many other of the like nature which must have been done if a Reformation had been made to purpose he would have been able to do nothing more For 2. The Prelats as has been before shew'd (h) First part p. 55 56 57. were so deeply sunk into Earthliness and Sensuality that there was nothing they would have more vehemently opposed than a Reformation This they gave a sufficient proof of in that they were so distasted with that Confession of their Excesses which Adrian made to the Diet at Nuremberg (i) Soave l. 1. p. 29. For if the bare Confession of their Faults was so displeasing how much more grievous would the reforming of them have been Which tho Adrian likewise promised yet how unable he would have been to perform it we may conclude from that ill success he met with in Rome it self For tho he resolv'd to reform Abuses at home before he sent his Legat to treat with the Princes of Germany yet he met with so much difficulty in the Attempt that he was forced to quit his Resolution (k) P. 24. And can it be suppos'd that he should be able to reform the Universal Church who could not correct the Disorders of his own Court (l) Palpabiliter cernitur ipsam ejus Curiam maxima indigere Reformatione sicut omnia clamaverunt ultimo celebrata Generalia Concilia Quam suam Curiam si non potest aut non vellet reformare quam sub alis suis contegir quomodo credendum est quod tam late diffusam reformare possit Ecclesiam Jacob de Paradis Collect. de Authorit Eccles And therefore after he had made some trial of his strength and found how unequal it was to his undertaking he said to his familiar Friends That the condition of the Popes was very miserable since matters were come to that deplorable pass that tho they never so much desired it yet they were not able to reform the Church (m) Saepe enim sanctissimus Pontifex ubi Curiae Rom. artes consilia perspecta habuie cum Gulielmo Encurtio Theodorico Hezio suis familiaribus conquestus est permiseram esse Pontificum Romanorum conditionem eoque in statu res esse ut quanquam maxime vellet Ecclesiam emendare non posset c. Richer l. 4. part 2. p. 133. Soave p. 24. And what was the reason he was not able to effect what he so earnestly endeavoured One main reason doubtless was that he in some measure let loose that Tie which he had upon them from their worldly Interests No plurality of Benefices with cure of Souls was to be expected from him He was resolved as he said to adorn Churches with Priests and not Priests with Churches (n) Lannoii Epist part 4. Epist ad Hen. Barrill Such a little piece of Reformation as this the corrupt Manners of the Courtiers were not able to bear they therefore set themselves to oppose him and being impatient of enduring him any longer 't was by some suspected that they hastned him into another World by an Italian Trick (o) Raynald in Adriano n. 13â— The plain consequence of what hath been said is this That the Reformation of the Church of Rome must needs be very hopeless since the Pope himself tho he should have seriously endeavour'd it could not have made it because he could not have made it without doing that which as the case of that Church then stood would have disabl'd him to make it A desperate case indeed when it could not be effected whether the Pope were for it or against it If the the Pope were against it the rest of the Prelats were not able without him to compass it if the Pope were for it he must in order to it do that which would have rendred him unable to compass it Obj. If it be objected That the Reformations attempted in the Councils of Constance Basil and the last Pisan are an evident Argument that the Romish Bishops were not generally so averse from a Reformation Ans I answer 1. That in the Councils of Constance and Basil many of the Bishops were over-aw'd by the good Emperor Sigismund whose Authority at that time bore a much greater sway than the Popes 2. In these Councils the inferiour Clergy had a decisive voice which was denied them in the succeeding Florentine Lateran and Trent Councils And Ludovicus Cardinal of Arles and John Bishop of Segovia whose Authority in this matter is unquestionable assure us that it was not the Bishops but the inferior Clergy by which Matters were carried in the Council of Basil for the Reformation and against the Pope p Aeneae Sylv. Comment l. 1. p. 29 34. 3. 