And now Sir I am sorry that you are not content with meer Christianity and to be a Member of the Catholick Church and hold the Communion of Saints but that you must needs also be of a Sect and have some other Name And how shall I know that your Sect is better than another Were not the Papists Sectaries and Schismaticks damning most of Christs Body on Earth for not being subject to their Pope I should not be so much against them I find promises of Salvation in Scriptures to Believers that is Christians as such if such sincerely but none of the salvation of men as Papists Diocesans Grecians Nestorians Eutychians c. I would say also nor as Protestants did I not take the Religion called Protestant a Name which I am not fond of to be nothing but simple Christianity with opposition to Popery and other such corruption And now you know your own designs your tongue is your own and who can controul you whatever you will call us but I and such others call our selves MEER CHRISTIANS or CATHOLICK CHRISTIANS against all Sects and Sectarian names and haters both of true Heresie Schisme and proud unrighteous hereticating and Anathematizing Psal. 4. O ye sons of men how long will ye turn my glory into shame how long will ye love vanity and seek after lying But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself Psal. 12. 1 2 3 4 5. Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men They speak vanity every one with his Neighboâ—r c. See the rest I will add that if to be serious in the belief of the Christian Faith and the Life to come and in seeking it above this world and in constant endeavours to please God whoever be displeased by it is it that maketh a man a Puritan because he is not a formal Hypocrite then I would I were worthy of the Titles which your Pseudo Tilenus and his Brother give 〈◊〉 who say I am Purus Putus Puritanus and one qui totum Puritanismum totus spirat Alas I am nor so good and happy But Readers when this soâ— of men have described the Puritâ—ns as the most â—â—toverable Villains you that knew them not may concludâ— that they were men no more erroneous or worse than I how much better soever for Bishop Morley saith of me Ab uno disce omnes And of my Doctrine I â—ave left the world a full account and must shortly be accountable for it and my life to God whose pardon and grace through Christ I daily beg and trust to A Notice concerning Mr. Henry Dodwell MR. Dodwell having written a copious Discourse asserting that we have no right to salvation but by Gods Covenant validly sealed by the Sacrament and that the Sacrament is not valid unless delivered by one that hath Ordination by such a Bishop as hath his Ordination by another Bishop and so on by an uninterrupted succession from the Apostles with much more such Schismatical stuff which I fully confuted in my Books called The true and only terms of the Concord of all the Christian Churches and I aggravated his Schismatical condemnation of the Reformed Churches and most others as having no true Ministry Sacraments nor Covenant-title to salvation and as sinning against the Holy Ghost because he professeth himself a Protestant The said Mr. Dodwell saith that these words would perswade men that I take him for a Papist and expecteth that I therein right him Be it therefore known to all men that I never meant by that word to accuse Mr. Dodwell of being a Papist but to aggravate his abuse of Protestants and that I take my self bound to charge no man to be of a Religion which he denieth And what his Religion really is his Books may best inform him that would know THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. WHat Order and Government Christ and his Spirit settled in the Churches and what was the appointed work of Bishops That particular Churches that had every one a Bishop were associated for personal Communion of neighbours That none on earth for about two hundred years and none but Rome and Alexandria for longer time can be proved to be more numerous than our greater Parishes no nor half so big The Case even of Rome and Alexandria examined and the like proved even of them against the contrary arguments How the change was made and what change it is How Prelacy became the diseasing tumour of the Church Many Reasons against an ill use of the History of Councils and Prelates usurpations that no man thence dishonour Christ Christianity the Ministry or Church Chap. 2. Of Heresies What Errors are not damning and what are How the most Erroneous come to cry out against Errors Instanced in all wicked Men and in Papists Arrians Nestorius Dioscorus c. What horrid Work blind Zeal against Error hath made many instances even good Men as Hillary and Popes and Councils The History of all the Councils begun The first Councils about Easter contrary to each other The second being at Carthage erroneous and Tertullian Novatus and Novatian The Roman Presbiters govern the Church and call a Council having no Bishop and are said by Binius to have the care of the universal Church Cyprians Council condemneth a dead man Victor for making Faustinus a Presbiâ—iter Guardian of his Sons and so entangling him in worldly business The Council Iconieâ—se is said to erre and all those Oriental Bishops excommunicated by the Pope about Hereticks Baptism Many other Councils for rebaptizing with Cyprian's pleading Tradition Bishops of Bishops there censured Cyprian's Conversion A sad Hereticating Council at Cirta against Traditions The Concilium Eliber Novatiani And against Images in Churches c. approved by Pope Innocent The beginning of the Donatists Schism for a Bishop Constantines reproof of Alexander and Arius silencing their disputes Concil Laodic Silvesters strange Roman Council Chap. 3. The Council of Nice Constantine keepeth them in peace The strange Schism between Peter Alex. and Meletius Two Bishops and Churches in the same Cities The sad story of Alexanders troubling the Meletians and driving them to seek help of the Arrians and so to strengthen them Epiphanius good character of Constantius and Valens His notable Character of Audius and how the violence of dissolute Bishops forced him to separate and of Alexander and of Crescentius's strife and of some Confessours and Martyrs great faults Audius banished converteth the Gothes The Slander of Eustathius Antioch Notes of the Nicene decrees The ordination of scandalous uncapable men nullified by them Concil Rom. the people united at the making of Bishops and Priests Arius's Creed and restoration at a Council Jerusil Marcel Ancyr â—oudemned at Const. as denying Christs Godhead by the Arrians whom he was for the same cause against A Concil Antioch deposed Athanasius and made Canons for Conformity Anno 344 a fourth Creed reconciling at Antioch The General Council of Sardica
of an Hospital to the King and to the Physician May not one rule and punish by the Sword and another by the Word by Teaching and the Church Keys Is it not one thing to Fine and Beat and Banish and Kill a Man and another to sentence him unmeet for Church-Communion Marvellous that God permitteth the world to be deluded by such a blinded or blinding Clergy though as learned as Bellarmine that would make these things seem inconsistent and separate what God hath conjoined See here to what the Roman Clergy would reduce Kings they must be no Governors of the Church And if all the Kingdom be Christians are they not all the Church And so the Christening of the Subjects deposeth the King and maketh the chief Priest King that Christeneth them If he had said that Kings govern Churches but not as Churches but as parts of the Kingdom he had said falsly For they govern them as Churches though not by the same sort of Government as the Pastors do as they govern not Hospitals by the same sort of Government as the Physicians § 129. In Eugenius's Epistle it is honestly and truly said that If there had never been a painted or a forged Image neither Faith Hope nor Love by which Men come to the Eternal Kingdom would have perished I am of Bellarmine's mind now that this was none of the Pope's Epistle but the honest Emperor's and his Clergy Councils He thought it too bad for a Pope and I think it too good for a Pope He thinks that the Pope must be mad if he would have so condemned his Predecessor Adrian's Acts as this Epistle doth and I doubt he was not so honest as to do it But did not Bellarmine know how much more sharp and virulent Accusations Popes have laid on one another § 130. CCXLVI So powerful was Pius's Attempts to reform the Clergy that it drove Pope Eugenius the 2d for shame to call a Council at Rome not from the Antipodes but of 63 Bishops An. 826. who repeated some old Canons and among other things forbad such Feasts and Plays as our Wakes arâ— on any Holy-days to be used § 131. Valentine was next chosen Pope Collectis in unum Venerab Episcopis Gloriosis Romanorum Proceribus omnique amplae urbis Populo in Pal. Later saith Anastasius but he lived but 30 or 40 days Historians agree not of it § 132. Gregory the 4th succeeded who saith Platina would not undertake the Papal Office till Ludovicus the Emperor had considered of the choice and confirmed it Which saith Platina Ludovicus did not out of Pride but lest he should lose the Rights of the Empire being by nature gentle and most humane