had made the death of Christ unprofitable unto themselves which certainly is horrible to be spoken and very lamentable seeing that death brought salvation unto many This was the mind of Basilius also and nevertheless we find in the Gospel That he might give his life a ransom for many to be expounded for all Cap. 10. Can never with these sacrifices which were offered year by year ..... If they being once offered had been available they should no more have been offered but when the oblation was made year by year and often it is clear that they were too weak for bringing salvation unto them who were desirous of it and therefore after the first offering followed another and again and again another for amongst Drugs that are called most valid and efficacious which being but once applied or drunken doth heal and cure but what must be often changed and applied hath the less vertue of healing and doth no good unto the sick But one may ask Do we not offer without blood Yea indeed but then we remember the death of Christ and we have but one oblation and not many seeing He is offered but once for we offer him continually or rather we remember his oblation even as if at this time He were sacrificed wherefore it is certain that we have but one sacrifice and the Law had many although as it is said before it was offered the oftner that it might be the more profitable unto many which nevertheless is far otherwise But our sacrifice as I have said is but one and once offered and continueth whole both in this life and that to come and it is more perfect for it is but one blood and once poured forth and one body although it was offered for many and it is not many as it is but one sacrifice which is offered for we do offer that continually as if it were present So far from Theophylact. But here some may object that Theophylact agreeth not with the Reformed Church in Theophâ—lact is vindicated many particulars It is true and therefore I say often we must make separation of the dross from the pure gold but his difference is supposed to be greater then it is Porsena in his Epistle unto the Reader before the Gospels saith Theophylact follows Chrysostom concerning free-will and faith and some other things and therefore in expounding some places he is somewhat more violent which I say that herein you should use discretion which knowest thy self to be addicted unto the Canonical Scriptures only and not to scar thee from reading of him as some are wont when any passage displeaseth they throw the book away So say I in reading of any book written by man we who are addicted to the holy Scriptures only must use discretion But it seemeth Porsena speaks not this unto Papists because they are not addicted to the holy Canonical Scriptures only and he saith that Theophylact is more violent in expounding some places where certainly Porsena understands that he crosseth the Tenets of the Romish Church But this may be more clear by particulars 1. Porsena hath often marked the margine with liberum arbitrium as if Theophylact did in point of free will there assert the Romish errour concerning free-will and I know that others do alledge his testimony against the doctrine of the Reformed Church howbeit he speak nothing against us nor for them as is clear by inspection of particular places On Luk. 15. fol. 103. on the margine is Liberum arbitrium and in the line is The substance of man is rational whereupon followeth free-will for all rational creatures have a free-will and the Lord hath given them reason that they may use it freely c. It is clear that Theophylact speaks there of the nature of man absolutely or without any relation to any particular condition of man before the fall or after the fall and he speaketh against the Stoicks and Manicheans which did hold that the actions of men were carried by fate or pressing necessity and therefore it follows there If God would have us to be compelled he had not made us rational and of a free-will On Ioh. 6. at the words Will ye also go away he saith The Lord saith not Go ye away for this had been to repel them but he asketh will ye go away whereby he makes it free whether they will follow him or not and he sheweth that he will not have them to follow him in fear On these words also hath Porsena fixed Liberum arbitrium As also on Mat. 16. at the words If any will follow me he saith to the same purpose The Lord saith If any will to shew free-will and not coacted vertue These and many more places are clearly spoken against the necessity of fate or coaction which now is not controverted But if you ask By what power is an unregenerated man converted he hath said it already on 2 Cor. 4. and Eph. 1 and 2. Or if you ask By what power doth a regenerate man continue in the faith and practise of godliness Theophylact teacheth that on Phil. 2. at the words For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do Whereas he had said with fear and trembling now he saith that they need not fear for I have not spoken so that ye should despair but be the more wary for if ye take heed and be diligent God will make all perfect for it is he which makes you prompt to such a good will that we will good things and also bringeth such promptitudes of our mind unto an end for God worketh in us both the will that is he inableth you that ye desire good things and he will augment this good will and kindle it that it may be the more fervent ..... the Apostle takes not away free-will but willeth that we should alwaies give thanks unto God and committed all unto him Mark saith Theophylact but this manner of speaking he saith in you who work your salvation with fear and trembling for in such men which are willingly led unto good God worketh all things According to good will that is that it may be fullfilled in you what is acceptable unto God ..... for God will inable us to live rightly although it were no other cause but only this because so he willeth 2. It is objected that Theophylact and election by foreseen faith or works saith that election was made upon the fore-sight of faith and good works as on Eph. 1. it is When he saith He hath chosen he pointeth forth both the mercy of God and their vertue to wit whom God had separated as who were to be good I answer In these words Theophylact toucheth not the moving cause of election but only teacheth that God had chosen none but such as were to be good and godly and this he insists oft upon against them which held that faith or profession of faith is sufficient to salvation although men do not
more licence maketh us all the worse he who is the servant of servants will be Lord of Lords as if he were a God he despiseth the holy assemblies and counsels of his Brethren yea of his Lords he feareth that he be called to account for what he doth dayly against laws and good order he speaketh great things as if he were God he hath new purposes in his head to set up an Empire unto himself that wicked man whom they usually now call Antichrist in whose forehead is written the name of blasphemy I am God I cannot err changeth laws establisheth his own spoileth defraudeth killeth and sitteth in the Temple of God domineering far and wide As in the days of the ancient Sibylla Hydaspes that most ancient King hath under the name of a prophecying childe told the prosperity and named the Romans long before Troy was and Prophets have foretold in dark words that every one cannot understand The majesty of the Roman people by whom the world was governed is now away and the power hath returned into Asia the East shall rule again and the West shall be a servant Kingdoms are multiplied the highest power is I will not say torn but dissolved and broken into many the Emperor is but a title and onely a shadow now there be ten Kings together who have taken their part of the ancient Roman Empire not to rule it but to destroy it Those ten horns which St. Augustine could not understand the Turks Greeks Egyptians Africans Spaniards French English Germans Italians and Sicilians do possess the Roman Provinces and a little horn is grown up among them which hath eyes and a mouth speaking great things especially it compelleth three of these Kingdoms to wit of Sicily Italy and Germany to serve it What is more clear then this prophesie c. 12. Petrus de Vineis Chancellor of the Emperor Frederick the II. wrote Petrus de Vineis against the maners of the Pope's Court. six books of Epistles which were printed in the year 1566. some of them are inserted in Catalog test verit lib. 16. He wrote many in name of the Emperor unto several Princes The second Epistle of the first book he directed unto the Kings and Princes generally exhorting them that they obey not the Pope and his Cardinals who feed upon the alms of the poor and oppress the children of the Church The following ages saith he may be wise when they know what hath been before them and as the wax receiveth impression from the signature so mortal men are framed by example O that I had tasted of such happiness that Christian Princes had left unto us such timely warning as we from the experience of our wounded Majesty do leave unto you the Clergy who are made fat by the alms of the poor do oppress the children when they are ordained Apostolical Fathers though they be the children of our subjects yet forgetting their fatherly duty will not vouchsafe to reverence Emperor nor King What is spoken in borrowed words is clear by the presumption of Pope Innocent the IV. for in a general Councel as he calleth it he durst pronounce a sentence of deposition which he cannot maintain without a strange prejudice of all Kings albeit I was neither summoned nor convicted of any fraud or offence What cause have ye all and every King of every Countrey to fear from the wrath of such a Prince of Priests It is not enough that he attempteth to dethrown us albeit we by the power of God were crowned after the election of the Princes and approbation of the whole Church and people living in the Religion of Christian faith and albeit in respect of the Imperial Diadem no rigor can be exercised against us even though lawful causes were proved against us but the abuse of that Priestly power would so overthrow us that we should be neither first nor last And this indeed ye do when ye obey them who counterfeit holiness and their ambition hopeth to swallow you all O that your simple credulity would beware as Christ hath warned of that leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees how many filthinesses of that Court might ye abhor which shame and dishonesty will not suffer me to name truly the wealthy revenues wherewith they are enriched to the impoverishing of many Kingdoms have made them mad among us Christians are become beggers that the Patarens may be fed among them ye bring down your own houses that ye may build up your adversaries houses there It hath been our care that those things