Bishop of Mentz and his great agent even about this foresaid English Council which was to set up Church-Images and recommended him to many Christian Princes And why was all this and what was his rare merit He took this Oath to the Pope Bin. p. 178 In the name of the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour in the Reign of Leo the great Emperour c. I Boniface Bishop by the Grace of God do Promise to thee Peter Prince of the Apostles and to thy Vicar Pope Gregory and his Successors by the Father Son and Holy Ghost the inseparable Trinity and this most Holy Body of thine that I will exhibite all faith and purity of holy Catholick faith and in unity of the same faith God operating will persist in which all the salvation of Christians is proved undoubtedly to consist and will no way consent whoever perswadeth me against the unity of the common and universal Church but as I said will exhibite my faith and purity and concourse to thee and to the Profits of thy Church to whom by the Lord the Power of binding and loosing is given and to thy aforesaid Vicar and his Successors in all things c. Nothing is more meritorious with a Pope or any Prelate of that Spirit than to be absolutely devoted to him and swear obedience to him Indeed they that are fully fallen from God as Satan is would be as Gods to the world themselves and have all men depend upon them and obey them § 7. What Arguments moved the Emperor to be against Images specially the 2d Commandment and how Gregory thought that it was not the Images of God and Christ and Angels and Saints that were forbidden you may see in his Epistles too long to be here recited § 8. Here Binnius inserteth three Roman Councils One cursing unlawful Marriages Another persuading Corbinianus to keep his Bishoprick who would fain have laid it down And a third for Images against the Iconoclasts the Emperor's Heresie § 9. Gregory 3d succeedeth Gregory 2d He sendeth his Epistles for Images to the Emperor The first Messenger durst not deliver them The rest were stopt at Sicily and kept Prisoners The Lombards infested Italy and Rome The Pope importuneth the French King for help Alphonsus is made King in Spain against the Saracens and first called himself Catholick King Two Councils Binnius saith were held at Rome for Images The Title of the second is Pro Imaginum Cultu for the Worship of Images An. 732. Image-worship was then avowed But the Eastern Churches did more obey the Emperor § 10. Pope Zachary coming next in whose time Italy was distressed by Luitprandus King of the Lombards who took four Cities from the Pope because he protected Trasimundus Duke of Spoleto The Romans helped Trasimund on condition he would restore to them the four Cities he performeth not his promise wherefore Pope Zachary turned to Luitprand and to win him Salutaria illi praedicavit saith Anastasius and he promised him to restore the four Cities For the performance whereof this Pope travelled to him himself noted by Anastasius as a great act of self-denial as venturing his life for the Cause of God that he would go to the King to ask for four Cities which he happily obtained § 11. In this Pope's time the Crown of France was translated from the King and his Line to a Subject his Major Domûs Charles Martell the great French Conqueror was the Pope's Patron against the Emperor who was his Sovereign Gratian. d. 16. q. 1. post Can. 59. tells it us as a matter of Church-credit that when he was dead he was damned to Hell much blood and defending Popes that rebel against their Sovereign are a very likely proof Carolomannus succeeded him who after two years Reign resigned his Crown and chose a Monastery Chilperic that came after proved very dull and sensual and giving himself to his pleasure let the business of Government lie most on the hands of Pepin who was his Major Domûs who thereby got the power and the respect that was proper to the King while the King grew into contempt And if Kings cannot keep up their Power and Honour by the meer dignity of their place without personal worth and performance why should Popes Prelates and Priests whose Power and Honour as a Physicians depend upon their Worth and Work expect to keep up their Power and Honour meerly by their Offices Pepin won first the Nobles of France and then the Pope For as Baronius and Binnius p. 197. tell us It seemed to the most Potent Pepin Major Domus and to the rest of the chief Men and to all the People that he that had not the Matter and Force of the Kingdom should not have the name of a King and on the contrary he that had the Riches Power and Virtue should also have the name of King And because these Princes and People were Christians they judged that these their Councils would neither stand ratified to Posterity nor be acceptable enough to God unless they received Authority and Force from the common Father and Pastor of the Christian Church the Vicar of the Lord Christ and Successor of St. Peter Therefore they send Legates to Rome to Zachary of whom Bishop Burchardus Herbipol was the chief who were to ask the things aforesaid of him He consented and decreed and wrote back that Chilperic being thrust into a Monastery St. Boniface should declare and anoint Pepin King in Germany and France Boniface Bishop of Mentz obeyed Pope Zachary and by the Authority of the See Apostolic deposed Chilperic called also Childeric and placed Pepin in his stead Thus Ieginhart in Vit. Car. Mag. Annal. Franc. an 751. Paul Diac. li. 22. Marianus Scotus li. 3. Regino li. 2. an 749. Sigebert in Chron. Lambert in Hist. Germ. Otho Frising li. 5. 21. Ado. aetate 6 fol. 213. Aimoinus li. 4. c. 65 c. Yea say they the Hereticks of our times deny not the History But they sharply impugn two circumstances The first is that it was a great wrong to Chilperic that the Kingdom was taken from him The second that the said Translation was made by the consent of the Council Nobles and Commons without the Authority of the Apostolic Seat Serarius proveth that the cause of the Translation of the Kingdom was just 1. Because all the best men did desire and wish it and did by their counsel and help co-operate to it 2. Because St. Bishop Burchardus did as Legate sollicite the Pope for it 3. Pope Zachary commanded it to be done 4. And the most Holy Boniface at the Pope's command did execute it 5. And being approved by Divine Testimony it is recited in the sacred Canons 15. q. 6. c. alius 6. And by none of the old Historians not praised or disallowed Only our new Hereticks that love Novelty Arrogance and Rebellion by their perverse judgment by Contumelies and Lyes disallow it And that it was by the Authority
so that then a Church was no greater than was capable of personal Communion Here this King being made by the Pope so far gratified the Clergy as to decree that Contemners of Excommunication should be banished And now the Keys do signifie the Sword and Church-Discipline is made another thing than Christ had made it The 13th Cap. is That no vacant Bishop meddle in another Bishop's Parish without his consent by what true authority then can the Pope meddle in other Mens Diocesses since the foundation of his humane authority in the Empire is subverted The 14th Cap. decreed That Men may use Horses and Chariots for Travel on the Lord's-day and get Meat and Drink c. but not do common work The 17th That no Clerk try his Cause before a Lay-Judge without the Bishop's leave § 29. Pope Stephen dying in the division at the next choice by all the People the stronger part chose Paulus a Deacon CCXXX in his time a German Council condemned Oathmarus Abbot of St. Gallus for Incontinence and put him in Prison where he dyed of Famine as Historians say maliciously upon false accusation § 30. At this time the Greeks accused the Romans for adding the word Filioque to the Creed And about that and Images they say there was some Synod at a Village called Gentiliace § 31. Pope Paul dying and the People having still the choice he that could get the greatest strength was in hope of so rich a Prey And Constantine Brother to one Duke Toto getting the strongest Party by fear compelled George Bishop of Praenestine with two more Bishops to make him Pope being first ordained Deacon he possessed the Popedom alone a year and a month Then one Christopher the Primocerius and his Son Sergius being powerful got out to the King of the Longobards and craved his help against Constantine as an Usurper and gathering some strength got into Rome killed Toto and caused Constantine the Pope and another Brother Paessivus to take Sanctuary One Waldipertus a Presbyter was of Christopher's Party and to make haste without Christopher's knowledge he gathereth a Party and they make one Philip a Presbyter Pope So there were two Popes Christophorus incensed swore he would not enter Rome till Philip was pull'd out of the Bishop's house which Gratiosus one of his Party presently performeth and Philip returneth to his Monastery Christophorus calleth the Clergy People and Soldiers together and by his means they chuse another Stephen and so there are three Popes The Actors being now in their zeal go to Theodorus a Bishop and Vicedominus that joined with Pope Constantine and they put out his eyes and cut out his tongue Next they attempted the like excaecation on Passivus Bishop Theodore they thrust into a Monastery and there while he cryed for a little water they famished him to death Passivus they put into another Monastery They took all their Goods and Possessions Pope Constantine they brought out and set on Horseback on a Womans Saddle with Weights at his Feet and put him into a Monastery How holy then were Monasteries Shortly after they brought him forth and Pope Stephen and some Bishops deposed him Then the Citizens were to make their penitent Confessions for owning him Next the Army goeth to Alatrum in Campania where Gracilis the Tribune that had been for Constantine is apprehended brought bound to Rome imprisoned and after his eyes put out and his tongue cut out After this Gratiosus and his Zealots go to the Monastery where they had thrust Pope Constantine and drag him out and put out his eyes and leave him blind in the street Next they go to their own Friend Priest Waldipertus and feign that he had laid a Plot with the Longobards to kill Christopher and send to apprehend him and when he fled for Sanctuary to a Temple they drew him out with the blessed Virgins Image in his hand even then when they were rebelling for the sake of Images but that would not save the Priest because he set up Philip for Pope they thrust him into a filthy Dungeon-hole but that was too good for him In a few days they drew him out and casting him on the earth put out his eyes and cut out his tongue and put him into an Hospital where he dyed of the pain And now Pope Stephen had no doubt a lawful calling to be Pope He sends his Legats to the King of France He brings forth blinded Pope Constantine to answer for his Crime who falling flat on the earth he lamenteth his sin as more than the Sands on the Sea-shore and professeth that the People chose and forced him to be Pope because of their sufferings under Paul But at his next appearance he tells them that he did no more than many other Lay-men did who invaded Bishopricks as Sergius Archbishop of Ravenna Stephen Bishop of Naples c. when they heard this all the Priests caused him to be buffeted and cast him out of the Church and burnt his Papers c. And the most holy Pope Stephen cast himself on the earth with all the Priests and People of Rome and with tears lamented their sin that they had taken the Communion from the hands of Pope Constantine it seems it is a sin to communicate with Bishops that are brought in irregularly by secular Power without due Election and they are no Schismaticks that refuse it And so they all performed their Pennance for it Anastas in ejus vita § 32. CCXXXI On this great occasion Pope Stephen being far unable now to call General Councils sends to the King of France to entreat him to send some wise Bishops to a Council at Rome who sent him about a dozen who with some others agreed against Constantine's Election and such other for the time to come and damned a Synod that Constantine had held and also passed their judgment for Images § 33. But here was a great difficulty such as often after happened Whether Constantine's Papal Acts were valid and the Council decreed that they should all be void except his Baptizings and his Consecrations And so those Priests that he Consecrated when they were after duely chosen officiated without a new Consecration Either he was a real Pope or no Pope If a Pope then by the Canons Stephen was no Pope and so the Succession there failed If no Pope then 1. How come his Consecrations to be valid 2. Are not Presbyter's Ordinations better than a Lay-mans 3. Then the Universal Church had no Head and so was no Church with them while Constantine was Pope § 34. A like Schism fell out at Ravenna The power of the Magistrate made one Michael Scriniary of the Church a Lay-man Archbishop the People being for one Leo whom they imprisoned He kept the place above a year but by the help of the Pope and the French the People rose and cast him out and brought him Prisoner to Rome and set up Leo. § 35. Christopher
Council § 45. Severus at Antioch maketh men curse the Council some Bishops repent and condemn Severus 45. The Emperor against all bloud for this Cause and the Monks in Palestine for it § 45 46. Helias Bishop of Jerusalem and the Monkes resist the Emperours Souldiers once and again § 46. Timothy Const. on both sides § 46. Rome under Theodorick their Schism or two Popes with blood three years § 47. Anastatius wearied with the Orthodox rebellions offereth to resign his Crown In remorse they desire his continuance § 48. Valentinian maketh a Law that Bishops except chosen by both Parties shall no more be Iudges in any Causes save of Faith and Religion Binius reproacheth this as being absurd that the Sheep judge the Shepheard ◠§ 49. Fully confuted The Pope excommunicateth Acacius Const. with a nunquam Anathematis vinculis exuendus § 58. Leo Rom. his Decree against the Maâ—ichees and all other that take the Bread without the Câ—p § 60. Gelasius The Popes Separatists condemn Euphemius and Acacius Gelasius saith any Bishop may excommunicate an Heretick Bishop though a Patriach his Catalogue of Apocrypha and canonizing Leo's Epistle § 62. The Pope excommunicateth the Greek Emperour and Patriarch of Constantinople but not King Theodorick the Arriâ—n at home § 64. Ordination resolved on against the Kings commands § 65. Council Agath decreeth that if a Bishop excommunicate any wrongfully another Bishop may receive him c. That if any Citizen on the dayes of great solemnity refuse to meet where the Bishop is he is three years denied Communion which sheweth that the Bishops Church was no greater than our Parishes Lay-murderers punished with denying them the Communion and Deacons put in Monasteries c. § 67. Council Apannens saith Hereticks Temples cannot be purged nor applied after to Holiness § 68. Council Sydon curse the Calcedon Council 69. Bishops having the third or fourth part of all Church profits sheweth how big their Diocess or Churches then were § 72. Council Gerund of seven Bishops ordered Litanies and that the Metropolitanes Liturgy be used in other Churches § 73. Justine the Emperour against Eutychians restoreth the names of Euphemius and Acacius against the Pope their Case opened § 75. Justine an Orthodox murderer Antioch cast down by an Earthquake the Bishop killed the rest burnt by the lightning § 76. Euphremius the Lieutenant relieving the People is chosen their Bishop The Bishops turn to the Council of Calcedon again under Justine § 77. c. Popes prosecute the dâ—ad Bishops of Constantinople § 79. Justine violent against Arrians Theodorick maketh Pope John go beg for them least Italy suffered as much He killeth Symmachus and Boetius imprisoneth John and maketh Felix Pope § 80. Clergy murderers suspended from the Sacrament c. § 81. Theodorick subjecteth the Clergy to Civil Iudicature Athalaricus freeth them again § 85. Justinian his Laws he is against the Eutychians and his Wife for them § 87 88. Thirty thousand kill'd by insurrection in Constantinople § 89. The miraculous speaking of Preachers when their Tongues were cut out by the Kings command § 90. King Theodorus a lover of Books giveth up Rome § 91. In Justinians time three Countries converted The Persians prevail A dreadful Plague § 92. Pope Boniface chosen by the Arrian Athalaricus § 96. Pope Hormisda denying that one of the Trinity was crucified Justinian sending to Pope John who said the contrary Binius excuse is Weapons must be changed with changed enemies Many Notes on the excellent disputation of Hypatius with the Eutychians caused by Justinian opening fully Cyrils weakness and that the difference was but verbal § 99. A Council at Constantinople under Menna called him Patriarcha Occumenicus and set Leo after the before cursed Bishops Macedonius the Orthodox Bishop put out the People that were Orthodox seperate § 103. Silverius made Pope by an Arrian P. Vigilius the Antipope imprisoneth and famisheth him § 105. The Schism between two Bishops and their Parties in Alexandria one for the corruptibility of Christs body called Corrupticolâ— the other for the incorruptibility called the Phantasiastae and the bloody fight between them § 107. Paulus Alexand Murder of a Deacon § 108. P. Vigilius denieth two natures § 109. P. Vigilius excommunicateth Menna and is dragg'd with a Rope till he repented 110. Justinian called a Heretick and damned by Evagrius § 111. CHAP. 7. Of the Controversie de tribus Capitulis the fifth General Council c. of the heresie of the Apthardocitae Justinians piety and heresie the Bishops appeal to Anastasius Antioch § 1 2. The conversion of the Justinian's punishing the Sodomitical Heresie of some Bishops § 3. The People dye rather than eat Flesh in Lent The Council at Orleance Decree that Qui omnibus praeponendus est ab omnibus eligatur Of Incest Too strict keeping the Lords-Day § 4. Concil Avernens Decree that men seek to be Bishops by Merits and not by Votes or Favour yet be chosen by all § 6. All Citizen Christians to be in the Bishops Meeting at Easter c. by Concil Aurelian § 7. And the Bishop to be Ordained in that Church which he must oversee Caesar's project to condemn the tria Capitula Theodor. Mopsuest Theodorite and Ibas Justinians endeavours § 9. An Orleance Council decree that King Clergy and Laity agree and none be made Bishop Populo invito or forced to consent and that the Bishop else be deposed The Bishop to relieve all the Poor § 12. Null the former living Its Emperours that call Councils saith Justinian § 13. The fifth Constant. Council to cure the doleful separations of the Bishops § 13. P. Vigilius difficulty dare not joyn with the Council Their slighting him only two or three Western Bishops at the four first Generals Councils § 15. Theod. Mops. accused Theodorite accused for saying that Mary begat not God in the nature of God but Man as united to the God-head that Christ was forsoken suffered hungred slept c. as Man and not as God § 17. Theodorites virulent Ep. against dead Cyril and the Theopathitae § 17. The tria Cap. condemned Vigilius's sober judgment of it § 18 19. Instead of healing this Council set all on fire and Justinian on persecution § 21. Vigilius changeth and condemneth again the tria Capitula § 22. Vigilius is by Binnius called homo perditus the buyer of anothers place a violent Invader a Wolfe a Thief a Robber not entring by the Dores a false Bishop and quasi Antichristus that the lawful Pastor yet living did add pernicious Heresie to his Schism Yet sanctissimus Papa as soon as he had murdered his Predecessor and had sole possession § 24. A Jerusalem Council received the Conc. Const. § 25. A Council at Aquileia condemn it and the Western Bishops are seperated near 100 years from the Cath. Church about the words of three dead men § 26. Justinian made Pelagius Pope two Bishops a Presbyter ordain him the Western Bishops
