The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

25. AND although these things are most unjust, and most contrary to the Practice of the ancient Councils, and the Usage of modest and good Men in their Deliberations; yet it is much more unreasonable, that whereas the whole World complains of the Ambition and Tyranny of the Pope of Rome, and is persuaded, that until he is reduced to a better Order, all their Labours for the Reformation of the Church of God will be in vain, and nothing will be done; yet at last, all things are referred to him alone, as to the ⟨p. 177⟩most equal Arbiter and Judge. But (O good God!) to what Man? I will not now say any of these things against him; that he is an Enemy of the Truth, an Ambitious Covetous Proud Man, who is already become intolerable to his own: But I say that it is the utmost pitch of Folly and Injustice, to make him the sole Judge of all Religion, who commands all his Dictates to be had in the self same Honour and Esteem as the Words of St. Peter are; and saith, that in case he should Mislead a thousand Souls, and carry them with himself to Hell, yet no man ought to reprehend him for it: Who saith, he can make Injustice to become Justice: Whom^† Camotensis confesseth to have corrupted the Scriptures, that he might have a Plenitude of Power. And why should I use more words? whom his own Companions and Ministers, Joachimus Abbas, Petrarcha, Marsilius Patavinus, Laurentius Valla, and Hieronymus Savonarola have not obscurely hinted to be the Antichrist. To the Judgment and Will (I say) of this one Man are all things submitted, that this very Criminal may be both the Party accused, and the Judge of his own very Case; that this guilty man may sit aloft upon a Throne, and his Accusers stand beneath, whilst he gives Sentence for himself: for Pope Julius had given us these just and reasonable Laws. There is (saith he) no Council which is valid, nor ever shall be, unless supported by the Authority of the Church of Rome. And Bonifacius the VIII. saith, that every Creature ought to be subject ⟨p. 178⟩to the Church of Rome; and that as they tender their Salvation. And Pope Pascal useth this Expression, as if any Councils had given Laws to the Church of Rome, when in truth, all the Councils have been held, and received their Force from the Authority of the Church of Rome; and in all their Statutes, the Authority of the Pope of Rome is plainly and apparently excepted.