How can I , or any Catholick abjure the Pope's Supremacy over the Church in general , or my self in particular ? Seing 't is an Article of our Creed , (m) (m) Symboli Tridentini Articulus primus . and my Conscience tells me that , which it did Sir Thomas More (n) (n) Surius . Commentar. at his Tryal ; that having studied the point , at least seven years , I finde that the Truth thereof is sounded upon Fathers , Councils , Scriptures , and Traditions , with Prescription since the Apostles ; which demonstrates it to be of Divine Institution .

You will fall short in all these , and upon impartial Survey finde the Rise , and Spring of it to be from novel Usurpation . The Pythagoreans were so accustomed to Numbers , that they fancyed the Ingredience of them in every Composure . Your seven years study , with Doway , and Lovain's Education , hath so moulded your imaginations , that it hears no Melody , but , like that of Sappho's (o) (o) Herodotus . in the Woods , (p) (p) Clemens in Prooemio in Glossa . Dominus Deus Papa , your Pope's Supremacy . Whence you make Scriptures , and Fathers , like Procrustes (q) (q) Plutarch . in vita Thesei . his Bed ; what comes short , you rack , and stretch it to your meaning ; what is too large , you curtail it by amputation .

I read Scriptures , and Fathers with that Traveller's indifferency , that Epictetus (r) (r) Aulus Gellius . Noct. Atti● . requires in all , that would finde the Truth : and therein I discover , First , The Necessity of one Head to be constituted over the Catholick Church . Secondly , That St. Peter was that Visible Head , and had Supremacy over the whole Flock of Christ , and the rest of the Apostles . Thirdly , That he fixed his Seat at Rome , and delegated his plenitudinem potestatis , fullness of power , to the Bishops , his Successours there . Fourthly , That all Bishops of Rome have enjoyed it since .

Not one of these Positions is true , but comes from that spirit of lyes , as shall appear in order . First , there is no necessitie of one Head to be constituted over the Catholick Church ; if you mean militant , Christ the triumphant Head is sufficient , for all your Canonists blaspheamy , who say , (s) (s) Non videretur Dominus discretus fuisse ( ut cū reverentia ejus loquar ) nisi unicum post se talem Vicarium reliquisset , & qui haec omnia posset . De majoritate & obedientia , unam sanctam , in Glossa . Christ , our Lord should not have seemed to have dealt discreetly ( to speak it with reverence ) unless he had left one such Vicar behind him , that could do all these things ; that is , regulate the whole Church . For neither is it possible for one man to take cognizance of the whole Church , unless he were omniscient , as of all Europe , Asia , Africk , China , and Prester John's Dominions , Peru , Mexico , with Magellanica , and the rest of the Americans , no Civil Prince had ever the fourth part of it under his Scepter , much less an Ecclesiastick ; neither could the Church possibly ( if this were granted ) be preserved from ruin . A Pope himself hath delivered it e Cathedra , and that is Gregory the Great , who said of John Bishop of Constantinople , who first claymed to himself this universal power ; (t) (t) Si hanc causam aequanimiter portamus , totius Ecclesiae fidem corrumpimus : corruit universa Ecclesia de statu suo , si is , qui Vniversalis dicitur , cadit . Gregor. lib. 4. Epist. 34. 38. & Epist. 78. If we patiently suffer this matter thus to proceed , that one man shall be universal Bishop , we seek not waies to preserve unitie , but we overthrow the faith of the whole Church : if he , that is said to be Universal Bishop , happen to fall , the whole Church falleth from her state . And , relating to this Question , Saint Augustine saith , (u) (u) Augustinus , De ve●ae religione , cap 45. Habet & superbia appetitum quendam unitatis , & omnipotentiae . Pride it self hath a certain desire of Vnitie , and universal power : though the tendence thereof be to ruine . In conformitie to this Saint Paul expresseth the lasting Politie Christ setled in his Church , who , (x) (x) Ephes. iv 12 , 13. when he ascended far above any heavens , gave ( not one Vniversal Pope to rule the whole , but ) some Apostles , some Prophets , and some Evangelists , and some Pastours , and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints , for the working of the ministery , for the edifying of the body of Christ . Whereupon Saint Cyprian descanting saith (y) (y) Vnus est Episcopatus , cujus à singulis in solidum pars tenetur . Cyprianus De simplicitate Praela●o●ū . Vnus est Episcopatus , &c. There is but one Bishoprick ; part whereof is holden of several Bishops in whole . And again ; (z) (z) Ideo plures sunt in Ecclesia Sacerdotes ; ut , uno Haeresin faciente , caeteri subveniant . Cypr. lib. 3. Epist. 13. Therefore there are many Priests , or Bishops in the Church , ( not one over all the Church ) that , if one fall into Heresie , the rest may help . As Paul reproved Peter , and Irenaeus Pope Victor . Upon that place of Hosea , The children of Israel , and the children of Judea shall be gathered together , and appoint them one Head , Saint Hierom Paraphrases thus ; (a) (a) Haec omnia fient ; quia magnus est dies s●minis Dei , qui interpretatur Christus . Hierom. in Hoseae cap 1. vers. 12. All these things shall come to pass ; because it is the great day of the seed of God , which seed is interpreted ( not an Vniversal Bishop , but ) Christ . Lyra harps upon the same string . (b) (b) Congregabuntur filiae Judae ; id est , Apostoli : & filii Israel ; id est , Gentiles conversi : pariter ; id est una Ecclesia : & ponent sibi caput unum ; id est , Christum . Nicol. Lyra in Hoseae cap. 1. There shall assemble together ( saith he ) the children of Judah ; that is , the Apostles : and Children of Israel ; that is , the Gentiles converted : together ; that is , in one Church : and shall appoint unto themselves one Head ; that is ( not one Vniversal Bishop , but ) one Christ . Saint Augustine is of the same consort saying , (c) (c) Recolatur lapis ille angularis , & duo illi parietes ; unus ex Judaeis , & alter ex Gentibus . Augustin . De Civitate Dei . lib. 18. cap. 28. Let us remember that Corner-stone Christ ( not any Prelate ) and the Walls , the one of the Jews , the other of the Gentiles . Dionysius ; (d) (d) In Opere Tripartito , lib. 2. cap. 5. deciphering purposely the Politie of the Church , and comparing the same with the glorious Hierarchie of the Angels , and Powers in Heaven , yet never dropped one word of the universal government by one Prelate . So that we may safely conclude with that Appendage of the Council of Lateran ; In caelesti Hierarchia tota congregatio Angelorum non habet caput unum , praeter solum Deum : ergo , a simili , in Ecclesiastica Hierarchia hominum non debet esse unum caput , praeter solum Deum : That is ; In the Celestial Hierarchie , the whole Chore of Angels hath no other head , but onely God ; therefore , by like proportion , in the Ecclesiastical Hierarchie of men , there ought not to be any one Head , but God ; That is , Christ , God-man .

