chief Priests and lesser Priests Vestals Salii distinguishing and limiting all their respective Offices Jurisdictions habits by special Laws recorded by Dionysius Halicarnasseus Plutarch Livy and others Yea Godwin observes That it was A CUSTOME among the Graecians as likewise afterwards among the Romans THAT THEIR KINGS SHOULD PERFORM AS WELL THE CEREMONIES AND HOLY RITES OF RELIGION as Civil businesses being BOTH KINGS AND PRIESTS till Numa perceiving that foreign wars did often occasion the Kings absence whereby the service of the Gods was neglected thereupon ordained several Orders of Priests as their Vicars generals or Curates to discharge their priestly function Yet after this institution their Consuls Censors and some of their Pagan Emperors as Tiberius Veâ—â—atian Trajan were created PONTIFEX MAXIMUS their Highest Priest or POPE and managed the Supream Civil and Pontifical affairs and that by election of the Senate and the people only without the Priests as Alexander ab Alexandro and the Roman Histories record I shall close this Chapter with that of the Roman Historian PRINCIPIO RERUM GENTIUMque IMPERIUM PENES REGES ERAT populus nullis legibus tenebatur arbitria Principum pro legibus erant and that as well in all Sacred Religious as Civil and Military affairs BOOK I. CHAP. II. 2. My Second Proposition is That God after the Israelites deliverance from the Egyptian bondage when he first new modelled them into a Commonwealth and afterwards into a Kingdom setled their State and Church government and divided the Priesthood from the Supream Civil Magistracy and Kingship vesting the one in Moses Josuah David Solomon and their Royal Successors the other in Aaron his Sons and the Tribe of Levi did even then leave the Soveraign Ecclesiastical Power and Jurisdiction over all persons and causes still annexed to and residing in the Supream Civil Magistratical Office and Officers transferring only the Ministerial Priestly Offices to the Priests not the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction being not different in kind from but the very same with the Civil varyed only by the Object not Subject of it THis I shall evidence as clear as the noon-day Sunne 1. By Ten memorable particulars recorded in Sacred History concerning Moses the first Supream Temporal Governor in the Israelites Commonwealth demonstrating his Soveraign Jurisdiction in all Sacred Religious Church affairs 1. God himself by the Ministry of Moses not Aaron instituted described celebrated the feast and Sacrament of the Passeover and sanctified all the firstborn of the children of Israel unto God and was to Aaron INSTEAD OF GOD Exod. 4. 16. 2ly Moses not Aaron penned and prescribed that memorable Song of Praise which all the Israelites sang unto the Lord immediately after their deliverance out of Egypt and drowning of the Egyptians â—n the Red Sea 3dly Moses not Aaron gave them instructions concerning the gathering and for reserving of an Omer of Manna to be kept before the Lord as a Type of Christ the true Manna 4ly God himself immediately appeared unto Moses in Mount Sinai and by his Mouth and Ministry alone not Aarons delivered the first Covenant and the Moral Ceremonial and Iudicial Law unto his people Israel the only rule of their Worship Obedience Government Sacred and Civil 5ly That when Moses Aaron Nadab Abihu and seventy of the Elders were afterwards called up into Mount Sinai by God Moses alone was called to come near to God and Aaron left behind That Moses alone wrote all the words of the Lord built an Altar for the 12 Tribes of Israel read the Book of the Covenant to them sprinkled the blood of the Covenant both on the Altar Book all the people received the Tables of stone and Law written therein by God himself and the pattern of the Tabernacle Mercy-seat Altar and all the furniture and utensils thereof the garments of Aaron and the Priests the manner and ceremonies of their respective Consecrations and all the oblations sacrifices and parts of Gods worship to be therein performed both by the Priests and people from God Hence it is specially recorded both in the Old Testament and New That these precepts concerning the Sanctuary of God Let them make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell amongst them according to all that I shew thee after the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of the instruments thereof even so shall ye make it And look that thou make them after the pattern which was shewed thee in the Mount were given only to Moses the Chief Temporal Magistrate Not to Aaron nor the Priests or Levites who alone directed all things to be made accordingly And when all the work of the Tabernacle with the Curtains and the Priests Garments were finished by the Workmen Moses not Aaron survayed and looked upon all the work and behold they had done it as the Lord commanded even so had they done it and Moses not Aaron blessed them 6ly After all the work was thus finished Moses not Aaron was particularly commanded to rear up the Tabernacle with all its furniture and to anoint and consecrate them unto God 7ly Which is most observable Aaron and his Sonnes did not anoint Moses to be the Supream Civil Magistrate but on the contrary God by Moses not only prescribed all the spiritual Offices duties qualifications vestments wives marriages maintenance and appurtenances belonging to Aaron and his sons but also specially designed and commanded Moses to anoint and consecrate them to their Priesthood recorded in these words Exod. 40. 12 to 17. And the Lord spake unto Moses saying THOV shalt bring Aaron and his sonnes to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and wash them with water and THOU shalt put upon Aaron the holy Garments and anoint him and sanctifie him that he may Minister unto me in the Priests Office And Thou shalt bring his Sonnes and cloath them with coats and Thou shalt anoint them as Thou didst their Father that they may Minister unto me in the Priests Office For their anointing shall surely be an everlasting Priesthood throughout their generations Thus did Moses according to all that the Lord commanded him so did he So Moses finished the Work without Aarons or his Sonnes assistance Never did Aaron nor his Sons consecrate or anoint any part of the Tabernacle Ark or utensils thereof their own garments oyntment nor any one High Priest or Levite of their Tribe but Moses the Supreame Temporal Magistrate only by Gods own special command whose consecration alone for ever sanctified all their Successors to the High Priests and Priests respective offices which I desire all Popes and Romish Prelates who now appropriate all consecrations whatsoever of persons or things to themselves alone by a pretended Divine right excluding the Civil Magistrate seriously to consider and from thence argue a superiority over Kings Emperors as well as Priests and exact Canonical obedience from them 8ly When Aaron the
