same Emperour wherein hee beginneth thus Quantum rebus humanis consulere provideÌ„tia divina dignetur c. How much the providence of God vouchsafeth to provide for the affaires of men the care of your Maiestie stirred vp by the spirit of God doth shewe which care of yours will suffer nothing in the Catholike Church to be vnappeased or to be vnlike it selfe because the faith which is but one can in nothing bee different froÌ„ it selfe After this he coÌ„fesseth that the Emperour religiously loving the Catholike truth for the suppressing of Eutiches The Emperous called a councell of Ephesus did command a councell to be held at Ephesus to which councell hee sent his deputies in his stead to heare the debating of the questions Epist 13. to the Empresse Pulcheria In the 13. he writeth to the Godly Empresse Pulcheria beginning thus Quantum Praesidij dominus ecclesiae suae praeparavit in vestra clementia multis saepe probauimus documentis c. Princes are protectors of religion against heretikes What protection God hath provided in your highnesse for his church we haue ofteÌ„ proved by many experimeÌ„ts And whatsoever the industry of Priestes hath effected in these times against the withstanders of the catholike truth hath amounted especially to your honour whilest as you haue learned of the holy Ghost you subiect all your authority to him by whose gift and vnder whose protectioÌ„ you rule After this he maketh her highnesse acquainted at large with the points of Eutiches heresie telling her it is a thing worthy of her dignitie that error be abolished he commeth to tel her The Pope would faine haue the day of the councell altered but could not of the time prefixed by the Emperour for the holding of the councel saith Quia ergo multa mihi fiducia est de pietatis tuae syncerissima fide c. Now because I haue great hope of the sincere faith of your Godlines I beseech the glory of your clemeÌ„cie that as hetherto by your indevor the catholike doctrine hath alwaies bin furthered so now you would be an helper thereof which peradventure it hath pleased God to suffer to be shakeÌ„ with this temptation that those who abide in the church might be knowne the regard toward whoÌ„ is not to be neglected least the losse of them become sorrowfull to vs. Indeed the most noble and Christian Emperour desiring assone as might be to compound these troubles in a councell of Bishops which he wil haue to meete at Ephesus The Emperour called the councell at Ephesus hath set a very small and short time for their meeting And theÌ„ telling her that the Emperour looked for his appearaÌ„ce by the day which he excuseth he coÌ„cludeth with exhortatioÌ„ vnto her that according to her accustomed care of Religion the heresie of Eutiches might be rooted out of the minds of al men And that if the heretike himselfe did abiure his heresie he might bee received Epist 15. Leo Episcopus saÌ„ctae synodo quae apud Ephesum The 15. epistle is written to the Bishops assembled at Ephesus wherin he exhorteth them to condemne the blasphemy of Eutiches he saith verum quia etiam non est negligeÌ„da curatio c. But because the healing of such mischiefes is not to bee neglected and the most Christian Emperour verie Godly and religiously will haue a councel of Bishops held The iudgement of a councell of bishops is better then the Popes that by a more mature judgement error might be extinguished I haue sent thither such as I thinke fit who may in my stead bee present at the holy assembly of your brotherhood and who with your commoÌ„ coÌ„sent may ordaine those things which wil be pleasing to God The 16. is directed vnto Flavianus Arch bishop of ConstaÌ„tinople beginneth thus Epist 16. Flaviano charissimo fratri Leo Episcopê° Romae I haue received the letters of your belovednesse together with those things which haue bin done with you in the matter of faith Although there be in his iudgement no need of a councell yet the Emperour will haue one summoned And because the most Benigne Emperour carefull for the peace of the church wil haue a synode called although it evideÌ„tly appeare the busines which is to be dealt in needeth not to be handled in a councel yet my beloved brother I doe certifie you that those will follow whom in this case it pleased me to appoint Epist 17. Leo Episcopus TheodosioseÌ„per Augusco The 17. is to the Emperour Theodosius to the same effect that that before is to the Bishop Having received saith he letters from your clemencie I perceiue that the whole church hath cause to reioice in that you will not suffer the Christian faith by which the Godhead is honoured and worshipped in nullo dissimilem in nullo vult esse discor dem to be in none vnlike or discordant A little after this vnde quamvis ad diem concilij Episcopalis quem pietas vestra constituit c. And although nothing can fall out which may giue me any occasion to meete at the day of the councell which your Godlinesse hath appointed The Emperour will haue a couÌ„cell although in Leos iudgement the cause require none because no example can bee brought of any before me and the leaving of the cittie void will not permit me because also there is such evident reasons that the command of a Councell needed not haue beene yet because the Lord God doth vouchsafe to further it Then hetherto it was a lawfull Councell I haue been carefull that at the time