Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations, History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (3 of 15)

Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations · History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (3 of 15)

p. 124From theſe memorable proceedings againſt this Pope, it is moſt evident, 1. That the Pope in this age was ſubject and ſubmitted himſelf to the Judicature, not only of the Emperor, but of Thedoricus the Gothiſh King of Italy, (who removed Symmachus and Laurentius from the Papacie contending for it, and placed Peter Altinat therin to appeaſe the Schiſm, till the cauſe between them was heard) and to a Council of Biſhops, even for ſcandalous crimes objected againſt him. 2ly. That the Power of ſummoning Councils even in Rome it ſelf appertained to this King of Italy, not to the Pope. 3ly. That the King upon the complaints exhibited to him againſt the Pope, ſuſpended him both from his temporalties, benefices and Papal office by his Regal authority before the Council ſummoned, till he had purged himſelf from the Crimes objected. 4ly. That though moſt of the Synod held it juſt this Pope ſhould not anſwer the Articles againſt him, till he was firſt reſtored to his Patrimony, benefice and office, p. 125yet they would determine nothing therein, till this Kings approbation, & pleaſure firſt known. 5ly. That the King would not take off this Popes Suſpenſion, till he anſwered his Articles, and purged himſelf, notwithſtanding the Synods requeſt and opinion to the contrary. 6ly. That thereupon they received and read the Articles againſt him. 7ly. That the Pope appeared by this Kings ſummons before this Council to anſwer the crimes againſt him: where at his appearance, he denies to anſwer in point of Law, till his Suſpenſion firſt releaſed, and his reſtitution: which the Emperor overruled againſt him. After which he appeared the ſecond time upon Summons to anſwer the Articles, and purge himſelf; but was interrupted by the tumultuous force and aſſaults of his accuſers, made upon him and his followers, who were wounded, and had been ſlain by them, had not the Kings Great Officers reſcued them from their fury, and guarded them back to their lodgings: That after this upon new Summons, the Pope was willing to anſwer, and purge himſelf before the Synod, but that he was informed, he could not do it without danger of being ſlain by his tumultuous oppoſites. 8ly. That the Synod thereupon repaired to the King, as the Supream Judge, to direct them how to proceed in this cauſe, by reaſon of theſe Tumults. 9ly. That thereupon the King referred the whole buſineſſe to them, to proceed therein as they ſhould think beſt for the Peace of the Church, and of all Chriſtians in the City of Rome. 10ly. That they hereupon by vertue of this Kings regal authority and command, (not their own inherent Epiſcopal or Synodal Juriſdiction) referred the merits of the cauſe, being ſecret and difficult, to Gods judgement, and reſtored the Pope to his Eccleſiaſtical Rights and exerciſe of his Miniſtry within the City of Rome; and perſwaded an amicable Chriſtian peace and agreement between him, his adverſaries, the Senate and Citizens of Rome: Where then is that tranſcendent Juriſdiction of Popes over Kings, Councils, all other Biſhops, and his abſolute exemption from their Judicatures for any ſcandalous ſins or hereſies, which ſucceeding Popes and their Paraſites boaſt of, in the**Her…, p. 36, to 40. premiſed Chapters? To evade this undeniable preſident,aaApologia pro Symmacho, p. 293. Baronius, Anno 502, n. 32, &c. Ennodius, and other flatterers of Popes, pretend, That Pope Symmachus out of meer humility, and of his own accord, ſubmitted himſelf to this Kings and Councils Judgement. But the premiſes evidence the contrary, that moſt of theſe proceedings (eſpecially his Suſpenſion, overruling of his demurrer, &c.) were much againſt his will; and that he had no real deſire to purge himſelf, what ever he pretended: And John Gerſon Chancellor of Paris (one of the learnedeſt, profoundeſt Pontificians) in his notable Book De Auferibilitate Papae, bbDe Conſideratio, c. 2.reſolves; That Symmachus, and other Popes did undergo the judgements of Councils, nequaquam ex humili condeſcentione, ſicut nonnulli fingunt, ſed ex debito et obligatione. Yea this Pope himſelf in hisccTom. 3. Bibl. Patrum. Apology to Anaſtatius the Emperor, ſtiles him Principem rerum humanarum: adding, Thou, O Emperor; governeſt human and ſecular affairs, Biſhops diſpence the divine Mysteries; without any addition, that Biſhops govern all Eccleſiaſtical affairs, which this King and the Emperor then did in Italy, not Popes nor Biſhops.

ThisddFridericus Lindebrogus Code… Legum Antiq. p. 246, &c. Theodoricus King of Italy made and publiſhed divers Eccleſiaſtical Lawes,Anno 508 intermixed with his Temporal, concerning Clergy-men, Churches, Sanctuaries, Pagan Sacrifices, Sepulchers, and burials in Rome it ſelf, Marriages, Eſpouſals, Jews, the obſervation of the Lords day, &c. commanding them to be generally obſerved by his Edictum Theodorice Regis, Lex 26. 70. 71. 92. 93. 108. 110. 111. 125, 126. and that as well by the Romans as Barbarians and Goths, under pain of baniſhment, if violated, Quia quod pro omnium provincialium ſecuritate proviſum eſt, univerſitatis debet ſervare devotio.

Caſſiodorus, Anno 510.a Noble learned Roman Senator, (tutor to this King Theodoricus) in his Expoſition in Pſal. 50. Tibi ſoli peccavi, hath this paſſage. De populo ſi quis erraverit, & Deo peccat & Regi: Nam quando Rex delinquit, ſoli Deo reus eſt, quia hominem non habet qui eius facta di…udicet: Merito ergo Rer Deo dicit ſe ſolum peccaſſe, quia ſolus erat qui eius potuiſſet admiſſa diſcutere. Therefore not the Pope, or any other Conclave of Prelates.eeVarbrum, l, 10. p. 626. In his other works he regiſters the Epiſtle of Theodohardus to Juſtinian the Emperor, wherein he recites; In toto orbe ſimile nihil habet, as ſupream for power and dignity.

Pope ffCoccii Sabellici Aeneid. 8. l. 2. p. 341, 342. Platina, Lydius, & others in Vita Hormiſdae 2. Henricus Erfordienſis in Anaſtatio. Simoneta l. 4. c. 19. Cent. Magd. 6. c. 6. col. 441, 443. 303, Blondus, Decad. 1. l. 3. Nauclerus Vol. 3. Generat. 8. 1. Surius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 3…9.Hormiſda the 1. having condemned the Eutychians in a Council at Rome, Anno 516by p. 126the exhortation and command of King Theodoricus, by his Letters and Meſſengers exhorted John then Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and Anaſtatius the Emperor, to renounce this Hereſy, and believe the two natures in Chriſt. But they taking this meſſage in high indignation and ſcorn, put the meſſengers into an old leaking Ship, and Anaſtatius commanded them to return directly into Italy, and not to touch upon the ſhoare of Grece, enjoyning them to return this anſwer to the Pope; Scire ſe Auguſtorum (or Imperatoris) proprium eſſe, non Pontificis imperare; nec Imperata Pontificis accpiere: et ſi quid foret, in quo hunc, cui divina curae ſunt, jubere oporteat, ſe eum eſſe, a quo alii multo melius ſua juſsa expectent, quam ſua proponant exequenda. Nos jubere volumus, non Nobis juberi.

This Pope Hormiſda after Anaſtatius his death, Anno 518.in his Epiſtle to the Emperor Juſtinus, adverſus Neſtorii & Eutychetis blaſphemias, informs him; aaSutius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 360, 362, Hermanni Contracti Chronicon, An. 519, 521. Anaſtatius in V…ta Hormiſdae & Johan.Inter eq quae ad unitatem Eccleſiae pertinent, propter quam Deus Clementiae veſtrae elegit Imperiam, hoc quoque venerabilis Imperator, Cura fidei (cui multipliciter vos ſtudere declaraſtis, adiecit, Making the care of the Chriſtian faith, and Peace of the Church by eſtabliſhing the Orthodox faith, and ſuppreſſing hereſies by his Imperial authority, the principal cauſe of Gods advancing him to the Empire. In purſuance whereof this Emperor Juſtinus by his Letters & Decrees endeavoured to reconcile the differences between the Biſhops, Churches of Rome and Conſtantinople; ut unitatem individuae Trinitatis ipſi quoque colant in unitate mentium. Quid enim gratius reperiri poteſt, quid juſtius, quid illuſtrius, quam quos idem Regnum continet, idemque fidei cultus irradiat, eos non diverſa contendere, ſed collectis in eiſdem ſenſibus inſtituta venerari, non humana mente illata, ſed in divinae providentiae spiritu. This Pope in his Epiſtle to Epiphanius Biſhop of Conſtantinople, hath this memorable paſſage, **Surius Tom. 2. p. 366, 369 370.Hinc enim ſupernae miſericordiae documentum perdocetur, quoniam et mundeni Principes cauſas fidei, cum reipublicae ordinatione conjungunt, as a principal part of their care, and beſt means of their ſafety and proſperity in all their ſecular affairs. And he, with all the Biſhops, Clergy, Abbots, Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, Antioch, and Syria, exlubited a joynt Supplicatio and Confeſsion of their faith, Deo amabili et piiſsimo Imperatori ex Deo Auguſto et Principi Iuſtino Chriſtianiſsimo ſollicitudinem de perfecta unione, ſanctarum Eccleſiarum habere debere, ut unitas, quae cum Dei facta fuerit juvamine, nulla deinceps rationabili aut irrationabili occaſionis fomite inquietari poſſit; who thereupon baniſhed the Arrians diſturbing the Churches peace.

Fulgentius Ruſpenſis Epiſcopus, Anno Dom. 520writes thus to aaAd Thraſimundum l. 1.Thraſimundus; That he as King hath received, Apicem terreni Principatus, as well over all Biſhops and Clergymen, as others; he baniſhing no leſſe then 220 Orthodox Biſhops by the inſtigation of the Arrians, bbCent. Magd. 6. col. 649, 650 Iſiodorus in vita Anaſtatii.whereof Fulgentius was one, whom he recalled from exile, and yet after baniſhed again: upon which occaſion he writ thus of Emperors and Kings Supremacy, duty, truſt, in and towards the Church of God, Clementiſſimus quoque Imperator non ideo eſt vas miſericordiae, praeparatum in gloriam, quia apicem terreni poteſtatis accepit,ccDe Veritate, Praedeſtinat. & Gratiae, citatur in Concil. Pariſienſi, l. 2. c. 1. Surius, Concil. Tom. 3. p. 390. ſed ſi Imperiali culmine recta fide vivat, et vera cordis humilitate praeditus culmen Regiae dignitatis ſanctae religioni et ſe ſubjiciat; ſimagis in timore ſervire Deo, quam in tumore dominari populo delectatur. Si in eo lenitas iracundiam mitiget, ornet benignitas poteſtatem. Si ſe magis diligendum quam metuendum cunctis exhibeat; ſi ſubjectis ſalubriter conſulat; ſi juſtitiam ſic teneat, ut miſericordiam non relinquat; ſi prae omnibus ita ſe ſanctae matris Eccleſiae meminerit filium, ut ejus paci atque tranquillitati per univerſum mundum prodeſſe ſuum faciat principatum. Magis enim Chriſtianum regitur atque propagatur Imperium dum Eccleſiaſtico ſtatui per omnem terram conſulitur (by the Emperors care and diligence; therefore the principal part of his office) quam cum in parte quacunque terrarum pro temporali ſecuritate pugnatur.

p. 127Pope aaAnaſtat us, Luitprandus, & others in v…ta Agapeti 1. Baronius, Anno 536.Agapetus the 1. Miſſus eſt a Theodoto Rege Gothorum, Anno 536.ad Dominum Juſtinianum Auguſtum in legationem, quia eodem tempore indignatus eſt Theodoto Regi, eo quod occidiſſet Reginam Amala…intham filiam Theodorici Regis, ſibi commendatam, qui eum Regem fecerat. An infallible argument of this Popes ſubjection to this King and Emperor; who undertaking the Embaſſy, intreated the Emperour to recall his Army out of Italy; ſed Imperator ſupplicationes Papae noluit audire; as bbIn Brevlario cap. 21.Liberatus relates.

