History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 600-1000 · Century 8 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of COUNCELS.
1. FEw Councels were aſſembled in the beginning of this Century. In France, Carloman aſſembleth one, which beginneth thus: In the A Synod in France.Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I Carloman, Duke and Prince of France, with the advice of the Servants of God and my Nobles, in the fear of Chriſt, have aſſembled, An. 742. Febr. 19. the Biſhops which are in my Kingdom, with the Prieſts, into a Councel and Synod; theſe are, Boniface Arch-Biſhop of Mentz, Burchard Biſhop of Wirtzburg, Reginfrid, Guntharius and the reſt of the Biſhops, with their Prieſts, That they ſhould give me counſel, how the Law of God, and religion of the Church many be reſtored: [Nota] which in the daies of former Princes hath been ſhattered and fallen; and how Chriſtian people may attain the ſalvation of their ſouls, and not periſh, being deceived by falſe Prieſts: And by the advice of my Prieſts and Nobles, We have ordained Biſhops thorow Cities, and ſet over them the Arch-Biſhop Boniface, who is the Legate of Saint Peter: And we have ordained, that Synods ſhould be called every year, that in Our preſence, the Decrees of Canons, Rites and Laws of the Church may be reſtored; and We reſtore unto the Churches the monies which hath been taken from them. We have alſo diſcharged all the Servants of God from hunting and wandring in woods with Dogs, and that they have no Hawks nor Falcons: We have alſo Decrced, according to the holy Canons, that each Presbyter dwelling in a Pariſh, be ſubject unto the Biſhop in whoſe Pariſh he dwelleth; and alwaies in Lent that he ſhew and give account of their Miniſtry, whether of Baptiſm, or Catholick Faith, and Prayers and order of Maſſes. Then he forbiddeth ſacrifice to the dead, and other prophane rites of Heathens; he appointeth puniſhment againſt the fornications and adulteries of Monks: In the end it is D…creed, that Monks and Nuns ſhould live within their Abbeys and Almshouſes, according to the rule of their Father, Benedict. Concil. tom. 2. edit. Crab. Behold how little mention is here of the Biſhop of Rome.
2. In the year 747. at Clonesho in England was a frequent Synod, where At Clonesho.it was Decreed, 1. That Biſhops ſhould be more diligent in taking heed to their charge, and admoniſhing people of their faults. 2. They ſhould maintain the devotion of true peace and love, and ſerve God in the ſame faith, hope and love, praying for one another mutually. 3. That once in the year each Biſhop ſhould viſit all the Pariſhes of his Diocy, and reſtrain the Heatheniſh obſervations which as yet were amongſt the people. 4. That none ſhould be admitted into Orders, till his life and converſation and literature were examined. 7. That Biſhops and Abbots ſhould diligently take heed, that all under them be diligent in reading for inſtruction of ſouls: for it is to be lamented (ſay they) that ſo few are found to be raviſhed with the love of holy knowiedge; but are rather miſ-carried with vanities and love of idle glory, and trace not the ſtudy of holy Scriptures. 10. That Presbyters ſhould learn to know all the duties of their Office; eſpecially, they ſhould learn to interpret in their own language the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the words that are ſaid in the Maſs and in Baptiſm; and they ſhould ſtudy to know what the words ſignifie ſpiritually. …8. That the Faſt of the fourth, ſeventh and the tenth months ſhould be obſerved. King Aelfwald and Offa were preſent, and they two, with many Dukes and Counts, confirm the Decrees with their ſubſcriptions. Spelman ad An. 747.
3. Conſtantine Copronymus aſſembled a Councel at Conſtantinople, of At Conſtantinople.338. Biſhops, out of Aſia and Europe, An. 755. this they called the ſeventh General Councel: Here was Theodore Biſhop of Epheſus, Baſil Biſhop of Piſidia, Paſtiles Biſhop of Pergamenum, John of Nicomedia, Coſmas of Epiphania in Apamea, &c. The controverſie of Images was diſcuſſed; Germanus Patriarch of Conſtantinople, Gregory Biſhop of Cyprus, and John Damaſcene, Patrons of Images, were accurſed; and Conſtantine Biſhop of Salaeum was made Patriarch. Images of Chriſt, of Mary, and of the Apoſtles were condemned; as having no warrant from Chriſt, nor the Apoſtles, nor the Fathers. And if any would ſay, that the Images of Chriſt only were condemned, becauſe they cannot repreſent his two natures; but the Apoſtles had two natures, and therefore they may be tolerated. The Synod anſwereth, it is the ſubtlety of diveliſh men following the errours of the Gentils; but it is ſaid in the Scriptures, God is a Spirit, and will be worſhipped in ſpirit and truth: No man hath ſeen God at any time, but ye heard his voice; and, Bleſſed are they who have not ſeen, and believe, &c. Then they alledge many teſtimonies of the Fathers againſt Images. They conclude, Let none of whatſoever eſtate, henceforth follow ſo wicked and impure inſtitution; who dare from henceforth make any image, or worſhip, or ſet up any image in a Church or private houſe, or have it privily; if he be a Biſhop or Deacon, let him be depoſed; if he be a Laick, let him be accurſed, and ſubject to the Emperour's cenſure; becauſe he fighteth againſt the Scriptures, nor obſerveth the traditions, &c. Laſtly follow the Canons, accurſing particularly all them who have images of the Trinity, or of Chriſt, as he is God, or as he is man, or as he is both God and Man in the hypoſtatical union; or as if he were two perſons, to paint on the one ſide the ſon of God, and on the other, the ſon of Mary. And they accurſe all who have an image of any Saint.