'T was but a piece of Reformation these Councils design'd and that not the most considerable Those demands of Reformation in the Head and Members says the Cardinal of Perron propounded before the last division of the Church have been demands of Reformation not in the Doctrine of Faith and the Sacraments but in Manners and in the practice of Ecclesiastical Discipline which even these words of Reformation both in the Head and Members principally used in the time of the Councils of Constance and Basil signifie q Reply to the King of Great Brit. l. 4. c. 30. And those matters of Discipline they aim'd at were such as did almost all concern the Exorbitances of the Pope and his Court as appears by the eighteen Articles of Reformation proposed in the Council of Constance r Sess 40. And therefore no wonder if the Bishops did the more easily yield their Consent to them 4. Tho the second Pisan Council voted a Reformation both in Faith and Manners Yet it is sufficiently known That that Reformation was resolved upon to serve a Design against the Insolencies of the present Pope in opposition to whom that Council was called by some of the Cardinals who had been disgrac'd and insolently treated by him Tho even that was a plain Argument of the necessity of it and how earnestly it was desired by the Christian World But because in discoursing afterward upon the Council of Trent I shall have occasion to say those things which will be more than an Answer to this Objection I shall only at present add That if the Bishops were not generally abandoned to Ambition Covetousness Sloth and Sensuality 't is not I but the Romish Writers themselves that slander them For this I appeal to Marsilius of Padua Nicolas Clemangis the German Bishop who wrote the Book call'd Onus Ecclesiae Father Paul yea even to Pope Pius II himself before he was Pope Cardinal or Bishop who in his Comments upon the Council of Basil hath left on record this sad Complaint among many others of the Cardinal of Arles Alas at this day a Prelat who does not prefer temporal things before those that are spiritual is rarely found s De Gest Concil Bas l. 1. fol. 12. 7. There is one Consideration still behind which
than it found them upon a twofold Account 1. By confirming those Errors and Corruptions that were before 2. By adding others to them 1. By confirming the Errors and Corruptions before introduced That the Fathers made no Reformation of these I have already shew'd I now add That they undertook the Defence of them made Decrees to confirm them and cursed all those who should dare to oppose them The Popes Supremacy Transubstantiation Adoration of the Host Communicating in one Kind Invocation of Saints Veneration of Images and of Reliques Purgatory Indulgences were all establish'd and as much as in them lay render'd immovable against all Assaults I need not prove this because it is not only confessed by all but is by some insisted upon as a mighty Argument against the Protestants That the Fathers were unanimous in condemning their Tenents that is in condemning all those Doctrines that were opposite to the Romish Errors and in asserting the contrary (b) R. H. Considerat c. S. 152. 2. Nor did they only support the old but introduced many new Errors in the Faith Those who were read in Ecclesiastical Story said That in all the Councils held in the Church from the Apostles time until then there were never so many Articles decided as in the sixth Session only in which saith the Historian Aristotle had a great part by having exactly distinguished all the kinds of Causes (c) Soav l. 2. p. 228. Thanks to Father Aristotle One would think his Logick and Metaphysicks added to the Holy Scriptures might make them a compleat Rule without the Addition of unwritten Traditions 'T is true that some of those Points were not then first broach'd but had for some time before been commonly taught and received in the Church of Rome but none of them were Articles of their Faith or any more than disputable Points among themselves before they were defined by the Council And therefore in further Prosecution of this I shall do these two things 1. I shall mention several of their new Definitions some of which are at the best but matters of Opinion others of them palpably False 2. I shall shew That these new Articles some at the best doubtful others manifestly false are by the Council made necessary to be believed in order to Salvation 1. For their new Definitions besides many others which I shall omit take these following which I shall for the greater part but barely mention 1. That unwritten Traditions are of the same Divine Authority with the Holy Scriptures (d) Sess 4 2. That the Books of Tobit Ecclesiasticus Wisdom Judith and the two Books of Maccabees are Canonical Scripture (e) Ibid. The contrary to which was Catholick Doctrine at Rome it self but a few years before this Council (f) Et quoniam Hieronymum sortiti sumus Regulam ne erremus in Discretione Librorum Canonicorum nam quos ille Canonicos Tradidit Canonicos habemus quos ille a Canone discrevit extra Canonem habemus Cajetan Comment in 1. cap ad Heb. vers 1. and approv'd by Pope Clement VII (g) Divo Hieronymo Pater Beatissime Universa Ecclesia Latina plurimum debet non solum ob Annotatas ab eo in Libris Veteris ac Novi Test particulas tum adjectitias tum ambiguas sed etiam propter discretos ab eodem libros Canonicos a non Canonicis Liberavit siquidem nos ab Hebraeorum opprobrio quod fingamus nobis antiqui Canoni◠Libros aut Librorum partes quibus ipsi penitus carent Cajetan Epist Dedicat. ad Pap. Clement VII ante Comment in Libros Hist V. T. See Bishop Cosins Scholast Hist of the Canon of the Scripture I know R. H. (h) C. 11. §. 