should be written for you albeit not declaring sufficiently what I wish but other things I will acquaint you with in a more private way to wit to what uses your prodigality may employ the riches of the poor What can be done in chusing an Emperor unless peace which we intend by able mediators to establish be at least superficially restored betwixt us and the Church what may we intend concerning the common and particular affairs of all Kings c. In Epist 3. he faith It is no where found that by any Law of God or man the high Priest of Rome may at his pleasure transfer the Empire or judge Kings or Princes by depriving them of their temporal Kingdoms for albeit according to the Law of men or of custom our consecration belongeth unto him yet he hath no more power to deprive us then the Prelates of any other Nation who after their custom do consecrate and anoint their Kings In Epist 13. unto the King of France It is notorious and the world cannot hide it how that Apostolical Father hath impugned our innocency with both the swords for while at his command we were passing over sea he our adversary and enemy invaded the Kingdom of Sicily and hath spoiled it many ways then after our returning into the Kingdom by the manifold intercession of the Alman Princes a peace was made with the Church and though I did my service yet that Apostolical man laid his hands more heavily upon us and proprio motu without any cause on my part he hath devised whatever could be devised to our ruine and by proclaiming the sentence of excommunication against us and by his Missives and Nuntios he publisheth unto all men the titles of defaming us Lastly To supplant us he aspiring as it were to build the tower of Babylon against the fort of David hath called all the Prelates he could unto a particular Councel so aiming to set the East before the North but the wondrous providence of God by whom we live and reign beholding the purpose of so great iniquity and turning his thoughts into nothing hath brought the Cardinals and Prelates both of France and some other Nations into our hands whom many others being drowned in the sea we keep fast as our enemies Let not your Highness marvel si Augustus tenet in Augusto that Caesar keepeth in prison the Prelates of France who would have imprisoned Caesar In Epist
Whether free-will be loosed by sin many passages were brought from Augustin to the affirmative So to answered There is a liberty of necessity and another from servitude and Augustin speakes of this This difference was not understood and so Luther was said not worthy of blame in the tittle of his book Of servile will Many thought the fourth article absurd Man hath free-will to do ill only for said they free-will is a power to both contraries But they were made to acknowledge their error when they heard that the good Angels have power to do good only In examining the 5. and 6. articles concerning the consent of the free-will unto Divine inspirations or preventing grace the Franciscans strove that the will is able to prepare itself and hath more power to accept the Divine prevention when God gives assistance then before when it acteth by strength of nature The Dominicans denyed that works preceeding our calling are truly preparatory and they gave the first place unto God But these were at variance among themselves So to held Albeit a man can not obtain grace without the special prevention of God yet the will may ever some way refuse and when the will accepts it is because it gives assent and if our assent were not required there were no cause why we are not all converted for God stands ever at the door and gives grace unto every one who will have it to say otherwise were to take away the liberty of the will and as if one would say God useth violence Aloisius a Catanea said God worketh two sorts of preventing grace as Aquinas teaches one sufficient and the other effectual the will may refuse the first but not the other for it is a contradiction to say Efficacy can be resisted And he answered unto the contrary reasons All are not converted because they are not efficaciously prevented The fear of everting free-will is removed because things are violently moved by a contrary cause but not by their own cause but seing God is the cause of the will to say The will is moved by God is to say The will is moved by itself And God converts albeit man will not or spurn at him and it is a contradiction to say The effect spurneth against the cause It may happen that God effectually converts one who before had spurned against sufficient prevention but afterwards he can not because when gentleness is in the will the efficacy of Divine motion must nieds follow yet so that the will followes not as a dead or unreasonable creature but it is moved by its own cause as reasonable and followes as reasonable Soto replied Every Divine inspiration is only sufficient and that whereunto free-will hath assented obtaines efficiency by that consent without which it is not effectual not by defect of itself but by defect of the man or else it would follow that the separation of the elect from the reprobate were from man and this is contrary unto the perpetual doctrine of the Church that vessels of mercy are separated by grace from them of wrath Each party thought their own reasons invincible and admonished the other to take heed that they leap not beyond the mark by too earnest desire to condem Luther Here the Legate had occasion to wave any conclusion by propounding the question Whether Divine election bee by foreseen works So it was ordained to collect articles of this matter Of Election In the books of Luther they found nothing worthy of censure out of the books of Zuinglius they drew 8. articles 1. Predestination and reprobation are only in the will of God The most part judge this to be Catholik and agreeing with Thomas and Scotus because before the creation God of his meer mercy hath out of the common masse elected some unto glory for whom he hath prepared effectual means of obtaining it their number is certain and others who are not chosen can not complain for God hath prepared for them sufficient means albeit only the elect can or shall be saved to this purpose they cited the examples of Jacob and Esau and the similitude of the potter Rom. 9 and the conclusory words of the Apostle there and 1. Cor. 3 5 4 7 2. Tim. 2 19 c. Others called this hard and inhumane as if God were partial if without any motive he choose one and not another or he were unjust if of his only will and not for mens fault he created so great a multitude unto damnation and it destroyes free-will because the elect can not finally do evill nor can the reprobate do good it casts a man into dispair it gives occasion of bad thoughts in not caring for pennance for men think if they be elected they can not perish They confessed not only that works are not the cause of Gods election because it is before them but also that works foreseen can not move God to predestinat because he is willing in his infinit mercy that all should be saved and for this cause he prepares sufficient assistance for all and this grace man acceptes or refuses as he listeth but God in his eternity foreseeth both who will accept this help and who will reject it and He rejectes these and chooseth those The first opinion keeps the mind humble and not relying on itself but on God and the other is more plausible and being grounded on humane reason prevailed more but when the testimonies of Scripture were weighed it was manifestly overcom For resolving the passages of Scripture Catarinus propounded a midle course God of his goodnes hath elected some few whom he will save absolutly and unto them he hath prepared infallible and effectual means he also desireth for his part that all others be saved and hath provided sufficient means for all leaving it to their choice to accept or refuse amongst those some few accept and are saved albeit they were not elected and others will not cooperate with God and are damned it is the only good will of God that the first are saved and that the second sort are saved it is their acceptation and cooperation with Divine assistance as God has foreseen and that the last sort are reprobated it is their foreseen perverse will the number of the first is determined but not the second and according to this distinction the different places of Scripture are understood diversly He said he wondered at the stupidity of them who think the number to be certain and yet others may be saved and also of them who say Reprobates have sufficient assistance for salvation and yet a greater assistance is necessary to him who is saved then said he the first is a sufficient insufficient or an insufficient sufficiency The second article was The elect can not be condemned nor the reprobate be saved The different opinions of the first caused diverse censures of this Catharinus held the first part true in respect of his first sort of men and the other part false in
whereas before it was only by practice He sate 3 years 10. NICOLAUS the I surnamed the great was chosen by the Romans The Emperour will be acknowledged in the election of the Pope Before he was chosen the Emperour Lewis knowing how expedient it was for him to preserve the right of his Ancestours in the election made hast to Rome but the Romans purposely prevened him with the election Nicolaus thought to debar the Emperor from the consecration but he could not hinder that He had a mouth that spoke great things by his decree he equalleth The Pope speaks some great things Papal decrees unto the holy Scriptures he ordained that no secular Prince nor Emperour should be present in the Synods unless it were in matter of faith Gratian. dist cap. Vbinam to wit Princes should put to death them which are condemned of heresie He ordained that all publick prayers should be in Latine as Pope Vitalian had ordained before but was not obeyed that no Laick should judge a Church-man that the Pope should be judged of none because Constantine the great called the Bishop of Rome a God Grat. dist 96. cap. Salis. At this time Michael Bardas put away his wife and married her daughter for this cause Ignatius the Patriarch denied him the Communion Bardas assembleth a Synod and causeth Ignatius to be deposed and setteth up Photius Here ariseth a sedition some favouring the good cause and others swaying with authority In the end Nicolaus was intreated to take away the schism The Pope was well pleased and sent his Legates Rodoal Bishop of Portuen and Zachary Bishop of Ananien giving them a Commission to restore Ignatius if he would promise to restore the worship of Images Zonaras saith Bardas perswadeth the Legates to approve what he had done When they return Nicolaus excommunicateth them and deposeth them as transgressours of his commands Ph. Morn in Myster p. 177. At that time Nicolaus writ the Epistle