and had ever upheld the Rights of the Church He setled Benefices on every Priest that Poverty might not hinder them You see here that the great Friend of the Church yet took that for the right of the Empire that none should be Pope against his consent § 133. Platina adding how he reformed the Clergy forbidding them gay Attire Ornaments Sumptuousness and Vanities saith thereupon Would thou hadst lived in our times O Ludovicus For the Church wanteth thy holy Institutions and Censure so much hath the Ecclesiastical Order poured out itself to all Luxury and Lust. So describing their abominable Pride and Vanity § 134. Pope Gregory added so much to the good works of his Predecessors by mending building adorning so many Temples Pillars and Posts with Stones Vestments Silver c. and removing the Bones of Saints if he mistook not that it is no wonder if Rome grew into greater pomp and splendor than ever before § 135. This godly Emperor having three Sons by his first Wife and marrying a second having two Sons by her the Sons of the first Wife hated the second Wife thinking her Son Charles had too much favor One Son Pepin apprehended his Father and the eldest Lotharius came in and approved it and the 3d joined with them and wickedly deposed him from his Kingdom of which anon § 136. Ludovicus called Councils at Paris Mentz Lyons and Tholouse for Reformation some say upon the warning of a Maid that being possessed of the Devil and speaking Latine said that this Devil executed Judgments on the Land for their Sins Injustice c. CCXLVII. The Council at Paris wrote a large Book for Reformation An. 829. with the rest of this Emperor's Constitutions worthy to be Translated for the common good that all â—ight see the difference between Reformers and turbulent Hereticks and Hereticators and proud aspiring Prelates The Book is a Treatise of pious Directions The 50th Chapter reproving the breach of the Lord's day saith that By sight and by certain relation they have notice that many working on that day have been killed with Thundeâ—bolts some punished by sudden Convulsions some by visible Fire their Flesh and Bones being in a moment consumed and turned into ashes and many other such terrible judgments Therefore they require that as the Iews keep their Sabbath all Men much more do spiritually observe this day of the Lord. The second Book doth notably shew the duty of Kings and Magistrates The last Chapter requireth those that are far from the Church to meet for Prayer in other places as being acceptable to God In the 8th Capitul Bin. p. 569. the Bishops say Beati Petri vicem indigni gerimus So that the Pope is not Peter's onely Successor others represent him if this Council did not mistake § 137. CCXLVIII We come now to a Council which sheweth you that the good Canons made by the Emperor for Church-Reformation were far from reforming the generality of the Bishops It is the Council at Compendium which too compendiously deposed the godly Emperor of whom the world was not worthy Calumniators pretended that one Bernhard a Courtier lay with Iudith the Emperor's second Wife The Sons of his first Wife hating her Pepin whom his Father had made King of Italy on this pretence Trayterously raiseth Arms against his Father Lotharius the eldest Son too much consenting persuaded his Father to let a meeting without Arms at Neomagus prevent a War At that meeting the Nobles Parentis Imperium legitimè prorogabant saith Binnius p. 575 and Pepin took up Arms again The Father conquereth his Son and taketh him Prisoner and might justly have taken away his life but he was stol'n out of Prison in the night Ludovicus depriveth him of his Kingdom of Italy and divideth it between his two Sons by the second Wife Charles and Rodolphus Hereupon Lotharius the eldest rebelling knew not how to conquer his godly and prosperous Father but by the Bishops Them he draweth into his Conspiracy that as Binnius himself saith Ut quem filii armis imperio deponere non possent horum saltem nundinariorum Antistitum suffragio judicio honore ac potestate imperiali privaretur successit impiis conatus impiissimus The last means of Treason was a Council of the base mercenary
must passe as undenyed truth And thus false History is made the chief foundation of the Roman Kingdom Thus they will face you down that you are ignorant or impudent 1. If you question whether Peter was a true Bishop at Rome yea or ever there which Nilus hath shewed to be somewhat uncertain 2. Or that he setled the Roman Bishop as his successour in a supremacy over all the Christian world 3. Or that the Popes Primacie was over all the Churches on earth which indeed was but as Canterburie is in England in one Roman Empire only 4. They will perswade you that this Primacie was setled by Christ or his Apostles which was done only by Councils and Emperours of Rome 5. They would make you believe that this was from the Apostles daies which began long after 6. They would perswade you that all the Christian world submitted to it even Abassia and all the extra-imperial Churches which is no such matter 7. Yea that before Luther none contradicted the Papal power and claime but all the Christian world were Papists By many such lies they deceive thousands of the ignorant And when they challenge men to dispute by word or writing their last refuge is to bring them into a wood of History that there they may either win the game or end the chase And if a Minister of Christ be not armed here to confute their historical forgeries they will take it for a victory and triumph which made me write my last book against Johnson or Terret to shew Historically the Antiquity of our Church and the novelty of theirs which I could wish young Ministers unacquainted with Church-History would peruse But if our people were truely acquainted how things have gone in the Church from the beginning it would be one of the most effectual preservatives against Popery when now the falsifications are become its strength I have oft thought that it had been greater policy in the Papists if they could to have burnt all Church-History but specially of the Councils that the credit might have depended on their bare word For verily once reading of Crab Binnius Surius or Nicolinus would turn against them any stomack that is not confirmed in their own disease But they have overdone Baronius and now made so great and costly a load of the Councils as that the deficiency of money time wit and patient industry shall save the most even of the Priesthood from the understanding of the truth And such Epitomes as Caranza's leave out most of the culpable part and yet even such they can hardly tolerate II. The more moderate French Papists who magnifie Councils aboue Popes would make us believe that though Popes are fallible and may miscarry yet General Councils have been the universal Church-representative which have a Legislative and Iudicial Vniversal power and that our concord must be by centring in their decrees and all are Schismaticks at least that take not their Faith and Religion upon their trust But if men knew that there never was a General Council of all the Christian Churches but only of the Empire and how wofully they have miscarried it would do much to save them from all such temptations III. The overvaluers of Church grandure and wealth and maintainers of the corrupt sort of Diocesane Prelacy Patriarks c. write books and tell the ignorant confident stories how such a Prelacy hath been in the Church ever since the dayes of the Apostles and that all the Churches on earth consented to it But if the people were acquainted with Church History they would know that the primitive fixed Episcopacy was Parochial or every Church associated for personal present Communion had a Bishop Presbytery and Deacons of their own unfixed Itinerant General Pastors indefinitely taking care of many Churches And that it was the Bishops striving who should be greatest and turning single Churches into an Association of many Churches and to be but Chappels or parts of the Diocesan Church that their power and wealth might be enlarged with their Territories and the turning of Arbitrating Bishops into the Common Indicatures which must govern all Christians and such like which poysoned the Church and turned the species of particular Churches Episcopacy Presbytery and Discipline quite into another thing And to speak freely it was the many blind volumes and confident clamours of some men that rail at us as denying an Episcopacy which the universal Church hath always agreed in which drew me to write this abridgement of the Church History of Bishops Councils and Popes IV. And those that make the Ignorant believe that seditious disobedient Presbyters have in all Ages been the dividers of the Church and the Bishops the means of Vnity concord and suppression of such Schismaticks and Hereticks could never thus deceive the people were but so much Church-History commonly known as I have here collected Read Church-History and believe that if you can V. And many that take up any new opinion or dotage which is but newly broached among them would have been saved from it if they â—aâ— but known how that same opinion or the like was long ago taken up by Hereticks and exploded by the faitbful Pastors and people of the Church