198. and many more Romish Writers tell us That this was defined in the Council of Florence If it was this will add but very little either to its Antiquity or to its Authority but that it was there can be no proof produced but a spurious Article in Caranza's paultry Epitome the least Intimation of which is not to be met with in any of the larger Editions of the Councils 3. That by the Grace conferr'd in Baptism all that which hath the true and proper nature of Sin is removed (i) Sess 5. c. 5. 4. That Concupiscence in the Regenerate is not truly and properly Sin (k) Ibid. 5. That the Works of justified Persons are truly Meritorious of Eternal Life and increase of Glory (l) Sess 6. Can. 32. 6. That the Catholick Church from the beginning hath always observ'd the manner of confessing to a Priest alone in secret (m) Sess 14. Can. 6. 7. That Confession to a Priest is necessary to Salvation by the Law of God n Ibid. 8. That to obtain Remission of Sins it is necessary by the Law of God to confess all and every mortal Sin which a man can call to remembrance to a Priest o Sess 14. Can. 7. 9. That it is necessary by the Divine Law to confess the Circumstances of every mortal Sin which change the nature of the Sin p Ibid. And is there one in an hundred that knows which are the Circumstances that change the kind 10. That a man conscious of mortal Sin how contrite soever he thinks himself is not duly prepared for the Eucharist without preceding Confession to a Priest q Sess 13. Can. 11. 11. That the Mass is a true and proper Sacrifice r Sess 22. Can. 1. 12. That Christ by these words Do this in remembrance of me did institute his Apostles Priests and ordained that they should offer his Body and Blood ſ Can. 2. 13. That the Sacrifice of the Mass is Propitiatory and ought to be offered for the Living and Dead for Sins Punishments Satisfactions and other Necessities t Sess 22 Can. 3. 14. That the Mystical Benedictions Lights Incense Garments and many other things of like nature used in the Mass are by Apostolical Tradition u Cap. 5. This is so palpably false that it hath not the least Colour of Truth And this the Trent Fathers knew well enough For Antonius de Valletelina a Dominican told them That it was plain by all History that anciently every Church had her particular Ritual of the Mass brought in by use and upon occasion That the Roman Rite hath been to gratifie the Pope received in many Provinces tho the Rites of many Churches are still most different from it That the Roman also hath had great Alterations as will appear to him that readeth the Ancient Book called Ordo Romanus which have been made not only in Ancient times but even in the latter Ages also and the true Roman Rite observed within 300 years is not that which is now observed by the Priests in the City but that which is retain'd by the Order of St. Dominick For the Vestments Vessels and other Ornaments of the Ministers and Altars it appeareth not by Books only but by
cause a greater Deformity in Faith and Worship but in Discipline too This will be evident by shewing these two things 1. What Corruptions in Discipline were strengthned and confirmed by it 2. What were created or introduced anew 1. What Corruptions in Discipline were strengthned and confirmed by it Not that I intend a compleat Enumeration of Particulars that would be too tedious a Work but only to mention some of the greater and so comprehensive of mischief that as long as they remain 't is in vain to hope for any good Reformation in Discipline 1. The Popes Absolute Supremacy or his Superiority over a General Council which tho a point of Doctrine is the chief point of Discipline too I grant what R. H. says That this passed not from the Council as any Decree (i) § 155. But if the Council be Infallible Is it not the same thing to acknowledg That he hath the Administration of the Vniversal Church as they expresly do in one of their Decrees (k) Sess 25. c. 1. de Reformat general But suppose there was not a word in any Decree that looked this way is it not enough that their Actions loudly declared it Did they not in all cases consult his Holiness as their Oracle Was any thing almost treated of without his Direction Was any thing determined without his leave Did they not submit all their Decrees to him to be either dispensed with or interpreted to what sense he pleased Does not the whole Conduct of the Council from the beginning to the end speak his Superiority Was it not convened continued translated suspended dissolved by the Popes command In a word did they not in all things behave themselves towards him as their Lord and Master And is not a constant Tenor of Actions a more real owning of his Supremacy than the largest Recognition in Words only Does not the Representative of the Nation more effectually acknowledg the Kings Sovereignty by coming and going at his command by acting or