The By-Way, Treatise · Section 16
SECT. XVI. The Councell of Trent, which is the maine pillar, and laſt reſolution of the Romane Faith, is of ſmall or no credit at all, becauſe it was neither lawfully called, nor free, nor Generall, nor generally receiued by the Romaniſts themſelues.
AVgustus Thuanus, a chiefe Senator and Counſellour to the King of France, tels vsus, that Pope Paul the third ſummoned a Councell at Mantua, and from thence tranſlated it to Vincentia: and, becauſe the Princes of Germanie could not agree vponupon the place, aſſigned Trent, a citie ſeated vponupon the confines of Germanie and Italie, where this Councell was called in the yeere 1546. This Coū cell then was called by the Popes vſurped power, not by the Emperor, & for that cauſe falls within the compaſſe of Demetrius aſſembly, which wanted a right and a lawfull calling. But let vsus ſee with what eſteeme and authoritie this Councel is receiued in the Romane Church. Cardinall Bellarmine tels vsus:Si tollamus authoritatē praeſentis Eccleſiae & praeſentis Concilii, in dubiū reuocari poſſunt omniū aliorum Conciliorum decreta, et totu fides Chriſtiana. Bell. de effect. Sacrā lib. 2. c 25. If we take away the authoritie and credit of the preſent Church and Councell of Trent, the Decrees of other Councels, and the whole Chriſtian Faith may bee called in queſtion. This Ieſuite, who firſt aſſured vsus, That the Church might continue ſafe without Councels, (if occaſion required) at leaſt two thouſand yeres: now, without any regard to the ſacred Goſpel of Chriſt, profeſſeth, That if the Roman Church and Trent Councell were remoued, the Faith of all Chriſtians would be indangered: and Campian his fellow Ieſuite, as man rauiſhed with the fame of that Synod, proclaimes to after ages: The elder that Councell waxeth, the more it will flouriſh: and as a true Romiſh Proſelyte cries out, to the aſtoniſhment of poore Proteſtants: O good Lord, with what diuerſitie of people out of all Countreys, with what choyce of Biſhops throughout all Chriſtendome, with what excellencies of Kings and Commonweales, with what profound Diuines, with what deuotion, with what lamentations, with what abſtinence and faſting, with what flowers of Vniuerſities, with what knowledge of ſtrange tongues, with what ſharpe wits, with what ſtudie, with what endleſſe reading, with what ſtore of vertues and exerciſes was that ſacred place repleniſhed? This Councell is like the great Diana of the Epheſians, that carries the vniuerſall applauſe, let vsus looke herefore into the lawfulneſſe and authoritie of this Councell: for if it be of men, Acts 5.39.it will come to nought, but if it bee of God, we cannot ouerthrow it, leſt happily we be found euen to fight againſt God himſelfe.
Firſt then, as this Councel wanted a right calling of the Emperor, ſo likewiſe it wanted a requiſite condition to make it Generall: for that Councell is truly Generall, wherunto al chriſtian States are ſummoned & aſſembled in his name; and ſhall this be held the great Councell of the Chriſtian world, the chiefe ſupporter of all other Councels, and the whole Chriſtian faith, which was confined to a ſmall number, and ſome fewe Nations? Looke vponupon the three Patriarks of Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria, were they all preſent? Look vponupon the Grecians, Armenians, Medes, Perſians, Egyptians, Moores, Aethiopians, were they ſummoned to this Councel? do not theſe people beleeue in Chriſt? hauehave they not Biſhops? did their Ambaſſadours come from all theſe Nations to the Councell? Nay more, were the Legats of the kingdome of England, of Denmarke, of the King of Swetia, of Scotland, and the Dukedome of Pruſsia there preſent? Looke vponupon the aſſemblie of their Biſhops, and it will appeare by their Hiſtorie of Trent, Hiſtorie of Trent lib 2 p. 140. Englthat this Generall and great Councell conſiſted but of fortie three Biſhops, and ſome of thoſe alſo were but Titular, as namely, Richard Pates, Biſhop of Worceſter, and blind Sr Robert, Biſhop of Armach; theſe had the bare titles of Biſhops, & were no Biſhops at all; and two of thoſe Biſhops (ſaith Illiricus) were taken in adultery,Illyr. in Proteſt. contr. Conc. Trid. the one ſtrucken with a dart, the other taken in a trap by the husband, and hanged by the necke out of a window, to bee ſeene by all that paſſed by in the ſtreet.
