Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations, History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (2 of 15)

Chronological History of Popes Intolerable Usurpations · History · Book 1 · Chapter 5 (2 of 15)

p. 102St. Cyrill, Anno 430.the famous Biſhop of Alexandria, Operum Tom: 2. Pariſiis 1608 p. 673.begins his Book (ad Theodoſium Regem pientiſſimum, Devota in Dominum noſtrum Jeſum Chriſtum fide) thus, A Deo, cujus eſt ſumma Celſitudo, Vobis, Chriſtianiſſimi Reges, humanae claritudinis faſtigium, incomparabilibus excellentiis prae omnibus aliis exſurgens et exaltatum, eximiaque & excelſa ſors ſunt data, dignus nimirum ſuper terram honor. Etenim illi quidem omni genu flectunt, thronique & Principatus, dominationeſque ac poteſtates ſervam ſubmittunt cervicem, & decentibus illum ſemper colentes glorificationibus, plenum eſſe dicunt coelum & terram gloria ejus. Viderit autem quis et in veſtra Serenitate decorum et evidentem tam illuſtris et omnium ſummae Nobilitatis Typum. Vos enim eſtis (not the Pope) et ſummorum dignitatum fontes, et ſupra omnem eminentiam, humanaeque felicitatis principium et origo. Et veſtrae quidem Majeſtatis clementiſsimis nutibus, quicquid Regni ſoliis ſubſtractum eſt, ut vitam legitimam et admirabilem agat, gubernatur; at qui jugum non ferunt, facile a veſtro robore victi, cadunt, &c. vel Regis genibus miſericordiam quaerunt. Ea propter vobis mundum ſubjecit, &c. Tam pii et praeclari veſtri Imperii ſummum praeſidium eſt Dominus noſter Ieſus Chriſtus.Prov 8.Prov 8 Nam, per iilum Reges regnant, & potentes ſcribunt juſtitiam. Diſtribuit autem prompte diligentibus ſe omnia quae laudabilia, & admirabilia, ac eximia. Ad haec quae dixi demonſtranda, ſufficiunt, vel ea quae veſtrae Majeſtati donatae ſunt, & adhuc danda, ut credimus. Quod autem glorioſa in Deum pietas Regus honoribus immobile ſit fundamentum, etiam ex ipſa ſancta divinaque Scriptura dicere attentabo; which there he doth: Therefore to advance Religion, piety, and Gods glory, the unmoveable foundation and ſtability of kingdoms, is, and ought to be the principal part, care of Kings and their Kingly office, as he inferrs.Anno 431.

Theſe moſt great and moſt religious Emperors, Cyrilli Opera Tom. 2. p. 22. epiſtola. 17.Theodoſius and Valentinian in their Epiſtle to this St. Cyril, wherein they ſummoned him to the Council of Epheſus, confirm this truth. A pietate quae in Deum eſt, reipublicae noſtrae conſtitutio pendet, et multa utrinque eſt cognatio, et ſocietas. Cohaerent enim inter ſe, et altera alterius creſcit incremento, ita ut vera religio juſtitiae ſtudio, reſpublica vero ab utriſque adjuta, reſplendeat. In regnum itaque a Deo conſtituti, et connexio pietatis ac proſperitatis ſubditorum exiſtentes, ſocietatem horum perpetuo indivulſam cuſtodimus, ac providentia noſtra pacem inter homines procurantes, hactenus quidem reipublicae augendae miniſtramus: per omnia vero ſubditis, ut ita dicamus ſervientes, ut pie vivant et converſentur, ſicut pios decet, adornamus, utriuſque ut convenit, curam gerentes. Neque enim fieri poteſt ut alteri ſtudentes, non ſimiliter ut alterius curam geramus.Nota. Prae caeteris in hoc incumbimus, ut Eccleſiaſticus ſtatus, et qui Deum deceat et noſtris temporibus conveniat, firmus permaneat, tranquillitatem que ex omnium conſenſu retineat, ſitque per Eccleſiaſticarum rerum pacem quietus, et pia religio ſervetur irreprehenſibilis; eorumque vita qui ad clericatum et magnum Sacerdotium delecti ſunt, ab omni ſit culpa libera. Cum autem p. 103iſta intelligeremus cum per dilectionem erga Deum, tum per animum, veritatis amantem in iis qui pii ſunt, obtinere poſſe jam quidem ſaepenumero eorum gratia quae commodum inciderunt Deo dilecttiſsimam omnium eorum qui ubique ſunt ſanctiſsimorum Epiſcoporum Synodum neceſſariam eſſe duximus, verum cunctatores per moleſtiam pietatis ipſorum improbitatem facti ſumus. At urgens jam neceſsitatem cum Eccleſiaſticarum tum publicarum diſceptatio, et ſumme profuturam et irrecuſabilem illam eſſe oſtendit. Quapropter ne quae tam utilium rerum quaeſtionem concernunt, ſi negligantur in pejus dilabantur, id quod a temporum noſtrorum eſt pietate alienum, curabit pietas tua ut poſt imminens ſanctum Paſcha volente Deo, circa Pentecoſtes diem ad Epheſiorum Aſiae Civitatem adveniat; et paucos, et quos probaverit ex Provincia ſibi ſubjecta ſanctiſsimos Epiſcopos, ad eandem Civitatem convenire faciat, ut nec qui ſanctiſsimis Provinciae tuae Eccleſiis ſufficiant nec qui concilio ſint accomodi, deſint. Sunt, enim Exemplaria a noſtra Majeſtate de praedicta ſanctiſsima Synodo Dilectis per Vniverſas Metropolcis Epiſcopis, ſcripta, ut hoc facto, et perturbatio quae ex controverſiis iſtis, accidit, ſecundum Eccleſiaſticos Canones diſſolvatur, et quae indecenter committuntur corrigantur, ſitque et pietati erga Deum, et publicis rebus commoda firmitudo; nec aliquid quacunque in re ante Sanctiſsimam Synadum, et futuram illius communem ſententiam, a quoquam ſeperatim innovetur. Et perſuaſi quidem ſumus unumquemque Deo Dilectiſsimorum Sacerdotum ubi reſciverint, cum Eccleſiaſticarum; tum Publicarum rerum gratia hac nostra Sanctione percitum, ad Sanctiſsimam Synodum diligenti ſtudio properanter accurſurum, & rebus ita neceſſariis atque ad beneplacitum Dei pertinentibus pro viribus conſulturum. Nos autem multam harum rerum curam gerentes neminem deſiderari leviter patiemur, nec ullam ſive apud Deum, ſive apud Nos excuſationem habebit, ſi quiſquam non confeſtim ad praedictum tempus loco determinato ſedulus comparuerit: Quiſquis enim ad Sacerdotalem vocatus Synodum non prompte accurrit, eſſe ſe Conſcientia non bona Declarat. Deus te multo tempore cuſtodiat Pater Sanctiſsime ac Religioſiſsime. A moſt pregnant Teſtimony, that Emperors have, and ought to have a principal care of Religion, to preſerve its purity, ſuppreſſe all Hereſie contrary thereunto; to convene Synods when there is occaſion, to enjoyn all Biſhops to reſort to them, and to examin, ratifie their Votes when approved by their Edicts; all which the Epiſtles written to theſe Emperors from the Biſhops aſſembled in this Synod will more fully demonſtrate.

The famous General Council of Epheſus, Anno 432aaSurius Concil. Tom: 1. p. 655 to 694, & 660, 601, 602, &c.thus ſummoned by the moſt Religious Emperors Theodoſius and Valentinian, to ſuppreſſe the Hereſie of Neſtorius, then infeſting the Church, writ ſeveral Epiſtles to them, wherein they render them an account of all their proceedings therein, clear the ſcandalous reports raiſed of them, extoll thoſe Emperors Zeal and Pietie for Defence of Religion, deſire their Confirmation of their Votes, Suppreſſion of Hereſies, hereticks, and powr out prayers for, and Petitions to them. The Titles of their Epiſtles to them are: Pientiſſimis, Religioſiſsimis, ac Deo dilectiſsimis Theodoſio & Valentiniano Victoribus, triumphatoribus ac ſemper Auguſtis, Sancta Synodus per gratiam Dei, et Dominationis veſtrae nutum, Epheſi congregata. The 1. Epiſtle to them begins thus, bbSurius, ibid. p. 685.Jam inde à progenitoribus pietas veſtra Chriſti amantes ac pientiſſimi Reges rectam est conſecuta fidem, et hanc quotidie evehit multum que curarum veritatis impendit dogmatibus. Quorum gratia cum perturbatio non ſolum in magna illa Civitate, ſed & in univerſo terrarum orbe per ea dogmata fieret quae a Neſtorio ſunt praedicata, de Sanctorum Patrum, ſanctorumque Apoſtolorum p. 104& Evangeliſtarum traditione, non contempſit veſtra Dominatio perturbatas Eccleſias, et adulterata fidei ac verae pietatis dogmata; ſed ex univerſo orbe pietas veſtra Metropolitanos pientiſsimos, et aliorum quoque quarundam Civitatum Epiſcopos congregari juſsit, ſufficiens ad eam rem temporis determinato ſpacio. After which they render them an Account of their proceedings in the Synod. Among other things they relate, Commentariis actorum, authoritatis gratia, pientiſsimos pietatis veſtrae literas praemiſerunt; poſt quas fidei expoſitionem ſubiecimus, propoſita primum ea quae a ſanctis est …radita Apostolis; deinde et ea quae per ſanctos trecentos decem et octo Patres Niceae quondam a beatae memoriae Conſtantino congregatos, eſt facta expoſitio: cujus fidem dominatio veſtra illuſtriorem reddidit. And concludes it thus; Oramus autem veſtram Dominationem ut univerſam ipſius (Neſtoris) doctrinam et ſanctis Eccleſis tolli, et libres ejus ubicunque inventi fuerint, igni tradi jubeat, quibus gratiam Dei, qui benevolentiae gratia homo factus eſt, reprobare conatur. Quod ſi quis ſancita veſtra contempſerit, denuncietur illi, timendam ipſi eſſe dominationis veſtrae indignationem: not their Anathema.

They thus begin their Fourth Epiſtle: **Surius Ibid. p. 688.Dominatio quidem veſtra ad confirmandam pietatem ſanctae Synodo diligentiorem dogmatum examinationem facere praecepit, quam et fecimus, veteri Patrum, imo et ſanctorum Apoſtolorum et Evangeliſtarum, et trecentorum decem et octo qui Niceae congregati fuerunt, traditioni obtemperantes, quam et concorditer interpretati ſumus, et animo uno veſtrae pietati manifeſtam in Commentariis actorum exhibuimus, et in quibus et Neſtorium diverſa ſentire depraehenſum depoſuimus. After which they inform the Emperors of Candidianus his favouring Neſtorius, **Ibid. p. 689.and indirect proceedings in the Council (of which the Emperors made him Preſident) deſiring the Emperors to ſend for him, and what Biſhops they pleaſed, qui res geſtas coram veſtra ſancta pietate, tueantur. In the beginning of their 5. Epiſtle, they write: **Ibid. p. 689, 690.Quae ſanctae ſunt Synodo a dominatione veſtra mandata, ad competentem deducta ſunt effectum, id quod pietati veſtrae notum fecimus: Relating the particulars at large, they conclude & pray, Quae a ſancta aecumenica Synodo ad pietatis ſubſidium contra Neſtorium, et impium illus ſcripta ſunt dogma, ſuum habere robur, per pietatis veſtrae nutum et aſſenſum confirmata. Their 6. Epiſtle to them thus begins. **Ibid. p. 691.Deus ille omnium Chriſti amantes Imperatores, qui curam veſtram ac diligentiam quam pietati impenditis gratam ac acceptam habet, etiam Epiſcoporum qui per occidentem ſunt animos zelo, ad vindicandum Chriſtum, contumelia affectum excitavit, &c. And thus concludes, Quoniam itaque cauſa haec finem conſecuta eſt, cum Dominationi veſtrae optatum, tum Eccleſiis omnibus ſecuriſsimum, & qui fidei ſuam adferat ſimilitudinem, Pietatem veſtram oramus, ut jam nos, alios paupertate obrutos, alios morbis detentos, alios ſeniogravatos, et peregrinationem hanc amplius ferre non valentes, ita ut et aliqui ex nobis Epiſcopi et Clerici jam ſint mortui, ab hac cura, et perigrinatione liberet, ut iſta ſedata ſollicitudine, magnae Civitatis Eccleſiae curam geramus. Supplicamus etiam ut ad eos, qui ſingulis ſint locis, literas comminatorias mittat, ne denuo alia ſuſcitetur Eccleſiis moleſſia, ac perturbatio ſanctiſsimis Epiſcopis in ipſorum regionibus oriatur. Etenim facta jam pietatis declaratione & Ʋniverſo Orbe conſonum de illa ſententiam ferente, paucis demptis, Neſtorii amicitiam pietate p. 105praeferentibus gratiam hanc haud immeritam, petimus, dominationi veſtrae ſupplicantes, ut nos cura iſta deinceps liberet, ut ordinationi futuri Epiſcopi incumbamus, et in fide jam et Pietate confirmata nos Oblectemus, puraſque ac ſynceras pro dominatione veſtra Preces omnium Domino Chriſto deſtinemus.