I should easily grant , by virtue of those Premises , that there is no apparent necessitie of a visible Head over the whole Church . Christ , and his Spirit can easilie supply that defect . And it is congruous enough to reason ; that no one Prelate ( Atlas-like ) can bear the axle-tree of the whole Church upon his Shoulders : yet , methinks , there are clear Evidences in Scriptures , and Fathers , that Saint Peter had supremacie over the rest of the Apostles , and the whole flock of Christ .

This is your Second Position , which , for all your confidence , will vanish into Ashes , like Sodom's Apples . But , I beseech you , tell me these Evidences out of Scriptures , and Fathers .

Of Scriptures , these two places are pregnant : the one , (e) (e) Matth. xvi . 18 , 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Thou art Peter , and upon this Rock I will build my Church . (f) (f) Hart against Rainolds . Though in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , may seem in the Greek to be a difference in termination , and an Enallage of Genders , the Hebrew , or Syriak Word , Cephas , which our Saviour used , signifies both Peter , and a Rock : whence I gather , that Peter was that rock , upon which Christ builded his universal Church ; as appears by his further promise , that he would give unto him the keys of the Kingdom of heaven , &c. The other place is , (g) (g) John xxi . 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Feed my Sheep . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies as well to rule , and govern , as to feed . Out of thee shall come , saith Micah (h) (h) Micah v. 2. Matth. ii . 6. of Beth-lehem , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a Governour ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that shall rule my people Israel . Homer stiles Agamemnon , the Grecian General , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Ruler of the people . Hence I gather , that Christ appointed Peter the Ruler , or Governour of the whole Church .

