The progenie of Catholicks and Protestants Whereby on the one side is proued the lineal descent of Catholicks, for the Roman faith and religion, from the holie fathers of the primitiue Church ... and on the other, the neuer-being of Protestants or their nouel sect during al the foresayd time, otherwise then in confessed and condemned hereticks. ...

THAT GENERAL COVNCELS DO TRVLY represent the Church of Christ: And of the Credit and Authoritie giuen by Protestants to the sayd Councels. CHAPTER I.

AS in Politick gouernement, our Parlament, consisting of Prince, Peeres, Knights, and Burgesses, doth truly represent the whole Bodie of the Common-wealth; and withal is endowed with ful power and authoritie to enact and establish Lawes, which euerie particular Subiect is bound to obey and obserue: So in gouernement Ecclesiastical, a General Councel, consisting of the Head of the Church, the Bishops, and Pastours, doth truly represent vnto vs the whole Bodie of the Church itself; and in like sort is enriched with plenarie power and vertue, to create Decrees and Statutes, which may bind the soules and consciences, of euery particular member of the sayd Church.

To which purpose D. Whitaker confesseth expresly that(1) 1.1 The Church is represented in a General Councel. And agayne(2) 1.2 Neither is that speach altogeather to be disliked, that a Councel is the Church Representatiue. M. Ridley

further auoucheth that(3) 1.3 Councels do indeed represent the vniuersal Church, and being so gathered togeather in the name of Christ, they haue a promise of the guift, and guyding of his Spirit, into al truth. And the same Doctrine is proued by D. Bilson saying(4) 1.4 As in Ciuil Policie, not al Persons are called togeather, but certayne Chiefe to represent the State, and consult for the whole Common∣wealth: So in the Gouernement of the Church, it is as sufficient in right, that some of euerie place excelling others in dignitie, should be sent from euerie Realme far distant; and by that meanes, they had the consent of the whole world to the Decrees of their Councels.

The Councel thus liuely representing the Church, it is herevpon further granted by D. Bilson, that, as(5) 1.5 To haue no Iudge for the ending of Ecclesiasti∣cal contentions were the vtter subuersion of al peace: so, according to him(6) 1.6 Synods (are) an external iudicial meanes to discerne errour; the same being as he teacheth(7) 1.7 strengthned with the Promise of our Sauiour; and accordingly obserued by the ancient Fathers, who, sayth he(8) 1.8 In al Ages, aswel before, as since the great Councel of Nice, haue approued and practised this (course) as the surest meanes to decide Doubts. With whom agreeth Melancthon saying(9) 1.9 Let them assemble General or National Councels &c. Because it is written: Tel the Church. This was the custome in the Church from the verie beginning &c. And Councels are the proper Iudgements of the Church. And(10) 1.10 It is requisit that there be Iudgements in the Church; neither can other Nations but be scandalized if they shal heare that we refuse the Iudgements of al Synods.

And wheras some obiect, that Councels may erre, M. Hooker(11) 1.11 an∣swereth therto himself, and further concludeth that(12) 1.12 The wil of God is to haue vs do whatsoeuer the Sentence of Iudicial and Final Decision shal determi∣ne; yea though it seeme in our priuate opinion to swarue vtterly from that which is right &c. And that without this, it is almost impossible we should auoyd confusion, or euer hope to attayne peace. And this Sentence, sayth he(13) 1.13 is ground sufficient for anie reasonable mans conscience to build vpon, whatsoeuer his owne opinion were, as touching the matter before in question. The same truth is taught by his dearest friend D. Couel assuring vs, that, If(14) 1.14 Synods want, the Church neither at anie time was, nor indeed can safely be without Tempests, yea sundrie Protestants, do ioyntly teach and gather from the Councel of the Apostles mentioned in their Acts(15) 1.15 the necessitie of Councels(16a) 1.16 for the deciding of Controuersies; and further acknowledge the presence and assistance of the(16b) 1.17 Holie Ghost in direction of them into al truth.