Their 8. Epiſtle to them is thus prefaced. **Ibid. p. 6…3.Regia quidem veſtra et Chriſti amans Majeſtas, Pientiſsimi Reges, a pueris Zelum circa fidem et Canones declaravit, cujus etiam gratia, Orbis Epiſcopos ad Epheſiorum Civitatem concurrere pia Sanctione praecepit, verum literae Serenitatis veſtrae jam nobis per magnificentiſsimum et Glorioſiſsimum Comitem Johannem ſectae, haud modicam attulere perturbationem, innuentes impoſturam quandam et mendacium pro veracibus quoſdam veſtris auribus objeciſſe, &c. And thus they conclude it; Sublimitati veſtrae ſupplicamus, ut a ſancta Synodo, quos dominatio veſtra probaverit vocentur, ut coram regia veſtra, et Chriſti amans Majeſtas de omnibus certius inſtruatur. Their 9. Epiſtle hath this Exordium, and Progreſs: **Ibid. p. 663Non eſt quidem Dominatio veſtra paſſa rectam fidem quaſi cuniculis quibuſdam ſuffodi per Neſtorii doctrinam, &c. Ob hanc cauſam, Vniverſi ad pietatis veſtrae dominationem confugimus ſupplicantes, ut quae contra Neſtorium et illi conſentientes ſunt geſta, robut ſuum habeant; quae vero ab illis, qui Neſtorium vindicant, eo quod cum illo ſentiunt, contra Synodi noſtrae Duces illegitime facta ſunt, inefficacia et irrita maneant, ut neque convenienter, neque canonice, ſed contra eos qui de nullo ſunt delicto convicti, ſola ulciſcendi libidine ab illis ſunt geſta, qui contra ſanctam Synodum cum Neſtorio ſentiunt. All depending upon their Imperial Edicts, Orders, Ratifications.

**Ibid. 690.St. Cyril and Memnon begin their Book againſt Neſtorius preſented to this Council, in this manner. Divum Imperatorum decretum, et nos et veſtram Sanctitatem in Epheſiorum Metropoli convenire juſsit, ut et rectam Apoſtolicae fidei determinationem communi ſententia confirmemus, et haereſim a Neſtoro recens inductam probemus.

Theſe Emperors commanded all the Biſhops ſummoned to appear in this Council, not to depart thence til all things were concluded: And becauſe the Biſhops there aſſembled were incenſed againſt each other, each of them endeavouring to maintain his opinion, party by indirect means, the Emperors declared all things thus obtained to be nulled, & ſent his Secretary of State, & ſome of his own Palace, together with the moſt famous Earl Candidianus, to this Council to preſide therin, & ſee they acted nothing but what they by their Letters enjoyned them, & not to depart thence: as this clauſe in the Emperors Letters to the Council evidenceth. **Surius Ibid. p 687, 694.Et obeam cauſam quiſquam è noſtro palatio, una cum preclariſsimo Comite Candidiano miſſus fuerit, qui quaegeſta ſunt, ſecundum noſtram juſsionem cognoſcat, et quae ſunt inconvenientia prohibeat, ne que abſcedat quiſquam congregatorum Epiſcoporum ab Epheſiorum Civitate, neque ad Majeſtatis noſtrae veniat exercitum, nec in Patriam ſuam revertatur, ita ut iſta nemini, quacunque ſpe ducto, tranſgredi liceat. Sufficiant quidem iſtae literae ad denunciandum veſtrae pietati, ne quid aliud praeter noſtram juſsionem iis quae facta ſunt adjiciatis. Sciat tamen Sanctitas veſtra, etiam illuſtriſsimis provinciarum primoribus eſſe ſcriptum, ut neminem prorſus ſine noſtra juſsione in patriam ac civitatem ſuam reverſum recipi ſinant. Oportet enim, ut omnia primum jurta id quod Deo placiturum eſt, ſine contentione p. 106et cum veritate examinata, tum demum a noſtra pietate corroborentur; neque enim Majeſtas noſtra hominum jam aliquorum, neque ſanctiſsimi ac pientiſsimi Neſtorii, neque cujuſquam alterius, ſed ipſius Doctrinae ac veritatis**Nota. curam gerit.

Finally, theſe Emperours made their chief Secretary of State, and privy Counſellor Regiſter in this Synod; in their Epiſtles to the Biſhops in this Council, expreſſe their great care of Religion; and towards the cloze thereof, ſent the moſt glorious John, Count of Sacred Things, to know what they had done concerning the Faith, that they might do what he ſhould deem profitable for that end.

**Ibid. p. 691, 692.Celeſtino, Ruffo, Auguſtiniano, & reliquis religioſiſsimis Epiſcopis: Quantum zeli circa pietatem, et progenitorum noſtrorum fidem oſtenderimus, multis quidem (ut arbitramur) praecedentibus**Judiciis. Judiciis perſpicue declaratum eſt: non minus autem illud et in eo, quod Synodum veſtram nuper convocavimus, Ʋniverſo Orbi manifeſtatum eſſe credimus, &c. Sciat etiam Sanctitas veſtra, quod praeclariſsimum et Glorioſiſsimum Johannem Comitem Sacrorum ob eam cauſam miſimus, ut ubi ille pietatis veſtrae circa fidem ſcopum cognoverit, quae ipſi videbuntur utilia faciatis.

By all which paſſages of this famous General Council, the Emperors Supream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, Judicature, care of the true Faith and Religion is moſt fully and clearly demonſtrated beyond contradiction. Pope Coeleſtine himſelf was ſummoned to it, and excuſed his abſence, but did not ſubſtitute**See Dr. James Baſtardy of the Fathers, part 2 p. 90, 91. St. Cyril to ſupply his place therein, as ſome Romaniſts fable.

The Oriental Biſhops aſſembled in this Council favouring Arrius and Neſtorius, by faction oppoſed Cyril and Memnon, making a Relation of their proceedings therein to **Surius Ibidem p. 618, 619.Callimot King of Perſia, (who commanded the Biſhops under him to appear at this Council) to incenſe him againſt them, thus praying his aſſiſtance againſt their actings. Pietas veſtra, quae benefaciendo orbi et Eccleſiis Dei clareſcit, juſsit nos in Epheſio congregari, ita ut inde lucrum et pa… Eccleſiae accreſceret, non ut omnia confuſione et deordinatione implerentur; et haec veſtrae Majeſtatis edicta apertè et manifeſtè piam veſtram et pacificam pro Eccleſiis Dei indicabant mentem. Atqui Cyrillus Alexandrinus, ad perniciem Eccleſiarum (ut videtur) & natus & educatus, aſſumpto cooperatore Memnonis Epheſiorum audacia; primum quidem placidum et pium veſtrum edictum tranſgreſſus eſt, per omnia ſe illi non ſubditum declarans. Nam cum veſtra Majeſtas praeceperit, de fide diligens examen et inquiſitionem haberi, &c. aſſumpta ſibi authoritate propria, neque a Canonibus, neque veſtris edictis ſibi conceſſa, convertit ad omne deordinationis, et iniquitatis genus, &c. Proinde obſecramus et oramus, ut veſtra Majeſtas quamprimum religioni quae impugnatur ſubſidium ferat, et celerem correctionem imponat illorum inſaniae et tyrannidi, quae quaſi turbo ad Haereticam perfidiam audaciores corripit. Iuſtum enim eſt, ut veſtra pietas, Perſidis et earum quae inter Barbaros ſunt, Eccleſiarum**Nota. curam gerens, Eccleſias etiam quae ſub Romanorum principatu turbantur, non deſpiciat.**Surius Concil. Tom 1. p. 692. The Orthodox Biſhops on the contrary, writ for the reſtitution, vindication of St. Cyril and Memnon to theſe Emperors; Supplicamus igitur Regiae veſtrae Deo que dicatae Majeſtati, ut ſanctiſſimos et Deo dilectiſſimos Epiſcopos Cyrillum & Memnonem Sanctae Synodo reſtituatis, nequaquam a Canonibus condemnatos, &c. et ut patrocinium orthodoxae fidei, quam hactenus et ſemper cuſtodire ſategiſtis. So that both p. 107the Orthodox and Heretical Biſhops in this Council acknowledged this Supream Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction (by all theſe paſſages,) to be in the Emperors and Kings, not them.

In the year 433.aaPlatina, Onuphrius, Luitprandius, Lydius in … 3 Baronius Anno 433. Sab…licus Centur. Magd. 5. col. col. 905. Surius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 698, 701, 702, 703, 704. Pope Sixtus the 3d. was accuſed to the Emperor Valentinian,Anno 433 for defiling Chryſogonia, a conſecrated Virgin, by one Baſſus a Presbyter; who thereupon commanded a Synod to be ſummoned to examine the accuſation; where this Pope appearing, cum coram Synodo 56. Presbyterorum, cauſam dixiſſſet, cum magna examinatione (in the preſence of Valentinian) judicio Synodico purgatus eſt, et condemnatus Baſſus a Synodo; Baſſus Valentiniani juſſu in exilium pulſus eſt. Lo here this Pope himſelf is 1. accuſed to the Emperor for Eccleſiaſtical offences by a Prieſt, as the Supream Eccleſiaſtical Judge. 2. The Emperor cauſeth a Synod to be ſummoned to hear and examine the cauſe; which he referrs unto them. 3ly. This Pope thereupon appears before this Synod, and in the Emperors preſence pleads his cauſe, purgeth himſelf, and is acquitted by their Sentence. 4ly. His accuſer is condemned and baniſhed by the Emperor, who approved their Sentence. I find inbbConcil. Tom. 1. p. 703. Surius De purgatione Sixti Papae 3. this Narrative, That when the buſineſſe was fully examined in the Synod, Levavit ſe Auguſtus, ac dedit in arbitrio Sexti Epiſcopi, judicare judicium ſuum: Et diſceſſerunt cum Auguſto omnes. An Argument of his Supream Judicature even in Synods. There is extant a Letter of this Popes inccCauſa 2. qu. 4. Gratian, directed Omnibus Epiſcopis, requiring an account of this difference, and the proceedings therein: to whom he returned this anſwer. Mandaſtis ut ſcriberem, &c. Scitote me criminari a quodam Baſſo, & injuſtè me proſequi: quod audiens Valentinianus Auguſtus, noſtra (inſtead of ſua) authoritate Synodum congregari juſſit, et facto Concilio cum magna examinatione, ſatisfaciens omnibus, licet evadere aliter ſatis potuiſſemus, ſuspicionem tamen fugiens, coram omnibus me purgavi, ſcilicet a ſuſpicione et aemulatione me liberans. Sed non aliis qui noluerint, aut ſponte hoc non eligerint, faciendi formam dans. On which Bartholmeus Buxienſis, and Dr. Thierry, to extenuate the matter, and exempt Popes from all Judicatures, make this Gloſſe. Valentinianus Synodum congregavit, in qua Papa ſponte ſe purgavit, non dans formam caeteris ſucceſſoribus ſuis ſic ſe purgandi ſi noluerint. Mandaſtis, Mandat his minor majori, nam praecarium verbum est. Potuiſſem (aliter evadere) Quia Papa a nulo poteſt judicari, nec etiam ab univerſali Concilio, preterquam in haereſi. But whether theſe proceedings and Hiſtorians do not directly contradict this Gloſs, and Popes extenuation of his trial; let all men judge: Finally, theſe veryddGratian Diſtinct. 62. cap. Apoſtolicum. Gloſſers propound this queſtion, Nunquid Papa poteſt Imperatori poteſtatem dare, ut deponeret ipſum? Reſolving it affirmatively. Sic, in Haereſi: & de conſenſu Cardinaliam, imo in omnibus ſe poteſt ſubiicere ſe: And if the Pope himſelf may give the Emperor ſuch a power; why may not the Emperor exerciſe it without his gift, by his inherent Imperial Juriſdiction, as Gods Supream Vicegerent upon earth, as here he did, eſpecially in caſe of hereſie, into which ſome Popes have fallen. It is ſtoried, that PopeeeTheodoret Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 16, 17. Nicephorus Eccl. Hiſt. l. 9. c. 35, 37. Tripartita Hiſt. l. 5. c. 16, 17. Cent. Mag. 4. col, 107, 574 1283, 1284. Liberius was ſummoned to come from Rome, and appear at Conſtantinople before the Emperor Constantius for defending Athanaſius, Anno 355.condemned and excommunicated by the Council of Tyre, and the whole world; who thereupon appearing accordingly, after a large diſcourſe; Liberius refuſing to renounce his communion and juſtifying Athanaſius his cauſe, was by the Emperors ſentence, baniſhed to Berea in Thrace, after three dayes reſpite given him to adviſe, Whether he would ſubſcribe againſt his communion, and ſo return to Rome, or go into exile? In this conference he uſed theſe expreſsions to the Emperour; Judicia quidem Eccleſiaſtica, O Imperator, ſumma cum aequitate fieri debent. Quapropter ſi tuae Clementiae ita viſum ſit, Iudicium haberiiubeto, &c. Then ſpeaking for the Orthodox Biſhops that were deprived; he added. Quapropter, ſi placet, iube Epiſcopos ad proprias ſedes reſtitui: (though deprived by the Arrian Biſhops in three Councils) hereby acknowledging the Supream Eccleſiaſtical Judicature, and power of depriving, reſtoring Biſhops for matters of Faith, to be in the Emperor. Liberius after two years exile (upon the Petition of the Roman Matrons to this Emperor) was reſtored to his See of Rome, which Felix governed during his abſence: but with this direction p. 108in this Emperors Letters, Vtroſque communiter inter ſe Eccleſiam illam regere. Itaque lectis Imperatoris in Circo lit eris, plebs clamat, aequam eſſe Imperatoris ſententiam: Hereupon, Ambobus porro & Felici & Liberio permiſſum eſt communiter ſacra curare, et munus Apoſtolicum adminiſtrare. Qui quidem concordes fuere, & quicquid medio tempore accederat, rerum adverſarum & triſtium, per amneſtiam & oblivionem abſoluêre. Sed paulo poſt, Felix mortuus eſt, & ſolus Liberius Epiſcopatum adminiſtravit. Quod ſic Deus, recte providit Eccleſiae, ita ut decebat rebus conſulens, ne primaria Apoſtolorum ſedes foedam illam et incommodam a duobus gubernata ducibus contraheret notam: quae res ab Eccleſiae conſtitutionibus eſt aliena: diſcordiamque ut plurimum conciliare ſolet, writeaaEccleſ hiſt. l. 9 c. 3…. Cent…a. Magd. 4. col. 493, 553. Sozomen. l 4. c. 35 Nicephorus, Sozomen, and others. This Pope Liberius before his return to Rome,bbPlatina, Onuphrius, Luitprand…s, Lydius, Barnes, in Vita Liberii. Sozomen. l. 4. c. 11. Athana…ii Epiſt. ad Solitariam Vitam agentes. Cent. Magd. 4. col. 325. 1283, 1284. taedio exilii fractus et Imperatoris beneficio illectus, Arrianis ſubſcripſit, et in omnibus cum Arrianus ſenſit, praeterquam quod cum Catholicis ſentiret, haereticos ad fidem redeuntes non eſſe rebaptizandos: which Baronius in vain denyes. This Pope, no doubt might be more juſtly removed, baniſhed, depoſed for his Hereſie by the Emperor after his ſubſcription and Apoſtacy, than he was at firſt for his orthodoxy, and friendſhip to Athanaſius: unleſſe the Pontificians will conclude withccSurius Conc…l. Tom. 2. p. 337. &c. Bp. Jewels Defence of the Apology, p. 69…. Anno 440. Ennodius his cenſure of them; Succeſſores Petri, una cum Sedis privilegiis, peccandi quoque licentiam accepiſſe.

