S. Gregory writing to Mauritius the Emperor against John the Bishop of Constantinople, ambitiously claiming, and usurping the name of an universal Bishop, proveth the Bishop of Rome succeeding in Peters Chair, to be Primate, and to have charge over all the Church of Christ, by Scriptures, thus: Cunctis Evangelium scientibus liquer &c. It is evident to all that know the Gospel, that the Cure, and charge of the whole Church, hath been committed by the word of our Lord to the Holy Apostle Peter,1 prince of all the Apostles. For to him it is said, Peter, lovest thou me?2 Feed my sheep. To him it is said: Behold Satan hath desired to sift you as it were wheat, and I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not. And thou being once converted, strengthen thy brethren. To him it is said, Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church: and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.3 And unto thee I will give the Keys of the kingdom ⟨p. 225⟩of Heaven. And what so ever thou bindest upon earth, shall be bound also in Heaven, and what so ever thou lowsest on earth, shall be loosed also in Heaven. Behold he receiveth the keys of the heavenly Kingdom:4 the power of binding and loosing is given to him: the charge of the whole Church and principality is committed to him. Thus far Gregory.5 But because our adversaries though without just cause, refuse the witness of the Bishops of Rome in this Article, as unlawful witnesses in their own cause, were they never so holy Martyrs, or learned Confessors: they may understand we are able to allege sundry other authorities to the confirmation hereof, that be above all exception.
S. Gregorie writinge to Mauritius the Emperour against Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople, ambitiousely claiminge, and vsurpinge the name of an vniuersal Bishop, prooueth the Bishop of Rome succeedinge in Peters Chaier, to be Primate, and to haue charge ouer al the Churche of Christe, by Scriptures, thus: Cunctis Euangelium scientibus liquer &c. It is euident to al that know the Gospel, that the Cure, and charge of the whole Churche, hath beene committed by the woorde of our Lorde to the Holy Apostle Peter,1 prince of al the Apostles. For to him it is saide, Peter, louest thou mee?2 Feede my sheepe. To him it is saide: Beholde Sathan hath desired to sifte you as it were wheate, and I haue praied for thee, Peter, that thy faith faile not. And thou beinge once conuerted, strengthen thy brethren. To him it is saide, Thou arte Peter, and vpon this Rocke wil I builde my Churche: and the Gates of Hel shal not preuaile against it.3 And vnto thee I wil geue the Keies of the kingedome ⟨p. 225⟩of Heauen. And what so euer thou bindest vpon earth, shalbe bounde also in Heauen, and what so euer thou lowsest on earth, shalbe lowsed also in Heauen. Beholde he receiueth the keyes of the heauenly Kingdome:4 the power of bindinge and lowsing is geuen to him: the charge of the whole Church and principalitie is cōmitted to him. Thus farre Gregorie.5 But bi•ause our adu•rsaries though without iust cause, refuse the witnesse of the Bishoppes of Rome in this Article, as vnlawful witnesses in their owne cause, vvere they neuer so holy Martyrs, or learned Confess•urs: they may vnderstande vvee are hable to allege sundrie other authorities to the confirmation hereof, that be aboue al exception.
- 1Joan. 2•.Ioan. 2•.
- 2Luc. 22.
- 3Matth.16.
- 4Cura ei totius Ecclesiae & principatus committitur.
- 5M. Harding cutteth of, and corrupteth the words of S. Gregory, For it foloweth immediately, Tamen P• trus Universalis Apostolus non vocatur.M. Harding cutteth of, and corrupteth the vvordes of S. Gregorie, For it folovveth immediately, Tamen P• trus Vniuersalis Apostolus nō vocatur.