VI. And the sectaries who rashly seperate from some Churches because of some forms opinions or ceremonies which almost all Christians on earth have used in the former purer ages and still use would be more cautelous and fearful in examining their grounds and would hardly venture to seperate from any Church for that which on the same reason would move them to separate from almost all Christians in the whole world if not Vnchurch the Church of Christ And ancient errours and crimes would affright us from imitating them VII And those that make new ambiguous words or unnecessary practices to become necessary to Church Communion and hereticate all that differ from them or persecute them at least would be more frightened from such pernicious courses if they well knew what have been the effects of them heretofore VIII And it is not unuseful to Princes and Magistrates to see what hath corrupted and disturbed the Churches in fâ—rmer times and what cause they have to keep the secular power from the Clergies hands and to value those that for knowledge and piety are meet for their proper guiding office and use of the Church Keys but not to corrupt them by excess of worldly wealth and power nor to permit them by striving who shall seem GREATEST WISEST and BEST to become the incendiaries of the Church and world and the persecutors of the best that cannot serve their worldliness and pride The Reader must Note 1. That though much of the History be taken from others the Councils are named and numbred according to Binnius and Crabbe 2. And that because so much evil is necessarily recited I thought it needful in the beginning and end to annex a defence of the Pastors and their office and work lest any should be tempted
yea this Emperour that made him Great § 125. A book of concord by the Pope and Emperour that Images are neither to be contemptuously broken nor adored Bellarmines words against it He revileth the Popes words that Princes are Governours of the Church § 127 128. Confuted Faith and Love may be without Images § 129. It was the right of the Empire to consent or not to the chosen Pope § 132. Platina wisheth for a Ludovicus to reform the luxurious Clergy then § 133. A Paris Council write an excellent Book They tell of some struck with Thunderbolts Convulsions c. for and as working on the Lords day And say Beati Petri vicem gerimus § 136. The Emperour making his three Sons Kings they Rebel He conquereth Pipin Lotharius rebelleth again Ebbo and a Council of Bishops wickedly depose him absent and unheard and force him to resign his Scepter on the Altar and thrust him into Prison Thus was the best of Princes that most advanced the Clergy used by them on Religious pretense Ludovicus restored the second time Lotharius rebelleth still till pardoned Ludovicus dyeth § 137. The form of his condemnation by the Bishops at large with all the Articles of Accusation and his penance at the Bishops high Court of Iustice. § 139. The Emperour restored by force the Bishops recant and he forgiveth them Ebbo resigning § 140. The Wars between Ludovicus Sons Lotharius justly conquered § 145. The Bishops depose him upon impeachment as they did his Father by his will § 146. Images restored at Constantinople by Theodora a Woman she sped as Irene Photius Patriarch § 148 149. The Bishops suddenly turn again § 150. Strife for the Popedom § 151. Lotharius and his brothers agree § 153. The Archbishop of Rhemes fled and the seat vacant was ten years Governed by two Presbyters § 152. Carolus Calvus alienateth Church-lands § 153. Pope Leo and his City Leonina He writeth Massing Rules and deposeth Priests that cannot read till they amend § 154. Singing Liturgies the occasion of imposed forms § 155. A Council at Mentz punisheth murder even of Priests but with putting them from the communion § 157. CHAP. 10. Councils about Ignatius and Photius with others Hinâ—marus's description of Godescalcus and his Heresie § 1. Canons that Arch-Presbyters examine every Master of a Family personally c. That none denyed Communion have any Office civil or Military § 3. Whether unconstrained sufferers are Martyrs § 4. A hard case about the nullity of Ebbos Ordinations Two Popes differ § 5. Ignatius case § 8. Remigius and eleven more at Valence make notable decrees about Predestination Redemption Perseverance and choice of Bishops § 9. The Clergy and People to choose Bishops § 9 10. Lotharius turneth Monk § 11. No Pope Joan. § 12. Two strive for the Papacy Anastasius against Images repulst § 13 14. Thunderbolts in the Church § 16. John Bishop of Ravenna forced to submit to the Pope § 17. The Schism between Ignatius and Photius § 18. Bishops for the Emperours divorce censured by the Pope despise him § 19. Pope Nicolas against Hincmarus Against the Greek Emperour His notable Epistle He maketh the greater number of Bishops and People no sign of truth nor fewness of errour § 21. Baptism valid by one that is no Priest nor Christian. § 22. None proper Patriarchs but Apostles Successours § 22. All other Churches and Dignities made by Rome and Rome by Christ. § 24. Peter had the Empire of Heaven and Earth Ill. chosen Popes not Apostolical § 25. Many other Papal Vsurpations against Oaths Princes c. § 26 c. People still chuse Bishops § 29. None may hear Mass of a fornicating Priest § 30. Lay men must not judge or search the lives of Priests K. Charles saith none but the Bishops may depose him § 32. Photius setled by Councils § 31 33 35. Divers Councils for K. Lotharius divorce against the Pope § 38 39 40. The Pope curseth them § 41 and curseth his Legates at Const. § 42 and at Metz § 46. Hincmarus and the Pope's Contention § 43 44. Historians say the Papacy was void eight years and others but seven days § 50. Photius and his Counsels despised the Pope His deposition by Basilius a Murderer § 51. Basilius craveth the Popes pardon for the Bishops because they had almost all been deceived or false by following the upper Powers and the Churches would else be left destitute § 52. What nullifying Ordinations hath done § 53 Men wrongfully excommunicated to be received by other Bishops Presbyters to annoint the sick because the Bishops cannot visit all § 56. A Const. Council ejecteth Photius where the Bishops that were for him turn again and condemn him crying peccavimus save some few Subscriptions denyed and why § 57. This eighth General Council decreeth equal honour to Christs Image as to the Gospel Forbiddeth Patriarchs to require Bishops to subscribe to them but only to the Faith and deposeth them that do it § 58 Curseth them that say man hath two Souls All Bishops to be worshipped by Princes and not go far to meet them nor light from their Horses to them nor Petition them on great Penalties § 58. Princes as profane may not be present at Councils nor have been impudent § 58. No Lay man may dispute Ecclesiastical Sanctions be he never so wise or good But a Bishop must not be resisted though manifestly destitute of all virtue of Religion § 59. They decree that Photius be not called a Christian § 60. Bishops above Kings as Heaven above Earth § 61. The Pope but one Patriarch cannot absolve them that many Patriarchs condemn § 62. Nicetas Life of Ignatius in brief § 63. The Pope deposed by a Const. Council The Bishops wrote not Photius condemnation with Ink but with Christs blood and yet restored him and honoured him as the Emperour turned Photius deposeth and re-ordaineth and requireth subscription to him § 63. Votes hereon § 64. The Contention between Rome and Const. for ruling the Bulgarians and the effects § 65. The Pope's Monarchy then unknown § 66 68. The French Bishops against the Pope gave Ludovicus's Kingdom to Charles Calvus § 70. The King Hincmar and Bishops against the Pope § 71 72. Deposing and blinding Hincmaru's Laudunensis The Romans imprison Pope John § 75. His Acts decree for perjury § 76 77. Going to Rome merits the pardon of Murder § 77. Service in the Sclavonian Tongue forbidden them § 78. Auspertus Bishop of Milan refuseth to obey the Pope Sclavonian Service yielded to The Bishop of Vienna rejecteth a Bishop of Geneva Aptandus sent by the Pope because he was never baptized made Clerk nor Learned The Pope tells him that he himself had none of these when he was consecrated Bishop of Vienna § 77. Whether the Right of Emperours was only by the Pope's Guift § 78. Binius resolution One Church had two Bishops § 81. A General Council at Constant. restoreth Photius expungeth filioque condemneth the last
