such Orders as were to continue to the end and none that came after them might change they being the Ordinances of the Holy Ghost in them 2. Temporarily pro re natâ to make convenient mutable Constitutions in matters left by the great Legislator to humane prudence to be determined according to his general regulating Laws In this last the Apostles have Successors but not in the former No other have their Gift and therefore not their Authority No men can be said to have an Office that giveth them Right to exercise abilities which they never had nor shall have § 4. Christ summed up all the Law in LOVE to God and Man and the works of Love and all the Gospel in Faith and Hope and Love by them kindled and exercised by the Spirit which he giveth them even by the Belief and Trust of his Merits Sacrifice Intercession and Promises and the prospect of the future Glory promised fortifying us to all holy duties of obedience and diligent seeking what he hath promised and to patient bearing of the Cross conquering the inordinate love of the world and flesh and present life and improving all our present sufferings and preparing for his coming again and for our change and entrance into our Masters joy § 5. Christ summed up the Essentials of Christianity in the Baptismal Covenant in which we give up our selves in Faith Hope and consenting Love to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier and in which God receiveth us in the Correlations as his own And all that are truly thus baptized are Christened and are to be esteemed and loved as Christians and to be received into Christian Communion in all Christian Churches where they come until by apostasie or impenitency in certain disobedience to the Laws of Christ in points necessary to Christian Communion they forfeit that priviledge Nor are men to deprive them of the great benefit thus given them by Christ on pretence of any wit or holiness or power to amend Christs terms and make the Church Doors narrower or tie men to themselves for worldly ends Yet must the Pastors still difference the weaker Christians from the stronger and labour to edifie the weak but not to cast them out of the Church § 6. The sacred Ministry is subordinate to Christ in his Teaching Governing and Priestly Office and thus essentiated by Christs own institution which man hath no power to change Therefore under Christ they must teach the Church by sacred Doctrine guide them by that and sacred Discipline called The power of the Keys that is of judging who is fit to enter by Baptism to continue to partake of the Communion to be suspended or cast out and to lead them in the publick Worship of God interceding in Prayer and speaking for them and administring to them the Sacraments or holy Seals of the Covenant of God § 7. The first part of the Ministers Oâ—â—ice is about the unbelieving world to convert them to the Faith of Christ and the second perfective part about the Churches Nor must it be thought that the first is done by them as meer private men § 8. As Satan fell by pride and overthrew man by tempting him to pride to become as Gods in Knowledge so Christ himself was to conquer the Prince of pride by humility and by the Cross by a life of suffering contemned by the blind and obstinate world making himself of no reputation despising the shame of suffering as a Malefactor a Traitor and Blasphemer And the bearing of the Cross was a principal part of his Precepts and Covenant to his Disciples without which they could not be his Followers And by Humility they were to follow the Captain of their Salvation in conquering the Prince of pride and in treading down the Enemie-world even the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and pride of life which are not of the Father but of the world § 9. Accordingly Christ taught his chief Disciples that if they were not so converted as to become as little children they could not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 18. 3. His School receiveth not masterly Disciples but humble teachable Learners that become fools that they may be wise And when they were disputing and seeking which of them should be greatest he earnestly rebuked all such thoughts setting a little child before them telling them that the Princes of the Earth exercise authority and are called Benefactors or by big Names but with them it should not be so but he that would be the greatest must be servant ofâ— all Luk. 22. shewing them that it was not a worldly grandeur nor forcing power by the Sword which belongeth to Civil Magistrates which was to be exercised by the Pastors of the Church But that he that would be the Chiefest must be most excellent in Merit and most serviceable to all and get his honour and do his work by meriting the respect and love of Volunteers The Sword is the Magistrates who are also Christs Ministers for all Power is given him and he is Head over all things to the Church But they are eminently the Ministers of his Power but the Pastors and Teachers are most eminently Ministers of his Paternal and saving love and wisdom And by wisdom and love to do their work The Word preached and applied generally and particularly by the Keys is their Weapon or Arms and not the Sword The Bohemians therefore knew what they said when they seemed damnable Hereticks to the worldly Clergie that destroyed them when they placed their Cause in these four Articles 1. To have the whole Sacrament Bread and Wine 2. To have free leave for true Ministers to preach the word of God without unjust silencing of proud worldly men that cannot stand before the truth 3. To have Temporal Dominion or Government by the Sword and power over mens Bodies and Estates taken from the Clergie 4. To have gross sin suppressed by the lawful Magistrate by the Sword § 10. Had it been necessary to the Churches Union against Schism or Heresie for Christians to know that Peter or some one of his Apostles must be his Vicar-General and Head of his Church to whom all must obey who can believe that Christ would not only have silenced so necessary a point but also at a time when he was desired or called to decide it have only spoken so much against it to take down all such Expectations Yea we never read that Peter exercised any Authority or Jurisdictions over any other of the Apostles nor more than other Apostles did much less that ever he chose a Bishop to be Lord of the Church as his Successor Nay he himself seemeth to fore-see this mischief and therefore saith 1. Pet. 5. 1 2 3. The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the Sufferings of Christ and also a Partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed These are his Dignities
Churches 3. The Office of Presbyters is changed into semi-Presbyters 4. Discipline is made impossible as it is for one General without inferiour Captains to Rule an Army But of this before § 55. Much more doth this become unlawful 1. when deposing all the Presbyters from Government by the Keyes of Discipline they put the same Keyes even the Power of decâ—etive Excommunication and Absolution into the hands of Laymen called Chancellours and set up Courts liker to the Civil than Ecclesiastical 2. And when they oblige the Magistrate to execute their Decrees by the Sword be they just or unjust and to lay Men in Goals and ruine them meerly because they are Excommunicated by Bishops or Chancellours or Officials or such others and are not reconciled And when they threaten Princes and Magistrates with Excommunication if not Deposition if they do but Communicate with those that the Bishop hath Excommunicated 3. Or when they arrogate the power of the Sword themselves as Socrates saith Cyril did Or without necessity joyn in one person the Office of Priesthood and Magistracy when one is more than they can perform aright § 56. And it becometh much worse by the tyrannical abuse when being unable and unwilling to exercise true Discipline on so many hundred Parishes they have multitudes of Atheists Infidels gross ignorants and wicked livers in Church-Communion yea compel all in the Parishes to Communicate on pain of Imprisonment and ruine and turn their censures cruelly against godly persons that dare not obey them in all their Formalities Ceremonies and Impositions for fear of siâ—â—ing against God And when conniving at ignorant ungodly Priests that do but obey them they silence and ruine the most faithful able Teachers that obey not all their imposing Canons and swear not and subscribe not what they bid them § 57. Undoubtedly Satan hath found it his most successful way to fight against Christ in Christs own name and to set up Ministers as the Ministers of Christ to speak indirectly against the Doctrine Servants and interest of Christ and as Ministers of Light and righteousness and to fight against Church-Government Order Discipline and Unity by the pretences of Church Government Order Discipline and Unity and to cry down Schism to promote Schism and to depress Believers by crying up Faith and Orthodoxness and crying down Heresie and Errour Yea to plead God's Name and Word against himself and to set up Sin by accusing Truth and Duty as Sin § 58. II. That which I take for Lawful Indifferent Episcopacy is such as Hierome saith was introduced for the avoiding of divisions though it was not from the beginning When among many Elders in every single Church one of most wisdom and gravity is made their President yea without whom no Ordinations or great matters shall be done The Churches began this so early and received it so universally and without any considerable dissent or opposition even before Emperours became Christians that I dare not be one that shall set against it or dishonour such Episcopacy § 59. Yea if where â—â—t men are wanting to make Magistrates the King shall make Bishops Magistrates and joyn two Offices together laying no more work on them than will consist with their Ecclesiastick work though this will have inconveniencies I shall not be one that shall dishonour such or disobey them § 60. III. The Episcopacy which I dare not say is not of Gods institution besides that each Pastor is Episcopus Grâ—gis is that which succeedeth the Apostles in the Ordinary part of Church-Government while some Senior Pastors have a supervising care of many Churches as the Visiters had in Scotland and are so far Episcopi Episcoporum and Arch-bishops having no constraining power of the Sword but a power to admonish and instruct the Pastors and to regulate Ordinations Synods and all great and common circumstances that belong to Churches For if Christ set up one Form of Government in which some Pastors had so extensive work and power as Timothy Titus and Evangelists as well as Apostles had we must not change it without proof that Christ himself would have it changed § 61. But if men on this pretence will do as Rome hath done pretend one Apostle to be the Governour of all the rest and that they have now that Authority of that Apostle and will make an Universal Monarch to rule at the Antipodes and over all the World or will set up Patriarchs Primates Metrâ—politans and Arch-bishops with power to tyrannize over their Brethren and cast them out and on pretence of Order and imitating the Civil Government to master Princes or captivate the Churches to their pride and worldly interests this will be the worst and most pernicious tyranny § 62. And as it is not all Episcopacy so it is not all Councils that I design this History to dishonour No doubt but Christ would have his Church to be as far One as their natural political and gracious capacities will allow And to do all his work in as much love peace and concord as they can And to that end both seasonable Councils and Letters and Delegates for Concord and Communication are means which nature it self directeth them to as it doth direct Princes to hold Parliaments and Dyets In the multitude of Councellours there is safety Even frequent converse keepeth up amity In absence slanderers are heard and too oft believed A little familiarity in presence confuteth many false reports of one another which no distant defences would so satisfyingly confute And among many we may hear that which of few we should not hear How good and pleasant is it for Brethren to dwel together in Unity And the Concord of Christians greatly honoureth their holy profession as discord becometh a scandal to the world But all this and the measures and sort of Unity and Concord which we may expect and the true way to attain it I have fuller opened in a Treatise entitled The true and only tâ—rms of the Concord of all Christian Churches § 63. When Christians had no Princes or Magistrates on their side they had no sufficient means of keeping up Unity and Concord for mutual help and strength without meetings of Pastors to carry on their common work by consent But their meetings were only with those that had nearness or neighbourhood And they did not put men to travel to Synods out of other Princes Dominions or from Foreign Lands much less did they call any General Councils out of all the Christian Churches in the world But those that were capable of Communion by proximity and of helping one another were thought enough to meet for such ends § 64. And indeed neither nature nor Scripture obligeth us to turn such occasional helps into the forms of a State-policy and to make a Government of friendly consultations And therefore though where it may be done without fear of degenerating into tyranny known times of stated Synods or meetings of Pastors for Concord are best as once a
month in lesser meetings and once a quarter in greater yet where there is danger of such degeneracy it is better to hold them but pro re natâ occasionally at various seasons and places § 65. The lesser Synods and correspondency of Pastors before there were Christian Magistrates were managed much more humbly and harmlesly than the great ones afterward Because that men and their interest and motives differed And even of later times there have been few Councils called General that have been managed so blamelesly or made so many profitable Canons as many Provincial or smaller Synods did Divers Toletane Councils and many others in Spain England and other Countries have laboured well to promote piety and peace As did the African Synods and many others of old And such as these have been serviceable to the Church And the Greater Councils though more turbulent have many of them done great good against Heresie and Vice especially the first at Nice And nothing in this Book is intended to cloud their worth and glory or to extenuate any good which they have done But I am thankful to God that gave his Church so many worthy Pastors and made so much use as he did of many Synods for the Churches purity and peace § 66. But the true reason of this Collection and why I have besides good products made so much mention of the errours and mischiefs that many Councils have been guilty of are these following 1. The carnal and aspiring part of the Clergy do very ordinarily under the equivocal names of Bishops confound the Primitive Episcopacy with the Diocesane tyranny before described And they make the ignorant believe that all that is said in Church-Writers for Episcopacy is said for their Diocesane Species And while they put down an hundred or a thousand Bishops and Churches of the Primitive Species they make men believe that it is they that are for the old Episcopacy and we that are against it and that it is we and not they that are against the Church while we are submissive to them as Arch-bishops if they would but leave Parishes to be Churches or Great Towns formerly called Cities at least and make the Discipline of all Churches but a possible practicable thing § 67. II. And to promote their ends as these men are for the largest Diocesses and turning a thousand Churches into one only so they are commonly for violent Administration ruling by constraint and either usurping the power of the sword themselves or perswading and urging the Magistrate to punish all that obey not their needless impositions and reproaching or threatning at least the Magistrates that will not be their Executioners And making themselves the Church snuffers or made without the Churches consent their Office is exercised in putting out the Lights sometimes hundreds of faithful Ministers being silenced by their means in a little time And they take the sword of Discipline or power of the Keys as the Church used it 300 years to be vain unless prisons or mulcts enforce it And to escape the Primitive poverty they overthrow the Primitive Church Form and Discipline and tell men All this is for the Churches honour and peace § 68. Yea all that like not their arrogances and grandure they render odious as Aerian Hereticks or Schismaticks provoking men to hate and revile them and Magistrates to destroy them as intolerable And by making their own numerous Canons and Inventions necessary to Ministry and Church-Communion they will leave no place for true unity and peace but tear the Churches in pieces by the racks and engines of their brains and wills § 69. III. Yea worse than all this there are some besides the French Papists who tell the world That the Vniversal Church on Earth is one visible political body having a visible Head or Supreme vicarious Government under Christ even a Collective Supreme that hath universal Legislative Iudicial and Executive power And they make this Summa Potestas Constitutive of the Church Vniversal and say that this is Christs body out of which none have his Spirit nor are Church-members and that there is no Vnity or Concord but in obeying this supreme visible power And that this is in General Councils and in the intervals in a College of Bishops Successors of the Apostles I know not who or where unless it be all the Bishops as scattered over the earth and that they rule per literas formatas as others say It is the Pope and Roman Clergy or Cardinals § 70. And when our Christianity Salvation Union and Communion yea our Lives Liberties and mutual forbearances and Love is laid upon this very form of Church-policy and Prelacy and Christ is supposed to have such a Church as is not in the World even constituted with a Visible Vicarious Collective Soveraign that must make Laws for the whole Christian World it 's time to do our best to save men from this deceit § 71. I must confess If I believed that the Whole Church had any Head or Soveraign under Christ I should rather take it to be the Pope than any one finding no other regardable Competitor He is uncapable of ruling at the Antipodes and all the Earth but a General Council is much more uncapable and so are the feigned College of Pastors or Bishops none knoweth who § 72. IV. And a blind zeal against errour called Heresie doth cry down the necessary Love and toleration of many tolerable Christians And some cry down with them and away with them that erre more themselves and by their measures would leave but few Christians endured by one another in the World Thus do they teach us to understand Solomon Eccl. 7. 16. Be not righteous and wise overmuch so much are these men for Vnity that they will leave no place for much Unity on earth As if none should be tolerated but men of one Stature Complexion c. § 73. Briefly they do as one that would set up a Family Government made up of many hundred or thousand families dissolved and turned into one and ruled supremely by a Council of the Heads of such enlarged Families and then tell us that this is not to alter the old Species of Families but to make them greater that were before too small Keep but the same name and a City is but a Family still And when they have done they would have none endured but cast out imprisoned or banished as seditious that are for any smaller Family than a City or any lesser School than an University And these City Governours must in one Convention rule all the Kingdom and in a greater all the World § 74. I shall therefore first tell you what errour must not be tolerated and then by an Epitome of Church-History Bishops and Councils and Popes shew the ignorant so much of the Matter of Fact as may tell them who have been the Cause of Church-corruptions Heresies Schisms and Sedition and how And whether such Diocesane Prelacy and grandure be the
should sing so many Psalms and get thirty Masses to be said And a notable Priviledge is granted to all that will but seek liberty or shelter in the Church that both they and their Posterity shall be free unless they bring a debt undischargeable on themselves § 51. There is by Canisius published an Epitome of the old Canons except the Nicene as gathered by this Adrian and sent to Charles Mag. I will recite a few of them Ex Clem. c. 23. Let a Bishop or Presbyter or Deacon taken in Fornication Perjury or Theft be deposed but not excommunicate C. 28. That a Bishop who obtaineth a Church by the Secular Powers be deposed Can. Antioch 8. Countrey Presbyters may not give Canonical Epistles but the Chorepiscopi by which it is plain that the Chorepiscopi were not Presbyters but as Petavius on Epiphan Arrius hath well proved true Bishops C. 11. That condemned Clerks shall never be restored if they go to the Emperor Can. Laodic c. 33. That no one pray with Hereticks or Schismaticks which seemeth to oblige us to separate from the Roman Prelates who are grievous Schismaticks by imposing things unlawful on the Churches and silencing and persecuting those that obey not their sinful Laws Before the Can. Sardic he mentioneth the weakness of old Osius that said that they were both in the right who used the word of one substance and of the like substance Can. Sard. 2. That a Bishop that by Ambition changeth his Seat shall not have so much as Lay-communion no not at the end C. 14. C. 15. That no Bishop be above three weeks in another City nor above two weeks from his own Church which implieth that each Bishop had then his own particular Church Can. Afric c. 15. That there be no Re-baptizing Re-ordaining nor Translations of Bishops C. 17. That if a Bishop to be Ordained be Contradicted that is by any objected unfitness he shall not after be Ordained as purged only by three Bishops but by many C. 19. That Diocesses that wants Bishops receive none without the consent of the Bishop who hitherto held them so it was not proudly For if he overhold them that is hold them under himself alone when they need more Bishops affecting to sit over the People and despising his Fellow-Bishops he is not only to be driven from the retained Diocesses but also from his own Church so that no proud Bishops should have power to hinder the Churches from having as many Bishops as they need C. 60. That Bishops that are of later Ordination presume not to set or prefer themselves before those that were before them C. 94. If a Bishop six months after admonition of other Bishops neglect to make Catholicks of the People belonging to his Seat any other shall obtain them that shall deliver them from their Heresie that is Donatism or the like so that if one Bishop neglect the Souls of his People and another that is more able and faithful convert them they may be the Flock of him that converted them without removing their dwelling C. 105. That a Bishop shall not Excommunicate a man on a Confession made only to himself if he do other Bishops shall deny Communion to that Bishop § 52. Several German Councils are mentioned at Wormes Paderborne Daria in which by a new example Charles Mag. is confirmed to force the Saxons to profess themselves Christians and to take an Oath never to revolt who yet doing it by constraint were oft perjured and revolted till at last their Heathen Duke Witichind became a voluntary Christian himself § 53. There are 80 more Canons against Oppressors of the Clergy said to be collected by Adrian of which one is the old one That no Bishop judge the Cause of any Priest without the presence of his Clergy because the Bishop's Sentence shall be void if it be not confirmed by the presence of the Clergy Another That no Bishop ordain or judge in another's Parish else it shall be void For we judge that no one i◠bound by the sentence of any other Iudge but his own Who then is bound by the Pope or any Usurper who will Excommunicate those that are not of his Flock Another saith By a general Sanction we forbid Foreign judgments because it is unmeet that he should be judged by strangers who ought to have Iudges of the same Province and that are chosen by himself Another That no Bishop presume to judge or condemn any of the Clergy unless the accused Person have lawful Accusers present and have place for defending himself by answering to the Charge Another For Nullifying such Bishops judgments as are done without due Tryal by Tyrannical Power and not by Canonical Authority Another saith Constitutions that are contrary to the Canons and to the Decrees of the Bishops of Rome or to Good Manners are of no moment which nulleth even many of the Bishops of Rome also as against Good Manners Another notable Canon is Delatori aut lingua capuletur aut convicto Caput amputetur Delatores autem sunt qui ex invidia produnt alios That is Let a Delator's tongue be pull'd out or if Convict his Head cut off Delators are those that through envy betray others or envious Accusers Alas if our Delators Calumniators and Informers were thus used now what abundance would have suffered for wronging some one Man Another Canon is If a Man be often in quarrels and easie or forward to accuse let no Man receive his Accusation without great Examination What then will be thought of the usual Accusations of Clergy Calumniators that for Sects and worldly Interest can reproach others without shame or measure Another is That the danger of the Iudge is greater than the danger of him that is judged therefore all care must be taken to avoid unjust judgment and punishments Another is Let no Man receive the witness of a Lay-man against a Clergy-man And Door-keepers and Clerks and Readers were then Clergy-men Was not this a great priviledge to the Church § 54. CCXXXII We come now to the great General Council at Nice 2d called by the Papists the 7th that is the 7th which pleased them I have before noted that Irene the Widow of Leo now Ruled her Son Constantine being Titular Emperor a Child under her Government One Stauratius a Senator most swayed her or ruled her Taurasius the Patriarch joined with her for Images They call a Council at Constantinople A General Council and three Emperors Leo Const. Leo had lately condemned Images and taken them down The Pope and many Italians had resisted by force This violence made the Emperor use severity against the Resisters At Ravenna they killed Paulus the 14th Exarchate In Rome they took Peter a Duke and put out his eyes In Campania they beheaded Exhileratus the Duke and his Son Adrian who took the Emperor's part How the Emperor hereby lost Italy is before shewed But this Woman
Emperor Michael to assume the Government and not leave the Empire any longer to his Mother and Sisters One Gebo then pretending to be the Son of Queen Theodora and claiming the Crown and many following him Ignatius is accused as being then on Gebo's side The Emperor commandeth Ignatius to shear his Mother and Sisters and put them into a Monastery He refuseth The Emperor is angry and suspecting him causeth it to be done by others and sendeth Ignatius to the Island Terebinth and killeth Gebo Within three dayes some of the Bishops who had subscribed and sworn to Ignatius even that they would sooner deny the supream Majesty of the Trinity than without a publick damnation they would suffer their Pastor to be deposed became agents to draw him to renounce his Place c. He refusing Photius is made one day a Monk the next day a Lector the next a Subdeacon the next a Deacon the next a Presbyter and on Christs birth-day is made Patriarch a great and noble Courtier the Emperors Secretary or privy Councellor famous for skill in things politick and civil so flourishing in the skill of Grammar Poetry Oratory Philosophy Physick and the study of almost all Liberal Arts and Sciences as that he was absolutely in them the Prince of his age yea and might contend with the ancients For he had a confluence of natural aptitude and force of felicity riches by which he got a library of all sorts of books and being desirous of Glory and Praise spent whole nights in sleepless Studies and after studied divinity and Ecclestical Volumes Gregorius Bishop of Syracuse a censured Bishop ordained him Ignatius is cruelly used and it s laid on Photius He sendeth some Bishops to Rome and by them saith that Ignatius gave up his Place It 's said that some held Ignatius's hand and by force wrote his mark and others wrote the rest but what 's the truth is hard to know A General Council is called The Emperor and all his Princes great ones and almost all the City met at Photiuâ—'s possession Baanes and some of the baser of the Romans are sent to summon Ignatius to the Council Bin. p. 867. He asketh them in what Garbs he shall come They take time and the next day say Rhodoaldus and Zacharias Legates of Old Rome by us summon thee without delay to appear at the holy Oecumenical Council in what habit thou wilt according to thy own Conscience He goeth in Patriarchs habit The Emperor commands him in the habit of a Monk No less than seventy two witnesses are brought into the Synod against him Nobles and Vulgar Nicâ—tas saith perjured of whom Leo and Theodotacius two Noble men were chief and some Anabaptists that is such as baptized men again though not against Infant Baptism These swore that Ignatius not justly ordained had twelve years ago usurped the place And alas there wanted not a Canon which would depose a great part of the Bishops of the world viz. that called the 30th Apost and oft renewed If any Bishop using the secular power do by them obtain a Church let him be deposed They left out And those that Communicate with him For which Nicetas accuseth the Bishops as falsly saving themselves And alas must all the ministers in England be deposed that communicate with any Bishop that gets a Church by the secular power What a separation than must here be made And would not this Canon depose Photius also The Popes Legates Bishops Rhodoceldus and Zacharias aliique nefarii homines saith Nicetas cryed down Ignatius as Vnworthy then they beat and odiously abuse the good old man And then cometh the foresaid forced subscribed confession or forged After this it s said that they sent men to kill him but by old base cloaths and two baskets on his back he past away unknown begging his bread by the way Nicetas saith that an Earthquake shook the City fourty dayes together and frightned them to send abroad and proclaim security to Ignatius who thereupon surrendered himself Bardas convinced sendeth him safe to his own Monastery and the Earthquake ceased and the Bulgarians moved by famine and the Emperor's gifts laid down armes and were baptized Christians Pope Nicholas excommunicateth Photius and the Emperor and all the Court. Bin. p. 868. A fire befals the Church of Sophia The young Emperor groweth so drunken and prophane that he gets a pack of wicked ungodly men and maketh them in mockery or play his Bishops and consecrateth a Church for them and maketh one Theophilus a jester their Patriarch to turn Religion into a scorn and then saith Theophilus is my Patriarch Photius is Caesars and Ignatius is the Christians And thus they by prophane witt derided the Bishops and Religion itself to which alas the Bishops ambition and odious strife did tend Photius was silent at all this Another Earthquake frightned them again the terriblest for a day and a night that had been there known Upon this one Basilius a Bishop of Thesalonica went boldly to the Emperor and opened the sin of his prophaneness disswading him from that wickedness that provoked God The Emperor enraged struk out his Teeth and caused him to be so scourged that he was like to dye Photius cared for none of this set his mind on the securing his seat and oppressing Ignatius magnifying all that tooke his part and encouraging false Stories and Calumnies against the best that were against him One of the betrayers and accusers of Ignatius was one of his Disciples and of his own name made Arch-Bishop of Hierapolis and then lost his Conscience and Fidelity Bin. p. 869. It was but for presuming to Consecrate an Altar cast down by the Russians and new built which was taken after his deposition for a breach of the Law and Canons and two Arch-Bishops ready at all times were sent to pull down the Altar as Nonconformable and to carry the stones to the Sea and wash them and then to set them up again O that they would have washt their hearts from Pride and Worldly Ambition Oh saith Nicetas What stupidity what pravity of a perverse mind was this What excess of Envy What study of ambitious Dishonesty Did thy daily meditation and night-watches and innumerable Books teach thee this Did thy frequent reading and disputation and striving for the praise of learning teach it thee Did the knowledge of the Old Testament and the New the sayings of the Wise the Decrees of the Holy Fathers teach thee to persecute a poor man and to vex and kill one of a broken heart and spirit Did not thy tyranical ejection of him satiate the implacable fury of thy mind c Thus Nicetas As much as to say Much learning and great power and places are too often separated from Honesty Charity and Conscience Here he mentioneth a terrible Dream of Bardas and the murder of him by Basilius's order and the Emperor's consent and how basely Photius cryed him down when he was dead
of Alexandria till the days of Heroclas and Dionysius took one from among themselves and made him Bishop therefore they may make a Presbyter which is less 8. It s at last confessed that in Scripture-times there were no Presbyters under Bishops but the single Churches had single Pastors 9. No man can prove Ordination by fixed Bishops over many Churches now called Diocesan in the first Age The fixed Bishops had no more at first but single Churches Object But you never received power from the Bishop to ordain and therefore cannot have that which was never given your Answ. If they put men into that Office to which God hath affixed the power of Ordination then they do their part to convey the power As if you marry a couple and express not the mans authority over the woman yet he hath it nevertheless by being made her Husband So he that is made a Pastor in City or Country may do the work of a Pastor though each particular was not named Proposition 7. Ordination is ordinarily necessary as a means of our right entrance but not absolutely necessary to the Being of our Office or Power For 1. God having already setled the Office Duty and Power and what Qualifications shall be necessary and giving these Qualifications to men he hath left nothing to man but mutual consent and to judge of the person qualified and solemnly introduce him 2. God hath not tyed himself or us absolutely to the judgment of Ordainers If a Bishop ordain a Heathen or any man void of Essential Qualifications its null as being against a flat Command of God And if Bishops refuse to ordain us Pastors the people must take them without because the Command of Preaching Hearing Sacraments c. is greater than that of Ordination and before it Positives yield to Natural Morals and matters of Order to the substance and end of the Duty ordered See my Christian Concord pag. 82 83 84. 3. Ordination is no more necessary to the Ministry than Baptism to Christianity As those that are first Princes by Title must be Crowned and those that are Souldiers by Contract must be listed and take Colours and those that are Husband and Wife by Contract must be solemnly Married which are celebrating perfecting actions so they that are first heart-Christians by believing or by Parents dedicating them to God must be solemnly entred under the hand of the Minister And those that are by approbation and consent initially Ministers must by solemnization have the Office publickly delivered them by the Ministers of Christ. So that as a man is a Christian indeed before Baptism initially and is justified initially before and in case of necessity may be saved without it the Papists confessing that the Vow will serve so is it in the case of Ordination to the Ministry Proposition 8. It is only Christ and not the Ordainers People or Magistrates that give us our Office and Power Only the people and approvers design the person which shall receive it from Christ and our own consent and the peoples is of necessity thereto and our own as much as theirs and the Ordainers do instrumentally invest us in it but the Power and Duty arise directly from Gods Institution when the person is designed Now I proceed to prove our Calling Argument 4. We have a far clearer Call than the Priests before Christ had to the Priesthood For they were not of the true Line they bought the Priesthood they corrupted Doctrine and worship and were of wicked lives And yet Christ commanded submission to their Ministry Ergo. Argument 5. If we have as clear a Call to our Office as any Magistrates on Earth have to theirs then we are true Ministers of Christ For they are true Magistrates and God is the Fountain of their Power too and its impossible they should have any but from him Or from him but by his means Officers have no power but from the Soveraign The Prince was at first chosen by God immediately as well as the Apostles were by Christ yet no Prince can plead an uninterrupted succession thence and if they may Reign without it we may be Pastors without it and yet I cannot say that we are without it though Princes be Kings were formerly anointed by inspired Prophets and were Prophets themselves And as the continuance of this is not necessary to them so neither to us The differences between their power and ours makes nothing against this Argument If Conquest or the peoples consent or Birth or directing Providences can prove their Title then Consent Ordination Providence with due Qualifications will sure prove ours were it not for fear they should soon hear the Arguments more set home against themselves that are now bent against the Ministers Argument 6. If besides all this God own us by such a blessing on our labours that he maketh us the means of propagating and continuing his Gospel and Church and brings most of his chosen to Vnion with Christ Reconciliation Holiness and to Heaven by our Ministry then certainly we are his true Ministers But experience assureth us of the former therefore so much for Argument Proposition 9. If a Minister be in quiet possession of the place and fit for it the people are bound to obey him as a Minister without knowing that he was justly ordained or called Argum. 1. We must obey a Magistrate without assurance of his Call and Title Rom. 13. therefore a Minister 2. Christ commanded hearing and obeying them that were not called as God appointed because they were Priests or sat in Moses Chair and taught the truth Luke 16. 29. Matth. 23. 2. Luke 5. 14. Matth. 8. 4. Mark 1. 44. 3. Else the people are put upon impossibilities Can all the poor people tell before they submit to a Minister what is Essential to his Call and whether he have all that is so and whether his Orders be true or forged and whether they that ordained him were truly ordained or chosen themselves Not one of twenty thousand knows all this by their Pastors Proposition 10. The Ordinances are valid to the people when the Minister is uncalled and unordained if they know it not He that hath no just Call shall answer for what he doth as an Intruder but the people shall have for all that the fruit of his Ministration and Preaching and Baptism and other acts shall not be null to them 1. The Papists themselves confess this 2. Else scarce a man could tell whether he be baptized or may use any Ordinance because he cannot have an exact account of the Ministers Call no nor know that he is indeed a Christian. I knew divers in the Bishops days that forged themselves Orders and acted long before it was discovered 3. It is the Office which is Gods Ordinance that is blest and valid to the people and not his Call only 4. It is he that sinneth that must suffer and not the Innocent therefore his sin depriveth them not of their due 5.
