The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 5
CENTVRIE V.
COncerning Councels gathered in the daies of Arcadius and Honorius, Councels at Constantinople against Iob. Chrysostome.by Epiphanius in Cyprus, and Theophilus in Alexandria, vnderunder pretence of damning the bookes of Origen; and in Constantinople, first and last, by the malice of Eudoxia, the Emperour Arcadius wife: to the deposition of Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople: I hope I hauehave not need to make a new declaration of things, which are amply declared in the preceding history.
ABout the yeere of our Lord,The fift Coū cell of Carthage. 419. a great number of Bishops were assembled in the Towne of Carthage, whose names are particularly expressed in their Synodicke letters, sent to Innocentius the first, Bishop of Rome. In this assemblie,Aug. Epist. 90. & 91. they damned the opinions of Pelagius, and Coelestius (which hath been aboue rehearsed) as hereticall. The answer that Innocentius returned to the Councell, is intermixed with words of swelling pride, as if no Decree could be firme, vntill it had allowance of the Romane chaire: yet the fift Councell of Carthage had pronounced Anathema against the opinions of Pelagius, and Coelestius, before they sent their letter to Innocentius.
Amongst the canons of this Councell, the two last are to be remarked: namely, the fourteenth, and fifteenth canon. The one declareth,Canon 14. that no Church was consecrated without the reliques of the Martyrs:Canon 15. the other declareth, that adoration of reliques at this time, was the custome of Ethnickes: supplication is appointed to be made to the Emperors, that reliques which are found in Images, groues, or trees, or such other places, should bee abolished.
The first Councell of Toledo.THe first Councell of Toledo in Spaine, was assembled vnderunder the raignes of Arcadius and Honorius. The yeere of our Lord wherein this Councell was gathered, is much contraverted: therefore I overpasse it, contenting my selfe with some notice of the time of the Emperour, in whose time the Councell was gathered. It seemeth to hauehave beene assembled for confirmation of the Nicene Councell, and refutation of some errours. The canons concerning prohibibition of marriage to some persons,Canon 17. are foolish, and the admitting of a man to the communion, who wanteth a wife, and contenteth himselfe with one concubine onelyonly, is foolisher: so perilous a thing it is, in a iot to depart from the certaine rule of the written Word of God.
The Councell called Mileuitanum.MIlevitum is a towne of Numidia: in it many Bishops were assembled vnderunder the raigne of Arcadius, whose names are particularly expressed in the letter sent from the Councell to Innocentius Bishop of Rome, which letter is inserted in the Epistles of Augustine, together with the answer of Innocentius the first.Epist. 92. & 93 Two principall causes mooved them to assemble together. First, to finish the work they had begun, in the fift Councell of Carthage, in condemning the heresies of Pelagius, and Coelestius, by whom, as yet, many were deceiued, and perverted from the true faith. Augustine Bishop of Hippo, was not onelyonly present, but also President. The opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius, concerning the power of mans nature, not supported by the grace of God, and free-will of man to doe good of it selfe, is so solidly refuted, and that by arguments taken out of holy Scripture onelyonly; that it is to be wished, that other Councels had followed the example of this Councell, wherein Augustine was President.