null and giveth no Authority which nullifieth the Roman succession § 56. Decrees about Souls § 57. Leo 10. a Cardinal at 13. and an Archbishop in his Childhood His Wars and bloodshed § 58. Luther The Reformation The end of Charles 5. § 59. Leo's death § 60. Reformers drive the Papists to Learning § 61. All Papist Princes owe their safety Crowns and deliverance from Papal deposition to the Reformation and Italy its peace § 62. The History of the Reformation and of Papists Murders of Martyrs passed by § 63. Freder of Saxony refuseth the Empire and Money and chose Charles § 64. Thirty five cases for which men must be denyed Communion in the Eucharist § 65. Later Reforming Papist Councils § 66 c. The Conclusion what this History specially discovereth § 70. A Poem of Mr. Herbert's called The Church Militant CHAP. 14. A Confutation of Papists and Sectaries who deny and oppose the Ministry of the Reformed Churches CHAP. 15. A Confutation of the prophane Opposers of the Ministry An Account of some Books lately Printed for and to be Sold by Thomas Simmons at the Prince's Arms in Ludgate-street A Supplement to Knowledge and Practice Wherein the main things necessary to be known and believed in order to Salvation are more fully explained and several new Directions given for the promoting of real Holiness both of Heart and Life To which is added a serious disswasive from some of the reigning and Customary sins of the Times viz. Swearing Lying Pride Gluttony Drunkenness Uncleanness Discontent Covetousness and Earthly-mindedness Anger and Malice and Idleness by Sam. Cradock B. D. late Rector of North-Cadbury in Somersetshire Vseful for the instruction of private Families Price bound 4 s. De Analogia sive Arte linguae Latinae Commentariolus In quo omnia etiam reconditioris Gramaticae Elementa ratione novâ tractantur ad brevissimos Canones rediguntur In usum Provectioris Adolescentiae Opera Wilhelmi Baxteri Philistoris Price bound 1 s. 6 d. The lively Effiges of the Reverend Mr. Mathew Pool So well performed as to represent his true Idea to all that knew him or had a Veneration for him Design'd on purpose to befriend those that would prefix it to his Synopsis Criticorum Price 6 d. Moral Prognostications 1. What shall befall the Churches on Earth till their Concord by the Restitution of their Primitive Purity Simplicity and Charity 2. How that Restitution is like to be made if ever and what shall befal them thenceforth unto the end in that Golden Age of Love Written by Richard Baxter when by the Kings Commission we in vain treated for Concord 1661. and now Published 1680 Price 1s The Nonconformists Advocate or an Account of their Judgment in certain things in which they are mis-understood Written principally in Vindication of a Letter from a Minister to a Person of Quality shewing some Reasons for his Nonconformity Price 1s There is Published every Thursday a Mercurius Librarius or A Faithful Account of all Books and Pamphlets Published every Week In which may be inserted any thing fit for a Publick Advertisement at a moderate Rate Directions to the Binder of Baxter's Church History c. After the Title Sheet follows a b c d e then B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S then AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II KK LL MM NN OO PP then SS TT VV XX YY ZZ AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE then GGG and so on to QQQ which Signiture ends the Book Church-History OF BISHOPS And their COUNCILS ABRIDGED c. CHAP. I. Of the sacred Ministry Episcopacy and Councils necessary Premonitions and of the Design of this Book § 1. GOD that could have enlightned the Earth without the Sun and Stars could immediately alone have taught his Church and communicated knowledge to mankind But as he is the most communicative good he was pleased not only to make his Creatures receptive of his own influx but also to give them the use and honour of being efficient sub-communicants under him and causes of good to themselves and to one another And as his Power gave Being and Motion his Wisdom gave Order and Harmony and his Love gave Goodness and Perfection felicity and love as he is the creating and conserving Cause of Nature and this in much inequality as he was the free disposer of his own so in the Kingdom of Grace he doth by the Spirit of Life Light and Love 1. Quicken and strengthen the dead and weak souls and awaken the slumbering and slothful 2. Illuminate the dark with Faith and Knowledge and 3. Sanctifie the malignant Enemies of holiness by the power of his communicated love making them friends and joyful lovers This Spirit first filled the Humane Nature of Christ our Head who first communicated it to some chosen persons in an eminent manner and degree as Nature maketh the heart and brain and other principal parts to be organical in making preserving and governing the rest To these he gave an eminence of Power to work Miracles of Wisdom to propagate the Word of life and infallibly by Preaching and Writing promulgate and record his sacred Gospel and of holy love to kindle the like by zealous holiness in the hearts of others To these organical persons he committed the Oeconomy of being the witnesses of his words and actions his resurrection and ascension and of recording them in writing of planting his first Churches and sealing the truth of their testimony by many Miracles promising them his Spirit to perform all that he committed to their trust and to bring all to their remembrance and to lead them into all truth and to communicate instrumentally his Spirit to others the sanctifying gifts by blessing their Doctrine and the miraculous gifts by their imposition of hands § 2. By these principal Ministers the first Church was planted at Ierusalem fitliest called the Mother-Church and after by those that were sent thence many Churches were gathered in many Kingdoms of the world darkness being not able to resist the light The Apostles and Evangelists and Prophets delivered to them the Oracles of God teaching them to observe all things that Christ had commanded them and practically teaching them the true Worship of God ordering their Assemblies and ordaining them such Officers for sacred Ministration as Christ would have continued to the end of the world and shewing the Churches the way by which they must be continued and describing all the work of the Office appointed them by Christ. § 3. The Apostles were not the Authors of the Gospel or of any essential part of the Christian Religion but the Receivers of it from Christ and Preachers of it to the world Christ is the Author and finisher or perfecter of our faith But they had besides the power of infallible remembring knowing and delivering it a double power about matters of Order in the Church 1. By the special gift of the Spirit 's inspiration to found and stablish
month in lesser meetings and once a quarter in greater yet where there is danger of such degeneracy it is better to hold them but pro re natâ occasionally at various seasons and places § 65. The lesser Synods and correspondency of Pastors before there were Christian Magistrates were managed much more humbly and harmlesly than the great ones afterward Because that men and their interest and motives differed And even of later times there have been few Councils called General that have been managed so blamelesly or made so many profitable Canons as many Provincial or smaller Synods did Divers Toletane Councils and many others in Spain England and other Countries have laboured well to promote piety and peace As did the African Synods and many others of old And such as these have been serviceable to the Church And the Greater Councils though more turbulent have many of them done great good against Heresie and Vice especially the first at Nice And nothing in this Book is intended to cloud their worth and glory or to extenuate any good which they have done But I am thankful to God that gave his Church so many worthy Pastors and made so much use as he did of many Synods for the Churches purity and peace § 66. But the true reason of this Collection and why I have besides good products made so much mention of the errours and mischiefs that many Councils have been guilty of are these following 1. The carnal and aspiring part of the Clergy do very ordinarily under the equivocal names of Bishops confound the Primitive Episcopacy with the Diocesane tyranny before described And they make the ignorant believe that all that is said in Church-Writers for Episcopacy is said for their Diocesane Species And while they put down an hundred or a thousand Bishops and Churches of the Primitive Species they make men believe that it is they that are for the old Episcopacy and we that are against it and that it is we and not they that are against the Church while we are submissive to them as Arch-bishops if they would but leave Parishes to be Churches or Great Towns formerly called Cities at least and make the Discipline of all Churches but a possible practicable thing § 67. II. And to promote their ends as these men are for the largest Diocesses and turning a thousand Churches into one only so they are commonly for violent Administration ruling by constraint and either usurping the power of the sword themselves or perswading and urging the Magistrate to punish all that obey not their needless impositions and reproaching or threatning at least the Magistrates that will not be their Executioners And making themselves the Church snuffers or made without the Churches consent their Office is exercised in putting out the Lights sometimes hundreds of faithful Ministers being silenced by their means in a little time And they take the sword of Discipline or power of the Keys as the Church used it 300 years to be vain unless prisons or mulcts enforce it And to escape the Primitive poverty they overthrow the Primitive Church Form and Discipline and tell men All this is for the Churches honour and peace § 68. Yea all that like not their arrogances and grandure they render odious as Aerian Hereticks or Schismaticks provoking