which is in the 3. tome and some truths contrary to his successours of Councels and contains swelling presumption in some points contrary to ancient histories yet in other points contrary to the doctrine of his successours There he saith none of the Eastern Emperours had acknowledged the authority of the Bishops of Rome This he saith expressly but in an upbraiding manner as if the Emperours had omitted their duty Speaking of Ignatius he saith the Judges should not be suspected this he confirms by reason and by many examples and from Pope Gelasius he saith Should the same persons be enemies Judges and witnesses even earthly matters should not be committed to such judgement Doth he not then maintain the lawfull excuses of John Husse and Martine Luther who for the same causes were unwilling to be judged by the Popes their enemies Then Nicolaus alledgeth that Pope Celestin was President in the general Councel at Ephesus but the words of that Councel shew that Cyril Bishop of Alexandria was President And to prove that they should not have judged the Patriarch he brings the example of David who would not smite his Master Saul but he observes not that Saul was King and therefore neither should his successours have kicked against their Soveraign Emperours He addeth a little number hindreth not where truth abounds neither avails multitude where ungodliness reigneth nor should any man boast of a multitude c. What is more contradictory to the doctrine of the Romish Church in following ages which holds multitude to be an infallible note of the true Church After a little he commendeth the worship of Images and will have all Councels to be estimate by the approbation of the Pope Whereas the Bishops of Rome were wont to term the Emperour our Lord and Defender this is the first that calls the Emperour his son and his successours sometimes will not honour him with the title of their servant He said Before the coming of Christ some were typically both Priests and Kings but when the type is come to the true King and High-Priest in one person the Emperour should no more take to him the right of the Priesthood nor hath the High-Priest taken unto him the name of the Emperour because the one Mediator between God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus hath so discerned the offices of both powers their dignities and actions being distinguished that both Emperours have need of High-Priests in spiritual things and the High-Priests have need of the Imperial laws for temporal things and so spiritual actions may be free from carnal oppressions and therefore the souldier of God should not be intangled with worldly affairs neither should he rule divine things who is wrapped in worldly matters and so both powers may be helped Gratian hath registred these words dist 96. cap. Cùm ad verum He speaks so to exclude the Emperour from judging Ecclesiastical causes but neither he nor Gratian did foresee how the same words would condemn the succeeding Popes who have usurped both Swords and two Robes nor how Bellarmin de Ro. Pont. lib. 5. cap. 3. gathereth out of these words that the Dominion of the World belongeth not to the Pope and reasoneth thus Seeing whatsoever the Pope hath he hath it from Christ as Pope Nicolaus saith then the Pope may take all power from the Emperours and Kings or he may not take it if he may take it then he is greater then Christ if he may not take it then he hath not Princely power Again cap. 8. he saith Christ for conserving humility would distinguish these two offices and gave only the Priesthood to Peter and left the Empire to Tiberius According to this consequence it may be justly inferred the Pope now doth contrary to the tenet of the ancient Bishops and is the Antichrist exalting himself contrary to Christ's order above all that is called God This Nicolaus did ordain that no man should receive the Sacrament from any Priest who had a concubine or wife He sate 7 years 9 months his See after him was vacant 8 years 7 months Platin. Who was head of the Church on earth at that time Or was it headless 10. HADRIAN the II the son of a Bishop Talarus was chosen in a tumult of the people without consent of the Emperour wherefore his Legates were not a little offended yet were appeased by the Romans alledging that the multitude could not be ruled and they intreated the Legates that they would confirm the good man which the clergy and people had named Platin The Legates yeeld although they clearly perceive that the clergy and people would usurp all the authority of the election and perhaps saith he that the liberty of the Church-men may increase At that time Basilius slue The Pope by flattery climbeth up in higher account at Constantinople the Eastern Emperour as is said and when he came to the Sacrament Photius the Patriarch rejects him as unworthy of Communion who with his own hand had slain his Soveraign Basilius dissembling his
another reason the opinions of Haymo are different from that Exegesis I will name but one Haymo on the Revel lib. 1. near the end saith The Pillars of the Temple are not only they who are more perfect as Paul saith Peter and James and John which seemed to be Pillars c. Here Haymo not only calleth these three more perfect but Pillars also which is more then Paul saith but this Exegesis speaks not so much of them for on Gal. 2. at these words which seemed to be something or as we have Who were of reputation it is written there They seemed unto themselves to be something for they did seem to have learning and vertue of themselves but they neither had learning nor vertue of themselves nor of their own merits and therefore although they did seem unto the people to be something they were nothing He who writes so liberally of the three Apostles would not probably have written so sparingly of them in the other place and so the Authour of the Exegesis but by Remigius Bishop of Lions and is contrary to the present Church of Rome in many particulars following would not have called Peter the head of the Church Who then is the Authour of that Exegesis The above-named Remigius Bishop of Lions as Bishop Usher proveth loc cit and we may find that his doctrine in that Exegesis doth accord with that which we have heard he did maintain concerning election free-will c. as appears by these passages On Rom. 5. he saith As by Adam sin and death did enter so by Christ came justification and eternal life therefore the Apostle saith We are reconciled unto God because as by one man sin entred into the World that is into the universality of mankind except Christ which is from above and by sin death came so death both of body and soul hath gone over all men even as on the first man in whom all have sinned So by our Lord Jesus Christ justification hath entred and by justification life eternal ... for in him all men have sinned which were in his loins as Levi was in the loins of his father when he paied tithes And he saith congruously that sin entred first and then death by sin because so soon as he did sin he became mortal as the Lord had foretold saying In whatsoever day thou shalt eat thereof thou shalt die the death He did sin by coveting and eating and he was made mortal in sinning Amongst other things observe here that Remigius makes no exception of sin in the universality of mankind but only of Christ and therefore the Virgin Mary is not excepted and after the same manner do all the Ancients speak in this point On Cap. 9. What man can declare why the Almighty God did chuse Jacob before he was born and rejected Esau when neither the one nor the other could do any good or ill except that on him that is on Jacob he would bestow his grace and mercy and on Esau he would fullfill his just judgment .... therefore as it was not the purpose of God and his predestination according to election of the good merit of Jacob so the election of the Gentiles was not according to the election of merits but according to the free grace and predestination of God therefore for what cause Jacob was chosen without good works and Esau was hated without ill works it is only known unto God who knows all things before they be and whose judgment is alwaies just ..... He said unto Moses I will have mercy on whom ... This is the order On whom I will have mercy by calling him unto my faith I will have mercy by giving him my faith that he may beleeve in me and I will shew compassion on him that he may live righteously and be mercifull and persevere in good works according to which he shall receive the reward Therefore not of him who willeth understand is the will nor of him who runneth is the race but of God shewing mercy is mercy that he giveth unto man to will good to do and to persevere The only good will is not sufficient unless also the mercy of God prevene him unto this end to give unto him to will what is good and to perfect the same good as the Psalmist saith His mercy shall prevene me and his mercy shall follow me But haply one will say Why are the Elect rewarded or what reward have they deserved if both the good will and the perfecting of the good work be given unto them of God I answer therefore are the Elect worthy of remuneration because so soon as they do perceive that they are prevened by the grace of God they do labour with all their indeavours to obey his will For the Scripture saith to Pharao The Scripture speaketh not by it self but another by it as here God speaketh These last words I have marked against them which say The Scriptures is dumb and dead At these words Hath not the Potter power ... he saith So the Almighty God the Potter of mankind hath power out of the mass of perdition and sin that is out of the mass of mankind to make one vessel unto honour that is to create one for this end that he may be honoured in him and that he honour him by calling him unto his faith and by saving him unto life and another unto dis-honour that is in his just judgment to destroy the Reprobates because of their wickedness for of a corrupt mass all the vessels are corrupt but if the Potter by the Engine of his Art will purifie some of them from the fault of the mass by baking it in the fire may he not be magnified in those And that he suffereth some unpurified he is not to be blamed because he continueth in his power for the mass is his On Cap. 11. at these words I have left 7000 ... saith he neither saith he Are left unto me but I have left and reserved unto my self 7000 men which when others became Idolaters have not bowed ....... And it is to be considered because according to the election of God's grace that is according to the gift of Predestination the remnant is saved not according to the merit of their works wherefore he saith in the Epistle unto the Ephes As he hath chosen us before the foundation of the World in him i. e. in Christ that we should be holy and unblamable And if of grace they are saved who beleeve amongst the Jews not now was it of the works of the Law by which they thought to be justified who continue in infidelity else grace were not grace that is if they were saved otherwise which cannot be but by the grace of God or else grace it self were not grace but a merit ..... But the election hath obtained it that is they who were chosen out of that multitude whom before he called a remnant now he calleth election and as before circumcision is taken for the
