The Catholic Doctrine of the Eucharist in All Ages, Book 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
That the Greek Emperors, led by politick Interests, have themſelves favoured the Deſign of the Latins, in Introducing their Doctrines into Greece. Mr. Arnaud's third Artifice diſcovered.
IT has not bin only the Latins that earneſtly endeavoured to make the Greeks receive their Doctrines. For even the Grecian Emperors themſelves have favoured this Deſign; induced by politick Reſpects, which put them upon ſeeking the Friendſhip of the Weſtern Princes, and eſpecially that of the Popes, who in thoſe times, as ſpeaks Mr. Arnaud, gave Laws to all the reſt, and that even in Temporals. We all know what a great Influence the Inclinations of Princes have, not only on the People, but Eccleſiaſticks and Prelates. It is uſual with Subjects to turn themſelves on that ſide which is moſt pleaſing to their Sovereign, and there are few Perſons who make it not their Buſineſs ſo to do, eſpecially when Princes openly declare their Minds, and make uſe of their Authority in puniſhing thoſe that withſtand them, and rewarding thoſe that approve them. Now this the Grecian Emperours have often particularly done, in favour of the Church of Rome, to which they have endeavoured to unite their Subjects.
POSSEVIN the Jeſuit, reckons up fourteen of theſe intereſſed Reunions, De reb. Moſcovit. P. 7.the Greeks, ſaies he, have bin reunited to us fourteen times, by publick Confeſſions, and have ſo many times departed from us. And it is certain that as they have ever known the Popes earneſt Deſires to ſubmit them to the See of Rome, ſo likewiſe have they not failed to flatter this Deſire by fair Promiſes, when they needed that Churches Aſſiſtance, either for the obtaining of ſome important Deſign, or for the averting of ſome dangerous Tempeſt which threatned them. But as ſoon as ever theſe have bin over, they have returned to their firſt State, and ſlighted theſe Reunions. I know not how it hath come to paſs that the Popes having bin ſo often deceived, ſhould ſtill continue ſo Facile; but perhaps it was not a ſingle Intereſt, but be it as it will, the Popes have never bin backwards in theſe Matters.
MY Deſign is not to ſet down here all theſe Reunions, one after another, and relate their particular Circumſtances, ſeeing an Account thereof is to be met with in ſundry Hiſtorians, but more eſpecially in the Book Leo Allatius wrote touching the Agreement of theſe two Churches. I ſhall only here take notice of ſome of them obſerved by Mr. Arnaud, and which will be ſufficient to ſhew after what manner the Greek Emperors have proceeded in Favour of the Latins, when they wanted the Pope's Aſſiſtance.
MICHAEL Cerularius the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and Leo Biſhop of Acrida, having written ſome Letters againſt the Church of Rome, to Peter the Patriarch of Antioch, thereupon cauſed the Latine Churches to be ſhut up at Conſtantinople. Pope Leo the Eleventh was greatly moved at it. He therefore wrote to Cerularius, and Leo of Acrida a long Letter, wherein he anſwered their Objections, and accuſed likewiſe the Greek Church of Lightneſs, Raſhneſs, and Preſumption. This hap'ned about the middle of the eleventh Century. The Emperor Conſtantin Monomaque who then Reigned, ſeeing this Difference, did not ſtick to take the Church of Rome's part: he commanded therefore Cerularius to write back to the Pope, Letters of Reconciliation and Peace; and the Pope ſends thereupon to Conſtantinople (in order to the Churches Re-union) his Legats, Humbert, and Frederic, Cardinals, and Peter, Arch-Biſhop of Melphus, with Letters to the Emperor and Patriarch. The Emperor granted to theſe Legates whatſoever they deſired, even to the conſtraining Nicetas Pectoratus, a Greek Monk, that had written againſt the Romain Church, to burn publickly his own Book, and anathematiſe all thoſe that would not acknowledg the Pope's Supremacy, or dared in any wiſe cenſure the Doctrines of the Latins. This Protection ſo raiſed the Legates Courage, that coming into the Patriarchal Church, in the preſence of all the People and Greek Clergy, they Excommunicated the Patriarch and Biſhop of Acrida, and all that took their Parts; which raiſed ſuch a Tumult in Conſtantinople, that the Emperor had much ado to ſave the Legates from the Popular Fury, who after this returned into Italy; whereupon the Patriarch Excommunicated, on his Side, the Legates, and raſed the Popes Name out of the Diptyches, which are Tables, wherein the Names of thoſe that are prayed for in the Divine Service were ſet down. Some Authors ſay, that he Anathematiſed the Pope, and all the Latines, as Hereticks; but Leo Allatius cites the Teſtimony of an anonymous Author, by which it appears, that the Emperor hindered, by his, Authority this Excommunication. In the time, ſaies this Author, that Michael Cerularius Anonym. apud Allat. de perp. Conſ. L. 2. C. 8.held the See of Conſtantinople, the four Patriarchs raſed the Pope's Name out of the Dyptiches, and yet did they not fully pronounce the Anathema againſt the Latines, being hind'red by the Emperor, who conſidered them as a great and mighty Nation, and therefore was afraid of their uſual Incurſions.
