not temporal estates under them to take any oath of allegiance or fidelity to any Lay-man The 44. is to invalidate Lay-Ruler's Laws about ecclesiastical matters as Glebes Mortuaries c. the rest I pass by § 196. In this Council besides the Albigenses and Abbot Ioachim Almaricus a learned man was condemned they say he said that All Christians were Christs members and they add how truly is doubtfull suffered by the Iews with him that Christ's body was no more in the sacrament than in another thing That Incense as offered in the Church is Idolatry That every Christian is bound to believe that he is a member of Christ That if Adam had not sinned there should have been no generating in Paradise nor difference of sexes We must take these things on the report of such as Sanders with some other that they charge on him for which when they had killed him with grief they dig'd up his corps and burnt it as they were then burning multitudes of the living § 197. In this Council Stephen Laughton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was deposed for taking part with the Barons of England against King Iohn whose case was now become the Pope's when he had given him his Kingdom in so much that when the Arch-Bishop confessed and begged absolution his Holiness answered By St. Peter Brother thou shalt not so easily get absolution who hast done so many and so great injuries not only to the K. of England but to the Church of Rome § 198. Let the Reader note that 1. General Councils are the Papists religion 2. That this is one of their greatest approved General Councils 3. That therefore by their Law and Religion they are bound to exterminate all Protestants and that all Princes must be deposed that will not execute it and their dominion given to others that will 4. That all Protestants and others called Hereticks are dead men in Law and want but judgment and execution where their Law is in force 5. That the Henrician heresie is one that is judged such by their Councils 6. That therefore not only all Protestant Kings but all Papists that are for the safety and power of Kings against the Popes pretended power of condemning and deposing them are Hereticks to be exterminated and burnt by many Canons 7. Therefore Kings are beholden to the Protestant reformation disabling the Pope to execute his Laws and Religion for their Crowns and lives 8. That when ever any King or others set up Popery and the power of their Laws and Councils in a Kingdom that is reformed the subjects are presently dead men in Law being to be destroyed as Hereticks though Policy or want of power may hinder the execution 9. Qu. Whether it be lawful for any King or in his authority so to destroy his Kingdom or to make all or the generality of his subjects dead men in Law 10. Whether by these Laws the Pope and his consenting Bishops have not published themselves to be hostes Regum et Regnorum if not humani generis and are not so to be esteemed § 199. Note also that D. Heylin in his Certamen Epistolare against me answereth that it is not Kings but temporal Lords that are mentioned in this Council and that he and Bishop Taylor and Bishop Gunning and Bishop Pearson in their dispute published by Terret or Iohnson and others before them have maintained that these Canons were but proposed by Pope Innocent and not consented to and passed by the Council But to the first It is clear 1. that by Domini Temporales Councils ordinarily mean Emperors and Kings as well as any others 2. That the words of the Council are express eâdem nihilominus lege servatâ circa eos qui non habent Dominâ—s principales And to the 2d I answer 1. The Church of Rome actually taketh this for one of their approved General Councils and will not be beholden to our Bishops for their friendly favour and excuse And therefore it is all one to us whether the Council consented or not 2. Mr. Henry Dodwel in his late considerations how far Papists may be trusted by Princes c. pag. 167 pag. 174 c. hath fully answered all the reasons given by these Bishops as Terret did in part before and hath added abundant proof that these Canons were passed in that Council 1. From the Council at Oxford where Stephen Laughton himself was 2. From Mat Paris who is alledged for the contrary 3 From Gregory 9th's decertals 4 From the case of Iohn Blunt elect Bishop of Canterbury recited by Mat. Paris an 1233. 5. From Otto the Pope's Legate in M. Paris an 1237. and that London Council 6. From the Popes Letter to Otto an 1238 in M. Paris 7. From Honorius the 3d's condemnation of Rich. de Marisco Bishop of Durham 8. From P. Clement the 5th's Bull for King Philip the Fair. 9. From the Council of Tarragon 10. From the Council at Vienna under Clement 4th 11. From the General Council at Lyons under Gregory 10th 12. From the Sabine Council in Spain 13. From a Council at Toledâ— under Benedict 12th 14. And from the Council of Trent 15. From the Common sense of the Case of Abbot Ioachim 16. And of the word Transubstantiation 17. And of annual confession All taken as setled by this Council So that as the Papists will not accept of this Charity of our Bishops in excusing their Religion from this part of guilt so there is little place indeed for an excuse § 200. The Papists themselves though they have many other Councils and instances to prove the Popes Claim and Practice of deposing Princes yet will not let go this as being a famous General Council But when here in England they would excuse their Religion from Rebellion they use to say that this being not an Article of Faith but a Canon of Practice they are not bound to take it as infallible To which the said Mr. Henry Dodwell ibid. pag. 185. hath largely answered to which I refer the Reader adding only that That which must be Believed to be of God is not alway matter of practice yet what must be done as by the wiâ— of God must alwaies be first the matter of faith we must believe that it is God's will before we can obey it as his will The full answer see as aforecited § 201. In the performance of the Laws of this Council multitudes called hereticks were burnt Their St. Dominick preaching to the people to perswade them to take arms under the Sign of the Cross to destroy the Hereticks for to get pardon of their sins so that from first to last many hundred thousand some say two millions but that seemeth too much were killed in France Savoy Germany Italy and other Countreys see Sam. Clerk Martyrol and Arch-Bishop Vsher deâ—success Eccles Thus hath Papal Rome been built and maintained by Blood Rebellion and Confusion under pretence of Church Purity Unity and Government and all by
having power to take away Kingdoms and all that men have § 41 42. The Siege of Rome Two Popes Gregory's death § 42. He threatneth to depose the King of France claims Hungary c. § 23. Binnius record of THE POPES DICTATES telling in 27 Articles WHAT POPERY IS § 44. He claimeth Spain § 46 and Dalmatia § 49. A great part of the Bishops against him § 49. Pronounceth unsincere repentance fruitless § 50. Denyeth Divine Service in the Sclavonian tongue § 51. Ill weather imputed to the ill Lives of Priests The Armenians errours what § 51. Apulia c. the Popes § 51. One man turned an hundred thousand men in Spain from the Pope He threatneth to Excommunicate and depose the King of Spain as an Enemy to the Christian Religion § 52. He newly found St. Matthews body § 54. He will expose the Prince of Sardinia unless he obey him in making all Priests shave their beards § 55. Notes hereon The French convert the Sweeds and the Pope would reap the fruit § 56. His notable Epistle to prove Popes Priests and Exorcists above Kings § 57. Answered § 58. Peter pence § 59. An Arch-bishop suspended for not visiting Rome § 60. A pious Lie for Peace is a sin § 61. The old Spanish Liturgy partly contrary to the Christian Faith till now § 62. His respect to William the Conquerour c. § 64 66. The German Bishops hereticate the Pope for forbidding Marriage § 67. Matthew is forsaken § 68. Philip King of France and many great Bishops excommunicate § 69. Divers Councils excommunicating contrarily the Antipopes § 69 to 74. Ordinations null that are made pretio precibus vel obsequio and not by the common consent of Clergy and People § 75. He excommunicateth the Greek Emperour usurping § 76. The Greek