M. Harding. The .31. Division.M. Hardinge. The .31. Diuision.

M. Harding. The .31. Division.

M. Hardinge. The .31. Diuision.

Concerning the other name (Head of the Church) I marvel not a little that M. Ivel denieth that the Bishop of Rome was then so called.¹ Either he doth contrary to his own knowledge, wherein he must needs be condemned in his own judgement, and of his own conscience, or he is not so well learned, as of that side he is thought to be. For, who so ever travaileth in the Reading of the ancient Fathers, findeth that name almost every where attributed to Peter the first Bishop of Rome, (121)² and consequently to the Successor of Peter, that name (I say) either in terms equivalent, or expressly.³ First the Scripture calleth Peter Primum, The first among the Apostles. The names of the twelve Apostles (saith Matthew) are these.^* Primus Simon, qui dicitur Petrus. First Simon, who is called Peter. And yet was not Peter first called of Christ, but his brother Andrew before him,⁵ as is before said. Dionysius that ancient writer calleth Peter sometime Supremum decus, The highest honour, for that he was most honourable of all the Apostles, sometime Summum, Sometime verticalem, the chiefest, and the highest apostle. Origen upon the beginning of John saith: Let no man think that we set John before Peter. Who may so do? for who should be higher of the Apostles then he,⁶ who is, and is called the top of them? Cyprian calleth the Church of Rome in consideration of that Bishops supreme authority, Ecclesiam principalem, unde unitas Sacerdotalis exorta est. The principal or chief Church, from whence the unity of Priests is sprung. Eusebius Caesariensis speaking of Peter sent to Rome by God's providence,