IN the Year 1071, Michael Parapinacius was made Emperor, being a Prince that loved his Eaſe, and therefore withſtood not the Turks Progreſs into Europe. He obſerved the uſual Policy of the Greek Emperors, which L. 2. C. 8. P. 173.was, to favour the Latines; and Mr. Arnaud obſerves from Baronius, and Leo Allatius, that Pope Alexander the ſecond, ſent to him Peter, Biſhop of Anagnia, Allet. de Perp. Conſ. L. 2. C. 9.as his Nuncio. Allatius adds that Peter remained a Year at Conſtantinople. Which ſhews us, ſaies he, This Emperor was in the Communion of the Roman Church, and in effect, Gregory the ſeventh Excommunicated, upon his account, Nicephorus Botionatus, who had uſurped the Empire, and ſhut up Michael in a Monaſtery.
IN the Year 1081 Nicephorus Botoniatus, was handled by Alexis Comnenus, in the ſame manner that Michael was uſed by Nicephorus, that is to ſay, he was deprived of the Empire and ſhut up in a Monaſtery. But Alexis getting into his place, varied not from the Cuſtom of his Predeceſſors: the neceſſity of his Affairs obliging him to turn himſelf on the Side of the Latins, more openly than others had done before him, and obſerve their Meaſures, altho inwardly he did not affect them. He obſtructed their Deſigns on the Holy Land, as much as in him lay, and hind'red their Paſſage thither, obliging them ſometimes to turn their Arms againſt him, and chaſtize him Rationar. temp. Part 1. L. 8. C 13. Baron. ad ann. 1095.ſeverely; which cauſed Pelavius the Jeſuit, to ſay, That it was impoſſible for a man to be more deceitful and unjuſt than this Emperor was towards the Latines in this whole Expedition. Yet had he ſent his Embaſſadors to the Council of Plaiſance to ſollicite the Pope and Weſtern Princes to undertake the War againſt the Infidels. He flattered the Romain Church on all Occaſions, ſending Allat. de Conſ L 2. C. 10.oftentimes Preſents to the Monaſtery of Mount Caſſin, uſing likewiſe the ſame Liberality towards the other Latine Churches, and eſpecially that of St. Marc at Venice, on which he beſtowed conſiderable Revenues, as 'tis obſerved by Allatius, who alledgeth for this the Teſtimony of the Princeſs Ann Barron. ad ann. 109….Comnenus the Daughter of this Emperor. He likewiſe gave his helping Hand towards the Eſſay of a Re-union made at the Synod of Bary in the Year 1097. He ſent Embaſſadors to Rome in Behalf of Pope Paſchal, the ſecond Baron. ad ann. 1112 & ad ann. 1118.who obtained the Papacy, two Years after the Synod of Bary, and this Pope in the ſecond Year of his Popedom, ſent him the Arch-Biſhop of Milain. Eo ſolo nomine quod ipſe exiſtimo, ſaies Allatius, ut ſi quid erat in Graecia Allat. ubi ſupra.noxium ex Cerularii Schola radicitus extirparet, Graecoſque alios contineret in fide. To the end he might utterly Extirpate, whatſoever remained of Cerularius his Doctrine, and keep the other Greeks in the Faith.