The other cause of the meeting of this Councell, was to constitute canons concerning Ecclesiasticall discipline, specially, that no man should make appellation from his owne Bishop to Bishops beyond Sea, but in case his owne Bishop did him wrong,Canon 22. then hee should appeale vntounto an assembly of African Bishops, but hee who would needes appeare to Bishoppes beyond Sea (meaning chiefly of the Bishop of Rome) let him be secluded from the communion of all African Bishops. The cause of Apiarius, and his Bishop Vrbanus Siccensis seemed already to bee wakened, and the Fathers of this Councell fore-smelled that he was to appeale to the Bishop of Rome; like as he did indeed, to Zosymus the successor of Innocentius: and therefore, like wise men in due time, they made this constitution. Innocentius received the Councels letter from a brother named Iulius, and approoved the condemnatory sentence, pronunced against Pelagius and Coelestius: but marke the words of Innocentius letter, Frater, & Coepiscopus noster Iulius dilectionis vestraeliteras, quas ex Milevitano cura fide… propensiore misist…s, mihi…nopinanter suggessi… : that is to say, Our brother and fellowship Iulius, brought vntounto mee vnawares your brotherly letters, which ye sent vntounto me from the Councell Milevitanū, with a care very bent for the Faith. The word inopinanter, declareth, that hee received their letter before hee knew that any such Councell was gathered, for the Bishops of Rome as yet tooke not vponupon them that authority, to bee the onelyonly appointers of generall and nationall Councels. Pelagius after this Councell, compeared before a Councell in Palestina, and seemed to renounce his errors, but hee spake deceitfully, as Heretiques are accustomed to doe: but hee set forth nothing in writing to destroy the errour hee had builded, and to procure the safety of them whom hee had intangled with the snares of deceitfull errours,Aug. Epist. 95. as the Epistle of Aurelius, Alipius, Augustinus, Evodius, and Possidius, written to Innocentius, doth declare. Obscure Covncels I hauehave not overpassed with silence, and do minde, God willing, to keep the like order in time to come.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The sixt Councell of Carthage. 402. and vnderunder the raignes of Honorius, and Theodosius, the second, a great nationall Councell was assembled in Carthage: two hundred and seventeene bishops were present at this Councell,Hist. Magd. cent 5 cap. 9. and it continued for the space of six yeeres. Aurelius Bishop of Carthage, was Moderator. Three Bishops of Rome, to wit, Zosymus, Bonifacius the first, and Coelestinus, endevoured with all their might to perswade the African Bishops, that they were vnderunder the soueraignty and iurisdiction of the Bishops of Rome: but all in vaine, as the issue of this Councell will proue. The ground of the great controversie betwixt the Bishops of Rome, and the sixt Councell of Carthage, was Apiarius Presbyter Siccencis, a wicked man, and iustly excommunicate, not onelyonly by his owne Bishoppe Vrbanus, but also by a Synode of other neere approaching Bishops. Hee appealed to Zosymus Bishop of Rome, a Citie of refuge to all villanous men, as appeared by the insolent forme of his cariage, toward his brethren in Africke: for before hee had heard the causes wherefore they had excommunicated this wicked man Apiarius, hee absolued him, and admitted him to his communion. Moreover, vnderstanding that a Councell was to be convened in Carthage, hee sent thither Ambassadours to plead the cause of Apiarius, to procure the excommunication of Vrbanus; and in case this succeeded not, to desire that this question might be remitted to the determination of the Romane Bishop, as vndoubted Iudge of appellations, according to an act of the Councell of Nice. The Fathers of the Councell of Carthage answered with great modesty that they knew no such act, to hauehave beene made in the Councell of Nice. Alwayes time is granted to the Bishop of Rome, to prooue that such right belongeth to him by an act, of the Councell of Nice. Zosymus the first alleadger of this false act,Soc. l. 7. c. 11. continued short time in office: for hee ended his course within the space of one yeere, and few moneths. Bonifacius the successor of Zosymus, seriously vrging the same prerogatiue, to be iudges in all causes of appellation, according to the act of the Councell of Nice. When all the acts were read, both in the Latine and Greeke exemplars, and no such act was found, the Ambassadors of Bonifacius returned to him with this answer, that the principall Registers ought to bee searched, which were to bee found in Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antiochia: and in the meane time no man should bee challenged for appealing to the Bishoppe of Rome, vntill this question had an end, by viewing of the authentique Registers. Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria, and Atticus Bishop of Constantinople, sent to the Councell of Carthage, the iust copies of the acts of the Councell of Nice: but no such act was found,Soc. l. 7.11. as was alledged by Zosymus and Bonifacius: and by this time Bonifacius also ended his life: for hee sate not aboue three yeeres. The Epistle sent from the sixt Councell of Carthage, declaring that they found the act aforesayd, alledged by the ambassadours of the Bishop of Rome, to bee supposititious and false, this Epistle (I say) was directed to Bonifacius: but seeing hee had ended his life, it came into the hands of Coelestinus, the successor of Bonifacius, who insisted by the same ambassadours, who were employed before, to wit, Faustinus a Bishop, and Philippus and Asellus, two Presbyters, to hauehave Ap…arius received into fauour, and the African Bishops to bee subiect to the Bishop of Rome: but their travels were bestowed in vaine. The last period of this controversie was this, that Ap…arius despairing of helpe from the Bishops of Rome, confessed his faults, and humbly submitted himselfe to the Councell of Carthage.Hist. Magd. cent. 5. cap. 9… And the Ambassadours of Coelestinus returned with this answer, that the Bishop of Rome had no authoritie over the Bishops of Africa: but hee who thought himselfe to bee wronged, let him complaine to a nationall Councell, and if the nationall Councel also did him wrong, then let him complaine to the generall Councell, but no appellation to be made in time to come from Africa to the Bishop of Rome.