High Priest during Moses his absence in the Mount had at the peoples request made erected a golden calf who committed idolatry with it Moses calls him to a strict account for it to whom he made an excuse with this memorable preface Let not the anger of MY LORD wax hot which stile he likewise gave him Nu. 12 11. Yea Moses not he Pronounced the Judgment and punishment upon the people for this Sin of Idolatry as likewise on him that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day the manner of whose punishment he inquired not Aaron and received from God 9ly When the Tables of stone formerly broken were renewed redelivered by God to the people it was alwayes done even after Aarons consecration by the hand mouth ministry of Moses who with his own mouth alwayes spake and delivered Gods Laws Messages to all the Congregation Elders people during all his Government and gave them a special charge of things future and a blessing at his death 10thly God made choice of Moses a Lay-man and Civil Magistrate to be the firâ—â— pâ—â—man and Register of all his sacred Laws and first Five Books of holy Scripture not Aaron or any other Priest And to shew that Kings and Temporal Magistrates were the principal keepers of both Tables God particularly enjoyned when the Israelites came into the Land of Canaan and had set a King over them that the King when he sate upon the Throne of his Kingdom shall write him a Copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites that it may be well with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to â—o them That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandement to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his kingdom he and his children in the midst of Israel All which particulars laid together relating to and acted by the very first Supream Civil Magistrat that God himself set up over his own peculiar people Church when he first instituted modelled both their Magistrates and Priests with their distinct Offices and powers will infallibly clear the Superiour Jurisdiction of the Supream Civil Magistrate in and over all Ecclesiastical persons and causes by Gods own institution and that the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is united to the Temporal The reason why God reserved the Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to Moses the Chief Civil Magistrate and afterwards to Kings when he transferred the Priesthood to Aaron and his Sons and severed it from the Kingship was because it would be inconsistent with Monarchie and the Peace Unitie of the Republike Kingdom Church to erect two distinct Supream Powers independent on unsubordinate to each other in one and the same Body Politick Nation Kingdom united under one Supream Civil Head and a Cause of perpetual Wars Schismes Contentions between these different powers by reason of mens Natural ambition and desire to enlarge their Juriisdictions to the prejudice of each other This we find experimentally verified in the Israelites themselves immediatly upon their division into two independent kings kingdoms of equal power unsubordinate to each other which produced not only perpetual Warres between them all their dayes in their Realms as sacred Story oft records but a more sad division in their Religion Worship Church Jeroboam erecting two Calves and a new idolatrous worship with suitable Priests to promote it and a new place of worship contrary to that prescribed by God himself to keep his Subjects from Gods true worship at Jerusalem and returning to their allegiance and obedience to their rightfull Kings of the seed of David which all his Successors persevered in till their final captivity and utter desolation for their idolatry And it is infallibly evidenced by the manifold sad Divisions Schismes Wars Rebellions in most Christian Empires kingdoms ever since the ambitious Popes of Rome and other Prelates have claimed by a pretended divine independent right and usurped to themselves the Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over all Persons Causes inseparably united by God himself to the Crowns of Christian Emperonrs and Kings As God therefore out of his infinit Wisdom at the very Creation constituted but one natural head over every natural body of Men Beasts Fowls Fishes and creeping living creatures though they consisted of two different substances Soul and Body not two distinct heads the one corporal the other spiritual to govern each body because two Supream headâ— would have destroyed the unity harmony operations of these Creatures in their respective orbes and made a Schisme in their bodies So he at first united the Supream Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction over Men at the Creation in one person Adam the first sole Monarch of the World And afterwards when his Church and people multiplyed into such a vast dispersed multitude that one person could not possibly execute or discharge the Kingly and Priestly Offices as at first he conveniently might did whiles all united in one Tribe and Family so that there was an absolute necessity to divide them into several Hands Tribes God did even then reserve the Supream Ecclesiastical Government and Jurisdiction as absolutely necessary for inseparable from the Supream Civil Head and Governor of his people to prevent Schismes Confusions and preserve Unity Tranquillity both in Church and State not transferr it from Moses to Aaron the Church with all its Officers Members being included in branches of the Kingdom Republike not divided from it as a distinct independent spiritual corporation Therefore still to remain under the sole Government and protection of the Supream Politick Head This is most clearly and significantly expressed by Ezechiels uniting the two divided sticks into one rod in one hand typifying the uniting of the two divided Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah into one Kingdom Church PEOPLE under one King and Shepheard Jesus Christ and making them all but ONE in their Government and true Worship of God according to his Statutes Hence it is most apparent that the Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers Authorities or Jurisdictions are not thus denominated because they are vested in different persons hands or flow from various fountains or distinct in their natures as the Pontificians and others generally assert and mistake but meerly because they are exercised upon or about different things or objects the persons wherein they originally and supreamly reside and from whence they flow and the very Powers Authorities Jurisdictions themselves in their nature being but one and the same only the objects matters in upon or about which they are exercised various and distinct from whence they have these different Epithites To evidence this truth past all contradiction being the surest Oracle to resolve all future Controversies concerning these Jurisdictions yea keenest axe
came to Samuel complaining against them and peremptorily desired him o TO MAKE THEM A KING OVER THEM to judge them like all the Nations not a Priest being so weary of Priests supreme Government that they would never permit him nor his sons to judge and govern them any longer and were never satisfied till they had a King which he made them by Gods direct on and Election much against his own will 5ly All the Priestly Offices and Jurisdiction he used towards them and Saul was but to pray without ceasing for them giving them good instructions and reprehending them for their sins telling them But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both you and your King his declaring Saul King by Gods election and the people 's doubled peremptory demand of a King and approbation of Saul when presented to them and his anointing David when a privat person with oyl King after Sauls rejection by God they were only Acts of Ministry not of Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the High Priest above the King as I shall prove in its due place more largely in the cloze of this Chapter 4ly When God setled the Kingdom of Israel upon David