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act of Feeding, but in the object of which I now come to fpeak,that is the fecond thing; the phrase my sheep.

Granting therefore what Bellar defires that he speaks of all the fheep, yet herein St Peter had no prerogative above the other Apostles who are equally commanded to teach and baptife all Nations Mat.28 19.to preach the Gofpell to every creature, Mar.16.15.And Peters Diocefs furely cannot be larger, unleffe happily Utopia be taken in, or that which is in the fame part of the world, 1 meane Purgatory: But you will fay, furely they have fomewhat elfe to plead for themfelves from this Text, Why yes, These good mafters of the feaft have referved the bett Wine to the laft. Here comes in a rare notion not fit to be prostituted to vulgar apprehenfions, you shall heare it upon condition you will not put them to the proofe of it which they are not bound to do, for nemo tenetur ad impoffibilia, No man i obliged to do more then is in his power, Peter was to feed the sheep as ordinary Paftour,the reft as extraordinary Ambaffadors and with a cerrain fubjection to Peter, (a) If you ask, doth this Text fay fo? or any other Text ? or is there one fyllable from whence this may be deduced? you must remember the condition which I told you. And what if this be granted, how comes the ordinary power to be greater and higher then the extraordinary? In the Old Teftament generally, the extraordinary officers,the Prophets whom God raifed were fuperiour to the Priefts; And in the New Testament, the Apostles and Evangelists who were extraordinary officers were fuperior to Paftors and Teachers, which are the ordinary. How come the

(a) Ut autem intelligeremus hanc fummam poteftatem collatam Apofolis omnibus, ut legaris, non ut paftoribus ordinariis & cum quâdam fubjectione ad Petrum. Eelde Romano Pontifice lib.1.cap. 12.

Tables

Tables to be turned? and, the ordinary agent to be advanced above the extraordinary Ambaffadours? And what if all this be granted it fignifies nothing unleffe two things be fuperadded, of both which the Scriptures is wholly filent and their proofes failes them. 1. They must prove that this power of feeding is tranfmitted to Peters Succeffors in a more peculiar manner, then to the Succeffors of the other Apoftles, and that whatever power Peter had is depofited in their hand. 2. That the Pope. is this Succeffor to whom these things are concredited. And these they do not pretend to prove from Scripture. So that ftill the conclufion remaines intire. That the Scripture is not to the Papifts a folid and fure ground of Faith,

§. 11. A third place alwayes in their mouthes Luke 22. 31. Simon, Simon, Satan hath defired to winnow yon, but I have prayed that thy faith faile not. A man would not believe if he did not fee it with his owne eyes that fuch Learned men as diverfe of the papifts are, fhould put any confidence in fuch broken reeds and fhatter'd Arguments as this is. Truly faith a Learned man, Hoc non eft difputare fed fomniare: This is rather a dreame, then an Argument: What thoughts the Papiits have of our English Sectaries is fufficiently known;but I mult needs do them this right to profeffe, I do not know that Sect among us the Quakers excepted) fo abfurd and ime pertinent in the allegations ofcripture for their most irrational opinions as in fundry particulars and this especially) the Papifts are. But because they thall not complaine of us (as we do justly of them) that we rather condemne them then confure them, I fhall fhew the ridiculoufneffe of this allegation to their purpose.

1. If this Frayer fecure the Pope from unbeliefe and errour in judgement, it fecures him alfo from unbeliefe and Apoftacy in heart and life: But this prayer doth

not fecure the Pope from Apoftacy in heart and life. The Papifts generally confefs that feverall of their Popes were Apoftatici non Apoftolici, Apoft ates, not Apostolick perfons. All the doubt lies about the Major, which I prove thus; If this Prayer was put up for Peter. in the name and on the behalfe of his Succeffors as well as himfelfe (as the Papifts pretend it was though we denie it) then the fame thing for which Chrift prayes for Peter, Chrift prayes for it for his Succeffors alfo, and therefore if Chrift prayed that Peter might be kept from Apoftacy in beart and life as well as in opinion and judgment, then the Major is true, But Chrift prayed that Peter might be fo kept, which I thus proye. Chrifts prayer was the Antidote against the Devils malicious defigne, Satan hath defired to winnow you, but I have prayed &c. And confequently the plaifter must be as large as the fore: But the Devils defigne was not only to draw Peter to error in judgment, but alfo,yea principally to draw him to Apoftacy in heart and life. Ergo..

