Answ. I answer, He had not the peaceable possession of this Headship till this time, but yet it is evident in story that he did claim this supremacy before, he sought it ambitiously, and it was given him by the devotion of many Bishops, and Churches, and Nations, it was usually rendered to him long before that time. Socrates saith, that Ballo the Pope had broken forth into the Government over the Churches: And Bellarmine himself confesseth (when he is put to it) that the Bishop of Rome would never go to any Consultation in the East, but sent his Legate; for saith he, it is not meet the head should follow the members: A second reason he gives, the Emperor (saith he) is at least Vice-gerent of the East, he well may have the material Seat that was taken up by the Emperors, where shall the Bishop of Rome sit then? and this he gathers out of some of their writings: So that it is evident, that he did ambitiously desire it, and the manner was (being elderly men) all his beloved and dear children they call him Father, and so he takes in good part all their honourable Titles, and he distributes to them such parcels of respect, as may stand with his own Supremacy, and their subjection, and therefore they need not say, The wounded head was healed before he was a head of the Beast, for it was in conception long before. He did from Constantine's time seek Supremacy: They confess, little respect was had to him in Constantine's ⟨p. 37⟩time; But when order was set in Churches, he took all advantages for his exaltation, and did take all appeals from others, that what others did to him in respect of his gravity, & learning, and understanding, he takes as done to him as sitting in Peters Chair, and so did challenge headship in those times, and they thought it was meet to give it; And after this, he was ratified, and confirmed, and established in peace, then was his wound healed.
Answ. I answer, He had not the peaceable possession of this Headship till this time, but yet it is evident in story that he did claim this supremacy before, he sought it ambitiously, and it was given him by the devotion of many Bishops, and Churches, and Nations, it was usually rendred to him long before that time. Socrates saith, that Ballo the Pope had broken forth into the Government over the Churches: And Bellarmine himselfe confesseth (when he is put to it) that the Bishop of Rome would never goe to any Consultation in the East, but sent his Legat; for saith he, it is not meet the head should follow the members: A second reason he gives, the Emperor (saith he) is at least Vice-gerent of the East, he well may have the materiall Seat that was taken up by the Emperors, where shall the Bishop of Rome sit then? and this he gathers out of some of their writings: So that it is evident, that he did ambitiously desire it, and the manner was (being elderly men) all his beloved and dear children they call him Father, and so he takes in good part all their honorable Titles, and he destributes to them such parcells of respect, as may stand with his own Sumpremacy, and their subjection, and therefore they need not say, The wounded head was healed before he was a head of the Beast, for it was in conception long before. He did from Constantines time seek Supremacy: They confesse, little respect was had to him in Constantines ⟨p. 37⟩time; But when order was set in Churches, he took all advantages for his exaltation, and did take all appeals from others, that what others did to him in respect of his gravity, & learning, and understanding, he takes as done to him as sitting in Peters Chaire, and so did challenge headship in those times, and they thought it was meet to give it; And after this, he was ratified, and confirmed, and established in peace, then was his wound healed.