and his posterity in performance of his promises to Abraham Sarah and Iacob that KINGS should come out of their loynes he translated the Supream Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Jurisdiction to them which they enjoyed exercised by Gods approbation not the high Priest Priests or Levites as the Scripture Annals attest 1. Davia a man after Gods own heart which fulfilled all his will not long after he was anointed King over Israel and Iudah assembled all the whole Congregation Priests Levites of Israel and went and removed the Ark of God from Gibeah with great triumph joy and shouting to the House of Obed-Edom and afterwards into the place tabernacle in the City of David which David had there chosen pitched for it and offered there burnt-offerings peace-offerings before the Lord and he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 2ly At the second removal of the Ark he assembled not only the Elders but the chief Priest and Levites informing them of their error in carrying the Ark in a cart at its first removal contrary to Moses command for which God made a breach upon them and that None ought to carry the Ark of the Lord but the Levites for them had the Lord chosen to carry the Ark of God and to minister unto him for ever For violating which precept Uzza was smitten to death before the Lord Hereupon David commanded the Priests and Levites to sanctify themselves to bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel upon their shoulders as Moses commanded and to appoint Singers with instruments of musick and lifting up their voices to sing before it when they removed it to the City of David which command they punctually obeyed 3ly He appointed ordained certain of the Priests and Levits to minister by turns before the Ark of the Lord and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel continually prescribing them what instruments of musick they should use what Psalms and Praises they should sing most or all of them compiled by himself what burnt-offerings they should offer upon the altar of the Lord morning and eveing continually according to the Law of the Lord and to minister before the Ark continually as every dayes work required And appointed others of the Priests and Levites to minister continually in like manner before the Tabernacle of the Lord that was in the high place at Gibeon 4ly He purposed contrived propounded to Nathan and ordained the building of a standing House and Temple instead of a moving Tabernacle and Tent for the Ark and worship of God and intended himself to build it had not God inhibited him because he was a man of Warre and had shed much blood and appointed Solomon his Son and successor to build it he provided all sorts of materials for the building and exhorted all the Princes and Elders of the people to a liberal contribution towards it 5ly The Angel of the Lord commanded David to go and set up an Altar to the Lord in the threshing-floor of Ornan who accordingly went up at the saying of the Lord and build there an Altar and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings and called upon the Lord who answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering 6ly When he was old and had made Solomon King he gathered together all the Princes Priests and Levites and when he had numbred the Priests and Levites he appointed them their several Courses Services Offices Duties they should perform before the Lord from time to time as well before as after the Temple was built all which he set down in writing 7ly He as Moses assembled all the Princes of Israel and before all the Congregation in the audience of God gave Solomon them charge to serve and fear God and build the Temple Which done he gave to Solomon the pattern of the Temple and of the Houses thereof and of the Treasures thereof and of the upper chambers thereof and of the inner parlours thereof and of the Mercy-seat and the pattern of all that he had BY THE SPIRIT of the courts of the House of the Lord and of all the chambers round about of the Treasuries of the house of God and of the dedicated things AND FOR THE COURSES OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES and for all the work of the Service of the House of the Lord and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord. And David said unto Solomon Be strong and of a good courage and do it fear not nor be dismayed for the Lord God even my God will be with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee untill thou hast finished all the work for the service of the House of the Lord And BEHOLD THE COURSES OF THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES FOR ALL THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD and there shall be with thee for all manner of wâ—rkmanship every willing skilfull man for any manner of service and ALL THE PEOPLE WILL BE WHOLLY AT THY COMMAND 7ly David as King not the Priests compiled all or most of the Psalms and Prayers afterwards sung or used in the Temple recorded in the Books of Samuel the Chronicles and compiled together her in the Book of Psalms continually read sung used not only in the Temple and elsewhere by the Jewish but in all Christian Churches generally and more frequently read sung commented upon then any other Book of Canonical Scripture By all which memorable particulars and command to the Priests to annoint Solomon King it is most evident that the whole Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over persons causes things relating to Gods Worship remained intirely in David as King and no part of it in the Priests 5ly King Solomon his Sonne succeeding David
by his Supream Ecclesiastical power First built and finished the Temple according to King Davids modell and then commanded all the Elders and Princes of Israel with the Priests and Levites to carry the Ark and place it in the Temple 2ly The King not the Priests or Levites though all present dedicated and consecrated the Temple with a most Divine heavenly from of Prayer answered and approved by God in sending down fire from heaven which consumed the burnt-offerings and sacrifices and filled the House with his glory so that the Priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lords House 3ly He also hallowed the middle of the outward Court by offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings there 4ly He appointed all burnt-offerings to the Lord after a certain rate every day according to the commandement of Moses on the Sabbath and on the New Moons and on the solemn Feasts of unleavened bread of Weeks and of Tabernacles 5ly He assembled all the Priests and Levites to Jerusalem at the Temples Dedication not in their courses But that solemnity ended He as King appointed according to the order of David his Father THE COURSES OF THE PRIESTS TO THEIR SERVICE AND THE LEVITES TO THEIR CHARGES to praise and minister before the Lord as the duty of every day required Porters also by their courses for every gate FOR SO HAD DAVID the man of God COMMANDED And THEY DEPARTED NOT FROM THE COMMANDEMENT OF THE KING VNTO THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES CONCERNING ANY MATTER or concerning the Treasures Here is Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction vested in and exercised by this King in and over all Ecclesiastical persons matters and exact canonical obedience yielded to King Davids and King Solomons Canons not to the High Priests Priests or Levites who had then no power to make or impose such Canons or