JOHN Comnénus, who ſucceeded Alexis, was yet more favourable to the Latines than Alexis, for this I ſuppoſe is the Jeſuit Peteau's meaning, when he ſaies that he was, Patre aliquanto commodior, a little leſs troubleſom than his Father. I do not obſerve there has bin any thing more ſaid of him on this Subject, unleſs, that he received a Letter from Peter the Abbot of Clugny, in which he entreated him to ſurrender a Monaſtery belonging to them of his Order at Conſtantinople, and which had bin taken from them, promiſing he ſhould participate of all the Merits of that Order, if he reeſtabliſhed them. Baronius ſaies likewiſe that Anaclet the Antypope to Innocent Baron. ad ann. 1130.the ſecond, wrote to this Emperor, informing him of his Promotion to the Popedom; and that he called him his moſt dear Son.
AFTER John ſucceeded Manuel Comnénus, a Prince very much addicted to Diſſimulation and double Dealing, who on one hand did the Latines all the Miſchief he privately could, by the Secret Intelligence he held with the Sarracens, and on the other, earneſtly endeavoured at a complyance with the Deſires of the Church of Rome, touching the Re-union of the Greeks. Allatius tells us, that he ſent Embaſſadors to Pope Alexander the Allat. de Perp. Conſ. L. 2. C. 11.third, to treat with him concerning this Re-union, and that the Pope ſent John the Sub-Deacon of the Church of Rome, to Conſtantinople, to reduce the Greeks by his Sermons. He likewiſe tells us, 'twas this Emperor that obliged Hugo Eterianus to write againſt the Greeks, touching the Proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt; that the Empreſs his Wife (as Mr. Arnaud himſelf obſerves) after him, was a Germain and of the Romiſh Religion: and that he beſtowed great Gifts on the Latine Churches: whereupon the Latine Biſhops for an acknowledgment of his Munificence, ſet up his Image in their Churches. It is difficult to Imagine how a Prince who in his Heart ſo greatly hated the Latines, that the Jeſuit Peteau has not ſtuck thereupon to call him, hominem ſubdolum & Chriſtianis rebus quae ad Latinos ſpectabant infeſtum & iniquum Ration. Temp. Part 1. C. 8. C. 21.adeo, ut cum Saracenis in eorum conſpiraret exitium, that is to ſay, a Perſon ſo deceitful and cruel to the Latine Church, that he conſpired its Ruine, together with the Saracens, yet ſhould favour the Latins in his Empire, and endeavour to procure the Re-union of its Church with the Roman. But Allatius unties the Knot, by ſhewing us in the Acts of Alexander the third, that the Allat. ubi Supra.Deſign of this Emperor was ſo to bring it about, that the Pope who was at Variance with the Emperor Frederick, ſhould take away from him the Latin Empire, and render it to the Greeks, to whom Manüel affirmed it did juſtly belong: and for this Effect he ſent Embaſſadors to the Pope; and the Pope ſent back together with his Embaſſadors the Biſhop of Oſtia, to negociate this Affair at Conſtantinople. Howſoever it was, it ſufficiently appears that all theſe different Intereſts yielded the Latins fit Opportunities to plant their Doctrines amongſt the Greeks.
EMANUEL'S Intrigue was ſo far carried on, that he aſſembled a Allat. de Perp. Conſ. L. 2. C. 2. Idem. Ibid.Council at Conſtantinople, where the Reunion of the Churches was propoſed. Some ſay, the Latins required no more of the Greeks, but the Acknowledgment of the Popes Authority, the grant of Appeals, and the Commemoration of him in the publick Prayers of their Church: Others ſay, the Latins would have intirely ſubjected the Greeks to their Wills and Cuſtoms. That which is certain is, they could not Agree, and that the Emperor himſelf lent his helping Hand to ſeparate them, yet not daring to Anathematiſe Ancyr an. apud Allat. Ibid.the Latins, becauſe, ſaies a Greek Author, Cited by Allatius, they were a great and famous People.
AFTER the Latins had eſtabliſhed their Empire at Conſtantinople, the Greeks withdrew into Aſia, where they choſe an Emperor and Patriarch, and the Affairs of the Latins falling to decay, there was an after Tryal made upon the Greeks, touching a Reunion. Mr. Arnaud obſerves, that the Pope wrote about it to Germain the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and 'tis very L. 3. C. 2.likely he forgot not to ſollicite the Emperor, who was then John Ducas. He ſent two Dominicans, and two Franciſcans, who cauſed an Aſſembly to be called for this Effect, but to no purpoſe. For each of them had his particular Intereſt and Deſign in this Affair.
