The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 8
CENTVRIE VIII.
IN the yeere of our Lord, 712. a Councell was assembled at London,A Councell at London. where Bonifacius was present, and Brithuvaldus the chiefe Prelate of England; and the Kings of Saxons ruling in England, were commanded vnderunder pain of cursing, to be present at this Councell. The purposes intreated in this Councell were two; to wit, concerning the adoration of Images, and prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall offices. About worshipping of Images no disputation was heard, whether that service did agree with the written word of God, or not. This was counted a sufficient wartant for bringing Images into places of adoration, and for worshipping them (especially the Image of the Virgin Mary) that Eguvinus, a superstitious Monke in England, of the order of Saint Benet, who afterwards was made a Bishoppe: affirmed that the Virgine Marie appeared vntounto him in a dreame, and declared, that it was her will, that her Image should bee set vp in the Churches, and worshipped. These dreames once confirmed by the oath of Eguvinus, and approoved by Constantine Bishop of Rome, and obtruded by Bonifacius the Popes Legate, they were embraced in England, with little contradiction in such a corrupt time.
The other purpose entreated in this Councell, was prohibition of marriage, to men in spirituall offices. This doctrine of the Romane Church, was not received without reluctation of the Clergie. OnelyOnly, a ground was laid, whereupon followed a building of the doctrine of Divels.
The Councell of Constantinople, vnderunder Philippicus.ABout the same time, that is, about the yeere of our Lord 712. it is supposed, that the Emperour Philippicus gathered a Councell at Constantinople, for vndoing of the sixt generall Councell, in the which the errour of the Monothelites was condemned: and that hee did this according to a promise made to a Monke, named Iohn, who fore-told him that hee would bee made Emperour, and craved this promise of him, that when hee should bee advanced to the Imperiall dignity, he should vndoe the sixt generall Councell. But the writers of this History doe not make particular mention of the Fathers, who were present at this Councell. The rest of the History is cleere, that Philippicus razed the pictures of the Fathers, who had been present at this Councell, and were pictured in the Temple of Sophia: and that on the other part, Pope Constantine the first, not onelyonly caused the same effigíes to bee pictured in the porch of the Church of Saint Peter at Rome, but also procured that the Emperours name should be razed out of charters, and that his effigie should not bee ingraved in any kinde of coyned mettall. Also it is cleere, that Philippicus remooued Cyrus from his office, and placed in his roome Iohn, who fore-told him that he should be Emperour.
A Councell at Rome, assembled by Gregorie 2.IN the yeere of our Lord, 714. Pope Gregorie the second, assembled a Councell, in the which two Bishops of Brittaine, to wit, Sedulius, and Fergustus, were present. It was ordained, that masses should bee celebrated publiquely in Temples, which custome was not in vse before. In the second Tome of Councels,Sigebert. in. Chron. this Synod is referred to Gregorie the third. A great number of the Canons of this Councell doe concerne marriage, That no man should take in marriage a woman, who was a relict of a Presbvter or Deacon, or a Nunne, or his spirituall sister, or his brothers wife, or his neece, or his mother in law, or daughter in law, or his neare cousens, or a woman whom by these or ravishing hee hath led away. And that no man should consult with Iuchanters and Sorcerers. And that no man should violate the mandates of the Apostolicke Chaire: no, not in a matter of an haire.
GRegorie the third,A Councell at Rome, assembled by Gregorie the third. after he had received a mandate from the Emperour Leo, concerning abolishing of Images, hee assembled a great Councell at Rome, of 903. Bishops: in the which the Emperour Leo was excommunicated, and deprived of his Imperiall dignity. Here marke the tyranny and fiercenesse of Antichrist, Who gaue such authority to a Roman Preacher, to dismount the Monarches of the world from their royall thrones? Yet Gregorie the third attempted such high matters, because the Emperor Leo had disallowed the worshipping of Images. Likewise, by his instigation the whole countrey of Italy refused to pay tribute to the Emperour. Now is the banner of Antichrist displayed against the Emperour, and this is a fore-running token, of the hatefull enmity which is to ensue betwixt the Popes and the Emperours, which (God willing) shall bee declared in its owne time. Likewise, Anastatius Patriarch of Constantinople, was condemned and excommunicated in this Councell. To favour the Emperour, and to dislike the worshipping of Images, were two irremissable sinnes, and meriting the great Anathems of the Bishop of Rome.
IN the yeere of our Lord,A Councell holden in France, by Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz. 742. and in time of the raigne of Charles the Great, and vnderunder the Popedome of Zacharias the first, Bonifaoius Archbishop of Mentz, assembled a Councell, of the Bishops, Presbyters, and Clergy of France, for reformation of abuses in that countrey: or rather, as the truth is, to bring the countrey of France (as hee had already brought many parts of Germany) to a conformity with the superstitious rites of the Romane Church. It is to bee marked, that this nationall Councel was assembled by the mandate of King Charles, howsoeuer Bonifacius ordered the affaires of the Councell.