The godly Emperor Juſtinian both claimed and exerciſed Supream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction in and over all Spiritual and Eccleſiaſtical Perſons and Cauſes whatſoever, Anno 540.and over Popes themſelves, as is moſt evident, 1. By cauſing his general Beliſarius (at the inſtigation of Theodora his Empreſſe) to aaPlatina, Lui… prandus, Al… Floriacenſis, Onuphrius, Lydius, Barns, Opmerus in Vitis S…lverii & Vigilii. Sabellicus Ae…ead. 3. l. 3. Niceph. Cal. l. 17. c. 13 27. Blondus, l. 7. Decad. 1. Cent. Magd. 6. col. 55. Hermanni Contr… cti Chron. Otho Friſingenſis Chron. l. 5. c. 4.deprive, baniſh Pope Silverius, who by armed force, mony and ſymony made himſelf Pope, and to make Vigilius Pope in his ſtead, who degraded Silverius from his Miniſtry; by cauſing Pope Vigilius himſelf to be ſeiſed and brought Priſoner to Conſtantinople, and afterwards queſtioned, deprived, baniſhed for Hereſy, and unſoundneſſe in the Catholick faith. 2ly. By bbCodicis lib. 1. Tit. 4. to 16. Autenticor. collat. l. 1. Tit. 5. De Monarchis Tit. 6. Quomodo oporteat Epiſcopos & Clericos ad Ordinationes perduci, & de expenſis Eccleſiarum, Collat. 2. Tit. 1. De non alienandis & per, mutandis Rebus Eccleſ. l. 2. Tit. 4. De Romana Eccleſ. Tit. 3, 4. col. 4. tit. 1. col. 9. Tit. 15. De ſanctiſſ. Epiſcopis.Titus 1Sir 50:2Titus 3:4collecting, confirming all old Lawes made by former Chriſtian Emperors concerning the Orthodox faith, the holy Scriptures, publike Prayers, Trinity, Creeds made by General Councils, Divine Service, Sacraments, Hereticks of all ſorts, Apoſ…ats, Jews, concerning Biſhops, Prieſts, Monks, and their respective Offices, qualifications, Ordinations; the Juriſdictions, Dioceſſe of Popes, Patriarchs, Biſhops, Holy-dayes, Churches, Church-lands, goods, Sacrilege, Simony, Non-reſidence of Biſhops, Prieſts, Epiſcopal audience, Churchyards, Oaths, Marriages, Tithes, Excommunications, and all other Eccleſiaſtical matters; which he backed with new Eccleſiaſtical Laws, Edicts of his own; in ſome of which he declares, Maxima quidem in omnibus ſunt dona Dei a ſuperna collata clementia, Sacerdotium & Imperium. Illud quidem divinis miniſtrans (not praeſidens) hoc autem humanis praeſidens, ac diligentiam exhibens, uno eodemque principio utraque proce lentia humanam exornant vitam. Ideo que nihil ſic erit ſtudioſum Imperatoribus ſicut ſacerdotum honeſtas; cum utique & pro illis ipſi ſemper Deo ſupplicent: nam ſi hoc quidem inculpabile ſit, undique et apud Deum fiducia plenum imperium autem recte & competenter exornet traditam ſibi Rempublicam erit conſonantia quaedam bona omne quicquid utile et humano conferens generi, Nos igitur maximam habemus ſollicitudinem circa vera Dei dogmata, et circa Sacerdotum honeſtatem, quoniam illis obtinentibus credimus, quod per eam maxima nobis dona dabuntur a Deo, et ea quae ſunt firma habebimus, et quae nondum hactenus venerunt acquiremus. Bene autem univerſa geruntur et competenter, ſi rei principum fiat decens et amabile Deo. Hoc autem futurum eſſe credimus, ſi ſacrarum rerum obſervatio cuſtodiatur, quam juſte laudandi et adorandi inſpectores et Miniſtri Dei verbi tradiderunt Apoſtoli, et ſancti Patres cuſtodierunt et explicuerunt. Sancimus igitur ſacras per omnia ſequentes Regulas, dum quiſpiam ſequenti omni tempore ad ordinationem Epiſcoporum adducitur, &c. Preſcribing all the qualifications of Biſhops, Prieſts, Abbots, Monks, and their reſpective duties, with penalties for non-performance in a moſt exquiſite manner. 4ly. By ccAuctor. Collatio, l. 1. Tit. 6. Nouvel. 131, 133. Autentic. Col. l. 1. Tit. 6. lib. 9. Tit. 15. Biſhop Jewels Defence of the Apology, p. 752, 753, 754, 755.granting equal authority, juriſdiction to the Patriarch of Constantinople, as to the Biſhop of Rome; Limiting the Juriſdictions, Dioceſſe, Proceedings of Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Biſhops, and prohibiting any Appeals but to the proper Metropolitan. By prohibiting under penalties of ſuſpenſion and impriſonment in ſome Monaſteries, all Biſhops, Prieſts, Deacons, Clergy-men, proprias re…inquere Eccleſias, et ad alias venire religiones: ad tabulas ludere, aut aliis iudentibus participes aut ſpectatores fieri, aut ad quodlibet ſpectaculum ſpectandi gratia venire. Omnibus autem Epiſcopis & Presbyteris interdicimus ſegregare aliquem aſacra communione antequam cauſa miniſtretur quam ſanctae regulae hoc fieri jubent. Jubemus unumquem que Archi…piſcopum & Patriarcham & Metropolitam ſanctiſsimos Epiſcopos ſub ſe conſtitutos, &c. in eadem provincia ſemel aut ſicundo per ſingulos annos ad ſe convocare, & omnes cauſas …ubtiliter examinare, quas Epiſcopi, aut Clerici, aut Monachi ad invicem habeant, eoſque diſponere, & ſuper hoc quicquid extra regulas a quacunque perſona delinquitur emendari (which they could not do before, but by this his Law and Indulgence) Epiſcopum p. 128aut Clericos, non aliter ordinari permittemus, niſi literas ſciant, & rectam fidem, vitamque habeant honeſtam, &c. Presbyterum autem minorem 35 annos fieri; ſed neque Diaconum vel ſubdiaconum minorem 25. &c. Sed neque curialem aut officialem Clericum fieri permittimus. Epiſcopi & Clerici in Ʋrbe Conſtantinopolitana degentes, ibi conveniendi. Si vero lis nondum inchoata eſt, apud Glorioſiſsimum Praefectum oricutis praetoriorum, aut apud eos qui a Nobis fuerint deputati Iudices. Iubemus Archiepiſcopos, Seniores Romae, &c. (Whence Papa temporalibus immiſcere ſe non debet. Papa Iuriſdictionem temporalem Imperii non habet; is the **Lib. 1. Autentic. Coll. Tit. 6. f. 10. b.Gloſſe reſolves.) After which he adds this memorable cloze to his Law concerning Biſhops, Prieſts, Deacons, and their reſpective ordinations; Quae igitur a Nobis ſancita ſunt ſacrum ordinem ſtatumqu… cuſtodiunt, ſecundum ſacrarum regularum obſervationem & virtutem, de caetero obſervent perpepetue integra, et ſanctiſsimi Patriarchae uniuſcujuſque Eccleſiae (whereof the Biſhop of Rome was one) et Deo amabiles Me…ropolitae, et reliqui reverendi Epiſcopi atque Clerici, ubique Dei culturam et ſacram diſciplinam cuſtodientes inviolatam, poena imminente haec praevaricanti, quo penitus alienus ſit a Deo, et impoſito ſibi Sacerdotii ordine: nam velut indignus hoc excluditur. Licentiam vero univerſis damus cujuſcunque ſint officii vel converſationis, reſpicientibus aliquid horum praevaricari, nunciare Nobis, et ad Imperium quod ſemper eſt, ut Nos qui hoc ſecundum ſacrarum regularum explanationem, Apoſtolicamque traditionem conſtituimus, decentem etiam indignationem praevaricantibus inferamus. Sanctiſsimi ſiquidem Patriarchae uniuſcujuſque Dioceſis haec proponant in Eccleſiis ſub ſe conſtitutis, et manifeſta faciant quae a nobis conſtituta ſunt. Illi quoque rurſus etiam ipſi proponant in Metropolita ſanctiſsima Eccleſia et conſtitutis ſub ſe Epiſcopis haec manifeſta faciant, illorum vero ſinguli in propria Eccleſia haec proponant; ut nullus noſtrae Reipublicae ignoret quae a Nobis ad honorem et ad augmentum magni Dei et Salvatoris noſtri Ieſu Chriſti diſpoſita ſunt. To which end he commanded Copies of theſe Laws to be ſent to all Metropolitans; & Johanni vero glorioſiſſimo praefecto ſacrorum praetoriorum, ſecundo ex…onſuli & expatricio; commanding him to ſee theſe Laws duly obſerved; to inform him of all violations of them, ut decens ſuper eis imponatur correctio cunctis Utatur quo que praeceptis ad clariſsimos Provinciarum Iudices, ut et ipſi qui fiunt inſpicientes, non permittant aliquod ertra hoc quod a Nobis conſtitutum eſt, fieri: imminebit enim eis et poena quinque Librarum auri, ſi quidem et ipſi praevaricari videntes, non denunciaverint aut ſedi tuae, aut Imperio, ut undique decens ornatus ordinationis gradui conſervetur. 5ly. By the Prologue of this Law; ccAutentic. Collation l. 2. Tit. 4Ut Eccleſia Romana centum annorum gaudeat praeſcriptione. Vt legum originem anterior Roma ſortita eſt, et Summi Pontificatus apicem apud eam eſſe, nemo eſt qui dubitet. (Yet not in the Pope but **See here, p. 4. 87, 88, 89.King, Emperor, as he thus declares in the very next words:) Vnde et Nos neceſſarium duximus patriam legum fontem Sacerdotii ſpeciali noſtri numinis lege (not of the Pope) illuſtrare, ut ex hac in totas Catholicas Eccleſias quae uſque ad Oceanum fretum poſitae ſunt, ſaluberrimae legis vigor extendat, et ſit totius occidentis, necnon et orientis ubi poſſeſsiones ſitae inveniuntur ad Eccleſias noſtras (not veſtras) ſive nunc pertinentes, ſeu poſtea eis acquirendae, Lex propria ad honorem Dei conſecrata? &c. Quod igitur noſtra aeternitas ad omnipotentis Dei honorem venerandae ſedi ſummi Apoſtoli Petri dedicavit, hoc habeant omnes terrae, omnes Inſulae totius occidentis quae uſque ad ipſas Oceani receſsus extendantur noſtri Imperii; providentiam prae hoc in aeternum reminiſcentes hujus legis p. 137praerogativam non ſolum in occidentalibus partibus Romanae Eccleſiae condonamus, ſed etiam in Orientalibus partibus, in quibus Eccleſiaſticae Vrbis Romae poſſeſsiones ſunt, vel poſtea fuerint: ſcilicet, omnibus judicibus minoribus et majoribus qui Chriſtiani Orthodoxi ſunt, vel poſtea fuerint, hanc noſtram conſtitutionem ſervantibus. Nihilominus hujuſmodi Legis temeratoribus poſt coeleſtes poenas, etiam legitimam ſuper vigorem pertimeſcentibus, poenam quinquaginta librarum auri formidantibus; hac lege non ſolum postea in emergentibus cauſis ſuum tenorem exercente, ſed etiam in his quaenam ſunt deductae in judicium. Sanctitas itaque tua praeſentem noſtrae manſuetudinis legem, piiſsimam ſive ſacroſanctam oblationem quam Deo dedicamus, accipiens, inter ſacratiſsima vaſa reponat, et a nobis ſervandam, et in omnes Eccleſiaſticas poſſeſsiones ſervaturam. Dat. xviij. Kal. Maii. Capite Biliſario Proconſule. This Law the Emperor ſent to Pope John the 3d. with this inſcription, Joanni viro beato & ſancto, Archiepiſcopo & Patriarchae Veteris Romae: which being an Univerſal Law extending to all parts of the Roman Empire; to the poſſeſſion of all Churches, to Iſles in the Eaſt and Weſt, as well as thoſe of Rome, equally binding Popes and the Church of Rome, as all others; and made by the Emperors own inherent Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, (without the Pope) as the ſole Original fountain of Lawes, to whom the chief Pontifical, Legiſlative power appertained; Compared with his precedent Lawes binding both Popes, Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Biſhops, Prieſts, all ſorts of Eccleſiaſtical or religious perſons, and ſubjecting them to puniſhments of deprivation, impriſonment, and other cenſures to be inflicted on them by the Emperor himſelf, and by his temporal Officers, Judges, who were to inquire and inform him of all violations of them, are pregnant evidences of this Pious Emperors Legiſlative, Coercive, Supream Eccleſiaſtical authority, (tranſmitted in Perpetuity by theſe Laws to the Roman Empire, and his Succeſſors therein) & moſt perſpicuouſly demonſtrate, that it was a principal part of his Imperial office, duty, care, to make ſuch Eccleſiaſtical Laws, for the conſervation of Gods ſacred faith, worſhip, Laws, and good Government of the Church, Clergy, as well as Laws for the Government of the Commonwealth. 6ly. By his declaring reſolving **Autentico: Col: l. 2. Tit. 6. f. 22. Col. 4. l. 6. Tit 3. l. 1. Tit: 6. Novel: 131, 137.Col 4Titus 3Imperator Pater eſt Legis; Nullum genus rerum eſt, quod non ſit penitus quaerendum authoritate Imperatoris. Is enim recepita Deo coronam, gubernationem et Principalitatem ſuper omnes homines. Whence Paulus Biſhop of Apamea in the 5. General Council of Conſtantinople upon the death of Pope Agapetus uſed theſe words to Juſtinian; Tranſtulit ipſum Dominus, ut plenitudinem directionis veſtrae cuſtodiret Serenitati. 7ly. By declaring, That if any Biſhop by Doctrine or otherwiſe move any tumults, he ſhall be puniſhed by my hand, for my hand is the hand of Gods Miniſter. Si Civibus leges, quam poteſtatem nobis Deus pro ſua in homines benignitate credidit, firmas in omnibus cuſtodiri ad obedientium ſecuritatem ſtudemus; Quanto plus ſtudi… adhibere debemus circa ſacrorum Canonum, et divinarum Legum cuſtodiam? He reputing this the principal part of his Imperial office, truſt, care, & greateſt ſecurity. 8ly. Anno 550.His Supream Eccleſiaſtical Power was evidenced by ſummoning Synods, Councils, and preſiding in them; aaEccleſiaſticae, Hiſt. l. 17. c. 27Nicephorus Calliſtus records, Imperator Juſtinianus, ſanctam quintam Synodum Oecumenicam, Epiſcopis Eccleſiarum omnium evocatis, coegit. And himſelf in his Letters of Summons iſſued for convening the 5. General Council of Conſtantinople (recorded by bbConcil. Tom. 2. p. 494, 495 496.Laurentius Surius, Binius and Crab in their Collections of Councils) thus relates the ſummoning of all the former General Councils, and confirmation of their Decrees by all Chriſtian Emperors his predeceſſots, which occaſioned him to ſummon this 5. General Council by his Edict.

