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rious Acts are suggested and forged in behalfe of their Romane Doctrine*. The Councell of Sinuessa is cited by Bellarmine, to prove the Pope above a Councel; yet this is condemned (saith Binius) by many learned writers. The Councel of Chalcedon is cited by Aquinas, to prove the Pope universal Patriarke of the world; yet there is no such Decree extant in the Councel. Councel of Nice, in the 69 Canon, is cited by Bellarmine, to prove Confirmation a Sacrament; yet that Canon is rejected by Baronius. The Councell of Constantinople, in the ninth Canon, is produced for Invocation of Saints; yet this Canon is rejected as counterfet (saith Caranza).

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Againe, looke upon the true Canons and Decrees of Councels, if they be found to make against the Roman faith and doctrine, they are rejected or condemned as erronious. The Councel of Eliberis decreed against the making and worshipping of Images. What saith Baronius to this Councell? I suspect some jugling in this Canon. The Councel of Pisa is condemned by the Inquisitors among the forbidded books: Why? the cause is evident, it toucheth the Pope's Supremacie for Gregorie the Twelfth, and Benedict the Thirteenth, were deposed, saith Platina. The Councel of Laodicea is corrupted, and instead of Angels, they have inserted the word Angles. Why? the reason is pregnant: it forbids Invo

* Aquin. in opusc. cont. errores Græcorum ad Urbanum 4. Pont. Maximum.

cation of Angels. The General Councel of Constantinople did erre, and the Pope's Legates did contrary to the Pope's Instructions: Why? the reason is evident, the Councel decreed, that the Pope should not absolve whom the Patriarke did depose. The Councel of Constance is condemned of errour, onely in the first Sessions: Why? they decreed the Councel above the Pope. Again, their Canons are received in the latter Sessions: Why? they decreed the halfe ComLaunion, which is now received for an Article of Faith. And thus

some Canons and Councels are forged, some true and ortdodox are condemned, some Sessions are approved by the Pope's Legates, others rejected "by the Pope's Cardinals and Prelates, insomuch it was rightly observed by Ludovicus : Then the Councells are of account with them, when they make for them; but if they make against them, they make no more account of them, then of a Convent of women, pratling in a commen bath, or a Weaver's shop*.

I proceed to the sixteenth Age, wherein the grand and admired Councel of the Papal world; I meane the pretended General Councel of Trent, shall be examined.

* Viv. in Aug. de Civit. Dei, l. 20. cap. 26.

SECT.

SECT. XVI.

THE COUNCEL OF TRENT, WHICH IS THE MAINE PILLAR, AND LAST RESOLUTION OF THE ROMANE FAITH, IS OF SMALL OR NO CREDIT AT ALL, BECAUSE IT WAS NEITHER LAWFULLY CALLED, NOR FREE, NOR GENERAL, NOR GENERALLY RECEIVED BY THE ROMANISTS THEM-. SELVES.

AUGUSTUS Thuanus, a chiefe Senator and Counsellour to the King of France, tells us, that Pope Paul the Third summoned a Councel at Mantua, and from thence translated it to Vincentia: and, because the Princes of Germanie could not agree upon the place, assigned Trent, a citie seated upon the confines of Germanie and Italie, where this Councel was called in the yeere 1546. This Councel then was called by the Pope's usurped power, not by the Emperor, and for that cause falls within the compasse of Demetrius assembly, which wanted a right and a lawfull calling. But let us see with what esteeme and authoritie this Councel is received in the Romane Church. Cardinall Bellarmine tells us: If we take away the authoritie and credit of the present Church and Councell of Trent, the Decrees of other Councels, and the whole Christian Faith may bee called in question.

question. This Jesuite, who first assured us, That the Church might continue safe without Councels, (if occasion required) at least two thousand yeeres: now, without any regard to the sacred Gospel of Christ, professeth, That if the Roman Church and Trent Councell were removed, the Faith of all Christians would be indangered: and Campian his fellow Jesuite, as a man ravished with the fame of that Synod, proclaimes to after ages: The elder that Councell waxeth, the more it will flourish; and as a true Romish Proselyte, cries out, to the astonishment of poore Protestants: O good Lord, with what diversitie of people out of all Countrys, with what choyce of Bishops throughout all Christendome, with what excellencies of Kings and Commonweales, with what profound Divines, with what devotion, with what lamentation, with what abstinence and fasting, with what flowers of Universities, with what knowledge of strange tongues, with what sharpe wits, with what studie, with what ́endiesse reading, with what store of virtues and exercises was that sacred place replenished? This Councell is like the great Diana of the Ephesians, that carries the universal applause let us looke therefore into the lawfulnesse and authoritie of this Councell: for if it be of Men, it will come to night, but if it bee of God,

* Si tollamus authoritatem præsentis Ecclesiæ et præsentis Concilii, in dubium revocari possunt oninium aliorum Conciliorum decreta, et tota fities Christiana. Bell, de effect./ Sacram. lib. 2. c. 25.

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we cannot overthrow it, lest happily we be found even to fight against God himselfe. (Acts v. 39.)

First then, as this Councel wanted a right calling of the Emperor, so likewise it wanted a requisite condition to make it Generall: for that Councel is truly Generall, whereunto all christian States are summoned and assembled in his rame; and shall this be held the great Councel of the Christian world, the chiefe supporter of all other Councels, and the whole Christian faith, which was confined to a small number, and some few. Nations? Looke upon the three Patriarks of Con-, stantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria, where they. all present? Look upon the Grecians, Armenians, Medes, Persians, Egyptians, Moores, Ethiopians, were they summoned to this Councel? do not these people belecve in Christ? have they not Bishops? did their Ambassadors' come from all these Nations to the Councel? Nay more, were the Legates of the kingdome of England, of Denmarke, of the:King of Swetia, of Scotland, and the Dukedome of Prussia there present? Looke upon the assemblie of their Bishops, and it will appeare by their Historie of Trent, that this General and great Councel consisted but of fortie- three Bishops, and some of those also were but Titular,, as namely, Richard Pates, Bishop of Worcester, and blind Sir Robert, Bishop of Armach; these had the bare titles of Bishops, and were no Bishops at all; and two of those Bishops (saith

* Historie of Trent, lib. 2. p. 140. Engl.

Illiricus

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