M. Harding. The .4. Division.M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.

M. Harding. The .4. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .4. Diuision.

S. Gregory writing to Mauritius the Emperor against John the Bishop of Constantinople, ambitiously claiming, and usurping the name of an universal Bishop, proveth the Bishop of Rome succeeding in Peters Chair, to be Primate, and to have charge over all the Church of Christ, by Scriptures, thus: Cunctis Evangelium scientibus liquer &c. It is evident to all that know the Gospel, that the Cure, and charge of the whole Church, hath been committed by the word of our Lord to the Holy Apostle Peter,¹ prince of all the Apostles. For to him it is said, Peter, lovest thou me?² Feed my sheep. To him it is said: Behold Satan hath desired to sift you as it were wheat, and I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not. And thou being once converted, strengthen thy brethren. To him it is said, Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church: and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.³ And unto thee I will give the Keys of the kingdom ⟨p. 225⟩of Heaven. And what so ever thou bindest upon earth, shall be bound also in Heaven, and what so ever thou lowsest on earth, shall be loosed also in Heaven. Behold he receiveth the keys of the heavenly Kingdom:⁴ the power of binding and loosing is given to him: the charge of the whole Church and principality is committed to him. Thus far Gregory.⁵ But because our adversaries though without just cause, refuse the witness of the Bishops of Rome in this Article, as unlawful witnesses in their own cause, were they never so holy Martyrs, or learned Confessors: they may understand we are able to allege sundry other authorities to the confirmation hereof, that be above all exception.