History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 600-1000 · Century 7 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of COUNCELS.
1. OF all the Councels in this Century (excepting theſe at Rome) it is Synodes were aſſembled by Kings.ſaid generally, that they were called by the authority of Princes within their Dominions; as is plain out of the firſt words of each of them almoſt (but never any ſyllable to the contrary) where it is read, By command, or at the calling of the King; or, The King commanding, Of the General Councel at Conſtantinople (in this point) is ſpoken before. Concerning France, we ſee in Gregory the I. lib. 9. Ep. 52, 53, 54. the Biſhop calleth not a Councel; but beſeecheth the King to call one: his words are, Iterata vos pro veſtra magna mercede aahortatione pulſamus, ut congregati Synodum jubeatis. In England a Synod, An. 694. beginneth thus, Withred the glorious King of Kent, with the reverend Arch Biſhop Brithwald, hath commanded the Synod to be aſſembled in the place called Bacancelot; the moſt gracious King of Kent Withred preceding [Nota] in the ſame Synod; and the ſame reverend Primate of Britan; and alſo Tobias, Biſhop of Rocheſter, with Abbots, Abboteſſes, Presbyters, Deacons, Dukes and Counts; together conſidering of the affairs of the Churches of God in England, &c. Sir Henry Spelman in Concil. & conſtitut. pag. 191. This is to be marked againſt the Papiſts who hold now, that a Synod cannot be convened, but by the authority of the Pope. Bellarm. de conc. lib. 1. cap. 12.
2. About the year 610. was the ſecond Councel, at Bracara or Braga in Synod at Bracara.Portugal. 1. Out of the Greek Councels many Acts were read and ratified. Ca. 2. If any Biſhop exercize not his calling, in the Church committed unto him, he ought to be excommunicated; and if afterwards, through compulſion, he will obey, let the Synod uſe their diſcretion concerning him. Ca. 19. A Biſhop, being called unto a Synod, ſhould not contemn, but go; and if he can, he ſhould teach things profitable to the good of the Church, and of others; or he ſhould hear, if he be ignorant; but if he will not go, he ſhould be guilty of cenſure by the Synod. Ca. 45. It ſhall not be lawfull to read or ſing from the Pulpit, but to them who are approved by the Church. Ca. 84. If any man enter into a Church, and hear the word; and then withdraw himſelf from the Sacrament, let him be excommunicated, till he ſhew the fruits of repentance.
3. The Authour of Catalog. teſt. verit. ſhe weth out of Aventi. Annal. lib. 3. Synod in Bojaria.that under Lotharius was a Synod in Bojaria, againſt the new ceremonies of Columban and Gallus; but he declareth not what they were. But we have ſeen, that theſe two were Scots, and did not agree with Auguſtine nor Lawrence, and did oppoſe their Ceremonies.