Binius the publiſher of the Councels, giues vsus to vnderſtand, that the whole number of Patriarks, Archbiſhops, and Biſhops vnderunder Pope Paul the Third, who gathered the Councell, by the greateſt account, came but to 62; from which if we take the Titular Biſhops, and thoſe who through infirmitie could not meet at one & the ſame time, there could not be preſent aboue 43, both as Illiricus, and as the Hiſtorie of Trent doe witneſſe: and muſt we ſay, or can we think, that the whole Chriſtian Faith, and decrees of all Councels muſt depend vponupon the number of 62, if they were all allowed, and agreed together? And that which is moſt remarkable, in the fourth Seſſion vnderunder the ſame Pope, the poynts of greateſt moment were diſcuſſed and decreed by the number of fiftie three Biſhops: then I ſay, the prime Articles touching the Canonical books of Scripture, touching Traditions (then equalled to the Scriptures,) touching the authentical Edition of ſcriptures, touching the Iudge of all controuerſies in poynts of Faith, were handled and reſolued for Articles of Faith by thoſe few Biſhops, whereas ſometimes it is caried by a ſingle voyce or two, and ſo the number of the whole, at moſt, is reduced to thirtie.
It is true I muſt confeſſe, that there were many other learned Diuines preſent, but it ſeemes they were chiefly gathered for the inſtruction of thoſe Biſhops; and (ſaith Stella) If you will make anſwere, Quod ſi reſponder is quod hi Epiſcopi ſecum ducant Theologos qui eos illuminent, vt contigit in ſacro Tridentino Cō cilio, in hâc re quidem non poſſum me a riſu temperare. Stell in Lucam. 6. p. 184.the Biſhops bring with them learned Diuines which may inſtruct them what to ſay, what to anſwere, as it was vſed in the Councell of Trent; yet in this I cannot forbeare laughter. Neither was the acceſſe vntounto the Councell ſafe for all thoſe that were inuited; neither was it free for all men to diſpute and argue the poynts of controuerſie freely. Pope Iulius the third, after the death of his predeceſſour Pope Paul, made a decree, That none of the Princes and free Cities of Germanie ſhould hauehave audience, except they would firſt vow their obedience to the Councell; and for that end and purpoſe, hee publiſhed his Breue. Erit Concilium, vt qui temere locuti ſunt dicta recantaturi ve…i aut, aut eorū inaudita cauſa in executione ita ordinatarū Conſtitutionū haeretici declarentur Breue Iuli… 3. citat. à Caluino.There ſhall be a Councell, that they which hauehave ſpoken raſhly, either may recant their ſayings, or elſe without further hearing or receiuing of the matter, may bee denounced and condemned for heretikes, according to the Conſtitutions already made. Here was plaine dealing and ſhort warning for eueryevery man, either to reſolue to ſubſcribe to the Trent Doctrine, or elſe to be proſcribed for an heretique. The Biſhops of Apulia did intimate no leſſe in the name of all the Biſhops,Papalū Romanū adiutor ero ad defendendū cōtra omnes homines, ſic me Deꝰ adiuuet, et ſā cta Euāgelia. Ca. E N Extra delure iurand. That they were nothing elſe but the Popes creatures, and his bondſlaues: for there was an oath propoſed ſeuerally to all, to bee taken in this maner: I will defend the Papacie againſt all men: So helpe mee God, and his holy Goſpell. And as there was an oath propoſed in behalfe of the Papall doctrine, ſo likewiſe there was ſpeciall care taken, and caution giuen,Ne quum a…atui quo …llius Maieſtati praeiud…ium vllū fieret, ſi quis in hoc peccat Concilio pellatur. Valer. in vita Marcel 2 Canus loc. Theol. li 12 c. 12. § Extat. that whoſoeuer ſhould ſpeake againſt the Maieſtie of the Pope, ſhould be baniſhed the Councell. We hauehave examples of both in this kinde: Cornelius Biſhop of Bitonto profeſſed openly in the Councell, that Christ in his last Supper did not offer vp his (reall) body and blood: but the Trent Fathers, (becauſe it was contrary to the Roman Faith) condemned and exploded him. Paulus Vergerius was but ſuſpected for a Lutheran, Sleid. comment. li. 21.yet thereupon the Pope comanded him to depart the Councell. Guilielmus Venetus, a Dominican would prooue the Councell of Conſtance was aboue the Pope, Valer. in vita Marcel. 