In Nomine Domini Dei noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, Imperator Caeſar Flavius Juſtinianus, &c. Beatiſſimis Epiſcopis & Patriarchis, &c. Semper ſtudium fuit orthodoxis et piis Imperatoribus patribus noſtris pro tempore exortas haereſes per Congregationem religioſiſsimorum Epiſcoporum amputare, et recta fide ſyncere praedicata in pace ſanctam Dei Eccleſiam cuſtodire. Quapropter & Conſtantinus Prae recordationis, Arrio blaſphemante & dicente non eſſe p. 138Filium conſubſtantialem Deo Patri, ſed creaturam, & ex non extantibus factum eſſe, congregavit Niceae ex diverſis Dioceſibus trecentos Decem et Octo ſanctos patres; et cum ipſe etiam Concilio interfuiſset, et adjuviſset eos quod Conſubſtantialem filium Patri confeſsi ſunt, condemnata Arriana impietate, ſtudium habuit rectam fidem obtinere. Expoſito itaque Sancto Symbolo vel Mathemate fidei, per hoc Sancti Patres confeſſi ſunt, conſubstantialem eſſe Filium Deo Patri, quod uſque tunc apud plurimos dubitabatur. Sed et Theodoſius ſenior piae recordationis, Macedonio negante Deitatem ſancti Spiritus, et Apollinario vel Magno ejus Diſcipulo, in Diſpenſatione incarnati Dei verbi blaſphemantibus, & dicentibus ſenſum humanum, non recipiſſe Deum verbum, ſed Carni unitum eſſe animam irrationabilem habenti; congregatis in regia Vrbe Centum Quinquaginta Sanctis Patribus, cum et ipſe particeps fuiſset Concilii, damnatis praedictis Haereticis, una cum impiis eorum dogmatibus, fecit rectam praedicare fidem. Secuti enim iidem Sancti Patres expoſitam rectam fidem a trecentis Decem et Octo ſanctis Patribus explanaverunt de Deitate ſancti Spiritus, et perfecte de diſpenſatione incarnati Dei verbi docuerunt. Iterum Neſto…o Impio alium dicente Deum verbum, & alium Chriſtum, & huncquidem natura felium Dei Patris, illum autem gratia filium in piè introducente, & ſanctam Glorioſam ſemper Virginem Dei Genitricem eſſe negante, cum penè omnes Orientales partes ſua impietate adimpleſſet idem Neſtorius, Theodoſius junior piae recordationis congregavit priorem Epheſinam ſanctam Synodum, cui praeſidebant Coelestinus, et Cyrillus Sancti Patres, & directis Iudicibus qui deberent Concilio intereſse, compulit et ipſum Neſtorium ibi pervenire, et Iudicium propter eum procedere, et tali examinatione facta, ſecuti iidem ſancti Patres per omnia ea quae de Fide definita ſunt ab anterioribus ſanctis Patribus condemnaverunt Neſtorium, una cum ejus impietate. His ita ſubſecutis, cum inſurrexiſſent contra Cyrillum ſequaces Neſtorii impii, feſ…inaverunt (quantum in ipſis fuit) refutare condemnationem contra Neſtorium factam: ſed praedictus piae recordationis Theodoſius, Vindicans ea quae ita recte contra Neſtorium et ejus impietatem fuerant iudicata, fecit firmiter obtinere contra eum factam condemnationem. Et post haec iterum cum Eutichius demens emerſiſſet, negando conſubſtantialem nobis eſſe carnem Domini, multis interea motis, tam Conſtantinopoli, quam Epheſi, tanta pro illa facta eſt Haereticorum circumventio, ut etiam ejiceretur propter eum Flavianus Religioſae memoriae Regiae Vrbis Epiſcopus.Nota. Piae autem recordationis Martianus congregavit Chalcedone ſanctos Patres, et Magna contentione inter Epiſcopos facta, non ſolum per ſuos Iudices, ſed etiam per ſeipſum in Concilium pervenit, et ad concordiam omnes perdurit. Cui ſancti Patres in omnibus ſecuti ea quae pro fide definita ſunt apraedictis tribus ſanctis Conciliis, et quae judicata ſunt de Haereticorum damnatione et impietate eorum, damnaverunt et anathematizaverunt Eutichen dementem, et impia ejus dogmata, necnon et Neſtorium cum impiis ejus dogmatibus, quoniam tunc feſtinaverunt quidam defendere Neſtorium et impia ejus dogmata. Super haec autem iidem in Chalcedone ſancti Patres anathematizaverunt eos qui aliud Symbolum tradiderunt aut tradunt, praeter hoc quod expoſitum eſt a trecentis decem et octo ſanctis Patribus, et explanatum a Centum quinquaginta ſanctis Patribus. His itaque omnibus, per diverſa tempora ſubſecutis praedicti piae recordationis noſtri Patres ea quae in Vnoquoque Concilio judicata ſunt Legibus ſuis corroboraverunt et confirmaverunt,Nota. et Haereticos qui definitionibus praedictorum ſanctorum quatuor Conciliorum reſiſtere, et Eccleſias conturbare conati ſunt, expulerunt. Defuncto autem Martiano Divae Recordationis, cum Contentio eſſet per diverſa loca de Chalcedonenſi ſancto Concilio. p. 131Leo piae recordationis ad omnes ubique Sacerdotes ſcripſit, ut unuſquiſque eorum propriam ſententiam manifeſtaret de eodem Sancto Concilio, & cum alius alium Epiſcopum non expectaſſet, ad hoc quod interrogati ſunt reſponderunt. Exiguo autem tempore tranſacto iterum inſurrexerunt Neſtorii & Eutichis ſequaces & tantas turbas in ſanctis Dei Eccleſiis fecerunt, ut diviſiones, & ſchiſmata in eis fierent, & nullam communionem adſe invicem Eccleſiae haberent. Nec enim praeſumebat aliquis de Civitate ad Civitatem veniens communicare, nec Clericus ex alia Civitate in aliam Civitatem veniens in Eccleſiam procedere. Cum autem ſecundum ſuam Miſericordiam Dominus Deus Reipublicae Gubernationem nobis credivit, initium et fundamentum noſtri Imperii fecimus, conjungere diviſos Sacerdotes ſanctarum Dei Eccleſiarum, ab Oriente uſque ad Occidentem, et omnem contentionem amputantes quae contra Chalcedonenſem ſanctam Synodum ab Eutychis et Neſtorii impiorum ſequacibus movebatur, fecimus praedicare eandem ſanctam Synodum, cum praedictis aliis ſanctis tribus Conciliis in Dei Eccleſiis, certe ſcientes, quod ea quae ab ea de fide expoſita ſunt, conſonant per omnia aliis tribus ſanctis Conciliis, et multis quidem ad eandem ſanctam Synodum contradicentibus ſatisfecimus, alios aut qui perſeveraverunt eidem ſancto Concilio contradicentes extulimus a ſanctis Dei Eccleſiis et Venerabilibus Monaſteriis, ut concordia et pace ſanctarum Eccleſiarum et earum Sacerdotum firmiter cuſtodita, una et eadem fides quam ſanctae quatuor Synodi confeſſae ſunt, in ſanctis Dei Eccleſiis praedicetur. His ita pro firmitate ſanctarum quatuor Synodorum Deo propitio per nos factis et obtinentibus in ſancta Dei Eccleſia, Neſtorii ſequaces propriam impietatem applicare volentes ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae, et non potentes hoc per Neſtorium facere, feſtinaverunt ea introducere per Theodorum Mopſueſtenum Doctorem Neſtorii, qui multo pejora Neſtorio blaſphemavit, et ſuper alias innumerabiles ſuas Blaſphemias, contra Chriſtum Deum noſtrum factas, alium dixit Deum verbum, alium Chriſtum, nec non et per impia conſcripta Theodori quae contra rectam fidem et Epheſinam primam ſanctam Synodum, et contra ſanctae memoriae Cyrillum et duodecim ejus capitula expoſuit, et inſuper ſceleratam Epiſtolam, quam dicitur Ibas ad Marim Perſam ſcripſiſſe, quae plena eſt omni impietate Theodori et Neſtorii. Per hanc etenim impiam Epiſtolam non ſolum impietatem, ſed etiam ipſas perſonas Theodori & Neſtorii, quas maxime laudat & judicat, eadem impia Epiſtola feſtinaverunt condemnationem liberare, dicentes eam ſuſceptam eſſe à Sancta Chalcedonenſi Synodo. Hoc autem dicunt non pro defenſione ſanctae Synodi ſed nomine ejus ſicut putant, ſuam impietatem confirmare festinantes. Certum autem est, quod impia intentio est iſta vindicantium, ut ſi eis evenerit, non praedicetur Deus verbum homo factus eſse, nec ſancta Glorioſa ſemper Virgo Maria Dei Genitrix praedicetur. Haec enim Theodorus & Neſtorius in ſuis Conſcriptis impie expoſuerunt, & qui Epiſtolam ſcripſit, in eablaſphemat. Nos igitur ſequentes ſanctos Patres, et volentes rectam fidem ſine quadam macula in Dei Eccleſiis praedicari, et impiorum conatum reſecare, primum quidem et in veſtris vos degentes Eccleſiis interrogavimus de praedictis tribus capitulis, et veſtram nobis voluntatem manifeſtam feciſtis, pro qua et comprobavimus vos, quod indubitanter et cum omni alacritate rectam fidem confeſsi eſtis, et impiam condemnaſtis. Quoniam vero et poſt condemnationem a vobis factam in eiſdem ipſis permanent quidam eadem impia tria p. 138duplicate page p. 131duplicate page p. 138duplicate page p. 131duplicate page p. 132Capitula vindicantes, ideo vocavimus vos ad regiam Vrbem, hortantes, communiter convenientes, quam habetis pro his voluntatem, iterum manifeſtare, &c. Adhortamur igitur etiam vos de his diſceptare: Scire etenim vos volumus, quod nos ea quae a Sanctis quatuor Conciliis, Niceno, Conſtantinopolitano, Epheſino primo, et Chalcedonenſi de una eademque fide expoſita et definita ſunt, et de Eccleſiaſtico ſtatu regulariter diſpoſita, ſervabimus et defendemus, et ea ſequimur, et omnia quae conſonant iſtis ſuſcipimus et amplectimur. Quicquid autem non conſonat iſtis, vel a quacunque perſona ſcriptum inveniatur contra ea quae de una eadem que fide a ſanctis quatuor Conciliis, vel uno ex his, definita ſunt, hoc tanquam alienum, omnino pietatis execramur; ſequimur autem in omnibus ſanctos patres et Doctores ſanctae Dei Eccleſiae, id eſt, Athanaſium, Hilarium, Baſilium, Gregorium Theologum, & Gregorium Nyſſenum, Ambroſium, Theophilum, Johann. (Chryſoſtomum) Conſtantinopolitanum, Cyrillum, Auguſtinum, Proculum, Leonem, & omnia quae ab his de fide recta, & ad condemnationem Haereticorum conſcripta & expoſita ſunt, ſuſcipimus, &c. After which he preſcribes the Biſhops what points they ſhould debate in this General Council, and then concludes; Omnia igitur praedicta cum omni ſubtilitate diſceptantes, ſicut Sacerdotes decet, in mente habentes Dei timorem, & futurum judicium, & nihil pietati & rectae fidei & veritati, & Dei gloriae & honori praeponentes, in mente autem habentes et Apoſtolicam pronuntiationem quae contra eos qui contraria rectae fidei tradunt prolata eſt, manifeſte dicentem, **Gal: 1. 8, 9.quod licet Nos vel Angelus de Coelo evangelizaverit vobis praeterquam quod evangelizavimus vobis, anathema ſit, ſcientes autem & Petri Apoſtoli praeceptum dicentis, **1 Pet. 3. 151 Pet 3:15Parati ſemper eſtote ad ſatisfactionem omni petenti vos rationem de ſpe quae in vobis eſt, celeriter de his quae interrogavimus veſtram manifeſtate voluntatem. Cum enim qui de recta fide interrogatur diu protrahit, nihil aliud eſt niſt abnegatio rectae confeſsionis.

In this Council the Emperor appointed ſome of his aaSurius, Tom: 2. p. 501, 502.Nobles and Judges to be preſidents, to take an account of, and direct the Biſhops in their proceedings: who after Pope Vigilius his refuſal to appear in the Council; Glorioſiſsimi Iudices dixerunt, Nos quidem hoc quod juſsi ſumus à piiſsimo Imperatore implevimus, & imus ad ejus palatium in ejus obſequium permanſuri; vos autem Dei timorem prae oculis habentes celerem finem imponere cauſae dignamini, convenientem his quae a ſanctis quatuor Conciliis de fide recta definita ſunt, ſcientes quod piiſsimus Imperator ſpecialiter juſsit nobis dicere veſtrae Sanctitati, quod ipſe quae a ſanctis quatuor Conciliis de una eademque fide definita et judicata ſunt, et ſervavit, et ſervat, et vindicavit, et vindicat, et omnia quidem quae conveniunt his quae ab iiſdem Sanctis Conciliis pro recta fide definita ſunt, et ſuſcipit et ſervat; omnia autem contraria his quae ab ipſis de fide recta judicata ſunt, et rejicit, et aliena de Eccleſia judicat eſſe.