appointed your highnesse commaundements bee obeyed Epistle 18 Leo Episcopus Pulcheriae Augustae The 18. is to Pulcheria the Empresse to the same effect that he wrot vnto her in the 13. before relating what hope the Church had promised to it selfe by her helpe praising the Emperour and her highnesse that they submitted their scepters vnto God by whose power and guift they reigned The Pope acknowledged that kings raign by God now the Pope saith they raigne by him A little after It is a thing worthy of your glory that errour by these meanes be takeÌ„ away And in the ende excusing himselfe for not comming to the councel telleth her whom hee hath sent In the 22 Epistle written to the Clergie Epistle 22. ad Constantino politanos Nobles and people of Constantinople coÌ„plaining of the indirect courses which hee heard was followed in the councell of Ephesus he comforteth himself in this Sed hos ausus pio Christianissimo principi confidimus minimè placituros The Popes hope rests in the Emperour for reforming of abuses in Councels The Emperours constancy a patterne for all Epistle 24. to Theodosius the Emperour But our hope is that those enterprises will little please the most Christian Emperour And in the ende hee perswadeth them to constancie by the example of the Emperour in which hee
But the second held in the same citty cannot be held a couÌ„cell The 2 of Ephesus which it is certaine was carried to the subversion of the faith which your clemencie in loue of the truth as being good for the catholikes Aliud statueÌ„do cassabit We aske no other supremacy but this wil make voide by appointing an other most renowned Emperour Therefore I heartilie beseech pray your Maiestie through our Lorde Iesus Christ who is the author and governour of your Empire that you woulde not suffer the faith which our blessed fathers preached as received from the Apostles to be handled againe as doubtfull in this present synode or those things which were of old condemned by the authority of our auncesters you suffer not to be stirred afresh by new indeavors But that you rather command this The prince must strengthen the Councell by law that the constitutions of the auncient councell of Nice the interpretations of heretickes being remoued may stand firme In the 44. Epistle to the Emperour again wherein amongst other things hee giveth him thankes for his defence of the Catholike faith he writeth thus Epist 44 Leo Episcopus Martiano Augusto you haue shewd your protection of the Catholike faith The divine aid doth grow in you Pure and vnstained religion ought to bee the highest of all cares appertaining to publike regiment These bee points of that supremacywe seek for whereby verily not only the state of the Church but the strength of your Empire is fenced that so o glorious Emperour you may worthily looke for his protection whose truth you worship For that the soundnesse of my Brother Anatolius was the sooner manifested That hee that revived againe the errour long since condemned could haue no place in the Church of Christ That the Catholike Bishops whom the late persecution of the heretikes could not depraue are called backe from their vniust exile And that the reliques of Flavianus of blessed memory were preserved with due honour his condemner acknowledging his owne impiety is a title of your vertue a fruit of your Godlinesse vpon whom I trust the ensignes of other glories will bee heaped that as the Church of Constantinople having received the liberty of the Apostolike faith doth reioice so all men are glad that all the Churches of your kingdome are cleansed from the contagion of divelish opinions A little after thus it followeth Quae industria in omnibus quae nequitur gesta sunt c. Which labour of ours in amending those things which are wickedly carried will by Gods helpe take effect speedily if your Maiestie vouchsafe to adioine your helpe to the repairing of the Ecclesiasticall peace We also do desire that a Synod may be held as your clemency mentioneth But that the Bishops of al the provinces should be gathered together at this present The Emperour had power to call a Councell sooner or later as it pleased him the necessity of the time doth with no reason permit Therefore your clemency may reserue it to some fitter opportunity Of which businesse those that I haue sent can more fully relate vnto your highnesse Epistle 45. Leo Episcopus Pulcheriae Augustae Not one remedy to all sorts In the 45. Epistle to the Empresse Pulcheria After relation of Eutiches blasphemy he saith But that towardes the persons of such men an vpright course be observed and one manner yeelded to those that are amended and another to those that are obstinate wee pray your highnesse to defend them that we haue sent froÌ„ the Apostolike sea and that you would further that businesse which wee haue commanded them that so more sooner and easier the Lord aiding vs those things may bee done which will further your glory and the peace of the Church Touching Eutiches the author of all this wickednesse and scandall I pray your clemency Leos power was not able to remoue Eutiches that hee may bee removed further of from that place which is two neere the cittie of Constantinople least he haue more often consolations from those whom he hath drawne to his impietie Leo desireth the Empresse that a Catholike might be