It is the memorable ſaying of ddDe Vocatione Gentium, l. 2. c. 16.Proſper Aquitanicus, That as it was the will of God, ut Evangelium Chriſti totus mundus audiret, & in eas gentes quae remotiores ſunt, longe lateque percurreret: To effect this deſign, Ad cujus rei effectum credimus providentia Dei, Romani regni latitudinem praeparatam, ut Nationes vocatae ad Vnitatem corporis Chriſti, prius jure unius conſociarentur Imperii: (moſt of them turning Chriſtians when Conſtantine the Great and other Emperors embraced and propagated the Chriſtian faith) quamvis gratia Chriſtiana non contenta ſit eoſdem limites habere quos Roma, multoſque …am populos ſceptro Crucis Chriſti illa ſubdiderit, quos armis ſuis iſta non donavit. Qua tamen per Sacerdotii Apoſtolici principatum amplior facta eſt arce religionis, quam Solio Poteſtatis.

AndeeEpigram 34. elſewhere, De Obſequiis Debitis Principi, he thus determines,

Mitibus et Sanctis, nulla eſt Spernanda Poteſtas,

A Equum ſervire eſt Regibus, ac Dominis:

Ʋt Chriſti famulis ad veram proſit honorem,

Dilexiſſe bonos, & toleraſſe malos.

eeEccleſiaſt. Hiſt. l. 5 Pro…mio.Socrates Scholaſticus, Anno 440.his Contemporary, hath this paſſage; thus Engliſhed by Biſhop Hanmer his Tranſlator. We have therefore throughout our Hiſtory made mention of the Emperours, becauſe that ſince they began to embrace the Chriſtian Religion, the Eccleſiaſtical affairs ſeemed much to depend of them; ſo that the chiefeſt Councils were in times paſt, and are at this day ſummoned by their conſent and procurement (not the Popes.) And he there further obſerves, how when the Commonwealth hath been toſſed and turmoyled with troubleſom diſſention and diſcord, the Church of God likewiſe (as infected with the ſame contagious diſeaſe) hath been altogether out of quiet.Nota. For whoſoever with diligent obſervation will remember the aforeſaid times, without doubt he ſhall perceive (as our ſelves have lately done) that when the Commonwealth was in an hurliburly, the Church in like ſort was ſhaken with the ſtorms of adverſity: for either he ſhall find, that both at one time, were out of quiet, or that the ones miſery enſued immediately after the others misfortune: and ſometimes when the Church began to vary about Religion, the Commonwealth immediately followed after with Rebellion; and ſome other times on the contrary. Therefore Godly Chriſtian Emperors are the principal means under God to preſerve the peace, and advance the felicity p. 109of Church and State, by having the Supream Juriſdiction in and over both, and endeavouring the defence, propagation of the true orthodox faith, and ſpiritual as well as temporal happineſſe of their Subjects, as he proves throughout his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory; and Sozomenus too his coaetanean and fellow Hiſtorian in his Hiſtory.

Pope Leo the 1. flouriſhing about the year of Chriſt 450. with all the Churches, Anno 450.Clergy under him, Epiſt. 9. 13, 14 & 50, …earneſtly beſought the Emperor Theodoſius the younger with Epiſtles and Tears, That he would command the General Council to be held within Italy; which he would not grant, but ſummoned the Council at Epheſus, and them to appear thereat. A clear confeſſion of the Emperors, and diſclaimer of his own Eccleſiaſtical Superiority: eſpecially if compared with his 24. & 25. Epiſtles to the Emperor Theodofius, where he writes thus; Ecce ego, Chriſtianiſsime Imperator, conſacerdotibus meis implens erga reverentiam Clementiae veſtrae ſynceri amoris officium, cupienſ que vos per omnia placere Deo, cui pro vobis ab Eccleſia ſupplicatur, &c. In his 59 Epiſt. to the Emperor Martian, he writes thus, Unde ineffabiliter Deo gratias ago, qui eo tempore quo oboritura Haereticorum ſcandala praeſciebat Vos in Imperii faſtigio collocavit, in quibus ad totius mundi ſalutem, et regia potentia, et Sacerdotalis vigeret induſtria. Epiſt. 60. to the Empreſs Pulcheria he thus expreſſeth himſelf, Per quam ſignificationem Clementiae veſtrae, abſolutè me gaudere, et inceſſabilibus, a Deo precibus poſtulare, ut vos et Romanae Reipublicae, et Catholicae Eccleſiae in omni proſperitate conſervet. In his Epiſt. 74. to the Emperour Leo, he writes; Non deſinimus gratias agere, et providentiam Dei, in fidei veſtrae fervore benedidicere, qui ſancto et Catholico Spiritu, ita Haereticorum impudentiae reſtitiſtis. In his 78. Epiſtle to the ſame Emperor, he begins thus. Multo gaudio mens mea exultat in Domino, et magna mihi eſt ratio gloriandi, cum Clementiae veſtrae excellentiſsimam fidem augeri per omnia donis gratiae celeſtis agnoſco, &c. Epiſt. 99. to the ſame Emperor Leo he writes thus: Sciat igitur Clementia veſtra omnes Eccleſias Dei cum laude veſtra exultare pariter et laetari. Inveniemur impares in gratiarum actione ſi noſtri tantum oris anguſtiis Vniverſalis Eccleſiae gaudia celebremus, &c.Epiſtola 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 31, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, to 54, 62, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 9…. Yea this Pope himſelf in theſe and other his Epistles, exhorts all theſe Emperors, to defend the Chriſtian ſaith againſt Hereticks defined in the Councils of Nice, Epheſus, and Chaelcedon, againſt all Hereticks that oppoſed their Creeds; by their Imperial Edicts to diſannuall all Constitutions of heretical Councils, Biſhops; and repreſſe all Hereticks or Hereſies contrary to them, and not ſuffer them to redebate the Articles of faith establiſhed in them.

The ſame Pope Leo in his 7. Epiſtle highly commends Theodoſius the Emperor, for his moſt pious care of the true Chriſtian faith and religion, Ne ſcilicet in populo Dei, aut Schiſmata, aut Haereſes, aut ulla ſcandala convaleſeant. And Epiſtola 33. writing of the Priſcillianiſts and their Hereſies firſt breaking out in the world; he thus relates the zeal and Edicts of Princes then made againſt them. Quando mundi Principes ita hanc ſacrilegam amentiam deteſtati ſunt, ut Authorem ejus, ac pleroſque diſcipulos legum publicarum enſe proſternerant. Videbant enim omnem curam honeſtatis auferri, ſimulque divinorum jus humanumque ſubrui, ſi hujuſmodi hominibus vivere, cum tali profeſsione licuiſſet. Et profuit diu iſta diſtrictio Eccleſiae lenitati; quae etſi Sacerdotali contenta judicio, et cruentas refugit ultiones, ſeveris tamen Chriſtianorum Principum conſtitutionibus adjuvatur, ut ad ſpirituale nomumquam recurrant remedium, qui timent corporale ſupplicium. What ſtronger, clearer evidence then theſe of this Pope Leo can we deſire, to prove the Supremacy of Chriſtian Emperors, Princes in divine and Eccleſiaſtical affairs, and over Popes themſelves, and that they ought to take ſpeciall care to preſerve, propagate the true Chriſtian faith, and ſuppreſſe all Hereſies, Schiſms, and ſcandalous crimes repugnant thereunto

p. 110Primaſius Biſhop of Utica in Africk,Anno 450 in his Commentary on 1 Tim. 2. Orate pro Regibus, &c. thus deſcants; ut cognoſcant Deum, ſive ut ſubjectas habeant Gentes; in illorum enim pace quies noſtra conſiſtit; ſi enim Chriſtiani ſunt, ceſſabit perſecutionis impetus. Hoc enim bonum eſt, & acceptum coram ſalvatore noſtro, Vt et vos (eſpecially if Chriſtian Kings) ſicut et ille, omnes homines ſalvari cupiatis▪ And Com: l. 2. in Apoc. c. 17. p. 101, 102. He thus deſcribes the Soveraign power of the Roman Emperors typified by St. John: Proprie autem ſeptem capita, ſeptem montes, ut Romam, quae ſuper ſeptem montes praeſidet ſignificans, omni quod orbe Monarchiae praefuit Dominatu, ad iſtorum Regum ſimilitudinem adduxiſſet, & in Roma inviniri totius Regnipotentiam figuraret. Septenario autem numero voluit univerſalitatem ipſius Dominationis oſt endere; as well over Popes, as others within their Territories.