This moſt godly Emperor particularly ſummonedbbSurius, Tom: 2. p. 496, 498, 349, 501, 502, &c. Dr. Crakenthorps Vigilius Dormitans, cap. 2, 3. Pope Vigilius (of whoſe orthodoxy he doubted) to this Council, both by himſelf, by his Judges preſiding in it, and by Deputies ſent to him from the Council; who frequently admoniſhed him, et propoſuerunt iuſsionem piiſsimi Imperatoris Papae, ut una cum omnibus conveniret, to debate with the Council, and conclude the 3. Chapters; who yet (as the Council atteſts, and ccDe Conciliis, l. 1. c. 4. 36.Bellarmin, and Annal. Eccleſ. Ann. 553. nu. 29, 31.Baronius confeſſe,) Neque per ſe, neque per Legatos interfuit, ſed noluit intereſſe; (though then at Constantinople) whereupon this General Council was held and proceeded without him. Nec enim juſtum eſt tam Chriſtianiſſimum Imperatorem vel fidelem populum ſcandalizare ex dilatione ejus, upon pretence, that there were many Eaſtern Biſhops there, pauci vero cum eo: p. 133facere autem per ſemetipſum in ſcriptis ſuam ſententiam, & offerre piiſsimo Domino (ſo he ſtiled Iustinian) Ideo enim & inducias poſtulaſſe ab ejus Serenitate, ut intra eas ſuam manifestaret ſententiam. During the Councils Seſſions, Pope Vigilius publiſhed his Apoſtolical Constitution, and definitive ſentence in defence of the Three Chapters: Which Conſtitution and ſentence of his, this General Council contradicted, anathematiſed even in the cauſe of faith, cenſuring his definitive opinion as heretical; condemning the Catholick faith, and juſtifying the hereſie of Neſtorius, as aaDe Pontif: Rom. l. 4. c. 10. Dr Crakenthorps Vigilius Dormitans, c. 2. 3, 4.Bellarmin himſelf confeſſeth: All the godly Biſhops in the cloze of the 6. Collation cryed out unanimouſly; bbSurius, Tom: 2. p. 579.Multis Annis Imperatorem, orthodoxum Imperatorem multis annis. And in the Concluſion of the 7. Seſſion or Collation they all give him this Encomium: ccIbidem. p.] 588.Sancta Synodus dixit, Evidenter et nunc Deum placans intentio piiſsimi et tranquilliſsimi Imperatoris oſtenſa eſt, qui omnia ſemper fecit, et facit quae ſanctam Eccleſiam et recta dogmata conſervant, qui et modo recitatas Chartas direxit manifeſtantes et ipſas, quod nec latuit aliquem alienam ab initio eſſe iſtorum Capitulorum impietatis ſanctam Dei Eccleſiam. Et Chriſtianiſsimus quidem Imperator mercedem pro his habebit de Chriſto magno Deo, qui talia multiplicare ſolet: nos autem Orationes quotidianas facientes pro ejus Serenitate, pro tribus Capitulis altero die adjuvante Deo Synodicam ſententiam proferemus. This Emperor ratifying the definitions of this Council by his royal aſſent and Decrees, ddSurius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 387, to 400afterwards writ a Confeſſion of his own faith; wherein he refutes and anathematizeth all Hereſies condemned by former Councils, in nature of an Imperial Decree, which he enjoyned to be obſerved within his Empire, ſending it to Pope John the 2d. and approved by Pope Agatho his Succeſſor, printed in Surius with this Title; Edictum Piiſsimi Imperatoris Juſtiniani, fidei Confeſſionem continens, & refutationem haereſeos quae adverſantur Catholicae Eccleſiae, &c. With this Note in the Margin; Confeſſio Juſtiniani Imperatoris, Erudito, Pio, et Catholico Imperatore digna. The ground of his compiling and publiſhing it, is thus expreſſed in the Prologue: Scientes quod nihil aliud ſic potest miſericordem Deum placare, quam ut omnes Chriſtiani unum idemque ſapiant in recta & immaculata fide, nec ſint diſſentiones in ſancta Dei Eccleſia; neceſſarium putavimus, &c. to compile and publiſh this his Edict and Confeſsion of Faith for theſe ends. Upon reading whereof eeSurius Tom. 2 p. 399.Pontianus, a Biſhop, writ thus to him. Exultat autem ſpiritus noſter hoc firmiter te piiſsime eſſe Imperator, quod Apoſtolica fides praedicat, credentes: quod à rectae credulitatis tramite non declines. Talem enim decet eſſe Imperatorem pium, juſtum, fidelem, qualem te nos eſſe cognovimus. Yet notwithſtanding all theſe deſerved Encomiums of his tranſcendent Piety, Chriſtianity, Orthodoxy, Zeal, &c. Cardinal ffAnnal. Eccl. An: 553. n. 237 546. n. 24.Baronius is ſo much enraged againſt this godly Emperor for his proceedings againſt Pope Silverius, and Vigilius, and for his Eccleſiaſtical Laws, that like another Hercules furens he moſt unchriſtianly belyes, ſlanders, reviles, and damnes him to the pit of hell, as the moſt illiterate, unworthy, impious, tyrannical, preſumptuous, heretical wretch that ever breathed; What? Chriſtian Princes, ſuch a one as Juſtinian to make Laws for Popes, or Biſhops? Laws concerning faith, &c. who ſhould receive all ſuch Lawes from, and only obey the Lawes made by Popes and Prelates. Vides quanta iactura cum Principes indicere audent ipſis Sacerdotibus leges, a quibus ſancitas ſervare ipſi debent. Then ſlandering this **See Platina in vita Bonifacii 2 Tritemius de Scriptoribus Eccleſiaſticis.moſt learned Emperor, as ggAnno 528. n. 2. 546. 551. n. 2. 551. n. 4.homo penitus illiteratus, adeo ut nec alphabetum aliquando didiciſſet, illiteratus Theologus, legere neſcius; ut qui nec prima elementa calluit, qui nunquam legere ſciverit, vel ipſum foris inſcriptum titulum Bibliorum; Fecit analphabetum Imperatorem repente palliatum apparere Theologum; Clero ut ſibi ſubditum aggreſſus erat praeſcribere leges. hhAn: 551. n. 2. 4. 528. n. 2. 553. n. 32. 541. n. 16. 550. n. 14 Dr: Crakenthorps Vigilius Dormitans, cap 20.Sacrarum legum conditorem agit, de Sacerdotibus leges ferre, in eiſque poenas ſtatuere praeter jus faſque praeſumens. Ille furore percitus; mente amotus, correp…us malignospiritu, agitatus a Satana, Sacrilegus, &c. a quo accepturi eſſent Leges Epiſcopi. Such a one as this Juſtinian to make Lawes for Biſhops? What is it elſe but to confound all things? iiAnno 563. n: 16. 6, 7, ….Confundi omnia neceſſe eſt; Canones p. 134ipſe conculcat, penituſque confundet Eccleſiaſticam oeconomiam; Sicque omnem in Eccleſia diſſolveret ordinem, faceretue ex regno coelorum ergaſtulum infernorum. Ne ſutor ultra crepidam, &c. Yea he not only taxeth him of Curioſity, temerity, and arrogancy, for medling in ſacred affairs, but for a perverſe mad-man, an Antichriſt, ſetting up his chair, throne, in the temple of God, and exalting himſelf above all that is worſhipped; making Sacrilegious Lawes for exerciſing Infidelity, and writing Edicts for hereſie, And that when he died ad ſupplicia apud infernos luenda profectus eſt. This inſolent, impudent Cardinal had quite forgotten, Firſt, not only the preſidents of **Her…, p. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.King David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and others in the Old Teſtament, making Laws for Prieſts and Levites in matters of Worſhip, Order, &c. but of Conſtantin the Great, Theodoſius & other his religious Predeceſſors Eccleſiaſtical Lawes, mentioned in this Generall Council. Secondly That Pope Agatho himſelf in the 6. general Council of Conſtantinople, in his Propoſals and Confeſſion of the Orthodox faith, received, profeſſed in the Church of Rome, ſent to the Emperor Conſtantius, & this Council, gives this honorable teſtimony of Juſtinian his Orthodox faith, Edicts, Book in defence of the Catholick faith: aaActio 4. Surius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 918.Juſtinianus Auguſtus, cujus fidei rectitudo quantum pro ſyncera confeſsione Deo placuit, Nota.tantum rempublicam Chriſtianam exaltavit. Et uti que ab Here, p. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.omnibus gentibus ejus religioſa memoria veneratione digna cenſetur, cujus fidei rectitudo per Auguſtiſsima ejus Edicta in toto orbe diffuſa laudatur: quorum unum quod ad Zoilum Alexandrinum praeſulem adverſus Achephalorum haereſin miſſum eſt pro Apoſtolicae fidei rectitudine ſatisfacere ſufficiens, cum hac noſtrae humilitatis ſuggeſtione veſtrae tranquilliſsimae Chriſtianitati dirigentes per praeſentium latores (as Delegates to him & this Council under him of 120 Biſhops) offerimus, 3ly. That this Pope and the whole Synod of Rome in their Epiſtle to their Delegates ſent to the Emperor and Council, and Inſtructions to them read in this General Council; after their mention and applauſes of the Piety, bbActio 4. Surius Tom. 2. p. 925.Orthodoxy, and Zeal of the Emperors Conſtantine the Great, Theodoſius, and Martianus, in ſummoning the Councils of Nice, Conſtantinople, Epheſus and Chalcedon, againſt Arrius and other Heretiques, inſtantly ſubjoyn Iuſtinian, who ſummoned the Council of Conſtantinople, as excelling all the former godly Emperors in Piety and Zeal: Et ſicut extremi quidem, praeſtantiſsimi tamen omnium, magni illius Iuſtiniani, cujus et virtus, ita et pietas omnia in meliorem ordinem reſtauravit: cujus juſtitia fortiſsimae veſtrae clementiae principatus virtutis quidem conatibus Rempublicam Chriſtianam tuetur, et reſtaurat in melius, &c. 4ly. That this Univerſal Synod of Conſtantinople in their 10 ccActio 10. Surius Concil. p. 958.Action cauſed Juſtinians Book againſt Hereticks to be publikely read, as of far greater Authority then any of the Fathers there alleged. Item, relectum eſt in eodem Codicillo teſtimonium Iuſtiniani piiſsimi Imperatoris er libro contra Neſtorianos, et Acephalos. Item, relectum eſt ex eodem Codicillo teſtimonium eiuſdem ſanctae memoriae Iuſtiniani, ex dogmatica Epiſtola, ad Zoilum ſanctiſsimum Patriarcham Alexandriae. Quae duo testimonia collata ſint ſimiliter ad librum membranaceum, qui eſt de bibliot hec a venerabilis hujus Patriarchae. 5ly. That Actio 14. the whole Council ſtiled him 4. or 5. times one after another. ddSurius, Tom. 2. p. 1001, 1003, 1005.Iuſtinianus quondam divinae, et divae memoriae Imperator, and his Empreſſe as often Theodora Divae memoriae, in their examination of the forgeries inſerted by ſome Hereticks into the Acts of this Council held under him. 6ly. That in their eeIbid. Actio 8. 10. 17, 18, p. 1023.acclamations to Conſtantin, they give him this Title as a badge of his greateſt honour, orthodoxy and piety, Novo Iuſtiniano aeterna memoria: which they oft repeated in ſeveral Letters: 7ly. That **Surius, p. 1040.Actio 18 this whole 6th. General Council in their Sermo acclamatorius to the Emperor Conſtantine there publiquely read, gave this Encomium of him, Poſt haec Juſtiniano piiſſimo, &c. And Canon 1. ſtile him, Juſtinianus piae memoriae. 8ly. That Actio 18. the Emperor Conſtantine himſelf ſtiles him, Juſtinianus Divinae memoriae, in his Edict ratifying this Council. 9ly. That ffSurius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 896, 897.Manſuetus Biſhop of Millain, and the whole Synod of Biſhops under him in their Epiſtle and Confeſſion of faith ſent to the Emperor Conſtantine and this General Council, after their commendation of Conſtantine, p. 143Theodoſius magnus, and Martianus, praeſtantiſsimi & Chriſtianae religionis amatores, (who ſummoned the Councils of Nice, Conſtantinople, Epheſus, and Chalc… don,) give this Character of Juſtinian, Demptis his omnibus, deinc…ps Chriſtianiſsimo Iuſtiniano Imp: cuius cum nomine et opera micuerunt, exiſtentibus quibuſdam qui ſanctam Chalcedonenſem Syno…um ſub naevo offenſionis rejicere inconſideratis vacibus jactitabant, tunc a praefato Principe iterato in regia urbe Conſtantinop: Concilio congregati ſunt 160. reverendi Patres, &c. ſanctam & immaculatam orthodoxam fidem viventib…s ſententiis roborantes, firmiſſimam adſertionem confirmaverunt. If this whole General Council, together with the Synods of Rome, Millain, the Emperor Conſtantine, Pope Agatho himſelf and other godly Biſhops gave theſe high Encomiums of Juſtinians tranſcendent piety, orthodoxy, conſtancy, learning and knowledge, within an 120. years after his deceaſe, How impudent, impious, injurious is Cardinal Baronius above one thouſand years after, to ſlander him for an Heretical, in pious, flagitious, illiterat, damned miſcreant? 10ly. **Epiſt: l. 2. Ind 11 Ep: 10: & l. 3. Epiſt. 4.Pope Gregory the 1. oft ſtiles him, Juſtinus piae memoriae, for vertue and piety renowned, and to be held in veneration by all Nations. 11ly. aaDe Geſtis Franc. l. 3. c. 8.Aimonius gives Juſtinian this teſtimony, Juſtinian was a man Fide Catholicus, pietate inſignis, aequitatis cultor Egregius; therefore all things proſpered under his hand.bbChron. Lib: 5. c. 4. Otto Friſingenſis calls him, Chriſtianiſsimum ac piiſsimum Principem, qui Imperium quaſi mortuum reſuſcitavit, &c. as well as the Church. ccChronicon, part 16 in J… ſtiniano.Gothofri…us Viterbienſis terms him, Christianiſsimum Principum; The whole glory of God was repaired by his vertue, and peace eſtabliſhed in the Church, which remained in that ſtable peace which under him it enjoyed.ddFaſciculus Temp. Anno 504. Wernerus records, He was in all things moſt excellent; for in him did concurr three things which make a Prince glorious; to wit, Power, by which he overcame his Enemies; Wiſdom, by which he governed the world by juſt Lawes; and a Religious mind to Gods worſhip, by which he glorified God and beautified Churches. eeDe Scriptoribus Eccleſiaſt.Tritemius aſſures us, He was deſervedly reckoned among Eccle…aſtical writers; he expreſly mentioning 3. Books which he writ in defence of the Orthodox faith, againſt Eutiches; and one againſt the African Biſhops; With whom ffApparatus ſacr. in verbo JuſtinianusPoſſevine the Jeſuite concurres: Adding, Juſtinian the Emperor, a religious man, ſent to the See Apoſtolick (or Pope John the 3d.) the Profeſsion of his faith, ſcriptum chirographo proprio, written with his own hand (teſtifying his great love to, and care for the Chriſtian Religion. 12ly. **In Breviario c. 24. Centur. Magd. 6. col. 51, 52, 502, 503.Liberatus (who lived under Iuſtinian, and was no well-wiſher to him) records; That he writ a Book againſt the Acephali, and Eutichian Hereticks, in defence of the Council of Chalcedon: Therfore Baronius his paſſages, that he was altogether illiterate, and unable ſo much as to read, muſt needs be malicious forgeries. 13ly. ggIn Juſtiniano.Suidas ſtiles him, A moſt Catholick and Orthodoxal Emperor. hhDe Geſtis Longobard, l. 1. c. 17. et in vita ejus.Paulus Diaconus relates; That he governed the Empire, felici ſorte; and was a Prince for his faith Catholick, in his actions upright, in his judgements juſt: therefore all things concurred to his good. 14ly. iiCoſmogr. lib. 4. c. 59. in vita Juſtiniani.Sebaſtianus Munſter regiſters of him: He was a juſt and upright man, ingenious in finding out matters; atque haereſium maximus hoſtis. Yea kkIn vita Johan. 3.Platina gives him this teſtimony, Iuſtinus his next ſucceſſor was Nulla in re ſimilis Iuſtiniano; for he was wicked, covetous, ravenous, a contemner both of God and man. 15ly. llDe Aedif. Juſtin. l. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.Procopius gives him this Encomium, That Juſtinian ſeemed to have been ordained to the Imperial dignity by God, that he might repair the whole Empire, and likewiſe the Church of God: For he built the most magnificent Church Sophia in Conſtantinople, comparable to Solomons Temple, the mirrour of all ages, with 37. Stately Churches in Conſtantinople, Antioch, Ieruſalem, and other great Cities, beſides many Abbies, Churches, Hoſpitals; ſo that Nulla ſatietas honorandi Deum eum cepit, as Procopius relates, aſſerts. And mmEccleſ: Hiſt: l. 4. c. 18. Zonarus Tom: 3.Evagrius (who being an Eutichian, was moſt deſpitefull to him) gives him this teſtimony, That it is reported he reſtored a-new one hundred and fifty Cities, either totally overthrown or utterly decayed, and that he ſo beautified them with great Ornaments, publike and private houſes, goodly walls, ſumptuous buildings and Churches, ut nihil eſſe poſſet magnificentius. Which yet were nothing comparable to his moſt wholeſom Imperial Lawes, (abridged, corrected, ſupplied by his learned care and diligence) whereby he governed both the Empire and Church. 16ly. His memory was ſo famous, for Piety, Zeal, Iuſtice, Wiſdome, Government, Vertues,nnNiceph. Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 17. c. 31. Centur. Magd. 6. c. 6. col. 343, 344, Otto Friſing: Chron. l. 5. c. 4. P…ulus Diaconus, De Geſt. Long. l. 1. c. 17. That all the people annually celebrated the memory of Juſtinian with great Pomp, ſolemnity, and panegyrick Orations to his honor, both in the Church of Sophia in Conſtantinople, and in the Church of St. Iohn at Epheſus, which he built. And although Baronius out of malice place him in hell, yet Pope ooConcil. Gen. 6. Act. 4.Gen 6Acts 4Agatho p. 144and his whole Roman Council, rank him among the glorious and bleſſed Saints in heaven, St. Conſtantine, Theodoſius, and Martian; ſaying, That he is a bleſſed Saint venerable in all ages; and this Pope with the whole 6. General Council (as qqEccleſ: Hiſt: l: 7. c. 31.Nicephorus records) Iuſtinianum beata quiete dignatur; oft ſtiling him holy, bleſſed, divine, happy, & ſemper eum qui in ſanctis eſt Juſtinianum dicunt. 17ly. Learned rrVigilius Dormitans ch. 20. p. 355.Dr. Crakenthorp gives this teſtimony of him; There cannot be found in all Scripture more fair evidence, nor a more authentick Charter for the happy estate of any one in particular, that lived ſince the Apostles times, then is for this Juſtinian; For what were the works which did accompany and follow him? Truly the works of ſincere faith, of fervent zeal to God, of love to the Church and children of God, the works of piety, of prudence, of juſtice, of fortitude, of munificence, of many other heroical vertues; with theſe, as with a garment and chain of pure gold, Juſtinian being decked, was brought unto the bridegroom. Every Decree made or ratified by him for confirming the truth; every Anathema againſt Hereſies and hereticks, particularly thoſe againſt Vigilius, and all that defend him (that is, againſt Baronius, and all that defend the Popes infallibility in defining matters of faith;) every Temple or Church, every Monaſtery and Hoſpital, every City and Town, every Bridge, Haven, and Highway, every Caſtle, Fort and Munition, whether made or repaired by him, tending either immediately to the advancing of Gods ſervice in ſtrengthening the Empire againſt his and Gods enemies; Every Book in the Digeſt, Code, and Authenticks; every Title, yea every Law in every Title whereby the Chriſtian faith or Religion, or preaceable order and tranquillity have been either planted or propagated, or continued in the Church, or Commonwealth; all theſe and every one of them, and many other the like, which I cannot either remember or recount, are like ſo many Rubies, Chryſolites and Diamonds in the coſtly Garment, or ſo many links in the golden chain of his faith and virtues; Seeing they who offer but one mite into the Treaſury of the Lord; or, give but one cup of cold water to a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, ſhall not want a reward; O what a weight of eternity and glory, ſhall that Troop of Vertues and Train of Good works obtain at his hands, who rewardeth indeed every man according to their works; but withall rewardeth them infinitely above all the dignity or condignity of their works?