4. An. 618. Was the IV. Councel (called the Univerſal) at Toledo, of The IV. Synod at Toledo.70. Biſhops. Ca. 2. It pleaſeth all the Prieſts who embrace the unity of the Catholick faith, that from henceforth we have no variety nor contrariety of rites in the Church; leſt any difference amongſt us, ſeem unto ſtrangers and carnal men, to ſavour of errout, and give occaſion of ſcandal to any; therefore let one order of praying and ſinging be kept thorough all Spain and Galicia, and no more diverſity; becauſe we are in one faith, and one Kingdom; although the old Canons heretofore, ordained each Province to keep their own tites. Ca. 6. Some Pariſhes are noted, who have no preaching on the Friday before Eaſter; now it is decreed, to preach of Chriſt's paſhon that day; that people may be the better prepared to receive the Sacrament of Chriſt's Body and Blood, on the Feaſt of the reſurrection. Ca. 7. Becauſe the Univerſal Church paſſeth that whole day in ſorrow and abſtinence for the Lord's paſſion; whoſoever on that day, except little ones, and old or ſick perſons, ſhould interrupt the Faſt untill the Church ſervice be done, let him be debarred from the joy of Eaſter; and not be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood. Ca. 9. Becauſe ſome Prieſts in Spain do omit to ſay the Lord's prayer, except on Sunday in publick ſervice; therefore it is decreed, that every day both in publick and private worſhip, none of the Clergy omit the Lords prayer; under pain of Depoſition: ſeeing Chriſt hath preſcribed this, ſaying, When ye pray, ſay, Our Father—and it is called the daily prayer, by the Doctours and Fathers. Ca. 16. The book of Revelation ſh…uld be read yearly in the Church, between Eaſter and Whitſunday. Ca. 18. A pernicious cuſtom ſhould not be kept; contempt of ancient ſtatutes hath perturbed all the order of the Church; while ſome by ambition, and others by gifts, do uſurp Prieſthoods and Biſhopricks; and ſome prophane men and ſouldiers, unworthy of ſuch honour, have been admitted into the holy order; they ſhould be removed: But leſt great ſcandal ariſe in the Church (what hath been done is paſt) it is expedient to preſcribe, who ſhall not hereafter be admitted into the Prieſthood; that is, he who hath been convicted of any infamous crime; who by publick repentance hath confeſſed groſs ſins; who hath fallen into hereſie; who hath been baptized in hereſie, or is known to be rebaptized; who hath married a ſecond wife, or widow, or divorced, or corrupt woman; who hath concubines or whores; unknown men or young Scholars, who have been Souldiers or Courtiers; who are ignorant of Letters; who are not 30. years old; who aſcendeth not by the degrees of the Church; who ſeeketh honour by ambition or gifts; who were choſen by their Predeceſſours; whom the People and Clergy of the City have not choſen, or the authority of the Metropolitan, and conſent of the comprovincial Prieſts have not required. Whoſoever is required unto the Office of a Prieſt, and is not found guilty in one of theſe, and his life and doctrine being approved, according to the Synodal Decrees; he ſhould be conſecrated by all the comprovincial Biſhops, at leaſt by three, upon a Sabboth day; and the reſt ſending their Letters of approbation; and eſpecially by the authority, and preſence, of the Metropolitan. A comprovincial Biſhop ſhould be conſecrated, in the place where the Metropolitan ſhould chuſe him; the Metropolitan ſhould not be conſecrated, but in his own See, when the Comprovincials were aſſembled. Ca. 24. Prieſts are commanded to read the Scriptures diligently, that all their doings might ſerve for inſtruction to the people, in knowledge of faith, and good example of life. Ca. 35. Every Biſhop ſhould viſit his Diocy, once every year, in proper perſon; and if ſickneſs or weightier buſineſs did hinder him, then by the moſt grave Prieſts. Ca. 46. At command of our Lord and King Siſenand, the holy Councel ordaineth, That all Clarks for the ſervice of Religion, ſhould be exempt from all charges and labours of the Common-Wealth. Ca. 74. So great is the falſhood of many Nations (as they report) that they keep not their Oath of fidelity unto their Kings; and in a word, they feign the profeſſion of an oath, but retain in their minds the impiety of falſhood; they ſwear unto their Kings, and tranſgreſs againſt their Oath, nor fear they the judgement of God againſt perjurers: What hope can ſuch have when they War againſt their enemies? What faithfulneſs can other Nations expect in peace? What Covenant ſhall not be violated, ſince they keep not their Oaths unto their own Kings? If we will eſchew the wrath of God, and if we deſire him to turn his ſeverity into clemency; let us keep religious duty, and fear God, and our promiſed fidelity to our Princes; let there be no ungodly ſubtleties of infidelity amongſt us, as amongſt ſome Nations; let none of us preſumptuouſly uſurp the Kingdom; let none raiſe ſeditions amongſt the Subjects; let none attempt the murther of Kings, but when the King is departed in peace, let the Nobles of the Realm, with the Prieſts, in a Common-Councel of the Kingdom, appoint a Succeſſour; that when the unity of concord is kept by us, no diſſenſion can ariſe by violence or ambition; and whoſoever among us, or of all the people of Spain, by any conſpiracy or deſign whatſoever, ſhould violate the Sacrament of his promiſe, that he hath promiſed for the ſtanding of his Country and Kingdom of Goths, or for ſafety of the King; or attempt to murther the King, or to deprive him of his Royal Power, or by preſumptuous tyranny ſhall uſurp the Kingdom; let him be accurſed in the ſight of God the Father, and of the Angels; and let him be debarred from the Holy Church, which he hath defiled with perjury, and let him be eſtranged from the aſſembly of Chriſtians, with all the complices of his impiety; becauſe they all ſhould be ſubject in the ſame puniſhment, who are guilty of the ſame fault. Which we repeat, ſaying again, Whoſoever among us, &c.