4. In the year 787. by perſwaſion of Tharaſius Patriarch, Irene called a Councel at Conſtantinople: Here were Pe. Vicedon a Prieſt, and Pe. Hegumen a Monk, Legates of Pope Adrian, John Patriarch of Antiochia, Thomas of Alexandria, &c. Auguſtus made diſputation of the worſhip of Images, it was ſcanned on both ſides; Tharaſius and other Biſhops and Monks were for them; againſt them was Baſilius Biſhop of Ancyra, Theodore Biſhop of Myri, Theodoſius Biſhop of Amorio, with many more Biſhops, and a great number of Teachers and Lay-men. The Patriarch could not prevail by number, and went about to exclude the better part from the Synod or diſputation; whereupon a tumult was like to ariſe, for the people could not be content that ſo great a part ſhould be debarred: when the Patriarch ſaw that he could not prevail, the Synod was diſſolved. The Image-worſhippers report this ſtory, as if their adverſaries had dealt only by faction, and not by reaſon: But thus writeth Pa. Diacon. lib. 23. rer. Roman. Irene retaineth the Legates of Rome, and by their advice baniſhed a great number of them whom they called Iconomachi or fighters againſt Images. Then ſhe aſſembled another Synod at Nice, in Septemb. An. 788. where the matter was quickly diſpatched, as Adrian and Tharaſius would, when there was no great oppoſition; to wit, as it is declared in Act. 3. they Decree, that Images ſhould be had, embraced, ſaluted, kiſſed and adored; but that which is called Latria, they reſerved unto the Trinity only. Their chief pretence is, becauſe foreign ſignifieth to imbrace and to love; and the prepoſition foreign, addeth unto the ſignification, as in foreign & foreign; and what a man loveth or imbraceth, that doth he foreign, as David did Jonathan; and Chriſt ſaith, the Phariſees love the firſt places at Bankets, and ſalutations in the Market-places. Alſo the fore-named Baſil, Theodore and Theodoſius, with the Biſhops Hippatius of Neece, Leo of Rhodos, Gregory of Piſidia, Gregory of Peſſinus, Leo of Iconium, Nicolaus of Hierapolis, and Leo of Carpathe were perſwaded to profeſs repentance, and confeſs an errour in the former Synod. So Images were ſet up and worſhipped both in the Eaſt and Weſt, ſaith Pa. Diacon. loc. cit. and Zonar. lib. 3. Not long after, Conſtantine did annull the Acts of this Convent (Platin.) which they call the ſeventh General Councel. Baronius in Annal. ad An. 794. ſheweth that many learned men, and of great eſteem in thoſe daies, as Jonas Aurelianen. Walfrid, Hincmarus and others, writ againſt the worſhip of Images, and directly did contradict that Councel, although it was confirmed by the Pope. Yea and
5. In the year 792. Charls the Great ſummoned a Councel at Franckford, At Franckford.which he did moderate and govern, although the Romiſh Legates were preſent. Beſides the Biſhops of France and Germany, he called the Bishops of Italy, Spain and England, not to ſeek any furtherance to his authority (ſaid he) but for maintenance and defence of the Truth. Here was condemed the hereſie of Felix Bishop of Urgelitan, and Elipand of Toledo; who held that Chriſt is the Son of God, only by adoption of his human nature: This was the one cauſe of aſſembling the Councel. 2. Theophylact and Stephen, the Pope's Legates, did preſent the Acts of the Synod at Nice to be confirmed and ſubſcribed. The Fathers did refuſe, and did compare the Act of the Councel under Copronymus, with the late Acts at Nice. The former had condemned the worship and having of Images, either privately or publickly; the other had authorized the adoration of Images with cloaths, incenſe, candles, bowing of knees, &c. They would keep a middle courſe, that it is not altogether unlawfull to have Images in private houſes nor Churches; but to worship them is contrary to Chriſtian faith, and ſmelleth of Paganiſm. Therefore they diſcern the Synod of Nice to have been wicked, and deſerves not the name of Univerſal nor ſeventh Councel; and they writ ſome books againſt the worship of Images, wherein they refute particularly all the pretended arguments of them at Nice; theſe books went abroad in the name of Charls. Afterwards the worshippers of Images did what they could, that no memory should be of the proceedings of this Synod, and thoſe books; except that they ſay, Charls did ſomewhat concerning Images. But as Chemnitius hath marked in Exam. Conc. Triden. par. 4. that many old Hiſtorians, as Egmard, Regino, Adon; and ſome later, as Antoninus, Blondus, Aventine have written, that this Synod did condemn the worship of Images, and the Iconalatrous Synod of the Greeks; and did Ordain, that it should be called neither ſeventh nor Univerſal, but a Pſeudo Synod: Caſſander in Conſult. 