I have the longer inſiſted in clearing Juſtinians Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy in matters of faith, worſhip, over all Eccleſiaſtical perſons, and Popes themſelves, with his piety as well as Regality in making, collecting the forecited Eccleſiaſtical Laws; becauſe they are moſt punctual to my preſent Theam, and moſt oppugned by Baronius.

Agapetus a famous learned Deacon of Conſtantinople, in his Admonitorium to the Emperor Juſtinian, Anno 550.hath theſe memorable paſſages, Honore quolibet ſublimiorem quanto habeas dignitatem,Ad Juſtinianum Imp. jam Coronatum Paraenetica Oratio, Bibl. Patrum, Tom: 6. pars 1. p. 565, 566. O Imperator, honora ſupra omnes, qui hoc te dignatus eſt, Deum, quoniam juxta ſimilitudinem caeleſtis Regni tradidit tibi ſceptrum terrenae poteſtatis, ut homines doceas juſti cuſtodiam. Super omnia praeclara quae regnum habet, pietatis cultuſque divini corona regem exornat. Sceptrum Imperii quam a Deo ſuſceperis cogitato quibuſnam modis placebis ei qui id tibi dedit; quumque omnibus hominibus ab eo ſis praelatus (therefore above the Pope, and all other Prelates) magis omnibus eum honeſtare feſtina: porro id ipſe honeſtamentum arbitratur maximum, ſi quaſi te factos a ſe tuearis, atque ut debiti ſolutionem benefaciendi munus adimpleas, &c. And he poſitively aſſerts; Eſſentia corporis aequalis cuilibet homini Imperator, poteſtate autem dignitatis cunctorum praeſidi Deo, nec enim habet in terris ſe quenquam altiorem: oportet igitur ipſum ut Deum, non iraſci, ut mortalem non efferri &c. His Imperator non habet in terris ſe quenquam altiorem, making much againſt the Popes Supremacy, recited by Antonius Abbas (in his Meliſſa,) the Roman Cenſurers in their Index Expurgatorius, Romae excuſ: Anno 1607. p. 200. and the Spaniſh p. 145Inquiſitors in their Index librorum prohibitorum & expurgand. excuſ. Madreti, Anno 1612. in Agapeto, p. 797. not deeming it expedient totally to expunge it, are contented to yield the Emperors Supremacy in Temporals, by adding this expoſition of them in the Margin of future Impreſſions; Intellige de Poteſtate politica & ſeculari: (enough to ſubvert the Popes Secular Monarchy, aſſerted by them and their flatteres) when as Agapetus meant it of his Supremacy in Spirituals as well as Temporals, as his precedent and ſubſequent words aſſure us, againſt this falſe new marginal Gloſſe. He adds, Imperator ut eſt omnium Dominus, (therefore the Popes) ita cum omnibus Dei ſervus exiſtat: his whole Admonitorium tends to prove, that the advancement of Piety, Religion, and Gods Worſhip, is and ought to be all Kings, Emperors chiefeſt ſtudy, care, as well as honor and ſafety.Anno 5….

aaDr. … of the Popes Temp. Monarchy, c. 5. p. 71.Pope Pelagius the 1. in his Epiſtle to King Childebert, writes, We muſt endeavour to declare the obedience of our ſucceſsion unto Kings, quibus nos (even us who are Popes, as well as others) etiam ſubditos eſſe ſanctae Scripturae praecipiunt; to wit, Rom. 13. & 1 Pet. 2.Anno 580

bbGreg. Turonenſis Hiſt. l 3. c. 18. Centur. Magd. 6. col. 71, 72, 73, 74. Morne Myſterium Iniquitat. p. 10….Chilpericus King of France accuſed Pretextatus Biſhop of Rhoan for Theft, Treaſon againſt him, and divers other crimes, for which he declared ſe de jure in eum agere potuiſſe; but yet he ſummoned a Synod to examin and hear the cauſe, becauſe he would not ſeem to croſſe the Canons: whereupon a Synod being called at Paris, Gregorius Turonenſis Epiſcopus (though a great favourer of Pretextatus,) thus ingenuouſly profeſſed and told the King: Si quis de nobis (Epiſcopis) O Rex Juſtitiae tramitem tranſcendere voluerit, a te corrigi poteſt; but if you tranſgreſſe them, who ſhall puniſh you? We ſpeak unto you: If you be willing, you obey; but if you be unwilling, who can condemn you, but he only who hath pronounced that he is iuſt? Not the Pope, nor a whole Synod of Biſhops, as this Biſhop confeſſeth. Pretextatus being convicted of the crimes by his own confeſsion, was thereupon apprehended, impriſoned, and afterwards baniſhed by this King, but recalled and reſtored by King Gunthram his Succeſſor.

This King Gunthram ſummoned a Synod at Lyons againſt Salonius Ebredunenſis Epiſcopus, Anno ….and Sagittarius Vaxienſis Epiſcopus, A…monius Hiſt: l. 3. c. 26, 27, 28. Greg. Tutonenſis, l. 5. c. 20. Cent. Magd. 6. col. 335, 627, 628. Philip de Morney, Myſterium Iniquitatis, p. 165. … ronius, Anno 570. n. 23, 23.who being complained againſt for drunkenneſſe, whoredom, and other crimes, and convicted thereof, were deprived of their Biſhopricks, and thruſt into a Monaſtery as Priſoners by the King for a time. Afterwards, complaining to the King that they were unjuſtly injured by the Synod, they petitioned him, ſibi tribui licentiam ut ad Papam urbis Romae accedere debeant. Whereupon Rex annuens petitionibus eorum, datis Epiſtolis, eos abire permiſit. When they came to Rome, and comp…ined to Pope John of their miſery and unjuſt removal, he writ to the King, deſiring him to reſtore them; which he did. After which they falling into new crimes by bearing arms, murdering and oppreſsing their Citizens, reviling the King and his mother, drinking and whoring day and night, were again removed by the King from their Biſhopricks,Anno 589. and thruſt into the Monaſtery of Marcellus. ddSurius Concil. Tom 2. p. 68…. Morney Myſteſterium in qu. p. 104.This King the next year ſummoned another Synod in urbe Valentina, which met, juxta imperium Domini Gunthrami Regis, pro diverſis pauperum querimoniis, &c. Et quia praedictus Rex per virum illustrem Aſclepeiadorum referendarium, datis ad Sanctam Synodum Epiſtolis injunxit, to ſubſcribe what ever he, his Queen, and daughters had given to holy places; they thereupon accordingly ſubſcribed.

Anno 590About the year 590. eeSurius Concil Tom 2. p. 680, 687. Centur. Mag 6. col. 619. 620.Gunthramus Rex Francorum iſſued this memorable Precept, De obſervando die Dominico to the Biſhops ſummoned by him to the ſecond Council of Matiſcon, & omnibus Pontificibus & univerſis Clericis, & cunctis Judicibus in regione nostra conſ…itutis, beginning thus; Per hoc ſupernae Majeſtatis authorem (cujus univerſa reguntur Imperio) placari credimus, ſi in populo noſtro juſtitiae jura, & praeceptorum divinorum monita ſervamus. Dum ergo pro Regni noſtri ſtabilitate, & ſalvatione Populi, ſolicitudine pervigili attentius pertractavimus, agnovimus infra regni noſtri ſpatia univerſa ſcelera, quae canonibus et legibus pro divino timore puniri conſuerunt, ſuadente adverſario boni operis, perpetrari (to the drawing down of Gods judgements on them;) which ſinnes he thereupon enjoynes the Biſhops and Miniſters to endeavour to ſuppreſſe by their Preaching and Holy Lives; Mark ….Nam nec nos, quibus facultatem regnandi ſuperni Regis commiſit authoritas iram eius evadere poſſumus, ſi de ſubiecto populo ſolicitudinem non habemus: Idcirco hujus Decreti ac definitionis generalis vigore decernimus p. 144duplicate page p. 145duplicate page p. 144duplicate page p. 145duplicate page p. 146ut in omnibus diebus Dominicis, in quibus ſanctae reſurrections myſterium veneramur, quando ex more ad veneranda templorum oracula univerſae plebis connectio devotionis congregatur ſtudio, praeter quod victum praeparari convenit, ab omni corporali opere ſuspendantur: enjoyning all Biſhops and Prieſts thereon, conſtanti praedicatione populi univerſam multitudinem corrigere, &c. And the Judges to puniſh them according to Law; Concluding, Cuncta ergo, quae hujus Edicti tenore decrevimus perpetualiter volumus cuſtodiri, quia in ſancta Synoda Matiſconenſi, haec omnia ſicut noſtis, ſtuduimus diffiniri, quae praeſenti authoritate vulgamus, wherein were 20. Canons made, (the firſt, for the ſtrict obſervation of the Lords day) which he ratifyed by this Royal Edict. All the Biſhops in this Council concluded, Propterea inde…inenter omnes nos orare oportet, ut Dei omnipotentis Majeſtas, & Regis noſtri incolumitatem ſolita pietate conſervet, & nos omnes illa operari concedat, quae Serenitati ac Ma…eſtati ejus ritè complaceant: inſtead of quarrelling at his zeal for religion, Gods worſhip, and regal care of his own and his Subjects ſalvation, for whom he was to give an account to God, who had conſtituted him their King.

