Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of…Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of…

But although Pelagius, Gregory, and other godly men, detested and abhorred this wicked arrogance to be the universal head of the Church: yet the bishop of Ravenna, began amongst the Latins to prepare the way to Antichrist,¹ as Paulus Diaconus saith, and separated himself from the society of other Churches, to the intent he might come to be a head himself. But what at length came of it, Platina writeth. And within a short time after, Boniface the third being the bishop of Rome,² about the year of our Lord six hundred and seven, Phocas the Emperor judged him to be head of the Church, against both the bishop of Constantinople, & also of Ravenna, and such a sentence was meet for such an arbitrour. Phocas was a wicked man, a covetous man, an adulterer, and a traitorous murderer of his Lord & master Mauricius: ³and this man to make God and the Romans amends, gave sentence that the bishop of Rome should be the universal head of the Church.⁴ But here was contemned the sentence and doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, and also the decrees of the holy Council of Nice. And no marvel: for they condemned both parts of arrogance and usurpation, and not only these Counsels, but all other for many years, which decreed, that although one seat was named before the other, yet the bishop of the principal seat should not be the chiefest priest, or head of the rest, but only he should be called, The bishop of the chiefest seat. And how much it is against S. Cyprian, ⟨image 36⟩they may see that will read works,⁵ and also against S. Hierome. But what law can rule wickedness?

But although Pelagius, Gregorie, and other godly men, detested and abhorred this wicked arrogancie to be the vniuersall head of the Churche: yet the bishop of Rauenna, began amongst the Latines to prepare the way to Antichrist,¹