affairs summ'd up § 77. The power of Pope and Bishops to depose Kings § 79. A Council Character of Gregory § 80. A Council make Loyalty to be Haeresis Henriciana § 87. The Disciple is not above his Master answered § 87. Wecilo's heresie that men obey not unjust Excommunications but may by others be received § 88. The 23d Schism § 91. Victor's Soldiers conquer Clement's § 92. Lay Princes presentations or Investitures are Heresie every Heretick is an Infidel It 's better be without visible Communion than have it with such § 93. Consectaries overthrowing Rome ib. A new Pope marrieth Mathildis to Welpho on condition they use not carnal Copulation § 94. A Jerusalem expedition causeth peace at home Conrade rebelleth against his Father § 94. The Emperour commits Fornication § 101 103. Wrongs on Monday Wednesday or Thursday no breach of holy peace No Bishop or Priest must swear or promise Allegiance to a King nor take Preferment from any Lay-man § 104. None to communicate in one kind § 105. All the Bishops of England save Rochester renounce obedience and society with Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury because he would not renounce the Pope saying he blasphemed the King setting up any in his Kingdom without his consent § 106. Time given the King of England to repent § 109. The Anti-Pope Clement digg'd up and burnt Paschal 2. Council Decree that all Bishops of the Henrician Heresie Loyalists if alive be deposed if dead digg'd up and burnt that is most of the Western Bishops § 112. The Schism continued § 113. The Pope set up young Henry against his Father who taketh him Prisoner to the death He keeps his Fathers Corps five years unburied because Excommunicate Yet proveth Hereticus Henricianus Imprisoneth the Pope till he grant him Investitures The Pope absolveth himself § 114 115. Cases on Binnius § 116. Note that Investitures supposed the People and Clergies free choice of Bishops § 117. The Bishops usage of old Henry to the last § 118. To take the Popes Excommunications as not obligatory is a Heresie § 119. The dangerous Doctrine of Fluentius Bishop of Florence that Anti-Christ was come § 120. Only the Church made Henry rebell § 121 122. Tybur coloured with bloud The Earl of Millans Flesh given to Dogs The Popes sacramental Covenant broken § 127. God will have no involuntary service § 129. The same is a Henrician Heresie in others which is none in the Pope § 132. He may forswear for the People of God § 132. Two Popes contending and excommunicating The Emperour giveth up Investitures § 135 to 138. Four Doctrines of Guilb Porretane condemned in Council 1. That Divinitas and Deus are not the same in signification 2. That the three Persons are not unum aliquid 3. That there are eternal Relations besides the Persons 4. That it was not the Divine Nature that was incarnate Two more Popes § 138 142. A Preacher murdered at Rome § 144. Two more Popes the succession from the wrong § 145. They fight for it § 146. How Clergy and People first lost their Votes in choice of Popes § 147. Two Popes still striving § 149 c. Many Castles in England built by two Bishops § 160. Abailard condemned unheard § 161. Caelestine II. the first Pope without the Peoples election An. 1143. Rome against the Pope Bishops are his strength § 168. Porretane again accused and puzzled the Council § 170. He is again accused by Bernard whom the Cardinals accuse for writing his Faith and getting Bishops hands to it § 171. The Romane people excommunicate by Pope Adrian 4. They are for a Preacher called by him an heretick § 174. Rome fighteth with Pope and Emperour They fight again and expel the Pope § 174. The 27 pair of Popes Wars between the Emperour Frederick and Pope The Crown of England held as from the Pope Yet Rome receiveth him not The Emperour submitteth being deserted c. § 175. The setling the choice of Popes by Cardinals The Pope no Bishop by the Canons § 177. The Roman Succession is from Alex. 3. when the Clergie People Emperour Princes and a Council of innumerable Bishops were for Victor § 176. Parliaments called Councils § 179. Ireland the Popes § 180. The Albigenses Henricians § 181. No Bishop may suspend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter A perjured Clergie-man perpetually deprived Doubtful words to be understood as usually § 182. The Popes Party in Rome have their Eyes put out § 183. Frederick drowned in Asia § 187. The Kingdom of France interdicted § 190. The Pope seus up an Anti-Emperour who prevaileth § 192. England interdicted six years and three months § 194. The famous twelfth General Council at the Laterane under Inoc. 3. for Transubstantiation exterminating hereticks deposing Princes absolving Subjects forbidding unlicensed Preachers c. § 195. Almaricus burnt dead § 196. Stephen Langton and King John § 197. Ten Queries upon this Council § 198. The Canons of this Council true Mr. Dodwel's 17 Arguments for it § 199. The Papists excuses answered § 180. misnumbred The bloody Execution § 181. Oxford Canons that every great Parish have two or three Presbyters c. § 183.
Governours besides Magistrates but such as Philosophers in their Schools who were appointed to set up Holy Societies for Divine Doctrine Worship and Holy Living and to Guide them accordingly by Teaching Worship and Government by the Word forbidding them the Sword or Force they are said to have the Keys of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven because as Grace is Glory in the seed the Church is Heaven in the seed and the Pastors were the Administrators of Sacraments and Church-priviledges and therefore the Judges who were fit for them who should be Baptized who should Communicate and in what rank and who should be denied these admonished or excluded and who should as far as belongeth to others be judged meet or unmeet for Heaven And so the Christian Societies were to be kept clean and not to be like the polluted World of Infidels And the Pastors had no other power to use but were to judge only those within and leave them without to Gods own judgment and to the Magistrate who was not to punish any one for not being in or of the Church or for departing from it which is a grievous punishment it self But Magistrates being then Heathens the Christians were hard put to it for the decision of their quarrels For the love of the world and selfishness were but imperfectly cured in them They went to Law before Heathen Judges with each other and this became a snare and a scandal to them S. Paul therefore childeth them for not ending differences by Christian Arbitrators among themselves as if there were none among them wise enough to Arbitrate Hereupon the Churches taking none to be wiser or trustier than their Pastors made them their Arbitrators and it became a censurable scandal for any to accuse a Church-member to a Magistrate and to have Suits at Law By this means the Bishop becoming a Stated Arbitrator thereby became the Governour of the Christians but with his Presbyters and not alone But because Bishops had no power of the sword to touch mens bodies or estates but only to suspend them from Church-Communion and Excommunicate them or impose penitential Confessions on them therefore they fitted their Canons which were the Bishops Agreements to this Governing use to keep Christians under their Government from the Magistrates And so they made Canons that a Fornicator or Adulterer should be so long or so long suspended and a Murderer so long and so of the rest § 36. And when Constantine turned Christian he had many reasons to confirm this Arbitrating Canonical power to the Christian Bishops by the Civil Sanction 1. Because he found them in possession of it as contracters by mutual consent and what could a Christian Prince do less than grant that to the Christians which they chose and had 2. Because the advancement and honour of the Teachers and Pastors he thought tended to the honour of their Religion and the success of their Doctrine upon the Heathens with whom they dwelled Grandure and Power much prevail with carnal minds 3. Because he had but few Magistrates at first that were Christians and none that so well knew the affairs of Christians as their own chosen Bishops And he feared lest the power of Heathen Magistrates over the Christians might injure and oppress them 