An antidote agaynst poperie: most necessarie for all in this back-slyding age. Wherein 1. The trueth is confirmed, by authoritie of scriptures, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of the popish partie. 2. Popish scripturall arguments are answered, by the exposition both of father and of their own doctours / by William Guild.

CHAPTER II. Of the Church.

SECT. I. Of the conspicuous visibilitie of the CHVRCH, in the true Professoures there-in,

at all tymes, and to all persons; as the Romanistes holde, pretending these Ar∣gumentes.

[ 1] MATTH. 5.14. A Ci∣tie that is set on an hill, can not bee hid. That is, (saye they) the true Church, shall ever bee conspicuous.

Answere. Chrysostome and Theo∣phylact, on this place, showe, That our Saviour speaketh not of the Churches visibilitie; but of Pa∣stoures their duetie there-in: to wit, That beeing set in eminent Places, as Lights on Candle-sticks, or a Citie on an hill, therefore, they should shyne in the sight of all, both in sincere Doctrine, and an holie lyfe.

This also doeth their owne Ly∣ra, Ferus, and Carthusian, declare. And their late Iesuit Maldonate, telleth vs, That by these three si∣militudes of Salt, Light, and of a

Citie, our Saviour would declare one, and the same thing: to wit, Howe farre beyonde other com∣mon Christians, His Apostles, and their Successoures, shoulde eminentlie shyne, both in lyfe and doctrine.

PSAL. 19.4. Hee placed [ 2] His Tabernacle, in the Sunne. That is, (say they) Hee hath ap∣poynted His Church, where-in Hee abydeth, to be ever glorious∣lie, and conspicuouslie visible, as the Sunne.

Answere. The wordes are, (as their owne Arias Montanus, and Paguin, set downe,) In them hath Hee set a Tabernacle for the Sunne. That is, In the Hea∣vens, as the Text showeth, and as S. Ierome and Theodoret truelie expound.

Thus also sayeth their owne Ly∣ra, In the Hebrew, (sayeth hee) and in S. Ierome's Translation, which is according to the Hebrew,

it is sayde, In them Hee set a Tabernacle for the Sunne. That is, Hee hath set a seate for the Sunne, in the midst of the Planets. So that this place showeth, where the Sunne is set in Heaven; but not howe the Church is visible ever on earth.

The Rhemistes also expound this place thus;* 1.1 By the Sunne, a most excellent, and super-elementarie creature, the Prophet descrybeth CHRIST; making His course thorowe the world, illuminating, comforting, and strengthening the Church His Tabernacle, where∣in Hee perpetuallie dwelleth.

[ 3] ISAI. 2.1. In the latter dayes, the Mountayne of the House of the LORD shall bee prepared in the toppe of the Mountaynes: And it shall bee lifted vp aboue the little hills: And all Nations shall flowe vn∣to it. Whence, therefore, it

followeth, (say they) that it must bee conspicuouslie ever visible.

Answere. All that heere-by is meant, Procopius showeth to bee this; to wit, That in the latter dayes, the Christian Church shall bee firmlie built, vpon the foun∣dations (sayeth hee) of the Pro∣phets, and Apostles, as on the toppes of mountaynes; and shall bee of greater excellencie, aboue the Church of the Iewes, as CHRIST in glorie is aboue Mo∣ses; and of greater and more am∣ple extent, in lyke manner, be∣cause of the conversion of the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Apostles, at that tyme, according to CHRIST'S Commission, saying vnto them, Goe teach all nations.

Their owne Lyra, Pintus, and Perusin, commenting on this place, jumpe with Procopius, and de∣clare, That this prophesie was full∣filled in the Apostles tymes, as sayde is: but never a one of them

affirmeth, That this Text proveth a conspicuous constant visibilitie of the true Church,* 1.2 of Orthodoxe Professoures, at all tymes, and to all; which the verie Rhemistes themselues graunt, is not ever to bee expected. And, consequent∣lie, the former Textes doe not proue the same.

MATTH. 18.17. If thy [ 4] Brother offende agaynst thee, tell the Church. Therefore, (saye they) the Church must bee ever visible.

Answere. Origen, Chrysostom••, and Hilarie, commenting on this place, show, That by the Church, not the Vniversall, but a particular Church, or Congregation, or those who are set over the same, is meant. Whence also it will onlie followe, That such a Church is visible, to her owne members: but not so to her raging foes,* 1.3 in tyme of persecution. As the Rhemistes tell vs, That in the tyme of Anti∣christ,

the faythfull then who lurke, shall, notwithstanding, a∣mongst themselues, haue their communion in secret: whereby they may doe, as this Text dire∣cteth.

MATTH. 16.18. Ʋpon [ 5] this rocke I wil build my Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevayle agaynst it. To wit, (saye they) to make it to bee in∣visible.

