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eX. t-t^ f^

THE

PREFACE.

TH^ grtat 4tjcfnltiefs fif Hijlory fKeds nut many nords to prove /Y, Jeeh/g natural wcl/Kation it Jclf is Jo much for it^ andreafmand exferietice tcU nicn^ thut they cannot Jpare it^ ax to Natural^ Ch'il, er Religious hJc. God hintjelf hath highly com-vtendcdit tous, by vritingth SacredScriptttres fomuch Hijioricully -^ jeaand making Jome of it fart of the necejfiry Articles of our Creed, Children that yet midcrjlavd not the DeQrinalfart of the Bible^ do quickly tak^ delight in the Hijioricalpart ^ trhich prcparcth them for the rejh. Ignoraftt and ungodly peribns that have no true fenjl of Sacred Do&rine^ can )Ct undcrjland and rritb leffe avcrfnefs and tfearinefs read the hijlory. Mchncholy and Jad perfons vcho can httrdly hear long Doar/nal Jivdies , arc often eafed and recreated vpith ujejiil Hijlory.

Man it a part cf the TJnizarJe, and every man is a fart of the world of mankind^ and thcrejbre thml^th the cafe oj the whole to be much efhiscoficciite. And rvcrc not nanow felfiflmes much of our Pruvity, we Jhould talf tic t/niterfal and fublnk^ good , and Geds Love to it and l?lcajcdncfs and Glory in it, to be much more our end., dindihc oLjcH of eur.dejire and dehgl.t, than any fcrjcnal felicity of Ohrown:, It is a Mittjier of inhumanity in the Do&rinc of the Sad-ducccs, Spinofa, Hobbcs, and tleir IruiiiJI) fvllojrers, that they Jc! Kf Indfzidual Jclf ft/tcrcjl as a mans chiefcjl end and objccf of rational Love and defirt ^ and oven no Good, but that niich 2?c/,.--tively is Good to me, that is, cither my perfcnal life and picafiirc <i the end, crotl.a-things as a r-fcojis thereto: Though Cracc on'jJuz;}:g~. lyatre this baje inhumane maJadie, yet common rcafon Icarcthrcii-7iefs againji it,, and only fcnfc, rfWiircafbn captivated by fcnjc do patronize it. Put 7:0t the (jucllion to a rcajin.ible man^ though wicked, what he can do or dotli ; But what in rcafon he ll:ould do, and he catmpt deny luf that hepordd tlinh^ofa more txcel'c::tpcrjon at the Indie?, th^'it nexcr rcilldo anything fr hnm, as more amailc than him-

A 2 . Jclf,

The Preface.

felf^ much fftare many ihmfands fiiih -^ Afrdas Goodnels oftd Ami-Tibkneisare all One, Jo thM whii'h ij-focft, pouldhe loved beft * And ■ he that Muld not die to Jkti his Ctuntry is vecrfe than foier ^Heathens were. And he that vpoiild not rather be annihildttd than all or halfe the world pmld he annihilated, isfo bafely fcljijh, that I Jbmildjecner kljere that analogical Rcafon nileth Jomc Irvites , than that true ReApn determinctb ihis mans choice.

Spinofa tak^tb the Knowledge of our Union with Univerftl naturt" (rrhich he callcth Ged') to he mans ferfeOion^and his ckiffgotdy. in cotn^'arifon of which Jenfual Pleafure, Riches and-Honour are ht tronbks further then they areumtanes hereto : And if he had better kpOTfn God , as the Creator and Governour and end of the mA-terial Umverft rchich he tcek^ to be God , and had joyntd Q holy Uniteing Joyful Love to the Univerfe, and (pccially to the Heavenly Societfy-dWd'above them all to God himfelQ unto this Knowledge, aj^d extendedit to the perpetuity of stn Immortaljlate., he had ken happily iA the right, irhich mijfwg, he became a perniciotts . Jedmer of himfclf and others.

BntthMS7raturc And Grace do loudly tellvs, that each f&Tt Jhotdd

'* ' he greatly concerned fjr the whole,' '<»«/ therefore every one Jhoiild deftreto kiiswas nnicb of tie vAicAt, asheiscapdblc,andastendetb to his duty and delight. Andhovpfnulla pared o/Time, or Men, or Aftions arc prcja:-t or in car dares .■? Hsw little l^noiceth he

'•"^^'■thdt k>!OV(cih no more than he hath lived to Jic> What Religion can ke hoTcC vpko hjevpeth not the Hrflory of Creation, Redemption or the giving of the Holy Ghcft, oi' the plaiJting and 'propagating the Church., and alfo what will he tvhcn this life is ended }

But it is not all Hijlcrj that is fieedfnl or ufcful to us : There tire many things dene which m are not concerned to be acquainted with. But the Hijlory of the Chcrch, of the propagation of the Chriftian faith, <?wtf/ what the Doftrine was that was then received. Mid box* it was praSifid, promoted and defended, and how it was corrupted invaded at/d perjecnted, is of Jo great ufeto pojlerity, that next rothe Scripture and the illitmination of Gods Spirit, I remember nO' thiv^ more needjid tc beknorvn.

'.-«, «'7f7«/i; Philip Neriusy?f«j;A// Oratorian exercijes at R,ome, as to wiU the people, they found it ncccffary to nje large affe£iionate ex-tcmpcr.ttc prayers :ind ixpofi'.ionsandSermons, fb the next thing found f:c.cjj^ir}' u.\rx, to hcjlcv confuu-tly offc cxercijcin opening Churcb-HiJio-

ry

The PREFACE.

ry tothf -ptcple. And this did bcib crtkc ikcir ait€vt:c>:s by deli^bt^ and aljo by Jiihng rcpcrts more to the Papal ifttereji that/ to the trHth-, did greatly bewitch them tftte a lenfidvtt bcliefi^ that ike Papai/e3 . was ail the trne Churchy and all other Cfr/j!i.ms roere hut fe&ariesand bvanckes broken off and Tppithered^ and there fere to he burned here and hereafter (abupig Joh. 15.5. C'v.)

Andl have oft thought that the right j;fr. of fuch an Hifioricd cx-

ijy trcifi^ in an ordinary cotigrcgatiou troufd be of great tijc to the igno-

y!!>%%\ i-jmt z-ulgar And unlctirncd zfalo/ts fcrt ofQirrjuan r: For I find that

• \fc l^ir vpant of the kfiovekdge of Qhurch-Htfiory, ttnd hove things have

»■. gone before us in all former times^ muny enours and (ins are kept up

«»■*•■ thai eljovpoutd mere eufdy he forfaken-i'* Tv infiance in fonic ferv.

'{a. id ] L^Asit vc.u the craft of haronms (vrhfi performed that cxercife

i>iil dH ^riusfi/V Qonvettticles at Rome,) to rrritt aficitrui-d his Qhurch-

K\h. » 'Hijiqry in Latinfo vflumwoufly^hat fen- but the Clcrgie byaj/ed by mtercji

i^ rV-tPOH'd readit^ and (3 the Clergynt/ghtle the neditcd reporters of all

. '^-itoth^ X'ulgar y.fo to this day, the Papiji-Priefis contrive to be the

Maflers and reporters of Chiirch-Hijiory us rrcllas of umxritlcnTra^

h.i>-'\\dJtff^,.:afrdfO'J{ccp the Laity fo fur ignorant of it, that lehen they tell

to* ^^^fTtcn confident fiories for their adrantagCy ferv or none tuuy be able to-

rontradfCftl.cn/, a»dfo their report /nuji pajfc as undc/zycd truth. And

thus ftilje Hifiory is made the chief fvund^iiion of the Roman Ki/rg-

flov/,

. '^hnstity rcill face you doivn that you arc igi.orant or impudent,

^h. M^i;, Jf jou qkejiionrrhcther Pctcrn-us atrue B/jhop at Rome, (ycu

9A1 ]t!fir civr tJ^re,nhich N\\\is hath JJ.iexcd to be fbn/ewhat uncertain ) 2.

Or that he fctlcd the Roman Bijhop us his fucceffcur Hn a f^prentacy

g-dcrullthe Qhriji/an world, 3. Or that the Popes Primacie wasozcr

all the Churches on earth, which indeed rvas but (as Cantcrburie isiti

pj/gland,') m one Roman Empire ovly. 4. They rcill pcrfwade you

* that this Pri/nacie iras felled by Chrifl or his Apofiles , which veas done

•'"' only by Councils andEn/perours of ?<.ov[\c, 5. They veould nial^ \cu

bthctc that this n>as fr^//t the Apojilcsdaies, which begoji long afier,

■« ' 6. They wouldpcrfrvade you that all the Chr/jiiMt world fiibn/iltcd Icr

it,eien Abaflia, and all the exira-i/nperialChurches, wL/tbis no fuch

■«» ,vt matter, 7. Tea^that befora iMlhcx ronecok'trad/Hcd the Pupal power

-SA r-and cUi»/e, but all the Chrijiian world were Papiflr. By tnany fuch

"^ ^^ ties they elective thcufimas of the ignoratit :. And when they rhai-

•■" h gc /Hcn to dijpute, by- wovd or iprii/ng, then: laji refuge is to bring thc//t

The P 11 E t^ A C E.

i/.to a reeocl of Hiflory-, that there thcyfHuj cither min the game or end fhp chafr-i And if a Mtnijier of Chrijl be not nfmediere, tt) confhtc their f./Jhrrcal forgfrks, they wifl take it fir' a vRtx^ and iriumpfy, which MoJe Ji:c vcrite Kiy laji book^ againji John(bn V <>'■ Terrt^t) to JIktv tii-(IcriCidly the Anilquity of cur Chttrch^ and the novelty of theirs (rchirh [could vcifi yntng MinijlersitnacquaititcdTPithChwch-HiJiorj would J'etv/c.')

But if o»r people rvcretrifcly acquainted hotp things have gone in the' Church front the ieginning^it rcotild be one of the moji effeliual^ prejer-l-aiivcs againji Poper}!, when new ihe faljff cations are become its jireftgth. J have oft thought that it had been greater policy in the Papijis, if they coitld^ to-have burnt all ChHrch-Hijiory^ but fpecial/y of theCoiwcils, that the credit ntight haze depended on their bare word: For verily cncc reading of Crab^ Binn'ms, Surius, or NlcoWTmswrndd fttrn agait/J} tkent a7ty jioKtacl{^ihat is not confirmed in their own difeafe. But tney ' have overdone Baronius, and now made fo great and cojily a bad of the Cottncils, as that the defciency of money^ time^ wit and patient indujlrj^jhallfive the mofyCven of the Pricjihocd fram the iindcrjiand-hig of the truth : And Jitch Epitomes as Caranza's leave out n/ojf^ of ^ the culpable part: and yet even fiich they can hardly tolerate. ^,

//. Tne more moderate French Papijis who magfrifeOoHncih attOue' ' Popes,irvfld make us believe,that though Popes arc fallible andmaymij-c.nry^yet GcneralConncils Jhave been the univerjalChurch-reprejentative^ which have a Lcgifativc and "judicial TJniverfal powers and that our concord mitjl be by centring in their decrees ^ and all are Schifmaticl^s at leaf, that take not their Faith and. Religion upon their trtijl : But if men k."ewthat there never rvais a General Council of al/ the Chrijiian Churches but only of the Empire, and how wofully they hai'e mifearriedy it would do much tofavc them from all fuch temptations.

III. The ovcrvalucrs of Church gran dure, and wealth, atid ntain-taincrs of the corrupt fort of Tiiocefane Prelacy, Patriarks,^c. write books and tell the ignorant conjident ficries, how fuh a Prelacy hath . been in the Church ever (ince the dayes of the Apojilcs, atid that all the Churches on earth conjentcd to it: But if the people were acquainted with Church-Hijiory they would ^WfJjr, that the pri >>. itivefx cd Epifopa-.y w.is Parochiiil,or every Chnrch ailbciatcd for pcHonal preflntCo nmu-iiionhada Bi(liop,Pre(bvtcry and Deacons of their own: (urfxed Itinc:\V!tGcncralPafors,}ndeff/7icly taking care of mi/njCht;rclcs ).And that 7t was the Bifopsjirivingwhofmtld be grcaiejl, and turning fm^lc

Churches

The Preface.

Cbitrches into an AJfociatien of many Churches^ and tabc but Chappets #r partt of the Dmejitt Church (that their psrcer and reealth wight btetilargtd mtb their Territories) and the turniHg of Arbitrating Bi-jhtps into the Common Judicature:^ vehich ntuft grcern all Chrijiians^ andfnch like^ which poyfoned the Church, and turned thcfpccies of par-tiatlarChurcheSy Efifcopacy, Presbytery and DifiipUne^ quite into another thing. And tojpta^ f'^flji '^ '"'^•'^ '^^ ntany blind volumes and (onfdent clawonrs of fome men, that rail at ut^ as denying an Epijcopa-ty, Xfhuh the nniverfal Chnnh hath alrvuys agreed in, rohuh drew nte to write this abridgement of the Church Hijiory of Bijliops, Councils and Popes.

IV. And thoje that make the Ignorant believe that Jeditiouf difojfedient Presbyters have in all Ages been the dividers of the Church, and the Bi-Jlxips the means of "Unity, concord and Jitpprcjfion of JitchSrhifinalic^s and Hcreticks, could ncvei- thus deceive the .people, were but fo much Church-Hijlory commonly l^own, as I have here col/e&ed. Read Churcb-Hijiory and believe that if yon can.

V. And many that tak^ up atiy iterv opinion or dotage which is but newly broached anfcnglfj/em, wfuUL have been favccl from it, if they had but kjtown how that fa'tie opinion or- the lil<e, was Icng ago taken up by Hcrctickfy and exploded by the faitbfid Pajhrs and people of the Church.

11, And thefiSaries who raftdy feperatc from fome Churches, he-cAufe p/'T^/z/t'fornis, opinions or ceremonies, whuhalmojlallClr:-Jli'ans on earth have /ifa, in the former purer ages,and fill ufc, wouH bc^more cantelous and fearful in examining their grounds, and would hardlf venture t(> fepc{'-Jtc from any Church far that, which on thcfimc reafon woidd 'mpve them to fcparale from almoji all Chriftians in the whole world j if net Unchurch the Church of Chrijl : And ancient errours and crimes would affright us f-om imitatrngthem.

VII. And if>oJe that m.ike new ambiguous words or uuneccffiry practices to become neceffary to Church Communion^ and hereticate all that differ from them, or pcrfecute them at leaf, woidd be more frightened front Jiich pernicious courjes, if they well kpew what have been the ef feUs of them heretofm-c.

VllL And it is not unufeftd to Princes and Magif rates to fee what hath corrupted and difurbed the Churches in frm<r times : aid what cauje they have toAeepthe featlar power from the Clo-gics kinds, and to va.ue tl.ofc that jor knorvkdie and piety are meet for their proper guiding office, and uji oj the Church Kejs: but not to coirttpt them bj cx-

ccfs

The Preface.

/■

cCjQ of rrorldlji ncalih and pon-cr^ vor to permit them by flriving^ who Palljccm GKEATEST, WISEST af?d BEST, to become the jncct;d}arks of the Church avd rvcrld, and the perjecittors of the Icfi that camiot Jene their rrorldlir.efs ami pride.

The Reader Mufi Ncte^ i. That though much of the Hifiory be takfn from others^ the Council j are named and numbred according to Binnius and Crabbe : 2. And that becanfe fo much evil is ncceffarilj recited^ I thought it needful in the beginning and end to annex a defence of ih9 V.ijhrs and their office and Tvork.-, leji any pould be tempted to thinly hardly of Religion and the Church fir mens abufes. 3. And if Micrc-lius, Gutlerbeth, Phili Parens, Funcius, Carion, Melanfthon, Bu-chotzcr, Scultetus,Pezclius,Helvicus, or any other that I havejeen, had anjkered the ends rrhich I here i/rtend^ Iflwuld have gladly faved my felf this labciir and have refer d the reader to them.

The Councils are norv publified voluminoufly, a»d many youngf}udcnts rcant money and time to read them at large. Tofuch this abridgement may not be unufeful ; efpcciaUy to men that have mifiak^n the cafe of the great hercfics and kereticators, and vponld know what Prelacy and toitn-cils have done to the concord or difcord of the Churches. The Defcrip-tion of the State of Alexandria recited in the beginning as a Letter from a friend^ was from Mr.Clerkfon a Learned and worthy Minifier (though Jflenced) new in London.

The Lord pardon and heal our common ftmltinefs^ and give better Teachers to his Churches when we are dead and gme^ who will takf warning by all our errours and mifcarriages^ efpecially to efcapea wordly fpiritypride^Chmch-tyamiy and fchifm^ and ferving the world^ thefiefk and the Devily by pretence of Authority fromChriJi, Amen.

Marchji. i<J8o, Londitit.

What

What Hiftory is Credible, and what not.

As the Holy Ghoft faith, BelUve not every fpirit; I may fay, Believe not all Reports, or Hiftory. It was not only/4/wt/ Prophets, in whofe mouths Satan was a lying fpirit : As lying and deceiving is his work in the world, for the deftroying ot Ho/m*//, and oi Souls, even wiien he turncth himfclf into an Angel of Light i fs is it the work of his Minifters, when they fectntobeMiniftersof Righteoufnefsi when it is oft faid (Be «o» dt--ce'tved) and ^Let no man deceive yon with vain reords ,] it is more neceflary ad-vife,andhardiier followed, than moll men underlland. As Truth is Gods means to work the will to holy love, and lead us in a holy life, fo Lying is the Devils means to oppofethem : and of ail Lyars, none are more pernicious than lying Hiftmans, and lying Preadyers. It is a fad perplexity to the world, that when men read and hear, even the more confident and plaulTble Hi-florics and Reports, they know not whether they are true or falfci and if they belicvethat tobc true which is not, thee/fed: is worfc than this/'er-fleitity. 1 will tell you what I take to be credible, and what not.

I. It is prcfuppo/cd that a man mull believe his fenfes, if <b'Jnd, about their proper objects: Papifts that tell us that all mens (enfcs are deceived, when they feem to perceive Bread and Wine in tlic Sacrament, do but tell us that no man then is to be believed, and therefore not they thcii.felves.

II. The Hiftory of the Gofpd is certainly credible, bccaufe it was confirmed by multitudes of uncontrouled Miracles wro.;ght by Chrill, and by his Apofiles, and multitudes of ChriiUansi as the Dodrine it fclf bcareth the Image and Superfcription of God.

III. The Propliets that had Divine Infpiration and Vifion, had that Evidence which gave thtmfclvcs a certainty, though not toothers.

IV. \\ hen Hiftory dclivereth a matter ot fad and fcnfe, by the com~ mon confent of all men that knew it, though of contrary minds, difpoli-tions, and intcrcfts, it giveth us a certainty which maybe called Naturals becaufc Nature hath nothing in it that could caufe fuch aConfpiracy in Lying : That it is fo credible as to be a Naturjl certainty, that there is fi.ch a place isRome, P.iris,Jertifalem; tliat the Statutes ot the Land are not Forgeries, while all Contenders plead them againlt each other, and hold by them their Eftates and Lives; And fo that there was fuch a Perfon as Jtfus Chrift, and that the Scriptiues were written by the Prophets and Apo-ftles, &c.

V. when the Hiftory of any perfon and adion is proved by continued or vifible effeds .• asthit JVilUam of NonmnJy conquered Englmd, while fo many of the cffeds of that Lonqueit in our Laws and CuIioTis are Itill vifible •• And that the l^ilfh Were th; Ancient Britains, driven by the Sax!>nr into Wales, while their'Language, Habitation, &c. Ihew it; And lo that Chrift inftitutcd BaptiGn, and Church-Communion, and the Apoftks fe-

a paxated

parated the Lords Day for holy worfhip, when the Chrifiian World hath ufcd all thefepublickly in all places evcrfince, anddo ftili ufe them: And fo that Temples were built for holy worlhip, and endowed, when wc Hill fee and polTcCs them.

VI. That Hiltory is credible which confcntir:gly fpcaketh againP- :• known intereft of the Author > for mans corrupt nature is apter r. boafting, than to faKe Confcilionsof Sin > againll a Conf:lTor there >">-cii noWitnefTes: And this is much of the credibility of the hirflitr part of the Church-Hiftory which I here recite : What I fay of the mifcarriagcs of Bilhopsand Councils, is moftly in thcirown words i and what I fay againft Popes, is but the recital of what is faid by the greateft Defenders or Flatterers of Popes: I give you no Reports againft the pride, contentions and corruptions of Patriarchs and Prelates, out of the fuppofed Hereiitks, or Proteftants i I give you not a word out of Luther (who de Conciliis) halt very much > and efpccially fpeaketh much like as I here do of Cyril arid Nejloriui •■> nor out of lllyrkus his Catalogus tcjliitin VeritatiSy nor out of the Magdtburgenfes, Ofunder, Skidan , Cation, MelanCihon, Mornay's Myflery of Iniquity, no nor out of the Coliedlions of Gaidajinf, M-irqiiJi-Jut^ Freljeri*/., Huberus^PiJiofius^&c. But the fubftanceof the common Hiftory is taken sut of tlic commonly received Chiirch-Hiftoriins (Eufebius, Socrates, Sozf-tnene, Cafiodorus, T'heodorite, Kuffinus, Evjgrius, Nazianzen, Hierom, ViHor^ xV

Nieephorur,Liberatus,l^icetas,ind(ach others', and th "11 of the Couq-cils and Popes is out of Bartnius, Anaftafius^ but moft Ou'. •. 3ifl«/«/,and ?la-' una, and JSLneas Sylvius ("a Pope,) Petjvius^ and fuclj of her as are the greatefl Papal Zealots: When thefe fpeak for their Cauje, i leave you to \a& fnjpiiion\ but when they fpeak a^azw/? it, by way ofconfelfion or lamentation, they are not to be fufpedied.

VII. The next degree of credibility dependeth on the Veracityor credible titnefs of the Reporter ■■, fome men arc much more credible than others ; For inftance.

J. One that was «/>(;«*/'? ^/j«, znA farv what was done, or lived near, ■where he had full information, is (ceteris fsribus) more credible than enethat followeth uncertain reports, orhear-fay. ,

2. A wife man is much more credible than a proud fslf-conceited Confident Fool.

3. One that hath made a matter his long and hard ftudy, is (c£teris pari' bus) more to be believed in that matter, than many ignorant men.

4. One that is impartial, a lover of peace, and not ingaged by fadion ©r intereft to one fide againft the other, is c£teris paribus much more credible tlian a fadlious intcreiicd man.

51 A (ober, calm, confiderateman, that will ftay and try before he judg-cili, is more credible than a pailionate or hafty judger.

<5. A man of manifeft honelly, confciencc, and the fear of God, is much more to be believed than a worldly, wicked, bloody, unconlcionable

tiian.

7- Ctttris Pjr/^K/many agreed honeft impartial men are more to be believed than one, or a few odd and fingular perfons, who have no more advantage than the reft to know the truth.

8. The young and unexperienced owe feme Reverence to the judgment of their S'Mfor/, as more credible by age and experience than their own.

p. Accordingly Children to their Parents, and Scholars to their Maftcrs and Tutors owe fuch belief as isanfwcrablc to their difference, and theufc of their learning of them.

By this you may fee on the contrary who is not worthy of belief.

I. One that pretcndeth Infpiration, Vifion, Revelation, and giveth the hearer no fuflicirnt proof of it.

II. One that pretendeth to tell you things beyond his reach i as many -Philofophers do about the my flcrits of Nature, fpiritual and corporeal, E-

lemcnts or rr.ixt bodies, above and below, of which the Books of many arc full, and malignant men, that take on them to tell you other wenx/^«wf/, without jtfi proof, that they are hypocrites, and intend that which they never did, or meant ill, when they faidor did well ■■, and when falfcHiOo-rians will tell you with what Cunprovcd; illpurpofcs or deceits, perfons a thoufand miles off, and perhaps a thouland years palt, whom they never knew, did fay and do all that is reported of them.

III. when there are but few reporters of things pretended to be kriown publrckjy in the world , efpecially when more credible perfons contradict them.

IV. When the pcrfon is deeply ingaged in a Party, and carryingon alitor theintercll of his Party, doth give you but his word, or the report of his own Party for what he faithi fo that you may perceive that intcrcft byafTcth him to partiality.

V. When theHiflorianfhcwctha mali'gnant fpirir, that cxtenuatcth or denieth all the good that was in his Advcrfaries. and faftcncth on them as mucli Odium as he can without juft proof, and juHifieth all the reproach that is ufcd againd them.

VI. When the Hiilorian livcth fo far o/f from the place and time, that he is no competent reporter, having all his notice but by the fame of his own Fadion, as urcapablcas himfclf.

VII. VN hen the fober moderate men of his own party contradiA him, and fpeak well of the perfons whom be reproacheth.

VIII. When the reporter i"; maniftltly a proud, worldly, wicked, uncon-fcionable n,an, efpecially of a bloody hurtful dilprfition ; For as Gods threefold Influence, or the t^Wo:/?jW(/>;.;?, Ifill and Life is bv.t ore, fo the Devil dcth ufually vitiate togedur the Zhiderflanding^ Will and Life j and he that is from the beginning ^n Enemy, and- a Murderer, fs alfb a Lyjr^ Though a rpick^d^mjlig/unt ,znd eruel w;j/j. may yet have an opinionativc faith and knowledge, and preach the truth, when it is for his carnal intcreli i yet when his malice and interefttemptcth him againft it, there is no trufHng his word.

IX. when an ignorant proud man thinkcth that he muft be believed mecrly for the reverence and authority of his place.

X. When the reporter livetli in a time and place where carnal intereft hath got the major Vote for fal(hood, and it paffeth commoDJy for truth efpeciaily where Tyranny, Civil or Ecclcllailical, filenccth the truth in Prefi, Pulpit, and Difcourfe, that it dare not be Ipoken > by which the Pa-pifls have not only made their ovvn writingsand reporrs incredible, bjt by their Indices Expxrgaiorios, and bafc corrupting of ancient Writers, have weakned our certainty of much of the old Hillory and Fathers-

XI. When the reporter is a weak and lilly man, that hath'not wit tofift out the truth.

XII. Whenheis paiTionately raft, and of haDy judgment, and hath not patience rofiay and fufpend his judgment till he hear all.

XIII. when it is a Novice or raw Student, that hath not had time, helps and experience to know what he pretends to know, and yet contradidfcth wifer men of more advantage and experience.

XIV. When prefent experience tellcth us, that the party that he writeth againft as unlearned or wicked, are men of Eminent Learning , and the i'earof God i- and that the party that he magnifieth as fuch, are contrary » by fuch marks incredible Hi/lory may be difcerned.

Qu. But hBfP canrveknotvmens wifdome, and piety^ and honejly, and impartiality, when we ueverkricrv-tbe men ? Anf. Thougib hypocrites may much counterfeit truth and goodnefs, its hard fo to do it, but the contrary which-rukth in them will break out, as a iVmk will get through narrow pafTages : and though truth and honeliy may be much clouded, they have, like light, afelf-revealing power.

To give you fome infiances i as among Phyfitiansi^/'^crj/pJ-, and Gakn^ lindCelfufoi o'd i and of late Montanits, Crato Fernelius, PUterut, Hildj-n«/, and fuch others, do fpeak with that felf-evidencing honci>y, and many Faracelfians with that palpable vanity, that one of them will conllrain belief, and the other unbelief, even in them that never heard what they were : So among Hillorians , Eufebiiu, though counted an Arrian, and Socrates^ and Sozometi, though called Novatians, and Iheodoret^und Liberatuf, and fome others, do write fo as toconllrainbelicf of things which were within therf notice, and with honcUimpartiality : Among the Papifts, what clear foor-ilcpsof underlianding, honefiy, and impartiality,and fo of truth, is there in. T'huanur , and much in Commines, Gtticciardint^ Father Paulus Servita Hift. of Trent Council, and divers others: Though Dofter Jtmei bid us keepCrjt, becaufe the later Councils are corrupt, and all of them muft be taken witlvdue Antidotes, yet becaufe irioii of the matter is fetcht from pub-lick Ads and Records, they arc more credible than moft fingle Hiftory i Acojia fpcaketh impartially of the /^e/? Indies, and Godignus of the AbaJJi" ans, Matth. Paris of England, and the Pope, and fo of fome others: Of Pro-teftants, fome do but recite recorded tcdimonies, or publick ads, and the very wruirgs thciriclvcs of the times they fpeak of, when others do but-

tcU

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tell youftories on their bare word : Golds(ltis,Kuhtrus^ Freherm and Pijh-r/K/,dobut give usColIc<ftionsof the writings ofthofe former Ages, and nothing of their own : So doth Mr. KnJhKorth now in his three Volumes of CoUcdlionsi and Mr. F»//w hath partly dono fo, and writcth n.oderatcly> Mr.G«7i?rt B«r«rt thuswriteth the Hiftory of the Reformation,, laying not the credit on his word, but on his Evidences', and Cambden impartially thus writethof Queen Elizabctb^2nd in his Br/ttania: 'LyT^cr harhdone the like, de fuccef. Ecclef. of the JValdenfes i and in \\\sdc irimordiU Eccl. Brit, of the Pelagians^ not faying, but preving by Records, and old Evidences, what he dehvcfeth, bclides the advantage of his known extraordinary learning,honcfty,and impartiality ") fo doth Fox for the molt part in his Martynlo^y give y( u but the publick Record, or proved Hillorics f though Cope call him lyar) MdanShon and Bucholtzer were men of fuch known lin-cerity, as conftraincth credit to their reports.

On the other fide, who can believe fuch palpable Railcrs as T)mpius, Co-chleMf,Geiieb)-ard,art(i many fuch, that lye contrary to certain aidence ? fuch as make the Vulgar believe, that L«//;fr learnt his Religion of the Dcvii, and was killed by him i that Oecolampadius was kill'd by the Devil ; and that Bucer had his guts pull'd out, and caR about by the Devil ■■, that Calvin was a ftigmatizcd 5'o(/rt»«/>f and Senfualill i that Bf«u died a PapiftCwho lived long after to write a Confutation) and abundance fuch, Mckbior Adam gathereth hisHiHory of Lives from the Pens of thofe that moft intimately knew the perfons, what able, holy, laborious, and excellent fervants of God were Crf/ivn, Bez,», Daneus, K>wx, and many fuch, as defcribcd by Adj' mMSt and in the judgment of thofe that were their moft knowing obfer-vers: But what vile rebellious wretches were they in the judgment of Do-GoT Hcylin, and fuch as he ? what excellent perfons did God ufc for the beyond-fea Reformation ' even as in Vr.inces and Holland; Jetircl, Biljon^ and other Bifhops, defend that which He)lin defcribcth a5 the molt odious Rebellions: He n\3ktt\\ the Geneva Presbyterians to do that againii their Bi-ftiop, which Dr. Ftt. Moulin in his Anfwer to Fhilanjx An^licits, Ihcwcih was done before, while they were Papii^s. Some things in Hn/w/HiHory of the Rcform.ation, and the Prcfb^tcrians, I believe, which he bringerh Records for i but upon his own word I can fcarce believe any thing that he (aith,fo palpably partialis he, and of fo malicious and bloody aiirain, re-.prcfcnting excellent perfons as odious intollcrable Fvogues, and the Reformation, even of the Lutherans, as too bad s but that in France, Blgia, Friefi land, the Palatinate, Httngary, Tranjlhania, Scotland, to be but aftriesof the moff odienis Rebellions, Murders, and horrid Sacrilccige i and ours in Eff^* land to be much the Spawn of Ring Henries Lu{\, and thinking Ring Ed' »'ijr^ 5. his death afeafonable mercy > and odioufly rcprtfenting fuc!> excellent Billiops zsGrindall, Abbot, and Z^/:er, and fuch excellent Divines as we fent to Vort Vavenanty Hall,Ward,Carlton, &c. It pleafcth the Prelaf i/is to fay tiu ) of me, that I am no Presbyterian, and therefore fpcak not for the perLns in partiality, as one of jheir party i but 1 niuft fay, as in Gods

fight,: that in my own acquaintance,"! have found that fort of men, whom Dr. Heylin and fuch other reproach as Presbyterians and Puritans, to be the moft fcrious,confcionable,prad:ical, fcber, and charitable Chriftians that fiver I knew, yea verily the knowledge of them hath been a great help to the /Icdfaftnefsof my Faithin ChrilT: Had I known no Chriftians but carnal, worldly, and formal men, who excel not Heathens in any thing but O-pinion, it would have tempted mc to doubt whether Chrift were the Saviour of Souls, as I fhould think meanly of thePhyfitian that doth no cures: But when I fee holy mortihed perfons, living in the love of God and man, I fee that Faith is not a dead fancy i And when I have lived in intimate familiarity with fuch, from my Childhood, to the fixty fifth year of my age, and known their integrity, notwithfhnding their infirmities; and then read fuch Hifiories as rcprcfent them as the moft odious, flagitious perfohs, I fee it is not for nothing that fome men are called A/a';3aAo< in the Scripture, and the Children of their Father the Devil, who was from the-he. ginning a lying malignant Murderer-

Two Crimes I have long ago heard the Rabble charge on thofc whom they ciUcd Puritani, Lying znd Covetoufncfsi whereas near two thoufand Mini-ikrs arecaftout, and fuffer, which they could moftly efcape, if they durft but lye i and if I ask money for the Poor (of what party foeverj I can fooner get a Pound fromthofe called Turitans, than a Shilling from others far richer than they. Can I take any men to be other than malignant lyars who would make men believe that luch men as Hilderfham, Dod, Rogerr, Ball, Paul Bagne, Ames, Bradjharv, &c, were Rogues and feditious Rcbcl«, or that revile fuch as Vfher, Hjll,I>jvenant, &c. ? Reader, believe not a word of any of the revilings or odious charadtcrs and llorics, which any afpiring worWIy faftious Clergy man writeth of fuch as are his Adverfaries; lying is their too common language ■■> yea, if they do' but once fet themfelves eagerly tofcek Prefei"hicnt, I will never trull them, or take th:ir words: It hath been fo of old, the fame man that was a Saint to his Acquaintance, hath bcendcfcribed as wicked, or a Devil by others ; How bad were Origen zvdChryfilioinc to Jhenphilas, Akxand.zndEpiphanitis ? And how bad was 'X::eophilHs to the Hilloriansthat write hisaftions-' How excellent a perlon was Cyril Alex. 11 the Council of Calxdon, and how bad a man was he to Iheodorct, Iftdore, ?eliij'. &c, Ignatius Coiili. was a Saint to Nicctjs, and many others, and to Photius he was an Antichriji, and nvcked limb of the Devil: Phdtiiis was a holy man to his Party, and a n'icked wretch to Nicet.ts, and o-thers: Yea, fee thecredit of worldly Prelates i the fame Bifliops one year cry down Ignatius as a ivicked man, and call Photius a holy perfon and the next year, Or (hortly after, cry down Phjtius for :i Rogue, and cry up Ignatius ^ yea, and upon the next turn cry up holy Photius whom they had anathematized : Thefcdoings were familiar with carnal Prelates.

But as Gods Spirit in his fcrvants is fo fuitcd to the Dodrine of the fame Spirit, that they rclilh it where they find it ; fo their piety and honefty is fuch a felf evidencing thing, that pious and honcfi men that knew therat cannot believe their lying llanderers. And

And when Satan hath done his worft, the very ivritingsof fucfi m^n as Calvin, Beza, Mdandhon^ Perkjns, Hildcrjhjm, Ames, Vcd, B.-irjJCf, Galaker, VJher,Davenant,Hall,&c. will not fuffer men to believe their odious re-vilcrs; Even among Papilts , wlicn 1 read the works of Bernard, Gerfon, Kempu,ThaHlerMr.Sjlet, and th^ Lives o( Ncrius, Rtnti, &c. I cannot believe him that would tell me they were wicked men thrugh/»«'/)■.- And the Lives written by Adam, C/crj^,, Fuller, &c. fliall be believed bctore Ca-Jumniators,

Alas, how little arc moft Hiftories to be believed, where they prove not what they fay i there are about llxty that fay there was a Pope Jwaj, and »ear as many that fay nofuch thing. Hildebrand to one half of the Eilhops Wisthcholy Rejiorerof the Church, to the other halt the vilejl Rebel. \\c are rot agreed here in Louden who tur/it theCity in 1666. nor what forties began the late fVar, noi what party broHght tJw King to dijth, while wc are a-fivcihat faw thcfc piiblick tads; Not only Lads that knew it not, but Heyl/n (^the great Kcproachcrot the Reformers J would make men believe that it was Prejbyier/j)ii ia England tliat began the llritc and War, wlien }Ct he had hinifclf laid fo much of it on ArchbilliopSj ar.d Bilhops, and-on the Parliaments complaints of Popery, Arminianifm, and Aibi:rary Illc-galiticsi and after faith fHi/t. Prcsb. p. 465. 470.^ The truth if, that as the Engliih generally nere net nilling to netive ihjt yoakj, fo neither did the Houfes really intend to impofe it on them, though for a ivhile to hold fair quarter n'ilh the Scots, the)' feemed femrardin it. This appears by thdrDcclaratiiVt */" April I 6^6 — Nor hnie they lived to' fee their dear Presbytery fetled, or their Lay-Elders entertained in any one Parijhef the Kingdome Cthat's falfc on the other lideji and jet alln.utl be done by this Patliiment, as Presbyterians, four years before, when they were Eprfcopal, diftafting only the pctfons and anions of Bifliop Lj«/^, ll'^ren, and tome other prtfcnt Eilhops.

Iflhnda man like Schluffelburgius , fall Pe//-mr//with reproach on all that differ from him, or Dr./Jtv//«, fpeak of blood with pkafure, and as thirrty affcr more(asof Ihaek^r, Vdall,&c.) or as diligning to make Dif^ fentersodious, ashcand mofiof thePapiAs Hifioriansdo. (as the Image of both Cluirchcs, Pbilanax AngUcus, the Hiftorical Colkdtions out of Heyl/n) I will believe none of thcfercvilers, further than they give mc Cogent proof.

I hear of a Scots Narrative of the lreafons,Fornications,lFitchcrafis,zn^ other wickedncfs of fome of the 5'ctf«//& Presbyterians > and zs for me, the Ambor kiioxveth not wbattocgllme, unhj'sit bt a Baxtcrian, as intending to be a Hittl'izichai being neither Papijif nor of the Church of England, nor Presby~ terian, nor Independent, &c.

To this I fa>, I have no acquaintance with any Scots Minillcr, nor ever had in niy life, except with Bifhop Sharp that was murdered, ond two o-ther Bilhops fand two or three that live here in London) therefore what tiuyare I know not, favebyFame: But though I have heard that Country aiptili, as too much inclined to Fornication, I never before heard the

Religious

Religious part and Minifters fo acciifcd ; Either it is trw, or fjlfe; if fjife fliame be to ^he reporters i if true, what doth it concern us here, or any that are innocent, any turthcr than to abhor it, and lament it, and to be thankful to God that it is another fort of men that arc tailed Puritsni in "England-, and that in all my acquaintance with them thefe <6 years Crvhich hath been reith very many in many Countries) Iremembcr not that ever I heard of cnt Puritan, manor rvoman^jave one ^ accufed orfuJpeSed of fornication ■, and that one yet living, though openly penitent, hath lived difowned and fhamed to this day i but I have heard of multitudes that revile them that make a jeft and common pradlice of it; Try whether you can make the Inhabitants of this City believe, that the Nonconformills or Puritans arc fornicators, drunkards, or perjured, and that their accu(ers and haters are innocent men that hate them for fuch Crimes ! But its poffible that you may make men of other Countries or Ages believe it, and believe that we wear Horns, and have Cloven Feet, and what you will> but I fear not all your art or advantages on thofc that are acquainted with both fides : But themifery is, that fadion ingageth men to aflbciate only with their party where they hear reproaches of the unknown diffenters, from whom they fo ellrange themfelves, that the Neighbours near them are as much unknown to them, favc by lying fame, as if they lived an hundred miles from thrm. I remember Mr. Crej^j once wrote to me, that he turned from the Protefiant Religion to the Roman, becaufe there rvas among us no fpiritual Books of Devotion for Soul Eltvatient , and affedionate Contemplation : And I told him it was Gods juft Jadgment on him, that lived fo Itrange to his Neighbours, becaufe they are called Puritans, and to their Writings, which Shops and Libraries abound with i had he read Eifhopflj///, }At. Greenhams Mr. Ri. B-ogers, Mr. Jo. Rogers, Mr. Hilderfhams, Mr.Boltons, Mr. Perkins^ Mr. Vorvnhams, Mr.Kywr/, Dr. Sibhes, &c. yea or no better than my owri (the Saints Reft, the Life of Faith, the Divine Life, theChriliian Diredory, &c.) or had he read the Lives of Divines called Puritans for but fuch as two joung nun Cpublilhed partly by my felfj Jofcph Allen, and John Janeway) he would never have gone from the Prottftants to the Papills, becaufe of our formality and want of an affedlionate fpiritual fort of devotion e-fpecially knowing what exceft of formality is among the Papifts, and how much it is of the Clergies accufation of the Puritans, that they are for too little form, and too much pretence of fpiritual devotion.

But if any called Religious, or Puritans, or Presbyterians be vicious I know no men that (o heartily dcfire their punifhment and ejedfion, as thofe that are called by the fame names; I thank God that thefe twenty years while neither IVit /iT/V/, nor Powrr hath been wanting againfl them, I have fcarce heard ot two men (if one) that have been judged and proved guilty of any (uchiiumorality, of all the ejcdled lilenccd Miniiiersin this Land ; I would I could fay (o of their Advcrlaries.

IL And now I muft fpeakto the Accufcrs fpeeches of my felf i I thank you Sir that you feigned no worfc againfl me. i if I am an Hxrefiireha^ why

would

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would not you vouchfafc to name that Hcrefie which I have owned: I have given you large Field-room, in near 80 Books > and few men can fo vviite, as that a willing roan may not find feme words which he is able to call Hc-tefie: A little learning, wit, or honefty, will fervc for fuch an hcreticating prefunjption. 2. I never heard thzt Arminiits was called zn Arminiaii, nor Lut^ a Lutherdn , nor Bifliop Land a Laudian i but if you be upon the knack of making Names, you beft know your ends, and bcA know how to fitthemtoit. j.But ferioufly,do you not know my Judgment? will not abo»rf*£i3 Eooits inform you ? how then can I help it ? 4.. No, but 5 ou know not )shft Party I am of, nor what to call mc > lam forricr for you in this than for my felt" i if youknownot,! will tell you, I ama CHRISTIAN, a MEER CHRISTIAN, of no other Religion i and the Chuichthat I am of is the Chriftian Church, and hath been vifible where c-ver the Chrifiian Religion and Church hath been vifible ; Rut mull you know whatSedor Party I am of? I amagainft all Scd-s and dividing Par-tics: But if any will call MeerChrrjitans by the name of a Party, becaufc »they take up with wcer C/;rV?**n/<)',C>'f('(/, and 5crf^fKre, and will mot be of any dividing or contentious Sctll, I am of that I^jrty which is To againrt Parties: If the Name CHRISTIAN be not enough, call mc a CA-THOLICK CHRISTIAN! notasthat word fignirieth an Jicrs-xicitmg majority of Bifhops, but as it (ignif^qth_bne that hath no Rtligictni but tlidt which by Chri/l and the Apofiks Wasl^ft'to the Catholick Churth, ortheEody of JefusChrifionEaith. ", ''

Atid now Sir, I am ferry th±f you are notcontcnt with mctfr Chriftiani-ty, and to be a Member of tlic Ca^holick Church, and iiold the Communion of Saints, but that you mu/l needs alio be of a Sc^t, and have (bme ojJitr Naroc; And how (ball I know that ..your. Scffl is better than at^otha.'' Werenot thePapifi5 Sedarits and Scbifmaticks, damning n.oll of Cbrjlts. Bod^'on Earth.Tcr not feeing rilbjfdl to their Pope, I fliould not be ft)"irueh^ agaifmibem* Ifindpromifesbf Salvation in Scriptures to Believers, that"' is, Chriftiansasfuch (if luch fincercly,) but none of the falvation of rrcn zsPapijh^ T'iocefjns, Grccuns^ Nejiorians, EuiychianT, &c. I would fay alfo [_nor as Proteji.tntf^ did I not take the Religion called Protcftai.t fa Name which I am rot fond c\') to be nothing but fimple Chrijiijiiity, with oppo-fition to Popery, and other (uch corruption. And now you know your own deligns, \our tongue i?your own, and who can controul you,whatever you wil! call us i but I, and fiich others, call our ftlvcs MEER CHRISTIANS, or CATHOLICS CHRISTIANS, againd all Sedfs and Sedtarian names, and haters boch of ti le fLrcfic, SclvpftT^ and fnud^unrightcouiihactieuting zadAnathimatizmg. Plal. A..O ye fonsof mcH , /»!» long tvill yc turn my ghry into fi' ime ? hiiv long will ye love vanity^ and fttk^after lying? Bxtk^orvthut the Lord hath fct apjirt him that is godly for himfflf: Pfal. 12. i, 2, 3, 4, 5. Help Lord, for the godly man eeafetbi forthe fiithfid fail from among the children of men: Jhey ffeak^ vanity cvir^' one lyith bis Neighbour^ &c. Sec the reit.

I will adJ, that if to be fcriovisin the belief of theChriftian Faith, and the Life to come, and in fceking it above this world, and in confbnt endeavours to pleafc God, whoever be difplcafcd by it, is it that maketh a man a Puritan, bccaufc he is hot a fdrmal Hypocrite, then I would I were worthy of the Titles which your Pfmdo Tilenus and his Brother give me, who fay, I am Phthi Pittus Puritanut, and one qui totHm Pwitanifmttm P«-tus Jfirat: Alas I am not fo good and happy. ButP>.eadcrs, when this fort of men hive dcfcribed the Puritans as the moft intoikrable Villains, you that knew them not may concliid', that they were men no more erroneous, or woife than I, how much better foevcri for Bifhop Morley dith o(mc,Ah ttno dijcc omnes : And of my Doftrine, I 'lave left the world a full account.i and rauft (hortly be accountable for it and m.y life to God, whofe pardon and grace through Chrilt 1 daily beg and truft to.

A Notice concerning Mr. Henry Docln>eU.

MK.Dodjvell having written a copious Dilcourie, aflTcrting, that we have no right to falvationj but by Gods Covenant validly fealed by the Sacrament f and that the Sacrament is not valid^ unleft delivered by one that hath Ordination by (uch a Bifliop as hath his Ordination by another Bifliop, and fo on by an uninterrupted fucccffion from the Apoftles, with much more fiKh Schifmatical ftufF, which I fully confuted in my Books called, {The true twd «nly terms of the Cot/cord of all the Chriflian Churches^ and I aggravated his Schifmatical condemnation of the Reformed Churches, and moft others (as having no true Mimjfrj; Sarra-tucuts^ nor Covena7Tt-tHk te jlxlvatiov^ and as finning againft the Holy Ghoft, becaufc he p-ofcjfith himfclf a Vroiefia»t ; The faid h'lr.DodvKll faith, that thcfc words would perfwade men that I tali^Lim for a Pcptji, and cxpcdcth that I therein right him; Be it therefore known to all men, that I never meant by that word to accu(e. Mr. Dodwell of kuig a.Vapiji^ but to aggravate his a-buCe of Proteftants5 and th;it I take my felf bound to charge no. man to be of a Religion which he dcuieth.- And what his Rcli--gion fcally is, his Books.may bcft inform him that would know.,

THE.

Ibe Contents,

Pcpe Innocent. The hcghimtJg of the Don.U/jis S^ hijht for a hiJ^Mf. Conftautip.cs ;T]r?w/(?/Alexander iu;d A Tiusjilcvch/g thir dilfutcs. CouciL L;iodic. SUvcftcrs_/ir<?;/^t' Row^j! Coiimil. Chap.^. The Coufw/l ofN'xcc: Conftantine kccpeth tkcmhi pc.ice. Thejirange Sckijhz bchveen Peter iWo^^avd Meletius / Trco Bi-JJjops and Churches iu the fame Cities. TheJadJiorytf/ilcTiajndcss troubling the Mektians^ at/d driving them to feel^hclp of the Arrian^ avdfo tojircngtheu them. Ep'iphdnmsgood charac/er of Coniian-tius <.wd Valcns. His //otaLleCh.n-a&er of Axid'ius^ a?!dhorv the vio-- lc»ce<>f dijfolittc B/fiops fcrccd him to fiparaie •■, ^W <>^ Alexander avdafCvtCcenXAU^'sJirife : and offomc Confejfourr and Martyrs great faults. Audius bamfied converteth the Cothes. The Slander c/"EuftathmsAntioch. Notes of tf^e N'lccne decrees: Thecnlina-iion offiandalous uncapablc men nulhjtcd 'by tlxm. Concil. Rom. the people united at the vmking ofl^ipops andPriejis. Arius's Creed and rejioration at a Council. Jerufal.Marccl.AlJcyr. Coudemned at Confi. as denying Chrifls Godhcad^by the Arrians rchom he woifor the fame caufe againjl. A Concil. Antioch depoJ(dk\\\sx\?&MS and made Canons for Conformity. Anno ^/[^a fourfhCreed reconciling at Antioch: The General Council tf/Sardica divide: The Oriental BiJI-Wps at Philippolis Jirange charge againfl Athanafius, Paulus Conft. &e. and their plea fur peace. The Donatijis unjuji Jujiice. Thcflanclcr wd fall of ^iJl}op Euphratas. Anno ? 5 5 -^ General Council at Milan Tckcrc the Arrians prevail. Hilary bani/Jxd by the Semiarian Bifiops as a ftfaratiji. The Council <7/Sirmiura curfe Arius, Pho-tininns, and condemn Athanafius, pretending to reconcile. Conftan-tius labours union : Thw General Council divided at Ariminum and Seleucia/T/^e Ariansf)rthodox , and Reconcilers fall into more SeBs : Ten creeds, Jometimes one^femetimcs another liked or condemned : The

■ "^ifiops depofng and dawning each other. O/ivleletius Antiochenus, the dijfaition^ danger and reconciliation about hypoftafis & pcrlbna, at a Council of Alexandria. Julian, ^ov'vm for peace :. Valentinian a/idV:t\i:ns charge the Afian Bifiops to giveover perficutivg any of Chrifis Labourers. Valcns a zealous Arrian Perfeaitor, Damafus bloody Elc&ion againfi Silinnius. TheSchifm at Antioch hoivended.

(ilrap. 4. Vyhy Rome vpjs yet Orthodox. § i, Valens perfecirtion. § 2. Grntian'i/z^/Vakntinian Junior, Theodofius. The Council at Conftance. § 4. Greg. Nazianzcns cafi. §5. His fid deferip-i'.Ofi of the Ciw:oils and madr.efs of the Prelates of his time. (^ y.8.

■ 'Tl.exaje,of AM'-Oihs Schifm again, Ncctarius a Bif)op and Patri-

ark.

Ibe Contents.

ark^ hefere he torn a baptized Chrijiimt, § lo. The Cottmils (decrees.

, (j I l.The Hifiory eftheBrjhopjthatprofectrtcd the Prijallanijis^aiid 5/. Martins. ^ \^.\(). A Cotwalat Csl^;^ decreed that thetVi-oBrJhops

.. aftdChmrhes tit Aatioch Live 7t/love afid peace, (j 20. B/Jbop YjO-noCus herefie denjzng Mary's perpetuai zjrg;mtji. § 2 r. Jovtnians hrefie dcjcribed. § 23. ^ vcifi NovathinCojincil. § 24. Carthage goodCeiwdls. § 31. 52,5:?, 34.7I'e Hijloryef Mclania, and the BiJ])ops perjcctiiion of the friends of Ongenc. ^ ^rt.e^r. Thco-philus Alex-ftory.§57.58.3^. ChryCofiomcsHijiorji. ^/^o.And

. the Joannitcs. § 4 ^ • Tho/e that bclkz c the Ajirologcrs ami Mat hew.i-iiduns curjcd atTo\ct. § ^J.The MclivitaneCOTwrz/j agairiji Appeals to Kome., aftd of LUiirgies ts be approved. ^55. Pelagius ^/-t/ Celeftius abfolvcd bjf one Council and cue Pqpc and condcnmed hj 0-//)e/v,§. 5::$.&:. Pelag'ms Cofjfcjfion^'^j. BoniBcc and EuLilius fchifin <7f Ro.'Tu.v^59. P. Bonifoce's dcn-ce that no Billiop be brought orfet before any Civil or MiFitary Judge, ^60. The Jixth Conmil ^j/Cartliagc ih.tt redjicd the Popes, § 61. P. Celcftines dep-cc, tli^t no Bifliop be given to the umvilhng. ' ' :

Chap. 5, Atticus Conft. pcaceablenejs : Thepmty lifl)y ^f fh^ petfic dipofiftgIkheodoCms B/fyop <>/" S)'nada,§ 2. Cyiih 7ielencc :, the AIoKk.sa/faidt(f Orcftes, and the ptPplcs^nlelu|Jgeofli\p:{tu^,^ :?. ■ Alcxand. Antioch. and Atticus Conft. by his Council arc fir rejier-jng the No/p-twrform(is foannits .* Cvn]s i-cajbn again ft 7f, § 4. Whether' Cynl repcnicd^f, f^. Ilitlore l\'1uC TVords of hint, § 6. Proclus refufcd Bijiwp at Cyzicuni by the people, (^7. Ncl\or]ws chojcn^ § 8. He is a perfccuter of Heretrcl{S. His opi7uon § C). The JirJiEYhtC Council, (^ \0. They divide and conde»in and depose each ttlicr andpght., <«w/Ncftorius, Cvril <?WMenmon, are delfofedby the Ewperours Contmdnd., but the treo lajt rejhred. f f 7.o//jcr Nelio-rius or Cyril rcas the Heretick. The ifjvc oj that Cotwcii, § 12.13. t 4. Derodon prcovts that Cyril was an Eutychian ^WNeltorius Or-tht'dfx , § 18.19. The truth, § 20. Theprefent Churches of the Nc-Jicnans. That thejcB/jJ)ops Jet the rccrld on fire akut aircrdnL/lc they agreed in fenfe, § 20.21, &c. The Einperour forceth the Brfiops toConiKiufiien, and /t'/fc/A Simeon Stilletes/<? pray down iheie (,cr-nd clijcord, § 23. BcroifigEajhrard firl^idicn,bccaujetbe Wanichccs-bowsed to the Sun avwng them, § 29. Leo's Rowav Cou?htI of B/-fjops^ Priejis and L^y-mcn: Another againji Hilar}' Arclaten-lis, § 31- ?2. ■ ■■

Chap.6. Of thcEufyc^ians^Scc. 7i';\/v. ..,. of tf:e>Co}tirovcrftc,% 7.

Ujiny

The QontenU.

Z^HitytJk"^ h ^"^ f'^^ fr*" undivided, and by the otlxr fir xindi-i]ingiiini.ed, Wy3 ike, nortdfit ac^ah: on fire: The Conftantinoplc Xcmnil' ahciit Eutychius, § 5. Another Conftantinoplc Coumil con-irarily clcdvcih bwi, § 8. Ibas cleared at Cotoidl Bcryt,§ 7. The fi-coffd Efhefivc CoiimJl, nvder Diofcorus. Eutyches Jujirjitd there. Flavianus, Eufcb. Dor. Ibas <?W(5^ Theodorite condemned and dc' jtofid. All the Vatriarks t'//? ^ifd Bipops Jiibfcribe^ fave the Popet legdtfs. Flavianus/^/?7 and dieth^%<). hQO in a Roman Council rondc/f/j/eth ihjs, Eph.2. § 10. Qiolcorusw aSynod at Alexandr. excomnjunicaleth Leo, § li. Theodofius virtue and miraculous f^i-ciory, § 15. Hispraije of the fecond Eph. Council,^ 16. Martians reign , and ihc Council p/ Calcedon, § 14.17. Turnings^ mutual con-demnitigs^ recantings and riger there, § 17.18,19. The cry of the Egyptian Bijhops, § 24. The Abbots protejiatioti to cleave only to the Niccne Creed {as Piofcorns did to theN\ccr\eCouncil and Eph. l.^ and hOt to fuhjirihc Leo's Epijile, and to contemn excommunications^ § 2 5. Diofcorus not condemned for hercfie , fiith Anato-lius, § 26. Theodorites ?/A>^c by the Br/Jjops, i) 2J. The Canon e-iqual/ing Con(i. and Ixome, § 33. The doleful iffue of this Council^ § 5 i,:The Tpoful work^ at Alexandria. The murder of Prote-rius, ^ 55. 34. The bloody Tragedy aga/nji the Caleedon Council /W Juvenal (as betrayers of the N'lccne Faith) by the Manias at Jerulalem, § 5 6. ^wAocixand Pulchcria the Spring of all, Leo is Empcfour, and for the Council of Caleedon. He defpo/eth Ti-inothy i^lurus a^ Alcxandria,Feter Gnapheus ufurpcth Mar'tyrius Seat at iKxiUQch.: Martyrius renonnccth lis rebellious clergy unci people. Gnapheus banijixd by Leo. Stephen that is for the Council is put in : The boyes kill him with foarp (i^lls, and caji him itHo the River^ § 37' ^cno Empmmr, Balilifcus ujiirping commandcth the B/JIwps to renounce the Council of Caleedon. Three Putriarl^s and five Hunched Y^tjhopsfubjcribe againji it (before moji rvere for 7/)Ba-nlilcus changing his mind com'nandclh that the Council be orcned. The Yjifiops obeyed this^ ^5 8. Zeno rcjiorcd, a>:d being for the Coun-cil^jhe Mhn Bijbops/aid they fuhfcribcd to ^x\\\\c\\s firjl Orders fr fear, and asked pardon. Zeiio by hfs Henoticon (ilenceth the con-troycrfic^ leaving it free to all to own or difiwn tie Council. The 'S>iJlM!ps and people are fiill vrorJt\ .'/Alexandria ./«<;/Antiocb,-6^f. Acacius ContL and Falix Kova excommunicate each olUr^ff^^). F'iavitas Conft. ckeaieth the Empcrour that would haxe God by an Angel:choofi iheY^iJIop^^) ^o. T/'c B///'^;'/tff Alexandria and kw-

tjoeh

The Conte^s,

t'xoch Juccejjkjely curje the Council: And the ^ijfjop flf Rome and • Conft. CHrfethcm forit.^ ^1. Anaftatius Rmpcrour is far toie-■ ration: Three parties of Y)Jf}ops there condemning each other in Eaft, Weft and Ljbhy Jome Jiri3 for the Council-^ fomc ciirfvc, it, and fome for the henoticon or peace. He defpofeth tu-phemiusConft. and veould have dcpofcd Macedonius that came next, but the people rojc for him, and fir red the Empcrour tf fitbmit, ^ «J. 5. Cruel bloodfxd in A ntioch of Monks and otlxrs, ^ 44. Xcnains an ttnlhrijiencd man made Bipop , forccth the BiJJi^s to curfe the Council, §45. Sevcrus at Antioch ntakfth men curfe the Council :JomeDiJ/}eps repent and condemn Scvenis, ^'y. The Enrpcror againji all bloud for this Canfc, and the Monks in Palcftinc fir it, ^ 45, 4f6. Heltas Bipop of Jcrufalcm and the Monl;es rc^iji the Empcrm/rs Souldiers, once and again, § \6. Timothy Conll. on both fides^ ^ 46. Rome tmder ThcoJorick^ their Schifm or trco Popes vcith blood three jears, § 47. Anaft.itius nraried ir/th tic Orthodox rebellions, offereth to refign his Croirn: In remorfe they dc-Gre his continuance, (^ ^S. Valentinian maketh a L-jtp, ifjut Bi-fjops (except chojcn by both Parties )pall no more be 'judges in avt Caujes, favc of Faith and Religion. Bin i us rcpreatlxththis, as being ahjifrd, that the Sheep Judge the Shephcard^\) ^c). Fully co*fvtcd. The Pope excommunicatcth Acaeius Conft. rr//^' j Qnunquam Ana-thematis vinculis exuendus"] ^58. Leo Rom. his Difree again(i the Mavichccs, and all ether that take the Bread withpt:t the Cup,^ 60. Oelaftus.• T/f PopesSeparatijis^condemn Euphcraius and Acacius.-Gelafiu^_/J//A a?7y Bijbup may excovrmiinitaie an Heretick^BiJl.Kp (though u Patriach) his CatalogueofApoc rjpha, and canonrzing Lco'f Epijilc, ^63. ly.e Pope excommunicaieth the Greek Emperour and Prf/?7jr<7j ^Conftantinoplc, but not iC/^^Thcoclortck the ArriMi at home, § 64. Oidination refilved en againfi the Kings com-nianas ^65. C<);/W(//Agath. decreeth ihat\{a Bifhop excommunicate any wrongfully, another B'pop may receive him, fee. That if any Citizen on the dayes of great folcmnity refufe to meet where the Bilhop is, he is three years denied Communion (trhich flxvrcih, that the Bif.wps Church tPos no greater than cur Parifics ') Laj-.-nurdetrrs putnjhed rvith denying them the Cofwtnnicn, aid Deacons put in Monajieries, die, f) 67. Council Apannens Jaith Hcrcticks Temples cannot be purged nor applied after to Holiness, ^ 68. Council Sydon airjc ^(bcCalcedon Council^ 60. Bijbops

htiziirc:

ha7:h!g the third ( or fourth )p<tiiofaUChurchp'ofitsJf:iejveth horc iTgtkcir DiDicfs or Chirches\thenvKre § 72. Cottncjl Gerund ef Jhht Bifbops ordered Litajiies, and that the Metropolitanes Lilm-gy he ujcd in other Churches kjo Juftine the Empcrotir aga/i.'ft Eu-tychians rej}«rcth the names ip/Euphemius and Acacius again ft the Vopc^ their Caje opened § 7-5. Juftine an Orthodox murderer. An-tioch CcTJi donn if an Earthquake ^ the BiJIiop killed^ the reji burnt by the lightni77g^ § j,6.'' Euphremins the iJaitenant relieving thePcoplc ■ is chofcn their Bijhop. The Bifieps turn to the Cotincilof Calccdou again^vvder]\\{^mQ^() 7 J. &C. Popes profccute the dead BiJJiopt. of Confiiintinoplc. ^79. Juftine znolent againji Arrians. Thco-' dorick maketh Vope John go beg for them, leaji Italy fitffcred as much'. He kilteth S-^mva^c^xxs and^oti\VLS^imprifoneth]o\ma}Td ffr'akcth^c\\\Vope^() 8q. Clergy murderers Jiifpended from theSa^ a-ament, &c. ^ 81. Theodorick fubje&eth the Clergy to Civil Judicature. Athalaricus/rce^/) thctn again ^85. Juftinian/v/ Laves, he is againji theEutjchians, and his Wife for them, ^ 87,8^. Thir-ty thoufwd kill'd by infirre&ion in Conftantinople, ^89. The mi- -raculous fpeah^ng of Preachers, when their Tongues rccre ait cut by the Kings command, ^ 90. King Thcodorus a lover of Books giz~ eth up Rome, ^91. In Juftinians time three Countries converted: ThePerfjans prevail: A dreadful Plague, 492. Pope Boniface cho-, Jen by the Arrian Athzhncus,^ CjG. Pope Hormifda denying that (^one of the Trinity was crucified] Juftinian/eWw/g to Pope John vchojaidthecontriwy ^ Binius exaije is [^ Weapons muft be changed with changed enemies.] Alany Notes on the excellent difpu-tation of Hypatius with the Eutychians caufed ^j Juftinian, opening fully Cyn\srpeaknefs,and that the difference was hut verbal,^ 99. ACom:cil ^/f Conftantinoplc ww^/er Menna called /'/V;/Patriarcha Oecumenicus, and fet Leo after the before cur fed B/JJjops. Macedo-nius the Orthodox Bipop put cut, the People that were Orthodox /c-perate, ^ J03. Silverius made Pope by an Anian, P. Vigilius the Ami pope imprifoneih and famijlKlh him, ^ 105. The Schifm between two Bijhops and their Parties in Alexandria, one fir the corruptibility of Chrjjis body called Cm'upticcU -^ the ether for the incorruptibility called the Phanta('.a(i£ ; and the bloody fight between, them,^ 107. Pacilus Alexand : AL/rderofaDcacon^ j 108. P. Vigilius^/c;//e//j/n'C j/atures,^ 109. P.VigAinsexcommunicateth Menna, andisdragg'djrith a Rope, till he repented, 110. Jufti-nian called a Hcntick^ and damned hy Evagrius, $111.

Cha

P-

The Concents.

CHW.y.Ofthe Contrcverfie de tribusCapitulis,<^ thep'fth General Cot4»cil,€ic. of the herejie of the Apthardocitrr, &" J ullinians/>/£•/> a»d berefie-S^ the Bijheps appeal to Anaftafms Antioch.^.i,i.77^(f converjion of the AuxumiteftJuftinian'j-/i««//*/«g the Sodomitkal Herejie offorne Bijhops.f^.yThe People dye rather than eat Flejh in Lent.7/r Council at Orleance Decree that Qui omnibus pra:ponendus ell ab omnibus eligatur : Ofhcefi , Too Jlriil keeping the Lords-Day. ^. 4. Concil. Avernenf Decree that men feek to be Bifhops ly Merits, and not by • yotes or Favour,yet he chofen hy all. if. 6. All Citizen Chrijlians ta he in the Bijhops Meeting at Earter, &c. by Concil. Aurcliail. §. 7, And the Bijhop to be Ordained in that Church which he mujl overfee. Theodor. Ctfar'j projeB to condemn the tria Capitula (Theodor. Mopfuefl:. Theodorite and Ibas: ) Juflinians endeavours. ^. 9. An Orleance Council decree that King, Clergy and Laity agree, and none be made Bijhop, populo invito, or forced to confent^ and that the Bi-fhop elfe be depofed. The Bijhop to relieve all the Pdor. f 12. Null the former living. Its Emperours that call Councils,faith Juflinian, 4. 13. The fifth Qon^2S)X.Qo\xn6\ to cure thedolefulfeparationsofthe Bijhops ^. 13. /'. Vigilius difficulty : dare not Joyn with the Council: Their flighting him: only two or three Wejlern Bijhops at the fourfirjl Generals Councils. ^. 1 J. Theod. Mopf accufed. Theodorite ai-cufedfor faying that Mary begat not God in the nature of God, but Man as united to the God-head: that Chrift was forfokcn, fuffer-ed, hungred, flept, &c. as Man and not as God. (f. 1 7. Theodorite^ virulent Ep. againjl dead Cyril, and the Theopathitx. ^. 17. The tria Cap. condemned VigiliusVyo^(fr judgment of it. (). 18,19. In-J}ead of healing, this Councilfet allonfire.andjnt^itlhnonpeifecuti-on. if.ri. Vigilius changeth ; and condemneth .igain the tria Capitula. ^. zi. Vigilius is ly Binnius called, homo perditus, the buyer ot anothers place, a violent Invader, a Wolfe, a Thief, a Robber, nor entring by the Dores, a fallc Biihop, and tjuafi Antichrijlus, that the lawful Pallor vet living did add pernicious Hcrefie to his Schifm: Tet fanftinimus V^'^-x asfoon as he had murdered his Predeceflor,and had fole pfl[ftJhH.^.i:\.A Jerufalem Council received the Conc.Con(\:.^. x^.A Council at Aquileia condemn it,and theWcJlern Bijhops arejepc-rated near lOO years from the Cath. Church {about the words of three dead wi'wO^-i^.Juftinian made Pclagius Pope;two Bijhops fe* a Presbyter ordain him,tbe IVejhrn Bijhops dijobey him & reject him,andfo rejeii the Council Conll. V. confirmed by a Pope : He gets Karfes toper- "

c Jevut^

^ r*

THcContcnts.

[emtc them. ^. x8. The Romans/^r tkis incline to the Goths again. Juftinians Laws cenfured hy Binnius. ^.30. A Council Vwii.coH-

firmcth the free EkHion of Bijhops hy the People and Clerks. ^. 3^1, All Here ticks that refufed to eat Hear Is hoilCd with Flejh. f 34, VVfjether only the Bijhop muflfay the Pax vobifcum,(a«</ to have hut sne Church.) ^.^^.King Q\othzx'vXi,forceth the Bifiops to receive a Bijhop of his choice. ^. T^y.Not Popes, Councils nor Bijhops, lut Kings divided Dioceffes and Parifhes, as Bin. ^.38. A Coumil at Tours-that Bifhops may keep their Wives as Siflersfor Houfe-keepers,fo they lye not with them. All condemned Malefattors that are penitent and will obey the Preacher, to he pardoned. §.39. The Villanies of two Bijhops quit ly the Pope. $. 40. A Canon againfl reading Apocrypha or any thing but Canon Scriptures in the Church. ^. 41. Pope Pelagius thejecond, got Sinaragdus to force the Wejlern Bijhops to condemn the tria Capitula.f 45:. King Gunthram repreffeth the Murders and Adulteries of Btfhops againfl the Clergies Sentenee.(f. 47. A Council at Con-ftantinople calleth JohnConfl.UniverfalBifliop.ff'y&fPelagius thefe-cond damneth the Title as unlawful in any, andcammandeth them rather to dye than yield.it ^. Some queries hereupon. (). ^i. King Gunthram finding all grow, wsrfe and all long of the Bijhops, calls a Council at. JVIafcon, ivhere the flriiler keeping the Lords day is Decreed. ^. 5-4. The Bijhops ofVemce, Iflria <z«rf Liguria cent inuefepar ate from Rome-and chofe PauHnus Bijhap /?/'Aquileia their Patriarch, andfuprerne Bifhop inftead of the Pope. ^. 5" 5". Oft Pennance to embolden oft Sinning.. ^'. J.7.. Philoponus againjl.the Council o/Calcetlon. ^. 60. The Fa~-iiions now called Jacobites and Melchites, and why. (). 61. The Ax- ■ menians plead Tradition for their Error. ().6x. 7he Pariarchs of K-qnlkia,perfecuted ly Mauritius and Pope Gregory. ^. 6). Dead (jtQ^ory fights with Sabinian his Succeffor that would have burnt his Books, (j. 68. Boniface the third chofen by Phocas, $. 70.

CHAP. 8, Councils about the Monothelites .md others. Cyrus Alex./y the word\\^ci\\\x}X\.s] would heal the Divifions [in vain,) ^. i,x. Pope Honorius called a MonotheUte, for his good Council, f 2, 3. The Emperour Heraclius a Monotlielite cenfured by Bin-L niusyijr ufing his own judgment in matters of Faith, $. 4, A Conflan-tinopohtanc Council for the Monothelites, ^. iz. The Emperour condemned, and Pope Honorius commended for forbidding the names of[Or\t\or [Two] operations and Wills, f \^. The Popes Agents leuten at Conftautinopie, ^. 18. T'^/o" Martin imprifbned,ba>iifloed and dead by the Emperour for condemning his A^ offilencing [One

and

The Contents.

afidTwo] called Typus. ^. 19. His Laterane Council ajferteth /tt'(7 Operations <7«rt'Wills, if. zo. The King of ^^pxn fading all Laws fail againfi Priejis and Eifhops Leackery, decreeth that the children of their womex fervants he uncapahle of inherit afire, and he the Churches fervants, and the Concuhities whipt with an hundred ftripes. §. 13. Kings Preach to Bijhnps. (). 14. 21. Ordnidtiou without EleflioM of Clergy <7«d'People nnff. f 2 5-. The Bijhop of Kzvcnn^ reconciled to Rome, ajter long feparation. ^. 50. WMii-lan Council, and the third ConiHntino^le, (6 General) condemn the Monothelites, and Macarius Antioch, tbj^t would have fiUnced [pnel and {two] but not affert [two.'] ^. 34. Their partiality. ^. jjT. Pope Leo confirmeth the ConlUntinopohtan CohhcH which damned PopeHonoriusas an fferetick. ^. 36. A new contronjerfie, whether Chrift hath three fnhflances. Divinity, Soul, and Body, f 40. A Tolctane Council defends it, and that Voluntas genuit volunta-tcin. i). 45-. The Concil. Trull, called Quini .Sextum.- Railed at by Papills: l<lotes hereon. ^. 47, 48. Called by Binnius Monothelites; The fame men that were in the t)\h Council. It forbid-eth Priefis to put away theirmves. ^. 50. It depofeth Bifhopsand Vriefls that were not duly Examined and Elelled. ^. fo. It ejuai-eth the priviledges of Conilititmo^le with Rome. ^. 5-3. It (ill) ordereth, that whatever alteration the Imperial power makes on any City, the State Ecclefiaftical follow it. ^. 5-4. Other notable Canons. ^. J), 6cc. Every Parijh of twelve Families muj^ have their proper Covernour (jn S^'xm.) ^. 5-7. )?z\x\ contradi^ed as to the believer and unbeliever ftaying together' (f. 5 8. A CouH-cil at Aquileia condemneth she 5th General at Conflantinopfe. ^. 6q. K. Wiliza and the S:i>aniards forfahe Rome. ^. 6^. A General Council of inn\xmeT2.h\e Bifbops at Conftantinople «w</fr Phi-lippicus are for the Monothelites. <f. 67. They condemn the 6th General Council that was for two Wills and Operations. Binnius note of the Bijhops temporizing.

Chap, 9. councils about Images and others. Images how introduced in England. ^. i. &c S^lmznsproof that the oldSzxons prayed not to Saints. ^. 3. A Parliament Role recited, provt»g the eld Popifh Worfl^iping of Images. (). 4. Leo Ifaurus puts down Images: Gregory the fecond rebels for it, and confederates with Charles Martell againfi his Prince, andabfolveth his fuhjeHs from their allegiance. Binnius records it as an excellent example xa

c X poUeri-

The Contents.

pollerity, not to permit pertinacious Heretical Princes to reign-^. 5-. The confequents of this dotlrine : How the Pope ruined the Eailern Empire, and betrayed Chnftianity. ff. f. \ViltridsO^//;/<7 the Pope. (f. 6. Councils pro Imaginem cultu, A\icn(usjirjicalh himfelf The Catholick King, f 9. P. Zachary, and Charles Martell againji the Emperour: Pipin and the Popes Treafon /« France, and Baronius and Binnius treafonable dottrine. f n. Twenty Queries hereupon. (). 12. P. Zachary and Bijhop Boniface Mxcommunicateyirgd'ms for holding Antipodes: Queries hereupon. ^. 14, 15". Philaftrius of the fiars. ^. i6. A caution a-gainfl tnifapplying all. f 17. When Lardmujlhe eaten. P. Za-chary'j decree. ^. 18. CarolomanV Council to recover Chrifliani-ty, andfave mens fouls from falfe Priefis. ^. 19. Boniface finely made Arch-bijhop of Mentz •• accufeth Bijhop Adelbert and Clemens. ^. zi, 21. Pipin helpeth the Pope and Defiderius Tr^^orj, and maketh a Donation of Cities to the Pope. ^.23. A General Co««c//<r^ Conftantinople condemn Image Worfhip as Idolatry,and fwear men againfl it, and again/1 praying to the Apofiles, Martyrs, and Virgins { I fuppofe before Images.) ^. 24. This Council and the Council ofNice jeco>fd, determine that Chrifls glorified body is not flefh (w/^/; Anathema.) ^. z6. Noted as to Tranfubflanti.^tion and ether Err ours. ^. 26, 27. Pipins Council decreeth every City a Bi(hop, and joyneth the fword or force to Excommunication, ba-nifhingthe defpifers of it. ^. 28. The Greeks accufe //^eLatines Jor adding [Filioque.] ^. 30. The People Jlill chooj'e Popes. ^. zg, 31. Three Popes fighting for it: one putting out the eyes and cutting out the tongue of the other, and of his adherents. ^.31. Con-Aztitints A^s invalid, except Baptizings andConfecrating. ^. 33. Cliriftophers eyes and life taken away through the Pope that hefet up. 4-3 5". DefideriuS;7^/7/(?//.7 againjl the Pope, Cnarlcs M. overcometh him, ,and maketh ^ope Adnzngrater than any before him. ^.j^y.WJjy Deacons weftly made ^opes : No Bifhop might be made Pope, of removed.^. 39. . The termes of Papift Writers expounded. ^. 40. Putting penance on Murderers for hanging, filf d the Church with Rogues, (f. 41. The Hiflorians give the lie to each other about the power given Carol. M. in making Popes andBijhops. Bzron'ms Argument againft it vain. That the People and Clergy by the French Confti tut ions flill choofe Bijhops. ^. ^x.htnQfet up Images again: Women and Rebels fet up Wopes. $. 46. The Fable of Sylvefters baptizing Conllantine, and

the

The Contents.

the Images jheived him. (). 48. Vope Adrian owneth the whole Council of Calcedon. (). 47. Many mtahle old Camus fent by A-drian to Carol. M. A Bijhop negletlhig to convert Heretkks, /r was to have them that delivered them, &c. ^. f i. Ch. Mag. forcetb the Saxons to prefefs themfelves Chrifiians and fwearperjeverance^ which they oft broke, (f. 51. Eight more old Canons coUetled by hr drian, e. g. The Bifliops fentence void, not confirmed by the prefence of the Clergy. The judgment of a Bifliop m anothers Parilh void, for none is bound by the fentence of any but his own Judge. Foreign Judgments forbidden: All to be judged by Men chofen by themfelves. No Clergy-man to be judged without lawtul accufers prefent, and leave to defend himfelf Bifliops tyrannical judgments null: Conftitutions 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 ofT The danger of the Judge greater than of the judged, &c And let no man receive a Lay mans witnefs againil a Clergyman. (No ivonder if the Qlergy were unpunifl^ed and wicked.) ^. fj. Irene calls a Council at Conltantinople for Images. The oldSonl-diers of the former Emperours not enduring it, routed them. She and Tarafius agreeing call them to Nice. The Bijhops that were /worn againft Image-worjhip, prefentl^ turn generally for it, by a fVomans and a Patriarchs known will. ^. 49. 5-4. How could the Iconoclafl: Emperours be Hereticks, unlefs the ufe of fuch Images were an Article of Faith i §. 5-5-. The Emprefs and Emperour called The Governours of the whole World: They are the callers of that Council, f ^6. Bafd Kncyr. and other Bijhops that were Leaders again]} Images in the former Council, lament it, and curfe aO that are not for Images, and all that favour fuch, &c. Theodofius Bifhop of Amoricum alio curfeth himfelf, if ever he turn again, and curfeth thofe who do not from their hearts teach Chrifiians to venerate Images of all Saints, praying for their inter-cejjion, &c. Queries hereon. IVJjen General Councils curfe each 0-ther, is the whole CJ.'urch curfed? &c. ^. 59. A crowd of ch angling Bifhops crying mercy, Tarafius puts them hard to it, what made them of the contrary mind heretofore, and what reafon changeth them> ^. 60. Whether thefe penitent Hereticks jhould be reflored to their Bifljopricks. Tarafius faith, Arians -and thefe againft Images and .all Herejies and Evils are alike. But another, That this was

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greater than all' orivef Herefies, fubverting Chrills Oecono-my. The inJiiiHce of the Calcedon peccavinius omnss prevail-eth. ^ 6x, ^3. A Jhretvder doubt raifed. Whether all thefe werf ^truly ordained by former Heretkks (Iconoclafts-) The Popes Vicar deuyeth it. Tarafius durf} not jo urtpriefl almofi all the Chri-(iian world of the Eaft, and is contrary. By a cunning argument he prevailed; Viz.. The Fathers agree among themlelves: Ergo, all tlie rell: are of the fame mind wit/^ fome before cited. ^. 64. Gregory Bifhop of Ncocoefaria nest recanteth , a Leader of the Iconodafts. f 67. Tet Tarafius and this Council dij-claim giving Latria to Images of creatures. Tea honour them iut as memorative. ^. 67, 70. The Conftantinopolitaa Councik Arguments againfl Images. ^. 68. 6fC Bread not Tranfubflan-tiate. ^. 7Z. The two Councils contrary about Tradition of Images. ^. 73. The Nicene Council curfeth from Chrifl all that are not for faluting and adoring Images. ^. 76. Bifhops and Priejhs Made by Magifirates Eletlion , or that ufe the Magijirate to get the place, are void. A Canon againfl filencing Preachers andfhut-ing up Churches. ^. 77. A fober Council at Horojulium. ^. 80. Fceiix Urgelitanus, and Elepandus, condemned, for faying Chrijl was Gods natural Son in the Deity, and his adopted in his Uutno' nity. ^.81. Claudius Taurinenfis againfl Images. ^. 8i. Car. Awg. Book, and the Council of Franckford againfi Images. ^. 8x, 84. Fceiix and Elepandus condemned, for faying Chrifl was a Servant, if. 85". The Frankford Council decreeth that Chrifl was not a Servant fubjed to God ly penal fervitude- ^ 89. Pope hco^s eyes put out, and tongue cut out, and reflored, and he made great /y Charles the Great. ^. pi. Kiffing the Popes Foot. ^. pj. Irene kiSeth her Jon, and is banifhed her felf ^. 94. Filioque added by the Spaniih and French Bifhops without the Pope. i). 96. Carol Mag. being dead the People Rebel againfl the Pope, till Ludovicus fubdued them. ^. 97. A Council at ConftantinopJe for the Emperours Adultery : And another againfl Plato and Theodorus Studita, that were againfl it ; ivhich faith Binnius paj^d the fentence of Anathema on the whole Catholick-Church. An4 decreed that Gods Laws can do nothing againfi Kings, nor is any man a Martyr that fuffereth (as Chryfoftome) for oppofing th^ for truth and juflice. 4-98. A Council at kt\ts, and another at Tours have good Canons, One that is for the oldprohitiort of genuflexion

The Contcmsi

fiexien on the Lords daies. ^. X04 Charles M. refioreth Learning : A Council at Chalones decreed againfi the Oath of Canonical ohedience. ^. 105', lod. Another againfi Arch-Deacons ruling ^Freshyters, and taking Fees of them. ^. 107. Others for the old Excommunication, and about Confejftonto God and Man, and againfi trufi in Pilgrimages. ^. lo8, 109, no. Another Council at Qon^ ftantinople curfeth that at Nice, xd, and pull down Images^ and the Bifl^ops turn again. ^. 113. The murder ofBifhopspunifhedby payments at lafi. ff. 114. Ludovicus Pius, Emperour, Bifi^ops tvith Bernard rehel, Stephen made Pope without him, pardoned. ^. 115". His care of lofi Learning: A pious Treatife out of the Fathers ; againfi Bijhops domination, and for their equality with Pref-hyters in Scripture-times. ^. xi6. Againfi Clergy fins, and Wo-tnens company. Againfi genufie£tion on the Lords days : Auguflines contempt ef appeals to Councils and Rome: A ftrange temperance of the Canonical Monks, that were tyed to four pound of Bread and five paund of Wine in a day; or in J card ty, to three pound of Wine and three pound af Beer; or in greater fcarcity, to one pound of Wine and five of Beer. ^. ii8. lAXi^oylcvisVwxs tnaketh the Pope greater than ever. ^. izo. Michael Balbus murdering Leo, Armenus fendeth to Ludovicus Pius alout Images.- An Affemk'y at Paris called by him judge the judge of the World, .ind the Niccne fecond Council faith Bdhrminc. 4- 12.4- Now loth ExO: and Wed judged the Pope and his Qenerd Council to erre ; yea this Emperour that made him Great. ^. izj. A hook of concord ly the Pope and Em-per our, that Images are neither to be contempt uouQy Iroken, nor adored. BcIIarmincs words againfi it. He revileth the Popes words, that Princes are Govcrncurs nf the Church. ^. izj, izg. Confuted. Faith and Love may he without Images, i). 1x9. It was the right of the Empire to confent or not, to^ the cbofen Pope. ^. 131. Platina wifhcth for a Ludovicus to reform the luxurious Clergy then. ^.133. A Paris Council write an excellent Book: They tell of fome Jlruck with Thunderbolts, Cenzuljions, &c. for and as workinz, on the Lords day. And fay Bcati Petri viceni gcrimiis. ^. 136. The Emperour making his three Sons Kings, i bey Rebel: He conquereth Pipin, LotJiarius rehellith again, Ebbo and a Council of Bijhops wickedly depoje him ahjent and unheard, and force him to refizti his Scepter on the Altar, and thrufi him into Prifbn : Thiu was the .befiy Princes that mofi advanced the Clergy ufed Iv

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them, OH Religious pretenfe Ludovicus refiored the fecond time^ Lotharius relelleth ftill, till pardoned- Ludovicus dyeth- ^.137. The -form of kis condemnation by the Bifl^ops at large ; with all the Articles of Accufation and his penance at the Bifhops high Court of J^ujiice- f). 139- The Emperour refiored hy force, the Bifhops re. tant and he forgiveth them, Ebbo refigning- 4* 140- The Wars Between Ludovicus Sons: Lotharius jujlly conquered- <). 145. The Bifhops depofe him upon impeachment as they did his Father by his will. ^. 146- Images refiored at Conftantinoplc by Theodora a Woman : fhe fped as Irene. Photius Patriarch §. 148, 149. The Bifhops fuddenly turn again. ^- ifo. Strife for the Popedom <)- IJ I. Lotharius and his brothers agree- ()• \^y The Arch-bifhop of Rhemes fled and the feat vacant was ten years Governed ly two Presb\'ters- ^. i fi- Carolus Calvus alienateth Churcli-lands- 4- i5'3- ^op' Leo and his City Lconina: He writetb Majjing Rules, and depofeth Priefls that cannot read till they amend-$• 15'4' Singing Liturgies the eccafion of impofed forms- ^- 155". A Qouncil at Mentz punifheth murder even of Priefis, but with putting them from the communion. (). 15^7.

CHAP- lo- Councils about Ignatius and Photius, with 0-thers' Hincmarus'x defcription of Godefcalcus and his Herefie. ()• !• Qanons., that Arch-Presbyters examine every Mafler of a Family perfonally, &c. That none denyed Communion have any Office civil or Military, ^- 3 • Whether unconflrained fufferers are Martyrs. §. ^. A hard cafe about the nullity of Ebbos Ordinations: Two Popes differ. ^- 5-. Ignatius cafe- ^- 8- Remigius and eleven more at Valence make notable decrees about Predeflination, Redemption, Perfeverance, and choice of Bifhops- §- 9' The Clergy and People to choofe Bifhops. ^- 9, 10. Lotharius turneth Monk- ^- II. No Pope Joan. ^- iz- Two flrive for the Papacy: Analtafiusj^.7/;;// Images, repuljl- ^. 13, 14. Thunderbolts in the Church. ^. i6- John Bi/hop of Kzvenna. forced to Jubmit to the Pope- §- 17. The Schrfm between Ignatius and Photius. 4. 18. Bifhops for the Emperours divorce, cenjured by the Pope, defpife him. ^- 19. /'i?/'<? Nicolas, ^g^/;?/'/ Hincmarus: Againjl the Gra^k Emperour : His notable Ep/llle: He m.iketh the greater number of Bifhops and People no fign of truth ; nor f'wnffs cf err our- ^- 11. Bapt/fm v.ilid by one that is no Prieft nor Chrifli.in- (). ai. None proper Patriarchs but ApofUes Succeffours- 4' 2Z- All other Churches

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ches attil Dignities made by Komt, a»(l Komt hjChr/jh ^. 14. Pe-ter had the Empire of Heaven and Earth. Ill chofin Popes not Apo-Jlolical, ^ 1^- Many other Papal Vfurpations^ againji Oaths, Princes, (i)c. <) ^6, (£)c. People Jlill chnje Bijhops, ^29. None may hear Mafs of a fornicating Priefi, ^30. Lay men mujl :.\'t judge or fearch the lives of Priefls- /'• Q\\xt\ts faith none lut the Bipops may dcpofe him, ^32. V\\0X.'\\\s fetled by Councils, ^ 31, 33,3)". Divers Councils for K. Lotharius divorce againfl the Pope, ^ 58,39, 40- TItc Tope curfeth ther>ij(f /^i,and curfeth his Legates at Conft. ^ .^x,and at MetZ, ^ 4<j. Hiucmarus and the Pope*s Contention, ^ 43, 44. Hi-fi or ians fay the Papacy was void eight years, and others but feven days, 4 fO- Photius and his Counfels defpifed the Pope. His depo-fition by Bafilius a Murderer, ^ fl. Bafilius craveth the Popes pardon for the mjhops, becaufe they had almoil all been deceived or falfe^ by following the upper Powers, and the Churches would elfe be left de-ftitute, ^ 51. IVhat nullifying Ordinations hath done, ^ fj •• Men wrongfully excommunicated to be received by other hifhops : Presbyters to annoint the fick, becaufe the Vtifhops cannot vifit all, ^56. A Conft. CouncilcjeSteth Photius ; where the Bijhops that were for him, turn again and condcntn him, crying pcccavimus ; fave fome few : Subfcriptions denyed, and why, ^ f/. This eighth General Council decreeth equal honour to Chrifls Image as to the Gofpel: Forbiddetb Patriarchs to require Bifhops to fubjcrihe to them, but only to the Faith, and depofeth them that do it, § 58 : Curfeth them that fay man hath two Souls .■ All J^fhops to be worfhipped by Princes, and not go far to meet them, nor light from their Horfes to them, nor Petition them, on great Penalties, ^ fS. Princes as profane may not beprefent at Councils; nor have been, {impudently ^ $"8. No Lay man may difpute Ecclefiaflical San^ions, be he never fo wife or good : But a Wifhop mujl not be refifled though manifeflly defiitute of all virtue of Religion, ^ 5:9. They decree that Photius be not called a Chri-flian, ^ 60. Bifhops above Kings, as Heaven above Earthy ^ 61. The Pope but one Patriarch cannot abfolve them that many Patriarchs condemn, ^ 6z- N'lcet^S Life of \gn:iti\iS in brief, § 6y The Pope' depofed by a Conft. Council The Bifhops wrote not Photius condemnation with Ink but with Chrifls blood, and yet reflored him ayid honoured him as the Emperour tnrned. Photius depofeth and rc-ordain-eth, and requireth fuhfcription to him, ^ 63. J''otes hereon, ^ (J4. Tke Contention between Rome and Conft. for ruling the Bulgarians,

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and the ffrells, ^65-. I he Pope's Monarchy then unknown, () 66,6^. The Frencli Btjhops aga'mft the Pope gave Ludovicus'j Knigdtm io Charles Calvus, ^ 70. Tlie King, Hincmar. and Btjhops agamfi the Pope, ^ 71, 72- Depojing and blinding Hincmarus Laudmenfts. y/'f Romans imprifon Pops' John, ^75. HuAds; decree for perjury, ^ 'jS,yj- Going to Rome merits the pardon of Murder, ^77. Service in the Schvon'i&n Tongue forbidden them, ^ 78. Aufper-tus Bifhop of Milan refufeth to obey the Pope : Sclavonian Service yielded to: The Bifhop of Vienna rejetteth a Bijhop «?^"Geneva (Aptandus) fent by the Pope, bccaufe he was never baptized, made Clerk, nor Learned: The Pope tells him that he himfelf had none of thefe when he was confecr at ed Bifhop ^/Vienna, ^ yj. Whether the Right ef Emperours was only by the Pope sGuift, ^78. Binius refo-lutton : One Church had two Bifhops, 4 81. A General Council at Conflant. refioreth Photius, expungeth filioq; condemneth the lafi General Council there\ yet both approved by Popes, ^83. The Council accufeKomt,()%7. Rome's jurifdiflion excluded, ^87. Adders to the Creed (filiocii) anathematized: Pope Martin .7»^Hadrian condemn Photius, and enrage the Greek Emperour againjl them, ^ 80, 91. Bifhofs and Lords dej^ofe Carolus Craffus ; he is put to beg his bread, ^91. The Pope above Emperours as Heaven above Earth-^ Kings are Servants, and not above the Clergie their Maflcrs, ^92. A King ruling ill decreed to be a Tyrant: Bifhops and Priefts lying with their oivn Sifters, rejirained: but no Bifhop is to be accufed by a Presbyter, mr judged under Jeventy two Witnefjes, nor Priefts under, forty tpjo, ^c. He that would lye with his Sifter before fo many deferved blame: Murderers of Vriefts denyed Flefh, Wine, Coaches, &*<:. $ 91^,97. \o'Cvao{^x% perjured, was thefrfl Bifhop that cvev was made Vope, ^ C)<).

CHAP. II. The Progrefs of Councils, till Leo the 9th, ejpedaily in the Weft.

The Bifl^ops depofe Odo, and fet up Charles, f i. The Virgin '^\x-ry'sSmock works wonders. ^.i.BlouJandconfujion inltzly. $.3. Bi fhgps to be obeyed before Earls and Magiftrates. Clergy-men muft not be put to /wear. No Presbyter to be depofd, but by fix Bifhops, 4. 5". Two wicked Popes at once : Stephen Judgeth, Difmembreth, and drowneth dead Formofus, and re-ordaineth thofe ordained by him, (j. 7, 8. The Bift^ops in Council approve it ; yet now Papifls detefl it. §^^.When Popes are hifallible, (). lo. Popes undo what their Prede-

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cejfors did. ^. n, 13,14,15, i?- Platina's difcriptif>nof a Mali^njfit Pope.-().J^.Pope5 Crown for fear, and uncroiv/i, and C/oivx others. ^. ty. Bijhops turn and return, and fry Pcccavimus. Reordinat'ions for hidden, (f. \6. Bad Princes the caufe of bad Bilhops. ^.17. Wicked Chrijiians on whom the Pope durji not uje Difcipline. (f. 17. Schifmes and violence OH Popes, f 18,19,10. Sergius made Pope the third time, keeps it ; hy Whores and Whoredom the tnoji wicked of men, faith Baron, and Bin. ^. zx. Formofus again executed dead, ^.z^.Quffiions tothe Papijis of their holynefs and Succeffion. (j. x^. Photius lafi depofltion, and the Murders, of Emperours at Con-Hant.f x6. A Where Ruleth at Rome, ^ zi. She maketh her Fornicator Pope ; Baronius and BiRnius. hard put to it 4. 6x. Ear I Her ihcrt's Sen, net five years eld, made Archhifhop fo Rhemes. ^.}0. Ratified hy Pope John, lamented by Baron, that iy this Example other great men did the like: Johns end ly a Whore^ (j. 30- None to marry within the feventhdegree, as ineeft. ^- 3 !• Ser-gius haflard-Son tinder age made Pope John by a Whore, and deflroyed after a Monjler faith Binnius- ^-■^^-None to faft privately, but by the Bifhops confent. ^. 3 6. The King of Denmark made Chrifiian by Henry King of Germany- f 3 9 • St- Peter made the example for many Bijhopricksto one Bijhop- ^. 40- Albericus ra/rr^, and mangle ththc Pope. ^•41- The Bifhops judge the Infant before the perjured Monk to he Bifhop of Rhemes, ^ 43. The treafons and changes in France, ^44. Try\>hon illiterate finely cheated of his Patriarchate Confl. () 46. Councils do and undo between the two Bijhops of Rhemes, § 48, 49, fO. John XII Lawful Pope wanted all things neceffary to a Popg., fay B^roviiM^ and B\nnm%, ^ ji. Notes hereon, ^ 5'z. Pope John difmembreth his Cardinals,^ ^3. He fled, ^^y The Bifhops depofe him, and make another by Otho'j means, ^ 5'4. The horrid charges againjl Pope Johnfwcrn, ^5^3. Baronius fl»//Binnius <rg<7/;ry? his condemnation anfwered, § ^6. Two Popes and Churches, ^57. Not yet known who ivas the true Pope, ^ 5:9, John killed in Adultery, ^ 60. Another Antipope perpiriou'ly chofen, ^ 6\- A Msr-fyt, () 6i, 64. An interruption of the Succeffion by Baronius and Binnius account, () 6f- Otho faveth them. The next imprifon-"td and fir angled, f) 67. Boniface VII. r«»; ^c Conftantinople »w//j the Church Treafure, ^ 69. Two more Popes, ^ 69, 70, 71. Boniface murders another Pope, and gets in ; dyeth, and is dr.gd about the Streets, ^74. Jonn XV, durflnot dwell at Rome, ^75'. Uxx-%oC^Y'^t turneth the Bifhops, ^ y^. Popes fighting. JohnXVlI,

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blinded, manqled, dijgraced, kill'd, (f 84. Seven EleHors of the Emperour jettled, ^ 85-- Gerbert kom made Pope, ^87. The AV»g 0/Hungary Co«wr/j?/'(? Tranfilvanians, ^ 87- Good Kings, § 90. Leurheiius Arckhijhop o/SeuS againjl Tranfuhjiantiation^ ^91. Tn-o Popes fighting. The Kingofhiuag^xry converted ly the Ewperour Henry, ^ JJ- The JirJ} hiirningof Hereticks {jSizmchQes) § 97. Henryth:limperour leavethhisWife aFirgin, (f lOO' Be-ncdiiV. IX- a delo'ift loy-Pope: put cut again, ^ 103. Gets in a-gain: A third enters at once- 'Jhe Cerbcrus hired all out by dividing the Church-rents between them ; do reftgn ; but the hirer as pacifcafor is made Pope, ^103 Six that had been Popes alive at once : One honeji Pope that could not read made a fellow Pope to Jo it, ^ 104- Gregory VI- The illiterate reconciling Vope variouCy defer i bed', put out ivith the other three, and a Fifth chojen, ^ 107. henedi\.(k.gets in the third time, ^ 107. Another gets in by Poyfon, and dyeththe 23 day, I:) no. Baron, anfvcered, ^ iii. Ike Monjier Bened. 9. ?y/'^ that condemned Berengarius,^ iix. Leo ^th. of the Refurretlion: Renounceth the Title of Vniverjal Patriarchs, as of thebawdof Antichrifi: Vettr not Vniverfal Apojlle. Bifhops equal; varied by City priviledges, fave in Africa by fenierity. The R0-mifh Church ufurped by no Pafhrs, ^ zoj. MichaelPatr. oj Gonft. R&-laptizeth Papifls, faith they had no true Bapifm, or Sacrifice, ^ zo^. A Roman Council pardon fimoniacal Bifhops and Priefis, left the Church be utterly deftitute,^ zc6. The Popes hold a Council in Trance agaiffl the Kings will: A Bijhops horrid Crimes, and a miracle there. Still Clergie and People mujl chufe every Bifiop xoj.

CHAP. Iz. The continuation till the Councilof Conftance .• Counr cils aiainjl Berengarius, ^ z, &c. Adulterous and Symoniacal Bi' (hops : A miracle, ^ 4, 9. Hildebrand, a Sub-deacon, prefideth in Councils, anddepofeth Bifhops, and Excommunicateth, ^9, 10. Bifhops by Excommunication rule K.Ferdinand, ^ i,z. Mihnfeparated from Rome zoo years, () 16. Another Schifm, ^ 17, i8. Hildebrands new Foundation of Popes {by Cardinals Eletlion) $ zz. Notes hereon, ^zz. A Kom^n Council Jorbids hearing a Fornicator Priefl, ^ Z3. Bloody fights between two Popes: Five years fchifm, ^ x^, P. Alexander ^^/t;^//.^ England/^ William the Conqueror, ^ %j. Councils for each Pope, ^ z8, Z9. Gods word affirmed violable, ^30. Hildcr brands War in Kome: Italian Bifhops againjl him. His hard wo^rk,. obedience to the Pope forbidden by a Council at Mentz. He depofeth the Emperour for feeking /^tfdiminilh theMajefty of the Church i:

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The Contents.

futd abfolveth his fivorn SuhjeHs: Att Antipope made that fate x i years, (the zyd Jchifm.) The Emperour barefoot tn froft three days legs pardon, and prom'tjeth obedience. He is again curfed by the Pope in Council, as having power to take aivcr^ Kingdoms, and all that men have,<) 41,42. The Siege of KomQ: Two Topes: Gregory's death, ^ 4X. He threatneth to depofe the King of France: cLums Hungary ,&c HS-Binnius record of THE POPES DICTATES,/^//iw in 17 Articles WHAT POPERY IS, ^ 44. He claimeth Spain, ^ 46. and Dalmatia, ^ 49. A great part of the Bifhops againfi hin7, ^ 49. Pronounc?th unjnicere repentance fruitlefs, ^ 5-0. Denyeth Divine Service in the Schvonhn tongite, ^51. M weather imputed to the ill Lives of Priefls: /"/'f Armenians errours what, ^ 51. Apulia, &c. the Popes, ^51. One man turned an hundred thoufand men in Spun from the Pope. He threatneth to Excommunicate and depofe the King of Spain, as an Enemy to the Chriflian Religion, ^ 5-2. He newly found St. Matthc'A'S body, ^54. He will expofe the Prince of Sardinia unlefs he obey him in making all Priefls fnave their beards^ () ^t). Notes hereon. 7he Yrcnch. convert the Sweeds, and the Pope would reap the fruit, ^5^6. His notable EpifHe to prove Popes, Priefis, {and Exorcrfis) above Kings, ^ ^j. Anfwcred, ^58. Vcter-pence, (f 59. An Arch-bijhop fufpendcd for not vif ting Komc, § 60. A pious Lit for Peace n a fin, ^61. The t^/^Spanilh Liturgy partly contrary to the Chnflian Faith till now, ^ 6z. His refpetl to William the Con-queroui-, (ijc. ^ 64, G6. The German Eijhnps hereticate the Pope, for forbidding Marriage, ^ 67. Matthew isforfaken, § 68. Philip King of France and many great Bifhops excommunicate, <J 69. Divers Councils excommunicating cojtrarily ; the Antipopes , ^ 69, to 74. Ordinations null that are made pretio, prcci-bus vel obfcquio, and not by the common ccnfcnt of Clergy and People, 4/5- He cxci>nnnufiicateth the Gr^Qk Emperourufurping,^ j6. 77'c> Greek affairs jumm dup, (i.-j-j. The t>ower of Vope and Bifhops to depofe Kings, ^ 79.^ Council Charalier of [Gregory, ^ 80. A Council make Loyalty to be H.xrefis Henriciana, f 87. The Dif ciple is not above his Alafier, anfwered, ^87. Wecilos herefie, that men obey not unjuji Excommunications, but may by. others be received, ^88. Thez}6, Schifm, ^^i. Vigor's Soldiers conquer Clement's, ^ 91. Lay Princes prefent at ions or Inveftitures are Herefie: every Heretick is an Infidel: It's better be iviihout vifible Communion than have it withjuch, <^^y Confellaries overthrowing Rome, ib. A

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I ■ v ..

The Contents.

fteu) Pope tnarrietb MathilJ/s to Welpho on condition they nfe not carnal Copulatien, () 9^. A Jerufalem expedition caufeth peace at home. Cjont^d&rehlleth againji his Father, (f^^ The Emperour commits Fornication, ^101,103. Wrongs on Monday, Wednefday, or Thurfdayt no breach of haly peace : No Bi/hop or Prteft muft/voear er promife Allegiance to a ^i»g, ftor take Preferment from any Lay man, ^ 104. None to communicate in one kind, ^ lOC. All the Btjhops ^Englandy^/x'^ Rochefter renounce obedience andfociety with Anfelxiia Archbifhop of Canterbury, becaufe he would not renounce the Pope, faying, he blafphemed the King, Jetting up any in his King-dom without his confent, $ 106. Time given the King (?f England to repent, ^109. The Anti-Pope Clement dig^d up and burnt : Pafchal %. Council Decree that all Bifhops of the Henrician HereTie {Loyalifls) if alive be depojed, if dead^ aigg d up and burnt {that is, moji of the Wefiern Bifhops^ ^xiz. The Schifm continued, ^ ilj. The Popefet upyoung Henry againfi his Father, who taketh him Prt-foner to the death : He keeps his Fathers Corps five years unburied, becaufe Excommunicate, let proveth Hereticus Henrician OS, Im-prifoneth the Pope till he grant him Inveftitttres. The Vope abfolveth himfelf, 4 114, 115". Cafes on Binnius, ()ii6. Note that Invefii-tures Juppofed the Veople and Clergies free choice of Bifhops, ^117. The Bijhops ufage of old Henry to the laft, $118. To take the Vopes Excommunications ^( not obligatory is a TTerefie,^ ii^.The dangerous Doliritie of Flueiltius Bijhop ^Florence {that Anti-Chrift was come) ^ I %o. Only the Church made Hertry rebell, ^121,1 rx.Tybur coloured with hloud: The Earl c/ Millans Fiefh given to Dogs : The Vepes facramental Covenant broken, (f 117. Qod will have no involuntary fervice,^ izji. The fame is a Henrician Herefie in others which is-none in the Vope, ^131- tTe mayforfwear for the Veople of God. ^131, Two Vopes contending and excommunicating : The Emperour giveth up Invefl it lures, ^ 13 5: /o 13 8. Four Dothines of Guilb. Porretane condemned in Council; i. That Divinitas andDtUSarenot the fame {in fignification : ) 2. That the three Verfons are not unUm aliquid .-3. That there are eternal Relations hefides the Verfons : 4. That it was not the Divine Nature that was incarnate. Two more Popes, ^ 138, 142. A Preacher murdered at Rome, ^ I44. Two more Popes, the Jucceffion from the wrong, () 145'. They fight for it, ^ 1^64 How Clergy and Veople firfl loll their Votes in choice of Vcpes, ^ 147. tiiioVopesflillflriving, ^ 149, &c. Many Cafiles in England built

h

The Contents.

ly two Bijhoys, ()i6o. AbailarJ condcmmAunhs.vd, ()\.6i. Car-ieftineir. the firjt Poj^e without the IPeofles eletUm, An. 1141. Rome againfi the Vcfe : Bijhcps are hisjire^gth, ^ 168. Porrc-tane a^J/ft nccufei/, andptuzled the Council, ^170. He is again dccnfed ly Bernard, \vh«m the Cardinals accufe for ivriti»g his Faith andgettiKg Bijhops hands to it, ^ lyi. The RommQ/^eo-pie excommunicate h Pope Adrian 4. They are for a Preacher called hy him an heretick, ^ 174. Komt Jighteth with Pope and Emperour.-They fight again, and expel the Pope, f "174. The 17 pair of Popes : Wars between the Emperour Frederick and Vope: The Crown of' Eng.-land held as from the Pspe: J'et Rome receiveth him not .- 7%e Em-peroHr fubmitteth, being deferted,^c. ^175'. The fetling the choice of Popes by Cardinals : The Vope no Bifhop by the Canons, ^177. The Roman Succefiion is from Alex. 3. when the Clergie, People, Emperour, Vrinces, and a Council of innumerable Bifhops were for Victor, \ 176. Parliaments called Councils, ^ 179. Ireland the ' Popes, ^ 18a The Albigenfes Henricians, ^ i8i. No Bijkop may f^pend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter : A perjured Clergie-man perpetually deprived: Doubtful words to be underjhod asufually, ^ i8i. The Vopes Party inKome. have their Eyes put out, ^183. Frederick drowned in Afia, ^ 187. The Kingdom 0/'France intsrdi^cd, ^190. The Pope fets up an Anti-Emperour, who prc-vai'cth, () 192- England isterdi^ed fix years and three months ^ ^ 194. The famous twelfth General Council at the Laterane under Inoc. 3. for Tranfubjiantijtion, exterminating hereticks, depofin(^ 'Princes, abjolvingSuhjeds, forbidding HnUcenfedPreachers,^c. ^ I95'. Almaricus burnt dead, ^ 196. Stephen Langton and King John, () 197. TenQjicries upon this Council, ^198. The Qanons of this' Ccanal true: Mr. DodweF.f 17 Arz^uments for it, ^ 199. The' Papifts excufes anfwered, ^ iSo. (mifnumbred.) The bloody Execution, ^181. Oxford Canons, that every great Parifh Have two or three Presbyters, Cffc. ^ 183. Againfi Preaching when filenced, $ 184. The Pope twice ban'ifi^ed by the Romans.- The Emperour txcommunicate anddepofed-, fights it out: The Pope dyeth, ^ 186. A tnortalfin to have two Benefices, if one will marntain him, ^ rSy, The Emperour again excommunicate: A merry Excommunication, ^ 191. Rebellions, ^ ipx. Conrade and King Henry, § i5>3-Bijhop Grofthead'j natable Letter t9 the Vope^ and its recrption,

The Contents,

^ 195:, 1^6- ObeJ/ent difobedience: All Vower for edification, ih. The Vope calls the King of Kngland bJs Sbve, whom he com irnpri-fort, &1-. ^ 19 (J; The Qardinals Speech to quiet the Vope: A De-fetlion foretold,() ip^.Grolhcads death: Hetakeththemfor Hereticki that tell mt great men cf their fin, &c The Vope Antichrifl, for de-flroying fouls. The Vopes pardoning Letter : The Vope defer tied, () 193. Miracles at Robert Groflieads death: The Vope would have hurnt and damned his Corps : In a I'ifion he mortally ivoundeth the Vope, ^ lyS, 199. H. 111. pawneth his Kingdom to the Vope, ^ 200. The 13th General Council at Lyons excomtnnnicateth and depofeth the Emperour and abfolveth his Suhjells, ^. zox. Guelphus for the Vopes, Cihelins for the Emperour, ^ xoy 77;^ Englilh P<7r-lianient demand the choice of the Lords Jufiice, Chancellour and Treafurer, ^ lo^}. The Vlot of King Henry and the Bifhop ofHcTQ-ford, to get money by the Vope, () zo6. The Varliament refiji it: IsA.V^ns talks too boldly of the King, ^ zo6. Buying Bifhopricks : Brancalco ^/^Rome maflereth the Vope, ^ 208, %6^. Sewale Arch-Bijhop of York againfl the Vope: doth Miracles, ^ 212. Rome not ruled by the Vope, ^214. Tlear three years vacancy of the Vapacy, ^219. Cardinal Vortuends jeafl, 220. Thefoolifh Vope ]cAmfadly confuted, ^224. King Peter of Arragon depofed, §zi6. The Popes Tenth peny denyed, ()izZ. Two years more vacancy. TV.'f Greeks enmity to Rome, (). 229. Pope QQ\&{\in.t cheated torefign, andim-prifioned, ^233. Boniface the VIII. his conflitl with the Kin^of France; taken prifiner, anddyeth : Vh.t\.wxs good Counfiel to all Rulers, () 224. The Clergy not to be taxed by Princes, ^ z]^. The PopefetledinYxd^ncc hy Clement V. Qontinueth 70 Tears, ^236. Above 2 years vacancy, ibid. 40. Articles of the King of Franci? <7^<?i»/? Boniface VIII. Three Heri/ies of Vctnis Joannis, 1. The rational foul, as fuch is not forma corporis humani. 2. Grace habitual, not infufed in b apt if me to Infants. 3. The Spear pierced Chrifl before his death, 4 242. The Herefie of the Beguines and Beguardes for perfetlion, ^ ibid. Pope Clements Decrees, De fide. I. Of the form of the body {the foul.) 2. Infants infufed Grace. 3. Vfury a jin. 4. To be reflored. The contrary to jujfer as Here ticks, § ibid. The falfhood of fiome of thefie new Ar. tides of Faith, ^ 243. Magifirates excommunicated that di^race wicked, Priefis, ^ 247. Or compel them to anfwer to them, ^ 248. . ■ Vopes

(

The Contents.

Popes and Councils cotidetrm each other as Hereticks,^ x^o. The Pope (Ijimeth the Empire hy Efcheate, (f x^i. The Priefi to take the-name oj every PariJhoiter,that heingcOHfeffed and confirmed they may u>mmuHicaie only hy his counfel, (} Zjz. The Greek ajjairs, ^ 256. A Toi.Ql9.nQ Council Decree that their Provincial Conjiitutrcns hind only ad pcenanl, not ad culpam^, lefi ChrijNans Confciences he hur-denedy ^157. After feventy years refidence at Avignion, forty years more there were two Poyes{andfametime more) one at Avignion and one at Rome. Difierd choofetij an honefl Pope, hut Concord an Anti-Pope. Thfir Wars : The Pope drowneth Curdinah in Sacks, and makes twenty nine new ones in one day, ^i6o. Italy flill the mojl Mnpeaceahle warri>tg place of the World, i) z6z, 263. 7he Popes bloody way of curing Schifm^ ^ i6}. ^ The Council ^Pifa thinking to .have hut'one Pope made a third, (f 2.67. Who Depofed King Ladi-.flaus, ^z68.

-' ' ■. .c ■. '

CHAP. 13- The Cauncils fl/Conftance, Bafil, ^c. Tl:<at at Conftancc, called hy Pope 'idixn xi (alias xi or 23 or 14) hy SWi(-mund the Emperours means. Councils ahove the Pope, ^ 3. Wickliift Articles, ^ 6. One is, that they are Traytors to Chrifi, who give o-ver preaching, and hearingGods word, for mens Excommunications, ^ 6, 54. heynous Articles againfl Pope John, commonly caUedThe. Devil incarnate: Ah thfiinate Heretick, denying the life to come,^c. ^^8. He ratifieth allhimfelf, and with other two Popes is depofed, ^ 9- A decree againfi giving the Sacramental Cup, though Chrifi and the Ancient Church ufedit,i) lO- Articles againji JohnHus as Wick-lifT's; More as his own, (f iz, 13- Excommunication mufi not make us leave off Preaching.- Againjf Hicrome of Prague Ireakingfafe Con-dutls,^ 14, 15-.. The third Pope deposd, (f 16. Decrees for frequent General Councils : Popes Elettions regulated: A new Pope chofen ^ 17.. The Fate of P. John and the reft, ^ 18, ly. Continued Wars at Rome, againfi the Pope, and in Italy, (f xy 7 he Council at Bafil. The Bolieniiaiis cafe: Their four Articles, i. For the full Sacrament, z. For corretling puhlick Crimes.^. For liherty to preach Gods Word. 4. Againfi the Clergies civtl Power; all eluded, ^24. Bifhop Auguftinus de KomcLSerrours(Phanatick) Pardon of all (ins confcft with a contrite heart, fold for money and fafling, ^17. 7heir Catho-lick Ferities : i. For Councils Supremacy, x. They may not he dijfoh-

e ed,

The Contents.

ed, jemved, prorogneti, hut eonfetttiHg. y lis Herefie tooppugHtkeji I) i8. P. Eugeniiis depofeJas ap8rtittaciouiHeretkk,&c.().'Li.Q4t€riei hereon,^ 10. Ihe immaculate Conception decreed, ^31. Two Popes again, ^ji. Epijiles of and againji thePoi^e, ^33. Four Treatifet againji the homvsmm four great Articles, f 34, 35'. Qod oniy par-doneth the fault, and the Pope part of Church Penattcfis. Whether fileucedPreachers nuiji ceafe : Vujuft Sentences twt regardahle, coth fejfed: The Council confirmed^ ^ 35". 3<J- A Council at Briges co»-firmeth this, ^37. The Council at Florence .• Tivo General Councils at once, ^38- The Rojnans ft ill fight againjl the Pope, 4 39. Conflantinople lofi, ib. P. Pius x- his GharaBer and Sentences : For priefts Marriage : Tet for Rome'jr Vniverfal Headjhip to he received as neceffary tofahatim, ^,^<\' V^^^yAx. a jufl and clement Simoniaft and Tyrant: Torment eth Platina and many others : Accu-feth them of Herefie for praifing Plato and Gentile Learning, ^e. Againjl Learning, 4 45"- P- SixtUS Wars and treachery, ^ 46. Deny rng the Decrees 6f a Gentral Council de fide {of the immaculate conception of B. MO m'JJerefie^ ^ 47- P^ If^oc 8. fights to be Hint ,4>f Naples, ^ 49- \ 'j'h -s; v\\. rV.wv.O ,'*.a;.^jV^ vviir.^ic,;. ui. 'jA\ LriP. T* Po(^s Alexander the- Sixth his ugly Cbaraller , and his Son Ciefar Borgia'^ Villanies : Both driniing the poyfon prepared for 0-thers: ,The Pope dy eth of it, ^50. Pius 3. ^ fi. P. Julius i. Italy /« hlood flill hy him, ^ §l. Councils agaiuft the Pep6 : The King 1^ France excommunicated, ^ 5'3, s^- ^^^ Anti-Council at Lateran, ■againft theV'i'^'XKse,, againft the }crtachpragmat.Sandion: The notable Titles of the Pope, § ^S- Decreed that Simoniacal Eleilion of Popes is null, and giveth no Authority, (which nullifieth the Roman fucceffwn) ^ ^6. Decrees ahout Souls, \ S7- Leo 10. a Cardinal 4/13. and an Archhtfhop in his Childhood: His Wars and blood-fhed, ^ f8. Luther: The Reformation : The end ef Charles f. ^ fg. Leo'j death, ^ 60. Reformers drive the Papijls to Learning, $ (Jr. All Pap/ft Princes owe their fafety, Crowns, and deliverance from Vapal depofition to the Reformation ; and Italy its peace, ^ 62. The Hi (lory of the Reformation, atfd of Pap ifls Murders of Martyrs pi^-fed hy, ^ 63. Freder. of Saxony refufeth the Empire and Money, and chofe Charles, ^ 64. Thirty five cafes for which men mufi he deity ed Communion in the Eucharifl, ^65'. Later ReformingPapifi Councils, ^ 66, ^c. The Conclufion, what this Hiflory fpecially

aifcovcreth.

The Contents.

Church MffiVnt "-^ ,^:K■^ty^v..v^uB i. ,-.,.,m:t..'6 u.k..^ v

CHAP. 14. ACoitfHtaiioii of f'apifts aHiSe^arifftioWi^ qn4

offtf^ theMiniftry tf the Reforipcd Churches: :.'':J. ''■\

CHAP. */.' A CnfufufJod tf the ^^^^e 0pp^rs cf the m-,

ttijlrj. ''■'■■ ..,. ■

■VV« -11 ' *' v.]

^>»v\»^-j j«t*iV"Hr-»

"'- ■-■•-• ■• ■•'• ■. .■•.,i ,^..0 > . ' y r'r

CHURCH-

An Account offpmciBooIcnaitely Printed for, and to bcSold by Thomas Simmotts, at the Princes Arms, in Ludgate-ftrcet.

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After the Title Sheet follows a,b, c,d,e •, thenB.C, D, E, F, G,H, I, K,L, M,N,0,P, Q, R,S, then A A, B B, CC, DD, E E, FF, GG, HH, II, KK, LL, MM, NN, OO, PP, then S S, TT, V V, XX, YY^ ZZ, AAA. BBB, CCC, DDD, EEE; then GGGj and i"o on to Q^Q^Q; which Signiture ends the Book.

Chtfrch-Hiftory

O F

Biseops

And their

COUNCILS

A B R I D G E D, <?..

CHAP. I.

Of the facte J Miniflry, Epifcopacy and Councils, necejfary Premonitions : and ef the Deftgn of this Book.

§. i.^" ^ OD that could have enlightned the Earth without the ■ Sun and Stars, could imrnediately alone have taught his

^ -y/r Church, and communicated knowledge to mankind : But ^^»JI as he is the moft communicative good, he was pleafed not only to make his Creatures receptive of his own influx, but alfo to give them the ufe and honour of being efficient fub-com-municants under him, and caufes of good to themfclves and to one another : And as his Po\wr gave Bein^ and Motion, his IVifdom gave Order and Harmony, and his Love gave Coocbiefs and Perfeiiion, felicity znd love, as he is the creating and conferving Caufe of Nature-, and this in much inequality, as he was the free difpofer of his own ^ fo in the Kingdom of Grace he doth by the Spirit of Life, Li^:^ht, and Love, i. Qnickcn and ftrengtlien the dead and weak fouls, and awaken the (lumbering and floth-ful i 2. Illuminate the dark with I-aith and Knowledge, and j. Sandifie

B the

'Church-Hijiory of Bifhops and

the malignant Enemies of holinefs, by the power of his communicated love, making them friends and joyful lovers: This Spirit firft filled the Humane Nature of Chrifb our Head-, who firft con . micatcd ittofome chofen perfons in an eminent manner and degree, a;, Mature raaketh the heart and brain and other principal parts to be organical^ in makings fre-fovingi and governhig the refb. Tothefe h? gave an eminence of Power to work .Miracles, ol Wifdom to propagate the Wcvd of life, and infallibly by Pleaching and Writing promulgate and record his facrcdGofpel, and of Z;*/)'/or<r to kindle the like by zealous holinefs in the hearts ofo-thcrs. To thefe organical perfotis he committed the Oeconomy ot being the witnejfes of his words and anions, his refurredion and afcenfion, and of recording them in writing, of planting his firfl Churches, and leal-ing the truth of their teftimony by many Miracles, promifing them his Spirit to perform all that he committed to their trufl, and to bring all to their remembrance, and to lead them into all truth, and to communicate inftrumentaiiy his Spirit tooihers, the faniftifying gifts by blefllng their Dodrine, and the miraculous gifts by their impofition of hands.

§. 2. By thefe principal Minilttrs the firft Church was planted at 7^r«-falem, ('fitlieft called the Mother-Churchj and after bythofcthat were font thence many Churches were gathered in many Kingdoms of the world, darknefs being not able to refift the light. The Apoltles and Evangelifts and Prophets delivered to them the Oracles of God, teaching them te obferve all things that Chrifi had commanded them, and pra(ftically teaching them the true Worfhif of God^ ordering their jiffcrtihlies , and or-da.imng\!ntxa fuch Officersfor iacred Miniltration as Chrift would have continued to the end of the world, and fhewing the Churches the way by which they w)«/? he continued, and defcribing all the work of the Office appointed them by Chrift.

§. i The Apoltles were not the Authors of the Gofpel, or of any ef-ftntial fart of the Chriftian Religion, hxiX.l\\Q.Eeceners of it from Chrijlj and Preachers of it to the world: Chrilt is the yiiithor and fi/:ijlier^ or per-feifter of our faith. But they had befides the power of infallible remem-bring, knowing and delivering it, a double power about matters of Order in the Church : i. By the fpecial gift of the Spirit's infpiration, to found and Jlablifli fuch Orders as were to continue to the end, and none that came after them might change, they being the Ordinances of the Holy Ghofl in them. 2. Temporarily, fro re nata^ to make convenient mutable Conftitutions, in matters left by the great Lcgiflator to humane prudence, to be determined according to his general regulating Laws. In this laji the Apoftles have Succeflbrs-, but not in the former: No other have their Gtft, and therefore not their Authority .- No men can be feid to have an Office that giveth them Right to exercife abilities which they never had nor fliall have.

§.4. Chrift fummed up all the Law in LOVE to God and Man, and the works of Love •, and all the Gofpel in Faith, and HopCf and Leve by

them

their Councils abridged.

them kindled and exercifed by the Spirit which he giveth theni^ even by the Belief and Truft of his Merits, Sacrifice, Interccflion and Promiles, and the profpe^ of the future Glory promifed, fortifying us to all holy duties of obedience, and diligent feeking what he hath promifed, and t» patient bearing of the Crofs, conquering the incudiaate love of the world and flefh and prefent life, and improving all our prefent fufterings, and preparing for his coming again, and for our change and entrance into our Mailers joy.

$. 5. Chrift fummed uptheEflcntials of Chriftianity in thcBaptifmal Covenant, in which we give up our felves in Faith, Hope, and confenting Love, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Gholl, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sandifier, and in which God receiveth us in the Correlations as his own. And all that are truly thus baptized are Chriftened, and arc to be efteemcd and loved as Chriftians, and to be received into Chriflian Communion in allChriftian Churches where they come, until by apoftafie orin-^enitency in certain difobediencc to the Laws of Chrift, in points ne-ceQary to Chriftian Communion, they forfeit that priviledge. Nor are men to deprive them of the great benefit thus given them by Chrift, on pretence of anynvf or holimfs^ or power, to amend Chrifts terms, and make the Church Doors narrower, or tic men tothemfelves for worldly ends. Yet muft the Paftors flill difference the weaker Chriftians from the flronger, and labour to edifie the weak, but not to call them out of the Church.

$.6. Thefacred Miniflry is fubordinate to Chrift in his Teaching, Go. verning^ and Pricflly OlRce, and thus ellentiated by Chrifts own inflicudon, which man hath no power to change: Therefore under Chrift th;y muft teach the Church by facredDoclrine, guide them by that and facred Di-fcipline, called The power of the Keys (that is of judging who is fit to enter by Baptifm, to continue, to partake of the Commun'on, to be fu-fpsnded or caftout^ and to lead them in the publick Worfliip of God, interceding in Prayer and fpeaking for them, and adminiilring tothcm the Sacraments or holy Seals of the Covenant of God.

$. 7. The firft part of the Miniftcrs Office is about the unbelieving vorlJ^ to convert them to the Faith of Chrift; and the fccond pcrfedive part a-bout the Churches. Nor muft it be thought that the firft is done by them as meet private men.

$. 8. As Satan fell by pride, and overthrew man by tempting him to pride {ta become as Gods in Knowledge) Co Chrift himfelf '.vas to conquer tile Prince of pride by humility, and by the Crofs, by a life ot fnftri/ig ; con-temped by the blind and obftinate world, making bimfelf of 1:0 rcput.jion, defpifmg the piame of luffering as a Malefaftor (a. Traitor and Blafpi-cm. r:) And thcbe^iring of the Crofs was a principal part of his Precepts and Covenant to his bifciples, without which they could not be his Foi!o vers. And by Humility they were to follow the Captain of their S^lvaticn, in conquering the Prince of pride, aad in treading down the Enemie-world,

B 2 ^ eve.)

Church-Hijiory ofBiJhops and

i

cvtn the lu/} cf theflejh^ the//*,? of the eyes ^ and pride of Hfey which Are mt ef the Father but of the world.

$.9. Accordingly Chrift taught his chief Difciples, that if they were not lb cchverted as to become as little children, they could not enter into the Kingdom of Heave7i~, Afatth. 18. 3, His School receiveth not mallerly Di' fciples, but humble teachable Learners, that become fools that they may be wfe.

And when they wcredifpnting and fecking which of them Jlwuld be great-ejl, he carnellly rebuked all fuch thoughts, fetting a Utile child before them, telling them that the Princes of the Earth exercife authority^ and arc called BcKcfa^ors (or by big Names) but with them it fliould not be fo \ but he that would be the greatefi mujl he fervant of all, LhI^ 11. (hewing them that it was not a worldly grandeur, nor forcing power by theSivord (which belongcth to Civil Magiltrates) which was to beexercifcd by the Pallors of the Church: But that he that would be theChiefcft, mull be moft excellent in Merit, and mofi: ferviceable to all, and get his honour and do his work by meriting the refpcd and love of Volunteers. The Sword is the Ai.jgijlratei^ who crc alfoChrilts Minifters^ (for all Power is given him, and he is Head over all things to the ChurchJ But they are emmently the Minifters of his Power ', but the Pajlors and Teachers are moft eminently Minillers of his Paternal and faving love and wifdam. And by wifdom and love to do their work. The Word preachtd and applied generally and particularly fby the Keys) is their Weapon or Arms, and not the Sword.

The Bol>emians therefore knew what tlicy faid, when they Teemed damnable Hereticks to the worldly Clsrgie that deftro^'cd them, when they placed their Caufe in thele four Articles: i. To h.ive the whole Sacra-mcnt, Eread andWitie. 2. To have free leave for true A'fintflers to preach the word oj God Cwichout unjult filencing of proud worldly men that cannot fland before the truih.^ 3. To have Temporal Dom-niai (or Government by the Sword, and power over mens Bodies and Ellates) taken from tht Ciergie. 4. To have grcfs fn ftipprejfed by the imfitl Magiflrate by ike Sword.

$. 10. Had icbecnncccfiary tothe Churches Union againft Scbifw or He-rp/7(r for ChriRians toknow- that Peter or lb ma one of his Apoftlcs mult be his Vicar-General, and Head of his Church to whom all mult obey, who can believe that Chrift would not only have fllenced fo necefTarya point, but alfoata timewhenhcwasdeflred orcalledto decide it, have only fpoken fo much agalnft it, to take down all fuch Expeiftations. Yea we never read that Peter cxercifed any Authority or Jurifdidions over any other of the Apoftlcs, nor more than other Apoftles did", much Icfs that ever he chofe a Bifhoptobe Lord of the Church, as his Succeflbr. Nay he himfclf fcemeth to fore-fee this mifchief, and therefore faith, \'Pet. 5. 1,2, 1..The Elders which are among you I exhort^ whoamatfo an El~ tier and a. Witnefs of the Sujferings of Chr'Ji, and alfa a Partaker of the

Glory..

their Coimcils ahridyecl.

Glory that jhall be revealed- (Thefe are his Dignities-) Feed the Fiock^of Cod which is among yoh^ (not out of your reach and hearing in a vaft Dio-cefs) taking the overfwht^ mt by conJIrMtit^ hut veillingly (,and on willing mcn^ not for ficby lucre, but of a ready wind:, neither as being Lords over Cods Heritage^ but being Examples to the Flockj, and when the chief Shepherd JJiall appear^ ye fliall receive a Crown of Clory that fudeth not away.

§. ii. 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 hart mens Bodies or Eflatcs, ("except what the Apoftles had by miracle j : And to this day no Proteftants, and not moft Papifis claim any fuch Power as of Divine Inftitution, but only plead that the Secular Powers arc bound by the Sword to deltroy fuch as arc judged Hereticks by the Bifhops, and to punifhfuchas contemn the cenfures of the Church.

§. 12. He that would fee more for the Power of Princes vindicated from the Clergies Claim and Ufurpation, may find much in many old Trea-tifes, written for the Emperours againll the Pope, collccled by Colda(lm de Monarch, ^nd inWill. Barclay^ but much better in Bilhop Bilfon,oi Obe-dierce^ and in Bilhop Jndrew\ Tortiir.i Torti, and in Bilhop Buckridg/: Rojfenfiso^ the Power of Kings, and much in Spalutenfs dc Rcpub.

§. 13. The Vniverfality of Chrijlians is the Catholick^Omch, of which Chrillis the only Head or Soveraign :, but it is the duty of tl.efe to worfliip Godinfolemn Aflembiies, and to live in a holy Convcrfation together ^ andto join inftriving againft fin, and to help each other in the way to life; therefore Societies united for thefe ends are called , Particular Churches,

§. 14. When the Apoftles had converted a competent number of Chrl-ftians, they gathered them into fuch Aflembiics, and as a Politick Society, fet over them fuch Miniftersof Chrift, as are afore dcfcribed, to be their Guides.

§. 15. Thefe Officers are in Scripture c.illcd fomctime Elders, and fomctimcs Bi(1>ops, towhcm Deacons were added to ferve them and the Church fiibordinattly. Dr. Hammond hath well dcfcribed their Oificc ia in hh Annotat. which was fo preach conjlantly inpublickj, and private, to ad' minijler both Sacraments, to pray and praifc God with the Pe-ople, toCaiechiz^Cy to vijtt and pray with the fiik^., to comfort troubled Souls, to admomfl) the unruly, t0 rejeH the impenitent, torcjiore the penitent^ to take care of the poor, and in a word, of all the Flock.

§. 16. The Apoltles fet mually more than one of thefe Elders or Bifhops in every Church, not as if one might not rule the Flock where no more was necelTsry, but according to their needs, that the work might not be undone for want of Minifterj.

§. 17. They planted their Churches ufually in Cities, btxaufe Chriftians comparatively to the reft were few (as Seds are among us) and no where elfe ufually enough for a Society, and bccaule the Neighbour-fcattercd^ Villages might beft come to the Cities near them •, not but that it was-

law-

Church-Hiftory of Bijhops and

lawful to plant Churches in the Country, where there were enough to conftitutc them,and fometimes they did fo, as by Clement Romxn. ud Corinth. byHiftory appeareth.

§ \%.Grotiui thinketh that one City at firlt had divers Churches and Bi-fhops and that they were gathered after the manner of theSynagogues ^ and 'Dv. Hrmrngtid thinketh that for foinc time there were two Churches and Bifliops in many Cities, one of Jews and one of Gentiles; and that in Rome Pan! and Peter had two Churches, whom Litms and Cletns did fuc-ceed, til! they were united in C/f/«c»;.

$. 19. There is great evidence of Hiftory that a particular Church of the Apoitles fetling was eilcntiilly only C"'a Company of Chriftians, Pa-■"■ ftors and People a Hociated for pcrfonal holy eommunion and mutual help ''in holy Do-lrinc, Worfliip, Converfation, and Order.]

Therefore it never confilltd of lo few or fo many, or fo diltant as to be uncapal'Ie of fuch perfo^al help atid Communion : But was ever diflinguifh-cd as from accidental Meetings, fo from the Communion of many Churches or diftant Chriftians, which was held but by Delegates, Synods of Pallors or Letters, and not by pcrfonal help, in prefen c.

Not that all thcfe mult needs always meet in the fame place: but that ufually they did fo, oratdue times at Icaft, and were no more nor more diltant than could fo meet: Sometimes Perfecution hindred them; fora-times the Room might be too fniall: Even Independent Churches among us fometimes meet in divers places: and one Parifli hath divers Chappels for the aged and weak that are unfit for travel.

§. 20. Scotus began the opinion (as Davenport^ Fr. a Santa Clara inti-mateth"! and Dicn Petavins improved it, and Dr. Hammond hath largely afTcrted it, that thi Apoftles at firft planted a fingle Biihop in each Church, with one or more Deacons, and that he had power in time to ordain Elders of a different Oider, Species, or Office, and that the word Elder and Blfhop and Pallor in Scripture never fignifie thefe fubjcft Elders, but the Bifhops only, and, faith he, there is no evidence that there were any of the fubj.ft fort of Presbyters in Scripture-times: Which concefilon is very kindly accepted by the Presbyterians; but they call for proof that ever thefe Bifnops were authorifed to make a new Species of Presbyters which were never made in Scripture-times? and. indeed they vehemently deny it, and may well defpair of fuch a proof

§. 21. But for mvpart I believe the foundation unproved (thJtthen there was but one Elder in a Church) and think many Texts of Scrip, ture fully prove the contrary. But I join with Dr. Hammond in believing that in Scripture-times there was no particular Church that had more ftated meetings for publick Communion than one: For if there was fo long but one L-lder, there could be but one fuch Aflembly at once; for they had no fuch Affemhlies which were not guided by a Presbyter or Bi-fhop, in Doftrine, Worfliip, Sacraments and Difcipline: And they ufcd to have the Eucharifb every Lords day at Icalt, and often much more And one man can be at once but in one place. J. 22.

their Councils abridged.

§.22. I have elfewhere fully proved, that the ancient Churchesthat bad Bifliops were no bigger than our Pariflies (and few a quarter fobig as the greateft of them) andconfiftedof no more than might havefuch prefent perfonal Communion as is before defcribcd i the proofs are too large to be here recited. j^n«f«»j is the plainefl:, who faith^ that this was the note of a Churches Unity, that [To every Church there was one Altar ^ and one Bijlwp^ veith his Fellow Prefbyters and Deacons .] And elfewhere chargeth the Bilhop 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 Bilhops.

Jiiflin Martyrh Dcfcription of the Chriflian Aflemblies plainly proveth it.

IcrthlHan's Defcription of them and many other paiTagcs in him prove it more fully. Heprofefllth that they took not the Lord's Supper fave only from the hand ef the Bifltej (^Aitijiitis manu) whocould give it but tO one AITembly at once.

Many Canons alfo folly fliew it (elfewhere cited j fomc appoint all the people to joyn with the Bilhop on the great Feftivals of the year, even a-bove 500 years after Chrift.

TheCultomalfo of choofingBilhopsfheweth it, where all the people metand chofe him : Yea in Cyfrian% time the Exercife of Difciplinc proveth it, when even in fuch great Churches as Cartk^ge it was done in the pretence of the people, and with their confcnt.

§• 23- The only Churches in the World, that for about 200 years after Chrift, if not more, had more than one ordinary Allbmbly, for Church-Communion, though but like our Parilh Chappels, were ^owf and Alexandria, as far as I can learn in any Hiftory: For that at JerKfAlcm for all the numbers had no more dated Members than oft met in one place Texceptingoccafional abfentsj. And I find no rcafon to believe that ever thefe two (the chief Cities of the Empire,) had folong more than fome iw^ow Parilhes (which have aboveflNtythoufard fouls as is fuppofed^ no nornear (if half J foniany. And becaufc elfewhere I have only excepted thefe two Cities, I will yet add fomevvhat to Ihew, that even there the cale was not as many now imagine,

$. 24. Cornelius in an Epillle to F^bins of Antiocb fin Eufcb. Hift. I. (J-€.^'i.alias 42J faith that''in the Church of Rome were 46 Presbyters, *' 7 Deacons, and of other Officers 94. that is, 42 Acolitcs, 52 Exor-*' cifts and Readers, with Porters, Widows, and impotent perfons 3-'*bove 1050 fouls, who are all relieved by the grace and goodnefs of *'Almighty God, &c.'2 This is the chief teftimony in the third Age to prove that this one Church had more than could either meet in one place, or hold perfonal Communion.

§.25. But let it be confidered, 1. That partly for the honour of qualified perlbns, and partly that all the Church might in feafon have the help

of ?.ll mens gifts, they were fo far in the ancient Churches from having lb few as Dr. Hanwiond and Petavius imagine, that they multiplied Officers, and digniiied, and fo employed a great part of the Church that hsdufeful gifts: hifcmuch that a moft credible Witnefs fliortly after, even Greaoyy Nuzjan^en, faith, Orat. i. Pa^. 45. that by the intrufion of men for dignity and maintenance, "T/;<r Church-RuUrs were almoji more than the SitbjeUs. The words are 'HySrhtv Cmf .^ a^^av. Sec. Of •' otkeis J am ajhawcd^ who wboi tbiy arc r,o better than others, {and *■'■ J wi(l) they were >iot much worfe) thrlift thcmfelves upon the tnoft holy Aty-*"' fteries, as we fay^ with itnrvapeti hands and frophane minds, and before " they are worthy to ajproach to holy things > ambitioiijly enter the Fejiry it V fclf Cor Chancell j and prefs and thriift themfihes about the holy T.ible, " as tf they jud/red this Order not to bean example of Virtuey but an occafon *' and help of getting maintenance, and not to be an Office lyable to give Account ^ '' but a Command in which they may be jrce from Cenfure : Who being mifera-PJ3 " ble (cr pitiful peribnsj as to Piety, and unhappy as to Splendour, thzt is, '"■low in the World and Parts) do now in number almoft exceed thofe whom " they are over ("or are to govern). LThis would make one fufped that **• there were then many Ruling Elders that preachM not; but it's plain *■' they had an Office about the Sacraments] Therefore this Evil incrcafmg *"' and gcttinq^ ftrength with time^ it fecms to me that they will have none under *' them to rule, (or guidej but that all will turn Teachers and will Prophe/ie, in-*'y7f.t^ (as waspromifedby God) ofbelngall taught of God: Sothatofold •' the Hijlory and Parable faid, Saul alfo is among the Prophets. For there ^'■neither now i^ tior ever W'ls fo great plenty of any other thing as there is now *'■ of thefe frequent Shames and Criminals'-, for ether things, as they have their '■^fiourifling time., have alfo their decay. And though to reprefs their impetu-'■'oitfnefs he a work^ahove tny ftrength., yet certainly to hate it and be aftiamedis " not the leAft part of Piety-

Judge by this,what numbers of Officers or Clergy-men then the Church had.

§.26. Next for the Poor^ confider their proportions in and by other Churches-, Chryfoft- in Matth. EditSavil. p. 421. fuppofeth the Poor of the Church of Antioch .'whence he came j to have been about the tenth part and dividing the City into three Ranks, he accounts a tenth part rich, and a tenth part poor, and the reft of a middle Eftate between both. Now in Chryfcftom^s time the Church was fo high, being owned by the greateft Emperours as we may well fuppofe almoft all or moft of the rich came in: Whereas at Rome in the time of Cornelius it being under reproach and cruel perfecution, we may well conclude, that moft of the rich ftood out, and thty might fay with PW, not many Great, not many Noble are called :, few rich men comparatively receiving the Gofpel, it's moftlikcly that the poor were then far more than a tenth part, if not the greater part of the Church. But fuppofe them a t. nth part, which is DOt probable, the whole Church of Rome then would be but 10500 Souls,

which

their Councils abridged.

which is about the fifth part or fixth as big as Martins Fariili, and about a quarter as big as Steamy Parilh, and about a third or fourth part as big as Giles Cripplegate Parilh, and not half fo big as Giles in the Fields and o-ther Parifhes. Moreover Chryjojlome^ Hom. ii.in -/4<^./). 674. computes the poor at Conflantimplt to be about half as many as all the other Chrifti-ans, and this in the moft flouridiing Gity and Age . And by this meafure they would yet fall further fliort.

It may be you will fay, that thefe were not the pooreft of all that were kept by the Church : But it's known that ever v.wce. the times of extraordinary Community, the Churches relieved all the needy according to the leveral degrees of their wants ■, and thefe were fuch as were in want, though not equally, and they are fuch poor as v/erc diftinguiflied not only from the Rich, but alfo from the middle fort •, and fuch as the Church took care to relieve.

§. 27. And as for j^lcxandria, the grcatelt City of the Empire next Rome fas Jcfephus faith, de bello J lid. i 5. r. ult. it is certain that in the third Century the Chriftians had more Meeting Places for Divine Worlhip than one, and in the fourth Century had many. Epiphanius namcth divers, Hxref. 6g.p. jzS. ylnus having one wherein he preached, had that advantage to propogate his Hcrefie. But all know that the building of Temples began after Emperours were Chrillians, and the fair Churches which, Eiifehiits faith, they had in DiocUftAns time (till he deftroyed them j were but like our Tabernacles or private Churches, and grew to Number and Ornament but a little before, as Ei<fchins intimatcth. It was a good while before there were two Churches, even in Cor.flaminople. Indeed, it is noted, as a (Ingularity, that they had two Churches: But they miftakc, that apply that to two Mcetinj^ Places, which is fpokenoftwo Societies, becaufe iu Meletiiis time they had ^vo Bifliops.

§. 28. But yet let us fee how big the Chriltian Church was in this great City, even when it had many Chapels •, even in Athatiafms time, in the fourth Century, Tow. i. Ed. Commel. p. 5 ji. in his Apology to Cenfiant. you may find (in words too large tobeall tranfcribed) that he being accufcd for aflcmbling the People in the Great Church, maketh this part of his Defence, C *■ The confiiience of the Petplc at the Falter Solemnity was fo great., ' that if they had met in feveral Jjfcmil,es (or by parties>/jf ether Chwches wert *fo narrow cr/null that they wculd have been in danger offufferin^ by the Crowd',

* f7or would the tinivcrfal Harmony and Concord of the People have been fo vifble

* and cff.c.icious if they had met in Parcels •, Therefore he concliideth it better for

* the whole Multitude to meet in that^^reai Chitrcb., hc'wg a place large enough

* to receive them altogcthcr)^»i:/ to have a concurrence of the People all with CKt

* I'^oice (la Symphony :) For'if according to Chrift\<prontife where two fljallagree

* ofai.y thing it Jliallbe dene for them — how prcv.dent will be the One-voice offo ' numerous a People njfembled together., and faying., Amen, to God ? Who therefore ' would net admire { Who would not count it a hafpinefs to fee fo greaPa People ''/net together in one placed And how did the People re Joyce to fee one another y

' wlxr

eas

*■ whereas formerly they ajfembled infevcralflaces.'} Thus phinly ulthanajius^ 1 do not hence gather that every Man, Woman, and Child was prefent: In our Parilh Churches that hold the AlTembly, fome are there, and ufually fome ftay at home and come by turns; But it feemeth hence plain that even in jilexmidria. the Chriftians were no more than that the main Body of them at great Solemnities could meet and hear in one Affembly. Which in many of our Pariflies they cannot do.

§. 29. Add to this, that >^f/j<j»<«/7«j tells them that his Predeccflbr Mex. ancler did as much as he had done, on fuch occafions aflembling their whole Multitude in one Church before it was dedicated, ^a^. 5 j2.

§. 30. I add a further Argument from the City it Jelf, as offered me alfo while I was writing this, by a learned Friend in his own Words.

This City JV.t/, hy Strabo'j etefcription of it, Itke a SoitUiers Coat^whofe length tit either fide was almojl thirty furlongs, its breadth at either end feven or eight Furlongsf Geogr. li. 17. p. 5 ^6. So the whole compafs will be lefs than ten Miles. A third or fourth part of this was tal^n up with piibltck^Buildings^ Temples, and Royal Pal.icej, ibid. Thus is two miles and a half^ or three and a quarter taken up. I taks this to be that Region of the Ciiy which Epiphanius calls fp»^«» (where he tells us was the famous Library c/Ptolomy Philadelphus) andfpeaks. of it in his time as defiitiite of Inhabitants, de ponder. & nievfifr. n. 9. p. 166. jigreat part of the City was ajfignedio the Jews. So Strabo indefinitely, as Jo-fephUS ejuotes him, Antiqu. jud. 1. 14. c. 12. Others tell tis more punEluaHy that their JJiare was two of the five Divifions (Vfiiers Annals Lat. p. 859.^-Though many of them had their h.ibitations in the other Divifions^ yet they had two fifth parts intire to themfehes : And this is I fuppofe the ti'otj iJ'iot which Jofcphusp/f/; the Succejfoiirs p/ Alexander fet apart for /fcfw, Bell. ]ud. 1. 2. c. 2.1. Thus we fee how fix or feven nnles of the ten are d'fpofed cf. The great efi part of the Citizens {as at Rome and other Cities) in the beginning of the fourth;. Age were Heathens. Elfe Antonius had wronged their City, who tn Athanafius time is brought in thus, f.vclaiming by Jerome, nt. Paul. p. 24 5. Civitas me-rctrix in quam totius orbis Dciemonia confluxere, &c. A charge thus formed fnpppfith the prevailing Party to be gi'-Hty. But let us fuppofe them equal and their proportion half cf the five or four miles remaining. Let the refl be divided between the Orthodox^ and the Arians, and tiovstisus^ and other fortt» And if we bejufr-, a large part will fall to the fl)are of Hcreticks and SeB.iries. Eor (net to mention others) the Novatians hadfeveral Churches and a Bifliop thire, till Cyrils time, Vjd. Socrat. Hilt. 1. 7. c. 7. The Arians were a greai p.rrt of thofe that profeffed Chriflianity, Sozoni. Hifl:. li. l.C. 14. And if we may jitdg of the Followers by the Leaders, 710 lefs than half: For whereas there were nineteen Presbyters and Deacons in that Church fTheodor. Hift. li. 4. C-20.^ (Twelve was the number of their Presbyters by their ancient Conflitit-tion, and feven of their Der.cons as appears by Eni'^cWm'iyhere and at Rome, and tlfewhere ) fix Presbyters with Arius, and five Deacons fell off from the Catholicksy. Sozom-Hilt. li. i.e. 14, But let the Arians be- much fewer., yet will not the prcfpertim ofthi CAthelitk, Bijhops part in this Citjbe more than that of a fmali'

Tfiwnj^

Town, one cf eight or twelve Furlongs in cempafs. Ar.dfo the number of Chri. Jlians on this account, will be no >nore than might well meet for IVorJhip in one place.

If the Reader will perufe Epiphanius Hiftory of the Fraclion between Alexander and the Followers of Meletius in Alexaridria^ how Alexander was impatient with their leparate Meetings, when Alelcttus was dead ^though till then two Bilhops and Churches lived quietly in one City) bc-caufe they came not to his Church i with the reft of the ftory, he will eafily fee what a Church was then e\cn in Alexandria.

Thus you fee the difference of a juft computation, and the halty accounts of men, that judg of Places and Pcrfons as they are in their milled imaginations, and not as they were indeed and truth. I\lr. Dcdwell in a Letter to mc layeth fo much on the number of the Officers and Poor before mentioned^ as if it proved undoubtedly a Dioccfane Church, when the con-clufion arifeth from an erroneous comparing their Cities and times with ours, and their Presbyters with our Parilh-Prieftsand Curats.

And when all's done a grand Patriarchal Church is not the meafure of a Diocefanc, or of every Bifliops Church: their Presbyters had other work than our Curates have: They met in the fame Aflembly with the Bifliop, and fate in a Semicircle on each lldehim, and were as a Collcdge ofGovernours to rule one Church, and that only by the Word ^appiycd by the Keys) and not by the Sword, till C)r»/hrll ufurpcd it, for which by Hiftorians he is noted. If our times tempt you to marvel how fo many Officers or Clerks were maintained by fo few People, Church-Hiltory affbrdeth you matter enough to rcfolve your doubt. '

f. ji. But if thefe two great Cities had indeed had yet more Altars and Churches, Orbis major ej} Vrbe., faith Htercme: Twofinguiar Cities may rot over-weigh the contrary cafe of all the Churches.- If any other had been like them it would have been y?/rf/of/nhe third Patriarchate, when • as in Ignatius tirae, as is aforefaid, the Churches unity there and elfe. where was notified * by Di' ^V7ia<rfciw ^ "^ inr7ncTc<, One Altar (or Altar- * That «"" place) and One Bijhop with his Presbyters and Deacons."^ ^"'"l ^*'^

And hence came it to be the note of a Schiiin, to fet up Altare contra '^'^'"^.l . ^//4>r becaufe one Bilhop andCiiurch had but one Altar. Mr. Mede(no dewhere injudicious nor Fadious man J faw this, and aliertcth it from the plain f-ovca.

words of Ignatius. gu'wfirbeix

§. 52. How the cafe came to be altered it is eafie to know : Eutwhe- ^'■'" M '' tbcr it was well or ill done, is all the controverfie, or the chief. 'cm:«m7-

I confefs there want not fome that think that the Apoftles had their fc- catmg bo-veral afligned Provinces, and that they left them to twelve Succeflburs, and <^_y edhear-this is the foundation of Patriarchal or Provincial Churches, with fuch un- '"^'" ""* proved Dreams : i. We doubt not but that the Apoftles wifely di- ^'-i^"^' ftributed their Labours : But we believe not that they divided the Countreys into their fcveral Diocefes, or Provinces: nor that two of thcmCf.^ John zi\f\ Fault Peter and Paul^ James and Other ApoRlcs) might

Churcb-Hiftory of Bifhops and

not and did not do the work of an Apoltle in the fame Country and City. Much lefsdo we believe that oneof thcra {e.g. James^t "^erufalem, whether an Apoflle or not 1 contend not) was a Bifhop over the Apoftles when they refided there.

2. Nor do we believe that they left any fuch divided Provinces to their Succeflbrs: If they had, it's ftrange that we had not twelve or thirteen Patriarchal or Provincial Churches hence noted. Which were they, and how came they fo foon to be forgotten and unknown ? And why had we Rrft but three Patriarchs, andone of thofe ('^/f.v.jw^f*-*) accounting from no Apoftle, but from S. Miri^, and the other two reckoning from one and the fame Apoftle, fave that Rome reckoned from two at once, Peter and Paul^ when as one City muft (fay they) have but one Bifhop ?

$. s5. The cafe is known:, that, i. When Chriftians fo multiplyed, that one Allen^bly would not ferve, but they became enough for many, the BiiTiopsgreatnefsand wealth increa(^ng with the People, rhey continued thtm all under their own Government, andfo took them all to be their Chapels, fethng divers Altars but not divers Bifhops in one Church. 2. And herewith their work alfo, by degrees, was much changed ^ and they that at firft were moft employed in Guiding the whole Church in Gods publick worfhip, and exercifed prefent difcipline before them, and were the fole ufual Preachers to them all, (the reft of the Elders Preaching but when the Bidiop could not, or bid them,) didafter become diftant Judges, and their Government, by degrees, degenerated to a fi-militude of Civil Magiftracy. 3. And then they fetupthe old exploded queftion"^ which of them flaould be the chief or greateft: And then tney that had the greateft Cities being the richeft and greateft Bifhops in intereft, becaufe of the greatnefs and riches of their Flocks, they got the Church Government to be diftributed, much like the Roman Civil Government within that Empire ; And where the Civil Magiftrate had moft and largeft command, they gave the Ecclefiaftical Bifhop the like .• And fo they fet up the Bifhops of the three chief Cities as Patriarchs, Rome being the firft, becaufe it was the great Imptrial Seat, as the Chalcedon Council giveth the true reafon. Afterwards Conflantinople and Jemfalem being added, they turned themintofive: And Carthage^nd. other places, not called Patriarchal Seats, had exempt peculiar Jurifdidions with a power near to Patriarchs. And the reft of the Bifhops ftrove much for precedency, and got as large Territories as they could, and as numerous Flocks and many Parifhes, though ftill the name ParcecU was ufed for the whole Epifcopal Church when it was turned into aDioceft.

§. 34. 1 conceive that this Change of One Altar into a Dlocefane Church of many Altars and PariJJies was not well done, but is the thing that hath confounded the Chrlftian World, and that they ought to have increnfed the number of Churches as the number of Chriftians did increafe, as the Bees fwarminto another Hive. My Reafons are, i. Chrift and the Holy Ghoft in the Apoftles having fctled a Church Species ^nd Order

(Ms

Hike that'of the Synagogues, and noc like that of ihe Temp.cj no man ciighc to have changed that Form : Becaufcthcy can prove no power to do if. and becaufc it accufeth the Inftitution of Chrift and the Holy Ghofb ef infuffieicnc7 or errour, which rauft fo fcon be altered by them. PerfeOlive addition, as an Infastgrowethup to Manhood, we deny not. But who gave them power to abrogate the very Specus of the firft Infti tutcd Churches ? That the Species is altered, is certainly proved by the different ufes and Termini of the Relation. For a Church of thcfirll Inftitution was a Society joyned for ferfonA Communion in DoElrinc, iy*rpip, «nd holy living: Bot a Diocefs confifting of many fcore or hundred Pa-rifhes that never fee or know or come near one another, are uncapable of any fuch prefent perfonal Communion, and have none but Mental, and by Officers or Delegates.

2. By this means, all the Paridi-Churches being turned into Chapeli and un-Churched, are all robbed of their Right •, Iccing each one ought: to have a Bifhop and Presbyters,and the benefit of that Ollicc and Ordcr,which is now denied them, and many hundred fuchParilhcs turned into Chapels have no Bifhop to themfelves but one among them all to the Diocefs.

3. Becaufe by this means true Difcipline is become impotfible and un-praclicable •, by the dillance and multitude of the people, and the diftance and paucity of Bilhops.- What Chrifb commandeth, Mm. 18. being as impoffible to be done in many hundred Pariflies, by one Bilhop and his Conliftory, as the Difcipline of fo many hundred Schools by one School-maftcr fthough each School have an Ullierj or the care of many hundred Hofpitals by one Phyfician, perhaps at twenty, or forty, or eighty, or an hundred miles diftance.

4. Becaufe it altcreth the antient OlTicc of a Bifhop and of a Presbyter, arid fetteth new ones in the ftead: As a Bifliop was the Bifhop of one Cluirch, fa a Presbyter was his Alliftant, EjufdemOrdwis^ in the Govern, tnent of theChurch^ who now is turned into ameer Ulher, or Werjhpping. Teacher, or Chaplain.

5. Becaufe it certainly divideth the Churches: For Chriftians would unite in a Divine Inftitution, and the exercife of trnc Difcipline , that will never unite in a humane Policy which abrogateth the Divine, and certainly deftroyeth commanded nccelfary Difcipline.

§. 55. The very work alio of the Bifhop, and fo the OIHce came thus tobechanged .• Chrift having appointed no other Church Governours (be-fides Magiflrates^ but fuch ("as Philolbphers in their Schools^ who were appointed to fet up Holy Societies for Divine Doclrine, Worlhip, and Holy Living, and to Guide them accordingly, by Teaching, vVor.Cliip, and Government by the Word, forbidding them the Sword or Force, they arc faid \.o\\i'vzt\\t Keys of :lie Church and the Kingdom «f Heaven, bccauf: as Grace is Glory in the feed,the Church is Heaven in the ieed,and the Paftors were the Adminiftrators of Sacraments and Charch-priviledges, and therefore the J'jdi^es who were lie for them, who (hould be Baptized, who

Qiould

fliould Communicate, and in what rank, and whofhouldbe denied thefe, admoniflicd or e.xcluded, and who fliould, as far as belongeth to others, be judged meet or unmeet for Heaven.- And fo the Chnltian Societies were to be kept clean, and not to belike the polluted World of Infidds. And the Pallors had no other power to ufc •, but were to judge only thofe within, and leave them without to Gods own judgment, and to the Magi-ftrate, who was not to pnnilh any one for not being in or of the Church, or for departing from it, which is a grievous punifliment itfelf.

But MagiItrates being then Heathens, the Chriftians were hard put to it for the decifion of their quarrels: For the lore of the world and felfiOi-nefs were but imperfeftly cured in them. They went to Law before Heathen Judges with each other-, and this became a fnare andafcandal to them. S. ?<»«/therefore chideththem for notendingdiffercncesby Chri-Itian Arbitrators among thciniclves, as if there were none among them wife enough to Arbitrate. Hereupon the Churches taking none to be wifer or truftierthan their Pallors, made them their Arbitrators, and it became a cenfurable fcandal forany toaccufe aChurch-member toaMagiftrate, and to have Suits at Law. By this means, the Bifliop becoming a Siatt-d Arbitrator, thereby became the Governour of the Chriftians, bit with his Prefl byters and not alone. But becaufe Bifhops had no power of the fword, to touch mens bodies or eltates, but ouly to fufpend them frum Church-Communion, and Excommunicate them, orimpofe penitential (onfelTions on them, therefore they fitted their Canons (which were the Bilhops A-grecments) to this Governing ufe, to keep Chriftians under their Government from the Magiftrates. And fb they made Canons, that a Fornicator or Adulterer fliould be fo lon^ or fo long fufpended, and a Murderer fo long, andfo of the reft.

§. 36. And when Co«//.wn«<r turned Chriftian, he had many reafons to confirm this Arbitrating Canonical power to the Chriftian Bilhops by the Civil Sandion. i. Becaufe he foundthemin pofleflion of it as contracft-ers by mutual confent -, and what could a Chriftian Prince do lefs than grant that to the Chriftians which they chofe and had. z. Becaufe the advancement and honour of the Teachers and Paftors he thought tended to the honour of their Religion, and the fuccefs of their Doftrine upon the Heathens with whom they dwelled. Grandure and Power much prevail with carnal minds. 3. Becaufe he had but few Magiftrates at firfl that were Chriftians, and none that fo well knew the aftairs of Chriftians as their own chofen Bifnops. And he feared left the power of Heathen Magiftrates over the Chriftians might injure and opprefs them. 4. He defign-ed to draw the Heathens to Chriftianity by the honouring of Chriftians above them. 5. And withal his intcreft lay moft in their ftrength^ For they werethe fafteft part of hisSouIdiersand Subjeds, that for Confci-ence and their own Intcreft, rcjoyced to advance and defend him to the utmoft, fwlien he loft many of the Pagans) and they v/cre not of the fpirit of the old Pretorian Souldiers, that fet up and pulled down Empcrours

at

at their pleafure. Had Conflantine fain, the Chriftians had much faJn witli him, and had the Chriftians been weakned he had been weakened: They were become his ftrength. And heforefaw not the evils that afterwards would follow. Some muft govern,and there were then no wifer nor better mea than the Bifhops and Paftors of the Churches. And their intereft in the Chriftian people (that chofe them) was greatelt: As now all differing parties of Chriftians among us CPapifbs, Presbyterians, Independents, Ana-baptiftsj would defire nothing as more conducing to their ends, thantliat the King would put the greateft Power fefpecially of Religion) into the hands of thofe Teachers whom they efteem and follow ^ even fo was it with the Chriftians in the days of Con(lar.tlne: And hereupon Laws were made, that none fliould compel Chriftians toanfwer in any Court of Ju-ftice, laving before their own Bifliops, and fo Bifhops were made almolfc the fole Governoiirs of the Chriftians.

§. 37. By this means it isno v.'ondcr if multitudes of wicked men flock'd into the Church and defiled and diflionourcd it .• For the Murderer that was to be hanged if he were no Chriftian, was but to be kept from the Sacrament if he were a Chriftian, and do fomc confcfting penance i which was little to hanging or other death:, And foproportionably of other Crimes. Bad Chriftians by this device were multiplycd. The Esipcrouralfo being a Chriftian, worldly men are moftly of the Religion of the Prince or high-eft powers.

§. 38. And no man that can gather an effe<fl from an effedual caufe could doubt, if neither Nax^ianz^en^ or any Hidorian had told it him, but that proud and worldly men would ftrivc then tobeBilhops, and ufeall poftiblediligence to obtain fo groat preferment: Who of them is it that would not have Command and Honour and Wealth, if he can get it? V\'hiie the great invitation to the facredMiniftry was the winning and edifying of Souls, thofc that moft valued Souls, dclircd it fyct defircd it to be kept from fuch Poverty and Pcrfecution as cxpofed them to hinderancc and contempt^ But when Riches, Reputation and Dominion were the Baits, who knoweth not what fort of Appetites would be tlrkeeneft? Chiifttelleth us, how hardly Rich men are good and come to Heaven. Therefore when Bifliops muft be all Great and Rich, either Chrift muft be deceived, or it muft be as hard for them to be honeft Chriftians as for a Camel to go through the Needles eye- And thusj Vencnam fmditur in Eccleftam.

$. 3 9- The World being thus brought into the Church without the cure of the worldly mind,and the Guides being foftrongly ti.mpttdtobe the very worft, no wonder if the V^'crldly Spirit now too much rule the Church, and if thofe that arc yet of the fame Spirit, approve, plead, and ftrivc for what thev love nud drfpilbthe bniincfs of the Crofs, and Chriftian Humility, and Simplicity to this day: And if Bifliops have done much of their work accordingly, ever fmce Cw/?.i?/r»>i'<j vand much before) it hath been the Devils Work to carrv on his. War againft Chrift and Piety, undec

Chrift's own name, and the pretence of Piety, as an Angel of Light and Righteoufnefs and Unity, and to fet up Pallors over the Church of Chrift, that hatcihe Doctrine and Life, and CrofsofChrift, that by pleading for Godiinefsand Concord, mnybethe eftedlual Enemies of both, and may fight againft Chrift in his own Livery, under his Colours, and with his own Arms. IVhcfe God is their BcHy^ velioglory in their fl]arm, who mind earth-ly things^ being Enemies to the Crojs of Chrifi: The Hiftory of whom you will hud in the following part of this Treatife.

$.40. But here 1 mult above all remember the Reader, that he is not for this Corruption of the Clergy, and Government of the Church, to think that the Church here ceafed to be a trpe Church, or that the Mi;iifl;ry v/aslofc, or that't became unlawful to hold Communion with any fuch Churches-, muchlefsto think hardly of Chrirdanity it felf, as if it were no better than falfe Religions, bcr.siifefo many of its Pallors werefobad. None of Code's Counfels were frultrate by mans fia: None of his Pro-mifestohisChurch have failed. Forallthis Chrnt is the Saviour of the World, the Prince of Righteoufnefs and Peace, that cam. codeftroy the Works of the Devil, and to fave his people from tl.eir Sins j and all that are given him of the Father lliall come to him, and he will call none of them out, nor Ihall any take them out of his hands ?

f.41. I. Letit be Hill remembred, that as the Chronicles of Kingdorns mentiononlythepublickAclionsof Princes and great Men, but name not the poor and private fort, fo alfo our Church-Hiftory of Councils and publick things, fay little of godly private C iriflians, but of Patriarchs and great Prelates, who yet arc thcmfelves but a very fmall part of the Chrillian World-

n. Note nlfo that every Bifliop had many Presbyters; whofe work was not toltrivc for fuperiority, nor trouble the world in Councils (where nfuaily they camenot^ and fo had not a quarter of the temptations that the Bifhops had : And though we find mention fometimes of the Presbyters alfo that were naught, yet the numb^-r fo reproved and proved bad, is not proportionable to the number ofPrelates compared among themfelve?, that mil(:arried in Councils- The Presbyters thnt Haid at home and followed their work in private with the Flock, and came not on the Stage in publick affairs, kept up the lubftance and praiflice of Religion.

III. And thg private Chriftianshad yet lefs temptation, and were not fo overvvhelmedwith worldly things, lior carrycd away by pride and ambition and covctoufnefj:,, asthe ruling party were.

■ IV. And the Monks, and other retired Chriftians, thatfaw the Prelates fnardfiarcs, ("ihoighn^any of th.m had their failings too, yet) r.o doubt kept up much iLrious piety, ai,d a holy life.

• V. And no doubt but very many of the Biihops thcmfelves were hnm-bleh'cly f.iiu'ful men, thrtgrieved for the mi.'cariiagesofthercH. Though fuch excellent pcrfons as Gregory Ncoccfarcs^ Gregory Nnz.'am.en^ Gregoyy Nyffe», Baji!^ Chryfofione , Angtiflir.e, H-.lUiy^ I'rofper^ Fulgcutim ^ &c.

v.'cre

their Councils abridged. j j

were not very common, no doubt but there were many that wrote not Books, nor came fo much into the notice ofthe world, but avoided contentious and facftious Stirs, that quietly and honellly condudlcd the Flocks in the ways of piety, love, and jufticc. And fome of them f'as S. Martin) feparated from the Councils and Communion of the prevailing turbulent fort of the Prelates, to fignifie their dilbwning of their fins.

Vf. And oft times, when the Prelates were at the worfl:, God raifed up fome very Godly Princes, that maintained Religion more than the Clergy, and were an honour to it when the Bifhops dilhonourcd it.

VII. And it is not to be contemned, that miKh piety was kept up among great numbers of Chriftians, whom (for fome miftake) the reft reviled and condemned as Schifmaticks or Hereticks. Little know we how many holy fouls were among thofe that are in Epiphatiius Catalogue. Of the .Aiidians and fome others hefeemeth to confefs as much himfelf. Iht Novatians were tolerated in almoft all the Empire,^nd had their Churches and Bifhops, having the teftimony of the Orthodox that they were ufuaily of found faith and upright lives, and ftrifter than other Chriftians were. And God pardoneth the infirmity of a fmall miftake in judgment, when men are fin-cerely addidled to his fervice. Now and then a cruel Prelate did pro-fccute them, but fo did not the gentler fort f as y^f/;c/«, Proclw^ &c. at Conflantimpht crr-) nor the Emperours themfelves, fave when fo infti-gared.

VIII. And though the Churches in the Roman Empire kept up this gran* dure of Patriarchs, Metropolitans, and rich Prelates, that after over-topped Kings, it was not fo in other parts of the Chriftian world, but the Clergy lived more humbly and quietly. The Scots under ColHmb.wm and sce Mr. their other Presbyters, long lived in great piety without any Bifhops. And Junes -when the Scots Presbyters Finan^ Jidan-, &c. ordained Bifhops in Nor- ^''"^'^ ^•-thumhcrUnd^ they were commonly humble, holy men, like themfelves. '^'^"'S"' And both Scots ^ndBritaitts fo much millikcd thcS(7»»4«f-grandure and way, jJ'dcfcrib-thatwhcn -/4A(^*</i'»>7ff the Monk came in, they would not fubjccft themfelves ing the to the Pope, or any Foreign Prelates, nor fo much as cat and drink with EigiiJU^ the Miffionarics. And the like we may fay of fome other Extr.i.imferial SucceOi-Churches. The Spaniards themfelves not only while ^ri,v! Goths (of °"" whom fee the teftimony o( Sahian, to the fhamc of the Orthodo.x^ but ai^KT RccaredfU days, for many ages, lived in great quietnefs, vihWc Italy, France, and Gtrmany were employed in Hercticating, Curfing, Excommunicating, orbloudyWars. The great Empire of A[-af}a fasthccre-dibleft Hillory faith) never had Bifhops to thisd.\»', but only one Galled tht j^bitna^ while the whole Clergy are exercifed vthonghintoo much ignorance) in their Prieftly Office. Brecardtu, that lived at Jcrnfdem^ tc-ftificth that thofe Eaftern Chriftians, called by the" Papifls, Ntftori.ins^Ja-cobites^ Etttychians, were commonly plain honcft Religion"- people, free from Hercfie, and of better lives thanevcntho Religious of the Cinirch of Ro;ne^ and that there were not worfe men at 'Jerufjlem than the Ron:a i

D Cd-

,

Catholicks. The ^>-»»f««/»wj have many Bilhops, and one chief, but live (though too ignorantly and fuperltitioully, yet) ia great aufterity of life.

IX. In all ages fince Prelacy fwelled to the corruption of the Chur-che«, and annoyance of the Peace of Kings and Kingdoms, there have been ftill a great number of pious lamenters of the Corruptions of the Church, that have groaned and prayed for relbrmation : Infomuch, that Dr. Field niaintaineth, that even in the Church of Rome there have been ftill conli-derable numbers of Doctors, that owned truth and piety, and mifliked the Papal ulurpations and errours. ThsWaUenfes znh Ahigenfes (exceeding numerous j faid, they had continued from the Apoftles, and fo from thedaysof S>'/wy?fr (or Conjiantine) had diflented from tht Roman pride^ and corruptions. And God hath made the Proteftant Churches fince the Reformation, as his Vineyard,where truth and piety have profpered, though Satan hath been ftill at work, and here alfo had too much fuccefs.

X. And itmuft be remembred, that God hath made ufeof many proud and turbulent men, to propogate and defend the truth of the Gofpel: And their Gifts have ferved for the good of the fincere. As the husk or chaff and ftraw is ufeful to the Corn •, fo many worldly Prelates and Priefts have been learned Expofitors and ufeful Preachers, and taught ethers the way to life, which they would not go inthemfelves. Befides that, their very Papal power and grandure, which hath corrupted the Church, hath yet been a check to feme, that would have aflaultcd it by force-, and as a hedge of thorncs about it. Worldly intcreft engageth Pope, Patriarchs, and Prelates, to ftand up for the Chriftian Religion, becaufe they gain by it (as Leo the icth is laid to have odioufly con-fcfledj

$. 42. And the old Fathers, till Conftamnes time, did moft of them think that the laft thoufand years would be a time of fuller glory to the Churchy as many yet think, though 1 confefs my felf unskilful in the Prophe-fies.

But I make no doubt, but though this earth be fo far defected by God, the Glorious Kingdom which we fhall ihortly fee, with the new Heaven and Earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs, will fully confute all our pre-fent temptations to think hardly of God or the Redeemer, becaufe of the prefent corruptions and diffentions of this lower world.

$. 4j. We may conjecture at former times by our own: We fee now, that among the moft Reformed Churches, too often the moft worldly part are uppermoft, and perhaps are the perfecuters of the reft, and though they may be the fmaller part, it's they that make the noife, are the noted part that carry the name, and that Hiftorics write of. A few men got into places of power, feem to be all the Church, or Nation, by the prevalency of their actions, which few dare contradift: They may give Laws", They may have the power of Prefs and Pulpit, fo that notching ftiall be publiflied but what they will', They may call thenifelves

the

the Church, and call all that obey them not Schifmaticks and Seda-ries, and ftrangers may believe therefore, that it is but feme few in-confiderable fellows that are againft them, when yet the far greatell part may utterly ditTent and abhor their'pride. I have lived to lee fuch an Aflembly ofMinifters, where three or four leading men were fo prevalent as to form a Confcffion of Faith in the nameof the whole party, which had that in it which particular members did difown. And when about a controverted Article, Oww<i«hath ciiarged me deeply, forque-ftioning the words of the CWc/;, others that were at the forming of that Article, have laid it all on that fame man, as by his impetuoufnefs putting in that Article, the reft being loth to ftrive much againft him, and fo it was hehimfelf thatwastheC/j«>-f/j, whofe authority he fo much urged, at leaft the effectual fignify ing parr. We cannot judge what is commoncft by what is uppermoft, or ingreateft power. In divers Parifhes now, where theMinifter is conformable, perhaps ten parts of the people do diflilce it:, and fomctioics you may fee but three or four perfons with him at the Com-mon-prayers \ And yet all know, that Diflciitcrs arc talkt of as a few fingular Fanaticks. 1 compare not the Caulbsjbut conclude.that fo alfo for the A/wwtf>;,humblcGodly perfons might be very numerous,though only the actions of worldly Prelates do take up moft of the Hiftory of the Church.

Yea, 1 believe, that among the Papifts themfclves, five to one of the people, were they free from danger, would declare their diflike of a great part of theaftions and Doiftrines of their Prelates, and that thegreateft part thatarenamed Papifts, are notfuch throughly and at the heart.

When the Rulers, Scribes, and Pharifees were againft Chrift, and perfected him and the truth, the common people fo much adhered to him, that the pcrfecutorsdurft not feize on him openly by force, but were fain toufe a Traytor, to apprehend him in the night, and in a folitary place, left theylhould be ftoned by the people, who faid, Never man fpake as this man fpeaketh.

§. 44. Let us not therefore turn Church Hiftory into a temptation, nor think bafely of the Church, orChriftianity,or Chrift, bccaute of Papal and Prelatical pride and tyranny. God can make ufc of a furly porter to keep his doors ^ yea, a maftiff-dog may be a keeper of the houfe-, and his Corn hath grown in every Age, not only with ftraw and chaffe, but with fome tares: And yet he hath gathered, and will gather, all h.s chofen.

§. 45. Nor isthe Miniftry it fclf to be therefore difhonoured : For as attliisday, whileafew turbulent Prelates perfecute good men, and much of the Miniftry is in toomany Countries lamentably corrupted, yetisRe-ligion, piety, and honefty kept up by the Miniftry, and never was well kept up without it: For the Faithful Minifters labour Itill, and their very fnffer-ings further the Gofpel, and what they may not do publickiy they do privately.

Yea, tleir very Writings flicw, tliat ftill there are fuch as God doth qmlifietodohis work, even among th: Papifts, he that recdcth the pious

D 1 Writings

Writings of fuch men as Gerfou, and Gerhardus Ziaphanienjis^ and Thaule-riis, Thomas .i Kempis, Ferus, and many fuch others, will fee that Gods fpi-rit was ftill illuminating and ianiflifying fouls. And hs that readcthfucii L'wisn^ Philip NeriM, perfecuted by the Bifhop as an ambitious Hypocrite, for fetting up more ferious Excrcifes of Religion thin hsd been ordinarily ufed among the Formalifts, (to fay nothing of fuch privater men as M. cie Renty and many others) will fee that it is not all Church-tyranny and corruption, though very heinous, that will prove that Chrilt hath not a Holy Generation whom he will favc

§. 46. Yea amongthe very corrupted fort of the Clergy, many that are overcome with temptations in that point, and take ufurpation and tyranny, and worldly pomp and violence for Order, Government, and the intereft of the Church, have yet much good in other refpefts: Even amongthe Cardinals there have been fuch men as Charles Boro/naiis, Ba-roni-M (Neriits'^s companion) Bellarmine^ and others, that would Preach and praftife the common Doftrines of ferious piety. Yea, among the Jefuits there have been divers that have Preacht, Written, and lived very ftri(ftlyi much more among their Fryars : and fuch Bifhops as Sales : And though their times and corruptions blemifhed their piety, I dare not think they nullified it.

$. 47. And itfiieweth the exxellency of the Sacred Office, i. That Ghrill didfirftmakeitasthe noble Organical part of his Church, to form the reft. 2. That he endued the firlh Officers with the moft noble and excellent gifts of his fpirit- 3. That he founded and built his Church by them at firft. 4. Yea, that hehimfelf preached the Gofpel, and is called TheMinifter of theCircumcifion, the chief Shepherd, and the Bifhop of our Souls. 5. That he hath ufed them to enlarge, confirm, prefcrve.and cdefie his Church to this day. 6. That he maketh thebefl of them to be thebeftof men. 7. That he putteth into the hearts of all good Chrifti-ans a fpecial love and honour of them. 8- Th.it he ufcth even the worfer fort to do good, while they do hurt; efpecially fome of them. 9. That Satan ftriveth fo hard to corrupt them and get them on his fide. 10. That Religion ordinarily dyeth away, or decayeth, when they fail and prove vinable and unfaithful. 11. That Chrift commandeth men fo muchtohear, receive and obey them, and hath committed his Word and Keys to them, as his Stewards. 12, And hath promifed them a fpecial reward for their faithfulnefs: and commanded all to pray for them and their prefervation and fuccefs. And the nature of the things tells us, that as knowledge in lowerthin2,s is not propagated to mankind, but by Teachers ( man being not born wife^) fo much lefs is he.ivenly wifdom. And therefore ic is, that God is fo regardful of the due qualification of Minifters, thatthcy be not bliid guides, nor novices, nor proud, nor carelcfs lluggards, nor felf-feeking worldlings, but skilful in the word of truth, and lovers of God and the fouls of men, and zealous,and diligent, unwciried, and p-.dent iatiicir holy work. And when th:y prove bad, he maketh them

ir.oli

moft contemptible and punifheth thtin more than other men, thecormp-tion of the belt making tiiem the woflt.

§. 4S. Therefore lee us make a right ufc of the pride and corruption of the Clergy, to defire and pray for better, and to avoid our felvcs the Sia which is lb bad in them, and to labour after that rooted Wifdonie and Holinefs in our felves that we may Hand, though our Teachers fall before . us. Let every man prove his own Work, and fo he Ihall have rejoicing in himfelf, and not in others only, Cal. 6. But let us not hence quellion the Gofpei, ordifhonour the Church and Miniftry •, no nor any fuither feparate from the Faulty than they feparate from Chrift, or than God al-lowcth us, and necefliiy rcquireth : As we mufl not defpife the needful helps of our Salvation, nor equal dumb or wicked men with the able faithful Miniftcrs of Chrift, on pretence of honouring the Office •, fo neither muft we deny the good that is in any, nor defpife the Office for the Perfons Faults.

§. 49. Efpecially let us take heed that we fall not into that pernicious Snare that hath entangled the Qjtaktrs and other Schifmaticks of thele times, who on pretence of the faults of the Minifters, fet againfl: the belt with grcateft fury, becaufe the belt do moft relift them, and that revile them with falfe and raihng language, the fame that Drunkards and Mb-lignnnts ufe, yea worfe than the prophanelt of the Vulgar •, even becaufe they take Tythcs and iieceflary Maintenance, charging them with odious covctoufnefs, calling them Hirelings, deceivers, and what not. Undoubtedly this Spirit is not of God, that is fo contrary to his Word, his Grace, and his Intereft in tlie World. Wh,u would become of the Church and Gofpcl, if this malignant Spirit fliould prevail to extirpate even the belt of all the Miniltry ? Would the Devil and the Churches Enemies defa-e any more ? The very fame Men that the Prelates have filenced ( near 1000) in Eii^lM'dt\\zk fifteen or fixteen years together, are they that the i^ahrs moft virulently before reviled, and moft furioufly oppofcd.

§. 50. Nor will the Clergies corruption allow either unqualified or uncalled Men to thruft themfeives into the Sacred Office, as if they were the Men that can do better, and muft mend all that is amifs. Such have heentryed in Licentious Times, and proved, (bmeof them, to do more hurt than the very Drunkards, or the ignorant fort of Minifters, thnt did but read the holy Scriptures. Pride is too often the reprchender of other Mens Faults and Imperfections, and would make other Mens Names but a ftcpping-ftonc to their own afpiring Folly : As many that have crj'ed otit againft bad Popesund Prelates, that they might get into the places, have been as bad themfeives when they have their Will: No wonder if it be ib with the proud revilers of the Miniftry.

■5. 51. There is need therefore of much Wifdome and holy care, that we here avoid the two extrcams-, that v/c grow not inditftrent who aic ourPa.lors, nor contrait the Guilt of Churclvcorruption, but mourn for the rcpio.vcl'. 0: the fo'ema AlliinbUcs, aad do cur belt for true aid needful

fill Reformation, that the Gofpel fail not, and Souls be not quietly left to Satan, nor the Church grow like the Infidel World •, and yet that we neir thcr invade nor didionour the iacred Office, nor needlefly open the naked-nefsofthc Perfons, nor do any thing that may hinder their juil endeavours and fuccefs •, we mull fpeak evil of no man either falfly or unneceflarily.

$. 52. I thought all this premonition necellary that you make not an ill ufeot the following Hiftory,and become not guilty of diabolifm or falfe accufing of the Brethren,or difhonouring the Church: And that as God hath in Scripture recorded the Sins of the ungodly, and the cffetfts of Pride and of malignity, and Chrifl: hath foretold us that Wolves fliall enter and de-vour the Flock, and by their Fruits fof devouring, and pricking as Thorns and Thiftles) we fhall know them, and the Apoftles prophecied of them ; I take it to be my duty to give you an Abflraift of the Hiftory of Papal and afpiring Prelacy, ufurping, and fchifmaticaJ, and tyrannical Councils, as knowing of how great ufe it is to all to know the true Hi> ftory of the Church, both as to good and evil.

§. 55. Yea Blftops and Councils muft not be vvorfe thought of tharr they deicrve, no more than Presbyters, becaufe of fuch abufes as 1 recite ; The bcft things arc abufed,even Preaching,Writing, Scripture, and Rea-ibn it fclf, and yet are not to be rejefted or dilhonojred. There is an Epifcopacy vvhofevery Conftitution is a Crime, and there is another fort which feemeth to me a thing convenient, lawful, and indifferent, and there is a fort which I cannot deny to be of Divine Right. § .54. That which 1 take to be it felf a Crime, is fuch as is aforementioned, which in its very conftitution over throweth the Office, Church, and Difcipliiic, which Chrift byhimfelfand his Spirit, in his Apoftlcs, infti-tuted : fuch I take to be that Diocefane kind which hath only oneBifliop over many fcore or hundred fixed Parochial Affcmblics; by which i.Pariflies are made by them m Churches, as having no Ruling Pallors that have the Power of Judging whom to Baptize, or admit to Communion or refufe, but only are Chapels, having preaching Curates. 2. All the firft Order of Bifliops in fingle Churches are dcpolcd, asif the Bifhopof ^/;-tioch fliould have put down a 1000 Bifhops about him, and made himfelf the IbleBilhop of their Churches. 5. The Office of Presbyters is changed into femi Presbyters. 4. Difcipline is made impoffiblc, as it is for one General without inferiour Captains to Rule an Army : But of this befopc.