THE Pope intended to ſubject the Greek Church to himſelf, and the Emperor endeavoured to hinder the Pope from favouring the Latins, who held Conſtantinople, and to Regain this City, as the Greeks did ſome time after; Mathew Paris gives an account of theſe Letters of the Patriarch to the Mat. Par. in Henrico. 3.Pope, and of the Popes to the Patriarch, concerning this Negotiation.
THEODORUS Laſcaris ſucceeded John Ducas, in the Year 1255. Raynald. ad ann. 1256. numb. 47.Pope Alexander the fourth fail'd not to ſollicite him to a Reunion: he ſent him an expreſs Legate for that purpoſe; but this Emperor ſoon died, whereupon this Affair was no farther proſecuted.
ALLATIUS obſerves there was then a Greek Patriarch, Named Blemmida, Allat. de Conſ. Perp. L. 2. C. 14.who was a Learned Man, and very Zealous for this Union with the Latins.
MICHAEL Paleologus, obtaining the Empire, and having a while after made himſelf Maſter of Conſtantinople, endeavoured above all others at L. 5. C. 1. P. 255.a Reunion with the Latines, Mr. Arnaud acknowledges, that having united himſelf to the Church of Rome, he forced, by all manner of Severity, the Biſhops and Religious Greeks to do the ſame. This Prince Contracted a particular Friendſhip with Gregory the Tenth, before he came to the Popedom, according to Allatius, which gave him the greater Facility to Negociate with the Allat. de Perp. Conſ L. 2. C. 15.Church of Rome. He ſent ſeveral times his Embaſſadors, and the Pope his Legates in order to a Reconciliation. He held ſeveral Councils on this Occaſion, Ibid.and Inflicted the greateſt Torments on thoſe that had the Courage to reſiſt him, and promoted others who embraced this Union; theſe are Allatius his own Words. He falſly accuſed John Veccus, Treaſurer to the Church of Conſtantinople, and cauſed him to be Impriſoned; becauſe Veccus had ſaid in his hearing, that altho the Latines were not reſpected as Hereticks, yet were Pachymer. Hiſt. Lib. 5. C. 12.they ſuch nevertheleſs; which ſo greatly provoked this Emperor, as cauſed him to think of nothing but Revenge; And for as much as Veccus had ſheltred himſelf in the Temple of St. Sophia, and the Emperor daring not to Violate this Aſylum, he wrote to him very kind Letters, intreating him to come to him, which Veccus had no ſooner endeavoured, but was apprehended, and carried to the Tower, where he was ſollicited to joyn with the Idem C. 13.Latins.
THIS Prince made and unmade Patriarchs at his Will, he uſurped, ſaies the Hiſtorian Raynaldus, the Eccleſiaſtical Authority, placing and diſplaing Raynald. ad ann. 261. Num. 32. Vide. Pach.Patriarchs at his Pleaſure. He firſt of all conſtrain'd Arſenius to reſign up his place to Nicephorus; and after the taking of Conſtantinople, he recalled the ſame Arſenius, who had excommunicated him, for what he had done againſt John Laſcaris the Son of Theodorus, to whom the Empire did of Right belong; and whoſe Eyes he had cauſed to be put out; and ſeeing he could not prevail on this Patriarch, he raiſed up falſe Witneſſes againſt him, and cauſed him to be depoſed in a Synod, and Germain choſen in his place. Germain not being ſutable to his Humour, he ſo far prevailed with him as to obtain a voluntary Reſignation to Joſeph; but Joſeph not conſenting to the Reunion with the Latins, nor the ſending of Deputites to the Pope, with whom the Emperor had charged them to conclude this Affair, he cauſed him therefore to retire into a Covent, upon Condition that if this Matter broke off, he ſhould enter again into his charge of Patriarch. Now the Deputies being returned with the News of the Reunion accompliſhed, the Emperor choſe this ſame above named John Veccus, who at length ſuffered himſelf to be won, either by the reading of ſome Books put into his Hands, or by the Miſeries he had ſuffered during a long Impriſonment, and hope of a contrary Uſage: Yet Veccus did not pleaſe him long.
