The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving…The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving…

If the Papists can make their followers now believe that Cyprian believed the Popes infallibility, or that the Church of Rome was the only keeper of Tradition, or that Traditions were not to be tried by the Scriptures, then you may see to what purpose it is ⟨p. 302⟩that they must needs be the judges of Controversy and the sense of Scripture, and why they call it a Nose of wax; even that it may be at their service, and so flexible as to yield to what sense they will put upon it, when they will needs exercise the same Authority on the Fathers themselves who in their familiar Epistles speak as plain as they can.

If the Papists can make their followers now believe that Cyprian believed the Popes infallibility, or that the Church of Rome was the onely keeper of Tradition, or that Traditions were not to be tryed by the Scriptures, then you may see to what purpose it is ⟨p. 302⟩that they must needs be the judges of Controversie and the sence of Scripture, and why they call it a Nose of wax; even that it may be at their service, and so flexible as to yield to what sence they will put upon it, when they will needs exercise the same Authority on the Fathers themselves who in their familiar Epistles speak as plain as they can.

Firmilianus, a famous Bishop writeth a confutation of Pope Stephens Epistle and therefore took him not to be infallible;^* and he parallel's him with the Ancient Heretics, Marcion, Apelles, Valentinus, Basilides, as bringing in error under pretence of Tradition as they did. And saith [And for them that are at Rome, they do not in all things observe those things which were delivered from the beginning, and do in vain pretend the Authority of the Apostles; as may be seen in that about Easter and about many other Divine mysteries, there are some diversities with them, and they do not equally observe all things as at Jerusalem they are observed. As also in many other Provinces many things are varied according to the diversity of places and names, and yet no breach of the Churches unity and peace for this. Which now Stephen hath dared to do, breaking the peace with us, which his ancestors kept in love and honour: and moreover defaming Peter and Paul, as if he had this Tradition from them. — And in this I have just indignation at the open and manifest foolishness of Stephen, that he that thus boasteth of the place of his Bishopric, and contendeth that he holdeth the succession of Peter, upon whom the foundations of the Church are laid, doth bring in many other Rocks and maketh