imprimatur_fw-la g._n jane_n r._n p._n d._n henr._n episc._n lond._n à _fw-la sac_fw-la domesticis_fw-la june_n 3._o 1676._o a_o defence_n of_o the_o discourse_n concern_v the_o idolatry_n practise_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o answer_n to_o a_o book_n entitle_v catholic_n no_o idolater_n by_o ed._n stillingfleet_n d._n d._n chaplain_n in_o ordinary_a to_o his_o majesty_n the_o two_o first_o part_n london_n print_v by_o robert_n white_a for_o henry_n mortlock_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o phoenix_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n and_o at_o the_o white-hart_n in_o westminster-hall_n 1676._o to_o the_o right_n reverend_a father_n in_o god_n henry_n lord_n bishop_n of_o london_n one_o of_o the_o lord_n of_o his_o majesty_n most_o honourable_a privy_a council_n my_o lord_n i_o have_v hear_v that_o in_o some_o famous_a prophetic_a picture_n pretend_v to_o represent_v the_o fate_n of_o england_n the_o chief_a thing_n observable_a in_o several_a of_o they_o be_v a_o mole_n a_o 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year_n when_o by_o the_o mean_n of_o leander_n bishop_n of_o sevil_n the_o king_n reccaredus_n be_v due_o inform_v in_o the_o orthodox_n faith_n call_v a_o council_n at_o toledo_n 〈…〉_z wherein_o arianism_n be_v renounce_v by_o the_o declaration_n and_o subscription_n of_o the_o king_n himself_o be_v present_a in_o council_n and_o afterward_o by_o the_o bishop_n who_o join_v with_o he_o and_o the_o great_a man_n which_o be_v do_v the_o council_n proceed_v to_o make_v new_a canon_n and_o constitution_n which_o the_o king_n confirm_v by_o his_o edict_n declare_v that_o if_o any_o bishop_n priest_n or_o deacon_n refuse_v to_o observe_v they_o he_o be_v sentence_v by_o the_o council_n to_o excommunication_n if_o any_o of_o the_o high_a rank_n of_o the_o laity_n the_o penalty_n be_v pay_v half_o their_o estate_n to_o the_o exchequer_n if_o other_o confiscation_n and_o banishment_n all_o which_o be_v extant_a in_o the_o record_n of_o that_o council_n the_o arian_n bishop_n as_o mariana_n relate_v 15._o such_o as_o athalocus_n and_o sunna_n with_o other_o have_v the_o old_a queen_n goswinda_n and_o several_a of_o the_o nobility_n to_o join_v with_o they_o make_v all_o the_o disturbance_n they_o can_v to_o hinder_v the_o reformation_n but_o god_n not_o only_o carry_v it_o through_o but_o wonderful_o preserve_v the_o life_n of_o the_o king_n notwithstanding_o many_o conspiracy_n against_o he_o after_o who_o death_n the_o arian_n faction_n be_v very_o busy_a and_o make_v several_a attempt_n by_o treason_n and_o rebellion_n to_o be_v restore_v again_o and_o they_o once_o think_v themselves_o sure_a when_o they_o have_v get_v wittericus_fw-la of_o their_o party_n to_o the_o throne_n but_o his_o short_a reign_n put_v a_o end_n to_o all_o their_o hope_n i_o find_v some_o of_o the_o latter_a spanish_a historian_n much_o trouble_v to_o see_v all_o do_v in_o this_o reformation_n by_o the_o king_n and_o the_o bishop_n and_o great_a man_n without_o the_o least_o mention_n of_o the_o pope_n authority_n lucas_n tudensis_n therefore_o say_v that_o leander_n be_v the_o pope_n legate_n but_o mariana_n confess_v 1._o that_o the_o very_a act_n of_o the_o council_n contradict_v it_o he_o will_v have_v it_o believe_v that_o they_o send_v legate_n to_o the_o pope_n afterward_o to_o