must passe as undenyed truth And thus false History is made the chief foundation of the Roman Kingdom Thus they will face you down that you are ignorant or impudent 1. If you question whether Peter was a true Bishop at Rome yea or ever there which Nilus hath shewed to be somewhat uncertain 2. Or that he setled the Roman Bishop as his successour in a supremacy over all the Christian world 3. Or that the Popes Primacie was over all the Churches on earth which indeed was but as Canterburie is in England in one Roman Empire only 4. They will perswade you that this Primacie was setled by Christ or his Apostles which was done only by Councils and Emperours of Rome 5. They would make you believe that this was from the Apostles daies which began long after 6. They would perswade you that all the Christian world submitted to it even Abassia and all the extra-imperial Churches which is no such matter 7. Yea that before Luther none contradicted the Papal power and claime but all the Christian world were Papists By many such lies they deceive thousands of the ignorant And when they challenge men to dispute by word or writing their last refuge is to bring them into a wood of History that there they may either win the game or end the chase And if a Minister of Christ be not armed here to confute their historical forgeries they will take it for a victory and triumph which made me write my last book against Johnson or Terret to shew Historically the Antiquity of our Church and the novelty of theirs which I could wish young Ministers unacquainted with Church-History would peruse But if our people were truely acquainted how things have gone in the Church from the beginning it would be one of the most effectual preservatives against Popery when now the falsifications are become its strength I have oft thought that it had been greater policy in the Papists if they could to have burnt all Church-History but specially of the Councils that the credit might have depended on their bare word For verily once reading of Crab Binnius Surius or Nicolinus would turn against them any stomack that is not confirmed in their own disease But they have overdone Baronius and now made so great and costly a load of the Councils as that the deficiency of money time wit and patient industry shall save the most even of the Priesthood from the understanding of the truth And such Epitomes as Caranza's leave out most of the culpable part and yet even such they can hardly tolerate II. The more moderate French Papists who magnifie Councils aboue Popes would make us believe that though Popes are fallible and may miscarry yet General Councils have been the universal Church-representative which have a Legislative and Iudicial Vniversal power and that our concord must be by centring in their decrees and all are Schismaticks at least that take not their Faith and Religion upon their trust But if men knew that there never was a General Council of all the Christian Churches but only of the Empire and how wofully they have miscarried it would do much to save them from all such temptations III. The overvaluers of Church grandure and wealth and maintainers of the corrupt sort of Diocesane Prelacy Patriarks c. write books and tell the ignorant confident stories how such a Prelacy hath been in the Church ever since the dayes of the Apostles and that all the Churches on earth consented to it But if the people were acquainted with Church History they would know that the primitive fixed Episcopacy was Parochial or every Church associated for personal present Communion had a Bishop Presbytery and Deacons of their own unfixed Itinerant General Pastors indefinitely taking care of many Churches And that it was the Bishops striving who should be greatest and turning single Churches into an Association of many Churches and to be but Chappels or parts of the Diocesan Church that their power and wealth might be enlarged with their Territories and the turning of Arbitrating Bishops into the Common Indicatures which must govern all Christians and such like which poysoned the Church and turned the species of particular Churches Episcopacy Presbytery and Discipline quite into another thing And to speak freely it was the many blind volumes and confident clamours of some men that rail at us as denying an Episcopacy which the universal Church hath always agreed in which drew me to write this abridgement of the Church History of Bishops Councils and Popes IV. And those that make the Ignorant believe that seditious disobedient Presbyters have in all Ages been the dividers of the Church and the Bishops the means of Vnity concord and suppression of such Schismaticks and Hereticks could never thus deceive the people were but so much Church-History commonly known as I have here collected Read Church-History and believe that if you can V. And many that take up any new opinion or dotage which is but newly broached among them would have been saved from it if they â—aâ— but known how that same opinion or the like was long ago taken up by Hereticks and exploded by the faitbful Pastors and people of the Church VI. And the sectaries who rashly seperate from some Churches because of some forms opinions or ceremonies which almost all Christians on earth have used in the former purer ages and still use would be more cautelous and fearful in examining their grounds and would hardly venture to seperate from any Church for that which on the same reason would move them to separate from almost all Christians in the whole world if not Vnchurch the Church of Christ And ancient errours and crimes would affright us from imitating them VII And those that make new ambiguous words or unnecessary practices to become necessary to Church Communion and hereticate all that differ from them or persecute them at least would be more frightened from such pernicious courses if they well knew what have been the effects of them heretofore VIII And it is not unuseful to Princes and Magistrates to see what hath corrupted and disturbed the Churches in fâ—rmer times and what cause they have to keep the secular power from the Clergies hands and to value those that for knowledge and piety are meet for their proper guiding office and use of the Church Keys but not to corrupt them by excess of worldly wealth and power nor to permit them by striving who shall seem GREATEST WISEST and BEST to become the incendiaries of the Church and world and the persecutors of the best that cannot serve their worldliness and pride The Reader must Note 1. That though much of the History be taken from others the Councils are named and numbred according to Binnius and Crabbe 2. And that because so much evil is necessarily recited I thought it needful in the beginning and end to annex a defence of the Pastors and their office and work lest any should be tempted
Charles M. overcometh him and maketh Pope Adrian grater than any before him § 37. Why Deacons mostly made Popes No Bishop might be made Pope or removed § 39. The termes of Papist Writers expounded § 40. Putting penance on Murderers for hanging fill'd the Church with Rogues § 41. The Historians give the lie to each other about the power given Carol. M. in making Popes and Bishops Baronius Argument against it vain That the People and Clergy by the French Constitutions still choose Bishops § 42. Irene set up Images again Women and Rebels set up Popes § 46. The Fable of Sylvesters baptizing Constantine and the Images shewed him § 48. Pope Adrian owneth the whole Council of Calcedon § 47. Many notable old Canons sent by Adrian to Carol. M. A Bishop neglecting to convert Hereticks he was to have them that delivered them c. § 51. Ch. Mag. forceth the Saxons to profess themselves Christians and swear perseverance which they oft broke § 52. Eight more old Canons collected by Adrian e. g. The Bishops sentence void not confirmed by the presence of the Clergy The judgment of a Bishop in anothers Parish void for none is bound by the sentence of any but his own Judge Foreign Judgments forbidden All to be judged by Men chosen by themselves No Clergy-man to be judged without lawful accusers present and leave to defend himself Bishops tyrannical judgments null Constitutions contrary to good manners of no moment Delators that is qui ex invidia produnt alios to have their tongues cut out or their heads cut off The danger of the Judge greater than of the judged c. And let no man receive a Lay-mans witness against a Clergy-man No wonder if the Clergy were unpunished and wicked § 53. Irene calls a Council at Constantinople for Images The old Souldiers of the former Emperours not enduring it routed them She and Tarasius agreeing call them to Nice The Bishops that were sworn against Image-worship presently turn generally for it by a Womans and a Patriarchs known will § 49. 54. How could the Iconoclast Emperours be Hereticks unless the use of such Images were an Article of Faith § 55. The Empress and Emperour called The Governours of the whole World They are the callers of that Council § 56. Basil Ancyr and other Bishops that were Leaders against Images in the former Council lament it and curse all that are not for Images and all that favour such c. Theodosius Bishop of Amoricum also curseth himself if ever he turn again and curseth those who do not from their hearts teach Christians to venerate Images of all Saints praying for their intercession c. Queries hereon When General Councils curse each other is the whole Church cursed c. § 59. A crowd of changling Bishops crying mercy Tarasius puts them hard to it what made them of the contrary mind heretofore and what reason changeth them § 60. Whether these penitent Hereticks should be restored to their Bishopricks Tarasius saith Arians and these against Images and all Heresies and Evils are alike But another That this was greater than all other Heresies subverting Christs Oeconomy The instance of the Calcedon peccavimus omnes prevaileth § 62 63. A shrewder doubt raised Whether all these were truly ordained by former Hereticks Iconoclastsâ— The Popes Vicar denyeth it Tarasius durst not so unpriest almost all the Christian world of the East and is contrary By a cunning argument he prevailed Viz. The Fathers agree among themselves Ergo all the rest are of the same mind with some before cited § 64. Gregory Bishop of Neocaesaria next recanteth a Leader of the Iconoclasts § 67. Yet Tarasius and this Council disclaim giving Latria to Images of creatures â—ea honour them but â—s memorative § 67 70. The Constantinopolitan Councils Arguments against Images § 68. c. Bread not Transubstantiate § 72. The two Councils contrary about Tradition of Images § 73. The Nicene Council curseth from Christ all that are not for saluting and adoring Images § 76. Bishops and Priests made by Magistrates Election or that use the Magistrate to get the place are void A Canon against silencing Preachers and shuting up Churches § 77. A sober Council at Horojulium § 80. Foeliy Urgelitanus and Elepandus condemned for saying Christ was Gods natural Son in the Deity and his adopted in his Humanity § 81. Claudius Taurinensis against Images § 82. Car. Mag. Book and the Council of Franckford against Images § 82 84. Foelix and Elepandus condemned for saying Christ was a Servant § 85. The Frankford Council decreeth that Christ was not a Servant subject to God by penal servitude § 89. Pope Leo's eyes put out and tongue cut out and restored and he made great by Charles the Great § 92. Kissing the Popes Foot § 93. Irene killeth her son and is banished her self § 94. Filioque added by the Spanish and French Bishops without the Pope § 96. Carol Mag. being dead the People Rebel against the Pope till Ludovicus subdued them § 97. A Council at Constantinople for the Emperours Adultery And another against Plato and Theodorus Studita that were against it which saith Binnius passed the sentence of Anathema on the whole Catholick-Church And decreed that Gods Laws can do nothing against Kings nor is any man a Martyr that suffereth as Chrysostome for opposing them for truth and justice § 98. A Council at Arles and another at Tours have good Canons One that is for the old prohition of genuflexion on the Lords daies § 104. Charles M. restoreth Learning A Council at Chalones decreed against the Oath of Canonical obedience § 105 106. Another against Arch-Deacons ruling Presbyters and taking Fees of them § 107. Others for the old Excommunication and about Confession to God and Man and against trust in Pilgrimages § 108 109 110. Another Council at Constantinople curseth that at Nice â—d and pull down Images and the Bishops turn again § 113. The murder of Bishops punished by â—ayments at last § 114. Ludovicus Pius Emperour Bishops with Bernard rebel Stephen made Pope without him pardoned § 115. His care of lost Learning A pious Treatise out of the Fathers against Bishops domination and for their equality with Presbyters in Scripture-times § 116. Against Clergy sins and Womens company Against geâ—â—flection on the Lords days Augustines contempt of appeals to Councils and Rome A strange temperance of the Canonical Monks that were tyed to four pound of Bread and five pound of Wine in a day or in scarcity to three pound of Wine and three pound of Beer or in greater scarcity to one pound of Wine and five of Beer § 118. Ludovicus Pius maketh the Pope greater than ever § 120. Michael Balbus murdering Armenusâ—endeth â—endeth to Ludovicus Pius about Images An Assembly at Paris called by him judge the judge of the World and the Nicene second Council saith Bellarmine § 124. Now both East and West judged the Pope and his General Council to erre
yea this Emperour that made him Great § 125. A book of concord by the Pope and Emperour that Images are neither to be contemptuously broken nor adored Bellarmines words against it He revileth the Popes words that Princes are Governours of the Church § 127 128. Confuted Faith and Love may be without Images § 129. It was the right of the Empire to consent or not to the chosen Pope § 132. Platina wisheth for a Ludovicus to reform the luxurious Clergy then § 133. A Paris Council write an excellent Book They tell of some struck with Thunderbolts Convulsions c. for and as working on the Lords day And say Beati Petri vicem gerimus § 136. The Emperour making his three Sons Kings they Rebel He conquereth Pipin Lotharius rebelleth again Ebbo and a Council of Bishops wickedly depose him absent and unheard and force him to resign his Scepter on the Altar and thrust him into Prison Thus was the best of Princes that most advanced the Clergy used by them on Religious pretense Ludovicus restored the second time Lotharius rebelleth still till pardoned Ludovicus dyeth § 137. The form of his condemnation by the Bishops at large with all the Articles of Accusation and his penance at the Bishops high Court of Iustice. § 139. The Emperour restored by force the Bishops recant and he forgiveth them Ebbo resigning § 140. The Wars between Ludovicus Sons Lotharius justly conquered § 145. The Bishops depose him upon impeachment as they did his Father by his will § 146. Images restored at Constantinople by Theodora a Woman she sped as Irene Photius Patriarch § 148 149. The Bishops suddenly turn again § 150. Strife for the Popedom § 151. Lotharius and his brothers agree § 153. The Archbishop of Rhemes fled and the seat vacant was ten years Governed by two Presbyters § 152. Carolus Calvus alienateth Church-lands § 153. Pope Leo and his City Leonina He writeth Massing Rules and deposeth Priests that cannot read till they amend § 154. Singing Liturgies the occasion of imposed forms § 155. A Council at Mentz punisheth murder even of Priests but with putting them from the communion § 157. CHAP. 10. Councils about Ignatius and Photius with others Hinâ—marus's description of Godescalcus and his Heresie § 1. Canons that Arch-Presbyters examine every Master of a Family personally c. That none denyed Communion have any Office civil or Military § 3. Whether unconstrained sufferers are Martyrs § 4. A hard case about the nullity of Ebbos Ordinations Two Popes differ § 5. Ignatius case § 8. Remigius and eleven more at Valence make notable decrees about Predestination Redemption Perseverance and choice of Bishops § 9. The Clergy and People to choose Bishops § 9 10. Lotharius turneth Monk § 11. No Pope Joan. § 12. Two strive for the Papacy Anastasius against Images repulst § 13 14. Thunderbolts in the Church § 16. John Bishop of Ravenna forced to submit to the Pope § 17. The Schism between Ignatius and Photius § 18. Bishops for the Emperours divorce censured by the Pope despise him § 19. Pope Nicolas against Hincmarus Against the Greek Emperour His notable Epistle He maketh the greater number of Bishops and People no sign of truth nor fewness of errour § 21. Baptism valid by one that is no Priest nor Christian. § 22. None proper Patriarchs but Apostles Successours § 22. All other Churches and Dignities made by Rome and Rome by Christ. § 24. Peter had the Empire of Heaven and Earth Ill. chosen Popes not Apostolical § 25. Many other Papal Vsurpations against Oaths Princes c. § 26 c. People still chuse Bishops § 29. None may hear Mass of a fornicating Priest § 30. Lay men must not judge or search the lives of Priests K. Charles saith none but the Bishops may depose him § 32. Photius setled by Councils § 31 33 35. Divers Councils for K. Lotharius divorce against the Pope § 38 39 40. The Pope curseth them § 41 and curseth his Legates at Const. § 42 and at Metz § 46. Hincmarus and the Pope's Contention § 43 44. Historians say the Papacy was void eight years and others but seven days § 50. Photius and his Counsels despised the Pope His deposition by Basilius a Murderer § 51. Basilius craveth the Popes pardon for the Bishops because they had almost all been deceived or false by following the upper Powers and the Churches would else be left destitute § 52. What nullifying Ordinations hath done § 53 Men wrongfully excommunicated to be received by other Bishops Presbyters to annoint the sick because the Bishops cannot visit all § 56. A Const. Council ejecteth Photius where the Bishops that were for him turn again and condemn him crying peccavimus save some few Subscriptions denyed and why § 57. This eighth General Council decreeth equal honour to Christs Image as to the Gospel Forbiddeth Patriarchs to require Bishops to subscribe to them but only to the Faith and deposeth them that do it § 58 Curseth them that say man hath two Souls All Bishops to be worshipped by Princes and not go far to meet them nor light from their Horses to them nor Petition them on great Penalties § 58. Princes as profane may not be present at Councils nor have been impudent § 58. No Lay man may dispute Ecclesiastical Sanctions be he never so wise or good But a Bishop must not be resisted though manifestly destitute of all virtue of Religion § 59. They decree that Photius be not called a Christian § 60. Bishops above Kings as Heaven above Earth § 61. The Pope but one Patriarch cannot absolve them that many Patriarchs condemn § 62. Nicetas Life of Ignatius in brief § 63. The Pope deposed by a Const. Council The Bishops wrote not Photius condemnation with Ink but with Christs blood and yet restored him and honoured him as the Emperour turned Photius deposeth and re-ordaineth and requireth subscription to him § 63. Votes hereon § 64. The Contention between Rome and Const. for ruling the Bulgarians and the effects § 65. The Pope's Monarchy then unknown § 66 68. The French Bishops against the Pope gave Ludovicus's Kingdom to Charles Calvus § 70. The King Hincmar and Bishops against the Pope § 71 72. Deposing and blinding Hincmaru's Laudunensis The Romans imprison Pope John § 75. His Acts decree for perjury § 76 77. Going to Rome merits the pardon of Murder § 77. Service in the Sclavonian Tongue forbidden them § 78. Auspertus Bishop of Milan refuseth to obey the Pope Sclavonian Service yielded to The Bishop of Vienna rejecteth a Bishop of Geneva Aptandus sent by the Pope because he was never baptized made Clerk nor Learned The Pope tells him that he himself had none of these when he was consecrated Bishop of Vienna § 77. Whether the Right of Emperours was only by the Pope's Guift § 78. Binius resolution One Church had two Bishops § 81. A General Council at Constant. restoreth Photius expungeth filioque condemneth the last
Feed the Flock of God which is among you not out of your reach and hearing in a vast Diocess taking the oversight not by constraint but willingly and on willing men not for filthy lucre but of a ready wind neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage but being Examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away § 11. Nothing is more certain than that the Church for above 300 years had no power of the Sword that is forcibly to meddle with and hurt mens Bodies or Estates except what the Apostles had by miracle And to this day no Protestants and not most Papists claim any such Power as of Divine Institution but only plead that the Secular Powers are bound by the Sword to destroy such as are judged Hereticks by the Bishops and to punish such as contemn the censures of the Church § 12. He that would see more for the Power of Princes vindicated from the Clergies Claim and Usurpation may find much in many old Treatises written for the Emperours against the Pope collected by Goldastus de Monarch and in Will. Barclay but much better in Bishop Bilson of Obedience and in Bishop Andrew's Tortura Torti and in Bishop Buckridge Roffensis of the Power of Kings and much in Spalatensis de Repub. § 13. The Vniversality of Christians is the Catholick Church of which Christ is the only Head or Soveraign but it is the duty of these to worship God in solemn Assemblies and to live in a holy Conversation together and to join in striving against sin and to help each other in the way to life therefore Societies united for these ends are called Particular Churches § 14. When the Apostles had converted a competent number of Christians they gather'd them into such Assemblies and as a Politick Society set over them such Ministers of Christ as are afore described to be their Guides § 15. These Officers are in Scripture called sometime Elders and sometimes Bishops to whom Deacons were added to serve them and the Church subordinately Dr. Hammond hath well described their Office in in his Annotat. which was to preach constantly in publick and private to administer both Sacraments to pray and praise God with the People to Catechize to visit and pray with the sick to comfort troubled Souls to admonish the unruly to reject the impenitent to restore the penitent to take care of the poor and in a word of all the Flock § 16. The Apostles set usually more than one of these Elders or Bishops in every Church not as if one might not rule the Flook where no more was necessary but according to their needs that the work might not be undone for want of Ministers § 17. They planted their Churches usually in Cities because Christians comparatively to the rest were few as Sects are among us and no where else usually enough for a Society and because the Neighbour-scattered Villages might best come to the Cities near them not but that it was lawful to plant Churches in the Country where there were enough to constitute them and sometimes they did so as by Clemens Roman ad Corinth by History appeareth § 18. Grotius thinketh that one City at first had divers Churches and Bishops and that they were gathered after the manner of the Synagogues and Dr. Hammond thinketh that for some time there were two Churches and Bishops in many Cities one of Jews and one of Gentiles and that in Rome Paul and Peter had two Churches whom Linus and Cletus did succeed till they were united in Clemens § 19. There is great evidence of History that a particular Church of the Apostles setling was essentially only a Company of Christians Pastors and People associated for personal holy communion and mutual help in holy Doctrine Worship Conversation and Order Therefore it never consisted of so few or so many or so distant as to be uncapable of such personal help and Communion But was ever distinguished as from accidental Meetings so from the Communion of many Churches or distant Christians which was held but by Delegates Synods of Pastors or Letters and not by personal help in presence Not that all these must needs always meet in the same place but that usually they did so or at due times at least and were no more nor more distant than could so meet Sometimes Persecution hindred them somtimes the Room might be too small Even Independent Churches among us sometimes meet in divers places and one Parish hath divers Chappels for the aged and weak that are unfit for travel § 20. Scotus began the opinion as Davenport Fr. a Santa Clara intimateth and Dion Petavius improved it and Dr. Hammond hath largely asserted it that the Apostles at first planted a single Bishop in each Church with one or more Deacons and that he had power in time to ordain Elders of a different Order Species or Office and that the word Elder and Bishop and Pastor in Scripture never signifie these subject Elders but the Bishops only and saith he there is no evidence that there were any of the subject sort of Presbyters in Scripture-times Which concession is very kindly accepted by the Presbyterians but they call for proof that ever these Bishops were authorised to make a new Species of Presbyters which were never made in Scripture-times and indeed they vehemently deny it and may well despair of such a proof § 21. But for my part I believe the foundation unproved that then there was but one Elder in a Church and think many Texts of Scripture fully prove the contrary But I join with Dr. Hammond in believing that in Scripture-times there was no particular Church that had more stated meetings for publick Communion than one For if there was so long but one Elder there could be but one such Assembly at once for they had no such Assemblies which were not guided by a Presbyter or Bishop in Doctrine Worship Sacraments and Discipline And they used to have the Eucharist every Lords day at least and often much more And one man can be at once but in one place § 22. I have elsewhere fully proved that the ancient Churches that had Bishops were no bigger than our Parishes and few a quarter so big as the greatest of them and consisted of no more than might have such present personal Communion as is before described the proofs are too large to be here recited Ignatius is the plainest who saith that this was the note of a Churches Unity that To every Church there was one Altar and one Bishop with his Fellow Presbyters and Deacons And elsewhere chargeth the Bishop to take account of his Flock whether they all come to Church even Servant-men and Maids Clemens Romanus before him intimateth the like mentioning even Country Bishops Martyr's Description of the Christian Assemblies plainly proveth it Tertullian's Description of them and many other passages in him prove it more fully He professeth that
§ 31. But if these two great Cities had indeed had yet more Altars and Churches Orbis major est Vrbe saith Hierome Two singular Cities may not over-weigh the contrary case of all the Churches If any other had been like them it would have been Antioch the third Patriarchate when as in Ignatius time as is aforesaid the Churches unity there and elsewhere was notified by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One Altar or Altar-place and One Bishop with his Presbyters and Deacons And hence came it to be the note of a Schism to set up Altare contra Altare because one Bishop and Church had but one Altar Mr. Mede no injudicious nor Factions man saw this and asserteth it from the plain words of Ignatius § 32. How the case came to be altered it is easie to know But whether it was well or ill done is all the controversie or the chief I confess there want not some that think that the Apostles had their several assigned Provinces and that they left them to twelve Successours and this is the foundation of Patriarchal or Provincial Churches with such unproved Dreams 1. We doubt not but that the Apostles wisely distributed their Labours But we believe not that they divided the Countreys into their several Dioceses or Provinces nor that two of them e. g Iohn and Paul Peter and Paul Iames and other Apostles might not and did not do the work of an Apostle in the same Country and City Much less do we believe that one of them e. g. Iames at Ierusalem whether an Apostle or not I contend not was a Bishop over the Apostles when they resided there 2. Nor do we believe that they left any such divided Provinces to their Successors If they had it 's strange that we had not twelve or thirteen Patriarchal or Provincial Churches hence noted Which were they and how came they so soon to be forgotten and unknown And why had we first but three Patriarchs and one of those Alexandria accounting from no Apostle but from S. Mark and the other two reckoning from one and the same Apostle save that Rome reckoned from two at once Peter and Paul when as one City must say they have but one Bishop § 33. The case is known that 1. When Christians so multiplyed that one Assembly would not serve but they became enough for many the Bishops greatness and wealth increasing with the People they continued them all under their own Government and so took them all to be their Chapels setling divers Altars but not divers Bishops in one Church 2. And herewith their work also by degrees was much changed and they that at first were most employed in Guiding the whole Church in Gods publick worship and exercised present discipline before them and were the sole usual Preachers to them all the rest of the Elders Preaching but when the Bishop could not or bid them did after become distant Judges and their Government by degrees degenerated to a similitude of Civil Magistracy 3. And then they set up the old exploded question which of them should be the chief or greatest And then they that had the greatest Cities being the richest and greatest Bishops in interest because of the greatness and riches of their Flocks they got the Church Government to be distributed much like the Roman Civil Government within that Empire And where the Civil Magistrate had most and largest command they gave the Ecclesiastical Bishop the like And so they set up the Bishops of the three chief Cities as Patriarchs Rome being the first because it was the great Imperial Seat as the Chalcedon Council giveth the true reason Afterwards Constantinople and Ierusalem being added they turned them into five And Carthage and other places not called Patriarchal Seats had exempt peculiar Jurisdictions with a power near to Patriarchs And the rest of the Bishops strove much for precedency and got as large Territories as they could and as numerous Flocks and many Parishes though still the name Paroeciae was used for the whole Episcopal Church when it was turned into a Diocess § 34. I conceive that this Change of One Altar into a Diocesane Church of many Altars and Parishes was not well done but is the thing that hath confounded the Christian World and that they ought to have increased the number of Churches as the number of Christians did increase as the Bees swarm into another Hive My Reasons are 1. Christ and the Holy Ghost in the Apostles having setled a Church Species and Order like that of the Synagogues and not like that of the Temple no man ought to have changed that Form Because they can prove no power to do it and because it accuseth the Institution of Christ and the Holy Ghost of insufficiency or errour which must so soon be altered by them Perfective addition as an Infant groweth up to Manhood we deny not But who gave them power to abrogate the very Specices of the first Instituted Churches That the Species is altered is certainly proved by the different uses and Termini of the Relation For a Church of the first Institution was a Society joyned for personal Communion in Doctrine Worship and holy living But a Diocess consisting of many score or hundred Parishes that never see or know or come near one another are uncapable of any such present personal Communion and have none but Mental and by Officers or Delegates 2. By this means all the Parish-Churches being turned into Chapels and un-Churched are all robbed of their Right seeing each one ought to have a Bishop and Presbyters and the benefit of that Office and Order which is now denied them and many hundred such Parishes turned into Chapels have no Bishop to themselves but one among them all to the Diocess 3. Because by this means true Discipline is become impossible and unpracticable by the distance and multitude of the people and the distance and paucity of Bishops What Christ commandeth Mat. 18. being as impossible to be done in many hundred Parishes by one Bishop and his Consistory as the Discipline of so many hundred Schools by one School-master though each School have an Usher or the care of many hundred Hospitals by one Physician perhaps at twenty or forty or eighty or an hundred miles distance 4. Because it altereth the antient Office of a Bishop and of a Presbyter and setteth new ones in the stead As a Bishop was the Bishop of one Church so a Presbyter was his Assistant Ejusdem Ordinis in the Government of the Church who now is turned into a meer Usher or Worshipping-Teacher or Chaplain 5. Because it certainly divideth the Churches For Christians would unite in a Divine Institution and the exercise of true Discipline that will never unite in a humane Policy which abrogateth the Divine and certainly destroyeth commanded necessary Discipline § 35. The very work also of the Bishop and so the Office came thus to be changed Christ having appointed no other Church
Governours besides Magistrates but such as Philosophers in their Schools who were appointed to set up Holy Societies for Divine Doctrine Worship and Holy Living and to Guide them accordingly by Teaching Worship and Government by the Word forbidding them the Sword or Force they are said to have the Keys of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven because as Grace is Glory in the seed the Church is Heaven in the seed and the Pastors were the Administrators of Sacraments and Church-priviledges and therefore the Judges who were fit for them who should be Baptized who should Communicate and in what rank and who should be denied these admonished or excluded and who should as far as belongeth to others be judged meet or unmeet for Heaven And so the Christian Societies were to be kept clean and not to be like the polluted World of Infidels And the Pastors had no other power to use but were to judge only those within and leave them without to Gods own judgment and to the Magistrate who was not to punish any one for not being in or of the Church or for departing from it which is a grievous punishment it self But Magistrates being then Heathens the Christians were hard put to it for the decision of their quarrels For the love of the world and selfishness were but imperfectly cured in them They went to Law before Heathen Judges with each other and this became a snare and a scandal to them S. Paul therefore childeth them for not ending differences by Christian Arbitrators among themselves as if there were none among them wise enough to Arbitrate Hereupon the Churches taking none to be wiser or trustier than their Pastors made them their Arbitrators and it became a censurable scandal for any to accuse a Church-member to a Magistrate and to have Suits at Law By this means the Bishop becoming a Stated Arbitrator thereby became the Governour of the Christians but with his Presbyters and not alone But because Bishops had no power of the sword to touch mens bodies or estates but only to suspend them from Church-Communion and Excommunicate them or impose penitential Confessions on them therefore they fitted their Canons which were the Bishops Agreements to this Governing use to keep Christians under their Government from the Magistrates And so they made Canons that a Fornicator or Adulterer should be so long or so long suspended and a Murderer so long and so of the rest § 36. And when Constantine turned Christian he had many reasons to confirm this Arbitrating Canonical power to the Christian Bishops by the Civil Sanction 1. Because he found them in possession of it as contracters by mutual consent and what could a Christian Prince do less than grant that to the Christians which they chose and had 2. Because the advancement and honour of the Teachers and Pastors he thought tended to the honour of their Religion and the success of their Doctrine upon the Heathens with whom they dwelled Grandure and Power much prevail with carnal minds 3. Because he had but few Magistrates at first that were Christians and none that so well knew the affairs of Christians as their own chosen Bishops And he feared lest the power of Heathen Magistrates over the Christians might injure and oppress them 4. He designed to draw the Heathens to Christianity by the honouring of Christians above them 5. And withal his interest lay most in their strength For they were the fastest part of his Souldiers and Subjects that for Conscience and their own Interrest rejoyced to advance and defend him to the utmost when he lost many of the Pagans and they were not of the spirit of the old Pretorian Souldiers that set up and pulled down Emperours at their pleasure Had Constantine faln the Christians had much faln with him and had the Christians been weakned he had been weakened They were become his strength And he fore saw not the evils that afterwards would follow Some must govern and there were then no wiser nor better men than the Bishops and Pastors of the Churches And their interest in the Christian people that chose them was greatest As now all differing parties of Christians among us Papists Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists would desire nothing as more conducing to their ends than that the King would put the greatest Power especially of Religion into the hands of those Teachers whom they esteem and follow even so was it with the Christians in the days of Constantine And hereupon Laws were made that none should compel Christians to answer in any Court of Justice saving before their own Bishops and so Bishops were made almost the sole Governours of the Christians § 37. By this means it is no wonder if multitudes of wicked men flock'd into the Church and defiled and dishonoured it For the Murderer that was to be hanged if he were no Christian was but to be kept from the Sacrament if he were a Christian and do some confessing penance which was little to hanging or other death And so proportionably of other Crimes Bad Christians by this device were multiplyed The Emperour also being a Christian worldly men are mostly of the Religion of the Prince or highest powers § 38. And no man that can gather an effect from an effectual cause could doubt if neither Nazianzen or any Historian had told it him but that proud and worldly men would strive then to be Bishops and use all possible diligence to obtain so great preferment Who of them is it that would not have Command and Honour and Wealth if he can get it While the great invitation to the sacred Ministry was the winning and edifying of Souls those that most valued Souls desired it yet desired it to be kept from such Poverty and Persecution as exposed them to hinderance and contempt But when Riches Reputation and Dominion were the Baits who knoweth not what sort of Appetites would be the keenest Christ telleth us how hardly Rich men are good and come to Heaven Therefore when Bishops must be all Great and Rich either Christ must be deceived or it must be as hard for them to be honest Christians as for a◠Camel to go through the Needles eye And thus Venenum funditur in Ecclesiam § 39. The World being thus brought into the Church without the cure of the worldly mind and the Guides being so strongly tempted to be the very worst no wonder if the Worldly Spirit now too much rule the Church and if those that are yet of the same Spirit approve plead and strive for what they love and despise the business of the Cross and Christian Humility and Simplicity to this day And if Bishops have done much of their work accordingly ever since Constantine and much before it hath been the Devils Work to carry on his War against Christ and Piety under Christ's own name and the pretence of Piety as an Angel of Light and Righteousness and Unity and to set up Pastors over the Church
and here also had too much success X. And it must be remembred that God hath made use of many proud and turbulent men to propogate and defend the truth of the Gospel And their Gifts have served for the good of the sincere As the husk or chaff and straw is useful to the Corn so many worldly Prelates and Priests have been learned Expositors and useful Preachers and taught others the way to life which they would not go in themselves Besides that their very Papal power and grandure which hath corrupted the Church hath yet been a check to some that would have assaulted it by force and as a hedge of thornes about it Worldly interest engageth Pope Patriarchs and Prelates to stand up for the Christian Religion because they gain by it as Leo the 10th is said to have odiously confessed § 42. And the old Fathers till Constantines time did most of them think that the last thousand years would be a time of fuller glory to the Church as many yet think though I confess my self unskilful in the Prophesies But I make no doubt but though this earth be so far deâ—erted by God the Glorious Kingdom which we shall shortly see with the new Heaven and Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness will fully confute all our present temptations to think hardly of God or the Redeemer because of the present corruptions and dissentions of this lower world § 43. We may conjecture at former times by our own We see now that among the most Reformed Churches too often the most worldly part are uppermost and perhaps are the persecuters of the rest and though they may be the smaller part it 's they that make the noise are the noted part that carry the name and that Histories write of A few men got into places of power seem to be all the Church or Nation by the prevalency of their actions which few dare contradict They may give Laws They may have the power of Press and Pulpit so that nothing shall be published but what they will They may call themselves the Church and call all that obey them not Schismaticks and Sectaries and strangers may believe therefore that it is but some few inconsiderable fellows that are against them when yet the far greatest part may utterly dissent and abhor their pride I have lived to see such an Assembly of Ministers where three or four leading men were so prevalent as to form a Confession of Faith in the name of the whole party which had that in it which particular members did disown And when about a controverted Article One man hath charged me deeply for questioning the words of the Church others that were at the forming of that Article have laid it all on that same man as by his impetuousness putting in that Article the rest being loth to strive much against him and so it was he himself that was the Church whose authority he so much urged at least the effectual signifying part We cannot judge what is commonest by what is uppermost or in greatest power In divers Parishes now where the Minister is conformable perhaps ten parts of the people do dislike it and sometimes you may see but three or four persons with him at the Common-prayers And yet all know that Dissenters are talkt of as a few singular Fanaticks I compare not the Causes but conclude that so also for the Numbers humble Godly persons might be very numerous though only the actions of worldly Prelates do take up most of the History of the Church Yea I believe that among the Papists themselves five to one of the people were they free from danger would declare their dislike of a great part of the actions and Doctrines of their Prelates and that the greatest part that are named Papists are not such throughly and at the heart When the Rulers Scribes and Pharisees were against Christ and persecuted him and the truth the common people so much adhered to him that the persecutors durst not seize on him openly by force but were fain to use a Traytor to apprehend him in the night and in a solitary place lest they should be stoned by the people who said Never man spake as this man speaketh § 44. Let us not therefore turn Church-History into a temptation nor think basely of the Church or Christianity or Christ because of Papal and Prelatical pride and tyranny God can make use of a surly porter to keep his doors yea a mastiff-dog may be a keeper of the house and his Corn hath grown in every Age not only with straw and chaffe but with some tares And yet he hath gathered and will gather all his chosen § 45. Nor is the Ministry it self to be therefore dishonoured For as at this day while a few turbulent Prelates persecute good men and much of the Ministry is in too many Countries lamentably corrupted yet is Religion piety and honesty kept up by the Ministry and never was well kept up without it For the Faithful Ministers labour still and their very sufferings further the Gospel and what they may not do publickly they do privately Yea their very Writings shew that still there are such as God doth qualifie to do his work even among the Papists he that readeth the pious Writings of such men as Gerson and Gerhardus Zutphaniensis and Thaulerus Thomas a Kempis Ferus and many such others will see that Gods spirit was still illuminating and sanctifying souls And he that readeth such Lives as Philip Nerius persecuted by the Bishop as an ambitious Hypocrite for setting up more serious Exercises of Religion than had been ordinarily used among the Formalists to say nothing of such privater men as M. de Renâ—y and many others will see that it is not all Church-tyranny and corruption though very heinous that will prove that Christ hath not a Holy Generation whom he will save § 46. Yea among the very corrupted sort of the Clergy many that are overcome with temptations in that point and take usurpation and tyranny and worldly pomp and violence for Order Government and the interest of the Church have yet much good in other respects Even among the Cardinals there have been such men as Nerius's companion Bellarmine and others that would Preach and practise the common Doctrines of serious piety Yea among the Jesuits there have been divers that have Preacht Written and lived very strictly much more among their Fryars and such Bishops as Sales And though their times and corruptions blemished their piety I dare not think they nullified it § 47. And it sheweth the excellency of the Sacred Office 1. That Christ did first make it as the noble Organical part of his Church to form the rest 2. That he endued the first Officers with the most noble and excellent gifts of his spirit 3. That he founded and built his Church by them at first 4. Yea that he himself preached the Gospel and is called The Minister of the Circumcision the chief