XIII the son of Albericus succeeded How old this father of fathers could be may be gathered by supputation of years when Hugh was expelled Albericus was but a boy and till this time were not passed 20 years neither was this Octavius or Pope John his fathers eldest son as Baronius hath marked and therefore he saith He who could not be a Deacon for age like a Stage-player acteth the Pope and nevertheless saith he consent made him Pope for it is a lesser evil to have a monstrous head then to be infamous with two heads And a little after he preferred this Pope above others which were chosen Canonically by the Clergy Let Platina tell what he was One saith he defiled from his infancy with all shame and filthiness given to hunting if he could spare any time from his luxury more then to prayer By the advice of the Senate he sent for Otho against Berengarius and when he was releeved he practised against his redeemer therefore as is before he was deposed and restored again by the Romans And immediately even in these same daies saith Platin. the most wicked man was judged to be strucken of God lest the Church had been wasted with a schism Some write saith he that this Monster was taken in the act of adultry and killed But he was intruded at that time by his father powerfully and delighting himself with another man's wife died suddenly without repentance Sigebert saith Sine viatico Fascic temp saith Behold O everliving God how unlike are they unto former Bishops O the depth of God's judgments who can search them out Let Bellarmin excuse him among the rest and pass him over in silence Platina saith he was worse then any Pope before him but he saith not and worse then any after him for worse Popes are coming Onuphrius on that place of Platina saith He first changed his name because he thought not his Christian name honourable enough but we have heard that others have done the like He sate 10 years 23. BENEDICT the V was chosen by the Romans although Leo the VIII who was advanced by the great Synod was yet alive wherefore Otho returned to Rome in wrath and restored Leo as is before 24. LEO the VIII sitting now peaceably did renounce in favour of the Emperour and his Successours all the Donations of Justinian of Charls the The Pope's resignation of former Donations Great of his son Lewis The words of the Bull in Crantz Saxon. lib. 4. cap. 10. are Leo Bishop the servant of God's servants unto Otto our spiritual son in Christ the Emperour Augustus and unto all his Successours Emperours and Kings of Italy Whatsoever the Lord Charls King of France and Lombardy and Patricius Romanus as also his father Pipin have given of the Royalty of this Kingdom of Italy unto blessed Peter the Apostle in the Church of Rome whether they were given by instruments by the Notary Etherius or whether they came by Oaths or Donations or any other way from Justinian Emperour or King Arithpert all these things we give and adjudge unto you Otto Emperour and to Alheida your wife and consort of the Empire and unto your consorts and successours of this Kingdom of Italy for ever being present the holy Evangelists and many Patronages of the Saints ....... that ye may have and possess all these things for ever for the uses of your Court the Military affairs and to fight against Pagans and Rebels of the Roman Empire and therefore by authority of this instrument we confirm and strengthen unto your posterity from generation to generation for ever and if any shall destroy this our authority and be found to violate it or do contrary unto it let him know that he shall fall under the wrath of blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and our wrath and of all our Predecessours And moreover if he repent not of the evil let him be liable unto the Julian Law of Laese Majestatis c. After the solemn form fiat fiat this Bull was subscribed by all the Arch-Bishops Bishops Cardinals Priests and Deacons chief Officers of the Roman Church by the Consuls also Exconsuls Senatours and civil Lords and by all which by subscribing could give any confirmation The names fill up a page This Bull was kept at Florence for the use of the Emperour as Henry token a Canon of Magdeburg witnesseth in Catal. test ver lib. 11. Onuphrius proveth that this Leo was a lawfull Pope And whatsoever can be said against the Bull or Instrument Crantz li. cit cap. 11. saith It is more authentical and legal then that Decree of Constantine's Donation in longa Palea This Leo sate 2 years 25. JOHN the XIV was not chosen till Otho sent his Messengers unto the election as also this Pope did in other things reverence the Emperour and for this cause Peter Captain of the City two Consuls and the Elder men whom they call Decarchones and others rose against him they laid hands on him in the Lateran Church and kept him in Prison 11 moneths The Emperour made hast to Rome and put all the above-named persons in Prison till the cause was examined and then the Consuls were exiled into Germany the Elder men were hanged and Peter was given unto the pleasure of the Pope who caused him to be stript naked to shave his beard and hang him by the hair a whole day and set him upon an Ass with his hands under her tail then so to be led through the City in the mean time being scourged with rods and lastly banished out of the City After this manner did this Ghostly Father obey the Gospel Love your enemies saith Platina This Pope did first baptize Bells he called the great Bell in Lateran John He sate 7 years 26. BENEDICT the VI succeeded in place and miseries he was taken by Cintius Captain of the City and cast into the Prison of malefactors where he was strangled or as others say famished in the 18. moneth But I fear saith Platina that the reward of Benedict was according to his merits since none hath written that his death was revenged and Otho is accounted a very good man and a most ready defender of the Roman Church 27. DONUS the II sate one year without doing any thing worthy of record 28. BONIFACE the VII came to the Papacy by unlawfull means Platin When he saw that the Citizens conspired against him he hid himself and seeing no appearance of tranquility he stole all the Ornaments of Saint Peter's Church and fled into Constantinople Then 29. BENEDICT the VII was set up by the Romans Otho was offended that they had transgressed the Acts made in his fathers time he hastned to Rome and exerced severity against the rebellious Romans they in suffering deserved death did take unto themselves the name of Martyrs But Fasc temp maketh a distinction they were killed as some in the primitive Church were killed alike punishment but not alike cause Benedict
corporally present in Transubstantiation the Sacrament Whence it was questioned Whether the bread evacuateth or the substance of it be changed into Christ's body Lombard could not define the question and sheweth the different opinions of others Lib. 4. Dist 11. Innocentius setteth it as an Article of faith that the bread and wine are transubstantiated into Christ's body and blood cap. 1. In cap. 2. the doctrine of Joachim is condemned but not himself In cap. 3. all men are cursed who hold not the faith which is in cap. 1. and they are ordained to be punished by the Magistrate and if they be Laicks their goods shall be confiscated or if they be Clerks their goods should return to the Church where they had their Benefice He ordained that all Magistrates should swear at their admission to banish all who are discerned Hereticks by the Church which if they be slack to do they should be accursed and if after excommunication any shall continue a year the Metropolitan should give notice unto the Pope who shall absolve all the subjects from obedience and give his Land unto others who will expel the Hereticks Item He who is declared an Heretick should not be admitted unto the Sacrament nor unto Christian burial nor should alms nor oblations be received from such Item All Bishops should twice or at least once in the year visit all their Diocy where is any suspicion of heresie and cause three or more men of best account or if need require all of the bounds should be compelled to swear whether they know any Hereticks there or if there be any privy meetings or any persons different in maners from the common conversation of others Cap. 10. Because the food of God's word is necessary unto Christian people and Bishops are hindered by many occasions from teaching their people therefore they should employ sufficient men to preach and visit and they should provide necessaries unto such This was a safe-guard unto unqualified and non-resident Bishops Cap. 13. There should be no more religions or society of Monks because there are too many already if any will be a Monk let him go to one of those sorts that are approved and if any will found a new Monastery let him take one of the former rules Cap. 19. We will not let this pass without correction that some of the Clergy adorn the Churches with their own and other mens goods that they are more like to Laicks houses then to the Churches of God Ca. 21. All believers when they come to the Auricular confession years of discretion should confess all their sins unto his own Priest once a year and accomplish the pennance that shall be enjoyned and should communicate at least at Easter unless his own Priest think good that he should abstain Neither may a Priest reveal unto others what hath been confessed These private confessions were in use before but then made necessary as also here it appeareth that before were no confessaries but the Priests until afterwards the Monks obtained this priviledge Ca. 22. Because when one is sick and the Physician biddeth send for a Priest the patient often despaireth of health and so falleth into greater danger therefore the Physician shall at the first bid send for the Physician of the soul Ca. 29. Plurality of Benefices is forbidden unless the Pope think good to dispense with some persons who are to be honored Ca. 31. Because Patrons detain the Church-revenues so that in these Countreys scarcely is found any Parish-Priest that hath but the least knowledge of letters therefore we ordain that a sufficient portion be assigned unto the Parish-Priest who should serve not by a Vicar but personally c. Ca. 42. As we would not that Laicks usurp the power of Clerks so we will that Clerks usurp not the power of Laicks Ca. 46. Magistrates should not