IT would be a difficult matter to relate here all the Violences and Cruelties of Michael, againſt thoſe that withſtood the Reunion of the two Churches. It will be ſufficient to relate here two or three of them, by which we may judge of the reſt. He Impriſoned Holobulus Rhetor of the Church of Conſtantinople, whoſe Office, according to Codinius, was to Interpret the Holy Scriptures, and cauſed him to be cruelly Scourged, and at length a Pachymer. L. 5. C. 20 Codin. de Officiis Conſt. Cap. 1.Rope to be faſtned about his Neck, and to be thus expoſed thro out all the City, with his Wife and Neece, together with ten others, bound after the ſame manner, cauſing the two former of theſe to be flapt ever and anon on the Cheeks, with the Entrails of a Sheep, which is amongſt the Greeks, a kind of Infamous Puniſhment, wherewith only the Vileſt Offenders are treated, and thoſe who add Obſtinacy to the Crimes of which they have bin Guilty. He likewiſe Impriſoned four of the Chief Officers of his Houſe, two of which were his Kinſmen, and there kept them a long time laden with Idem. L. 6. C. 16.Irons. This Severity ſeemed very great, but not content therewith; when the Pope ſent Legates to Conſtantinople, to Confirm the Greeks in their Obedience to him, he made them Witneſſes of his Cruelty towards the Oppoſers of this Union, commanding a certain Biſhop of Epheſus, to conduct them to the Priſon, and ſhew them theſe four Perſons, who were of the chiefeſt Rank in Greece, they were in a ſquare Room, each of 'em chained to a corner thereof, and laden with Irons, and that which was an Aggravation of their Miſery, was to be thus expoſed a Spectacle to their Enemies.
WOULD we know the Motives inducing this Prince to uſe ſo great Idem. L. 3. C. 18.Severity in this matter. Obſerve we then what Pachymerus tells us. He ſent oftentimes Embaſſadors to the Pope, and endeavoured to gain him by Preſents. For he plainly perceived the Danger lay on that ſide, and that the Italians could not lye long Idle; Wherefore he made Propoſals of Union, to the end he might be ſecure as to them, and the better Diſpoſe of his other Affairs. Theſe Embaſſies then were frequent, and the Preſents Magnificent, not only to the Pope, but likewiſe to ſeveral Cardinals, and others whom he judged powerful in the Court of Rome. In effect as ſoon as ever Pope Urbain the fourth, received Raynald. ad ann. 1262. num. 3. &c. ad ann. 1262.the News of the re-taking of Conſtantinople, and the Progreſs of the Greeks, he earneſtly endeavoured to ſtir up the Princes and People to aſſiſt the Latins; he wrote for this Effect, to the Fryar Minorites in France, and enjoyned them to Preach a Croiſado on this occaſion, with the ſame Indulgences which had bin granted them that undertook the Holy War; he wrote likewiſe to King Lewis upon the ſame account; and threatned the Genoiſes who favoured Michael, (being at Varyance with the Venetians) that if they forſook not his Allyance, he would excommunicate them, he wrote to the Prelates of England and France, exhorting them to contribute to this War, in ſhort he forgot nothing he judged neceſſary in this Occaſion. Michael then ſeeing that the only means to ſhelter himſelf from this Storm, Raynald. ad ann. 1263. num 22.was to fly to the uſual Policy of the Greeks, that is to ſay, to negotiate the Re-union of the two Churches; he thereupon wrote to the Pope, Letters full of Reſpect and Affection to the Roman Church, and having received ſuch an Anſwer as he deſired, he earneſtly applyed himſelf to this Buſineſs. Mr. Arnaud himſelf is agreed on the Motives which ſet this Emperor at work. Foreſeeing, ſaies he, the Popes would not fail to arm the Weſtern Princes L. 3. C. 2. P. 266.againſt him, and that he had a potent Enemy, in the Perſon of Charles D'Anjou, King of Naples, and Sicily, with whom the Emperor Baldwin, being driven from Conſtantinople was allyed, he reſolved thereupon to reunite the Greeks with the Roman Church, that he might by this means deliver himſelf from the fear of thoſe dreadful Croiſado's, which made the Greek Emperors tremble at that time in Conſtantinople, the Sultans in Babylon and Grand Caire, and the Tartars themſelves as far as Perſia. It is certain, adds he, that this Re-union was carried on upon politick Reſpects.
