Mat. 7:22, 23. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out Devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Think of this, O ye Priests, that vaunt of your casting out devils in the name of Christ, whilst in the mean time ye fight against the doctrine of Jesus.

Mat. 24: 24, 25. "There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told you before." To put miracles at this day among the marks of good teachers, is as if one should say, that a burning fever were a mark of health; seeing that there should come false prophets, who should do great signs and miracles. But let them do so a thousand times over, that shall not be able to seduce us; for Jesus Christ has forewarned us thereof.

2 Thes. 2:8, 9.—“That wicked," viz. the son of perdition," whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders." Certainly this is not without a mystery, that the mystery of iniquity advances itself by lying wonders; and that the Church of Rome vaunts of her doing miracles. For this is the very mark and livery of the son of perdition.

Rev. 13: 13, 14." And he doeth great wonders,"

(viz. the beast that hath horns like a lamb,) " so that he maketh fire come down from Heaven on the earth in the sight of men; and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." Call to mind here the fire of St. Anthony, the Popes' thunderbolts, and all the false miracles of the Romish Church. And if you would see an abridgment, or short sum of these fine miracles, read a book entitled, "Flowers of Examples, or an Historical Catechism."

CHAPTER XIV.

That St. Peter had not only a Primacy of Orders, but also a Primacy of Dominion of Jurisdiction. Bellarm. de Rom. Pont. lib. 1. cap. 10, 11.

In the Holy Bible it is written, Mark, 10 : 42, 43, 44, 45. "Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles, exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give

his life a ransom for many." Our Saviour Jesus Christ could not discover his mind more clearly, that he would not have any primacy of dominion or jurisdiction among his disciples.

Matt. 19:28. "Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Note, that the Apostles here are represented sitting upon twelve thrones, to let us understand, that they were to have an equal authority.

Matt. 23: 8. "Be not ye called Rabbi," or Master, "For one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." A Bishop would be accounted out of his senses, that should call the Pope his brother, or companion in service. This would be enough to put him into the Inquisition.

Luke, 22: 24. "There was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." Note, that this dispute was but the evening before the passion of Jesus Christ, after those words were spoken, Matt. 16: 19. "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." If St. Peter had been established then the chief of the Apostles, there had never been this dispute among them, touching the primaey.

Luke, 22: 25, 26. "And he said unto them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,

but he

and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so; that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." Reader, note here are two things, 1. That upon this dispute about the primacy, our Saviour said not one word, that he had given it to Peter. 2. He forbids his Apostles, not only to exercise dominion as kings; but also as those kings that are called by the name of benefactors: for answer to them that say that Jesus Christ only forbad the exercising lordship and dominion, as wicked kings.

John, 20:22, 23. Jesus Christ "breathed on them, (his disciples,) and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." Note, that the power of binding and loosing, which was promised to St. Peter, Matt. 16: 19, is here given to all the disciples indifferently.

Eph. 2:20. "And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Note, that the Prophets and Apostles are here put in the same rank; to Jesus Christ alone belongs the pre-emi

nence.

Rev. 21:14. "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." You see here still

the twelve Apostles advanced to the very same degree of honor.

Note, that St. Peter put himself in the rank of the elders; that is to say, the pastors of his time; and does not in the least attribute to himself any manner of domination. 1 Pet. 5: 1, 2, 3. "The

elders which were among you, I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Consider, reader, how much this humility of St. Peter is contrary to the pride of Pope Martin the Fifth, who, sending one of his Nuncios, gives himself these proud and sacrilegious titles, The most holy and the most blessed, who had the ecclesiastical power, who was lord on earth, the successor of St. Peter, the Christ of the Lord, the Lord of the Universe, the Father of Kings, the Light of the World, the Chief Priest. You will find this word for word in the Council of Sienna.

St. Peter is not always named in the first place. As Mark, 16: 17. John, 1: 44. 1 Cor. 1: 12. and Gal. 2: 9.

He spake not first in the Council of Jerusalem; but there had been already a great dispute before he began his discourse. Acts, 15: 7.