exact taxations from the Clergy unless the Clerks will willingly contribute when they see the necessity of common burthens and even then not without the advice of the Pope Ca. 50. The prohibition of marriage should not exceed the fourth degree of blood or alliance because there are but four humors in mans body or it consisteth of four elements This is a fair pretence but it was a remedy saith Po. Virg. de inven lib. 5. cap. 5. against the Decree of Pope Julius who had ordained that marriage should not be within the seventh degree by which severity it came to pass that men could not finde marriage within their City and this Decree is observed saith he but he might have added unless men will pay for a dispensation and so no degree hindereth marriage as I have touched elsewhere and experience sheweth Likewise Pope Celestin the III. gave a judicial sentence If a married person fall into heresie the other spouse may marry another But this Innocentius ordained contrarily that heresie should not be a cause of divorce Extra de divort c. Quanto The election of the Pope was restrained unto the Cardinals by Pope Celestin the II. and this Innocentius confirmed that Act and added that the holy Colledge of Cardinals should have jurisdiction in all places and have authority over all men and power of judging the causes of all Princes and of bringing them into their Kingdoms or depriving them Cumi Ventura in Thesor Politic. pag. 388. printed at Frankford An. 1610. Peter King of Arragon made his Realms of Arragon and Sardinia tributary unto the Chair of St. Peter for the salvation of his soul forsooth in the days of this Innocentius He sat eighteen years and seven moneths After his death he appeared unto Ludgardis when she saw him compassed with so great fire she asked Who he was He answered I am Innocentius She groaned and said How is it that our common father is so tormented He answered I am so tormented for three causes which most justly had condemned me unto eternal punishment if by the intercession of the most holy Mother of God I had not repented at the last gasp I have indeed escaped eternal death but until the day of judgement I am tormented with most cruel punishments and that I could come unto thee to seek thy prayers the Mother of mercy hath obtained it from her Son And having spoken so he vanished The Nun declared his necessity unto her sisters that they would help him and lamenting his case she afflicted her self wonderously Let the reader understand saith my Author that I am not ignorant of those three causes which Ludgardis told me but for reverence of so great an high Priest I will not report them Bellar. de gemitu col lib. 2. cap. 9. ex Suri in vita Ludgar 2. HONORIUS the III. confirmed the Order of Dominicks and gave them priviledge of preaching and hearing confessions albeit they had not cure of souls or parishes He confirmed also the Orders of Franciscans Augustinenses and Carmelites He ordained that every one should bow their knee at the lifting up of the
schismatical side This Cardinal Cusan in his Books De Concordantia Catholica which he directed unto the Councel at Basil maintaineth these positions All the promises which Christ spoke unto Peter as I will give thee the keys I have prayed for thee and such other things should be understood of the Church universally and not particularly of Peter or his Successors especially since many Popes have been Schismaticks and Hereticks Every Prelate hath place in the Church according to the Dignity of his Seat and so the Bishop of Rome hath attained such precedency in the Church as Rome had antiently among the Nations Or if they have place according to the holiness of him which first sate there certainly Jerusalem should have the primacy where the great high Priest did wash his Church with his blood And why should not Ephesus the seat of St. John be preferred to Alexandria the seat of Mark and so of the rest The Councel dependeth not upon the head thereof but upon the consent of all the Assessors although the Bishop of Rome were present there he hath not more power there then a Metropolitan in his Provincial Synod Without all controversie a universal Councel is above the Bishop of Rome whose power is sometimes said to have been from Christ yet in more places we finde that his primacy is from man and dependeth on the Canons wherefore as he may be judged and deposed by a Councel so he cannot abrogate nor change nor destroy the Canons of Councels In lib. 3. cap. 2. ss by many testimonies of Antiquity he proveth it false that Constantine gave or could give the Empire of the West unto the Pope These testimonies are exstracted and subjoyned to the Declamation of Laur. Valla in Fascic rer expetend There also Cusanus saith Neither is it true that the Pope gave it unto Charls or transferred it from the Greeks unto the Germans and it is most false that the Princes Electors were instituted by the Pope and that they discharge the office of Election in his name In the contrary The Emperor dependeth on God alone and it is not necessary that he be confirmed by the Pope nor may the Pope depose him The Emperors in old time called the General Councels as other Princes have taken care of Provincial Synods When he was Legate in Germany he hindred and discharged the carrying of the Sacrament in their Processions Crantz in Metrop He addeth Because the Sacrament was ordained for use and not for ostentation 23. In the year 1442. the Emperor Frederick had a Diet at Mentz where they spoke of casting off the Pope's yoke in time of the schism But in the time of Pope Nicolaus this Neutrality was taken away by the mediation of Aen. Sylvius and therefore he got a red hat Nevertheless because the conditions that he had made in name of the Pope were not fulfilled the Germans assembled again and by advice of Diether Bishop of Mentz they would provide for themselves according to the Pragmatica Sanctio against the tyranny of the Roman Church and they agree upon Decrees concerning the election of Prelates the collation of Benefices the pleading of causes the granting of pardons the exactions of tenths c. And if the Pope shall discern against them they resolve to provide for themselves by an appellation 24. Martin Meyer Chancellor unto this Diether wrote an Epistle unto Cardinal Aen. Sylvius and complaineth in his Master's name that the Canons of Constance and Basil were not observed that Calixtus as if he were not tied to the covenant of his Predecessors did oppress Germany he contemneth the election of their Prelates and reserveth their Benefices of all sorts unto his Cardinals and Secretaries expectative graces are given without number Annates or mid-fruits are exacted rigorously yea more is extorted then is owed the Government of Churches is not given unto them which deserve best but who payeth most new Indulgences are sent dayly for squeezing money ..... a thousand means are devised whereby the See of Rome draweth gold from us as if we were witless Barbarians .... Our Princes being awakened have resolved and decreed to cast off this bondage and to defend their former liberty In the end he congratulateth his late advancement and lamenteth that so many evils hapned in his time But saith he God will have it otherwise and his decree must have place By these words Meyer giveth to understand more then he speaketh This Epistle is printed with Sylvius his description of Germany 25. The Greeks wrote unto the Bohemians in this manner The holy A Letter from Greece unto the Bohemians Church of Constantinople and Mother of all Orthodox Believers unto all the Masters and each of the famous Brethren and Sons beloved in Jesus Christ in Bohemia salvation by the Son of the glorious Virgin and an hundred-fold increase of spiritual fruit The holy Church of the heavenly Bridegroom which is the Head of the whole Church hath not greater pleasure then that she heareth that her Sons walk in the truth therefore when not without most great pleasure and as it were a pledge of common fruit the fertility and growth of them who couragiously suffer persecution for the testimony of true faith came unto the ears of the same godly and bountiful Mother especially by a Brother and Son Constantinus Anglicus the bearer of these presents and a reverend Priest we were more plainly advertised that ye hearken not unto the novelties that are brought by some into the Church of Christ but that ye are constant in the foundation of faith which was given unto us by our Lord and his Disciples The holy Church hath incontinently written unto you and intended to exhort you into concord with her and not according to the forged union of Florence which was separate from the true and lawful Councel which union should rather be called a diremption from the truth for which cause we received not that union but altogether refused it and according to the immoveable decree of truth wherein only we can be truly and safely united for the Church of Christ doubteth not of these things which she heard reported of you as is said Seeing therefore you have judged it expedient to contraveen the perillous novations of Rome ye shall be of one mind with this Church by means of the Holy Scriptures which is the true Judge For although no good report of you came unto us before that ye did not resist the Roman novelties but rather were enemies to the ancient traditions of the Catholick and Christian Church yet now we are informed more surely that ye are revived and returned unto the common religion of Christians and unto true godliness and that you leave not your Mother but being zealous with true love of your true Mother have a singular desire to promove and inlarge her which we understood by the coming of this devout Priest as we have said who hath declared unto us particularly the estate