$.55. Much more doth this become unlawful, i. whendepofing all the Presbyters from Government by theKcyes of Difcipline, they put the fame Ktycs, cveiithc PowerofdccrctiveExcommunication and Abfolution in--to tile hands of Laymen, called Chancellours, and fetup Courts likcr to the Civil than Ecclefi-.illical. 2. And when they oblige the Magiftrate to execute their Decrees by the Sword, be they jufl orunjuffc, and to lay Men in Coah and ruine them, mcerly becaufe they are Excommunicated by Biffiops, or Chancellours, or Officials, or fuch others, and are not reconciled :

their Ccimcils abridged.

23

conciled : And when they threaten Princes and Magiftrates with Ex-communication ('ifnocDepofition) ifchey do but Communicate witii thole thst the Biiliophath Excommunicated. 5. Or when they arrogate the po-.ver of the Sword themfelves, ^^ Socrates uith Cyril did : Or v.'ithout ncccliity joyn inone perfon theOificeof Priefthood and Magillracy, when one is more thin they can perform aright.

§. 56. And it becometh much worfe by the tyrannical abufe, when f being unable and unwilling to exercife true Difcipline on ib many hundred Parifliesj they have multitudes of Atheifts, Infidels, grofs ignorants, and wicked livers in Church-Communion, yea, compel all in the Pariflies to Communicate on pain of Imprifonment and ruine, and turn their cen-fures cruelly againit godly perfons, that dare not obey them in all their Formalities, Ceremonies, and Impofitions, for fear of finning againft God. And when conniving at ignorant ungodly Pricfts that do but obey them, they filence and ruine the moll faithful able Teachers, that obey not all their impofmg Canons, and fvvcar not, and fubfcribe not what they bid them.

§. 57. Undoubtedly Satan hath found it his molt fuccefsful way, to fight againit Chrift in Chriltsownnamc, andtofet upMinifters as the Mini Iters of Ch rift, to fpeai^ indiretftly againit the DoArine, Servants, and intereft of Chrift, and as Minifters of Light and rigbteoufncls, and to fight againit Church-Government, Order, Difcipline, and Unity, by the pr-etenccs of Church Government, Order, Difcipline, and Unity .• and to cry down Schifm to promote Schifm, and to deprcfs Believers by crying up Faith, andOrthodoxnefs, and crying down Herelie and Errour: Yea, to plead God's Name and Word ngainit himfelf, and to ^e.t up Sin, by accullng Truth and Dutv as Sin.

•$. 5S. 11. That which I take for Lawful Indifferent Epifcopacy is fuch a?//'V'TWf faith, was introduced for the avoiding of divilions, though it was not from the beginning: When among many Elders in every fingle Church, one of moft wifdom and gravity i5- made their Prefident, yea, without whom no Ordinations or great matters fhall be done. The Churches began this lb early , and received it lb univerfally, and with-©ut any confiderable diiTent or oppofition, even before Emperours became Chriftians, that I dare not be one that fhall fet againft it, or difho-nour fuch Epifcopacy.

§. 59. Yea , if where fit men are wanting to make Magiftrates, the King ftall make Bifhops Magiftrates, and joyn two Offices together, laying no more work on them than will confifl; with their Ecdefiaftick work, though this will have inconveniencics, I (hall not be one that fhall dilho-nour fuch, or difobey them.

■ §. 60. III. The Epifcopacy, which I dare not fay is not of Gods infti-tution, (befides that each Paftor is £/)//cop; G'rf^jV.) is that which fuccced-eth the Apoftles in the Ordinary part of Church Government, while feme Senior Paitors have a fupervifmg care of many Churches, fas the Viiiters

liad in Scotland^) and are fo far Epifcopi Eptfcoptnmt, and Arch-bilhops, having noconftraining power ofthe Sword, buca powcrtoadmonilli and inftruftthe Pafiors, nnd to regulate Ordinations, Synods, and all great and common circumftances that belong to Churches. For ifChrilt lee up one Form of Government in which fomePaftors had foextenlivcwork and power, (^^ Timothy,Titus, and Evangelifts as well as Apoftles hadj we muft not change it without proof, that Chrift himfelf would have it changed.

§. 6i. But if ncnonthis pretence will do as Rome hath done, pretend one Apoftle to be the Governour of all the reft, and that they have now that Authority of that Apoftle, and will make an Univerfal Monarch to rule at the Antipodes, and over all the World, or will fet up Patriarchs, Primates, Mctrapolitans and Arch-bifhops, with power to tyrannize o-ver their Brethren, and caft them out, and on pretence of Order, and imi-f ating the Civil Government, to mafter Princes, or captivate the Churches to their pride and worldly interefts, this will be the ^vorft and moft pernicious tyranny.

§. 62. And as it is not all Epifcopacy, fo it is not all Councils that I defign this Hiftory to difhonour. No doubt but Chrift 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 asthey can : And to that end, both leafonable Councils, and Letters, and Delegates for Concord and Communication, are means which nature it felf direfteth them to, as it doth direct Princes to hold Parliaments and Dyets. In the multitude of Councellours there is fafety : Even frequent ccnverfe keepcth up amity: In abfence Handerers are heard, and too oft believed: A little familiarity in prefcnce confuteth many falfe reports of one another, which no diftant defences would fo fatisfyingly confute. And a-mong many we may hear that which of few we lliould not hear. How good and pleafant is it for Brethren to dwel together in Unity? And the Concord of Chriftians greatly honouretli their holy profeflion, asdifcord becomethafcandal to the world. But all this, and themeafures and fort .of Unity and Concord which we may expert, and the true way to attain it, I have-fullier opened in a Treatife entitled. The true and only termt of the Concord of all Chrijiian Churches.

§. 63. When Chriftians had no Princes or Magiftrates on their fide, they had no fufficicnt means of keeping up Unity and Concord for mutual help and Itrength, without meetings of Paftors to carry on their com-raon work by confent. But their meetings were only with thofe that badnearncfs or neighbourhood: And they did not put men to travelto Synods out of other Princes Dominions, or from Foreign Lands, much lefs did they call any General Councils out of all the Chriftian Churche s in the world. But thole tliat were capable of Communion by proximity, and of helping one another, were thought enough to meet for foch ends.

§. 64. And

§. 64. And indeed neither nature nor Scripture obligeth us to turn fuch occafional helps into the forms of a State-policy, and to make a Government of friendly confultations. And therefore though where it may be done without fear of degenerating into tyranny, known times of Rated Synods or meetings of Pallors for Concord are belt, ('as once a month in lefler meetings, and once a quarter in greater,) yet where there is danger of fuch degeneracy, it is better to hold them but pro re «4r<*, _ occafioo-ally, at various feafons and places.

§. 65. The lefTer Synods and correfpondcncy of Pallors before there were Chriftian Magiflrates were managed much more humbly and harm-lefly than the great ones afterward .• Becaufe that men and their intercfl and motives difered. And even of later times, there have been few Councils called General, that have been managed fo blamelclly, or madefo many profitable Canons, as many Provincial or fmaller Synods did. Di-vers Tolet.ttie Councils, and many others in Spaiti^ England, and other Countries have laboured well to promote piety and peace : As didthcyrf-frican Synods, andmany othrrsof old. And fuch as thefe have been fcr-viceable to the Church. And the Greater Councils, though more turbulent have many of them done great good, againfl Herefie and Vice; efpe-cially the firft 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 fo many worthy Paftors, and made fo much ufe as he did of many Synods for the Churches purity and peace.

$. 66. But the true rcafon of this Colledion, and why I have befides good products, madefo much mention of the errours and mifchiefs that many Councils have been guilty of, are thefe following.

I. Thecarnaland afpiringpart of theClergy, do very ordinarily, nn-derthe equivocal names of Bidiops, confound the Primitive Epifcopacy with the Diocefane tyranny before defcribed.- And they make the ignorant believe, that all that is laid in Church-Writers for Epifcopacy, is faidfor their Diocefatie Species: And while they put down an hundred or a thoufand Bifhops and Churches of the Primitive Species, they make men believe that it is they that are for the old Epifcopacy, and we that are againft it, and that it is we and not they that areagainll the Church : while wc are fubmif-five to them as Arch-bifhops, if they would but leave Parilhes to be Churches (or Great Towns formerly called Cities at lealt^ and make the Difcipline of all Churches but a pofilble pradicable thing.

$. 67. II. And CO promote their ends, as thefe men are for thelargeft DiocelPcsand turning a thoufand Churches into one only, fo they are commonly for violent Adminiftration, ruling by conftraint, and cither ufurp-Jng th; power of the fword thcmlelves, or perfwading and urging the Ma-gillratc to punifh all that obey not their necdlefs impofitions, and reproaching or threatning fat kali; the Magillratcs that will not be their Executioners. And piaking themfclvcs the Church fnr.fters, Cor made witliout

E - the

the-Churches confent) their Office is cxcrcifod in putting out the Lights,, fometimcs hundreds of lalihful Minifteis b.ingfilcnced by their means in a little time. And they tal<:e the fword of Dfcipline or power of the Keys as the Church ufed it 300 years to be vain, unlcfsprifons or mulfts enforce it. And toefcapethc Primitive poverty, they overthrow the Primitive Church, Form, and Difcipline, 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 Schifmaticks, provoking mtn to hate and revile them, and Magiftrates to deftroy them, as intolerable. And by making their own numerous Canons and Inventions neccllary to Mini-ftry and Church-Communion, they will leave noplace for true unity and peace, but tear the Churches in pieces by the racks and engines of their brains and wills.

§. 6(j. III. Yeaworfe than all this, there are fome befides \ht French Papiflrs, who tell the world, Th.it the Vniverfd Church on Earth is one vifi-ble political body^ havinf a vifihle Head or Supreme vicarious Government under Chrift^ even a Colle^live Supreme^ th.it hath wiivcrfji Legijlaiive, judicial and Executive power. And they make this Summa Poteftas Conllitutive of the Church Vniverfal, and fay that this is Chrijis body cut of which none have his Spirit nor are Church-members., and that there is no IJnity or Concord but in eheying this fiipreme vijible porvcr ; And that this is in General Councils and in the intervals in a College of Bifhops Succejfors of the Apofiles, ( 1 know not who or where, unlefs it be all the Bifhops asfcattered overthe earth) <««<i that they rule per literas formatas: (as others fay, It is the Pope and Roman Clergy or Cardinals.)

§. 70. And when our Chriftianity, Salvation, Union and Communion, yea, our Lives, Liberties and mutual forbearances, and Love, is laid upon this very form of Church-policy and Prelacy, andChriflis fuppofedto have fuch a Church as is not in the World, even conftituted with a Vifible Vicarious CoUedlive Soveraign, that mull make Laws for the whole Chri-ftian World, it's time to do our bcft to fave men from this deceit.

§. 71. 1 muft.confels, If I believed that the Whole Cht^rch had any Head or Soveraign under Chrift, I fhould 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 moreuncapable, and fo are the feigned College of Paftors or Bi-ftiops, (none knoweth who./

$. 72. IV.- And a blind zeal againft errour, called Herejie., doth cry. down the neccffary Love and toleration of many tolerable Chrilliansi And fome cry, down with them, and away with them that errc more them-felvcs, and by their mcafurcs would leave but few Clriftians endured by one another in the World: Thus do they teach us to underftand Solomon., Ecel. 7. 16. Eenot righteous and wife overmuch: fo much arethtfe ITfen for llnity, that they will leave no place for much Unity on earth. As if none

ihould:

Ihould be tolerated but men of one Stature, Complexion, &c.

§• 73. Briefly, they do as one that would fetnp a Family Government^ made up of many hundred or thoufand families diflblved and turned into one, and ruled fupremely by a Council of the Heads of fuch 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 fmail.- Keep but the fame name, and a City is but a Family ftill. And when they have done, they would have none endured, but call out, imprifoned or baniflied, as fedi-tious, that are for any fmaller Family than a City, (or any Icffer School than an Llniverfity.) And thefe City Govcrnours niuft in one Conventioa rule all the Kingdom, and in a greater all the World.

$• 74- I (hall therefore firft tell you, what errour mult not be tolerated, and then by an Epitome of Church-Hiftory, Bidiops and Councils and Popes, (hew the ignorant fo much of the Matter of Fa>5l, as may tell them who have been the Caufe of Church-corruptions, Herefies, Schifms and Sedition, and how: And whether fuch Diocefanc Prelacy and grandure be the Cure, or ever was. And, if God will, in a Second Volume fliaU prove the finfulnefs and novelty of that fort of Prelacy, and anfwe^ the chief that have defended it.

E 2 CHAR

CHAP. 11.

Of fferefies, a?id of the firfi Councils.

5* ^' ^ ■ ^ He A poftle 7'«»»f/faith, ch. 5.19,20. Brethren^ if any one of

H you do erre from the truths and otie convert him, LcthimknoVf

JL t^^t he that converteth a finmr from the erroiir of-his way, doth

favea foul from deathy and hide a multitude of fws. By which it

15 implyed, that £?-ro«/-tendcthunro Death: But what Errouritit? Is it

all ? Who then can befaved ? It is of great ufe to know, what Errours

are mortal, and what not.

§. 2. There are errours that are nofris, and errours that are fins. Thofe which are not voluntary either in themfelves, or in their antecedent caufes, are no fins: Thofe which are not voluntary either by the aft or by the omilTion of the will, are no fins. Thofe which are unavoidable through a neceflity which is not mora!but natural, arenolln : As if Infants, Idiots, Mad-men, erre in matters of which they areuncapable: Or if any erre for want of any revelation of the truth. As if the Papifts did rightly charge thofe with errours whom they burnt for denying Tranfubftantiation, yet it could henofi/fulerrour, becaufe it is ncceflary and unavoidable. For the firft difcerning principle is fenfe: And if we are deceived while we ytidgtthzttohe Bread and Wine, which all the found fenfes of all men in the World perceive as fuch, we have no remedy. For whether fenfe be fallible or infallible, it is certain that we have no other faculties and organs to perceive immediately fenfible things by. I can fee by nothing but my eyes, nor hear any other way than by my ears. If they fay, that we muft believe that all mens fenfes are deceived when God telicth us fo ? I anfwer, \f we do not prefuppofe that by fenfe we muft perceive things fenfible, it is in vain to talk of Gods telling us anything, or of any of his Revelations, or faith therein: For I know not but by fenfe, that there is a Bthle, or a /i/i«, or a roice or Word, to be believed. And as humanity is prefuppo-fed to Chrifiianity^ fo is fenfe and rcnlbn to faith and the objeds accordingly. And to fay, that all mens found fenfes about their due placed objefts are fallible, is but to fay, that no certainty can be had.

§. 5. Of thofe errours that ^/fyTwj, it is not all that are effeftively mortal or damninglins: Fife no man could befaved. There is no man that hath :iot a multitude of errours, that hath any aftualufe of rcafon.

|. 4. Errours are of three forts.- i. Errours Ol Judgment (to fay nothing

thing of fenfe and imagination.) 2. OfWilt-^ ;. Of Ufe^ or praftice. The Jud^^mcnt is to Gnide the V^iS-, and ine Will is to command our pr^Bice. Therefore thofe crronrs arc leaft dangerous that leafl: corrupt the n'l/l and proBlce, and thofe moll dangerous that mofl: corrupt them. But every errour contrary to any ufcful truth is bad, as it is a corruption of thejW^-meiit^ tending to corrupt the will and paBice.

$. 5. 'i. No errour is effedlively damning which turneth not the Heart or Will in a predominant degree from the Love of God to the Love of the Creature, from the Loveof Heaven and Holinefs to the prevalent Love of Earth, andfinfulpleafure, riches or honour therein •, from things Spiritual to things Carnal: For God hath prepared unconceivable glory for them that Love him: The Kingdom of God confiftah not in meats and drinks, but in righteoufnefs, peace and joy in the holy Ghofl:: And he that in thefe things fcrveth Chrift, doth pleafe God, and is acceptable to {'good j men, Rom. 14.. 17, iS.

§. 6. 2. I think no errour is effeiftively damning which a man doth fin-cerely defire to be delivered from at any rate, and when he that hath it doth faithfully endeavour to come to the knowledge of the truth, in the life of fuch means as God vouchfafcth him •• He that fenrcl.eth the Scripture witli a Lovcto truth, and fincerely prayeth for Gods illumination, •' and fincerely pracliceth what he already knovvcth, and is willing to hear v.'hatany mancnn fay te his Further infornntion, God will hide nothing nc-ctllary to his lalvation from fuch a mnn. For this is a work of fuch difpo-fitivcGrace, as fhallnotbe received in\-tiin.

§. 7. Obj. Bh: may ncttr.c that btliti<<;h mt -in God^ or Chrijl, er ifx Life 10 come, fjy aHthis^ rh.-t he defireth andende/ivottreth tol'nitwthc trmhl

A>f, I. Thefe tbngs arc fo Grf.^r, fo f t/i/rwr, andfo A'rr^j/rfr)', thatthey cannot be unknown to one that hath the Gofpel, who hath tnc torefaid fin-cere defircs and endeavours. And as for them that have not the Gofpel, I have fpoken to their cafe before. 2. God that giveth fo much grace doth thereby fignifichis willingnefs to give more.

^. 8. Obj. Tt}is inttniarcth that Greet is ^iven (ccordingto Adyits.

Af T. Not the firft Grace: But to him that hath fandimproveth itjfhail be given, and from him that hath not ffuch improvement j Ihall be taken a-way even that which he hath. ^ No Grace or Glory is given according to Merits in point of Commutative Juftice, as ejiiid pro ^m, as ifit did profit God. But to him that asketh it fhall be given. We mud have a Beggers iNIerit: Brgjing and thankful accepting; Andyet tliata'foisof antecedei\t Grace.

$. 9. Onthecontrarv, '• Ail errour is damning which exdudeth the life of faith, Wf, love and firxere obtdience : For thcfc are of Reccllitv to falva-tion : without hoiinefs none fliall fee God, Ucb. 12. 14. The wiklom from above is firft pure, and then peaceable, and '.null: be fliewn out of a good converfation by works with mecknefs of wifdom, Jam.i,. 15, 17, He that Loveth nocGod, Heaven, and Hclinefs, withapredoniinauc Love, doth damnably erre. " §. iq.

§. lo. Second,y. Therefore all errour of jidgnient which (ffiBively exxludeth the t(//f/ofauy o( the Effentiah of Gcdlinefs^ or of Chrtfiidnity where theGofpelis, is damning errour : Becaufe a Mans Will and Lift can be no better than i.is belief or ptdgment is. No man can love that God that he believeth.iot to be amiable, nor obey him whom he believeth net to be his Governour \ nor feeks for a happincfs which he believeth not; And it is in the face of Chrill, a Redeemer, and Saviour of loll Sinner's, that Gcds amiablentfs fuitably app.ajreth unto man : And it is by his Word and holy Spirit thatChrifl renevveth Souls.

§. II. And an ungodly carnal worldly man fthough he be a learned Preacher of the Truth) is damnably erroneous, and hath really t'le fum of manifold Herefies : i. He erreth about the grcatell and moft n.cellar/ things : He takcth Gcd to be lefs amiable than the Creature, and Heavcu than Earth, and Holinefs than the Pleafure of Sin. 2. His errour is pradicnl and not only notional : 5. It exckideth riie contrary truth, and is predominant •, fo that what contrary truth he acknowledgeth, he doth notfoundly, pracftically, and prevailingly believe.

§. 12. Were it not befides my prefent purpofe I might manifeft that every carnal ungodly man among us, 1. Doth not truly believe any one Article of the Creed with a ferious pradtical belief-, 2. Nor doth he con-fent to the Baptifmal Covenant;, 3. Nor fmcerely defire and put up one Petition of the Lords Prayer, rightly underflood i 4. Nor fincerely obey one of the Ten Commandements ; 5. Nor can fincerely receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ^ Nor, 6. Isafincere Member of the holy Ca-tholick Church, nor can fincerely hold Communion with the Saints: He is an Hypocrite and damnably erroneous, even while hefeemethto be Orthodox asd plradeth for the Truth, and ciyeth out againft Herefies aad Errours :, which he may eafily and ordinarily do.

§. 15. it hath ftiii been one of Satans effeftual Snares to deceive and damn unpodly men by, to hide their own practical errour and wickednefs from their Gonfcienccs, by feeming to be Orthodoxy and crying down Er-rours and Hi.refies in others : But alas, how unfit perfons are they for fuch Work ? And how dreadfully do they condemn themfelves.' It is a pitiful thing to hear a man that is falfe tothevery efience of his Baptif^ mal Vow, to revile and profecute a poor Anabaptifl ( though erroneous) for holding that Baptifm fliould be delayed till years of difcretion that it may be the better kept: Or to hear a man that obeyeth not God himfelf, but his flefhly LuH", to cry out agninft every DiOenter, how con-fcionable foever, for w* obeying the Church in fome queftionable points: or to hear a man that fticketh not at any wickednefs that maketh for his worldly ends or pleafure, to cry out againft thofe that in fear of Perjury or Lying or other finning againft God, dare not take fome Oath, Sub-fcription, Profefilon, or Covenant which is impofed : Asthefe notorious Hypocrites who live quite contrary to theChriftian Religion which they profefs, do ufe to call thofe Hypocrites that labour in all things to pleafc

God,

God, if they do but millikc any thing in their Lives. Soalfo while they are drowned in damnable Errour, they cry out againfl: Errour in thofe that practically hold all the Eflentials of Chriltianity, and are certainly in the way of Life, if they do differ in any thing from them, or are ignorant ofany thing which they know. He that never puts up a fincere Pray. er to God for his Grace, nay, that would not have it, to make him holy, and deprive him of his finful pleafure, will yet call others erroneous and Schifmaticks, if they pray not by his Book, or in all his Circumftances •, while his Heart and Family are prayerlefs, and God's Name oltcr heard in Oaths and Curfes than in Prayer.

§ 14. Becaufe bare opwion may confillwith worldlinefs and fieflily lufts^ therefore it hath long been the trick of the ungodly tofeem zealous for the true Church, and for ri^ht opinions., and to over-do here to quiet their Confciences in Sin : And it hatii been a Snare to many confcionable People, to tempt them to lufpeift anddillike theTrutli, bccaufc ungodly Men thus ftand for it i and to think it muft be fomc bad thing which wicked men feem fo zealous for : when as they do it but for a cover for their Sin, as Hypocrites an(d Opprellbrs ufe lon^ Prayers., which would not ferve their tarn if there were not fomc good in it.

§. I J. And yet Errour is fuch a blinding thing, that it's very ufual evea for grolly erroneous men, to cry out molt fiercely againlt Errour : For they know not thcmfelves, and they are proud and felf conceited, and oft by malignity apt to fufpcd and condemn others. What did the Jews pcr-fecute tlie Chriltians for ? For fuppofcd Herclicand Errour: What did the Heathens caft them to wild Bcalts and Torments for ?■ For fuppofed Impiety and Errour: becaufe they would not erre in their Idolatry as they did. What hath difquicted and torn in pieces the Chriftian World , but erroneous and worldly Popes, Fatriarcks, and Prelates inordinate out-crys againft fuppofed Errours? For what have they filen* ced hundreds and thoufands oflaithful Minifcers of Chrill? for Errour. For what have they racked, tormented, burnt to adics, andflain by the Sword fo many tlioufand, and hundred thoufands? O, it was for Hcrc-fie or Errour. And are not thcfe men pcrfc<;i:ly free from Errcur thcmfelves, that have fo great a zeal againft it?" No, fo grolly erroneous are they, that they deny credit to all mens Senfcs, and know not Bread and Wine when they fee, and touch, and tafle it; and would have all thofe deltroyed that will not deny b. lief to ftrfe ns well as they: So erroneous are they, thatchey pretend a mortal m.in to be the Church Govcrnour of afl the Earth :, fo erroneous, that they think God well Wordiippcd by praying in words not und^rficod ; and dare deny half the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to the People, which they confefs that he inltituted, and all the Church did ufe i fo eitoncous, that they think the fl5mes of Purgatory will help th^m the better tolovethat God that doth torment them. How foul and many are their Errours that kill, and burn, and damn others ■ as erroneous? But S. James, hzih to!d us, Jam. 3. Tha: theWt[dom is nof

from-

i.\.

.32

Church-Hijhry of Bifhops and

from abovcy hut is earthly, fevfital^ and deviUiJiiy vfhich bath an tnviotts ftri-vini z.eaL •■, and that if it work, fot by mecknefs of vcifdom., and be not fure^ peaceable, gentle, cafe to he inrreated, full of mercy and good frHits, without partiality and hypecrtfe, fowiiJg the fruit of riyhteoufnefs in f/eace, by peace-maki'igt hut hath bitter contention, it is not of Cod, but hringeth confujion and every evil work^

§. 16, The Arians were cruel Pcrfecutors, on pretence of zeal againfl: Erroiir, as they accounted it: They banifhed godly Pallors-, they killed them, they cut out the Preachers Tongues •, they reproached them. The Enipcrours Valens and Confantins were more fierce than the Arian Goths thcmfclves.

Macedonius thnt denyed the Deity cf the Holy Ghe", was a great pretender to Ortliodoxnefs, and a great decryer and perfccutcr of others, as erroneous and Hereticks.

Ncflorius (though fomcwhat worfc judged of by Cyril than he dcfervedy was juftly condemned, were it bur for his heat and fierccnefs agr.jnffc others: He fell prefently upon the Novatiaus and other Parties, ar. J began with this overdoing zeal at his entrance, 0 Emperour, give vt: a Church without Herefie, and I will give thee FtBory over the Perfans: that is, De-Ilroy all thefe dillsnting Parties and God will profper thee; ."^nd very quickly was hedepofed, condemned, and at laft baniflied even 10 milery and death as an Heretick (whether juftly or no 1 (hall fay more anon.)

The Eutychiars were as great Zea'ots againfl; Errour :1nd Herefie as any of the reH .- They took Cyril for their Captain whom Theodcret and Jfydore Feli'.fiota that knew him, defcribe as heynoudy proud and turbulent, and Socrates as the firfl Bifhop that himfelf ufed the Sword. Diofccnts raged at the fecond Council of fp/rf/i.'/ againfl: diflenters, and all in Zeal againfl: Ntfcortan Herefie. But what dreadful work his Eittychian Party and Suc-cellbrs made, I have elfewhere ihewed : And all as againfl: Herefie.

The Anihropomorphite zealous Egyptian Monks thought it was Errour and Herefie which they ib furioufly oppofed, when they forced Theophilus A-lexand. to diflcmble to favc his Life.

Ic was zeal againll: Origins Herefie and Errour which fet £p/pfc4»«A'j and Theophilus Alexand. upon their irregular and inhumane oppofuion toChry-fojlomc-

What abundance of grofs Errours doth Philufhius vend while he thinks that h; rccitcth ether Mens Errours: 1 have given a Catalogue of them elfewhere. Befidts the inconfiderable Errours which hecalleth Hertfies.

It was zeal againfl: the A,i:ir Herefie which made Lucifer Calaritanuj oc-cailon the Schiim between two Bidiops at Amioch^ and after become the Head of a ft parating Party, becaufc lie would not receive the returning Arims into Communion as others did.

• And it was zca! r:gainfl Herefie thst made others for this account him a Heretick., an^j call his Followers Liwiferinns.

U was zeal .'gainft Errour which made both the Novations and the Do-■ ~ natfs

their Councils abridged. :> ^

7itttifts run into Errour, and keep up their Parties as more pure ^rom the Crimes of Idolaters, Traditors, Libellaticks, and other Criminals.

Siilpitius Scveyut defcribeth Jthacins as a man that cared not what he faid or did, and the rell of the Synod of Bifliops about him as unfit to be communicated with i that would bring Chrillianity it Iclfinto reproach by their furious oppofition to Hereticks : And who would have thought but thefe Bifhops had been very good men thcmfelvcs, that were fo zealous a-gainftthePr;/c////<i;;;y?/, as to procure the Death ot fomc, and the Banidi-raent of others, and bring Martin himfelf, and other ftrid abftemious people into the fufpicion of Pnfciliijnifm ?

It wasazeal forChrift, and againlt fuppofcd Errour, which raifed the doleful contention about the corruptibility of Chrift's Body; one Party calling the others Phantafiajlickf, and the other cajlingtliem Cor,7<p/,co/tf ; into which Errour the Emperour jHJliman himfelf did lapfe and become a zealous Heretick, as the Orthodox Party called him.

And even S. Hilary PiRav. /• lo. iie Trimt. feemeth not free, when,p. 20j. he faith C I'' (jU(»* cjudmvii aut i^m imidcrct, ant vidnus defcenderct, aut nodi concnrrerentf aHtfufpenJio elevaret, affayent cjiiidcm hac imfdum p^jficfiis^ Hon tamen dolorem pajfionis infcrrent , ut tcliim ttliquod aut acjiiam perforanSf ant ignem compmigcns^ ant Aravulneyans : Omties ejuidem has pajfwnes Katura fH.e infcrt^ ut perforct, ut compungat, ut viilncrct •, fed naturam fuam hdc paf-fto illata nen yetinet ^ dum in fiatMy.'t non tjl vel acjnam forari^ vel pun^i ig. mm, vel ara vulnerari^ cjuamvis tiatiira leU ft valuer are dr compungert Cr foyare: Pajfus cjuidem Dominus Jefus Ojyiflns dinn cteditur, dum Jufpenditur^ dum crucifi^ituy^ dum moyitny ", fed in Corpus Domini iryitens paffio^ nee non fuit paffio^ nee tamen uataram pajjloiiis cxeycuit: Cum G~ pceiialt minifleyio ilia defdvit^ C" Z'iytus coypoyis Jine fenfu poen£ vim pa:n<t in fe deftvientis excepit.2 Yet it was againlt Herefie that the good Father defended this ('worfe than many of Fhilafiyius^ yea or Epipbanius's, Herefies.) Pag. 2c8. faith he, Ale-turn Domino hxrefis afcribit: ' Timuijfe tihi, O HxreticCf Domimu gloria pafftonem vidctur Pag. 216. Non vis, impie luretice, ut tyatifeunte pal-mas clavo Chriflus non dolueyit, mcj-, vulnus illud nullum aceybitatem tcli ccm-

pungentis intuleyit. Inteyyogo^ cur pucri ignes non timuerint nee doluerint

So p. 217, 218. you fee how little heed is to be given oft to good mens outcries againft Herefie; He fpake much better, tbid. pag. 2ji. In fm. plicitate fides eji *, in fide jufiitia ej}:, in co>ifejfione pictas efl : Non per diffici-les nos Deus ad beatant vitam qitsftioncs vocat ^ nee multiplici eloquentis fa-cundi£ genere folicitat. I» ahjoluto nobis ac facili efi dtcrnitas^ Jefum fu-fcitatum a mortuis per Deum credere, & tpfum ejfe Dominum conpteri.'^ And Lib. II. p- 5 ? 2. if'itio \^Non cnim ambiguis nos dr erraticis indefinite do^ri-ttsfiudiis dereliquit, vel incertis optniornbus ingenia humana peymift., fi^tutis per fe O" oppofitis obicibus in Itbeytatcm inteUigcrtix volant at ifiq-^ concliidtrs, ut faptre non mfi ad id tantum cjuod pntdicatum a fe fuerat, nos funrct., cum p r dcfinitam fidei indemutahilis conjlitutionem , cyedi alitcr at.jiie alitcr non /«-■eeret.'^

F §■ 17. And

§. 17. And it is not only particular perfons, but many General Councils, that have erred and perfccuted others-, as if all the while they were but cleanllng the Church of the moft odious Hcri.fics.

The many Councils of the Aria,n \ may after touch upon, liz.. at Tyre^ Ar'tininum^ Syrmium^ C-c I will before its time here mention that ot Sardica: What horrid Herefiesand Villanics do tlicy lay to the charge Cnot only of AiArcellus, hnx) of AihMnfm^ of Paidm Conflant. of J;tliitj Bifliop oi Ro?ne, o^ Protbogercs, and others, wl.om they cxcomniunicate as if they had been the very plagues of the earth ? See the Copies of their Epiflle in ////..t)' Pu'K Fragments,/). 4 h, Oc.

§. 18. And becaufe Papal Approbation is made by the Papiils tlic mark of an unerring and infallible Council, note that even the Jrian Council of Syrmii'.m was ex'prefly approved by Pope Liicrius in his Exile, as you may fee \\\Hilary^ ibid. j>. 426, 427. faymg, [/r^f, amoto Atha-

rafio a cemmiinior.e otnriium noftri:fii, en jut vec Efiftoli* H me fiifcipiendn Jiint, dico me p.irem cum oninibus vobis, QS" cum Vniverfis Epifcopis oricntalibus., fat per univerf.ts provincias paccm cj- unitatein habere '■ Nam itt veritts fciatis me vera fide per hanc Epiflolam ea loqiii, Do/ninus C^ frater mens commwiis IJe-mofilus, ^iii diguAttts efi pro fita beuevolentia {Idem O" catholicam e.xponere cjua Syrmium a plnribus frntribus (^ co-epifcopis nojlris traEiata^y expojita, o- Ju-fceptj f/?, ab omnibus qui in prafenti fiter nut ^ h.i77c ego libenti aninn fufcepi *, in nulla contradixi\ corifcnfttm accommeduvi^ h.znc fe.jHor, h<tc a tne tcnetur-^ Jane peteaditm credidi SanElitatem Fefhram, (jnia tarn pervidetis in omnibus riie vobis confcntancitm ejfe., dignemirii coi/wuirii anxilio nc fiitdio laborare, eju.t' te>:us de exilio dimittar, C^ ad fedem^ cjua mihi divinit:ts credita efi, revtr. tar.'} In reciting of which Hilary thrice faith {_AnAthein-i tibi, Libert

prevaricator'] -If they fay that Liberiits did thisin his Exile through

fear or fuffering, lanfwer, his Sufferings were fmall-, and Hilary annex-eth another of his Epiftlcs to the Arian Bifliops, in which he fwearerh orcalleth God himfelf to witncfs, that it is not for his Sutfenngs which are not great, but for the Peace of the Church, of which he knew thofe Bifliopstobe Lovers, and which is better than Martyrdom, that he did ■what he did.

■§. 19. I. Before thefe there were many Provincial Councils called to decide the Controvcrfic of the time of Eafler\ and asth.u at Rome, in JPaleJliKe., Ponti;is, and one in France went one way i fo that of Afia^ '"ander Polycrates Ephef. went another way, profefling to ttick therein to tlieGofptl, and the Tradition of their Fathers: For which l^tEior would •needs excommunicate them, which Ireaxns fliarply reprehendeth. Its •worth the noting, That as t;,c wrong party pleaded Tradition, fo the right party pleaded Rcaibn and Scripture, as you may fee in Beda''$ Fragment ■o^ the Pale ft ine Council,/wi' Theoph.C^fir.Bin.T. \.p. 132. And that the main argument ufed was the Divine Bencdiftionof the Lords day : which they may note.that qucRion the ancient obfervation of that day. . §. zo. II. The;iextCouncil recorded (Biri.p.ii^,) is oae ztCarthagef ' "' under

their Cc:mcil.s abridged.

under ^^hfpinus^ which decreed the re baptizing of thofe that were baptized by Hercticks: For which they are commonly now condemned.

§. 2 I. And Binniits notcih that they had this from their Countryman Tertidlian, whofe zcal againft.Hereticl^s was fo hot, that he would have iiothing, no not Baptifra, common with them-, fo B.iron- dti.zxi.f- 1,2, 3. & an. 258. n. ly, 20. Yet is this man now numbrcd with Hercticks.

$. 22. HI. The Concilium Labefttunuin is the next in order, v.'here one TrtvatHs was condemned for an Herecick (^mentioned by CyprtMi^ Epift. 55 J But, faith Binniits., what his Herefie was is not known nor mentioned.

§•2 J. IV. Next we have an ^r^<;»« Council, in which the Errour of the 5c«//A/orf.?//V)'(allowing it only to rife again with the Body at the Re-furredion) was excellently oppugned and cxpugned by Origin \, but it was by that Onigen whohimfelf is called a blafplicmous Hcretick.

§.24. V. The next mentioned Council(fi/». p. 158.^ wa$ at Rome^f a-bout the reftoring of the Lapfed upon Cyprinnh motion. A bufinefs that made no fmall diirention,while Lucunns and fome others made the Church-door too wide, and NovAttis, and A'«-j<«f».i«/o made it too narrow, and Cypr«.?«and the Ronuvi Clergy went a middle way : bitter and grievous were tlicCenfures of each other, and long and fad the Schifms that didenfue, the rigour of thtNovatiaus being increafed by their Offence at other mens iinfal latitude and tepidity.

§. 25. By the way it is worth the confidering by fomc Pafijls., who make both a Biihop Ellcntialto aChnrcii, and a Pope to the Church-Um-yerfal, and deny Church-Government to Presbyters, that this Council isfaidto be called by the Rov>.m Clergy (the Presbyters and Deacons) when the Church had been a year or two without a Biihop (through the fliarpperfecutionof JDmw upon h\ibians DcathJ. And it is to the Ro-manCkr^y (presbyters and Deacons) that Cyprian at this time wrote divers of his EpilUes, as they wrote to him ^ infomuch that Bimuus ftick-eth not to fay, that in this interregnum the Roman Clergy had the carc^tr charce of the Vnivcrful Church.

Qjt£r. How far their Government, even of Bifliops Cwhom they Aflem-bltd in tiiis Council) was Canonical or valid ?

§• 26. VI. After this there was another Council at Cjrihj>^e<,^r\A two at Rome., and one in Italy., and another at Cartha^^e^ about the lame Contro-vcrfie; wh-^re it was determined that the Lapfed Ihould be received to Re-ix-ntance, and after a fufikient fpace of Penance, lliould communicate, butnotfooner : And that the Billiops that lapfed fliould be uncapable of Epifcopacy and comnuraicate only with the Laity rpon their penance: YetCypr/rf«in time of a renewed Perfccution thought meet to relax this, and take in the Penitent prefcntly, left they Hioiild be difcouraged under Sutftring. But Foeliciffimus one of his Deacons made himfelf the Head of a Fadton, by taking men in by his own Authority too foon, and Nov.itus and Nevatian, as is laid, being againft their taking into Communion at 2ll> the Councils exconxnuaicaced them nil asSchifmaticks. Where note,

F 2 that

r^

that NovAtHs an Afrkm Prieft, that went to Rome and got Novatian ordained BiDiop, did not deny them Pardon of Sin with God, but only Church-Communion, z. Nor did he deny this to other great Sinners repenting, but only totbofe that lapfed to Idolatry or denying Chrift. But the Novatuatis long afrer extended it to other heynous Crimes, as upoH fuppofcd parity of Reafon.

§. 27. VII. Next this we have Cyprians ^^/^/mw Council in which fafter the cenfuring of fome that reproached a Paftor) they condemn a Dead Man called y'ttlor^ bicaufe by his Will he left one Faujiinus a Presbyter the Guardian of his Sons, which the Canons had forbidden, bccaufe no Minifters of God fhould be called from their facred Work to meddle with Secular things : Therefore they Decree that VtUors Name (hall not be mentioned among the Dead in Deprecation, nor any Oblation made for his Rell". (Non efl c^nod pro dormitione ejus apud voj pat ohlatio, ant deprecatio fiUqtia nomine ejus in Ecclefii frc^ucvtetnr.) The cafe of the Clergy is much altered fincc then •-, And whether the penalty had more of Piety, as to the end, or Errour in the rigor, and the matter fas if it were a Punifhment to the Dead, not to be offered for, or prayed forj I leave to further con-fideration, Cypr. li- i. EpijI. 66.

^. 28. VIll. The next Council we meet with is Concil. Iconienfe an. 258. where the Bifhops of Ci!pp^i^tfCM, Cilicia, Galatiu, and other Oriental Provinces at Iconiim in Phry[^i.t^ Decreed that the Baptifms of Hereticks, their Ordinations, Impofirion of Hands, and other facred Actions were inva> lid. For which, faith Baroniiis an. 25S. n. 14,15, 16. Pope Stephen Excommunicated all thefe Oriental Bifhops, and Reprobated the Council, and would not receive or hear their Legates: Of which Firmlianus Cdf-tr. Cap.. pad. writeth to Cypri,i:i againft him.

$. 29. IX. Atihs I'amQ time, Enfeb. lib-7.c. 6. tellsus, there was alfo a Synod at Synadir^ yea, divers in other places, that all decreed the fame thing, for rebaptiv-ing thofe that were bapti/.cd by Hereticks i and that this had been the Blfhcps opinion of fo long time before, that Eufebius dni[t notcondemnit- F,d. B.:rc>u Am.o z^'^. n. 17. But it is now commonly condemned.

$. 30. X. If they had confined their opinion of rebaptizing to fuch Hereticks as areftridly fo called, that rcnoimco any eflcntial Article of the-Faith, they might have made the Controvcrlie hard-, But as Hereticating iacrcafcd, fo theirown difficulties inereafed. And nowthe Nozatians were pronounced Hereticks, it grew a hard quellion, whether all that the No-i'<?//4«^ had baptized mud be rebaptized. And for this an -^/r»M» Council, jiano 258. concluded affirmatively: Becaufeall that are baptized are baptized into the Church : But Hereticks are not in the Church, and fo baptize not isto the Church: therefore fuch mult be rebaptized. CyprUn and many very Godly Bifhops conlented in this errour.

§. 51 XI. To try thisbulinefs further, Qpr/'/tw gathered another Couiir-cil of abo.ve 70 Bifhops out of jijrid'Zn^ Nimidia., and all were defired to,

declare:

declare what was the Tradition of their Fathers ^ And they all agreed that according to Scripture, and Tradition, the Baptifm of Hereticks was a Nullity, and it was no rebaptization to baptize fuch as they bapti7ed : (fee here what ftrength is in thePapifts argument of Tradition in fuch cafes. ^ But this Council and their Do(.T:rine Pope Stephen condemned.- But they never the more altered their judgments, not believing his Infallibity or power to judge between them in fuch matters of Faith.

In this Council is fet down every Bilhops Reafon of his Judgment. §. 32. XII. WhcnPopeStephen had condemned thefe Bifliops, Cyorian calleth yet a greater Council of S7 Bifliops, who confirmed the fame Do-dlrine,and rejeifted the Popes opinion and his arrogancies, that would make himfelf to be a Bidiop of Bifliops, and by tyrannical terrour and abufe ot' Excommunication, force others to his opinion. And with ihe Africans ia this judgment joyned Firmlltan, with 70 v^<«« Bifliops, and fsith Bmniit.^ DionypHS AUxandrinm alfo.

§. j3. But I muft here tell the Reader, that I mention not thefe inftan-ees to breed ill thoughts in him of thtfc African snd Nhrndtan Bifliops; For as far as lean difcern by their Writings ar.d by Hiltory, they were the Codlieft, Faithful, Peaceablccorr.pany of Bifliops that were found in any part of the World llnce the Apofllcs times: Cyprian''^ fty le and the teftimo-ny of all jiift Hiltory which conccrneth him, as well as his Martyrdomc, declare him to be a Saint indeed. \^N,iz.iar:z.en dcclareth the flrangc occalion of his Converfion-, viz.. That he loved or lulUd after a Chriftian Virgin, and wiien he could not obtain his will, being given to Magick, he agreed with theDevil to procure hisdclire-, but when he fawthat the Devil con-feft himfelf unable to do ir, and lb that he was too weak for Chrill, he forfookthe Devil and turned Chriftian : ) The Papifts (Biaiiiiij, Barcnihs, &c.) conjefture that Cyprian before his death reformed this Errour, but their conjecture mcerly tells us what they willi, without any reafon, but that he dyed a Martyr and his Succcflburs honoured him. As-if none might fo die and be honoured that I ad any errour, which? no man living is without. 2,. And this may be faid to cxcufe their errour. I. That the ftriiiteft men oftner cire on the ftri<n:er lideagainfl fin, than the complying Carnal Clergy. 2. That they thought it the fafer way ta baptize fach again, (''on the fame reafon as we do in cafe of uncertain bap-tifme, with ^finon b.''ptiz.AtHs es, baptizo te i) not knowing why there fhould beany danger in thcmiftake : Much like as in Enalanduow, the Bifliops are forthe re-Ordaining of all fuch as were Ordained by others th.it were not Diocelanes, and yet do not call it re-Ordaining. 3. That in thofe times of Heathenifmc and perlecution, theCliiiflians had no way to maintain their fbrength bat by the Churc hes Concord •, nor could they otherwife have kept up fo ftriift adifcipline as they did, having no forcing power of Chriftian^ Magiftrates ■■ Therefore they were ntcefiltated to be fcverc withdividcrs. 4. And the ambiguity of the word Llhrcfe'] w.'.snotthekaftoccalipn of tlieir errour. The Nicivt Council afterward rebaptiied fuch as thofe He-

Mtic'i?

rcticks Baptized, who corrupted the fubftance of baptilme it f^lf, but not others. And Chriltiansatfirfl had more wit and charity thau to call every errour a Hcrcfic, cdle there had been none but Hcrcticks'J fuchasdenyed fome cllcntial point of faith or pradicc, and drew a party to maintain it, were called Hercticks in the former times -, but afterward every Schifm or Party that gathered by themfclves, and i\:t\i\) ^Itare contraaltare upon the fmallclt difference, was called a Herefie. And lb the fame name applyed to another thing, deceived them. The Biihopj were men of eminent piety and worth.

§. 34. XIH. jimu) z6i. They fay there was a Council at/*!w«e to clear Dmiyfms AlexMd. of the imputation of Herefie, occafioned by fomc doubtful words which he wrote againft Sahclliiis.

§. 55. XIV. ylnno 266. They fay there was another at Antioch againlb their BifliopFW/^Sww/^jr^ww;, a grofsHcretick: But he renounced his errour in words, and for that time kept his place.

$. 3^6. XV. P.i/</.7/returning to his Herefie^nd a bad life, v^.'Two 272. another Council at Jntioch depofed him \ but he would not go out of the Bi-Ihops houfe, and the Emperour JitreliMi a Heathen put him out.

§. 57. XVI. Amtoioi. Thcnext Council was at Gi^? in AW;/W«.«, Se-cMnd:-siiglfitanus being chief and calling them. Here Secimdns accufed the Bifhops one by one asTraditors (dilivering thelacred booksto beburnC in perfccutionto favethemfclves, which was then judged perMioufnefs.) The Bilhops partly excufcd , partly coafefRd ir, and asked pardon^ Till at Jalb Seciuidus ready to judge them, nccufed a Bifliop PHrfiiytii^s of murdering his own Sifters Sons: who to!d hinuhat he fliould not think to terrific hmi as he had done the reft •, He hrd killed, and would kill thoie that make againU him, and asked him whether he liad not been a Traditor him-, feP", andb'ginning to evince ir, bid him not provoke him to tell the reft.• VV hereupon Si c//«d'«/his Neph^vv told hisllnkle. You lee that he is ready to depart and make a Schifnijand not he only but all the reft,?.nd you hear what they fay againft you : And then they will joyn and pals fentence on you, and fo you will remain the only Hcretick {Her^stiaitwg went thai by the Fote ) 5fa/?i!/«/wasnonpluIt, and askt two others, what it was belt to do i* And they agreed to leave them all to God, and fo the Bifliops kept their places. Aii^^efiii-:. ccnt.Crejcon.i. i-c. 26,27.

\. jS. XVII. Nex'tthcy deliver us Co«/7////wS/»wjp»///«, whether true or forged is too hard a comrovcrlic. It wasofr/jrce hundred Bifhops ("how big were their DiocclH s think you above our PariOies?J who all came fecrer-]y together to a Town now unknown, and met in a Cave that would hold but 50 at a rime, for fear of perfecution : The buflncfs was to Conviift Pope Ai.-.rcclliriu of Idolatry/or offering lacrifice to Hmnles,Jupiter, and SMiirn : which he confellld.

§. 59. XVllf. Anno 505. Was held a Council of ipBifiiops at JHrberis \nSp.tiii: wiHTC many good things were agreed on .• But not only to iha Iuclat;ou; Up.'el, buUooihcr hcinovs crir»cs they denycd Communion

to

ir.

tJ)€ir Councils abridged. :>^

to the death, notwithftanding rcpcnr.inre. And that thcfe B fhops Ihould be Orthodox, and yet the Nov.,ti.n,s Here ticks, it is not ealle to give a rcaron -^'ff?'-of. Theirdiftirittioiiof/'fi.'^'/Cf, Sacraiiie/it^2r.<iCcmrntmon, will not well'"'"j'^'^"'' perform it. Therefore Mdch. C^rnrj chargcih them with Erroin lib. 5 c.4. ^eth\li'e*' and Bella mine much more, lib- 2. He Jt>:t^_. c. p. That it is Concilium von coiifv- lv(l ot it. niaiim, frtejucntererr.ijfe., &c. A Biihop, Pricit or Deacon in Ollice, thit Kit of h.uh committed Fornication, was not to have Ccramimion, no not at de^th: *-^''- 54. and divcis ethers. No Billiop was to receive any Gift from any one that a°voifc''' did not Communicate. It pofaii the P.ipifts themfelvcs to expound Can. fence than 34. Cercos fcr diem flMiut iru Camitcrio)ii.n incendi: Irji^nietandienim San^orum this of ffiritits r.oii flint: Bim,ins will have it to be th: Spirits of the living Sainis, ^"""'''' that arc not to be difquietcd with tronbicaboutLights fctupby da/. But 1 wiflnhnt be the meaning. But the $6 Can. more troubleilithcm, PUcnit ficluras in Ecclefa cjfc mn deberc, ac quod coUtiir ant adoralur, in parictibus dcfingMitr. Can. j8. A Lay-man, incalcof ncccfiicv, iscnalfled to Bapti/e. Can. 59. Gentiles unbapti7.cd may be madoChriilians.it lall, l)y lm]:;oiItion of hands. Can. 65. If a Clergy-man's Wife play the Whore, and he do not prcfently caft her our, le mull not be received to the Communion to the laft. Can. 73. If a Clinflian turn Acculcr (Delator) and upon hisaccu-fation any one be baniflicd or put to death, he is not to be received to Communion, no not atlalt. Can. 75- Nor hethat falfly accufeth a Bidiop, Pref-bytcr, or Deacon, and cannot prove it. Can. 79. He thatplayeth at Dice, orTableSi was to be kept from the Communion. N'any other Canons favour, fome of Piety, and fomeoftheiVirtwr/.w/. Thirty fix Presbyters fite with thcfe Nineteen Bilhops- Pope Innocent approved thcfe almoll Ncva-tiau Canons, and Einniin excuftth them, p. 246.

§. 40. XIX. Anno 306. ACouncilatC;>-r/5^^r of about 70 Bifhops began the Schifm of the Donatiflsy contending ivhofliould have the Bifliop-x\<:ko{ Carth^ic: One party had chofen Ctcilianus to fucceed/1/«;?//<;-«w, Theother party accufing him as beingaTrndttor, and Ordained by Fccli.v a Traditor, and had forbidden bringing food to the Martyrs in prifon, they orilained one Afjjorints Biliiop in his ftead: CicHimus had the countenance of the Biihop of Jiome^ and Hood it out, and kept the place: Hereupon t'he Church being divided, the divifion run through all Afnck, sndN'umidia, while the accufing p.irty renounced Commuuion withCart-lianns-1 fo that for many years alter ("two hundred at Icafl:) they did with plaullble pretence claim the title of Cathclickf^ tiiough they were after called Donatijls (from Don.itus a very good BiOiop of Carthage heretofore, whom they pi aifed, and not from Donatns a Cafsnigris^ as ibmc think, j Sccundus Tfgifta>;ns Frlmzic of Nn»:idia^ furthers the breach, and the Ordination of Mtprtnns fixed it. Thus the doleful Tragedy of the Donattfls began by Bidiops divided about a Oirtb.tic-)i\\\\Q\}.

if. 41. XX. ./^w7o joS. Another Council was held at C.«r;/;rj^f, whcreno Icfsthan 270 Donatift Bilhops, for moderation, agreed to Communicate with penitent Traditors, vi-ilhcut rebnptizing them, and fo did for 40 years. J. 42.

Chwch-Hijhry of Bijhops and

§. 42. XXI. Jmio ^ 5. The Schifm continuing, the Do;:<i///?/ cleaving to ALijorimis, appca'cd agair.fb Cdcilutm to Conjianiine (now Empcrour.) He lirftnppointeth three f></rf/; Bifhops to judge the Caufc, but after 19 Bilhops (called a A;w«/«« Council j metat^ow^ to hear both Parties: where Mdchiades and the reft acquitted Cacilianns^ and condemned Donatus a Cajis fii^ris (a promoter of the Dofiatijh Caulej asguilty of Schifm. But the Doaatifls accufir-g/Ii'f/V/;/W« alfoas aTraditor, the Schifm was never the more ended: A motion was made that both the Bifliopsfliould remove CCxciliafiusind M^jori'ius) to end the Schifme •, But the Daw^f//? BiOiops were fo very many ia number, that they thought they vt'ere to be -called the Church, and the Cxciliamjls the Schifmaticks, and therefore would not fo agree. Thus Bidiops about Bifhopricks fct all the Country on a flame.

§. 45. XXlI. Next0«/.«;?r;'«f would hear the Caufeofthefecontending Bilhops at a Council at ^rUs in France, fbefore 200 Bilhops at lean:)where Cdciltamis was again acquitted, and the Donatift Bifhops calt,by the witnefs of their Sct'ihz Ifigtiitius, who (being racked) confelled that he was hired to give falfe witnefs in the Cafe. Several good Canons were here made for Church-Order.

§. 44. I have heard many Popifli Pcrfons liken the Separatifts among us to the DoKatifis: But fo unlike them are they, That, i. The faid Separatifts are againft all Epifcopacy, but the Donatifls were Bifhops, and contended for the higheft Places of Prelacy. 2. The Separatifts are con-teffedly a Minor Part departing from the Major Part. But the J)e;/4f//?/ were the Major Part of the Bifhops cafting out the Minor Part as Delinquents. The Truth is,in thofe times the Bifhops being ufually in contention and Church-Wars among themfelves, ( efpecially when Conflatitine had given them peace and profperity,) the ftrife was. Who fliould get the better, and have their will: i. Sometime the ftrife was about Opinions, who was in the right, and to be called Orthodox, and who was to be accounted the Hcretick, 2. The other part quarrel who fliould be the Bifhop, or who fhould have the higheft places- 3. And the next quarrel was whofe fide fliould carry it in fetting up any Bifhops, or in judging and depofing them, and who fliould have their Heads or Friends brought in. And the way to get the better, was, i. At the firft, by the majority of the peoples Votes in chufing Bifliops, and of the Bifhops in depofing them. 2. But after, moft went in chufing and depofing by the majority of the Bifhops Votes in the greater Seats, ('the peoples con-fent ftill required J at Icaft if a Council did interpofe. 3. And at laft, it went by the favour or difpleafure of the Court i either the Empcrour, or the Emprefs, or feme great Officers. The African Bifliops it fecms were far the greateft number againft C^cilian, (when 270 met at one Council, and A^.7c^<W« Council at Rome had but 19, and that at lUtbe-ris 19, and that at >4«c)';-^ 18 Bifhops.) Therefore the Bifliops thought that majority of number gave them ri^ht to the Title of Catholick),

and

their Councils abridged. ^ \

that thofe DifTenters muft be called Hertticks^ as was too ufuai. And iee-ing they lived in the Country where many Councils under ^^ippirus and Cypriafj,zn<i Firmilian,[\a.(i voted that Herericks were not of the Cnurch,and ^'^'^ "" thofe that they had baptized, were to be rebaptizcd-, they thought that Councfl they did but keep up this Tradition i and fo they faid that they were all had judg. the Church of yifrica^ and that the Cfc;7;4ff/were H.rctiiks and Sefaratifis ^^ againft

from the Church, and that all that they baptized were to be rebaptizcd, **"^'"' ^"' aswas formerly held. So that indeed the X)e«rfr//?j did but as ^^^ P^fifls,^^^ ^^^ and their worldly Clergy ftill have done, who take the advantage ""* of ^majority to call themfelvcs the Church and Catholikf, and to call ttie Diflenters5c/;///«jr;ctjand fi'frfrtci^/, fave that they added Cyprian''s rebap-tizing. And when it was for their advantage they communicated 40 years withTraditors:, but when the power of the Court and the bi(\\.c( Rome bore them do-.vn,they kept up their party by pretended ftri(fl:nefs,and reproaching the others as a Sein:,3nd as Heretical and perfccuters of the Church. So that it was the Multitudes and Councils of thePrclatcs that fet upDonatifm.

§. 44. XXIII, The next was<t». 3 '4-at Ancyra in GaUtia ol' eighteen Bifhops, who met to determine how many years the Lapfed fhould repent ,,or do penance) before they were admitted to Communion. Cu». 1 7. for-bad thofe,that were ordained Bidiops to any people and were not accepted by tlie Parifh to which they were ordained, to thruft: themfelvcs on other Pariflies, or raife Sedition, but allowed them to continue Presbyters. Cm. 21. Wilful Murderers were to communicate at laft only.

§.45. XXIV. The Churches having now peace under Covft.tntine a Council of I} Bilhops that had been before molt AiAncyra met atAWe/irr-t^but the fmall number did better work than many greater Councils did, making fome good Canons againft .adultery and Fornication^Though the yihCan. that forbids Piiefts to dine at the fecond Marriages of any, bccaufe fuch muft: repent, be of doubtful fenfe and truth: The firfl: C.i«. is againft Priefts marrying and Fornication. The lad, that the number of Deacons muft be juft feven, be the City never fo big.

§.46. XXV. Next a ^pw.»« Council is mentioned by 'Binnius p. 279. for a Conference with Jews before Confinfitine^ but he faith the Ads t!;at now are extant are full of falfehoods.

§. 47. XXVI. Af>. 315. They place us a Council at Alexandria in which Alexander, with many Bifliops, condemned Enfehius Nicomcd. with Ariits and that the reft adhered to them, efpcciailyas holding that Chrifl: was not Eternal, but was a Creature that had a beginning, and that the Wtfdom and Word of God was not the Sou., but made the Son.

$.48. XXVII. Another Council at Alex and. xIk^ tell us of, againft the Ariatis., z:iAt\\Q A^eUtian Schtfmaticks: but the AAs are not known. To this is annexed an Epiftle of Ccnftamitie to Alexander ard >^?-/«/,record-edhy Eufeb.Cdfar in zii.i C(7«/?^f7;^. in which Cor/?-wr/w* chideth them both for their Contention, andfeemethto take the Qneftion for unfearchablc and to bedifputed,faying,'i undcrftandthat the foundation of thcCcntro-

G '■'\erfie

" verfie was hence laid, that thou AUxandtr didft ask queftions of the Pret "byters about a certain Text of Scripture-, yea, about a certain idle Par-''ticleofaQueftion didft enquire, wjiat every one of them thought? And *■' thou y^r/«; didft inconfiderately blurt out that which thou hadftnot be-♦••fdre thought of, or if thou hadft thought of it, thou o'lghteft to have '^paft by in filence: Whence difcordwas ftir'd up among you, and the **meeting hindered which is wont to be made in the Church, and the *'moft holy people diftracfted into feveral parts, is divided from the '*^compagination of the whole body of the Church. Therefore both of "you, forgiving one another, approvcof that which your fellow-fervanc "doth not without caufe exhort you to: And what is that? That to *' fuch Queftions you neither Ask, nor Anrwer, if asked: For fuch Qjc-"ftionsas noLaw or EcclefiaftickCanon doth neceflarily prefcribe, but •♦ the vain ftrifc of dillblute idlenefs doth propofe, though they may ferve " to exercife acutenefs of wit, yet we ought to contemn them in the inner "thought of the mind, and neither raflily to bring them out into the "publick AlTemblies of the People, norunadvifedly to truft them to the *' Ears of the Vulgar. For how few are they that can accurately enough "perceive the force of things fo weighty, and fo involved in obfcurity i " But if there be feme one that is confident that he can eafily do and reach *'this, yet 1 pray you, how fniall a part of the multitude is it, that he ** can make ro undcrftand him ? Or who is there, that in the curious fearch ^'of fuch Queftions, is not in danger of a fall/

The reft is well worth the Reading, as to the common cafe of Theological Controverfies, though it feems that Conflantine made too light of tiie jiriati errour. But 1 dare not be To injurious to Eufcbius as to queftion whether he faithfully recited theEpiftle, when ^/w^w; himfelf backs his doubt with a dicere nonauderem: And if we give away the credit of that oneHiftorian,it will leave much of Church Hiftory under doubt, thatnow goeth for certain : Pcrhtips Peters being ever at ^"we, &c.

§. 4$>. XXlX. The next mentioned is the Council of Z-W/cm \n Phry-£14 Paccdt^ (not Syria) of jjBifliops, gathered by Niinechitts aBifliopof Phrygia. They were fo few that without contention they made divers good Canons: The 46 Canon rcquireth that the baptized fliould Icara the Creed, and on the Friday of the laft week repeat it to the Bilhop or Presbyters. (By which you may conje^^ure how large a Biflioprick then was.j And Can. 56. The Presbyters were not to go into the Church before the Bifhop,but with him- (For then every Church had a Bi(hop,though fome Chapels far off had Presbyters only. J And Can. 57. It is ordered,, that Sijlwps Pwuld >iot be Ordained in fmall fiHages and Hamlets^ but Vtftors fhould be appointed them. But fuch (Bijltr-psJ m had been kentofore there Or-duinedj fjciild do nothing without the Confcience of the City Bijliop. Which Ihew-eth that before Bilhops were made in Villages ^ as Socr.-rteshith then they were in ^r<ji>4, zad the Phrygiaf3NovatiaKj, &c. The laft Can. rcciteth

tlve

the fame Canonical Scriptures that we receive^ fave the A^eculyp^ which is left oat.

$. 50. XXIX. Next we hare a great Roman Council of 275 Bidiops, faith Crah-, under Jy/tr^fr, which hath 7 Canons: The lafl: faith, That no Bifliop fliall Ordain any, but with all the Church united.. But whether this was before or after the Nicene Council, is uncertain.

And another he mentionethunder Sylvefler ztRome, which 5/«;7/"«i hath, where Conflantine baptized oiSyhejier was prefent and 284 Bifhops- ( Whe. ther itbe tnieor a fi(ftion is uncertain.^ But if true, it was a very humble Council: For they all profefTed only patience, renounced giving their judgment at all, but only heard v^lwt Sylvcftcr would"fay, profefling none fit to judge bnt he. But they all with f reshyters and Deacons fubfcribcd what he faid (if true.) What he fa id I do not well undcrftand, fuppofing much of it to be fcarcc fenfe: I am fureit isfar fromC/Vfro'sLatine. 159 Bifhops Came, f.v Zlrbe Rcmavelnonlonge ah ilia., Qft of the City of Rome^ or net far from it: (How big were their Diocelles ?; Here, Cap. 2. three men are curf-ed, ('anathematized:) One was a Bifhop, VtElorinus, that heini^ ignorant cf thecoiirfe of the Moon, contradided the right time o( Eafter. It's well the Al^kfvs ^u^ylp^rovers of our Impofcd Ens^hfl) Liturgy fell not under SyU rry/fr'sfeverity, who have {al:.s, miftaki'ngly) told us, that HEajhr-day^ en which the refi defend, i< always the frji Sunday after thefirji full Mocn.^\vhtch ha^f ens next after the one and twentieth day 0/March : And if the full Moon k.ippen on .t Sunday, EaUcr-day u the Sividdy after-'} This is one of the things that about 2000 Minifters are hlenced, for not Declaring j4ffcnt, Confent and Approbation of j yea to the «/<?«»/»;, and fo to keep'£<»/fr at a wrong time. But how Sylvefler came to have power to fay all, and to banifh men, and Conflantine fit by and fay nothing, 1 know not: Dedit eis anathema (^ damnavit ees e.xtya urbes fiu/.

Cap. J. He Decreed, th^t no Presbyter JJtaS accufe a Bijiwp., no Deacon a Presbyter, c^c. and no Layman, any of them: yindthat nt Prelate fliaH be con-denmed but in 72 Tefti monies , nor the chief Prelate he ]ud(^cd of any one., hecaufe it IS written., The Difcipleis not above his Mafter. ^ndno Presbyter fliall he coh~ demncd but in ^.^-Teftimonics'-, no Cardinal Deacon but in^6,&c. And what may they not then do or be ?

Cap. 5. He Decreed clara voce., that no Presbyter flwuld make Chrifme, hecaufe Chrifl is fo called of Chrifme.

The 12. Cap. is, 2Vir/;w det pccnitcntiam., nifi quadrarirta annorum fetenti .', Let no man give repentance {^OX penance) but toone that faketh forty years.

Cap. I4. Let no man receive the whnefs of a Clergy-man againfl a Layman.

Cap. I 5. For no man may examine a Qcrgy-jnan but in the Church.

Cap. ]<5. LetnoClnkj, Deacon., or Presbyter, for any Caufe cf his enter into any Court, becaufe Omnis Curia a Cruoredicitur, every Ccurt is fo called from blood, and is an offeringto Images-, For if any Clergy-man enter into a Court,

G a let

let him takt ins yinaihima^ never returning to his Afothtr the Church.

Cap. 17- Let no man put a ftming Clergy-man to death, no Tresbyter, no Deacon^ vo BiJIwp^ that is over a Clerk, or Servitor of the Church, may bring him to death. But if the Clergy man s caufe fo require, la him be three days deprived of honour J that he may return to his Mother-Church.

Cap. I 8. No Deacon may effcr againfi a Pricft a Charge of filthinefs.

Cap. 20. A'o wan (liall judge of the Prime feat-^ btcaufe all feats defire juflice to he tempered ef the frjl feat. Tht Siibfcribers were 284 Bifhops (what did the other 57?) 45 Pnelts, and 5 Deacons, and the two following., and Con-il^nuns and his Mother Uekr\3. O brave Pope and Clergy / O patient Council that fubfcribed to one man, and pretended to no judgment/ O humble Co?iJ}af!tine, that fubfcribed to all tiiis, and faid nothing! And a womans fubfcription perfedeth all. And O credulous Reader that believcth -this!

CHAP.

'^•^

■^i— — ^

their Councils abridged. 4 5

CHAP. IIL

The Council of Nice, arid fome followi?ig it.

$. I. XXX."T'"¥ TE come now to thefirft General Council: General %/l/ only as to the Roman Worldoz Emfire, asthcHifto-T T ry and Subfcriptions prove, and not as to the Whole Worlds as the Papifts with notorious impudence afRrm : which I have elfewiiere fully proved. This Council was called, as is probably gathered, ^nmii<i. in the 2://j year olCcnfiwtint (though others allign other years.) That they were congregate about the Arian Herefie and the Ealtcrn Controvcrfie-is commonly known: As alfo what wifdom and diligence Cvnflamine ufed to keep the Bifliops in peace: Who prefently brought in their Libels of accufations againfl each othcrj which he took and burnt without reading them, carneftly exhorting them to peace, and by his prefence and prudent fpecch repreffing their heats and contentions; whereby the Synod was brought to a happy end as to both the controverted Caufes- And Euffiins Ntcoiued- and ^•^r;'/tf were broughtto counterfeit repentance and confcrit to the Ktcene Faith ■■, which Conflantwe perceiving, being fct upon the healing of the divided Bi/hops ^ and Churches, he commanded that-<4r/;(; fliould fas reformed; be received to Communion •, which Atbjnjfms refulicg caufcd much calamity afterward.

§. 2 Becaufe the Cafe of the Afeletians is brought in by this Council, I thmk itufeful (for our warning in thefe times} to recite the fum of their ftory out 0^ Eptphaniui, f-jiji&c. H<tr. 63.

MeletiiiJ ('faith he) was a Bilhop in TUbaU in Egypt^ of fincere Faith even to the death. In D<cc/frj.yw Perlctutiou, Fctcy Bilhop oi yiUxAndrt^^ and he, were the chief of tlie BiJhops thnt were laid in Prifon, as dcfigncd to Martyrdom-, while they were there long together with many feliow-prifoners, many called to Tryal before them were put to death, andmany for fear fubfcribed to Idolatry, or denyed Chrift :«And when they had done, profelTed repentance and craved peace of the Church : As it had been in iVozww his Schifmes, fo it fell out here, Peter Bifliop of y^/f.v.«/;. was for peace and pardon j Mdeiius and moft of the other fuffcring prifoners were againfl; it, and laid. If they may thus revolt to fave thcmfelves, and be prefently pardoned, it will tempt others to revolt: Pcnr feeing his o-pinion was rejeiTted, raihiy took his Cloak and hang'd it like a Curtain over themidfl: of the prifon-room, and faid, Tnofeilut are for wr, comt to me on this fide, ard thofe th.it are for Meletius ^po on that fde to him: Whereupon far moil of the Bifhops, Prien;s, Monks, and people that were in prilbn went to Mdetius, and but few to reter. fA fouler Rupture

than

- 4-^ Clynrch-Hiftory of Bijhops a?iJ

than that of the EngUlh Fugitives zt FrankforJ.) Tliis unhappy word and hour began the mil'ery, aniong'good men, expe(fting death: From that hour they keep all their meetings fcparate. Shortly after Petir was Martyred, and /1/<r/f/;/M was judged to the Mines: As he went thither through the Country, he every where made new Bilhops and gathered new Churches, ^^ fo tl'.at there were two tn the fevtral Cities: Thofe old ones that followed P.-ff>-called their Meeting, 7bcCatholick.Cbi(rcb ■, The other called theirs, ' The Martyrs Church: But yet they held a Unity of Faith. Even the fiifFer-nf* ers that laboured in the Mines divided, and did not pray together. At laft^/(?/fm/iand the reft were reftored unto peace, and ztj^lcxandria^ A--lexa>idcr^.nd he lived in familiarity^ and McletiHS was he that dcteiftcd A-■ rius and brought.him to Alexander to be tryed. ^\it vfhtx\ Mektins was Cf" dead, y^/fA.jW(r grew impatient at the private fcparate Meetings of his followers, and troubled them, and vexed them, and began to ufe violence ' rgainftthcm, and would not have them depart from his Church: They ■"Tefufed [bill, and this bred flirs and Tumults. >^/f.v^«^f>-perfecuting them, «"and following them yet more (liarply, they fentfome men, eminent for piety and parts, to the Empcrours Court, to Petition for Liberty for their ' private Meetings, without impediment. Of tliefe PaphmitiMs and fohn their ^Bifliop, and Callinitus Bifhop of PcI/u/iHmwere chief: who when they came ' to Court, being named A-uletiars, the Courtiers rejected them and drove ' them away, and they could not get accefs to the Emperour. On this oe-cafion being put to wzklori^T^t Cofifiiintinople and Nicomea'ta, they fell into acquaintance with fw/f^'Wi, bin-'.op of Nicomedia, the Head of the^rww, who pretending repentance was become great with the Emperour, v/ho was . all for the Clergies peace and concord. To Enfehiiis they open all the matter: He craftily took the advantage of their fufFering and long waiting, and promifcd his help, on condition they would but Communicate with r-Sa) y^r/;M, who feigned repentance. The temptation overcame them, and they ^^ yield i They that had gathered feparate Churches, becaufe they would not Communicate with the repenting L^pfed (to Idolatry,) yet yielded to Communicate with Ariiis, that tlxy might be delivered from the perfecution of a Godly Bifliop, and keep their Meetings. They are brought to Cenflantire, who being all for peace, though againftSchifm, grants them the freedom of their Meetings; An€ thus joyning with the Ariavs for the liberty of their Aflemblies, this became the greatefl fupport to the Aricns, without which ffaith Epiphaniits) th(:y could not'have flood. (So much doth Hi-fbops tyranny or feveriry crofs its own ends, and deflrcy the concord which they think by fuch tearing means to force", And fo hard is it formcnthat could fuffer Martyrdome from Heathens, innocently to bear the p:if-citi-on of their Brethren, and fo greatly doch it tempt them to ufe unwarrantable means for their prcfervation : Jufb as if the Non-conformifls at this time UiouIJ feek, by the favour of the Papifts, to be delivered from the filrncing and dcftroying Prelates, upon condition of a common liberty: The Calls are not much unlike.J Necjne emm Cfaith EpiphaniHs) c-enfftere

Alius,

their Coinicils abridged. ^-j

Arius, aiitfiditciam iilLm haberepotuifjety rilji Civn ef)ci occafiomnt nact;:;; ajm teffim.'.m inter illos ad bodiernnm nfcjucciietn ccncordi^mdeiiifixit. fBiiC O, Father Efiphanius, why took you not warning by this, when you un-Biil,op-like and un-Canonicaily fct your felfagainlt holy Chyfojlcwe?)

Alexander being dead, andj^thanafus iliortly Iliccctding him, he could not bear the ^/f/rfi".«« Churches in his City : Andafter fair means he ufcd foul ; And going himfc'f to look after Rich Meetings, with his Retinue, one of his Deacons in the Mektian Meetings broke a certain Velfel, which occafioned fome chiding and fighting, which occafioned Accufations of the Mdctianst and Calumniations of the Brians againfl; yiihana/ius as a Man of Violence and Tyranny; which Conjlantinc abhorring in a Bifhop, and CAj/f^.iV/cow^.reprefenting the Matter as worfc than it was, the Em- ■ perour (having granted the AicUtians liberty for tlicir Meetings, which ^r^.wa/</f; violently denycdthem) in great anger commanded a Synod to beheld at Tyre to examine the Matter, and Eufd-ius C<c/"-m«/. with fome others toprcfideor order it: Where Poramo Bilhop of//a--!i-/r4 feeingF«-ftbius C<t[. Ct as Judge and A(hana(iHs ftand, with Paflion and Tears in-veyed againft Eufehius^ frying-) ^i^o c.m endure to kt thee^ Eiifcbiu«, y?f 1=^ and judge innocent Athanafus .' W^ere not thou and J tn Prifon together in time of PerfecHtiev, andvehtn Ilc(l nn Eye far the Tiwh^ thoucAtnefi cut w:maimtd ? And how came that topafs, if thou did/} not fromife feme K>iil;(d dcedor ether t» *he PcTftcutors^ ordofonre'f £;//fi'/Af hearing this, fuddcniy rofe and dil-rniffcd tlie Council, faying, Jf yon dare carry it thus hcre^ your Advtrfaries Acciij\itions are to be believed : For if yon flay the Tyrants hire, you do it much more inycur own Country. Hereupon two yirian Bifliops Vrjaliuj and Valcns :ire fcnt into fijj'pf to enquire alter the Truth of the Matter, who coming back with Calumnies againft Aihanafius., he fled from the Council by Night to the Court to the Empcrour to give him information •, who taking Aihanafiis for falfe ard Tyrajinical would not believe him, but upon Letters from the Council, and upon the provocation of Athana.fius, who told him God would judge him for believing his Accufers, banilhcd him, where he remained Cin Italy) twelve or tliirtcen years, even till after C«m-fiantins Death. And when Cow/?<?hj had compelled his \!>vo\\\zt Cenfiantiut to reftore him, he was again baniflied-. For George that had been made Bidiop by the Arians f and by Gnftaj^tius) was killed by the Heathen People in Julians time, and his Corps burnt, and the Alhes fcattcred into the Wind, which incrcafcd the fufpicion of Tyranny againft Athanaftus: But in Jcvians Reign he was again reftorcd •, And after his Death, he con-flidcd with Infamies again : And when y^,fcrffw/7w was Dead, the Empe-rour Valens ftt tuciits over them , who affli^^ed the People that had followed Athana/ius, and Peter vihom they hau rhofen for their Biftiop, and by Banilhment, Death and Torments, made them knew what Church-Tyranny was indeed.

Thus far Epiphamas giveth us the Hiftory of the Melctian Schifm, and thccffefts of good Bifliops impatience -with Oilfenters. "

§. J. But

■ ■I III I — - 1—— _]

§. 3. But 1 muitnot cor.ceai fronuiie Reader tliat Burouiis and Dioi. Fctaviiis rny,th?.t EpiphAnius is deceived in all this Hiflory, and maketh the cafe of the AicUtt^ws better than it was; and that fome Miktian Icnave beguiled him : Bur, «• They give us no proof of any fucn knaves beguiling him a: all •• 2. And het!iat was fo apt to over~do in fufpcdingand aggravating Hcrelies, (2s\i\0r:gm''s ^nd Cl:ryfoJ}ome''sCzk.,) was not likely to make the Cafe here fo much better than it was: }. And how much nearer was Epipbaniiis in time and place, than Baronius and Petavius ? and how eafie was it then for him to have true notice of fuchpublick things? 4. And if they make Epiphafiiiu fo fallacious in fuch aflory as this, lb near him, what a fhakedotti it give to the Credit of his copious Hiltory of the many other Herefies, which he had lefs opportunity to know : and confequenc-ly to the Credit of much of Church Hiltory ? Yet I confefs, that the man fcemeth not to be very accurate in his Difputes, nor all his Narratives; But rather by far to be fufpcifted of making things worfe than they were, than better. And 1 believe that fome paflages in this Hiftory are miftaken by him (as that the/I/f/ff/<<;?/joyned with the Arians before the death of yiUxandey.'jbwt that maketh their Cafe the better. Petavius faith alfo, p. 286. Jlnimad. in Epiph. A^itltum in Hiflori.i Meletii Upfum ejfe fiipra vidimus ., Largihs in Arhnis Hxrejis defcriptionepeccavit vir alio^iti di/ijrentijfimus. Atld in his inftance of the time of Arins death it's undeniable. But if in fuch famous Hiftories, we muft read him with fuch fnfpicion and allowance, how much more in the many little ones that were more obfcure.'

§. 4. As to the yfr»4;w Herefie, the two EpUlles of/^W«^ recorded by £pfp/3.!w//tell us much of the truth of his miftake: And the jiri.tns Arguments by him are at large recorded and anfwered. He that denyeth the Deity of Chrilt, denyeth his ElTerjce : And he that denyeth his Ellence,de-nyethChrill, and is no Chrittian. But the SAmofatenims^ the Photinians^ and our late5oci;;Mw, are far more pernicioudy Heretical than the v4r<4w. For the y^Wiiw/maintained, tlut Tresfmt hypofiafes, Pater, Filius& Spiritus SitnBus^ and that God did atite fempiterna temporaunigemtum fHiumgigvere, per (juein Crfxcula Cr relicjna procreavit omnia-^ viz,, fitbfjicr/tem ilium fiiapte volutitate corididiffe, ejiifmodi nt nccjue converti Kecj»e mutari pojfit, perfe[iam Dei creaturam, Jed non tanquam renim creatamm aliquam ", fcetiim itidim, fed nontanquamunitm e ceteris. They thought that before God made the reft of the creatures , he made one fuper-angelical perfeft Spirit, by which he made all the reft, and that this is Chrifti and that he received no other foul but a body only at his Incarnation, and this fupcr-angelicalfpirit was his foul. This was the dangerous herefie of ^Wkj. •.'

§. 5. Dion. Petaviits truly tellcth us, that his great advantage was, that many of the Fathers of that Church had fpoken in fuch kind of words before him, the Controverfie being not then well confidered; p iS^. ad Htrej. 69. having fpoken of Z/«c»4«, the Martyr's giving advantage to-^-rius, he addeth, ^tod idemplerifque'VcterHmPatrum ciimin hocnegatio, tkm in a'jis fidci Chrifiimi c^tpitibus nfu venit, itt ante erromm atque hare/eon, qui-

h,

HS

M

tJjeir Councils abridged. a q

bus ea fr.gillatim oppu^>iabantur, originem, ncndumfatisillujlrat.i <^c pAtcfaB,i ret verttate, qiudamfiiisfiriptis afpcrfcrint, qu^cttm crthodoxt fidei reTnlutm-tiime eonfentiant. ("And yet the Papifts fvvcar, not to expound Scnpture" but according to the unanimous confent of th? Fatiiers.j A^ aihcc Trim, tads myflerio ac ijusjlionc difcedam, chfc-iV.iViirut! j.'irditdum Juflinum Mart. Dialogo cum Trypll. dc fiHo Dei idem propc/aod.im cum Alisms fefitnc. And in his Books, DeTrinit. he atlargeciteth tlic very words ofhimand many other Fathers. But he lierc giveth them this gentle cxcufe, Sed ah omiii culp.i tAmhic ^K^wLucianus aliique liberaiidi fnnt^ cjui nof?dnm aeitatu controverfia^ panem de e.i commode proriunci.'ijfe vide>!iH>: Simile cjinddam de Dionyf. Alex, ir.tdit, Balilius, Ep. 4i,C7-c. But it is enough to thini< charitably, that they were faved, without going fo far as to fay, they were without all fault. For Chriftianity is the fame thing before fuch Controvcr-lies and after: AiKlit's hard to think how he can be aChriftian, thatde-nycthChrills Eflencc : But God is merciful, and rcquireth not knowledge alike in all, that have not equal means of knowledge. Which charity muft be extended to others asvvcll as to thefe Fathers. Yet the fame Feta-w'<«cannot endure Cfwfr.^?-//.'/, for faying, x.Wtyitha>:.ifius^ though a valiant Champion of the truth, dad/owf/JW tudnlge hisowndejires^ audmixfome ill with/acred thi^^s: But if he were not at all to be blamed, Conflantitie was much the more to be blamed for banifliing himi And why fliould not his honour be of fome regard ? The truth is, the -<4/f.v4;;^r/,?« Bidiops and People were long more violent and troublefomc than others, as not only Socratesy but many otherHiftorians note.- And as it was noted withdiflio-nour in ThcophiliMznd Cyril., and Diofcoriu^ Sec. fo it can hardly be believed by them thatrcad the Hiftory throughout, that utlcxander and yithanafms wanted not fomething of the humble patience, meeknefs, and healing ten-dernefs and skill that their Cafe required: For who is perfe^fl.' And how apt are grcatBifliops to be too violent againft Dillenters, inlteadof healing them with Love and clear convincing Evidence ?

§. 5. Happy had it been if Prudence had filenced this Herefie betimes, for never anyone did fo great mifchief to the Church. The badnefs of it, was the honour of the Mcfw Council that fuppreflcd it, as far as in them lay. But alas, the Remedy feemed quickly conquered by the Difeafc: As Conftantine had work enough to keep Peace among the Bifhops in the Council, by his prefence and reproofs \ ib when the uirians profcfi'd repentance, his peaceablencG caufed him too far to indulge them \ by which fome of them got fuch interell in his Court, as proved the following Calamity of the Church. And it is the fadder to think on, that the two great Emperours, ConftantinsznAVaUfis., that were deceived by them, and drawn into violent Periecution, are noted to be otherwife none of the worfl men. EpipiiMiiits faith, p-llj. Accejfit & Imp(ratornm favor cujusinitium a Con-fi^^nuolmpcraioreprffiilumeft: ^hti cum ceteris iu rebus pcrhumanus ac horus

'JP'y "C:^ alioyiinpius ex multis prohitatis crnamcntis prcditus, hac una re ab*

rrravit^ quodnonimprejf.t a ptirer.te fideivejligiii fcqy.utHs cfl; ^odipfmri ta'

H tneit

ran non illins culpa factum fed miinHllorum fraudt^ cjui in die Judicii rationcm teddimri fnnt ', tjiii Jpecic (^ nomine tenlis f pfcopi, friceram Dcif.dem labefaita-

Tunt. •fr^fjf/Conllaiilii in crrorem ah illis induSii, t]i'.i rtcU fdei rt-

gulnmi^ntrtivit^ e.idem(jiit i^KorM2ti.i ad ill or urn fe ntpote facer dot um yiuihori-t.jtem aecorr.msdavitj cjitod ipfm't error illornm, ac ca itM,depravtitaqHe fdes cj" exdiaboli prcfefl aconjilio, lateret. j4cccjfit O" alia caiifu ejim huic firpentu^t^ o^cine plurimumetdjccit lirinm^ Eufebius/c/V/cff, ejui c.illidefe in/imuns, Valen-tis I'.nres pH ac rdigicf Imperatoris, ac Divim tii.minis amamijfimi^ corriipit. Qjticjuod abillob^pti.j'moft ifiiriatus, cacaufafuit cur luc fa^lio jlahilis ac fr. m.t con/ijieret. \{EptphA>ms fay true, we fee what men thefc Pcrfecuting Empcrours were

§. 6. Astoth: other part of the Councils work, the fixing of Eajler-day, had not the Rifliopsbeen finfully fierce about it, againft each other, it had never been taken for a Herelle to miftake the time, nor haditbe>;n a work fo ncceflary and great to determine it: feeing zs Socrates^ Soz.o-men^ Scc- tell us, many Churches differed in this, and matters as great as this, without condemning or feparating from each other: Andthe^yTjw erred by the Motive of Tradition, and Irenxns had long before cenlured the Roma:'} Biiliop for his violence in condemning them. And many good Chriftians even after the Councils determination, durft not forfake their old Tradition, nor obey them; Among whom, how long our Britains and the 5cfffJ flood our, 5c<:/.« tellethus. And though the J^udia»s, that aifo difobeyed, were called Hereticks, I would all Advcrfaries to Hcreticks were no worfe men.

§. 7. And becaufethefe v4/.'<5//4wjrore about that time, I think it worth the labour to add the fum of their Hiftory out of Epiph.-wins^ that the World may better perceive what fpirit the Herericating Prelates were then of, and how fome called Hereticks were made fuch, or defamed as fuch, and who they were that did divide the Churches and break their peace.

•*' Epiph. I. j.Ttfw.i .p.S 11. Of theSchifm ef the Audians, which is the yoth ■*' or yorh Herefie: The Audians live in Monafleries, in Sohtudes, &:c. Aii-""</»/« their Fonadst ztok in A^efopotamia, famous for his integrity of life, "''and ardent zeal of Divine Faith. Who oft feeing things ill carried in **• the Churches,feared not to their faces to reprove and admonifh the Bifhops ■■**andPriefts, and fay, Thcfe things fhould not be fo done: You fhouid *' not thus Adminifter : As a Lover of Truth, he ufed to do fuch things as ''"thefe, which are familiar with men of exquifite honefby, who through " their excellent ftudy of Godlinefs, ufe this great liberty of Speech: There-^'fore when he faw things ill carried in the Churches, he fometimes fpake '*' his thoughts, and could not forbear blaming them. As if he faw any of ■**■ the Clergy over covctou: of Money, be it Bifnop or Prieft, he would re-'^'^ prehend th:m: or if any abounded in luxury and pleafures", or if they ■"corrupted any part of the Do(ftrinc or Difciplinc of the Churcli, he '^* would not bear with them, but blame thcra- Which was troublefome to

"men

" men of a difToIute life: And therefore he underwent the greatcll con-•'tumelics, being exagitated by the hatred and malicious words of them all. "But he being thus tolled about, and beaten and reproached, did bear it "all with an equal mind i and thus long continued in the Communion of **• the Church \ Till fome that were more vehemently offended with him for " thefe Caufes, caft him out: But yet he patiently bore all this, but being •■• more earneflly intent for the promoting of the Truth, he ftill lludied not "• CO be drawn away from the Conjunftion and Society of the Catholick *■' Church. But when he and his frit-Mds were ftill beaten, and fuffered un-*'worthy ufage, groaning under thcC: evils, he took Counfel ofthe vio-*'lenceof thefecalamities and contumelies: And fo he feparatcd himfcif *'from the Church, and many falling away with him, a new Divorce was "hereby made. For he did not in any thing depart from the n^t fuith^ "but he wichhis partakers held in all things fmcere Religion. Though in •'one fmall matter they are too ftiffi About the Father, Son, and Holy " Ghofl; they judg excellently, and as the Catholick Church, and fwervc not "a jot.- and th« reft of the order of their Lives is truly moft excellent *< and admirable-, fo that not only He himfcif, but even the Bifiiops,Pricfts, *'and ail the reft of them, live by the labour of their bands.

Indeed they had a conceit that the Body did partake ofthe Image of God, and they thought that to pleafe Confiamine, the A^/Vf«« Council had altered the Cuftom and Tradition ofthe Church about Eaficr : But thefe were not thccauftsof their departure from the Church, but the violence of dijfolme Bifliefs^ that caft them out, as being impatient of their ftritftncfs and op-pofition to their fin.

§. 8. Ahowt Eafier^ faith Epiphanius, p. 821. Necjite criidttt! i^notum e(l^ fpum fccfe diverfs tcmporibHS de ill:us fefli celcbntatc varti Ecclcfiajiicx difci-plina tumult us ac contentioties oborticfnt: praferti/n Polycarpi ac Vidloris tctare, ciim Orier.tiilesabOccidentalibus dividf^^acijicas afe inviccm liters tiuUm accU fereiit. Q^iodidcm & aliis temperibHs accidit: ■uf/«t Alexandri Epifcopi A-kxandrini o- Crefcentiiv cjuemadmodiwi contra Je mutuo fcrlpfertnt O" r,cerri-mlfuinaverint. Qjt£ ammornm opinionuntjuc dtjlraiiio^ ex tjuo fcmel pojl Eplf-copos illos cjui ex circumcifone rxc Jud^crum fc^a ad Chnfium fe ecnverterantf ^^itAri corpit, admflraufque te/r.pora eodem ej} tenore perdiicta. By which we fee, 1- With what caution Tradition mult be trufted; 2. How early Bi-ftiops began to divide the Church about things indifferent.

§. s^ That men that all, in the main, fear God, fliould thus contend, a-bufe, and perfecute one another, is fad, and hath even been a hardening of Infidels: But, alas, the remnant of corruption in the beft will fomewhat corrupt their converfations. It is a fad note ofEpiph.tnins, ib- p. S16. [^* I ''have known fome ofthe Confeflburs, who delivered up Body 2nd Soul **' for their Lord, and perfevering in confeflion and chaftity, obtained great-*' eftfmcerity of faith, and excelled in piety, humanity, and Religion, and ^'were continual in faftings, and in a word, did tlourifli in all honcfty and /'virtue: yetthe fame men were blcmiflied»v'th fome vice-, as either they

H i "were

*•■ were prone to reproach men, or would fwear by the name of God, or " were over talkative, crpronctoangcr> or got gold and filver, or were •' defiled with Ibme fuch fUth, which yet detradt nothing from the juft *' meafure of virtue.]

§. 10. But as God made a good ufe of the falling ontof Paul znd Bar na^ has, fo he did o'i Judim his unhappy cafe. Being caft out of the Church, hetookittobehisduty to Communicate with his own party, and aBifhop that fuffered forth; like, made him a Bilhop, and the Bifhops accufed him to the Emperour, that he drew many people from the obedience of the Church, and hereupon the Emperour banifhed bim into Siyihia. Dwelling there, he went into the inner parts of Gothia^ and tu'.rc inltrufted many of the barbarous in the principles ofChriftianity, and gathered many Monalleries of tiiem, who lived in great religious ftridnefs, p. 827. But itishardto ftop fhort of extreams, when men are alienated by fcan-dal and violence .■ They came to fo great a diflike of the Biihops of the. common Churches, thatthey would not pray with any man, howblamelefs foever, that did but hold Communion with the Church. Vrunius a Bilhop and fome others joyningwith them, made Bifliops of the CTof^/. (Note out of EpipLmi/is,]}. 827,828. what Country was called Gc^t^M in thofe times J

$• II. It is not to be pafl: over that at the N/ccw Council, thefirftfpeak-er, and one of the chief againft the Aims, was Enft.nhi/ij Bilhop 0^ Ar.ttoch^. Arid when Eufebius Nicomed. was made Bifliop ofCofiftanii>iop!e, he pretended a defire to fee fiYHf.de/n, and paffing through ^wr/W/; fecretly hired a Whore to fwear, that Enjiaihiiis was the Father of her child: and getting fome Bifliops of his Fadtion together, they judged EnftathiHs to be dcpofcd, as an Adulterer', and got the Emperour to confcnt and banifh him: And after, the Woman in mifery, confefled all, and faid, that it was one £«7?*-thius a Smith, that was the father of her child.

§. 12. {n Pifaritu'% Cvridl.Nic- Bin. p. HI. this Eiiftuthius is made the. fait Difputer againft a Philofopher •. And whereas the great caufeofthe Arians Errour was, thatthey could not conceive how the Son could be of or.efnbfiance with the Father, without a p.iw/r/(»/of that fubltance, EuftathtHs tells the Philofopher that took their part and urged, Faciamiis heminem ad Imagincm, &c. that The Image of God is fimple., and Vfilhout all CompoJiriotJy, beit:<r ofthen.iiKreofjire: but he meaneth fure but analogically:

§• 13. In the fame Pifams, lib. 3. p. 545. Bin. the defiiription of the Church is, There is one Chunki>i Heaven and Enrih:, in this the Holy Gholt refteth •, But Htrefes that are without «>—are of Satan.— Therefore the Pope was not then taken for the Head of the Catholick^ Chnrch ^ For he pre-tendethnot tobetheHeadof them that arein//f<iw«- See what the C4-tholicl^Church then was! ^^g^ $. 14. Note that, 1. the Council of Nice nameth none Patriarchs. r^ 2. They nuUifie the Ordination of fcandalous and uncapable men. Can.'. 9. and 10. Which will juftifie ?opt Nichcltu forbidding any to take the Mafs of a Fornicating Prielt. ^. That Rural Biihops were then in ufe,

and;

and allowed by the Council, Can.S. 4- That no Bifhopwas to remove from one Church to another, Ca/i. 15. ('which EMfch- Nicom. foon broke.) 5. Even in the ^r^t/ci^ Canons the 4th. yr populo placebit, is a Condition of every Bilhops Eledion. 6. The jch ^rab. Cznon, in cafe of difcord a-mong the people, who fhall be their Bifhop or Prieft, it is referred to the people to confider which is mofl: blamelefs: And no Bifliop or Prieft muft be taken into anothers place, if the former was blamelefs. (So that if Pa-ftors be wrongfully call out, the people rauft not forfake them, nor receive the obtruded.^ 7. Thofe Ordained by MeUtius were to be received into the Miniftry where others dyed. If by the fuffrave of the pee-fie they were judjtd ft^ and the BtJl}op of Alex. defigmd them. Sozom. 1.1-C. 2}.

§.15. XXXI. The next Council in Bmnius ('and in Crahs Order^ is faid to beat ^o^wrunder Sylvefier^ with 275. Birtiops: But this is confelfcd to be partly falfe, if not all : And is the fame that is before mentioned ^ which ordered thatno Bifliop fliould ordain any Clerk nificum omm ^duna- *^3 ta Ecckfia^ But with all the Church united, or gathered into one : (Which Canon feemeth made when a Church was no more than could meet together, and when the People had a Negative X'oice-^

But the Concil. Ganrrenfe is Binnius's ntxc (though Crab put afterward fome of the foremencioncd alfo^ faid to be in Sylvfflcrs days j (and yet Soz.o/>ien and-fome others, fay that the Council of A7cr v,'as in j'uHhs days, though moft fay otherwife.) Here were fixceen Bidiops, who condemned fome Errours of Enjfathius of Amicmo; or rather one Eiittt-iliis, as £/«. thinks, who was too fevereagainft Marriage, as if it were finful, and againft eating FlcHi, and againft receiving the Sacrament at the Hands of a married Prieft ; he made Servants equal with their Ma-fters, he {et light by Church-Aifembhes, he drewVVives to leave their Husbands for Contincncy, and on pretence of Virginity dcfpifcd married Perfons ^ Thefe fuperftitions they here condcmred.

§. 16. XXXW. j4n. 335. The Council at 7>re was held for the TryaJ olAthanafus^ where he was unjuftly condemned, and thereupon by Coi-ftantiae banifhed, though his innocency was after cleared : Had not his fcverity againft the Mdetians driven them to joyn with the Anans againft him, Epiphaniiis [Ritby they had not been able to make head thus againft him.

Confiantinet'Ep'i^W to the Alexandrians y lamenting and chiding thcrii-for their Difcords, is well worth the trauilating, but that I muft cot be fo tedious : See it £».v. p. ,91.

$. 17. XXXllI. The next is a Council at ferufalem, An. 355. where Ariusta'ith was tryed, approved, and he reftored to Alexandriaund the fiivour of Cofiftantine. The Creed which he gave in, was this.

We believe in one Gcd the Father Almighty., and i» the Lordjefus Chrift hif Son, begotten of him before all Ages, God, the Word, by whom all things we-.e made which are in Hcti-j(H and in Ear4b : Who came dow», 'i>:d was Jticarnate,

OKa

tA Chia-cb-Hijiory of Bijhops an J

and Suffered^ and Rcfe <<2'»»«, and vifcended to the Hcavtm^ andfy^/l come tt' qain to Judge the Living and the Dead : j4rid in the Holy Ghoft : The Refur-'reUicn of the FUjli : The Life of the World to cokc, and the Kingdom of Heaven : Jn or.e CAtholick Omrch of Cod, extending it felf from one end of the Earth wito the other.

Afim with this, protefting againft vain Subtilties and Controverfies, de-fircth the Emperour to accept of this as the Evangelical Faith \ and the Council and the Emperour receive him, as for the joyful reftoration of Unity and Peace, and fo would undo what was done at Nice. The Emperour was fo greatly troubled at the continued divifions of the Bifliops, ' that he was glad of any hope of Unity and Peace : But this proved nofi the way.

$. i8. XXXIV. An. 3?6. A Council was called at Conflantinofle-f in-which they accufed, condemned, and banifhed MarcellHs Ancyranns, an Adverfary to the Arians, as if he had denyed the Godhead of Chrift, (upon fome wreftcd wordj though it was their denying it that offended him : Here alfo Aritis was jultified and Athnnafus condemned: But Arihs dyed fliortly after.

$. 19. XXXV. The next is a Council of 116 Bilhops at Rome, in or a-bout An. 1 57. under Julius % in which the Mcf;?^ Creed was owned, and the ^n>w condemned, and nothing elfe done that is recorded.

§. 20. XXXVI. The next was a Council at Alexandria which vindicated AthMafiiis from his Accufations, when ConfiamivHs junior fent him home from his Banifliment.

$. 21. XXXVII. The next was a ComiciF at Antioeh of near 100 Bifliops (of which ?6 were Arians) the moil Orthodox Cand the holy James of Nifhis one : J yet they d^pokd Athanafins^ and the >4i-/4/.'/(it's like by the Empcrours favour j carrycd it; In his place they put George a Gippa-^^•c/.ii«rulpe(ftcd to bean Aria>^!, whom, ('as I faid before^ thePtople murdered, burnt, and fcattcrcd his Afhes in the Wind, and he was one of the Arians Martyrs. fUnlels England had ever beer> Anan^ I cannot believe them that fay that this is the St. George, that the EngUjl have fo much honoured.) ^ J.-2 5. This Ari.i>7 Council finding that the Emperours favour gave •~^ them the Power, made many Canons againfl Non-Conformijls. The firft Can. is againlt them that keep not Eujhr at the due time. The fecond 3-gainfl them that come to the hearing of the Word, but communicate not publickly in the Lords Suppler and Prayers, and againft them that keep private Meetings, and that communicate with them. Can. 4. Was to make their C.ife hopelefsthat cxorcife the Miniftry after they are Silenced, orDepofcd, be they Bifhops, Priefts, or Deacons- Can. 5. V/as that if any Piicflor Deacon gathered Charches or Allemblies againft the Bifhops Will, and took not warning, he was to be Depofcd : And if he go on, to be oppi\ired by the cxieriour Power as Seditious. (There is their Strength.)

\ Can.

' * t

their Coimcih ahridged, 5 5

Can. 6, and 7. Mone iufpcndcd by his own Bifliop was to be received by another, nor Jiny Stranger without Ceitificates. C^7. 8. Couatry-Priefts may not write Canonical Epifllcs, bin Rural Biiliops may. C^w.y. NoBilhopmufl: do anything without the Metropolitanc, favc wlut be-longcth ( byOrdir,arion and Guidance) to his own Church. C.w. ic. Thoug,h tile rural Bifliop5 arc conlccratcd as true Bilhop?, yet they fhall only f",ovcrn their own Churches, and Ordain fuch lower Orders as they need, but not Ordain Presbyters or Descons without the City-Biiliops, to whom they are fubjecl:. Can, 11. Call:eth out all Bidiops or other ClcrRy-mcn, that go to the Frincc without the SletrcpolitauL's Couaici or Letters. Qan. 12. Dcpofed or iilcnccd Minillcrs mull not go to Pria-ccs for relief, but appeal to a Synod. Can. 13. Bifl'.ops muft not go or t'rd^in in other Dioccfs, unlefs feat for by the Mctiopoiitane i elfe their Ordinations there to be null. Qav. 15. A Bifliop condcn:ncd of all may not appeal. Q.ew. 16. A vacant Bifliop leaping into a vacant Biflioprick without a Council (the Metropolirane prefent) is to be ejected, though all the people chiife him. Q-^n. 17. If any Bifliop be ordained to a Church, and rcfufe or ncglefft the OlTice, let liiiii be CACommunicate till he receive it. Can. j8. If any Biihop ordained to a Parifii ncgled it, becaufe the people will not receive liiin, icr him cniav the honour, and be heard in a fall Synod. Qan. 19. The Ordination of a Bilhop isnuii, which is done without a Synod, and the Metropoiitane- &c.

§. 24. XXXV'UI. Ancthcr Council at Rome under Julius undid whatthis former did, and acquittal u^ihuaajlns, M.irccllHs., and other injured Bi-Hiops: ( prrhaps £«y/4/Aji,Y.f, faith Bm.)

§. 25. XXXlX. yithannfiMs \.cm^ fent back when Gregory was put in his place, the City being ready to be in an uproar, Athanafms retired to Row.c (or hid himfclf) forcfecing it-, till fue and blood had proclaimed the Cc-Limity of this Epifcopal Ihifc. And Pope 7/.'/;;/; called another Council tiRcme, tOEnfwerthe Letters of the Oriental Synod, which charged him with ufarpaticn and delpifed him.

§. 26. XL. yinro 544 Another Council was held atA'itioch, by thofc called yirians by fome, Reconcilers by others, and Orthodox and Ca-tholicks by themfelves", in which they renounce A/i/is and his fayings, but yet leave out the word oucLiQ- Cof one fubltance.] This they did in a new-made Creed ■■, fitted purpofelv, as they faid, to reconcile; as o thcrs, to deceive; To which end four had been made before, and not availed.

§.27. XLT. A Council at /1/iy.iM examined this Creed, and rejected it, for leaving out [^of the f^me jnhjJa/ne'] and becaufe the Niccne Creed was fufficient.

§. 28. XLII. The next is called an Univerfal Council, of 576 Bifliops at Sardica., which cleared Athan^tfuiy /If.vcel/ns., and others. And yet Augiifiine.^ and many others, rejed this Cuancil. It hath divers good Canons, but one among them for Appeals to Kcm\ which ihrce. Popes

urged

^6 Cimrch-Hijhry of Bijhops a?id

urged to yinrclim, Aiigiifiwe and the other Jfricam^ as a Canon of the Council of A';cf .- And ivhenas neither any ofthefe Popes, nor the y^-frican Bifhops once took notice that thofe words were in the Council of 'SArd:c.t\ the Pr.pifls nnfwer, ]. That the y4/r/c,i«/knew not of this Coun-cUs Canons, bun had loft them, (though Grants Billiop of Carthage was one J 2. And that th; Popes took the Canons of Sardtca to be but Explications of the Niceue^ and fo they were but as one. CBut why did they give no fuch anfwer ?)

Bifliops arc here condemned that remove to any other Church \ and they that arc above three days non-relidcnt i and efpecially they that go ad ComitatHni, to the Palaces of Princes or great Prelates i but if they have juft bufmcfs they are ordered to fend it by a Deacon.

$. 29. XLIII. The' Orient^.l Bifhops departing from S.irdica came to PhUippcpolis, and gathered a Council by themfelves, and condemned thofe whom the other had abfolvcd, and others for Communicating with them. Yet they renounced Jriitr^ but alfo caft out the word [_ot4x>i^(9-, of the fame fiibjlaiwc'} as not Scriptural; and are called Semi-Ariam.

The Perfons excommunicated by them were Athanafms, Oftus^ Marcel-Ins^ Trotogenes^ AfcUpas, Gaitdemius, AlaximiriHs, Panliis Confl, and Pope Julius. They write a circular Epiftle, fpecially knltoDonatus Carthag. in which they fo vehemently fpeak for peace and piety, and lay fuch Crimes to the charge of Atbana/ius, Paulm, and Atircellus, as would a-ftonifli the Reader, and confound his judgment, whom to believe. Cruel Perfecution, bloudy Murders, Profanenefs, burning a Church, and fuch like they charge on Jthanafius •, and fay that they offered the Weftern Bifhops of Sardica to fend five of their Bifliops with fix of theirs to the place where thefe things were done, and if they prove not true they yield to be condemned. On Mtrcellits they charge written Herefie (which Bajil^ Chryfoftom^ and others believed.^ On Paulus Guf}. they charge that he was guilty of flames and Wars, and that he caufed Pricfls to be drag'd naked into the Market-place, with the Body ©f Chrift tyed about their necks ^ and that before a concourfeof people he caufed the confecrated Virgins to be ftrip,: naked in the open Streets, unto horrid fiiame. And for fuch Reafons tliey require all good Chriftians to abhor their Communion. Thus the Reader is called to grief and fhame to hear Bifliops thus odioufly reviling each other, and tempting Infidels to take them all for wicked and utterly unpeaceable men.

$. 30. XLIV. An. 548 or 349. was a Council zt Carthage ("called the firlt: ) It was gathered agaififl: the Dtf?w?y?i, whofe Bifliops pretended to be the only Catholicks; and their Circumcellions being violent Reformers, taking from the rich that they thought had wronged any, and righting the injured, and unjufl:ly doing jun:icei and refilling the Em-perour Conjlans his Officers, fo that they were fain by Souldiers to fup-prefs them, and call out Donatns Carth. and by gifts reconciled the people th»t followed them.

Many

their Councils abriJgeJ. ^ -

Many good Canons for Church Order were made by this and inoft of the African Councils, no Bifliops being faithfuller than they. Several paf-fages in their Canons fhew that their numerous bifhops had Churches of no more people than our larger Parifhes. And Can- 12. of this Council or-dereth that where the Bilhops by Contraft divide their fevcral People, one take not from the other.

§. J I. XLV. Anno \<f>. A Council at/^//7<<« received the repentance of VrfitimsTidyaUm that had accufed Athamfus, and gave them Letters of reconciliation.

§. J2. XLVI. Giiflans coVi^iTZ^nzd ConJlantiusioxcciW AihanAjius, but was him felf murdered by/1/<»g«<'»'»«.f before he came thither: But ztjeruf*-Umz Council was held in the way, which judged his reception, and wrote to Alexandria to that end.

§. n- XLVII. Among the friends of y^/^<^«^y7>r.r, £//f/;r.«f4i Bifhopof Co//f« was one, thatwasfent onaMcdagcintothe Eafi-., where Stephen an ^n<j« Birtiop of ^wr. got a Whore to go into him: When flie faw an old man, inftead of a young one, which fheexpecHicd, fhe immediately confefl-ed all, and Bidiop Stephen was call out for it. But Euphrataitt after all, tmned Photinian and dcnyed Chriftto be God, and a Council at Co/f«de-pofed him.

§. j4. XLVIII. Theytalk of3 C(»;;c»7/<i ^<a/(r?7/?.r, orrV^'f);)!*, andthat they ordered [_As it wm in the beginning] to be added to iht doxehgie : But there is nothing of moment certain of them.

f. 55. XLIX. Aw:o 552. L»/)fr/«; had a Council at .Raw; about y4f/j4;7<»-JiHs^ and fending a Mefl'age to Conftantius.

$. }6. L. Anno J55. At a Council at >4r/r.', Athanaftus is condemned, and the Popes Lcgnie forced to fubfcribe it, with other Bilhops, and fome banilhed that refufed it.

§. 37- LI. Pope L;7'<rr/«.f defired a Crwr**/Cc«w«7, which the Empcrour granteth, and it's held at iW^i/^?;. Above 300 Weftem Bithops were there, moftof the Eaft ('where the Avians reigned) could not come r**". 355-) Athanajius his Condemnation (Vrfatiiis and I'^lens revolting, and again accufing him) and Communion with the Arians, wert the things there urged by theEmperour: LuciferCalxritanns (after called a Heretickj and Ett-febitisyercdlenfs^ and a few more, refufed to fubfcribe, and were banilhed; as Libcrius after was; and Foelix made Pope : But molt of the Bifhops for fear, and defire of peace, fubfcribed. The Empcrour himfelf wrote to Eujfb. rercel. to be there (who had refufed) with great profcdion of zealous piety, and defire of the Churches peace. Butthisfcandalandmifcar-riageof the Bilhops, and I'uccefsof tht Arians^ wasthceffedof this General Council.

§. j8. Lll. The 5fw;-v^?7;«;;/pretending to Univerfal Concord, thus prevailing by the Emperour and a General Council, Hilary PiBav. fa Marry-ed Citizen made Biihop) drew fomc Orthodox Bifliops of France to fepa-rate from the Arun Bilhops, and renaunce their Communion \ Ti c Ari.t,:s f 1 (or

(or Semi-Ariam) taking tliefe for leparr.tifts, and injuiions to them, (cfpe-cially StUHrmnus) procured a Council at Byterns, to coiid>:niii them as Schifmaticks ^ where Wi/^r^ was condemned and banillied, an. 356.

§. 3p. LIII. The General Council at S/Vw/«w I out of order began with. Jnno 3 5 7. Conftamius refolving by all means to brin^ all the Bilhops to one Communion, wasprefcnthimfclfi There were above 300 Bilhops, out of the Wejl^ bchdes all the E^.ficrn Bilhops,: The confufion was, fo great, that men knew not who were ox were not Hergticks. Fhotims denying the Godhead of Chrift, the Bilhops called Arian., defired this Council toaccufeaad condemn him, as they did: They drew uptwoor three Con-fefTionsthemfclvcs: Thefirft was no: Heretical diredly, fave by the O-f-aj milTionofthe C'V'85751':] which fomeperfwaded the Emperour. being netv •~^ and no ancient Scriptural or Symbolical word, was the Caufe of all the dt-vifionsof thcBifliops, and were that left our, all would be healed. This Council called ^«.t«, palled 27 Anathema's againft the Arians and Plio-t'mans: Pope Liberins lubfcribed toit and approved it, as the forcited words of his Epiftle in Hilri-y fliew. ('And yet many Papilts call it a Reprobate Council.) Old0|///«, thatprelidedat A7cf, w.as forced by ftripes, ton fubfcribe to it, and to the condemnation of Aihonafu^s-l/That the Son w.is in all things like the Fathr,'} was the fubftitute Form here ufed. In their fqcoocl Form they fay,that [^Oftia i7ndtos connmvct v'ox^ fnhfiantia^ vcl<i^t-^ hpc ej}^ ut diligentiiis co^nofcatiir illiid cjuod <>iMi>:-jicv dicitur^ aiit'^i^^iirtcv^ niilLtm earn/it 'uscnmmentionem debere fieri ncqne dc iis fermocniatidum in Eccltfin cepfc/tius, ejHodde iis nihil fcriptnwfit in facris Uteris^ Qr edited ilia honiimim ir.tclh^Hm & nientem tranfcendant^ (^ t^isod nemopojfet genertttionem Jiiif enarrafe, ntfcriftuntj Generationein ejus cjnis enarrabit ? jolitm enim Fairc/n, [are ^twmodp fHitint

fmwi gcniicrit., ccrtiim eft dr n.emo i^ncrat dit^ ejfe jierfonas Parr is & Fi-

lii^ ac froinde Patrem >/iajoren>, Filimit ex P/itre gcnj/nm,-iPeiintex Deo^ L»-r

men de Lttmine ] Many thought this a necefTary reconciling way:

The words [J'erfon~\ and \_Snbflame'} (tumbled the Arians : For they knew not how to conceive of three ^erfons that were not three fubftances\ nor fiowthe Son could be of the/.t»;c fuhftance with the Father, unlefs that fubftance were divided: And at lalt wearied with contendingi they thought thus to end all, by leaving out the name \_fnbfiunce-, ] and profeOTing the Generation of the Son unft.irchable.

The third Sirmian Creed had, [in nnigenitum filinmDti,, ante omniafccnla (y' initin Cr ante cwnc tempus quod in intelleclum cadere potefl exiftentem \ c^ ar.te omnem comprehen/itilemfubftantiain, natiim itipajfibiliter ex Dec, folum ex job Patre, Deum de Dco^ (imilem Patri fuo cjiii ipfum genuit, ciijits ^eneratio-mm nemo riovit nifi foh.s ejni tarn gennii , Pater. Kofabuliwi vcro fubflcin-tiiC cp'.ia(i>Hpl:ciiis A Patribiispoftiim f/?, C^ a populis ignoratr.r-, O" Jcandalunt. offert^ CO. cjKod infcyiptnn: non contincatur, placutt itt.de medio tolUretuk.^ Gr nnl-li^t poftLic ds Dei fubfta/iria mentionein elfe f^ciendam.

§. 40-

§, 40. LIII. The Oriental Bilhops offended at the fccond Confcillon at Sirmiim, for leaving out the word fubftance^ gathered in Council atyiicyra, an. 558. and rejecfting the-/^r/4«;, were called Sf/««-^?-/4;7j, bccffdfe yet they were not for l^oy.oijiov'^ but the [^ouo/ir/tr, 3 'i^otLthefame fubfiance^ but [^Like fiibfi.vice.'} Thefe afcer turning MactdonUns (tor Macsdonius was one of them) deny the Holy Shoji to be God-

$. 41. LIV. Conflantiiis finding that all his endeavours mifled their end, and that infttad of bringing all the Bifhops to Concord and one Communion, the very ArUns, and the Semi-Arians^ divided and fubdividcd among them-felves, did fummon another General Council at Nktmedia: But the City fuddenly perifliing, he called the Wcflem part to Arimimm, and the Eaflcm to Sclencia^ taking them yet but as one Council. Above 400 Biiliops met at Aiimimim, who were to determine firfl: Doftrinal and then Perfonal Controvcrfies, and then fend ten Legntcs of each part to the Emperor, with the rcfults: The moft were Orthodox, but the Arian Legates were better fpeakers, and prevailed :, fo that the Emperour delayed them bccaufe of an Expedition thathe h.id in hand againfl; the Barbarians", In the mean time Ibme AOcmbled at NUe^ and drew up Another Conftflion: And when the Legates returned to Arimimm, the Arian Party of Bidiops, by theEm-pcrours countenance, lb far prevailed, as that almoft all the Orthodox labfcribed to them. (Ga 11 dentins Bifliop of Anmimtm was murdered by the SoiildiersJ Binnins and fomc ochers, would have this Council ztArimi-tnim to be two; the firfl; Orthodox, the fecond yir««in.• Btllarmme and o-thers called it but one : which was Orthodox in the beginning, but for fear and coraplyance felloffat thelalt.

§. 42. LV. Whether the Council at Seleucia {lull be taken for one of it felf, or but for part of that at Ariminum-, though far dillant, I leave to the Reader. But here the Hecerodox Bidiops carried all, butfoas to divide among themfelvcs •, One party called Acaci,ins were for forbearing the word [^fubfiance."} The Semiariatis condemned both them and the Arians, and were for [.Like fnbflances.'} They excommunicated and depofed many Arians y whoappealed to the Emperour, andcraved yet another Synod. So thst the further he went for concord, the further h; was from it, the Bifhops dividing and fubdividing more and more; and the Emperoursand Bifliops, by diverfity of Judgment, and by Herclie, became now to the Church what Heathen Perfecutors had been heretofore.

Sitlpiiius Sevcrns tells us,tliat one thing that drew many to fubfcribe to the Arian and Semiarian Creed?, was a certain liberty of their own Additions or Interpretations, which was granted the Orthodox to draw them in. nSubfcribe in your own fence, tj. d."} And fo conditional fubfcri- ^^_^ ptions quieted their Confcieiices, and when the Arians thought they t--* had the X^iulory, and had made the refl; Conformifls, it proved otherv wife, for they did not iu fence and with approbation fubfcribe.

I z But

But though the Filch of the-/4rM« Hercfie juftifie all jaft care and endeavours to keep it out, the multitudes of new Creeds, then made by one and the other Party became fucha fnare aiid Ihame to the Church , that HiU-ry, amongothers, greatly lamented it, even in thefe fad expreflions.

Pofl Nicenam Synodum nihil /ilind qtinm Fidem fcribimHS ", dum in Verbit fit^riA cfl •, dum de novitatibiis cjiuftio efl j dmn de ambiguis^ dnm de authori' bus <j»erela efl ; dum de Jlitdiis certamen efl ; dum in coiijenfu difficultas efi ; diimc]\ alter alteri Anathema ejfe caspit, prope jam Nemo eft Chrifti. Proximi annifides rjuid itnmutationis habet ? Primum decreti'.m Homoufian decernit taceri: fcquens rurflis Homoiipan decernit C7- prtdicit: Tertium nfiam /impliciter a Pair ibus pr<ifnmptam ptr indtilgentiam cxciifat •, Poflremum ^ti^irtiimque tion excii-fit fed condemnat: Tandem eo procejfum eft m neq\ penes vos, neq-, penes quetu quam ante nosfanftum txinde aliqnidatej\ inviolahile perfeveret. Annims atq-, Men-Jjruas de Deo Fides decernimus : dccretis pxnitemiis \ pcenitentes defendimus: dtfenjos Anatbematiz^anius ; ant in noflris altcna-, ant in alienis noftra damna-mi:s, O" mordentes invicem jam abfunipti [limns ab invicem-

Is not this a doleful delcription of the Bifliops fo foon after their wonderful deliverance and exaltation ?

The caufeofall hetellsus was partly forfaking the flmpleForm ofBap-tifmal Faith as not fufficienc, and partly following Votes and worldly Powers. Dum a qitibns ea rrcjuiritur fua fcribmt dr non qudt Dei funt predicant, orbem £ternnm erroris & redeitntis in fefempcr certamims circHmtuUritnt. Oportnerat humana infirmitatis modeflia cmne cogitationis divina facramentum illis tanttint confcientia JiiJifintbiis contnieri cj(ubuscrcd:dit: Ncque poflconfeffam C3" juratam in baptifmofidcm in nomine Patris^ Filti & Sp. fanEb^ quicquam aliitd •vel ambigere vel innovare. And fpcakingof mens perverting the fence, he addeth. Scribend<e dr-innovand^t fidci exinde iifns inclevit: i^ii poflquam no. vapotim ccepit condere, quamaccepta retincre^ nee Vetera defendit^ nee tnnovatA firmavit, & faUa efl Fides temporumpotiiisqltam Evangeliorum : dum&fccun. dhmaniws [eribitur, & feciindiim co .fejftoue/n baptifmi non temtur- Periculo-fum admo^-itn nobis Cr mifirabilecfl tot nunc Fides ex:[lere^ quotvoluntates : cr tot nobis doEirinM ejfe qnot mores, Qr tot can fas biifphemiarmnpulliildre^ quotvi' tiafunf^ dum ant it.i fides f ribur.tur^ iitvolumiu^ ant ita Htvolumusintelli^un-tur. Et cum fecHndhm mmm Deum, & unum Demi'um& nniimbaptifma fides una fit ^ excidifKiis Yib ea fide quxfola efl'-, cr dum plitres fin/jt, ad id cirpernnt effe nc itUafit: Creferring to Nice.)

Fides enim qnttritur qiiafi fides nulla fit: Fides fcribcnda efl quafi in cordis i—a, non fit: Re^eneratiper fidtm nunc ad fidem docemur ; quafi rej^eneratio ilia fine fide fit: Chrifli'm pofl b.iptifna dijliniiu, qitafi b^p'ifim aliqiiid effe poffit fine Chrifli fide : Emendamits ; qiufi infpiritum funftum fiecc.ijfe fit venia. Sedimpie-tatif ipfiits hi) c vcl prxciptie caitfa perpetua efi^ qnodfidem Apoflolicam feptuplo pre. ferentes, ipfitumen fi.icm Evan^elicam volnmuscovfiteri-^ dum impietates noflras nobis in po^itlis nuiUiloqn'n defendimn-s ma^^niloquentiit v.inifate aures fimplicium verbis fdUentibus illndimiu, dum evitamm dc Domino Chriflo ea crede.e, qitx de

1 . ... I ■ - I" I

fe docuit credenda •, & per fpeciofitm pads nomen in unltatcm perfidU fubrepimtu^ <^fub rejiciendiiMPvitatibHS ritrfitm ipfinovisad Beumz'ocihus rebtllamtu c^ fub Script ur or urn voeabulo non /crista tnentimnr. Tutiffimitm nobis eji primam G" foUm EvMigilicamfidtmconfeffaminbaptifmate, inttlh^amq-^ refinere°^^ mc demu. tare ejuodfolumacceptHm atcj., aiidttum hubeo bene credere : Nonutea quxfynedo TatrHm nojborum (the Nicene) comiaentur, tancjuum irreligiose d" impiefcripta damnandi fttit \ fed cjiiia per temeritatemhumanam ufurpantHr adcontrttdi^io>iem\ quod ob hocfub nomine novitatis^ Evangelinm negaretHr impericulofc , tanqiiam fub emendatioiie imiovctiir- Q^nod emendatHm eft^ femper proficit '■, G~ dum omnis cmendatio difplicet^ emcndMioncm oinnem emend uio confcquuta coiidemnct^ ac fi "» J4/W, cjniecjHtd Hind efl, non emcndMio alicjua ft emendationis^ fed caperit e^e Condemnatio.

Andas to thefecondCaufc, he faith, ^cprlmum wlfereri licet nnfiraatatis labor em (^ prtefentiumtcmporiimflultAiopimoncscongtmifcere-^ cjtiibntputrocinari Deo humaria credftntur, Gr adtiiendam Cbrijli Ecclefiam ambittonef^cidari laho-ratur- Ore vos^ Epifcopi^ qui hoc vos rffc credit is : quihnjnam fnffragii^ ad pr£- *^3i dicMdumEvangeliitm y}popoli lift funt? £luibM adjntt poteJJattbiis ChriJ}umpr£-dicaverunt^entefjyferc omnes ex idolis ad Dcitm tranflidernn ? Anne aliquamfbi affiimebant e palatio dignitatem^ hymnum Deo in carcere inter catenas Cr pofifla-

gella eantantes? At nunc proh dolor ! divinam fdem fujfragia terrena commen-

dant:, inopfcj^virtntis fu/tClonfliis, dum ambiiio 7wmini fno conciliatnri ar^nitHr. ' Add what he faith of the Caiifes of Errour, Lib. ic. de Trin. initio. Nen e(l amiguum omnem humani eloquii fermonem contradiBioni ohncxium femper fn-iffe, quia dijfentientibiu voluntatnm motihtts, dijfcnticns qnoq\ fit fenfus animo-rum: Cnm advcrfai.tiiim jndiciorum affeclione contptignans, ajfirtionibiis his qiii-hits off'cnditur, contr.tdicit. Qnamvis entm cmnc diHnm vcri ratione perfc^umfit., tamen dum aliitd aliis aitt vidtturaut complacet, pattt veritatis firmo adierfan-tiiim rcfvonfoni : quia contra vcyitatem am non intclUiiam ant ojfcndentcm vel (I nit a v(l "v'iticft voluntatis error obnitiiiir. Jmmoderata enim efl omnis faf-ccpta-'um voluntatnmpirtm.icit^ & indeficxo no'n advcrfandi fiudimn pcrfjln, ubi non rationi voluntas fubjicitur, nee ftudiiim doclrinte impcnditnr, fed tus qua volunuis r.ttionem conqi:iriniM, Cr his qna fliiden us dotlrinam coaptamus. Jamcfj rtoniinis potiits qitam nature ertt dcUrina <jm4! fsngitur, O" j^im non veri tnancbit ratio., fed placiti. CiUcra ibi videat Letlor-

But having l^een longin this Citntionof////arj, I return to the Hilto-ry, of what followed tiiefe Councils and Creeds aforclaid.

§.45. LVl. In the mean lime Co«/?<i;rr;«j calleth a Council of 5oBifliopS' to Conjlantinoplc, where i^£tins was condemned, and a ninth Creed fince the Nicene formed, which excluded both the word/tf^y?.f;;« and i.ypoflajTs CT fiibfi/lcnce. Ihc Srmi-Arijns dctelVing this, condemned and bamllicd the Authors. But another Form fent from Arimirmm was preferred, and-impofcd to be fubfcribcd on all the Bilhops ofEafl: and Weft.

$.44. LVII. An. 160. Afelains Billiop o( Aiticch being put in by rhe-Acacians proved Orthodox coiUrary to their cx'pcL^ation ; And being.

preaching for the Trinity his Archdeacon ftopt his Mouth, and he preached by his Fingers, holding forth Om and Ihrce : And for this was ejected, contrary to fome former Covenants. Wherefore they were fain to call a Council at Arnioch to juftlfie his cjedlion. Here they made yet another Creed, the worft of all i:3fore it.

§. 45. LVllI. Ccfifiantius being dead, julian the Apoftate is made Em-perour ( would not this end the Quarrel of Chriftian Bifhops.'^ Atha-nafms returneth 10 yilcxAndria after the third banilhment, and five years ^ hiding, an. 362. Gregory the Bifhop being as is aforefaid murthered by \. the Heathen, and burnt to Afhes. He calls a Council at jilexatidria: Here befidcs the receiving of thofe that unwillingly fubfcribed to the yiriatis^ divers new Controverfics are judged. 1. Eunomhts^MtKedoniiis, and the Sfwwn*?j denyed the Godhead of the Holy Ghofl:, which was hercalTerted. 2. JfolUnaris thought that Chrift took but a Body at his Incarnation, his Divine Nature being inltead of a Soul, which was here condemned. 3. The Orthodox Grrc/^f and Latir.es could not agree by what name to diftinguifh the Trinity: The Gretki faid there were three hypofiafes, which the Latincs rejeded, as Signifying three fubflanccs: Hie-Yome himfelf could not away with the word Hypoflafis. The Latlr.es ufcd ^ the word {Ptr^on.'X The Greeks rejcded that as fienifying no red diftin-Bion^ fand are the Schoolmen for a real diftindlion yet? j For they thought Perfona ^xgmfvzA but the relation of one in Authority or Office. And thus while as Jercr)ie faid, Tota Craconim prophanorunt Schela difcri-men inter hypofir:fin & iific.m ignorabat (^Fp. 57.) and the fenfe of the word ZPerfon'2 was not well determined, the danger was fo great of further dllTcntion among the Orthodox Bifhops themfclves, that as Greg. Kfaz. faith (^de land, u^ihanaf.) Thetnattcr came to thttt p.-jfs, th.it there was prefer.t danger, that together with thefefyllables the cfjd.s of the World (Eaft and Weft) jlwuld have been torn from each other, and broken into parts. But the Synod agreed that the Greek /3);>6/?^y7^ and the Latine Pcrfona fhou!d henceforth be taken as of the fame iignification. ('But what thatfignification is, it was rot fo eafe to tell) Yet (faith Einnius) .Angnftinc deTrinit. I. 5. c 8, 9. and the £-^2/?wf/afterwards, were difplcafcd with this reconciliation, and Hiercme himfelf, who yet obtain'd of Damafus, Ep. 57. that the conciliation being but of a Controverfie de nomine, might be admitted.

$. 46. LIX. An. 562. Jidian reigning ('fcvcraf Vrcrch Councils befidcs^ one then at Paris, were employed in receiving the repentance of the Bifliops that under Conflnntius had fubfcribed to \.\\z Arians.

§. 47. LX. At J«/;<«wj death ^r/;rt?.'4/?«;callcth feme Bifliops to ^/f.v<i/;-dria, betimes to fend to the Emperour Jovianiis their Coufcfllon, to prevent the A-iairs, aiid other FIcieticks.

§ 48. LX!. A Conncil alfo was called at Ar.ttoch on this occaflon. The Semiarians petitioned Joviarus that th'e ^c<ja,«wj, as Hereticks, might be put out, and they put in their places: The Emperour gave them no other Anfiver, but tliat he haied contention, but would, love and honour thofe

that

tbeir Councils ahritliiah

^3

that mre for concord: They feelirg his pulfe, got Mcletius to Call 3 Council ac j4i:ticcb^ v.here they feemed very found, and twenty feven Arian Bifhops without any Hop ilibrcribed the A'jffw Creed: So bafely did thefe Bifliopa follow the ftronger lidc •, and, faith Bismns, cffo mat conjiqufncc rvith Bifwps is the Emperours inird.

§. 45^. LXII. ytn. 564. raUmi!:Ln beirg Emperour lefc tlie BUhops to meet when and where they would themfelves. Aiid a Council was held at Lumffacus , where the Semi.trians condemned the Arians. And though fome call it Orthodox (Bafl, and Ibme good men being there) BhuuHs faith, that the yJ/^^cf^ew/Ww here vented t»ieir dsnyal of die Godhead of the Holy Gholl, and that the Heictici^s preceading to own the Niccne Faith were rccievcd by Liberius.

§. 50. LXIII. A Council in S/cf/)'owned the A^/cfw Creed-

§. 51. LXIV. Some Biiiicps at Illyrkmn rcftored the A7rr«.» Creed, the Emperour being now for it. And Vdcminian and r.//f;;j wrote to the «^3 jiftan Bifliops to charge them to ceafc Perfecuting any of Chrills labourers.

$. 52. LXV. Ati. 365. At a Synod in Tymui C/ippadoc. Enftathim Se-haft. by Pop2 Liberiiu Letters was rcftored to his Bilhoprick; and after curfed the Homoitfioit^ fthe N:ce>!c Creed,'* and denyed the Godhead of the Holy Ghoft : I3y their means B^t/il returned fromh's Wildernefs to CrfprM, whence he lied to avoid the enmity of £/(/fi;V« the Bilhop; who received him upon his profcllcd rclblunon for Peace, which he would buv at any rates.

$. 5;. LXVI. The Emperour r.i/f;;j funhappily taken in to r.dcntimati) after the conquelb oi Frccopins ^ defired Baptilme, and having an Arian Wife, was baptized by Eudoxitts Conjlatit. an A,tan Bifliop^ who engaged him to promote the Arian Caufeii which he did with a blind religious zeal, perfecuting not only the Orthodox and Novauans^ but alfo the Sinu.iritir.s and Macedcvians. And a Council of Bifliops in Carta, rcjeftcd [Coiifuhflantial^'} and refiored the AKtiochian and ScUucian Creed as the bell.

§. 5+. LXVII. A>!. 1,66. Some y?r/'.j« Bifliops at Sin^edim in A-fyfia^ refiored the Ariiniiutm Creed [of Like f/iilhince'} and folicited Ccmirjim the Semiarian Bilhop toconfent, but prevailed not.

<S. 5 J. LXVIII. Two Councils were held at R:)»e by Dawafus \ one to condemn Falcus and Vrfatius^ old Arian Bifhops: Another to condemn Aiixentiiis Bidiop of Mtlan. and Sifmus as a SciiTmatical Competitor with himfelf: For when Da,m-fus wns chofen, the people were divided, and D^;m[us his Party being the more valiant Warriors, they fought it out in the Church, and left one day an hundred thirty feven dead Bodies b:hind them, to flievv that they had no Communion with them. And bccaufe Sif.niia and his Party ftill kept Conventicles, lie was banirtird, and many with him, aud now sgaia condemned.

§• 5:-

§. 56. LXIX. Another Council at Rome he had to condemn Fitalis and the. Jpolltnariafjs (that took Chrilts Godhead to be inftead of a Soul to his Body^ and the Mill:na>ies.

§. 57. LXX. A Council was called at hntioch to end a Schifin, there-being three Bifliops, two Oithodox, Meletiut and Panlinus\ and one Arian, Euzjo'iks : They ended the Schifm, by agreeing that Mdetiui and PaulinHs (hould both continue, till one dyed, and then the other alone fhould fucceed him •, the Presbyters being fworn not to accept it while one of them lived. But MeUtius dying firll, Flaviams a Presbyter was faid to break his Oath, and was chofen in his Head, while PaHlimt (an excellent perfonj lived ; And fo the Schifm was continued.

? CHAP.

r

their Cowicih abrU^e^. ^r

C.H A P. IV.

The Fir ft General Cotoicil at Conftantifiople, a}id fome

following.

j. I. r"a~^He reafon why the Wcji with Rome wa? freer from the A-I >■»■<«»Hcrcfie than the Eafi^ wasnot, as the Papifts fay, bc-* caufe Chrift prayed for Peter that his Faith might not fail, but bccaufe the Empcrours of the Wefl were Orthodox, wliile thofe in the Eajl wcrej4riaf:s: And the Bi(hops much followed the Emperours Will. That this lafl: was thcCaufe, isnotorious in theHifto-ry: ThatChriftsforefaidpromife was not the Caufe, is certain. Becaufe whatever promife Chrift makctli, he fulfiilcth : But he hath not k^pt all the Bifhopsof/3<?;«f from failing in their Faith : Therefore he never pro •mifcd fo to do. The miftor is certain by Hiftory : To pafs by Marcellww and Liberius and Hemriui falls, (which were but like Pcren) all thofc wicked men whom Councils dcpofed as Infidels, orHereticks, Simoniacks, Murderers, Adulterers, oneasaDevillncarnatc, and all thofe that ^jrcw-ui and Gerubrardii'\gvnu\zt 2S Apoftatical , and not Apoftolical, (50 together) had not this promifc fulfilled: Nor Stxtm i^imiis, '\i BellartniHc judged truly, that he was damned: For it was not a dead faith, but ^f4vi»^ faiih^ which Chrift promifed Peter fliould not fail •, fuch a faith as had the promife of life •, He that believeth and is baptized jliall be faved: Whoever be-lieveth in him P'allttot periflj, hut have everl<*ftin^ life: a faith that vcorkfth by love : Elfe Peter might have been a wicked man, and damned, notwith-ftanding this Prayer of Chrift, and Promife. l( the fa\tho( Grijlantinefe-nior dr junior , Conflans, falentinian, Theodofms^ Honorius^ Gratian, C^'"c. had failed, the General Councils at AitUn^ and Anminum, tell us,- how failing the Biftiops faith was like to be-, when Jerome faid, that the whole worldpoarcd to find it felf turned Arian.

%. 1. The blind zeal of Falens made him reftlefs in PerfccUting the Orthodox in the £-«/? •• At Antioch he vexed thofe that would not Communicate with Eiiz.oini the allowed Arian Biftiop: At Cjz.icnm Euncmitu was put in Elciffiu place •, but his followers built them a leparate Church with-outthe Walls. (Socrat.Ub. 4. c 6, 7.) He Perfecuted the Novatians^ and exiled ^^f/i/« their Bifliop at Cw/?. He baniftied Euflathiiu Amioch. and Eva^im, chofen by the Orthodox Bifliop of Confl. againft DemophilH-s the Arian. Fourfcore Biftiops fenttocrave Juftice of him, were put to Sea in a Ship there ■^et on fire, and were both burnt and drowned together. {Socr. I. 4. c. 1 ?■) In nil the Eajl he dcpofed, abufed, murdered many that would not forfakc the Nicene Creed. Hefet his OiRccrs to fupprefs their

K Conven-

Conventicles. At Alexandria he imprifoned Peter that fucceeded yithan*-fus^ and banilhed his Presbyters, and fetup LuciMza Arian Bifliop. He perfecuted the Monks of the Wildernefs of Eg-j^t {Nitna and Scitis) and deftroyed their Houfes: Banifhed Afacarim of Exypt, and Macarins of Alex-andria, their Leaders. He perfecuted Bajil at C^farea: He went in perfon at Antioch, to difturb and fcatter the Conventicles of the Orthodox •, And when he had banifhed one of their Bifhops {Meletim , enduring TauUniu) the Presbyters kept the Meeting: when he drove them away, a Deacon kept it up : At laft Ihemiftm, a Philofopher, made an Oration before him, bidding him not marvel thattheChciftians had fuch differences, for they were nothing tothofe of the Philofophers, who were of three hundred different Opinions ^ and that God would be honoured even under diverfl-ty of Opinions: This fomewhatalTwaged him? and fhortly after in the jerfe year of his age, hewasflain.

$. 3. Gratian (and ValentinUn junior) coming to the Empire, Liberty of Confcience and Reftoration was given to ail Seds, except the Eunomi-<wj, PhotinianSy and Manichees {Socrat. I. 5 c. 2.) He took Theodoftm iato the Empire with him: And fo the Orthodox Party got up again : and the Arians after this went every where down , fave among the Goths.

§. 4. LXXI. Theodofius called a General Council at Conftantincple,-where the chief things done, were, i. the fetting up olGregory Naxjan. Xfw« as Bifhop, 2. The condemning of the Macedonians^ 3. The giving of the fee end Patriarchate to Con/?4wfiw;)/f, becaufeitwas the Imperial Seat-, putting under him the DiocefTes of Pontm , HeracUa and Afia: 4. The putting down of Naz.ianz.ene again, and putting NeBariui in his ftead. 5. The fetling Flaviantts at Antioch.

$. 5- Somewouldperfwadeusthat it was two Councils and not one that did thele things : But the queftion is but de nomine. In the beginning they difpatch'd partof their worki and before they departed A/lf/er<V« the Bi-iho'^oi Anttoch dying, the Bifhops returned to Council, and more £^/»h-an Bifhops came and did the reft.

§. 6. ThtCzkof Gregory Naz.. was thus: A Council at ^«f/offc in the reign of Arianifme , fent him, with three more able fpeakers to go vifit the Churches, and dtzw them from Arianifme. He came to Conjlanti-Tjople., and an Arian being in pofleffion, he got into a little empty Church, and there folong Preached, till he had recovered much of the City from Arianifme. Hereupon ?«rfr, Bifliop of .^/fA:<i»^r«4, fignified by Letters, that he would have him be Bifhop of CenfiantinopU (againft the Aridn Bifliop:) The Orthodox Party chofe him : One Maxinrn, that of a Philofopher turned Chriftian, and infinuated into Gr<rfor»w familiarity ^ by money firft, and threats after, gets Peter of Alexander., and the Egyptian Bifliops, to make him Bifliop of Confiant. fuppofing Gregory not yet lawfully fettled: Meletttu Antioch: being at Conft. Ordaineth Gregory Bifliop. The Council, when Convened, Confirm him, and caft out Maxirmu Cthat never had poP fefljon;; Theodo/itts ov^nctii Gregory^ and putteth out the .«4nVjn Bifliop, and

poflefl-

poflefleth him of the Great Church. The Jntiockhn Controverfie falling in at the death o[ Melctiu^^ Gregory was sgainQ: Flavian •, The Egyftiai$ Bifhops being for him, fet againft Gregory, and refolved to call him out andchoofe another : He feeing their refolution, and offended at th;ir furious carriage in the Council, reflgneth to the Emperour, and departeth : fbmemakcit, asif hisrefignation wasunconftrained, but his own words (hew,that he did it but to prevent the depolTtion which they refolved on.Ejfe hedurft not have deferred hisFlock that lamented his departure. Jn his place they chofe NeiiariM a Pretor, that was no Chriftian, in foro Eccle-fu, as being not yet baptized ^ and fo was indeed uncapable, and the choice null: Buttheman washoneft; And Nicephortu faith, that they put down his name in a Paper with others, leaving it to the Emperour to chufe one of them, and that he chofe Neflantu.

$. 7. The dcfcription of this Council, and the good Bifhops of his iimejhY Gregory Naz- in his Poems and his Orations, is very doleful; How implacably fadtious and contentious they were, how fierce and violent, leaping and carrying themfelvcs in the Council like mad-men. He de-fcribeth the People as contentious, but yet etidtted with the love of God^ though ffce»> ;,m/ »r4wff<i knowledg : P*ge ^^i^.Orat. J2. •'The Courtiers, *'he faith, whether true to the Emperour he knew not, but for themoft '*part perfidious to God: And the Bifliops as fitting on advcrfe thrones *'and feeding adverfe oppofite Flocks, drawn by them into fadlions, like *' the clefts that earth-quakes make •, and the peftilent difeafes that *' infedall about, and diftrading and dividing all the World, fepara-**ting the Eafl from the Wefl, by the nolfe of/«f/</ & tuus, Amiquiis & e^ " NoVHS, mkiliorcr ignobilior^ multitKMne opnlentior out tenuitr., ragmg like •^^ furious horfes in battle, and like mad-men cafting dull into the air, *'and under their feveral Heads (or Leaders) fulfilling their owncontenti-*' ons, and becoming the determiners of wicked ambition and magnificence, " and unrighteous and abfurd judges of matters : The fame men (,f<iith he) *'arctoday of the fame throne and judgment as we arc, if fo our Leaders *'and chief men carry them; Tomorrow, if the wind do but turn, they *• are for the contrary Seat and Judgment: Names (or Totes) follow ha-*' tred or friendlhip: And which is mofl grievous, we blufli not to fay con-"trary things to the very fame hearers; Norareweconflanttoour felves, *' being changed up and down by contention : You would fay we are toffed " like the waving EiiripM. Therefore he profelleth, that it is unfeemly for **him to joynwiththcm» in their Councils; as it were to leave his ftudies *'and quietncfs, to goplay with the Lads in the Streets, Page^z^. The like he hath in his Poem, De -vita /«4, Page. 24, 25, 26, 27.

0( jap 'T^hJ'g^ii, &(.

Etenim Magijlri Plebis attjue j4ntiflites SanEli datores SpiritMs^ d" <?«» thronis FiindHtn ab altis verba ijiieis patitur falus^ Qmilifque pacem jugiter qui pnedkant^

K 2 In

In &de medi.i vccibia clarijfimis

Tan to furore ft fctimt fihi itivicem^

TionHltuando, comrahendo copiat,

Carpendo frfe mutito lingua ejferSt,

Saliendo, mentis ut feltntfutu imfotes,

Prxdiindo quos quis ante pradari qiteut

Ruhida Jmperandi ditm tenet mente ftis

(Q^ujnam tfla verbis^ & cjitihus digne clcqu:ir ?) -

Orbem univerfum prorfits ut dnulferint '■,

Ortumque jam cr Hefperum Jeindit magis

uirdens fimidtM^ quam loci vel climata:

Namqiie ilia fi eon finis, at media uniunt't

At has ligare vinculum nitUiim potejl:

Nbn Cauja Pietui (Bills hoc excogitat,

yld mentiendiim, prona,} fed Lis ob Thronos : *

l^iiidnam hoc vocarim ? Prafules ? Non prafules: &c.

Are not thefe lamentable defcriptions of the Bifliops of thofe happy times, and excellent Councils: Even in the days of good T;fe«^o/«j ^ when the Church recovered from under Arianifme^ and came newly out of the fire of Perfecution ? The truth is, All times have had feme itw fuch ex-cell-ent perfons asNaz.ianz.cne, Bafl, Chryfojlome, c-c But they have ordinarily been born down by the violentitreamof a more ignorant, felfilh, worldly fort of men.

All this here cited out of Gregory, is much lefs than he faith in his laft Oration, De Eptfcepts, Vol. i. too large and (harp to be no.v recited: Therefore I leave it to the perufal of the Learned Reader.

One Papift faith to me, that it was the Jrian or Macedonian Biihops that Gregory meant: But the whole tenor of his writing fpeaketh the contrary; and that he fpake of this fiifl; Council at Confia^.tmople, one of the four which is equalled to thsfour Evangelifls: And mhis 59£/j Epift. to5o;;/jro^ fiius, PageS l6. he faith, Stecs inveuentis non ob fdn do^rinam., fed ob pri-^ vat as fimuliatcs inter fe difiralios cr divtilfos, quod quidem ipfe obferv*' vi, S\C.

But feme may fay that psilion moved him to the fatyrical exaggeration of his own received injuries.- But, i. He fpeal^ech not of this Council only, but of others alfo : 2. He acknowledged, that till the Egyptian Biihops came, he had ihe Council Vote for his place. 3-. His fpirit and all his endeavours were for peace, and not to make thingsvvorfe than they were^ And for peace he quit his Seat. 4. And in his Epiflies to the Civil Magiltrates! c afterwards wrote earneltly to them to keep the Bifliops-at the next Council in peace, left they (hould make Religion a contempt and fcandal. So that few men could worfe be charged with abufive invciHiLves than this Pious, Liiarned. peaceable Bilhop.

§. 8. In:

li

§. 8. In his $ph Epift. to Pneopius^ pa^eSi^. refufing to come to their Council, he faith, '' If Imuft write the very truth, I am of tJie mind tolly "from Cor avoid) every Meeting of Bifliops : For I never faw a joyful and " happy end of any Council •, nor any that gave not more addition and *'increafe to evils, thandepulfion (orreformationj For pertinacious con-*' tentions and the lulls ot Domination ^or Lording, ) (Think mc not ''(fiitli he) grievous and troublefome for writing this,; arc fuch, as no "■words can exprefs: Andaman that will (there) be a Judg ofother?, iliall " fooner contra(n;dinionell:v himfeff, than reprefsthe diilionelty of others. Tlvey that fay he fpcaketh only ot Heretical Councils dciie the light, and will be believed by none that know the Hiftory.

§. p. The Cafe of Antiocb^ briefly, was this.- Aieletiiis was a good man, but of a healing difpofition, madeBifl:op by the Arians miftaking him, and put out by them when they knew him, yet he held Communion with repenting Arians. Enjoins an Ari.m was put into his place, and he kept Conventicles. The grand Controvcrlie of alt the foregoing Ages, was about Communion with thcLapfed,that yielded to IdoIatry,orHcrelie: fomc over zealous were too proud cf their own fuff^rings, and were very rigid againll receiving fuch Penitents, faying they were Time fervors,and receiving themv/ould encourage others to fave themfelvcs in fuileripg'^ and then repent .• Others were too wide in receiving them upon unfatif-fadory profelfions of Repentance : TheWifeft went a middle way. ^U' ay Antiochians feparatcd from Afdctius, becaufe the Aria>is choi'c him, ard he received penitent y^v/'^/jj : And Lvcifcr CaLtnt.irns^ Rnd Eufdius ytr-■ cclUxifis of France going t« fettle ihc Peace nt Ai.ricch, £///<•/>//</dilliked their oppofltion to MtUtins, and left them. Lucifer a good Man, but rigid and hot againfl: the Ariahs^ faid that Afiktiks could be no Bilhop, and ordained them Paiilim» (and fo there were three as isaforemcntioncd-^The Bifliopof^^wf who would have a finger in all, encouraged Luc>fir\ rm. li»Hs was a man of e.xtraerdinary gccdnefs .• but yet the Canon nullified the Ordination of a Bilhop into a fore ponillld Seat -, And when half cleaved to Afcleti»Sy and half to Paidihin Jboth very good Men,) a Synod fas is aforefaidj ended the difference, by tolerating both till the death of one,, and then making him Ible BiP-iop : ThzFrcsbyers (it's laid) were fworn to this. AieUt'uii dycth firft \ yet FUviunus a Presbyter that had ftucfc to them in rJais Perfecution, is chofen Bifiiop by the AiUetians^ who' will not joyn with Paulwuj as a Schifmatick. The Pope owneth* FuiiUnHs : The Council at ConjlantiscfU own Milctiia firfl, and FUvia-TiHs after : Gregory N^danz.cf;e and Others were againfl: Flavianus^ becaufe they faid" he came in by Perjury, having fworn not to accept it: Some fay he did not Svveir. Lucifir C/iUrit.r,:;ts that Ordained Panlinuj, forlbok the Party called th^Catholick Church, and gathered fepnrated Churches, and became the Head of a Schi'ni, called iince Ludfcrian He-rHicks, meerly becaufe the Churches received the confefling returntng Anofis to Commur>:on, and he owned FUviAfnts. Apd thus even good'

B'.ihoii^

^

yo Chwch-Hiftory of Bijhops and

Bifliops could not agree, nor leaps the imputation of Hcrefic.

§ 10. 54>c«(KJ and 5/w//«i after him, fay, Naz.ian2.enushaftcdtfcmrdiam fua abdicatiofie compofition iri arhitralus, fedt Conftantinopolitanse cum con-fenfn ImperMoris^ twn fine vu^no Bomrurn ac fofuli fietu rcuunciat^ at(j, fiatim pojl habitas i» Synoda diijuot atliones, comitantthus eptiwis qmbitfcHnq'-) OrientM-libus^ in Cappadociam difcedit. Turn cjui fupererant ibt Epijcofi ac Sacer-dotts Nundititirii^ in locum Chriftiarii perfeBijfimi, Theolo^i sbfolutijfimi^ Mo-}/achi caftijfimi, NeBartitm hominem nc>rdnmChriJ}ianum fed adhuc CatechMme-num^ rerum Ecclefajlicarnm penitits imperitum, in volnptattbus fault C^ cariiis haHenks verfatum, ftjfeccrwit.

%. 11. This Council added to the A^««»f Creed fome words about the Holy Ghoft. The advancement of the ConftantinopoUtane Bifhop by this Synod with the reafons of it, brcdfuch a jealoufie in the Bifhops oiRome, as hath broken ths Churches of the Eajl and Wejly which are unhealed to this day.

§. 12. LXXII. Two Bifhops, PalUdim <ind Secundiams, complained to Gratian, that they were unjuftly judged Avians^ and defired a Council to try them. Ambrofe perfwaded him not to trouble all the World for two Men. A Council of 32 Bilhops is called for them at Aqudeia. They re-fufe to be accountable to fo few, and are condemned.

§. 13. LXXUI. An. 581. Twelve Bifhops met at Cxfarau^ufta againft the Prifcillianifts : Thefe Men had divers other Councils in thofe times. Ithacius and Idacius were the Leaders. The whole Story you may find ia Sulpitiiis Severus in the Life of Martin^ &c. The fum is this : Pnfciilianus, a rich Man, of much Wit and learning, was infe(fted with the Herefie of the Gnoftickf cind ALinichees. Many followed him*, his party was much in Fafling and Reading: The Bifhops in Council excommunicated them. Yet they kept up. The Bifhops in Council fought to the Emperour (Jr**-tian to fupprefs them by the Sword : A while they prevailed : But the Prifcillianifis quickly learned that way, and got a great Courtier to be their Friend, and Gmfj^^reftoredthem. Cratianhe'ing killed, when Ma. ximus was chofen Emperour by his Army, the Bifhops go to Maximus for help: The Arians having got Head againft Ambrofe at Milan^ and thefe Sectaries troubling the Churches in France, Spain^ and Italy, Maximus (a Man highly commended for Piety by moft Writers, faw that being forced by his Army to accept the Empire, he was a Ufurperj being once engaged, thought the defence of the Orthodox would ftrengthen him : So he forced Kalentinianhy Threats to forbear wronging Ambrofe ; And to pleafe the Bifhops he put PrtfcilUan to death, and baniflicd fome of his Followers. Martin Bifhop of Tww (beinga Man of fmall learning, but of great Ho-linefs, andaufterityofUfe, living like a Hermite in the pooreft Garb and Cabbin, lying on the Ground, faring hard, praying much, and working more Miracles, if Sulpitins, his Schollar and Acquaintance may be believed,, than we read of any fince the Apoftles, even than Gregory Thau-f»atur£uj) did abhor drawing the Sword againft Hereticks, and dif-

fwaded

their Councils abridged. j j

fwaded the Bifhops and Emperour but in vain : The prolecution was ib managed by the Bilhops, that in the Countreys, thofe that did but Faft and Read much were brought under the fufpicion of PrifciUiMnifm, and reproached : This common injury to Piety from the Bifhops grieved Mar-tin yet more, fo that he renounced the Communion of the Bifhops and their Synods .- whereupon they defamed him to the Emperour and People, as an unlearned Man, a Schifmaticlc, fufpe(fled of favouring/'n/c/&4w«/w! But MArtins holinefs and Miracles magnified him with the Religious fort. At laft a great PrifctUianift being fentenccd' to death, M^rtm travelled to the Emperour A/<»a://««; to beg his Life. Maxtmm told him, he would grant his defire if he would but once communicate with the Bifhops .• Mar-tin preferring Mercy before facrifice, yielded, and did once communicate with them. But profcfled that in his way home, an Angel correcfted him and threatned him if he did fo any more.- and that from that time his gift of Miracles was diminiihed : and fo he never communicated with them more to the Death : Sulpitius his Narrative puts the Reader to a great difficulty, either to believe fo many and great Miracles as he reports, or not to believe fo learned, pious, and credible an Hiflorian, who profefFeth to fay nothing but what he either faw himfelf or had from the Mouth of Martin, or thofe that faw tliem, and who fpeaketh his own knowledgofhis eximious Piety. He fpeaketh hardly ot theBlfliops, not only as complying with an Ufurper, but that Ithacius in particular of his knowledge, was one that much cared not what he faid or did The Bi-(hops would have denied that the death of PnfcilliMi was by their means.-Is it notftrange that the Church of Rome fhould Canonize Martin for a Saint, believing his great Miracles, and yet themfelves go an hundred times further againft the blood of Diflentcr?, than the Bifhops did whom Saint /Ww-f/w therefore oppofcd and feparated from to the death ?

The Churches in 5f<jiw, and elfewhere, were dilturbed and fcattered or endangered by Souldiers to pleafethcfe Bifhopsnot(as fomeforge) that A/aximus did pcrfecute the Chriftians for the Prey .- For mod U'riters magnifie his Piety and Defence of jimbrefe^ and the Orthodox that condemn his Ufurpation, though he fald, theSouldieis in Britain forced him to it.

§. 14. LXXIV. A General Council was called to Rome by the Emperour and Damafuj ', but the Oriental Bifhops would not come fo far, but met at Conjlantmofle : Here Damafus owned PaitHnm at u4ntioth^ as the Council of Conjl. had owned Mdettus .- And fo neither would be obedient to the other i the General Council, nor the Pope. But Damafns durft not excommunicate Flavtanus, but permitted two Bifhops to continue at: ^nticch\ accounted a Schifm, which continued long.

f. 15. LXXV. The Oriental Bifhops that would not come to Rome^ meeting at Co«^4wf;«of/f,wrote to Rome to tell them their Cafe and Faith, & minded them that it was according to the Canons that Neighbour Bsjliops fand not StrangcrsJ Ihoald Ordain Bifhops to vacant Seats Cto juftifie

their

CJ-

7 2 Church-Hijlory of Bijhpps a?id

llicir fetting up FUvianns when /lowf fct up Paiilimis: J And they give account of ilic advancement of Confi. and Jerusalem and call JerufMim lyhe Afolbir cf all ether Churches.'}

$.16. A Synod held at Syda againfl; the AfafJians, little is ivnown of.

§. 17. LXXVI. A Council at BoHrdeuux condemned Injlamms PrifciSi-an. who thereupon was llnin at Treven.

§. 18. LXXVll. An. 3S6. A Council at ^owf under Syrj'cw, repeated feme of the old Canons.

§. ip. LXXVIIl. T'/w^jw^fz/jhavingcxcommunicatedZ/W/rt/jand rcprc-jiendcd the Biiliops, as irregular and bloody for procuring the Death of PrifcilUan., a Council called at 7Vfw/-; did julhifie and acquit Ixim.- Unjull-ly, fay, even Bi/mins znd Bayoui us: who here repeat out of Sw/jxr/za/i^jr-r;>u once communicating with the Bifliops thereto favc two Mens Lives, and the Words of the Angel to him QMr/ro, Marti ne,co/«/)««^fm.- Sedah-ter exire tiequ'ifli: Ref-yu vntniem; refitme Corifi.intiam ^ »e jam >ion fericu' lumQ^lori^, fed faluiis incurroi : Itacjue ab illo tempore fatis cavil cum ilia Itha-cianse partis coriinmnwne mifceri: Cateritm cum tardiits cjuofdam ex er^ume-nis, cjitam folebat^ G~ grMiu minore curaret ; fubindc nobis cum Lichrymis ft-tebatur, fe propter commHnionis i Hi us malum, chi fe vel punBo temporis necejft-tate, non Jpiriiii., -mifcuijfet., dctrime>itum virtiitis fentire: fexdecim pu/l vixit annos^ vullam Synodum ad/it, O'c.

Is it not llrange that Papifts blufh not to recite fuch a Hillory with approbation, which exprelleth a teftimony from Heaven againft far Ids than their Inquilltion, Flames, Murders, Canons de herMicis-cowbarendis g^ cxtermir/andis, and Dcpollng Princes that w^ill not execute them- And which fneweth fuch a Divine juftification for reparation from the Bifliops and Synods of fuch a way, yea, though of the fame Religion wi".h us, and not fo Corrupt as the Reformation found the Roman Papacy and Clergy ?

§. 20. LXXIX. The two Biffiops continuing at Aniocb^ Evagrtus fuc-ceedingP^///'V'W, and/Jawf owning him, and the £^/?F/4t'»Vw«/, a Council r^ iscalledat Cr/)«.i; f/4w.?«refufethto come: The Council had more wit than many others, and Ordered that both Congregations {Flavians dindE-'va^riiis''s ) being all good Chriftians, ihould live in loving Communion. ^'Otliat others had been as wife, in not believing thofc Prelates that per-Tvvaded the World that it is fo pernicious a thing for two Churches and Bifliops to be in one City, as Peter and Paul arefaid to be ztRomel) And they referred the Cafe to Ihcophilits Alex.

■§. 21. But this Council condemned anew Herefle fHereticating was in falhion^j 1//Z,. of oneBijliop Bonofus, dcn/ing Mary to have continued a Virgin to the death. And they condemned Re-baptizing and Re-ordaining, and the Tranflation of Billiops.

§. 22. LXXX. Next comes a Provincial Council ('or two) at Aries, which doth but repeat fome former Canons.

§. 2j. LXXX'. Next we have a flrange thing, a Herefie raifedbyone diiCivas no Bilhop: But the beflis, it was buta very little Herefie: PJie-

rome

their Councils abridged. - ,

rtme is the dercriber of it, who writing againfl: the Author, jovinian a /W/74»Monk, no doubt according to his fharpnefs, makes the worftof it: At the worit it containeth all thefc: i. ThatVirgms, Widows anAMArrycd Womctt^ being all haptiz.ed (or wafhed J inChrifi, and not d-jfeying^ tn any o-ther works, are of equal merits, z. That thofe iliat;)/f«.z ^rif with ■i full faith are bom again inbjftifmc^ cannot he fnbverted by the Devtl- j. There is no difference of mtx\thttvitzaabftaimng from meat ^ and receiving it \v,th thanlts. giving. 4. That there^s one Reward tn Heaven for all that keep their baptif. malvow. Siriciusc^tchins,Jov>man hid zt Rome, fends him to Mian, where a Council Hereticateth him.

§. 24. LXXXII. It's ftrange that Binnius vouchfafeth next to add out

of Socrates, l-^.cio. (when he Hereticateth him alfoj a Council of the

Novatians ; Socrates and Soz.omcn are called Novatians, by the Papifts, be-

caufc they rail not at them fo valiantly as the Herecicators do-, And it

may be they will call me one, if I fay that I better like this Councils Canon,

than burning men for fuch a Hcrelic. They decree that as from the Apo-

fbles the differcnttimc of keeping Eafter was not taken for fuflkientcaufe

for Chriftians to renounce Communion with each other, foit ihould be

elleemcd ftill, anditdiouldbc fofar left indifferent, thatthey live in love

and Communion that are herein of different minds. And 1 would fay as

lowd as I can fpcak, Jf all theproud, contentious^ amhitioits, hereticating part

of the Bijlwps had been of this Chriflian mind, O what ftn., what fcandal and

piame., what cruelties, confufions and miferies had the Cljriflian world rfcaped!

But yet men will fcorn to be fo far Novations, in defpight of Scripture,

rcafon, humanity and experience, whatever fin or niifery follow: (As 1

faid before) in £;?^/,Wthe Convocation and Parliaments overfight hath

determined of a fa lie rule to know i^/^r-day, and filenceth Minifters for

not Alfenting, Confenting to it, and approving the life of it, even the

life which confifteth in keeping Eafler at a wrong time, which makes as

Hereticks.

§. 25. LXXXIII. An. J9J. A great Council was called 2.1 Hippo, where jinfttn., yet a Presbyter was there. Good men will do well.- Here was nothing but pious and honelt, for reformation of Difcipline and Manners ^ Andmoftof thc^/r«ir<w« Councils were the beft in all the world. Their Bilhopricks were but like our Paridies, and they ftrove not who fliould be greateft, or domineer.

§. 2 6. LXXXIV. Next a Council at Conftant. dccidcth a Crontroverfie between two men ftriving for a Biihoprick, Bin.p. 559.

?. 27. LXXXV. Concilium Adrnmetinum did we know not what. §. 28. LXXXVI. An. 394. A Council of Douatifts was held at Ca-vernx, about a fchifm between two men fet cp for Bilhops againft each other.

§ 29. LXXXVII. At B.igai another Council was called by the Dona. t'fis, for the fame Caufc, whixc Priima>uis Carthag. having s^o. Bilhops, condemned ^/rf.v*W<«7KJ his Competitor, abfcnt. Note h.ic, i. Hovr

L great

^

great a number the D<?«4f«7?j were, and on what pretence ("as over-voting them j they called others Hereticks and Schifmaticks. 2. How fmall Bi-fliopricks then were, the number tells us.

$. JO. LXXXVIII. A Synod was held at Tanrinnm in Savoy ^ where a difference was decided between the Bifliops of j4rlej and yieme, ftriving which fhould be greatefl: And he was judged to be the greateft, whofe feac was proved to be the Metropolitan: And a cafe of Communicating with one Fcelix a Partner of Ithacius and the bloody Bifhops was debated.

§. ii. LXXXIX. Another Carthage Council called the fecond, which £;«»/«; faith, was the laft, is placed next-, which decreed feveral Church Orders, fome of which (hew, that a Bifhops Diocefs had then but uxum f-^ altare •, As when reconciliation of Penitents, (as well as Chrifme, and Conr-""^ fecrating Virgins) was to be done by the Bifhop only, except in great ne-ceffity. And when Chriftians were multiplyed, they that defired a Bifhop in a place, that had none before, might have one. And the prohibition cri^efidi aliitd altare, &c. was repeated.

§. 32. XC. Another C«rffc^^<f Council called the third, hathmanygood "Orders: OneisCan.26. "That the Bilhop of the firft Seat, (hall not be ''called the Chief Priefi: (or Bidiop^ or any fuch thing, but only the Bi-"fhopof the fiift Seat- To avoid all ambitious defigns of fuperiority : Whence 5«'»«jw elfewhere noteth, that Carthage had not an Archbi/liop. No doubt they had a fenfeofthefinandniifery, that came by the Patriarchal! and other ambitious flrifes.

§. ??. XCI. Another Carthage Council hath the like Canons, adding tothis aforefaid, as Cr^rw^citeth it, {Vniverfdis aittcm necetiam Romanus Pontifex apfellctH)-.'} To which Bmnius hath no better an anfwer than, 1. Thatit IS only fwelling titles, and not the fuperiour power that isfor-bidden. 2. That the Afrkaru had no power to makeLawj ioxRome\ But, 1. Sure the Name is Lawfal, if the Power be Lawful. 2. They that could make no Laws for Rorr.e^ might declare their JuHgmcnt of Gods Laws, and that Rome might make no Laws for them. This Council alfo forbiddeth going beyond Sea with Appeals.

J. 34'XCII. The next Carthage Council hath 104 Canons for Difci-p'ine.- mofl very good. Divers Canons lay fo much on the Bifliop, as plainly fliew each Bilhop had but One Altar. Can. 14. " That the Bifliops XZ^ "Cottage be not far from the Church: Can. 15. Ttiatthe Bifliop have but " vile or cheap houlhold ftuff", and a poor table and diet; and feek his au-"thorityor dignity by his faith and defert of life. 16. The Bidiop muft " not read the Gentiles Books; I9. Nor contend for tranfitory things, " though provoked. 20. Nor take on him the care of Family for comnionj " bufinefs, but only be vacant to the Word and Prayer. 2j. The Bilhop " fliall hear no Csul'e but in the prefence of his Presbyters •, elfe it fhall be " void that is fcntenced without them, unlcfs confirmed by their prefence. " 28. Tii£ unjufl; condemnation of Bifliops is void. 50. And judgments *' againtl ti.e .sblfnt- 35. 1 h; Billiop to fit higher than the Presbyters ac

*' Church

*' Church and their Meetings, but at home know that they are his Col-*'leagues. yi. A Clerk how Learned foever in Gods Word, muftgethis *'living by a trade. 52. That is, by a trade or husbandry, without dc-*'triment to his Office, jj. All Clerks that are able to work, (houldlearn " both trades and Letters. 55. The Bifliop mud not admit an accufer of ** the brethren to Communion ^ Nor to enter into tlie Clergy, though he ** amend. Manyagainlt Clergy-men that are flatterers, betrayers, foul-*'tongucd, quarrellers, at difcord, fcurrilous, of filthy jealts, that fwear "by creatures, thatfing at feafts, of former fcandal, &c. 83. The poor "and the aged of the Church to be honoured before the rclt. 83. He that '* goeth to any Shows or S ghts, on publickdays, inftcad of going to the ** Church-afTembly, let him be Excommunicate. 98. A Lay-man mult not ** teach when the Clergy are prefent, unlcfs they bid him. 100. A woman " muft not baptize.

$. J J. XCIII. Jrt. 398. Another Council wasatC^rf/M^rofvj.Bilhops for Difciplinc.

J. }6. XCIV. yin. 399. TheophilM[ie\dASynod at yiUx4nd>ia, zgAintt: a dead man, Ortgen. The occafion S<«ro««W and Bmnim thus deliver : Mc-lania, a Woman of greateft Nobility in ^owf \n FaUnttht Arlans Pcfecu-tion, hid five thoufand Monks, and a while fufteined them, and when they were banifhed, with great zeal, followed them to maintain them out of her fubftance for cltate: ) When they were reftorcd from. banUhment, llie built for hcrfclfa Monaftery at fe>nfaltm, in which, befides fifty Virgins that dwelt with her, (lie entertained and maintained holy Foreign Bifliops, Monks, and Virgins, twenty feven years: Whereby it happened that both fhe and Ruffims , were by DiAymm AlexAndrimtt, (a man blind, but of great learning and fame, too great an admirer of Orj-'ra's works) entangled (as their accufers faid) in On£eti's errours, and received and di# vulged his ^ook, called Pcriarchon: After 25 years abfence in Efftft and Falcjiinc, returning to Ronu with great fame ot Holinefs, and bringing with them a piece of the Crofs, they with fraud bring to Rome Origins PerUr-chon^ (that is, Trandated and Corrected by Rujfinm.) Another Woman, Marcella^ acculeth them of Ori^fw's errours, which they deny, and get-ing Communicatory Letters from Pope Stridus, forfake Rome, (where fuch Merits and Holinefs would not procure an aged Lady a quiet habitation, without being Hereticated, becaufe (lie highly valued Onsen's Works,which had divers errours i and who hath not ? ) Hereupon Pamachiw, and Ocm-««/, vititc to Hierome topublifh Origcri's Peri.ircbon entire, and deteifl his errours; which he did, (hewing that Ruf[inns had mended fome, and left others unmended : This occafioned ftirs againft Hierome, and a Council call'dat Alexandria^ an. 599. where Ongcn is condemned. Theophtlus by his Legates e.xpells Origm's followers out of Egypt and Pakftwc : Being expelled they go to Chryfojlome to Conflaminoplt^ and complain of Theephi-Ins as perfecuting them that were innocent Catholick?, and defired his help: He undcrtaketh to reconcile them to Theophilnj .- Epiphanths foUoweth them

L 2 to

to ConftiDitinofle, and rcquireth Chr-yfoftome to Excommunicate them and Expel ihem:, Chryfoftome durltnot do ir, againft prople profefling trutli and picty> without a Synod: Whereupon Fplphanius irregularly accufcth Chryfoflome^ and publickly inveyeth againft him in his own Church ; of the proccis of which, more anon.

§. 57. Fortheb:tcerundcrftanding of thefe matters, I will infert fome-what of Th'-9philH! and ChryfoJ}omc^ont of Soo-atcs^hcczuic he is a moll credible Hifl:orian,and faith, they were things done in his o.viidays. Theophilus was noted for a Lordly Prelate •, Ijidort Telnfteta faith more : When Chry-/ff/owe was to be Ordained Bifhop of Co«/?4'?««op/f, Theophilus rcfufed to Ordain him, becaufe he would have preferred to it, one Jfdore^ a Prcf-byter of his own", But Eutropiits^ a Courtier, having go: Articles againft Theophilus, fhewed them to him, and bid him choofe, whether he would Ordain Chryfoflome Birtiop, or ftand at the Bar and anl wcr thole crimrs .■ Theo-fhilus was lb afraid at this, that he prcfcntly Conftcrated Chryfojiome : Socr. 1.6. c. 2. But prefently after began bufily to devife how he might work him mifchief, which hepradtifed privately by Word, and by his Letters into foreign Countries: But was vexed that his malicious praftices had not better fuccefs, for he thought to bring in this Jfidore (cap. 5.^

§■ 38. Oneof the Articles againft Theophilhs was this: When Theodo-fius was going to fight againft Maxinms the Tyrant, Theophilus lent pre-lentsbythis/yT^oretothe Emperour, with two Letters, charging him to give the prefents and one of the Letters to him that fhould have the upper-hand. Iftdore got him to Eome, to hearken after the Vi<flory : But his Reader that kept him company, ftole away his Letters.- Whereupon Ifdore in a fright took his heels prefently to Alexandria.

§. 3y. Another thing to be fore-known to this ftory is in 5ocr^r./.6<-.7. Thefchifmeof the Anthropomorph'ites new rofe from Egypt: fome of the more unlearned thought taat God hnd a body and the fliape of a man, but Theophilus (and the Judicious) condemned them, and inveighed againft them, proving that God had not a body. The Religious o^ Egypt hearing this, flocking in blind zeal to ^/e.v<«//^>7'^, condemned T;fcfopW«'/ for a wicked man, and fought to take away his life: Theophilus very pcnfive, de-vifedhowtofave his life: He came to them courtcoufly, and faid; When 1 faflen mine eyes on you, ntcthinkl J fee the face of Cod. Thelc words allayed the heat of the Monks;, who faid, If that be true that thoufayefl, that the face of God is like ours, then curfe the Works of Origin which deny it: If thou de/yihis., be fare thou fiialt receive at our hands the puniJJiment due to the impious and open enemies of God: O brave difputing.' Were thefe mortified Monks ? Theophilus told them, he would do what they would, for he hated the Books of Origen.

But that which ripened the mifchief was, that the Religious Houfes of Egypt having four brothers,excellent men,for their overfeers, Theophilus was reltlefs till he got them away to him ; one ofthcm, Diofcorus, h; madeaBi-fhop,others living with him perceived that he wasfet upon heaping and hoarding

money^

mo/icy^ and thnt ail his labour tended 10 ^atluri'!^-, [Dr. H^f.'iner tr.iiiflating this, puts in the Margin t This Bipjop !}.nh more fellows m the World. And noting how Theophilns to revenge himfelf perfccuted his cwn Opir.iotis faith, This is a fm aganift the Holy Ghoft.'} would dwell with him no ionge;, but returned to their Wildcrnefs- Tbcophiliit prone to anger and rcveiiC-., endeavoured by all means to work themmifchief i And the way he touiv was to accufe them to the Monks, for fayingtohim, that God/Wwf<i/w-dy, nor hum.inc fupe : And he himfcif was of ti.c fame Opinion, yet to be revenged of his Enemies,he ftuck not to oppugn it^ and font to the Monks,not to obey Diofcorus or his orcthren, for they held that God had no hody^ whereas Scripture faith, that he hath eyes, e^rs, hands and feet, asmenhave ^ whicli with Origen they deny : By this treachery he fct them all together by the ears; one fide calling the other Or«>;«/'?.', and the other t\\tm Antycfc. merphites-^ fo it turned to bickering among the Monks, yea , to a deadly battel: And Theophihu went with Armed men and helped the Ai.ihrope-ntorphites.

So you fee, if Socrates fay true, how wickedly this Sainted Patriarch lived, and how he came fo much engaged againlt the Orireni/}.'^ whole cr-roiirs doubtlcfs were worthy blame : but many good pcrfons who honoured On^fw for his great worth, and owned not his crrours, were called O-rigenifis, becaufe they honoured him: And that which was erroneous in him, was confident with far greater Learning, Piety, and Honefty, tiian Socra-tes^Ifidore Pcluf. and Others thought there was in Theophilns: Eitlier credible Socrates^ and others were grofs Lyars, or this Patriarch and Saint was a downright knave, oracled like one.

§. 40. Now wc are upon it, let us proftciite C/jry/c/?<7Wf's Hiftory further. He was a ftudious iioly Monk of a Houfe, mar j4i:tioch : After A>-£iariHj death he waschofen Bifliop for his nicer piety and worth : He was a man of great piety and lioncfly and an excellent tongue, and as good a life, but bred in a Cell and nor to Courtfliip, knew not how toflattcr Courtiers and Court-Prelates : He was naturally fharp and cholerick, and his confcicnce told him, that a Bilhop muft not be a dawber, nor liatter the greatelt wicked men: (For Biihops ia that Age were ilic Preachers,) not having a thoufand Congregations to preach toj He faw even the Clergy nddieT:ed to their appetites .■ and he kept a Table for them, but eating with great temperance he always eat alone-. He rebuked the Luxury of the Court, and particularly of tlie Emprefs, who conceived a deadly hatred againft him ■■ And the Cuftomeof the Court was, for the Women much to intluence both Empcrour and Courtiers, and then what Bi-fhop Ibever was tooprecife for them and bold with their fins, to get a pack of the Worldly Clergy prefeiitly to meet toi;c;her and depofe him: (For Synods of Bifhops 1^not the Pope) hadthaulie power.^/ They would not be feen in it thcmfelves , but a Patriarch of AUxandria Ihould cr.U a Synod, and do it prefently." Chr\foftome was a man of no Courtfhip to take off their edges ^ butthsworfc Courtiers, Bilhops; andPrielb were,

the

theworfc hcfpakeofthem-, Andallthehoncft plain people believed and loved him i but the rich and great Prelates abhorred him. His own Clergy hated him, becaufe he would reform them: Thofe that would not amend, he Excommunicated : Which they could not bear: fo that one of his Deacons Sfr^p'ow, openly faid to him, O Bil^iopf thou ^iMt never be ahlt to ruU allthefe oi thonwouldjly nn!efs thou make them all toft of one whip. Every one was his Enemy who was his own, and was engaged by guilt againft his Difciplineand Dodrine.

The Guilty hated him : His Hearers loved him: Swift-Writers took his Sermons, whichtellus what he was to this day : And it was honefty and policy in Innocent Biihop of Rome to own him, who had worth to add to the reputation of his defendants. Among other of his accufations, one was, that Eatropius an Eunuch, Chamberlain to the Emperour, procured a Law againft Delinquents taking the Church for a San<ftuary. And fhort-ly after being to be beheaded, for a crime againfb the Emperour, he took the Church for a Sauttuary himfelf;, And Chryfoftome from the Pulpit Preached a Sermon againft him, while he lay proftrate at the Altar. Al-To he refilled Gainas the Arian, who turned Traytor and was deftroy-cd

Another caufe of Chryfofiotne''s difturbance was, that one Stveriantit Bi-fiiop of G<«W* in SyrM, came into Conflantimple, and Preached for Money, and drew away the hearts of the People, while Chryfoflonte was about choof-ing aBilhop for Ephefus: Serapion a turbulent Deacon quarrelled with the Syrian Bifhop, and would not reverence him: The BiQiop faid, // Serapion die ti Chrijli/in, Chrift was not Incarnate. Serapion tells Chryfofiome the laft words without the firft: Chryfofiome ^oth\<ii^Severianus the City: The Emprefstaketh his part, and importuneth Chryfofiome to be reconciled to Severiamts. But the Core remained, Socrat. 1.6. c lo.

$. 41. Socrat. c. 11. Shortly after Epiphamns ("the Colleftor ofHere-fies) came from Cyprus to Confiantineple^ and there irregularly in Chryfo. ftomes Diocefs played the Biftiop, ordained a Deacon, and called together the Bifhops that were accidentally in the City, and required them to Condemn the Books of Origen; which fomedid,andfomerefufed, faith Socrates., cap. 12. " Obfcure men, odd Fellows, fuch as have no Pith or *' Subftance in them, to the end they may become famous, go about moft " commonly to purchafe to themfelves Glory and Renown by difpraifing " fuch men as far excel them in rare and lingular Virtues. Chryfofiome bore patiently Epiphanius''s fault and invited him to take a Lodging at his Houfe. He anfwered him, "I will neither Lodg with thee, nor Pray " with thee, unlefs thou banilh Diofconts and his Brethren out of the City, " and fublcribe with thy own Hand the Condemnation of the Works of *' Origen : Chryfofiome anfwered, that fuch things are not to be done without deliberation and good advice. Epiphanius in Chryfofierne's Church at the Sacrament, ftands forth and Condemns Ongen., and Excommuni-cateth DiofcorMsz Bifhop, and reproveth Chryfofitme as taking their part.

Chryfofiome

Chryfofiwte fent word by SerMfton to EpiphantHt that he did violate the Ca. nons, I. In making Minifters in his Dioccfs ; 2. In admioiftring the Communion without his Licence, and yet refufing to do it when he de-fired it- Wherefore he bid him take heed left he fee the People in an up. roar, for if ought came amifs, he had his remedy in his Hands. Epipha. nius hearing this, went away in fear, and took Ship for Cyprus .- The report goeth (faith SocrAtes,cAp. i j.) that as he went he faid of/<?««, J hcpe thoHfliitlt nevtrdyea Biptp: And that Chryfifltme anfwer'd him, J hope thou ffAlt ntver come Altve into thy Countrey. And it fo;fe]l out: For Epipharuiu dyed at Sea by the way ■■, and Chyfojlome dyed depofed and banilhed.

5.4;.The Emprers£«</o.»:/4 was faid to kt Epipham hs on work. CtiryfoJIomt being hot,made a Sermon of the faults of Women ; which was interpreted to be againft the Emprcfs. She irritated the Emperour againft him i and got Tlieophilus to call a Council againft him, at Q^iercMs near Chslcedon^ and CorftMt. Thither came Severtanns, and many Biihops that Chryfoflome had depofed, and many that were his Enemies for his ftridncfs^ butcfpe-cially timefervers that knew the will of the Emprefs, if not theEmpC' rours: When they fummoned him to appear before them, He anfwer-ed, that by the Canon there muft be more Patriarchs, and he appealed to a General Council, yet not denying to anfwcr any where, if they would put out his Enemies from being his Judges, and that in his own Patriarchate. But they fcntenced him depofed, for not appearing: The People were prefently in an uproar, and would not let him be taken out of the Church: The Emperour commanded his banilhment .• To avoid Turaulr, the third day he yielded himfelf to the Souldiers to be tranfpor-ted .- The people hereupon were all in an uproar, and it pleafed God that there was an Earthquake that night: V\"hcreupon the Emperour fent after him to intrcat him to return. When he came back he would not have officiated, till his Caufe wss heard by equal Judges, but the People conftrained him (o Pray and Preach", which was after made the matter of his Accufation. Tbecphtlus was hated as ti',e caufe of all, and Scverimms as the fecond. After this Theophtlus turned his Accufarion upon Heraclides^ Bilhcpof £/j/;f/«j, put in by Chryfcftome : They condemned him unheard, in his abfence .- Chryfoftcme faid that fhould not be : The Alexandriani faid, Jt was j/ij} ■■, They went hereupon together by the Ears, and fome were wounded and fome were killed, and Theophilus glad to fly home to Mexandria i but was hated by the People.

§.43. After this a Silver Imageof the Emprefs was fet up in the Street, and Plays and Shows about it, which Chryfpjicme perhaps too Hiarply reproached : This provoked the Emprefs to call another Council i which depofed Chryfoflome, for feizing upon his place before a Council reftored him : He ccaied his OfRce : The Emperor banilhed him : His People in pafllon fet the Church on Fire, wh.ch burnt down the Senstours Courts for which grievous fufTerings befell them. Upon this they forfook the Church and the new Bilhop (v^i/<»c/«/,ancid ufelefs man)and gathered Con-

vca:icles

[;3^ venticles by themfLlves, and were long called Joamttes from his Name, and taken for Schifmaticks: But they never returned till the Name and Bones o^ Chnfcflome were reftored to Honour.

$.4^. ih. Ncvaiims qua relied with Chryfoflonie as too loofc in his Doctrine and too ftritt in hi. Life, becaufe he faid in a Sermon, If you Sin an hundred timcs,thc Church Doors fliall be open to you, if you repent. And Chryfofiomc zngry with Sifimitu x!\\t Novatian Bilhop,told him. There fhould not be two Bilbopsin one City, and threatnedtofilence himfrom Preaching : He told him thst he would be beholden to him then for faving him his labour. But Chryfoftome anfwered him, Nay^ if it be a labour, go on.

§. 45. XCV. A Council in y^fikl^to renew the Priviledgcs of Churches for Sanftuary •, that none that tied to them for any Crime, (liould be taken out by force : Juftice was taken for VVickednefs.

§. 46. XCVI. Two Councils met, one atConJi. to judg Amonins, Bi-fliop o^EpheJus^ for Simony, and many other Crimes: Another at Ephc-fus to judg fi\' Bifliops for Simony.

§. 47. XCVll. About^/;. ^o:^. A Council of I9 Bifhops ztTolctumx^' prefs the Prifci!liaris\ and make divers Canons for Difcipline',as that a Clcr-gy-Man (hall have power over his oftending Wife by force, but not to put her to death ■■, that a man that hath no Wife but one Concubine fliall not be kept from Communion ('though fome think that this Concubine is truly a Wife, but not according to Law, but private Contract, and more fervile.) Many other better there be.

There is adjoyned a Rsffida fidei of many Bifliops approved by Pope Leo, in Bin.p- 565. To which are adjoyned Anathematifms againll the Prifcillians : One of them is. If c.ny one fay or believe that other Striptures arc to he had in jinthority and Reverence^ be fides thofe rrhich the Catholick^ Church receiveth, let him be Anathema. ('Yet the Papifls receive more.) An-^^!^ other is, If any one thinkjhat Aftrology or Mathemattckt is to be believed (ot tnilted) let him be anathema.

