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

And another saith, whatever the Pope approves or disapproves, we ought also to approve or disapprove: and what the Pope allows, no other man may disallow. And another Flatterer, who has lost all Modesty, saith, that although the whole World should contradict the Opinion of the Pope in any thing, yet it seems but reasonable to stand to the Judgment of the Pope. And another no less impudently saith, it would be a sort of Sacrilege to dispute concerning an Action of the Pope; who, tho he is not a good man, is yet ever presumed to be such. And another more impudently, The Pope (saith he) hath a Heavenly Will, and therefore in those things which he wills, his Will is instead of a Reason to him; nor is there any man who may say to him, why dost then act thus? And that I may pass by many other things which might be alleged here, because they are without number, and at length come to a Conclusion, Pope Innocentius the IX. more impudently than any other, useth these words, This Judge (the Pope) may neither be judged by the Emperor, nor by Kings, nor by the while Clergy, nor yet by all the people. O immortal God! how little is wanting of the Pride of Lucifer. ¹I will ascend above the ⟨p. 179⟩North, and I will be like the most highest. If all these things are true, and the Popes have not belied the World, what need is there of a Council? or if they will hold a sincere and free Council, let all these things be condemned as dishonest and insolent Lies, and let them not only be laid aside, as to the court, and use of them, but be razed out of all Books, that the sum of Affairs may never more be left to the Will and Lust of one man; and he too for many most just causes suspected. But now on the contrary, the Popes say they cannot err, and that the Word of God is to be regulated according to their Prescription; and besides all this, before they enter upon their Papal Dignity, they take an Oath that they will maintain the Faith of many late Councils (in which all things are most fearfully depraved) and they promise most religiously, that they will not change any thing: and therefore what wonder is it, that no good is done by Councils, that Errors and Abuses are not taken away; that the Ambassadors of Princes are to no purpose called together, from such distant places, out of all Lands?

And another saith, whatever the Pope approves or disapproves, we ought also to approve or disapprove: and what the Pope allows, no other man may disallow. And another Flatterer, who has lost all Modesty, saith, that altho the whole World should contradict the Opinion of the Pope in any thing, yet it seems but reasonable to stand to the Iudgment of the Pope. And another no less impudently saith, it would be a sort of Sacriledge to dispute concerning an Action of the Pope; who, tho he is not a good man, is yet ever presumed to be such. And another more impudently, The Pope (saith he) hath a Heavenly Will, and therefore in those things which he wills, his Will is instead of a Reason to him; nor is there any man who may say to him, why dost then act thus? And that I may pass by many other things which might be alledged here, because they are without number, and at length come to a Conclusion, Pope Innocentius the IX. more impudently than any other, useth these words, This Judge (the Pope) may neither be judged by the Emperor, nor by Kings, nor by the while Chrgy, nor yet by all the people. O immortal God! how little is wanting of the Pride of Luciser.