From hence it is, that sundrie Protestants do nothing doubt, to submit themselues and their writings, to the Iudgement and Determination of a ge∣neral Councel. So their learnedst Beza in a Preface(17) 1.18 to one of his books, thus submitteth himself: Let al these be submitted to the Iudgements of al true Doctours and Orthodoxal Diuines, and especially of a free, holie, and lawful Synod (if God shal grant it at anie time) M. Hooker testifyeth that(18) 1.19 M. Beza in his last book but one, professeth himself to be now wearie of such combats and en∣counters, whether by word or writing, insomuch as he findeth that Controuersies are therby made but brawles, and therfore wisheth that in some common lawful assemblie of Church, al these strifes may be at once decided(19) 1.20 I hartily wish

(sayth D. Sarauia) that there may be a general Councel, that as it becommeth me, I refuse not to be iudged of my Iudgement: But if otherwise &c. Let vs expect the Iudgement of God. And another Protestant Writer testifyeth of himself, and of his other Brethren, that(20) 1.21 The learned and greatest men among them, do protest to submit themselues to a general and free Councel. In like sort D. Sutclif auoucheth in behalf of Protestants in general, that(21) 1.22 It is false that (Pro∣testants) wil admit no Iudge but Scriptures: For we appeale (sayth he) stil to a lawful general Councel &c. And, In the meane time we content ourselues with National Councels, and their Determinations. As also(22) 1.23 Priuate men do sub∣mit themselues to the Determination of a free general Councel, and in the meane while to their National Churches. Lastly the authoritie of general Councels is so great, and the scandal in contemning them so offensiue, that a Protestant Writer ingenuously confesseth that(23) 1.24 A man can not now adayes read the writings of the ancient Fathers, nor the Histories of the Apostolick Churches, no not the holie Scripture it self, without finding verie manie ceremonies and fashions of speaking, not vsed among the Protestants of France; from whence it hapneth that manie do change their beleef, being offended at the contemning of Councels &c.

From al which I wil briefly conclude, that seing by the free testimonies of so manie of the learned Protestants both strāgers and neighbours, General Councels do truly represent the Church of Christ, and are the surest meanes for the deciding of Ecclesiastical Controuersies, being therin directed, and inspired by the Holie-Ghost himself, and so freed from errour in the decrees of Faith and manners: And seing also for these strongest Reasons, Prote∣stants pretend to submit themselues, their writings, and their doubts finally also, to their Determination; that therfore for the decision of Controuersies in Religion, Catholiks and so manie learned Protestants do ioyntly agree herein: That the Authoritie of Oecumenical Councels is sacred, infallible, and most powerful, and for such, acknowledged and respected by the hum∣ble submission thereto, of either Partie.

Notes

• (1) 1.1

  De Conci∣liis p. 1. 10.
• (2) 1.2

  Ib. p. 19.
• (3) 1.3

  Act. Mon. p. 1288.
• (4) 1.4

  Perpetual Gouernement. p. 392.
• (5) 1.5

  Ib. p 372.
• (6) 1.6

  Ib. p. 370
• (7) 1.7

  Ib. p. 372.
• (8) 1.8

  Ib. p. 374.
• (9) 1.9

  In Con∣cil. Theol. par. 2. p. 1.
• (10) 1.10

  Ib. p. 2. And see l. 1. Epist. p. 211.
• (11) 1.11

  Ecc. Pol. p. 27.
• (12) 1.12

  Ib. p. 28.
• (13) 1.13

  Ib. p. 28.
• (14) 1.14

  Modest Examination p. 110.
• (15) 1.15

  Act. 15.2. &c.
• (16a) 1.16

  Vvhite. in his Def. p. 661. Carthwr. 16. & p. 678. Raynolds in his Confer. p. 254. 255 Bil∣son in his Per∣pet. Gouern. p. 373.
• (16b) 1.17

  Bilson ib. p. 372. 373. 374. Ridley Act. Mon. p. 1288.
• (17) 1.18

  Ad Acta Colloq. Montis∣bel. Resp. p. 1. p. 2.
• (18) 1.19

  Pref. to Eccl. Pol. p. 28 2••.
• (19) 1.20

  Diuers Degrees of Mi∣nisters in his Epistle to the Ministers of the Low-coun∣tries. B. 3. fine
• (20) 1.21

  Authour of Cath. Tra∣ditions p. 57. And see Hos¦pin. Concord. Discord. fol. 186.
• (21) 1.22

  Reuievv of Kellisons Suruey p 42.
• (22) 1.23

  Ib p. 102.
• (23) 1.24

  Cath. Traditions p. 58.