An answer to a challenge madeAn ansvver to a challenge made

If Albertus Pighius had now been alive, as great a Scholar as he was, he might have learned that he never knew before. Who did ever yet (saith ^qhe) by the Church of Rome understand the Universal Church? That doth this man (say I) who styleth all the ancient Doctors and Martyrs of the Church Universal, with the name of the Saints and Fathers of the primitive Church of Rome. But it seemeth a small matter unto him, for the magnifying of that Church, to confound Urbem & Orbem: unless he mingle also Heaven and Earth together, by giving the title of that unspotted Church, which is the special privilege of the Church triumphant in heaven, unto the Church of Rome here militant upon earth. S. Augustine surely would not have himself otherwise understood, whensoever he speaketh of the unspotted Church: and therefore, to prevent all mistaking, ⟨p. 22⟩he thus expoundeth himself in his Retractations. ^rWheresoever in these books I have made mention of the Church not having spot or wrinkle; it is not so to be taken, as if she were so now, but that she is prepared to be so, when she shall appear glorious. For now, by reason of certain ignorances and infirmities of her members, the whole Church hath cause to say every day: Forgive us our trespasses. Now as long as the Church is subject to these ignorances and infirmities, it cannot be otherwise, but there must be differences betwixt the members thereof: one part may understand that whereof an other is ignorant; and ignorance being the mother of error, one particular Church may wrongly conceive of some points, wherein others may be rightly informed. Neither will it follow thereupon, that these Churches must be of different Religions, because they fully agree not in all things: or that therefore the Reformed Churches in our days must disclaim all kindred with those in ancient times, because they have washed away some spots from themselves, which they discerned to have been in them.

If Albertus Pighius had now beene alive, as great a Scholer as he was, he might have learned that he never knew before. Who did ever yet (saith ^qhe) by the Church of Rome understand the Vniversall Church? That doth this man (say I) who styleth all the ancient Doctors and Martyrs of the Church Vniversall, with the name of the Saints and Fathers of the primitive Church of Rome. But it seemeth a small matter unto him, for the magnifying of that Church, to confound Vrbem & Orbem: unlesse he mingle also Heaven and Earth together, by giving the title of that unspotted Church, which is the speciall priviledge of the Church triumphant in heaven, unto the Church of Rome here militant upon earth. S. Augustine surely would not have himselfe otherwise understood, whensoever hee speaketh of the unspotted Church: and therefore, to prevent all mistaking,