The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 16
CENTVRIE XVI.
THis Councell of Trent begun in the yeere of our Lord,Concilium Tridentinum. 1546. the fourth of Ianuary, in the Popedome of Paulus the third. In the first session thereof an oration was made by the Popes Legat,Sessio prima. declaring the causes of the calamitie of the Church. In the second Session the Articles of faith were read and confirmed:Sessio secunda. and that was kept the fourth of Februarie.Sessio tertia. The third Session was kept the eight of April, wherein it was decreed that the old Latine translation of the Bible should onelyonly be vsed and accounted authentike in Churches and Schooles; and that the rule in expounding of the Scriptures should bee this, to expound them as the Church and the ancient fathers hauehave expounded them before. As also the number of the bookes accounted holy and Canonicke Scriptures were rehersed.Sessio quart…. the fourth Session was kept the 17. day of Iune, where it was decreed that all men should beleeue that originall sinne was vtterly taken away in Baptisme,Cōcupiscence accounted no sinne. in such sort that the concupiscence which remaineth in our nature after Baptisme is not to be accounted a sinne, vntill wee giuegive the consent of our minde thereto. And because the Law of God plainely condemneth it, and the Apostle Paul in plaine words sayeth, I had not knowne concupiscence to hauehave beene a sinne, except the Law had sayd thou shalt not covet; lest they should seeme to Proclame to the world their manifest contradiction to the Scriptures: they lenifie their decree againe with this distinction that the Apostle calleth it a sin, not because it is a sin properlie and indeede, but because it commeth of sin, & tendeth also thereto. Howbeit (with those fathers licence) the Apostle Paul declareth his owne sense and meaning, that hee calleth concupiscence sinne, because it is a transgression of the Law, so that he accounteth it a sinne properly and indeed. Also in this Session they decerne, that the mother of our Lord was not conceived in originall sinne.
Sessio quinta.In the fift Session was decerned, that even after the fall of Adam, and in the nature of man before his regeneration, there remaineth a free-will to doe good; which being wakened by God, and stirred vp, is a fellow-bearer with his grace.
Sessio sexta.In the sixt Session was concluded, that man is iustified partly by faith in Christ, and partly by workes; and that our iustification stands not in a free forgiuenesse of sinnes, and a free imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ, to all them who beleeue in him.
Sessio septima.The seventh Session was kept the third of March, an. 1547. wherein was decerned that all men should beleeue, that the Sacraments of the Church were seven in number; to wit, Baptisme, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Vnction, Orders, and Matrimonie. After this seventh Session, the Popes Physition affirmed, that the ayre of Trent was corrupted;Diuers Bishops remoue from Trent to Bononia. whereupon many of the Bishops were moved to depart from Trent, to Bononia; onelyonly the Bishoppes of Spaine remained still at Trent, being commanded by Charles the Emperour, so to doe. For the Emperour had gathered in Ausbrugh an assembly of the States of Germany, and had induced the most part by menaces and threatenings, and some also by alluring promises, to submit themselues to the generall Councell of Trent.
And this being obtained of the States of Germany, the Emperour sent the Cardinall of Trent, together with his Ambassadour Mendoza, desiring that the Pope would cause the Bishoppes that were retyred to Bononia, to come backe againe to Trent.Note. The Pope vnwilling the Bishops should returne to Trent. But the providence of God pitying the weakenesse of Germany (whom the Emperour had induced, to bee obedient to the Councell of Trent) hardened the Popes heart, who would not consent that the Bishops should goe backe againe to Trent, but vponupon strict conditions: 1. That the Bishops of Spaine who remained yet still at Trent, should first come to Bononia. 2. The Emperour should make good, that all the States of Germany should absolutly submit themselues to the Councell of Trent. 3. That the Fathers to be gathered againe at Trent, might hauehave liberty to depart out of the towne freely and safely, when they pleased, and to make an end of the Councell when they would thinke good.The Emperors Ambassador protesteth against the Councell of Bononia. The Emperours Ambassadour Mendoza, seeing that his Masters petition was little set by, declared that the Councell was not lawfully translated from Trent to Bononia, and therfore protested, that all things that should bee done there, should bee of no force. Thus the first meeting of the Councell of Trent vnderunder Paulus the third, had an end: and their remaining together at the Councell of Trent, was two yeeres.
The second meeting of the Councell of Trent.
THe second meeting of Bishoppes in the Councell of Trent, was in the dayes of Pope Iulius the third, in the month of September, anno, 1551.
In the first Session of the Councell,Sessio prima. which was kept the first of September, Abbas Bollosanus, Ambassadour of the King of France,The King of France by his Ambassador protesteth against the Councell of Trent. appeared, declaring that the King was so disturbed with warres within his dominions, that he could not send the Bishops of his Land to Trent. Next, that the King of France acknowledged not the convention kept at Trent, for a generall Councell, but for a convention gathered for the weale of a few, not for the common vtility of all the Church: and therefore neither hee himselfe, nor the subiects of his kingdome, were bound to be obedient to the decrees of that convention.