Injunctions as Popes and Popish Prelates now doe without any Scripture president for their warrant 6ly This King was the inspired penman of three whole Books of Canonical Scripture the Proverbs Solomons Song and Ecclesiastes but no Priest or Levite we read of either in his or his Father Davids reign 7ly He as King thrust out Abiathar FROM BEING PRIEST TO THE LORD banished him from Jerusalem and might have put him to death for his Treason in crowning Adonijah King but saved his life for this reason because he had born the Ark of the Lord God before David his Father and been afflicted with him in all his afflictions and put Zadoc the Priest in his room Here is Regal Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction exercised over the High Priests themselves 6ly King Asa as King First took away the Altars of the strange Gods and the High-places and brake down the Images and cut down the groves through all the Cities of Judah and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of their Fathers and to do the Law and the Commandements and afterward did the like in Benjamin and the cities he had taken from Mount Ephraim 2ly He renewed the Altar of the Lord which was before the porch and gathered all Judah Ephraim Benjamin and others to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices of the spoils they had taken unto God which done He as King made them enter into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers with all their heart and with all their soul that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether man or woman and they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice and with shoutings with trumpets and with cornets and all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had sworn with all their heart 3ly He removed Maachah his mother from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a Grove and burned her Idol at the brook Kidron 4ly He brought into the house of the Lord all the things gold silver vessels himself and his Father had dedicated All evidences acts of his Soveraign Spiritual Jurisdiction 4ly King Johoshaphat his Sonne 1. commanded the Levites accompanyed with some Princes to oversesee encourage assist them to go and teach Gods Law to all the people throughout all the Cities of Judah and to carry the Book of the Law with them which they did accordingly 2ly He went out again the second time through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord God of their Fathers 3ly He appointed not only Temporal Judges City by City through all Judah but likewise Judges Delegates at Jerusalem in cases of appeals between blend and bloud Law and Commandement Statute and Judgements wherein he joyned some of the Levites Priests and chief Fathers of Israel and Amaziah the chief Priest in all matters of and judgements for the Lord as his subordinate Judges receiving their Commissions from him and gave them an Excellent admonition how to judge proceed uprightly 4ly He proclaimed a solemn Fast throughout all Judah to come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord for help against a great host of invading Enemies where he nor the Priests stood in the Congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of the Lord before the Court and made a most pertinent effectual Prayer to God which God answered with a miraculous victory causing his enemies to destroy one another without fighting them and giving his Army all the spoil For which victory he commanded them to return to Jerusalem to give publike thanks to God 5ly King Jehoash commanded the Priests to repair all the breaches of the Lords House with the moneys and the dedicated things brought into it and called for and reprehended Jehoiada the High Priest and the other Priests for their negligence in not repairing them as he commanded whereupon they received no more money and repaired the House 6ly King Hezekiah by his Regal power 1. Opened the doors of the House of the Lord which had been shut up by his idolatrous Predecessors and repaired them gathered the Priests and Levites together brought them into the Lords house commanded them to sanctify themselves and then the house by carrying all the filth out of the holy place and cleansing the holy vessels Then made a second exhortation to them and strictly commanded them diligently to discharge their respective duties without ceasing All which they executed according to the Command of the King in the Businesse of the Lord. 2ly He afterwards commanded the Priests to offer burnt sacrifices and the Levites to praise God in the Temple according to the Commandement of David And He set all the services of the House of God in Order Moreover the KING and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and they sang praises with gladnesse 3ly This King taking counsel with his Princes and the Congregation at Jerusalem made a Decree sent forth a solemn Proclamation inviting
objects about which they are exercised not in their original subject or power it self Before I proceed to the next Proposition it will be necessary to answer 4. principal Arguments Presidents out of the Old Testament before and under the Law produced by Popes and their Parasites to evidence their pretended Universal Spiritual and Temporal Jurisdiction too over the Persons Crowns Kingdoms of all Kings Princes and the Emperor himself to dispose of them at their absolute Wills as derived only from and held under them which my Chronological Method confines me here to propound and answer in their order The first is that alleged by Pope Innocent the 3d. the first Pope who interdicted the Realm of England Excommunicated King John and by force and frauds induced him to resign his Kingdoms of England and Ireland to and resume them from him under an Annual rent and to do Homage to him for them as his Vassal This Pope in an Epistle to the Emperour of Constantinople useth this Argument before Adams creation to maintain his Temporal Monarchy Moreover you ought to know that God hath made two great Lights in the firmament of heaven the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night both of them great but the other greater Ad firmamentum igitur Coeli hoc est Universalis Ecclesiae fecit Deus duo magna luminaria c. Therefore God hath made two great lights to rule the firmament of heaven to wit of the Universal Church that is he hath instituted TWO DIGNITIES quae sunt Pontificalis authoritas Regalis potestas which are The Pontifical Authority and the Regal Power But that which ruleth in the day that is in Spiritual things major est is the Greater but that which in carnal things minor is the Lesser ut quanta est inter Solem Lunam tanta inter Pontifices Reges differentia cognoscatur mark it that it might be known there is as great a difference between Popes and Kings as there is betweeen the Sunne and Moon How great this difference is this Pope defines not But some illiterate Canonists and Glossers on this Text not well versed in Astronomy resolve the Sunne to be 47. times greater then the Moon whereas Johannes Clavius and other Astronomers determine it to be no lesse then 6529. degrees greater then it and by consequence the Pope to be so many degrees greater then the Emperor by this Popes Resolution in his over-erring chaire He subjoyns If his Imperial Highnesse would prudently consider these things he would not make or permit the Patriarch of Constantinople a great and honourable Member of the Church to sit on the left side near his Footstool when as other Kings