4. He designed to draw the Heathens to Christianity by the honouring of Christians above them 5. And withal his interest lay most in their strength For they were the fastest part of his Souldiers and Subjects that for Conscience and their own Interrest rejoyced to advance and defend him to the utmost when he lost many of the Pagans and they were not of the spirit of the old Pretorian Souldiers that set up and pulled down Emperours at their pleasure Had Constantine faln the Christians had much faln with him and had the Christians been weakned he had been weakened They were become his strength And he fore saw not the evils that afterwards would follow Some must govern and there were then no wiser nor better men than the Bishops and Pastors of the Churches And their interest in the Christian people that chose them was greatest As now all differing parties of Christians among us Papists Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists would desire nothing as more conducing to their ends than that the King would put the greatest Power especially of Religion into the hands of those Teachers whom they esteem and follow even so was it with the Christians in the days of Constantine And hereupon Laws were made that none should compel Christians to answer in any Court of Justice saving before their own Bishops and so Bishops were made almost the sole Governours of the Christians § 37. By this means it is no wonder if multitudes of wicked men flock'd into the Church and defiled and dishonoured it For the Murderer that was to be hanged if he were no Christian was but to be kept from the Sacrament if he were a Christian and do some confessing penance which was little to hanging or other death And so proportionably of other Crimes Bad Christians by this device were multiplyed The Emperour also being a Christian worldly men are mostly of the Religion of the Prince or highest powers § 38. And no man that can gather an effect from an effectual cause could doubt if neither Nazianzen or any Historian had told it him but that proud and worldly men would strive then to be Bishops and use all possible diligence to obtain so great preferment Who of them is it that would not have Command and Honour and Wealth if he can get it While the great invitation to the sacred Ministry was the winning and edifying of Souls those that most valued Souls desired it yet desired it to be kept from such Poverty and Persecution as exposed them to hinderance and contempt But when Riches Reputation and Dominion were the Baits who knoweth not what sort of Appetites would be the keenest Christ telleth us how hardly Rich men are good and come to Heaven Therefore when Bishops must be all Great and Rich either Christ must be deceived or it must be as hard for them to be honest Christians as for a◠Camel to go through the Needles eye And thus Venenum funditur in Ecclesiam § 39. The World being thus brought into the Church without the cure of the worldly mind and the Guides being so strongly tempted to be the very worst no wonder if the Worldly Spirit now too much rule the Church and if those that are yet of the same Spirit approve plead and strive for what they love and despise the business of the Cross and Christian Humility and Simplicity to this day And if Bishops have done much of their work accordingly ever since Constantine and much before it hath been the Devils Work to carry on his War against Christ and Piety under Christ's own name and the pretence of Piety as an Angel of Light and Righteousness and Unity and to set up Pastors over the Church
of the Apostolick Seat that the Kingdom was translated from Chilperic to Pepin the foresaid Historians do so expresly say that it 's a wonder with what front the innovating Hereticks dare call it in question Lastly It is here to be noted that it was by this same Pope Zachary that the nomination or postulation of Bishops for the vacant Churches in his Kingdom was granted to King Pepin Therefore if elsewhere you read that the Kings of France give Bishops to the Churches remember that it is not done by their own Right but by the Grant of the Apostolick Seat In vain therefore do the innovating Hereticks glory in this Argument who endeavor to subject the Church to Kings So far Binnius after Baronius § 12. From this Story and these words let the Reader think how to answer these Questions Quest. 1. Had not Kings need to take heed of making any one man too great if greatness and exercise of Government give him so much right to the Kingdom Qu. 2. Had not Kings need to look to their manners for their Crowns sake as well as their Souls if Lust Sensuality and Dulness forfeit their Kingdoms Qu. 3. Did not Wars and weakning of the Empire make a great change with Popes when they that were set up and banished at the Emperor's pleasure can now first depose the Emperor in the West for being against Images and Persecuting and then can translate the Crown of France Qu. 4. Was not an ambitious Pope a fit Tool for Pepin and his Confederates to work by to put a pious gloss on their Conspiracy Qu. 5. Did not the Pope rise thus by serving the turns of Conspirators and of Princes in their quarrels with one another Qu. 6. Are Subjects Judges when a King's Sins make him unworthy of the Crown Qu. 7. Yea is the Pope Judge and hath he power to depose Kings if he judge them such Sinners and unfit for Government Qu. 8. Is it a good Reason that a King is justly deposed because Good Men and Holy Bishops are the Desirers and Promoters of it Qu. 9. Would not this Reason have served Maximus against Gratian Was it not Cromwel's Plea If he had but had the Pope and People on his side you see how it would have gone Qu. 10. Is it the mark of an Innovating Heretick to say that the Church should be subject to Kings when Paul and Peter said it of all Christians so long ago Qu. 11. Is it a Note that Protestants love Rebellion because they are against Popes deposing Kings Or is there any heed to be taken of the words of impudent Revilers that dare speak before God and Man at this rate Is deposing Kings the Papists freedom from Rebellion and is our opposing it a character of Rebels Qu. 12. Is it any wonder that Bishop Burchardus desired it and that Bishop Boniface executed the Pope's command who had been translated from England by him to such dignity and had sworn Obedience and Service to him Qu. 13. Is it any wonder that the Pope made these Bishops Saints Qu. 14. I hope they were really godly Men But is it any wonder that some good Men at such a time as that did think it had been for the interest of Religion to have all Power in the Clergies hands especially being themselves Bishops that were to have so great a share How few Bishops are afraid of too much power or ever do refuse it Qu. 15. If the King of France had his Kingdom by the Pope's gift what wonder if he had the power of nominating Bishops also by his gift Qu. 16. Whether he that hath power to give hath not power to take away and be not Judge when the Cause is just Qu. 17. With what face do Papists at once make these claims and yet profess Loyalty to Kings Qu. 18. Whether it concern not Kings to understand on what terms they stand with the Pope and his Clergy that must not be subject to them but have power to depose them Qu. 19. If there be any Party among them that hath more Loyal Principles is it a sign of the concord of their Church that agreeth not in matter of so great moment Or a proof that the Pope is the infallible Judge of Controversies that will not determine so great a Point on which the Peace of Kingdoms doth depend § 13. About the same time they persuaded Rachis King of the Longobards Successor to Luitprand for the love of Religion to lay down his Crown and go into a Monastery so that Monasteries are places for the worst and the best some too bad to reign and some too good lest they should over-master the Clergy § 14. It may be you will think that this Pope Zachary and his sworn Vassal St. Boniface were some very profound Divines that could by their wisdom and piety thus master Kingdoms Doubtless they were zealous Adversaries to Heresies except their own and Successors of the Hereticating and Damning Fathers For Epist. 