Thief and Son of perdition nor is he the Head of the holy militant Church since he is not a member thereof 21. The grace of predestination is the bond wherewith the Church of Christ and every member thereof is united unto Christ the Head insolubly 22. A Pope or Prelate being wicked or praescitus is equivocally a Pastor and truly a Thief and Robber 23. A Pope should not be called most holy no not in respect of his Office for then a King may be called most holy yea an Hang-man may be called holy yea the Divel may be called holy for he is the Officer of God 24. If a Pope live contrary unto Christ although he be chosen lawfully according to the institution of men yet he entereth otherwise then by Christ even although he enter by election prescribed by God for Judas was lawfully chosen by Christ unto the Apostleship and yet he went the wrong way into the sheepfold 25. The condemnation of the forty five Articles of John Wickliff made by the Doctors is unreasonable and unjust and a feigned cause is alledged by them to wit none of them is Catholick 26. Whether one be chosen lawfully or unlawfully we should believe the works of the elected for in so far as he worketh unto the edification of the Church so far hath he authority from God 27. There is no appearance that there should be an head governing the Church in spiritual things who should always remain with the militant Church 28. Christ can rule his Church better without these monstrous heads to wit by his Apostles and true Disciples who are spread through the World 29. The Apostles and faithful Priests of the Lord did diligently rule the Church in things necessary unto salvation before the Office of a Pope was known and so might they until the day of judgement although there were not a Pope 30. None is a Civil Lord none is a Prelate none is a Bishop so long as he is in mortal sin These Articles were condemned partly as notoriously heretical and rejected by the holy Fathers partly as scandalous and offensive unto pious ears partly erroneous and partly as timerarious and seditious Then the condemnatory Sentence of John Huss was read The Deputies of the four Nations and the President the Cardinal of Ostia and the Emperor cried Placet Item This assertion any Tyrant may and should be killed meritoriously by any of his Subjects either by privy plots or glozing flattery notwithstanding any covenant or oath of fidelity and not waiting the sentence of any Judge This assertion was condemned as heretical scandalous and strewing a way unto perjuries lies falshood and treasons In Sess 16. July 11. Commissioners were sent into Arragon to deal with Benedict for renouncing his Title Item None may go from the Councel without licence granted by the Presidents of the four Nations under pain of deprivation In Sess 17. July 15. The Emperour undertook to go into Arragon to deal with Pope Benedict and excommunication was denounced against every hinderer of his journy Item Prayers and Processions should be made in Constance every Sunday for his happy success with pardon for a hundred daies to all such as should be present at the Processions and all Prelates should be present in their Pontificals granting also unto every Priest who should say a Mass for the same success another hundred daies indulgence and to every person saying devoutly a Pater noster and an Ave Maria for the Emperour's safety a pardon of forty daies after the wonted manner in the Church In Sess 18. August 17. Two Judges were deputed to hear causes and grievances that were to be presented unto the Councel untill the definitive Sentence exclusivè Item As great faith and obedience should be given unto the Acts of the Councel as to the Bulls Apostolical In Sess 19. September 23. Jerom of Prague who had been accused imprisoned and constrained to abjure read his recantation forsaking all those articles that were called the heresies of Wickliff and Huss and consenting unto the Roman Church and the present Councel especially in the Articles concerning the power of the Keys Sacraments Orders Offices Censures and Indulgences Reliques Liberty of the Church and all other things belonging unto Religion and he consented unto the condemnations and the Sentences pronounced against Wickliff and Huss Item Notwithstanding any Safe-conduct given or to be given by Emperours Kings or others inquisition may be made against an Heretick or any suspected of heresie and process may be made according to Law even although such a person would not have come without such a Safe-conduct This is indeed Nulla fides servanda haereticis In Sess 20. November 21. Frederick Duke of Austria was summoned under pain of excommunication and forfeiting of all his Lands that he held of the Pope or Emperour to render the Cities Castles and Lands that he had taken from George Bishop of Trent January 20. An. 1416. in a general Congregation appeared the Commissioners who had been sent unto Pope Benedict and they presented twelve Articles penned and consented unto at Narbon December 13. between the Emperour and King of Hungary and the Commissioners of the Councels on the one part and the Kings and Princes following Pope Benedict on the other part for union of the Church to wit That a new Process should be intended against Pope Benedict and in case of contumacy he should be Canonically deposed and a Pope should be chosen by the Councel whom they all should acknowledge as only and lawfull Pope In another general Congregation February 4. these Articles were approved and subscribed by the Fathers of the Councel and by the Embassadors and Proctors of the Kings of England Scotland Cyprus Navar Norway of the Dukes of Burgundy Britain Savoy Austria Holland Zealand c. and by the Proctors of Bishops Generals of Orders Priors c. In Sess 21. May 30. James Bishop of Lauda made a Sermon and Jerom of Prague stood up in a high seat and craving and having obtained audience he professed that he had wickedly consented unto the condemnation of Wickliff and Huss that he had lied in approving that Sentence and he revoketh now and for ever his consent thereunto affirming that he had never found any heresie or error in the books of Wickliff nor Huss although he had said so before c. Wherefore he was presently condemned and indured the fire constantly In Sess 22. October 15. The Ambassadors of Arragon were accepted into the Councel In Sess 23. November 5. Commission was given unto certain Deputies to go into Arragon and there to examine Witnesses in the cause of Pope Benedict who will not renounce In Sess 24. November 28. Citation was directed against Pope Benedict In Sess 25. December 14. The Church Glomucen in Bohemia was given in Commenda unto the Bishop Lutomisten for a certain space In Sess 26. December 24. The order of Ambassadors from Princes in this Councel shall not prejudice their
is the true and absolute object of our adoration and adoration is due unto God only but we exclude not that flesh from our adoration lest we divid his person with Nestorius yet so that we worship that flesh not in itself but respectively as it is the flesh of the Sone of God to this purpose he brought a testimony of Cyrill and the eight anathematism of the Councell at Chalcedon They disputed on this article other three dayes but no agreement March 27. the Wurtembergers gave their propositions of Popish churches images and organes in churches They agreed that these are in themselves indifferent if the abuses be shunned Then they gave theses of baptism where the question was Whether baptism is the laver of regeneration in the holy Spirit or whether it be only a signe signifying and sealing adoption The VVurtembergers said It not only signifieth and sealeth adoption but is the very laver of regeneration because it is said He washes his Church by the laver of water and Unless a man be born again .... and they condem these propositions The grace of the holy Ghost is not tied unto the sacraments The sacraments are appointed only to confirm Gods favor toward us Regeneration or salvation depends not absolutly on baptism It is an improper speech Baptism washes away sin In the elect only is the virtue of baptism All infants that are baptized are not partakers of the grace of Christ or regenerated It is unlawfull that women do baptize even in case of necessity Beza gave his answer in writ the sum is The sacraments are not bare signes but the efficacy of the Holy Spirit should be distinguished from the power of the water as they are distinguished by John in Matth. 3. and by Pet. 1. Ep. 3. and of the whole ministery it is said He who planteth or watereth is nothing And he declares the words of the institution and the effects of baptism In the dispute Jacob Andreae held that there is but one washing because Paul saith one baptism Beza said There is an outward and an inward washing and he rebuked the Wurtembergers that they do not call the blood of Christ the thing signified in baptism Do. Jacob answered A sacrament is such as the word describes it but neither Christ nor Paul speaking of baptism make any mention of blood They asked Whether infants have faith Beza denied and the other affirmed it They questioned Whether the elect being sanctified may lose faith Beza denyed and the other put it off unto the article of predestination They asked What hope may parents have of their baptised children Beza said All should hope well but we are not Prophets to foretell that this or that child shall be a good or bad man Concerning women's baptism Th. Beza said There can be no such necessity for which the Divine ordinance of the Ministry should be trangressed Iacob said As a woman may confort a man in time of necessity Beza replied There is another consideration of exhorting and conforting one another and not the want but the contempt of the sacrament doth condemn Neither in this point did they agree Concerning predestination the Wurtembergers said God from all eternity not only foresaw the fall of man but hath also foreknown and chosen them that shall be saved and hath appointed them unto salvation that is that they should be saved by Christ for the election was made in Christ The number of them who shall be safed is certain with God So the question remains say they whether God hath predestinate his elect unto life so that he in his hid and absolut judgement hath appointed certain men yea the most part of men unto eternal damnation that he will not have them to repent nor be converted and saved We believe that such decree can not be shewd by Scripture that without respect of their unworthiness but at the meer pleasure of his will he hath appointed any man far less the greatest part of men unto everlasting damnation or that he will not have them to repent Because whatsoever is written is written .... that we through patience and consolation might have hope and God will have all men to be saved ...... They reiect these propositions Reprobation is the most wise purpose of God whereby from all eternity he hath constantly decreed without all unrighteousness not to shew love on them whom he hath not loved that in justly condemning them he might declare his wrath against sin and shew his glory The cause of the decree of election or reprobation is his eternal favour toward them who at his pleasure are appointed unto salvation and his eternal hatred of ill ordaining whom he pleased unto damnation but wherefore he hath appointed these men rather then those unto salvation or damnation there is no other impulsive cause but his will God willeth not that those who are appointed to damnation should be saved or that the death of his Sone be available unto them Beza answered thus What yee deny that the vessels of wraith alswel as the vessels of mercy were ordained from eternity Wee do affirm not only because there is alike reason of contraries and the very word Election proveth it but also it is declared by the express word of God Rom. 9. 11. And this is so far from any ground that man can challenge God of unrighteousness that He were not unjust though he had condemned all men seeing we all are the children of wraith and he is debter to none Wee say further that their condemnation who in the eternall decree are left in their corruption is not rightly attributed unto this decree For albeit that which God hath decreed can not miss but shall come to pass and so they who perish do not perish without this decree yet the cause of the execution or of their condemnation is not that decree of God but their natural corruption and the fruits of it from which it pleased God to exeem them only whom he hath chosen to salvation That there ever was and is a great number of them who perish the matter it self shewes and Christ saith Many are called and few chosen and Few enter in at the strait gate Lastly that God will not have them to be converted and saved it 's not to be understood as if they were willing and God resisteth their desire but that they will not be converted nor can they will being forsaken of God and left in impenitency He answered also to the obiections but I will not repeat them here In this dispute they come to that question Whether Christ died for all men even for the sins of the damned Iacob held the affirmative and Beza the negative When thâ—y both repeated the same arguments and answers Prince Frederik thought it expedient to close seeing no appearance of agreement he exhorted them to give one to another the hand of fraternity and to abstain from bitter writings untill God shall give them more cause of peace Jacob