Shepherd and the Bishop of our Souls 5. That he hath used them to enlarge confirm preserve and edefie his Church to this day 6. That he maketh the best of them to be the best of men 7. That he putteth into the hearts of all good Christians a special love and honour of them 8. That he useth even the worser sort to do good while they do hurt especially some of them 9. That Satan striveth so hard to corrupt them and get them on his side 10. That Religion ordinarily dyeth away or decayeth when they fail and prove unable and unfaithful 11. That Christ commandeth men so much to hear receive and obey them and hath committed his Word and Keys to them as his Stewards 12. And hath promised them a special reward for their faithfulness and commanded all to pray for them and their preservation and success And the nature of the things tells us that as knowledge in lower things is not propagated to mankind but by Teachers man being not born wise so much less is heavenly wisdom And therefore it is that God is so regardful of the due qualification of Ministers that they be not blind guides nor novices nor proud nor careless sluggards nor self-seeking worldlings but skilful in the word of truth and lovers of God and the souls of men and zealous and diligent unwearied and patient in their holy work And when they prove bad he maketh them most contemptible and punisheth them more than other men the corruption of the best making them the worst § 48. Therefore let us make a right use of the pride and corruption of the Clergy to desire and pray for better and to avoid our selves the Sin which is so bad in them and to labour after that rooted Wisdome and Holiness in our selves that we may stand though our Teachers fall before us Let every man prove his own Work and so he shall have rejoicing in himself and not in others only Gal. 6. But let us not hence question the Gospel or dishonour the Church and Ministry no not any further separate from the Faulty than they separate from Christ or than God alloweth us and necessity requireth As we must not despise the needful helps of our Salvation nor equal dumb or wicked men with the able faithful Ministers of Christ on pretence of honouring the Office so neither must we deny the good that is in any nor despise the Office for the Persons Faults § 49. Especially let us take heed that we fall not into that pernicious Snare that hath entangled the Quakers and other Schismaticks of these times who on pretence of the faults of the Ministers set against the best with greatest fury because the best do most resist them and that revile them with false and railing language the same that Drunkards and Malignants use yea worse than the prophanest of the Vulgar even because they take Tythes and necessary Maintenance charging them with odious covetousness calling them Hirelings deceivers and what not Undoubtedly this Spirit is not of God that is so contrary to his Word his Grace and his Interest in the World What would become of the Church and Gospel if this malignant Spirit should prevail to extirpate even the best of all the Ministry Would the Devil and the Churches Enemies desire any more The very same Men that the Prelates have silenced near 2000 in England these fifteen or sixteen years together are they that the Quakers most virulently before reviled and most furiously opposed § 50. Nor will the Clergies corruption allow either unqualified or uncalled Men to thrust themselves into the Sacred Office as if they were the Men that can do better and must mend all that is amiss Such have been tryed in Licentious Times and proved some of them to do more hurt than the very Drunkards or the ignorant sort of Ministers that did but read the holy Scriptures Pride is too often the reprehender of other Mens Faults and Imperfections and would make other Mens Names but a stepping-stone to their own aspiring Folly As many that have cryed out against bad Popes and Prelates that they might get into the places have been as bad themselves when they have their Will No wonder if it be so with the proud revilers of the Ministry § 51. There is need therefore of much Wisdome and holy care that we here avoid the two extreams that we grow not indifferent who are our Pastors nor contract the Guilt of Church-corruption but mourn for the reproach of the solemn Assemblies and do our best for true and needful Reformation that the Gospel fail not and Souls be not quietly left to Satan nor the Church grow like the Infidel World and yet that we neither invade nor dishonour the sacred Office nor needlesly open the nakedness of the Persons nor do any thing that may hinder their just endeavours and success we must speak evil of no man either falsly or unnecessarily § 52. I thought all this premonition necessary that you make not an ill use of the following History and become not guilty of diabolism or false accusing of the Brethren or dishonouring the Church And that as God hath in Scripture recorded the Sins of the ungodly and the effects of Pride and of malignity and Christ hath foretold us that Wolves shall enter and devour the Flock and by their Fruits of devouring and pricking as Thorns and Thistles we shall know them and the Apostles prophecied of them I take it to be my duty to give you an Abstract of the History of Papal and aspiring Prelacy usurping and schismatical and tyrannical Councils as knowing of how great use it is to all to know the true History of the Church both as to good and evil § 53. Yea Bishops and Councils must not be worse thought of than they deserve no more than Presbyters because of such abuses as I recite The best things are abused even Preaching Writing Scripture and Reason it self and yet are not to be rejected or dishonoured There is an Episcopacy whose very Constitution is a Crime and there is another sort which seemeth to me a thing convenient lawful and indifferent and there is a sort which I cannot deny to be of Divine Right § 54. That which I take to be it self a Crime is such as is aforementioned which in its very constitution over-throweth the Office Church and Discipline which Christ by himself and his Spirit in his Apostles instituted such I take to be that Diocesane kind which hath only one Bishop over many score or hundred fixed Parochial Assemblies by which 1. Parishes are made by them no Churches as having no Ruling Pastors that have the Power of Judging whom to Baptize or admit to Communion or refuse but only are Chapels having preaching Gurates 2. All the first Order of Bishops in single Churches are deposed as if the Bishop of Antioch should have put down a 1000 Bishops about him and made himself the sole Bishop of their
Church and so baptize not into the Church therefore such must be rebaptized Cyprian and many very Godly Bishops consented in this errour § 31. XI To try this business further Cyprian gathered another Council of above 70 Bishops out of Aâ—rick and Numidia and all were desired to declare what was the Tradition of their Fathers And they all agreed that according to Scripture and Tradition the Baptism of Hereticks was a Nullity and it was no rebaptization to baptize such as they baptized see here what strength is in the Papists argument of Tradition in such cases But this Council and their Doctrine Pope Stephen condemned But they never the more altered their judgments not believing his Infallibity or power to judge between them in such matters of Faith In this Council is set down every Bishops Reason of his Judgment § 32. XII When Pope Stephen had condemned these Bishops Cyprian calleth yet a greater Council of 87 Bishops who confirmed the same Doctrine and rejected the Popes opinion and his arrogancies that would make himself to be a Bishop of Bishops and by tyrannical terrour and abuse of Excommunication force others to his opinion And with the Africans in this judgment joyned Firmilian with 70 Asian Bishops and saith Binnius Dionysius Alexandrinus also § 33. But I must here tell the Reader that I mention not these instances to breed ill thoughts in him of these African and Numidian Bishops For as far as I can discern by their Writings and by History they were the Godliest Faithful Peaceable company of Bishops that were found in any part of the World since the Apostles times Cyprian's style and the testimony of all just History which concerneth him as well as his Martyrdome declare him to be a Saint indeed Nazianzen declareth the strange occasion of his Conversion viz. That he loved or lusted after a Christian Virgin and when he could not obtain his will being given to Magick he agreed with the Devil to procure his desire but when he saw that the Devil confest himself unable to do it and so that he was too weak for Christ he forsook the Devil and turned Christian The Papists Binnius Baronius c. conjecture that Cyprian before his death reformed this Errour but their conjecture meerly tells us what they wish without any reason but that he dyed a Martyr and his Successours honoured him As if none might so die and be honoured that had any errour which no man living is without 2. And this may be said to excuse their errour 1. That the strictest men oftner erre on the stricter side against sin than the complying Carnal Clergy 2. That they thought it the safer way to baptize such again on the same reason as we do in case of uncertain baptisme with a si non baptizatus es baptizo te not knowing why there should be any danger in the mistake Much like as in England now the Bishops are for the re-Ordaining of all such as were Ordained by others that were not Diocesanes and yet do not call it re-Ordaining 3. That in those times of Heathenisme and persecution the Christians had no way to maintain their strength but by the Churches Concord nor could they otherwise have kept up so strict a discipline as they did having no forcing power of Christianâ—Magistrates Therefore they were necessitated to be severe with dividers 4. And the ambiguity of the word Heresie was not the least occasion of their errour The Nicene Council afterward rebaptized such as those Hereticks Baptized who corrupted the substance of baptisme it self but not others And Christians at first had more wit and charity than to call every errour a Heresie else there had been none but Hereticks such as denyed some essential point of faith or practice and drew a party to maintain it were called Hereticks in the former times but afterward every Schism or Party that gathered by themselves and set up altare contra altare upon the smallest difference was called a Heresie And so the same name applyed to another thing deceived them The Bishops were men of eminent piety and worth § 34. XIII Anno 263. They say there was a Council at Rome to clear Dionysius Alexand. of the imputation of Heresie occasioned by some doubtful words which he wrote against Sabellius § 35. XIV Anno 266. They say there was another at Antioch against their Bishop Paulus Samosatenus a gross Heretick But he renounced his errour in words and for that time kept his place § 36. XV. Paulus returning to his Heresie and a bad life Anno 272. another Council at Antioâ—h deposed him but he would not go out of the Bishops house and the Emperour Aurelian a Heathen put him out § 37. XVI Anno 303. The next Council was at Cirta in Numidia Secundus Tigisitanus being chief and calling them Here Secundus accused the Bishops one by one as Traditors delivering the sacred books to be burnt in persecution to save themselves which was then judged perfidiousness The Bishops partly excused partly confessed it and asked pardon Till at last Secundus ready to judge them accused a Bishop Purpurius of murdering his own Sisters Sons who told him that he should not think to terrifie him as he had done the rest He had killed and would kill those that make against him and asked him whether he had not been a Traditor himself and beginning to evince it bid him not provoke him to tell the rest Whereupon Secundus his Nephew told his Unkle You see that he is ready to depart and make a Schism and not he only but all the rest and you hear what they say against you And then they will joyn and pass sentence on you and so you will remain the only Heretick Hereticating went then by the Vote Secuâ—dus was nonplust and askt two others what it was best to do And they agreed to leave them all to God and so the Bishops kept their places Augustin cont Crescon l. 3. c. 26 27. § 38. XVII Next they deliver us Consilium Sinuessanum whether true or forged is too hard a controversie It was of three hundred Bishops how big were their Diocesses think you above our Parishes who all came secretly together to a Town now unknown and met in a Gave that would hold but 50 at a time for fear of persecution The business was to Convict Pope Mareâ—llinus of Idolatry for offering sacrifice to Hercules Iupiter and Saturn which he confessed § 39. XVIII Anno 305. Was held a Council of 19 Bishops at Illiberis in Spain where many good things were agreed on But not only to the Idolatâ—oâ— Lâ—psed but to other heinous crimes they denyed Communion to the death notwithstanding repentance And that these Bâ—shops should be Orthodox and yet the Novatians Hereticks it is not easiâ— to give a reason of Their distinction of Penance Sacrament and Communion will not well perform it Therefore Melch. Canus chargeth them with Errour lib. 5. c. 4. and Bellaâ—mine much
more lib. 2. de Imag. c. 9. That it is Concilium non confirmatum frequenter errâsse c. A Bishop Priest or Deacon in Office that hath committed Fornication was not to have Communion no not at death and divers others No Bishop was to receive any Gift from any one that did not Communicate It poseth the Papists themselves to expound Can. 34. Cereos per diem placuit iâ— Coemiterio nâ—n incendi Inquietandi enim Sanctorum spiritus non sunt Binnius will have it to be the Spirits of the living Saints that are not to be disquieted with trouble about Lights set up by day But I wish that be the meaning But the 36 Can. more troubleth them Placuit picturas in Ecclesia esse non debere nè quod colitur aut adoratur in parietibus depingatur Can. 38. A Lay-man in case of necessity is enabled to Baptize Can. 39. Gentiles unbaptized may be made Christians at last by Imposition of hands Can. 65. If a Clergy-man's Wife play the Whore and he do not presently cast her out he must not be received to the Communion to the last Can. 73. If a Christian turn Accuser Delator and upon his accusation any one be banished or put to death he is not to be received to Communion no not at last Can. 75. Nor he that falsly accuseth a Bishop Presbyter or Deacon and cannot prove it Can. 79. He that playeth at Dice or Tables was to be kept from the Communion Many other Canons savour some of Piety and some of the Novatians Thirty six Presbyters sate with these Nineteen Bishops Pope Innocent approved these almost Novatian Canons and Binnius excuseth them p. 246. § 40. XIX Anno 306. A Council at Carthage of about 70 Bishops began the Schism of the Donatists contending who should have the Bishoprick of Carthage One party had chosen Caecilianus to succeed Mensurius The other party accusing him as being a Traditor and Ordained by Foelix a Traditor and had forbidden bringing food to the Martyrs in prison they ordained one Majorinus Bishop in his stead Caecilianus had the countenance of the Bishop of Rome and stood it out and kept the place Hereupon the Church being divided the division run through all Africk and Numidia while the accusing party renounced Communion with Caecilianus so that for many years after two hundred at least they did with plausible pretence claim the title of Catholicks though they were after called Donatists from Donatus a very good Bishop of Carthage heretofore whom they praised and not from Donatus à Casis nigris as some think Secundus Tigisitanus Primate of Numidia furthers the breach and the Ordination of Majorinus fixed it Thus the doleful Tragedy of the Donatists began by Bishops divided about a Carthageâ—Bishop â—Bishop § 41. XX. Anno 308. Another Council was held at Carthage where no less than 270 Donatist Bishops for moderation agreed to Communicate with penitent Traditors without rebaptizing them and so did for 40 years § 42. XXI Anno 313. The Schism continuing the Donatists cleaving to Majorinus appealed against Caecilianus to Constantine now Emperour He first appointeth three French Bishops to judge the Cause but after 19 Bishops called a Roman Council met at Rome to hear both Parties where Melchiades and the rest acquitted Caecilianus and condemned Donatus à Casis nigris a promoter of the Donatists Cause as guilty of Schism But the Donatists accusing Melchiades also as a Traditor the Schism was never the more ended A motion was made that both the Bishops should remove Caecilianus and Majorinus to end the Schisme But the Donatist Bishops were so very many in number that they thought they were to be called the Church and the Caecilianists the Schismaticks and therefore would not so agree Thus Bishops about Bishopricks set all the Country on a flame § 43. XXII Next Constantine would hear the Cause of these contending Bishops at a Council at Arles in France before 200 Bishops at least where Caecilianus was again acquitted and the Donatist Bishops cast by the witness of their Scribe Ingentius who being racked confessed that he was hired to give false witness in the Case Several good Canons were here made for Church-Order § 44. I have heard many Popish Persons liken the Separatists among us to the Donatists But so unlike them are they That 1. The said Separatists are against all Episcopacy but the Donatists were Bishops and contended for the highest Places of Prelacy 2. The Separatists are confessedly a Minor Part departing from the Major Part. But the Donatists were the Major Part of the Bishops casting out the Minor Part as Delinquents The Truth is in those times the Bishops being usually in contention and Church-Wars among themselves especially when Constantine had given them peace and prosperity the strife was Who should get the better and have their will 1. Sometime the strife was about Opinions who was in the right and to be called Orthodox and who was to be accounted the Heretick 2. The other part quarrel who should be the Bishop or who should have the highest places 3. And the next quarrel was whose side should carry it in setting up any Bishops or in judging and deposing them and who should have their Heads or Friends brought in And the way to get the better was 1. At the first by the majority of the peoples Votes in chusing Bishops and of the Bishops in deposing them 2. But after most went in chusing and deposing by the majority of the Bishops Votes in the greater Seats the peoples consent still required at least if a Council did interpose 3. And at last it went by the favour or displeasure of the Court either the Emperour or the Empress or some great Officers The African Bishops it seems were far the greatest number against Caecilian when 270 met at one Council and Mâ—lchiades Council at Rome had but 19 and that at Illiberis 19 and that at Ancyra 18 Bishops Therefore the Bishops thought that majority of number gave them right to the Title of Catholickâ— that those Dissenterâ— must be called Hereticks as was too usual And seeing they lived in the Country where many Councils under Agrippinus and Cyprian and Firmilian had voted that Hereticks were not of the Church and those that they had baptized were to be rebaptized they thought that they did but keep up this Tradition and so they said that they were all the Church of Africa and that the Cecilians were Hereticks and Separatists from the Church and that all that they baptized were to be rebaptized as was formerly held So that indeed the Donatists did but as the Papists and their worldly Clergy still have done who take the advantage of a Majority to call themselves the Church and Catholiks and to call the Dissenters Schismaticks and Hereticks save that they added Cyprian's rebaptizing And when it was for their advantage they communicated 40 years with Traditors but when the power of the Court and the Bish. of
of scandalous and uncapable men Can. 9. and 10. Which will justifie Pope Nicholas forbidding any to take the Mass of a Fornicating Priest 3. That Rural Bishops were then in use and allowed by the Council Can. 8. 4. That no Bishop was to remove from one Church to another Can. 15. which Euseb. Nicom soon broke 5. Even in the Arabick Canons the 4th si populo placebit is a Condition of every Bishops Election 6. The 5th Arab. Canon in case of discord among the people who shall be their Bishop or Priest it is referred to the people to consider which is most blameless And no Bishop or Priest must be taken into anothers place if the former was blameless So that if Pastors be wrongfully cast out the people must not forsake them nor receive the obtruded 7. Those Ordained by Meletius were to be received into the Ministry where others dyed If by the suffrage of the people they were judged fit and the Bishop of Alex. designed them Sozom. l. 1. c. 23. § 15. XXXI The next Council in Binnius and in Crabs Order is said to be at Rome under Sylvester with 275. Bishops But this is confessed to be partly false if not all And is the same that is before mentioned which ordered that no Bishop should ordain any Clerk nisi cum omni adunatâ Ecclesiâ But with all the Church united or gathered into one Which Canon seemeth made when a Church was no more than could meet together and when the People had a Negative Voice But the Concil Gangrense is Binnius's next though Crab put afterward some of the forementioned also said to be in Sylvesters days and yet Sozomen and some others say that the Council of Nice was in Iulius days though most say otherwise Here were sixteen Bishops who condemned some Errours of Eustathius of Armenia or rather one Eutactus as Bin. thinks who was too severe against Marriage as if it were sinful and against eating Flesh and against receiving the Sacrament at the Hands of a married Priest he made Servants equal with their Masters he set light by Church-Assemblies he drew Wives to leave their Husbands for Continency and on pretence of Virginity despised married Persons These superstitions they here condemned § 16. XXXII An. 335. The Council at Tyre was held for the Tryal of Athanasius where he was unjustly condemned and thereupon by Constantine banished though his innocency was after cleared Had not his severity against the Meletians driven them to joyn with the Arians against him Epiphanius saith they had not been able to make head thus against him Constantines Epistle to the Alexandrians lamenting and chiding them for their Discords is well worth the translating but that I must not be so tedious See it Bin. p. 391. § 17. XXXIII The next is a Council at Ierusalem An. 335. where Arius Faith was tryed approved and he restored to Alexandria and the favour of Constantine The Creed which he gave in was this We believe in one God the Father Almighty and in the Lord Iesus Christ his Son begotten of him before all Ages God the Word by whom all things were made which are in Heaven and in Earth Who came down and was Incarnat◠and Suffered and Rose again and Ascended to the Heavens and shall come again to Iudge the Living and the Dead And in the Holy Ghost The Resurrection of the Flesh The Life of the World to come and the Kingdom of Heaven In one Catholick Church of God extending it self from one end of the Earth unto the other Arius with this protesting against vain Subtilties and Controversies desireth the Emperour to accept of this as the Evangelical Faith and the Council and the Emperour receive him as for the joyful restoration of Unity and Peace and so would undo what was done at Nice The Emperour was so greatly troubled at the continued divisions of the Bishops that he was glad of any hope of Unity and Peace But this proved not the way § 18. XXXIV An. 336. A Council was called at Constantinople in which they accused condemned and banished Marcellus Ancyranus an Adversary to the Arians as if he had denyed the Godhead of Christ upon some wrested word though it was their denying it that offended him Here also Arius was justified and Athanasius condemned But Arius dyed shortly after § 19. XXXV The next is a Council of 116 Bishops at Rome in or about An. 337. under Iulius in which the Nicene Creed was owned and the Arians condemned and nothing else down that is recorded § 20. XXXVI The next was a Council at Alexandria which vindicated Athanasius from his Accusations when Constantinus junior sent him home from his Banishment § 21. XXXVII The next was a Council at Antioch of near 100 Bishops of which 36 were Arians the most Orthodox and the holy Iames of Nisibis one yet they deposed Athanasius and the Arians it 's like by the Emperours favour carryed it In his place they put George a Cappadocian suspected to be an Arian whom as I said before the People murdered burnt and scattered his Ashes in the Wind and he was one of the Arians Martyrs Unless England had ever been Arian I cannot believe them that say that this is the St. George that the English have so much honoured § 23. This Arian Council finding that the Emperours favour gave them the Power made many Canons against Non-Conformists The first Can. is against them that keep not Easter at the due time The second against them that come to the hearing of the Word but communicate not publickly in the Lords Supper and Prayers and against them that keep private Meetings and that communicate with them Can. 4. Was to make their Case hopeless that exercise the Ministry after they are Silenced or Deposed be they Bishops Priests or Deacons Can. 5. Was that if any Priest or Deacon gathered Churches or Assemblies against the Bishops Will and took not warning he was to be Deposed And if he go on to be oppressed by the exteriour Power as Seditious There is their Strength Can. 6 and 7. None suspended by his own Bishop was to be received by another nor any Stranger without Certificates Can. 8. Country-Priests may not write Canonical Epistles but Rural Bishops may Can. 9. No Bishop must do any thing without the Metropolitane save what belongeth by Ordination and Guidance to his own Church Can. 10. Though the rural Bishops are consecrated as true Bishops yet they shall only govern their own Churches and Ordain such lower Orders as they need but not Ordain Presbyters or Deacons without the City-Bishops to whom they are subject Can. 11. Casteth out all Bishops or other Clergy-men that go to the Prince without the Metropolitane's Counsel or Letters Can. 12. Deposed or silenced Ministers must not go to Princes for relief but appeal to a Synod Can. 13. Bishops must not go or ordain in other Diocess unless sent for by the Metropolitane else their Ordinations there
Cyril Alex. called a Council at Rome and condemned Nestorius unless he recanted in ten days § 66. CXII Cyril calleth his Council at Alexandria and passeth the same sentence having got Caelestine to back him and sends it with many Anathematismes to Nestorius calling for his abjuration The whole cause is opened at the next Council at Ephesus CHAP. V. The First General Council at Ephesus with the Second and some other following § 1. THe Church at Constantinople growing to be the greatest by the presence of the Court which was the spring or poise of most of the Bishops courses and indeed did rule it became the envy and jealousie especially or the two great Patriarchs Rome and Alexandria Alexandria being under the same Emperour had more to do with Const. and made the greater Stirs For when the Empire was divided Rome being under an Orthodox Emperour had little trouble at home and little opportunity for domination in the East Yet keeping up the pretence of the prime Patriarchate and the Caput Mundi Romani the Pope watch'd his opportunity to lay in his claim aud to keep under the stronger side and while they did the work in the East against one another he sent now and then a Letter or a Legate to tell them that he was somebody still And indeed the hope of help from the Western Emperour by the countenance of the Pope made the Eastern Churches still vexed with Heresie and Persecutions and Divisions to seek oft to Rome and be glad of their approbation to strengthen them against their adversaries § 2. When Arsacius was dead Atticus succeeded him at Constantinople a wise and pious healing man who greatly thereby advanced that Church and all the Eastern Churches He dealt gently with the Novatians and lived in peace with them He encouraged Hereticks by kindness to return to the Communion of the Church At Synada in Phygia Pac. was a Church of Macedonians Theodosius Bishop of the Orthodox Persecuted them with great severity And when he found that the Magistrates of the place had not power to do as much as he expected he got him to Constantinople for greater power while he was there Agapetus the Macedonian Bishop turned Orthodox and all the Church adhered to him and set him in the Bishops chair When Theodosius came home with power to persecute him he found him in his place and the people shut the doors against Theodosius Whereupon he went back to Const. and made his complaint to Atticus how he was used Atticus knew that it fell out for the best for the concord of the Church and he gave Theodosius good words and perswaded him only to be patient § 3. Cyril at that time succeeded his Unkle Theophilus at Alexandria in place and in unquiet domination taking more upon him than Theophilus had done even the Government of temporal affairs He presently shut up the Novatian Churches in Alex. rifled them of all their Treasure and bereaved Theopemptus their Bishop of his substance The Jews at that time falling out with the Christians murdered many of them Cyril executed some and banished them all Orestes the Governour took this ill Fifty Monks of Mount Nitria come to take Cyril's part and assault the Governour and wound him in the head with a stone The people rise and put the Monks to flight but take him that did the Fact and he is tormented and put to death Cyril pronounced the Monk a Martyr but the people would not believe him one At that time there was a Woman Hypatia so famous for learning that she excelled in all Philosophy and taught in the Schools which Plotinus continued so that she had Scholars out of many Countries and was oft with Princes and Rulers and for her modesty and gravity was much esteemed Orestes the Governour oft talking with her the people said It was long of her that he was not reconciled to Cyril They laid hold of her drew her into a Church stript her stark naked rase the skin and tare the flesh off her body with sharp shells till she dyed they quarter her body and burn them to ashes which turned to the great dishonour of Cyril § 4. All this while the followers of Chrysostome remained Nonconformists and Separatists at Constantinople and were called Ioannites and kept in Conventicles of their own Atticus knew that love was the way to win them and he purposing to take that way writeth to Cyril Alex. that the restoring of Chrysostome's name in the Church-Office would tend to heal their sad division and give the Churches peace He told Cyril that Populus majori ex parte per factionem scissus extra muros conventus egerit plerique sacerdotes collegâ—â— nostri Episcopi à mutuâ communione discedentes bonam plantationem Domini parùm abest quin avulserint c. Most of the people were gone and had separate meetings without the Walls Priests and Bishops separating from one another were like to destroy the Church and that if he consented not to restore the name of dead Chrysostome the people would do it without him and he was loath that Church administration should so fall into the hands of the Multitude and therefore he would take in Chrysostom's name Alexander a good Bishop of Antioch put him upon this way But Cyril did vehemently oppose it How did he obey Rome then when the Pope had Excommunicated Chrysotom's persecutors And first he pleaded that the Schismaticks were but few as if their own Bishop knew not better than he and that Chrysostome being ejected dyed a Lay-man and was not to be numbered with the Clergy that Atticus had the Magistrates on his side that would bring them in by force Reader there is nothing new under the sun the things that have been are And a little time would reduce most of them to the Church though they increased That by favouring the Schismaticks he would lose the obedient Conformists and would get nothing by pleasing such disobedient men but strengthen them That the Conformists or obedient were the far more considerable part even the Bishops and Churches of Egypt Libia c. and threatned that he would seek a remedy himself And reproaching Chrysostome he telleth Aâ—ticus That Conformity to the Canons was more to be observed than the pleasing of such Schismaticks and that violating the Canons would do far more hurt than pleasing such men would do good And that such men will never be satisfied by reasons nor judge truly of themselves And he likened the restoring of Chrysostome's Name to the putting in the name of the Traytor Iudas with Matthias He added That if ignorant wilful fellows will forsake the Church what loss is it And therefore that a few mens talk must not draw Atticas to pluck up the Church Sanctions And as for Alexander Antioch who perswaded him to it He was a bold-faced man that had deceived many but this disease must not thus prevail but be cured Thus
made him Emperour and whose power then was great was the same that before had been against Nestorius in her Brothers reign Never was it truer than in the Case of General Councils that the Multitude of Physicians exasperateth the Disease and killeth the Patient The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the one nature after union the words one will and one opperation had never done half so much mischief in the Church if the erroneous had been confuted by neglect and Councils had not exasperated enraged and engaged them and set all the World on taking one side or another One skilfull healing man that could have explicated ambiguous terms and perswaded men to Love and Peace till they had understood themselves and one another had more befriended Truth Piety and the Church than all the Hereticating Councils did § 15. If what Socrates writeth of Theodosius junior be true as we know no reason to doubt God owned his Moderation by Miracles notwithstanding his favouring the Eutychians more than he did any ways of violence Socrates saith l. 7. c. 41 42. that Theodosius was the mildest man in the World for which cause God subdued his enemies to him without slaughter and bloodshed as his Victory over Iohn and the Barbarians shew Of which he saith First Their Captain Rugas was kill'd with a thunder-bolt Secondly A Plague killed the greatest part of his Soldiers Thirdly Fire from Heaven consumed many that remained And Proclus the Bishop being a man of great Peace and Moderation hurting and persecuting none was confirmed by these providences in his lenity being of the Emperours mind and perswading the Emperour to fetch home the bones of Chrysostome with honour wholly ended the Nonconformity and Separation of the Ioanites § 16. Before Theodosius dyed Leo Bishop of Rome set Placidia and Eudoxia to write to him against Dioscorus and for the cause of Flavianus Yea and Valentinian himself Theodosius wrote to Valentinian and the like to the Women That they departed not from the Faith and Tradition of their Fathers that at the Council of Ephesus second things were carried with much liberty and truth and the unworthy were removed and the worthy put into their places and it was the troublers of the Church that were deposed and Flavianus was the Prince of the Contentions and that now they lived in Concord and Peace § 17. The Council at Calcedon was called an 451. Dioscorus is accused for his Ephesine General Council and for his violence and defence of Eutiches and the death of Flavianus He alledgeth the Emperours Order to him Authoritatem Primatum tuae praebemus beatitudini If the Popes Universal Rule be essential to the Church then the pious and excellent Emperour Theodosius and the General Council that consented were none of them Christians that knew it but went against it Eos qui per additamentum aliquod aut imminutionem conati sunt dicere praeter quae sunt exposita de fide Catholica à sanctis Patribus qui in Nicaea post modum qui in Epheso congregati sunt nullam omnino fiduciam in sancto Synodo habere patimur sed sub vestro judicio esse volunus Here Binnius accuseth the good Emperour as giving that which he had not but by usurpation and this through ignorance of the Ecclesiastical Canons But were all the Bishops ignorant of it also Or was so good an Emperour bred up and cherished in ignorance of such a point pretended by the Papists to be necessary to the Being of a Church and to salvation The Bishops of Ierusalem and Seleucia also partook of the same power by the Emperour's Grant Dioscorus answered that All the Synod consented and subscibed as well as he and Juvenal Hieros and Thalassius Seleuc. The Bishops answered that they did it against their wills being under fear Condemnation and Banishment was threatned Souldiers were there with Clubs and Swords Therefore the Oriental Bishops cryed out to cast out Dioscorus Stephen Bishop of Ephesus who had been Dioscorus chief Agent there cryed out that fear constrained them The Lay-Judges and Senate asked who forced them Stephen said Elpidius and Eulogius and many Souldiers threatned him They asked Did Dioscorus use violence with you He said that he was not suffered to go out till he had subscribed Theodorus Bishop of Claudiopolis said that Dioscorus Iuvenal and the leading men led on them as simple ignorant men that knew not the Cause and frightned them with defaming them as Nestorian Hereticks Thus they cryed out that they were frightned The Egyptian Bishops answered that A Christian feareth no man and yet they were afraid before they ended A Catholick feareth no man we are instructed by flames If men were feared there would be no Martyrs Dioscorus noted what Bishops those were that said they subscribed to a blank Paper when it was about a matter of Faith But asked who made them by their several interlocutions to speak their consent Hereupon the Acts of the Ephes. Council were read among which were the words of Dioscorus Anathematizing any that should contradict or retract any thing held in the Nicene or the Ephesine Synods Adding how terrible and formidable it was If a man sin against God who shall intercede for him If the Holy Ghost sit in Council with the Fathers he that retracteth cashiereth the Grace of the Spirit The Synods answered We all say the same Let him be Anathema that retracteth these Bishops that curse themselves will easily curse others Let him be cast out that retracteth Dioscorus said No man ordereth things already ordered The holy Synod said These are the words of the Holy Ghost c. Theodorus denyed these words recorded Dioscorus said they may as well say they were not there § 18. Here also Eutyche's Confession at Ephesus was read in which he professeth to cleave to the former Ephesine Council and to the blessed Father Cyril that presided disclaiming all additions and alterations professing that he had himself Copies in a Book which Cyril himself sent him and is yet in his hands and that he standeth to the definition of that Council with that of Nice Eusebius Bishop of Doril. said He lyeth that Council hath no such Definition Dioscorus said There are four Books of it that all contain this Definition Do you accuse all the Synodical Books I have one and he hath one and he hath one Let them be brought forth Diogenes Bishop of Cyrilum said They deceitfully cleave to the Council of Nice The Question is of additions made against Heresies The Bishops of Egypt said None of us receive additions or diminutions Hold what is done at Nice This is the Emperour's Command The Eastern Bishops clamoured Iust so said Eutyches The Egyptian Bishops still cryed up the Nicene Faith alone without addition Dioscorus accused the Bishops for going from their words and said If Eutyches hold not the Doctrine of the Church he is worthy of punishment and fire ex ore tuo My regard is
here stay till it 's done All the most Reverend Bishops clamoured Let them subscribe to the damnation of Dioscorus Thus the poor Egyptian Bishops that had the upper hand under Theodosius were in a streight between the merciless Bishops in the Synod that had lately at Ephesus joyned with them and the furious Bishops and people of their own Country that would have killed them when they came home too common a Case at Alexandria But when all their dejected cryes and begging could get no mercy from the Bishops the Lay Judges had some and moved that they may be made stay in the Town till their Archbishop was chosen of whom you shall hear sad work anon The Popes Legate requested That if they would needs shew them any humanity they should take sureties of them not to go out of the City till they had an Arch-bishop And so it was ended § 25. The next business was with the Abbots of the Monks They had petitioned Martian that a General Council might be called to end their lamentable broils and that without turbations forced subscriptions or persecutions by the secret contrivances of the Clergy and casting men out before due judgment And they gave in a profession of their Faith and petitioned that Dioscorus might be called because the Emperour had promised them that nothing but the Nicene Faith should be imposed which he professed The Bishops all clamoured out their repeated Curse against Dioscorus and their Tolle injuriam à Synodo Tolle violentiam à Synodo Tolle notam à Synodo Istos mitte foras that is Away with them and would not hear their petition But the Lay Judges made it to be read In which the Monks profess to hold to the Nicene Creed and that the Church might not have discord by imposing more Protesting that if their Reverences abusing their power resisted this as before God and the Emperour the Iudges the Senate and the Consciences of the Bishops that they shake their garments against them and put themselves beyond their Excommunication For they would not be Communicators with those that thus refuse the Nicene Faith The Council still urged them to subscribe Leo ' s Letter Carosus and Dorotheus in the name of the rest of the Abbots said They were Baptized into the Nicene Faith They knew no other They were bid by the Bishop that Baptized them Receive no other We believe the Baptismal Creed We subscribe not the Epistle They are Bishops They have power to Excommunicate and to Damn and to do what they will more But we know no other Faith The Arch-Deacon urged Carosus to Subscribe to Leo's Epistle as Expository of the Nicene Faith and to Curse Nestorius and Eutyches Carosus answered What have I to do to curse Nestorius that have once twice thrice and often cursed and damned him already Aeticus said Dost thou curse Eytiches as the Synod doth or not Carosus replyed Is it not written Iudge not that ye be not judged Again he repeated that he believed the Nicene Creed into which he was baptized If they said any thing else to him he knew it not The Apostle saith If an Angel from heaven preach another Gospel let him be accursed what should I do If Eutyches believe not as the universal Church believeth let him be accursed § 26. At last there was a dissention whether Leo's Phrases should be put into their Definition of Faith now drawn up a new A while it was cryed down but at last yielded to when the Illiricane Bishops had first slighted Rome and cryed Qui contradicunt diffinitioni Nestoriani sunt Qui contradicunt Roman ambulent And Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople openly declared That Dioscotus was not condemned for matter of belief but because he Excommunicated Leo and when he was thrice summoned did not appear § 27. After this Theodorets turn came that had been for Nestorius and the Bishops all cryed out Let Theodoret curse Nestorius Theodoret desired that a Petition of his to the Emperour and to Leo's Legate might be read that they might see whether he were of their belief or not They cryed out We will have nothing read presently curse Nestorius Theodoret told them that he had been bred of the Orthodox and so taught and preached and was against not only Nestorius and Eutyches but all men else that held not the right The Bishops interrupted him clamouring speak out plainly cursed be Nestorius and his Opinions cursed be Nestorius and those that love him Theodoret answered I take not my self to say true but I know I please God I would first satisfie you of my belief for I seek not preferment I need not honour nor come hither for that But because I am calumniated I come to satisfie you that I am Orthodox and I Anathematize every Heretick that will not be converted and Nestorius and Eutyches and every man that saith there are two Sons or thinks so I Anathematize The Bishops again took this for dawbing and cryed out say plainly Anathema to Nestorius and them which hold that which is his Theodoret said Vnless I may explain my own belief I will not say it I believe Here they interrupted and all cryed out He is a Heretick He is a Nestorian cast out the Heretick Reader would a man have believed that were not forced by Evidence That this Council was of Nestorius ' s mind and confirmed his own Doctrine of the Vnity of Christs persons and two Natures who thus furiously cryed down Theodoret except as to the aptitude of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And is it not a doleful Thought that the worthy Bishops of the Church even in a General Council should no better know the way of peace And do not these words here translated out of Binnius p. 92. and 106. agree too well with Nazianzen's Character of Bishops and Councils Not but that the Church had always some Learned Godly Wise and Peaceable Men such as Gregory Naz. and Theodoret were and many more especially in Africk but you see that they were born down by the stream of unskilful worldly temporizing violent Men after once worldly greatness made it the way to preferment and it became their business to strive who should be uppermost and have his will But Theodoret when he found that there was no hope of so much as a patient hearing of his Explication and Confession was fain to yield and say Anathema to Nestorius and to him who saith not that the Virgin Mary was the Parent of God and who divideth the only begotten Son into two Sons which was yet cautelously expressed as if he said supposing that Nestorius did so which himself denyed let him be accursed And so Theodoret was absolved and counted worthy to be a Bishop § 28. Iuvenal Hierosol Thalassius and the rest of the Leaders at Ephes Council 2 were pardoned Ibas his Epistle to Maris against Cyril was acquit or at least the Bishop upon the reading of it It is a sad Narrative of the
the Pretor stand at the Tribunal of the Bishop and to morrow the Bishop may be called to the Pretors Bar That an Earthly judge may take and punish the servants of the highest judge and consecrated men who will not say that this is most absurd Answ. This sheweth what Church-grandure and power these men expect If they have not the Civil power and be not Magistrates or Lords of all the Church is wronged This Clergy-pride is it that hath set the World on fire and will not consent that it be quenched 1. By this rule all Christians should be from under all Power of Kings and Civil Rulers For are they not all the servants of the highest Iudges Hath God no Servants but the Clergy 2. By this rule both Princes and People should be free from the Bishops judgment For are not these Bishops Men as well as Princes and are not Christian Princes and People the servanâ—â—s of the highest Iudge and therefore should not be judged by Bishops 3. But what a wicked rebellious doctrine is intimated in the distinction that Princes are Earthly Iudges and Prelates are the servants of the highest Iudge Are not Prelates Earthly Iudges as well as Princes in that they are men that judge on Earth And are not Princes Judges of Divine appointment and authority as well as Prelates Yea and their power more past all dispute 4. And what absurdity is it that every soul be subject to the higher power And that he that 's one of your Sheep in one respect may be your Ruler in another Why may not the King be the Ruler of him that is his Physician or his Tutor And why not of him that is his Priest Was not Solomon Ruler of Abiathar when he displaced him May not one man judge who is fit or unfit for Church Communion and another judge who is punishable by the sword Did Christ come to set up a Ministry instead of a Magistracy He that saith Man who made me a Judge came not to put down Judges He that saith By me Kings reign came not to put down all Kings Obj. Christ sets up a Kingdome of Priests or a Royal Priesthood Answ. But his Kingdom is not of this World or Worldly It is a spiritual Kingdome conquering sin and Satan putting down the World out of our hearts and making us hope for the everlasting Kingdom which we shall shortly enjoy The Disease of the Disciples that strove who should be greatest and sit at the right and left hand and said Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel hath prevailed after all this warning on a Worldly Clergy to the great calamity of the Church And what wonder when even then St. Paul saith All seek their own too much and none the things of Iesus Christ so naturally as Timothy did and so zealously as they ought Too many Popes haue been Peters Successours in the Character given him Mat. 16. Get thee behind me Satan Thou art an offence unto me For thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men I understood not who were the spring of our late Fifth-Monarchy mens diseases till I read Campanella de Regno Dei and some such Papists where I see that Christs reign by his Vicar the Pope over all the Princes and People of the World is the true Fifth-Monarchy Heresie For which they bring the same Prophecies as the Millenaries do for their Expectations Obj. But the Pope Prelates and Clergy called the Church are not to reign by deposing Kings but by Ruling them and being above them As Love is above the Law which yet is made for the ungodly that want Love and must be ruled by fear so Princes are for the World of unbelievers but not for the Church and Spiritual persons who live above them in the life of Love Answ. 1. This was one of the first Heresies which the Apostles wrote against Many tempted Christians then to think that Christianity freed them from service and subjection and made all equal But how plainly frequently and earnestly do Paul and Peter condemn it Is it not a shame to hear such Papists as cry up such a Heresie as this cry down and damn a Nestorian or an Eutychian or a Monothelite for an unskilful use of a word Paul saith He that teacheth otherwise against subjection is proud knowing nothing but doting 2. Love doth indeed set us above Fear and Legal threats so far as it prevaileth But it is imperfect in all and Fear still necessary 3. And this taketh not down either the Law or Magistracy to us but only maketh us less need such means It 's one thing to love and live so holily and justly as never to need or fall under the sword of Magistrates and another thing to be freed from subjection and obligation This increaseth in many the opinion that the Papal Kingdom is Antichristian in that they set up themselves above Rulers that are called Gods 3. But why must this priviledge extend to the Clergy only Have not other Christians as much holy love and spirituality as most of them And must Princes rule only Infidels Some suspect none as inclining to Popery but those that take up some of their Doctrines of Transubstantiation Purgatory Images c. But they that on pretence of the raising of the Church and defending its power do first call the Clergy only the Church and then seek to make themselves the Lords of Princes by the pretences of an Excommunicating Power and plead themselves from under them and take it for their priviledges to be free from subjection to them and their penal Laws are doubtless levened with that Popish Heresie which hath done much of all the mischiefs which the forecited History describeth § 50. CXXXI Besides some little contention at Alexandria under Proterius before he was murdered the next in Binnius is said to be at Angices Andegavensâ— which saith over again some of their old Canons against Priests living with Women and removing from place to place and such like And the Papists say that this Council was to contradict the Emperour Valentinians Law and to vindicate the rights of the Church as not being lyable to Civil Judicatures or under Kings § 51. CXXXII Anno 45. 3. A French Venetick Council was called about Ordinations which repealed some former Canons and was so strict that the first Canon kept Murderers and False Witnesses from the Sacrament till they repented instead of hanging them And the second Canon denyed the Communion to Adulterers that unlawfully put away their Wives and took others O strict Laws § 52. CXXXIII Ann. 459. A Council at Constantinople forbâ—d Simony § 53. CXXXIV Ann. 467. A Council at Rome of 48 Bishops decreed that men that had two Wives or the Husbands of Whores should not be ordained That they that could not â—ead and they that were maiâ—ed or dismembred or the Penitent should not be made Ministers c. § 54. CXXXV Ann.
