It was not he that pronounced the conclusion of the Council, verse 13.

The message to the Gentiles was not sent by him, verse 22.

He shared the ecclesiastical charge with the Apostles, as their fellow and companion in the work of the Lord. Gal. 2: 9. "And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the Heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

St. Paul makes himself equal unto him in all things. Gal. 2:6. "Of those who seemed to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person: for they who seemed to be somewhat, in conference added nothing to me."

2 Cor. 11:5. "For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles." Then he was not behind St. Peter, neither as to order or doctrine, nor yet as to authority. For he says he was not a whit or in any thing behind the very chiefest Apostles.

St. Peter was sent in commission by the rest of the Apostles. Acts, 8:14. "When the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John." It would be now looked upon as most

prodigious impudence, if the Bishops should undertake to send the Pope out to preach.

St. Peter was made to render an account also of his charge. Acts, 11:2, 3. "And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them.”

He was publicly reproved by the Apostle St. Paul. Gal. 2:11. "When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face; because he was to be blamed."

And verse 14. "When I saw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, if thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" A bishop now-a-days would have but an untoward reception, that should take upon him to censure the Pope. For though he should lead innumerable people to the devil, yet nobody must presume to reprove him of it.

CHAPTER XV.

That the Pope is the Chief Priest, the Head, the Husband, and the foundation of the Church. Bellarm. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 2. cap. 31.

In the Holy Bible it is written. Heb. 5:4. “No man taketh this honour unto himself," (of being Priest,) "but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." But where is the call of the Pope to the chief Priesthood? Or where is it that Jesus Christ hath given him power to establish Priests, or to appoint any sacrificers of his body?

Eph. 1:22, 23. God “hath put all things under his feet," (of Jesus Christ,)" and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Note, that our Saviour Jesus Christ is not only compared to a political or civil head, but here, and in many other places, he is compared to a natural head; to teach us, that as in the body of man there is but one head, so also there is but one head in the Church, of which we are the members. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 1 Cor. 12: 12.

Eph. 5:23. "The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church; and

he is the Saviour of the body." Note, that in the business of marriage there ought to be no substitute; but now the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, in the very same manner as the husband is the head of the wife. Therefore he ought not upon this account to have a deputy or vicar. Moreover, observe, that forasmuch as the Apostle joins these in like manner together, his being the head and the Saviour; he that is not the Saviour of the Church then, cannot be the head.

John, 3:29. "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled." Observe the pride then of the Bishop of Rome, that calls himself the bridegroom. But he could not call himself the friend of the bridegroom, as St. John doth, seeing he persecutes him in his members, and tramples his doctrine under his feet.

1 Cor. 3:11. "For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Note, that the Apostle saith, not only that Jesus is the foundation, but he also teacheth, that there cannot be any other. Certainly a lie ought to have its mouth stopped. For he could never speak here more expressly than he doth.

CHAPTER XVI.

That Antichrist ought not to come till a little before the end of the World. Bellarm. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 3. cap. 3.

In the Holy Bible it is written, 2 Thes. 2: 7,8. "The mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let" (the Apostle speaks of the Roman Empire, in the judgment of the most famous Doctors of the Church of Rome) "until he be taken out of the way; and then shall that wicked be revealed." Note, that the mystery of iniquity wove itself in the very times of the Apostles; and therefore it must needs be revealed a long time ago, seeing there are many ages past since the ancient Roman Empire was taken away.

1 John, 2:18. "Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." Note, that in the time of St. John there were many Antichrists, which prepared the way to the great Antichrist. So that if he be not come yet, he follows after his forerunners at a very great distance.

Chap. 4:3. "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ve have