Wesley Corpus

3, 4.) But there is neither in Scripture nor antiquity any evidence for a visible head, and much less for the visible head, the Pope; and, least of all, that it is necessary to salvation to be subject to him. If it is necessary to salvation to be subject to him, it is necessary to know who is the Pope; but that the world hath often been divided about, when there were sometimes three, and for about forty years together two, Popes.--Wide Theod. Niem. de Schism. Univers. Q. 2. How comes subjection to the Pope to be necessary to salvation, and an essential note of the Church? A. Because the Pope is Christ's Vicar, St. Peter's successor, (Concil. Trid. Sess. 6; Decret. de Reform. cap. 1; Bulla Pii IV, sup. Form. Juram.,) and hath the supreme power on earth over the whole Church. (Con. Trid. Sess. 14, c. 7.) “The Church is called one, as it has one invisible Head,-- Christ; and one visible, who doth possess the chair at Rome, as the lawful successor of St. Peter, prince of the Apostles.” (Catech. Rom. par. 1, c. 10, n. 11.) REPLY. If Christ gave no such power to St. Peter, or the Pope be not St. Peter's successor, then the Pope has no pretence to this power. Now, we read that “Christ gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, for the work of the ministry and the edifying the body.” (Eph. iv. 11, 12.) But that he gave one Apostle pre-eminence above the rest, much less absolute power over them, we read not. This power they were forbidden to attempt or desire; (Matt. xx. 26;) and St. Paul was so far from acknowledging it, that he challenged an equality with the rest of the Apostles, (Gal. i. 15, 17,) and, upon occasion, withstood St. Peter. (Gal. ii. 11.) To this we may add the judgment of St. Cyprian: “The other Apostles are the same St. Peter was, endowed with an equal fellowship of honour and power.” (Epist. de Unit. Eccles.) Q. 3. What authority doth the Church of Rome challenge? A. She declares that she is the mother and mistress of all Churches; (Concil. Later. 4, can. 2; Concil. Trid. Sess. 7; De Bapt. can. 3, &c.;) and that to believe her so to be is necessary to salvation. (Bulla Pii IV, super. Form.