10. Bin. p. 206 207 208. Zachary writeth to Boniface to expel Virgilius from the Church and Priesthood for holding Antipodes viz. that Sun-shine and Moon-light and Men are under the Earth as well as here which we call over it The words are De perversa autem iniqua doctrina quae contra Dominum Animamsuam locutus est si clarificatum fuerit ita eum confiteri quod alius mundus alii homines sub terra sint seu Sol Luna hunc habito Concilio ab Ecclesia pelle Sacerdotii honore privatum That is But as to the perverse and unjust Doctrine which he hath spoken against the Lord and his own Soul if it be made clear that he so confesseth that under the Earth there is another world and other Men and Sun and Moon call a Council and depriving him of the honour of Priesthood drive him out of the Church That by another world is meant Antipodes or the other side of the Earth inhabited is doubtless § 15. Qu. 1. Did God make Popes to be the Governors of the Antipodes for so many hundred years before they knew that there was any Antipodes And when they excommunicated and silenced those that affirmed it Qu. 2. Were these Popes and Bishops Men of such wisdom as were fit to hereticate Dissenters as they did Qu. 3. Do we not see here what some Councils were and did in those times Qu. 4. Do we not see what Heresie signified at Rome and how little heed there was to be taken of their outcry against some Heresies Qu. 5. Whether was all the World or all the West bound to avoid Communion after with Virgilius Qu. 6. Do we not see here of what Infallibility the Pope is in judging of matters of Faith and how happy the World is to have such a Judge and of what credit his Heretications and Excommunications are Qu. 7. Do we not see how Religion hath been depraved and dishonoured by the Pope and his Clergy calling
Good Evil and the most certain Truths by the name of Perverse and unjust Doctrines against the Lord and Mens own Souls What heed to take of these Mens words when they seem zealous against Sin and Error § 16. Perhaps you will ask How could any but Idiots be so ignorant Whither did they think the Setting-Sun went Or what did they think the Earth stood upon Answ. The easiest things are strange to Men that never learnt them it 's pity that it should be true that Lactantius and other Ancients yea Austin himself were ignorant of the Antipodes but yet they had more Modesty than to hereticate and excommunicate them that affirmed it Few Bishops had much Philosophy then Origen and Apollinaris that were most Philosophical had been hereticated and disgraced it Clemens and Tatianus sped not much better Councils had forbid Bishops to read the Books of Heathens Austin had a truly Philosophical head being the Father of School-Divinity but he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and had little from his Teachers You may see in a great Hereticater Philastrius what they thought then of the course of the Sun by what he saith of the Stars As it was one Heresie to call the Star◠by the names of living Creatures so it was another to deny that the Stars were Luminaries arbitrarily moved that by Angels were set out at night to light the World and at morning retired inwards or were taken into their place again as Men set out lights to the street at night and take them in again I confess that no General Council declared this as they have done worse things but you see what kind of Men were hereticated by Pope Zachary St. Boniface and St. Philastrius and such Bishops and how little it signifieth in such Writers whether you read a Man called a Saint or a Sinner an Orthodox Catholick or Nefandissimus Haereticus as they use to speak I speak it only of such Men. § 17. For Reader I must still remember thee that this Folly Pride and almost Fury was not the Genius or Character of the true spiritual Ministers and Church of Christ but of a worldly ignorant domineering sort of Men that made it their business to get Preferment and have their wills God had all this while abundance of faithful Ministers that sate down at the lower end and humble holy People that set not up themselves in worldly Grandure and came not much on the Stage but approved themselves in secret and in their several Places and Conversations to God some Lay-men some Priests some Bishops some of their names are come down to us in History but those are few They strove not for great Places nor did their Works to be seen of Men nor looked to Men for their Reward § 18. Some of the Canons and Councils of these Universal Pastors were answerable to their Excommunications In Zachary ' s 12th Epistle to his Vassal St. Boniface he giveth him the resolution of many doubts One is After how long time Lard may be eaten And it is resolved by the Pope That there is yet no Canon or Law for this by the Fathers but he determineth himself 1. That it must not be eaten before it be dried in the smoke or boiled or basted with fire But if you list to eat it raw it must be eaten after the Feast of Easter Binnius p. 209. What would become of the Church if there were not a Judge of such Controversies and an infallible Determiner of such Questions § 19. CCXXV. I told you before how the Pope commanded Boniface to call a Council to eject him that asserted the Antipodes I must next add a French Council called by King Carolomannus to Reform the Clergy an 742. and to recover Christian Religion which in the dayes of former Princes dissipata corruit being dissipated was ruined and to shew the People how they may come to save their Souls who have been hitherto deceived by false Priests They are the words of the King and Council Bin. p. 210. c. 2. Where it was decreed that Priests be not Soldiers unnecessarily That they keep not Hounds to go an hunting with nor Hawks That every Religious Fornicator shall in the Jayl do Pennance with Bread and Water If the Fornicator be a Priest he shall be first scourged and then remain in Prison two years But if an inferior Clerk or Monk so fall he shall be whipt and then do Pennance a whole year in Prison and so the Nuns This was somewhat like a Reformation Had it not been done by a King it might have past for Heresie It was at Ratisbonne Boniface presiding Such another Council called Leptinense there was under Carolomannus Another Council at Rome repeated the oft repeated Canons to keep Bishops and Priests from Nuns and from Fornication § 20. An. 744. Another Synodus Suession under Chilperic governed by Pepin condemned again Aldebert that set up Crosses in several places and drew People to himself and another as Hereticks § 21. Another Council in Germany an 745. handsomly set Boniface the Pope's Agent in the Archbishoprick of Mentz First Geroldus the Archbishop is sent out against the Saxons with an Army and he and most of them killed Then Gervilio his Son a Lay-man is made Archbishop to comfort him At another War he pretends a Conference with him that kill'd his Father and murders him this is past by as blameless But Boniface saith That a Man that had his hand in Blood must not be a Bishop and so got him out and was made the chief Archbishop of Germany himself in his place Judge whether he served the Pope for nought § 22. Yet Boniface had not done with the two Hereticks Aldebert and Clemens a French man and a Scot. Boniface sendeth to Rome Bin. p. 216. to desire the Pope that as he had himself condemned these two Hereticks the Pope would also condemn them and cast them into Prisons where none might speak with them Thus the Pope obtained his Kingdom and edified the Church The motive was that Boniface prosecuting them had suffered much for their sakes the People saying that he had taken from them holy Apostolick Men but this was not a Prison The Crimes which he chargeth on Aldebert a Bishop are that he was an Hypocrite an open Crime that he had said an Angel appeared to him and he had some rare Reliques and that he said he was Apostolick and wrought Wonders that he got some unlearned Bishops to make him a Bishop absolutely against the Canons He would not consecrate any Church to the memory of an Apostle or Martyr and spake against visiting in Pilgrimage the Temples of the Apostles He made Churches to his own honour and set up Oratories and Crosses up and down and drew People from other Bishops to himself That he gave his nails and hair to be honoured with the Saints Reliques and would not hear Confessions saying he knew their sins already If all this was true which I know never