2.becauſe the Councell did depoſe him: but hee was thought too lauiſh of his tongue, and therefore was baniſhed the Councell. The Biſhop of Chioza, profeſſed in the Councell,Craken. p. 158. that hee diſliked the Decree, which made Traditions equall with the Scriptures: but he was expelled the Councell. And as touching the Popes Holineſſe, when a zealous and good Biſhop had declared,Molin. Cō ſil. de Trid. Conc. nu. 22 that God in the Scriptures was termed Holy; and therefore it was honour ſufficient for the Pope to bee called Holy, and not (moſt Holy,) the Biſhop was ſent from Trent to Rome, & there the Pope grieuouſly handled him for this capitall offence. Neither doe I denie that there was ſafe conduct promiſed as well to the Lutherans, as to thoſe which were vowed creatures to the Pope and his doctrine: but (ſaith Fabritius) the learned Princes of Germany were kept ſo farre from the Caſtle of Diſputation, that they could not bee ſuffered to approach to the entrie of it. Fateor extenſionē &c. I grant (ſaith he) there was libertie extended to other Nations, but withall it is added, that the ſame forme of liberty ſhould appertaine to none others, but only to them that would repent, and returne to the boſome of the Church. If we look vponupon the Tenour of the conduct, we ſhal find it was very doubtfull, (and in trueth it might well bee thought ſtrange, that a free and Generall Councell of all ſorts of Chriſtians, which ſhould meet for Gods glory, and Chriſtian peace, ſhould come in feare and danger of their owne ſafetie:) for ſay they,Hiſtory of Trent. lib. 4 p. 341. & 343. Engl. The holy Synod (as much as it can) grants publike faith, and full ſecuritie, that is, ſafe conduct; but (ſaith the Hiſtorie) the Proteſtants thought the forme of the ſafe conduct very captious, becauſe as well in the Decree, as in the Tenor, there was this clauſe of reſeruation, (As much as it can) when as no man demandeth of an other, that which is not in his power to grant. To let paſſe the like Conduct giuen to Hierome of Prague, and Iohn Huſſe at the Councel of Conſtance, can they prooue that there was free libertie of ſpeech granted, as it is in all publike Conſultations? Was there open conference and diſpute allowed about the controuerſies of Religion? was the Scripture appointed to be Iudge, or the plea being againſt the Pope, ought the Pope to be plaintife and Iudge in his owne cauſe? I confeſſe, the Electors and Princes of Germanie being aſſembled at Newburg, in the Popes name, and by the Popes Legats were ſummoned to the Councel; but withall they returned this anſwere: Mirari ſe &c. Epiſt. Rerū geſt. ſub Ferd. ann. 1561. apud Scard.They wondred vponupon what groūd or reaſon, the Pope ſhould bee ſo bold, how he durſt proclaime a Councell to them, and call them to Trent: And there they giuegive this reaſon for it; Becauſe it was neither lawfull, Craken. p. 156.nor agreeable to Diuine or Human equitie, that the Pope ſhould ſupply the place of a Iudge, when as both the diſſention and ruine of the Church proceeded from himſelfe. Thus if wee conſider this Councels calling, it was by vſurpation, not of ancient right. If we reſpect the nature of it as it was, Generall; many Kings and Princes were ſo farre from allowing it, that they made proteſtation again… it: if we obſerue the number of Biſhops in their a… ſemblie, when the greate… points of controuerſie we… handled and reſolued, there were but fiftie three. If we looke vponupon the free acceſſe, it was doubtfull, and limited to certaine conditions. And laſtly, if wee reſpect a free conference,Hiſtorie of Trent. lib. 2 p. 126. The Pope made knowne by his Legats, that the Iudges were tyed to him by oath; whereas the plea being againſt the Pope and his doctrine, he himſelfe ought not to bee Iudge. I conceiue it was but a harſh proceeding, that how many, or how great ſoeuer the differences were concerning Religion, yet there could bee no diſpute, nor yet admittance to the Councell, but by an inforced proteſtation, & vowed obedience to the Pope and his doctrine; inſomuch, their owne Thuanus giues vsus to vnderſtand, that the fault was not in the Proteſtants; for notwithſtanding they conceiued their Conduct was not ſafe, yet they came to the Councell, and deſired the Popes Legat to hauehave libertie to diſpute; and being made knowne, that the Proteſtants were ready to make good their confeſſions, which at that time they exhibited to the Councell; The Trent Fathers were greatly offended, Thua. hiſt. Tom 1. li. 9. ann. 1552.neither could the Proteſtants hauehave anſwer to their confeſsions, and therefore they deſired leaue to be gone, which being eaſily granted them, they commended their cauſe to the Emperours Oratour, and ſo departed from the Councell.