and Princes sicut debent AS THEY OUGHT reverently rise up to and assign them a venerable Chair next them on their right hand Nos autem etsi non increpando scripserimus potuissemus tamen rationabiliter increpare Mauritius de Alzedo a Spanish Doctor of the Canon Law in his highly approved and applauded Book De Praecellentia Episcopalis dignitatis concludes from this Popes Text That there is as vast a difference between the Episcopal and Regal dignity not Papal only as there is between the Sun and Moon quoting many Canonists Divines Politians and Cardinal Bellarmin himself in his Apologia pro Responsione ad JACOBUM REGEM ANGLIAE averring it Yet Pope Sixtus the 5. was so angry with Bellarmin for not asserting the direct but oblique dominion of Popes over Kings in all Temporal things in this Apology that he purposed to have burnt and totally abolished this his Book AS HERETICAL And that upon reading of Alex Carerius his Book purposely written against Bellarmins Adversus Impios Politicos Haereticos hujus Temporis branding all for impious Hereticks who denyed the Popes direct Universal Dominion in Temporal things though they acknowledged it obliquely in-order to and absolutely in all Spiritual things In this applauded Book Carerius asserts There is that proportion between the Pope and the Emperor as is between the Sun and Moon not only in Magnitude but Splendor too For as the Sun is far more excellent and eminent then the Moon seeing she borrows her splendor and light of the Sun SO IS THE POPE THEN THE EMPEROUR seeing his Authority depends on the Pope and is derived from him Our own Thomas Waldensis alluding thereunto professedly asserts against Wickliffs defence of our Kings Supream Jurisdiction over Priests and Prelâ—tes That Priests as well as Bishops ARE TO BE PREFERRED BEFORE ALL OTHER EARTHLY PRINCES WHATSOEVER and the Priesthood before the Kingship as far as the Flesh before the Spirit Gold before Lead the Soul before the body and Heaven BEFORE EARTH in proof whereof he spends two whole Chapters and Alvarus Pelagius above forty Articles To all which I answer 1. That God created the Sunne to Govern the day and the Moon the night by a direct divine inviolable and irrevocable Institution observed from the Creation till now when Pope Innocent and his flatterers can produce any such divine Law and constitution made either by God at the creation or by Moses for the Jews High Priests Supremacy or by Kings Princes or Christ himself under the Gospel to convince any rational Christian that Popes and Prelates are the sole Universal Governours in the Church but Kings and Emperours only in the World That Popes or Bishops were ever typified by the Sunne and Moon the Church and Earthly kingdoms by Day and Night That there is as vast a difference between the Amplitude of Jurisdiction and Splendor of Popes Bishops Kings and Emperours as is between the Grandeur and Brightnesse of the Sunne and Moon That Kings and Emperours derive all their Regal Authority Crowns Kingdoms Splendor Excellency in the world from Popes Miters or Bishops Crosiers not God himself as the Old and New Testament Paul and Peter the first pretended Bishop of Rome it self dogmatically resolve as the Moon borrows her light and splendor from the Sunne as some assert but others rationally deny being both made at once by God on the fourth day two days before Adam the first man was created and some thousands of years before Popes Prelates the Grecian or Roman Emperours were extant in the world and so could not typifie either of them as these Pontificians dream Or when they can evidence that God hath constituted Popes to rule govern and give light to the whole World by day only and to the Emperour alone not Pope by night as the Sunne and Moon govern alternis vicibus without encroaching on one the others turns when as Popes Prelates usurp the Temporal Rights of all Emperors Kings as well as Ecclesiastical all the year long I shall then subscribe these Popes and Doctors conclusions as Catholick verities whereas yet I cannot but conclude them strong Antichristian delusions lyes which few sober men will
maliciously brand them I shall now proceed to evidence the truth of my forecited Proposition which will for ever dissipate and overturn these their presumptuous groundlesse Claims and Titles to their forecited temporal and spiritual Universal Soveraignty The first Part thereof That Jesus Christ as Supream King Lord Head of his kingdom the Church whiles on earth never claimed nor exercised any Temporal Regal Jurisdiction over Kings or other Civil Magistrates or their Subjects much lesse deprived them of their Crowns Kingdoms Prerogatives nor ever gave unto St. Peter or to any other Apostle the least Dominion over them especially such as Popes now claim but both he and they submitted themselves to and ratified asserted not invaded their Supremacy and Regal Power in the highest degree I shall thus invincibly demonstrate 1. Jesus Christ himself though as many assert he had a temporal right to the temporal Crown and Kingdom of the Jews as right heir thereto of the seed of King David and therefore was thus inquired after by the Wise men Where is He that is Born King of the Iews Yet it is observable First That he never claimed nor seised on his earthly Kingdom then usurped by King Herod who sought to murder him to secure himself against Christs Title nor ever exercised the least Temporal Royal Jurisdiction therein 2ly That on the contrary when he perceived the people would come and take and make him KING by force he departed from them into a Mountain alone to prevent their designs 3ly That When he was arraigned before Pilate and accused as an Enemy to Caesar because he made himself A KING He twice openly professed in one breath My Kingdom is not of this World If my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered unto the Jews But now is my kingdom not from hence And in his prayer to his Father for his Disciples a little before his passion he said They are not of the world even as I am not of the world Therefore doubtlesse since he neither challenged nor exercised any Temporal dominion as a King in his own proper Kingdom of Iudea much lesse took he away the Diadems Crowns Realms Soveraignty of any other Kings Princes nor exercised any Regal Jurisdiction in them This the antient Christian Poet Prudentius professed in his Hymn of Christ sung in the very Church of Rome till this day where he thus expostulates with Herod for fearing Christ would deprive him of his crown and murdering the innocent children upon that very account Herodes hostis impiè Christum venire quid times NON ERIPIT MORTALIA QUI REGNA DAT COELESTIA Why wicked Herod dost thou fear And at Christs comming frown The Mortal he takes not away That gives the Heavenly crown Which Claudian an antient Author in his Collectanea upon Matthew thus elegantly seconds That KING which is born doth not come to overcome Kings by fighting but to subdue them after a wonderfull manner by dying neither is he born to the end that he may suceed thee but that the World may faithfully believe in him For he is come not that he may fight being alive but that he may triumph being slain Nor that he may with Gold get an Army to himself out of other Nations but that he may shed his precious bloud for the saving of the Nations Vainly didst thou by envying fear him to be thy Successor whom by believing thou oughtest to seek as thy Saviour because if thou didst believe in him thou shouldest raign with him