placed in Eutiches â—oomes which is a part of that supremacy we dispate for CoÌ„mand also that some Catholike Abbot bee placed in that Monastery where hee very dangerously and vnworthily sate whoe may deliver that company of the servants of God both from his false opinion can instruct them with lessons of truth Epist 47. Stapl. abuseth these words the honour and right of Peter or Peters sea reserved referring them as though Leo had the right to call a generall councell where as Leo speaketh of their decrees that nothing be enacted against the priviledges of that sea Return of vntruths against B. Iuell art 4. fol. 143. b. 147. a. Epist 49. The Pope desired that the couÌ„cell might haue bin deferred but could not The Pope would not withstand the Emperour although the Emperor would not al his request defer the Councell Epistle 50. In the 47. Epistle written vnto the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon wherein hee exhorteth theÌ„ that they would determine of al things according to the scriptures hee faith thus We must imbrace the councell of the most clement Prince which is full of holinesse willing your holy brotherhood to meet to gither to overthrowe the crafty devises of the divel setling the peace of the church the honour and right of the sea of S. Peter preserved insomuch that he also invited vs by his letters to be present at the reverend synod which yet neither the necessitie of this time nor any custome could permit In the 49. Epistle to the Emperour Mar tianus he beginneth thus Wee did thinke that your clemencie could haue performed our request that the present necessity respected you would haue commaunded the councell of Bishops to haue bin deferred vntill fitter oportunity that so Priests being called out of all provinces it might bee indeed an vniversall councell But because in loue to the catholike faith you wil haue meeting to be at this preseÌ„t Least I should seeme to withstaÌ„d your holy pleasure I haue sent my legates thither In the 50. to the same Emperour thus he writeth The holy desire of your clemencie touching the having of a synod Leo Episcopê° Mart. August for the repairing of the churches peace I tooke the more willingly and although I did desire it might haue bin kept within Italie The Pope desired that the Councell might be deferred or kept within Italy but could obtaine neither and wished that a fitter time had bin sought out that so many mo bishops might haue bin gathered togither from further regions yet asso one as your letters came I addressed some thither in my roome And concludeth thus In respect that formerly I haue desired your Maiestie to be gracious vnto those that brought my letters so now also I intreate with like assurance that you would be favourable
in all things towards those that shall be there in my stead whereby those things may the more easily diligently attaine and wholesome effect which are brought into order by your care and study Epist 51. Leo Epise Pulche riae Augustae The Empresse had care over the vniversall Church Leo could haue no more In the 51. to the Empresse Pulcheria thus he writeth I do in all things acknowledge the religious care of your highnesse which you do vnweariably bestow for the Catholike faith And do thanke God that I see you haue such diligence to further the vniversall church that whatsoever I thinke doth appertaine to iustice or loue I will boldly moue and set forward that so those things which hitherto haue bin done by the endevor of your godlines without blāe may the speedier bee brought to a pleasing end In that therefore your clemencie hath commanded a councell to be held at Chalcedon The Empresse appointed the Councell to bee held at Chalcedon when the Pope would haue had it in Italy when I made request to you Maiestie that it might be kept in Italie that all the Prelates of our part being called if security of the time would giue leaue might meete I haue not taken it vnpleasantly but appointed two of my Bishops to repaire thither Epistle 53. is written vnto Anatolius the Archbishop of Constantinople Epist 53. Leo Episcopus Anatolio Episc wherein hee first praiseth him for his faith in ioyning with the Councell of Chalcedon then hee expostulateth with him for going about to subiect the Churches of Alexandria and Antioche vnto his iurisdiction contrary to the Nicene Councell saith thus It is not without cause belieued Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople next before Axatolius thy predecessor of blessed memory being cast out for the defence of the Catholike truth that those that did ordaine thee contrary to the order of the Canons seemed to consecrate one like to themselues Anatolius was made Bishoppe without Leos consent yet his ordination stood firme but the mercy of God was present directing and confirming thee in this that thou shouldest vse ill beginnings well and shew thy selfe not to bee carried with the opinion of men but with the loue of God which may very well be so taken if thou loosest not the praise of that guift with another offence A Catholike man especially a Priest of the Lord as he ought to be intangled with no errour so not to beeled with any ambition A little after Therefore after those blame worthy beginnings of thy ordinatiō after the consecration of the Bishop of Antioche which consecration thou challengest to thy