Popish Glorying in Antiquity Turned to their Shame, Book 2
THE SECOND BOOKE, OF▪ COUNSELS.
CHAP. XIII. As the Romanists deale with the Fathers, so how they manie vvayes deale injuriouslie vvith ancient Councels.
1. By adding to them.
AS for the Tomes of Councels in the generall,Bell. lib. 1. de Concil. c. 2. thus farre doeth Bellarmine ingeniouslie cōfesse, Quod Libri Conciliorum negligenter conservati s…nt, (sayeth hee) & multis vitiis scatent: that is, That the bookes of the Councels, being negligentlie kept, doe indeed abound with manie Errours. And so, howe sure reasoning, in matters of Fayth, can bee now, out of their Canons, for most part, may easilie bee seene.
And of the truest, and most vnsuspect Canons, of the most ancient Councels, most impudentlie doeth Bellarmine professe; speaking thus of that most famous Councell of Chalcedon, Bell. Lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 22 sect. sacu…do.(which their Pope Gregorie did reverence, as one of the foure Gospels) That the Canons thereof had not authoritie with them, Nisi quatenus sunt renovati (sayth hee) à Romanis pontificibus: that is, But in so farre, as they are renewed by the Popes of Rome.
In particular, therefore, to show how this Fyning, and Forging, is practized in the Romane Mint, before the Canons of Councels passe for currant Money, in the Papall Kingdome, wee will first instance their Popish Patching, and adding to the same.
A notable Example where-of, wee hauehave in that fact of Pope Zozimus, who added to that famous first Councell of Nice, a Canon in his owne favours: whose Fraude was detected, his Pryde checked, and his Vsurpation prevented, by that famous Councel of Carthage, which standeth vp yet, in the faythfull Records thereof, as a Clowde of Witnesses, to testifie the same, even vntounto this day.
Next, whereas the fourth Councell of Carthage, decreeth expresselie, That no Woman baptize; yet not-with-standing, for mayntayning their Popish Practise in the contrarie, they *Gratiam▪ de consi…. dist. 4 c. mu…ier. L…mbard. Lib. 4. sent. dist. 6hauehave added (as Bellarmine confesseth clearlie) this Condition, to that Canon, Nisi necesitate cogente: that is, Except Necessitie compell: Quamvis non habeatur illa exceptio in tomis conciliorum, (sayeth Bellarmine:Bell. Lib. 1. de bapt cap. 7. sect. quarto.) that is, Altho that Exception bee not in the Tomes of the Councels.
Agayne, for vp-holding of Papall Supremacie, vvhere-as the Councell of Milevi decreed, That in no Case what-so-ever, anie Appeales should bee made out of Africke, to anie beyond Sea: yet Bellarmine confesseth,Bell. lib. 2. de pont. c. 24. §. Respondent. That Gratian added of his owne head, this Clause to the Canon, Nisi forte ad Apostolicam sedem appelletu… : that is, Except perhaps that Appellation bee made to the Apostolical Sea of Rome. Which Clause annulleth the whole Canō, and as Bellarmine testifieth, is close contrarie to the mynd and expresse intention of that whole Councell.
2. How they purge and pare from the Councels.
NExt, vntounto their adding to Councels, nay, I may say, adding whole Suppositions, and forged Councels, vntounto the number of those that were true and reall, as that Rome Councell, vnderunder Sylvester, vvhere-in is pretended, that it was concluded, That no man might judge the first Seate.Co…cil. Rom. anno 325. …. 20. And for fayling in that, and drawing the matter yet more vp-wardes, an elder Councell yet, is brought out of a Corner, and hollowlie made to pronounce, That the first Seat must not bee judged by anie.Con. Sinness…n. anno 303. circa fin…m. Next, then, (I say) to such liberall adding in grosse, and in piece-maile, after the fore-sayde manner, let vsus see, that they are as Skilfull in Subduction, as they are for Seduction, by their Arithmeticall Addition.