have been to his People the Captain of safety and of peace when the Divine Piety had decreed to have mercy of his People by an unheard of and invisible manner and by preaching in our ages For these things therefore and in all these things which are before recited confessing himself guilty before the Priests or Bishops or all the People with tears and protesting that in all these things he sinned he desired publick Pennance that so he might satisfie the Church by repenting which he had scandalized by sinning and as he was a scandal by neglecting many things so he professed he would be an example by undergoing due Pennance And after this Confession he delivered to the Bishops the Paper of his Guilts and Confession for future memorial and they laid it on the Altar and then he put off his military Girdle and laid it on the Altar and stripping himself of his secular Habit he took the Habit of a Penitent put on him by the hands of the Bishops that after so great and such Pennance no Man after may return to a secular Militia These things thus done it pleased them that every Bishop should write in his own Papers how the matter was done and should strengthen it by his own subscription and offer it to Prince Lotharius thus strengthened in memory of the Fact To conclude it seemed good to us all that were present to put the sum of all the Papers and of so great a business into one Breviate and to roborate it by the subscription of us all with our hands as is hereafter demonstrated The Author of the Life of Ludovicus addeth ' Pullâque indutum veste adhibitá magnâ custodiâ sub tectum quoddam retrudunt Here you see the Tryal of the godly Emperor the Articles exhibited against him in the High Court of Episcopal Justice and the use of Penance and of laying on of the Bishops hands in investing him in the Garb of perpetual Penance What wonder if the Pope ascended to such power when ordinary Bishops in the best governed and instructed Countrey then in the world obtained such power even by the name and abuse of the POWER OF THE KEYS Saith Binnius Thaganus therefore justly for this cause declaimeth against Ebbo Bishop of Rhemes the Leader as impudicum crudelissimum Episcopum And what were they that would thus follow him § 140. CCXLIX But the next Council was forced to do better for usually the Bishops followed the stronger side in Theodorus Villa they caused Ebbo to depose himself from his Bishoprick and the rest excused themselves that they did it by necessity and fear and were all forgiven Bin. p. 575. And yet will the Bishops say that this Emperor was not humble and merciful § 141. CCL After his Restauration An. 836. Ludovicus caused a Council at Aquisgrane to renew the Laws for the Reformation of the Clergy and Abbots with the Instructions and Rules for Kings themselves at large laid down And here they determined that all Bishops hereafter that were Rebels and Traytors should be deposed and Lay-men anathematized But they sufficiently minded the Power and Dignity of the Bishops to be upheld § 142. There is a Treatise in Binnius p. 583. in which the Statutes of the Synods of Aquisgrane are opened and confirmed by Scripture § 143. CCLI An. 836. Binnius tells us that in the deposing of the Emperor Agobertus Bishop of Lyons and Bernard Bishop of Vienne having been Leaders with Ebbo at the Council at Theod. Villa fled and the Emperor and all his Sons save Lotharius being here present at a Council at Lyons they being summoned appeared not and Sentence was put off because they were absent § 144. An. 839. Pepin the Emperor's Son dying he passed by his disobedient Nephew Pepin and divided that Kingdom of Aquitain only between his Sons Lotharius and Charles whereupon his Son Ludovicus was offended and with them of Aquitain raised Rebellion again and by a Convention at Cabilone and after it reconciliation was made § 145. The Emperor Ludovicus Pius dying An. 840. aged 64 his Sons fell together in Wars for his Kingdoms Lotharius the eldest that had used his Father so trayterously and unnaturally sought too great a part for himself and came to a War with Ludovic and Charles who conquered him and put him to a shameful flight An. 841. in which Fight say Historians a greater slaughter was made of the French than was ever known in the memory of man This was the man that deposed his Father for the slaughter of the Subjects by his Wars against him The next year they fought again and he was again overcome § 146. CCLII It 's easie then to conjecture which way the next Council which was at Aquisgrane would go The conquering Princes made the Bishops their Counsellors when they had made Lotharius flie out of the Countrey what they should do with his Kingdom and saith Binnius they received the answer which Nithardus li. 1. describeth in these words ' The Bishops considering the deeds of Lotharius from the beginning how he had driven his Father out of his Kingdom how he had made the Christian People perjured by his Covetousness how oft he had frustrated the Oath he made to his Fathers and his Brethren how oft since his Fathers death he had attempted to disinherit his Brethren how many Murders Adulteries Burnings and all kind of heinous deeds the Universal Church suffered by his most wicked Covetousness And that he neither had any knowledge of governing the Commonwealth nor could men find any footsteps of goodness of will in governing For which causes deservedly and by the just judgment of God Almighty they said he fled first in Battel and then from his Kingdom Therefore all the Bishops unanimously agree and consent that for his wickedness God hath cast him out and hath delivered his Kingdom to his Brothers that are better than he But the Bishops did not give them this liberty till they openly asked them whether they would govern it as their ejected Brother did or according to the will of God They answered that as far as God should enable them they would govern themselves and theirs according to God's will By God's Authority say they we warn exhort and command that you undertake it and rule it according to the will of God So far Nithard § 147. You see here that it is no wonder that the Pope took upon him to set up and take down to make and unmake Kings when the subject Bishops did it by their greatest Sovereigns And you see here God's just judgment on a rebellious Son and the shameful mutability of a temporizing Clergy And how presumptuous Bishops have abused Religion the use of the Keys and the Name of God to the confusions and calamities of the world But Lotharius after this Deposition reigned § 148. All these times Images were cast out in the Eastern Empire even all the Reign of Leo the 5th and of Michael
Romane Clergy were that would have such a Pope 2. But they give no proof of any such Consent but say It is verisimile 3. And where was the Church till that Consent or at least its Holiness 4. Can such Mens Consent make a Pope of an uncapable person Will no Wickedness incapacitate § 30. Say the foresaid Authors in this Popes time Sisevandus Bishop of Compostella finding the great diversity of the Roman and Moâ—â—rabick Liturgy altered his by the Popes consent After Herveus one Seulphus was Arch-Bishop of Rhemes Heribert Earl of Aquitane considering that the Bishop of Rhemes Anointeth the King of France bargained to have his Son made next Bishop that thereby he might get the Crown In hast Seulphus is Poysoned because they could not stay till he dyed Heribert ' s Son not yet Five Years old is made Arch-Bishop O scelus in auditum say Baronius and Binius This monstrous Election say they never before seen or heard of in the Christian World nor perhaps thought of Pope John did not only not disallow but ratifyed And by this Fact the Infamous Pope gave an Example to many Princes not only in that but the following Ages Alas for Grief to procure Lads that were their Kindred to be thrust into the Chief Seats or Bishopricks to the great Mischief of the Church A Work say they indeed worthy such a Pope whom an Infamous Woman by an Infamous Work had thrust into St. Peter's Chair Qu. Were such Villaines as Infallible as others Did their Love Honesty and Chastity fail and yet Were they secured against the Failing of their Faith Or Had they a Sincere Faith that had no other