and as thou hast received a Temporal Kingdom from him thou shouldest also receive from him an Evelasting For the Kingdom of this Child is not of this World but by him it is that men do reign in this World He is the Wisdom of God which saith in the Proverbs By me Kings reign St. Augustin in his 115. Tract upon Iohn brings in Christ making this publike proclamation Audite ergo Judaei Gentes audi circumcisio audi pra putium audite omnia Regna terrena non impediam Dominationem vestram in hoc mundo Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo Nolite metuere metu vanissimo quo Herodes ille major cum Christus natus nunciaretur expavit tot infantes ut ad eum mors perveniret occidit timendo quam irascendo crudelior Regnum meum inquit non est de hoc mundo Quid vultis amplius Venite ad regnum quod non est de hoc mundo c. St. Ambrose in Luc l. 3. St. Hilary in Psal 2. Epiphanius Haeres 29. Eusebius lib 7. De Demonstration Evangelica St. Hierom in Jeremiam cap 22. Tom 5. St. Chrysostom Homil 82. in Johann Cyrillus Alexandrinus lib 12. in Johan c. 10. Fulgentius in Sermone de Epiphania Beda in cap. 11 Lucae Bernard Homil 4. Super missus est Luc. 1. with all other Fathers of the Church positively affirm That Christ neither claimed enjoyed nor exercised any temporal Kingdom or Dominion upon earth Which our Thomas Waldensis though a great asserter of the Popes and Bishops Supremacy above and over Kings in spiritual things asserts at large and thence inferrs and largely proves these conclusions pointblank against the forecited Papal pretensions 1. Regia Potestas prima sua origine a Deo est non a Sacerdote 2. Quamquam ministerio Episcoporum Râ—gibus imponantur Coronae insignia conferantur non est propterea dicendum Regiam illam dignitatem ortum habere à Sacerdote 3. Reges fuerunt ante Sacerdotes ad regnum evecti 4. Dicentes quod radix potestatis terrenae in tantum dependet a Papa ut ex commissione ejus executio derivetur in Principem errante Principe potest Summus Sacerdos negotium illud temporale administrare decipiuntur 5. Regia Potestas cedit Sacerdotali ubi de rebus divinis agitur Sacerdotalis verò cedit Regiae in negotiis terrenis In fine Cardinal Bellarmin himself is enforced to professe That Christ as man whiles he lived upon earth had neither Temporal Dominion neither did nor would he exercise any such temporal power I have read saith he the Books of the Fathers with what diligence I could and I have often read them to deny Christ to have a Temporal or Earthly kingdom but I have no where read them to affirm that he had such a Kingdom 1. That Christ had a Vniversal Kingdom of power as he was God 2 A Spiritual kingdom of Grace and a third which is an eternal Kingdom of glory I do read but that he had a fourth kingdom which is properly temporal such as other Kings here upon earth have I find not either in the Scriptures or Fathers yea I esteem such a Kingdom to be contrary to the poverty of Christ mentioned in the Scriptures and to savour of the errours of the Jewes and Hereticks Alvarus Pelagius with other Popish Parasites endeavour to
Lord their God which brought them and their fathers out of the land of Egypt c. Whereupon all the people resolved and answered again and again The Lord our God will we serve and his voice will we obey and they made a statute ordinance and covenant before the Lord to perform it compared with Joshua 22. 11. to 34. 4ly By King Davids manifold exhortations and precepts to his Subjects to this purpose throughout the Psalms especially Psalm 34. 37. O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints Come ye children and hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Depart from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it dwell for evermore c. And by his charge to his son Solomon all his Princes Officers and Congregation of Isrel 1 Chron. 28. 9 10. Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord and in the audience of our God keep and search for all the commandements of the Lord your God that ye may posses this good land and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth the imagination of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou shalt forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Seconded with this his publike prayer to God for them 1 Chron. 29. 18 19 20. O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heart unto thee And give unto Solomon my Son an understanding heart to keep thy commandements thy testimonies and statutes and to do all these things and to build the house for which I have made provision Which ended David said to all the Congregation Now blesse the Lord your God And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers and bowâ—d down their heads and worshipped the Lord and the King 5ly By Ecclesiastes 1. 12 c. 12. 9 10 11. recording that Solomon King of Israel was also a Preacher and taught the people knowledge and that which was upright even words of truth for their everlasting welfare 6ly By 2 Chron. 15. 12. to 19. Where King Asa made the people to enter into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul and that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether great or small whether man or woman To omit all other particular examples of this nature already touched From these Texts it is apparent That the primary office duty end of Kings especially Christian is to promote the honour worship service fear love of God true religion eternal salvation of their Subjects souls and suppresse what ever is repugnant thereto 12ly That which was Gods principal end design in creating the World it self redeeming mankind by the bloud of Jesus Christ and the King of Kings giving both the Law and Gospel to men must certainly be Gods chief end design in instituting Kings Princes and Supream Civil Governors the eminentest chiefest of men to be his Viceroyes to rule over men of inferiour rank or quality and the most essential real considerable part of their Regal or Magistratical office duty Now Gods principal end and design in creating the world and men the Lords of all other Creatures redeeming mankind by the bloud of Christ and giving both the Law and Gospel to them was only this that all mankind might worship adore fear honor praise blesse obey love and glorify him according to his word and will whiles they live on earth that Jesus Christ might rule in and reign over them as his kingdom Church Saints and they might reign with and enjoy perpetual felicity in by under him in his heavenly kingdom for all eternity as the Scripture resolves Therefore it must necessarily be Gods chief end design in instituting Kings Princes and Supream Civil Magistrates the eminentest choicest of all men to rule over those of inferiour quality and the most essential real considerable part of their Regal or Magisterial office trust duty upon which Account among others God specially enjoyned the Kings of Israel to have a Copy of the Book of his Law alwayes in their custody and to read therein all the dayes of their lives the better to observe it themselves and to enjoyn all their subjects to observe obey and do nought against it yea God himself with greatest majesty enacted this Royal Law by King Davids own mouth for all Kings Rulers to square their Government by He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God which he can never do without taking special care to maintain promote the true Worship service fear love obedience of God according to his word among all his Subjects for