It is a great eye sore to the Ministers of Antichrist, to see the Vicar of Christ above Lords and Kings of this world: to see Princes and Emperors promise and swear obedience unto him. But they that are the faithful subjects of the Church of God, think it no absurdity, that the Shepherd be set•, not only above the Lambs and Ewes of the Church, but also above the Wethers and Rams them selves. It is a very great folly for them to find fault with the superiority of the Bishop of Rome, who can never prove, that he is not the Vicar of Christ.1 If he were not his Vicar, yet being a Bishop he is above any temporal Prince‡ concerning his Priestly office. But sith Christ said to Peter, Upon this rock I will build my Church, and hell gates shall not prevail against it,* Bark until your bellies break, ye that be the hellhounds of Luther's and Zuinglius litter, or rather of Satan's your and their chief master, shall not prevail against the Apostolic see of Peter. It hath withstanded all Devils and Heretics a thousand five hundred years: and think ye that your selves be stronger then Arius? It grieveth you, that the Pope is higher then the Emperor, not for any love ye bear to the Emperor, nor for hatred that ye have to the Popes person, whom ye know not: but your quarrel is against Christ, whose person the Pope beareth. Or tell us, I pray you, doth he call him self any Princes or Emperors vicegerent, and not rather the‡ Vicar of Christ alone? Whom impugn ye then but Christ in his Vicar?5 Have ye not readen, qui vos spernit, me spernit: he that despiseth you, despiseth me? Ye thought the Pope had no better text for his primacy and supreme authority, than two lights, which God made in Heaven. But if malice had not blinded you, in the very same chapter of Innocentius the third, (from whence like a spider ye sucked that ye thought was worst) ye might have seen an other reason going before,6 where he said, Pontifex in Spiritualibus antecellit, quae tant• sunt temporalibus digniora, quanta anima praefertur corpori. The Bishop (said Innocentius) in spiritual matters passeth (the Emperor): which spiritual things are so much above the temporal, by how much the soul is preferred before the body. Howe like ye that reason? Within a little after Innocentius bringeth forth an other proof.
It is a greate eie sore to the Ministres of Antichriste, to see the Vicare of Christe aboue Lordes and Kinges of this vvorlde: to see Princes and Emperours promise and svveare obedience vnto him. But they that are the faithful subiectes of the Churche of God, thinke it no absurditie, that the Shepherd be set•, not onely aboue the Lambes and Ewes of the Churche, but also aboue the VVethers and Rammes them selues. It is a very greate folie for them to finde faulte with the superioritie of the Bishop of Rome, who can neuer proue, that he is not the Vicare of Christe.1 If he were not his Vicare, yet beinge a Bishop he is aboue any temporal Prince‡ concerninge his Priestly office. But sith Christe saide to Peter, Vpon this rocke I wil build my Churche, and hel gates shal not preuaile againste it,* Barke vntil your bellies breake, ye that be the helhovvndes of Luthers and Zuinglius litour, or rather of Sathans your and theire chiefe maister, shal not preuaile againste the Apostolike see of Peter. It hath withstanded al Diuels and Heretikes a thousande fiue hundred yeeres: and thinke ye that your selues be stronger then Arius? It greeueth you, that the Pope is higher then the Emperour, not for any loue ye beare to the Emperour, nor for hatred that ye haue to the Popes person, whom ye knowe not: but your quarrel is againste Christe, whose person the Pope beareth. Or tel vs, I praie you, dooth he cal him selfe any Princes or Emperours vicegerent, and not rather the‡ Vicare of Christe alone? VVhom impugne ye then but Christe in his Vicare?5 Haue ye not readen, qui vos spernit, me spernit: he that despiseth you, despiseth me? Ye thought the Pope had no better text for his primacie and supreme auctoritie, thē two lightes, which God made in Heauen. But if malice had not blinded you, in the very same chapter of Innocētius the thirde, (from whence like a spider ye sucked that ye thought was worste) ye might haue seene an other reason goinge before,6 where he saide, Pontifex in Spiritualibus antecellit, quae tant• sunt temporalibus digniora, quant• anima praefertur corpori. The Bishop (saide Innocentius) in spiritual matters passeth (the Emperour): whiche spiritual thinges are so mutche aboue the temporal, by howe mutche the soule is preferred before the bodie. Howe like ye that reason? VVithin a litle after Innocentius bringeth forth an other proufe.
- 1Matth. 16.
- ‡So is every Simple Priest.So is euery Simple Prieste.
- *A little wit had been better, then all this so great a do.A litle vvitte had benne better, then al this so greate a doo.
- ‡So he calleth him self: But when did Christ ever call him so?So he calleth him selfe: But vvhen did Christ euer cal him so?
- 5Luke. 10.
- 6Distin. 96. Duo. sunt.