Grace And Could these forgive Sins and deliver Souls out of Purgatory When he had sate Fourteen Years or Sixteen saith Baronius and Binius Marquess Wido by the Perswasion of his Wife Marozia Pope Sergius Whore for the sake of his Brother Peter whom they hated cast him out of his Seat into a Prison where shortly after he was Choked with a Pillow And so the Invader and unjust Detainer of the Apostolick-Seat had an End worthy of his Wickedness And he that by the Impudent Mother Theodora had violently seized on the Holy Seat by her as Impudent Daughter was by God's just Iudgment Ejected Imprisoned and Deprived both of it and of his Life Ex Luitpr Frodoaldo Baron § 31. CCCIX Anno 912. A Synod at Confluence decreed as against Incest That none Marry within the seventh Degree of Kindred Was that Divine Law § 32. Two or Three other Synods at Trosâ—etum are mentioned about small Matters and One at Duisburge to Excommunicate some that put out the Bishops Eyes § 33. The next Pope is Leo the Sixth and Dyed after Seven or Six Months and Fifteen Dayes § 34. Next Anno 929. succeeded Stephen the Eighth or Seventh and sate but two Years one Month and fifteen Dayes How they were so fast dispatched I omit § 35. Next comes the Son of Marozia Pope Sergius his Bastard call'd Iohn the Eleventh His Mother and Father-in-Law Wido got him in Anno 931. even when he was a Lad under Age. His Brother Albericus saith Baronius did keep this Pope in Prison to his Death But the Case was this vid. Bin. p. 1055. Wido being Dead Marozia offereth the Dominion of Rome to his own Brother Hugo on condition he would Marry her He accepteth the Condition and secretly entering the Castle of St. Angelo after he had committed Incest with her his Brother's Widow he despised the Romans When his Son-in-Law Albericus by his Mother Marozia's Command poured out Water to wash his Hands he stroke him on the Face for pouring too much To Revenge this Wrong Albericus stir'd up the Romans to a Defection and having by Assault of the Castle put to Flight bis Father-in-Law Hugo he commanded his Mother Marozia and his Bastard-Brother the Counterfeit Pope John to be kept in Prison in which the violent Invader dyed being violently cast out after for five Years and some Months he had rather filthily Defiled tban Ruled the Apostolick-Seat Saith Binius out of Luitpraudus and Baronius Calling him a Monster and yet Magnifying Rome because such were Obeyed § 36. CCCX Anno 932. A small Council at Erford in Germany under King Henry decreed 1. That Holy-Dayes be kept for an Honourable Commemoration of the Twelve Apostles and Fasting on the Evens 2. That no State-Meetings be kept on the Lord's Dayes or other Holy-Dayes nor Christians then cited to the Courts of Justice 3. Nor when he is going to Church 4. That scandalous Ministers be tryed 5. That no private Christian make or impose any Fast on himself without the Bishop or his Missionaries Consent An unreasonable Usurpation Must the Bishop needs know all the Reasons that every Man hath for Fasting and be Judge of them But sure the Bishop's Diocess had not then so many hundred Parishes and so many Counties as they have now Else by that time the Bishop and his Commissary had heard a Hundred Thousand or Fifty Thousand Persons tell him what Reasons they had to Fast besides the common Fasts at any time or on any special Occasions much of his time would be taken up § 37. Anno 935. A Council at Rhemes against Church-Robbers c. § 38. Anno 936. Leo the Seventh was made Pope after Iohn the Eleventh In that time Hugo that was got away from Albericâ—s had got an Army and Besieged Rome A Match was made for Albericus to Marry Hugo's Daughter And so Marozia's Husband and Son were agreed by the means of Odo Abbot of Cluniac § 39. Henry King of Germany the Glory saith Baronius and Binius of Christian Religion dyed at this time who after many other Nations Couverted also the King of Denmark to the Christian Faith and left his Son Otho the Heir of his Piety and Valour Yet are not other Papists ashamed to say That all these Nations were Converted by the Pope who was the great Scandal that hindred the Conversion of the World § 40. But say the same Authors Manassâ—s Bishop of Arles now troubled the Churcb Being an Ambitious Man not contented with his Seat by the means of Hugo King of Italy he also invaded the Bishopricks of Verona and of Trent and of Mantua and of Milaâ— it self O now the Church prosper'd Saying That he did it by the Example of the Prince of the Apostles who at once possessed Rome Antioch and Alexandria Ex Luitpraud And could the Pope blame him that would be Bishop at the Antipodes and have all the World But it s strange that Men should talk of Bishops Ambition as of a strange thing in the Year 937. § 41. Anno 939. Pope Stephen the Nineth was chosen by Otho of Germany without the Cardinal-Clergy who had neither Power nor Virtue enough to choose And the City was under the Power of Albericus who Tyrannized over them And because he had not the Choice
so much as his Beard in his own power in which nature hath given him a propriety How much more might the Pope then command all mens purses 4. May way we not see here on what weighty reasons these men condemn God's word of insufficiency and plead for traditions and a necessity of their additional Laws When Scripture hath left out the shaving of mens Beards and we had never had such a Law if such power as the Papal had not made it O what discord and disorder would there be in the Church if we had not so necessary a government and what confusion would toleration introduce if mens Beards were left at liberty But if Paul called the heathen Phylosophy Vain and Science falsly so named 1 Tim. 6. 20. as befooling the world with pedantick trifling and calling them off from their great concernes may we not say then that this is vain Government and Order falsly so named which thus calleth the Church from its primitive purity simplicity and unity when Christians were known by loving one another to these childish games that the Prelates and Priests of the Catholick Church must be known by their being without Beards One would suspect this had its original from Pope Ioane if there were indeed such a person and that it is a Symbol of the Churches sex as it is called Our Mother or at least that Marozia or Theodora instituted it 5. And do you know which were the more inexcusable for silencing and persecuting the preachers of the Gospel The Iews that did it because they thought it took down Gods Law and would bring the Roman Power on them Or the Roman heathens that thought the Gospel destroyed the worship of their forefathers Gods or the Roman Papists that silenced and persecuted men for wearing Beards 1 Thes. 2. 16. § 56. Epist. 11. When some French Preachers had revived Religion in Sweden the Pope desirous to reap where they had sowed sends to the King of Sweden to tell him his joy and that what the French taught them they recieved from Rome and to desire him to send one of his Bishops to Rome to acquaint him with their customs and to receive his Laws and Mandates You see by what means Rome was raised Epist. 15. A Bishop gave up his Bishoprick The Pope chides him and commands him to a Monastery Rather than do so he returneth to his seat again The Pope chargeth him with the Idololatriae scelus the Crime of Idolatry for not obeying him and writes to them not to recieve him or be ruled by him as ever they loved the Grace of God and St. Peter The like he doth Epist. 16. by the disobedient Bishop of Narbon and Epist. 17. by the disobedient Arch Bishop of Rhemes and Epist. 18. 19 20. of the same and all this in St. Peter's name Yea Epist. 