Anno 580.aaBibl. Patrum Tom. 6. pars 1. 5p. 514. c.Juſtus Orgelitanus a Spaniſh Biſhop, preſent in the 2d. Council of Toledo, in his Explicatio in Cantica Car…icorum, thus expounds theſe words; [Quia caput plenun…:] Hi qui Principali honore in Eccleſia praeminere videntur; quaſi caput in Chriſti corpore adver…enture (not the Pope.) Et qui in ipſa fidelium congregatione Sacramenta viſibilia adminiſtrant, veluti cincinni de cribuntur: which flow only from the head, and are no part thereof. The Spaniſh Kings being the Supream head on earth of the Spaniſh Church, as will appear by the 3d. Council of Toledo, Anno 589. Anno 589bbSurius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 668 Cent. Magd. 6. cap. 9. col. 589. to 600. Crab, Binius & Carranza in their Councils.Regnante glorioſiſſimo atque piiſſimo & Deo fideliſſimo Domino Reccaredo Rege; cum idem glorioſiſſimus Princeps omnes regiminis ſui Pontifices in unum convenire mandaſſet in Civitate Regia Toletana; (the Metropolis of Spain;) this pious King ſitting in the midſt of this Council (where 72 Biſhops aſſembled) made an Oration to them, ſo ſoon as they were ſate, ſhewing the reaſons of its ſummons, wherein are theſe remarkable paſſages, evidencing the ſupream care of the orthodox faith, religion, and peoples ſouls, to reſide in Kings; and that himſelf was the inſtrument raiſed by God to convert the Gothes and Swedes to the Orthodox faith, a Summary whereof he had drawn up, and tendred to this Council to be read, profeſſed, & ratified throughout his Kingdom for the future. Non credimus veſtram latere ſanctitatem quanto tempore in errore Arrianorum, laboraſſet Hiſpania, & non multos post deceſſum genitoris noſtri dies, quibus nos veſtra beatitudo fidei ſanctae Catholicae cognovit eſſe ſociatos, credimus generaliter magnum et aeternum gaudium habuiſſe, et ideo Venerandi Patres ad hanc vos peragendum congregandos decrevimus Synodum, ut de omnibus nuper advenientibus ad Chriſtum, ipſi aeternas Domino gratias deferatis. Quicquid vero verbis apud Sacerdotium veſtrum nobis agendum erat de fide atque ſpe noſtra, quam gerimus, in hoc Tomo conſcripta atque allegata, noteſcimus. Relegatur ergo in medio veſtri, et in Iudicio Synodali examinata, per omne ſucciduum tempus Gloria noſtra ejuſdem fidei Teſtimonio decorata clareſcat. Suſceptus eſt autem ab omnibus Dei Sacerdotibus, offerente Rege, ſacroſanctae fidei tomus, et pronunciante Notario clara voce recenſitus eſt ita, &c. Here this King himſelf draws up a Confeſſion of his Faith, and commands it to be publickly read in the Synod; which was generally received by all the Biſhops and Prieſts preſent in this Council, was read with a lowd voyce in this memorable form. Quamvis Deus omnipotens, pro utilitatibus populorum regni, nos culmen ſubire tribuerit, et moderamen gentiumnon paucarum regiae noſtrae curae commiſerit, meminimus tamen nos mortalium conditione perſtringi, nec poſſe felicitatem futurae beatitudinis aliter promereri, niſi nos cultui verae fidei deputemus, et conditori noſtro, ſaltem confeſsione, qua dignus eſt ipſe, placeamus. Pro qua re quanto ſubditorum gloria regali extollimur, tanto providi eſſe debemus (Let Baronius, Popes and Popiſh Prelates obſerve it, who deny that Kings have ought to do in matters of Faith and Religion) in his quae ad Deum ſunt, vel noſtram ſpem augere, vel gentibus p. 147nobis a Deo creditis conſulere. Caeterum, quid pro tantis beneficiorum collationibus omnipotentiae divinae valemus tribuere?Pſal: 16. quando omnia ipſius ſint, et bonorum noſtroum nihil egeat, niſi ut in eum ſic tota devotione credimus, quemadmodum per ſcripturas ſacras ſe ipſe intelligi voluit, et credi praecepit? id eſt, ut confiteamur eſſe Patrem, qui genuerit ex ſubſtantia ſua Filium ſibi & coequalem et coaeternum: Non tamen ut idem ipſe ſit natus & genitor, ſed perſona alius ſit Pater, qui genuit, alius ſit Filius qui fuerit generatus, unius tamen uterque ſubſtantiae in divinitate ſubſiſtat. Pater, ex quo ſit Filius, ipſe vero ex nullo ſit alio: Filius qui habeat Patrem, ſed ſine initio & ſine diminutione, in ea, qua Patri coaequalis & coaeternus eſt divinitate ſubſiſtat. Spiritus ſanctus confitendus a nobis eſt et praedicandus, a Patre & Filio procedere, & cum Patre & Filio unius eſſe ſubſtantiae. Tertiam vero in Trinitate Spiritus ſancti eſſe perſonam, qui tamen communem habeat cum Patre & Filio divinitatis eſſentiam. Haec enim Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus eſt; Pater & Filius, & Spiritus ſanctus, cujus bonitate omnis licet bona ſit condita creatura, per aſſump…am tamen à Filio humani habitus formam, a damnata progenie reformamur ad beatitudinem priſtinam. Sed ſicut verae ſalutis indicium eſt Trinitatem in Unitate, & Ʋnitatem in Trinitate ſentire, ita erit conſummata juſtitia, ſi candem fidem intra Vniverſalem Eccleſiam teneamus, et Apoſtolicam Vnitatem in Apoſtolico poſiti fundamento, ſervemus. Tamen vos Dei Sacerdotes, meminiſſe oportet, quantis hucuſqae Eccleſia Dei catholica per Hiſpanias adverſae partis molestiis laboraverit, dum & Catholici conſtanter fidei ſuae tenerent ac defenderent veritatem, & Haeretici pertinaciori animoſitate propriae niterentur **Perficiae.perfidi. Me quo que ut reipſa conſpicitis calore fidei accenſum, in hoc Dominus excitavit, ut depulſa obſtinatione, infidelitatis et diſcordiae ſubmoto furore, populum qui ſub nomine religionis famulabatur errori, ad agnitionem fidei, et Eccleſiae Catholicae conſortium revocarem. Adeſt enim omnis gens Gothorum inclyta, et fere omnium Gentium genuina virilitate opinata, quae licet ſuorum pravitate Doctorum a fide hactenus vel unitate Eccleſiae catholicae fuerit ſegregata, tota nunc tamen MEO ASSENSUI CONCORDANS, ejus Eccleſiae communioni participatur, quae diverſarum gentium multitudinem materno ſinu ſuſcipit, & charitatis uberibus nutrit. De qua Propheta canente dicitur: aaEſa. 56. Ma…, 21. Mark 11. Luc. 19.Isa 56Mark 11Luke 19Domus mea domus Orationis vocabitur omnibus Gentibus: Nec enim ſolum Gothorum converſio ad cumulum noſtrae mercedis acceſsit, quinimo et Suevorum gentis infinita multitudo, quam praeſidio caeleſti noſtro regno ſubjecimus, alieno licet vitio in Haereſin deductum;**Nota NOSTRO TAMEN AD VERITATIS ORIGINEM STUDIO REVOCAVIMUS. Proinde Sanctiſſimi Patres has nobiliſsimas gentes, quae Dominicis lucris PER NOS applicatae ſunt, quaſi ſanctum et placabile ſacrificium per veſtras manus aeterno Deo offero. Erit enim mihi immarceſsibilis corona, vel gaudium in retributione Iuſtorum, ſi hi populi, qui NOSTRA ad unitatem Eccleſiae SOLERTIA tranſcurrerunt, fundati in eadem et ſtabiliti permaneant. Sicut enim DIVINO NUTU NOSTRAE CURAE FUIT HOS POPULOS AD UNITATEM CHRISTI ECCLESIAE PERTRAHERE, ita ſit vestrae docibilitatis, catholicis eos dogmatibus inſtituere, quo in toto cognitione veritatis inſtructi, noverint ex ſolido errores Haereſis pernicioſae reſpuere, & verae fidei tramitem ex charitate retinere, vel Catholicae Eccleſiae communionem deſiderio avidiori amplecti. Caeterum, ſicut facile ad veniam perveniſſe confido, quod neſcia hucuſque tam clariſſima erraverit gens, ita gravius eſſe non dubito, ſi agnitam veritatem dubio corde teneat, atque a patenti lumine (quod abſit) oculos ſuos avertat. Unde valdè perneceſſarium eſſe perspexi, veſtram in unum convenire beatitudinem, habens ſententiae Dominicae fidem, qua dicit, bbMat: 18Ubi fuerint duo vel tres collecti in nomine meo, ibi ſum in medio eorum. Credo enim beatam ſanctae, Trinitatis divinitatem huic ſancto intereſſe Concilio, et ideo, tanquam ante conſpectum p. 148Dei, ita in medio veſtri fidem meam protuli, conſcius admodum ſententiae divinae dicentis, Pſalm. 39.Ps 39Non celavi miſericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam a congregatione multa. Vel Apoſtolum Paulum, 1 Tim. 6.1 Tim 6Timotheo Diſcipulo praecipientem audivi; Certa bonum certamen fidei, apprehende vitam aeternam in qua vocatus es, confeſſus bonam confeſſionem coram multis teſtibus. Mat. 10. Mark. 8. Luc. 9.Matt 10Mark 8Luke 9Vera eſt enim redemptoris noſtri ex evangelio ſententia, qua confitentem ſe coram hominibus, confiteri dicit coram Patre, et negantem ſe eſſe negaturum. Expedit enim nobis id ore profiteri quod corde credimus, ſecundum caeleſte mandatum, Rom. 10.Rom 10quod dicitur, Corde creditur ad juſtitiam, ore autem confeſſio fit ad ſalutem. **Surius Concil: Tom: 2. p. 672Proinde, ſicut Anathematizo Arrium, cum omnibus dogmatibus et complicibus ſuis, qui Unigentum Dei filium à paterna degenerem aſſerebat eſse ſubſtantia, nec à patre genitum, ſed ex nihilo dicebat eſse creatum, vel omnia concilia malignantium quae adverſus Sanctam Synodum Nicenam extiterunt; ita in honorem et laudem Dei fidem ſanctam Niceni obſervo Concilii, et honoro; ea quae contra eundem rectae fidei Arrium peſtem trecentorum decem et octo ſancta Epiſcopalis ſcripſit Synodus. Amplector itaque et teneo fidem Centum Quinquaginta Epiſcoporum Conſtantinopoli congregatorum, quae Macedonium, Spiritus ſancti ſubſtantiam minorantem, & à Patris & Filii unitate & eſſentia ſegregantem, jugulo veritatis interemit. Primae quoque Epheſinae Synodi fidem, quae adverſus Neſtorium ejuſque doctrinam lata eſt, credo pariter et honoro. Similiter et Chalcedonenſis Concilii fidem, quam plenam Sanctitate & Eruditione adverſus Eu…ichen & Dioſcorum protulit, cum omni Eccleſia catholica reverenter ſuſpicio. Omnium quoque Orthodoxorum venerabilium Sacerdotum Concilia, quae ab ipſis ſupraſcriptis quatuor Synodis, fidei puritate non diſſonant, pari veneratione obſervo. Properet ergo reverentia veſtra, fidem hanc noſtram canonicis applicare monimentis, & ab Epiſcopis, vel religioſis aut gentis noſtrae**Nota. primoribus ſolenniter fidem, quam in Eccleſia catholica crediderunt, audire. Quam renovatam apicibus, vel eorum ſubſcriptionibus roboratam, futuris olim temporibus in teſtimonium Dei, atque hominum reſervatae, ut hae gentes, quas in Dei nomine, regia poteſtate praecellimus, & deterſo antiquo errore per unctionem ſacroſancti Chriſmatis, vel manus impoſitionem paracletum intra Dei Eccleſiam perceperunt Spiritum, quem unum & aequalem cum Paire & Filio confitentes, ejuſque Dono in ſinu Eccleſiae ſanctae Catholicae collatae ſunt, ſi eorum aliqui hanc rectam & ſanctam Confeſsionem noſtram minime credere voluerint, iram Dei cum Anathemate aeterno percipiant, et de interitu ſuo fidelibus gaudium, infidelibus ſint in exemplum. Huic vero confeſsioni meae, ſanctas ſupraſcriptorum Conciliorum conſtitutiones contexui, et teſtimonio divino tota cordis ſimplicitate ſubſcripſi. Then follow the 3. Confeſsions of faith: viz. Confeſsio Nicenae Synodi, Credimus, &c. Symbolum CL. Patrum Conſtantinopolitani Concilii, Credimus, &c. Tractatus Chalcedonenſis Synodi. Next, this Kings and his Queens ſubſcriptions, to this his Confeſsion of faith, which was publikely read, Ego Reccaredus Rex fidem hanc ſanctam et veram Confeſsionem, quam una per totum orbem Catholica confitetur Eccleſia, corde retinens, ore affirmans, mea dextera Deo protegente ſubſcripſi. Ego Badda glorioſa Regina hanc fidem, quam credidi et ſuſcepi, manu mea de toto corde ſubſcripſi. Which being read, Tunc acclamatum eſt in laudibus Dei et in favore Principis ab univerſo Concilo: Gloria Deo Patri, & Filio, & Spiritui ſancti, cui cura eſt pacem & unitatem Eccleſiae ſuae Sanctae Catholicae providere. Gloria Domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto, qui precio ſanguinis ſui Eccleſiam Catholicam ex omnibus gentibus congregavit. Gloria Domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto, qui tam illuſtrem gentem unitati fidei verae copulavit, et unum gregem, & unum Paſtorem inſtituit. Cui a Deo aeternum meritum, niſi vero Catholico Reccaredo Regis? Cui a Deo aeterna corona, niſi vero Orthodoxo Reccaredo Regi? Cui praeſens Gloria et aeterna niſi p. 149vero amatori Dei Reccaredo regi? Ipſe novarum plebium in Eccleſia conquiſitor. Ipſe mereatur veraciter Apoſtolicum meritum, qui Apoſtolicum implevit officium (Mark theſe expreſſions of all thoſe Biſhops and Prieſts) Ipſe ſit Deo et hominibus amabilis qui tam mirabiliter Deum glorificavit in terris, praeſtante Domino noſtro Ieſu Chriſto, qui cum Deo Patre vivit & r…gnat in unitate Spiritus ſancti in ſecula ſeculorum.