21. ſaith, in his time was a copy of thoſe books of Charls, in the Vatican Bibliotheke: And after the Councel at Trent, Tilius a French Bishop, cauſed them to be published in Print. The Papiſts in the Cathol. apolo. tract. 2. ſect. 7. ſay, The book is forged under the name of Charls the Great. But were all theſe Authours Proteſtants who teſtifie of them; and what can they ſay unto Hincmarus Rhemen. whoſe teſtimony followeth in Cent. 9. It is to be marked, that all the Councels in the time of Charls the Great, do shew in the firſt words, that they were aſſembled at the command of Charls, or Charls commanding and injoining; the Councel at Rome not being excepted, as Cratian recordeth diſt. 63. cap. Adrianus, ſaying, Charls returning to Rome did appoint a Synod with Pope Adrian, in the Patriarchate of Lateran, in the Church of Saint Salvator, &c. Bellarmin. de Eccleſ. lib. 4. cap. 5. asketh, What Councel ever condemned the Church of Rome or their Popes? We have now ſeen the Pope of Rome condemned in the ſixth General Councel; and their Doctrine condemned in that other at Conſtantinople, and in the famous Synod at Franckford; and in the next Century, we ſhall find another Councel at Conſtantinople, and more in other places and ages, contradicting and expreſsly condemning the Popes of Rome. And for continuation of this matter, here by anticipation, I add the Councel held at Paris, An: At Paris.825. where the Epiſtle of Pope Adrian, and the Act of the ſecond Councel at Nice, was read and cenſured; as is manifeſt by the decretal Epiſtle directed unto Lewis and Lotharius; of which (not far from the beginning) theſe are the words; We have cauſed to be read before us, firſt the Epiſtle of Do. Adrian, Pope, which he, at the requeſt of the Emperour Conſtantine, and his mother Irene, ſent over ſea; and ſo far as our parvity underſtandeth, as he juſtly reproveth them who did raſhly preſume to break down and aboliſh Images in theſe parts; ſo is known to have written imprudently, that he would have images to be ſuperſtitiouſly worſhipped; for which cauſe, he alſo gave order alſo that a Synod ſhould be aſſembled; and by his authority, under an Oath, did judge that Images ſhould be ſet up and worſhipped, and be called holy; where as it is lawfull to ſet them up, but it is wickedneſs or unlawfull to worſhip them. Baron. ad An. 825. § 5.
6. Hen. Spelman in Concil. ad An. 787. hath a Synod held at Calchuth in At Calchuth.England, wherein ſome things are remarkable. Gregory Biſhop of Oſtien. and Theophylact Biſhop of Tudert. did write unto Pope Adrian the Acts of that Synod in their own name, as their work which they had recommended unto the Synod, and the Synod had accepted. In the Preface they ſhew, it was done in two Kingdomes at ſeveral times; the one Biſhop had gone to the one Kingdom, and the other to the other Kingdom: Gregory went to York, and the Biſhop of the place ſent unto the King Oſwald, who then was farther North, and hearing of the Legate did indict the Synod, and [Nota] did convene with his Lords both Eccleſiaſtical and Secular. There they ſay, No Roman Prieſt was ſent hither, after Auguſtine, till now. Ca. 1. They admoniſh to keep the faith of the ſix General Councels. 2. That Baptiſm ſhould be adminiſtred at ſet times, and no other times, unleſs for great neceſſity; and they who anſwer for the infant, ſhould be obliged to teach him, at ripe years, the Lord's Prayer, and Creed. 3. Each Biſhop ſhould hold a Synod twice every year, and viſit his Diocy once a year. Ca. 11. Their ſpeech was unto the King and Lords, that they ſhould not judge Prieſts, ſeeing they are Angels. Ca. 12. Kings ſhould be choſen by the Prieſts and Elders of the people, and none ſhould be choſen who had been begotten in adultry or inceſt. It ſeemeth, this was the firſt Act of a Synod in this kind; and it may be queſtioned, whether Popiſh Princes will now conſent unto it. There they add, that none ſhould meddle with the murther of a King; and if any did attempt or adhere unto ſuch a crime, if he be a Bishop or of Prieſtly degree, let him be depoſed, and deprived of the Heavenly inheritance, as Judas from his place; and whoſoever shall aſſent unto ſuch a ſacriledge, he shall be burned with everlaſting fire. It may be doubted, whether Bishops and Jeſuits will conſent unto this part of the Canon. Unto theſe Acts did ſubſcribe the King, Bishops, Dukes and Abbots. And in the other Kingdom and Synod, Lambert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, ſubſcribed before King Offa, and then the Bishops, Abbots, Dukes and Counts.