Concerning the office of King and governor of the Church, of which Jesus Christ is head both in heaven & in earth, sitting on the right hand of God his father, and yet nevertheless present in his Church, by his spiritual virtue, from whence cometh it then, that they will appoint him a Vicar in his ⟨p. 137⟩presence? considering principally that it is directly against the word of God, against the Metropolitans jurisdiction, ordained by the first council of Nicene,1 against all the history of the primitive Church, yea against saint Gregory himself, which witnesseth in many places that the name of universal Bishop, ought not to be upon earth, but to Antichrist. Moreover put the case yet that he were Vicar of Christ, in the universal government of the Church, from whence cometh▪ this power to dispense with the word of Jesus Christ, and to abrogate the doctrine of the Apostles, and namely of Saint Peter? And yet nevertheless are not ashamed to say that they are his successors? saint Peter was he not sent to H•erusalem aby the Church? refuseth he to render account of his office? and what did he teach to others? I (saith he? beseech the Priests b(that is to say, those which have office in the Church) I which also am a Priest with them, & a witness of the afflictions ⟨image 152⟩of Christ, and partaker also of the glory which shall be revealed: Feed the flock of Christ as much as ye may, watching over it, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but with a ready will, and not as having lordship over the clergy, (that is to say, over the heritage of the lord) but so y• ye be examples of the flock: & when the principal pastor shall appear, you shall receive a crown of incorruptible glory. Behold y• proper words of s. Peter which are far of from appropriating to himself y• seigniory or lordship of Italy, & superintendent aswell of Kings & Princes, as of all other churches. And briefly, if they look well, they shall find, that there is nothing agreeing or any comparison between S. Peter & these which falsely call themselves his successors, but in one thing, y• is to wit, the denying of Jesus Christ, for the which S. Peter repented, but these do not.
COncerning the office of Kinge and gouernor of the Churche, of which Iesus Christ is head both in heauē & in earth, sytting on the ryght hande of God his father, and yet neuertheles present in his Church, by his spirituall vertue, from whence commeth it then, that they wyll appoynte him a Uycar in his ⟨p. 137⟩presence? considering principallye that it is directly against the word of God, agaynste the Metropolytans iurisdiction, ordayned by the first counsell of Nicene,1 against all the hystorie of the primatiue Church, yea against sainct Gregory himselfe, whiche wytnesseth in many places that the name of vniuersall Byshoppe, ought not to be vpon earth, but to Antechrist. Moreouer put the case yet that he were Uicare of Christe, in the vniuersall gouernement of the Churche, from whence commeth▪ thys power to dyspense with the worde of Iesus Christe, and to abrogate the doctrine of the Apostles, and namely of Sainct Peter? And yet neuertheles are not ashamed to saye that they are his successors? saint Peter was he not sent to H•erusalem aby the Churche? refuseth he to render accompt of his office? and what dyd he teache to others? I (sayth he? beséech the Priests b(that is to saye, those which haue office in the Church) I which also am a Priest with them, & a witnes of the afflyctions ⟨image 152⟩of Christ, and partaker also of the glorye which shall be reuealed: Féede the flocke of Christe as much as ye may, watching ouer it, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gayne, but with a ready wyll, and not as hauing lordship ouer the cleargy, (that is to say, ouer the heritage of the lord) but so y• ye be examples of the flocke: & when the principal pastor shall appeare, you shall receyue a crown of incorruptible glory. Behold y• proper words of s. Peter which are far of from appropriating to himselfe y• segniory or lordship of Italy, & superintendēt aswell of Kings & Princes, as of all other churches. And briefly, if they looke well, they shal finde, that there is nothing agréeing or any comparison betwéene S. Peter & these which falsly cal themselues his successors, but in one thing, y• is to wete, the denying of Iesus Christe, for the which S. Peter repented, but these do not.
- 1Look the Epi. of S. Gregory 32. 34. 36. 38. 39. The 4. book and the. 24. 28. 29. 30. The 6▪ book.Looke the Epi. of S. Gregorie 32. 34. 36. 38. 39. The 4. booke and the. 24. 28. 29. 30. The 6▪ booke.
- aActs. 8. &. 1• ▪
- b1. Peter. 5.