his Constitutum in defence of the tria Capitula by vertue whereof the Western Churches should be united and the contempt of the Calcedon Council should be avoided which the Impugners of the tria Capitula did fraudulently contrive and that the Universal Church should learn by this example that no man that dyed in the true Faith should be condemned when he is dead But did Vigilius stop here No saith Binnius But when after the end of his Council the Church received yet greater damage and the Emperor persecuted them that contradicted the Synod and it was feared that the whole East would be divided and separated from the Roman and Western Church unless the Bishop of Rome approved the fifth Synod then Pope Vigilius in a Cause which could bring no prejudice to the Orthodox Faith did well and justly change his former sentence and approved the Synodal Decree for condemning the tria Capitula and revoked and made void his Constitutum which he before published in defence of the tria Capitula The prudent and pious Pope that came to the Popedom by Bribery Tyranny and Murder of his Predecessor did in this prudently imitate St. Paul about Circumcision c. O what certainty and constancy is here in the Papal judgment For a Pope about one Cause to judge for it against it and for it again in so short a time And all this upon reason of Policy and State Did the same so often change and prove first true and then false and then true again But the Papists excuse is that it was de Personis non de Fide Answ. But 1. Is it lawful to take the same thing for true and false good and bad de Personis as our interest requireth 2. Why are the Persons condemned but on supposition that their Faith was condemnable 3. You confess that it was for the advantage of the Eutychian Faith and the depression of the Faith of the Calcedon Council that the tria Capitula were condemned Reader If all this will not tell thee how much need there is of a surer and more stable support of our Faith than Popes and Councils yea and better means of the Churches Unity and Concord I must take thee for unteachable what have such Councils done but set the Churches together by the ears § 23. Liberatus in his Breviary saith c. 3. 10. 24. that Theodore Mopsu his Works were approved by Proclus Iohan. Antioch the Emperor the Council of Calced c. But Binnius saith Nimis impudenter incautè Yet all acknowledge Liberatus a most credible Historian and lived in Iustinian's time He saith also that Nefandissimum haereticum Theodoretus Sozomenus laudarunt adeo ut hac de causá uterque magnam nominis sui jacturam passus fuerit c. But wise men are apt to think as hardly of such as can cry out Nefandissimum haereticum against all that speak as unskilfully as this man did as of charitable men that praise them for what is good while they disown their frailties and imperfections If it be as he saith many thought that â—heodoret assumed his own name from this Theodâ—re by reason of his high esteem of him it 's like he had some special worth though he hath many culpable expressions And Sozomen is an Historian of so deserved reputation that it seemeth to me no argument of Pope Gregory's Infallibility that he saith lib. 6. ep 95. Sozomenùm ejusque Historiam sedes Apostolica recipere recusat quoniam multa mentitur Theodorum Mopsuestiae nimium laudat atque ad diem obitus sui magnum Doctorem Ecclesiae fuisse perhibet I think the Author of Gregory's Dialogues did plura mentiri and yet that Gregory was Magnus Ecclesiae Doctor § 24. The Controversie whether Vigilius were the Author of the Epistle to Menna I pass by But methinks Binnius is very partial to justifie so much what he did after Silverius ' s death as beginning then to have right to his Papacy and to give him so differing a Character from Sanctissimus Papa before while he possessed the same Seat as these words of his express Cum omnium c. seeing that Villany or Crime of Vigilius did exceed the Crimes of all Schismaticks by which making a bargain with Hereticks and giving money by a Lay-man he by force expelled Silverius Bishop of the prime Seat and spoiled of his Priestly induments or attire banished him into an Island and there caused him to dye it should seem no wonder to any man if a desperate wretch homo perditus the buyer of another's Seat and a violent Invader a Wolf a Thief a Robber not entering by the true door a false or counterfeit Bishop and as it were Antichrist the lawful Pastor and Bishop being yet living did add most pernicious Heresie to his Schism Yet this man became the most holy Pope by the vertue of his place as soon as he had but murdered Silverius and was accepted in his stead and then it became impossible for him to err in the Faith § 25. CLXXIV Anno 553. A Council was called at Ierusalem by Iustinian's Command who sent to them the Acts of the Constantine Council de tribus Capitulis to be by them received the Bishops all received it readily save one Alexander Abysis who was therefore banished and coming to Constantinople say Baronius and Binnius was swallowed up and buried by an Earthquake If this was true no marvel if it confirmed the Emperor in his way But I doubt the obedient Bishops were too ready to receive such reports § 26. CLXXV The same year 553. the Western Bishops held a Council at Aquileia out of the Emperor's power where as Defenders of the Council of Calcedon they condemned the fifth Constantine Council aforesaid and so saith Binnius separated themselves from the Unity of the Catholick Church and so continued for near an Hundred years till the time of Pope Sergius who reduced them Were not these great Councils and Bishops great Healers of the Church that about condemning some written Sentences of three dead men thus raise a War among the Churches Were Hereticks or Hereticaters the great Dividers § 27. But here followeth a Case that raiseth a great doubt before us Whether the Pope alone or all his Western Bishops when they differ from him are the Church After the death of Vigilius the Secular Power procured Pelagius the Archdeacon to be made Pope the Western Bishops disclaiming Iustinian's Council and Pelagius obediently receiving it and the Popedom there could not be three Bishops got that would ordain him as the Canons required so that a Presbyter Ostiensis was fain to do it Besides the Question Which now was the Church here are other hard Questions to be solved Qu. 1. Whether Iustinian's Election of a Pope was valid And if so Whether other various Electors may do it as validly Qu. 2. Whether a Presbyter's Ordination of a Bishop or Pope was valid If so Whether Presbyters may not
ordain Presbyters Qu. 3. Whether this Pope was truly Head of the Catholick Church when his Bishops obeyed him not Qu. 4. Whether it was then believed at Rome itself and in the West that a General Council approved by the Pope was either infallible or necessarily to be obeyed Qu. 5. Whether it be true which W. Iohnson alias Terret often tells me That it is not possible that there can be any Schism in the Catholick Church because of the essentiality of its Union § 28. Note that this Pope Pelagius because his Bishops rejected him and the Council got Narses the General to compel them And then who can doubt but he was Pope and they his Subjects But Narses scrupled it lest he should be guilty of Persecution Iustinian's Pope Pelagius telleth him it is no sin and bids him not fear it for it 's no Persecution which compels not men to sin but all that separate from the Pope and assemble separatedly do sin and are damned Schismaticks therefore he desireth him to send the Bishops of Aquileia Milan and the rest that yield not Prisoners to Constantinople Narses obeyeth the Pope and Emperor the Bishops excommunicate Narses the Pope writeth to him that it is no news for erring Bishops to take themselves for the Catholick Church and to forbid others their Communion and counselleth him to go on and repress them And the Civil Sword and the Ecclesiastical were thus engaged in a Roman War one Bishop Sapandus of Ares in France the Pope got specially to stick to him whom therefore he commended to King Childebert c. § 29. CLXXVI A Council at Paris deposed Bishop Saphoracus for some great Crime § 30. While the Romans were resolving to subject themselves to the Goths again because the Pope made Narses their Persecutor Narses took it so ill that he went away from them but the Pope drew back and he shortly died Bellisarius also was ruined and Iustinian himself shortly dyed Binnius saith it is reported that he had no Learning and thinketh that his Civil Laws were Tribonian's and his Ecclesiastical Theodorus Caesariensis's And saith that the Church rejecteth his Laws of Usury Churches and Ecclesiastical Persons as arrogant Usurpations Qu. Whether the Roman Power was then understood by Princes or People § 31. CLXXVIII Another Synod at Paris repeated nine old Canons The 8th was No man may be ordained a Bishop against the will of the Citizens nor any but whom the election of the People and the Clerks shall seek with plenary will none shall be put in by the command of the Prince c. § 32. CLXXIX An. 563. in the time of Pope Iohn 3d. not he but Theodomire alias Ariamire King of the Sueves called a small Council at Braccara in Galicia where eight Bishops opened so much of the Priscillian Heresie as may tell us it was worthy to be detested not much unlike the Manichees and many old Canons they recited But I could have wished that they had not made a mans diet the note of his Heresie and a sufficient cause of his conviction and damnation The Priscillianists as these say would not eat flesh nor herbs boil'd with flesh This Council ordered that if any that abstained from flesh did not eat herbs boiled with flesh he should be taken for an Heretick This is not conformable to Paul's Rules or Spirit § 33. This Council ordered that none should be buried within the Church which Binnius well sets home And whereas Priscillian taught that in the Liturgy the Pax vobis Peace be unto you should be said only by the Bishop and Dominus vobiscum by the Priest the Council contradicted him 1. We see here what Trifles divided men 2. We see that yet the Churches usually were no bigger than met in one place with the Bishop or might do For it is supposed that every Church-Assembly had a Bishop present to say his part § 34. Thedomirus the Suevian King under whom this Council was held was the first of that race that turned Orthodox all the Sueves before him with the Goths having been Arrians § 35. CLXXX Anno 566. The contest about choice of Bishops grew sharp King Clotharius made one Emerius Bishop Santoniensis the Canons had before decreed that Kings should choose none but all the People and the Clerks and the Metropolitan ordain him The King's Bishop is deposed by a Concil Santoniense of which Leontius of Bourdeaux was chief They sent the King word of it by a Presbyter The King filled a Cart with Thorns and laid the Priest on them and sent him into Banishment and forced the Bishop to submit to his will § 36. That it may be known that neither Popes Councils nor consenting Bishops divided Diocesses and Parishes here Binnius giveth us at large first Constantine's divisions in Spain and next the fuller division of King Wamba Bin. p. 649 c. § 37. CLXXXI At Tours in France eight Bishops in a Provincial Council revived many Canons of the old matter to keep Bishops and Priests from Women Can. 13. The Bishop may keep his Wife as a Sister to govern his house But Can. 20. Priests that will keep Wives must have some Witnesses to lie in the same Chamber to see that they lie not with them And Can. 14. Episcopum Episcopam non habentem nulla sequatur turba mulierum c. Can. 21. They say Those that the Law commandeth to be put to death if they desire to hear the Preacher we will have to be convicted unto life that is not to dye For they are to be slain with the sword of the mouth and deprived of Communion if they will not observe the Decrees of the Seniors left them and do despise to hear their Pastor and will not be separate Some Sectaries among us are of the same mind against putting penitent Malefactors to death § 38. CLXXXII Anno 570. There was a Council at Lyons of Fourteen Bishops who recited six Canons to restrain the Vices of the Clergy Binnius out of Greg. Turon tells you the occasion was that one Salonius and Sagittarius as soon as they were made Bishops being then at their own will broke out into Slaughters Murders Adulteries and other wickedness And Victor Bishop of Tricas keeping his Birth-day they sent a Troop with Swords and Arrows who cut his Cloaths beat his Servants and carried away all his Provision leaving him with reproach The King Gunthram hearing of it called this Synod which found them guilty and deposed them They tell the King that they are unjustly cast out and get his leave to go to the Pope Iohn 3d. The Pope writeth to the King to have them as wronged men restored this was the Papal Justice and Reformation The King chideth but restoreth them but they grew never the better afterward but asking pardon of Bishop Victor he forgave them and for that was afterward excommunicate § 39. CLXXXIII An. 572. a Council was called under King Ariomire at Braccara
lament and condemn the practice of such as kill their children appointing them sharp discipline without capital punishment Had the Church power to free Murderers from death as they long did Was this holy Reformation The 11th Canon saith That they found that in many Churches of Spain men filthily and not regularly did Penance that they might sin as oft as they would and be as oft reconciled by the Priests c. Many reforming Canons were here made There were 67 Subscribers besides the King and of divers Cities two Bishops which was unusual § 56. CXCIV Passing by a meeting at Rome Another Council at Narbon was held by Recaredus who brought over the Goths from Arrianism § 57. The Emperor Mauritius though a great and excellent person was ruined by the mad and uncurable mutinies of his Soldiers and at last with his Family cruelly murdered by Phocas one of his Captains a terrible warning to Princes not to trust too much to Armies § 58. All this while the opposers of the Calcedon Council kept up and were divided in the East into many Parties among themselves Among others the great Peripatetic Iohan. Philoponus was their most learned Defender writing with such subtilty that the Natures really two were to be called One Compound Nature as the Soul and Body of a man are as saith Nicephorus was not easie to be answered by which how much of the Controversie was de Nomine de Notione Logicâ let the Reader further judge he that will see some of his words may read them in Niceph. l. 18. c. 45 47 48. his Notions made men call him a Tritheite § 59. Iacobus Zanzalus being a great Promoter of the Party many ever since have from him been called Iacobites And the divided Parties that opposed the Council called the other Melchites that is Royalists because they took them that followed the Council to do it meerly in obedience to the Emperor for it was not the Pope then that was the Master of Councils § 60. Among the Armenians also some raised the like Heresies about the Natures of Christ some thinking his Deity was instead of a Soul to his Body c. To which they added superstitious Fasts and worshipping the Cross and such like not pleading Reason but old Tradition for their Errors saying they had them from Gregory vide Niceph. l. 18. c. 53 54. But I must go forward § 61. Pelagius dying Gregory called Magnus succeeded him at Rome He continued the Controversie about the Title of Universal Bishop writing many Epistles against it He flattered Phocas the murderous Tyrant with a Laetentur Coeli exultet Terra c. yet was one of the best and wisest of their Bishops He sent Augustine into England who oppressed the British Church and converted the Saxon King of Kent He introduced more Superstitions and greatly altered the Liturgy Of which read Mr. T. Iones of the Hearts Sovereign § 62. CXCIV A Concilium Hispalense of eight Bishops recited three Canons § 63. CXCV. Mauritius before his death desired Gregory to call a Synod at Rome to draw in the Western Bishops that separated and to cast them out if they disobeyed which he did and they refusing his Summons Severus of Aquileia and other Bishops were ruined They thought God destroyed Mauritius for persecuting them Gregory thought God would have them destroyed as Schismaticks The Bishops of Rome for near an hundred years were forced the more to please the Emperor because their own Bishops had cast them off and set up another Head against them § 64. CXCVI. An. 590. A Concil Antisiodorense made divers Canons against Superstitions and some too superstitious as that Women must not take the Sacrament in their bare hands c. § 65. I find it so tedious to mention all the little Synods that henceforth I shall take but little notice of them but of the greater only One under Recaredus at Caesar-Augusta made three Canons about the Arrians One in Numidia displeased Gregory § 66. A Council at Poitiers was called on occasion of two Nuns daughters to the King of France that broke out of the Nunnery with many more and accused the Abbess and got men together and stript her stark naked and drew her out and set all France in a Commotion and were forced to do Penance A Council was called at Metz to reduce the Bishop of Rhemes convict of Treason for Bishops that were Traytors or Murderers were not to dye A Synod at Rome under Gregory absolved a Priest of Calcedon condemned by Iohn of Constantinople what one did the other undid An. 597. Under King Recaredus 13 Bishops made two Canons for Priests Chastity c. Another under him An. 598. A Concil Ostiense made two such more An. 599. A Council at Constantinople did we know not what An. 599. Under King Recaredus 12 Bishops at Barcinon made four Canons against Bishops Bribery c. A Council of 20 Bishops 14 Presbyters and 4 Deacons at Rome made a Canon for Monks Another there An. 601. against a false Monk Another at Byzacen against a Bishop Another in Numidia about a Bishop and a Deacon § 67. Gregory dying Sabinian succeeded him who reproached him and would have had his Books burnt as unsound saith Onuphrius And saith Sigebert Gregory appeared to him in a Vision and reproving him for that and Covetousness knockt him on the head and he dyed § 68. Boniface 3d succeeded chosen by Phocas the Murderer who hating his own Bishop of Const. Cyriacus ordered that Rome should be the chief Church § 69. A Council at Rome forbad chusing a Pope till the former had been three days dead because they sold their Votes for money § 70. Boniface the 4th is made Pope and Phocas giveth him the Pagan Temple called Pantheom for Christian Worship In his time Phocas was killed by Heraclius as he had kill'd Mauritius § 71. An. 610. A Council at Toletum under King Gundemar about the Bishop of Toletum's Primacy which the King setleth by Edict § 72. A Council at Tarraca under King Sisebutus took the shortest way and only confirmed what had been before done for Priests Chastity § 73. Deus dedit was next Pope in whose time the Persians conquered Ierusalem and carried away the Bishop and they say the Cross. § 74. Boniface 5th succeeded Heraclius the Emperor is worsted by the Persians who would not give him Peace unless the Empire would renounce Christ and worship the Sun Heraclius overthroweth them Mahomet now riseth and maketh a Religion of many Heresies § 75. At a Synod at Mascou Agrestinus accused Columbanus of Superstition for Crossing Spoons c. but was refelled § 76. Seven or eight Bishops at Hispalis condemned the Eutychians and called them Acephali CHAP. VIII Councils held about the Monothelites with others § 1. BEing come to the Reign of Pope Honorius at Rome who was condemned by 2 or 3 General Councils for a Monothelite Heretick as Vigilius was by his own Bishops for an
Eutychian and having shewed you what work both the heretical and hereticating Bishops and Council made in the world about not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Nature and the condemning of dead men I shall next shew you what work they made also about the words One Operation and One Will or Two Operations and Two Wills Reader Wouldst thou think that there were venom enough in one of these words to poyson almost all the Bishops in the world with the Plagues of Heresie or Heretication and Contention § 2. The old Controversie still keeping the Churches all in pieces some being for two Natures after Union and for the Calcedon Council and others against it and but for one Nature after Union Cyrus Bishop of Alexandria was told that it would unite them all if they would confess One Operation and One Will in Christ or at least lay by the talk of One and Two and use the words Dei virilis Operatio The Operation and Will of God-man CXCVII He therefore called a Synod at Alexandria in which this was decreed called Satisfaction For they said that Dei virilis signified two Natures and so they thought they had at last hit the way of concord which neither the General Council of Ephes. 1. Ephes. 2. Constant. 2. Calcedon Constant. 3. had found out but all set the Bishops but more by the ears Cyrus sent his Decrees to Sergius Bishop of Constantinople Sophronius Bishop of Ierusalem persuaded the silencing of the names of One or Two Operations or Wills Sergius sent the Case to Honorius to Rome Honorius rationally persuaded them to use neither the one word nor the other One or Two foreseeing that a new quarrel was arising in these words and little knowing how for this he was by General Councils to be Hereticated when he was dead persuaded them to a silent Peace It is but few Popes that were so wise and peaceable and this one must be a Heretick for it or General Councils be fallible and much worse § 3. Because knowing the effect of the old unhealed Cause I foresee that such men will go near to Hereticate me also when I am dead for condemning Hereticating Incendiaries in the Nestorian Eutychian and Monothelite quarrels I will recite the words of Binnius himself who saith the same that I have said from the beginning though I justifie him not from self-contradiction Tom. 2. p. 992. Honorius fearing which after came to pass and which he knew had fallen out in former Ages about the word Homoousion ☜ and many others lest that Contention should grow to some great Schism and seeing withall that Faith might be safe without these words he was willing to reconcile both Opinions and withall to take out of the way the matter of Scandal and Contention Writing therefore to Sergius he advised him to abstain from the word One Operation lest they should seem with Eutyches to assert but One Nature in Christ and yet to forbear the word Two Operations lest with Nestorius they seemed to assert Two Persons A Slander contrary to his words I again say If all the Hereticating Bishops and Councils had followed this discretion and moderation O what had the Church escaped Yet they are fain to stretch their wits to excuse his words elsewhere Unde Unam Voluntatem fatemur Domini nostri Iesu Christi But it 's certain that in some sense it is One and in another sense Two § 4. The Emperor Heraclius interessed himself in the Controversie Binnius saith by the fraud of Anastasius Patriarch of the Iacobites he was deceived Animo defendâ—ndi Concilium Calcedonense The Iacobites were Eutychians the greatest enemies of the Calcedon Council and it 's strange then how they deceived him to defend it by destroying it But saith he While he besides his place and office by the persuasion of the Devil was wholly taken up in defending questions of Faith by his own judgment c. Here you may see what the Papists Clergy would make of Kings and all Lay-men If they be wholly taken up in defending questions of Faith by their own judgment they pronounce them to be persuaded to it by the Devil Error is from the Devil but sollicitous searching after the defence of Truth is liker to be of God But they must not do it by their own judgment By whose then By the Bishops no doubt What Bishops General Councils And had not the Emperors long enough followed Councils and banished such as they condemned till while they almost all condemned one another the world was scandalized at the odious Divisions and Cruelties of the Church But must they follow Bishops without using their own judgments about the Case What as their meer Executioners Must the Princes of the world act as Brutes or Idiots or Lictors Was this the old Doctrine Let every Soul be subject to the higher Power c § 5. CXCVIII. King Sisenandus the second that had all Spain called a Council at Toletum of all his Kingdom An. 633. of 70 Bishops who made many good Canons for Faith Order and Reformation the last is a large defence of the King against Rebellion But they order that when a King is dead the Prime Men of the whole Nation with the Priests by common consent chuse another that retaining the Concord of Unity there should be no strife through Force or Ambition And they decree the Excommunicating of wicked Kings that live in great sin which I doubt whether the fifth Commandment forbid them not to have done it being a purposed dishonour § 6. CXCIX Another at Toletum was called 636 by King Chintillane which went the same way Kings were Rulers here and not Popes § 7. CC. Another at Toletum An. 638. by the same King to the same purposes § 8. The Emperor Heraclius published an Edict for the Monothelite Opinion called his Echtesis and Sergius Const. joined in it § 9. Sergius dyeth and Pyrrhus a Monothelite succeedeth him § 10. Severinus is chosen Pope but being not Confirmed as was usual by the Emperor's consent he is plundered of his wealth § 11. The Saracene Arabians conquer Persia and the Eastern parts of the Empire § 12. Sergius before his death called a Council at Constantinople which confirmed the Emperor's Faith and the Monothelite Opinion § 13. An. 640. Iohn 4th was made Pope who condemned the Emperor's Echtesis and it 's said the Emperor disowned it and said that Sergius made it and desired it might be published in his name § 14. Heraclius dyeth Constantine succeedeth him and dyeth in 4 months Heracleo succeedeth After six months the Senate depose him and cut off his Nose and cut out his Mother's Tongue on suspicion that they poysoned Constantine whose Son Constans is next set up § 15. Pyrrhus thought guilty of Constantine's death flieth into Africa and Paulus a Monothelite hath his place Pyrrhus seemeth converted by Maximus in Africa cometh to Rome and is owned by the Pope against Paulus
their Wives is expresly renounced and it is decreed that no Priest be required to separate from his Wife so be it they abstain at Fasts and necessary Seasons nor any Priest endured to put away his Wife on pretence of piety else he must be deposed § 51. Another is the 16th Canon that maketh Deacons like Overseers of the Poor § 52. The 22d is a hard Canon that Bishops and Priests ordained with money and not by examination and election be deposed and they that ordained them § 53. The 36th Canon displeaseth them also which confess the Church of Constantinople's Priviledges as equal with Rome § 54. The 38th Canon containeth one great cause of the old Confusions viz. That whatever alteration the Imperial Power makes on any City the Ecclesiastical Order also follow it Did God make this Law Are not as many Souls in a Town that 's no City as capable of being a Church as Citizens It is in the Princes power to make and unmake Cities May he accordingly make or unmake Churches What if a King will have but one City in his Kingdom must there be no more Churches or Bishops What if there be no Cities as in many American and Arabian Countries must there be no Churches What if the King will disfranchize most of the Cities and another will make every Market Town a City must Churches be altered accordingly If so O that our King would make us so many Cities as the work and the souls of Men need true Bishops that one might not have a thousand Parishes without any subordinate Bishop But if this hold the Emperor might have taken down Rome and set up Constantinople or any other at pleasure § 55. Can. 50. Forbad Clergy and Laity to play at Dice on pain of Deposition or Segregation And Can. 51. forbids going to Shews Jesters Stage-Plays Huntings The 55th Canon commands the Church of Rome to amend their Customs and not to fast on Sabbath-days Can. 62. Forbids Womens Publick Dancings and Mens and Womens together and their putting on Masquers or Players Apparel or Persons c. Can. 63. Commandeth the burning of false Histories of the Martyrs as tending to bringing Religion into reproach continual joyful Praises to God and holy Exercises and to use no Horse-Races c. The 67th Canon is against eating Blood Can. 72. Nullifieth Marriage with Hereticks Alas good Bishops did you think the Papists would have Hereticated you as Monothelites and nullified all Marriages with you by this Canon But two Hereticks Marriage is not null Can. 78. Commandeth all the illuminate baptized to learn the Belief and every Friday to say it to the Bishop and Presbyters How many Parishes or hundred Parishes had the Bishop then to hear Not so many as ours § 56. The 82 Canon offends the Papists forbidding the Picture of a Lamb to be made for Christ as the Lamb of God The 90th Canon is an old one Not to kneel on any Lord's-day and that this begin on the evening before P. 155. Binnius reproveth them for calling Cyprian Archbishop and he proveth that Africa then had no Archbishop or Primate § 57. CCXXII An. 693. was another Toletan Council called by King Egica Before it the King writeth a Sermon for them wherein he tells them That every Parish that have twelve Families must have their proper Governor But if less it must be part of anothers charge § 58. CCXXIII. An. 694. was another Toletan Council under the same King Egica One would wonder that the Legislative vertue of the Church should be continued to such fertility and multitude of Laws as must follow if in all Countries there be every year a Council How great must the Volumes of Laws be at last Binnius in his Notes on this Council tell us That though Paul would have the believing Husband or Wife stay with the Unbeliever in hope of Conversion yet many hundred years experience hath taught us the contrary that it tendeth rather to hurt than good and therefore now it must be otherwise and they must separate § 59. CCXXIV. Even to those days the number of Pagans and Infidels in most Countries was the greatest and the care of good men was to convert them And therefore we read still of so many baptized at age A Council at Utrecht decreed Willebrood or Willifrid and Suibert being Leaders that the best Preachers should be sent from the Neighbor Churches to convert the Heathens that was better work than striving who should be chief or raging about hard words § 60. CCXXV. A Synod at Aquileia An. 698. condemned the 5th General Council at Constantinople for condemning the tria Capitula of the Council of Calcedon O what Concord Councils caused § 61. Pope Sergius refusing to own the Council of Constant. at Trul. under Iustinian 2d the Emperor commanded that he should be brought Prisoner to Constantinople The Soldiers of Ravenna Sergius having paid them the 100 l. of Gold hearing of it rose up and rescued him and made the Emperor's Officer in fear beg for his life By such Obedience Rome kept up § 62. Tiberius the 2d deposed Iustinian the 2d and cut off his Nose and banished him Iustinian was restored and exposed Tiberius to scorn and killed him and banished Bishop Callinicus to Rome for unfaithfulness to his Prince Iohn the 6th was now Pope § 63. Iohn the 7th is made Pope another Council at Toletum under King Witiza I pass by he was a Greek CCXXVI He gather'd a Synod at Rome to debate Iustinian's Order for the receiving the Trull Concil And our English Willifrid accused by his King was here justified as a Son of that Church And a Synod in England received him when the King was dead § 64. Sisumius made Pope lived but 20 days and Constantine succeeded him who was sent for to Constantinople and honoured by Iustinian § 65. About this time An. 708. Spain was conquered by the Saracens Binnius saith Because King Witiza forsook the See of Rome By which we still see that Rome was forsaken even by the best Church such as Spain then was and was not the Ruler of the World § 66. Bardanes Philippicus by Rebellion deposed Iustinian and was made Emperor and within two years was so used himself by Anastasius his eyes put out and he banished § 67. CCXXVII The Emperor Philippicus and Iob. Constant. called General Council at Constantinople I may well call it General when Binnius saith There were innumerable Bishops which is not said of any other Council They all condemned the 6th General Council and their Opinion of two Wills and two Operations Where it is manifest 1. How great a part of the Church regarded not the Authority of Rome 2. Nor thought a General Council infallible when innumerable Bishops are against both 3. And how strong the Monothelite Party was 4. And alas how bad too many Bishops that can change as fast as Emperors will have them For saith Binnius after Baronius Thus at the
Bishop of Mentz and his great agent even about this foresaid English Council which was to set up Church-Images and recommended him to many Christian Princes And why was all this and what was his rare merit He took this Oath to the Pope Bin. p. 178 In the name of the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour in the Reign of Leo the great Emperour c. I Boniface Bishop by the Grace of God do Promise to thee Peter Prince of the Apostles and to thy Vicar Pope Gregory and his Successors by the Father Son and Holy Ghost the inseparable Trinity and this most Holy Body of thine that I will exhibite all faith and purity of holy Catholick faith and in unity of the same faith God operating will persist in which all the salvation of Christians is proved undoubtedly to consist and will no way consent whoever perswadeth me against the unity of the common and universal Church but as I said will exhibite my faith and purity and concourse to thee and to the Profits of thy Church to whom by the Lord the Power of binding and loosing is given and to thy aforesaid Vicar and his Successors in all things c. Nothing is more meritorious with a Pope or any Prelate of that Spirit than to be absolutely devoted to him and swear obedience to him Indeed they that are fully fallen from God as Satan is would be as Gods to the world themselves and have all men depend upon them and obey them § 7. What Arguments moved the Emperor to be against Images specially the 2d Commandment and how Gregory thought that it was not the Images of God and Christ and Angels and Saints that were forbidden you may see in his Epistles too long to be here recited § 8. Here Binnius inserteth three Roman Councils One cursing unlawful Marriages Another persuading Corbinianus to keep his Bishoprick who would fain have laid it down And a third for Images against the Iconoclasts the Emperor's Heresie § 9. Gregory 3d succeedeth Gregory 2d He sendeth his Epistles for Images to the Emperor The first Messenger durst not deliver them The rest were stopt at Sicily and kept Prisoners The Lombards infested Italy and Rome The Pope importuneth the French King for help Alphonsus is made King in Spain against the Saracens and first called himself Catholick King Two Councils Binnius saith were held at Rome for Images The Title of the second is Pro Imaginum Cultu for the Worship of Images An. 732. Image-worship was then avowed But the Eastern Churches did more obey the Emperor § 10. Pope Zachary coming next in whose time Italy was distressed by Luitprandus King of the Lombards who took four Cities from the Pope because he protected Trasimundus Duke of Spoleto The Romans helped Trasimund on condition he would restore to them the four Cities he performeth not his promise wherefore Pope Zachary turned to Luitprand and to win him Salutaria illi praedicavit saith Anastasius and he promised him to restore the four Cities For the performance whereof this Pope travelled to him himself noted by Anastasius as a great act of self-denial as venturing his life for the Cause of God that he would go to the King to ask for four Cities which he happily obtained § 11. In this Pope's time the Crown of France was translated from the King and his Line to a Subject his Major Domûs Charles Martell the great French Conqueror was the Pope's Patron against the Emperor who was his Sovereign Gratian. d. 16. q. 1. post Can. 59. tells it us as a matter of Church-credit that when he was dead he was damned to Hell much blood and defending Popes that rebel against their Sovereign are a very likely proof Carolomannus succeeded him who after two years Reign resigned his Crown and chose a Monastery Chilperic that came after proved very dull and sensual and giving himself to his pleasure let the business of Government lie most on the hands of Pepin who was his Major Domûs who thereby got the power and the respect that was proper to the King while the King grew into contempt And if Kings cannot keep up their Power and Honour by the meer dignity of their place without personal worth and performance why should Popes Prelates and Priests whose Power and Honour as a Physicians depend upon their Worth and Work expect to keep up their Power and Honour meerly by their Offices Pepin won first the Nobles of France and then the Pope For as Baronius and Binnius p. 197. tell us It seemed to the most Potent Pepin Major Domus and to the rest of the chief Men and to all the People that he that had not the Matter and Force of the Kingdom should not have the name of a King and on the contrary he that had the Riches Power and Virtue should also have the name of King And because these Princes and People were Christians they judged that these their Councils would neither stand ratified to Posterity nor be acceptable enough to God unless they received Authority and Force from the common Father and Pastor of the Christian Church the Vicar of the Lord Christ and Successor of St. Peter Therefore they send Legates to Rome to Zachary of whom Bishop Burchardus Herbipol was the chief who were to ask the things aforesaid of him He consented and decreed and wrote back that Chilperic being thrust into a Monastery St. Boniface should declare and anoint Pepin King in Germany and France Boniface Bishop of Mentz obeyed Pope Zachary and by the Authority of the See Apostolic deposed Chilperic called also Childeric and placed Pepin in his stead Thus Ieginhart in Vit. Car. Mag. Annal. Franc. an 751. Paul Diac. li. 22. Marianus Scotus li. 3. Regino li. 2. an 749. Sigebert in Chron. Lambert in Hist. Germ. Otho Frising li. 5. 21. Ado. aetate 6 fol. 213. Aimoinus li. 4. c. 65 c. Yea say they the Hereticks of our times deny not the History But they sharply impugn two circumstances The first is that it was a great wrong to Chilperic that the Kingdom was taken from him The second that the said Translation was made by the consent of the Council Nobles and Commons without the Authority of the Apostolic Seat Serarius proveth that the cause of the Translation of the Kingdom was just 1. Because all the best men did desire and wish it and did by their counsel and help co-operate to it 2. Because St. Bishop Burchardus did as Legate sollicite the Pope for it 3. Pope Zachary commanded it to be done 4. And the most Holy Boniface at the Pope's command did execute it 5. And being approved by Divine Testimony it is recited in the sacred Canons 15. q. 6. c. alius 6. And by none of the old Historians not praised or disallowed Only our new Hereticks that love Novelty Arrogance and Rebellion by their perverse judgment by Contumelies and Lyes disallow it And that it was by the Authority
so that then a Church was no greater than was capable of personal Communion Here this King being made by the Pope so far gratified the Clergy as to decree that Contemners of Excommunication should be banished And now the Keys do signifie the Sword and Church-Discipline is made another thing than Christ had made it The 13th Cap. is That no vacant Bishop meddle in another Bishop's Parish without his consent by what true authority then can the Pope meddle in other Mens Diocesses since the foundation of his humane authority in the Empire is subverted The 14th Cap. decreed That Men may use Horses and Chariots for Travel on the Lord's-day and get Meat and Drink c. but not do common work The 17th That no Clerk try his Cause before a Lay-Judge without the Bishop's leave § 29. Pope Stephen dying in the division at the next choice by all the People the stronger part chose Paulus a Deacon CCXXX in his time a German Council condemned Oathmarus Abbot of St. Gallus for Incontinence and put him in Prison where he dyed of Famine as Historians say maliciously upon false accusation § 30. At this time the Greeks accused the Romans for adding the word Filioque to the Creed And about that and Images they say there was some Synod at a Village called Gentiliace § 31. Pope Paul dying and the People having still the choice he that could get the greatest strength was in hope of so rich a Prey And Constantine Brother to one Duke Toto getting the strongest Party by fear compelled George Bishop of Praenestine with two more Bishops to make him Pope being first ordained Deacon he possessed the Popedom alone a year and a month Then one Christopher the Primocerius and his Son Sergius being powerful got out to the King of the Longobards and craved his help against Constantine as an Usurper and gathering some strength got into Rome killed Toto and caused Constantine the Pope and another Brother Paessivus to take Sanctuary One Waldipertus a Presbyter was of Christopher's Party and to make haste without Christopher's knowledge he gathereth a Party and they make one Philip a Presbyter Pope So there were two Popes Christophorus incensed swore he would not enter Rome till Philip was pull'd out of the Bishop's house which Gratiosus one of his Party presently performeth and Philip returneth to his Monastery Christophorus calleth the Clergy People and Soldiers together and by his means they chuse another Stephen and so there are three Popes The Actors being now in their zeal go to Theodorus a Bishop and Vicedominus that joined with Pope Constantine and they put out his eyes and cut out his tongue Next they attempted the like excaecation on Passivus Bishop Theodore they thrust into a Monastery and there while he cryed for a little water they famished him to death Passivus they put into another Monastery They took all their Goods and Possessions Pope Constantine they brought out and set on Horseback on a Womans Saddle with Weights at his Feet and put him into a Monastery How holy then were Monasteries Shortly after they brought him forth and Pope Stephen and some Bishops deposed him Then the Citizens were to make their penitent Confessions for owning him Next the Army goeth to Alatrum in Campania where Gracilis the Tribune that had been for Constantine is apprehended brought bound to Rome imprisoned and after his eyes put out and his tongue cut out After this Gratiosus and his Zealots go to the Monastery where they had thrust Pope Constantine and drag him out and put out his eyes and leave him blind in the street Next they go to their own Friend Priest Waldipertus and feign that he had laid a Plot with the Longobards to kill Christopher and send to apprehend him and when he fled for Sanctuary to a Temple they drew him out with the blessed Virgins Image in his hand even then when they were rebelling for the sake of Images but that would not save the Priest because he set up Philip for Pope they thrust him into a filthy Dungeon-hole but that was too good for him In a few days they drew him out and casting him on the earth put out his eyes and cut out his tongue and put him into an Hospital where he dyed of the pain And now Pope Stephen had no doubt a lawful calling to be Pope He sends his Legats to the King of France He brings forth blinded Pope Constantine to answer for his Crime who falling flat on the earth he lamenteth his sin as more than the Sands on the Sea-shore and professeth that the People chose and forced him to be Pope because of their sufferings under Paul But at his next appearance he tells them that he did no more than many other Lay-men did who invaded Bishopricks as Sergius Archbishop of Ravenna Stephen Bishop of Naples c. when they heard this all the Priests caused him to be buffeted and cast him out of the Church and burnt his Papers c. And the most holy Pope Stephen cast himself on the earth with all the Priests and People of Rome and with tears lamented their sin that they had taken the Communion from the hands of Pope Constantine it seems it is a sin to communicate with Bishops that are brought in irregularly by secular Power without due Election and they are no Schismaticks that refuse it And so they all performed their Pennance for it Anastas in ejus vita § 32. CCXXXI On this great occasion Pope Stephen being far unable now to call General Councils sends to the King of France to entreat him to send some wise Bishops to a Council at Rome who sent him about a dozen who with some others agreed against Constantine's Election and such other for the time to come and damned a Synod that Constantine had held and also passed their judgment for Images § 33. But here was a great difficulty such as often after happened Whether Constantine's Papal Acts were valid and the Council decreed that they should all be void except his Baptizings and his Consecrations And so those Priests that he Consecrated when they were after duely chosen officiated without a new Consecration Either he was a real Pope or no Pope If a Pope then by the Canons Stephen was no Pope and so the Succession there failed If no Pope then 1. How come his Consecrations to be valid 2. Are not Presbyter's Ordinations better than a Lay-mans 3. Then the Universal Church had no Head and so was no Church with them while Constantine was Pope § 34. A like Schism fell out at Ravenna The power of the Magistrate made one Michael Scriniary of the Church a Lay-man Archbishop the People being for one Leo whom they imprisoned He kept the place above a year but by the help of the Pope and the French the People rose and cast him out and brought him Prisoner to Rome and set up Leo. § 35. Christopher
and his Son Sergius were the Captains that had wrought this great deliverance to the Church And now they plead with King Desiderius for St. Peter's Rights as still zealous for the Pope The King is angry with them and jealous of their power and seeketh to destroy them and particularly to set their own Pope against them They get the Citizens to stand by them and the King cometh with an Army The Pope seeing which was like to be the stronger side in great wisdom went out to the King and after some days conference with him sendeth to Christopher to render himself to the King The Citizens hearing this forsook Christopher and Sergius Gratiosus seeing they were deserted by the People through the Pope went out first to the King and Pope and Sergius next and Christopher last The Pope was so kind to them that made him Pope that he made them Monks and put them in Sanctuary in St. Peter's Church to save their lives But they had Adonibezek's justice and were soon drag'd out thence and Christopher's eyes put out of which he dyed But Sergius was awhile a Monk and then thrust in the Laterane Cellar Thus went the matters of the Universal Monarch at Rome § 36. A little before the Pope's death Sergius was fetcht blind out of the Cellar and kill'd the next Pope searcht out the Authors and found them to be Paulus Cubicularius and the last Pope's Brother and other great Men and he prosecuted some of them to Banishment but the Archbishop of Ravenna caused Paul to be killed § 37. It was Adrian a Deacon that was then chosen Pope Son to the chief Man in Rome ablest to effect it Upon these stirs Desiderius desired friendship with the Pope but he demanding the Cities which Pepin had given the Church some of which Desiderius still kept and doing the foresaid justice on the Friends of Desiderius he came with an Army and killed many and took many Cities The Pope urgeth the restitution of all his Cities indeed the Emperor's given him by Pepin he still denieth the Pope gets Charles of France to come with an Army for fear of whom the Longobards flie The Dutchy of Spoletum and other Cities yield themselves to the Pope and as a token of subjection receive tonsure Charles besiegeth Desiderius in Papia and forceth his Brother Carloman's Wife and Children that fled to the Longobards to yield themselves to him while the Siege continued Charles went to Rome and was gloriously entertained by the Pope and renewed to him Pepin's gift of all the Exarchate of Ravenna and many Dukedoms and Cities which were none of his own to give and now the Pope is a Prince indeed And Charles returning to the Siege conquereth Papia taketh King Desiderius and winneth all the Longobards Kingdom And thus Strength gave Right according to the Atheists Opinion now stirring that Right is nothing but a power to get and keep Pepin and Charles make themselves Kings and the Pope a Prince that while they share the Emperor's Dominions between them they might be a strength to one another And Desiderius being himself but an Usurper helped by the Pope into the Throne no wonder if when interest changed the same hand take him down How Charles his Brother Caroloman dyed and why his Wife and Sons fled from Charles to the Longobards and what became of them is not well known § 38. Pope Adrian the 1st thus made a greater Prince than any before him did greater works than they had done and ob nimium amorem Sancti Petri ex inspiratione Divina built many great and stately Buildings made all places about his Palace Baths c. fit for splendid pomp and pleasure and all this from meer self-denial and holiness Many Churches also he repalred and adorned and did many other such good works § 39. This great Adrian was before but a Deacon I have oft marvelled to read that Deacons were so ordinarily then made Popes and sometimes Lay-men when yet the old Canons required an orderly rising through the several degrees It was no wonder that then a Deacon at Rome was a far higher preferment than a Bishop For a Deacon and a Priest might be chosen Pope but a Bishop could not For of old when Diocesses and Parishes were all one the Canons decreed that no Bishop should remove to another Church except being Consecrated by others he never consented nor had possession so that every Bishop must live and dye in the place where he was first Ordained so that Rome Const. Alex. Antioch c. and all the great Seats chose either Deacons Priests or Monks to be their Patriarchs and Bishops No wonder then if as Nazianzen saith Orat. 5. it was the custom to have almost as many Clergy-men in every Church as People in regard of the present Honour and the future hopes of Preferment Indeed he carried it that had the greatest Friends which was as commonly the Deacon as the Priest or Archdeacon By which we may conjecture whether the worthiest Men were made Popes For if they were the worthiest why were they by former Popes never made higher before than Deacons Did not the Popes know the worthiest men And if a breach of the Canons in Elections nullifie the regular Succession by this it is evident that the Roman Seat hath no such Succession § 40. By the way the Reader must note that in all the Writings of the Popish Clergy concerning these matters there are certain terms of Art or Interest which must be understood as followeth viz. 1. Sanctissimus Papa the most Holy Pope signifieth any prosperous Bishop of Rome how wicked soever in his life 2. Rex Pientissimus the most Pious King signifieth a King that took part with the Pope and advanced his Opinions and Interest 3. Imperator Sceleratissimus Haereticus Nefandus c. a most wicked Emperor or Patriarch or any other and abominable Heretick signifieth one that was against the Pope his Interest or Opinion Homo mendaeissimus a Lyar is one that saith what the Papists would not have to be true If you understand them otherwise you are deceived ordinarily § 41. About the death of Paulus Cubicularius and others note that it had long been the way of the Church-Canons to contradict God's great Law for humane safety He that sheddeth Man's blood by Man shall his blood be shed and on pretence of being more merciful than God to entice Murderers Adulterers and all wicked Thieves and Criminals to make up the Church of Christ by decreeing that instead of being Hanged or Beheaded if they would but be Baptized they should but be kept for a time from the Sacrament or do Pennance and what Villain would not then be a Christian § 42. Here ariseth a great Controversie with Sigibert a Monk-Historian and Gratian himself which Baronius and Binnius take up viz. the first say That Charles being at Rome a Council there with Pope Adrian gave him the power of chusing the