5. About the year 616. was a Councel at Altiſiodore or Autricum. Ca. 5. Synod at Altiſiodore.All vigils which were wont to be kept to the honour of God, are forbidden, as divinations. Ca. 18. It is not lawfull to baptize at any time, except at Eaſter; unleſs it be ſuch that are neer unto death, who are called grabbatarij. Ca. 21. It is not lawfull for a Presbyter, after he hath received the bleſſing, to ſleep in a bed by a Presbytereſs. Here they ordain not to put away the wives, nor forbid they cohabitation; but ſleeping together. Ca. 40. A Presbyter ſhould not ſing nor dance at a feaſt. In this Councel 7. Abbots, and 34 Presbyters had deciſive votes and ſubſcribe.
6. About the year 650. was the VIII. Councel at Toledo, to the number The VIII. Synod at Toledo.of 52. Biſhops; where firſt was recited, and approved a rule of faith (little differing from the Nicene Creed) as taught by the Apoſtles, allowed by the Orthodox Fathers, and approved by the Holy Councels; here is no mention of Chriſt's deſcending into Hell, and in the IV. Councel at Toledo, that article was not omitted. In many of all theſe Spaniſh Councels, the ſleeping of Presbyters with their wives, is condemned as ſinfull and execrable; but ſome would maintain their liberty, and would not obey, as is manifeſt in the ſixth and ſeventh chapters of this Councel.
7. In the year 655. was a Councel of 45. Biſhops at Cabella or Cabilone in Synod at Cabilone.Burgundy. Ca. 1. The fore-named Creed is approved. Ca. 10. When a Biſhop of any City dieth, another ſhould be choſen, only by the Clergy and indwellers of the ſame Province, otherwiſe the election is nul. Ca. 17. If any ſhall move a tumult, or draw a weapon, in a Church, ſo giving ſcandal; let him be debarred from the Communion. Ca. 18. We not ordaining a new thing, but renewing the old, do ordain, That no manner of husbandry-work, be done on the Lords-day. Ca. 19. Many things fall out, that are lightly puniſhed; it is known to be very unſeemly, that on holy Feaſts, women in tribes uſe to ſing filthy ſongs; when they ought to be praying or hearing prayers; therefore Prieſts ſhould aboliſh ſuch things; and if ſuch perſons continue in their wickedneſs, let them be excommunicated.
8. About the year 673. was a Synod at Hertford or Herudford in England; Synod at Hertford.where it was decreed, 1. That Eaſter ſhould be kept, thorow the Realm, on the Sunday, the 14. day of the Moon, in the firſt month. Hence it is clear, that then they did reckon March to be the firſt month, after the manner of the Jews; which was the cuſtom in Scotland till the year 1603. and is ſtill the cuſtom of England; whereupon ariſeth difference in computation of years. 2. No Biſhop ſhould meddle with the Diocy of another. 3. No Clark ſhall forſake his own Biſhop, and go into another Diocy, without Letters of commendation from his own Biſhop. 4. Provincial Synods ſhould be obſerved, at leaſt, once a year. 5. Let no Biſhop prefer himſelf before another, but by priority of their conſecration. 6. Let no man put away his wife, except (as the Goſpel teacheth) it be for ſornication; and if he put her away, let him remain unmarried. Beda hiſt. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 5.