General Council there yet both approved by Popes § 83. The Council accuse Rome § 87. Rome's jurisdiction excluded § 87. Adders to the Creed filioque anathematized Pope Martin and Hadrian condemn Photius and enrage the Greek Emperour against them § 89 91. Bishops and Lords depose Carolus Crassus he is put to beg his bread § 92. The Pope above Emperours as Heaven above Earth Kings are Servants and not above the Clergie their Masters § 93. A King ruling ill decreed to be a Tyrant Bishops and Priests lying with their own Sisters restrained but no Bishop is to be accused by a Presbyter nor judged under seventy two Witnesses nor Priests under forty two c. He that would lye with his Sister before so many deserved blame Murderers of Priests denyed Flesh Wine Coaches c. § 96 97. Formosus perjured was the first Bishop that ever was made Pope § 99. CHAP. 11. The Progress of Councils till Leo the 9th especially in the West The Bishops depose Odo and set up Charles § 1. The Virgin Mary's Smock works wonders § 2. Bloud and confusion in Italy § 3. Bishops to be obeyed before Earls and Magistrates Clergy-men must not be put to swear No Presbyter to be depos'd but by six Bishops § 5. Two wicked Popes at once Stephen Iudgeth Dismembreth and drowneth dead Formosus and re-ordaineth those ordained by him § 7 8. The Bishops in Council approve it yet now Papists detest it § 9. When Popes are Infallible § 10. Popes undo what their Predecessors did § 12 13 14 15 17. Platina's description of a Malignant Pope § 14. Popes Crown for fear and uncrown and Crown others § 15. Bishops turn and return and cry Peccavimus Reordinations forbidden § 16. Bad Princes the cause of bad Bishops § 17. Wicked Christians on whom the Pope durst not use Discipline § 17. Schismes and violence on Popes § 18 19 20. Sergius made Pope the third time keeps it by Whores and Whoredom the most wicked of men saith Baron and Bin. § 22. Formosus again executed dead § 23. Questions to the Papists of their holyness and Succession § 24. Photius last deposition and the Murders of Emperours at Constant § 26. A Whore Ruleth at Rome § 21. She maketh her Fornicator Pope Baronius and Binnius hard put to it § 62. Earl Heribert's Son not five years old made Archbishop so Rhemes § 30. Ratified by Pope John lamented by Baron that by this Example other great men did the like Johns end by a Whore § 30. None to marry within the seventh degree as incest § 31. Sergius bastard-Son under age made Pope John by a Whore and destroyed after a Monster saith Binnius § 35. None to fast privately but by the Bishops consent § 36. The King of Denmark made Christian by Henry King of Germany § 39. St. Peter made the example for many Bishopricks to one Bishop § 40. Albericus ruleth and mangleth the Pope § 41. The Bishops judge the Infant before the perjured Monk to be Bishop of Rhemes § 43. The treasons and changes in France § 44. Tryphon illiterate finely cheated of his Patriarchate Const. § 46. Councils do and undo between the two Bishops of Rhemes § 48 49 50. John XII Lawful Pope wanted all things necessary to a Pope say Baronius and Binnius § 51. Notes hereon § 52. Pope John dismembreth his Cardinals § 53. He fled § 53. The Bishops depose him and make another by Otho's means § 54. The horrid charges against Pope John sworn § 53. Baronius and Binnius against his condemnation answered § 56. Two Popes and Churches § 57. Not yet known who was the true Pope § 59. John killed in Adultery § 60. Another Antipope perjuriously chosen § 61. A Martyr § 62 64. An interruption of the Succession by Baronius and Binnius account § 65. Otho saveth them The next imprisoned and strangled § 67. Boniface VII runs to Constantinople with the Church Treasure § 69. Two more Popes § 69 70 72. Boniface murders another Pope and gets in dyeth and is drag'd about the Streets § 74. John XV durst not dwell at Rome § 75. Huâ—o Capet turneth the Bishops § 78. Popes fighting John XVII blinded mangled disgraced kill'd § 84. Seven Electors of the Emperour settled § 85. Gerbert how made Pope § 87. The King of Hungary Converts the Transilvanians § 87. Good Kings § 90. Leutherius Archbishop of Seus against Transubstantiation § 91. Two Popes fighting The King of Hungary converted by the Emperour Henry § 95. The first burning of Hereticks Manichees § 97. Henry the Emperour leaveth his Wife a Virgin § 100. Benedict IX a deboist boy-Pope put out again § 103. Gets in again A third enters at once The Cerberus hired all out by dividing the Church-rents between them do resign but the hirer as pacificator is made Pope § 103. Six that had been Popes alive at once One honest Pope that could not read made a fellow Pope to do it § 104. Gregory VI. The illiterate reconciling Pope variously described put out with the other three and a Fifth chosen § 107. Benedict gets in the third time § 107. Another gets in by Poyson and dyeth the 23 day § 110. Baron answered § 111. The Monster Bened. 9. is he that condemned Berengarius § 112. Leo 9th of the Resurrection Renounceth the Title of Vniversal Patriarchs as of the bawd of Antichrist Peter not Vniversal Apostle Bishops equal varied by City priviledges save in Africa by seniority The Romish Church usurped by no Pastors § 205. Michael Patr. of Const. Rebaptizeth Papists saith they had no true Baptism or Sacrifice § 205. A Roman Council pardon simoniacal Bishops and Priests lest the Church be utterly destitute § 206. The Popes hold a Council in France against the King ' s will A Bishops horrid Crimes and a miracle there Still Clergie and People must chuse every Bishop 207. CHAP. 12. The continuation till the Council of Constance Councils against Berengarius § 2 c. Adulterous and Symoniacal Bishops A miracle § 4 9. Hildebrand a Sub-deacon presideth in Councils and deposeth Bishops and Excommunicateth § 9 10. Bishops by Excommunication rule K. Ferdinand § 12. Milan separated from Rome 200 years § 16. Another Schism § 17 18. Hildebrands new Foundation of Popes by Cardinals Election § 22. Notes hereon § 22. A Roman Council forbids hearing a Fornicator Priest § 23. Bloody fights between two Popes Five years schism § 25. P. Alexander giveth England to William the Conqueror § 27. Councils for each Pope § 28 29. Gods word affirmed violable § 30. Hildebrands War in Rome Italian Bishops against him His hard work Obedience to the Pope forbidden by a Council at Mentz He deposeth the Emperour for seeking to diminish the Majesty of the Church and absolveth his sworn Subjects An Antipope made that sate 21 years the 23d schism The Emperour barefoot in frost three days begs pardon and promiseth obedience He is again cursed by the Pope in Council as
his Condemnation Vrsatius and Valens revolting and again accusing him and Communion with the Arians were the things there urged by the Emperour Lucifer Calaritanus after called a Heretick and Eâ—sebiâ—s Vercellensis and a few more refused to subscribe and were banished as Liberius after was and Foelix made Pope But most of the Bishops for fear and desire of peace subscribed The Emperour himself wrote to Euseb. Vâ—rcel to be there who had refused with great profession of zealous piety and desire of the Churches peace But this scandal and miscarriage of the Bishops and success of the Arians was the effect of this General Council § 38. LII The Semi-Arians pretending to Universal Concord thus prevailing by the Emperour and a General Council Hilary Pictav a Marryed Citizen made Bishop drew some Orthodox Bishops of France to separate from the Arian Bishops and renounce their Communion The Arians or Semi-Arians taking these for separatists and injurious to them especially Saturninus procured a Council 〈◊〉 Byterris to condemn them as Schismaticks where Hilary was condemned and banished an 356. § 39. LIII The General Council at Sirmium I out of order began with Anno 357. Constantius resolving by all means to bring all the Bishops to one Communion was present himself There were above 300 Bishops out of the West besides all the Eastern Bishops The confusion was so great that men knew not who were or were not Hereticks Photinus denying the Godhead of Christ the Bishops called Arian desired this Council to accuse and condemn him as they did They drew up two or three Confessions themselves The first was not Heretical directly save by the Omission of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some perswaded the Emperour being new and no ancient Scriptural or Symbolical word was the Cause of all the divisions of the Bishops and were that left out all would be healed This Council called Arian passed 27 Anathema's against the Arians and Photinians Pope Liberius subscribed to it and approved it as the forcited words of his Epistle in Hilary shew And yet many Papists call it a Reprobate Council Old Osius that presided at Nice was forced by stripes to subscribe to it and to the condemnation of Athanasius That the Son was in all things like the Father was the substitute Form here used In their second Form they say that Quia multos commovet vox substantia vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est ut diligentius cognoscatur illud quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nullam earum vocum mentionem debere fieri neque de iis sermocinandum in Ecclesiâ censemus quod de iis nihil scriptum sit in sacris literis quod illa hominum intellectum mentem transcendant quod nemo posset generationem filii enarrare ut scriptum Generationem ejus quis enarrabit solum enim Patrem scire quomodo filium suum genuerit certum est nemo ignorat duas esse personas Patris Filii ac proinde Patrem majorem Filium ex Patre genitum Deum ex Deo Lumen de Lumine Many thought this a necessary reconciling way The words Person and Substance stumbled the Arians For they knew not how to conceive of three persons that were not three substances nor how the Son could be of the same substance with the Father unless that substance were divided And at last wearied with contending they thought thus to end all by leaving out the name substance and professing the Generation of the Son unsearchable The third Sirmian Creed had in unigenitum filium Dei ante omnia secula initia ante omne tempus quod in intellectum cadere potest existentem ante omnem comprehensibilem substantiam natum iâ—passibiliter ex Deo solum ex solo Patre Deum de Deo similem Patri suo qui ipsum genuit cujus generationem nemo novit nisi solus qui eum genuit Pater Vocabulum verò substantiae quia simplicius à Patribus positum est à populis ignor atur scandalum affert eò quod in scripturis non contineatur placuit ut de medio tolleretur nullam posthà c de Dei substantia mentionem esse faciendam § 40. LIII The Oriental Bishops offended at the second Confession at Sirmium for leaving out the word substance gathered in Council at Ancyra an 358. and rejecting the Arians were called Semi-Arians because yet they were not for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not the same substance but Like substance These after turning Macedonians for Macedonius was one of them deny the Holy Ghost to be God § 41. LIV. Constantius finding that all his endeavours missed their end and that instead of bringing all the Bishops to Concord and one Communion the very Arians and the Semi-Arians divided and subdivided among themselves did summon another General Council at Nicomedia But the City suddenly perishing he called the Western part to Ariminum and the Eastern to Scleucia taking them yet but as one Council Above 400 Bishops met at Ariminum who were to determine first Doctrinal and then Personal Controversies and then send ten Legates of each part to the Emperor with the results The most were Orthodox but the Arian Legates were better speakers and prevailed so that the Emperour delayed them because of an Expedition that he had in hand against the Barbarians In the mean time some Assembled at Nice and drew up Another Confession And when the Legates returned to Ariminum the Arian Party of Bishops by the Emperours countenance so far prevailed as that almost all the Orthodox subscribed to them Gaudentius Bishop of Ariminum was murdered by the Souldiers Binnius and some others would have this Council at Ariminum to be two the first Orthodox the second Arian Bellarmine and others called it but one which was Orthodox in the beginning but for fear and complyance fell off at the last § 42. LV. Whether the Council at Seleucia shall be taken for one of it self or but for part of that at Ariminum though far distant I leave to the Reader But here the Heterodox Bishops carried all but so as to divide among themselves One party called Acacians were for forbearing the word substance The Semiarians condemned both them and the Arians and were for Like substances They excommunicated and deposed many Arians who appealed to the Emperour and craved yet another Synod So that the further he went for concord the further he was from it the Bishops dividing and subdividing more and more and the Emperours and Bishops by diversity of Judgment and by Heresie became now to the Church what Heathen Persecutors had been heretofore Sulpitius Severus tells us that one thing that drew many to subscribe to the Arian and Semiarian Creeds was a certain liberty of their own Additions or Interpretations which was granted the Orthodox to draw them in Subscribe in your own sence q. d. And
Council hath the like Canons adding to this aforesaid as Gratian citeth it Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur To which Binnius hath no better an answer than 1. That it is only swelling titles and not the superiour power that is forbidden 2. That the Africans had no power to make Laws for Rome But 1. Sure the Name is Lawful if the Power be Lawful 2. They that could make no Laws for Rome might declare their Judgment of Gods Laws and that Rome might make no Laws for them This Council also forbiddeth going beyond Sea with Appeals § 34 XCII The next Carthage Council hath 104 Canons for Discipline most very good Divers Canons lay so much on the Bishop as plainly shew each Bishop had but One Altar Can. 14. That the Bishops Cottage be not far from the Church Can. 15. That the Bishop have but vile or cheap houshold stuff and a poor table and diet and seek his authority or dignity by his faith and desert of life 16. The Bishop must not read the Gentiles Books 19. Nor contend for transitory things though provoked 20. Nor take on him the care of Family or common business but only be vacant to the Word and Prayer 23. The Bishop shall hear no Cause but in the presence of his Presbyters else it shall be void that is sentenced without them unless confirmed by their presence 28. The unjust condemnation of Bishops is void 30. And judgments against the absent 35. The Bishop to sit higher than the Presbyters at Church and their Meetings but at home know that they are his Colleagues 51. A Clerk how Learned soever in Gods Word must get his living by a trade 52. That is by a trade or husbandry without detriment to his Office 53. All Clerks that are able to work should learn both trades and Letters 55. The Bishop must not admit an accuser of the brethren to Communion Nor to enter into the Clergy though he amend Many against Clergy-men that are flatterers betrayers foul-tongued quarrellers at discord scurrilous of filthy jeasts that swear by creatures that sing at feasts of former scandal c. 83. The poor and the aged of the Church to be honoured before the rest 88. He that goeth to any Shows or Sâ—ghts on publick days instead of going to the Church-assembly let him be Excommunicate 98. A Lay-man must not teach when the Clergy are present unless they bid him 100. A woman must not baptize § 35. XCIII An. 398. Another Council was at Carthage of 73. Bishops for Discipline § 36. XCIV An. 399. Theophilus held a Synod at Alexandria against a dead man Origen The occasion Baronius and Binnius thus deliver Melania a Woman of greatest Nobility in Rome in Valens the Arians Pesecution hid five thousand Monks and a while susteined them and when they were banished with great zeal followed them to maintain them out of her substance or estate When they were restored from banishment she built for her self a Monastery at Ierusalem in which besides fifty Virgins that dwelt with her she entertained and maintained holy Foreign Bishops Monks and Virgins twenty seven years Whereby it happened that both she and Ruffinus were by Didymus Alexandrinus a man blind but of great learning and fame too great an admirer of Origen's works entangled as their accusers said in Origen's errours and received and divulged his Book called Periarchon After 25 years absence in Egypt and Palestine returning to Rome with great fame of Holiness and bringing with them a piece of the Cross they with fraud bring to Origen's Periarchon that is Translated and Corrected by Ruffinus Another Woman Marcella accuseth them of Origen's errours which they deny and geting Communicatory Letters from Pope Siricius forsake Rome where such Merits and Holiness would not procure an aged Lady a quiet habitation without being Hereticated because she highly valued Origen's Works which had divers errours and who hath not Hereupon Pamachius and Oceanus write to Hierome to publish Origen's Periarchon entire and detect his errours which he did shewing that Ruffinus had mended some and left others unmended This occasioned stirs against Hierome and a Council call'd at Alexandria an 399. where Origen is condemned Theophilus by his Legates expells Origen's followers out of Egypt and Palestine Being expelled they go to Chrysostome to Constantinople and complain of Theophilus as persecuting them that were innocent Catholicks and desired his help He undertaketh to reconcile them to Theophilus Epiphanius followeth them to Constantinople and requireth Chrysostome to Excommunicate them and Expel them Chrysostome durst not do it against people professing truth and piety without a Synod Whereupon Epiphanius irregularly accuseth Chrysostome and publickly inveyeth against him in his own Church of the process of which more anon § 37. For the better understanding of these matters I will insert somewhat of Theophilus and Chrysostome out of Socrates because he is a most credible Historian and saith they were things done in his own days Theophilus was noted for a Lordly Prelate Isidore Pelusiota saith more When Chrysostome was to be Ordained Bishop of Constantinople Theophilus refused to Ordain him because he would have preferred to it one Isidore a Presbyter of his own But Eutropius a Courtier having got Articles against Theophilus shewed them to him and bid him choose whether he would Ordain Chrysostome Bishop or stand at the Bar and answer those crimes Theophilus was so afraid at this that he presently Consecrated Chrysostome Socr. l. 6. c. 2. But presently after began busily to devise how he might work him mischief which he practised privately by Word and by his Letters into foreign Countries But was vexed that his malicious practices had not better success for he thought to bring in this Isidore cap. 5. § 38. One of the Articles against Theophilus was this When Theodosius was going to fight against Maximus the Tyrant Theophilus sent presents by this Isidore to the Emperour with two Letters charging him to give the presents and one of the Letters to him that should have the upper-hand Isidore got him to Rome to hearken after the Victory But his Reader that kept him company stole away his Letters Whereupon Isidore in a fright took his heels presently to Alexandria § 39. Another thing to be fore-known to this story is in Socrat. l. 6. c. 7. The schisme of the Anthropomorphites now rose from Egypt some of the more unlearned thought that God had a body and the shape of a man but Theophilus and the Judicious condemned them and inveighed against them proving that God had not a body The Religious of Egypt hearing this flocking in blind zeal to Alexandria condemned Theophilâ—â—s for a wicked man and sought to take away his life Theophilus very pensive devised how to save his life He came to them courteously and said When I fasten mine eyes on you methinks I see the face of God These words allayed the heat of the Monks who said If that
