times be a marke whereby ignorant people should know the true Church, how is it possible that plaine countrie people, artifi∣cers and women should know this succession, which is lear∣ned onely by reading of the Greeke and Latine Fathers, the length and obscurity whereof wearieth the wisest men, and which oftentimes contradict themselues?

Adde hereunto that the pretended succession of the Pope, is partly broken off by heresies which haue defiled that chaire, & by schismes which haue oftentimes cut off the line of that pretended succession and neuer was knit againe, as we haue proued in the booke of the Vocation of Pastors.

Adde hereunto, that the doctrine of the Church of Rome, is contrary to Saint Peters doctrine. The succession of the chaire, without succession of doctrine, is rather a subuersion of the chaire then a succession. We shall not be iudged by chaires at the latter day, but by the rules of the word of God. Chaires speake not, but men speake, who not onely speake lies in chaires, but also makes vse of chaires to tell lies, and seeke to authorise lying by the dignity of chaires and by suc∣cession. They make a chaine of sand which cannot bind mens consciences. They shew a list of Popes in print, without shewing whether the last of them are of the same religion that the first were. It is a succession in persons, and a contra∣riety in faith. Those haue not the succession of Saint Peter, which haue not Saint Peters faith. So saith Saint Ambrose in his first booke and sixt Chapter of Penitence.

Notes

• Non habent haereditatem Petri, qui fi∣dem Petri non habent.