9. In the year 682. was the general Councel of 150. Biſhops (or as ſome The VI. general Councel at Conſtantinople.write 171.) at Conſtantinople, againſt the hereſie of the Monothelites. Of this Councel ſomewhat was ſpoken before. Here the Emperour Conſtantine was preſent, and Preſident, propounding, queſtioning, commanding ſilence upon occaſions, ruling, and diſmiſſing in every Seſſion; or in his abſence, a Nobleman, whom he ordained. The Nobleman ſate on his right hand; and on his left, were the Legates of Pope Agatho, George Biſhop of Conſtantinople, Macarius Biſhop of Antiochia; ſome Presbyters for the Biſhops of Alexandria and Jeruſalem (for then theſe two Cities were under the Sarazens) and the other Biſhops. There they were accurſed, who hold that there is but one Will in Chriſt; and a Confeſſion was publiſhed againſt this errour, and they made no other Canons. George did confeſs his errour, and did receive the ſentence of the Councel; but Macarius, and his Predeceſſours Cyrus, Sergius, Pirrhus, Paul and Peter, were accurſed; and Theophanius, an Abbot in Sicily, was made Biſhop of Antioch. Beda de 6. aetat. In the 12. Seſſion, the Epiſtle of Honorius, Biſhop of old Rome, unto Sergius, Biſhop of Conſtantinople, was examined; he was anathematized, and his Epiſtle was condemned to the fire: this Councel ſate 2. years. Within 4. or 5. years, by authority of the Emperour Juſtinian, the ſame Biſhops were aſſembled, and about 100. more; they ſate in the Palace, and therefore it is called Trullano, from Trullo the name of the Palace; alſo it is called foreign, becauſe it was neither fifth nor ſixth, yet they ſet in form the conſtitutions of both. Bellarm. de conc. lib. 1. cap. 7. In Gratian. decr. diſt. cap. 16. Habeo librum, Peter Biſhop of Nicomedia teſtifieth, that they made 102. Canons, which are not extant, but ſome are preſerved. Mart. Kemnitius in examin. Conc. Triden. pag. 3. citeth from Nilus, Biſhop of Theſſalonica, and the Greek Nomocanon; the thirteenth Canon in theſe words, Becauſe we underſtand, that it is delivered in the Roman Church as a Canon, that they who are thought worthy of the Order of a Deacon or Presbyter, ſhould profeſs, that they ſhould not bed with their own wives thereafter, We following the ancient Canon of Apoſtolical, genuine, and orderly conſtitution, ordain, That the lawfull cohabitation of holy men, with their own wives, from this day, in time coming, ſhould be valid, ratified, and firm; no way diſſolving their conjunction with their own wives, or depriving them of conjugal ſociety, which is in due time; and therefore he who is thought worthy the honour of a ſub-Deacon, or Deacon, or a Presbyter, ſhall not be hindered from that degree, becauſe he dwelleth with his lawfull wife; neither ſhall it be required of him at his ordination; or ſhall he be compelled to profeſs, that he ſhall or ſhould abſtain from lawfull copulation with his own wife; and yet they ſhall not have copulation with their own wives indifferently, but ſhall abſtain in time of their courſe: and therefore if any ſhall preſume, contrary to the Apoſtolical Canons, to deprive Deacons and Prieſts (after ordination) of ſociety with their lawfull wives; let him be depoſed; and alſo they who are ordained, if they put away their wives, under pretext of piety; let them be excommunicated. Hence it appeareth, that the Councel did defend the marriage of Church-men to be Apoſtolical and orderly; and therefore the contrary conſtitution of the Roman Church, was not ancient, Apoſtolical nor orderly. And nevertheleſs the ſame Councel ſaith, Ca. 3. Becauſe the Roman See, in reſpect of the marriage of Prieſts, hath obſerved the higheſt rigour; and the Conſtantinopolitan foreign meekneſs or gentleneſs, let us ſet a middle