Marriage with Waldrada The two great Archbishops of Colen and Triers are the Leaders The Pope is against it and accuseth the Bishops of owning Adultery They appear at Rome and he condemneth them of Impudency while with some immodest words they undertake to justifie the thing of which more anon He chargeth the Bishops of heinous Villany and they despised him He condemneth the Concilium Metense in which the Adultery was allowed § 20. This Pope falls out with Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes justifying against him the cause of Rothaldus whom he had deposed He sends Messengers to the King of Bulgaria converted in his days whom the Emperor's Officers stop and abuse The Adversaries of Images were still strong at Constantinople Anast. Bin. p. 670 c. Epist. 2. He useth a notable Argument for Images viz. God is known only in the Image of his Works Why then may we not make Images of the Saints But why must Men be compelled to do it or else be Hereticks and why must they be worshipped Epist. 5. He is pitifully put to it to justifie the Election of Nectarius and Ambrose and yet to condemn that of Photius for being a Lay-man And Ep. 6 the same again in the instance also of Tarasius § 21. The 8th Epistle of this Pope Nicolas to the Emperor Michael doth shew that he had now shaken off the Imperial Power and therefore chargeth his Letters as full of Blasphemy Injury Madness c. partly for being so sawcy as to bid the Pope Send some to him which he saith was far from the godly Emperors Partly for blaming the deeds of the Prelates when he saith Their words must be regarded and their authority and not their deeds Partly for calling the Latine Tongue barbarous and Scythian in comparison of the Greek which he saith is to reproach God that made it Partly for saying that the Council that deposed Ignatius and set up Photius was of the same number of Bishops as the first Council of Nice where this high Pope's answer is worth the notice of our Papists Bin. p. 689. The small number hurteth not where Piety aboundeth Nor doth multitude profit where Impiety reigneth Yea by how much the more numerous is the Congregation of the malignant by so much the stronger are they to do mischief Nor must men glory in numbers when they fight not against the Rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness Glory not therefore in multitude because it is not the multitude but the cause that justifieth or damneth Fear not little Flocks c. This Doctrine was then fittest for the Pope in his Minority But the Letter is a Book pleading for the Roman Grandure and striving to bring the Emperor with others under his power § 22. In his Answer and Laws to the Bulgarians he difliketh their Severities against one that had pretended to be a Priest when he was not and had baptized many concluding that he had saved many and that they were not to be re-baptized Bin. p. 772. No not though he were no Christian that baptized them as after Consul Cap. 104. p. 782. To the Case Who are Patriarchs he saith properly they only that have succeeded Apostles which were only three Rome Alexandria and Antioch but improperly only Constantinople and Ierusalem But why then are not Ephesus Corinth Philippi c. Patriarchates And why had the rest of the Apostles no Successors Had they no Churches § 23. This Pope having Western security threatned Excommunication to the Emperor of the East unless he would depose Photius and restore Ignatius and threatned Lotharius for the cause of his rejected Wife and the Marriage of another as aforesaid and swaggered against Hincmarus Rhemensis for his deposing Rothaldus a Bishop and forced him to yield and condemned his Synod at Metz and would have proved that Pope Benedict had not confirmed it He and other Popes did make the Contentions of Bishops as well as of Princes a great means of their rising taking the part of him that appealed to Rome as injured and very oft of the truly injured By which means they had one Party still for them and all injured persons were ready to flie to them for help He Excommunicated the Bishops of Colen and Triers The poor Bishops that would fain be on the stronger side began now to be at a loss to know whether the Emperor or the Pope was the strongest They followed the Emperor and resisted the Pope a while The King and Hincmarus forbad Rothaldus going to Rome and imprisoned him But the Pope wearied them out by reason of the divisions of the Empire and Kingdom into so many hands of the French Line that being in continual suspicion of each other they needed the Pope's help Bin. p. 790. He ordereth Pennance instead of just death for one Cumarus that had murdered three of his own Sons viz. That for three years he pray at the Church-door and that for seven years he abstain from Wine three days in a week and for three years to go without shoes allowing him to eat Milk and Cheese but not Flesh and to enjoy his Possession but not have the Sacrament for seven years § 24. His Decretals begin That the Emperor's Iudgments and Laws are below the Canons and cannot dissolve them or prejudice them Tit. 4. 1. He saith All Patriarchal Dignity all Metropolitical Primacy all Bishops Chairs and the dignity of Churches of what Order soever were instituted by the Church of Rome But it 's he only did found it and erect it on the Rock of Faith now beginning who to St. Peter the Key-bearer of eternal life did commit the Rights both of the Terrene and the Celestial Empire Reader Had not the abuse of Humane Patriarchal Power and of Excommunications got up very high when this bold Pope made this Decree What! All Churches in the World made only by Rome Was not Ierusalem Antioch and many another made before it Did Christ say any thing of Rome Did not other Apostles build Churches by the same Apostolick Commission as Peter had Is not the Church built on the foundation of Prophets and Apostles Christ being the Head-corner Stone Did not others build the Church of Rome before Peter did it Did not Peter build other Churches before Rome Where and when did Christ give Peter the Imperial Power of Earth and Heaven did he not decide the Controversie who should be the chief or greatest with a prohibition of all Imperial Power With you it shall not be so § 25. But the next Dectee casteth Rome as low as this over-raised it If any one by Money or Humane-Favor or by Popular or Military Tumult be inthroned in the Apostolick Seats without the Concordant and Canonical Election of the Cardinals of that Church and then of the following Religious Clerks let him not be accounted a Pope or Apostolical but Apostatical By which Rome hath had so few Popes indeed and so many
into a Theatre of Contention and a Field of War § 65. Yet here is one thing further to be noted viz. the foresaid Contention that rose about the Bulgarians These two great Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople were neither of them yet great enough or satisfied with their jurisdiction their desires being more boundless than Alexander's for the Empire nothing less than all the world will satisfie one of them at least Nicetas saith it was by Famine and a Treaty and kind words of the Emperor that the Bulgarians turned Christians Some Papists would give the honour to the Pope without proof and cannot tell us any thing how the Pope converted them But when they were converted they sent to Rome for some Instructors The 〈…〉 them two and they received them But they put the case themselves to the Council at Constantinople Whether they were to be under the Bishop of Rome or of Constantinople The matter held a great debate The Pope's Legates pleaded that they had already received Bishops from Rome c. The Greeks pleaded that their Countrey was part of the Empire and under the Bishop of Constantinople till they conquered it and that they found there Greek Churches and Bishops who were still there and the Conquest did not translate them from the Bishop of Constant. to Rome How the Controversie ended is hard to know Some say that the Council gave them to the Pope and some say otherwise But this is confessed that this Roman ambition so greatly displeased the new Emperor Basilius that it turned him after against the Pope and inclined him the more to restore Photius which he did when Ignatius was dead § 66. Here I would call the Reader to consider whether the Pope's Universal Government was in those days believed even by that Council which was supposed to be partial by the Emperor's inducement on the Pope's side What place else could there be for such a strife whether the Bulgarians were under the Government of the Bishop of Rome or Constantinople if all the World were under the Bishop of Rome They will say that it was only questioned whose Diocess or Patriarchate they were under But Rome never pretended that they were of that Diocess or Patriarchate as anciently divided But the question was Whose Government they were now fallen under And would any dispute whether e. g. Westminster were under the Government of the King or of the Lord Mayor of London when all the Kingdom is under the King This Controversie clearly sheweth that the Church then took the Pope to have but the first Seat and Voice in Councils but not to be the Governor beyond his circuit § 67. It is here also to be noted that Basil the Emperor's revolt from the Pope was so great that Hadrian is put to write sharply to him as accusing the Bishops of Rome and derogating from them admonishing him to repent but we find not that this changed his mind § 68. Yet one thing more is here to be observed In the life of Hadrian the 2d Bin. p. 882. we find that the Pope taking the advantage of Basil's present state and mind and the interest of Ignatius much depending on him sent a new Libel to be subscribed by all the Bishops before they should be permitted to sit in Council The Greek Bishops grudged at this and complained to the Emperor That the Church of Constantinople by these offered Libels was brought under the power of Rome by the doubtfulness of Subscriptions But though flebiliter conqueruntur they complain with tears the Emperor was angry with them and would have it and some Bishops non sine magno laboris periculo libellos quidem vix tandem recipiunt with much ado were brought to subscribe saying It was novum inauditum The refusers extra Synodum inglorii relicti sunt were shut out till they conformed Oh! that Inglorii was a cutting word § 69. The Emperor hiding his anger against the Pope's Legates for the Bulgarian Usurpation gave them great gifts and sent them home But at Sea they fell into the hands of the Sclavonians who stripped them of their Riches and the Subscriptions and Copy of the Council and kept them Prisoners and threatned their Lives But by the mediation of the Emperor and Pope they were delivered and had some of their Writings again § 70. CCLXXXV An. 879. Carolus Calvus King of France unjustly possessed the Kingdom of Lotharius which by inheritance fell to Ludovicus Ludovicus got the Pope to interpose who sent his Legates to Charles But the Bishops had not yet learned to obey Popes against Kings in power A Council of Bishops called at Metz give the Kingdom to Charles because he was the stronger This was called Concilium Praedatorium a Council of Robbers and Traytors And no wonder when Bishops must be the Givers of Kingdoms Was it not enough for the Pope to usurp such power to be over Kings and dispose of Crowns but ordinary Bishops must do the like § 71. CCLXXXVI Yet another Council against the Pope King Charles had authorized Northman a great man to receive some Goods that were taken to belong to the Church The Pope commandeth Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes and the rest of the Bishops of France to excommunicate Northman Hincmarus and the Bishops refuse to obey him only one Hincmarus Bishop of Laon Laudunum obeyeth him and publisheth the Excommunication A Council is called at Wermâ—ria where Hincmarus Rhem. and the Bishops the King consenting condemn Hincmarus Laudunensis for disobeying his Metropolitan in obeying the Pope He appeals to Rome They will not let him go He writeth Hiucmarus Rhem. writeth largely against him though his Nephew shewing how he broke the Canons how bad a man he was how he had neglected his own Charge left Children unbaptized and for private quarrels excommunicated his Flock and had silenced and suspended the Ministers under him tyranically c. Reader Was the Pope's power yet fully received when a Metropolitan was to be obeyed before him and men condemned for obeying him § 72. CCLXXXVII Yet more sorrow An. 870. a Council is called in Villa Aâ—tiniaco Attigny I will give you the Story in the very words of Binnius translated When Hincmarus Bishop of Laon for the cause in the foresaid Council expressed had got the Rescript of Pope Adrian on his behalf and had notified it to Hincmarus Rhemensis and to King Charles both of them in hatred to the Bishop of Laon decreed That this Synod called Latrocinalis should be called There presided in it Remigius Lugdunensis Ardovicus Vesontiensis Bertulsus Trevirensis with their subject Bishops Herein Hincmarus Rhemensis with King Charles was the accuser of his Nephew Hincmarus whom he had before consecrated Bishop of Laon. The Action brought against him was That he had by Counter-writings defended the rights of the Apostolick Seat which the Archbishop of Rhemes did endeavor to impugn and overthrow And that contrary to his Oath of
Magistrate or Earls but he and all his Company shall obey the Bishop and come to him Cap. 10. No Bishop shall be Deposed but by twelve Bishops no Presbyter but by six Bishops no Deacon but by three Cap. 21. In Controversies Lay-men must swear but Clergy-men must not be put to swear Cap. 22. There is allowed Tryal by fire Per ignem Candenti ferro Caute examinetur § 6. CCCIV. A Council at Nantes made more disciplinary Canons § 7. Who was next Pope is not agreed Platina and Onuphrius say that Boniface was rightly Chosen and Reigned but twenty six days saith Platina or fifteen saith Onuphrius others saith Platina say twelve years Baronius and Binius saith that he was no Pope and that he did but invade the Pope-dome and was homo nefarius a wicked man twice before this Degraded First from his Deaconship and next from his Presbyterate Damned in a Romane Synod under John the Ninth He addeth that both of them Boniface and Stephen got the place by Force Fear and Tyranny and so it was but one Intruder that thrust out another Intruder But how then is the Succession secured Why it 's added Yet Stephen is numbred with the Popes by the common Sentence or Opinion because to avoid the danger of Schisme though he was homo scelestissimus a most wicked man yet all the Clergy approved bim and the whole Catholik Church took him for Christs Vicar Peters Successor How prove you that why because Fulke Bishop of Rhemes owned him A Noble proof that all the Christian World did so § 8. Say Barronius and Binius he began his Pope-dome with that Sacriledg as to take the Corps of Formous out of his Grave and cloathing him in his Pontifical Robes he set him in a Chair and saith Platina there judged him as no Pope because he had been first a Bishop which indeed by the old Canons nullified his calling For Formosus was the first Pope that had been before a Bishop as is said unless the Emporour Basil truly charged Macrinus with the same Having Expostulated with the dead man why he being a Bishop would take the Pope-dome he cut off his three four Fingers with which he had Anointed and cast them into the River Tyber and commanded that all that he had Ordained should be Ordained again and so Conform to him And they wonder with what face of Reason Onuphrius rejecteth all this as a Fable when the Antient Monuments Synodal Acts and Historians testify it Do you wonder at this why it is because he was not willing it should be believed a Reason that is not strange to your selves § 4. CCCV Pope Stephen called a Council in which his usage of Pope Formosus was approved Bin. ex Baron p. 1047 so ready were the Bishops to follow the strongest side in such things as the Papists mention with abhorrence And say they this portentum attended the Synod That the Laterane Church the chief Seat of the Pope by the impulse of an evill Angel fell down quite from the Altar to the doors the Walls not being able to stand when the Chief Cardinal Door was shaken with the Earthquake of so great a Villany § 10. But here the Authors calling us Novatores as if such Popes were of glorious Antiquity are hard put to it to Vindicate against us the Popes infallibility And how do they do it Why 1st They say that all that Stephen did against Formosus a man stricken with Madness did it fulfilling the perswasion of his boyling Rage But in the lawful use of his Papal Authority he defined nothing against Faith or good manners For the Bishops that were for this Cause called to the Council and the Presbyters not unlike to Stephen himself did prosecute Formosus with the same hatred and therefore pronounced that Sentence against him which they fore knew would be pleasing to a man smitten with Fury so that we confess violent Tyranny but no Errour in Faith defined or approved by him Lawfully using his Papal Authority And yet it were no prejudice to the Papal Seat if we grant that a false Pope not lawfully Chosen but invading and obtruded did err in asserting Articles of Faith Thus the Author Ans. 1. But if you grant this is not your Succession interrupted 2. And was your Church a true Church when an Essential part was Null 3. Howver was it the Holy Church when an essential Part was such a Villain 4. Will not your Argument as well prove every Bishop Priest or man Infallible For no one of them all can define falsly against an Article of Faith as long as he lawfully useth his Power For it is no lawful use of power that so defineth and belieth God 5. But is all your foundation of Faith come to this It is then but saying when ever your Pope and Church Erreth that they did not use their Power lawfully And what relief is that to the deceived How shall we know when your Popes have used it lawfully and when not and so what is true among you and what false 6. And were your Roman Council of Bishops and Priests all as bad as this Villainous Pope and ready to please him in their Decrees And was this a Holy Church and like to be an Infallible Council And must the World follow them 7. And how then shall we know that it was not just so with many other former and following Councils and that it will not be so with you again O miserable shifts against plain Truth § 11. The same great Authors after Luitpraudus l. 1. c 9. say that Stephen an Invader of the Papal Seat by the faction of the Nâ—bles against Adelbert Prince of Etruria was thrust into prison An. 900. and after he had been Pope Six Years being strangled in the same Prison ended his Days by Gods Vengeance in an infamous Death Yet Platina saith that he died the first Year and third month of his Reign and Onuphrius saith he sate one year two moneths and ninteen days § 12. It 's strang that Luitpraudus saith that Stephen condemned the Corps of Formosus for being a Bishop before when Platina and Onuphrius say that he himself was Episcopus Anagninus when made Pope § 13. And Platina saith that This Controversie against Formosus was great and of ill Examples seeing that after this it was almost always kept as a Custome that following Popes did either Infring or wholly undoe the Acts of those that went before them And yet were they Infallible § 14. The next Pope was called Romanus whose Life Platina thus Describeth Romanus as soon as he was Pope presently Abrogateth and Condemneth the Decrees and Acts of Stephen For these Popes thought of nothing but to Extinguish the Name and Dignity of their Predecessors than which nothing can be worse or the part of a narrower mind For they that trust to such Acts as these having no Virtue themselves endeavor to rase out the