Tarasius At last An. 797. his Mother Irene and Stauratius found means to apprehend him and murder him that is put out his Eyes of which he dyed which some celebrate as a pious Act it was done by her that set up Images But within one year Nicephorus deposed and banished her into Lesbos where she dyed and he took the Empire to himself § 95. Binnius p. 445. saith That the Emperor banished Theodore Studita for reproving his Marriage and when he added crime to crime Merito jussu Matris quam imperio exuerat zelo justitiae non regni oculis imperio vitâ orbatus est By the command of his Mother in her zeal for justice he was deservedly deprived of his Empire Eyes and Life What is not just with such Historians that maketh for their Interest And how contemptible is their Censure of good or evil Men which hath no better Measures § 96. He tells us also p. 444. that the Spanish and French Bishops at these times of their own heads without the Pope added Filioque to the Creed which hath to this day made so great a stir It seems they thought that the Pope's Authority was not necessary to it § 97. He adds that Charles the Great being dead the People grew bold and rose up again against the Pope which occasioned Rapines Flames and Murders that Ludovicus the new Emperor was fain to take his Fathers Office and come to Rome to save the Pope and suppress the Rebels § 98. The Venetian Duke killing a Patriarch Iohan. Gradensis Paulus Patriarch of Aquileia called a Synod to crave aid of Charles § 99. CCXXXV An. 806. A Council was held at Constantinople in the Cause of the foresaid Ioseph that had married the Emperor to his second wife who had been ejected by Tarasius from his Bishoprick and the Emperor calling a Council they restored him wherefore Theodorus Studita called them a Council of Hereticks and Adulterants because they restored the Causer of the Emperor's Adultery But how few Emperors have not found Councils of Bishops ready to do their Will § 100. Charles the Great making his Will divided his Empire between his three Sons giving them Laws of Communion and Succession that if one dyed without Children his Kingdom be divided between the other two but if he have such Sons as the People will choose they succeed their Father Commanding all three that they be the Defenders of the Bishop of Rome as he and his Father and Grandfather had been to their commodity § 101. CCXXXVI An. 809. Was another Council at Constantinople which was gathered to condemn honest Theodorus Studita Plato and such as had been against the restoring of Ioseph of which saith Binnius When the Bishops there Congregate had brought the most holy Plato in Chains to be judged and had passed the Sentence of Anathema on the Universal Catholick Church that was against their Error they made a most wicked Decree that the Marriage of Constantine with Theodota his Wife yet living thrust into a Monastery should be said to be lawful by dispensation They added for the Emperor's sake this wicked and shameless Sentence That the Laws of God can do nothing against Kings and that if any imitate Chrysostom and shed his Blood for Truth and Iustice he is not to be called a Martyr That Bishops have power to dispense with all the Canons Remember that Papists confess all this to be wicked We have not the Acts and Speeches of these Councils preserved § 102. CCXXXVII An. 809. A Council was held at Aquisgrana about the Procession of the Holy Ghost and the word Filioque in the Creed Of which they sent some Messengers to the Pope who approved the thing but dissuaded them from adding it to be sung in the Creed and after inscribed the Creed without Filioque in Latin and Greek in two Silver Tables to shew that it should not be changed which yet after it was by the Pope's consent The French Annals say that in this Council they treated of the state of the Church and conversation of the Clergy but determined nothing for the greatnesses of the matter § 103. CCXXXVIII An. 113. Yet under Charles the Great a Council was held by his Command at Arles where many very good Canons were made for the Reformation of the Bishops and Priests § 104. CCXXXIX The same year the same Charles had a Council at Tours which made 51 as honest Articles as if Martin himself had been amongst them even against all kind of sin and for all godly living Among others the 37th Canon tells us that the custom of not kneeling in Prayer on any Lords-day no not at the Sacrament nor on any Week-day between Easter and Whitsuntide was yet in force on other days they required humble kneeling § 105. CCXL Yet another Council did Charles call the same year at Chalons Cabillonense in which he ordered Schools for the restoring of Learning our Alcuin being his Persuader greatly esteemed by him Learning then being almost worn away and Ignorance taking place till he greatly revived it no less than 67 Canons were here made most very good ones but praying for the Souls of the Faithful departed and anointing the Sick are there enjoined § 106. Among many good Canons the 13th is against the Oath of Obedience to the Bishop and to the Church The words Translated are these It is reported of some Brethren Bishops that they force them that they are about to ordain to swear that they are worthy and will not do contrary to the Canons and will be obedient to the Bishop that ordaineth them and to the Church in which they are ordained which Oath because it is very dangerous we all ordain shall be forbidden § 107. The 15th Canon saith It is said that in some places the Archdeacons exercise a certain domination over the Parish-Presbyters and take Fees of them which is a matter of Tyranny rather than of order of Rectitude For if the Bishops must not Lord it in the Clergy but be Examples to the Flocks much less may these do it § 108. The 25th Canon complaining how the old Excommunicating and Reconciling was grown out of use they desired the Emperor's help how they should be restored § 109. Can. 33. They say That Confession to God and Man are both good but that Confession made to God purgeth sin and that which is made to the Priest teacheth how their sins may be purged § 110. The 45th Canon is against them that by going to holy places Rome or Tours think to have their sins forgiven § 111. CCXLI. Yet another Council the same year 813 was held under Charles M. at Mentz in Germany to the like purpose many godly Canons being made § 112. CCXLII. Yet another under Charles at Rhemes for Instructing and Catechising and many good things like the former § 113. CCXLIII But we have not done with Images yet An. 814. There was a Council
Bishops a wicked Attempt that served these wicked Men and did the Feat Ebbo the Archbishop of Rhemes of a base original and enow more such Prelates were not wanting The Emperor had before voluntarily lamented his putting out the eyes of his Kinsman Bernard a Rebel of which he dyed as too cruel when now no Prince scrupleth Hanging or Beheading open Rebels The Church had satisfaction by his voluntary Penance for that which few Men will think a Fault And what do these Bishops now but become their Sovereign's Iudges yea and that when he was absent and condemn him unheard for this former Fault Note the Case 1. They condemn their King to be deposed who were Subjects 2. Yea Clergy-men that had least to do with State Affairs 3. Yea and that for a Fault which perhaps was but Justice and no Fault 4. Or if it were a Fault was before judged and remitted And did godly Lewis cherish Christian Bishops so zealously for this use so basely and trayterously to depose him 5. Yea and to join in the horrid Rebellion of unnatural Sons to accomplish their designs 6. And to tempt Princes to hate Religion when in Nomine Domini the pretence of Religion shall do greater wickedness by Prelates than the Rebels Arms was able to perform Saith the Author of the Life of Ludovicus Pius This judgment some few gain-sayed more consented to it the greatest part as it useth to be in such cases consented by word for fear of offending their Leaders They judged him absent and unheard neither confessing nor convict before the Bodies of St. Medard Confessor and St. Sebastian Martyr to lay down his Arms and forced him to lay them before the Altar and cloathing him in a black garment under a strict Guard they thrust him into Prison By this testimony saith Binnius it is certainly proved that the whole business was done by force and fear and coloured with the false pigment of Religion Thus was the best of Princes after all his services for the Prelates and kindness to his Sons deposed and basely used by both against Nature and Religion His first Restauration when he had been before deposed was by the Germans How he was restored the second time I find not certainly some would give Pope Gregory the honour of it It is likeliest that the interest which his goodness had got in the People with the odiousness of his Sons and Bishops Acts did it But fully restored after all this he was And being somewhat backward to forgive Lotharius he filled France with new Wars till the Emperor for Peace did pardon all But Ebbo Archbishop of Rhemes and Agobard Bishop of Lyons were deposed as Leaders of the Treason and Ebbo banished and restored by Lotharius when his Father dyed yea and sent as a fit Man to convert the Normans by Pope Paschal's mission being made Bishop of Hildesheim in Saxony by Ludovic King of Germany see Petavius Hist. l. 8. c. 8. Shortly after An. 840. the Emperor sollicited yet to more Wars by his own Sons about dividing the Kingdoms dyed a direful Eclipse of the Sun foregoing his death the day before Ascension-day § 138. That you may see the base Hypocrisie of these Trayterous Bishops I will recite their words in the Council that condemned the best of Emperors but his Imprisonment they leave out § 139. The Bishops condemnation of the Emperor Ludovicus Pius An. 833. after a Preface of the Duty of Bishops without Favor or Fear to judge Sinners and the need of putting their Sentence in writing to avoid the censure of bad Men they say We hold it necessary to notifie to all the Sons of the Church both present and future how we Bishops set over the Empire of our Lord and most glorious Emperor Lotharius An. 833. the first year of the said Prince in October did generally meet at the Palace at Compendium Compeigne and humbly heard the said Prince And we took care according to the Ministry enjoined us to manifest to him or his Nobles the generality of all the People what is the Vigor and Power or Priestly Ministry and with what Sentence of Damnation he deserveth to be damned who will not obey the warnings of the Priests And next both to the said Prince Lotharius and to all the People we studied to denounce that they should study most devoutly to please God and should not delay to appease him in whatever they had offended him For many things were examined which by negligence hapned in this Empire which manifestly tended to the scandal of the Church and the ruine of the People or the destruction of the Kingdom which must necessarily be quickly corrected and by all means for the future prevented Among other things we mentioned and remembred all Men how by God that Kingdom by the administration of the most excellent Emperor Charles of good memory and the Valor of his Predecessors was peaceable and united and nobly enlarged and committed to the Lord Emperor Lewis by God in great peace to be governed and by God's protection remain'd so preserved as long as that Prince studied God and used his Father's example and was careful to acquiesce in the counsels of good Men And how in progress of time as is manifest to all by his improvidence or negligence it fell into so great ignominy and baseness that it became not only the grief of Friends but the derision of Enemies But because the said Prince hath negligently managed the Ministry committed to him and did both do and compel others to do many things displeasing to God and Man or permitted others to do it and provoked God in many wicked counsels and scandalized the Church and that we may omit innumerable other things at last drew all his Subjects to a common destruction and by God't just judgment suddenly his Imperial Power was taken from him But we remembring the Commands of God and our Ministry and his Benefits thought him worthy that by the leave of the said Prince Lotharius we should send a Message to him by the Authority of this Sacred Assembly to admonish him of his Guilts that he might take sure advice for his safety or salvation That he might in his extremity study with all his might that being deprived of his earthly Power according to God's Council and the Churches Authority he might not also lose his Soul To the counsels of which Messengers and their most wholsom warnings he willingly consented he took time and set a day in which he would give an answer to their wholsom Admonitions And when the day was at hand the same Holy Assembly unanimously went to the venerable Man and took care to admonish him of all that he had offended God in and scandalized the Church and troubled the People committed to him and to bring all to his remembrance And he willingly embracing their wholsom Admonition and their worthy and congruous Aggravations promised
Marriage with Waldrada The two great Archbishops of Colen and Triers are the Leaders The Pope is against it and accuseth the Bishops of owning Adultery They appear at Rome and he condemneth them of Impudency while with some immodest words they undertake to justifie the thing of which more anon He chargeth the Bishops of heinous Villany and they despised him He condemneth the Concilium Metense in which the Adultery was allowed § 20. This Pope falls out with Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes justifying against him the cause of Rothaldus whom he had deposed He sends Messengers to the King of Bulgaria converted in his days whom the Emperor's Officers stop and abuse The Adversaries of Images were still strong at Constantinople Anast. Bin. p. 670 c. Epist. 2. He useth a notable Argument for Images viz. God is known only in the Image of his Works Why then may we not make Images of the Saints But why must Men be compelled to do it or else be Hereticks and why must they be worshipped Epist. 5. He is pitifully put to it to justifie the Election of Nectarius and Ambrose and yet to condemn that of Photius for being a Lay-man And Ep. 6 the same again in the instance also of Tarasius § 21. The 8th Epistle of this Pope Nicolas to the Emperor Michael doth shew that he had now shaken off the Imperial Power and therefore chargeth his Letters as full of Blasphemy Injury Madness c. partly for being so sawcy as to bid the Pope Send some to him which he saith was far from the godly Emperors Partly for blaming the deeds of the Prelates when he saith Their words must be regarded and their authority and not their deeds Partly for calling the Latine Tongue barbarous and Scythian in comparison of the Greek which he saith is to reproach God that made it Partly for saying that the Council that deposed Ignatius and set up Photius was of the same number of Bishops as the first Council of Nice where this high Pope's answer is worth the notice of our Papists Bin. p. 689. The small number hurteth not where Piety aboundeth Nor doth multitude profit where Impiety reigneth Yea by how much the more numerous is the Congregation of the malignant by so much the stronger are they to do mischief Nor must men glory in numbers when they fight not against the Rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness Glory not therefore in multitude because it is not the multitude but the cause that justifieth or damneth Fear not little Flocks c. This Doctrine was then fittest for the Pope in his Minority But the Letter is a Book pleading for the Roman Grandure and striving to bring the Emperor with others under his power § 22. In his Answer and Laws to the Bulgarians he difliketh their Severities against one that had pretended to be a Priest when he was not and had baptized many concluding that he had saved many and that they were not to be re-baptized Bin. p. 772. No not though he were no Christian that baptized them as after Consul Cap. 104. p. 782. To the Case Who are Patriarchs he saith properly they only that have succeeded Apostles which were only three Rome Alexandria and Antioch but improperly only Constantinople and Ierusalem But why then are not Ephesus Corinth Philippi c. Patriarchates And why had the rest of the Apostles no Successors Had they no Churches § 23. This Pope having Western security threatned Excommunication to the Emperor of the East unless he would depose Photius and restore Ignatius and threatned Lotharius for the cause of his rejected Wife and the Marriage of another as aforesaid and swaggered against Hincmarus Rhemensis for his deposing Rothaldus a Bishop and forced him to yield and condemned his Synod at Metz and would have proved that Pope Benedict had not confirmed it He and other Popes did make the Contentions of Bishops as well as of Princes a great means of their rising taking the part of him that appealed to Rome as injured and very oft of the truly injured By which means they had one Party still for them and all injured persons were ready to flie to them for help He Excommunicated the Bishops of Colen and Triers The poor Bishops that would fain be on the stronger side began now to be at a loss to know whether the Emperor or the Pope was the strongest They followed the Emperor and resisted the Pope a while The King and Hincmarus forbad Rothaldus going to Rome and imprisoned him But the Pope wearied them out by reason of the divisions of the Empire and Kingdom into so many hands of the French Line that being in continual suspicion of each other they needed the Pope's help Bin. p. 790. He ordereth Pennance instead of just death for one Cumarus that had murdered three of his own Sons viz. That for three years he pray at the Church-door and that for seven years he abstain from Wine three days in a week and for three years to go without shoes allowing him to eat Milk and Cheese but not Flesh and to enjoy his Possession but not have the Sacrament for seven years § 24. His Decretals begin That the Emperor's Iudgments and Laws are below the Canons and cannot dissolve them or prejudice them Tit. 4. 1. He saith All Patriarchal Dignity all Metropolitical Primacy all Bishops Chairs and the dignity of Churches of what Order soever were instituted by the Church of Rome But it 's he only did found it and erect it on the Rock of Faith now beginning who to St. Peter the Key-bearer of eternal life did commit the Rights both of the Terrene and the Celestial Empire Reader Had not the abuse of Humane Patriarchal Power and of Excommunications got up very high when this bold Pope made this Decree What! All Churches in the World made only by Rome Was not Ierusalem Antioch and many another made before it Did Christ say any thing of Rome Did not other Apostles build Churches by the same Apostolick Commission as Peter had Is not the Church built on the foundation of Prophets and Apostles Christ being the Head-corner Stone Did not others build the Church of Rome before Peter did it Did not Peter build other Churches before Rome Where and when did Christ give Peter the Imperial Power of Earth and Heaven did he not decide the Controversie who should be the chief or greatest with a prohibition of all Imperial Power With you it shall not be so § 25. But the next Dectee casteth Rome as low as this over-raised it If any one by Money or Humane-Favor or by Popular or Military Tumult be inthroned in the Apostolick Seats without the Concordant and Canonical Election of the Cardinals of that Church and then of the following Religious Clerks let him not be accounted a Pope or Apostolical but Apostatical By which Rome hath had so few Popes indeed and so many
doth by words saying whoever adores not the Image of our Saviour shall not see his face at his second coming adding by the same reason we venerate and adore the Image of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Angels as the scripture describeth them and of all the Saints They that think otherwise let them be cursed from Christ. Can. 6. They anathematize Photius because he did excommunicate and anathematize the Pope and all that communicated with him Can. 7. No excommunicate men are allowed to make Images Can. 8. Is too good for the Devil to let the Church enjoy viz. That whereas it is reported that not only the heretical and usurpers but some Orthodox Patriarchs also for their own security have made men subscribe to be true to them the Synod judgeth that it shall be so no more save only that men when they are made Bishops be required as usual to declare the soundness of their faith He that violateth this Sanction let him be deprived of his honour The 10th Can. Condemneth them that hold That Man hath two Souls which they say Photius favoured and cursed them from Christ. The 11th Can. Tells us what men these Bishops were and what they sought It is That all that are made Bishops bearing on earth the person and form of the Celestial Hierarchy shall with all veneration be worshiped by all Princes and Subjects and we will not have them to go far from the Church to meet any commanders of the Army or any Nobles nor to light from their horses like supplicants or abjects that feared them nor to fall down or petition them If any Bishop hereafter shall neglect his due honour or break this Canon or permit it to be done he shall be seperated for a year from the Sacrament and that Prince Duke or Captain two years The 12. Can. Princes as prophane men be not spectators of that which holy persons do and therefore Councils be held without them Either I understand them not or it is in despite of truth that they say Vnde nec alias reperimus Oecumenicis Conciliis unquam interfuisse Neque enim fas est ut prophani Principes rerum quae sacris hominibus gerundae sunt gerunturve spectatores fiant Binnius noteth ex praescripto nempe Canonum turning an assertion de facto into one de jure and an universal into a particular by which licence of expounding what lye or blasphemy may not be justified And why then have so many thousand been cursed from Christ by Councils for unskilfulness in words § 59. The 14th Can. secureth the Bishops admirably in despite of the old reforming honest Canons decreeing that A Lay-man not excepting Kings or Parliaments shall have no power to dispute by any reason of Ecclesiastical Sanctions or to oppose the universal Church or any general Synod for the difficulty of these things and agitating them on both sides is the office of Patriarchs Priests and Doctors to whom only God hath given power of binding and loosing For though a Lay-man exceì in the praise of piety and wisdom yet he is a Lay-man and a Sheep and not a Pastor But a BISHOP though it be manifest that he is destitute of ALL VIRTUE of Religion yet he is a Pastor as long as he exerciseth the office of a Bishop and the sheep must not resist the Shepherd O brave doctrine for the Roman Kingdom A Heathen or Infidel or Mahometan or Arrian Bishop must not be opposed He that is no Christian may be a Bishop How much to be blamed were the General Councils that deposed Popes for Infidelity Diabolism Heresie Simony Perjury Blasphemy Sodomie Fornication Murders c. when a Pope that hath all these and no virtue of Religion is not to be judged by Lay-men or opposed Q. 1. May a Prince save his crown from such 2. May a man save his Wife from such or a woman refuse their copulation or defend her Chastity against them 3. What if such are drunk in the Pulpit are the People bound to be silently submissive 4. Why did Pope Nicholas decree that none should hear Mass from a Priest that liveth in fornication 5. Are Priests above Kings or are they lawless Yet this very Synod of Bishops in their Epistle to Pope Hadrian sayes Cui conâ—ictae Synodo qui tum imperitabant Michael et Basilius noster praesidebant And Basilius and Baanes were now among them And many Princes especially in France and Spain have made strict Laws to amend the Bishops § 60. One of the decrees of this Council was that Photius should not be called a Christian. Bin. p. 899. Col. 2. Yet the Apostle saith of the rejected account him not as an enemy but admonish him as a Brother 2 Thes. 3. § 61. In Bin. p. 899. is an epistle of Pope Stepheus to the Emperor Basilius which containeth the radical doctrine of all the Bishops rebellion and pride viz. that Princes are only appointed for the things of the Body or this life and prelates and Priests for the matters of the Soul and life eternal and therefore that the Prelates Empire is more excellent than the Princes as heaven is above earth Quandoquidem verbis quae ad usum vitae id est rerum praesentium pertinent Imperium a Deo traditum est ita nobis per Principem Apostolorum Petrum rerum divinarum procuratio est commissa Accipe quaeso in optimam partem quae subjicio Haec sunt capita curaeque Principis imperii vestri Nostri verò cura gregis tanto praestantior est quanto altior est terra quà m coelum Audi Dominum Tu es Petrus de vestro imperio verò quid dicit Nolite timere eos qui corpus occidunt Obtestor igitur tuam Pietatem ut Principum Apostolorum instituta sequare magna veneratione prosequare Omnium enim in orbe terrarum omnis or do et Pontificatus Ecclesiarum à principe Apostolorum Petro originem et authoritatem acceperunt O horrid falshood as before confuted § 62. Yet this Council in Breviar in Bin. p. 905. determine of the Pope that being but one Patriarch he cannot absolve one that is condemned by the other many Patriarchs § 63. Laying all together I cannot perceive by historical notice but that both Ignatius and Photius were both better Bishops than most were to be found the first being a very pious man and the other also a man of great learning and diligence But the old contention WHO SHOULD BE CHIEF or greatest made them both the great calamity of the Church I think it not in vain here to transcribe part of the summ of the life of Ignatius as written by Nicetas David Paphlago who was devoted to him though somewhat said already be repeated Ignatius being of the blood Royal was in quiet possession when denying entrance or Church Communion to Bardas Caesar for his reported Adultery he provoked that indignation in him which deposed him Bardas first perswaded the
into a Theatre of Contention and a Field of War § 65. Yet here is one thing further to be noted viz. the foresaid Contention that rose about the Bulgarians These two great Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople were neither of them yet great enough or satisfied with their jurisdiction their desires being more boundless than Alexander's for the Empire nothing less than all the world will satisfie one of them at least Nicetas saith it was by Famine and a Treaty and kind words of the Emperor that the Bulgarians turned Christians Some Papists would give the honour to the Pope without proof and cannot tell us any thing how the Pope converted them But when they were converted they sent to Rome for some Instructors The 〈…〉 them two and they received them But they put the case themselves to the Council at Constantinople Whether they were to be under the Bishop of Rome or of Constantinople The matter held a great debate The Pope's Legates pleaded that they had already received Bishops from Rome c. The Greeks pleaded that their Countrey was part of the Empire and under the Bishop of Constantinople till they conquered it and that they found there Greek Churches and Bishops who were still there and the Conquest did not translate them from the Bishop of Constant. to Rome How the Controversie ended is hard to know Some say that the Council gave them to the Pope and some say otherwise But this is confessed that this Roman ambition so greatly displeased the new Emperor Basilius that it turned him after against the Pope and inclined him the more to restore Photius which he did when Ignatius was dead § 66. Here I would call the Reader to consider whether the Pope's Universal Government was in those days believed even by that Council which was supposed to be partial by the Emperor's inducement on the Pope's side What place else could there be for such a strife whether the Bulgarians were under the Government of the Bishop of Rome or Constantinople if all the World were under the Bishop of Rome They will say that it was only questioned whose Diocess or Patriarchate they were under But Rome never pretended that they were of that Diocess or Patriarchate as anciently divided But the question was Whose Government they were now fallen under And would any dispute whether e. g. Westminster were under the Government of the King or of the Lord Mayor of London when all the Kingdom is under the King This Controversie clearly sheweth that the Church then took the Pope to have but the first Seat and Voice in Councils but not to be the Governor beyond his circuit § 67. It is here also to be noted that Basil the Emperor's revolt from the Pope was so great that Hadrian is put to write sharply to him as accusing the Bishops of Rome and derogating from them admonishing him to repent but we find not that this changed his mind § 68. Yet one thing more is here to be observed In the life of Hadrian the 2d Bin. p. 882. we find that the Pope taking the advantage of Basil's present state and mind and the interest of Ignatius much depending on him sent a new Libel to be subscribed by all the Bishops before they should be permitted to sit in Council The Greek Bishops grudged at this and complained to the Emperor That the Church of Constantinople by these offered Libels was brought under the power of Rome by the doubtfulness of Subscriptions But though flebiliter conqueruntur they complain with tears the Emperor was angry with them and would have it and some Bishops non sine magno laboris periculo libellos quidem vix tandem recipiunt with much ado were brought to subscribe saying It was novum inauditum The refusers extra Synodum inglorii relicti sunt were shut out till they conformed Oh! that Inglorii was a cutting word § 69. The Emperor hiding his anger against the Pope's Legates for the Bulgarian Usurpation gave them great gifts and sent them home But at Sea they fell into the hands of the Sclavonians who stripped them of their Riches and the Subscriptions and Copy of the Council and kept them Prisoners and threatned their Lives But by the mediation of the Emperor and Pope they were delivered and had some of their Writings again § 70. CCLXXXV An. 879. Carolus Calvus King of France unjustly possessed the Kingdom of Lotharius which by inheritance fell to Ludovicus Ludovicus got the Pope to interpose who sent his Legates to Charles But the Bishops had not yet learned to obey Popes against Kings in power A Council of Bishops called at Metz give the Kingdom to Charles because he was the stronger This was called Concilium Praedatorium a Council of Robbers and Traytors And no wonder when Bishops must be the Givers of Kingdoms Was it not enough for the Pope to usurp such power to be over Kings and dispose of Crowns but ordinary Bishops must do the like § 71. CCLXXXVI Yet another Council against the Pope King Charles had authorized Northman a great man to receive some Goods that were taken to belong to the Church The Pope commandeth Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes and the rest of the Bishops of France to excommunicate Northman Hincmarus and the Bishops refuse to obey him only one Hincmarus Bishop of Laon Laudunum obeyeth him and publisheth the Excommunication A Council is called at Wermâ—ria where Hincmarus Rhem. and the Bishops the King consenting condemn Hincmarus Laudunensis for disobeying his Metropolitan in obeying the Pope He appeals to Rome They will not let him go He writeth Hiucmarus Rhem. writeth largely against him though his Nephew shewing how he broke the Canons how bad a man he was how he had neglected his own Charge left Children unbaptized and for private quarrels excommunicated his Flock and had silenced and suspended the Ministers under him tyranically c. Reader Was the Pope's power yet fully received when a Metropolitan was to be obeyed before him and men condemned for obeying him § 72. CCLXXXVII Yet more sorrow An. 870. a Council is called in Villa Aâ—tiniaco Attigny I will give you the Story in the very words of Binnius translated When Hincmarus Bishop of Laon for the cause in the foresaid Council expressed had got the Rescript of Pope Adrian on his behalf and had notified it to Hincmarus Rhemensis and to King Charles both of them in hatred to the Bishop of Laon decreed That this Synod called Latrocinalis should be called There presided in it Remigius Lugdunensis Ardovicus Vesontiensis Bertulsus Trevirensis with their subject Bishops Herein Hincmarus Rhemensis with King Charles was the accuser of his Nephew Hincmarus whom he had before consecrated Bishop of Laon. The Action brought against him was That he had by Counter-writings defended the rights of the Apostolick Seat which the Archbishop of Rhemes did endeavor to impugn and overthrow And that contrary to his Oath of
first Act of the Council as Baronius tells us Iohn Bishop of Heraclea spake much against the Church of Rome which he said was the original of all the mischief that had beâ—aln them to overthrow and and cure which this Council was called Much also against Pope Nicolas and Hadrian he spake but for Pope Iohn as being for them In the 2d Act was read an epistle of the Patriarch of Alexandria to the Emperor for abrogating the former 8th Synod And Thomas one of the three Legates of the Eastern Patriarchs that consented to the former Synod the rest being dead made his penitent recantation Then the epistles of the Patriarchs of Ierusalem and Antioch for Photius are read c. In the third Act Pope Iohn's letters were read as endeavouring the peace of the Eastern Church which the Council took as a busy pretending to more power than he had and therefore said that they had peace before his letters came and that they were superfluous And whereas he made it his business by this complyance to get the Bulgarian Diocess They said this was to controvert the bounds of the Empire and therefore left it to the Emperor In the 4th Act the Eastern Patriarchs letters were read disclaiming their Legates at the last Council as being not theirs but the Saracens Legates and condemning that Council The Papists think Photius forged these Here also Lords professed repentance saying that the false Legates deceived them In the 5th Act Metrophanes Bishop of Smyrna is accused of Schism for being against Photius Three Canons also were made 1. That those excommunicate by the Bishop of Rome should not be restored by the Bishop of Constantinople Nor those that were excommunicated by the Bishop of Constantinople be restored by the Bishop of Rome and so Rome was shut out from troubling them with pretended jurisdiction 2. That those that forsake their Bishopricks shall not return to them 3. Against Magistrates that enslave and beat Bishops In the 6th Act the Creed was recited without silioque And in the 7th all those that should add to it or diminish are Anathematized § 91. CCXCVI. A Council of the Popes at Rome excommunicated Athanasius Bishop and Prince of Naples for not breaking his league with the Saracens § 92. Iohn dyed Marinus is made Pope commanded by his predecessâ—r called by Platina Martin who saith that he came to the Popedom malis artibus and therefore did nothing and soon dyed But Barcnius saith he lived long enough to do something viz. 1. He condemned Photius again and thereby provoked the Emperor Basilius as if Rome did still set the imperial Church in contention and hinder peace The Emperor affirmed that he was no Bishop of Rome because he had been ordained Bishop of another place 2. He destroyeth what Pope Iohn had done who had deposed Formosus preacher to the Bulgarians and Bishop Portuensis and had made him swear that he would never return to the Episcopal seat but rest content with Lay-Communion But Pope Marinus recalled him to the City and restored him to his Bishoprick and absolved him from his oath which Baronius and Binnius doubt not but he had power to do yea and to dispense with the ill acts of the Pope which he did out of private affects and partiality § 93. In his time also the Church of Rome used Filioque in opposition to Photius Spain and France having used it before Because saith Baronius and Binnius Photius had wrote about it to the Ignorant and Schismatical Archbishop of Aquileia There was it seems there so many of the greatest Bishops Imperiti et Schismatici in the Papal sense as intimateth that as the Popes greatness rose in height it did not grow equally in length and breadth § 94. Marinus having reigned a year and twenty dayes a short pleasure to sell eternal happiness for Hadrian the third succeeded him and had longer part of the usurped Kingdom viz. a year and three months and nineteen dayes He also damned Photius and was bitterly reproached by the Emperor Basilius whose contumelious letters found him dead and his successor answered them Was all the Christian world now till Luther subject to the Pope Platina saith of this Pope that He was of so great a spirit that in the very beginning of his Papacy he straitway decreed that Popes should be made without expecting the Emperors authority and that the suffrages of the clergy and PEOPLE should be free which was before by Pope Nicolas rather attempted than indeed begun He was I suppose encouraged by the opportunity of Charles his departing with his army from Italy to subdue the rebelling Normans Rome was still on the rising hand § 95. Stephen the 5th alias 6th succeeded him In his time Carolus Crassus the Emperor is by a convention of Lords and Bishops deposed from his Empire as too dull and unworthy Kings were brought under as elective by the Pope and now are at the mercy of their subjects Arnulphus a base son of Carolomannus got an interest in the subjects and they deposed the Emperor and set him up Baronius and Binnius ascribe it to Gods judgment for Charles his wronging of Richarda a pure Virgin yet repudiated by him They say that he was reduced to such poverty that he was fain to beg his bread of Arnulphus and dyed 888 in the 4th year of his Empire § 96. The Letter against the Pope written by the Emperor Basilius the Papists will not let us see But this Pope Sthephen ' s answer to it they give us which runs on the old foundation trayterous to Magistracy as such Telling the Emperor that The Sacerdotal and Apostolical dignity is not subject to Kings and that Kings are authorized to meddle only with worldly matters and the Pope and Priests with spiritual And therefore his Place is as far more excellent than Emperors as heaven is above earth He tells the Emperor that in reviling the Pope of Rome he blattered out blasphemy against the God of all the world and his immaculate Spouse and Priest and the Mother of all Churches And that he is deceived that thinketh that the Disciple Princes is above his master the Priests and the servant above his Lord. He wondereth at his taunts and scoffs against the holy Pope and the curses or reproaches which he loaded the Roman Church with to which he ought with all veneration to be subject as King who made him the judge of Prelates whose doctrine he must obey and why he said Marinus was no Bishop c. By this the reader may perceive whether yet all the Christian world obeyed the Pope or judged him to be their Governor § 97. How Pope Formosus set up Wido Duke of Spoleto trayterously as Emperor till he was forced to loyalty is after to be said § 98. CCXCVII. An. 8â—7 A Council at Colen under Charles Crassus made Canons against Sacrilege and Adultery § 99. CCXCVIII An. 888. A Council at Mentz while they were
Magistrate or Earls but he and all his Company shall obey the Bishop and come to him Cap. 10. No Bishop shall be Deposed but by twelve Bishops no Presbyter but by six Bishops no Deacon but by three Cap. 21. In Controversies Lay-men must swear but Clergy-men must not be put to swear Cap. 22. There is allowed Tryal by fire Per ignem Candenti ferro Caute examinetur § 6. CCCIV. A Council at Nantes made more disciplinary Canons § 7. Who was next Pope is not agreed Platina and Onuphrius say that Boniface was rightly Chosen and Reigned but twenty six days saith Platina or fifteen saith Onuphrius others saith Platina say twelve years Baronius and Binius saith that he was no Pope and that he did but invade the Pope-dome and was homo nefarius a wicked man twice before this Degraded First from his Deaconship and next from his Presbyterate Damned in a Romane Synod under John the Ninth He addeth that both of them Boniface and Stephen got the place by Force Fear and Tyranny and so it was but one Intruder that thrust out another Intruder But how then is the Succession secured Why it 's added Yet Stephen is numbred with the Popes by the common Sentence or Opinion because to avoid the danger of Schisme though he was homo scelestissimus a most wicked man yet all the Clergy approved bim and the whole Catholik Church took him for Christs Vicar Peters Successor How prove you that why because Fulke Bishop of Rhemes owned him A Noble proof that all the Christian World did so § 8. Say Barronius and Binius he began his Pope-dome with that Sacriledg as to take the Corps of Formous out of his Grave and cloathing him in his Pontifical Robes he set him in a Chair and saith Platina there judged him as no Pope because he had been first a Bishop which indeed by the old Canons nullified his calling For Formosus was the first Pope that had been before a Bishop as is said unless the Emporour Basil truly charged Macrinus with the same Having Expostulated with the dead man why he being a Bishop would take the Pope-dome he cut off his three four Fingers with which he had Anointed and cast them into the River Tyber and commanded that all that he had Ordained should be Ordained again and so Conform to him And they wonder with what face of Reason Onuphrius rejecteth all this as a Fable when the Antient Monuments Synodal Acts and Historians testify it Do you wonder at this why it is because he was not willing it should be believed a Reason that is not strange to your selves § 4. CCCV Pope Stephen called a Council in which his usage of Pope Formosus was approved Bin. ex Baron p. 1047 so ready were the Bishops to follow the strongest side in such things as the Papists mention with abhorrence And say they this portentum attended the Synod That the Laterane Church the chief Seat of the Pope by the impulse of an evill Angel fell down quite from the Altar to the doors the Walls not being able to stand when the Chief Cardinal Door was shaken with the Earthquake of so great a Villany § 10. But here the Authors calling us Novatores as if such Popes were of glorious Antiquity are hard put to it to Vindicate against us the Popes infallibility And how do they do it Why 1st They say that all that Stephen did against Formosus a man stricken with Madness did it fulfilling the perswasion of his boyling Rage But in the lawful use of his Papal Authority he defined nothing against Faith or good manners For the Bishops that were for this Cause called to the Council and the Presbyters not unlike to Stephen himself did prosecute Formosus with the same hatred and therefore pronounced that Sentence against him which they fore knew would be pleasing to a man smitten with Fury so that we confess violent Tyranny but no Errour in Faith defined or approved by him Lawfully using his Papal Authority And yet it were no prejudice to the Papal Seat if we grant that a false Pope not lawfully Chosen but invading and obtruded did err in asserting Articles of Faith Thus the Author Ans. 1. But if you grant this is not your Succession interrupted 2. And was your Church a true Church when an Essential part was Null 3. Howver was it the Holy Church when an essential Part was such a Villain 4. Will not your Argument as well prove every Bishop Priest or man Infallible For no one of them all can define falsly against an Article of Faith as long as he lawfully useth his Power For it is no lawful use of power that so defineth and belieth God 5. But is all your foundation of Faith come to this It is then but saying when ever your Pope and Church Erreth that they did not use their Power lawfully And what relief is that to the deceived How shall we know when your Popes have used it lawfully and when not and so what is true among you and what false 6. And were your Roman Council of Bishops and Priests all as bad as this Villainous Pope and ready to please him in their Decrees And was this a Holy Church and like to be an Infallible Council And must the World follow them 7. And how then shall we know that it was not just so with many other former and following Councils and that it will not be so with you again O miserable shifts against plain Truth § 11. The same great Authors after Luitpraudus l. 1. c 9. say that Stephen an Invader of the Papal Seat by the faction of the Nâ—bles against Adelbert Prince of Etruria was thrust into prison An. 900. and after he had been Pope Six Years being strangled in the same Prison ended his Days by Gods Vengeance in an infamous Death Yet Platina saith that he died the first Year and third month of his Reign and Onuphrius saith he sate one year two moneths and ninteen days § 12. It 's strang that Luitpraudus saith that Stephen condemned the Corps of Formosus for being a Bishop before when Platina and Onuphrius say that he himself was Episcopus Anagninus when made Pope § 13. And Platina saith that This Controversie against Formosus was great and of ill Examples seeing that after this it was almost always kept as a Custome that following Popes did either Infring or wholly undoe the Acts of those that went before them And yet were they Infallible § 14. The next Pope was called Romanus whose Life Platina thus Describeth Romanus as soon as he was Pope presently Abrogateth and Condemneth the Decrees and Acts of Stephen For these Popes thought of nothing but to Extinguish the Name and Dignity of their Predecessors than which nothing can be worse or the part of a narrower mind For they that trust to such Acts as these having no Virtue themselves endeavor to rase out the
he caused some Fellows so to cut and mangle the Face of the Pope that he would never after be seen abroad but kept close till he dyed which was after Three Years This Otho resolved to Revenge on Albericus And also the War between Hugo and Albericus broke out again Platina saith That Hugo was about to Revenge the Pope but then Dyed § 42. A Synod was at Narbon to end the Contention of two Bishops about the Extent of their Diocesses and Jurisdiction § 43. CCCXI. If yet you perceive not the sad State of the Church by Men's striving for Church-Dignities a Council at Soissons Anno 940. will tell you more You heard before how the Earl of Aquitane had got his Son to be made Arch-Bishop of Rhemes The Child in coats was but Five Years old It happened that he was put out again for his Infancy or Non-Age and Artaldus a Monk chosen in his stead This Council of Bishops was to decide the Câ—â—e between the two Arch-Bishops The Objection against one was his Infancy and his Father 's ill means to bring him in The Objection against the other was Perjury He had sworn that he would never accept an Arch-Bishoprick Alas Must the Church of France be Headed by one of these an Infant or a Perjured Monk The Synod cast out the Perjured Monk and judged the Seat to the Infant as being lawfully Chosen Power made it a Lawful Call And the Bishops went to Rhemes and Consecrated him § 44. In the Year 920. the French Nobles by consent at Soissons had Revolted from King Charles because he took Haganon a Man of low of Quality into his Privy-Council and made him Great Herveus Bishop of Rhemes had partly healed this Breach But Anno 922. it broke out again and the Nobles chose Robert King and Herveus Consecrated him But this Rebellion was their Ruin Three Years after dyeth Herveus And the next Year Robert Fighting against Charles was slain at Soissons yet his Army conquered the King's Shortly after Rodolph Duke of Burgundy is called in by the Nobles and made King as if the Kingdom had been void Charles on pretence of a Treaty is led by Heribert to a Castle and thence carryed to Perone where he dyed Anno 929. leaving a Son Lewis to Fight for the Kingdom And when Charles was in Prison Hugo rejected Rodulph and called Lewis out of England to be King Anno 936. But Hugo and Heribert would be his Masters and gave him little Quiet Heribert dyeth miserably and Repenteth Hugo Domineering the King craveth Aid of Otho out of Germany against him But shortly dyeth himself by a Disease got by a Fall in Hunting a Wolf Lotharius his Son succeedeth him In his Third Year Hugo the Great Duke of Orleance dyeth and Lotharius the King Anno 986. His Son Ludovicus succeeded who dyed Childless Anno 987. And in him ended the Line of Charles the Great For Charles Duke of Loraine that was next was by the Treachery of a Bishop taken by Hugo Capet the Son of the fore-said Duke Hugo and imprisoned to Death And this Hugo got Possession of the Crown So much briefly on the By of these Matters that they after interrupt us not too much See Dion Petav. lib. 8. c. 16. § 45. Marinus 2. alias Martin 3. is made Pope Anno 943. and Reigned three Years and some Months the common Time of Popes in that Age. In his time Artaldus strove again for the Seat of Rhemes § 46. CCCXII When Bishops would needs be Princes they taught Princes to resolve to be Bishops And as Heribert did at Rhemes so did the Emperor at Constantinople put in a Patriark Trypho a Monk on condition that he should hold it but till his own Son Theophylact came to Age. When the time came Trypho would not Resigne A Council is called where Bin. ex Curopal tells you the State of that Church alsâ— as too like the Western The Council being met Tryphon makes a Speech to them and saith That his Adversaries that had a mind to cast him out gave the reason that he knew not Letters But that they might all see that this was false and that he could Write and Read he call'd for Pen and Paper and having been taught thus much before wrote his Name thus Tryphon by the Mercy of God Arch-Bishop of Constantinople New Rome and Vniversal Patriark for that was then the Title The Emperor receiving the Paper it â—eems knowing that he could not Read writeth over head Knowing my self Vnworthy I Resigne the Throne to any that will And so sent the Paper to the Council and the Bishops wise and Good Men you must suppose Dethron'd Tryphon The Seat staid void five Months till Theophylact came to Age who then was chosen § 47. Anno 946. Agapetus the Second is made Pope in a time when Wars between the Hungarians and Henry Bavaria Berengarius and Otho c. made Miserable the Countries and Ignorance and Ambition the Churches § 48. CCCXIII. A Council at Virdun in France again tryed the Cause between the fore-said Infant and the Perjured Bishops Hugo and Artald and they undid what the last had done and Deposed Hugo and gave the Seat to Artald Yet we have not done with Doing and Vndoing For Pope Agapete now took Hugo's Part and wrote to the Bishops of France and Germany that Hugo that was in Possession was to be kept there But the Papists say he mistook by Hugo's Mis-information § 49. CCCXIV Anno 948. Another Council at Mosome was called for the same Business Hugo would not come in but sent the Pope's Letters which being not Canonical but his bare Command they rejected them cast out and Excommunicated Hugo till the next General-Council § 50. CCCXV. Anno 948. A General-Council of France and Germany is called at Engelenheim for the same Cause almost all France being disquieted about two Mens striving who should be the Great Arch-Bishop The Pope's Legate Marinus proved Hugo's Letters false and Hugo was Excommunicated and Artald setled But the Presence of two Kings Ludovicus and Otho did much there-to The Bishops thence removed to Triers called another Council where they judged for King Ludovicus against Duke Hugo and Excommunicated some Bishops Ordained by Bishop Hugo that was Ordained in his Child-hood And another Council at Rome confirmed these things § 51. Now cometh the Famous Pope Iohn the Twelfth the Son of Prince Albericus the Son of the Famous Whore A Child too Saith Baronius and Binius p. 1060. Quanquam hiuc Legitima aetas aliaque omnia deessent quae inlegitimo Pontifice requiruntur tamen accedente postea consensu totius Cleri visum est hunc potius esse Tolerandum quam Ecclesiam Schismate aliquo quod alioquin exortum fuisset dividendam He wanted Natural and Moral Endowments even All Things necessary to a Legitimate Pope say they And yet the After-Consent of the Clergy made him Tolerable c. Qu. 1.