suspending their acting as he directs by submitting all their Resolves to him and acknowleding that whatsoever they do is of no force unless confirmed by him than by barely saying a thousand times over That he is their Sovereign Lord (l) See Jur. Reflections on Councils Review of the Counc of Tr. l. 4. c. 1. But there is no need of reasoning for the proof of this since Cardinal Pallavicino tells us in one place That the Fathers of the Council did not so much as call it into question (m) De hac autem absoluta Jurisdictione Pontificis tanquam Ecclesiae gubernandae necessaria â—epius abunde differâ—â—imus Neque Concilii Patres id in Controversiam â—adduxerunt c. Hist Concil Trident. l. 9. c. 16. n. 4. And in another That nine parts of ten were for the Popes Prerogative above a Council (n) l. 24. c. 14. n 12. 2. The Exemption of Ecclesiasticks from the Jurisdiction of Temporal Princes This Immunity the Council tells us is by the appointment of God and therefore Decrees and Commands That the Sacred Conons and all General Councils and other Papal Constitutions in favour of Ecclesiastical Persons and the Liberty of the Church all which by this present Decree it renews ought to be exactly observed by all men (o) Sess 25. Cap. 20. Now the Immunities of the Clergy which are said to be established by General Councils and Papal Constitutions are these and such like That they take no Oath of Allegiance to their Prince (p) Concil Lateran sub Innocent III. Can. 43. That they be not cited for any Crime before any Secular Judg (q) Bulla Pauli III. Idibus Aprilis 1536. That they pay no manner of Taxes without the Popes leave (r) Concil Lateran c. 46. In a word That they are not subject to the King but the King ought to be subject to them according to the Decretal of the same Pope Innocent III. (Å¿) Decretal l. 1. Tit. 33. Cap. 6. And is not that Church like to be well governed and kept in excellent order where so numerous and considerable a Body of men as the Clergy own no Subjection to or dependance upon their Prince 3. Another great Abuse confirmed by this Council is the Excommunicating of Princes and depriving them of their Dominions It Decrees That the Emperor Kings Dukes Princes Marquesses Earls and all Temporal Lords of what Title soever who shall grant a place for Duelling in their Dominions among Christians shall eo ipso be Excommunicated and Deprived of the Jurisdiction and Dominion of the City Castle or Place where such a Duel was permitted if they were held in Fee from the Church but if from others then they shall escheat to their Principal Lords (t) Sess 25. cap. 19. All Princes whatsoever Sovereigns not excepted are excommunicated all Feudatary Princes are moreover deprived of the Dominion of the Place where the Duel is fought But we shall more fully understand what Liberty this Council hath taken to Excommunicate Princes if we consult some of those General Councils and Papal Constitutions which in favour of Churchmen it renews and confirms Pope Bonisace VIII Excommunicates by his Decretal Emperors Kings Dukes Counts Barons and all other of whatsoever Preeminence Condition or State that shall impose any Collection Taxes Tenths c. upon Church-men without the Popes leave together with all Ecclesiastical Persons that shall pay them (u) Decretal 6. l. 3. Tit. 23. cap. Clericis Laicos Which Decree tho as to some intents revoked by Clement V. (w) Clementin l. 5. Tit. 17 cap. Quoniam was intirely renewed by Leo X. in the fifth Lateran Council (x) Sess 9. And Clement V. in the room of it renewed two other Decrees more ancient One of Pope Alexander III. the other of Pope Innocent III. which tho in some matters less Scandalous yet as to the point I am now upon were in effect the same That of Innocent was passed in the great Lateran Council in which were Twelve hundred Fathers and by it not only Consuls and Governors of Cities but others also who shall presume to burden Ecclesiasticks with Tolls Taxes c. are excommunicated (y) Concil Lat. Sub. Innocent III Can. 46. Decretal l. 3. Tit. 49. c. 7. And that the word others extends to Kings and Princes we are taught by no less Authority than the fifth Lateran Council (z) Sess 9. which is another of those which the Council of Trent commands to be observed Now this Lateran Council having promised That no Power is either by Divine or Human Laws given to Laymen over Churchmen it innovates all the Constitutions of foregoing Popes made in favour of Ecclesiastical Liberty and inforces all the Penalties contain'd in Bulla Caenae Domini And particularly it Excommunicates Kings and Princes who shall impose any Taxes upon Churchmen or receive any from them tho they pay them willingly (a) Ibid. I might instance in many more