There arc in ^/w. divers Fragments cited, as oftheTo/fr. Councils. One faith that Arch-Presbyters are under the Arch-Deacons, and yet have Curam animariim over nil the Presbyters- Another determineth that there ihall hi but one Baptifmal Church, wl.ich is there called. The Mother Church, with its Chapels, in the Limits afligned: And another diflin-guiiheth of Offerings made at the Pariili Church, and Offerings at the Altars :, which [heweth that then there were no Altars but where the Bi-Diop was-

§. 4S. XCVllI. Two Councils were hdd at Cunhaje about 401. The laccr about the Donatifls.

% 49. XClX. A:. 402. Was the Council Mckviian. about certain Bi-friO!)S qu?rrcJs , and who iliould be the hightfl: Bifhop in Nm.idut.

§. 50. C, An. 403. Was th« Synod tid Qnercum, which depofed Chrxfffo'- e-

- ' ^ S'-

their Coumils abridged. g j

§. 51. CI. An. 403, 404, &c. There were fevea Councils in ^/r»£•/(;, againftthe Donatifis^ to procure//owm; to fupprcfs them by the Sword, not as a Hirejie, but becaufe they rofe up by Ftre a^d Sword ag3ix)ii the Ca-tholicks, and abufed and killed many. But when Attains invaded Afnck, the Emperour proclaimed Liberty for them, to quiet them ■-, which he after recalled. Another Synod was held againft them at Cyrta. One at ToUtHm about Ordinations ■, and one at Ptolcm<ns to Excommunicate Andronicas^ an opprefling GovcrHour.

J.52. ClI. The Do«rtf»/?Bifhopsheld aCouncil,decreeing,thatwhenafcn-tence of banifhment was palled on them,they would not forfake their Church, but rather voluntarily die, as many did by their own hands .• For they took themfelves to be the true Church and Bidiops, and the reft perlecu-tingSchifmaticks.

$. 5}. cm. The Concilium DiofpoUtannm of 14 Bifliops in Palejline acquitted PW4^/«/upon his renouncmg hisErrours.

§54. An. 416. A Council at Carthage of 6-j BiHiops condemned Pela-gins and Cdcfiwe -, whom the former had abfolvcd.

§. 55. C\'. A Council of 60 Bilhaps at A///<rv« condemn PeUgtus. The 22. Canon gallcth the Pontificians .- If Presbyters, Deacons., or other >«• fericiir Clergy, ftiallin their Caufes comfUin of the BiflwfSythe netghhour Bijhops fhMl heir them and end the huftnifs -^ being ufed i>y the confem of thetr Stjhofs: But if they fee caufe to appeal from them alfo, let them appeal to none but te Africans Councils, or to the Primates of their Provinces : 'But if any wtS appeal to *ny places beyond the Seas., let none in Africk receive them into Communion.

In this Council was Aurelins^Alyptas., AitguftmHSf Evoditts, and Pojfido-niits., and thefe very great with Pope Innocent., one of the belt and wifelt Popes (who excommunicated Theophtlns, Arcadtns and the Emprefs, &c. for Chryfoftomes caufe.) Yet did this pafs then without contradiction. Can. 12. of this Council Liturgies were made necellary approved by Councils left any Herefie (hould be vended.

§.56. Cdefline and Pf/<«^»/« being condemned \)'j thz Africans., efpeci-ally upon the Accufations of Lazjirus and Jierotes Bifliops, faid to be holy men •, Innocent joyned with the Africans^ but after his death Pope Zo-y?w«j having a fair Appeal of C£/€/?y«», crc. to him, abfolvcth them both and condemncth their Accufers. He writeth an Epiftle, had the caufe *^3 been good , very honeft againft rafli condemning innocent men , telling them how greatly they were rcjoyced at Rome to find them Orthodox-, and whatfalfc and bad men Lazanu and Herotes were : It was La-tArtts cuftorae to accufe the Innocent, as in many Councils he had done Saint Brttins a Bifhop of Tohts ; that he got by Blood into the Bilhops Seat, and was the fliadow of a Billiop, while a Tyrant had the Image of Empire, and then his Patron being (lain, voluntarily dcpofcd himftlf. The like he faith of Herotes i and that neither of them would come perfonally to Rome, but lay in Bed and fent falfe Letters of Accufation : Therefore he admonifiiech the Africans (among whom was Angufline) to believe fjch

M whiCper-

8 2 Church-Hiftory of Bijhops a?ic/

vrhifperers no more againft the innocent: But Binnim out of Profper maketh the accufers holy men, and the other wicked: Sin. p. 607.

§. 57. PclagtHs lent Zofimus a Confedion of his Faith, and therein condemning all the late Hcrefies, profefl'eth, That he fo holdeth free-veill^ Of yet that we always need the help of God'-, and that they erre xfho fay with the Manichees, that a man cannot avoid fin, and they that fay with Jovini-an, that a man cannot fin ^ for both deny thefreedame of the will: But he bold-eih, that always a man can fin andean forbear fin, fo at he fitll holdeth the free-dome of the will.

I5ut fubtile Auguftine and the reft, fent back many harder queftions to put to PtUgiiis and Calefiine for their tryal, upon which they after paft for Hereticks.

$. 58. CVI. Therefore iivBifhopsin a Council at Cir//j<«^c having received Zofimus Letters, decreed to ftand to their former judgment and Innocents, againft PclAgms and Cskfline, till they fliould confefs certaiH points fforGracej drawn up by Paulus Diaconus.

§• 59. CVII Zofimus being dead, Boniface and Enlalius ftrove for the Popedome.- Both were chofen .• The Emperour Honoruts was fent to for both: This Cafe being too hard for him, he referrcth it to a Council at Ravenna : It proved too hard for them. Therefore the Emperour commanded them both to remove from the City, and another Bilhop to officiate, till it was decided by another Council. But Eidaliiis difobey-ingthe Emperours Command, and coming into Rome at noon-day, oc-calioned a tumult, and the people were neer to fight it out. Which the Emperour hearing, e.\p:lled Enlalius, and a Council obeying him confirmed Boniface. 1^ §. do. Among the Decrees of Bomface one is. That no Bifiwp fliall be brought or fet before any Judge Civil or A^ilitary, either for any ■ Civil or criminal caufe. So tliac a Bilhop had the priviledge of abadPhylician ; he might murder and not be hanged', For any ovw^, he wasto anfwer but before Bilhops, who could but Excommunicate and Depofe him. But another Decree is becter, AgRinfk B(fl)ops that fall cut and defire to hurt their Brethren: But, alas, to how little effedt?

§. 61. CVIII. Another Council at Ctr//?,«^f, f called the fli'th, and by fome the fifth) iiad the famous contention with three Popes, Zofimus, Boniface, and Cdefline, fucceffively, againft Appeals to Rome, and the Popes fending Legates into Jfrica to judge. The Popes ailedged the Council of Nice for it. The African Bifliops knew no fuch Canon : They take time for Tryal, and fend to Confiantinople and Alexandria, to Atticus and Cyril, for their true Copies of the Councils: None of them have any fi-ch Canon: The Fathers write to the Pope to take better heed whathcaffirmeth for thetime tocome, and to forbear fuch pride and ufurpation : alledging that by the Canons all ftrifes were to be ended by their neighbour Bilhops and Councils.

Here thePapifts fweat about thefe anfwers and the event. Some fa^y

Cas

their Councils abriclged. S3

(jAs Harding) th^t the Jfricons continued long, (Tome fcyalmoft 100 years) inSchifm: And an Epiftle under the name of Pope Bonijace the fecond to EHlaliui iaith the fame : Others wifer (as Btnnius) fee that to Icfe Au^^HJiines authority and have him and all the African Bifnops (the bell of the Worlds againfl; the Papal power, would be to heavy a burden for them: Therefore they fay, that the y^/noj^^ were no Schifmatick?, that the Canon not found was in tlie Council oiSardica •, and that That went for the Council of Nice : That the Africans did not deny the Popes power of judging them, but only of fending Souldiers and doing it violently by force, and liich other fhifts, which the exprefs words of the African Council and Letters plainly coa-fute: If any difpute it, 1 appeal to the very words.

Either another Council or a fecond SelUon of the lame is called the fe-venth at C^thage.

$. 62. CIX. All this while theSchifm continued at ^c-m.-, and Enldms partly would not Communicate with the reft, each fide faying, that theirs was the True Bifliop, and the other an Ufurper and Schifmatick. But Thct. dofius was for Cdcfltne. In his time another Carthage Council made up their Canons 105. Among which are.- 6. Thatvo Sijhop te caHcdthe chief Btjlcp. 3 5. To dealgetitUer with the Donatiits. j6. Tojend to themfor peace. 55. That Bi-Jlwps latelier ordained may not dare to prefer themfeives before thofe that were Ordained before them. 6%. For pacifying the Churches of Rome and Alexandria, G-c.

$. 63. It fell out well for ^«/?««againft the Pf/4f/>«/, that by the means oiProffer and Hilary ?o]iQC<tlejhne was wholly on Anjlms lidc, and condemned the Pelagians. Aad among his own Decrees one was Nh/Im myitis detur EpifcopHS : Cleri, plebu G~ or dints Comm. fenfus ac defidcrimn recjairatur. Many Canons of thofe times (liew that the Bifiiops Churches were no bigger, than that All the Laity could meet to choofeor accept the Biftiop, and have perfbnal Communion. J. 64. ex. An £.»//fr« Council againft the ^rf/u//<»7/. §. 65. CXI. Next cometh the iVf}?m4;; War: Pope C-t/r/Ftw provoked by Cyrtl AUx. called a Council at Rome, and condemned A>//cnw, unlefs he recanted in ten days.

$. 66. CXII. Cyril calleth his Council at Alexandria, and pafTeth the fame fentencc, having got C^/<>/?»«f to back him, and fends it with many Anathematifmesto A'f/onw, calling for his abjuration. The whole caufe is opened at the next Council at £;/«/'«. .,

M 2 C H A P.

CHAP. V.

The Firft General Council at Ephefus, with the Second^ andfome other following.

i.x. ^TT^ He Church zt ConftantinofU growing to be the greateft, by I the prefence of the Court (v/hich was ihefpringor poifeof JL raoft ofthc Bifliops courfes, and indeed did rule,) it became the envy and jealoufie, efpecially of the two great Patriarchs, 'Rome and Alexandria. Alexandria being under the fame Emperour had more to do with Conft. and made the greater Stirs •, For when the Empire was di--Tided, Rome being under an Orthodox Emperour, had little trouble at home, and little opportunity for domination in the Eaft: Yet keeping up the pretence of the prime Patriarchate, and the Ca^nt Mtndi Romans, the Pope watch'd his opportunity to lay in his claim, and to keep under the stronger fide, andwhiietheydidthework inthe£<r/? againft one another, -he fent now and then a Letter or a Legate, to tell them that he was fome-body ftill: And indeed the hope of help from the Wefltm Emperour by the countenance of the Pope, made the Eaftem Churches ftill vexed with Here-fie and Perfecutionsand Divifions, to feek ofc to Rome and be glad of their approbation, to ftrengthen them againft their adverfaries.

\ 2. When Arfaciuf was dead, Atticns fucceededhim at Confiantinophf a wife and pious healing man, who greatly thereby advanced that Church and all the Eaftern Churches.- He dealt gently with the Novatians and lived in peace with them. He encouraged Hereticks by kindnefs to return to the Communion of the Church. At Synada in Phry^ia Pm. was a Church of ■Macedonians: Theodofius Bifliop of the Orthodox Perfecuted them with great fcverity: And when he found that the Magiftrates of the place had not power to do as much as he expefted, he got him to Conftantinofle for greater power: while he was there A^a^ettu the/^^cif^/owwa Bifliop turned Ortho-

ittrat^\,y. dox, and all the Church adhered to him, and fet him in the BiJIiops chair.

C.J. ' When 7lbM<fc/<«< came home with power to perfecute him, he found him in his place, and the people fhut the doors againft 'Theodofuu: Whereupon he went back to Confi. and made his complaint to Atttctu how he wasufed. AtticHi knew that it fell out for the beft, for the concord of the Church,and he gave Thetdofmt good words, and perfwaded him only to be patient.

§. I. •Cyril at that time fucceeded his Unkle Theofhilus at Alexandria^ in place and in unquiet domination, taking more upon him than Theophi-itu had done, even the Governmentof temporal affairs: He prefently fliut

<«nib.c7. up the 2Viw<i;w«.Churches in y^/f;^. rifled thera of all their Treafure, and

bereaved

bereaved Theepempnu their Bifliop of his fubftance Tlie Jews at that time falling out with the Chriftians.murdered many of t.'icoi. Cynl executed ibmc, and banifhed them all. Oreftes the Governour took this ill: Fifty Monks of Mount Altria come totake Cyril's part, and aflault the Governour, and wound him in the head with a Hone : The people rife and put the Monks £0 flight, but take him that did the Fad, and he is tormented and put to death: Cyril pronounced the Monk a Martyr, but the people would r.oc believe him one. At that time there was a Woman, Hypatia, lb famous .^c.;-. c i j. for learning, that (he excelled in all Philofophy, and taught in the Schools :(whichP/ef/«« continued: j fo that (he had Scholars out of many Countries, and was oft with Princes, and Rulers, and forh:r raodelly and gravity ^was much efteemed. Oreftes the Governour oft talking with her, thepco-plefaid. It was long of her that he was not reconciled to C)r»/: Tlieylaid holdofher:, drew her into a Church, ftript her ftark naked •, rafetheskin, andtarethel]elhotf her body with fliarp ihells till fhedyed : they quarter her body and burn them to alhes; which turned to the great diflionour of Cynl.

§. 4- All this while the followers of Chryfoftome remained Nonconfor-milts and Separatifts at ConftantitiopUy and were called Joannitcs^ and kept in Conventicles of their own. jitnctu knew that love was the way to win Xhem, andhepurpolingtotakethat way, writeth to Cynl ^Ux. that the rcftoringof Cfcry/e/o/wf'sname in the Church-Office would tend to heal their fad divifion, and give the Churches peace .• He told Cyril, that Pcfulns m4- e^ J9ri ex parte per f/iflionemfctJfHS extra mttros ccnve?itns egerit, O" f I cykjhc facer dotes O" collegit tioftri Efifcopi Cr a mntH.i comtmmicne difccdeiites , honam ^lantationem Damini pariim abefi quin avulferint, (^c. '*' IMoft of tlie people *'were gone and had feparate meetings without the Walls:, Pricfts and *' Bilhops fcparating from one another were like to dcllroy the Church, and "thatiihe confented notto reftore thenameof dead C^>yo/?o«;f, the pco-" pie would doit without him, and he was loath that Church-adminiftra-*'tion fhould fo fall into tlie hands of the Multitude, and therefore he ** would take in Chryfoftojn's name.

Alexander^ a good Bifliop of y^wf wc/? put him upon this way: ^MtCyrtl Kicefh.]. did vehemently oppofe it CHowdidheobey ^ow? then, when the Pope had '+ '^•^7. Excommunicated Chryfoftom\ perfecutors?^ And firft he pleaded, that the Schifmaticks were but few (as if their own Bilhop knew not better than hei) and that Cbryfoftcme being ejeded dyed a Lay man, and was not to be numbered with the Clergy, that Atticut had the Magiftrates on his fide, that would bring them in by force (Reader^ there is netbin^ new wider the fun: the things that have been arc.) And a little time would reduce moll of them to the Church (though they increafed:,) That by favouring the Schifmaticks he would lofe the obedient (Conformifts,^ and would get nothing by pleaC ing fuchdifobedient men, but ftrengthen them-, That the Conformifts (or obedientj were the far more confiderable part, even the Bilhops and Churches of £iy'pf, Libia, arc. andthreatnedchathev^ould fe«k a renie-

dy liimfclf i And reproaching Cbryfojlomr^ he tellcth Attkiu, That Conformity to the Canons was more to be obierved than the pkaling of fuck Schifmaticks, and that violating the Cr.nons would do far more hurt thaa plcaling fjch nicp. would do good i Anu ihatfuch men will never be fatis-ficd by rcafons, norjudj^.c truly of thcmfelvcs: And he likened thercftoring of Ck.yfaftotne\ NsiTie, to the putting in th.-* name of the Traytor Jndas with AiMthiM. He addrd. That if ignorant wilful fellow^ will forfake the Church,what lofs is it?And thei efore that ?. few mens talk mufi not draw Jittkut to pluck up the Church Sancftions. And as ioi Alexander Antioch. who perfvvaded him to it, He was a bold-faced man that had deceived many:, bur ihisdifeafeninfl not thus prevail, butbecured. ThusCyr/'/toy^r-tieus: How uft have 1 heard jufi; liAh language ? Reader, How hard is it to know T/hat Hifcory tD believe, v\ hen it comes to thecharaclerizing of ad-vcrfaries? Howliitle is a domineering Prelates accufation of fuch men as Chryfojhme to he credited ? And how ordinary is it with fuch, to call their betters, not what they are, butwhatthey would have them thought, ifnot what they are themfelves ?

But Attictn was wifer than to take this Counfcl •, but obeyed the Wifdom which is from above, which is firfl pure and then peaceable, gentle, &c. And God had fomuch mercy on Conflant. as to defeat the evil Counfel of Cyril, and turn it into foolifiincfs: For Attkm reftored thenameof OS^ry. fojjonte, andufed theNonconformifts kindly, and they came into the unity of the Church : And when/'>(7rte, after him, fetch'd home his bones with honour, the breach was healed.

$. 5- No credible Hiltorytelleth us, that either Thcophilns or Cyril did repent of this ^ (Though the Papifts fay, that the Pope Excommunicated TheophilM for it i yet they are now honoured, becaufe the Pope did own the Caufe againfl:iVf/?on/«.j Theodoret^s Epillle to Job. Antioch. upon the death of C<iril^ taking his death for the Churches deliverance from a turbulent enemy of Peace, intimates, that he repented not: But ('God only knowethrj Nice^horus outof/V/af.tUhe Philofopher, tells us a report,that after all this, before he dyed, a dream did cure him:, I'iz.. That he faw Chryfoflome drive him out of his own honje, ha-oinaa Divine company wkhhi/n^ and that the rirj^in Mary iiitreated for him., Q-c. And that upon this Cyril changed' his mind and admired Chryfoflome, and repented of his imprudence and wrath, and hereupon called another Provincial Synod to honour him, and reltore his name- ( O dnBtie Synods \ And O unhappy Churches, whofc Paftorsmufl grow wife, and ceafedeftroying, after fo long finning, and by an experience which cofteth the Church fo dear ! ) And Nicephortu faith, that Ifdorc Pelnfiot^'^s reproof conduced much hereto, Nueph. lib. 14. cap. 28.

§. 6. J/idore Pcl*tf. words you may fee at large in his Epiftles: Nicephortu reciteth thus much of them, lib. J4' c. 55. Cynllum fane nt ho-mincm turbulent itm refi liens hxc fcribit: Favor is affeEiio aciitnm non videt: Ho-Jl-ilis vcro animi odium nil pi'orfus cernit : Q^od ft utroqite hue vitio te purga-

r€

re ipfu/n & Itbtrare vu, ne violent as fententias txtorcjutto^ fed jnfiojudicio cait-fas committe: — Afiilti qui Ephefi tecum congregati fuernnt^ pHhlicc te tra» ducunt^ quod immiciti,u tuat ferf(CHtus fs, & non rite O" ordine juxtn re^tt fidei fententiam ea qiutjcfrt Qhrijli [ant qu^Jivcris: Thcophili> irqntHnt^ cum ex fratre nepos Jit, mores queque illins tmit^tur: ficut Hie apertam infaniam infann^iim G" Deo dileilum Joannem ejfudity it a O' iftegloriain eodem aJfcH-at mo~ do. And after other fharper words, he addeth. Ne ego ua (Ofidemner, O" ttetH ipfeetiam a Deocofidemneris-, comentiones fopito: Necinjuris propriavin-diHa qn£ ab homiiiibus provtnit^ vidcntem Ecclefam per aflni^zs a^iones, f^Has. And of Theophilus, he faith. Eudi quatiior admimp.rn feu potius defertoribni fuii circumvalUtum, qni Dcum amantem, Dciimq\ prxdicantemvirum (Chryfoff.) hojlilfter opprimerct, quum occafoncm & can/am tmpictatii fiu arriptiijfet. Thus IJidore fpeaketh of them.

$. 7. Atttcus dying, the Clergy were for Philip or Prcclns^ but the Lai- sccr. 1.7. ty choofing S»y<";-7;>/w prevailed : He was a good and peaceable Man, and c. iS. fent Proclus to be Bijlwp of Cyzjcim , but the People rtfufed him and chofc another.

§. 8. After the death o^ Siftmiius to avoid ftrife at home the Emperour cauled Ncjioriiis to be chofen, a Monk from the Houfc by Antioch, whence Chryfeflome canic. He was loud, eloquent, a!;d temperate: But hot againit the liberty of thofc called Hcrcticks: He bigun thus to the Emperour, Give me the Earth weeded from Hereticks , and I will give thee H^.4ve>i: Help n.e ag.tinfi the Hereticks aid 1 wiH help thee a-gtirji the Perllans. Ttii'S turbulent heteticators mud have the sy,-. c. i^. Sword do the work that bclo.igeth to the Word : Princes mull do their V\'ork, and they will pretend t:'at God ihall fcr their fakes advance c. 31. . thole Princes : But he was rewarded as he dcfcrved. He prefcntly en-ragtdthev#r».i«j by going to pull down th:ir Church, and they fee it on Fire thcmfclvcs to theha/ard of thjCiLy. Soth.it lie vvasprcfcitly calkd a Firebrand. He vexed the Novatiais, and railld llirs in many places, but the Emperour curbed \(\\\\. Antony B ihop o\' Gcrtn.i vexing the M.:ccdomans^ they killed hira : whereupon they were put out of their Churches in many Cities.

§. g. At laft hisownroine came asfoliowcrh. Ntftorius defended his Prieit A'uflafiits^(01: faying, that Afary was not to be called SrioloKo^y the Afcther c. js, • of God : This fet all the City in a divi'iTon, difputingof they well knew not what, and fufpcifting him of denying the Godhead of Chfiil: But he was of no fuch Opinion, but being eloquent and felNconcoited read little of the Ancients Writings, nor was veryleariicd-, and thought to avoid all extreams herein, and lb would not call Mny the Mother of God^ nor the Mother cfMati, but the Mother of ChnlJ who w^ts God and Man.

At that time fome Servants of fome Noble Men impatient of their Ma-fters feverities fied to the Church ; ^ad with their Swords rcllfted all that ^ would remove them, killed one Prieft, wounded another snd then killed ' ^^' themfclves.

§• 10.

i. ic. CXUI. The Emperoiir Thcodofms jun. a Religious Peaceable Prince, weary of this Stir, called a General Council at £ffef/«w, and gave Cyril order to prcfide, fthe Papifts pretend that he was Pope Ctltjiiue's Legate, who indeed joyned with him by his Letters, when he faw hovr things went J Both Cyril and Nejloritu defiredthe Council (Letters before .'aving made no end) Cakftine nor the ><(^»C4»« could not comci ^«-giiftine was dead: Neftarim, Cyril^ and Juvenal of ferufalem came : John ot\Jnt:och was thirty days journey off, and his Bifliops much more, and flayed long. Cyril znd Memnon of Ephefm would not ftay for him: AV/?«-rim came the firft day •, But C}ril and the reft being fliarp againft him, for not calling Mary the Paretn of God^ he faid to them, Ejro himeflrem am trimeftrem Deitm von facile dixtrim: Vroinde futrtu fmn a veflro fangnine : infojlcrHm ad-JOS nonvcniam. That is, / will not eajily fay, that God is txvf er three months eld: I am clean fi-omyour blond, and will come to you ti9 mere. Some Bilhops gOing with him, they metby themlelves. Cyril fummoneth him : He refufeth to come till John Bifhop of A/itioch came. They examine his Sermons and WitneiTes, and condemn and depofc him, as blafphemous againltChrift. Three or four days after, Jo^w of y^«f/ocJi>, and \\\sEaflern Bifliops come .• Hetookit ill that they flayed not for him .- He joyneth ina diftindt meeting with iV^f/?orz/«^: T/jcWar^f accufethC^ri/'s Anathematifmes of crrour: They depofe Cyril and Memnon: CyriPs Synod citeth John : He refufeth to appear : They depofe him and his adherent Billiops: And t^ thus two Synods fate depofing and condemning one another .- Both Parties fend their Agents to the Emperour : His Officer Candidiasis took part with Ncjlorim : He fendeth another Johanr.es Comes, with charge to depofe the h. ads of both the depofing Parties, and lb to make good both their dtpofitions, w'z:. Nejlorim, Cyril, and /yfcm>:on: Candidiarms before had teld the Emperour, how all was done in violence and confufion, and he had pronounced all Null, and charged them to begin all a-new. When Johnn-Siii.pySS.nes Comes came, he wrote to the Emperour, that yill being in confufion, and Cyril andlAimnon fortifyim^ themfilves, he fummoncd them all to come to him\ And Irjl they jiwitld fall together by the ears, (which he feared, by reafon of their fringe fiercenefs) he ordered their coming in fo^ that it might not be fromifciiouf-ly : Nellorius and Joiin c/Antioch being comefirjl, Cyril and his company (ex-ccptMcmnoiiJcafienext^ Mid prefcntly a great tuMult and flir began^ CyrilV Party faying, th.tt the fght of NcdiOTius, whom they haddepofed, was not to be endured: Thiy would h.ive the Scripture read: But thofe that favoured Cyril, ftid, that the Divine and terrible Scriptures were not to be read without Cyril, }:or while Nellorius ai:d the Oriental Bilhcps were prefent; and for this Hjere w.w a Sedition, yea, a Wxr, and fight: The fame faid the Bifliops that were With John, th,it Cyril onj^ht not to be pnfent at the Reading of the Scriptures, he and hlcn'r on bring depofcd : The day being fir [pent thus ^ he attempted, excluding Cyri 1 and Ncflorius, to read the Einpcroitrs Orders to the rcfi ; But Cyri I'j- Party wouldnothear them^ hccjufe they faid Cyr'd and Memnon were unlawfully de-vfed: He h.^d much ado to pcrfv de tl.em at lafl, (^and indeed thruftin^ out

Nefto-

their Councils abriJgec/. go

Ne/lorius andC^vW by force) fomich m tc hear the Emferei'.rs writing. Bm he made them he^r it.- In, which Neftoriiis, CuiJ, and Mtninon, were difofcd. Thofe thatwere ffith]o\\X\hcard it fncr.dly, nnd afp-ovt^it: The ttl.tr cUrwitt-edy that Cyril and Memnon fve>e Wronafu/fy dcpeftd;. T» aiotd Sedtttt>ri Nc-Horias was committed 10 CindiA'ismMConeii ^ftd Cyril to Jacobi-is Comes (and Memnon after.) Hecondudcth, i^iiodf fumijfitnos Epifcopes videre implacatos & irrecandlialnleSy {Nefcia iinde in hanc rr.htem G i<fperttaiem xv nerint^) cc. This was his DeTcription of the carriage ol this Council.

Both Parties fent feveral Biniops, as their Delegates, to Cenjlartinople : The Emperour would not permit them to come nearer than ChAlctden^ (which is as Soiithwark, to London.) While they wait thtre, TlHodorite, one of John's Party againit Cyril, wrote back, that the Court was againfl Nc-flvritu, but nioft of the People were for them. It's faid that Pulcheri/t, the Emperours Sifter, was much againft him. At laft Pope C*lejiive''s Le-gates came to the Council and took C^r»7's Part. The Emperoar faw hosv great the breach would be, if Cyr»7 were depofed, and he revoked the de-pofition of him and Memnon, but not ofNeftorins, and wrote a thrcatning Letter to Cynl and john^ to charge them to agree and joyn in Communion, and not divide the Churches, or elie what he would dotothembothThefe terrible words cured them both of Herefie: They prefently confultcd,and fent each other their Confcllions, and found (good men) that tbey wer» ^3 of one mind and did not know it- And fo having their will upon N'ejlo-rtHt and his adherents, the reft united. But fo, thatjofc'j and Tbttdsriti took Cyr»/for a Firebrand to the laft.

§• II. AVyFor/w being depofed retired quietly to his Monaflcry by y^«-ticch., and lived therein honour four years, but then was banifhcd and dyed in diftrefs: ("fome Fable that he was eaten with Worms.)

$. u. The event of this Council was, that a Party of the Orientals adhered to Nejhriusy took C^r/7 and this Council for Hereticks, and to this day continue anumerous Party of Chriftians, called Hereticks by the Pontificians, becaufe they are not for thera : And the Entychians on all oc-cafions accufed their Adverfaries the Orthodox to be Nej}orians, and the Churches were inflamed by the dilTention through many Ages following.

$. 1 J. And what was really the Controverfie between them ? Some ac-Cuie NeJitriHs as afTerting two perfons in Chrift as well as two natures, which he ftilldenyed- Others accufe Cyril z% denying two Natures .• But his words about this were many, but he affirmed two Natures belorc the Union, Cand fo did the fwryr /jmwj) but one after : I>aiid Derodon a moll learned Frenchman hath written a Treatife De Suppojito, in which he co-pioufly laboureth to prove that N'efiorius was Orthodo.v, holding two Natures in one Perfon, and that Cyrtl and his Council were Hereticks, holding one Nature only after Union, and that he was a true Eutychiar!,nr'A DiofcorHs did but follow him, and that the Council of C/.'4/rfi/c» condemned NefiortHs and ftablilhed his Dodrinc, and extolled CyrH and condemned

N ' hi$

po Church'Hijlory of Bijhops and

Cf" his Dodtrinc. But for my part 1 make no doubt that, de re, they were both fully of one mind, and dtjf'ered only about the aptitude of a fhrafe: Whether it were an apt Speech to call Mary the Parent of God, and to fay that God was two moneihs old, God hundred, God dyed and rofe^ &c. which Nefiortut denyed, and Cynl and the Council with him affirmed. And what hath the World fuftered by this Word Warr. But which was in the right.

Wc commonly fay that/*;* w.> denominate cfr locutio formalii ejl maxime propria. And fo Neflcrins fpake moll properly : But Ufe is the Matter of Speech, which tyeth us not always to that ftritlnefs, and fo Cyril well interpreted fpake well: cfpecially if the contrary fide fhould intrude a duality of Perfons, by their denying the Phrafe : VVhile Nejiorius accufeth Cyril as if he fpake de ahjlrade, he wrongethhim : while Cyril accufeth Neftorius as if he fpake de covcreto^ he wronged him : They both meant that Mary was the Mother of Chrijl veho was God, and of the Vnieitof the Natures, but not the Mother of Chrift as God, or of the Deity. So that one fpeaking decencreio, and the other de ahJlraSlo, one materially and the othtT formally, in the heat of Contention they hereticated each other and kindled a flame not quenched to this day, about a word while both were of one mind.

§■ 14- If any fay it is arrogancy in me to fay that fuch men had not skill enough to efcape the deceit of fuch an ambiguity, I anfwcr, humility maketh not men blind : The thing proveth it felf. Judg by thefe following words of Neftorius and Cyril what they held.

§. 15. Neftorius Epi(l. ad Cyril: Nomen hoc, Chriftus, utramque natu-ram, patihileni fcilicet O" impatilibem in nnica Ferfonl denotat. ^no idemChr-Jlfts patihilis & impatibitts concipi cjueat; IHud qnidem fecn»diim humanam natHram, hoc vsro fecundlim Divinam- — In eo no>i injuria te laudo quod diftin-^ionem naturarum fccundum Divinitatis & humanitatis rationem harumque in Hn.i duntaxat perfonJi conjunEHonem pradicas. — Ec quod Divinitatem pati uon fotuijfe dijerte pronuncias: HdC enim omnia & vera funt cr Orthodoxa; ct* vanis omnium hareticorum circa Domini naturas opinationihiis quam maxime ad-verfafunt. Non dicit,folvi(e Divinitatem meant O" intra tridmim exfufcitabo illam', fed folviie Templumhac^CT'C. — Vbicunque Divim Scripturtt Dominic<t difpen-fationis metttionemfaciunt, tum incarnationem, turn ipfim mortem G" Pajfionem, von Divin4t,fedHumanA Chnfti naturafemper tribuu»t. Ergo ft rem diligentius confideremut, facra f^irgo non Deipera^fed Chriftipera, appelLwda fr/> ('which fignifieth that She is the Parent of the Humane nature, receiving the Divine in Union of Perfon.^ — Quis it a deftpiat ut unigeniti Divinitatem Spiri-tus faafli creaturam ejfe credat. — Sunt innumern fententix qu£ Divinitatem neque nupcr n.ttam, mque corporcA perpejfionis eapacem ejfe teftantnr. — Return Evangelicdque traditioni conjentaneum eft, ut Chrifti Corpus Divinitatis Tim-plum ejfe confiteamur, illudque tuxu adeo fublimi Divinoque & admirabili ipfi conjunllum ejfeft'atuamus, ut Divina natura eaftbi vendicet, qua Coporis alio-quifiiit propria: f^erum propter earn Jive communications ftve apprgpriationis no-ti one nit nanvitateni) pajjionem-, mgrtem carer afque (Amis propietates Divino

yerbo

!X3

Vtrhoafcribere, id demiim, m frater, mentis efl pa^anorion more rerc errnntis 4Ht certe infant Apellintirii & J^rii aliorumque hirettccrum morbo aut alio etiam graviere UborAntis. Nam qui appropriatienis vecabulmn iia deiorijuent t/los Deum verbiim laBatitnis particip'.m & fnccedatiei mcremcnti capacem &ohfor-midinei)! Pajfionis, &c. —■

Neftor. Epijl. Z. ad Cslefl". Outdum de Ecclejiaflicif qnatidam coittcnipera-tlonis imi^inem ex Deitate (j- HumAnit^^te acciptcr:tes^ coiporis pajficncs audent fitperfundere Deitati unigenitiy &■ immHtabtUm Dcitatem ad naturam corporis tranjiijfe co>:jinj^unt, /itcjue utramque nainram qna per conjwitlioiiem fumtM/tm &■ inconfufam tn Uoica Perfona Hmgeniti adoratur, contcmpcraticne confiin, diint.

Neflor. Epiji. ad Alexand. Hierapol. Condi. 5. jiil. Sejf. 6.0portct nm-ncrc tjaturas in fids proprietatthns^ <y jic per mirabdem & omnem rationem ex-Ccdentem unitatem utmm cofifiteri filtttm. Non dnaj perfonas imam facimHSf fed ma appellalione Chrifti duas naturalfimul fij^nificamHs.

In Scriptis Neftorii recitatis in Coned- Ephcf. 1. Tom. 2. c. 8. Ide/n emnin» & InfaMS crat c^' Infant em babitabat. Item, Dchs Verbmn ante incamattonem & Filiiiserat O" Dens crat:, At -jero innovijfimis temportbits fervdcmejHoque for-t/iam ajfumpfi ", Qetertim cum ante Filius effet^ Filius appelUretitr , attamen pofi Catnem affumptam., feorfim perfe Filii nomine appellari non debet, ne duos Filios 'videamur inducere. — Item, voce Chrijli tancjuam utrtufjue nature, notionem cempleclente accepta, citra periculum ilium ajfumpfijfe fervi formam affeverat & Deum nomi»ar ; diBorum vim ad naturarum dualttatem manifefle refer ens.

Cyril lib. de rcRafide ad Retinas pag. 55. de Ncltorianis, I'erbum & humanitas (ut ipfi loquuntur^ in unam Perfonam co»currunt: ZJnienis enim tjux tfi fecundum naturam G~ qua una efi., nulla afud eos habetur ratio — Et p. 66. de Neftor. Si Chrijlus fola unione fecundum Perfonam cum Dei Verba con<un~ Bienem hubeat., (fie enim illi loejuuntur) quomodo in illis qui pereunt Evangelium Dei abfcenditum eft ? By which Cyril fpeaketh for one Nature, and A'eflo-rius for one Perfon.

Cyril./. I. Ww>/. Neftor. p. 16. thus rcportcth Nejlorius faying, Nic qui videtur Infans., hie qui recens apparet^ hic qui fafciis corporalibus egef , bic qui fecundum vifibilem tffentiam recenter efi editus, Filius utiiverforum opifcx, Filtus quift(£ opis fafciis dijfolubilem creature naturam aflringit. — Item., Infans enim eft Deus liber., poteflate; tantiim abejl f Arie) ut Deus I'erbum fit fub Dei poteflate- — Again, Novimus ergo Humanitatem infantis 0* De it at em; Filia-ttonis Vnitatem fervamus in Deitatis hi'.mar.itatifque ttatura: faith Drro</o//, I dare boldly I>iy no Chriftian hath hitherto fpoke truher and plainer of the Unity of ChrilhPerfon in two Natures, than iVf/?on;.'/.

Ex lib. Cyril z. Cent. Neftor.f.4- He thus reporteth Neflmus, Hoc quod Chriflus efl nulLnn patitur ^edi^im, fed Deitatis., & Humanitatis eft Siaj^-sn ■■ Chriflus quaChriftus efl u-^iaufiTK ; Kcqite enim duos Chriflos huberrus ncque duos Filios : Non efl enim apud nos prin.us d" fecmidus., neque alius c~ alius, neque rurfus alius Filius O- alius rurfus i fed ipft iUe imus c/i duplex non dijptitate, fed xatura.

N z Cyril

Cyril faith that Nejhrius was tiie Difciple of Dloderns Tarfenfs from whom he learnt his Herefie, Efift. ad Smcef. and that he was the hearit o(Thcodornj Afopfucf} condemned in Council, for the fame Herefie as Nej}o~ rim. But (a.\th Dergjan, F.icundustoto lib- 4. largely proveth that LHod.Tar-foifis was Orthodox by the teftimonies of Atlo4nafiMs,Bifu, Chryfojfeme, Epi-fhaniHs, c~c. Et lib. }. G" p- he provcth the fame of Theod. Mopfiirfi. citing the places where he alferteth two Natures in one Perfon, Ftd. Facund. I. 3.C.2. cr l,g.c.i-& 4. And Libtrnius tn Brcvwr, c. i o. faith : Diod. Tarfoifis cr Theod. Mopjueft. cr alHEvifcopi contra Eunomium cr Apollinarem umusNatura aj-fertores libros compojuerunt, dnas tn Chrifto ojlendtntes natnrai in un,i perfonj : & ibid. D«^/Job. Antiocheni Epiftolasyprimam & tertiam, LtHdes Thf^od. Mop-{\icit. continenrts Chalced. Synodus Oecumcnicaperrelationem fuAm Martiana Itnperdteri direElam., fufcepit c~ conjirmavit.

§. 16. By all this it is evident that Ncflorim was Orthodox ; and own-^^. ed two Natures in one Perfon: And that the Controverfie was de nomine., ^^ unlefs Cyril was an Eiitychinn. And that it is a more accurate cautelous Speech /«/o^-wi to fay that God did not increafe, hunger, die, rife, c~c. than to fay God did thefe •, becaufc it fcemeth to intimate that Chrift did fuiFer thefe, aiu Dens, As Cod., which is blafphemy. But that it is a true fpeech that 6 ad didfufer thefe, meaning not qu'i Dens, but Chriflus qui Dens : ?.nd that one Syilibie of diftinclion between ^//.J and cjid might have faved thefe Councils their odious Contentions and Fighting, and the Churches for many Ages the Convulfions, Diftraiflions and mutual Condemnations that followed, and the Paputs the odious violuion of C'lriftiaB Charity and Peace in calling the Ealtern Followers of iVf/?o!/«.f, Ncflo.i.m Hercticks to this day. Judge how much the World was beholden to Cyril^ ■CalrFiine., and this Council.

%. I 7.0bj. By this you make the Bifliofs and Councils to be all Fcols.^that k^ow '.'0! rvhat they do, and to he the very fl.ignes and fl)ame of humane nature, that vouldkitidk futh ti jUme not yet quenched about y.othing.

Anfxv- 1- If we muft meafure. ^^fwj per perfona^, yea, judge of matter of Fail by refpecl: of perfons, judge foby the Councils at Ariminum, Syr-mium, Milr,>^ Tyre PiKo:, Judge fo by the Second Council o[ Ephefus., and abundance fich: How liiall we know which of them fo to judge by? 2. Good men have foul Vices.- Faftion, and Contention, and Pride, have imdeniably troubled the Churches: When Co'Xil. Carthaa. 6. forbad Bifhopsto rcadtheBooksof6'f«:;7fj, it is no wonder that the number of Learned Bifliops wasfmall; An5 when no Bifliop was to be removed from place to place, but all Bifhops made out of an Inferiour degree, ufunlly of the famePariflr, Yea, and when Academies wercfo rare, it is pall doubt thni. Learned Bifhops were rare: U'hen Nc^.^.rius mufl be the great Patriarch, that vvasyet noChriftian, and when Synefius.^ becaufe he had Philofophical knowledge, is chofen 'Jifliop, eJfren before he believed theRcfi-rreiflion ^ When t'ney were fuch, as credibly Nf-x^anzjene, Jfidore Pelufiota., and long after Salvinn dcfcribes. It isnoti, but the!c knowing

VVitncflcs,

their Cojtncils ahrictgeJ. ^^

Wicnefles, and their own actions, that charaderizcthtm. Doih uot J^a-cTMtes^ tbzt knew Nejhriut^ i?Y\ that he was not Learned ? And he, and o-thers, thatcyr»7was high and turbulent? Tluodoret was a Learned nicP, and he thought no better of his Adverfaries.

The Objedions ag.iinft Neftorins and Theodo-us Aioffneft ^ are largely anfwered by Derodou, Hhi JKfr.i-

^. 18. The fame Dtridon lahoureth to prove, tha: Cv>;/ was an Here-tick, the Father oi thcFutycijidns, and fo were the Efhcf. Council, and Pope C<«/(/?;«f. His prools againll Q-r*/ arc reducedto thefe H.ads. i.His exprefsaflerting One Nature only iiiChrill. Epij}. 2. adfMcef. Diccefar. i^i igitur nccejfitas ipjitm pMi in fiopri.^i n At lira, f f»ft urtor.ctndicatHr una VIrbi Natura inotrnatt ?

Icem , Lrmrant ritrfus qui rc^a pervertunt^ cjHod jiixta yeritattm ma fit tiaturaf^crbt irtcarnMa: (lenimiinHS efl filius tiAturu O" veri f^trhum cjHod inef-fabilttfr ex DcoPatrc efl 'renitHDi, & f idem per ajfumptioncm c*rnis nrn e.\\t-

ti'imis fedanimAtm anim.l intellii^ente procefit homo de inHhcre ■ No^ emm ttx

folis ftniplictbH! IJ'iHm fecunditmmturamvcye dtcitHr^ fed ttiAm deiis rjuxjuxts compefitto/icm c»me:nrunt^Kt efi v.g. /v/;.(?, (jiti covjlM aniim &■ corpore^ hdc efintx inter fe drfferuntfpccity verurt.tmeti timtd WJitm naturam hoininis ithf»lvttr.t, i^itiim vis adfit ratiene compofitionis dijferentia fecHtid:(m nMinam reriim^ in nnitaient towurrtutiuiit : fiiperfir' t^itiir fcrmortbiu imwor.iutiir rjiii dicKnt^ fi wm rjl natura verbi incarHMt.i^ fetjiiitur ut permixtio confufeejtiegenereliir.

NtftoriHs third Objection was from Chrifts voinntary pafiions", Ergodn-M natHvM fnhf(Iere pojl timonein tndivifc Cyril aiifwereih, jidvtrftis rurfiit httc eorum fropcftit mhilominus iis <jut dicu:it nnam cjjc Filii naturam inctrnAt-im sdque velut incptum volcntcs ojlo^dere, iibitjite diias mtitrof fnifjieiiics conanmr dflrutre \ fed i,>norant iju.tcuncj>ic aon dijltnjruiDitur fola mentis confdertUione, ea frorfus etiam in diverftAtcnidtjlir^am om>:ifaritim 4C frivatim a fe mutno fe^rc-gari : e.g. Homo— duos 111 eo riMnr^sintcllifiniMs^utMm animtc^iUtoamcerptris., fedcuin joladfcrcveritnus intelU^entia & aijfcrcntiAm ftibtili iciitcmfUitoie fen mentis ims^matione conciperi/r.us, non tanien feorfim pcviuuis tiatura.'^ fed imiu: tfft intelUginiHs. Itaut tll^duxjamnoft pntdiu, fed ambtt unum annual abfol-vunt. Tandem it4 concludit. ^Z^ Hsc ii^itnrex ejMbns efi untu (fr folns filins Dontinus Jtfiis Qhnfius cogitAtionibus ctmplcxi, duas ejiiidAm naiuras urtitas »fferimus •, pofl aniontm vera tuucjHam adewpta jam in duas difiinCliont nntm effe credimus filii 7tatnram tancfuam unius^ fed inhiiniati cf" incarnatt. It's ftrange, how Cyril and the JEntychiars mc^nt, that Chrills Natures were two before the Union. Did they think that the Humanity exifted before the Union ?

So Epifi- 1-Cyril, ad feiccejf- Alhil injufiifacimu.i dictntes exduttbut tfa tm-isfa^i'.m elft concitrfum iniwifatem •, pafiHnionem vera non difiin-mmns «* ritras ttb invicem^ nee in duos f'ici nnnm C-!r individ/ruH partinmr, fed dtcimKs u»Hmfilinm^ Q- ficut Partestilternm trunt^ Z);urt NutuoTAin Dei fcrbi inr.ir~

Eadcmdicit Epifi. rt^/Acacium Mclct. Pifi i'.>noncm ftblittai^fn in duo.: r'ij^

I'tr^di

ton

p4 Church-Hi (lory of Bijhops and

j;;^ flinBioiie imam ejfi crcdimus flit nacitram, taucjuam uniuj, jcd inhumati-

Cyril. Epift- ad Eulo^-Presb. Nos ilUs (duasnatHras) ndunantes unum fi-lii(m, unum Dominum confitemHr^ deinde G~ Hnam per TtAtHram incarnatam, quod

C^ de communi hoimtte dicevdum. Dum u»itatem conjitemnr, von diflinguuntur

antflius tjiiicfunt unita: fed uniis jam eji Chrlfius & mm efi if fins tanquanitncar-tiati F'erbi natura.

Cyril./;/7.co«f. Ncftor. p. 51. Hie recenttjfimi i/nfirtatis inventor quamvis Chriffitm unum fe dicere fmiilct^ attamen uhicjue natural dijiin^uit.

Et p. 45. Quomodo iZhrifiumunum cir tndividuum dicii effe ditflictmnatural

Cyril- lih.dereBa f.dcad rej^ifios p. 63. AJfHtnitHr in unum DeitatisNatu-ram uniis Chri(}ns Jefiis per tjiiem omnia.

Cyril. Dia!o<^. i^iiod units ft Chrijlus. \Vnumferro fliiim & unam ip/ins Naturam ejfc dicimus, licet cartiem amma intelliffcntefrdditam ajfumffcrit.~\

Many morefuch paflages are wiCyril. Here Dcrodon ■^xo^ct'n, i. That Cyril took not fi^'w for Perfona. i- That he took not J''cufi<ni for Divifi-on hut Difiinftion: If he did, it was an ill quarrel, when Neforins afiert-ed notabivifion, but a Diftinftion. j. That Cyril ^\\\ rcpvoycth Neflo. riits for aderting only a union ficunditm perfonam^ and not fcimdiim natu-ram. 4. That Cyril (as Diofcorus) declares what union he nieaneth, not by Confufion, Commixtion or Tranfmutation, but by Compofition, (and fo faid the Eutychians.)

Thefecond order of Derodons proofs is from all the places where C^nV pleads for one hypojlafis, and he fheweth that by hypeflafs Cyril meant «<t-tiira or fuhflantia fmgdarii. The citations are too long to be repeated.

3.His proofs are from all the Texts where he laith the JJV</,and Humcr-nity concurred hi^h.

His fourth proof that Cyril was an Eutychian^ is from all thofe places where he faith, that the Godhead and Manhood are made one nature as the foul and body of man are.

His fifth order of proofs is from the words where he oft attributeth the fame operations, and the fame attributes to both nature.

His fixth proof is from theteftimony oilbas Edef apudFacnnd. I. t.c. j. Gennad. Conft. ibid, I. 2. p. 77, 78. Johan. Antioch. Theodoret, drc.

§.20.For my part,I again fay, pafl doubt, that neither Neftorius nor Cyril were Heretical de re-, but that they were of one mind, and that one fpake of the concrete., and the other of cbe abftraB-^thzt one fpake of Chriflus ijai Deus^ and the other of Clmftus qua Dens. But (pardon truth, or be deceived ftillj ignorance, pride, and envy, andfaftion, and defire to pleafe the Court, made Cy^;/and his Party, by quarrelfomc Herctication, to kindle that lamentable llame in the World. But fin ferveth the finncrs turn but for the prefent, and becometh afterward hisfhame. All the Bifhops would not followCyn'/. At this day the falfly Hereticated iVf/?o>-«4«.f (faith Breerwood Enqitir. p. 139.) inhabites a great part of the Eaft, for befidesthe Coon-tries of Babylon, Jffyria-, Mtfopotamnt^Parthia., and Media-, they are fpread far and wide, both Northerly to Cataya, and Southerly to India: Marcus

Paiilns

Taulus tells us of them and no other Chriftians in Tartary, as in Cajfar^ Sarmttcham^ Carcham , Chinchiiitalas > Taugnth , Suchir , Ergimuly Tenduc^ Ctiraim, Mangi^ &c. fo that beyond Tigris there are few other Chriftians. The Perfian Emperours forced the Chriftians to Nejlonxmfmt'-, Their Patriarch hath his Seat at Aiufd in Afefopotamia or the Monaltery ofSt-Ermes near it, in which City the iv>/?on4w^ have 15 Temples.- They are falfly ac-cufed ftiU to hold two Pcrfons in Chrift: They fay as Neflorim himfelf faid, Tou ntay fay that Chrifi^s Mother is the Parent of God, if yon will expound it well, but it is improper and dangerous. They take Neflorius^ Diodorus Tarfenfis and TheodorusMopfuefl, for holy Men , They renounce the Council Ephef. and all that owned it, and deteft Cyrtl. They Communicate in both kinds: They ufe not auricular Confefllon: nor Confirmation : nor Crucifixes on their Croffes: Their Priefts have liberty for firft, fecond,or third Marriages, &c. Breerwood, ibid., p. 144.

§. 2 1. I need no other proof for my opinion, that thefe Bifliopsfet the World on fire about a Word, being agreed in fenfe, than the reconciliation of the Patriarchs C^rr/ znAJohn when forced, and rheir Parties, profeflingthat they meant the fame and knew it not. Ohj. But they all condemned ivif/?o?/«;. Aif- To quiet the World, and to pleafe the Courtiers and violent Bidiops. And the Eraperour himfelf (faith Socrates, L-].c.^i.otiq that excelled all the Priefts in modefty and meekncfs, and could not away with perfecution,) was the more againft Nejlorius becaufe he was a perfecu-tor himfelf.

Read Theodoret''s Homily againft Cyril, Bin. p- 007. and Jehan. An-tioch. ibid. But neither the one fiAz{_Nejloriushsie(iarchaimpiilfimus,~\i\oT the other fide C Cyrillus fuperbus & hlafphcmut ] lliould lignifie much with menthatknow what liberty adverfc Bilhops ufcd.

§. 22. As for them that fay, Neftorim did dijfemble when he ajferted the Vtiityoftwo Natures in one Peyfon: and ts not to he judged of by his cwnwtrdsj I take them to be the firebrands of the world, and unworthy the regard of fober men, who pretend to know mens judgments better than thcmlclves, and allow not mens own deliberate profelllon to be the notice oftheir Faith. §. 2 J. When the Emperour faw that there was no reconciling the Bi-fliops, but by force, he authorized AriftoUns., a Lay-Magiftrate, to call CyrilAXiA'toh. Antioch. to Niconiedia^ and keep them both there till they were agreed: whereupon Jo/w communed with his Biihops, and they yielded, having no remedy, to the d?pofition o( Ncfiorius, the Ordination of Ma.\imwiunits in his ftead, and communion among themfelves. This is called another Council-It would grieve one to read the Empcrour Thiodofius importuning Simeon Stylites, a poor Anchorite, to try whether by Prayer and Counfcl he could bring the Bifliops to Unity, and concluding, [This difeord doth fo trouble wf, that I judge th.tt this only hath been the chief occapon of all my calainities.~\ Bin. p. 928.

§. 24. CXiV- An. 45 1- Tiicrc was a Council called at Rme to clear

Pope

Pope Sixtm from an nccufation of one Bajpts, of ravifliing a Nun.

$. 25. CXV. There istalk of a Council at Route to dear one Pelychroi.iitt Biihop of Jfrff/^/fTw, of accttfationsof5iwewy; But contradictions makethij (and the former) to bealto.^cthcr uncertain.

5. 26. CXVI, The >4r»»f«/<fw/in Council are faid to condemn Neficrim Books.

5.27. CXVII. ACouncil was held atCo»/?4«/. to decide the Controver. fie between the Alexandrian and Cw/?4«r.Biniops, which (hould be greateft, and rule the Eaft^ where it was carried for Conflttnt. And Theodoret pleading for Antioch, Diofcorus (the Jlex. Agent) hated him ever after, (as he faith Epijl. 86.)

§. 28. CXVIII. Ai.4i9. ACouncil ztRegicnJe of 13 Bidiopsdidfome-what about Ordinations, &c.

5. 2p. About this time Z-fo at ^<?wf was fain to forbid bowing toward the £4/?, becaufe the ManUhees joyned among them, and bowed to the Sun, and could not be elfediftinguiflied from the Orthodox, Bi». de Leone.

j. JO. ClflX. A Council at ^r<««/?frt« repeated fome old difciplinary Canons.

$. 31.CXX. LfoheldaCouncilat ^owifofBithops, Priefl:s,and Laymen, to detedl the wickcdnefs of the ALtmchees, and warn men to avoid them.

$. 32. CXXI. An. 445. Lfo held a Council at ^owf againft Hiiary BU {hop of Arlet, for difobedience to his Decrees.

$. 3}. CXXII. A Council called Cenerd in Sfitin^ recited the Profefli-on of Faith againft the PrifiiUianiJis.

CHAP

their Councils abridged, ay

CHAP. VI.

Councils about the Eutychian Herefie andfome others.

c

$. I. CXXIIT. ^"^Tril had by many words fo carried the bufinefs at

Ephefus againft Neftorius, and himfelf fo often faid, that after the Vnion, the Natures were one, that his Admirers took that for a certain truth .• But when that quarrel was over, Truth was truth ftill, and the Orthodox would not fly from it, for fear of being called AV/priijwj-, for they difdaimed A^«/o-rius, but difowned the Dodrine o(One nature. Entyches an yirchtmundnte., and Diofcoriis, Succcflbur to Cyril, bclived that they did but tread in his fteps, and hold to the Ephef. Council. But that would not now ferve^when the Scene was changed.

$. 2. Reader, It is ufeful to thee, to know truly the ftate of this Tragical Controverfic, which had more dividing and direful efFedls than the former. Jhc Euiychi mis f^y, th^f Chrij} hefore their ZJmon by ircarnation had tvpo natures, that is, confidered mentally, as not united; b\it after the union ^n had hut one nature. They took up this as againft i\/ify?or»4«»/w». The truth is, Though they ftill go for defperate Hereticks, I verily behcvethat all the quarrel was but about ambiguous words: fome of them underftood the word ZNature"] in the fame fenfe as their Advcrfaries took the word [_fiy. poflafu'] or \_Perfon~\ And Cit's fad that it (hould be true, but j moft of them confounded [Vniiy undiJftn^uiJIied^^ndZVnitin^ undivided.^ The Euty-chiatis thought.How can that be called'L'niVy which maketh not one of two f And no doubt the Natures are One ; But One what f Not One Nature, but One Perjon •, Yet (to bring off Cyrtl) it may be faid that even the No-tures are One, in oppofition to Dtvtfion or Separation, but not One iu oppo-fition to diftinBion. He that had but diftinguilhed thefe two clearly to them, and explained the word {^Nature'} clearly, had better ended all the Controverfie than it was ended- It's plain that Cyr»y and the £«fycfc»jwx allowed mentaldiftmBion^ though not that the Mind (hould fuppofe them divided: And it's certain that the Orthodox meant no more.

j. ?. He that readeth but Philofophers, Schoolmen, and late Writers, (ruchasF<;rf««. Ltcetus de natura, &c.) will fee how little they are agreed aboutthemeaningof the word t.Nature,'] and how unable to procure a-greement in the conception. They that lay it is principium motns c~ .^«f-tis^ are contradicted, as confounding divers Principia: and as confounding Jflive Natures, and Pajfive, the J^ive only being Principium Motm, and the Pajfive, Principium cjiiietis. And on fuch accounts the Eutjchians pleaded for One Nature; bccaufe in Chrift incarnate they fuppolcd that

the Divine Nature was the Principium frimHmmotus^ and that allChrifts actions were done by it, and that the humane foul, being moved by the Divinity, was but Principium fuberdinatum^ which they thought was improperly called PrincipiHiny fAs molt Philofophers fay, that Forma generic ca is improperly called forma hominis, becaufe one thing hath but one form | fothey thought that oncperfon had but one proper Principium mctas.

§. 4. Alas how few Bifhops then could diftingui(h as Derodon doth, and our common Metaphyficks , between, i. IndiifiJuumy 2. Prima fub-fi,wtia, i. NatHra, 4. Suppofiium, 5. Perforia, 6. and have diftinguilhed, arightf^fwcf and ^^po/?/?/;/, or fubfijhnce, c~c. and defined all thefe. Na-tH/f faith Dirodon de fuppof. p. 5. is taken in nine fenfes^ Butthe/<rw/<r was not here agreed e>i, before they difpntedof the matter.

E\'embo\}tthe Nature of Man^ it is difputed, whether he conflftnotof many natures'^ Whether every Element CEarth, Water, Air, Fire) retain not its feveral Nature in the Body, or whether the Soul be Mans only Nature^ and whether as intciledtual, and fcnfitive and vegetative, or only in one of thefe? And is it notpity that fuchqueftions fhould be rail^ cd about the perfon of Chrift by felUconccitcd Bifhops, and made nccef-fary to falvation, and the world fet on fire, and divided by them ? Is this good ufage of the Faith of Chrift, the Souls of Men, and the Church of God.

§. 5. But to the HiHory: At a Cou:\cil of Conjlantinop. under Flavia-nvs, Eufel^i/tj h'lihopof Dorilciimsccttkd Eutydes, for affirming Heretically as aforefaid, {ihzt after the Vnion Chrifi had but one Nature.) Etttiches is fentfor: Herefufethto come out of his Monaftery, After many Citations, heftlU refufing, they judge him to be brought by force: He firft de-laytth : Thencravethofthe Emperour the prefenccof Magiftrates, that he be not calumniated by ihc Bilhops. He is condemned, but recanteth not.

§. <5. A meeting of Bifhops at Tyre cleared Ibas Edrff. from the accu-fation of }^eJ}oria>iifme^ made by four Evcommunicace Priefts, two of them perjured ^ and reconciled him to fuch Priefts for Peace fake.

$. 7. Another meeting ot Bifhops at Bcrythum, cleared Ibat from a renewed accnfarion of \^rJiortanifme, being faid to hare fpoken evil of Cyril- AnEpiftleof his to M^trif aBifhop, was accufed, which the Council at Calcfdon after ablblved, and the next General Council condemned.

5. 8. CXXIV. Another Council is called at Cowy?<?«r/;i<';i/e, bythemeans of feme Courtiers, in favour to Eutiches, where, upon the teftimony of fome Bifhops, that Flavians Bifhop of Conflantinople condemned him him-felf, before the Synod did it, and that the Records were altered, all was nullified that at the lall Synod was done againft him.

$. 9. CXXV. Theodofiw calleth a fecond General Council at Ephefut an. 449. and makcth Diofiorus Bifliop of Alex. Prefidcnt. Diofcorus forbad Ibas and Theodoret to be there, as being lieflorians: The Emperour himfelf was fo much for peace, and fo deeply before engaged in CyrtPs

caufe

M

caufe againll Nf/?on»«, that he thought it levity to puU down a!I fo foon again, ihs Emychijus perfywading him that they ftuck to Cyril and the £-phefne and Stce:e Council. Diofcorus thinking the fame, that Eurkhfs and CyrrY were of one mind, and that it was Nffioriar?if ne which they were againlt, carried matters in this Synod as violently as CyrtI had done in the former. The Bifhops perceiving the Empctours, the Courtiers, and £>»-■cfcoms mind, could not reiift the ftronger fide. TheBfiiopof Rome was commanded by the Emperour tobeprefent. He fent his Legates-, with his Judgment in Writing of the Caufe. The Emperour forbad thole to be Speakers that had before judged Entyches. The ^om^w legates exceptcci thzt DiofcoTHs prcfided : (It fcemcth the E^pcrn Empire and Church, then believed not that the Popes precedency vvas jure divi»o.} Dirfcoms de-clareth, thattheGouncil was not called to decide any matt-erof Faith, but to judge of the proceedings of FUviama againll Entyches. The Ads of the Coiiftant. Synod (after the Emperours Letters,) being read, Eutyches is abfblved : Damms^ Patriarch of Amioch, Juvcnd , Patriarch of Jern fitem, the Bilhop of £/><;/•/«/, and the reft, fubfcribed the abfolution, (which after they faid they did for fear, when another Emperour changed the Scene.) This being done, the Ads of the former Efhtf. Council were read, and all Excommunicate that did not approve them. (So that this Council of EntycbtAns thought verily the former was of their mind.) Four Bilhops, Flavtanns^ Eufchms, Deryl, Iba4 Edif. and Thcodorct Cyri, are condemned anddepofcd: AlltheBiftiopsOibfcribed except the Popes Legates ; fo that, faith Bimnus, Jn hoc tarn horrendo Epifcoporum fnffra^io^ fo-lanaviluU Petrd incolitmis emergens falvatur, p. 1017, Judge by this< Firlb, Whether Councils may erre, Secondly, Whether they are the juft Judges or Keepersof Tradition, Thirdly, Whether all the World always jjeliev-ed the Popes Infalhbility, or Governing power over them, when all that Council voted contrary to him.

FUvianus here offering his appeal, was beaten and abufed, and dyed of the hurt, (as was faid in Comil. Caked, and by Liheratus.) But this was no quenching, but a kindling of the fire of Epifcopal Contentions: Tlxo-liofins milled of his end.

§. 10. CXXVI. Leo at Rome in a Synod condemneth this Ephejian Council.

§. II. CXXVU. Diofcorns in a Council at Altxandria^ Excommuni-cateth Leo.

§. 12. CXXVIII. Theodejius the Emperour being dead, Martian vi^% againft the Eutychians: Arutolms at a Synod at ConjUntincple., maketh an Orthodox Profefiion of his Faith, likeZ-w's.

§. 13. CXXIX. And at Milan a Counril^owneth Leo's judgment.

§* 14. CXXX. Now Cometh the great Council at Cakedon, under the new Emptrour Maitian, whtreall is changed for a time-. Yet PnUkeria who marryed him and made him Emperour, and whofc power then was' great, was the famcth.it before had been againft Yirjhrnts in her Bro-

O 3. thers

thers reign: Never was it truer tlian in tlie Cafe of General Councils, that the Multitude of Priyficians, exafpsratech tile Difeafe, and killeth the Patient. The word QStJTDic®-] the \_onc rtatnre after union] the words {^mt will zndonc tpperation'} had never done half fo much mifchief in the Church, if the erroneous had been confuted by negleft, and Councils had not ex-afperated, enraged, and engaged them, and fet all the World on taking one fide or another. One skilful! healing mm that could have explicated ambiguous terms, and perfwaded men to Love and Peace, till they had underftood themfelves and one another, had more befriended Truth, Piety, and the Church, than all the Hereticating Councils did.

§. I <;. If what Socrates writeth of Theodofius junior be true, ( as we know no reafon to doubt) God owned his Moderation by Miracles, not-withftanding his favouring the Eutychians^ more than he did any ways of violence. Socrates idXXh, /. 7. (7.41,42. that Theodojius Vf3.s the miUeJl man in the World, for which caufe God fubdued his enemies to him without (laughter and bloodjhed-1 as his Vidory over Johm.n6. the Barbarians (hew: Of which he faith, Firft, Their Captain ^«^4f was kill'd with a thunder-bolt; Secondly, A Plague killed the greateft part of his Soldiers-, Thirdly, Fire from Heaven confumed many that remained. And Proclus the Bifliop being a man of great Peace and Moderation, hurting and perfecuting none, wasconfirnted by thefe providences in his lenity, being of the Em-perours mind, and perfwading the Empcrour to fetch home the bones of Chryfoflome with honour, wholly ended the Nonconformity and Separation of the Joanites.

$. 16. Before Theodofius dyed, Leo Bilhop o^ Rome fet Placidia and Eudoxia^ to writetohim againft Dtofcorus, and for the caufe of Flavia-nus : Yen, and Vulcntinian himfelf. Theodofus wrote to yaUminian ( and *'the like to the Women J "That they departed not from the Faith and *'Tradition of their Fathers, that at the Council of Ephefus fecond ''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 depofed, 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. Diofcorus is accu-fed for his Ephefwe General Council, and for his violence, and defence of Eutiches, and the death oC Flavians. He alledgeth the Emperours Order to him [^Authoritatenr &Primatumtutt prtbemus heatitudini^ (If the Popes Univerfal Rule be eflential to the Church, then the pious and excellent Emperour Theodofus^ and the General Council that confented, were none of them Chriftians that knew it, but went againft it.) Eos qui per addita-mentum aliquod, ant tmminutionem conati funt dicere, prater qua funt expefita de fide CuthoUca a funEiis Patribus qui in Nicaa, dr pofl modum qui in Ephc-fb con^re^ati funt, tutllam omnino fiduciam in fanHo Synodo habere patimur^ Jtd &fub ■uejlro judicio ejfe volumus.^ Here Binaius accufeththe good Emperour

perour as giving that which he had not but by ufurf.ition^ and this thrcugh ignrance of the Ecclefiaflical Canons. But were all the Bilhops ignorant of it alfo ? Or was lo good an Emperour bred up and cherilhed in ignorance of fiich a point pretended by the Papiftstobe neceflary to the Being of a Church, and to falvation; The Bifliops of JerufaUm and SeUucia alio partook of the fame power by the Emperour's Grant- Diofcortis anfwercd that All the Synodconfentcd and fubfcribed as well as he, <»«i!/Juvenal Hierof. and Thaiaffias Seieuc. '

TheBifhopsanfwered, that they did it againU their wills, being under fear •, Condemnation and Banifhment was threatncd ■■, Souldiers were there with Clubs and Swords : Therefore the Oriental Bifliops cryed out to caft: out Diofcorus. Stephen Bifhop of Ephefus ('who had been Diofcorus chief Agent therej cryed out, that fear confirained them: The Lay Judges and Senate asked, who forced theml Stephen fa id Elpidim and Ehlogitts^ and manv Souldiers threatned him. They asked, jD/<i/Diofcorus ufe vto. lence with yon? He faid that he was not fulFered to go out till he had fub-fcribed- Theodorus B\(hop of Clandiopolu fad, that Diofconu, Juvenal^ and Btn.Ttn^i the leading men, led on them, as fimpic ignorant men, ihat knew not the^ 7> '-Caufe, and frightned them with defaming them as Neftorian Hereticks-Thus they cryed out that they were frightned.

The Egyptian Bilhops anfwcred, timt A Oiriflian feareth no man-, ( and yet they were afraid before they ended) ACatholick,fearcth no mar-, wt *ire infirti^cd by flitmes : If men were feared, there would be no Martyrs.

Diofcorus noted what Bilhops t!iofe were that faid they fuhfcribed to a blanks Paper^ when it was about a matter of Faith : But asked, who made them by their fcvcral interlocutions to fpcak their confent? Hereupon the Aifts of the Ephff. Council were read, among which were the words of Dio-feoriu, Anathematizing any that fliould contraditflor retraH: ary thing held in the Nicene or the Ephefine Synods: Adding, hovf terrible and formidable it was. If a man fn againfl God, who fliall intercede for him ? If the Holy Ghoft ftt in Council with the Fathers., he that retraBeth cafhiereth the Grace cf the Spirit. The Synods anfwcred, IVe all fay the fame: Let him be Anathema that retraElcth •, (thefe Bifhops that curie themfelves willeafily curfc others,^ Let him be caft out that yetroEleth. Diofcorus faid, No man orderetb things already ordered: The holy Synod faid, Thefe art the words of the Holy Ghoft., &c. Theodorus denyed thefe words recorded. Diofcorus faid, thev may as well fay they were not there.

§. i8. Here alfo £«fyc/je's Confellionat Efhefmvizs read, in which he profeffeth to cleave to the former Ephefme Council, and to the blefled Father C^ril that prefided, difclaiming all additions and alterations, pro-feffijag that he had himfclf Copies in a Book which Cyrtl himfelf fent him, and is yet in his hands •, and that he ftandeth to the definition of that Council with that of Nice.

Eufebius Biiliop of Deril. faid, He lyeth 7 tha$ CouncH hath no fuch Dt. finitiofj..

-»; Diofcorn*

Chwch-Hijiory of Bijhops and

Diofiorus faid. There a; e foHr Boi,\is of it, that all contain this Difuiiticti. Dt you accitfe Ml the Synodical Booh ? J have one, and he h.vh one, and he huth one'-, Let them be brought forth. Diogenes Bifhopof Cyrilum laid, They deceitfully cleave to the CoHf.ctl of Uke : The Qijcftion is of additions made againll Herelies. The Hilhops of E^ypt faid, None of m receive additions or diminutiors : Hold wh.u is done at Sfice: This is the Emperour^s Command. Tile Eaftern Bifliops clamoured [_7ujl fa faid Eutyches.'] The £j^-tia>i Bifliops (till crycd up the Niccne Faith alone without addition.

Diofcortu accufed the Bilhops for going from their words, and faid [_If Eutyches held not the Dolirme of the Church, he is Worthy of puniflment and fire., (ex ore tuoj A'fy regard is to the Catholtck and j4pojlolick Faith., and >!ot the Faith of any man : I look^ to Cod himfelf, and not to the perfon of aty man, nor care I for axy man, but for my foul aiid the true and Jincere Faith."^ The £^^/)ri^« Bifhops cryed out [_Let no 7»an f par ate him that isindtvifihle. No man ciilleth one Son two.'] The Eaftern Bifliops cryed, QAnathema/<? ^/» that divideth. Bafil StUitci£ faid, Anathema to him that dividcth two natures after the union ; and Anathema to him that kncweth not the properly of the natures. The Egyptian Bifliops cryed out, [_j4s he wm horn he fufered: There is eve Lerd,^ and one Faith: None calkth one Lord two. 1 his was Nefloriut voice. The Eaflern Bifliops cryed, Jnathema to Neftorius and Eutyches. The Egyptian Bifliops cryed, Divide net the Lord of Glory, that is indivifible.

Bafil Bifliop of Siltuc reported how rightly he had fpoken at Epheftu, 3nd how the Egyptians and Monks with nolle oppofed, and cryed [Cut him in two that Jaith Two Natures, he is a Neftorian.^ The Lay Judges asked him, // he fpake fo well, why did he condemn Flavianus ? He faid, Be-caufe he wm necejfitatcd to obey the rtjl, being i jo Bijliops. Diofcortu faid, r-^ Out of thy own mouth art thou condemned, that for the jhanie of men hafl pre-variciitfd and defpifd the faith. Bu/ilius Seleuc. faid. If I had been called to Martyrdom before the fudges I had endured it :, but he that is judged of a Father ufethjuji mans: Let the Son dye that fpeaketh even things jufl to a Fa-ther.

But the Eaftern Bifliops better cryed out, [^We have all finned, we all beg pardon."] And Thatajfius., Eufibius, and Euflathius, (jeadmg Bifliops) cryfd the fame, [We have aH finned, wc all crave pardon.] After this the A(fts of Ephif. and Confl. were read.

$. 19. By what I have recited out of Binnitu, and others, thefe two Jamentable things are undeniable :

1. That this doleful Contention, Anathematizing, and ruining each other, was about the fcnfe of ambiguous word«, and that they were of f-a^ one mind in the matter, and knew it not: The Egyptians (Eutychians') ^-^ took two Natures and isvo S^ns to be of the fame fenle, which the others d.d not. And they thought that the rtft had aiferted a Divifion of the Nature;, when they meant but a Dtflit.^Hon: And the reft thought that the £ y lians had denyed a D'fl.n^imi, who dcnyed but a P.'.rtition or Divifion.

II And

1

II. And it is plain, that while all fides held that Nefltritu did hold

that there were Two Sons ^ which he exprefly denycd« that they curfed •^ NtfiertM in ignorance, and maintained his Doflrine (except of the aptitude of the phrafe 3*tT«x®-,) while they curfe his p)erfon or name. The Doiftrine of this Council is found, and Neftoriuis was the fame, for rtr# natures in one ferfon, and one Son. This is true, whatever Fadtion fay a-gainft it.

III. That thefe Bilhops Cthoiigh we honour them for all that was good in them) were fo far from the Martyrs Conftancy, that they turned as the Emperours Countenance, and the Times, and worldly Jntercfl: turned j voting down Things and Perfonsin Councils, and crying «/?»?« peccavi-rmu in the next.- Only Peterh Ship, faith Binnim, leaped drowning at Efhefiu^ and yet here at Calcedon under Martian all arc Orthodox.

IV. But that which is vrorft of all is, that yet the fame men that cry peC' cavimtu are here violent againft any mercy to the E^^yptian Bilhops and Monks with whom they had joined at Epfiefus. ^

$. 20. When an Epiftle ot (^r;//was read, the ///)'r;c4»^ Bi(hop crycd out, We all believe AS Cynl did: ThroJcrete fthat had been for Ncjlonus a-gainft Cyrd, and caft out by Diofcorw) Ipakc more warily, and laid, Anathema to him th/it fuiih there arc two Sons : HV adore our Lord JefitSy C-c. All the Bifhops crycd, Wc beltve a^ Cynl. Had not O'n/'s name better hap than DiofccrHs and Eutyches, that followed him as far as they could undcrltand him, and fpake the fame words as he?

Tht Orientals cryed, Webelive ai Cyx\\. The Egyptians crycd, IVe ke-licve as Cyril, We are all ef the fame opinion and mind ; Let not Satan ^et place and advantage amon^us. The E.</?frw Bifhops cryed, Lruand yinatolius are of this mind; The Emperour and Senate are of this tnirtd: The lay Judge, bcnatc, and all the Council cryed, The Emperour^ the Emprefs, and all of us are of one mind: IhQ Egyptian Biihops cryed, All the World are of ihs n>ind\ Weareof a mind. fAnd who would think that yet they were dif-agreed, even toHcrcticating and Depofing, Pcrfeciiting one another.

O but fay they to the Ejryptian Bifhops, If ycu arc all of thi^ mind, IVhy did yon commnnicatewith^VityCt\es^ and condemn f\iv\snui ? X)/e/ccr«i appealed to the Records. And here Enflath;ns Beryl^ Oiewed what labour Cynl ufedtoexpbin his own meaning, in his Epiftlcs to ^aaus^ Valertat:m, and Succcffm Bifhops, and that thcfe are his words i ^Ve mnj} not under-fland that there are two natures, but mie nature incarnate cf God the Word: And this faying he confirmed by thcTeftimony of jithanafiw. The Oriental Bifhops cryed out, This is the Uying of ^MX.ychc'i and D\o\'con]% Tyct ■ thefe menjuftnow wcrcall of C)r;7's mind.) Dicfcortu (mA, Weaffirmnci-ther confnfon of natures, nor divifion^ nor converfion; Anathema to him that doth. Doth not this flicw that they all agreed in Diflin(ftionof Natures? asalfoCyr// did. The Judges fay, Tell us whether Cyr/Y's Epiftles agree to what is here reported of them 'by Eullathiw,) Enflathius flieweth the Boi'k, uu.l faith j If I have faid amtfs fee the Bookj-, A'iathematiz.c Cy-

X\V%

'J

104 Church-Hiftory of Bijhops a?id

ril's Book^Ofid jinathematixje me: The Egyptians applaud EuftMhim^ -' faying, EuJiMthius reporteth Cyn/'s words, in which v/cic, We muji not underft*nd two natures , but one incarnate natnre of Cod the xtord. And EuJiathfMs added, He that fatth there is hut one nature fo as to deny Chrifts fiefti which is confubftanttal with w, let him be Anathema: jindhe that faith there are two natures to the Divifionof the Son of God^ let him t« Anathema, (one would have thought this Ihould have ended their quarrelj And Ehftathini added of Flaviamu himfelf, that he received thefe ndkej words J and gave them theEmperour;, Let it be ordered that his own hand be jliewed. The Judges faid, Why then did ye def ofe him} Eujlathiutaniweiedy Erravi, I erred■

J. 21. Let it be here noted, that thefe Eutychian words of Cyril are here openly proved, paft denial.- yetfharaelefly doth Binnitts fzy, that this is Eujlathii allegatio pejf.ma tr haretica: What, to repeat a mans Words ?

Ef* Secondly, Is it not here plain that they were ail of a mind, and did not, or through faftion would not know it ? when Euftathim by a clear di-ftindlion had proved it, and none of them did or could contradift him.

§. 22. Diofcorus faid that Flavianus in the words following con-tj:adi(fted himfelf, and was depofed for holding two natures after the union-^ adding, J have the tefiiwony of the holy Fathers, Ath2naii]ls,GlC' gory, Cyril, in many places, that we muft not jay^ that after the union there are two natures, hut one incarnate nature of God, the word ^ 1 am ejeiled with the Fathers ; / defend the Fathers fayings ; / tranfgrefs not in any thing •, / have their Tefimonies, notfmflyortranftorily^ hut in Boohs.

$. 2 J. ty£!hericMs, Bilhop o( Smyrna, being queflioned about his fub-fcription, faid, he did as he was bid. In the fecond Aftion Diofcorus delivering his opinion faith. Ex duabusfufcifio, duat non fufcifio. ThatChrift

r-A^ is [_of two natures'} but not that he [_t6 or hath two natures.} Eufebim Doryl.

^^^ tells him of his wrong to Flavianus and him ■, Diofcorus confelleth, faying. Then offer fatisfaUion to God and you, meaning repentance. But EufebtM faith, that he mufl fatisfie the Law •, And fo the Verbal quarrel turneth to Perfonal revenge.

Bifil Seleuc. (though before accufcd of Herefie^ well reconcileth the Controverfie at laft, if they would have heard him, faying, Cognofcimus

n^ duos Naturai, non dividiinus; nccjue divifas, necjue confitfas dicimuS'

Euryches words ^tConfantinofle he'ing recited, he faith, that he foUow-eth Cyril^ AthAnafna and the Fathers. After Diofcorus and others had denycd what each other faid in the ip^f/Fwe Council, the faying of all the Bifhops were read, each one abfolving £«/)rkj, in words and reafonsat large. After which the BiOiops cry again, Owww erravimus j emnes vent-am mcreamnr.

In the third Aftion many things were read that concerned their proceedings, and among the reft a Law o( Theodejius jun, for the conHrm-jng of die f.cond Ephefine Council, and the condemnation of NeJloriM,

and

and of FUvianH4, Downm, Eufehim, and Jheodoret, as Ntfiori^m Hcrcticks, dcpofing all of their mind, forbidding any upon pain ot Confiltation to receive them, and commanding that none read the Booics of Nefter:u4 or Theodoret, Jjut bring them forth to be burnt, C'c. So far could fierce and factious Prelates prevail with a pious and peaceable Prince, by the pretences of oppofing Hertfie and Schifm. Afartian msd.: Laws alfo clean contrary for the juftifying of the men before condemned.

S. 24. In the fifth Atiion the Egyptian Bifliops Petition was read (who were accounted Eutychians, adhering to Dtofcoms: ) They profclled their adherence to the Council of Mce and £p/;f/i« i. and to A:hanafiu^ Theo-fhilui, and Cynl. The Bifliops cryed out, Why do they not curfe the opinion oi Eutiches? They offer us their Peli:ion in impofture: They would delude us, and fo depart. Let them curfc£«f)c/5a and his Opinion, and confent to Leo's Epilllc While they cryed out to them to cnrfe Eutyches, they anfwered (by fJtoacM,) If any, vrhethcr Eutyches, or any other', hold contrary to the thin(rs contavied in our Tmfejfign ('the Niccne and Efhef. Councils) let him he acciirfed. But for LeoV Epijlle^ %ve mnfl not go before the fentence of cur ylrchhijhop (of Alexandria., ) for xve follow him tn all things: The Council of Nice ordered that the Bijhops of Egypt do nothing without him. EnfebiHs Doryt. hid, They Uc. Others bid them prowjf. Other Bifhops cryed out, ipenly curfe the opinion of Eutyclics.- He th.tt fubfiribeth not l,co^s Eptjlle to whtch aU the holy Synod confentcth is aHtrctick- Anathema *^~\ to Diofcorus, and to them that love him : How ftall thry chiife them aBiJliop Cinfteadof D«o/(ror«j) if they judge not right the>»f(hes: The Egyptian Bi-Ihops faid, The efueflion ts about Faith, (j\ot mcnj But thev cryed out fo long, Curfe ^wVjChzsor yoiiare Hcrcttcks, that at laft the Egyptians faid, \_Anathemato'L\ityzht% and to them that helteve him,2 The Billiops crycd tO them {Subfcribehzo's Epiftle, elfe you are Hereticks'- The Egyptian Bifhops anfwered, We cannot fubfcribewithoHt the will of our Archbi(l:op. Some faid, Alt the Synod nmftnot attend for one man : Thiy that at Ephefus difiurbcd all things, would here do fo too: we defirt that thismi-y not be granted them, b»t they may confent to the Epifle, or receive a Canonical damnation , and k!;ow that they are Excommunicate. Photius Biihop of Tyre laid. Hew endeavour they to ordain ftheir Arch-Bifhop^ who are not of the fa^ mind with the Synods If they thinkj'ightly let them fubfcribe the Epifile, or be Excommunicate. The Bifliopscryed, IVe art.ill of this mmd. The £^j/)f«.j« Bilhops faid, IVecame not hither without a juji profejjion of our Faith. But (H'i to Leo'i EpiftleJ we are but few (12 Bi(hops) and the Bifliops of our Country ^revery many^ mnd we cannot give yoit all their niinds, cr r^prefent tlmr pCrfons: Wc befeechthts ' holy Synod to have mercy on ut, (.There is no mercy where the Biihop of Jiomc IS concerned) and do but fay till we have an Arch^bijJiop, that according to the ancient Cufiome of our Country, we may follow his judgment: For if we break p'-e-fumptioufly the the Canons and Cuflome, and do any thing without his will, aU the Regions of R^ypt Will rtfe.up agamjb hj; therefore have m'rcy cnourj^c: have mer^ tniUf and futM'not to end our Ufe^in- bani\]:meikt. ffiie fame 'Egyptian

P Bijlicps

Bipops caft down thetjifelves on the Eartht and faid, Tou are merciful men, ffive mercy on its: Cecrofiits Bifliop of Sebaft. faid, The whole Synod isCreattr and worthier of credit, than the Country of Egypt. It « not juji that ten Here-ticks be heard, and I200 Biflfofs he faft by: We bid them wt fltevf their Faith for ethers hut themfehesl The Bi(hops ot Egypt cryed, Then we cannot dwell in the Province'-, Have mercy on us: Enfehius Dor. (aid. They areprocnra-ters for the refl: The Popes Ltg^ite laid. If they erre, let them he taught by the magntfcencc of your footftepi, &c. The Egyptians Ct'jtA^ We arekiUcd-y Have mercy onus: The Bifhops all faid, Tou fee what aTeJlimony they give of their Bijhaps, ^'Dg, we are killed there : The Egyptian Bl(hopscryedyWe die by your footjieps : have pitty onus, and let us die by you. And not there. Let but an Archbifljop here be made, and we fubfcribe and confent , Have mercy oh our grey hairs. Give ui an Archbijliop here: Anatolius knoweth that it is the Cufiem of our Countrey that aH the Bifliops obey the jirchbijhop : Not that wt obey not the Synod, but we are kiHed there in our Country : Have mercy on us; Tou have the power ; We are fubje^s; We refufe not. We had rather die by the Lord of the World ('the Emperou r) or by your magnificence, or by this holy Synod, than there. For Gods fake have pity on thefegrey hairs ; Jpare ten men: We die there : It is better die here. All the moft Reverend Bifhops crycd out, Thefe are Hereticks. The Egyptian Biiho^ps faid. Ton hav$ power on our livei\ fpare ten men:, Lords are Merciful: Anatolius k^oweth the Cujlome; W» are here till an Archbifhop be chofen: If they would have our Seats, let them take them: We are not willing to be Bijljops: Only let us not die. Give us an jirchbifhopy and ifwegainfay, punijlt tu : We confent to thefe things which your power hath decreed'. We contradict not; but choofe w an Archbipcp: We here flay till it''1 done: All the moft Reverend Bifhops clamoured) Let them fubfcribe to the datnnation ■of Diolcorus.

Thus the ^ooiEgyptian Bifhops that had the upper hand under Theoda-

fius, were in a ftreight between the mercilefs Bifhops in the Synod (that

had lately at Ephefus joyned with themj and the furious Bifliops and peo-

r-a. pie of their own Country that would have killed them when they came

^"^ home (too common a Cafe at Alexandria.) But when all their dejefted

cryes and begging could get no mercy from the Bifhops, the Lay Judges

had fome, and moved that they may be made flay in the Town till their

Archbifhop was chofen ('of whom you fhall hear fad work anon.) The Popes

Legate requefted, That if they would needs jhew them any humanity, they

fliould take fureties of them, not to go out of the €ity, till they bad an Arch-bi-

fhop. And fo it was ended.

$.25.The next bufinefs was with the Abbots of the Monks: They had pe-titionQdMartian,that a General Council might be called,to end their lamentable broils,and that without turhations,forced fubfcriptions or perfecutions by the fecret contrivances of the Clergy, and cafling men out before due judgment. And they gaw in a profeffion of their Faith, and petitioned that Diofcorut might be called, becaufe the Emperour had promifed them that nothing T)iit the Nicene Faith fhould be impofed. which he profeffed: The Bifhops

all

all clamoured out their repeated CurfeagainU Diofcornsy and their 7*o//ei»-juriam a Syno^o, Tollc violtnti.im ,t Synodo, Tolle not^m a Syi:oJo, IJles mit-t( foras. thatis, Away xviththcnf-, and would not hear their petition i But the Lay Judges made it to be read: In which the Monks profcfs to hold to the NiccneCrcedy and that the Church might not have difcord by impo-fing more: Protcfling that if their Reverences, abufing their power, refifled this, oi before Cod. and the Empcrour, the Judges, the Senate, and ths Confcienccs of the BiJl)ops, that they pake their garments againjl them, and put thcmfelves beyond thetr Excoinmnntcatien: for they Vftuld not be Commtwicarors with ihofe that thus refhfe the N icene Fntth. The Council ftill urged them to fubfcribc Z,fo's Letter. Carofus and Doretheus in the name of the rt^oi tht Abbott faid y They were Baptized into the Nicene Faith; They kl'fw no other : They were bid by the Bijlwp that Baptized them Receive ne other: We believe the Baptifmal Creed: We fnbjcrihe not the Epijile: They are Bijlops ', The)/ have power t» Excommunicate and to Damn, and to do what they will more : But we knew no o-thcr Faith: The Arch-Deacon urged Carofus to Subfcnbe to Leo's Epiftle asExpofitory of the Nicene Faith, and to Curfe Neflorius and Eutyches: Cirofus anfwered , What have J to do to curfe Neftorius, thjt have once, twice, thrice, and often ciirfed and damned him already. c/£/»r«/faid, Doji thorn cHrfe Eytichts M the Synod doth or net ? Carofus replyed. Is it not written., fudge not that ye be not judged ? Again he repeated, that he believed the Ni-cene Creed into which he was baptized; If they faid any thing elfe to him he knew it net: The Apoftle faith, Jf an Angel from heaven preach another G of.-pel, let htm be accurfed: what flmild I do? If Eutyches believe not m the iiniverfal Church belitveth ; let him be Mccurfed.

§. 26. At lafl: there was a diflention, whether Leo'^s Phrafes fhould be put into their Definition of Faith (now drawn up a new.) A while it was cryed down, but at laft yielded to, when the lUtricane Bifhops had firll flighted Rome, and cryed, ^i contradicunt {diffinittoni) Neftoriani funt: ^ui contradicunt Romam amhulent.

And AnatoUus Bifliop of ConflAtttineple openly declared, That Diofco-rus was not condemned for matter of belief, but becaiife he Excommunicated Leo, and when he was thrice fummoned did not appear.

6. 27. After this Theodorets turn came, that had been for Nefleritu., and the Bifhops all cryed out. Let Theodoret curfe Neftorius. Theodoret defired that a Petition of his to the Emperour and to Lfo's Legate, might beread; that they might fee whether he were of their belief or not. They cryed out, We will have nothing read; prefently curfe Neftorius, Theodoret told them that he had been bred of the Orthodox, and fo taught, and preached; and was againfl not only, "i^t^onxiS <j»i^ Eutyches, but all men elf: that held not the right. The Biihops interrupted him , clamouring,/p^i^ eut plainly, cwr/J-^te Neftorius and his Opinions ; curfedbe NeR^onws and thofe that love Ijim. Theodoret anfwered, / take not my felf to fay true, but I know I pleafe Cod : I would frfl fatisfie you of my belief; for I feel^not preferment, I need not honour, ner come hither for that: But' be cmfc I am calumni-

P 2 ated

ated, I come to fatisfie you that 1 am Orthodox i and I Anathematixje every He-rctick^ that will net be converted^ and Ncftorius and Eutyches, and every man that /./if/;, there are i\vt> Sons^ or thinks fo, I jInathematiJLe. The Bifliops again took this for dawbing , and cryed our, fay plainly, Anathema t» Nellorius, and them which hold thitt xvhichUhn. Theodoret laid, Vnlefs I may expLffn my own hcluf, J will not fay it. I believe —Here they interrupted, and all cryed out, He is a Heretick^, He »^ 4 Neftorian'. caj} out the Hcretick: Reader; would a man have believed that were not forced by Evidence, That this Conncil was of Neftorius'j mind, and confirmed his own Declrine of the Vnity of Chrifls perfa/i and two Natures, who thus fu-rioufly cryed down Theodoret? (except as to the aptitude of the word ^CT!.K&-.J And is it not a doleful Thought that the worthy Bilhops of the Church, even in a General Council, Ihould no better know the way of peace .' And do not ibefe words here tranfla.ed out of Binnius, p. gi. and icc5. agree too well with Cre^. N'azJMz.en's Chars^ftcr of Bilhops and Councils.? Not but that the Church had always fome Learned, Godly, Wife, and Peaceable Men, ffuch as Gregory Naz. and Theodoret were, and many more, efpecially \nJficl;\) but you fee that they were born down by the ftream of unskilful, worldly, temporizing, violent Men ; after once worldly greatncfs made it the way to preferment, and it became their butincfs to ftrive who fhou'.d be uppcrmoft and have hi? will.)

But Theodoret when he found that there was no hope of fo much as a patient hearing of his Explication and ConfefTion, vvas fain to yield, and fay, A/mthema to Neftorius, and to him who faith net that the Virgin Mary was the Parent of Cod, and who divideth the only begotten Son into two Sons \ which was yet cauteloufly exprelfed , as if he faid, f/ppofng that Neflorius did fo (which himftlf denyed) let him be accurfed: And lb Theodoret was: abfolvcd and counted worthy to be a Bilhop.

§. 23. Jiivinal Hierofol Thalaflns, and the reft of the Leaders, at E-phff. Council 2, were pardoned : Ibas his Epillle to /ifatis againft Cyril-vvas acquit, or at lead the Bifhop upon the reading of it. It is a fad Narrative of the Calamitous Divifions which thtfe Prelates and theirCoun-cils made. He faid that Cynl writ againft Neflorius that there was but one nature in Chnfl, &C. Hxc omt/ia imfiet.nis plena: Kc tells how C)r/7 prcpofdled the Biihops before they met, and made his hatred of A^?/?(7-riits hisCaufe. How he condemned Neflorius two ^ay^hehrc John of An-ticch came : How afterward they condemned and dcpofed one another .• Wovi NiftoriHswz'i in hatred with the Great men o[ Conjfantifrople, which was his fall: How John and Cynl's Bifliops or Councils would not Communicate with each other; How they fet Bilbops againft Bifhops, and People againft People, and a mans Enemies were thofe of his own houfe-hold : How the Pagans fcorned the Chriftians hereupon: For ('faith he) iZs' "0 '">"' ^'^'fi travel from City to City, or from Province to Province, but each o/je pcrjtcutcd his mighbcur as his enemy : For numy not having the fear of

God,

their Councils abridged. \ o^

Gcd, by tccafion of EccUfiAfiical aeal^ made hafle tt hrin^ forth the hidden eru mity of their hearts againfl others: ('he inftanceth ia fome Perfecutors^ and flieweth how Pauliis EmijfeuHs helpt to heal them.

f. 29. In the eleventh Adtion two Bifhops ftrive for the Bifhoprick of Ephefus, Bafianus and Stephen (that had been Diofcorus Agent j .• And in their Pleas each of them proved that the other intruded by violence into the place, both he that firft had it, and he that thruft him out and took his Seat, and one of them made his Clcn^y fwear to be trne to him and not forfake him , And while the Bifhops were for one of them, the Judges pad Sentence to cafi out both, and all confented.

S JO. But after all the crying up of Lro's Epiftic, this Synod fet Co light by Leoy as that, fome fay, againft his Legates Will, they made a Canon, (l3) Th,it evoy where following the Decrees of the Fathers^ ard acknowledging the Canon which was lately read made by the I50 Bijl'ops, we alf» Decree the fame ^ and determine if the Priviledgesoftht holyChnrch o/"Connan-tinople new Rome : For the Fathers did give for attributej righly the Pri-viledges to the Throne of old Rome, becaufe th.xt City rnled (or had tbe Empire)^ And moved by the fame conf deration the 150 Biflwps Lovers cfGod^ gave (or attributed) eijual Priviltdges to the Throne of New Rome ■■, ^'g^'ly judging that the City which is honoured with the Err.pire and the Senate^ and er.joycth e^ualPri-viledges with ancient Queen.Kome, JlwHlii alfo in things Ecclfft^fitcal be extolled and magnified, being the fecord after it. The Popes Legates h^n^ Bonif-ce xs fubfcribed to all-, and Euftbius D<!r;7. thus fubfcribcd S/'o^/fy///;/fr//i/»", quo-niam & hanc regulam fviElijfimo Pap.e in Vrbe Roma cro rele^i prefcntibusCle-ricis Condantinopolitanis, emiq-^ fifccpit. And this Council was after over and over approved by the Roman Biflxp''.

§ 31. It in is this Canon notorious, i. That the whole General Council ^^3 and fo the univerfal Church did then believe, that the Popes or Reman Privilcdges were granted by the Fathers fthatis,by Councils') and ffocd not by divin; appointment. 2. That the rcaroii that the Failicrs granr-cd them, was bec.iufc it was th; Imperial Sear. Had ihcy believed tliat the Apoftlcs had inftitutcd it, they had never faid that the Fathers did it for this reafon •, and that Co'jlar.tirople fhould be equal or next it for the famereafon. 3. The Church of Cc'7/?,f,vr/ff(;p/f never claimed their Prerogative jure divino ^s fuccccding any Apollic, atid yet jure In.perii claimed eqjal Friviledges. By ail which it is undeniable that the whole Church in that Council, nod efpccially the G""rffb,did ever hold Ro/neh Primacy to be a humane infbitution, upon a humane mutable reafon. V\"hat the Pa-piftscan fay againft this, I have fully anfvvcred againft iV. Johnfon in a Bock called, Whxb is the trite Church.

§•33. The Qjcftion now is, What concord did tlufehtc Ccii'ds procure to the Chinches ?

Arif. From that time moil: of thcChriRian World was diltraiT; d into Facflions h:rccicating, damning, dcpollng aid too many murdeiiog one aiio-thcr. One party cleaved to D ofcoras and w.re called by tbe other Fmy-

(Lians \

no

Chmch-Hiftory of Bijhops aiicl

F~5=»

ehuins ■•, Tliefe crycd up the Sufficiency of the Nietnt CsHncils Faith^ as that which they were baptized into, and would have no addition nor diminution', and condemned the Crf/cf<;/o» Council, and excommunicated and dc-pofed thofe that would not Anathematize it: Thofe that were againfl them they called NeftorUns.

On the other party were thofe that had cleaved to Nefior'ms by name, and had been perfecuted for his Caufe •, And thcfe were a feparate Body, and cryed down the other as Eutychims.

Thofe called Orthodox or Catholicks cryed down Neflorimns and Eutychi-*«ibyname, indeed defending the fame Dodrine ^s Nejiorius, except as to the fitnefs of the word ^ilom- And the chief ofNeftorius his firft'adherents perceiving that indeed they were of one judgment, united with thefe againlt the Eutychians. 1 have fhewed that all of them feemed to make all this ftir but about fome Words which one party took in one fenle and the other in another. For thefe words the Bifhops caft the Chriftiaa World into confufion, dcftroyed Love and Unity under a pretence of keeping the Faith *, fo that the Church was lamentably militant •, Bilhops againft Bifliops, in continual enimity and rage. The Emperours at their wits end not knowing how to end the Ecclefiaftical odious Wars : And the Heathens hardened and deriding them all and their Religion.

§.35. When the Council was ended, and Proterius made Bilhop ol A-lexandria in Diofcorus ftead, the City was in fo great difcontent that the Emperour Martian was fain to fend a Lay-man to moUifie them •, for they would not endure a Calcedonian Bifliop : They fet more by Diofcorus than before (fo that Binnins incredibly faith, they offered him Divine Honour.

$. H- It was not long till Martian d^jcA, and then they let the World know that it was Emperours and not Popes or Councils that they regarded. They thought then they might Ihew their minds, and what they did Lihera-tHsw Breviario, Eva^rius, Nicephorus and Others tells us at large : But I will give it you in the words of the f^^pr^w Bifhops which conformed to the Council, Bin. p. 147. One Timeihy ElarHs of Diofconts Party who had gathered feparated Congregations before, fince the Council of Calcedon, got fome Bilhops of his own Party to make him Archbifhop : The people foon Ihewed their minds though it depofcd their Archbifliop. They let up Timothy^ and he ''■ prefently made Ordinations of BiJJjops and Clerks, &C. " while he thus went on, a Captain, Dioniluis, came to drive him cut of the " City : The people rage the moie againft Proterius: He gets into the Bap-*'■ tifiry to avoid their ragey a place reverenced even by the Barbarians zwA " thefierccft Men : But thefe furious people, fet on by their Bifhop Ti-'"'-morhy y neither reverencing the Place, the Worfhip, nor the Time, ''(which was £<«//fr') nor the Office of Priefthood, which is a Mediation hc-*■* trvcenCod and Man, did (Irike the blamelefs Mun^ and kill him crnelly, with "■ ftx more \ and dragging his wounded Carktfs every where, and cruelly drawing ^* it about, almoji thrcH'^h all the parts of the City^ did meycilcfly beat the fenfe.

" lefs

\

" kfs Corps, and divided his Parts^ and [pared not to taji his Entrails wiib their ''^ Teeth liks Dogs-^ whom they JhoitU have thought the Adediatour of God and *' Man \ and cafting the refl of his Body vito the Ftre, they fcattered his yijhes '' into the Wind, traufcending the fiereenefs of allBeafis : And the Archittd of " «ll this was ftheir new Billiop" Ttmothy ; firft an Adulterer (taking ano-*' thcrs Church) and then a Murderer, doing it in a manner as with his own "hands, in that he bid others do it : This man rnleth the Alexandrian "■ Churchy and going on doth worfe.

This isin thcEpiftleto the Emperour Z-fo •, The like they write in ano- sinp.j^j ther to AnatoliHs^ adding, "that he Anathematized the Council ofCalce ** don and all that communicate wuh it, and received none that rceive it^ till " they renounce it.

§. $5. On the other fide Bifhop Ttmothyh Adherents wrote to Leo in praife of their new Bifhop, profefling the Nicene Faith, and declaring what great Concord and Peace their City now had, and craving the Em-perours approbation of him.

$. 36. In Palefiine alfo the fame Fire kindled: The Monks that had been at Calcedon returned lamenting that the iV;ffw; Faith was there betrayed, and ftirred up their Fraternity to rcfcind the A<rts"i They got together and expelled Juvenal Bifhop of JcriifaUm^ as a Traytor to the Catholick Faith and a Changer. The Emprefs Eudocta) faith Nicephoms) took their part^ and ftrengthncd them •, At SchythopoUs they killed Sevenanus the Bilhop, they compelled men to joyn and communicate with them. At Jt-rufalem they ]f^i\kd Athanafius a Deacon for contradi(ftingthem, and gave ...^^ ■ , his Flelhto Dogs. Dorotheus the Emperous Lieutenant would have kept 15'^' i. the Peace, and they compelled him to joyn with them : But after twenty moneths Juvenal was rellorcd. Thus in many Countreys the War wenc on; And they that knew not the Arcana Imperii thought all this was done byBifhopsand Monks; But the truth is EiidociaTheedofiHs''s Widow^ and PulcheriaTheodofius\ Sifter and AUrtiMpi Wife, were of two fides". And Women had great power with Emperours, and confequently with Bi-fliops : But at lafl: PuUhcria procured the convcrfion of Endocia to her fide, and then (lie owned the Council, and then others owned it. This was in Martians days.

§. ij. The great number of Letters fent from the Bidiops to Lt* when he was made Emperour, which were fent in anfwer to his own to them, engaged him the more for the Council Party, and againfl; Timathy ^y£lH-rus ■■ He depofed him and put Timothy Salophaciolns in his place : But the City was all in confufion between the two Timothies^ Bilhops- The Egyptian i;,ctfhi l. Bilhops write to the Emperour againfl Timothy and Eutychians. The Em- iff-17, perour fends forth his circular Letters, commanding all to own the Calce- **> '9-doH Council. At Antioch Petrus Cnapheus ambitious of the Archbiflioprick got into MartyrtHs place i by Zeno's help : And thinking they were ftill managing only the Controverfie againft the Nefiorians, and taking the Orthodox for Nefiorian Hereticks, all were accurfed by Anathema's

that

Church-Hiftory of Bijhops and

that would not lay that God wus crucified and fnffcred (The Orthodox doing the fame,") and thus they iucreafed the Confulions. Murtyrius r\\ciZ true Bilhop when he fiw that he could do no good upon them, forfook them, with thcfc words, Chro rcheHi, c^ ftpulo inobcdienti, c^ Ecclejiit contaminatA Niincium rcmilto. I rcneunce a rehclUottt Clergy., a difobedtent Peofle^and a dcfiltdChurch. Pctrus Cnapheus kept the Bi(hoprick,and reviled theCtilcfdon Council. Leo the Emperour banilheth hira: Stephams a friend to the Council is put into the place: That you may know how the Council had united the people, even the Boys were fet oa to kill this new Bifhop with fliarp Quills.

Common execution was too ealie a death-, Being killed they call his Corps into the River, for favouring the Council of C^lcedon., and fuc-cecding their defired Biiliop : But Cakndion fucceeding him, made them Anathemati/.e the fame Paer Cnapheus.

§. j8. While M*>7;>« and Lfo, reigned thus, the Council oi Calcedon was kept up, and almoft all iht Bifliops were brought to fubfcribe to it^ But death changeth Princes, and thereby Bifhops. Z-fo dyeth, and dif-folute Zcno fucceedeth him : He would fain have had his peace among them in fenfuality. Baflifcus taketh the advantage of his difTolute Jife, and ufurpeth the Empire, and maketh ufe of the bifhops Schifm and contentions to get him a party: fFor the Bifhops Schifms greatly ferve U-furpers ends.) And firfl he publiflieth his Circular Letters againft the Council of Cakedon, requiring all the Bifhops to renounce it, fbecaufe r^ his PredecelTours had been for k.) To this, faith Nicephorus., lib. 6. cap. 4. three Patriarchs, and no fewer then five hundred fubfcribed, and renounced the Council. (And yet how violently they damned all that would not receive it, and writ for it to Leo, but a little before you have heard, j But quickly after, yicacius Patriarch of Cwy?4«r»»tfp/r, and Dan- Colummlla, perfwadcd BafilifcHs to write clear contrary Circular Letters, Commanding all to own the Council: For they convinced him that this was the more pofTible way: And thefe alfo were obeyed. But Zem was fhortly after reftored to the Empire, who was for the Council: And then the Jfan Bifliops turned again, and wrote to get their * Pardon, faying. That they fubfcribed to Baflifcus firlt Letters, not voluntary, but for fear ! fO excellent Martyrs.^ Niceph. I. 16. c p.

§. ig- Upon this the Council was up again, and the Bifhops became Orthodox once more: Till atlaft Zem thought (as the Acacians did a-bout laying by o,«*sf;(!>) that the only way to unite thefe Bifhops, was to leave allfrec, neither forbidding any to own the Council of Gj/c-f<;^<?«, nor ■' yet compelling any to it. And fo he wrote an Edicft of Pacification, fi-

■' lencing the caie, which he called his Henoticon: For he thought that the Bifhops would never agree either/«r it or againf it. But yet this ended not the quarrels: The fire ftill Ifamed: Liberty contented not the Bifhops: They were zealous for God as againft his Enemies the Hereticks: And every Party W'Cre thefe H:i"eticks and Enemies in the judgment of

the

their Councils abridged. j ^ ^

^

the reft.All muft be damned and ruined that would noi; be for God, that is, that was not of their minds. When Liberty was once up, the pe.ople were fignificant, and their mind was foon known. At Annoch, CMendion wa'S caft out of his Seat, and Peter .Cmfhins got in again. fFor a Combat for a Bilhoprick was a War which they fcrupled not.; And at Alex-andria the whole City was in confufion while Peter Mo^^m and John ftrove who fliould bs Bifhop. Mtggfi of Alcxa»drsa anathematizing the Cake, don Council, and perfecuting Dilfenters, the Emperour laboureth to reconcile them. Acacius at ConfiantmofU^ though fuppofcd Orthodox, Com, raunicateth with Peter Moggm: whether in obedience to Zeno% Henoxi-con^ or weary of hereticating, and why, is not known. (O how com-mon were feparatift Bilhops in thofe days! ) FJix Bifliop of Rome con-demneth Acadtu Bifhop of ConjlMtimple for this: Acacitu had equal pri-viledges given by the C^/cf^a« Council, and had the prefence of the Emperour and Senate, and he again condemncth Faltx \ blotting his name __^ out of the facred Alhe (their Book of life.) "CI

§. 40. ^Mc/Kj Ihortly dying, the Emperour found it too hard a task to choofe a Patriarch, that (hou Id not keep up the Sedition; Therefore he will refer the choice to God: To that endheputteth a blank paper on the Akar, and another by it, rcquclling of God that an Angel might write there the name of him that God would have to be Patri-arch: The doors arc fait locked, andforty days Falling and Prayer commanded, to prevail with God .• The Keys are committed to a fiire and great Courtier, but one that wasfubjcift to Angels: OneFlavit.u bribetli him, and he writeth Flavitas''s name in the paper, and (ealeth up the doors: And fo there was an Arch bilhop chofen by an Angel. This man joined with Peter o( Alexandria by Synodal Letters, to command all to curfe the Council: and yet wrote to the Bifhop of Rome^ that he renounced Communion with Peter., and he wrote to Peter that he renounced Communion with the Bifhop of Rome. But its fearful fporting with God and Angels: He dyed within four Months.

§.41. After FlavitM ihccceded Euphemitu: He joined with the Bifhop of Rome, and rafed Pcterh name out of the Church Book: Peter and EiiphemiMs as two Generals were about gathering Synodical Armies againfl: each other, and againft, and for the Council. But the Foot that fpurn-cth abroad and fpoileth the Deligns of Worldlings, even Death pre-fently removed Peter- One Athanafus fucceedeth Peter, and fain he would have reconciled and united his Clergy and People, but he could not: Holy zeal is too eafily quenched, but not contentious carnal zeal. Palladtus fucceedeth Peter Cnaphens at Anticch : Both thefe great Patriarchs join together to curfe the Council o^Calcedon\ and down went the Council. But death again maketh a turn, they both dye, ^\ A John fuccecded .it Alexandria., and Flaviams at Anticch. Yet thefe muft be of the mind of the major part, and both joinalfo to curfe the Council: And the Patriarchs of Rome and Conflatnintflc curfe them, and are for the

Q C0811

Church'Hiftory of Bijhops and

Council: And thus Curfing was the Religion of the Age.

§. 42. But now Ztno the Emperour dyeth, and AnA^auni Dicorusis chofen Emperour. Ntctphortu, lib. 16. c. 25. faith, that he being a man of peace, and defiring the ceafing of Contentions, followed Zeno*s He~ mticon, and left all to their liberty to think of the Council as they plea-fed. Hereupon the Bifhops fell into three Parties; fome fervent for e-very word of the Council ^ fome curling it •, and feme for the Henoticon , or filent peace. The Eaft was one way: the Weft another: and Lybia another. Yea the Eaftern Bifhops among thcmfelves, the Weftern among themfelves, and the Lybian among themfelves, renounced Communioa with one another. Nicefhor. c. 25. Taniaconfujio inentiHrrq., caligo (faith the Hiftorian) orbem univerfum inceffit, (it is not my cenfure) fo great con. fufwn and bliridnefs of mind befell the Vfhtle world: This was the EfFed even of Liberty.

§. 4}. The Emperour refolving to keep peace did purpofe to fall oa the moft unpeaceable whoever, even on both fides. At Conflantimjde he put out Eufhcmiiis: (as fome thought upon a perfonal diflike or quarrel:) For before his inthronizing they fay he had given under his hand to En-phemius a promife that he would [land for the Council ; and when he had poffeflion he demanded up his Writing: Euphemins denyed it him, and was caft out: Macedonius fuccceded him, and got the Writing: The Emperour demanded it alfo of him •, he alfo denyed it: The Emperour would have alfo put him out: The people rofe up in Sedition, and cry-ed, It is a time of Martyrdom^ let hs all flick^to the Bijlwp: And they reviled the Emperour, calling him a Mamchee^ and unworthy of the Empire. The Emperour was forced hereby to fubmit to AiatedomuSf left he Ihould have lofl all: The Bifliop fharply rebuked him as the Churches E-nemy. But thefe things made the Emperour more againft the Council, partly as more againlt him } and when he fav/time, he rcmembred Aface-donihs, and caft him out: yea he ^\xtTimothy in his place, and burnt the Councils Afts. Timothy pulled down the Images of Mtcedonius. The ?^tn^lChs of Jlexafidria, Ai3tioch: and Jerufijlem,. wctQ all caft out.

$ 44. Peter Cnapheus Antioch had made one Zemiat a Perfian Servant and unbaptized, Biiliop of Hierapolis. This man was ag.ninft Images and againft the Council. He brought a Troop of Monks to Amioch to force Flavianm the Bifhop to curfe the Council ^ FUvianns refuleth: The people ftuck to the Bifhop, and difputed the cafe with fuch unanfwerable arguments, that fo great a number of the Monks were flam, as that they lllf*- threw their Bodies into the River Orontej, to fave the labour of buryr ing thtm. Niceph. 16. c, 27. But this cndeth not the difpute-, another Troop ol Monks of Cwlo-fyria^ that were of FUvianns and the Councils fide,, hearing of the tumult, and the danger of the Bilhop, flock to Anr ttQch, and made another flaughtcr, as great Cfaith Wi-cephorns) as the

fojmer.

§. 45> The.

§. 45. The Murders done by Bifliops and Chriftians were fometimes punilhed by Exxoramunkation, but not by Death in thofe profperous times of the Church.- The Emperour hereupon did banifh FUvianus, which his followers took for perfecution i Peter Akx. being dead the BiOiopsof Alex. Egyft^ and Lyhla, fell all into pieces among themfelves, each having their feparate Conventions. The reft of the Eaft alfo feparated from the Wejl^ becaufe the Wefl would not Communicate with ihcm, unlefs they would Curfe Neftorins^ Eutyches., Diofcoru.!^ Mo^gm, and Acacim: And yet faith Nicefherw^ 1. 16. C. 28. Qui germAni Diofcori d" EutychnesfeBatores fuere ad Maximam faucitatem redaHi furit. Xevaias bringeth to Flavian, the Names of Theodore., Thcodorite, Ibas and others as Nefiorians; and tells him, IfheCxnk not all thefe, he is a Neflorian\ whatever he fay to the contrary .• Flavian viz^ unwilling, but his timcrous fellow Bifliops per-fwadedhini, and he wrote his Curfe againft them, and fent it to the Emperour. Xenaias then went farther, and required him to Curfe the Council. The //4«W<«« Bifliops were drawn to confent to Anathematize it .The refufers are all renownced as Neflorians. And thus the Council that Curf-cdNeJloriHs, h Cui:kd o(Nefioriati: The Eutychtans perceiving how near they were agreed.

After Flavian^ oneSf«r->«gotto beBifliop at Anticch (a fevere Enemy of the Neflorians., and of the Council.) The firft day when he was got in, he curfed the Council, though 'tis faid that he had fworn to the Emperour that he would not: Nicefh. I1b.i6.caf.z9.

In Palefline the Condemnation or Ejeftion of Flavianus and Macedo. vim renewed their diftradions and divifions.

About ^^wt/ocfciSfi'w//grew foearneft, and wrote fuch Letters to the Bifliops under him, as frighted many againft their Judgements, to Curfe the Council, and thofe that held mvo iVWr^rf/, as Hereticks; Some Bifliops ftood out and refufed ^ fomc fled from their Churches for fear. The Ifatiri-4« Bifliops, when they had yielded, repented, and when they had repented they Condemned SfOTr«j, that drove them to fubfcribe. Two ftout Bifliops, Cofmoi^ and Severianus^ fent a Sealed Paper to StverM\, and when he opened it, he found it was a Condemnation under their Hands. The Emperour had notice of it, and he being angry, that they prefumed to Condemn their Patriarchs, fent his Procurator to caft them out of their Bifliopricks, fhimfelf at laft being againft the Council.^ The Procurator found the People fo refolute, and bent to Refiftance, in defence of their Bifliops: That he fent word to the Emperour, that thefe two Bifliops could not be caft out, without bloud-flied. The Emperour fent him word, that he would not have a drop of bloud flied for the bufinefs •, for he did what he did for peace.

$. 46. Hcliai, Bifliop of JerHfalem, found all the other Churches in fuch Confufion, the Bifliops Condemning one another •, that he would Communicate with none of them, f^ve EHphentim oi Corjflantintple ('before hisEjedbn)iVicrpfc. c. ji. The Monks were engaged for the Council by

I

I r^ Chwch-Hiftory ofBiJhops and

fuchameansas this. One ThcoJoJiia, a Monk Tor Abbot) gathering a great adembly, lowdly cryed out in the Pulpit to them. Hlfany nutn eejuai not the four Councijs^ with the four Evanitlijis^ let him he Anathem^.l^ This Voice of their Captain, refolvedtheSlonks ; and they thenceforth took it as a Lav/, that the four Councils (hould be/icWW/^rn accenfenda, added or joyned with the facred Books. And they wrote to the Eniperour, \_Certamen fe dc eis ad faniHinem itfq, fiibitiiris, that they would make good theConflift for them, eventoblood: Thus Monks and Bidiops then fub-mitted to Princes. Thcfe Monks went about to the Cities to engage them to take their fide for the Councils. The Empcrour hearing of this, wrote to the BiniopH^/t/^ to reform it-. Herejeeteth the Etiperours Letters, andrefufeth : The Emperour fendeth Souldiers to Compell orrclt-rainthem. The Orthodox Monks that were for the Council, gathered by the Orthodox Bifhops, tumultuoufly caft the Emperours Souldiers out of the Church, Ni<re;?fo, c. 54. After th-is, they had another Contention, and there Anathematized thofe that adhered to Severn. The Emperour more provoked by all this, kntOlympifts with a band of Souldiers to Conquer them: Olympim came, and caft out Bi(hop Helias, and put in John. The rj^ Monks gather again, and the Souldiers bieng gone, they come to Johny and make him engage himfelf to be againft 5fyfr«;*, and to ftand for the Council, though it were unto Blood : He yielded to the Monks, and in-gaged himfelf to the Council, and brake his Word made to Olympic. TheEmperor is angry with 0/yw/7;V« for doing his Work no better ■, and puts him out, and fendeth another Captain Amflatim-^ who c.ime and put theBidiop 7o^«inPril"on and Commanded him to dtfpire the Council.• y^^wconfulting v/ith another Biftio}-) craftily promifed to obey him, if he would but let him out of Prifon, two days before, that it mightnocfeema forced aft. This being done, the Bifhop on the contrary in the Pulpit before the Captain and the People, cryeth out If any man afem to Eutyches, md Neftorius, ^Contraries) and Severus, and Sotericlius, Cirarianfis, \tt him be Anathema: Jf any follow net the Opinions of the fo'ir Vniveifal Synods iethim be Anathema. The Captain feeing himfelf thus deluded, fled from f he Multitude and was glad to fave himfelf, the Emperour being offended more at this. The Bifhops write to him, ?W<«f Jerufalem the Fountain of DoElrineythey were not now to learn the trnth.fl.'a.^ that they would defend the Tra-dittws if need he even to hlood, Niceph. 16. c. 54.

fitConJlantinople the Bifhop Timothy would pleafcboth fides, and pleafed neither: Tofome he fpake for the Council, to others he Curfed it. Being to make an Abbot, the Manrefufed hisEIeftion, unlefs he confented . to the Council of C<t/cf<^o«.- T/w«fc}'prefently Curfed thofe that received not the Council. His Archdeacon hearing him, reproached him, that like Enripus roled every way. The Emperour hearing it, rebuked him : And Timothy wafht away the Charge, and prefently Curfed every one that received the Council, Mc?;;^. /. 8. c. 3 5. §. 47. But what did Rme all this while? It were too long to recite

their

their Councils abric/geJ. \ij

their proper Hiftory: They were for the Council^ and they liad other kind ofConflidts: The GothshdA them in W.irs,and had conquered chcni and Theodorickjcxgnzd there as King, and fo they were broken off from the Empire: ^r/4w ruled them, who yet if 5<l/^7■<^^; fay true, did ('afcer^ fliame the Orthodox in point of Temperance, Truth, and Juftice.

But befidcstlieir following greater Schifms, this Schifm alfo d;d reach to them. Fcjlus a Roman Senator was fent by Thcodortck^ to the Empc-rour on an Embaflic .• which having done, he defircd of the Emperour that Confiamimfle might keep the Fcftival days of Pt/^r and Faul (which theydidnot before) as they did at ^owc:, and he prevailed: And he fe-cretly alTurcd the Emperour, that Jtuftafiut Biflicp of Rcn:e would receive the Horoticon (xo fufpend the confcnting to the Ci/rr^cn Council) and would iubfcribe it. When this Ambadadour came home the Pope was dead. To make good his Word to the Emperour, he got a party to choofe Laurentiui Pope, v\ ho vfould receive the Hoi^oucm: The People chofe SymnMclms their BiHiop. And fo there were two Popes fettled, and '^^ the fedition continued three years, not without Slaughter, Rapines, and Mfi-other Calamities: Ntcepher. cap. 55. Theodorick^zn Anan, more righ-tuous tlian the Popes, would not deprive them of their liberty of choice, but called a Synod, to judge which vvas the rightful Bifliop, and upon their judgment confirmed Symmachus : But Laurentiw loth tololc the prey, ftirred up the People to Sedition, and tliereupon vvas quite dcgraded-This Was a beginning of Schifms at Rome.

§. 48. The Emperour at Cchilantmople favouring the addition [_QHi cr/icifixiis tfl pro fiebisi] the People wlio dillikcd it, Kditioufly cut off a Monks head, and let it upon a pole, infcribing [_Jn Enemy to the Triniiy.^ The Emperour overcome and wearied with their Confufions, and Orthodox Murders and Rebellions ^ called an AlTenibly, and offered to re-lign his Empire, dcfiringthem to choofe another.- This fmcte them with remorfe, and they defired him to reallnrae his Ctcwu, and prpmij(e4 to forbear Sedition: But he dycdfliortly after. . ' ,,"

§. 49. Amo 452. ValemintAn the Roman Emperour attempted a great alteration with the Bifhops, by a Law recalling the Judicial Power of the Bifliops in all Caufes, except thofe of Fwh and Religion., unlefsthe parties contending voluntarily chofe them for the Judges. 1h\% Bimitu {zx\d the other Papills j take for a heinous injury to the Church. In till mens «^2 judffHcnt, laith BimiitiSy it is ahfitrdtbat the Sheepptuld judge his Shepherd: 1/today the Pre tor (i^and <tf the Tribitfjal of the 5>/?jo/>, and to tnorrowthe Bi-jfjop may he called to the Pretors Bar f That a>! Earthly judge may take and fMnifl) the fervants of the highefl jtilg't '^'^ confecrated men : who will not fay that this is mofl abfurd ?

Anfi». This (heweth what Churchgrandure and power thefe men expert ; Ifthey have not the Civil power, and be not Magiftratcs or Lords stall, the Church is wronged. This Clergy-pride is it that hath fet the World on fire, and will not confent that it be quenched.

1. By this rule all Chriftians lliould be from under all i Power of Kings a id Civil Rulers: For arc they not all C''-'* fervants of the highefl Jud^ es^ Hith God no Servants but the Clergy ?

2. By this rule both Princes and People (liould be free from the Bi-fliops judgment: For are not thefe Bifhops Men as well as Princes? and are not Chriftiaa Princes and People the fervantsof thehighejl Judge, and therefore (hould not be judged by Bifhops.

}. But what a wicked rebellious dodtrine is intimated in the difttn-<ftion, that Primes are Earthly Judges^ and VreUtes are the fervar.ts of the hiohefl Judge? Are not Prelates Earthly Judges 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 paft all difpute ?

4. And what abfurdity is it, that every font he fnhjeEl to the higher power? And that he that's one of your Sheep in one rcfpeif^, may be your Ruler in another? Why may not the King be the Ruler of him that is his Phyficiaftov his Tutor? And why not of him that is his Prirfi. Was not Solomon Ruler of Ahiathar when he difplaced him? May not one man judge who is fit or unfit for Church Communion, and another judge who is punifli-ableby the fword? Did Chrifl; come to fet up a Miniftry inftead of a Magiftracy ? He that faith, Man who made mc a Judge, came not to put down Judges: He that faith, By me Kings reign, came not to put down all Kings.

Obj. Chrifi fets Hp a Kingdoms of Priefis^ or a Royal Prieflhood.

yinfw. But his Kingdom is not of this World, or Worldly: It is a fpi-ritual Kingdome,concjuering fin and Satan, putting down the World out of our hearts, and making us hope for the everlafting Kingdom which we fliall fhortly enjoy. The Difeafeofthe Difciples that ftrove who (hould begreateft, and fit at the right and left hand, and faid. Lord wilt thou at this timereftore the Kingdom to Jfrael, 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 faith, All jeek. their own (too nnichj and none the things of fefiis Chrifi (fo naturally as Timothy did) and fo zealoufly as they ought- Too many Popes haue been Peters Succefiburs in the Charaifter given him. Mat. 16. Get thee behind me Satan, Thou art an effence unto me-^ For thou favonrefi not the things that bt of Ced^ but thofe that be of men. I underftood not who were the fpring of our late Fifth-Monarchy mens difeafes, till I read Campanetla de Regno Z>«, and fome fuch Papills, where 1 fee that Chrlfls reign by his Vicar the Pope over aH the Princes and People of the World, is the true Fifth-Mo-nafchy Herefie; For which they bring the fame Prophecies as the Millenaries do for their Expecftations.

Obj. But theTope^ Prelates and Clergy (called the Church) are net to reign by depofing Kings, but by Ruling them and being above them: As Love is a-bove the Lavf, yyhichyet is made for the ungodly that want Love^ and mufi he

ruled

rnled by fear'-, fo Princes Are for the World of wibdieverS^ hut not for the Church and Spirtrual perfom who live above them in the life of Lore.

Anfvf. I. This was one of the firfl: Hcrefies which the Apofties wrote againft: Many tempted Chriftians then to think that Chriftianity freed them from fervice and fubjettion and made all equal: But how plainly, frequently and earneftly, do PauI and Peter condemn \t? Is it not a {hame to hear fuch Papilts as cry up fuch a Hcrefle as this, cry down and damn a Neftoriau, or an EutychiaK^ or a Mcnothelite^ for an unskilful ufe of a word? Paul faith, He that teachcth otherwife (againft fub jedtion) is proud, knowing nothing, but doting.

2. Love doth indeed let us above Fear, and Legal threats fo far as it prevaileth: But it is impcrfeft in all, and Fear ftill nccellary.

3. And this taketh not down either the Law or Magiftracy to us, but only maketh us lefs need fuch means. It's one thing to love and live fo holily and jultly as never to need or fall under the fword of Magi-ftrates j and another thing to be freed from fubje^Ition and obligation.

This increafeth in many the opinion, that the Papal Kingdom is An-tichriftian, in that they fet up themfelves above Rulers thac are called Gods.

3- But why muft this priviledge extend to the Clergy only ? Have not other Chriftians as much holy love, and fpirituality, as moft of them ? And muft Princes rule only Infidels?

Some fufpeft none as inclining to Popery, butthofc that take upfome of their Dodrines of Tranfubftantiation, Purgatory, Images, ^c. But they that on pretence of the railing of the Church, and defending its power, do firft call the Clergy only the Church, and then fcekto make themfelves the Lords of Princes, by the pretences of an Excommunicating Power, and plead themfelves from under them, and take it for their priviledges to be free from fuhjedion to them and their penal Laws, are doubtlefs levened with that Popifh Herelie, which hath done much of all the mifchiefs, which the forecited Hiftory defcribeth.

$. 50. CXXXI. Btfides fome little contention at AlcxMtdria, under Proterim, before he was murdered ; the next in Bimiiitf, is faid to be at An^ices {^Aniegavenfei) which faith over again feme of their old Canons againft Priefts living with Women, and removing from place to place, and fuch like. And the Papifts fay that this Conncil was to contradift the Emperour Valeminians Law, and to vindicate the rights of the Church, as not being lyable to Civil Judicatures, or under Kings.

§. 51. CXXXII. Anro 45}. A Vrench Venetick Council was called about Ordinations, which repealed fome former Canons, and was fo ftrid, that the firft Canon kept Murderers and Falfe Wicnclfes from the Sacrament, till they repented (inftead of hanging them.) And the fecond

Canon

"Canon denyed the Communion to Adulterers that ualawfully put away tneirWives, and tookothers. (Oftridl LawsJ

J. 52. CXXXIII. Am. 459. A Council at dnflan/wople., forbad Simony.

5. 53. CXXXIV. jim. 467. A Council at Rome, of48BUliops; decreed that men that had 6W0 Wives, or the Husbands of Whores fhould not be ordained: That they that co«W w«t ReaJ^ and they that were maimed or difmembred, or the Penitent, Ihould notbemadeMinifters, o-c.

§. 54. CXXXV. Jm. 482. Ten Bifhops at Tomt, made fuch honeft Canons, asiftheyyetreteinedfomewhat of S. Ai»nw Piety. They ear-neftly difwade the Clergie from their Fornication: They go a middle way between them that forbad Priefts to get Children, and thofe that turn themloofe, and decree that married Priefts that continue to get Children fliall be advanced no higher: They forbid the Clergie to be drunk: And to take in ftrange women : They forbid them to forfake their Minifterial Funftion: (but what if Prelates filence them) They keep ihofe from the Communion that lye with Nuns (devoted to Virginity) tiJI they Repent : They keep Murderers from the Communion, till they penitently confefs. CThisis not hanging them in Chains; But who fliall-anfwer for that Blood, and for the next that this man killcth? ) others fuch honeft Canons thofe vertuous Bifhops made foft made before)

§. 55. CXXXVI. They fay Fa//A.' called a Council at Rome to admonifli, and Excommunicate Fefe/-Ca(»p^, Jntioch About the time time that he Excommunicated Acacins Confl. and Acacius damned him again.

§. 56. In thisftormagainft Acacius^x^t Pope engaged other Bifhops, one • •" was Q^tintiatiiM^ who fent Peter z dozen Curfes for his Cure: Of which one reached CyW/being againft thofe that fay [Vnam N/ituram'} Another wa» . {^SiqHiS Deitm-homine»>, dr nonmagis D(Hm & homineumdicit-, damnett^r'}^\i^t >, is, if any one fay Cod-man^ and not rather Godand Man, Uthimbe damned.-, oJ r-«3 How carekfsarePapifts, and Proteftants, that fo commonly venture ott the Word ^-o-yS'a-zrQ- to their damnation: If our Neigjibours, that com* -monly thcfe thirty years laft ufe the word ^Goddamn me had but put Thet^ inftcad ofiAW^ I fhould have fufpeded that the Councils and Bilhopshad made their Religion.

Ss7-CXXXVII. They fay that >^;7«. 48} y^c;?c/«/(ns bad as the Pope, made him) call'd a Council at ConJiautir.ofU^ to Condemn Peter' CnafheM.

§• 5''. CXXXVIU. Faelx called 7/Bniops 10 i?;wf, on this occalion:

He

I

He fent his peremptory Letters to Acaciw^ConJl. and fome to tlie Emperouc Zetto, by two Bifhops, Afifenus and Vualii : The Empcrour took away their Letters •, and (not knowing then the Popes Soverainty) laid them by the Heels, till he made thera glad to Communicate with thofe Bifhops that they came to Condemn : For this FWs.v and his Bifliops, caft them out of the Epifcopal Office ^ and they prefumed to excommunicate Acaciiu^ as afore faid, even with this Claufc, Nunquam Anathcmatis vtncnlis txuindus: Never to be abfolved from the Curfe ! What no Repentance, for one that wasno Heretick ! butfalflyfo called, for obeying the Empeiour, in dealing gently with fome EHtycintuit •, were not this Council and fope No--vtttiaru ?

§. ^9. CXXXIX. Yet Ann. 487. The fame Fdix is faid in a Council of 5S Bilhops, to decree Communion to the Lapfed, and Rc-bap-tized> penitent Africans.

§. 60. At this time, and before|in PopeLro's time; fome M.michet in Rome^ would not be Recufants, but Conformilts, and come to Church, and take the Sacrament *, but they took only the Bread, and not the Wine. Lto, Serm. 4 de Temp, quadrog. writeth this againft them. When to cover their Infdeluy ihey dare be frefent at eitr My/leries, thtyjo temper themfelveSf ,^ , that they may I fely lye hid, in the receiving «f the Sacrament, that they wUh an unvtoithy moHth, receive Chriji s Body, but refnfeto drinh the blood of Redemption. Wnicb we would have your holinefs to undcrftand \ that fuch men nuty be i^'W" to you by thefe marks: And that when their Sacrelegious diffimulati-on is iltfcernedy b'inj^ difcoveredthey may by the Frieftly Authority be driven front the Society of the Saints. Hereupon the Pope decreed that none Ihould Com-muiiicatCj^but in both kinds: The Words of the Canon dift. 2. de Confecrat. are thefe. Wcfitid that fomt taking only a portion of the holy body., ahflein from the Cup of the holy blood: Becaufe Ikriovf not by what fuperjlition they are taught to be thus bound :, let fuch either receive the whole Sacrament, or be dri-ven from the whole '■ Becaufe a divifon of one and the fame my fiery, cannot come hut from hejnous Sacriledge. Reader, Is Rome conftant in their Religion .' And have tliey nol.movatians ?Is notBiumus impudent in calling it foolifh to cite this Canon of their own Pope, againft them. Confider it and Judge.

And as impudent is he, p. 232. in expounding thefe words of Gelafus. Non defiriit fubfiantia vehiatura paws C^ vini. That is. The fubflame or Nature of the Bread^ and Wine ceafeth not: As if it fpeaks Only of the Jub-fiance and nature of the Accidents : As if Accidentshid fiibjlance, ind Nature of their own : What words, what evidence can be fo plain as to convince fuch men.

§. 61. Among the Epifllesof G"<-/i«/»«-, one is to Euphemim Bilhop of ^"^ »<"-• Confiantinople, denying him Communion, till he put the name of Acacim '"S'b'y^f' out of t he Dypticks, both of them being Orthodox j only becaufe Acacim ^Jq^^

R Commnn!.'Dai,iji"r«

Church-Hiftory ofBiJhops and

Communicated with an Eittychian; even when he is dead, thofe that f;^ Condemn him not mull be excommunicated i were there ever greater f^-paratilts than thefe. And is it any wonder if now the Pope leparate from moftofthe Chriftian World.

There is alfo his Commmitorium Written to FmijIhs the Fmbaflador of Thefdorike at Conflantinofk ^ in which he infiftethon the fame way of Separation. All the world muft be in an EcClefiaftical Epifcopal War, if they will not damn and feparate from every onetliat fpeaketh an unapt word,ifa Council or Pope will but call it Herelie.

But here the Papifts would have us believe that excommunicating in thofe days wasa proof of fupcriority: But Celafms himfeJfherc tells them o-tkerwife. It was objetT:ed againft him h)Enphemii*s Conftant. That one manmay mt excommmkate AcaciHs RPatu^vch. And heanfwereth, i. That it was the ad of many i that is, of the Council which condemned the Emychians in general. But is this good Law, or Divinity ? Is every offender condemned, »p/oj"«>-f, before his perfonai guilt is Judged? Becaufe the Law con-demneth all Thieves, may every man Judge, and hang them, jicacim is confelTed to be no Eutychiaf:^ but to have obeyed his Prince, in Communicating with one .- EuphefHiMWZs no Eutychian, but Would not difobey his Prince at the Popes command, by blotting out Ac*cius Name. But his J^ Second Anfwer is, Q^gd mu Mum PrafuU ApeJlolUo facere licet, fed Citi-CHticj-, Tontijici Ht quosUdet & quemlibet locu>n^ fecundwn re^ulam hiirtfe^s itfiHs-antedttmnatit,^ a Catholic a Comtnuniotitdijctrntint. That is. It is Lawfnl not only to an ^poflolical Prelatty but to any Sipjop to exclude from CatholickSommH. nien'f any Per fans, and any place, according te the Rnle of bis fore.damned fie-rtfie. And accordingly, others have excommunicated the Pope, and lower Prelates have Excommunicated Patriarchs \ and the lower Patriarchs the higher ■• Excommunication, as it is an Aft of Government, is done only by aGovernour: But as all Chriltiansare commanded to avoid fcandalous Chriftians, fo in their feveral places they may pradice this, the gui4t being proved ^ I may tell him that I have no rule over, / will have no-Commttnion xvith you : But I cannot thereby oblige all others to do the like.

This GelafiHS alfo oft {Epiji. ad Anaflaf. Jmperat, c^c.) fetteth up the Priefl: above the Prince, as Gods Laws are above mans : As if Kings were, were not to Govern by Gods Laws ? and as if the Bifliops Canons were not mans Laws ('if they be Laws J

}, 62. CXL. It's faid that 70 Bifliops at Rvum under Ctlafms determm-cd of the Canon of the Scripture, and alfo of accepted and rejected Books. In the Canon they put a Book called Or<i» Hiflorinrum \ with one Book of Tobiai-i one o( Judith^ one of the Maccabees, Nehemias is left out. Among the approved Books the Epiftie of Leo to Flavian Confl. is thus impofed, ^^ XTht Text whereef if any man Jhall difpute, even to one iota for tittle) and doth not venerably rtceivi it in all thin^s^ let him be accurfed-'^ A multitude

of

of heretical and rejeded Books are named: Eighteen pretended to be by or, of fome Apoftles, and fucli other: And among others the Hiftory of EHfebius /yet before approved, unlefs here he mean only de vitA Ccnfi.) The Works of TcrtHllian, LaBamim, jinwhitis, Clemens j^lexa>:d: jifria-tiMy Cajfumu, ViEioririHS PiBav. Faufiiis Rhegicuf. &c. Of the Canon of Scripture Bilhop Coufms hath colleded the true Hiftory from greater Antiquity.

%. 6 J. CXLI. VitalUznA Mifcnm^ tlic Popes Legates at ConJlantmpU, having been Excommunicated for Communicating with ^'c^^aw, 6cc. rua-lis dyed To, but after eleven years Mifcrm repented, and wasabfolved by a Council of 5 5 Bilhops: Tmight not the Pope alone have done it ?)

§. 64. CXLII- You have heard before how Fefius got Lanrcntltu the Arch-presbyter chofcn Pope at Rtmt^ and more chofe Synmachus: Tlmdo' r/cl^aa ^»«j being King was juft, and had fo much wit as toplcafe the Clergy while his Kingdom was unfettlcd. The Pope, under his prote-tflion, excommunicated both Emperour and Patriarch oTConfiantinople, for Communicating with Hereticks v but he never excommunicated TheoJc. rick.at home, though an Ari4n-. There was reafon for it: Intercfl: is fuch mens Law. But while the Schifm between Symmachns and LaHrcntius divided the Senate, the Clergy, and the People, five or fix feveral Councils are called at ^owf, moftlytoheal this rupture: For at firft the Laurenti-MIS laid fome Crimes to the charge of Syiwnachus ; and when the Councils would not cafthimout, they fell to rapine, violence, and bloodfhed, many being killed, and all in confufion: So that it was work enough in three years for King and Council to end the Schifm.

f. 65. CXLIIl. When Xhzjirian Perfecution abated \r\ AfricA, ThrM-famundus ihtVimZ^ contriving which way to root out the Orthodox without violence; he commanded that when any Bilhop dyed, no other fliould be ordained in their places. Hereupon the Nonconformifts feeing the Churches like tojdecay, atm. 504. held a Synod, in which they decreed that though they fufcred death for it they would go on, and ordain, and do their Office:, concluding that either the mind of the King would be mollified, or elfe they fliould have the Qown of Martyrdom. This is called ConciltHm Byz^cenum.

§. 66. It is greatly to be noted, that many following Councils in Sp4ift, France, and other parts of Europe^ which were held under the Cothiflj eff5 Kings, were more pious and peaceable than the reft fore-defcribed. The ^^ Reafons feem to mc to be thefe: 1. Thefe Kings being conquering Jri-Mis, the Bifhops durft not damn them for Herciie, for fear of their own necks i and fo were greatly reftrained from the hereticating work of Councils. 2. Thefe Kings h-U'ing a narrower Dominion than the Em-

R 2. pire^

^

pire, and being jealous of their new gotten Conqiiefts, were nearer the BiQiops, and kept them more in awe than the Emperour did 3. And thefe Councils being fmall ('of a few Bifhops) had no I'uch work for ar-rogancy and ambition, as the great General Councils had- 4. And the great proud pretending Patriarchs that fet the World in a continual War, were not here to ftrive who fliouid be the greatcft. The Pope hinifelf was feldom mentioned in the Spanijh and French Councils, or the jifricAu.

§. 67, CXL!V. One of thefe honefl: Councils is ^^rfffc(f«/f by the per-miffion of Alaricm, by 35 Bifhops, C<tfarim AreUtafis being chief: Where many Canons for the Clergy were made or repeated-

The id Canon is, that if BiJIiops wrongfully excemnunicAte any one^ other ^^ Bidwps fliall receive thim. (Did :he Popes obferve this with Acm'ihs, Eh-phemitu^ &cj Can. 63. If any Citix.ens on the great folemntties, th/tt is, Eajler-, the Lords Nativity, or Whitfimtide, fhull neglt^ to meet where the BiJIiops are, (feeing they are fet in Cities fir BenediBton and Communion,) let p^ them be three years deprived of the Communion of the Church. ( Doth not this prove that the City Churches then met all in one place, and fo were but one Aflembly at thofe times ? How elfe could all the Citizens be with the Bifhopatone time?) But even thefe Canons forbid Clergy-men to - fue any before a Secular Judge, or to appear or anfwer at anothers fuit, Can. 32. Othcrwife both are to be excommunicate, Can. 37. It punifheth thofc that kill men, but with denying them Communion. Can. 50. Only if a Bifhop, Presbyter, or Deacon, commit a Capit.il crime., he jiiall he depofcd and put into a Monajlery, and have but Layctmmunimt. . (When Murderers are hang'd, and Traytefs alfo quartered, this Canon ." is laid afide.) 1 thought a Monafiery had been a deftrahle place, and not bad enough to ferve Traytors and Murderers inftead of the Gallows.

§. 63. CXLV. A Council at Apanna under Sigifmund King of Burgundy, recited fuch like Canons as the former: favc that there is one jult fuch as our Fanaticks in England would have made, who would not worfliipGod in any Temple which the Papifts had ufed to their Mafs: fo faith Can. 3 ^ The Temples (or Churches') of Hereticks, which we hate rvith fo ^eat execration , we defpife to apply to holy nfes., as judging their pollution to be fuch at cannot be purged away. But fuch at by violence they T^ too\^from us we may recover. This is juft Down with the Idolatrous Steeple-houfes. But if they would give the Nonconformifts in England leave to Preach in fuch places, they would be thankful, and think God will not impute the fin of others to us.

§. 69. CXLVl. A Ccnncil at Sidon of SoBiihops, was called by the Eroprrour Am^nafmi, where tliey agreed to curfe the Conncil oiCalce-

don.,

don, and Flaviantu Antioch, and Johnn. Paltenf. were baniflied for re-fufing. This was about the time when the forefaid Fight was between the Monks and the Anuochians, wiiea the CarkalFes of the Entychian Monks were caft into the River.

§. 70. About this time was the fall and rife of the Papacy- The fall, inthit the Eaftem Empire made httle ufe of Popes, but did their Church work without them- Their rife, in that the Weftern Empire and Africa, being divided between many late conquering Kings, they all labour to fettle themfelves in a peaceable poirelFion by pieaflng the Qergy, who, as they found, had no fmall interelt in the People.

§. 71. CXLVIl. Hincmazju in the life of Re/ni^^im, tells us of a ftrange thing done ata Council at Rhemes; that one Arion Bifliop challenged all the reft to difpute, and when Rhemi^im came in would not rife to him, but upon the Ihaddow of Remii^im parting by him, he was ftruck dumb, and falling at Rbemi^jtu feet, by figns askt pardon, and was fuddenly cured of his dumbnels and Herelie, confclTing the Deity of Chrift.

§. 72. CXLVUI- Becaufe ^o^xw. Nicofelit. did but call fome of his , Bilhops to tlatter the Pope, and to curfe all Herefies and Acacitu, this ' is put in among the Councils. But tlie Condi. Tarracerfe ^ Anno 516. feems more rtgardable ( under ThcodorickS) where the Clergy are re-ftrained/row /'"^'w? chafer Mid felling lit^rcrt\\^n others, fthis it feems grew to be 'a part of tlieir priviledges.-) and from judging canfes on the Lords day: And it is ordered that the Bifhop fend a Presbyter one week, and a Deacon another, to the Country Congregations, and tovifit them himfelf once a year, becaufe by the old cuftorae he is to have a third part of all the Church profits.

£l^£r. Whether a Bifliops Dlocefs then was any bigger than one of our Corporatioas with the Neig'iboar Villages? And if one of our • Bilhops that have above a thoufand Pariflies, or many hundred, fhould :havc the third part of all (or as other Canons fay the fourth,) Would not our Bifhops be yet richer men than they are? Efpccially if they that confine Bifliops to Cities, could get a Prince to call no Corporation a City but one or two in a Kingdom, and be as the Ahuna is in Ethiopia, that hath the thirds of all the Ecclefiaftical benefits in the Empire. This Council had ten Bilhops.

§. 73. CXLlX. The ConciUiim Gerundenfe is next, A/mo 517. under

7heodornk-t It confided of feven Biihops, f Bifhopricks began to grow

fo big, that they could not fo fuddenly meet by the fcoies and hundreds

- as when every Church was-known by one' A'fift^and oae Bi^toff a* Tg-

-o.iii;.' natiut.

r"

mtiKt fpcaks.) The feven men wade Canons, that the lame Liturgy Ihould be ufcd in the other Churches of that l^ovincc as were iifed m J3» the Metropolitan Church. (For formerly every Bilhop in his own Church did pray as he thought bell, without Impofed or agreed Uniformity of many Churches, much lefs of all in a Nation J They Decree alfo that Litanies be ufed on the Kalends of November. A Litany then figni-fied a foiemn fupplicating of God by the People Aflembled, Falling, Walking, Singing, and Praying, as is ufcd herein the Rogation Week; fometime they walked to the Memorial of fome Martyr, fometime a-bout the ftrcets, oft bate-foot, continuing it with Falling for certain times. The Lall Canon is, That the Priep f^y the Lords Vnt^ trvke a Day, Morning a?id Evemng. CThat was a Hiort Liturgy.)

§. 74 CL. When Jnfim was made Emperour, the Bifliops turned in the £aji^ and down went the Eutychians^ and a Synod of 40 Bilhops at Conjiamncple ufoWedt that the Names of £«pfe^«j/«j and Macedonitts ihould be rellored into the Dyptick Ctheir Book of life) and that 5fi/<-rm Ihould be condemned with his Adherents.

$. 75. The Cafe hath been oft intimated before •, In thofe times when all the Empire was in confufion between Eutychians^ and the Orthodox, and fome Emperours took one fide, and fome the other, and fome in vain endeavoured peace : The Churches of Antioch and jilexandria were more Eutychian than Conflxntinofle, though the Emperour that favoured the Eutychians were prefent: Acacim was Orthodox, but pleafed the Emperour fo far as to Communicate with, or not curfc and excommunicate the Bilhops of Anticch and Alexandria. For this, as you have oft heard, the Pope Excommunicated him, and he fo dyed ("laving done as much for the Pope.J Enphemius and Macedonius that fucceeded were both Orthodox, and commanded by the Emperour to Communicate with the Ei^ tychians, and pcrfecuted, and both call out by him, for not obeying him, as is before defcribed in that and another fuch matter: The Pope had required them to blot Acacius name out of the Dyptick: The Court, Clergy, and People were againfl it, thinking it arrogancy in one man> ]to Excommunicate the Patriarch of the Imperial City that was Orthodox, upon his perfonal revenge or quarrel: They obeyed not the Pope: The Pope is againfl: them for not curling a dead Orthodox Biftiop A-€acius: The Emperour was againll them for being againfl the Eitty-fhiansf as the Pope was for not being more againft both themi, and all; that did not curfe them as much as he did. Were not thefe Bilhops in a hard cafe ? Both agree to their extirpation, and when they were dead to damn their names: But the Clergy and People agreed not. The E^flern and Wejiern Churches were hereby divided, (thatis, Conftantimple And Rome.) Is not the Chrifl;iaa World beholden to fuch Tyrants and proud pretenders for its diftraclions and calamities? AThat will rather divide the Chriftian World* than endure the names of -••v Ortho-

fri^

\

Orthodox perfecuted Biftops ta be honoured when they are dfead^ be-caufe they would not blot out and abhor the name of another dead Orthodox Bilhop their PredeccfTour, when the Pope curfed him for Communicating with an Euiyehianr I fcnow the Papilb will cry up, The pre- k^ fervation of the pMith and Purity., But if ever any did overdo the Pha-ri(^es, that reproved Chrift for eating with Publicans and Sinners: If ever any became Plagues of the World, by being W</r, Orthodajc^ofid Righ. teous tvermuchy and made ufe of the name of FMth , to deftroy Fanh, Lovcy HHmaaitjy and Pe4ce., add cryed up the CAwci, andU/j//y, asC«-thoUcks., to deftroy the Church and Unity, and crumble it into Sedls and Faftions ; it is certainly thefe men-

But the £4/? and Weft that thus began their reparation by the fpirit of Pride and Envy that Rome had againll the growing greatnefs t)f Cw«-ftantinopUy continue their Divifion to this day •, And it hath been no fniall caufe of the ruin of the Empire and the Chriftian Caufe, and delivering all up to the Muhmetans: Which the good Pope fecmed t« judg more tolerable (with all the dreams of Blood that went before and after^ than thathefhou'd not have his will upon an Orthodox dead mans name. Sure fiat Jnftitia & rnat Cklnm, was devifed by thefe precifc over righteous Popes!

§. 7<5. EvAgrm (Jib. 3O faith, that JuSlin came to the Empire as fol-loweth: jlmantins was one of the Greatcft men, but uncapable of the Empire, becaufe he was an Eunuch.- He gave a great fum of Money to Jitfiine, to hire the Souldiers to choofe Theecriins, his bofom friend: Jaffinc with that Money hired them to choofe himfelf, and quieted jimantius and Theocritia^ by murdering them both. And becaufe Vita-liofm (that had ufnrped and laid down,,) was then great, he drew him in to be a Commander near him, and fo got him killed. But he be-cometh Orthodox, and faith BinnmSy p. 374. The j^rtat Patron and DC' fender of the Cutholicks, by the fingular favour of Cod obtained the Empire. So zealous was he, that he caufed the tongue of Severus the Eutychiofi^ Archbifliop of Antioch^ to be pulled out of his head, for curfing fo oft - ,, the Council of C«Uedon^ andfuch like things. Panlns fucceeded him and cap""^ '^* dyed, and Eufhrafm fucceeded him, who was buried in the ruines of the City, it being call to the ground by a terrible Earthquake, and "^ the remnant burnt with fire from Heaven, in the lightning that went with the Earthquake. But Euphrmius Lieutenant of the £<?/?, did fo £'-T'-1*-charitably relieve the People, that in reward they chofe him for their "?■*• Bifliop. Reader, Was not a Bifhoprick then grown a confiderable preferment, when the Emperours Lieutenant of the Eafi took it for fuch, even to be Bilhop of a City that lay on heapes ?

§. 77. CLT. Things being now on the tura, a Synod at Jtrufakmxotn up the Council of Cakedon., and cry down StvtrHs.

Chtcrch-Hiflory of Bijhops a?u/

^^j^'-^^. CLlI. And another at Tyrt doth tke like-

-rt §. 7^ CLIII. And another Coancil utR^rne again dccreeth the damnation of the three dead Bifhops of Cc«/?4«r/>;«»/*, Acacim^ Euphemiui, zad Macedoitim: What, never hare done with dead men.' Methinks ftark ■**"• ^ dead might fatiific Pride and MaUce. • ! : ;" •=

SinniHf fairh, that the Eaflcm Church yielded to blot out of the Dyp-ticks xhznzmzs oiAcaciui,EHiiht.miHs and A^acedonitu (not the Heretick) and the Emperonrs, Zw/p, and Anafittftu : The Pope maketh himfelf the Governour of Hell •, where he thought thefe Emperours and Bilhops were. But it is worfe than Savage malice that will not ceafe towards dead

;men! And if the Empire yielded, they fhewcd more love of Peace than Rome did, but not much wit, in giving a Prelate ofanother Princes Dominion fuch power to defame, andforcethcm to defame their Emperours and Patriarchs at his pleafure.

S- So. The zeal of 7wi?«K to ei^adicate the Jritns^ and take all their Cqurc'.ies from them, provoked T/?^o^V;c;^ (though ?. juftman, that gave the Orthodox liberty, proteftion, and encouragement, yet an-^n<«n, and gave the y^r»^»/liberty alfo) to refulve, that he would ufe the Orthodox in Italyy as JiiFtin did the Arians in the EaJ}: Whereupon John, Biihop of Xome, with feme others, went as his AmbalTadours to ConjUvt. to mediate with Ju^in for the Avians eafe. Anaftafttu in lib. Vomtf. faith he obtained it.- £/««/«« out of Crff^^r. T«ro«. faith the contrary: which i<; more probable. However by going on fuch a MelT ge for real Hercticks, it ap-•peareth with what fincerity the Popes profecuted the dead names of the three Orthodox Conftant. Bilhops, on pretence of zeal againll Herefie: f-«a When their intereft urgeth them, Ltt the World be fet on fire rather than yoH Jliall fpeak^favourably of an Eutychian: But wlicn intereft changcth, Ra-therthan they in ]ta\y Jhuli fiffer, ]ohn £oeth to Conllantinople/or/<iw«r to the Arians. Suppofe he did not fpecd : What went he thither for ? On this provocation, Theodoricl^, on other quarrels, put to dusth Symmachus, _ , .. and his Son-in-Javv Boetim ^ Roman Senators and excellent men, and ira-''■''l.'-, prifoncd^t/jw when he returned, and in the prilbn he dyed : And when he was dead the ^//^/w King choleFa//> the fourth Pope: Was this Eledi-• on valid? If ye?, hcthat isftrongeft, though a Heretick may choofethe Pope.? If not, than their fuccellion was then interrupted.

§. 81. CUV. We have next a great Council called Ilerdenfe of eight Bilhops :nder Theodrick^ to mend fomc faults of the Clergy, viz.. That they that Minifter at the Altar abftain from mans blood, Can. i. That they that c-)mmit Adultery, and take Medicines, or givethem to call the Birth, or that Murder the Child, lliall ?,bllain from Communion fevcn jea $: And if they be of the Clergy, mult be content with tl>e Communion and ih; Chore without their Office, Can. 2. None Ihall draw an

*■, offender

offender, though a Servant out of the Church, (nor fay oth?r Canons out oftbeBiniopshoufc; that flyeth thither for any Crime (The Church aiidBiftiopsHouteshadthe priviledge to be the harbour for murderers. Thieves, Traytors, &c.) But Can. i i.alloweth the Bifhopto punifhthem more than others (with longer forbearing the Sacrament^ if thofe of the Qcrgy murder one another: O fevere Laws!

5. 82.CLV. Next we havea Cosncil (not all fo great, having but fi): Bilhops) under 7K>f(xi»>-/ci^, that ordered that the Epiftle (hould be read before the Gofpe), and fome things like others.

S.Sj.CLVI. And four ordinary fayings, srcre faid over again by fifteen Bilhops at AAcs.

f. 84. It feems the S<ff»«f/)f/<»^»4«/then much prevailed: For "one Luciim madca Recantatioi of his Errors to a Council of zyBiiliops at Lyons, as urged by thert .• One ofhisfuppofed errors was, thzt Some are deputed to death., and athersfredeftinate to Life-, and another, itiTiltuneof the Gentile t before ChrtJ} were faved by the Itght of Nature : And now he owneth : That in the order of times., fome were javed Iry the Law ef Grace., others by the Law, cf Mofcs, and others by the Ldwef Nature \ But none ever freed from Original Sin., but by holy blood.

And FaHflmRheg. againft the fr<ft/f/?wMri4»/was owned by the forefaid Council at ^r/f/,£>»- f- 385.

§•85 Tlieodoricksn^Az the Clergy Subje(fl to Civil judicatures •, allowing theiti their liberty of Religion : When he dyed (of whofe Soul in HeU they pretend vifioQs^ his fucceflburs AthaUricns., for the quiet poflcflion of his Kingdom, at the Clergies Complaint of this as an injury, was pleaf-ed to reftore them to their Dominion, and Freedom from fubjectl-on.

§. 86. fufiinian fuccceding y«/?/w, ^by his choice) Compileth the Laws into better order then before, and to the great advantage of the Orthodox CI ;rgy, and againft Hcrcfies: And yet two things trouble the Papifts in them. 1. Thatne feemeth to pretend to a Power over the Church Laws: But their (hift is to fay that he did itbntasa defence and Confirmation of the Bifhops Laws. 2. That he reftorcd the Names of his Predeccf-fors' ZfMo, and AiaftafiM, with Notes of Piety and Honour i whotn the Popes had prefumed to damn as Entychians or ToUra'ers of them: But for this they fay , It was the doing of TrU>omaMHs, 2 Heathen Lawyer, that did the work : As if Juftinun would let him do what he difliked, and not corrcA it.

§ 87. When 7«/?i«»-«;refolved tofct op the CobdcU oi C^Ueden-., he

S G^fed

Curfed Severus^ and dcpofed the two Patriarchs, jinthimtus of Conftdnti. nofle, and Theodo/i;is of yilcxandria, foT thsy v,'ere both EutychtMS : Sevr-rof had perfwaded them rather to forfake all worldly interelt, than the Faith fas he called it J But here I cannot fee how the Hiftorians (as £©4-^r»«i 3 will be reconciled with themfelves; that fay, 7></?»« caufed Se-ve-r«j Tongue to be pulled out i and yet, that he afterward perfwaded ^r)tr tnius at Cofift. unlefs he did it only by writing.

' $.88- So far was 7«^»'«i4«'s refolution, and power, from reconciling the Bifhops of the Empire, that he could not keep Unity, in his own Houft

' or bed: For his Wife TifcfO(ii»'<j,was firm to the £«ryc^M«/-, and cheriflied

them, as he did the Orthodox, and both with fo great conftancy, that £-•u4gr//<xfnfpeLleth they did it politickly, by agreement, ffor the peace of the Empire ) that each party might be kept in dependance on them. §. 89. An Infurreftion in Confiaininoflc occafioned the killing

lvag./.4. of about thirty thoufand, faith BvagriH$ c ij. out of Pro-

c.io.ii. copius.

mndtikep. 5. 90. Aboutthistime a miracle is fpokenof fo credibly, that I think

/.17.C.7. it jiot unfit to mention it * Hitrmerikus in Africa, being an Ariati^ Goth per^ fecHted the Orthodox Bifliops, efpecially on pretences that they refuted to fwear fidelity to hira, and his Soa: (fay fome j They were forbidden to preach, and for not obeying, or for Nonconformity; the Tongues of many were cut out, who they fay didfpeak freely after as before .• Ft were hard to be believed •, But three Hilborians I have read that all pro-fefs that they faw, andheardthementhemfelves>wz.. VtilorVticenfis^. ft£asGaz.£i!S de Anima., & ProcoftHS in Evagrius, I. 4.C. 14. Who yet add-eth that two of them upon fome finfulnefs with Women, loft their fpeech and remained dumb. Nicephor. faith Rcfti cHmfoeminit habuijfcm : AIas,that miracles will not prevent Sin.

$.91. In the eleventh year of 7«7?iV7»4«, .i^rW4r»c«i being dead, and Theedatus tiKinimzn fucceeding, thisman loving books better than War, yielded up Rome and the Crown to BeUifi$rini Jnfti>iiA>is General \ and io-after the Gof/jw had kept it 60 years, it was reftored without a drop of blood, faith Evagrins I. ^. c. 18. But when BeUifarim went away Tetilas came and recovered Rome: And BelHfartM returning, recovered it from che Curfef J again, c.20.

$.92. Three feveral Countries about that time, received the Chriflian Faith, mnch through the Reverence of 7«/^*«<«j«x power, viz.. The Hernlt., the Abafoi^ and they of Tanais^ Evagr-c. 19.11.22. But the grievous Wars and SucczfTesoiCofroenhe Per/:,fn intheEaft, and a plague of fifty £wo years continuance, w'lichdeRroycd a great part of mankind, took down much ofthe Roman Glory.

S- 49.

—=: ^ - . ^ , -.—, ■

their Councils abridged. . ja j

f 95. CLVII. A fecond CwcwSfMpn y<r4«/<c<»/«w Condemned StmepeU^,. tfnifme, propagated by f4«/?«/BiOiop of Rhe^rimt after Proff. who had been of the contrary mind.

$. 94. CLVIII- A ConcilfHm f^dfenft of ten Bifhops, decreed thatPa-ri(h Priefl: fiiould breed up young Readers, who may marry at age i that the parifh Priefts (hall preach,or in their abfence.theDeacon read a Sermon .• That LerdhAve mercy on hs be often faid.• That Holy^ Holy^ Holy, be oft iaid: That, jis it Vfat in the htginntngy &C. be oft faid.

§. 95. CLIX. A Synod of 16 Bifliops at CarftntetM^t decreed that the Bifhop of the City fliould not take all theCouatrey PariOi maintenance to himfelf-

i96. CLX. As Ftclix was chofen Pope by T'htoderick; (o Athal*ricHi claiming the fame power, chofe after him Boniface the fecond : An jirri-4HHeretickmade the Pope •• Others not willing of the Kings Choice,chofe Diofcorus ; fo there are two Popes: But Diofccrus quickly dyeth ; and Boniface Condemncth him when he is dead, on fome pretence of money matters, as Simoniacal ^ and calling a Synod, appointeth yirtiltus a Deacon, his Succeflbr. After he calleth another Synod,to undo this Choice, upon his Repentance •, and fhortly after dycth himfelf. jl^apetus that followed him, abfolveth the dead man Diofccrus^ whom Boniface Curfed .• fuch work did Cliurch-Curfing then make, as the Engine of Ambition.

§.97'CLXI. A Councilof 8 Bifhops at To/rt4w, faid fomewhat again to keep Bilhops from Women,and from giving their Lands from the Church.

S.98. CLXII. phnvfAs put by fupnidn, to call a Council at Rome on an odd occafion (which fheweth what it was that Bifhops then divided the c^ the World about) In the days of P. Hormijda^ there was a Controverfic (de mtnine) whether it might be faid.- One of the Trinity was Crucified: Hor^ mifda declared againft it,becaure they that were for it,were fufpcded of £/<-tychianifme^ ('and condemned after) But the Nefierians laid hold of this, and faid: // we may net fay that one in the Trinity was Crucified ^ then we may not fay: Mary was the Parent cf one in the Trinity : Jufiwian (ent about "^J thisto7fl/3», and he and his Synod faid contrary to Hormifda: That wc may fay, that one of the Trinity was Crucified. Doth not this plainly confefs ihebloud and doleful divifiorrs,caufed by Bifhops and Monks for fo many Ages about Neftorianifme, and Eutychianifme-, v. as but about a Word which in one fence is frMf, and in another falfe, which one Pope faith, and another unfaith. When Binnins after Baronius hath no more to fay for f xcufe of tins i but that Ita mutatis hofiihu arm,i mutarinecejfefuit: O for lionelly .-. hainft ds-iers Enanies wemii/} ufe di'VeriWeafor,s. But Sir may youufe contrary ajfcftions^ as Articles of Faith ? Or do you not here undenyably tell cs

S 2 that

1^2 Church-Hijlory of Bijhops and

l\iKt Amhigucitswordi^ Sind Clergy JurifdiHion^ have been the caufes of al^ moll all the Divifions, and Ruines of the Church for i joo years.'

§. 99. jHftiniaa took a better Courfe to Convince,, and Reconcile difTen-ters, than violence. There is in BinniHi^ p. 409 <^r. The recital of a difpu-tation, or Friendly Conference between the Eutychian Bilhops, and H)fati-tm^ with others of the Orthodox: The moft clear, rational, and moderate of any thing, that 1 find before that time explaining their ControverGe; And which fpllyprovethvvhat I have all along faid as Hiy Opinion, that indeed the world was confounded by unskilful men about iMrdylmbt^Hous wordi and by a Lordlyyfelfijh^impo/ir'^ Spirit, in toomany of the Captains of thofe Militant Churches: And that </«<ir dtftinguijhin? explication ofTermSy with hu/Tjhle Love, would have prevented molt of thofe divifions.

In that Conference, thefe things are fpecially notable. 1. That the Oriental Bifhops called £«rycfc»4w, condemned Eutyches, and yet honoured D»-efcorus, who defended him •, fo that it was a quarrel more about Men, Names, and Words, than Doutrine. i.Jh^t fJypatius^ and the Orthodox (though they were not willing to fufped Corruption in cyr»/'sEpiftles,yet^ could not deny but Cyril ufed Eiuyches words, that is afferted, one Nature of Cod LicArnate^ after the Union. 3. That yet they proved that Cyr*^ alfo held two Natures : (butfav the£«;)c/7</««>, heonly held two before theU-nion confidered intelleAually)fo that eithcrCyr// wasan£«r)'c^;<j«,orelfehis unskillful fpeaking,as both parties did, fet the world together by the Ears. 4. That unrighteous partiality greatly prevailed wi:h the Orthodox Bi-Ihops, and Councils of thefe times ; when they could (as Hypatiut here did) put a Charitable Conftrudion upon the fame words of Cyril, for which they condemned fo many others, who as his obedient followers, held what they did ofCynrs. Vn^tmnaturam Dciincarnati: They {^y^We neither Condemttit^ r.ar Jh/Iijic it. If they had ufed that moderation with all others, all had been in greater peace. 5. That they fay fo much of the falfifying of A'hanafus E-pifUc to Epifietai, of Jppollimncs Epiftle fathered on Julius, of the falihood of the DyonyfiHs Areopno^.&c. h%\\^ tellsus,that vve muft not be over credulous in trufting to writings allribcd to the Ancients. 6. That Nidlns ex ami-(juisrecordatHsej} ea ; was thought a good argument againfl; the Authority of DyunifiHs yireopa^itd. 7. They inltance in the difference between the Greeks and Latins about the words Hypoftafis, and Pirfona., which fet the Latins on condemning the Greeks as ArriMs, and the Greeks it on condemn-the Latins as SAbellmiif, till AthMiaftus that underltood both Tongues, per-fwaded them, that their meaning was the fame (And nectifity urged Aihana-fas to reconcile them) which Greg. Nitz.i4»i.e»e and other peaceable men afterward promoted;, And yet Hiercmc WAS }\idgsd a Heretick^after, for dif-tikingthe word Hypoflafts.') knd yttmvi^ Hard Ambiguous words Confound and divide the Churches Hill/"

8. They confefs that Cyril-, [jdem dicebat effe fubjlantiam, cjuodnaturam vel fiibfijie>itiat>i'2 C" ideo in duodecim Capitulis fuis pro duabiis jnbftavHn vel

mtHriidji^i jubfjltfitMspefiiit. Reader, If this great Learned Voluminous

Pre-

r~s»

Prelate had no more accuratenefs of Speech than to confound fubjhnce^ e^ naturey and fp^fifience^ and put them one for another \ what could be expeded from the multitude of poor unlearned Prelates, that took his name for their guide, and cryed out in Council, Grtat U Cyril; We beiteve at Cyril: And what then j" Could the confufions of the World be caufed by (hetwctn Nejhrians, Euiychiatit^Severians^Monothelttes and Cathelicki) filch a 11 rife about words as C^r>7had occafioned.'

9. Note that/a[)/>.jr;»« and the Orthodox here maintain, th^t FUviama himfelf fubfcribed asifmuch for one Nature as Diofcortu could have defired : And that the Controverfia lay in a fyllable, Whether Chrilt were one Per-fon? ExduahffsnatHrii, or, Indtuibm'i the Eutychians faid £.v, and the reft

faid In : and Flavian yielded to jE.v, and the Synod of Calccden accept- «^3 ed both : Neque illi iflos rcprehendunt^ neq\ tjii illos tancjuam uritts hono-rtt arbitratt voces utrafyue, tjuando & mum naturAm Dei verbi inearnatam., ntn renuic heatus Flavianus in ctnfefftone (jnam propria martH fubfcripjitftiicere, &C. 'Where Flavians words are recited to Theodofms^ EtunAm Dei-jerbi naturam inearnatam tapun dicere non Kcgamtts^ qma ex Htnfque unus idemque Deminus JefuiChrifiusefl. And would not this much ufcd 10 all other, have healed all the Churches /

10. Note thzt HypatiM^uA the Orthodox makenotC^n/infallible, but fay, that his SynodicalEptftles thtyrecetveynotafhis^ but the Synods : But for ihireft, NtcjHe damnOmus eat, rntjHffHJapinttti.

11. That theContcoverhe v\as Logical (p.41 jj how 'Vniuon maketh or denonnnateth one.

12. Note that they cxpreilv Tay, Vbt Vnitio dicitur^ non Vnius frrnifica: tur rci conventus Cio all (ay) ftd dnarum vU plurium CJ" diverfariim jcciindum tiaturam : S» er^a dtcmms IJnitioncm^ procnl dubio corftemnr^ cjhod carnh ammatA lir* %erbi: Jid cr hi cji4tdnas naturae dicmit , ide/n jmtimit. And if this be twie, were they net all of a mind ar.d knew it not .•"

13. Note that the Eiuychtar.s rook Theodorets Anathema, Ncftoria c Emychiti, with a f'alcte added for a llur, and a deceit: and Hypatiut was fain to intimate a blame on the Council, that had not the patience once to htar inch a man as Theodorite to open his judgment, but cryed out only, Cwfe them, cnrf< tlnm, and he interprets Theodorets yaUtc, as feying. Now take my BtjMprid\if you pUafe.

14. In a word> had this Light and Leve been ufed by the Bidiops, whicii this Conference exprelTfth, it had prevented much Confnfion in the Churches, fcorn againll tlie Bilhops, hardening of the Infidels, anddeftniifti-onofChrillian Love and Peace. And though the £^fra Bilhops yielded not, many of their toliowers did. "

$. 100. CLXIII. They fay an ^^'"m<i« Council fent to Tnlri>nnn to procure the reftoration of their Liberties, which the ymdall Jrians had taken away fyA'/'J/A;/**;; having recovered Afrtca.)

$. 10 i. ]Po^<: J^apeiiis was forced by King TheedatHs to go on anEm-

baOle

baflie to 7«/?«>»;4«, to turn by his Armies itom Italy, which he did, and not prevailing ('having r€je(^ed-<^<tfjb»iw>«^ he dyed there, yimw 536.

§. 102. CLXIV. Mema being made Bifhop of Co«/?. a Council was there called. Sure no ^(»w4« Prefided ^ for there was then zxi Inter-rtgnum: But was it then a good Council? Aspleafethe Pope .' Yet fo impudent is Binnikj as to fay, that Aitrnia, was the Popes Vicar, and his Legates pre-fided, when there was no Pope on Earth.

The work of this Council was to condemn and curfe jiutlMmm, (a Bifliop olConft. got in by the Emprefs, and put out by the Emperour) withSwr-rHi late Bifhop ofjintiochy and Peter Bifhop ofj^pamea^ and Zoariu a Monk, as being v4cfpW>, that is, Severians^ or Eutychiarti^ as they were variouQy ■■ called: Sevtrta and Peter have cruel perfecutions alfo laid to their charge, (for per fecution hath but its time.J The Emperour hereupon raaketh a fevere Law againfl: them, fending them by banifliment to folitude, and condemning their Books to the fire, and judging their hands to be cut off that writ them. ('We may fee whence our Church Hiftory moftly cometh, even from the flronger fide, that had power to burn all which they would not have known.J •-4, Two things in this Council offend the Romanics: i. That Johfi Bifhop of ^^ Conftanti>:ople is called PatriarchxOecumenicui: 2. That Eufhemins, Macido. tntuy and Lf» are named, and X.f0 laft .■ the two firft having been damned by the Popes fo oft fince they were dead. And they have no better remedy, but to faythpt fome ill Grtfi^ hand hath falfified the Councils. (Is that all the certainty Wv ave of recorded Councils.) Ifyoufufpeft the<7r«<y, why may wc not alfo fufped the Romans 5 efpecially in the days of wicked Popes .''

The People cryed out here, Quid manemus in commumcati ? Bhirtitu no-teth, that^ow the time that Macedonius their Orthodox Bijhop voas ejected, the j_^^ faithful CitthoUcks withdrewthemfelves from the Coniffiunion of intfioHS Timothy ^ th»t w.ti put into hispUce. Note 1. that this M-tcedonius is he that the Ro-mail Popefo often damned alive and d«ad: 2. That the Peoples feparation ffom bad polRiibiirs of the Bifhops Scats, was then anufualand jiiflified thing.

f 10?. CLXV. Afouncilat r<r>;(//*/tw having notice of what was done atCff.v/?. dothefanieagaiull >^«f/;w;/«, Sewrns., Peter, zndZoaroi.

X04. AnaflAfitu in lib. Pontifc: faith tiiat the Arian King Theodatus corrupted with Money, made S.'/L'frww Pope, And at the lame time the Em-prefs The odor a T^iioitVAcd the Popedom 10 yi^ilms, on condition he would rcftore y^j<r,',';w;a and tliofc that the Council had damned .- which he pro mifing, tiic Emprefs f.nt him with Letters to BellfariM to fee it done. Silv^rius was bot a Sub-Deacon, and l-^igihns an Arch-Deacon, fon to Popt Hon!:ifda: Siiverius was accufed by many witnclfcs of Trf<»/ci« in offering to let in the Ceths into the City, and wasbanifh?d, z\id P"i£iliHspm

in

in his place, and had the keeping of him andfaniifhed him to death, and fucceeded him. So that here were 3 while two Popes at once, one chofen hy an Arian, andtheothcr a perfidious Murderer, tl>at undercook tore ftore thofe that were ejedled as Hercticks : And was this man to becoln-municated with any more than Acaciu!^ Embymius, or Macedonins}

%. 105- Theodofius a Bi(hop o^ AUxandritt refufing to fubfcribc tothf C?/«^o« Council, was ejededandbanifhedby 5'«/7»w»4«, and F4«/«j as Orthodox put into his place : who being accufed of Murder was alfo put out and banifhed, apd Zoilus put into his place.

§. 106. But TheodopKs is fgid by Liberat. and others, to have firft defert-cd the place, being wearied with the Peoples Wars: The cafe was this: "Cl A new controverfie va? iTarted, whether the body of Chrift was corruftihle Qi incerruftibU} The divifion about this was fo great, that the Church Bi-vided, and chole two Bifbops: Thofe that were for the iwerrnptahiltty,hid Gainas for their Arch Bifhop, and were called by the other Fhantafiafta^ and Gaimtes : Thofe that were for the corrfftebUtty, had Theodofius for their Arch-Bifhop, and were called by the other co-ru^tuol't, and Thcodofians. Moll communicated with(7<«w<M; but the Soldiers were for Theodofius. Liberat us Bynitr.c.20. faith, that they fought itont, and The People fought ftr Giinas, mAny days'-, and being jUin by the Soldiers lo/i their greatefi part : hat yet a^reater tuin^er fell of the Souldsers : y^'rd NUrfes WM averccme, rtt with Arms ^ bat with the concord of the Ctttz.ens : The women cafiflones on them from the tops eft he Houfes', But the Seuldters did that by Fire which they could not do by Arms- And faith LiberatHSy That City is divided with that Schifmra thii day, fomc being called Gainites^ and fhantafafls^ and the other Th$0-dofanSy and CerrnpticoU.

$. 107. ThcCafcoftheOrthodoxP4«/thatfucceededhim, isdcfcribed by Libtratus^ c. i j. He intending to put out EUa* the Matter of the Soul-diers as aHeretick, by a power received from the Emperour, one of his Deacons difcovered it to £/?<« by Letters. Paulns fearing the fate oi Prt-ttriusy and getting the Letters, got Rhedo the Empcrours AugHflal Magi-ftrate to fecure the Deacon, who by one Arfenius Murdered him: For which alledging the command of Paidus the Bilbop, and the Emperours command to obey Panl, the Emperour put to death the Magiftrate ^Wo, and depofcd Patdns^ and put Zoilus in liis place.

§. io3. There is in Liberattts^ c 22. An Epillle of Pope rigilius, in which he perforraeth his promife to the Emprefs, and owneth Communion with AitthtmHS, &c. and dcr;yedi two natnreSy &c. But Baromus and Binni-us take it for a forged Epillls-, when as we have fcarce a more credible Writer than Ltheratus.

§. lOy. Ntccfh. 1. 1.7. c. i6. faith, that VigiUns^ when Rome was again

taken.

V —<

taken by the Goths^ lied to Confiann/iopU; There he fell out with MtnrM the Orthodox Patriarch (Cut Aj^aihen Pafa, ^uod nuncfuatn anteafatiumefi, ma-tiHs impofutr^ faith Niceph.c. 9^) and eo infolet.tia progrtffus eft^ he grew fo infolent that he Excommunicated Mcnn* for four Months : which lb provoked Jiiflirttan, th^t he fent men to apprehend him, and when he fled to the Altar, they drag'd him away, ^ni Ana(i.ifius in Hb.Pontif. faith, Theyty-cd a rope about his neck anddrag'd him about the ftreets till the evening^ and made him glad to communicate with Mcnna. But at laft he was re-ftored to his Billioprick.

$. no. Two heinous crimes Evm^Ihs chargeth Jufliman with : 1. In-fatiable covetoufnefs and extortion. (But he ufed to do very great good works.) 2. Encouraging Murderers (fee £i/^^r,/. 4. c. 51.) lb that men were no where lafe, but they that killed them, as in an aft of manhood wereprotedled.

§. III. And though he wasthe great Zealot for the Orthodox againft all Hereticks, he dyed a reputed Heretick { in fo much that Evagrius over boldly pronounceth. That when he had fet the whole World tn tHmults and fe-elition, atidat lajl received whttt was due for bis lewdprailices^ he departed into endlefs torment preparedf«r hint by thejujl judgment of Cody I. ^.c i. An arrogant fentence. And will Orthodox Zeal for the Church do no more to lave a Soul from Hell.

CHAP

,. I- W -| Uf-^

their Councils ahriihed.

177

CHAT. VI I.

Of the Controverfies de tribus Capitulis, and the Fifth Coufictl called General^ and many other.

§ I. T^ Fagrius 1. 4. c. 3 8. tells us, that Jufi'mian fell fiom the right Faith, af-xli hrming, That the BoJy of ChriH was every way incorruptible \ and that he wrote an EdiB, in which hejairl. That the Body vf the Lord was not fiib-jecl to death or corruption; that it was void of natural and unblameable affeilions, &(c. which Opinions he purpofed to compel both Priefls and Bipops to fubfcribe : but they put him off, as expcilmg the Opmicn ( not of the Pope, but } of Anaftafius B^wp of Antloch, then fawcts for his skill and gravity : But Anallafius would not be moved, and Juftinian threatmng to bamjh him, dyed before he did it, or pub-liped his Edith So hard was it tiien to cfcape Hcrelie.

§ 1. So hot was fufiiinan in tliis Error, that he ejected Eutychim that refift- Some lacc cd him at Conjlantinople, (aith Niccph.l.i-/. f.25. fulianus HalicarnaJ. and Camas Hiftoriaiis railed this, holding that ChrtJFs hungcr,thirit and fuffering, were all immediately ^^11 us of ifoluntary,afjd not as cms by naturafnccej/ity.They (aid that as wc all hold Chrifts '"<^'''j|^'hlc Body incorruptible after his refurrcBion, jo did they before it,yet ccnfubjlantial wtth of tj,c I;-ours. The Orthodox diftinguilhed of Corruption : gyptian

I. Blamele(sPaflions of Hunger, Thirll, Wcarinefi, c^c. i. Diflolution of Cliriftians the Bodies Elements. The hrll they laid Clii-ifl; was (ubjetl: to before the Rcfur- - 15"". rc^lion, but not after ( nor wc :) The later not at all. The Hereticks that held ^cftrmxcl the contrary, were called the Aphthartodvctta , faith Nicephorm, [ ^d multi in this mart ales corrcpti funt, non folum ex ek, qui honores e^ magiftratris gejjerunt , fed Wind zeal etiam Hierarchy primarii,<i;' Afonachi vita illujfres, d^ ex facerdotali or dine alit, ^^ j r i ut /^ye Jw^e)V7f(jr Juftinianus. ] The Hereticators and Damners arc divided about n^, (^^.1!' Jufiiniaih foul and name; lome place him yet in Heaven, and others in Hell, thing ia If it be true that Ntcephor/rs faith of him , my Vote lliould go againfl: the the oJd Damners, viz. [_ Nil tale de Chrifio propter fummum tpfus erga ilium amorem ^ Hiftorians defderium aujire ccnftituerit: Trtnceps etcmm ifie tanto inChriftum pietatts ardore wa"^too"" flagrajfe,ab eis qui res iUifts memoria pofleritati mandarunt, dieitur,quanto alius, bad. qui ante eum imperium cbtinuerunt,nemo, tcrmaximo iUo Conlfantino femper (x-cepto : Itaquc propter vehewentem in Chrifium amorem illius gratia multa etiam ■ Vivienter fecit, &c. And if it came from vehement love to Chrirt, all I will fay is, I. Let him tlrat is without Error, be the Hrft in damning him. 2. But it was jull with God to leave him to be nuu;bered with Hcreticlcs, who was (o blindly zealous in executing the Sentences of Hereticating Prelates: ( The Cale of Nejlorif.-s, and many others before.)

§ 3. In his time the Indian Juxumites turned to Chrift, and Jufiinian joyfully lent them a Bifliop.

And I tiikc it for more diflionour to theBiniops than to him, that Nicephorus

A a faith.

(:i;th, c- '^X. \_lnVontificet qtws admodi^m lie Sodomorum bareji infanire com per c-rat^accrbe, Jeu fotitts fade, Juftinianus animadvtrttt. —

And it is noted ( ibtd. ) that in a Fawme he commanded Flcdi to be (old in Lent 5 but tlie People would dye rather than buy it, and break their Cuftoms.

§ 4. CLXVI. A7i.'^J^o. A Council of 25- BiiTiops at Orleatice, made lomc Canons of Difcipline. The 3d Canon about Ordaining Bifiiops, layeth down the old Rule, [ .^i praponcndm eH omnibus, ab omnibus ehgatur , ] that is, of the Clergy and People : ( The Churches yet were no greater than that all the People could join in choohng theBifhop.) The i cth Canon diilohtth incelKi-ous MaiTiagcs made after Baptifm, but not thole made before ( as if the reafon were not the fame! ) The 17th Canon Hnding lome too j^f^;///; in keeping the LoriTi-day, that would not ufe a Horle or Chariot to carry them, nor would drefs Meat, or do any thing to the adorning of their Houlcs, or themfelves, for-biddeth only grofler labours, which hinder the holy duties of the day.

§ 5". CLX\^II. The Canones B/ircim7i(nfes, (peak of the order of Liturgy,that Clerks muft cut their Beards, but not fiha\'c rhcir Beards, and (uch like.

§ 6. CLXVIII. ( To pa(s the Concil. ByzaXjOiurn, as having nothing noted of it ) Anm 541. a Concil. Arvernenfe decreed ( under King Theodebcrt) one Canon, which, if praftlfed, had been worth many Kingdoms, Ca. z. Q That no one feek the facred honour of a BtJJwp by Votes, but by Alerits: nor feew to get a 85* Divine Ojfce, rebus, (ed moribus: and that he afcend to the top of that eminent dignity, by the ELECTION of ALL, and not by the FAVOR of a FEW': That in choojing Triefls there be the greatefi Care, becaufe they ^lould be inep-ehen-Jible, vjho muft- ride in correBing others, (Jcc.