men to hate and revile them and Magistrates to destroy them as intolerable And by making their own numerous Canons and Inventions necessary to Ministry and Church-Communion they will leave no place for true unity and peace but tear the Churches in pieces by the racks and engines of their brains and wills § 69. III. Yea worse than all this there are some besides the French Papists who tell the world That the Vniversal Church on Earth is one visible political body having a visible Head or Supreme vicarious Government under Christ even a Collective Supreme that hath universal Legislative Iudicial and Executive power And they make this Summa Potestas Constitutive of the Church Vniversal and say that this is Christs body out of which none have his Spirit nor are Church-members and that there is no Vnity or Concord but in obeying this supreme visible power And that this is in General Councils and in the intervals in a College of Bishops Successors of the Apostles I know not who or where unless it be all the Bishops as scattered over the earth and that they rule per literas formatas as others say It is the Pope and Roman Clergy or Cardinals § 70. And when our Christianity Salvation Union and Communion yea our Lives Liberties and mutual forbearances and Love is laid upon this very form of Church-policy and Prelacy and Christ is supposed to have such a Church as is not in the World even constituted with a Visible Vicarious Collective Soveraign that must make Laws for the whole Christian World it 's time to do our best to save men from this deceit § 71. I must confess If I believed that the Whole Church had any Head or Soveraign under Christ I should rather take it to be the Pope than any one finding no other regardable Competitor He is uncapable of ruling at the Antipodes and all the Earth but a General Council is much more uncapable and so are the feigned College of Pastors or Bishops none knoweth who § 72. IV. And a blind zeal against errour called Heresie doth cry down the necessary Love and toleration of many tolerable Christians And some cry down with them and away with them that erre more themselves and by their measures would leave but few Christians endured by one another in the World Thus do they teach us to understand Solomon Eccl. 7. 16. Be not righteous and wise overmuch so much are these men for Vnity that they will leave no place for much Unity on earth As if none should be tolerated but men of one Stature Complexion c. § 73. Briefly they do as one that would set up a Family Government made up of many hundred or thousand families dissolved and turned into one and ruled supremely by a Council of the Heads of such enlarged Families and then tell us that this is not to alter the old Species of Families but to make them greater that were before too small Keep but the same name and a City is but a Family still And when they have done they would have none endured but cast out imprisoned or banished as seditious that are for any smaller Family than a City or any lesser School than an University And these City Governours must in one Convention rule all the Kingdom and in a greater all the World § 74. I shall therefore first tell you what errour must not be tolerated and then by an Epitome of Church-History Bishops and Councils and Popes shew the ignorant so much of the Matter of Fact as may tell them who have been the Cause of Church-corruptions Heresies Schisms and Sedition and how And whether such Diocesane Prelacy and grandure be the
Calamitous Divisions which these Prelates and their Councils made He said that Cyril writ against Nestorius that there was but one nature in Christ c. Haec omnia impietatis plena He tells how Cyril preposessed the Bishops before they met and made his hatred of Nestorius his Cause How he condemned Nestorius two days before Iohn of Antioch came How afterward they condemned and deposed one another How Nestorius was in hatred with the Great men of Constantinople which was his fall How Iohn and Cyril's Bishops or Councils would not Communicate with each other How they set Bishops against Bishops and People against People and a mans Enemies were those of his own household How the Pagans scorned the Christians hereupon For saith he no man durst travel from City to City or from Province to Province but each one persecuted his neighbour as his enemy For many not having the fear of God by occasion of Ecclesiastical zeal made haste to bring forth the hidden enmity of their hearts against others he instanceth in some Persecutors and sheweth how Paulus Emisseuus helpt to heal them § 29. In the eleventh Action two Bishops strive for the Bishoprick of Ephesus Bassianus and Stephen that had been Dioscorus Agent And in their Pleas each of them proved that the other intruded by violence into the place both he that first had it and he that thrust him out and took his Seat and one of them made his Clergy swear to be true to him and not forsake him And while the Bishops were for one of them the Judges past Sentence to cast out both and all consented § 30. But after all the crying up of Leo ' s Epistle this Synod set so light by Leo as that some say against his Legates Will they made a Canon 28. That every where following the Decrees of the Fathers and acknowledging the Canon which was lately read made by the 150 Bishops we also Decree the same and determine of the Priviledges of the holy Church of Constantinople new Rome For the Fathers did give or attribute rightly the Priviledges to the Throne of old Rome because that City ruled or had the Empire And moved by the same consideration the 150 Bishops Lovers of God gave or attributed equal Priviledges to the Throne of New Rome rightly judging that the City which is honoured with the Empire and the Senate and enjoyeth equal Priviledges with ancient Queen Rome should also in things Ecclesiastical be extolled and magnified being the second after it The Popes Legates hand Boniface is subscribed to all and Eusebius Doril thus subscribed Sponte subscripsi quoniam hane regulam sanctissimo Papae in Vrbe Roma ego relegi prescentibus Clericis Constantinopolitanis eamque suscepit And this Council was after over and over approved by the Roman Bishops § 31. It in is this Canon notorious 1. That the whole General Council and so the universal Church did then believe that the Popes or Roman Priviledges were granted by the Fathers that is by Councils and stood not by divine appointment 2. That the reason that the Fathers granted them was because it was the Imperial Seat Had they believed that the Apostles had instituted it they had never said that the Fathers did it for this reason and that Constantinople should be equal or next it for the same reason 3. The Church of Constantinople never claimed their Prerogative jure divino as succeeding any Apostle and yet jure Imperii claimed equal Priviledges By all which it is undeniable that the whole Church in that Council and especially the Greeks did ever hold Rome's Primacy to be a humane institution upon a humane mutable reason What the Papists can say against this I have fully answered against W. Iohnson in a Book called Which is the true Church § 32. The Question now is What concord did these late Councils procure to the Churches Ans. From that time most of the Christian World was distracted into Factions hereticating damning deposing aâ—d too many murdering one another One party cleaved to Dioscorus and were called by the other Eutychians These cryed up the Sufficiency of the Nicene Councils Faith as that which they were baptized into and would have no addition nor diminution and condemned the Calcedon Council and excommunicated and deposed those that would not Anathematize it Those that were against them they called Nestorians On the other party were those that had cleaved to Nestorius by name and had been persecuted for his Cause And these were a separate Body and cryed down the other as Eutychians Those called Orthodox or Catholicks cryed down Nestorians and Eutychians by name indeed defending the same Doctrine as Nestorius except as to the fitness of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the chief of Nestorius his first adherents perceiving that indeed they were of one judgment united with these against the Eutychians I have shewed that all of them seemed to make all this stir but about some Words which one party took in one sense and the other in another For these words the Bishops cast the Christian World into confusion destroyed Love and Unity under a pretence of keeping the Faith so that the Church was lamentably militant Bishops against Bishops in continual enimity and rage The Emperours at their wits end not knowing how to end the Ecclesiastical odious Wars And the Heathens hardened and deriding them all and their Religion § 33. When the Council was ended and Proterius made Bishop of Alexandria in Dioscorus stead the City was in so great discontent that the Emperour Martian was fain to send a Lay-man to mollifie them for they would not endure a Calcedonian Bishop They set more by Dioscorus than before so that Binnius incredibly saith they offered him Divine Honour § 34. It was not long till Martian dyed and then they let the World know that it was Emperours and not Popes or Councils that they regarded They thought then they might shew their minds and what they did Liberatus in Breviario Evagrius Nicephorus and others tells us at large But I will give it you in the words of the Egyptian Bishops which conformed to the Council Bin. p. 147. One Timothy Elurus of Dioscorus Party who had gathered separated Congregations before since the Council of Calcedon got some Bishops of his own Party to make him Archbishop The people soon shewed their minds though it deposed their Archbishop They set up Timothy and he presently made Ordinations of Bishops and Clerks c. while he thus went on a Captain Dionisius came to drive him out of the City The people rage the more against Proterius He gets into the Baptistry to avoid their rage a place reverenced even by the Barbarians and the fiercest Men But these furious people set on by their Bishop Timothy neither reverencing the Place the Worship nor the Time which was Easter nor the Office of Priesthood which is a Mediation between God and Man did strike the