Decrees themselves but that they had been all so composed to render them most effectual for obtaining their ends That they had been extended to all Persons and to all matters too that stood in need of Reformation Yet they were all in effect revoked that is render'd no further binding than the Pope pleas'd these two ways 1. By reserving to the Pope a power of dispensing with them 2. By reserving to him the whole power of expounding them 1. By reserving to the Pope a power dispensing with them For nothing was decreed but with this reserve Saving always the Authority of the Apostolick See in all things This was expresly premised to the Decrees of Reformation Sess 7. (c) Eadem Sacrasancta Synodus eisdem Praesidentibus Legatis incaeptum residentia Reformationis Negotium ad Dei Laudem Christianae Religionis increnentum prosequi intendens ut sequitur statuendum censuit salva semper in omnibus sedis Apostolicae auctoritate And lest it might be thought not to extend to all the subsequent Decrees to make all sure in the Conclusion of the Council it was again declar'd as we have before heard That in all the Decrees of the Council made under Paul Julius and Pius with what Words or Clauses soever it should be understood that the Authority of the Apostolick See is excepted and preserved (d) Sess 25. c. 21. And what is meant by the Authority of the Apostolick See in this matter but an Authority of dispensing with the Canons and Decrees whensoever the Pope shall judg it convenient Thus it is interpreted by Espensaeus (e) In cap. 1. Epist ad Tit. Richerins (f) Hist Concil general l. 4. par 2. p. 182 183. and other Romish Doctors Thus it was understood by Cardinal Amulius when he perswaded the Pope to confirm the Decrees absolutely For that his Holiness might provide for his Ministers by Dispensation without violating the Decrees of the Council because in them the Apostolical Authority is reserved (g) Soav p. 815 816. But 't is needless to produce Witnesses for the proof of this since as Father Paul says Every Fool knew what this Exception meant (h) P. 260. And was not this to pull down all they had before built up as Richerins says (i) Septima Sessione ubi de Reformatione agitur hoc egreginem assumentum omnibus aliis capitibus quae de disciplina aut Ecclesia emendanda Sciscuntur pro exordio praemittitur quo quidem Caetera omnia diruuntur antiquantur l. 4. par 2. p. 182. or as Du Ranchin expresses it To put a Gull upon all Christendom (k) Review of the Council of Trent l. 2. c. 4. n. 26. I know Pallavicino tells us which R. H. lays much weight upon That altho they may lawfully dispense with these Laws yet the Popes for their Conscience and Honour sake require for the most part such weighty Causes and so rarely happening for doing this that their Concessions in matters prohibited by the Council do not amount to the 20th part of those formerly made (l) Apparat ad Hist c. 10. Methinks the Jesuit speaks faintly He says not that the Popes always but for the most part require such weighty Causes which is a plain Concession that they sometimes not only dispense with these Laws but without any such weighty Causes And if he confess that sometimes we may then take it for granted that they often do so But whether the Popes since the Council of Trent have been so tender of their Consciences and Honour in dispensing with the Laws made by it let some Instances determine By one Decree Expectative Graces and secret Reservations (m) Sess 24. c. 19. by another Accesses or Regresses to Ecclesiastical Benefices are forbidden (n) Sess 25. c. 7. How well those were observed by the Pope let Espensaeus inform us who five years after the Council was ended makes doleful complaints of these and many other Abuses of like nature then practiced by the Court of Rome (o) Comment in cap. 1. Epist ad Tit. p. 483. Edit Paris 1619. The Council decreed That no Ecclesiastical Person tho a Cardinal should hold two Bishopricks or other Ecclesiastical Benefices (p) Sess 24. c. 17. And yet many years after this Law came to be in force one French Cardinal had at the same time three of the wealthiest Arch-bishopricks and six of the richest Abbies another was possessed at once of twelve Abbies and one of the fattest Bishopricks (q) Richer l. 4. par 2. p. 192. And we cannot reasonably suppose but that his Holiness made as liberal Provision for the Cardinals of other Nations as for those of France There had need be a weighty Cause indeed to warrant such enormous and scandalous Dispensations as these But could there be any cause why the Rich and the great Ones should as Richerius says without any difficulty obtain from the Court of Rome Dispensations for many Benefices (r) Hercle ad corruptelarum cumulum apprime facit quod Divites Magnates nullo negotio a Curia Romana dispensationes obtinent ad plura Beneficia p. 193. Yes a very weighty one because the Rich and the Great were best able to pay for them But why should the Cardinals notwithstanding this express Law to the contrary hold all sorts of Benefices how incompatible soever without a Dispensation by Virtue of a Priviledg which they call Os apertum (Å¿) Et inter alios Cardinales propter Privilegium quod os apertum nominant nulla omnino