The establish'd church, or, A subversion of all the Romanist's pleas for the Pope's supremacy in England together with a vindication of the present government of the Church of England, as allow'd by the laws of the land, against all fanatical exceptions, particularly of Mr. Hickeringill, in his scandalous pamphlet, stiled Naked truth, the 2d. part : in two books / by Fran. Fullwood ...

CHAP. III.

Of the Popes Claim to England from our Conversion, by Eleutherius, Gregory.

THis Argument is not pressed with much confidence in Print, though with very much in Discourse, to my own knowledge: Perhaps 'tis rather popular and plausible than invincible.

Besides, it stands in barr against the Right of St. Peter, which they say was good, near six hun∣dred years before; and extends to very many Churches, that received grace neither by the means of St. Peter or his pretender Successor; ex∣cept they plead a right to the whole Church first, and to a part afterwards; or one kind of right to the whole, and another to a part.

The truth is, if any learned Romanist shall insist on this Argument in earnest, he is strongly suspected, either to deny or question the Right of St. Peter's Successor, as universal Pastor.

But we leave these advantages to give the ar∣gument its full liberty; and we shall soon see, either its Arms or its Heels.

The Argument must run thus: If the Bishop of Rome was the means of the English Churches Conversion, then the English Church oweth obe∣dience to him and his Successors.

We deny both propositions: The Minor, that the Pope was the means of our first Conversion:

and the consequence of the Major; that if he had been so, it would not follow that we now owe obedience to that See.

For the Minor, Bishop Jewel knock'd it down so perfectly at first, it was never able to stand since; he saith it is certain, the Church of Bri∣tain* 1.1 now called England, received not first the Faith from Rome.

The Romanists proof, is his bare assertion, that Eleutherius the Pope was the first Apostle of the Britains, and preached the Faith here by Da∣mianus and Fugatius within little more than an hundred years after Christs death. Bishop Jew∣el answers, that King Lucius was baptized near 150 years before the Emperor Constantine; and the same Constantine, the first Christian Empe∣ror, was born in this Island: and the Faith had been planted here long before, either by Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zelotes, or the Greeks, or some others; which is plain, because the King being Christian before, requested Pope Eleutherius to send hither those Persons, Damianus and Fugatius, to Reform the Bishops and Clergy, which were here before; and to put things into better Order.

They also urged, that, as Pope Elutherius in Britain; So Saint Gregory in England, first planted the Faith by Austin.

But Bishop Jewel at first dashed this Argu∣ment out of Countenance; plainly proving out* 1.2 of Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, Const. Emp. Chrisost. Theod. that the Faith was planted in England long before Austin's coming hither. See his Defence of his Apol. p. 11.

Some would reply, that the Faith was utter∣ly

rooted out again, upon the Invasion of Heathen English: 'twas not so, saith he, for* 1.3 Beda saith, that the Queen of England was chri∣stened; and that there were then in this Realm Seven Bishops, and one Arch-Bishop, with other more great Learned Christian men: and Galfri∣dus saith, there were then in England, Seven* 1.4 Bishopricks, and one Arch-Bishoprick, possessed with very many godly Prelates, and many Ab∣bies in which the Lord's People held the Right Reli∣gion.

Yet we gratefully acknowledge that Saint Gregory was a special Instrument of God, for the further spreading and establishing the Gos∣pel in England: and that both Elutherius and this Gregory seem to have been very good men, and great Examples both of Piety and Charity to all their Successors in that See; and indeed of a truly Apostolical spirit and care, though not of Authority; but if all History deceive us not, that Austin the Monk, was far enough from being Saint Augustine.

But, what if it had been otherwise; and we* 1.5 were indeed, first converted by the means of these Popes; will it therefore follow, that we ought for ever to be subject to the Papacy? This is certainly, a Non-sequitur, only fit to be imposed upon easie and prepared Understand∣ings: it can never bear the stress and brunt of a severe Disputation; and indeed the Roman Adversaries do more than seem to acknow∣ledge as much.

However, the great Arch-Bishop and Pri∣mate of Armach, hath slurred that silly Conse∣quence* 1.6 with such Arguments as find no answer.

I refer the Reader, if need be, to his Just Vin∣dication, p. 131, 132. Where he hath proved beyond dispute that Conversion gives no Title of Jurisdiction; and more especially to the preju∣dice of a former Owner dispossessed by vio∣lence; or to the subjecting of a free Nation to a Forreign Prelate without or beyond their own consent.

Besides, in more probability, the Britains were first converted by the Eastern Church; (as appeared by our Ancient Customs) yet, never were subject to any Eastern Patriarch. And sundry of our English and Brittish Bishops, have converted Forreign Nations, yet never pretend∣ed thence to any Jurisdiction over them.

Lastly, what ever Title Saint Gregory might acquire by his deserts from us, was meerly Per∣sonal; and could not descend to his Succes∣sors.

But no more of this, for fear of the scoffing rebukes of such as S. W. who together, with the Catholick Gentleman, do plainly renounce this Plea; asking Doctor Hammond with some shew of Scorn, what Catholick Author ever affirm∣ed it? There is no doubt (though some other Romanists have insisted upon this Argument of Conversion) some reason why these should think fit to lay it aside; and we have no reason to keep it up, having otherwise work enough up∣on our hands. An end therefore of this first Plea.

Notes

• * 1.1

  We were converted 9 years be∣fore Rome. Baron. An. 35. n. 5. & Marg. & An. 39. n. 23. & Sua∣rez. c. 1. 1▪ Contr. Angl. Eccl. Error.
• * 1.2

  An. 210. An. 212. An. 334. An. 360. An. 400. An. 367.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 1. c. 26. & lib. 2. c. 2.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 82. 24.
• * 1.5

  The Con∣sequence.
• * 1.6

  Bramhall.