selfe for which I am grieved that thou shouldst indevour to infringe the holy constitutions of the Nicene canons as though this time were only beneficiall vnto the whereby Alexandria shall lose the priviledge of the second honour and the Church of Antioche the right of the third So if all be subiect to Rome they all shall loose their honours so that these places being subiect to thy rule all Metropolitan Bishops shal bee deprived of their honour which being vnheard of and never before attempted you are so overtaken by extremity that you bring the holy Councell which was gathered together by the care of the most Christian Prince only to extinguish heresie confirmation of the Catholike faith into an occasion of ambition and constrainest his sufferance to thine owne side A little after O brother be not high minded but feare The Pope feared the Emperour as his superour surcease to trouble the godly eares of the most Christian Princes with vniust Petitions whom I knowe you shall better please with modesty then with pride Epist 54 Leo Episcop rom universalis Ecclesiae Martiano August The 54 Epistle is to the Emperour Martianus to the same effect that the former was to the Bishop of Constantinople wherin he reioyceth in the faith of the Chaloedō Councell and further certifieth him of Anatolius who went about in the same coūcell through ambition to bring vnder him the Churches of Alexandria and Antioch and thus beginneth Through the great guift of the mercy of God By the care of the Emperour the heresy was suppressed the reioycings of the whole Catholike Church are multiplied seeing by the holy and religious care of your highnesse the pestilent heresie that troubled the Church is extinguished that so our labour might sooner come to the desired ende which labour of ours your excellencie serving God in it hath furthered in faith and power A little after I speake to a Christian truly religious The Pope is fain to certifie the emperour of the dealing of other Bishops sound prince Anatolius the Bishop doth lose so much of his good deserts as hee doth desire to rise by vniust dealing Let the citty of Constātinople as we desire haue that which is its due And the right hand of God strengthning you I desire that your Empire may be established in you for ever And let each man knowe Propria perdit qui in debita cōcu past according to one faith and meaning not to suffer them hence forward to be pluckt in peeces by any accusation As therefore the mercy of God by the counsell of his spirit hath instructed the minde of your clemency first of all provide for the peace of the Church of Alexandria The Emperour commands the clergy to chuse a sound Bishop thē the Pope belike did not chuse al. per catholicos sacerdotes talem provideri iubete Pontificem and commande that the Catholike Priests provide such a Bishop in whom for honestie of life and soundnes of faith nothing bee found amisse that all things being rightly caried the preaching of the truth bee every where kept The 74. Epistle to the same Emperour hath this tenor Epist 74. Leo Episc Romae Leoni semper Augusto Although lately I directed two letters vnto your Clemency the one wherof contained the debt of my salutation the other intreated for the state of the Church Notwithstanding by an occasion which hath offered it selfe God so ordering it it is meete I intreat both againe According therfore vnto that trust which by the inspiration of God you haue performed to the vniversal Church The Emperour began to deale in Church matters before any man requested him as knowing it to be his duty by setting in order before any man spake that which was especially to bee desired we doe not cease to giue thankes to God and to praise his providence in the earnestnesse of your faith who hath withstood with an holy and Catholike spirit as I vnderstand by cōference with my brother fellow Bishop Anatolius the impudēcies of the heretiks that we may acknowledge to the quietnes of the world that you haue bin a preserver of the Chalcedon councell Which when it is profitably defined by your sentence howe much more carefully is it to bee published to the
indued with the cleere light of truth and to waver in no part of the faith but are able to discern with an holy and perfect iudgement truth froÌ„ falshood and to sever things confuted froÌ„ those that are to bee imbraced I beseech you blame not my distrust thorough my humility seeing this my taking heed is done for the whole church serveth also your glory least in the time of your raigne the wickednes of the heretikes bee increased or the peace of the Catholikes be troubled The Emperour by gods grace was sufficiently furnished with guifis of iudgement pietie which were his guids in governing the Church so far forth as we speake of And therfore although in all things I am assured of the affectioÌ„ of your highnes doe perceiue by the holy Ghost dwelling in you that you are sufficiently instructed that no error can beguile your vprightnes of conscience I indevor yet in this to obey your command in directing some of my brethreÌ„ vnto you in my steed who shal shew you what is the rule of the Apostolicall faith The Emperours supremacy in ecclesiaticall causes is seen in this Epist 95. Leo Rom Epis dilectissimis fratribus vniversis episcopis catholicis per Gall. Hispan constitutis At Martianus command