§ 7. CLXIX. An. 5-45-. Another Council at Orkance under King Childebert, among other Orders, faith, Can. 3. that the Synod forbiddeth the Citiz,ens to celebrate Eafter out of the City; beeaufethey muH keep the principalFefti'vities in the prefence of the BiJIwp, where the holy Ajfemhly muft be kept. But if any have a '^ neceffity to go abroad, let him ask leave of the Biflwp. ] This Canon, and many other to the (ame purpofe tell us, that then the InHdels were ftill (b many, tliat a Bifhop's City-Church could all meet in his prejtnce in one place.

The 5th Canon decreeth, that a Bifhop (hall be ordained in his own Church which he is to overfie ; which implicth, that then ordinarily there was but one Epifcopal Church. And indeed ii was long before the Countrey meetings were any other than Oratories or Chappcls that had no Altars,nor any but the Bifhops Church.

Much ado many Councils made to keep Priefts and BiiTiops from Wives, and to reftrain them from Fornication,

§ 8. CLXX. In a Synod atCor.fta»t:?jople, An. 5-47. the bufinefs was debated ' de tribris Capitulu.

§ 9. Here the occafioa of this ftir niufl: be noted. One Tbeodorus Bifhop of Cafar. Cap. was an Eiitychian, but for his skill in bufincfs, was great with the Emperor. He thought if he could but caft any flur on the Calcedon Council,it v/ould juftifie their Caufe: And the Emperor being (peaking againfl: the £«-

tychitms.

t]?eir Councils alrui<reJ.

179

I

Tjc/jians, ( or Acc^hali) Tbeodonts told him that he might cafily bring them aJI in, if lie would but condemn T/jeodorusMpfueJfenus^nd the Writings oiTheodi-?-ff,and the Epiftle of Ibas againft QT//,which the Council had received,!! would {atisHe them. This fecmed to the Emperor a happy way of concord ( the Em-prcfs puttin2; him onj and fo he (et himfclf earnelHy to effeft it. Thefe three men had been accounted Nefiortaffs, and two of them had written finartly againll Cyrd as heretical and turbulent ; but vet renouncing Ntfiorr/s they were received, and juftitied at Calcedcn againft their Accufers. And if one may judge impartially by the Evidence that is kit us, they (eem to have been far wifer and better men thantlie majority of the Bifhops of thole times: But neither Learning, Piety, nor (oundneis in the Faith,is any fecurity infuch limes,againft Hereti-caters, that Cin but get tlie upper hand and major vote. And Ignorance ufually is moft proud and loud, moft confident and furious; and fuch can eafilier make wife men pafs for Hcreticks, than learn of them to be wife. But the final judgment fets a flrait.

\\'hcn Juftmian was earncftly fet upon this Pi-ojedi, the Defenders of thtCal-ccdon Council perceived themfches in a ditSculty ; fliould they condemn thefe three men, they would fl'cm to condemn the Council ( about which there had been fuch a ftir in the Empire : ) And they fhould fccm to iuftifie the Eurjchiars, and to flrengthen them: And if Council were againft Council, it would dif^ honour Councils: And if tliey fhould refute the Condemnation,they would feem to defert Cyril, and the firft Ephejian Council, and perhaps might be called Nejic-rians; but, worft of all, they fhould difpleafe the Emperor, and might occalion his favouring the Eutychtans. Therefore they took this prudent courfe, to put ofi the buflnefs to a General Council, and to delay till then the Emperors attempts.

But the Emperor did firft publifh his Edi6f, in which after the Confeflion of his Faith, and praife of the four Councils, he addeth ten Curies ( Anathema-tifiiis, according to the Cuflom and Religion of thofc times) of which the three laft are againft the tna Cafitula, or the Councils fecming appi-obation of the three forcnamed men. The Bifhops refifted a great while,but at laft were forced to flibmit.

§10. CLXXI. To this purpole Vigilim Roma»us had a meeting of about Conjiant. 50 Bifhops, where J'iiV;7/.'w yielding was called a Dcfertor, as prevaricating to ■*"• f47-pleafe the Emperor ; he got them to give in their realbns on both fides in writing, and then gave all to the Emperor's party, and pei-fuaded the reft to filence and communion till a Council,becaule it was not a ControvcrTie about Faith, but about Pcrfbns.

§ 11.The Emperor's Party ( acled by Tl^eoJore Cafar.) got fbme Bifhops to aCTemble at Mcpj'ueiL An. 5-5-0. to prepare a Cxjndemnatioii of their former Bifhop Theodoir, by f'lying that his name was not in tiieir Book.

§ IX. CLXXII. King Cbtldebert called another Council at Or/MW«, where many old dilciplinary Canons were repeated : Among others. Can. 9. That ne Lay-man be made a Bijhop withjut a years time to learn ha Function. ( You may conjedurc what Scholars they were then I ) Can. i o. Tlat mne get ti Bijlinprtck

A a x by

by gijts, or jeeking j but •with the vjHI of the Kiftg, by the eUBion of the Clergy and o5" the Lay-people. Can. ii. ylljo ( of the ancian Canons ha've decreed) Jet none be made Bijhop to an timviUing Veople ( or without the Peoples confent ) nor let the People or the Clergy be inclined to confent, by the opprefion of perjons in power(which is not lawful to bejpoken : ) But f it be otherwtje done, let the Bijlwp be for ever depofed from hts obtained honour of Pent if cat e, who is ordained rather by fcrce,than <^ laiiful decree. C. While one Bijlwp is livitig, let not any other be there made Bi(hop ; limlefs perhaps in his place, who is eje8ed for fome capital Crime. Can. z t. Though all Priefis, and others, mujt be careful to relieve the Poor with' »ecejj'aries,yet tjpecially every BiJhop mufi from the Church-houfe as far as they can, adminijfer necejfaries for food and rayment tofuch as are in weaknefs both in his Territories and Lis City, &c. ]

Note I. W'^erc thole Bifhoprlcks any bigger than our Pariflies of Market-Towns with the Chappellcries? where i. All the Laity met to chooft the Bifliop. a. Where the Bifhop could know and relieve all the Poor. 3. And this from the dom.'ts Ecclefia, which was but one.

II. Our Nonconformifls plead,that according to thcfe ancient Canons, i .Thofc Bifhops are no Biihops who came not in by any choice or ccnjent of the People or Clergy, but by power are impofed on the moil unwilling. %. That thole Mini-ftcrs that were never depofed for any Crime, arc not to be forfaken by their Flocks, nor impofed perlbns thruft into their places, accepted by the People,while the firft hath true right.

§ 1:5. CLXXIII. We come now to that which they will needs call the fifth General Council at Co77/?rt»r/73fl^/£,y^'w. 5^5 :5. of i65rBifliops. In which let thefe particulars be noted, i. That fuflinians. Letters or Formula were firft read,in which he exprcfly affirmeth , that it was the Emperors that called the former General Councils, and he that called this. x. That he lamenteth the divifions which former Councils had left unhealed : ftying, [ T!je followers of Neftorius and Eutyches made fo great trouble m the holy Churches of God, that divifions and fchifms were made in them, and the Churches had no Communion with one another: For no man that travelled from one City to another, did prefume to communicate , ?!or any Clerk that went from 07ie City to another, to go into the Church. J Here was lamentable (eparation indeed. 5. That 7'(/?'»''^« w^^s made believe, that thefe divifions would be healed, if the tria Capitula of the Council of Calcedon were but condemned : For the Etitychians did fb much boall of Cyril, being confident that they did but follow him, and his firft Ephefian Council, that if he were vindicated, he thought they would be fatisficd. 4. And he thought that the three Biftiops were indeed fb far to be condemned, having difgraced Cyril, and favored A'f/yori.v/, and the other was iVf/?o«V«'s Maftcr. J. That the receiving and the curfrng of. the Council of Calcedon, having hitherto been the great Conteft among the Bifhops, fbme were loth now to caft fb great a difhonour upon it, and to give the Eutychians fb much caufe to boaft; fuppoling they would but be the more confirmed in their oppofition.

§ 14. Note alfb, that ^/t;-;/ii!/j Bifhop of Row^e was then at Cw/^wAiwo^/f, but came not to the Council, nor (ent any Legate to it: But the Empcrcr tells the

Coun-

tJ?cir Councils abrid'^eJ.

Council, "T/}at when Vigilius Bijhop cf Rome cawe to that City, the Emperor " exactly opened to him all things about the tria Capitula, and atked him what he " thought of them ; and that YigiUus not cnce nor twice, but often in writings " and without writmg,anathcmatiz^d the im'picus tria Capitula. ] And that he had " fiewed that he -was e-ver of the ^ame judgment, &c.

And they had made fuflitiun believe, that Ibas in his Epiftle devieth God the Word to be made man, and the Virgm Mary to be thi Alothcr of God, 3

§ 1 f. The Emperor's Writing being read, at the next meeting the Council (ent toy/^///«^ to (it with them, but hcliill refu(cd,alledging, Toat there were few of the IVefleni Biflwps there. To which their anfwcr is notable , that {_ Tlie meeting of all the refi ought not to be delayed for the Weflern Bijhops: For in all the four General Councils, there was never fcimd a multitude of the fVeflern Bi^ops,but only two or three Bijhops, and a few Clerks. But now you are here, and many Ita- 'SH lian Bijlwps are at hand, and many of Africa, lllyricum, (^c. And if he would not meet them, they mujt do it without him'. They urged him alio with the Emperor's words, that he being alcne, had oft in writing, and without writing , condemned the tria Capitula, and the Emperor dcTired him but to do that with ethers, which he had done by himfef. But yet Vigilius would not come: Whether it was becaufe he underftood not Greek, and 16 fhould be a contemned Cypher (for he faith, They all knew that he underjlood it n.-'t ) or whether it was to avoid the Cenfure that he had before incurred,or both,is not known. For you mull imder-ftand, that F/^//«//j had (uttered defamation at Rome already, as a Revolter from the Calcedon Council, for joining herein with the Emperor in tlie beginning, and his chief intereft lay at home.

§ 16. Theodonfs Mopfuefienris \-\'ritings are (earchcd ; and though he is highly extolled by many good Authors, yet many palTages recited in the Council, and after by F;^/7/w^,do ihew either the enor ot his judgment, or his unskilhilnels in fpcakingj for they are not juftihablc. But if evtiy Papiil: voluminous Writer fliould be damned as a Here lick, whole Writings have more and greater Errors than the Council gathered out of TlKodore Alcpfutflentts, it would be a hard reward for their exceeding labours. When (iich men as 7t/?<j;.v/, Aqum.rs, Scot:.'s, OcLim^ Durandns, &ic. Bellarmine, B.vontiis, Suai-cz,, Va',cfucx.~, Cajetane, &c. have fpcnt their days in diligent labours, how calie a matter is it for a proud idle Drone that doth nothing or worfr, to gather as many and as great Errors out of their Works, as were in many then counted Hcrcticks. But the approbation of God, who pardoneth failings,will be the comfort of fuch as improve their Ta-lentsj when the flothful, unprofitable Servant fiiall be condcmned,and quarrelling with the imperfeiftions of the diligent will not lave them.

It is evident thAtTheodore and Neflonrts acknowledged ChrilVs Godhead and Manhood, Soul and Body,and the perlbnal Union of them. But they were none of themperfevSlin Loglck and Metaphyiicks, norfbfpakeas that no man could blame their words.

§ 17. Next the words of learned Thcodorite are {canned ; and many very Cnartpa!iages againft C/n/ are recited: Many verbal Controverfies arc repeated. Theodoriti is accufcd for faying, That Mary begat net God tn the nature of God;

but-

Si ' Church-Htflory of ^ipo^s and

^ tut j\Lm as tinned to the CodLead \ That Chriji ivas forfaken^uffereJ., hungered, Jlept, tvas ignorant of that day and hc,iir,S<c. as n:an,and net as God : That it -was 7tot God that was ignorant, ( he meant not as God, or notf/;e Detty ) hut the form of a Seyvant, ■u.-htch knap no more than the Detty revealed : And (b of many other propCTtics or afls of the Humanity, he fiiith, It ivas net Deus Verbum that ovift, that learnt obedimce, ikc. meaning only not qua. Deus, or not Deitas, for want of care in (peaking. And Ep. ad Job. Anticcb. ( Bin. p. jjg. ) it's apparent that he alio mifimderftood Cyril, and thought he he'd mat by Unity of Natures, the Deity was properly become very flclh. A levcre E.tiji.adjoan. An-mc/j.againftC}?-//after hlsdeatli is there charged on him, in which he with grenr ftltncfs rcjoiccth in his death, j^ Aliferum ilium nee ad fimiUt:ulinem aliorum dt-mifit nofirariim animarum gnbirnaior diutitis eorum potiri, cju^ videntur ejfe d(-leclabilta ; fedcrefcentem qitolidte 'viri ma'ig7i:tatem fcuns O" forpori Ecciefa no-cent em, quafi peflem quajidam amputavit c^ nbfltdit opprobrium a f.L'ts ll'rael: La-tifcabit Juperjlites ejus difcejjio : Contrijlat'it t'eio forjitan mortuos, ^ timer efi ne pragra-vati ejus cvn'verfat tone, iterum ad nos remittant, vel illos diffugiat qui eum abduciint,Jicut ille tyrarmus Cyri Ciliciam : Procurandum efi igitur,^ oportet tuam Sanilitatem maxime hanc fujctpere fi'fiinaj?tiam,id^ jubcre ccUcgio mortuos ajportan-tium lapidem aliquem maximum c^rgraz/tffimum Sepulchre tmponere^ ne iterum hue feyveniret c^ injlabilem 'vohmtatem iterum demonjlraret: Inferttis nova dogmata adferat: Ibi dm noHuque fcut njidt jer}-nocmetur: Non tnim timemus ne O" iUos divideret~filet mifer invtttis: Nudata tllnts facia alligant linguam,objh-utmt os,fi-te-nant jcnfum. — Ideo plango mifer um d^ ploro : Nee entm pur am mihi deleSlationem feci: mortis ejus denu>ici.itin,Ud dolore permixtam : Ltetor £>>• jucundor ejufmodi f-efhlentid commune Ecclefta vidtns liberatum : Contriftor 'vero (^ ploro cogitans quod nee requiem maLrum miferabihs fufceperit, fed major a ^ pejora pertentans defunftiis eft; fomniavit enim, ut dicunt, d^ regiam urbem perturhare, df tuam SanBitattm accufne, utpote ea colentem: Sed vidit Deus ^ non dejpexit : Immift fmum in cs ejus, d^fienum in labia ejus, ^c.

Binntus thinketh fome bad man fathered this falfly on Theodoret, I would hope fo too : But it's ftiange that the Council fathered it on him, and none did vindicate him. And the next Charge ( Bin. p. ')^q. ) rebuketh liisCharity, ivji. his Speech at Anticch in the prelencc of Domnus, [_ Nemo neminem jam ccgit blaf phemare — non jam est contentio: Oriens df yCgyptus fub uno jugo efi: Mortua efi invtdia ; df cum co vbruta esl contentio: requiefcant Theopathita:. J Is not this of the (ame kind ? And this is not denied to be his. Whofbever it was, it was fad that Biftops fliould have fuch minds, and ufe (iich words of one another, cfpecially if it be as I confidently believL-,fi2:.. that not diftinguifhing the concrete fi-om tlic abftracl, and .1%; Detts, from J^d Deus, they both meant the fame thing, and dirtered but about the aptitude of words,for want of explication and diftinftion.

§ I 8. In brief. After the reading of many Papers, and Ibas Epiftlcs, the tria Capitula were condemned, vi?,. Theodore Mopfuejh and the writings of Theodo-ret againfl: Cyril, and Ibas Epiftlc. And Co the Emperor found the Council as obedient as he deCred.

§19-

§ 19. But Vigilim Bifliop of 2?owf, who would not come to the Coundl,now givtth in his Confiitmum, or his own judgment upon the whole Gife , and that with great moderation. He Hrft recitcth many pallages of Tbtodcrc Mcp,uefi. which he renounceth ; and he dilpraileth the paflagcs of TheoJoret and Ji'^,buc he i-efuleth to join in the anathematizing of them, aliedging tliat good men ha\e their errors, and Inllancing in many wliofe errors were noted, and yet their pcr-Ibns not condemned, efpecially wheii they had either recanted thcm,or better explained their words : And he notctli that it would be a great injur}- to the Ca!-cedon Council, to have its own members now thus condemned,tiiat were b}- them-accepted. [ ^^iid etiim aliud eft mendaces aut fmu'antes ^rofejjimcm retta fidei Tatres in fanUa Caked. S)tiodo refdetites cftendere, quam dicere alicjacs f.v eis ftmdiij faptfi£e Neftorio ; quorum judtcw Niftormm tjufque dogmata jfuiffc dam-nata. j

And fbberly he faith, [_It ts riot lanful to pafs any new judgment on the per-funs of the dead , but we mtift leave all men m the cafe that death fcttnd tbvm^ and in Jpecial Theod ire Mopfueft. what the Fathers did is evident from vhat is [aid j / dare 7tot condemn him by my fe7ite?tce, nor yield that any one elje condemn htm : hut far he it from mc to admit his nrcng opinions. J

This was the right way: If they had all dealt as wilely and Chriftian-likc, Counlels had not been the Confounders of the Churches.

§ xo. A7a'F/'(.>?« nametli many of Or/^a/s Errors tliat were condemned in this Council , but it is not found in the Adis. Btnntus doubtcth not but tlie Ortgentfts Hole them out, and tallihcd the Records, and alfo forged thoft- EpilUcs of Figiliffs, in which the opinion of One Operation is aflcrted. But will they allow us equally to fu(pci!i (uch Records as have been kept at Rome ?

^ zi. What good this Council did, and how the peaceable Emperor attained the end that Theodore Cafar.promiicd him, of uniting Diilenters, I lliall tell you but in the words of Bitmius (who fblloweth Sarcnius in almoll all) " Uhat " Theodore dcdr.promifed, that the Eutychian Hcrcticks called Helitants, U'/vw " the three Capitula v-'ere condemned, would receive the holy Calcedon Council,w.fs " not obtained, when this war ended ; hut rather a moft grievous mi'~cLf»f w<is ad-^^ dcd to the Church: Far wMTrihe Defenders of the //;ree Capitula, with Vigilius ^

" the Tope did not accjutefce m the Councils decree, the whole Catholtck Church was " torn by Scbifm ; a-nd which is worfe,the Emperor f/r d up Perfccution, tn which " he depojed or bantjlied \'igiUus ( holding to bis Conllitutum ) Victor. Afrtc. and " others.

§11. I do impartially commend/^7^///>.'/s moderate Conftitutum, hut I muil needs lay that there needeth no other inllancc than I'lgilius, that Intercsf is a Liw to (bmc Roman Bifhops, and that their pretences of Infallibility , Tradition and Antiquity, notwithftanding they have changed their very Faith, or judgment of Councils at leaft, as their worldly motives changed. Vtgtlsus Hrll fiat'tercd the Emperor, and joined with him againft the tria Capitula, Cone. Caked, that is .xgMn[\ Theodore A'fopfu. Theodorct and Ibas three Bilhops,l;iith Bnmi/ts p.CtoS. '■'■[Seeing therefore that before this Council a Schifm aro/ein the W'eftern and Afri-" cane Chwcb »• kcauji Vigilius had confented ro the Empero;^s ofmm, it becatfte

^mcef-

r

" necej]tiry,for the avoiding of Schifm, SacrileJge an J Scandal, that he flwuld fub-

" /;/Jj his Conftitutum , tn defence of the tria Capitula, hy 'vertue whereof the

^'■Wcficrn Churches jlioiild he united, dvd the contempt of the Cakedon Council

'■^ fliould be avoided,which the Imfugners of the tria Capitula did fraudulently con-

'■'■trive-^ and that theUniverfal ChurchJiwuld leai-n by this example^ that no man

" that dyed in the true Faith, fliould be condemned lichen he is dead : But, ( did

" Vigilius 7?fl/) here ? ) Av, /.j///j Binnius, \_Biit when nftcr the end of his Council

" the Church received yet greater damage, a?>d the Emperor perfecuted them that

" And " contraditled theSyfjod * , a?id it wis feared that the whole Eafl: would be divi-

wodd « Jg^ ^„J feparated fi-om the Roman and W'cftern Church, tinlefs the Bt^icp of

havcPnn- " ^°'"^ apprcved the fifth Synod, then Pope Vigilius, in a Cauje which could bring

CCS do lo.' " "'' p>'cjudice to the Orthodox Faith^ did well and jufily change his former fen-

" tetice, and approved the Synodf.l Decree, for condemning the tria Capitula, and

" revoked and made void his Condi tutum, which he before publi^ied tn defence of

" the tria Capitula. The prudent and picus Pope ( that came to the Popedom by

" Bribery, Tyranny, and Aiiirder of his Predecejjor ) did in this prudently imitate

" St. Paul about Circumcifon, &:c.

O what certainty and conftancy is here in the Papal judgment ; For a Pope about one Caufc to judge for it, againft it, and for it again in fo fliort a time ? And all this upon realbnof Policy and State. Did the lame (b often change,and prove lirft true, and then falle, and then true again ?

But the Papifts cxcufe is, that It was de Perfonis, non de Fide. .Anfw. But i. Is it lawful to take the fame thing for true and falfe, good and bad de Perfonis, as our interell: requireth ? a. Why arc thePerfons condemned but on (uppofition that their Faith was condemnable ? 3. Youconfefs that It was for the advantage - of the Eutychian Faith, and the deprellion of the Faith of the Calcedon Council, that the m^ Crt^;W-« were condemned.

Reader, If all this will not tell thee how much need there Is of a furer and more ftabfe fupport of our Faith than Popes and Councils, yea and better means of the Churches Unity and Concord, I muft take thee for unteachable ; what ha\'e fcch Councils done, but fet the Churches together by the ears ?

§ zg. Liberatas in his Breviary faith, ( c. 3. 10. a4.) that Theodore Mopfu. his Works were app;-ovcd by Procltts, fohan. Antioch. the Emperor, the Council of Calced. &c. But Binnuis iaith, Nimis impudenter c^ incaute : Yet all acknowledge Liberates a moft credible Hiftorian, and lived In Juflijiians time. He faith aUo, that Nefcidijfimum h^reticum Thcodoretus df Sozomenus laudarunt adeo ut hac de ccMid uttrejue magnam nominis fui jatltiram pajjrts fucrit, &c. But wife men are apt to think as hardly of fijch as can cry out NefandiJJimum hareticum againllallthat fpeakas unskllRiUy as tliis man did , as of charitable men that pralfe them for what Is good, while they diibwn their frailties aiid imperfecflons : If it be as he fiilth, many thought that Jheodoret allumcd his own name from this Theodore, by reafbn of his high- efteem of him, it's like he had fbme fpeclal worth, though he haih many culpable cxpreliions. And Soz^men Is an Hiflorian of fb defervcd reputation, that it lecmcthto me no argument of PopQ Gregory's Infalli-vbility, that hcfalthjllb. 6. cp. 95-. Sox,ommum ejiifcjtie Hifroriam fedes ApofioUca

ncipre %.,

recipere reciifat ; qmniant mulra mcnt'itur, & Theodorum MopRieftia: vimliim laudat,at^ue ad dicm ob'mts Jui ma^nm Do'dorcm Ecdifta fuijje ferhibet. J I think the Author of Gregcr/s Dialogues did plura mentiri, and yet that Gregory was Magnus Ecckjiie Bcctor.

§ T4. The Contro\'eiTie whether Vigilms were the Author of the Epiftle to Minna,! pafi by : But,methinks, Binnius is very partial to jiiftifie Ibmuch wliat he did after Silvcrins's death, as beginning then to have right to his Papacy,and to give him lb diftcring a Character ( from Sanclijfimus Papa ) before, wliile he poilefled the fame Seat, as theft words of his exprels, [_ Cum omnium, &c. jeemg thatVillany (^or Crime') of Vlgiiius, did exceed the Crimes of all Schijmaticks,hj ■ vLich making a hargaifi -u-it/j Hereticks, afid giving money by a Lay-man, he by force tkpdled Sih'crius Bipwp of the priine S<.at, and j^otled of his Pritfily indit-ments ( or attire) bani^nd him into an Ifland, and there caujed him to dye , it fiould feem no wonder to any man, if a dcj^crate -urctch ( homo perditus, ) the buj(.r of another s Seat, and a 'violent Invader,a JVolfaTlnef a Robber, not entering by the true doer, a falfe ( or counterfeit ) Bijliop, and as it were Antichrtsi,the lawful Pajhr and B^jop being yet living, did add moft pernicious Hcrejie to his Schifm. 3 Yet this man became the moji holy Pope, by the vertue of his place, as (bon as he had but murdered Silverius, and was accepted in his fl:cad,and then it became impofllble for him to err in the Faith.

§ ij'. CLXXIV. Anno 5:5'5. A Council was called at Jerufalem hy Jujli- ^ nian's Command, who lent to them the A6b of the Conftantine Council de trt-bus Capitiilis, to be by them received; the Bifliops all received it readily , lave one Alexander Abyfis, who was therefore banlfhcd,and coming toCcnjtantinople^ fay Barontus and Binnius, was (\vallowcd 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 Bifhops were too ready to receive iiich reports.

§ z6. CLXXV. The lame year 5-5'5. the U'ejiem Bilhops held a Council ai ^

Aquileia, out of the Emperor's power, where, as Defenders of the Council of Calcedon, xhey ■ condemTied the fifth Conftantine Council aforefaid, :ii\d (Co (aith Binnius) (cparated thcmfelves h'om the Unity of the Catholick Church , and lb continued tor near an Hundred years,till the time of Pope Sergius, who reduced ,

them. Were not thefe great Councils and Bilhops great Healers of the Churcli, -^

that about condemning Ibme wiitten Sentences of three dead men, thus ralle a ^^'^ar among the Churches ? Were Hereticks cr Hereticaters the great Dividers ?

§ 17. But here followeth a Cafe that raKeth a great doubt before us,\Vhether the Pope alone, or all his IVcJtern Bilhops, when they difter from liim, are the Church ? After the death of Vigilius, the Secular Power procured Pelagius the Archdeacon to be made Pope ; the U'eftern Bilhops difclaimlng Jitfitnians Council, and Pelagiiis obediently receiving it ( and the Popedom, } there could not be three Bifhops got that wcjuld ordain him,as the Canons required, (b that a Presbyter OJlnnJis was fain to do it.

Bclides the Qiieftion(Which now was the Church?)herc arc other hardQuefti-ons to be Iblvcd.

B b ®«. I :

^. I. Whetlicr yuJUnian^s Election of a Pope was valid ? And if lb, Whether other various Electors may do it as validly?

J^i'. i. NVhetlier a Presbyter's Ordination of a Bifllop or Pope was valid ? If fb, Whether Presbyters may not ordain Presbyters ?

^. 5. Whether this Pope was truly Head of the Catholick Church, when his Bifliops obeyed him not ?

-%. 4. Whether it was then believed at Ro??7e it(elf,and in the M'efi , that a General Council, approved by the Pope, was either infallible, or neceliarily to be obeyed ?

j^r. 5-. Whether it be true which W. fchnfon, alias Tenet, ofren tells me,TI}at it is not fojfible that there can be any Schijm in the Catholick Church, becauj^^ t^e eJJ(.ntia!ity of its Union ?

§ ^8. Note that this Pope TeJ^tgius, becaufe his Bifhops rcje^l^ed him and the Council, got Narfes the General to compel them : And then who can doubt but he was Pope, and they his Subjcifts ?

But Narfes (crupled it, left he ihould be guilty of Perfecution ; Jtifiinianh VopePelas^ius tellcthhim, it is no fin,and bids him not fear it ; for it's no Pei-fe-cution which compels not men to fm: but all that flparate from the Pope, and aflcmble (eparatedly do fin, and are damned Schifmaticks; therefore he defireth him to fend the Bifliops of Aqiiileirt, A'lilanfi.nd the reft that yield not,Prifbners to Ccjifiantimple. Narfes obeyeth the Pope and Emperor ; the Bifliops excommunicate Narfes; the Pope writcth to him, that it is no news for erring Bifliops to take themfelves for the Catholick Church, and to forbid others their Communion, and counfelleth him to go on and reprcfs them. And the Civil Sword and the Ecclefiaftical were thus engaged in a Roman War ; one Bifliop S.ipanJus of Ares in FraJice the Pope got fjiccially to ftick to him, whom therefore he commended to King CiJiUebert, &c.

§ a9. CLXXVl. A Council at Paris depofcd Bifliop Saphoracus for (bnie great Crime.

§ 30. U'hile the Romans were rcf)lving to fubjeft themfelves to the Goths again, becaufe the Pope made Ninfis tlieir Pci-fccutor, Narfes took it fo ill, that he *'Banvios went away from them, but the Pope drew back, and he * fliortly died. Belli-'a'm-'^' _/«rw/j alio was ruined, and yuflinian himlelf fliortly dyed. Binnius faith it is 4> r-'fus '■^poi'f'-''^ ^^'"^^ '■'^ ^'^^^ '"'o Learning, and thinketh that his Civil Laws were Tribo-ik. others www'virid his Ecclefiaftical Theodoras C^jarienfis's. And liiith that the Church rein th':sj jedleth hisLav/sof Ufury, Churches and Ecckfafiical Pcrfons, as arrogant Ulur-poiiu. pations. i^. VMiether tlie Reman Power was then underftood by Princes or People ? ^,^^„ §31- CLXXVIII. Another Synod at Paris repeated nine old Canons: The

''B.rrjhius Sth wus, \_ No man may be ordained a Bishop againH the will of the Citiz^etis-, thinks nor any hut whom the tleFtion of the People and the Clerks, fiall feck with plenary

( not he, but ) Council at Brac-

jimimrc. carc'niGalicia,\\'h.Qre eight Bifliops opened fb much of the Prifcillia?iHcixfie, as

may

<A

may tell us it was worthy to be detcfted ( not much unlike the Manichees >)

and many old Canons they recited : But I could have wiQied that they had not

made a mans diet the note of his Herelie, and a fiifficient cauft of his conviifVion

and damnation. The Tri'^ciUimiifls ( as thele fay ) would not eat fleih , hot

herbs boil'd with flefli This Council ordered that if any that abftained from tlcfh, -ti

did not eat herbs boiled with flcfh, he fliould be taken for an Heretick. This is

not conformable to VauPs Rules or Spirit.

§ 3g. This Council ordered that none fliould be buried within the Church, which Binnius well ftts home. And whereas PriJaJlian taught that in the Liturgy [ the Fax 'vobts. Peace be unto you ^ fhould be faid only by the Bilhop,and Dommus vcbifcum by the Prieil, the Council contradiiled him. i. W'c lee here what Trifles divided men! r. We (ee that yet the Churches ufually were no bigger than met in one place with the Bifliop, or might do : For it is fiippoled that cvaj Church-Aflembly had a Bifhop preient to (ay his part.

§ 54. 77jeoJomirits the ^r/cf/^w King, under whom this Council was held,was the lirli of that race that turned Orthodox j all the Sueves before him (with the Goths ) having been Arrians.

§ 3 5". CLXXX. Anno 5-66. The conteft about choice of Bifliops grew iharp. King Clot harms made one Emerins Bifliop Satncmenjis jthcGuions had betorc decreed that Kings fliould choofcnone, but all t\.K People and the Clerks, and the Mctrofolitan ordain him. The King's Bifliop is depofed by a Ccvcil. Sante-nienfe, of which Leant ins of Bourdeaiix was chief They (entthe King word of it by a Presbyter : The King tilled a Cart with Thorns, and laid the Prieft on them, and ftnt him into Banifliment, and forced the Bifliop to fubmit to his will.

§ 3 6. That it may be known that neither Popes, Councils, nor conlenting '%st Bifliops divided Dioccfles and Pariflies, here Binnius giveth us at large, lirft Con-fiantineh divifions in Sfain, and next the fuller divilion of King IVamba. Bin. p. 649, &c.

§37. CLXXXI. At Tows in France ( eight BilTiops) in a Provincial Council, revived many Canons of the old matter, ( to keep BilTiops and Pricfts from Women) Can. i 3. TheBijimp way keep hts M'lfeas a Stfler^togo^'ern hts houfe: But Can. lo. Triefisthat will keep Hl-ves, muii have fomc U'ltnejj'es to he m the fame Chamber, to fee that they lie not vith them. And Can. 14. Epifcopum,Epif-copam fion babentem^nulla fcqtiatur turba mulierum, &c.

Can. 2 I. They fty, [ 7%ofe that the Law cemmanJcth to be put to death , if they defirc to hear the Preacher, we wdl ba-ve to be conviUed unto life, ( that is, not to dye:) For they are to be fain with the/word of the mouth, and deprived cf Communion, if they will not obferve the Decrees of the Seniors left them , and do dejptfe to hear their Pajlor, and will not be fcparateJ] Some SeiStaries among us are of the fame mind, againll putting penitent Malefaftors to death.

§ 38. CLXXXII. Anno 570. There was a Council at Lyons of Fourteen Bifliops, who recited fix Canons to reftrain the Vices of the Clergy. BmniuSf out of Greg. Turofi. telh you the occafion was, that ofie Salonius and Sagittarius, us ibon as they were made Bifliops, being then at their own will, broke out into

B b X Slaughters;,

slaughters, Murckrs, Adulteries, and otlier wickednefs. And ViHryr Bifliop of Z>;ftf/.keeping; Vi;s Birth-day, they lent a Troop with Swords and Arrow?, who cut Ills Cloaths, beat his Servant?, and carried away all his Provifion, leaving; him with reproach : The King Gwif/jr^w hearing of it, called this Synod, which found them guilty, and depofcd them : They tell the King that they are unjullly cad out, and get his leave to go to the Pope, John 3d. The Pope writtth to the King to have them,as wronged men, reftored, ( this was the Papal Juflice and Reformation : ) The King chideth, but reftoreth them ; but they grew ne\-er the better afterward, but asking pardon of Blfliop Fiilcr, he forgave them, and for that was afterward excommunicate.

§ 39. CLXXXIII. yin. ^yz. aComicilwas called under K\ng ^riomire at Braccara of^ 11 Bifhops : They are moftly forbidding Bifliops to take money for their Ordinations, Confecrations, and other Actions. And the firfl; Canon re-quireth them to walk to all their Parifhes, and fee that the Clerks did things rightly ; that Catechutncfis learnt the Creed, and to preach to the People to forbear Murder, Adultery, Perjury, Falft-witnefs, and other mortal Sin?, to do as they would be done by, and to believe the Rcfurrediion, Judgment and Reconi-pence according to Works.

§40. CLXXXIV. Afi. 'yfT.. a.Co7iciIiiim, Lucenfe did receive ^rom Martin Bifhop of Braccara 84 old Canons, of which the 6jih. was againft reading {f5* Apocrypha, or any thing but the Canon of the Old and New Teftament in Church.

§ 41. After Juflinians death, his Sifters Son Jufimiis was Emperor, a (cnfcal and covetous man, who murdered prcfently a Kinfman of his own name, upon fufpicion that he was too great; yet he drew up a good Pro fcfTion of Faith, exhorting all the Bifhops to agree in it: But Chofroes, King of Verfu, invaded his Empire, bccauft the Greater Armenia ( which was then under the Vtrfiavs , as the Leffir was under the Romans ) to avoid the Perjtatis per(ecutions,had revolted to the Empire, and deflroyed their Rulers: The Pfr/?(/«.f conquered (o much of the Eafiern part of the Empire, and '7«jfwe's Soldiers made lb little rcfiftance as drove him' out of his wits; and his Wife, by intreaty,got the Verfians to make a Truce. Tiberius was then made defar , and afterward Emperor upon JujHnt's death ; and Jtifiinian his Captain repelled the Verfians^ and recovered much of what they had conquered.

§ 4^. An.')j6. Divers Kings of Fr/r?7ce by War among thcmfelves deftroy-ed Churches, and confounded all; and a Council at Parit was called, but in vain, 10 have perdiaded them to Peace.

§ 43. After Bi7fedtBus, Telagim 16 was Bifhop ztRcme \ Ttberins an excellent Empt ror quickly dyed, and by his choice Mauritius (uccecdcd him. Telagius ( by Gregory his Deacon ) wrote againft the Bifhops that would not condemn the tria Capifula: And when all his writings prevailed not,he got Smaragdus the Exorchate to force them by the Sword : ( Tlic great remedy which Rome hath trufted to.)

§44. CLXXXV. Afercveus Son and Heir to Chilperic King of Frafjce, niarrj?ing his Uncles Widow^, oficndcd his Fathcr,and tied to Si.Adarti}>''s Church

at-

at Toitrs, and forced Biihop Grtgcry to give him the Sacrament.The King could not get the Biiihop to deliver him up ; he fled, and the King called a Synod at Taris to judge PretextatHs a Blfliop, whom he accud'd for marrying him, and confederating with him.

§ 45". CLXXXVI. The two Blfhops forenamed, 5<7/(;w//« and Sagittar/i4s,heing again acculcd of Adultery and Murder, and being freed by profeirmg Repentance, King Gtmthtramus called a Cuhilme Synod, and acculed them ot Trealbn, and (6 dcpoled and banifhcd them.

§46. CLXXXVII. ^w. <yZx. King Gunthram called a Synod at M<7y^w/, to revive the old Canons for reftraining the Lufl and Vices of the Biftiops and Clergy.

§47. CLXXXVIII. .^w. ^85. A Cuncil. Rrcnaccnfe is called, to try Gregory Bifhopof Tcurs, filflyaccufcd of" charging the Queen ot living in Adultery with a Bifhop jan Archdeacon and a Deacon bore hal!c \\'itnef3: but all came to light, and Gregtry was cie-ared by his Oath.

§ 48. CLXXXIX.y^AJ87. A Council at Cofjjhminopk increafed theChurclv divifions which continue to this day, wherein Juhn Bifliopof Ccfijrantinople was decreed to be called. The Univerjal Bijhop, which Pope Fclagius could not endure. O what hath this Qyeftion done to the World, JIIm jluU be the chief or greatefi ? So much of the image and work of Satan hath been tound in the profclled Servants of a crucified Saviour, and in thofe that have worfliipped the Crofi ;

In this Synod Gregory Bilhop of ^ntkch wa.s trycd, and acquitted of a falfc Acculation of Inceft with his Siller another man's wife.

§ 49. Velagitis writcth agalnlf Johns Univerfal I'ltlcjlaying, [ Uiiiverfalita-tis mmen quod Jib i illicit e ujivpavit, nAite atttfiJirc, &ic. Nullus enim Vatriarcha-rum * hoc tam profano ■vocabnlo iinquam iitatur: <^uia (i fiimmus Patriarcha Uni- * No not verfalis dicitur, Patruircharum ncmm cauris Aerogatur. Scd ahjit hoc , abjit a ^^'^ ^-f delis cujitfcjuam mcnte hoc Jibi vel -vclle c^iiewpiam ampere, unde honorem fra- *"•'"• trum fuorum iimnmiiere ex tjitanluldcunijue parte indaimr. >^apropter Chji it.is z'efira nemincm unciuam (uis in Epiftolu Univerlalem mminet, nc fibi debsiitm fubtrahnt cum altert hor.orem ofert indebitum. jid-verfarius enim mjhr Diabolus quic07ttra humiles fazriens Jicut Leo rugiens circuit, fjuarens que?n dev6ret,»of> jain, ut cerninius caidas circuit. — Omnia qui (oil uni Capiti coharent, 'videlicet CLrifio, per elcHionem powpaticifermonis ejufdem Chrifli fibi ftudeat membra fubju^are, Ncc mirum qucd file tcntator qui initium omnis peccati jcit cjje fupcrbiam, fee. And (b he goeth on, exhorting them rather to dye, ilian to (iibmit to the Title Uni' 'verfiil, and relblvingExcomnumicition againll the Ufcr of it.

§ 5^0. Btnnius faith, It is ridiculous hence to impugn the Primacy of the Church : But .^. i. Is it not impudent after this, tor them to ufc the Title of Univerfal ? J^.. 1. Doth not this allow us to leparate fi-om them that uliirp it ? J^. 3. Doth not Velagius\\evc plainly diftinguidi between the place of Prime Tatriarch which he claimeth, and Um-verjal Bijhcp or Patriarch which he damneth. X^. 4. Doth he not defcribe this daamed Uiavpation, to be a [ubjcft' iftgallChrifi''s members to bimfelf? ^. f. Doth not the Pope now ufe both the

thime

fiameand thing as far as he can attain it? ^, 6. Did not Velagitis and Gregory know that yobv did no more intend to put down all other Patriarchs or Bifliops by this Title, than the Pope doth? .^«. 7. Doth not the Pope now claim that us by Dirinc Right, which j^o/^m claimed but as of Humane? Modclly can deny none of this.

§ 51. CXC. An. ')ij. Nine Bifhops at Lyons repeated fix old Canons about \\'omcn, d^iT.

§ yi. CXCI. A7]. 5-89. King Giinthrum finding all things grow worfe, and that all was long of the Btjlmps cjielj, ( faith Binnius) called a Council at Alaf-C(7«, where the il:ri;ler keeping of the Lords-day w;is commanded.

§ 5 3. Here Biniiuis notcth that Frifiiis is called Patriarch, and that the BilTiops of J^eiiice, Ifiria and Ligiiria, continuing ftill (eparate from Rome, chole Pattlinus Billiop of Aquikia their Patriarch, [ ^letrt ftbi loco fummi Tontificis fuprewittn Oj- A^itiftitem ccnjiitnerent.l ^«. Did the Bifhops then'believe that the Pope's llnivcrlal Government was cfTcntial to the Catholick Church ? And that none were tlae Church but his Subjecl:s ?

§ 54. CXCII. King Gumhram, An. 5 89. by a Council at Valence, (etled his Benevolences on the Churches. ? § f T- CXCIII. An. 589. At Toletnm King Recaredus czWed a Council, and

renounced Amamfin, and recited (cveral Canons j among others,that Biihops and Pricfts Wives might dwell with them, but not lie with them. And they lament and condemn the praftice of fiich as kill their children, appointing them (harp difcipline without capital puniilimcnt. ( Had the Church power to free Murderers from death, as they long did, Was this holy Reformation? )

The I ith Canon faith. That they found that in many Churches of Spain, men flthily and not regularly did Penance, that they might fin as oft as they would, and he as oft reconciled by the Vriefls, &c. Many reforming Canons were here made. There were 6 7 Subfcribers befides the King, and of divers Cities two Bifhops, which was unufiial.

§ 5'). CXCPk". ( Paffing by a meeting at Rome ) Another Council at Nar^ hon was held by Recaredus, who brought over the Goths from Arrianifm.

§ 5 7. The Emperor Mauritius, though a great and excellent perfbn, was ruined by the mad and uncurable mutinies of his Soldiers, and at laft, with his Family, cruelly murdered by Vhocas, one of lais Captains ; a terrible warning to Princes not to trufl too much to Armies.

§ 5 8. All this while the oppofcrs of the Calcedon Council kept up, and were divided in the Eaif into many Parties among themfelvcs: Among others, the great Veripatctlcyohan.Thiloponus was their mod learned Defender, writing with (iich fiibtilty, that the Natures really two, were to be called One Compound Nature, as the Soul and Body of a man are, as ( faith Nicephorus ) was not eafie to be anfwered ( by which, how much of the Controvcrfie was de Nomine d^ de Notione Logicd, let the Reader further judge, ) he that will fee fbme of his words, may read them in Nicepb. I. 18. c. 45:, 4(3, 47, 48. his Notions made men call him a Tatheite.

§ 59. Jacobus Zanx,alus being a great Promoter of the Party, many ever

fincc

fince have from him been called 'Jacobites : And the divided Parties that oppo-fed the Council, called tlie other Mtlchitcs^ that is Royalifis , bccauie they took them that followed the Council, to do it mecrly in obedience to the Emperor, ( for it was not the Pope then that was the Mailer of Councils.

§ 60. Among the ^rmaiians alfb (bme railed the like Herelies about the Natures of Chrift,(bmc thinking his Deity was inllead of a Soul to his Body , Cfc. To which they added fuperflitious Falls, and worfliipping theCrols, and (iicli like, not pleading Rcafon, but old Tradition for their Errors,(aying they had them from Gregory, vide Niccpk /. i 8. r. 5^ j, 5'4. But I muft go forward.

5) 61. Pelagitts dying, Gregory called yV//7?w/«, liicceedcd him at Rome : He continued the Controverlie about the Title of L');/xYr/<?/ Bipop , writing many Epiftles againft it: He flattered Vhocas the murderous Tyrant, with a Latentur Cceli &• cxtdtet Terra, i5cc. yet was one of the beft and wifcft of their Billiops. He lent Aiigiifime into England, who opprclled the Brittjl) Church,and converted the Saxon King of Ketit. He introduced more Supcrftitions,and greatly altered the Liturgy. Of which read Mr. T. Jones of the Hearts Sovereign.

§ 6z. CXCIV. A Concilium HiJ^alenfe of eight Bifhops recited three Canons.

§ 6 3. CXCV^. Mauritius before his death, defircd Gregory to call a Synod at Rome, to draw in the/f?/?e)7; Bl(hops that (cparatcd,and to call them out if they dilbbcycd : which he did, and they refufmg his Summons, Scverus of Aijuihta, and other Billiups were ruined. They thought God dcftroyed Alauritius for perlccuting them. Gregory thouglit God would have them deftroyed as SchiP maticks. The Bifliops of Rome lor near an hundred years were forced the more to plcal'e the En>peror, bccaufe their own Billiops had call them off, and let up another Head againft them.

§64.. CXCVI. y-/?;. 5"9o. A Co»«/. .^?/f//?,.«W7;/e m.ide divers Canons againft Superftitlons, and fome too luperftitious ( as that \\'omen muft not take the Sacrament in their bare hands, &-c.)

§ 6'5-. I lind it fo tedious to mention all the Httle Synods, that henceforth I fliall take but little notice of them, but of the greater only.

One under Rtcaredns at Cafar~Augufla, made three Can^BI about the Ar-ria ns.

One in Numidia dilplca(ed Gregory.

§ 66. A Council at Poitiers was called on occafion of two Nuns,duughtcrs to the King of France, that broke out of the Nunnery, with many more, and ac-culed the Abbefi, and got men together, and ftript her ftark naked, and drew her out, and let all France in a Commotion , and were forced to do Penance. ^

A Cour.cil was called at Metz, to reduce the BIfljop of Rbemes conviul of Trealbn ( for Billiops that were Travtors or Murderers were not to dye. )

A Synod at Rome under Gregory abfulved a Pritft of Calcedon condemned by John of Confiaiitinople ; what one did, the other undid.

-^w. 5:97. Under King Recaredus, 13 Bifhops made rwo Canons for Priefts Chaftity, &c.

Another-

-€&

^-

Another under him, yi'w. ^98. A Coiuik Ofiiewfc made two fuch more. ^n. 5'99. A Council at Conflantinofie did we know not what. ^v. 5^99. Under King Rccaretlus,ii. Bifliops at Barcincn made four Canons againft Bilhops Bribery, d^c.

A Council of zo Bifhops, 14 Presbyters, and 4 Deacons at /?owe made a Canon for Monks.

Another there, jip. 601. againft a falfe Monk. , Another at B)Z,acen againft a Bifhop. Another in NumiAia about a Bifhop and a Deacon.

§ 67. Grffor;'dying, Sabm':a?i Riccccded him, who reproached him,and would have had his Books burnt as unlbund, faith Onu^hrius: And,laith Sigtbert,Gregory appeared to him in a. Vifion,and reproving him for that and Covetoulhels, knockt him on the head, and he dyed.

§ 68. Boniface 3d rucceeded,cho(en by Vhccas the Murderer, who hating his own Bifhop of Confi.Cyriactis, ordered that Rome fhould be the chief Church.

§ 69. A Council at Rome forbad chufing a Pope, till the former had been three days dead, becaufe they Ibid their Votes for money.

§70. Boniface the 4th is made Pope,and Vhocas giveth him the Pagan Temple, called Pantheon, for Chriftian Worfhip. In his time , Phocat was killed by Heraclius, as he had kill'd Alaiiritins. 0 §71- An. 610. A Council at Toletum, under King GtmJemar, about the

Bifhop of Toletum's Primacy, which the King fctleth by EdI6f.

§ 7 ^. A Council at Tarraca under King Stfebtitus took the fhortelt way, and only confirmed what had been before done for Priefts Chaflity.

§73. Detis dedit was next Pope, in whofe rime the Perftans conquered yeru-. falem, and carried away the Bifhop, and (they fay ) the Crofi.

§ 74. Boniface 5th fucceeded: Heraclius the Emperor is worfled by the Perjians, who would not give him Peace , unlefs the Empire would renounce Chrift, and worfhip the Sun ; Heraclius overthroweth them ; Mahomet now rifeth, and maketh a Religion of many Herefics.

§ 75^. At a Synod at Mafcou,AgrcJlinus accufed Columbanus of Superflition, for CrolTing Spoons, ^c. but was refelled.

§ 76. Seven or eight Bifhops at Hij^alts, condemned the Eutjchians, and called them Ace^hali.

CHAP.

their Councils

abndzed.

93

CHAP. ^^ 111.

Councils held about the Monothelites, with others.

§ I .T) Eing come to the Reign of Pope Honcrius at Rome, who was con-j3 clemned by x or 5 General Councils for a MmctheUte Heretick, (as Vigihus was by his own Bifhops for an Eutychtan ) and having lliewed you what work both the heretical and hercticatingBifhopsand Council made in the world about (not only ouiiun^-, but) 'ir^cnr.&.one Natiire^znd the conJcmning of dead men;! (hall next fhcw you what work they made alio about the words, [OncOferatir,7i,^r\l 0ns If'tll,^ or[ Two Op(rations,AX\d Tu-o TCiUs. ] Reader, Wouldll: thou think that there were venom enough in one of thele words, to poyfon almoll: all the Bifhops in the world with the Plagues of Herciie , or Heretication and Contention ?

§ 1. The old Controverlie ftill keeping tlie Churches all in pieces, fomc being for two Natures after Union, and tor the Calccdon Council, and others againfl: it, and but for one Nature after Union : Cyrus, Bifhop of Alexandria, was told, that it would unite them all, if they would confcis One Operation, and One Hill in Chrift, or at lead lay by the talk of One and 77w,and u(e the words, [ Det viriln Operatic, j The Operation ( and JVill ) ot God-man. CXCVII. He therefore called a Synod at Alexandria , in which this was decreed ( called Satisfaifion.) For tliey (aid that Det I'irilu fignified two Natures, and lb they thought they had at laft hit the way of concord, which neither the General Council of EphtJ.i. Ephef.T.. Cunflant. 1. Calcedon. CcKjiant. 3. had found out: but all fet tlie Bilhops but more by the ears.

Cyrns (cnt his Decrees to Sergius Bifhop of Cmijlantinople, SophrcmtKs Bifhop of yerufalem perfuadcd the filencing of the names of [ One ^ or \_ Tn-o 3 Operations or M'tlls. Sergius lent the Cafe to Hcmrius to Rome; Honorius rationally pcrfuaded them to ufc neither the one word, nor the other, { One or Tvo ) forclccing that a new quarrel was arifing in theie words,and ( little knowing how for this he was by General Councils to be Hcreticatcd, when he was dead ) pcrfTiadcd them to a lilcnt Peace. It is but few Popes that were (b wife and peaceable; and this one muft be a Heretick for it, or General Councils be fallible, and much worfc.

§ 5. Bccauie ( knowing the cflcvEl of the old unhealed Cauft-} I forefce that Uich men will go near to Hereticate me alio when I am dead, for cort-demningHereticating Incendiaries in the Nefiortan,EHtychian, and Alonothc-lite quarrels; I will recite the words of Binnius himdlf, who faith the fame that I have faid from the beginning, ( though I juftitie him not from felf-contradi<f1:ion.)

To7?j.z. p-991. [^Honor'ius, fearing [vhich after came to fafs, aitd ■u'hub he knew bad fallen cut in former Ages about the word Homooufion 'i-i' avd many others ) hfi that CcntentKn Jhould grow to fome great Sehifm, and feeing

C c uitkaB

— _ '*

ip4 Chwch-Hijhry of 'Bijhoj^s and

vithaU that Faith ?fiight be fafe -ii^hhcut thefe worAs, he oi'.ts v-iUhig to reconcile both Op:r7iG».<,and ^vithah to take cut of the ivaj the matter of Scandal and Cotitention. ll'rtuvg therefore to Scrgius, he advijed him to abjlain from the "word L One Operation J left they fhculdfeem with Eutyches to ajjert but One Nature in Chnft; and yet to forbear the word [Two Operations ] I:ft wirh Neftorius, they fcemcd to ajjert Tiro Terfons. ( A SlanJcr contrary to liis words. ) 1 again fiy,lf all the Hcrcticuting Bifhops and Councils had followed this difcretion and moderation, O what had the Church efcaped !

Yet they are fain to llretch their wits to excufe his words cllcwhere, [Unde e^ JJnam ]''olu;itr.tcm fatcmur Domini nvftri Jcjii Chrifti. J But it's certain that in (bme fcn(c it is One, and in another lenle Two.

§4. The Emperor Ht/vc/iw; intcrefled himfelf In the Controrerfie, Bin-Tiias (aith by the fraud of Anaftafiits Patriarch of the Jaccbites, he was deceived, Atiimo defend^ndi Concilium Calcedoncnfe. The "Jacobites were Et<-tychians, the grcatcft enemies of the Calcedon Council 5 and it's ftrange tlien how they deceived him, to defend it by deftroying it.

But, laith he, [ iniile he, befides his place and office, by the perftiafion of the De'Vil, was wholly taken up in defending tjueftions of Faith by his own judgment,&cc. '] Here you may fee what thePapifls Clergy would make of Kings and all Lay-men : If they be wholly taken up in defending c^ueftions of Faith by their own judgment,t\iey pronounce them to be pcrluaded to it by the De'uil. Error is from the Devil ; but (bllicitous fcarching after the defence of Truth, is likci- to be of God. But they muft not do it by thetr own judgtnent : By whofc then ? By the Blfliops no doubtj What Bifhops ? General Councils. And had not the Emperors long enough followed Councils, and baniilied-fuch as they condemned, til',while they almoft all condemned one another, the world was (candallzed at the odious Divifions and Cruelties of the Church? But muft they follow Bifliops without ufing their own judgments about the Cafe ? What, as their mcer Executioners ? Muft the Princes of the world aft as Brutes, or Idiots, or Llcfors ? Was this the old Doflrine, Let every Soul be fubjeil to the higher Vower, &c?

§ 5-. CXCVIII. King Sifenandus (the fecond that had all Spain ) called a Council at Ttlsturn of all his Kingdom, j4n. 633. of 70 BIfhops, who made many good Canons for Faith, Order, and Reformation ■ the laft is a large defence of the King againft Rebellion : But they order that when a King is dead, the Prime Men of the whole Nation, with the rriefts,by common consent, chufe another, that retaining the Concord of Unity , there fiiould be no ftrife through Force or Ambition.

And they decree the Excommtinicatlng of wicked Kings that live in great fm ; which I doubt wlicther the fifth Commandment forbid tlum not to have done, it being a purpofed diOionour.

§ 6. CXCIX. Another at 7i/c/«w was called 6 3 (J, hyKmg Chintillanef which went the (ame way ; Kings were Rulers here, and not Popes.

§ 7. CC. Another at 7l/ff,'w;, ^w. 638. by the fame King to the fame purpol'js.

§8.

■"•f-

»

ihar Councils aLriJ^ed. 195

§ 8. The Emperor Heradius publilhed an ¥A\ck tor the MonotheUte Opinion, called his Echtejis j and Sergius Ccrtfi. joined in it.

§ 9. Sirgius dyeth,and Vjrrhus a A-Ianotbelite fucceedcth him.

§ I o. Scjirinus is chofcn Pope, but being not Confirmed ( as was udial} by the Emperor's confent, he is plundered or his wealth.

§11. The Saracaie Arabians conquer Vtrfia, and the Eajlrrn parts of the Empire.

§ IX. Scrgius before his death called a Council at Covfiantincfe , which ^

contirmed the Emperor's Faith, and the Atcnothelite Opinion.

§ 13. yi';;. 640. Jo/m 4th was made Pope, who condemned the Emperor's Ec/jtcjis; and, it's fcid, tlic Emperor dilowned it, and ftid that Sergius made it, and ddired it might be publifhed in liis name.

§ 14. Hcracliiis dycth, Corifiantifu fiicceedeth him,and dyeth in 4 month.''. Htracko fucceedcth : After fix months tlic Senate depofe him, and cutofi his Nole, and cut out his Mother's Tongue, on lufpicion that they poy(bn«d Cm-fiantine, whole Son Conftatis is ne^t let up.

§ 15-. P/)Tj6«/,thought guilty of Conjtantmes death, flieth into Africa, and Vaulus a Momthelne hath his place. Yyrrhus (cemeth coavertcd by Maxi-mus in Africa, Cometh to Rome, and is owned by the Pope againll Vaulus. Paiilus perluadeth the Emperor to publifti a V}^«/, requiring all the Bifliops to lay by the Controverlie and Name of One and of Two H'dls and Operaticns cf CiniH. But this which was approved in Pope Hononus, is cryed down as Heretical in the Emperor.

Tyrrhus returncth to his Opinion, and PatU dying, he is again put in his plate at Ccnfratitinopk.

Binnius no better anfwercth die Objection, [that the Eniferors Edict faid hut ivhat Pope HonoriUfi/^z;^, 3 than by laying, that the time math the ilif-ference. It was good in HonoriHs's time, and bad after to be quietly filent in fuch a Cafe.

§ 16. They fay there was a Council in NitmUia-, another at B)Xuice»e, at Carthage another of 6 8 Bifliops, about the Momthelttes.

§ 17. CCI. Another Council w;is at Joktum under King Chindafcrirf dus.

§ 18. ecu. The Pope, with one of his little Councils at Rome^ ( for the forclald Italian Bifhops yet dilowned him, and obey the Patriarch of /i'^/(i-laa) prcliimed to condemn Vaulus Qonfr.O-Pyrrhus, and the Emperor's Edict, ( T)pus i ) Wherefore his Agents at CmJlantmofU were caft out, beaten, their Altar overthrown, c^c.

§ 19. Martin h made Bifliop at Romt: He coHdcmncth the Emperor's Edii^t ot .Silence (as to Two Ii^ills and Operations,or One.) The Emperor (cndcth for him, he is brought Prilbncr to Cmjtantinople, laid in Irons under fevcral Accutations; banifhcd and dyed.

Here the P(;pc pretcndcth that Truth niuft not he fiknced: The Empcix>r (aith, Peace must not be hidden fcr need/efs ■words : ^er. Whether he be a JMartyr that lufiers for oppugning fiich Peace ?

C c 1 § lo.

§ ^o. CCIII. His LdferjM^ Council, y^». 641. is very largely recorded, in which the Emperor's Edi6>, with C)Tffj Alex. SergiHs, Pprkta (^ Taului Cotiftnnt.^rc condemned, and two Operaiions and JCil/s aflcrtcd.

§ai. CCIV. ( Palling by a Synod at 0>7t'<:«ftf) y^. 65-3. another Council was held at Tclctum againft incontinent and ignorant Priclls. Kings here wfl'd to preach to the Bilhops by their Letters and Decrees. Dukes and Lords liere fubfcribed.

§ ^^. Eugaiiiis is Pope, and dycth ; Vitalianus fucccedeth him ; Ccmll,ms the Emperor comcth to Rome., giveth them gifts, and communicateth 'vith them. It's fiid he kilFd bis Brother nKotloJius,znd after was kill'd himfelf: Mezentius ufurpcthuhe Empire. Conftarttive Togonntiis, Son to Covjfa>is,con-quereth him, and reigneth. Pope Vitalianus helpeth him, and therefore ex-pefteth his help. Rome ftood (b ranch between the Eafiem Empire, and the JViftirnYJmgs {Goths., Lmbanh, Franks, ^c.) that both fides flattered the Roman Clergy, (tliough they oft fuffered from both. ) The Empire to keep them from turning to the Goths , &c. and the Goths to keep them from turning to the Empire. And they that had moft need of the Popes, mod ad\'anced them ; and they that had leaft need and moft domImon,kept them under.

§ 13. CCV. Another Council at Toletum , Jn.6^f. called byK. Re-ajjuinthus, ( not the Pope,) made divers good Canons for Church-order; among which the tenth is, that bccaule all the Canons oft made , could not keep Bifliops and Priefts from Lechery, they tryed this additional way, to decree that all their Children begotten of their Servants, Maids, dfc. mould be uncapable of inheritance, and fliould live in continual ftrvltude to the Church.

King Recaredus made a Law, that Bifiiops and Pricfts Concubines fhould be whipt with an hundred Stripes j and others, that they fliould be (old for Slaves.

§ 14. CCVI. The King of France ( Clqihiieus) called his Bifliops together at a Village called Cljpiacttf»,znd made a Sermon to them, and they applauded him.

§'2.'). CCVII, He called another Synod z.x. Cahilo7ie for Church-order,

55- where Can. i o. it was decreed, that all Ordination of Bifliops fliould be null,

that was otherwlfe made than by the eIe(5tion of the Comprovincia/s , the

Clergy, and the Citizetis. ( A thrcebld Lock is not eaiily pickt ) Let

England underftand this, to be the old Canons and CuCrom.

§ 1.6. CCVIII. A Ccncil. EmeritenJ'e,cn\kd by King Recejfttinthus, made more Orders for regulating Bifliops and Priells, O'c.

§17. CCIX. A Synod at 7?ow« juftified aBifliopof Crete, wronged by his Archbifliop.

§ ^8. CCX. Another ^t Toletum under King IVamha?!, An. 6 jy. (ought to reform the Bifliops-and Ckrgy.

§ 2.9. CCXI. An. 675". the lame King Wamhan had a Synod at Braccara, £jr reforming the Ctcrgy. Can.'^. was to corrcit the Bifliops that had turned

Piety

Piety into Pride and Vanity; going to the So'emnitics of the M.irtyri, with Rehques hanged about their necks,carried in Chairs by Deacons in whJte,c^ir. O what hath the Pride of Prelates done in the world I

§30. Pope ^^W^/fOT, and after him Dow.',-^ reigned at i?6;77<', and the Pa li,

triarchs of Cctijfavrincpk and y'ntkch were AJcticthilnesyZnACtrftanthte need .?}«?'

ing the /'ff/?, having loll: the EafI-, took part with Rcme. ' "*

After Dofins came ^gatby, in whofe time the Billiop of Ravenna , after -gj

long rejc6T:ing the Bifliop of Rome as heretical, returned to communion with him. Ccnfijfifme fent to /?<;wf, to rc.]ulre the Bifhop to keep Millionary Legates at Conjhntimf.e, and intrcatcd ihtm to lay b\- Pliilofophica! Contro-verfies, and preach the pure Scripture, that the Churches at laft might have Peace. ( But alas how long was that counlel vain !)

§ 3 I. CCXII. Bedii faith, an Engl/jli Couilcil met, ^?i. 679. under The-odorsts^to own theCatholick Faith, fici?. /. 4. c. 1 5.

§ 3^. CCXin. The fame year 679. A Council at Milan told the Emperor their opinion for Tvo ICilh and Operations. ^

§33. CCXIV. A Synod at 7?<jw< prepared matter for the General Council againfl; the Monothelites. This tended to plcale the feparating "Bifliops of Italy that divided from the Pope, for teeming to dcftrt the Ca!ccdo7i Council by condemning the triaCapitu'a.

§ 34. CCXV. Now Cometh the 3d Council of Cor_/?.j«//"wf, called the (ith General Council, in which 189 BilTiops condemned the Monothelites, that were for One If'tll and Operation. Conjlnntine Fog. being agaiinft them, Aiacarius Patriarch of Anticch was the chief of them , who would have contented to name neither One nor Two, but when they had done all, profeG (cd that he would be call into the Sea , before he would (ay there va-e in Chrifi two TVtIls and Operations ; thinking that he held to Cyril, and the firfl Ephefian Council ag;iinll Nefiorifis. George Bifhop of Conflantinopk deferted him, and he was depoftd and banifhed ( to Rome j no hard Banilliment but for ill company. )

§35". Along ftir there was among them , perufing former \\'riting3; Maearius and his Party producing many, which others laid were falliHcd (lo little certainty is there oft of Copies.) The Epiilles of Sergitfs Conjl. d?* Hator. Rom. are read, which I fliould think peaceable and honeft ; but the General Council damned and curled them both as Hereticks. The Papifts fay, General Councils may err in matter of Fail: How much more then in matter of Faith, which is more obfcurei* and matter of Fa6l is much of tlie '

matter of our Faith.

No Man's name had lb flrangea Fate againfl Hereticaters, as the great Hereticater Cj>;/'s j who (in this Council in C/r«r tfr.'ir. and many others) was fully proved to aQcrt One Nature of God incarnate after the Union j and yet called Orthodox, and thole that laid as he, and much lels, were damned Hereticks.

Some that confeiTed two Natures, yet denying two Wills after the Refur ^

refllon, fuppoCng the Humane Will called Natural had been laid by , were here damned with the reil § 36,.

ic,8 Chunh Hifiory of 'B'ljhops and

§ 36. CCXVI. ^'?;. 68i. King. Eru/g/.// held another Council ztfolc-tum, tor the Royal Power, and rctormincr ihc Clergy.

TiiePope had lb little to do, and the Kings lb much in all thelc 5fw»//7; Councils, that it's ftrange Sp/ti» is now become lb fervile to the Pope. Bi»-niits is forced to confefs here f Ti. 3. /». 11 o. j that [_ The Jiudy and Libor cf cl.ujingf.t mm to hi m-iJe Bi^iops, ii'as hi the pcvnr or bands of the Gothiln Kings, which by the mdtilgence oj the Roman Fopes is in the Spanilh Kings even to cur times 3 which he provctL ( O indulgent Popes, who let go what they cannot keep! )

j4n. 68i. Some Synods in France did, we know not what.

§ 37. Leo ^d is made Pope by the Emperor ; and becaufe he confirmed the Acis of this Council, which damns Homrirts as an Hcretick, the Papifts Cy" know not which, way to turn thcmfelves. Baronms would have Leui Epilllc forged. Binnias will have either the Acls corrupted by Theodore Conft. before they were lent to Lee, or that nccelllty compelled him to this hard condition by the iniquity of the times,and that Hcrelie elle would have revived, (j;-c. lb that by their reckoning, they that relie all on Tradition and Fathers, leave not Fathers, Councils or Traditions certain for one Age.

§ 38. CCXVII. ^?;. 683. K. £ra//^/.-« had another Synod of 4^^ Bifhops at Toietum , for reftoring Ibme guilty of Trealbns, iecuring the King, dfc.

§ 39. CoK^iintine Tcgon. Te(\:oTed to Rome the power of making Popes vvlthuut the Emperor , which the GothiJIi Kings and other Emperors bid long denied them.

§ 40. Benedict td is made Pope : A new Controverfie in his time is railed. The Sp^mjh Bifliops write an Epiftle , in which they aflert Three Sub-fiances in ChriH, his Divmity, his Soul and bis Body, and fay withall that a 7^1' ^''^' f^''U l^ig^t a Will, that is, the Difine JVill begat the Humane. The numbers "'' of One, Two, 'and Three, had fo confounded Men in thofe. times , that the

word; frightncd the Pope, and he expoftu'ated andw;irned them to take heed in what fenle they uled them ; which hath made it a queftion whether this Pope were not erroneous himlelf.

§41. CCX\'III. Another Council at Tdetum agaiuft the Monothe-lites.

§ 4T. Pope 'John fth was the firll Conlecrated without the Emperor fince the liberty granted.

Theodoric King of France called a Council, yi«. 685". in which he dcpo-fed levcral Bifliops.

§43. C(mfiantmeVog.dy\n^,'Jiifiinian xd hii Son is Emperor. Birniius faith, he was not found in the Faith (a hard thing then ! ] And that he repented of the liberty grunted in chuling Popes, and (b ordered that the Exarch of Ravenna approve them, bv which Bribery was uled with the Exarchs. And while the Soldiers and Clergy could not agreCj they were fiiin to coalent to a tliird, Ccmn, to be Pope.

§ 44. CcMH being dead, Theodore and Pafihal ilrovc for the :Popcdom,

and

and got their Parties to ftand it out for tlicrn. Vnfchal promKed the Exarch a great Sum of Gold to make him Pope. \\'hen tlicy could not agree, S(r-gius a third was chofcn. The Exarch forced him to pay the Gold,aud lb he got the Soldiers love and the Popedom.

§45". CCXIX. ^n.6%%. Another Toktan Council writ a defence of their affertion, that Chriil had thr(e Subftanca, and that I'olufit.u gcnuit fo-limtiiterrr. -

§ 46. CCXX. A Council at Ca^far-Au^ufla, made five Canons ; the lafl was, that when the Kings dyeJ, the Queens ihould lay hy their civil Habits, and be put into a Monalicry, and protels Chatlity.

§47. CCXXI. An. 691. Was the famous great Council called the .'^rni-Sextum at Ccnfiantinofle^y Jufiwian zd's Order ; why it fliould not be called a ych General Council, I know not. Ic w.is called by the perfua-fion of Ca'dinicus Ccnjtant. to make a Rill Body ot- Canons for Pravfficc, be-caule the 5^th and 6th Councils made none. Bmnim (aith. It could not be a General Council, bccauie the Pope was not there by himfelf, or iiis Legates, *&!

and yet confeflcth that ncitlur was he or his Legates at the rirfl Omfl^mtine Council, and yet it was univcrfal. And why doth not another Bifliops ab-fence ( £. G. y.lextviii. yertifal. dfc.) null a General Council as well as the Popes? The Papilb rail at this Council as a Conventicn of Mahgnants, ( Bm. p. I 5'4- ) and againfl B^Jjamcn^ that defendcth it as a wicked Greek ImpotW; ( the word [ vicked "1 in thclc Mens writings is a term of art and intereft, and no jnoral term. ) They recited abundance of old C^inons, many of great ufe. One would wonder whence the anger againftthtm arifcth. It was per [iimrfKtm ?jcij«/.';.7w, laith BinT>tus,xhM they called thcmfelves a General Council : And the Holj Gboft vJitrnot with thtm, becaufc the Pope was not with them, ( f. i 5-4, i ^f. 1 and they ordained many things contrary to Apoftolical Conftitutions, and the Canons of General Councils. Reader, you lee here, i. How litt^rull Papilb lay on that part of Tradition which dependeth on Councils? a. That it is the Pope ( one Man ) that is the certainty cf Tradition and fitdgmcnt , without whom Councils are nothing. 5. That if the Pope be ablent, all the other BilTicps aflembled in Councils by the command ot Emperors, may be called Knaves and wicked Malig-nants. Alas how few Bifhops adhered to the Pope, (' when Italy was not yet cured of Separation from him ) in comparilbn of thole that met in thcfe Eafiern Councils which they revile ! 4. You lee liere,how far thcv are frrin truth, that fay the Univerfil Church ftill cleaved to the Pope, when moft (by far ) of the Bifhops in the world forlbok him! you lee Luther was not the firft.

§ 48. Note that 7i/7r<7^'?.'Af Blfhop of Con^.intimple, yin. 6^%. in the ad Council of iVJff, tells them, that it ■was the ftme Bf\l]ops that met in the 6th Gffneral Council at Con/fantinople, who met again here under yuftmian. And were not the Biihops of the place fo near the time competent judges of the matters of lb notorious Faff ? And were the lame Bifhops an infallible General Council at the 6th Council, and yet all wicked Scliilinaticks or Knaves,

and

Charch-Hijlory of Bipops and

and wicked Men, when they meet again but to make Church-Canons for Reformation ? If this do not tell you how truly Bmnins (aith, in their own judgment [] that Councils ha've jiift jo much uiithority as the Popegrjetb thern^ what can tell it you ?

§49. Vca,B/n«;///makes this Council to be Alonothclitei: And were the Cimc Men Orthodox in the 5 th or 6 th Council ten years before,and Hercticks in this? Is this the conftancy of the Church and Biihops Faith ?

§ fo. The I 3 th Canon is one that difpleafcth them j in which the pra-flj" (Ttice of the Church of Rome In (epaniting Pricfts from their Wives, is ex-prclly renounced j and it is decreed that no Pricll be required to feparate from his Witc, ( (b be it they abftain at Fafts and iKCcflary Sealons ) nor any Prieft endured to put away his Wife, on pretence of piety; elle he muft be depoled.

§ f I. Andther is the 16th Canon, that maketh Deacons like Overfcers of the Poor. ^

§ 5:1. The 2 id is a hard Canon that BIfliops and Priefls, ordained with money, and not by examination and elecUon, be dcpofed , and they that ordained ihcm.

§ fj.The 36th Canon difpleafcth them aho, which confefs the Church of Co7iJlantino^le's Priviledges as equal with Rome.

§ 5'4. The 5 8 th Canon containeth one great caufe of the old Confufi-ons, "jix,. TIjat tuhatever alteration the Imperial Fover makes on any City, the Kcclefiaftical Order alfo 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, mull: there be no moi-e Churches or Bifhops ? What if there be no Cities { as in many .^wfnc(r« and jirabian Countries) muft there be no Churches ? What if the King \^^ disfranchize moft of the Cities, and another will make every Market Town a City ; muft Churches be altered accordingly ? If (b,0 that our King would make us fb many Cities, as the work and the fouls of Men need true Bifliops, that one might not have a thouland Parifhcs without any lubordinate Bifhop ! But if this hold, the Emperor might have taken down Rome, and let up Confiatitimple, or any other at pleafiire.

§5'). CiVi.^o. Forbad Clergy and Laity to play at Dice, on pain of Dcpohiion, or Segregation.

And Can.'^i. forbids going to Shews, Jcftcrs,Stagc-Plays,Huntin?s. The 5:5'th Canon commands the Church oi Rome to amend their Cuftoms, and not to faft on Sabbath-days.

Can. 62. h'orbids Womens PublickDancings, and Mens and Womcns together , and their putting on Mafquers or Players Apparel, or Perions,

CV«. 65. Command"th the burning of falfe Hiftar.'es of the Martyrs, as tending to bringing Rcligijninto reproach.^

dm.

their Councils ahnd':ed.

e>

201

continual joyful Praifcs to God, and holy Exerclfes, and to ulc no Horfe-Ra-ces, &c.

The 6 7th Canon is againft: eating Blood.

CtiM.jT.. NullifietliMarriage with Hcreticks. (Alas, good Bifliops, did you think the Papifts would have Hereticated you as Monothelhes, and nullified all Marriages with you by this Canon ? But two Hcreticks Marriage is not null.

Can. 7 8. Commandeth all the illitminate ( bapli7-cd) to learn the Belief, and every Friday to fay it to the Rijliop and Fresh) ten. ( How many Pa-rifhcs or hundred Pariflies had the Bifhop then to hear ? Not lb many as ours.)

§ 5-(). Tie 8x Canon offends the Papifts, forbidding the PitSlure of a Lamb to be made for Chrifl as the Lamb of God.

The 90th Canon is ( an old one ) Not to kneel on any hored-iay , and that this begin on the evening before.

P. 15: f. Binniui reproveth them for calling Cyprian Archblfliop , and he provcth that Africa then had no Archbifhop or Primate.

§ 5-7. CCXXll. ^'w. 693. was another 71/cr<»» Council, called by King "Egtea: Before it the King writeth a Sermon for them, wherein he tclis them, That every Partjli that have twelve Families, mu^ have their proper Governor : But if hjs, it mufi be part of amthers charge.

§ 5-8. CCXXIII. Jn.6^4.. was another To/f/rt;* Council under the fame King Egica : ( One would wonder that the Legillativc vertue of the Church fhould be continued to fuch fertility and multitude of Laws, as muft follow if in all Countries there be every year a Council': How gjeat muft the Volumes of L;iws be at laft ? ) Bimtins in liis Notes on this Council tells us. That though Paul would have the believing Husband or Ji'ife fray with the Unbeliever, in hope of Converfrm , yet many hundred years experience hath taught us the contrary, (that it tendeth ratho- to hurt than good ) and therefore now It ?ruft be otherv'tfe,and they mufi feparate.

§ 5-9. CCXXIV. Even to thoft days the number of Vagans and Infidels in moft Countries was the greateft, and the care of good men was to convert them: ( And therefore we read ftill of lb many baptized at age. ) A Council at Utrecht decreed ( ll'illebrood { or Ji'illifrid) znd Suibert being Leaders ) that the beft Preachers fliould be lent from the Neighbor Chui ches to convert the Heathens, ( that was better work, than ftriving who (hould be chief, or raging about hard words.}

§60. CCXXV. A Synod at Jc^uileia, An. 698. condemned the i)th General Council at Confiantmcplc, for condemning the tria Capitula of the Council uf Calcedun. ( O what Concord Councils caulcd ! )

§61. Pope Scrgt.'is refullng to own the Council of Covfiant- at Trul. under yufimian id, the Emperor commanded that he (hould be brought Pri-lijncr w Covfiantmople. The Soldiers of Ravenna (5erg/.-« having paid them the 100 /. of Gold ) hearing of it, rofe up and refcued him, and made the Emperor's Officer in feai" beg for his life. By luch Obedience Rome kept up.

D d § 6i.

-a

^

Cbwch-Hijlory of ^ijlops and

§ 6r. Ttberius the id depofed yujiinian the id, and cut ofi his No(e,and banifhed liim. yuflmian was reftored, and expofed Ttbai.'fs to (corn, and killed him , and baniflicd BiQiop CaUinicus to Rome for unfaithfulnefi to his Prince, yohn the 6 th was now Pope.

§63. John the 7 th b made Pope ( another Gjuncil at Tele turn under King///.'/z.^ I pals by) he was a Gr«j{;. CCXXVl. He gathev'd a Synod nt Ror»e,io debate 7"7?'»'^w's Order for the receiving the Trull. CmciL And our Englifh Willifrid, accufcd by his King, was here jufliilied, as a Son of that Churcli: And a Synod in England received him, when the King was dead.

§ 64.. Sijimiins made Pope lived but ro days, and Conflantine fucceeded him, who was (ent for to Conftantinofle, and honoured by yufl'mtan.

§65-. About this time (An. 700.) S^am was conquered by the 5<J7-^-0^ cens; Ei/mius ^th, Becatife Kmg Wkizz forjook the See of Rome. By which we ftill fee that Rome was fovlaken even by the beft Church, fuch as Spain then was, and was not the Ruler of the World.

§ 66. Bardanes Philippicus by Rebellion depofed ynjiinian^nd was made Emperor ; and within two years was Co uftd bimfeif by Anafiajius, ( his eyes put out, and he banilTied. )

§ 67. CCXXVII. The Emperor Thilippicus and Job. Confiant. called General Council at Ccnfiantinofle j I may well call it General, when Binnias faith, Tiere "ivere innumerable Bi^wps, which is not ^id of any other Council. They all condemned the 6th General Council, and their Opinion of two IVtlls, and two Operations. Where it is manifcft,

3. How great a part of the Church regarded not the Authority of Rome.

1.. Nor thought a General Council infallible, when imiumerabh Bijhops are againft both.

3. And how ftrong the Monothelite Party was.

4. And alas, how bad too many Bifhops, that can change as fall as Emperors will have them. For faith Binmus ( after Baronius ) [ Thus at the beck of the Emperor, and at the will of a Monothelite Tatriarch , the holy fixth Synod is condemned, atid what they decreed of two TVills in Chrifi, and two Operations, and all retraced by the Decree and Subfcription of 'very many Oriental BiJJiops, that were m one momejjt turned from being Catholiijiies, to be Monothdites. ] Is tliis the conftancy of Bifhops, and the certainty of their Tradition ? But why have we not the Adts of this great Council, us well as of the reft ?

C H A P.

their Councils ahridzed.

20^

CHAP. IX.

CoUficils called about Images ancl feme others.

§ I .T) Ope Gregory the id is the Man that mud (et up Imagc-worfhip

JL againft all oppofition, rebel againil: his lawful Sovereign , and con ^

federate with other Princes to alienate the TVefiem Empire,when the Eaft was almoft ruined before, and fo to weaken the Chrilllan Power , that the Turk might fhortly win the Empire.

§ I. To have recited all along as we went on, what new Ceremonies, Formalities and Orders were invented and brought in by tlic Popc3,and how Doftrine and Pradlice grew corrupted, being a thing done already by many others, would have been tedious here, and beiides the defignof this writing, which is but to fhew how Prelates have ufed the Church by their contentions about JURISDICTION and HARD or AMBIGUOUS WORDS j and what hath been the work efpecially of General Councils. But we cannot tell you well the work of the following Councils, without telling fome-what of the occafion of the matter.

The Primitive Chriftians u(ed not Images in the\^'orfhip of God, ( read Dalarts de Imaginibus.) But the contempt of Chriftianity by the Heathens, occalioned many to oppofe their contempt by glorying in the CroG of Chrift, and by making the tranlicnt fign of it with their fingers; and thence they grew to ufe the fixed fign of it; and thence to fpeak of and believe many Miracles wrought by it; and thence to make the Image of Chrift crucified, ( which yet Epiphatiws condemned;) and thence by degrees to make the Images of the Apoftles and Martyrs; and thence to make in their Churches the Images of their deceafcd Biihops, ( till an Excommunicater arofe of another Opinion, that pull'd any of them down. )

And abundance of Dreams, Vifions, Apparitions and Rcvelation'J were the pretended Proofs that prevailed for many (iich Superftitions, but efpecially for Images, and Purgatory, and Prayers for the dearl. Among others, an EnglijI) Monk, Egwin of Evcjliolme, cholcn Bilhop of Itorcefier, niuft lead the way, by pretence of a Vilion, (a Dream, no doubt ) (ce Spelmans Condi, p. 109. in his own Chart Egwin laith, \jThat the Virgin Mary fir ft appeared to a certain Shepherd called Eoves, and afterward to himfelf witb two Virgins, holding a Book in her hands, and told him in what place jiie would have him build her a Monafltry. The crafty Dreamer divulged the Vihon, and fbme good Men oppoling it, the Pope muft have the hearing of it. Tl:e Pope put it to the Oath of £gTA';«,whether ever he law (uch a Vifion or not? Eguin (ware it, and the matter was pall doubt, (juft as honeft CoTvnjenins took Dauhitius\ Prophefies to be of God , becaufe the melancholy Man fware that they were true.) Hereupon Egvnn is lent home, and a Council called to take Egwnh words again that he had (uch a Vilion, ( and in the

D d X end

p

104 Ctiaxh-Hijhry of ^iJlKfs and

end was added, Tl\n the Kirgin Mary'; Itfiage mufi he fet up in the place. ) The Pope fent to King Kenred and King Offa by Bilhop BrithwaU, to grant what the Vifion intended j who obediently make over a great part of the Countrey to that Monaftery,as you may (ce defcribcd in Spe!man, Cone, p. i09, xio. inCharta Kenredi ^ Oftae Regiim. And p.1.11. in Charta Egwini, who (aitli himfelf, that {^God being propitiorts to him , he had in a little time got_ for the /aid Church an hundred and twenty Farms given , ar ts written and confirmed in the Charter of that Church. Many Villages are there named, and (bme great cnes,in the fatted and richeft part of the County of/f^r«y?«-. Was not this a profitable Dream or Vifion? And fhould we not have many Dreamers and Swearers, if they could get as much by it as Egwin did ? And herewith Ijnages are fet up.

§ 3. But Baroni.'/s and Binnins qutftion whether Nauckr and Bale fdy true, that this Council Hrfl: brought Image-wordiip into England, becaufe it 'Paj.iiy, came in before with .Aujlin_ the Monk. To which Spelman * well answer-zi8. vide eth, That the ufe of the Crofs in banners and otherwifc was here before,and cxter.i. ^jj^g Images for Inftruciion and Commemoration, as Bedas own words intimate ; but not any worfhip of Images, or worfhiping before and towards them.

And Sir H. Spelman (aith, ( proving that Imagc-worfliip was not then in uft among the 6'<7jccw J that even praying to the Saints thcmftlves was not then in uft, mentioning an old Pfalter of his written about the time of the ad Nicene Council, in which there were an hundred (eventy and one Prayers inferted between the Sections of the i 19 th Tfalm, and in them all not one name of any Saint,or the Virgin/Ti^jry, much le(s any Prayer direfted to them.

§ 4. If one talk now v/ith our E?fgli(h Papifts, they^ are Co loth to own their own Do£i:rine and Praftice, that they will tell you they hold not the v/orfhiping of the Image, but of the Perfbn fignificd by it. But to tell them how commonly their Writers defend worfhlpping Images , ( if Colere and Cultfis fignilie Worfhip ) and what Ac^Hm.js (aith of giving the worfhip of Latria to the Image of Chrifi, and to the Crofs, though undeniable, yet will not be taken for fufficient proof. I fhall tlicrefore give you here the (enfe of the Papal Church in England, in the form of Abjuration which they prcfcribcd to thole that they then called Lollards, as it is found in the Towtr Records ; and you muft take it in the old Eng!!(li in which it is written, becaufe I do but tranfcribe it, and muit not alter it, the (enfe of it being-, plain and obvious.

Ex

" £.v Rotulo Claafax. Je Anno Re^i Regis RicarM fecimdi 19 membr. " 18 dors.

MEmorand. quod frimo die Se^tcmbris j^mio Regni Regis Rkardi fc ctmdt poJ-} Ci/nquejhm decimo tutio If'tUie/mus Dynel df Nicholaus ''^Taillour, Michaelirs Poiicher, d^ litllielr»:is Srejff70ur,de Nottingham in Ctm-" ciUar. ipjius Regis ferfmaliter confittutt Sacrament a drcijim freflitcrunt (ub " eo <jui jcquitur tcncre. [^I If'illiam Dynel befor jhoiv worchiptfuH Fader and " Lorde Arcbbjjliop of Thorke and yhowr Clergie, with my free wdl and full " avyjide ju>ere to Gode and to all his jeyntes nppcn this holy Gofpelle that fro " this day fi-rthwarde 7 JJ?«//Worihlp Ymages zritb preying and'offertng unto " hem in the u-crfchif cf the Jeintes thae they be made after and alfo I

^^ Jliall neiter more dcjpyje pygremage nejhtcs cf halyChyrche in no degree. And " alfo Ijhall be buxum to the I awes of holyChirche and to y hew as myn Atch-" by^op and to myn other ordinares and Curates and kepe yo laives uppon my " power and meynten hem. And alfo I flull meynten ne techen ne defcndtn " errours ccncluficns ^ techynges of the Lollards ne jwych conclufcns and " techings that men ckpyth Lollardes dcitryn Ne I jhall her bokes ne fu'ych " bokes ne hem or any {ujfecl or dtjf.imed cf Lcllardery refceyne or company " with all wyttyngly or defende mys m.Uters and if I know ony fwych ipiall with all the hafi that Imjy do ghowe or els your ntr Officers to wyten and " of her bokes. And alio I (fiall excite andftirr all tho to good dottr)n that " / ha've hindered with myn doilryn up my power. And aljo I pall ftmde to *' yhour declaration wych es Inrefy or trrcur and do therafttr and alfo what' " peTktnce yhe wel for that I h.xue dn for meyntenyng of this falj doilryn " menyne and I pall ftilfid it and I jubmtt me therto up my poU'cr. And ^^ aljo I pall make no other glofe of this myn ctb bet as the vcrdes Jlcnde. *' And if It be fo that I come agayn or do agayyt thtt oth or any party tbaerf " / holde me here cowpable as an her^tyke and to be punyped by the law as an *^heretyk and to forfeit all my gcca'cs to the Kynges will w)th cutcn any cthr " frocejfe of lawe. And therto I require the Notarie to make cf all this tho " whych IS my will an inftrument agens me ut ex babundanti idem Jiillielmrts " Dynel eodem die -volHit O" reccgno-vit quod omnia bona df catalUfua mobillia

<c

nobis Jint forisfaEla in cafu quo ipfe jaramentum prtsdiilum feu aliqua iii eodem jwramcnto content a de cetera comravenerit ulto mode.

Here you fee whether Paplfts worfhip Images, and whether they take ir not for Herefie ( which is deatli) not to worlTiip them, and whether they leave it to mens liberty or not.

§ f. Leo Ifaurus bcin^Emperor, he took the worpipp'mg of Images to be Idolatry; and liis Empire being invaded by the Saracens, who were Icandah-i

Z£4-

zed by the Chriflians Images, he thought it was a warning to him to reform them i and he publifhcd his Edi(£b accordingly againll the Religious adoration and ule of the Images of Angels, Martyrs, or Saints. Gregory, Bifhop of Rome, refilled him, and made Men believe that this was to tight agaitill: Chrill, and impioufly to defpifc the Saints. The Emperor commanded liis Obedience on pain of Depolition. He would neither obey nor (lifter. The Emperor lent Men to apprehend him, ((bme (ay to kill him ,) but he e(ca-pcd them. The Lombards were ftirred up to make \Y-ix againft the Em-(O pcror as an Enemy of Chrill: [Tie Vope (faith Bhwi.'/s, f. 177. out of Zcfiaras ) entered into a Leag^ne -with Charles Martell King of France, that, if there -were need, he \huuld defend the Church of Rome agninjl the Emperor ( their proper Sovereign ) which League being prudently made, the Emperor abfiained for fear of Charles, who by great ytthrtes was become fa-mom. — But when the Emperor would not obey the Topers pious warnings , but ufed Tyranny in the Eaft againft the Orthodox, then the Pope anathematized him as a known declaredHeretick, and exhorted all ha Subje^s in Italy t» depart from his obedience. '\

Note how Rebellion is the work and flrength of the Roman Papacy: But do not our Papifts now difown all this, and profefi themfelves to be the

Loyalleft Subjects ?

uinfw. If they do, let them join Reftitution with Confeflion. If the Father feize on another mans Inheritance, and the Son keep it, and difclaim his Fathers a£l:, this is but a dead Confeflion.

But hear the next words in Btnnius, and judge what Doftrine yet they hold, \_.^o faEto SancliJJimus Pcntifex clartjjimum pofteris ftifs reliquit ex-emplum j ne in Ecclejia Chrifii regere permittantur haretici Principes , f fre-^uefiter moniti errori pertinaciter adharefcant.'] That is,BY WHICH FACT ( depofmg the Emperor in Italy , and abfolving all his Subjefts from their O- Obedience ) THE MOST HOLY POPE LEFT HIS POSTERITY A MOST CLEAR ( or Famous ) EXAMPLE, THAT HERETICAL PRINCES MAY NOT BE PERMITTED TO RULE, IF BEING OFT WARNED THEY PERTINACIOUSLY ADHERE TO ERROR.]

Note this ye Princes and Rulers that hear of Papal Loyalty.

I. It is not lawfiil for them, if they can help it, to permit any of you to reign over Chriftians, if they do but judge you Heretical. To tolerate you is againft their Confciences, if to depole you be not above their ftrength.

X. By this Rule you fee, that they were virtual Rebels to moft or many Emperors, when they durft not actually rebel, i. When Confiantine the Great baniftied Athanafms, it's li]<e they would have taken him for an Here-tick. %. Conftantius and Valens being Arrians, the Pope did virtually rebel againft them, and depofc them (if then they were of the ftme mind as now.) |}. Tbeodfius junior, Zenc, Annfiafus, and other Emperors they virtually de-pofed as Eutychians. 4. Jtifiinian the tirft they virtually dcpofed as a Phan-

tafiajlick.

tajiaftick. J. T/jtlippkus, and many more Emperors are called by them Mc-mthelites. 6. Leo and Ccnflantine^ and others, are called IcmocJafi^e. 7. Many Chriftian Princes and States, now are called by them Protejlant or Lutheran Hereticks. All thefe, they &y, are fuch as may not be permitted, and therefore they have interpretatively and virtually rebelled , and depoled them.

3. You fee how great a matter this Excommunication is,and how impofll-ble it Is, by it for Kings and States to continue long in any right to their Dc-minions: For all men err j and while there are fo many Patriarchs,Prclates, if not Priefts that hare the power of Excommunicating, all men ma}- expert it .• For he that is orthodox in the judgment of one Patriarch, will be a Heretick in the judgment of another : while Rome, Confl. AkxatiJ. Antwch, Jerufal. are lb fcldom of one mind. If with the repenting Lollard(, aforc-6id ) you will fwcar to hold that for Error which the Archbifhop of York (aith is (uch, perhaps the Archbifhop of Canterbury may be of the contrary

mind : Tho(e called Adrians, Neff^orians, Eutychians, Alenorhehtes, Icottoclafisj 'ti

&c. have in their turns had moft of the known Chriftjan \\'orld. And he that is Excommunicate by one, muft be received by none.

4. But if it be the Popes prerogative, that though more may Excommunicate Kings and Emperours, none but he can Jepofe them, and difobhge all their Subjcils, it's pity but thole Princes that are in love with fuch a Papacy fliould know by experience what they love : For he that will take Satan for his Ruler, mull bear the inconveniences of his Government.

5'. You (cc here how the Empire was weakned, and lb expofed to tlie Turk \ even by the Rebellion of Rome cutting oft the Wejtem Empire from it.

6. And you lee what true Subje^ls they were to the Arrian, Gothijh Kings, at Rome, Spain, &cc. who would have depoled them if they could. What wonder if the Goths kept down the Pope.

§ 6. In theft times the Pope met with an Englifl) Birtiop Wilfrid, who extraordinarily flattered and adored him, and he accordingly made him B"lliop of Alentz,, and his great agent { even about this forclaid Englifh Council which was to let up Church-Imag(;s; ) and recommended him to many Chrirtian Princes: And why was a.l this ? and what was liis rare mer't ? He took this Oath to the Pope ( Bin. p. 17 8 j [_ ' ' In the name of the Lord Je-' *■ ff/s ChriJ} our Saviour, tnthe Reign of Leo the great Emperutr 5cc. / Boni-* * (icc,Btjhop by the Grace of God,doPromtje to t/jec,Tctcy, Prince of the A:o- • ' ^ ftles,and to thy Vtcar Pope Gvcgpry and hisSuccc^ors, by the Father,Scn and '' Holy Ghf.j}, the infeparable Trinity, and tbis m:fi Holy Bo.'y cf thine, that '' I wdl exhibite all faith and purity of holy CathoUck faith, and in un:iy of '' the fame faith, God operatifig. Will perfiit, m which all the fal-vaitjn cf '' Chrifiians is pro'vcd undoubtedly to conffi; and will no way ccn'hit, '' whoever perfwadeth me,ngamji the unity cf the common and unrocrfalChurchy '' but, as ffaid, will exhibite my faith and purity and concourfe to thee and to ' '■the Profits of thy Church, to whom by the Lord the Power of binding and

" hofi'^z

i

i

208 Church-Hijhry of (Bijhops and

" loojmg is given , a?)d to thj aforesaid J^icar and hU SuccejTors in all things^ "&C.J - '

Nothing is more mciitoncn:s wltli a Pope, or any Prelate of that Spirit, thaii to be ahfolutcly dcvctcd to him, and (wear obedience to him : Indeed they that are fiilly ful'.cn from God ( as Satan is \ would be as Gods to the world themlclves, and have all men depend upon them,and obey them.

§ 7. \'\'har Arguments moved the Emperor to be againft Images, (fpecial-ly the xd Commandment ) and how Gregory thought that it was not the Images of God and Chrill,and Angels and Saints that were forbidden, you may lee in his Epifilcs too long to be here recited.

§ 8. Here Bimiius inferteth three Roman Councils. One curfmg unlawful Marriages. Another perluading Corhwianus to keep his BilTioprick, who would fain have laid it down. And a third for Images, againft the Icmoclafts ( the Emperor's Herefie. )

§ 9. Gregory 3d fucceedcth Gregory xd. He lendeth his Epiftles for Images to the Emperor. The firft Meflenger durft not deliver xhem. The reft were ftopt at Stctly, and kept Prilbners. Tiie Lombards infefted Italy and Rome. The Pope importuneth the French King for help. Al^honfus is made King in Sfam againft the Saracetis, and firft called himfelf [^Catholick e^ Kmg.'] Two^Councih-,B/«»«« laith,were held at Rome for Images. The Title of the lecond is, [ Pro Imagi'iumCuUii, for the Worllilp of Images: yln. jT^x. Image-wcrfhip was then avowed. But the £<?/?«•« Churches did more obey the Emperor.

§ 10. Pope Zachary coming mxt, in whole time Italy was diftrefled by Luitfrmjdiis King of the Lombards,who took four Cities from the Pope, be-caule he protected Trafr/nimdui Duke of Spoleto : The Romans helped Trafi-mtmd, on condition he would reftore to them the four Cities ; he performeth not his promile : wherefore Pope Zachary turned to Luitpand, and to win him, S^lntaria nil pradicavitflkiih j'JnafiaJiiis j and he promifcd him to reftore the four Cities. For the performance whereof, this Pope travelled to him himfclf, ( noted by AnaflajiHs as a great a6i: of (elf-denial, as venturing his life for the Caufc 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 tranflatcd from the King and his Line, to a Subjc6f, his AJajor Domus.

Charles Martell the great French Conqueror was the Pope's Patron againft the Emperor who was his Sovereign. Gratian. d. 16. <^. i. pos} Can. 5-9] tells it us as a m.atttr ofChurch-crcdit,that when he was dead,he was damned to Hell ( much blood, and defending Pcpes that rebel against their So'vereign arc a very lilcciy prooh ) Carolumanjms fticcecdcd him, who, after two years Reign, rcfigncd his Crown, and chole a Monaftery. Chilperic that came ahei-, proved very dull and jaiftial, and giving himl'elf to Iiis pleafijre, let the biiiincls of Govcrr.mcnt lie moft on the hands of Pepin , who was his Major Domiis., who theieby got the poiver and the rej^ecl that was proper to

the

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 ferfonal worth and perform am c-^\i\\y (hould Popes,Prelates and Priefts,(whore Power and Honour, as a Phylicians, depend upon their Worth and Work ) expect to keep up their Power and Honour mccrly by their Offices? ) Vefm won firft the Nobles of Frimce^ and then the Pope; For, as Baromus and Binnius (p. 197.) tell us, '■'■^It feemed to the m oil Potent Fepm (Major " Domus) (*) and to the reft of the chief Mat, and to all the People, that / » 1 j^^^ " he that had not the Matter and Force of the Kingdom , flmuld not have wonder. " the name of a King ; and on the contrary, he that bad the Riches, Power " and Virtue, jhould aljoha've the name of King: And hecaHfe thefe Princes " and People were Chrtfiiam, they judged that thefe their Councils would net' " ther fiand ratified to Pofierity, nor be acceptable enough to God, imlefs they re' "ceived Authority and Force from the common Father and Paftor of the " Chrtflian Church, the Ficar of the Lord Chriit, and Succejfor of St. Peter. " Therefore they fend Legates to Rome to Zachary,of whom Bijlwp Burchardus " Hcrbipol. was the chief, who were to ask the things aforefaid cf him. He " confentcd, and decreed, and wrote back, that Chilperic being thridt into a " Monafiery, ( * ) St. Boniface Jljould declare and anctnt Pepin Kmg in Ger- (*) V^'crc " many atid France : Bonifiice, Bi^iop of Mcntz, obeyed Pope Zachary , and notMonks " by the Authority of the See ApoftJic, depcfed Chilperic, ( called al/o Childc- ^^^^^ j,"^" " ric ) and placed Pepin /;; his fead. Thus JeginLart tn Fit. Car. Adcg. " Annal. Franc, an. 7fl. Paul. Diac. li.ix. Adarianus Scotus It. j. Rtgmo ^^ li. 1.. an.j\^. Sigtbert in Chron. Lambert in HiH. Germ. Otho Frifng. "//. 5-. XI. Ado. aiate 6,fol.xi'}. Aimoinus li.^ c. 65',&c. Tea (lay ihey) " the Hereticks of our times deny not the Hiflory. — But they fijorply imfugn two " circumftances: Tbefirit is, that it w.is a great wrong to Chilperic, that the "Kingdom was taken from him: The [econd, that the laid Iranjlation was " made by the confent of the Council, Nobles and Ccmmcns, without the Autba-"rity of the Apcjiolic Seat *. Scrarius prcveth that the canje of the Tranjla- * jf ..q^ " tion of the Kingdom was ju^. 1. Becauje all the btH men did d(f;e and will " wif} it, and did by their cotmjd and help co-operate to it. x. Bccaiife St. needs " Btjhop Burchardus did,asLegate,follicite thePopefcr it. 3. Pope Zachary t^*'*^ ^^'^^ " commanded it to be done ; 4. And the moft Holy Boniface at the Ptfi^s f^ j^j^j ^ " command did execute it. f. And being appro-oed hy Divine Tifiiminy, it work, " e recited m the [acred Cations, i ^. q. 6. c. alius. 6. And by none cf the ' th^t you " old Hiftorians not praifed, or difallowed : Only cur new Hereticks,tbat love '" y h^^'C " No-velty, Arrogance and Rebellion by their pcr-jerfe judgment by Ccntumilies V, ,},(. "andLyes dijallow it. And that it was by the Auibority of the Apcfoi.ck l-.kc; take *^ Seat, that the Kingdom w.is tranjlated from Chilperic to Pepin, tit fere-^^' ^^faid Hifiorians do jo exprejly jay,that it's a wonder with what front the in-"no-vating Hereticks dare call it in rjutfrion. Lf.frly, It is btre to be r.oted,that "^^ " It was by thts jame Pope Zachary that the nommanin or p^fiulation of Bijlieps *^for the "vae.int Churches m his Kingdom, was granted to King Pepin. Tlere-*'■ fare if elfewhere you read that the Kmgs <>/ France gtve Bishops to the Chrrches,

E e . " rcMtinber

Church-Hifto)-y of 'Bijhps ajid

" remember that it is nut dene by thetr o-um Right, but by the Grant of the " Afoftolick Seat: In "cam therefore do the innovating Herettcks glory in this " Argument, who endeavor tofubjetl the Church to Kings. ] So far Bmnitis ^ after Baruniiis.

§ 11. From tills Story and tlicfe words, let the Reader think how to an-fwer thefc Queftions.

.^ueji. 1. Had not Kings need to take heed of making any one man too great, if grcatneG and exercile of Government, give him fo much right to the Kingdom ?

J^. 2.. Had not Kings need to look to their manners, for their Crowns ftke, as well as their Souls; if Lull, Senliiality and Dulnefs forfeit their Kingdoms?

^t. g. Did not Wars and weakning of the Empire make a great change with Popes, when they that were (ct up anci banilhed at the Emperor's plea-fiire, can now firft depolc the Emperor iii lie I'/est, For being aguinll: Images and Pcrfecuting, and then can tranilate tliCCrown of France ?

^u. 4. Was not an ambitious Pope .; fit Tool for Ve^m and his Confederates to woi-k by, to put a pious glofi on their Confpiracy ?

=5.'/- f- Did not the Pope rile thus by (erving the turns of Confpirators, and of Princes in their quarrels with one anotlicr ?

^/. 6. Arc Subjects Judges when a King's Sins make him unworthy of the Crown ?

^H. 7. Yea,is the Pope Judge, and hath he power to depoft Kings, if he judge themiuch Sinners, and unfit for Government ?

^. 8. Is it a good Reafbn that a King is juftly depofcd, bccaule Good Men and Holy Bifliops are the Dejirers and Fromaters of it ?

.^«. c). Would not this Reafbn have (crved Maximrts againfl Gratian ? Was it not Cromwel's Plea ? If he had but had the Pope and People on his fide, you fee how it would have gone.

^1. 10. Is it the mark of an Innovating Herctlck, tofay f;&.rf the Church Jhould be fubjeif to Kmgs ; when Faid and Feter laid it of all Chriftians lb. long ago?

^1.11. Is it a Note that Prorcdants love Rebellion, becaule they are againfl: Popes depofing Kings ? Or is there any heed to be taken of the words of impudent Revilcrs,that dare fpeak before God and Man at this race? Is depofing Kings the Papifl:s freedom from Rebellion, and is our oppofing it a chararkr of Rebels ?

i^<. I 2. Is it any wonder that Bifliop Burchardfis dcfircd it, and that Bilhop Bonif^.ce executed the Pope's command,who had been tranflated from Enghi-id by liim to luch dignity, and had fwom Obedience and Service to him ?

,^. I 3. Is it any v/ondcr that the Pope made thefc BiOiops Saints?

^/. 14. I hope they were really godly Men : But is it any wonder that fcaie TOod Ivlcn at liich atiraeas.that, did think it had been for theintereft

of

thciy Councils ahriched.

21 I

of Religion, to have all Power in the Clergies hands, cfpecially being them-felves Bilhops that were to have Co great a fhare? How few Billiops are afraid of too much power, or ever do refufe it I

^. If. If the King of France had his Kingdom by the Pope's gift, what wonder if he had the power of nominating Bifliops al(6 by his gift ?

^. 1 6. \Vhether he that hath power to give , hath not power to take away, and be not Judge when the Caule is jiilt ?

r^. 17. With what face do Papifts at once make thefe claims,and yet pro-fcfs Loyalty to Kings ?

o^/. I 8. Whether it concern not Kings to underftand on what terms they ftand with the Pope and his Clergy , that muft not be fubje^t to them , but have power to depofe them ?

^. 19. If there be any Party among them that hath more Loyal Principles, is it a fign of the concord of their Church, tliat agrecth not in matter of Co great moment ? Or a proof that the Pope is tlie infallible Judge of Controverdes, that will not determine fo great a Point on which the Peace of Kingdoms doth depend ?

§ I 3. About the fame time they perfuadcd Racbts King of the Lortgo-iW^, Succellbr to Li<irpra»J,CoT the love of Religion to lay down his Crown, and go into a Monaflery; Co that Monafteries are places for the worft and the bed: ; lomc too bad to reign, and (onie too good, left they (hould over-maftcr the Clergy.

§ 14. It may be you will think that this Pope Zachary, and his fworn Vaflal St. BinifiTce, were fbme very profound Divines, that could by their wifdom and piety thus mailer Kingdoms. Doubtlcfi they were zealous Ad-vcrlaries to Hcrcfies (except their own ) and SuccelTors of the Hereticating and Damning Fathers. Fov Ephi. 10. ( Bin. p. xo6,roy, roi.) Zachary writeth to Boniface, to expel Viygtlius from the Church and Priefthood , for holding Antipodes, viz. that Sun-Ihine, and Moon-light, and Men are under theEarth, as well as here which we call over it. The words are , [^De per- ,^ 'versa antcn C^ intqua doBrma,qUie contra Dominum (^ Animam[nam locutus eB, ficlartficatum ftierit ita eirni ccnfiteri, i^uod alifts Mtindns d^ aln homines Jul/ terraJint, feu Sol d^ Luna; himc habito Concilio ab Ecckfia pelle Sacerdotii honore prii'atum. J That is , " But as to the pert-erfe and imjiijl Dcihine " which he hathjpoken againti the Lord and his own Sou!, if it be made clear " that he fo confejfcth, that under the Earth there is another world and other " Mm, and Sun and Moon; call a Council,and deprizing htm of the honour " of Trnfihood, driz'e him cut of the Church. J That by [ another world J is meant Antipodes , or the other fide of the Earth inhabited , is doubt-lefs.

% tf. -i^- I. Did God make Popes to be the Governors of the Antipodes, for lb many hundred years, before they knew riiat there was any Antipodes ? And when they excommunicated and filenced thoft tliat affirmed it ?

E e i 4L"- 1-

Chtoxh-Hijhry of 'BiJ])Cps and

P

^. X. Were thefc Popes and Bifhops Men of fuch wifclom, as were fit to hercticate Dillenters as they did ?

.^.3. Do we not fee here what fome Gjuncils were, and did in thole times ?

.i^/. 4. Do we not fee what HereGe fignified at Rome , and how little heed there was to be taken of their outcry againft (bme Hcrelies ?

J^. 5'. Whether was all the World, or all the Weft bound to avoid Communion after with Virgiltus ?

^. 6. Do we not fee here ot what Infallibility the Pope is, in judging of matters of Faith, and how happy the World is to have fiich a Judge, and of what credit his Heretications and Excommunications are ?

^H. 7. Do we not (ee how Religion hath been depraved and difhonoured by the Pope and his Clergy, calling Good Evil, and the moft certain Truths by the name of \_ Per-ver/e and imjuft DoSlrines, again?t the Lord, and Mens own Sctf!.i?^ V^'hat heed to take of the(e Mens words, when they feera zealous againft Sin and Error ?

§ 15. Perhaps you will ask, How could any but Idiots be-fc ignorant ? Whither did they think the Setting-Sun went ? Or what did they think the Earth ftood upon ?

^njw. The eafieft things are ftrange to Men that never learnt them ; it's pity that it fhould be true, that Lcctantins and other AncientSj yea , ylufiin himlelf wsrc ignorant of the Anupv^s; but yet they had_ more Mociefty than to hereticate and excommunicate them that affirmed it. Few Bifhops had much Phllofophy then. Origen and j^pdhnaris that were moll Philofb-phical, had been hereticated and difgraccd it. Clemens and Tatiamts fped not much better. Councils had forbid Bifhops to read the Books of Heathens. Aufiin had a truly Philofophical head, being tlie Father of School-Divinity; but he was a.vliJ'iJky!]^-, and had little from his Teachers. You may fee in a great Hereticater Thilaflniis, what they thouglit then of the courfe of the Sun, by what he faith ot the Stai-s: As it was one Herefie to call the Stars by the names of living Creatures, fo- it was another to deny that the Stars were Luminaries arbitrar'Jy moved, that by Angels were fet out af night to light tlx World, and at morning ret/red inwards, or were taken into their place again, as Men fet out lights to the flreet at night, and take them iyt again. I confefs that no General Council declared this, ( as they have done wor'e things; } but you fee what kind of Men were hereticated by Pope Zachary, St. Bmiface, and St. Fhilafirif/s, and fuch Billiops; and how little it fignifieih in fuch Writers, whctlicr you read a Man called a Saint, or a Sinner ;. an Orthodox Catholick, or Nefafidtfjtmi/s Hareticr/s , as they ufe to-^eak: I (peak it only of fuch Men.

§17. For,Rcadcr,l mull:ftill remember thee, that this Folly, Pride, and almofl: Fury, was not the Gcmus or Gharader of the true fpiritual Miniffers and Church of Chrift, but of a worldly, ignorant, domineering fort of Men,' tjiat made it their bulinels to get Preferment, and have, their wills. God had

all

a^

all this while abundance of hiithhil Miniflers that fate down at the lower end; and humble holy People, that (et not up themfelves in worldly Gran-dure,and came not much on the Stage, but approved themlelves in Iccret, and in their (everal Places and Convcrlations to God,(bme Lay-men, (bme Priefts, (bme Bilhops, fbme of their names are come down to us in Hiftory,but thole are few. They ftrovc not for great Places, nor did their Works to be leen of Men, nor looked to Men for their Reward.

§ I 8. Some of the Canons and Councils of thelc Univer(al Paftors were anfwerable to their Excommunications. In /^achary's i ath Epijf/e to his Vaflal 5r. Bo»iface,ht:gWi-th him the rcfolution of m.iny doubts. One is, [^ After how long time Lard may he eaten ? And it is relblvcd by the Pope, T/:at there is yet no Canon or Law for this by the Fathas , but he iktammtth himfelf i. That it naisl n&t be eaten before :t be dried in the fmoke, or boiled, ( or bafled ) with foe : But if yon lift to eat it raw^it muff be eaten after the FeaFt of Eailcr. ] Binnius, p. 109. ( What would become of the Church, if there were not a Judge of liich Controvei-lies, and an infallible Determiner of fuch Queftions' }

§ 19. CCXXV. I told you before how the Pope commanded Boniface to call a Council to ejccf him that aflerted the Antipodes; I mud next add a French Council called by King Carolomatmus, to R<.form the Clergy ( an. 741. ) and to recover Chrifian Religion, which in the dayes of form tr Princes dillipata corruit, being dijff!pated,waf ruined; and to jbew the People how they may come to fave their Souh, who haue bctn hitherto deceived by falfi Priefis. (They are the words of the King and Council, Biti. p. 110. c. i. } ^^'here it was decreed that Priefts be not Soldiers, ( unnccellarily :) That they keep not Hounds to go an hunting with, nor Hawks: That every Religious Fornicator fliaJl in the Jayl do Pennancc with Bread and Water. If the Fornicator he a Pricft, he fhall be ifti (courgcd, and then remain in Pti-(bn two years : But it an inferior Clerk or Monk (b fall, he Ihall be whipt, and then do Pennance a whole year in Prifon, and (b the Nuns.

This was Ibmewhat like a Reformation : Had it not been done by a King, it might have pad for Herclie. It was at Ratisbonne, Boniface preliding. Such another Council called Lcptinenfe, thcve was under Carolomannus. Another Council at Rome repeated the oft repeated Canons,to keep BilTiops and Priefts from Nuns and from Fornication.

% ro. An.'j\^. Another Synodits Suc/Jion. under Cbilperic governed by Fe/i^«, condemned again Aldebcrt ( that ftt up Croflcs in Itveral places, and drew People to himlelf) and another as Hcrcticks.

§ ^I. Another Council inGf>-;«(7w;', «». 745-. handfomly fet Boniface the-Pope's Agent in the Aichblfhoprick of Alentz,. Firft Geroldus the Arch-bifliop is lent out againft the Saxcns with an Ai'my, and he and moft of them killed: Then Gfrz;/7w his Son, a Lay-man, is made Archbifhop toc<mforr him. At another War he pretends a Conference with him that kil.'a his Father, and murders him ; this is paft by as blamelels: But Bmiface l.'iith. That a. Man that had hu band in Blood, nuts} not be a~Bifiiop \ and lb gcJ

hiuit

him out, and was made the chief Archbifliop of Germany himftlf in his place. Judge whether lie Icrved the Pope for nousrlit.

§ XI. Yet Boniface had not done with the two Hereticks, AUebcrt and Clemats, a Frtvc/j man and a Sect. Boniface fcndetli to Rome (Bin. p.a 1 6.J to dcfire the Pope, that as hehadhimlelF condemned tiielc two Hereticks,the pope would alio condemn them, and caft them into Prilbns , where none might (peidc with them. (Thus the Pope obtained his Kingdom, -and edified the Church. The motive was,that Boniface profecuting them, had fuf-fcrcd much for their lakes, the People laying that he had taken horn them holy Apollolick Men, (but this was not a Prilbn. } Tlic Crimes which he chargeth on Aldebert a Bifhop are , that he was an Hypocrite, ( an open Crime .' ) that he had laid an Angel appeared to him, and he had lome r^re Reliquei, and that he laid he was Apollolick, and wrought V\'onders ; that he got Ibme unlearned Bifliops to make him a Bifhop ablolutely , againfl: the Canons. He would not conlecrate any Church to the memory of an Apoftle or Martyr j and fpake againfl viluing in Pilgrimage the Temples of the Apoftles: He made Churches to his own honour, and ftt up Oratories and CroHes up and down, and drew People from other BilTiops to himlelf That he gave his nails and hair to be honoured with the Saints Reliques, and would not hear Confcllions, faying he knew their fins already. J If all this was true, ( which I know never the more for this Accufation ) he feemed an Hypocrite indeed, but whether an Herctick, I know not.

The 5fo? Hcretick is accufed as denying the Church Canons, and the meaning of Ibme Fathers, delpifing the Synods Laws, laying that he may ft ill be a Bifhop (for lb he was) though he had two Sons, ( in Adultery, laith Boniface, perhaps in Marriage ; ) and ( as he faith ) holding that a Man may marry his Brothers Widow, and that Chrift at his Defcent delivered all Souls out of Hell. ] TOb was a foul Error indeed, if truly charged. Thefc were charged by Boniface and the Roma7i Sjnod , to be forerunners of Antichrifl, ( and how hke are Ahlehert"^ Prctenlions to many Rom,-,n Saints! ) A Pra)'er alio of jil/lcherts was read, in which he prayed to Angels under fcveral flrange names : Bifhops and Presbyters had Votes in this Council, and liiblcribed the Hypocrites condemnation. Bin.f. ai8. But there is no certainty that he named more than three Angels.

§13. iVfp/'w the xd was chofen Pope by ALL THE PEOPLE after Zacharj, and dyed four days after fuddenly.

§ X4. Stephen the ^d was chofen by all the People (faith Jnafiafius.) Aijhd^hus , King of the Longobanis, tlireatned Rome, took their Gifts, and demanded their Subjetflion. The Pope {^hcr Gregory ihc xd's Rebellion j was glad to fend to the Emperor, to crave an Army to five Rome and Italy ; when he could get no help fi'dim Ccnfia?it. he ftnt to Pepin King of France. One that he had made King by Rebellion, was obliged to help him, and by an Army forced Aifiulfhits to coveifjtnt to reflore Ravenna, and many other Italian Cities, ( not to the Emperor, whole Agent claimed his right,and was denied by Fepn j ) but to the Pope, ( to reward him, and get the pardon of

his

their Councils abruhcd.

2 I

his fins. ) Aijiulph;:s broke his Covenant?. Fefm with another Army forceth him to deliver them, and rerurneth. yiijiulpbus dyeth ; Dejzderitis a Captain by Ufiirpation invadeth the Kingdom, RaJcbis that had been King before, and went into a Monaftery, and the Nobles of the Longobards rchll the Rebel. He lendeth to the Pope, offering him ail that he could delire ( more "fs Cities ) to help him : The Pope maketh his own bargain with him,as he did with Tepln^ ( and Charles Alartell before ) and by the help of the Fraicb^ fetleth the Rebel DefiJerius in the Kingdom. Pepin maketh a Deed of Gift of all the forcfaid Cities to the Church of Rome, ( U'^as this Covfij»tine\ Gift ? j He gave away another Mans ( the Emperor's ) Dominions, and with DefideriniS additions, now the Pope is become a Prince.

§ 14. CCXX\ 111. \\'e come now to a great General Council of 5^58 Bifhops at Cotifiantmople, Ati. J^^. under Ccnjhmine Coprcnjmus againltthe worlhiping of Images: The Advcrfaries of it will not have it called the ^cYi}" c^' 7th General Council, bec.iufe divers Patriarchs were abfenr, and it decreed, Pc, (ay they,againll the Truth. Tljey not only condemned the vwr^iiping of Ima- Cr.jl-'jc get, and GcrmannsConftantinus, Georgius Cyprius, Jo. Damalcenu.«,<w</ other /'■4S^- f^Y " M'orjhipcrs of tbc-^:, as Idolaters\ hut deflrojed the Relit>uis of Martyrs , /md ^p^^'.^^ ^^ exahed an Oath of Men ( by the Crofs,and the holy Euckariii ) th,it they hux. B-'n-womU never adore Images, but execrate them as Idols, nor ever pray to the ho- mus con--ly Apiftles, Alartyrs, and hkjfed Virgin, (aith Baronifn znd Bi/inius,p.z^^. futcth But the 15-th anii 17th definitions of this Council recited in the id Kicene "^' Council, fhcw that they were not fb free from praying to the Virgin Alary and Saints,as we could wifh they had: For they decree we mull craze her mterceffions, and theirs ; but they forbad praying to their Images.

§15". TheA<3sof this Council f not plcaGng the Advedarles ) are not delivered fiilly to us ; b\it it fell out that their Decrees are repeated word by word in the id Niceuc Council, and lb prefcrvcd.

§ 1.6. There is oneDortrinal definition of this Council, owned alio by their AdverCiries the id Coned. Nicen. which by the way I will take notice of, about the glorified Body of Chrill, ( and confcqucntly ours after the Re-liuTcclion ) that it is a BjJy but not Flefly, Bin. p. 378. defin. 7. " [ Si^^^ras *^ non cctffefftts fuerit Domintim mftrum yejum Chrtfium poH ajjumpttonem " animatiC, raticnala Cf intelleBualis Caniis Jimid (edere cttm Deo (^ Vatre, *' at(^Me ita t^tw^ae rurjrts 'venturmn cum Patema Aiajefiate, judicaturiim i';-.', .f " df mortuos, non amplius qui<lem Carnem, neqtie iticorportum tamen iit -videa- -CD " tur ah Its d efuib»s compunihts eft, <ir mamat Deus extra craffitudmer,} car-"■ nis,^lnathema. J To which faith the Niccne Council by Epiphani/rs, [" Hue ujtjMe reife fentiimt &■ Valrum traditionibus convenientia dicimt, &c. J

Two forts I would have take notice of this:

I. The Tapifts, who fay that the Bread is turned into Chrift's z'cry FIt(Jj, when he hath no very Flcfh in Heaven: And therefore the meaning muft be of the Sacramental Sign, that it is the Reprefeutation of that real FAj7j of Ghrift which was laaibccd on the Ciols.

^.. Same

r. Some prejudiced Pr(jfe/?/i»fi that think he that faith, [^OurBodia (a?id Ckrifis ) in Htavcn, will net be Fhjh and Blood formally and properly fa called, hut Jpiritiial glorious Bodies j doth (ay Ionic dangerous new afiei'tion j liich grols thoughts have grofs heads of the heavenly ftate. To thcle I fay, I. You contradi£t the exprefs words of God's Spirit, i Cor. i^. Fleflj and Bleed ca?mot enter,8cc. That it is meant of Fomial Flcfh andBlood,and not Metaphorical ( Sin ) is plain in the G^ntext, Ice Dr. Hammond on the Text. X. Give but a true deHnition of Fh^j and Blcod,u\^ it will convince you of itielf. 3. You (cchere that you maintain an Opinion wliich thefe two ( even adverft ) General Councils anathematized.

%ij. By this Council we may fee, how little General Councils fignifie with the Papijls, cither as to Infallibility, Authority, or prefcrvation of Tradition, longer than they pleafe the Pope. As to their Objcdlion, that call it Pfeudo-fepiimum, that the Pope was not there ; I anfwer i. No more was he by himfelf or Legate at the Hrft of Confiant. called the id General Council, as Bitmius profefleth. i. Is not the Church the Church, if the Pope be not there ? Then he may choofe whether ever there fhall be more General Councils, ( as indeed he doth. )

§28. CCXXIX. ^n.jtj6. King Pf^iw called a Council in Fr<7«c«, declaring that things were (o far out of order, that he could attempt but a partial-Retormation, leaving the reft till better times. The fii-ft Canon was, that Cj" eveiy City have a Bifliop ; of old Tmhn, lignified every fuch Town as our Corporations and Market-Towns are : And by all the old Canons and Cuftoms ( except (ome odd ones ) every fuch Town of Chriftians was to have a Bifhop; and in VJorygia, Arabia, 8cc. the Villages had Bifliops, ftith Socrates, &c. And in many places the Villages had Cborepifcopos, which Fe-tavius ( Atmot. in Epifhan. Artan. ) fiiUy proveth were true Bipops. And yet then the moft of the People in moft Countries were without the Church; lb that then a Church was no greater than was capable ot perfbnal Communion.

Here this King (^being m.ulc by the Pope ) ib far gratified the Clergy,as to decree that Contemners of Excommunication fliould he h^niflied. And no-w the Keys do fignifie the Sword, and Church-Difcipline is made another, tiling than Chrift had made it.

Tlie I ^th Cap. is. That no vacant Bifliop meddle in another Biftiop's Parifli without his content, ( by what true authority then can the Pope meddle in other Mens Dioccfles, fince the foundation of his humane authority in the Empire is fiibvcrted? )

Tiie 14th C.i/'.dccrced,That Men may u(e Horfcs and Chariots for Travel on the Lord's-day, and get Meat and Drink, d^c. but not do common work.

The I 7th, That no C'erk try his Gaufe before a Lay-Judge, without the B;flKjp''s leave.

§ 19. Pope Stephen dy'ng, in the divifion at the next choice, (by all the People} the ftronger part chole ?»?w//« a Deacon, CCXXX. in his time ;i

(Jerr»t!n

■i

Gil man Council condemned Oathmarm , Abbot of St. Galliis, for Incontinence, and put him in Prifon, where he dyed of Famine j asHiftoiians (ay, malicioufly upon felfe accufation.

§30. At this time the G?fe/I/accufcd the RcwiTH/, for adding the word [ Filiocfue ] to the Creed : And about that and Images, they lay there was <^

lome Synod at a Village called Gcntiliace.

§31. Pope Tiiul dying, and the People having ftill the choice, he that could get the greateft ftrength was in hope of fo rich a Prey : And Cmftan-tme. Brother to one Duke Toto, g^"ing the ftrongcll Party, by fear compelled George Bifhop of Tranefttm, with two more Bifliops, to make him Pope, ( being hrll ordained Deacon,) he poflefTcd the Popedom alone a year and a month : Then one Chrifiopher the Primcceriuj,zi\d his Son Scrgius being pow ^

crfii), got out to the King of the Longobards, and craved his help againft Conjiantine as an IKiirper ; and gathering (bme ftrcngihgot into Rome, killed "loto ; and caufed Ccn/famine the Pope, and another Brother Vajji'vus to take Sanftuary. OntJVaUifertus a Presbyter was of Cl.-rifopie/sVany, and to make halle,without Chrifiophers knowledge, he gathercth a Party, and they make one Fhilip fa Presbyter) Pope. ( So thcie were two Popes. ) Chrific-pfoorus incenfed, fwore he would not enter Rome, till Fhi/tp was puU'd out of the Bifhop's houft ; which Gratiofus, one of his Party, prefcntly pcrformcth, and Phtlip returncth to his Monaltery. Chrijlophorns callcth the Clergy, People and Soldiers together, and ( by his means ) they chufe another Stephen, { and fb there are three Popes. ) The Actors being now in their Zeal, go to Theodorus a Bilhop, and VtcedommMs that joined with Pope Ccnflt:t7tiTie^AV\<i they put out his eyes, and ait out his tongue. Next they attempted the like €Xcaecation on Paffivus. Bilhop Theodore they thruft into a Monaftcry, and there (while hccryed for a little vratcr ) they famithcd him to death. PaJJi-vus they put into another Monaftcry. They took all their Goods and Pof-(effions. Pope Ccnflantine they brought out, and fct on Horftback on a ' Womans Saddle with Weights at his Feet, and put him into a Monaftcry, ( How holy then were Monafteries! ) Sliortly after they brouglit him forth, and Pope Stephen and (bme Bifliops dcpo(c-d him. Then the Citizens were to make their penitent Confellions tor owning him. Ke.\t the Army gocth to ^Jatrum in Campania, where Graeilis the Tribune that had been for Coi-y?<?nr;«e is apprehended,brought bound to /^owc, imprilbned , and after his eyes put out, and his tongue cut out. After this, Gratiofus and his Zealots go to the Monaftcry where they had thruft Pope Conflantim; and drag him out, and put out his eyes, and leave him blind in the ftrcct. Next, they o;o to their own Friend Prieft JVah!ipertus,and feign that l.c had laid a Plot with the Lcngohards to kill Chriflophtr, and (end to apprehend him, and when he fled for Sanctuary to a Temple, they drew him out with the blefted Virgins Image in his hand (' even then when they were rebelling for the fake of Images; ) buttlrat would not (iive the Prieft, (bccaule he let up Vhilip for Pope ;) they thruft him into a filthy Dungeon-hole, but that was too good for liim : In a few days they drew him out, and cafting him on the carih,j'!nt'

F f out

Church-Hifiory cf 'Bijhops and

out his eyes, and cut out his tungue, and put him into an Hofpital, where he dyed of the pain. And now Pope Stephen had, no doubt, a lawtul calhng to be Pope. He fends his Lcgats to the King of France. He brings torth blinded Pope Con/Iantme to anfwer for his Crime,who falling flat on the earth, he lamcnteth his lin as more than the Sands on the Sca-ihore, and profelleth ^ that the People chofc and forced him to be Pope, bccauie of their fiiflcrings * under F/iul: But at his next appearance he tells them, that he did no more than many other Lay-men did, who invaded Bilhopricks ; as Sergtus Arch-bilTiop of Ravenna,Stephen Bifliop of Naples, &c. when they heard this, ail the Priefts caufcd him to be bufteted, and call him out of the Church , and burnt his Papers, d^c. And the moll holy Pope Stephen call himlelf on the earth, with all the Prieils and People of Rome, and with tears lamented their fin, that they had taken the Communion from the hands of Pope Cotijiantine, ( it fecms it is a lin to communicate with Bilhops that are brought in irregu-f5" larly by fecular Power without due Ele5lion, and they are po Schilmaticks that refufe It. ) And (b they all performed their Pennance for h ,~^najiaf. in ejus 'Vita.

§ 31. CCXXXI. On this great occafion Pope Stephen ( being far unable now to call General Councils ) fends to the King of France, to entreat him to fend (bme wife Blfhops to a Council at Rome, who fent him about a dozen, who, with fbme others, agreed againll Covjiantines Eledlion, and fuch other for the time to comej and damned a Synod that Conjiantifie had held ; and alfb palled their judgment for Images.

§ 55. But here was a great difficulty, (fuch as often after happened) Whether Ccw/?tfwf/we'sPapal A£ls were valid ; and the CouncildtQ-ccd that. they lliould all be void except his Baptizings, and his Confecrattons: And Co thofe Pricfls that he Conlccrated, when they were after duely chofeni, officla-•^ ted without a new Confecration. Either he was a real Pope, or no Pope. If a Pope, then by the Canons Stephen was no Pope, and (0 the Succellion there failed. If no Pope, then, i. How come hi-i Confccrations to be valid ? X. Are not Presbyter's Ordinations better than a Lay-mans? 5. Then the Univcrlal Church had no Head, and fb v/as no Church ( with them ) while. Cojjjtimtlne was Pope.

§ 34. A like Schifhi fell out at Ravetma : The pov/cr of the Magiftrate made one Mchael, Scriniary of the Church, (a Lay-manj Archbifhop, thcv People being for one Lsc, whom they imprifbned.. He kept the place above a year, but by the help of the Pope, and the French, the People role and call him out, and brought him Prilbner to Rome, and fct up Lee. \ § S)- Chrifropher and his Sow.Sergius were the Captains that had wrought

this great deliverance to the Church :. And now they plead wlili King Deji-derius tor St. "Peter's Rights, as flill zealous for the Pope. The King is angry with them, and jealous of their power, and ft'ckcth to dcdroy them,and particularly to fit dicir own Pope againll them. They get the Citizens to lland by them, and the King cometh with an Army. The Pope feeing which was like to be the Ihongcr lidc, in great wif^om went out to the King, and,, after

fbme.

i

their Coimcils abridged. 2 i

(bme days conference with him, (endetli 10 Ch-ifiofhcr to render hinifelf ro the King. The Citizens hearing this, forfbok Cbrijhpher and Sergius ; Gm-tiojr/t ( feeing they were deferted by the People through the Pope ) went out firft to the King and Pope, and Scrgiirs next, and Chrijtophcr laft. The Pope was Co kind to them that made him Pope, that he made them Monks, and put them in San£l:uary in St. Feter's Church to (ave their lives: But thev had y/(/c«;Jc't.f/fe'sjul1:ice, and were fcon drag'd out thence, and C/jnJfopIxn eyes put out, of which he dyed. But Sergitts was awhile a Monk, and then t'hruft in the Laterane Cellar. Thus went the matters of the Univcr-fal Monarch at Rome.

§ 36. A little before the Pope's death,5crg;;.7x was fetcht blind out of tlic Cellar, and kill'd ; the next Pope (carcht out the Authors, and found them to be Yaulus Ciihicularitis, and the laft Pope's Brother, and other great Men; and he prolccutcd (bme of them to Banimment, but die Archbilhop of Ra-■vc?wa caufed Paul to be killed.

§ 3 7. It was Adrian ( a Deacon ) that was then chofen Pope ( Son to the chief Man in Rome, ablcll: to efle(5t it.) Upon theft ftirs, Dcfuiains dcfi-rcd h-iendlhip with the Pope ; but he demanding the Cities which Vepin had given the Church ( (bme of which Defiderirrs ft ill kept) and doing the fbrelaid juftice on the Friends of De/iderius, he came with an Army and killed many, and took many Cities. The Pope urgeth the rellitutlon of all his Cities, ( indeed the Emperor's j given him by Peptn ; he ftill dcnicth ; the Pope gets Charles of France to come with an Army, for fear of whom the Longobttrds flic. The Dutchy of Spoletum, and other Cities, yield thera-lelves to the Pope, ( and, as a token of fubjeftion, receive tonfure.) Charles befiegeth Dejiderii/s in Papia, and forceth his Brother Carloman'i Wife and Children that fled to the Longohards, to yield themfelvcs to liim ; while the Siege continued Charles went to Rome, and was glorioufly entertained by the Pope, and renewed to him Pepin's gift of all the Exarchate ot Ravenna, and many Dukedoms and Gties, ( which were none of his own to give ) and now tlie Pope is a Prince indeed. And Charles returning to the Siege, con-quereth Papia, taketh King DefideruK, and winnetli all the Longohards Kingdom : And thus Strength gave Right (according to the Athcifts Opinion now llirring, that [ Right is nothing hut a power to get and keep. ] Pepin and Charles make themfelvcs Kings, and the Pope a Princej that while they iTiare the Emperor's Dominions between them, they might be a ftrciigth to one another. And Dejiderius being himfelf but an Ufurper, helped by the Pope into the Throne, no wonder if when intcreft changed, the lame haHd^afcr him down. How Charles his Brother Caroloman dyed, and why his Wife and Sons fled from Charles to the Longohards, and what became of them, is not well known.

§ i%^o^cAdrian the ift thus made a greatcrPrlnce than any before him, did greater works than they h.id done, and oh nimium amorem Sand: Petri, df ex inj^iraticne Dmina, built many great and ilately Buildings, madv- all places about liis Palace, Baths, <^c. tit for fplendid pomp and pleafure , and

F f X aU

no

Church-Hijlory of (Bijhcp and

I

all this from mccrfclf-denlal and holineG: Many Churches alfb he repaired and adorned, and did many other fuch good works.

§ 39. This great y4<y>-w» was before but a Deacon. I have oft marvelled to read that Deacons were (b ordinarily then made Popes, ( and Ibme-times Lay-menjwhen yet the old Canons required an orderly rlfing through f^ 'the (everal degrees. It was no wonder that then a Deacon at Rome was a far higher preferment than a Billiop : For a Deacon ( and a Pried ) might be chol'en Pope, but a Blfhop could not: For of old ( when Diocefles and Pariflies were all one ) the Canons decreed that no Bifhop fliould remove to another Church, ( except being Confccrated by others, he never contented nor had pofleffion ; ) (b that every Bifhop muft live and dye in the place ■Where he was firft Ordained ; Co that Rome , Conlf. Alex. Jntioch, &c. and all the great Seats choie either Deacons, Priefts, or Monks to be their Patriarchs and Bifhops. No wonder then,if as Nazianzen (aitli, 0>at. j. it was the cuftom to have almoft as many Clergy-men in every Church as People, in tcgard of the prefent Honour, and the future hopes of Preferment. Indeed he carried it that had the greaieft Friends, which was as commonly the Deacon, as tlie Prieft or Archdeacon. By which we may conje£lure,whether the worthieft Men were made Popes : For if they were the worthieft, why were they by former Popes never made higher before than Deacons ? Did not the Popes know the worthieft men ?

And if a breach of the Canons in Ele£l:Ions nullifie the regular Succefllon, by this it is evident, that the Roman Seat hath no (iich Succeflion. * § 40. By the way the Reader muft note, that in all the Writings of the

Popifli Clergy concerning thefc matters, there are certain terms oi Art, or Intereft, which muft be underftood as foUoweth, 'viz.

I. Sanchjfmrrs Papa, the moft Holy Popc,rignifieth any profperous Bifhop of Rome, how wicked (bever in his life.

a. Rex Tkvtijjim:-!!, the moft Pious King, fignificth a King that took part with the Pope, and advanced his Opinions and Intereft.

3. Impcrator SceleratiJJim.'/s, O" Hareticus NefanJits, &'c. a moft wicked Emperor, ( or Patriarch, or any other ) and abominable Heretick^ figni-fjeth one that was againft the Pope, his Intereft or Opinion. Homo menda-cijjimtis, a Lyar,\% one that faith what the Papifts would not have to be true. If you underftand them otherwifc, you are deceived { ordinarily. )

§41. About the death of Taulus Cubicularius, and others, note, that it had long been the way of the Churdi-Canons, to contradiifl God's great Law for humane fufety, [^ He that jlieddeth Matts blood, by Alan fliall his blood be ped ; 3 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 Chrlft, by decreeing, that inftead of being Hanged, or Beheaded, if they would but be Baptized, they fhould but be kept for a time from the Sacrament, or do Pcnnance j, and what Villain would not then be a Chriftian ?

S4i.

o

§ 4^. Here arifeth a great Controverfie with Sigiirert, ( a Monk-HIfto-rian) and Gm^ww himfelf,which Barovius and Bmnius take u^,ijt2j. the tirft fiy,. [ That Charles being at Rome,a Council there with Pope Adrian gax-e him the power of chujing the Tcpe,and ordering the Apoftoltck Seats; and all BiJIiops and Archbi^ops in all Provinces, to receive InVefiiture from him,and that none jliould Confecrate aBijhop unlefs he were praifed and invefied bj the King ; and that they Anathematize all that rebel agamsi this Decree, and ccnfifcate their Efiates if they repent not: But, (ay Baronius and Binniits, thu is a lye, and dt-vtfed deceit to flatter the Emperor Henry a Schifmattck. And wliile Chroniclers may have the Lye given them (b eafily by Didenters in matters oHuch pubKckFaft:, we are left at great uncertainty in Hiftory, others iis contident-ly giving the Lye to the Papal Flatterers, as they do thofe of their own Religion that do not pleale them.

One of the Reaions againft this Decree, is the contrariety of \hc French Conftitutions, /. i. r. 84. faying, [^ Not being tgmrant of the facred Canons we confented to the Ecclefiaftick Order, to wtt, that Btjliops be chofen by the ^ EleBim of the Clergy and PEOPLE, according to the Statutes of the Canons out of their own Diocefs, without reJpeH of Perjons or Reivards, for the merit of their Ife, and their gift of wifdom, that by eKample and word they may every way profit thofe that are under them. 3

I. This indeed fheweth how Blfliops by the Canons were to be cho(cn, even till thcle days of Charles the Great; he was to be taken for no Bifliop that came not in by the Peoples ( as well as the Clergies ) Eicdlion, or con-fent at leaft.

z. But this contradicteth not what Sigihert and Gratian (u)j the Emperor might ftill have a negative voice after all, cfpecially as to a Pope; In very deed, the door is (afe that hath divers locks, i. It bclongcth to the Clergy and Ordainers to judge who fhall be [A Bijtjop or Mmifter of Sacred things.^ a. It belongeth to the Flock to dilcern whom they will accept for THEIR Bifhop or Pallor. 3. It belongeth to the Magiftrate to judge whom he will countenance or tolerate in that Office.

§ 45. Paulas Diaconiis theHiftorian was Secretary to DcfJaius the Lcn' gobard Kivg;Charles in anger commanded his hand to be cut oft , for doing lomewhat for his own King againft him ; the Courtiers added , that hu eyes [Iwuld be put out; wliich made Charles confider and fiiy. If we do but cut off his hand, where Jliall ve find fuch another Hifioiian ?

§44. Conflantine the Emperor now dying, called Cojwaw/WMj; the P<»^//?j call us to take notice what a Leader we follow that are againft the Worfhip of Images ; faying that he dyed with the beginnings of Hell-fire, convinced of his (m againft the Virgin Mary, and that all his life he loved the fincll of dung, and ftinking things;; ftrong Arguments for I mage-worfhip, as worthy as Sigeben's and Gratian s, to be fufpeifled as Lyes, or of little certainty.

Church Hif-ory of Bijhops md

§ 45'. While Lto Ifaiirus and Confi^ntine livcJ, the Councils ot BJihops went with them, and Images went down in the Eaftern Empire : Covfiantine dying, his Son Leo fuccceded him, faith Bimiiits, in his Hcryie, hr.piety and Sacrilcdge, that is, in his oppolition to Imagc-woifliip, and fiich lii;c. Peta-'vipsiluth, he iirft feigned himlelf a Catholick, (that is, tor Images ) but after fell oft": His Sacrlledge was, that loving Jewels, he took for himlelf a rirh Crown, which Maurue had devoted to the Virgin Alary ; whereupon Carbuncles :u-o(c on him, ^nd he dyed: but had not Alatolce himiclf a ladder death ? Thus partial HiiWians feign and apply Judgments.

§4(5. Irene, Leo i Widow, with her Son Conjtantine a Child, next ruled, and, laith Binniiis, God by a Widow and an Orphan Child, by a Wonder , dii tread den)n the Impiety that had been fet up, and reflored Religion, that is. Images. And indeed Rome's intercft and proper way hath been cliiefly advanced under H^omen and Rebels. And It Is no wonder if Ire7ie a Moman, and her Child, were more for Images than their Predeceflors. Children u(e to play with Images, and Womens Fancies are oft not unfuitable to them. I think It as obftrvable a matter, as Binnius doth, to note the Inftru-tnents.

§ 47. There are in Binnius the Titles of 44 at leafl: Epiftles of Pope ^ Adrtath recited : The 3 6th lalth, [//e profejjeth that the Church of Rome doth embrace and reverence the Whole fourth Calcedon Council. Remember then that the laft Canon is approved, which declareth die realbn of the Rc-tnan Priviledges to be becaufe It was the Imperial Seat, and therefore that Confiantine fhould have the like, and that it was given it by the Fathers. ^ Moil or many of them are thanks to Charles for giving St.Feter Co ma-

ny great Cities and Dukedoms,and Exhortations to him to continue his bounty. By their ordinary language you would not fufpeft any Selfiflinefi,Pride or Covetoufnels in the Popes ; it is bU|t for St. Peter that they defire all

§48. In his Eplftle to Co«/(Zwf;«e and 7rfw, (the Child and Mother ) to

• See Hen. entice them to be for Images,, he tells a fabulous Story * of a Vlfion of Con-

Fotrlis o'i flantines fending him to Silvefler as his Guide , to be baptized of him, and

Papifts j.g j^g thereby cured of a Leprofie: It w^ Peter and Paul that appeared to

P. 120. ' ^^™ '■> ^"'^ ^^'^ asked Silveftcr whether there were left any Images of Peter

proving and Paul, which he affirmed,and Ihewed him their PI6lures ; and the Elmpe-

the whole ror cryed out, 'Thefe are the Aden that appeared to me. And part of their

f?r^ Meflage to him was, that he fhould bring all the world into the (ubjedlon of

the Church of Rome. ~\ Was not here a ilrong Argument to a Woman and

a Child to be for the Pope and for Images, contrary to current Hiftory, ( that

tells us Conftantine was baptized at Ntcomedia a little before his death,) and

without any credible proof Thus the Papal Rome was built. When Adrian

had given away the Weftern Empire to Charles, yet he thus iiatteretb a

Woman and Child in the Eaft, as if he had done them no wrong at

aU.

§49-

1

§ 49. ?,?«/ Bifhop of Ccnjr. having f.vorn againft Images, and repenting, is liiid CO rcliga his place, and to tell them that they mull have a General Council; and TaraJiHs fiiccccding him , being for Images , got a promife of a Council. It leems by thcii- Epiltles, though they agreed about Images, Pope Adrian and this Tarafvts acculcd each other as (ufpcdlcd of Simony, (ec Bm. p. x6r. and the Epiftles. Irene knew that Tara/itis was for her turn, and Jarajius knew that Iyc7ie was for Pictures; and (6 between them common notice was given abroad before-hand to the Bifhops, ( that lately had condemned Image-worfliip, and puU'd them down ) that the Emprels "tS

3jid the Patriarch were for reftoring Images, and would call a Council to that end : and this was enough to prepare the majority of tl^ Bifliops for a liiddcn change.

%'yO. Befides a Council at Wormes, An. 771. to little purpolc, Fe^rwr hath publiilicd one ot that year at Dingohctnga in Ba'varta under Duke Taljilo, which had divers Canons of Equity, and lomc of Superftition ; one was, that certain Biihops and Abbots agreed, that wliofbercr dyed firft, tlic reft fhould (ing (6 many Ffalms, and get thirty Mafles to be laid. And a notable Priviledge is granted to all that will but fcek liberty or Iheltcr in tlie Church, that both they and thftir Pofterity fliall be free, unlefi they bring a debt undiichargeable on thcmfclvcs.

§ 5" I. There is by Canijins publiilicd an Epitome of the old Canons (except the Nicefte ) as gathered by this Adrian , and fent to Charles Afag. I will recite a few of them, £.v Clem. c. 13. " Let a Bi(l)op, or Presbjter , " or Deacon, taken in Fornication, Perjwj, cr Theft, bede^oyd, but not ex-" communicate.

"C. z8. That a Bifijop who ohtaineth a Church bj the SccuIarVoivers be " d^-pofed. _

" Can.Antioch. 8. Cotmtrey Tresbytcrs may not gi've CanonicalEpifiles, but " the Chorepilcopi, ( by which it is plain, that the Choreptfcopi were not , Presbyters, but fas Pcr^j-z/z/w on Epiphan. Arrim hath well proved) "true-" Bipwps.

" C. II. Tljat condemned Cltrks fliall never be refiored if they go to the • " Emperor.

" Can. Laodic. c. 3 5. \_That no one praf withHereticks or Schifwancks, J -i:i

( which fccmeth to oblige us to fcparate from the Roman Prelates, who arc grievous Schifmaticks, by impolmg things unlawRil on the Churches, andli-lencingand perftcuting thofc that obey not their i1nfi.1l Laws.

Before the C;?«. 5«r(i'/c. he mcntiop.eth the wcakncfs of o'd Ofifff that faivi that they were both in the right, who ulcd the word [ of one fuhjl.wce, ] ajid \^of the hkeJishfiance. ~\

" Can. Sard. i. That a Bijhop that by Ambition cbartgetb bis Seat, fliall r.ot ** have ((b much as ) L.ty-communim ( no not ) at the end.

"C. 14. C. I y. That ?}o Bifhop be above three weeks in another City , nr.r ■»"

'■^ above tivo weeks from bis cvm Church, ( which implicth iliattach yilliop had then his own particular Church.)

"-Can.-

Md*

^ " Can. Afric. c. i 5'. That there be no Rc-baptiz.:ng, Re-ordaimng, nor Tran-

'■'■ fat tons of B'llmps.

" C. 17. That rf a Bifljop to be Ordained be CmtradiBed, (that is,by any objected unfitnels ) " he jhall mt after be Ordained as purged only by three " Bijhops, but by manj.

" C. 19. That Dioceffes that -waTits Bijiwps^recei've notK -without the conftnt of " the Bi^jop who hitherto held them , ( lb it was ) not proudly ; For if he " overbold them-t (that is, hold them under himftlf alone, when they, need more Bifhops ) " afecling to fit over the People,and dejpifing his Fellow-BijJwps, " he IS not only to be driven from the retained Diocej]es, but aljo from Im ovm " Church : 3 (lb that no proud Bifliops fhould have power to hinder the Churches from having as many BifKops as they need. )

" C. 6 o. That Bifiops that are of later Ordination , prefume not to fet or " prefer themfel'ves before thofe that were befre them.

" C. 94. Jf a Bijijop, fix months after admo7ntion of other Bi^wps, negleEi to " make Catholicks of the People belonging to his Seat, any other fljall obtain them ^ " that jJiall deliver them from their Herefie : ( that is, Donatifin,or the like; ) (b that if one Bifliop negleft the Souls of his People, and another that is more able and faithful convert them,they maybe the Flock of him that converted them, without removing their dwelling.

" C. 105. T/^at a Bipop jJiall tiot Excommunicate a man on aConfeJfton " made only to himfilf: if he do, other Bipops pall deny Communion to that " Bifiicp.

% ^1, Several Gerw^w Councils are mentioned, {ztlVormes, Paderbotne, Daria, in which ( by a new example ) Charles Alag. is confirmed to force the Saxons to proftfs themftlvcs Chriftians, and to take an Oath, never to revolt : who yet ( doing it by conftraint ) were oft perjured and revolted, till at laft their Heathen )Duke JVttichmd became a voluntary Chriftian him-felf.

§ f 3. There are 8 o more Canons againft OpprefTors of the Clerg)', fald

to be coUefted by Adrian, of which one is the old one, " That no Bifwp

'^' ^^judge the Caufe of anyPrieil, vi.'hoHt theprefence uf h/sClergy; becaufethe

" Bipofs Sentence pall be void, if it be not confirmed by the prefence of the

" CUrgj.

Another, " That no Bipop ordain or judge in another s Par if), elfe it pall be " void; For we jud^e that no one is bound by thefentence of any other Judge, " but his own : ( Who then is bound by the Pope, or any Uftirper, who will Excommunicate thole that are not of his Flock ? ) ^ Another liiith, " [ By a general Sanation we forbid Foreign judgments,

^''becaufe it IS unmeet that hepould be judged by flrangers,who ought to have " Judges of the fame Province, and that are choftn by himfelf. otj Another, [" That no Bipop prefume to judge or condemn any of the Clergy,

" unlels the accufed Ferjon have lawful Acculers prejcnt, and have place for " defending himjelf by anfwering to the Charge.

Another,

0^

their Councils abridged.

215

Another, " For Nullifying fuch BiJIjops judgments as are done without due " Tryal, hy Tyrannical Power, and not by Canonical Authority.

Another fairii, " Confiitntions that are contrary to the Canons , and to the ,^

" Decrees of the Biflwp of Rojne, or to Good Manners, arc of no moment : ( which nuUeth even many of the Bifhops of Rome alio, as againlt Good Manners.)

Another notable Canon is, " [_ Delator/ aut lingua capuletiir, aut cotnjtHo *^ Caput amputetur : Delatores autetn funt ejui ex invidia produnt alios, j That is, " Let a Delator s tongue be puli'd out, or if Convicl,his Head cut ojf : Dela-" tors are thofe that through ewy betray others; ( or envious Accufers. j Alas! if our Delators, Calumniators and Informers were thus ufcd now,what abundance would have fuftered for wronging (onie one Man ?

Another Canon is, '■'■ If a Man be often in cjuarrels, and eafie ( or forward ) " to accuse, let no Man receive his Accufatton without great Examina-*^ tion ? ( What then will be thought of the iifual AccuQtions of Clergy Calumniators, that forSe6ls, and worldly huercft, can reproach others wlth-0UC (hame or mcafiire ? )

Another is, " That the danger of the "Judge is greater than the danger of " him that is judged; therefore all care muiJ be taken to avoid unjuit judg-" ment and punijhments.

Another is, [_ " Let no Adan receive the witness if a Lay-man againft a '''' Clergy-man. J ( And Door-keepers, and Clerks, and Readers, were then Clergy-men ; Was not tliis a great privilcdge to the Church ? )

§ J4. CCXXXII. We come now to the great General Council at Nice xd , called by the Tapifls the 7th, ( that is, the 7th which pleafc-d them. )

I have before noted that Irene, the \\'idow of Leo, now Ruled , her Son Confiantine being Titular Emperor, a Child, under her Government. One Staurattus a Senator mod (waycd her, or ruled her. Taitraftus the Patriarch joined with her for Images. They call a Council at Confl amino fie. A General Council and three Emperors ( Leo, Conft. o~ Leb ) had lately condemned ^ Images, and taken them down. The Pope and many Italians had refiftcd by force. This violence made the Emperor u(e (evcrity againft the Rtfilkrs. At Ravenna they killed Taulus the 14t!i Exarchate. In Rome they rook Te-r«r a Duke, and put out his eyes. In Campania they beheaded £.v/i;7ff<»f.'« the Duke, and his Son Adnan,w\\o took the Emperor's part. How the Emperor hereby loft Italy,is before fhcwed. But this Woman J»i»e will do as the Pope would have her : She is as much for Pidures as the Pope himfclf. She calling this Council at Cw7?rf«;/V;e^.V, the old Soldiers bred up under the former Emperors being againft Images, ( ha:re/rn meduhnus tr.hibcranr, (aith Rinnius, p. 396.) Would not endure them in Cofiflantimple, but rout •Qj

cd them. At which the Emprcfs being troubled, diftiilled the Bifhops till they had purged the Army ol- thole old Soldiers, and then flie called the Bi-(hops to Nice ; and there (they knowing their errand betoie-hand) damned

G c: them-

themfelves and their Brethren tliat had held the former univerlal Synod, and lit up Images again.

§ 55'. By the way,I appeal from Pride and Ignorance, to Chriftian Sobriety and Reafonjhow the taking down of Images can fin the Roman icnCc) a5- be called an Hercfic, unlefs it be an Article of Faith, that Images muft or may be u(ed. And can any Man that ever read and beUeved the Scriptirres, and the Writings of the firft four hundred years, believe that having or wor-fhiping of Imagts,or Saints by Images, is an Article of Faith, or neceffary to Salvation ? The beft of them that any Man can plead with Modefty is, that they are indifferent,or lawful,znd ulcfijl to (bme Perfbns. The Vafijls tell us now that they would not compel us to bow toward Images,but leave it to our liberty. Mull it be Herefie, and the Cliriftian world call into diftra£H-ons about it, when yet this Image-worihip is Idolatry in the fenfe of one part of Chrlftians, and but Indifierent and convenient to the ignorant (that have other helps enow ) in the (enle of others? O what a Plague hath it been to the world, to have a worldly Clergy invade the Churches i

§ 5" 6. At the meeting of this Council we have firft the Call and Title, in which,

I. The Emperor and his Mother are called the Governors of the whole world, ( Orhts Terrarum. ) And yet our Fapifis ( zsW. Johnfon in his ^o-'veltj repreflf &c. ) would make Men believe that if they find but fuch a faying of a Council, or of the Church, It muft needs fignifie more tlian the Empire, even all the Earth indeed.

a. h'i exprcfly (aid over and over, that this Council was called by the Emperor,and by their Decree and Command.

Iharajiiis bcginneth with telling them the need of Reformation (for Images, ) and reporting how they were aflaulted at Cofifiantimple, when they met there, (and fbremoved to Nke,^ &c.

§5-7. Next the Letters of theEmprefs and her Son are read, in which they are before made know what they muft do. They are told what Paul Cotjfi. on his Death-bed laid for Images, and that Tarafius would not take the Patriarchate till he had promift of a Council to reftore them, and fbme hopes of it.

The Emperor here (aith, that [ he called and Congregated the Synod, and that ex imi'verfo terrarum orhe,otit of the whole earthly world J and yet it was only out of the 7?owit?; Empire,

§5-8. When the Bilhops bufinefi was fb well made known by the Woman that called them, firft thrte Bifliops that had been lately forward fpeakers againft Images in the former General Council under Covjlantine, did humbly confcfs their fin to the Council, and asked forgivenefi; that is, Bajil. Ancyray Theodoru-s Aiyron, and Theodofitts Amorii. And firft BaJll Bifhop of Ancyra gave them his Creed, in which he profefled to " believe in the Trinity, and " to embrace the ijstercelfwn of the Aiother of God, and of the hea'venly TowerSy " and of all the Sai?its, and with all honjur to rccei've and embrace their holy " Reliques, firmly believing that be may be made Partaker of their holmefs:

'*Alfo

(

" Alfo that he embracetb the t'enerable Images, which * the Otcmontj of our » -j-he " Lord Jefus Chrifl, &c. and of the hrvio/ate Virgin oifr Lady the Mother of Verb is "Go^, and of the holy A^ojiles, Prophets, Martyrs, and all Saints ; and greet h Iffc out. " them due hotiour: Rejeiting and cttrfing with all his mind that called the

" jth Synod ( *), that was gathered by a depraved mind arid madnefs a 1 ' 2,

"falj'e Council, as alien to all Piety and Religion , impioufly barking agamfi Jarcly a *^ Ecclefajlical Legiflation — reproaching venerable Images,and co}nma}idingthcm LeaJcr. " to be taken out of the Churches, 6cc.

And to flicw his zeal, and lead others the way, he deliyercth in nine Cur-fts or Anathemas. One againfl thofe that demolilli Images. Another againft thofe that expound tlic Scripture words againft Idols and Gentile Images , as againft Chrlftians Images. Next he execrateth all that embrace not Images, fo it is now become neceflary unto (alvation.) Another Curfc is againft thoft that favour them that are againft Images, c^c. ( Was not the Cluircli ill uled by her Bifhops, when they arc Pure to be curled by them; one year curfing all that be For Images,and another curling all that be not for them? Was it (uch a curfing Clergy, to make a curled Cliurch, that Chrift ordained ? ) And that the Council might not fufpeit that this Bifhop was a Temporizer, and changed his Opinion with the Times, Hrft he profclTcth to declare all this, [JVtth his whole Soul, Heart and Mind ; ] and next he wiflieth, (? "That f ever by any means he revolt again from Images, he may be alienated from God the Father, Son and HolyGhofl,and theCatholick Church^ And thus lie renounceth Repentance, curfing himfelf if ever he repent.

§ 59. Tharafius and his Synod glorifie God for this excellent Confelllon : And next cometh72?eo</ere Bifhop of Myros, and he doth the like, and is joyfully received : And next cometh Theodofius Bifhop of Jmo"rum,a.nd he more dolefully lamenteth, that \_ being a friner, and [educed, he had blattered cut many evils untruly againfl venerable Images ; and therefore ccnfejfing his fault, be condemneth and curfeth ( or detcfteth ) himfelf, refolving hereafter to do the fame thing which he had curfed ( or fpokcn ill of ) and to teacJj it to the world, and begging to be received among Chrifiians though unworthy. Next he ofTcr-eth his Libel, viz. " Firfi I approve, receive, Jalute and venerate before all *' things, the intemerate Image of our Lord frfus Chrijl our true God, and the " blejjed Mother Virgins, who brought him forth without feed *; v.'hoje help, pre- * How " tetlion and intercej/lon I pray for night and day, that (l)e may help me aftnner, ^^'^"^ '^'j. ".«j- having that power from him whom flte brought into the world, Chrifi cur \rf^^uh-" God. And I receive and venerate the Images of Saints, Afcjlles, Prophets, ftancc. " Martyrs, Fathers, Eremites, not as Gods, Sec. And with all my mind I be-^'' feech them to intercede with God forme, that I may fivd mercy in the day of ^'■judgment. On the fame account I venerate the Reliques of Satnu,

" &'c,

So he proccedeth alfb to hisCurfcs, and ^'frfhe amthematiz^tb all that " venerate not Images: Then he cwfetb thofe that reproach them : And next, " thatjpeak evil cf them : And next he curfeth thofe that do not from their

G g 1 '■'■hearts

" hearts teach Chrifltan People the 'veneration of holy and hmonrahle Images of " all Saints, ■which Jrom the beginning f leafed God.

£^f, I. Where fiiall we have Painters enow?

a. Where (hall wc have Money to pay them ?'

3. Where fhall we find room to hold them ?

4. Is not here a new Article of Faith , and a new Q)mmandment

neceflary to Salvation ? 5". Was not jheir Church Univer(al,as it flood before all or moft here curfed ? 8^ 6. \Vas it not a hard matter to be faved, or be a Conformift on the(e

terms, when a Man that did but doubt of Images, yea.,that dtd vot teach thm to tbePeDple,and that from his heart, muft be curled ? 7; Was notfiicha curfing (brt of Bifhops a great Curie, Shame and Calamity to the Church ? Did they not tempt Infidels ta curfc or deride them all, while tlicy thus curfed one. another, even their Councils,?

TJjarafius ioyfijlly received all this, and Conftantine Bifhop of Confiance In Cyprus fi.id,7hat tUs Libel of Theodofius drew many tears from him^ (I fup-pofe of joy ;) And now they all fuw the way.

§ 60. But now Cometh a Crowd more to do their Pennance ; Hypatius Bifhop of NicCj Leo Rhodt, Gregory of Tifuha, Gregory of TeJJinunt , Leo of Iconium, Nicolas of Hierapolis,Leo of Carpathium. And now Taraftis was fiire of them, he groweth more upon them, and will know of them, JVheme it "was that in the laji Council they did what they did againjl Images ? whether iy it was tkrotgh meer Ig7torance,or by any reafon that drew them to it:If through Ignorance, he bids them give a Reiijo7t how they came to be fo ignorant: If up-on any Reajo?}, to tell what that Reafon ovas, that it tnight be refuted.

Leo, Bifhop of Rhode, anfwered, ." [ /-f e have finned before God, and btfore '■^ the Church, and before this holj Synod; Ignorance made us-fall from the " Truth, and we have nothing to fay in cur own defence. ]]

Tkarafms would know what Reafon now moveth and changeth them; fbme fay, bccaufe it is the Doilrine or Faith of the ApofHes and Fathers. Another alledgeth a faying as of the ^ntioch Council, and another as of Ifidi re Ve-laf.yA-\\ch the learned Reader examining, may fee what proof it was that Images were brought into Churches by; it's worth the noting. But another alLedgeth the Apoiilcs and Prophets Tradition : But what's the proof ? And did not the Council at Confiant. nor the Bifhops in the Reign of the three former Emperors knov/ what Tradition was? Was it unknown till now? «^ flow came it now known then? Or who told it this Council, when the laft' kjiewit not ? Or if the laft were falfe Knaves, how fhall we be fiire that thcfc were honefl Men ? Or that the fiime Men were fuddcnly become wile aud.hondl?'

Tbarafius.

Thara/ius asketh one of the Bifliops ( Leo J HowSt came to pafs that he that had been ten or eight years a BJlTiop,never knew the Apoltolical Tradition for Images till juft now ? He anfwercd, Becaiife through many y^ge.', ( or Times ) Malice endured^ and fo wicked Doifrine mdurtd ; and -uthen this ferfevered for our fins, it compelled us to go out of the way cf Truth; hut there ' ts hope with God of our fal'vatton. But Confiantine Cypr. anfweicch liim, You that are Bijltops, and Teachers of others, jlwuld not have had need to be taught your fel'ves. Leo replied, If there were no expre[/io» of fin m- the Lav, tUre would he no need of Grace. Another ( Hypatius ) replied with tht; rcll-, JFe recei'ved til DoElrine from ill Aiafitrs. Yea, but (aith Tarafius , The Church ought not to receive Vriejlsfrom til Teachers. Hypatius , Bifhop ot Nice, re* pheth, [[ Ctiflom hath fo obtained. ~]

§■61. Hereupon the Synod defired to be informed on what terms Here-* ticks were to be received, when they returned : (b the Canons were brought and read. And though many Canons and Fathers have laid, tliat no Repentance for (bme Crimes muftreftore a Man to the Pricllhood, thoiigli it muft to the Church ; and there is an Epiftle of Tarafius put by Crabie before this Council, in which he dctcrmincth that aSimoniack may be received upon Repentance to Communion, but not to his Office ; yet Tnfius here being dchrous of their return, ( knowing that rhcfe Penitents that renounced the erron of their Education, and former praAicc, would draw otliers to coi:--formity with them ) did refolutely anfwer all that was objciStcd againft their reception.

§ 6x. Here (in Cr^^. ^. 471. ja queftion fell in (upon their reading the-Prools, that repenting Hercticks were by the Church to be reltored to iheir' Bifhoprlcks and Priefthood,)/-^^'<7/ Heretich thifewcre ? And it was anfwer-ed, that tlicy were Ncvatuins, Encratifis, and Arrians, and M.inichces, Mi?; — eionifis, and Eutychiatis. And then one askctli. Whether this Here fie ( agaivfi Images ) w.js greater or kfs than all thofe ? And Thara/ius anlwcreth, ( like a Stoick ) " [Ex'/Z is ahvays the fame and e^uaJ, efpecially in matters Ecch-"■ fiaftteal, in the Decrees of which hcth great and fmall, to trr is the fame " thing ; for in both God^s Law is violated. J ( O Learned Patriarch , wor--thy to be the letter up of Church-Images! ) A venerable Monk that was Vicar of the Oriental Patriarch, anrwcrcth,[" Tliat this Here fie is worfe tha?p " all Herefia, and the vcrfi cf all Evils, as that which fubverteth the Quo-" nomy of our Saviour. 3

Note, Reader, how the Patriarchal Thrones did govern the Chiirch an>h tliis Council, and by what reafbns Images and Saints intercefilons were let up.' Arri.jntjm, Manichcilm, Marcionifm, no Hercfic that denied the cficntials of' Chriftianity, no evil was lb bad with them as to deny Church-Imat^cs, ^o And lb the late General Council, and Blfhops, for three Enipci-ors Reigns, . had been under tlie worft of Heretics and Evils, v/crle \.\ym ArriantttP icM.

§63..

■n

■ts

c5-

§ 65. But here Conjlant'me the Notary of the Confi. Patriarchate, happily brought in fo pertinent a Teftimony, as much made for the pardon of the penitent Biihops: He read out of the Council of Cakeacn, how t\\t Orttntal and other Bilhops that had lately fet up Eutyches and Diofcorus in the ad

CJ" Ephcfuin Council, cryed at Calcedon, [_We have all fmneti, -wt all ask for-givefiejs. ] And how Tfialafius, Etifebiits and Euflathius cryed, [IVe have nil erred, we all ask forgivenefs. ] And after them 'Jwvenal, and after him the Illyric.ifi Bidiops crycu, [ TVe ha've all lapfed, we all ask vardcn. ~\ And (b the Prclident was undeniable and eftc6fual. Thclc were not the hrfl: Bifhops thit went one way in one Council under one Prince, and cryed feccavimus for it,a5 Hercho,in the next.

§ 64. But Sab.js the Monk ftarts yet a greater doubt than this, and that is, whether they had true Or<{iiiatic»,-ind fo were true Bipiops. For fleing they were bred in the times of Herefie, which had prevailed under lb many Emperors, and had Heretical Teachers, it's like they had Heretick Ordain-crs, feeing the late Council ihewed what the Bifhops then were. And the Facf was confeft, that they were Ordained by Bilhops that were Hert-ticks, ( that is, againft Church-hnages, and praying to Saints for their intercefTion, and ufing Reliques. ) The Bifliop of Rome's Vicars pleaded hard againft their Ordination ; but Tarafius knew what a breach it would make in the Church if a General Council, and all the Bilhops that were at it, and all the relf tliat conlcnted to it, and were bred up in that Opinion, fhould be degraded, and the new Conformity receive fb great a ftop ; and what confijlion it would make among the People, ( as they had fccn in many former inlfances) and therefore he is againft their depofition. And firft there are two paflages read in their fiivour out of Ruffinus and Socrates, and (bmewhat of yitha-nnfius. And then when Veter Vic. Rom. alledged the inftance of Meletius againft it, Tarafuis brought a notable expeditious Argument, 'vix^ The Fa-

€3" thcrs agree among themlelves, and do not contradiil one another : ergo the reft content to thefe that have been cited. Methinks I could make great ufe of this Argumentation to (ave time, labour and difficulty in dilputing. E. G. Nazianz^en wiftit there were no difterence of Bilhops Seats ( one above another ) and (aid that he never law Councils that did not more haiTn than good. The Fathers differed not among themlelves j ergo the reft of the Fathers were of Gregorfs mind.

In concluhon, they oflered their Confellions, and were ablblved. § 65-. In the id A6fion, the Rulers fend in thcBIfhop of Neo-Cafarea to do his Pennance; and he alfo crycth for mercy, and confefleth that his errors and fins were infinite, but now he believed as the Synod doth. Tharajius ask-eth him whether he be not afhamed to have been ignorant (b long, and quedioneth the (incerity of his Repentance, which he earneftly profefleth, condemning his Sin, and promifing Conformity.

Next a long Epiftle of Adrians to the Emperor and Emprcfi, and another to Tljarafiiis for Images are read: For Popes ufe not to travel to General Councils, but to lend their Letters and Legates, left in their prefent Difputes

they

they be found no wifer than other Men, and their Infallibility be proved lefi at hand, than at a diftance, where they hear no: the Debates. Here yJArun to the Emprefi relateth the forcfaid Vifion of Covflantine Mag. to be healed of his Leprolie, a Fable fit to introduce Image-worfhip ; and for an Infallible Pope to ufe, fully confuted (as aforeftid ) by Hemy Fmiiis ( after many others) of Popiih Treafons.

§ 66. Tbarafius profefleth his confent to Adrims Letters, yet profcfleth, Q That he giveth the Wotpip called Latria to God alone, and flaceth his belief Crab. p. m htm alone. ] Contrary to Atjumas and his Followers, ana other (ijch Ro- 48/. man Dodlors. And the whole Council ecchoed their confent, and voted for Images j fo much can one Woman do in Power.

§ 67. In the 3d Action, Gregory Bifhop of Nec-Cafarea is to receive his Ablblution fully, and Tliarajius puts in an Obje&ion, that it's faid that Ibnie Bilhops in the late Persecution did fcouvge diflenting Bilhops, and luch were not to be received : But Gregory protefted that he (courged none. But he is acculed by others, to have been a Leader of the lad Council againft Images, and Co he is deferred. And the Eplftle of Jharajtus to the Eaftern Patriarchs is read, ( and their Anfwers; } in which it is to be noted, that yet Image-worfhip was not owned: For he profeflTeth in his Creed to them, that [^ IVe admit Figures for no other uje, hut that they may the more ferfeHly be exhibited to the fight and eyes; as the Lamb of God that taketb away the fins rf the World, &c.}

And the 4th A6lion containing all their Proofs from Scripture and Fathers, plead but for the memorative and inl^ructing ufe of Images, by which they are to the eye, what words are to the ear: But they fhould have con-fidered the danger of abufc, and foreften how much furtlicr they were like to be carried, as with the Papifis they are. .

And in the fifth Aftion they proceed in reading more, ro the ftme purpo(e, for commemorative Images; till one read the Itinerary of the ApofiUs^which "fn

they voted to be a curfed Book, and laid it was that Book that the Synod againft Images made ufe of: whereupon Greg.Nco-Ciefd}'Theodof.Amorii,are asked whether that Book was read in the falie Synod, and th<y fuMie by God, that it was not, but only fbme recited words as out of it. Fretoriui a Nobleman faid, {_ But they did all by the Royal Procuration. ] And they proceed to refell the Teftimonies that were brought againfi: Image>. Cofmar Cubiculariiis brought out an Old Tcfbment with Scholia blotted out, where was yet legible on the (econd Commandment, " [ If we make the Ima/re of " Cbrift, truly we do not for the fimilttude a.'hre tr, but that the mind min-ht " he raifed upward by what is feen. ] The Expun6Kon was laid by Tara-fitts to be done by his PredcccfToi-s, Anaflafius, Confiantine, ViBor, all Here-ticks. And here they curfed Concealers and Canccllen of Writings. ( Wo then to Rome ! ) Other rafed Books were read, and Curfcs added againfi: the Adverlaries of Images, and thofe that communicite with them.

§ 68. In the 6th A6lion,the words of the 7th Council againft Images are brought forth in a Book with a Confutation of them,which the Reader that

hatbi

\

2 ^ z Chtirch-Hijiory of 'BiJ]?ops and

halh Iciliirc mey compare. Gre^.Neo-defar. read the Councils words, yoan. Cancellartus read the Confutation. It fell out well that this Confutation was undertaken, or elle we had lofl the Decrees of this Council, as the Afts, for ought I know, arc buried.

in general evciy fober Reader naay perceive a great deal of difference between the ftyle of the Council of ConfiantinopU; and the Anfwcr. The Council (peaks with as much temper and gravity, as moft of the befl: Councils liave done. The Anlwer aboundeth with (uch railings and reviling words, as are mcerer for a common Scold, than for Divines. The common language of it, is to call the Bifhops of the Council, Blinded, Ignorant, Fools,Wicked, Deceivers, Blafphcmers, and iiich like. And it all the Bifhops on earth be prefcnt, or reprcfentcd in a General Council, what a Cale then was the Church in ? And how ilia II we know what Council is to be believed, unleft the Pope make all the diflcrence ? • At Co7i- § 69. The number of the Bifhops were * 338. They firll fhcwhowSa-Jl.inttnop,i tmi hath brought in Idolatry. One of their chief Arguments againft Images of Chrift, is, that they favor of Neflorianifm, reprelcnting Chrift by his nieer Manhood, when they cannot paint his Godhead •, calling that Pi6f ure Chriff, and overthrowing the Occonomy and Union of his Perlbn. I meddle not with the weight of their rcafbn, but only recite it.

%Jo. It's again worth the noting, that the Anfwer to them faith, (Tor their charging Images, as drawing down the mind to Creature-worfhip; Latria ) C O infankn em lingtiam, cjuam hiflar machara acuta (^ 'veneno imbutiC folfidcut , &c. O mad tongue, which they Po£cfs like a jharp fivord, imbued ii'tth poyjon, &c. For no Chrifiian ever ga-ve Latriam to the Image of uhofe that are tinder Heaven ; for this ts the Fable of the Gentiles, and Devils invention^ and the aggrejfion of Sat/tnical ^Bicn.'] — [^Our Latria is in Spirit and Truth. ] Other paflages forbid us to think that they juggle here, and denying Latriam only to Creatures under Heaven, intend to give it to Creatures in Heaven ; for they appropriate it elfewherc to God : by which they greatly differ from Acjuimu and (iich Papifis.

§71. Note alio that ( whether well or ill ) both thefe adverfe Councils curie Pope Honorins as anHeretick ; (ee Crab. p. 5'6o,&c.

§ 71. Another Argument which the firff 7th Council ( ztConfi.) ufcth againft Images in Qiurches, is, that Chrift himlelf hath chofen and inftituted liich an Image as he would be reprcfented by,and that is the Bread and fVine in the Sacrament, and therefore we muft not prelume to make another, as if he had not done it well. This fheweth that tlus General Council and the Church then held that the Bi-ead was not nullified, nor become Chrift's E(-fince, but was the Image or Reprefenration of his broken Body, and fb called , The Body of Christ , as we fay of £. G. Cajars Image, This is Cafar.

But the adverfe Council, or the Anfwer, raileth at this as an abominable Speech, (Crab. p. ^6j.) as if the Sacrament might not be called, 77je/w<7]^e of Chrifl, (though tie re they feem not at all to differ ) faith the Ccnjlantme

Coun-

Council, [ Imagmem tot am elecfam, viz. fubfiantiam paws manJavit tjppofii, ne fcHicet, hiimana effigte jigurata, idolohitria induceretur. J A Deo traa.ia Imago Carnis ejus panis fcilicet D'timus impktus cfi Spiritu Sanclo, cum pcculo quoque jangiiinis lateris tlliiis 'vivijicantis. H^c igititr "jera incarndta atlpetf fationisChrifii Deinoftrilmago fecut pradiHiim ejt, qitam ipfe nobis vcy-^ ■•'a-tura z'lvidus Creator proprid -voce tradidtt.

§ 7J. Note alfo {Crab. p.^6S.) that the Ccnfiantin. Council plead, " Jhat this life of Images began neither by the Tradition of Chrifi, nor of the TD " Jpofles, nor of the Fathers: And that the AnfviTr faith, that " i Tlje I'cnc-" ration of Imiiges was deli'veied with many other things without Scripture^ ^'■from the Apojtks time. Sec.

Here note i. How thole Vapifls ( In particular which I have clfewhcre anfwcred ) are confuted, who lay that [Tradition is univcrfal,fure, knou-n, conftant, and no Churches pleaded Traditions againfi each other, at Icafl in necej-fary things or Faith; but if we have not the right now, it mujl be becaufe the Councils went all to Bed in cne mind, and roje in another. ] You fee here that the zd Nieeiie Council took the DoArine of the former to be Anathematized Hereficj and that 358 Bilhops In one of the Gjuntils, ( and the moll under many Emperors) and 35^0 Bilhops in the otherCouncil,pleaded Tradition againft each other. But (lire any Nlan that hath read the Fathers of the Hrft 3 00 or 400 years,will caGly fee which of them was in the right, excepting the lign of the Crofs.

a. Note alio that it is here confcffed, that there is no Scriptural Tradition . of this ule of Images.

3

§ 74. In the Definitions of the Confiantine Council it Is to be noted,

1. That they are not fb much againft the interceflion of the Virgin Mary, or Saints, as the trote/t.'mts mollly are, nor as the Tapifis make them: For ( Crab. p.')'i'.). ) they fay Dtfin. 15'. \^If any confefs not holy Mary ever a Virgin, properly and truly the Parent of God, and fuperior to every Creature vifble and invi/ible { * ), and doth not with a fincere Faith crave her Inter- /♦^\^/•h3r / cejJions,as having this liberty with him that is bom of her, God, let htm be fuperior Anathema. toChriffs

And Defin. ij. \^If any confefs not that all who from the beginning to this Humaiii-day, before the Law, and under the Lav, and m the Grace given rf God, being Xovc vou Saints are venerable in the prefence of God in foul and body ( ** ),and doth that ih'cis not Jeek their intercejjions, as having liberty with God to intercede for the world fuperior according to Ecclefaftital Tradition, let him be Anathema. 3 Were not thefe \° J 5 Men high enough in Creature-worlhip , to efcape the Curfc of Here- ^\'npcls > ticks? (") Are

1. I noted before how they do Df/;;. 7. conclude, that Chrill's Body glo- thebodics

rified is not proper F'lelh, and yet not incorporeal, but his true Body. *' .

f. _ ri-,' f /• / 1 • /^ '-1 c • J • 1 Saints

S 75- 1 hat you may !ce iliat this Council were or one mind, m the con- ajrca^ly

clulion they all lay, Omnes fc creditrus; Omnes idem fpiTKUs ; Omnes ap- r f.n .'

H h ■ ■ prcbando

frohando ziolentes fubfcrip/imus, &c. We all thus helime, (againft Images; ) He are all of otie minJ; IVe all fubjcrihe ■willtngly^as approving, &c. Only Germanus, George, a.nd A'Janzurus, ((uppofed to be Dama[c€ne) are found among the Anathematized Diflenten, Crab. p. 591.

§76. The 7 th AiStlon of the Nicene Synod, contalneth their Definition, in which they deny indeed Latria to Images, but yet (ay ( more than before ) "£ That they that fee the Piclnrej, may come to the memory and dejire " of the Prototypes ; as hy the f^t of theCrofs, and by the holy Gojpels, and " holy Oblations. — For the honour of the Image refulteth to the Prototype, and he *' that adoreth the Image, in it adoreth the defcribed Argument."} So that they that began lower, in the conclufion came up to Adoration.

They all profefs full confent, and curfe all that bring Scripture againft Images, and that call them Idols, dfc. They curfe the laft Council, as Rih gtens Conciliabulum ; and three diflcnting Bifhops,and three former Patriarchs of Confl. two more Bifhops they add. They curfe all that receive not Images, and all that falute them not in the Name of the Lord and his Samts, and that care not for tin-written Tradition of the Church.

Next they write an Epiftle to the Emprefs, ( and her Child ) applauding

them, and adding, that " [ Denying Latria to them , they judge them to he

"adored and fainted, and pronounced every one Anathematiz,ed that is fa

" minded, as to ftick at and doubt of the Adoration of Images , and this as

Craby p. " empowred by God's Spirit fo to curfe them ; which Anathema ((ay they )

°5' " is nothing elfe but feparating them from Chrijh.

Judge now what the ufe ot fuch Councils was, [ To curfe Men, andfepa-rate them from Chrifl, ] and that if they do but doubt of adoring Images. Reader, if thou believe that in the(e Heretications, Separations and Damnations of fuch, they were of Chrift's mind, and did his work, and fervcd not his Enemy againit him and Iris Church, lam not of thy mind, nor am ever hke to be.

Another Epiftle they wrote to the People, and- one Tharafius (cnt to Adrian.

0^

§ 77. Some Canons of theirs are added, of which this is the third. " [ Every EleBion of aBifhop,Priefl, or Deacon, which is made hy Magi-^ firates, fliall remain void, by the Canon which faith. If any BiJJiop ufe the Alas! " S^*^"^^'' Magifirates, to obtain hy them a Church, let him- he depojed and fepa-Muft all " rated, and all that communicate with him *.

be Scp.v The 4th Canon is, " [^ P<7«/ (alth, I have defired no Mam fiver or gold, ratilu u ^ jf fherefore any one exailing money, cr any other things or for any of Bi'fliops in "f'^'"" rf k" own, p.ill be found to drive from his Mtniftry, or to fegregate Engldiid, " <i^y one of his Clergy, or to fiiitt the venerable Temple, forbidding in it the Fr.i>!cc, " Divine Alinijleriesffhewing his madnefs even on that which hath no fenfe •*, ^A ^ h " J"^^ ^" "^^ " ^^"^^ /''"Jl^'^y and fhalt be obnoxious to the Lex Talionis, and his Iiiccrdiiiis " Vfi'rk f^allfall jipDn his own head, as being a tranfgrcfjor cf Goers Law: For

" tb6.

their Councils abridged.

^n

*' the chief Afofile Peter commavded. Feed the Flock of God, overfeeing it, not " by force i but freely and voluntarily, according to God; not for filthy lucre fake, " but readily and chearfully; not as having a dcmimon over theClergj;bta as " being exatnpla to the Flock.

The ijrth Canon forbids one Man to have two Churches.

The ^id Canon forbids Canting, and Minftre'.s, and Ribald Songs at meat: But the 7th (avors of their Supcrftition, forbidding any Temple to be Confecrated without Reliques, and ordering Temples that have no Reliqucs to be put down.

§ 7 8. In the Letter to Adrian,Tharafius tells him, that he had a year before attempted the like at Confl. but was hindered a whole year by violent Men ; which further (hewcth how far the oppolition to Images had obtained, when Irene began to fet them up.

§ 79. So much of the xd Nicene Council, in which by the power of one Woman, and Statrratius a. Senator that ruled her, the judgment of the Uni-verfal Church ( if the Council, or mod of the BIfliops in the Empire (ignific it) was fiiddenly changed from what it had been during the Reign of the three laftEmperoYs,and made that Church-u(e of Images; which (bme thought finfiil, and no judicious Chriftian could judge ncccflary, but indiffcrent,and of ufe to fome) to be henceforth (b neceflary, that the Dcnyers are fentenced for curftd Herctlcks, yea the Doubters cut off from Chrill.

