1But you will say, Peter taught at Rome: I hear you well,2 but taught he no where else then in Rome?3 Moreover too confess that he taught at Rome, did he teach there as an Apostle, or else as a Bishop? Let the bishop of Rome unloose me this knot. But this is out of all question: If Peter taught at Rome at all, standing or sitting in a chair, surely he taught always Jesus ⟨p. 37⟩Christ. But you, holy father, sitting in the Romish chair at Rome, what teach you, but the doctrine of devils? Peter did boldly proclaim to the world the manifest scriptures of God, which he received by divine inspiration of the holy Ghost, being an eye witness of the things which he heard and taught: But what doth your holiness bray forth else to the people, but frivolous ceremonies, and fruitless traditions of men? If Peter came at any time to Rome, he came not thither, unless he were sent by God, or called thither by men: and then also came too minister, not to bear sovereignty: to work, not to scrape riches together: as a traveller, not as an idle sitter. But who ever called you to this stately stage of chair lordliness?4 Goo ye, sayeth the Lord, not into the City of Rome, but into the whole world: speaking not too Peter alone, but to all his Apostles: and preach, not the ceremonies of the law, not traditions of men, but the glad tidings of saving health: not to the Romans only, but to every creature. In which universal embassy Peter together with the rest, of his fellow labourers did mightily behave himself in the ministry of the Gospel, according to his duty and the nature of his function: leaving no •otte of the uttermost of his duty undone, whereby in his wandering abroad amongst people and nations, he might teach all that he might, not only publicly but privately also in every house: might be earnest in season and out of season: might sow abroad f••re and wide, the most joyful message, and glad tidings of peace: might perform the work of a true Evangelist: might approve himself too be a trusty servant of Christ: might become an overseer over the house of Israel, might receive the words and embassy of God, and the same so received, might faithfully deliver to the people: might show himself to be salt of the earth, light of the word: not feeding himself, ⟨image 42⟩but the flock:
1But you will saye, Peter taught at Rome: I heare you well,2 but taught hee no where els then in Rome?3 Moreouer too confesse that hee taught at Rome, did hee teache there as an Apostle, or els as a Bishop? Let the bishop of Rome vnloose me this knotte. But this is out of all question: If Peter taught at Rome at all, standing or sitting in a chaire, surely he taught alwayes Iesus ⟨p. 37⟩Christ. But you, holy father, sitting in the Romish chayre at Rome, what teache you, but the doctryne of deuils? Peter did boldly proclayme to the worlde the manyfest scriptures of God, which he receaued by diuine inspiration of the holy Ghost, being an eye witnes of the things which he heard and taught: But what doth your holines bray foorth else to the people, but fryuolous ceremonies, and fruitlesse traditions of men? If Peter came at any tyme to Rome, he came not thither, vnlesse he were sent by God, or called thither by men: and then also came too mynister, not to beare soueraignty: to work, not to skrape riches togither: as a trauailer, not as an ydle sitter. But who euer called you to this stately stage of chayre lordelynesse?4 Goo ye, saieth the Lorde, not into the Citie of Rome, but intoo the whole worlde: speaking not too Peter alone, but to all his Apostles: and preache, not the ceremonies of the lawe, not traditions of men, but the gladde tydings of sauing health: not to the Romaines only, but to euery creature. In which vniuersall embassy Peter togither with the rest, of his fellowe labourers did mightely behaue himselfe in the ministery of the Gospel, according to his duety and the nature of his function: leauing no •otte of the vttermoste of his duety vndone, wherby in his wandring abroade amongst people and nations, hee might teache al that hee might, not onely publiquely but priuately also in euery house: might be earnest in season and out of season: might sowe abroade f••re and wyde, the most ioyefull message, and gladde tydinges of peace: might perfourme the woorke of a true Euangelist: might approue himselfe too bee a trusty seruaunt of Christ: might become an ouersear ouer the house of Israel, might receaue the woordes and embassy of God, and the same so receaued, might faythfully deliuer to the people: might shewe himselfe to bee salt of the earth, light of the woorde: not feeding himself, ⟨image 42⟩
- 1James .1.Iames .1.
- 2Ephe. 5.
- 3No resemblance betwixt Peter and the Pope.No resemblāce betwixt Peter and the Pope.
- 4The state of the chair of the Romish Monarchy•The state of the chayre of the Romish Monarchy•