VNderUnder the raignes of Arcadius and Honorius, The Councell called Bagienseand about the yeere of our Lord, 433. The Donatists assembled themselues in a towne of Africa called Bagaia, in frequent number: for they are counted 310. who were present at this Councell. The principall purpose of their meeting, was for deposition of Maximianus Bishop of Bagara, who fell from their societie, and drew many others from their heresie: him they deposed and accursed. I hauehave made mention of this vnhappy Councell for two causes: First, to declare the vncessant diligence of Heretiques, in advancing a doctrine of lies, for it was a strange thing, that for the deposition of one man, so many should assemble themselues in one towne: seldome were so many present at Occumenicke Councels, as were at this convention. Secondly, to declare the effromed peartnesse of Heretiques, when they are met together, all that they doe is ascribed to the holy Spirit: for in their definitiue sentence against Maximianus, they borrow the words of the holy Apostles,Acts 15. Placuit Spiritui sancto qui in nobis est: that is, It hath pleased the holy Spirit, who is in vsus. Yet were they guided by Satan, and not by the holy Spirit, in all the actions of this Councell.
The first Councell of Ephesus generall.IN the eight yeere of the raigne of Theodosius the second, was a general Councel assembled in Ephesus, against the Heretique Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople, of whom Socrates writeth, that the first ground of his heresie was the speeches of a Presbyter in his Church called Anastatius, whom hee had in reverent account. This Anastatius vponupon a time teaching in the Church,Soc. l. 7. c. 32. sayd, let no man call the Virgin Marie the mother of God, whereupon ensued great trouble in the Church, for they were assured of the divinitie of Christ. And Nestorius not willing that the man should bee disesteemed, whom he so much regarded: he chopped oft in his Sermons, vponupon the word foreign, not willing to giuegive vntounto the blessed Virgin so great an honour. When the Councell of Ephesus was assembled, consisting of the number of two hundreth Bishops and aboue, and Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria, was appointed Moderator, by the ordinance of the Emperours, who commanded the Councell to bee gathered; Cirillus began to embarke, and to agitate the question, before Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia, and his companie could be present at the Councell. At the first meeting, Nestorius being present, in the towne of Ephesus, vtterly spoyled his cause, and added to his former opinion borrowed from Anastatius, that they thought it an indignity done to the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, to speake of foreign and foreign, and the words foreign,Acta Synodi Ephesina. were all reproachfull words to be spoken of the Sonne of God, that is, that hee was nourished vponupon milke, that he was borne of a maide, that hee was two moneths or three moneths old, all these words hee counted to bee reproachfull words to be spoken of the Sonne of God. The Fathers of the Councell were all highly offended at these wordes, and warned him to bee personally present at the Councell, but hee refused to appeare, vntill the time that Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia, should be present at the Councell. Cirillus Bishop of Alexandria, was a man prompt, and forward in all causes, both good and bad, and hee would not linger vntill the comming of Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia, and his company, but forthwith hee caused his books and writings to be examined, wherein it was cleerly found, that hee sayd the Sonne of the Virgin Mary was not God, but onelyonly that God was with him: so hee denyed the personall vnion of the divine and humane Nature. The Fathers of the Councell vponupon this ground damned Nestorius as an Heretique,Soc. l. 7.32. and Nestorius on the other part gathered the Bishops of his ownefaction, and damned Cirillus Bishoppe of Alexandria, and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus.