indigent Dispensatione ad omnia omnis generis Beneficia quantumvis incompatibilia possidenda ibid. How wide is a Cardinals mouth when open'd Why to maintain the Pomp and Grandeur of the Roman Court And is not that a weighty Cause too and such as rarely happens Two other of the most important Decrees are those by which Provision is made of fit Persons for Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Benefices (t) Sess 24. c. 1. c. 18. And were not these well observed when six Abbies and one Archbishoprick were reserved for a Child of three years old (u) Richer l. 4. par 2. p. 192. And was not Vrban VIII very scrupulous in dispensing with them when he gave nothing to those who had best served the Church but what his Nephews had before refus'd as unworthy of their acceptance And Innocent X. did as well observe them when he committed the Government of the Universal Church to an imperious and insatiable covetous Woman and bestowed all Livings as She was pleas'd to direct and command (w) Rycaut in the Life of Innocent X. And Clement X. was no less careful to put them in Execution when all Persons of Virtue and Merit were rejected and none but a sort of progging Merchants advanced to Benefices (x) Id. in his Life There is another Decree by which all Titles and Rights to Benefices that were obtain'd by Simony
but it is needless in a matter so notorious The Bulla Coenoe Domini as it was published by Paul III. without those Additions which have been since made is it self alone an irrefragable Evidence of the Judgment of this Council as to the excommunicating of Kings For in that Bull all secular Powers are excommunicated who call any Ecclesiastical Persons to their Tribunals Courts c. (b) Bulla Pauli III. Idib Apr. 1536. Bullarii Rom Tom. 2. And this Bull was publish'd before the Convocation the Trent Council and twenty seven years before the Decree mentioned was made by the Council and therefore was confirmed by it And if any Prince stands a year excommunicated he is judged a Schismatick and Heretick and what punishment he is then liable to I need not tell you 4. Another gross Abuse confirm'd by this Council is giving the Pope the Election into Bishopricks in foreign Dominions As the form of Examination of Persons fit to govern the Churches in every Province is to be approved by the Pope so when the Examination is finish'd it is to be reduced into a publick Instrument and sent to him to be examined by four Cardinals and proposed in Consistory that his Holiness having full knowledg of the whole matter and of the Persons if by the Examination and Inquisition made they shall be found fit he may out of them profitably provide for the Churches (c) Sess 24. Cap 1. 5. The reserving of all such weighty criminal causes of Bishops as deserve Deposition and Deprivation to the Popes Cognizance and Decision And if the Cause be such as it must necessarily be tried out of the Court of Rome that it be committed to none except such Metropolitans and Bishops as the Pope shall chuse But that the Commission be special and sealed with the Popes own Seal and that he never give them any more Power than barely to take Instruction of matter of Fact and to make the Process which they shall forthwith send to the Pope the definitive Sentence being reserved to his Holiness (d) Sess 24. Cap. 5. Now as this and the Abuse next foregoing are both intolerable Usurpations upon the Rights of Princes so they make the Bishops in the whole Christian Church intirely dependent on the Pope He may set them up and pull them down at his Pleasure And is not the Universal Church like to be well governed when all the Bishops are at the Popes beck 6. The Exemptions of Monastick Orders from the Jurisdiction of Bishops This Abuse had been complain'd of long before as the great bane of Ecclesiastical Discipline and the chief cause of the lewd and scandalous Lives of the Monks and the Reformation of it was demanded of the Council by the Emperors Ambassadors (e) Soav p. 513. And what did the Council do in order to the removal of this grand Abuse Did they abolish all Exemptions already granted and forbid the granting of any more for the future No they ordained indeed That no Secular Clerk nor Regular dwelling out of his Monestry should be exempted if he offended from being visited punished and corrected by the Ordinary of the place As Delegate of the Apostolick See (f) Sess 6. cap. 3. That the Chapters of Cathedrals and other greater Churches by no Exemptions Customs Oaths or Agreements should be freed from being visited and corrected by their Bishops and other greater Prelats by Apostolical Authority (g) Sess 6. c. 4. That the Ordinary of the place shall every year by the Apostolical Authority visit all Churches however exempted (h) Sess 7. cap. 8. That all Secular Clerks notwithstanding any Exemptions Declarations Customs Oaths Agreements shall as oft as there is need be corrected and chastized for their Excesses and Faults by the Bishops