§ 80. CCXXXIII. B/w««j next addeth a Council at F(7r(7/M/;«w,y^«.79T. held by TauUnus Bifhop of Aqutleta: in which is a Speech of his to the BIfliops, and an excellent Creed, and 14. Canons, written as byhimfelf; all in a far more underftanding, (bbcr, pious manner, than is ufual among the Patriarchs at Gener.il Councils. The i jth Canon Is an excellent Precept for the holy obfervation of the Lord's-day, wholly in Holinefs, and in Hymns of Praife to the Holy Ghoft, that blefled it by his admirable Advent, calling it God^s Sabbath of delight, beginning the 7th day evening, not for the honour of the 7 th day, but of this Sabbath, dfc.

§ 81. Yet rafli and unskilful words fet the Bifliops into more divifions. Falix Urgelitanus, and from him Elipandus Bifhop of Toletiim , taught that Chrijl as the eternal Mird vas God's Natural Son, but that as Man he vas his Adopted Son. Hence his Adverfaries gathered that he was a Nejfor/an, and held two Sons. A Council y?». 791. -^t Ratisbcn7}e was called to condemn this Hercfie. Yea, Jonju Bifhop of Orleance faith. That it infeBed Spain/cr a great part, ( and he knew their Followers to be certain Antichrifis, by their faces and ha!).:!. ) But wife Mm think that the Controverfic was not de re, but de nomine , And that if oneChiiit be laid to be one Son of God in two

H h z natureSf

-tD

c5=-

2 5 6 Cmrch-Hiflory of 'Bijhcps and

natures, by a twoMA ftmJamentum of the Relation of a Son, and that the founJatio}} of the eternal Relation was the eteinal Generation, and the foundation of the temporal Relation in the Humanity, was the temporal Generation and Union with the Deity, yet this provcth not two Sons: yea, or if it had been (aid that two Generations being the fiiiidamei\ta , two Rdations of SoJijhip refult from thcfn. If this be unskilfully and illogically fpoken,it will not follow that the Speakers held two Terfons^or made any more divifion of Chrifls natures than their Ad^'erHirics did ; but only might think that a double filiation from a double i\ix\AzmcnXx\m,7n'tght he found in one Perfon. Let this Opinion be wrong, I (ee not how the Hcreticators could make it a damnable Hcrcfie. But it's pity that Falix had not taken warning by the Churches long and fad experience, to avoid fuch wordy occafions of Contention,and not to fet again on .work either the Heretical, or the Hcreticating Evil Spirit.

0^ § 8i. C/^«^/«; Trt«n«e»//;, a great and worthy Bifliop at this time , did

fet in againft theWorfhip and Church-ufeof Images, againft whom yonat Aurelianenfis wrote, whole Writings are In the Biblioth. Fatrum by Marg. de la Eigne ; Read them, and judge as you (ee caufe..

§ 83. About the time of the Frankford ConncAyCzmt out a Book againft Images, which is publifhed as written by Carolus Magnus himfclf A great Controverfie it is, Who is the Author ? No fmall number fay, it was Charles his own indeed. Others, that it was written at his Will and Command. S/n./j.iSS But Binnius and (bme others deny it, and (ay it was written by Serenus Maf-d Im^' f^'^^fi' ^^ Iecnoclasl,a.nd his Difciples. How we flial] knowtlieTruth infiich Uh. 1. Cafes, I cannot tell: But it is confeffcd that Spain and France were then much infe£fed with the Do-£lrine which is agamft Church-Images. It is certain that Pope Adrian faith, that Carolus Mag. (ent him fuch a Book by En-gilbert an Abbot, and his Epiftle againft it is extant.

§ 84. CCXXXIV. We come now to a great Council at Franhford, called

by Charles Mag. prefent, and by Adrian. And as late as it is, all the Hi-

ftorians cannot tell us whether it was XJni'verfal^ox what they did. Some (ay

it was a GcnrraJ Council, becaufe Charles (ummon'd it as fuch , and 300 Bi-

.. fhops were there. Others fiiy No, it was but Provincial, becaufe none of

fuch a '^'^^ Bifhops of the Eafl were there, (a fiifficient reafon ; and the like may

Wcflern be brouglit to prove, that there never was a General Council in the World,

(■;cncr.il fo called horn the whck TVorld, but only from the wholeEmfire.) That they

Gouncil Jp^Ij. ,_yj^]., ^|^(, Q^r^ ^p j^lip^-^Jt^j Bifhop of Toktum,and Faiix Urgcl.is agi-eed

IVifk wns ^^ •> but what they did about Images is not agreed on. Ado, Rhegino, Aimo-

ij^^stgnc nius U'iJJ>tiyg. and many Hiftci-jans fay , They ccndttnned the Nicene Council

'■:'^'^'^^/^'that w.is for Images. Even Barcnius is of the fame mind, thinking the Li-

V; v.<-^;.»^^^ Carclmifs deceived thcra. He proveth this to be the. common judgment

of Hiftorlans, and ancient Writers. Bellarmine * ( his Brotliei-j is of the »^,/, j^ ftme judgment. And is not their Concelllon more than twenty later Mens Tm.:in. denial? i'ca Gencbr.trd concurreth ; yet Binnius leaveth his Mailer/><irc-<"■■■/'. 14. w/wi,and gireth his Realbns againft them. And he doth well prove, that it J^^'^" could not be by ignorance and furprizc, that the Frankford Council fliould ^^^''"^j ^^[ condemn the Kicenc; and he is loth to tliink that they were wilful Here- tcr ill ticks, elpccially when they profcls to follow Tradition: But he knew that die laich. In ■jth Conflantin. Coimcil againft Imager, frofeft to fcUowTraditicv. And [{ "'"'d} Sj-French Men will make usHercticks for fpeaking £?7g///73, it is no wonder if we prank-make them Hercticks for fpeaking French. If Men will Hcreticate others ford, i!:e for Images, or Ceremonies, or Words, others will meafure the like to them. "'/? Gcw-This kind of Hcreticating is circular, and hath no end. '■'/ Cwn-

Suarezw'Ai have cither the Hiftorians to have erred, or their Books to be '.„'^j^j /,„'' corrupted ; with what meafure you mete,it fliall be mcafiired to you. You iTiall d-e Bi/hops then give us leave to fiiipe>ft your Books, where there is far greater caufe. that woe

§ §5". But the Synod , or Vaulimts At^utleienfis, a learned worthy Bifhop 'SP'"""'" in the Synod, ( whom the reft follow ) copioully wiite a Confutation of Eh- '^^Jf^' ^j'' fandiis and Faltx. And the charges of Herelie are, r94.'Hift.

I. That they call Chrilt as to his Humanity, God^s Adapted Son, (and his 1. 8. c. 7. eternal Perfbn his Natural Son. ) "tB

a. Bccaufc they (l\y he was Adopted by Grace.

5. Becauft they f.\v he was a Servant.

Alas for the Clun-ch, that niuft thus by Bifhops be diftraSed for want of skill In words! Is there no remedy ? Binmtis confeffeth that (bme Papifis think that they meant right, as Dwr^w^/w did, and that thcdifterence was-but in words. _

The Council fuppofcth Ehpandrrs and Faltx to ulc the word [ Adoptim '] cxcluliveiy, as to ChrifPs Filiation by Gew£r<»f«w, as conceived by the Holy Ghoft: whereas it is far likelier that they took both Conjunft to be the fun-damenti(f» fHiaticnii. God adopting, that is, of his good Will freely creating Chrili's Humane Nature, and uniting it to the Divine ; called Adoption, becaufe it was God's tree a£l of Love, and not a communication of his EG fence, as the eternal Xjcneration is. The Humanity is not God's Eflcncc. And I hope the name of f T/je Son of Man ] ufed fo oft by Chrift of him-(clf, is no Hercfic. And there appcareth no reafbn to cenliire them as denying either the eternal or temporal Generation of Chrift.

But they argue againft them,

1. That he is (aid to be Adopted, that is, not Generated.

1. And that he merited it not, but was adopted of meer Grace,but fo was. not Chrift.

Anfw.i. Thefe ObjesSbions ftcm to confels that the difference was but de nomine ; and is the unapt u(e of (uch a word, anHerefie? How many Here-fies then have raoftCoimcils, and Fathers, and all Authors ?

x.Muft we needs underftand Goo's Adoptiotwuft in the meafure as mans ?

3. We are Regenerate, and yet Adopted. Why thea is it a Herefic, to fay that Chrift was G<;wfr<jrf</,and yet ^^o^rfi? , /^.Grace

4. Grate is either that which is aga'mt't the merit of evil, or only "without the merit of gooii. It's doubtleli lint the Hr'.t was not b}- them imputed to Clirift : And it's undoubted to mc, that it is confcquentially Blafphcmy , to lay that Chrift's Humane Naturc,or any Angel had not the later. For the very being, and therewith all tb.c good ii\ the conftitution and antecedent benefits of a Creature muft go before his merits. Merit is too low a word for the Divine Nature as fuch before the Incarnation. And the Humane Nature did not merit to be before it was, e. ^. to be conceived by the Holy Ghoft, &c. As free Benefits are called Grace, Chrift's Humane Nature had Grace.

But they objcft, that the two Bifhops did not diftlngulfh between Chriffs Adoftiov, and ours.

ylftf. I. We have not their Writings to fee that.

t. If they did not, it's like it was, becauft they thought it needlefi, being underftood by all. They believed the Creed, That Chrift ivas conceived by the Holy Ghoft, ^nd bom of the Virgin Mary ; and that the Godhead affu-med the Humanity Into perfbnal Union. They knew that none dreamed that it was fb with us.

The Council (aith. That it^s Herejie to ufe the name Adoption of Chrift.'Thc two Bifhops (eemed to think. That God's free ajfuming of the Humanity into perianal Unity -with theWord eternally generated by the Father, might be called Adoption. If the improper u(e of the word be Herejie,\ leave it to the Reader to judge which were the Hereticks : But I think neither.

j^ But another part of the Herefie was, to fay that Chrtft was a Servant as

Man. And they think he was no Servant, becaufe a Son. Some will think confidently that the Council were here Hereticks, but I think they did but ftrlve about words. By [ Servant ] the Council feemeth to mean exclufive-ly, [ One that is no Son. J But the other meant inclufively, [^ A Son and Servant. 3

They take him for a Servant,?/&^f oweth Service and Obedience. And Chrlft as Man owed Obedience to his Father on two accounts;

I. As a reafbnable Creature to his Maker.

1. As one that had by voluntary Sponfion undertaken it. I might add,

g. As the fpecial Law of Mediation was Impofed on him, or given him, as Man, by which it was made his fpecial duty to die for Man, e^c. He faith when he cometh into the world, Kvre I am to do thy If til, O God; yea , thy Law ts in my heart.D'id he not take upon him the form of a fervantlVhil.'L.j. which was not a fliew of that which is not, but of that which is. Is he not called God's righteous Servant jufttfying many, Ifa. j-g. 11. Doth not God oft call \i\m,My Servant, Ifa.49. 6. & jx. i 3. Zech. 3. 8.

The

The Council feemed to think that the Bifhops thought that Chrlft was born a Servant, and not a Son, and was adopted a Son

only after for his merits : But there is no fhew of rea- Bin. p. 418. [E.v ^naJ.tm fen to impute this to them that profeffed to believe ?''^^"i?' ""M'""^ J"-^ '«»'''-riic Creeds and Scnpture,and laid no fuch words. They ^^^ /,/,^<, ^ B„ato ££f Haerio ftemed to intend nothing but to diftlnguifli the natu- con/r.j Elipandumycr;;ifo; <»»;/»/• ral eternal Generation of the fecond Perfon in the "onnulli Fxliccm GJ tlipandmn Trinity, from the temporal Generation of the Ahn "'" '" '"}prtoInc^rnan,>i„,ja Cytji Jefus, Vihich was an Aft of free Benefa- ,„f}arDvirzndi,aberrate; Idctn. Cence, ^iie conjenuris affirmant ijlti,

quod nihil ecrum </«.c Ncftorio

But they concluded that they were Nefiortani, be- "^J'^" /"r""' "' c^nc Ephef. ^, •'. . J „ lr-t_i contra Elipandiim attulerent,

caule they mt:mated two Sons, by laying that he was ^^_ jj-,,^, ^i^^. ^^f^

eternally begottcn,and yet adopted a Son.

Anf 1. It is not unlike that Nefiorms himfelf for want of more skill in (peaking, was ufed as they were.

t. Why fliould that be imputed to them which they deny ? Thfy arc told that as Nefiorius crt^tily dtnud two Perfons, and yet mferred tvo, fo do they. But is not tliis a \'indication of Nefiorius by a Council ? ( \Vho knoweth what a man holdeth, better than himfelf? )

Obj. But by conjequevce Herc/ie will follow.

Anf. If all are Hereticks that hold any E: ror which (lich a greater Error woula follow from as is called Hcrcfic, I doubt not but every Council and Bifliop, andChriftian were HevcrJcks jthc laying of fome great Divines being true, That Truths of Faith and Alomliry are fo connext,that he that holdeth the leafi Error therein, doth by confcifi: n. - ■ -',- fotmdaiicn. You may fay that every man that tells a lyc, or . . any known fm, is an Athclll,

and that if he believed that there is l ,oO, he would know that he muft not fiin againft him ; he that fins before his Face.dcnieth hisOmnilcience,and Co denicth God, (JT-c. At this rate all arc Alln.iils and Hereticks.

J. But may not one that faith, [ Chrifl as the fecond Perfin in Trinity was the Eternal Son of God ; and as Alan, was by Generation in tinie made the Sen of God and Man : 2 truly mean that it is but one Pcrfbn that in one refpe£k is the Eternal Son, and in another refpofi the Temporal Son ? May he not hold that the perfbnal Unity maketh it unmeet to fay, 7/jf?e ar-t two Sons, becaufe that would imply two Perfons, whkh they and Ntfix/fias denied? But, again I fay, what if they had faid that there might be two Filiations, or filial Relations in one Pcrfcn, rellilting from two foundations, Eternal and Temporal Generation, and if this had been an unapt fpcccb, ( to fay ex duo-bus fundamentis dua oriimtur reUtioncs) yc: how comes it to be Hercfic ?

§ 86. I write not this, and fnch like, to juftiiic the accufed ; for I thii-.k the Council faid well, ( Bin. p. 418.) i. Cur nobis non fuffcient iju^ in SanUorumPatrup diUis inveniuntur, & univerfali Cathdide fanditnis rw

fuetudim---

Chunh-Hijkry of Bipops and

jiiftudim tefifrmant ur. TL..^flre generaliotiem Filti Dei 'vel atemam de Tif rrCi^i-el Je})7pora!em de Mntre t^mjanam hommutn aiideat Vfjejiigare , dtcente ■SaipturJ^-uhioui n ne tpiaficrisi Owell laid ! Happy Cliurcli,it the Biftops load held ro this: But here you fee tliat they held a double Gencration,EternaI and Temporal, and yet but one Filiation. I write this, becaufe the Herctica-ting Spirit yet reigncth, and by theft old Weapons hghteth againll Love and the Churches Unity, on pretence of Orthodoxncls j and to this day the Fa~ ptj}s rcjcS: a great part o} Chriffs Church as Hereticks,by the countenance of tormcr Councils ccnforioulhel?, calling Chrift's Members Iconcclajis, Aionothe-lites, Neflorians, Eiitycbians-, and many (iich names, (bme fctcht ^rom indifier-ent things, ( or duties) and fbme from quarrels about hard words.

§ 87. Note here that E'tnnius exprefly laith, that Adbuc nmdu7n cjl cer-tum qyr.Us in particulari fuerit ha^rejis FaliclmM: It is rwt yet certain -what this FccUcian Herc/ie was. And if (b, I hope I fhall not be cenfured for the (ame, notwithftanding you may (ay, the Council knew it. ^ §S8. It's worth the noting as to the credit of Council Records, which

Binnitts there faith, (p. 4x7. ) \^Tf this Council as it now is txtant , may •iVithout temerity be rejeBed, all Councils by the fame reajon may be rcjeilcd ivhich Surius hath gathered from the Catholick Libraries.'} iie confefleth that the reft are no furer than this, and yet that Baronius, Bellarmine, by the generality or number of Hiftorians confent, do confefi that there was by this Council a rejciSiion of the Cone, id lsicene,vf)\ic\\ is no'.v here to be found in it.

§ 89. The Council at Fr^wX/tr^ determined that Chrifi v.'.is not a Servant^ Vid. Not. Servitute po;na!i Deo (ubjcftus, [ubjeB to God by penal Ser'vitude. The pre-Bin.p.4i8 fent agreement of Chriftians, taketh this for Socinianifin and Hercfie : C^rift fuffered for our fins; his (ubjeclion to Poverty, Reproach, the Crols, and many works, ( as Fafting, being carried about by Satan, and tempted. Mat. 4.1. waftiing his Diftiplcs feet, travelling on foot, being fubjeft to his Mother, and to Princes, paying Tribute, c^c.) we fuppofe were part of his Humiliation. The Holinefs and Obedience was good, and no Penalty: But the matter of that Obedience was the Crofs and Sufierine,which is Malum Na-■ tura. And if this was no punilliment ( voluntarily accepted by his Spon-fion ) how was Chrift our Surety, bearing our Tranfgreffions ? how (uftered he for our fins ? Is not fuftering for fin, even of others, penal ? Is not the denial of Chrift's penal Service and Suffering, a denial of his SatisfaiStion and f ojr Redemption ? You (ce how eafie it is to find Herelic and Infidelity itfelf

in unskilful words; and yet it's like the Speakers meant better than they fpake.

§ 90. Note that Pope Adrian firft made himftlf Judge, and Anathematized Elipmdiis as an Heretick, and (b the Council was byaflcd (with the Emperor J } and how great Adrians power was ( having made Charles Emperor, and Charles made him a Prince, ) it is eafie to conjefture.

§91. Bimiins laith, p. 429. that Falix, befides his other Herefie , impugned Image.', and that this is ftid by the Concil. Smonenj.in Decret.fid.c.i^

Flatina

Tlatina in Adrian. SabeUtc. Enead. 8. /;. 8. Alfh. de Cajlro -verh. Image. And that Claud. Tattrin. being his Difciple, and an Iconomach, he mufl: nttds be (b himfelf: From whence I argue, that it is mod probable that the Hifto-rians fay true, that fiy Charles and the Council of Frankford were againft the Nicene Qiuncil and Images. For el(e how could it come to pafi, that they iky not one word againft Falix and Eltpandus for denying Images, when •ta their Party was grown 16 great in Spain and France ?

§ 91. Voipe Adrian dying, Lm the ^d (licccedcd. His Piety was (b great, that Anaftafius writes, as it were,a Volumn, in naming the good works which he did, that is, the Silks, Vails, Cloathing, Silver, Gold, and innumerable gifts which he bcftowed upon Pods, Pillars, Altars, Walls, Floors, UtcnfilL^ it would tire one to read them, and the hard names of them ; yea, he (aid (even Maflcs a day. Yet fome Kinfiiicn of Pope Adrian i^VaJchal Pnmuerius, c^ Canipul-lus SaceUarius, (^ Maurtis Nepefinas, laid Crimes to his charge; and ailaultcd him, and twice put out his Eyes, and cut out his Tongue, and put him in a Monaftery ; yet ( faith the Story ) his Eyes and Tongue were perfetflly re "^

ftored, and he fled to his Protestor Charles into Germany ; and Charles came to Rome, and judged his Accufcrs toBanifhment,and rcllored him ; and he crowned Charles then Emperor of the Weft, and perfected the Donation to him of all that had been the Emperor's. Charles ga\c him great Prcfents4 and with his own Revenues and that, he laid out (b much Silver and Trea-(ure at Rome, and did (b many new things in the Churches, that if you read but Adrians life, and this Leo's, you will be ad-iamcd to difgracc the Church of Rome with any Titles or Pretences of the ancient primitive lfate,bur muft Hiy, Old things are past away, behold all ss become new. Charles the Great, made the Pope Great.

§93. Some Hiftorians (ay, that the killing of tiie Pope's Foot, was "CD

brought in thus by this Pope Leo: A handlbm \\'oman kill: his Hand,which (b inflamed his Heart with Lull, that he cut oft the Hand that the ^Voman kift,and ordained that ever after the Pope's Foot ihould be kift inftcad of his Hand: But I raihcr believe with Bwwrvj-, that this is but a Fikilion, becaulc I. There is mention before this of killing the Pope's Foot. 1. And I do not think that fuch a Heart would (b eafily part with a Hand.

§ 94. To look back to the Eaft ; when Irene had kept up Images awhile, lier Son Cmtjlantine grown up, is weary of her Government and Stauratius, and dcpolcth her ; and when he ruled, the Bilhops moftly were conformable to him : But in his youthful Folly and Rage, he put out the Eyes of his Uncle Niccphorus, and Ahwiiis a Captain ; he put away ALiry his Wife, and took one Theodeta,thnt better pleafed him, in Nlarriage ; one [fofepJj that married them, was preferred for it. Tijrajins connived, and durll not gain-lay. "if^,''"T''o* Theodore Studlta (jr Tlato therefore renounce the communion of Tarajius. ^ i' At laft, y4w. 797. his Mother 7vfw, and Staarjtins, ioum^ means to apprehend him, and murder him, that is, put out his Eyes, of which he dyed,which (bme celebrate as a pious Acf; it was done by her that (ct up Images. But

I i within

I

-•SI

withui one year, l^icefharus dq^fcd and banifhcd ha* into Lesbos^ U-hcfe (he dyed, and he took the Empire to himfelf.

§95". Sfww/.', p. 445". faith,. " []T£ii7/ the Empn-or bani^^ed Theodore ** Studira ,/r;r r^pnvifi^ bis A4arri/!^, and when he added crime to crime, " Mcriiu jiillii Muuis cjuam impcrio exuent, zelo julliiix non rcgni, oculis, " Imperii, & vita orbatus eft. By the cOmTHdnd of his Mother in her zeal ''''for jujhce, he luas de'ier-vedlj depri'ved of his E?»pire, Eyes and Life. ~\ \\'hat is not iuft w!th P.ich Hiftorians, that maketh for their Intereft ? And how contemptible is their Cenfurc of good or evil Men, which hath no better Mea-fures ?

% f)6. He tells 135 alfo, ( p. 444. ) that the Spanijh and French Bifhops at thele times, of their own hcada,withoat the Pope, added [^Filio'^iie'] to the Creed, which hath to this day made (b great a ftir. It feems they thought that the Pope's Authority was not neceflary to it.

§ 97. He adds, that Charles the Great being dead, the People grew bold, and ro(e up again againft the Pope ; which occafioned Rapines, Flames, and Murders, that Lttdo'uicus the new Emperor was fain to take his Fathers Office, and come to Rome to five the Pope, and fiipprefs the Rebels.

§ 9 8. The Venetian Duke killing a Patriarch, Johan. Gradtnfis, Paulus Patriarch of A^imleia called a Synod to crave aid of Charles.

^ § 99. CCXXXV. y^w. 806. AGjuncil washeld atCow/<7«r.w/)/f,In the

Caufe of the forefiiid "Jofeph that had married the Emperor to his fecond wife, who had been ejefted by Tarafius from his Biilioprick, and the Emperor calling a Council, they reflored him ; wherefore Jheodorus Studita called them a Council of Hereticks and Adulterants,becau(e they reflrorcd the Caufer of the Emperor's Adultery. But how few Emperors have not found Councils of Bifliops ready to do their Will ?

§ 100. Charles the Great m^lCmg his Will,divided his Empire between his three Sons,giving them Laws of Communion and Succefllon, (that if one dyed without Children, his Kingdom be divided between the other two; ^ hut if he have fuch Sons as the Teople will choofe, they fucceed their Father : ) Commanding all three that they be the Defenders of the Bifhop of Roj»e, as he and his Father and Grandfather had been (to their commodity. )

§ 101. CCXXXVI. y4n. 809. Was another Council at Conftantinopky f^ which was gathered to condemn honcft Jheodorus Studita, d^ Vlato, and mch '•This 's ^^ '^'^"^ ^^^" againft the reftoringof Jofeph,oi which (iiith£/«»/'«/, '■'■[_ N'lien not the ^^ the B/pops there Congregate had brought the mofi holj Vhio in Chains to fiiil time " /■<? judged, and had pajj'ed the Sentence of Anathema on the Univerfal Cathc^ th.uCoiin- " li;k Church * that n'as againft their Error, they made a moH wicked Dc-^"'^P YV^ " "^^' '^^^^ the Aiarriage of Conftantine with Theodota, (his IPTfe yet living, Catholick " ^^''"ft into a Mvnsftery ) jlwuld be fa id to be lawful by difpenfation. They Chuich. ^^ added for the Emperor^s fake this ivtcked and pamelefs Sentence, That the

" Laws

" Laws of God * can do nothing agawft Kings j and that >f arty tmitare Chry- • yhcv " fol\om,and Pied his Blood fur Truth and Jujiice, he is not to be called a Mar- mean \r\: " tyr: That BijJjops have power to difpenfe VHth all the Canons. ] Remember t''^' <- >-that Vapijis confels all this to be wicked. We have not the Adsand Speeches "f'^'^,, of thefe Councils preferved. Church.

§ loi. CCXXXVH. Jn.%o<). A Council was held at-^^«/,i^)<r»<7, about the Proceirion of the Holy Gho(l,and the word [^Ftlioque'] in the Creed *. * A new Of which they (cnt fome Meflengers to the Pope, who approved the thing, ^^Irl^' but diffuaded them from adding it to be fung in the Creed j and ahcr inlcri-bed the Creed without Filiot^ue in Latin and Greek in two Silver Tables, to {hew that it (hould not be changed ; which ytt after it was by the Pope's content.

The Frf«c/j Annals (ay, that in this Council they treated of the fiate of the Church, and converfation of the Clerg); but detcrtmncd nothing for the great-nejfes of the matter.

§ 103. CCXXXVIII.y^M. 113. {Y ex. \M\Acv Chafles the Great) a Council was held ( by his Command ) at Aries, where many very good Canons were made for the Reformation ot the Bifliops and Priclls.

§ I 04. CCXXXIX. The ftme year the fame Charles had a Council at Tours , which made y i as honcil Articles, as if Martin liimftlf had been amongfl: them ; even againft all kind of fin, and for all godly living. Among others, the 37th Canon tells us, that the cuftom of not kneeling in Prayer on any Loras-day, ( no not at the Sacrament ) nor on any Week-day between Eilfter and JVhitJtaitide, was yet in force ; on other days they required humble kneeling.

§ 105'. CCXL. Yet another Council did Charles call the (ame year at Chalons ( CabiUonenfe ) in which he ordered Schools for the reftoring of Learning, ( our Alcutn being his Ferfijader greatly efteemed by him ) Learning then being almoft worn away, ( and Ignorance taking place ) till he greatly revived it: nQ-.lcG than 67 Canons were here made, moft very good ones; but praying for the Souls of the FaithRil departed,and anointing the Sick, are there enjoined.

§ 106. Among many good Canons, the i jth is againft the Oath of Obedience to the Btjhop, and to the Church. The words Tranflated are thcfc: " [ Jf if reported of fome Brethren ( Bifliops ) that they force them, that they " ai-e about to ordain, to fivear, that the) are tvorthy, and will not do contrary " to the Canons, and -will be obedient to the Bijhp that ordaifieth them , and to " the Church in which they are ordained ; which Oath, becaufe tt is -eery davgc-" rous,we all ordain fliall befmbiddcn.']

§ 107. The 15thCanon faith, "[If k faid that m fome places the Arch-" deacons exercife a certain domination ever the Fartjl>-Prcsbyters,and take Fees ^* of them; which u a matter of Tyranny, rather tium of order of Retlitude:

1 i -i. "-For

■ta

-ta

\

i.-^.j. Chunh-Htjkyy oj 'Bijl^cps and

" 'For if the Bifrtips miift not Lord it in^ht Ctergj , but be Examples to tht, * Flocks, ntHch leji w/iy theje do it,

§ I 08. The z-5'ili Canon complaining how the old Excommnnicatirtg and Reconciling was e;rown out of ule *, they dclired tlic Emperor's help how • CouBcil-tijgy n^ould be reftorcd.

OiJnicas' § ^ °9' ^'"'- 33-' "^^'^y %' '"^■"''' ^"^/'.S^ fo God and Man are both tJiiivh^'i ^i^ood; bitt that Ccmfejftcn made to Gcd, tiirgethjin ; and that which tr made ^' to the Triefl^teacheth how-their jins may be furged.

§110. The 45'th Canon is againft them, that by going to holy places, /?»we, or Tcurs, think to havetheir fins forgiven.

% III. CCXLI. Yet another Council the ftme year 813, was held under Ch(.r'.es M. at MtntZj in Germany to the like purpofe, many godly Canons being made.

§ 112.CCXLII- Yet another under Charles at RhemeSfkr Iriftruftingand Catcchlling, and many good things, like the former.

§ iij. CGXLIII. But we have not done with Images yet,yi«. 814.There was a Council tailed at^'ow/?«»f/«c^/e, which damned the Council of Nice x. Irene having (et up Images, and murdered the Emperor her own Son, (as is aforthild ) was depolcd by Nicefhorus, who Reigned near ten years, with Stauratius his Son j he was no Friend to the Clergies powcr,and was killed in Fight by ihc Bulgarians, and his ^VDunded Son Reigned a few months. Michael Curofalates iiiccetded,,o.N[An of great Piety and Peace, but unfit for War,who being overcome by tlie B«/^rtri<77»/, h'e conftnted to give up the Empire to Leo Armenus, a better and profperous Soldier. This Leo the fth, was of the mind of the former Leo^s againft Images, and his mind being known, the Biihops conformed prefently, infomuch that in his id year this Council called by hlm^ Anathematized the Blfhops that would not renounce the Nicene zd Council ; and when they lay proilrateon the earth, it's ia'id^ Ibme trod on- fome of them,and they turned them at a Back-door out of the Council : For the Patriarch Nicef horns, that was for Iinages,\vas depo(cd,and TheodorusMeliJJentis that was aga,inft them put in his place, and led the reft! Thus did Council againft Council thunder Anathema's, and curie each other by (eparating them from Chrlft, till few were left uncurfed. The Rulers of the Monafteaes alfo were called In» and thofe that would not conftnt againft Images, were rejected. Nicetof ^ TTieodorus Studita were tke Ch.im-pions for Images, and were both baniftied and imprllbned. Theodore wrote to the Council for Images, and tiells them that " {_ To takeaway the 'venerabk Binr.470 if' Adoratim of the Images of Chrift, and of the Mother of God, and of all 'l^'^od *^ the Saints, was to overthrew theOeconomy of Chrifi.'} And he continued in Prifon to preach and write for Images.-

Thofe Councils that pleafed not the Faftfis, we have not the Afts of, as we have of (iich as Nic. x. that pleiiled them. Had we all the Speeches and, Argumcais ufcd in this and. other Councils, againft Images, as-largely as

thpfe

:kofc that were for them, we might better (ee wlilch had the better manage^ mcnt.

§ 114. CCXLFV'. The Clergy had for many hundred years abrogated God's Law, \_ He that^)eddeth Mans Blood, hjAfanjbaU bis Blood be jhed; ] and had put Pennance for the punifhmcnt inftcad of Dcatli : But now at laft the murdering of one yobn a Bifhop ( mhonefle d^ mauditi m(.yd, Uatus, as they then (pake } they were put to find (bme harder Penalty to fiive the Qcrgics Lives : And fo they (et great Fines of Money on the Murderers; and more than (b, He that •wilfully murdered a BijIkJ) mufi eat nofiefli,nor drmk any IFine as long as he lived. If Murder now had no greater a punifhment, Biftops would fcarce be ftfe any more than others. This was at a Council at a Village called TJjeorius, or Dtettnhofen. jj

§ 11 f. Next fucceedeth Pope Stephen at Rcwe; Tlattna faith Stephen the '

4th, Anajlafius and Binnius fay Stephen the ^th. Platma and others fay that he Reigned but feven months ; yinajlafius and others fiiy (even years, and (even months. Platma (aith he was the Son of Juliusz Roman; j4najiafius faith he was the Son of Marinui*. ' It's like

Charles dying, the Empire came to his Son Z,«(/ox'/f«/called Tius, his Bro- 7"/"«W<»-ihers dying alfb. TheBifhopsof Italy (hith Vlatina and others) ftir'd up '''"'"', ^* BernMd to rebel againit him j but he was conquered, and put to death : as fajch, was al(b were the Saxon Rebels. Pafchal Jirft fiiccfcding, Stephen is made Pope his name without the Emperor's knowledge; for which he exculed himfelf, as forced by the People thatcho(e him :Thc Emperor pardon'd it, but demanded obedience as to their Elections tor the time to come. Platma m '^t. Va',chal.L i. who (aith that Pafchal was (iifpeiflcd of the Rebellion of Jtaly^ni difclaim-' ed it; and tliat the Emperor re-aflTumed many Cities to the Empire, to prevent new Rebellions.

.Some (ay that Bernard was but blinded : Among others banifhed for Trea(bn, were-/4»/f//» Bilhop of ;l/;/4«,and T'/!)«//«//^e Bilhop of Aurelia, ( Orleance ) (b that Italj and France joined in the Treafbn. See Petav. Hifi. M,md. It. 8. c. 8.

§ 116. CCXLV. Liidovicus Pint was (b careful to reform the Bifhops and Clergy, that he raifed their ill will againft him, being too pious for them that (hould have been the Teachers of Piety ; yca,(b flothful did they grow, that though his Father and he had done extraordinary works for the promoting of Learning and GodhncG, yet Learning in his days grew to fuch decay, that Learned Men became the common contempt, and few of them were to be found ; but JVealth and JurisdiBim were, the ftudy, care,and in-tereft of the Bifhops.

Yet ;:i his time at Aqutfgrane, there was a Council that wrote, inftead of Canons,thc moft excellent Treatlfe for the Teaching and Government of the Teachers and Governors of the Church, (belidcs the regulation of Monaftc-rics ) that ever any Council did before them : Not in their own words, but iaxhefeyeral Sermons, and paflages of the chief F4thas, (I/idore, Hiaom,

Gregory,-

p

'

246 Church Hifrcry of Bijhops a)hi

• "~^ ~ ' ■ ■ . '—~^

^^ Gregory^ Augufiine nnd Fro^'er, ) ijaat' liad written to the Clergy heretofore, which they collected into 1 +5: Cloarrcrs and Canons.

But you mufi: know that the excellency oF the Canons of Provincial Councils in France and Sptii», in thele Ages, did not flicw the e>:ccllency of the Bilhops, (b much as tlicir Pra^'ity and Ncceiliiy, as the Medicine doth the Dilcalc. For fuch Canons were ordinarily drawn up by the will of the King, by Ibme one or few choice Men, (luch as Fanlinns Ae^iukienjis in his time,)

• Saith towhora the reft conlented, becaulc they knew the King would have it (b*. Vn.i Lu-

dovici in Bin. p. j'Zj. Ccjtgrc^.'itis Rfifcopis, &c. fc:st componi ordinariqite liOrum Cano-riicx vttiC 7ior»U)n gcjiantem,in quo totiu>'il:iiis ordinis pcrfcttto contindur. In quo tnjeri jiijfit ci'ji fctiijqiie £? cmntiim ncceff.irt'^ri.vi fi.mmani, Q^cin li'jruT7i per omves Civitttcs (S Mo>iaJ!eria Canouici ordinis fui impcrn m-fi; per mtt> m mifj'orutn frudet.tmm. Scc the reft J lb that it was the Emperor's Book, and not the Council's Work.

§ 117. In thefe Chapters of tliis Council, they cite Iftdore and Hterom at large, proving that it was Presbyters that were called Bifhops in FauTs EpI-ftles, and ^ffj xo. and that in thoft times the Church was ruled by the Common-Council of Presbyters, till Schifoi (hewed a neceflity that one fhould rule among the reft.

They cite IJidore% words, that [_ Cateri Apofioli cttm Petro far confcrtium hmorts acceperunt ~] Et {_ Non efje Epifcopum cjut pr^eejje Mexcrit, ncn pro-dejje. ] And HitroniS on Titus maintaining the forelaid Identity, and hi» [_Sciat Epifcopus ^ Freshyter ftbi Fopdum confervum ejje non fer'vum :~\ And his excellent Epiftle ad Nepottanum: Many Sermons oi Augufimis defcribing his Collegiate Community of the Clergy. IJidore's words, [_ Tknque Sacer-dotesftiic magis utiUtatis causa quam gregis praejje dejidcrant: llec ut projiuty frajtths fieri cupiunt, fed magis ut di-vites fiant d^ honorentur : fujcipmnt fuh-limit at is culmen, non pro Faftorali regimine, fed pro totius regiminis vel honoris ambitione, atque abjeBo opere dignitatis, folam nominii appetunt dignitatem. Dum mall Sacerdotes Deo ignorante tion fiant,tamenignorantur a Deo—fed hie nefcire Dei, reprobare e/?.J If IJidore (ay true, remember that I wrong not the Bi(hops in (aying the (ameof tiicm. And if this was the ca(e of the mofi, as he a(firmeth, what better than we find could be expelled from Gtneral Councils, where it is carried by the major vote.

They cite Gregory's words, [_ Nemo amplius nocet in Ecckjia, ejuam <jui per' verse agens nomen z/el ordinem janBitatis habet: Delmqutntem namejue hunc redarguere nuUits prafumit,fed m exemplum culpa vehemeuter extendititr,quan-do pro re'vercntia or dims peccator honor at tir. — Melius profeBo fuerat ut hunc ad mortem fub exteriori habitu terrena aBa confiringeievt , qtiam facra officta in culpa cateris imitabikm demcnfirarent. Much more fuch againft ungodly Biinops they recite.

Cap. 46. They tell us that the Canons againft Kneeling on the Lord's days were yet in force, \_^oniam funt quidam in Die Dominico genu-fleitentes, O- in diebus Fentecoftes; ut omnia in univerfis kcis confoncmter objer-"jtntur,flacun Janilo CoT,cilio,Jlantes Domino ijcta dtgnijfima perfolvere.

their Councils ahridzcd.

247

\

In Hierom'i Epiftle to Nepotitm which they cite, tliere arc mofl: pungent warnings to Prielb to take heed of famih'arity or abode with Women ; yea, even when they arc lick. Scio ( (aith he ) fjiifJttm convaltirjle corport, d^ animo xgrotare ca^iffe ; Tericulofe tibi mmjhat, cujus vultum frecjuentcr at-tendis. He requireth C!ergy-mcn to avoid Hne Cloaths,curIous Hair,plcafing the Appetite, and Riches. He faith of himfclf, [ Ntfui in faufere domo, & m tugHrio ritfltcano , e^ui 'vix wHIto d^ cibar:o ptne ritgientrrn fatiare 'ventrem foteram^nimc fimiliim & mcllaf^^itlio. He laith, the Mouth, Mind , and Hand of Pricils muft agree: Even a Thief may fpcak againft Ccvctoulhefs.--Multo melius efi e duobus impcrfetlis rujlicitatem habi re janBatn,<^uam elcejucn-tiam feccatriccm: Mitlti adificartt ^artetes <jf columftas EccUjia: fubfiiuunt: marmora nitent, auro ^lendent laquearia , gemmis Altare dtfimguitm-; ij^ Minifirorum Chrifli ntilla clcffio ejf: Portcmris Cniccm Chrijfi, ^ dix-iti.u lu-tumputabtmui. — Facile contemnitur Clcriius ijnijitpus vocatui ad prandiiim ire tion recnfat. And his Epiftle ad Oceamm, hath yet more agamft convcrfe witii W^omen. Trim.i icntamentaChricorun: [iint Fieminarum frerj'nntes ac ceffiis — Jatiua Diaboli, I'ia iniquitatts, Sccrpionis percuj/io, nociz-utH/^tie genus tjt Famma. Cum proximat fiipida, incendit ignem. — Alibi crede non trtej} torn torde habitare c//m Domino, ftti Famrnarum accejjibus ccpulatitr. W ith much more tlie h'kc.

It appcartth by Cap. iir. a Sermon of Angnflines, that it was the aiftom then for the Preacher to fit, and the Hearer to ftand , [ / iviU not bold ycu long, ((aith he ) becaufe n'hile I fit, yen are -weary by fan ding. [)

Augujline fliewcth there how little he regarded the Appeals of his dcpodd Pricfts to/Jrwf, [orCouncils 3 Interpcllet centra me mille Concilia, vaviget tontr* me ^tio t'oluerit. Jit certe ubi potuerit; adjitz'abit me Dominus, ut ttbi ego Epijcopiis film, tHic Clericus ejfe non pojjit.

§ 118. Yet I wonder that the Chap, iii of this Council intimatcth /b ftpAnge a proportion of Meat and Drink to be the daily Commons of the 'fj\ Canonical Monks, I had thought they had lived in greater Abftinence. The proportion of Alms or Commons allowed them was, [ E'very day four pound ef Bread,'] (enough for me for near 4 weeks; ) and five potmds cf Wine, ( more than I drunk,! think, in xo year?, in Wine;) or elfc where JI me was fcarce, they had three pounds cfi JVine, and three cf Beer ; or tn great Jcarcity, mi pound of Jf'me, and five cf Beer. I think our ordinary Miniftcrs drink not (b much Wine in a year, as thcfe did in a day ; I mean (uch as live in the Countrey, and were of my Acquaintance. I wonder how any Plowman's Belly can h.old four pound of Bread one day, and live, without a pre-feat Vomit or Purge. I have tryed long Ccmario's and Leffiui'z diet ( 11 or 14 ounces of Ftwada, and as much Beer only in a day, without rafling any other Meat, ) ;ind found no incommodity as to Health or Plealiire ; but fhouldl eat fo ;r pound of Bread in two days, I do not think I fhou^.d ever cat more without a Vomit. And how can any Man drink five pound of any ordinary Wine, and not be drunk, or dead? yea, or three Pints cither, \^'hat

^^an's■:

^ --^ Man's Belly will hold ftx pounds of Wine and Water every day , unlefi it pals as Tunhrulge Waters, without prcfcnt Suffocation, or a Droplie. I would hope that I undenland not this Chapter in the Council, hut that thefe Canons had Ibme Beggars that were to partake with them , but that I find no encouragement for my charity in the Text or Hiftory: But verily if it were • as it is written, I wonder how theft abftcmious Monks did elcape death by their Gluttony and Drunkenncfs one week or day v/ithout Phydckj-notwith-n ftandlng that the Councilgiveth you notice, c<»^. 1 Zi. Im.ult. tliat a pound

|j " hath but IX ouncej.

\

$ 119. We mud not unthankfully omit what kindnefs Anaflafms ((aith

Pope Vafchal) fhewed to the Engltfl]: By negligence their Hou(e at Rome

was burnt, and the Pope ran out bare-foot,' and where he ftood, the Fire

* G^'j? fi ftopt *; therefore he flood bare-foot there tHl morning, that the Fire miglit

" ■" J""'> be fully quenched. But tliis he did for the love of St. Peter, whofe Church

!?,"? him- ^'-"^^'" '^^"^^'' ^y '^'^ ^'^^

C^.j£_ § ixo. The Papifis here bring forth aConftitution out of their own Li-

brary, by which Ludcvicus conHrmerh to the Popes all that ever his An-ceftorsgave them, andaddeth (b much, that he was then made ( if this be true j ( as the Geographia Nubienfis calls him ) the King of Rome indeed. And they mecrly feign that Charles and Ludovicus Pius made none of theft Laws of^ themftlves, but by the Pope's advice , againft plain evidence of Hiftory.

§ IXI. A Convention of Abbots at y^quifgrane, and another of BIfliops, and a Synod at Evgelbeim follow, and one at Attiniac, in which they fty the Emperor penitently lamented his ft verity againft his Nephew Bernard, and others, with open Confelfion and Penitence. And indeed his great endeavors to promote Piety, and to reform the Clergy ; his frequent Councils,(in which it was he,by the advice of a few chief choftn Mcn,thatdid their bufinefi,and governed all) wjtli the reft of his Life delcribed by the Writer of it, and other Hiftorians, do fhew that he was juftly called Pius, though Wars will cauft manya£fions to be repented of.

§iax. F/jf;«(j: (aith, that ^«/?^rt/7i!« (aith, that Ludovicus givePafckal the power of freely chujing Bi^wps, v/jich before was not done wit bout the Emperors. ( The Peoples conlcnt ftill (iippoftd. )

§ 113. The Pope being dead, two are cholen [ which was the ilth 5chi(in ) but Eugenius the ad carried it, the Emperor lending his Son Lotha' rius to ftttlc the Peace of the City, jamdudum Pncjidutn quorundam perver-fitate dcpravatam, fnith the Author of the Life of Ludovicus; where Murders of the chief Men had been committed in the Schilin, and Mens Goods taken away, and much confufion made.

§ 1X4. In the Eaft-the Party,that were againft Images, prevailed ever fince Irene xhz Woman that ftt them up was dcpoled and dyed ; her Son Conflantine, whom (he murdered, being not for tlum before, nor Nicephorus tliat depoled her after j But Leo ^ Armcnus that fuccecded A'lichad Curop.

earned

earaell againft them, and, as they called it, perfecuted the Worfhippers of Images. A Prince confelled to be very prohtable to the Empire ; Michael Balbui that is (iippofed the chief of them that murdered him, reigneth in hfs ftead: he fet himfelf earncftiy to have healed the Church-divifions of tlie E^ft about Images. To that end he (ent Ambafladors to LmiIovuus Pius fnto France for his courJel, in the profefling his great deGre of Peace. LudcvKus called together fbme that he moft efteemcd for Learning at Paris, ( which fbme call a Council, but were like to be more learned than the Majority in Councils ) to debate and confider the bufinels. The Paris Divines in this Debate drew up a Writing, in which they greatly finned, luith Beliarmive, m that tney took on them to reprehend the Pope, and a General Council; (But do not they themfclves condemn many General Councils ? ) 7« wbich , (aith Bellarmine,//'ey far exceeded the yittthor,-who in the vame of Carolus Mag. o«r forth a Book agaivft the worjhipiyig of Iptages. For he ( which alfo the Fa <gj

thers of the Frankford Council did) difallonrd (or reje£tcd ) the a^Kicene Sjngd, becaufe they thought it had been celebrated without the Pope's conftnt *: * An iin-But thefe Counfellors of the Emperor ljc\v\s,confcfs the Council of Nice xd for h'ktly the vo>jJ)iping of Images to be called and approved bj Pope Adrian, and yet ^"'"S* they did not fear to examine, judge, and reprehend both the Synod itfrlf, and the Epifile of Adrian to Conifantineyor the -uwrjlup of Images, yea, and the defenise of that Synod [ent by Adrian to Charles ^I. laying, [ Indifaete nofcttur fc-ciffe in eo ijuod fuperfiitios^ eas adorart jujjit."] So ( laith Bellarmine ) they were not ajliamed to judge the fudge of themfelves , and of the vhole world, to feed the Pafior of all Cbriji's Sheep, and to teach the Teacher cf all men ; than which temerity, no greater can be imagined. Thus fix Bellarmine.

% 11^. Here I defne the Reader to take notice,

I. That even then when the Pope was advanced to his Kingly grcamcG, yet as the Eaftcin Empire was far from obeying him, (b even that one Prince that ftt him up, and defended him, with his Doctors and Councilors, were hir from thinking i.im InJ:illible, but reproved him, and judged Ixim as (uper "^

iHriousfor Image-wordiip , and were not herein ruled by him.

1. And judge whether moft Biiliops would not have iudgcd accordingly, if they had had but tl:e lame countenance from Princes, as the Biiliops in the Ea!f and thele nov/ had ?

g. And iudge witli what Face the Militant Doiflors of Rome do pretend, that all the world was then fubjoS to the judgment ot the Pope, and bid us . name anyChurchc; that rejeiflcd it,whenEuft and \\"cft lb far rcjcftcd it as is here confeffcd, even when they were grown lb high, yea and Councils as well as Popes ?

§ ii6. Hereupon a Book was printed ^n. ifg^J. called. Tie Council of Vm'is about Images, cont^ilnhg,

K k 1. The

1. The Empcfor.A/«-/j<»ei's Epiftle, ( by which, (aith BellarmInc,owf t^owW juJge htm me of ihebeli Princes that ex'er wijf. )

X. The Fijrts Doftors Colle>Stion of Tcftimonies, proving, (in the middle way ) that Images ^wtdd not be broken ccntcmpuoujly, as jorrie would have them; nor be worjhipped as the General Niccnc Coimcd, and the Pope weidd have them.

5. An EpIftlc in the Pope's name, written, (faith Bellarmine,hy the Frensb Dodlors ) to Michael the Emperor, (hewing, that Images are neither to be ■mronged dtfgracejuUy, nor adored.

4. An Epiftle of the Y.m^^xox hudwicns to the Popc, defirin^iim to write to Michael to further this Peace of the Churches.

•). An Epiftle of Lndovicm to the two Biihops whom he lent to Rome,\j direct them how to carry themfelves wijely, to get the Pope's conjenr^ \\'^hethcr this at Paris was a Council, or only a lele£t Convention of Men chofen by the Emperor, is a Controvcrfie of no great moment. I take the latter to b« the more honourable fort of Aflembly, as the world then went; and fhould reverence more the judgment of io or la Men, fek<2:ed by fiich an extraordinary Prince, than of the majority of thcBifliopsof -AXEwope: As I prefer the judgment of thofoMen that by King 7.-;w« were appointed to Tranflatc the Bible, betoi-e the judgment of ths major part of the whole Englifli Clergy, of whom perhaps one in ten had a fhiattering in the Hebrtw T«nguc, , and one of an hundred underftood it, ( at the moft.)

§ lij. Our modern cheated Englijli Papijls, that are- taught here in; England to fiiy that they worfliip not Images, might here fee the Fraud of their Clergy, that fit them a Faith to their interefts and occaiions. We con-fefs that it is but three forts of Images that yiquinas fiiith we fhould worfliip . with Latria ( Divine W'orfhip : ) But yet the reft arc to be worjhipped, iay . their Doctor-;. Why elfe do they lb commonly condemn ■ this Book and Council pf Ltidcvicr/s Pins, that forbiddeth both the breaking and the wor-fhiping of them? Why doth ^cV/<^rw/we purpolcly revile, and particularly con- -fute this Book ? ^Vhy doth Einnirts recite all Bellarmines Anfwer in his Can- ■ ctl.Tom. ■^. p. fipj&CG?

§ I^8. Bellarmine is very loth that the Epiftle here fcid to be written by-Pope Etigenists the id, fhould be taken to be his,and fuppofeth that it was but fcnt to him to be fubfcribed : By whom? If by the Emperor Ludovisus Piifs, and his Council of Divines, you may fee of what reputation the Pope was then in the Church. One great Argument agalnft it is, That the Pope wmdd not fo impudently flatter the Emperor, as to fay, " O venerable Prm- ■ " ces of tie world,_ feeing by God^s dijpofal you govern all the Chtirch,8cc. And *'' fcr tmtting the Chwch which by God's Ordination you govern : JVhat filthier ^'■Flattery ( faith Bellarmine ) could there be ? Klicliael Balbus a Murde- ■. " rer. Sec.. :s. Jaul by thefo^e- to govtm thei^hnrch by Go.fs difpofatg.. JVhat ■. '•'■then r.reBipKps fr'^

-ts

their 'Councils•dh'id'reil. :i5'i

jinf. And i. Did not even Gregory/ AfagMsvauch. flatter a worfe Man and Kluvderer,P/ioa?/? and his Succellors hirli and many niorc?

1. Did not many, if not moft of the'Emperors, Heathen and Qiriftian, come in by Murder, or Invafion, and Llfiirpatibn ? And were Men therefore difobligcd from obeying them, when they were letkd,by (ubmilfive imphcite confent ?

5. But tlie venom of the Cardinal Jefuitc's anfwer is,that he takcth it to be bafe Flattery, to lay that Princes are by God's difpole the Governors of the id Church : For then what are the Bifhops tor ? And muft the world be ridden and abuled by fuch Men, that would tui-n Princes out of all Government of the Church, and undcrfland not that the Government of the lame Church, may belong to the Magillratc and the Paftors rcfpcfbively, ( as the Government of an Holpital to the King, and to the Phyiician? ) May not one rule A-nd punifh by the Sword, and another by the \^''ord, by Tcacliing, and the Church Keys? Is it not one tiling to Fine, and Beat, and Banifh, and Kill a Man, and another to fcntence him unmeet for Church-Communion? Marvellous, that God pcrmittcth the world to be deluded by (iich a blinded or blinding Clergy, though as learned as BcUarmme , that would make thefc things (cem inconliltent, and icparatc what God hath conjoined.'

See here to what the Roman Clergy would reduce Kings, they muflbe no Governors of the Church. And it all the Kingdom be C.hriftians, are they not all the Church ? And fb the Chriftcning of the Subjects dcpoftth the King, and makcth the chief Pric^ King that Chriiteneth them.

It he had faid that Kings govern Churches, but not as Churches, but as parts of the Kingdom, he had fiid fallly: For they govern them if Churches, tliough not by the lame fort of Government as the Pallors do ; as they govern not Holpitals by the lame fort of Government, as the Phyficians.

§ 119. In EugenuKS Epillk it is honeftly and truly faid, that "[_If there " had never been a fainted or a forged Image, neither Faith, Hope nor LovCy " by -which Alen come to the Eternal Kingdom, wculd have pcrijlied. ] I am of Bellarmine's mind now, that this was none of the Pope's Epiftlc, (but the honeft Emperor's, and his Clergy Councils:) He thought it too bad for a Pope, and I think it too good for a Pope. He tliinks that the Pope mull be mad, if he would huve fb condemned his Prcdeceflor Adrian i Acts, as this Epiltle doth ; and I doubt he was not (0 honeft as to do it. But did not Bcl-larmine know how much more fharp and virulent Accufatlons Popes ha\"e laid on one another ?

§130. CCXLVI. So powerful was Ludo^vicus Tius^s Attempts to reform the Clergy, that it drove Pope Eugenius the id for (liame to call a Council at Rome, ( not from the Antifodes,hMZ) of 63 Bifhops, (^«. 816.) who repeated fome old Canons, and, among other things, forbad (uch Fcafts and Plays as our W^akes are on any Holy-days to be ufcd.

§131. Valentine was next chofcn Pope , ( ColltEtis in ununt Venerah. Epfcopu df Gloriojis Romofiorum Troceribus , cmntciut timtlii: tivbis Fcpulo in

K k X Tal

Pal. Later, fiitli ^tiajlajiits ) but he lived but 3 o ov 40 day?, ( Hiflorians agree not of it.)

§131. Gregory the 4th fucceeded, who, (aith Platina, would not undertake the Papal Omce,till LuJcvia/s the Emperor had confidered of the choice, " and conHrmed it: [_irhich,(iikh Flatwa) Ludovicus did not out of Pride, * Mark "^//f left he fljould lefe the Rights of the EffJpire*, being by nature gentle and rlie Rights ''^^"fi humane, and had e'ver upheld the Rights of the Church. He fetUd of the " Benefices on every Priefl,that 1'overty wight not hinder them.~^ You ftc limpire. here that the great Friend of the Cliurch yet took that for the right of the Empire, that none fhouldbe Pope againfl: his confcnt.

§ I 3 3. Platina, adding how he rcfoiined the Clergy , forbidding them gay Attire, Ornaments, Sumptuoufnefs and Vanities, (aith thereupon, '■'■Would " thou hadsi lived in cur times, O Ludovicus! For the Church vjanteth thy " holy hijfitutions, and Cenfure, fo much hath the Ecclefiaftical Order poured out " it/elf to all Luxury and Lufi. '] So defcribing their abominable Pride and Vanity.

§ I 34. Pope Gregory added Co much to the good works of hisPredece(^ fbrs, by mending, building, adorning fo many Temples, Pillars and Ports, with Stones, Veltments, Silver, d^c. and removing the Bones of Saints, (if he miftook not ) that it is no wonder if Rome grew into greater pomp and (plendor than ever before.

§ 135:. This godly Emperor having three Sons by his firft Wife, and marrying a fecond, having two Sons by her; the Sons of the firft Wife hated the fecond Wife, thinking her Son Charles had too much favor. One Son ( Pepin ) apprehended his Father, and the eldeft ( Lotharim ) came in and "^ approved it, and the 3d joined with them, and wickedly depofed him fi'om his Kingdom : of which anon.

§ 136. Ltidovicm called Councils at P<zr«', A/fwf2:., Zjow/, and 77jo/o«<,'f,for Reformation : fome (ay upon the warning of a Maid that being poflcfTed of the Devil, and (peaking Latine,{aid that this Devil executed Judgments on the Land for their Sins, Injuftice, &€. CCXLVII. The Council at Paris wrote a large Book for Reformation, An.%i.<). with the reft of this Emperor's Conftitutions, worthy to be Tranflated for the common good, that all might fee the difference between Reformers and turbulent Heretlcks and He-reticators, and proud afpiring Prelate?, The Book is a Treati(e of pious Di-re£lions. The yoth Chapter,reproving the breach of the Lord's day,(aith, 15" that '■'■\_By Jight and by certain relation they have notice, that many "H'orking " on that day have been killed with TTounderbolts, fome pujiijl^ed by fuddm '* Convuljhns, fome by vijible Fire, their Flejli and Bones being in a moment " confumed and tinned into a^^es, and many other fuch terrible judgments. Tbcrefore they require that as the yeti's keep their Sabbath, all Men much more do (piritually obfcrve this day of the Lord.

The fecond Book doth notably (hew the diity of Kings and Magi- -rotates.

The.

The laft Chapter requireth thoft that are far from the Church , to meet for Prayer in other places, as being acceptable to God.

In the 8th Ctf»;f«/. (fiw.p. 569. } the Bifliops (ay, [_Beati Petri 'vicem indimigerimus.'] So that the Pope is not Peffr's onely Succeflbr; others re-prefent him, if this Council did not miftake.

§ I 3 7. CCXLVIII. We come now to a Council which fheweth you, that the good Canons made by the Emperor for Church-Reformation, were ■; far from reforming the generality of the Bifhops. It is the Council at Com-pendium,which too compendioufly depofed the godly Emperor,f of whom the world was not worthy.)

Calumniators pretended that one BemJjarJz Courtier lay with Judith the Emperor's (econd Wife: The Sons of his firft Wife hating her^ Pefm,Vf\\ova. his Father had made King of Italy , on this pretence Traytcroufly raifeth Arms againft his Father. Lotharias, the eldeft Son, too much confentingjpcr-fiiaded his Father to let a meeting without Arms, at Neomagus, prevent a War. At that meeting the Nobles, Parentis Iwperium legttimi prorogahant, (aith Binniusip. fjf, and Pepin took up Arms a^ain. The Father conquer-eth his Son, and taketh him Pri(bner, and might )uftly have taken away his life, but he was ftol'n out of Prilbn in the night. Ludovicus dcpriveth him of his Kingdom of 7f<j/>', and dividcth it between his two Sons by the fccond Wife,Charles and Rodolphus. Hereupon Lotharius the eldeft rebelling,kntw not how to -conquer his godly and pro(perous Father but by the Bifliops: Them he draweth into his Confpiracy, that as Binmus himfclt faith, " [ Ut " e^uem filii armis imperio deponere non pcjfevt , hcrurK [ahem nundinariorum " yintifiitum fuffragio (jf jadicio, kmore ac poteflate trupertali privaretur : fuc- "Cli " ctffit impiis conatus tmpdjjintus. ] The lait means of Trcafon was a Council of the bafe mercenary Bifliops; a wicked Attempt that lerved thcfe wicked Men, and did the Feat. Ehho the Avchbifliop oF Rheme> , ( of a bafe original ) and enow more fuch Prelates were not wanting. The Emperor had before voluntarily lamented his putting out the eyes of his Kinfman Bernard a Rebel, (' of which he dyed ) as too cruel, ( when now no Prince fcrupleth Hanging, or Beheading open Rebels. 1 The Church had QtisfmStion by his voluntary Penance, for that which few Men will think a Fault. And what do thefe BiJIiops nou;hut become their Sovereign s yudges,yci, and that when he wof abfetjt, and condemn him unheard, for this former Fault. Note. the Cafe.

I. They condemn their King to be depofed, who were Subjects.

z. Yea,Clergy-men, that had leaft to do with State Affairs.

5. Yea, and that for a Fault, which perhaps was but Juftlce , and no Fault.

4- Or if it were aFault,was before judged and remitted. And did godly r.iii'l})! Lewtr cherifliChriftian Bifhopfb ^icaloufly, for this u(e, (b balely and tray- ' '" tcroufly. to debofc him? -'^' f-Yev.

•y. Yea, an;.! to join in ihe horrid Rebellion of uiuiatural Sonsj to accom-plilTi their dclign?.

6. And to ttnipt Princes to hate Religion, when »» Nomine Domini, the pretence o\ Religion Ihall do greater wlckedncls by Prelates, than the Rebels Arms was able to perform.

Saith the Author of the Life of Lttdcvicus Pius, [[ This judgment fame

few gaifi-fnyeJ^more conjentid to it: the greateft fart, as it ujcth to he in fach

(a) O, cafes ( a ), co?i(ented by vord, for fear of ojfmdivg their Leaders (_ h ). TIjey

i',*" j- judged him, abjc7it and unheard, neither confejfnig nor co7i-<viil, before the Bodies

Bifliops ! ^f ''"'• Mcdard Conftjjlr, and St. Sebaftian Martyr, to lay down hts Arms (c),

(b)\\lhom and forced him to lay thetn hefre the Altar; and clcathmg him in a black

should garment, under a find Guard, they thrust him tnto Prifon. By this tefiimcny,

th>.y lavc \}a^ix\-^'^\^^i{^^-i^^it is ecrtaifjly pofued that the whole btifnefs was done by force

ni'orcth.'.n and fear, and coloured with the falfe figment of Religion. Thus was the

God and bell of Princes, alter all his fcrviccs for the Prelates,andkindncfs to his Sons,

their dcpoled, and balcly ulcd by both, againft: Nature and Religion.

yil^^f^ . ■ His rirll Rcilauration, when he had been before depoftd, was by the G«^

the ufc of *'''^"-'•' How he was rcllored tlle (ccond time, I find not certainly j (ome

Rcliqucs? would give Pope G'AV^ojy the honour of it. It is likeliell thiat the interell

wln'ch his goodnefs had got in the People, with the odiouliicis of his Sons and

Bilhops Acis, did it: But hilly rclforcd, after all this, he was. And being

(bmewhat backward to Irorgive Lothariiis, he hllcd France with new Wars,till

the Emperor for Peace did pardon all. Bur Ebbo, Archbifliop of Rhemesy

and Agobard, Blfhop of Lyons, were depofcd, as Leaders of the Treafon; and

Ebbo banifhcd, and rcftored by Lcf/'^);/« when his Father dyed j yea, and

{cat as a Ht M.in to con\crt the Normans by Pope PafchaVs miflion , being

made Bilhop of Hildcfieim in Saxony, by Ludovic King of Germany, fee

Petavius Hiil. I. 8. c. 8.

Shordy after,-<:/;». 840. the Emperor ( (bllicited yet to more Wars by his own Sons, about dividing the Kingdoms } dyed, a direful Eclipfe of the Sun foregoing his death, the day before Ajomjioti-daj.

§ 13S. That you may fee the bafe Hypocrilie of thele Trayterous Bii-fhops, 1 will recite theii- words in the Council that condemned the bell of ^n, 853, Emperors • but his Imprilbnmcnt they leave out.

§ I 39. The Bifhops condemnation of the Emperor Ludovicus Pias, An. 8^5. after a Preface of the Duty of Bifliops without Favor or Fciu" to judge Sinners, and the need of putting their Sentence in writing, to avoid the cen-* Here is ^^^"^ °^ ^^'^ Men, they fiy— a High

Court of ^IVe hold it neceffary to mtifie to all the Sens of the Churchy both frefent Prelatical t ^„^i -future, how we BiJ}iops,fet over the Empire * of our Lord and mofi againft a ' glorious Emperor Lotharius, y^w. 833. the firfl year of the [aid Prince in good Em- 'Odobcr, did generally meet at the Palace <?f Compendium, (G)ropeigne) peror. ' and

' and htimhly heard the [aid Prince * ; And we rook care, according to the ». ,

' Minijlry enjoined ?//, to manifeft to him or ha Nobles , the generality of all accufine"*

' the Veo^Uywhat is the Vigor, and Tovjer,orTrieftly A£n:ftry, and with v-hat hisFathcr

' Sentence of Damnation he deferveth to be damned-pvho will not obey the warn'

' mgs of the Triefts (a.). (4 ) No

' And next both to the faid Prince, ( Lotharius ) and to all the Peop!e,U'e ^°"''t ^^^ *fii(died to denounce, that they fiwuld fiudy mofi devoutly to pleaje God, and ji^jj *■ jlmdd not delay to appeafi him in whateiier they had offended him : For m.i- known '• nj thingi were examined, ( h ), which by negligence bapned in this Empire, "^ f-J'-^ which manifeftly tended to the fcandal of the Church, and the rtiine of the ^ , 'f ' People, or the defiriulion of the Kingdom ; which mnsl nccejjariiy be Quickly thoritv? ^ corrected, and by all means for the jut iire prevented ( c ). (c) wj-q

' Among other things we mentioned, and remembred all Men, how by God "laclc you ' that Kingdom, by the adminijlration of the most excellent Empercr Charles c/^^ ^^" ' good memory, and the Valor of his PredeceJJors, was peaceable, and tmited,and ^f [[,„ '* nobly enlarged, and committed to the Lord Emperor Lewis by God in great Empire 'peace to be governed ; and by God's protection remain d (o prejerved,as lon^ as ^. J^'dgcs ' that Prince fiudied Cod, and ufed his Father s example, and was careful to ''"■^

* aci^uiefce m the coun(els of good JVIerj: And how in prf-grtjs of time, as is ^f(; o». '■manifeft to all, by his improvidence, or negligence, it fell into fo great ignominy bcllimis

* and bafenefs, that it. became not only the grief of Friends, but the dtrifion if ot 6'ons, ' Enemies. |Jc Fa-

' But becaufe the faid Prince hath negligently managcA tlje Minijlry comniu- fjuj^p

* ted to him, and dij both do and compel ethers to do many things dtfplcafng

' to God and Man, cr permitted others to do it (d}, and provoked God ini^) M.A '' *■ many wicked couriJels,and (candalized theChurch ; and^that we may omit \'^c /^'"R ' innumerable other things') at loft drew all hisSubjtcis to a common dijhuQi- hCawixI ' f

* on, and by God'tjujl judgment, fuddtnly his Imperial Poiiun w.rr jjkin ficm Bir^ors, *him {e^. But we remembring the Commands of Gud, and our Mmifry, and ^^^ the

' his Benefits,thought him worthy, that b^ the leave of the faid Puree Lotha- P^'"^ f'^"" ' ' rius, we (liould (end a Mejjage to him by the Authority of this Sacred Af- nwxcil^ ' femhly,to admcnijh him of his Giiilts, that he might take jure advice for hu the Br*-^ fafety ( or jalvation. ) TImU he miglit in his. extremity fudy with all Lis lTii''ps ami ^ might, that being deprived of his ewtUy Power, acxording toGcd's Council, ''";'^ °' 'and the Churches Authority,he might not aljo lofe his Sud. To the ciunjtls jj^^^ ^^ ' of which Mejjtngers, and their mcjl wholfim warnings he willingly conf*nud, i^f) Lctb.t' '■he took lime, and fet a day in which he would give an atijwer to their whol~ '"'^ ^'A 'fom Admonitions ( f ). tTVl*.'* ,

'And when the day was at hand,thi.fime.ni!y Ajjesrihly unanimcudyvtnt in^'i,,''* ' to the venerable Man, arid took care to admonijli him of ail that he had of- ( f\ Q 'fended Cod in, and (candaliz,ed tlx Church , and troubled the People com- humblg ' mitted to him,and to bring all to his remembrance. And he wHl.-figlf cm-.^'"'^^' ' bracing their wholfom Admcniticn, and their worthy and congruars Agnra- jcro s^' ''iia.ti.onsjpromifed in all things to acquiejce in their, whclj'cm ccunjtl, andtvun- PrtUits!

' dago

)

Church-Hiftory of ^ijlm^s and

{g)hs\r.\.y <■ der^o their remedying judgniint (g). And being glad of fo -wholfom an l"j ^i"^. ' Admonition (h ), jhait we mrreated hts beloved 5o»,Lotharius Auguftus, terTudcc's '''" ^^jp^^'^'h J""^]^^} ^^"^ without delay^ with his Nobles he might come, that (h)\ii]\\ic^ there might be a mutual reecnciltatton hefu^en them according to Chrifiian he look: ' Dccirme, that tf there were any blemijlies or dtfcords in their hearts,a pure and for better t jj^^i^l^ begging of Pardon ( i ) might expiate ther/i, and thereupon before all ^f) Of ^a ' ^^^^ ^»"lt'i"'^^i b^ might receive the judgment of the Priejibood as Penitents do, ir.iytc- ' which Joon after was done.

rous S.in ' Therefore the Lord Ludovicus coming into the Church of Holy lAxxyfiod's

and Sub- <■ j\ff)f/jey^TijJjere refi the Bodies of Saints, that is, of Med^vd, a Cot^'effor of

tk. )'Was ' Chrtjf and Bifimp, and of Sebaftian a most excellent Martyr{the Prii.fs,Dea-

this keep- ' co7is, and no jmall multitude of the Clerks /landing by, and his Sots the fore-'

iiig the ^ J'aid Lothxv'iUi being prefent with his Nobles , and the generality of all the

htthCom- ( l>cop!e,e'ven as many as the Church could hold)and bemg profirate on the earth

menr'"snd ' "/""* Hair-cloth ( k ) before the Holy Altar, he coffcJJ'cd before all,that be too

Honoiii- '■ unworthily lifed the AUniftry committed to him, and in it many wayes of-

ing the '■fended God, and fcandalized the Church of Chrift, and many ways troubled

"" w 1 ' '^^^ People by his negligence : And therefore for the Publick and Ecclejiaflick

Son Slid ' Expiation of fo great Guilts, he faid he would defre Penance, that God being

wicked ' merciful by their Minifiry and Help, he might pmjheroujly deferve (or obtain)

Prelates! ^ Abfolution of fo great Crimes, God having given them the power of Binding

' and Lonfng • whom alfo the Bi^jops, as Jpiritual Phyfcians , did whclfomTf

' admont[li, telling him that true remijfion of Sin followeth pure and ftmple

' Confejfwn ; that he Jliould openly confefs hts Errors, in which he profejfed that

* he MoH offended God, left hejijould bide any thing withih,or do any thing de-' ceitftiUy before God, as it is known to all that he did heretofore in the Palace ' at Compcigne, ^i-if?/ he was by another Holy Ajfemblj reproved before all the

* Church : And that he come not to God now, as he did thett, by dtjfcmblin^ ' and craft, with a double heart, and provoke him to anger, rather than to for-

(/) O in- '■give his fn ( 1 )i for it iswritten,The dtjfemblers and crafty provoke the

fulling ' wrath of God. And after this Admonition he profeJJ'cd that he bad chiefly

Traytors. <■ Jl^j-^^d in all thofe things, wherei^pon he had been familiarly reproved by the

*■ forefaid Pricfs, by word or writings; that being by due rebuke reproved of the

wrote ' things they gave him a writing ( m ) of, containing the fum of his Guilts, of

him his ' which they had Jpecially reproved him ; which he had in his hands, viz.

Lcirpn, & *■ \. As in the fame Paper is fuUier co?itained, incurring the guilt of Sacri-

contcUed ' Jedge and Murder, in that be kept not, according to his fromife, the fatherly

for him ' Almonition and terrible Conteftation made to him with Divine Invocation bc-

'■ fore the Holy Altar inprefencc of the Pricfs,and thegreatefi multitude of the

' I'enple ; in that he had done violence to his Brethren and Kindred, and had

(u) A ' permitted his Nephew to be killed ( n ), whom be might have delivered ;

Irrfytor ' and that being wimin.lful of his Vow, he after commanded the Sign of Holy

in o['cn <■ J^dig^ion to be made for the hvcnge of his own indignation.

11. That being the Anther of Scandal, a?idTroiibler of the Peace, and Fic-

* later

Rebtlliun

' later cf the Sacramen's,hy unlawful Power he corrupreti the Covenam jfhuh ' woi made between his Sons for the peace and unanimity of the Empire, ana

* tranquility of the Church, by commm Coujicil, and ccnjtnt of all the faithful

* Feople, and confirmed by the Sacrament : and in that he compelled bis faithful '■People m contrariety to the jttid frit Covenant andOath,tojvear another Sn-

' crament ( o ) , and fo fell into the gmlt of Perjury, by the "Violation of the (f" ) O:

* former Oaths. yi?>d how much thu dijpleafed Gbd,u plain, in that the People '^•''^•

* fitbjeit to him had afterward no peace, but were all led into p!rturbatio»,bea}-

* ing the puni^iment cf their fins, and by God's just judgment.

* 111. That againfi Chrijiian Religion, againit bts f'ow, without any pub-' lick profit or certain necejfity ( p j, deluded by evil counfel, be commanded a (p)\gimix. ''general Expedition to be made m Lent, and in the extreme parts of his Em- ■'l'" Arrr.s

* pire appointed a general Meeting (or Council) at the time of the Lord^s Sup- ^ ^

' per, when the Pajchal Sacraments were to be celebrated of all Chrtftians (c\). ^ ^)R'cbcis ' In which Expedition, as much as in him lay,}x drew the People into great muft not ' murm)iring,and againfi right put the Prtefis cf the Lord fi-om their Ojficesyand bcrcfiftcd

* brou/bt great opprejfion on the Poor. V^ J^^

' ^V. That he brought violence on fome of bis faithful People, that for hts Ejjler.

* arfd his Sons fidelity and fafety, and the recovery of the fljaking Kingdom,

* hiimbly went to htm, and made known to him the fnares prepared for htm by ' lis Enemies; And that againB all Law Divine and Humane, he deprived

* them of their Eftates, and commanded them to be bantjhed ( t ) , ana made g {l ^

* them when abfent judged to Death, and doubtlefs induced the fudges to falje that Joch

* judgment. And agamft Divine and Canonical Authority, raijed prejudice but differ

* agamfi the Lord's Priefts, ( or Bi^wps ) and Alonks, and condemned them ^^°^\ ^^^ ' abfent. And in this tncmrmg the guilt of Murder, he was a violater of the ^^ ^^'"j

' Laws of God and Alan. niu^ be

' V. Of divers Sacraments (Oaths) contrary to each other,oft made tm- baniflicd. '.reafotiably by bis Sons or People, he commanding and compelling them ; where-' by he brought no fmall blot of fin on the People committed to Inm. He hereby ' incurred the guilt of Perjury, becaufe thefe are rightly charged on him as Au-

* thor, by whom they were compelled. But in the purging cf Women, m unjuit ' fi'dgments, in fal/e IVitnefies and Perjuries, which have been committed in his ' prejence by his permijfion, bffii> much he hath offended God he himjelf know-' eth.

'V I. Of divers Expeditions "which be bath made in the Kingdom commit-

* ted to htm, not only unprofitably, but alfo hurtfully without counfel and profit , ' in which many and innumerable hcinox Crimes were committed m the Chri' *■ fiian People, m Murders and Pcrjuries,in Sacriltdge and Adulteries, in Ra-'^pines, in Burnings, either in the Churches of God,or divers other places,in Finn-' derings and opprejfing of the Poor, by mijerable ufage, and almoft unheard of ' among Chrtfiians; which all, as is aforesaid, rfiett on the Author.

'VII. In the divifions of the Empire rafidy made by him, agamft the com-' man peace, and the fafety of the whole Empire, for his own will; and the \ Oath which compelled all the people to [wear, that they would aU «gitnH his

L 1 '■Sons

Chmxh-tiifiory of 'BiJ]70^->s md

"Hereis a new lorr of. Com-pofi[ion of the Bi/hops handsj to dcpole a King fo as never ro be re-Itored : But !t failed.

.'i-i.

83;.

' Sms as Enemies, when he might have facifieil them hy Fatherly Authority^and ' the cotmjel of his faithful People.

'VIII. That Jo ma7iy Alijchiefs and Crimes committed in the Kingdom ' committed to him, by his negligence and impro'vidcnce were not enough, which ^ yet catmct be numbred, hj which the Kingdom w.u evidently difgraced and ' endangered: bin moreover to add to the heap of miferies,he lafily drop nil the ' People of his powa- to their common defirtiHion, when he ought to have been ' to his People the Captain of fafety and of peace, when the Divine Piety had ' decreed to have mercy of his People by an unheard of and invifible manner, ' and by preaching in our ages.

' For thefe things therefore, and in all thefe things which are before recited, ' confelfmg himjelf guilty before the Priejls, ( or BijiJops ) or all the People, with ' tears, and protefimg that in all thefe things he finned, he defred publick Pen-' nance, that fo he might fatisfie the Church by repenting, which he had fcanda-' lized by fmning; and as he was a fcandal by neglcittng many things, fo he ' profejfed he would he an example by undergoing due Pennance.

' And after this Confeffwn he delivered to the Bijhops the Paper of his Guilts ' and Confejfwn for future memorial, and they laid it on the Altar ; and then ' he put off his military Girdle and laid it on the Altar, andfiripping htmfelf of ' bis fecular Habit, he took the Habit of a Penitent put on him by the hands of ' the Bifliops, that after fo great and fuch Pennance*,7to Man after may return *to a fecular Militia.

' Thefe things thus done, it pleafed them that every Bijliop fliould write in his ' oyvn Papers how the matter was done, and Jliould Jlrengthen it by his cwnfub-

* fcription,and offer it to Prince Lotharlus, thr/sfirengthned in memory of the ' Fact. To conclude, it feemed good to us all that were prefent, to put the fum ' of all the Papers, and of fo great a bufinefs into one Breviatc, and to roborate *-if by the fubfcription of us all tinth our hands, as is hereafter demonjlra-«■«/—

The Author of the Life of Ludovicus addeth, ' [_ Pulldque induttim veffe,

* adhthitd magna cuflodtd fub tetlum qtioddam retriulitnt."]

Here you lee the Tryal of the godly Efnperor,the Articles exhibited againfl him in the High Court of Epi(copa| Juftice, and the u(e of Penance, and of laying on of the BiOiops hands, in inverting him in the Gai'b of perpetual Penance. What wonder if the Pope afcended to (iich power, when ordinary Bifhops in the beft governed and inftrufted Countrey then in the world^ obtained filch power; even by the name and abufeof the P O \VE R OF THE KEYS ? Saith Binnius, \_ 77)^^«ww therefore juftly for this caufe de-claimeth againft Ebbo, Bilhop of Rhemes, the Leader, as impttdicum (^ cru-delifimuM Fpifcopum ! 3 And wbit were they that would thus follow him?

§ 140. CCXLIX. But the next Council was forced to do better, (for .ufualiy the BiOiops followed the ftronger fide; ) in Theodorus Villa they cau-ftd Ebbo to depole himftlf from his Bifhoprick, and the reft excufed them-felvesthat they did it hy neceUIty and fear,and were all forgiven, Bin.p.^j^f. And yet ^will the Bifhops fey, that this Emperor was not humble and mer-liful? § 141.

§ 141. CCL. After his Reflauration, An. S-^6.L»doz'KUs caii'.ed a Council at Aquifgram, to renew the Laws for tlie Retormation of the Clergy and Abbots, with the Inftru6iIons and Rules for Kijigs themlelves at large laid down. And here they determined, that all Bilhops hereafter tlut were Rebels andTraytors, fhould be depofcd, and Lay-men anathematized. But they Efficiently minded the Power and Dignity of theBiiliops to be upheld.

§ 141. There is a Treatife in 5/«w/«j, p. j'S j. in which the Statutes of the Synods of Aquifgrane are opened and conhrmed by Scripture.

§ 14J. CCLI. An. 8j5. Btnntus tclbus, that in the depofing of the Emperor, Agohertusy Bifhop of Lyonsy and Beniayd, Bilhop of Vtemu , having been Leaders with Ehbo, at the Council at Jheoti.rtlla, fled, and die Emperor and all his Sons, (ave Lotharius, being here prefent at a Council at Lyons, they being (ummoncd, appeared not, and Sentence was put oft, becaule tUey were abftnt.

§ 144. Ah. 839. rf^;» the Emperor's Son dying, he pafled by his di(b-bedient Nephew Fepin,ind divided that Kingdom ot Acjuitam only between his Sons Lotharius and Charles; whereupon his Son LnJoz'icirs was oftended, and with them of Aejiiitain railed Rebellion again, and by a Convention at Cahilone, and after it, reconciliation was made.

§ 145". The Emperor Ludovtcus Ttus dying An. 840. aged 64, his Sons fell together in Wars for liis Kingdoms.

Lotharius the el deft, that had ufed his Father fb trayteroufly and unnaturally, fought too great a part for liimfelf, and came to a War with Ludovk and Charles, who conquered him, and put him to a fliameful flight, yi«. 841. in wliich Fight, fay Hiftorians, a greater flaughter was made of the French^ than was ever known in the memory of man. This was the man that de-pofed his Father for the flaughter of the Subje£h by his Wars againft him. The next year tiiey fought again, and he was again overcome.

§ 146. CCLII. It's eafie then to conjeiSture wliich way the next Council ( which was at Aquifgrane ) would go: The conquering Princes made the Bifliops their Counlellors, when they had made Lotharius flie out of the Coun-trey, what they fliould do with his Kingdom ; and, (aith Bmnius, they received the aniwer which Nithardus li. 1. dclcribetli in thele words , [ ' The ' Bfjliofs confidenng the deeds of Lotharius fiom the hegimting , how he had ' driven his Father out of his Kingdom ; how he had made the Chrifiian Veofle ' ferjured by his Covetoufnefs j hoiv oft he had fruftrated the Oath he made to ' his Fathers, and his Brethren ; how oft,/tnce his Fathers death, he had at-' tempted to dtjinherit his Brethren ; how many Murders, Adulteries,Burnings, ' and all kind of heinous deeds the Universal Church fuffcred by his mo ft wick-' ed Ccvetoufnefs: And that he neither had any knowledge of govei'ntng the ' Commonwealth, nor could men find any foctfieps of goodnefs of will tn go-

* veming. For which caujes defervedly, and by the juft judgment of God A!-' mighty, they [aid he fled firil in Battel, and then fom his Kingdom : There' *fore all ( the Bishops) unammoujly agree and confent, that for his wickednefs

* God bath cast him out, and hath delivered his Kingdom to his Brothers that

L, \ 1 ^ are

k

' art better than he. But the Bijhops Jid not give them this liberty , tiR they ' openly asked them, whether they would govern it as their ejeiled Brother did, ' or ,-cccrdmg to the li/iU of God. They anfwered, that as far as God ^wuld ' enable them, they -would govern themfelves and theirs according to God's wiB. * Br God's Aichority (fay they ) ve warn, exhnrt and command, that you xm-' dcrtake it, and rule it according to the will of God. ~\ So for Nithard.

§ 147. You (cc here that it is no wonder that the Pope took upon him to let up and take down, to make and unmake Kings, when the fubjeft Blfhops did it by their greateft Sovereigns. And you fee here God's juft judgment on a rebellious Son, and the flhameRil mutability of a temporizing Clergy. And how prefiimptuous Bifhopshave abufed Religion,the u(e of the Keys and the Name of God, to the conrufions and calamities of the world. But Lo-thariiis after this Depofition reigned.

§ 148. All thefe times Images were caft out in theEaftern Empire, even

all the Reign of Leo the 5 th, and of Michael Balbus, ( however he recalled

Iheodorus Studita from Prifon ) and of Theophilus that (ucceeded him ; Pe-

tavius It. 8. c. 9. (aith, that Theophilus followed his Father in perfecuring the

Worfhipers of Images, but yet was a moft drift requirer of Juftice, and

ii France reigning i x years and three months, died An. 841. the next year after the

Taurinen- '^'^th of Ludovicus Fsus. He left his Son Michael, a Child, Emperor,under

Jji fct the Rule of his Mother Theodora.

againft § 149. And now come up Images again by a Woman, which ever fince a

'""^fh Womans Reign almoft had been call out; (he ruled 14years, juft as 7r«rf gj,^^ „Q,'' did, and fped as fhe J for when her Son came to age,-he depofed her. In ro i^wje, this time Methodius firft, and Ignatius after, were made Patriarchs of Cmftan-&c. And tinople. And Bar das ( made Cafar) depoftd Ignatius, becaufe he would not jo/na /f«- excommunicate Theodora when fhe was depofed, and fct up the learned Pho-jgjh ttus in his place, that came in as Ne&arius had done from the Laity, by fudden

againft Ordination: one honoured even by the Papifts for his great learning, but re-him, €■- viled for being againft them.

of^lm""^ § lyo. CCLIII. An. ^x. This Woman had prefently fo much power Sentences ^'^ ^^^ mutable Bifhops, as in a Council at Conflant. to turn them to be again (too for Images, and TisTbeophanes faith, [ Suddenly changing their judgment, they

ftrong for cur(ed thofe that oppofed Images^ and (b after i r o years rejeftion they were the An- reftored, and the N/ffws la Council owned without any great difficulty: but in his ^'^ ^^""^ ^^' ^'^^^ were for Images accounted it Godlmefs,zni called them Un-Prefacc godlf that were againft it, and this Woman Theodora is ftiled for it a very profcfleih godly ^Voman, ( though the other called it Idolatry;) and fb while one fide that he ^jj5 cryed down as Vrofane, and the other as Idolatrous ; the poor Church felt read or '° ''' forrow, that Images were not taken for things indifferent. hw his Jhecphanes railing at Yo/jw the Patriarch of Conflant. ftith, that [_ Seeing

Book: fo fudden and imexpdled a change, he that ruledimpicujly was ftruck-Tvith fuch Was not ^ fliipor and blindmfs of mind, that he was ready to have killed himfelf; and excellent ^^^^g ^^^ ^^'^'^ rf ^11 the wickednefs, of an ungodly judgment, that had led the Coiifutcr.^ Emperors by. lyes, arid thritft them into the hell of impietyyhe was with ignominy

f

their Counals abrid'-cd. 16 i

miny caft our, and good Methodius fut in.~\ I recite the words, to (hew you what various Charafters the intercft of Images gave to men, and what God-lineG and Ungodiinefi, Good men and Bad men, are in the lenft of many Hiftorians.

§ 15" I. The Pope dying, yohan. Diaccnus (eizeth on the place by force; but Sergius is chofcn aguinft him, and prevaileth: In whole beginning Lv-tharius lent his Son Litdovicus with an Army to Rcwe *, Stg'ihtrt la'th to be » f kj^u. the Confirmcr of the Pope, and claim that rJglit j others Uy, to be crowned, ing they To Lotharius they fware obedience, but not to his Son. Some great debate would Anafiafms tells us that a great company of Billiops had againil the Pope and JlJ,^^, ^'^' his Party, but he tells us not what it was, but that the Pope was too hard for j,';^ -pj^g them, and glad when the French were gone. Ponc fub-

§ 15'2. It's before fild, that after tlie Bllhop's depoling hIm,jLof/^i«W«i was mirtcd rcftored, the three Brothers agi-eeing, that Ludovtcus flioutd have Germany, himfelf to and part of France,inA Charles have France, and Luthanui Narbunznd Italy ^^^^ddi-as Roman Emperor. red of a

CCLIV.The Archblllioprlc oiRhemes had been ten years witlwut aBilTiop Subjc<ft, upon Ebboa removal or flight, and two Presbyters fuccefiively Fulke and ^'" ^'"^'^ Hotho had been the Governors of it, ( fome will queftlon the validity of their ' . afts.) And a Council at BelloTjacum makes Htncmsrus Bifliop.

§ I fj. Under Careluj Calvus the Church-Lands were much alienated, eP pecially Abbots Lands, to Nobles and other Lay-men. Whereupon CCLV. a Council at Aidda ( Meaulx ) did by Anfegtjus and Bernardus Lcvita draw up a Book of (even Parts, lamenting the fuis of Chriftians, and the Sacrilcdge of the Laity ,and oftcrcd it to tht King, who refuted it, the Nobles being agalnft it: For which ( fay the bold Expofitors of God's Providences) the Normans by In\-arion troubled the Land.

§ 15:4. Leo the 4th became Pope ; they durll not confccrate aim without the Emperor's authority, Anafiaf. m Bin. p. 61 8. This Pope wrought great Miracles, (ay they, i. He conquered a Bafilisk that killed men by his looks, ( as St. George conquered the Dragon. ) x. By the Cro(s he (lopt a fire in the City : But his good works contain a Volumn in Avaftafius, "viz,. the many Churches that he adorned, enriched, repaired^ the filver Veflels and Ornaments that he gave, the Polls and Pillars, and Altars that he beautlfied,and the glory that he added to the Roman City and Churches, £^'c. yea,when the Sa- -racens came and fpoIkdSt. Pr/cr's Church in the Suburbs of Rome, hecaulcd the (aid Suburbs to be walled and fortiticd, as a new City, calling It Lecnina fi'om liis name : And he made two or three Prayers of lix or feven lines long, to defire God's proteAIon of it, by the iritercdiion of St. Veter. And he wri-tcth a notable Homily, in which he comprizeth much of the Canonsteaching them all the Arts, Gtfturcs, and Ceremonies of canting the Mafs ; and pre-ciiely ordcreth, that every Prleft do karn his Leflon ; and that if any of them be illiterate, ( that cannot read ) he fliall be fulpcnded till he amend, ("learn to read ; ) (b learned was the Clergy in that Age.

§ 15'5'. By the way, the oft mention here oi fmgmg the Mafsjdoih remcm>

ber.

ff5-

bcr me to note that which is much over-looked ; 'viz. How Liturgies im-poftd firft came up, or wcrcmollly propagated without any exception or op-polition : It was chiefly bccaufc they did Jmg them, and had fitted them accordingly to their y7;;_g;w^ JVcrr/, like our Cathedral finging of our reading Pfalnis and Prayers: And we all know that the People or Miniftcr cannot make Pfelms ex tempore, but we muft and do uft forms in fmgmg; but the Prayers that were not Jung, but faid, were longer left free to the Speakers prcfcnt skill.

§ 156. CCLV'I. A71. 847. in a Council at Varis, Lotbarius ca.u&A the caufe of Ebbo to be reviewed j but after Summons, he would never appear to his death.

§ 15:7. CCLVII. a Council at Aiewfz., ^». 847. repeated many Eccle-fiaftical Canons: Among others. Murderers fllU, inftead of death, are but put upon long removal from the Communion, no, though they murder Priefts.

In this Council a Woman called Thiota, was judged to be whipt, becaule fhe had profeiled to have Revelations foretelling the day of judgment that year, putting the People in fear, and even many Priefts followed her as a Prophetelsj flie confeilcd that a certain Priefl: perfiiaded her to do it for gain.

CHAP.

CHAP. X.

Of the Councils ahout Ignatius ii>id Vhotius, and fottje others,

§ I. 4 iV; 848. A Synod at Manz under Rahanm condemned Co-CCLVII.jlJl Aefcalats a Presbyter, and Monk of Rhancs, as a Prcdeftina-rJan Herctick. Hincmants Ep. adF. Niccl. reciteth hisHerelles to be,

I. ^'[^Tbat asGod hath fredefiinated fame tolife eterval, fo others to death '£D

• eternal: That he would not have all Men favedy but only thofe that are Ja-' ved, elfi he fiiould have his li'illfiujlrate, a?id not beOm?tipotent.

^. ^ That Chri ft dyed not for all, but only for the Ele^, who are the world ' that he redeemed; others he redeemeth by Baptifm^hut not by dying for them. 5. ' That no one ^mII per/jJi that ChriH dyed for. 4. He addcth, ( how truly I know not, ) ' Tliat he ajfertetb a threefold

* Deity in the Trinity of Perfons.'] They laid him in Prifbn, and Hincmartis wrote to the Pope to know what to do with liim, faying, '■TImt he tnu'si

* employ a very able Man to keep him, for he wraps People , even the meanly ' learned, into admiration of him, reciting Scripture and Fathers dtfiorttd whole ' days together. Some BiHiops took his part.

§ 1.. They lay a Synod at Tours wrote an Admonition to one Nomenoi/is the King's Lieutenant in Britany, for Tyranny and Oppre/Iion, and carting out the juflBiQiops,and putting in Mercenaries,Thieves and Robbers; Bin. p. 638. and for defpidng the warnings of the Pope and Bifhops.

§3. C/«o//7/.'j tells us of a Co»;c///«w Rp^wf/d^/M?;?, regulating Bilhop?, and Cap. 6. ordaining that the Avch-Prcsbyter examine every Mailer of a Family perfonally, and take account of their Families and Lives,and receive their ContcfTions: And Cap. 7. that a Presbyter in the abfence of the Bifliop,may reconcile a Penitent by his command. Cap. 1 3. That in the Villages Arcli^ Presbyters be fet over the Lower-Prcsbytcrs. C. 1 1. That none that arc denied Communion, may have any Military or Civil Office ; and ib every Bi-ftiop is Maftcr of the Magiftrates.

^4. CCLVIII. The ^ijrrfCfWi in 5^j;« perfecuting the Chrlftians, forced the Bifhops to meet in Council at Corduha, and decree againft Martyrdom, and the Memorial of Martyrs, faiih Binnitts, p. ^43. ' [] Holding a Saianical ^ Meeting, forbad Martyrdom, and took away the Honour of Martyrs, faying, ' That they that were not violently drawn to deny the Faith, but offered thern-''fclves to danger of their own accord, are not to be numbred with the Mar' ' tyrs, not working Mtracks as,the Alartyrs did,nBr their Bodies remaining un-

• corrupt.

§ 5-. A Synodal Mentz, An. Sji. did we know not what. But 83 3. CCLIX. one at Soifons was approved by Pope Benedict, and reprobated by Pope Nicolas (Bin. p. 648.) ( yet both infallible. ) And it is no wonder, for It is about a hard Point, and in which the Papacy is much concerned. When Ebl^o was depofed and banifhed, Lotharitis rellorcd him for a wh.ile,

and.

•a

aaci he iutrudcJagAin,.md orJainei many Piicfts. Hincmarru (iicceedlng in Lis lire-tlim, rqeacth all rhole that he thus ordained. A Council is called to j'.idge whether their Ordination was valid or null. The Council decreed, that ' ^ <> hatever in EccUjiafi'ical OrJinatitms the JaiJ Ebbo /«</ (fone after hit oO" • damnation, accordtng to the Tradittom cf the yifofiulick Seat, as u read, in the ' Deeds (ij the Fofes, except Sacred Baptifin, ivhtch ts perfected m the vame of ' the Trimty, jliall he ali vcid and null, and thoje ordained by him in whate-ver

* part uf tie world they jh^ll he Fugitives or "ivavder, becaufe they cannot flie ' frcm Goo's judgtrtint, let tlem he held deprived of all Ecclejiafttcal Degrees *■ by the judgr/imt of the Holy Chofl. ] And yet thele Men had (hewed Letters from the King and divers Bifhop";, for their reception as Presbyters, but the Synod (aid ihey were counterfeit.

Another Cale was thi.>;, one Haldnmm had been made Deacon by E^^c,and Con(ecrated Presbyter and Abbot by Lupus BiOiop of Catalonia. The Prel-byter was ordained out of his own Jurildiftion to the Church of Rhemes : This being queftioned, an Archdeacon (hewed the King's Letters, commanding the Ordination of Halduinus. Lupus ordained liim, in obedience to the King, without examining, ( there being then no Billiop at ii/6ewej.) Whereupon the Synod decreed, according to the Canons, (fay theyj ' That they that ' are made Presbyters without examination by ignorance,or by dtffimulation of the ^OrdatnerSfWhen they are known, jiiall be depojed; becaufe the CatholickChurch

* defendeth (but ) that which ts irreprchenjible. And it was (hewed in Con-oil. Sardic. c. 9. and other Councils and Decrees,' That the faid Bipop touch-

* ed nothing of his Ordination, but that he that leaped to the Vriefihood without » Becaufe * ^^^ degree of Deacon*, he ought to retire ( refilire } to due degradation.

he was § 6- Here you (ee the Nullification even of the Ordinations of an ejc£tcd

made Archbifhop, yea, and of a lawful Bilhop, when he makes a Presbyter of one

i^*"*?!" ^^^ ^^^ ^y ^" eje£l:ed Bi{hop made Deacon, and when he ordalneth un-

Ebbo. worthily without due examination. And If this hold , what interruptions

have there been in the Succeirion of BIfhops,efpecially in the Roman Seat.'

§ 7. y^w«7?«y?'«i a Cardinal, Presbyter of Rome, betook himfelf to theEm-peror,folliclting him to depo(e Pope Leo the 4th,and to place him in his (lead. The Pope hearing it, calleth him home to his charge, from whence he had been abfent five years: but he would not return,nor appear,wherefore CCLX the Pope called a Council at Rome, which dcpo(ed him.

§8. CCLXI. ^»rtf/>w the Patriarch of Cow/?i7wf;>;«^/<?, called a Council to depofe Gregory BKhop of Syracufa ; They dcfired Pope Leo's confirmation : He delaying it, dyeth. Gregory in the mean time prevaileth agalnft Ignatius, who is caft out, and Vhotnis put In, and a grievous Schi(m begun.

§ 9. CCLXII. An. Sfy. under Lotharius Remigius Lugdun.znd li other BKhops, are called a Council at Faience, v/ho made 13 Canons or Decrees, with great Judgment and Piety, and (hewed how much more venerable a Council of a few wife BKhops are, than greater Councils, where the mod arc weak. Their firft work was againft: thofe that they called the Fredefiinatia' «o;,where Cap.i.ihcy determine,' [New ipfos males Deum tdeo perire -velle ejuia

^ bcm

L

■tD

•fs

' Ironi ejfe ncn fctuermt, fed quia boni tffe mluermt. Cap. j. Vradeflinatic-'■nem ekctorum ad'vitam,&fnedefiinatiotiem imfwrum ad mortanfidtntcrfa-

* timur : In eleSliene tamen jalvandorum mijericordiam Dei pracedere merit»m ' bonum^n damtiatione atitan perituroriim mcritum malum pracedae jufliim '^ Dei judicium: Tradefiinaticne autem Deum eatanttimfiatuiJJ'e qua: tpje "jel ^ gratuitd mifericordid'vel juflo judicio faiiurus erat. — hi malts vero tpforum ' malittam prafctjfe, quia ex ipjis eft ; mn prtedefiindjfe, quia ex tUo non eft. ' Vcenam fane malum meritum eorum jequentem, uti Deum,qui omnia prefpicit 'prafcivij/e df pradejlinajfe, qtftajuftus eft: apud quern eft, i4t S. Auguitinus

' ait, de omnibus omnino rebus, tamfixa fententta,quam certaprafcientid :

' Verum aliquos ad malum pnedejttnatos ejfe divina poteftate, '•cttklicet ut quaji ' aliud ejfe non poffent, non jolum non credtmus, fed ettam fi funt, qui tantum

* malum credere i-ehnt, cum omni detejlatume, ficut yiraujica Synodus,ilHs Ana-^ thema dtctmus. The fum ij, God's mercy goetli before Man's merit, but his Predeftination topunifhment is only on the forefight of their lin, which he decreeth not, becau(e he caufeth not.

Cap. J. ^ About SChriji's death they like not thofe that fay be dyed for

* all that from the days of Adam till then had been damned; but would have '•all take up -with this fimpleDoHrinc, that God fo loved the world, that he *gave his onely begotten Son, that whoever believeth m htm flwuld not perifl), ' but have everlajling life.

Cap. 4. ' Tloey conclude that aU true Believers regenerate by water and the

* Spirit, have their jtns wajl)ed by the blood of Cbriji: And they cotdJ not have

' true Regeneration, if they had not true Redemption. But of the multitude of -^ ^ the fai{hful and redeemed, fome are eternally Javed, becauje they perfevcre ; ' others art toil, becaufe they perfevere not in the Jalvation of faith which they ' had received, and fo make void the grace of redemption.

Cap. 6. ' About Grace and infirmed Free-will reflured and healed by ' Chrift, they exhort AJcn to fli<k to the Scriptures, and the Councils of ATrica ' and Orange, and not to follow the Aniles pcnJ; Fabulas Scotorum, (I fiippolc they mean the Followers of [fohan. Scotus Ertgnena , who was murdered by his Scholars 8 ^ ^, whom Godefcalcus followedj ' left they flwuld be corrupted '■from thefimpUcity tltat u in Chrift: Remembring Chrijtians that while they ' are vexed with the prevalciicy of the wicked in the world, they flwuld not vex ' the fad Congregations with fucb fupcrfluo.'rs things.

Cap. 7. ' Thty advife, that becaufe Bif^cps wire fet over the Cities that were ' untrycd and almoft ignorant of Letters *, and unlike the Apnftolick Vrefcript, * What a ' by which means the Ecchfiaftical vigor is loft, that they would petition the . "'j^ 'Prince, that when a Bifiicp was wanting, the Canonical Eleilionby the Clergy, [Jicfe ' and the Vcople, might be permitted, ("becaufe the King was u(cd to thruft makcl* his Favorites on the People,) ' that Men of tryed knowledge and life, and net 'ts *■ illiterate Men, blinded-by covetou^nefs, might be fet as Bifhops over the 'Flocks.

§ 10. CCLXIII. -An. 8^5'. A Council was held at Papia in Italy hv the Order of the Emperor Ludi'viais, for th.e Reformation of the corrupt Clcr-

M m gy ;

gy ; where they ordered that the Clergy and Peoph chufc the Bifliops, and yet that the Laity on pretence of their Eletfting Power,rrample not on the Arch-Prcsbytcr ; and that gre-at Mens Chappcls empty not the Churches: ( with otlier old Canons rccited.J

§ IT. Lotharirts., that (b mifcliievouny fought for the Empire agalnll his Father and Brethren, grew weary of what he had, and divided his 3d part, (which was the Empire of Italy, with Burgundy and Lorrain, ) into three parts, and gave his Son Lewis the Empire in Italy; and his Son Lotharius, Lor-rainyind his Son Cbarles,Bnrgundy ; and entered himfelf into aMonaftery: But Charles dy ing, the other two Brethren divided his Dominion, and Lyons, Belattfon and Vienna fell to Lotharim.

§ 11. We come now to the Reign of Pope yoane, according to a great number of their own Hiftorians; but David Blondel hath recited the Tefti-monies of multitudes on both fides, and after all impartially paft his con-je£hjre,that the Story was not true ; whofe judgment I rcTcrence, and think moft probable.

Whether at that time there was a John the 8th or none till him that fomc call John the 9th after Adrian the ad, is uncertain.

§ 13. Leo dying, fif there was no Jolm or Joane heWveen ) a Schiffn was made ; the People moft chufing BenediB, and the Agents of the Emperor, with part of the People and Billiops, chufing one Anaftajius a Cardinal Presbyter, that had been Excommunicate by a former Pope. Anaftafiris thought his choice fb fure,that entering Lconma, ( the Roman Suburbs ) he went into St. Peters own Church, and broke down and burnt the Images,and with a Matlock caft down to the gi-ound even the Image of Chrift, and the Virgin Aiary. They went on and imprlfoned BenediSl, ( quern omnis Roma-na Pkhs eligerat, faith Ana^. in Bin. p. 65'9.) But while the great Men and Officers of the Emperor did their utmolt to conftrain the People to confent to AnaJla/iM, they could not prevail, and Co they were fain to yield to the multitude to end the Tumult and Confufion, and BenediB had the place.

§ 14. By this Story it appeareth, 1. That this Anafiafms was againft Images, and that was like enough to be part of the caufe why he had live years left his Church in Rome before, and refufed to appear before Pope or Council. 2.. That when the Emperor and his Officers were (b violent for his choice, even after he had broken down the Images in St. Peters Church, it is apparent that the Party even about RotKe,and in the Weft,which was againft Images, was not fhiall, though they made no frir.

§ 15:. This Pope BenediB was he that confirmed H'mcmartts's Council,. which nulliHcd 'Ehhus Ordinations aforelaid, as is to be (een in liis firft Epift. Bw.p. 662, S-x.

§ if>. An. S^fi. Charles Calvtis, by a Synods concurrence at Carijfiac, fent Orders againft Church-Robbers very ftrii5f.

And 85 7,a Council MMentx, was held CCLXIV, where Gunthar, Bifhop of Cckn, lent a Letter, diat ' [ A terrible TempeB aroje, in which the Peofle ''for fear all ran into St. Petcr'i Church: And the Church-beams cracking , as

' they

/'

•CD

' they fell a fraying to God for mercy, fudderly a tnt(l}apen TlmitAerbok, like a ' fiery Dragon, perced and tore the Church, and at o?te Jhoke killed thre men ' among ail the multitude, ( though thofe three flood in federal places) that is, 'one Fries} that flood at St. Peter'/ Jltar, one Deacon that flood at St.Dcn'is's ' Altar, and one Lay-man at St. Mary's Altar : And fix others were flruck al-' mofl dead, hut recovered. At Trevtrs al(b were many Prodigies.

§ 17. Pope NicoUs I. is chofen by the Emperor Ludo-vicrts confent, and all the People. He greatly advanceth the Roman Seat by his activity , and much by doing juftice to the People that were opprefled by Tyrannical Prelates. He had a great confliil with yolm Bifliop of Ravenna, who long de-fpKed him, and denied him his fubjc£lJon: But the Emperor took the Pope's part, and ib poor John was fain to fubmit, and cry mifcremmi mei, peto mii'e-reri mei, Anafl. tn Bin. p. 66 j. and to take an Oath of fubjeition to the Pope.

§ 18. The great Schifin now rofe at C<;»/?^«/i»e^/(r, whether Ignatius or Thotim fhould be Patriarch ; Michael the Emperor depofmg Ignatius by the counfel of his Uncle Bard.is, and putting in Phottus. The Pope kept up his power by interpofing, uncalled,into all (iich matters. He (ent (bmc Bifliops as Leg.ites to counlel them by a Synod to decide the difference : When thcfe Bifliops came thither, they contented to Thoti:ts againft Ignatius. The Pope faid they were bribed, and fal(e to their truft, and depofcd them, ( though he thought he chofe the bed he had ;) of which more anon.

§ 19. Yet we have not done with worldly Prelates. King Lothanm was weary of his Wife, and loved a Whore ( JFaldrada. ) He openeth liis cafe to the Bifliops. They call a Council, and approve of his Divorce , and his Marriage with Waldrada. The two great Archbifliops of Colen and Trtert, are the Leaders. The Pope is againft it, and accufeth the Bifliops of owning Adultery ; They appear at /?owf,and he condemneth them of Impuden-cy, while ( with Ibmc immodeft words ) they undertake to juftifie the thing, ( of which more anon. ) He chargeth the Bifliops of heinous VUlany , and * they defpifed him. He condemneth the Concilium Metenje *, in which the ^^ Mh". Adultery was allowed.

§ 1 o. This Pope falls out with Hincmarus Bifliop of Rhemes, juftifying againft him the caufe of Rothaldus,whom he had depofcd.

He (ends Meflengers to^ the King of Bulgaria converted in his days,whom the Emperor's Officers flop and abufc. The AdverCiries of Images were ftill ftrong at Conflantinople. Anafl. (^ Bin. p. 6jo, &c.

Epi}f. z. He uleth 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 muft M^^n be compelled to do it, or elfc be Hereticks ? and why muft they be worfliipped ? )

Epifl. 5". He is pitifully put to it, to juftifie the Eleftion of NeBarius and Amurofe, and yet to condemn that of Photius for being a Lay-man. And Ep. 6. the (ariie again in the inftance alfb of Taraflus.

§ z I. The 8th Epiftle of this Pope Nicolas to the Emperor /T4i(c^(re/,doth

M m X fliew

^

{hew that he had now fliaken off the Imperial Power ; and therefore charg-Oj- eth his Letters as full of Blafpheniy, Injury, Madnefi, c^c partly for being lb fawcy as to bid the Pope, Q Sen J fame to htm. ] which he faith was far from the godly Emperors. Partly for blaming the deeds oh the Prelates, when he ftith. Their -words muH be regm-rled, and their authority., and not their deeds. Partly for calling the Latine Tongue barbarous and Scythian, in comparllbn of the Greek, which he (iiiih is to reproach God that made it. Partly for laying, that the Council that dcpofed Ignatius, and fet upPhotius, was of the fame number of Bifhops as the hrft Council of Nice; where this high Pope's anfwer is worth the notice of our Papifts, Biw. p.68c). \J The [mall o5" ' number hiirteth not, where Piety aboundeth: Nor doth Multitude profit, -where ' Imfiety reigneth. Tea, by hotv much the more numerous is the Congregation of ^ the malignant, by fo much the jl^nger are they to do ?nifchtef: Nor muB men ''glory in numbers, "when they fight not againH the Rulers of the darknefs (f '•this -world, and Jfiritual tvickednefs. — Glory not therefore in multitude,becatife * it is not the multitude but the cauje, that jufiifieth or damneth. — Fear not little ' Flocks,8ic. ] This Doifrine was then fittelf for the Pope in his Minority : But the Letter is a Book pleading for the Roman Grandure, and ftriving to bring the Emperor with others under his power.

§ 1%. In his Anfwer and Laws to the Bulgarians,\\e difliketh their Severities againft one that had pretended to be a Prieft, when he was not, and had 03^ baptized many, concluding that he had laved many, and that they were not to be re-baptized, £/». p. 77 T. No,not-though he were no Chriftian that baptized them, as after Conful. Cap. 104. p. 7 8x.

To the Cafe: Who are Patriarchs? he (aith properly they only that have

Succeeded Apoftles, which were only three, Rome, Alexandria and yjntioch,

'^ but improperly only Confiantinople and ferufalem. ( But why then are not

Ephefus, Corinth, Philippi, &cc. Patriarchates ? ) And why had the reft of the

Apoftles no Succeflbrs ? Had they no Churches ?

§ a3. This Pope having Weftern ftcurity , threatned Excommunication to the Emperor of the Eaft, unlefs he would dcpoft Phot ins, and reftore Ignatius ; and threatned Lotharius, for the caufe of his rejected Wife , and the Marriage of another, as aforefaid ; and fwaggered againft Hincmarus Rhe-menfis,iox his depofing Rothaldus-x Bifliop,and forced him to yield, and condemned his Synod at MetZ/, and would have proved that Pope Bened/H had not confirmed it. He and other Popes did make the Contentions of Biftops as well as of Princes a great means of their rifuig,takingthe part of him that appealed to Romei^s injured, ( and very oft of the truly injured. ) By which means rhey had one Party ftill for them,and all injured perlbns were ready to fiie to them for help.

He Excommunicated the Bilhops of Colen and Triers. The poorBifliops that would fain be on the ftronger fide, began now to be at a lols^ to know whether the Emperor or the Pope was the flrongeft. They followed the Emperor, and relifted the Pope awhile. The King and Hincmarus forbad Rothaldus go'in^ to Rome, and impriforied him : But tlje Pope wearied them

ou^.

out, by reafbn of the divifions of the Empire and Kingdom into fo many hands of the French Line,that being in continual flifpicion of each other,thcy needed the Pope's help.

Em. p. 790. He ordereth Pennance ( inftead of juft death ) for one Cu-tnarui that had murdered three of his own Sons, vtz. That for three years he "ta

pi-ay at the Churcli-door, and that for feven years he abdain from W^ine three days in a week, and for three years to go without fhoes, allowing him to cat Milk and Cheefe, but not Flt/h, and to enjoy his Pofleffion, but not have the Sacrament for (even years.

§ 24. His Decretals begin, '■That the Emperor's Judgments and Lavs are

• Mow the Cancns, and cannot dijfol've them or prejudice them.

Tit. 4. I. He (aith, ' [_ All Patriarchal Dignity, all Metropolitical Frima-' cj, all Bipops Chairs,and the dignity of Churches of n'hat Order foefcr were

• inflittited by the Church of Rome : But it's he only did found ffy and ereii it "vO

• on the Rock of Faith now beginning, who to St. Vncv^tbe Key-hearer of eter-

• nal life, did commit the Rights both of the Jmtne and the Cekjfial Em-' pire.

Reader, Had not the abufe of Humane Patriarchal Power, and of Exxom-munications got up very high,whcn this bold Pope made this Decree ? What! All Churches in the World made only by Rome ? W^as not Jerufalem , yln* tioch,and many another made before it? Did Chrift (Tiy any thing of/low?? Did not other Apoftles build Churches by the fiime Apcklolick Commillion li Peter had? Is not the Church built on the foundationof Prophets and A-poftles, Chrift being the Head-corner Stone ? Did nor others build the Church of Rowc before Pcffr did it ? Did not Peter build other Churches before Rome ? Where and when did Chrift give Peter the Imj^erial Power of Earth and Heaven ? Did he not decide the Controverlle who (hould be thtf chief or greateft,with a prohibition of all Imperial Power, (IVitbyou it pall vot be Jo ? }

§ zf.But the next Dectec caftcth Rome as low,as this over-railed it.' If any ' one hy Money, or Humane Fai'or, or by Popular or Aitlitary Tumult, be intbrc "^

' ned in the Apojldick Seats,Without the Concordant and Canonical Eletiion of

• the Cardinals of that Church, and then of the followmg Religious Clerks, lit ' him not be accounted a Pope, or Apcjtolical, but Apoftaticai.'] By which Rome hath had fo icw Popes indeed, and (b many Apoftutes, that it hath no fhew of an uninteiTupted Succeflion to boiift of

§ 16. Tit. 4. c. 7. He claimeth Authority to abfolve Men from Oaths, and all Obligations made by the violence and conftraint of bad Men, and (b ablblveth the Archbifhop of Triers. ( A wicked Decree for Perjury:) (As if in materia licit a, a Man that ftvcareth for Fear, were not bound ? And as if Man had not Free-will, when he is under Fear ?}

§ 17. C. 6. ci^ 8. He decreeth that none can judge the Pope, nor retrafb his Judgments, nor judge of them, ( contrary to many General Councils. )

He curfeth from Chrift ill that contemn tbe Pope's OplnionSjMaiidates, Im terdich, Sanctions, Decrees, i^c. c. y.

i'ci

Yet he (alth that the Church of Rome may change, and mend its own Miftakes and Decrees, w. i o.

'Tit. f. C. I. No Ciifiont may occafwn the removal of any thmg efiablijji' ' eJ by full Papal Authority. C. 1. Othej- mms works approved or reprobate ' by thePope'sDecrees,muH accordtTtgly be jndged,accepted or rejeHed. C.^.TJcy Ubnt have not the Decries are to be reproved, 6cc.

§ 2 8. Tir. 6. He brings down Emperoi-s and Kings fufficiently below the Priefts, confining them to temporal things, and not to judge of Priefts.

Tit. 7. He rebuketli the King for letting none be Bifhops but thofe that he liked, charging him to admit none at Colen or Triers , till the Pope had notice. And before he told Emperors, that they muft take no care what kind of Lords the Priefts be, but what they fay of the Lord ; nor to note what Popes be, but what they do for correction of the Churches ; For they are by Confiantine called Gods, and God muft not be judged of men. Tit. 3. c. 3. He queftions whether Lotharius was to be called a King, becaufe he was an Adulterer.

§19. Tit. 8. C.I. He decreeth that no Bifliops be ordained, but by the eleiSion or confent of the Clergy and People. 25 C. J. That Primates and Patriarchs have no Privlledges above other

Bilhops, but fb much at; the Canons give, and ancient cuftomhath conferred. tS" § 3 °' ■^'^- ^ I • *■• ^ • ^^ *^his, ' [ Niilh/s mijfam Presbytert audiat, quern fcit

' concubinam habere aiit fubmtrodiiBam mulierem. 2 That Is, Let ?to one hear * the Aiafs of that Presbyter, whom he knoweth undoubtedly to have a Concu-' bine, or a Woman fnbintroduced.

C. z. If Priefts fall into the fnare of Fornication, and the aEl of the crime ' be manifeft or [hewed, they cannot have the honour of Priefthood , according ' to the authority of Canonical Inftitution.

( Yet our Canons will condemn him that refuleth to take fiich an one for the Guide of his Soul, or to hear hi m.)

Yet Can. 5". he feith, Tliat we muft receive the Sacrament from any Prleft how polluted (bever, and by the judgment of how many Bifhops foever he be Reprobated, becaufe bad men adminiftring good things, hurt none but themfelves ; and all things are purged by faith in Chrift. 83" Tit. 14. Lay-men muft not judge of the lives of Priefts, nor fo much as

learch into them.

§ 31. CCLXIV. yin. S^S. A Council atConftantmople placed Pi&or/Vw in the place of Ignatius, ( of which before, and more anon ; ) Ignatiris is ba-nifhed; we have not theHiftory and Reafbns of the Council.

§ 31. CCLXV. An. 869. A Council was called atT^Uum of the Bifhops of twelve Provinces by King Charles, where, befides other Clcrgy-mens mif^ carriages, Wemlo Archbifhop of Sens, was accufed of Treafbnable Defeition by the King. In which it's pity that Bifhops below the Pope fliould have or pretend to the Power which the King doth intimate in theie words, Bin,

p. 798.

I

their Councils ahridzcd.

271

p. 798. [^' From which my conjccration or [ublimity of KingdoK, I ought ' not to be ffipplanted or cafi down by any one,without the hearing and judg-' ment of the Bijhops, by vphofe Admiflry I was confccrated King, arui nvjo "^

* are called the Throne of Godwin which God fitteth, and by whom he decrecth

* hii judgments, to whojc fatherly Corrcptions, aud caftigatory 'judgments, I

* VfAS ready to fuhjeii my felf, and at prefent am fubjeit. ]

You fee here to what power over Kings the common Bi(liops(as well as the Pope ) were got, by pretence of reprefenring Clirift, and of the Power of the Keys.

§ 33. CCLXVI. u4n. 859. A Council at Conflantir.ople condemned Ig-«<if;/«,and again confirmed I'hotiw, who with the Emperor A-ficbacl fcnc . to the Pope to fatisrte him of all,and profcfs enmity to Image-breakers.

§ 34. CCLXVII. ^n. 860. In a Council at Confluence the five prefent Kings of the French Line came to an agreement.

§ 35-. CCLXVIir. A General Council was he]d at Conftantmoplc, An. 861. where 3 18 Bifhops (the fame number that was at the firftA^jc^w^ Council ) depoftd Ignatius,and fctled Phointf,to which the Pope's Legates alfb fubfcribed, (the Papifts fay through fear ;)ro that it was Papally confirmed. And yet here was much done for Images.

§ 36. CCLXIX. The Pope having condemned fohn Archbidiop of Ravenna who defpiftd him, till the Emperor forfook him,in a Council at Home he fubmitted himftlf to the Pope, and was reconciled.

§ 37. CCLXX. ^u. 862. In another Council at Rome, Pope Nicolas condemned the Herefie of the Tbcopafchtta, that (they faid, made the Godhead to futfcr ) it's like it was Cyril and the Futychians old verbal Error by communication of Titles.

§ 38. CCLXXI. An. 862. ACouncilisheld ztAejuifgranc, in which King Lotharius defireth counfel about his Wife 77;f«f^frgf $ the Biftiops pronounce it his duty to put her away, fhe having confelTed Inccft with her own Brother, and allow him to marry Waldrade, he profcfling him-felf unable to contain. The Pope condemneth the aftion and them; The Papifts fay this was but a forged pretence. I only note i. If they would deliberately forge fo heinous a thing on a Queen, what Heathens could be worfe than fuch Bifhops ? 2. Did the Bifhops of that age ihink that they were bound to obey the judgment of the Pope, who tbusop-pofed him ?

§ 39. CCLXXII. An. 862, In another Council in France ( in Ttlla . ad fublonarias) the three Kings again met for agreement.

§40. CCLXXIII. Lotharius appealing, defireth a Council in France by the Pope's confent: AH the Bifhops of France and Germany meet at Afetx.,d{)d the Pope's Legates with them : They and the Legates alio fubfcrib-" to the King's Divorce, and to more, which the Pof e had before dec: ; d againft : ( Did Bifhops then think the Pope Infallible, or not to be ^ivo^cd ? ) The Papifts (ay that the Pope's Legates were bribed.

§4;.

§41. CCLXXl\\ yfn, 863. The Pope calleth his own Council at '^-'" Rume, and excommunicareth or curfeth them all from Chrift, anddepo-feth them qudnttim in fe. But yet oftereth forgivenefs to all, fave two, if they will fubjed themfelves to him. The Bifliops ftand to it, that he curff-d them unjuhiy : Muft all the Kingdoms be thus ruled and confounded by one Prieft, till matters between a King and his Wife be managed to his will and fatisfadtion ?

§42. CCLXXV. In another Council at Rome, An. 863. the Pope curfeth his Legates ac Conjtantsnople with Photius and Gregory Syracufantu, bccauft they all croired his will, which mult everywhere bear rule.

§ 43. CCLXXVI. In a Council at iVw//.--, Hincmarm Rbemenfts got Rhotaldm Pifhop of Snjjons depofed,and tbruft into a Monaftery,and another put in his place, notwithftanding the Pope's oppofition, An. 863.

§44. CCLXXVII. Hereupon the Pope , in a Council at ^owf, con-dcmneth this Council at Stnlis, and decreeth,That unlefs Hmcmuriu and the other BKhops do within 30 days reftore RhotaldM^thcy fliall be forbidden their Miniftery, and uled as they ufed Rhotaldus : But they did not obey him, but put it to the venture.

And whereas the King had forbidden Rhotaldus to goto Rome,znd the French Bifhops pleaded this as a juft reftrainr, the Pope anfwered. That 55. no Imperial Laws muft take place againft Ecclefiaftical. And fo it came to the queftion. Whether the King or the Pope was King of France , or had more power over the bodies of the Subje<fts ? Thus did the Papacy afcend.

§ 45. CCLXXVIII. A Council of Bifhops and Lords together at Pijfisj made Orders for Repentance, and reftraint of Rapine and Plunder, 6^e. y4n. 863.

§ 46. CCLXXIX u4>]. 864. In a Council at Rome the Pope depofed and excommunicated Rodo,ildus Portnenfts his Legate, with Joh, Hicoden^ Jis._ for joining with the Synod at A<fctz. againft his Orders.

§ 47. CCLXXX. In another Council at Rome, An. 865. the Pope re-ftoreth Rhotaldus: For Hincmarus at laft let him out of Prifon, and let him go to Rcme , but would neither go nor fend thither any Legates himfelf, as the Pope required, for his own and the Synod's defence.

§ 4S. CCLXXXI. u4k. 866. A Synod at Soijfons wrote to the Pope about Hirxmarus, and againft encouraging falfe Ordinations, unlefs after privately confirmed, crc.

§ 49. CCLXXXII. The Pope was fo bufie and troublefora with the French Bifhops, making himfelf Judge in matters that he knew not^and reftoring thole that they depofed, that An.%(>-i. a Synod at Trecm wrote to inform him of all that had pafled for 33 yearsj how .£^^0 and bis Synod of Bifhops had llandered and depofed the Emperor Ludovicus Fit:>-, and how he did it to pleafe Loth.raus ; and when Liido'vicus was

rcftored

k^

their Councils ahridged. 275

reftored how he fledj and when Z-Wa'^'/c;^ was dead how Lotharim ,

with the baft temporizing Bifhops reftored him, and after he had been condemned and refigned bis place, returned to the excrcift of it and ordained divers; and how upon the prevailing o^Charles againft Loth.i-ritis he was caft out again : and how after Loth.triiu got the Pope to appoint the hearing of all again when he was condemned, and how after this he was made a Bifhop in Germany, and Rhemes was ten years ruled by two Presbyters, and how the Pope Pafchal chofe this Traytor to preach to the Heathens near him, and how Hincns.tnu was chofen, 5:c. as aforefaid. Such trouble did a Vfurper put the Churches to.

§ ^o.Platina faith that fome fay that after the death of Pope Nicolas L^^"^'' the place was void eight years, feven months and ninedayes: ^^^ x.ol'ls'L others fay that it was void but feven dayes: fo uncertain is the Papal Bin. p. Hif^ory offuccefTion. The next that we find inthroned is Hadrian id. 876. Ad

§5-1. Michael it ConftamtnopU having been long ruled much by ^'"'^" ** Bardas (who was for Photim) at laft giving up himfelf to drunkennefs inecijutc and other fins, by the perfwafion of Ba/ilim he killed Bardas, and vciiAe M,chack Baftlitis C<Tfar : And after a while his vice gave BafiUm the opportunity mterfeclus to kill the Emperor when he was drunk. See D;o/;. Peravim V{]i^. li.V^-I. chap. 12. Yet this 5<</«//V« wafhed his hands and made many Pro-teftations that he had no hand in his blood. This made for the Popes advantage: Women and Rebels and Traytors and difcordant Princes did much in raifing him. This Regicide Emperor , as a fecond Phccas finds it uftful to quiet his party by a change countenanced by t-he Bifhop of Rome: And fo he fets himfelf againft P/j«/«a and fets up /^'/.j'/jw a-gain ; and fearching Photiw's fervants, finds a book written of the Aifts of the late great Council at Confiautinople, which was for him and a-gainft /^/;<jf.';«,and a defence of that Council againft the Bifhop ofRcmc, in which he dealt feverely with the Pope. This Book the new Emperor fends to the Pope , and there it is read , ftampt upon, fiab'd with a knife, and openly burnt (and a miracle is faid to be at the burning of it, fome drops of rain that fell, not quenching the fire , but in-creafing it.) But their calling P/W.-w* a knave and burning his book', and condemning the council that was for him , will hardiv keep the readers of his yet-preferved learned writings from fufpe(fting that the Popes caufe was not unqueftiondble,or at Ieaft,that ihePope was not taken for theuniverfal Vice-Chrift whcvPf^otim and his council didfo little regard him. No wonder then if the Aifts of a great council when they were againft the Pope are called [_Ncfand:Jfimi Ccr.ciliabuU prophtntata Volarnma, cjHtbaf f.inHiJJintHni Papafft Nicolaum jnfur) a f.iuce latraverat."} Yet our new Papilts would make men believe that none but a few He-reticks rtfufcd fiibjeftion to the Pope before Luthtr. Were thcfe Councils Here ticks?

§ 52. Here the Emperor Bafilim was put to a hard firait abcur his B;rtio|)s: He wrote to the Pope (vid. Bin. p. Sly. 826.^ that almoft

N n all

/^

all his Bifh(5^8 had inifcarried , both thofe ordained by FhotiM and

tho.e O.diincd by fgKMim: they had turned with the times not

knowing how the times would turn, and incurred fuch guilt that he

defired the Pope to pardon them, left he fliould want Bifhops: fi-

gy. lencing one party would not (erve turn, while all had been fo far guilty.

[| Turn a j.WLttJftmo Patriarcha Ignatio conftcrati fcCMndnm fcrtptura fuA

confjfianem in vcritate non perm.inferunt j n:c non et de hi} fttmmis Saccr-

dotibtu at(^ucAbbMibn^ c^m diverfimode fcripferunt, quorum ttlii vi vtl tj-

rannide, alii vcro fimplicitnte atit levitate, (juidamvoo fedn^ione et ver-

futiis , (juidam vcio mutteribus et honoribus diverfimode decepti funt — Jmo

vero dicenduin efi cjuodpcne omnes facrati, tarn prisres (juam pofieriores qui

fub nobis funt,'inate^ct ut non opportcbat,tra[latifitnt- — .^atenM non Eccle-

fm noftrti fitrumts Sacerdotibns et Sacerdottbfts,qui fub omni regtmiee nofiro

funt, comvnmc occitrrat naafragifim, propemodum tiniverfts illis de falfis et

impotabilibttigufiantibus iniquitatis Rheumatibus.Si4per bis itaqtte fojtula-

TKM compatientilfimum Sacerdotium tuum, ut manum porrigat humanita-

tis et eorum difpenfet ftliitem, &c. faith Baftliw ibid.

§ 53. Here alfo another difficulty arofe (as there ever doth in ravelled works.) The Pope had been againft i//«<r?»4>-«j and his Council for depofing the Bifhops ordained by Ebbo. And yet to fubdue the Greeks he was for the depofing of thofe ordained by Vhotim. This made him feem contrary to himfclf: Anaftafim Bibhothecaritu (who then lived and was employed at Confiantinopk in this matter) to reconcile thecontradi(flion,fdith that Ebbo was a true Bifhop, but Photius was nor, bccaufe he was a Lay-man before his confecration; and therefore his ordinations are nullities. This nullifying of ordinations maketh great dilhirbances in the Church. The prefent Bifhops of Et.glandre-quire thofe that were heretofore ordained by/rfroWj;W Paftors to be re-ordained, and on this and fuch other accounts about 2000 werefilenced atone day (^/c^. 24.1662.) The filenccd Nonconformilts do fome of them fay that the Bifhops have much lefs than Photim to fhew for their authority to ordain. He had learning, he had the Emperors authority for him : He had lawfull Bifhops to ordain him j He had a great Council or two to approve him and confirm him : And though he was a layman before, fb fs every one when he cometh to his firft ordination. And though he was made Bifhop per faitr^m, fo was Ne[lariw, Thala-fius, Ambrofe, &c. And every Uncanonical irregularity nullifieth not rhe ordination. It hath been ordinary for Deacons to be made Popes: And is not that per filti.m ? why doth not that interrupt and nullifie the Pap.icit'i Bur, fiy they , on this account i. /?c»»« fucccffion is long agoe interrupted : There having been far greater incaiiacities in Simo-nifty, common Adulterers, Perjured, Rtbels, Heretick.% Infidels, (as Councils have judged.) 2. And (they fay) that fo the Englifh Prelates are no Bifhops, being chofcn b^ the King, and wanting that choice of the Clergy and people, which the Canons have over and over again

made

their Councils abridzcd.

V5

I

made neceffary to the validity of ordinations, are more null than thole of Photiia. And therefore we owe them ( as fuch ) no obedience nor communion.] Thus our nullifyings and condemr.ings proceed till moft men have degraded if not unchriftened one another. And he that is on the ftronger fide carrieth it, till death or fome other change confute his claim , and then the other fide gets up and condemneth him as he condemned them. And thus hath the Church long fuffcred by damning Divines, and domineering or ccnforious Judges.

§ 54. By the reftoring ofJgnatitu, the Pope got to himfelf the reputation of fome Supremacy, and obliged a party tohimj which however it was not the greateft at the firft, would be greatcft uhen Ignatms his fiipremacy had advanced it: And with them he got the reputation of being juft, indeed Phottus Teeming to polFefs the feat of one that was injurioully dcpoled by the meet will of the Prince, without fufficienc caufe.

§ S)- Pope Hadrian 1. (Epift. 4. ad Ign.1t. Confi.) direcHieth 7^-natius to forgive many others, but none of ihofe that lubfcribed toPho-tius his great Council iX. ConflantmopU, becaufe they reproached the Pope of.^owfjwhere you may fee i.How dangerous it was then to be ia a General Council, when,if they pleafe not the Itrongeft, they are ruined: And if they do, it's like enough the next age will damn them for it. 2. How much more dangerous is it for a Council to be againft the Pope, than to be guilty of many other crimes; and how unpardonable it is.

§ y6. CCLXXXIII. An. 868. Befides the Popes Roman Synod that damned Phot ins and his Book and Confi- Council, there was a Council at \Vorm>, which repealed many old Canons, of which the 14th. "is, that if Bijhops J^^all excommunicate an) vcrongfullj or jor light caufe *'and not refiotc them, the neighbour B'JJ^'ops fl.'ail tal^fucbto their com-"munion till the next Sjnod.

The ly. Canon is, that becaufe in Mon.ifieries there are Thieves that " cannot be found, when the fufpe^led purge themfelves, tbeyjhall recetve " the facrament ofChrifl^s bcdy and blcod, thereby tojlxw that they are in-" nocent.2 But this Canon the Fapifts are afhamed of.

" The 72. Canon alloweth Prffbyters (^jea a/i Chrifiians) to anoint the "fick,,becauje tl.cBiJhops hiy,a<.rcd nith liber buljnefs cannct^o to all thejic^."] This intimateih that even then the Diocelles were not fo great as ours that have one or many Counties, clfe other reafon would have been given why the BiOiup couM not vifit all the fick, than his hindering bu-fineffes: Would the Bifliop, e. g. of Lincoln fay, 1 would vifit all the flck in LincolnJJ.ire, Ncrth.:i:*ptotifhire , Lcicef}:rJ!:ire, JlifnUngtonJJ.nre, Rutlandp.-ire, HariforJJl.nre, Bedf(rrdjl:ire , BuckinghamfoiTe, which are in my Diocefs, but that I cm hindered by other bufinefs? who would take thi« Hit the words ola lober man.''

§ 57. CCLXXXIV. u4n. 869, wis that ConfiantincpoUtan Council which the Papirts (damning fome others) call the 4th. and the Sih.

N n 2 General

ta

ts

A\

General Council ended -^m. 879. in which bur 102 Bifhops condemned Photius and fctled Ignatius, by the means of the Emperor BapUm and ^' the Pope, nho had before rcftorcd him. Here in Ad. 2. The Bifhops that had followed Photius, took the old courfe, and when they faw all turned ctyed peccavimns and craved pardon, and thcmfelves called Photnis , fach It villain as there hnd never been the liks. {.^i'l- p. 882,) They faid ihcy fmned through fear and fo were forgiven. Act. 3. Some Bifhops that had turned, who were ordained by Methodius, were required to f'ubfcribe to a form propofed; But they told them that the late times had fo vexed men with heinous fubfcriptions, that they had made a Covenant or Vow to make no more lubfcriptions but what they ^'^ had done already, and the profeflion of their faith ( like Nonconform-)[\s) and defired to be received on fuch terms without their new fub-fcription. Ad. 4, The Bifhops of P/jofw's party ordained by him were examined. And Ad. 5. Photius himfelf, who would not enter till con-ftrained, and then profelFed as in imitation of Chrilt to give them no anfwer to what they asked him; and is in vain exhorted to repentance. Ad. 6. Many of the Photi.tn Bifhops repented and were pardoned: Others pretended that they had fubfcribed and fworn to Photius, where Zachar. Calcedon. fhewed that the Canons were above the Patriarchs. Here BafiUus the Emperor made a notable fpeech to exhort the Bifhops to repentance, offering himfelf to lay by his honour and to lie on the earth, and let them tread on him confefTing his fin, and asking mercy. Ad. 7. Photitfs is again brought in, (and his ftaff that he leaned on taken from him) and he denyed to defend himfelf and to repent, but bid them repent. The Bifhops of Heraclea, 8fc. receded the Legates, and pronounced them anathematized that fhould anathematize Phottus, and appealed to the Canons. Ad. 8. They cenfured a Bifhop that was againft Images. Ad. 9. They examined fome great men that had fworn againlt Jgn.<itius, who confeft they had fworn falfely for fear of the Princes; but Leo would not damn or curfe Photius, becaufe he thought the Orthodox were not to be curfed. The loth. Ad. Con-taineth the Cunons which they made 3 of which the Copies greatly differ.

§ 58. The 3d. Canon faith that \_thej ordain that the Image of Chrifi "he worfciped with the fame honour as the Go/pels ; as teaching that by ^'Colours, which the Cofpeldoth by words: faying, \_whoever adores not the "Image of our Saviour Jhall not fe his face at his fecond coming: adding *'[^by the fame reafon we venerate and adore the Image of the Bleffed F'ir-"gin and the Holy ^ngelt, as the fcriptiire defcribeth them, nnd of all the *• Saints. Tbey that thinly otherwife, let them be curfed from Chrifl."}

" Can. 6. They anathcmatiz.e Photius becaufe he did excommunicate and " anathematiz.c the Pope, and all that communicated With him. ,,Can. 7. No excommunicate men are allowed to make Images. I' Can.S.Is too good for the Devil to let the Church enjoy viz. [Xhat

whereas

t}?eir Councils abridged.

^77

" whereas it is reported that not only the heretical and tifinpers , bat fame "ts, "Orthodox Patriarchs alfo for their own fecurity, have made men fuiknbe " (jo be true to them ) the Synod judgcth that it Jl^all be [a no more , (ave " only that men when they are ntade BiJJ:ops be recjuircd as ufiial to de-"clare the foundnefs of their faith: He that violateth this Santlion let him ^' be deprived ofhts honour.

"The loth Can. Condemncth them that hold. That Man hath two ^^ "Souls (which they fay Photins favoured) and curfcd them from Chnfh.

The nth. Can. Tells us what men thefe BiOiops were, and what they fought. It is [7' That all that are made Bipops bearing on earth .^ "the perfon and form of the Celcfiial Hierarchy^ JJ:all with all veneration «' be worshiped by ail Princes and Subject : and wc- 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 horfes like fupplicants or abjcHs that feared them *' nor to fall down or petition them; If any Bijhop hereafter Jloall negleU: his "due honour,or break,this Canon,orpermit it to be done,he fl.iallbe feperat-*'ed for a year from the Sacrament; and that Prmce, Duke, or Captain "two years.

"The iz.dn.Pnnccs as prophane men be not fpeH^ators ofih.it which ho-" ly perfonsdo, and therefore Councils be held without them. Either I underftand them not, or it is in defpite of truth that they fay ['•u'«- '^ " de nee alias repenmus Oecumenicis Conciliis Hnquam mterfttiffc: Ntaue "enimfas eft ut propbani Pnncipes, rcrum quit facris hommibus gerunds "fnnt,gernntnrve,fpcLtatoresfiant.] Bintuus notetb [_e.x pr<tjcnp:o ncmps Canonum'] turning an allertion de jach into one de ptre, and an univer-fal into a particular, by which licence of expounding what lye or blaf-phemy may not be juftified! And why then have (o many thoufand been curfcd fromChrift by Councils for unskilfulncfsin words ?

§ 59. The 14th. Can. fecureth the BiHiops admirably in def[)ite of the old reforming honeft Canons decreeing that \_" A Lay-nuvt {not e.\-"cepttng Kings or Parliamcnts)Jl:all h.-ive no power to dijpt.te by any rc-"fon of Eccliftajlical SanCiioas, or to cppcfe the univerfal Charch or any ee~ " neral Synod; for tb: difficulty of thefe things, ar.U agitaiingthcm on both "fides, IS the office of Patriarchs, Priefts and DoHors, to whom only Cod •' hath given power of binding and loafing. For though a L.iy-man e.vcel in " the praife of piety and wifd-jm, ytt he is a Lay-man and a Sheep and not a " Paftor, But a BISHOP though it be manifeft that he is dejtttute of " ALL FIRTVE of Religion, yet he is a Paftor as long as ke e.xtrcifcth -^ "the office of a Bijhop, and the fiecp muft not rcfift tue Shepherd,'} O brave doclrine for the Roman Kingdom ! A Heathen, or Infide! or Mahometan, or Ariian BiP.iop mult not be c'lpoltu: He mat is .^o Chriltian may be a Bifhop. How much to be blamed were thr General Councils that dc[)ofed Popes (or Infidclitv, Diabolilni, Hercl-c, Simony, Perjury, Bla!j;!iemv, Sodomie, Fainicatioii, Murders, &c. when a Pope that hath all thcie, ar:d no virtue ofReligiou is not lo be judged by Lay mcnjOr oppolcd,

0^ I. May a Prince Qvc his crown from fuch? 2. May a man fave his Wife from fuch, or a woman refufe their copulation, or defend her Chaftity againft them? 3. What if fiich are drunk in the Pulpir, are the People bound to be filcntly (tibmifTive? 4. Why did Pope Ntchc-las decree that none fhould hear Mafs from a Prieft that liveth in fornication? 5. Are Priefts above Kings, or are they lawlefs?

Yet this very Synod ofBifhops in theirEpiflle to Pope Hadrian dyes \C»i co>:fidiC Synod'), qui turn impaitabivn, Michael et Bajililts ncjter ^ frsjidcb.m,'] And Bafilim and IUmcs were now among them. And many Prince?, efpecialiy in France and Spain have made ftricft Laws to a-mend the liifhops.

§ 60. One of the decrees of this Council was that Pooti!isJ}:onld net be called a Chrifiian. Bin. p. 899. Col. 2. Yet the Apoftle faith of the rejeftedj account him not as an cnemy^ but admonijh htm as a Brother. 2 Thcf. 3,

§ 61. \n Bin. p. 899. is an epiftleof Pope Srf/?/jf»; to the Emperor Baftlnis which containeth the radical do(ftrine of all the Bifhops rebellion and pride, viz. that Princes are only appointed for the things of the Body or this life, and prelates and Priefts for the matters of the Soul and life eternal, and therefare that the Prelates Em|)ire is more excellent than the Princes, as heaven is above earth. [_"^ando^uidem ver-" bis f^HiA ad ufum "Vittt, id efi, rerum prdfcntiMm pertinent, Imperium a " Deo traditnm cj}, ita nobis per Trinctpcm y^pofiolorum Petrum, rerum " divinarum procuratio efi commijfa: jiccipe ejuttfo in optimam partem aux C.I '^fubjicie * —-Hac fant capita ciiracj!4e Principis imperii vcfiri. I^oflrivero pray you "cura gregis tanto pr^fiantior efi, quanta altior efi terra qudm cwlum.^udi \^\vt up " Dominxm—Tu esPetrns — de vefiro imperio vera quid dicit— Nolite ti-" mere eos qui corpus occidunt—Obtefior igitur tuamPict.ttcm ut Princi-'' pum .^poflolorum infiituta fequarc,magna veneratione profeqttare. Omni-" um enim inorbe terrarum, omnis ordo et Pontificatus Ecclefiarum,a princi-"pc u^pofiolorum Petrooriginem et autboritatcm acceperunt. (O horrid fdlfhood, as before confuted:)

§ 62. Yet this Council in ^rffMj-. in .5/». p. 905'. determine of the Pope, that being but one Patriarch, he cannot ablblve one that is condemned by the other many Patriarchs.

§ 63. Laying all together I cannot ferceive by hiftorical notice, but that both Ignatius ii-Vii Photius were both better Bifhops thanmoit were to be found; the firftbeinga very pious man, and the other alfoa man of great learning and diligence. But the old contention WHO SHOULD BE CHIEF or greateft, made them both the great calamity of the Church.

1 think it not in vain here to tranfcribe part of the fumm of the life of Ignatius as written by Nicetas, D.ivjd, Paphlago who was devoted to him, though fomewhat faid already be repeated. Ignatiw (being of the blood Royal) was in quiet poirefl!ion_, when denying entrance or

Church

1.1

vour Ciowii

their Councils ahruhed.

279

Church Communion to Bardas Citfir for his reported Adultery, he provoked chat indignation in him which depofcd him. Bardas firft per-fwaded the Emperor AUchael to aflTume the Government and not leave the Empire any longer to his Mother and Sifters. One Ccho then pretending to be the Son of Queen Theodora, and claiming the Crown, and many following him , Ignatius is accufed as being then on Gf^o's iide. The Emperor commandeth Ij^natiw to fliear his Mother and Sifters , and put them into a Monaftery: He refufeth: The Emperor is angry and fufpe<n:ing him, caufeth it to be done by others, and fcndeth Ignw tins to the Ifland Tcrehtnth and kiileth Gcba. "Within three dajes foms "of the Bijhops who had fubfcri'oedand fworn to Ignatius, even that thej " would Jooner deny the juprctim A4aj:flji of the Trinitji, than without <t "publick^ damnation they would fuffer their Paflor to be depofed, became "agents to draw him to renounce his PLtce. &"C. JIc refufiKg, Fhouus is '■'mad': one day a Aionk^, the next day a Leftor , the next a Suhdeacon , ''the next a Deacon , the next a Presbyter, and on Chrifti birth-day is "made Fatriaich; a great and noble Courtier, the Emperors Secretary or "privy Cowncellor, famous for skjH in things politick^and civil , f« fiixirif)?^ "ing in the skill of Grammar, Poetry, Oratory, Philofcphj, Phyftcl^, and "thefludy cf almofl all Liberal uirts and Sciences, as that he was ahfolntc-'' ly in them th* Prince of his age, yea, and might ccntend with t he ancient s. " For he had a confluence of natural aptitude andfurce, offel-cty, riches, "by which he got a library ofiillfortsofborkj; iinti being dtfirous ojiJUry " and Praife, Jpent whole nights in flceplefs Studies, and after fludicddivi-" nity, and Eccleftical fvlumes. Grtgorius Bijl.op c[ Syiicufe (^ a ceKfiir-" ed Bip.'Op^ ordained him : Ignatius if cruelly ujca, and its Uid ou Photi-" us : lieJendcih feme Bijlyops to Rome, ai.d by them faith, f/j.^/Ignatius "gitv: ftp ins Pl.ice. It's laid that (bmc held JgK.unis''!' hand , and by force -.vrote his mark, and others wrote the relt: but what's thr truth IS hard t(i know. A Genf^-il Council is called: The Emperor and all his Princes, great ones, and almoft all the City met at l'iiotiu,''s poflt(lion. Baanes and fome of the baferof the /Romans are ff-nt to fumnion /g-

».(.';/<>'to tile C^)uncil, (Bin. p. S67.J He askcth them in wliut Garbs he flu 11 come. "T,}:y tak^ ti;»e and the next day fay, Rhodoaidus and "7Lic\vix\iS Legates of OldKomc by us fummon thee without deUy to ap^ "^.ar at the holy Otcumsnical Council ui whiii ^'.;bit thou wilt according ti> thy own Confcience. He goeth in Patriarchs habit. The Emperor commands him in the habit ofa Moni^, No left than fevcnty two witnelles are brouE;ht ir.to the Synod againft hiin, Nubles and Vulgarj Nictcas faith perjured, of whom Leo and Theedot.Hi s two N\.b!e intn were chief; and fume Anabaptifts ("that is, fuch uS baptized men agai,;, though not at:,ainft Infant Baptifm.) Thele fworc that Ignnti .5,^01 juftly ordained, iiad twelve years ago ulbrped the place. And alas .' there wanted not a Canon which wouid de[)()(e a grc.:i part ct ihv Bifhops of the world, viz.. that called the 30th. Apoit. and oft renewed.

/ " if any BI/}:iop ftfngthe fcctilar power do by them cbtain a Church, *'let him be depofed.'] They left 0UX.\_Andtho[e that CofHrnunicate with "him'] For which Nicetas accufcth the Birtiops as falfly faving them-ftlves. And alas! muft all the minifters in England be depoftd 0^ that communicate with any Bifhop that gets a Church by the fecular power? What a reparation than muft here be made. And would not this Canon depofe/"/^onwalfo? The Popes Legates, Bifhops, Rhodo-ccldtis and '^acharias, aliique nefarii homines faith Nicetas, cryed down Ignatius as Vnworthy; then they beat and odioudy abufe the good old man: And then cometh the forefaid forced fubfcribed confeflton ('or forged.) After this its faid that they fent men to kill him; but by old ba(e cloaths and two baskets on his back, he paft away unknown, begging his bread by the way. Nicetas faith that an Earthquake (hook the City fourty dayes together, and frighcned them to fend abroad and proclaim (ecurity to Ignatius, who thereupon furrendered himfelf. Bardas convinced fendeth himfafe to his own Monaftery,and the Earthquake ccafed ; and the Bulgarians moved by famine and the Emperor's girts,laiddown armesand were baptized Chriftians. Pope Nicholas ex- . communicateth Photi'i. and the Emperor and all theCourt.;''5y».p.868.) A fire befals the Church of Sophia. The young Emperor groweth fo drunken and prophane that he gets a pack of wicked ungodly men, and maketh them in mockery or play his Bifhops,and confecrateth a Church c5" for them , and maketh one Thcophilus a jefter their Patriarch,to turn Religion into a Icorn, and then faith [' Thcophilus is mj Patriarch, " Photius is Ctefars, and Ignatius is the Cbrifiians.~\ And thus they by prophane witt derided the Bifhops and Religion itfelfj to which alas, the Bifliops ambition and odious ftrife did tend.

Photim was filent at all this. Another Earthquake frightned them 'again, the terribleft for a day and a night that had been there known. Upon this one 5<?^/;/.'j a Bifhop of 77:;f/<i/flK/(;(« went boldly to the Emperor and opened the fin of his prophanenefsdifTwadinghim from that wickednefs that provoked God. The Emperor enraged l^ruk out his Teeth, and caufed him to be fo fcourged that he was like to dye. Pho-tias cared for none of this, fet his mind on the fecuring his feat and op-prefTing/j5»<?f/»j, magnifying all that tooke his part, and encouraging falfe Stories and Calumnies againft the beft that were againft him. One of the betraj'ers and accufers of Ignatim was one of his Difci-ples, and of his own name, made Arch-Bifliop of HierapoUs, and then loft his Confcience and Fidelity. ( B:n. p. 869 .) It was but for jirefuming to Confecrate an Altar, caft down by the Ruffians and new built, which was^taken after his depofition for a breach of the Law and Canons, and two Arch-Bifhops, (ready at all times) were fent. to pull down the Altar as Nonconformable, and to carry the flones to the Sea, and wafli them, and then to let them up again. O that they would have wallit their hearts from Pride and Worldly Ambition .'

'0

53"

eS

'Oh, faith 'bi\ctXi!',What ftfiptditjffWbatpravity of aperverfe mind was ' thii ? What excels oj Envy f What fludy of ambitioM Dijhonefly ? Did ' thy daily meditation and night-watches, and innumerable Bockj teach thee ' thu ? Did thy fretjuent reading and difpatation , and [Iriving for the ' praife of learning teach it thee ? Did the knowledge of the Old Tefiament

* and the Next, the ftyings of the Wife, the Decrees of the Holy Father t,

* teach thee to perfccute a poor man, and to vex and kjll one of a broken ' heart andfpirit ? Did not thy tyranical ejeilion of him fatiate the im-' placable fury of thy mind, &C ? Thus Nicetas.

As much as to fay, Much learning, and great power and places, are too often (eparated from Honefty, Charity and Confcicnce.

Here he inentioneth a terrible Dream of Bardas, and the murder of him by BafiUm's order, and the Emperor's confent; and how bafely Pho-tim cryed him down when he was dead, who was his onely Friend and Patron while he lived.

Next he tells us how the Emperor, by Photiui's perfuafion, called a General Council, which depofed Pope Nicolas,zs he had done Phocas*. *Did the The other Patriarchs and the Bifhops were allembled, and the Pope Church anathematized : And theHiftorian blames it as cauflefs -, but it was then ^^^ ^^^^ commonly held, that a Council might judge and depoft any Pa- Popc\vas triarch. the Su-

The Aifls of the Council Photim fent to King Ludov'icus and others in pcmc Italj and Prance, that they might depofe the Pope ( by two Bifhops, Rujcrand ■yiz,. of C^lcedon, and Laodtcea. ) It's faid be fpake evil to the Emperor J" ^"^ of BafliuSfiud to Baftlitis of the Emperor. .S/j/»//«j murdercth the Emperor, and the next day depofeth Phot ins, and thruffs him into an Hofpital,and calls home Ignatius ; and lo gets Ignatius's Party on his fide, to which he refolved to add the Pope : Therefore fending to Pho-titts for the Patriarchate Writings.and he faying he had left them all behind him, the Servants of Photins were fecn ftriving about feven Bags of fealed Papers ; which being furprized,were found to be the Ads of the Council, and the Condemnation of Pope Nicolas. Ignatius was odioully accufed and abufcd in them. Many Pi»ftures made of him : over one written X)««^ff/«j .• over ^ooihcr Prtncipinm peccati: over another filiusperditionis : over another y^varitiaSimonif Afagi: over another, C ■^' f' f-'^'tollit fiipra omne id quod dicitur ant colttur Dens : ] over the fixth, ^beminatio dcfolationis: and over the feventb, l^nti- ^ chriflus. 3 Reader, how fhall a man know what Hiftory to believe that charaderizeth Adverfaries ? and how little is the judgment and applaufe of man to be regarded, or their condemnation of us to be feared?

' / would not ( faith Nicctas ) mention thcfe things, but that I fee the ' .'Authors and their followers own them, and make Photius a holy man.

The next part of the Book, faith Nicaas, [ ' Syncdicns m NjcoU-

* um Pontificem Ron).intim tela torcjuebat, omnij<j:ie generis cali.'mnias cr

* atrocia maledi^l.t, tn illtnsSancii exanilorationem cr damnationcm com-

O 0 'pLilc-

)(

'plciiebatMr,tmpie M tragico prop: modo concinnitatus, fane quoque ipfms ' jhgii doUoris m.tgificrie & Photii mimficrio dignus. Gregory^2>\iho[) of S)racitfe, wrote them out, and fent them to the King of France. Who wrote truly, and who fallly, how fhould we now know ? But this I know, tSj' I. That contending who fhould be greateft was the fin of the Pre-

lates, and the plague of the Churches.

2. And that then it was taken for granted, that the Pope deferving it mieht be depofed.

The new Emperor Srf/;i fent thefe Books to the Pope,who burnt them as you have lieard ( Great reafon: but I would we (aw them ! ) Ignatius being reftored, excommunicateth FhotiusfiwA all that were initiated by him, and all that communicated with him. (' It feems they were 'much alike in the art of damning men , and fcparating them from ' Chrift. ) Then is Ignatr.;s''s Council called, where 102 Bifhops damn ' Fhotius, depofc him, and curfe him from Chrift ; and the Bifliops, to 'fhew their holinefs and conftancy, would not write his damnation with

* Ink, but with Chrifl's own blood ; ( that is, the Sacramental Wine. ) cS" (And yet ere long they fet up P^of;>« again. ) Ntcetas blameth his

Condemners, that went not fo far as to prevent his Reftoration. But how can Bifhops rule God's Providence, or the mutable minds of Princes ! faith he, [ * Nam ^uiper recoKCiUatos erat ejciius , & per hjpocrt-

* tas damnatHSy is per eofdem quaji familiares poflliminio recurrens, rttrfus ' Patriarchu tbroium per vim invajit Cum omnes in fua tefiimonia &

* Chirogr.ipha psijitros, ut ipfe erat^ fieri coegiffet,ut extrema primis dete-' riora fecijfit, tmninm confeientias inc^uimvit &confpurcavtt, 3 Alas! if the Bifliops will be perjured Weathercocks, and,as Hypocrites, cry pec-civimus one year, and go contrary again the next, and change as Princes do, who can help it.?

He faith nov/, new Earthquakes and terrible Whirlwinds did again afright men. He giveth us alfo many of IgnaHus'% Miracles, efpecially when he was dead. He faith I'botius profecuted him with malice when he was dead. He next tells us how after the death of Ignatius,Photiiis came to be reftored ; even by feigning a Pedegree of BafiUus as from the King of >^rw«/^,found by his skill in Antiquities; and by his great parts and elegancy winning upon him. He maketh ThcophaKes the in-Itrument of the deceit. He won the hearts of all the Courtiers : fo • that within three days of Ignatms's, death he was reftored. Hereupon the Bifhops turn round,and they that lately called him all that's naught, •^ now magnJfie him, (Bin. />. Syj. j But all that Nuetas calleth vere Chrifiianos, abhorred him.

( This maketh me remember the words of Erafmtts in the life ofDr.; C'llst tranflated by Thomas Smjth, concerning the Bifhopof London that then was _) being an acute Schoolman, {_lhave j^';uiv« , faith he , Jome fuch that I would not call Knaves, hut never any that I could call a Chri-

fiian. 2

JUati. 2 Sad Prelates that NicetAs ( and Erafmus ) could not call Chri-llians.

But the ambition of Photius tempted them to their mutability: He caft out the Bifhops that were againft him, and prefently forgave and reftored them if they would but conform. Yea, he dared to re-ordain thofe that/^«4/-/«j had ordained,fuppofing him noBifhop; but abhorring all that ftopt him in it. But he proceeded to confecrate anew the Church Utenfils, and fay over certain Prayers (//, fi\i]\ Nicet.is, thej be not rather to be calie'dCttrfes. ] j^ttd ('faith he ) to make his fin out %

of me.ifHreJinffil, when he ordained or preferred a»j,or changed Bijl:'cprickj, **

he made them conform by fwearing and fubfcribing to him; thereby binding all to him whom by Benefices he obliged*. So much out of Ni. "How oft

cctas. i^f ^ '■'^^'J

Oaths and

Subfcn'ii-

§ 64. And now Reader, I leave it to thy iudgment, whether Gregory tions been

Nat.ianz.cn knew not what he faid, when he wifht there were no \_highcr condemn-

and lower'] amongBifliopsjapd when he fpJke fo much of their ambi- S,'^ '".. ,

tion, levity and temerity, and of the evil elfeds of their Councils in his ^^,j yg^'

time. Whether Patriarchal dignity was not a great temptation, when alas!

to the Son of a Prince on one fide, and to the great and noble Secretary of the Emperor on the other fide, it feemed a prize worth the ftriving for to the death ? And whether it have not been the calamity of the Church, when two fuch extraordinary men,far above the common rank of Bifhop?, fliall fet an Empire and almoft all the Chriftian Churches into Schifm, Contention, mutual Perfecution andConfufion, by fo long ftriving Who (hall be greateft ? and drawing fo many hundred Bi- "^B (hops into Faiflion, Schifm, Per;ury,and fhameful mutations with them? And whether Chrift did not ( forefeeing fuch things ) far otherwife decide this qupftion, IVhoJka/l be greatest ? in Luke 22. But if Pride turned Angels into Devils, it is not much to be wondered, if it turn the Angels of the Churches into the Minifters of the Prince of Pride and Darkncfs, and turn many Churches into a Theatre of Contention , and a Field of War.

§ 65. Yet here is one thfrg further to be noted, t-/:.. the forefaid Contention that ro(e about the Bulgarians. Thefe two great Patriarchs of Rome and Confiantinop/c, were neither of them yet great enough,or fatisfied with their jurifdiclion, their defircs being more boundlefs than ^Alexander's for the Empire ; nothing Icfs than a!l the world will fatisfie one of them at leaft. Nicetas faith, it was by Famine, and a Treaty, and kind words of the Emperor, that the Bulgarians turned Chriftians. Some PapjhwQM give the honour to the Pope, without proof, and cannot tell us anything how the Pope converted them. But when they were converted, they fent to Seme for fome Inftrui-lors : The Pope fcnc

O 0 2 them

Chwch-Hijlory of 'BijUp and

them two, and ihey received tliem. But they put the cafe themfelves to the Cour.cil at Co«/.««f;/;o/'/c, Whether they were to be under the Birtiop of Rome,or of CoufiaitinopU ? The matter held a great debate. The Pope's Legates pleaded, that they had already received Bifhops from Rome,S<c. The Greekj pleaded, that their Countrey was part of the Empire, and under the Bitfiop of Confiantimple, till they conquered it", and that they found there Greeks Churches and Bifhops, who were ftili there, and the Conqucft did.no: tranflate them from the Bifhop of Conftant. to Rome, How the Controverfie etfded is hard to know ; Some fay that the Council gave them to the Pope, and fome fay other-wife. But this is confelTed , fhat this Roman ambition fo greatly dif-pleafed the new Emperor 5<r/7/;/<jj that it turned him after againft the Pope, and inclined him the more to rcftore /"^of/wj, which he did when Ignatius was dead.

§ 66. Here I would call the Reader to confider, whether the Pope's llniverfal Government was«in thofe days believed ? even by that Council which was fuppofed to be partial ( by the Emperor's inducement ) on the Pope's fide. What place elfe could there be for fuch a ftrife, whether the Bulgarians were under the Government of the Bifhop of Rome, or ConJiantinopU ; if all the World were under the Bifhop of Rome ? They will fay that it was only queftioned, whofeDiocefs or Pact^ triarchate they were under ? ^uiRome never pretended that they were of that Diocefs or Patriarchate as anciently divided. But the queftion was, W'hofe Government they were now fallen under ? And would any difpute whether e. g. Weftminfter were under the Government of the King, or of the Lord Mayor of London ? when all the Kingdom is under the King. This Controverfie clearly fheweth,that the Church then took the Pope to have but the firft Seat and Voice in Councils, but not ro be the Cov'ernor beyond his circuit.

§ 6-j. It is here alfo to be noted,that Bafd the Emperor's revolt from the Pope was To great, that Hadrian is put to write fharply to him as accufing the Bifhops of Aowf, and derogating from them, admonifhing him to repent; but we find not that this changed his mind.

§ 68. Yet one thing more is here to be obferved. In the life of//<i-drian the 2d ( Bin. p. 882. _j we find that the Pope taking the advantage of Biijilh prefent (iate and mind, and the inreref^ o(Ignatius much depending on him, firnt a new Libel to be fubfcribed by all the Bif}:ops, before they fhould be permitted to fit in Council. The Creek^ Bifhops grudged at this, and complained ro the Emperor, [' That the Church of ' Conltantinople hy thefe offered Libels, was brought under the power oj ' Rome, bjf the douhtfulnefs of Suifcriptions. '] But though flcbtliter con-

5«»v/«/«/-, they complain with tears, the Emperor was angry with them,

and

and would have it; and fome BiHiops mnjine mugno Uboris periciilv, libel-los quidem vtx tandem recipiunr, with much ado were brought to fub-fcribe, faying. It was novum & mauditum. The refufers extra Synodum inglorii reliilifunt, were (hat out till they conformed: (Ohithat /nglor.i was a cutting word, )

§69. Tiie Emperor hiding his anger againft the Pope's Legates f for the Bulgarian Ufurpation ) gave them great gifts, and fent them home. But at Sea they fell into the hands of the ScUvoniam,who ftripped them of their Riches, and the Subfcriptions and Copy of the Council,and kept them Prifoners, and threatned their Lives: But by the mediation of the Emperor and Pope, they were delivcred,and had fome of their Writings

again.

§ 70. CCLXXXV. ^u. 879. CarolusCalviis King of f»-.««a-,unjuftly pofTefTed the Kingdom of Lotha>-ii<s, which by inheritance fell to Ludo-vicHs. Ludovicus got the Pope to interpofc, who fent his Legates to Charles: But the Bifliops had not yet learned to obey Popes againft Kings in power. A Council of Bifhops called at Afetz., give the Kingdom X.0 Charles, becaufe he was the ftronger. This was called Concilium Prad^roriHm,i Council of Robbers and Traytors : AaJ no wonder,whcn 'ts Bifhops muft be the Givers of Kingdom?. Was it not enough for the Pope, to ufurp fuch power, to be over Kings, and difpofe of Crowns,but ordinary Bifhops muft do the like ?

§71. CCLXXXVLYet another Councilagainft thePo^e.KhgCharUs had authorized iVorf/jwjw, a great man, to receive fome Goods that were taken to belong to the Church, The Pope commandeth Hinc-m.irus, Biihop of Rhcmcs,ind the reft of tl'.e B fhop<; cf Fr.v.ce , to excommunicate Nvrthma-,!. Hmcmarus and the Bilhops refufe to obey -tD him, only one//;»<rwj»'w Bifhop of Z,rfo;;, (^Landunurr,) obeyeth him, and publifheth the Excommunication. A Council is called at Weyrtcria, where Hmcmarus Rhcm. and the Bifhops (' the King confenting ) condemn Hincmartis LaudunenJis,{oT difobeying his .Metropolitan, in obeying the Pope. He appeals to Rome • They will not let him go. He writeth. Hmcmarus Rhem. writeth largely againft him, ( though his Nephevv ) fhewing how he broke the Canons, how bad a man he was j how he had neglefted his own Charge, left Children unbaptized , and for private quarrels excommunicated his Flock, and had filcnccd and fufpended theMin'iftcrs under him tyranically^ &c.

Reader, Was the Pope's power yet fully received, when a Metropolitan was to be obeyed before him, and fiien condemned for obeying him ?

Church-PJiJlory of 'Bijhops and

' By you. " So crcai and holy a man alio againft ihc Pope.

* Luther was not ihc lirft.

§ 72. CCLXXXVII. Yet more forrow. ^n. hyo. a Council is called in Killa ^(tiniaco ( ^ttigny ) I will give you the Scory in the very words of BiiintHs tranflaied, [ 'When Hincmarus Bift?op of L^on, for the ' ca/ifi in the forcfaid Council expreJfed,h.tdgot the Rifcript of Pope Adrian

• on his behalf, and had notified it to Hincmarus Rhemenfis, and to King ' Charles ; both of thew,itj hatred to the Bifmp of l^diOn,deer eed,Tijat this ' Sjnod, called Latrocina'.is *, fljould be called. There prefided in it, Re-' migius Lugdiinenfis *, Ardovicus Vefontienfis, Bertulfus Trevirenfis, ' with their ftfbjccl B'JJ.ops. Herein H'ncmarus Rhemenfi?, with King

• Charles, was the accufer of his IQephew Hincmarus, whom he had before ' C(i:fecrated BiJI:op of Laon. The AElion brought againfi him was, That 'he -h-id bj Coy.mer-writings defended the rigfits oj the Apofiolick^ Sent, ' which the Archbijhop of Rhemes d:cl endeavor to impugn and overthrow*. ' And that,contrary to his Oath of Fidelity in \$hich he was bound to the ' King, he had acctJfed King Charles to the Pope of Kon\C,and had without ' his licence Jent forth writings againfi him. And when Hincmarus Lau-' dunenfis, at the Pope's command, was ready for his journey to Rome, he ' was taken and fpoiled by his Enemies, and brought into this fitlfe Council. ' Having heard the forcfaid Complaints againft him, he offered a Libel for ' his defence; bm it was lejc^ed, and not permitted to be read: of which ' when he again appealed to the Apoflolick Seat, they did not only not accept ' of his Appeal, but alfo beingproftrate on the ground^and pleading for leave ' to defend himfelf, he was not heard, Pajfing Sentence on him, they depo-' fed him from his Bifooprick^ : and binding him in hard and iron bands,they ' cafi him into banijl:mcnt: And at laft, which paffeth all cruelty, his eyes 'pulled out; they perhaps blinded him that he might have no hope of return-

• ing to his Bijhopricl^ J So far Bmnius. And is it credible that fuch great and holy men as Remigius, and Hincmarus ( even to his own Nephew fct up by him ) would do fuch things as thefe for nothing? Orthatthe Pope was then as high as fince?

§73. CCLXXXVIir. A Council at Cohn, An. 870. for Difcip-line.

§ 74. CCLXXXIX. An. 871. A Concil Duz.ianfe was called of ten Provinces : where Jlincmar. Laudun. fubfcribed a promife of obedience to the King and his Metropolitan. But this did not favc him : There fore he appealed to the Pope again, who interpoicd for him , but all would not do, nor ferve bis turn.

§ 7y. Here fulls in again the great Controverfie of Pope ?oan a Woman,but it is too hard forme to decide. He that will fee what is faid on each fide, may road Blondel before cired. foLn the 8th is he that now reigncth, whom fome late Writers i re willing to believe fome called Pope \oan in fcorn for his failings. But he is zfitv BeucdiB the 3d,

Nicolas,

their Councils ahndnrd. z%7

Nicolas, and Hadrian the zd j whereas the fere omnes^^mh PJatin^,thc many Writers that mention Pope foan place her before them all. And they make fohu to be a better man than thefe later do. PUtina calling him fobn the yth, faith, that Carols CalviK being dead , Pope fohn laboured to have his Son Ludovum fucceed him; but the great men of Rome were for Chiles King of Germany, and therefore laid hold on the «tD Pope, and put him in Bonds in Prifon ( his Univerfal Sovereignty reached not far then. ) But he efcaping by the help of Friends , fled into France to the King, whom he unjuftly pleaded for, (JLuiirjiciu Balb-w,) and there anointed him.

§76. Before this the Pope had anointed C<«>o/m.' C^fc/« Emperor , unjultiy confirming what the Bifhops had unjurtly done, as r.ow he did unjuftly ftand for his Son. This contention among Princes, was the means of the Pope's power. Hear what Bhmihu himfclf fuich of him, pag. 920. [ ' The Saracens now dcp.pulared almsji all hi\y,and all humane 'help failed in which the Pop: trhjted to expel tjiem j and he was fain to ' briyfeace of them by a yearly Tribute : which fecmid to come by the righ' ' teoui jttdgment ofCod,that he might k^o^v that by the til perfiiafon of c.ir-' nal prudence, he had finfuRy chojen, created and crowned Carolus Calvus ' Emperor, beaaufe he lool^ed for mor: help againji the Saracens from him,

* than from his Brother Ludovicus j whom, for invading another man's

* Kingdomjjs Jhould rather by Chmch-cenfitre have e>:agitatcd,as Hadr.zd.

* did. ] But when Pope lohn had ftay'd a year in France, and the Saracens mattered Italy without help, he was glad to be Friends with the great men that imprifoned him, and to return to Rome, and take Charles for Emperor, after all. Yet is it noted as the rare Honour and Felicity of this Pope, that he crowned three Emperors, though he did it for two of them trayteroully and unjuftly, (the honour of a Pope !) Platv.a faith, he crowned Charles the rightful Heir,.4!.'*<' " libcrim m urbe vi-vere liccret, that he might live at Rome again (left he (hould lofe all.)

This Charles ( faith he J alfo fubdued the Nortnans in Fra'ice and 7 or-YAin, and forced them to becojne Chriltians, and be baptized : (And yet this is afcribed to the Pope's converting them. )

§77. This fame Pope/'o/jH the 8th, alfo at the defire of the Emperor Bafl, and the Patriarch of Jerttjalcm, confcnrcd to the reitormg of P/jof/w, contrary, faith .£/»«/«;, to the Decree of his Prcdeceflbrs, and of a General Council, and of all their Oaths.

§ 78. 'But vvhat are Oaths to a difpenfing Pope ? faith Baronius and

* Bmnius. In his time Liidov. 1 1. the Emperor was compelled bv A'^al-'gifus, Duke of Benevent, to fwear that he would never more invade ;his Condncs, nor revenge his Wrongs; But the Pope ablblved him

' from

' from tliis Oath, bv the authority of God and Sr. Peter, affirming that °^ ' which he did to fJvc his life,was no hurt to him, and that it was not ' to be called an Oaili, which was made againft the good of the Com-' monwealch, by how many Curfes foevcr it was pronounced. Sm ' p. 920.

§79. There are no lefs than jioEpiftles of this Pope inferted by

■> ^-f".ft- ^ Bini.itis in his Councils. The 12th is to plead with the Emperor,to for-

i^i-r give and reftore Modtlgcrus a Murderer; and will you hear the motive?

'..irdcrcr He had fled to Rome, and thereby merited pardon ; ' N.;m pro tanti iti-

'• iicris labor e durJJ]}mo, cjucm 'vcniendo perpcjjui eft, ficsit credirKus , ali-

' ^uanttilitm de ptraUo fcelere indulgentiam meriur, ejus uticjue intercef-

' fiov.ibus adJHtHs chI ditium ejfc'a Domino conftat, Tibi dabo clavep, &c.

Accordingly £^//?. 15. he writes to the Bifliop to reftore him all his

Goods and Dignities, though it was contrived Murder, becaufc God in-

(pired him to go to Rome^ Src.

•

§ 80. Many of his Epiftles are to fummon Bifliops to come to Rome, and declare or threaten Excommunication againft them if they come not; fuch an abufed thing was Excommunication, by which the Pope made men his Subjeds. £/'//?. 76,77, 78,79. Heftriveth to draw back the King of the Bulgarians from the Griffi^Church , to the Church of A'«wc,and denounceth Excommunication even to old Ignatiiis,iT\d2\\ the G'rcf/; Bifhops of the Diocefs of Bulgaria, for ordaining and officiating there, unlefs they give up the Bulgarians to Rome.

Epifl. 174. He writes to the faid King, as if he wrere fallen from Chrift, or his faivationioft, by fubmitting to the CJref/^ Patriarch, rather , than to him ; as if the Converts of no Apoftles but/^ff^r were faved. l^p 1^8 \ ^^^ '^'^' '^'^° Claves, and Anathema's,noiN are the two words that muft iSf, 189, JiJtdue the world. The Epifl. ij'y. to the Bulgarian Nobles,and Epifi. Qc, 192. 176. are to the fame purpofe. As the Religion of Saints tends all to Heaven, fo did thefe Popes to the advancement of their Kingdom. And whereas we now rake it juftly for a fufpicious fign of a proud hypocritical Preacher, that envieth the auditory and efteem of fuch as are preferred before him,as if other mens Preaching might net win Souls, as well as his; thefe Popes could not endure the croffing of their ambition, when Kingdoms took not them for thfir Lords.

Epift. 1 88. Is to judifie a man that baptized his own Child in danger of death, for which -rt//;/(r/«» Bifhopof Leffjovic. ju6ged him to be fepa-ratedfrom his Wife. Were not thefe two Bilhops judicious Cafuilts? Was either of them in the right ?

After many other Epillles,ftriv!ng with and for the Bulgarians,as belonging to his Diocefs, he .Ejp;/. 195'. chideth Methodius Archh]{hop of Pannouia, for turning from his Laws, and in fi)ecial for celebrating Di-c^ vine Service in the Sclavonian Tongue, which is barbarous,commanding

him

9

him to do it only in Latme or Grccl^. Voii fee how the Pope would cdifie the Barbarians if he be their partor. This is the firft Papal decree that I remember againft publick prayers in a known tongue.

Bur, alas! his neighbour/M//rfH Bifhops had not yet fully learnt the extent of his authority: fending for many BiOiops on pain of excommunication to wait on him, and to obey him, old Aufperttis Archbifh- «gjj op of v?/;/4« was one that difbbeyed him; and being forbidden to clfi-ciate by him, conformed not to his filencing and fufpending decree, but went on in his office as a Nonconformift. The Pope fent two Bifhops as Legates to admonifh him: He kept them at the dore» and fct light by their mefTage; for which the Po[c chideth him, Epifl. 196.

Epifi. 197. He flattereth King Ludovkus to come to licwc and own him, in hope that he maybe Emperor and all Kingdoms fub;e<ft to him.

Epifi. 199, 200, 201, 202, 203. Heconfenteth to the rcftoringof Phot ins, but chargethhim to give up the Bulgarians to bis jurifdiftion.

Many perfons in many F.[)iftles he exhorteih to break their Covenants with the/'.i^.iw/, and chideth and threatneth them thatdid it nor.

Epijb. 247. The inclination of StcNtopu.'cher a Panuonian Lord to the Church of Rome, brought down the Popes heart to difpenfc with Afe-thodiu*, and changed his judgment to give very fair rcafbn why Mafs '^B and Gofpcl and all might be ufed in the ScUvonian and all tongucSj only to keep up the honour of the Latinc tongue r and his authority ) he commandeth that though the reft be done in the Sclavonian, yet the Gofpel be firft read in Latine,and then trarflated and read over again in the Sclavonian.

Epifi. 2yo.2p. Heapproreth OiPhorimh reftitution,

Epift. 2)6. He is fain to chide yiulpcn Bifhop of y1/;/*?•;; that Jn-ftead of fearing his fentence , he laid in prifon two Monks fent by the Pope, and taken on the high way. But his heart came down at laft, and he fjieaks ^tifpertiis fair, and alloweth of his ordination of fojcph Epifi. yljlcKJis, though irregular.

Epif. 260 and commandeth his Arch-Deacon to obey hfm.

EpijK 261. After this he excommunicateth the Archbifhop of Ravenna, and a great ftir there was about that alio.

Epifi .292. He had made one Optandus Eifhop of Genszw. But Optc-rawHs Archbifhop of f^tcnna took it to be an ufurpation on his right, and laid the Popes Bifhop in a mifcrable prifon ; fo far was he yet from being where he would be.

Epifi. 294. Having excommunicated ^thanafius Bifhop of Xaplcs for not breaking his Covenant with the Saracens^ he ahfolveth him on condition that ytt he '.vill break ir. The matter was that the Italians not able to refift the Saracens, thofe that lay next them under their power fought to fave themfeives bv truce and tribute,by which means the S^iraans had leifure to come further near to Rome; and Co the Pope to keep them from himfcif compelled by excommunications the

P p Lords

Lords and Bifliops of other parts to break their league, and ftand up in arms to their own deftrudtion.

That you may know what Bifhops now ruled the Churches.

Epifi. a9j. The forefaid B;fhop of Cicnna giveth one reafon why ov" he rejefted Optar.dus ordained Bifhop of Geneva h-^ the Pope, viz.. [" Bccaufe he never rvas either haptiz^ed, made Clerl^, accUmed, or "learned'^ To which faith the Pope [ Thiijhould he covered tnjilence, "bccan(e [tVf tis fpeak^it with jour charity] your holincfs having nothing " of thffe was jet confecrated in the Church of Vienna."] was not here good fucceffion, and a holy Church. Bifhops unbaptized that were no Scholars and no Chriftians.

Epifi. 1^6. One Bifhop by an armed band of men carrieth away a-nother out of the Church, and the Pope interpoftth.

Epijf. 297. He again foliciteth Michael King of the Bulgarians to become his fubjecft. The poor men that had chofen Chrift, were fb perplexed between the Priefts that Itrove who fhould be their Vice-Chrift, and King of Kings, that it Teemed as hard to them to refolve the doubt, as it before was to be Chriftians.

Yet Epif}, 307. fheweth, the Bifhop of Ravenna being dead, that yet the Roman ufurpation was not grown fo high as to take the choice of the Bifliop out of the People and Presbyters hands, except in long negledcd vacancies (as Cfw^'Z'^ aforefaid.J

Had not this Pope bec-n kept under by Gods judgments, fufferingthe Saracsns fo to rulne Italy as that he ftill needed the liclp of Princes, he had been like to have overthrown Romeh^^ his ufurpations, fettingboth Princes and Prelates againft him: But necefTity made him a flatterer cf the two Emperors of the Weft, the Emperor of the Eaji-, the King of France, the King of ^/^/^^tri^, the Princes of Pannotiia, and all that be needed, as ambition made him ftill Itriving by Tibi dabo cUves, and ^-nathcmatiung to affright the world to his obedience. I fay not worfe of him than Bdronms, Binnitis, &C. who have no other way to deny the Hiftories of Pope Joan, than by faying that this mans bafcr compliance mnde him called Pope Joan.

Baronius ad an. 879, ». 5>;.reciteth an Epiftle of this Popes fo greatly complying with Photim even againft the [^Filioquen~] that Bmnitts would haveus believe that Phot ins forged it. And [_" epijiolam ipfam sterna obli-" vienc dignam mini (faith he) hifce adjungi.'j

§81. CCXC.^«.876. a Concilium Tianenfe maketh C/:'^>/<jEmperor when the Pope that had crov/ned Z.«i:^i7t'jc«; before callethC/^^'-Z^x, pr^:-Jcttum, prach^um et prmdcjiinatumhttciOy with all honourable Elogies.

And here comcth in a great controverfie between the Papifts, and

K^ the Protcftants; vi:L. Whether Kings fucceed by inheritance or by the

eledion and making of the Pope. The Pope thought the craft of pur,-

ting in a big ufurping word, was as good as a Law to prove their own

power to make Kings and unmake them. Accordingly this Pope when he

^ ' durft

durftftayfrom Romc'm France r\o longer, left l:e loft all, ('being impri-foned for rcfufing the right Heir Charles) returneth, and fpeakcth fome big words, and turneth forced confent into fupcr-Kingly commands, and faith ( Bin. p. icio) cligimns mento et appiobAViTnus'] fclemnite" ad Romani Irnperii fceptrtt provcximus) et ^ugufiali ncmir.e d:ccravimits,Scc. And to difable the Kingly claim of inheritance he faith, X^Necjue emnifi-bi honorew prAfumpttioft a/fhrnpfit, ur Imperator furet, fed tanquam dejt-deratus, ct optatus, pofruUtus A NOBIS, tt a Deo vocatus, ct honor:fi-catu! ad defendeiidam religicncm et Chrifii xticjuc fervos tuctidos, humiliter et OBEDIE^TER acceffit, &:c. Nifi enim talem cognovtjfcmtu ejus tii-tentiencm nim(jif.irK animtts nofier fieret rum protKpnis ad ip/im promottonem, tv'c. So if the Pope had not liked him, the Emperor's hereditary right had never made him Emperor. And the flattering Bifliops fay to the Pope (5»;;. p. 1010.) Kt non vcsprius eligcret, fed contra vos eum et cligeretts et diligeretisiEt nos O Coangelice Papa, zefligiavefira feci antes et faluuria monita rcciptentes,<jucm amatis afM,imfis,(fU;rK cligiffise/ig!mi(s,&'c.

And now comes in BmntHs with his Comment and faith x)Aix{would cm " rcfi aiiory noz'cLills, who with great temerity dare profcfs that the Komiv^ ^ " Popes in the crowning of Emperors have no other right tl.en barely "mtnijlcrialij' to anoint and crown them, had but known thcfc yifts (^*)Thcy (') \vc " would from them have /earned that that Pope John (alias Joan) did not "ow "only anctnt and crown Charles, but alfo by Cods inflinil did chcofe him ''"'j'^ "to govern the Empire, andraifed him to that fteblime dignity honourino "him with the Augafial n.imr^ before he was anointed and crowned by him^ and that the Empire was conferred on him, not by hereditary right ofjuc-ceffion, but by the will of the Pope who chofe him and granted it to him.'] BE WISE therefore OTE KINGS, BE tnflrucled ye that are fudges of the earth — Kifs the J'opes foot lefi he be angry and ye perijh in the waj ; Ij his wrath be kindled, yea, but a little, &'C.

§ 82. CCXCI. An, 879. A concilium Pontigonenfe confirmed the choice "ojCharles where ith fiid {Bin. p. 1012) ff leg.'t Johannes Arietinus "Epifcopus r,nandam fclftduUm ratione et author it ate carcntem: Pojl/jstam "legit Odo Belgivacoriim Fpifopus ejuedam Capitula a Legatis Apoficli-"CIS, et ab Aniegifo (the Popes Vtcar) et codcm Odoue Jine con/cicntia " fynodi diClata, inter Je dijjona, et nu.'Ltm uttlitatem habentia, voiim et " raticne et a/fthoritate c.irentia, et lAcohic non habentur fubjuntla.~\

§ 85. CCXCIf. An. 877, A council in Neufina (Normandie) under Hincmanis Khemenfts rebuked Hugo bafe Son oiLotharius for rebellion and devaftation of the Country.