I will giuegive you a ſhort and generall view of the actions in this Councell. Andraeas Dudithius an Ambaſſadour, ſent to this Councell, from the State and Cleargie of Hungarie, a man highly fauoured by Ferdinand, and Maximilian the ſecond, and a knowne Actor in this aſſembly, giues the ſubſtance of their proceedings in few words very remarkable, and worthy of all mens reading.
What good (ſaith he) could be done in that Councell, Andr. Dudith. in Epiſt. ad Maximil. 2. Caeſarē de Calice & Sacerdotum Coniugio.which onelyonly numbred, but neuer conſidered the weightineſſe of any opinion, if either the cauſe or reaſon might hauehave made the encounter; or if a few aſsiſtants had but ſided with vsus, the day had been ours, albeit the enemy was very ſtrong: but when only number fought the field, in which wee fell ſhort of them, though our cauſe was neuer ſo good, we could not come off with victorie: to eueryevery one of vsus the Pope was able to oppoſe one hundred of his owne; and if a hundred ſeemed but a few, hèe could ſuddenly raiſe a thouſand, and ſend them to helpe their fellow Labourers: ſo that you might daily ſee ſeruile & poore Biſhops, for the moſt part young men, and almoſt beardleſſe, waſted with luſts, haſten to Trent, hyred and procured by the Pope to ſpeake as hee would hauehave them, vnlearned men they were and ſimple, but for their impudencie and audacitie of much vſe: aſſoone as theſe had acceſſe to the Popes flatterers, then did iniquitie reioyce to hauehave the vpper hand, neither might any thing bee decreed, but what made for them, who made it their onelyonly Religion, to maintaine their Popes power and ryot. One graue and learned man there was, Biſhop of Granado.which could not away with ſuch baſeneſſe; he as no ſound Catholike, what with feare and threatnings, and what with intreatie, was brought by the Councel to allow that which in heart hee diſavowed. In briefe, it came to that iſſue, by the diſhoneſtie of them that were made and ordained for that purpoſe, that the Councell ſeemed to conſiſt, not of Biſhops, but of ſhadowes, not of men, but of Images, which like the ſtatues of Daedalus, had no motion from themſelues, but were carried vponupon other mens ſhoulders. The Biſhops for the most part were hyrelings, who like a paire of countrey bag-pipes, vnleſſe they were ſtill blowne, could make no muſicke. The holy Ghoſt had not to doe with that Councell, wherein was nothing but worldly wiſedome, and that was wholly ſpent in propagating the Popes immoderate and ſhamefull Lordlineſſe, from whom, as from an other Delphos, they did wait for Oracles; and from him in a Carriers clokebag was the holy Ghoſt ſent, of which they ſo much brag to ſit at the ſterne of their Councells: and, quod admodum ridiculum eſt, which is most ridiculous, when there fell good ſtore of raine, the holy Ghoſt could not come vntounto thē before the floods were abated: ſo it fell out, that the ſpirit was not carried vponupon the waters (as wee reade in Geneſis) but beſides them. O ſtrange and monſtrous madneſſe, the Biſhop like the people: No act or Decree of theirs could be eſtabliſhed, vnles the Pope were made the firſt Author of that Decree.
How truely this learned Biſhop hath deciphered the ſtate and condition of that Councell, I leaue to eueryevery mans iudgement, ſure I am, whileſt many there carried the buſineſſe with craft and ambition, in thoſe things which appertaine to Gods glory, there was more attributed to the Councell of man, then to the grace of God. Adde to theſe teſtimonies, the proteſtation of Francis the French King, who was ſo farre from approuing the Decrees of the Councell,Rex pubicè in co conuē tu proteſtatus ſe illud ne que pro …ecumenico, ne que pro legitimo habere, ſed pro priuato cō uentu &c. Innoc Gent Trid. Seſſ. 12. & Hiſt. of Trent. lib. 4. p 319. Engl. that hee openly proclaimed, that for his part he neither held it for a Generall, nor yet for a lawfull Councell, but for a priuate Conuenticle, aſſembled for the ends of ſome priuate men; and that neither hee nor his ſubiects were bound to obey it; and that hee would hauehave this his Proteſtation inrolled amongst the Decrees of that Councell. Adde to this the Proteſtation of all the Reformed Churches, and diuers Chriſtian Nations, who at this day vtterly diſavow the Trent doctrine. Adde to this the proteſtation of the Ambaſſador to Charles the fifth, Illyr. in Proteſt. cont. Conc. Trident.who made his declaration in like manner: I Iames Hurtado Mendoza, in the name of the most mighty prince my lord Charles the Romane Emperour, by his eſpeciall commiſsion, and in the name of the Empire, & all other his Realmes and Dominions, doe proteſt, that the Legats and Biſhops which are at Bonenia, for the moſt part bound to your Holineſſe, & wholly hanging vponupon your beck, hauehave no authoritie to make Lawes, in cauſe of Reformation of Religion and maners.