In the olde Copies of the Generall Councels, there is inse…t the fourth Decretall Epistle of Pope Clement, Gratian. causa. 12.…. 1. …. Di…ectissimu.(vvhichwhich is contayned lykewyse in their Canon Law) wherein the Popes mayntayning of that Nicolaitane Errour, is evident, to wit, Of having all thinges in common, where-in Wyues are also comprehended: and where-vponupon it clearlie and consequentlie followeth, that the Pope may erre, and Popes hauehave monstruously erred. But what hauehave they done for this, in the new Editions of the Councels? Even this, to wit, They hauehave purged, and put out those wordes, that Wy…es should bee common, as is confessed in the Notes set out of late vponupon their Canon Law, by Authoritie & Cōmand of Gregorie the thirteenth: where-in wee are beholden to them, that how-so-ever they vvill hauehave the Men, yet they desire not the Wyues, to bee Catholicke also.
3. How they alter the Wordes and Canons of the Councels.
A Notable Example heere-of, in Surius his Editiō of the Councels,… 97. and their Epitomizer Caranza, who for eschewing the clearnesse of that ancient Councell of Laodicea, … 35.against the worshipping of Angels, hath without either sense, or shame, put Angulos, for Angelos: So that, where-as the Councell sayth, foreign: that is, It is not lawfull for Christians to pray vntounto Angels, they make the wordes to bee, Non oportet Christianos ad angulos congregationes facere: that is, Christians must not conveane in corners. And where-as the Title of the Canon is, De iis qui angelus colunt: that is, Of those that worship Angels: they make it to be thus, agaynst all sense, De iis qui angulos colunt: that is, Of those that worship Corners. An absurd Tale.
VVhichWhich Fraude, and Falsification, Saynct Theodoret most clearlie convinceth;Theod. in Coloss. …. who commenting on the Collossians, maketh mention thus, of this famous Decree, They who defended the Law, (sayth hee) they induced Christians also to the worshipping of Angels, saying, That the Law was given by them. And this erronious Vyce cōtinued long in Phrygia and Pisidia: VVherefore, that Councell, (sayth he) which assēbled at Laodicea, which is the Metropolitane Citie of all Phrygia, by a Law did prohibite, That no man should pray to Angels.
The same Caranza lyke-wyse, for mayntayning the Pope's Supremacie, agaynst the sixt Canon of the Councel of Nice, alleadgeth, that hee sawe in a most ancient Latine Edition of the Councels, which the most Reverend Cardinall Marcellus shew him, (who was Legate to the Pope, in the Councell of Trent) the wordes of that Canon, set downe thus, Quoniam Metropolitano Episcopo hoc idem moris est: that is, Because this same is the Custome of the Metropolitane Bishoppe. VVhere-as in the vp-right Copies of the Nicene Councell, it is thus, Quoniam Episcopo Romano parilis mos est: that is, That the Bishop of Alexdria should hauehave power over those that were in his Diocie, because the Bishop of Rome had the same custome of jurisdiction, to wit, over those that were in his Diocie. VVhichWhich confyning of his jurisdiction, onelie within his Westerne Precinct, or Diocie of Rome, and equalling other Bishops with him, in a-lyke jurisdiction within their severall Precincts, doeth al-to-gether ever this Challenge of Supremacie: & there-fore, for eschewing the force of that Canon of Nice, the Falsifyer of the same, had pulled out the Pope, out of the Comparison, as if none should compare with him in Iurisdiction, and put in anie poore Metropolitane Bishop, in that Comparison with the Bishop of Alexandria. And which grosse and filthie Falsification of Councels, wee see is an olde Practise of theirs, & may bee seene yet, in their Cardinals Liberaries, and in the Bosome of the Church of Rome.