The General Council of Chalcedon Anno 451. Anno 450conſiſting of no leſſe then 630. Biſhops and Fathers of the Church, Surius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 8, 10, 11, 21, 16, 31, 102, 103, 106, 129, 142, 157, 158, 162.was ſummoned by the Emperors Martian & Valentinian, fidelium facta eſt Synodus ex decreto piiſsimorum Imp. Martiani et Valentiniani. Martianus in his Epiſtle to Pope Leo concerning its ſummons, writes thus; De ſtudio & oratione nostra, Sanctitas tua non dubitat, quoniam Chriſtianorum religionem et Catholicam fidem firmiter volumus permanere, et ab omni populo pia mente ſervari. Denique ſollicitudinem noſtrae potentiae, ex recta religione et propiciatione Salvatoris noſtri conſiſtere, non ambigunt. Theſe Emperors Valentinianus and Martianus in their Letters to this Council (firſt convened by them at Nice) to remove to Chalcedon, ſince by reaſon of their other affairs they could not repair to Nice, and their preſence was neceſſary in this Council, uſe this memorable expreſsion; Illud enim praecavemus, licet Nos hic publicae cauſae retineant, quoniam quae proſint verae et orthodoxae fidei, et paci et diſciplinae ſanctarum Eccleſiarum, OMNIBUS ARBITRAMUR ESSE PRAEPONENDA, nec dubitamus quia etiam veſtrae ſanctitati hoc placebit. Nos enim propter ferventiſsimum Dei zelum, publicarum rerum neceſſarias utilitates in praeſenti diſtulimus, multum deſiderantes ea; quae et orthodorae et verae ſunt fidei, tranquillitatis noſtrae praeſentia confirmari. Orare ergo dignemini pro noſtro Imperio, quatenus et hoſtes Nobis ſubditis efficiantur, et pax in Vniverſo orbe firmetur, et Romanae res ſecure conſiſtant; quod etiam nunc vos facere iudicamus. In their Epiſtle to Dioſcorus Patriarch of Antioch they write, Cunctis conſtitit manifeſtum, quia noſtrae reipublicae ſtatus, & omnia humana, divina pietate moderantur atque firmantur. Deo enim propicio conſtituto proſpere & ſecundum vota noſtra gubernari res & proficere ſolent. imperium ergò divino nutu ſortiti, ſubditis pro pietate et manſuetudine ſi militer neceſſaria plurimam ſollicitudinem impartimus, quatenus et vera religio, et noſtra reſpublica, cultu Dei puriſsimo, et pietate firma praefulgeat. When the Council met at Chalcedon by their Summons, the Emperor Martianus, accompanied with his Empreſs, and Senators, made a moſt pious Oration to them; with this memorable Exordium. Cum primum per electionem in regnum de ſecreto Dei provecti ſumus, inter tantas publicas utilitates, nullum magis Nos conſtrinxit negotium quam rectam et veram fidem Chriſtianorum, quae ſancta et veneranda conſiſtit, indubitatam omnibus declarare. Then taxing thoſe Biſhops and Clergymen who out of avarice and vainglory had broached Hereſies, to the prejudice of the Orthodox faith, and Churches peace, which he had ſummoned them to ſettle by his authority. He ſubjoyns, Nobis autem omne ſtudium adhibendum eſt, ut populus propter veram ſanctamque doctrinam ipſum ſentient uni rectae applicare Eccleſiae. And therefore he exhorts them to addreſſe themſelves with all expedition and ſincerity, truly to expound the Catholick faith, and diſperſe the clowd of Error in this Synod; p. 111ut ſemper ſervantur quae ſtatuta ſunt. Erit quidem divinae providentiae, quod pie fieri volumus, in ſeculo hoc confirmare firmiſsima. Et poſt Regis haec verba, omnes Epiſcopi clamaverunt: Martiano novo Conſtantino multi anni: Orthodoxis multi anni; Martiano amatori Chriſti, Regnum veſtrum in perpetuum permaneat, digni Orthodoxae fidei amatoris. In this Council, the Emperor, & Glorioſiſſimi Judices, & ampliſſimus Senatus, are **Surius Tom. 2. p. 164, 165, 186, 188.firſt named in every Seſſion, ſate in the midſt and chiefeſt place, and were the Preſidents, Moderators, chief Judges in this Council, as the frequent repetitions of, Glorioſſimi Judices & ampliſſimi Senatus, dixerunt, through all the Acts and Seſſions of this Council, reſolve; and theſe oft repeated acclamations of the Biſhops approving their deciſions and reſolves: **Surius Tom. 2. p. 137, 138,Multi anni Imperatoribus, Deus qui hoc fecit. Multi anni Imperatorum, Magnorum Imperatorum multi anni, multi anni Senatus, multi anni Iudicum, Orthodoxorum multi anni, Haec integra ab initio; haec pax Eccleſiarum. Piiſsimis et Chriſti Amantibus noſtris, noſtris Imperatoribus Flavio Valentiniano, et Flavio Martiano, Victoribus et Triumphatoribus ſemper Auguſtis, multi anni. Hence they with divers other Archimandritae, or Abbots in their Epiſtle to the Emperour Martianus pray thus for him. Ut iterum per ſanctos Patres ſancta fide confirmata, poſſimus reliquum tempus vitae noſtrae caſtè & piè vivere, & in pace inceſſanter conſuetas orationes offerre Domino noſtro Chriſto pro diuturnitate aterni veſtri Imperii, qui et ſua bona voluntate inviſibiliter, nobis donavit Imperium Diviniſſimi Auguſti. After this, Actio 6. Martianus the Emperor making two Orations to the Council, the one in Latin, the other in Greek, (Recorded in the Acts thereof.) All the whole Council at the end of both his Oratitions cryed out, **Surius, p. 142, 145, 161, 197, 198.Multi anni Imperatori, multi anni Auguſtae, Orthodoxis multos annos, Imperatori multos Annos, Auguſtae Orthodoxae multos annos, Maritiano Amatori Chriſti, veſtrum nobis duret Imperium, ſemper nobis Imperatis, digne ex Orthodoxa fide, Amatoribus Chriſti procul invidia. After which theſe Biſhops having tendered a Confeſſion of their Faith to the Emperour, Omnes clamaverunt, Omnes ſic credimus, &c. Martiano novo Conſtantino, novo Paulo, novo David, multos Annos, David Imperatori pro Domino, vitam ei, Novo Conſtantino, Novo Martiano. Vos fides noſtra; Chriſtus quem honoras, ipſe te euſtodiet, Orthodoxam fidem tu roboraſti. Sicut Apoſtolici ita creditis, Auguſtae multos annos. Vos lumina Orthodoxae fidei, propter haec ubique Pax eſt, lumina Pacis. Domine tu cuſtodi Luminaria mundi, Domine tu cuſtodi. Perpetua memoria Novo Conſtantino. Quae ex genere Orthodoxa eſt, Deus eam cuſtodiat. Eam quae ſemper pia eſt, Deus cuſtodiat. Pia, Orthodoxa quae contraria eſt Haereticis, Deus eam Cuſtodiat. Omnes Haereticos tu fugaſti, Neſtorium et Eutichen tu perſecutaes. Abſit invidia a veſtro Imperio, fideles Imperatores ſic honorantur. Deus cuſtodiat poteſtatem veſtram, Deus pacificet imperium veſtrum. Martianus novus Conſtantinus, Pulcheria nova Helena. zelum Helenae tu ſectaris, veſtra vita munimen cunctorum eſt, veſtra fides Eccleſiarum Gloria eſt. Afterwards the Emperor rendring publique thanks to God for Compoſing the manifold diſcords of thoſe who had erred concerning the Faith, and that now in unam eandemque Religionem omnes nunc una voluntate convenerimus, ſperantes celerrimam veſtris ad divinitatem Precibus et cura omnem pacem Nobis a Deo donari; Omnes Clamaverunt, Haec digna veſtro Imperio, Haec propria veſtri regni, &c. Coeleſtis Rex terrenum cuſtodi. Per te fides firmata eſt Coeleſtis, Auguſtam cuſtodi. Per te fides firmata eſt. Vnus Deus qui hoc fecit, Coeleſtis Rex Auguſtam cuſtodi dignam p. 112paci, &c. Per vos Fides, per vos Par. Haec Oratio Eccleſiarum. Haec Oratio Paſtorum. Again. Omnes clamaverunt, Multos annos Imperatori, Multos annos Auguſtis, Piae et Chriſtianae Auguſtae Orthodoxae multi anni. Multos annos piae et Matricae Chriſti, Imperium veſtrum Deus cuſtodiat. In perpetuum maneat veſtrum Imperium. In this **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 25. 38. 55. 58. 66, 67. 95 109.Council Actio 1. when ſome would have added an explanation to the Canon of the Council of Nice, the Egyptian, Oriental and other Biſhops cried out, Nemo ſuſcepit adjectionem, nemo diminu ionem. Quae in Nicea conſtituta ſunt, teneant; Catholicus Imperator hoc juſſit. Quod Imperialis praecipit autoritas, omnibus modis obſervandum eſt; Iuſtum eſt quae a piiſſimo Principe praecepta erant effectui mancipari. Et neceſſe nobis erit in omnibus Imperatoris Chriſti amore cedere juſſioni. Omnia referantur ad cognitionem Clementiae Imperialis, poſtulamus ejus referri Clementiae, &c. Iuſſum eſt a Domino orbis terrae, ut Synodus de Flaviano prius judicaret. Actio 11. Baſſianus Biſhop of Epheſus humbly petitioned the Emperours Valentinian and Martian, to be reſtored to his Biſhoprick, and goods, of which he was forcibly diſpoſſeſſed by Souldiers, without hearing ut iis petitis conſuetas Orationes referam, inceſſanter Deo pro veſtrae Poteſtatis Imperio. In this Council, there are frequent recitals of Sancta & magna & Vniverſalis Synodus quae gratia Dei ſecundum Sanctionem piiſsimorum,bbSurius, Tom. …. p. 11, 20, 21, 27, 132, 133, 102, 103, 106, 120. et Deo amantis ſuorum Imperatorum immaculata collecta eſt in Chalcedonenſi Civitate. Imperator Epiſcopos vocavit. Placuit et nunc piiſsimis et Chriſtianiſsimis Imperatoribus noſtris ſancire, ſanctam et magnam veſtram Synodum huc concurrere quatenus quae nuper emerſerunt de catholica & immaculata noſtra fide quaerantur; et ea radicitus evellantur; & ne fortè trahentia & retrahentia, ſimpliciſsimos aliquos in foveam perfidis et erroris impingent, quia tanta eis eſt de pietate ſolicitudo, et ut ea cuſtodiantur in perpetuum, inconcuſſa et immaculata quae de Orthodoxa Religione noſtra pridem quidem a beatiſsimis patribus quae in Nicea convenerunt ſunt expoſita. Their Letters of Summons ſent to Dioſcorus Biſhop of Alexandria, and other Biſhops, begin thus. Imperatores Caeſares, &c. Omnibus conſtat manifeſtum, quia noſtrae reipublicae diſpoſitio et univerſa humana per pietatem circa Deum continentur et confirmantur. When this General Council, by the Emperors Judges and Senators approbation, had finiſhed their determinations concerning the Chriſtian faith; the Emperors ratified them by their Imperial Lawes, Edicts, prohibiting all Conventicles, Disputations, Hereſies, and Bookes againſt them, as their Lawes recorded in ccSurius, Tom. 2. p. 133, 134 &c.Surius, ddCodicis, lib. 1. Tit. 4. Lex 3, 4.Juſtinian, and others (over tedious to relate) demonſtrate: wherein they declare, Tandem aliquando quod ſummis votis atque ſtudiis optabamus, evenit. Remota eſt de Orthodoxa Chriſtianorum lege contentio; tandem remedia culpabilis erroris inventa ſunt, et diſcors populorum ſententia in unum conſenſum concordiamque convenit. Ceſsat igitur jam prophana contentio. Nam in contemptores hujus Legis poena non deerit, quia non ſolum contra fidem bene compoſitam veniunt, ſed etiam Iudaeis et Paganis ex hujuſmodi certamine prophanant veneranda myſteria. Sacro noſtrae Serenitatis Edicto venerandam Synodum confirmantes, admonuimus Vniverſos, ut de religione diſputare deſinant, &c. In this General Council of Chalcedon, I ſhall obſerve theſe three Paſſages relating to the Glorious Lay-Judges, and Senate preſiding therein by the Emperors appointment. 1. That when the eeSurius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 17.Biſhops in the Synods firſt Seſſion, were divided againſt each other, in the Caſes of Theodoretus and Dioſcorus, ſome crying out againſt the one, that he ſhould be thruſt out of the Synod; others, that he ſhould ſit, and the other ſide excluded: Impugnatorem Dei foras mittite, Judaeum foras mittite; Seditioſos foras mittite, &c. Multos annos Augustae, p. 113Catholico Imperatori multos annos. Thereupon Glorioſiſſimi Iudices et ampliſsimus Senatus dixerunt, Acclamationes iſtae populares neque Epiſcopos decent, neque partes juvant. 2. That in the debates concerning the Orthodox faith, aaIbid. p. 101, 103; 106.Glorioſiſſimi Judices et ampliſsimus Senatus dixerunt, in judicio fidei non eſt is…a defenſio. De Recta quidem & Catholica ſide, perfectius ſequenti die convenienti Concilio, diligentierem Examinationem fieri oportere perſpicimus. Nunc autem hoc quaerendum & ſtudendum & judicandum eſt, ut vera fides contineatur, pro qua maximè & Concilium facturi eſt, &c. directing the Biſhops how to proceed therein, and informing them of the Emperors reſolution and their own concerning it, in theſe words; Scire enim vos velumus quia tam diviniſsimus & piiſsimus Orbis terrarum Dominus, quam Nos, Catholicam fidem à 318. & à 150. necnon etiam a caeteris ſanctiſsimis & glorioſiſsimis patribus traditam, cuſtodimus, & ſecundum ipſam credimus; Whereupon, Reverendiſsimi Epiſcopi clamant; Expoſitionem alteram nullus facit, neque tentamus, neque audemus exponere. Docuerunt eam Patres, & in ſcriptis cuſtodiantur quae ab eis ſunt expoſita, & citra ea dicere non poſſumus. Sufficiunt quae expoſita ſunt, alteram expoſitionem non licet fieri. Glorioſiſſimi Judices & ampliſſimus Senatus dixerunt, Recitentur quae expoſita ſunt a Sanctis 318 Patribus in Nicea congregatis. Whereupon the Nicene Creed was read, with the Epiſtle of Leo, and other Treatiſes in defence thereof: then voted by the Judges, Senate, Council, and ratified by the Emperors Edicts. 3ly. That when the complaints of the Orthodox Biſhops unjuſtly deprived in a former Council at Epheſus by Dioſcorus and others, were there fully heard, the former proceedings againſt them read, and Witneſſes examined by the Judges with thoſe who depoſed them; the Judges and Senate, not the Council, gave this final ſentence therein; Glorioſiſsimi Iudices, et ampliſsimus Senatus, dixerunt: Quoniam verò Flavianus religioſae memoriae, bbIbidem, p. 102. 103. 106. Cent. Magd. 5. col. 934, 935.& Euſebius reverendus Epiſcopus ex geſtorum & cogniionum ſcrutatione, & ipſa voce quorundam qui huic Synodo praefuerint, confitentium ſe erraſſe, & fruſtra eos damnaſſe: quia nihil circa fidem monſtrantur craſſe, oſtenduntur injuſte depoſiti, Videtur nobis (ſecundum quod Deo placitum est) Iuſtum eſſe (ſi placuerit diviniſsimis et puſsimis Dominis noſtris) eidem paellae Dioſcorum reverend. Epiſcopum Alexandriae, & Juvenalem reverendum Epiſcopum Hieroſolymorum, & Thalaſſium reverend. Epiſcopum Caeſariae Cappadociae, & Euſebium reverend. Epiſcopum Ancyrae, & Euſtathium reverend. Epiſcopum Beryti, & Baſileum reverend. Epiſcopum Seleucite Iſauriae, qui poteſtatem et principatum Synodi tenuerunt, ſubjecere, et a ſancto Concilio ſecundum regulas, ab Epiſcopali dignitate fieri alienos, omnibus quae acta ſunt, ad ſacrum Apicem (the Emperors) referendis. Hereupon Orientales, & qui cum ipſis reverendi Epiſcopi, clamaverunt, Hoc juſtum Iudicium: Multos annos Senatui, multos annos Imperatoribus. Impius ſemper fugit, Dioſcorum Chriſtus depoſuit; Homicidam Christus depoſuit: Haec juſta ſententia; Hoc juſtum concilium: Iuſtus Senatus, Iuſtum Concilium; which they oft repeated. On the other ſide, Illyriani Epiſcopi dixerunt; Omnes erravimus, omnes veniam mereamur. Has preces Concilio Catholico, has preces Auguſto; Omnes peccavimus, omnibus indulgeatur precamur; omnes peccavimus, omnium miſeremini. Omnes peccavimus, omnibus indulgete. Dioſcorum in Synodo,ccNicephorus. Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 45. c. 4. 8 Cent. Magd. 5. col. 55. Dioſcorum in Eccleſiis. Theſe Interlocutions ended, Magnificentiſsimi, et glorioſiſsimi, et ampliſsimus Senatus et Iudices dixerunt, Quae interlocuta ſunt, effectui mancipantur. After this judgement Dioſcorus, was deprived and baniſhed accordingly by the Emperor, and Proterus ſubſtituted in his place. 4ly. It is obſervable what ddSurius, Ibid. p. 55.Melipthongus ſpake in this Council & debate, Quoniam igitur piiſsimus Imperator ex avita traditione conſuevit orthodoxam continere fidem. Et in nullas ſanctas regulas irrumpere, poſtulamus ejus referri Clementiae. Et ſi juſſerit in criminali cauſa alterum pro altero decertare, et hoc ſuſcipimus, praecipue quia univerſalem praecepit fieri Synodum. All which irrefragable Paſſages infallibly demonſtrate theſe Emperors Supremacy in all religious and Eccleſiaſtical affairs in that age; and that they reputed the maintenance, propagation p. 114of the true Orthodox faith, and their peoples ſpiritual Welfare; the principal part of their Regal care, and Imperial office.