After this, Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia came to Ephesus, whose comming rather increased, then diminished the schisme: for hee was so angry against the precipitation and hastinesse of Cirillus, that hee would not adioyne himselfe to the Councell: hereupon followed mutuall excommunications: Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia, excommuicated Cyrillus and Memnon: and they▪ on the other part excommunicated him, and his … who came not to the Councell: yet in the mercy of God, this schisme that fell out last amongst good men was cured, and they were reconciled, and the Heretique Nestorius was banished to Oasis.
The first Councell of Ephesus.BEfore Theodosius the second had ended his life, Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople, had gathered a particular Councell, and damned Eutyches an Abbot of Constantinople, because hee affirmed, that in Christ, after the vnion of the divine and humane natures, there was no longer two natures. This absurd opinion Flavianus damned as hereticall. Notwithstanding, Chrysaphius, the chiefe Governour of the Emperours Palace, was a friend to Eutyches, and a favourer of his heresie. And hee procured at the Emperours hands,Eva. l. 1. c. 9.10 that Eutyches cause should bee iudged in a more frequent assembly, to bee gathered at Ephesus, and wherein Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria should be Moderator. In this assembly Dioscorus dealt imperiously, like vntounto an head-strong Heretique. Hee called vponupon Eutyches, and required a confession of his faith, which when hee had given, not expecting the votes of others, who were present, with clamour and out-crying, hee gaue allowance vntounto it, as if no more were requisite in a Councell, except onelyonly the suffrage and vote of the Moderator. Likewise hee suffered not the letters of Leo Bishop of Rome, sent to the Councell, to be read. Thirdly, he absolued Eutyches, and 300 Monks, all intangled with this heresie,Hist. Magd. cent. 5. c. 9. whom Flavianus had iustly excommunicated: and last of all, he excommunicated Flavianus, and caused him by the tumult of his factioners, to be so rudely and discourteously entreated, that he was trod vnderunder foot, and was so wounded, that within three dayes after hee ended his life: for this cause, this Councell was called a Councell of brigandrie.
The Councell of Berytus.THe Councel of Berytus in Phoenicia, wherein the cause of Ibas Bishop of Edessa (whom Dioscorus had deposed) was wakened, and he was iustified and absolued, I purposely passe by, because the controversie against Ibas, will be discussed in a greater assembly.
And the Councell called Agathense in France,The Councell called. Agthense. wherein albeit there be a great number of Constitutions, yet nothing is more remarkable in it than this; that they grant they had libertie to meete together by cōmandement of Alaricus king of Gothes, who at that time had soueraigntie in that part of France called Gallia Narbonensis where the Councell was gathered: so that in al countries, Councels, both generall and nationall, were conueened by the authoritie of Princes.
IN the yeere of our Lord 454. and in the third yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Martianus:The generall Councell of Chalcedon. Funct. chron. a generall Councell was assembled at Chalcedon a towne of Bythinia, lying directly ouer against Constantinople. Martianus the Emperour was in person present at the Councell, and of Bishops, and reuerend Fathers, from all partes of the world sixe hundreth and thirtie. The like whereof hapned not in any generall Councell preceeding this time. The Patriarches were all present at this Councell,Euagr. lib. 2. cap. 4. either in proper person, or by their Ambassadours. Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople, Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria, Maximus Bishop of Antiochia, Iuvenalis Bishop of Ierusalem: and in stead of Leo Bishop of Rome, his Ambassadours Pascasianus a Bishop, Lucentius, Bonifacius, and Basilius Presbyters, with a Christian brother Iulianus.