he caused some Fellows so to cut and mangle the Face of the Pope that he would never after be seen abroad but kept close till he dyed which was after Three Years This Otho resolved to Revenge on Albericus And also the War between Hugo and Albericus broke out again Platina saith That Hugo was about to Revenge the Pope but then Dyed § 42. A Synod was at Narbon to end the Contention of two Bishops about the Extent of their Diocesses and Jurisdiction § 43. CCCXI. If yet you perceive not the sad State of the Church by Men's striving for Church-Dignities a Council at Soissons Anno 940. will tell you more You heard before how the Earl of Aquitane had got his Son to be made Arch-Bishop of Rhemes The Child in coats was but Five Years old It happened that he was put out again for his Infancy or Non-Age and Artaldus a Monk chosen in his stead This Council of Bishops was to decide the Câ—â—e between the two Arch-Bishops The Objection against one was his Infancy and his Father 's ill means to bring him in The Objection against the other was Perjury He had sworn that he would never accept an Arch-Bishoprick Alas Must the Church of France be Headed by one of these an Infant or a Perjured Monk The Synod cast out the Perjured Monk and judged the Seat to the Infant as being lawfully Chosen Power made it a Lawful Call And the Bishops went to Rhemes and Consecrated him § 44. In the Year 920. the French Nobles by consent at Soissons had Revolted from King Charles because he took Haganon a Man of low of Quality into his Privy-Council and made him Great Herveus Bishop of Rhemes had partly healed this Breach But Anno 922. it broke out again and the Nobles chose Robert King and Herveus Consecrated him But this Rebellion was their Ruin Three Years after dyeth Herveus And the next Year Robert Fighting against Charles was slain at Soissons yet his Army conquered the King's Shortly after Rodolph Duke of Burgundy is called in by the Nobles and made King as if the Kingdom had been void Charles on pretence of a Treaty is led by Heribert to a Castle and thence carryed to Perone where he dyed Anno 929. leaving a Son Lewis to Fight for the Kingdom And when Charles was in Prison Hugo rejected Rodulph and called Lewis out of England to be King Anno 936. But Hugo and Heribert would be his Masters and gave him little Quiet Heribert dyeth miserably and Repenteth Hugo Domineering the King craveth Aid of Otho out of Germany against him But shortly dyeth himself by a Disease got by a Fall in Hunting a Wolf Lotharius his Son succeedeth him In his Third Year Hugo the Great Duke of Orleance dyeth and Lotharius the King Anno 986. His Son Ludovicus succeeded who dyed Childless Anno 987. And in him ended the Line of Charles the Great For Charles Duke of Loraine that was next was by the Treachery of a Bishop taken by Hugo Capet the Son of the fore-said Duke Hugo and imprisoned to Death And this Hugo got Possession of the Crown So much briefly on the By of these Matters that they after interrupt us not too much See Dion Petav. lib. 8. c. 16. § 45. Marinus 2. alias Martin 3. is made Pope Anno 943. and Reigned three Years and some Months the common Time of Popes in that Age. In his time Artaldus strove again for the Seat of Rhemes § 46. CCCXII When Bishops would needs be Princes they taught Princes to resolve to be Bishops And as Heribert did at Rhemes so did the Emperor at Constantinople put in a Patriark Trypho a Monk on condition that he should hold it but till his own Son Theophylact came to Age. When the time came Trypho would not Resigne A Council is called where Bin. ex Curopal tells you the State of that Church alsâ— as too like the Western The Council being met Tryphon makes a Speech to them and saith That his Adversaries that had a mind to cast him out gave the reason that he knew not Letters But that they might all see that this was false and that he could Write and Read he call'd for Pen and Paper and having been taught thus much before wrote his Name thus Tryphon by the Mercy of God Arch-Bishop of Constantinople New Rome and Vniversal Patriark for that was then the Title The Emperor receiving the Paper it â—eems knowing that he could not Read writeth over head Knowing my self Vnworthy I Resigne the Throne to any that will And so sent the Paper to the Council and the Bishops wise and Good Men you must suppose Dethron'd Tryphon The Seat staid void five Months till Theophylact came to Age who then was chosen § 47. Anno 946. Agapetus the Second is made Pope in a time when Wars between the Hungarians and Henry Bavaria Berengarius and Otho c. made Miserable the Countries and Ignorance and Ambition the Churches § 48. CCCXIII. A Council at Virdun in France again tryed the Cause between the fore-said Infant and the Perjured Bishops Hugo and Artald and they undid what the last had done and Deposed Hugo and gave the Seat to Artald Yet we have not done with Doing and Vndoing For Pope Agapete now took Hugo's Part and wrote to the Bishops of France and Germany that Hugo that was in Possession was to be kept there But the Papists say he mistook by Hugo's Mis-information § 49. CCCXIV Anno 948. Another Council at Mosome was called for the same Business Hugo would not come in but sent the Pope's Letters which being not Canonical but his bare Command they rejected them cast out and Excommunicated Hugo till the next General-Council § 50. CCCXV. Anno 948. A General-Council of France and Germany is called at Engelenheim for the same Cause almost all France being disquieted about two Mens striving who should be the Great Arch-Bishop The Pope's Legate Marinus proved Hugo's Letters false and Hugo was Excommunicated and Artald setled But the Presence of two Kings Ludovicus and Otho did much there-to The Bishops thence removed to Triers called another Council where they judged for King Ludovicus against Duke Hugo and Excommunicated some Bishops Ordained by Bishop Hugo that was Ordained in his Child-hood And another Council at Rome confirmed these things § 51. Now cometh the Famous Pope Iohn the Twelfth the Son of Prince Albericus the Son of the Famous Whore A Child too Saith Baronius and Binius p. 1060. Quanquam hiuc Legitima aetas aliaque omnia deessent quae inlegitimo Pontifice requiruntur tamen accedente postea consensu totius Cleri visum est hunc potius esse Tolerandum quam Ecclesiam Schismate aliquo quod alioquin exortum fuisset dividendam He wanted Natural and Moral Endowments even All Things necessary to a Legitimate Pope say they And yet the After-Consent of the Clergy made him Tolerable c. Qu. 1.
his kindred disregarding the honour of God and the Dignity of the Romane Seat which Errour saith he he so Traditioned or delivered down that it remaineth to this day This is Romane Tradition a Comet then appear'd Famine Pestelence Earthquakes which were thought to be for the Pride and rapacity of the Pope and his contempt of God and Man So Platina § 76. An Instance was given of a Bishop of the contrary Spirit Adelâ—ert Bishop of Prague in Bohemiaâ—ound â—ound the People so contrury to him and bad that he forsook them and Travelled first and then entred into a Monastery And when he had lived there five years the people desired him again and promised Obedience A Council at Rome desired his return vvhich with grief he did But they still proved incorrigble and he again forsook them and vvent to Preach to the Hungarians when he Bapzed the King Stephen and did much good Bin. p. 1071. § 77. CCCXX Arnulphus Arch-Bishop of Rhemes suspected of Treason for delivering up the City of Rhemes to Charles Called a Synod at Seulis to purge himself Excommunicating them that did it Anno 990. § 78. CCCXXI. Hugo Capet having now got the Crown of France and desirous to destroy all the Carolines line upon the aforesaid suspition got a Synod at Rhemes to cast out Arnulphus a Bastard of that Linâ— saying a Bastard must not be a Bishop One Bishop refused The rest for fear of that King consented and cast him out so constant were the French Bishops § 79. CCCXXII Six Bishops and Nine Presbyters and Four Deacons made a Council at Rome to Canonize Vdalric Bishop of Augusta Anno 993. upon the reports of his Holiness and Miracles Here let me at once tell the Reader that he hath no cause to think the most of these Canonizations wholly causeless But that while Pope and Patriarcks confounded all by wickedness and contentious pride God had many faithful Bishops and Presbyters that lived holily in quieter and privater kind of Life And the Popes that would not endure themselves to live a Godly life thought it their honour to have such in the Church that did and to magnify them when dead and past contradicting them Just like the Pharisees Mat. 23. that killed the living Servants of God and honoured the dead and built them Monuments saying If we had lived in those days we would not have killed them § 80. CCCXXIII A Synod was called at Moson to debate the Case between Arnulph and Gerbert substituted at Rhemes who so pleaded his cause that it was put off to another Synod Baron revileth some Writings ascribed to the former Synod at Rhemes saying they were this Gerberts as being Blasphemous against the Pope The Centuriators of Magdeb. mention them at large Did Rome then govern all the World § 81. CCCXXIV Another Council is called at Rhemes and Gerbert that wrote so Blasphemously against the Pope is deposed by the Popes means and Arnulphus restored which Gerbert observing flyeth to the Emperour to Germany seemeth to repent as Baron but surmizeth and gets higher to be Pope himself by the Emperours means as you shall hear anon § 2. Can any Man think that Popes that themselves came in by Tyranny and meer Force and lived in Wickedness could have so great a Zeal as is pretended to do Justice for all others unless for their own ends § 83. Iohn the 16th alias 17 is passed over by Binius Onuphrius saith that he Reigned four Months Platina saith he died the tenth Year and sixth Month and tenth Day a great difference § 84. Gregory the 5th is next made Pope saith Plat. by Otho 3d his Authority for Affinity But saith Plat. The Romans make Crescentius Consul with chief Power who presently made John Bishop of Placentine Pope who came to it by the consent of the Roman Clergy and People to whom the choice belonged though some leave him out Otho cometh to defend his own Pope Crescentius fortifieth City and Castle against him The People dare not resist but open the City Gates Crescentius and Pope John flyeth to the Castle and in hope of Pardon yields Crescentius is Killed by the People in his passage John hath first his Eyes put out and then his Life and Gregory the Eleventh Month is restored Binius saith that Johns Hands were cut off his Ears cut off and his Eyes pulled out and after set on an Ass holding the Tail in his Hand was carried about the Streets § 85. This Pope and Otho the 3d. agreed to settle the Election of the Emperour as now it is on the 7. Electors The cause of great Confusions and Calamities was that the Emperours did not dwell at Rome and so left Popes then to fight strive and sin that else would have lived submissively under them Constantine Carolus Mag. or Otho might have done much to prevent or cure all this The Papists would fain prove this the work of a Roman Synod to settle the Electors that they may prove that it is they that must make and unmake Emperours But they can shew us no such Council Onuphrius hath written a Treatise to prove that this was after done by Greg. 10th For which Binius reprehends him as believing Aventinus But this is a Controversy handled by so many that I shall refer the Reader to them and whether the seven Electors only or all the Feudatories chose Baronius and Binius maintain that all came from the Authority of the Pope that Greg. 5th Ordained the choice of the Emperour to be by all the Feudatories of the Empire that the Council at Lyons under Innocent 4th setled it upon Seven but not all the same that are now Electors and that the Princes after setled it on these same Seven they know not who nor when For the right understanding of many such matters I only mind the Reader of this one thing that as the contention of Princes and the superstitious fear of Anathematizing had made the Papal and Prelatical Power then very great in setting up and taking down Princes so it was usual for their Assemblies even those called Councils to be mixt of Men Secular and Clergy Kings and Princes and Lords being present with the Bishops as in our Parliaments and usually the greatest Princes ruled all Therefore to ascribe all to the Pope and Prelates that was done in such conventions and thence to gather their power to dispose of Empires and Kingdoms is meer deceit § 86. Platina next nameth Iohn 17th alias 18th but saith he was no true Pope its impossible to know who was but that he corrupted Crescentius with money and it cost them both their lives How he was mangled shamed and killed though a Bishop before you heard before § 87. Next an 999. cometh that French Bishop Gerbert before mentioned that wrote so blasphemously as they called it against the Pope as Aeneas Silvius after did till he saw some hope of being Pope himself by the Emperor's favour first made Arch-Bishop
undivided The Eutychians thought How can that be called Vnity which maketh not one of two And no doubt the Natures are One But One what Not One Nature but One Person Yet to bring off Cyril it may be said that even the Natures are One in opposition to Division or Separation but not One in opposition to distinction He that had but distinguished these two clearly to them and explained the word Nature clearly had better ended all the Controversie than it was ended It 's plain that Cyril and the Eutychians allowed mental distinction though not that the Mind should suppose them divided And it 's certain that the Orthodox meant no more § 3. He that readeth but Philosophers Schoolmen and late Writers such as Fortun. Licetus de natura c. will see how little they are agreed about the meaning of the word Nature and how unable to procure agreement in the conception They that say it is principium motus Quietis are contradicoted as confounding divers Principia and as confounding Active Natures and Passive the Active only being Principium Motus and the Passive Principium quietis And on such accounts the Eutychians pleaded for One Nature because in Christ incarnate they supposed that the Divine Nature was the Principium primum motus and that all Christs actions were done by it and that the humane soul being moved by the Divinity was but Principium subordinatum which they thought was improperly called Principium As most Philosophers say that Forma generica is improperly called forma hominis because one thing hath but one form so they thought that one person had but one proper Principium motus § 4. Alas how few Bishops then could distinguish as Derodon doth and our common Metaphysicks between 1. Individuum 2. Prima substantia 3. Natura 4. Suppositum 5. Persona 6. and have distinguished a right essence and hypostasis or subsistence c. and defined all these Nature saith Derodon de suppos p. 5. is taken in nine senses But the sense was not here agreed on before they disputed of the matter Even about the Nature of Man it is disputed whether he consist not of many natures Whether every Element Earth Water Air Fire retain not its several Nature in the Body or whether the Soul be Mans only Nature and whether as intellectual and sensitive and vegetative or only in one of these And is it not pity that such questions should be raised about the person of Christ by self-conceited Bishops and made necessary to salvation and the world set on fire and divided by them Is this good usage of the Faith of Christ the Souls of Men and the Church of God § 5. But to the History At a Council of Constantinop under Flavianvs Eusebius Bishop of Dorileum accused Eutyches for affirming Heretically as aforesaid that after the Vnion Christ had but one Nature Eutiches is sent for He refuseth to come out of his Monastery After many Citations be still refusing they judge him to be brought by force He first delayeth Then craveth of the Emperour the presence of Magistrates that he be not calumniated by the Bishops He is condemned but recanteth not § 6. A meeting of Bishops at Tyre cleared Ibas Edess