setling the Bishop of Bamberge Clem. 2. in the chair returned and took the last Pope Gregory with him to avoid contention and Clement went after with Hildebrand and dyed by the way the 9th month after his Creation Benedict hearing this invadeth the Papacy again the third time even that villain that was first of the four and held it eight months after this so yet we have divers Popes § 109. An. 1067. A Council is held at Rome by Clem. 2. against Simony § 110. Poppo Bishop of Brixia is made Pope by the Emperor and the common suffrage say Bar. and Bin. an 1048. But saith Platina and others it is reported that he made the poyson with which the Citizens poysoned his predecessor Clem. 2. And that he seized on the place by violence without any câ—nsent of Clergy or People it being now the custom for any ambiâ—ious man that could to seize on the Popedom but God saith Plat as a just revenger resisted him for he dyed the twenty third day of his Papacie Yet the Romans had again taken an oath in Clem. 2d's time to choose no Pope without the Emperor's licence For the Romans were become so wicked and factious that they were not to be trusted in such a thing § 111. Upon these horrid villanies and schisms Baron and Bin. again cry out on the Novatores for casting these things in the teeth of the Râ—man Church as impudent men And they say still 1. That it was not the Church that chose these Popes as Benedict 9. but Tyrants obtruded them 2. That yet so great was the power of the Roman Church that even false Popes were obeyed by all the Christian world Ans. 1. When yet they tell us themselves that even the City of Rome was so far from obeying them that they imprisoned deposed killed them And the whole Greek Church excommunicated them since Photius's dayes only the horrid contentions between the Sons and off-spring of Charâ—main and the Germane Princes gave them advantage to Lord it by Anathema's in France Germany and Italy and such nearer parts whilest the contenders would make use of them and they of the contenders And horrid ignorance had invaded the clergy and consequently the Laity and subjected them in darkness to this Ruler that maketh so great use of darkness 2. And if these men uncalled were true Popes why might not the Turk be one or any man that can get the place or Title Why were not all the 4 or 5 or 6 at once true Popes If not Where was the Catholick Church this while if a Pope was a constitutive head or part and what is become of your Succession will any possession jure vel injuriâ serve for a Succession If so Why tell you the Protestants that they want it If not What pretence have you for it I think the Protestants can prove a far better succession § 112. Berengarius rose in these horrid dayes and it is no wonder if such a monster as Pope Benedict and his companions condemned him and set up the monstrous doctrine of Transubstantiation As Tertullian saith it was an honour to â— Christians to be first persecuted by such a one as Nâ—ro so was it to the doctrine of the Sacrament to be condemned by such a one as Benedict 9. and in the time as Baron and Bin. speak of the three-headed monstrous beast § 113. Rome was now so wise as to be conscious a little of their badness and unfitness to choose themselves a Pope and therefore sent to the Emperor Henry to choose them one He chose them Bruno a good Bishop of Tullum who in his way at the Abby of Cluny met with Hildebrand that went from Rome thither who told him that the Emperor being a Lay-man had no power to make or choose a Pope but the Clergy and people but if he would follow his advise he should in a better way attain his end so Hildebrand went with him and perswaded him to put off his purple and to go in a common habit and confess that he is not their Bishop till they choose him and that he taketh not the seat as given by the Emperor but by them whereby he won the Romans hearts and they readily chose him And he being called Leo the 9th after so many monsters went for a very excellent Pope But yet he commanded an army himself against the Normans and proved no good or happy Captain his Army being wholly routed and himself taken Prisoner whom the Normans in reverence released and returned safe Pet. Damianus and others lament his Souldiery as his great sin but Baron and Bin. excuse him and say all the world now alloweth it You see what arguments serve at Rome where it was but lately that the first article that a Roman Council before Otho Mag. brought in against Pope Iohn was that he went sometimes in Arms And to be formerly a Bishop was heretofore an incapacity by the Canons Yet Rome covereth her innovations by pretending antiquity and calling others Novatores § 114. But how militant a defender of the Roman grandure this Leo was may be seen in his Epistles in Bin. p. 1096. c. In the first long one to the Patriarch of Constantinople and another Greek Bishop he reproveth them for bold damning of the Church of Rome and tells them that they were members of Antichrist and forerunners of him that is King over all the Children of pride and saith who can tell how many Antichrists had have been already He tells them how many heretick Bishops they have had at Const. and of above ninety heresies in the East and how by force they raged against the Ioâ—nnites the Nonconformists that followed St. Chrysostome what a heretick their Bishop Eutychius was that said the body at resurrection will be impalpable and more subtil than the wind and air He believed Paul that said it should be a spritual body though not a Spirit And how his Books were burned He reprehendeth their title of Oecumenical Patriarch and saith that no Roman Bishop to that day had ever accepted or used that Title Yet he reciteth the forged grant of Constantine saying that as far as Kings are above Judges so all the world must take the Pope for their Head and that he gave the Palace and all Rome c. to Silvester and said it was unmeet that they should be subject to any earthly Prince that were by God made Governors of Heaven At large he thus pleadeth for the Roman Kingdom of Priests câ—â—ding them that had put down all the Latine Churches and monasteries in the East yet Baron and Bin. tell you all the Church on earth obeyed the Pope In his 4th Epistle he laments that in Africa there was 205. Bishops at a Council now there were scarce five in all and he sheweth that all Bishops were of one order but differenced as the Cities were for primacie by the Civil Laws or the Fathers reverence That where the
his accusers the next day into silence Hildebrand bid him say Glory be to the Father Son and Holy Ghost◠He said the rest but was not able to name the Holy Ghost Whereupon he confest his crimes and besides seven and twenty other Prelates of the Churches forty five Bishops consest themselves Simoniacks and renounced their places What a case was the Church in when Popery grew ripe Pet. Damian mentioneth six Bishops deposed by Hildebrand for divers crimes § 10. By the way it is worthy enquiry whether Hildebrand being neither Bishop Priest nor Deacon but a sub-Deacon only was any of the Clergy or Church-Pastors to whom Christ gave the power of the Keys Yea if he had been a Deacon And therefore whether he had any power from Christ to preside before Arch-Bishops and Bishops in in Councils and to depose and excommunicate Bishops If it be said that he did it by the Pope's commission the question recurreth whether God ever gave Pope or Prelate power to make new Church-officers whom he never instituted de specie that should have the power of the Keys yea and be above the Bishops of the Church And whether Popes or Prelates may commit preaching or Sacraments to Lay-men if not how can they commit the Keys of Church-Government to them or to any as little authorized by Christ Indeed baptizing is but using the Key of Church-entrance And therefore he that may so let men into the Church may baptize them which Papists unhappily allow the Laity And if per se or per alium will salve all whether Priests may not preach pray and give Sacraments by Lay-men And so Lay-men at last put down both Prelates and Priests as needless § 11. CCCXXXIX An. 1055. They say that this great Subdeacon Hildebrand the grand advancer of the Roman Kingdom did call a Council at Tours which cited poor Berengarius and forced him to recant whether it be true I know not § 12. To this Council the Emperor Henry sent his Agents to complain that Ferdinand the great King of Castile refused subjection to the Emperor and claimed some such title to himself and now ignorance superstition and interest having made the Clergy the Rulers of Kings and Kingdoms the Emperor desireth that King Ferdinand may be excommunicate unless he will submit and surcease and all the Kingdom of Spain be interdicted or forbidden Gods worship The Prelates perceived how they were set up by this motion and made Kings of Kings and they thought the Emperor's motion reasonable and without hearing King Ferdinand made themselves judges and sent him word that he must submit and obey or be excommunicated and bear the interdict The King took time to answer and calling his own Bishops together found them of the same mind and spirit and so was forced to promise submission This Baronius an 1055. writes ex Io. Mariano and Binnius p. 1126. § 13. CCCXL They say that the Emperor dying left his Son Henry but five years old and knew no better way to secure his succession than to desire Pope Victor to take the care of it who therefore called a Council at Colen to quiet Baldwin and Godfrey Earls of Flanders that else would have resisted him Thus Bishops in Councils now were as Parliaments to the Kingdoms of deluded men § 14. CCCXLI At Tholouse an 1056. A Council of 18 Bishops attempted reformation forbidding alas how oft Bishops to sell orders and other acts of Simony and Priests using their wives and the Adultery Incest and perjury of Bishops and Priests bidding them that are such repent and forbidding communion with men called hereticks § 15. CCCXLII Though Adultery Incest Perjury and Simony of Bishops was so hardly restrained it seems they would pay for it by superstition for a Council at Compostella decreed saith Baron ad an 1056. that 1. All Bishops and Priests should say Mass every day 2. That at fasts and Litanies which were perambulations in penitence they should be cloathed in sackcloth § 16. Stephen the 9th alias 10th is next made Pope In his time saith Platina the Church of Milan was reconciled to Rome that had withdrawn itself from it two hundred years Was all the world then subject to the Pope when his Italian neighbours were not § 17. This Pope lived after his entrance but 6 or 7 months and they say made them promise him to choose none in his place till Hildebrand came home to counsel them A great Subdeacon that Rome must be ruled by But in the mean time the new Emperor being but five or six years old the great men of Italy turned to the old game and brought in one by strength Mincius whom they called Benedict the 10th alias 9th a Bishop he reigned 9 months 20 dayes But when Hildebrand came home he got him cast out This was the twenty first schism in the Papacie § 18. Hildebrand's crafty counsel was to send to the Emperor to consent to Gerard Bishop of Florence whom they chose in Italy and called Nicholas the 2d Lest Benedict should get the Emperor on his side and so Nicholas made Benedict renounce and banished him But how shall we be sure which was the true Pope § 19. This Pope's first epistle is to the Arch-Bishop of Rhemes to advise him to admonish the King of France for resisting the Pope § 20. CCCXLIII The Pope's Council at Sutrium deposed Benedict § 21. CCCXLIV An. 1059. A Council of 113 Bishops at Rome they say made Berengarius recant but not repent but as soon as he came home he wrote against them and their Doctrine § 22. In this Council saith Platina the Pope made a decree very profitable to the Church of Rome Bin. saith these were the words translated p. 1666. First God being the Inspector it is decreed that the election of the Roman Bishop be in the power of the Cardinal Bishops so that if any one be inthroned in the Apostolick seat without the foregoing concordant and Canonical election of them and after the consent of the following religious Orders Clerks and Laity he be not accounted Apostolical but Apostatical Here it is much to be noted 1. That this is a new foundation of the Papacy by Hildebrand's Council without which it was falling to utter confusion How then doth the Roman sect cry down Innovation and boast of Antiquity 2. Either the Bishop of Rome is to be chosen as the Bishop of that particular Church and then the members of that particular Church should choose him or else as the Bishop of the universal Church pretendedly and then the universal Church should choose him But the Cardinal Bishops of other particular Churches are neither the particular Roman Church nor the universal nor their delegates and so have no just pretence of power 3. Either this decree was new or old and in force before If new their Church foundation is new and mutable as is said If old all the Popes that were otherwise chosen
were no Popes 4. And if it be but necessary for the future all that after were otherwise chosen were no Popes 5. If several wayes and parties or powers making Popes may all make them true Popes then who knoweth which and how many of those there are and which is the true Pope if ten were made at once ten several wayes 6. This confesseth that Christ hath appointed no way for choosing Popes nor given any sort of men power to choose them else what need Pope Nicholas begin it now anew And if so it seemeth that Christ never instituted the Papacy For can we suppose him so Laxe a Legislator as to say a Pope shall be made and never tell us who shall have power to do it Then England may choose one and France another and Spain another c. the Bishops one the Priests another the Prince another and the Citizens another But if Christ have setled a Pope-making power in any it is either the same as Pope Nicholas did in Cardinal Bishops or not If not the Pope changeth Christ's institution If yea then all those were no Popes that were otherwise chosen and so where is the Roman Church and its succession 7. What power hath Pope Nicholas to bind his successors Have not they as much power as he and so to undo it all again If the King should decree that his Kingdom hereafter shall not be hereditary but elective and that the Bishops should be the choosers of the King were this obligatory against the right of his heirs 8. By this decree if the Laity and Clerks consent not after he is still no Pope § 23. In this same Council saith Bin. ibid. it was decreed that no one hear the Mass of a Presbyter whom he knoweth undoubtedly to have a Concubine or Subintroduced Woman Quaer Whether they that make him a Schismatick that goeth from a scandalous wicked malignant or utterly insufficient Priest and dare not commit the care of his soul to such a one be not looser than Pope Nicholas and this Roman Council was § 24. A Council at Malphia and another at Paris for Crowning King Philip and one at Iacca in Spain of small moment § 25. An. 1061. Was the 22d Schism or two Popes of Rome for five years continuance The Cardinal Bishops for fear of the Emperor chose one that was great with him Anselm Bishop of Luca but the Italian Princes perswaded the Emperor that it was a wrong to them and him and chose Cadolus Palavicinus Bishop of Parma called Honorius the 2d The Sword was to determinate who was the true Pope Cadolus came with an Army to Rome the Romans came out against him and in the Fields called Nero's a great battle saith Platina was fought in which many of both sides fâ—ll but Cadolus was driven away He shortly returned with a great Army being called by a part of the Romans that were men of pleasure and by force seized on the Suburbs and St. Peter's Church But the Souldiers of Gotifred put his Souldiers to flight and he himself narrowly scaped the Prefect of Rome's Son with him breaking through the Romans got possession of the Tower where they besieged him till they forced him to yield and buy his liberty of the besiegers for 300 pound of Silver Then the Bishop of Colen having the education of the young Emperor came to Rome to rebuke Alexander as an Usurper but by Hildebrand was so overcome that the choice belonged not to the Emperor that he called a Council which confirmed Alexander and deposed Honorius The Emperor consented on condition that Cadolus be pardoned and Gibert his promoter Chancellor of Parma made Arch-Bishop of Ravenna which the Pope consented to and did Thus then were Popes and Bishops made Q. How shall we be sure for Cadolus's five years who was the Pope § 26. A woman called Mathildis a Countess was then the great Patroness of the Papacy who furnished military Hildebrand that did all with Souldiers to conquer several Great Men that opposed them and to set up Alexander and defend him § 27. This Pope Alexander is said by Bin. and Baron to judge King Harold of England an Usurper to dispose of the Crown to William of Normandy and declare him lawful Successor and send him a Banner that he might fight for it and possess it Thus did this Prelate give Crowns and Kingdoms as the supreme judge made by himself He after required Rent Peter-Pence from England of William § 28. He made some constitutions for his old Church at Milan Three thing are the summe of them and many other Councils 1. Against Simonie 2. Against the Clergies fornication no Canons cured them of either of these 3. That no Lay-Man judge any Clerk for his crimes only if Priests live in fornication he alloweth Lay-Men to tell the Arch-Bishops and if they will do nothing then to withhold their duties and benefits till they amend But this Binnius noteth was but a temporary extraordinary concession for the hatred that this Pope had to fornicating Clergy-Men But if they did but now and then lie with a woman by chance and did not obstinately still keep them they must not so trouble them § 29. CCCXLV. The foresaid Cadolus or Honorius 2d was setled Pope by a Council at Basil An. 1061. where say some many Simoniacal incontinent wicked Bishops decreed that no Pope should be made but out of Italy which they called Paradise that is Lombardy § 30. CCCXLVI A Council at Osborium An. 1062. contrarily condemned him and set up Alexander Though before Platina saith that Cisalpini omnes all on the Romans side of the Alpes obeyed Honorius except Mathildis a good woman § 31. Here Binnius thought a Dialogue of Pet. Damian worthy to be inserted to prove that Princes may not make Bishops of Rome In which he would prove that the Decrees that gave the Emperor such power may be changed because God doth not alwaies perform his own word for want of mans duty And he saith that some men have been sinners and perished for obeying Gods own Law and some rewarded for breaking it which he proveth by a profane quibble 1. In Iudas as if Christs words what thou dost do quickly had been a command to do the thing 2. In the Rechabites that drank not Wine when Ieremy bade them As if Gods Command to Ieremy to try them had been his Command to them to do it A Council was at Arragon in Spain for we know not what § 32. CCCXLVII An. 1063. Peter Bishop of Florence being accused of Heresie and Simony and deposed a Council at Rome renewed Pope Nicolas 2d's Canons not to hear Masse of a Priest that liveth with a Concubine or introduced woman To excommunicate Simoniacks c. § 33. CCCXLVII In a Council at Mantua to quiet some that yet took Cadolus's part and accused Pope Alexander of Simony Alexander is owned and Cadolus not appearing cast out who after tryed it
out as is aforesaid by an Army § 34. CCCXLIX In a Council at Barcelon the Spaniards abrogated their old Gothish Laws and made new ones but would not change the Gothish Church rites Here also Alexander was owned § 35. An. 1065. A Council was at Rome against incest § 36. Another for the same the former not prevailing § 37. In a Synod at Winchester William the Conqueror puts down and imprisons Bishops and sets up others for his own interest § 38. CCCL A Council at Mentz was to have separated the young Emperor and his Queen but the Popes Legate hindred it § 39. CCCLI In a Council at Mentz the Bishop of Constance is cast out for Simony and many crimes the Emperor being for him § 40. An. 1072. They say an English Council subjected York to Canterbury and owned Wolstan Bishop of Worcester accused for being unlearned as he was § 41. CCCLII. An. 1073. In a Council at Ersord the Emperor got the Bishops to fulfil his will about some Tythes threatening them that appealed to Rome § 42. Now cometh in the Foundation of the new Church of Rome Hildebrand called Gregory 7th An. 1073. a man of Great wit and for ought I find in the most probable History not guilty of the gross immoralities or sensuality of many of his predecessors but it 's like blinded with the opinion which the Papists Fifth-monarchy men have received and Campâ—nelia de regno Dei opened and pleaded for viz. that Christs Kingdom on earth consisteth in the Saints judging the world that is the Pope and Prelates ruling the Kings and Kingdoms of the earth he did with greatest animosity set himself to execute his opinions And withal the factions of Rome and tyranny of their petty Princes and Whores and debauched Citizens having long made the Papacy the scorn of the world and the lamentation of all sober Christians constrained the better part to beg help from the Emperors against debauched monstrous Popes and their upholders And by this means sometimes the choice fell into the Emperors hands and sometimes when they were far off the City-prevailing-part rebelled and chose without them or pulled down them that the Emperors set up And then the Emperors came and pulled down the Anti-Popes and chastised the City faction and thus between the Italian and the German powers the City was a field of war and the richer by bribes and the stronger by the sword how monstrous villanies soever were set up It was no wonder then if Hildebrand first by Pope Nicholas 2. and Alexander and then by himself did resolve to run a desperate hazard when he had two such great works at once to do as first to recover the debauched and shattered shamed Papacy from this confusion and then to subdue all Kings and Kingdoms within their reach to such a Priest-King as was then under so great disgrace And tibi dabo claves must do all this § 43. Hildebrand however had the wit to settle himself at first by seeking the Emperor's consent And being settled he got Agnes the Emperor's mother and Guardian mostly on his side He then began to claim presentations and investitures and to take the power over the Bishops out of the Emperor's hands and to threaten him as Simoniacal and for communicating with the excommunicate The Emperor after some treaty submitted and was reconciled to the Pope but the Pope said he did not amend The Pope calls a Council at Rome where he excommunicated Simoniacks openly saying that he would excommunicate the Emperor unless he amended Guibert Arch-Bishop of Ravenna being there accuseth the Pope for such threats against the Emperor and got Cincius the Prefect's Son to apprehend him and imprison him The People rise up in arms and deliver the Pope and pull down Cincius's house to the ground and cutting off their noses banish his family out of the City Cincius got to the Emperor Guibert Arch-Bishop of Ravenna Theobald Arch-Bishop of Milan and most of all the other Bishops on that side the Alpes conspire against the Pope And yet they say that all the world were his subjects He calls another Synod of his own Bishops for Synods were still the great executioners where Gibert and Hugo one of his Cardinals that was against him are deposed and curst from Christ. This Emperor also calls a Council at Wormes where by the means of Sigifred Arch-Bishop of Mentz it is decreed that no man in any thing obey the Pope of Rome Roland a Clerk is sent to Rome to command the Pope to meddle with the government no more and the Cardinals are commanded to forsake Gregory and seek for another Pope Now the War began between the Sword and the Keys Gregory by sentence deposed the Arch-Bishop of Mentz and the other Clergy that were for the Emperor and he Anathematized the Emperor himself having first deprived him of all Regal Power and administration as far as his decree would do it The form of his curse and deposition Platina reciteth where are these words I cast him down from his Imperial and Regal Administration And I absolve all Christians Subject to the Empire from that Oath by which they have used to swear Fidelity to true Kings For it is meet that he be deprived of dignity who endeavoureth to diminish the Majesty of the Church Mark O ye Kings and be wise Some told the Pope that the Emperor should not be so hastily Anathematized To whom he answered Did Christ except Kings when he said to Peter Feed my Sheep when he gave him the Power of binding and looseing he excepted none from his power The Emperor wrote Letters to many Christian Princes and States to acquaint them with the Papal Injuries and the Pope wrote his accusations of the Emperor and his own Justification The Empire was presently all in Division One part was for the Emperor and another for the Pope Most of the Bishops of Germany obeyed the Emperor and some were against him as excommunicate Some Councils were for him and some against him And as Abbas Vrspurgensis said they did so often swear and forswear according as Power and Interest moved one time for the Emperor and another against him that Perjury was become a common thing both with the Bishops and the Laity He that will see the many treatises that Learned men then wrote for the power of Princes against the Papal tyranny and rebellion may find them in the Voluminous Collections of Michael Goldastus de Monarchia The party that obeyed the Pope chose another to be Emperor Rodulph Duke of Suevia The Emperor requireth the Pope to Excommunicate Rodulph He refuseth The Emperor calleth a Council of Bishops at Brixia They depose the Pope and make Gibert of Ravenna Pope called Clement the 3d. who saith Onuphrius sate 21 years so long had they two Popes at this 23d Schism or doubling But did the Emperor nothing to prevent all this Yes at the motion of the German Princes to avoid
Germans French c You see here that it was far from all the world that was subject to the Pope and took his part in his usurpations Epist. 4. He commandeth a General no more to fight against the King of Dalmatia as belonging to St. Peter § 50. Yet this Pope doth teach them the truth against deceitful pennance or repentance Lib. 7. Epist. 10. viz. We say that it is a fruitless pennance when men remain in the same fault or in the like or in a worse or in one little less He therefore that will worthily repent must have recourse to the Original of his Faith and be solicitous watchfully to keep that which in his Baptism he promised viz. to renounce the Devil and his pomps and to believe in God that is thinking rightly of him to obey his Commands § 51. Epist. 11. He tells the Duke of Bohemia that it is customarily and doubtfully that he saluteth him with Apostolical Benediction Because he communicated with the excommunicate And he denieth his request of using or translating the Divine Service or Offices into the Sclavonian tongue because there were many mysteries in it Thus come up the Prohibition to the peoplee to pray understandingly Epist. 14. He absolveth the Bishop of Liege from an Oath because he took it by force And commandeth him to rise up against the imposer with all his power he being St. Peter's enemy Epist. 21. He tells the King of Denmark of an ill custom among them that whatever ill weather or calamity befell them they imputed all to the ill lives of Priests Epist. 23. He tells our King William the Conqueror that seeing he was on his side and is charged by some with all his bloodshed that now he must be very obedient to him as his Pastor and Peter's Successor And Epist. 25. He tells them that the Papal or Apostolick power is greater than the Kingly and must rule it as the Sun is greater than the Moon Lib. 8. Epist. 1. He laments the Corruption of the Church in Armenia 1. Because they mixed not Water with Wine in the Sacrament when all men know that Blood and Water came from the side of Christ. 2. Because they made not their Chrysm of Balsom but of Butter 3. Because they honoured the memory of Dioscorus O what Heresies Pag. 1254. in Bin. There is an Oath that Robert Duke of Apulia Calabria and Sicily to be true to the Pope and defend him as holding all these from him and there is the Popes grant of them to him laying claim also to his other dominions the denyal of which he patiently beareth at the present § 52. But lest you think that at least the Kingdom of Spain was fast all this while to the Church of Rome Lib. 8. Epist. 2. He writeth thus himself By the Letters of my Legate Richard Abbot of Marseilles you may know how great impiety is gone out of your Monastery of Cluny by the presumption of Robert a Monk who imitating Simon Magus feareth not to rise up against the Authority of St. Peter with all the craft of his malignity and to reduce by his suggestion into their old error an hundred thousand men who by our diligence began to return to the right way But he hopes that the Abbot thinks as he for the honour of the Roman Church He chargeth the Abbot to cast out this man that had so endangred Spain adding And by your Letters diligently acquaint the King who is deceived by his fraud that he hath greatly provoked St. Peter's wrath and indignation against him and his grievous Revenge against him and his Kingdom unless he repent because he undecently handled a Legate of the Roman Church and believed falshood rather than truth Of which that he may worthily make satisfaction to God and St. Peter as he hath disgraced our Legate so let him by due humility and condign Reverence make himself commendable and devout For we think meet to signifie to him by you that we will excommunicate him if he correct not his fault and will solicite all the faithful in the parts of Spain to his confusion And if they be not obedient to my command I will not think much to travel into Spain my self and there to endeavour dura et aspera Things hard and sharp against him as an enemy of the Christian Religion O brave Pope had not these men a notable Knack or hap that could sit and talk down Emperors and Kings and subdue and dispose of Kingdoms by sitting at home and talking big and telling them that St. Peter was angry with them And who was this King but the great Alâ—onsus to whom he writeth himself Epist. 3. to put away his evil counsellors and hearken in all things to the Popes Legate Richard § 53. Epist. 6. l. 8. He commandeth Souldiers to help Michael the Emperor of Constant against the Usurper to make himself judge and get an interest again in the Empire But in vain § 54. Epist. 7. He declareth that divers Princes having sworn and promised him help he resolved to come with an Army to recover Ravenna to the Church Epist. 8. He rejoyceth that they had newly found St. Matthew's body and bids them now take him joyfully for their patron These are the grounds of Popish superstition The body of St. Matthew that preached to the Abassines in another part of the world is found at Salerno in Italy a thousand years after he is dead O that one knew how to be sure that it was his body and how it came thither Divers such findings they glory in § 55. Epist. 10. He writeth to Orzoceus Prince of Calaris or Sardinia to require him as a note of his obedience to St. Peter and concord with the Church of Rome whose use it is to let his Arch-Bishop shave his Beard and to command all the Clergy of his dominion to shave their Beards and if they obey not to force them to it or exclude them And to be sure of success he lets him know how truly I know not that many Princes importuned him to give them leave to invade his Countrey but this righteous ruling Pope denied leave to them all till he had tryed whether he would obey him which if he would do he would not only deny them leave to invade him but also protect him Reader think here 1. Whether Princes held not their kingdoms loosely when they where to lose them if they obeyed not the Pope in so small a thing as the shaving of a Priests Beard 2. Whether it were not a hard thing for the Catholick Church then to have concord when so small a difference as the shaving or not shaving of Beards were put into their terms of Union and Peace Who were the Schismaticks then was it not the makers and imposers of such laws and terms 3. Is it not a high power that is claimmed by Popes when no Priest in all the Christian world may have
so much as his Beard in his own power in which nature hath given him a propriety How much more might the Pope then command all mens purses 4. May way we not see here on what weighty reasons these men condemn God's word of insufficiency and plead for traditions and a necessity of their additional Laws When Scripture hath left out the shaving of mens Beards and we had never had such a Law if such power as the Papal had not made it O what discord and disorder would there be in the Church if we had not so necessary a government and what confusion would toleration introduce if mens Beards were left at liberty But if Paul called the heathen Phylosophy Vain and Science falsly so named 1 Tim. 6. 20. as befooling the world with pedantick trifling and calling them off from their great concernes may we not say then that this is vain Government and Order falsly so named which thus calleth the Church from its primitive purity simplicity and unity when Christians were known by loving one another to these childish games that the Prelates and Priests of the Catholick Church must be known by their being without Beards One would suspect this had its original from Pope Ioane if there were indeed such a person and that it is a Symbol of the Churches sex as it is called Our Mother or at least that Marozia or Theodora instituted it 5. And do you know which were the more inexcusable for silencing and persecuting the preachers of the Gospel The Iews that did it because they thought it took down Gods Law and would bring the Roman Power on them Or the Roman heathens that thought the Gospel destroyed the worship of their forefathers Gods or the Roman Papists that silenced and persecuted men for wearing Beards 1 Thes. 2. 16. § 56. Epist. 11. When some French Preachers had revived Religion in Sweden the Pope desirous to reap where they had sowed sends to the King of Sweden to tell him his joy and that what the French taught them they recieved from Rome and to desire him to send one of his Bishops to Rome to acquaint him with their customs and to receive his Laws and Mandates You see by what means Rome was raised Epist. 15. A Bishop gave up his Bishoprick The Pope chides him and commands him to a Monastery Rather than do so he returneth to his seat again The Pope chargeth him with the Idololatriae scelus the Crime of Idolatry for not obeying him and writes to them not to recieve him or be ruled by him as ever they loved the Grace of God and St. Peter The like he doth Epist. 16. by the disobedient Bishop of Narbon and Epist. 17. by the disobedient Arch Bishop of Rhemes and Epist. 18. 19 20. of the same and all this in St. Peter's name Yea Epist. 20. he requireth the King of France Philip to joyn against the Arch-bishop of Rhemes as excommunicate as ever he would have St. Peter's Grace because his Kingdom and his Soul were in St. Peter's power And it is no wonder that they that believe that the Pope is St. Peter's Vicar and Secretary and that their souls are in his power will give him all their Lands or Kingdoms to save their souls § 57. When the Pope sentenced the Emperor Henry to be excommunicate and deposed and was charged to have done this without authority he wrote his 21 Epist. l. 8. to the Bishop of Metz to prove that he had power to do it and to absolve his Subjects from their Oaths of fidelity saying that the Scriptures were full of certain documents to prove it And his certain documents are Tibi dabo Claves c. and Feed my Sheep And Kings are not excepted They are St. Peter ' s Sheep Bin. p. 1262. he saith that the Head of Priests is at the right hand of God but who knoweth not that Kings and Dukes had their beginning from them that knew not God and affected by blind lust and intolerable presumption to domineer over others the Devil the Prince of the world acting them in Pride Rapines Perfidiousness Murders and all wickedness who while they would have the Priests of the LORD to stoop to their footsteps are rightlyest compared to him who is head of all the Sons of pride who said even to Christ All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Who doubteth but that the Priests of Christ are the Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the faithful And is it not notorious miserable madness for a Scholar to endeavour to subjugate his Master and a Son his Father and by wrongful obligations to subject him to his power by whom he believeth that he may be bound or loosed both in Earth and Heaven Did not Pope Innocent excommunicate Arcadius the Emperor and Pope Zachary depose from his Kingdom the King of France not so much for his iniquities as because he was not meet for so great power placed Pepin in his stead and absolved all the French from the Oath of fidelity Ambrose sheweth that Gold is not so much more pretious than Lead as the Priestly Dignity is higher than the Kingly Power Pag. 1263. Yea even the exorcists have power over Devils How much more over those that are Subject to the Devils and are his members And if the exorcist excel so much how much more the Priests And every King when he cometh to his end doth humbly and pitifully beg the Priests help that he may scape the prison of Hell and Darkness and at the judgment of God be found absolved But is there either Priest or Lay-man that when he is dying begs help of the King for the saving of his soul What King or Emperor can by his Office take a soul by baptism from the power of the Devil and number him with the Sons of God and fortifie him with holy Chrism And which is the greatest thing in the Christian Religion can with his own mouth make Christs body and blood Or which of them can bind and loose in Heaven and earth By all which it may be plainly gathered by how great power the sacerdot al dignity excelleth Which of them can ordain one Clerk in the holy Church How much less can they depose him for any fault For in orders exclesiastical to depose is an act of greater power than to ordain For Bishops may ordain Bishops but in no wise depose them without the authority of the Apostolick seat Who then that hath any knowledg can doubt but that Priests are preferred before Kings In a word we must know that all good Christians are more fitly Kings than evil Princes For these by seeking the Glory of God do strenuously rule themselves But the other seeking their own and being enemies to themselves do tyrannically oppress others These good Christians are the body of Christ. The other bad Princes are the body of the Devil These so rule themselves as that they shall
per Christum intrant sed ut ipsa veritas testatur fures sunt latrones Therefore it is no sinful separation to disown and avoid such obtruded Bishops or Pastors as are not so ordained by the Common Consent of the Clergy and the People § 76. In this Council the Pope to keep up some pretensions yet to a power in the East excommunicated the new made Emperor Nicephorus Botoniates for deposing wrongfully the Emperor Michael and his Wife Mary and his Son Constantine Porphyrus and putting them into a Monastery and invading the throne whom the Patriarch Cosmas lately set up by Michael had Crowned But thus matters were then often carryed § 77. That we may a little take along some of the Greek affairs note here that Zimisces being dead an 975. the Empire returned to Basil and Constantine the Sons of Romanus jun. Basil held it 50 years and Constantine three more Against them rose first Bardas Scleros and then Bardas Phocas Basil overcame and subjected the Bulgarians An. 1028. Argyâ—us Romanus took the Empire with Constantine's daughter putting away his Wife for her and the Empire After five years Zoe killed him and took her adulterer and the agent Michael Paphlago to her bed and Empire He being afflicted in body penitently turned Monk and reduced Zoe to some order But being dead she took Michael Calephate who sware to obey Zoe but breaking his Covenant she deposed him and put out his eyes And an 1042. She took to her bed and the Empire Constantine Monomachus in whose times the Greeks had divers losses by the Sueves and by the Normans that got Apulia At which time the Turks being Soldiers under the Persians revolted and oft overcame them Zoe and her Sister Theodora having ruled all dye In Constantines time Michael Cerular Patr. of Const. wrote against the Church of Rome Theodora being dead Michael Stratonicus reigned one year who was forced to resign to Isaac Comnenus 1057. Who being diseased turned Monk and made Constantine Ducas Emperor an 1059. He dyed 1067 swearing his wife Eudocia not to marry and make a Father in Law to his three Sons but she brake her oath and marryed Romanus Diogenes and made him Emperor He is taken in fight by the Sultan and released and when he came home his eyes put out by his own Subjects of which he dyed an 1071. and Eudocia is thrust into a Monastery Michael Paripinacius the Son of Const. Ducas is chosen Emperor The Turks and others greatly weaken the Empire Two Nicephori usurp One called Botoniates helped by the Turks getting possession Michael entred a Monastery and the other Nicephorus Byennius is overcome and his eyes put out Botoniates after three years is deposed and made Monk by Alexius Comnenus who was made Emperor an 1081 and being worsted by Robert D. of Apulia and having dealt ill with Godfrey and his army going for Palestine and beaten by them an 1096. living 70 years and reigning 37 he dyed an 1118. forsaken first of all and succeeded by his son Calojohannes Sect. 78. CCCLXI. A Roman Council an 1079. Forced Berengarius to recant and to own Transubstantiation Sect. 79. CCCLXII An. 1080. Another Roman Council renewed the deposition of the Emperour and gave his Empire to Rodulph the Pope excommunicating Henry and saying Confidens de judicio misericordia Dei ejusque piissimae matris semper Virginis Mariae fultus vestra authoritate saepe nominatum Henricum quem Regem dicunt omnesque fautores ejus excommunicationi subjicio anathematis vinculis alligo iterum Regnum Teutonicorum Italiae ex parte omnipotentis Dei vestra interdiceâ—s ei Omnem Potestatem dignitatem illi regiam tollo ut nullus Christianorum ei sicut Regiobediat interdico Omnesque quiâ—i juraverunt vel jur abunt de regni dominatione a juramenti promissione absolvo Ipse autem Henricus cum suis fautoribus in omni congressione belli nullas vires nullamque in vita sua victoriam obtineat Then he giveth absolution from all their sins to all that take part with Rodulph and blessing in this life and that to come Adding Go on then holy Fathers and Princes I beseech you that the whole world may understand and know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven you can on earth both take away the Empires Kingdoms Principalities Dukedomes Marquisates Earldoms and Possessions of all men according to their merits and grant them to others for you have often taken away from the evil and unworthy Patriarchates Primacies Arch-Bishopricks Bishopricks and given them to religious men For if ye judge spiritual things what must men believe that you can do about things secular and if you judge the Angels that rule over all Proud Princes what can you do with their servants Let Kings and all secular Princes now learn how great you are and what you can do and let them hereafter be afraid to set light by the Command of your Church And exercise your Iudgment so speedily on the said Henry that all may know that he falls not by chance but by your power I wish he be confounded to repentance that his Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. O brave Pope From this Council the Pope sent Rodulph a Crown with this inscription Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodulpho But all this was but as Balaam's attempt It destroyed not Henry nor saved the life of Rodulph that was after killed Sect. 80. CCCLXIII An. 1080. The Emperor called a Council at Brixia which deposed Gregory as a false monk the pestilent Prince of all villanie the invader of the Roman Seat never chosen of God impudently intruding himself by fraud and money subverting all Church-order perturbing the Kingdom of a Christian Empire designing the death of Soul and Body to a quiet Christian Emperour defending a perjured King sowing discord where there was concord and strife where there was peace scandals among brethren divorces between Husband and Wife and shaking all that seemed to be in quietness among godly men a proud preacher of Sacriledge and flames defending perjuries and murders questioning the Catholick doctrine of Christs body and blood an old Disciple of Berengarius a follower of divinations and dreams a manifest Conjurer possessed with a divining evil Spirit and so swerving from the true Faith And they made Guibert Pope in his stead as was aforesaid § 81. CCCLXIV A Council at Lyons An. 1080. deposeth Manasse Bishop of Rhemes for refusing to give account to the Pope c. § 82. CCCLXV Another at Avenion maketh Hugo Bishop of Gratianople § 83. CCCLXVI Another at Meaulx maketh Arnulph Bishop of Soissons § 84. CCCLXVII Another at Rome An. 1081. Excommunicateth the Emperor again § 85. CCCLXVIII An. 1083. another at Rome the Pope kept three days in sighs and groans being besieged and then dismist it § 86. CCCLXIX An. 1084. in another the besieged Pope again excommunicated the