Martianus entreated all the Fathers of the Councell to thinke that he gaue his presence to the conuention, not for ostentation of his power or vertue, but onelyonly for desire that the true faith should be confirmed and established, and that by his authority all tumults of men disobedient to the Councell, might be repressed. Aboue all crauing of them, or rather charging & commanding them, that they should decerne nothing repugnātto the actes of the Councel of Nice.
The Ambassadours of Leo Bishop of Rome craued that Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria should not sit in the Councell as a iudge,Euagr. lib. 2. cap. 4. but that he should stand, and answere to things that were to be obiected vntounto him. Which petition being granted, Eusebius B. of Dorileum stood vp, and accused him of three things. First, that he had beene an aduersarie to the true faith, in absoluing Eutyches a notable heretike in the second Councell of Ephesus: Secondly that he was a murderer of Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople a constant defender of the true faith: and thirdly that hee had done himselfe wrong in deposing him without a cause, and therewith hee desired his letter to be read. The Councell not onelyonly read his letter accusatorie, but also read all the acts of the second Councell of Ephesus, and heard the reports of Bishops, who were present at the Councell of Brigandrie, and consented against their hearts to the deposition of Flauianus, because Dioscorus had bands of souldiers sent by Chrysaphius in the name of the Emperour Theodosus 2. to compell simple men to obey all his desires. All this beeing considered, together with his vnmanerly rudenesse, who would not suffer the letter of Leo Bishop of Rome to be read in the Councell aforesaid, and finally that hee had most vniustly and vnaduisedly excommunicated Leo Bishop of Rome.
The Councell of Chalcedon cited Dioscorus, the ground of this controuersie, but he appeared not: therefore hee was condemned as an heretike,Evagrabid. together with Eutyches and Iuvenalis Bishops of Ierusalem, and it was ordained that men should beleeue that the natures of Christ, albeit they were vnited, yet were they not confounded, as Eutyches heretically had affirmed. Likewise all the actes of the second Councell of Ephesus were abrogated & rescinded, except the deposition of Dam…us Bishop of Antiochia, and substitution of Maximus in his place. Moreouer Theodoretus Bishop of Cyns and Ibas Bishop of Edessa, who had beene vniustly deposed in the second Councell of Ephesus, were both restored to their places, after they had clearely damned the heresies of Nestorius, and Eutyches. In the cause of Bassianus and Stephanus, who contended both for the Bishopricke of Ephesus, it was ordained that both of them should be remooued from that dignitie, as men who by vnlawfull meanes had aspired to ecclesiasticke offices, and a third person should hauehave the office. Finally, it was appointed and ordained in this Councell, that Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople, and his successours should hauehave the chiefe dignitie next vntounto the chaire of Rome. It is to be marked that Proterius Bishop of Alexandria, to whom the place of old belonged, albeit hee was present in the Councel, yet he made none obstacle vntounto this ordinance; but the Ambassadours of Leo Bishop of Rome spake against it, fearing left the increasing magnificence of such an Emperiall towne, should in ende bring Constantinople to the preheminence of the first seat. Supremacie was long agoe the apple of their eye, and they could not abide that afarre off a diminution of this should be once pointed at. Neuerthelesse this ordinance had allowance of the Councel, notwithstanding of the contradiction of the Romane Ambassadours. Incodice Romano, Mysterium iniquitanis.saith learned Morneus, all this action is left out.
In the sixt Session of this Councell the Emperour Martianus with Pulcheria the Empresse, were both present, and craued of the Councell, that ordinances should be made for restraining the filthie lucre,Canon 6. and ambition of Monks and Clergie, who intangled themselues with secular businesse for desire of gaine and riches: wherevpon followed this constitution, that men who addicted themselues either to the Monastickelife, or the Clergie men, they should not be promoted to other dignities, meaning, mere ciuill offices, because that that is a distraction of them from their calling.