resident in their Churches as Delegates of the Apostolick See i Sess 14. cap. 4. That the Monastries held in Commendam the Abbies Priories c. not tied to a Regular observance shall be visited by the Bishops as Delegates of the Apostolick See k Sess 21. cap. 8. But for those Monasteries and other Religious houses in which they are tied to Regular Observance the Bishops shall provide by Paternal Admonition that the Superiors observe their Regular Constitutions and cause them to be observed by those that are under them and if within six months after Admonition they do not visit and correct them then the Bishops as Delegates of the Apostolick See may proceed to Visitation and Correction This is as I take it the sum of what the Council hath decreed concerning Exemptions In which observe 1. That the Bishops have nothing to do with any Regulars of what Order soever who do not dwell out of their Religious houses in case their Superiors take care that they observe the Rules of their Order By which vast numbers of men are left at liberty to defie the Bishops and to create to them all manner of Molestation 2. In case their Superiors neglect their Duty the Bishops cannot proceed to visit till they have first paternally admonished them and their six months further neglect after such Admonition But 3. That which I chiefly observe is That not only no Monasteries whether Regular or not Regular but not so much as any Churches or Chapters are otherways subjected to the Bishops than as they are the Popes Delegates they act purely by a Power derived from him which he may therefore either revoke or contract at his Pleasure A fine Sham Are not the Bishops highly promoted They may now visit and correct Churches Chapters Colleges Monasteries Abbies Priories Provostships Yes so far and so often as the Pope gives them leave We have seen that the Trent Council was so far from making any real Reformation in Discipline that it not only took no effectual course for the removal of any Abuse but on the contrary confirmed many and those such as were of all others most pregnant with mischief And yet this is not the worst for as it confirmed the old so 2. It introduced many new Errors in matters of Discipline as well as Doctrine by which the Popes Tyranny was enlarged and advanced to a higher pitch than ever Several of which have been already mention'd and therefore I shall not now inlarge upon them As 1. The Decree of Proponentibus Legatis pass'd in the first Sesfion under Pius l Sess 17. That nothing should be proposed to be treated of in Council but by the Popes Legats A Priviledg never granted to any Pope by any foregoing Council 2. The making of all their Decrees with the Reservation of the Popes Authority m Sess 7. Sess 25. cap. 21. as has been before shew'd Another new Prerogative conferr'd on his Holiness 3. The giving the Pope a Power to expound their Decrees as we have also before heard in case any difficulty arise about the sense of them or a necessity of Declaration n Sess 25. which was never granted by any
former Council They might as well have left it to him to make them as they in effect did for nothing was decreed without first asking his leave 4. The imposing on Provincial and Diocesan Synods an Oath of true Obedience to the Pope o Sess 25. cap. 2. another new piece of Tyranny for tho the Bishops at their Consecration fomerly took an Oath of Fidelity to him yet never before was any Oath imposed upon them when met together in Provincial and Diocesan Synods 5. Usurping the Rights of Bishops by making them the Pope Delegates in matters which belong to their Ordinary Jurisdiction (p) Episcoporum potestas non solum non aucta sed ex ea multum delibatum est cum ea potestas quae ipsorum propria est ex Dei instituto iis attributa iis tanquam a sede Apostolica delegatis concedatur Thuan. l. 6. c. 2. Review of the Council of Trent l. 6. c. 2. Whereas anciently every Bishop governed his own Diocess without Dependence upon or Subordination to the Pope by the Laws of Trent they can do almost nothing unless by Delegation from him May Bishops provide Vicars to supply the room of such Clergymen as are dispensed with for non-residence and assign them a competent Salary out of the Fruits Not by their own Authority but as they are Delegates of the Apostolick See (q) Sess 6. cap. 2. May they depute Assistants to unlearned and ignorant Parish Priests They may as Delegates of the Apostolick See (r) Sess 21. cap. 6. May they take upon them to Examine a Notary and if they find him unfit forbid him the Exercise of his Office in Ecclesiastical matters Yes but as Delegates of the Apostolick See (s) Sess 22. cap. 10. But surely in matters which belong to Visitation and the Correction of Manners the Bishops may of themselves ordain and execute those things which they judg necessary for the good of their People and for the profit of the Church No but only as Delegates of the Apostolick See (t) Sess 24. cap. 10. This is the enlargement