have_v the_o council_n confirm_v by_o he_o but_o he_o acknowledge_v that_o nothing_o appear_v in_o history_n to_o that_o purpose_n and_o if_o any_o such_o thing_n have_v be_v it_o will_v not_o have_v be_v omit_v in_o the_o epistle_n of_o gregory_n 41._o who_o write_v to_o leander_n a_o letter_n of_o congratulation_n for_o the_o conversion_n of_o reccaredus_n but_o then_o national_a church_n be_v suppose_v to_o have_v power_n enough_o to_o reform_v themselves_o provide_v that_o they_o proceed_v according_a to_o the_o decree_n of_o the_o four_o general_a council_n and_o this_o be_v that_o we_o maintain_v in_o behalf_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n that_o it_o receive_v all_o the_o creed_n which_o be_v then_o receive_v and_o have_v reform_v those_o abuse_n only_o which_o have_v creep_v into_o the_o church_n since_o that_o time_n this_o my_o lord_n be_v the_o cause_n which_o by_o command_n of_o my_o superior_n i_o be_v first_o engage_v to_o defend_v among_o who_o your_o lordship_n predecessor_n who_o constant_a friendship_n and_o kindness_n i_o must_v never_o forget_v be_v one_o of_o the_o chief_a since_o that_o time_n i_o have_v have_v but_o little_a respite_n from_o these_o not_o so_o please_v to_o i_o as_o sometime_o necessary_a polemical_a exercise_n and_o notwithstanding_o all_o the_o rage_n and_o malice_n of_o the_o adversary_n of_o our_o church_n against_o i_o i_o sit_v down_o with_o that_o contentment_n that_o i_o have_v defend_v a_o righteous_a cause_n and_o with_o a_o honest_a mind_n and_o therefore_o i_o little_o regard_v their_o bitter_a censure_n and_o reproach_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o such_o a_o crowd_n of_o adversary_n it_o be_v no_o unpleasant_a entertainment_n to_o i_o to_o see_v the_o various_a method_n with_o which_o they_o have_v attack_v i_o some_o with_o piteous_a moan_n and_o outcry_n other_o grin_v and_o only_o show_v their_o tooth_n other_o rant_a and_o hector_v other_o scold_v and_o revile_v but_o i_o must_v needs_o say_v the_o adversary_n i_o now_o answer_v have_v show_v more_o art_n and_o cunning_a than_o all_o the_o rest_n put_v together_o and_o have_v say_v as_o much_o in_o defence_n of_o their_o cause_n as_o wit_n and_o subtilty_n can_v invent_v i_o wish_v i_o can_v speak_v as_o free_o of_o his_o fair_a deal_n and_o ingenuity_n he_o therefore_o i_o reserve_v to_o be_v answer_v by_o himself_o after_o i_o have_v shake_v off_o the_o lesser_a and_o more_o bark_a creature_n what_o i_o have_v now_o do_v i_o humble_o present_a to_o your_o lordship_n hand_n and_o i_o be_o very_o glad_a of_o this_o opportunity_n to_o declare_v what_o satisfaction_n the_o member_n of_o your_o own_o church_n and_o the_o clergy_n of_o this_o great_a city_n have_v to_o see_v a_o person_n of_o so_o noble_a birth_n so_o much_o temper_v and_o prudence_n so_o firm_a a_o assertor_n of_o the_o protestant_a religion_n and_o church_n of_o england_n appoint_v by_o his_o majesty_n to_o have_v the_o conduct_n and_o government_n of_o they_o that_o god_n almighty_a will_v assist_v and_o direct_v your_o lordship_n in_o those_o thing_n which_o tend_v to_o the_o peace_n and_o welfare_n of_o this_o church_n be_v the_o hearty_a prayer_n of_o my_o lord_n your_o lordship_n most_o dutiful_a and_o obedient_a servant_n ed._n stillingfleet_n may_v 30._o 1676._o to_o the_o reader_n it_o have_v be_v long_o expect_v