§ 84. CCXCIII. An. 878. a concilium Trecenfe where the Pope was prefent excommunicated Formofus{ Portuenfis (one of the former Popes preachers to the Bulgariar:s, and one that was after Pope him-fclf^ Alfb Hincmanis Lattduntnfs was rcl^ored blind, and ioyned with the other that had his Place, ('and fo one Church had two Bilhops infpite of his uncle Hmcmarus Rhemcnfs that oppofed it, and had both put him in andcaft him our. P p 2 § '^^-

n

§ 85. CCXCIV, yln. 879. Was a Council of the Popes at Rome for his unrighteous making Ludovicus 3. Emperor, the Pope challenging the lirft choice : But ^ufpertus Bifhop of /!///.?« came not and re-filkd, and though fas you heard) excommunicated by the Pope, did help to turn the choice to the right Heir.

§ 86. CCXCV. Befides fume petty Council at Rome, there was an. ^79- a General Council at Confiantimplc of 385^ Bifhops where Photius was confirmed, and the former General Council fcalled the 8th g;^ alfoj abrogated, and the word [f.lioeju:'] taken out of the Creed: The Papifts fay that the Pope confented only to this as for P/iotius's reftituti-on, and not for the abrogation of the former Council; and that Photiia corrupted his writing, and fo they would make all writings uncertain. They fay that Pope foh»''s epiftle is by the wonderful providence of God found yet without fome claufes added by Pfjotius, whom they call the great architeft of lyes: But the Greckj will no more believe the late found Ltitcram or other Roman Copies, than the Romans will believe the Grff^Copies. And how (hall we know which of them to believe? (Andhow little doth it concern us ?)

§ 87.It muft be a controverfie alfo whether this Council muftbe cal-UAOccumoiical-.l have oft proved that there was never any truly fuch as to all the world. There were 385 Bifhops which is more than the firft Council at Nice had, or moil others: The Popes Legates were *^ there; Oh but,raith Binnius, It was mt they but Phot ins that did preftdc, '• therefore it vras not genera!. Anf. r. Let the world know then what

maketli a general Council in the Papal lenfe: It doth not reprefent all the Church unlefs the Popes Legates prefide. So much doth it import to know which Prieftis the greateft. 1 2. But did liinnius ioxgtt that he himfelf affirmeth that at the firft

f General Council at ConftantinopU the Pope did not prefide by himfelf or

^ any Legate. And yet that is one of the 4th. Councils equalled with

the four Gofpcls; and the Pope dare not deny it \citiheGreckj further liereticate or anathematize him. ^ But faith Binnius, It was no General Cotincil becaufe there ve.is tnanj

frands andimpojltires. u4nf. By that rule Trent had no General Council, nor Florence, Src. And fo it is left to the judgment of all men to nullifie fuch Councils w.hich they can prove to have had frauds and im-poflures. And muft we alio nullifie the Papacie of them that have had-fuch frauds?

§ 88. Is it a grand queftion whether Pope fohn confirmed this Coun-

Icil. The approbation is extant. But the Reprobaters fay 1. that he put in fome terms of limitation (fo far as his Legates went right) 2. that he after ex umbone condemned Photius, 8fc.

But 1. Is it not a General Council if the Popes Legates confent till lie perfbnally confirm it.'' Were all former Councils null, till the Popes pcrfynal confirmation.? wliatare his Leg^es for tben? 2. As his Legates

gates may miftake, fo may he himfelf: ts it null then till he redlifie his Error? 3. By this we fee how impofTibie it is to know the rewGofpIe ofthePapiftsj which is Canonical from the Apocryphal. For (as Pope ^ Martin's Conciliaritcr 3Uer,Co') here and elfwhere the Popes havefo am-biguoufly given their confent that no wit of man can tell what is con-fcntcd to by them, and what not (as their controverfies confelled, C'c.

§ 89. At leaft whether the Pope confented or no, feeing in this Council the former 8th. General Council was condemned, and the Jili-o^«ir expunged the Creed, we fee how ridiculoufly our late Papifts argue from the confent of Councils to prove the coflftant Tradition of the 'ta Churchy faying. Did the Council go to bed m one mind and rife in another? Did thefe 385' Bi/Joops doCo? or did the former whom they condemned do fo? Is this the fmooth Current of Tradition? and may we know by it what our Fathers held?

§ 90. When the other Legates conftnted, Jlfarinus, who was after Pope, diflenting, he was laid in prifon thirty daycs at CoHft.inttnopk.

In the firft Aift of the Council, as 5<iro;;;,v; tells us, /'o/;i« Biflicp of Heraclca fpake much againft the Church of Rome, which he (aid was the original of all the mifchief that had bcfain them; to overthrow and and cure which this Council was called. Much alfo againft Pope A'»-colas and Hadrian he fj^ake, but for Pope folm as being for them. In the 2d. Atl was read an epiftleof the Patriarch of Alexandria, to the Emperor for abrogating the former 8th. Synod: And Thomas one oi the three Legates of the Eaflcm Patriarchs that confented to the former Synod ('the reft being dead) made his penitent recantation. Tiieii the epifttes of the Patriarchs offcnifalcm and Antioch for Photms are read, &c. In the third Atl, Pope J'ci;/s letters were read, as endeavouring the peace of the £j/?fr;; Church; which the Council took as a bufy pretending to more power than he had, and therefore fjid that "they had peace before hrf letters came, .tndthat they n-erejuperfluous. And: whereas he made it his bufinefs by this complyance, to get the Buha-rian Diocefs; They faid this was to controvert the bounds of the Empire, and therefore left it to the Emperor. In the 4th A<ft the £rf/f>-;; Patriarchs letters were read, difclaiming their Legates at the laft Council, a? being not theirs but \.\\e Sriaetns Legates: and condemning that Council. The Papifts think rhotiits forged thefe. Here alfo Lords profelTed repentance, faying that the falfc Legates deceived them. In the jth. A<ft Aietrophanes Bifhop of Smyrna is accufed of Schifm, for being againft P/jor/Aj, Three Canons alfo were made, i, That thofe excommunicate by the Bifiiop of Rome fliould not be rcftor-cd by the Bifhop ofConfiantinople. Nor thofe that were e>;commnni-cated by the Bifliop ofConftantinople be reftored by the Bifhop of Rome: fand fo Rome was fliut out from troubling rhem with pretended jtirif-didion.) 2. That thofe that forfake their Bifhopricks fliall not return to them. 3. Againft Magiftratcs that eniUvc and beat Bifiiops. In

thcr

V

-94 Chunh-Hijlory cf 'Bijhojjs md

the 6ih. A<fi: the Creed was recited ivikhoin filio^He. And in the 7th. ul! tho(c rlhir Qiould add to it or diininifli are Anathematized.

§ 91. CCXCVI. A Council of the Popes at ^^wc excommunicated ^■^iha>i.:fi.:s Biftiop and Prince of N.iples\ for not brealcing his league With the Snracciis.

§ 92. John i)cA. Afarinas is made Po[ie, commanded by his prcdc-ctllor, called by VLiiin:i,Mart'tn, who faith that he Came to the Popedom, malis artibni, and therefore did noihirg and foondyeci. But Bare-iiius fjith he lived long enough to do fomething, viz.. 1. He condemned Photlfi! again, and thereby provoked the Emperor Bafd-.us; as. }f Rome did ftili (etthe imperial Church in contention, and hinder peace. The Emperor affirmed that he was no Bifhop oC Rome, becaule he had been ordained Bifliop of another place. 2. He deftroyeth what Pope foljH \ud done, who had depofed Formofus preacher to the Buln.iri-ans, and Bifhop Pcr/«f«/;i, and had mide him fwear thAt he would nevev return to the Epifcopal [eM , but refl content with Laj-CominHmom But Pope Marinus recalled him to the City and reftored him to his Bifh-oprlck, and ablblved him from his oath, which BAronms zvA BiMiins ^ .doubt not but he had j)ower to do ; yea , and to difpenfe with the ill acfts of the Pope, which he did out of private aifedls and partiality.

§ 93. In his time alfo the Church of Rome ufed FUio-^ue, in oppofi-•cun to Vhotius; Spain and France having ufcd it before. Becaufe, faith B.'.rmiius and Binnius, Vhotius hid wrote about it to the Ignorant and ^..'/p^.^f/c.j/Archbiriiop of Acjuilela. (There was it feems there i'o many of the grcateft Bifliops Impcnti et Schifmntict in the Papal fcn(e, w.^ Intimatcth that as the Popes greatnefsrofe in height, it did not grow equally in length and breadth.J

§ 94. Marinns having reigned a year and twenty dayes fa fhorc pleallire to fell eternal happinefs for) Hadrian the third fucceeded him, and had longer part of the ufurpcd Kingdom, viz.. a year and three months and nineteen dayes. He alio damned Vhotius, and was bitterly reproached by (he Emperor Bafdms, whofe contumelious letters found him dead, and his fnccelfor anfwered them. (Was all the Chrif^ian world now (till Ltd!her) \\\h)c(X. to the Pope?)

Hat ma faith of this Pope, that["//f ir^j offo great a/pint that in the " very beginning of his Vapac^, he flraitxvay decreed th%t Vopes/lioald be " made without expeHing the Emperors authority, and that the fuffr^tges "»of the clergy and PEOPLE Ji.'ould be free : which was before by Pope Ni-" coias rather attempted than indeed begun. He was I fuppufe encouraged " by the opportunity of Charles his departing with his army from Italy/o "fiibduethe rebelling'HoTmi'^s,'] Rome wasftill on the rifing hand.

§ 95. Stephen the jth. alias 6ih. fucceeded him. In his time Ca-roll-.: Crajfits the Emperor is by a convention of Lords and Bifbops depofed from his Empire as too dull and unworthy. (Kings were brought tinder as eletflive by the Pope^ and now are at the mercy of their fub-

je(fts

their Councils abridged.

2 0-

jerts.) -4r»«/jp^«j a baft fbn of Caro/omannus got 3n intereit in the (iib-jecfls, and they depofed the Emperor and let him up. B^ror.nn at,d Saiih B.i. Bmnitis afcribe it to Gods judgment for Charles Iiis wronging oi Ruhur- ^<"""»and dit a pure Virgin, yet repudiated by him. They fay that he was re- jj^""""» duced to fuch poverty that he was fain to beg his bread of AfnulphHs, rl c uth. and dyed 888 in the 41I1 year of his Umpire. lauh p,.,-

§ 96. The Letter againft the Pope written by the Emperor Bafliui '.""'> ^'"•'■' the Papifts will not let us fte: But this Pope Sthepkcnh anfwer to it '"^'"-'f'''-they give us, which runs on the old roundation,trayrcrous to Magiftra- Whatccr-cy as fuch. Telling the Emperor that i"The S^cerdotul a)i(i ^poJloU- tainty is "cal dignity is not fubjeEl to Kings, and that Kings are authoriz.(d to ''crc-"meddle only with worldly matters, and the Pope and Priefls with fpirttual. " And therefore his Place isas far more excellent than Emperors, as heaven "is above earth^ He tells the Emperor that m reviling the Pope o,''Rome "he blattered out blafphemy againfl the God of all the worlU^ anUhis imma--' cttlate Spotife and Priefl and the Afother of all Churches: Aiai that he « ''deceived that thinketh £that the Difciple ( Princes') is above his mafl-"cr (jhe Pricjfs,) and the fcrvant above his Lord. He wondcreth at his "taunts and feoffs againji the holy P"pe; and the curfcs or reproaches which '' he loaded the Roman Church with, to which he ought with all veneration "to be fubjeH:, as King, who made him the judge of Prelates whofc dollrine " he mttfi obey, and wLy he faid MdiV\m\$ was no BiJI^cp, 5cc. By this the reader may perceive whether yet all tlie Chriltian world obeyed the Pop^, or judged him to be their Governor.

§ 97. How Voyt FortnoJDs (tt up n7,.'» Duke of S/'c/cfo trayteroufly .^ as Emperor till he was forced to loyalty, is after to be laid.

§ 98. CCXCVIT. An. 8S7. A Council at Co/«; under Charles Cr.^f fi<s, made Canons ajiainft Sacrilege and Aduhcrv.

§. 99. CCXGVIU. An. 888. A Council at'^.v;/;^,)while they were all in diltrefs by tke depopulations of the Normans ) firtt decreed to pray for the King, and then tell him that "Rex dicitnr a Rcgcndo: And " if he rule pioufly^ j"^^) and mercifully he is jufily called a Kiiit, but if " impioufly, unjujfly, and cruelly he is a Tyrant,

Can. 10. " IVherc.is former Synods forb.id all 11 omen to dwell in the houfe .^ " with Bifhops, or Priejh ,or Deacons, except Alotners or Sijicrs^ thiy now "forbid thcfe alfo, hearing oft of the wickedii.fs committed bjtiitm , nnd that " BiJ}:ops (o>- Priefts) lay with their own Sijlcrs, and begat Children of them.

But to ftcure them from all conviction fur any luch crime it is dc "£3 creed Chjp. the 12. "that no Prcfbyrer accufe anjf Btjloop, nor any Dca-"co:-t a Prcflyter, nor any Subdeacon a Deacon, 6cc. ylnd that no Pi elate " be condemned but under feventy two witneffes-^ and the chiefPreiate i>e judg-" ed of no man. An.I a Cardinal presbytjr not u.idsr feriytwo witncjfs;<;or "a Cardinal Deacon under twenty fix: S^bie acois, Aclyties Exercifts, " LeB:ors, Doorkeepers, not under feven : and thefe wiihou: ii.famj having "Wives and Children ] And indeed that Bifliop thic wou!d lie with his -

!<)(.

Church-Hijlory of 'B'tjhops and J

al

own Silkr in the prefcnce offeventy two men tbac had wives and Children ck (crvcd to be blamed.

Clnp. I'>. "Oijcthat wllfnlly murdered a Pricfi, w.is to forbear fiejh " un.i wine, and not to b: carried in a Coach.and not come to Church in five "jean, ar.d not to receive the SucrnmeKt of twelve years it ft (r.

§ ICO. Bmni-M here addeth an oblcrvable note,thjc ylrnulphus is called onlyKir:;7 at firftand not Emperor, ic being «rp^ unlawful to alTume the name orKmperor till it were given by the Pope] O brave Pope !

§ 101. CCXCIX.A Council at Mctz. under the fame Norman calami-tics decreed (iich like things. Ch.7p. 2. They decreed that no Presbyter fhould have more than one Church (unlefs a Chappclj and none rake money for burials. Ch^ip. 3. that Mothers or Sifters dwell not in the houfe with Bifhops or Prieft?. But ftill capital crimes were puniflied but with excommunication and penance. Ch.rp. 7. One that forced a widow: Another that killed his kinfman, and married his his Wife, and fwore to the Archbifhop to forfake her and did not, was excommunicate. And fo were fome that gelded a Prieft for reproving their hhhinefs,

§ 102. CCC. A Council at H'<;r»?fx was called to end a controverfic between two Prelates, Bifbops of Co/en and H^imbu/g, ftriving for Bre-me-.i (to have greater Diocelics and jurifdivftion.J

§ 105 .Next Cometh the forementioned Pope Form->ftis, faith Onuphri-?.';the firft Pope thatever was mideof one that before had been a Bifh-op. For the old Canons oft decreed that no Bifliop remove from his firft place : only when one was ordained againft his will, and not confent-ing never pofTeft the Place, fometimeshewas accepted to another. Now was the fourteenth time that Rome had two Bifliops at once by fchifm. Sergius got in to be Pope, but they forced him to reflgn, and banifhcd him. Formcfus was well efteemed of for his preaching to the 5«/g<«-rtans; but Pope John 8 ffome think for reproving his finj dcpofed him {'as afore faid) and made him fwear never to return to be a BiHiop: ^nt Mar inns abfolved him, and he came in thus perjured j notwith-i):anding the faife pretence of Papifts that the Pope can difpenfe with fijch oaths; the matter of them being a thing lawful, but not necellary. TUtina faith that he was furpe(fted to have a hand in the tumult that imprifoned Pope "(ohn, and that he came to the Popedom Largitione potius cjf.am virtute, by gifts rather th^n virtue, that is, by Simonie.

He did (lawfully if you will believe Baronius and Binmus') crc^iXe, a-noint, and confecrate Lambert, after his Father n';Wo.EmperorCrhat was not Heir:) yet after confecrated ylrmdphus ('its like by conftr^intjj for €t fuch things the Ronian Nobles hated him. But he got ■■'.mKlphus to Rome-^ who revenged the Pope by beheading many of the Princes that were hafting to meet him, which was not like to win mens love.

§. 104. He wrote an honeft Epiftle to the Englifh Clergie, perfwad-jng them to keep up the miniftry, and reproving them for indulging Pagan rites.

CHAP. XI.

The Trogrefs of Cowifeh till Leo ^th. efpccially in Italy, Fiance mid Germany, ami their ^ehaVionr.

5f.i.CCCI.(/"\£'oEarI o^ Paris, havir>g Ufurpcd the Kingdom in the Mi-V^ nority of Charles the fimpic the right Heir, fw/^^Bifhop of Rhc/nes callcth a Synod and dcpofcth him, and fetsupCW/« (Tuch Power had Prelatesj. Some fay the French Chofc Odo by yirnuiphus's Confent; and fome fay, that he dying, dcfircd that Charles might have PofTtfTion. This was ^fino 892.

JJ. 2 The great Devaftations made by the Normans,hmning Cities,Chur-cheSjMonafttrics; and at laft forcing Confcnt for a Habitation ii\Neiifma, I pafs overj and Petavius out of fome Writers of their own will tell you. that when Chartrefs was beficgcd by them, the Vfrgin Marys fmock, which King Charles Calvus had brought thither from Bcfanfon, being carried, call them into fo great a Terror, that they fled away all in Confufion. Where they had this Smock, and how many Hundred Years after the Virgin yl/^rj'/death it was found, and how they knew it tobehers,and how it was fo long kept, and where, and why it did not many Miracles fooner. till above 900 Years after Chrift, arc Queftions which I cannot An-fwer.

$.3./r4/yand fr<»»ce were all this while fill'd with Civil Wars. Wido and his Son Lambert being dead, Bcrcrgarms got PolTcflion of Italy, whom Lewis after overcame, and was made Emperor at Rome^ Crowned by the Pope: But three years after, taken by Bererigarins^ was Depofed, and had his Eyes put out. Yet after this Berenganus was cut off, and Lewis reftorcd and Anointed by Pope John 10, Rodulfhns King of Burgundy was fet up by fome Italian Nobles againft Berengarius, and overthrowing his Army, was called King of Italy. Berengarius was kil'd by Treachery: Rodulfhns was foon Depofed, and the Italians made Hugo Earl of Provence K.\ng. At laft he joyncd his Son Lothanus with him : The younger Berengarius prcvaileth againft him, driveth him to Provence; and is made King: Intending to marry his Son Adalbertus to yIdaUtdts the Widdow of Lothanus; fhe invited Otho Kmg of Germany into Italy andmarryedhim, who after is made the firft Germane Emperor: Of all which,more after in the particular Order and place. See Peiav. lib. 8. c. 13.

^. ■\. CCCII. Anno.'igi. ftfr.'w/;*; had a Roman Council, toConfuk of fome Relief of the Ruined Countries, in vain. For now men Secular and Eccleriaftical, Confounded all by ftriving for Rule.

4- ?. CCCIII. AnnoSg^. A Council at rni?/<r in <j«-/»<i'?v for Church

S f Rcfor-

Chunh'Htjlory of 'BiJJ?ops

Reformation : Many of the Canons arc to fccurc and advance the Clergy. The ninth decideth a doubt,if an Earl (or civilRulcr) Command the People 03" to meet at one place (on Civil accounts) and the Bifhop command them to meet at another on the fame day, none fhall obey the Magiltrate (or Earls) but he and all his Company (hall obey the Bifhop and come to him. Cap. lo No Bifhop (hall be Dcpofed but by twelve Bi(hops, no Presby-"^ tcr but by fix Bifhops, no Deacon but by three, Cap. 21. In Controvcr-c3" ries,Laymen mud fwear,but Clergy-men muft not be put to fwear,Cii/).22. There is allowed Tryal by (ire, Fer tgncm Candcutiferro Caute examinttur. p. 6. CCCIV, A Council at iV^ffffimade moredifciplinary Canons. 5^. 7. Who was next Pope is not agreed: Platina and 0/7nphrins fay, that liofiiface was rightly Chofen, and Reigned but twenty fix days, faith J'laii/ia, or fifteen faith Onuphrius ; others (faith Platina) fay twelve years : Barontus (and 5wz'/«) faith, that he was no Popej and that he did but invade the Pope-dome, and was/?owo ticfariusy a wicked wah^ twice before this Degraded: Firfi from his DeaconJJiipj and next from his Prcsbyterate, 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 jo it was but one Intruder^ that thriifl out another Intruder : (But how then is the Succe(rion fecured. W.hy, it's added) Tet Stephen is nu/nbred with the Topes by the common Sentence (or Opinion) becaufe to avoid the danger of Schifme,thoitgh he was homo fcelefliflimus, a moft wicked man', yet all the Clcr-t?" gy approved btm, and the whole Catholik. Church, took.himfor Chrifts ^fcar C?-Fetcrs Succejfor. (How prove you that, why, becaufe (^f//% Bifhop of Rhemes owned him! ] A Noble proof that all the Chriftian World did fo! $. 8. Say Barronius, and Binius, he began his Pope-dome with that Sacrilcdg, as to tSike the Corps oi Fortfuifits out of his Grave, and cloath-mg him in his Pontifical Robes^ (hefet him in a Chair, and faith Plaiina, there judged him as no Pope, becaufe he had been firll a Bifhop; which indeed, by the old Canons, nullified his calling; For Formofus, wasthefirft Pope that had been before a Bifhop, asisfaid, unlefs the Emporour 5<»//truly charged Jlacrinus with the fame): Having Expofiulated with the dead man, * why he being a Bifhop would take the Pcpe-domc, he int off his '' three four Fingers witi'J which he had Anointed^ and cafi them into the River i.^c 8. Tyber, andcommanded^ that all that he had Ordained fiould be Ordained again: f and fo Conform to him.)

And they wonder with what face of Reafon Onuphriusreie^keih all this as a Fablc,when the Antient Monuments, Synodal A<ns,and Hiflorians tertify it. Do you wonder at this.' why it is becaufe he was not willing it fhould be believed: a Rcafonthat is not "range tc your felves.

5^. 4. CCCV. Pope Stephen Cd}\i<ii a Council, in which his ufage of Pope Formofus was approved, Bin. ex Baron, p. 1047 ^o ready were the Bifhops Anno toy ^^ follow the flrongeft fide, in fuch things as the Papifls mention with abhorrence. And(fay thcy)this portentum attended the Synod,Tifc<«f the Laterane Church-, the chief Seat of the Pope, by tht iin{»lfe of an cvill ^ngcl fell down

quite

a-

€T

tjmtefrom the Altur to the doors : the WaHs not being able to ftiind, when the Chief Cardmal Door was jbakenwith the Earthquake tf fo^reat a F'l/Lv;}.

§. 10. But here the Authors calling US A'ox'-jforfj (as if fuch Popes were of glorious A'itiqiuty') arc hard put to it to Vindicate againft us the Popes infallibility! And how do they do it? Why 17?. They fay that nil that Stephen did agtn>ift Fortnofus, a manJineken with Aiadnefs, dtdtt fulplling the peyfwajion (fhisboyhvg ^'*f^- ^^t in the lawful up of his Papal Aiithorf ty, he defiled nothing /igattijt fatih or good manners: For the Biflwps that were for this Caitfe called to the Council, and the Presbyters not unlike to Stephen himfilf dtd profecute Formofus with the fame hatred), and therefore pronounced thatSeniei.ce againfi him,which they foreknew would be pleafing to a man [mitten wtth Fury : fo that we co/ifcfs violent Tyranny, but no Ei -rour in Faith defined or approved by him. Lawfully ujing his Papfl Anthurtty : And yet It were no prejudice to the Papal Seat^ if we grant ^ that a falfe Pope, not lawfully Chofcn, but invading and obtruded, did err in ajftriig Articles egj of Faith. Thus the Author.

Aif. I. But if you grant this, is not your SucccfTion interrupted ? 2. And was your Church a true Church, when an EfTential part was Null? 5.How-vcr, was it the F^oly Church when an efTcntial Part was fuch a Villain ? 4. Will not your Argument as well prove every Biftiop, Pried:, or man Infallible? For no one of them all can define fallly againft an Article of faith, as long as he lawfully ufeth his Power; For it is no lawful ufe of power that fo dcfincth and belieth God. 5. But is all your foundation of Faith come to this ? It is then but faying, when ever your Pope and Church Errcth, that they did not ufe their Fewer lawfully : And what relief is that to the deceived? How fhall we know when your Popes have ufed it lawfully, and when not; and fo what is true among you, and what falfc? 6. And were your Roman Council of BiOiops and Pricfts, alias bad as this ViUainoos Pope, and ready to plcafe him in their Decrees: And was this a Holy Church, and like to be an Infallible Council: And mull the World follow them ? 7. And how then fliall we know that it was not jufl fo with many other former and following Councils; and that it will not be fo with you again ! O mifcrablc fhifts againft plain Truth !

S>. 11. The fame gi cat Authors after Luitpr.iiidiisJ.\.c.g. fi\,tha.t Stephen At Invader of the Papal Seat, by the f*£lion of the Nobles agamfi Adelbert, "?r»»«o/Etruria, was thritjl tnto prifon Sn. goo. andafter he had been Pope Six Tears, bang flra"gled tn the fame Prifon, ended his Days by Cods (Vengeance tn an infamous Death^ : Yet tUtina faith, that he died ihefrft Tear and third month of his Reign j and Onuphrius faith, he fate one year, two moncths, and aintcendays.

<>. 12. It's ftrang that Luitpraudus faith, that Stephen condemned the Corps of Formofus for being a Bifhop before, when Flat ma and Onuphrms fay, that he himfelf was Epifcopus Anagnnrus, when made Pope.

§. 13. And PUtina faith, that [This Controverfie (againU: Ferfncfui) was

S f 2 rr(aC

c?

«*

£>cat and of ill Examples ; feeing thttt after this, it was almofi ttlveays ksft as a Cufiomc, that foUowmg Popes did either I "fringe or wholly iindoe the Atis of thofe that went before them:~\ And yet wcre they Infallible?

5$. 14. The next Pope was called ^&wj»//.(,whofc Life P/ijfjw^ thus Dc-fcribeth : Romanusasfoonashtwas Pope, prefently ^brogateth andCondem-mth the Decrees and ^cis of Stephen : For thefc Popes thought of nothing, bin to Exti/^itifii the Name and Dignity of their 'Prcdecejfors, than which nothing can be worfe, or the part of a narrower mind: For they that irnfi to fuch y4tls as thefe, having no Virtue themfelves, endeavor to rafe out the men of Defert, whom through floth and malice they cannot match. Ton full never find any to envy anothers Fame, but one that himfclfis Contaminated with all difgrace, and defpaircth that his own Name fiouldcver be Famous with Pojierity: Thefe are they that by Fraud, Aialice, Craft, and evil [peaking, do Bite, Tear, Accufe, and Worry thofe that deferve well of Adankind; lit^e cowardiy, or flothjul, and ufelefs Dogs, that dare mtfet upon wild Beafis them-fflvesj but Will bite thofe that are tyed, or in their Dens!^ So Plattna. - - - He-manus Ruled but three Months.

5$. 15. Next Succeeded in the Vopedome Theodorns 2. who faith ?/<»-tina followed the fieps of the Seditious : For he reflorcd the A^s of Formorus*, and preferred his followers: and Reigned but Twenty days.

Next came John g. (ox 10. as others) faith P/«jf»«<f. \^He refiored the Caiife of Pope-Formofus, Many of the People being againfi it : whence <?-rofe fucha Sedition, that they hardly[capeda Battle. Baronius faiths that Lii-dovicus^. was depofcd and blinded now by Berengarius, whoaffumed the Empire; and this Pope Crowned him, through fear! Yet after he was gone, he called Lambert to Rome, and with a Synod concurring with him, declared the Coronations both of Berengarius and Amulph to be Null, as being extorted; and fo took Lambert for King and Emperour: Did not the Crowns of Princes fit very loofc, when it was but a Popes pretending that he Crowned them through Fear, and they were prefent-ly Depofed ? Would thefe Popes have been Martyrs, or wcre they Chriftiaps or Gno/iickj, that would fin, if they were but put in fear ? And would not fear have made them own a Herefy, as well as other fin ? On this occafion all was caft into Confufion: the Pope was fain to fly to R4-venna for protecftion, to him whom he had Crowned.

^. 16. CCCVI. This Pope called a Synod at ivewe (that called Orfrf«yJ>. I pafs by as of faiall moment^ An. 904. in which he condemned the fa<n of Pope Stephen, decreeing that the Dead are not to be judged by men. But what became of the Synod of Diiliops, that had joyned herein with ?ope Stephen ? Why (fBitf. p. io.[9 ) they turn'd with the times, and did as fuch had ufedtodo; They asked forgiven, fs, a>id [aid, they did it for Fear; and fo, he that hath power bv Fear or flopc, can make fuch Bifhops and Councils Sin and Repent, and Sin again, and Repent again, as Inte-rert: altercth. They were pardoned. V-vx Fortnofis preferment from a Bifhoprick to ihc Popedomc was Voted to be againfi' the Canons, ex-

cufablc

a}id their (Councils abridged.

V7

cufable only by neccflity, and not to be imitated but in cafes of ncccfli-ty: His Ordained Clergy were Reftorcd, and Re-ordinaiions and Rc-baptfzitions, forbidden as unlawful.

^. 17. CCCVII. Another Synod he called at ^<iw«77^ for the fame ufe, when he fled thither from Rome-^ of 74 Bifhops. Barotius h\ih., He was another Jercmias fcnt of God, to pluck up and pull down what Vopc-Stepheu had done. Platma faith Q/ iht>ik^ihis came to pafj htcaiife Popes were dcp.rted from St. Peters fieps; and chiefly^ becaufe the Chriflian Commori-xyealth had tdle flothffd Princes that would have Otters Jlitp thus tcjfcd, lefi t':e Ruhr if he look'*bout him, fiould caji the/n out as evil Pilots. Arnulphus wai given "Cb te pleafure, and Charles the fimple or rather fooltfl} if France, was little better:, and fo the Hungarians defiroyed and hUcd in Germany and France, and the Affricans in Calabria, and had little refijianci'^ Blood and Mife-ry being the common Lot,

He addeth, \That this Peff John dying in the 2d. Year and \^th. day of his Reign, left nothif.g worthy of Memory behind him, but that He revived feme Seditions that before were almoft cxtinfV.

And it is a fad quellion, that Hervius Bifhopof Rhemes put to him (Bin. p. 1048 ) " what to do with thcfe that are Baptized and Rcbapti-"■ z.ed, and yet after "Baptifm live as the Heathens, kill Chrtfltans, yea the '■'■ Priefls, facrifce to Idols, eat things vfftred to them? The Pope durfl 'Clt " not ufe Difciplinc on thefc, becaufe they were Novices, left he af» ''fright them from the Church to Heathenifme again; but left them to "the Bifhops Difcrction and Experience, to do as he faw bcft.

5$. 18. This Fopc had a Corrival, which was the 15. Schifme : Ser-giits that had been made Pope with Formofus, and was put out and Ba-niflied, did now get in again ; but John had the flronger part, and caft him out, and Hanifhcd him once again: Onuphr. Chroa. p. 28. But had he been but ftrong enough, the fucccflion had come dotv'n from him, as right.

5$. 19. Bcnedin the 4. came next: " Nothing faith Platina, was done *' in his time that is much to be praifcd; becaufe both Princes, Popesy and Clergy were grown Debauched; bad Princes making?>;/?« by Tyranny : Now the Line of Charles the Great, loil the Eitipire, Lithvi-cns the Son of Amtdphiis being flain by Berengarius ; and fo they loft both lialy, Germany, ("and after Franci") by their own, and the Clergies Wickednefs.

<^. 20. Leo. 5. Came next, ^nno 907. Who thrufl him in, I find not; but when he had Reigned but 40. days, his familiar friend Chri-flophcr had lift to be Pope, and call him out, and laid him in Fetters; where,it's faid he dyed of Grief: where Platma well notcth, that U^'The faying ts certainly true, that Dignities (or places of preferment) "receive >nore honourfro^n the Men, than the Men do from the Digni-" lies (or places ) ]

5^. 21. Ch/sJlofJnr thus got in by fuddcn invafion, kept it longer than

S f -i Lea .

Leo did, even near fcven Months; and then he that had been twice Pofc before, did once again try for it, and was too rtrong for Ch>tjh-phcr, and put him into a Monajfcry. A Holy place then, no Joubt, For faitli PUtina [This was the oily refuge of the CaUmitoiis: For in thofe timet hud Clergy Men were thiirfi into Monafterics, by way of Ba-nijhmem, as heretofore into Iflands ]

?. 22. The Man that did this and got the 'Popedom, was Sergins j,

tO" who had been twice before caft out: faith Baron, and Bin. (p, 1052.^ [That wicked Scrgirs (Nefandus) hy MbetKs'jdrmes got in: A Man that was the fervant of all Ficcs, and of all Men the mojl wicked ('Faci-norofifiimus) invaded the Popedom, and fo was by aU Aden taken for no lawful Pope: To his hoi rid Sntnledge, he added the taofl impudent filthy-nefs\ and by Marozia {a grcttt nhore) the Daughter of that moft famtiis Whore Theodora, he begot his Son John (after Pope.)] For many Hi-florians tell us, how thcfe two tamous Whores did rule Rome, and make and unmake Popes,

P. 23. This Pope undid again all that had been done for Formofns, and againft Stephen: For both the King of France^ and Sergius, were Enemies to Formofns, for fetting up other powers againtl France, and becaufe his party was againft Sergins: But I wonder that Platina tells us, that both Stephen and Sergius took Formofis out of his Grave, and the one cut off his three Fingers, and the other his Head; and both caft into Tybcr\ If this be true, he was taken up again the firft time, and buried again. But [ fuppofe that it was but his Fingers that were caft in the firft time, and the Corps after; or elfe he was found after the fird time. PLuina faith. It is reported, but not of any certainty j that fame Fifler-men found the Corps, and buried it at St, VeicraChitrch, and that while it was doing, the Church Images bowed to it (It's well Vncertainty was put into the Story:) and that fomc thought this moved Sergius to envy; but that indeed it was, becaufe Formofns party were againft his Papacy. It feenis by this that the Fifhcr-men found him after the firft cafting into Tybcr ; or clfc his burial by them could not be called the occafion of Sergius Ca{\. So little reft had this PopesCar--kafs, being t^ice buried, twice token up. twice judged, and executed after death, and twice caft into Tyber. But faith Platina, [Popes now feekj'g and getting the Popedome by liberty and ambition, dtfregarding (jods Worfiip, excrcifed enmity agamji one another ; no othcrwtfe than do ^thecruellcjl Tyrants, glutting their own litfis the more feciircly, when there are none left to refrain rices. This wicked Man for almoft feven Years Cjijoycd the fruits of his iniquity.

p. 24. Here Baronius and Binius forget fo anrwcr the great difficulty. I ft. How iheRoman fucceflion efcaped from being'intcrrupted. 2. And alfo, where was the Roman Church while fuch Reigned as were no

•:'r 'Pofes. 3. And alfo, where was its Holinefs and Infallibility, when it had the worsi of Mi-n (z-. they- fay themfclvcs) thus fet over them as

their

their Heads: But they are careftif, \lNcqiiis fiifillanimiis f.v hoc faElo fcandalHm accipiat, left weak minded pcrfons flTouId be fcandalizcd by this: And they teU us as a wonderful providence of God, 1 hat fo great ivas the reverence to the Church if Rome, that even when fuch Aim tnvadtd the Popedofne imlawfuAy, being even iit the Churches cenfure rather yipofeancal than jipojtolical ; yet thofc tf'at did but hear who was Pope (efpecialiy the Northern Countries that were far off) cbcy:d them: fo that 4iny Aian may undirfiar.d by how great a providence God Governcth the untverfal Churchy which when il was fet on Fire at the will ef Whores, nnd all mifchiefs and fcandals did increafe, and it was feared tt would be divided by a great fchtf/ie ; yet Cod defended tt from all hercfy and fchifme, all Nations perjijted in one bond of Faith, and Covtnt of Obedience,'} Indeed Gods providence is wonderful that faveth his true Church from fuch wicked ufurpcrs^ and kcepeth a Union of all inChrifl: But this is no honour to the wicked ufurpcrs ; when now fifteen fchifmes had divided them, and many more afterward; nor was it any honour or blcfTing, to them that gave up their Kingdoms to fuch ufurpcrs. If thefe were no Fopcs, but intruding Whore-mongers; was it a blcf-fingtothe World to be deceived, and to take tbofc for Pof^/, that indeed were none. But had not they then a fceming Church, and indeed r:one, when an cnTcntia! part was Null.

$. 2S. CCCVIII. They fay that ^nno 909. A Council at Soifoiis ordered fomc Reformation.

9. 26. Leo called Philofophus Son to Bafdius Maccdo, thfs while was Empcrour in the £d/^ who being formerly fufpcdcd and iinpri-foncd by his Father, upon fomc fiiggellion o( Phorius, and Santabacenus was revenged on them, when he Reigned, and depored Photius, and put him into a Monaflcry. This is the reft, that Ambition procureth. Thus Sin is the mifcry of the Sinner. Alexander his Unckle was Gar-dian to Co'ifiant.ne Prophyrns Leo'i Son, the Father being Dead : Nicholas had before been made P.atriark,, and upon offence dcpofed. and Euthymtus put in his place. But Alexander dcpofed Enthymins, and rcftorcd Nicholas: and having ("pent thirteen Months in Drunkennefs andLuft. Bled to Death; and Cfwy?»i«f/>/f, fcven Years old, with his MO' ther Zoe Reigned alone : Conftantine Di:cas rebelling, is fubdued : The Bulga.ian, Conquered by Leo PhocasGcT\ctd\-, who thereupon afpiring to the down, was flair. Eight Years after, Zoe is removed, and one ^^^^'' Eom.wKs Ltcapeijus made Guardian ; and C.-fnr, He advanced three of ^i/ij, j, his Sons to the like honor, to ftrengthen himfcif, and made his other c. 15. Son TheophtlaU: Patriark, inftcad o\ Stephen, though he was but fixtecn Years old. He Married his Daughter to the Riitganan Kingj and then began to defpifc the Emperour, and prefer himfcif. God puni-fhed this, by permitting his own Son Stephen, to depofc and banifh him into an l!\and: At laft Cenflantine awaked, and de^^ofcd them all, ar.d ruled himfelf, in Drunkennefs, and Debauchery fifteen Years, and then

dyed,.

lO

Cht{nJ?-HiJlo)y of !BiJl}ops

dyed ; or as fomc fay, was killctJ by Rumam-.i^s Sons.

After him Nicephorns Phocas a fucccsful Warrior, but a bad Man, Kulcd ; The Church called him bad for opprcffing them with Taxes: His Wife Theoplianon^ and John Trimifces (who fucceedcd) killed him. Thus hath the Woild been Governed ; and this is the profit of Ambition.

$. 27. The next Pope is j^ncjl^tins the id. who fate two Years, £nd two Months. In this time the Eafiem Empcrour Leu publifhcd Conflttittions, which Barcr.iiis and Bintiis (p. 1053 ) deride as ridici-lous, in imitation of jnjliman, bccaufe he prcfumed to make Church Laws.

^. 28. L.-tndo was the next Pope, Anno 912. and fate 6. Months .and 22. Days; fay BAronius and liiniusy {Thii Man At the importunate injtance., of that n:ofi potent.^ trtoft ncble, and mofi impudent Whore Theodora, (who had profiimted one of her Daughters MaroZia to Pope Sergius, and the other Theodora to Aldcbert Mar<]mfs of Tufcia, and hereby had obtained or k£pt' the A'fanarchy of the City., {}vho was Pope if this whore was Aionarch) did create John whom jl)c rnojl pithily doted on, A Prcjhyter of Ravina, the Bipop of Bononia, and Peter ylrch-BiJlwp of -Ravenna being De^d, he made him there Arch-Bi^iop. And a Itttle after fo filthy an all, he Died. Luitpraud. /. 2. c. 15.

i$. 29. Next Cometh thisfameMan, Anno Qizjohn 10 faith Platinaand

others, the Son of Pope Sergtus (by the Whore Aitaro:i.ia fay fome,

but its not like, htc^vXc Maroz.ta killed him.) But its more probable,

as Onnphrius notcth, that it was not this John, but the next that was

Son to Sergius and Maroz.ia This Pope faith Baron, and Bin. is he

that the famous Whore Theodora for great comclincfs of perfon doted

on; and fa.th Luitpraud., got him tnadc Arch-^liJJwp c//Ravenna, and

*^ after Pope of Rome, that jhe might not lye wtth him fo feldome., as the

difiance between Rome andKvitnna. would mcejfitate. So £fay they., this

impudent Man being powerful <«; Rome, by the ftrength of a Whore, is

made a falfe Pope and wuksd invader of the Seat2 where they (hew

how this Whore obtained her power. But was this no interruption of

the fucccfljon neither, nor a nullifying of the Papal Church, while he

fate 13. or as Onuphrius, 14. Years and more. No faith Baron, (and

Bin.') He that was an Invader., Theif and Robber, by the after Con-

fent of the Roman Clergy, became the lawful Pope 0/Rome. I. Wc

fee then, what the Romane Clergy were, that would have fuchaFc^e,

2. But they give no proof of any fuch Confent; but fay. It is veri-

fimile. 3. And where was the Church till that Confent, or at lead its

Holincfs. 4. Can fuch Mens Confent make a Pope of an uncapable

perfon ? Will no Wickcdnefs incapacitate ?

$. io. Say the forcfaid Authors, in this Popes time Stfcvandiis B'l-Ihop of Compojlclla, finding the great diverfity of the Rotnaji and Ms-:^rabid\^ Liturgy, altered his by the Popes confent.

After

aud their Qouncils abriiheJ. ■^21

After Hcrvciis, one Sailphus was Arch-Bifhop of Rhcmes. Hcnhrt Eail of y^ijttitarie, confiderJHg that the Bifhop of Rhnnes Anointcth the ■ King of France^ bargained to have his Son made next Bifliop, thnt thereby he might get the Crown. In hart: Seulphus'xs Poyfoncd, bcc:?urc they could not (lay till he dyed. Heyticrt's Son, not yet Five Years eh!, is made Arch-Bi(bop. {0 fce'win auduum^ hy B/iroKiiiiar\d Einitts.') This monjircus Elciticn, f fay they) f'lever before feen or heard cf in the Chrifiian World, nor perhapj thoifgbt cf., Pope John did not only not dtfal-

Icw, but ratrfyci. yindby thts Fat}, the Jrfainyas Pope* gave an Ex-

Mmple to mjf/y Princes, not only in that, but the fcllowing Ages, ( Alas^ for Grief] ) to procure Lads that were their Kindred, to be ihrujl into the Chief Sc/its, (or Bijho.rich) to the great A^ifthief cf the Church'} ^ Work rf-^y they) vdesd, worths fuch a Pope, whom an Jrf,uncus Woman, by an Irfamons Work, had thri'.Jl into St. Peter's Chair.

Qji. Were fuch Villaincs as Infallible as others? Did their Love, Honcify, and Chaflity fail; and yet, Were they fccured ?gainll the Failing of their Faith ? Or, Had they a Sincere Faith, that had no o-thcr Grace? And, Could thcfc forgive Sins, and deliver Souls out of Purgatory ?

When he had ftte Fourteen Tears, cr Sixteen, ( faith Baronius and Bi-vtus) Marquefs Wido, by the Perfwafion of his Wife Marozia, (Pope Scrgius Whore) for the fake cf his Brother Peter, whom they Hated, lafi him out of his Seat into a Pnfon; where jlicrtly after, he was Cbcksei with a Pillow •■ And fo the Invader, and un\uj} Detrincr of the Apofo-lickc^cat, had an End worthy of his Wtckcdnefs. And he, that by the Impudent Mother, Theodora, had violently fciz.ed en the Holy Seat, by her I Impudent Daughter, was by -God's j«/f Judimcnt EyeUed, Imprifoned, and Deprived both of it, and of his Lfe. Ex Liittpr. & Frodoaldv, Baron.

0. 51. CCCIX. Annog\z. A Synod at Confluence, decreed as againd: Inccli, That none Marry within the feventh Degree of Kindred. Was that Divine Law ?

0. 7,1. Two or Three other SyW; at Trofeium arc mentioned, about f.nall Matters ; and One at Duisburge, to Excommunicate fome that put out the Bifhops Eyes.

0. 55. The ncKt Pope, is Leo the Sixth ; and Dyed after Seven (or Si;c) Months, and Fifteen Daycs. 1

$. 34. NcKC, Anno gig. fuccccdcd^/'fp/jfw the Eighth, for Seventh) and fatcbut two Years, one Month, and fifteen Dayes. How they were fo fall: difpitchcd, I omit.

$. 55. Next comes the Son of Afaroda, Pope Sergius his Raftard. caird John the Eleventh: His Mother, nnd Fathcr-in-Lafiv. Wido, got him in Anno (ju. even when he was a Lad under Age. His Prothcr Albericus, (faith Earonius) did keep this Pope in Prifon-to his Death. Tut the Cafe was this, (vid. Bin. p. 10.55.) \lWi*io being Dead, Ma-

T c rozia

a

ta

^IZ

Church-Hiflory of 'Bipods

rozia cffereth the Dcmirton of Rome to his own Brother Hugo, on con-duioti he nculd MArry her : He acceptcth the Condition \ andfecrctly cr.-CJ' ttring the Caftle •/ St. Angelo, after he had committed Jnceji with her, his Brother's IVtduWy he dtfpifcd the Romans. When Lis Son-n.-Law A\-bericus, by his Mother Marozia's Comnund, poured out Water to waj!) hts Hands, he firok* him en the Face for pouring too much. To Revenge' this Wrong., Albcricus ftir'd up the Romans to a DcfetUon ; and having by jijfAtilt of the CaflLc, put to Flight his Faiher-in-Larv Hugo, he commanded his Another Marozia, and his Bajlard-Brother, the Counterfeit Popc John, Id be kept tn Prsfon ; in which the violent Invader dyed, being violently cajl cut, after for jive Tears, and fame Months., he had rather f l-thily DefJed, than Ruled the ylpofolickzSeat.~\ S^'iih Eii.ius out of Luit-fraiidits and Baronius: Calling him a Monllerj and yet Magnifying Home, bccaufe fuch were Obeyed.

^.36. CCCX. A'lno g^z. hlmiW CounziXit Erford'xnCermany., under King Henry., decreed, i. That Holy-Dayes be kept for an Honourable Commemoration of the Twelve Apoftles, and Farting on the £-vens. 2. That no State-Meetings be kept on the Lord''s-Dayes, or o-ther HolyDayes ; nor Chriftians then cited to the Courts of Juilice. 3. Nor when he is going to Church. 4. That fcandalous Minillcrs be tryed. 5. That no private Chridian make, or impofe any Faft onhim-felf, with'out the Bifliop, or his Miflionaries Confcnt. (^An unreafona-blcUfurpation ! Muft the Bifhop needs know all the Rea'bns that e-^ very MiB hath for Farting, and be Judge of them? But fure, the Bi-fjop's Diocefs had not then fo many hundred Pariflies, and fo many Counties, as they have now : Elfe, by that time, the Birtiop and his Com-miflary had heard a Hundred Thoufand, or Fifty Thoufand Perfons, tell him, what Reafons they had to Fall bcfides the common Fa/Is, at any time, or on any fpecial Occafions, much of his time would be taken up. $.57. .Anno 9^^ A Council at/?/7fwn againft Church-Robbers, c}-c. §. 38. v^w>o 936. Leo the Seventh was made Pope, after John the Eleventh. In that time Hugo., that was got away from Albcricus., had got an Army, and Bcfjeged Rome. A Match was made for Albcricus to Marry Hugo's Daughter: And fo Maroz.ia''s Husband and Son were agreed, by the means of Odo, Abbot of Climiac.

?, 39. Henry., King of (jermany, the Glory (faith Baronius and Binius) of Chriflian Religion, dyed at this time ; . who, after many other Natt-^ ens. Converted alfo the King of Denmark to the Chriflian Faith : and lift his Son Otho, the Hetr of his Piety and FaUitr. Yet are not o-ther Papifls afhamcd to fay, That all thefe Nations were Converted by the Pope ; who was the great Scandal, that hindrcd the Converfion of the World.

§. 40. But ( fay the fame Authors) Manartes, Biflwp of Aries, «c» troubled the Church : Being an Ambitious Man, not contented with his Seat, lny the means of Hugo Kmg of Italy, he alfo invaded the Bipapricks of

Verona,

Verona, a>iu of Trent, 4«<^ (f Mantua, and of Milan 't filfl ( O now the Church profpcr'd!) Sa^m^, That he did it by the E.wmpic cf the "CB Prince of the AfoflUs ; who at once pr.Jfi fed Rome, Antioch, <«'.«i Alexandria, j E'X. Liuipraitd. (''And could the pt/^f blame him, that would be Bifliopat the yimtfodcs^ and have all thc\VotId?) But its ibargc, that Men fliould talk of Bifhops Ambition, as of a ftrange thing, in the

Year 937.

5. 41. u^nnoQio. ?ope Stephen the Nincth was chofcn by 0//;c of Co--ffi.iiy, without the Cardmai-Clcr^y, who had neither Power, nor Virtue enough, to choofc: And the City was under the Power of Albe-ricus, who Tyrannized over them: And becaufc he had not the Choice he caufed fomc Fellows fo to cut and mangle the Face of the Pope, that he would never after be feen abroad, but kept clofc till he dyed; which was after Three Years. This Otho refolved to Revenge on Al-bertciis : And alfo, the War between Hj'^o, and Albcncus, broke out Dgain. Plaiina faith, That Hugo was about to Keven^e the Pope, but then Dyed.

^. 42. A Synod was at Narbon, to end the Contention of two Bifhops, about the Extent of their DiocefiTcs, and Jurifdi<flion.

,(>.43. CCCXl. if yet you perceive not the fad State of the Church, by Men's flriving for Church-Dignities; a Council at Soijfons^ Afm9 940. will tell you more. You heard before, how the Earl of Aqmtanc had got his Son to be made Arch-Bifhop of RhcKes .- The Child in coats, was but Five Years old: It happened, that he was put out a-gain for his Infancy, or Non-Age; and ylrta/dus, a Jlonk. chofen in his (lead. This Council of Bifhops, was to decide the Cafe between the two Arch-Bifhops. The Objcflion againft one, was his Infancy, and his Father's ill means to bring him in: The Objc(flion againft the other, was Ptrjury^ He had fworn, that he would never accept an Arch-Bi(hoprick: fAlns! Muft the Church of France be Headed by ©nc of thcfc; an Infant,^ or a Perjured AU/.lil) The Sytod cart out ^"'""-the Perjured Afonk, and judged the Seat to the Infant, as being law- f'^gj^g^j fully Chofen ; ( Power made it a Lawful Call. ) And the Bifhops went in cho-to Ahemes, and Confccratcd him. nu.

<f. 44. In the Year 920. the French Nobles, by confent at Soijfons,. bad Revolted from King Charles \ becaufe he took Huganon, a Man of low Quality, into his Privy-Council, and made him Great: Her-vfus, Bifhop of Rhemcs, had partly healed this Breach. But, Amio 922. it broke out again; and the Nobles chofe Kobert King, and F/er-vcus Confccratcd him: But this Rebellion was their Ruin. Three Years after dyeth FJervtus: And the next Year, Robert Fighting a-gainft Charles, was flain at Soiffons ; yet his Army conquered the King's. Shonly after, Rodolph Duks 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 Henhert to a Caftle •, and thence carrycd

T t 2 to

•a

to Tcroncy whcrc he dyed. Anno 929. leaving a Son Lejxis xo Fight for the Kingdom. And when Charles was in Prifon, Hugo rejc'dcd Rodnlfh, and called Ltwis oMioi Englatrd, to be King, AKr.ogi6. But Hugo and Her ike-1 would be his Maflers, and gave him little Quiet. Hitihirt dycth mifcrably, and Rcpcntctlr. Hugo Domineering, the King cravcth Aid of Otho out of Ccrtrany, againftliim: But (hortly dycth himTilf, by a Difeafc got by a Fall in Hunting aWolf. Lctha' riiis his Son, fucceedeth him. Tn his Third Year, Hugo the Great Duke of Orlcarce, dycth j and Lotharnu the King, Anno ()S6. His^ S"on Lndovjcus fucceeded ; who dyed Childlefs, Annog^j. And in him ended the Line of Charles the Great: For Charles Duke of Lcraine, ttiat w?s next, was by the Treachery of a Bifhop, taken by Hugo C^ pit, the Son of the forc-faid Duke Hugo, and iniprironed to Death: . And this Hugo got PclTcfTion of the Crown. So much briefly on the By of thcfe IVlattcrs; that they after interrupt us not too much: Sec Diets, Pttaz, lib. S.c. 16.

^, 45. Afarimts 2. (alias, Martin 3.) is made Pope, Anno ^^i. and' Reigned three Years, and fome Months (the common Time of Po^es in.that ^gc. ) In his time, Artaldus rtrove again for the Seat of Rhemes.

f, ^6. CCCXI!. When Bifliops would needs be Princes, they taoght Princes to rcfolve to be Bifhops : And as Henbcrt did at Rhemes^ fo did the Empcrcr at Confiantinofle put in a Patriark, Trypho, a Afof/k^r, on condition, that he fhculd hold it but till his own Son Thecphylaci-came to Age. When the time came, Trypho would not Rcfignc: A Council is called; where Bin. ex Curopal. tells you the State of that Church alfo, as too like thelVefiem. The Council being met, Tryphon makes a Speech to them, and faith; That his Adverfaries, that had a (■• mind to cafl him out, gave the reafon, that he knexv not Letters: But that-bS* they might all fee that this was falfe, and that he could Write and Read,' he call'd for Pen and Paper; and (having been taught thus much be-(i3> fore) wrote his Name thus: [Tryphon, by the Mercy of God, Arch-Bi^iop of Conflantinople, Niv^i Rome, and Vmverfal Patria;k-,~\ (for that was then the Title. ) The Emperor receiving the Paper, (it feems, knowing that he could not Read) writeth over head [ Knowing yny. felf Vrmorthy, I Refigne the Throne to any that vpill.'} And fo fent the Paper to the Council; and the Bifliops ('wife and Good Men, you muft fuppofc) Dcthron'd Tryphon. The Seat ftaid void five Months, till Theophylali came to Age; who then was chofen.

^.47. Anno g.\6. Agapetiis thfSscond ii rM6t Pope, rnatime'when Wars ( between the Hungarians, and Hettry "Bavaria, Berengarius and Otho^ c^c. ) made Miferabie the Countries, and Ignorance and Ambiti--on the Churches.

5$. 48. CCCXni. A Council at Vtrdun in France, again tryed the

Caufe between the fore-faid Infant,-and the Perjured Bifhops, Hugozni

^ Artald'f and they undid what the kift had done, and Depofed Hf^gs-,

and

and gave the Seat to Art aid. Yet we have not clone uith Doing and Vhdeniff : For Pope ylgapcte now took Hugo\ P^rt 5 and uiotc 10 the Bifhops of France and Getmariy, i)^d^lHi<gu that was in PcfTtlTion, was to be kept there. But the PapiHt fay, he niillook by //Afgt's Mif-in-formation.

j. 49, CCCXIV. Anno 94.8. Another Council at Mcfipie was crl-lej for the fame Bufinefs : Hugo would nor come in, but fcnt \.\\c Ptpt's Letters; which being not Canonical, but his bare Command, they ro-je(ned them, call out, and Exconomunicatcd Hugo, tiU the next Go ncral-Council.

^. 50. CCCXV» Anno 948. A Cencral-Council of France and C(y-Many is called at EngcUnhciin^ for the fame Caufc ; almoft all France being difquieted about two Mens (hiving, who fhould be the Great Arch-Bifhop: The Pope's Legate Martins, proved Hugo's Letters falfe; and Hugo was Excommunicated, and Artald feilcd. But the Pretence of two Kings, Ludovicks rfnd Oiho, did much thcrc-to.

The Bifhops thence removed to Triers, ('called another Council) where they judged for King LudovicMs, againft Duke Hugo; and Excommu* aicatei fome Bifhops Ordained by Bilhop Hit^o, fthat was Ordained in his Child-hood. ) And another Council at Rome confirmed theCc thing?. $. 51. Now comcth the Famous Pope John the Twelfth, the Son of Prince Albericus, the Son of the Famous Whore: A Child too. Saith BaroKitiS and Binius, ('p. lofo. ) Quar.cjuam l.uic Lcgmma atai a.'ia^^ «ga omnia dcejfeftt <]»£ tnlcgitimo Pontifice ra^utruntur, tamcn acccdcme pcflea confer?fu totius (^Icri, vifurn efl huic pottus e/fe Tolerandum qnam Ecclcjlam Schifmate alii^uo, (jitod alic^nin exertiim fiiijfit, dnidindam Hc V anted Natural and Moral Endowments; even Ail Things nectjfary to a Legitimate Pope, fay they : And yet, the After-Confent of thcC/fr^j made him Tolerable, o~c. Qu. 1. But, Did that Aftcr-confcnt make him a true Bidiop? 2. If not, Where is their Succcffion ? 3. Did Co.^ authorize x.\\c Clergy, to confent to fuch a Man ? Where.!* Prove it. -4. If-not. Could their Confent make him a Billiop } Is not all Power of Cod ? And, Doth God give it contrary to his Word ? 5. Were not thofc Clergy-Men wicked thcmfclvcs, that would do fo .i* 6. Did thofe Do-(flors prefume, that their Readers were fuch Fools, as not to know, that' Forma non rccipit/ir ntji in rrauriam difpcjiiam? And that Ex (]novis lig-no non fit Aiercurtits. An Illiterate Man cannot be a School-Mallcr :; He-that is no Chriftian, cannot be a Bifhop j nor hc that hath not the Qualifications clTentially necclTary. All the World cannot make a Ihy-fician, a Lawyer, a Divine, a true Paftor or Bifhop, of an Ideot, sn Infant, or a Man that wanteth EfTential Difpcfitions. To fay, htvtai' ted all re^uifne Salifications, and yet that he was a Bifhop, is a Contradiction : A'faterta Difpofia (Jr Forma, being the ConQitutive Cau-fcs. What if they had made a Bilhop of a Tmki an I^fiddy a Corp'^x .

crc ? Had it not been a Nullity, and prophanc Mockery ? 7. What clfc Hgnify ail the Ca ons, that njllify Ordinations for lefs Faults? But the lni3';c of a Bifhop, will make but the Image or Carkafs of a Church,

5$. 52. Eut, fay they. Cum lytnverfa Ecclefa Cathclica fcirct minm malum efft caput ciiiantam libet monfirolum prof are ejiiam u»Hm corpus in duo ftit;ri, C"" duobiti capitibits informnri, cundcm toto orbe terrarum tan-^iiar'i vcruni & It^^iiimum Poittpccm zeticrata fiiit. /'nfw. I. What a fhamcicis Dream do you impofc on us, under the Name of, Toms or^ bis Tcn.vuM? What had the Ethiopians, the yiruienans^ yea, or the CrukjChiirch, to do with Pope Jch>2 ? Or, What was it to them, how he was called, or what he was? Did not the 7^.tna>\ of Conftan-tinople then write himfclf, the VnivcfuL Patriark ? (even Tr)pho;i, that they faid, could not write any thirg elfc.) Where is your Proof of this U*!»verfal Conceffion ? Whii-h way did the whole Cathslick-Chnrch (or tiic Tenth or Hundredth Part of it) fignify their Confent ? 2. Who taught you to feign the State and NcccflTity of fuch a Church, as muft have aao'.her Univerfal Head befidcs Chrifi ? You know, that it is the Being of fuch a Church or Head, ( be he never fo Good) that we deny : And you have never proved, nor can prove it. He only is the Univerfal Head, who maketh Univerfal Laws, and undertaketh Univerfal Teaching, and is an Univerfal Judge and Protc(flori none of which any Mortal man can perform. The very Fiiflion of fuch a Head and Body, ss Monftrou;, and your Capital Error. 3. How fmall a part of the Chiriftian World was fubjc<ft to the Pepe, at that time; though within his reach, he was almo/l at the Heighth of his Prcfumption? 4. He that wantcth what is Eflcntfai to a true Bifhop, is'no true Bifhop : But Pope John the Twelfth wanted what was Eflential to a true Bifhop: Ergo, He was none. The Aimor is proved: He that wantcth the ncccfTary Difpojition of the Receptive Aiattcr, and is not Subje-5luw Capax, wanteth that which is Eflcntial to a true a Bifhop: (For the Matena Difpofta is an Eflcntial Conftitutivc Caufc; a Siib]en:nm Capax is ElTentinI to a Relation.) Eut John the Twelfth wanted the Neccfljry Difpofuion of the Matter ad t'omiafu Rcctpiendawy or was not Sub'yElum Capax: Proved. He that wanted capable Age, and all o^ iher ThiJtgs nec((fary to a lawful Pope, was tiot Subji-flum Capax; but )van'ed the nccejjltry Dtfpofition Receptive. But all thefe, you fay "your fclves, Pope Joh/i wanted: ErgOt &c.

5 If then the Univerfal Church had fo erred, as to take him fot a Piifhop that was none ; that Error would not make him a Bifhop, no more than it would make a dead Man alive, or an illiterate Man learned. But this is the RomaK-Cathotick.kind of Proof: You fay your fclves. That a Whore, and a wicked Son of that Whore, got Power enough to over-top the Citizens of Rome, and the Clergy, (yet too ■ hke them) and to thruft a wicked uncapable fellow into the Chair.

When

■ ■ ■ ' -—— ■ I 11—^^— -,. ... -— ,

aikl thci^ Qtuncils ahrido-cd ? 17

When that is done, it's kno^v^^ all g^ci Men difTent and abhor it. But R'hen he hath Pofllnior, th.ey rau't know that he hath PolTefiion: And, What can they do to help it ? Wha: Power have the Erhfopia^^s, Armenians, Syrians^ or other Nations of the Earth, in chocfing the pove of Rome f And if thev have none in Choofinghim, What Power hav€ they to examine the Choice, and Depofc hJm ? And if they have no Power, Why or how fhould they fignify their Conrcnt or DilTcnt ? If they leave your own Matters to your fclvcs, What is that to the' Con-[ent cf the Cathalick-Church ? But fomc men 'hjnk, that big Words • to the Ignorant may fcrvc for Proof, even of a Right to Govern at the Antffodcs, and all the World,

5$. 5 J. His Father A!bericns, being Govcrnour of the City, defign-cd the SuccclTion to his Son O^Uvta/i: To which he added the Ufur-ped-Papacy, calling himfclf /«/;/;. The firll (fay Earoniut and Bi'ius) that changed his N.ime, (though others fay Stratus was the firft.) Saith Platina ; Fromhu Tenth, he was Contaminated with all odtcus Crimes, and Filthincfs: When he had any time to [fare from his LnJ}s, it was not [pent in Prayings but in Hunting. Two of the Cardinals, mcved with the Shame of fuch a Pope, fend Letters to Germany, to Otho, to in-treM him to fave Komc fro/n Bcrcngarius, (that Plundered all the Cciti:-try) and from Pope ]ohn the Twe/fih j cr elft Chrillianity vrai loji. John haviig notice cf this, c«/c/jfffe f r Cardinals, and cutteth cff the Kofe of cne^ and a Hand cf the other. Ot\\0 (ometh into Italy, and took. Be-rengarius, and his Son Albcrtus, and 'Banijhcd thtm. Yet Baronius CTld Binius, out of Liiitpraudus. fay, That the Pope himfclf fat \or Otho, to Help him. However that was, the P<7/if received him as with Honor, and Crowned him the Emperor o{ Getfr.any^ fthe Firft) and Hungary. The Pope, and all the Great Men of the City, fworc ovc: the Body of Si. Peter, that they would never hc\p Bercngarins or Ad..jcrt: and the Emperor departed. But the Pcpe quickly biokc his Oath, and ioyncd with ^<^<:/^f>r .• Which the Emperor hearing, fjid, He is a Child; perhaps Rcpreif and Example, may yet reclaim him. He returned to Rome, and Adalbert, and the Pope Ji^d: The Citizens received the Empercry and promifed him Fidelity j and took^ at Oath, that they wchld never Choofe or Ordain a Pope, without the Conferit a>;d Choice if the Emperor Otho, and his Sen Otho. ]ohn fed into a Weed, and lay there like the Wild-Eeafls. fSaith PUttr.a.)

$. 5+. CCCXVf. Otho called a Council at Ro'kc ; where the Bi-ftiop's dcpofeJ joh>i, and made Leo Pope : By which we ftill fee, how ^ obedient the Bifhops were to the /frongcr Side j or clfc, that really c-vcn thofc near Rome, did not confent xojohn; much lefs the whole C*--tholick-Chiirch, as Baronmj immodeiiiy affirmet'.i.

The Council was called. Anno 965. out of Italy, France, ard Cir-tr.any, befidcs Roman Cardinals ar,d Nobles. Trc Emperor firft asked. Why Pope John vitu net there f The Roman Bifhops, Cardit als, Fref-

hytns.

.^iB Ch!<rch-Hifto)y of'BiP'Ojjs

bytirs, and Deacons^ and. all the Pe'cflf a-?ft\'er(d, \Vc wundtr your Hely CJ" Frndence jlioiild a,\^ lis this Qacfiion ; f<-i-i^g h: fg cfenly manageth the

'Works of the Dcvil, that it is not n/\''c\vn to the Babylonians, Iberians, or Indians. Tije Emperor required p.iniciilar yiccnf.niotis: Then Pctcr, a Cardifial-Presbyter^ p'^i That he faw him Celebrate A'/afs, aid not Communicate. A £ip)op, and a Cardinal-Deacon faid^ That they faw hiui

.Ordai:i a Deacon in a Stable if Hcrfcs. Bcnccii(fl, aid ma.'/y others f-tid, Tl.ai he Ordained Jiifiwps for Aioney\, and Ordauied a Hoy tfTen tears old, Bifnep of TudorUnc. Of Sacriledge, there needed no Witnefs but £.ye-

jight: Of j4dnliiry, they faid, that they faw it Mot; but they certainly k^teiv, that he ahitfcd the Widow cf Ragncrius, aid his Father''} Concubine., cud Aniic, a Widow, and her Neece -^ ayid made the Haly-Palace .a common Bawdy-Hoife, and Stews. That he put out the Eyes cf his Spiritual Father Bcncdi^, and killed him thereby : That he killed John, a Cardinal Sub Deacon, by cnting ojf his Virilia: That he fee Fire en FJoiifes, went Armed Aid Harnajfcd as a Souldicr. They all (^both Clergy and Laity") cryed out,- that he Drunk a Health of VVine to the Dc-.vil, (Diaboli in Annorcm.) That he at his Play at Dice, would crave the Help cf ]up'ncr^ Vcniii, and other Dcmor,$, O'C. The Emperorfaid. That Bad Men often accife the Good:, and lift Afalice or Ltver jbould fnove them, he adjured them, as before QoA, to jpeak^nothing untruly againft rhe Pope, and v.i.huut certain Proof: His Adjurations were rmft fthe-fner.t. The Bijliops, Deacons, Clergy, and all the People of Rome, an-fwered as one Ai-in., and faid, {_ If both the Things read by Bencdi(rb the Dfacon^ and filthier and greater t'iSainies were not committed by Pope ■John, Let not St. Pctcr Abfohe us from the Bond of our Sins: Let us i/e found tyed with the Bonds of Anathema, {or Cnrfed from Chrifl:)j ji.nd be fet at Chrlfl's Left-Hand, at the Laft Day., with ihofe that faid to God the Lord, Depart from us, we would nut have the JCnowlcdge cf thy Waycs. Jfycu bili:ve not Vs. believe your Army that faw him,SiC.2 The Emperor being fattsf^ed by his Armies Witnefs alfo, the Council mo-ved., that Letters of Summons might be fent to the Popc, to appear and tinfwcr for himfc'f. A Leteer was written, as from the Emperor and Bi-jliops^ telling him, That the things cba---ged on him were fuch, as it would be a Shame to hear of Staf'e-Players; whieh, if all were nuwb'red, the X)ay would fail: 1 liat nut a Few, but All, {both Clergy and Laity ^ .flcci'.jed him of .Warder, Per'yrry, Sucrilcdge, and if Jnccft with his (,wn Ismdred, aid with two ef his own Sifters. '1 hey fay alfo., (Horrid to heir \') That yon drunk Wine in Love to the Devil,; ail^t Help of Jupiter, Venus, and other Demons, at your Dice, &C. IVc crave you weuld come, and anfrer fcr yeitr fif-j and fv ear, nothing (1 all be done to yen be fides the Car.ons.

The rope re^.ding this, fent this Anfwer ; [_We hear, that ycu will make another Pope: ^f you do fo, I Exco/nmuitcate ycu from God Almighty, that ycu nny b(.ve no Ltccnft to Ordain any., nor to Celebrate A:afi'.~\

/ifI er

JIfter this, more Bijhops came out o/Gerinany; and they write again to the Pcpe, tclh/ig him. That if he will not appear an J anfwer, they Jlia'l dcfpife his Excomtnnnicatioiis, and turn it upon himfetf. He would not be f nnd. The Emperor feeing he would not appear, told the Council, how treachcroufy he had dealt by him, intreating htm to come^ and help him ; avd after broke his Oath, and joyned with his Enemies. The whole CUrgy, £i(lhps, and all the People, cry cut. An un-heard-cf Wound muji be cured with an un-heard-df Cautery ; and declaring the Aiifchief he had done, craveth that this Monfter of incurable f^ice, might be caft out 0///jf Roman-Church ; and another put in his Place, that will go before them with good Example. Then they all cryed up Leo the Proto-Sonniariiis', whnh thrice repeating, upon Confent, they Oidained him, and fwore Fidelity to him.

S>. 54. IT now Baronms and Binius fay, That the Clergies Confent can make an uncapable Monflcr a true Bidiop, let any one tell us: 1. Whether this Council did nor prove, that the Church did net confent xojohii? 2. Or, Whether his utter Incapacity, many cxprefs Canons, and the Bifliops and Ccuncils Confent, did not Ejeft him, and Authorize Leo ?

0. 55. But here we come to the Core of all the Papijh Cheats: When they tell us themfelves of all this Wickedncfs, they cry out, O the happy Church of Rome ! that though .it fail in Manners, yet never faileth in Faith, ylr.fw. i. If General Councils are fufficicnt WitnefTes, that judged Popes Hcreticks, it hath failed in Faith. 2. Hath that Man true Faith, that waitctb all things re^utfite to a Lawful Bif:op, and that drinkcth to the Devil, aid' prayeth to Jupiter and Venus; and Li' 'vcth in all IVickednefs f What a thing is i'opijh Faith? 5. Did Chnjl mean to pray only, that St. Peter might have fuch a Faith, as will ftand with VVickedncfs and Damnation? What the better is any Man of a wicked Heart and Life, for a dead Opinion call'd Faith, that will damn him the more deeply for finning againft it ? 4. It is not pofli-ble, but that fcrious true Belief of fo great Things, as Cod, and Chrifiy and Glory, will bring a Man to fcrious Repentance and Reformation.

5!. 56. Here Baronlus and Binius become this Monfter's Advocate, and fay, Q That there never was a Council of Orthodox Men, that fnned tnore agamft the Canons and Traditions, than this falfe Council.'} (How falfc is a Devil-worfhipping-Pcff, a Murderer, and common Adulterer, and inceftuous Villainies, in comparifon of al! his Neighbor-Bifhops ? ) 1. They fay. They could not call a Council without him, ylnfw. i. He was no Pope. 2. It's a Trayterous Fiftion to fay, That an Emperor may not call his Subjefl-Bifhops together, to a Council. 3. What if Devilifh Villains will make Murders, and Perjury, and Rebellions, to pafs for Duties, and never call Councils; Mud the Devil therefore be made Lord of the Catholick-Church, without Remedy ? ^. Who gave your Pope that Priviledgc? If Council or Princes, they can take

U u it

^ ^ o Chwch'Hijlory of 'BiJJmps

it from him: If Chnjl, prove it, or Shame be to him that yic'.deth it. 5. That Man is fo ignorant of Church-Hirtory, or Impudent as not to be worthy to be difputcd with, that denyeth, That Princes have called Councils, even the Grcatcft, and moft Honored.

II. They fay. There JI^ohU be Scventy'Two U'tniejfrs i an J there was fcarce one, he fides the Aci:uftrs.~\ A'fw. i. The whole Council, and People of Rome, and Army, are VVitncfTcs, under the moil direful Imprecations. 2. The Pofe may go on fafcly, till Cod take him in Hand, if he mufl pafs for Innocent till he will lye with his o«'n Sifters, or murder Vfen, and cut off their/'/rj//^, e^c. before Seventy.Two VVit-ncflTcs ! O fhamcful Hjly Church, that is thus EtTentiated !

HI. They fav He fhould have been thrice cited, uiff. i. What! When he would not be found? 2. Is that necefTary to the being of the Sentence?

IV. They fay. No delay was granted! Anf. He was not tobefound: And to what was delay necefTary, when the Babyloniaas, Iberians, and Indians had notice of his Diabolical Life. ?S* V". They fay, contrary to all Councils, theEmpcrour Condemncth him, who may not Condemn any Clerk j4nf. But you may Condemn Kings and Emperours! Is not this Herefy, contrary to Rvm. i^. and the 5. Co.mmandement; How fhill Mens Lives, Wives, and Eftates be fa-ved from Ciergy-mcn, if Kings may not judge and punifh them. This Dodrine calleth for timely rclhaint.

VI. They fay, Execution went inftcad of Sentence. Anf. Is not a plain Sentence here cxprclTed ?

VII. The Pope is exempt from all humane judgment: The whole Council therefore were impudent or ignorant to Condemn a Pofe,

TT which none ever did but a Herctick or Schifmatick. Anf. ifl. That is, fuch

wuMvO- as you are able to call General Councils, Emperours and Kings, Hc-

W'S did. rcticks and Schifmaticks j if they prefume to judge a Heretick, Schif-

John ir.d. mjtick, or devillifh Pufe. But your faculty proveth not another cu!-

''i^^l' P^b'^- 2- Did not Solomon judge Abtathar ? Did not inany Councils

rents w- Condemn H.nonns, and many other Pofcs. 5. What a cafe is your

oIm > miferable C^//jc3/;fi^ i?ow(«« Church in then ^ when Popfimay kill, ravifh,

Lbfphcmc, and deftroy, and no Man can judge them, neither King

nor Council ? 4. Why faid you, that the whole Church did confent

to your Pofe, when all this Council, and all the Clergy, ai d People

at Rome thus begged for another. 5. If all your Bifliops of Italy, Ccr-

«^ f»a!n\, &c are utterly rwpi/raf «>• ignorant as you call thcle; What an

honour is this to the Prelacy of your Church? And is it not becaufc

your Po^es ordained them, and like will generate its like. Such other

trifling objeftions they '^rame.

^ 57 But now we have two Pofes, John and Leo : and to this Day

it is not known, nor agreed among the Roman Dodors, which was

■ ^ the true Po^e. Moft fay Leo: Baron, ar.d B>n. fay, John j and call

Lt9

Lro aSchifmatick; confefllng yet, that Script ores tit finittnumeri call him Leo Sth. and own him. How then (hall we derive their fucccflion? John's Kindred got the better, when the Empcrour was gone, and called him again, and caft out Leo. Now we have two Heads, and fo two Churches; the Church of John, and the Cnurch of Leo.

$. 58 CCCXVII. ylfMo g6i. A Council at Co>iJi. gave the Emperor A^/cf/?^(7j7/^/'/'Of<«i leave to marry Thcopbavcs, the Widdow oi Ro/rmniis.

$. 59. CCCXVIII. Ann 964. The monftrousBeall Pope John gotup a-gain, call'daSynod of Bifhops: And what will not Bifhops do ? He is here ftill called, The mofi Godly and mofl Holy Pope. The Bifhops at his .^ motion Condemn LfOjand thofe that Ordained him,and thofc that were Ordained by him. And this Council Binius juflificth, and crycch down Leo Sth. as no Pope, But he confefTeth, that by the common confent of Writers, Leo was the true Pope ; but Scriptorm/terror vcritatt nihilpraiadi-care potejh Anf. i. How then (hall all the world that knew not the Cafe, be fure that/;««;//; zn^ Baroni:'.s are to be believed before ail their own Writers, whofe common Sentence is againff them, and that Romes Succe(fion from John is good ? 2. Remeniber this when you plead for yoQr fuppofed Tradition, that infinite Writers prejudice not the Truth.

0. 60. But faith Platina,Its reportcd^that yiflthcn John nuts punifiied byGeds \Hfl judgment, lefl a Schijme fjould have followed. And it is commonly a-greed, that being in bed with a mans Wife, the Devil (Iruck him on the head and killed him. But fome think it was rather the VVomans Husband that did if.

§. 61. But yet we are never the nearer conceding, ftill there arc two Roman Popes and Churches. John being dead one Bencdid is Chofen by the parties. 7oM«/c7frt (j?- populi RomanieConfinfn, faith Bin. p. 1067. Yet ^ had this Clergy and People fworn before to Otho, to Choofe no Pope without his Confent and Choife, and tied themfelvesto Leo. But to to be Perjured, and change with the Ruling Power, alas how common was it !

§. 62. The godly Emperor Of/39 was offended at thefe Villanics, and brought an 'rmy again to Rof.ie: Bencditl.s made them (land out 3 Siege till Famine forced them to yield, and the Emperor fct up Leo^ and carried away i?f«(^/(S to Htmbitrgh, where he died, ^nd think you but this Pope is therefore by i?/'.';«i and 7;<iye«/;.'i made a Martyr, thatby Rebellion and common Perjury was thus fet up.

<S. 63. While Otho vjoisat Rome j4mio g6.^. He and Lfo 8. calleda-nother Council of Bifhops, Italian, Roman ; from Loraine, S wny, &c. and all the Roman People: Pope Bene iil is brought forth, BcncdiEl the Deacon tells him of his Perjury, having broken his Oath to Leo and to Otho: Pope 5c»f«^'fl faid. If I h.<ive finned, have mercy on me. The pit-tiful Emperour with Tears intreated the Bi(hop to have mercy on the man: Whereupon, he fell down at the feet of Leo and the Emperour, and confefifed that he had Gnned and invaded the Papacy: and dclive-

U u 2 red

as-

red the I'l fig''i'i to Leo : (yet our forcfjid Jn,'.ilifi and Hifiorian make him and not Lfs^ the true Pope ftill.) The Council Dcpofed and Banifhcd hittij but continued him a Deacon as he was before. They removed him to Hawt'itr.Jj to prevent new broilcs.

y. 6.).. Here Baro- ius and Bifiins cry cut on the Hiflory oi Luiliraiidnas Forg'd.on Cra>!idiis,c^c. But there is a great rcafcn -^'hy Leo mud not be taken for a Pope: It is bccaufe by a Canon of this, his Council they gave Otho the fame power for choofing Popes as Charles the great had, O how much Intercft prcvailcth with thcfe Hiftorians judgments.

But alas. Reader, is it not a fad thing to read how faft iSifhops and People did thus Swear and Forfwcar. and do ond undo, making Councils as weather-cocks that turn with every Wind that is ftrong? Is this the honour of Prelacy, and their fiability in governing the Church?

^. 61. Next comes another hha 13th who was not Chofen till Leo dycdj and exprcfly chofen to fuccced bim ; and fo by that Account of laroiiiHs and Bii.ii:s the SucccflTion was interrupted, Z,fo being no Pope whom he Succeeded. But, alas, had it not been for the great Zeal of Otho, that came fo oft with Armies to defend them, and to cafl: out intolerable Popes, what had become of the Roman Papacy ? This John was a Bifhop before, (as Fonnofits was) and fo by the Canons his Elcfti-on was Null on that account. Almofl: as foon as he was fetlcd, faith Tiiitina^ the Romans having now got a Cuftomc of Expelling their Popes, (yet Baron, faith, the Univerfal Church owned them,) did by Seditions tire out this alfo. By the hclj. of Jofred Earl of Campany, they brakf into the Laterane Hoiife^ and tool^ him, and firfi imprifon hiw, and then fend hitn Banijhed into Campania : But John Prince oi Campania killed Jofred and his only Son-^ and delivered Tope John the Eleventh month after his Baniflitncnt: And the Emperour Otho again hringeth an jirtny to Rome, Vfith fpced, and cafls the Covernour, the Cof!fals, and the Dearc' bones into Setters-^ The Confuls he fendcih into Gcrminy hanijl.cd', The Dearchoues he Hanged: Peter the Pr<tfe£l of the City, fome write {faith Platina) that he dclivtre I to the Pope to have his fefli torn off; his Beard a:!d Head being Shorn, and he hanged a while at the head of the Conflan-tinian-Horfe, he was fet on an Affe naked, with his face bacl{wardj bis hands tyedunder the taile, and fo wh'pt thrciigh the Streets till he was al-rrofi Dead, and then Baniflied into Germany. 'I he Corps of ]o(icd and his Son he caiifrd to be taken up, and to le vilely cafl away into divers filthy yUces. Thus did the blind Zeal of a good Emperour Revenge and defend Ufurping Popes.

^. 66, A Council at Revcnna, of fmall importance, and one at Fowf, to confirm Glajfcnbury- Monafitry 1 pafs by . and all the Engli/h Councils which Spclman hath given us by themfclvcs. But it is worth the noting, that the famous Dnnflan that banifhcd Priefls Marriage out of England, wasthaFavcrurifc of ihefc twoPopcj, 7i)/;«the J2. and iitk.

even

aud their Qoiincib abridged. ^ ,,

even much countenanced by the monftrous Pope that Jay with two Sifters of his own, and made hisHoufc as a common VVhore-houfc, if a Council under folemn Appeals to God, and Execrations, faid true.

55. 67. The next Pope according to P/attna, is EencdiU: (though Onti. phrths and Bi»iiis put Donuj next: /.lith Flat. Cintius a potent Citizen of Rome took him a>!d laid him in Jayle, and there firangled him: He wondrcd that neither O\.)\o nor any other ever Revenged tt: But 0//)» was now near Death, and could not have leafurc to bring an Army out of Gcrna'ty to Romcy every time that wicked Citizens and Popes fell out: Did the Univerfal Church o>An this manalfo? Bin (fatih Pht.) Bcneditfls Ale-rits were fitch as Cintius his reward importeth. But yet it was rtot vctU done of Cintius to meddle with the Pope were he never fo bad: But alas (faith he) how the World is changed ! For in our -Age^ Popes lay Cittz.ens, faulty er fHfpc^cd, in the fame Prifn, and t'.en Macerate them,

^. o3. Dorms 2, was Pope but three months: In his fhort time, the Bulgarians had almoll taken Conftant. faith Platina. And u4nno 972. "^ a Council was held at Jngelheim in Germany^ to compofc Church matters.

55, 65. The next Pope f faith PUt.) was Boniface the 7th. who ill got the Popcdome, and fo loft it. Onuphnns and Bin. fay, that Cintius by his command (irayglcd his PredcceJforSy and that he Succeeded htm. Satih Plat, in the beginn >ig of his AI>igtjtracy (for a Magijlracy it thus was) by the Confpiraty of the good Citi::ie>ts, being forced to leave the City, taking away all the pretious things out of S. Peters Church, he fed to Con-ftantinople; where he fayed, till felling all that he had facrilegionfy gotten, he got a great niafs of Money, with which he returned to corrupt the Citizens by Bnbu. But good men rtfijied him, efpccially ]o\\n a Cardinal-Deacon, whom Boniface catcht and pur cut his Eyes: yind the Sedition increafiug more and mire, either for fear cr remorfe, he next made away (or k>ll d) himfclf: He Was Pope 7 months and 5 days faith Platmus. But Onuphrius tahh ('one year, one month and 12 days.) But other Popes came in between before he died, and he got in again.

J. 69. Baroniiis and Binms fay, that Boniface is not to be numbred with the Popes; If fo, i. Why not many fcorc alfo ? 2. Where then is their uninterrupted SuccclTion ? And where was their Church then }

Ji. 70. Binius maketh Benedict 6. next after Domis, and faith, He was jmprifoncd and ]^i\VAhy Boniface, who Ufurpcd the place.

i 71. ^/;. 973. A Council at Mw.ina was to reconcile two Brethren

^. 72. BcncdiU j.Jn.gT^. drove away Boniface, and was Pope himfclf: And fo here were again two Popes: Now Oiho 2, had a great Overthrow by the Grc> ks in CaUhia \ and flying by Sea, was taken Prifo-ncr by Pyrats, and Redeemed by the Sicilians, dyed at Rome: And Otho the 3. was Chofen in his place by the Germancs. Writers agree not of the time of Benedt^s Reign. In his time they feign, thatat aCcun-.

cd:.

cil at Wtncheflcr in the midft of their Dirputes, the Image of our Lord fpake out for the Monks againft the fccular Clergy, and fo decided all the Controvcrfies.

And a Synod was at Rome^ about the Bifhop of A'faadfburg^ accu-fcd.

55. 73. CCCXIX. Anno<)y^. At a Council at Confiantmople, £a/il the Partiarch is Accufed as Criminal, and Antomus Sthdita put in his place.

f. 74. Pope Johfi 14. (^alias l^.) is next at Romcy Anno 984. Einius maketh him fuccced Bontface that had killed Pope BenedtH, and was fled toConjlamimfh'y and faiih^ 'hat vrhoi Bonifacei^'ifti: that Otho the Emperoiir was dead, he returned to Rome, and feiz.ed on the Papacy a-gain \ and finding John in it, did not only turn htm out, but cap him in Bonds in the Tower of St. Angelo, which was kept by men of h-s own fa6lion j and with great Tyranny kspt him there four months, and as a violent and facrilegioHs Robber, at lafi Aiurdered him ly Famiie, And left r.ny hope fhould be left to the Emperoiirs Party, he expofed the Corps of the dead Pope (for all the Citiz.ens to behold") before the doores of the P^ifvn : And the People feeing the bare body of the Pope con fumed by Hunger^ buried him with Sorrow. In the mean time, the Jnvader of the Sect, and the cruel Af/trderer of two Popes, the odious Paricide, and turbulent ihuf Boniface the Anti-Pope, fOh Horrible]) by Tyranny JniadedSt.Peters Chair: But after four months, by Cods Revenge, he fnddenly dyed (he kj/lid himfelf faid Plat. When he was dead, even the factious ptrfons on whom he had trufled. Wounded his dead Catkafs, and Drag'd it through the City. Ihis Bin. out of Baron, and he exaiiticjitis f^attcan-( odictbus.

And murt a Governour of all the World be thus Chofcn. But riaii/ia faith, that fome fay, that Ferruciits, Bumf aces Father, 3 great man, murdered 7c^«; and others fay, he wascaftcutfor Impotcncyand Tyranny; and others [ay, by malevolent Seditious Men, So cohfufed [faith he") are the Hiflories of thofe times.

^. 75. Next coiTics/o/;« 15. (alias 16) 5««««i faith, that for fear of the

Platina ijjje ufage that had befallen bis Prcdeccflbrs.he left Rome & dwelt in Tufca-

ofUhT"^'^ one C?-f/co?7»/j a great man, having got the Caftleof St. Angelo: till

id.wA'tfii the Pope fcndiiigto O/^jo 3. afrighted the v?ew«»/, and made them intreat

hyhimthe him to return. B«t Platina faith,That [^He burned againfi the Clergy with a

.17th. wondcrfull Hatred, and therefore was defervedly hated by the Cleroy .•

efpecially, becaiife be beflowed all things Divifle and Humane on his kindred,

difregarding the honcnr of Cod, and the Dignity of the Romane Sf<?/jjvW//

Errour (faith he) he fo Traditioned [or delivered down) that it remaintth

to this daylThh is Roiiiane Tradition) a Comet then appear'd, Famine, Pefie-

■ leme. Earthquakes, which were thought to be for the Pride arid rapacity of

the Pope^ an J his contempt of God and Man.'} So Platina.

5. ']('. Aalnfiance was given of a Bifhop of the contrary Spirit: Adel-i'lrt Bifhop of Prague in Bgbcmia found the People fo contrary to him,

and

and bad, that he forfook them, and Travelled firft, and then cntred into a Moniftery : And when he had lived there five years, the people defired him again, and promifed Obedience. A Council at Rome defired his return, vvhicn with grief he did; But they ftill proved incorrigble, and he again foi r. ok them and went to Preach to the//««^4r;4'?j, when he Bap-Zed the King Stephen^ and did much good. Bin.p. 1071.

^.77 CCCXX. ^r«;</f/;«j Aich-Bifhopof ^Af/^f/fufpc<ftcd of Trea-fon, for delivering up the City of Rhemes to Charles : Called a Synod at Seulis, to purge himfclf, Excommunicating them that did it. yinnoggo,

5$. 78. CCCXXI. Hugo Capet having now got the Crown of France, and dcfirous to deftroy all the Carolines line, upon the aforefaid fufpi-tion got a Synod at Rhcmcs, to caft out Artmlphus a Baftard of that Linc^ faying, a Baftard muft not be a Bifhop : On: B'fhop rtfufcd; The red for fear of that King confcnted, and cafl him out; Cfo con-ftant wero the French Bifhops )

<>. 79. CCCXXfl. Six Bifhops, and Nine Presbyters, and Four Deacon; made a Council at- Rom:, to Canonize Vtiulnc Bifhop of Au^ujlay Anno 99 ^. upon the reports of his Holiacfs and Miracles.

Hcic let me at once tell the Reader, that he hath no caufe to think the mofl: of thcfe Cinonizitions wholly caufclcfs. But that while Pope and Patriarcks. confounded all by wickednefs and contentious pride; God had many faithful Bifhops and Presbyters that lived holily in quieter and privatcr kind of Life; And the Popes that would not endure thcmfclves to live a Godly life, thought it their honour to have fiich in the Church that did, and to magnify them when dead, and part contradnfling them. Jud like the Fhartfees, Mat. 2j. that killed the living Servants of God, and honoured the dead, and built them Monuments, faying If we had lived in thofe d.iys^ we would not have kjlUd them.

§. 80, CCCXXIII. A Synod was called at Mcfon, to debate the Cafe between Arnulpb and Gerbert fubl^ituted at Rhcmes, who fo pleaded his caufe, that it was put off to another Synod. "Barcn revilcth fome Writings afcribed to the f.^rmcr Synod at themes, faying, they were this Gcrhcrts, as being Blafphcmous agiinft the Pope: The Ccn-turiators of Magdeb, mention them at large. Did Rome then govern all the World ?

^, 81. CCCXXIV. Another Council is called at Rhemcs, and Gerbert (that wrote fo Blafphemoufly againll- the Pope') is dcpofcd by the Pupes means, and Amulphiis rellorcd : which Gohcrt obferving, flyeth to the Empcrour to GirmaH)\ fccmeth to repent (as Baron, but fur-mizcrh) ani gets higher, to be Pcpe himfjif, by the Emperours means, as you fh '11 hear anon.

♦ . 2. Cin any Man think that Po/rf, that theinfclves cam? in by Tyranny and mcer Force, and lived in Wickednefs, coul ' hive fo great a Zeal as is pretended to do Jufticc for all others, unlcfs for their ow n ends? 5^.83.

I.

Church-Hifio)y of 'B'ijl)ol'S

«3*

03-

$. 83. John the \6th. (^alias 17) is pafTcd over by Binius: O/iupbri-tii faith, that he Reigned four Months: Platina fciith, he d'ed the tenth Year, and fixth Month, and tenth Day (a grrat difierencc)

5*. 84. Gregory ihc 5?/;. isnex;. made P.fc (faith Plat.) by Oibo ^d his Authority for /Affinity: But (faith Plat.') The Romins A-rf/v- Cref-centius Coriful with chnfPcwtr-.^ who frrfcntly vude John Btjhof cj Placcntinc Pope j who ca?n: to it by the confcnt of the Roman Clergy and People, to whom the choice belonged., though fome leave him out : Otho cometb to defend his own Pope; Crcfcentius/&rr;^fr/j C/>)' a>id Cajtle agjinjl him : The People dare not refijly but opefi the City Cites: Crcfccntius and Pope lo\\n fiycth to the Cajlle ; and in hope of Pardon^ yields: Gcfccncius tt Killed by the People in his pajfage ; John hath fir/i Lis Eves put out, and then his Life; /jv^Gregory ihe Eleventh Adjntb is rejhred : £/////« faith, that Johns Hands were cut off., his Ears cut of, and his Eyes pulled out ; and after fct on an yifs^ holding the Tail in his Hand., was carried a-bout the Streets.

^. 85. This Pope and Otho the id. agreed to fettle the EIe>flion of the Emperour„ as now ic is on the 7. Ele(flors. The caufe of great Confufions, and Calamities was, that the Emperours did not dwell at Rome ; and fo left Popes then to fight, flrive, and fin^ that clfe would have lived fubmiflively under them. Confiantine, Carolus Mag. or U-tha, might have done much to prevent or cure all this.

The Papifis would fain prove this the work of a Roman Synod, f'to fettle the Eleftor$) that they may prove that it is they, that mufl make and unmake Emperours, But they can fhew us no fuch Council.

Onuphrius hath written a Trcatife to prove thit this was after done by Greg. loth. For which Bmius reprehends him, as believing Aventi-nus.

But this is a Controverfy handled by fo many, that I (hall refer the Reader to them: and whether the feven Eledors only, or all the Feudatories chofe.

Baronius and Binius maintain, that all came from the Authority of the Pope ; that Greg. ^th. Ordained the choice of the Emperour to be by all the Feudatories of the Empire; that the Council at Lyons, under Innocent ^th. fetled it upon Seven, but not all the fame that arc now Elcftors; and that the Princes after fetled it on thefe fame Seven, they know not who nor when.

For the right underftanding of many fuch matters ; I only mind the Reader of this one thing, that as the contention of Princes, and the fuperftitious fear of Anathematizing had made the Papal, and Prela-tical Power then very great, in fetting up, and taking down Princes; fo it was ufual for their AfTcmblics, even thofc called Councils, to be niixt of Men Secular and Clergy-, Kings and Princes, and Lords being prefcnt with the Bifhops, as in our Parliaments ; and ufually the great-eft Princes ruled all. Therefore, toafcribe all to ihc Pope and Prelates^

that

^

i

their Councils abfuhcJ. 2 7y

that was done in fuch conventions, and thence to gather their power to difjaofe of Empires and Kingdoms, is mecr deceit.

§ 86. PUnna nexc mmeth fohii ijih. alias i8rh. but (aith h;was no true Pope (its impolFible to know who was,) !)Ut that he corrupted Crcfcentius w\th money, and it coft them both their lives: How he ['■Hchid, was mangled, fhamed, and killed C though a Bifhop before) you lairhP/i-heard befov. S^ol""

§ 87. Next 4«. 999. Cometh that French Bidiop Gfr^ffrf C*j before maiter to mentioned, that wrote fo blafphemoufly (as they called \t) againft the Orhu, and Pope (as i^ncas StlviHs after did) till he (aw fome hope of being Pope. "^^"^ King . himfelf, by the Emperor's favour tirft made Arch-Birtiop of^.it/c;;;;./, and !'*^f"'."" then Pope, Formofus's Cafe and the Canons that forbid a Bifliop to be cre-it chofen, were now forgotten or difpenled with. He had won the Em- men. peror's favour by a rare Clock that he made, being a good Mithema-tician : And the People and Clergie were taught that it was the Empe- -P^wi^ ror's Will that they (hould choofe him, which to pleafe the Emperor jf'"''^."Iii they did ; Hiftorians fay that he fold his Soul to the Devil by Covenant, a icrnbic to be made Pope, which accordingly the Devil diftrained and took hih> Itcry of away. But Baron, and Bin. fay that Cardinal Bcnr.o was the firit author hisCo\c-of this and many fouler accufations of the Popes than 1 have here ir.enti- !'if!"i^^'!'| oned J and that he was Schifmatical (as taking the Emperor's part) and and his fo not to be believed. And indeed lam not apt to believe any that ac- confcfli-culed men of Magick* in that ignoransage of the Roman Church;, when- ^"» ^^'-^ zsErufmu-s faith. He that did but undeflfafid Greek or Htbrtw was.['^\!'"'^Q'^" fufpefted to be a Magician. ,,lTpl„,>\

Otho 3d. that preferred this Pope gave him two Counties, to ills vmdicati-Church, Fercellis and St. .Agatha: A herefie GL-iar and B.iroii. mention on from in his time, foon extinift. Stcp'jenK'ing oi Hungary it's /aid converted ^^^"^'i;"_^-the TravfylvMiians (which ycc the Papilts afcribe all -to the Pope-.) An " ^'"' hundred lifr^' nine Lpiltles of^(Jcrdcrt's written before he wa&.Biflipp of Rhemes (or Pope) are found with Ntcol. rnhcx. faith Bm. v ' ■j.v:- • . Th\sOtbo

% 88. CCCXXV. In a Council at Rome, an. 999 Oiejkr Arehbifliop w-,shu:a of Ai..iit:. is acculcd for having two Panlhesj but ftruck with a Palfie ^.'^'^*^ °^ could not appear, and the matter referred^ to a German Council.. i>-'«,;of",ni^c^'^* p. 1079. )[i . -..^;;. , :;. ..'.whenhe

§ 89. Nexrcometh p<3A« i.6th. as i?l>,'or^i^tb* •as'/'^rff.-jvhpiyed wsmadc the fifth month. But though no good be faid of him, 'Pi(it.- noteth the ^'"l"'^''-great happinefs of Italy by the good Government of H^fgo the Emperor's Lieutenant.

§ 90. Ne^t \s fohn 17th. as Bi>i. or 20th, as Plat, who fiitli Nd diaiu'.m memorid gcf]lt. But what was wanting.in the urihai>{iy Billiops God made up in good I'rincejf. Robcrr King of f/rfw^-^ndyA.'?*-; the new;Ernprrur. ofGcrmtny {L>thi) being' dead j .being rDefl'<itr^"t^cy:g|•cat• piety ajid /ufnce : Holinels was now puffed Emihsfiitlv < • F'*^-

§ 91. i.;w;;.7j rec'ordcch that Luithirius h(C:.ih\(i:.>

X X,

begin the Hercfie of Berenganus. It feems then, neither Luther, nor ^Hinglius, nor Berengarius, nor Bertram (aliaj Ratram) began it. But where will the reader find that Trahfubftantiation was yet named, or by iny confent received ? ^o that this is but to confefs that yet the do ftrinc contrary to Tranfubftantiation did ftill obtain: And the name of herefie from Baron, or Bin. fignifies no more againft this Archbi(hop than the name of Magick and Diabolifm againft Silvefler 2.from many Hiftorians.

§ 92. In a Council at Frankford the Emperor Henrj, having a great love to Bamberge, would endow it and make it an Archbifhoprick. The Bifhop of Wircsburge would not come to the Council unlefs it might be joyned to his Bifhoprick. It feem'd a hard controverfy. The good Emperor (oft proftrate before them) firft,having no Children,dedicatcth iW that he hath to Chrift,and then defireth them to confider, that [/r reas not for the Lord, but for ambition, and to get more dignity that this Bi/hop did refiji his deftre'] (his agent fpeaking for him,) (Oh that Princes had fooner difcerncd the evil of fuch ambition and afpiring! ) At laft the Emperor (being prefent) carried ir, andchofean Archbifliop who was ordained to Bamberge.

§ 95. Next Peter Bifhop of ^^^<»«f»is made Pope and called Sergiw 4th (The Canons are here again violated) Now faith Bin. "vfasagreat "prodigie, in a Church at Rome rofe afpriyig ofojl, of which a vejfel full " tfas fent to King Henry, no doubt to call him to take the Empire."}

% 94. CCCXXVI. ^«. 1011. A Council at i^w^fr^f endeavoured to end fome quarrels amongBifhops that ftrovcto get more,and accufed one another unjuftly to the Popejfor vrhich the King reproved fome of them.

§ 95. jin. 1012. Two Popes were chofcnand fetupj which i« the 19th. fchifm or double-head of the Roman Church. The Emperor'* party chofe Benedtii the 8th. The City Party chofe Gregory, The Citizens were the ftrongcr at prefent (and fo long their's was the true Pope,) The Emperor proved ftrongeft at laft, and therefore Bencdia became the true Pope (for Hobbes his Law ruled among them,) {that Right is nothing but Power to get and kf^p2 Gregory had no power to keep iiis Place: Ergo be had no right to it: Benedtti fled to Germany, and the good Emperor Henry amc to Rome with an Army, and made Gregory fly, and (ct up BenediEi. Here Henry firft inftituted the Golden Globe ,5. and Crofs as fit for an Emperor's hand and afped. Bin. out ofGlab. U. 5. c. 8. (jaeaketh of the Jews injuring Chrift's Image by a ludicrous crucifixion, and that after the adoring of the crofs the fame day, a whirlwind caft down the Houfcs [ omnes^ue pene Romanos cccifos ejfe 3 and almoft all the Romans were killed (that's fcarce credible,) and that it ceafcd not till the Pope had put the jews to death. PUtina faith, that this Emperor Henry and his Wife were fo pious that they omitted nothing that might do good. He overthrew the Saracens, and giving bis Sifter in marriage to the King of Hungary converted him and his People Hb the Faith : And Baron, giverh you the copy of his large grant of Cities and Principalities to the Pope, by way of confirmation of former grant*. § ^6.

i

tJ?eir Councils abridged.

539

§ 96. They call it a Council at Legto in Spam, where the King and Queen and Nobles with the Bifhops and Abbots, made fomc Laws for Church-privilcdges.

§ 97. CCC)Q(VII. ^«. 1017. A Council was called at Orkance in France', where, by the Zeal of the religious King ^«^frf and the Prelates, the burning of Hereticks were fet on foot. Bin. out ofGlahtr thus reciteth the matter. One Italian woman revived tke herefie of thcMa-nichees, and two Clergie men (yet called Palatu proceres et Regt famtU-ares) received and fpread it abroad with confidence- The opinion* are thus recited hyGUlrer. i. That the Dodrine of the Trinity delivered in fcripture, is a deceit. 2. That Heaven and Earth are from eternity without a maker. 3. That the crimes of fenfual pleafure fhall have no punifh-ment. 3. That there is no reward for any Chriftian works, fave of Piety & Juftice.The two leaders Lifoius and HcrihertuSyWd. eleven more were -;t burnt to afhcs; and afterwards as many more as were found guilty of the fame errours. Bin. p. 1083. Here confuming zeal began.

§ 98. CCCXXVIII. yiH. 1022. A Council at Saltgunflad in German) made many ceremonious Canons j but decreed c. 16. that none go to Rome without the content of the Bifhop. and c. i7.that the Popes pardons (hall not profit them that have not fulfilled the time of their pen-nance.

They tell us alfo of a Council at Mentz., and (jofz&^r^fs curing a Dc-moniack woman.

§ 99. Benedt^ ^^yi'igj went to purgatory faith Bin. as fome apparitions proved, but he was delivered out of that pain by St. Odilo's pray-Icrs, and bis Brother's Alms. ( you (ee how much better it is to be a Saint than a Pope) you need not queftion the credit of their intelligencr from purgatory.

§ 100. This Pope's own Brother, Son to the TnfcitUne Esr^, by hij power prefently feizeth on the Papacie. But Bm. ex Baron, would per-fwade us that this invadedJPope afterward repented, refigncd, and wa.<! new chofen by the Clergy. He was very like to have their votes when he had gotten fuch power and advantage.- But where was the Roman Church that while?

*Now dyed the pious Emperor Henry^ and when he dyed gave up his _.. religious wife to the Biftiopsand Abbots, as a Virgin,as he received herj ^ 5|>«!

who entered a Monaftcry accordingly : Conrade his General fucceedcd him, and the Pope Qohmi as Plat. 18 is Bin.') being driven away by the People, Conrade reftored him. ( lb far was the Pope obeyed.) § loi. A Council at iLiTwo^f/, an. 1029. gave an Apoftolical title to Martial their founder. § 102. An. 1032. Another at P4w^:7o«e was about a Bifhop's fear, § 103. Princes in this age are commended for their piety (elpecially 1 their zeal for Rome.) Bi»t did the Popes yet amend? The next man that Hl Cometh in by the fame power as the former, is BaicdiR the 9th Ne-H| X X 2 phew

phew to foirn and Son ro yilucricus ; moft fay he was but ten years old, "fome fjy i8.capable,rdith Baron andi Bin. of Impudence and luxuryj by " the tyrannv of his Father intruded,^«.i030.And (Qy they)being given '■ over to luft and pleafurejand by humane frailty rufhing into impudence, "and IJLving to great fcandal of thefdithfui, he was by the Romans, the Conful Ftolcmy favouring it, re;e<fled, or at leaft gave itup by the per-(Vvarion of the holy Abbot Bartholomew. Whereupon Silveflcr the 3d. " came inifO his place,who had beenBifhop oiSabine, even by bribery and "evil arrsi; and did rend the Church by anew Schifm: But hehadfcarce * Sate ttiree months, but £cneditt by the help of the TufcuUnes returned '•'and caft him out, as an invader. In the mean time a third man, fohn "^rch- Presb)ier oi Rome invading the fame feat, brought yet a greater " deformity on the Church: And fo A THREE-HEADED BEAST ARI-*'SING FROM THE GATES OF HELL didmiferably infelt the holy "Chain of Sr. l'ctcr.~\ Thefe are the words of the Popes grand flatterers. "And they tell us that one Gratian a Presbyter pitying this miferable ftate "of the Church, went to all the three Popes, and gave them money to "hire them all ro relign ; And fo BcnedUl as the moft worthy being fe-"cured of the Revenues of England, depofed himfelf; and that he "might the more freely execute his lufts betook himfelf to his Fathers houfe,when intruded by force and tyranny he had held the Papacy eleven years. And when the reft by his example had done the like, each being contented with his alTigned portion of the Revenue, the Church ^n. 1044.was reftorcd to its ancient union.ipeace and concord, the Schifm be-*' ing expelled,and the tyranny by which it was opprefTed taken out of the " way.] Thus Ear. and Bm. But how came this Presbyter to be fohoneft and fo rich ? you muft know that when he had got out the three Popes he was made Pope himfelf, of which more anon. , §. 104, But though thefe Authors tell us but of four Popes at once, as credible writers of their own tell us there were fix: IVerncrus in Faf-(*■) Omi- cicu.'e Temper, fakh [The 14. * Schifm was fcandalousand full of confufi-jbr. will f on between Ber.editt the 9th. and five othersj which BenediH: was whoJ-bc c'r" ' 'y v't'ouSjand therefore being damned, he appeared in a monftrous and thatic 'horrid fhape, his head and tail were like an Afles, the reft of his body was the 'like a Bear, ** faying, I thus appear becaufe I lived like a beaft. In this aoth. 'Schifm there were no lefs than fixPopes at once\i.BenedtB was expuKed. ■"So fay '2.Sihe{hr 3d. got in, but is caft out again, and BenediB reftored, 3. But PLunm »being Ci'ft out again Gz-f^or;' the 6th. is put into his place : who becaufe and iiiany j,^ y^^^ ignorant of Lf^trj caufed another Pope to be confecrated with alVo^'^^ him, to perform C-^OTc/p-OjJfcr/, which was the fourth: which difpleafed many, and therefore a third is chofen inftead of thofe two that were fighting with one another. 6. But Henry the Emperor coming in depofed them 'all ix\A chok Clement ihc 2d.3 thefixth that were alive at once. There is great difference between iVerneruj, Onuphnus, Flatina, Baronius, but all confefs that there were three or four at once. And the three were fecu-

rcd

their Councils abrichcJ.

M»

red of the revenues before they refigned to the fourth ; no doubt leaving him his part: This it is for Bifhops to be great and rich, which will afcertain wicked men to (eek them. But if uVre^r^/ fay true that this foktn. GratiaH/is,mide Gregorj 6th, was i!literate,he was a in^ngeKcm^a Arch-Pre«byter before, and a ftrange Pope after, but greatly to be commended that would ordain a fellow Pope that could read.

§ loj. This horrid monftrous villain calkd Bcf:edt8 the 9th. Canonized Simeon an Anchorite at T'revirs, Do you think he was nor a good judge and lover of Saints? He crowned Conrade the Emperor who came into Italy to mafter the Bifhop of Milan that rebelled, fay Laron, and Bin. and many other great things he did.

§ 106. Even in thefe times there were Councils held. 1. One at Ly-moges, to judge Sf. Martial to be an Apoftle, and to agree to excommunicate the fouldiers that robbed and plundered, and to curfe theip horfes and arms, and deny Chriftian burial to all the Countrys where they prevailed, lave the Clergy and poor, &:. Another at Beauvou on the fame occafion. And another at Tnbtir, unknown for what.

§ 107, This Pope Gregory 6th. ( who was John Gratian the Roman Arch-Presbyter, that ^Vemer faith was illiterate ard made hirn a fellow Pope) is very varioudy defcribed : Bjron. and Bin, and fome others make him an honeft man that ended the Schifm. Cardinal Benno maketh him Simoniacal that hired them out to get the Papacie: Baron, and Bin. for this revile him as a malicious lyar. They fay that Gregory^ for pun-ifhing facrilegious villains by the fword that cared noi for Anatbema's,was acculed by the Romans that now lived by theft and rapine, as a Simo-nift and a murderer. Conrade being dead and Henry his Son made Em^ peror, he being in Italy held a Synod at Sntna near Rome where all the four Popes caufes were examined : And the three former were depof-ed, that is, deprived of the revenue whjch was parted among them , and this Gregory 6. (fay moft authors, and even Hermannus that wrote in thofe very times) was depofed, (but faith Baron, he bone(\ly refigned.) And the Roman Clergy being found fo bad, that none were fit for the place, the Emperor chole (Gy moft, or caHJed to be chofcn faith Bin.') the Bifhop of Bambcrge in Germany called Clement the 2d.

§ 108. The Emperor fetling the Bifhop of ^.iw-Z-aj^f, Clem. 2. in the chair, returned and took thelaft Pope Gregory with him to avoid contention j and Clement went after with Hildcbrand 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 firft of the four, and held it eight months after this, fo yet we have divers Popes.

§ 109. An. 1067, A Council is held at liome by Clem. 2. againft Simony.

§ no. Foppo Bifhop of Brixia is made Pope, by the Emperor and the common (uffrage, fay Bar. and Bin. (an. Ic^^.) But fuith Plat ma "and others, it is reported that he made the poyfon with which the

Citizens

H'

Chiirch-Hijtory of 'Bijhops and

♦'Citizens poyfoncd his predeceflbr Clem. 2. And that he fcized on the "place by violence without any confcnt of Clergy or People, it being "now the cuftomXor any ambitious man, that could, to ftize on the " Popedom; but God, faith Plat, as a juft revenger refifted him, for "he dyed the twenty third day of his Papacie. Yet the Romans had "again taken an oath in CUm.xd^s. time to choofe no Pope without the "Emperor's licence. For the Romans were become fo wicked and fa<£l:ious that they were not to be trufted in fuch a thing.

§ 11 r. Upon thcfe horrid villanies and fchifms Baron, and Bin', again cry out on the Novatores, for calling theft things in the teeth of the RcfHdn Church, as impudent men. And they fay ftill, i. That it " was not the Church that chofe thefe Popes (as Benedi^ 9.)but Tyranti "obtruded them. 2. "That yet fo great was the power of the Roman ^'Church that even falfe Popes were obeyed by all the Chriftian world.]

u4nf. I. When yet they tell us themfelves that even the City of Rome was fo far from obeying them, that they imprifoned, depoftd, killed them. And the whole Gretk^O\\xxch excommunicated them fince Photi-tis's dayes} only the horrid contentions between the Sons and off-fpring of Charlmaln and the Germane Princes, gave them advantage to Lord it by Anathema^s in France, Germany^ and Italy, and fuch nearer parts, whileft the contenders would make ufe of them, and they of the contender*. .\nd horrid ignorance had invaded the clergy, and confe-quently the Laity, and fub;e(fled them in darknefs to this Ruler that maketh To great ufe of darknefs.

2. And if theft men uncalled were true Popes, why might not the T/o-^be one, or any man that can get the place or Title? Why were not all the 4 or j or 6 at once true Popes.' if not. Where was the Catholick Church this while, if a Pope was a conftitutive head or part.' and what is become of your Succeffion ? will any pofTefTiony^re vel injuria fcrve for a Succeffion? If fo, Why tell yon the Protcftants that they want it.? If nor. What pretence have you for it.' I think the Pro-teftants can prove a far better fucceffion.

§ 112. BcrengariMs rofe in theft horrid daye«; and it is no wonder if fuch a monfter as Pope BeneMfi, and his companions condemned him, and fet up the raonftrous doftrine of Tranfubftantiation. As Tenuliian faith it was an honour to ^ Chriftians to be firft perfecuted by fuch a one as Nero, fo was it to the doftrine of the Sacrament to be condemned by fuch a one as BenediH: 9. and in the time (as Baron, and Bin. fpeakj ef the three-headed monjhotis bcaft.

§ I r J. Rome was now fo wife as to be confcious a little of their bad-nefs and unfitnefs to choofe themfelves a Pope, and therefore fent to the Emperor Henry to chooft them one. He chofe them Bruno a good Bifh-op oiTullum; who in his way, at the Abby of Cluny, met with Hilde-brand that went from Rome thithetj who told him that the Emperor being a Lay-man had no power to make or choofe a Pope (*) but the

Clergy

k'j-

•5-

f iiougb a

Clergy and peoplcj but if he would follow bis advife, be fliould in • ber- King nuy ter way attain his end: fo HUdehrand went with him and pertVraded "1°^ °^' him to put off hi« purple, and to go in a common habit, and confefs B^ftop-that he is not their Birfiop till they choofe him, and that he taketh not Qudtiou the feat as given by the Emperor but by them; whereby he won the whether Romans hearts, and they readily chofe him. And he being called Leo ^'^ '"^V the 9th, after fo many monftcrs, went for a very excellent Pope. But In'^r°l.fin-yet he commanded an army himfelf againll the Normans, and proved cd Biliiop no good or happy Captain, his Army beiflg wholly routed, and himfelf from one taken Prifoner : whom the Normans in reverence rdeafcd and returned Church ro fafe. Pet. Damianusind others lament his Souldicry as his great fin, but the'peg' Baron.ind Bin. excufe him,and fay,all the world now alloweth it: You fee pic only what arguments ferve at Rome: where it was but lately that the firft ar- accepting tide that a Roman Council before O:iio Afag. brought in againft Pope r"" ^^ fohn was that he went fometimes in Arms : And to be formerly a Bifhop fcn^^'^"" was heretofore an incapacity by the Canons: Yet Rome covereth her innovations by pretending antiquity,and calling others Ntvatores.

§ 114. But how militant a defender of the Roman grandure this Lto was, may be (cen in bis EpiAles in Bm. p. 1096. &c. In the firrt long one to the Patriarch of Confiantinople and another £7r«i^Bifhop, he reprovcth them for bold damning of the Church of Rome, and tells them that they were members of Antichrift,and forerunners of him that is King over all the Children of pride; and faith, who can tell how many Antichrifts had have been already?He^telis them how many herctickBifhops they have had at Conjl. and of above ninety herefics in theEaft; and how by force they raged againft the Josmiites (theNonconformifts that followed St. Chry- -ts fofi»mei)vfhit a heretick their Bifhop Eut^chiui was.that faid.the body at refurre(ilion will be impalpable.and more fubtil than the wind and air (He believed Paul that faid it ftiould be a /primal body (though not a Spirit,^ ■^ And how hisBooks were burned.He reprehendeth their title of Oecumeni- > np,„, calPatriarchjand faith that no ^ow/^wBifhop to that day had ever accepted bcj ihat. or ufcd that Title (*) Yet he reciteth the forged grant of Conftamme, faying, that as far as Kings are above Judges, fo all the world muft take the Pope for their Head; and that he gave the Palace and all Rome, &c. to Silvefler, and faid it was unmeet that they fhould be fubjed to any earthly Prince that were by God made Governors of Heaven. At large he thus pleadeth for the Roman Kingdom ofPriefts, chiding them that had put down all the Latine Churches and monafteries in the Eaft.] (yet Baron, and Btn. tell you all the Church on earth obeyed the Pope.)

In his 4th. Epiftle he laments that in .Africa there was "205-. Bifli-"ops at a Council, now there were fcarce five in all; and he fhewcth "that all Bifhops were of one order, but ditFerenced as the Cities were •'for primacie, by the Civil Laws or the Fathers reverence. That "where the Pagans Arch-Flaminswere, there were inftituted Arch-" Bifhops to be over the Provinces; where a Metropolis was, Metro-

i

344 Church-Hijlo)-) of l^tpolisand

"pD^uns Of ArcliBifhops were pLiced; and Bifhops in leflTcr Cities ".wljere had beenFIamins and Counts.But \n^fica they were diverfilyed "only by die times of rlieir ordinationj the Bilhjp of Cartbaje being " the chief.]

In bis lipiltlc J. he hath a good confeflion of faith, where among other things he well faith, [ " nat God preJ^fiinated only thinn "good, hut jorek>t€\v l/othgood and evil; and that Cr.ice fo preventeth and " followcth man, th^t jet m.ins free will ts not to be denied: that the Soul " IS mt p.irt oj God, but created of nothing. He anathematizeth every He-" refie, and every one that receiveth or vencrateth any Scriptures but ^- what are received by the Catholick Church, c~c.

In the 6th.again he chides the Patriarchs ofConjrantinopU for the title Vhivcrjut; faying that Peter himftrlf was never called the Vmverfal ^po-y^/f, nor did any of his Succtficrs take i'o [prodigious a title. For he is no friend to the bridegroom that would beloved in hisftead, but a Bawd of yiutichriji,^C.

His Svh.Epiftle is to the Greeks Emperor to flatter him,to help him with

Henry againft the KormMs; In which ('to prove the Romans fuccetrtonj

c^ "he (aith [.The holy Church and Apoftolick Stat hath been too long ufur-

"ped by Mercenaries that were no Paftors, that fought their own, and

'• nor the things of Chrift.]

"TiiisPope and Muhael Patriarch of Conftantinople,w^rt fo unreconci-<'Iiib!e that they continued mutual condemnations. <W*(;^?e/is condemned with his (Jz-ff^./. I. For rebaptizing the Papifts. z. For faying that; they bad no true Sacrifice or Bjptifm. 3. For .holding Priefts marriage, for rejeding the Filioque,8cc. Bin. p. 1116.

§. 114. CCCXXIX. -^«. io49.ARomati Council was fain upon pen-nance to pardon Simoniacal Bifhops and Priefts, becaule the Cry was, that " elfe almol't all the Churches would be deftitute, and the Church fer-" vice omitted to the liibverfion of the Chriftian Religion, and the def-"peration ofall the faithful. (Where was the holy Church of Rome now, and its Succcfiion, if the Canons for nullifying Simoniacal ordinations 1.0:d good?J

§ iiy. CCCX'XX. The Pope refolved to go to France, and Prefidc in a CounciljWhich he did,at Rhemes: But many Nobles and Bifhops told the King that it was an ufurpation and a Novelty and would enllave his Kingdom : The King forbad him, yet the Pope came whether the King would or not ; And the King went away about his military affairs, and fome Biniops with hiai, and others ftayed.

The ArchBifliop of Rhemes, and others were accufcd of heinous Crimes : The Bifliop of LIngres was charged with {_e»tring h Simoniacal " herefies, felling orders, bearing Armes, Murder, Adultery, Tyranny to " his Clergy,and Sodomy: Many witnclTes teftihed all this: OneCIergy-" man wltnelfcdjthat while he was vet a Lay-man th'is Bifhop violently "took his Wife from him,and when he had committed adultery with her,

he

i

'' [le made her a Nun.] A Presbyter witnelTcd that this Bifhop took ''him and delivered him to his followers, who tormenting him by ma-^'ny torments, which is more wicked, did with fharp nails pierce his "genetals, and by fuch violence forced him to give them ten pounds "of denaries : The Bifliop hearing thefe accufations defired time and "Council, and going to the Arch Bifliops of Befar.z.on, ^r^A Lyons, o-"peneth his fecrets to them and defireth them to plead his caufe. But ''the man involved in the guilt of fuch villanies (who but the day be-"fore had been the accufer of a faulty Brother, and feeing the mote in "anothers eye, had not feen the beam in his o\Tn, but moved for *'the other mans damnation being himlelfdelervedly to be condemned,) "was not only unable to excufe himfelf from the objecHred crimes, but "alfo the tongue of his advocate (the Arch Bi(hop^ was by God fo fi-"lenced that he was not able to (peak a word for his defence. For "the Arch-Bifhop oiBefaiiz.cn vihcrc he prepared himfelf to plead for "him and excufe his crimes, fuddenly found himfelfdifabled in his voice "by God. And when the Arch-Bifhop of Befanz.on found himfelf fo dif-" abled by miracles, he gave figns to the Arch-Bifliop of Lyons to fpeak "for this his Brother in his ftead; who rifing up faid that the accufed "Bifhop doth confefs that he (old Orders, and that he extorted the mo-"ney from the faid Prieft, but that he did not do the tormenting adi-"ons mentioned by him; other things he denyed, but before the next "day he fled from the Council. And another Bifhop fof A'cvcrs) con-"feflTed that his Parents bought his Place, and depofed himfelf: and " fome other Bifhops confclled Simoniacal entrance. The Pope excom-"municated many that fled from the Council. He renewed fome old "negledled Canons, as i. That no man l>c p-omoted to Church-Govern- -fa "ment wtthoHt the ELECTION of the CLERKS and the PEOPLE, &'c.

Y y CHAP.

^^.6 Church-Hifiory of 'BiJJ?c^s and

, C H A P. 12.

The continuation of the hiftory of Councils and their Bifhops till the Conucil at ConflantiMOple.

§ I. CCCXXXr. Uflder Leo 9. an. 1049, a Synod at Mentz^^^omc ac-culed Bifhops were qucftioned and other little matters done.

§ 2. CGCXXXII. In a Council at 1090. Berengariui his Letters tO Laifiancus were read, and he condemned fin a blind age.)

§ 3. GCCXXXIII. ^n. lOj-Q. A Synod at rercclh condemned p-hannes Scotns and Berengariits and fome that defended them.

§ 4. CCCXXXIV. yln. 1050. A Council at Cojaca contained the King FerdinMidus of Cafiik , and his Queen, Bifhops and Nobles (Tike our Parliaments, and fo were many Councils then:) It is faid to be for •5" reftoring Chriftianity (Co low was it grown in the height of Popery and ignorancej having feveral orders for reformation. The 3d Title faith, that wine, ir.ner and the Ijofi in the eucharift fignifie the Trinity. The jth. faith, that Priefts muft fo eat at the fealts of the dead, as to do fome good for their fouls, 6'c.

§ J. CCCXXXV. ^». 1051. A Roman Council excommunicated Gregory B\ihop oiTercclU for Adultery with a widow efpowfed to his Uncle, and for perjuries: But he was after reftored to his office on promife of fati;faction: Alfo all the whores of Priefts were decreed to be made feivants at Laterane. Pet. Damian. et Bin. p. 1124.

§ 6. CCCXXXVI. In another Roman Synod the Pope Canonized a Biniop Gerhard, and decided a quarrel between two Bifhops for extent oftheir DiocefTcs,

§ 7. nthr the id. is next Pope an. 1055. Leo Hofiienfis faith that no man at Rome was found worthy. Vlat. faith that they feared offending the Emperor: However the Romansfciit to the Emperor to choofe one for them, and fome fay dcfired this might be the man.

§ 8. CCCXXXVII. Platina faith that in a Council at Florence he de-pofed many Bifhops for Simony and Fornication.

§ 9. CCCXXXVIII. In a Council at Lyons,Baronius (after other5)(aith a miracle was done, viz., faith he ["The herefie of Simonie having feiz-"ed on all Italy and Burgundie, the Popefent Htldibrandi fub-Deacon "to call a Council^ where an Arch Bifhop accufed of Simony bribed all €r "his accufers the next day into filence: Hildebrand hid him fay [Glory "be to the Father^ Son and Holy Ghofl'~\ He faid the refV, but was not "able to name the Holy Ghof\: Whereupon he confefl his crimes, and "befides feven and twenty other Prelates of the Churches, forty five "Bifhops confeft themfclvcs Simoniacks and renounced their places.3

What

their Councils alvuhcd.

C3

54^

What a cafe was the Church in when Popery grew ripe? Per. D^mian. mentioneth fix Bifliops depofcd by HiUcbrandiox divers crimes.

§ lo. By the way it is worthy enquiry whether//;/(ii'air,4«i^ being neither Bifliop, Prieft, nor Deacon, but a fub-Deacon only, was any of the Clergy or Church-Paftors to whom Chrift gave the power of the -fB Keys ('Yea, if he had been a Deacon.J And therefore whether he had any power froin Chrift to prefide before Arch Biftiops and Bifhops in In Councils, and to depofe and excommunicate Bifhops. If it be faid that he did it by the Pope's commifTion, the queftion recurreth, whetiier God ever gave Pope or Prelate power to make new Church-officers whom he never initituted cie fpicie, that fhould have the power of the Keys, yea,and be above the Bifhops 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 Chrift ? Indeed baptizing is but uling the Key of Church-entrancej And therei'bre be that may fo let men into the Church may baptize them ('which Papilis unhappily allow the Laity, j And if perfc or per alium will falve all, whether Priefts may not preach, pray, and give Sacraments by Lay-men: And fo Lay-men at laft put down both Prelates and Prieftsas ncedlef'.''

§ II. CCCXXXIX. ^n. lojj. They fay that this great Subdeacon Hildcbrand ('the grand advancer of the Roman Kingdom) didcall a Council arTowr/, which cited poor Bcren^arius ini forced him to recant ('whether it be true I know not.)

§ 12. To this Council the Emperor Henry fent his Agents to complain that f<:r(^*'«4«^ the great. King ofC.?/?//t', rcfufed fubiciftion to the Emperor, and claimed fomefuch title to him((:lf,ard (now ignorance, fu-perhition, and interefl having made the Clergy the Rulers of Kings and KingdomsJ the Emperor defireth that King ffr,-iV;;<r.(i may be excommunicate unlefs he will fubmit and furceale, and all the Kingdom of Spain be interdiifted (or forbidden Gods worfhip.) The Prelates perceived how they were fct up by this motion, and made Kings of Kings, and they thought the Emperor's motion reafonable, and without hearing King Ferdinand made themfelves judges and fent him word that he mult fubmit and obey or be excommunicated and bear the interdid. The King took time to anfwcr, and calling his own Bifhops together found them of the fame mind and fpirir, and Co was forced to promile fubmilTion. Jl\\s Baronius, an. 1055. wnics ex fo. Jlf-iriano; and Binnius p. 1126.

§ 13. CCCXL. They fay that the Emperor dying, left his Son//a--ry but five years old, and knew no better way to (ecure his fuccelfun than todefire Pope riHor to take the care of it: who therefore called a Council :it CoUn to qu'\et^B.iU\vi'i and Godfrey Earls of FLnJers that elfe would have refilled him.Thus Bifhops in Councils now were as Parliaments to the Kingdoms of deluded men.

§ 14. CCCXLI, At TooUufe, ai}. 10,-6. A Council of i8 Bifhops ar-

Y y 2 tempted

-eo

f

• 748 Church-Hijiory of ''Bifl)0^s and

tempted reformation, forbidding (alas! how oftj Bifhops to fell orders, and other ads of Simony, and Priefts ufing their wives, and the Adultery, Inceft and perjury of Bifhops and Priefts; bidding them that are fuch, repent, and forbidding communion with men called hereticks.

§ 15. CCCXLII. Though Adultery, Inceft, Perjury and Simony of Bifhops was fo hardly reftrained, it feems they would pay for it by fu-c5" perftitionj for a Council at Compofiella decreed (faith Baron, ad an. 1056.^ that r. All Bifhops and Priefts fhould fay Mafs every day. 2; That at fafts and Litanies (which were perambulations in penitence) they Ihould be cloathed in fackcloth.

§ 16. Stephen the 9th. alias loth. is next made Pope: In his time faith Platina the Church of Milan was reconciled to iiomi, that had withdrawn itfelf from it two hundred years. Was ail the world then fobjed to the Pope when his Italian neighbours were not ?

§ 17. This Pope lived after his entrance but 6 or 7 months, and they fay made them promife him to choofe none in his place till jkUde-brand came home to counfel them : (A great Subdeacon that RomemuA be ruled by.) But in the mean time the new Emperor being but five or fix years old,the great men of Italjr turned to the old game and brought in one by ftrength ('yJ/;«c//«j whom they called Benedict the loih. alias 9th. a Bifhopj he reigned 9 months, 20 dayes. But when HUdebrand came home be got him caft our. This was the twenty firfl: fchifm in the Fapacie.

§ 18. Hildebrand's crafty counfel was to fend to the Emperor to .ftt).ioj9. confentto Gerard Bifhop of Florence whom they chofe in Italy and called Nicholas the 2d. Left Bencdi^ fhould get the Emperor on his fide; and fo NichoLts made BsnsdiEl renounce and banifhed him : But how fhall we be fure which was the true Pope?

§ 19. This Pope's firft epiftle is to the Arch-Bifhop of Rhemes to zd-vi/e him to admonifh the King of France for refifting the Pope.

§ 20, CCCXLIII. The Pope's Council at 5«tn««» depofed 5f«ff<;//ff. § 21. CCCXLIV. ^n. 105-9. A Council of 113 Bifhof>s at Rome, they fay, made Bcrengarim recant, but not repent} but as '^oon as he came home he wrote againft them and their Dodrine.

§ 22. In this Counciljfaith P/^f;«4, the Pope niadea decree very profi--table to the Church of Rome.Bin. faith thefe were the words Ctranflated) {"p. 1666. Firfifiodbeingthe InfpeEior it is decreed that the cle£liov of the " Roman Bi(J:op be in the power of the Cardinal Bijloops: fo that if anj one be "inthroncd in the ^pofiolicl^feat, without the foregoing concordant and Ca-" non:cal eleRion of them, and after the confent of the Jellowing religions Or-C) But o- "'^^'■•f. Cleikj and Laitj, (*) he be not accounted ^pofiolical but u^pofla-thers fay, tical.']

zJieEmpe- Here it is much to be noted, i. That this is a new foundation of the fert"if" Papacy (by Hildebrand's Council) without which it was falling to utter waspu° confufion, How then doth.the Roman fed cry down Innovation and IB. boaft

their Councils abridged. , -yAg

boaft of Antiquity? 2. Either the Bifliop of ^ow^ is to be chofenas the Bifhop of that particular Church, and then the members of that particular Church fliould choofe him, or elfe as the Bifhop of the univerfal iu Church (pretendedly) and then the univerfal Church fhould choofe hyn. But the Cardinal Bifhops of other particular Churches are neither the particular Roman Church, nor the univerfal, nor their delegates: and fo have no juft 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 faid : If old, all the Popes that wereotherwife chofen were no Popes.

4. And if it be butnecefTary for the future, ail that after were other-wife chofen were no Popes,

f. If feveral wayes and parties or powers making Popes may all make them true Popes, then who knoweth which and how many ofthofe there are and which is the true Pope if ten were made at once ten ftvc-ral wayes?

6. This confeffeth that Chrift hath appointed no way for choofing Popes, nor given any fort of men power to choofe them: elfe what need Pope NichoLis begin it now anew? And if fo, it feemeth that Chrift never inftituted the Papacy: For can we fuppofe him fo Laxe a Legifla-tor, as to fay, a Pope fhall be made, and never tell us who fhall have power to do it. Then Er.gLindmiy choofe one, and France another, and Spain another,C^c.the Bifhops one,the Priefts another, the Prince another, and the Citizens another.But ifChrift have fetled a Pope- making power in any,it is either the fame as Pope Nicholas did,in Cardinal Bifhops, or nor* If not, the Pope changeth Chrift's inftitution: If yea, then all thofe were no Popes that were otherwife chofen, and ^6 where is the Ronaan Church and its fucceffion.

7. What power hath Pope Nicholas to bind his fucceflors? Have not they as much power as he? and fo to undo it all again? If the King fhould decree that his Kingdom hereafter fhall not be hereditary but e-ledive, and that the Bifhops fhould be the choofers of the King, were this obligatory againft the right of his heirs?

8. By this decree, if the Laity and Clerks confent not after, he is ftill no Pope.

§ 23. In this fame Council (faith 5;ff. ibid.) it was decreed [_" that

no one hear the Mafs of a Preshjter^ whom he t^non'eth undoTdtedly to have

a Concubine, or S»bi!:troduccd,Woman.'\ ^.tr. Whether ihey that make *"

' him a Schifinatick that goeth from a fcandalou?, wicked, malignant, or

utterly infufficicnt Pricft, and dare not commit the care of his foul to

K fuch a one, be not loofer than Pope Nicholas and this Roman Council

H. vvas.i*

V § 24. A Council at Malpkia and another at Paris for Crowning King

W Philtp, And or,e at faccaln Spain, of fmall moment,

ft § 25. ^n, 1061. Was the zzd. Schifin or two Popes of Rome, for

^ five

^ ^- o Chunh-Hifiory of ]^iJJ>ops and

five years continuance. The Cardinal Bifliops, for fear of the Emperor, cho(e one thjc wjs ftreat with him, yli.film Billiop of Luca .- but the ItaliAn Princes perCwadcd the Emperor that it was a wrong ro them and him, and cholc CjUoIhs Palavicinw Bifliop of Parma, Cjikd JJo>wri>4i ey the 2 J. The Sword was to determin Jte who was the true I'opc : Cu4oIm came with an Army to Ronte;tht Romanj, came out againft liim, and in the Field'jCalled A'ero's; .t orcat l>^tih-Qdk[i Plat ma) was fought, in which many of both fides fell, but Cad Ins was driven away> He fliorilj' returned «ith a great Army being called by a part of the Romans, that were men of pleafure, and by force feized on the Suburbs and St. Peter^s Church: But the Souldiers of6'o///*Y^ put his Souldiers to fight; and he himfclt" narrowly fcaped, the Prelecl: of Romc^s Sun with him breaking through the Romans got poflcffion of the Tower, where they befiegcd him till they ("breed him to yield, and buy his liberty of the befiegers for 300 pound of Silver. Then the Bifhop of Col-.n having the education of the young Em])eror came to Rome to rehuke Alexander as an Ufurper, but bv Hildebrand was fo overcome (that the choice belonged not to the Emperor) that he called a Council which confirmed yllexander and depofed Honorhts. The Emperor confented on condition that Cadolushe pardoned, and Gtbert (his promoter, Chancellor of Parma') made Arch-Bifhop of/v.zw««.^, which the Pope confented to and did. Thus then were Popes and Bifhops made.

^ How fhall we be fure,for Cadolfts''s five year5,who was thePopei'

§ 26. A woman called A<fathildis a Countcfs was then the great Patro-nels of the Papacy, who furnifhed military Hildebrand (that did all) with Souldiers to conquer feveral Great Men that oppofed them, and to fet up -Alexander and defend him.

§ 27. This Pope Alexander is faid by Bin. and Baron to judge King

Bin. p. Harold, of EngUud, an Ufurper, to difpofe of the Crown to IVilHam of

*'^'' Normandy, and declare him lawful SuccefTor, and fend him a Banner

that he might fight for it and pofTefs it. Thus did this Prelate give

Crowns and Kingdoms, as the fupreme judge (made by himfelf.j

He after required Rent (^Peter-Pence) from EnglandoHViIlium.

§ 28. He made fome conftitutions for his old Charch at Milan. Three thing are the fummeof them and many other Councils, i. Againft Simonie, 2. Againft t4ie Clergies fornication (no Canons cured them of either of thefe.) 3. That no Lay-Man judge any Clerk for his crimes: only if Priefts live in fornication he alloweth Lay-Men to tell the Arch-Bifhops, and if they will do nothine, then to withhold their duties and benefits till they amend. ('But this Pinnius noteth was but a temporary extraordinary concefTion, for the hatred that this Pope had to fornicating Clergy-Men.) But if they did but now and then lie vvith a woman by chance, and did not obf^inately ftill keep them, they muft not fo trouble them,

§ 29.

their Cotwcils ahricked. ^ 5

e>

§ 29. CCCXLV. The forefaid Cadolus or Hor.oruu 2d. was fetled Pope by a Council at Baftl^An. 1061. where, Gy fome, many SimoniacaF, incontinent, wicked Bifhops decreed that no Pope fhould be made but out of Italy (which they called Paradife, that \?,Lombardy.)

§ 30. CGGXLVI. A Council at Oi^ir/«w, An. 1062. contrarily condemned him and fet up Alexander. Though before Vlatina faith that Cifalpini omnes all on the Romans fide of the Alpes obeyed Honorlus except Mathildis a good woman,

§ 31. Here Binnius thought a Dialogue of Pet. D.tmiai worthy to be infcrted, to prove that Princes may not make Bifhops of Rc/k-. In which he would prove that the Decrees that gave the Emperor fuch power may be changed, becaufe God doth not alwaifs perform his own word for want of mans duty ; And he faith, that Tome men have been finners .^ and perilhed for obeying Gods own Law, and fome rewarded for breaking itj which he proveth by a profane quibble.i In fydas; as if Chrifts yvovds what thmt dofi do quickly, had been a command redo the thing. 2. In the Rcchabites that drank not Wine when ^fr.-w^bade them; As if Gods Command to prcmji to try them, had been bis Command to them to do ir.

A Council was at Ayragon''\x\ Spain for we know not whar,

§ 32. CCCXLVII. An. 1063. PtftrBifhop of Flcrena being accu-fed of Herefie and Simony, and depofed, a Council at Rome renewed "^ Pope NicoUs 2d'». Canonj,not to hear Ma(fe of a Prieft that liveth with a Concubine or introduced woman: To excommunicate Simoniack?, 6~c.

§ 33, CCCXLVII. In a Council at .(l/rf'.fw.j (to quiet fome that yet took Cadolus's part and accufed Pope Ah.v.mder of S/wc«;) Alexander is owned, and C.i^»/».r,not apjearing, caftoutjwho after tryed ir out (as is itforefaid) by an Army.

§ 34. CGCXLIX. In a Council at Darcclm the Sp.iniards abrogated their old Gothifli Laws and mode new one?, but would not change the GothiOi Church rires : Here alfo Alexander was owned,

§ 3 J. An. 106^. A Council was at ^cwf againft inceft.

§ 36. Another for the fame, the former not prevailing,

§ 37. In a Synod at Winchefler, Wiiliam the Conq'xror puts down and imprifons BilTiops and fers up others, for his own intereft.

§ 38, CCGL. A Council at J/iv;?;:, was to have feparated the young Emperor and hisQiieen, but the Popes Legate Jiindred ir.

§ 39. CCCLI. In a Council at Mcntz. the Bifhop of Cfl-/arff is caft out for Simony and many crimes ; the Empercr being for him.

§ 40. An. 1072. They fay an Englifh Council fubJKftcd Torl^Ko Canterbury zr\A owned Woljtan Bifhop of frjrcfy?fc accufed for being unlearned as he wa«.

§ 41. CCCLII. An. 10-3. In a Council at Erford the Emperor goc the Bilhops to fultil his will about fome Tythe?, threatening ihem that appealed to Rome, § 42.

k

\y~

Chu-ch-Hifloy) of 'Bijhops md

^ 4Z. Now Cometh in the Foundation of the new Churcii oi Rome, Ilildebrund called Grcgcry 7th. yln. 1073. a man of Great wir, and for ought 1 find in the molt probable Hiftory not guilty of the grofs immoralities, or fenfuality of many of his predecefforsj but it's like blinded with the opinion which thePjpifts Fifth-monarchy men have received rand C,m;p.welhde regno Da opened and pleaded for>f;z..that Chrifts Kingdom on earth confifkth in the Saints judging the world, that is, the Pope and Prelates ruling the Kings and Kingdoms of the earth, he did with grcateft animofity fet himlelf to execute his opinions. And withal, the Yadions of Rome and tyranny of their petty Princes and Whores and debauched Citizens, having long made the Papacy the fcorn of the world and the lamentation of all fober Chriftians, conftrained the better part to beg help from the Emperors againft debauched monftrous Popes and their upholders: And by this means fometimes the choice fell into the Emicrors hands, and fometimes wlien they were.far otT, the City-prevailing-part rebelled, and chofe without them, or pulled down them that the Emperors fet up: And then the Emperors came and pulled down the Anti-Popes, and chaftifed the City fadion; and thus between (O* the ItJi.i)} and the German powers the City was a field of war, and the richer by bribes, and the ftronger by the fvvord, how monftrous villanies fbcver were fet up. It was no wonder then if Hildebrand firft by Pope Nicholas 1. and Alexander and then by himfclf did refolve to run a defperate hazard, when he had two fuch great works at once to do, as firft to recover the debauched and fhattered fhamed Papacy from this confufion, and then 10 fabdue all Kings and Kingdoms within their reach to fuch a Prieji-King as was then under fo great difgrace. And r;i» dabo claves muft do all this,

§ 43. Hildebrand however had the wit to fettle himfelf at firft by feeking the Emperor's confent: And being fettled he got ^gnes the Emperor's mother and Guardian moftly on his fide. He then began ro c\i\m prefent at ions and inv eft it arcs and to take the power over the Bifll-ops out ef the Emperor's hands, and to threaten him as Simoniaca), and for commanicating with the excommunicate. The Emperor after fbme treaty fubmitted, and was reconciled to the Pope; but the Pope.faid he did not amend. The Pope calls a Council at Rome, where he excommunicated Simoniacks, openly faying that he would excommunicate the Emperor unlefs he amended. Gmbert Arch-Bifhop o{Ravenna being there accuftth the Pope for fuch threats againft the Emperor, and got Cm-ciits the Prefeft's Son to apprehend him itnd impnfon him. The People rife up in arms and deliver the Pope, and pull down Cincius's houft to the ground, and cutting otf their nofes,bani(h his family out of the City. Cir.cins got to the Emperor. (j«;^«rf. Arch Bifhop o{Ravenna, Theobald 5^ Arch-Bifhop oi Milan, and moft of all theother Bifhops on that fide the

.^lp:s confpire againft the Pope. (And yet they (ay that all the world were his fubjeds.) He calls another Synod of his own Bifhops (for Synods-

_, *

thciy Councils abridged. 7 <• ?

nods were ftill the great executioners) where Gilbert and Hifgi Tone of his Cardinals that was againft him) are depofed and curft fiom Chrift. This Emperor alfo calls a Council at M'cifwf/.where by the means of Sigi-fred Arch-Bifliop of A/.s/i, it is decreed that no man in any thing obey the Pope of Rome. Roland a Clerk is lent to Rome to command the Pope 'CD to meddle with the government no more, and the Cardinals are commanded to foxi^ikt Gregory and feek for another Pope. Now the War began between the Sword and the Keys. Gregorj by lentence depofed the Arch-Bifhop of/t/^«f2., and the other Clergy that were for the Emperor j and he Anathematized the Emperor himfelf, having firft deprived ^ him of all Reg.tl Power and admiuijiratioti (as far as his decree would do ir.) The form of his curfe and depofition Platina reciteth, where are thefe Wordy[" I cafi him down from his Imperial and Regal yidminiflr.itioi:; " ^nd I abfolve all Chrijlians Subjc[l to the Empire, from that Oath, bj " which they hxve ufed to fwcar Fidelity to tru: Kingt: For it ii meet that <^ "he be deprived of dignity, who endeavoureth to diminifio the Aiayfly »f *' the Chnrch.'\ (Mirk O ye Kings and be wife.)

Some told the Pope that the Emperor fliould not be fo haftiiy Anathematized : To whom he anfwered, " Did Chnfl except Kn-gs when he " faid ro Peter [_Feedmy Shetp ? wh:n he gave htm the Power of binding and loofcing, he excepted none from his powir."]

The Emperor wrote Letters to many Chriftian Princes and States to acquaint them with the Pa])al Injuriesj and the Pope wrote his accofati-ons of the Empercr and his own Juftihcarion. The Empire was prefent-ly all inDiviHon. One part was for the Emperor, and another for the Pope : Motl of the Bifliops of Germany obeyed the Emperor, and fome were againft him, as excommunicate. Some Councils were for him, and fome againft- liim. And, as yibbas Vrfp-irgen/is faid, they did fo often fvvear and forfwear according as Power and Intereft moved, one time for the Emperor, and another againft him, that Perjury was become a common thing both with the Bifhops and the Laity. He t'lat will fee the many treatifes that Leained men then wrote for the power of Prixe.^ againft the Papal tyranny and rebellion may find them in the Voluminous Colledions of Michael Goldafi.u de A^onarchm,

The party that obeyed the Pope cholc another to be Emperor, Ro-dulph Duke o^Sitev:a : The Emperor requircth the Pope to Evcommu-nicite Rodulph: He refulcth : The Emperor Culleth a Council of Bifliops at Brixia: They depofe the Pope, and make Gib:rt of Ravenna Pope called Cietneut the jd. who, faith Onuphnus, fare, 21 years, lb long had Vhev two Popes, at this 23d. Schifm or doubling. jt^

But did the Emperor nothing to prevent all this.? Yes, at ihe motion ''^

of the German Princes to avoid contention, he made an O.ith to ask-the Pope forgivenefs, if the Pope would ccme into Germany. The Pope on his way fearing that the Emperor coming toward him with an Army would apprehend him, turned back again, and betook hiin to a firong s . Z 2 City

J 5 ^. Church-Hijlory of (B'tjhops and

City of his Patronefs one Alathildts a woman: The Emperor with his Army travelled to him, and came to the Gates of the City ; and in a 05. great and (harp winter froft, putting off his Royal Ornaments, came barefoot to confcfs his fault and ask forgivcnefs of the Pope. The Pope would not futfer him to come in j He patiently ftayed three djies in tiie Suburbs continually begging pardon, and the Citizens moved with Compairion; At laft the woman Mathildis, and ^Vf/^/a S^ro/Earl, and the Abbot of Chmy became petitioners for him, and prevailed for mercy with the Pope, and he was abfoived and reconciled to the Church, having fworn a peace and promifed Obedience.]

I give you the words of Platina all along. And now whether Hilde-hrand or Henry was the better man in common morals, I that knew themnor,muft refer you to the Hiftorians of that age, of whom fome extol the Pope and depreciate the Emperor, and others honour the Emperor, and deeply accufe the Pope ; But if an Emperor that travelled fo far into another Country, and put off his ornaments, and with his Army waited three dales patiently in the Suburbs of a womans City barefoot in a great froft, begging mercy and pardon of a Prieft before he could be let in, and after tliisfw.'-p obedience to him, I fay. If this Prince did not yet iufficienrly fubmir, but deferve to be turned out of his Empire, j^ though at the colt of blood and defolation to the innocent Countries, it will be hard to know when the Obedience and Submiffion of Kings is enough to fatisfiean ambitious Prelate.

But the Popes Hiftorisns fay that the Emperor brake his Covenant. Ic is a hard thing for a King that promifeth Subjedion and. Obedience to a Pope to be fure to keep his word, unleft he foreknew what would be commanded him : when he-hath taken away his Power and Kingdom by parts, he may command his life. It's a great doubt to me, when God hath made Princes the Rulers of Prelates, and Procurators of his Church, whether it be not a fin againft God and their undertaken office, for thefe Princes to caft off this truft and work, becaufe a Pope or Prelate claimeth it. The Pope ftill charped him with facriledge. But I doubt he expounded his meaning when he depofcd him for dimimpnng the Majefi^ of the Church, that is, of the I'ope and Prelates.

To proceed in the Hiftory; In the 3d. or 4th. battle it was that Rodulph was fiain ; and It was the Popes denial to difown or excommunicate ^0-' dulph after fo low a fubmifTion of the Emperor, that enraged Henry^ and made him think of ano'.her remedy than to be a Prelates flave. The Pope called all the Bifhops that cleaved to the Emperor/(•^/Vjowr.He con-^ demneth ^c/.i3ia( the German Legate and fendeth into Germany Legatesi _^ of his own with a Mand.imus, We corr.mr.nd that no Ktng, ylrch-BiJhop,

\ ^ BiJJjop, Dttks, £(i-l, Mar(jr(fs, or Knight dare rcfjl our Legates, &'C, ■

i And the Penalty to the difobedicnt is terrible, viz,. [\Ve accurje himfrom-i

^y Chrijt, and take from him his part of P^iilory by Arms."] Sure if Popes ■ had the power of Vidoryj they need not 16 oft have fled to Caftles, noc

their Councils ahrldied.

?55

to have rid on an Afs with the face backn^ard, nor to have futTered iv/jar many of them have done. All this be doth, \_Interpofita Dei et B. Petri author it at e^^na nulla potefi ejfe mjjor.^ Did Peter evcr think that his name would ba\-e thus fubdued Emperors and Kings?

The Pope again in a prayer to God and St.Peter reciteth the id. Pfalm, and telleth them how the Emperor would caft otf his yoke, and again curfeth him from Chrift, and depofcth him from all his Government, and abfolrethall hisSubjeds from the Oatb of Obedience; faying, that '^ "he that may bind and loofe in Heaven hath power to takeaway on " Earth, both Empires, Kingdoms and Principalities, and whatever "men have to give or take away: If we Judge the ruling Angels, how '^mMch more their Serv.ints> Therefore (faith he to the Bif:pps) Let Kn:gs ^'and all fccular Princes%fidey fiand by the example of this man, how great "piir power is in Heaven^ ana how much Cod efieemeth you, and let them *'fe.ir hereafter to breaks the commands of the Ch-Tch."} Pafs this fcn-" fence prefemly on Henry, that all m.tj underhand that this Son of iniquity "fell not from his Kingdom bj Chan:e, hut by your endeavor.'^ Plat. p. i8o.

Rodnlph being killed, the Rebels fet up the Emperors Son, a Lad, a-gainit his own Father: But at thatprefent he was quieted, and the Emperor went with an Army into Italy, and firft Conquered the Army ot Alatbtldis the Popes Patronefs, and brought his own Pope Clement the 3d. to the Chair, and was crowned by him : He bcfiegcd Gregory in the Caftle : Grrifcard, a Norman cometh with an Army to fight for the Pope : The Citizens refift him, (the Emperor being drawn out to Sens.) Cui/i;ard burnt and deftroyed that part of theCity which is between the Laterane and the Capitol, and took the Capitol and deftroyed it. He gave the prey of the City to his Souldiers, and delivered Gregory and carried him away to Cajfinum and Salcmum, where he dyed, having reigned 12 years. £/«. faith, that//irwr;'befieged Rome three years before he took it. When Robert Cmfcard had delivered the Pope, he de-pofed (^cjuantum in fe) all the new Cardinals made by Clement 5. and curfed the Emperor again. Gregory himfelf faith that Italian, French^ and Germa'i B.fhops were for the Emperor, and they were alfo for Clement 3. How {hall we know then which was the true Pope.?

§ 44. No Itfs than ten Books of///We/ni;;^'s Epiftles are added by ' Bhmus to his life. Moft of them'for the Papal Intereft. In ///'. 2. Ep. j. He talkethofP/j./// King of fr4»« as he did of the Emperor, faying he was no King but a Tyrant, and declaring that he was refolved to take his Kirgdom from him if he did not amend his wicked life. One of his '£0 trimes was refifting the Pope that would fet Bifhops in bis Kingdom 'vithout bis confent.

Ept(t. 13. He tells So/(7»>,3» King of Hrt»^47, that his Kingdom is the

propriety of the Church of Rome, devoted to it by King Stephen ; and

t^ fepioveth him for diminifliing theRoman Kingdom, by accepting //««-

J 5 6 Chwcb-Hijhryof Bijhops and

gary as from theCerinanSiand exhorts him to repent and amend.

Epijf. 18. He again threacneth the King of France to cut offfrom the Church, both iiim and all ihatgive him any Me^al Honour or Obcdi-ence (O heinous crime ! to keep ihe yth. Commandment and Rom. 13. 1,2,3.) uind thut this €XCcmmy.nicationfr.\tU be oft confirmed t^f on Sr. Peter's ^It^ir.']

Epift. 28. He fufpends (^Ka.tuminfe) the Arch-Bi(hop of 5rfj»f as an Enemy to the Church of^owcand for hindering his Lcgj res from gathering a Council, and refufing to come to Rome to anfwer ir.

Epijt. 32. He calls the King of France a ravening Wolfi and unjafl Tyrant.

Many great perfons he forced to feparate after Marriage, becaufe tl:iey were in the fourth degree of Conianguinity.

Ep:fi. 51. He tells the King of Df«»».ir,^,that not far from Rome there was a Province poffeft by vile and Jluggijh Heretickj, and defireth him to fend his Son with an Army to conquer them. What Province he mean-ctb, I am not certain ; unlefs it was the Vi'aldenfes. cj" § 44. Reader, we are greatly beholden to Binniiu who hath recorded, as Oracles, 27 fentences called THE POPES DICTATES, by which you may partly know what Popery is.

1. " That the Roman Church was founded only by our Lord,

2. " That only the Bifhopof Rome is rightJy called Univerfal.

3. " That only the Pope can depofe Bifhops and reconcile them.

4. "That his Legates muft prefide in Councils, though they be of " inferior degree, before all Bifhopsj and may pafs on them the fenten-"ce of depofition.

5. " That the Pope may depofe thofe that are abfcnr.

6. " Thatwi'[h thofe that are excommunicated by him, among other " things, we may not dwell in the fame houfe.

7. " That to himonly it is lawful to make new Laws for the necefllty " of the time j and to congregate new people ; of Canonical to make "an Abbatyj and contrarily to divide a rich Bifhoprick, and unite poor " ones.

8. " That only he may ufe Imperial Enfigns or Efcucheons.

9. " That all Princes muft kifs the feet of the Pope only.

10. «' That only his name may be recited in the Churches.

11. " That it is the one only name in the World.

12. " That if is lawful for him todepofcEmperor.e.

13. " That it is lawful for him in cale of necellicy to removeBilhops " from feat to feat.

14. " Tliac he may ordain a Clerk from any Church whither he *' witl.

If. "That one ordained by him may govern another Church j and '^ muft not take a fuperior degree from another Bifhop. «

i6. That

I

their Councils abridged. . j^y

16. ''That no Synod without his command may be called Uni-" verfal.

17. "That no Chapter, nor no Book may be accounted Canonical " without his authority.

18. " That his lentence may be recraifled by none : and he alone may *' retraft all mens.

19. " That he ought to be judged of no man.

20. "Thatno man muftdare to condemn any one that appcaleth to " the Apoftolick Scat.

21. "That the Greater caufes of all Churches muft be referred to " him.

22. "That the Roman Church never erred, nor,as the Scripture " witnefTeth, will ever err.

23. " That the Bifliop of Romr, if he be Canonically ordained, is un-"doubtcdly made Holv'by the merits of St. Peter, as Sz. Ennodius Bi-" fhopof P^/^M witneircth, and many holy Fathers confefs, as is con-" tained in the Decrees of Pope S)mm.ichns, ^

24. "That it is lawful for fubjedls to accufe by his Command and " licence.

2J'. " That he may depofeand reconcile Bidiops without Synodal mec-" ling?.

26. "That he is not to be accounted a Citliolick who agrceth not " with the Roman Church.

27. "That he may abfolve the Subjeds of unjuft men from fUe-" Lty.

Thefe are put by 5«>;. among Grr^or/s Epiftle?,/. 1196. as the Popes Diiftates. If I had not tranllated them from fuch an unquelVioned Author that followeth B.ironius, fome would have thou^hc ihcy had been but the forgeries of feme Proteftant accurer,and that ilie Popes have no luch tenents. What one is here that is notfalfc ? and how many of them are horridly arrogant? The reading of them would tempt a doubting man to think that the Pope is the Eldert Son of the Prince of Pride, exalting himfelf above all that is called God,and arrogating ChrilVs preroga-tives.and therefore Antichrilt.If any would know what Popery is;A great part of thedefcription is here given you by their greateft Pope himfelf, and by their chief Hil^orians.

§ 45. Much of his 4th Book of Ej)iftles is to require PrinceSjPrelate?, and People tofurfake the Emperor and choofc another, and to excommunicate all chat will communicate with him: yet in his mh. I'pifl. he recitech himrdf, how- lamentably with tears, three dayes in the frolt barefootjhe begged for pardon,and howthe compalTionaie People thought the Pope hard-hearted and tyrannical fur not yielding; and that at lalt two Ladyes and an Abbot overcame him to abfolVe him.

§ 46. Lib. 4. Epift. 28. He tells the Spjniards alfj that their Kingdom was St, Fcter's property: But why did he trouble hirjiiclf to lay

^ 258 Church-Hiflory of 'Bipcp and

claim ro particular Kingdoms ? Would net his claim to a!l the world ferve turn for the particulars ? *

Lik 5. Ep'fi. 4- He clameth the Ifle of Corfca.

§ 47. That it may appear that the prefumptuous ufurpations of the Pope were not confented to by many Bifhops, he oft complaineth that many Bifhops of France, Italy ^ and Gcrm.my were againit him: He abundantly chideth and threatneth feveral particular Bifhops for refilling and difobcying him. Lib. 6. Epift.^. be writeth thus to the Biftop o( Liege. (^" Having read the Letters of your Brotherhood, we did i:ot a lit-" tie \voi:der that jou wrote that which became yott not, in reverence of the " ^poftulic^jsat : but that yoH did with biting inveiiive reprehend me, for " abfolving your PariJIiioner, that lately came to m \ as if the ApofioUck^fcat " had not authority to bind and a'ofolve whomfoever we will and wheresoever " we will: Know therefore that we are greatly moved againjl your temerity.'^

Indeed one of the tricks of the Papal ambition'was to be the Afylum of all wicked fugitives that fled from Church juftice in all Countries Bear them ; to fliew favour to ail condem'ifd finners that would but fly to Rome^ and appeal to them from the Juftice of their Paftors, yea, and of their Princes too,which made their friends to be rather many than good.

§ 48. And the Church of Rome was not yet rich enough with all the Principalities it had got : They ftill kept on the trade of enriching the Pope to fave their fouls. Binnius. p. 1233. honoureth us with a record among Gregory 7th. Epifiles, viz. Q" /» the name of the Father, Son and " Hvly Ghofi, in the 6th. year of the Fontificate of Gregory ^th. / Marro " Sonof G\f^tT dwelling in the Dukedont of Spoletane, for the Redemption " of my own and my Parents fouls do give ^ deliver and offer to St, Peter •■' Prince of the Apoftles, and on his Altar, all that belcngeth to me of the " Caftle called Moricicia, C~c.] Did Chrift think how eafily Rich men might befaved (by giving to the Pope in the name of St. Peter) when he faid. It was harder for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, than for a Camel to go through a JSfeedU^s Eye? j^ § 49. Lib.'j. Epifi. 3. He faith £"They that are Latinesdo all of them,

" exctpt a vtry few, praifc the caufe ofWtmy, and defend it, and charge me veithtoo much obstinacy and impiety againfi him.2 And if the Latines did fo, what did the Germans, French, &c ? You fee here that it was far from all the world that was fub;edt to the Pope, and took his part in his ufurpation?.

Epif. 4. He commandeth a General no more to fight againft the King of Dalmatia, as belonging to St. Pctery

§ JO. Yet this Pope doih teach them the truth againft deceitful pen-nance or repentance. Lib, 7. Ep:fl. lo. viz. [}Ve fiy that it is a fruit Ufs " pcunancc, when men remain in the fame fault, or in the like, or in a worfe ^ " or in one little lefs: He therefore that will worthily repent, mifl have re-ccarj-j to the Original of his Faith, and i>s folicito/.'s Wiitchfully to l^ep that

which

their Councils abridged. ^ ^ p

" rvf>icb in his Baptifm he promifed, viz. to renounce the Devil and his "pomps and to belteve in Ccd, that is, thinkjng righti]i of htm, to obey his " Commands.

§ 51 Epift. II. He tells theDuke of 5tf/jfw/4 that it iscuftomarilj' 2nd doubtfully that he faluteth him wiih \_^pofioliCAl Beucdiition.'] Ecc.-ir:je " he commiiiupafcdwith the excommunicjtte : ^»dhe denietb his rctjnefi of " "I'"i, "^ tra'iflating the Divine Service or Ojfccs into the Sclavoni.vt -tD " tongue; becaufe there Wire many myfieries in it. Thus come up the Prohibition to the pcopiee, to pray underftandingly.

EpiJK 14. He abfolveth the Bifhop of Liege from an Oath becaufe, lie took it by force : And commandeth him to rife up againft the impofer with all his power, he being St. Peter's enemy.

Epifi. 21. He tells the King of Denmark^ of an ill cuftom among them, that whatever ill weather or calamity befell them, they imputed all to the ;// lives ofFrieJls. 'tB

£pifi. 2j. He te'ls our K'mgWilliam the Conqueror that feeing he was on his fide, t.id is charged by fome with all his bloodfhed, that now he muft be very obedient to him as his Fuftor, and Peter's Succellbr,

And Epifi. 25-. He tells them that the Papal or Apoftolick power is greater than the Kingly .1 d muft rule it, as the Sun is greater than the Moon.

Lib. S.Epifl.i. He laments the Corruptionof the Church in-/frOTfWM: "[i, Bccaufe thej mixed not Water with Wine in the Sacrament, when all " men ^lo.v that Blood and Water came from the fide of Chrijl. 2. Bccaufe "tD " the)! mide not their Chryfm of Balfom, l^ut of Butter. 3. Becatifc they " honoured the memory o/Diofcorus.^ O what Herefies'.

Pag. i25'4. in B>;;. There is an Oath that Robert Duke of ^pitlia, Calabria and Sicily to be true to the Pope, and defend him as holding all thele from him ; and there is the Popes grant of them to him, laying claim alfo to his other dominions 5 thedenyal of which he patiently bca-reth at theprefcnt,

§ p. But left you think that at leaft the Kingdom of Spain was fi?:^ all this while to the Church of Rome, Lib. 8. Epift. 2. He wrireththus himftlf. [" By the Letters of my Legate Richard Abbot of Marseilles " yoH may k^r.ow how gre.it impiety is gone out of your Afon.ifiery (o/Cluny) " by the prcfnmptton 0/Robert a Alonl^, who imitating Simon Magus, " feareth not to rife up againji the .Authority of St. Peter, with all the craft " of his maUgnity, and to reduce by hisfuggeflion into their old error an liun- ^-3 M dred thouland men, who by our dUigence eegan to return to the right wajQ f J t he hopes that the Abbot thinks as he, for the honour of the Roman ^ urch. Hechargeth the Abbot to caft out this man that had fo en-'j ngrcd Spain, adding [" Andby your Letters diligeiuly acquaint the '* King who is deceivec

ng who is deceived by his fraud, that he hath greatly provoked St. Peter's wrath and indignation againft him, and his grievous Revenge iJgainft him ar>d his Kingdom unlets he repent, bccaufe he undecently

hars'-i-

«->

" hanJlecTa Let;are of the Roman Church, and believed falHiood rather " than truth. Of which that he may worthily make fatisfaftion to God " and Sr. Peccr, as he bath difgraced our Legate, fo let him by due humility and condign Reverence, make himfclf commendable and devour. " For we think meet toOgnifie to him by you, that we will cxccmmu-cO- " nicarehim ifhe correft'nor hisfauir, and will folicite all the faithful ' in the parts of Spain to his confufion : And if they be not obedient to " my command, I will not think much to travel into Sfiin my felf, and " there to endcdvour dora et ^fpera, Tuims h.ir^i an/ifiarp agat>ift him as "an enemy of theChriftian Religion.] O brave Pope ! had not thefe men " a notable Knack or hap that could fit and talk down Emperors, and Kings, and fiibdue and dilj)0(e of Kingdoms, by fitting at home and talk-ifig l^'g. 3nd telling them that St. Pff^rwas a^gry with them?

And who was this King but the great Alfonf-ts, to whom he writeth himfclf, Ep:ft. 3. to put away his evil counfellors^and hearken in all things to the Popes Legate, Richard ?

§ J'5. Epift. 6. I. 8. He comm.'.ndeth Souldiersto help Mkhid the Emperor of Ci/i/^wr againft the Ufurper, to make himfelf judge, and get an intereft again in the Empire : But in vain.

§ 54. Epi^. 7. He declareth that divers Princes having fworn and promiled him help, he relulvcd to ccme with an Army to recover .^<«-vcma to the Church.

Epift.^. He rejoyccth that they had newly found St. Aluttbcxv's bodr, and bids them now take him joyfully for their patron. Thefe are the grounds of PopiflT fnperftition : The body ofSr. Matthew xh^t preached 05" to the Abajp.n-s in another part of the worId,is found at Salcr>w in Italy, a thoufand years after he is dead. O that one knew how to be lure that it was his bodj',and how it came thither ! Divers fuch findings they glory in.

§ 55. Epifl. 10. He writeth to OiZ-oc^/.'; Prince of Cm(»V' J or S^r,^/-nia, to require him as a note of his obedience to St. Peter and concord with the Church of Rime, whofe ufe it is, to let his Arch BifTiop fhave o5" his Beard, and to command all the Clergy of his dominion to fhave their Beards; and if they obey not, to force them to it, or exclude thern. And to be (ure of fiicccfs he lets him know, (how truly I know not)! that many Princes importuned him ro give them leave to invade his Coi;,n-frey, but fthis righteous ruling Pope) denied leave to them ail, till he had tryed whether he would obey him, which if he would do, he would' not only deny them leave to invade him^ bur alfb prorecft him. Reader, think here. 1. Whether Princes held not their kingdoms loofcly when tlicy where to lofe them if they obeyed not the Pope in fo finall a thing as the fliavingof a Prielis Beard.2.Whether it were not a hard tiling for the Cutiicilick Church then to have concord, when fo fmall a difference fO" as they?«z</,;g or «(•!■/^z/wg of Beards were put into tl.eir terms of Uni-

cn

their Councils abrichcd. \ ■> A

-■■ ■ -• — - - . — . -

en and Peace? Who were the Schifmaticks then? was it not the makers and impofers of fucb laws and terms f 3. Is it not a high power that is claim-med by Popes, when no Prieft in all the Chriftian world may have Co 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 pftrjes ? 4. May way we not fee here on what weighty reafons, thefe men condemn God's word of infufficiency, and plead for traditions, and a neceflity of their additional Laws ? When Scripture hath left out the (having of mens Beards, and we had never had fuch a Law, if fuch power as the Papal had not made it ? O what difcord and difbrder would there be in the Church if we had not Co necelTary a government! and what con-fufion would toleration introduce, if mens Beards were left at liberty! But if P<i;*/called the heathen Phylofophy ram and {^Science faffy fa named.'] i Tim. 6, 20. as befooling the world with pedantick trifling.and calling them off from their great concernes, may we not fay then that this is vain Government and Order jj^jlji fo named, which thus calleth the Church from its primitive purity,^mplicity and unity, when Chriftians were known by loving one another, to thefe childifh games, that the Prelates and Priefts of the Catholick Church rauft be known by their being without Beards? One would fufpeft this had its owg'nal from Pope 'foune, if there were indeed fuch a pcrfon j and that it is a Symbol of the Churches fcx, as it is called Our Atcther; or at Icaft that Maro2.ta or Theodora inftituted it. 5. And do you know which were the more inex-cufable, for filencing and perfecuting the preachers of the Gorpel/" The 'fexvs that did it becaufe theyithought it took down Gods Law,and would bring the Roman Power on them; Or the Roman heathens that thought theGofpel deftroyed the worfhip of their forefathers Godsjor the Roman Papift?, that filenced and perfccuted men for wearing Beards?i Tbef.i.if,.

§ 56. Epift. 11. When fome French Preachers had revived Religion in * Sweden; the Pope, defirous to reap where they had fowcd, (ends to the King oC Sweden, to tell him his ;oy; and that what the French taught them they recicved from Rome^ and (0 defire him to (end one of his Bifhops to Rome, to acquaint him with their cultoms, and to receive his Laws and Mandates. You fee by what means R^me was raifed.

Epijl-. 15. A Bifhop gave up his Bi(hoprick : The Pope chides him and commands him to a Monal^eryjRather than do fii,hc returneth to his feat again: The Pope chargeth him with the Idi.lol.ttrisfceliis the Crime of Idol.itry, for not obeying him; and writes to them nor to recicve him or be ruled by him, as ever they loved the Grace of God and St. Peter.

The like he doth, Epifi. 16. by the dilbbedient Bifliop oC Narton, and Eptft. 17. by the di(bbedient Arch Bifhop of Rhcmes, and Epif}-. 18. 19, 20. of the fame ; and all this in St. Peter''s name. Yea Epifi. 20. he requireth the King of Fr.iKce (PhiLp) to ioyn againlt the Arch-bifhop of Rhtmes a« excommunicate, as evf-r he would have St. Peter's Grace, becaufe his Kingdom and hts Soul were in St, Pctcrh po,\er. And it is no

A a a wonder

/ —

wonder that they that believe that the Pope is St. Peter's, Vicar and Secretary, and that their fouls are in his power, will give him all their Lands or Kingdoms to ^\sc their fouls.

§ ^7. When the Popefentcnced the tmperor Henry to be excommu-nicdte and depofed,and was charged to have done this without authority, he wrote his ai £/>//?. /. 8. to the Bifhop of Mctz. to prove that he had power to do it; and to abfolve his Subjeds from their Oaths of fidelity; faying, that the Scriptures were full of cei-tain documents to prove it. And his certain documents are Til^i dubo CUves, &c. and Feed my Sheep; ^nd Kings are not excepted, 'they are St. Pcter^s Sheep. Bin. p. 1^62. he faith, that the Head of Pnefis is at the right hand of God ; bat who l^toxveth not that Kings and Dukjs had their beginning from them that h'^vt Hof God, and iifjtiled by blind luji and intolerable preemption to domineer over 0-thers, the Devil the Prrncj of thz world aUing them, in Pride, Rapines, Perfidioufijefs, Murders and all wickednefs? who -while they would have the Priefis of the LORD to ficop to theii^ooifteps, are rightlyejl compared to him who IS head of all the Sons of priW,who faid even to Chrifi, All this will J give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worfhipme. Who donbtcth but that the Priefis ofChriji arc th; Fathers and Mafiers of Kings and Princes, and of ail the faithful? And is it not notorio lu miferable madnefs for a Scholar to endeavour tofiibjugate his Mafier, and a Son his Father, and by wrongful obligations to fubjeit him to his power, by whom h: bclieveth that he may be bound or loufed both in Earth and Heaven?Did not Pope Innocent excommunicate Arcadius the Emperor? and Pope Zachary Jepsfe front his Kingdot» the King of France^not fo much for his inicjuities, as becaufe he was not meet for fo great power-, placed Pepin in hisftead, and abfolved aH the French from tue Oath offidslity? Ambrofb Jl.'eweth that Gold is not fo much more pretious th.in Lead, as the Pricfily Dignity is higher than the Kingly Power. Pag. 1263- Tea even th-exorcifls have power over Devils: Haw much more over thofc that are Subject to the Devils, and are his members? And if the exorcifl expel fo much, how much more.the Priests? And every King when he Cometh to his end, d'/th humbly and pitifully beg the Priefis help, that he may fcape the prifon of Hell,and Darknefs, and at the judgment of God be found abfolved. But is there either Friefi or Laj-man that when he is dying begs help of the King for the faving of his foul? What King or Emperor can by his Office, take a foul by baptifw from the power of the Devil, and number him with the Sons of God, and fort ifie him with holy Chnfm? And (which is the greateft thing m the Chriftian Religion) can with his o-.vn mouth mak^ Chrifts body and blood? Or which cf them can bind andloojetn Heaven and earth'' By all which it may be plainly gathered by how great power the facer dotal dignity excelleth. TVhich of them can ordain one Cler^ in the holy Church? How much lefs can they depofe him for any fault? For in orders exclefiafiical, to depose IS an acl (f greater power than to ordain: For Bijhopsmay ordain Bi' f'oops, but m no wijc depofe tkem without the authority of the Apoflolick^feati Who then that hath any l^nowlcdg can doubt but that Priefis are preferred before

i>

fore Kings ? In a word, we mttfl ^novv that all goodChrifliara arc mere fit- V) And ly Kings than evtl Vnnces: For thcfe l>y feek^ing the Glory of Cod dojhcnu- ff*^ ^''^' ettjlf rule themfelves : Bat the other [eekjrg their oven, ar.d hehg eremies to ^l^to themfelvesdo tyrannically opprcfs others: Thefe (good Chrifti.iKs^ arc the hcdy that ruJc ofChrifi. The other (bad Princes) are the body of the Dcvil.Thc\c fa rule them- ihe felves, as that they fioall reign eternally with the higheft Empctor. But the ^}:^^^ power of the other brings them eternally to per ifo by ctrnuzl damiutien, with \ I ^^X the Prince ofdar^nefi, who is King over all the Sons of Pride. ^Ir.d it is not ofarcpro. to be wondered at that (*) bad YreUtes confent to an unrighteous Kinc,'\hom I'-'tc to o-for their ill got preferments by him, they love and fear, who Simouiac^llj or- ^y ^^''^ daintngany,do for a bafe price fell even God himfelf For as the ele& arc infcpc- pa'in^^t]-,c rabiy united to their head, fo the reprobate are pert inacic; fly corf derate a- Vonc ? gainfl the good with htm that is head of their militia.(**) Let Emperors and ^^) And Kings fee then how much the fmperial and Kmgly dignity is to be feared, in ^'"'-'there which very few are faved (b) and thofe than by Gcds mercy come to falvation "'(^pcs fa-are not made fo good (or eminent) at many of the p3or,the Spirit of Godbeino vca ? judge : For from the beginning of the world to thcfe times of curs, we find not (."' How /« all the amhentick^Scripture any Emperors or Kings whofe lives were fo ad<n-- '■"^^Pofcs ned with great (c) virtue and miracles,as were an innumerable multitude "/\vrouchi: the contemners ofthelVorld; though I believe that by Gods mercy many of them miracks/ have been faved: For to fay nothing of the ^pcflles and Martyrs, whit Empe- (•') It's ror or King,was ever famous far miracles, like Marrin,AnrIiony or Beredivftf ^^°"}^ ^^^ what Emperor or King did raife the dead? cleanfc the Lepers^, illuminate the wh"t'^^ Blind? Conftantinc o/f/owiwfTOi'r;,Thcodoriu5,Honoriu5;,CharIes, Lewis, thercafon propagator's of Chrtflian Religion, defenders of the Church, are praifed and ^-Jt wc honoured by the Church, but not noted to h.tve filmed with fuchglory of mi- u^^^j"" racles. Moreover to what Kings or Emperors names (d) are Churches or uiU Churches' tars dedicated', or hath the Holy Church appointed Aiaffes to be celebrated? or MafTcs het Kings and other Princes fear Ufl by hew much in this life they would be named tor preferred before other men, by fo m/ichthe more liable they be to eternal bur- '''C honor nings. As it is written: IVtfd. c. 6. Great men fh.ill be greatly tormented. °avc a^^ For they have as many men to be accountable for, as were Subject to them, few of (*) And if one religious m.m fitid it fo great a worl^toi^ep his own foul, bow '-^tc thar great a labour bclongeth to Frinces, for fo manf thoufa d fouls? (*) And ,y^^''^'^c dc-the judgment of holy Church fo bind a man for killing one; what will become \'^^-pQ^^ of them that for this worlds honour murder many thoiif.inds ? Who though (') Ah $hcy fometimc cry Mea Culpa/ev kjHing many, yet are glad at the heart for pnorFope the extenfion of their honow, and ari. not firry that they did what is done, nor ^^^^r} ^''^' that they l>ave driven their Brethren into Hell. f\v'* for

The left of the Epiftle exhurtcrh Kings ro avoid Pride and Tyranny: As nil the I cite it hiftorical'y to ftevv you the Spirit of Papacy, fo fas efi et ab hofte world or docen. There is fomewhat in if worthy the reinemberin?, that creatneft ^'^"'■';''» prove not pernicious to tiiemlelves and others, for want ofgoodnefs. thofc at • § 58. Bur fiirc tliele Papal arguments r*vocr not of infallibility : the/?wn-•Maynota mean wir difcem^ r. That goodne(« g,ivetli not right to pla-i-/'-^''^

A a a 2 CCS ^'^'^'^'^

Pope Z.I- ^^^ °^ Government without a call, elfe the bcft man muft be ahvays chary be- King ; And then what Pope had Title to his Seat? Right to Heaven, will iicvcd not prove a right to Kingdoms: Nor,e contra. Power to caft out Devils "°^ will not prove that theexorcift may caft out the King.norgive him Laws,

youufeto ^- ^^^^ though the King be a Scholar to a Grammarian, a Mufician, a fay that Phyficianfls it therefore abfurd that he be King over thefe Matters ? What Kincs arc though he muft obey his Phjfftcian for his life? May he not command r° 1 h ^'"^ Phyficianfor the common peace ? What though he cannot do that for the ^ which a Phyfician, a Mufician fc can do ? May he not rule them for all body. that? 3. What a difcontented mind hive fuch holy Prelates, that cannot be fatistied with their Title to Heaven, their Miracles, Sandity, Church-Keys G~c. unlefs they may alfo be above Kings, and have the fecular power alfo ? 4. And what caufehave Kings and States to look to them-' (elves, that are under fuch Priefts, where every Clergy man is their Mafter? And how many fuperiors then hath every Popifh King .? Even as many as he hath Prelates, Priefts or exorcifts. Yet I will confefs that if Princes had been as bad ftill as fome of them have been, and as fuch Popes pretended; and Popes and Prelate?, and Priefts had been z%Infallible, Holy, Wife and Peaceable as they have pretended, and had not proved the (hame of Religion and Incendiaries of the Chriftian World, info many generations, it would have tempted men ftrongly for the intereft of Religion and mankind, to wifh that all power had been committed to the Clergy, and that Campanellas Regnum Dei, or V ift-Monarchy, by Prieftly Government of the World, had taken place. But when their own hiftori-ans make fourty Popes together Monfters of wickednefs, and piety at the fame time to be tranflated to the Princes, this turncth our thoughts another way : Efpecially when we find ftill that a proud, worldly, wicked Clergy, are the great confounders of the World.

§ j9. Epift. 23. He fends to his Legates to demand of the King of 9^ France, xXux. every houfe do give a penny to St. Peter, if they take him for their Father and Pafior. It leemeth the Roman Peter muft have money. Rule and Honour of all the world, though he cry it down in others.

§ 60. Lib. 9. Ep. I. He fufpendeth the Arch Bifhop of KtrtH^u in Normandy, from confecrating any Bifhop or Pricft, or Church, becaufe he had not vifiied the Pope at Rome, when as men and women carne to him from the remoter parts of the Earth ; (The Pope loved much company, and loved not privacy fo well as I do.) and becaufe he had not fouc/ht his pallium ; though he wrote fubmifTively to him.

§ 61. Even this Pope Ep. 2. /. 9. ProfeflTeth to the King of Spain \jhat [a Lye is a fin though it come from a pious intention for peace j but in Priefis it is a kind of Sacriledg.'] And if fo, Priefts had need to take heed that they Lj^^e not, by fweanng, fub/cnbmg, declaring orprofeffing any fal-Poocd though a Pope ftiould command them.

§ 62. In the fame £/?. he congratulates that 5/»4;m received \\\s Order of fsrvice or Litttrgie, becAufe that which thry ftfed hitherto had fome things

comrnry^

Contrary to the Chrijiian Faith. What ? Was the old Spanifh Liturgy, 'ta hercfie?

§ 63. Ep. 3. /. 9. The Pope upon the death of ^oi^w//*/:-, fearing the Emperors coming into Italy, pretendeth that now all men advifed him to receive the Emperor, for peace, into his favour and mercy ; laying, that. almofi all the Italians were for him, and that his Patronefs Mathildis ivus counted ma^ by her own Subje^s, who would not fight for her and hint; and therefore fends to try whether he could get any help from others ; charging them to fee that the next chofen King be one true to St. Veta\ and to that end fends them an Oath of obedience to Saint Peter and his Ktcar which the King muft take.

§ 64. Ep. 4. He employeth his agents to engage the Norman Duke Robert to help him with an Army.

And Ep. y. His Legate having depofcd all the Bifhops of Normandy that refufcd to come to his Synod, he tells him that WHUam King of England, and Duke of Normandy, though he was not fo good as he fhould be,was more ufeful and better to theChurch than other Kings,and therefore muft not be offended, and therefore bids him rcftore the Bifhops: '^ andalfo to pardon (bme Soldiers, excommunicated for not paying tythcs, becaufe they muft not lofc the Soldiers.

Ep. 8. He writeth to the Duke of renice, by all means to avoid all excommunicate perfons, and their friendjl.yp and/.jyow left they came into the fnares of the fime damn.ition : For Anathema's were the arms by which he fubdued Emperors,and wastodo his work.

The like to others in other Epiftles. And Ep. 12. He brought one Count Berrr^M tofwear him fidelity, and to give him all his Countrey, and honour as Earl of Provence, and this for the pardao of his own and "^ his Fathers fins.

§ 6)-. Ep. 14. He congratulates to the Kings of the n/i^oths their converfion to Chriftianity ; but tells them they muft ofcfenJ to Rome for furthtr inftrudion.

How frequently he made Arch-BiAiops and Bifhops travel to him out ef other Kingdoms when his Legates wronged them, many other Epiftles (hew.

Ep. 17. The Norman Duke, Robert, acquaintcth the Pope with a Victory which he had got: He rcturneth him this anfrer, that he had but done his duty and now as it was Saint Peter that hadgtven him,this victory, if he would not make him angry, he mu^no-f i>ethankjfil to SaiKt Peter,and remember what he owed him, tohelp hiir. againft the Emperor, Henry, and all his other eneinie?,

§ 66. Ep.zo. He writes to the Arcb-Bifhopof Crf/.-.'frZ'/^^ th.Tt helud fhewed liimfelf guilty of difeiejiei.cc which t.< as IdJivry'm that he h.d not travelled to Roiue to viftt the Poj e when he commanded himjond ttlis himtb.tt if he come not by ^ll-Saints day n:xt he JImU be depofu ; jvr ma'ty wsak^menthat could fc.trce rife out of their brds,came from other much farther Countrcys: and \\e Jl:ouid lofe Saint Peter's grace if he failed (^nrni^ they do lo alfo from the Antipodes?) Epijl.zz.

