Howe be it, this, I trow, is not the readiest way to procure Peace, and to maintain Unity in the Church. And therefore Gregory saith of John the Bishop of Constantinople,1 that claimed to him self this Universal Power,2 Si hanc causam aequanimiter portamus, 3totius Ecclesiae Fidem corrumpimus: 4Corruit Universa Ecclesia à statu suo, si is, qui Universalis dicitur, cadit: If we quietly suffer this matter thus to proceed (that one Man shall be called the Universal Bishop, we seek not ways to maintain Unity, but) we overthrow the Faith of the whole Church: If be, that is called the Universal Bishop, happen to fall, the whole Church falleth from her state. Thus therefore, to allow any one Man Universal Authority over the whole Church, is a matter, not behoveful, and profitable, as M. Harding fancieth, but, as Gregory saith, doubtful, and dangerous to the Church. For although all the world either would, or could give ear, and credit to one Man, yet were not that therefore always Christian Unity.5 S. Augustine saith, Habet & Superbia appetitum quendam Unitatis, & Omnipotentiae: Pride it self hath a certain desire of Unity, and of Universal Power.
Howe be it, this, I trowe, is not the readieste waie to procure Peace, and to mainteine Vnitie in the Churche. And therefore Gregorie saithe of Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople,1 that claimed to him selfe this Vniuersal Power,2 Si hanc causam aequanimiter portamus, 3totius Ecclesiae Fidem corrumpimus: 4Corruit Vniuersa Ecclesia à statu suo, si is, qui Vniuersalis dicitur, cadit: If wee quietly suffer this mater thus to procede (that one Man shal be called the Vniuersal Bishop, wée seeke not waies to mainteine Vnitie, but) wee ouerthrowe the Faithe of the whole Churche: Yf be, that is called the Ʋniuersal Bishop, happen to falle, the whole Churche fallethe from her state. Thus therefore, to allowe any one Man Vniuersal Authoritie ouer the whole Churche, is a mater, not behoueful, and profitable, as M. Hardinge fansieth, but, as Gregorie saithe, doubteful, and dangerous to the Churche. For althoughe al the world either would, or could geue eare, and credite to one Man, yet were not that therefore alwaies Christian Vnitie.5 S. Augustine saithe, Habet & Superbia appetitum quendam Vnitatis, & Omnipotentiae: Pride it selfe hathe a certaine desire of Vnitie, and of Vniuersal Power.
- 1Gregory. Lib 4.Gregori. Lib 4.
- 2Epist. 34. 38.
- 3Gregory. Lib. 4.Gregori. Lib. 4.
- 4Epist. 76.
- 5August. De Vera Relig jone Ca. 45August. De Vera Relig ione Ca. 45