that_o i_o shall_v have_v publish_v a_o answer_n to_o t._n g._n as_o the_o most_o considerable_a adversary_n that_o appear_v against_o i_o but_o it_o be_v very_o well_o know_v that_o before_o his_o book_n come_v out_o i_o have_v undertake_v the_o answer_n of_o several_a other_o which_o when_o i_o have_v set_v forth_o a_o person_n of_o honour_n who_o have_v be_v please_v to_o defend_v i_o against_o one_o of_o my_o keen_a antagonist_n be_v assault_v by_o he_o who_o i_o be_v in_o the_o first_o place_n oblige_v in_o gratitude_n to_o ease_v of_o any_o far_a trouble_n since_o that_o time_n i_o have_v apply_v myself_o to_o the_o consideration_n of_o t._n g.'s_n book_n as_o much_o as_o health_n and_o other_o business_n will_v permit_v and_o find_v such_o confusion_n in_o most_o discourse_n about_o idolatry_n and_o that_o till_o the_o nature_n of_o it_o be_v full_o and_o clear_o state_v man_n will_v still_o dispute_v in_o the_o dark_a about_o these_o matter_n in_o my_o last_o summer_n retirement_n i_o set_v myself_o to_o the_o strict_a examination_n of_o it_o by_o search_v with_o my_o utmost_a diligence_n into_o the_o idolatry_n practise_v in_o all_o part_n of_o the_o world_n by_o the_o help_n of_o the_o best_a author_n i_o can_v
politian_n patriarch_n of_o alexandria_n and_o theodoret_n of_o antioch_n and_o elias_n of_o jerusalem_n send_v these_o for_o their_o legate_n to_o this_o council_n i_o have_v think_v it_o have_v be_v only_o the_o pope_n prerogative_n to_o make_v titular_a patriarch_n and_o he_o grave_o magnify_v the_o zeal_n and_o courage_n both_o of_o the_o patriarch_n and_o legate_n for_o venture_v so_o much_o in_o such_o a_o time_n of_o persecution_n and_o then_o fall_v into_o a_o mighty_a encomium_n of_o the_o two_o legate_n that_o tarasius_n send_v for_o venture_v through_o a_o thousand_o death_n to_o get_v to_o the_o patriarch_n when_o god_n know_v they_o never_o come_v near_o they_o but_o which_o be_v far_o more_o to_o be_v wonder_v at_o pope_n adrian_n in_o his_o answer_n to_o charles_n the_o great_a about_o the_o nicene_n synod_n have_v the_o face_n to_o say_v 924._o that_o the_o synodical_a epistle_n of_o the_o three_o patriarch_n of_o cosmus_n of_o alexandria_n and_o of_o theodore_n of_o antioch_n it_o seem_v elias_n be_v turn_v to_o theodore_n again_o and_o theodore_n of_o jerusalem_n be_v read_v and_o approve_v in_o this_o council_n of_o nice_a than_o which_o with_o his_o holiness_n leave_n there_o never_o be_v a_o more_o notorious_a falsehood_n unless_o it_o be_v that_o of_o tarasius_n who_o upon_o the_o approbation_n of_o these_o letter_n of_o the_o monk_n cry_v out_o 154_o that_o the_o east_n and_o the_o west_n the_o north_n and_o the_o south_n be_v all_o agree_v and_o the_o whole_a council_n follow_v this_o with_o a_o acclamation_n of_o glory_n be_v to_o god_n that_o have_v unite_v we_o when_o the_o eastern_a patriarch_n know_v nothing_o of_o the_o council_n the_o western_a bishop_n oppose_v it_o as_o soon_o as_o ever_o they_o know_v it_o and_o be_v not_o this_o a_o very_a hopeful_a general_n council_n have_v as_o t._n g._n say_v 118._o the_o pope_n legate_n for_o precedent_n and_o the_o vicar_n of_o the_o oriental_a patriarchal_a see_v assist_v in_o it_o 2._o that_o it_o be_v not_o receive_v for_o a_o general_n council_n by_o the_o church_n 7._o for_o even_o in_o the_o greek_a church_n itself_o theophanes_n only_o say_v 