reputed taken for believers so they publickly take an oath for the defence of the faith that they will study in good earnest to exterminate to their utmost power from the lands subject to their jurisdiction all Hereticks denoted by the Church so that every one that is henceforth taken into any power either spiritual or temporal shall be bound to confirm this Chapter by his oath But if the temporal Lord required and warned by the Church shall neglect to purge his countrey of this Heretical filth let him by the Metropolitane and other Comprovincial Bishops be tyed by the bond of excommunication And if he contemn to satisfie within a year let that be signified to the Pope that he may denounce his vassals thenceforth absolved from his fidelity or allegiance and may expose his countrey to be seized on by Catholicks who exterminating the Hereticks may possess it without any contradiction and may keep it in the purity of faith saving the right of the principal Lord sobeit he himself put no obstacle hereto nor oppose any impediment The same Law notwithstanding being kept about them that have no principal Lords And the Catholicks that taking the badge of the Cross shall gird themselves for the extermining of Hereticks shall enjoy that indulgence and be fortified with that holy priviledge which is granted to them that go to the help of the holy land And we decree to subject to excommunication the believers and receivers defenders and favourers of Hereticks firmly ordaining that when any such an one is noted by excommunication if he contemn to satisfie within a year let him thenceforth be ipso jure made infamous and not be admitted to any publick Offices or Councils nor to chose any to such nor to be a witness and let him not have power to make a Will nor to witness nor have succession to any inheritance And no man shall be compelled to answer him in any business or suit but he shall be compelled to answer others And if he be a judge his sentence shall be void and no Causes shall be brought to his hearing If he be an Advocate his plea or defence shall not be admitted If a Register the instruments made by him shall be of no moment at all but be damned with the damned Author And the like we will have observed in the like cases But if he be a Clergyman let him be deposed from all office and benefice that as he is in the greater fault the greater vengeance may be exercised on him And if any after such are marked by the Church shall contemn to avoid them let them be smitten with the sentence of excommunication till he give due satisfaction And let no Clergyman give such pestilent persons the ecclesiastical Sacraments nor presume to give them Christian burial nor receive their alms or offerings otherwise let them be deprived of their offices and never be thereto restored without the especial indulgence of the Apostolick seat And so the Regulars on whom this shall be inflicted that their priviledges be not kept in that Diocess in which they presume to commit such excesses And because some under pretence or form of Piety denying as the Apostle saith the virtue or power thereof challenge to themselves the authority to preach when the same Apostle saith how shall they preach unless they be sent Let all those be tyed with the bond of excommunication who being prohibited or not sent do presume publickly or privately to usurp the office of preaching without authority received from the seat Apostolick or the Catholick Bishop of the Place And if they speedily repent not let them be punished with other competent punishment And we moreover add that every Arch-bishop or Bishop by himself or his Arch-Deacon or fit honest persons shall twice or once in a year go about his parish where Fame saith that Hereticks dwell and shall there compel two or three men of good testimony or if he see fit the whole neighbourhood to swear that if they know any Hereticks there or any that seek secret conventicles or that differ in life or manners from the common conversation of the faithful he will study to tell them to the Bishop And let the Bishop himself call the accused to his presence who unless they purge themselves of the guilt objected or if after purgation made they relapse into the former perfidie shall be Canonically punished And if any of them refusing by damnable obstinacy the bond of an oath will not swear let them be for this very thing reputed Hereticks We will therefore and command and stritcly command in the vertue of obedience that the Bishop do watch diligently through their Diocess for the effectual execution of these things if they will Escape Canonical revenge And if any Bishop be found negligent and remiss in purging his Diocess from the leaven of Heretical pravity when this appeareth by certain signs let him be deposed from his Episcopal office and another fit man be substituted in his place who will and can confound heretical pravity The 4th Chap. is against the Greeks for rejecting the Roman Pope and and so far abhorring the Latines that if Latine Priests did but celebrate at their Altars the Greeks would not use them again till they had washed them as being defiled yea they rebaptized those that the Latine Priests baptized the world did not then obey the Pope how insolently soever be trod on the divided Princes of the West by the conspiracy of their Prelates And here he was used in his kind and hereticated and excommunicated and cursed as he did by others The 5th Chap. was to confirm the old Patriarchate on condition they receive the Pall from the Pope and swear fidelity and obedience to him and make those under them to do the like O daring challenge and innovation And yet Chap. the 9th they grant that diversity of Rites by Bishops of their own languages and customs be used so they will but be the sworn vassals of the Pope And yet Cap. 8 in their direction for inquisition even this Council decreed that the accused be admitted to speak for himself and not only the words of the witnesses but their names also to be told him and published and the exception and replyes admitted lest by suppressing their names men be emboldned to defame and by excluding exceptions emboldned to swear falsly Because the supposed Hereticks got ground by preaching the Cap. 10. decreed the setting up of Preachers instead of the Bishops or to help them because they wanted ability or time The 13. Cap. was to forbid making any more new Religions there were so many made in their Church before The 17. Cap. was against Bishops that sate up feasting drinking or prating till after midnight and lie in bed the next morning and come not four times in a year to Mass and then talk with Lay-men at the time of worship Cap. 43. forbids all Clergy men that have
them what good they had done the City For when they came thither they found three or four bawdy houses but at their departure they left but one But this one reached from the East Gate of the City to the West gate § 194. The Pope returneth into Italy and seeketh to get men to ruine Conrade the late Emperor Fridericks Son The King of Englands brother Richard is first invited but deniâ—d due help and refuseth King Henry the third himself at last is drawn in and furnisheth the Pope with a great deal of money and the Croisado Soldiours are turned against Conrade from the relief of Palestine Bitter accusations against him are published by the Pope which Conrade answereth He and Robert Grosthead the famous Learned holy Bishop of Lincoln dying near together the Pope biddeth all that belong to the Church of Rome to rejoyce with him because these two their greatest enemies are gone And if such wise and holy men as this Bishop were numbered with the enemies of the Pope we may conjecture what he was and did and whether all the Christian World were then his Subjects and whether Rome then needed reformation § 195. But though the King of England had so far served him it was not enough Nothing less than all would serve as Matth. Paris tells us when the King would yet be King and did not fully obey the Pope which he manifested in his rant against this rare and excellent Bishop of Lincoln the occasion of which I think well worthy of our recital as it is in Matth. Paris Anno 1453. pag. 87â— 872. A credible Monk though oft reviled by Baron and Bin for telling truth This Bishop was one of the famousest men in the whole world for knowledge piety and justice The Pope had sent him an order as saith Matth. Paris he often did to him and other English Bishops to do somewhat which the Bishop judged to be unjust It was not so bad as an interdict to silence Christs Ministers but whether it was the promoting of bad Ministers or hindering or excommunicating good men some such thing it was as you may see by what followeth The Bishop writeth a Letter to the Pope and Cardinals in which he tells them That he would obey the Apostolical precepts but that was not Apostolical which was contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles Christ saying he that is not with us is against us And that cannot be Apostolical that is against Christ as the Tenour of the Popes Letters were His non obstante so often repeated shewed his inconstancy and his blotting the purity of the Christian Religion and perturbing the peace and quiet of Societies a torrent of audaciousness procacity immodesty lying deceiving hardly believing or trusting any one on which innumerable vices follow And next after the sin of Lucifer which in the end of time will be that also of Antichrist the son of perdition whom the Lord will destroy with the Spirit of his mouth there neither is nor can be any other sort of sin so adverse and contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles and the Gospel and so hateful detestable and abominable as to kill and destroy souls by defrauding men of the care of the Pastoral office and Ministry which sin those men are known by the most evident testimonies of the sacred Scripture to commit who being placed in power of pastoral care do get the salary of the pastoral office and ministry out of the milk and the fleece of the sheep of Christ who are to be quickened and saved but administer not to them their dues For the very not administring of the Pastoral ministeries is by the testimony of Scripture the killing and destroying of the sheep And that these two sorts of sins though unexpectedly are the very worst and beyond all comparison exceed all other sort of sin is manifest by this that they are in the two existent foreâ—aid things though with disparity and dissimilitudes directly contrary to the best things And that is the worst which is contrary to the best And as for these sins as much as in them lieth one of them is the destruction of the Godhead it self which is superessentially and supernaturally best and the other is the destruction of that conformity and deiâ—ication of souls by the gracious participation of the Divine beams which is the best thing essentially and naturally And as in good things the cause of good is better than the effect so in evils the cause of evil is worse than the effect is manifest that the introducers in the Church of God of such most mischievous destroyers of holy formation and deification in the sheep of Christ are worse than the destroyers or murderers themselves the nearer to Lucifer and Antichrist and in the greater degree of mischief or priority by how much the more superexcelling and by the greater and diviner power given by God for edification and not for destruction they were the more bound to exclude and extirpate such most mischievous murderers or destroyers from the Church of God It cannot be therefore that a holy Apostolick Seat to which all power is given by our Lord Iesus Christ the holy of holies for Edification and not for destruction as the Apostle testified should command or require any thing that bordereth on or tendeth towards so hateful detestable aud abominable a thing to Iesus Christ and so utterly pernitious to mankind or by any way endeavour any thing that tendeth thereunto For this were either a defection or a corruption or an abuse of Christs own power which is evidently most holy and most full or it were an absolute elongation from the Throne of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ and the next sitting together of the two foresaid Princes of darkness and of hellish punishments in the chair of pestilence Nor can any one with unspotted and sincere obedience who is a subject and faithful to that same Seat and not by schism cut off from Christ and that holy Seat obey the said mandates and precepts or any endeavours whatever and whensoever they come yea though it were from the highest order of Angels but must necessarily contradict them and rebel with all his strength or power And therefore Reverend Lords from the duty of obedience and fidelity in which I am bound to both the parents of the holy Apostolick Seat and from the Love which I have to Vnion in the body of Christ with it I do only filially and obediently disobey contradict and rebel to the things which in the foresaid Letter are contained and specially because as is before touched they do most evidently tend to that sin which is most abominable to our Lord Iesus Christ and most pernitious to mankind and which are altogether adverse to the Sanctity of the holy Apostolick Seat and are contrary to the Catholick Faith Nor can you discretion for this hint conclude or decree any hard thing against me because all my
Church Whence did this timerity befal thee It were better that thou advanced and honoured by God should honour those which are zealous for God even when they are dead Henceforth God will give thee no more power over me I wrote to thee in the spirit of humility and love that thou shouldst correct thy many errours But with a proud eye and a bewitching heart thou hast despised wholesome warnings Wo to thee that despispest Shalt thou not be despised And the Bishop Robert departing striking as with a lance the Pope who when as is said he was pricked groaned aloud he left him half dead and with a mournful voice groaning with sighs His Chamberlains hearing him being astonished asked him what the matter was The Pope answering with sighs and groans said The terrours of the night have vehemently troubled me nor shall I ever be well again as I was Oh alas how great is the pain of my side A ghost hath pierced me with a lance An he neither eat nor drank that day feigning that he was inflamed with feavours that streightened his breath And Gods revenge and wrath did not so leave him Not long after the Pope not sensible of Gods warnings by his Servants but setting about warlike and secular matters he prospered not in them though he laid out great care and labour and cost But Wars yea the Lord of hosts being against him his army which at great charges he had sent against the Apulians under the conduct of his Nephew William being scattered conquered and confounded perished with their Captain mortally wounded They say there were there slain of Souldiours and valiant stipendiary's of the Pope four thousand men And the whole Countrey of the Romans lamented the shedding of so much Christian blood The Pope then went to Naples though weakened as with a plurisie in his side or as wounded with a lance And Cardinal Albus physick could not help him For Robert of Lincoln spared not Sinâ—bald of Genoa And he that would not hear him warning him when alive felt him peircing him when dead Nor did the Pope ever after enjoy one good day till night nor one good night till day but sleepless and molested Thus M. Paris § 200. M. Paris p. 896 anno 1254. saith that Henry the third of England obliged himself and his Kingdome unjustly to the Pope under pain of being disinherited to pay all the treasure which the Pope should lay out in his War for the King that is to have made him King of Sicily And that the Pope having no mercy on England prodigally wasted its money but those vast sums got by rapine were all lost § 201. The same Author saith p. 897. that when Pope Innocent lay dying after the stroke of the Bishop of Lincoln and the loss of his Army and his followers lay crying about him he opened his dying eyes and said what do you mourn for you wretches Do I not leave you all rich what would you have more And so he died § 202. CCCCXLIV Anno 1245. Innoncent calls a Council called General their 13th Approved at Lyons of 140 Bishops where he heaped up accusations against the Emperour whom Thaddaeus his agent defended And at last pronounced himself an excommunication and deposition absolving all his Subjects from their Oaths and Allegiance and excommunicating all that should own and help him Here you see that more than one of their approved General Councils are for Rebellion and perjury and the Popes deposing Christian Emperours In the same Council sad Complaints were made from England of the pillaging or woful impoverishing of the land by the Pope and King but the Pope heard all silently and would give no answer § 203. At this Council the Pope importuned the Electors to choose another Emperour some refused and stuck to the Emperour saying that it belonged not to the Pope to make or unmake Emperours Others obeyed him and set up Henry of Hassia But the Emperour while he lived kept up his possession so far as to make the Pope repent and saith Trithemius was a weary of his life But all Germany Italy c. were confounded by the schim or contention one half as is aforesaid called Guelphes following the Pope and Henry the other called Gibelines cleaving to the Emperour Frederick to the shedding of abundance of Christians blood and the desolation of Countreys and the shame of Papal tyranny § 204. Anno 1254. Alexander the 4th was Pope Matth. Paris tells us of a terrible dream that he had of Pope Innocents damnation or misery But the fault of his writing is that he was too credulous of dreams and visions He tells us also of twenty Miracles done at Lincoln for the sake of the late Bishop Robert And that at a Parliament in London the greatest which hath been seen all the Nobles Ecclesiastical and Civil demanded of the King that the choice of the Lord Chief Iustice the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Treasurer should be in the Parliament or their common Council as of old was usual and just and that they should not be removed without notorious faults which the Kings secret Councellours perswaded him to deny Prelates and Nobles being grieved by exactions express it c. § 205. Here the said Monk Matth. Paris exclaimeth O the steril solicitude of the Roman Court their blind ambition Though holy yet often deceived by the Council of bad men Why dost thou not learn to moderate by the bridle of discretion thy violence being taught by thing past and so often chastised by experience In thy losses we are all punished c. Thou now endeavourest to make two German Emperours which must cost inestimable treasure whence soever taken and both uncertain of the dignity c. § 206. At that time the Lords and Prelates of England crying out of the King Hen. 3d. as false and oppressive and pillaging Churches and People to maintain his profuseness the Bishop of Hereford laid a Plot which the King accepted that getting the hands and seals of a few Bishops he would go to Rome and get power from the Pope to gather the King as much money as he needed So to Rome he went and there found the Pope in great grief and care himself for money to pay vast debts that his Wars had cost him The Bishop told him that the King who had engaged his Kingdom to be forfeited if he paid not the Popes debts would help him to money if he would be ruled by him and write to the Bishops and Churches to grant the King such help as they could well do The Pope gladly gave leave to the Bishop to write what he would And home he went and Eustandus a Legate was sent from Rome to see all done saith M. Paris p. 911. anno 1255. The Legate was prepared and ready in all things to the destruction of all England to obey the will of the King which was tyrannical and to bind the oppressed contradictors in the
Especially they are large in imposing penalties on those that publickly keep Concubines in their houses and have not the modesty to fornicate more secretly If they put not away their Concubines in two Moneths they must lose the third part of their tythes and after other two months another third part and at last the other third part and after be uncapable of preferment c. These are gentler penalties than a differing opinion is punished with under the name of a heresie § 249. CCCCLXII Anno 1324. A Council at Toletane to the like purposes § 250. CCCCLXIII The two Popes called two Councils against each other as Hereticks were neither in the right Iohn in a Council at Avignion proved Nicolas the 5th a heretick for holding that Christ possessed nothing as Proprietor Nicolas called a Council in Italy which condemned Iohn as a heretick for holding the contrary Thus the hereticators were hereticated § 251. The French now got the Power of the Papacy and another French man was chosen Pope Anno 1334. called Benedict 11. alias 12th He renewed the excommunication and deposition of the Emperor Ludov. and claimed the Empire to himself concluding that being vacant it fell to the Church see to whom Kingdomes escheat whereby he set all Italy in Wars in all the Cities giving them to the Rulers as the Popes Leiutenants and perswading the Romans also to depose the Senatorean power as of the King and to exercise it themselves under the Church He lived above seven years Pope This Pope contrary to his Predecessor defined that souls sufficiently purged enjoy the clear vision of God before the resurrection § 252. CCCCLXIV Anno 1339. A Toletane Council decreed among other things that every Rector of a Church and their Vicars under pain of excommunication do every year write the names of all their Parishioners that come to years of discretion and consign confirm all that are confessed and excite them to come to the Sacrament But if they have not received it let them abstain unless it be by the Counsel of their own Priest And those that confesse not after a year to expel from the Church and deny them ecclesiastical burial § 253. Anno 1342. Another Frenchman Bishop of Roven is made Pope at Avignion Clem. 6. All Italy and Naples was put into the flames of Wars He forced the Germanes to set up another against the Emperor Lodov. Bavarus which was Charles Son of Iohn the 11. of Bohemia Charles sends bound to the Pope a new Senator Nicolas Rentii that ruled all at Rome He made a new Jubilee he laboured in vain to reconcile King Edward of England to the French the English conquering their Navies and taking Calis c. The Colenses and Trevinuses having contributed money as to a Turkish expedition that Pope liberally rewarded them by granting them licence to eat Eggs and Milk-meats on any fasting dayes out of Lent § 254. CCCCLXV Anno 1347. A Toletane Council against Simony c. § 255. Anno 1352. Innoc. the 6th is made Pope of Avignion All Italy was still kept in blood One Barnacellus Lorded it as Ruler at Rome The Pope craftily lets Nicolas Gencii out of Prison to set up against him Nicolas gets the better and killeth him but domincering too much is next kill'd himself 1347. The new Emperor Charles is Crowned in Italy The Romans put the power into seven Citizens called Reformers of the common wealth The Pope sets Hugo King of Cyrus against the Reformers and bids him pull them down But trouble came near him Our King Edward conqerâ—d the French and took the King and his Son Philip Prisoners nobly releasing the Prisoners upon promise that they would fight against him no more which they presently brake The Pope dieth § 256. Having long said nothing of the Greek affairs I here only briefly say that the utter confusion of their imperial Successions by murders and Usurpations and the continued confusions of their Church affairs ever since the divisions of the Orthodox Nestorians Entychians Monothelites c maketh it both a hard and unpleasant task to give any exact account of their Bishops Synods and manifold contentions which furthered the ruine of the Empire Their divisions gave the Latines opportunity to take Constantinople 1204. which they kept 58 years and then lost it Baldwin was the first Latine Emperour whom the Bulgarians conquered and took Prisoner Anno 1205. and kept sixteen months and then put him to death Henry his brother succeeded him 1206 and died 1216. Peter succeedeth him that married his sister or daughter and is quickly slain by Theodorus Lascaris Robert succeedeth his Father Peter 1261. Theodore Lascaris was Emperor chosen by the Greeks and kept Court at Nice He defâ—ated the Turks and slew their Sultan and died 1222. Iohn Ducas his Son in Law succeedeth him and 1255. his Son Theodore Lascaris succeedeth him and died 1259. leaving a Son Iohn of six years old Michael Paleologus putting out Iohns eyes at ten years old usurpeth the Empire and by a stratagem of Alexius Caesar with 800 men taketh Constantinople and feigned a reconciliation with Rome and died 1282 and for his seeming reconciliation with Rome his Son Andronicus and the Clergy denied him Christian burial Andronicus succeeded His Son Michael dying his Grandson Andronicus deposeth and banisheth him and taketh the Throne he reigned 8 years and died 1341. He committed his two Sons to Ioh. Cautacuzenus The Eldest Son Iohn reigned 27 years and Manuel his brother succeeded him 1384. and his Son Iohn succeeded him 1419. Constantine the 8th began 1445 and Anno 1453 May 29th the Turks took Constantinople and set up their Empire § 257. Anno 1355. Under Innocent the 6th was another Toletane Council short and sweet worth the noting by authority of Blastus Arch-Bishop of Toletan Viz. Lest faithful Christians should be burdened with the weight of sin or faultiness by transgressing provincial Constitutions when Divine piety hath mercifully put them under an easie yoke and light burden we ordain the holy Council approving it that the Provincial constitutions of our Predecessors and that shall be made hereafter unless it be otherwise expresly ordained in such as shall be made shall oblige the trangressours only to the penalty of them but not ad culpam to faultiness or sin It s worth the Inquiry how far all other Canons and humane penal Lawes are thus to be expounded § 258. Anno 1362. Another French man is made Pope called Vrban the 5th He sent Aegidius to fight for him in Italy still broil'd in Wars and died § 259. Anno 1370. Petrus Bellfortis that was made Cardinal before he was 17 years old is made Pope of Avignion and called Greg. the 11th So far was all the world from obeying the Pope that Italy still fought against him Thither he sends an Army bloodshed and misery overspreadeth the Country The Pope at last saw that his absence gave his Enimies advantage and not daring to
both to summon a Council they cunningly would not agree of the place and so forced the doing it without them § 265. CCCCLXVII To put a shew on the business Greg. calleth a Council at Aquileia whether by long delays he creepeth with a few to do nothing § 266. CCCCLXVIII And the other Pope Bened. 13. Anno 1409 also calleth his Council in Arragone of his Subjects which calleth it self a General Council and pronounce him the true Pope and no Schismatick or Heretick and Greg. to be the Usurper but exhort him to endeavour Unity § 267. CCCCLXIX The two Popes giving no better hopes some of the Cardinals of both sides slipt from them and by the Countenance of the Florentines and King Ladislaus chose Pisa for a General Council where they met and summoned both the Popes who scorned them and they deposed them both as Hereticks and Schismaticks saith Binius forbidding all Christians to obey them and they chose a third Alexander 5. and the two old ones kept up still and so there were three Popes at once § 268. An. 1409. Alex. 5. is chosen much commended but died in eighteen Months some say saith Antoninus poysoned by a Clyster But to shew himself a Pope in that little time he deposed King Ladislaus and gave his Kingdome to Lewis Duke of Anjou § 269. Balthasar Cossa is next chosen called by some Ioh. 21. by others 22. by others 23. and by Platina Ioh. 24. so little are they agreed of their succession Platina saith the Cardinals of Greg. were yet poor and he hired them with Money to Create him He got Sigismund King of Bohemia chosen Emperour and would have had the Council to be at Rome Italy continued still in blood the Popes having parcelled it into so many small Principalities to secure it against the Emperours no part of the whole World lived from Age to Age in such continual War and confusion This Pope saith Onuphrius Panvinus viz. fuit bello armis quam Religioni aptior utpote qui neque fidem norat neque Religionem rebus profanis magis quam Divino cultu accommodatus How he was accused deposed imprisoned how the other two Popes Greg. 12. and Bened. 13. were all deposed with him and Martin 5. chosen the next Chapter sheweth CHAP. XIII The Council of Constance Basil and some others § 1. CCCCLXX AN. 1414. the Council of Constance was called by the means of the Emperour Sigismund and the consent of Pope Iohn who the more trusted the Emperour because he had promoted him There were then three Popes Bened. 13. in France whom the Kingdomes of France Spain Arragon England and Scotland followed and Greg. 12. and Iohn 23. at Rome that divided the rest of the Papalines It was not certainly to represent the Trinity but to profane the Name and abuse the Kingdome of the blessed Trinity Oct. 28. P. Iohn called by them Sanctissimus Dominus Noster entereth the City Nov. 5. The Pope began the Council Nov. 16. was the first Session the Pope speaking to them and his Bull being read shewing that he would have had the Council at Rome but the miserable case of Rome by contention and confusion hindering it was agreed with the Emperour to be at Constance commanding to be there for the peace of the Church and appointing a Weekly Mass to be said for obtaining Gods blessing and pardoning a years penance for every Mass to every Mass-Priest that said it exhorting all to fasting and prayer for good success charging them to look after Errours especially those that rose from one Iohn Wickliff and also to reform the Church c. March 2. 1415. The Pope took an Oath for the peace of the Church to lay down his Popedome if the other two Popes would do the same and the Emperour kist his feet The Cardinal of Florence read these Decrees 1. That the Council was lawfully called 2. That it will not be dissolved by the departure of the Pope or other Prelates 3. That it be not dissolved till the present Schisme be healed and the Church reformed in Faith and Manners in Head and Members 4. That it be not removed but on just cause 5. That the Bishops depart not § 2. In the fourth Session they decreed that the general Council representing the militant Catholick Church hath its power immediately from Christ to which every man of what State or dignity soever though it be Papal is bound to obey in the things that belong to Faith and the extirpation of the said Schism and the general reformation of the Church in head and members 2. That the Pope withdraw not himself or the Officers and if he should or should thunder out Church censures against them or any adhering to the Council they are void 3. That no Translations Promotions or Cardinals be made to the prejudice of the Council 4. That three of each Nations be chosen to judge of departures c. But the Pope fled and sent them word that it was not for fears but for his health § 3. Sess. 5. The Emperor being among them they decreed again the Power of the Council as immediately from Christ which the Pope and all must obey and that the Pope is punishable if he disobey that he is bound to surrender in any case of great and evident profit to the Church that he unlawfully departed that if he will return and perform his promise he shall be safe Next they proceeded to condemn the Books of Iohn Wickliff and to prosecute Iohn Huss Next they applied themselves to the Emperour to reduce the Pope who told them he was in the hands of the Duke of Austria but if they pleased he would write to him or try to fetch him by force c. § 4. Sess. 6. They order the Procuration for the Popes Resignation to be demanded and Process to be made against Iohn Huss and Hierome of Prague A Letter is read from the University of Paris to the Pope to submit to the Council § 5. Sess. 7. They accused Hierome of Prague for not appearing and summoned the Pope promising him safe Conduct sed salvâ Iustitiâ c. § 6. Sess. 8 They condemned Wickliff's Bones to be dig'd up upon 45 Articles instead of 260 which they had gathered Art 1. was 1. That the substance material of Bread and Wine remain in the Sacrament of the Altar 2. The Accidents of Bread remain not without the substance 3. Christ is not identically and really in his proper bodily presence in the Sacrament 4. If a Bishop or Priest live in mortal sin he Ordaineth not Baptizeth not Consecrateth not 5. The Gospel saith not that Christ instituted the Mass. 6. God ought to obey the Devil 7. If a man be contrite aright outward confession is needless and unprofitable 8. If the Pope be a Reprobate and wicked and so a Member of the Devil he hath no power over the faithful given him by any but Caesar. 9. Since Vrban the
yet stronger in Vices he made divers Officers purposely to manage his Simony as his Bailiffs for all fat Cathedrals Abbeys Monasteries Priorles and vacant Benefices reserved c. 12. That he charged his Registers to receive all the money before they granted c. 13. That he appointed certain Merchants to put vacant Benefices in the Balance and grant their Petitions that offered most for them 14. He ordered that no Petition for a Benefice be offered him till it were signed by the Refundary who then was to pay it out of his own Estate if he took too little 15. That against God and his Conscience he oft sold his Bulls to Eminent men in which he wrote that they that had Benefices had resigned them to him and that by lying forged Resignation which never was made sold them again for great sums and beggar'd many 16. By this it came to pass that without all difficulty he that gave most carried it And the same course was held in Sacraments Indulgences Dispensations and other Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Gifts 17. That he usually sold the same Benefice divers times over to divers persons or to the same silencing Claims of Right whereby the whole Church was defiled with Simony filled with the unworthy both in higher and lower Prelacies c. 18. That he refused to Confirm those that were Canonically Elected unless even to satiety they glutted him with Money putting the unworthy in their stead and translated men against their wills from their Churches that he might sell them dearer 19. That promising Church-Reformation in the Council at Pisa he called one at Rome and being there publickly admonished being incorrigible by the Devils instinct did worse 20. That he sold for Money Indulgences at the hour of death the Predication of the Cross Absolutions from fault and punishment Concessions of Churches and portable Altars Consecrations of Bishops Benedictions of Abbots Relicks of Saints Holy Orders power in Confession to absolve from sins and Acts that may be ministred only by the Operations of the Holy Ghost for Grace 21. That one Nic. Pistorius a Florence Merchant and the Popes Secretary a Lay married man was made by the Pope his Legate Apostolical sent into Brabant to exact and receive a Subsidy which was the tenth part of the fruit of all Benefices in divers Cities and Diocesses and to excommunicate the refusers by a certain deputed Sublegate and suspend Colledges Covents Chapters c. 22. That he authorized this Nicholas to grant to all persons of each Sex for Money to choose their Confessors that might absolve from fault and punishment by which the Merchant got vast sums of Money seducing the people 23. That all the Premises are known true proved c. 24. That Anno 1412. Ambassadors from the King Bishops and Universities of France admonished him charitably of this scandalous infamous Simony 25. That he amended not by it but did worse 26. That he is defamed of all this in all Kingdomes of the Christian World 27. That he abused Rome and the Churches Patrimony exhausting the people and imbursing it himself by Taxes Gabels c. Many instances are added 28. For these things many Crimes Sacriledges Adulteries Murders Spoils Rapine and Thefts were committed in Rome through his fault 29. It is the common voice opinion assertion and belief that in these and innumerable other evils he is the greatest Dilapidator and Dissipator of the Church Affairs that ever was scandalous to the Universal Church a Witch a Murderer a Killer of his Brethren Incontinent in all things serving the Vices of the flesh of infinite crimes called infamously Balderinus 30. That all this is notorious by common fame repute c. 31. That he hath sold the goods of Cardinals Bishopricks Parishes Colledges Priories c. 32. And this not only in the City about many instances named 33. That he destroyed University Studies by taking the Salaries to himself 34. Besides he laid such burdens on the Parsons as forced them to sell the Church-goods Ornaments and Books 35. That hereby the whole Church was notoriously scandalized 36. The Infamy was so great that Princes and the Emperour besought him to amend 37. Hereupon he promised to amend and to call this Council 38. But he went on and did worse than before 39. He forbad the righting of the injured in judgment 40. That the Bishop of Salisbury and other English Embassadours admonished him to amend and he gave them ill words and threatned and abused them 41. That at Constance he swore to resign for Peace 42. And he promised to submit to the judgment of the Council 43. He bid all say what they would against him 44. He was humbly intreated by the Council to perform his word 45. Yet thought by hiding himself to evade 46. Yet he professed before that he intended not to depart 47. And when the Church longed for peace by the Council he plotted to dissolve the Council and so fled in a disguized habit 48. He fled to Schafhausen and commanded some Cardinals and Bishops to come to him 49. Thence he fled to Lauffenberge and towards Brisac 50. The Council desired his return 51. He denied to answer but fled to Nurenburg to frustrate the Council 52. He is an obdurate sinner and incorrigible Fautor of Schism c. 53. That all this is notorious and the common repute of men 54. And all the premises are the common fame and voice Here somewhat is left out And they begin as anew 1. Declaring his wickedness from his Youth 2. That he is notoriously suspected to have poysoned Pope Alexander and hâ—s Physitian Daniel 3. That he committed Incest with his Brothers Wife and with the holy Nuns and ravished Maids and committed Adultery with Wives and other crimes of Incontinence 3. That he Simonaically sold six Parish Churches in Bononia to Lay men who set Priests in them at their pleasure 4. That for Money he sold the Mastership of the Order of S. Iohn of Ierusalem in Cyprus to a Child of five years old Bastard to the King of Cyprus with the fruits of Vacancies and spoils of the last Master c. 5. That he would not recall this but on condition 1. That the K. of Cyprus should be paid by them that succeeded all the Money back which he gave to the Pope 2. That the Pope should have more six thousand Florins of Gold which the Prior of Rhodes paid and for which the Hospitallers are yet in debt 3. He reserved for the said Bastard the Magistral Chamber worth two thousand Florins 4. That the said Pope Iohn gave Fryar Iacobus de Vitriaco an ancient man and expresly professing the Hospitallers Religion an Absolution from his Vows Rule and habit of Religion and reduced him to a Secular life and Marriage c. for six hundred Ducats Many other Articles I pass by as tedious to be repeated One was That he was a notorious Simoniack and a pertinacious Heretick Another was That often
before divers Prelates and other honest men by the Devils perswasion be pertinaciously said asserted dogmatized and maintained that there is no Life Eternal nor any after this And he said and pertinaciously believed that mans Soul dieth with the body and is extinct as are the Bruits And be said that the Dead rise not contrary to the Article of the Resurrection c. He sent an Epistle to the Emperour to beg mercy c. § 9. Sess. 12. The Articles being shewed the Pope his Answer is recited Viz. That he repented of his filthy departure and ratified all the Councils Process against him and would give no other Answer to their Charge affirming that the Council of Constance was most holy and could not err and was the Pisane Council continued and he would never contradict the Council but publickly confess that he had no right in the Papacy That he would be much pleased that the Sentence against him might be quickly passed and sent him which with all reverence he would receive and as much as in him lay confirm ratifie approve and divulge and did then ratifie approve and confirm all their Process against him and promise never to gainsay them The Council decreed that when the Papacy was void none should be chosen without them and they that attempted it should be punished and the Election be void Next the Definitive Sentence of Deposition was past against him Next they decreed that none of the three present Popes should ever be elected again § 10. Sess. 13. The Council decreed that though Christ after Supper instituted and to his Disciples administred the Sacrament in both kinds Bread and Wine c. And though in the Primitive Church the faithful received it in both kinds c. yet the contrary custome of the Church should be a Law which may not be reprobated without the Churches Authority or changed And to say that this is sacrilegious and unlawful is erroneous and the pertinacious Assertors to be proceeded against as Hereticks that is burnt Thus they take power to change Christs Sacrament and that when they suppose it to be his very blood that they deny men and make it Heresie and death to obey God before them This was the Reforming Council Next they decree that any Priest that giveth the Sacrament in both kinds shall be excommunicated and used as a Heretick even by Secular Power that is burnt § 11. Sess. 14. Carolus de Malatestis recited in the name of Gregory 12. his Renunciation of the Papacy and Greg. approved the Council The Council absolveth all men from his obedience c. confirm some of his Acts require the third Pope to resign and declare him if he refuse a notorious Schismatick and pertinacious Heretick § 12. Sess. 15. After a severe Decree for silence and no contradiction the Articles of Heresie charged on Iohn Huss were read the sum of many is as followeth 1. As Christ is both God and Man so the consecrated Host is the Body of Christ at least in Figure and true Bread in Nature 2. That he declareth to the heretical lyars about the consecrated Host that they can never declare or understand an accident without a subject 3. This is my body is such a figurative speech as John was Elias 4. The madness of feigning an accident without a subject blasphemeth God scandalizeth the Saints and deceiveth the Church 5. It s foolish and presumptuous to desine that the Infants of the faithful are not saved dying without the Sacrament of Baptism 6. The light and brief Confirmation by Bishops solemnized only by the Rites said over was introduced by the Devil and to delude the people in the belief of the Church and that the solemnity and necessity of Bishops may be the more believed 7. Against Oyl anointing Children and the Linnen Cloth as a light Ceremony c. 8. Vocal Confession made to a Priest introduced by Innocent is not so necessary as he defineth He that by thought word or deed offendeth his Brother it sufficeth him to repent by thought word or deed 9. The Priest hearing Confession as the Latines do is grievous and groundless c. A good life is a good sign of a true Minister The ill life of a Prelate substracteth the Subjects acceptation of Orders and other Sacraments and yet in case of necessity they may receive of such piously praying that God will make up himself by these his Diabolical Ministers the work or end of the Office which they are sworn to Ancient persons that despair of children may lawfully marry for temporal commodity or mutual help or to excuse Lust. Words of Marriage de praesenti I take thee for my Wife frustrate words de futuro to another I will take thee for a Wife The Pope that falsly calls himself the servant of the servants of God is in no degree of Evangelical service but worldly and if he be in any order it is in that of Devils serving God more culpably by sin The Pope dispenseth not with Simony being the Capital Simonist vowing rashly to keep a most damnable state That the Pope is summus Pontifex is ridiculous Christ never approved such a Dignity in Peter or in any other The Pope is the Patron of Antichrist not only that single person but the multitude of Popes from the time of the Churches Donation the Cardinals Bishops and other their Complices is the compounded monstrous person of Antichrist And yet Gregory and other Popes that did good in their lives fruitfully repented at last Peter and Clement and other helpers in the Faith were not Popes but Gods helpers to edifie the Church of Christ. That this Papal Preeminence had its rise from the Gospel is as false as that all Errour arose from the first Truth There are twelve Procurators and Disciples of Antichrists the Pope Cardinals Patriarchs Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-deacons Officials Deans Monks forked Canons false Fryars and Questors It s as clear as the light that he is greatest and next Christ in the Church Militant that is most humble most serviceable and most loveth the Church in the love of Christ. He that unjustly possesseth any good thing of God taketh anothers by theft Grace is necessary to dominion He meaneth 1. Not of right before men but God 2. Nor of special grace only I suppose Without the Law of Christ inwarldly Charters and Papers give not ability and justice We must not by gifts cherish a known sinner being a Traytor to God Divers are against temporal power or right in wicked men in mortal sin But I suppose that he meaneth only such a defect as will disable himself before God to receive his approbation and reward but not such as will disoblige th◠Subject or lose his property in foro humano Many more there be that Fryars and the foresaid twelve Orders of Antichrist are not of God and some Philosophical Opinions which how far Huss held them I take this Catalogue for no proof without his words