between the two, &c. And ſo they ordain, that who is twice married, or who hath married a widow, or a divorced, or a ſervant, or a whore, ſhould not henceforth be admitted: and the liberty of Prieſts, which in Ca. 13. is called Apoſtolical; is denied unto Biſhops in Ca. 12. and the wife of a Biſhop, is ordained to go into a Monaſtery, Ca. 48. And Prieſts, Deacons and ſub-Deacons, are forbidden to marry from thenceforth. When they ſay, from thenceforth; they declare that it was lawfull before. Theſe Canons are alſo in Gratian's Decrees, with great alteration; but the known practice of the Greek Church, ſheweth the reality of theſe Canons. Likewiſe in Ca. 55. they ſay, Becauſe we have found, that ſome in the Roman Church, in time of Lent, do faſt on the Sabboth daies, contrary to the received cuſtom of the Church; it ſeemeth good unto this ſacred Synod, that the Canon ſhall alſo bind, every way, the Roman Church: which [Canon] ſaith, If any Clark ſhould be found to faſt on the Lord's day or Sabboth, except one Sabboth only; let him be depoſed: and if he be a Laick; let him be excommunicated. The Papiſhes in theſe daies do glory, ſaying, That the Roman Church is the Mother-Church, Judge of all Churches, and can be judged of none: But behold! In this Synod a Biſhop of Rome, is condemned in two particulars. And in Ca. 36. it is decreed, That the See of Conſtantinople hath (and ſhould have) equal Priviledges with the See of Rome; and in Eccleſiaſtical matters be equally magnified Gratian. decr. diſt. 23. Edit. Pariſ. an. 1585. where the gloſs ſaith, that the Canon is amended from a manuſcript in Greek.
10. In the year 684. was the XI. Councel at Toledo. There firſt Quiricus The XI. Synod at Toledo.the Metropolitan, lamenteth the long omiſſion of National Councels, and the X. was held an. 674. Ca. 2. So far as one excelleth another in honour of preferment; ſo far ought he to excel in godlineſs, by having continually in his mouth the ſword of Truth; and in his hand the work of Light; for we ſhould at all times be mindfull of the degree of order, and manner of converſation; ſeeing we have taken upon us the Office of preaching; and no care ought to diſtract us from reading the Scriptures: therefore who are advanced to eminent places, ought to take care that they who are within their charge, periſh not by famine of the Word; alſo Metropolitans ſhould watch over their neighbours, and others ſubject unto them, and each Prelate over his inferiours. Ca. 4. As every one who loveth his brother, is born of God; ſo every one who hateth his brother, is of the Divel. Now it is dilated unto us, that ſome Prieſts love not their brethren; nor the Sun-ſetting (as Paul exhorteth) bringeth them from wrath; neither the yearly courſe of time hath brought them to the grace of love; to wit, the Sun of righteouſneſs hath gone from their hearts: therefore we ordain, that ſuch Prieſts preſume not to come nigh the Altar, to receive the grace of communion, untill they be knit together in true reconciliation. Ca. 15. It pleaſeth to ordain, that according to the determination of our Fathers, we ſhould be ready to aſſemble, once in the year, at the time the will of the King, or the Metropolitan ſhall appoint; and if any Biſhop abſent himſelf, except at inevitable neceſſity; let him be puniſhed with excommunication for a year. There alſo it is decreed, that no Biſhop, or other Clark, ſhould meddle with the judgement of blood; under the punishment of perpetual excommunication: That they who are ordained Bishops, shall give their Oath, before they be received into their Epiſcopal ſeat, that they neither have given, nor shall give unto any man, any reward for purchaſing their dignity. Here many abuſes of diſcipline in the Roman Church are condemned.