Theſe Religious zealous Emperors, as they ratified the Decrees for the Orthodox Faith made in this General Council of Chalcedon, Anno 451ſo they did by this their Edict confirm thoſe of the Council of Nice, ſummoned and formerly ratified by Conſtatine the Great, **Juſtin. Cod: lib. 1. Tit. 4. Lex. 2, 3.Vnius et ſummi Dei nomen ubique celebretur: Nicenae fidei dudum a majoribus traditae, et divinae Religionis teſtimonio atque aſſertione firmatae obſervantia ſemper manſura teneat. Nullus haereticis miniſteriorum locus, nullam ad exercendam animi obſtinatioris dementiam pateat occaſio, &c.

In the General Council of Chalcedon, Anno 451Actio 11. I find this Supplicatory Letter and Petition of Baſsianus to the Emperors Valentinianus and Martianus, beginning thus; **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 180, 181, to 18…Terrae, mariſque et totius humani generis Dominis (therefore of all Popes certainly) Flaviis Valentimano et Martiano perpetuis Auguſtis, Supplicatio & deprecatio, a Baſsiano humili & puſillo Epiſcopo. Omnis ſalus violentiam patientium poſt Deum veſtra tranquillitas eſt, praecipue autem Sacerdotum Chriſti. Quapropter et ego ad has preces veni, provolutus veſtigiis veſtris, ut mei miſereamini. Then relating his caſe and grievance in being forcibly thruſt out of the Biſhoprick of Epheſus to which he was elected, of which he had 4. years poſſeſsion, by Stephanus then Biſhop; He adds, Supplico veſtrae pietati, et volvor divinis veſtris ſacratis veſtigiis, quatenus ſancire dignetur veſtra caeleſtis poteſtas, ſacra veſtra ſubnotatione miſſa ad ſanctum Concilium, ut cognitio fiat inter me miſerrimum et eos qui in me talia praeſumpſerint, &c. Whereupon the Emperors referred his cauſe to the examination of the Council; where both parties are heard; Et glorioſiſsimi Iudices, appointed by the Emperors to preſide in this Council, not the Biſhops, directed the proceedings, examine the cauſe, and pronounce the Sentence, that both of them ſhould be removed, as unduly elected and ordained, but retain the name of Biſhops, that Baſsianus ſhould have an annual penſion out of it during his life, and reſtitution to all goods taken from him, upon due proof thereof.

In the bbSurius. Tom. 2 p. 186ſame General Council, Actio 13. Eunomius Biſhop of Nicomedia, and all his Clergy, exhibited the like Petition to theſe Emperors, beginning as the former, Terrae, mariſque, et totius gentis hominum Dominis, &c. Deus vobis Imperium, ut omnes gubernetis (therefore Popes, as well as others) ad ſalutem orbis terrarum, et pacem ſanctarum Eccleſiarum juſte donavit: Quapropter ante omnia, et per omnia (mark it) piiſsimi et Chriſti amantiſsimi Principes pro orthodoxae et ſaluberrimae fidei dogmatibus cogitatis, tam haereticorum fremitus extinguentes, quam pia ad lucem dogmata deducentes. Vnde proſternimus nos Majeſtatis veſtrae veſtigiis, ut jubeatis arceri injuſtitiam quae adverſum nos a reverendiſsimo Epiſcopo Niceno Anaſtatio eſt praeſumpta, quatenus valeamus congrua pace fruentes ſine intermiſſione divina myſteria perficere, et conſuetas orationes Domino Deo pro aeterna veſtra poteſtate ſolvamus. Their complaint was, that Anaſtatius, neque honorem Dei prae oculis ſumens, neque leges veſtrae pietatis reveritus, had invaded their rights, quas nobis pietatis veſtris legibus & Eccleſiaſticis ſanctionibus ſunt collata, quae nullus aliquando praeceſſorum ejus jubere aut movere tentavit. Both parties are heard, and their caſe examined as the former, by the Glorioſiſsimi Judices; not Biſhops.

**Surius, ibid. 188, 189.In the 14th Action of this Council, I meet with this memorable Petition of Salvinianus, Paros Epiſcopi, ſomewhat varying from the former, Piiſsimis et Chriſto amantiſsimis, et digne a Deo omnium honoratis Auguſtis Valentiniano & Martiano, preces & ſupplicatio, à Salviniano Epiſcopo. Dominus omnium videns Apoſtolicam et Orthodoxam fidem a diſsimulatoribus interim fatigari, et omnem mundum ſeditionibus vexari, p. 115et ſuſcitavit veſtram pietatem univerſum mundum regere atque gubernare, et tumultus qui a nefandis exorti ſunt, ſanctorum doctrina reprimere, et claritatem atque ſoliditatem recti dogmate confirmare. Vnde juſte veſtrae tranquilitati ac de vobis dicit Deus,Pſal. 8….Ps 8 Exaltavi electum de plebe mea, Inveni David ſervum meum, &c. Credens itaque nutu divino ſuper omnem principatum ac dominationem conſiſtere veſtrum Principatum (therefore above the Popes, and Councils) adſum ſupplicans et rogans veſtram pietatem, ut mei providentiam fieri, et cauſam meam examinari praecipiatis; Ego enim a puero eram in Monaſterio diſpenſator omnium rerum, nihil de Epiſcopatu cogitans, neque rogans quemquam hujus gratia dignitatis. Dum ergo eſſem in Monachorum providentia conſtitutus, adſtitit mihi repentè illius temporis Metropolitanus Epiſcopus cum provincialibus Epiſcopis, & me Paros ordinavit Epiſcopum, de qua in ſcriptis dejectus eſt Athanaſius, ex graviſsim is capitibus accuſatus, nec volens pro illatis ſibi criminibus reddere rationem, qui aliquando quidem Epiſcopatum repudiabat. Frequenter vero citationes vocantium cum ad Synodorum judicium, declinabat. Is enim in Epheſina Synodo ex praecepto Alexandrini praeſulis in meam Eccleſiam ſuperingreſſus eſt, & ego, praeter voluntatem meam ordinatus, expulſus ſum. Et haec quidem ecta ſunt habitatoribus illius civitatis dolentibus & lugentibus meam expulſionem. Supplico igitur et veſtrae potentiae, ut jubeatis meam cauſam ſub praeſentia veſtrae pietatis examinari, et placitum terminum dari; ut et ego cum cunctis aliis conſuetas orationes pro perpetua veſtra potentia ſemper exolvam, Piiſsimi atque victores Principes. Salvianus Epiſcopus dictata et ſubſcripſi et offero veſtrae pietati. Baeronicianus vir devotiſsimus, Secretarius divini Conſiſtorii legit. This Cauſe, and all the proceedings in it in two former Councils of Epheſus and Antioch, were fully heard, read and conſidered, and at laſt referred by the Judges themſelves to Maximus Biſhop of Antioch to ſettle, Salvianus in the mean time being to enjoy the Title of the Biſhop of Paros, and receive maintenance out of it.

I find in**Eccleſiaſt. Hiſt. l. 2. c. …8. Evagrius (but not in the Acts of this Council) a like Petition from Euſebius Biſhop of Dorileum; beginning thus, It behoveth your Majeſties (moſt noble and puiſſant Emperors) to provide carefully for the quieting of all your loving Subjects, and to defend from injuries all other men, but eſpecially the ſacred Senate of Prieſthood. And herein the divine Godhead, which hath granted unto you the rule and domination of the whole world, is truly honored; wherefore ſeeing the Chriſtian faith, and we our ſelves alſo have been oppreſſed, and unjuſtly moleſted by extreme wrong by Dioſcorus, the moſt Reverend Biſhop of the moſt Noble City of Alexandria, we are now come unto your wonted Clemency, to crave Iuſtice at your hands. Then complaining of his and Flavianus Biſhops of Conſtantinoples unjuſt depoſitions from their Biſhopricks in the Council of Epheſus, by the power and unjuſt practiſes of Dioſcorus; and accuſing him of Blaſphemy and Hereſie; he Petitions the Emperors on his bended knees, that his Petition might by his Letters be referred to the Council; that both their doings might therein by juſtly examined, and indifferently heard before them, and then certified to their Imperial Majeſties, to do them right.

By all which Petitions, even of theſe Biſhops themſelves, the Soveraign Authority of Chriſtian Emperors and Kings in and over all Eccleſiaſtical cauſes; perſons, and in matters of faith, religion, and final Right of Appeals to them from unjuſt Judgements given not only by Biſhops, but General Councils in the very caſe of deprivation of Biſhops for Hereſie and Eccleſiaſtical offences,Anno 458 is ſo clearly ſet forth by words and actions, that nothing can be more full and ſatisfactory.Evagrius Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 8, 9: Nicephorus Eccleſ. l. 15. c. 18, &c▪ Surius Council. Tom. 2. p. 224, 225, &c.Sir 50:15