After this the Biſhops, Prieſts, Nobles aſſembled in this Council having thus approv'd, applauded this Kings Confeſsion of his faith, drew up another of their own concurring in form and ſubſtance with the Kings, which not only the Biſhops & Prieſts, but likewiſe, **… Concil: Tom: 2. p. 671, 672.Similiter omnes Seniores …othorum (then preſent) et permulti Procerum et Illuſtrium virorum ſubſcripſerunt: Having Votes and Subſcriptions too in this famous Council, as well as the Biſhops and Prieſts, even in matters of faith: Which their right aaGratian Diſt. 96. Ubi…am. See Onuphrius, Luitprandus, & Lydius in Nicholao 1.Pope Nicholas the 1. in his Epiſtle to Michael the Emperor (about the year 870.) in the caſe of Ignatius Patriarch of Conſtantinople, acknowledgeth in theſe words. Ʋbinam legiſtis, Imperatores anteceſſores veſtors Synodalibus Conventionibus interfuiſſe? etſi forte in quibuſdam, tibi de fide tractatum eſt: quae et omnium communis eſt; quae non ſolum ad Clericos, verum etiam ad Laicos, et ad omnes omnino pertinet Chriſtianos. And the Gloſſe thus ſeconds. Quod omnes tangit ab omnibus debet approbari; as here it was. **Surius, p. 672. 673.Post Confeſſionem ergo & ſubcriptionem omnium Epiſcoporum, et totius gentis Gothicae Seniorum, Glorioſiſsimus Dominus noſter Reccaredus Rex, pro reparandis ſimul et confirmandis diſciplinae Eccleſiaſticae moribus, Dei Sacerdotes taliter affatus eſt, dicens. Regia cura uſque in eum modum protendi debet et dirigi, quam plenam conſtiterit aetatis et ſcientiae capere rationem. Nam ſicut in rebus humanis eminet poteſtas regia, ita et proſpiciendae commoditati comprovincialium major debet eſſe et providentia. At nunc, beatiſsimi Sacerdotes, non in eis tantummodo rebus diffundimus ſolertiam noſtram, quibus populi ſub noſtro regimine poſiti pacatiſsime gubernentur et vivant, ſed etiam in adjutorio Chriſti, extendimus nos ad ea, quae ſunt coeleſtia, cogitare, et quae populos fideles efficiant ſatagimus non neſcire. This being the principal part of his Regal office and care.) Caeterum ſi totis nitendum eſt viribus, humanis moribus modum ponere, & inſolentium rabiem regia poteſtate refrenare, ſi quieti & paci propagandae opem debemus impendere; multo magis eſt adhibenda ſolicitudo, (mark it) deſiderare, et cogitare divina, inhiare ad ſublimia, et ab errore retractis populis veritatem eis ſe renae lucis oſtendere. Sic enim agit qui multiplici bono ſe a Deo remunerari confidit. Sic enim agit qui ſuper id, quod ei committitur, Luc. 10.Luke 10auget, dum illi dicitur, Quicquid ſupererogaveris, ego cum rediero reddam tibi. Ergo quia jam fidei noſtrae & confeſsionis formam plena ſerie veſtra beatitudo recenſuit, ſimul que et Sacerdotum noſtrorumq, Procerum fides atque confeſsio ſanctitati veſtrae perpatuit, hoc adhuc neceſſario pro firmitate Catholicae fidei noſtra Deo ſupplex inſtituere decrevit authoritas, ut propter roborandum gentis noſtrae novellam converſionem, omnes Hiſpaniarum & Galiciae Eccleſiae hanc regulam ſervent, ut omni ſacrificii tempore ante communicationem corporis Christi et ſanguinis, iuxta Orientalium partium morem, unanimiter clara voce ſacratiſsimum fidei recenſeant Symbolum, ut primum populi, quam credulitatem teneant fateantur, & ſic corde fide purificata ad Chriſti corporis & ſanguinem percipiendum exhibeant, &c. De caet…ro autem prohibendis inſolentium moribus mea vobis conſentiente…cl mentia, ſententiis terminate diſtrictioribus, & firmiore diſciplina quae facienda non ſunt, prohibete, et ea quae fieri debent immobili conſtitutione firmate. Whereupon they drew up 23. Canons to this purpoſe according to this Kings direction; who ratified them by this enſuing Royal Decree, wherein the heads of them are all recited.

**Surius, Tom, 2. p. 676.Edictum Regis de Confirmatione Concilii. Glorioſisimus Dominus Reccaredus Rex, univerſis ſub Regimine noſtrae poteſtatis exiſtentibus. Amatores nos ſui p. 150divini favoris veritas, noſtris principaliter ſenſibus inſpiravit, ut cauſa inſtaurandae fidei ac diſciplinae Eccleſiaſticae, Epiſcopos omnes Hiſpaniae noſtro praeſentari culmini juberemus. Pracedente autem diligenti et tanta deliberatione, ſive quae ad fidem conveniunt, ſeu quae ad morum correctionem respiciant, ſenſus maturitate, & intelligentiae gravitate conſtant eſſe digesta. Noſtra proinde authoritas id omnibus, ad regnum noſtrum pertinentibus jubet, ut quae definita ſunt in hoc ſancto Concilio nulli contemnere liceat, nullus praeterire praeſumat. Capitula enim quae noſtris ſenſibus placita et diſciplinae congrua, a praeſenti conſcripta ſunt Synodo, in omni authoritate, ſive Clericorum, ſive quorumcunque omnium, obſerventur et maneant. Then reciting their heads, he concludes, Has omnes conſtitutiones Eccleſiaſticas quas ſummatim breviterque perſtrinximus, ſicut plenius in Canones continentur, manere perenni ſtabilitate ſancimus. Si quis ergo Clericus aut Laicus harum ſanctionum obediens eſſe noſuerit, ſi Epiſcopus, Presbyter, Diaconus aut Clericus fuerit, ab omni Concilio excommunicationi ſubjaceat. Si vero Laicus fuerit, & honeſtioris loci perſona eſt, medietatem facultatum ſuorum amittat fiſci juribus profuturam; ſi vero minoris loci perſona eſt, amiſsione rerum ſuarum mulctatus, in exilium deputetur. Flavius Reccaredus Rex, hanc deliberationem, quam cum ſancta diffinimus Synodo, confirmans ſubſcripſi.

It is very obſervable that this King**Surius, Tom. 2. p. 671. Reccaredus by his power, piety, and example converted all the Biſhops, Clergy, Nobles and others of the whole Gothiſh Nation, from the Arrian Hereſie which they anathematized, to the Orthodox faith, as they all thus acknowledged in this Council. Tunc Epiſcopi omnes una cum Clericis ſuis, Primoreſque gentis Gothicae, pari conſenſione dixerunt, Licet hoc jam olim converſionis noſtrae tempore egerimus, quando ſecuti glorioſiſsimum Dominum noſtrum Reccaredum Regem ad Eccleſiam tranſivimus, et perfidiam Arrianam, cum omnibus ſuperſtitionibus ſuis anathematizavimus, pariterque abjecimus: After which proteſting their unanimous, cordial believing, embracing, profeſſion of the Kings Orthodox faith, they denounced many Anathemaes againſt the Arrian hereſy, and each branch thereof; ſubjoyning this ingenuous confeſsion of their Converſion from their hereſie, by this Kings means, and their cordial embracing of his faith. Comfitemur, nos ex haereſi Arriana toto corde, tota anima, & tota mente nostra ad Eccleſiam catholicam fuiſſe converſos. Nulli dubium ſit, nos, noſtroſque deceſſores erraſſe in haereſi Arriana, & fidem Evangelicam, atque Apostolicam nunc intra Eccleſiam Catholicam didiciſſe. Proinde fidem ſanctam quam religioſiſsimus Dominus noſter patefecit in medio Concilii, et manu ſua ſubſcripſit, hanc et nos tenemus, hanc confitemur pariter et ſuſcipimus, hanc in populis praequicare, atque docere promittimus. Haec est vera fides, quam omnis Eccleſia, dum per totum mundum tenet, Catholica eſſe creditur, & probatur, 1 Cor. 16.1 Cor 16Cui haec fides non placet, aut non placuerit, ſit Anathema Maranatha in adventu Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, &c. All of them unanimouſly embracing; ſubſcribing, profeſſing perpetually to adhere to that Confeſsion of the Catholick faith, which this their religious King (who converted them) had made and read unto them in this Synod; anathematizing all ſuch who diſliked, or aſſented not thereunto.

I have tranſcribed theſe Speeches, paſſages, Confeſsion, and Charter of Confirmation of this pious King and Synod even in Spain it ſelf (where the Pope now moſt predominates) becauſe they juſtifie the Emperor Juſtinians Eccleſiaſtical Authority, Laws, Proceedings, (ſo much decryed by**Here, p. 133, &c. Baronius) demonſtrate the care and duty of the antienteſt Chriſtian Kings in Spain and elſewhere to promote the orthodox faith, true worſhip, ſervice of God, converſion, ſalvation of their Subjects ſouls as the principal means of their temporal and eternal felicity: and utterly ſubvert the antichriſtian aſſertions of Popes, Popiſh Canoniſts, Prelats, Prieſts; aaGratian, diſt: 96. & Gloſſa.Quaecunque a Principibus terrae in ordinibus, vel in Eccleſiaſticis rebus decreta inveniuntur, authoritatis nullius eſſe monſtrantur, cum Laici de… rebus Eccleſiaſticis nihil poſſunt conſtituere; bbHardings anſwer to Biſhop Jewels Apology: See his defence of it, p. 749.That this matter p. 151is ſo clear, that no ſecular Prince from the beginning of the world till this day, can be named, who by the ordinary power of a Prince (without the gift of Prophecy or special Revelation) did laudably meddle with Religion, as a Judge, or ruler of ſpiritual cauſes, &c. And refutes the received anſwer of Civilians and Canoniſts on Juſtinians moſt excellent Law concerning Biſhops and Prieſts, to this Queſtion,ccAutenticorum Collatio, l 1. Tit: 6. Gloſſ…. Sancimus, f. 1…. Ad quid ſe intromittat Imperator de Spiritualibus vel Eccleſiaſticis, cum ſciat ad ſe non pertinere? To which if any anſwer be given, it muſt be principally this: Dic, quod authoritate Papae hoc facit; by whoſe Authority neither any pious Emperors, nor this Spaniſh King ever held, ſummoned Councils, or made, confirmed the recited orthodox Confeſsions of faith, nor their Eccleſiaſtical Laws or Constitutions, but by their own Regal Supremacies.

aaEpiſt. l. 4. Epiſt. 34, 82.Pope Gregory the 1. ſirnamed the Great, Anno 5…moſt frequently prayes to God for the Emperor Mauritius, and ſtiles him his Lord, and moſt excellent Lord: adding, Deus vos univerſo mundo praeeſſe conſtituit.bbEpiſt: l. 2. Epiſt: 62 l. 3. Epiſt: 61… Poteſtas Dominorum meorum caelitus data eſt ſuper omnes homines; himſelf ſubjecting his Papal Miter to his Imperial commands, not out of meer humility, but bounden duty and conſcience; as his Ego ſum ſervus veſter, O Imperator, ego veſtrae juſsioni ſubjectus; ego quod debui erolvi, qui Imperatori obedientiam praebui, atteſt. He begins one of his Epiſtles to him thus, ccEpiſt: l. 5, Epiſt 63.Inter animarum curas, et innumerabiles ſolicitudines quas indefeſſo ſtudio pro Chriſtianae reipublicae regimine ſuſtinetis, magna mihi, et univerſo mundo ſaetitiae cauſa eſt, quod pietas veſtra Cuſtodiae fidei, qua Dominorum fulget Imperium, praecipua ſolicitudine ſemper invigilat. Vnde omnino confido, ſervat vos Deus, cauſa Religioſae mentis amore tuemini; ita Deus veſtras Majeſtates ſua gratia tuetur et adjuvat. Another Epiſtle begins thus, ddEpiſt. l. 6. Epiſt: 6.Omnipotens Deus, qui pietatem veſtram pacis Eccleſiaſticae fecit eſſe cuſtodem, ipſe vos fide ſervat, &c. Pro qua re totis precibus deprecamur ut bonum hoc Omnipotens Deus Serenitati Dominorum, piae que eorum ſoboli, et in praeſenti ſeculo, atque in perpetua remuneratione retribueret. And he concludes another Epiſtle to him thus, eeEpiſt. l. …6. Ep 31. & 6. Epiſt. 2.Omnipotens autem Deus ſereniſsimi Domini noſtri vitam, et ad pacem ſanctae Eccleſiae, et ad utilitatem Reipublicae Romanae (both coupled together by him, as his office, duty in and towards both alike) per tempora longa cuſtodiat. In another Epiſtle, ffEpiſt: l. 1…, Epiſt: …6.Leontiae Auguſtae, he thus prayes to Almighty God; ut cor veſtrae pietatis ſua ſemper dextra teneat, ejuſque cogitationes caeleſtis gratiae ope diſpenſet, Ouatenus tranquillitas veſtra rectius valeat ſibi ſervientes regere, quanto Dominatori omnium noverit minus deſervire. In amore catholicae fidei faciat Defenſores ſuos, quas fecit ex benigno opere Imperatores noſtros. Infundat veſtris mentibus zelum ſimul & manſuetudinem, ut ſemper pro fervore valearis, et quicquid in Deo exceditur, non inultum relinquete, et ſi quid vobis delinquitur, parcendo tolerare, &c. Yea he thus declaims againſt and cenſures that Title of Univerſal Biſhop, and Head of the Ʋniverſal Church, which his ſucceſſors ſo much contend for, as Antichriſtian, ggEpiſt. l. 4. … 34 l. 5. Ep. 3…Ego fidenter dico, quod quiſquis ſe Vniverſalem Sacerdotem vocat, vel vocari deſiderat, in elatione ſua Antichriſtum praecurrit, quia ſuperbiendo ſe caeteris praeponit. Yea he tells Mauritius the Emperor, that this Title is, contra ſtatuta Evangelica, contra Canonum Decreta; That Nullus unquam praedeceſſorum ſuorum hoc tam prophano vocabulo uti conſenſerit. Quia ſi unus Patriarcha univerſalis dicetur, Patriarcharum nomen caeteris derogetur. hhEpiſt: l. 4. Epiſtt 3… 36, 38. l. 7. Ep. 3… & 39. & l. 6…. Ep. 2…. & 28.Si unus Epiſcopus vocatur Vniverſalis, tota Eccleſia corruit. What would he have ſaid of his ſucceſſors think you, who not only challenge p. 152this Title de Jure, but the Titles of iiHere, p. 25, …0. to 52, 60, …2, 69.Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominorum, Deus, & Vice-Deus too?

iiS…ntentiarum, …. 3. c 51.Iſiodorus Epiſcopus Hispalenſis, Anno 6…thus reſolves; Sub religionis diſciplina ſeculi Potestates ſubjecti ſunt: & quamvis culmine regio ſint praediti, vinculo tamen fidei tenentur aſtricti, ut et fidem Chriſti ſuis legibus praedicent, et ipſam fidei praedicationem moribus bonis conſervent. Principes ſeculi nonnunquam intra Eccleſiam poteſtatis adeptae culmina tenent, ut per eandem poteſtatem diſciplinam Eccleſiaſticam muniant. Caeterum intra Eccleſiam poteſtates neceſſariae non eſſent, niſi, ut quod non praevalet Sacerdos efficere per doctrinae Sermonem, poteſtas hoc imperet per diſciplinae terrorem. Sane per regnum terrenum coeleſte regnum proficit, ut qui intra Eccleſiam poſiti contra fidem et diſciplinam agunt, rigore Principum conterantur, ipſamque diſciplinam quam Eccleſiae humilitas exercere non praevalet, cervicibus ſuperborum poteſtas Principum imponat, et ut venerationem mereatur, virtute poteſtatis impertiat. Cognoſcant Principes ſeculi Deo et debere ſe rationem reddere propter Eccleſiam quam a Chriſto tuendam recipiunt. Nam ſive augeatur par et diſciplina Eccleſiae per fideles Principes, ſive ſolvatur, ille ab eis rationem exiget, qui eorum poteſtati ſuam Eccleſiam credidit. What more punctual to our Propoſition (That Princes have the chief care of the Church, and their peoples ſouls, for which they muſt give an account to God:) then this his reſolution? **Sententiarum l. 3. c. 48, 49, 50, 52.He hath much more to the ſame effect, which I pretermit.

