第72章

Inthefourthbook，toprovethePopetobethesupremejudgeinallquestionsoffaithandmanners，whichisasmuchastobetheabsolutemonarchofallChristiansintheworld，hebringeththreepropositions：thefirst，thathisjudgementsareinfallible；thesecond，thathecanmakeverylaws，andpunishthosethatobservethemnot；thethird，thatourSaviourconferredalljurisdictionecclesiasticalonthePopeofRome。

Fortheinfallibilityofhisjudgements，heallegeththeScriptures：

thefirst，thatofLuke，22。31，“Simon，Simon，Satanhathdesiredyouthathemaysiftyouaswheat；butIhaveprayedforthee，thatthyfaithfailnot；andwhenthouartconverted，strengthenthybrethren。“

This，accordingtoBellarmine’sexposition，isthatChristgaveheretoSimonPetertwoprivileges：one，thatneitherhisfaithshouldfail，northefaithofanyofhissuccessors；theother，thatneitherhenoranyofhissuccessorsshouldeverdefineanypointconcerningfaithormannerserroneously，orcontrarytothedefinitionofaformerPope：whichisastrangeandverymuchstrainedinterpretation。ButhethatwithattentionreadeththatchaptershallfindthereisnoplaceinthewholeScripturethatmakethmoreagainstthePope’sauthoritythanthisveryplace。Thepriestsandscribes，seekingtokillourSaviouratthePassover，andJudaspossessedwitharesolutiontobetrayhim，andthedayofkillingthePassoverbeingcome，ourSaviourcelebratedthesamewithhisApostles，whichhesaid，tillthekingdomofGodwascomehewoulddonomore，andwithaltoldthemthatoneofthemwastobetrayhim。

Hereupontheyquestionedwhichofthemitshouldbe；andwithal，seeingthenextPassovertheirmasterwouldcelebrateshouldbewhenhewasking，enteredintoacontentionwhoshouldthenbethegreatestman。OurSaviourthereforetoldthemthatthekingsofthenationshaddominionovertheirsubjects，andarecalledbyanameinHebrewthatsignifiesbountiful；“butIcannotbesotoyou；youmustendeavourtoserveoneanother；Iordainyouakingdom，butitissuchasmyFatherhathordainedme；akingdomthatIamnowtopurchasewithmyblood，andnottopossesstillmysecondcoming；thenyeshalleatanddrinkatmytable，andsitonthrones，judgingthetwelvetribesofIsrael。“AndthenaddressinghimselftoSt。Peter，hesaith，“Simon，Simon，Satanseeks，bysuggestingapresentdomination，toweakenyourfaithofthefuture；butIhaveprayedforthee，thatthyfaithshallnotfail；thouthereforenotethis：beingconverted，andunderstandingmykingdomasofanotherworld，confirmthesamefaithinthybrethren。“TowhichSt。Peteranswered(asonethatnomoreexpectedanyauthorityinthisworld)，“Lord，Iamreadytogowiththee，notonlytoprison，buttodeath。“Wherebyitismanifest，St。Peterhadnotonlynojurisdictiongivenhiminthisworld，butachargetoteachalltheotherApostlesthattheyalsoshouldhavenone。AndfortheinfallibilityofSt。Peter’ssentencedefinitiveinmatteroffaith，thereisnomoretobeattributedtoitoutofthistextthanthatPetershouldcontinueinthebeliefofthispoint，namely，thatChristshouldcomeagainandpossessthekingdomatthedayofjudgement；whichwasnotgivenbythistexttoallhissuccessors；forweseetheyclaimitintheworldthatnowis。

ThesecondplaceisthatofMatthew16。18，“ThouartPeter，anduponthisrockIwillbuildmyChurch，andthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit。“Bywhich，asIhavealreadyshowninthischapter，isprovednomorethanthatthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainsttheconfessionofPeter，whichgaveoccasiontothatspeech；namelythis，thatJesusisChristtheSonofGod。

ThethirdtextisJohn，21。16，17，“Feedmysheep“