Answere. Chrysostome, (and with him Origen) showeth, That this not prevayling, is onelie, That CHRIST'S Church shal never decline from the Trueth, nor forsake the same, notwithstanding of the furious assaultes of raging Persecution,* 1.4 stirred vp agaynst Her: which maketh Her sound members, some tymes, so to lurke, as S. Ierome telleth vs, that the little Boat of the true Church, seemeth, as it were, sunke out of sight.

* 1.5Lykewyse, the Promise is, (say∣eth their owne Carthusian) that the Elect, of whome chiefelie the Church consisteth, shall not possi∣blie bee drawne from the Fayth: or, as Lyra sayeth, subverted there from.

SECT. II. Of the Churches infallibilitie, which endeth into the in∣fallibilitie of the Pope, as hath beene showne in the stating of the Question: and which they labour to establish, by these places following.

[ 1] DEVTER. 17.9.12. There (say they) in doubt∣some matters, men are di∣rected to the high Priest, and his Councell: and whosoever hearke∣neth not to him, shall die. There∣fore, this praesupposeth, that his judgement was infallible: and

therefore, so is the Pope's, being the high Priest vnder the GOS∣PELL.

Answere. This place speaketh of the Priestes and Levites, and not of the high Priest, with whom the Civill Iudge is joyned, (as their owne Lyra, and the Text, showeth) whose determination is not in matters of Fayth, but of Fact: to wit, Of stryfe betweene man and man. Whereas tho it were of Fayth, yet (sayeth their owne Lyra) note, that it is not sayde vnto thee, that thou shalt obey them, except they teach thee according to the Law. And wher∣by is evident, (sayeth he) if they decree that which is false, or de∣clyne manifestlie from the Lawe of GOD, that they are not to bee heard. Which thing was need∣lesse to haue beene sayde, eyther by the Text, or Lyra, if they had had absolute infallibilitie.

Cyprian also applyeth this,* 1.6 a∣gaynst all such as are disobedient

to anie Bishop, or Priest, dire∣cting them according to the word: to whome, notwithstanding, the Romanistes graunt not infallibili∣tie.

Neyther would it followe, tho the high Priest vnder the Law had beene infallible, (as the exam∣ples of Aaron and Vrias proue the contrarie) that therefore the Pope is so,* 1.7 because hee is the high Priest vnder the Gospell: because this is to take for graunted, that which is denyed.

[ 2] LVKE 22.32. Simon, I haue prayed for thee, that thy fayth fayle not. Which prayer, (saye they) was for PETER, and all his Successoures, that they should not erre.

Answere. Beda and Bonaventure showe, That CHRIST spake heere of PETER onelie personally, as His designation by name impor∣teth, Simon, Simon: to wit, tho hee erred in denying CHRIST,

and so foulie fell; yet, that hee might not finallie fall awaye, as Iudas did, therefore also sayeth Theophylact, I haue prayed for thee, that thy fayth fayle not. That is, Altho for a short whyle thou bee shaken, yet that the hid seede of fayth within thee maye remayne. But that CHRIST in this Prayer, prayed not lyke∣wyse for PETER's pretended Successoures, Bishops of Rome,* 1.8 their owne Lyra, with diverse others, declareth, saying, that the Churches stabilitie consisteth not in men neyther in regarde of their Ecclesiasticke or secular power & dignitie; seeing manie Princes, and Popes too, (sayeth hee) as well as other inferioures, haue beene founde to haue made Apostasie from the Fayth.

Neyther is there anie doubt, (sayeth their Carthusian) but that Hee prayed for all other His Apo∣stles, having sayde, Satan hath desired to winnow you. But why

there-after Hee sayde this to PE∣TER particularlie, I haue prayed for thee, CHRYSOSTOME giveth the reason; That it was to fore-tell him, that hee was more grievouslie to fall, than all the rest.

[ 3] MATTH. 16.18. Thou art Peter, and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church. That is, (saye they) vpon PETER, and his Successoures, who shall bee im∣moueable in the Fayth.

Answere. Their owne Cardinall Petrus de Aliaco,* 1.9 showeth the con∣trarie, saying, Who is that would build the firmnesse, or stabilitie of the Church, vpon PETER's infir∣mitie? Of whose infirmitie, aske the Mayde (sayeth hee) that kept the doore, and shee will tell thee, Where-fore, sayeth their owne Ferus,* 1.10 It is moste evident, that CHRIST did not builde His Church vpon PETER, or anie other man who-so-ever. For there

is no man who-so-ever, so firme, or constant, (sayeth hee) who may not bee moved, or shaken; which thing in PETER wee manifest∣lie see. See then in Rivet, p. 303. Quid Petra.