The Biſhops and Prieſts convened in the 4. Council of Toledo (whereof this Iſiodor Hiſpalenſis was one) religioſiſſimi Siſenandi Regis Hiſpaniae atque Galliciae, Anno 633imperiis atque juſſis,Surius Concil. Tom: 2. p. 727, 728. Centur. Magd: 7. c. 9. ut communis agitaretur de quibuſdam Eccleſiae diſciplinis tractatus; thus expreſſe themſelves in the Prologue to the Canons therein made; Primum gratias Salvatori noſtro Deo omnipotenti egimus, poſt haec antefato miniſtro ejus excellentiſſimo & glorioſo Regi, cuius tanta devotio extat, ut non ſolum in rebus humanis, SED ETIAM IN CAUSIS DIVINIS SOLICITUS MANEAT: Who when this Council was ſet, pro merito fidei ſuae, cum Magnificentiſſimis & Nobiliſſimis Viris ingreſſus, religioſa proſecutione Synodum exhortatus eſt, ut paternorum decretorum memores, ad confirmanda in nobis jura Eccleſiaſtica ſtudium praeberemus, & illa corigere, quae dum per negligentiam in uſum venerunt, contra Eccleſiaſticos mores lic…ntiam ſibi de uſurpatione fecerunt. Talibus ergo ejus monitis gaudentes, neceſſarium extitit iuxta eius noſtrumque votum, contractare quae competunt, ſive in Sacramentis divinis, quae diverſo atque illicito modo in Hiſpaniarum Eccleſiis celebrantur, ſeu in moribus pravè uſurpata noſcuntur. In this Council not only Biſhops, Prieſts, Deans, but the Nobility of Spain, **… cap. 3. Surius, p. 728.et Laici qui electioni Concilii ineſſe meruerunt, were preſent. After all their Canons for confirmation of the Chriſtian faith, reformation of manners in the Clergy and Laity, and repreſſing the exorbitances of Hereticks and Jewes, Can. 74. they adde a Canon pro robore noſtrorum Regum, & ſtabilitate gentis Gothorum, denouncing a ſolemn excommunication againſt all perſons who contrary to their Oath of Allegiance and duty ſhould attempt any Treaſon againſt the Kings perſon, life, or uſurp the Crown, &c. And then conclude the Acts of this Council with this Prayer. **Ibid. p. 738.Pax & ſalus & diuturnitas piiſſimo & amatori Chriſti Domino nostro Siſenando Regi, cujus devotio nos ad hoc ſalutiferum decretum convocavit: Corroboret ergo Chriſti gratia regnum illius, gentiſque Gothorum in fide Catholicae annis & meritis; protegat illum uſque ad ultimam ſenectutem ſummi Dei gratia, & poſt praeſentis Regni gloriam ad aeternum regnum tranſeat, ut ſine fine regnet, qui in ſeculo feliciter imperat, ipſo praeſtante qui eſt Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominorum, cum Patre & Spiritu ſancto in ſecula ſeculorum. Amen. Definitis itaque his, quae ſuperius comprehenſa ſunt, annuente religioſiſſimo Principe, placuit, deinceps nulla re impediente, à quolibet noſtrum, ea quae conſtituta ſunt temerari, ſed cuncta ſalubri conſilio conſervari.

The 5. Council of Toledo hath this Prologue; Anno 636Gratiarum actiones Deo omnipotenti perſolvimus,Surius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 539, 740. Centur. Magd. 7. c. 9. &c. propter glorioſa Principis noſtri Chintillani Regis intia, ob cuius ſalutis & felicitatis conſtantiam ſupernam imploramus Clementiam; qui in medio noſtri p. 153coetus ingreſſus cum Optimatibus et Senioribus Palatii ſui ſupplex ſe omnium orationibus commendavit ſuoſque fideles ita facere ſancta exhortatione coegit, atque hanc institutionem quam ex praecepto ejus, & devoto noſtro ſancimus divina inſpiratione praemiſit, as one; or permiſit, as another Copy renders it. Can. 7. decrees, Ut in omni Concilio Epiſcoporum Hiſpaniae, univerſalis Concilii Decretum (to wit, Toletan. 4. Can. 74.) quod propter Principum noſtrorum est ſalutem conſtitutum, peractis omnibus in Synodo publica voce deb…at pronunciari, quatenus ſaepè replicatum auribus, vel aſſidnitate iniquorum mens territa corrigatur, quae ad praevaricandum & oblivione & facilitate perducitur. Can. 8. they grant the King power to diſpenſe offences againſt the Canons of this Council. In his omnibus quae praemiſimus poteſtatem indulgentiae in culpis delinquentium Principi reſervamus, ut jurta bonitatis ſuae ac pietatis moderamen, ubi emendationem presfexerit mentium, veniam tribuat culparum. After their thanks to God, they conclude; Poſt haec gratias excellentiſſimo glorioſiſſimo Principi noſtro Chintillano regi peragimus, cujus ardor fidei et bonae intentionis, et unitatis concordiam nobis tribuit, et fiduciam charitatis. Donet ei Dominus & de inimicis triumphum, & de beatitudine gaudium, cuſtodiat cum protectione aſſidua, muniat bonae voluntatis ſuae circumſ…ectione iutiſſima, cujus regnum manet in ſecula ſeculorum.

The 6. Council of Toledo ſummoned by this King Suintilla, Anno 638(who was preſent in it with his Nobles) Can. 2, 3. recites, Surius Concil: Tom: 2. p. 742, 744, 745.That inſpiramine ſummi Dei excellentiſſimus & Chriſtianiſſimus Princep… Chintillanus, ardore Fidei inflammatus, cum regni ſui Sacerdotibus, praevaricationes & ſuperſtitiones Judaeorum eradicare elegit funditus; nec ſinit degere in regno ſuo eum, qui non ſit Catholicus: ob cujus fervorem fidei gratias Domino omnipotenti coelorum agimus; eo quod ei tam illuſtrem creavit animam, et ſua replevit ſapientia; Ipſe quoque donet ei & praeſentis aevi diuturnam vitam, et in futuro gloriam aeternam; Quocirca conſonam cum eo corde et ore promulgamus Deo placituram ſententiam, ſimul etiam cum ſuorum Optimatum illuſtrium que virorum conſenſu et deliberatione ſancimus, ut quiſquis ſuccedendentium temporum regni ſortitus fuerit apicem, non ante conſcenda… regiam ſedem quam inter reliqua conditionum ſacramenta, pollicitus fuerit, hanc ſe Catholicam non permiſſurum eos violare fidem. Can. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. they provide for the ſafety, ſucceſsion of this King and his poſterity, againſt all Tr…aſons, Uſurpations, Conspiracies and pretenders: Nefas eſt enim in dubium deducere ejus poteſtatem, cui omnium gubernatio ſuperno conſtat delegata judicio. Concluding the Acts of this Synod thus. Gratias agimus Chriſtianiſſimo & glorioſiſſimo Chintillano Principi noſtro, cujus ſtudio advocati & inſtantia collecti ſumus; cujus voluntas probata, ordinatio extitit religioſa: Donet ei Dominus optimo Principi diuturnum in ſeculum triumphum, & in parte juſtorum perpetuum regnum, felicibuſque annis felix ipſe in longa felicitate fruatur, & divinae dexterae protectione ubique muniatur.

bbPlatina, Albo Floriacenſis, Anaſtatius, & Balaeus in Vita Severini, Blondus in Decad. 1. l. 9. p. 124 Centur. Magd. 7. c. 7. col. 235. c. 10. col. 493.Seve…inus being elected Pope by the Clergy and people of Rome, Anno 638Iſacius Italiae Exarchus Roman veniens, eum in Pontificatu confirmavit: tunc enim temporis Cleri et populi electio nihil valebat, niſi confirmatio Imperatoris aut eius Exarchi accederet. A ſtrong evidence of the Emperors Supream Juriſdiction over Popes, not of Popes over them. Honorius his predeceſſor having heaped up a great maſſe of monies in Epiſcopio Lateranenſi; Iſacius intreated Severinus, ut aliquid in militares ſumptus conferret; who denying it, thereupon others ſtirred up the Roman Army againſt him; ſaying, Quid prodeſt, quod tantae pecuniae congregatae ſunt in Epiſcopio Lateranenſi, ab Honorio Papa, & Miles iſte nihil ſubventus habet? Whereupon all the Soldiers, from the youngeſt to the eldeſt, beſieged and aſſaulted the Popes Pallace, ſealed up the Treaſury till Iſacius came from Ravenna to Rome; qui miſit omnes Primates Eccleſiae ſingulos per ſingulas Civitates in exilium, ut non fuiſſet qui ei reſiſtere debuiſſet de Clero; and then entring the Popes Pallace continued there 8. dayes, untill he had ſeiſed on and removed all the Treaſure, part whereof he ſent to the royal City of Conſtantinople to Heraclius the Emperor. So little Soveraign Authority had Popes in that age over the Emperor, or his Officers; who patiently ſubmitted to this plunder, without thundring out any excommunication againſt the Soldiers, Officers, or Emperor.

p. 154To paſſe by the 1. and 2. Councils of Surius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 746, 749, 759, 760, 762,Bracara,Anno 646 ſummoned ex regali praecepto glorioſiſsimi atque piiſsimi Ariamiri Regis, (about the years 640, and 642.) adſpirante ſibi Domino, as their Proemes recite. The 7th. Council of Toledo (ſummoned Studio & juſſu amatoris Christi Chindaſiundi Regis noſtri) cap. 1. provides againſt Perfidious Clerks and Laymen, who in forraign parts plotted Treaſon againſt the King and Kingdom, in necem regis ſeu everſionem; that they ſhould be excommunicated, forfeit all their eſtates, and made uncapable to enjoy them, unleſſe the King ſhould pleaſe to allow them ſome part thereof upon their ſubmiſsion: and after 5. other Canons of Eccleſiaſtical affairs, No… autem univerſali Deo, & glorioſo Chindaſiundo Principi, ob cujus votum in hanc urbem ſancta devotione convenimus, gratias unanimiter offerentes, optabili anniſu depoſcimus, ut ſanctae Eccleſiae catholicae fidei ſemper ac pacis cumuletur effectus, & memorato Principi cum proſperitate praeſentis regni futuri etiam largiantur praemia gaudii, &c.

There falling out ſome differences between Paulus Patriarch of Conſtantinople, Anno 650(a proud imperious Prelate) and Pope Martin; bbAnaſtatius, Luitprandus, Albo Floriacenſis, Platina Barns, Balaeus, in vita Martini, Baronius, Anno 650. Paulus Diaconus Rerum Roman. lib. 18. p. 254. Sabellicus Aeneadis 8. l. 6. Sigebertus, Anno 657. Centur. Magd. 7. c. 10. col. 885, 886.this Pope by command of the Emperor Conſtantine the 2d. was apprehended at Rome in the Church of our Saviour called Conſtantiniana, by Theodorus the Exarch and others, brought Priſoner from Rome to Conſtantinople, and baniſhed into a place called Cherſona, where he died; for refuſing to ſubſcribe a Book ſent to him by the Emperor, through Paulus the Patriarch his direction, which Pope Martin conceived to be heretical.

In the 8. Council of Toledo, Anno 653juſſu orthodoxi atque glorioſi Receſſuinthi regis congregati) he pia religione plentiſſimus, **Surius Concil: Tom: 2. p. 854, 855, &c. Cent. Magd. 7. c. 9.& ſummo laudum Titulo glorioſus, entring into this Council as ſoon as they took their places, made an Oration to them, there related; grates deferens Deo virtutum, quod ſuae juſſionis implentes Decretum in unum fuiſſemus adunati Concilium. Then tendring them a Tome or Book containing the Confeſsion of his faith (as his Predeceſſor K. **Here, p. 146, 147, 148.Reccaredus did in the 3. Council of Toledo) and what things elſe he deſired to be done and voted in, by this Council; he exhorted them; ut quaecun que illic tenentur aſſcripta, valido attendatis intuitu, ſagaci perſcrutamini ſtudio, et quaecun que extiterint placita Deo, veſtri oris ad nos ſacro referantur oraculo. The Council, Accepto deinde oblato nobis Tomo, agente Domino gratias, acclamavimus Gloria in excelſis Deo, &c. Poſt eidem ſacro Principi benediximus, reſeratoque Tomo, haec inibi contexta reperimus; which were read. It begins with the confeſsion of his faith, which he recommended to the Council, wherein there is this memorable Paſſage: Primo ita que coram ſe reverentia veſtra habeat; quod noſſe non ambigit, me orthodoxae fidei veram, ſanctam et ſynceram regulam, de corde puro et conſcientia bona pleniſsime habere, ſicut eam ſancta at que Apoſtolica traditio doceat, ſi cut eam ſancta Synodus Niceae conſtituit, ſicut Conſtantinopoli ſanctorum Patrum congregatio definivit; ſicut Epheſini primi coetus unitas affirmavit; ſicut Chalcedonenſi Concilii definitio protulit. Hanc cum fidelibus ſervans, ad hanc ſalvandos infideles invitans, in hanc ſubjectos populos regens, hanc propriis gentibus tenendam inſinuans, hanc populis alienis annuncians; ut in illa glorificans Deum, et inter mortales nos ſummae divinitatis felicitas aſſequatur, et in terra viventium haereditas a me gloriae capiatur. Then relating what good workes he deſired to do, and to be done by himſelf and others, to adorn, advance this faith, that it might not prove a dead faith; he concludes and ſubſcribes it, thus. Item ſubſcriptio. In nomine Domini Flavius Receſſuinthus Rex hanc fidei & bonae voluntatis meae deliberationem manu mea ſubſcripſi. This whole Council relecta Tomi pagina, cum glorificaſsemus Deum de fidei principalis auditu, et de bonae voluntatis ejus effectu; drew up a uniform profeſsion of their faith, and other Canons anſwerable to the Kings: Which p. 155being ſubſcribed by the Biſhops, Abbots, & viri illuſtres officii Palatini, (even 18. Earls and Dukes, beſides others) were ratified by the King. This Council by a Decree in the name of the King; made a Law concerning the Lands and goods purchaſed by their Kings, which of them ſhould go with the Crown, and which they might diſpoſe of to their Sons: Theſe Councils being all properly Parliaments, wherein the King and Nobles ſate, voted, ſubſcribed, as well as Biſhops and Prieſts, and made Civil Laws for the King & kingdom, as well as Eccleſiaſtical for the orthodox Faith and Church.