Ep. 22. He tells the Count of u4ngters (or-r^;-;;//) that he (hould hitve obeyed the femenceof his Bi/hop, though it w^s finjujh. And fo every wicked Prelates povvcr over Princes and all others (lull be abfolure.

He flattered our King WiiUam the Conqueror r.^.ore than other Kings j 'but f/J. 2- /. u. He comphiineth of his punifhing a Bifhop, telling him that God takcth thera as the apple of his eye, and faith,Touch not mine anointed; and though they are naught and very iinn-orthy they mult be honoured, and being called Gods, men malt not meddle with them.

Ep.\.y4pp:tjd.(Br,).p.ii'j8)hc tells Lanfran/^hrch-Bittwpoi'Canter^sirj, how far the Church was from purity in hisdays ; vtz.. that [77:1^Bifhops iwd fuchasPoouLl be Paflorsof Souls, do with irfittable dcjire hunt ajterthe CloY) of the WorUiyinA the pleafures of the fieji:. And do not only themfelves confound nil things that are holj and rtitgioiisjiut bj their example dr.tw their Sutjicls to allnickedncfs; Andthat tolet them alone is unlawful, and to refifi _• thc>» bow difficult 1

So much of the Epiftles of Greg. 7th. who feemeth to be much more againft vice than his predeceflbrs for many ages, but more for tyrannical ufurpation and rebellion than ever any that was before him: And if the better fort of them be fuch, what may be expefted from them?

§ 67. CCCLIII. An. 1074. In a Council at .^c;wf Priefts were forbid marrying, and all that were married commanded to put away their Wives: The Arch-Bifhop of ^/f»/x. trying to do the fame in Gcjtw.w/, the whole p-nty of the Clergj (faith Lambert, an. 1074 ) raged againft it, and called the Pope a downright Heretickf/?4f oppofedChriJh Law, who {orhid putting awayWives e.\cept for fornication, fiymg, all men cannot receive this faying; and as driving men to fornication : They went from the Synod, and feme were for cafling cut the Archbijhop of Mentz. and putting him to death : But he fpake them fair. But the Pope went on.

§ 68. CCCLIV. In a Synod at Ccncfius, the Popes Legate and Aafelm L»cf»/. excommunicated many thathad been againft^«/ir/w: whereupon the whole City was enragqd, andforfook Mathildis, and Joyned with the Emperor, and expelled the Bifhop, one Peter Sl Canon leading them,

§ 69.CCCLV.^».io75. a Council at Rome excommunicated five of the Emperors Family; unlefs they travelled to Rome and made fatisfacflion : It excommunicated FhiUp King of France MVi\tk he fatisfied the Nuntii of the Pope : It fufpended the Arch bifhop of Bremr, the Bifhop of Strasbc.rg, the Bifhop of Spire, the Bifhop of Bamberge, and in Lomburdie the Bifhop of Papia, the Bifhop of Tunne, the Bifhop of Placentine^ and alfo Robert Duke of Apulia, and Robert de Rontcllo. &rc.

§ 70. an. 1075. Was the forefaid Synod at Af^wz, where the Arch-

Bifhop fccking to bring the Clergy to obey the Pope in putting away

their Wives, was fain to put itoff tofave his life from the Clergies rage.

The Englifh Councils I omit referring you to Spelman, of which

one depofcd Wulftan ( they fay ir.jurioyjly ) Src.

§ 71. CCCLVI. an. 1076. A Council at I^^t/jw/fentenced the Pope depofed, Two Bifhops awhile refufed confenr, but at lalt yielded : And

they

they ftnc to the Pope, that thenceforth all that he did as Pope was void.

§ 72. CCCLVn. Hercttpon the Pope calls a Council at Kome, which excommunicated ail the German Bifhops that depofed him, and the Bi-fhops oiLombardy as confpiring againft Sr. Tetcr, and many French-Bi-fhops: And with them the Emperor Henry, anddepofed him ('^a.vititm infe) from all his dominions : and abfolved his Subjedls from their oaths (as aforcfaid.)

§ 73. CCCLVIII. The excommunicate Bifliops had a Council at Pa-pia, where they retorted the Popes Anathema on himfelf, and excommunicate him.

§ 74 CCCLIX. The Pope calls another Council at Rome, where the ArchBifhops of MilUn -mA Ravenna (the Antipope) are excommunicate, and the Emperor's caufe and party again condemned.

§ 7y. CCCLX. Another Synod at Rome an. 107S. decreed divers things for defence of the Clergies priviiedges. And it isobfervable that to that day the old Canons were in force for nulling all ordinations not made by the Ci?wwo« Confent of theCierkj and People: Ordinationes cjii£ ^ intervenicnte prctio vel precibus, vel ohfequio alicujus perfana c.i intentions impcnfj, vel qn£ nan Communi confcnfn Clert CT" populi Jccmidiim Canonicas ftnciionsjJi.:nt, & ab his ad qui s conJecr.it ia pertinet, non comprobaintir, in-firmas & irritai ejfe dijudicavfsts ; (jHontam (j:iitaliter ordin.mtur nun p:r oftium, idefi, per Chnfium intrant, fed ut ipf.t Veritas tcfljtfir, fares pint & l.itroncs. Therefore it is no finful reparation to difown and avoid fuch obtruded Bifhops or Paftors as are not Co ordained by the Common Con-fent of the Clergy and the People.

§ 76. In this Council the Pope, to keep up fume prercnfions yet ro a power in the £.?/?, excommunicated the new made Emperor Nicephurus Bctoniates for depofing wrongfully the Emperor yt//c/.)-»r/and his Wife Af.iry, and his Son Cor.fiaKting Porphptu, and putting them into a Mor.-ailery and invading the throne, whom the Patriarch Cofmus Kittiv fet up by Michael, had Crowned : Cat thus matters were then often carryed.

§ 77.. That we may a little take along (bmc of the Greek atFair?, note . here, xXutZimifces being dead an. 975. the Empire rct.irned to Bifl and Cohfl-antins the Sods of Romamis jri.i. B rfil held it jo years ; andC^./^.v-tins three more. Againft them roie tirft Bard is StUros, and then Bardas Phocas. 5.7/;/overcame and fubjecfted the B/dgtrians: An. 1028. ^rgyim Romania took the Empire with ^oe Ci;.'i/?.i«//«f's daughter (puttin;]; away his Wife for her and the Empire.) After five years ;Io-" killed him, and took her aduTterer and the agent Michael Paphlago to her bed andEmpire. He being affliifled in body penitently turned Monk, and reduced 'So-: to (bme order: But being dead, Che took Michael Cakphaic who f.vare lo obey "iZoe $ but breaking his Covenant, fhc Jcpofed him and put out his eyes. And an. 104.2. She took to her bed and the Empire ConjLtntire Mo:iomacbus, in whofe times the Greeks had divers lohes by the Sticves, .ind by the N:>rnu'is that !^oc /Ipuliu. Ac which time the Turks hciiii: Soldiers under the Perfums, revolted ami oft overcame them. Zjc and her S:lter Tbendora having ruled ail, <//(■■ hiConj1antinis\imiMuhn<;iCerul.ir?iix. of Cuaji. wrote

* . againft

againit ihcChurch of l{ymi\ Theodorabcmg dead, hUib.ulSiratonicm leigncdonc ycAr : who was torccd to rcfignto Ijj.tc Comncnus-. loy/. Who being itircalcd rurtied Monk, s.nA \wi.<\'iCo>ijt.inttttc Duc.is Emperor: an. 105-9. He dyed 1067 Iwearing liis wife Eudocia not to m.irry and make a Father m Law to his three Sojis; but fhe brake her oath and niarrycd Homanns Diogenes and made hin) Emperor: He istiken iiiiiglit by the i'«/f.i;;, andrcleafed, and when he came home his eyes ^luioutby his own Subjcdts ; of which he dyed an. 1071. and Eu.iocia is thriiftinto a Aio«j/?«y. }ilicbAelVaripmaciui,\.\\s. Sonoi Co>i[i. Ducas is cholen Emperor: The Turks and others greatly weaken the Empire: Two Niccfhort ul'urp : One called Botomates, helped by the Turks, getting pofleirion, Michael cntrtd a MoM^Jlery, andtheother Niceplnrus Bye/imns is overcome and his eyes put out; Bot:H:.ucs after three years, isdepofcd and made Monk by AiC.xiru Coik-«f«;(.',whowasmadcEmperor, rf«. 1081,and being woiftcd by MobertD. oi/I. p:ilia, and having dealt :11 with Godfrvy and his army going for P.tlcjh»e,znd beaten ny them an. 1096. living 70 years and reigning 37 hedycdjn. 1118. forfaken fit ft of all, and luccceded by his Ion Calojahannes.

Sed. 7S. CCCLXI. A Roman Council an. IC79. Forced Serengariiii to rccsnt, and to own Tranfubftantiation.

Se:{. 79. CCCLXII. /In. 1080. Another Roman Council renewed thede-pofition of the Emperour, and gave his Empire to [{oduipb, the Pope excommunicating Hf wry, and laying [ Co«/iWe»j de jiidicio (3 tntfertcordia Dei cjufque fitff.mte matrufimper Virgin!s Marine, fultus vejtra authcnlate, /.cfc nommatiim Henricum, ^iiem I{fgem Aicuht, ommfquef.tutores ejus excommunicttioni Jiibjicio, (^ anathematis Tincuiii alltgo : i^ itcriini ^'gnnm Teutonicorum iS Italiie exfarte cmnifotentii Dei 05" is vcjlra, interdicei s ei, Omnem Potejlatem 13 dignitatem illi regiatn tollo,(3 ut ntiltus Chnjiianorum cificut Hcgi obcdtat, interdico: Omnefjiie /]iiiei juraverunt,vel]iirabunt de regni dcminatione a juratmnti fromiJ]]one abjoho: Iffe autem Henriciis cum/ins fautoribus in omni congrejfwne b^lli, nullas vires, n:ilhtm]uc in vitafua viRori.im obti-neat. Then he giveth abfiluticnfrom ^^11 their fins to all that take-part with Rodulpb, and blejjing in this life and that to come. Adding f Go on then holy Fathers and Princes tSj" I befcechyoii, tb.it the whole tfjrld may underfland and k>iotP, that if you can bind and locfe m Heaven, you can on earth both take aipay the Empires., Kingdoms, Principalities, Diikcdomes, M.irquifites, Earldoim, and Pojpjjions of all men, according to their merits, a/iif grant them ( zo others) foryoii have often tak^n away from the evil and & unworthy, Patri.irchates, Primacies, Arcb-Bifioprickj, Bijhopricks, and given them to ff5" religious men : For if ye judge (piritual things, what mnft men be'ieve that yon can do about things fecular ? and if you judge the Angels that rule over all Proud Prtnces,whai canyou do with their fervants ? Let Kjngs and all/ecular Princes now learn, hew great ^ you are a/id wh.it you can do ; and let them he'-e.tf'er be afraid to fet light by the Command of your Church : And excrcifeyour Judgment fo fpeedi'y on the/aid Henry, that all tnay know, that befalls not by chance, but by your power ; / wi/h he be confounded to repentance, th.it his Spirit nuiy be (aved in the day of the Lord. ] O brave Pope .'

From this Council the Pope fent R^dulph a Crown wi:h this infcriptiofl--—•-Petra dedit Pctfo Petrus diaaema {{odulpbn. But all this was but as Balaam's H-, ~ f. tempt; It dcftroyed not Henry, nor faved the life of !^dulph,ih^t was after killed. ( ) Ihele Seel. 80. CCCLXIII. An. 1080. The Emperor called a Council at Brixia p^^^VP wliich depofed Gregory as f Aftl/e monk, thep^Jlileni Prince of all villante, the in-I'roteltaiit ^.,.J,_., ^f tlie I^^m.in S:Jt, vevn chofin of Gjd, tmpud'ntly intruding him/elf by fraud .X Ciihops, and money, fibverti)!^ all Church-order, perturbing the Kjngdom of aChriftian Em- ^B ana ei- ^/^^ . d-.fi.^tnun the death of So // arid Body to a quiet Chrtjiian Emperour : defending a ^H "^ , perjured Kjng j /owing difcord where th.re tPas concord, and ftrife, where there was ^|

wrongcn peac:, fcmdals among brethren, divorces between Husband and iVife,^ and fli.iking all nmi.ornc thatfcemed to be m quietnijs among godly men ; a proud preacher of Sacrtledgc .tnd was great" fl:„ncs, defending perjuries and tmrders, q-iej}ion'wg the Catholick, doUrine of Chrijls ly chan- i,r,^y and blood, an old Difciple of Bcrengarius (*) afollotper of divinations and dreams gcd. ,j m.uifeji Cnnj'irer,pcjf If'd with a divifiiri;; evl Spirit, andfr>[werving from the true

FjitL] And they made Guibcrt Pope in his (lead (as was aibrcfaid.)

Sed. 81.

J

§81. CCCLXIV. A Council zt Lymis, An. lo'io. de^o^elh ManaJJe Blfhop of Rhemes, for refiafing to give account to the Pope, d^c.

§ 82. CCCLXV. Another at Avenicn^ maketh Hugo Bifhop of Gra-tianople.

§ 8 J. CCCLXVI. Another at Meaulx, maketh Armlpb Bifliop of Sotf-fons.

§ 84. CCCLXVII. Another at Rome, An. 1081. Excommuoicatcth the Emperor again.

§ 85:. CCCLXVII I. An. 1083. another at /Jowc, the Pope kept three days in fighsand groans, being bclieged, and then difmill it.

§ 86. CCCLXIX. An. 1084. in another, the befieged Pope again exconi' municated the Emperor, and tke new Pope Clement ( Ginbert Raven. )

§ 87. CCCLXX. An. 1085". A Council at J^intilmcbtirg condemned "tu two Herefies: The Hi-ft was the Royaliil Hcrefie of Loyalty, called the Hen-ricians,irom Henry the Emperor, who thought that the Pope and Prelates had not authority to depofe Kings and Emperors, but were to be Subje£ls to them. An Herefie,if (uch,that moft Kings are very much inclined to, as taught them by St. Vaul, Rom. i 3. and by St. Peter himlclf. You fee, O Princes, if you will be the Popes and Prelates Executioners, that you muft come at laft to the Stake your felves, and fall under the Law flc Herettcis comburendu, unlels you will be Servants your felves, or truft to Ibme peculiar chalibcate remedies.

The great argument of the Pope waj [ The Difciple is not above his Ma-fter. One Gunibcrt undertook to prove, That the Pope had nojuch power^ but what he had ufurped, and taken to himfelf, but inight be judged. But the fore-laid Argument ftruck all dead. But might not theft Prelates have undcrftood, I. That the Pope himftlf may have a Mailer in Philofbphy, Phyfick, d^r? And is he not for all that. Above his Alaftcr ? i. Is the King abo^-e no Mailer that teacheth iiim in any Art or Science? 5. Are not Chrift's words plainly to be underllood, of Superiority and Inferiority tn eodem ^enere ? The DiP ciple as fuch is not above his Mailer ; but as a King he may : or cKe Princes give up their Kingdoms to every Schoolmafter that they chooft. 4. This Doftrine lets not only Popes and Prclatcs,biic every teaching Tricji or Preacher above the King \ for to fuch the King may be a Difciple. ^. This tendeth therefore to tempt Princes to be utterly ignorant and brutidi ; for fear left by "ft learning any thing of any Mafter, they (hould give away their Kingdoms. And if Children be Kings by inheritance , what a fhare is here laid to undo tiicm ? 6. Doth not the Holy Ghoft fay, Let every Soul be fubjecl; and were not Feter and the Apoftles fome of theft Souls? Did notChrift himfelf and Peter pay Tribute ?

But remember again you that arc Sub')eiT:5 to fuch Councils and Prelate.-:, that it is by them judged Herejie to be Loyal, and to plead for the Clergies lubjeftion to Kings.

§ 88. The Herefie of JVecilo was here alli) condemned, th.;t faid ( as they report him ) That when the ftcular Men vo-e Jpmled of their Eflates and Goods, (it's like by the Ecclefiaftlcks) they were not bound to obey the Ecclefwftickj',

B b b and

and might he recdvui by ethers, when they were Exconiwunkate. It was there-c^- fore decreed, \_That ■u.'hoe'Vir ivoi Escommtmtcate by bts B:^)o^, that B>JI)op?tot bein" himfelf Excommunicate, or Jeprit-ed of hts Office, though it wtre unjufllj done,pould by fionJca?u be received toComwunio?! ( ij atiy other) unlefi ab-folved lit the Ecclefiaftical manmr.2 And ib God muft be difobcycd,ihat com-mandcth the Faithful to worfhip him in Sacramental Communion, whenever any proud, malicious or drunken Prelate will forbid him: And mull Co live and die, unlefs his Mafters will repent of their injuries, ^^'hen as it is ulual for one injury to engage a Man to more, or to continue it, for the juftification of thefirft.

§ 89. Another Decree of this Hereticating Qjuncil was, fT/?.?? ^<jjx to keep the Spring and Summer Fafis on ; and that neve eat Cheefe or Eggs in Lent. This is the Roman holinefs, and way to Heaven.

Many Archbifhops and (everal Cardinals were here Excommunicate alfb,for being for the Emperor againft the Pope.

§90. CCCLXXI. But the Wars of Councils continuing, a Council was called by the Emperor at Mentz,, where the depofition of Gregory , and the fubftitution of Clement (whole Legates were prelent ) was confirmed, and the Condemners again condemned.

And fo we have done with the Life, Letters and Councils of Hildebran^.

§ 91. Pope Gregory 6y'mg,Clement alone was Pope one year, and then the Italians chofe De/iderius an Abbot, called FiBor the 3d. This was the z^d Schlfm, or two Popes at once. FiBcr lived but a year and three months, and x4 days. Hiftorians teH lis of Famines, and dreadful Prodigies in tfaofe days. In that little time he railed an Army which beat the Saracens in Africk.

§ 91. CCCLXXII. A Council at Capua choftthis ViUor, An. 1087. and when he was brought to Rome, they found Pope Clement in pofleffion , and keeping it by Arms: but when they had fought, ViSlor's Soldiers proved Viftors, and his T'itle to be beft.

§93. CCCLXXIII. Fiilor hzd a Council at 5f»ex'ew/, where he damned Vope Clement and his Bifhops,-^». 1087. The grand Controverfie of thofe times of the Pope againft the Emperor and other Princes was, about Prefenta-tions to Bifliopricks, or Inveftitures, which the Pope (iid, belonged to no Layman : Victors Council again judged fiich Prefentations or Collation of Bifliopricks to be Sacriledge, and fiich Simoniacs that ufed them : And here it's worth the noting that they decree, ( Bin. p. 1193- ) That Fenance and Communion may he received, from nmie but a Catholick : And if no Catholick Friejl be there, it is righter to perfifi without vifible Communion, and to communicate invifibly with the Lord, than by taking it from aHeretick to be feparated from God. For there ts no Communion of Chrifi and Belial ; tior of a Believer with an Infidel: But every Heretick is an Infidel t And a Simoniac becaufe an Here-tick, IS an Infidel: For though Catholicks becaufe of the Hsreticks being over them^ cannot have vifible and corporal Communion, yet while in mmd they are joined to Chrifi, they invifibly receive his Communion. 2

Let

their Councils abridged.

37

Let it be here noted, i. That this Council confefleth that the Sacrament and vifible Communion is not of necefllty to falvation ; And why not the lame of vifible Baptifm, when it cannot be had on lawful terms ? x. That 'ts therefore it is no finful Separation to refufe fuch Church-Communion as cannot be had on lawful terms , or but from Hereticks, Simoniacs, or Sacrilegious. 3. That this fheweth that the Church of Rotne hath their Succeflion oft interrupted : For by the teftimony of their moft flattering Hiftorians, and of General Councils, many Popes have been Simontacs., £r^o,(aith this Council, Hereticks and Infidels ; Ergo no Popes: Ergo their Faitb failed. 4. That this maketh their Bi(hop5,Priefts, and Churches in all their own Kingdoms where Princes have the prcftnting and inverting of Bifhops, to be all \oid and null, as being Infidels. And that not only among Protcftants none fliould 'ts communicate with any Bifhops that have their Preftntation and Invcftiture from Kings, but mufi: (cparate from them as Infidels,but even in Papifts Kingdoms they mult do the fame.

§ 94. FtBor commended Odo, or Otho Oftienfis for his Succeflor; who is cholen in his ftcad againft Clement, and called Urban the id. He made their old Patroncls Mathildts in her age to marry with an Italian Duke TVelpho, on condition that they (hould never have Carnal Copulation. The Emperor came "^ to/?owf, and fet up C/fW3(?»/'; Urban { or 0:ho) being one that before had publifhed the Excommunication of the Emperor, Excommunicateth him again,and goeth from Rome, into Italy and France \ and feis the Princes upon the recovering of Jerufalem, Lifting 3COC00 Men,and fb reconciled moftof their Strifes at home. The Hiftory of this Expedition, Tlatina briefly, and many Authors largely give us, to whom I refer you.

Ccnrade the Emperor's Son rebcllcth againft his Father, encouraged by the Pope. The Papal Hiftorians pretend that his Father would have forced him to Inceft, but others think othcrwifc.

It was this Pope ( faiih Bin. p. 1193. ) that appointed the horary Prayers, called the Office of the Blejfed Fbgiv,xo be u(ed by Clergy and Laity, for (liccefi againft the Saracens. Having Reigned eleven years, and four montli5, he died.

§ 95-. CCCLXXIV. j^n. 1089. Urban in a Council at Rome, rcpcateth againft the Emperor and Pope Clement what was done before by Grfp.the 7 th. Clement is expelled Rome, and driven to renounce. The Holy Wars breed reconciling thoughts. The Papal Part}' offer the Emperor his Crown, if lie will depofc Clement. His Biftiops difluadc him, and he refufcth ; being other-wife for Peace inclined to it.

§96. CCCLXXV. A Council at T/r;/in .^/i«/m about marriage of Kinf^ folk.

§97. Jr. 1090. A Council at Tcloufe dcpofed the Bifliop as criminal, &c.

§98. Jn. 1090. A Council of Ur^4w'3 at A/e,/f£* decreed again, that no Biftiop receive Inveflituie from any Lay-man ; and that no Lay-man have right or authority over any Clerk. Alio againft falfe Penance, ( Hildclrand

B b b 1 'KToiv

#'

■yyi • Church'Hijioryof 'Btjhops and

before had decreed that Penance, and Bapttffu, fand (b Abfolutim) profit not impenitent undifpofcd Receivers.)

§ 99. CCCLXX\'I. A Council at Bemvent condemned Pope Clement again.

§ 100. CCCLXXVII. Another at 75-<y did conlult forUr/'Ws intereft.

§ I 01. CCCLXXVm. hr\ox\itr zt Cvnftame, An. 1094. againft married Priefts and Siraonlacs, and about the number of Eafier and Whitftm Holy-days. And the Emprefi; Vraxes departed from the Emperor, accufing the c^ Court of rnoft filthy Fornication ; perhiaps the caufc of their Calamities.

§ iGi. CCCLXXIX. An. 1094- A Council ixOftto \n France Excom-niunicatcd their own King Philip, for putting away liis Wife, and marrying another; and again Excomniunicatcth the Emperor and Pope Clement.

§ 103. CCCLXXX. Av.ic<)'y. A Council at P/<j««r/« heard the Caule of the Emperor of Co7jft. begging help againfl: the Infidels ; and of the King of France \ and the Emprefs complained how filthily fhe had been forced by her Husband's command. It repeated damnations, and decreed that no money be taken for Baptizings, Chryfms or Burials.

§ 104. CCCLXXXI. A Council at Clermont for the lame Caufes. It de-creeth, That if one injure another on Monday^WeJnefday orThurjday,itjliallnot be reputed a breach of Peace: but if it he done on any of the other fcur days, it fl)all be judged a breach of holy Peace, and be pmijhed as fitall be judged. C. i.

And that no Clergyman jiiall receive any Honour (or Preferment j from the hand of Lay-men. C. 15'.

And C. 16. That no Kings or Princes make invefiiture of any Ecclefiafiick Honour. ^ And C. 17. That no BijlwporPrieB make any fromife of Allegiance to a

King, or to any Layman ( Ne Regi, 'vel alicui Laico in manibits Ligtum fideh-tatem faciat.) Liguts is Liege, or Ligatm, a Valfal or full Subjeft.

And C. 19. That no Lay-labourer keep the tenth of his labour, ( from the Clergy;) or receive ( from the Clergy } the tenth oj his wages.

§ 105". It fhcwethyou that ever the Sacrament in one kind was not introduced, in that the x8th Canon of this Council decreeth, that |^ None communicate at the Altar, unlejs he receive the Body by itfelf, and the Blood by it felf unlefs through necejfity, or -with cauteloufnefs. 3

Can. 29. Any one that fled from his Enemies to any Crofi,was to be there prote(3:ed as in a Church.

But the Jertfahm War was the main bufmels of this Council, by which the Pope cunningly turned away Animofities and Jealoufies fi-om himfelf, and got the repute of a Holy Defender of the Church.

§ 1 06. But in an Englifh Council all the Bifhops in the Kingdom faveone ( Rochejter ) would force Archbiftiop Anfclme to renounce the Pope ; which Anfelme refuiing, and rcafbning againft, they laid that he blafphemed the King, letting up any in his Kingdom without liis confent; and fb they jointly renounce their jubjettion and obedience to the Archbiflmp, and abjure the unity uf €t brotherly fociety vjith him. Bin. p. i 301. You fee Luther was not the firft that renounced the Pope. § 107.

§ 107. CCCLXXXII. A Council at Tours, for the Holy \Wr: where the King of France Philip was reconciled, promifing ftrvice to the Pope.

§ 108. CCCLXXXIII. ylv. 1097. A Concilium Barenfe was held, for winning the Greek Church in their necellity ; where Avfelme of Canterbury got the honour in dlfputing of tlie Proceirion of the Holy Ghoft. The liini of which Difputation is in his Works.

§ 109. CCCLXXXIV. An. 1098. A Council at Rome gave the King of England time to repent u\\ Michaelmas, the former Council had Excommunicated him, if Anfelme hud not dclned delay.

§110. An. IC99. Another Roman Council for the Holy V\'ar, and Rc-excommunicating Pope Clement, ( but what Clement did all this whllc,is part: over here. )

§ I 11. An. 1099. '^^^ ^'^"^'^ Council at Jerufalem put out Amulpb the Archbifhop of Jerujalem as a wicked Man and Ulurper, and gave it to the Pope's Lcgar.

§ 111. An. IC99. Tafchal the id is made Pope; a little after Pope Clement dieth, who had Reigned with his Competitors a i years: Being buried at Rwvenna after five years, a Council caufed his Carkafi to be dig'd up and burnt: Decreeing, Tljat all the Bifwps of the Henrician Here fie, ( that i.;, who were for Emperors being above the Pope, or not dcpolablc by him, and for his power of Preftntations or Inveftiturcs} if thty were alife fiiould be dtpofeJ; ^ if dead, Piould be digd up and burnt, ( which were moft of the Bifliops of the W'eft, if Hddebrand himfelf miftook not. ) O Military BKhops: that can overcome the dead. No wonder if the Church and Nations be confounded by you, that cannot let each others Carkaflcs reft in their Graves; but will dig up the bones of the Prelates of many Kingdoms, even the greateft part. How many Princes and Prelates now Papifts, are guilry of the Henrician Ht-refie ? Should not their bones alio be burnt if you duril ?

§115. But the Schifin continued, three peribns fucceflively being made Anti-Popes by the Emperoi-'s party ; but all of them one after another overcome by Vafchal, who being a Military Pope, did moft of his v/ork by his Army, which he fi-equcntly had on foot. In his time Jtrufalem , and the Cities about, were won by Godfrey oi BuIUn, his Brother Baldwin, Bocmund, Tancred, and the reft of the Chriftians ; and Godfrey made tirll King, and Baldwin next ; Boemund and Tancred having Anticch, and after luffering great loffeSjC^c. as you may read in theHiftories.

§ 114. Never did the Papal Rebellion work more unnaturally, than in fer-ting up the Emperor's Son Henry againft his own Fathcr,as excommunicate and xn depofed ; who being cholen in his ftead by the Papal Faction, ovcrc.ime him, and took him Prifoner, and kept him till he dyed ( naturally, or violently, I know not ) at Liege.

§ 11 5'. Yet was the Pope deceived of his hopes: For this Henry alfb was of the Henrician Herefie, and having by the Pope's order kept his Fathers. Corps live years unburied, becaufe Excommunicate, he came with an Army after to RonK 10 be crowned Emperor, and getting into the City, ( the Pope's

Hiftorians

?74

Clmxh-Hiftory of ^ip^o^s and

Hiftjrians (ay by jXTfidioufnefs, and others lay the pertidioufncfs on the Pope) he took the Pope and Cardinals ( that were for him ) Prllbners, for denying him to conKrm the Billiops which the Emperor had promoted; and he kept him till he made him confirm them, and grant him Invcftitures under his hand and leal, andpromife : But when the Emperor was gone, the Pope took his prc^mile to be null, and brake it, ( he that can difpenle with others, may diP penle with himftlf.)

§ 116. Bt7mim, after many fijch others, doth not only juftifie the Pope's depofmg of the Emperor; but lliamelcfly faith, that even the Ncvatores Ha-rctici, ■( as he calleth the Lxiyal and Orthodox) will not deny but that he was juftiy depofed, becaule (faith he ) in a Letter to HiUtbrantl, he (aid himftlf he might jufily be defofed if he fell from the Faith ; and he mas depofed for Herejie, v'xt.for defending Vriefis Marriage, felling Benefices,contemning the Pofes Excommunication, end faying that he ought not to regard it.

Aif. I. Doth every word in a Letter that you can diftort, forfeit a Crown ?

1. Did not the Apoftles and ancient Chridians obey Heathens, and command it ?

3. Was it to the Pope that he forfeited his Crown ? How prove you that ?

4. Were thefe Apoftolic Do£t^rines, ( that Prlefts may have Wives,as Peter had, d^c. ) a falling from the Faith ?

5r. Is every Princes Crown and Life at the Pope's mercy, becauft he may j udge him to be an Heretick ?

6. Are not the chief Chriftian Kings now that are Papifts (efpeclally the King of France ) of that which is called. The Henrician Herejie ? And may they be fb depofed ?

§ I I 7. But one thing 1 defirc may be noted of this Henrician HereJie, that ^ the Emperor did not take away the old liberty of the Clergy and People in chufing their BiiTiopi: Inveftiture was not EleBton,OT any determining Nomination, but like our Inductions an after-cojfent, and a delivery of polTeiJion by a Staff and Ring, as may be leen in the form of Pope Pafchal's Grant in Nau-claus. Gen. 38. p. 7 3 8. [^ We grattt and confirm te you, that you may bejiov-i Inveftiture by a Staff and Ring to the Btfl)ops and Abbots m your Dominion, FRtELT ELECTED WITHOUT FORCE AND SIMONT.^ And it med-led not with the Presbyters, but was only a Negative power of freely chofen Prelates induftion, who was flill chofen by the inferior Clergy and the People.

§ 118. How the old Emperor was bafely deprived by the three Bifliopsof ''^ Mentz,, Colen and ll'ormes ; how he charged their Oaths of Allegiance on them ; how he denounced the Revenge of God againil them; how he was kept in iuch poverty, that he deGrcd For his relief to have been but an Aflift-ant in the Monaftery of Spire which he had built him(elf,and was by the ungrateful Bifhop of Spire denied ; how in his mifery he confefled it was the juIHce of God for the fins of his youth ( Luft ) you may fee in Sigon. de

t}?ch- CoiOKils ahridzed.

?75

Reg. Ital. An. 11 06. Helmnld. Hift.Sclav, c. 31. Sigebert An. 11 c6. Albert. Xrantz,. Hifi. Sax. U. 5:. r. ao, 21, xa, 23,14. compared. Asalfo how his Body was digged up out of his Grave, and kept five years by his unnatural Son in an unconftcrated place, and after buried. Thus ended one that had fought ( as Hiftorians fay ) with honour. Sixty two Battels ( more than Ca-far had done ) a Man ( had he duly maftered his youthfiil lull ) credibly de-ftribed as of laudable endowments, and one that fhcwed much zeal for the Clergy, though he was not willing to be abfblutely their Subjeft.

§ 119. CCCLXXXV. Of the Councils that were in Pafcbah days, the firfl was at Rome., An. 11 oi. where the old Emperor Henry the 4th.was again Excommunicate, and a form of Anathcmatifm made againft all Hcrefics, and in rpecial againft that Herefie that then troubled the Church,which was [Tljat "^ the Churches Anathema s and Bonds are not to he regarded. J It was time for Pope and Prelates to call that a Hercfic, when hy Cwfrig tliej had got their Dominions, and conquered lb many Emperors and Kings: But it's a wonder that when Tibi daho Claz/es, would not keep up the credit of the Curlers, that Curfing again fhould be able to do it.

Two Councils at Louden, partly againft the Clergies Incontinence, and againft Sodomy, and partly to depofc fcveral married Priefts, I pals by.

§ no. CCCLXXXVI. f//«■»</>«,BIfhop of F/orfwcf,publi{hcd that Anti-chriji -was come. Whether he told them who he was I know not: But An. '^ 11 oy. A Council of 340 Bifhops was there called, to try him for that dangerous do(fVrine ; and finding that Prodigies and Calamities drew him to believe it, they chid him as a weak Man, and warned him to talk lb dangcroufly no more, ( you may know why. )

§1X1. CCCLXXXVII. When the young Htmy began his Rebellion againft his Father, he called An. 1105". a Council at .^inttlineburg., where he folemnly called God and Angels to witnefs, that it was not out of defire to Reign that he did what he did, nor to depole his Father, but to reftore them to the Obedience of the Church, lamenting his Father'sobftinacy againft it: And he profeft his Obedience to the Pope, and drew divers revolted Arch-bifliops to do the like.

§1X1. CCCLXXXVm. An.wo^. A Council with the Nobility or Princes was called by Henry junior at Mcntz,,v/heTC the old Emperor w.is again Excommunicated, and forced to rcfign his Scepter to his Son ; and this by thofe Princes, Prelates and Nobles, that had fworn Allegiance to him,luppofing themlelves ablblved from all their Oaths by the Pope. Now it was that die thi'ee Archbifhops violently diverted him. W'hen he asked them, what was his fault, and they laid. Simony, in the Collation of Bijlmpicks and Abbies, he adjured them fthe Biihopsof M'»f?., and CVrw, with the Bilhop of f^orwa ) by the name of the Eternal God, to fiy ivhatcver he took of any of them : And they (aid, Nothing. He thanked God that (b far then own tongues juftified him, when their Biftiopricks might have brought iiim no fmallSum.

§ IX 3. CCCLXXXIX. The Pope in a Council at Waftallts in Lombardyy took in feme (ubmitting Bilhops,

§1x4.

Church-Hijlory of ^ij})0ps ami

§ 114.. CCCXC. Two Biftiops at yerufalem ftriving for the place ; one put out by the King, but rcftore J by the Pope, died in his return ; the other by a Synod at fcyiijalem was put out,but madcBilhop of Cafarea.

§ IX). CCCXCI. In a Council at 7>w^, the Emperor's Inveftitures are forbidden.

§ ir6. CCCXCII. Another at Bet)e'vef}t,y4n. 1108. of the fame, decreeing, 7i6<if ^jTrtwy r<«^f <?£e»f/jfej9ow «L<//-wW/ Trefcntation, the Giver and Taker piall be JExconimtmicated.

And one at London to the lame purpofe, made King Henry confent againft invefting BliTiop or Abbots.

Another at Lngc^ior St. Cuihert's Elevation.

§ 127. CCCXQII. But the Pope's I-flferrt« Council of 100 Bi/hops is more confidcrab!e,where the Pope brcaketh his Oath and Covenant to the Emperor as being cor.rtralned, and this by their approbation. The Hiftory of the occalion before-mentioned, is here again recited by Einmm out of the Chron. Cajfwevf. at large ; where you may fee that the Emperor fware to the Pope, and the Pope was thereupon to crown the Emperor as in his proper Rights. The Emperor claimed to be crowned as to the f;xmc Rights that had been granted to Charles, Leivis, Htnry, and other former Emperors : This the Pope denied to do, and fo they went to fight; where on both fides, between the Rcmam and GcrmaJis, fb many thouHinds were flain, that Tyber was coloured ^ with their blood. How the Earl of Mtllan that interpofed his perfbn to fave the Emperor's life was flain, and his flefh cut in pieces,and given the Dogs by the Romans^ and what other bloody work was there made, the faid Chronicle mentioneth.

The Pope when he crowned the Emperor, and made the Covenant with him, took the Body of ChriH and brake it, taking fart himfelf, and giving the Emperor the other part, and [aid, fo let htm be divided from the Kingdom of Chrifl and the Lord, that breaketh this Covenant 3 which now by the confent of the Bifliops in Council he brake.

§ ii8. CCCXC]V. A Council atBenevent, to decide a quarrel about Church-lands.

§ 129. CCCXCV. In a Cyferan Council an ArchbitTiop complained, that he was put out by the Prince Ro^er of Sicily, and made a Monk againft his will ; and was delivered, bccaule God ivill have no involuntary Service : Another Archbifhop accufed, fled.

§130. CCCXCVI and CCCXCVII. A Council at Beau-jOfs,not known for what.

One in Spia againfl:yfrw«/p. Archbifhop o{ Jcrufalem, for his Crimes.

§131. CCCXCVIII. yln. 1116. A Council at Colen Excommunicate the Emperor, ( or declare the Popes Excommunicate i) but he forced fome to receive him.

§ 132. CCCXCIX. ^n. 1116. In a L^;ew»General Council (as they call'd it ) it unhappily fell out, that the Pope who had before call'd the Emperor's claim an Hercfie, ( as Councils had before named it, The Henrician

Here-

thi'ir Councils abruln-J.

V7

Herejie ) could not here difclaim and revoke his A6>, without confcfling his fault, in granting that power to the Emperor, and confirmijig it by Covenant and Oath. He tells them that he is but a Man, and (6 a Sinner, and lamenting his fin, begs their prayers to God for pardon, and then anatheniatizeth all that he had written, and defircth them to do the like. Hereupon a crafty Biffiop ( Brimo Signitufs ) faid. Let us give thanks to God, that ive cur jdves have heard the Pope condemn thatVriviledge that contatmtb Praz-irj and Here- "tS fte : And if that PrnjUedge contain Herejie, then he that made it 7iv.'j- an Herc-tick. "^ This put them all to their fliiftsi and 'Joh. Cajctan angcrly faid, [Dcfi thou call the Pope an Hcretick here, and in cur hearing? The uritmg that our Lord the Pope made tvas E-viU but ^ot HercJIe. Another Bifliop faid, \^Nay it ought not to be called E-vd-, Ftr to deliver the People of God is good, by the authority of the Gcfpcl, which commandetb us animas poncre, to lay down our Souk for the Brethren : And that which the Pope did, :/•„-/ to deliver the People of God. 2

I

O holy Bifhops and Councils, that take it to be no fin to lye and forfwear,-if it do but deliver the People of God .'But the Pope's patience would not hold at the charge of Herejie, but after great expectations, he told thera that {^That Church had never had Herejie : yea, the fame Church had cjuelkd ail Heref.es--' And Ego rogavi pro tc, Pctre, fecureth it. As much as to fay, Ttiou^h I confeji an Herefie before I was aware, now I tellyou,the fame thing is an Hen-rician Herefe m ethers, and none m me.

§ I 3 5. CCCC. An. II 16. A Roman Synod to end a' ilrifc between the two Monaflcries, Cluniacenf. Cf Cajfmenf.

§ I 34. Platina tells us how the Pope fent tiie Ptfims to figlu againft the Saracens at Sea ; and when they were ab(ent,the Lucenfcs (ought to take their City, but the Flvrentines honcftly came and repelled them ; for which the Pi' fans ga\c them twoPorphjretice Columns.

AlQjth^it Matli'dis (Ahud) the Pope's great Defender now dying , cn-riclied the Pope, with bequeathing her Prir.c'palities to i?flwc. And that Vin-centim, an excellent Author, faith, Tloat Jl)e was burnt with tvJO thotfandmore tn a great Fire that hapncd at Florence. And being Sainted, divers places lav, they have her Body.

Bernard was the glory of this Age.

Pliitina tells us alfb of a bloody War and Sedition in Rome,upon the Pope'.--denying a Boy of ten years old, to fuccced his Father as Prefect of the Cicy . the Pope being forced to remove : That the Emperor came with an Army again to Rome, where a Bifhop crowned him again, the Pope being in Apulia^ who after returned aiad dyed.

C c c § ^Sf*

tB

§ I 2^. Now Cometh the 14th Schlfm, or two Popes at once ; fob. Caje-tan Cardinal Is chofcn at Rome, by the CLERGY, SENATE, and PEOPLE • of Rome, Bin. p. i 3 i f- The Emperor (ends to demand the confirmation of Pope Pafchars Covenants : He denieth,and as at his choice a great Citizen, Cincius Frangipanis,oSendcd at the choice, threw him down, trod on him, and imprilbned him, till the People role and forced Fra?igipaws to reftorehim Cik; (b the Emperor now let up another Pope, Gregory VIII. And C<j;>frt»,called Celajiits the id, got (bme Italian Princes to help him, and when the Emperor was gone he came to Rome, and fcuffling awhile, was fain to go to France, and dyed after a year and five days, Gregory reigning three years, and Ibme being for one, and (bme for the other.

In this time King Baldwin zndTancred had a great overthrow near Jeru-falem.

§ I 5 5. CCCCI. Pope Gehjitts with a Synod at Capua, Excommunicateth the Emperor and Pope Gregory ( who, it's like, requited him. )

After at Vima in France he called a Synod, and dyed.

§ I 37. TheBifhop of Vienna In France, ( kin to the Emperor and the King of France ) is cholen Pope in France: He prevailcth with the EmperOr to give up his Inveftiturcs, andfbmaketha joy Ril Peace. He overcometh Pope Gregory VIII. and imprifoneth him in a Monaftery. In his time Bald-7i'in was again overthrown , and the Venetians took many Idands from the Creek Emperor, for hindering them to relieve yerujalem by Sea.

§ I 5 8. CCCCII. The firfl: Council under Calixtm the ad was at Rhemes, whither went 7r/>y?(rw cholen Archbi(hop of Ttr^jUpon promife to King Henry, that he would not receive the Tope's hkjjinz: But he ftuck not to break his word j therefore the King banlfhcd him, or forbad him his Dominions.

Here four Tenents of Guilbert Porretane a Schoolman were condemned,

5^_ 1. 77jat DIvInltas and Deus are not the fame { In fignificatlon.)

x. That the three Terfons are not unum aliquld.

3. Hat he fides the. Terfotis there are eternal Relations,which are not the faint as the Ferfcns, &c.

4. 77jat it vas not the Nature of God that was incarnate.

The(e they condemned, whether rightly underftanding Tcrretane I know

not:

their Cowials abridged. jtq

I

I

not: But if Schoolmens Quirks muft make work for Councils, and Councils will be their Judges, what work wiU there be?

§ 159. CCCCin. Another at Co/e»,^w.1119. the Emperor was Excommunicated.

§ 140. CCCCrV. In a Lateran Council called General, the Emperor f faith Otto Frijing.) feeing the People fall from him when he w;isExcommunicate, and fearing his Fathers cafe, yielded to rcfign Inveftiturcs, which he after performed. An. iitx.

And An.i 1 la.CCCCV.A Reman Council fetled the Cajfme Monaftery of BenedtSlines in their Independency, fave on tliePope alone, againft the envy and complaints of the Biihops.

§ 141. CCCCVI. A Roman Council finiltcd the Peace with the Emperor.

And An. 1114. one at Tlioloufe call'd (bme Religious men Hereticks.

§ 142. Califtas dying, TbeobaUus^aWe^ CakfiiTte^^s chofcn by the Fathersj but Lambert called Homriits the ^d, by the help of Leo Frangipants., a great man, came after him, and got the greater power, and got and kept poileiJion.. This was the a5th Scliilin, which the Emperor's reGgnation of Inveftitures prevented not.

§143. CCCCVI I. An. iixj. A French Council about the Templars Habit : And one at London 11x5', and another 1117. where because Afat. Fans openeth tlie fhamc of the Pope's Nuncio, and others, Bmniiis reviletli liim.

§ 144. Armilfht4S,z famous Preacher, was murdered in Rome, for Preaching againlt their Pride, Covetoulhcls and Luxury. Flat in.

§ 146. Pope Innocent prefently becomcth a Soldier, and gets an Avmv fight with Riga- Prince of SiciIy,ior claiming Apulia : The'Pope and Can

-eo

■CD'

§ 145:. Two Popes are next chofen : ( the a6thSchifin. ) \.Gregory cz\-led 7w»<;rfM; the ad. x. Peter ca\kd Anaclett/s. . OnupLtius Panuinus'ialih, that Inmcent had but 17 Cardinals Votes, and Anackt had xi. And yet /«- ^ nocent being the ftronger, is by them talvcn now for the true Pope , and the Succcffion is from him..

to

, .. ^ 1 - - I Cardi-

nals at the iccond B.ittel are taken Prilbners,by the coming of Wt'diam Duke of CJdriAto hup his Father... Roger gently releafeih them: They come to.^

Cc.c 2._ Bjimc

I

Rcme, and fmd Pope jinnclct in poffefilon ; who got Rcgcr of 5»a/y,and the People of Ronje that were For htmcait, to be for him, ( ftith I'latina. ) /wjc-cent darts not ftay, but goeth into France \ tlicnce into Germany, where Henry being dead, and /m harms made Emperor, the Pope got him to f^-ear to help himT The Emperor and Pope come againft Rcme with two Armies. The Anti-Pope j47iacktus is not to be fcen ; till the Emperor was gone home,and Jtinc-roit at Pifa, and then he appcareth as Pope again. Lothariiis cometh with another Ami)' , and dri\'cth away yJnaclettts , .and Roger of Apulia Into Sici/y.

§ 147. The Remans now rofe up againft the Pope, and claimed the Civil Government of JRowc by a Senate. The Pope hereupon deprived them of their \'otes in the Election of Popes, and deprived all i<he Clergy al(b of theirs except the Cardinals, and confined the power to the Conclave of the Cardinals alone. Tiiis was the Hrft ti me that the old way was overthrown, and all the Canons broken by one Pope in revenge againft the Romans for rebelling againft his Ci\'il Government, and helping Anaclet. Till now. Clergy and People chofc the Bifliops. HiUehrand began to ftt up the Cardinals power, but denied not the Clergy and People their Votes in Comitiis.

§ 148. The Greek Emperor's Legat now had a difpute with the Pope's Party, to prove the Roman Church erroneous for the Filicque, of which (cc P!at. in Imjoc. 1.

§ 149. CCCCVIII. and CCCCIX. and CCCCX. The Pope Innocent being above feven years in France and Germany, damned Pope y^naclet and his Fautors In a Council at Clermont, and in another at /J/)f wf .f, and in another at Liege. And 411,another at Vija did the like. And 411 one at Metitz, was about a Bifhops quarrels. And 41 5, one at EJlampcs condemned j47iaclet; I?wocem''s prelence prevailing there,and ylnaclet'i prclence at Rome.

§ i5'o. Lotharins dieth, znd Conrade Is Emperor. CCCCXIV. InnctTTrf, /.n. I'i 59. calleth a great Council called General upon his return at Rome,ro condemn Anaclet again.

§ 15-9. ..(^WvTf/ff dying, another Pope called F/f/or Is chofcn againft 7««o-cent, and the Schlfm continued : and after five months being too weak, giveth it up.

§ 160. In ErgJa',ii},{^M\\ William A'laJmslury, and Binniiis out of him, f.

1315-. two Biftiops ( oi Sallshury 2cnd' Lincoln) built the great Caftles of

Nivark, Shirburne, Dci'ifes, Malmesbtiry, and held the Caftlc at Salisbury, &c.

The Nobles complain'd to the King of thtBIfhop's greatnefs, and building fo

,-many Caftles,as of 111 dcfgn. At an Ailcniblyor Parliament at Oxford, the

Servants

their Coimcih abridged.

Servants of fome Earls and theft Bilhops fought for Qiiarters: The Biftiops Servants prevailed, and Blood v/as fhed, and the Nephew of an Earl wounded near to death, and all was on an uproar. The King (Stephen) took the advantage, and made the two Bifhops deliver up the Keys of their Cailles, left they prepared to be for the Emprefi Maud in time. The Billiop the King's Brother was the Pope's Lcgat; he calls a Council at Tf'mcheficr, and (iimnion-eth the King, where he arid other BilTiops pleaded againft the King , that he violated the Canons, wronged the Church, in\'aded the Bifhops Propriety, (^c. But a F?rwc;6 Bifhop of iRc/zfw pleaded for the King, that no Canon allowed them thofeCaflles, and that in danger of Wars all Princes would fccurc fuch places j and fb far got the better, as that they durft not proceed againft the King, who told them that if any went to Rome to complain againft liim, they muft not think cafily to return \ntoEnglatid.

% i6i. CCCCXV. ^n. 1140. A Council at Soijfms condemned Peter ■ ^hailard's Books to the Fire; but (aith Otto Frifng. ( df Bin. ex eo ) they "would not hear him Jpcak for himfelf, fuJpeBmg or fearing his skill in disputation, his great aciitenefs heing; famous. His Hcrcfie was, That where jn ( (aith Otto ) the Church hoLleih theJhree Perfons in the Trinity to be res diftinttas*, * Sec' fliJiinB things ; Voter ufed an lU Jimililiide, and did tha.t [_As the fame argu-in the went or /peech is Propofiion, y^ffumption and Conclufion, fo the fame EJfence is the ^'^^'^'^\-Father, Son and Holy Ghcfi ] and this was judged SabcUtanifm. But fure, "|^^" ^^olJ^ I. Peter never meant this (imilitude fliould hold in all refpecis. i. vSure this rarticu-aflerteth unhappily fiich a difference as is between the if hole and the Parts, if larlyAff.v-he had meant it to be fully fimile. And that niaketh a greater difference inter '''0^ . '''■' fcrfonas, than the Schools allow. But be the Man Hcrctick or not, what _And"/»'-juflice Wits in thcfc pitiful Prelates that condemned him,and durftnot hear him tn-. de Ipeak? Is fuch Hcreticating much rcgardablc ? Trimt.

§ i6z. CCCCXVI. Another Synod ( Semnenfs) got St.£n7w;v/among them, who debated the cafe of Peter, and he appealed to the Pope, who condemned him, and yet faith thatPfffv denied many of the words, and all the fenfc that oi\is charged en him: but naracth five Errors, worthy his condemna-tion,if his indeed.

§ 16^. Binnirts from If. Afalmcshtiry ( who wa?prefent ) reciteth another Council at//V«c/?f/?fr,King Stevhen being taken Prifoncr by fbme Lords, and the Londoners pleading for his liberty, his Brother the Pope's Legat was againft him, and acculed him, Excommunicating divers Lords that were for him.

§ 164. CCCCX\"1I. A Synod at Jcrufalem againft the Patriark of Jn-tioch, tilt Prince, and the Pope's Lcgat being againft him : Accufed of many Crimes he would not appear, and was depoled and imprifbncd, and fcapingout went to Rome for help, and was there poifbned. An unlearned bad I\lan Jla)meric:is\s put into his leaf. § 165-.

^ S1 Church'Hijhry of Bijhops and

a-

to-

ss-

§ 165:. Inmcvit dying, Calefiine tlic ad was the firll Man that ever was ordained or made Pope without the Peoples Elcvflion, (aith Bmnnts hiriifelf tx Onuphr. by the Cardinals privately alone, according to Pope Iimoccnt'i Order. yin. 1143. in Cw;rrt^/«'s Reign ; he dyed within fix months. In his time the Q^iftians loft Edcjja to the Turks.

§ 1 ^6. Pope Lucius the ad cometh next, and liveth but 11 montlis. In which he fct the Emperor Conrade on a fruitlefs Expedition towards JerufaUmy to the death of multitudes.

§ 16 J. A Galilean Gjuncil againft Abailardm, who is laid hyTlat. ^ Vet. Cluniac. to repent and dye a holy death.

§ 168. Eugenhfs the 3d,aCompanion of Ber»ards,is next Pope: The RO' mans riling for their Civil Government, expel him: He goeth into France, maketh an Aixhbifhop againft the King's will, who fweareth he fhall not enter the City. Bernard perfuadeth the King to repent, and to expiate his fin by an Expedition f with Conrade ) to Jcrufalem, where both lo(e men, time and coft. The Pope overcometh the Romans, and maketh them promife that the Senators fhall hold of him: he again withdraws, and dyeth.

§ 16g. I. Note here, that the Civil Government of Rome it felf fell not till lately into the Pope's hands, and that by the (ame means as he conquered Kingdoms.

a. Note how far he was from ruling all the World,when for (b many Ages the City of Rome it (elf contended againft him. But the dependent Prelates in all Nations of Europe were his ftrength, who perceived that Tibi dabo Cla- -'ves, might be abufed for ihemfelves, as well as for the Pope; and the Policy of Popes was in thofe days to do all or moft by Synods, and thereby to make the Prelates perceive that it was their Power, hitercft and Rule as well as his. But now the cale is (^ite changed with this unchangeable Church ; Councils now ai-e needlels, becaulc fcarce to be truftcd.

§170. Pafling by a Council at TVefel for the Jerufalem War, a (CCCCXVIII) Council at Taris fell again upon the Scholaftic BIfhop of Poitiers, Gilbert Torretane. In his Vifitation he fpalce (bme words too hard for his Hearers, and his two Archdeacons getting Bernard on their fide, ( a Man more devout than Scholaftically acute ) they accufe the Bifliop of Here-fie again.; having had fiiccels lately againft Peter Abndard, the Bifhop were ready to receive the Charge. The Articles of Accufixtion were thefe ;

I. That he (aid, Di'vmam Effinttam non ej]'e Deiim.

1. .^upd Proprietates perfonarum non ejj'cnt ip[a perfonce.

3, ^lodTheologica perjona m jutUa pradicarentur Propojitione. .

4..,.%fli/

4. ^od divina natura non ejfet ificamata.

And ibnie lefler, as i. Tliat attenuating mans merits^ he /aid None merited hut Chrifi. x. Evacuating the Sacraments of the Church, he [aid None were truly baptized, but thofe that ivere to be faved: And fuch like other tilings. The Pope and the Prelates heard the Charge : Two Miftcrs are brought out againfl: him, who (ware that they heard fome of theft things from his mouth; many wondering that learned Men ufed Oaths inftcad of Arguments, ( faith Otto Frijing. ) After many Charges and Urgencies, he (aid, [_ Auda&cr con' fiteor Patrem alio e£e Patrem, alto Deum, nee tamen ejje hoc d^ hoc. J that is, it is one thing to be God, and another to be the Father, ( or the words are not of the fime fignification ) and jet God is not one thing, and the Father anotha-thing. 3 The hardnefs of thefe words Teeming a prophane Norclty, provoked the Bilhop of SoiJJons to (ay, [_lVhat fay you , Ihat the Being of God is no-thing?'] having not read or underflood Aufiin, that (iith, [ Stc aliud efi Deo ejfe, aliud fubff ere; Jicnt aliud Deo cjfe, aliud Patrem ejfe, vel Dominum eJJe : ,^od enim eft ad fe dicitur: Pater autem ad Filium, d^ Dominus adferznev tern creaturam."]

The Bifliop of Soijfons midifing a (aying, [] Cum ejuis diceret, Socratem eJfe nihil diceret. 3 He turned the Auditory againil himlcif ; and they asked Por-retane to open why he (b diftinguiflicd thcPerfbnsj who an(wcred, Z^^ia omnis perfona eff per fe una. J which puzled or amazed them, and ended that days work.

The next day he was accu(cd of Novelty, for faying that [^Tl^e three fei-fons were tria fngul.via.'^ The ArchbiiTiop of Roucti aggravating it, (aid that t Godpould ratljer be called unum fingulare,than triafngularia.] At which many were oftend'cd, bccauft Hilary faith, \_ Sicut duos Decs dicere frofanum eH, itafngularem& fclitariutn dicere facrikgum eft. — Et n%il folitarium ex divinis Saa-amentis ad fujpicionem audientium <i^ occafonem blaffihemantium ■proferamus. ] But Porretane tbld them, that hy fvguhr, he meant nothing but excellent and incomparable. In this manner Porretane, Bifliop of Pcictiers, was examined, and modcftly anfwered them many days; till the Pope perceiving that thefe School-niceties being too hard for him, durft not determine them, nor gratilie Bernard (though his Friend) and the Hereticating Bifliops and Clergy, but craftily put it oft to a General Council. This is all out of Otto Frifing. recited by Bin. p. I'^'^z..

You may (ce here what work Hereticating Prel^itcs and Councils were in-cllnated to make. If all the Schoolmens (iibtile Affcrtions ( (bund and un-(bund ) muft thus be trycd in General Councils, and all that was difliked,cal-led Hcrcftes, though it would have fhamed the Prelates ignorance, it would hax'e afrighted daring \Vits from their predimption; and fince I have (een the tendency of CarteJlmifm,GaJJendi.wfm,ixnd other Epicurean Follies,! did not care much if we had (bme fuch ignorant Prelates to afright thefe bold Pbilofb-phers alio.

I have oft marvelled why General Councils that undcrftood not the Hebrew

bicwTongue, ( nor the Pope's \\'eftcrn Councils the Greek ) have no more cxcicilcd themdlvcs In Councils to judge of Scripture, Copies,ind Tranjlaticns. And I have thought in what words and manner they would have profecuted (uch debates : lure falfifying Scripture is of as dangerous confcqucnce as thefe School prcliimptions. Some will think it is well that the Councils for above 1 coo years had fo few that underftood the original language, or elfe they would have (6 toft and torn, and (enfed and nonfenfcd the Scripture, that they would have made it quite another thing.

§■171. CGCCXIX. Yet we have not done with Hcrefies. A Council at Rhemes, called by the banifhed Pope, trycd a mad man, an illiterate Rufticlf, called EuTf], one unworthy to be called an Heretick, (aith Otto FriJing,who laid he was the Son of God, d^c. whorujthcy lent to Prilbn,where he dyed.

In the lame Council Gib. PorretaTie,B'\iho^ of FoicI:ers,is again called, whete their Subtilties were difputed over again ; and Bernard Abbot ClarevaL being his chief Adverlary, upon Vorretane's exception to Ibme of his words, laying, Scribanttir, went and drew up Ibme Articles of Faith, feeming contrary to Vcrretanes, and got many Bilhops to fiiblcribe them. The Roman Cardinals took this-heinoufly, and came all together to the Pope, and told him, Jhat it was they that of a prifate Man maJe him Pope, and that he mufl know that it was they that were the Cardines, on which the Axis of the whole Chiinh did twij, and that he muji }jct now be his own, but theirs, and not prefer private and new Friends before his old common ones. And that his Abbot Bernard with the Gallicane BijJjops, had audacioujlj preftimed to lift up their Necks againfi the primacy and top of the Roman Seat, which only dothpiut and no man opens,and opens and no rMn pilots; which only may difcufs matters of Faith : And even when absent, may not recei-ue prejudice of this honour from any. But , behold thefe Frcnch-mcn, contentning our faces, ( or prefence ) have prefumed to write their Belief, without confiilting tis, as if they would pafs a definitive Sentence on the matters that have been handled before us : which had it been done at An-tioch or Alexandria, had been void—How then diirfl thefe ufurp in our prefencet-We will therefore that you prefintly rife up against this temerarious Novity, ami delay net topimiflj their Contumacy. ] And (b they had like to have run into a Schilfn : But the Pope and Bernard l^^ake them fair, and Bernard laid, Thty wrote not as Determiners, but to give account of their own Faith, when provoked; and lb pacified the Cardinals. But this Tumult hindered the deciding of the Cafe : But, faith Otto, whether Bernard was dtcivcd by humane infirmity, or Porretane efcaped by hiding any thing by his great learning, I muB not determifie.

§ 172. CCCCXX. Another Council y^«. 1150. the baniflied Pope held .tt Trevcrs, where Bernard told him of the Revelations of a Woman Abbefs tailed Hildegardis: The Pope lent Ibme to her 3 Ihc returns him -a writing of

her..

their Councils abnd'rcd. ; 8 5

; ^ ; '— ^ •—

her Revelations, which he read, admired, and hy Bemard^s perflialion 1 cj.cud her with a Letter : But what they were is not mentioned.

§ 175. Conradtis, Cdi\\t(^ Anoflajius t\ie/^ih, is rext Fope,sr.d dycth ^.ftcr a year, four months, and 14 days. The g!ory of his tinr^e is fisid to he Ru^r-dus deSanclo VtHore, a famous Writer, /feciaily de Trmiiate, tnd Cratscv, Lombard, and Ccmeficr.

§ 174. Hadrian the 4th, an En glifh man, h next Pope. The Rimcvshy requeft and threats, importune him to permit ihtir CcnIuJs to govern them as heretofore. He rdblutcly deniet h them. Tl.ey wound one of his Cardinals. He Excommunicateth and Curfcth them. (Qij^re, If iMthtr V^Lmt VMts tke ^ CathoI:ck Church when it -Uiis ExccmfKunlcaie ? ) Thty h;,d bf fere cellroi him to come to x.\\c Lateran, which he. refufed, till they ihoukl ilirn out one ylrtioldus fi>7A.7<jw«j, called by him aHerttick and Difciple of y:bailard. The People (faith Vlatina) took this ill, and (b h.isrt the i'aid Cardinal (Idoubt the ^owrt^^j thcmfelves were for Hereticks.) The P ope curfeth William of .S/a.^ for invading the Church-lands. The Gre k Em pcror ofiereth to help the Popc,and to give him much Gold al(b,if he fhall but have three Maritime Cities in Apulia, where he hath won them. This afrightcth If'tlUam to offer the Pope all again, if he may but be called King of Sicily. The Pope dc-nieth rt. IVilliam angr}', ovcr-runncth Italy. The Pope repentin g, granteth him his defirc. The new Emperor Frederick alio coming with an Army into Italy, took fbmc Cities belonging to the Church, anJ ga^'c them up to the Pope: But when he came into the City to be crowned, the Citizens enraged at the Pope for denying them their Civil Government, fliut the Gates (the Emperor's Army being without) and fell on many ot the Pope's Followers, and the Germans, beat (bnie, and killed many. The Emperor hereby provoked got in his Army, and killed m.rny of the Citizens, and had done more, but that the Pope difliiadcd him: Yet was the Pope and he fain to go round about to the Later an, to avoid another Battel.

riatma mcntioneth the Pope's Curfrng JViHijm of Sicily, and abfolving his Subjcfts from their Oiths that they might Rebel, but (aith nothing of the Emperor's after-quarrel with the Pope, occafroned by a Letter of the Pope's rebuking him, for not lielping the Bifliop of London, liiith Bi)ir,:;is, and reRiling an offered Biffiop ot Ravama.

Tlie Pope's Epiftlcs againft the Emperor, c^c. B.ttnius leaveth out. At laft the Remans again riling againft him, he goeih to Avagria^^nA dyeth.

§ 175'. An.iiGo. /?f/.j»//is made Pope, caWeA Alexander the 3d; and O.lavian, called Vicicr the 4th, is made Pope by others, and late four year.=-, and (even months. Tnis is, Q.khOfiHpbriif.'^, the ^Jxh Schifin, or double P^-

D d d pacy.

pacy. Three more lucceeded Clement , to keep up the duplicate before Mex^nder dyed, of whom one Reigned five yeai-s, and another feven.

y4lexatjder addrefleth himfeif to the Emperor Ftrdertck to heal the Schifin ; who therefore bids both the Popes come to him, tliat he may hear the Cafe : But Jlesfitidtr himlelf Rhilcth,and gets aWay. The Enipei-or fendcth twu Billiopsto him to lummon him to a Council; Alexander rcfufeth to appear. The Bidiops go to Othivimi (I'iBor ) and the Emperor calleth a Council, and this Council with the Emperor make Oclavian the confirmed Pope. (Qucr. Whether tha n'/is not f.s good Authority as Alcxander'j greater namber of the Cardinals ? ) Hereupon Alexander curftth the Pope Victor, and the Emperor, and ftndeth Letters to Chrifliian Princes to tell them that he did it juftly: ( Wonderful! that Empires and Kingdoms could be then difpofed of by Cur-pn^ ? ) The Emperor fc'.zcth on many of the Church-Cities. Alexander re-turneth to Rome, but findeth ib many againft him thathedurft notftay there, but flieth into France, invited by King Vhilip; and there again at a Council, curfeth the Emperor. The Emperor Frederick deftroyeth Milan, and tranlla-ttth thence to (Jolen the fiippofed Bodies of the A'L!gi, or three wife men that 05" came to Bethlehem ! ( Is it not flrange what brought them to Milan ? and how they came all to dye there together.'' and how all their Bodies came to be known ? O the wifdom of Rowe ! ) The reft of the Italian Cities and States raifc an Army againft him ; he (cnderh to the King of France to end the Schifm, by bringing Pope Alexavder with him to a Council, where he would meet him with Viclcr. Di'vo is the appointed place between France and Germany: The Emperor with Vi^or and fome Kings con>eth to the Council; Alexander refulcth, becaufe he cali'd it rot, and calls another at lours in France. The Emptor angry returneth to Germxvy, and fendeth Viftor into Italy, where he dyeth, and Guido, called Pafchal the jd, is choftn after him. The Romans chofe Confiils that were Alexanders Fricnds,and feud for him to Rome, and receive him. The Italians ihen arm againft the Emperor ; who conieth v/Ith an Army into Italy, and takcth Ancona. The Greek Emperor is drawn to promife the Pope a great Army againft Frederick, fb he would unite the Empire and Churches again. This afrightcth the Emperor. The Tiifculanes and the Abanes had a War with the Romans that opprefled them with Tribute, and gave the Romans a grievous overthrow. The Emperor beliegeth Rome; William of Sicily (ends help to the Pope. The People of Rome intreat the Emperor for Peace, which he promiftth, on condition the worthier Pope may be cholcn, and theSchifhi ended. The Pope Alexander hearing of this, liieth (ecretly by Ship. The Plague drivecii the Emperor from RcTne ; he goeth into Germany. The Pope's Friends in Italy get ftrength. The Greek Emperor Emanuel (t-ndeth yet larger offers to the Pope, if he would rcftore him the Weftern Empire by Rc-union. Pope Pafchal dyeth. The Tiifculane Cardinal, called Califius the 3d, i? cholen in his ftead,and reigned feven years, ( faith Onu^hr.) But the Tufculanes refufmg liim, he goeth to

AlextiH-

Alexander, and refignerh to him all his right in Tttfculum. Whcreuprt the Tufculanes rcceivt Alexander, who there heard the Ambaflador of Hetiry King ©f England, purging him of the guilt of the death of Tio. Becket; and lent into England two Cardinals with power to examine all the matter; who im-poftd on the King, though (wearing he was innocent, that for Penance he fliould maintain Soldiers tor Jerufalem, and for three years fhould haA'e an Array againft the Barbarians, and defend the Church-liberties in his Land , and not hinder Appeals to Rome ; All which he fware : [ B) v>h!ch,iM\\ Platht/t, he merited that the Title of the Kingdom of England Jliould he transferred on 'tB him, and his Heirs, by the fo^^s ccnfent: whence it ts ohferved that aU the Kings of England do f^ecog?iize ( or acknowledge ) the Rights of tl}f Kingdcm from the Pope of Rome. ] A juft Reward for their fcrnng the Titular Servant of Servants in his peftilent Ambition ! That he iliovild thence take them for his Vallals, and take himfclf for the difpofer of their Crowns ; ftooping to fuch Priefts, doth make them Kings of Kings.

Yet Alexander hath not got polTellion of Rome it felf, lb far was he from being received by all the world ; and (b k)w did he condefcend as to o^er the Citizens, [ That if they would receive htm, he would come in peace,and meddle •with nothing but Divine matters, leaving to them the care of fccular things: And when they would not grant htm this much, he went to Signia. ] Was this man tmly the Bifhop of Rome, that had no more of the Citizens confent fo much as to dwell among tlicm ? There he C.monizcth the Archbifhop of Canterbury, TIk. Becket, for a Saint. The EmpCTor entcreth Itafy, and ta-keth many Cities, but the Ff»f//<»«.t owning the Pope, and he being wearied with Wars, at Papia treateth of a Peace. But this not taking, the Emperor (hortly returned with another Army into Italy, but was Co hard put to it by the Millanois and others in one fight, that he narrowly efcapcd death himfelh This one lofi made the Nobles that followed him fiy, 77'^f they fiijftred this, becaufe they fought unlawfully ai^ainil the Church j and if he made nr>t his peace prefently with the Pope, they would go home: So that the Emperor \ias forced to ftihmit to the Pope, for fear of being for(aken by his Subjects and Soldiers.. At Vinicethcy met, and the Emperor killing the Pope's feet, credible Hillori-ans fay. That the Pope rrod on his Neck fcomfuUy, and profanely repeating the words of the'PfAm,[ThouPhilt treadon the Lim and Addtr,5cc.Pf.g i.i g.) But Barcnius znd Pi:i»ius will not believe this,though z^Fowlis noteth,p.a6 r. it is recorded by Cificomu^, Maffon. and abundance more of their own Hifto-rians, and prefcrved in the Archives of the Library at Venici, and the Picture of the Story h;mg'd publickly in the Senate Houfe.

The Emperor's fcvcrity againft them of Milan was not for nothing : They not only brake their Oath by Rebellion, but when his wife Beatrix came to (ee the City, fct her on a Mule backward with the tail in her hand, and fo led her in (com fi-om one Gate oat at tlic o^\^t>. \V liit may VK>t (bcli provocatiorh; do to an Emperor ? D d d x The

■til

^

•ai

^

The filv that there was about the Emperor's holding the Stirrup to Pope Urhatt, is recorded by divers Hiltorlans: And how the Kings of France and Englard did the like hy Jkxnndtr ; And how this on debate was laid to be their due.

Tlic truth is, the Papifts Princes of Europe ihcmfelvcs are beholden to the Proteftants, for redeeming them trom Servitude,and their Kingdoms from the nicer will and mercy of the Pope.

§ ij6. The Pope having conquered the Emperor by Curfing,is pad doubt now of Conquering Rome, ( for (iich Men were Bifhops by Cf)ni]ueft,and not by Conlent. ) To Tti((tili<ni be gocth,and now demandcth of the Romans , that they abrogate the Office ol ihe Conlials: But finding this too hard a task to be done at once, hemakclh a bargain with them, that none fliould by the People be chofen Confu's, till they hud taken an Oath of Fidelity to the Pope, in his own propodd words, and that they would never do any thing againft: his dignity. And fo Akxafidtr goeth the third time roi?ow£',and calls a Council; but quickly dyeth,when after twenty years contention,he thought he was new fctled in peace,^?;. 11 85'.

§ 177. Onu^hritK, after RaJaviciis Frijing. ^oan. Cremon. Abb. Urfperg.&cc. fiith that it was th'isVope Alexamier, that firll ordained that the Clergy and People being excluded from the Election of the Pope, ( and i'o he was no trueBifliop) the choice (hould be iri the Cardinals fhut up in Conclave, and goby two third parts of their Votes, to avoid SoliiCns for the time to come. Ojiupbrius (aith, that he had the writing of Vope Lhciih the 3d, that ftith, lie was the Hrft that waschofen by the Cardinals Icrutiny, ( though the Cardinals in a loofer way were lately made Eleftors before. )

He that is no Bifliop, is no Univcrfil Rlfhop or Pope: But he that is not chofen by the Clergy or People of that Church, is noBIlhop. The Minor is proved by the Canons of many Councils.

§ 17 8. The Epiftlcs of Alexander are fo full of Ufiirpation and Treafbn againft Princes, that Binnius thought it beft to omit them, and give you but the Titles: But thole that concern England arc in Mat. Tans, whom Btn-niHs referreth you to, though he oft reproach him for fpeaking truth. Many are about Tbo. Becket Archblfhop of Canterburyfi.nd againft the Emperor and the King of England, forbidding the Coronation of Henry the 3d, and liil^ pending Roger Archbifhopof York for Crowning him, and luch like, to iTiew how he was King of Kings.

§ 179. CCCCXXI. Of the Councils in AUxander^% time recorded by £;ww;«j,thefirft is y4». 1160. at P<?/>w called by the Emperor which voted

ViSor

F^

their CoiincHs abrui'^cd. -. « o

-ts

-ts

Victor Pope, and condemned RoIantJ, called Akxandir. The Letters of the Emperor and the BIfliops tell us, that this Council conlilled of mmimirable Bilhops and Abbots, and that the Emperor, after a good Speech, departed, and left all to their judgments: And that it was there proved by the Oaths of many \^'itnefles, that ViHor was chofen by the full confent of the People and Clergy, and fome Cardinals, and that, twelve days before Roland was cIio(cn j and that Roland was prcftnt and contradiitcd not, but bid them obey him that was chofen : And that after being Chancellor he ftole out of the Citv, and the major part of the Cardinals having before the death of the Lift Pope entered a C-onfederacy, to choofe none but one of thcm(clves that confederated (againft the Emperor) they fccrctly chofc/Jo/^W; the People and Clergy ( a multimdc fubicrlbing ) all dedring F/i?cr ; Three or four Kings alio coiifenting to accept him, when the Council declared him the onely true Pope,. and Roland a perfidious Uliirpcr.

Here is all the Romans, Clergy and People, the Emperor and many Princes, and a Council of innumerable Prelates of Germany, Italy^ &c. againft the "major Vote of an upftart (brt of Men called Cardinals, that had conti^derated treachcroufly before : And yet the.jRow^w Papacy is bySuccelVion from this Man, that was no true Biihop himlelf.

CCCCXXII,CCCCXXIir,CCCCXXIV,CCCCXXV. At,. 1161. Alexander got a Council at C/tTwowr, and another at Nenmarkct, and another at Belrjacum ; and A71. i i 64. another at Tows, to curie the Emperor and Pope Viflor. The French taking his part, ( and the Englip at laft ) kept up the Schilm and Contention.

The Reader muft take tins notice by the way, that fuch Meetings as wc call Parliaments, the Popifh Hiftorians often call Cotmcils, that they may draw Men to think that what Parliaments did was done bv Ciergv Power ; And when Lords, Commons and Bifliops met in the fame Aflcmbh', (omc called "^ them Parliaments, and Ibme Councils i And as Spehnati lunh, pjg.^z^. The fame Aftemblies were indeed mixr, jind partly Civil or Royal ( as he callcth them, becaufc called by the King ) and partly Ecclefiaftical. But among the Rcmanifls, Councils arc greatly advanced by this alcribing to them the Ada and Power of Parliaments.

Accordingly the Parliament 2.1 Clarendon is called a Council by £;»»/«/, (CCCCXX\''I ) by the reproachful name of ConcilLibulum, bccaufe they (et-led the Rights of the King as Ruler of the Clergy , and would not let the Pope be King of England, ( which is the Henrumn, or Roval Herefie, to be punifhed by Fire or other death on Kings themfelves, when the Pope is big enough to do it. ) In this Council or Parliament, 7/jow.w of Canterbury , and the reft of the Bilhops concurred with the reft (' for fear. ) But Thomas when

he

^(jo ' Chwxh'BiJhjry of '3iJ})0ps and

he came home repented , and impofcd (o ftrlct Penance on himfelf, that the Pope hearing of it, was fain to ablolve him.

§ i8d. CCCCXXVIL Jn. 1171. Bittnius ia.it\\that Ireland being given to the Pope as Cxjn as they became Chriftians, the Pope gave It to King Henry the id, as (bon as he had conquered it ; and a Council at CaJJ'el was called for Reformation.

Note here, i. That the Pope hath great reafbn to (cek the Convcrfion of the Kingdoms of the world, if they are b'swhen they are converted.

oO-

I. That it is no wonder if five parts of fix of the world be ftill Infidels, or at leaft that they are unwilling to yield to Popifli Chriftianity, when Heathen and Infidel Kings muft lole their Kingdoms, and become Subjedh to the Pope, if the;' turn to Popifli Chrillianlty.

3. That it hath long been a cunning way of Bounty with Popes, to give Princes their own Kingdoms and Conqudls, when they cannot take them from them.

CCCCXXVm. An. 1179. was the Synod at Venice for reconciliation.

§ 181. CCCCXXIX. An. 1180. Alexander he'mg at peace, called a Council at jRowf, which they call General, or the i ith General Council approved at Latcran : In which are many reforming Canons, and many for the Papal power. The firft is (as aforefaid ) te confine the power of Pope-making to two third parrs of the Cardinals only. Another to degrade thofe ordained by the three Anti-Popes. Another that no one have many Churches, dfc. And the laft againft fbme called Catbari, Patrini, or Puhlicani as Here-ticks, giving thofe Indulgences that will fight againft them, and abfolving all Inferiors from ail Fidelity and Duty to them, d^c. Some think that thefc were the Waldenjes^Qimt the Alhigenfes. But I have elfcwhcre fhewed (againft Mr. Dan'vers ) tliat there were (everal forts then in'thoie Countries, Ibme Aiani-chee Hereticks, and (bme good Chriftians called IValdenjei, and Alhigtnfes, but againft the Pope and his Superftitions, whom the Papifts would jc.nible together to difgrace the bcft: who were, as fome of their own Writers (e.g. Sanders lib. 7. de vif. Mc-itar. ) fay, A pnrtirn cf the Hen;icians,\\-\it is, of the Emperor //<?»)-ys Herefie, that held the Pope's falfe ufiirplng Exco.-imunicatl-ons were to be contemned (not as from Henry their Teacher ) th,.t is, they were Royalifts, and againft the Pope's ruling the abufcd world by the Curfing ivay.

§ i8x. To this Council, Crah and Binnius have annexed a voluminous Appendix of Decrees, of which many are notable. As that no Brjlw^ may

juj^end

fujpend a Freshter without the jttdgment of his CLrpter. That a Terjtired Clergy-man is to be perpetually deprived, and may not govtm a Church. That in cafe of ambiguity ofivords^wt muH have recotirfe to the common underfiand-ing of them, with divers othere.

"SB

§ 1^3. Alexander <^y'mg, Lucius the jd is the firft chofen by the Carcii* nals, according to Alexander i Latcran Council, (as is aforcfaid.) And to perfect the Papacy, having got the choice of the Bifhop out of the hands of the Clergy and People of Rome, his Flatterers next perfuade him to put down the Order and Name of Senators, which attempting, his Party by the Cities ,^ infiirreiStion had their eyes put out, and the Pope forced to leave the City; and at Luca, while he provoked Princes to ftnd Soldiers to ferufalcm and Afia, he dyed.

§ I 84.. CCCCXXX. One Council this Pope had at Verona, as they fty, where the Emperor Frederick, met him, and (bllicitcd him to reftore all the Bifhopsand Clergy depofcd that had adhered to him and the Anti-Popes. The Pope contented,but (aid he could not do it without another Council: (By which it appeaieth, that this at Verona was no true Council.}

§ I 85-. Urb jn:ts \.\\c jd isncxt Pope, called7«r^rt«w/, as an Ipccndiary, by yli>. Urffpergenf. but better fpolcen of by Platina :, he (ate above one year. It's (iiid that he dyed of grief for the lo(i of Jerufalem in his time.

CCCCXXXI. A Council he had at Payis,thcy ray,for 'Je>uJaUm,too !ate.

§ I 86. Gregory the 8ch (ucceedeth him two montlas, and dyeth.

§ I 87. An. I 187. Chment the ^d (iicceeded him, who importuneth the Chiiftlan Kings to reco\er ycrufu'em. The Emperor Frederick, the King of -ti France, and Richard King of England, go in per(bn. The Emperor was drowned in Afa, as he was wafbing himftlf in a River. The reft do much, but all to little purpoie, but to the great detlruftion of man)- Chriftiai)s. The Pope lendeth an Army into Sicily to claim it for the Church, becau(e the King dyed childlels: There aUb bloody havock is made.

Av. 1188. An AfTembly at Far is furthered the Holy War, (Birmius will call It a Council.)

§ I 88. Though this Chmais fate but three years, and five months, he ended the long War between the Rowans and the Popc,granting them their Senators, but depoiing their Tatrictus or Head, that Union might not (bengthcn them.

§ 189, C^clejline the 3d cometh nexr, who to get Sictly from Tanned, gets

out

out of a Nunnery a devoted Virgin that was the Hcirefs, and man-icth her to the young Emperor Htnry the 6ch, and givcth him with her the Kingdoms ot Sicily and Naples, (when he can get them ) and Co wholly obligeth him to ihc C hinch jand to liirrender TufcuIum,which the Rontiins utterly demolifh. Sicilj the Emperor gets, and puts out Jancred^s eyes, but Naples was too liard for liim,his Soldiers dying or the Plague.

How the King of France znd the King of £»^/<7»//disagreed mValefiine \ and how ilic King of Fratice returned home, and treacheroully joined with '/w/jw the King's Brother, to invade the King of EnglancTi Dominions, and lb called him from attenipting the Siege of jerufalem, and how he was taken Prifoner by the way home, many Hiftories acquaint you.

§ 190. Binnius out of Urfpergenf. tells us, how this Pope that had fcnt the King of France into Pah/line, ior hJs repudiating his Wife after, interdiiSted the whole Kingdom of France the ufe of holy thing. O horrid Villany, Cj" worfe than Heathenifli ! For one Man's Family-lin, to forbid lb great a Kingdom to worfhip their God and Saviour. Saladinc when he had taken Ja-K/a-leni, dealt better with the Chrirtians. O bewitched Princes and People, that by their degenerate Prektcs would be brought to fuffer or iiibmit to fuch a wickednefs, contrary to tl;e nature of all Religion I O wicked Prelates and Clergyjihat would obey an Ufurper in fuch a wicked Interdiul .' But the King of France grievoufly puniflied his Clergy tor the Fach For it was done by the Pope's Legat and the Bifhops at a Council at Divion : (the CCCCXXXII. here.)

§ 191. Next Cometh the great Pope Innocent the 3d, ( a young man of 3o years old calledZ,ori6«ri»j j y^n. 1198.

§ 191. The Duke of Saxonj,Otho the 4th,(uccecdeth the Emperor Hertij the 6th. But TljiUp of SiH'via is his Competitor, and the King of France was for Thitip ( Htnrfi Brother ) and the Pope for Otho, hating Fre<lcrlck\ Line. Some fay PM;^ conquered and depoftd Otho, but Petavius, after divers others, ftith, that they agreed tliat P/jtlip fliould Reign quietly during his life , and O/Z'o afterward (ucceed him. After ten 'years 0/Z'o, a Palatine of ihc Rbine, killeth / l)ilip, and Oiho again Reigncth quietly, marrying Ttnlip''s daughter. But (teking to poflcfs yipulia and Calabria by Arms,and not obeynig the Pope's Prohibition, the Pope Excommunicatcth him firll:, and after Icntenceth him deprived or depofcd, which at his command, the Archbifhop of Mcntz, pub-lifheih ; which OtLo dtfpiling, the Pope to Ifiew that he can make and un-raukt Emperors and Kings, fets u^ Fred.rick¥J\ng of Sicilj, /itwy the (Jths Son by Cfmfiantia, (the Nun formerly, faith Binnms, w-hxchPaavius denicth) and commandeth all tf take him for Emperor. The King of France Hands i or fm/tnt^, and the King of £??»/<«W for O.'Z^o. Ojho is overcome bejng

iorlaken.

forfaken and dyeth for grief; and Fnderick^ (a young man twenty years old) prevaileth.

§ 193. Faffing by the Englifli ard Scottifli Councils, (for the Sabbath or Lords day.) CCCCXXXIII. The Roman Council that dcpofcd the Emperor 0/to for rebellion againft the Pope was, yln. 1210.

§ 194. This Pope excommunicated our K-ing fohn for rejc<n;ing Stephen Latightan Arch-Bifhop oiCmtertury : Yea, he depofed him ^nan-tum infe, and interdt^ed Gods worjliip to the whole Kingdom, for fix years ^ three months and fourteen dayes. (O wicked Bifliops and Priefts that would give over the worfiiip of God becaufe an UCurper forbad it/) The Pope gave the King of France commifilon to <*ize on England. King ^ohn is conlfraincd to pleafe tlic Pope. What wars were hereupon in Ftig-/<t»«i,and how he gave up his Kingdom at laff to the Popc,and to hold it as of him, our own Hiftorians certifie us, yea, and how he offered the King of Aiorocco to iarn Mahometan for his help.

§ 195. CCCCXXXIX. Next Cometh the famous 4th. Zaffr<jKf Council called by the Papifts the nth. General, approved of 400 Bifhops and (")Thati"s 800 other Fathers (for others they have) an. 12 ij. Rcgn. Frtdcr.i. jocallcd

In the firft Cap. is the Creed and their Tranfubffantiation aflerted, as i7iv|!s'""'

* the way of Union between Chrift and us, we taking bis flcfh as he thaniot ' took ours: and that no one cin make this Sacrament but a Pricfl: only the

* ritely ordained according to the Keycs cf the Church which Chrift gave '•''•'"ying 'to the Apoftlesand theirfucccOburs. But the Sacrament ofBaptifin fav- I^VT"'-'eth by whom foever it is ritely done. ationbuc

*The zdyCap, condemnetb Abbot /'r.<«c/;?;>«'sdo(flrine who oppofed Lom- alio the ' Lvd as making a quaternity for faying that ^idam fnmm.t res efi Pater Henncun

* Fiiifts et SpiritfJs Sanctis, et ilia (res) nen ejt gcnerans^ nccgemta, Hfc j ^ * 'procedens, which the Council owneth. Roy.uty

'The 3d. Cap, is this | We excommunicate and anathematize every orthac •Herefie C*) extolling itfelfagainft this holy Orthodox Catholick faith f^ingsarc 'which we before expounded, condemning all Hercticks by what names j'^'^'^?.''^^ •foever called; having indeed divers faces, but fails lyed together, be- by^Popcs 'caufe they agree in vanity in the (ame thing, ishert m-

' And being damned let them be left to the prefent fecular power or winded j ' their Bailiffs to be punifhed by due animadverfion : the Clerks being l'"^ ^|' 'firft degraded from their orders; fo that the goods of liich damned tobccx. 'ones if they be Lay-men be confifcated, but ifCletks, let them be ap- termini-' plied to the Churches from which they had their ftipends. ted or

'But for thofe that are found notable only by fufpicion, unlefs they ^'^ethe 'fliew their innocency by a congruous purgation, according to the con- bcd^tpo. 'fiderations of the (ufjiicioa and the quality of the perlbn, let them be fed tor ' fmitten with the fword of anathema (curfed from Chrift)(.jj and avoid- not doing 'ed by all till they have given condign fctisfadion: fo tb^it if they re-,'^"

* main a year excommunicate, they be then condemned as Hereticks. upo^'i{)r

'And let the fecular powers be warned and induced, and if need be picion;^ '

E e e * com-

' compelled by ccclefiaftical ccnfurc, what offices Toever they are in,

* that as they defire to be reputed &■ taken forbclievers/o they publickly 'r^i^i-.-iw o.ir/^ for the defence of the faith, that they will ftudy in good 'earmft to exterminate to. their utmoft power, from the lands futK 'jtCt to their jurifdidion, all Hereticks.denoted by the Church; fo that

* every one that is henceforth taken into any power either fpiritual ^ ' or temporalj fhall be bound to confirm this Chapter by his oath.

'But if the temporal Lord rfquired and warned by the Church, (hali ' negled to purge his countrey of this Heretical tilth.let him by the Me-

* tropolitane and other Comprovincial Bifliops be tyed by the bond of .'excommunication: And if he contemn to fatisfie within a year, Ice 'that be ttf^nified to the Pope, that he may denounce his vafTals thence-' forth abfolved from his fidelity (or allegiance) and may expofe his

* countrey to be feized on by Catholicks who exterminating the Here-

* ticks may poffefs it without any contradiftion, and may keep it in the ' purity of faith, fiving the right of the principal Lord, fobeit he him-' felf put no obftacle hereto nor oppofe any impediment: The fame Law 'notwithftanding being kept about them that have no principal Lords.

• And the Catholicks that taking the badgt of the Crofs (hall gird

*themftlves for the extermining of Hereticks, fhall enjoy that induf-

(j^ 'gence,andbe fortified with that holy priviledge which is granted to them

* that go to the help of the holy land.

'And we decree tofubjedtto excommunication, the believers and re-'ceivers, defenders and favourers of Hereticks; firmly ordaining, that 'when any fuch an one is noted by excommunication, if he contemn to 'fatisfie within a year, let him thenceforth be ;/>/o;«rc made infamous, 'and not be admitted to any publick Offices or Councils, nor to 'chofe any to fuch, nor to be a witnefs; and let him not have potvcr to

* make a Will, nor to witnefs, nor have fucceffion to any inheritance. And 'no man (hall be compelled to anfwer him in any bufinefs (or fuitj but 'he (hall be compelled to anfwer others: And if he be a iudgc, hisfen-'^tence (hall be void, and no Caufes fhall be brought to his hearing: If 'he be an Advocate, his plea ('or defence) fhall not be admitted: If a Re-'gifter, the inftruments made by him, fhall be of no momenta! all, but 'be damned with the damned Author. And the like we will have obferv-•ed in the like cafes. But if he be a Clergyman, let him be depofed 'from all office and benefice, that as he is in the greater fault, the grcat-'cr vengeance may be exercifed on him.

'And if any, after fuch are marked by the Church, fhall contemn to 'avoid them, let them be fmitten with the fentence ofexcommunicati-*on till he give due (atisfadion. And let no Clergyman give fuch pefti-'lent perluns the ecclefiaftical Sacraments, nor prefume to give them 'Chriftian burial, nor receive'their alms or otFcrings: otherwife let 'them be deprived of their offices, and never be thereto reftored with-'out theefjecial indulgence of the Apoltolick fcat.And fo theReguIars on •whom this fhall be infiiited, that their priviledges be not kept in that cDiocefs, in which they prefume to commit fuch cxctflcs. 'And

'And becaufcfbme under pretence (or form) of Piety, denying (is 'the Apoftle faith) the f»r/*? (or power) thereof, challenge to them-

* (elves the authority to preach, when the fame Apoftle faith [how *fliall they preach unlefs they be fent:] Let ail thofe be tyed with the 'bond of excommunication, who being prohibited, or not fent do pre-'fumepublickly or privately to ufurp the office of preaching without 'authority received from the feat Apoftolick or the Catholick Bifhop of •the Place : And if they fpeedily repent not, let them be punifhed with

* other competent punifhmcnt.

• And we moreover add, that every Arch-bifhop or BiHiop by himfcif *or his Arch-Deacon, or fit honeft perfons fhall twice or once in a year^ *go about his parifti where Fame faith that Hereticks dwelJ, and fhall ' there compel two or three men of good teftimon^', or if he fee fit, the ' whole neighbourhood to fwear, that if they know any Hereticks there "^ 'or any that fcek fecret conventicles, or that ditfer in life or manners ' from the common converfation of the faithful, be will ftudy to tell 'them to the BiOiop. And let the Bifhop himfelf call the accufed to his 'prefence, who unlefs they purge themfelves of the guilt ob;e(fl:ed, or

* if after purgation made, the^' rclapfe into the former perfidie (ball be 'Canonically punilhcd. And if any of them refufing by damnable obfti-'nacythc bond of an oath, will not fwear, let them be for this very 'thing reputed Hereticks.

«We will therefore and command, and flridly command in the ver- ^ *tuc of obedience, that the Bifhop do watch diligently through their 'Dioccfs, for theefteilaal execution of thele things, if they will Efcape 'Canonical revrngc. And ifanyBilhop be found negligent and remift 'in purging his Dii-.cefs from the leaven of Heretical pravity, when ' this appeareth by certain figns, let him be depoled from his Epifco-«pal office, and another fit man be fubftituted in his place, who will and 'can confound heretical pravity.

The 4th. Ch.ip. is againft the Greeks for rejecfting the Roman Pope, and 'and fofar abhorring the Latincs, that \f Latme Priefts did bur celebrate ' at their Altars, the Grcekj would not ufe them again till they had wafh-'ed them, as being dcfiledt: yea, they rcbaptized thofe that the LMine 'Priefts baptized (the world did not then obey the Pope, how inlblent-ly foever he trod on the divided Princes of the Frt/?, by the confpiracy of their Prelates.) And here he was ufcd in his kind, and hereticated and excommunicated, and curfed as he did by others.

The jtb, C>:ap. [' was to confirm the old Patriarchate (*) on conditi- (*) O 'on they receive the Pall from the Pope, and fwear fidelity and obedi- ^^^'untifal; •ence to him, and make thofe under them to do the like] O daring chal- P°r^' Icnge and innovation !

And yet Ch^p. the 9th. they grant that diverfity of Rites by Bifhops of their own languages and cuiioms be ufcd^ fo they will but be the fworn valfais of the Pope.

E e e 2 And

And yet Cap. 8 * in their direftion for inquifition, even this Council

'decreed that the accufed be admitted to fpeak for himfelf/andnof on-

' ly the words of the witnefles but their names alfo to be told him and

'publiOied, and the exceptions and rcplyes admitte^d"^! left by fup-

05" /preflng their names, men be emboldned to defame, and by excluding

* exceptions emboldned to fwear falfly.]]

Becaufe the fuppofed Hereticics got ground by preaching, the Caj>.io. (decreed the fetting up of Preachers inftead of the BiQiops or to help them, becaufe they wanted ability or time.

The 13. C;*/". was to forbid making any more new Religions, there were fo many made in their Church before.

* The 17. Cap.\v3s againft Biftiops that fate up feafting,drinking,or prating till after midnight, and lie in bed the next morning and come not four times in a year to Mafs, and then talk with Lay-.men at the time of worfliip.

Cap. 43. forbids all Clergy men that have not temporal eftatesun-(fj. der them, to take any oath of allegiance for fidelity) to any Lay-man.

The 44. is to invalidate Lay-Ruler's Laws about ecclefiaftical matters (as Glebes, Mortuaries, d(C.) the reft I pafs by,

§ 196. In ih\sConnc]]hei\ies the ^Ibigenfes iud Ahhot foachtm,y4I-ntaricHi a learned man was condemned; they fay he faid that • -^// Chrift-C^ * tans were C/rnJIs members, and (they add, how truly is doubtfu!l)//</';r-td by the fens with him:thatChrifi's body was no more in thefacrament than tit another thmg: That Incenfe as offered in the Church is Idolatry: That every Chrtfiian is bound to believe that he is a member of Chrifi : That if Adam had not finned there Jhonld have been no generating in Faradife nor difference of fexes.'} We muft take thefe things on the report of fuch as Sanders, with fome other that they charge on himjfor which when they had killed him with grief, they dig'd up his corps and burnt it, as they were then burning multitudes of the living.

§ 197. In this CoancW Stephen Laughton Arch-Bifhop of Canterbury was depofed for taking part with the Barons of England againft King John; whofecafe was now become the Pope's when he had given him his Kingdom: in fo much that when the ArchBilhop confefled and begged abfolution, his Holinefs anfwered [^ By St. Peter, Brother, thou 'Jhalt not [0 eafily get abfolation, who -haft done fo m.my and fo great inju-eO* * /;es, not only to the K, <»/Englandj but to the Church c/Rome.].

§ 198. Let the Reader note, that 1. General Councils iirc the Pa-pifts religion. 2. That this is one of tireir greateft approved General Councils. 3. That therefore by their Law and Religion, they are bound to exterminate all Proteftants, and that all Princes niuit be depofed that will not execute it, and their dominion given to others that will. 4. That all Proteftants and others called Hereticks are dead men in Law and want

but

their Cowicils abridged. ,oj

but ;udgmcnt and execution where their Law is in force. 5-. That tte '^ HetiricUnherefie'xs one thiz is fudged fuch by their Councils. 6. That therefore not only all ProceftantKings,but allPapifts that are for the fafe-ty andpewer of Kings againft the Popes pretended power of condemning and depofing them,are Heretickstobe exterminated and burnt (by many Canons.) 7. Therefore Kings are beholden to the Proteftant reformation (difabling the Pope to execute his Laws and Religion^ for their Crowns and lives. 8. That when ever any King or others fet up Popery and the power of their Laws and Councils in a Kingdom that is reformed, the fubjefts are prefently dead men in Law, being to be dcftroycd as Here-ticks, ('though Policy or want of power may hinder the execution.) 9. ^. Whether it be lawful for any King ('or in his authority) fo to de-ftroy his Kingdom, or to make all (or the generality of) his rubie(fls dead men in Law? 10. Whether by thefc Laws the Pope and his contenting Bifhops have not publifhed themfelves to be hrftes Regum et Regm-rnm, if not humam generis j and are not fo to be efteemed ?

§ 199. Note alfo that D. HejUn, in his Certamen EpijtoUre againft me, anlweretb, that it is not Kings but temporal Lords that are mentioned in this Council j and that he and BiiTiop Taylor, and Bifliop Gunning, and Bifhop Pcarfon in their difpute publifhed by Terrct or fobifan, and others before them, have maintained that thefe Canons were but propofed by Pope Innocent, and not confented to and paflcd by the Council. But to the firft It is clear i.that by Dommt Temporalcs Councils ordinarily meai Emperors and Kings as vvcll as any others. 2. That the words of the Council are exprefs {fcddem mhiiomtnus lege fervatd circa eos qui nenha' ' bent Domtnes principalej.']

And to the 2d. I anfwer i.The Church of Rome atftuallv taketh this for one of their approved General Councils, and will not be beholden to our Bilhops for their friendly favour and excufe:And therefore it is all one to Ls whether the Council confented or not. 2. Mr. Jlcmy Dodwel in his • late confiderations how f.tr tapifis mjy be trufled by Princes, &c. pag.167 & pag. 174 &c. hath fully anlWered all the reafbns given by thefe Bifhops (as Terret did in part before;)and hath added abundant proof that the(e Canons were pafled in that Council. 1. From the Council at O.v/or^/where Stephen Laughton himfelf was. 2. From Mat. Paris who is alledged for the contrary,; FtomGregorj ^th's decertals .j..From the caCcof fohn Blmt eled Bifhop of Cdnterbmj recited by Mut, Pans an. 1232' 5- From Orf (7 the Pope's Legate, in A'f. Pans an. 1237. and that London Council* 6. From the Popes Letter to Ottaa:. izjS in A'/. Paris. 7. From Hom-TiHs the 3d's condemnation of Rich, d: Aianfco Bifhop of Durham. 8. From P. Clcm:Kt the 5th's Bull for King Philip the Fair, 9. From the Council of Tarr.igon. lo. From the Council at ruiina under CUwent 4th. r I, From the General Gotincil at Ljons an^QX Gregory iotb.12.From

the

the Sahi»e Council in Spain. 13. From a Council at ToUtiounicr Btttediil 12th. 14. And from the Council oi Trent. 15. From the Common fenfe of ihe CiCc of ^I'iot foacJjim. 16. And of the word Tranfubftantiation. 17. And of annual confefllon : All taken as fetled by this Council.

So that as the Papifts will not accept of this Charity of our Bifhops ih excufing their Religion from this part of guilt, lb there is little place indeed for an excufe.

§ 200. The Papifts themfelvcs though they have many other Councils and inftances to prove the Popes Claim and Pradice of depofing Princes, yet will not let go this as being a famous General Council : But when here in £«^/^<i they would excufe their Religion from Rebellion, they ufe^ fay, that this being not an * Article of Faith, but a Canon of " Pradice, they are not bound to take it as infalUhlc.To which the faid MrMenr; Dodwtli ibid. pag. 185. hath largely anfwfred^to which I refer the Reader; adding only, that That which mult be Believed to be of God is not ahva^ matter ofprafiice, jet what mnfi be done as bj the VfiU of God, Ktujt alwaies be, firfi the matter of faith: we mult believe that it is Go£s will before we can obey it as his will. The full anfwer fee as aforecited.

§ 201. In the performance of the Laws of this Council multitudes called bereticks were burnt: Their St. Dow<«/ci^ preaching to the people to ferfwade them to take arm§ under the Sign of the Crofs to deftroy tj. the Hereticks, ibr to get pardon of their fins, fo that from firfttolaft many hundred thoufand (fome fay two millions, but that feemeth too muchj were killed in France, Savoy, Germany, Italy, and Other Coun-treys : fee S^w. C/er;^Martyrol. and Arch Bi(hop VJher de fuccejf. Ec-def Thus hath Papal Rome been built and maintained by Blood, Rebellion andConfufion, under pretence of Church Purity,Unity and Government, and all by the pretended KEYES.

§ 202. Honorms 3d. fucceedeth Innocent'. He confirmeth the l>o-minican, and Fraiicifcan Religions and Sainteth Francis. He procureth a new expedition towards lertt/alem, and the deftrudtion of many. The Emperor fnWency^followeth his predeceflbrs, and \madeth Italy, con-quereth Sicily and Apulia ('being his own by his Mothers title.) But the Pope excommunicateth him, and by the mediation of ^oi&« King offeru' falem (in titlej he is abfolved.

§ 203. CCCCXL. Stephen Laugitonhcmg refioTcd, a Synod at Ox-tS" ford paflfed many general excommunications, and there numbered all the Holy-dayes to be kept, and made feveral Canons ; One good one was, £ that every great Parijh have two or three Prtsbpers, becaufc of the great-aefs of the work, and if one (hould be fick, &e. Another (repeated many

theiy Councils abridged. ^^^

ny old Canons) that no fees he taken for Sacraments or Burials : &c. Anotfier that no Clergy-men JkouU keep their Concubitus PVBLICKLT tn their lodgings, nor elfe vrhere go to them with fcandal^ (A good caution ! for their credit J

§ 104. CCCCXLI. A German Council lamenting that Clergy-men kept their Concubines puWickly and would not difmifs them, forbids this publick keeping of them, C. 1, 2, 3, 5. But dealeth gently with them. But C. 6. thofe that preach when the Bifhop filenceth them, it {maketh infamous and mefiable^ casing them out mthout hope of mercj or "tD refiitution, ab officio et henejicio, and rendering them uncapable for the time to come.

Here the Popes Legate demanded out of every Cathedral two Pretends to be given to Rome (And great reafon that he that giveth all, even Bifhopricks and Kingdoms fliould have fomc again, even what he will.) But it was denied.

§ lOf. CCCCXLII. Alfo in a Synod at Wefimtnfier ^n. 1216. the Pope demanding two Prebends out of every Cathedral, the King anfwered that the matter belonged to all Chrifiendom, and when he fdw what other Kingdoms did herein, he would give his an-fwer. JJ

§ io6. Gregory j>th. is next Pope: He commandeth the Emperor Frtdericl^ 2d. to go recover ferufalem, and excommunicatech him as a dilTembler for his delaics: He re-Sainteth St. Francis and St. Dommtck^. He abfolveth the Emperor upon his payment of an hundred and twenty thoufand ounces of Gold for damage. The greatcft fcdition The Em-and herefie (faith Platmu) rofe at Rom: chat ever was there, fo pcror that the Pope was baniflied ; But a plague ended it that left fearer the i-'ith Ai^r. tenth man alive. Again the Senators and the Pope agree not about Le- P'"^'^|^^^ giflation, and the Pope is fain to be gone again, and gets the Emperor return to protnife him that their conjunift forces {hould affaulc the Romans. The from ye-Emperor faileth, and bids his Souldiers help the Romans, himfelf depar- rnfUem, ting, the Pope by mony hireth them to help him, and recovereth Rovte. ^"^ '"^^^ He fendcth preachers abroad to call men to the holy War : He Sainteth bccaule EUz.abetb daughter to the King of Hungary. An Army goeth into ^fiu the Pojc with T/xe^-iW King q( Navam and others, and is overthrown. He would t^^okhis go to /?owf, but is kept out .• The Emperor raketh many C'rries in It Jr. P""j*'" Gregory's party get liim into the City: He again curfeth the Emperor, fcn^g jnj and depo(crh him from his Empire (by his prefumptuous fenrence.j fought to The Veneti.iiis help the Pope. The Emperor alHifteth tliem . The Italians betray are divided. In Pifiona two brothers,one called G.tc//'/^ was for the Pope, ^J'"g^? and the uther called Giial was for the Emperor, the Giry was diltrafted \^^^

and

¥

and the naijie oiGutlphs and Cibellines filled Italy with confufion. The Romans were Jigain falling off from the Pope, but he went amon^ them C(t)yjmg the heads of the y:lpoj} Us (you muft believe it,)and by fuppTication and fpeeches moved the People to pity him, and got them to fight a-gjiinft the Emperor J which coft them and others of the Church party in Itaiy dear. The Pope calleth a Council to depofe the Emperor again (to kin one man twice.) But the Emperor way layeth them, and ta-keth many Cardinals and Bifhops, and Imprifons them by the Fi/anes help: Gregory dyed for grief in his 14th. year (or i jtb.)

This is that Pope that by the help of Raymund made the Books of

Decretals. So much out of/'/<*/<«<z. i?»««w addeth that the Emperor

went with an Army into ^Jli in performance of his vow and received

ferafilem yielded to him : And made ten years truce with Saladine, and

' therefore was again excommunicated by the Pope.

hj § 207. In this Popes time, faith Bin, the Divines of Paris after long

difputation defined, that it is a mortal Jin for any man to have two benefices, vphenoneofthemftifficethtofuflainhim,

208. Multitudes of the uilbigenfcs were burnt and killed as Here-ticks. I § 209. CCCCXLIII. A Council at London under Otto the Popes Le-"

* gate was held yin. 1237. the King fending firft to charge them to do nothing againft his rights, and leaving one to fee to it. The Legate was in danger for oppofing Plnraltties, the Bifhop of Worcefier and muU ticudes theatning refiftance, and it wasfufpcnded.

§ 210. Ccelcfiine the 4th is next Pope, but not by the Laterane CanoH by two third parts of the Cardinals: fome fay he lived 18 dales, fome 17 fome i4,(bme fay two Schifmaticks were between. ^

§ 211. The feat was void a year and eight months and more: the Emperor keeping many Cardinals in prifon, but at the requeft of Baldwin . of Confiantinople he releafed them.

§ iiiJnnocent 4th. is next chofenjWho of aCardinal-friend became by intereft a Pope- enemy to the Emperor ; and daring not to ftay in Italy, fled into France, and there calleth a Council of Bifiiops (with thefc he hunted Princes,) and excommunicateth or curfeth the Emperor: where faith Matth. Paris An. 1245 one Prieft being commanded to publifhthe curfe, he doth it thus. [' Good People, I am commanded to pronounce excom-(j5> wiunication againft the Emperer Frederick,f/'f Candles put out and Bells ring-ing:Btit not i^nowing t he reafon, though I know the hatred between them,& that tne doth the wrong,but which I know not;asfar as my power reachethj excom-mmicate& atiathematiae himthatdotJ3verotigf& abfolvebim that[uffers the,

wrong

i

and their Council Abridged, ^o^

wrongs ivhich is fo hurtful to all Chriflcndome. An<3 at Lyons the Pope cmf-cth him again : The Emperor dcfpifed the Popes depofition, and would not give up his Crown, for fear of his curfe. The Popes party choofe Henry Landgrave of 7 W;'«^f Emperor, who is quickly killed bclicgingZ^/w, fas lome (ayJ that party chofe JfilliamEzTlof Najfau after him; Henfy the Son of Fridcrick^, was drawn to rebel, and being overcome by his Father loon afterdicd. And the Emperor not long atter him,by what death it is not agreed, fomc fay poyfoned, others fay Ihflcd by A/^w/rci^his bafe Son i fome fay, he continued impenitent i others that he repented of his oppofing the Pope ("not probable): feme fpcak ill of him> others extol him for Learning and wortbinefs.

^ I5»3. Frederick^ being dead, the Pope travels Frj;;cf, and Matih, Paris faith that at his leaving Lyons, a Crytr called the Citi7ens(who had long entertained him) to his farewcl i and that Cardinal H«go made his farc-' wel Speech, telling them n>bjt good they had done the City: For when ' they came thither they found three or four barpdy houjes, but at their drpjr- e^-| ' tiire tlxy left but one: But that one reached from the Eajl Gate of the City

* to the Tf^ejigatt.

§ ip+. The Pope returneth into 7u/y, and fcekcth to get men toruinc Conrade the late Emperor Fridcrick^ Son : The King of Englands brother Richard is htll invited, but denitd due help, and rcfufcthi King Hf/zr)! the third himfelf at laft is drawn in, and furniflKth the Pope with a great deal of money, and the Croifado Soldiours are turned againft Conrade trom the relief of PaUftine: Bitter accufations againA him are publilhcd by the Pope, which Conrade anfwertth: He and Robert Crojihead the famous Learned holy Bilhop of L;'«M/n dying near together, the Pope Wi/f//^i»// that mm. Parit belong to the Church of Rome/» rejayce nitbhim, becjujethefe two their^reat- «». i2$4. eji enemies are gone. And if fuch wife and holy men as this Bifliop, wcre'.'^'J' rumbred with the enemies of the PofC, we may conjtcfture what he was and did, and whether all thcChrillian World were thtn his Subjects, and whether Rome then needed reformation.

§ ip5. But though the King of England had fo far fervcd him, it was rot enough: Nothing kfs than all would fcrvc, as Matih. Pa'is, tells us, when the King would yet bcKing, and did not fully obey thcl-'ope : which he manifc/lcd in his rant againlT this rare and excellent Bilhop of Lin-coin, the occafion of which I think well worthy of our recital > as it is in M.mh. Paris Anno 1453. p>'^. S71. S72. f A credible Monk thougli oft reviled by Paron. and Bin tor telling truth-^

This Bifliop wasoneof the lamouftft men in the whole world for knowledge, piety and juitice; The Pope had fcnt him an order (as (mh Matth. Paris, he ottcn did to him and other Englilh Bifhop$)todo'e)m<-'what which the Bilhop juJgcd to be unjulK It was not fo bad as an jnterdicft to (Hence ChridsMinifivrsjbut whether it was the promotingofbadMiniftcrSjorhinder-ing 01 cxci n sr^unicating good men, fome fuch thing it was as you niay (ee by

♦ what tdlowcth; The Eilhop writcth a Letter to the Popi and Cardinals

' in which he tells them {Jthst be rvould obey the Apoflolkal precepts : hut

ill^^ ' that rvjs not Apojhlicd n-hich tvjt contrary to the dndrh e of the Apafihs \

' Chrijl faying, be that it not with nr ir againfl ns: And ti^at cannot be A-

' pojhiical thjt it againfl Chriji : at the Tenonr of the Popes Lettert were :

* H;f non obftantc/5 often repeated, flicwed hit inconjiancy and hit blotting the ' purity of tlje Chrijlian Religion, and perturbing the peace and quiet of So-*'cietiet'> a torrent of aitdacioufneft,procacity, immodejly, lying, deceiving, hard-' ly believing or trujling any one; on which innumerable vices follotv. And ' next after the Jin of Lucifer, which in the end of time will be that alfo of ' Aiuichrij}^ the Jon of perdition, whom the Lord will dcflroy with the Spirit ' of hit mouth , there neither it nor can be any other Jort of fin, fo adverfe and

^1^ ' contrary to th dotirine of the ApojUet and the Gofpel, and fo hateful, dete-' jiable and abominable, at to kjll and dcjhoy fault by defrauding, men of the ' care of the Pajloral office and Minijhj: which fin thofe men are known by ' the mrij} evident tefiimoniet of the facred Scripture to commit, who being ph'

l^^W'' ' <^'^^ '« porvcr of pajhral care, do get the falary of the pajhral office and mini-^Jiry, out of the milk^ and the fleece of the fhetp of Chriji, who are. to be quic. ' k^ned and faved, but adminijiei' net to them their duet: For the very not ad-

* minifh-ing of the Pajhral minijhriet, is by the tejhmon^ of Scripture, the killing 'and dcftroying of thejheep: And that tbejc tjvojirts of ftut, though unexpeacdly ' are the very worji, and beyond all comparifon exceed all other fort of fin, it manifejl by

* ihit^ that they are, in the two exijient foresaid thingt, though with difparity and dif. *■ fvnilitudet, diredly contrary to the beji thingt: And that is the worji, ivhich is contrary ' to the bcft: And as for thejefint, at much at in them lieth, one of them is the deJlruSli-' oit of the Godhead it felf, which k fuperejfentially and fupcrnaturally beji: and the

* ether is the dcjiruaion of that conformity and deifcation foF fouls) by the gra-^ ciout participation of the Divine beams, which is the beji thing ejfentially and *-mturally. And as in good thingt, the cauje of good is better than the effect ' fo in ei'ilt, the cauJe of evil U arorfe than the effed is manifcji, that the in-' troducers in the Church of Cod, of fucb moji mifchievous dejiroyers of CholyJ '■formation and deification in the Jheep of Chriji, are worje than the dejiroyers ' Cor murderers) thcmjelves ; the nearer to Lucijcr and Antichrift, and in the ' greater degree of mijchief (or priority) by ho'V much the more juperexcelling, *and by the greater and diviner power, given by God for edification and not for

* dcjirucJion, they were the more bound to exclude and extirpate fuch mtiji mij-' chievoiis murderers ( or deliroyers ) from the Church of God: It cannot be « therejore , that a holy Apoflolick^ Seat, to which all power is given by our

* Lord Jej'm Chriji the holy of holies, for Edification, and not for deliru&ion « as the Apoftle tejiified, fliould command, or require any thing that bordereth on

" * or tendcth towards fo hateful, dete[iable, aud abominable a thing to Jcfus Chriji

* and fo utterly pcrnitious to mankind, or by any rvjy endeavour any thina that

* teiideth thereunto. For this were either a difedion or a corruption or an *.

* bufc of Chrilis oivn power, ivhich is evidently moji holy and moji full; or it *■ tvere an ahjolutc elongation frjm the Thrar.e of the ulary ef our Lord Je. '//« Chriji, and the next futir-.g together of the fve fo.jh J Princes of darkncfs

'and

and of hellijh puniffomcnts^ in the chiir of pefiilence. Nor can any one trith unfpotted and fincere obedience (rvho U a fuhjcci and fahhftfl to ih.tt f.tme Seat, and not by fchijm cut off from Chnli, and that holy Seat J obey the faid mandates and precepts , or any endeavours whatever , and tvhcnfocver they come, yea though it ncre from the highefl order of Angels, but mrijl ne-ctffarily cont'-adici them and rebel tvith all his flrcngth (or power J : And therefore Kcvcrind Lords, from the duty of obedience and fidelity, in trhich I am hound to both the parents of the holy ApoJiolicl\_ Seat, and from the Lovt Tvhich I have to Union in the body of Chriji with it; I do only, filiaiiy and obediently difobcy, contradict and rebel, to iU things which in the ferefaid Letter are contained, and fpccially, hecaufe as is before touched, they do mojl evidently tend to that fin which is mofi abominable to our Lord Jefiis Chriji^ and moji pernitious to mankind, and which are altogether advcrfe to the San-dity of the holy Apoftolick^ Scat; ard are contrary to the Catholick^Faith. Nor can your difcretion for this hint conclude (o\ decree) any hard thing jgainjl me; hecaufe all my contradidinn and adion, in this matter, is neither contradiction, nor rebellion^ but the filial honour due to the Divine Father^ and of you. Briefly recoileding all J fay > the fandity of the Apofiick^ Seat can do nothing, but ivhat tendeth to edijication and not to dcflrudion: For this is the plcnittide of partter, to be able to do all to edification : But thcfe things which they call provtfions, are not to edification, but to mo(i manifeft dtjirudion. Therefore the bleffed Scat of the Apojile cannot accept them, becaufe flep and bind hath revealed them which pofftfs not the things that are of God , and not the Father of our Lord Jefm Chriji, who is in Heaven.

§ ip6. When the Fdpc heard this Letter, faith Mat.Pans />. 872. Not containing himfdf though wrath and indignation, with a writhin afpe&and a fraud mind, he faith; who is this doting old man deaf and abfttrd, rrho boldly and r.iflsly judgeth my doings ? By 5/. Peter and St. Paul, // our in- eS^I nate ingenuity did not move us, I would precipitate him into fi great confufi-on that he fl:ould be to the whole JForld, a Fable, a Stupor, an example and a prodicy. IS NOT 'J HE KING OF ENGLAND OVR'^ VASSAL. ANT> I S AT MORE. OZ'R SLAVE. IFHO CAN JFIIH OVR NOV IMPRISON HIM. AND ENSLAVE HIM 7 0 REP^^.OACH.

* Jhefe things being recited among the Cardinal brethren, ritb much ado af-fwaging the rage of the Pope, they faid to him. It is not expedient, 0 Lord, that we decree any hard thing againji this Bifhop hinifelf: for that we m.:y confcfs the truth, the things are true which he fpeakeih: IFe cannot condemn htm. He is a Catholitl{\ Tea a mojl holy man ; more reliiious than we are more holy and excellent than we, and of a more txcdlent life j fa that it is"" belii'jcd that there is net among all the Prelates a greater, no, nor any e^inal t" him: Ibis is \non-n to the whole Clergy 0/France and England; 0«ra-/r tradidion will not pmail: The truth of this Epifile, nhich perhaps is alred^ dy known t» many, may Jiir tip many againji us; For he is efleemtd a sn-eat thilojopher, fully learned in Crcck^ and Latine, a man zealous for jufiice, a

Ggg 2 Trader

#

' Redder of Theology in the Sclxiolt^ a Preacher to the people, a Lover of chj-'jf/>y, a perfeaitor of Simmiifr : Ihcfe words /aid the Lord ^gidius, a SpS' ^nijh Cardinal and others, rvhom their own Confiences did touch. They coun-'■felled the Pope to »-ir\ at all thli., and pjfs it by with difimttlation, (.ft tu-

* mults (hould be rjifed about it: efpecially for this rejfon, that, 17 IS 'KNOirN THAI A VEPARTVRE IVILL SOMETIME 'COME.] fofar Mat.PArit.

§ ipy. Yet neither this Billiop nor the Hiftorian flattered 'Princes, but both ot" thtm ladly lament the opprcflion and other fins of King Henry: And the Bithop commanded his Presbyters tn denounce excommunication againrt all that (hould break the Magn^ Ch.irtj, the Charters heretofore granted, forcfccing, faith Mat. Paris, what the King would do. And he (harply reprehended the Fryar Minors, that vv^ould not tell Great mtn of their lln, when they had nothing to lofe (Cantabit Vacuus, 8cc.)

^^ having chofen poverty that they might be freer from hindering tempta-

»~3 tions,

§ ip8. When he lay on his death bed at !S«^(^s« in Huntingtofi/h/fe ^ he told Job.Mgidim his learned friend, that he took them for manifcfrHe-

* reticks, that did not boldly detedt and reprove the fins of great men, ' and thereupon reprehended and lamented the fins of Prelate'', but e-'fpcciafly the Roman i reciting their putting unworthy and bad men in-•to the Paftoral office, for kindred or friendlhip fake. The third day be-' fore his death, he called to him many of his Clergie, and lamenting

* the lofs of fouls by Papal avarice, groaning he faid , ChriU came into ' the world to win fouls, Is not he then dejirvcdly to be called Antichrijf, who '■feareth not to defiroy fouls ? God made all the World in lix dayes j but to ' repairman he laboured above thirty years: And is not a defiroyeriof fouls

Cf" ' then judged an enemy of Gcd and Antichrid] &c.

Next he goeth on, to fiiew how finfully the Pope by his nnn objiante overthrew even the rights that his Predcceffors had granted, vainly pretending that they bind nothing bccaufc par in parent nen l.ubet potefiatem and what evils to the Churches he had done, and addcth [7 faw a Let"

* ter of the Popes, in which I found infer ted, that they that wake their IK Us, ' or that undertake the Cr ifado, and to help the holy land, jhall receive juji

>f-0' par. *f> »"«^'-' indulgence ^ as they give tnoney,&cc. And (o gouth on, naminghis conin}. impofing men that cannot preach, or /trangers of other languages as

Pallors on the people, and his covetous and greedy devouring all the

wealth he could get, concluding

Ejus avaritie totus non fufficit orbU, Ejus luxurie Meretrix non fufficit omnls.

And that he drew Kings in for his own ends, ttiakirg them partakers

* of the prey. Prophecying [that the Church will not be freed from Eayp'

* tian fervitiide, but by the mouth of the bloody Sword: IhefethinTS arejmall,

'but

but tvorfe will follosv rcithin three years'^ fighing and weeping out thefe 'words, his fpcech failed him and he died.

And ihid.Mat.farUimh^ that the fame night that he died wonderful '^•

Mufical founds and Ringings were heard near in the Air by feveral friars, and by Vulk^ Biftiopof London (then not far olTJ who faid when he heard ' it, tliat he was confident their reverend Father^ Brother and Majlcr, the Venerable ^Sijhopof V.ix\QO\nrViK pajfing out of the IForld to Heaven.

The Bifliop being dead, the Arch-Ei(hop of Canterbury 3lVii1 the Dean and '

Chapter of LincolnitW out inllriving, who in the vacancy had the powcrof giving Prebends : wherein the Arch-Bifhop by Power utterly oppreflld them.

And M. Paris p. S8o. affirmcth that Miracles were done after the death of thisEiftiopby his virtues at Lincoln^ and yet confcffcth fome of his faults and his fliarp thundring agaiaft Monks and Nuns. &c. «^3

§ I pp. The fame Author tells us, />. 883. <m/w 1254. that the Pope was */o unmeafuresbhy wrathful againft this hol\ Learned Ei!hop ^ that when ' he was dead, he would haze taken up his bones and cali them out of the ' Church, and purpofed to precipitate him into fo great infamy^ that ke fljould ^ be proclaimed a Heathen, a rebel and diCohcdient to the whole world; and he

* ■commanded a Letter to that purpofe to be written to the King of England, ' k/iowing that the King would be mad enough againji him * and ready enau<ih

*• to prey upon the Church: But the next night the jaid Bijhop c/Lincoln j//- * The Ti~.

* peared to him in his cpijcopal attire, with a fa'cre countenance, an aujiere lool{^ P'i ""^

* and terrible voice, he came and fpake to the Pope that war rcfllefs in hit hed,.^". ''^'i"* 'pricking him in the fide with a violent thrufl with the point of h;i paihral ,^t counl ^Jiaffe which he carried,and faid; miferable Pope Sin£bi\6\ Dojl thju purpnfe in net! lUeV'., ' di(grace of me, and the Church of Lincoln/o cajl my hones out of the Church. ''"•

' iVhence did this timerity bcfal thee. It ivere better that thou, advanced and ' honoured by God, fljould honour thofe which arc z-.alouf for God; even when ' they arc dead : Henceforth God will give thee no more power <n<er me : / wrott ' to thee in the fpirit of humility and love v that thou fliouldft conwl thy maiv ' errours: But with a proud eye and a bewitching Ijeart thou hajl defhijed ' whole fame warnings : IFo to thee that dejpifpeji: Shalt ihm not be defpifcdl

* And the Bifliop Robert depdrting, jhiking as with a lance, the Pope, %rho when ^ as is faid he WM pricked, groaned aloud, he left him half dead, and with a '/nournful voice groaning withfighs i His Chamberlains hearinghim,bein^ ajh-^nijhcd, asked him, what the matter tvas. Ihe Pope anfwering^ with fichs and

* groans, faid-, Ihe terrours of the night, have vehemently troubled me\ \orJhaU

* I ever be well again as I wai ! Oh, alas, how great is the pain of mv fide !

* A ghoji hath pierced me with a lance : And be neither eat nor drani^ that djy^ 'feigning that he was inflamed with favours that fireiglHened his breathy And

* Cods revenge and wrath did not fo leave him.

' Not long after the Pope, not Jenfible of Gods warnings by his Servants^ hut

* fitting about warlike and fecular matters, he profpered not in them, though iv ^ hid out great care and labjitr and coji: But IFars, yea, the Lord of Ixjis

* being againji him, his armv which at great charges he bad fent agninfl t!x

Ggg 5 ■ ' Jpuli-

^ Jpiiliant, if.ndcr iht conditCl of h'n Nepherv y^iWhir), hehiz fcattered, conquered ' and confounded^ fn-iflnd n^iih their Capiain mortaVy rvoiindcd. They fi\ there

* were there fain of Snuldioii) s and val/ant jiipendiary's of the Pope, four thonfani ' men : And the rvhoU Coitntrey of the Romans lain^nted the Jhedding of fa

* much Chriiiian blood. Ihe Pope then went to Naples, thjugh irc.ik^ncd of with a ^pluriOe in bis f-de^ or as wounded with a lance: And Cardinal Albiis phyfKk^ « coiiU not help him. For Ivobcrt of Lincoln /pared «a/Siii'.bald of Genoa >

* And h: that would not hczr him earning him rrbcn alive, felt him peircing him ' when dead ISl >' did the Pope ever after enjoy one good day till night ^ nor ' one ncod ni/tH uJ day. hut jkcplcfs and molejied. Thus M. Paris.

§ 2CO. M. Parif, p. 8^,6 anno 1254. faitli tliat Henry the third of England "^ ^7^4'ffi ' <^*5''gcd hinifclt and hiS Kingdome wijujily * to the Pope, under pain of Tfjric'la- ' being difinhcritcd to pay all the ticafurc which the Pope fliould lay out ccic po. ' in his War for the King (that is , to have made him King of Sicily) tuir, r.cc <■ And that the Pope having no mcicy on England prodigally wafkd its debuit. iiTiOncy, but thofevaft fums got by rapine were all loir.

§201. The fame Author faith p.gpy. that when Pope 7««ore/fi lay dying f after the firukeof the Eilhop of Lincoln and the lofs of his ArmyJ and his followers laycrying about him, he opened hi; dying eyes, and did., what do ' you mmrnfor you wretches} Do I not leave you all rich > what would you have more'* And fo he died.

^202. CCCCXLIV. ^^01245. Innonccnt calls a Council called General ftheir 15?/^. Approved J at Lyons of 140 Bifhops, where he heaped up acci-fations againfi the Emperour, whom 7/jijfl'ii'«f his agent defended: And at lalf pronounced himlclf an excommunication and dcpolitioa, ab-V^ folving all his Sub)ed:s from their Oaths and Allcgiacce, and excommunicating all th^t fliould own and help him.

Here you fee that more than one of their approved General Councils are for Rebellion and perjury, and the Popes depofing Chriiiian Empc» rours.

In the fame Council fad Complaints were made from "England of the pillaging or woful impovcrifliingof the land by the Pope and King, but the Pope heard all iilently and would give no anfwer.

&;03. At this Council the Pope importuned the Elcdors to choofe

anotiur Emperour: fomc rtfufed and Ihick to the Emperour, faying

that it bdociged not to the Pope to make or unmake Emperours: O-

x-OrNaf- tj^ejs obeyed him, and fct up Hewj'of Hijfia. ^ But the Emperour while

fiuorHol- j^^ ii^^j |^|.pj yp ],i5 pofknion, fo far as to make the Pope repent, and

thejdiZrfly faith 7rithemifis was a weary of his life: But zU Germany, Italy,&c. were

called him, confounded by the fchim, or contention, one half (as isaforcfaidj called .

Gtielphes tbllowingthe Pope and Henry., the otiicr called Gibclines cleaving to

the Emperour Frederick., to the fhedding of abundance of Chriltians blood

and thedefolation of Countreys, and thefhan-ieof Papal tyranny.

& 204. Anno 11'^^. Akxandet the 4//^ was Vo'pc.Maith.Parii ld\suso£ £ terrible dream that he had of i'ope In.ioccnts damnation, or mifery;

But

But the fault of his writing is that he was too credulous of drcanK and

vifions. He tells us alfo of twenty Miracles iionc zt Lincoln for the fake

of the late Bifhop Robert. And that at a Parliament in LWm, thegrcate(t

which hath been fcen, all the Nobles Ecclefiaflical and Civil, demanded oT

the King that the chnice of the Lord CUkf Jtiliice, the Lord CkviccUor, and ^^

the Lord Treafurcr Jlwtdd be in the Parliament {or their common Council) js of ■'^•^'- fi'if

* old wof ufual, andjnfi\ and that they Jhould not be rcmoied withmtt nnoriom f'^"4'?<^f'

* faults^ which the Kings fccret Conncellows fcrftvadcd him to deny. Prelates and ' Nobles being grieved by ex tUions exprefs it, &:c.

§ 205. Here the faid Mouk, M.nth, Parlf, cxdaimeth 0 the fleril fnlici' ' tudc of the Roman Court .' their blind ambition ! Though holy, yet often deceived

* by the Council of bad men : IVhy doji thou not learn to moderate by the bridle ' of difcretion, thy violence, being taught by things pajl, and fo often chajrifed ' by experience. In thy lojfes nre are all punijhed. Sec

* Thou now endejvottrejl to makf ttvo German Emperottrs, which mii'i ' cnfi ineftimahle treafitrc tvhence foever taken, and both uncertain of the dig-' nity, ccc.

^ 2q6. At that time the Lords and Prelates of England crying out of the King Hen.^d. as falfe and opprclTive, and piliaj^ing Churches and People to maintain his protulcncfs, the Eiihop of Hereford laid a Plot which the King accepted, that getting tlie hands and fcals of a few Ei-fliops he would go to Rome, and get power from the Pope to gather the King as much money as he needed. SotnKowehe went, and there found the Pope in great grief and care himfclf for money, to pay valt debts that his Wars liad coft him: The Eifliop told him ihat the King who had engaged his Kingdom to be lorieited, if he paid not the Popes debts, wou'd help him to money if he would be ruled by him, and write to the Bi- ' ftiops and Churches to grant the King fuch help as they could well <]u. The Pope gladly gave leave to the BiQiop to write what he wouU i And home he went, and Eiijlandusa. Legate was fent fromKowt'to fcealldone; faith, M.Paris, p.pil. anno 1255. The Legate n-is prepared and ready in all thine^s to the dejhjtdion ef all England to obey the will of theKin^ nchich tfjf tyrannical, and to bind the opprcffed contradilhrs in the bonds of Anathema. Ruflanduf Cometh witii the Arch-Bilhop of Canterbury, and the Bifhop of Hereford is empowred by tlie Pope togather moneys,tbv the Pope or King : A Parliament is called at JFeliminjier: They rcfu(e and go home. The Popes Letters prefs the Collcd:ion : A Council of Biftops is called at Lm-djn, fo much money is denianJeJ, faith M. Var.s, as would have enflavcd or ■ undone all the Kingdome. The Bifliop of London protefied he would lofe his head rather than confent: The Bi(h.ip of JForccfler iiiA hewould bchang'd fird : The reft follow them. The King i?; angry and threatr.eth. Tne Earl Marjhal in anger, when the King called hnii Traytor, ar^fwered, thm liejl, Tnever rvis aTriytor nor will /v.'Thc King threatncd to fend men ro thrtfh out his corn and fell it to humble him: The liar! told him, if he did "fo he

would'

^t6 Church-aiftory of 'Bijbops

woild cnt off tlic thrcflurs heads and fend them him: fomc intcrpofed for the time: The Lords refiifcd to middle with the Kingdomcs bufinefs, Or to impoverifli thcn.fclves, and were dilTblved.

Ixjiftindm again Congrcgateth the Bilhops at London. They did nothing *af:in : (ai'h M.P.niSt too boldly, f. 5117. [_Si enim fnie JHjh fiveinjufie per *■ diaum M.tgilhitm RfiltanJitni J;(fpe>idtrrtHr (ju'.f, vd txcommunkaretur ^ Rex

* qiiifi Leo in abfcondno, qitxrcni quern daorjrct poji 40 dies omnia direperit in* 'jifrata : Papa y P.cx velnt Pajlor & Lnpus, in oviam exterminium confcederati, *■ nmnibm rtiinam minabantur. And then faith he, /% blind men groping for ' the tvall^ the Council ivere divided^ and as EngliJJj men are ufed to do^ every one *Jhiftcth for hinifelf (or feekctb to fjve bimfelf.) Tithes arc now paid by the ' ( lergy to the Laity ■, Ihiy are granted for the Magna Charta which xpM not k^pt: '1 hey are granted as for the holy land and turned againji Chrijiiani in Apu\ii : ' Many lies and falfe oaths are impnfed, faith M. Viris^p.p 1 p.

The next year theClcrgy were called again, 1*55. Kuflandm the Le-

' gate faid, AH Churches are the Popes: Leonard theProlocut r anfn-ered^yes^

t-S' * to defend \ not to enjoy and appropriate i as n'e fay, All things are the Princess v

' that if to defend; and not to dijpcrje ■, And this rvas the ir^tent of the founders.

* The Legate angry at this anhver, commanded that henceforth without 'a Piolccutor a'cry man (I^ould Jpeak^for himfelfthat they might be knopcny 'which artonilhcd and fJenced all. Ht commanded them to fubjcrihe a

* Lie, that they had received fush funis of money of fcrreign Merchants and ' Vfurers '-, which they faid, it wax good Martyrdome to die for the refufmg '■of Pag.pic.

Here is annexed by M, Paris, A charter of King John confirmed by

Pope Innocent ^d. ordering that all Bifhops be freely eleded without the

Kings hinderance by the Church vacant, and curling all that othcrwift

come in, pag. pn.

]iutVWma ^ 207. At that time the Romans imprifoned a great Citizen Braucalea

fanh this foj. j^J5 juftice. The Bononians detain iBany Romans pledges for him :

Viftor'JL"' '^^^ Bononians are interdidcd facrcd things: but they yield not, till Brau-

4ths. d^jt. calco is delivered. M. Paris anno iz<y6.

The Letters of Pope Alexander and his many cxailions, fee farther in Af. Paris this year.

§ 2c8. Anno 1257. faithM. Pjm, fome went toKome for the Bifhoprick

of Ely, and the Church of Sr. Edmunds, and gave and promifcd fo vart fiims

of money as altonifhcd men with wonder. W hereupon the Pope made a new

Law that every Elecfl Bilhop fhould come perfonally to Rowe, hoping to

^^j^ have the like prey from others.

d* ^2cp. Annoii'^^. faith M.Park, p.pio. The Pope that claimed the Kingdomcs of the World was maitcrcd in Rome, by the tbrefaid Senator Braucaleo, who being delivered fromPrifon, wasbelovedof the people,executed the Malefadors and his enemies V forced the Pope to flay his cxcom-tnuni<^ation and humble hinifelf, and beg his mercy.

^210. The fame year the Pope pretends anger to the King of England

for

for not tcmperatinghis cxcefTcs '-, and threatncth to excommunicate him : The King is afraid, and fends him money, and Uops his mouth, ppio.

^ 211. Againft the Parliaments will the King again hearkeneth to the Pope, that offcrcth now theKingdomc o( Apulia to Ednuind his yoangci Son, as he did before to Edrvard the Elder. But the Parliament dcnicth him money, which he fcreweth from the Abbeys and Churches. ■ § 2 I 2. faith M.Farlf, Servale Arch-billiop of lor^ now died a Martyr (though without blocd as many do^ having conftantly fought againfl the Tyranny of the Roman Court opprelTcd by the Pope, wrote carncUly as Kob.oi Lincoln had done to the Pope toccafchis tyranny. In his ficknefs ffath M. P.) he called for water which was fctcht out of the Well, and it was turned into excellent Wine./".p^p.

§213. How the Parliament of Barons at Ox/ord/ this year 1258. entered their Confederacy and refolutionto Hand againft the King for their Liberties, Charter and juflice, iVf.Pjr;^,/».P72 and many others tell you. And f, P74 how the Londoners joyncd with thcm> and how many of (he Lords were po^foncd.

§ :i4. Braucako the Roman Senator having humbled the Pop?, pulFd down theCafilcsof the Tyrants and Rebels, put to death the kindred of many Cardinals, and died. The Pope furbadc the Citizens choofing another without hisconfcnt. Tiiey laugh at him and choofc Brancalco's unk'c. M.P. p.pH-

§215. This Pope/4/fxW(T of whom A^ P^rif fpcakcth {o much cvii, fmhBinniMpojlobitiim fuavemfuimemo)ijm reliqiiit,dyivg 1260. And PUtinn praifeth hin., in whom you may (cc more of hij life, and VVais againf^ Maufnd^&c.

l^ 2\6. Next comcth Vrh.tn ^th. Patriarch of Jerupilcm: of whom no great matters arc rccordtd. He ordained Corpus Cbri{h day.

I17. Next Cometh Clim. 4th. a French Lawyer a Widdower, and then Bifliop. His tirll good work was to go to PerHfvmi in the habit of a beggar; His life is praifcd by PIJtina,OHuphihf,BinniM,&c. How he made a Frenchman Charles Kmg of Sdcily, and Apulia, and how Maufrcd was kill'd and conquered, &(. I need not trouble the Reader in rccitc-ing.

§118. CCCCXLV. In his dales C.T«;;/7W hath found a fmall Council at Vienna for reforming Ionic thingsinthc Cleigy, Bin f. i4p5.

§ lip. Next cometh Gregory loth. But the Seat was vacant firft al- *^ moll three years; So long the Church 4?f Kowcwascxtindfjif the Pope be an tfftntial part fas they would have him even of the Uni-verfal.)

§ 120. CCCCXLVL In Iiis time a Council at Lyont ( called the the 14'/'. llnivcrfal approved one by themjwas held: in which the p6or Empcrour oi Conjiantinople, Michael Paleolagiti beini^ in danger at his wits end came in pcrlbn to flatter the Pope in hope of help. There alfo was decreed the (hutting up of the Cardinals at Elcdions for fearof vacancies

Hhh as

as had happened by difcord and delays. The I'ope interdidrd the Flo-icmincs, bccaufc the Gndpbcs refilled to receive the Gibclincs, which quarrel fall coft bloody Wars. Rodulph is made Emperour, and the Pope dicth.

0/iuphrius (uvther cpeneth theReafcns and Rules of the Cardinals being fhut up.) viz.Cloft.thc i\.th. being dead, the Cardinals (as is aforefaid; were all fo deiirous to bj Popes themfelves, that they were two years and nine months contending, and could not polTibly agree. Philip King of France ind C/;jr/i'/Kingof Sicily came themfelves toKffjwe to intreat them, but departed without fuccefs. Yet they invoked the Holy Ghoft every day to help them. At laft the Cardinal Biihop Jo/;. Pjc/w/jfixdcridingly prayed them to uncover the houfe?,for the Holy Ghoit could not cnmcin through fo many covered roofs ; At lad by Bonaventurei intreaty,they chofe Theohld a Vifeount and Archdeacon that was with our Prince Edward going to hght in ?al>:^ine : And the /aid Cardinal Fortuenf. made thefc Verl'cs ou tiieir choice, anno i 271.

Fapatus munus tttlit Archidiaconus Vnus, ^em Patrem pairum fecit difcm'dist fratrHm.

§321. Inmcent the ^th, cometh nexti the firft after thefhutting up of the Conclave. He fought to end the Italian Wars, but died before fix moncths reign.

§ 122. CCCCXLVII. A Council at Saltzbnrge is publilhed by Canifiuf, as in Greg, the loths. days, but itfcemcth liker to bi after j which condemned Pluralities, nonrefidence of PricftSjand their being in Taverns for Alchoufcsjand playing at Dice,and their wearing long Hair and fineCloaths, and retrained fupernumerary begging Schollars, and ordered that the Biihop Ihould imprifon fuchas prophantd holy things after they were excommunicated or fufpended: It fecmcth that Billiops had by this time got coercive power V but they ufcd it not to bring the unworthy to the Sacrament, but to keep the unworthy from it and from other profanations.

^ 323, Next Otiibonitf ^ that was Pope Innocent the 4f/f>/. Nephew, and Legate of England at the Barons Wars, is chofcn Pope, but died before his Coafecration, within forty dayes, but got the name of Hadri^ an the ^th.

§ 224. Next cometh Tope John the 22/^. ^sTlatina, the iptb.isBiniuf, and the 2 ijl as moll, the 20th. by Onuphrius^ i 276. He was a Ph) iJtian, made hiiho'p invcrecundi & focordis ingenii^ faith P/<j»//w, fofoolilh that he boaftcd how long he (hould live, when pr.fenrly the houfe tell on his head, and he died by it in leven days after, -ysjlfn^wr (faith Bi««f) faith that he was writing an heretical pcrvcrfe boo*, when the room fell, and crycd out after, O, what is become oi my book ? Who will linifh it ? which faith B/nius, Ik died the '^ ^''"*^' file weth the wonderful Providence of God for his Church, Bur had ^rftj(,'.n this Pope been infalliblcj had lie been in a Council ? ■

His

His Predccefibr purpofed to revoke the decree for (hutting up the Cardinals in Conclave, and this man tinilhed the revocation, and till the da) cs of Cele^ine -yth. that renewed it, it ftood revoked, (airh Onuphrius.

§ 225. Next came 2V/cW^/3^. after fix months contention and vacancj-. King Charles as Senator preJiding and pleading for a French Pope. He is commended much, favcthat he (et up all his own Kindred too much.

§ 1x6. After three years teign, eight months and hftccn dayes of ATr-choUt came Sfart'm id.vulgo ^tb. faith Binius and 0/uiphrius a Frenchman ; In his time, the Greek tmperour Palcologm (not keeping his promifc to the I'opeJ joyned with P«f)-King of ^rrjc;o«, who claimed 5'/«/y as his Wives inheritance i and though the toimei Pope had ftt him en, this was againf^ han, refloring King C/>.ii7t'/to be Senator zt Rome, and iidingwith him, becaufe he was a Frenchman : But the fatal Sicilian Vefpers killed dll the French, and Peter overcame Charles and took his Son, and Charles and the Popethortly died of Fevers.

But before he died the Pope played the old Game, excommunicating ard curling King PrJec, and gave his Kingdom for a prey to any one that would ''u^ get it, and abfolved all his Siibjcds from their Oath of Allegiance, and iigned Croifado's ( Soldiers under the lign of the Crofs J to tiglitagainft him.

§227. HonoriMs the 4//.'. comcth next fhis Brotiier being Senator at 'Rome) He confirmed the fame Anathema againit Feter King ci Arrag^on, who (hortly after died of a wound received in hglu by thcFicnch. The Pope diet!) C and the feat is void ten monethsj 1287. after two years Reign.

^ 228. Anno 12S7. CCCCXLVIII. A Council was held zt.H(i-bip»lishy the Popes Legate, endeavouring to have got the tenth penny of the t/htes of (he Clergy for the Pope, and of the Laity for the Empcro^ir ( by their joynt confent.) But Siphridus Arch-Bilhop ot Cflen, and licnry Arch-Bi-Ihop of Trevers /ioutly oppolirg , frullrated be>th their Conciliary ddigus. ^ 2 2p. Anno i2S8came P. Nicolas ^th. a Religious Man, General of the Minors, when he had four years together laboured in vain to flay the blood in Italy, between the Cudplei and Gibellins, and to reconcile the Frcneii and Engliih, ind to relieve the Chriliians in P«/f/r/nf, he died: And the Cardinals, though fe^r liberty they went to Vcrnfwin, kept the Cinnch hcadlefs two years and three months by contention, though Princes in vain endeavoured to perfwade them to agreement. ( Are thcfc no interceiiions of the Succeifion })

In this time died MicJ>. Taknlcgits Empcrour of Conjiantinoplc, and the Clergy and Monks would not fuffer him to be buried in holy ground , be- e^-« caulc in the Council at ly;"'.'', he had confented to the Church ot Romt\ ^^"^ i'latinj. Was this a true Reconciliation ot the Greek Church ?

§ 230. Anro J280. CC.CC.XLlX. A Council at Rofen/ia (in Honoriuj time) made I'ome Canons for Retormation.

^231. Anno I2j>i .CCCCL. A Council at Saltslttrg for reconciling fome

CJui/hans.

Hhh I § 232.

§232. yf/wo i2j>2. CCCCLI. The Arch-bilhop of Mentz,hc\di(2oun-cUit Afchaffcnburgc which they fay did many good things i It is not known wliat.

§ 233. Anno 12^4. After two years and four months vacancy Cxledfm the 5</>. a Religious man of folirary life is chofcn Pope, It ever there was 3 good Pope it is likely this was one : But he was no fooncr fctkd by common applaufe, but the Cardinals, dptchWy ^ened. Cijetsnuf a fubtilc man pf rfwadcd him that his fimpHcity and unskiltulncis would undo the Church, and urged him to rclign. K\r\g Charles and the people diiTwade him,'and src only for him : But the Cardinals prevailed, and he religncd i Andgoino to his (blicitude again, the Cardinal Ben. Cajetani that got him to religu, lent him Prifoncr to theCaftleof Fnmo, where (at bcll^ he died of grief .-Some write that Cardinal Cajetane got a way to fpeak through a Pipe put into the Wall as if it wercfbme Angel, to charge him to rdign > He was too good to be a Pope.

§254. The deceiver that got him out, fuccccdcd him, c.\]kd Boniface the Sth.(by Bin,yth.) i2pi\.. This is he of w'lom it is fiid, Intraiit utvulper^ rcgnavit ut Leo^exivit ut Cants. He raifcd Wars to profecute fome Cardinals and the Gibciines: While he lived wickedly he fct up 3 Jubilee, proclaim.-ing Pardon of all fins to them that would vifit Umina ^pojlolorum, tliat is, himfclf: A terrible Earthquake tnade him for fear fet up a hut of boards in aa open Meadow, left thehoufesfhould fall on him; He digg'd up the body of one Hertnane, that had twenty years been honoured as a Saint, and burnt it as a Hereticks. He fent a Eilbop to Philip King of France to in-iieat him to go Hght in Talcjline, and threatened him when he could not intrcat him. The King imprifoned the Eifliop. The Pope lent to require I'iim to releafe him, laying openly, that the Kingdome of Fravce was divolv-t;^ ed to theChurch, for the contumacy of Phillip and his violating the Law of Nations i and bid him Anathemati7e him, and abfolve all Frenchmen from the Kings Oath. The King let go the Eilhop, but forbad all his Subjeds going to Rome or fending any money thither,'and not enduring his infolency, he affembled his Nobles and declared the Pope-dome void by Ufurpation and unjuft cntcranceof Bow/Ijcf, and appealed to a Council; He Coyned money with thisInfcription [PerdamBabilonir mmenl The Pope called a General Council, where he gave the Kingdom of Frj«ce 10Albert the Emperour, Anathcmati2ing the King. The Kingwouldnot play with him, but fends Sciarraznd Nogarcte to Italy to prochim his Ap-peal: But Sciarrain a mean habit gets together many friends, that the Pope had oppre/Ted and furprizeth him in his Fathers houfe,breaketh o-pen the doors, carrieth him from Avignia to Kome a Prifontr, where the thirtieth day he died ot grief, of whom faith P1 at i na [thuf died Eori face,rphg fiideavourcd more to put terroier than Religion into Enipirours^ ^^"gf-, Princes^ Na-ttont and People ■■, and to give Kingdomcs andtak$ thcmaipuy to expel men and reduce them at hk- pleafurt, unfpcakahly tbirjiiug for gold^ n'hich may ever to he gotten. Let all PrincetEcclepjiical and Secuhr (faith lie; harn hy.thif mant

example

£-f

example to go before the CUr^ and people^nvt proiuify and c9ntumjcioiifl)\ .w, ^^X he did, bat holily and modejily at Chrifi und his d/fciples, and true imitators, and ehoofe rather to be loi'cd than feared, from n'hence the ruine of lyrants de-ftrvedly comet h.

§ 235. Anno 1297.CCCCLII. Bin.dhh^i Council (Lttgditnenfe)decreed that Pnnccs fhould not tax their Clergy, nor the Clergy paythcin without the Popes Confent.

§ 23d. ^«Ho 1302. CCCCLIII. The Popes General Council at Komeex' communicateth the King of France as atorefaid. His Army follow thcii Captain Pope.

§ 237 BcnediU the I \th. alias the lot/;, alias the pih. is next chofcn Pope, OrAich praifed) : who excommunicated Scijrra, and abfolvcd King F/vV//', and died before nine Moneths.

§ 238. Anno 505. Entrcth Clemensihe. 'jth. the Eifliop of Bourdeaiix, who f:=--| called the Cardinals to France, and fctled the Popes Court there, where it continued fcventy jears, till the Church and great buildings ai Ri/me were defolate and ruinous, faith P/jf//M. In his timey^/w.-rt the Empcrour was kill'd by his Nephew : 7fa/y confounded by Wars: The Pope curfeth and interdifteth the Venetians, the Florentines, the Luccnfes : Rcquircth the ticw chofcn Emperor of L//a:«wW^e to come toivowc for Coronation v He entcreth Itjly \ fomc Cities fight againft him, fome yield: At Rome demanding money, they rclill,and it cometh to force, and he is driven back ; After many bickerings and Cities taken, hcdieth, as is fiid f faith r/jf.J Poy-loncd in the Eucharift by a Monk. Two fight tor the Empire, Lodovic. Bj-vour and Frcdcrcc Aitlhit: Z.o</(7:7CKf conquereth and n.aketh himfolf Em-perour. Clement burntth two as Hereticks, maketb P. CW<:/f/«t the '^th. a Saint, writeth hisC/m/tvjf/nw^, anddieth,and again there was no Pot>c, for =^T^ two years, three months and Icventeen daycs.

^25p. CCCCLIV. A Council it Saltzbttrg! to get money CTentli;;; for the Pope.

§240. CCCCLV. Another there Anno 1310. declaring fomc pe-^ nahics.

^ 241. CCCCLVI. Another at ^ientz to extirpate the Templars, where fomc of them rufht in and appealed to the next Pope, protcf> ing they were killed and burnt wrongfully, without being heard fpcak for themfelvcs.

§242. CCCCLVII. But the great Council called by them the i 5//J. General Council approved, was at F/waj near France,on thisoccation. King Philip having got thePopcdoirc, for Clem, the ^tb. made hiiij piomifc to condemn Pope Bi?«;/. the 8//;. and all his Ads: When he had-poiTtjrion, he found himfelf in a flrcight, and Nichoi-is Cardinal Vratenfis advjfcd him to plcafe the King with the hopes thar a Genera! Council would do it molt cfie<fl:ually,and to get the Council out of his Country arc? power ; which being done the Council frulhated the Kin^s expe^atie>ns: The ■ i^ing accutcd Pope Boniface of Simonv, Hercfie, aiid rerjui:y, in forty Ar* •

Hhli3 ticks.

<i|ii church-Hijiory of Bi/bops

ti.l:s. His crimes were not dcnycd,but they juAiiicd him to be a true Pope, and found him rot an Htrctick.

In this Council theTttnplars were condenrncd and put down, and their Lands given to rlic JcntJ'jktn Uo[p\iikis, or Knights of KWcx (which they la\ Kw^Fhilip thoi'ghttohave got) fome lay the Templars wcrefalflyac-culcd of HercGcs ( and the Mailers and others burnt ) : Others fay, trucly. 1 he molt probable is, that fome particular Men of them (" no new thing among Soldieis ) committed many Villainies, and the reA fuflcri.d for their. lakes.

In this Council the Hercfies of Petrus Joini.is a Difciple of Abbot Joachim^ were condemned, which were three, i. That the ration.ilSoul, as rational, is not the form "f humane bodies. 2. "That habitual grace is not infufed in Bap-tifm (that is alwayesand to Infants). 3. Ibat Chrijlr fide was pierced with the Laitnce before he tvas dead.

In this Council the Fratricclli andDulcinifts were Condemned, andalfo eight H^refics of the Bcguines and Bcguardsi which were thcfe (all for per' feaion^ which Quakers and fome Fryars now fccm to be too much for in profcir&n, aswcallarein defirej i. That man in this life, mayget fuch a ' dcgiccofpcrtcdion, as that hcmaybcccmc impeccable (ox finlefs J and/« ' to r//t to no higher a degree of grace: Elfe, lay they, if one might frill in' 'create he might grow better than Chriir.

2. 'That when one hath atteincd that degree, he ought not to faft or 'fray: Eecaufc then fenfualityis perf-dly fubjedi to the Spirit andreafon

' io tliat a man may then freelj grant his body what pleafcth him.

3. ' That they that have gor this degree of perfcdiion and the Spirit of li-' beriy^ are not iubjcd: to humane obedience, nor bound ro any precepts of ' the Church, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

4. ' That tiius a man mayget final beatitiade in all degrees in this life, as ' well as in that to come.

5. ' That every intellcdlual nature is naturally bleflcd in it felf, and the ' Ibu! needeth not the light of glory for the feeing and enjoying of God.

6. ' That to exercifs virtues is a note of impcrtcdf ion.

7. ' That to kilTc a W oman is fin, btcaule nature needs it not j but copu-' lation is not, becaufe nature require th it, when one is tempted.

8. ' That one ought not to rife and do reverence at the elevation of Chrifts 'body, becaufc he muft not defcend from the altitude of his contemplations 'fo as to to think of the Sacrament or Chrills humane body.

Itfccms thefc were fuchfanatiksas fome Fryers are. In this Council the decrees c illed Clementines were paffed v in whic!^ are fpeciaily noted by E/«/h/, Ibme things de fide, as followeth.

I. ' Thit it is hcrefie to call indoubt, or aflent that the fubftance of the 'rational or intcllcdiive foul is not truly and pcrfcdl: t!ie form of mans body.

II. ' That whereas Divines differ about the efftdi: of Baptifmc, fom,e fiy-' ingthat to Infants fin is remittcd,but not Grace conferred) others faying that ' the fault i^rtiaittcd and virtues or informing Grace infufed as to tiic Ha-

'bit,

" kit, though not yet for ufc, wc attending the general Efficacy of Chrifts ' dc.. ;, which by Baptifme is equally applycd to all, judge the fccond opini-' on n.vK. probable an.i agreeable to the fayings of the Saints and modern ' Dodors of'7ijo%/e, tliefacred Council approving this, which faith, that 'both to adi^lt and infants in baptifme informing grace and virtues arc 'given.

III.' Ifanyone fall into fhiscrrourthatas pertinacioufly to affirm that ' Vfitry »Vni>yi/j,wedecree that he bcpunifhcdasan Hcretikc.and theordina-' rics and inquilitors for hcrelic may prrcccd againft fuch a'; agiinit hcrcticks.

IV. ' And it is decreed that if any Communities or Oihccrslhall prcdime 'to write or di(flatcthat iifury ftiould be paid, orbcing paid Ihould not be 'fully and freely rcllored, let them be excommunicate, ami they llialJ in-'cuir the fame fcntcncc that do not as far as they can blot out fuch ftatutcs ' 0L!t ofthebookcsofthcfaid Companies, thst (hall keep fueh cuflomcs.

Alfothat Ufurersbe compelled to (hew their books of accounts.

^243. Here the Popi ^nd th: ^ijhops in a General Council have j idgcd divers points to be hcrelie, and confcqucntly their contraries to be Articles of faith ; And for Hcrefic they curfc, burn and damnc men.

1. I ovcrpafil'd their Article that Chrid was dead before his fide was pierced, which is true: But whether an Article of our Creed neccffary to be undcrfiood to Salvation, let the Church Creed bewitnefs.

2. Its well, that the poUibility of Hnlcfs perfcdion is made a herefic by them (for wc mult daily pray for pardon ) : But vvhy then do they talk lo much of the pollihility ot keeping all Gods Law, that is of never finning^ and talk of pertedicn. and works of Supererogation ?

3. Do not chcy make an Article of Faith of a Logical Arbitrary Notion C that intellectual Soulsbciiifr the Bodies form) who knows not iiow ambiguous the word /rtwj is } An Arifhtle fuppofcth a Cor^;*/i7r(rjr;fc«w,befides the Soul > and that Ccr/)/!/ hath its form <7«^ Corpus. I imagine, that thefe Bi-fhops meant the fame thing, thatldoi^ and that our difference is but of the ritnefs of words > but I willfofar venture on their hcrcticationastofay, that/jrffM Corp:rif^ fanitj Ani,n£. and/>»»« Honiinis, aredivers : That Cor' pits organicnm ijua tAe hath its proper form, which dtnominatcth it fucl)i which is not the Soul: That the Soul biing a /«iib';a'hath its proper form which dcnomina'cth it, and which it rctaineth, wh:n feparated from the Body : And that the intellecfital Soul \s formi H.miinis^ but improperly called fcrnui Corporis : I will venture on their Heretication, to fell them my opinion, and 1 think their Errour and Prcfumption to thruft fuch things on Men under the penalties of curling, burning, and damnation,

4 Thtir Articlcof Faith.about the effcdot Biptifm C'lhit all thn .ire baptized at AgcznA Infants have both pardon a/id tnfitfed infirming habitual Grace, I take for unproved, and have clfcwhcrc proved it tobetalfe in all probability, as ttaiverfally taken.

5. The Article of Fauh, Th:iiVrHry is a Sin^ doth hcrcticare many great Divines, more Larvyrrs^ and ww'f Cities^ Corporaiie-is^ and Caupania in the

World.

World : Nodoubr, but all Ufury is a lin that is againft either Aftrcy or Jiifiice: But that feme Ufury may bean Aft oi great Chtrity, many wife iricn think paft doubt: W'c have known feme get cliatcs ot" many thou-iand pounds a y-:ar by trading with money taktn upon Ufury, when perhaps lome that Leant that money, had nothing but the Ufe to bu> them bread and courfc cloathing, and keep them from perilling. How many thoidand Great Men, Lawyers and Citi7Cns*are to be curfed, burnt, and damned by this Canon, for holding fomc Ufury to be Lawful: Nay, how many tor njt rejicritig it when taken > when perhaps, an Orphan took it of a rich man to fave them from famine. This is the benefit of hc-reticators.

§ 244. Anno 1311. Was a Council at Kavennt CCCCVIIL for Difcipliae and Rttormation of the Churches manners, with many fuper* llitions.

^245. CCCCLIX. Anno 1314' Another at Ravenns, was like the former.

^ 24(5. Next comethPopey(?/;« the 20//; alias an/-', alias 22f6,alias 23^^. He lived ztAvinion: He thought fouls were kept in fome receptacles from the fight of God till the Refurredion: He damned thofe that held that Clirill and his Apoftles poflefTcd no propriety CP/j/;«j thinks contrary to the Gofpel.J He tormented to death Hugo Bifhop of Catnre for being a-gainft him. He curfed and excommunicated the Emperor Lewis of Ba^ varia, and many other great men : Italy was all in Wars in his days. The tmperor fct up another Pope in Italy againlt him, Nkol. the 5»J!>. which was faith, Onufb.2%th. Schifm at Kome^ was not he that was at Rome liker to bcBilhopof Rcme^ than he that was in Fwnc^.} But the Pope NicelM after three years Reign was catched by one that would merit of Pope John, and fent to him, and put in Prifon, where he foon died : and John died at Ninety years Old after Nineteen years Reign, leaving more money behind him, than any Pope that ever went beforehira. Tiiei forbad His procefs againft Lo^oi'. theEmperor,you may fee in Frfi&cr///Hiffory Mny below «. Rer. Eubem. and others more at large-

Brjhup t» ^ 247. CCCCLX. Another Council at Ravena, Anno i^iy. to the fame examine or p^j^pof^. vvith the former, where the manners of thofe times may benoted ^erfeli m hu '" ^'^'^ crimes forbidden : The 3^. Can. Ihevveth that men had then the place }rtlin.irj. of Archdeacons befoje they were ordained Deacons, and the places or benefices of Abbots, Deans, Archpresbytcrs, Prelates, ^i'ri'jft''/'") before they were ordained Prielts: And the Cannon requireth fuch to be after ordained within a year.

C<jn. 18. Extommunicateth all Lay MagiRrates, that take a Pric/l or Clerk in arms or in any exeefs or fin, and keep him, fthat is imprifon him or punifli hiiri) and Jo not fend him to hisBilhopi or that fending 1 im to the Bifhop do openly lliamc him, by fending him with trumpets or armed men, or with his arins hang'd about his neck.

§ 248. CCCCLxI. Anno 1322. A Concilium Sabinenfe had many of the

li^e

like orders to reftrain the vicious Clergy, and yet Cm, 3. excommuntcatc fccular judges that con"pcl them to anfwcr at their Bar. Efpecially they are large in impoiing penalties on thofe that publickly keep Concubmcs in their houles (and have not the modefiy to fornicate more fecrctly.^ If they put not away their Concubines in two Moncths they mull ]qfc the third part of their tythcs, and after other two months another third part, and at iali the other third part, and after be uncapable of preferment, c?-c, Thefe are gentler penalties than a differing opinion is punilhed with under the name of a iicrefie.

§ 24^. CCCCLXTI. Jnnol^i^. A Council at ToUtane tothelikc pur-pofes.

(j 250. CCCCLXlII. The two Popes called two Councils again/leach «^ other as Htrcticks fwere neither in the right. J Jo^^" •"» Council ztAvigni-0)1 proved Nicoloi the 5//.'. a herctick for Iiolding that Chiilt poff;fl(.d nothing as Proprietor i Nicolas called a Council in //j/y which condemned Johm<ii heretick tor holding the contrary : Thus thchcrcticatois werehtreticated.

§ 251. ThcFrcnchnow got the Power of the Papacy, and another FrmJi man waschofen Pope^/»ia I3J4 called Biwi/<a. 11. alias 12^/'. He renew- "^^ ed theexcomm-mication and dept fition ol the Emperor LWw. andclaim-ed the Empire to himfi.U, cincludingtliat being vacant it fell to the Church Cfec to whom Kingdomes cfcheat^: whereby he (ct all Italy in Wars in all the Cities, giving them to the Rulers as the Popes Leiutenants, and per-fwading tl.eRom.ans alfo tod.pofe the Senatorean power as of the King, and to exercifc it thcmfclves under the Church : He lived above fevtn years Pope.

This Pope contrary to hisPrcdcccffor dehned that (buls fiiflicirntly purged en)oy the clearviiion of God bLforethc refurrt(5tion.

§252. CCCCLXlV. Anno 1335?. A Toletanc Council decreed arr.ong =^12 other things that every KeSor 0/ a Church and their Vicars wider fain of rx-commutticjtion do every year write the names of all their Par/Jhioncrs that come to years of difcretion^ and confgn (conhrm) all that are confejfed, and excite them to come to the Sacrament \ But if they have not received rt, let them ab-Jiain unJcfs it be by the Ccunf'el of their own Frieft. And thofe that confejfe not , after a year to expel fi\mt the Church,^ and deny them eccleftaliical burial, ij 2'^^. Anno 1342. Another Frenchman(Ei(liopof Ecw«)ismadePope at Azic^nion : CIem.6. Ail Italy and Naples was put into the flames of W ars. He forced the Geimanes to fetup another againll the Emperor Lod»i:Bavar;u, which was Charles Son ot John the 11. of Bohemia. Charles fends bound to the Pope,.a new Senator Nicolas Kentii that ruled all at Kmie. He made a new Jubilee > he laboured in vain to reconcile King Ef/wjiv^ of England to the Frencli, the EngliOi conquering their Navies and taking Ci/;^, &.c. The Colenfes and Trevinuf..s having contributed money as to a Turk-ifli expedition , th.at Pope liberally rewarded them, by granting them licence to cat Eggs and Milk-meats on any (ailing dajes out of Lenr, ^ 254. UZQ(^Lyi\'.Anno J j47« A Tolrtanc Council againU Simony,c&"c.

I" ^.55.

Vlt.

The fiPft. §255. Anno i^")!. InriKAhcSth.hmzdcVopco( ylvignion: AWItjtywdiS '^""duT ^''" '^'^P^ in blood: One Barnacctus Lordca it as RuLr acivs»«e; Thel'opc craftily lets Nicol.isGencii our o( Prifon to fct up againlt him i A'/co/j* gets the better and killcth him: bi;t domineering too much is nextliiU'ci him-fdf. 1347- The new Emperor C/Mr/w is CrowncJ in Italy. The Romans put the power into fcvcn Citiiens called Reformers of tin common n-eahh. The Pope fets Hugo King of Cyrus agiinll the Reformers, and bids him pull them down. But trouble came near him: Our King Ed:v.ird con-qcrcd the Frcnch.and took the King and liis Son Philip Priijncrs, nobly rcleaf-ing thePrifoners upon piomife that they would fight againft him no more, nhich they prefently brake ; The Pcpcdieth.

§ 2 51^. Having long faid nothing of the Greek affairs, I here only briefly fay, that the utter confufion of their imperial Succeflions by murders and II-furpations, and the continued confufions of their Church aliFairs ever lince the divifions of the Orthodox Ncfforians, Eutychians, Monsnheiifos, &: maketh ir both a hard and unpleafant task to give any exaCl account of their Bifhops, Synods and manifold contentions, which furthered the mine of the Empire. Tlieir divifions gave the Latincs opportunity to take Cmi^.tn' tinnple 1204. which they kept 58 years, and then loit it. Baldwin was the hrif Latine Emperour whom the Bnlgjrians conquered, and took Pri-fencr Ww."j T 205. and kept f?xtecn months, and then put him to death. Henryhi'i biothcr fucccedcd him i2o5and died 12 i5. Pt-firfuccccdeth him that married his fi/kr ( or daughter ) and is quickly llain by Theodorui Lafcaris, Robert fucceedeth his Father Peter 1261, Ibeodore L/ijc.nU was En.peror chofcn by the Greeks and kept Court at Nice: He dettatcd the Tuiks, and flew rhcir Sultan, and died, 1222. John V/tcis his Son in Law fucceedeth hiic, and 1255. his Son T/.w&Ve L^/c-zr/V fucceedeth him and died 125p. leaving a Son John of fix years old: Michael Palcologiis putting out Johns eyes at ten years old, ufurpeth the Empire, and by a iiratagem of Alexius defar witii See men taketh Conjtantinople; and feigned a recenciliation with Rome, and died 1282, and for his fecm-ing reconciliation with Rmm his Son Andmnictts and the Clergy denied him Chri/iian burial. Andronicm fucceedcd: His Son M/aW/dying, his Gxzndi(on AndronicHS depofcth and banilhcth him, and taketh the Throne i. he reigned 8 years, and died 154J. He committed his two Sens to Jo/?. Ca/ttacuzenus: ThcEldeif Son John reigned 27 years, and Manuel his brother fuccceded hini 1384. and his Son jfo/7/1 fucceedcd himi4ip. Confian-iinet\\t Sth, began 1445, and Anno 1453, Mty 2$th, the Turks took Con{ian~ tinoplci and fet up their Empire

^257. Annoi^i^^, Under Innocent the 6th. was anotherToletancCouncil: fhort and fwecti v;orth thf "lofing: Tby authority of Bl.ifiut Arch-Eiflwpof Toletan. Viz. \_Leji faithful Chrifiians JhouU be burdened with the Kceight of fm (or fmltinefsj by tran/grefftng provincial Conjiitittions, rvhen T)i-tine piety hath mercifnUy put them nndtr an eafie yoke and light burden^ Tve ordain^ tJje holy Conmil approving it thtt the Provincial conjiittitioas j/' our Pre-

decejfbrs.

d^ccffors and th tt (hall be midchcreafta\ ttnlefs it he otherwife exprcjly ordained in JHch Of Jhallbc made. Iff ill oh'igethe trangreffours vnly to the pnalty of them, but not ('ad culpam) to faultindsfor (inj

Its worth the Inquiry how far all other Canons and humane penal Lawcs are thus to be expounded.

§258. Anno 1^62. Another French man is made Pope, called Z/'rJ'.fff the 5//.J. He fent A'gidiuf to hght for him in/fj/y ^till broil'J in Wars.) and died.

§ 255?. Anno 1570. Fetriu BtUfortis that was made Cardinal bct()re he was 17 years old is made Pope of Avignion^ and called Greg, the iiU'. So far wis all the world from obeying th; Pope, that Itjly lliil fought againfthim: Thither he fends an Army, blooddicd and milery overfprcad-eth the Country. The Pope at laft faw that his abfcnce gave his Eni-mies advantage, and not daring to let the French know jell they Ibould have ftopt him, he flipt away to Rome, and thither remo%'ed his Seat, that had been at ^zvg/i/'un 70 years, to the great joy of thcCity,impovcrirh:d by the abfence of tiie Court.

§260. Anno I^y^. Gregory the utb being dead, the People of R»'«f flock to the Cardinals, and cry to them to choole no more Frenchmen lead the Seat be again removed, but an Italfan, and the bell man that could be found, lead all fliould run to utter coofufion. Thirteen Cardinals were Frenchmen and four Italians : The French were for a trench Pope j but they fell out among themfclvcs, while part of the French were for one, and part for another, by which it fell out that Barthol. Epifc Btrenfis, a Ncjpo-iitane wascholen, an extraordinary good Pope. The Cardinals crycd out that the People of Ko»;c had by tumult, force, and arms conftraincd them to thechoiceof this mz.n(Vrban6.J and they fled to Urong holds i butat lall came to Rtfw« and owned the Pope: But when he told them, that he would not go to Fr<»;;«, and reproved their wickedncfs, and told them how fevercly he refolvcd to pHnifti them if they amended not, they got away and declared, tiiat Vrban was a falfe Pope , chofen by the Peoples tumults and force, where the Cardinals were not free, and that the Scat was void, and they chef- another ( Cardinal Gebennenfit ) and called him Clemtnt "jth » And fo whereas for Icventy years there had been a Pope at Avignion, and none at Kawf, now for forty years more there were two, one at Avignion^ and one it Rome ( and fometimes thrcej. And indeed it pafleth my skill to know how the Av/gnhn Popes were Billiops of Rome, who never fiw Rome, nor any ot the People , any more than he is a true Schoolmaltcr that never faw the School or Scholars.

And now the two Popes fall to lighting for it > and the French Pope fending an Army of Britons againh the Italian Popei at hrft they beat the Romans, but next were fo deltroyed by them, that few fcaped home to bring the news.

The 7/j//jn bloody Wars Hill continue, cfpecially between the Venettjnt and Genouefcs. Then had the Venetiantthc fix A Guns: The KeafolitMs

lit 2 alfo

^iH Qhurcb'Hiftory of Bi/Jjops

T-^

alio were ruined by Wars, their Queen fldin?, with one Pope (Clemtnt) was dclhoyed by C/^jr/iv that was for the other (jnfily iiianglcd, as (he had u-Icd her own Husband). The Duke of Anjou al(b came with a yrcat Army into7/.//vrromPopcC/cmMf todcftroy Pope Vrban-, but the General died and the Souldicrsfcattcrcd and returned home: The Pope then dcflrcd of li\ns,Chjrlcs that his NepLcw might be Prince of Naples i and being denied, threatned Ch.irlcs, and cited him to Nucena, who came at his Summons but will) an Army: Tht Pope cfcapcd to Genoa; and King Charl j upon his Fathers death called home to Hk«!tj»j, was murdered.

ThePopeputtethfcven of his old Cardinals in rive Sack?, and drown-fththem in the Sea-: But to be ikong enough, he makcth no fewer than twenty nine new ones in one day. He went to Naples^ thinking to fur-prize and dcjedt the Kings two Sons, but v;as defeated. Italy Itijj flnmed xvith War: He made 54. Cardinals, of which he killed five, and dcpofcd Tevcn, and died, faiili i^/^/wj, little lamented, as iiisEpitiph (heweth as being ruftick and incjiorablc, though one of their belt: He died after eleven years,/^«, ijS'p.

§. a^i. CCCCLXVI. An. \y:%. A Council is held at Palemine in Spain ^ under theCaidinalsof the AntipopcC/rwiv;;, about Shaving; and Church-Orders.

§ 261. An. 1589. Boniface p. aliarS. is chofcn at Rome, and Clement dead in France, Pel. deLuna is choLn there, called Eemdia 15. The Jtalianr were IHU the furthifl from Unity and peace, all the Cities almo/t in wara-gainlf each other : fofar were they from Emincncy in Religious l-vc and concord, that they had not the common quictnc(s of Heathens. The Pope went to Pfr////.w/to leconcile the:ii there i where to rtiew what liis power wasovcr them, the people killed fourfcorcof the Nobles before the Popes face, which he tookill, and departed. He got polkilion of the Government of Rome; he required Annals, that is, half a years value of every B;ncficc of him that received it: All, faith Platina, five the Engli(h granted it and they would yield it of no Benefices but B;llio|:ricks. Had the Pope indeed been Head of all the World , Annals would have come to a conllderabic Iknt; But going (b far as the Antipodes-to gather it, would have made it come fhorter home thsin the Spanijh-GM and Silver doth from the ff^efim Indies.

Inlf.ad of winning men by Preaching, the Popes Arms now fubdue Pe-rufmmzud miny Italian Citic? to him: Platina laith, that his own Father that faw the n.an, told him. that a Priclicloathcd in white,carrying a Cru-cihx, with certain Hymns to the Virgin May, cjme from the Alps with a gra\e and pious look, fo preaching, that all the people followed him, even Nobles as well as others i and ihathe pretended that he went to vilic the Holy Fathers at Jl we i but the Pope fnfpedid tl at he meant to be Pope, or get too much intcieii, andfent Souldiers and took him, and burnt him to death i fome faying that he had fome erroir, others faying no fuch thing was ever proved by-hioi, but it was repotted by-the Popetohide' his cruelty.. j^

and tbeir Councils -^bridged. ^ly

I

E-J

In thefe times, faith P/dti/u,C'.r)l,^/(?rJ/ Byzantinus brought Gmi;^ Learning into 7fj/y, that had bicnfiknt hvc hundred years.

§. 263. A/1. 1404. Bjniface dying, Imwccnt 7. is chcfcn at Kamc^ cr.c part of Europe being tor him, and another for the Avignion Pope. Trtmnhiunte m-ta Itjlij, faith Platina, T^otj Julia ad arni.i refpiciebat: Five and twenty (.i-ticsrcvolted from the Vicccomitcs, .andfct up rcw Governments. fWhat Concord did the Pope keep in the World? J Phtinj faith he was net only flothful, but could not endure tobetc.ld of hisdiitv. The Citizens of RiV»te petitioned him tocndeavour the cndingot the Schifme, the King of Frj/ict and the Avignion Pope being inclined to peace: tor anfwcr he fentthem to cS-r his Nephew LudovicHS to be murdered, who prefcntly killed eleven that came toconfult with him. cafiing them out at a window, faying that tr.is the only rvay to cure Sedition and Schifme: Upon this tlie City takes Arms for revenge i the Pope ar.d his Net hew tly to Vitcrbiimt ■•, Ltdiflms King of Apdiahc\ips the Citizens, they fall upon the Courtiers, take the Capitol, and other places, &c. Tlie Pope fends an Army againfi them thst ovcr-cometh them, and forceth tliem to beg his return ; He dieth I4c5. after two years and 23 days Reign "> and fu tlierc was only the Avignion Pope.

§, ^6\, An. \^c6. Gregory 12. is chokn at Bome^ taking an Oath ('as Tiinoc. 7_did3 to relign, if the Unity ot th^ Church required it : The Princes of Frjwc had made ticir Pope Benedict 13 takeihe like Oath: The Princes and Cardinals afhamed of two Popes, and twc Churches, prcfi them both to fuiimon a Coi ncil '■, they cunningly would not agree of the place, and To forc(.d the doing it without them.

§. 26^. CCCCLXVII- To put a Ihcw on the bufincfs Greg, calleth a Council ^t A(jtiil(ij, whetlier by long delays he crccpcth with a few to do nothing. *

^ 266. CCCCLXVIII. And the other Pope, Bened. i^.Anno 140^,2!-f) calleth his Council m Arragone oi his Sub)c<Ss: wliithcalkth itfelf a General Council, and pronouiicc him the true Pope, and no Schifir.a-tick or Heretick, and Greg, to be th>. Ufurpcr, but exhort him to endeavour Unity.

§. 267. CCCCLxTX. The two Popes giving no better hopes, fomc of the Cardiniknf both fide? llipt from ihcm, and bj the (Countenance ot the yicrentines and King LadiJJjits, chofe Fifj for a General Council, wiicrc they met and funimoned both the Popes, who fcorned thciri •, and they de-pofcd them both asficrctickj and Schifin.itick^ , faith BinJm , forbidding all Chridians to obey them, and they chofe a third, Alcxjnd'ci"j. and tlic twa old ones kept up liilli and fo there were three Popes at once.

§. 2(58. An. .4cp. Alex. 5. iS chofen, much commended, but died in eighteen Months, iouic fay> faith ^Htc«i/!.'fApoyfon(.d by a Clvlier; Cut to Ihew himfelf a I^-ipe, in that little time he dcpoied King L.id/Jljits, and gave .^di Kingdomc to LoW/Dukeof An]oiu

§. 26p. Bj//»'upc .; 0^/isncxc ciiofen, called by ^oiv^ J>h. 21. by others a2 byothcrs2^.and by r/.i/r,v^(j''. -4. ffo lit'tle are they agreed of their

t^

I

fucccnion) Fhtir.x faith the Cardinals of Gf«g. w:rc yet poor, and he hi-rrd tlKin witli Money to Create him: He got S/fr^ifnnnd King ot Bohcmij chofen Empcnnir, and would have had the Council to be at Rome. Itj-Jy continued liill in blood , the Topes having parcelled it into fo many iniall Principalities, to fecure it againll the Empcroursi no part of the whole World livtd t.om Age to Age in fuch continual War and confiilion. This Vopc, {':i'nh OnHpbri.'fS Pjnviniif, vh. fuit bcUo & armir quam Keligioni aptinr, titpotequi neqtte fid(m norat ncqueKeligioncm, rebus profanis magii quam Vivino citltit accommcdjuis. How he was accufd, dcpofed, imprifoncd i hovv the other two Popes Greg, i 2. and Bened. 15. were alldcpofcd with hiin> and Martin 5. chofen i the next Chapter fhcweth.

CHAP. XII I.

The Coimdlof Coiiftancc, Bafil, Midfime others.

§. I. CCCCLXX. A N. 1414. the Council of Co«/?<j«ce was called by Jlx. the means of the Einpcrour Sigifmttnd, and the confent of Pope John^ who the more trufted the Emperour becaufe he had promoted him: There were then three Popes, Bcncd, 13. in France, whom the Kingdonics of Fxince. Spain, Arragon, England^ and Scotland followed i zndGreg. 12. :ind Johi:2^, SilKome, that divided the reft of the P.^/'j/incj-. It was not certainly to rqirefcnt the Tm;;()', hut to profane the Name, and abufcthe Kingdomeof the bltfled Trinity. 03.28. V.John called by them Sancii[fjmns Vominus Nofier^ entereth the City, "Nov. 5. The Pope began the Council. ]V(7-^'. id. was thchrft Siffion, the Pope fpeaking to them, and his Bull being read, (hewing that he would have had the Council at Rome, but thcmiferablecafeof Rowe (by contention and confu(ion) hindering, it was agreed with the Emperour to be at Conjiance, commanding to be there for the peace of the Church, and appointing a Weekly Mafs to be faid for obtaining Gods blclfing, and pardoning a years penance for every Mafs to every Mals-Pritft that faid it, exhortingall to fading and prayer for good fac-ctfs, charging them to look after Errours, efpecially thofe that rofc fiom one John JFicl^iff, and 2K0 to reform the Church,'e^<:.

March 2. 1415. The Pope took an Oath, for the peace of the Church, to lay down his Popcdomc, if the other two Popes would do the fame, and the Emperour kill his feet.

The Cardinal of Florence read thefc Decrees: i.That the Council was lawfully called. 2. That it will not be diffolved by thedeparture of the Fope, or other Prelates. 3. That it be not di/TblvLU till the prefent Schifme be healed, and the Chuich relormed in Faith and Manners^ in Head and Members. ^.ThaL it bc net rv'movcd but on juft caufc. 5.That the Bifbops tiepartnot.

and their Councili ^bridged, a^\

§ 2. In tlic fourth Stflion tluy decreed that tlie general Council rcprc 'fcnting themilitant C.ithelick^ChnrcbJ'.2th its potvcr immcdiitely fromChrtll, « to rvbich every man of tvhat State or dignity Joevcr, though it be Papjl, is ' bound ta obey in the things that belong to Faith , and the extirhition of ' the f.iid Sdvfm and the gener.il reformation of the Church in head and nKm-^ hers. 2. Thst the Pope withdraw rot himfch or the Oiliccrs, and if hj * fljoidd^ or fljould thunder out Church cenfures againft them or any adherin? '■to the Council, they are void, 5. That no Tiinllations, Froir.otions, or ' Cardinals be made to the prejudice of the Council. 4.. That tl rceot eacfi * Nations be chofen to judge of departures, ^c But the Pope fled andfcnt ' them word that it was not for fears, but for his healtii.

^ 3. Scir.5. The Emperor being among them, they decreed again the «:S~J Power ot the Council as immediately from Chrili, which the Pope and all muii obcyi and that the Pope is punilliable if he difobey ; that he is bound to furrendcr in anvcafc of great and evident proht to the Church s that he unlawfully departed j that if hu will return and perform his promifc, heihallbcfafe.

Next, tliey proceeded to condemn the Books of John JFickliJf, and to profecute John Hufs,

Next they applied themfel\-cs to the Empcrour to reduce the Pope, who told tlicm he vvasin the hands of th.c Duke oi Anjlria'-, but if they pkafed he would write to him, cr try to fetch him by force, yc,

^.4. Stfl". <5 They order the Procuration for the Popes Refignation tobe demanded, and Procefs to be made againll John Hufs , and Hieromc of Trague. A Letter is read from the Univerlity of Paris to the Pope, to fiib-mit to the Council.

§.5. Self. 7. Theyaccufed Hifw«f of Prague for not appearing, and ft,m-moncelthc Pope, promiiingiiim fafe Conduct,/er^/j/ivi ^/r/f/Vw &c.

§. 6. Seff 8 They condemned ?#'/ci;/i'j^'s Bones to bcdig'd up, upon 45 "^^3 Articles,in/iead of 260 which they had gathered. Art. i.was:

•i. That the fiibl'tance material of Bread and Wine reir.ain in the Sa-' crament of the Altar.