from the accusation of Nestorianisme made by four Excommunicate Priests two of them perjured and reconciled him to such Priests for Peace sake § 7. Another meeting of Bishops at Berythum cleared Ibas from a renewed accusation of Nestorianisme being said to have spoken evil of Cyril An Epistle of his to Maris a Bishop was accused which the Council at Calcedon after absolved and the next General Council condemned § 8. CXXIV Another Council is called at Constantinople by the means of some Courtiers in favour to Eutiches where upon the testimony of some Bishops that Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople condemned him himself before the Synod did it and that the Records were altered all was nullified that at the last Synod was done against him § 9. CXXV Theodosius calleth a second General Council at Ephesus an 449. and maketh Dioscorus Bishop of Alex. President Dioscorus forbad Ibas and Theodoret to be there as being Nestorians The Emperour himself was so much for peace and so deeply before engaged in Cyril's cause against Nestorius that he thought it levity to pull down all so soon again the Eutychians perswading him that they stuck to Cyril and the Ephesine and Nicene Council Dioscorus thinking the same that Eutiches and Cyril were of one mind and that it was Nestorianisme which they were against carried matters in this Synod as violently as Cyril had done in the former The Bishops perceiving the Emperours the Courtiers and Dioscorus mind could not resist the stronger side The Bishop of Rome was commanded by the Emperour to be present He sent his Legates with his Judgment in Writing of the Cause The Emperour for bad those to be Speakers that had before judged Eutyches The Roman Legates excepted that Dioscorus presided It seemeth the Eastern Empire and Church then believed not that the Popes precedency was jure divino Dioscorus declareth that the Council was not called to decide any matter of Faith but to judge of the proceedings of Flavianus against Eutyches The Acts of the Constant. Synod after the Emperours Letters being read Eutyches is absolved Domnus Patriarch of Antioch Iuvenal Patriarch of Ierusalem the Bishop of Ephesus and the rest subscribed the absolution which after they said they did for fear when another Emperour changed the Scene This being done the Acts of the former Ephes. Council were read and all Excommunicate that did not approve them So that this Council of Eutychians thought verily the former was of their mind Four Bishops Flavianus Eusebius Doryl Ibas Edes and Theodoret Cyri are condemned and deposed All the Bishops subscribed except the Popes Legates so that saith Bimius In hoc tam horrendo Episcoporum suffragio sola navilula Petri incolumis emergens salvatur p. 1017. Judge by this First Whether Councils may erre Secondly Whether they are the just Judges or Keepers of Tradition Thirdly Whether all the World always believed the Popes Infallibility or Governing power over them when all that Council voted contrary to him Flavianus here offering his appeal was beaten and abused and dyed of the hurt as was said in Concil Calced and by Liberatus But this was no quenching but a kindling of the fire of Episcopal Contentions Theodosius missed of his end § 10. CXXVI Leo at Rome in a Synod condemneth this Ephesian Council § 11. CXXVII Dioscorus in a Council at Alexandria Excommunicateth Leo. § 12. CXXVIII Theodosius the Emperour being dead Martian was against the Eutychians Anatolius at a Synod at Constantinople maketh an Orthodox Profession of his Faith like Leo's § 13. CXXIX And at Milan a Council owneth Leo's judgment § 14. CXXX Now cometh the great Council at Calcedon under the new Emperour Martian where all is changed for a time Yet Pulcheria who marryed him and
Western Empire and Africa being divided between many late conquering Kings they all labour to settle themselves in a peaceable possession by pleasing the Clergy who as they found had no small interest in the People § 71. CXLVII Hincmazus in the life of Remigius tells us of a strange thing done at a Council at Rhemes that one Arian Bishop challenged all the rest to dispute and when Rhemigius came in would not rise to him but upon the shaddow of Remigius passing by him he was struck dumb and falling at Rhemigius feet by signs askt pardon and was suddenly cured of his dumbness and Heresie confessing the Deity of Christ. § 72. CXLVIII Because Iohan. Nicopolit did but call some of his Bishops to flatter the Pope and to curse all Heresies and Acacius this is put in among the Councils But the Concil Tarracense Anno 516. seems more regardable under Theodorick where the Clergy are restrained from buying cheaper and selling dearer than others this it seems grew to be a part of their priviledges and from judging causes on the Lords day And it is ordered that the Bishop send a Presbyter one week and a Deacon another to the Country Congregations and to visit them himself once a year because by the old custome he is to have a third part of all the Church profits Quâ—r Whether a Bishops Diocess then was any bigger than one of our Corporations with the Neighbour Villages And if one of our Bishops that have above a thousand Parishes or many hundred should have the third part of all or as other Canons say the fourth Would not our Bishops be yet richer men than they are Especially if they that confine Bishops to Cities could get a Prince to call no Corporation a City but one or two in a Kingdom and be as the Abuna is in Ethiopia that hath the thirds of all the Ecclesiastical benefits in the Empire This Council had ten Bishops § 73. CXLIX The Concillium Gerundense is next Anno 517. under Theodorick It consisted of seven Bishops Bishopricks began to grow so big that they could not so suddenly meet by the scores and hundreds as when every Church was known by one Altar and one Bishop as Ignatius speaks The seven men made Canons that the same Liturgy should be used in the other Churches of that Province as were used in the Metropolitan Church For formerly every Bishop in his own Church did pray as he thought best without Imposed or agreed Uniformity of many Churches much less of all in a Nation They Decree also that Litanies be used on the Kalends of November A Litany then signified a solemn supplicating of God by the People Assembled Fasting Walking Singing and Praying as is used here in the Rogation Week sometime they walked to the Memorial of some Martyr sometime about the streets oft bare foot continuing it with Fasting for certain times The Last Canon is That the Priests say the Lords Prayer twice a Day Morning and Evening That was a short Liturgy § 74 CL. When Iustin was made Emperour the Bishops turned in the East and down went the Eutychians and a Synod of 40 Bishops at Constantinople resolved that the Names of Euphemius and Macedonius should be restored into the Dyptick their Book of life and that Soverus should be condemned with his Adherents § 75. The Case hath been oft intimated before In those times when all the Empire was in confusion between Eutychians and the Orthodox and some Emperours took one side and some the other and some in vain endeavoured peace The Churches of Antioch and Alexandria were more Eutychian than Constantinople though the Emperour that favoured the Eutychians were present Acacius was Orthodox but pleased the Emperour so far as to Communicate with or not curse and excommunicate the Bishops of Antioch and Alexandria For this as you have oft heard the Pope Excommunicated him and he so dyed having done as much for the Pope Euphemius and Macedonius that succeeded were both Orthodox and commanded by the Emperour to Communicate with the Eutychians and persecuted and both cast out by him for not obeying him as is before described in that and another such matter The Pope had required them to blot Acacius name out of the Dyptick The Court Clergy and People were against it thinking it arrogancy in one man to Excommunicate the Patriarch of the Imperial City that was Orthodox upon his personal revenge or quarrel They obeyed not the Pope The Pope is against them for not cursing a dead Orthodox Bishop Acacius The Emperour was against them for being against the Eutychians as the Pope was for not being more against both them and all that did not curse them as much as he did Were not these Bishops in a hard case Both agree to their extirpation and when they were dead to damn their names But the Clergy and People agreed not The Eastern and Western Churches were hereby divided that is Constantinople and Rome Is not the Christian World beholden to such Tyrants and proud pretenders for its distractions and calamities That will rather divide the Christian World than endure the names of Orthodox persecuted Bishops to be honoured when they are dead because they would not blot out and abhor the name of another dead Orthodox Bishop their Predecessour when the Pope cursed him for Communicating with an Eutychian I know the Papists will cry up The preservation of the Faith and Purity But if ever any did overdo the Pharisees that reproved Christ for eating with Publicans and Sinners If ever any became Plagues of the World by being Wise Orthodox and Righteous overmuch and made use of the name of Faith to destroy Faith Love Humanity and Peace and cryed up the Church and Vnity as Catholicks to destroy the Church and Unity and crumble it into Sects and Factions it is certainly these men But the East and West that thus began their separation by the spirit of Pride and Envy that Rome had against the growing greatness of Constantinople continue their Division to this day And it hath been no small cause of the ruin of the Empire and the Christian Cause and delivering all up to the Mahometans Which the good Pope seemed to judg more tolerable with all the streams of Blood that went before and after than that he should not have his will upon an Orthodox dead mans name Sure fiut Iustitia ruat Coelum was devised by these precise over righteous Popes § 76. Evagrius lib. 3. saith that Iustin came to the Empire as followeth Amantius was one of the Greatest men but uncapable of the Empire because he was an Eunuch He gave a great sum of Money to Iustine to hire the Souldiers to choose Theocritus his bosom friend Iustine with that Money hired them to choose himself and quieted Amantius and Theocritus by murdering them both And because Vitalianus that had usurped and laid down was then great he drew him in to be a Commander near him and
of the Apostolick Seat that the Kingdom was translated from Chilperic to Pepin the foresaid Historians do so expresly say that it 's a wonder with what front the innovating Hereticks dare call it in question Lastly It is here to be noted that it was by this same Pope Zachary that the nomination or postulation of Bishops for the vacant Churches in his Kingdom was granted to King Pepin Therefore if elsewhere you read that the Kings of France give Bishops to the Churches remember that it is not done by their own Right but by the Grant of the Apostolick Seat In vain therefore do the innovating Hereticks glory in this Argument who endeavor to subject the Church to Kings So far Binnius after Baronius § 12. From this Story and these words let the Reader think how to answer these Questions Quest. 1. Had not Kings need to take heed of making any one man too great if greatness and exercise of Government give him so much right to the Kingdom Qu. 2. Had not Kings need to look to their manners for their Crowns sake as well as their Souls if Lust Sensuality and Dulness forfeit their Kingdoms Qu. 3. Did not Wars and weakning of the Empire make a great change with Popes when they that were set up and banished at the Emperor's pleasure can now first depose the Emperor in the West for being against Images and Persecuting and then can translate the Crown of France Qu. 4. Was not an ambitious Pope a fit Tool for Pepin and his Confederates to work by to put a pious gloss on their Conspiracy Qu. 5. Did not the Pope rise thus by serving the turns of Conspirators and of Princes in their quarrels with one another Qu. 6. Are Subjects Judges when a King's Sins make him unworthy of the Crown Qu. 7. Yea is the Pope Judge and hath he power to depose Kings if he judge them such Sinners and unfit for Government Qu. 8. Is it a good Reason that a King is justly deposed because Good Men and Holy Bishops are the Desirers and Promoters of it Qu. 9. Would not this Reason have served Maximus against Gratian Was it not Cromwel's Plea If he had but had the Pope and People on his side you see how it would have gone Qu. 10. Is it the mark of an Innovating Heretick to say that the Church should be subject to Kings when Paul and Peter said it of all Christians so long ago Qu. 11. Is it a Note that Protestants love Rebellion because they are against Popes deposing Kings Or is there any heed to be taken of the words of impudent Revilers that dare speak before God and Man at this rate Is deposing Kings the Papists freedom from Rebellion and is our opposing it a character of Rebels Qu. 12. Is it any wonder that Bishop Burchardus desired it and that Bishop Boniface executed the Pope's command who had been translated from England by him to such dignity and had sworn Obedience and Service to him Qu. 13. Is it any wonder that the Pope made these Bishops Saints Qu. 14. I hope they were really godly Men But is it any wonder that some good Men at such a time as that did think it had been for the interest of Religion to have all Power in the Clergies hands especially being themselves Bishops that were to have so great a share How few Bishops are afraid of too much power or ever do refuse it Qu. 15. If the King of France had his Kingdom by the Pope's gift what wonder if he had the power of nominating Bishops also by his gift Qu. 16. Whether he that hath power to give hath not power to take away and be not Judge when the Cause is just Qu. 17. With what face do Papists at once make these claims and yet profess Loyalty to Kings Qu. 18. Whether it concern not Kings to understand on what terms they stand with the Pope and his Clergy that must not be subject to them but have power to depose them Qu. 19. If there be any Party among them that hath more Loyal Principles is it a sign of the concord of their Church that agreeth not in matter of so great moment Or a proof that the Pope is the infallible Judge of Controversies that will not determine so great a Point on which the Peace of Kingdoms doth depend § 13. About the same time they persuaded Rachis King of the Longobards Successor to Luitprand for the love of Religion to lay down his Crown and go into a Monastery so that Monasteries are places for the worst and the best some too bad to reign and some too good lest they should over-master the Clergy § 14. It may be you will think that this Pope Zachary and his sworn Vassal St. Boniface were some very profound Divines that could by their wisdom and piety thus master Kingdoms Doubtless they were zealous Adversaries to Heresies except their own and Successors of the Hereticating and Damning Fathers For Epist. 10. Bin. p. 206 207 208. Zachary writeth to Boniface to expel Virgilius from the Church and Priesthood for holding Antipodes viz. that Sun-shine and Moon-light and Men are under the Earth as well as here which we call over it The words are De perversa autem iniqua doctrina quae contra Dominum Animamsuam locutus est si clarificatum fuerit ita eum confiteri quod alius mundus alii homines sub terra sint seu Sol Luna hunc habito Concilio ab Ecclesia pelle Sacerdotii honore privatum That is But as to the perverse and unjust Doctrine which he hath spoken against the Lord and his own Soul if it be made clear that he so confesseth that under the Earth there is another world and other Men and Sun and Moon call a Council and depriving him of the honour of Priesthood drive him out of the Church That by another world is meant Antipodes or the other side of the Earth inhabited is doubtless § 15. Qu. 1. Did God make Popes to be the Governors of the Antipodes for so many hundred years before they knew that there was any Antipodes And when they excommunicated and silenced those that affirmed it Qu. 2. Were these Popes and Bishops Men of such wisdom as were fit to hereticate Dissenters as they did Qu. 3. Do we not see here what some Councils were and did in those times Qu. 4. Do we not see what Heresie signified at Rome and how little heed there was to be taken of their outcry against some Heresies Qu. 5. Whether was all the World or all the West bound to avoid Communion after with Virgilius Qu. 6. Do we not see here of what Infallibility the Pope is in judging of matters of Faith and how happy the World is to have such a Judge and of what credit his Heretications and Excommunications are Qu. 7. Do we not see how Religion hath been depraved and dishonoured by the Pope and his Clergy calling