It was ordained, that Synodes should be kept yeerly, and that Clergie men should not put on armour,Canon 1. and goe to warre-fare, except one or two Bishops, with their Presbyters & Chaplens, to prescribe penance to them who should happen to confesse their sinnes: And that hunting and hauking, and such idle pastimes, should not be vsed by the Clergie.
Canon 2.That every Presbyter shall be ready to giuegive account of his ministery to his owne Bishop, in time of Lent, especially concerning his ministration of Baptisme, the summe of his Catholicke Faith, the forme of his prayers, and the order of his saying of masses.
Canon 3.That no vncouth Bishop or Presbyter, be admitted without the tryall, and allowance of a Synode.
Canon 4.That Presbyters and Deacons be not cloathed as secular men, with short cloakes; but with the habit of men who are in spirituall offices: And that no woman cohabite in the house with them.
Canon 5.That every Bishop hauehave a care within his owne bounds, to abolish all heathenish superstitions.
IN the yeere of our Lord, 755. and in the thirteenth yeere of the Empire of Constantinus Copronymus, The 7. general Councell assembled at Constantinople.a general Coū cell of 338. Bishops, was assembled at Constantinople, by the commandement of the Emperour. In this Councell the worshipping of Images was damned, and the placing of them in Oratories and Temples, where the divine Maiesty is worshipped, was forbidden, as a custome borrowed from Pagans, who had no hope of the resurrection, and therefore solaced thēselues with pictured similitudes of their friends, as if they had beene bodily present with them. Yea, for three principall causes they damned the worshipping of Images: First, because the worshipping of them is repugnant vntounto holy Scripture. Secondly, because the divine and humane nature being vnseparably vnited in Christ, and the divine nature cannot be presented by an Image: therefore it is not meete to represent his humane nature by an Image, left we should seeme to separate the two natures in Christ. And thirdly, because the writings of ancient Fathers doe vtterlie condemne the worshipping of Images, such as Epiphanius, Eusebius, Gregorius Theologus, Athanasius, Amphilochius, Chrysostomus, and Theodorus Bishop of Ancyra. It were a prolixt thing to make a rehearsall of the sentences of all the forenamed Fathers: therefore, for breuities cause, I will heere onelyonly make choise of one place, which is this: Eusebius Pamphili, Hist. Magd. cent. 8. cap. 9.writing to Constantia the Empresse, who was desirous that the image of Christ should be sent her hee returneth vntounto hir this answere: Because yee hauehave written vntounto mee to send vntounto you the Image of Christ, I would gladly vnderstand what image of Christ yee are inquiring for: whether it bee that true and vnchangeable nature, bearing the character and ingrauen similitude of the person of the Father? or if it bee the image of the shape of a seruant, which Christ tooke vponupon him for our sakes? As concerning His diuine nature, I hope yee are not sollicitous to seeke the image thereof, beeing sufficientlie instructed, that no man knoweth the Father, except the Sonne, and on the other part, no man knoweth the Sonne, except the Father. But if yee desire the similitude of mans nature, wherewith He clad Himselfe for our sakes, vnderstand, that the splender and shining brightnesse of his glorie cannot be represented with dead coloures, and shaddowed pictures: For euen his Disciples in the mountaine were not able to abide the brightnesse of His shining face (Mat. Chap. 17. vers. 1. Mark. Chap. 9. vers. 2. Luk. Chap. 9. vers, 28.) how much lesse are we now able to abide the celestiall splender of his glorified bodie?
In this Councell Germanus Bishop of Constantinople, Georgius Cyprius, and Damascene a Monke, who were principall defenders of the worshipping of images, were excommunicated.
In the Canons of this Councel, which were 19. in number; inuocation of Saints hath allowance in the 15. & 17. Canon. So that in this Councell also is presented vntounto vsus a viue paterne of the weakenesse of Councels. Like as in eueryevery sacrifice there was dungue, so likewise in eueryevery Councell there is found some note of infirmitie and weakenesse. And it is a foolishe thing to adhere to all the ordinances of Councels, except they doe agree in all pointes with the written word of God.