Like-wise, where-as the seconde Councell of Orange, holden in Anno 529, agaynst the Pelagians, and Semi-Pelagians, condemning their erronious Doctrine, concerning Grace, and Free-will, set downe, amongst other Conclusions, this in particular: This also we wholesomlie professe, and belieue, (say they) That in everie good worke, wee doe not begin, and are holpen after-wardes, by the Grace of God: but Hee first of all, [Nullis praecedentibus bonis meritis,] that is, No good merites of ours going before, inspireth in vsus, both Fayth, and the louelove of Him, &c. This Canon Binius, in his Edition of the Tomes of the Councell, for mayntayning Popish Free-will, and Merits of Congruitie, hath taken both Freedome of Will, and of Action also, notoriouslie to corrupt this wholesome Canon, and to put in for Nullis meritis bonis praecedentibus: that is, No good Merits of ours going before, Multis meritis bonis praecedentibus: that is, Manie good Merites of ours going before. Now, for Merites of Congruitie; what Congruitie is betweene Nullis and Multis; None, and Manie, let anie one judge. And that this Corruption of Binius, or at least, (if they call it) The Errour of the TYPOGRAPHER, were carefullie attended, and avoyded in latter Editions, I would gladlie wish.
Secondlie, How they accuse the Councels, when they make against them, eyof Fraude, and Ignorance, in determination; or else, of after-falsification.
A Cleare instance wee hauehave of this,Bell. … d. Rom. pont. in Bellarmine, who speaking of that most ancient and famous Councell of Chalcedon, holden Anno 451, & of their Decree against anie Papall Supremacie, layeth no lesse to their charge, than Fra…d… and Falsehood, in expresse tearmes.
Againe, to prooue that the Pope may erre, and hath erred, and that hee was likewise subject to Councels of olde, when the sixt Synode is alleadged, condemning Honorius, as a Monothelite, Bell. lib 4 de pont. c. 11 §. … secu…dum▪Bellarmine answereth thus, Decept…s fuisse patres ex falsis rumoribus, & non intellectis Episcolis Honorii, ideo que immerito cum Haereticis numerasse Honorium: that is, That those Fathers were deceived, by false Rumours, and by Ignorance, in not vnderstanding the Epistles of Honorius; and therefore, that verie vndeservedlie they reckoned Honorius amongst other Heretickes: imputing so, both blind Ignorance, and vnwise Rashnesse, to all those Reverend Fathers. And when this will not serue his turne, hee layeth an imputation of after-falsification on all the Registers, and Record keepers of this famous Councell, saying, Honori… nomen sine dubio inter cos qui damnati erant, est insertum ab aemulis Romanae Ecclesiae: that is, That the Name of Honorius, without doubt, was insert amongst others that were condemned, by the Enviers of the Church of Rome.
Likewise, when the seaventh Synod is alleadged,Bell. ibid. §. ad tertium. where-in (after long time that interveined, and due tryall was taken) the sentence of the condemning Honorius, is confirmed, and the sixt Synod there-in is approven, Bellarmine answereth, Deceptos fuisse patres ex sexta Synodo, quae vel corrupta erat, vel per errorem Honorium damnaverat: that is, That those Fathers also were deceived by the sixt Councell, which was either corrupt, or else through Errour, had condemned Honorius.
In lyke manner, when the Epistle of Pope Leo, Bell. i…id sect. ad s…m.contained also and registrated in those Councels, is adduced for probation of the preceeding point, which hee wrote to the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus, witnessing the trueth of Honorius Heresie, and just condemnation in the fore-said Councels, Bellarmine replyeth vntounto that also, saying, Di…o Epistolam Leonis esse etiam corruptam: that is, I say, (altho without anie warrand) that the Epistle of Pope Leo is also corrupt, &c. Nec tenemur unum Leonem magis sequi, quam alios tot summos pontifices: that is And if that Epistle bee true, yet wee are not bound to follow one Pope, Leo, more than so manie other Popes.
Yea, some seeing the evidence so cleare, and vnavoydable, of Pope Honorius conviction of Heresie, in so solemne and famous free Councels, hauehave beene so impudent, as to say, That they were but forged, and counterfeyt,Bell. lib. 1. de concil. c. 5. sect. Corvenerunt. as Bellarmine testifieth of Albertus Pighius: But Turrianus (sayth hee) de…endeth the contrarie, that they are both sincere and vpright. Thus wee see, when they are straited, how they flie in others Faces: and this cleare evidence doth Bellarmine afford vsus, in a weightie matter of their Popish Vnitie.