choose Mathew Earle of Lennox who was grand father of the King to be Regent He with 5000. men keept the day at Lithgow for the Parliament but none of the adverse faction came In his time the troubles ceased not sometime by the mediation of Queen Elisabeth was a treaty twixt the parties but it was neither to her contentment nor would the Kings party yeeld any of his right and so the treaty had no effect yea and all the time the country had no quietnes They who were on the Queen's side had encouragement from France and Duke d'Alva Governor of Flanders and in the year 1571. both parties conveenes a Parliament the Queens party at Edinburgh and the Kings party at Sterlin where as in time of peace they keept not a watch which the other party hearing L. Claud hamilton came in the night time and took the Regent out of his lodging in September and when they saw others coming for his rescue they killed him with â— shot George Bell the chief adviser of this enterprice and Captain Lawder the murderer were taken and punished as traitors I returne unto the affaires of the Church The Assembly conveenes at Edinburgh July 5. The XIX Assembly An. 1570. Robert Pont is chosen Moderator 1. The Sentence of excommunication is directed against Patrick called Bishop of Morray to be executed by Ro. Pont Visitor there with the assistance of the Ministers of Edinb 2. Ministers at their admission shall protest solemly that they shall not leave their Vocation under rhe pain of infamy periury c. 3. Tryall should be taken of young children how they are brought up by their parents in the true religion therefore Ministers and Elders of every parishon should examin the children when they come to nyne years of age and when they come to twelve years and the third time when they come to 14. years that it may be known how they have profited in the schoole of Christ 4. Because some Noble men have made defection from the Kings lawfull authority certain brethren were directed to the Earls Lords and all which made that defection to deale with them with earnest persuasions of reconciliation with certification if they continue in disobedience the Church will use the sword against them which God in his word hath committed unto them And the Commissioners are to report their answers unto the next Assembly 5. James Carmichell Schoolmaster of Santandrews accuseth Rob. Hamilton Minister there of some points of doctrin delivered in a Sermon The Clark register and the Justice-Clerk and another Lord of the Session shew in the L. Chancellors name that he had heard of that controversy and it containes some points tending to treason and against the Kings authority and therefore they require that the Assembly would not decide in that matter concerning the Kings authority untill the Nobility conveen which will be within few dayes but in such things as concern heresy or properly belong unto their jurisdiction they may proceed Unto this protestation the assembly agreeth and went-on in discussing the complaint in so far as is concerned doctrine and slander that may arise thereupon But I finde not the particulars 5. Conceilers of adultery should be called and examined and if they be convict to have cloaked adultery wittingly let the Rule have place Agentes consentientes pari poená puniantur 6. Quaeritur A woman bringeth forth a child and in time of her birth before the midwife depones that such a man is the father of the child and being called before a Judge is ready to swear the same And that man is ready to swear that he had never carnall dealing with that woman and there is not other proof to which of two should credite be given Ans Neutri credendum 7. The Assembly gives commission unto certain Ministers Barons and Burgesses to compear at Edinburgh the twelth of the instant with continuation of dayes or whensoever the Nobility shall conveen before the time of the next Assembly To require humbly an answer unto their articles and supplications with redresse of their complaints according to equity To assist concurr and assent to all and whatsoever shall be treated in the foresaid Convention tending to the promoving of Gods glory the maintaining the true religion the Kings authority the common well and authority of the realm As also to take cognition in all complaints supplications and requests of brethren specially remitted unto them by this Assembly And whatsoever shall be done by them in the premisses to report the same unto the next generall Assembly which is appointed to be at Edinburgh March 5. next to come Promising to hold firme and stable whatsoever these brethren or any eight or seven of them thinks good in the premisses to be done 3. All assignations and pensions granted by the Church during their will to whatsoever person or persons before this Date are discharged except only what is assigned to the Kings use X. At Edinb March 5. conveenes the Assembly Ge. Hay is chosen 1571. The XX. Assembly Moderator I. All Superintendents Commissioners to visite Churches should bring their book of visitatâ—on unto every Assembly next following To be considered by such Brethren as shall be appointed by the Assembly that the church may the better know their diligence in executing their office II. Sixe Articles concerning the iurisdiction of the Church which are to be ptopounded unto the Regent and Counsell and sought to be approved by them 1. that the Church have the judging of true and false religion doctrine heresy and such like that are annexed to the preaching of the Word and ministration of sacraments 2. election examination and admission of them which are to be admitted to the Ministry and other functions in the Church to charge of souls and ecclesiasticall Benefices together with the suspension or deprivation of such for lawfull causes 3. All things concerning the discipline of the Church which standes in correction of manners admonitions excommunication receiving to repentance 4. The judgement of Ecclesiasticall matters betwixt persons that are of the Church especially that are of the Ministry alswell in matters of Benefices as others 5. Jurisdiction to proceed with admonitions to the process of excommunication if need shall bee against them that shall rob the patrimony of the church appartaining to the Ministry or other way intromet with it unjustly whereby the Ministry is in danger of decay by occasion of the poverty of the Ministers 6. Because the conjunction of marriages pertaines to the Ministry the causes of adherence and divorcement ought also to appertain unto them as naturally annexed thereunto III. It is ordained that adulterers and such other scandalous persons shall hereafter be called by the Superintendent or Commissioner of the Province to compear before their Synodall Conuention and there receive their iniunctions as before in the generall assembly 4. All questions should be propounded or represented to the Superintendents and
the Romans Pope John would not consent and therefore was imprisoned he escaping goeth into France and confirmed Lewes the Stutterer son to Charls the Bald. Nevertheless because Charls did oppose the Moors in Italy Pope John returned and confirmed the first coronation and declared the other to be of none effect Pet. Mexia Shortly thereafter Lewes dieth leaving behind him two bastard sons and his wife with child whereupon followed great troubles in France The two brethren of Charls died also The Normans and Danes overrun France with great hostility The Peers were constrained to seek aid from the Emperour who came and received the Crown of France So all that had appertained unto Charls the Great was united in his person again except the Kingdom of Bavaria His grandure continued not long for the Hungars came out of Scythia and sate down in Pannonia the Normans passe the river Sequana take Rouan and by excursions trouble both France and Germany Charls did once again send his Armies against them but with loss of his Souldiers Then the Normans became more confident they besiege Paris they burn Towns and Churches slay Bishops and Priests spare neither age nor sex Charls bought their peace and gave them Neustria which keeperh their name till this day Charls became more unable both in body and courage he assembled a Diete at Triburia and began to talk of the Empire The Princes took occasion to accuse him as lunatick and unfit for government they deprive him and set up Arnulph King of Bavaria Charls dieth in sorrow in Jan. An. 888. All this time Leo son of Basilius was Emp. of the East 8. ARNULPH was received Emperor by the States on this side of the A worser contest Alps but Pope Adrian the III. had caused a Constitution to be enacted that if Charls died without succession the Kingdom of Italy and Title of Emperour should return unto the Italians And now Italy was divided for Albert Marquess of Tuscia Berengarius a Roman by birth and Duke of Friali and Wido Governour of Spoleto strove for it Berengarius was crowned King of Italy by Anselm bishop of Millan Wido raiseth a great Army and with little difficulty possesseth all Lombardy Berengarius runneth to Arnulph holding a Diete at Worms and with earnest prayers besought his aid against Wido as a common enemy He was once restored and expelled again by Lambert son of Wido and was brought in again by the power of Arnulph Arnulph then goeth to