AND theſe in effect were the true Reaſons of Michael's Undertakings; which being his greateſt Intereſt, he therefore left no means unattempted whereby to accompliſh it. Which Mr. Arnaud does ſtill grant; We may read, ſaies he, in Pachymerus, that he endeavoured too violently, to bring the Biſhops over to his Will. But did he not acknowledg it, we need only L. 3. C. 3. P. 274.read what Michael himſelf ſaies in his harangue to the Greek Clergy, aſſembled upon this Occaſion. I muſt acknowledg, ſaies he, that I have ſtiſled within me the moſt tender Sentiments of Nature, to accompliſh my deſign. You know Pachym. L. 6. C. 15.I loved a Perſon, with the ſame tenderneſs and Reſpect, as if he had been my own Father, and I believed I ow'd him more than my Father, ſeeing he gave me the Communion, and received me into the Boſom of the Church, which I eſteem more than the giving me Life, and yet have I Sacrificed him to this Intereſt. 'Tis the Patriarch Joſeph I mean. I have violently handled ſeveral others, even my intimate Friends, and oppreſſed divers among your ſelves. I have moreover ſeveral of my near Kinſmen in Priſon, there having bin no other Reaſon for their oppoſing me, or my puniſhing them, than only this Re-union with the Latins. I think this is ſufficient to Convince us, that this Emperor abuſed his Power in Favour of the Court of Rome.
I confeſs thoſe that ſucceeded him, altho they had the ſame Opinion touching the Re-union, yet uſed not the ſame Extremities, nevertheleſs John Paléologus Raynald. ad ann. 1370.endeavoured earneſtly to effect this, and therefore went in Perſon to Rome in great Pomp, to make his Declaration.
EMANUEL the ſecond who ſucceeded him, trod in the ſame Steps, addreſſing himſelf to Pope Boniface the ninth, who publiſhed a Croiſado for his Aſſiſtance againſt the Turks; and a while after, he treated with Martin the fifth, touching the Reconciliation of the two Churches. In Fine, John the ſeventh, Paleologus came to the Council of Florence, and Syrop. Hiſt. Concil. Flor. Sect. 2. C. 5.ſent his Clergy thither on the ſame Deſign.
WE may then well conclude the Latins wanted not Opportunities to introduce their Religion amongſt the Greeks. For firſt it is not to be ſuppoſed but that this great Paſſion theſe Emperors ſhewed towards this Union, inclined the Minds and Hearts of ſeveral Perſons, as well of the Clergy as Laity to favour the Roman Church, to embrace its Intereſts, and accommodate themſelves to its Doctrine. We all know how weak and fickle the greateſt part of mankind are, they approve and eſteem whatſoever is in Favour and Credit, there being few whoſe Minds are not Byaſſed even in Religious matters, by temporal Advantages. Men commonly in ſuch caſes endeavour to Molliſy and take in a good Sence, that which before was a Subject of Scandal: they enlarge or diminiſh Objects, to bring 'em to the Point they deſire; they hearken to nothing but what is pleaſing, and behold whatſoever oppoſes their Intereſt in ſuch a manner as ſhall be ſure to render it unjuſt and odious.
IN the ſecond place, we need not doubt but this ſame Paſſion of the Emperors obliged ſeveral others to manage theſe Controverſies, and let go divers Articles as being but of ſmall Importance. All the Schiſmatical Greeks, De Perp. Conſ. L. 3. C. 12.ſaies Allatius, are not like minded towards the Latins, ſome of them are more moderate than others, making the Difference conſiſt only in one or two Points; others more Rigorous, for whatſoever the Latins do, which agrees not with the Ceremonies and Rites of the Greeks, they Condemn and Reject, as an Abomination. He Confirms afterwards what he ſaies, by a Paſſage taken out of Demetrius Comatenus, which tells us, that ſeveral moderate Greeks, agreed with the Latins in divers Particulars, acknowledging the proud and fierce Humor of their Nation, which hath almoſt become Barbarous by their frequent Commerce with the Barbarians, and that theſe aforementioned have only ſtuck at the ſingle Article touching the Proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt. Mr. Arnaud himſelf ſaies, 'twas L. 2. C. 10. P. 200.obſerved the Greeks were of different Diſpoſitions in thoſe times (he means in the twelfth Century) for ſome of 'em maintained the Latins ought to be treated as Hereticks, and others blamed theſe Tranſports of Paſſion. But 'tis certain even the moſt rigorous amongſt them, only ſtuck to thoſe Points which were openly debated by the two Churches, amongſt which the Principal were touching the Proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt, and the Azymes. The Conſtancy they ſhewed in Reference to theſe Articles, ſufficiently expoſed them to the Hatred and ill Uſage of their Emperors, ſo that we need not deſcend to the Examination of other Particulars, which broke not out into Diſputes on either ſide.