skilfull men assembled who appeased the differeÌ„ce which I take is with vs about the 24. of Aprill See the differeÌ„ce of spirits Victor the Bishoppe of Rome would haue excommunicated all the Churches in Asia because they would not keep the feast as rome did now you see that Leo aboue 200 yeares after him consenteth with theÌ„ Euseb l. 5. c. 24. although as I said before it be known sufficiently vnto you And coÌ„cludeth thus Suffer not the lamentable captivity of the church of Alexandria to coÌ„tinue any longer to which by the help of your authority vprightnes her liberty ought to bee restored that so throughout all the citties of Egypt the honor of the Fathers and the priestly right bee repaired The 95. Epistle is written to the beloved brethreÌ„ catholike bishops through out Fraunce and Spaine touching the variation in the observing of the feast of Easter Tantùmme diversitas ista permovit So much saith he hath the diversity therof moved me that I opened the sorrowe of my minde vnto the most benigne Emperour Martianus that at his commaund the truth of it might be fouÌ„d out with diligent search by those that haue the skill on what day that holy solemnity might best be celebrated By whose writing back vnto me I finde that the determinate time is the 8. of the Calends of May. And therefore thorough a desire of vnity and peace which I haue I had rather rest in the definition of the Churches of the East theÌ„ dissent in the observatioÌ„ of so great a feast Your brotherhood therefore shall know that the feast of the resurrection of our Lord which is Easter must bee kept by all the 8. day of the Calends of May. And this by you must be certified to other the brethren that as wee are ioined togither in one faith so wee may keepe the solemnity togither In the 99. Epistle which is my last in this place for honor of that most worthy Emperor Leo concludeth all the rest Epist 99. Leo Episcopê° Leoni Augusto I finde that thus writeth this Leo the Bishop vnto him If we should desire to giue that due praise to the glorious purpose of your godlinesse in defence of the faith as the greatnesse of things doth desire wee should be found vnequal in the matters of giving thankes if only with the slendernes of our mouth we should celebrate the ioy of the whole Church But more worthily shall the Church it selfe yeeld praise to your acts and merits in whose busines you excel doe triumph in the wished event of glory Let your Maiestie therefore know that all the churches of God are glad likewise reioice to your honor The Emperour removed Timotheus Aelurus who was chosen after the murther of Proterius because that wicked murtherer is throwne out of the Church of Alexandria and the people of God over whom such a mischievous robber was set being brought backe to their ancient liberty of faith may be put againe by the preaching of faithful priests into the way of saluation when they shall see a whole seminary of poyson cast out with him Now there fore because you haue done this with an high purpose and heroicall spirit The Pope desiâ—eth the Empeâ—our to determine of a catholike Bishop for Alexand. is not this a part of his supremacy to see that fit and able men be provided for the people of God ioin this to the finished work of your faith that you determine of a catholike Bishop for that citty which thing will please God who cannot bee touched with any spot of the so often condemned heresie least peradventure the hidden wound in shew do grow further and the Christian people who by your meanes are plainely delivered from the perversnes of heretiks be againe subiect to deadly poyson Finis or conclusion is this Although they bee not all perswaded that it is the truth which they withstand yet that to be error which they vphold they might vndoubtedly the sooner a great deale attaine to know Hooker ecclesâ—olitie l. 5. that their study is more to defend what once they haue stood in then to find out sincerely and simply what truth they ought to persist in for ever
vniversall Church Disturbers of the catholike religiō to be punished by the magistrat insomuch that so the quietnesse of the christian faith may profit your Empire and no hereticall impiety may glory in its enterprise Whose craftie stubborn contention will forthwith be appeased if it be bridled by the Imperiall power The 75. Epistle is also to the same Emperour Leo Epist 75. Leo Episc Leoni Augusto where after due congratulation touching the letters hee receiue frō him and complaint of the impietie of the 2. Ephesine councell which promoted the heresie of Eutiches Hee commeth to say this What more praise worthy what more religious thing can your Godlinesse decree The Emperour must by lawes provide that those thinges which in matters spirituall be established bee not infringed then that no man any more be suffered to assault those things which are determined not only by humane ordinance but also divine A little after relating the doctrine of the councel of Nice and Chalcedon it followeth Before a Christiā Prince therefore one that is to be numbred with due honor amongst the publishers of Christ do I vse my christian liberty The godly Emperour is a publisher of Christ and securely exhort you to the fellowship of the Apostles and Prophets and that stoutly you despise driue those from you who by their heresie haue lost the