Lyke-wyse Ambrose and Origen doe showe,* 1.11 That this which was spoken to PETER, was lyke-wyse spoken to all the other Apostles: and there-fore would inferre alyke infallibilitie of all their Succes∣soures.

Their owne Cardinall Cusanus also sayeth, There is nothing sayde to PETER, which was not sayde vnto all the rest. For, as it was sayde vnto PETER, What-so∣ever thou shalt binde on earth, &c. was it not sayde vnto all the rest, (sayeth hee) What-so-ever yee shall binde? And, altho it was sayd to Peter, Thou art Pe∣ter, and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church; yet by the Rocke, (sayeth hee) wee vnder∣stande CHRIST Him-selfe,

whome hee confessed. And if PETER were to bee vnderstoode by this Rocke, as a ground-stone of the Church, according to Sainct Ierome, Are not (sayeth hee) the other Apostles ground-stones of the Church in lyke manner? Of whome it is spoken in the penult of the REVELATION, where by the twelue stones of the founda∣tion of that Citie HIERVSALEM, which is the holie Church, no man doubteth, (sayeth hee) but the Apostles ought to bee vnder∣stoode.

[ 4] IOHN 11.51. And this hee spake, not of him-selfe, but being high Priest that yeare. There∣fore, (saye they) as propheticall infallibilitie was in Caiaphas, as the high Priest vnder the Lawe; So is the priviledge of INFALLIBILI∣TIE tyed to the Pope, as high Priest vnder the Gospell.

Answere. First, this is to take that as graunted, which wee still

denye. Next, Chrysostome and Ambrose, on these same wordes, showe, That the high Priest's in∣tention was wicked, and his sen∣tence according there-vnto, moste erronious. There-fore, sayeth their owne Cardinall Tolet,* 1.12 Re∣marke, that Caiaphas sentence, in that sense as hee conceaved it, (sayeth hee) was moste wicked, and did proceede (sayeth Cyrill) from him-selfe,* 1.13 and not from the holie Ghost. But in so farre, as the vertue of CHRIST'S death was declared there-by, this the LORD would haue to bee vtte∣red by his mouth, in regarde of the qualitie, and authoritie, of the person; as whose speaches were of moste speciall remarke, and weyght amongst the people; and not because INFALLIBILITIE was tyed to his Chayre: the contrarie where-of kythed, when judiciallie sitting in CATHEDRA, hee pro∣nounced CHRIST'S Profession of His owne DEITIE, to bee open blasphemie.

[ 5] As for that of our Saviours, MATTH. 28.20. Loe, I am with you allwayes, even vnto the ende of the world; which they would haue to bee tyed to the Pope onlie, with his Councell, for establishing their INFALLI∣BILITIE.

* 1.14Cardinall Turrecremata decla∣reth, That this is so to bee taken, (sayeth hee) that GOD doeth so assist His Church to the ende of the worlde, that there shall bee ever some, altho not all, who haue true fayth, (sayeth hee) working by charitie. And so that this pro∣mise is not tyed to anie one per∣son, or particular Church.

SECT. III. Of the Pope's Supremacie over the CHVRCH,* 1.15 as head there-of: Which the Roma∣nistes would establish, by these TEXTS following.

JOHN 21.17. IESƲS [ 1] sayeth vnto him, Feede My Sheepe. That is, (say they) bee thou onelie governour over the whole Church.

Answere. Augustine testifieth,* 1.16 saying, When it was sayde to PE∣TER, it was sayde to all the Apo∣stles, Lovest thou Mee? then feede My Sheepe. So sayeth S. Ambrose: and more expresslie say∣eth S. Cyprian, That there-fore the rest of the Apostles were the selfe-same that PETER was, en∣dewed with a-lyke Fellowship, (sayeth hee) both of Honour, and Power.

Which thing also their owne Ferus doeth clearlie homologate; as lyke-wyse their famous Cardi∣nall Cusanus, saying, If it was spo∣ken to PETER, Feed My Sheep, yet it is manifest, (sayeth hee) that this feeding, was but by the Word, and his holie example: and that according to S. Augustine, in his Commentarie vpon these

wordes, the same was commaun∣ded there lyke-wyse vnto all o∣thers, in saying, Goe yee into all the world, and preach the Gospell vnto everie creature.* 1.17 So that no∣thing is spoken to PETER, (say∣eth hee) which importeth anie other power. And, there-fore, wee conclude rightlie, (sayeth the Cardinall) That all the Apo∣stles were equall in power with PETER.

[ 2] MATTH. 16.19. And I will giue vnto thee the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven.

* 1.18Aunswere. Besides Scripture, which showeth vnto vs, That the power signified by those keyes, was given vnto all the rest of the Apostles, the Fathers also clear∣lie witnesse the same: There-fore, sayeth Ierome, (and with him Ori∣gen, Theophylact, Augustine, and Beda) The whole Disciples recea∣ved the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven: and, what was sayde to

PETER, was common to all the rest.

