The Grand Sacrilege of the Church of Rome, Debates 2
COVNCELS. The second Combate: Whether Councels make for, or against the halfe Communion?
The Antagonists.
Stanist. Hosius, and Dominicus à Soto.
Tho. Caietan, and Gabr. Vasquez, Iesuite.
Alph. Salmeron, Iesuite. and Rob. Bellarmine, Iesuite.
Edm. Campian, Iesuite. and Andr. Dudithius. B. of Quinq. Eccles.
zConfess. Polonica.Hosius the Asaylant.
THe Councell of Ephesus decreed, that the Communion should be giuen in one kind onelyonly to the Laitie, in opposition to the heresie of Nestorius, who held, that vnderunder the bread in the Sacrament, Christs body was without his blood.
Gabr. Vasquez the Defendant.
VNtoUnto the time of the Councell of Constance, where the vse of the Cup was first takē away, there arose an error about the integritie, or whole humanitie of Christ vnderunder either kinde: wherefore it cannot be said, that there was any law made in the Church for the taking away of that error. Vasquez cap. 4. disp. 216.
Caietan the Assaylant.
Nestorius, and Pelagius affirmed, that the Communion ought to be kept in both kinds, though vponupon a diuerse reason. Nestorius, because he held, that vnderunder the bread, the body onelyonly was contained, and vnderunder the forme of wine, his blood onelyonly. Pelagius, because he beleeued, that infants could not bee saued without Communion in both kinds. To oppose both which heresies, it is very likely, that the Councell of Ephesus decreed, that the Communion shuld be administred in one kind. Caietan in 3. Tho. quest. 80. art. 12.
Soto the Defendant.
Caietan referreth the beginning of the custome to the Nestorians and Pelagians, as also another custome of giuing the Sacrament to Infants. But as for the second of these customes, wee hauehave shewed before in the ninth Article, that it is not likely the Pelagians had any such custome; because they taught, that Infants might attaine euerlasting life without any Sacrament; neither were the Nestorians in the Councell of Ephesus taxed with any such error, but with this, that they beleeued not the body of Christ in the Sacra ment to bee vnited to the Deitie. Soto in 2. dist. 91. art. 12.
*Tom. 9. tract. 35Salmeron the Assaylant.
Two general Councels held in the bowels of Germany, to wit, the Councell of Constance, and Basil with a great consent of Bishops, decreed, that the Cup should not be giuen to the Laietie: now we know, that the authoritie of Generall Councels is vncontrowleable; He doth wrong to the holy Ghost, who despiseth, or goeth about to abrogate their Decrees.
Bellarmine the Defendant.
The Councell of Constance, for so much as concernes the former Sessions, is repealed in the Councell of Florence, and the last Councell of Lateran. Nothing in the Councell of Basil is ratified, and approued, saue onelyonly certaine orders about benefices, which for peace and vnities sake, Pope Nicolas approoued. But the Councell it selfe is repealed in the Councell of Lateran, last Session. Bell. de Concil. cap. 7. Vasquez disput. 215. c. 3. Basiliense Concilium nullius est authoritatis in hac re: The Councell of Basil is of no authority in this point.
Campian, and Norrice the Assaylant.
The Councell of Trent teacheth, that, he who inioyeth the least particle of either kinde, receiueth not a mangled or imperfect, but an absolute, compleate, entire, and perfect Sacrament, true Author and Giuer of life; the whole refection of Christs body and blood.
Norrice Antidot contro. 50. This Councell of Trent is highly extolled by Campian. The Synode of Trent, the older it groweth, the more it shall perpetually flourish. Good God! What varietie of Nations was there? What choyse of Bishops of the whole world? What lusture of Kings, and Common-wealth? What marrow of Diuines? What holynesse? What teares? What fasting? What flowers of Vniuersities? What tongues? &c.
Andreas Dudithius the Defendant.
What good could be done in that Councell, wherein voyces were numbred, but not wayed? If the merits of the cause (hee speaketh of the Communion in both kindes) or reason might hauehave carried it, or if but a few had ioyned with vsus, wee had won the day. But when the number onelyonly could beare sway, in which wee came short, though our cause was exceeding good, wee were faine to sit downe by the losse, &c. In summe the matter came to that passe, through the wickednesse of those hungrie Bishops, that hung vponupon the Popes sleeue, and were created on the sudden by the Pope for the purpose, that that Councell seemed to be an assembly not of Bishops, but of Hobgoblins; not of men, but of Images, moued like the statues of Dedalus, by the sinewes of others. Dudith. Quinque-Eccles. episc. ad Maximilianum 2. Caes.