You gather Conclusions without Premises , as erroneously , though not as imperiously , as did your Pope Boniface , (i) (i) Declaramus , dicimus , definimus , pronunciamus omnino esse de necessitate salutis omni humanae Creaturae , subesse Romano Pontifici . De Majoritate , & obedientia . who declared , said , defined , determined , and pronounced , that it was of undoubted necessitie of Salvation , for every humane Creature , to be subject to the Bishop of Rome : but it was from his not right understanding of those Texts ; whence , as Saint Hierom (k) (k) Hierom. in Matthaeum . cap. 16. lib. 3. said of others , Aliquid sibi de Pharisaeorum assumpsit supercilio ; He assumed something of the Luciferian Pride of the Pharisees . For the Primitive Fathers , who lived nearest the Fountain , judged it no less , then Blasphemie , to interpret any mortal man , as Peter was , but onely Christ , the onely Son of God , to be this Rock . So Gregory Nyssen . (l) (l) Gregorius Nyss●●● Testimoniis 〈…〉 ex Veteri Te 〈…〉 saith , Tu es Petrus , &c. Thou art Peter , and upon this Rock I will build my Church : he meaneth the confession of Christ , for he had said before , Thou art Christ , the Son of the living God . Saint Hilarie saith , (m) (m) Haec est una felix fidei petra , quam Petrus ore suo confessus est . Hilar. De Trinitate , lib. 2. cap. 6. This is the onely-blessed Rock of Faith , which Peter confessed with his mouth , and upon this Rock of Peter 's Confession is the building of the Church . Where , you see , Peter , and the Rock , are two distinct things . Cyril saith , (n) (n) Petra nihil aliud est , quàm firma , & inconcussa Discipuli fides . Cyrillus , De Trinitate . The Rock is nothing else , but the strong , and impregnable faith of the Disciple . Saint Chrysostome (o) (o) Supra hanc petram , id est in hac fide , & confessione , aedificabo . Chrysost. in Matthaeum , Homil. 55. goes on in the same Equipage , Vpon this Rock , that is to say , upon this Faith , and this Confession , I will build my Church . Saint Augustine speaks home , (p) (p) Augustinus De verbis Domini , secundum Matthaeum , Serm. 13. Petra erat Christus , supra quod fundamentum etiam aedificatus fuit Petrus : Christ was the Rock , upon which foundation even Peter himself was builded . And , lest he should leave any in the Clouds , he adds further in the person of Christ , Non me aedificabo super te , sed te aedificabo super me : I will not build my self upon thee ; but I will build thee upon me . And , that no man might conceive , that Peter was in any sence singularly this Rock , or that he had the monopoly of the Keys , which were first promised to him , but performed in a Juncto , with the rest of the Apostles ; Origen , who lived nearer the Original , tells us , (q) (q) Petra est , quicunque est Discipulus Christi , & supra talem petram constituitur omnis Ecclesiastica Doctrina . August . ibidem . He is the Rock , whosoever is the Disciple of Christ , and upon such a Rock all Ecclesiastical Learning is built . (r) (r) Quòd si supra unum illum Perrum existimas aedificari totam Ecclesiam , quid dicturus es de Johanne filio Tonitrui , & Apostolorum unoquoque ? nū audebimus dicere , quòd adversus Petrum unum non praevaliturae sunt portae Inferorum ? an soli Petro dantur claves regni coelorum ? Orig. in Matthaeum , Tract. 1. If thou think , that the whole Church is built onely upon Peter , what wilt thou say of John , the Son of Thunder , and of every of the Apostles ? Shall we dare to say , that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail onely against Peter ? or , are the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven given onely unto Peter ? Seeing Saint Cyprian (s) (s) Cyprian . De simplicitate Praelatorum . avers , Hoc erant alii , quod Petrus , pari consortio praediti & honoris , & potestatis : The rest of the Apostles were the same , that Peter was , all endowed with the like fellowship both of honour , and power . That Saint Ambrose , balancing them in Scripture-scales , is at a stand , Inter Petrum , & Paulum ▪ quis cui praeponatur ; of Peter , and Paul , whether of the two should be preferred before the other . And , if Gregory , (t) (t) Gregorius , lib. 4. Epistol. 32. who was a Bishop of Rome himself , may be believed , Petrus universalis Apostolus nonvocatur : Peter is not called an Universal Apostle . And for your Criticism , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Synonomous , Budaeus (u) (u) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Budaeus in Lexico . denies it , unless in a Dialect the Gospel owns not . Whether our Saviour used the Hebrew , or Syriak word , Cephas , is uncertain , (x) (x) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Aristoteles , lib. 1. De Coelo , cap. 11. text . 110. and more certain , if he did , it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and concludes nothing , amounting but to a fallacia aequivocationis in the one Language , to a Paronomasia , or collusion of words , in the other . And Christ's promise of the Keys to Peteter inferrs no more , then Saint Augustine gathers from it , Petrus pro omnibus dixit , & cum omnibus accepit : Peter was the mouth , and spake for the rest of the Apostles , and received the promise with all the rest . Now , to concenter all these lines in one point ; If by the Rock be meant principally either Faith confessing , and relying upon Christ the Rock himself ; or instrumentally the Apostles , who were all Equal , and by a joynt Commission received the Keys ; it comes far short of proving the Supremacie of Peter over the rest of the Apostles , and the whole Church .