Some man will say, that for unity sake it is meet, that some man be named head of the church But Gregory saith, Siquantitatē vocis perpendimus, 1duae sunt sillabae: Sipondus iniquitatis, universa pernicies. If we weigh the quantity of the word, it standeth in two syllables: if we consider the weight of the wickedness, it is an universal destruction. Unto Anastasius the Bishop 2of Antioch, he writeth thus, To dissemble the injury don to your honour, if one bishop be called universal, then if that one universal bishop fall, the whole universal church goeth to ground. Therefore Francisons Zabarella, a Canonist, seeing the great inconveniences that grew hereof, saith, the popes do now whatsoever they list to do yea although it be unlawful, & are become more than god. Hereof hath followed infinite errors: for the Pope hath in uaded & entered upon all the right of the inferior Churches: so that the inferior Bishops may go for nought, and unless God help the state of the Church, the universal ⟨image 44⟩church is in danger. In consideration of this great danger which hereby groweth to the whole church. Gregory saith to John the Bishop of Constantinople, Tu quid Christo universalis Ecclesiae 3capiti in extremi judici• dicturus es examine, qui cuncta eius membra tibimet conaris universalis appellation supponere? What answer wilt thou make at the trial of the last judgement unto Christ the head of the universal Church, which thus by the name of universal Bishop seekest to make all his members subject unto thee? This decay of the church, the old Catholic Fathers foresaw in their time. When Constantinus yt Emperor endowed the church with lands & possessions, they say there was a voice of Angels heard in the air, saying, Hodiè venenum infunditur in Ecclesiam, 4This day poison is poured into the Church. If there were poison poured into the Church then, I doubt there was never Treacle poured into it since. This we see that from that time she hath done worse and worse. Augustine findeth fault with the multitude of Ceremonies, and sayeth the Church in his time was in worse case by mans devises, then was the Church of the Jews. Bernard said, There is no part sound in the Clergy. And again, They which choose the first places in the Church, are chiefest in persecuting Christ. And againe, Non doctores, ⟨image 45⟩sed seductores: non pastores, sed impostores: non praelati, sed Pilati.
Some man wyll say, that for vnitie sake it is meete, yt some man be named head of the church But Gregory saith, Siquantitatē vocis perpendimus, 1duae sunt sillabae: Sipondus iniquitatis, vniuersa pernicies. If we weigh the quātity of the word, it standeth in two sillables: if we consider the weight of the wickednes, it is an vniuersal destructiō. Unto Anastasius the Bishop 2of Antioch, he writeth thus, To dissemble the iniury don to your honor, if one bishop be caled vniuersal, thē if yt one vniuersal bishop fal, the whole vniuersall church goeth to grounde. Therefore Francisons Zabarella, a Canonist, seeinge the great inconueniences yt grew hereof, saith, the popes do now whatsoeuer thei list to do yea although it be vnlawful, & ar become more thē god. Herof hath folowed infinit errors: for the Pope hath in uaded & entred vpon al the right of the inferiour Churches: so that the inferiour Byshops may go for nought, and vnlesse God helpe the state of the Church, the vniuersal ⟨image 44⟩church is in danger. In consideration of this great danger which hereby groweth to ye whole church. Gregorie saith to Iohn the Boshop of Constantinople, Tu quid Christo vniuersalis Ecclesiae 3capiti in extremi iudici• dicturus es examine, qui cuncta eius membra tibimet conaris vniuersalis appellatione supponere? What answer wilt thou make at the trial of the last iudgement vnto Christ the head of the vniuersal Church, which thus by the name of vniuersall Bishop seekest to make all his members subiect vnto thee? This decay of the church, the olde Catholique Fathers foresaw in their time. When Constantinus yt Emperor endowed the churche with landes & possessions, they saye there was a voyce of Angels heard in the ayre, saying, Hodiè venenum infunditur in Ecclesiam, 4This daye poyson is powred into the Church. If there were poyson powred into the Church then, I doubt there was neuer Triacle powred into it since. This we see that from that time shee hath done worse and worse. Augustine fyndeth faulte with the multitude of Ceremonies, and sayeth the Churche in hys time was in worse case by mannes deuises, then was the Churche of the Iewes. Bernarde sayde, There is no parte sounde in the Cleargie. And agayne, They which chuse the first places in the Church, are chiefest in persecuting Christ. And againe, Non doctores, ⟨image 45⟩
- 1Greg. lib. 6: epist. 30.
- 2Lib. 6. epist. 24.
- 3Lib. 4. epi. 38.
- 4Joh. de parisiis cap. 22. in vita Siluesti.Ioh. de parisiis cap. 22. in vita Siluesti.