And in lyke manner, their owne Cardinall Cusanus, (and with him Ferus, and others) We know, that PETER receaved no more power from CHRIST, (sayeth hee) than the other Apostles: For there was nothing spoken to PETER, which was not spoken to the rest. For, as it was sayde to PETER, (sayeth hee) What-so-ever thou shalt bind on earth; was not the same sayde also to others, What∣so-ever yee shall bind? Yea, not onelie was this sayde to all the A∣postles; but (as Theophylact sayeth) to all their Successoures. Whence it should followe, That as manie Bishops and Pastors were in the Church, so manie Monarches and Lordes should bee over the same; and Stewardes, or Porters, who haue the Keyes, should bee Ma∣sters in the Families wherein they are.

[ 3] LVKE 22.32. When thou art converted, strengthen thy Brethren. Loe heere, (say they) a power given to PETER, over all his Brethren.* 1.19

Aunswere. Besides Scripturall speaches, which proue. That this importeth no Monarchicke Su∣premacie, Beda giveth this expo∣sition, as if CHRIST had sayde, Remember, by the example of thy repentance, (sayeth hee) to rayse vp, and comforte anie Brethren that are weake; lest they, per∣happes, shoulde despare of par∣don. So lyke-wyse sayeth Theophy∣lact; Beeing converted, that is, re∣penting, and powring out teares, and rysing from thy Fall, bee thou an example to others, (sayeth hee) that they repent lyke-wyse, and despare not.

And so lyke-wyse doeth their owne Lyra, Stella, and Maldo∣nate, expound: collecting from this place, no Papall or Monar∣chicke Supremacie.

LVKE 22.26. Hee that is [ 4] greatest amongst you, let him bee as the younger, &c. Where wee see, (saye they) That amongst the Apostles, one was greatest; and this, doubtlesse, was PETER.

Answere. MATTHEW showeth, That it was not,* 1.20 that one was greatest indeed: but that amongst them some would bee greatest. And therefore sayeth Ambrose, Vn∣to all the Apostles,* 1.21 is given one plat-forme of interdiction, (sayeth hee) that none of them should vaunt of Preheminence. Lyke∣wyse, their owne Lyra, Carthu∣sian, and Stella, showe, That here the Apostles were taxed by CHRIST, of Ambition; for the contention of some, for a Preheminence aboue the rest, which was equallie inhibited vn∣to all.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rhem in Psal 18.
• * 1.2

  See Rhem in 2. Thess. 2. And Revel 12
• * 1.3

  Rhem in 2. Thess. 2.
• * 1.4

  Hier. contr. Luci∣ferian & in Ze∣phā. 2
• * 1.5

  See also Aug. ep. 80 ad He sychi∣um.
• * 1.6

  Cypr. ep. 62.
• * 1.7

  Exod 32 2 King 16
• * 1.8

  Lyra in Mat, 16. So Ae∣neus Sylv. de ge∣stis cō∣cil. Ba¦sil. p. 9 Also Alfon de Ca¦stro, lib. 1. contr. heres. cap. 4.
• * 1.9

  P. de Alia∣co, in re∣cō. sa∣crae Script
• * 1.10

  Ferus in Math 16
• * 1.11

  Amb in Psal. 38. sub finem Orig. in Math 16. tract. 1. Cu∣san. de cō∣cord. cathol lib. 2. c. 13.
• * 1.12

  Tolet in Io∣han. 11.
• * 1.13

  Cyril lib. 8. in Io∣han. cap. 3
• * 1.14

  Tur∣recr. Sūma de Ec∣clesia, lib. 2. c. 91.
• * 1.15

  Math 16.18 See p. 304
• * 1.16

  Aug. de a•• gone, c. 30. Amb. in Psal. 38. Cypr. de v∣nit. Eccles Ferus in Io∣hā. 21 Cusan con∣cord. cathol lib. 2. c. 13.
• * 1.17

  Mark 16.15
• * 1.18

  Math 18.18 Iohn 20.23 Hie∣ron. lib. 1. adv. Iovi∣nian. Orig. in Math tract. 1. Theo∣phyl. in Math 16. Aug. tract. 18. in Iohan Beda, hom. in E∣vang. quem me dicūt? Cusā. cōcord cathol lib. 2. c. 13. Ferus in Matth. 16. Theophyl. in Matth. 16. & Basil. Constit. Monastic. 22.
• * 1.19

  Iob 4.4. Act. 14.22 and 15.32 41. Also 18.23 And Rom. 1.11. Beda & Theo∣phyl. in Luc. 22
• * 1.20

  Math 20.26
• * 1.21

  Amb. in Luc. 22.