The Emperor Leo by his Letters to all Metropolitans in the very beginning of his reign, confirmed the Orthodox faith profeſſed heretofore by his Predeceſſors; yet notwithſtanding, the Heretical faction at Alexandria, in the abſence of Dionyſius Captain of the Garriſon, elected Timotheus Aelius (an heretick, and oppugner of the Council of Chalcedon) for their Biſhop, and barbarouſly ſlew Proterius their orthodox Biſhop, thruſting Timotheus into his place; whereupon all the Biſhops of p. 116Aegypt and Clergy of Alexandria by a ſupplicatory Epiſtle complained to this Emperor Leo the 1. of this outrage, deſiring Juſtice and redreſſe: wherein they relate, A ſuperna gratia modo divinitus condonatus, juſtè non ceſſas pro communi utilitate cogitare, poſt Deum cunctorum venerabilis Imperator. Quapropter omnis fortitudo verborum tuis vincitur actibus. Nuper enim electus a Deo et purpura exornatus optimum judicaſti propoſitum tuum magnum oſtendere, quem ipſe omnium Creator elegit, benignius initiis largitatem remunerando bonorum, quando repentè in ipſo principio voce veſtra ex ſcripto procedente piiſſimo, ad Sanctiſſimos Metropolitanos, Epiſcopos, inerumpibilem Eccleſiae Catholicae crepidinem roboraſti, et priorum omnium, piiſs imorumque Principum conſtituta, pro Orthodora religione firmaſti. Inſuper & ea, quae nuper a ſanctae memoriae Martiano, Principe noſtro ſancita ſunt conſona decernente, nihil … eſtis mercati, quam pacem omnium & ſtabilitatem reipublicae, fraenantes linguas eorum qui adverſus Eccleſias conſurgunt, et blaſphemant Deum, aut in cum quecunque modo delinquunt. Injuria namque Dei manifeſta eſt, haereticorum alſcindentium ſemetipſos à recta …ide, licentia. Quapropter hoc optime ſciens ven…rabilis Imperator, maligni prolem exiſtere inſidiantes quieti ſanctarum Chriſti ſemper Eccleſiarum, earum que immutilatam pacem conſiſtere non ſcientes, recte provi…rum tuam ſtuduiſti mox adhiberi, ei per omnia reſiſtentem, QUOD EST OPUS PIISSIMORUM PRINCIPUM (let Popes and Prelates obſerve it) pro orthodo…a wfide pugnantium, et reſiſtentium … malis extrinſecus venientibus, ET ANIMABUS FIDELIUMADVERSANTIBUS. Hunc igitur animum te poſſidente religioſum et tutorem humani generis tantum que circa Chriſtum ſtudium demonſtrantem, adimus ex nos, importabilia mala paſſi, licet peccatores Chriſti Pontifices: Then relating their grievances, the election of Timotheus, the murder of Proterius, the growth of hereſie, oppoſing the orthodox faith, and violent thruſting them out of their Churches, at large, to the Emperor, thus pray redreſſe from him as their only Supream Eccleſiaſtical Judge and Protector. Sanciri praecipite ut expulſi ſine calumnia ad ſuas Eccleſias, in pace celebrantes, pro veſtra pietate ſolennes orationes, cum quiete ſervari, urbemque pariter et in ea ſanctas Eccleſias conſtitutas ad Chriſti gloriam et ſalutem, et perpetuitatem veſtrae Chriſtianiſſimae pietatis; Literas dirigentes, pro his quae poſcimus ad magnificentiſsimum Dionyſium Ducem, necnon ad ſingularum provinciarum Iudices (not to the Pope, or any Clergy-men) quatenus ea quae a veſtra manſuetudine ſunt ſancita, et ſervantur, et effectui contradantur. Hereupon this pious Emperor preſently ſent abroad his Letters to all the Cities, Su…us Concil. Tom. 2. p. 224. Nicephorus, l. 15. c. 18, &c.Biſhops and Churches under his Empire; wherein he declares, Votum quidem mei pietatis fuit univerſas orthodoxorum ſanctas Eccleſias, necnon et Civitates ſub Romano Imperio conſtitutas, maxima frui quiete, nihilque contingere, quod poſsit earum ſtatum tranquillitatemque turbare, &c. Then relating the tumults at Alexandria in electing Timotheus their Biſhop; he requires them all to ſummon all their Biſhops and Clergy together, and examining all theſe things with deliberate care and fidelity, to certifie him their ſeveral opinions concerning his election, and the Council of Chalcedons determinations. This they accordingly did, by their reſpective Letters returned to the Emperor collected by **Tom. 2 p. 224. to 277.Surius; being 38. in number (one from Pope Leo the 1.) ſubſcribed with above 500 Biſhops hands, wherein they approve the Council of Chalcedon, deſiring the Emperor to ratifie it by his new Imperial Edicts, condemn Timotheus and election, and moſt lively, fully ſet forth and acknowledge the Emperors Supremacy in and over all Religious, Eccleſiaſtical perſons and affairs, in preſerving the Orthodox faith, peace and unity of the Church, ſuppreſsing Hereticks, Schiſmes, redreſsing all undue elections, abuſes of Biſhops and others, as the principal part of his Regal Office, Truſt, Care; and inform him: Pietatis veſtrae et Chriſtianitatis p. 117Imperium clarior purpura atqueniademate pro fidei cauſa …ucet. In imperio ſupra purpuras et diadema … rectitudine decoratur et …, That, à Christo regalia ſceptra percipientes, compenſationem rurſus Deo redditis veſtram Imperium conſervante, dum inceſsabiliter cogitatis, quatenus ſecuram ab omni haeretica tempe ſtate Eccleſiam ejus, et ſine fluctuatione ſervetis. Propterea ſiquidem vos Deus caelitus divino nutu ſuo munivit, ut ea quidem, quae ſacra ſunt, Imperiali poteſtate integra ſemper ſalvaque cuſtodiantur; quae vero vexata ſunt atque corrupta, veſtrae pietatis medicina curetis. Nihil itaque Deo amabilius eſt, nihil acceptius, quam ut illa vos ſapiatis, quae a Dei patris ſapientia didiciſtis, et illa doceatis, quae ab ipſis fidei veſtrae incunabulis ſaluberrime eſtis eruditi. Veſtrae igitur pietatis eſt, ſanctiſsimum etiam in hoc agere zelum, &c. quae legibus et ſacris canonibus, et cunctis Dei Eccleſiis pacem conferre videantur. Pro Dei legibus dimicaſtis, velut integri cuſtodes earum, et ſanctorum habentes curam. Then commending his care for the external peace, proſperity of his ſubjects, they ſubjoyn: Et hac quidem quantum ad conſolationem pertineat corporalem pro ejus utilitate gerere veſtra ſerenitas non quieſcit; potiorem vero habet induſtriam ut fidei orthodoxae cultus in hominum animabus oriatur (note it) quatenus veſtra pietate adducentur Regi Regum, qui a Deo ut eſſent, plaſmati ſunt. Hanc itaque devotionem poſſidens, apud D…um & ſanctas Eccleſias multiplicare quotidie ſtud…ns veſtra tranquillitas, ſequendo quidem reverendae memoriae, & in ſanctorum choro laudandum Conſtantinum, & tenendo veſtigia piae memoriae Martiani, pro pace Eccleſiarum maximam diligentiam gerit vestra religio, Nota.&c. **Surius, Tom. 2. p. 245.Quem alterum decebat Imperatorem talia pro talibus praecipere, et ſcribere nobis ſubjectis, et leges pro rebus divinis ponere Sacerdotibus aequo judicio puras, praeter veſtram ſolummdo pietatem, quam ipſe proprie Deus elegit, et ex totius mundi potentia coronavit, et ſupra reipublicae retinacula conſtituit, violentia tempeſtatis nullatenus imminente? Zelatus es actibus tuis tranquilliſſime Imperator Conſtantinum illum memoriae immortalem, maximum, pium, amatorem Christi, qui Abelis vivens imaginem in animabus hominum paſſedit in aeternum, Nota.qui cum David quidem ſicut Rex et Propheta ſtat apud Deum, CUM PETRO AUTEM ET PAULO (let the Pope and Papiſts obſerve it) & tonitrui filiis, CUASI SIMILIS ILLIS, IN PRAEDICATIONIBUS VERITATIS EFFULGET. Ille enim, quando eum Romanorum ſceptris Deus ordinavit, Eccleſiae membris interuit, multam caliginem et tempeſtatem quandam imminere luci puriſſimae dogmatum veritatis inſpiciens, & creaturarum adorationis munimenta, a ſimulatoribus pietatis, denuo videns eum inſtitui contra Chriſtianam fidem, & Sacerdotes, qui vere filium eſſe Dei & de Subſtantia Patris ante ſecula natum credunt & praedicant, ſemetipſum per ſanctum Spiritum increatae Trinitatis Imperio & adoratione ſubjiciens, ſuum in terra firmavit regnum, et pietatis radios in terra mixtos omni caligine, ex illo tempore uſque ad praeſens per omnes terras explicuit; factus ſemen, et radix, et cultura, et ſcintilla nobis ſalutis inextinguibilis.**Surius, p. 2…5. Deſuper ſceptra Regni ſuſcipiens ſacratiſsime et invictiſsime Principum, pro munere veſtrae pietati collata. Deum veſtrum Regem primitiis decentibus honoraſtis, Imperatorem quae praecipue deceat. Prima enim oblatio et acceptabile ſacrificum eſt, ut auriga mundi, et princeps totius orbis qui ſub ſole conſiſtit, adorandae Trinitatis fidem ſemel incolumem, ET DOCEAT, et his quae facit et colit TIMERE ET HOMINES DEUM, & talia ſectari, per quae noſtrorum ſervatur genus, & cogitare pro p. 118communi Rei publicae, et totius populi diſciplina:**Nota. Vere namque Sacerdos et natura Imperator exiſtis, Ex veſtro Imperio ubique praedicatio praevalet; veſtra utique manſuetudine nihil aliud praeter fidem ſceptra regalla indicante. Quarum rerum teſtis eſt et praeſeus Zeius et ſtub… illud firmandi unde firmitas veſtri accedat Imperii. A Deo namque unctus in Regem, mox ei qui unxit, ipſa princip…a commenda…ti, op…ime ſatis cogitationibus et vocibus ei deſerviens, et … conſiſterent,**… praeteritis omnibus apud cunctos pro ſide Orthodo…a denotatus es, omni ſcilicet mala ſecta prorſus expulſa atque ſub…ata. Deus, qui glorificantes ſe glorificat, ſecundum cor…uum apicem veſtrae tranquillitatis inveniens inexpugna…iem palmam et hondrem … exiſtentem, placidus praebuit vobis, Chriſtianiſsime Principum SUPER OMNES HOMINES SINE PROHIBITIONE ALIQU… PO…ESTATEM. Bonum enim circa Dominum Deum favorem … habentibus, manſuetis vocibus, ad legalem et mirabilem … converſationemque deducitur, quicquid ſub ſceptro veſtri Imperii gubernatur. Maximus omnium Dominus Deus, … optimma et ſanctis Dei Eccleſiis et toti orbiterrarum veſtrum condonavir Imperium. Nam quando in ipſo principio veſtri Regni, quod à Deo in omni Orbe ſuſcepiſtis, non aliunde, niſi unde decebat, Imperii fe…istis initium, maximum est indicium voluntatis veſtrae quod habetis circa beneficii largitorem, (in all the forementioned particulars, and others there recited.) Vobis Deus potentiam mundi commiſit, ut magna intentione co…cord…ae, et indiviſe recta piaque ſervetur fides in ſanctis Dei ubique conſtitutis Eccleſus. Semper divinarum rerum curam habentes. Deprecamur au…em, & veſtram pietatem votis omnibus exoramus, ut Apoſtolicam doctrinam in quam creditis, immobilem conſervetis in pace multa & tranquillitate ſub veſtrae pietatis imperio, & in Clero & omni populo in fide ſaluberrima conſtituto, & ut eis qui inaniter alia conſilia fieri deſiderant, reſiſtatis, & ut nobis veſtra pietate digneris, quatenus ſub quiete degentes, ſecundum fidem & traditionem ſanctorum Patrum conſiſtentes, in pace inviolabili & diſciplina ſervemur, orationi divinae ſupplicationique vacantes, et vita atque converſatione Domino Chriſto placentes ad honorem orthodoxae fidei, et fundentes Domino Deo preces pro veſtra Serenitate, quatenus Dominus Chriſtus veſtrae pietatis imperio ſuae infundere dexterae claritatem, quae vos ſua pace conſervet, et fortitudinem vobis atque virtutem praeſtet, ſimul magnificentiſsimis maximiſque Proceribus, et glorioſo ſapienti juſtiſsimoque Senatui ad peremptionem ferocitatis malignorum. Salve fac Regem tuum & exalta cornu ejus Imperii, quod eſt, et erit gloria tuorum; ad unanimitatem ſanctarum Chriſti Eccleſiarum et totius Romanae pacis et diſciplinae. Dominus Sacerdotum ſimul & Eccleſiarum tuarum, Incolumem veſtram pietatem multis annorum curriculis conſervare Eccleſiae Dei, Romano pariter optamus Imperio, religioſiſsime & Chriſto amabilis Imperator. All their Epiſtles are fraught with theſe and the like paſſages, expreſſions, prayers, then which nothing can be more demonſtrative, to evidence his Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy, and all Princes Soveraign care of Religion and Church affairs, againſt all Papal or Pontifical cavils in ſucceeding degenerous times. After reception and peruſal of theſe Epiſtles to this Emperor from all quarters of the Empire, he by his Imperial decrees ratified the Councils of Nice, Epheſus, Chalcedon; expelled, baniſhed Timotheus, and ſuppreſſed Hereticks in all places, to the joy of all good Chriſtians, and advancement of Chriſtianity.