not because he causeth not Cap. 3. About Christ's death they like not those that say he dyed for all that from the days of Adam till then had been damned but would have all take up with this simple Doctrine that God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Cap. 4. They conclude that all true Believers regenerate by water and the Spirit have their sins washed by the blood of Christ And they could not have true Regeneration if they had not true Redemption But of the multitude of the faithful and redeemed some are eternally saved because they persevere others are lost because they persevere not in the salvation of faith which they had received and so make void the grace of redemption Cap. 6. About Grace and infirmed Free-will restored and healed by Christ they exhort Men to stick to the Scriptures and the Councils of Africa and Orange and not to follow the Aniles penè Fabulas Scotorum I suppose they mean the Followers of Iohan. Scotus Erignenae who was murdered by his Scholars 833 whom Godescalcus followed lest they should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Remembring Christians that while they are vexed with the prevalency of the wicked in the world they should not vex the sad Congregations with such superfluous things Cap. 7. They advise that because Bishops were set over the Cities that were untryed and almost ignorant of Letters and unlike the Apostolick Prescript by which means the Ecclesiastical vigor is lost that they would petition the Prince that when a Bishop was wanting the Canonical Election by the Clergy and the People might be permitted because the King was used to thrust his Favorites on the People that Men of tryed knowledge and life and not illiterate Men blinded by covetousness might be set as Bishops over the Flocks § 10. CCLXIII An. 855. A Council was held at Papia in Italy by the Order of the Emperour Ludovicus for the Reformation of the corrupt Clergy where they ordered that the Clergy and People chuse the Bishops and yet that the Laity on pretence of their Electing Power trample not on the Arch-Presbyter and that great Mens Chappels empty not the Churches with other old Canons recited § 11. Lotharius that so mischievously sought for the Empire against his Father and Brethren grew weary of what he had and divided his 3d part which was the Empire of Italy with Burgundy and Lorrain into three parts and gave his Son Lewis the Empire in Italy and his Son Lotharius Lorrain and his Son Charles Burgundy and entered himself into a Monastery But Charles dying the other two Brethren divided his Dominion and Lyons Belanson and Vienna fell to Lotharius § 12. We come now to the Reign of Pope Ioane according to a great number of their own Historians but David Blondel hath recited the Testimonies of multitudes on both sides and after all impartially past his conjecture that the Story was not true whose judgment I reverence and think most probable Whether at that time there was a Iohn the 8th or none till him that some call Iohn the 9th after Adrian the 2d is uncertain § 13. Leo dying if there was no Iohn or Ioane between a Schism was made the People most chusing Benedict and the Agents of the Emperor with part of the People and Bishops chusing one Anastasius a Cardinal Presbyter that had been Excommunicate by a former Pope Anastasius thought his choice so sure that entering Leonina the Roman Suburbs he went into St. Peter's own Church and broke down and burnt the Images and with a Mattock cast down to the ground even the Image of Christ and the Virgin Mary They went on and imprisoned Benedict quem omnis Romana Plebs eligerat saith Anast. in Bin. p. 659. But while the great Men and Officers of the Emperor did their utmost to constrain the People to consent to Anastasius they could not prevail and so they were fain to yield to the multitude to end the Tumult and Confusion and Benedict had the place § 14. By this Story it appeareth 1. That this Anastasius was against Images and that was like enough to be part of the cause why he had five years left his Church in Rome before and refused to appear before Pope or Council 2. That when the Emperor and his Officers were so violent for his choice even after he had broken down the Images in St. Peter's Church it is apparent that the Party even about Rome and in the West which was against Images was not small though they made no stir § 15. This Pope Benedict was he that confirmed Hincmarus's Council which nullified Ebbo's Ordinations aforesaid as is to be seen in his first Epist. Bin. p. 662 c. § 16. An. 856. Charles Calvus by a Synods concurrence at Carissiac sent Orders against Church-Robbers very strict And 857 a Council at Mentz was held CCLXIV where Gunthar Bishop of Colen sent a Letter that A terrible Tempest arose in which the People for fear all ran into St. Peter's Church And the Church-beams cracking as they fell a praying to God for mercy suddenly a mishapen Thunderbolt like a fiery Dragon pierced and tâ—re the Church and at one stroke killed three men among all the multitude though those three stood in several places that is one Priest that stood at St. Peter's Altar one Deacon that stood at St. Denis's Altar and one Lay-man at St. Mary's Altar And six others were struck almost dead but recovered At Trevirs also were many Prodigies § 17. Pope Nicolas 1. is chosen by the Emperor Ludovicus consent and all the People He greatly advanceth the Roman Seat by his activity and much by doing justice to the People that were oppressed by Tyrannical Prelates He had a great conflict with Iohn Bishop of Ravenna who long despised him and denied him his subjection But the Emperor took the Pope's part and so poor Iohn was fain to submit and cry miseremini mei peto misereri mei Anast. in Bin. p. 667. and to take an Oath of subjection to the Pope § 18. The great Schism now rose at Constantinople whether Ignatius or Photius should be Patriarch Michael the Emperor deposing Ignatius by the counsel of his Uncle Bardas and putting in Photius The Pope kept up his power by interposing uncalled into all such matters He sent some Bishops as Legates to counsel them by a Synod to decide the difference When these Bishops came thither they consented to Photius against Ignatius The Pope said they were bribed and false to their trust and deposed them though he thought he chose the best he had of which more anon § 19. Yet we have not done with worldly Prelates King Lotharius was weary of his Wife and loved a Whore Waldrada He openeth his case to the Bishops They call a Council and approve of his Divorce and his
the Pope curseth his Legates at Constantinople with Photius and Gregory Syracusanus because they all crossed his will which must everywhere bear rule § 43. CCLXXVI In a Council at Senlis Hincmarus Rhemensis got Rhotaldus Bishop of Soissons deposed and thrust into a Monastery and another put in his place notwithstanding the Pope's opposition An. 863. § 44. CCLXXVII Hereupon the Pope in a Council at Rome condemneth this Council at Senlis and decreeth That unless Hincmarus and the other Bishops do within 30 days restore Rhotaldus they shall be forbidden their Ministery and used as they used Rhotaldus But they did not obey him but put it to the venture And whereas the King had forbidden Rhotaldus to go to Rome and the French Bishops pleaded this as a just restraint the Pope answered That no Imperial Laws must take place against Ecclesiastical And so it came to the question Whether the King or the Pope was King of France or had more power over the bodies of the Subjects Thus did the Papacy ascend § 45. CCLXXVIII A Council of Bishops and Lords together at Pistis made Orders for Repentance and restraint of Rapine and Plunder c. An. 863. § 46. CCLXXIX An. 864. In a Council at Rome the Pope deposed and excommunicated Rodoaldus Portuensis his Legate with Ioh. Hiâ—â—densis for joining with the Synod at Metz against his Orders § 47. CCLXXX In another Council at Rome An. 865. the Pope restoreth Rhotaldus For Hincmarus at last let him out of Prison and let him go to Rome but would neither go nor send thither any Legates himself as the Pope required for his own and the Synod's defence § 48. CCLXXXI An. 866. A Synod at Soissons wrote to the Pope about Hincmarus and against encouraging false Ordinations unless after privately confirmed c. § 49. CCLXXXII The Pope was so busie and troublesom with the French Bishops making himself Judge in matters that he knew not and restoring those that they deposed that An. 867. a Synod at Trâ—cas wrote to inform him of all that had passed for 33 years how Ebbo and his Synod of Bishops had slandered and deposed the Emperor Ludovicus Pius and how he did it to please Lotharius and when Ludovicus was restored how he fled and when Ludovicus was dead how Lotharius with the base temporizing Bishops restored him and after he had been condemned and resigned his place returned to the exercise of it and ordained divers and how upon the prevailing of Charles against Lotharius he was cast out again and how after Lotharius got the Pope to appoint the hearing of all again when he was condemned and how after this he was made a Bishop in Germany and Rhemes was ten years ruled by two Presbyters and how the Pope Paschal chose this Traytor to preach to the Heathens near him and how Hincmarus was chosen c. as aforesaid Such trouble did a Vsurper put the Churches to § 50. Platina saith that some say that after the death of Pope Nicolas the place was void eight years seven months and nine dayes But others say that it was void but seven dayes so uncertain is the Papal History of succession The next that we find inthroned is Haedrian 2d § 51. Michael at Constantinople having been long ruled much by Bardas who was for Photius at last giving up himself to drunkenness and other sins by the perswasion of Basilius he killed Bardas and made Basilius Caesar And after a while his vice gave Basilius the opportunity to kill the Emperor when he was drunk See Dion Petavius Hist. li. 1. chap. 12. Yet this Basilius washed his hands and made many Protestations that he had no hand in his blood This made for the Popes advantage Women and Rebels and Traytors and discordant Princes did much in raising him This Regicide Emperor as a second Phocas finds it useful to quiet his party by a change countenanced by the Bishop of Rome And so he sets himself against Photius and sets up Ignatius again and searching Photius's servants finds a book written of the Acts of the late great Council at Constantinople which was for him and against Ignatius and a defence of that Council against the Bishop of Rome in which he dealt severely with the Pope This Book the new Emperor sends to the Pope and there it is read stampt upon stab'd with a knife and openly burnt and a miracle is said to be at the burning of it some drops of rain that fell not quenching the fire but increasing it But their calling Photius a knave and burning his books and condemning the council that was for him will hardly keep the readers of his yet-preserved learned writings from suspecting that the Popes cause was not unquestionable or at least that the Pope was not taken for the universal Vice-Christ when Photius and his council did so little regard him No wonder then if the Acts of a great council when they were against the Pope are called Nesandissimi Conciliabuli prophanat a Volumina quibus sanctissimum Papam Nicolaum susurâ—â fauce latraverat Yet our new Papists would make men believe that none but a few Hereticks refused subjection to the Pope before Luther Were these Councils Hereticks § 52. Here the Emperor Basilius was put to a hard strait about his Bishops He wrote to the Pope vid. Bin. p. 825. 826. that almost all his Bishops had miscarried both those ordained by Photius and those Ordained by Ignatius they had turned with the times not knowing how the times would turn and incurred such guilt that he desired the Pope to pardon them lest he should want Bishops silencing one party would not serve turn while all had been so far guilty Tum à sanctissimo Patriarcha Ignatio consecrati secundum scripturae suae confessionem in veritate non permanserunt nec non et de his summis Sacerdot ibus atque Abbatibus qui diversimodè scripserunt quorum alii vi vel tyrannide alii verò simplicitate aut levit ate quidam verò seductione et versutiis quidam verò muneribus et honoribus diversimodè decepti sunt Imò verò dicendum est quod pene omnes sacrati tam priores quam posteriores qui sub nobis sunt malè et ut non opportebat tractati sunt Quatenus non Ecclesiae nostrae summis Sacerdotibus et Sacerdotibus qui sub omni regimine nostro sunt commune occurrat naufragium propemodum universis illis de falsis et impotabilibus gustantibus iniquitatis Rheumatibus Super his itaque postulamus compatientissimum Sacerdotium tuum ut manum porrig at humanitatis et eorum dispenset salutem c. saith Basilius ibid. § 53. Here also another difficulty arose as there ever doth in ravelled works The Pope had been against Hincmarus and his Council for deposing the Bishops ordained by Ebbo And yet to subdue the Greeks he was for the deposing of those ordained by Photius This made him seem contrary to himself
Anastasius Bibliothecarius who then lived and was employed at Constantinople in this matter to reconcile the contradiction saith that Ebbo was a true Bishop but Photius was not because he was a Lay-man before his consecration and therefore his ordinations are nullities This nullifying of ordinations maketh great disturbances in the Church The present Bishops of England require those that were heretofore ordained by Parochial Pastors to be re-ordained and on this and such other accounts about 2000 were silenced at one day Aug. 24. 1662. The silenced Nonconformists do some of them say that the Bishops have much less than Photius to shew for their authority to ordain He had learning he had the Emperors authority for him He had lawfull Bishops to ordain him He had a great Council or two to approve him and confirm him And though he was a lay-man before so is every one when he cometh to his first ordination And though he was made Bishop per saltum so was Nectarius Thalasius Ambrose c. And every Uncanonical irregularity nullifieth not the ordination It hath been ordinary for Deacons to be made Popes And is not that per saltum why doth not that interrupt and nullifie the Papaciâ— But say they on this account 1. Romes succession is long agoe interrupted There having been far greater incapacities in Simonists common Adulterers Perjured Rebels Hereticks Infidels as Councils have judged 2. And they say that so the English Prelates are no Bishops being chosen by the King and wanting that choice of the Clergy and people which the Canons have over and over again made necessary to the validity of ordinations are more null than those of Photius And therefore we owe them as such no obedience nor communion Thus our nullifyings and condemnings proceed till most men have degraded if not unchristened one another And he that is on the stronger side carrieth it till death or some other change confute his claim and then the other side gets up and condemneth him as he condemned them And thus hath the Church long suffered by damning Divines and domineering or censorious Judges § 54. By the restoring of Ignatius the Pope got to himself the reputation of some Supremacy and obliged a party to him which however it was not the greatest at the first would be greatest when Ignatius his supremacy had advanced it And with them he got the reputation of being just indeed Photius seeming to possess the seat of one that was injuriously deposed by the meer will of the Prince without sufficient cause § 55. Pope Hadrian 2. Epist. 4. ad Ignat. Const. directeth Ignatius to forgive many others but none of those that subscribed to Photius his great Council at Constantinople because they reproached the Pope of Rome where you may see 1. How dangerous it was then to be in a General Council when if they please not the strongest they are ruined And if they do it 's like enough the next age will damn them for it 2. How much more dangerous is it for a Council to be against the Pope than to be guilty of many other crimes and how unpardonable it is § 56. CCLXXXIII An. 868. Besides the Popes Roman Synod that damned Photius and his Book and Const Council there was a Council at Worms which repealed many old Canons of which the 14th is that if Bishops shall excommunicate any wrongfully or for light cause and not restore them the neighbour Bishops shall take such to their communion till the next Synod The 15. Canon is that because in Monasteries there are Thieves that cannot be found when the suspected purge themselves they shall receive the sacrament of Christ's body and blood thereby to shew that they are innocent But this Canon the Papists are ashamed of The 72. Canon alloweth Presbyters yea all Christians to anoint the sick because the Bishops hindered with other business cannot go to all the sick This intimateth that even then the Diocesses were not so great as ours that have one or many Counties else other reason would have been given why the Bishop could not visit all the sick than his hindering businesses Would the Bishop e. g. of Lincoln say I would visit all the sick in Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Hunâ—ingtonshire Rutlandshire Hartfordshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire which are in my Diocess but that I am hindered by other business who would take this for the words of a sober man § 57. CCLXXXIV An. 869 was that Constantinopolitan Council which the Papists damning some otherâ— call the 4th and the 8th General Council ended An. 879. in which but 102 Bishops condemned Photius and setled Ignatius by the means of the Emperor Basilius and the Pope who had before restored him Here in Act. 2. The Bishops that had followed Photius took the old course and when they saw all turned cryed peccavimus and craved pardon and themselves called Photius such a villain as there had never been the like Bin. p. 882 They said they sinned through fear and so were forgiven Act. 3. Some Bishops that had turned who were ordained by Methodius were required to subscribe to a form proposed But they told them that the late times had so vexed men with heinous subscriptions that they had made a Covenant or Vow to make no more subscriptions but what they had done already and the profession of their faith like Nonconformists and desired to be received on such terms without their new subscription Act. 4. The Bishops of Photius's party ordained by him were examined And Act. 5. Photius himself who would not enter till constrained and then professed as in imitation of Christ to give them no answer to what they asked him and is in vain exhorted to repentance Act. 6. Many of the Photian Bishops repented and were pardoned Others pretended that they had subscribed and sworn to Photius where Zachar. Calcedon shewed that the Canons were above the Patriarchs Here Basilius the Emperor made a notable speech to exhort the Bishops to repentance offering himself to lay by his honour and to lie on the earth and let them tread on him confessing his sin and asking mercy Act. 7. Photius is again brought in and his staff that he leaned on taken from him and he denyed to defend himself and to repent but bid them repent The Bishops of Heraclea c. rejected the Legates and pronounced them anathematized that should anathematize Photius and appealed to the Canons Act. 8. They censured a Bishop that was against Images Act. 9. They examined some great men that had â—worn against Ignatius who confest they had sworn falsely for â—ear of the Princes but Leo would not damn or curse Photius because he thought the Orthodox were not to be cursed The 10th Act. Containeth the Canons which they made of which the Copies greatly differ § 58. The 3d. Canon saith that they ordain that the Image of Christ be worshiped with the same honour as the Gospels as teaching that by Colours which the Gospel