and all the Bishops that were at it and all the rest that consented to it and were bred up in that Opinion should be degraded and the new Conformity receive so great a stop and what confusion it would make among the People as they had seen in many former instances and therefore he is against their deposition And first there are two passages read in their favour out of Ruffinus and Socrates and somewhat of Athanasius And then when Peter Vic. Rom. alledged the instance of Meletius against it Tarasius brought a notable expeditious Argument viz. The Fathers agree among themselves and do not contradict one another ergo the rest consent to these that have been cited Methinks I could make great use of this Argumentation to save time labour and difficulty in disputing E. G. Nazianzen wisht there were no difference of Bishops Seats one above another and said that he never saw Councils that did not more harm than good The Fathers differed not among themselves ergo the rest of the Fathers were of Gregory's mind In conclusion they offered their Confessions and were absolved § 65. In the 2d Action the Rulers send in the Bishop of Neo-Caesarea to do his Pennance and he also cryeth for mercy and confesseth that his errors and sins were infinite but now he believed as the Synod doth Tharasius asketh him whether he be not ashamed to have been ignorant so long and questioneth the sincerity of his Repentance which he earnestly professeth condemning his Sin and promising Conformity Next a long Epistle of Adrian's to the Emperor and Empress and another to Tharasius for Images are read For Popes use not to travel to General Councils but to send their Letters and Legates lest in their present Disputes they be found no wiser than other Men and their Infallibility be proved less at hand than at a distance where they hear not the Debates Here Adrian to the Empress relateth the foresaid Vision of Constantine Mag. to be healed of his Leprosie a Fable fit to introduce Image-worship and for an Infallible Pope to use fully confuted as aforesaid by Henry Fowlis after many others of Popish Treasons § 66. Tharasius professeth his consent to Adrian's Letters yet professeth That he giveth the Worship called Latria to God alone and placeth his belief in him alone Contrary to Aquinas and his Followers and other such Roman Doctors And the whole Council ecchoed their consent and voted for Images so much can one Woman do in Power § 67. In the 3d Action Gregory Bishop of Neo-Caesarea is to receive his Absolution fully and Tharasius puts in an Objection that it 's said that some Bishops in the late Persecution did scourge dissenting Bishops and such were not to be received But Gregory protested that he scourged none But he is accused by others to have been a Leader of the last Council against Images and so he is deferred And the Epistle of Tharasius to the Eastern Patriarchs is read and their Answers in which it is to be noted that yet Image-worship was not owned For he professeth in his Creed to them that We admit Pictures for no other use but that they may the more perfectly be exhibited to the sight and eyes as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World c. And the 4th Action containing all their Proofs from Scripture and Fathers plead but for the memorative and instructing use of Images by which they are to the eye what words are to the ear But they should have considered the danger of abuse and foreseen how much further they were like to be carried as with the Papists they are And in the fifth Action they proceed in reading more to the same purpose for commemorative Images till one read the Itinerary of the Apostles which they voted to be a cursed Book and said it was that Book that the Synod against Images made use of whereupon Greg. Neo-Caes Theodos. Amorii are asked whether that Book was read in the false Synod and they sware by God that it was not but only some recited words as out of it Pretorius a Nobleman said But they did all by the Royal Procuration And they proceed to refell the Testimonies that were brought against Images Cosmas Cubicularius brought out an Old Testament with Scholia blotted out where was yet legible on the second Commandment If we make the Image of Christ truly we do not for the similitude adore it but that the mind might be raised upward by what is seen The Expunction was said by Tarasius to be done by his Predecessors Anastasius Constantine Victor all Hereticks And here they cursed Concealers and Cancellers of Writings Wo then to Rome Other rased Books were read and Curses added against the Adversaries of Images and those that communicate with them § 68. In the 6th Action the words of the 7th Council against Images are brought forth in a Book with a Confutation of them which the Reader that hath leisure may compare Greg. Neo-Caesar read the Councils words Ioan. Cancellarius read the Confutation It fell out well that this Confutation was undertaken or else we had lost the Decrees of this Council as the Acts for ought I know are buried In general every sober Reader may perceive a great deal of difference between the style of the Council of Constantinople and the Answer The Council speaks with as much temper and gravity as most of the best Councils have done The Answer aboundeth with such railings and reviling words as are meeter for a common Scold than for Divines The common language of it is to call the Bishops of the Council Blinded Ignorant Fools Wicked Deceivers Blasphemers and such like And if all the Bishops on earth be present or represented in a General Council what a Case then was the Church in And how shall we know what Council is to be believed unless the Pope make all the difference § 69. The number of the Bishops were 338. They first shew how Satan hath brought in Idolatry One of their chief Arguments against Images of Christ is that they savor of Nestorianism representing Christ by his meer Manhood when they cannot paint his Godhead calling that Picture Christ and overthrowing the Oeconomy and Union of his Person I meddle not with the weight of their reason but only recite it § 70 It 's again worth the noting that the Answer to them saith For their charging Images as drawing down the mind to Creature-worship Latria O insanien'em linguam quam instar machaerae acutae veneno imbutae possident c. O mad tongue which they possess like a sharp sword imbued with poyson c. For no Christian ever gave Latriam to the Image of those that are under Heaven for this is the Fable of the Gentiles and Devils invention and the aggression of Satanical Action Our Latria is in Spirit and Truth Other passages forbid us to think that they juggle here and denying Latriam
him his Dominions Here four Tenents of Guilbert Porretane a Schoolman were condemned 1. That Divinitas and Deus are not the same in signification 2. That the three Persons are not unum aliquid 3. That besides the Persons there are eternal Relations which are not the same as the Persons c. 4. That it was not the Nature of God that was incarnate These they condemned whether rightly understanding Porretane I know not But if Schoolmens Quirks must make work for Councils and Councils will be their Judges what work will there be § 139. CCCCIII Another at Colen An. 1119. the Emperor was Excommunicated § 140. CCCCIV In a Lateran Council called General the Emperor saith Otto Frising seeing the People fall from him when he was Excommunicate and fearing his Fathers case yielded to resign Investitures which he after performed An. 1122. And An. 1122. CCCCV. A. Roman Council setled the Cassine Monastery of Benedictines in their Independency save on the Pope alone against the envy and complaints of the Bishops § 141. CCCCVI A Roman Council finished the Peace with the Emperor And An. 1124. one at Tholouse call'd some Religious men Hereticks § 142. Calistus dying Theobaldus called Caelestine is chosen by the Fathers but Lambert called Honorius the 2d by the help of Leo Frangipanis a great man came after him and got the greater power and got and kept possession This was the 25th Schism which the Emperor's resignation of Investitures prevented not § 143. CCCCVII An. 1127. A French Council about the Templars Habit And one at London 1125 and another 1127. where because Mat. Paris openeth the