Yet was the Church of God in those days everywhere, under cruel, and vehement persecution. Therefore to abate this ambitious courage, order was afterward taken in the Council of Carthage, that no man should be entitled the Highest Bishop, or the Prince of Bishops, or by any other like name. The Greek Bishops in the Council of Antioch,1 and the Bishops of Africa, being in number two hundred and seventeen, in the Council there found them selves grieved with the Pride and Arrogance of the See of Rome. For that John the Bishop of Constantinople took upon him, to be called the Universal Bishop, therefore Gregory the Bishop of Rome called him Lucifer, and the Messenger of Antichrist: and said, He had chosen unto him a proud, and arrogant, a pompous, and a blasphemous name.2 But after that, by great suit made unto the Emperor Phocas, the Bishops of Rome them selves had once obtained the same title, and had possessed, & enjoyed the same a long while, in the end their pride was such, that it seemed intolerable.3 Then they began to decree, and determine, That every mortal man is bound, to be subject to the See of Rome, & that upon pain of damnation: and that without the Obedience of that See, no man is saved: That the Bishop of Rome is an Universal Judge over all men:4 and that he him self may be judged by no man, neither by Emperor, nor by King, nor by all the Clergy, nor by the whole people, For that it is written by the Prophets Isaiah, The Axe shall not glory against him, that heweth with it: That what so ever he do, no man may presume to say unto him,5 Domine cur ita facis? Sir, why do you thus? That he hath all manner Law,6 and Right in Scrinio pectoris sui, in the Closet of his breast. That all other Bishops receive of his fullness: aThat no Councils can make laws for the Church of Rome: and that the Bishop of Romes authority is plainly excepted out of all Councils:b That,9 notwithstanding the Pope draw innumerable companies of people after him into Hell, yet no mortal man may dare to reprove him. cThat the Popes will, or pleasure standeth as a law. In illis, quae vult, est ei pro ratione voluntas: And that there is none other reason to be yielded of his doings, but onely this, ⟨p. 314⟩Quia ipse voluit, For he would. dFor of that, it is nothing, he is able to make some thinge. Quia de•eo, quod nihil est, potest facere aliquid:
Yet was the Churche of God in those daies euerywhere, vnder cruel, and vehement persecution. Therefore to abate this ambitious courrage, order was afterwarde taken in the Councel of Carthage, that no man shoulde be intitled the Highest Bishop, or the Prince of Bishoppes, or by any other like name. The Greeke Bishoppes in the Councel of Antioche,1 and the Bishoppes of Aphrica, beinge in number twoo hundred and seuentéene, in the Councel there founde them selues greeued with the Pride and Arrogancie of the Sée of Rome. For that Iohn the Bishop of Constantinople tooke vpon him, to be called the Uniuersal Bishop, therefore Gregorie the Bishop of Rome called him Lucifer, and the Messenger of Antichrist: and saide, He had chosen vnto him a proude, and arrogant, a pompous, and a blasphemous name.2 But after that, by great sute made vnto the Emperour Phocas, the Bishoppes of Rome them selues had once obteined the same title, and had possessed, & enioied the same a longe while, in the ende their pride was suche, that it seemed intolerable.3 Then they beganne to decrée, and determine, That euery mortal man is bounde, to be subiecte to the Sée of Rome, & that vpon paine of damnation: and that without the Obedience of that Sée, noman is saued: That the Bishop of Rome is an Uniuersal Iudge ouer al men:4 and that he him selfe may be iudged by noman, neither by Emperour, nor by Kinge, nor by al the Cleregie, nor by the whole people, For that it is written by the Prophets Esaie, The Axe shal not glorie against him, that heweth with it: That what so euer he doo, noman may presume to say vnto him,5 Domine cur ita facis? Sir, why doo you thus? That he hath al manner Lawe,6 and Right in Scrinio pectoris sui, in the Closet of his breaste. That al other Bishoppes receiue of his fulnes: aThat no Councelles can make lawes for the Churche of Rome: and that the Bishop of Romes authoritie is plainely excepted out of al Councelles:b That,9
- 1Sozom. li. 3. ca. 8. Concil. Aphric. Epist. ad Coelest. •regor. li. 4. Epist. 34. 38. &c.
- 2Anno. Domini. 602.
- 3De Maior. & Obedien. Unam Sanctam.De Maior. & Obedien. Vnam Sanctam.
- 4Ibidē in Glosa. 9. Ques. 3. Nemo Dist. •1. Inferior sedes.Ibidē in Glosa. 9. Ques. 3. Nemo Dist. •1. Inferior sedes.
- 5Isaiah. 10.Esai. 10.
- 6De Concessione Praebendae, in Glosa.
- aDe electio. & electi potestate. Significasti.
- bDist. 40. Si pp.
- 9Extra. de Constitution. Licet. Durand. li. 2.
- cDe translatio. Episcopi, Quito In Closa.De translatio. Episcopi, Qu•to In Closa.
- dDe concessio. Praebend•. Proposuit, In Glosa.