of the Bishops Power which R. H. so much boasts of (u) Considerat on the Council of Trent c. 12. § 211 Many more Instances of like nature might be produced but these may suffice to shew how palpably untrue that Assertion of Pallavicino's is viz. That there is not so much as one Syllable in this Council for any new Emolument to the Pope (w) In hoc Concilio ne una quidem conspicitur syllaba pro novo Pontificis Emolumento Apparat ad hist c. 10. n. 3. And how unjustly the same Cardinal charges Soave with falsity for saying That this Council hath so established the Popes Power that it was never so great nor so solidly founded (x) Ibid. And likewise that R. H. had as little reason to carp at a like passage of Dr. Stilling fleet 's viz. That which was intended to clip the Wings of the Court of Rome had confirmed and advanced the Interest of it (y) Considerat c. 12. § 103. For as all those Decrees that might otherwise have retrenched their Exorbitances were themselves so clipt by Exceptions or Restrictions or by some other Counter Decree that they could effect nothing so many other Decrees were made by which the Interest of the Pope and his Court were highly promoted particularly this last mention'd of deriving all Jurisdiction from the Pope by making all other Bishops his Vicars and Commissaries And therefore no wonder that his Holiness was transported with Joy and gave immortal Thanks that the Council had such an happy Issue (z) Pallav. l. 24. c. 9. n. 5. For to use the words of Du Ranchin you shall never read of any Council that was so much to the Popes Honour and good liking as this Amongst so many Bulls and Constitutions which have come forth since you shall scarce find any which doth not make mention of this Council which doth not name it with Honour which doth not express an earnest desire of the observation of it and which doth not in some sort confirm it Among all the Councils that ever were no compare with this for Reverence and Respect It hath quite defaced and extinguished the memory of all the rest It is their Minion their Favourite their Champion their Arsenal their Bulwark their Protector their Creature and good Reason why they should make so much of it (*) Review of the Council of Trent l. 1. c. 1. FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT Of Books lately Printed for Richard Chiswell THe History of the Reformation of the Church of England by GILBERT BVRNET D. D. in two Volumes Folio The Moderation of the Church of England in her Reformation in Avoiding all undue compliances with Popery and other sorts of Fanaticisms c. by TIMOTHY PVLLER D. D. Octavo A Dissertation concerning the Government of the Ancient Church more particularly of the Encroachments of the Bishops of Rome upon other Sees by WILLIAM CAVE D. D. Octavo An Answer to Mr. Serjeants Sure Footing in Christianity concerning the Rule of Faith with some other Discourse by WILLIAM FALKNER D. D. Octavo A Vindication of the Ordinations of the Church of England against the Romanists by GILBERT BVRNET D. D Octavo The APOLOGY of the Church of England and an Epistle to one Signior Scipio a Venetian Gentleman concerning the Council of Trent Written both in Latin by the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN JEWEL Lord Bshop of Sarisbury Made English by a Person of Quality To which is added The Life of the said Bishop Collected and Written by the same Hand Octavo The LETTER writ by the last Assembly General of the Clergy of France to the Protestants inviting them to return to their Communion Together with the Methods proposed by them for their Conviction Translated into English and Examined by GILBERT BVRNET D D. Octavo The Life of WILLIAM BEDEL D. D. Bishop of Kilmore in Ireland Together with Certain Letters which passed betwixt him and James Waddesworth a late Pensioner of the Holy Inquisition in Sevil in matter of Religion concerning the General Motives to the Roman Obedience Quarto The Decree made at ROME the Second of March 1679. condemning some Opinions of the Jesuits and other Casuists Quarto A Discourse concerning the necessity of Reformation with respect to the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of Rome Quarto First and Second parts A Discourse concerning the Celebration of Divine Service in an Unknown Tongue Quarto A PAPIST not Misrepresented by PROTESTANTS Being a Reply to the Reflections upon the Answer to A Papist Misrepresented and Represented Quarto An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Church of England in the several Articles proposed by the late BISHOP of CONDOM in his Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholick Church An Answer to THREE PAPERS lately printed concerning the Authority of the Catholick Church in matters of Faith and the Reformation of the Church of England Quarto A CATECHISM Explaining the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome with an Answer thereunto by a Protestant of the Church of England Octavo