389._o that_o the_o emperor_n call_v together_o all_o the_o bishop_n within_o his_o own_o dominion_n which_o be_v say_v likewise_o by_o landulphus_n sagax_fw-la only_a theophanes_n will_v have_v it_o believe_v that_o the_o oriental_a patriarch_n send_v their_o legate_n 733._o which_o be_v very_o false_a as_o not_o only_o appear_v from_o the_o very_a act_n of_o the_o council_n wherein_o the_o monk_n letter_n be_v insert_v but_o because_o this_o council_n be_v not_o receive_v many_o year_n after_o in_o those_o patriarchal_a see_v which_o be_v evident_a from_o photius_n his_o encyclical_a epistle_n to_o the_o patriarch_n of_o alexandria_n and_o other_o 60._o not_o long_o since_o publish_v in_o greek_a from_o a_o ms._n bring_v out_o of_o the_o east_n wherein_o photius_n expostulate_v the_o case_n why_o the_o nicene_n council_n be_v not_o receive_v among_o they_o as_o the_o six_o general_a council_n be_v in_o that_o copy_n which_o be_v extant_a in_o baronius_n translate_v by_o metius_n and_o with_o great_a diligence_n compare_v with_o two_o mss._n whereof_o one_o be_v a_o very_a ancient_a one_o it_o be_v say_v express_o 33._o that_o it_o be_v report_v among_o they_o that_o none_o of_o the_o church_n under_o the_o apostolical_a see_v of_o alexandria_n do_v own_o the_o nicene_n synod_n for_o a_o general_n council_n which_o in_o b._n montague_n copy_n be_v mitigate_v into_o some_o but_o by_o the_o tenor_n of_o his_o discourse_n it_o appear_v it_o be_v not_o publish_v in_o their_o church_n nor_o receive_v among_o they_o as_o a_o general_n council_n and_o he_o use_v many_o argument_n to_o persuade_v they_o to_o it_o among_o the_o rest_n he_o say_v that_o thomas_n be_v present_a in_o it_o from_o his_o see_n and_o other_o with_o he_o but_o he_o do_v not_o say_v he_o come_v as_o legate_n and_o he_o have_v find_v out_o companion_n for_o he_o too_o which_o be_v more_o than_o the_o nicene_n council_n discover_v and_o yet_o he_o acknowledge_v that_o by_o reason_n of_o the_o persecution_n of_o the_o saracen_n the_o act_n of_o that_o council_n never_o come_v to_o they_o which_o will_v be_v very_o strange_a if_o the_o patriarch_n of_o alexandria_n send_v a_o legate_n thither_o baronius_n ingenuous_o confess_v that_o this_o nicene_n council_n be_v not_o receive_v as_o a_o ecumenical_a council_n in_o any_o of_o the_o eastern_a patriarchates_n 6._o except_v only_o that_o of_o constantinople_n and_o he_o be_v very_o hard_o put_v to_o it_o to_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v own_v as_o such_o even_a at_o rome_n itself_o because_o nicholaus_fw-la 1._o in_o a_o council_n at_o rome_n in_o the_o cause_n of_o photius_n reckon_v up_o but_o six_o general_a council_n which_o photius_n upbraid_v he_o with_o and_o it_o be_v but_o a_o pitiful_a pretence_n which_o baronius_n have_v for_o it_o viz._n that_o they_o have_v only_o a_o bad_a translation_n of_o it_o such_o a_o one_o as_o it_o be_v it_o be_v of_o hadrian_o procure_v as_o anastasius_n say_v 119._o if_o they_o have_v receive_v it_o as_o a_o general_n council_n where_o be_v the_o authentic_a act_n of_o it_o or_o if_o they_o do_v not_o understand_v greek_a can_v they_o not_o have_v procure_v a_o better_a latin_a translation_n before_o the_o time_n of_o anastasius_n but_o the_o plain_a truth_n be_v although_o pope_n hadrian_n join_v with_o it_o and_o will_v not_o allow_v tarasius_n his_o be_v patriarch_n