Thirdlie, How they admit Councels, onlie where-in they make for them; and reject them disdaynfullie, as no Councels, where-in they make agaynst them.
FOR probation heere-of, let vsus adduce Bellarmine, Bell. lib. 1. de sanct. c. 18. §. secundus.vvho vvhen out of the third Councell of Carthage, hee would proue the Macchabees to bee Canonicke Scripture, he giveth this reason, why Calvine cannot denye the authoritie there-of, in this, because hee vseth the authoritie there-of in another poynt him-selfe, to wit, agaynst the invocation of Sayncts: and therefore he cannot say, Patres in uno sapere, (sayth hee) & in alio delirasse: that is, That the Fathers were wise in one point, but proved sottish in another. And yet, speaking of that famous first Councel of Chalcedō, Bell. lib. 3. de Laicu c. 20. §. ad hoc.& their decreeting agaynst Papall Supremacie, he bringeth in Pope Gelasius Verdict there-of, where-with himselfe consenteth, saying, Quod in eo quaedam fuerunt bona, & admittenda, quaedam vero mala, & rejicienda: that is, That in that Councell, some thinges were good, and to be admitted; and some thinges were evill, and to bee rejected. And consequentlie, that the Fathers were wyse in some things, and in other things proved but sottish: to wit, in such things, as they make agaynst Poperie, viz. that great Dagon especially of the Pope's Supremacie.
Agayne, when this fame Councell of Chalcedon (which he acknowledgeth was vniversallie and whollie approven) is cited agaynst Forraigne Appeales, to Rome; yet Bellarmine answereth heere-to,Bell. lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 2…. sect. secun…o. thus: That Pope Leo did approue the same, onlie so farre as it medled with the explication of matters of Fayth. Now if Papall Supremacie be not a point of Fayth, let Boniface the eight his Decree witnesse, declaring, That except a man belieue the same, hee cannot bee saved. Seeing, therefore, that Pope Leo approved the Councell, in so farre as it defyned matters of Fayth; in so farre, then, as it defyned concerning Papall Supremacie, it will followe, by Bellarmine's owne consent,Extravag. unam sanct…m. That the same was approven by Pope Leo fore-sayde.
In lyke manner, Bellarmine adduceth the Councell of Eliberis, Bell. lib. 1. de …. cap. 7. sect. qu…n…o.for Baptisme by Laickes. But when the same is adduced, agaynst Images in Churches,Lib. 2. … c. 9 sect. add…. hee rejecteth the same, as of no authoritie.
Also, that famous Councell of Franckford, holden vnderunder Charles the Great, agaynst the worship of Images, was confirmed by Pope Hadrian ▪ (sayeth Bellarmine) in so farre as it defyned,Lib. 1. de con. c. 7. sect. quartum. That Christ was not the adoptiue Sonne of God. But is rejected by him, (sayeth hee) vponupon the other part, in so farre, as that Councell condemned the seaventh Councell before it, to wit, for decreeing the worshipping of Images.
Agayne, where-in Concilium Quinisextum, or Trullanum, maketh for picturing of Images in Churches, Bellarmine sayeth,…. § hos ergo. That in so farre it was approven by Pope Hadrian, but wherin it displeased his Holinesse, it was rejected, vponupon this reason, Because the Pope was not there-by him-selfe, nor his Legates. VVhichWhich reason, if it were sufficient for rejecting a Councell; then vponupon the same might that second famous & Generall Councell bee rejected, vvhichwhich was celebrated at Constantinople, agaynst Macedonius, that denyed the Deitie of the Spirit. For thus doeth Bellarmine confesse hereof,Bell. lib. 1. de concil. c. 5. §. Est vero. saying, That it is to bee noted, that in that Councell, not one of the Westerne partes was there: and yet it is whollie approven, & Pope Gregorie reverenced the same, as one of the foure Gospels.
Bell. lib. 2. de pont. c. 13. §. Deni que .Lyke-wyse, in the poynt of Papal Supremacie, Bellarmine, to proue the same by ancient Councels, citeth the Florentine. But when a Canon of the same Councell, is cited agaynst Vnction in Confirmation, as no-wyse Apostolicall,Bell. lib. 2. de confirm. c. 9. §. Resp. Bellarmine answereth, That all things that are in Councels, pertayne not to the Fayth.
