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How absurd is, and how little ground hath the pretended infallibilitie of the Bishop of Rome, and that it is not without cause he is called Antichrist.
THe Bishop of Rome is not onely content to challenge the pri∣macy and superioritie over the whole Christian Church, but
to strengthen and increase his credit, he falleth into a folly insup∣portable to every wise and understanding man; for he attributeth to himselfe the same infallibilitie and truth that God doth, af∣firming and maintaining that he cannot erre, no more than God, when he pronounceth any sentence in matter of faith. This seemed to me a cunning subtilty, if it were as easily to be beleeved as in∣vented; for wanting the word of God and sufficient Scripture to establish his primacy and universall superioritie, he hath resolved to attribute to himselfe the infallibilitie, to make men receive the Scriptures according to his explication, to ground his authoritie and establish his doctrine thereby.
And this Article of infallibilitie is at this day come to such a passe in the Romish Church, that it must be beleeved as pertaining to faith, and necessary to salvation; it being forbidden under the paine of being holden for an heretique, and Anathematized for preaching to the contrary; and truely it is a doctrine which in policy ought to follow that of the primacy, for the accomplish∣ing of a perfect and absolute authoritie. But as wee have shewen this primacy to be usurped and invalid, so doe we beleeve we have sufficiently nullified all that followeth upon those prerogatives, whereof this is the principall; Notwithstanding, for the greater satisfaction of the courteous Reader, wee shall answer briefly the principall reasons they bring to prove this doctrine.
The first Objection is drawne out of a passage alledged before, where it is said,* 1.1 Mat. 16.18. Thou art Peter, and upon this Rocke will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it. This (say they) being understood of St Peter, is to say that errour and untruth shall not prevaile against Peter, nor have victo∣ry over him; and that he shall never be deceived nor erre, nor con∣sequently the Pope, who tearmeth himselfe successour of St Peter.
Notwithstanding, St Peter having erred after these words were pronounced, and denied his Master, (which is the greatest fall that can be in the faith) sheweth that those words are not understood of St Peter, but of the faith and confession he made at that time, which being most true, and the truth it selfe, shall never be over∣come nor surmounted by the gates of hell, but shall continue in strength eternally; and so it is in vaine for the Pope to ground his infallibilitie upon words which are not spoken of St Peter, nor consequently of him, as is most manifest, and as I have shewed be∣fore.
Another Objection which the Romish Church thinks stronger and more expresse is this, Luk. 22.32. The Lord said to Simon,* 1.2 Si∣mon behold Sathan hath sought to winnow thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not; and then when thou shalt be converted, strengthen thy brethren.
For my part I perceive not what they would conclude thereby, but that the faith of St Peter should never faile, and yet wee see that it failed much, and that St Peter did stumble and erre grosse∣ly in the faith, having denyed his Master a long time after those words were spoken. If then that be understood as they would have it, the prayers of Christ should be of none effect, (which is blasphemy to thinke,) wherefore we must finde out a truer mean∣ing of those words, and say that is understood of small falling, Christ Jesus saying to Simon, Simon I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not finally; that is to say, if peradventure thou suc∣combe and fall (as thou wilt) at least raise thy selfe, and enter a∣gaine into the profession of faith, and being converted by a true repentance, thou must confirme thy brethren, and let this fall make thee wiser in time to come, and be a means to thee to con∣firme others, and exhort them to take heed, least they slide and fall as thou. This is doubtlesse the true and lawfull meaning of those words (as every understanding man may judge) and not the ex∣plication of the Romish Church, which every reasonable man will finde to be altogether absurd, and invented of purpose to e∣stablish a false doctrine.
And although it could be proved that St Peter did never fall, and we should confesse that the infallibilitie was given to him: Will it therefore follow, that it is given to all his successours also? and that which was said to one person, and of one person, must be said to all his successours, and of them all? if they apply to the Pope all that was said to St Peter the Apostle, and in his favour by Christ Jesus, why doe they not apply as well all that was said to his disgrace? and so the Pope must be called Sathan, because Christ did call Peter so; those words must also be applyed to the Pope, Thou shalt deny mee, as our Saviour spake them to St Peter. This certainly hath too often falne out, to the great hurt and scandall of Christian people; although (I confesse) that our Saviour speak∣ing to Peter, did not meane it of those who should be thought his successours.
Now these are the strongest passages and arguments, on which
this pretended infallibilitie is grounded, which is the whole foun∣dation and basis of all the Romish Doctrine now in controversie, which being proved to be usurped against reason and equitie, as the primacy whereon it is grounded; you see in what estate of er∣rour and heresie that Church is in, and how blinde and deceived they are that follow it.
It was thought formerly strange, that the Pope of Rome was called Antichrist, and (I confesse) it was long before I could be satisfied with the application of this name to the Pope, thinking it was too rigorously spoken, and with too small ground; but when I came to consider and examine the ground more narrowly, I thought they had reason sufficient for so doing, especially for at∣tributing to himselfe the infallibilitie, which is onely proper to God, and which is the most execrable blasphemy, Antichrist can commit; and the greatest of his offences, mentioned by St Paul in those words;* 1.3 Even to sit as God in the Temple of God, and exalting himselfe above every thing that is called God; for truely the Pope in this maketh himselfe as God, appropriating to himselfe infallible truth, which is onely proper to the Godhead, and is the Godhead it selfe.
Making himselfe further to be adored as God, yea more than God, causing men to carry him upon their shoulders at the Pro∣cession of the Sacrament, where that which they call the Hoast, or body of the Son of God, is onely carried on horsebacke, causing Christians, yea, Nobles and Princes, to kisse and adore his feete, and laying the holy Scripture at his feete. And when he celebra∣teth the Masse, his Chaplaines use a great deale more reverence and ceremony about his person, than they doe about the Altar and Hoast: with an infinite number of other things, proper to the sonne of perdition, described by St Paul, and by other Scrip∣tures; which to shunne tediousnesse, I passe by, remitting the Reader to those who have expresly and amply written on this subject.
Mat. 16.18.
Luk. 22.32.
2 Thess. 2.4.