Gods glory and their temporal and eternal felicity as David did 13ly This I shall evidence even from the very light of nature and practice among the Heathen Nations Plato in his Book De Regno asserts That the King hath Universae humanae Societatis curam that Regia cura ut quae principalis in omnes homines ars est consisting not only in this that Rex est humanus Curator but also Divinus Pastor over all his Subjects That the chief care of Religion Worship of the Gods and feeding of the people belongs to Kings they being a kind of Priests Quare in Egypto neque imperare licet Regi absque Sacerdotio Sed si quis ex alio genere per vim Regnum invasit postea tamen necesse est cum hoc genere initiari Quin et in multis locis apud Graecos Summis Magistratibus maxima sacrificia demandata esse quis compererit et sane etiam apud nos non minus clarum est quod dico Ei enim qui Rex sorte creatus est augustissima et maxima patria vetera sacrificia huic attributa esse tradunt Hos itaque sorte creatos Reges simulque Sacerdotes considerare convenit c. Aristotle his Scholar resolves us that in the heroical times Reges provinciam habebant bellorum et sacrorum nisi forte ad Sacerdotes attinerent Postea autem partim quidem ipsis Regibus omittendis partim vero populis recusantibus apud quasdam Civitates sacra solis Regibus relicta sunt Rex autem et Dux belli et Iuder erat rerum divinarum moderator And among the Romans themselves as their Historians and others relate their antient King and after that their Emperors were both Kings and Priests and had the chiefest hand in performing the Rites and Ceremonies of
fortissimae vestrae clementiae principatus virtutis quidem conatibus Rempublicam Christianam tuetur et restaurat in melius c. 4ly That this Universal Synod of Constantinople in their 10 Action caused Justinians Book against Hereticks to be publikely read as of far greater Authority then any of the Fathers there alleged Item relectum est in eodem Codicillo testimonium Iustiniani piissimi Imperatoris er libro contra Nestorianos et Acephalos Item relectum est ex eodem Codicillo testimonium eiusdem sanctae memoriae Iustiniani ex dogmatica Epistola ad Zoilum sanctissimum Patriarcham Alexandriae Quae duo testimonia collata sint similiter ad librum membranaceum qui est de bibliot hec a venerabilis hujus Patriarchae 5ly That Actio 14. the whole Council stiled him 4. or 5. times one after another Iustinianus quondam divinae et divae memoriae Imperator and his Empresse as often Theodora Divae memoriae in their examination of the forgeries inserted by some Hereticks into the Acts of this Council held under him 6ly That in their acclamations to Constantin they give him this Title as a badge of his greatest honour orthodoxy and piety Novo Iustiniano aeterna memoria which they oft repeated in several Letters 7ly That Actio 18 this whole 6th General Council in their Sermo acclamatorius to the Emperor Constantine there publiquely read gave this Encomium of him Post haec Justiniano piissimo c. And Canon 1. stile him Justinianus piae memoriae 8ly That Actio 18. the Emperor Constantine himself stiles him Justinianus Divinae memoriae in his Edict ratifying this Council 9ly That Mansuetus Bishop of Millain and the whole Synod of Bishops under him in their Epistle and Confession of faith sent to the Emperor Constantine and this General Council after their commendation of Constantine Theodosius magnus and Martianus praestantissimi Christianae religionis amatores who summoned the Councils of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcâ—don give this Character of Justinian Demptis his omnibus deincâ—ps Christianissimo Iustiniano Imp cuius cum nomine et opera micuerunt existentibus quibusdam qui sanctam Chalcedonensem Synoâ—um sub naevo offensionis rejicere inconsideratis vacibus jactitabant tunc a praefato Principe iterato in regia urbe Constantinop Concilio congregati sunt 160. reverendi Patres c. sanctam immaculatam orthodoxam fidem viventibâ—s sententiis roborantes firmissimam adsertionem confirmaverunt If this whole General Council together with the Synods of Rome Millain the Emperor Constantine Pope Agatho himself and other godly Bishops gave these high Encomiums of Justinians transcendent piety orthodoxy constancy learning and knowledge within an 120. years after his decease How impudent impious injurious is Cardinal Baronius above one thousand years after to slander him for an Heretical in pious flagitious illiterat damned miscreant 10ly Pope Gregory the 1. oft stiles him Justinus piae memoriae for vertue and piety renowned and to be held in veneration by all Nations 11ly Aimonius gives Justinian this testimony Justinian was a man Fide Catholicus pietate insignis aequitatis cultor Egregius therefore all things prospered under his hand Otto Frisingensis calls him Christianissimum ac piissimum Principem qui Imperium quasi mortuum resuscitavit c. as well as the Church Gothofriâ—us Viterbiensis terms him Christianissimum Principum The whole glory of God was repaired by his vertue and peace established in the Church which remained in that stable peace which under him it enjoyed Wernerus records He was in all things most excellent for in him did concurr three things which make a Prince glorious to wit Power by which he overcame his Enemies Wisdom by which he governed the world by just Lawes and a Religious mind to Gods worship by which he glorified God and beautified Churches Tritemius assures us He was deservedly reckoned among Eccleâ—â—astical writers he expresly mentioning 3. Books which he writ in defence of the Orthodox faith against Eutiches and one against the African Bishops With whom Possevine the Jesuite concurres Adding Justinian the Emperor a religious man sent to the See Apostolick or Pope John the 3d. the Profession of his faith scriptum chirographo proprio written with his own hand testifying his great love to and care for the Christian Religion 12ly Liberatus who lived under Iustinian and was no well-wisher to him records That he writ a Book against the Acephali and Eutichian Hereticks in defence of the Council of Chalcedon Therfore Baronius his passages that he was altogether illiterate and unable so much as to read must needs be malicious forgeries 13ly Suidas stiles him A most Catholick and Orthodoxal Emperor Paulus Diaconus relates That he governed the Empire felici sorte and was a Prince for his faith Catholick in his actions upright in his judgements just therefore all things concurred to his good 14ly Sebastianus Munster registers of him He was a just and upright man ingenious in finding out matters atque haeresium maximus hostis Yea Platina gives him this testimony Iustinus his next successor was Nulla in re similis Iustiniano for he was wicked covetous ravenous a contemner both of God and man 15ly Procopius gives him this Encomium That Justinian seemed to have been ordained to the Imperial dignity by God that he might repair the whole Empire and likewise the Church of God For he built the most magnificent Church Sophia in Constantinople comparable to Solomons Temple the mirrour of all ages with 37. Stately Churches in Constantinople Antioch Ierusalem and other great Cities besides many Abbies Churches Hospitals so that Nulla satietas honorandi Deum eum cepit as Procopius relates asserts And Evagrius who being an Eutichian was most despitefull to him gives him this testimony That it is reported he restored a-new one hundred and fifty Cities either totally overthrown or utterly decayed and that he so beautified them with great Ornaments publike and private houses goodly walls sumptuous buildings and Churches ut nihil esse posset magnificentius Which yet were nothing comparable to his most wholesom Imperial Lawes abridged corrected supplied by his learned care and diligence whereby he governed both the Empire and Church 16ly His memory was so famous for Piety Zeal Iustice Wisdome Government Vertues That all the people annually celebrated the memory of Justinian with great Pomp solemnity and panegyrick Orations to his honor both in the Church of Sophia in Constantinople and in the Church of St. Iohn at Ephesus which he built And although Baronius out of malice place him in hell yet Pope Agatho and his whole Roman Council rank him among the glorious and blessed Saints in heaven St. Constantine Theodosius and Martian saying That he is a blessed Saint venerable in all ages and this Pope with the whole 6. General Council as Nicephorus records Iustinianum