20. he requireth the King of France Philip to joyn against the Arch-bishop of Rhemes as excommunicate as ever he would have St. Peter's Grace because his Kingdom and his Soul were in St. Peter's power And it is no wonder that they that believe that the Pope is St. Peter's Vicar and Secretary and that their souls are in his power will give him all their Lands or Kingdoms to save their souls § 57. When the Pope sentenced the Emperor Henry to be excommunicate and deposed and was charged to have done this without authority he wrote his 21 Epist. l. 8. to the Bishop of Metz to prove that he had power to do it and to absolve his Subjects from their Oaths of fidelity saying that the Scriptures were full of certain documents to prove it And his certain documents are Tibi dabo Claves c. and Feed my Sheep And Kings are not excepted They are St. Peter ' s Sheep Bin. p. 1262. he saith that the Head of Priests is at the right hand of God but who knoweth not that Kings and Dukes had their beginning from them that knew not God and affected by blind lust and intolerable presumption to domineer over others the Devil the Prince of the world acting them in Pride Rapines Perfidiousness Murders and all wickedness who while they would have the Priests of the LORD to stoop to their footsteps are rightlyest compared to him who is head of all the Sons of pride who said even to Christ All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Who doubteth but that the Priests of Christ are the Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the faithful And is it not notorious miserable madness for a Scholar to endeavour to subjugate his Master and a Son his Father and by wrongful obligations to subject him to his power by whom he believeth that he may be bound or loosed both in Earth and Heaven Did not Pope Innocent excommunicate Arcadius the Emperor and Pope Zachary depose from his Kingdom the King of France not so much for his iniquities as because he was not meet for so great power placed Pepin in his stead and absolved all the French from the Oath of fidelity Ambrose sheweth that Gold is not so much more pretious than Lead as the Priestly Dignity is higher than the Kingly Power Pag. 1263. Yea even the exorcists have power over Devils How much more over those that are Subject to the Devils and are his members And if the exorcist excel so much how much more the Priests And every King when he cometh to his end doth humbly and pitifully beg the Priests help that he may scape the prison of Hell and Darkness and at the judgment of God be found absolved But is there either Priest or Lay-man that when he is dying begs help of the King for the saving of his soul What King or Emperor can by his Office take a soul by baptism from the power of the Devil and number him with the Sons of God and fortifie him with holy Chrism And which is the greatest thing in the Christian Religion can with his own mouth make Christs body and blood Or which of them can bind and loose in Heaven and earth By all which it may be plainly gathered by how great power the sacerdot al dignity excelleth Which of them can ordain one Clerk in the holy Church How much less can they depose him for any fault For in orders exclesiastical to depose is an act of greater power than to ordain For Bishops may ordain Bishops but in no wise depose them without the authority of the Apostolick seat Who then that hath any knowledg can doubt but that Priests are preferred before Kings In a word we must know that all good Christians are more fitly Kings than evil Princes For these by seeking the Glory of God do strenuously rule themselves But the other seeking their own and being enemies to themselves do tyrannically oppress others These good Christians are the body of Christ. The other bad Princes are the body of the Devil These so rule themselves as that they shall
reign eternally with the highest Emperor But the power of the other brings them eternally to perish by eternal damnation with the Prince of darkness who is King over all the Sons of Pride And it is not to be wondered at that bad Prelates consent to an unrighteous King whom for their ill got preferments by him they love and fear who Simoniacally ordaining any do for a base price sell even God himself For as the elect are inseperably united to their head so the reprobate are pertinaciously confederate against the good with him that is head of their militia Let Emperors and Kings see then how much the Imperial and Kingly dignity is to be feared in which very few are saved and those that by Gods mercy come to salvation are not made so good or eminent as many of the poor the Spirit of God being judge For from the beginning of the world to these times of ours we find not in all the authentick Scripture any Emperors or Kings whose lives were so adorned with great virtue and miracles as were an innumerable multitude of the contemners of the World though I believe that by Gods mercy many of them have been saved For to say nothing of the Apostles and Martyrs what Emperor or King was ever famous for miracles like Martin Anthony or Benedict what Emperor or King did raise the dead cleanse the Lepers illuminate the Blind Constantine of pious memory Theodosius Honorius Charles Lewis propagators of Christian Religion defenders of the Church are praised and honoured by the Church but not noted to have shined with such glory of miracles Moreover to what Kings or Emperors names are Churches or Altars dedicated or hath the Holy Church appointed Masses to be celebrated Let Kings and other Princes fear lest by how much in this life they would be preferred before other men by so much the more liable they be to eternal burnings As it is written Wisd. c. 6. Great men shall be greatly tormented For they have as many men to be accountable for as were Subject to them And if one religious man find it so great a work to keep his own soul how great a labour belongeth to Princes for so many thousand souls * And if the judgment of holy Church so bind a man for killing one what will become of them that for this worlds honour murder many thousands Who though they sometime cry Meâ Culpâ for killing many yet are glad at the heart for the extension of their honour and are not sorry that they did what is done nor that they have driven their Brethren into Hell The rest of the Epistle exhorteth Kings to avoid Pride and Tyranny As I cite it historically to shew you the Spirit of Papacy so fas est et ab hoste doceri There is somewhat in it worthy the remembering that greatness prove not pernicious to themselves and others for want of goodness § 58. But sure these Papal arguments savour not of infallibility May not a mean wit discern 1. That goodness giveth not right to places of Government without a call else the best man must be always King And then what Pope had Title to his Seat Right to Heaven will not prove a right to Kingdoms Nor è contra Power to cast out Devils will not prove that the exorcist may cast out the King nor give him Laws 2. What though the King be a Scholar to a Grammarian a Musician a Physician Is it therefore absurd that he be King over these Masters What though he must obey his Physician for his life May he not command that Physician for the common peace What though he cannot do that which a Physician a Musician c. can do May he not rule them for all that 3. What a discontented mind have such holy Prelates that cannot be satisfied with their Title to Heaven their Miracles Sanctity Church-Keys c. unless they may also be above Kings and have the secular power also 4. And what cause have Kings and States to look to themselves that are under such Priests where every Clergy man is their Master And how many superiors then hath every Popish King Even as many as he hath Prelates Priests or exorcists Yet I will confess that if Princes had been as bad still as some of them have been and as such Popes pretended and Popes and Prelates and Priests had been as Infallible Holy Wise and Peaceable as they have pretended and had not proved the shame of Religion and Incendiaries of the Christian World in so many generations it would have tempted men strongly for the interest of Religion and mankind to wish that all power had been committed to the Clergy and that Campanella's Regnum Dei or Fift-Monarchy by Priestly Government of the World had taken place But when their own historians make fourty Popes together Monsters of wickedness and piety at the same time to be translated to the Princes this turneth our thoughts another way Especially when we find still that a proud worldly wicked Clergy are the great confounders of the World § 59. Epist. 