' 2. The Accidents of Bread remain not without the Lbffancc.

'5. Chriftis not identically and really in hisproper bodily prefcncc in

* the Sacrament.

'4. If a Eiihopor Pricfilivein mortal (in, he Ordaincth not, Eapti^ctb

* not, Confccrateth nor.

'5. TheGofpel faith not that Chrift inftitutcd theMafs.

' 6. Cod ought to obey the Devil. * * ^ c.t~

* 7. It a man be contrite aright, outward confcllion is ncedlefs and un- '•■'"v-' prohtable

' 8. It the Pope be a Reprobate, and wicked, and fo a Member of the ' Devil, he hath no power over the faithful given him by any but Csfir.

' 9, Since Vrban 1 he 6. none is to be taken for Pope, but wc mult live as | vder ' the Crakj, t under our own Laws. the ru-.ks

' lo.lr

' to. It is awinft S:ripturc that Church-men have polJcflion (that is ' they (fjnuld not hhour to he rich.)

'ii. No Prelate flioiild excommunicate anyone, unlcfs he know that • God hath hrficxconimunicited him: And he that fo cxcommunicatcth is thereby a Heretick or H.xcoirjmunicatc.

' 12. A Prelate that cxcommunicatcth a Clerk who appealed to the 'King, crto the Council of the Kingdome, is thereby a Traytor to the 'Kingand Kingdome.

' 13. They that give over Preaching, or hearing Gods Word, for mens ' F xcomnitinication, are Excommunicate, and in the Day of Judgment (hall •■ be judged Tray tors to Chrifi.

' 14. It is lawful for a Deacon or Presbyter to preach the Word of God-' without the Authority of the Apoftolick Seal, or a Catholick Bilhop.

' 1 5. No one i, a Civil Lord,or a Prelate, or a Bifliop, while he livcih in

' mortal lin. (7be meaning of this is^no open wicked man is a Snljeci ca^tbh of

■ ' fuch Authority given by Chriji, as Jhall vojrrant him to itfc the place, bitt his

' jcis >n.iy he vilnedto oihas in many cafes) Vifpofuio materia ejl /scceffaria ad for-

'■mamrecipicndam: Asan Inhdelcan be no Bilhop or Pador.J

'16. Temporal Lords may take away temporal goods from the Church, 'from a roffeflbr habitually criminal, and not only in acf. (Not from the '■ Caered tife m general, but fi-um that man that forfeiteththem.J

' 17. The people may corrcdt their Delinquent Lords (7his is not to he '■ heliu'edto be WickVid's fenfe, till they cite his otvn tvordr, which no doubt limit ' it to the cafes.)

'18 Tythes are mecr Alms, and the Parifliioncrs may take them away ' for their Prelates tins.

^19. Thelpecial prayers applied by Prelates and Religious men to one ' per Ion, prnnt him no more than the general ones, cteteris panbn;.

' 20 He that giveth Alms to Fryars is thereby Excommunicate (that is, ' he fins by cherijhing r,-ilfnl idlenefs.)

'21. He that enters the private Religion, cither of the Poffefmg or the ' Mendicant Fryars, becomes Idb ht and able to keep the Commandments ' or God.

" 22. Holy men that made private Religions, thereby finned. '23. TheReligious living in private Religion, are not (therein) of the Chriliian Religion.

'24. Fryars are bnurd to get their living by the labour of their hands, 'and not by begging.

•■25. They are SiinoniacJl that bind themfelves to pray fbrothcrs for a ' temporal reward (or price.)

' 2<?. Tie prayers of lUprnh^tcs ("mcked men) ataileth not to any. ' 27. Ai' thmgscome topafs by neceliity.

' 2b. The Conhrmationot Ynuth, the Ordination of Cl-rks, the Con-'fccrationot Places, are rcfcrved to the Pope and tilhops for covctoufnefs 'ot tcmpoial gain and honour.

' 2^. Univer-

an

d their Councils Abridged^ 435

'2p. Univcrfitits, Studies, Colledgcs,Dcgrecs, and Maftcrfliips in them,

* are introduced by vain Gentility, and proht the Church as much as the

* Devil doth.

'30. The Excommunication of a Pope, or any Prelate, is not to be ' feared,bccaufc it is the Ccnfureuf Antichrift.

'31. They that found Cloyfters fin, and they are Diabolicil that enter them.

'32. To enrich the Clergy isagainft Chrifis Rule.

'33. Pope .?y/rf/?fr, and the Empcrour COT^/?jn/;«, erred in inriching the Church,

'34. All the Order of Begging Fryars are Hereticksi and thofc that give

* to them are Excommunicate.

' 3 5. They that enter Religion (as Fryars) or any Order (nf them) are ' thereby difablcd from keeping Gods Commands, and fo of coming to

* Heaven, unlcfs they forfakc them.

' 3<J. The Pope, and all his Clergy that have Poffeflions, arc therefore He-

* reticks, and the Secular Lords and Laicks that conlcnt to them (to tlxir

* great riches.)

' 37. The Church of Kawe is the Synagogue of Satan i and the Pope is ' not the immediate and nearelt Vicar of Chriil and the Apoftlcs.

' 38. The Decretal Epiftles are Apocryphal, and feducc from the Faith *of Chrin, and tiic Clerks that fludy them are fools-

* 3P. The Empcrour and Secular Lore's were feduccd by the Devil toin-' rich the Churcli ( cxceftvcly he meaneth) with temporal goods.

' 40. The Eledion olt the Pope by Cardinals was introduced by the 'Devil.

' 41. It is not ncceffary to Salvation to believe the Church of V^ome to ' be the Supreme amongothcr Churches.

' 42. It is fooliih totruftto the Indulgences of the Pope and Biftiops.

* 43. Oaths made to lirengthen humane Contrails and Civil Commerce,

* are unlawful.

' 44. Attgufliiie^ Benedin^ Bernard are damned, unlcfs they repented of ha-' vingpoflcffions, and inditutingand entering ('/'rK'.irO Religions v and lb *from the Pope lo the lowell RcTigious (Fryar) they are all Hereticks.

'45. All Religions (that is Orders cf. Fryars ) were introduced by the ♦Devil.

This Article about Necefity of Events ^ I fee in ffici^i^s Books is his ewn, and many here cited are true i but no doubt b'.it many of them arc perverted by their wording them, and leaving out the Explicatory Context.

The Council forbad his Books, and condemned them to be burnt, and reprobated every one o{ all theft- forcfaid Articles, with all the 260.

The Duke of At<pia moft hunibly begged the tmpcrours pardon for receiving the Pope.

^,7. ScfT. p. The Citation of the Pope is read, and CommilTaries and

K k k k Judges

L_

Church- Bijlory of 'Bi/bopi

tkeChioih. then, ;

Judges appointed •> and a Letter read from the Univcrfity of Varis^ inftiga-ting the Council to their duty (for their honeft Chancellour Oerftn was licre. )

(j. 8, ScfT. lo. The Popes Sufpenfion was read. Thc.^r]/: n. the Articles againll the Pope arc read, whidi were proved i whidi were in tura as follovveth.

Art.\. That tlie Pope John from his Youth was of a naughty difpofici-on, impudcHt a lyar, rebellious againft his Parents, given to moil Vices, 2Tid fo was, and (HU is accounted of all that know him i Cardinals, Arch-Ei(hops, Eifhops &c. witnefsit.

2. He gathered liches by Symony, and wicked means.

3. Ey thefe Symoniacal riches he purchafed a Cardinals place at grtat rates.

4. PcffclTing Bono«/i*as Legate by tyranny and cruel exadion?, inhumanely and impioufly he ruined the people, without all Juftice or ?{ct)\&c.

5. Getting thus to be Popejike a Pagan he contemned all Divine Offices.

6. That he is the oppreifor of the poor, the perlccutor of Juftice, the Pillar of the unjuf^, the Statue of Simoniacks, the fcrvant of the Flefh, the dregs of Vices, a llranger to Virtue, flying publick Confiliories, wholly given to fleep, and other flclhly delires i wholly contrary to Chrilf in life and manners, theGlafs of Infamy, and the profound Inventerof all wickcd-ntfTes (or malice) fo fcandalous to the Church, that among faithful Chri-f^ians that knew him, he was commonly called "IHE DEVIL INm CAKNATE.

7. That as a VefTcl of all ilns, he repulfed the worthy, and gave all Offices, Benefices and Charch-promotions to the bad that would give moft Money for them. *

8. Hereby the whole Churchy Clergy aud People, fell under infamy and. fcandal.

p. That of all thefe he was oft admonifbed and humbly intreatcd.

10. That he was worfe after than before, laying all pretence of Jufficc, and openly felling all to the worft that would give him money.

ii. That growing yet flronger in Vices, he made divers Officers pur-pofely to manage his Simony (as his Bailiffs) for all fat Cathedrals, Abbeys • Monafleries, Priories, and vacant Benefices rcfervcd, &e.

12. That he charged his Regiifers to receive all the money before tliey granted, &c,

13. That he appointed certain Merchants to put vacant Benefices in the Balance, and grant their Petitions thatoflcrcd moft for them.

14. Heordered that no Petition for a BeneSce be offered him, till it w^re figncd by the Refundary who then was to pay it out of his own Etlat€ if he took too little.

15. That againfi God and hisConfcicnce he oft fold his Bulls to Eminent men, in which he wrote, that they that had Benefices had reflgnjrd them t6 him, and that by lying forged Reiignation, which nevtr was made, fold' tkcra again for, great llims, and beggar'd n.any, . 6. By

and their Coundls ^bridged" ^?c

1 <J, By this it came to pafs, that without all difficulty he that gave moft, carried it: And the fame courfe was held in Sacramfits, Indulgences, Di-fpenfations, and otherEcclelianical and Spiritual Gifts.

17. That heufually fold the fame Benefice divers times over to divers perfons, or to the faire, filencing Claims of Right \ whereby the whok Church was defiled with Simony, * hlled with the unworthy, both in * Which higher and lower Prelacies, e!^c. t'"""^''v y

i8. That he refuted to Confirm thofe that were Canonically Eleded, ^'^',fif,^ unl^fs even to fatiety they glutted him with Money, putting the unworthy in their (lead, and tranflated men againft their wills from their Churci)es, that he might fell thtm dearer.

ip. That promifing Church-Reformation in the Council at P//i, he called one at Rome, and being there publickly admonifhed, being incorrigible by the Devils inftind, did worfc.

20. That he fold for Money Indulgences at the hour of death, the Predication of theCrofs, Abfolutionsfrom fault and punifliment, Conccllions ot Churches and portable Altars, Confccrations of BiHiops, Bcncdi<ftions of Abbots, Relicks of Saints, Holy Orders, power in ConfciTion to abfolvc from iins, and Ads that may be miniiired only by the Operations of the Holy Glioft for Grace.

21. That one Mc. Py/?(7rw/, a F/orf«ff Merchant, and the Popes Secretary, a Lay married man, was made by the Pope his Legate Apollolical, fcnt into Brabant to cxad and receive a Subfidy, which was the tenth part of the fruit of all Benefices in divers Cities and DiocelTes, and to excommunicate the rcfufers by a certain deputed Sublegate, t and fufpend Colledgcs, tl Hk' ■* Covents, Chapters, &c. ^y Chan-

2 2. That Jie authoriTcd this Nicholas to grant to all perfons, of each j'^'j^^',. Sex, for Money to choofc their Confcffors, that might abfolve from fault ^att. andpunilhmcnt, by which the Merchant got vaft fums of Money, fcducing

the people,

23. That all the prcmifes are known, true, proved, &c,

24. That ^mo 1412. Ambafladors from the King, Bifliops and Univcr-fities of France^ admoniflicd him charitably of this fcandalous, intatnous Simony.

25. That ke amended not by it, but did worfc.

2d. That he is defamed of all this in all Kingdomcs of the Chri(\ian "World.

27. That heabufcd Kcwff and the Churches Patrimony, cxhaufting the people, andimburfing it himlth, by Taxes, Gabcls, t^c M.i»y injianccs arc added.

28. For tlufe things many Crimes, Sacriledges, Adulteries, Murders, SfoilSjRapincand Thefts weie committed in Kojwi', through his fault.

2p. It is thecommon voice, opinian, afTertion and belief, that in tliefe, and innumerable other evils* he is the grcatelt Dilapidator and Diilipator cf the Church Aflairs that ever was, fcandalous to theUnivctfal Church, a

witch, a Murderer, a Killer of his Brethren, Incontinent, in all things krvinpj the Vices of the ficfh, of inhnite crimes, calkd intamoi-fly BJ. diriiius.

30. That all this is notorious by common fame, repute, dr<;.

31. Thac he hath (old the goods of Cardinals, iJilhopricks, Parifhes.CoI-kdges, Priories, d^-c.

32. And this not only in the City about fmany inrtanccs named.)

33. That he deftroycd llniverlity Studies, by taking the Salaries to himfelf.

34. Befides,he laid fuch burdens on the Parfons, as forced them to fJl tlie Chuich-goods, Ornaments, and Books.

35. That hereby the whole Church was notorioufly fcandalizcd.

3d. The Infamy was fo great, that Princes and the limperour bcfought him to amend-

37. Hereupon he promifcd to amend, and to call this Council.

38. But he went on, and did worferhan before.

3P. He forbad the righting of the Injured in judgment.

40. That thcBifhopof Salisbury^ and other Engl/Jh Embaffadours, ad-rnonilhed him to amend, and he gave them ill word?, and threatned, and a-bufed them.

41. That at Conflance hefwore to refign for Peacr,

42. Andhepromifedto fubmitto tiiC )udgincnt of the Council.

43. He bid all fay what they would againlthim.

44. He was huirjbly intrcated by the Council to perform his word.

45. Yet thought by hiding himlclf to evade.

4#. Yet he profcfied before that he intended not to depart.

47. And when the Church longed for peace, by the Council he plotted to diflblve the Council, and fo tied in a difguiztd habit.

48. Vic SicA to Scbafbaiifen^ and commanded fome Cardinals and Bifhops to come to him.

4p. Thence he fled fo Lauffcnhcrge^ and towards Briftc.

50. The Council defircd his return,

51. He denied toanfwer, butfled to]V«m)Z>/rrg to fruftrate the Council.

52. He is an obdurate linner, and incorrigible Fautor of Schifoi &c.

53. That all fhis is notorious, and the common repute of men.

54. And all the prcmifes are the common fame and voice. Here fomc-what is left out.

And they begin as anew j i.Dedatinghis wickedncis from his Youth.

2. That lie is notorioufly fufpeded to have poyfoned Pope Alexander and h's Phyluian Daniel,

3. "1 hat he con.mittcd Incefi with his Brothers Wife, and with the holy Nuns, and nviflicd Maids, and committed Adultery with Wives, and o» thcr crimes of Incontinence.

3. That he Simonaically fold fix Paridi Churches in Bmonh to Lay men ^ho fct Prjeiis in them at their pltafurc.

4.. TKat

4. That tor Money he fo!d the Maftcrfhip of the Order of S. Jnbn of Je-rnfalcm\nC\fi-us to a Child of rive years old, Balhrd to the King of Cy-pruf, with the fruits of Vacancies, and fpoilsof the hft Malkr, d^c.

5. That he would not recall this, but on conditions-

1. That the K.of C)/»rK/Ihould be paid fby tiiem that fuccecdcd^ all the Money back which he gave to the Pope.

2. That the Pope ihould have more, fix thoufand Florins of Gold, wliich the Prior of Rhodes paid > and for which the Hofpitalkrs arc yet in dkbf.

3. He refcrvcd for the faiJ Bafiard the Magilrral Chamber, worth two thoufand Florins.

4. That the faid Pope John gave Fryar Jacr>htts d: Vitrijco, an ancient man, and cxpfefly profcfling the Hofpitallcrs IlehrJon, an Abfokuion from his Vows, Rule and habit of Religion, and rcduc.d him to a Se.ulan hte, and Marriage,£><:. for lix hundred Ducats.

Many other Articks I pafs by, as tedious to be repeated: Onc^was, Ibjt hcivasa iiMrioiis Simo!ii.ic]{_, .vida pertinacious Heretich^. Another was, Jh.n often before d/iers Vrchtes^ and other bontfi menJiy tin Vails perftvjfunhc pcr-tinaciotfjlyj'jtd, ajjerled, dogmatized, and mjintjincd^th.tt there is nj Life Eta-njl^ nor any after t!'is: Andl.vftid, and pertinacioufy belirued, tbjt mam Soul, dieth with the body-, and is cxtinO^ as.are the Bruits: And hefiid^ that the "Dead rifi: not, contrary to tlx Article of the KrfurrcCiion^ &-c.

He fent an Epiille to the Eniperour to beg mercy &c,

ij. p. Sifl'. I i. The Articles being Hicwcd the F'opc, his Anfwcr is recited : \'n.lbat he repented of bis flthy departure, and ratifud all the Councils Proccjs. againji him, and rvoald giiemother Anfh-er to their Charge, affirmi>:^^}b>;t rve Conncil of Conllancc iv.jj- innii holy, and could not err \ and nas the Pifane Council continued^ and he troMd nci'cr contradi^ the Cmtncil, but puhiicl\ly con' ftfs that he had no ri^Ji't in the Pap icy: "that he irould be much pie i fed tl.ut the. Sentence agair.fl him might be quickly pijftd, and fent hiniy tvhich with all reverence be would receive^ and as much as in him lay cv;prm, r.itiie, apprji'C, and. divulges and did tbenratifc, approve, and confirm all their Troccfi againji him, and promife never to gainjay them.

The Council decreed, that when the Papacy was void, none fiiould b:. chofenwithuut them, and they that attempted it Ihould be punilhed, and the tledion be void.

Next the Definitive Sentence of Depofrion was pafiagainft him.

Not they decreed,, that none of the three prefent i-'opcsIhould ever be cledcd again.

§. 10. Scrt". 15. The Council decreed, that though Chrift after Supper inftitutcd. and tohi< DKcipIes admmifired the Sacrjmi.nt in both kinjs,. Bread and W inc, &c. ' And though in the Primitive: Chuich the faitluul re-'ccircdit iti both i%inds, (>.•. yet the contrary cuftoine ot the Ci)urcii ihoitUl-,. * be a Law, whichmay not be reprcbatcd wirhout the Clmrchcs AiKhcrity, 'or chang'.'d: Ar.dto fay that t!^s isTacrilcgious and ual jvvful,is erro.ieouSv'*

■ and .

'and the pertinacious AflTcrtors fo be proceeded againft as Hereticks (that ' is, Ijurnr.)

Tiius they take power tochange Chrins Sacrament, and that when they fiippofc it to be his very blood that they deny men, and make it Herclic and death to obey God before them. This was the Reforming Council.

Next they decree, that any Pricft tha't givcth the Sacrament in both kinds (hall be excommunicated, and ufed as a Herctick, even by Secular rower, that is, burnt.

§• Ti. Sefl. 14. Carolus deMahteftis recited in the name of Gre^or)' 12, his Renunciation of the Papacy, and Greg, approved the Council. The Council abfolvcth all men from his obedience, &c. confirm fbme of his Ads, require the third Pope to refign, and declare him, if he rcfule, a notorious Schifmatick, and pertinaciousHcretick.

fj' I 2. Scfi; 15. After a fevereDecree for filence, and no contradidion, the Articles of Herefie charged on JohnHufs were read, the fum of many is as followcth.

1. As Chriii it both God and Man, fo the confecrated Hojl is the Body of Chr/Jl, at kjfl in Figure^ and trite Bread in Nature.

2. That he dcclaretb to thehereticil lyars about the confecrated Hofi^ that they can never declare or uitderjland an accident without a fitbjeff.

3. This is my body^ is fuch a figurative jpeech, as]ohn wj/Elias.

4. The Kcidnefs of feigning an accident rvithout a fubjeii, blaffhemeth God, fcavdalizctb the Saints, and deciiveth the Church.

5. Itt foolijf} and prefumptuous to define, that the Infants of the faithful are not faved, dying n-ithout the Sacrament of Baptifm.

6. The light and brief Confirmation by Bipops , fokmnized only by the Tvites faid over, rvas introduced by the Da'il, and to delude the people in the belief of tbi Church, and that the folemnity and neceftty of Bijhops may be tl>e more believed.

7. AgainiiOyl, anointing Children, and the Linnen Cloth, as a light Cert-many, &:c.

8. Vocal Confcffion made to a Triejl, introduced ^y Innocent, is not fo necef-fary as he defincth : He that by thought, word or deed offendetbhis Brother, it fiif-ficeth him to repent by thought, rrord or deed.

p. The Prieli hearirg ConfeJJion as the Lztinzs do, is grievous andgrouniUfs, &c.

A good life is a good fign of a true Minijhr.

The ill lifeof afrclatc fuhftracieth the SubjcUs acceptation of Orders, ando' ther Sacraments, and yet in cafe of nece^ly they may receive of fuch, pioufy praying that God rvill make up himfcif by theje his Diabolical Minijiers, the xrerk^ or end of the Ojfce which they are jivorn to.

Ancient pcrjons that dcjpair of children may lawfully marry for temporal com-modity^ or mutual help, or to cxcufe Lull.

IVords of Marriage, dc prsfcnti, I take thee for my fFife , frujirate words de future, to another, I will tak^ thee for a iF/fc, ■ ■• •" . •• ■ • »

The

and their Councilt ^"^bridged^ ^jp

"the Tope that faljly alls himfelf the fenant of the fervxnts of God, it in no degrti of Evangelical ferjice , but rvorldly i and if he be in my order, it is in that »f Devils, fcrving God more ciilpjbly h% fin.

The Pope difpenfethnot tvithSimony, beingthe Capital Simoniijt-, vowing rafh-!y to k,eep a moji damnable ftate.

"That the Pope is fummus Pontifcx is riiicnlons : Chriji nei-er approved fiich a Dignity in Peter, or in any other. t

Jhe Pope is the Patron of Anti:hriji; not only that fmgle ptrfon, but thtmnt-titndt of Popes from the time of the Churches Donation, tlx Cardinals, Bijhops, and other their Complices, is the compounded monjhnus perfin of Antichriji: And yet Gregory, and ether Popes that did good in their lives fruitfully repented at laft: Peter, and Clement, and other helpers in the Faith, n-rre not Popes, but Gads helpers to edi(ie the Church of Chrili.

Ihat this Papal Preeminence l-ad its rife from theCofpel, is as falfe, as thai all Err our arofe from thefirftJrteth.

"there are trcelve Procurators and Difciples of Antichrifis^ the Pope, Cardinals, Patriarchs, Arch-bi(liops, Biiiiops. Arcli-dcacons , OfliciaJs, Deans, Monks, for}{cd Canons, /j//c I- lyars, and Ql eliors.

Its as clear as the light, that he is greateji, and next Chriji in the Church Militant, that is moj\ humble, mc^l fcrviceable, and moji hveth the Church in the love of Chriji

He that unjujily pnjpjfeih any good thing of God, taksth anothers by theft. Grace is neccffiry to dominion: (He meaneth, i. Not of right before men, tut God. i.Nor of fpecial grace only, I fifpfmfe,

inthout the Litv of Chrifi tnirarldly. Charters and Papers give not ability and jrtjhce.

fFemujlnot by giftscherijh aknoren finner, beingaTraytorto God. Di'icrs arc againii temporal poirer or right in tvickfd men in mortal fin : But I fuppofe that he meaneth only fucha dcfeCi as n-tll difable himfclf before God to re cfive his approbation and retvard, but not fitch vs mil difiblige th SubjeJ^ or lofe his property in forohumano.

Many more there be, that Fryarsand the foreTaid twelve Orders of Anti-chriftarenot of God, and foii^ Philofophical Opinion; s vvhich how far Hkfs held them, I take this Catalogue forno proof without his words, tlie ConteKtand Explication.

All thefe are nientiontd as taken out of TFickli^fi but Hh/s is condemned for thefe following Articks.

1^. 15. I, That there is one holy Vniverfal Church of all the Predcjit/iaiv.

2. 7/)j* Paul rvas nei'cr a Member of theDexil.

3. That Reprobates are not pxrts of th: Ch'trch, for no part of it finally fal^ leth arvay, PrcJtjiinating Love never forfaking him,

4. Ttvo Natures, the Divinity and Humanity, an one Chnji.

5. 1 he fame as afere.

«>< Taking the Church for the PredetUnite, it is an Article of Faith, 7>.Peter/vrfj not^ ncriitk; Head of theCathoiivk^ Chitreb.

8. Frklls of wklied lives ft'.ute tImVfi-'Vy pomer.

p. li'e P.ital Ai^nityarcfe from the Km^crour^ and the PopesprefcHureand i>t' ^^^ fiit;itii'n fiwed from (^xiiK fower. ■

Diurs of Popes and Pricis thjt live ivickfily ate nat the Apoflles Succef-fors.

Veliveriinr men to Secular pnrvers (hecjufe excommunicate) is to imitate the Scribes ar.d Fbirifces above Ci.riji.

Ecctcfujl/csl obedience is obedience after toe Prirjls invention rpithont any exprefs aiithrity of Scripture.

All humane ASs are dijiini^uijl:cel into virtuous and viciouf. A Pricji of Chriji living after his Laiv and underftjndiiig the Scripture, and de' firous to Ediflc the people, ought not to obey the Pope or any Prelate that forbid/ bim to preach, and excommunic ztcth him. m^' Every one made a Pricji hath a command to preach and niufl obey it, notveith' (ianding cxcommunicjtioH.

By Chyrch C.cnfures of excommunication, fufpenfum and interdi&, the Clergy k^eps the Laity under their feet for their own exaltation, and multiply avarice, proteU malice, and prep ire tbervjyto Antichri[l\ It is an nident ftgn that fuch Cenjure, proceed frim Antichrifi, in tduch the Clergy principally proceed a^ainji ■thofe that open the nakednefs of Antichrijis rvickednefs, tvhich the Clergy will fur themfclves ufttrp.

If the Popes be Kicked men and reprobates, then as Judas an Apnftle n>as a thief and trzitor and fon if perdition, fa they are no heads of the Church, rehen they are uo members.

The grace of prcdcjiination is the bond of the Churches union rvith the head. A xvicked and reprobate Pope and Prelate is equivocally a Pajior, and truly n thief and robber.

7he i'ope fhouldnot be called mojlholy.

Kight eledio/i makes not him that cometh not in by Chriji to have rigJxt. 'VVickliils 40 Articles n-cre unjujily condemned. y-A, 7herc is no Jpark^ "f appearance that there muji he one head in fpiritnals to *~^ rule tbewhd e Church, that muji alveayes converfe n-ith it , and be con-ferved.

Chriji Tailed his Church better throughout the world by his true Difciples difperf-ed, than it U by fuch moiflrous lyeads.

7he Apnjilcs and faithful Pricjis of the Lordy did (IrenuuMfly regulate the Church in things necefjarv "> f.tlvation, before the Office "f a Pope was introduced, and fo would do, rvere there noPope,to the end of the world.

"There is no Civil Lord, no Preble, no Bifhop^ while in mortal fm. (Of which oft before.)

Thcfc Articles are mentioned which they fay were proved againflhim.

r-^ It is to be noted that Hufs called God to witnefs that he never

* preached nor owned many of thefe Articles which falfe witnefles

brought in againCt him, and yet renounccth nothing that he held. And

whether he or his accuftrs, better knew his mind and laith its ealic to con)c-

dturc. They

They condemned Hufs to be burnt i and condemned another Article, that any StibjeS miykill a'tyrant f that is, anllfurper) by any fecrct or open means.

Then they made an Order againfi Robbers of fuch as came to the Coim-cil, and went back.

§. 14. Sell". i6. Deputies are appointed to go to Arragon to the third remaining Pope Bened.i-^.to refign i and other matters.

The SefT. 17. was an honourable dimiilion of the Empcrour.

The SefT. 18. about the Councils Bulls, &c.

The ip. Seff. was againll Hteromc of Pragne^ where they recite a long Recanta'ion which they fay he made, and frem which they faid he afterward revolted.

^Alfo the Council decreed that the> might proceed againfi Hereticks, noC-withllanding the fafe conduds and promifcsof the Empcrour, Kings, or «&-i Princes, by what Bond focvcr they tycd thcmfclves therein, though 'the Hereticks had not appeared, but trailing herein: And that the faid Empcrour, Kings, &c. having done what in them lieth, are no way obliged by their prom.ifes.

The 20. SciT, Decreed a nonitory againft thtDukeof ^«/?ruonbcbalf of the Bilhopof Trewf, about c Hate.

The I eft was about the Ejedion of Pope Bc«c(//fl the i^th. Theyfworeto certain Capitula about it.

(j 15. Hicrome oi Prague having recanted through fear, repented and o-penly profcffed, that he diflcmbled and flood to his fornKr dodtrine and was condemned.

§ 1(5. Many following Sellions areagainft Pct.Lmt ^ oxBencd.thc ii/A. and treating with the Airagnnians about him : He refufed to refign, being left fokropeCI think chofen by moreCardinals than thcreli; in the 37 Sell, they pafs Sentence againll him.

§ 17. Seff. 35). It is decreed that there fhould be henceforth General Councils celebrated, One five years after this, anotlxr frjen years after that and thence forrvard ei'ery ten years one : Or if there fall oat another Schifm then n-ithin a year, none oftJx contending Popes being prefidents ; with much more about the Councils.

Next they frame a rrofLffion wliich every Elcded Pope mufl make viz. '[That hefirml> believeth and holdeth the holy Catholick Faith,according* 'to theTiaditions of the ApclUes, of General Councils, and other holy ' Fathers, efpecially the eight holy General Councils, viz. Nice, Confi. 2. ' Efh.^. Caked. 4 Conjiar.t. 5 and 6. Nic. 7. Conjiant. 8. As alfb the Late-*rane,Lt<gditne,dnd Vicn. and to hold that faith unchanged in every title ' and to eonhim even to life and blood, defend it and predicate it, and cve-*iy way to profecute and ctfave the riteof Lcclefiaftical Sacraii.ents ^deli-' vcred the LatholickChirch.

Self. 40. There are eighteen heads of reformation named : And the fonn of Eledirg Popes decreed. SclT.41. An Oath for the Eledors.

L 11 Otho

Othi) Colitmnt Cardinal is made Pope: If^tckliffes crtoisz^rm repeated, and

Hifffls, feme Conliitmions of frtdcrk. 2. Conhrnxd, ar.d the Council dil-

folvcd.

r^ ^ 18. Fhtina tells us, that Pope Jolm wasdcpofed only bythor; thathad

""^ adhered to him, before the other parties came. He was kept Prifontr three

years, none b'Jt Geiw.^nc/, whom he uuderflood not,attendinghim: Gregory

died of grief, thit Carolm Mjlatefla had too haliily publilhcd his rcHgnaci-

on, which he hoped to fniftrate by tlelay. Ber.eJiB refufing to relign, the

Arragon'tMs and Sp.iiiiardf foifook him as obClinatc. The -Si'Mf llucklall to

him: Plnina faith Hufs 2nd Hieromt wcreburntfcr faying tiat Church/w/i

Jhauld'imitate Chriji in poverty, when their wealth and luxury was the common

Scandal. There was great joy at the choice of Martin. 5. btt Rome ind Italy

were IHII in Wars and confulion.

^ tp. Gregory was preferred till he died, and this V.John foodiop.ny dcf-cribed by the Council is yet after fome years imprifonmcnt made Cardinal Eilliop ot lufculum, O what Bifl'.ops then had the Church!

^ 20. For all the conHrmations of this Council tlic decrees of a Council being above the Pope, are faid by mod Papifts to be unapprn'ed, be-caufe the Council of Florence and Laterane judged the contrary to be true.

§ 21. Pope Martin found Koine decayed, Italy in Wars, and at five yezts end fummoned his promifcd Council at Papia : Few came, and the plague forced them to r<move to Scn£, when Alfhonfiis King of Arragonknt Orators to plead the C:fufe of "Bened. 13. whereby Martin fcr fear of aSchifm was fain to difTolve the Council i and appointed the next (even years after at Bafil^ not truliing 7fa/y', where he had long Warshimfclf, as afterward he fiirred upagainft the Bohemian Htt[frtes^ after 14 years, aged 6^ died of an Apoplexy i much praifed.

§22. CCCCLXXl. This Concilium Senenfe we need fay no more of.

§ 23. One would have thought that after this flir one more foberPope fhould have been chofen : Eugtniuf ^th.- was the next,of whom more after. He hath prefently a War and much bloodlbcd in thcltreets of Kome, with the Culumnenjes. Italy is IHII in Wars: Thel'ope is again afTaul ted : The Romans fet up feven agilhatcs : Eitgenim flytth: they puifue him with ftcnesi he elcapeth to Florence; leaveth the CalHegardcd,%vhich continued the City-War a while. The Emperor coming into Italy he would have reiificd but could not, who peaceably came and went. It were tedious to relate all his and others Wars in Italy y Platina ind many 0-thers do it.

The Council at Bafil beginning, he would have removed it toBononii'. The Empcrour and Council rchft, and threaten him, and he conhrmcth it i for, faith Platina. he hid fearer breathing time from vexing Wars. Hi re-covereth Rome fand other placcsj Pulcelliis a Leader he hanged, when he had puH'd off his flcfli with hot Pmcas ; He turneth his War againfl Jl-

pbonfut

and tbeir Councils Mridged* ^^^

phonfiisKm^oi Amgms the Cityof Prew^e he utterly deftroyed, as rebel-iious ; 7 he Council at Bafil frightened him i but Sigifmund dying, and ^Z-^erf D.of ^«/?rwchofen EmperoLr, he ventured to call it away co Ferrarw Joh Paleoljgus contrived thither, in falfe hope of fuccour from the ^F<r/?, pur fome Reputation on his Council : The Plague drove them to Florvicc; there the pretended Reconciliation of the Gnekj and Ljtines was made, of which many Hillorics fpcak at large, efpccially the Cjr«fi;_ Edition of that Flor. Council. The Wars (HII continued round about him; The Council at Bafd depod'd Engeni'ts^ and made Amadius D. of Ssvay ^: Pious man) Pope, called FW/x 5. Eugenim held on and yielded not ■■> Blood and Murders Irill hlling Italy : He died aged d^. An. 14+7. making firft twenty feven Cardinals, &c.

§.24. CCCCLXXII. This great Council at Bjfl began 1431. and ended 1442. the Hillory of it is too large to be much recited The B)hemijnr exafpcrated by the litriung of their Teacbcrs^ and the Popes Excommunications, and the Decrees to burn them, defended thcmfelves by Aims under Zifcj. and were ufually victorious: Thty were therefore invited to the Synod, which they received with tears of joy s but for the fake of the cafe of Htifs and Hierome^ durft not truft their fafe Conduct, till after the promife of many Princes, and the Synod. They fent fifteen i the Bohemians four dales pleaded their four Articles •. 'i.For the Sacrament in both kinds. 2. For 'corrcdling and eliminating publickiins, or crimes. 3. For liberty to preach ' Gods Word. 4. Ot the Civil Power of the Clergy.

Joh. Jl/»g«/i'i«x anfwcrcd the firll,calling them Hereticks 5 and oth^^rs te-dioufly (many Jail s upon one point) anfwered therefl* and difpute begat difpure, and fo fome motioned a reconciling Conference: But tluy could not agr(e, and the Bohemijns returned, and the Council fent many of their Members with th.nito Prague, whom the City received civilly, and heard them, exhorting them to their Opinions "> but they fiill delired fi-tisfadion in their tour Articles. Manv Debates there were, and by explication of the terms they came to undertiand each other, and a fair beginning of reconciliation was inadci but the firli Artickof the Sacrament m both kinds (hick fo, tlwt they could not get over it, though the Council confef-f.d that they had power to difpenle in it. But the<ugh there be rcafon c-nough for all thcle rcqueftsCfor theoppoGng publick wickednefs, for kave to preach Gods Word, and for Church-m nstbrbearing Civil cocrciv^ Government, unlels made the Magifiratcs OlficersJ yet fuch reafonable things are hardlier obtained than more difputable inattersi bccaufe fl.fh and blood, worldly interelr, and the Devil, is moft againlf them : And of this great famous Council of Billiops, after Petitions , and fome good word?, and hvipcful appiojciKS, thcv could never one of them be obtjincd^ but tricks weredcvifed to elude their hopes, and inconveniences plcaJed that would follow fuch ConceiVionsi ( ilij ordinary way ot the carnal CLrgics hindering Retoimaaon.)

§.25. The tirff S-'iFion being for introdudtion, to fhev their hwfulnefs,

Llll 2 in

^

in the fecond ScflTion they decreed, as did that at Conflance, that a General Council is above the Pope, in matter"; ot' Fairh, Schifme, and Reformation : And ScfT. 3. that the Council may not be diflblved ; And they admonifli the Fope to rctradl his Revocation, and to own and aHift the Council.

After they declare, that the Pope may not make Cardinals, &c. during the Council.

^. 26. Seff. 22, They cond>;mncd a Book of Aitgujiinuj dt Roma, 3 Bi-fliop o( Nazareth^ that had many Phanafck Expreilionsi as that Chrift daily finneti in us, becaufe ot our Union witli him, though llnlefsin him-felfi that only the Llcdt, and not all theju/iihcd, are Members of Chrift-, that btfides the Union of Love, there mu(t be another Union with Chrift i that the Humane Nature in Chrift is truly Chrift, and the Perfon of Chrift and ihe Ptrfon of the Word > that Chrift loveth his Humane Nature as much as his Divine i that the two Natures are equally lovely; that the Soul of Chrift feeth God as clearly as the Godhead, &c. Thus worketh the temerarious n.indof man.

^.27. Sefl^.a^. There is a Treaty for a more General Council and Union with the Greeksi and the place alligned at Bafil, Avignion^ or Savoy\ and rodefray the charges, money to be gathered of Chriftians, who,if they give

r^ as much as will keep their houfes a Week, are rewarded with the pardon of all their iins, where the liberality of their Pardons is expounded i liz. it is only the pardon of fuch fins de quibns cordc conPriti^ & ore confeffi fnerint nhich their hearts are contrite for, and their mouths confefs'■, and thcfe are pardoned on a further condition, that befides this money given, they do tor a year fait one day every Week more than elfe they were obliged to do by the Church V and if they be Clerks, fay every fuch day f ven Plalms, or a Mafs i if Laicks, feven Pater^Nojiers^ and feven Ave Maries : And it it had not been tor the Bilhops, vn\g,ht not z contrite Confejfor \uve been certainly pardoned without fi,ch tormalities-

^.28. In divers following SciJions they profecute Pope E«gwi«j-j and declare the Council at FcrrJry to be but a Schifmatical Conventicle, and they ellablith thefe Catbolick^ Ferities, or Articles of faith.

j^;^ Seftl33. l.lhat a General Council reprej'entetb the rphole Church, and hath its poxper immediately from Chrift, and that over the Pope, and every other perfon ■, and that this is a truth of CathoUck, Faith.

2. I'hat fuch a Council lawfully congregite, may not without their own cnnfent he dijfolved, prorogued, or transferred i and that this is an Article of Catholick Faith.

3. Ihat a pertinacious repugner of thefe Verities istohc judged a Herrtick-

§. p. Scii". 34. Theydtpofe Pope Ewgtww/ as a lentenccd, «9/orw«/, oj-ftinate perfifting Rebel againft the Precepts of the Vniverfal Church, and a diily violater and contemner of the Canons, a notorious perturber of the Peace and Vni-ty-of the Church of God, and a notorious fcandalizer of the ivhole Church, a nO' tarious Simonift, incorrigihl" perjured per[on^ devioits from the Faith, a pertinacious Hcretickj ve.ith ranch more fuch,

§.30. Here

§.30. Here I would crave the Readers conllderadon : i. If this rxtra- ^^ ordinary Great Council erred in al 1 thefe matters of fad, whether the judgment of a Council be a good proof of the Papilis fortot Tradition f"

2. If tiey erred in thefe Articles of Faith, whether it weaken not both their Tradition and grounds of their fa th \ and whether luch an heretical perjured Popes confent would have made them Infallible ?

3. Whether their General Councils b: not contradidory de fide,is this, and that at Flerence and Lateraa cxpreily are. j

4. Whether a great part of the Church of Rome, and their laft named Councils, be not Hercticks in the judgment of this Council ?

5 Seeing Pope Eugenius continued when the Council had depofed hira as a Simonilt, and perjured pertinacious Hcrctick, and all their following fucccfllon is from him, is there not a nullity in that fucccHion ?

§•51. Seir. 3<5. They decreed the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin ^-j Mary, as a point of Faith v and yet many of their Dodors take it yet as un^ determined, and many ftillarcof the contrary mind.

1^.32. After this follow Decreesabout Elcdfion of a Pope, and they make the Duke of Savay Pope,F<e//K 5. and fo we have two Popes again.

Onufhrins calls this the thirtieth Schifme: He continued Pope above nine years, and then religncd to Eugeniiu lor Peace. ScfT. lall: They recite the Heitfies of Pope Ettgeniut, as againll the fbrtfaid Verities.

§.33. Next is added the Bull of Pope Nicbolas the 5. approving the Ads and deeds of the Council ztBjfil- And then aic divers Synodical E-piftlcsaid Anfwers, fpecially proving Councils abnve the Pope, and againft hisCrimes, and of the jurtncfsof hisdepolltion, very large*, as aHo agiinfi Ms Conventicle Council, and againll his Adl.erenrs, that is, molt ot their Church fince, with Anfwers toir.slnvedives, and Monitories todraiv men from his obedience. In the Appendix are many more Epiftles and Orations, and a Treatife of the PatJ larch of Antkcb, to prove the Pope above Coun -cils. There are many Epiftles of the Pope againft the Council, and of the Emperour to the Council, and of many ether Prmces.

§. 34. The Bo/'cw/j«j-Epiftles place theii main caufe upon the four forc-rr.entoned Articles : ' I. The S acrament in hot'^kindr II. 7'hat ihe Word of ' Gcd may be freely, publickjv-, and ir;il\< preached iv thofe that it belongeth to. ' (for they were lilenced, ji'-c.J III. That Civil Dominion (they mean not all 'Propriety butPonreroftheSreord or force over mens E'iates and perfor.s, ' which is the hlagiltratcs) as a deadly pyfon be takf" frj.n the Clergy, (they ' fpakefrom feeling, j IV. 7hat ptibltck, and great or hcynitts fins, msybe ex-' tirpatid from among the vulgar of the faithful by laarftcl Powers. This was the Religion ot the Bohemians, and the denying of thefe was the caufe of all their cruel Perfecutions, and the blood there ihcd,

§.35. Incontutation ol thefe Demands arc ad)oyncd four Trcatif.s of the four Preachers that fpakeagainll them: What Caufe (b gteat or plain, tliat ni?n cjinnot talk againit with many and contdent words. I. J,)h. Ka^nfiiis actviiovvledgi-d the reguluing fulHcieney of the Scripture, hath ''113

an

t—^

hatli an Oration Cz Trcatifc^ agiinft the Sacrament in both kinds.

II.. JEgiAi'.u Carherius Vtcanits Cjni:rjccn^if luth a Treatife CfouT days O-ration) againll their requelt, (or correlihg; Ifeynout pHhlick^ fins ■, where much learnini; and reading is poured out, to five Im ; And in particular j_^ it is maintained, that the Clergy may not bepunifhed by the Laity ffome " " few cafes excepted) not being therein their Subjcds. (It fcems theBj/^fw?-atis would have had wicked Priclis punifhcdj And it is fpecially pleaded, that nowickcdntfsof Clergy or Lairy will warrant any Nation to firparate from tiieir Unity (that is, V.omsn Government i ^ and to that end, the badnefs of the Church Militant to be endured isdclcribed.

Wiicn he comcth to the Popes pardons, he denicth that Pardons <7 cnl^a ^/^ar/w are ufually the Popes ililc ■> whereas I have before cited their ex-prefs words fo fpcaking often ; And he honeftly maintaineth out of the Bin f.i^. School-men, tliat God only can give pardon a culpa, five as any Priell as 3'5* vijlrnment/tma)iimjtn>nm^yvi cLmiitin6\ipo(c the TLCC'wer, and declare Godt

pardon, and remit part of th: temporal pttniflyment ; bttt fometimes the Pope re' mittclh part of the Church penances, and fo it ir that Priejii jre faid to forgive fins, f Mark this, againll our prefcnt Papills, that reproach the ProteltantS for this Dodlrine.)

III. Next is Henr. Kalteifen, a 'Dominican Inquifitors Oration againft the

free preaching of Gods IVord by Minillers : Cfor this would have imdonc the

t~^ Pope and his Clergy:) The Bohemians whom he confuttth, maintained:

Seethecld ' I. That Gods Word is fo perfcdr, that nothing fliould be added or dimi-

Refmmirs ' nifhcd. 2.That the wickcdnefs of Priells is the great caufe of the pco-

Voilitne. « pii.s ruine. 3. Againft Venial fin as againll Gods Counfels differing from

' Laws. 4. That every Pried and Deacon is bound to preach Gods WorcJ

'freely, or elfe iins n.oitally i and after Ordination lie ihould not ccafe

'Ctiiat i', when he was forbidden by lilcncing Bidiops, or others^ no not

' when excommunicated, beciufe he muft obey God rather than mani and

' that Bifhops are bound to preach as well as Presbyters.

The Anfwer hrlt noterh,that Paptnon eft nomcnOrdinisfed JwifdiHionis'-, \\\3.tGo<i%yNQxA h Incarnate,infpiredwx'\\.icn\ that it is expounded by the fame Spirit that infpired it: fBiu hath the Pope the fame gifts of that Spirit fj That the In fptred IVord'x^ publick or private-) that the Eifhops Decrees in Councils are Gods^wW/ei^ infpired JVord : fee here the Enthufialhcal pretence of Epifcopal Inlpiration, is the ground of all theilowi*;; Ufurpa-tionsand tyrannies, and depolition of PrincesJ to them he applicth, He tljat hearetb ym,heareth me ■, whence he gathereth the danger ot difobeying that Council (and fo the Popes Herclie. J The relt is worth the reading, but f-gt. too long for me to repeat: Much of it is to fliew, that treading and Malfing is more needful than Preaching, and that every Priell that MaiTeth is not bound to Preach i there ncedeth many Mafs Prielis, and not lo many Preachers', and that filenced excommunicated Prieits are bound to ceafe preaching, and obey the Prelates : But he had the wit to add C if filenced for C^ arcafonahlecaufe) and tocontefs that Sententia injiijie lata a Juo jiidice fi cr-

rorem

ana their Councih -^bridged^

447^

^

rorem inducat, vd feccatum mortjle afcret, nee timendi eji nee tcnenda.

Pag. 3<54. Hcdcnieth that it is any Precept of Clirili: i.To receive the Cup, 2.Or that Prie/ls Preach, 3. Orto abolilh all mortal fin, 4.0rforthe Clergy not to be Civil Governours, &c,

IV. Job. de P,>lecnjr Arcbducon, B-ircinon. hath a Treatifc of three days fpeechforthe Civil Power ot" the Clergy, in which he mif-fpendcth much rime in difputing for their Propriety, when as the B^bemi jut took Djniinion (ox Empire^ ot civil forcingpiverof Grrjer/iment, and i'oi inordinateptJfe^onT of Lerdjhips and ff-eat wealth.

^•3(5, The Papiltsconfcfs that this Council wzs Vniverf J, and rightly called and confirmed i but they prctrnd that it was partly reprobate by the Popes removal of the Council, and that Pope NichoLif 5. approved it but in parr. It begin 143 i.and continued above eleven years.

§.37. CCCCLXXlII. ^'1.1438. A Council at Brii/^w concurred with this at &»/»/, miking the Pragmirical San(flion, decreeing that a General Council be called every ten years, and contirming the Council itBafil.

§. 38. CCCCLXXlV. Next cometh the Anti-Council at Ffir/rv and Flo* fence, where theattempt for Union with the diltrelfed Greeks Wis made, all the paffages whereof are fo fully opened in the Grce\r Hillory, publilhcd by Dr. Creighton, tiiat I IliiU fay no more of it.

Here note, that there were two Gf/iffj/C ■«««///at once i and how could they both for cither of them J be truly llnivcrial: The Papills call it the fixtecnth.

^. 3f. After many Wars, Eugeniiis the depofed Pope died , An. 1447, fhaving made twenty feven Cardmals Cagiinit the Council of Bifih Decrees) from whom is their fucceili-jn) and Nichjlat the 5. fucceeded him: Italy /HIlcontinued in bloody Wars i Pope F^Ux at laft rctigncd i and Co there was once more but one Pope. And that yoimay fee liill how far the Pope was from governing all the World, the City of Rowe was again feck- *^]3 ing to recover their Liberties, and had 3 Plot againll him, one Steph, Hirca-nitis being the Chief, and the Pope fecurcd himfelf by hanging many of them.

§ 40. TheEmpcrourof Co/i(f^«</'/;i/'/e, and ihofe Bidiops that pretended a Union with K mt, fn hope of help, found the people and Clergy there vit-terly averfe to come under the Pope, and they had no help from him, nor any of their dtfired fuccefl'ts 4 for now the Tr/r^y took the City, and killed fhcEmperour, and many tlwufands more, and 1455. the Pope died.

§.41. CCCCLXXV. A Council at To.-/--/about Church Orders decreed praying oft for the dead, forbad Clandeftine Marriages, and Milling in un-confccratcd places, &c, '.

§.42. CaC'XXX.VI. A Synod at Lyont to end the Schifins between the two Popes done by theEmpcrour Frederick^^ who delired King Charles concurrence.

f^.^^.An. 1,155: Calixtus l\\t ^. is iradc Pope i heraifctha Sea Army againll ihcT'urks^ the Patriarch of AquUiah:in^ Captain: Zlav/? was Hill

r^

in War; He claimed the K'ngdome of N.ip!es to the Church for want of Heirs •, an Anti-Pcpc was alfo made, called C/f«Mf«f 8. but being perfwaded to rclign, he accepted z Bifhoprick ; Many Cities in Ttjly ruined by Earthquakes, whcfc ruine? P/j(/>ia faithhcfaw with admiration : Hemadeanew Holy.day torChrifis Transhguration.

^. 44. Ncxtcometh JEneM ^j/i/wr,called Vius 2. one of the moft learned of all the Popes, efpecially an Orator: He was againfl the Pope tor the fuperiority of Councils at Bafd > but when he was made Pope, he recanted it. In his Epiftlc to his Father he cxcufuth himftlf for having a Baliard, and for fornication, (particularly with an Englijh Woman that lodged in the fame houfe with him) telling him, that he was not an Eunuch, andre-men;bcring his Father what a Cock of the Game he had been himfelfi but am.ongthe Popes he was a wonder of worthinefs: He wjs vehement for a "War with the T«)-j!y, but could not fo far quench the.flames of War at his own doors in Italy, and other Chrirtian Countries, as to accomplilh it. Platina recordeth many of his Sentences, among which are; l_Every Seii cji.ib.'ilhed by Authority , // void of humane reafon: If the Chrijiian Religion had not been approved by Aliracles, it jhould have been received for its honefiy: Ihe Mortals meafiires of Heaven and Earth are more hold than true: Ajlronomy is tmre pkafant than profitable : Ihe Friends of God are happy here and hereafter : 7here IS no fjtid joy n'ithoiit virtue : 7hey that knon- moji, doubt mol} : Artificial Orations move fools, not wife men : As all Rivers florv into the Sea, fo all Vices into great mens Courts : Flatterers rule Kings as thcyli(l: Princes hear none fo readily as accufers: Ibe tongue of a flatterer is the xvorji plague to a King: He thatruktb many, is ruled by many: He is unncorthy the name of a King, who meafureth ihe publick^ "ff^'irs by his orvn commodity^ 8cc. /// Phyfitiars kill bodies^ -_5. and unskilfulPritftsfouls: Virtues enrich the Clergy, Vice impuverijhetb them: *^ Marriage n^as for great reafons forbidden Priejis, and for greater is to be reftored to them : He that too muchpardoneth his Son, chtrijheth his Enemy: Thecovetous never pleafe men, but by dying : Lying is a Jervile vice, &c.

You may (ce his Recantation in tinius^ where his Dignity raifcd him fo high as to fay, That the Greek and Latin DoUors reith one voice fay^ that he cannot be Javed that holdeth not ihe Vnity of the Roman Church, and all tbofe Virtues are maimed to him that refufeth to obey the Pope, though lying in fack^loih and afieshi fall and pray day and night, and fetm in other things 10 fulfill the Law of Cod, bxaufe obedience is better than facrifice, and every foul mujl be fubjecr 10 the higher power ; and it is manifji that ihe Pope of Rome // placed in the top (or Crown) of the Church, from n-hich (his power of Governmentj we hiow that no Sheep of Chriji at all is exempted.

O then low much work is the cafe of the Abaffmes, Armenians.^ Grcekj, Trotcjiants, even three fourth parts of the chnitian World, than of the Heathens, bcingall certainly dimned for not bi.lii.ving in the Pope: How much more necdfary to Salvation is it to pltafc and honour the Fope, than any Angel or Saint in Heaven ? But how lalfc is it that the Greeks and La-/wcfathds all agree in this?

§.45. Pauhts

^.45. FjhIiis 2.fucceedcth Fitts, a man juA and clement, faith Phtin-z Mmfelf i yet, faith he, before he was Pope, he could get wliat he would by begging, even with tears, of the Pope and great men: And when he was Pope, all about him founded with Wars, and Benefices were theirs that would givcmoft for them » and in his fears fome-body muttering, that one Callinucbas had a Plotagainll him, he fct all on tumult to find out thcCon-fpirators, when there was no fuch thing; He had before czi\ out cf their places all theCollcdgeof Abbra'uus that had bought their places under Pitts, oi ■whom Flat in a being one, and not getting Audience and relief, wrote liim a Letter, x\muhty would go to Trinccs, and get j Cottncil caUcd t» reliive tbcm: For this he was accufcd of Trcafon, and laid in Irons by a long imprifonmcnt-■ And after his rcJcafc, upon this Dream of a Plot, he and many more were not only imprifontd, but tortured and tormented to force them to confefs that which never was ; Many died of the torments, even of the worthicft young men of the City. After a long time poor ?la-tina with a broken body is delivered, but the Prifoners at lall were accufcd of Herefie, that they might not fcem to have furtlred for nothing .• Pl.itinas Hercfie was, thathe had praifcd P/.ito, and the Gentile Learning, and had difputcd about the Godlicad, which was a qucftioning iti and the Popt hiiTifelf was fo much againfl Learning, that heufcd to call (ludious men Hc-reticks, and to perfwade men that their Sons mufl learn non.ore than to read and write. HcreP/j«/'/)<*endcth hisHifloryv and had he known other Popes as well as he d'd this, perhaps he would have praifcd their _7i(/?/c? and C/f«jf/ic)i,as hedojh this Pope, by thecffcd-s.

. ^.46. Sixtuf 4. is next, who alfo fpcnt his days in It.itijn War and blood rtied : Wonderful.' that our late Papiiis think that all tlie Chriftian "World haih ftill obeyed the Pope, when none have foinuch fought againft him astheCity otKomf, andthe//j/rwj : Onuphrius (who here bcginncth the Supplement of Thtina) tells you modcftly of his Wars, and ins lior-fid treachery againll the Fhnntincs^ when to get his will on them, he appoint!, th Confpirators to n.urdcr the two Brothers, Julian and Laurence XWwj-jOf whom the Archbiihopof Fift was one; They alfault them in Gods W'orrtiip in the Temple, and kill Jtilim ■■> but Laurence wounded, is lockt up by the Church-Wardens in theVeftry, The Citi7cns rofe bifore the Execution could be finiOicd, and hanged the Archbifliop, and Fnggiirr and all their Companions in Ropes out at the W indows, ftranglingalfo the rcrtof the Confpitators. The Pe^pes Plot beingdifappoinfed, he maketh War againit the Floivitii:es , and intcrdideth them all publick »vorfliip: (the Popes ordinary pr6faiie Ufurpation, forbidding whole Cities and King-doiTCS all fuch publicti vvorfliipot God, w\uch Robert Groffnad faid was the part cf Antichriii, and the Dcvil.J The wifdome of Laurence Mcdices ended the War whcnitfcemcd near the confuming flames i and the Twrty^ invading Italy, terrified tlie Pope i.'Uo a peace with the Florcntincr: £ut flill Italy was imbrued in Wars.

6, 47. Though the Council cf Bafl had determined the Tmmacufafe

M m m Concep*

XI^ Conception of the Virgin Mary., yet this Pope to reconcile the Dominicjii ar)i Francifcans that preached againrt each other as Hcrcticks for differing about it. did decree, that on pain of fcxcommiinication neither Party fliould call one another Hercticks for it; By which it appcareth hovv little indeed the Decreesde fide of General Councils iignihe with Popes them-Iclvcs when their Intcreft is againll them.

§. 48. CCCCLXXVIII. ATolet.ine Synod renewed divers good Canons for retoriTiing the Clergy •> as that none be ordained that cannot fpeak La-tines todiminiih the Pricfts maintenance that fiill publickly keep Concubines i that Clcrgy-mcn play not at Tables, and fucli like.

§. 4p. Next comes Inivctnt 8. the Italian Wars continuing: He raifed an d^ Army to get the Kingdome of Naples as his own ■■> but being beaten, and repenting, he made peace J yet after again dcpnfed the King for not paying him his Rent: He ruled thofc at Zv.o;?j; and 7fj/y that he could conquer, as the reli of the Popes did before him-

§. 50. JkxanJerthe6,isncxt, who (fi'ith 0/iupJmut) having four Ba-ftard-Sons, and two Daughteis, f.t himftlf wholly to make them great: The Cardinals bribed, cliofe him that was tlic' worll of them all, and jultly See Paid were deftroycd by him ; The old Italian Wars now ran in the proper Chan-7r)v.u5, nel -• Ciefar Birgit^ one of the Popes Baflards, being a Cardinal, laid by his .indGuic- iiojy Order, and fethimfclf to conquer all the Princes of 7/.//)/; Hidorians ^^ardine. ^]| ^ Volume with his Adts, the cruel murders of Princes and people^ fur-prize of Cities, bafeil: treachery, too long to be by me recited: He murdered hisown Brother, many of the chief of Rwjs, and got polTjIijn of moli of I«^/y, killing the former Lords, and their Sons: The Vrftn overthrew his Army, and the Pope flattered them with confident promifes into a Peace, till t'ley foolilhly trulf ing him, he got them into his power, and murdered them : Some Cardinals the Pope commanded to drink poyfon, and at lull having more great men to difpatch. Cardinals and Citizens at a purpofed Feaft, the Pope ordered his Butler to prepare poyfoned Wine for them, and miihking theCup, he gave it to the Pope, and his Son C^far : The Pope died of it i but C£far being young, and diluting his Wine, was recovered, but his Army hereby fcattered. It you would fee the Hiftory of this Monilers cruelties, read Vaitlus Jovius: I recite now but what 0/i«-^^riiis fiith, who concludeth that this Popes Virtues were equal to his Vices^ (fo far gocth a little in a Popc^ and yet that he had the grcateji pcrfidionf-nefr, favage cruelty^ unmeafurabk covetottfntfs and rapacity^ inexhaujied lufi of getting Empire to his Son by right or wrongs when bufinefs permitted^ g'^'"S ^ himfelf to all pleajure vpithoHt difference^ hut moji given tu IFomen, by ivhom he had four Sons, and two Daughters ■, the chief was Vannocia Romana. whom he kfpt as his lawful JFife, for her beauty f alluring manners, and marvellous fi-mt-fnines: HisComedies, Sports,Gladiators, he mentioneth more fully : Never if as there greater,licenfe to H.ickers and Murdaers, and never hfs liberty to the people: A huge number of Informers {or Accujers'-,) death tvas the punifhment of 'she le^l ill n?ff/-^(againll him '■> ) all places were full of robbers or ajfaitlters.

and their Councils ^bridged^ ^c,

fo that there tvas no ftfe going in the City by night, noroutof it by diy't Rome that was the refuge and fanciujry of all other people heretofore, was now become a Slaughter-hoiffe, or Butchery. Thus Onuphrius ot" a vinuous Pope.

§.51. The Pope being dead, Cifar Borgia fcizeth on the Ca(Hj, and would have forced the Cardinals (being yet lick of his poyfon himfclfi ) but by therifingof the people his Souldiersare ftopt, and he agreed to depart, and P/KX 3.ischofen,faid tobe one of the better fort, but lived but 2(5 days, and died of a fore Leg, fufpcftcd to be poyfoncd.

^.52. NextcomethyK/zW 2, a Military Pope, whofpent his days in I-talian Wzxs^ cfpecially againft Alphonfus Duke oi Ferrary, and Ludr.'icm King of France: In a cruel Battel 2ocooare faid to be flain naiRavenna, the French having the Viftory, bat loling their General, and multitudes of Nobles and Commanders, and were fo weakened, that by hired Hcbctiani, and the Englijh and Spanijh that invaded them at home,tIiey were driven and drawn back.

§. 53. CCCCLXXVIII. A Council at Tours in Frjnce met againft the Pope.

(j. 54.. CCCCLXXix. A General Council at Pifa 1511. gathered againft him to call him to account: He had fworn to call a Council within two years, and did not» and fo fome Cardinals call it, by the Emperour Maxi' milian and Ludov. K. of France his will Cas they faid.) The Pope excom» municateth the King of France, and calleth an Anti-Council to Komcj thi> of Vifa removed hrll to Millan, and then to Lyons in France.

^.55. CCCCLXXX. Now comcth the great Anti-Council at the La-/owfl, which they call the fcventccnth approved General one, 1512. begun by Julius :xg3'inl\ ihc PifaneCouncil, and ended 1517. under Leo 10. The Pope thought Kw;c the fafeft place to rule them, and obtain his will i and for qll the numerous Bilhops of Italy, this General Council had but i 14. Bidiops; ^. whether any of them came from Abaj}i.t, Egypt, Armenia, Greece, or the Antipodes, and were the Rcprefentativcsof all the ChrilUan World > yet they had a dull cheat herein to deceive the ignorant, and put tlie name of the Alcxandrinian and Antioehian Patriarch on two Fellows of their own, as in a Play the parts of Princes are atfted by the Stage-players : But when the Afww<A://<fj had a Council of »«'iK/»crjt/e Bi(l)ops under Philip-picits, that was not to be called General. He that is fo idle may reada Vo-Jumn of the twelve Selllons of this Council, and there find who faid Mafs fuch a day, and who fuch a day, and who fung a Gofpcland 1e Vcitm, and fuch like; And he may read divers Orations, among which their great learned Cajctane's is the chief, condemning the Pz/jnc Council, and confef-llng that ot the three Popes, Niillus eorum aut certits qxidtm atit abfque ambi-guitate verHS Petri Jiicce^or exijiimaretur : Another Oration by Chriliophcr Marcellus, Scfl. 4. tells tlie Pope that heis, [t^/iwj Trinccps qui fummam in ierris habct potifiatcm,tcq!(e omfiis £vi, omnium jieculwun. omniutigentium ?rin» c/pem &• caput appellat~\ tante rcipublice unicus & fupremus Princeps cs, cni fumma data potejias, ad divinum injanUum imjerium, tiuim eji. He calls the

M ni m 2 Chureh

Church hit Spoufe, and faith, he hath given fjlittem vitam & fpiritHtn, and faitli, that he is alter Dens in tenis. You fee what Popes are.

Stephen , Archbifliop Patracens, and BiQiop lorccUjn^ doth Poetize iit Safhicl;^.

Omnitt»rfpUneL)r, deem & perenne Virginum lumen, genitrix Jkperni, Gloria humani generis Maria,

V/iica ni^rj. Sola tu Virgo "Dominarjs afiris^ - -

Sdla tit 7err£, Maris atqtic Cxli Lftmen, inceptis fjveas ■.■..- ;

Inclyta noiiris-. ;

Zlt qu:am facros rcfccare Jenfies, ^ni latent chartis nimiiim Jivcris \ liigredi & celfe-, duce fe, benign • ">

Mxnia tcrrji.

The bufmers cf that Cotmeil was tofruftratethatat P//&, and condemn' i^-, and Ht to fave thePope, and to condenm the Frewt pragmatical San-dion, as injurious to the Koman power i to which end they read a Reniin-eiation of it, of Ludovicits 2. to Pope Tins 2.

Pope Juliiis died, and Leo 10. was chofen in themiirt of the Councils-Seflions: They pretended War againll the T/zr/y, but in vain.

§. 56. One Decree here pali which nulicth utterly the Papa! Succedion :7r;$ciT.5. (Ihjt a SimoniacdEledion of a B.omm Tope is plainly mtll anh doth confer noKight or Authority tothe elected) which is plainly declarative i therefore when they confcfs the Sirr.oniacal Elcdion ot fo great a number of their Popes fucccilively, \vl)crc is the true fucccilion.

(j 57. In the eighth Self, a Decree palt againlt them that fay the Soul it -.nortal, or that it is but one in all or many : And they confute the truth by pretending to C3nhrm it, {aying, that'the Soul is per fe & ejfcntialiter forma' corporis: for then the (cparated Soul loftth its cfl'cncc, and fo is no Soul or-clle is forma coiporis, wlicn corpus is not corpusorganicnm.

Forthecureof this, they decree that none Itudy Philofophy above five years, iinlcfs they joyn Divinity witii it; And they forbid Printing and l^reaching unlicenfcd. '

§. 5S. ThisLfJthc tenth was excellently prepared far the Papacy i Wars had dilpoffcfr his Father at F/tfrewcp, and the King, of France, Letvis 11. for V^ his Fathers fake, hadhonoured(or difhonouredj him with an excellent and rich Arthbiihoprick, v/.hcn he was a Child; You iriay conjcdure at what jge, when as he was fcarce thirteen when////wcf«; 8. inadc liiin a Cardinal ro gratihc his Father Laurence Medices, who had f^iven iiis Daughter to Francis the Popes Son i but becaufe of his Non-age, he itaid jxt from Rome: ■ "Wjicn he w-as Pope,, he would lain have had peace in Jtalyii he coidd, bcl-

"^3^

artd their Councils -^bridged, ^o

\

ing wholly addided to eafe and voluptuoufncfs; He hired the Hehetuus

for \\\% Militia againft Ft-jHcvx King of Frj;;«, but they were deliroycd by

thcFrench and the Pope was ghd at lall to beg a peace. Having unbound'

ed defires of Empire, he pickt a quarrel with the Duiieof Vrbaiie, and af-

faultedhiiTi with Arms, and difpofitll him of his Counny, whence he fled

and ungratefully baniflied Por//7j»/x, and his Brother Al^bonfui a Cardinal,

who liudying revenge, was dcihoycd byiuin; The Pope fought to infnarc ■>

the Duke of Ferr.iry, but failed i the Fyencb in Itjly conquer the Erriperour

and Helvetians-, the 7«rJ;_ winneth SymxnA Fjyrt , the Pope lits bare-tooc

to prayagainft him, bringing forth all the Conkcrated Dilhe-", the Saints

Rclicks. Images, e^c. in pomp, and the Tyrant prcfntly died of a Cancer;

The Pope fallcth on divers Cardinals', Cardinal Alphnnfus he imprifoncth*

and appointcth a B/j(ril^i/«.wr to breakout hisChamb.r, and rtrangic him.*

Having hereby loll the love of manyot the old ones, in one d.ty he ma-

kethoncand thirty new Cardinals, that he may be fuic ot help i Paulur

B,il(on he beheaded, Am.idc:ts Kicinatlus he harg d : It was thij Pope that

is commonly faid to have faid to Vet,Bcmbui his Secretary, Ulxu projh doth

this Fable of Jefns bring us in.

f). 55?. But now begins the fatal time-, Anno 1517. M<rtin Lnthet began • to cry down their fin, and draw the people ot Ger,niny(xon\ them i and "Zuinglius, and many others doing the fame, the light brake forth, and xhs darkncfs vanilh^d. 1 need not write thcHillory o[ it, which is fo commonly known or pn!)linud: The Pcpe publilhcd a Cull againlt him, in which • he numbered! his fuppofcd trroursi you may fee them in Binins^pag, 6<y}. in Leo the tenths life, how John F/Wi-r/ci^ Elcdtor ot^ Sjxv:\' borcLw/vr out, how f/.v//y'of Hafra feconded him, how the Univerlityot IF'/itcnber^e clave to him, and efpecially Philip Melancibon^ that excciknt mans hovv the Free Cixii-s, with many Princes, came in to tlum, and joynedi how many Petitions and DifputatioES tli^re were abovir>|^how the Au^nili^ie Confcflion was written, and the Apology for it v howl^urned toa NNari how the Ekdor of ^j.xwn, and Philip Liv.i^Ui\c uf hkfia, wcrcuken prir fonersi ho\y Maurice oi' Saxony. Ikling wiljbthc Empcroufyvviai^made B!e- " <flor, and Jnhn Frederick^ difpoillli •, how the fame Mafirice afrer, to vindl* cate FhilipQt Hajfta, took Arms againftthe Emperour, and forced him to di'ght, and final y to fomc degree of toleration for tlie Proteltants. All, thtfe things the Hittory of ll.e Reformation, wriitenby divers, tcllcth yoiu at large '■> as alfo how manv-great and exc».!lcnt Divines were fuddenly rai-i fed uptftjftdjltgsj^eiormaiion, as foon as Tyranny was iu (a-r abated as that ittcq hiigKSSI^ftiew their minds,itfcoa aP()ean>ithdt moA had been' long fubjugatcdta the Pope more by violence than byconfent: when the.-Emperour was nctelVitated to a Toleration, he confulted for fomc abatement to procure Concoid, and by AgiiccUy Sidonius^ and Jnins Pji:fi^ fart: Antinonuan turned back to ro,':'cry.; drew up a middle form of worfliip, call-e<i'the7«/(r/w, which he would have all conform to til! a General Counci!,.-whii:Iidivided the Reformers among,themf Ives, w-ile-fomt asmodtrati'^

anfi

See the

death.

and to avoid total ruine of the Church, yielded ro parr, and others rcfii-Ted, and multitudes of Miniliers were therefore tjedcd and perfccutcd. This great Empcrour, C/.ur/f/the-Fifth, after long Wars, and inany Victories, and Iharp Ferfeciitions, was at lali weary of all, and rcfigned his Empire, and betook himfelf toa private life inSpiin^ where he died, ftrongly t\n.o"yoi fiifpc'^t'd of repentance and inelination to the Reformed Dodrine hitnfelf: Ch.irles, He bequeathed nothingfas wasufua!) to any Religious Hou(e, or Order: Prince of Tl.cre were found papers about him for the Proteftant Do-ftrine of Juftih-5rd/ns cation > his Confi-flbr,and another Doctor that attended him, were hereupon fufpcdlcd of Hercfie, and oneperfecutcd, and the other put to death by the Irquilition. Thuserrour, iin, and worldly violence arc never true to thefmelve?, butiTiuftbe repented of at lall, and none can ttand to them when the light pievaileth.

§. 6c. But to return toFopeLfo, when he had made above forty Cardinals, exerciffd many cruelties, and made a League with the Emperour a-\ gainiUhe Fmjir/^, to drive them out of haly^ when his Arms had prevail.'' ed, and the French were expelled, and Milan recovered, and fome Cities re-l^ored tothe Church (that is, to the Pope) the exciilive joyforthe Vitftory r^ fo moved him,that (faith 0/;k^/;,'»/j-J he fell into a Fever, of which he died, but r.ot without fufpition of poyfon. The fame Onapfmus (whom I follow} faith, that (he Tvas a dilijTent obfener of divine things^ given to the fa-cred Ccnmoniis^ but he was profufily given to VoluptKOufneJs, Huntings Hatvk; ing. Luxury^ Jplendid Fealiings, M///ci^, and to get money fold Cardinalfhips, invented Offices^ dec. and yet was the moji liberal of all the Popes that ever had lived to that day^ excejjivcly loving /Mufick^^ &C.J This was Papal Piety, by which he merited a Monument infcribcd OPTIMO PRINCIPI L E 0 N I X. &c. faith Onuphrius : (In alibis life he defned nothing more ar-dcntly than the higheji glory of liberality, from which other Priefis ufe to be very fiir cjf.j Perhaps for this glory Teceltus murt get money by felling Pardons, which began his fall; Verily they have their reward, faith Chrift of Hypocrites, thatdo their Alms to befcenof men.

^.6t. it is to be noted, that as the great ignorance and wicked lives of >—^ the Roman Clergy were the great advantage to Luthers fucccfs, (as the grofs idolatry and wickednefs of Heathens was to Chrifiianity of oldj and the Learning and Piety of the Retormers were the means of their common acceptance-, fo hereupon the Papacy perceived a neccfilty of greater Learning, and fome Reformation, for its own defence from utter ruinc : v/here-upun many were awakened, and addidled to feek Learning, and fome Provincial Cotincils made fome Canons for amending the Clergies lives ■■> fo that their encreafc of Learning, and fome amendment of manners, was occali-oncd by the Protcliants, yea, the Popes themfelves have lince then been far Icfs vicious and turbulent than before. r-«a ^,62. Andall Chrilliau Princes have caufe to be thankful to the Reformers , and to acknowledge that from them they have now the fafety of rheir Crowns and Dignities, and their peace > and bj them, of Subjedts,

they

they are reftored to a great degree of freedome, 1 mean even thofc that yet are Papifts, the Pope dare not now damn them as Hcnrician Hcrcticl^^ as he long had done i he dare not be fo bold in taking away, and giving Kin"-domes i he dare not execute his Laws againfi Princes Invclliturcs, nor excommunicate them,and depofc them, and abfolve their Subjedts, nor inter-dicft vvhele Kingdomes, and (hut up Church doors, nor lomuch as openly profefs that he hath power from God, and S. Fctcr, to depofc Kings according to their Merits, and to fet up others in their Itead. O how much quieter is Italy, Spjin, Fr.ince, Germany, &i, llncc the Reformation, and how much lefs troubled with Papal tcrroursand wars, than heretofore ; and aM is for fear left if the Popefliould anger them, thereltof the Princes Ihould forfalie him. Heretofore if one Kingdome (lood up againlt the Pope, the rclt were ready blindly to obey his Commands, to fall upon them and dc-llroythcm: Eut now the Reformed Nations liave more ihcngth to defend ^ themfclvcs, and thofc that Ihall joyn with them : The truth is, it is Refer' mation that hath made a'en the Papijis Trinces Free-men.

^ dj.TheHiibry of all thcRom.ir. horrid bloody cruelties, by which they laboured to fupprcfs Reformation, I here omit, bccaufc ("as it well defervcrhj it is written in many large volumns by it felt; i mean the bloody murders of the Alhigenfcs^ Jf^jMenfes, Bohemians, the cruellies of the Inquilition in Spain, Belcij and other parts : The MalTacre in Frj/zcf. The burning people in Fncland and the trurders in Ireland,2nd in other countries; you may read them at large in many Hillorics: In Ihuanm^ Slddan, Illericus, Mmiey, Terin, Mercland, the Belgian, and Fnv/c^'Hillories : Fp.ve'/Acts and Monuments, and fummarily in Mr.Sam.Clerkj Martyrology; And Carion, M»-lanUon, Micrelei4f, D. P.tneuf, I'igneritis, ScHll.tm,BuehIcer, Fuadutt, and many others give you an account of the Reformation. And the Livesot the German Divines, written by Mekhior Adaitnes, yea and of th.ir Lawyers, Phylkiansand Philofophers, givcth not an unpkafant light into that Hiltory: So that for me here to treat of the Reformation in a large volumn (to do what is fo often donealreadyj would be incojgruo'.is.

The making of Vrban the 6tb. theEmperours Schoolmalter Pope, and the Wars in his times The Succcllion of Clement ihc~tb. and the Italian • Wars in his time, between the Emperour and the French and others, and the taking of Kome by the tmperour {Charles the 5*/^) army under Charles Duke oiBomhon, and all the progrcfs of their broils, Hiftorians have at large recorded ■) and therefore I (hall pretermit.

^64. The day htioxc Charles the ^th. was chofen Emperoi3r, the Senate of Euclas choCc John Frederick^ Duke of Saxony i but he ingentt animo rccuCa-vit, refufed it i and being asked whom he thought moit eligible, he faid • none but C/ui7f/was Ht. For this noble mind, he was oflercd 30000 fJo-rens of money, which he conlbntly rejcded : And when they urged him ■ that loooo might begivento his fervants, lie faid, let them that will take it, bat he that taketh any (lull not'flay to morrow with me, and taking horle went his waics, left they further troubled him ."Thus faith Erifnus, EpiJi.Ii^.

fp.4. I wasafTurcdof bythcEifliop of I/fje that was prefen t] Sec Bucholt'

z^y Chronol.f. 533.

kj 65. The Rct'ormation forced the Cermin Eifhopsto make many reform- . ing Canons, ziCole/:,&c. Among thofe of an AHgnii'ine Synod our own ftritc about communicating maketh me think of no lofs of time to recite their Catalogue of perfonj that were to be denied the Sacrament of Communion, f/e- asfoUoweth.

I. Heathens,Infidels and [-Jcreticks. i. TheFxcommunicatc. 5. All '

men at a time of common Intcrdiif'. 4. Men that go from their own Pa-

lillics fovit. 5. Thofe that are under age ; And diltradcd, pofleflcd , I-

deots. 6. Thofe that are troubled with crudity of (iomacks ftillcured.^

7. Infamous pcrfons, as Juglers, Players, Jelters, &c. 8, Women that

wear Mens apparel, p. Scparatifts and Convcnticlers. 10. The Std: of

,the Beggars of Lyons, ii. The fuperiiitious.. I2i Thofe that have not

contrition and ccnftllion, living in lin. 13. That live in notorious wicked- -

refs, as Adultery Alfury, e>c. till their actual reformation. 14. Dcferters

of Marriage unallowed. 15. Thofe that play much at Dice. 1 6. That are

given tod-runkenncfs, gluttony,coniefTations.fpcnd daics in Tavernsi And

it (hey amend not thtyare to be put to death. 17. That detain other

nuns goods. 18. That break dnd fpoil Temples. " ip. That encroach on

others lands and ground?. 20. Servants that beingcorredfed rcfufc their

duty to their Maftcr after it.- 21. They that ufc falfc weights and mea-

fures. 22, That pay not Tythcs. 23. That delay to execute Telfamcnts.

24. That obftinately detpifc the Cultomes of the Church, and meet elfe-

■where. 25. That dillurb the Preachers, or go out of Church Lontemptu-

ouily. 2(5. That will not hear Mafs and liay theend. 2j. That ule un-

necelfary labour on the Lords day or holy dales. 28. That marry fecret-

ly. 2p. T'liat flothfully or contemptuoully refufc to learn the Lords prayer,

and Creed. 3c. That blafphemc or prophanely fwear. 31. That reproach

and dilbonour Pritlls. 32. Murderers,Enemies,revcngetuland opprcllbrs.

35. That prefervc not carefully their Childrcns Lives. 34. That make

Lawsagainlt Church Liberties,or Judge by fuchLaws,or lay burdens and ex-

adions on Churchmens pcrfons or goods. 3 5. Thofe that judge tiiat money

received on Ufury is not to be rcftorcd.

/§ 66. Tiie Reformers accufatibns of the Popifli Clergy had this cflfed', to make them conftfs many of their faults, cfpecially drunkennefs, and Whore-dome, as being the caufe of the peoples diffaife anddefcrtion > fee the O-rations at the Councilsof Augufia^zvA Trn'trs-, and the Council zl'Trcvert made lirid Canons agiinft them, efpecially for removing Concubines from the Prielis. And one at Co/e/j 154^, is large for fome reformation > but efpecially careful to keep out true Reformation, forbidding the booksof Pro • tcflants byname. Among other things they forbid baptizing Children in private houfes,exc,pt Kings Children, (i^c-. And another Council dii Mentz hath the whole luiTiOf the Kowj/) Doctrine and Difcipline at thebeft, favK the matters of the Papacy •> and thefe late provincial Councils made Canons

in

in the Irame of them, not much of our E/;^///& Canons and our Articles of Religion fet together. Arid another Council at "trevers repeatcth their di(-ciplinary Canons in part, and addcth more.

§ dy.The HiHory and Canons of the Council of 'trcntzte fufficiently pub-lilhcd i aud Pope Fius his OatB conjoyned i fo that I need not fpcak ot that which I intend not to make any part of the matter of this Epitome, which cxtcndcth but tothe time of Lk^/io-x Reformation.

6%. Even after the Feformation, the Pope could not live in It^j/y without fighting: Pope Julius the 3^, fought witii Odavhts Farnefiuf at Parma , Pope P<i?//tought with the King of Spain: but was beaten : He letHxtccn Cardinals over the Inquiiition (the defence of his Kingdome); Heimpri-foncd Cardinal Morrovius fufpeclcd of hcrcHc, abfolvcd after by Pope Tins the a,th. who yet lUangkd Caraffa , and beheaded Cardinal Leonard, Count Montarim, &c.

§ 6p. Cardinal CharlesBorrbemem (dinted by them) at divers Millanc Councils ihewcd a great deal of Reforming, and fomc deforming zeal. In the fiili Council Iftiall note that they decreed that rrten once admitted to the Communion, and returning to their fin, be no more admitted till the PricA fee that they have adually r.tbrmed their lives. And that before a-ny young perfons tirft receive, they fhall fome daycs bef.vjw/W, and taught tfie ufe and reafon of the Sacrament, Priefls notorioufly criminal mu(f not fay Mafs till they amend their Jivts. NoPhylician muf> give phyfick to any after four dayes ikkntfs that is notconfcU tothePrieft fon pain of excommunication). BiQiops are fojbidden to Hand when Princes fit, no not for frying Grace at meat: nor othcrwifc todeprefsand abje<ft themfclvcs to Princes. Panfh PricHs muff have a book of the Names, Sex, Age, and State of every Parilhioncr. W'hores are to dwell in their a/figned places,and to be known by their apparel from others.Dancing, playcs, Dice, Selling,c^c. forbidden on the Lords dayes and holydaycs. Indeed the Roman Kdit^i-on was never fet out with greater advantage of piety and reformation than in the copious Decrees ut Carolus Borrbomens in the A//7j« Councils : To which a Council at Aqu'ilda added, cndcth Binniits his Hiftory of Councils.

^70. In all thisHiflorvrf (our;cils, Bilhops and Patriarchs it appcarcth that Corruptio sptimi cji pcffimj-, As the fjcred Miniilry in pious humble wife, peaceable andfinccrc men H-.th been Gods great meansof planting, orderirg, prefervingand eiicreafi'-' ii;s Church, and converting, edifying' and faving Souls, and fuch toth,« d.y aicasP^w/ called Timothy (not rjie Church) {ATillar and B.ifis of the truth in the Church, rvhich is tlx Hoiife nf the Living God) the Husbandmen iha: itill cultivate the Vineyard of the Lord, while with fclf denial, and fait'^, and h aveiily minds, they labour to promote holy WISDOME, LOVE, SPIRITUALITY and PEACE, abhorring pride and worldly dcligns, and being mnfily little noted in the Hifioriesot the Church, as not appearing in the ruibulciit and puhlick affairs of the world ; focontrarily Trtde, and ivorldlincfs, fecking Dominion

Nnnn favour

favour and wealth, to feed alfo fcnfiialicy with fleflily plcafure, by Satans great diligence have corrupted facred Societies, Dodtrinc, Worfhip, Difci-pline and Convcrfation» and when the Prince of pride and darknefs, the God of this World, could not diredlyexpugne Chriltianity, he hath under pretence of Government, Unity, and Advancement to the Church, fet his Malignant Minifters in the Chairs and Pulpits of the Church to do his work, and fight tlown piety, love and peace in the name of Chril>, and as it were by h's Authority ■> andinftead of perfecuting Heathens, Satan hath fet up co/itcnthns, dividing, and fikncing, and perfecuting Prelates , to finite the trut Shepherds, and fcatter the Flocks \ and as for i'aiib and Order, to tread down the true life of Faith, Love and Order, and to be the Capital E-nemics of the Church, while they would make thcmfelves its Heads, Advancers and Defenders! fo that the chief good and the chief mifclmf hith ccme to the Church by the means of the Paliors: And no Schifmes, no He-rciics, no Perfeeutions have been more grievous, than thofe that have been caufcd by a tyrannical and contentious Clergy j witncfs all the Conciliary E-pifcopal Schifmes, Wars, and Bloodlhcd mentioned in this ColIcdVion > wit-nefs the many hundred thoufand Albigenfes, IFaldenfes, and Bohemi.-iuf vaui-dticd, us fot the Faith and Church j witness the 30000. or 40000. at once zmirdcrcd at iheFrfwc/^Mafracrev witnefs the horrid cruelties of the Inqui-iltion i witnefs the Volumes of burned and otherwifc murdered Protectants i and witncfs the 7)vj^ Zeal ftirr'd up by their Clergy, that murdered two hundred thoufand in (b narrow a room as that fmall Country, and in fo few Weeks : And whoever is the Antichrifl, certainly in Rome, and the Militant Tyrannical Church-Clergy is found the blood of the Saints, and -Martyrs of Jefus > and as proud contentious Patriarchs and Prelates ruined Religion and the Empire in the Raii, and gave [tup to Mahomet an darknefs and cruelty, fohave they under the name of ChrilHanity impugned the Chrillian Intertlt in the J^ff^ I end with G, Hecbcrt :

Only the ?^c(^ and Rome do keep them free

From this contagious infidelity :

And this is all the Rock whereof they boaft,

As Rome will one day find unto her cofii

Sin being not able to extirpate quite

The Churches here, bravely relolv'd one night

To be a Church -man, and to wear a Mitre,

The old debauched Rufiian would turn Writer;

1 faw him in his Study, where he fate

Bufie in controverfie fprwng of late ;

A Gown and Pen bccaine him wondrous well, .

His grave afpcdhad more of Heaven than Hell ;

Only there was a handfome picture by,

To which he lent a corner of his eye ;

As Sin in Greece a Prophet was before,

And in old Rom? a mighty Empcrouri

Sol

So now being Prieft, he plainly did profefs

To make a Jeftof Chrifts three Offices i

The rather lincc his fcattercd juglings were

United now in one, both time and fpherc :

From ^g)ft he took petty Deities,

From Greece Oracular Infallibilities i T

Andfromold Kowe the liberty of pleafure,

By free difpenfing of tlie Churches Trcafure:

Then in memorial of his Ancient Tluonc,

He did firname his Palace Babylon :

Yet that he might the better gain all Nations,

And vrakc that name good by their rran(migration$,

From all thcfe places, but at divers times,

He took five Vizards to conceal hisCrimes.

From lt.g)fi Anchorifmc, and rctircdncfs.

Learning from Gretce, from old Rome ftatclinefs i

And blending thcfe, he carried all mens eyes,

While Truth fate by, counting his Viftorics >

Whereby he grew apace, and (corn'd to ufe

Such force as once did captivate tlie Jctvs >

But did bcwitcJi, and finely work each Nation

Into 3 voluntary tranfmigratinn:

All pofttoKowfV Princes fubniit their Necks,

Either to his publick Foot, or private Tricks :

It did not tit his Gravity to ftir.

Nor his long Journey, nor his Gout and Fur j

Therefore he (cnt out ABLE MINISTERS,

States-men within, without door Cloyflcrcrs»

Who without Spear, or Sword, or other Drum, Councils

Than what was in their Tongue,did overcome > ^^ '*"'"

And having conqutr'd did (o Ihangely rule,

That the whole World did fccm but the Popes Mule:

As new and old Rome did one Empire twift.

So both together ate one ANTICHRIST i

Yet with two Faces, as their Jjiws was,

Being in this their old cracktLookirg-glafs :

How dear to mc, O God, thy Counfels are /

W homay with thee compare ! Thus Sin triumphs in irtjierns Babylon, Yet not as Sin,but as Religion » Of his two Thrones he made the later beft, And to defray his journey trcm xhcEjJi, Old and new Babylon are to Hell and Night, As is the Moon and Sun to Heaven and Light.

N n n 2 CHAP.

thtma'i.

CHAP. XIV.

LEft thistreatifc be miftaken&abufedtothediftionourofthe Chiiftian Religion, Church or Miniftry I adde two papers which I longagoe publilhed for the Minifiry 1. Againft profane Mahgnants, 2. Againft Sed-arians, efpccially thofe called vSeekers, as alfo Papifts & others that for intereftor fadion, deny or vilifie the Paftors,

One fieet fir the Minifiry •■, Againfl the Malignants of all firts.

AS mans firft felicity was attended with the malice of the Serpent, fo is the wonderful work of hisReftauration. The promifc of Reconciliation by the feed of the woman, isjoyncd with a proclamation of open war with the Serpent and his feed. The enmity was hotteft in the Devil and his feed agaiaft Chrift himfelf, who bare and overcame it j and is become the Captain of our falvation, that his Church may overcome by hi? Crofs and Strength, and Cordudt ; The next degree of malice is a' gainft his officers: the mofl eminent, the General Officers had the hotteft affaulti and his ordinary Officers bear the next: That we (hall be hated of all men for the name of Chrift, (NUt. 10.2a.^ is ftill verified to our experience. Not only the openly prophane abhor us for our work fake, but falfe-hearted profcfTors that turn from the truth, do prefently turn Malignants againft the Miniftry ; and many weak ones that are better minded, aredangeroufly feduced into a guilt of the fedition. To all theft I here proclaim in the name and word o( tlie Lord, Numb. 16.26. [JDepjrt J pray you from the ients of thefe rp/ck^dme/i, and touch nothing of their/, l^ ye be confttmed in all their fins. ~\ Which I (hall now open to you.

1. The office of the Miniiby is an undoubted Ordinance of God, to continue in the Chnrch to the end of the world. No man can pretend that they ceafcd with the Apofiles, for it is Gods will that ordinary fixed Presbyters (hall be ordained in every Church, ^S/. 14.23. T'it.i.'y. i "iim.^.i. 2 7//M4 2.2. And Faftors and Teachers are appointed for the per-fedling of the Saints^ for the work of the Miniftry, and edifying of the body ofChrift, till we all come toapcrfed man, £/>/«/.' 4.11,12, i 3. A Miniftry authorized to Difciple the Nations, baptize and teach them, is inftituted by (;:hrift as King and Saviour, and have his Promifetobe with them alway tothe end of the world, Mat. 2%. 18, ip, 20. The fame ne-cellny and work continucth j ftiil fouls are born and bred in darknefs, and how (hall they be faved without believing, or believe without hearing, 01 h,cai without preaching, or we preach wuhout fending? Kom. lo. i?.

M. 15-

14,15. There is a clearer word in the Gofpel for the Minifiry then the Magiftracy > though enough for both. Oar owa call I fliiU fp-ak of anon.

2. Thefe Malignants fet themfelves againft the Principal members of the body of Chrift, that are in it as the eyes and hands to the nitural body, 1 Cor. 12. i<5, Ip, 27, 29. Efhef. 4. u, 15. Tiie Minilkrs of Chrill, and Stewards of the Myfteries of God, 1 Cor. 4. i. The Ovcr-frcrs of the flock that is purchafed with Chrifts blood, Aciu 20.2%. They are the chief members, i. in office, 2. ordinarily in gitts for cdirication of the body : 3,, and in grace. Now a wound in the ftomick or liver i% more mortal to the body, then in the hand; and the lofs ot an eye or hand is worfc then the lofsof an ear.

3. Thefe Malignants are therefore principally enemies to the Church it felf. They take on them to be only again/t the Minillcrs, but it will prove moft againfl the people and whole Church. If they finite thc' Shepherds, the Ihecp will be fcattcred. How can they more fureiy ruine Chrifls family, then by casing out the Stewards, that mud rule , and give the children their meat in duefcafbn, even milk to thc babes, and ftronger meat to them of full age, Heb. 5.12,13,14. L?/^-. 12. 42. Mit. 24.45. '^Vhat readyer waytoruinc thcSchools of Chrhl, then by carting out the Teachers that he hath appointed under him.? Or to ruine his Kingdomc, then toreje<ff his officers? Or to wrong thc body, then to cut off the hand, and pull out thc eyes, or to deftioy the principal parts ? Was it not Minilkrs that planted the Churches, and converted the world and have ever born off the alfaults of enemies ^ Where was there ever' Church on earth that continued without a Minirtry ? Thc great Kingdom of NiihU fell from Chrillianity for want of Preacher^. Thc Nations that have thewcakeft and fevveft Miniitcrs, hivcthe Icalf of Chr Jlianity i and thofethat have the moft and ableft Minifters, have the moft tlouriih-ing ftate of Religion. All over thc world the Church doth rife or fall with the Miniftry : Cut down the Pillers, and the building lalir. He is blind that fees not what would become of the Church , were it not for the Miniliry } Who (hould teach the ignorant , or nbuke th:' oblHnatc, explain the word of truth, and ftop the mouths of proud gain faycrs .^ What work would hcrcfies, and divilion , and prophancnefs make, if thefe banks were cut down i when all that can be done is ftill too little. It muftneeds therefore be nicer enmity againll the Chprch , that makes men malignant againftthc Miniftry.

./ 4. The defign of the maligners of the Miniftry is plainly againft thc ; Gofpel and Chriftianity it (elf. They take the readyeft way in the world • to bring in Heatnenifm, Infidelity and Athcifm, which Chriiiianiiy hath fofarbinilhcd. For it is the Miniftry that Chrift ullth to bring i;i light, and drive and keepout this damnable darkncfs. Alls 7.6: i-j^ 18. £ Ifend lh:eto open their eycf, ani turn them from dar^.efs to //^/!'f, <i>,-."] Why arc fo many Nations Infidels, Miho.nctjns, and Idolaters, bac for want of

Mi.iifkis ^

A

Minilrers to preach the Gofpel to tfiem •• Tlltfc Malignants therefore would take down the Sun , ani bini'h CkrilUjniry out of the world.

5- And they hinder the Converfion of particalar foul';, and fo are tlic ci.iiclltll wretches on (.arth. Though an Angel muft be fent to CorncH. i'.i^ it is not to be inltead of a Preacher, but to fend him to a Preacher, AU-s ic. Tliouch Chrift would wonderfully appear to Saul^ it is to fend him to Ananias for inlirr.Aion , ASs </. Though the Jaylor muft ftol an Earth-quake, and fee Miracles, it is but to prepare him for the Mini/icrs words, Aasi6. Philip inuit be carried by an Angel to expound to an Eunuch the Word that muit convert him. The Minifiry is Gods infhtut-' ed fettled way, by which he will convert and fave the world, as truly as the light is the natural way by which he will corporally enlighten them Aas 2. l8. I 7im. 4. 16. Mat. 5. 14. Knm.\o. 14. Do you think fo many fouls would be converted if the MiniOry were down ? Do you not fee that the very contempt of them, that the fcornsof the ungodly, and oppofition of Malignant Apollates have occafioned, dofh hinder inoft of the ignorant and prophanefrom receiving thefaving benefit of the Gof^ pel ? How many millions of fouls would thefc wretches fweep away to ilell, if they had their will ? While thoufands are in damnation for want of the light, they would take it from you, that you might go there alfo. Do you not undcrl^land the meaning of thcfe words, agaim'r Chrifts Mini-flers? why the meaning is this: They make a motion to the people of the Land, to go to Hell with one confent, and to hate thofe that are appointed to keep them out of it. They weuld take the bread of life from your mouthcs. They are attempting an hundred times more cruelty on you, than Hcrud on the Jews when he killed the Children, or the Irifh that murdered the Proteltants by thoufands i as the foul is of greater worth tiicn the body.

6, Thcfe Malignants againft the Miniflry are the flat encmiesof Chrift hiiiifelf, and fo he will take them and ufe thcni. He that would root out. the inferiour Magilirates, is an enemy to the Soveraign > and he that is againit the officers of the Army, is an enemy to the Generah Chrift ne-ve'r intended to Itay vilibly on earth, and to Teachand Rule the world immediately inperfoni but he that is the King will Rule by his Officers i and he that is Prophet will Teach us by his Officersi and therefore he hath plainly told us, {Jin tb.tt hcarcthyoii, beareth m: ■, andhe that difpifctbyatf, dcfpijclh me H and he that dcjpijhhme, dcjpifith'him that fait me, Lnkg 10. 16.] Ofearfulcafe of miferable Mahgnants .'Duili thou dcfpife the Lord thy Maker and Redeemer, it he appeared to thee in his glory ! to whom the .Sun it felf isas darknefs, and all the world as duft and nothing? Remember when thou ntxtfpeakell againft his Ofhccrs, or hcarclt others fpcak' againU tl.em, that their words are Ipoken again(t the face of Chrift, and of the Father. 1 would not be found in the cafe of one of thcfe Malignants, when Cluilt Ihall come to judge his cntmitSj for a thoufand worlds.

. He

and their Councils Abridged, a^i

He that hath fa id, \_Tanch net mine annointtJ, and do my Prophets na hjrm i and hath rebuked Kings for tbtir faks^, P/J'- *2 5- »5' will dcriie all thofe that would hrcak^ his bjnds , and will brcak^ them as witharod of irjir, and dj^ them in pieces at a potters vejfcl, P/j/. 2. 5, 4,^. And as he hath told them plainly, [ Who fo defpifeththe Word fliall be dejhoyed, Prov. 13. 13."] And (_hethjt defpifeth^ defpifethnot mm, but G»d, i "ihef.^.^. So he huh told us that it Jhallbe eafter for Sodom J«i^ Gomorrah in the day of Judze-ment, then for fuch, Mat. 10.15. Many a thoufand prouder enemies then you hath Chrirt broken > and look to your (elves, for your day is coming. If you had but ftumbled on this jionc, it wonldhsi't broken you in pieces ■, but feeing you will llrive againH ir, it will fill on yxt, and grini you to ponder, A/jf. 2i,+4. And then you (hill fee that he that made them his EmbafTadors , will bear them out and fay, \_In is much as ymt did it to theje , yoti did it to me. ~\ And you Hull then fay , hkffcd are they that trujl in him.

7. It is apparent that thefe enemies of the Minillers are playing the Pa pi (Is game. Bccaufc the ju(l difgracc of their Minillry, was the ruine of their Kingdom i therefore they hope to win of us at the fame game. They know that if the people w«re brought into a hatred or fulpicion of their guides, they might the calijr be won to them. They tell us in their writings, that not one of ton of our people but takcthhis fait'i on truft from their Teachers, and therefore take them orf from them and they will fail : but they delude thcmftlvcs in this: For though th.* ungodly among us have no true t'aith of their own, and the Godly mu(t lean on the hand of their fupporters, yet there is in them a living principle > and we do not as the Papills priefts, teach our people to fee with our eyes, and no matter for their own: but we help to clear their ovv.i eye-fight. Doubt not but the moll ot the feds in th: Land thu fall a-gainil the Minillry, arc knowingly or ignorantly the agents of the l^a-pifts. For the principal workot'aPapift is to cry down the Minillry and the Scripture, and to fet all they canon the fame work.

8. Thele feds that are againft the Minillry do all the fame work as the Drunkards, Whore •mongers. Covetous, and all ungodly perfons in our Pariihes do: And therefore it feems they arc guided by the fame fpirit- It is the workof Drunkards and all thele wicked wretches to hate, and defpife, and revile the Minillers, and to teach others to fayastiiey. And jull fo do Quakers, Seekers, Papilts and all other Malignants reproach the fame Minillers; And yet the blind wretches will not fee that the fame Spirit movcth thtm.

p. It is apparent that it is the Devils game they play, and his intcr-cft and Kingdom which they promote. Who fights againll Chrilis Of-iicers and Army, but the G.ncral of the contrary Army/ What greater fervice could all the world do for the Devils, then to call out the Minillers ofChrill? and what more would the Devil himlelf dclirc, to fe: up his Kingdom and lupprefsthc Church f Wrctchts! )0j ihall ll.cJily

ke.

fee your Maftcr, and lit will pay you your wages contrary to yourexpcfta-tion. Read Go'sword 10 a Malignant, Afis 13. lO.

10. Thcfc Enemies do reproach as faithful a Miniftryasthe world cn-joyeth, and their malice hath fo little footing, as that the refultmuft be theirown (hame. Among the Papifls indeed there are Mafs-Prieds that can but read a Mafs, wliofe Office is to turn a piece of Bread into a God : And ya thcfe the Malignants either let alone, or liken us to them. The Greeks, and Ethiopians, and moft of the Chrifiian World, have a Miniltry that luldome or never preach to them, but read Common-prayer, and Homi-Jics. The rriollof the Protcflant Churches have a learned Miniflry that is fo taken up with Controverfies, that they are much Icfs in the powerful preaching and piaftife of godlinefs: Above all Nations under Heaven, the Eiiglifl} are fctupon Praftical Divinity ajii Holincfs, and yet even they are fay Malignity chofen out for reproach. Alas, fcandals in the Miniflry, Cas drunkcnnefs,fwearing,eS"'c.) among other Nations are but too common; but in Eflg/wi Magilirates and Minilters combine againfl them. Minifters aie ftill (purring on the Magiftrates tocaft out theinfufficient, negligent and fcandalousi and delireand ufc more feverity with men of their own profcfl'ion, than with Magiilrates, or any others in the Land. In nothing are they more zealous, than to fweep out all tbe remnant of the fcandalous : And for themfelvcs, they are devoted to-the work of the Lord, and think nothing too much that they are able to perform, but preach in fcalon and out of feafon, with all long-fuffering and Dodtrine> and yet Malignants make them their reproach.

n. It is abundance of pride and impudency, that thcfe Malignant Enemies are guilty of. They are moif ot them perfons of lamentable ij>no-rance i and yet they dare revile at the Teachers, and think themfelves wife enough to rebuke and teach them; Many of them are men of wicked Jives i and yet they can tell the world how bad the Minilkrsare. A Rai-kr,a Drunkard, a covetous Worldling, an ignorant Sot, is the Iikefi perfon to fail upon the Minilkri and the Owl will call the Lark a Night-bird. Alas, when wc come to try them, what dark wretches do we find them! Jtid lliould be glad if they were but teachable : And yet they have learnt the Devils firftLtfTon, to defpife their Teachers.

12. And O what barbarous ingratitude are thefe Malignant Enemies of the Miniflry guilty of! for whom do we watch, but for them and others? Can they be lb blind as to think a paihful Minilfcr doth make it hisdelign to feckhimlLlf, or to look after great matters in the world? Would not the time, and labour, and coll that they are at in the Schools and Univcrlities, liave fitted them for a more gainful trade ? Do not Lawyers, Phyfitians,d''(r. live a fare after, and in the world a more honourable plentiful life? Have not thcMinifterstheiTifelves beenthe principal Inflruments of taking down Bilhops, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, Prebends, and all means of prctciment ? And what have they got by it, or ever endeavoured ? ipeak malice, andfparenot. Is it any thing but what they had before? Even the

maintenance

maintenance due to their particular charge. Unthankful wretches! It i? for your fakes and fouls that they ftudy, and pray, and watch, and fall, and exljoxt, and labour, to the confuming of their (irength i and when they have done, are made the Drunkards Song, and the fcorn of all tlic wicked of the Country , and when they fpcnd, and arc fpcnt, the more they love, the Icfs they are beloved. In the times of this grcateft profperity of the Church, they live under coniiant hatred and fcorn, from thofc tliac ' they would favc, and will not let alone in lin. And what do they cndyrc all this f("n: but Gods honour, and your filvation ? Would we be Minifteis for any lower ends Z Let (liame from God and man be on the face of fuch % Minifter ! I profefs, were it rot for the belief of the greatnefs, and ncccility^ andcxcelkncyof thcTrutIi<.th3t 1 am to preach, and for the will of God, and the good of Soals, I would be a Plow-man, or the mcancft Trade, it not a Swecp^Chimney, rather thana Minifter. Muft we break our health, and lay by all our worldly interefi ioxyou^ even for )w«, and think not our lives and labours too good or too dear to further your Salvation i and muft we by yon, even by yen, be reproached after all ? God will be Judge between you and us, whether tins be not inhumane ingratitude> and whether we dcfcrve it at your hands ? :

i^. Yea, it is l/ijafl/ce alfb that you are guilty of. Tlse laboyrer, faith Chrill, // tvorthy of his hire, Lukf lO. 7. (^Mark iJiat, you that call them Hirilings) The Elders that rule rrdl are worthy of double honour^ i Tim. 5. 17. EJpeciaHy they that labour in the IFord and Vodrine, And will you throw fioncs at their heads for endeavouring to fave your fouls ? Will you fpit in ^

their faces for fee king with all their might to keep you from Hell? Is that their wages that you owe them ? But bleiud be the Lord, with whom is our reward, though you be not gathered, 7/Jr. 4^.5. But as you love your felves, take heed of that Curfe, Jer. 18. 20. \_Sh.ill evil be recompenctd fir good? for they haiie digged a pit for my foul : 'Remember that I flood before thee to fpeak^ good for them, and to turn away thy trrath from them,&c,~\ O how many a time have we bcfouglit the Lord for you ! that he would convert • you, and forgive you, and turn away the evil that was over you; And when all thefeour prayers, and groans, and tears flull bercmembred againft you, O miferable fouls, how dear will you pay for all!

14. And is it not a wonder that thefe Malignants do not fee what evident light of Scripture they conrrad'dj and how many great exprcfs Commands they violate? They brcik the htth Commandment, whidi rc-quireth honour as well to fpiritual Ecclcfialiical Parents, as to Civil and Natural. And he that curRth Father and Mother, his Lamp (hall be put out in datknefs, Frot'. 20.20. The eye tha: mockcthat his Father, and de-fpifcth to obey his Mou.er, the Ravens of the Valley (hall pic kit out, and the young Eagles fliall eat it, Pm'. 5o. 17. Did thcfr wretches never read, I Thcf. 5.12. ''Te Itefiech yon brethreu^ to kjOrv them n-bich Uboitr amonz, you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniJJf ^tt ■> and to eflrm them very highly in Uvc for their tpork^fak^^ and to be at peace among yonr fihes.~\\adi i^ih.i'^ 17.

O 0 O [Obey

[Olny thtm that have the rule over yoH, and fubmit your fehef, for they tvatcb for ymr fmls as tltey that muH give account^ that they may do it with joy, and not rpiih grief ■, for that is unprofitable for youi^ And Hcb. 13. y.Remembtr them Tchich have the rule over you, rvbo have fpok^n to you the Word of God.'] And fo ver. 24. And i Titn. 5. 17. "the Elders that rule vcell are rvorthy of double honour, &c, ~\ with abundance more fuch paflfages as thefe ? E>o not you feci thefe fly in your taces when you oppofe the Minifters of Chrift ? Doth a Thief or Murderer finagainft plainer light than you ?

15. Thefe Malignants fin againft the confent and experience of the Uni-veifal Church of Chrift till this day. The whole Church hath been for the Miniftry, andinftrudted by them i and as the Child doth ftek the Breaft, fo did new-born Chriftians, in all Ages, fcek the Word from the Minifters, that they might live and grow thereby. And all the Nations of theChri-llian World are for the Miniftry to this day! Or elfe th«y could not be for Chrift, and for the Church, and Gofpel. Is it not plain therefore that thefe Malignants are dead branches, cut off from the Church, that are fo fct a-gainft the Spirit and intereft of the Church ?

16. Moreover they fin againft the experience of all, or almoft all the true Chriftians in the world. For they have all experience , that Minifters arc cither their Fathers, orNurfesin the Lord : And that by their means they have had their life, and ftrength, and comforts > their fins killed, their graces quickncd , their doubts refolved > the tafte of the good Word of God, and of the powersof the world to come ? May we not challenge you as Pi««/oft doth his Flock, Whether you did not receive the illuminating fandifying Spirit by theMiniftry, if ever you received it? I tell you, it is as much againft the new and holy nature of the Saints to defpife theMini-flers of Chrift, as it is unnatural for a Child to fpit in the face of his Father or Motlier. And the experience of found Chriftians will keep them clo-f(:r,and help them much againft this inhumanity, what ever Hypocrites may do.

17. And if thefe Malignants had not Pharaoh heart, they would furc have confidercd, that the experience of all Ages tells them, that ftill the moft wicked have been the Enemies of the Miniftry, and the moft godly have moftobeycd and honoured them in the Lord, and that this Enmity hath been the common Brand of the rebellious, and the fore-runner of the heavy wrath of God '-, and that it hath gone worft with the Enemies, and bcft with the Friends of a godly Miniftry. Do I need to prove this, which is fo much of the fubftance of the Old Teftanient, and the New > Was it the Friends or Enemies of all the Prophets, Apoftles and Minifters of Chrift, that Scripture and all good Writers do commend ? Do not the ramcs of all Malignants againft the godly Miniftry ftink above ground, as the ftiamc ot mankind, except thofe that are buried out of hearing, or thofe that were convcrfd ?

18. Nay fuch as are noted for thehighefl fort of the wicked upon Earth > M-orfe than Drunkards, Whoremongers, and fuch hlthy Beafts! The Perfe-

cucots

cutors of GoHs Minificrs have been ever taken as walking Devils: And the hotted of Gods wrath hath fain upon them. Take two inrtances i 1. When the/«»>/went into Captivity, this was the very caufe, 2 Chron.'^6. 15, 16. [But they mackei the Meffengers »/ God, and Jejpifed his rvords, and mijufed hit Frophett^ till the rvrathof the Lord arofe againji his people, till then ivas no remedy. 2. And when the Jervs were cut quite off from the Church, and made VagaboEds on the Earth, this was the very caufe, ABi :8.i8. Be it kjtotvn therefore to you, that the falvaiion of God is fent to //:>? Gentiles, andthatthey tvill hear it.'] 1 Ihef.z. l'),i6. Thcfe Jews \J)oth killed the Lord JefHS,and their own frophtts, and have perfceteted us: and they pkaje not God^and are contrary to all men,forbiddingut to fpetk^to f/;e Gentiles, that they might be fjvedto fill ftp their fin alrvay i for the tprqth is come upon them to the Httermojh] ip. It is the Devils own part that thtfe Malignants a(ft; For it is hcthat is the great Enemy of Chrif}, and the Saints, and he that is the Accufer of theBrt^ren, which accufeth them before God d.iy and night: And is not this the Work of Quakers, Drunkards, Papifts, and all Malignants? But the JLord will rebuke them, and be the glory of his fervants, Zic/;. 5. i, 2. [Ht fhev0td me Jofliua the Higb-Priejl ftanding before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan flanding at his right hand to re(ijl him. And the Lord J'aid unto Satan ; Ibe Lord rebuk^ thee, 0 Satan, men the Lord that hathcbofen Jerufalem.]

20. Thefe Malignants do moft of them condemn themfclvcs i for thcjr honour the Ancient MiniAcrs of Chrift that are dead, even while they op-pofe and hate the prefent that are living, who arc theneareil Imitators of their Doiftrinc and life that arc on Earth! The name of Prt«r, and Foul, and J^»fc« they honour, and fomc of them keep Holy-days for them» and at the fame time hate and reproach thofe that preach the fame Dodlrine , and that bccaufcthcy tread in their fteps. They honour the names of ^«/?f»f, znd Chryfoftom andH/erom, and Other Ancients > and hate thofe that preach and live as they did. They fpeak honourably of the Martyrs that were burned to death for thcDodVrineof Chrift i and at the fame time they hate us for doing as they did. What difference between the Calling, Do(firinc and lives of thofe Martyred Minifters, and tliefe that are now alive * O wretched Hypocrites! do you not know that thefe Apoftles, Fathers, and other Minifters didfuffcr in their time fromfuchas you, as we now do, and more? Hear what Chrift faith to (uchas you, ^/Jt. 23. 2^,30,31. [JFbr to you Scribes, Fharifees, Hypocrites i becaufe ye build the Tembs of the Prophets, and gjrnijh the Sepulchres of the Righteous, and fay. If we bad been in the days cf our Fathers, we would not have been partakes with them in the blood of the Prophets: Te are witneffes to your fches, th.it ye are the children of them which Ifilled the Frophets: fill ye up then the meafure of your Fathers: Te Serpents, ye Generation of Viperf, how can ye efcape the damnation of Hell ? "]

21. Moreover, thcfe Malignants do harden themflvcsagamft thefrefhcft cf the Judgments of God, which fomc of their own hinds have executed i and juiJihc the Pcrfccutois. and fuccecd them in their fury. Flave ycu forgotten what God hath done here againft the Papal Enemies of the Gofpel

Ooo 2 2nd

and Minillry, in 88. ana the Powder-plot, and many other times? Have you already forgotten how the pcrfccutors of a godly Miniflry have fped within thcfc lixtcen years in Enghnd and Ireland^. And dare you now ftand up in their room and make your fclvcs the heirs of their lln, and puniQimcnt, and juliihe them in all their Malignity? What do you but ju(iihethem, when you rave againfi and revile the fame fort of Minlfters, and many of the fame perfons, whom the former Malignants perfecut-cd ? and oppofethe fame fort of Miniflcrs that the Papilfs burned ? And would not you do the like by them if you had Power in your hands? Can any wife man doubt of it. Whether Papifts, and Quakers, and Drunkard?, that now make it their work to make the Miniftry odious, would not foon difpatch them if they could ? Eleflcd be the great Protedor of the Church, for were it not for him, our lives would foon be a prey to your cruelty.

22. And indeed if thefe Malignants had their wills, they wouldundo thcmfclves, and cat down the bough they flard upon, anddeftroy the little hope and help that is yet left for their miferable fouls: It is for the fake of Gods fervants among them that judgements are fo long kept off them. And as long as the Golpel and Minillcrs remains, falvation is offered them : the voice of mercy is calling after them, Kcfent and live. They have the light fliining in their eyes, which may at lafl convince them, as P-?«/was convinced of his perfccntion: the voice which they dtfpife may polTibly awake them. Though they have lefs hope then others > ^[et theie is fome, But if they had their will, and were rid of the Miniftry, alas what would the forlorn wretches do? Then they might damn thtmfelves without didurbance, and go quietly to hell, and nobody nop them, and ii^^ [}Vhy do yen jo}

23. And I pray yeu confider what it is that thefe men would have? W hat if the Minifiers were all calt out ? would they have any to do Gods work in their ftead, or none? If n<)«f, you may lee what they are doing: \i atiy^ Who, and where are they? Is it not horrible Pride if all thefe filly fouls do think that they can do it bettjer themfelves ? And what elfe do Quakers and all thefe feds that arc the enemies of the Minirtry? Do they not go upanddownthe Land, and fay to the wifeft holyeft Teachers, as if they took them by the fleeve, \_ Comedotvn and let me f reach that can do it better : Come djwn thou deceiver and ignorant man^ and let me come up thai amwifer, and better, and h^oron more: Out with thefe proud Lordly Preachers, and let us be your "Teachers , that are m.re holy, and humble , and felf-denying then they. ~\ Is not this the loud language of their adinns ? And can you rot hcai the Devil in thefe words of highcit Pride and Arrngancy ? But really Sirs, do you think that thefe men would teach you better? And is there enow that are wiler and better then wc toiili up our rooms, if we were out? Do but prove that, and you j (hall have my conlent to ba-ni!h all the Mmillcrs in England, to fome place that hath greater need of their labour» that they may no more trouljlc you that have no need of thenv and keep out better. iQO i4. Lallly,

and their Councils Abridged, A^g

24. Laflly, conGder on what fenflefs pretences all this enmity againft the Miniftry doth vent it felf. You thall hear the word that they hjv^ to (ay againft us, f though but briefly J and then judge.

I. The Quakers fay , We are idle drones that Uho^it not , ani therefore jhoitld not eat. Anfw. The worlt I vvifli you, is, that you had but my cafe inrtead of your labour. I have reafonto take my felf for the kaft of Saints, and yet I fear not to tell the accufer, that I take the labour of moft Tradefmen in the Town to be a plcafure to the body in comparifbn of mine i fthough for the ends and the plcafure of my mind, I would not change it with the greatcll Prince) Their labour preferveth health, and mine coiftimth it : They work in cafe, and I in continual pain: They have hours and dayes of recreation: I have Ccarcctimc to cat and drink : No body moleftcth them for their labour i but the more I do, the more hatred and trouble I draw upon me. If a Quaker ask me, what all this labour is , let him come and fee , or do as I do , and he fliall know.

2. They accufe us of eovetoxfnefs and opprejpon, bccaufe tve tak^ tithe/ or hirCy Cas they call it.) Anftv. i. Is ft not maUce or iacrilegious covetouf-nefs that framcth this accufjtionr' tf^hofc arc the Tithes? are they wrx ot ihetrs^ The faracl-awof the Land that makes the nine parts theirs, doth make the tenth ours. If we have no title to the tenth, they have none to the rcfr. We ask none of our people for a larthing. They ^ivek not to us ; It was never t/x/V/. When thty buy or take kafcs of their Land it is only the nine parts tlwt they pay ior , and if the tenths were (old them, they fliould pay themfelves a tenth part more. And would thcfe men nukeall the people thieves and covetous, to take or dellre that wliich never was their own ? Nay would they have them rob God, to whom for his fctvicc the Tithes were devoted? Read, M^/. 5 8,p,io. Ram. 2. 22. (?£«. 14.20. Hcb.y.d,p. And whether Tithe it felf be of Divine in-llitution fiill, is more then thfy arc able to difprove. Sure lam, when Chritl told them of tithing mint andcHinmin^ iie faitli, "Ibcfe ottfibt you to bm.e donty and not to luvc tiK other widune, Mat' i^.z^. a. But molt certain I am that God hath made it our duty to rmditate qahis word, and ^iva our fihtr wholly thereto, l7/m. 4. 15. and that WC may (_ Ftfriwrrviir/^'^^, and not so m ivarfjrc at mr own charge; andj'nving to. nic/i ffiritital things, JhotHdreap tlxir carnal things: Do ye not knoivtbat they which tninijhr aborit holythinaj, live of the things of tin Je'Hplc i and they whtd) wait at the Altar, are par-^ takers with the Alters' E-jcn Jo hath.the Lord ordained, that they mljic?preach the Go/pel fl}jit!d liie of the Cofpcl.'] i Cor. ?. <5, 7,13,14. 3. And know you not that the primitive Uuiltians gave not only tiic tenths, but all that they had, and laid it at the Apollolcs feet? to (hew that the Golpi.1 tcacheth more clearly then the Law , the ncceihty of D^-Jicauag our felves and all ihat we have to God. 4. And yet 1 mult ^y, that we ate cment with fo'd and raymcnt. MuJl Minitl in Eitglojid would ■b:glad to give you ail thdr titiics, it you wiil. but allow them food and ruii^icnt

for

fer tliemfclves and families, and fuch education for their children as is fitteft to make themferviccableto God. And I hope it is no Cn to have mouths that mufl be fed, or backs that muft be cloathed. W'hitfinuft Gods Minificrs above all others be grudged food and rayment ^ and thit of the Lords portion, which rone ot you pay for ? 1 fear not to imitate Taul flopping the mouths of malicious accufers, and to tell you, that the Minifttrs, whofe cxpences I am acquainted with, do give 500. pence, for 50. that they receive by gift from their people: and that thej take all that rhcy, have as Chrifts, and not their own, and if they have never fomuch they devote it wholly to him, and know he's not beholden to them for it: and fome of them lay out in charitable ufes, much more then all the tithes that they receive for their Minifterial maintenance. And if the Quakers that accufe them of covetoufnefs, would caft up accounts with them, I doubt not but it will be found that they receive more by gift then Preachers, and give net the fourth part fo much when they have done.

3. Another accufation is , that we preach falfe Dotirine^ and deceive the people. Anftv. It's eafie to fay fo of any man in the world: But wheiv they come to prove it, you will fee who arc the deceivers.

4. Another is, that we zxt perfccutors, and lik^ the Priejls of old, and fi all the reproofs of them and the Pharifees belong to us. Anfrv. This is fbon faid too : but where's tbe proof!* For thcmfdvcs we have no mind to be houbled with them. Let them let us alone, as long as we will let theni alone. But ytt they (hall be taught one day to know, that if the Ma-giftrate ftop the mouths of fuch railers and abufcrs of God and men, he

' doth no more perfecute them, then he perfecuteth a thief when hehangeth him i or then Tanl perfecuted Hymentus and P/nktits when he delivered them up to Satan > or Elymits, A!3si$. 11. or then Peter perfecuted Ananias and Sapphira , A£ls 5. or then God would have had the Churches be perfecutors againft the woman Jezebel that was fufFered to teach and feducc the people, or againft the Doftrine of the Nicolaitans which God hated, Kev, 2. i 5, 20. If hindering fm^ be perfecuting^ the calling of a Ms-gyrate is to be a pcrfecutor, Kom. 13. 4. and all parents mnft peiecute their own children.

5. Another accufation is, thtiv/tzKagainfi the preaching of any but our felves. Anjtv. Who doth not defirc that all the Lords people were Prophets ?

But yet we know all are not Prophets, i C«r. 12 2p. nor Teachers, We would have ncne of Gods gifts in our people buried, but all improved to theuttermoft for his glory. But we would not have men turn Ordinary Teachers, thatare neither found, nor able, norfentj nor every felf-con-ccited ignorant man, have leave to abufe the name and word of God, and the fouls of men. What would you have more then is granted you? When any unordained man that is judged competent by the CommifTi-oners of Approbation (of whom fome are SouldicrsJ may be a conftant preacher, and have fulled maintenance, as well as Presbyttrs ? " 6. Another

and tbeir Councils Abridged, ^^i

6. Another Charge is, that jpc are fome wmiS^, jni fame Ccandjloitr. Anfw. We do al) that we are able tocaft out fuch, and I think never more was done. The Magiilratc fets his Guard at the door, and lets in none but whom he pleafe : and furc if he knew where to have better than thofc that are in, he would put them in, or elfe he is too blame ; If he do not know, will you blame him for ufing the beft that he can get > But if you will come and help us to caft out any that are vicious and unworthy, we will give you thanks.

7. Another Accufation is, that rre difer tmeng our felvei, and one faith one thing, and another another thing. Anfiv, j. And are all thefe Seds that op-pofe us better agreed among themfeives > Enquire and judge. 2. Do not all preach one Gofpel, and the (ame EiTentials of the Chriftian Faith ? And we expednot pcrfedlUnity, till we have perfcft Knowledge andHolinefsi which we dare not boall of, whatever §ljtak^s6iO.

8. Another Accufation is, that we iirc not true Miniflers- And why fb? Bccaufe we have not an uninterrupted fucccfTion of lawful Ordination. An^tp^ This Obje(ition is the Papifts, who have little rcafon to ufe ir, while it isfo eafie a matter to prove fo many interruptions of their Papal fucccf-fion. At large and often have we anfwcred them, and arc ftill ready to deal with any of them herein, and to prove i i. That an uninterrupted fuccelfi-onof right Ordination, is not. of necelVjty to the being of the Mini/iry. 2. And if it were, wc have more to (hew for it than they. If others flicit on this, let me tell them, that Magirtracy is as truly from God as the Mini-ftry: And let ever a King on Earth fliew me an uninterrupted fucccffion giving him Title to his Crown, and I will rticw him a more undoubted fuc-artion or Title to my Miniftry. But here's no room to difcufs this Q^e-flion.

9. ObjedV. But you arc Farijh Priejls, and no true Minijlert, becau/eyou hj-jt not true Churches. Anfvp. All the Chriliians in our Parilhes that confcntare our Flock: And wc undertake to prove the truth of fuch Churches, not only againft fcorn, but againlt all the Arguments that can be brought.

10. Objeft. B«f you have not the Spirit, and therefore arena true Mini(ierf, Anfiv. And how prove you that we have not the Spirit ? The approvers admit none but fuch as they think have the Spirit. He that is fandificd hath^ the Spirit: Prove us unfandificd, and we will rcfign our Oificc Ob-' jed^. Tm read your Sermons out of a Paper \ therefore you have not the Spirit. Anjtv. A ftrong Argument! I pt-ay you takefcvcn years time to prove the conCcquencc. As wifely do the ^ak^rs argue, that bccaufe we ufe Spcfta-cles,orHour-glaires, and Pulpits, we have not the Spirit. It is not want of your abilities that makes Minilicrs ufe Notes i but it's a regard to the. %vork, and the good of the Hearers. I ufe Notes as much as any man, when I take pains '■> and as little as any man when I am la7y, or bulie, and have rpt leifure to prepare. It's eaiier to us to preach three Sermons withouc Notes, than one with them. He is a fimplc Preacher that is nrt able to preach all day without preparation, if his Arength would fcrvei efpccially if he preach at your rates.. 11. OhjeS. .

ir. Oii/rff. But ths true Miniftry iSp.rffcuwd » Tsut foare not you, bu: are Pcrfccutors c^ o'thtrs. Anjiv. i, For our perfccutingorherf, be fo merciful as to prove it to us, that we may lament it. It piiniiliing wicked men and Seducers be perfccuting,not only Pjtf? was fuch, thdt wilhed they rvcre cut off thtttrmbhd //if Galatians j biit God himfelf would be the grcaccft of ail pcrltciitors, tliat will lay-jon in He 11 without repentance, and then you willwilh your old pcrfecution again. And if we ')e not persecuted, what means the reproaches of you and all the Drunkards and Malfgnanfs aboiTtus? But 1 pray you envy us not our lives and liberties, and a little breathing time. Do you not read that \7hc ChwcheT had rejl throughout all Judca, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, androalk^ng in ihc fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the H)ly Ghi^l, recre multiplied? j4^s p.^i ,1 Envy not a little profperity to the Church. Dotli not P-uil pray that the G^fpel may rim and be glorified, and that we may be delivered from unreafon" able rpick^d men, 2 Ihcf. 5. 1. Sometimes you can fay that more glorious days are promifcdj and that the Saints fliall rule the world. Unmerciful men ! It is but a while ago lince we had our (hare of fufferings! Since that the Sword hath hunted after us! Many of our Brethren are yet in America^ that were driven thither: at this time in Spain, and Italy, and Germany, and Savoy: Alas, what do our Brethren fuffer in the fame Caulc and Calling that we arc in! And do you reproach us with our mercies, if we be out of the Furnace but a little while, in one corner of the world ?

' Objcdf. 12. Ton VDork^no Miracles to confirm your VoHrine. Anfrp. It is true V nor do we need : It is confirmed by Miracles long ago. If we brought a newGofpel, or as the Papills, gave you notour Dodrmeon the credit of Scripture, but Scripture and all on our own credit, then you might julUy call for Miracles to prove it; But not when we have nothing to do but expound and apply a Dodrine fealed by Miracles already.

Again, I fay, Let any Prince on Earth that quefiions our Calling, (hew his Title to his Crown, or any Judge or Magiflrate to his Office; and if I jherv not as ^oi a Title to mine, Utme betaken for a Deceiver, and not a Minijler,

ChriiHan Reader, as ever thou wouldelt be fanciified, confirmed, zxidfaved, hold tail to Chriji, Scripture, Minijiry, and Spirit, and that in the Church and Communion of Saints, and abhor the thoughts of feparating them from tach other.

A

" Afecoftd Sheet for the MINIS TRY-, Jufiif)h;g our Calhvg agaivji Quakers, Seekers, and Papifts, ^^d all that dcvy us to be the M'mijtcrs ofChriJi.

THe corruption of the Komifh Church being moft in the Frrours and Vicesof thePriefts, which made men abhor the ofi'ering of the Lord Ci Sam. 2.17') the reproach which they brought upon thcmfelves, did much prepare men to hcaii\en to the Reformers; Tiie obfcrving of this, and of the ncccflary dcpcndance of the people on their Paftors, hath caufcd the Papirts to bend their force againft the Minifters of the Reformed Churches, and toufeall their wit to defame their Perfonsand CaUings, and malte them fcem ignorant, unworthy, or no Miniltcrs to the people. On this Errand they (end abroad their Agents > this is the faving Gofpcl that the Seeksn, ^i^ks^s-, and their Brethren preach i that the Scripture is not theGufpeljOr Word of God, and that we arc no true Mini(t<r?. Whatever Dodrinc we are preaching, theOppofcrs workis to call us Deceivers, and ask. How we prove our felvcs true Minifkrs ? My work therefore at this time, for the fake of the ignorant in our AlTemblies, fliall be to acquaint them with our anfwer to this demand. And I (hall give it you in order, in certain Prcpolitions.

Prop. I. Both in the Old and Nen> "tejlament there if mention of tvpo diflinS fort of Minijicrs of Cods apfointment. Firft, fuch as received fome new Rne-ljtion^(c'nhcx a Law, or a particular Melfage) immediately from God; Co that the people could not be fure that their Dodtrine was true, till they were fure that the men were fcnt of God. Thcfewcre called Prophett in the Old Tcftament, and Jpojiles^ Frophctf, &:c. in the New. So Mofes received the Law from Gcds and the following Prophets their particular Mcfliges. So the Apndles received the Gofptl fromChrifti and fo did the Seventy, and other Difciples tliat convcrfcd with him i and other Prophets and Evangc-lilis had it by immediate in(piration. All thefe were necefTarily by Miracles, or fome Infallible Evidence to prove their own Call, before the Hearers could receive their Dodirine ; tor this was their Mtffage i [Ihe Lord hath commanded me to fay thus or thus to yoH~\ or [ Ihe ivord which the Lord fpakf to me if thus or thits^ Tiiis fort ot MiniUtis the.Papilts and Seeker'; docoHtef?. .« rirvi.T/.r

But bdidcs thclc, there is a fecond fort of true'Mimflers, whofc Office is not to receive froui God any new Dodrine, Law, or Mcflagci but to p,0' claim the Laws already delivered, and teach men the Voarinealready mealed, and to cvajct and govern the Ch/trcbefof C/.t//^ according to his Laws, and to go before the people in the worlbipot God; The Prophets and Apoliles did both thefe ■> both reveal theDi'drine which they received from ( hriO, and teach and guide the Church by it when they had donei but the latter fort of MJnilicrsdo but the latter fort of the work. The Papilis and Seekers

Ppp cheat

cheat men by jumbling all together, as if there were noMiniftcrsof Gods appointment, but thofcof the former fort v and therefore they call for Miracles to prove our Miniftry. Here therefore I (hall firlr prove, ihattlic fc f(;;(d//7« of Minifictsarcof Gods Inflitution. 2. That fiich need nut prove theirCallinR by Miracles, though yet God may work Miracles by them it he plcafc. 3. That n-e j)v true Miniilcrs of Chr/jl, of this fin, ' I. Chrifl found (uch Minifiers under the Law that were to teach and rule by the Law before received, and not to receive new Laws or Malfagcs i

1 mean the ordinary Priejh and Lcviies , as di/tinguiflicd from frophttt. Thefe Prielts were to keep tlie Law, and teach it the pccple, and the people were to feck it at their mouth, and by it they were to judge mens Caufcs : and alfo they were to ftand between the people and God in pubiick wor-rtiip, as is £xprcR,D«/t: 51.26. Jofh.2^.6. Arr/j.8.i,2>3,8,i8. Sfp-j. La-it. i.&:2.& 4.6c 5.& 7. & 13.8c 14.throughout,N«w. 5.&d. 'Dait. 17. 12. Mai. 2. 7. JFfr.18 18. The Prophet had Vihons > but the Pried had the Law Zizf^7.2o.7/i.8.i<5j20. Hi^. 2. 11,12. ZV>/m, 1.50 l Cl.ron.p.26.&c 16.^ 2Chron ip.ii. 8c .o.ip.diC 30.17,22, He was called, A Teaching Prielt^

2 Chroii. 15.3. Lev. 10. JO, 11. PfKf.24.8. 2 Chron 17.7 p. Ezcl{. 44.2*5. iChmi.^-).^. And Chrill himfclf fends the cieanfed to the Pricii, and commar,deth them to hear the Pharifcs that fat in Mofcs Chair., though they were no Prophets ; fothat befidcs the Prophets that had their mcfTage immediately from God, there were Prielts tiiatwcre ci'kd the Minijhrsof the Lord,Jod I.p.2. 17. and Levites that were not to bring new Revelations, but (0 teach, and rule, and tvorfhip him according to the old. For Mofcs cf old lime hath in firrv City them that preach him, being read in the Synagnt^nes ci'try Sabbath day, Atts 15.21. The J*'"'-'' rejcdicd Chrift hsczwk xhty^k^ew hitn )iot, nm- the voice of the Prophets which are read niery Sabbath day , A<fls I 5.2 7. Arid even tmto this day., when Moksisread, the Vail is on their heart 2 Cor. 3.15. And they that n7flKW«o//>f/if:'fMofes,^/7(i the Prophets ("thus read and preaclicd^ neither uill they be ptrfivaded, though one rofe from the dead, Luke 1 6, 2;?, 3 I.

2. And as Priefts and Ltvitcs were dilHndl from Prophets before Chrifr fo Chtilt appointed befidesthc Apoftlcs and Prophetical Kevealcrs of his Gofpel, a Ibnding fort of Minifiers, to 1. Teach, 2. Rule, 3. And worfhip according to the Gofpel which the foimcrliad revealed, and atteflcd, and proved to the world. Thefe were called Overfeers, 01 Bijhops, Presb^iers, or Elders, Pajhrs and leacbers'-, and alfb the Deacons were joyned to ajlill thcm> Aci) 14 23. Ihey ordained them Elders fnot Prophets or Apoltlcsjw every Church, Tit. i. 5. lims was to ordain Elders in every Ciiy: Timothy hath full direiflion for the ordaining of Bifliops, or Elders and Deacons, i Tim 3. '^

That their work was not to bring new Dodrinc, but to teach, rule and worlhip according to that received, I now prove, i Tim. 2. 2.1he things that thou haji heard of me among many witneffes, the fame commit thou to faithful tuen, irho Jha'l be able to teach others alfo~\ Mark, that lis the fa >7ie, and not a atw Doctrine i and that iS heard frotn Paul among manywitneffes, and not

a?

/

as received immediately from God : and others were thus to receive it dpwn iioinT^imotby. And v. 15. Sttidy to flicrv thy Jlif approved unto Go J, a rv.vkinan that necdetb not be a.'iamed, rightly dividing the word of trittb.l It is rot to bring new Truths, but rightly to divide the old. And 2 Tim. 1.13. Hold fj}} the farm of words which thoit baji heard of me fnot which thou hadll immediately from God) in faith and love which is in Chrijl Jcfits \ that good thing which was committed unto thee^ k^ep, by the Holy Gljoji which dwclleth in us. The Holy Ghoft is to help us in keeping that which is committed to us, and not to reveal more, iTim 6. 13» 14. \_I gri't thee charire in tlv fight of Gedy that thou ksep this Commandment without fpot , unrcbul^ble, till the ap' pejringj>f our Lord Jcfus Chrijl. There was a form of Dodrine delivered to tlx Churcl} of Eome, Rom. 6,iy. And I Tim. 5. i 7. 7he Elders that rule well art rvorthy of double honour , efpecially they that labour in the Word and Doclrine. You fee their work was to rule and labour in the Word and Do<flrine, I Tim. 4. 13, I4^t5, i<5. till I come, give attendince to Reading., to Exbor-tjtion^ te Dodrine ; meditate upon thifc things: give thy felf wholly to tben:.^ that thy prof ting may appear to all : lak^ heed unto thy felf\ and unto the Vj~ £hrine: continue in them i for in doing this, thou fl^alt both firve thy felf and them that hearthce.~^ I Tim. 5. 6. [If thou put the brethren in remembrance 0f theft things, thou flialt be a good hUni[hr of Jefus Chrijl, nnurifljcd up in the words of faith, and of good doiirine,whireunto thou hjjl attained,'] Mark here the dc-fcription of a good Minificr of Chrifl i one that's nourilhcd up in the words ot faith, and good dodrinc, fwhich is theufcof Schools and Univerfitiesj and having attained it, makes it his work to teach it, and put others in remembrance of it, Tit. l.y,9, 10, 1 1. For a Bijhop muji be b.'amelefs, as tlr Steward of Cod—-holding faji the faithful word as he hath been f .JWg^'f, fmark thatj) that he may be able by found dodrine, both toex'^ort and convince the gain-foyers : For there are many ttnrtily and vain tailors and deceii'crs, wh.^fe nuuths mull be flopped, who Jubvert whole houfes, teaching tlnngs which they ought not, &c. ] So 1 Tim. 3. 1,5. The Office of a Billiup is to rule and tak£ care of the Chitt-ch of God : ] To /j% heed to themfelves, and to all the F/Wi^, gnd feed the Church of God-, and to watch hereunto, according to the word of Cods grace, which is fully and wholly delivered by his ApolUcs, and ts able to build us up, and give us an inheritance among the fanaifed: as A3. 20.28,20, 27, 35,32. I Ihef. 5.12,13. If^e befeech you brethren to k^iow them which labour ,»-mong you, and jre over you in the Lord, and admonifi you (this is thtir Office) and toijleemthem vtryhighly inlovtfor their work/ fik^ (and not revile tliem as the lervantsof Satan do^ and be at peace among yow felves, Hcb, 13. 7, 17,24. Remember them ivhich have the rule over ^ou, which hjve fpjk^n to you the word ofGcd: Obey thtm that haz'e the rulciner you, and Jubmrt your fehri. for thevwatch for )'our fouls, as they thjt muji give account, thai they may do it with joy, andnt with grief: fv that is unprofitable for you. Salute all them that have the Rule ever you : The Elders of the Church aie to pray with, and for the_f:ei^. Jam. 5.14. Thiy mail feed the Flock^ 0/God among th:m, taking the ovafigbt of it, 1 Tet.J. K2. Thus you fee ihciv Office and work.

P P P a 1. And

2. And tliat they were not to bring any mxi DnSrine, furriici appears, in that they have a charge to Frtict) no other dtcfri.ie, i Tim, 1.3. Nor to he tolled Jf children with every wind of dothinc, Eph.4.14.. Noicjnwcd jhut ivith divers and jh.tnge doUrines^ [4cb . 13. J» •

3. Yea, it any vtin bring not th: doUrint ofChrij}^ we miijl not receive bim into our hoitfeT, or bid him God fjieed, Itji we he pjrtai^rs of hi: evil deedi^ fir he thjt abidcth not in this doHrine hath not G»d, 2 John p. io, 11. Gal. 1.8^. I "though we or an Angel from heaven, prejch any other Gefpel to \on, then thst which we have preached unto yo.'t, let him be accitrfed. As we faid before^ fo fiylnon' a^ain: If any min preach any other GoJJ<el ty yen then that ye hut received, let him be accuTfed.~\ And Koj?f. id. 17,18. Norv I befeech you'Brethren, niark^ them which cjufe divifions and offences, contrary to the Poarine which ye -'ji'c learned, and avoid th:m'j i Tim.5.3. If any mtn teach otherwife, and ccn-ftnt not to wholfeme words, the words of our Lord Jefits Chrijt, and to the Do^ ttrine which is according to Godliiicfs, Ix is proitd, l^owing nothing, but doat' ing. ]

4. And it'all Minifters miift be receivers of new Dbdrincs, the Church vvould never know when it hath all, but would bs IHU obeying an irnp;rfcift' Law. 5. And it would be an opprcffion to the Church inltcad of a Dire-clion. to be fo overwhelmed with new Doflrines and Precepts. 6. And it would accufc Chrifi, the Lawgiver,of fuch mutability, as wife Princes arc not gu.'lty ofi to be IHU changing or adding to his Laws. 7. There was great occaiion for the New Teltament or Gofpe'i, upon the great work of our Rcdemotion : but there is no fuch caufe for alterations tincc. 8. The '?riefts before Chrift were not to receive new Laws, asislaid. .p. ThcCotn-panionsofthe A polllcs that wrought M racks, had not all new Revelations > but did it toLa! uptliis Golpel. 10, What need we more then adtual experience, that God doth not give New Revelations to the world, and none fince the Scripture times, have firakd any other by Miracles.

And thus I have proved to you the two forts ot-Minifters .* as Pjf</plainly diliinguithcth them, I Co',3.10,11,12. Eph 2.20. There are Plantersznd TFatcrcrs, MMicr builders that lay the fmndatinn, and others that build thereon: Other foundation can no man lay then that which is laid: but every man fijat biiildeth hay or Jluble andlofeth his work, doth not nullitie'the Miniftry. fFe are buili onihe fbundationof the Apnfilesand Prophets, Jeftes Chrifi being the head cormr-fionc: but we are not built on the foundation of every Pa-ftor. Teacher, Elder, Bifhop or Deacon : Though both in their places (A-poftles, Prophets, EvangeliUs, Paltors and Teachers) are given tor the pf>--feciing of the Saints, for the work, of the Min/jhy, for the Edifying of the body of Cbrili, Eph.4,11,12. That we might be one united Body, having one fixed ihnding doctrine, ver. 14.15, 16, And hort' (hall we efcapeif wenegleKl fo great falvation'■) which at thefirfi began to be fpol^en bythe Lordy and was can-firmed unto us by them that heard him: fmark whence the Church receiveth itj God alio bearing them witncfs ( but not every Elder or reach'r J both with figns and tvonders^ and with divers Miraclesj and gifts of the Holy Glxifi aacordi/igtohis ewnivill, ilcb. 2,3,4. Frop. 2. And

Prop. 2. An J now that tbefe Liter Minijlcrs need not f,rovc their cjtlling by Mi • r.jcles, I prove thus: i. God never impofv-j fiicha task upon th:m, nor commanded the people to require fuch a proof, and not to b-lievc any but worker of Miracles. 2. God gave not all the gift of Miracles, that %vcre employed in his work even in the Apollles daics ; Are jtll tpork^err of Mirjcler} faith Fanl'i fome had by the Spirit, the rvordnfirifedom, andnfh^iOn'kd-re^ and others 'tongues^ and otiicrs Interpretation ^ and others Miracles., i Cor. i2.2^,7,8,p,io. 3. They that have the Holy Ghoft arecwncd by Chrifrvand fo have many without working Miracles..Sec Rom.i.p. i Cor. J2^. GjI. 5. 18,2^,25,24.1 Cdr.d.i I, J{/>/j.3.i^.6<: 5.p,i8. i Pcf. 1.2,22. Rom.i'i.i^.. iS. Tit.^.^, 4. Tiic Law o( Mofcs was kept and taught by Prieftsand Levites that wrought not Miracle*. 5. If the Laws o; all Nations iray be kept with' out Miracles, Co miy thcLawsof Chrilt. d. It" humane writings are kept without Miracles, (zs Horner., Firtr/!^ Ovid, Cicero, Livy, &c.) fo may the Laws of God much more, as bring the daily fubjed: ot the belief, meditation, conference, preaching, controvcrllcs, dcvotionsofChriltians through the world, and tranflatcd into fo many Tongues. 7. There is nothing in tlie Nature ot the thing that rccjuircth ordinary Miracles. Cannot men fufliciently prove witliout Miracles, that tlicrehave been fuch men asCir-far, Pompey, Arijhile,ox v/hkhhc Calvins ot Be//.»r/Ki/ia writings, &c. Much more evidently may (hey prove what dodhinc is cfi'jntijl to Chriftianity, and the Scripture that contjius the whole. 8. Elfe I'arents could not teach their chddrcn, nor brinir them up in the Nrirtttre anda/mviition of the Lord, iLph.6.^, Nor teach then: witli 'Timothy^ from .t child to l^nnxv the Scriptures., tehicb .tre ahleiomahe men wife f< falvjtion through fuitb in Chriir, 2 Tim.5. 75. Mufl no Parents teach their Children to know Chrilt, but fuch as can work Miracles i" p. The UoArine which we preach isfully confirmed by Miracles already, by Chrilt and his Apolllcs: There needs no greater then Chrilf^own Rtfurreiflion, nor more then were done i vvh.ich Univerfal un-quLltionablcHiliory and Tradition hath brought down to our hands. 10. It is a ridiculous expecft^aticn , that every per(on lliould fee the Miracles before they do believe. Then if Chrilt hid done Miracles before all Jerttfalem, favc one man , that one man ihould not be bound to believe: Or if I could do miracles in this Town or Country, none mult believe mc ever the more but thofe that fee it. And fo you may as well fay, Idiould not believe that there is any Sea or Land, City or Kingdotn, France, Spain, Rome, bcc. but what I fee. Arethcfemen worthy tobc talkt with*" that believe no body, and confefs theinfclvcs fuch Lvars that they would have no body believe them. It was not all that fiw Corifls Mirades or Refurreciion, or the Apottles miraeles! It feems the refi were not bound to be Chriltians'' Even as C/c/w : Writer told Hie, that no nun is bound to bclia'e th.it Chri{l did Rife ag.iin, ar the r(jl of Chriffianit)/ , tbit feeth not Mir.ules himfelf to prove it : adding withall, that iideed Antichriji mavdo ^Tiraclcs s and fo it fe.ms lor .all the talk, miracles thcmlclves would not.Icrvc it they taw thcni. 11. Isitnottoput afcornonGod Almighty, to iaj thit the Glory of all hisiiioit miraculous

works

works fhoLild be buried roall that fiw them not i and tha^ Parents Hiould rot tell tl,cm to their Cliildrcn, or Children fliould not believe them if they do? IS. Irs injurious ta Poflerity, that the knowledge ofthe moll wonderful works of God fliall be only for the good of them that fee them ; and that all ages alter fliall be never the better. 13. It tends to makemcn mad and as ldcots,that w.uR know and bclievenomore then they fee ; what kind ot (oiks muft thcfe be, that know not that there is cither Prince or Parliament, C ity or Countrcy, or any tblks in the world but thofc they have fcen? This will Hand with trading, converfe, Subjadtton, Socic-ries ■, and its doubtful whether fuch are capable of managing eftatesi or fliould not be put under others as Idcots^ 14. Children cannot learn to read nor (peak without fbmc kind of belief of them that teach them; nor can they obey their parents nor learn any trade, nor obey Phyfitians : Co that thiscon:citot incredulity is againft the Nature, livelihood, andlifeof man. 15. And they would tie God to beat the beck of every unreafonaWc Inhdel "> that fliall fay, \_'[hongh allthe T'orvn have feen thy Miracles, yet I will fee my felf, or elfe I will hot believe.'] 16. They cxped that God fliould overturn the coutfe ot Nature : for if Miracles be as ordinary as the operations of Nature , they are confounded. 17. And by this they would oofs thcmlelves, and make Miracles uncffeftual: For if they were ordinary i few would be moved by them ax any proof of a Divine Tellimony : were it as ordinary for the Sun to go backward as forward, who "wnuld take it for a Miracle ? To xhisClem : JFr/'/er anfwers me, that [_Miracles ivere convincing in the firji Age rvhen they n^ere common ]] Anfiv. Ho w lom-mon ? Not as natural operations: Nor fo as for all Countreys or perfons to fee them i 50©fawChrilt at once alter his Refurredion : 5000. were once miraculoufly fed : but as this was not every days work., fo what was thisto others? And in that it was but for an age, and rarely inafteragcs, (jicwsthat they wcre|not for every mans eyes. 18. What need we more proot then actual experience, that God doth not often now work miracles! And he that faith thcGofpel, and Chriflian faith, and Church, and Miniflry are therefore cea(ed, its like will not take it ill to be taken himfdf for an Hcathenor Inhdel. ip. And we have experience of millions that flill do actually and ftedtaflly believe in Chrifl without Miracles: and many have laiddown their lives on thatbelici; therefore vvithout miracles men may believe. But to this Clem: Writer faith to me, [Ibeje believers of all forts condemn each other as Hereticksr\ Jifw. But not as Jnfidcls. None but the ignorant or paifionatc condemn all other forts as Hereticks. The iober do not. And it is not enough to prove ycua bafiard, ifanangry Brother call ' youfo. 20. Becaufethis flicct alloweth me not room, I intrcat the Reader to perufc t^efe Texts, which tell him aloud that the word and works of God muftbe believed by Tradition, though without Miracles, Exod, 10. i, 2. & 12.14,17,26,27,42. Vait.it.2. to the 22. & 2p.22. to28. Jujh./^e^ 7.&22.24.to 32. ?falm.^%.i^.&(. 78.1.10^. & 102.18. 6c 145.4.& 8^.1. Joe/. 1.2, 3,4. .^^ffi i.S.8f 2.32 6c 5.30,31,32. & 10.38.1042. & 13,

30.

3©, 31. & 1.22. 8c 4 55. &: 22.15. &2(5.i5.<x'23.It. 2 7/m.2.2. Johr. 20. 25>.& rp.35. & 15.27. & 12.17. & 5.35. & 1.15,32.54 Lriks^. 22. I Fet. 5. I. And that you would read my Determination ot this very Qiic-llion inmy Book againfi Inridclity : I proceed fo the next.

Piopoluion 3. Thi^s orJitury Minijhy frrteacbin^^ ri/liiic^and pnbUck^ n'O)" fhh^rvjjordai/ud by Chrifi to continue till hit coming, and dolhyct cn»tiH/t(, and did not ceaft when the extntnrdinary Miniflry ceaffd. I prove it, Mttth. l6.\%. Vpon ihisRcck^ivill I build myClfurch, and the Cater of Hell JJ;a!l not fraiail ae^ainji it.~\ The Church never did nor can fubfil't without its Off-cers, who are an Effential part ot it, as it is a Political Body, and the f.xlx and tnoft eminent part, as it is a Community. And therefore if the Miniftry be extind, the Gj/c/ 0/He//fcjT'e prd'y/Zfrtfagainrt the Church; And then Chrift is overcome, or hath broke liis promifc ■> and then he were not C hrift : Sothat if Chrift be ChrilJ, the Church and Miriitry continue. So Luke l.53» He Jhalt reign over the Houfe of Jacob for •ever and of bis K/n^:-dome there Jhall be no end, Ifa.p. <5, 7. 0^ the encreafe of his government and peace there jhall tcnofHrf, Pfalm 145. 13. Thy King'iomeisan nerlajli/igKin;^. dome, and thy Vominitn endureth throttghoHt all GerKrations. Chrift rulcth by his Officers in his Church > if Church or Miniflry had an end, his KingdoiT)c had an end, and he reigned not lor ever, Matth, 28 20. Loe, J amvcitb yoic ahvay., nen 10 the end of 1 Ik world. To this expref? promife, C/w;. Jfritev Iiath no wifcran anfwcr, but that, \jt it cinditior.jl. If they teach men to ob-fcrie all things that Chrrti hath cvnin.inded, then he will be rvith them, elfc not^ Kr^/. This is i our forgery : here is no fuch words, but .in abfolutcprn;vii(c. His being with them, is tofupport and help them in his work ; And will voir feign Chrift to promile them iiclp on condition they do it without ? The further Cavils againftthis Text and others, the London Minilicrs in their Vindication have anfwered at large, Eph. 4. xi, 12, 13. The T.ifl rr and "fead'crt arc given to the Church for the perf'aing of the Saints for the rporl;^ of the Miniiiry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift, till we all come in the ttnily of the faith, and of the kiicwlcdge of the Son of Cod to a perfect man, Sc€.~^ Extraordinary and ordinary Ofliccrs arc here conjoyncd, who between them jre to perfedt the building, the firfr laying the foundation, and the others building thereon, i Tim. d. 15, 14. / give thee ch.rrgc in the fight of Gol—.-that tl)ou k^ep this Commandment without jpot, unrcbu\able, unto the appearing of our Lord Jefus Chrift'] which muil needs extend to his Succelfors. The faithful and tvifc Stewards that give the children their meat in due feifon,will be fbund fo doing by the Lord at his coming, Luke li. 42, 43. And it is not till thdaft day that Chril^ will give up the Kingdome to the Fjihcr, i C.or. 15.25, 2. The Aportlcs actually Icilcd an ordinary Miniiiry in tiicir time!, as is proved. 3. Tiure are Commands for (etling SuccefTors of chcfc, as 2 'Tim. 1.2, Jit. J. 5. as is proved. 4. Thcfc Mini/icrs are dcfcribcd, and tke way of their Ordination fetlcd by Canons, i T'm;. 3. 7"/.'. i, 5. \Vc Hnd the fcverai Angels of the Churches in their places. Revel. 2. Se 3. and piomifcs to fbmc of thcinfor the future, with a Command [^Holdfjjitill I come, 2.2^.1 and

3 u-..

3. 10. \_I rvill k{ep thee from th. hour of temptation which pall come on all the

tr/)ild: Bfbold, Icome <iiilckjy.~\ 6 Chri(t hath comriiandcd the Minifterial ri'c>\ tocontiauc to the end : As the Trcachin^ of the Word mufi be to all Nations, and every Creature, Matth.2%. ip. Mjrl^i6.i<). And thefc inoft cruel iDcn would have all the Preachers give over their work, and leave the wc'rld to pcrilli in Infidelity. So for the aJfaHhlmg cf our fclves together^ and e:<horting one another^ we are coinmanded twt to forfike it^ as is the tiunner of fame-, and fo much the more^ as tve fee the day approaching, Heb. 10,25, 24., 25. So that the nearer we are to Chriilscoming, the clofer mu(i we (\ick to Church Communion, and holy Affcmblies i confidering, that its but a Hi tie while, *nd he that comes nvll come, andjhall not tairy, ver.j 7, God doth on purpofc torbear his coming, bccaufe he is long-fuffmng, and will continue the means to call rnen to repentance, and then the day Gt the Lord will come fuddenlv, 2 Vet. 3.^, 10. \7he If^ord of the Lord endiireth for ever: and this is the xvurd ivbich by the Gofpel is preached to you, I Pet. 1.25. The Lords Supper is Inflituted to be uCcdtopciv the Lords death till he come, i Cor. i r. 26. Church government orDifcipline is a fixed Ordinance, Mat. 18.15, id, 17. And if the ivork^ continue, the rcorkmen murt continue." 7. The mercy of God, and the Efficacy of Chrifis Blood, and the necellities of the Church continue; we (till need a Teaching Minirtry, Heb."j,11. SiXid tot oiirneed it is Infiituted till the Church be pertcft, that we be not as children tofs'd up and down, Eph. 4.13,14. What enemies to us, and to the loveand mercy of God are they that would perfwade men, that he fo quickly withdrew fo great a mercy, when the gifts and calling of God are tvithout npentance ? 8.The Law and its PrieOhood was not removed but by the glory of a better Law and Miniliry: AndChrirtis the Mediator oi 3i better Covenant and Promifcs,Hch. 7. 22. 8c 8.7,8. Therefore he will not deal fomuch worfe. ^. Chrifi telkth us that a wile man will confider whether he can go through with it, before he build or make War: Therefore he would not himfelf begin to build his Church, and enter himfelf the Captain of our Salvation, and prefently let his Enterprizefall. 10. If the Miniitry continue not, then the Church continueth not i for as the Head, Liver, and Stomack, or Lungs areto the Body, fo is the Miniliry to the Church, I Ci?)-. 12.13, i^'j^O) ^8, 2p. Tluy plant and tvater it, 1 Cor. 3. <5, and bnild it, ver. 10. For botv (hall we believe on him of ivhom n>e have not heard ? and hov jhall rve hear vcitbout a Treacher} and hew jh all they preach unlefs they he fint ? Rom. 10. 14. But the Church doth continue: for firrt, eli'e Chrift were no longer ihcHcad of it, the Kine^, Frophet, 01 Prieil:, and fo not Chrill; But he is a Priefi for e-ver, abiding continually : he cuntintteth ever, and hath an unchangeable Pricjibood i he ever livcth to make intercefwn for thofe that came to God by him, Heb. 7.3. 22,24,25. 2.Thofe that deny the Church, muil necdsdcny thea.ftlvcs Chri/tiansand Mernbers of tliat Church. 3- There is no Salvation promifi-d but to the Church, Eph. 5, 23, 25, 26, 27. Mark^id. 16. 4. Blindnefs is on </A']ews but till the fubufs of the Gentiles Zie como in, and fo all li'tid jJjall be faicd : Therefore it is molt evident that the Gentile Church fliall not ccafc

till

till the fulnefs have prepared for the re-ingraffing of the Jerer,Rom, it, 25,26. 5. It is an nerlajiing Kingdome^ which cannot be moiled and the City of the living God, the heavenly J.rulalem, whereof n>en the Angelt and pcrfeded Sfiritt of the Jitjl are a part, to which we come by Faith: therefore it ccafctli not, Heh. 12. 22, 23, 28. 6. JFhen that which if ferfCt it come, th:n ihit which is in part fl:jll be done away , i Cor. 15 IC but not before. 7. If nothing can Jcparate hi ftom the loie of God, no not any clillicf; or tribulation, then are not ail the MiniRcrsand Church cut orf, Rom. 8. 54. to ^p. Yea, tiiofcthacin all Ages luftcr for his fake, arc not cutoff from him i hut ih many faithful Minifttrs do. 8. But wliat (bould I fay any more agamr^ that AlTertion which carricth Hark Hcathenifm or Inhdclity in its Forehead, reproaching ChriA as no Chrilt, and teaching men that chcy are not bound to be Chiittians, and believe the Gofpcl, and perfwading the world to defpife Chrilis Mcffengers and Ordinances i and Miniftcrs to ca/t off their Mafters w ork i which in two words is, to turn Infidels, or Apo-liatcs. I mul\ refer you for my fuller anfwer to fuch men, to my Book a-griinii Infidelity.

Trop. 4. God hath in his Law appointed a flanding way for the calling of thefe ordinaij Teaching, Ruling, wcrjhipping Minilhrs, in all Ages i and dcth himfelf call them in this tray. 1. He inliituteth the Oflicc. 2. He ccmmand-fth that tit perfons be ordained to this Office. 3.He defcribeth them by their ncccffary Qi^ialitications. All this is at large, i lim. 5. Tit. i. Aa.20, I Tct.-y &c. Thisishisworkby his ItandingLaw: By which aif? he coin-mandtth the people to cbufe, confcnt to, or accept the fit, and to hear and .<ibey them, ./4fl. 14.13. ilkf.^ 12. Ad.6. ^,^. f/?t. 13. 7, 17. And then by Providence, i.Hegiveih tiicm thofc gifts of the Spirit that may competently qualific thejn tor their Office. 2. He aflidcth the Chufers and Or-dainers to difccrn thofc Qualifications, and do their duties. 5.Hccai;-retn fomefpccial fitncfsof a Minillcr to the fpeeial Province or Charge which he is toundertake, and fpecial inviting occations and opportunities, and oft-times caufcth Ncccflity to make the choice. 4. He bowcththe heart of the perfon called ro content, and ufirally to dclire the work f for the right ends.J 5. And if he be called to be thePafior of a particular Church, he irjovcth the people to conltnt or accept him. And thus God according to his appointed Order dctli call bis Min'lkrs : Bcfidcs which, he afterward J.Helps them in his work : 2. And procureth them liberty, ind oltcn fi:r-thcrance from Chrillian Maiiliratcs. 3. And givetli them fucccfs.

Proportion 5. The faithful Pajiort of the Reformed Chui-chts, are thefe ordinary Miniliers ofChnjt, approved by him, and given in great mercy to his peo-pL\ who are bound to k^vyv honour, and obey tlxm in the Lurd.

i exclude not all ochcrs, but I now prove that thefi an true .Miniliers, ArauHiCnt i.They that h.ive all that is cjfcntial to true Mtnijiers are true Mi-nifters : But fuch are thefe Pajiors of the Reformed ChxrchiS > as I prove thus ; If the C'ffice it felt be of Gods Inftituticn, and their Qiialihcations competent, ar.d their entrance right in every point of flat Niccility, Jlicn they

Q_ q q havr

luve all tlntis c?l'cn?hl rocrueMinifters: But the former i5 true, a»I (liall prove in the three fevcral parts, i. That the (?;/:"« ir L-lt" i» ot Gods ap-pointrrxnt. is provud fully before, and ccntirflcd by all ChrilHans that ever I knew, At/ 14..'.3. 1 Tim. 5. lit. i. i Prf. 5. r, 2. i JheJ. 5, i 2. HXi^-7, 17,24. Alls 20. 2%, ?. For ^.iHicaiinns ^ they have i. competent X/)j»-!edge, 2.2nd'Vtterjncc, 5.and (Jodlimfr: and tufe arc the Qualihcations that God accepteth iCnr. 12.8. 1 lim. 2. 15. i 7im.^. 17. Mark the Canons of the Holy Gholl, 2 Tim. 2. 2. They mull be i. F.utbf:(l men, 2. Ahle to teach others: But fuch arc thofe in qucftion, i Tim.^. A Bijhop mitjl be biimclcf's ("that is, not fcandalousj the hitsbjndof one JFife., vigilant, fiber, of e^aod behaviour, qiven to hofpitality, apt to teach^ not j^ivc'i to JVine, no (iriker, not ^rccJy of fithy lucre, but patient^ not a bran-ler, not covetous, one that rulcth well bis oivnhottfe havinghis children in fnbjedion, rvith all gravity.~^ To which is added, Tit. j.S.p. A loverof good men, J()ber,jnfi^ holy temperate, holdingfajl the faithful rvord as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found DoCirine both to exhort and to convince the gain-faycrs.'] Let all here note : I. That here is not only the mention of the Vertucs neceflary to the Being, but to ihcreell-being alfoofa Minifler: 2. And yet through the great mercy ot God, all thcfe are the qualihcations of multitudes of the Fallors of the Reformed Churches, as malice it felf muft be forced to confefs; But if any deny it of any particular men, as that is nothing to the reft > fo an unproved accufation is not by honcfi m.cn to be b:licvcd. The world knows that the Ad for rcjccfting fcandalous, infufficicnt, negligent Miniftcrs is very liridl, and Commiilioncrs in each County forward to execute it, and Mini-Itfrs have enemies enough to {earch out their faults, and yet none arc more forward than Miniflers themiclvcs to hove the A'£l put in execution j fo that their Handing julnhcs thon before the world : Or, if any will yet deny them the neccffary Qualihcations, I here challenge and provoke tiiem to accufe all that arc guilty, and cart them out i or elfe to confefs themftlves mcer flandcrcrs, and back-biters, and learn more truth and modefty hereafter. 3. And for the third Y>omt, their entrance into the Office: They have all that Cod hath made necejfaryto a jiift entrance, as I prove : They that hjtvea true Ordination, and the Peoples confent, and the Magiftrates allorvance, have all that Cod hath made neceffary to a JHjiMtUanse^ and more than all: Bntthefaid Payors of the Reformed Churches have true Ordination, and the Peoples confent, and the Magijirates allorvance: That they have true Ordination, I Ihall fliew anone in anfwcring all that can be faid againfr it. The Peoples confent, by Elecling, or Accepting, is kno'wn by the fact; and fo is the Magijirates by Lan> and faB : I put in all this, though more than neceffary. that all Objedions may befatisticd at once: So that the Enumerations being unqueiiionablc, the Conclulion is lo to. In fhort ; All thofe are true Miniliers, that are in an Of-fce of Gods orvn Inliipitio/i, and arc competently fitted for that Office by Knowledge, Godlineft, and lUtterance, and have all, and man than all that God hath made neceffary to aright entrance or admiffion, ez'en true Ordination, confent of the Flacky, aftl the Mjgijiratcs allorpance. But (usb are the faid- Fajijrs of the Jte-formd Churches, therefore they an true Minijhrs of Cbnji. Argu •

^ and their Councils -^bridged' ' 48^

ATgument 2. TlMfe that hai'c not only the EJfentials, hat excel all other Mi-nijierson E.irtfcCthat are known to the world^ <»« certainly tbt true Miniften ofCbriji. But fuch are the Miiuliers before-mentioned of tf.v Reformed Churches i Er^o. This will be proved at once with the next, which is, , Argument 5. Either thefeVajiors of the Reformed Churches arc the trttt Mi-niflers of Chri(i, or elje there are none fuch lif.ble in the rvorld : But there are fuch vtftbly and ca-tainly in the tvorld, as was proved > clfc there is no Cliurcli, no Ordinances, no Chriftianity, no Chrilh For he can be no King without Siibjeds and Laws i no Mailer without a School a^nd Scholars v no Phyli-tian without Patients i no Husband witliout his Spoufe i no Head wifh-outaBody \ nolntcrccflbr without a Churcli to in'crccdc for. And to ht-lin^e the holy Catholick^Chnrch^and the CommHnion of Saints, is part ot our Belief i and therefore the Chridian Faith is gone, if thefe be gone; And that either nv, or None are Chrilh true Minilkrs, I prove thus / i. We cliallengo the Advcrfary to name us the true Church and Miniftry i if thefe be none ot them, where be they, and who are they ? fpeak out, or give up your wicked Caufe. If you know not who they be, or where, then how know you thaf there arc any fuch? True Minilkrs are like a light that Jhincth to all the houj'e, even the lights of the rvorld, .jnd like aCiiyona Hill that cann.ic be hid, Mjr.5.14,15,id. 2. But let us try the particulars; i-Thc Setk^s hare no Church or Miniftry. 2. The ^u.ih^rs have no Ordination, that we know of, and are every way (b unworthy, and had no being in the world till a tew years ago, that hciscithcmo Chrillian, or of a crazed brain, that thinks Chrill hath no CliUTch or Minillry but them. ■^. The Anabaptilis Socinians, ~

Sn-enlfcldians,Fjmilijh, Paracelfutns, iydgelians, and iuch like, have no mort" to fhcw for their Miniltry and Churches than we, but ihcir ErrourSj and are fo few, and fo lately fprung up, that of them alfo I may fay, that he thit takes them for the only Church, or Minificrs, is cither out of the Faith, or much out of his wirs. 4. The Ealtcrn and Southern Churches have no more to (hew for their Miniliry and Churches than we » but arc incomparably more ignorant, and erroneous : few of them doing more than read their Liturgies and Homilies, and (oadminifler the Sacrament?. 5. All the Controvcrlie therefore licth between us and the Papillsi either they arc true Miniltcrs, and a Church,or not i if not, then its Ictt to m : [[they are, then jrc are lb much more-, f^rwe have much more unqucllionrblc Evidence of our Title, i .The Office of a Teaching, (Guiding, \Vorfhipping Presbyter which we are in, is beyond all qucliion, and yiclacd by thcmfelvts to be of Divine In/titution. But the ofHce of a Mafs-PtieU, to make a God of •piece of Bread, and turn Bread into Fltlh, fo that there (hall be quantity, tolour, tafle, fi^c•. without bread, or any fubjcCt s and a inans eyes, taftc, or feeling, fliallnot know that its bread or wine, when we fee, tafte, and feci it i as alio to celebrate publickworlhip in an unknown tongue i thisofHce is more quellionable than ours. 2, It remaineth a great doubt, whether the Pope be not the Antichrift: but of our Minirtry there's no fuch doubt. 3. Fci Knowledge, Godlinefsand Utterance, and all true Miniftcrial abili-

Q^qq 2 tics,

ties, as its well known what an ignorant Rabble their common fcciilai Mai's Pricfts arc i fo thole Military Fryars and Jcfjitcs that arc chofcn of purpofc to play their Game among us, and credit their Caufc, if t.'rcy have any relicks of truth ormodcliy, will conkls, that the generality of our Minificrs arc much beyond theirs for Parts and Piety ; or at Icali, that wc cannot be denied tobs true Minifiers for want of ncctlfary abilities : Wc ihouldrcjoyceif their Minifiers, Pricfls or Jcfuites were near of fucii Piety as thofe of the Reformed Churches. Some of their J^-futcs andFryarsare learned men i in which alio wc have thofe that equal the beft of them: but for tlic learning, ability, or Piety of the common Minilkrs on both fides there is no ccmparifon to be made. 4. All the queliion then is of the way of entrance : And there i.Thc Papifis fcek not the Peoples confent Co much as we do. 2. They defpife the Migijirates confint , in compari/on of us. 3. And for Ordinaiion^ which is it that all the frrefs mUi'i be laid on wc bdvi; it, and nearer the Riik of God than they. Are they ordained with falling, Prayer, and Impolition of Hands r* foarewe. Muftitbc by oneof a Suptriour Order ? V\ ho then (hall Ordain or Confccrate the Pope i* And yet a n.ultitudeof our Minilters are ordained by Bilhops, if that be nccclTa-ry: But the great ObjedlioH is, tliatwe have not an nnintcrrHptcdfiicccjfim from the Apoftles, and fo thofe that ordained us had no power i and there-fc'ie could not give it to us.

Piopolition 6. Thcivant of un ti/:i/itcrrrtJ'trJ pccejpon, and fa of Paivcr in the Ordtiiicrs, doth not dijabh oy.r Title to thi Minijlry^ or ft tts in a xvorft condition than the Papijis. for it it be only ihc Jitcccff^on of pojfcjpan oF tl'e Office, there is no man of brains can deny, but xve have an itninterntptcd fuc-cijfioii down from the ApojUcs, Eat it it be a fiiccejftoa of Right Ordination that is qutlticncd, i.ThcPapilts have none fuch themielvcs. 2-We have irorcot it than they. 3. It is not ncccffar) that this be ur.intcirupred. All ihefc I prove; i. The Popes their.fclvcs, froin whom their power /lows have been Hcrcticks, denied the Immortality of the Soul. Whoremongers Sodon.ites, Simonifis, Murderersi lb that (or niany of them (ucceilivcly thePapiilscontcfs they were Apollaticil, and not Apo'iolical. See in their own Writers the Lives of ^j/iv/f. 2. Akxand,:^. cc 6. Jnhni^.oc iz.Scz-^. Crcg. 7, Vrban 7. and abundance n.ore, Job. 13. was proved in Council to haveravilhcd Maids and Wives at the Apoliolick doors murdered many drunk to the Devil, askt help at Dice ot" Jnp/ter2nd Venus, and was kill'd in the ad of Adultery. Read the proofs in m> liook againit Popery, pag. 26^ 270, 255,101. ThcCouncil at jP//jdcpofed two Popesatonce, called them Hercticks departed froin the Faith. ThcCouncil at Co/;'b;;ce depotcd JoU^'^'i 35. as holding that there was/w Eternal Life, hnmortality of- the Soul or j^^jHe funeaioi!: ThcCouncil at Ba/i/ dcpofed Hngcnms ^. zsiSinsniji and perjured wretch, a Schifnatich^, and objiinate Heretic^ Now thefe men are un-capable of thcMiniliry as an Intidelis, for want ot Efllntia! Qeialihcati-«)ns : As Copper is no currant Coyn, though the flampof the Prince againit his will b; put uponit; llndifpofcd matter ca.:not recive the form: A hr

nidu

man unordaincd is nearer the Minidry, rlian fucli a man ordained .■ So that here was a Nullity. 2. And all the following Popes wsre the SuccefTors of Eugenius that was depofcd, and thus judged by a Gcneraltlouncil ; but by force brought them tofubmit, and ^c!d the place. 3. Either the Eltiiicn, OrdviJtion-, or both, is it that giveth thetn the EfTence of their Papacy; It £/£a/o«5 then there hath been a long interruption: for fomc-while the Tfo-ple chofe, and in other Ages the Empcroitrs chofe, and in thefe times the Cardinals i and therefore fome of them had no lavvkil choice: And for Ordination, or Confecrstion •, i .There have b' en three or tour Popes at once, and all were Cenfccrated^ tliat yet are now confclTcd to have been no true Popes. 2. Tnfemurs only Confccratcd. 3- And fuch as had no power themfelves. Befidcs that, tiie See hath been very many years vacant, and fome fcore years the Pope hath been at Avignion, and had but the name of P. of Rome. And wlicn three or four have been Pope at once, Bellarmi/ie confcflbth, learned men knevv not which was the Right,* yea, General Councils knew not. The (jiuncil at BjCiI thought F^lix the h(th was the right Pope, but it proved otiicrwile i io that many palpable Intercilions have been made at Rome.

2, Our Ordination hath b:en kfs interrupted than theirs. Objedf. But ym. are ust ordained by Biflx^Si Anfn\ I. Almoft all in E«^» /j«J are till of late, if that will fcrve- i.Vresbytcrs may ordain in cafe of ncccility, as the generality of the Old Epifeopal men grant, and their Ordination is not null. 3. Fresbyters have power to Ordain, and were re-ihaincd only from the excrcije by humane Laws, as many of the Schoolmen confcfi. i^.. preshyttrs have jhll or^j?W(i with theEilhopv thercloic they had Authority to it, and the work is not Alien to their I undtion. 5. Our Pavilh Presbytcrj are Eilliops, having fome of them. AiliHants, and Deacons under them i or 2iGrotiiis notes, at Icafl they arc fo, as being t'le chief Guides of that Church: Their own Rule is, that every C.'ny (hou1d have a Bilhop ; and every Corporation is truly a City, toa/(, and therefore mull have alji-lliop. <5. The Juf 'Dii'iiiHitt of Prelacy is In JUbj/idice, 7. Eifhop Vjh:r mamtaining tome the validity of the Ordination of the Frejbvters whhoM aBilhop, told me how lie anfw( red King C. whoaskt him foi an inftancc in Church-Hiltory, viz. That Hxrom ad Evag. tells nsof more ", that the Trtf-hyters of Akxindi'n, till the days of Htvodas and D.onylius, to\one fro^n-amongihemfehes, andnudchim Eifl:op-, therefore thev may mal'c a I'rcsbyter, which is kfs. S.Iis at lalt conkllcd, that in Scripture-tjViCS thciewcrc no PrtJ-tj'«(rj-under Eifhops, hot tile ling'e Churchcshad fingle Paltc^rs. 5? No man can prove Ordination by fixed liiihops over many Cliurehcs (now call' ed Vioccfan) in thehril Age: The fixed Bifliops had no n.ore at hnt but .fingle Churehes. Objctft. But )<in mvcr received poiveir from toe Bijhop to ordain ■> and therefore cannot have tl'Ut which wx never given \om, Anf'w. iL,ihey put men into that Office, to which God hath affixed the ;>3.tcc of OrdTiUii-on, then they de their part to convey the power. As it yuu marry a cni-•)le, and cxprels not the mans authority over the u-oman. yet he :'«;!> it

n-v\.r -

pcverthelcfs by|jcing roajjc her Husband. So he that is made a PaHor in City cr Country, tnay do the work ofa Pallor, though each particular was-Kot named. ' ^ ., .•„-

Propsfiu'on 7, Ordination ii ordinarily necejfary as a meant of out rig!it en~ tran'ct^ hut not abjolntdy ntcejfary tn the Being of onrOffie or Poteer. For i.GoJ having already fetlcd the Office, Duty, and PoiVer, and whit ^itijicatinni -ihallbencccfiary, and giving tl>cfe Qualirications to men, hchachlct't nothing to man but mutual confcnt, and to ']udge of the perfon qualified, and foiemnly introduce him. 2. God hath not tyed himrelt or us absolutely to tlsc judgment oi'Ordainers. If aBilhop ordain a Heathen, or'any man void of E/Tcntial QUialitications, its null, as being againlla flat Command of God ": And if Biniopsrf//</e to ordain us Pallors, the people mufi take them vvith-out > becaufe the Command of Preaching, Hearing, Sacraments, crc. is greater than that of Ordination, and hefere it. Poiltivcs yield toNatural Morals, and matters of Order to the jubflsnce and end of the Duty ordered. See my Chrijiian Concord, pag. 82, 83, S4. 3. Ordination is no more nccellary to the Miniliry, than Baptijmw Chrijfianity: As thofe that arc hrfi Princes by Title inr.n be Crowned, and thofe thatareSouldiers by Contrad, mult be lifted, and take Colours, and thofcthat are Husband and Wife by Contract, mull be fokmnly Married, which are celebrating, perfedfing a(ftionsi fo they that arc iird heart-Chriilians by believing, or by Parents dedicating them to God, muft be fplemnly entred under the hand of the Minilter: And thofe that arc by approbation and confent initially Minifiers, mull by folemnf?.!-tion have the Office publickly delivered them by the Minifiers of Chrifi. So that as a man isaChrilhan indeed before Baptifm initially, and is ju-Itihed initially before, and in cafe of nectility may befaved without it ("the Papilts confcihngthat the Vow will fervej fo is it in the cafe of Ordination to the Minilirj.

Propofition 8. It isonly Chri(i, and not the Ordainers, People or Magiflrates, that give us cur Office and Potver : Only the people and approvers dclign the perfon which ll,a!l receive it from Chrift", and our own confent, and the peoples, is of ncccflTity thereto fand our own as much as theirsj and the Ordainers do inltrumcntallyinvclt us in if, but the Power and Duty arife dircdly from Gods InlHtution, when the perfon is dcligned. Now I proceed to prove our Calling.

Argument 4. JFe have a far clearer Call than the Priejis before Chrifi had to the Pricfthood : For they were not of tiie true Line > they bought the Pricllhood j they corrupted Dodrine and worfhip, and were of wicked lives. And yet Chiiii commanded fubmiffion to theirMiniliry; Ergo.

Argument 5. If rve have as clear a Call to our Office as any Magiflrates on "Earth have to theirs^ then rve arc true Minifleri of Chriji: For they are true Ma-giltrqtes', and God is the fountain of their Power too s and itsimpoilible ihcy (hould havc^any but from him ; Or from him but by his means; Officers have no power but from the Soveraign. The Prince vvas at firll cho-icn by God immediattly, as well as the Apofilcs were by Chtili, yet no.

Prince

»ijiyn

and their Councih Abridged, ^%^

l*rince'cnnjpl4ad an iinintctriiptt3 futcctTiSh flientc> anS if fAsy niay R«;j/r witlioiu i .' be' Pafl&rt vylthoiit'if; and ye6-'I ,<^fii3ot'~^V that we arc

vviihocft' _yh Princes b*. Kings were tormerlj-'a'hoihtcd.by.infpircd

Propljcts, ^nd'vi^wcyro'^hecs'thcmfelves: And as t!iecontimiancCiO|l' this i-; not rfrt (Tary to them, fo neither to us. The dificrcnccs between their fiie:,-and oxn, makes nothing againlr this Argument: It Co/ujucji, ox the peoples rimfciit, or Birth^ ox dircSing Trnidcnees can prove tlicir Title, then Coflfc//t, Ordinalian, Troiidcncc^ with due ^ualijicjtioni, will fiirc jarovc ours: were it not for fear, they fliould foon hear the Arguments more fct home againft themfelves, that are rxiw bent againil the Nlinilkrs.

Argument 6. If befidtt ali this God on-n us by fuch a blcjfing on our Libnurs, that he mrf^th us the meaiij of f>rop.jgiti>ig and cfntiiming his Gofpcl and Church-, and brings mofi of his chofen to Union ivilh Chrij'f, Reconciliation, Ho' linefSf and to Heaven by our Minijlry, then certainty rrc arc his true Minilhrs : Cut experience aiTurcth us of the former: therefore—fo much for Argument.

Propofition p. If a Minijier be in quiet pnjfefun of the place, and jit for it, the people are bound to obey him as a Minijier, tvithjut kjotring thit he tvas juiity ordained or called. Argtim. i. We mul> obey a Magijlrate without aflurancc of his Call and Title, Rom. 15. therefore a Minijier. 2.Chrirt commanded hearing and obeying them that were not called as God appointed, becaulc they were Priel\s, or fat in A/o/T/Chair, and taught the truth, Luk^ 16.20. Mitth.2^,2. Luks^' !+■ Mattb.M-4- A/ir^i- 44. 5. Elfc the people aie put upon impolVibiluics; C-in all the poor people tell b.'fore they fubmit tr. a Mini(icr-,\vhat is ElTcntialto his Call, and whetlier lichivc all that is fo, and whether his Orders be true or forged, and wlKthcr they that ordained hira were truly ordained, or chofcn themfelves: Not one of twenty thou-fand knows all this by their Pallors.

Proposition 10. Ihe Ordinviccs are valid to the people tvhcn the Minijier is uncalled and unordained, if they l^'iorv it not: He that hath no jujl Call, Jliall anftfer for vrhat he doth as an Intruder > but tit people fhall have for all thst the fruit of his Mimliraiion ■, and Preaching, and Baptifm, and other adis, fiiall not be null to them. i. The Papifts themfelves contefs this. 2.EUc fcarce a man could tell whether he be baptized, or may ule any Ordinance, becaufe he cannot have an exadt account of the Minifkrs Call, no nor know that lie is indeed a Chriflian. I knew divers in the Bifhops day? that forged themfelrcs Orders, and afted long before it was difcovered. 3. It is the Office which is Gods Ordinance that isblcl^,and valid to the people, and not his Call only. 4. It is he that finncth that mullfuifer, and not the Innocent > therefore his fin depriveth them not of their due. 5. As an ufurping Magiflrate oweth us protedtion, though he (hall anfwcr tor his Ufurpation i fo an ufurping MiniiicrOA'eth us his labour i fothat the people are bound 10 hear and obey men, when they arc uncertain of their due Call, if theypol-fcfs the place ■-, and (hall have the blefling of fuch Adminiitrations: for v/c arc fbirethe Office and work is of God.

Propolition n. The truth »f onr DMnnc depends net on our Calling. Were.

we

we no Minificrs, \vc can prove the Gospel true which we delivtr, And any man naH be believed ,that brings a truth that^concerncth our peace. Therefore let Qiiakers, and Seekers, and Papilis hrfi difprove our Dodtrine if they can •> and not cheat the people, by pcrfwading them, That our Calling mull firfr be provcdi as a Prophetsmu.'i be.

Objeft. Bttt you hive yoHf Icjr/iingonlyframBookj, andVniverfities^ and»fo have not tmeMimjicrs. Aitjiv. We have it from God in the ulcof his means even by prayer, reading, ftudy and learning his works and word of cur Teachers, whether at Univcrfitics, orclfcwhere. And we are commanded to Jhidyznd mcdii.ite on thefc things^ and give our felves wholly to them and to pteditatcon Cods Latv d.ty and night,Pfal. i-2. 2 T/'w, 2. 15. i Tim, 4.12.15. Ciirifis Minifkrs mull be Teachers or Tutors to others, and commit the thir.pf which they have heard to faithful men , who Jhall be able to teach others alio 2 Tim. 2. 1. Good Minilhrs of Chrift are nourijhed uftn the words of faith and good BoSrine, and fo attain to it, 1 Tim. 4.6. All Ihould learn according to "ihcirt/we ol teaching, W./'. 5.11, 12, 14. Wcfludy noticing but the If^ord, and works of God: And is not that a Wretch, and not a man, that will reproach usas no Minilkrs, for doing that which we have our Rcalbn for and which mull be the wnk of our lives: Poor Chrifiians, as you love God and your Souls, and would net caft orf Chrif> and Heaven, let not Deceivers draw you to caftofJ the Miniflry, Scripture, or the Ordinances of God. ;■•

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