of Preists marriages though by generall consent it had beene reiected in the Councell of Nice and was not receiued in the West of 600. yeares after doe his Successors what they could After him came Innocent Innocent Epist 2. ad Victric anno 401. He in his 2. Epistle to Victricius B. of Roanâ— published this generall decree That the greater causes after that they had beene censured by the Bishop should be referred to the See of Rome as the Synod saith he hath ordained and the laudable vse and custome of the Church requireth He and his Successors Zozimus Boniface and Celestine would haue men thinke that the councell of Nice had soe ordained which that councell did not as the 6. councell of Carthago proued against them aboute the yeare 420. and soe did the generall councels of Constantinople and Chacedon It was indeede the councell of Sardica aboute the yeare 350. that gaue this power to Iulius but that canon neuer put in practise by him was reuoked in expresse termes in the councell of ConstaÌ„tinople can 3. which councell had now beene approued by Damasus therefore they would not name it to be a canon of Sardica but pretend it to be a canon of Nice Which forgerie many perceiued not and therefore gaue him power to doe But if any man will yet obiect and say It seemes he had not yet this power because the councels of Constantinople the 6. councell of Carthage and the councell of Chalcedon opposed it I answer here as before Antechrist was to be opposed by some in all ages and so hath the Pope and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basile but yet he had power as the Beast was to haue it by his owne arogant vsurpation the flaterie of his followers and that I thinke aboute the yeare 380. in the time of Damasus or soone after and not before and so as I saide his time may expire aboute the yeare 1640. or within few yeares after that is if his terme of doeing began not till the time of Siricius Others perhaps will say he had it much sooner Here I must tell the Papists that it is to noe purpose for them to bringe for a ground of appeales or the antiqâ—â—â—â—â— of them the acts of any perticular Heretike Schismatike or Superstitious Doter before the Nicene Councell because the mysterie did worke in the Apostâ—es time and if it were graunted that Marâ—ian and Valentinia Hereticks had recourse to the Bishop of Rome as Basiâ—des and 〈◊〉 had who were deposed for sacrificing to idols and likewise diuers Scismatiks of Afrike in the time of Cyprian yet this proues not that they might appeale or he receiue for if the Pope had had any such right then would not Cyprian haue complained of them for appealing nor of him for receiuing neither would the Councell of Nice haue limited his power and giuen as much to Alexandria But howsoeuer the question is here of power that was giuen to the Beast after his rising which could not be before the Nicene Councell because he that hindred was not then taken out of the way the Emperour not fully departed to Constantinâ—ple Neither could the burning mountaine signified vnder the second trumpet Reu. 8.8 be cast into the sea before the Nicene Councell which will appeare to be the sea as they abused it to rise out of it But indeede this burning mountaine was either cast into the sea in the time of the Councell when the Pope by his deputies might ambitiously craue of the Emperour or of the Councell that his might be the first see and haue some preeminence in power or else as I rather thinke soâ—ne after before the fall of Constantius into Arianisme signified vnder the third trumpet Reu. 8.10 when the Pope alleaged the Nicene Councell for his authority as Iulius did and thenceforth the beast might indeede begin to rise and doe yet I thinke he had not this power to doe before the time of Damasus nor longe before the yeare 380. or perhaps not till the time of Syricius aboute the yeare 386. or soone after For though wee finde in Socrates and Sosomene that before that Iulius tooke vpon him by absolute authority * Socrat. lib. 2 c. 11. Edit lat Sozom. lib. 3. c. 7. to restore sundrie Bishops of the Easterne Churches deposed for diuers causes by theire Synods because saith he the care of all Churches belonged to him by reason of his see therefore he wrote to the Bishops of the East telling them that they had donne verrie ill to determin and conclude any thinge against those Bishops without his priuitie yet as Socrates and Sosom shew they tooke his reproofes in scorne and calling a Synod at Antioch by common aduise consent retourne his imputations backe vpon himselfe with all bitternesse telling him that he was no more to controll theÌ„ if they thought fit to depriue any man in theire Churches than they intermedled at what time Nouatus was cast out of the Church of Rome Sosomene addeth That theire answer was full of scoffes and threats c. Thus as yet they gaue him noe power to doe And it seemeth that this answer wrought vpon him for in his next letter he coÌ„plained only that they called him not to theire