men of Desert whom through sloth and malice they cannot match You shall never find any to envy anothers Fame but one that himself is Contaminated with all disgrace and despaireth that his own Name should ever be Famous with Posterity These are they that by Fraud Malice Craft and evil speaking do Bite Tear Accuse and Worry those that deserve well of Mankind like cowardly or slothful and useless Dogs that dare not set upon wild Beasts themselves but will bite those that are tyed or in their Dens So Platina Ramanus Ruled but three Months § 15. Next Succeeded in the Popedome Theodorus 2. who saith Platina followed the steps of the Seditious For he restored the Acts of Formosus and preferred his followers and Reigned but Twenty days Next came Iohn 9. or 10. as others saith Platina He restored the Cause of Pope-Formosus many of the People being against it whence arose such a Sedition that they hardly scaped a Battle Baronius saith that Ludovicus 4. was deposed and blinded now by Berengarius who assumed the Empire and this Pope Crowned him through fear Yet after he was gone he called Lambert to Rome and with a Synod concuring with him declared the Coronations both of Berengarius and Arnulph to be Null as being extorted and so took Lambert for King and Emperour Did not the Crowns of Princes sit very loose when it was but a Popes pretending that he Crowned them through Fear and they were presently Deposed Would these Popes have been Martyrs or were they Christians or Gnosticks that would sin if they were but put in fear And would not fear have made them own a Heresy as well as other sin On this occasion all was cast into Confusion the Pope was fain to fly to Ravenna for protection to him whom he had Crowned § 16. CCCVI This Pope called a Synod at Rome that called Ovetensis I pass by as of small moment An. 904. in which he condemned the fact of Pope Stephen decreeing that the Dead are not to be judged by men But what became of the Synod of Bishops that had joyned herein with Pope Stephen Why Bin. p. 1049. they turn'd with the times and did as such had used to do They asked forgiveness and said they did it for Fear and so he that hath power by Fear or Hope can make such Bishops and Councils Sin and Repent and Sin again and Repent again as Interest altereth They were pardoned But Formosus preferment from a Bishoprick to the Popedome was Voted to be against the Canons excusable only by necessity and not to be imitated but in cases of necessity His Ordained Clergy were Restored and Re-ordinations and Re-baptizations forbidden as unlawful § 17. CCCVII Another Synod he called at Ravenna for the same use when he fled thither from Rome of 74 Bishops Baronius saith He was another Ieremias sent of God to pluck up and pull down what Pope Stephen had done Platina saith I think this came to pass because Popes were departed from St. Peters steps and chiefly because the Christian Common-wealth had idle slothful Princes that would have Peters ship thus tossed lest the Ruler if he look about him should cast them out as evil Pilots Arnulphus was given to pleasure and Charles the simple or rather foolish of France was little better and so the Hungarians destroyed and killed in Germany and France and the Affricans in Calabria and had little resistance Blood and Misery being the common Lot He addeth That this Pope John dying in the 2d Year and 15th day of his Reign left nothing worthy of Memory behind him but that He revived some Seditions that before were almost extinct And it is a sad question that Herveus Bishop of Rhemes put to him Bin. p. 1048 What to do with those that are Baptized and Rebaptized and yet after Baptism live as the Heathens kill Christians yea the Priests sacrifice to Idols eat things offered to them The Pope durst not use Discipline on these because they were Novices lest he affright them from the Church to Heathenisme again but left them to the Bishops Discretion and Experience to do as he saw best § 18. This Pope had a Corrival which was the 15. Schisme Sergius that had been made Pope with Formosus and was put out and Banished did now get in again but Iohn had the stronger part and cast him out and Banished him once again Onuphr Chron. p. 28. But had he been but strong enough the succession had come down from him as right § 19. Benedict the 4. came next Nothing saith Platina was done in his time that is much to be praised because both Princes Popes and Clergy were grown Debauched bad Princes making Popes by Tyranny Now the Line of Charles the Great lost the Empire Ludovicus the Son of Arnulphus being slain by Berengarius and so they lost both Italy Germany and after France by their own and the Clergies Wickedness § 20. Leo. 5. Came next Anno 907. Who thrust him in I find not but when he had Reigned but 40. days his familiar friend Christopher had list to be Pope and cast him out and laid him in Fetters where it 's said he dyed of Grief where Platina well noteth that The saying is certainly true that Dignities or places of preferment receive more honour from the Men than the Men do from the Dignities or places § 21. Christopher thus got in by sudden invasion kept it longer than Leo did even near seven Months and then he that had been twice Pope before did once again try for it and was too strong for Christopher and put him into a Monastery A Holy place then no doubt For saith Platina This was the only refuge of the Calamitous For in those times bad Clergy Men were thurst into Monasteries by way of Banishment as heretofore into Islands § 22. The Man that did this and got the Popedom was Sergius 3. who had been twice before cast out saith Baron and Bin. p. 1052. That wicked Sergius Nefandus by Albertus Armes got in A Man that was the servant of all Vices and of all Men the most wicked Facinorosissimus invaded the Popedom and so was by all Men taken for no lawful Pope To his horrid Sacriledge he added the most impudent filthyness and by Marozia a great Whore the Daughter of that most famous Whore Theodora he begot his Son John after Pope For many Historians tell us how these two famous Whores did rule Rome and make and unmake Popes § 23. This Pope undid again all that had been done for Formosus and against Stephen For both the King of France and Sergius were Enemies to Formosus for setting up other powers against France and because his party was against Sergius But I wonder that Platina tells us that both Stephen and Sergius took Formosus out of his Grave and the one cut off his three Fingers and the other his Head and both cast into Tyber If this be true
But Did that After-consent make him a true Bishop 2. If not Where is their Succession 3. Did God authorize the Clergy to consent to such a Man Where Prove it 4. If not Could their Consent make him a Bishop Is not all Power of God And Doth God give it contrary to his Word 5. Were not those Clergy-Men wicked themselves that would do so 6. Did those Doctors presume that their Readers were such Fools as not to know that Forma non recipitur nisi in materiam dispositam And that Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius An Illiterate Man cannot be a School-Master He that is no Christian cannot be a Bishop nor he that hath not the Qualifications essentially necessary All the World cannot make a Physician a Lawyer a Divine a true Pastor or Bishop of an Ideot an Infant or a Man that wanteth Essential Dispositions To say he wanted all requisite Qualifications and yet that he was a Bishop is a Contradiction Materia Disposita Forma being the Constitutive Causes What if they had made a Bishop of a Turk an Infidel a Corps c Had it not been a Nullity and prophane Mockery 7. What else signify all the Canons that nullify Ordinations for less Faults But the Image of a Bishop will make but the Image or Carkass of a Church § 52. But say they Cum Vniversa Ecclesia Catholica sciret minus malum esse caput quantum libet monstrosum proferre quam unum corpus in duo secari duobus capitibus informari eundem toto orbe terrarum tanquam verum legitimum Pontificem venerata fuit Answ. 1. What a shameless Dream do you impose on us under the Name of Totus orbis Terrarum What had the Ethiopians the Armenians yea or the Greek-Church to do with Pope Iohn Or What was it to them how he was called or what he was Did not the Patriark of Constantinople then write himself the Vniversal Patriark even Tryphon that they said could not write any thing else Where is your Proof of this Universal Concession Which way did the whole Catholick-Church or the Tenth or Hundredth Part of it signify their Consent 2. Who taught you to feign the State and Necessity of such a Church as must have another Universal Head besides Christ You know that it is the Being of such a Church or Head be he never so Good that we deny And you have never proved nor can prove it He only is the Universal Head who maketh Universal Laws and undertaketh Universal Teaching and is an Universal Judge and Protector none of which any Mortal man can perform The very Fiction of such a Head and Body is Monstrous and your Capital Error 3. How small a part of the Christian World was subject to the Pope at that time though within his reach he was almost at the Heighth of his Presumption 4. He that wanteth what is Essential to a true Bishop is no true Bishop But Pope Iohn the Twelfth wanted what what was Essential to a true Bishop Ergo He was none The Minor is proved He that wanteth the necessary Disposition of the Receptive Matter and is not Subjectum Capax wanteth that which is Essential to a true a Bishop For the Materia Disposita is an Essential Constitutive Cause a Subjectum Capax is Essential to a Relation But Iohn the Twelfth wanted the Necessary Disposition of the Matter ad Formam Recipiendam or was not Subjectum Caâ—ax Proved He that wanted capable Age and all other Things necessary to a lawful Pope was not Subjectum Capax but wanted the necessary Disposition Receptive But all these you say your selves Pope Iohn wanted Ergo c. 5. If then the Universal Church had so erred as to take him for a Bishop that was none that Error would not make him a Bishop no more than it would make a dead Man alive or an illiterate Man learned But this is the Roman-Catholick kind of Proof You say your selves That a Whore and a wicked Son of that Whore got Power enough to over-top the Citizens of Rome and the Clergy yet too like them and to thrust a wicked uncapable Fellow into the Chair When that is done it 's known all good Men dissent and abhor it But when he hath Possession they must know that he hath Possession And What can they do to help it What Power have the Ethiopians Armenians Syrians or other Nations of the Earth in choosing the Pope of Rome And if they have none in Choosing him What Power have they to examine the Choice and Depose him And if they have no Power Why or how should they signify their Consent or Dissent If they leave your own Matters to your selves What is that to the Consent of the Catholick-Church But some men think that big Words to the Ignorant may serve for Proof even of a Right to Govern at the Antipodes and all the World § 53. His Father Albericus being Governour of the City designed the Succession to his Son Octavian To which he added the Usurped-Papacy calling himself Iohn The first say Baronius and Binius that changed his Name though others say Sergius was the first Saith Platina From his Youth he was Contaminated with all odious Crimes and Filthiness When he had any time to spare from his Lusts it was not spent in Praying but in Hunting Two of the Cardinals moved with the Shame of such a Pope send Letters to Germany to Otho to intreat him to save Rome from Berengarius that Plundered all the Country and from Pope John the Twelfth or else Christianity was lost John having notice of this catcheth the Cardinals and cutteth of the Nose of one and a Hand of the other Otho cometh into Italy and took Berengarius and his Son Albertus and Banished them Yet Baronius and Binius out of Luitpraudus say That the Pope himself sent for Otho to Help him However that was the Pope received him as with Honor and Crowned him the Emperor of Germany the First and Hungary The Pope and all the Great Men of the City swore over the Body of St. Peter that they would never help Berengarius or Adelbert and the Emperor departed But the Pope quickly broke his Oath and joyned with Adelbert Which the Emperor hearing said He is a Child perhaps Reproof and Example may yet reclaim him He returned to Rome and Adelbert and the Pope fled The Citizens received the Emperor and promised him Fidelity and took an Oath that they would never Choose or Ordain a Pope without the Consent and Choice of the Emperor Otho aâ—d his Son Otho John fled into a Wood and lay there like the Wild-Beasts Saith Platina § 54. CCCXVI. Otho called a Council at Rome where the Bishops deposed Iohn and made Leo Pope By which we still see how obedient the Bishops were to the stronger Side or else that really even those near Rome did not consent to Iohn muchless the whole Catholick-Charch as Baronius immodestly affirmeth
Church of Rome and for hindering his Legates from gathering a Council and refusing to come to Rome to answer it Epist. 32. He calls the King of France a ravening Wolf and unjust Tyrant Many great persons he forced to separate after Marriage because they were in the fourth degree of Consanguinity Epist. 51. He tells the King of Denmark that not far from Rome there was a Province possest by vile and sluggish Hereticks and desireth him to send his Son with an Army to conquer them What Province he meaneth I am not certain unless it was the Waldenses § 44. Reader we are greatly beholden to Binnius who hath recorded as Oracles 27 sentences called THE POPES DICTATES by which you may partly know what Popery is 1. That the Roman Church was founded only by our Lord. 2. That only the Bishop of Rome is rightly called Universal 3. That only the Pope can depose Bishops and reconcile them 4. That his Legates must preside in Councils though they be of inferior degree before all Bishops and may pass on them the sentence of deposition 5. That the Pope may depose those that are absent 6. That with those that are excommunicated by him among other things we may not dwell in the same house 7. That to him only it is lawful to make new Laws for the necessity of the time and to congregate new people of Canonical to make an Abbaty and contrarily to divide a rich Bishoprick and unite poor ones 8. That only he may use Imperial Ensigns or Escucheons 9. That all Princes must kiss the feet of the Pope only 10. That only his name may be recited in the Churches 11. That it is the one only name in the World 12. That it is lawful for him to depose Emperors 13. That it is lawful for him in case of necessity to remove Bishops from seat to seat 14. That he may ordain a Clerk from any Church whither he will 15. That one ordained by him may govern another Church and must not take a superior degree from another Bishop 16. That no Synod without his command may be called Universal 17. That no Chapter nor no Book may be accounted Canonical without his authority 18. That his sentence may be retracted by none and he alone may retract all mens 19. That he ought to be judged of no man 20. That no man must dare to condemn any one that appealeth to the Apostolick Seat 21. That the Greater causes of all Churches must be referred to him 22. That the Roman Church never erred nor as the Scripture witnesseth will ever err 23. That the Bishop of Rome if he be Canonically ordained is undoubtedly made Holy by the merits of St. Peter as St. Ennodius Bishop of Papia witnesseth and many holy Fathers confess as is contained in the Decrees of Pope Symmachus 24. That it is lawful for subjects to accuse by his Command and licence 25. That he may depose and reconcile Bishops without Synodal meetings 26. That he is not to be accounted a Catholick who agreeth not with the Roman Church 27. That he may absolve the Subjects of unjust men from fidelity These are put by Bin. among Gregory's Epistles p. 1196. as the Popes Dictates If I had not translated them from such an unquestioned Author that followeth Baronius some would have thought they had been but the forgeries of some Protestant accuser and that the Popes have no such tenents What one is here that is not false and how many of them are horridly arrogant The reading of them would tempt a doubting man to think that the Pope is the Eldest Son of the Prince of Pride exalting himself above all that is called God and arrogating Christ's prerogatives and therefore Antichrist If any would know what Popery is A great part of the description is here given you by their greatest Pope himself and by their chief Historians § 45. Much of his 4th Book of Epistles is to require Princes Prelates and People to forsake the Emperor and choose another and to excommunicate all that will communicate with him yet in his 11th Epist. he reciteth himself how lamentably with tears three dayes in the frost barefoot he begged for pardon and how the compassionate People thought the Pope hard-hearted and tyrannical for not yielding and that at last two Ladyes and an Abbot overcame him to absolve him § 46. Lib. 4. Epist. 28. He tells the Spaniards also that their Kingdom was St. Peter's property But why did he trouble himself to lay claim to particular Kingdoms Would not his claim to all the world serve turn for the particulars Lib. 5. Epist. 4. He clameth the Isle of Corsica § 47. That it may appear that the presumptuous usurpations of the Pope were not consented to by many Bishops he oft complaineth that many Bishops of France Italy and Germany were against him He abundantly chideth and threatneth several particular Bishops for resisting and disobeying him Lib. 6. Epist. 4. he writeth thus to the Bishop of Liege Having read the Letters of your Brotherhood we did not a little wonder that you wrote that which became you not in reverence of the Apostolick seat but that you did with biting invective reprehend me for absolving your Parishioner that lately came to us as if the Apostolick seat had not authority to bind and absolve whomsoever we will and wheresoever we will Know therefore that we are greatly moved against your temerity Indeed one of the tricks of the Papal ambition was to be the Asylum of all wicked fugitives that fled from Church justice in all Countries near them to shew favour to all condemned sinners that would but fly to Rome and appeal to them from the Justice of their Pastors yea and of their Princes too which made their friends to be rather many than good § 48. And the Church of Rome was not yet rich enough with all the Principalities it had got They still kept on the trade of enriching the Pope to save their souls Binnius p. 1233. honoureth us with a record among Gregory 7th Epistles viz. In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the 6th year of the Pontificate of Gregory 7th I Marro Son of Gisler dwelling in the Dukedom of Spoletane for the Redemption of my own and my Parents souls do give deliver and offer to St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and on his Altar all that belongeth to me of the Castle called Moricicla c. Did Christ think how easily Rich men might be saved by giving to the Pope in the name of St. Peter when he said It was harder for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven than for a Camel to go through a Needle 's Eye § 49. Lib. 7. Epist. 3. He saith They that are Latines do all of them except a very few praise the cause of Henry and defend it and charge me with too much obstinacy and impiety against him And if the Latines did so what did the