p. 119The Emperor Zeno (who ſucceeded Leo) to compromiſe the differences then in the Church about the Orthodox faith and Councils of Nice and Chalcedon, Anno 484.publiſhed a pacifical Edict,Niceph Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 16. c. 12. which he intituled Henoticum, with this Prologue Cum Imperii noſtri initium et conſervationem, tum autem opes et armaturam inexpugnabilem perſuaſum habeamus eſſe, Solam rectam et veram fidem quam divina inſpiratione Nicaeae 318. ſancti Patres congregati promulgarunt, et Conſtantinopoli 150. itidem ſancti Patres coacti confirmaverunt, die noctuque precationibus, ſtudiis, LEGIBUSQUE NOSTRIS OMNIBUS hoc agimus, ut per eam ubique locorum ſancta Dei Catholica et Apoſtolica Eccleſia incrementa capiat, qnae incorruptibilis et immortalis ſceptrorum noſtrorum mater, et pii populi noſtri, in pace et religionis divinae concordia perſiſtentes, acceptabiles pro Imperio noſtro preces, una cum Dei amantiſsimis Epiſcopis, et piiſsimis Clericis et Archimandratis et Monachis fundant, &c. Itaque quum fides irreprehenſibilis et Nos, et Imperium ſic conſervet; Scire vos volumus, neque nos, neque ubique ſocorum quae ſunt Eccleſias aliud ſymbolum, aut doctrinam aut formulam fidei, aut fidem etiam praeterquam quod (ſicut dictum eſt) a 318 editum, et 150 Patribus comprobatum eſt, ſanctum ſumbolum vel habuiſſe, vel habere, vel habituros eſſe. Nam id ſolum Symbolum, Imperium noſtrum conſervare confidimus. Quemlibet vero qui aliud quicquam ſenſit, aut ſentit, aut nunc, aut quandocunque, vel Chalcedone, vel quacunque alia Synodo, ANATHEMATI SUBJICIMUS; praecipue vero Neſtorium et Eutychen, et qui cum eis idem ſentiunt. Conſurgite ergo vos per unionem ſpirituali matri Eccleſiae per id unum et ſolum 318 ſanctorum Patrum profeſsionis fidei decretum. Quod ſi feceritis, Domini et Servatoris et Dei noſtri Ieſu Chriſti benignitatem vobis ipſis conciliabitis, tum ab Imperiali noſtra amplitudine laudem eximiam feretis. This Imperial Edict being publikely read in Alexandria in the Church before all the people by Peter Mogge their Biſhop, Alexandrini univerſi ſanctae et Catholicae Eccleſiae conjuncti unitique ſunt, et quaecunque in medio fuere offendicula et impedimenta ſuſtulere, writes**Niceph. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 16. c. 12. Nicephorus. This Emperor Zeno reſolved to thruſt out Timotheus Aelius Biſhop of Alexandria, complained of to, and removed, baniſhed by the Emperor Leo, (as you heard before) yet reſtored by the Uſurping Emperor Baſiliſcus to his See after 18. years exile; but underſtanding he was very aged and like to die, he altered his reſolution; He dying ſoon after, the Alexandrians without this Emperors licenſe or privity, elected one Peter Mogge, (a man then unſound in the faith) for their Biſhop, who was conſecrated by two heretical Biſhops. The Emperor being informed thereof, removed Peter by his Letters after 36. dayes poſſeſsion, and by other Letters reſtored Timotheus Salophaciolus (the rightfull Biſhop diſpoſſeſſed by the other Timothy, baniſhed by Baſiliſcus) to this See, putting thoſe to death who elected Peter. After which the Clergy of Alexandria ſending an Embaſſy to the Emperor, by one John and others; He granted them Liberty after the death of Timothy to elect whom they would for their Biſhop, except this John, who took an Oath before the Emperor, haud unquam ſe Alexandriae thronum accepturum eſſe, and ſo departed. Yet after Timothies death, John forgetting and neglecting his Oath, by money procured himſelf to be advanced to this See by the Alexandrians: Of which the Emperor being informed, he commanded**Niceph. Caliſtus, Eccleſ: Hiſt. l. 16. c. 1…, 16, 17. Platina, Onup…rius & Lydius … Felice 3 John to be ejected, and reſtored Peter Mogge to the See by his Letters, who promiſed to read, publiſh and obſerve the Emperors forecited Decree Henoticum; which he accordingly performed. John being thus ejected, reſorts to Rome to Pope Felix the 3d. complaining, he was ejected only for defending the Doctrine of the Emperor Leo, and Council of Chalcedon: who writ a Letter to Zeno reprehending him for Johns illegal ejection and deſiring his reſtitution: who anſwered, p. 120He ejected him not for the cauſe ſuggeſted, but for his perjury. After this he exhibited a Libel of complaints to Pope Felix the 3. (about the year 483) complaining againſt Peter as an Heretick, and againſt Acacius Biſhop of Conſtantinople for holding communion with him, and being the chief inſtrument of his reſtitution: and in a Synod at Rome procured Peter (formerly condemned, baniſhed, and excommunicated by a Synod) to be declared an Heretick, and deprived, eſpecially quod quum ab haereticis conſecratus eſt, orthodoxis praeeſſe non poteſt: and in their Sentence they blamed Acacius as guilty of a great crime, quod ad Simplicium ſcribens, Petrum haereticum appellaverat, et id Impetatori non indicaverit; quum certe id ſi Zenonem diligeret, facere debuerit; Perinde ſicut apparet, commodi …ui deſiderio Imperatorem complectitur (as many Biſhops in all ages did) fidem autem non complectitur. But they continuing in their Sees notwithſtanding this Sentence, ſo far contemned the Popes and Synods Authority, that Acacius, Papae (Felicis) nomen ex ſacro albo exemit; which Flavitas afterwards upon a difference between him and Peter of Alexandria (who condemned the Synod of Chalcedon) ſuis ipſe manibus in ſacris tabulis Mogge nomen expunxit, Ann… 538& Felicis appellationem repoſuit. Peter continuing Biſhop ſtill by the Emperors reſtitution and protection, notwithſtanding the Popes and Roman Synods ſentence of deprivation; Pope Gelaſius (ſucceeding Felix) takes upon him to declare the Emperors reſtitution of Peter after his deprivation by a Synod, to be void, (if the**See Cookes Cenſura Patiū, & Dr. James Baſtardy of the Fathers Decrees and Epiſtles be his own, and not forged, as I ſuspect, by the ſtile and ſubject matter, improper to, and unknown in that age) upon theſe miſtaken Papal grounds:**Surius Concil: Tom. 2. p. 300. to 310. Imperatori tantum de humanis rebus judicare permiſſum eſt, non etiam praeeſſe divinis: quomodo de his, per quos divina miniſtrantur judicare praeſumant? Fuerint haec ante adventum Chriſti, ut quidam figuraliter, adhuc tamen in carnalibus actionibus conſtituti, pariter Reges exiſterent et pariter Sacerdotes; quod Sanctum **Gen. 14. Heb. 7.Gen 14Heb 7Melchiſedechem fuiſſe ſacra prodit hiſtoria: Quod in ſuis quoque Diabolus imitatus eſt, utpotè qui ſemper quae divino cultui convenirent, ſibimet tyrannico ſpiritu vindicare contendit, ut Pagani Imperatores, iidem et maximi Pontifices crearentur. Sed cum ad verum ventum eſt eundem Regem atque Pontificem, ultra ſibi nec Imperator Pontificis nomen impoſuit, nec Pontifer Regale faſtigium vindicavit: (In that age 'twas true, but divers **Here, p. 34, to 40. 79, 80.Popes ſince have uſurped it as of right) Quamvis enim membra ipſius veri Regis atque Pontificis, ſecundum participationem naturae, magnificè utrumque in ſacra generoſitate ſumpſiſſe dicantur, ut **1 Pet. 2.1 Pet 2ſimul Regale genus et Sacerdotale ſubſiſtant; attamen Chriſtus memor fragilitatis humanae, quod ſuorum ſaluti congruerit diſpenſatione magnifica temperans, ſic actionibus propriis, dignitatibuſque deſtinatis officia poteſtatis utriuſque diſcrevit, ſuos volens medicinali humilitate ſalvari, non humana ſuperbia rurſus intercipi, ut et Chriſtiani Imperatores pro aeterna vita Pontificibus indigerent, (as to their doctrin, inſtruction, advice, not ſupream inherent Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction) et Pontifices pro temporalium curſu rerum diſpoſitionibus (yea of Eccleſiaſtical and divine too, as the premiſed and ſubſequent Authorities infallibly evidence, though this Pope here denyes it) uterentur, quatenus: ſpiritualis actio a carnalibus diſtaret incurſibus: 2 Tim. 2.2 Tim 2Et ideo, militans Deo minime ſe negotiis ſecularibus implicaret (why then do all Popes, and moſt Biſhops the contrary?) ac viciſsim, nolle rebus divinis praeſidere videatur, qui eſſet negotiis ſecularibus implicatus: (his Argument holds not, è converſo, ſince all Chriſtians, eſpecially Kings, ought to meddle with divine matters, and things of faith, without which they can neither know, ſerve, worſhip God, or be ſaved themſelves, nor govern their Chriſtian ſubjects as they ought) et ut modeſtia utriuſque ordinis conaretur, ne extolleretur utroque ſu…fultus, et competens qualitatibus actionum, ſpecialiter profeſsio aptaretur, (From which miſtaken premiſes, this Pope draws this concluſion; (one of the firſt I meet with directly oppoſing the Emperors Eccleſiaſtical Authority, except that of St. Ambroſe, in a different caſe, when Emperors command things directly p. 121againſt God and the Scriptures) Quibus omnibus rite collectis, evidenter ſatis oſtenditur a ſeculari poteſtate nec ligari prorſus, nec ſolvi poſſe Pontificem. Quo manifeſtius approbatur, Alexandrinum Petrum per Imperialem ſolummodo ſententiam nullo modo potuiſſe abſolvi: being condemned, deprived by the Synod at Rome & Pope Felix: ubi ſi Pontificum quo que ſociatur aſſenſus, quaerimus utrum praeceſſerit, an fuerit ſubſecutus? Si ſubſecutus eſt, nihilominus ad id reditur; ut abſolutio ſeculari poteſtate praecepta, et principaliter inchoata, valere non poſsit: pontificumque ſecutus aſſenſus, adulationis potius fuerat, quam legitimae ſanctionis. Si praeceſſit, doceatur a quibus, & ubi ille ſit geſtus, ſecundum Eccleſiae regulam celebratus; ſi paterna traditione profectus, ſi majorum more prolatus, ſi competenti examinatione depromptus? Ubi proculdubio requirendum eſt, Si Synodali congregatione celebratus, quod in receptione damnati, & depulſione catholici, quia nova eſt cauſa, fieri debuiſſe certiſſimum est. In fine, he concludes, that Peter and Acacius being condemned a prima ſede, (by which he means the See and Council of Rome) could not be abſolved nor reſtored by the Emperor himſelf, nor by a Synod of the Clergy held at Conſtantinople, or elſwhere, but only by the See of Rome, nec ab inferiore quolibet (praecipue cum de ſecundae ſedis ageretur Antiſtite, to wit, Acacius of Conſtantinople) ſed a prima ſede jure poſſit abſolvi. Inferior quippe potiorem abſolvere non poteſt: ſola ergo potior inferiorem convenienter abſolvit. A doctrin inconſiſtent with the practiſe and proceedings of that age, as the premiſes, and the deprivations, reſtitutions of many Biſhops by the Emperors, as well Orthodox as Heterodox, recorded by Euſebius, Socrates Scholaſticus, Sozomen, Tripartita Hiſtoria, Nicephorus, and others, abundantly evidence. This Pope Gelaſius in hisaaSurius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 301, 302. Commonitorium ad Fauſtum, his Legate ſent to Conſtantinople, hath the like paſſages: Quod ſi dicunt, Imperator hoc fecit (that he reſtored Peter and Acacius) hoc ipſum quibus canonibus, quibus regulis eſt praeceptum? As if Emperors muſt do nothing but what Popes and Biſhops preſcribe, or permit them by their Canons. In his Epiſtle to**Ibid. p. 303, 304. Anastaſius the Emperor about the ſame buſineſſe; after this complement Romanus natus, Romanum Principem amo, colo, ſuſpicio, & ſicut Chriſtianus cum eo, qui zelum Dei habet, ſecundum ſcientiam veritatis habere deſidero, & qualiſcumque Apoſtolicae ſedis Vicarius (a phraſe not uſual in that age) quodcunque plenae fidei catholicae deeſſe comperero, pro meo modulo ſnggeſtionibus opportunis ſupplere contendo; He thus proceed… Pietatem tuam abſit (quaeſo à Romano Principe) ut intimatam ſuis ſenſibus veritatem, arbitretur injuriam. **Gratian Diſtinctio 96.Duo quippe ſunt, Imperator Auguſte, quibus principaliter Mundus hic regitur, authoritas ſacra Pontificum, et Regalis poteſtas. In quibus tanto gravius eſt pondus ſacerdotum, quanto etiam pro ipſis regibus hominum in Divino reddituri ſunt examine rationem, (And muſt not Kings too give an account for Biſhops and Prieſts under them, if they permit unworthy ones, or enforce them not by their Lawes to diſcharge their paſtoral duties? No doubt they muſt.) Noſti etenim fili Clementiſſime, quod licet praeſideas humano generi dignitate, rerum tamen Praeſulibus divinarum devotus colla ſubmittis (this is untrue in point of Juriſdiction) at que ab eis cauſas tuae ſalutis expetis (as from his Miniſters, not Superiors) inque ſumendis Coeleſtibus Sacramentis eiſque (ut competit) diſponendis ſubdi te debere cognoſcis (in point only of Adminiſtration, not of Power or Juriſdiction) religionis ordine potius quam praeeſſe. Itaque inter haec ex illorum te Pendere Judicio (as his Adviſers, not Superiors) non illos ad tuam velle redigi voluntatem, (unleſs in caſe of their Hereſie, Error, Exceſſes which he may reform) Si enim, quantum ad ordinem pertinet Publicae diſciplinae, cognoſcentes imperium tibi ſuperna diſpoſitione collatum, legibus tuis ipſi quoque parent religionis Antiſtites, (he ſhould have added with Gratian Diſt. 10, 12. unleſſe they thwart their Canons and profit) Ne vel in rebus mundanis excluſae videantur obviare ſententiae; quo (rogo) te decet affectu eis obedire qui praerogandis venerabilibus ſunt attributi Myſteris: (in diſpenſing thoſe myſteries only according to Gods word, not in unjuſt Church-cenſures.) Proinde ſicut non leve diſcrimen incumbii Pontificibus ſiluiſſe pro divinitatis cultu quod congruit; ita his (quod abſit) non mediocre periculum eſt, qui cum parere p. 122debeant, defficiunt. (That is, when & where God himſelf commands things in his word, not Popes and Prelates alone, enjoyn things different from, or not warranted by it:) Et cunctis generaliter Sacerdotibus, recte divina tractantibus (this l…tation had been fit in, and muſt be applied to all his precedent clauſes, elſe, they are falſe and heterodox) fidelium convenit corda ſubmitii; quanto potius ſedis illius Praeſuli conſenſus eſt adhibendus (here is the great Diana of the Epheſians) quam cunctis Sacerdotibus et divinitas ſumma voluit praeminere (a groſſe untruth warranted by no ſacred Text, but contradicted by many) et ſubſequens Eccleſiae generalis jugiter pietas celebravit? (another Papal forgery) Ubi pietas tua evidenter advertit,Mat. 16.Matt 16 nunquam quolibet … humano conſilio el…vare ſe quemquam poſſe illius privilegio, vel confeſsion… quem Chriſti vor praetulit univerſis, (a groſſe untruth) quem Eccleſia veneranda ſemper confeſſa eſt, et habet devota primatem. I peti poſſunt humanis praeſumptionbus, quae…d vino ſunt judicio conſtituta, (but not by Popes, Biſhops, and their Synods alone, the things then in queſtion) Vinci autem quorumlibet poteſtate non poſſunt, &c. Yet all theſe Arguments would not perſwade the Emperor Zeno, nor yet Anaſtatius to remove either Timothy or Acacius from their Biſhopricks, but they continued in them till their deaths, as**Hiſt. l. 16. c. 19. 2…. Nicephorus informs us. I have inſerted theſe Paſſages attributed to Pope Gelaſius, more largely, and diſcovered their falſhood and fallaciouſneſſe, becauſe the firſt I meet with of this kind (if as ancient as Gelaſius) and much inſiſted on in after ages by Popes and other Impugners of Emperors and Kings Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdictions.