I forbeare to ſpeake more largely of the politike proceedings, and the doctrine of Faith created, and declared in this Councell;The Hiſtory of Trent publiſhed An. 1629. the former is accurately handled by the Historie of Trent, and the later is fully confuted by our learned Chemnitius; Chemnitij examen. Conc. Trid.and as touching Coū cels in generall, let it ſuffice wee hauehave the teſtimonie of Cardinal Cuſanus; Multu Concilia ritè conuocatu erraſſe legimus Cuſan. Concord. Cath. lib. 2 c. 3. In fidei definitionibus erraſſe etiā vniuerſalia ſanctoū Patrum Concilia comperimus. Pig. Hier. Eccle. lib. 6. c. 13.Many plenarie Councells rightly called, hauehave erred, as we know by experience. Let it ſuffice their own Albertus Pigghius giues his aſſent with vsus, that In matters of Faith, Generall Councels hauehave erred, as namely the Councell of Ariminum, the ſecond Councell of Epheſus, both were generall, and both doe witneſſe, that Generall Councells lawfully called, may erre. Let it ſuffice, Panormitan, their chiefeſt Canoniſt and Proctor for Pope Eugenius, affirmeth plainly: A Councell may erre, as otherwiſe a Councell hath erred, Panorm de Elect & Electi poteſtate §. ſignificaſti.about marriage to be contracted betwixt the rauiſher, and the rauiſhed, and the ſaying of Hierom, as being of the ſounder opinion, was afterwards preferred before the Decree of the Councell. And to preuent that common obiection of the Romaniſts, that the Church would faile in faith, if Councels ſhould erre hee giues this full ſolution to the queſtion. Non obstat: Idem Ibid.It hindreth vsus little, if it bee ſaid, a Councell cannot erre, becauſe Christ prayed for his Church, that it ſhould not faile. For though a Generall Councell repreſent the whole vniuerſall Church; yet to ſpeake trueth, the vniuerſall is not there preciſely, but by repreſentation, becauſe the vniuerſall Church conſiſteth of all the faithfull, and this is the Church which cannot erre; whereby it is not impoſsible, but the true faith of Christ may continue in onelyonly one perſon. Therefore the Church is not ſaid to faile, nor to erre, if the true faith remaine in any one. And that no man might preſume to relie in matters of faith, either vponupon Fathers or Councels; St. Auſten deliuers it for a ſafe and ſure rule;Aug lib. 2. de Baptiſt. contr. Donat c. 3. Whatſoeuer is found written in Scriptures, may neither be doubted nor diſputed, whether it be true or right: but the writings of Biſhops may not onelyonly bee diſputed, but corrected by Biſhops that are more learned then themſelues, or by Councels, and Nationall Councels by Plenary or Generall, and euen Generall Councels may bee amended by the later.
My concluſion therefore ſhall be this, Since the true Acts and Canons of Councels, which make againſt the Supremacie, againſt Inuocation of Saint, againſt Images, and the like, are adiudged ſpurious and counterfet. On the contrary, ſince diuers Canons and Decrees are deuiſed for aduantage of their cauſe, and namely, to prooue their Reall Preſence, their Sacrament of Confirmation, their Sacrament of Extreame Vnction, the Popes Supremacie, and the like, which authorities are meerely forged and counterfet: ſince the Bookes of Councells being negligently kept, doe abound with many errours, by the teſtimonies of our learned aduerſaries, I ſay, to ſeeke for the knowledge of infallible Trueth, or to ſearch for the ſoundneſſe of true ſauing faith in Generall, or Prouinciall Councells, is but Via Dubia, a doubtfull and vncertaine way; it is Via Deuia, a wandring and By-way.
It reſteth for our Aduerſaries laſt and beſt refuge, to flye to the Sanctuarie of their Church: for in trueth, whatſoeuer pretence is made of Scriptures, of Fathers, of Councells, yet if there bee ſent out a Melius inquirendum, for the Authour of their newe Creed, and Trent doctrine, they muſt returne a Non eſt inuentus, and ſeeke him onelyonly in the Church.