Synod whereas before he pretended that they might not call a Councell without his authority he doth not alleadge for himselfe that either by virtue of his succession to S. Peter or of the Nicene Councell they ought to appeale to Rome his words are only theese The Fathers of Nice ordained and that not without the counsell of God that the acts of one Councell should be examined in another whereby appeares noe greater power giuen to the B. of Rome ouer Alexandria than to the B. of Alexandria ouer Rome As for the greiuance whereof he complaineth it is only this that contrary to the custome they had not written first of all vnto him concerning the differences amongst theÌ„ to haue his aduice for composing of them as beeing Bishop of the first see as also that many Synods had beene held in the East concerning points of faith and doctrine without giueing him notice thereof contrary to the Rule and canon of the Church wherein is coÌ„tained that none might impose any law vpon the Churches without the aduice of the Bishop of Rome This canon gaue him indeede that he should either be called and haue a voice in euery Councell that imposed lawes or at least that his aduise consent should be asked if he should be farre away as fell out at the generall Councell of Constantinople where Damasus was neither in Person nor by his deputies and in noe other sense did Iulius now alleadge it he complaineth not that they assembled without his leaue but that they neither called him nor vsed his aduise he doth not say that this giues him that he should be as a head or Soueraigne to confirme or abrogate at his pleasure much lesse that
he should impose what law he list He knew well enough that it made him noe more then a Patriarch that other Patriarchs and Archbishops were his brethren and that euery Bishop had neuerthelesse a free voice as well as he Neither did he now expound it that this canon gaue him this priueleidge as to a Superiour to whome such homage was due therefore Iulius bad not this power to doe Damasus as I shewed seemeth to haue beene the first that tooke it in that proud sense and yet not verrie plainely but somwhat tacitely in words of doubtfull signification as ye saw After him Siricius and Innocent were more plaine as I shewed And soe indeede he rose out of that Sea of Nice by forging one canon and wresting another a weake foundation for so mightie a building yet such and noe other was the foundation of this Kingdom And thus indeede one Canon of Nice gaue him power to doe yet not as the Councell meant it but as he in time tooke it And so he had it but not before the time of Damasus or Syricius For Iulius as ye see had not so much power giuen him and Liberius his next Successour must needes haue lesse Baron Vol. 4. Anno 365. art 1.2.3.4.5 c. seeing he was conuicted of Arianisme as after all excuses Baronius is forced to confesse beholding many proofes thereof And if saith he there were noe other proofe his owne Letters are sufficient to put it out of question And indeede he wrote to the Bishops of the East on this manner Epist Liberij ad Oriental apud Hilar. in Fragment I cast of Athanasius from our communion not daining so much as to receiue his Letters I maintaine peace with you embracing the confession of the Sirmian Councell Which was all one as if he had in expresse words renounced the Councell of Nice and therefore He could haue noe power by it nor indeede by that of Sardica which had giuen more to Iulius because that had confirmed the Nicene faith to which this of Sirmium was opposit Yet heere by the way wee may see what greate inconuenience would follow if either of those Councels of Nice or Sardica must needes be in that point of force vnto all ages for while Liberius ratifieth the sentence against Athanasius and confirmeth the Councell of Sirmium if the Councels of Nice and Sardica giue the Pope this absolute power of confirming or abrogating Councels then they make this act of Liberius lawfull and thereby vtterly ouerthrow themselues and theire owne faith and confession which was contrarie but the Papists will confesse that the Councels of Nice and Sardica doe not make this act of Liberius lawfull vvhich to confesse is as much as if they acknowledged that those Councels did not giue absolute power to the Pope to confirme or abrogate the Decrees of Councels Howsoeuer ye see Liberius could not well haue this power to doe But then after him came Damasus and he indeede was a man of more respect learned and of such good parts as couered his ambition so that some could not see it and others were perhaps content to winke at it he therefore after a while might the better chalenge some Priueleidge from that Canon of Nice And noe doubt but that the words of Hosius vttered not longe before his time in the Councell of Sardica vvhereof they so much boast did now further him in his desired power The words of the Canon are theese Hosius the Bishop saide if any Bishop be condemned in any cause if the partie condemned thinke he haue iust cause