name of Christian men nor suffer murtherers to deale in the faith with a sacrilegious dissimulation who would by all means make void the faith For when the Lord hath enriched your clemency with the knowledge of such a mystery you ought without delay to consider that your kingly power was not given you only for the governement of the world in civill things but especially for succour of the Church Sed maximè ad ecclesiae praesidium that by repressing of wicked enterprises you defende those things that are well established The Emperour must reform the Church and restore true peace to those things which are out of order thrusting out those who are invaders of other mens right and reforming the seat of Alexandria to the ancient faith that the anger of God beeing mitigated by your meanes hee recompence not the kingly city for the evils it hath done but remit them Set before the eies of your heart renowned Emperour the priests of the Lord dispersed thorow the world who intreate you for that faith which is the redemption of the world wherin in they specially labour The Emperours supremacy is seene in these things who being followers of the Apostolike doctrine are chiefe in the church of Alexandria intreating with your Maiestie not to suffer the heretikes those that are iustly condemned through their own perversnes to vse their owne courses seeing whether you looke vpon the impiety of their error or consider the work of their fury done they cannot only not bee admitted to the honor of Priesthoode but also to haue the name of Christian men taken from them A little after after he hath spoken of the insolencies of the heretikes in exhibiting their petitions to his highnesse he commeth to this It is therefore an excellent thing for your Maiestie for that a crowne is added to your Diadem by the hand of the Lord yea to your faith that so you may triumph over your enemies of the Church because if it be commendable for you to wage war against the nations how great will your Glory bee if you deliver the Church of Alexandria The Emperour must deliver the Church frō a tyrant in whose sorrow the wrong of all Christians rests frō a grievous tyrant Going on and making mention of the advertisement of other matters he commeth to this Sacerdotalem namque Apostolicum tuae pietatis animum etiam hoc malum ad iustitiam ultionis debet accendere The Emperour had a priestly apostolical mind For even this mischiefe also ought to kindle your Priestly and Apostolike minde to the equitie of revenge which evil doth grievously darken the puritie of the Church of Constantinople in which there are found some Clerks agreeing with the heretiks even in the bowels of the Catholiks aiding by their assertiōs the parts of the heretiks In thrusting out of whome if my brother Anatolius If the Bishoppe neglect his duty the Emperour must reform him and settle the Church who spareth thē too favorably be found slowe vouchsafe you with your authority to adhibit a medicin to that Church that such may not only be put frō the order of Clerks but also throwne out of the citty that so the holy people of God be no more polluted with the poison of perverse men Iulianus the Bishop and Etius the Priest who honor your godly affection I commend with my petition beseeching you to heare their informations gently for defence of the Catholike faith because truly they are things of that nature that they may bee founde profitable for your defence The 78. Epistle directed to the same Emperour Epist 78. Leo Episc Leoni Augusto beginneth thus My mind reioiceth in the Lord with much ioy and great reason haue I of reioicing since I know that the most excellēt faith of your clemencie is increased in all things with the gifts of the heavenly grace and by the groath of your diligence The Emperour had a priestly mind Much good toward the church wrought in Italy by the Emperours meanes I finde the devotion of a Priestlie minde in you for in all the speaches of your godlines it doth very plainely appeare what good the holy ghost hath wrought in Italy by your meanes and howe much it is desired by the praiers of all the faithfull that your Empire may bee inlarged in all glory who aboue the care of your temporall busines doth bestow the service of your wisdome very constantly in disposing of holy and heavēly things that so the catholike faith which only quickneth mankind and only sanctifieth may abide in one confession and that dissentions which are bred out of the diversity of humane opinions may be driven away by the soundnesse of that Rocke vpon which the citty of God is built The city of God is built vpon a strong rocke A litle after speaking of his owne agreement with the church of God against heretikes in the councels of Nice Chalcedon hee saith thus If I build againe those things which I haue destroied I shewe my selfe an offender as the Apostle saith and bring vpō my selfe all those punishments which not only the authority of Martianus a prince of blessed memory Martianus the Emperour boūded in the decrees of councels with imperiall lawes penalties to which the Pope was subiect The Emperour hath a perfect iudgement to discern the truth established against such but those also that I haue confirmed with mine owne consent After this giving the Emperor his ordinary due praises he saith Now since I know reverend Prince that you are