shame of the Pope's Nuncio and others Binnius revileth him § 144. Arnulphus a famous Preacher was murdered in Rome for Preaching against their Pride Covetousness and Luxury Platin. § 145. Two Popes are next chosen the 26th Schism 1. Gregory called Innocent the 2d 2. Peter called Anacletus Onuphrius Panuinus saith that Innocent had but 17 Cardinals Votes and Anaclet had 21. And yet Innocent being the stronger is by them taken now for the true Pope and the Succession is from him § 146. Pope Innocent presently becometh a Soldier and gets an Army to fight with Roger Prince of Sicily for claiming Apulia The Pope and Cardinals at the second Battel are taken Prisoners by the coming of William Duke of Calabria to help his Father Roger gently releaseth them They come to Rome and find Pope Anaclet in possession who got Roger of Sicily and the People of Rome that were for Innocent to be for him saith Platina Innocent dares not stay but goeth into France thence into Germany where Henry being dead and Lotharius made Emperor the Pope got him to swear to help him The Emperor and Pope come against Rome with two Armies The Anti-Pope Anacletus is not to be seen till the Emperor was gone home and Innocent at Pisa and then he appeareth as Pope again Lotharius cometh with another Army and driveth away Anacletus and Roger of Apulia into Sicily § 147. The Romans now rose up against the Pope and claimed the Civil Government of Rome by a Senate The Pope hereupon deprived them of their Votes in the Election of Popes and deprived all the Clergy also of theirs except the Cardinals and confined the power to the Conclave of the Cardinals alone This was the first time that the old way was overthrown and all the Canons broken by one Pope in revenge against the Romans for rebelling against his Civil Government and helping Anaclet Till now Clergy and People chose the Bishops Hildebrand began to set up the Cardinals power but denied not the Clergy and People their Votes in Comitiis § 148. The Greek Emperor's Legat now had a dispute with the Pope's Party to prove the Roman Church erroneous for the Filioque of which see Plat. in Inoc. 2. § 149. CCCCVIII and CCCCIX. and CCCCX The Pope Innocent being above seven years in France and Germany damned Pope Anaclet and his Fautors in a Council at Clermont and in another at Rhemes and in another at Liege And 411 another at Pisa did the like And 412 one at Mentz was about a Bishops quarrels And 413 one at Estampes condemned Innocent's presence prevailing there and Anaclet's presence at Rome § 150. Lotharius dieth and Conrade is Emperor CCCCXIV Innocâ—nt An. 1139. calleth a great Council called General upon his return at Rome to condemn Anaclet again § 159. Anaclet dying another Pope called Victor is chosen against Innocent and the Schism continued and after five months being too weak giveth it up § 160. In England saith William Malmsbury and Binnius out of him p. 1325. two Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln built the great Castles of Newark Shirburne Devises Malmesbury and held the Castle at Salisbury c. The Nobles complain'd to the King of the Bishop's greatness and building so many Castles as of ill design At an Assembly or Parliament at Oxford the Servants of some Earls and these Bishops fought for Quarters The Bishops Servants prevailed and Blood was shed and the Nephew of an Earl wounded near to death and all was on an uproar The King Stephen took the advantage and made the two Bishops deliver up the Keys of their Castles lest they prepared to be for the Empress Maud in time The Bishop the King's Brother was the Pope's Legat he calls a Council at Winchester and summoneth the King where he and other Bishops pleaded against the King that he violated the Canons wronged the Church invaded the Bishops Propriety c. But a French Bishop of Rouen pleaded for the King that no Canon allowed them those Castles and that in danger of Wars all Princes would secure such places and so far got the better as that they durst not proceed against the King who told them that if any went to Rome to complain against him they must not think easily to return into England § 161. CCCCXV. An. 1140. A Council at Soissons condemned Abailard's Books to the Fire but saith Otto Frising Bin. ex eo they would not hear him speak for himself suspecting or fearing his skill in disputation his great acuteness being famous His Heresie was That whereas saith Otto the Church holdeth the Three Persons in the Trinity to be res distinctas distinct things Peter used an ill similitude and said that As the same argument or speech is Proposition Assumption and Conclusion so the same Essence is the Father Son and Holy Ghost and this was judged Sabellianism But sure 1. Peter never meant this similitude should hold in all respects 2. Sure this asserteth unhappily such a difference as is between the Whole and the Parts if he had meant it to be fully simile And that maketh a greater difference inter personas than the Schools allow But be the Man Heretick or not what justice was in these pitiful Prelates that condemned him and durst not hear him speak Is such Hereticating much regardable §
and the Pope dieth Onuphrius further openeth the Reasons and Rules of the Cardinals being shut up viz. Clem. the 4th being dead the Cardinals as is aforesaid were all so desirous to be Popes themselves that they were two years and nine months contending and could not possibly agree Philip King of France and Charles King of Sicily came themselves to Rome to intreat them but departed without success Yet they invoked the Holy Ghost every day to help them At last the Cardinal Bishop Ioh. Portuensis deridingly prayed them to uncover the houses for the Holy Ghost could not come in through so many covered roofs At last by Bonaventures intreaty they chose Theoâ—ald a Viseount and Archdeacon that was with our Prince Edward going to fight in Palestine And the â—aid Cardinal Portuens made these Verses on their choice anno 1271. Papatus munus tulit Archidiaconus Vnus Quem Patrem patrum fecit discordia fratrum § 221. Innocent the 5th cometh next the first after the shutting up of the Conclave He sought to end the Italian Wars but died before six moneths reign § 222. CCCCXLVII A Council at Salâ—zburge is published by Conisius as in Greg. the 10ths days but it seemeth liker to be after which condemned Pluralities nonresidence of Priests and their being in Taverns or Alehouses and playing at Dice and their wearing long Hair and sine Cloaths and restrained supernumerary begging Schollars and ordered that the Bishop should imprison such as prophaned holy things after they were excommunicated or suspended It seemeth that Bishops had by this time got coercive power but they used it not to bring the unworthy to the Sacrament but to keep the unworthy from it and from other profanations § 223. Next Ottobonus that was Pope Innocent the 4ths Nephew and Legate of England at the Barons Wars is chosen Pope but died before his Consecration within forty dayes but got the name of Hadrian the 5th § 224. Next cometh Pope Iohn the 22th as Platina the 19th as Binius and the 21st as most the 20th by Onuphrius 1276. He was a Physitian made Bishop inverecundi socordis ingenii saith Platina so foolish that he boasted how long he should live when presently the house fell on his head and he died by it in seven days after Suffridus saith Binius saith that he was writing an heretical perverse book when the room fell and cryed out after O what is become of my book Who will finish it which saith Binius if true sheweth the wonderful Providence of God for his Church But had this Pope been infallible had he been in a Council purposed to revoke the decree for shutting up the Cardinals in Conclave and this man finished the revocation and till the dayes of Celestine 5th that renewed it it stood revoked saith Onuphrius § 225. Next came Nicholas 3d. after six months contention and vacancy King Charles as Senator presiding and pleading for a French Pope He is commended much save that he set up all his own Kindred too much § 226. After three years reign eight months and fifteen dayes of Nicholas came Mâ—rtin 2d vulgo 4th saith Binius and Onuphrius a Frenchman In his time the Greek Emperour Paleologus not keeping his promise to the Pope joyned with Peter King of Arragon who claimed Sicily as his Wives inheritance and though the former Pope had set him on this was against him restoring King Charles to be Senator at Rome and siding with him because he was a Frenchman But the fatal Sicilian Vespers killed all the French and Peter overcame Charles and took his Son and Charles and the Pope shortly died of Fevers But before he died the Pope played the old Game excommunicating and cursing King Peter and gave his Kingdom for a prey to any one that would get it and absolved all his Subject from their Oath of Allegiance and signed Croisado's Soldiers under the sign of the Cross to fight against him § 227. Honorius the 4th cometh next his Brother being Senator at Rome He confirmed the same Anathema against Peter King of Arragon who shortly after died of a wound received in fight by the French The Pope dieth and the seat is void ten moneths 1287. after two years Reign § 228. Anno 1287. CCCCXLVIII A Council was held at Herbipolis