not to stand to the sentence if it please you let vs yeeld this honour to S. Peter Let the matter be signified by Letter to Iulius Bishop of Rome to the ende that he with other Bishops of the Dioces may enter againe into the knowledge of the cause Now obserue here 1. That it was Hosius that proposed it and he proposed it as a new antidote against a poysen considering that the Bishops of the East were for the greater part at that time infected with Arianisme restraining it to the person of Iulius and would noe doubt haue donne otherwise in the person of Liberius Successor vnto Iulius and a professed Arrian notvvithstanding the pretended Chaire of Saint Peter 2. Note theese words If it please you let vs honour the memorie of S. Peter for had this beene an auncient right should he not rather haue saide Let vs obserue the commandement of the Lord or the auncient order of the Church or the Canon of Nice vvhereby it is ordained that men might appeale to Rome 3. Is it reason that a Canon of a Nationall Councell should conclude and binde the Church in generall 4. This Canon so made and neuer practised was in expresse termes reuoked in the generall Councell of Constantinople Can. 3. and in that of Chalcedon Can. 8. This was the first that seemed to giue him any greate power but this as ye see vvas not absolute yet hence he tooke such occasion of rising that some haue thought that he did rise out of it But that vvee may finde the truth hereof obserue Doctrines are in holy Scriptures called waters vvhereof some vvaters are cleane Ezech. 47.1 Ioel 3.18 Zach. 14.8 Reu. 15.2 some corrupted Reu. 8.10.11 chap. 16.3.4 some not corrupt of themselues but partly made so by reason of somwhat cast into them so was it vvith that Sea into vvhich the burning mountaine was cast Reuel 8.8 and the third part of the Sea became blood and out of that Sea the Beast arose Reuel 13. Now that vvce may know vvhat that Sea is obserue The Sea is the place vvhere waters are gathered and meete together Riuers and Fountaines runne into the Sea and emptie themselues there Novv Riuers and Fountaines doe signifie the Doctors and Teachers from vvhome the doctrines that is the waters flovv Reu. 8.10 So vvhen the third Angell sounded a greate starre fell from Heauen and it fell vpon the third part of the Riuers and Fountaines of waters this greate Starre vvas Constantius the Emperour vvho fell into the Arrian Heresie and he fell vpon part of the Riuers and Fountaines viz. Bishops and Teachers vvho vvere corrupted by him some by persvvasion and smoth deuices but most by force and persecution By vvhich meanes many vvere corrupted amonge others Pope Liberius himselfe The third viall is povvred on such corrupt riuers Fountaines as are defiled vvith the filth of Babylon Reu. 16.4 and come from the mouth of the Beast and false Prophet Novv the place vvhere such riuers and Fountaines meere and empty themselues must needes be a Sea this is in Councels vvhose doctrines and canons are therefore called the Sea Vers 3. Therefore vvhen the second Angel poured out his vial on the Sea this vvas on an assembly or Councell of Antichristian doctors and on theire vvaters or doctrines vvhich he manifesteth to be corrupt and perintious this was on the Councell of
with perswasions diuerted him and the Gothes then departed and addressed themselues toward France and Spaine Soe that it seemes the deadly wound was not yet giuen nor the Popes power of doeing taken short by them For indeede Zozimus Boniface Celestine tooke much on them in this time And the Emperour Valentinian who raigned longe after that in the west couenanted with the Vandals assigned them bounds in Afrike to dwell in And soe in his time Sixtus succeeded Celestine in the papacie and ruled 8. yeares free enough from this wound and after him Leo was in quiet enough for a longe time but in his dayes indeede Attilas King of the Hunnes inuaded Rome and so did Gensericus Kinge of the Vandals shortly after but Leo by his eloquence redeemed Rome from fire when both Attilas and Gensericus would haue burned it The later was neere aboute the yeare 450 and it hath beene thought a terrible blow but it seemed the deadly wound was not yet giuen till the time of Odoacer and Theodoricus For Gensericus departed into Afrike and the Popes after this had but too much power as wee shall see by and by Odoacer indeede inuaded it tooke it and besides the greatest part of Italie slew Orestes Anno 472. and compelled his Sonne Augustulus to denude himselfe of Imperiall honours whereby the westerne Empire of Rome was for a time extinct Baron Vol. 6. an 476. art 1.2.3 while that Odoacer now raigned there Yet as Baronius and others shew he did not molest the Pope Clergie Theodoricus killed him raigned alone in Italie for many yeares But eare longe after his death the Gothes were beaten out of Rome by Belisares and Narses Some perhaps will thinke that the deadly blow vvas not giuen till the time of Totilas after Belisares had recouered Rome because Totilas tooke