Bell. lib. 4. de E…ch. c. 10. §. Eusse.In lyke manner, Bellarmine, to proue the Communion, vnderunder one kynde, to hauehave beene an olde Custome, long before Constance, hee citeth the Councel of Basill. But when the same Councel is cited, to proue the Councell, aboue the Pope, it is rejected, with no gentler Styles, than Conciliabulum Schismaticum, Seditiosum, & nullius Authoritatis: that is, A Schismaticke Conventicle, and a seditious, which is of no Authoritie.Bell. lib. 3. de Eccles. c. 16 §. Ad. So highlie doeth Bellarmine advance here-by their Note of Popish Vnitie.☜
Againe, the Councell of Constance, (sayth Bellarmine) in the first Sessions thereof,Bell lib. …. de conci. c 7. §. Qut…tum. where it defineth the Councell to bee aboue the Pope, is rejected: but in the last Sessions thereof, and in all things that Pope Martine 5 approved, it is received by all good Catholickes. Basill then was lawfull in the beginning, but vnlawfull in the ending, because it displeaseth the Pope. And Constance heere in the contrarie, is vnlawfull in the beginning, but lawfull in the ende, because it pleaseth him. So that wee may see, altho Bishops in Councels be Iudges, and hauehave a decisme Vote, so that, whereon they agree, (according to Bellarmine's assertion) they may say,Bell. lib. 2. de Co…. c 11. §. Quarto. It seemed good to the holie Ghost, and to vsus. Yet when they hauehave decreeted all, even Sub anathemate, yet the Pope, out of his supereminent power, may admit what hee list, or reject what hee pleaseth; and so advanceth himselfe aboue the holie Ghost, (to whom in the decreeing those things, seemed good) and consequentlie aboue GOD, and that which is worshipped.
CHAP. XIIII. Popish avowed Rejection, in their late Councels, of the most primitiue and principall Antiquitie.
LAST of all, what regard they carrie in their late Papall Councels, to the most principall, & onlie greatest Antiquitie of Divine Institution, Apostolicall Practise, and holie Custome of the primitiue Church, which is the onelie way that should bee inquired for, let their avowed Confession, of the Transgression of those Sacred Limits, & their professed Declyning from that primitiue Path, testifie: saying thus in Councel, concerning the matter of the holie Eucharist.
Al-be-it Christ did institute this Venerable Sacrament after Supper,Concil. Constan. Sess 13. Con…l. Trid. Sess. 21. (say they) and gaue the same to His Disciples, vnderunder both kyndes of Bread and Wyne: And lyke-wyse, al-be-it in the primitiue Church, the same Sacrament was received by the Faythful vnderunder both kynds; yet, not-with-standing, this custom is, vpō speciall reasons now broght in, to wit, For the eschewing of Perils, and Scandals, That it shall bee hence-foorth received by the Priest vnderunder both kyndes; but by the Laickes, onelie vnderunder one kynde, of Bread. These are the verie plaine wordes of those Popish Prelates, in the Councell of Constance.
And yet Bellarmine, for this Reâson onelie, of Disagreement from Christ's Institution,Bell. lib. 1. de Euch. c. 2. and His owne Practise or Example there-in, rejecteth Saynct Iames Lyturgie: making, that want of Conformitie there-to, (as to the Patterne in the Mount) a just cause of rejecting any prescription in God's Sacred worship, vvhether contrarie, or diverse there-from.
No marvell, there-fore, as the Iewes rejected Christ Him-selfe, preferring to Him, Barabbas; so that after Him, also they persecuted His Disciples: And even so, it is no marvell, that the Romanists nowe reject at their pleasure, the fore-sayde humane Testimonies, which are agaynst them; preferring to Sacred Antiquitie, their new Venome of Heresie; vvhen they so peartlie, and publicklie, professe their Incroaching vponupon the most ancient Institution, and Sacred Testament of the verie Sonne of GOD, and the Great Seale of HIS Glorious Kingdome.