The second Session was kept the eleventh day of October,Sessio secunda. wherein the doctrine of Transubstantiation was confirmed, yet diverse questions pertaining to those matters, were deferted till the comming of the Protestants of Germanie, to whome allso they granted their safe conduct.
Sessio tertia.The third Session was kept the 25. of November, wherein was confirmed, that Penance, and extreme Vnction, were Sacraments of the new Testament. The Ambassadours of the Protestants,The Protestants confession of Faith …eiected. would hauehave given in the confession of their Faith, and summe of their doctrine, to the Councell, but the Popes Legate repelled them; because they did not signifie in the title thereof, that they would submit themselues to the Councell. In the meane time there was warre in Germany, betweene Charles the Emperour,The wars betwixt the Emperour and the Duke of Saxony, cause of the Councels breaking vp. and Maurice Duke of Saxonie, which was the cause of the hastie dissolution of the second meeting of the Councell of Trent, vnderunder Pope Iulius. For the Bishops of Mentz and Cullen, made haste to returne to Germany. Likewise all the Bishops of Italy, hearing that Duke Maurice had taken the town of Ausbrough, returned home; & the Spanish Bishops alone, who remained a space behind the rest at Trent, assembled themselues together the 29. of Aprill, anno 1552. and put off the Councell till a new meeting, after the issue of two yeeres, or more, as should be found meet.
The third meeting of the Councell of Trent.
THe Bishops of Spaine supposed, that the Councell should hauehave met againe within two yeeres. Neverthelesse, there intervened nine yeeres before it could be gathered againe. For after the death of Iulius the third, vnderunder whom the second meeting was, succeeded Marcellus, who lived not aboue the space of 20. dayes in his Popedome: and after him Paulus the fourth, who governed foure yeeres, two moneths, and 27. dayes. And after him Pius the fourth, in whose time this last meeting of the Councell of Trent was appointed.Sessio prima. Their first Session was kept the 18. day of Ianuary, anno, 1562. wherein was decreed, that the bookes written by diuerse Authors, since the springing vp of heresies (for so they called the preaching of the Gospell) should be viewed and revised: and that all who had fallen backe from the vnity of the Church of Rome, vntounto any kinde of heresie, should be exhorted to returne againe, with promise of great clemency, and indulgence, if they would so doe.
The second Session was kept the 26.Sessio secunda. day of February, anno, 1562. wherein certaine persons were specially nominated and chosen, to examine those bookes which was suspect of heresie, and to report their iudgement backe againe to the Councell. Likewise, all men were exhorted to resort to the Councell, with peaceable hearts, voyd of all contention and heate, and safe conductors were promised to them, who would come thereto.
In the third and fourth Session nothing was done,Sesso tertta, & quarta. but the time of keeping the next Session was appointed.
In the fift Session kept the 26.Sessio quinta. day of Iuly, anno, 1562. it was decreed, that the Laike people were not bound by an absolute necessitie, to communicate vnderunder both formes of bread and wine. But the Church had power to dispose concerning the outward ministration of the Sacraments (providing the substance were kept) according as they should find expedient for the good of the receiuers.
The sixt Session was kept the 17. day of September,Sessio sexta. anno, 1562. wherin was cōcluded that the whole Masse was a propitiatorie sacrifice for the quicke & the dead: & whosoeuer should say, that it was onelyonly a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and a commemmoration of Christs death onelyonly, are pronounced to be accursed.
The seventh Session was kept the 15. day of the monethmonthSessio Septima. of Iuly, anno, 1563. wherein certaine Canons were set forth concerning the Sacrament of Orders, and it was accounted a Sacrament of the new Testament.
In the eight Session,Sessio Octava. it was not onelyonly decreed, that mariage is a Sacrament of the new Testament: but also the Roman Church assembled at Trent, as a troubled Sea that can not rest, but cast out her froth and filth to the shore, laying aside all shame and due reverence to the Scriptures of God, they pronounce all men to be accursed,Note. who will not grant that the Church hath power to dispense with the Law of God conteined in the 18. of Leviticus, not onelyonly to grant libertie to persons to marrie, who are forbidden there to marrie, but also to interdite and forbid mariage betweene persons, who hauehave libertie by the Law of Leviticus to marrie.
Sessio …ona.The ninth and last Session of this Councell, was kept the third day of December, anno 1563. wherein the doctrine of purgatorie was confirmed with invocation of Saints, keeping of Reliques, kneeling to Images, giving of Indulgences, superstitious Fastings, and keeping of festiuall daies, to the end that the Roman Church should seeme in no point to hauehave erred. All past through, and all was allowed, by them; but the Lord will onelyonly allow that doctrine which is agreeable to his blessed Word: To whom be be praise for ever Amen. foreign.
FINIS.
End of the text · Patrick Simson, The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ (1624)