till_o he_o undertake_v to_o get_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n confirm_v yet_o the_o nicene_n council_n be_v so_o very_o ill_o receive_v in_o the_o western_a church_n that_o the_o follow_a pope_n be_v ashamed_a to_o call_v it_o a_o ecumenical_a council_n as_o binius_fw-la confess_v in_o the_o very_a word_n of_o baronius_n according_a to_o his_o custom_n and_o long_o after_o their_o time_n it_o be_v so_o little_o know_v or_o esteem_v in_o the_o western_a part_n 775._o that_o aquinas_n and_o the_o ancient_a schoolman_n never_o mention_v it_o in_o the_o matter_n of_o image_n but_o determine_v express_o against_o it_o which_o either_o show_v it_o be_v not_o know_v or_o have_v not_o any_o value_n put_v upon_o it_o for_o if_o baronius_n his_o reason_n hold_v good_a as_o soon_o as_o anastasius_n have_v finish_v his_o translation_n this_o council_n will_v have_v be_v as_o much_o know_v here_o as_o any_o other_o and_o so_o much_o the_o more_o because_o so_o many_o schoolman_n be_v concern_v to_o justify_v the_o worship_n of_o image_n and_o they_o be_v so_o much_o to_o seek_v for_o argument_n to_o defend_v it_o that_o they_o will_v have_v leap_v for_o joy_n to_o have_v have_v a_o decree_n of_o a_o allow_a general_n council_n on_o their_o side_n or_o if_o they_o have_v find_v it_o against_o they_o they_o will_v some_o way_n or_o other_o have_v answer_v it_o but_o the_o great_a testimony_n against_o it_o be_v the_o council_n of_o francford_n 8._o which_o express_o condemn_v it_o and_o as_o sirmondus_n confess_v francford_n do_v not_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o a_o oecumenial_a council_n because_o none_o but_o greek_n meet_v in_o it_o and_o other_o church_n be_v not_o ask_v their_o opinion_n nay_o he_o say_v that_o pope_n hadrian_n himself_o do_v not_o give_v it_o the_o title_n of_o a_o general_n council_n to_o this_o t._n g._n answer_n 148_o that_o what_o weight_n soever_o that_o exception_n carry_v at_o that_o time_n yet_o it_o be_v certain_a now_o it_o have_v no_o force_n at_o all_o since_o the_o council_n itself_o have_v for_o many_o hundred_o of_o year_n be_v accept_v as_o a_o true_a and_o lawful_a general_n council_n and_o its_o doctrine_n as_o catholic_n by_o all_o the_o province_n of_o christendom_n and_o the_o contrary_a to_o it_o condemn_v for_o heresy_n this_o latter_a be_v evident_o false_a as_o i_o have_v show_v before_o and_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n for_o the_o other_o for_o by_o the_o confession_n of_o their_o own_o writer_n the_o copy_n of_o this_o nicene_n council_n lie_v bury_v in_o these_o western_a part_n for_o many_o age_n which_o be_v the_o reason_n they_o give_v why_o the_o schoolman_n take_v no_o notice_n of_o it_o and_o in_o the_o former_a century_n the_o copy_n of_o it_o be_v first_o publish_v from_o some_o mss._n that_o be_v very_o little_o know_v the_o account_n whereof_o be_v that_o this_o council_n meet_v with_o so_o brisk_a a_o opposition_n from_o the_o council_n of_o francford_n and_o afterward_o from_o the_o gallican_n bishop_n and_o be_v reject_v here_o in_o england_n by_o the_o consent_n of_o our_o historian_n the_o very_a name_n of_o it_o be_v almost_o quite_o forget_v thence_o it_o never_o be_v once_o cite_v either_o by_o jonas_n aurelianensis_fw-la or_o walafridus_n strabo_n as_o spalatensis_n observe_v 59_o when_o they_o have_v the_o