that before had published the Excommunication of the Emperor Excommunicateth him again and goeth from Rome into Italy and France and sets the Princes upon the recovering of Ierusalem Listing 300000 Men and so reconciled most of their Strifes at home The History of this Expedition Platina briefly and many Authors largely give us to whom I refer you Conrade the Emperor's Son rebelleth against his Father encouraged by the Pope The Papal Historians pretend that his Father would have forced him to Incest but others think otherwise It was this Pope saith Bin. p. 1293. that appointed the horary Prayers called the Office of the Blessed Virgin to be used by Clergy and Laity for success against the Saracens Having Reigned eleven years and four months he died § 95. CCCLXXIV An. 1089. Urban in a Council at Rome repeateth against the Emperor and Pope Clement what was done before by Greg. the 7th Clement is expelled Rome and driven to renounce The Holy Wars breed reconciling thoughts The Papal Party offer the Emperor his Crown if he will depose Clement His Bishops dissuade him and he refuseth being otherwise for Peace inclined to it § 96. CCCLXXV A Council at Troy in Apulia about marriage of Kinsfolk § 97. An. 1090. A Council at Tolouse deposed the Bishop as criminal c. § 98. An. 1090. A Council of Urban's at Melfia decreed again that no Bishop receive Investiture from any Lay-man and that no Lay-man have right or authority over any Clerk Also against false Penance Hildebrand before had decreed that Penance and Baptism and so Absolution profit not impenitent undisposed Receivers § 99. CCCLXXVI A Council at Benevent condemned Pope Clement again § 100. CCCLXXVII Another at Troy did consult for Urban's interest § 101. CCCLXXVIII Another at Constance An. 1094. against married Priests and Simoniacs and about the number of Easter and Whitsun Holy-days And the Empress Praxes departed from the Emperor accusing the Court of most filthy Fornication perhaps the cause of their Calamities § 102. CCCLXXIX An. 1094. A Council at Ostio in France Excommunicated their own King Philip for putting away his Wife and marrying another and again Excommunicateth the Emperor and Pope Clement § 103. CCCLXXX An. 1095. A Council at Placentia heard the Cause of the Emperor of Const. begging help against the Infidels and of the King of France and the Empress complained how filthily she had been forced by her Husband's command It repeated damnations and decreed that no money be taken for Baptizings Chrysms or Burials § 104. CCCLXXXI A Council at Clermont for the same Causes It decreeth That if one injure another on Monday Wednesday or Thursday it shall not be reputed a breach of Peace but if it be done on any of the other four days it shall be judged a breach of holy Peace and be punished as shall be judged C. 1. And that no Clergyman shall receive any Honour or Preferment from the hand of Lay-men C. 15. And C. 16. That no Kings or Princes make investiture of any Ecclesiastick Honour And C. 17. That no Bishop or Priest make any promise of Allegiance to a King or to any Lay-man Ne Regi vel alicui Laico in manibus Ligium fidelitatem faciat Ligius is Liege or Ligatus a Vassal or full Subject And C. 19. That no Lay-labourer keep the tenth of his labour from the Clergy or receive from the Clergy the tenth of his wages § 105. It sheweth you that ever the Sacrament in one kind was not introduced in that the 28th Canon of this Council decreeth that None communicate at the Altar unless he receive the Body by it self and the Blood by it self unless through necessity or with cautelousness Can. 29. Any one that fled from his Enemies to any Cross was to be there protected as in a Church But the Ierusalem War was the main business of this Council by which the Pope cunningly turned away Animosities and Jealousies from himself and got the repute of a Holy Defender of the Church § 106. But in an English Council all the Bishops in the Kingdom save one Rochester would force Archbishop Anselme to renounce the Pope which Anselme refusing and reasoning against they said that he blasphemed the King setting up any in his Kingdom without his consent and so they jointly renounce their subjection and obedience to the Archbishop and abjure the unity of brotherly society with him Bin. p. 1302. You see Luther was not the first that renounced the Pope § 107. CCCLXXXII A Council at Tours for the Holy War where the King of France Philip was reconciled promising service to the Pope § 108. CCCLXXXIII An. 1097. A Concilium Barense was held for winning the Greek Church in their necessity where Anselme of Canterbury got the honour in disputing of the Procession of the Holy Ghost The sum of which Disputation is in his Works § 109. CCCLXXXIV An. 1098. A Council at Rome gave the King of England time to repent till Michaelmas the former Council had Excommunicated him if Anselme had not desired delay § 110. An. 1099. Another Roman Council for the Holy War and Reexcommunicating Pope Clement but what Clement did all this while is past over here § 111. An. 1099. Some little Council at Ierusalem put out Arnulph the Archbishop of Ierusalem as a wicked Man and Usurper and gave it to the Pope's Legat. § 112. An. 1099. Paschal the 2d is made Pope a little after Pope Clement dieth who had Reigned with his Competitors 21 years Being buried at Ravenna after five years a Council caused his Carkass to be dig'd up and burnt Decreeing That all the Bishops of the Henrician Heresie that is who were for Emperors being above the Pope or not deposable by him and for his power of Presentations or Investitures if they were alive should be deposed if dead should be dig'd up and burnt which were most of the Bishops of the West if Hildebrand himself mistook not O Military Bishops that can overcome the dead No wonder if the Church and Nations be confounded by you that cannot let each others Carkasses rest in their Graves but will dig up the bones of the Prelates of many Kingdoms even the greatest part How many Princes and Prelates now Papists are guilty of the Henrician Heresie Should not their bones also be burnt if you durst § 113. But the Schism continued three persons successively being made Anti-Popes by the Emperor's party but all of them one after another overcome by Paschal who being a Military Pope did most of his work by his Army which he frequently had on foot In his time Ierusalem and the Cities about were won by Godfrey of Bullen his Brother Baldwin Boemund Tancred and the rest of the Christians and Godfrey made first King and Baldwin next Boemund and Tancred having Antioch and after suffering great losses c. as you may read in the Histories § 114. Never did the Papal Rebellion work more unnaturally than in
University of Wittenberge clave to him and especially Philip Melancthon that excellent man how the Free Cities with many Princes came in to them and joyned how many Petitions and Disputations there were about it how the Augustine Confession was written and the Apology for it how it turned to a War how the Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hassâ—a were taken prisoners how Maurice of Saxony siding with the Emperour was made Elector and Iohn Frederick dispossest how the same Maurice after to vindicate Philip of Hassia took Arms against the Emperour and forced him to flight and finally to some degree of toleration for the Protestants All these things the History of the Reformation written by divers telleth you at large as also how many great and excellent Divines were suddenly raised up to stand for Reformation as soon as Tyranny was so far abated as that men might freely shew their minds it soon appeared that most had been long subjugated to the Pope more by violence than by consent when the Emperour was necessitated to a Toleration he consulted for some abatement to procure Concord and by Agricola Sidonius and Iulius Pflug an Antinomian turned back to Popery drew up a middle form of worship called the Interim which he would have all conform to till a General Council which divided the Reformers among themselves while some as moderate and to avoid total ruine of the Church yielded to part and others refused and multitudes of Ministers were therefore ejected and persecuted This great Emperour Charles the Fifth after long Wars and many Victories and sharp Persecutions was at last weary of all and resigned his Empire and betook himself to a private life in Spain where he died strongly suspected of repentance and inclination to the Reformed Doctrine himself He bequeathed nothing as was usual to any Religious House or Order There were found papers about him for the Protestant Doctrine of Justification his Confessor and another Doctor that attended him were hereupon suspected of Heresie and one persecuted and the other put to death by the Inquisition Thus errour sin and worldly violence are never true to themselves but must be repented of at last and none can stand to them when the light prevaileth § 60. But to return to Pope Leo when he had made above forty Cardinals exercised many cruelties and made a League with the Emperour against the French to drive them out of Italy when his Arms had prevailed and the French were expelled and Milan recovered and some Cities restored to the Church that is to the Pope the excessive joy for the Victory so â—oved him that saith Onuphrius he fell into a Fevâ—r of which he died but not without suspition of poyson The same Onuphrius whom I follow saith that he was a diligent observer of divine things given to the sacred Ceremonies but he was profusely given to Voluptuousness Hunting Hawking Luxury splendid Feastings Musick and to get money sold Cardinalships invented Offices c. and yet was the most liberal of all the Popes that ever had lived to that day excessively loving Musick c. This was Papal Piety by which he merited a Monument inscribed OPTIMO PRINCIPI LEONIX c. saith Onuphrius In all his life he desired nothing more ardently than the highest glory of liberality from which other Priests use to be very far off Perhaps for this glory Tecelius must get money by selling Pardons which began his fall Verily they have their reward saith Christ of Hypocrites that do their Alms to be seen of men § 61. It is to be noted that as the great ignorance and wicked lives of the Roman Clergy were the great advantage to Luthers success as the gross idolatry and wickedness of Heathens was to Christianity of old and the Learning and Piety of the Reformers were the means of their common acceptance so hereupon the Papacy perceived a necessity of greater Learning and some Reformation for its own defence from utter ruine whereupon many were awakened and addicted to seek Learning and some Provincial Councils made some Canons for amending the Clergies lives so that their encrease of Learning and some amendment of manners was occasioned by the Protestants yea the Popes themselves have since then been far less vicious and turbulent than before § 62. And all Christian Princes have cause to be thankful to the Reformers and to acknowledge that from them they have now the safety of their Crowns and Dignities and their peace and by them of Subjects they are restored to a great degree of freedome I mean even those that yet are Papists the Pope dare not now damn them as Henrician Hereticks as he long had done he dare not be so bold in taking away and giving Kingdomes he dare not execute his Laws against Princes Investituâ—es nor excommunicate them and depose them and absolve their Subjects nor interdict whole Kingdomes and shut up Church doors nor so much as openly profess that he hath power from God and S. Peter to depose Kings according to their Merits and to set up others in their stead O how much quieter is Italy Spain France Germany c. since the Reformation and how much less troubled with Papal terrours and wars than heretofore and all is for fear lest if the Pope should anger them the rest of the Princes should forsake him Heretofore if one Kingdome stood up against the Pope the rest were ready blindly to obey his Commands to fall upon them and destroy them But now the Reformed Nations have more strength to defend themselves and those that shall joyn with them The truth is it is Reformation that hath made even the Papists Princes Free-men § 63. The History of all the Roman horrid bloody cruelties by which they laboured to suppress Reformation I here omit because as it well deserveth it is written in many large volumns by it self I mean the bloody murders of the Albigenses Waldenses Bohemians the cruelties of the Inquisition in Spain Belgia and other parts The Massacre in France The burning people in England and the murders in Ireland and in other countries you may read them at large in many Histories In Thuanus Sleidan Illericus Morney Perin Moreland the Belgian and French Histories Foxe's Acts and Monuments and summarily in Mr. Sam. Clerks Martyrology And Carion Mâ—lancton Micreleus D. Paraeus Vignerius Scullâ—tus Bucholcer Fuactius and many others give you an account of the Reformation And the Lives of the German Divines written by Melchior Adaunes yea and of their Lawyers Physicians and Philosophers giveth not an unpleasant light into that History So that for me here to treat of the Reformation in a large volumn to do what is so often done already would be incougruous The making of Vrban the 6th the Emperours Schoolmaster Pope and the Wars in his time The Succession of Clement the 7th and the Italian Wars in his time between the Emperour and the French and others and the taking of
Germans French c You see here that it was far from all the world that was subject to the Pope and took his part in his usurpations Epist. 4. He commandeth a General no more to fight against the King of Dalmatia as belonging to St. Peter § 50. Yet this Pope doth teach them the truth against deceitful pennance or repentance Lib. 7. Epist. 10. viz. We say that it is a fruitless pennance when men remain in the same fault or in the like or in a worse or in one little less He therefore that will worthily repent must have recourse to the Original of his Faith and be solicitous watchfully to keep that which in his Baptism he promised viz. to renounce the Devil and his pomps and to believe in God that is thinking rightly of him to obey his Commands § 51. Epist. 11. He tells the Duke of Bohemia that it is customarily and doubtfully that he saluteth him with Apostolical Benediction Because he communicated with the excommunicate And he denieth his request of using or translating the Divine Service or Offices into the Sclavonian tongue because there were many mysteries in it Thus come up the Prohibition to the peoplee to pray understandingly Epist. 14. He absolveth the Bishop of Liege from an Oath because he took it by force And commandeth him to rise up against the imposer with all his power he being St. Peter's enemy Epist. 21. He tells the King of Denmark of an ill custom among them that whatever ill weather or calamity befell them they imputed all to the ill lives of Priests Epist. 23. He tells our King William the Conqueror that seeing he was on his side and is charged by some with all his bloodshed that now he must be very obedient to him as his Pastor and Peter's Successor And Epist. 25. He tells them that the Papal or Apostolick power is greater than the Kingly and must rule it as the Sun is greater than the Moon Lib. 8. Epist. 1. He laments the Corruption of the Church in Armenia 1. Because they mixed not Water with Wine in the Sacrament when all men know that Blood and Water came from the side of Christ. 2. Because they made not their Chrysm of Balsom but of Butter 3. Because they honoured the memory of Dioscorus O what Heresies Pag. 1254. in Bin. There is an Oath that Robert Duke of Apulia Calabria and Sicily to be true to the Pope and defend him as holding all these from him and there is the Popes grant of them to him laying claim also to his other dominions the denyal of which he patiently beareth at the present § 52. But lest you think that at least the Kingdom of Spain was fast all this while to the Church of Rome Lib. 8. Epist. 2. He writeth thus himself By the Letters of my Legate Richard Abbot of Marseilles you may know how great impiety is gone out of your Monastery of Cluny by the presumption of Robert a Monk who imitating Simon Magus feareth not to rise up against the Authority of St. Peter with all the craft of his malignity and to reduce by his suggestion into their old error an hundred thousand men who by our diligence began to return to the right way But he hopes that the Abbot thinks as he for the honour of the Roman Church He chargeth the Abbot to cast out this man that had so endangred Spain adding And by your Letters diligently acquaint the King who is deceived by his fraud that he hath greatly provoked St. Peter's wrath and indignation against him and his grievous Revenge against him and his Kingdom unless he repent because he undecently handled a Legate of the Roman Church and believed falshood rather than truth Of which that he may worthily make satisfaction to God and St. Peter as he hath disgraced our Legate so let him by due humility and condign Reverence make himself commendable and devout For we think meet to signifie to him by you that we will excommunicate him if he correct not his fault and will solicite all the faithful in the parts of Spain to his confusion And if they be not obedient to my command I will not think much to travel into Spain my self and there to endeavour dura et aspera Things hard and sharp against him as an enemy of the Christian Religion O brave Pope had not these men a notable Knack or hap that could sit and talk down Emperors and Kings and subdue and dispose of Kingdoms by sitting at home and talking big and telling them that St. Peter was angry with them And who was this King but the great Alâ—onsus to whom he writeth himself Epist. 3. to put away his evil counsellors and hearken in all things to the Popes Legate Richard § 53. Epist. 6. l. 8. He commandeth Souldiers to help Michael the Emperor of Constant against the Usurper to make himself judge and get an interest again in the Empire But in vain § 54. Epist. 7. He declareth that divers Princes having sworn and promised him help he resolved to come with an Army to recover Ravenna to the Church Epist. 8. He rejoyceth that they had newly found St. Matthew's body and bids them now take him joyfully for their patron These are the grounds of Popish superstition The body of St. Matthew that preached to the Abassines in another part of the world is found at Salerno in Italy a thousand years after he is dead O that one knew how to be sure that it was his body and how it came thither Divers such findings they glory in § 55. Epist. 10. He writeth to Orzoceus Prince of Calaris or Sardinia to require him as a note of his obedience to St. Peter and concord with the Church of Rome whose use it is to let his Arch-Bishop shave his Beard and to command all the Clergy of his dominion to shave their Beards and if they obey not to force them to it or exclude them And to be sure of success he lets him know how truly I know not that many Princes importuned him to give them leave to invade his Countrey but this righteous ruling Pope denied leave to them all till he had tryed whether he would obey him which if he would do he would not only deny them leave to invade him but also protect him Reader think here 1. Whether Princes held not their kingdoms loosely when they where to lose them if they obeyed not the Pope in so small a thing as the shaving of a Priests Beard 2. Whether it were not a hard thing for the Catholick Church then to have concord when so small a difference as the shaving or not shaving of Beards were put into their terms of Union and Peace Who were the Schismaticks then was it not the makers and imposers of such laws and terms 3. Is it not a high power that is claimmed by Popes when no Priest in all the Christian world may have