Rome and besiegeth it The Romans shew themselves such Lions that when a Hare hearing the noise of the Host ran towards the City for very fear they desperately threw themselves over the Walls and Arnulph scaling the Walls with little danger took the City He restoreth Pope Formosus from his adversaries and beheadeth them The Pope to gratifie his redeemer blesseth and crowneth him Nevertheless the Italians will not continue under his obedience for Lambert kept still the name of King untill he was slain in hunting and left the Kingdom peaceable to Berengarius Then a jar hapned betwixt him and his son-in-law Albert Marquess of Eporredia who sent for Lewes son of Charls King of Provence of whom before and offered him the Kingdom The estate of Italy was then miserable for the Sarazens lay in the Dutchy of Benevento and suffered none to go to Rome unspoiled at last they were expelled by Adelgisus Duke of Benevento Lewes now entred into Italy and was crowned but new troubles arose in Lombardy untill Lewes was taken his eys were pulled out and he renounced the Kingdom In the mean time Arnulph was busied with the Hungarians and expelled them out of France Bavier Suevia and Saxony Odo ruled France under the name of Tutor and was the Authour of the three Lillies in France at last Charls the simple son of Lewes the Stutterer received that Crown Arnulph died of vermin An. 900. The fore-named Leo had continual Wars with the Infidels in Asia and in the end obtained a notable Victory Alexander his brother reigned 13. months and then Constantine son of Leo partly under Tutory and partly alone did reign 54 years CHAP. II. Of POPES 1. STEPHEN the IV. was set in the Papal Chair without the knowledge The Pope's first golden Cross and Vsurpation of the Emperour wherefore he hastned into France to excuse the fact and to crave confirmation and at Rhemes he crowned the Emperour with a Crown brought from Rome he returned bearing a Cross not like Christ but of gold which the Emperour gave to Saint Peter When he saw that the Emperour had so lightly forgiven the election he said at Rome The sence of the Decree of Pope Leo was not that the election should chiefly belong unto the Emperour but that they might well make their own election and then only seek confirmation from the Emperour or his Legate He sought pardon for them who were banished under Charls Platin. he died in the 7 month An. 817. 2. PASCHALIS the I. was chosen without the knowledge of the Emperour Achange in the election of the Pope wherefore incontinently he sent a Nuntio with gifts unto Lewes laying the fault on the people who had forced him to accept Consecration The Emperour admitteth the excuse and sent word unto the People and Clergy of Rome that the custom and ordinance of their Predecessours should be kept and therefore they should not trespass against him any more Platin. Gratian. dist 63. cap. ego Ludovicus alledgeth that Lewes gave free liberty unto the Clergy and People to chuse the Pope But the following practice of Gregory the IV. confirmeth the testimony of Platin. and others Paschalis was one of the most superstitious worshippers of dead bodies if Platina speaketh truly of him who also sheweth that he was accused for murthering Theodorus Primicerius and Leo Nomenclator because they had maintained The Pope is Arraigned a priviledge of the Emperour nor could he be pardoned untill he had cleansed himself by Oath in an assembly of Bishops and then the Emperour forgave him The next year Lotharius son of Lewes and designed Emperour came to Rome and found the estate thereof depraved and the wickedness of some Bishops Therefore it was enacted that one should be sent from the Emperour to administer Justice Morn in Myster ex Autore vit Ludo. Paschalis sate 7 years 3. EUGENIUS the II. was chosen when Lotharius was in the City Bishops have Prison houses Of his idolatry and pride is spoken before Didoclamus in Altar Damasc pag. 421. ex Choppin de sacr polit lib. 2. reporteth that he did first appoint Bishops to have Prisons for restraint of the vices of the Clergy He did sit 4 years 4. VALENTINE the I. of a Deacon was made Pope for his singular Pride of the Pope diligence and gravity in his youth but he wanted not pride for at his election he gave his foot to be kissed by the Senatours which was never done before Helmold
in Histor Sclavo lib. 1. and after him Ph. Morn in Myster have marked the cause The liberality of Lewes had made them earthly Princes who should have been guides to heaven by feeding souls His pride was soon laied low for he died within 40. daies 5. GREGORY the IV. would not sit in his Chair till he was confirmed by the Emperor Platina saith The Emperour did so not out of pride for he was very mild and courteous but he would not lose his Imperial right and although he gave them wealth he would not quit his authority This Pope ordained the Feast of All-Saints to be kept Novemb. 1. Naucler Pol. Vergil de invent rer lib. 6. cap. 8. Fasci temp and the French and German Churches began first to observe it He was not slow in transporting dead bodies The Papishes talk much of an Epistle of a Greek Monk unto this Gregory to prove the Primacy of the Pope because he calleth him equal unto Primacy of Bishops the Angels the Apostolical Father the highest light c. But they will not shew that he writ that Epistle in despight of his Patriarch who had censured him for worshipping Images nor will they tell how the same Monk calleth the Bishop of Alexandria the great light the first Prince of Bishops and Apostolical Father and in another Epistle he calleth the Bishop of Jerusalem the first of the Patriarchs though thou saith he be called the fifth for where the Bishop of our souls and High-Priest of all was born wrought all his miracles suffered was buried rose again lived and whence he ascended there undoubtedly is the highest dignity of all It may then be doubted who was the first in that man's opinion Ph. Morn in Myster pag. 157. Gregory sate 16 or as some say 18 years 6. SERGIUS the II. was crowned by the Clergy and People not regarding the Emperour's consent because of the emulation amongst the brethren Continuator Eutropij writeth that Lotharius and his son Lewes being anointed did great harm unto the Romans for this their trespass and caused them to give their Oath of fidelity and then did confirm the Pope Ph. Morn in Myster pag. 159. This Pope's name was Osporci and being ashamed The change of the Pope's name of it he first of all Popes did change his name after his investiture Platin. After his example it became a custom saith Pol. Vergil de invent rer lib. 4. cap. 10. that if any who was chosen had not an honest name he did change it for example saith he and let it not be spoken without laughter if he be a wicked doer he is called Bonifacius if timorous Leo if a Clown Urbanus if fierce Clemens if of ill report Benedictus .... and they say this is done in imitation of Christ who gave the name of Peter unto Simon Serepus did first ordain that a Bishop should not be judged under 72 witnesses The fore-named Continuator writeth that in his time was great Simony is punished simony and he professed openly to sell Bishopricks and who gave most should speed best The Authour of Catal. test ver from an old manuscript and Henr. de Erford lib. 10. sheweth that none was found who for the glory of God would forbid this vice and therefore God sent the Sarazens amongst them who slue great numbers of them and carried away great spoil But Ph. Morn ex Anastas Biblioth writeth These Bishops Drogo The Pope is opposed of Metens Gregory of Ravenna Angilbert of Millan Joseph of Eporredia Aginus of Verona Almaricus of Cuma Norchard of Vercelles the Bishops of Luca Pisa Volaterr together with others that is the chiefest Bishops of Italy and the Counts Boso Adalgisus John c. had contention with him daily for his pride and usurpation and Agilbert made separation from the Church of Rome whereas his Predecessours had submitted unto the Pope the space of 60 years he nor his Successours would not subject themselves for the space of 209 years as followeth Also Theodore Abbot of Fulda in an Epistle testifieth that the Church of Millan did then respect the writings of Ambrose and his Liturgy was in use there Ph. Morn in Myster Sergius sate 3 years 7. LEO the IV. was chosen the same day that Sergius died and he was A Pope is a Warriour consecrated without the consent of the Emperour and therefore as Anastasius and Ph. Mornay say the Romans fearing that Lewes would return and censure them for that deed sent their excuse that they were in danger of the Sarazens and had need of the Pope's present help For the Infidels were lying about Rome and had wasted a great part of Italy untill Pope Leo gave them battel at Ostia where by the providence of God after publick prayer in audience of the Army many of the enemies were slain others were taken captive and the residue fled unto their ships And then Leo and loyal writ unto the Emperour as is in Gratian. dist 10. Cap. de Capitalis thus Concerning your Imperial Precepts and the Precepts of your High-Priests our Predecessours to be kept irresistably so far as we could or now may we profess to keep constantly both now and for ever As for the time past he protested that he was compelled thereunto and not of his own motive nor in contempt of the Emperour and he subjoined If any hath said or shall say otherwise ye may certainly understand he is a liar In another Epistle when he was accused that he and Gratian Magister Militum had plotted to reduce the Empire unto Greece Platin. he writ more submissly saying If we have done any thing amiss and have not kept the path of just laws wherein we are subject we will amend at the sight of your Majesty or of your Missi .... and we desire not only that these things be exactly tried by your Missi but whether they shall be found less or greater let all things be so ended by them that nothing remain thereafter undiscussed or undecided Here it appeareth clearly what authority the Emperour had then above the Pope This Leo bestowed six years in repairing the City for the Sarazens had weakned a great part of it and all Italy did contribute unto the reparation also the Emperour and his two brethren sent a great sum of money for the work saith Nauclerus He did add much unto the City and that part was called Leonina he ordained that a Cross of Gold all set with precious stones should be carried before him contrary to an Act in a Councel under Gregory the IV. The Authour of Catol test ver lib. 10. hath a story And a Reformer of the Church which he saith was never in Print before ex Luithprand how Leo observing many things done impudently against God and the salvation of Christian souls did assemble a Synod of 67 Bishops at Rome by the advice of Lotharius and Lewes and setteth down 42 Canons which he hath particularly In