The second Councell of Nice.IN the yeere of our Lord, 788. and in the eight yeere of the raigne of Irene, and her sonne Constantine, a Councell was assembled at Nice in Bythania, of three hundreth and fiftie Bishops. The Ambassadours of Adrian the first, Bishop of Rome, were present in this Assemblie. Basilius, Bishop of Ancyra; Theodorus, Bishop of Myra; and Theodosius, Bishop of Amorium; offered to the Councell their supplicant letters, confessing, that they had sinned in condemning the worshipping of images in the Synode assembled by Constantinus Copronymus. These reedes, shaken with the winde, and vnconstant fooles, were accepted in fauour, as a preamble vntounto this malignant Councell. The Epistle of Adrian Bishop of Rome, was openly read in the Councell, approuing the worshipping of images. His letter was full of fables and lies, such as the fable of the leprosie of Constantine, and of the shedding of the blood of innocent babes to procure remedie against his sicknesse, and baptisme of Constantine by Syluester, the miraculous restoring of the Emperour to health after his Baptisme, and of the images of Peter and Paul, produced to Constantine before his baptisme. Such a Legend of lyes no Councell could hauehave heard read in their audience, if it had not bin a time in the which the mistery of iniquity was effectually working: For the history of the life of Cōstantine, written by Eusebius, expressely prooueth the contrary: to wit, that Constantine was not leprous, but rather a man of a cleane and vnspotted body: and that hee was not baptized by Syluester in Rome, but by Eusebius in Nicomedia. Notwithstanding, the letter of Pope Adrian was accepted and allowed by the Councell. And it was ordained, That the image of Christ, of the blessed Virgine Mary, and of the Saints, should not onelyonly bee receiued into places of Adoration, but also should bee adored and worshipped: And the honour done to the image, is thought to redound to him (or her) who is present by the image, according to the words of Basilius Magnus. Basil. contra Eunomium, …. 1.But Basilius Magnus is writing in that place of Christ, the image of the inuisible God, and not of images made with mens hands.
THe Fathers of this Councell, as it were bewitched by the delusions of the Deuill, were not ashamed to confirme the adoration of images, by lying miracles, and by a foolish confabulation betwixt the Deuill and a Monke, whom Sathan ceased not to tempt continuallie to the lust of vncleannesse, and would make none end of tempting him, except he would promise to desist from worshipping the image of the Virgin Mary. But argumentes taken from the fables of Monkes, and delusions of the Deuill, are not to be hearkened vntounto, in a matter expressely repugnant to the written word of God.
IN the yeere of our Lord 794.The Councell of Frankford. Charles the Great, King of France, assembled a great Councell at Frankford: partlie in regard of the heretike Foelix, who called Christ the adoptiue Sonne of God in his humane nature, and was condemned in a Councell assembled at Ratisbona, Anno. 742. but hee was returned to his vomite againe: and therefore was of new againe condemned, as a notable heretike, in the Councell of Frankford: partly also in respect of the great disputation that arose euerie where concerning the worshipping of images, disallowed in the councell of Constantinople, and allowed in the second Councell of Nice.
Not onelyonly the Bishops of France, but also of Germanie & Lombardie, as Prouinces subdued to the King of France, were present at this Councell. Likewise, Pope Adrian sent his Ambassadours, Theophilactus & Stephanus, to the Councel. And Charles himselfe, King of France, was present in the Councel of Frankford. The Ambassadours of Pope Adrian produced, the actes of the second Councell of Nice, hoping that the Councell of Frankford should hauehave giuen consent and allowance vntounto the same. But the Fathers of this Councell collationed the actes of the Councell of Constantinople, with the actes of the second Councell of Nice. And they disallowed in the Councell of Constantinople the strict prohibition to picture images, either in Temples of other places. And in the second Councell of Nice they disallowed the Act of worshipping of images, and of honouring them with garments, incense, candles, and kneeling vntounto them: counting the afore-saide Act to be so impious, that the Councell in the which it was concluded, was neither worthy to be called Catholicke nor Oecumenicke. The arguments whereby the second Councell of Nice endeuoured to approue the adoration of images, are all refuted in the Councell of Frankford, as I hauehave declared alreadie in a treatise concerning worshipping of Images.
Concerning the argument taken from the authoritie of Epiphanius, who in his book called Panarium, reckoneth not the worshippers of images in the roll of Heretikes: it is answered by the Councel of Frankford, that in case Epiphanius had counted the haters of the worshippers of images, Heretikes; hee had likewise inserted their names in the catalogue of Heretikes: but seeing he hath not so done, the Councell of Nice had no just cause to triumph so much in this friuolous argument, which maketh more against them, than it maketh for them.
More-ouer, in the Councell of Frankford, the Epistle of Epiphanius, written to Ihonne Bishop of Ierusalem, was read; wherein hee disalloweth the verie bringing in of images into Churches: and this Epistle was translated out of the Greeke into Latine language, by Ierom. The Epistle is worthie to be read. Reade it in the Magdeburg Historie, Cent. 8. Chap. 9.