by the Popes Legate endeavouring to have got the tenth penny of the Estates of the Clergy for the Pope and of the Laity for the Emperour by their joynt consent But Siphridus Arch-Bishop of Colen and Henry Arch-Bishop of Trevers stoutly opposing frustrated both their Conciliary designs § 229. Anno 1288 came P. Nicolas 4th a Religious Man General of the Minors when he had four years together laboured in vain to stay the blood in Italy between the Guelphes and Giâ—ellins and to reconcile the French and English and to relieve the Christians in Palestine he died And the Cardinals though for liberty they went to Perusium kept the Church headless two years and three months by contention though Princes in vain endeavoured to perswade them to agreement Are these no intercessions of the Succession In this time died Mich. Paleologus Emperour of Constantinople and the Clergy and Monks would not suffer him to be buried in holy ground because in the Council at Lyons he had consented to the Church of Rome Platina Was this a true Reconciliation of the â—reek Church § 230. Anno 1286. CCCCXLIX A Council at Râ—vâ—nna in Honorius time made some Canons for Reformation § 231. Anno 1291. CCCCL A Council at Sâ—ltsâ—urg for reconciling some Christians § 232. Anno 1292. CCCCLI The Arch-bishop of Mentz held a Council at Aschaffenburge which they say did many good things It is not known what § 233. Anno 1294. After two years and four months vacancy Caelestine the 5th a Religious man of solitary life is chosen Pope If ever there was a good Pope it is likely this was one But he was no sooner setled by common applause but the Cardinals especially Bened. Cajetaenus a subtile man perswaded him that his simplicity and unskilfulness would undo the Church and urged him to resign King Charles and the people disswade him and are only for him But the Cardinals prevailed and he resigned And going to his solicitude again the Cardinal Ben. Cajetaue that got him to resign sent him Prisoner to the Castle of Fumo where at best he died of grief Some write that Cardinal Cajetane got a way to speak through a Pipe put into the Wall as if it were some Angel to charge him to resign He was too good to be a Pope § 234. The deceiver that got him out succeeded him called Boniface the 8th by Bin. 7th 1294. This is he of whom it is said Intravit ut vulpes regnavit ut Leo exivit ut Canis He raised Wars to prosecute some Cardinals and the Gibelines While he lived wickedly he set up a Jubilee proclaiming Pardon of all sins to them that would visit
yet stronger in Vices he made divers Officers purposely to manage his Simony as his Bailiffs for all fat Cathedrals Abbeys Monasteries Priorles and vacant Benefices reserved c. 12. That he charged his Registers to receive all the money before they granted c. 13. That he appointed certain Merchants to put vacant Benefices in the Balance and grant their Petitions that offered most for them 14. He ordered that no Petition for a Benefice be offered him till it were signed by the Refundary who then was to pay it out of his own Estate if he took too little 15. That against God and his Conscience he oft sold his Bulls to Eminent men in which he wrote that they that had Benefices had resigned them to him and that by lying forged Resignation which never was made sold them again for great sums and beggar'd many 16. By this it came to pass that without all difficulty he that gave most carried it And the same course was held in Sacraments Indulgences Dispensations and other Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Gifts 17. That he usually sold the same Benefice divers times over to divers persons or to the same silencing Claims of Right whereby the whole Church was defiled with Simony filled with the unworthy both in higher and lower Prelacies c. 18. That he refused to Confirm those that were Canonically Elected unless even to satiety they glutted him with Money putting the unworthy in their stead and translated men against their wills from their Churches that he might sell them dearer 19. That promising Church-Reformation in the Council at Pisa he called one at Rome and being there publickly admonished being incorrigible by the Devils instinct did worse 20. That he sold for Money Indulgences at the hour of death the Predication of the Cross Absolutions from fault and punishment Concessions of Churches and portable Altars Consecrations of Bishops Benedictions of Abbots Relicks of Saints Holy Orders power in Confession to absolve from sins and Acts that may be ministred only by the Operations of the Holy Ghost for Grace 21. That one Nic. Pistorius a Florence Merchant and the Popes Secretary a Lay married man was made by the Pope his Legate Apostolical sent into Brabant to exact and receive a Subsidy which was the tenth part of the fruit of all Benefices in divers Cities and Diocesses and to excommunicate the refusers by a certain deputed Sublegate and suspend Colledges Covents Chapters c. 22. That he authorized this Nicholas to grant to all persons of each Sex for Money to choose their Confessors that might absolve from fault and punishment by which the Merchant got vast sums of Money seducing the people 23. That all the Premises are known true proved c. 24. That Anno 1412. Ambassadors from the King Bishops and Universities of France admonished him charitably of this scandalous infamous Simony 25. That he amended not by it but did worse 26. That he is defamed of all this in all Kingdomes of the Christian World 27. That he abused Rome and the Churches Patrimony exhausting the people and imbursing it himself by Taxes Gabels c. Many instances are added 28. For these things many Crimes Sacriledges Adulteries Murders Spoils Rapine and Thefts were committed in Rome through his fault 29. It is the common voice opinion assertion and belief that in these and innumerable other evils he is the greatest Dilapidator and Dissipator of the Church Affairs that ever was scandalous to the Universal Church a Witch a Murderer a Killer of his Brethren Incontinent in all things serving the Vices of the flesh of infinite crimes called infamously Balderinus 30. That all this is notorious by common fame repute c. 31. That he hath sold the goods of Cardinals Bishopricks Parishes Colledges Priories c. 32. And this not only in the City about many instances named 33. That he destroyed University Studies by taking the Salaries to himself 34. Besides he laid such burdens on the Parsons as forced them to sell the Church-goods Ornaments and Books 35. That hereby the whole Church was notoriously scandalized 36. The Infamy was so great that Princes and the Emperour besought him to amend 37. Hereupon he promised to amend and to call this Council 38. But he went on and did worse than before 39. He forbad the righting of the injured in judgment 40. That the Bishop of Salisbury and other English Embassadours admonished him to amend and he gave them ill words and threatned and abused them 41. That at Constance he swore to resign for Peace 42. And he promised to submit to the judgment of the Council 43. He bid all say what they would against him 44. He was humbly intreated by the Council to perform his word 45. Yet thought by hiding himself to evade 46. Yet he professed before that he intended not to depart 47. And when the Church longed for peace by the Council he plotted to dissolve the Council and so fled in a disguized habit 48. He fled to Schafhausen and commanded some Cardinals and Bishops to come to him 49. Thence he fled to Lauffenberge and towards Brisac 50. The Council desired his return 51. He denied to answer but fled to Nurenburg to frustrate the Council 52. He is an obdurate sinner and incorrigible Fautor of Schism c. 53. That all this is notorious and the common repute of men 54. And all the premises are the common fame and voice Here somewhat is left out And they begin as anew 1. Declaring his wickedness from his Youth 2. That he is notoriously suspected to have poysoned Pope Alexander and hâ—s Physitian Daniel 3. That he committed Incest with his Brothers Wife and with the holy Nuns and ravished Maids and committed Adultery with Wives and other crimes of Incontinence 3. That he Simonaically sold six Parish Churches in Bononia to Lay men who set Priests in them at their pleasure 4. That for Money he sold the Mastership of the Order of S. Iohn of Ierusalem in Cyprus to a Child of five years old Bastard to the King of Cyprus with the fruits of Vacancies and spoils of the last Master c. 5. That he would not recall this but on condition 1. That the K. of Cyprus should be paid by them that succeeded all the Money back which he gave to the Pope 2. That the Pope should have more six thousand Florins of Gold which the Prior of Rhodes paid and for which the Hospitallers are yet in debt 3. He reserved for the said Bastard the Magistral Chamber worth two thousand Florins 4. That the said Pope Iohn gave Fryar Iacobus de Vitriaco an ancient man and expresly professing the Hospitallers Religion an Absolution from his Vows Rule and habit of Religion and reduced him to a Secular life and Marriage c. for six hundred Ducats Many other Articles I pass by as tedious to be repeated One was That he was a notorious Simoniack and a pertinacious Heretick Another was That often