Theodulus Biſhop of Coeloſyria in his Commentary in Epiſt. ad Romanos,Anno 490 c. 13. omnis anima poteſtatibus praeminentibus ſubdatur, &c.**Bibliotheca Patrum Tom. …. pars 3. p. 579, …80. reſolves: Monstrat, Chriſti Evangelium, non ad publicae bonae ordinationis ſubverſionem datum eſſe. Ne ſeſe deteriores viliore que reddi, Chriſti ſervi arbitrantur ſi poteſtatibus ſubiiciantur, oſtendit quod neceſſarium ſit obtemperare et non reluctare, neque inobedientem eſſe quempiam Magiſtratui: Qui enim iſtuc attemptaverit Deo reſiſtit, qui condidit instituitque Magiſtratus. Neceſſarium eſt igitur Magiſtratui ſubjici, non ſolum propter iram, Magiſtratui ſubditis obvenientem; ſe… etiam propter conſcientiam; hoc est, ut ne videaris conſcientia vacare, et ingratus eſſe benefactori ac Miniſtro Dei, ſi non obtemperes poteſtati. Tantis, inquit, beneficiis vos perfundit Magiſtratus ut & tributum pendatis, mercedem nimirum gubernationis praeſidiatuſque ejus: Miniſtri enim Dei ſunt: Hoc eſt, ſuboperarii Dei ſunt miniſtrantes ſibi Principes ex hoc; quod curam ſubditorum gerunt. Neglectis ſuis privatis rebus publico ſuorum civium commodo invigilant, &c. Non ſolum pecuniam debetis Magiſtratibus, ſed etiam honorem.

Rhemigius Archbiſhop of Rhemes,Anno 494 in his Commentary in Epiſt. ad Romanos cap. 13. thus determines: Bibliotheca Patrum, Tom. 5. pars 3. p. 851, 852.Dixit Apoſtolus, Omnis anima, id eſt, Omnis homo, liber et ſervus, fidelis et infidelis, (therefore the Pope and Prelates) Poteſtatibus ſublimioribus ſubditus ſit. Omnis anima, dicit, pro eo quod, omnis homo, In ſacra enim Scriptura frequenter ſola anima totum hominem ſignificat. Poteſtatibus ſublimioribus dicit, Regibus, Principibus, Tribunis, Centurionibus, Dominis, omnibuſque Praelatis. Hoc & Petrus praecepit, Subjecti, inquiens, eſtote omni humanae creaturae, id est, omnibus hominibus vobis praepoſitis, & hoc propter Deum, ſive propter amorem Dei, in quantum quippe homo non offendit Deum, &c. Omnis poteſtas ſive major, ſive minor, quae hominibus praeeſt, aut ex voluntate Dei, aut ex permiſſione Dei conſtituta eſt: Then rendring the reaſons of Gods inſtituting them, he concludes; Hac de cauſa omnipotens Deus beſtialibus hominibus Principes praepoſuit, ut eorum terrore acerbitas animorum illorum reprimeretur. Potestates ſuper alios à Deo ordinatae ſunt, ſive quae ſunt jura poteſtatum a Deo conſtituta ſunt; unde Dominus dicit Pilato, Non haberes adverſum me poteſtatem, niſi tibi data eſſet deſuper: Hoc autem idcirco totum proſequitur Apoſtolus, ut Poteſtatibus ſubditi ſint, quia nonnulli ad fidem venientes, pristinum obſequium & ſervitium, quaſi libe…i effecti, Dominis et Principibus nolebant reddere. Cum Dominus Jeſus non venit conditiones mutare, ſed animas in aeternum victuras ſalvare. Dicebant etiam Romani credentes, qui divinis legibus paremus, & Deo ſervimus non debemus ſervire, neque honorem praebere Neroni, aliiſque poteſtatibus terrenis (the language of Popes and the Popiſh Clergy now even of Chriſtian Emperors and Kings, whom they ſtile Prophane, Lay, Heretical, worldly) Quapropter Apoſtolus talia ſcrpſit iis, Poterat namque ſcandalum naſci Dominis et Principibus, ſi ſervi et ſubjecti eorum Chriſtiani effecti a ſervito illorum efficiantur p. 123alieni: noceret quoque Ecclefiae dum permitterentur alii credere, cum magis meliores debeant Domini ſervos ſuos recipere fideles Chriſti effectos: Hoc & ipſa veritas per ſemet ipſum praecepit dicens Reddite quae ſunt Caeſaris; Caeſari; & quae ſunt Dei, Deo. Which he there proſecutes at large. Mal. 22.And in Epiſt. 1 Tim. c. 2. he writes, Vult pro Regibus fieri …rationes & gratiarum actiones; Bibl. Patrum, Tom. 5. par… 3. p. 936.quam formam, id eſt, exemplum omnis Eccleſia nunc ten…t (be the Kings good or bad, Chriſtians or Pagans, for ſundry reaſons which he proſecutes at large, and thus abridgeth;) Orandum eſt pro ſalute & vita fidelium Regum & Principum, ut longo tempore conſervati pacem habeant Regna, ac magis proficiant in melius in omni pietate …t caſtitate: Pro infidelibus quoque … eſt, ut reſipiſcant ab infidelitate, et tranſeant ad fidem: Hoc enim est bonum coram ſalvatori noſtro Deo, qui vult omnes homines ſalvos fieri, & ad agnitionem veritatis venire: Eſpecially Kings and Princes, the principal inſtruments to draw others to ſalvation, and the knowledge of the truth, by their Examples and Edicts.

aaSurius Concil. Tom. 2. p. 334. Hermanni Contracti, Chron. con Anno 503, 504. Platina, Lydius, Anaſtatius, Sabellicus, in Symmacho.Pope Symnachus being accuſed of Adultery and other horrid facts to Theodoricus King of Italy, Anno 503, 504.Sancta Synodus apud urbent Romanam ex praecepto Glorioſiſsimi Regis Theodorici diverſis …regionibus congregata in Chriſti nomine eſt (this King not the Pope ſummoning this Council even in Rome it ſelf.) Cum ex diverſis Provinciis ad urbem Romam convenire Sacerdotes Regia praecepiſſet authoritas, ut de his quae de venerabili Papa Symmacho, Apoſtolici ſedis praeſul, ab adverſariis ejus dicebantur impingi, ſanctum Concilium judicaret …egitime; Liguriae, Aemiliae vel Venetiarum Epiſcopis, conſulendi Regem incubuit neceſsitas, concerning this accuſation: Who coming into the Kings preſence reſpondit praefatus Rer piiſsimus bonae converſationis affectu, plura ad ſe de Papae Symmachi actibus horrenda fuiſſe perlata, et in Synodo oportere (ſi vera eſſet inimicorum ejus objectio) judicatione conſtare. Whereupon the Examination of his crimes being referred to this 4th. (ſome reckon it the 3d.) Synod held at Rome, (and that by the Popes deſire to purge himſelf, as well as by the Kings precept,) the Pope entred into the Synod; et de evocatione Synodali …lementiſsimo Regi gratias retulit, et rem deſiderii ſui eveniſſe teſtatus eſt. Upon his accuſation to the King, he was ſuſpended ab officio & beneficio, by this King; untill he had purged himſelf. At his firſt appearance before the Council, he complained of this his ſuſpenſion, as illegal, being not made by the Council, but out of it, and prayed to be readmitted and reſtored by the Council; et ut omnia quae per ſuggeſtiones inimicorum ſuorum (a parte Cleri vel aliquibus laicis) amiſerat, poteſtati ejus legaliter ab honorabili Concilio redintegrarentur ſeu redderenter, et tanti loci Praeſul regulariter prius ſtatui priſtino redderetur; et tunc, non ante veniret ad cauſam: et ſi ita, recte videretur, accuſantium propoſitionibus reſponderet. Digna res viſa eſt maximo ſacerdotum numero, quae mereretur effectum, decernere tamen aliquid Synodus ſine Regia notitia non praeſumpſit. Whereupon the Synod ſent to the King to know his pleaſure herein; Sed ſuggeſtionibus per legatorum negligentiam non meruit ſecundum vota reſponſum: (But contrary to the Synods deſire and opinion) Iuſſus eſt Regis praeceptionibus Papa Symmachus ante Patrimonii vel Eccleſiarum (quas amiſerat) receptionem, cum impugnatoribus ſuis in diſceptatione confligere, qui poteſtatis ſuae privilegia, et quae pro conſcientiae (quantum juſte aeſtimamus) emendatione ſubmiſerat, nec hac voluit vice reſumere. Whereupon it was thought meet that the Libel prepared againſt the Pope by his accuſers, (qui quotidie ſeditionibus appellabant) ſhould be received by the Synod: Which being received accordingly and read, there appeared two things in it which ſeemed either p. 124falſe, or repugnant to their Eccleſiaſtical power: The one, that his Crimes whereof he ſtood accuſed apud Regiam conſtitit notitiam, were pending before the Kings own conuſans; which was falſe, he having referred him to the Council: The ſecond, that they could prove him guilty of the Crimes objected by his ſervants; addentes, ut ipſe mancipia traderet, quibus (quantum illi diſſerebant) poſſet in judicatione ſuperari: Quae res Canonibus & ipſis publicis erat legibus inimica, &c. Et dam inter iſta quae eſſent facienda, tractabatur, praefatus Papa, ut cauſam diceret occurrebat. Qui veniens, abirruentibus turbis aemulorum ſuorum ita tractatus eſt, ut multis Presbyteris, qui cum ipſo erant, per cadem ipſam mortis fuiſset occaſio; quod probat recentium adhuc vestigia vulnerum, niſi illuſtris vir Comes Alegerius, & ſublimes viri Gutela & Vedecelſus, Majores domus Regiae, perſpexiſſent, quos ſecum, unde egreſſus fuerat ad beati Petri Apoſtoli ſepta convexerat. Upon theſe tumults and confuſions, the Synod reported the whole ſeries of their proceedings to the King as Supream Judge; iterum Nos ad Iuſtitiam contulimus principalem, ſcientes vivinitare propitia regere Dominum, quem ad gubernacula Ita…iae ipſe providerat. They informed the King; Saepe nominatum Papam (poſt caedem, cui ſubjacuerat cum ſuis) ſi voluntatem rurſus haberet ereundi ad judicium, fuiſſe commonitum; but that he could not canonically purge himſelf without great dangers; and that by reaſon of the tumults of his accuſers who reſiſted juſtice, he could not be compelled to anſwer againſt his will. Ad haec ſereniſſimus Rex taliter (Deo adſpirante) reſpondit, in Synodali eſſe arbitrio, in tanto negotia ſequenda praeſcribere, nec aliquid ad ſe praeter reverentiam de Eccleſiaſticis negotiis pertinere, committens etiam poteſtati Pontificum, ut ſive propoſitum vellent audire negotium, ſive nollent, quod magis putarent utile deliberarent, dummodo venerandi proviſione Concilii par in Civitate Romana Chriſtianis omnibus redderetur. Whereupon the Synod by vertue of this reference from the King, thought beſt to proceed no further in the examination of the fact, but to referre the cauſe to Gods judgement, acquainting the Roman Senate with their reſolutions, and deſiring them to conſider, quanta inconvenienter et praejudicialiter in hujus negotii principio contigiſſent; That all men are ſinners, and have need of Gods mercy, and that the examining of this cauſe would do more prejudice and diſhonor, then good to the Church. Wherefore, juxta mandatum Principis non diſcuterent; but referr the whole cauſe to God the Judge of ſecret things, and ſo acquitted him from the aaPlatina, Anaſtatius, Luitp…an…, Lydius, Sabellicus, in Symmacho 1.Articles exhibited against him, as to men. Vnde ſecundum Principalia praecepta, quae noſtrae hoc tribuunt poteſtati, quicquid Eccleſiaſtici inter ſacram Vrbem Romae; vel foris Iuris eſt, reformamus, totamque cauſam Dei judicio reſervantes, univerſos hortamur ut ſacram communionem (ſicut res poſtulat) ab eo percipiant, & Dei & animarum ſuarum meminerint; quia & ipſe amator pacis est, & ipſe Pax eſt, qui monet, **John …4. Mat. 10.John 4Matt 10Pacem meam do vobis, &c.