the Context and Explication All these are mentioned as taken out of Wickliff but Huss is condemned for these following Articles § 13. 1. That there is one holy Vniversal Church of all the Predestinate 2. That Paul was never a Member of the Devil 3. That Reprobates are not parts of the Church for no part of it finally falleth away Predestinating Love never forsaking him 4. Two Natures the Divinity and Humanity are one Christ. 5. The same as afore 6. Taking the Church for the Predestinate it is an Article of Faith 7. Peter was not nor is the Head of the Catholick Church 8. Priests of wicked lives polute the Priestly power 9. The Papal dignity arose from the Emperour and the Popes prefecture and institution flowed from Caesars power Divers of Popes and Priests that live wickedly are not the Apostles Successors Delivering men to Secular powers because excommunicate is to imitate the Scribes and Pharisees above Christ. Ecclesiastical obedience is obedience after the Priests invention without any express authority of Scripture All humane Acts are distinguished into virtuous and vicious A Priest of Christ living after his Law and understanding the Scripture and desirous to Edifie the people ought not to obey the Pope or any Prelate that forbids him to preach and excommunicateth him Every one made a Priest hath a command to preach and must obey it notwithstanding excommunication By Church Censures of excommunication suspension and interdict the Clergy keeps the Laity under their feet for their own exaltation and multiply avarice protect malice and prepare the way to Antichrist It is an evident sign that such Censure proceed from Antichrist in which the Clergy principally proceed against those that open the nakedness of Antichrists wickedness which the Clergy will for themselves usurp If the Popes be wicked men and reprobates then as Judas an Apostle was a thief and traitor and son of perdition so they are no heads of the Church when they are no members The grace of predestination is the bond of the Churches union with the head A wicked and reprobate Pope and Prelate is equivocally a Pastor and truly a thief and robber The Pope should not be called most holy Right election makes not him that cometh not in by Christ to have right Wickliffs 40 Articles were unjustly condemned There is no spark of appearance that there must be one head in spirituals to rule the whâ—lâ—e Church that must alwayes converse with it and be conserved Christ Ruled his Church better throughout the world by his true Disciples dispersed than it is by such moâ—strous heads The Apostles and faithful Priests of the Lord did strenuously regulate the Church in things necessary to salvation before the Office of a Pope was introduced and so would do were there no Pope to the end of the world There is no Civil Lord no Prelate no Bishop while in mortal sin Of which oft before These Articles are mentioned which they say were proved against him It is to be noted that Huss called God to witness that he never preached nor owned many of these Articles which false witnesses brought in against him and yet renounceth nothing that he held And whether he or his accusers better knew his mind and faith its easie to conjecture They condemned Huss to be burnt and condemned another Article that any Subject may kill a Tyrant that is an Usurper by any secret or open means Then they made an Order against Robbers of such as came to the Council and went back § 14. Sess. 16. Deputies are appointed to go to Arragon to the third remaining Pope Bend. 13. to resign and other matters The Sess. 17. was an honourable dimission of the Emperour The Sess. 18. about the Councils Bulls c. The 19. Sess. was against Hierome of Prague where they recite a long Recantation which they say he made and from which they said he afterward revolted Also the Council decreed that they might proceed against Hereticks notwithstanding the safe conducts and promises of the Emperour Kings or Princes by what Bond soever they tyed themselves therein though the Hereticks had not appeared but trusting herein And that the said Emperour Kings c. having done what in them lieth are no way obliged by their promises The 20. Sess. Decreed a monitory against the Duke of Austria on behalf of the Bishop of Trent about estate The rest was about the Ejection of Pope Benedict the 13th They swore to certain Capitula about it § 15. Hierome of Prague having recanted through fear repented and openly professed that he dissembled and stood to his former doctrine and was condemned § 16. Many following Sessions are against Pet. Luna or Bened. the 13th and treating with the Arragonians about him He refused to resign being lest sole Pope I think chosen by more Cardinals than the rest in the 37 Sess. they pass Sentence against him § 17. Sess. 39. It is decreed that there should be henceforth General Councils celebrated One five years after this another seven years after that and thence forward every ten years one Or if there fall out another Schism then within a year none of the contending Popes being presidents with much more about the Councils Next they frame a Profession which every Elected Pope must make viz. That he firmly believeth and holdeth the holy Catholick Faith according to the Traditions of the Apostles of General Councils and other holy Fathers especially the eight holy General Councils viz. Nice Const. 2. Eph. 3. Calced 4. Constant. 5. and 6. Nic. 7. Constant. 8. As also the Laterane Lugdune and Vien and to hold that faith unchanged in every title and to confirm even to life and blood defend it and predicate it and every way to prosecute and observe the rite of Ecclesiastical Sacraments delivered the Catholick Church Sess. 40. There are eighteen heads of reformation named And the form of Electing Popes decreed Sess. 41. An Oath for the Electors Otho Columna Cardinal is made Pope Wickliffes errors again repeated and Husses some Constitutions of Frederic 2. Confirmed and the Council dissolved § 18. Platina tells us that Pope Iohn was deposed only by those that had adhered to him before the other parties came He was kept Prisoner three years none but Germanes whom he understood not attending him Gregory died of grief that Carolus Malatesta had too hastily published his resignation which he hoped to frustrate by delay Benedict refusing to resign the Arragonians and Spaniards forsook him as obstinate The Scot stuck last to him Platina saith Huss and Hierome were burnt for saying that Church men should imitate Christ in poverty when their wealth and luxury was the common Scandal There was great joy at the choice of Martin 5. but Rome and Italy were still in Wars and confusion § 19. Gregory was preferred till he died and this P. Iohn so odiously described by the Council is yet after some years imprisonment made Cardinal Bishop
contrite Confessor have been certainly pardoned without such formalities § 28. In divers following Sessions they prosecute Pope Eugenius and declare the Council at Ferrary to be but a Schismatical Conventicle and they establish these Catholick Verities or Articles of Faith Sess. 33. 1. That a General Council representeth the whole Church and hath its power immediately from Christ and that over the Pope and every other person and that this is a truth of Catholick Faith 2. That such a Council lawfully congregate may not without their own consent be dissolved prorogued or transferred and that this is an Article of Catholick Faith 3. That a pertinacious repugner of these Verities is to be judged a Heretick § 29. Sess. 34. They depose Pope Eugenius as a sentenced notorious obstinate persisting Rebel against the Precepts of the Vniversal Church and a daily violater and contemner of the Canons a notorious perturber of the Peace and Vnity of the Church of God and a notorious scandalizer of the whole Church a notorious Simonist incorrigible perjured person devious from the Faith a pertinacious Heretick with much more sucb § 30. Here I would crave the Readers consideration 1. If this extraordinary Great Council erred in all these matters of fact whether the judgment of a Council be a good proof of the Papists sort of Tradition 2. If they erred in these Articles of Faith whether it weaken not both their Tradition and grounds of their faith and whether such an heretical perjured Popes consent would have made them Infallible 3. Whether their General Councils be not contradictory de â—ide as this and that at Florence and Lateran expresly are 4. Whether a great part of the Church of Rome and their last named Councils be not Hereticks in the judgment of this Council 5. Seeing Pope Eugenius continued when the Council had deposed him as a Simonist and perjured pertinacious Heretick and all their following succession is from him is there not a nulliâ—y in that succession § 31. Sess. 36. They decreed the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary as a point of Faith and yet many of their Doctors take it yet as undetermined and many still are of the contrary mind § 32. After this follow Decrees about Election of a Pope and they make the Duke of Savoy Pope Faelix 5. and so we have two Popes again Onuphrius calls this the thirtieth Schisme He continued Pope above nine years and then resigned to Eugenius for Peace Sess. last They recite the Heresies of Pope Eugenius as against the foresaid Verities § 33. Next is added the Bull of Pope Nicholas the 5. approving the Acts and deeds of the Council at Basil And then are divers Synodical Epistles and Answers specially proving Councils above the Pope and against his Crimes and of the justness of his deposition very large as also against his Conventicle Council and against his Adherents that is most of their Church since with Answers to his Invectives and Monitories to draw men from his obedience In the Appendix are many more Epistles and Orations and a Treatise of the Patriarch of Antioch to prove the Pope above Councils There are many Epistles of the Pope against the Council and of the Emperour to the Council and of many other Princes § 34. The Bohemians Epistles place their main cause upon the four forementioned Articles I. The Sacrament in both kinds II. That the Word of God may be freely publickly and truly preached by those that it belongeth to for they were silenced c. III. That Civil Dominion they mean not all Propriety but Power of the Sword or force over mens Estates and persons which is the Magistrates as a deadly poyson be taken from the Clergy they spake from feeling IV. That publick and great or heynous sins may be extirpated from among the vulgar of the faithful by lawful Powers This was the Religion of the Bohemians and the denying of these was the cause of all their cruel Persecutions and the blood there shed § 35. In confutation of these Demands are adjoyned four Treatises of the four Preachers that spake against them What Cause so great or plain that men cannot talk against with many and confident words I. Ioh. Ragusius acknowledged the regulating sufficiency of the Scripture hath hath an Oration a Treatise against the Sacrament in both kinds II. Aegidius Carberius Decanus Cameracensis hath a Treatise four days Oration against their request for correcting heynous publick sins where much learning and reading is poured out to save sin And in particular it is maintained that the Clergy may not be punished by the Laity some few cases excepted not being therein their Subjects It seems the Bohemians would have had wicked Priests punished And it is specially pleaded that no wickedness of Clergy or Laity will warrant any Nation to separate from their Unity that is Roman Government and to that end the badness of the Church Militant to be endured is described When he cometh to the Popes pardons he denieth that Pardons à culpâ poena are usually the Popes stile whereas I have before cited their express words so speaking often And he honestly maintaineth out of the School-men that God only can give pardon à culpâ save as any Priest as instrumentum animatum may vi clavium dispose the receiver and declare Gods pardon and remit part of the temporal punishment but sometimes the Pope remitteth part of the Church-penances and so it is that Priests are said to forgive sins Mark this against our present Papists that reproach the Protestants for this Doctrine III. Next is Henr. Kalteisen a Dominican Inquisitors Oration against the free preaching of Gods Word by Ministers for this would have undone the Pope and his Clergy The Bohemians whom he confuteth maintained 1. That Gods Word is so perfect that nothing should be added or diminished 2. That the wickedness of Priests is the great cause of the peoples ruine 3. Against Venial sin as against Gods Counsels differing from Laws 4. That every Priest and Deacon is bound to preach Gods Word freely or else sins mortally and after Ordination he should not cease that is when he was forbidden by silencing Bishops or others no not when excommunicated because he must obey God rather than man and that Bishops are bound to preach as well as Presbyters The Answer first noteth that Papa non est nomen Ordinis sed Iurisdictionis that Gods Word is Incarnate inspired written that it is expounded by the same Spirit that inspired it But hath the Pope the same gifts of that Spirit That the Inspired Word is publick or private that the Bishops Decrees in Councils are Gods publick inspired Word see here the Enthusiastical pretence of Episcopal Inspiration is the ground of all the Roman Usurpations and tyrannies and deposition of Princes to them he applieth He that heareth you heareth me whence he gathereth the danger of disobeying that Council and so
the Popes Heresie The rest is worth the reading but too long for me to repeat Much of it is to shew that Reading and Massing is more needful than Preaching and that every Priest that Masseth is not bound to Preach there needeth many Mass-Priests and not so many Preachers and that silenced excommunicated Priests are bound to cease preaching and obey the Prelates But he had the wit to add if silenced for a reasonable cause and to confess that Sententia injuste lata à suo judice si errorem inducat vel poceatum mortale afferet nec timenda est nec tenenda Pag. 364. He denieth that it is any Precept of Christ 1. To receive the Cup 2. Or that Priests Preach 3. Orto abolish all mortal sin 4. Or for the Clergy not to be Civil Governours c. IV. Ioh. de Poleâ—nar Archdiacon Barcinon hath a Treatise of three days speech for the Civil Power of the Clergy in which he mis-spendeth much time in disputing for their Propriety when as the Bohemians took Dominion for Empire or civil forcing power of Government and for inordinate possessions of Lordships and great wealth § 36. The Papists confess that this Council was Vniversal and rightly called and confirmed but they pretend that it was partly reprobate by the Popes removal of the Council and that Pope Nicholas 5. approved it but in part It began 1431. and continued above eleven years § 37. CCCCLXXIII An. â—438 A Council at Bridges concurred with this at Basil making the Pragmatical Sanction decreeing that a General Council be called every ten years and confirming the Council at Basil. § 38. CCCCLXXIV Next cometh the Anti-Council at Ferrary and Florence where the attempt for Union with the distressed Greeks was made all the passages whereof are so fully opened in the Greeks History published by Dr. Creighton that I shall say no more of it Here note that there were two General Councils at once and how could they both or either of them be truly Universal The Papists call it the sixteenth § 39. After many Wars Eugenius the deposed Pope died An. 1447. having made twenty seven Cardinals against the Council of Basils Decrees from whom is their succession and Nicholas the 5. succeeded him Italy still continued in bloody Wars Pope Faelix at last resigned and so there was once more but one Pope And that you may see still how far the Pope was from governing all the World the City of Rome was again seeking to recover their Liberties and had a Plot against him one Steph. Hircanius being the Chief and the Pope secured himself by hanging many of them § 40 The Emperour of Constantinople and those Bishops that pretended a Union with Rome in hope of help found the people and Clergy there utterly averse to come under the Pope and they had no help from him nor any of their desired successes for now the Turks took the City and killed the Emperour and many thousands more and 1455. the Pope died § 41. CCCCLXXV A Council at Tours about Church Orders decreed praying oft for the dead forbad Clandestine Marriages and Massing in unconsecrated places c. § 42. CCCCLXXVI A Synod at Lyons to end the Schisms between the two Popes done by the Emperour Frederick who desired King Charles concurrence § 43. An 1455 Calixtus the 3. is made Pope he raiseth a Sea Army against the Turks the Patriarch of Aquilâ—ia being Captain Rome was still in War He claimed the Kingdome of Naples to the Church for want of Heirs an Anti-Pope was also made called Clement 8. but being perswaded to resign he accepted a Bishoprick Many Cities in Italy ruined by Earthquakes whose ruines Platina saith he saw with admiration He made a new Holy-day for Christs Transfiguration § 44. Next cometh Aeneas Sylvius called Pius 2. one of the most learned of all the Popes especially an Orator He was against the Pope for the superiority of Councils at Basil but when he was made Pope he recanted it In his Epistle to his Father he excuseth himself for having a Bastard and for fornication particularly with an English Woman that lodged in the same house with him telling him that he was not an Eunuch and remembering his Father what a Cock of the Game he had been himself but among the Popes he was a wonder of worthiness He was vehement for a War with the Turks but could not so far quench the flames of War at his own doors in Italy and other Christian Countries as to accomplish it Platina recordeth many of his Sentences among which are Every Sect established by Authority is void of humane reason If the Christian Religion had not been approved by Miracles it should have been received for its honesty The Mortals measures of Heaven and Earth are more bold than true Astronomy is more pleasant than profitable The Friends of God are happy here and hereafter There is no solid joy without virtue They that know most doubt most Artificial Orations move fools not wise men As all Rivers flow into the Sea so all Vices into great mens Courts Flatterers rule Kings as they list Princes hear none so readily as accusers The tongue of a flatterer is the worst plague to a King He that ruleth many is ruled by many He is unworthy the name of a King who measureth the publick affairs by his own commodity c. Ill Physitians kill bodies and unskilful Priests souls Virtues enrich the Clergy Vice impoverisheth them Marriage was for great reasons forbidden Priests and for greater is to be restored to them He that too much pardoneth his Son cherisheth his Enemy The covetous never please men but by dying Lying is a servile vice c. You may see his Râ—cantation in Binius where his Dignity raised him so high as to say That the Greek and Latin Doctors with one voice say that he cannot be saved that holdeth not the Vnity of the Roman Church and all those Virtues are maimed to him that refuseth to obey the Pope though lying in sackcloth and ashes he fast and pray day and night and seem in other things to fulfill the Law of God because obedience is better than sacrifice and every soul must be subject to the higher power and it is manifest that the Pope of Rome is placed in the top or Crown of the Church from which his power of Government we know that no Sheep of Christ at all is exempted O then how much worse is the case of the Abassines Armenians Greeks Protestants even three fourth parts of the Christian World than of the Heathens being all certainly damned for not believing in the Pope How much more necessary to Salvation is it to please and honour the Pope than any Angel or Saint in Heaven But how false is it that the Greek and Latine Fathers all agree in this § 45. Paulus 2. succeedeth Pius a man just and clement saith Platina himself yet saith he before he was Pope
University of Wittenberge clave to him and especially Philip Melancthon that excellent man how the Free Cities with many Princes came in to them and joyned how many Petitions and Disputations there were about it how the Augustine Confession was written and the Apology for it how it turned to a War how the Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hassâ—a were taken prisoners how Maurice of Saxony siding with the Emperour was made Elector and Iohn Frederick dispossest how the same Maurice after to vindicate Philip of Hassia took Arms against the Emperour and forced him to flight and finally to some degree of toleration for the Protestants All these things the History of the Reformation written by divers telleth you at large as also how many great and excellent Divines were suddenly raised up to stand for Reformation as soon as Tyranny was so far abated as that men might freely shew their minds it soon appeared that most had been long subjugated to the Pope more by violence than by consent when the Emperour was necessitated to a Toleration he consulted for some abatement to procure Concord and by Agricola Sidonius and Iulius Pflug an Antinomian turned back to Popery drew up a middle form of worship called the Interim which he would have all conform to till a General Council which divided the Reformers among themselves while some as moderate and to avoid total ruine of the Church yielded to part and others refused and multitudes of Ministers were therefore ejected and persecuted This great Emperour Charles the Fifth after long Wars and many Victories and sharp Persecutions was at last weary of all and resigned his Empire and betook himself to a private life in Spain where he died strongly suspected of repentance and inclination to the Reformed Doctrine himself He bequeathed nothing as was usual to any Religious House or Order There were found papers about him for the Protestant Doctrine of Justification his Confessor and another Doctor that attended him were hereupon suspected of Heresie and one persecuted and the other put to death by the Inquisition Thus errour sin and worldly violence are never true to themselves but must be repented of at last and none can stand to them when the light prevaileth § 60. But to return to Pope Leo when he had made above forty Cardinals exercised many cruelties and made a League with the Emperour against the French to drive them out of Italy when his Arms had prevailed and the French were expelled and Milan recovered and some Cities restored to the Church that is to the Pope the excessive joy for the Victory so â—oved him that saith Onuphrius he fell into a Fevâ—r of which he died but not without suspition of poyson The same Onuphrius whom I follow saith that he was a diligent observer of divine things given to the sacred Ceremonies but he was profusely given to Voluptuousness Hunting Hawking Luxury splendid Feastings Musick and to get money sold Cardinalships invented Offices c. and yet was the most liberal of all the Popes that ever had lived to that day excessively loving Musick c. This was Papal Piety by which he merited a Monument inscribed OPTIMO PRINCIPI LEONIX c. saith Onuphrius In all his life he desired nothing more ardently than the highest glory of liberality from which other Priests use to be very far off Perhaps for this glory Tecelius must get money by selling Pardons which began his fall Verily they have their reward saith Christ of Hypocrites that do their Alms to be seen of men § 61. It is to be noted that as the great ignorance and wicked lives of the Roman Clergy were the great advantage to Luthers success as the gross idolatry and wickedness of Heathens was to Christianity of old and the Learning and Piety of the Reformers were the means of their common acceptance so hereupon the Papacy perceived a necessity of greater Learning and some Reformation for its own defence from utter ruine whereupon many were awakened and addicted to seek Learning and some Provincial Councils made some Canons for amending the Clergies lives so that their encrease of Learning and some amendment of manners was occasioned by the Protestants yea the Popes themselves have since then been far less vicious and turbulent than before § 62. And all Christian Princes have cause to be thankful to the Reformers and to acknowledge that from them they have now the safety of their Crowns and Dignities and their peace and by them of Subjects they are restored to a great degree of freedome I mean even those that yet are Papists the Pope dare not now damn them as Henrician Hereticks as he long had done he dare not be so bold in taking away and giving Kingdomes he dare not execute his Laws against Princes Investituâ—es nor excommunicate them and depose them and absolve their Subjects nor interdict whole Kingdomes and shut up Church doors nor so much as openly profess that he hath power from God and S. Peter to depose Kings according to their Merits and to set up others in their stead O how much quieter is Italy Spain France Germany c. since the Reformation and how much less troubled with Papal terrours and wars than heretofore and all is for fear lest if the Pope should anger them the rest of the Princes should forsake him Heretofore if one Kingdome stood up against the Pope the rest were ready blindly to obey his Commands to fall upon them and destroy them But now the Reformed Nations have more strength to defend themselves and those that shall joyn with them The truth is it is Reformation that hath made even the Papists Princes Free-men § 63. The History of all the Roman horrid bloody cruelties by which they laboured to suppress Reformation I here omit because as it well deserveth it is written in many large volumns by it self I mean the bloody murders of the Albigenses Waldenses Bohemians the cruelties of the Inquisition in Spain Belgia and other parts The Massacre in France The burning people in England and the murders in Ireland and in other countries you may read them at large in many Histories In Thuanus Sleidan Illericus Morney Perin Moreland the Belgian and French Histories Foxe's Acts and Monuments and summarily in Mr. Sam. Clerks Martyrology And Carion Mâ—lancton Micreleus D. Paraeus Vignerius Scullâ—tus Bucholcer Fuactius and many others give you an account of the Reformation And the Lives of the German Divines written by Melchior Adaunes yea and of their Lawyers Physicians and Philosophers giveth not an unpleasant light into that History So that for me here to treat of the Reformation in a large volumn to do what is so often done already would be incougruous The making of Vrban the 6th the Emperours Schoolmaster Pope and the Wars in his time The Succession of Clement the 7th and the Italian Wars in his time between the Emperour and the French and others and the taking of
General Council there yet both approved by Popes § 83. The Council accuse Rome § 87. Rome's jurisdiction excluded § 87. Adders to the Creed filioque anathematized Pope Martin and Hadrian condemn Photius and enrage the Greek Emperour against them § 89 91. Bishops and Lords depose Carolus Crassus he is put to beg his bread § 92. The Pope above Emperours as Heaven above Earth Kings are Servants and not above the Clergie their Masters § 93. A King ruling ill decreed to be a Tyrant Bishops and Priests lying with their own Sisters restrained but no Bishop is to be accused by a Presbyter nor judged under seventy two Witnesses nor Priests under forty two c. He that would lye with his Sister before so many deserved blame Murderers of Priests denyed Flesh Wine Coaches c. § 96 97. Formosus perjured was the first Bishop that ever was made Pope § 99. CHAP. 11. The Progress of Councils till Leo the 9th especially in the West The Bishops depose Odo and set up Charles § 1. The Virgin Mary's Smock works wonders § 2. Bloud and confusion in Italy § 3. Bishops to be obeyed before Earls and Magistrates Clergy-men must not be put to swear No Presbyter to be depos'd but by six Bishops § 5. Two wicked Popes at once Stephen Iudgeth Dismembreth and drowneth dead Formosus and re-ordaineth those ordained by him § 7 8. The Bishops in Council approve it yet now Papists detest it § 9. When Popes are Infallible § 10. Popes undo what their Predecessors did § 12 13 14 15 17. Platina's description of a Malignant Pope § 14. Popes Crown for fear and uncrown and Crown others § 15. Bishops turn and return and cry Peccavimus Reordinations forbidden § 16. Bad Princes the cause of bad Bishops § 17. Wicked Christians on whom the Pope durst not use Discipline § 17. Schismes and violence on Popes § 18 19 20. Sergius made Pope the third time keeps it by Whores and Whoredom the most wicked of men saith Baron and Bin. § 22. Formosus again executed dead § 23. Questions to the Papists of their holyness and Succession § 24. Photius last deposition and the Murders of Emperours at Constant § 26. A Whore Ruleth at Rome § 21. She maketh her Fornicator Pope Baronius and Binnius hard put to it § 62. Earl Heribert's Son not five years old made Archbishop so Rhemes § 30. Ratified by Pope John lamented by Baron that by this Example other great men did the like Johns end by a Whore § 30. None to marry within the seventh degree as incest § 31. Sergius bastard-Son under age made Pope John by a Whore and destroyed after a Monster saith Binnius § 35. None to fast privately but by the Bishops consent § 36. The King of Denmark made Christian by Henry King of Germany § 39. St. Peter made the example for many Bishopricks to one Bishop § 40. Albericus ruleth and mangleth the Pope § 41. The Bishops judge the Infant before the perjured Monk to be Bishop of Rhemes § 43. The treasons and changes in France § 44. Tryphon illiterate finely cheated of his Patriarchate Const. § 46. Councils do and undo between the two Bishops of Rhemes § 48 49 50. John XII Lawful Pope wanted all things necessary to a Pope say Baronius and Binnius § 51. Notes hereon § 52. Pope John dismembreth his Cardinals § 53. He fled § 53. The Bishops depose him and make another by Otho's means § 54. The horrid charges against Pope John sworn § 53. Baronius and Binnius against his condemnation answered § 56. Two Popes and Churches § 57. Not yet known who was the true Pope § 59. John killed in Adultery § 60. Another Antipope perjuriously chosen § 61. A Martyr § 62 64. An interruption of the Succession by Baronius and Binnius account § 65. Otho saveth them The next imprisoned and strangled § 67. Boniface VII runs to Constantinople with the Church Treasure § 69. Two more Popes § 69 70 72. Boniface murders another Pope and gets in dyeth and is drag'd about the Streets § 74. John XV durst not dwell at Rome § 75. Huâ—o Capet turneth the Bishops § 78. Popes fighting John XVII blinded mangled disgraced kill'd § 84. Seven Electors of the Emperour settled § 85. Gerbert how made Pope § 87. The King of Hungary Converts the Transilvanians § 87. Good Kings § 90. Leutherius Archbishop of Seus against Transubstantiation § 91. Two Popes fighting The King of Hungary converted by the Emperour Henry § 95. The first burning of Hereticks Manichees § 97. Henry the Emperour leaveth his Wife a Virgin § 100. Benedict IX a deboist boy-Pope put out again § 103. Gets in again A third enters at once The Cerberus hired all out by dividing the Church-rents between them do resign but the hirer as pacificator is made Pope § 103. Six that had been Popes alive at once One honest Pope that could not read made a fellow Pope to do it § 104. Gregory VI. The illiterate reconciling Pope variously described put out with the other three and a Fifth chosen § 107. Benedict gets in the third time § 107. Another gets in by Poyson and dyeth the 23 day § 110. Baron answered § 111. The Monster Bened. 9. is he that condemned Berengarius § 112. Leo 9th of the Resurrection Renounceth the Title of Vniversal Patriarchs as of the bawd of Antichrist Peter not Vniversal Apostle Bishops equal varied by City priviledges save in Africa by seniority The Romish Church usurped by no Pastors § 205. Michael Patr. of Const. Rebaptizeth Papists saith they had no true Baptism or Sacrifice § 205. A Roman Council pardon simoniacal Bishops and Priests lest the Church be utterly destitute § 206. The Popes hold a Council in France against the King ' s will A Bishops horrid Crimes and a miracle there Still Clergie and People must chuse every Bishop 207. CHAP. 12. The continuation till the Council of Constance Councils against Berengarius § 2 c. Adulterous and Symoniacal Bishops A miracle § 4 9. Hildebrand a Sub-deacon presideth in Councils and deposeth Bishops and Excommunicateth § 9 10. Bishops by Excommunication rule K. Ferdinand § 12. Milan separated from Rome 200 years § 16. Another Schism § 17 18. Hildebrands new Foundation of Popes by Cardinals Election § 22. Notes hereon § 22. A Roman Council forbids hearing a Fornicator Priest § 23. Bloody fights between two Popes Five years schism § 25. P. Alexander giveth England to William the Conqueror § 27. Councils for each Pope § 28 29. Gods word affirmed violable § 30. Hildebrands War in Rome Italian Bishops against him His hard work Obedience to the Pope forbidden by a Council at Mentz He deposeth the Emperour for seeking to diminish the Majesty of the Church and absolveth his sworn Subjects An Antipope made that sate 21 years the 23d schism The Emperour barefoot in frost three days begs pardon and promiseth obedience He is again cursed by the Pope in Council as
having power to take away Kingdoms and all that men have § 41 42. The Siege of Rome Two Popes Gregory's death § 42. He threatneth to depose the King of France claims Hungary c. § 23. Binnius record of THE POPES DICTATES telling in 27 Articles WHAT POPERY IS § 44. He claimeth Spain § 46 and Dalmatia § 49. A great part of the Bishops against him § 49. Pronounceth unsincere repentance fruitless § 50. Denyeth Divine Service in the Sclavonian tongue § 51. Ill weather imputed to the ill Lives of Priests The Armenians errours what § 51. Apulia c. the Popes § 51. One man turned an hundred thousand men in Spain from the Pope He threatneth to Excommunicate and depose the King of Spain as an Enemy to the Christian Religion § 52. He newly found St. Matthews body § 54. He will expose the Prince of Sardinia unless he obey him in making all Priests shave their beards § 55. Notes hereon The French convert the Sweeds and the Pope would reap the fruit § 56. His notable Epistle to prove Popes Priests and Exorcists above Kings § 57. Answered § 58. Peter pence § 59. An Arch-bishop suspended for not visiting Rome § 60. A pious Lie for Peace is a sin § 61. The old Spanish Liturgy partly contrary to the Christian Faith till now § 62. His respect to William the Conquerour c. § 64 66. The German Bishops hereticate the Pope for forbidding Marriage § 67. Matthew is forsaken § 68. Philip King of France and many great Bishops excommunicate § 69. Divers Councils excommunicating contrarily the Antipopes § 69 to 74. Ordinations null that are made pretio precibus vel obsequio and not by the common consent of Clergy and People § 75. He excommunicateth the Greek Emperour usurping § 76. The Greek affairs summ'd up § 77. The power of Pope and Bishops to depose Kings § 79. A Council Character of Gregory § 80. A Council make Loyalty to be Haeresis Henriciana § 87. The Disciple is not above his Master answered § 87. Wecilo's heresie that men obey not unjust Excommunications but may by others be received § 88. The 23d Schism § 91. Victor's Soldiers conquer Clement's § 92. Lay Princes presentations or Investitures are Heresie every Heretick is an Infidel It 's better be without visible Communion than have it with such § 93. Consectaries overthrowing Rome ib. A new Pope marrieth Mathildis to Welpho on condition they use not carnal Copulation § 94. A Jerusalem expedition causeth peace at home Conrade rebelleth against his Father § 94. The Emperour commits Fornication § 101 103. Wrongs on Monday Wednesday or Thursday no breach of holy peace No Bishop or Priest must swear or promise Allegiance to a King nor take Preferment from any Lay-man § 104. None to communicate in one kind § 105. All the Bishops of England save Rochester renounce obedience and society with Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury because he would not renounce the Pope saying he blasphemed the King setting up any in his Kingdom without his consent § 106. Time given the King of England to repent § 109. The Anti-Pope Clement digg'd up and burnt Paschal 2. Council Decree that all Bishops of the Henrician Heresie Loyalists if alive be deposed if dead digg'd up and burnt that is most of the Western Bishops § 112. The Schism continued § 113. The Pope set up young Henry against his Father who taketh him Prisoner to the death He keeps his Fathers Corps five years unburied because Excommunicate Yet proveth Hereticus Henricianus Imprisoneth the Pope till he grant him Investitures The Pope absolveth himself § 114 115. Cases on Binnius § 116. Note that Investitures supposed the People and Clergies free choice of Bishops § 117. The Bishops usage of old Henry to the last § 118. To take the Popes Excommunications as not obligatory is a Heresie § 119. The dangerous Doctrine of Fluentius Bishop of Florence that Anti-Christ was come § 120. Only the Church made Henry rebell § 121 122. Tybur coloured with bloud The Earl of Millans Flesh given to Dogs The Popes sacramental Covenant broken § 127. God will have no involuntary service § 129. The same is a Henrician Heresie in others which is none in the Pope § 132. He may forswear for the People of God § 132. Two Popes contending and excommunicating The Emperour giveth up Investitures § 135 to 138. Four Doctrines of Guilb Porretane condemned in Council 1. That Divinitas and Deus are not the same in signification 2. That the three Persons are not unum aliquid 3. That there are eternal Relations besides the Persons 4. That it was not the Divine Nature that was incarnate Two more Popes § 138 142. A Preacher murdered at Rome § 144. Two more Popes the succession from the wrong § 145. They fight for it § 146. How Clergy and People first lost their Votes in choice of Popes § 147. Two Popes still striving § 149 c. Many Castles in England built by two Bishops § 160. Abailard condemned unheard § 161. Caelestine II. the first Pope without the Peoples election An. 1143. Rome against the Pope Bishops are his strength § 168. Porretane again accused and puzzled the Council § 170. He is again accused by Bernard whom the Cardinals accuse for writing his Faith and getting Bishops hands to it § 171. The Romane people excommunicate by Pope Adrian 4. They are for a Preacher called by him an heretick § 174. Rome fighteth with Pope and Emperour They fight again and expel the Pope § 174. The 27 pair of Popes Wars between the Emperour Frederick and Pope The Crown of England held as from the Pope Yet Rome receiveth him not The Emperour submitteth being deserted c. § 175. The setling the choice of Popes by Cardinals The Pope no Bishop by the Canons § 177. The Roman Succession is from Alex. 3. when the Clergie People Emperour Princes and a Council of innumerable Bishops were for Victor § 176. Parliaments called Councils § 179. Ireland the Popes § 180. The Albigenses Henricians § 181. No Bishop may suspend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter A perjured Clergie-man perpetually deprived Doubtful words to be understood as usually § 182. The Popes Party in Rome have their Eyes put out § 183. Frederick drowned in Asia § 187. The Kingdom of France interdicted § 190. The Pope seus up an Anti-Emperour who prevaileth § 192. England interdicted six years and three months § 194. The famous twelfth General Council at the Laterane under Inoc. 3. for Transubstantiation exterminating hereticks deposing Princes absolving Subjects forbidding unlicensed Preachers c. § 195. Almaricus burnt dead § 196. Stephen Langton and King John § 197. Ten Queries upon this Council § 198. The Canons of this Council true Mr. Dodwel's 17 Arguments for it § 199. The Papists excuses answered § 180. misnumbred The bloody Execution § 181. Oxford Canons that every great Parish have two or three Presbyters c. § 183.
contradiction and action in this matter is neither contradiction nor rebellion but the filial honour due to the Divine Father and of you Briefly recollecting all I say the sanctity of the Apostick Seat can do nothing but what tendeth to edification and not to destruction For this is the plenitude of power to be able to do all to edification But these things which they call provisions are not to edification but to most manifest destruction Therefore the blessed Seat of the Apostle cannot accept them because flesh and blood hath revealed them which possess not the things that are of God and not the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who is in Heaven § 196. When the Pope heard this Letter saith Mat. Paris p. 872. Not containing himself through wrath and indignation with a writhin aspect and a proud mind he saith who is this doting old man deaf and absurd who boldly and rashly judgeth my doings By St. Peter and St. Paul if our innate ingenuity did not move us I would precipitate him into so great confusion that he should be to the whole World a Fable a Stupor an example and a prodigy IS NOT THE KING OF ENGLAND OVR VASSAL AND I SAY MORE OVR SLAVE WHO CAN WITH OVR NOD IMPâ—RISON HIM AND ENSLAVE HIM TO REPROACH These things being recited among the Cardinal brethren with much ado asswaging the rage of the Pope they said to him It is not expedient O Lord that we decree any hard thing against this Bishop himself For that we may confess the truth the things are true which he speaketh We cannot condemn him He is a Catholick Yea a most holy man more religious than we are more holy and excellent than we and of a more excellent life so that it is believed that there is not among all the Prelates a greater no nor any equal to him This is known to the whole Clergy of France and England Our contradiction will not prevail The truth of this Epistle which perhaps is already known to many may stir up many against us For he is esteemed a great Philosopher fully learned in Greek and Latine a man zealous for justice a Reader of Theology in the Schools a Preacher to the people a Lover of chastity a persecutor of Simonists These words said the Lord Aegidius a Spanish Cardinal and others whom their own Consciences did touch They counselled the Pope to wink at all this and pass it by with dissimulation lest tumults should be raised about it especially for this reason that IT IS KNOWN THAT A DEPARTVRE WILL SOMETIME COME so far Mat. Paris § 197. Yet neither this Bishop nor the Historian flattered Princes but both of them sadly lament the oppression and other sins of King Henry And the Bishop commanded his Presbyters to denounce excommunication against all that should break the Magna Charta the Charters heretofore granted foreseeing saith Mat. Paris what the King would do And he sharply reprehended the Fryar Minors that would not tell Great men of their sin when they had nothing to lose Cantabit Vacuus c. having chosen poverty that they might be freer from hindering temptations § 198. When he lay on his death bed at Bugden in Huntingtonshire he told Ioh. Aegidius his learned friend that he took them for manifest Hereticks that did not boldly detect and reprove the sins of great men and thereupon reprehended and lamented the sins of Prelates but especially the Roman reciting their putting unworthy and bad men into the Pastoral office for kindred or friendship sake The third day before his death he called to him many of his Clergie and lamenting the loss of souls by Papal avarice groaning he said Christ came into the world to win souls Is not he then deservedly to be called Antichrist who feareth not to destroy souls God made all the World in six dayes but to repair man he laboured above thirty years And is not a destroyer of souls then judged an enemy of God and Antichrist c. Next he goeth on to shew how sinfully the Pope by his non obstante overthrew even the rights that his Predecessors had granted vainly pretending that they bind nothing because par in parem non habet potestatem and what evils to the Churches he had done and addeth I saw a Letter of the Popes in which I found inserted that they that make their Wills or that undertake the Crâ—isado and to help the holy land shall receive just so much indulgence as they give money c. And so goeth on naming his imposing men that cannot preach or strangers of other languages as Pastors on the people and his covetous and greedy devouring all the wealth he could get concluding Ejus avaritiae totus non sufficit orbis Ejus luxuriae Meretrix non sufficit omnis And that he drew Kings in for his own ends making them partakers of the prey Prophecying that the 〈◊〉 will not be freed from Egyptian servitude but by the mouth of 〈…〉 These things are small but worse will follow within three years sighing and weeping out these words his speech failed him and he died And ibid. Mat. Paris saith that the same night that he died wonderful Musical sounds and Ringings were heard near in the Air by several friars and by Fulk Bishop of London then not far off who said when he heard it that he was confident their reverend Father Brother and Master the Venerable Bishop of Lincoln was passing out of the World to Heaven The Bishop being dead the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln fell out in striving who in the vacancy had the power of giving Prebends wherein the Arch-Bishop by Power utterly oppressed them And M. Paris p. 880. affirmeth that Miracles were done after the death of this Bishop by his virtues at Lincoln and yet confesseth some of his faults and his sharp thundring against Monks and Nuns c. § 199. The same Author tells us p. 883. anno 1254. that the Pope was so unmeasureabley wrathful against this holy Learned Bishop that when he was dead he would have taken up his bones and cast them out of the Church and purposed to precipitate him into so great infamy that he should be proclaimed a Heathen a rebel and disobedient to the whole world and he commanded a Letter to that purpose to be written to the King of England knowing that the King would be mad enough against him and ready enough to prey upon the Church But the next night the said Bishop of Lincoln appeared to him in his episcopal attire with a severe countenance an austere look and terrible voice he came and spake to the Pope that was restless in his bed pricking him in the side with a violent thrust with the point of his pastoral staffe which he carried and said miserable Pope Senebald Dost thou purpose in disgrace of me and the Church of Lincoln to cast my bones out of the