NEITHER need we any more doubt but that ſeveral condeſcended to the Will of their Emperors, upon this Conſideration, that altho they were Reunited to the Church of Rome, yet ſhould they ſuffer no Alteration, either in the eſſential Parts of their Religion, or Ceremonies, and that there was no hurt in cheating theſe Latins, by this Fancy of a Union, which ſignified nothing at th'bottom, but which yet would yield them great Advantage in their Affairs. And this was the chief Reaſon which Michael Paleologus offered to his Clergy, according to Pachymerus his Relation, he ſhewed them, ſaies he, that the only Cauſe moving him to procure this Peace with the Latine Pachym. Hiſt. L. 5. C. 1.Church, was to hinder thoſe Cruel and Bloody Wars which threatned them, and to ſpare his Subjects Blood. That as to the reſt, they might aſſure themſelves, that after the Reunion, their Church ſhould remain as it was, without any Innovation? That he himſelf would take care of it. That the whole Reconciliation with the Church of Rome, might be reduced to theſe three Articles, viz. The Primacy, Appeal, and Commemoration, all which ſignified nothing, if rightly conſidered. For when, ſaies he, will the Pope come to Conſtantinople, to take Poſſeſſion of this Primacy! who will make Appeals, to end them in ſo far a Country, who will Croſs the Seas for this. And as to the Commemoration of the Pope in our Patriarchal Temple, and your other great Temple, (when the Patriarch ſhall Officiate there,) being prudent as you are, can this appear ſuch a ſtrange thing to you. Do you not know the Fathers have often made uſe of Diſpenſations, and frequently ſubmitted themſelves for the publick Good. Pachymerus adds, that there were ſome in effect who let go theſe two Articles touching the Primacy, and Appeals, upon this Conſideration, that the Pope would have only the Name and Shadow of the thing, but never enjoy the thing it ſelf.
BUT in fine, we need not queſtion, but this Carriage of the Emperors, much encouraged and imboldned the Latins, to endeavour effectually to inſinuate their Opinions into the Minds of both Clergy and Laity, under pretence of inſtructing, and making them capable of this Union. We know what a Religious Zeal can do, and eſpecially when 'tis countenanced by Power, and ſeconded by hopes of Succeſs. Had the Greek Church remained but ſome Years in this Condition, it might be ſaid, that theſe have bin but ſlight and tranſient Attempts, which have not had time to produce any great Effects. But 'tis certain that ſince the eleventh Century, which is to ſay, ſince the time Berengarius was laſt Condemned, till now, ſhe has bin continually as it were under the Roman Yoke, and they have had all deſirable Opportunities to introduce their Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation; and 'tis a kind of Miracle if they have not obtained their Ends. For when men have had to do with an ignorant and groſs People, in matters of Religion, as the Greeks are, and have bin for a long time, when Perſons have had a familiar and ordinary Commerce with them, and have beſides all proper means to prevail on them, as Power, Authority, Mildneſs, the way of Inſtruction, Fear, Hope, and moreover upheld by the Emperors, Patriarchs, and Biſhops; it is ſo far from being difficult to do what one will, that 'tis on the contrary very difficult not to do it. Whence it follows, that even when Mr. Arnaud ſhould make it appear that Tranſubſtantiation, and the Adoration of the Euchariſt, have bin eſtabliſhed amongſt the Greeks ſince the eleventh Century, his Proofs would be uſeleſs and of no Conſequence, as to our Debate; for it might always be anſwered, that this Doctrine hath bin communicated to them by the Latins, and the ways of this Communication are not hard to be underſtood. Mr. Arnaud has bin very ſenſible of the truth of what I ſay, and therefore was willing to relate, himſelf the greateſt part of theſe Hiſtorical Paſſages I mentioned: But he has otherwiſe repreſented them, to the end he might draw fruitleſs and impertinent Concluſions from them, and by this means hinder us from making a juſt and right uſe of them. This Deceit of his, is like to that he has us'd in the foregoing Chapter.
WE ſhall in the inſuing part of this Diſcourſe, overthrow his pretended Conſequences. It may ſuffice at preſent to obſerve the Circuit he has taken, on purpoſe to divert his Reader from diſcovering the real Truth. For I do not believe there is any rational Man but will judge, that ſeeing theſe Doctrines appeared not in the Greek Church, before theſe Diſorders; if they ſhould appear afterwards, they muſt be introduced by them. This is a natural and plain Concluſion.