Vermigli On History and Authority

The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth only insofar as it upholds the Word of God, preaches it, retains it, bears witness with it, defends it, and maintains it. Nor is the Word heard without the Church. But the Chruch is not authorized and empowered by the Word when the Church errs or falls. When it speaks according to the Word of God, it does not and cannot err; but going beyond this Word– whether by pronouncement or practice– it not only may err but is surely in error. They also (please God!) attribute infallibility to the popes in matters of faith, to use their terms. Yet it cannot be denied that John XXI erred in a most shameful way when he declared that the souls of men perished with their bodies or (as some would soften his views) sleep until they are raised with their bodies at the last day. Although the pope erred so shamefully and disgracefully, neither bishops nor cardinals, who are supposed to represent the Church, challenged him. When the University of Paris did object (1333), and informed the king of France regarding this error, he forbade any of his people to have contact with the pope until he showed penitence. This led the pope to recant…

…But they pick flowers selectively, culling only what they think will support their claim to power, honor, and domination. They strive to shake the faithful loose from their adherence to the Word of God so that instead of trusting God they believe popes and councils. How different was the attitude of Augustine to Maximus, bishop of Arians. Debating with him, he said: “You may not quote to me the council of Rimini, nor will I quote to you that of Nicaea, since I am not bound to that one nor you to this one. But we must both face up to the Scriptures, which are common ground. Let matter contend with matter, cause with cause, and reason with reason.”

~ Peter Martyr Vermigli Schism and the True Church pg. 186, 187

Vermigli’s Appeal to Baptism

In debating the way in which Christ is present in the Lord’s Supper, Vermigli appeals to baptism as an example. I thought this was interesting because I’ve used this approach myself (prior to reading it in Vermigli), and it gives us some insight on Vermigli’s view of baptism:

Moreover, we see that in the sacrament of baptism the Holy Spirit and the remission of sins are conferred, yet we do not say that they lie concealed in the water. In fact we put on Christ, yet no one holds that the water is transubstantiated. [They say that] Christ is in the Eucharist in one way and in baptism in another; I do not deny it, so long as they agree to his presence in baptism. As to the mode, I confess that in baptism Christ is given to us as mediator, reconciler; to speak more properly, as regenerator. Here [the Eucharist] he is given to us truly as food and nourishment.

~ Peter Martyr Vermigli The Oxford Treatise and Disputation pg. 35