have caused another Book to be read before Pope Adrians Letter contrary to the Emperors direction Leontius gloriosissimus Imperatori a Secretis dixit Sacra a Deo collecta Synodus meminerit in priore conventione Dâ—i obserantium magnorum Imperatorum nostrorum fuisse lectas literas in quibus mentio fiebat sanctissimi beatissimi Archiepiscopi veteris Romae et religiosissimorum Pontificum Orientis Synodicarum literarum quas in duabus quaternionibus adducimus which they ordered to be read first de quibus vos quid fieri vultis admonemus Sancta Synodus dixit Legantur libelli beatissimi sanctissimi Archiepiscopi veteris Romae Et legit eos Nicephorus gloriosissimus ab Imperialibus secretis The Emperors Great Officers and Privy Counsellors being present in this Synod directed the proceedings therein as these passages praesentibus simul audientibus Illustrissimis juxta ac magnificentissimis Senatoribus nimirum Petronio glorioso exconsule Patricio Theophilacto Comite Imperialis obsequii Joanne regio ostiario c. with others there named evidence Pope Adrians Letters there read are thus directed Dominis piissimis et serenissimis Victoribus c. Constantino et Irenae Augustis Adrianus Servus servorum Dei In the beginning of his Epistle he writes Deus in Ecclesiae suae faciem respiciens pietatem vestram praedestinatam Serenitatem Imperatoriae mansuetudinis ad profectionem fidei vocare non dedignatus est quo omnem emendari improbitatem PER VOS contigat veritatemque in lucem perducat Then he subjoyns Quemadmodum enimà Superioribus haereseos schismatibus eramus conterrefacti ita nunc rursum per vestram jussionem their summons to him exultatione sumus perfusi nam in regia vestra Civitate venerandum Imaginum causa jussistis retractari c. Nuper verò per piam vestram jussionem de voluntate vestra instructi Omnipotenti Deo pro vestro imperio precibus solicitantes gratiarum actione gloriam istius praedicamus Illud autem in stabilimentum confirmationem regni vestri maxime fit quod magnum opus hoc aggressi estis quod sine mediatione vestra in hoc mundo vix fieri potest c. Vos autem partem habebatis cum eo qui nunc in divina requiescit Constantino Imperatore Helena ejus matre qui orthodoxam fidem illustrarunt et confirmarunt adeoque sanctam matrem vestram catholicam et spiritualem Romanam Ecclesiam exaltarunt ut plane spes sit eorum piam appellationem in vestra cognomenta piissima et a Deo data transituram ut per omnem terrarum orbem novus Constantinus et nova Helena praedicetur per quos sancta Catholica et Apostolica Ecclesia renovabitur c. After which relating the story of Constantines baptism he adds Non immemor accepti beneficii Ecclesias aedificare coepit c. nec alia de causa quam ut Christianissimum in lucem et veritatem ubique multum proveheret et omnes gentes a cultu idolorum et diabolica deceptione converteret which he esteemed his bounden duty This Pope clozeth his Epistle with this submissive supplication Obsecrantes igitur ex animi fervore vestram mansuetudinem attestando et veluti praesentes genibus advoluti et coram vestigiis pedum volutando ego cum fratribus meis coram Deo supplico obtestor adjuro sacras Imagines in ipsa Regia Vrbe et in utrisque Graeciae partibus in pristinum statum restitui et firmari jubeatis In this Council there are many passages concerning the propagation defence protection of the Orthodox faith religion and suppression of heresies by Christian Emperors and these frequent Acclamations Prayers for Constantine and Irene who summoned and directed this Council Multi anni Imperatoribus Constantino Irenae magnis Regibus Orthodoxis Imperatoribus multi anni Custodes fidei Domine protegas Propugnatores Ecclesiae Domine confirma Novi Constantini et novae Helenae aeterna memoria pacificam vitam da illis Domine Amen As this Pope so Tharasius Patriarch of Constantinople in his Epistle to Constantine and Irene written from and in the name of this Synod stiles them Vniversi Populi Christiani Principes ac Duces ad pietatem veritate Sermonem contulistis et orthodoxae fidei pietatisque figuram descripsistis Vnde fidelibus tanquam faces ardentes relucetis et periclitanti Ecclesiae manum porrexistis Nam et sanas doctrinas conservatis et dissidentium unanimiter concordiam gubernatis pietatis officia per vos sunt stabilitata Quamobrem Os noster impletum est gaudio lingua nostra exultatione Quid enim splendidius magnificentiusque esse posset Principi quam Ecclesiasticarum constitutionum firmitatem et stabilimentum integrum conservavisse c Neque putastis ferendum aut tolerabile quod in reliquis omnibus rebus bene inter nos conveniret de vitae autem vestrae summa et praecipuo nimirum fide et pace Ecclesiae inter nos essent dissidia maxime cum nostrum caput Vnicum sit Christus not the Pope nos autem deinceps illius unius corporis membra propter eam quae inter nos communem fidem et sententiam This Idolatrous Synod of Nice and Pope Adrian having confirmed not only the lawfullnesse of making but adoration of Images and Elepandus Archbishop of Toledo in Spain having broached an heretical Opinion concerning the Sonship of Christ thereupon King Charles the Great Anno 794. summoned a Councila t Frankford to which Abbot Alchuinus was called who writ several Treatises against Elepandus The Acts whereof begin thus Sacro incitante spiritu ac zelo fidei Catholicae scintillatim subfervescente clementissimi tranquillissimi gloriosique Caroli Regis Domini terrae Imperii ejus decreto per diversas provincias regni ejus ditioni subjecta multitudo Antistitum sacris obtemperando praeceptis in uno collegio adgregata convenit When they were sate praecipiente Praesidente piissimo gloriosissimo Domino nostro Carolo Rege Charles being not only present but President in that Synod jubente Rege Elepandus his Epistle being read with a lowd voyce the King thereupon made a long Oration against it and then demanded Quid vobis videtur Cumque impetrata et concessa esset invisa dilatio per dies aliquot placuit ejus mansuetudini ut unusquisque quicquid Ingenii captu rectius sentire potuisset per sacras syllabas die statuto ejus clementiae oblatum deferret Whereupon Paulinus Bishop of Aquilegia and others tendred a refutation of Elepandus his Opinion in the cloze whereof they made a large Prayer to God for King Charles his prosperous successe and peaceable Government of the Church and Kingdom and use these expressions Sit Dominus et Pater sit REX SACERDOS sit omnium Christianum moderatissimus gubernator auxiliante Domino nostro Iesu Christo c. After which followes an Epistle of