2 If notwithstanding this Prayer it was possible, that Peter himself might fall fo farre after Chrifts Prayer, as to teach a falle Doctrine; then this Prayer doth not prove the Popes Infallibility. But notwithstanding this Praier,it was poffible that Peter might fall fo far as to teach a falfe Doctrine, The Minor (which alone needs proof) I prove thus He that believed a falfDoctrine,might preach a falfe Doctrine; but Peter after this prayer did believe a falfe Doctrine which plainly apears from Acts 1.6 Wile then at this time reffore the Kingdome to Ifrael by which it is evident (& the Popish expofitours confeffe ic) that the Apoftles (and Peter with them)ftill retained the old leaven of the beliefe of a Temporall Monarchy of Christ upon earth, (a Doctrine which the Papifts themselves condemn in the Millenaries) Nor was this the onely mistake of Peter or the Apofties after that Prayer. And indeed

it was not Chrifts Prayer, but the gift of the Holy Ghost after his death which did fecure the Apoftles from error, and us from deceit, in following their Doctrines.

3. If Chrifts Prayer for the not failing of Peters faith render the Pope infallible, then St Pauls Prayer for the Theffalonians, I pray God your whole Spirit, Soul and Bady be preferved blamelele, unto the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, 1 Thef. 5. 23. and for the Phillippians,That they might abound in knowledge -and approve things that are excellent, that they might be fincere, and without offence, till the day of Christ, Phillip. 1 9. prove the infallibility, yea,the impeccability of the Theffolonians, and the Philippians. The eafon is this, because St Pauls Prayer being infallibly dictated by Gods Spirit,and made according to his Word, and in Chrifts name muít as furely be anfwered, as Chrifts Prayer was, for God who cannot lie hath promised to anfwer fuch Prayers.

4. If the Prayer of Chrift for the Perfeverance of Faith, makes him infallible for whom Chrift prayes, then all elect and perfevering believers are infallible. The confequence appeares thus, Because Chrift did pray, and doth intercede for the perfeverar ce of the Faith of every fuch perfon. Chrift, exprefly tels us, Joh. 17. I pray not for thefe alone, but for them alfo which shall believe on me through their word. And there is not one perfevering Chriftian in the World, but owes his perfeverance to the Prayer,care,and interceffion of Chrift: Hence they are faid to be preserved in Christ Jefus de 1.1. And therefore either this Argument concludes not for the Popes Infallibility, or elfe it gives him ten thoufand part ners in that priviledge. And furely, if the prayer for this mercy makes the Pope infallible, much more doth the actuall donation of this mercy make believers infallible.

5. This prayer was intended for the other Apofties, as well as Peter (though Chrift fpeak to Peter in the name

of the reft, as his manner was, as evidently appears from hence. Chrift prayes for those, whom the Devill defires to winnow. That is plain from the words, Satan hath defired to winnow you, but I have prayed- But the Devils aime was,not only against Peter, but the reft of the Apoftles, as Chrift expreffely tels us, nor not a thee, but

as you, in the plural number. And therefore it followes, that as the difeafe and danger was general and common to all the Apoftles, fo was that reliefe and fuccour, which Chrift here afforded, and confequently all the Apostles are interested in this promife,and therefore either it makes not the fucceffion of Peter infallible, or else it makes all the fucceffours of all the Apostles infallible, let them choose which they will.

6. And yet if all thofe difficulties be overcome, the Copclufion may be granted, without any advantage to their caufe. For, what if Chrift prayed for Peter alone? What if this prayer intended and procured infallibility for him? Quid hoc ad Iphicli boves? What is this to the Pope? What Scripture, what Father, what man (that is not wholly mancipated to the Popes ambitious humour) will fay or can prove that the Pope is interested in all the prayers of Chrift for Peter? Or why may not all the Succeffours of the other Apoftles upon as good grounds claime an intereit in that prayer of Chrift for the infallibility of all the Apostles, Job.17.(For fure I am thofe prayers of Chrift that God would keep them through his own name, v. 11. keep them from evill, v. 15. Sanctifie them through his truth,and keep them unto glory, v. 21,22, 23,24. do as fully imply infallibility as this that Peter's faith might not faile.) Or, ifI do grant,what they can. not prove,that Peter's fucceffors have this as their pecu. liar, get why fhould not this prayer preserve the chaire of Antioch as well as that of Rome from fallibility? And how can this prayer that his faith may not faile, be

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