23. He sends to his Legates to demand of the King of France that every house do give a penny to St. Peter if they take him for their Father and Pastor It seemeth the Roman Peter must have money Rule and Honour of all the world though he cry it down in others § 60. Lib. 9. Ep. 1. He suspendeth the Arch-Bishop of Rouen in Normandy from consecrating any Bishop or Priest or Church because he had not visited the Pope at Rome when as men and women came to him from the remoter parts of the Earth The Pope loved much company and loved not privacy so well as I do and because he had not sought his pallium though he wrote submissively to him § 61. Even this Pope Ep. 2. l. 9. Professeth to the King of Spain that a Lye is a sin though it come from a pious intention for peace but in Priests it is a kind of Sacriledg And if so Priests had need to take heed that they Lye not by swearing subscribing declaring or professing any falshood though à Pope should command them § 62. In the same Ep. he congratulates that Spain received his Order of service or Liturgie because that which they used hitherto had some things contrary to the Christian Faith What Was the old Spanish Liturgy heresie § 63. Ep. 3. l. 9. The Pope upon the death of Rodulph fearing the Emperors coming into Italy pretendeth that now all men advised him to receive the Emperor for peace into his favour and mercy saying that almost all the Italians were for him and that his Patroness Mathildis was counted mad by her own Subjects who would not fight for her and him and therefore sends to try whether he could get any help from others charging them to see that the next chosen King be one true to St. Peter and to that end sends them an
Rome by the Emperour Charles the 5th army under Charles Duke of Bourbon and all the progress of their broils Historians have at large recorded and therefore I shall pretermit § 64. The day before Charles the 5th was chosen Emperour the Senate of Electas chose Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony but he ingenti animo recusavit refused it and being asked whom he thought most eligible he said none but Charles was fit For this noble mind he was offered 30000 Florens of money which he constantly rejected And when they urged him that 10000 might be given to his servants he said let them that will take it but he that taketh any shall not stay to morrow with me and taking horse went his waies lest they further troubled him Thus saith Erasmus Epist. l 13. â—p 4. I was assured of by the Bishop of Liege that was presenâ—t See Bâ—â—â—â—zar Chronol p. 533. § 65. The Reformation forced the German Bishops to make many reforming Canons at Colen c. Among those of an Augustine Synod our own strife about communicating maketh me think of no loss of time to recite their Catalogue of persons that were to be denied the Sacrament of Communion viz. as followeth 1. Heathens Infidels and Hereticks 2. The Excommunicate 3. All men at a time of common Interdict 4. Men that go from their own Parishes for it 5. Those that are under age And distracted possessed Ideots 6. Those that are troubled with crudity of stomacks till cured 7. Infamous persons as Juglers Players Jesters c. 8. Women that wear Mens apparel 9. Separatists and Conventiclers 10. The Sect of the Beggars of Lyons 11. The superstitious 12. Those that have not contrition and confession living in sin 13. That live in notorious wickedness as Adultery Usury c. till their actual reformation 14. Deserters of Marriage unallowed 15. Those that play much at Dice 16. That are given to drunkenness gluttony comessations spend daies in Taverns And if they amend not they are to be put to death 17. That detain other mens goods 18. That break and spoil Temples 19. That encroach on others lands and grounds 20. Servants that being corrected refuse their duty to their Master after it 21. They that use false weights and measures 22. That pay not Tythes 23. That delay to execute Testaments 24. That obstinately despise the Customes of the Church and meet elsewhere 25. That disturb the Preachers or go out of Church contemptuously 26. That will not hear Mass and stay the end 27. That use unnecessary labour on the Lords day or holy daies 28. That marry secretly 29. That slothfully or contemptuously refuse to learn the Lords prayer and Creed 30. That blaspheme or prophanely swear 31. That reproach and dishonour Priests 32. Murderers Enemies revengeful and oppressors 33. That preserve not carefully their Childrens Lives 34. That make Laws against Church Liberties or Judge by such Laws or lay burdens and exactions on Churchmens persons or goods 35. Those that judge that money received on Usury is not to be restored § 66. The Reformers accusations of the Popish Clergy had this effect to make them confess many of their faults especially drunkenness and Whoredome as being the cause of the peoples distaste and desertion see the Orations at the Councils of Augusta and Trevers and the Council at Trevers made strict Canons against them especially for removing Concubines from the Priests And one at Colen 1549. is large for some reformation but especially careful to keep out true Reformation forbidding the books of Protestants by name Among other things they forbid baptizing Children in private houses except Kings Children c. And another Council at Mentz hath the whole sum of the Roman Doctrine and Discipline at the best save the matters of the Papacy and these late provincial Councils made Canons in the frame of them not much of our English Canons and our Articles of Religion set together And another Council at Trevers repeateth their disciplinary Canons in part and addeth more § 67. The History and Canons of the Council of Trent are sufficiently published and Pope Pius his Oath conjoyned so that I need not speak of that which I intend not to make any part of the matter of this Epitome which extendeth but to the time of Luthers Reformation 68. Even after the Reformation the Pope could not live in Italy without fighting Pope Iulius the 3d fought with Octavius Farnesius at Parma Pope Paul sought with the King of Spain but was beaten He set sixteen Cardinals over the Inquisition the defence of his Kingdome He imprisoned Cardinal Morrovius suspected of heresie absolved after by Pope Pius the 4th who yet strangled Caraffa and beheaded Cardinal Leonard Count Montarius c. § 69. Cardinal Charles Borrhomeus sainted by them at divers Millane Councils shewed a great deal of Reforming and some deforming zeal In the first Council I shall note that they decreed that men once admitted to the Communion and returning to their sin be no more admitted till the Priest see that they have actually reformed their lives And that before any young persons first receive they shall some dayes be examined and taught the use and reason of the Sacrament Priests notoriously criminal must not say Mass till they amend their lives No Physician must give physick to any after four dayes sickness that is not confest to the Priest on pain of excommunication Bishops are forbidden to stand when Princes sit no not for saying Grace at meat nor otherwise to depress and abject themselves to Princes Parish Priests must have a book of the Names Sex Age and State of every Parishioner Whores are to dwell in their assigned places and to be known by their apparel from others Dancing Playes Dice Selling c. forbidden on the Lords dayes and holy dayes Indeed the Roman Religion was never set out with greater advantage of piety and reformation than in the copious Decrees of Carolus Borrhomeus in the Milan Councils To which a Council at Aquileia added endeth Binnius his History of Councils § 70. In all this History of Councils Bishops and Patriarchs it appeareth that Corruptio optimi est pessima As the sacred Ministry in pious humble wise peaceable and sincere men hath been Gods great means of planting ordering preserving and encreasing his Church and converting edifying and saving Souls and such to this day are as Paul called Timothy not the Church A Pillar and Basis of the truth in the Church which is the House of the Living God the Husbandmen that still cultivate the Vineyard of the Lord while with self-denial and faith and heavenly minds they labour to promote holy WISDOME LOVE SPIRITUALITY and PEACE abhorring pride and worldly designs and being mostly little noted in the Histories of the Church as not appearing in the turbulent and publick affairs of the world so contrarily Pride and worldliness seeking Dominion favour and wealth to feed also sensuality with fleshly pleasure by Satans great diligence