it againe aboute the yeare 547. And this vvas indeede the most fearefull desolation that euer it had in so much that this Kinge vvas called Flagellum Dei that is the scourge of God He cast dovvne part of the vvalls burned the hovvses killed the Citizens so that neither man nor vvoman remained therein for 40. dayes I ansvver if this vvere the vvound it lasted not for he vvas soone vanquished by Narses And if the vvound vvere before in the time of Odoacer or Theodoricus or sooner yet the matter is not to see hovv longe the vvound lasted vnhealed but vvhether it hindred the Popes povver of doeing for all that time Wee haue seene already to Leo vvho ruled 21. yeares indeede tooke much on him as appeared to the Councell of Chalcedon but the Papists are ready enough to boast and shevv you vvhat greate povver he had to doe After him Hilarius continued 7. yeares Simplicius succeeded continued 15. yeares What power theese had may appeare by theire Successour vvho liued in a more dangerous time This vvas Foelix the III. vvho continued neere 9. yeares He gouerned the Church of Rome in the time of the Emperour Zeno vvhen Odoacer and Theodoricus contended for the Superioritie of Italie He vvas nothing inferiour to his Antecessors in zeale to aduance the Supremacie of the Roman Chaire For he was so bold as to excomunicate Acatius Patriarch of Constantinople because when Petrus Moggus gaue testimonie of his repentance and the recantation of his errour Acatius absolued him and did not craue the aduise of Foelix when he receiued him like as he craued his aduise before when he excomunicated him though now there was lesse neede while Moggus testified his repentance and recantation And herevpon Gelasius Gelas in Epis ad Dardanos who succeeded Foelix grew so insolent as to depriue Constantinople of the right of Patriarchship and to pronounce that the See of Rome might without a Synod of himselfe either absolue those whome a Synod had wrongfully condemned or condemne such as had deserued it and so setteth vp his See aboue all Councells And againe The Canon Ibid. saith he hath ordained that all Churches ought to appeale to this See and from this See to none because this See iudgeth of all Churches and noe Church of it as beeing without spot or wrinkle Yet as God iustly permitted after this vaine boasting his next Successor Anastatius had secret communion with the Accatian Hereticks Liber pontif as the Pontificall booke sheweth adding That therefore many Preists and others of the Clergie withdrew themselues from his communion c. Symachus succeeded though not by full or plaine election for many held for Laurence and each Faction kept quarter apart till some beeing wiser thē some the matter was referred to Theodorik the King who preferred Symachus and yet 4. yeares after Laurence was called home againe the Factiōs fell fairely to blowes wherein were infinite spoiles and murders committed Paulus Diacō lib. 15. Nicephor lib. 16. c. 35. as Paulus Diaconus and Nicephorus shew After Symachus succeeded Hormisda who would loose noe time If we may beleeue his Epistles he made diuers Bishops his Vicars in sundrie Prouinces of the West as Auitus Bishop of Vienna in the Prouince of Narbona Iohn of Arragon in Spanie on this side the riuer Betis and on the otherside Salust Bishop of Seuill Theese Bishops desiring precedencie and superioritie accepted of this title and soe gaue the Pope much power to doe in those times at least by his Substitutes And indeede howsoeuer some thinke that the Gothes Kingdom tooke away or hindred the Popes power of doeing as it might seeme at some times for a litle while Yet to say truth for the most part it furthered and increased it For the Emperours power was now bounded in the East and yet to recouer authority in the West they thought fit to hold intelligence with the Popes of Rome and to make faire wether with them by theire meanes to finde a doore open into Italie And therefore whereas diuers Emperours had fauoured some herecies which the Popes had opposed Iustine the Emperour to be more pleasing to the Pope was contented to send to consult with him vpon certaine points of faith which though it were no verrie greate matter seeing diuers Emperours haue donne as much with some Preists and Monkes that haue beene famous for learning iudgement and integritie as Charles the greate with Bertram a Preist aboute transubstantiation Yet the Popes ye may be sure would in time make greate matters of theese presidents Wherefore Baronius maketh much of a certaine sentence taken out of a letter which Iustine wrote to Hormisda Baron vol. 7 an 519. art 98. which sentence he causeth to be printed in greate letters Wee beleeue and hold for Catholike that which was intimated to vs by youre religious answer Soe dangerous it is to deale fairely with theese men For Baronius thinks he hath gotten a greate ground of Supremacie in that the Emperour Iustine and after him Iustinian sent vnto the Popes a confession of theire faith which though they often did